《The Valiant Farmgirl's Blackhearted Husband Wants a Hug》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1: Transmigrated to Be an Ugly Toad It was almost noon at the Song familys house in Brook Falls Vige. In the run-down thatched house, the woman who was lying on the ground looking like a small mountain suddenly moved. Qin Xiaoyao frowned and struggled for a while before her sharp eyes suddenly opened. Then, she found herself in a dpidated thatched house. She could even hear the lively chirping of birds. She was surprised that there would be birds chirping in the deste and noiseless post-apocalyptic world. Suddenly, she felt dizzy. Then, a memory that didnt belong to her rushed into her mind. She had actually transmigrated That was right. Although it was unbelievable, she had really transmigrated! She had escaped from the damned apocalypse and arrived at some unknown dynasty. She, Qin Xiaoyao, used to be the captain of a six-man mercenary team in City As security base after the apocalypse. Unwittingly, they encountered a zombie tide while carrying out their mission. In the end, all her team members perished. She then pulled out a grenade and chose to die together with the zombies that surrounded her. The next thing she knew, she had escaped from the post-apocalyptic world when she opened her eyes again! At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao wanted tough out loud. Then, she lowered her head and saw an extremely fat body. The smile on her face froze instantly. Right now, she had actually turned into an ugly toad! Yes, although she felt somewhat helpless, she was indeed the proverbial Ugly Toad. Her current body was called Qin Sanya, the youngest daughter of Qin Dazhuang, the butcher in town. She had gained all this fat from bingeing while living with the Qin family. As for why she said she was an Ugly Toad, lets put it aside for a while and talk about itter. Suppressing the disgust in her heart, Qin Xiaoyao adjusted her mindset and decided to get up from the ground first. The moment she moved, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She reached out to rub it and found that it was only a bump and no bleeding. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief and got up from the ground. Damn it. My body is too bloated! I cant control it in an agile manner! she thought. Just as Qin Xiaoyao was struggling to get up from the ground, the person on the bed nearby looked over. A look of surprise shed in his eyes, which quickly turned into disgust. Qin Xiaoyao followed her line of sight and looked in the same direction as well. Then, she couldnt take her eyes off him. This was really Even when he was angry, he looked so handsome Thats right, the man lying on the bed opposite her was her current husband, the proverbial White Swan. Why was he called a White Swan? That was because he was really good-looking! He was even more attractive than those movie stars she had seen on TV before the apocalypse! Putting aside other things, she had to verify her predecessors judgment. Alright, since the White Swan had appeared too, she would tell the story of the Ugly Toad and the White Swan. Half a year ago, the previous owner of this body had caught a glimpse of the graceful schr of the Song family, Song Que, by chance. After that, she couldnt forget him and swore that she must marry Song Que. In the end, her predecessor found out that Song Ques father was seriously ill. She then worked with a traveling doctor to trick the Song family into giving Father Song some ginseng to save him. The Song family naturally had no money, so her predecessor decided to be a Good Samaritan and loaned 80 taels of silver to Song Ques mother, Madam Liu. In the end, of course, the patient didnt get better. He eventually passed away after dragging on for more than a month. Then, less than ten days after Father Songs burial, Qin Sanya brought her father and two brothers to the Song family, forcing the Song family to pay back the money. In order to cure Father Songs illness, the Song family had already emptied their savings. Song Que had even given up attending the academy, so how could they have the money? As a result, the Ugly Toad that was three years older than the White Swan got to taste swan meat by marrying into the Song family. Tsk tsk What a pity then! The two of them had been married for more than a month, yet the toad still had no chance to savor the delicacy. Hey, that wasnt right! It was good that the predecessor didnt seed! Now that it was her turn, she could take advantage of the situation! At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyaos heart burned with passion. Her heart was beating wildly. Not only did she escape from the apocalypse, but she also ended up with such an attractive husband, ending her 23 years of singlehood. Her luck was way too good! Suddenly... Whos that... Qin Xiaoyao suddenly stared at the door. Years of post-apocalyptic vignce told her that someone wasing and was now hiding right outside the door. ... Come out! Seeing that there was no movement at the door, Qin Xiaoyao shouted in a deep voice. It sounded so imposing that Song Que, who was on the bed, could not help but tremble. Sis sister-inw. A skinny girl walked out. She looked at Qin Xiaoyao with trembling eyes, then quickly lowered her head. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. Yuner, she said. Thats right. This girl was her husband, Song Ques younger sister. She was her sister-inw, Song Yun. She was ten years old this year, but due to malnutrition, she looked like she was only seven or eight years old. Sis sister-inw, Song Yun stammered again, her body shaking even more violently. Qin Xiaoyaos heart ached a little. ... As one loved the house, one loved the crow that came with it, so how could she not feel heartache? Ever since her predecessor married into the Song family, her life was not smooth because the Song family was poor. In addition, the eighty taels of silver she had used to scheme against the Song family were eventually stolen by the cheating traveling doctor, which made her even angrier with the Song family. She even pinned the me on the Song family, thinking that it was all because of them that she was in such a miserable state. Therefore, regardless of whether it was her mother-inw, Madam Liu, her sister-inw, Song Yun, or her brother-inw, Song Ye, she was at odds with all of them. Yesterday, she had even threatened to sell the two children off for money. This was why the two children were so afraid of her. It was also because of this that her attractive husband fell out with her predecessor and ran to the mountains to look for food. In the end, he ran into a wild beast and injured his leg. If it werent for the viges Hunter Huang, who saved his life, he would have died by now. Of course, his situation was not good. The Song family didnt even have the money to buy medicine, so how could they have the money to get a doctor to heal Song Ques legs? They could only ask Hunter Huang to get some herbs and help him deal with it. Of course, this was not a long-term solution. Thus, another matter erupted. That was when her predecessor had died, and her soul had transmigrated. Although the previous owner of this body didnt treat the Song family well, she was still very concerned about her attractive husband. After her attractive husband injured his leg, her predecessor went back to her parents house, wanting to borrow money to treat her handsome husbands leg. However, this predecessor had asked the Qin family for favors too many times. Furthermore, the matter of being cheated out of their money by the traveling doctor had not been resolved. When the Qin family saw hering again, they did not even let her in. Qin Dazhuang, under the urging of his second wife, even said that he would no longer treat her as his daughter and that she should nevere to the Qin family again. After that, her predecessor returned to the Song family with a face full of sorrow after getting rejected outright. She wanted to ask her attractive husband tofort her, but her attractive husband was already angry with her to begin with, and on top of that, he was injured now. How could he possibly feel any concern for her? After that, the two got into a quarrel, and her predecessor threatened to kill herself... Of course, she didnt really want tomit suicide. She only wanted to provoke her attractive husband and make him feel somepassion for her. However, he didnt even take her threat seriously. In the end, not surprisingly, she didnt manage to hang herself. She even broke the weak beam of the house and almost destroyed the already unstable thatched house. Chapter 2 Chapter 2: Adapting to Her Identity On the contrary, her predecessors clumsy body didntnd on steady feet when she fell, causing her head to hit the stool. And then, she died. Next, when she opened her eyes again, it was the post-apocalyptic Qin Xiaoyao, who took over this body. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao was grateful for her predecessors actions, but at the same time, she was a little speechless. Damn it, she herself didnt n things out well and got scammed by the traveling doctor, yet she pinned the me on the Song family and even went up against them. It wasnt easy for her to be with the person she liked. It could be considered a stage victory even if it was a forced union. If she was smart, shouldnt she seize the opportunity and quickly win over her attractive husbands family? Her attractive husband had agreed to the marriage for the sake of his mother and siblings. In the future, for their sake, he would also be a true husband to her. The two of them were already legally wedded. As long as they put their heart into it, many things would take their natural course sooner orter. Her predecessor thought she was smart, but in fact, in Qin Xiaoyaos eyes, she was really stupid. Back to reality. Qin Xiaoyaos expression softened as she looked at Song Yun. Yes, Yuner? Youre looking for me? Hearing Qin Xiaoyaos gentle voice, Song Yuns trembling subsided a little. The food food is ready. Mother told me to ask ask Sister-inw to go out and eat, the little girl stammered. She also took the chance to check what was happening here. Earlier, Sister-inw was quarreling with Big Brother (it was, in fact, only Sister-inws voice shouting), and then the whole house shook. After that, Sister-inw emitted a frightening sound, and even the roof beams trembled. They were all very worried that something would happen to their Big Brother. Now, Song Yun saw that only a beam was broken in her Big Brothers room, and he himself was fine. Her heart was finally at ease. Qin Xiaoyao felt a little hungry after hearing that. Alright, lets go. She smiled at Song Yun. She even went up to hold Song Yuns hand. The little girl instinctively evaded her touch. Then, she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at her. She could only muster up the courage and force herself to put her small hand back into Qin Xiaoyaos hand. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and pulled Song Yun along as she walked out. At this moment, Song Yun was very nervous. Sis sister-inw was actually holding her hand? She even smiled at her? Was she thinking of doing something bad again? Qin Xiaoyao noticed the look in Song Yuns eyes, but she still smiled kindly. A bad image could not be changed overnight. She had patience. As she pulled Song Yun through the door, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly remembered something. Then, she turned around and looked at Song Que, who was lying on the bed. Song Que was watching her and Song Yun at this moment. Just like that, Qin Xiaoyao and Song Ques eyes met again. Qin Xiaoyao could feel her heart beating faster. His eyebrows were arching towards his temples while his eyes were as elegant as mist. His nose bridge was sharp and straight, and his lips were like cherry blossoms Her attractive husband was truly a gorgeous looking specimen. It was just that his face was a little pale, giving this guy the appearance of a sickly beauty. Unfortunately, her attractive sweethearts eyes were filled with disgust very quickly. And the person he was disgusted with was herself Ahem, Ill bring food to youter, Qin Xiaoyao said and wiped away the breathtaking sensation she felt in her eyes. Song Ques eyes shed with a glint of oddness. He turned over, showing his back to Qin Xiaoyao. Song Yun peeked at Qin Xiaoyao worriedly, afraid that her Sister-inw would scold him like she always did. In the past, whenever Big Brother made Sister-inw angry, Sister-inw would scold him and even vent her anger on them. Therefore, even if Big Brother didnt like Sister-inw, he normally didnt provoke her too much. However, Big Brother had just injured his leg, so it was inevitable that he would be in a bad mood. This made Sister-inws already bad mood even worse than before. Lets go, Yuner. Much to her surprise, Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled and continued to speak in a gentle tone. Song Yun was slightly surprised, but she obediently left with Qin Xiaoyao. The two of them went to the kitchen shed next door. ... In the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyaos current mother-inw, Madam Liu, and brother-inw, Song Ye, were both present. As Qin Xiaoyao arrived, the two of them instantly tensed up. Even Madam Liu didnt dare to look up at Qin Xiaoyao. There was no reason other than that Qin Xiaoyao was used to acting like a tyrant in the Song family. She would often say that her dowry had been squandered by the Song family. As for the dowry, well, it was the eighty taels of silver that the traveling doctor had swindled from her. At that point, Qin Dazhuangs second wife, Madam Zhang, saw that her predecessor could not get the silver back, so she urged Qin Dazhuang to count the eighty taels of silver as her predecessors dowry. As a result, her predecessor married into the Song family with practically nothing. The Song family was poor, and so was she. Of course, she led a hard life. Madam Liu didnt know that the traveling doctor was a swindler. She only thought she had spent all the money on her dead husband. She felt that she was in the wrong and felt that she was inferior. Moreover, she was a mild-mannered person who had an innate fear of her big-sized predecessor, so she didnt dare to confront her. Mother, Yeer. Qin Xiaoyaoughed as she called out to them. ... The mother and son trembled and did not reply. Qin Xiaoyao didnt get angry. Ill bring the food to my husband first. Mother, please help me scoop it up. It wasnt that she didnt want to do it herself, but ever since her predecessor had married into this family, Madam Liu and her two children had been in charge of the cooking. Qin Xiaoyao didnt even know where the kitchenware was kept. Madam Liu was shocked again. Alright, she quickly responded. Then, she went to get the food. A whileter. She ced a bowl of wild vegetables, a bowl of watery rice porridge, and a pair of chopsticks into Qin Xiaoyaos hands. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the nd, meager food in her hands and sighed in her heart. It was really very in food. Although it was better than what she had during the apocalyptic world, it was notparable to the food Qin Sanya had in the Qin family. The Qin family was a butcher that ughtered pigs and sold meat. They had nevercked meat to eat. This was one of the main reasons Qin Sanya had be so fat. Ill bring the food to my husband first. Mother, you guys eat first. After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao turned around and left. The three people in the kitchen were stunned. They exchanged nces with each other, then sat down at the table. However, no one had the courage to eat first. Qin Xiaoyao brought the rice and vegetables (lets call it rice for now) to the room next door. Song Que, who was lying on the bed, heard Qin Xiaoyaoing in to deliver food, but he didnt even turn around. Qin Xiaoyao didnt get angry. Instead, she felt likeughing. Honey, its time to eat. With a doting look in her eyes, she gently called out to the person on the bed. This was her husband, which even her predecessor had failed to conquer. Hehe, he would be hers from now on. In her previous life, she had been a tomboy for twenty-three years and was single until she died. Now that she had transmigrated, although she had be a fat ass, she had be two years younger. Moreover, she had drawn a bonus card of an attractive husband at the start! He was still an eighteen-year-old pretty boy! Simply thinking about it was such a beautiful feeling. [Off-topic: this novels setting is that after transmigrating, the feelings of the predecessor will be attached, and it will take a long time to wear them out. So, dont be surprised by the fact that the female lead liked the male lead from the beginning. Thats because shes just like her predecessor. Shes too obsessed with the male leads looks!] Song Que frowned and did not respond. He simply pretended he didnt hear it. Qin Xiaoyao smiled but wasnt angry. She ced the food on the bedside cab. Then Ill put it down here. Honey, you should eat it quicklyter while its still hot. After speaking, she looked at Song Que with a longing look and turned to leave. Chapter 3 Chapter 3: Entering the Mountains Haste made waste. Qin Xiaoyao told herself that as an experienced hunter, she had to be patient. When Song Que heard that Qin Xiaoyao had finally gone out, he thought about how she had not pestered him just now, and a look of surprise shed across his handsome face. Following that, his surprise immediately turned into disgust. Then, he turned around, sat up, and started eating. He could not give up on himself. After all, if he were to die, that evil woman would definitely sell Yuner and Yeer off. At that point, his mother would not end up well either. As long as he was alive, at least that evil woman wouldnt dare to go too far. After leaving Song Ques room, Qin Xiaoyao returned to the kitchen. As soon as she entered the room, she saw the three people in the room looking at her in unison. Then, when they saw her looking at them, they quickly avoided her gaze. When she walked to the table, Qin Xiaoyao saw that her mother-inw and her children hadnt even touched their chopsticks. She sighed in her heart again. Qin Xiaoyao pulled out the most sturdy stool in the house and sat down. She smiled at the three of them. Mother, Yuner, Yeer, lets eat, she said. No one replied. After about three seconds, Madam Liu finally looked at Qin Xiaoyao fearfully. Er she replied in a low voice. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled and finally picked up her chopsticks. Only then did the three of them pick up their chopsticks. The wild vegetables were boiled in water with a little salt, and the rice just watery porridge. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt picky, and she ate quite happily. Food was precious in the apocalypse, and even wild vegetables were hard toe by. It was only because she was a squad leader and had a powerful ability that she had a better life than the average person. Even so, hunger was still unavoidable from time to time. After downing a bowl of watery porridge, Qin Xiaoyao put down the bowl when she saw that there wasnt much food left on the table. It wasnt that she didnt want to eat anymore, but if she were to eat to her hearts content, the remaining wild vegetables on the table wouldnt be enough for her. Moreover, if she continued to eat, this mother and her two kids would have nothing left to eat. She was used to being hungry in the apocalyptic world, so it was fine to eat less for a meal. When the three of them saw Qin Xiaoyao put down her bowl, they also stopped eating. Huh? You guys continue eating. I Im going out for a walk. Qin Xiaoyao realized that her presence was affecting them too much, so she chose to leave. Thereafter, ignoring the three peoples reactions, she got up and left. When she arrived at the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao saw a bamboo basket backpack under the shed. After some thought, she walked over and picked up the backpack. Then, she saw a sickle and a small hoe next to it. So she took the sickle and the small hoe and put them into the backpack. With that, she left the courtyard and prepared to go into the mountains. Given the situation at home, she had to think of a way to get some food first. Her attractive husband was injured and needed nutrition. Wild vegetables and watery rice porridge alone were not enough. Furthermore, she had to think of a way to get some money as soon as possible to find a doctor for her attractive husband. Otherwise, things might worsen if his condition remained this way for too long. The Song family lived at the foot of the mountain, so it was quite convenient to go into the mountains. This was ancient times, so there were bound to be more things in the mountains than during the apocalypse. As Qin Xiaoyao thought about it, she subconsciously increased her speed. Unfortunately, her current body was too bloated, and it was a little difficult to walk on the mountain path. There were a few times when she almost fell, but she was able to use her mental strength to stabilize herself in time. That was right. Her extraordinary ability actually came over with her. Even though it was not as strong as level 5 in her previous life, it was still at level 3. In other words, her current body also had a special ability. The good thing was that with her current strength, it was not a problem for her to carry five to six hundred catties. In addition, the ability could slowly repair her body and adjust her body to the best state. In other words, even if she didnt deliberately lose weight, she would slowly lose weight until she had recovered to her best condition. Moreover, as her body recovered, her ability might be elevated and eventually return to the level 5 she possessed during the apocalypse. Of course, it was highly unlikely that she would be able to improve further. After all, there was no zombie crystal core in this world she could use to help her advance. ... However, this was already sufficient. With her ability, it should be very difficult for anyone to hurt her in this time and space. Qin Xiaoyao walked all the way into the mountains, detoured around the outermost mountain, and only stopped when she reached the inner depths of the mountains. She found a rtively t area, put down her backpack, and began foraging wild vegetables. It was spring now, the time when wild vegetables were growing abundantly in the mountains. Wild vegetables would be fairly easy to find. However, it was only limited to the inner parts of the mountains that were further away from the vige. As winter had just passed, the surplus grain of many farmers was almost consumed. Some of the vigers had also gone into the mountains to forage for wild vegetables. However, for the sake of safety, the vigers activity range was mainly concentrated around the mountain near the vige. As a result, there werent as many wild vegetables there. Qin Xiaoyao thought differently, though. ... She had a strength-type extraordinary ability, so she was eager to meet some wild beasts who didnt know better. She could y it and could bring it back for a good meal. That was why she hade to the deep parts of the mountains. It was the first time Qin Xiaoyao had seen so many wild vegetables since the apocalypse. She dug with great enthusiasm, and it didnt take long for her to fill half the basket. All of a sudden, Qin Xiaoyao stopped what she was doing when she heard a series of rustling sounds. Her eagle-like eyes immediately focused on the direction of the movement. It wasing from a dense patch of bushes. At this moment, the bush was still shaking, and the movements were quite vigorous. The corner of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up as she picked up the two crushed stones beside her. Then, she stood up and looked straight at the bushes, her hands all ready to act. Shoo! Qin Xiaoyao suddenly shouted. Instantly, with a round of fluttering sounds, two pheasants flew out from the bushes. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were sharp, and her hands were quick. She quickly flung out the two stones in her hand, which she had infused with her strength-type special ability. tter! The two pheasants in the air quickly fell to the ground with two loud shrieks. After pping their wings twice, they stopped moving. Qin Xiaoyaos face was filled with joy. She swayed her fat body and walked towards the location where the pheasants had fallen. After picking up the two pheasants, she looked at the ce where she had found them. These two are one male and one female. Are they a couple? Hehe, maybe there are pheasant eggs around here? Qin Xiaoyao muttered to herself. Then, with the mindset of trying her luck, she walked towards the bushes. She pushed aside the bushes to take a look and was overjoyed. There was really a nest of pheasant eggs in the bushes! Qin Xiaoyao counted, and there were as many as twelve of them. There are five people in the house, so each of us can have two. Since my attractive husband is injured, he can have one more! Qin Xiaoyao said happily. Then, she put down the pheasants, lifted her skirt to make a sling, and picked up all twelve pheasant eggs before putting them into the sling. Then, she held the corner of her sling with one hand to prevent the pheasant eggs from falling out. She carried the two pheasants with the other hand and returned to where she had put the basket. Qin Xiaoyao tossed the two pheasants on one side and sat on the ground heavily. Chapter 4 Chapter 4: Sister Walking in Front Qin Xiaoyao looked at the pheasant eggs in her sling happily, then pulled over the backpack and began sorting out the wild vegetables. After making sure that the wild vegetables could protect the eggs, she ced the eggs into the basket. Qin Xiaoyao then nced at the two pheasants, which weighed about five to six cattiesbined, and suddenly lost the mood to continue foraging for wild vegetables. How could wild vegetables be more delicious than meat? Moreover, these wild vegetables she had foraged were enough for their family of five to eat for several meals. If she dug up too much wild vegetables and brought them back, they wouldnt be able to eat all of them anyway, right? With that thought in mind, Qin Xiaoyaopletely gave up on the idea of foraging for more wild vegetables. Carrying the basket on her back and the two pheasants in her hand, she walked towards arge stone mound not far away. Then, she picked up more than 20 stones of medium size near the big stone mound that were suitable for her strength. Next, she continued to walk deep into the mountains. After that, it was unknown if Qin Xiaoyao was too unlucky or if the wild beasts were too lucky. She wandered around in the mountains for almost two hours, but in the end, she only managed to catch one pheasant, two hares, and eight birds. In fact, she didnt really want to hunt the birds. After all, birds had too little meat. However, most of the animals seen in the mountains were birds, and they didnt make much effort to avoid people. Pheasants and hares were good at hiding, so they were not easy to find. Sometimes, even if she did bump into them, the other party would have already run away by the time she realized it. Even if she acted quickly, in the situation when she had lost the initiative, she couldnt guarantee that she would hit the target every time. Of course, the main problem was that there wasnt much prey in these mountains. Perhaps this mountain isnt deep enough... Qin Xiaoyao thought. However, even though she guessed that there might be more wild beasts in the deeper parts of the forest, she did not want to go. The farther she went, the more time she would waste on traveling. It had been almost four hours since she left the house. If she didnt go back now, she would miss dinner at home. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao was prepared to return home. The mountain path was difficult to remember and not easy to walk on. Fortunately, she had made some markings along the way, and her memory was not bad, so it did not take much effort to leave the mountain. On the way back, when she passed by a mountainous area, Qin Xiaoyao was surprised to find an area with Chinese yams. The dense vines of the Chinese yams looked like weeds. If not for the fact that she had done a lot of homework to identify crops in the mountains during the apocalypse, she would have missed it. With a joyous expression, Qin Xiaoyao, who was about to leave, quickly ran over. Following that, she happily excavated with her small hoe. When she dug out the roots of the Chinese yam and confirmed that there was indeed a plot of Chinese yam growing here, Qin Xiaoyaos face was ecstatic! She was going to be rich! There were indeed treasures in the mountains! With this plot ofnd full of Chinese yam, the money problem for her attractive husbands treatment was solved. At this thought, Qin Xiaoyao began swinging the hoe even more diligently. She only stopped when the sun was about to set after she had dug out a big heap of Chinese yams. After that, Qin Xiaoyao carried her bamboo backpack, her prey, and the big bundle of Chinese yams and walked towards the front mountain. Little sister, go ahead boldly! Go forward and dont turn back! As she walked, Qin Xiaoyao even started singing. The few years after the apocalypse had suffocated her. Dammit, talking had to be done in a low voice for fear that the zombies would hear it, not to mention singing. The ancient times were still the best. She could sing whenever she wanted to and speak as loudly as she wanted! Qin Xiaoyao sang even more happily at this thought. Theres a girl in the vige called Xiao Fang. Shes pretty and kind, with a pair of beautiful big eyes and long and thick braids... Unlike her boorish appearance, Qin Xiaoyaos voice was clear and melodious. When it rang out in the mountains, it actually had a unique vor to it. At this moment, at the foot of the front mountain, some vigers were still busy working in the field. Upon hearing this voice, several men stopped what they were doing and wanted to see which beautiful woman was singing. This voice was like the chirping of Oriole birds. The girl who was singing must be a beauty! All the women who followed the men to the field turned sullen. It was that, or they used their eyes to warn their own man. Some womenfolk simply started scolding their men. Which one of you is so shameless? Singing this kind of thing! In the vige, Liu Danius wife, Big Girl Li, cursed out loud. ... The raspy voice was rough and loud, and it was so loud that Liu Daniu, who was beside her, almost covered his ears. When the other men around them heard this, they burst outughing. This Big Girl Li had a fiery temper, and she was famous in their Brook Falls Vige. After Big Girl Li scolded out loud, that voice really stopped singing. At this point, the women heard that the singing had stopped. Seeing that Big Girl Li had already helped them vent their anger, they were no longer so angry. They simply gave their men another stern re. Not far away, Qin Xiaoyao, who hade from behind the mountain, had indeed stopped singing. This was because she had been shocked by that broken voice. She quickly realized that the voice was scolding her, and Qin Xiaoyaos face turned dark again. Singing a nice tune! With that hoarse voice of yours, you cant even sing it even if you want to! Qin Xiaoyao replied and walked forward. The crystal clear voice instantly attracted the attention of the people in the field. ... The moment they saw who it was, everyone was shocked. That was no doubt. Even though she was so far away and her facial features could not be seen clearly, it did not affect everyones ability to recognize who that person was. After all, only one person in Brook Falls Vige had a body as hefty as a small mountain. When Big Girl Li, who was about to start scolding, saw Qin Xiaoyao, she swallowed the words she was about to spew out. Qin Qin Sanya she stammered. There was even some fear in her voice. There was no doubt about it. In Brook Falls Vige, though other people were not familiar with Qin Sanya, she knew her well. Just like Qin Sanya, she used to have a crush on that Eldest Son Song. Due to this, Qin Sanya had even caused her trouble. As she had lost to Qin Sanya, she epted her fate and listened to her familys arrangement to marry Liu Daniu. Now that she thought about it, it turned out to be a fortunate thing. Ever since she had given up on Eldest Son Song, his father had fallen seriously ill and had even used up all the money in the family for treatment. After that, Eldest Son Song could not attend the academy and was forced to marry Qin Sanya to pay off his debts. Sigh People like Eldest Son Song were good-looking, but if they couldnt go to the academy, they would have no future. No matter how good-looking they were, good looks alone couldnt fill their stomachs. Unlike her Daniu, who might be a little ugly, Daniu was down-to-earth and willing to work hard. With him, at least she wouldnt go hungry. Liu Daniu, who was at her side, didnt know what Big Girl Li was thinking. Otherwise, he would definitely re at his wife in disgust. Did she find him ugly? Why didnt she take a look at her own appearance At this moment, other than being shocked, Liu Daniu also felt like puking. He did not expect that the voice that made him fantasize blissfully about a beautiful woman would turn out to be Qin Sanya. Yes, he also knew Qin Sanya. Rather, in their Brook Falls Vige, there were only a few who did not know Qin Sanya. This woman, who was as strong as a young bull and was infatuated with Eldest Son Song, hade to Brook Falls Vige many times. Chapter 5 Chapter 5: Collecting Debts Poor Eldest Son Song. He was forced to marry by butcher Qin and his gang and to the woman who harmed him no less. At that point, when butcher Qin came to their house to force the marriage on him, Liu Daniu even went to the Song family to help. Liu Daniu felt even more nauseated when he recalled how he had seen Qin Sanya up close. Previously, he had been envious of Eldest Son Song. He was good at his studies, good-looking, and was praised by everyone. He was even the most outstanding offspring, in his parents own words. Yet now, Liu Daniu was not envious at all. In fact, he even felt a little sympathetic Eldest Son Song married such a tigress. No, wait, it was a fat tigress. Wouldnt even a brick bed copse at night? Oh, wrong. In the Song familys current thatched house, where would they get a brick bed? Shaking his head, Liu Daniu couldnt help but nce at his wife. His Big Girl was also strong and had a loud voice. However,pared to Qin Sanya, she was a fairy. At the thought of this, Liu Daniu chuckled. He felt he had to treasure the person in front of him and treat his wife better. Yo, arent you from Eldest Son Songs family? Where did you get so many things from? When Liu Daniu and his wife saw Qin Xiaoyao, they did not dare to greet her, but someone else shouted out to Qin Xiaoyao. This person was Uncle Wangs wife, Aunt Wang, a famous talkative woman in Brook Falls Vige. Not only was she talkative, but she also liked to gossip behind peoples backs and take advantage of others. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao carrying a big load on her back, and her hands were full while something was draped over her shoulders, Aunt Wangs eyes stared fixedly at Qin Xiaoyao. Good grief. There were three pheasants, two hares, and a big basket of wild vegetables. As for the thing on the girls shoulder, it looked like sticks of firewood, but she didnt know what it was. It would be difficult even for a man to carry so many things. This Qin Sanya was really lucky, wasnt she? Qin Xiaoyao still had the original memories of her predecessor, so how could she not know Aunt Wang? Back then, in order to find out more about the situation in Brook Falls Vige, her predecessor had tried to cozy up to Aunt Wang. In other words, she had been scammed out of her money by this old woman many times. Qin Xiaoyao knew what Aunt Wang was thinking when she saw her expression. I got it from deep inside the mountains. Theres nothing to eat at home, and my husband injured his leg yesterday. The whole family will starve to death if I dont go into the mountains, Qin Xiaoyao replied. By the way, Aunt Wang, do you have any rice and flour? Im going to make dinner when I get back. The rice and flour jars at home had long been emptied. Can you lend me some? she quickly said before Aunt Wang could open her mouth. After her predecessor married into Brook Falls Vige, the vigers ignored her. Aunt Wang was the only one who had always been polite to her. Of course, she wasnt really being polite. She was just taking the opportunity to ask Qin Sanya for things every few days. Previously, she wanted to borrow some copper coins, but when she saw that she had no money, Aunt Wang began asking for grain, oil, rice, and so on. It could be said that the Song familys current poverty had a lot to do with her predecessors pride which prompted her to keep lending things to this Aunt Wang. She couldnt change what had happened in the past. However, when it came to Qin Xiaoyao, this old bitch could forget about plucking a single hair from her! As expected, Aunt Wangs expression changed when she heard this. We we have also run out of rice and flour at home. We dont even have enough for ourselves, so how can we lend you some? she turned to Qin Xiaoyao and said. Her tone was also very unfriendly. Oh, thats really unfortunate! Qin Xiaoyao replied. If you dont have, then forget it! Your family has to eat too, and you have to buy it sooner orter. I remember that you still owe me ten bowls of brown rice and five bowls of flour. Remember to return it to me after you buy it! Qin Xiaoyao said in a straightforward manner. The people in the field were shocked when they heard this. Many people looked at Aunt Wang with strange expressions. Almost everyone in the vige knew that Aunt Wang liked to borrow things from others. However, after lending her things, it wasnt so easy to get them back. Even if one got his item back, she could still badmouth that person behind him for quite a while. Due to this propensity, very few people in Brook Falls Vige were willing to lend things to Aunt Wang. When Big Girl Li married into the Liu family, her mother-inw and husband specifically reminded her to have less contact with Aunt Wang and not to lend anything to Aunt Wang. When she heard Qin Xiaoyaos words, Big Girl Lis heart trembled. She was d that she had listened to her mother-inw and didnt lend anything to Aunt Wang. Auntie Wangs face turned red with anger when Qin Xiaoyao brought up this matter in front of so many people. Oh, yes. There are still the hundred copper coins too. Your Dashan seems to being back today, right? Why dont I go and ask Dashan for it? Qin Xiaoyao spoke as if she had suddenly recalled something. She was referring to Wang Dashan, Aunt Wangs son. A month ago, he found a job in town and worked as a waiter in a teahouse. As there was amodation at the teahouse, Wang Dashan only came back once every half a month. Ever since Wang Dashan went to work in town and Aunt Wang stayed in Brook Falls Vige, she became as proud as a peacock. ... Now that Qin Xiaoyao said that she was going to ask her son for money and embarrass her son, Aunt Wang almost exploded in anger. Bullshit, what 100 copper coins? There are only 75 of them in total! She immediately started scolding Qin Xiaoyao. This damn girl must have gone crazy thinking about money! The people around them were shocked. There there really was such a thing? Qin Sanya, this evil tyrant, actually lent money and food to Aunt Wang? Qin Xiaoyao merely smiled. Hehe, I remembered wrongly. It was indeed 75 copper coins! Its fine as long as you remember. My husband injured his leg and is currently in need of money to see a doctor. If you dont have any rice and flour now, you can return them to me another day. But my husband is waiting for this money to save his life, so we cant dy! Ill have to trouble you to send the copper coins to my houseter. Otherwise, Ill have to go and look for Dashan! ... Qin Xiaoyaoughed when she saw that Aunt Wang was about to scold her again. She continued saying, Oh, thats right. Tomorrow, Ill help my husband look for a doctor. Im nning to go back to my maternal hometown. I heard from my father that Dashans employer often buys meat from his stall. It was an innocuous sentence, but itnded like a heavy hammer that instantly smashed into Aunt Wangs heart. Aunt Wang was so scared that her face turned pale. This wretched girl was too vicious. Did this mean that if she didnt return the money, Qin Sanya would let butcher Qin report this matter to her sons boss? Thinking of butcher Qin, Aunt Wangs body trembled. That butcher Qin was tall and strong. He also had two sons who were also tall and strong. Back when they hade to Brook Falls Vige to force the marriage, if Eldest Son Song had not agreed, butcher Qin would have burned down his house. If Qin Sanya really went back to look for butcher Qin and her two brothers With her son Dashans physique, how could he possibly stand up against them? Thinking of this, Aunt Wang could only try her best to suppress the anger in her heart. Okay! Ill pay! I was prepared to send it to you in the next two days, but youre so anxious! Aunt Wang tried her best to force a smile. Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. Chapter 6 Chapter 6: Big Girl Li Hehe, I am indeed anxious! Aunt Wang, please dont hold it against me! Im a straightforward person, and I like to tell the truth. I dont have other intentions. She continued. Hehehe, how how can I? Aunt Wang yed along andughed too. In fact, there were thousands of knives dancing in her heart. She just stopped short of chopping the Qin Xiaoyao in her imagination into pieces. Qin Xiaoyao didnt care about what Aunt Wang thought. Seeing that the matter had been resolved, she continued to walk forward. When she passed by other peoples fields, she even greeted everyone enthusiastically. Although the vigers didnt have a good impression of Qin Xiaoyao, they all smiled in response when they saw her greeting them with a smile. Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao saw a familiar face. Her eyes lit up. Yo, Big Girl? Is it really you? Qin Xiaoyao said in surprise when she saw Big Girl Li with her evasive gaze. Hearing Qin Xiaoyao call her name, Big Girl Lis body trembled. Since she couldnt avoid this anymore, she could only raise her head and look at Qin Xiaoyao. Sanya, long time no see She greeted Qin Xiaoyao fearfully. This Qin Sanya had been her nemesis since she was young. She had snatched her toys when she was young, and now that she had grown up, she had snatched her sweetheart. Alright, she could let go of her sweetheart Ever since marrying her Daniu, she had given up on her feelings for Eldest Son Song. However Qin Sanya needed to be convinced of this. Qin Sanya was a very jealous woman. Previously, the moment she found out that Big Girl Li had a crush on Eldest Son Song, she challenged her to a fight and almost had her beaten into a pulp. Now, if this woman wanted to settle those old ounts, how would Daniu look at her? Would she still be able to stay in the Liu family? When she thought of this, Big Girl Lis body trembled. She wanted to give herself two tight ps. Just now, she really had a cursed mouth! This area wasnt her territory. Qin Sanya could howl however she wanted, so why did she have to go and scold Qin Sanya? Its been a long time. Ive heard that youve also married into Brook Falls Vige. Its just that Ive been busy at home recently, so I havent had the time to visit you. Qin Xiaoyaos smile was sincere, as if she and Big Girl Li were really close friends. Hehe, Sanya, what are you saying? I should be the one to go and visit you... Big Girl Li said awkwardly. Qin Xiaoyaos expression immediately brightened. Thats a deal. Remember toe to my house when youre free! She actually responded to her offer. Hearing this, Big Girl Li wanted to p her own mouth again. Cursed mouth again! Almost immediately, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes shed with hesitation. Then, she took out the smallest pheasant in her hand. I was lucky today to get these things. Ill give you one. Take it back and try it! As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao ced the pheasant on the side of the road. When she put it down, her face was full of heartache. Big Girl Li was shocked and quickly refused. Its not necessary! Sanya, youre too kind! She wouldnt dare to take Qin Sanyas things! Sigh! With our rtionship, theres no point in rejecting! My family is still waiting for me at home to bring these things back to cook. Ill go first! Qin Xiaoyao said. After speaking, she didnt pay any more attention to Big Girl Li and quickly left. The people in the nearby fields were all shocked. Danius family actually knew Qin Sanya? And they had a good rtionship with her? Even Liu Daniu looked at his wife in shock. Youre very close to her? he asked Big Girl Li. In the past, he had criticized Qin Sanya in front of his wife many times. Now that he thought about it, his wifes expression during those times was indeed a little strange. At the thought of this, Liu Danius expression turned awkward. Big Girl Li wanted to answer that she didnt know Qin Sanya. However, when she saw the pheasant that Qin Xiaoyao had ced by the side of the road, she nodded her head in the end. Now, if she said that she had nothing to do with Qin Sanya, would others believe her? ... Damn it. She felt that Qin Sanya was going to cause her trouble again At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos big round face was full of smiles. Ha! Of course, she did it on purpose when she gave Big Girl Li the pheasant. She was alone in Brook Falls Vige, so she needed a little brother, no, a little sister to help her. Only this Big Girl Li had more affinity with her Humming a tune, Qin Xiaoyao finally returned to the Song familys house. At this moment, in the small courtyard. Madam Liu was still doing the embroidery work while Song Yun was washing the somewhat withered wild vegetables with Song Ye. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao return, all three of them froze in unison. The fear on their faces made Qin Xiaoyao feel awkward. She threw the two pheasants and two wild hares in her hands to the ground and then unloaded the sticks of Chinese yam on her shoulder. ... After that, Qin Xiaoyao turned around and removed the bamboo backpack from her back before putting it on the ground. Qin Xiaoyao smiled radiantly as she looked at the three surprised people. Husbands health isnt good. What nutrition can he get from eating wild vegetables alone? Ill cook tonight. Lets have a good meal! As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao walked toward the kitchen. The three of them stared at each other. Oh, there are twelve pheasant eggs in the basket. Yuner, remember to take something and pick up the eggs. Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao walked back to the kitchen door and added. Song Yuns body trembled at her voice. After a while, she realized that her Sister-inw had given her an order. Alright, Sister-inw! She quickly acknowledged her instructions. After a moment of hesitation, she also entered the kitchen. In the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao had already picked up a wooden basin and a bamboo pan basket. She was looking for a kitchen knife at this moment. Hey, Yuner, wheres the kitchen knife? Qin Xiaoyao asked Song Yun when she saw here in. Song Yun trembled again when she heard Qin Xiaoyao asking for a knife. The little girls pale face made Qin Xiaoyao a little depressed. What are you thinking? Im looking for a kitchen knife to deal with the pheasants and hares. Yikes! Thats not right! Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao thought of something and smacked her forehead. Look at my memory! First, we need to boil a pot of water and pluck the feathers of the pheasants and birds! As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao ced the wooden basin and the bamboo pan basket back on the stove. Boil a pot of water first! She then looked at Song Yun. Yuner, help me start the fire. Without waiting for Song Yuns response, Qin Xiaoyao went to the water tank to get some water. The result Fuck. Qin Xiaoyao cursed in her heart when she saw the bottom of the empty water tank. She turned around and saw her Sister-inws face turning even more ashen-white. The anger in her heart instantly vanished. Im Im sorry, Sister-inw. We we forgot to fetch water, the little girl said nervously. When she was washing the vegetables earlier, she realized there was no water in the house. She had initially nned to bring her brother to the stream to get water after washing the vegetables. She did not expect her Sister-inw to return. Moreover, she needed water. Qin Xiaoyao got a shock. Only then did she remember that the water in the house had been brought back by her attractive husband. However, now that her attractive husband couldnt get out of bed and Madam Lius health had always been poor, wouldnt this task fall on the two siblings? Looking at Song Yuns thin body, Qin Xiaoyao sighed. You and Yeer are still growing. Youre taking too much weight, and itll affect your development. In the future, Ill be the one to replenish the water at home, she said. Chapter 7 Chapter 7: Getting Water with Brisk Steps With that, Qin Xiaoyao turned around to get the water buckets. Then, under Song Yuns shocked gaze, she zipped nimbly out of the kitchen with the buckets. There was no well near the Song familys premises, but there was a stream not far from the thatched house. In ancient times, there was no pollution, and the stream water was clean, so the Song family always used the water from the stream. Qin Xiaoyao soon arrived at the stream. Seeing that the stream water was clear, she first cupped some water to wash her face, then drank a few mouthfuls. She was very happy to find that the stream water was actually a little sweet. Qin Xiaoyaos burning heart quickly cooled down when she heard the intermittent chirping of birds from the mountains. After that, she quickly fetched two buckets of water. Then she picked them up and walked home. Along the way, Qin Xiaoyao carried the water back to the courtyard without even panting. Song Yun, who was talking to Madam Liu, was shocked again. Sister-inws speed was too fast. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the three of them, but she didnt stop there. She took the two buckets of water and headed for the kitchen. Song Yun heaved a sigh of relief, but she did not dare to talk to her mother about her Sister-inw anymore. She quickly took the big bowl to the bamboo backpack and helped her Sister-inw pick up the pheasant eggs. Yes, she was helping her sister-inw pick the eggs. The thought that the four of them would have a share of the pheasant eggs never once crossed her mind. At this moment, Madam Liu was still in shock. She didnt know where her daughter-inw had brought back so many good things from. Moreover, her daughter had just told her that her daughter-inw had even volunteered to take on the task of fetching water for their home in the future Just as Madam Liu was feeling terrified, she saw Qin Xiaoyao walk out with the two empty water buckets. Meanwhile, Song Yun had already picked up the twelve pheasant eggs from the bamboo backpack. Although the pheasant eggs were small, the twelve eggs filled up a big bowl. Even though she knew there was no share for her, the little girl couldnt help but smile when she saw so many eggs. Song Ye, who was at her side, was also staring fixedly at the big bowl in his sisters hands. Mom! There were twelve of them in total! There are also eight birds in the basket! In the end, she was still a little girl. She couldnt hold back the joy in her heart and blurted out to Madam Liu. There are birds too? Before Madam Liu could react, Song Yes eyes lit up. Then, he rushed to Song Yuns side and peered into Qin Xiaoyaos bamboo backpack. Seeing the birds feathers, Song Ye couldnt resist reaching out for them. Mom, what a big bird! A momentter, he took out a bird from the bamboo backpack. A seven-year-old childs palm wasnt big, and the bird that Qin Xiaoyao had shot was therger kind. In the hands of the child, it looked even bigger. Another one! This one is even bigger! Before Madam Liu could reply, her youngest son spoke again. Then, she saw her youngest son take out yet another bird from the bamboo backpack. It was indeed bigger than the previous one. Sister-inw is so amazing, even more amazing than Brother Shuishengs father! Song Ye suddenly eximed. Hu Shuisheng was Song Yes ymate in the vige. He was one year older than Song Ye. Although Hu Shuishengs father was not a hunter, he had once learned from a hunter for some time. Therefore, he would asionally go into the mountains to hunt some wild animals. It was because of this that Hu Shuisheng was the envy of many of his peers. The little childs words rocked both Madam Liu and Song Yun. Before she could ask the little child to put down the two birds, she heard him prattle again. If only Sister-inw could give me a bird to eatter he muttered listlessly. It was obvious that little Song Ye knew his sister-inws personality well. He understood that even though his sister-inw had brought back so many good things, they had no share. However, he really wasnt greedy. He only wanted to eat a bird. Brother Shuisheng had said that roasted birds were very delicious. Madam Lius expression changed. She was about to reprimand her youngest son and tell him not to speak nonsense. Out of the blue, Qin Xiaoyaos voice could be heard from outside the courtyard. Youre satisfied with just one bird? While he was talking, Qin Xiaoyao had already entered the house with tworge buckets of water. When the mother and children saw Qin Xiaoyao appear, their expressions turned into one of terror. The smile on Qin Xiaoyaos face instantly turned awkward. After that, sheposed herself and gave Song Ye a smile. Yeer can eat as much as he wantster. If you want to eat birds, Sister-inw will help you roast themter! As she spoke, she didnt stop walking and went into the kitchen with the water buckets. Song Ye was frightened out of his wits. ... He looked at his mother in disbelief. Mom, is Sister-inw telling the truth? His expression seemed to be asking. Madam Liu was also very surprised. Song Yun, on the other hand, was the first to recover. She quickly followed her into the kitchen. Her homes water tank wasnt big, and fourrge buckets of water were enough to fill it. Sister-inw had asked her to boil the water, but she had dyed it. Song Yun entered the kitchen, fully prepared to be scolded. However, Qin Xiaoyao only nced at her before she picked up a wooden bucket and poured water into the pot. Song Yun quickly ced the bowl of eggs on the table and ran to the stove to start the fire. She did her work seriously and did not dare to say a word. ... Qin Xiaoyao looked at this unsmiling little girl and wanted to say something to improve her rtionship with this tiny sister-inw. However, she had no experience dealing with children, so she held back as she couldnt think of anything appropriate to say. After thinking for a while, she gave up. Yuner, call me when the waters boiling. Ill go wash the wild vegetables, she instructed. Alright, Sister-inw, Song Yun quickly replied. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao walking out with a bamboo pan basket, she heaved a sigh of relief. In the yard, little Song Ye had already ced the two birds back into the bamboo backpack. At this moment, he was standing obediently beside Madam Liu. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaoe out, there was a moment of excitement in the little childs eyes. Then, as if he had thought of something, he quickly looked away with a face full of fear. Madam Liu also didnt dare to look at Qin Xiaoyao. She lowered her head as if she didnt know where to look. A look of helplessness shed across Qin Xiaoyaos face. Yeer,e with me to the stream to wash the wild vegetables, she then said to Song Ye. In the entire family, only her little brother-inw was the least guarded against her because of his young age. Therefore, she decided to start with the youngest. Song Ye was overjoyed and was about to agree when Madam Liu tugged at his arm. Then, Qin Xiaoyao saw her mother-inw shed her a very awkward smile that looked uglier than crying. Yeer is still young and will only add to your troubles if he goes. Ill go with you. As she spoke, she put down the basket with the needle and thread in her hands and prepared to get up. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows. I didnt pay attention when fetching the water just now and got the path wet. The ground is slippery, so its not safe for you to go. Forget it. All of you stay at home. Ill go by myself, Qin Xiaoyao said. Then, without looking at the mother and son again, she went to the bamboo backpack, took arge amount of wild vegetables and some Chinese yam before leaving. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao had left, Madam Liu heaved a sigh of relief. Yeer, help me pick up the birds from the bamboo backpack. Ill make you a roasted birdter. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos hearty voice suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard. Chapter 8 Chapter 8: Pressing for Debt Repayment Alright! This time, before Madam Liu could react, the child beside her had already responded excitedly. Seeing his mother staring at him, Song Yeughed mischievously and quickly ran towards the bamboo backpack. This time, Madam Liu did not stop her youngest son. Since the daughter-inw had spoken, she wouldnt get angry at the youngest sonter, right? Qin Xiaoyao came to the small stream. She poured the wild vegetables in her bamboo basket directly into the waterhole that had been dammed up. Then, she cleaned the bamboo pan basket before washing the wild vegetables with practiced ease. The withered and old leaves were all removed, leaving only the tender parts. She had not finished washing the wild vegetables when she saw her sister-inw running out of her courtyard. Sister-inw, the water is boiling! The little girl shouted at her. Oh, dont touch anything first. Ill be right back! Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly replied. After that, she sped up the washing of the remaining wild vegetables and Chinese yam. Qin Xiaoyao paid special attention to the Chinese yam. She picked a handful of wild grass from the side to help in her washing. After all, if one wasnt careful, this thing could make ones hands itch. After washing everything in a hurry, Qin Xiaoyao picked up the bamboo pan basket and headed home. The boiling water was hot, and she was worried that the three of them would be identally scalded if she allowed them to do the cooking. Back at the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao ced the basket filled with wild vegetables and Chinese yam on the stove. Then, she brought a bucket over. She went into the yard again and stuffed the two pheasants into the bucket. After that, she returned to the kitchen. She wrapped the two handles of the pot with the heat-insting luffa pulp, lifted the pot, and directly poured the boiling water into the bucket. Nearby, Song Yun was impressed. For the first time, she felt that her sister-inws strength was really impressive when it came to doing housework. That was no doubt about it. Her predecessor, Qin Sanya, was a very strong woman. However, she had used all her strength to threaten and vent her anger on the Song family in the past. This was the first time she used it on housework. Qin Xiaoyao didnt know what her little sister-inw was thinking. After pouring in the water, she put the pot back on the stove. After that, she added another half a pot of water into the pot. There were still sparks of fire in the stove hole. She added some water into the pot so that they could have hot waterter. After that, Qin Xiaoyao went to the stove and retrieved a pair of fire tongs. Then, she carried the bucket with billowing white steam out of the door. Yuner, bring the wooden basin over, Qin Xiaoyao shouted when she reached the door. Okay! Song Yun replied and quickly went to get the wooden basin. When she arrived at the courtyard, she saw that Qin Xiaoyao was already stirring the pheasant feathers with a pair of fire tongs. Quick, bring the wooden basin over and put it on the ground. Qin Xiaoyao said to Song Yun as she stirred through the pheasants. Okay! Song Yun hurriedly did as she was told. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao pick up the pheasants and put them in the wooden basin. Then, she asked Song Ye, who was standing nearby, to bring the birds over. The little child also hurriedly did as he was told. Qin Xiaoyao then took the birds and nched them in boiling water. After making sure that every bird was scalded by the boiling water, she picked the birds out with a pair of tongs and put them together with the pheasants. Alright, lets pluck their feathers together and clean them up. Qin Xiaoyao said happily. Then, ignoring the three of them, she brought the fire tongs back to the kitchen. When she came out again, the three of them were already plucking the feathers of the pheasants and birds. Looking at this scene, Qin Xiaoyaos heart finally calmed down quite a bit. Mother, Ill leave the task of plucking the feathers to you guys. Call me when youre done. Ill handle the rest of the soft furter. She knew that if she went near them, the three of them would be nervous again, so she simply kept her distance. Alright, Madam Liu turned around and replied, but she didnt even dare to look into Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. Qin Xiaoyao didnt think too much about it and returned to the kitchen to continue her work. The sky turned dark rapidly. In the whole house, only Song Ques room had an oilmp, and themp oil was almost exhausted. If they didnt hurry up and prepare dinner, they would have to eat in the dark. After searching the kitchen counter and around the chopping board area and the cupboard, Qin Xiaoyao finally found the kitchen knife and the location of the condiments in the house. Not only that, but she also saw the bottoms of the two almost jars, which contained only a bowl of brown rice and a bowl of flour. Qin Xiaoyao wanted to curse again when she saw this. ... She was still thinking of using pheasant eggs and wild vegetables to make noodles with the flour and then making some rice pancakes as the staple dish. Damn it, there was no more flour to use at home. Qin Xiaoyaos face clouded over as she thought of something. Then, she picked up the bowl in the brown rice jar and went out. In the courtyard, the three of them were surprised to see Qin Xiaoyao walking out with a bowl in a hurry. Seeing this, Madam Liu wanted to stop her. However, after hesitating for a moment, she didnt dare to open her mouth. It was just a bowl. It was nothingpared to the items that her daughter-inw kept giving away in the past If Qin Xiaoyao knew what Madam Liu was thinking right now, she would probably be so angry that she would vomit blood. After Qin Xiaoyao left her home, she went straight to the Wang familys house, which was next to hers. The Wang family was having dinner. ... Today was the day that the only son of the Wang family, Wang Dashan, returned home for his day off. Aunt Wang doted on her son, so she specially instructed her younger daughter to cook arge pot of rice and stir-fry two meat and two vegetable dishes. The family of four ate happily. Knock, knock, knock! At this moment, there was the sound of sudden and urgent knocking on the door. Who is it? Aunt Wang frowned and shouted at the door. Me! Qin Xiaoyao swallowed her saliva and said with a sullen face. Damn it, so this old woman had turned a deaf ear to what she had said earlier? She had the time to eat such delicious food, but she didnt have the time to return the money to the Song family? Alright, since she didnt return it, Qin Xiaoyao woulde and get it personally. Not only did she want the money, but she also wanted rice and flour. The two old geezers precious baby was back, so it would be strange if there was no rice and flour at home. She, Qin Xiaoyao, had finally transmigrated to this ce. There was no reason for her to go hungry. In any case, she had to eat the main course tonight! Without waiting for a reply from the people in the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows and knocked on the door with more force. Open the door! If you dont open the door, Im going to tear it down! Then, she actually started to curse. Was Aunt Wangs brain fried? She had just answered the door. Did she think she would really believe that no one was inside? Besides, there was the smell of such fragrant food. If there was no one inside, was a ghost eating inside? The hearts of the four people in the room trembled. Wang Dashan looked at the direction of the courtyard gate in fear, then looked at his mother. Didnt I tell you to have less contact with her? He said to Aunt Wang with displeasure. That woman Qin Sanya was well-known even in Mountain Spring Town. She was an evil female tyrant that everyone hated and even dogs disliked. In Mountain Spring Town, those who knew her would keep their distance from her. Only his mother was close to that woman. I ignored her. After you told me about itst time, I ignored her, Aunt Wang quickly said. Then what is she doing here? Wang Dashans tone became even more displeased. If you dont open the door, Im really going to kick it! Just then, Qin Xiaoyao shouted again. After she finished speaking, she really lifted her foot. Chapter 9 Chapter 9: The Wicked Would Be Tormented by the More Wicked Just as she was about to kick, a sound finally came from inside the door. Coming! It was Wang Dashan. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao put her foot down. She thought to herself, If you have the ability, you can hide like turtles forever! After a while, Wang Dashan came to open the door. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao, his face was filled with displeasure. Who are you looking for? He didnt move aside but stood squarely within the doorway and asked. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows. Looking for your mother! she replied straight away. When Wang Dashan saw Qin Xiaoyaos expression, he felt even more disgusted. My mother is not free. And donte looking for her in the future. He prepared to close the door after saying this. However, Qin Xiaoyao stuck her foot out and stopped the door from closing. Wang Dashan frowned and was about to reprimand this woman who didnt know her ce. However, Qin Xiaoyao simply pushed the door open forcefully. He was caught off guard and was pushed back by the door, stumbling backward a few steps. Wang Dashan was furious. He was about to curse, but Qin Xiaoyao spoke first. I was free when you borrowed money and rice and flour from me! Now that Im asking you to return the things, howe you are not free? Qin Xiaoyao shouted into the courtyard. She took a nce at Wang Dashan, who looked like he was ready to rush over and fight with her, so she went up to him directly. The rice and flour that your mother borrowed all went into your stomach, right? Your mother begged me to lend her money to seek treatment for your illness and help you recuperate. She said that no one in the vige was willing to lend her money. She also said that the entire Brook Falls Vige is full of ungrateful people. Im the only good one in the vige who was willing to lend her money! Well, now. Youve recovered from your illness, and your body is well now. You have even gone to work in town! Yet youve already forgotten your benefactor? Qin Xiaoyao walked toward Wang Dashan step by step, looking confident and self-righteous. This revtion caused the enraged Wang Dashans expression to change drastically. It was because he didnt know about these things. Before he went to work in town, he had indeed suffered from themon cold. He had been very sick at the time and had taken a lot of medicine. At that point, he had wondered why his family had the money to buy so much medicine for him. Could it be Thinking that what Qin Xiaoyao said might be true, Wang Dashan felt so guilty that he couldnt even lift his head. Im really blind with my copper coins, rice, and flour! Ive fed such an ungrateful person like you! Seeing Wang Dashans expression, Qin Xiaoyao pressed on in an unforgiving manner. Qin Sanya, stop your goddamn nonsense! Just then, Aunt Wang rushed over like a hen protecting its chicks. She held a rod in her hand and pointed it at Qin Xiaoyao, shielding Wang Dashan behind her. You gave me the copper coins, rice and flour willingly. When did I ever borrow them from you? Under Qin Xiaoyaos gaze, Aunt Wang acted in an unashamed and overbearing manner. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows at the sight of this ugly face. She reached out with her hand and swiftly grabbed the rod in Aunt Wangs hand. You think I have too much fucking money so I gave you to save your ingrate here? You think I have too much rice and flour so I gave them to you to feed this bastard? She continued to yell at the top of her voice. At the same time, she exerted some strength and snatched the rod away, then threw it away. Aunt Wang wanted to hold onto the rod, but Qin Xiaoyao pushed her back with force, and she fell to the ground on her backside. Oh my! Murder! Qin Sanya is going to kill me! Someone,e and save me! Aunt Wang immediately started wailing. The sound was like a pig being ughtered, and it was very ear-piercing. Unfortunately, Qin Xiaoyao was not afraid at all. She even picked up the rod that she had thrown away just now. Hmph, murder? Then if I dont fucking kill you today, wouldnt I be wronged by you? She said in a menacing tone. Holding that rod, she made her way toward Aunt Wang step by step. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos entire body exuded a bloodthirsty glow and appeared extremely ruthless. It was as if she would really kill someone. Wang Dashans legs turned to jelly. Aunt Wang also stopped crying unconsciously. Im asking again. Are you paying back or not? Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were filled with murderous intent as she pointed the rod at Aunt Wang sitting on the ground. If this had happened in her previous life, she would not have wasted time arguing with her and would have killed her long ago. This was because she hated shrews like her the most. Aunt Wang was frightened speechless, and a hint of hesitation shed in her eyes. Wang Dashan, on the other hand, was scared out of his wits. He quickly ran to his mother. Pay! Ill pay back everything she owed you! He hurriedly said. Wang Dashan wanted to say it in a righteous and magnanimous manner, but faced with Qin Xiaoyaos re, he could barely finish uttering his words. ... There was no imposing manner whatsoever at all. Qin Xiaoyaos expression only improved a little after hearing this. Why didnt you say so earlier? She looked at Wang Dashan in annoyance. She exerted force with her hands and easily broke the wooden rod, which was as thick as a thumb, into two. This scene horrified the mother and son again. Thats seventy-five copper coins in total, plus ten bowls of brown rice and five bowls of flour. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao handed over the bowl in her hand. Use this bowl. Also, when I was filling the bowls, every bowl was heaped high. Qin Xiaoyao continued. When Aunt Wang heard this, she wanted to refute it. However, she was warned by her son with an eye signal, so she kept her mouth shut. Okay! You wait here. Wang Dashan said. He turned around and went back into the house. ... Aunt Wang looked at her sons departing back profile and suddenly felt a little aggrieved. Hmph! Looks like I was wrong. The Dashan still has some conscience. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Aunt Wang and said icily. Aunt Wang quickly turned back and red at Qin Xiaoyao before getting up from the ground. If making a scene was useless, then why was she still sitting on the ground? Hmph, Qin Sanya! Youd better pray that your Song family wont ever need toe to our Wang family for help! If she didnt say something ruthless, Aunt Wang felt she wouldnt be able to swallow the anger in her heart. Yet if her words were too ruthless, she was afraid that it would make Qin Sanya go mad with anger, so she simply uttered a rtively mild statement. Qin Xiaoyao raised her eyebrows and smiled at Aunt Wang. Dont worry. That day will nevere. As for you, even if someone in your family dies in the future and you need help, donte to the Song family to ask for help, she said in response. Under Aunt Wangs furious gaze, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Anyway, its enough to be bitten once by an ingrate. You Aunt Wang pointed at Qin Xiaoyao in rage. However, Qin Xiaoyao reached out with her hand and swept away the finger that Aunt Wang pointed at her. Me? Im very good! Ill be happier than you and will live longer than you. I think you didnt really hear what I said to you at the foot of the mountain. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked in the direction where Wang Dashan had just left. If you mess with me again, Ill go to my father and ask him to chat more often with Boss Chen. Like telling him about how your family owes money and doesnt pay it back, being an ingrate, and so forth. As they say, like mother, like son. Lets see if Boss Chen still wants to retain your Dashans services at that point! Aunt Wangs face trembled with rage. You how dare you... Qin Xiaoyao simplyughed out loud. Hehe, why wouldnt I dare? If you provoke me, Ill even dare to kill you! As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Aunt Wang menacingly again. Chapter 10 Chapter 10: Cooking Aunt Wang was so frightened that she shrank back. Stop stop talking nonsense! Ill return you the money, rice and flour now. From hereon, I dont owe you anything! Aunt Wang finally admitted defeat and didnt dare to push her weight around in front of Qin Xiaoyao anymore. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes shed with contempt. This will depend on my mood, she said slowly. Aunt Wang was shocked. Ive already paid you back. What else do you want? she asked Qin Xiaoyao angrily. She really regretted it now. If she had known that this fiend was so difficult to deal with, why would she have bothered with her? Her Dashan had finally found a good job, so she couldnt let this wretched girl ruin it. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Aunt Wang with disdain. Nothing else. In the future, just avoid me when you see me! Aunt Wang became infuriated again. She wanted to rush up and tear Qin Xiaoyao to pieces. However, Qin Xiaoyaos physical strength far exceeded hers, so she could only swallow her anger back. Just when she thought she was about to be driven to her grave by Qin Xiaoyao, Wang Dashan finally returned. He was also holding two wooden basins in his hands. Using your bowl, I scooped eleven bowls of brown rice and five and a half bowls of flour, more than what you asked for. Also, here are the seventy-five copper coins, not a single coin less! With that, Wang Dashan handed over two wooden basins. When Aunt Wang heard this, she wanted to scold her son for failing their family. However, after thinking about it, she held back. Since they had fallen head first this time, they could only treat it as giving an offering to ward off the God of gue. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. She didnt take the wooden basin but picked up the bowl in the basin. Then she began to count the copper coins inside. One by one, she counted them very seriously, which made Wang Dashan frown. Did this woman think that he would scam her out of a few coins? Qin Xiaoyao didnt care and continued to count. This was not a joke, as these were the only money she had. Tomorrow, she needed to use this money to go to town and find a doctor for her attractive husband. After counting twice and making sure that the number of copper coins was correct, Qin Xiaoyao then put the bowl containing the copper coins back into the wooden basin. Only then did she ept the two wooden basins. One of you,e with me. After Ive emptied the wooden basins, you can bring it back yourself, she said. When Aunt Wang heard this, the anger in her heart rose again. However, Wang Dashan grabbed her arm. Ill let my little sister go with you. Following that, Wang Dashan looked in the direction of the main door. Little sister, you go with her. He said to Wang Xiaomei, who was peeking from behind the door. It was not convenient for a man like him to go. As for his mother, he was afraid that if she went, she would cause trouble again. Wang Xiaomei nced at Qin Xiaoyao, her face full of fear. However, she was still sensible and walked out. Then, she left with Qin Xiaoyao. Along the way, Qin Xiaoyao didnt make things difficult for the little girl. Under the shocked gazes of Madam Liu and the two children, she brought the little girl into the kitchen. After that, Qin Xiaoyao put the rice and flour into the corresponding jars and kept the copper coins in the empty purse. Take them. After that, she returned the two wooden basins to the little girl. Thank you, Mrs. Song! The little girl said with a red face. She took the two wooden basins and quickly left. Qin Xiaoyao stood where she was and watched the little girl leave. A smile appeared on her face. Though Aunt Wang herself wasnt that good a person, the two children she raised were pretty good. Qin Xiaoyao didnt think too much about it and went back to the courtyard. She had no choice. There was only one wooden basin in the house. She had to put the pheasant meat into the pot before emptying the wooden basin to knead the dough. At this moment, the three of them had almost plucked all the feathers from the pheasants and birds. When they saw Qin Xiaoyaoe out, they all became nervous. Its been hard on Mother, Yuner, and Yeer, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. When no one answered, she helplessly sighed in her heart. No... Its not hard. At this moment, Madam Liu opened her mouth. ... Qin Xiaoyaos eyes shed with a hint of liveliness. Ill go get some dry grass and light a fire to burn off the soft fur. After that, we can clean up the things and put them in the pot, she said quite joyfully. With that, Qin Xiaoyao swung into action. After a short while, she started a fire expertly with the fire sparks retainer and prepared the two pheasants and eight birds. After that, Qin Xiaoyao took the wooden basin with the pheasants and birds, grabbed the wild hares, and went to the stream. The next step was to disembowel and arrange the internal organs of the pheasants and birds. Furthermore, she had to skin the wild hares and sort out their internal organs. Next, she cleaned up the site and buried the unwanted things. After that, Qin Xiaoyao brought the things she had packed home. When the three of them saw Qin Xiaoyao return, they followed her into the kitchen. They wanted to help, but no one dared to say anything. ... Mother,e and boil the pot inside. Lets stew the chicken soup first, Qin Xiaoyao said to Madam Liu,ughing silently. As she spoke, she began to mix water into the pot. Okay, Madam Liu replied and quickly went to the stove to start a fire. Song Yun immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao nervously, waiting for her sister-inw to assign the tasks to her. Unfortunately, she didnt assign any. Yuner, you can take Yeer out to y first. When Im ready, Ill call for you to put this pot to boil. Not surprisingly, Qin Xiaoyao noticed the little girls expression, so she gave her these instructions with a smile. The little girls face turned red when her name was called. Alright, she said. Thereafter, she brought Song Ye out. The little child looked at the wooden basin in front of Qin Xiaoyao with a reluctant expression. To be more precise, it was the birds in the wooden basin. He wanted to ask his sister-inw when she would help him roast some birds. However, he didnt dare open his mouth because he was fearful. Qin Xiaoyao was in a good mood at the moment and started to busy herself by the stove. As her kitchen knife sliced expertly, she quickly chopped up the two pheasants and three birds before putting them into the pot. After that, she took out the washed Chinese yams, peeled them, and cut them into pieces. Just as she was about to put the cut pieces of yam into the pot, Madam Liu, who had been struggling to speak but didnt dare, finally opened her mouth. What whats this thing? Madam Liu asked nervously. Actually, she did not want to interfere with her daughter-inws work, but meat was precious. If this thing could not be eaten and was put into the pot, wouldnt it destroy the pheasant meat? She had never thought that she would be able to taste the pheasant meat herself. However, although her daughter-inw did not treat them well, she still cared about her eldest son. If the pheasant was stewed, her eldest son would probably get a share. Her eldest son was still injured, and it was a rare opportunity for him to nourish his body. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. She looked at her mother-inw, who didnt dare to look at her anymore. Then, the corners of her mouth curled up. This is Chinese yam, also known as Huaishan. After that, she put all the cut Chinese yams into the pot. Qin Xiaoyao was confused when she saw Madam Liu looking at the pot with fear in her eyes. She recalled something, then said, Dont worry, Mother. This thing is edible. Not only can it be used as a dish, it can also be used as a medicinal herb. Madam Liu was shocked. This Chinese yam strengthens the spleen, nourishes the lungs and strengthens the kidneys. It is really good stuff. Also, the taste is not bad. Youll know when you have a tasteter after Im done cooking it. Madam Lius expression changed drastically. Chapter 11 Chapter 11: Pancakes I I wont be eating, Madam Liu hurriedly said. She was already suspicious and felt that this thing might be poisonous. Perhaps it was her daughter-inw who wanted to poison her. Qin Xiaoyao was at a loss. She thought Madam Liu still did not believe that she wanted to share the pheasant with her. She wanted to say something, but after thinking about it, she decided against it. When the meat stew was ready, she would let them eat it, then they would believe her. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao went on to chop the hare meat. She put aside one of the hares and prepared to fry the other one. Although the only seasoning left in the house was a little salt, this hare was quite fat, so some fat would ooze out as she fried it. She had experienced far tougher conditions in the post-apocalyptic world, so she was not that picky about food. After chopping up the hare meat, Qin Xiaoyao began to knead the dough. She also added pheasant eggs and wild vegetables to the mixture. Madam Liu wanted to say something when she saw this but stopped herself again. She had wanted to ask her daughter-inw just now. Where did she get so much rice and flour when she went out? And she even brought back the little girl from the Wang family. At that time, she had thought that her daughter-inw had brought the little girl back to give away the things in their own house. However, when the little girl left, she only took two empty wooden basins with her. She had some guesses in her heart, but she didnt dare to believe them. Whats wrong, Mother? Qin Xiaoyao naturally noticed her mother-inws expression and asked Madam Liu with a smile. Madam Liu quickly looked away. Not nothing, she stammered. She still dared not ask. Qin Xiaoyao was actually waiting for Madam Liu to ask her about the rice and the flour. Then, she would answer and take the opportunity to show her loyalty to her mother-inw and also tell her that she had turned over a new leaf. However, she didnt actually ask. Qin Xiaoyao felt a little disappointed. After a while, finally, she couldnt hold it in anymore. Mother, did you want to ask about this flour and the rice I just brought back? Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu with a smile. She thought to herself, Why wont you ask me? Ill definitely tell you everything I know, okay? Madam Liu was stunned. Oh well, yes, she finally replied. Qin Xiaoyaos heart was bursting with joy when she finally heard her mother-inws words. However, she still forced herself to calm down. Then she exined, The rice and flour were returned to our family by Aunt Wang. Madam Liu was shocked. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and continued, Didnt I lend them some rice and flour before? I went to get them back earlier. Oh, right. Ive also gotten back the copper coins that were loaned out! This time, Madam Lius eyes nearly popped out. Qin Xiaoyao smiled again. Husbands leg injury cant be dyed. Tomorrow, Im going to town again to invite a doctor back to take a good look at his injury. Well, 75 copper coins might not be enough. Perhaps she had to think of some other way. She hoped that the two pieces of hare skin and the bundle of Chinese yam could be exchanged for some silver. If it was still not enough, she could only go back to the Qin family and shamelessly beg her predecessors father. That was right. Qin Xiaoyao had already epted her current identity and was prepared to live well in her ce. As a woman in the post-apocalyptic world, it was not strange that she could change and adapt so quickly. After all,pared to the apocalypse, this ce could really be considered a paradise. Madam Lius eyes flickered, and finally, a look of worry emerged. Your then your... She actually wanted to ask Qin Xiaoyao if she had enough money, but she stopped herself when she thought of her daughter-inws actions earlier. She could make a bit of money by doing embroidery, but that bit of money was the life-saving money for her family to buy food and cook porridge. If she gave it to her daughter-inw and she squandered it, her whole family would probably starve to death. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu. Seeing that Madam Liu quickly avoided her gaze with a guilty and regretful look, her mouth curled up in a faint smile again. Her mother-inw really disyed all her thoughts on her face. Ill think of a way to get the money. You can just take care of Yuner and the rest at home. ... A look of surprise shed across Madam Lius face once more. Alright, she replied. Qin Xiaoyao finallypleted making the noodles. Ill call Yuner in to start the fire. After saying that, she left the kitchen. Not long after, Song Yun brought Song Ye in. Then, she skillfully started a fire. Qin Xiaoyao began to make pancakes. As the pancakes were ced into the pan one by one, the fragrance quickly spread out. Qin Xiaoyao quickly finished making the semi-circr pancakes. Just as she was about to finish using the rest of the flour paste, she could no longer ignore the gazes of the three people behind the stove. In particr, the two younger ones had swallowed their saliva several times. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help butugh when she saw this. ... Then, she took the opportunity to scoop some water. Come, wash your hands. Help me taste these pancakes after you wash them. Then, Qin Xiaoyao took the wooden bucket of water and ced it in front of the stove. The two little ones were shocked. They looked at each other and did not dare to move forward. Qin Xiaoyao felt helpless and turned her gaze to the youngest child, Song Ye. Yeer, you go first. She smiled and coaxed him gently. Song Ye looked at Song Yun, then at the steaming pancakes on the stove. He couldnt bear it anymore and walked toward Qin Xiaoyao. Good boy! Qin Xiaoyao was amused by the little kids expression and couldnt help but stroke his head. Come, let Sister-inw help you wash your hands, she said. Then, she took Song Yes tiny hands and helped him wash them in the bucket. Song Ye was a little scared at first, but he realized that Sister-inw was very gentle. When she helped him wash his hands, she didnt rub them too hard. Alright! After you wash your wee little hands, you can eat the pancake, Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. Immediately after, she got up and brought the bamboo pan basket from the kitchen counter. This big one was the first to be baked, so its definitely not hot now. Yeer can take this one and help Sister-inw taste it. Qin Xiaoyao coaxed with a smile. Song Yes tiny face turned red. Okay. Then, under Qin Xiaoyaos encouraging gaze, he finally reached out and took the big pancake that Qin Xiaoyao had pointed out. It really wasnt hot, and the pancake was very big, twice the size of his tiny hand. Try it. Qin Xiaoyao continued. Song Ye didnt stand on ceremony this time. He used his other hand to hold the pancake and brought it to his mouth. He took a bite. The fragrance instantly swept through his mouth, and it was so delicious that it made him want to cry. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, was not in the mood to look at these things. The newly-baked pancake in the pan needed to be flipped over. She hurriedly put the bamboo pan basket back on the kitchen counter, went back to the stove, and began to flip the pancakes. At the same time, Qin Xiaoyao took the opportunity to speak to Song Yun and Madam Liu. Yuner, Mother, why dont both of you wash your hands and help me taste it too. Its my first time making pancakes, so I dont know if theyll taste good. Sister-inw, its delicious! Song Ye was enjoying his meal at first, but when he heard Qin Xiaoyaos words, he removed the half-eaten pancake from his mouth and answered Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos heart was filled with joy at the sight of the greedy little cat. Your word alone doesnt count! Quickly let your sister and mother have a taste too, she said with a smile to Song Ye. Chapter 12 Chapter 12: Gorging on Food Reassured by Qin Xiaoyaos words, Song Yes courage instantly increased. His big round eyes quickly looked at Song Yun. Big Sis Song Yun swallowed her saliva and looked at Madam Liu. Madam Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyao and saw that she appeared very nonchnt and was engrossed in flipping the pancakes. She then nodded at Song Yun. It was rare for her daughter-inw to be kind, so it was good to let her daughter eat something good. Song Yuns face lit up, and she went to wash her hands. After washing for a while, she got up. Looking at Qin Xiaoyao, who was beaming at her, she didnt dare to open her mouth to ask. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao felt somewhat helpless again. She took the initiative to step forward and retrieved the bamboo pan basket. Yuner can take this one. This ones big, and was also baked first, so it shouldnt be too hot. Song Yuns eyes lit up. Thank you, Sister-inw, she said timidly, then reached out to take the pancake. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but adore this little girl dearly in her heart. She couldnt resist reaching out to stroke the little girls head. Song Yun was almost frightened out of her wits, but she managed to steady herself in time and didnt avoid Qin Xiaoyaos ws. As the delicious pancake entered her mouth, the uneasiness in Song Yuns heart was quickly washed away, leaving only a feeling of happiness. Then, as if Song Yun had thought of something, she took the pancakes and walked toward Madam Liu. Mom, this pancake is delicious. Try it! Then, she took out half of the pancake and directed it to Madam Lius mouth. Madam Liu was shocked. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking in her direction, her face froze. Just as she was about to turn her down, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and spoke. Mother, youre really too much. Just wash your hands ande and get it yourself. Dont tell me you are waiting for Yuner to feed you? Madam Lius face turned bright red. You eat on your own. Mom will go wash her hands, she said to her daughter then. Song Yuns face lit up. Mom, take it slowly. She reminded her mother before moving aside. Only then did Madam Liu stand up. She went to the ce where the two children had washed their hands and waited for her daughter-inw to give her the pancake. Qin Xiaoyao didnt serve Madam Liu the basket, but continued to work on the stove. Those at the bottom were baked first, so they are not that hot. Mother, just help yourself. Madam Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyao worriedly, then stepped forward. After hesitating for a while, she picked a smaller one. Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and saw the pancake in Madam Lius hand. She couldnt help but frown. Her expression startled Madam Liu, and she almost dropped the pancake in her hand. Mother, why did you choose such a small one? What can you taste from such a small piece? Take another piece. Qin Xiaoyao said. Then she took two steps forward, picked a slightly bigger one from the bamboo pan basket, and handed it to Madam Liu. Add this one, she told her. Madam Liu was so shocked that she didnt react for quite a while. It wasnt until Song Yun, who was next to her, tugged at the corner of her clothes that Madam Liu came back to her senses. Thank thank you, she hurriedly said to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao frowned slightly. Then, she smiled. Were family, Mother. You dont have to be so polite. Madam Liu didnt even dare to look at Qin Xiaoyao. She took the pancake and quickly left. Qin Xiaoyao felt utterly helpless. Sighing in her heart, she also took a piece of pancake and put it in her mouth. Hmm, it tasted really good! After that, she returned to the stove to continue cooking. Qin Xiaoyao then added. If youve finished eating, theres still more in the basket. Just eat two each, or itll affect your appetite for dinnerter. Qin Xiaoyao didnt take any notice of the three peoples surprised stares and looked at Song Ye instead. Ill have to trouble Yeer to make a trip and pick two of the bigger pancakes to send to your big brother. Its already sote. He must be hungry. The little childs eyes lit up. Okay, Sister-inw! He quickly ran over. Qin Xiaoyaoughed and took out a bowl and chopsticks. Then, with Song Yes help, she chose tworge pancakes and ced them in the bowl. ... Go on. Then, she passed the bowl and chopsticks to Song Ye. Okay! Little Song Ye left happily. The moment Song Ye left, the room became quiet again. Qin Xiaoyao personally passed the pancakes to Song Yun and Madam Liu again. Then, she asked Song Yun to keep the fire going in preparation to fry the hare meat. Time passed slowly, and night finally fell. Before the sky turnedpletely dark, Qin Xiaoyao used the fire in the stove to roast the remaining five birds and also cooked the hare meat. At the same time, the aroma of the chicken soup wafted out from the big pot. It made everyone in the room drool uncontrobly. Even Song Que, who was in the room next door, felt disturbed by the fragrance. It was really bizarre today. Surprisingly, that woman didnt die. And it seemed like her personality had changed. Hmph! I wonder where she got the food from he thought. ... The chicken needs to be stewed a while longer, so we wont wait for now. Lets have some pancakes and hare meat for dinner. Qin Xiaoyao ced the hare meat on the table and then began to set the table. Madam Liu and Song Yun didnt answer. Only Song Ye ran to Qin Xiaoyaos side. Sister-inw, I will bring the food to Big Brother. He volunteered. Qin Xiaoyao was amused by the little kid and couldnt resist leaning over to stroke his head. Its dark outside and the path isnt easy to walk. Ill send the food to him. Qin Xiaoyao then looked at her mother-inw and little sister-inw. All of you can wash your hands and eat first. Dont wait for me. After speaking, she returned to the kitchen counter. She took the portion that was specially reserved for Song Que and left the kitchen. Walking out of the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao realized it was darker than she had thought. The only reason the kitchen was notpletely dark was that the firewood was still burning in the stove pit. Fortunately, after taking a few steps out of the room, her eyes got used to the night. Under the faint moonlight, she could more or less see the path in front of her. Qin Xiaoyao soon arrived next door. As soon as she entered the room, she heard movement on the bed. Knowing that it was Song Que, Qin Xiaoyao quickly entered the room and ced the bowl and chopsticks on the bedside cab. Then, she took out the fire sparks retainer. The weak light of the fire instantly lit up a small area. Then, Qin Xiaoyao saw Song Que, who had turned over and was looking at her. The mans eyes were dark and bright, and Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat when she saw them. Qin Xiaoyao only came back to her senses when she saw him frowning. Then, she lit the oilmp on the table. Tonights dinner is a littlete today. You take your dinner first, honey. Ille backter to collect the utensils, she said. Song Que didnt move. He only looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a guarded expression. Qin Xiaoyao felt very helpless. Well, Ill take my leave first. After saying that, she left. Although she wanted to look at the handsome man a while longer, her stomach was more important. She had been busy for half a day and was very hungry now. Besides, she was afraid that if she didnt go back, the three people in the kitchen dared not start eating. Qin Xiaoyaos worry was spot on. When she went back next door, she saw that the three of them were indeed sitting at the table, but none of them touched anything. When they saw her return, just like at noon, they all looked at her in unison but then quickly looked away. With a smile on her face, Qin Xiaoyao strode toward the three of them. Lets eat. After she sat down, she began to eat. Chapter 13 Chapter 13: No Poison? Only then did the mother and the two kids start eating. Come, lets take one roasted bird each. I dont have enough seasoning, so I only put some salt in it. I dont know how it will taste. Qin Xiaoyao said quickly. Then, she distributed the four roasted birds on the table to everyone. Song Yes tiny face couldnt be any happier as he thanked Qin Xiaoyao profusely, making Qin Xiaoyao feel very happy inwardly. Madam Liu and Song Yuns voices were much softer. However, Qin Xiaoyao didnt mind. She told them not to hold back and to eat as much as they wanted tonight. In the beginning, the three of them were still a little reserved. Soon, after seeing that Qin Xiaoyao really didnt care about them, they became bolder. Gradually, they began to eat with peace of mind. Tonights dinner table was filled with meat and pancakes. The Song family had never taken such a meal in this whole year. Qin Xiaoyao was also gobbling down her food. Compared to this poor family, her life in the apocalyptic world before she transmigrated was not much better than theirs. However, those days of hardship were over, and she had escaped the apocalypse. With her own strength, she was confident that she could provide the whole family with a good life. Fifteen minutester, Qin Xiaoyao, who had eaten five pancakes, finally felt full. Im afraid the pheasant meat isnt stewed enough, but the Chinese yam should be edible, she said. With that, she stood up. Ill go get a bowl of Chinese yam. Madam Lius expression changed drastically. Then, she panicked and immediately looked at her daughter and son, warning them with her eyes. True to her expectations, her daughter-inw did not have good intentions. She had let them eat meat and pancakes just now in preparation for poisoning them to death. After receiving their mothers warning, the look in Song Ye and Song Yuns eyes changed. The ease they felt just now was gone, reced by nervousness and fear. However, Qin Xiaoyao didnt know any of this. She went to the kitchen counter, took the only big bowl left in the house, and scooped the Chinese yam out from the pot. As soon as she opened the lid, the aroma of the chicken soup hit her in the face. Qin Xiaoyao swallowed a big mouthful of saliva. Qin Xiaoyao didnt waste any time. She quickly pressed the wok spat on the yam to check if it was cooked thoroughly. After making sure that the yam could be broken off with just a little force, Qin Xiaoyao knew that the yam was already fully cooked. Overjoyed, she immediately scooped out a lot of Chinese yams. As she scooped up the Chinese yam, she also ended up with two chunks of pheasant meat in the midst. Qin Xiaoyao didnt put the pheasant meat back into the pot. She covered the pot and returned to the table with a big bowl heaped high with Chinese yam. Try it. This is good stuff. Qin Xiaoyao said as she sat down. However, as soon as she sat down, Qin Xiaoyao noticed something unusual. The three of them didnt move. Not only did they not eat the Chinese yam, but they also stopped eating the hare meat and pancakes. They had all put down their chopsticks and sat there obediently. We were full. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao was looking at her, Madam Liu quickly spoke. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. Then, she looked at Song Yun and Song Ye. The two children lowered their heads, shrinking back into their clothes like ostriches. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but frown. Full? She had paid a lot of attention to the three of them when she was eating earlier. They didnt eat as fast as she did, so they didnt eat much. In addition, it wasnt easy for them to have a good meal at home. Even if they were 70-80% full just now, they shouldnt have put down the bowls so quickly. She turned her head and looked at Madam Liu again. She saw that Madam Liu was looking at the Chinese yam in front of her with a strange and fearful expression. Qin Xiaoyao then realized something. Although Qin Xiaoyao was at a loss, she still didnt say anything in the end. Instead, she picked up her chopsticks, picked up a piece of Chinese yam, and put it in her own bowl. Then, under Madam Lius shocked and hesitant expression, she picked up the Chinese yam and blew on it. Thereafter, she put it into her mouth. As the cooking time was not long enough, the yam was not soft enough even though it waspletely cooked. Qin Xiaoyao chewed on it and realized that even so, the taste of the yam was still pretty good. ... So, she reached out with her chopsticks for a second piece. Mmm! Its delicious! She even muttered. As soon as she said that, the three of them looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Especially Song Ye. He couldnt help but swallow his saliva when he saw Qin Xiaoyao eating the yam. Song Yun couldnt help but look at the food on the table, her eyes full of longing. At this moment, Madam Liu realized that she had misunderstood her daughter-inw. She blushed and wanted to say something, but she couldnt utter a single word. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the trios expressions and felt quite amused. There are still so many dishes on the table. Eat some more. Ill wash the dishester, she finally said. The two childrens faces lit up with joy, but they looked at Madam Liu instead of responding to Qin Xiaoyao. ... Okay Madam Liu quickly responded and picked up her chopsticks again. Her face was flushed red, and she didnt dare to look at Qin Xiaoyao anymore. She had a feeling that her daughter-inw might have guessed what she was thinking. This made her feel ashamed. Song Ye and Song Yun didnt think so much. They picked up their chopsticks and started eating happily again. Here, try this Chinese yam. It strengthens the spleen, nourishes the lungs, and fortifies the kidneys. Its good for the body. Qin Xiaoyao suddenly reached out with her chopsticks and picked up a piece of Chinese yam for each sibling. Seeing that Madam Liu was looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao also picked up a piece for her. Mother, you should eat more too. Oh, okay! Madam Liu quickly agreed. Then, she picked up the Chinese yam in her bowl, and blew on it to cool it down before putting it into her mouth. Initially, she didnt have much hope that the Chinese yam would be delicious. However, she found that the taste of the Chinese yam was really delicious in the end. After receiving two more pieces of yam from her daughter-inw, Madam Liu quickly ate all the yam in the bowl. Then, she couldnt contain herself and reached out with her chopsticks to pick up another piece. Did you really find this Chinese yam in the mountains? Soon, Madam Liu couldnt contain herself any longer and asked Qin Xiaoyao. She had asionally brought the two children into the mountains to forage for wild vegetables, but she had never seen any Chinese yam. The vigers had never heard of any family eating Chinese yam either. If this thing really came from the mountains, why didnt anyone dig it up to eat? After all, this thing was quite delicious. Yup, Qin Xiaoyao replied happily. She understood Madam Lius quizzical expression and smiled. Its probably because this thing looks like a stick of firewood before its peeled, so no one dug it up to eat. Wild Chinese yam was indeed very fine. It didnt look much different from firewood and tree roots. In addition, this thing grew in the ground and not on the tree like wild fruits. It was not surprising that the vigers didnt discover it or know that it was edible even after locating it. Oh. Madam Liu nodded thoughtfully. Are there many of these things in the mountains? Are there any more? Then, she asked Qin Xiaoyao again. This Chinese yam was more delicious than those wild vegetables and could fill the stomach much better. If there were more, she could go into the mountains to dig, and the food supply at home would be stabilized. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu with a smile. Dont worry, Mother. Theres more. When I came back, I found arge plot ofnd with Chinese yam. I think it should be no problem to dig up six or seven hundred catties. Chapter 14 Chapter 14: Closing the distance Seeing Madam Lius eyes light up, Qin Xiaoyao continued. But that ce is deep in the mountains, and the path is not easy to walk on. Its not safe for you to go there. Seeing the hesitation on Madam Lius face, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Mother, dont worry about digging up the Chinese yam. Leave it to me! You only need to take care of the house. Ill take care of the rest of the things. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao patted her chest. Madam Liu was a little touched. Deep in the mountains? Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao worriedly. If it was in the past, she would not care if her daughter-inw went deep into the mountains. However, now that she knew what her daughter-inw was doing in the mountains, how could she watch her take the risk helplessly? What if something happened to her daughter-inw, or she lost her life? Wouldnt she feel guilty for the rest of her life? Seeing the worry in Madam Lius eyes, Qin Xiaoyao was quite touched. Dont worry. Although its deep in the mountains, its not far from the mountaintop where the vigers work. Besides, Im not nning to dig up those Chinese yams by myself. ording to her predecessors memory, the price of seeing a doctor and getting medicine in this era was not low. Her attractive husbands injuries werent light. If she wanted to provide proper treatment for him, she was afraid that she would have to spend a lot of money. Although she was strong, her ability was limited if she worked alone. It was not easy to dig out the Chinese yam. The yam was in the mountains and did not belong to anyone. If someone saw the earth holes she dug out and found out that the Chinese yam was edible, then all the remaining Chinese yams might not belong to her anymore. In this case, she might as well find someone to help her dig up all the Chinese yams as soon as possible, then sell them for money. This way, her attractive husband would have enough money to treat his injuries. Why why dont we forget about getting outside help? We well go together. Madam Liu hesitated for a moment, but she still spoke up eventually. She even looked at the two little ones on the table. If they got other people to help, surely they would have to pay them? Moreover, it was something that came from the mountains. If others found out that it was edible, wouldnt they go and dig it up themselves? Their family was so poor that they couldnt even feed themselves. It wasnt easy to find something that could fill their stomachs, so she had to protect this source of food. When the two little ones heard that their mother was going to bring them to the mountains to dig for Chinese yam with their sister-inw, their eyes lit up, and they nodded. The Chinese yam was so delicious. Naturally, they wanted to dig it up for themselves. After digging and bringing them back home, they would not have to go hungry for a long time. Qin Xiaoyao was amused by the trios expressions. Mother, I understand your intention. But I really cant let you go. Madam Liu became a little anxious. Qin Xiaoyao waved at her and continued. Digging up Chinese yam is hard work, but your body is not in good shape. Even if you go, you wont be of much help. She then looked at the two little ones. Its the same for Yuner and Yeer. Qin Xiaoyao ignored the disappointed expressions of the two little ones and turned back to look at Madam Liu. Furthermore, the mountain paths are not easy to walk on. If you fall on the way, the loss will outweigh the gain. Seeing that Madam Liu no longer insisted, Qin Xiaoyao picked up another piece of Chinese yam for her. Ill go to town tomorrow to see if I can find a market for the Chinese yam. If there is a demand for it, then Ill get some people to dig it up. Ill try to gather enough money for Husbands medical expenses. Madam Liu was stunned, speechless. Then, she turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao, her eyes filled with gratitude. Queers legs... Husbands leg is seriously injured. How can those herbs given by Hunter Huang be of any use? Husband is a schr. Although our family is in decline now and cant let Husband go to the academy for the time being, we cant give up. When our familys situation improves in the future, I will still let Husband continue his studies. If he injures his leg and ends up with some disability, by the time the Imperial examinationse around, he may not stand a chance, and his future will be ruined. When she heard this, Madam Liu had no more opinions. Alright, well do as you say then. Sell those Chinese yams to raise money to treat Queers legs. As long as her eldest sons leg could recover, she didnt mind her family eating rice husks and swallowing vegetable stems. Following that, the dining table became livelier. Qin Xiaoyao teased the two little ones from time to time and joked with Madam Liu from time to time. The three of them gradually started to reply and were no longer as reserved as before. After they finished the bowl of Chinese yam, Qin Xiaoyao went to the pot to get another bowl. In addition, she also took the time to go next door. She took Song Ques empty bowl and returned to the kitchen to get him a bowl of Chinese yam. Afraid that Song Que didnt know what the Chinese yam was, Qin Xiaoyao took pains to exin to him before leaving. ... The family of five ate until they were full. After the meal, Qin Xiaoyao washed the dishes and sent her mother-inw and the two kids to the courtyard to exercise and digest their food. Soon, she was in the kitchen and could hear the cheerful sounds of Song Ye and Song Yun ying in the courtyard. She couldnt help but smile when she heard them. After washing the dishes and tidying up the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao took out a wooden bucket and filled it with hot water. Then, she took the hot water to the room next door. Song Que, who was on the bed, saw Qin Xiaoyao walk in with hot water and sat up on the bed. As the action dragged against his wound, he winced involuntarily a few times. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help butugh heartlessly in her heart when she saw his expression. Then, she went to get a face towel, put it in the bucket, and wrung it dry. Honey, do you need me to help give you a wipe? As she asked, she handed over a wrung towel. Of course, she was just asking casually. She did not dare to hope for such a lucky break. ... Song Que frowned. No need, he replied. He snatched the face towel over. Then, he turned to the side and wiped his own face. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled and didnt feel disappointed. After Song Que had wiped his face and returned the towel, she washed it in the bucket and wrung it dry again. You need to wipe your leg too. This time, however, she didnt pass him the towel. This was because she knew that Song Que had no way of wiping it himself. No need. Song Que said in a low voice andid back on the bed. He even turned his back on Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao stood there, speechless. Fine, I wont wipe it then. In any case, Hunter Huang had just helped him clean it up yesterday, she thought. The early spring had just passed, and the weather was not hot, so he should not be sweating much. Qin Xiaoyao took another look at the figure who had turned his back to her and sighed in her heart. Then, she carried the wooden bucket and went out. Back in the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao scooped some water for Madam Liu and the two little ones to wash their faces. Then, they washed their feet. After making arrangements for the three of them, she finally took care of herself and went to get water for a bath. No doubt, though it was spring and the weather wasnt too hot, she had a lot of exercises today. Moreover, she was very fat and tended to sweat a lot. If she didnt take a shower, she would feel disgusted with herself, let alone her attractive husband. During the apocalypse, the conditions were too austere, so she rarely took a bath. As for now, there was no need to make herself suffer. After getting the hot water into the rudimentary bathroom, Qin Xiaoyao returned to the room to get her clothes. Then, she went to take a shower. Chapter 15 Chapter 15: Creak After taking a shower and changing into clean clothes, Qin Xiaoyao finally feltfortable. Qin Xiaoyao didnt want to sweat anymore, so she didnt do theundry and left the dirty clothes in the wooden bucket. Then, she went back to her room to sleep. At this moment, the oilmp in the room she shared with Song Que had been extinguished by Song Que, so she could only enter using the moonlight. After entering, she closed the door. Qin Xiaoyao didnt use the fire sparks retainer and walked to the bedside in the dark. As someone with extraordinary abilities, her vision was better than ordinary peoples. Although her vision at night was definitely not as good as during the day, she could still see some things clearly. For example, she could see her attractive husband moving his body further inside the bed. Sigh! If he moved in any closer, he would be stered against the wall. He still really despised her as usual. Qin Xiaoyao didnt think too much about it. She took off her shoes and got into bed. Immediately, the wooden bed made a creaking noise. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Then, her face turned red. Following that, sheposed herself before going back to bed. When she heard the creaking sound again, she could finally ept it calmly. Right now, Qin Xiaoyao, who was lying next to Song Que, had a lot of thoughts running through her mind. Her stomach was full, and her body felt fresh and clean. She didnt have to do anything, and she didnt have to worry about being attacked by zombies or bad guys. She was now in an absolutely safe environment. Moreover, she was now Qin Sanya and was married. The man beside her was her husband. In addition to her husband, she had her mother-inw, little sister-inw, and little brother-inw at home. Oh, she had a father and two older brothers too. Did she really want to be Qin Sanya? Nonsense! Of course, she wanted to! She wanted to make use of Qin Sanyas body to relive one whole lifetime, to experience all the bliss and happiness that she had never experienced in her previous life! At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt resist turning to her side. Just as she was about to look at her husbands back Creak! A decidedly disharmonious sound immediately rang out. Qin Xiaoyao frowned, feeling embarrassed and angry again. The hand she had raised to pat Song Ques hand was reced silently by her side again. Then, Qin Xiaoyao took a deep breath in her heart and carefully moved her body again, preparing to turn her body back. In the end Creak! Qin Xiaoyao was bbergasted! Are you done yet? Just then, the man with his back to Qin Sanya spoke. His tone was filled with annoyance. (Author: There is no doubt. This is the reborn ck Lotus. After being reborn, her personality was temporarily unstable. In addition, due to the current situation, it is better to maintain her current status and not reveal her identity.) Qin Xiaoyao instantly froze. Im done, she immediately responded. Then, she ignored the creaking sound and flipped back. After that, she stopped moving. Song Que was quite surprised by Qin Xiaoyaos answer. Did this womans character really change? If she had encountered such a situation in the past, she would have quarreled with him. Or did she fail in her suicide attempt, so other weird thoughts popped into her mind? As Song Que was running through his suspicions, Qin Xiaoyao didnt think about anything else anymore. She closed her eyes and went to sleep. She still had many things to do tomorrow. After a while, snoring started. Song Que, who had not fallen asleep, could not help but cover his ears. Damn it. He shouldnt have thought too much. He didnt fall asleep earlier, so how could he possibly fall asleep now? He turned over and looked at the big-sized woman in front of him. He could only vaguely make out her silhouette. It took Song Que a lot of effort to resist the urge to reach out and strangle her. Gritting his teeth, Song Que turned around and covered his ears, forcing himself to sleep. Qin Xiaoyao didnt know that a certain somebody had suffered a great deal because of her. She slept soundly until dawn. ... In fact, even if she knew, she could do nothing other than apologize in her heart for now. She was snoring now because she was too fat. And she couldnt lose weight in a short time. In her previous life, she didnt have the habit of snoring, and she slept quietly and civilly. It couldnt be helped as it was during the apocalypse. If she did not sleep quietly, she would attract hordes of zombies. Seeing that her attractive husband was still sound asleep, Qin Xiaoyao tried to get out of bed as gently as possible. However, the creaking sounds still made the person on the bed frown a few times. Fortunately, he didnt open his eyes. Qin Xiaoyao took a deep breath, put on her outerwear, and left the room. Just as she reached the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao saw that the dirty clothes she had changed out ofst night had been washed and hung up to dry. ... Furthermore, the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen. Qin Xiaoyao felt a sudden warmth in her heart as she walked quickly to the kitchen. Sure enough, Madam Liu and the two little ones were there. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao appear, the expressions on the mother and the children froze. Immediately after that, Song Ye was the first to smile. Sister-inw, Mom said that the food will be ready soon, he said to Qin Xiaoyao. Ill get some water for Sister-inw to wash her face. Song Yun chimed in and hurriedly went to get the bucket. Qin Xiaoyao quickly stepped forward. Ill do it myself. She grabbed the bucket from Song Yuns hands. She identally saw that the little girls hands were a little red, and it was obvious that they had been soaked in water. Thinking of the washed clothes hanging in the yard, Qin Xiaoyao knew then who had washed her clothes. Qin Xiaoyaoughed and said as she went to the kitchen counter to get some water, In the future, just leave the dirty clothes there. Ill wash them myself when Im free. She was a little embarrassed to let a ten-year-old girl help her wash her clothes. This was even though her predecessors clothes had been washed by Song Yun in the past. Upon hearing this, Song Yuns face shed with panic. Sister-inw, dont worry. Ive washed it really clean! I also didnt use much strength so that I wouldnt damage the clothes, she said. Once again, Qin Xiaoyao felt helpless. It was still her predecessors fault Previously, not only did she made this little sister-inw wash her clothes, but she also told her she was not allowed to eat if she didnt wash them. If she didnt wash them clean, she would get scolded too. So now, if Qin Xiaoyao didnt let the little girl wash her clothes, she would think that Qin Xiaoyao didnt want her to eat. I wash all the clothes at home. Sister-inw, please dont stop me washing... Song Yun almost burst into tears when she saw Qin Xiaoyao keeping quiet. Qin Xiaoyaos heart trembled. She could not possibly refuse now. Alright, alright, alright. You do it then. But you have to be careful. Its not very safe to wash clothes by the stream. After some thought, Qin Xiaoyao said again, How about this? Ill go over and fix that spotter. Itll be safer for you to wash clothes in the future. The ce where they washed their clothes was downstream of the stream, some distance away from the ce where they fetched water. As many people in the vige were washing clothes there, someone had dug a very deep pit there. Then there was a dangerous mudt behind that spot. If one was not careful, he could fall into the mudt. If he were more unlucky, he might even roll out of the mudt and fall off the edge of the cliff further back. Forget it. Lets just do the washing at home in the future. Its convenient for me to get water from the stream anyway. Thinking of the moss on the mudt, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Song Yun wanted to reject her proposal initially. Lets do it this way. In the future, Ill get water in the morning and evening to fill the water tank at home. Itll be enough for our use. Qin Xiaoyao interrupted Song Yun before she could say anything. Chapter 16 Chapter 16: Hundred Herbs Hall When Madam Liu heard these words, she couldnt help but look up at her daughter-inw. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao didnt seem to be forcing herself, she was a little surprised. Did her daughter-inw really change? Or did she return to her old ways and was ying the same tricks that she used before she married her eldest son? At that point, the childrens father had not died yet, and the daughter-inw suddenly came to their door and showed great care for their family. She even took the initiative to introduce a doctor and loaned money for them to treat the childrens father. Who would have thought that as soon as her childrens father died, she changed her attitude and forced her eldest son to marry her? After that, she even acted like a tyrant at home and bullied their family. Alright It seemed that she could not me her daughter-inw entirely. After all, the eighty silver taels were indeed spent on their family. And that silver was the only dowry the Qin family gave their daughter-inw. Whoever suffered such a fate would surely feel terrible Thinking of this, Madam Liu felt even more guilty toward Qin Xiaoyao. She couldnt say that her daughter-inw had returned to her old ways, but perhaps she had re-discovered her original conscience. Perhaps the previous character was her daughter-inws true personality. Thinking of this, Madam Liu felt that she had to observe more. After washing up, we can eat, Madam Liu then said. Oh, alright, Mother! Qin Xiaoyao replied. Then, she left with the wooden bucket. After washing her face, she used a willow branch to clean her teeth. After that, she went to prepare some toiletries and water for Song Que. Song Que didnt sleep well due to Qin Xiaoyaos snoringst night. Fortunately, he had gotten used to it after more than a month. Therefore, when Qin Xiaoyao entered the room, Song Que opened his eyes. Seeing Qin Xiaoyao, Song Que didnt look happy as usual. Feeling helpless, Qin Xiaoyao brought the things to the bedside. Then, she wrung the face towel dry and handed it to Song Que to wash his face. Qin Xiaoyao only left after she was done serving Song Que. She didnt say a word throughout the whole process. After Qin Xiaoyao left, Song Que frowned as he looked at her departing back profile. Even after she had disappeared through the door, he still didnt look away. That woman didnt even talk to him now, yet she was still serving him with all her heart. Did she really change? Hmph! Its good that she didnt speak, but even if she did, she would only be noisy and annoying. Qin Xiaoyao didnt know what Song Que was thinking. She didnt say anything because she didnt want to be despised by her attractive husband, making him annoyed. At this moment, it would be useless for her to say anything more. She might as well conserve her energy. Later, when she brought the doctor back and cured his leg injury, he would know her sincerity. She returned to the kitchen. Madam Liu had alreadyid out the dishes. The rice was congee that had just been cooked. It looked slightly thicker than the watery rice from yesterday afternoon, but it was still very diluted. The dishes were naturally the leftover hare meat from yesterday, as well as the stewed Chinese yam and pheasant meat. Qin Xiaoyao frowned when she saw the congee. Mother, Husband is still nursing an injury. Yuner and Yeer are still young. How can they eat such meager food? Seeing Madam Lius worried expression, Qin Xiaoyao continued. You dont have to save the brown rice I brought back yesterday. We cant afford the fine rice and noodle flour at the moment, but we can still afford the brown rice and rough noodle flour. Mother, from this afternoon on, youll cook proper rice. Ill think of a way to get food. Qin Xiaoyao continued. If she ate watery food all day, her bodys recovery would slow down, and it might also affect the use of her ability, not to mention slowing down the recovery of people with injuries or children who were still growing. She was now the pir of support for the family, so she must pull her weight. But Madam Liu hesitated. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao sighed in her heart again. Then, she saw the Chinese yam on the ground not far away. She knew that Madam Liu was worried that the family would consume too much if she prepared rice instead of watery congee, resulting in an increase in their expenses, so she said, How about this, Mother? When you cook the rice, cut some Chinese yam and mix it in to cook. This way, even if you put less rice, you can still end up with dry rice. Chinese yam was a type of tuber, and the starch content was rtively high, so there was no problem using it as a staple food. Recalling of the taste of the Chinese yam, Madam Lius face lit up. Alright! she quickly replied. ... Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help butugh as well. Then she went to deliver food to Song Que. After that, she returned to the kitchen to have breakfast with the three of them. After the meal, Qin Xiaoyao wanted to go to town, so she didnt do the dishes. After instructing Madam Liu to take care of the house, she put the things she wanted to bring into the bamboo basket backpack and went to town with the backpack on her back. What was in the backpack? There was a bowl of nched hare meat, a bowl of stewed Chinese yam, two pieces of hare skin, and a bundle of raw Chinese yam that Qin Xiaoyao had set asidest night. Among them, the Chinese yam was the heaviest, weighing about 20 to 30 catties. To Qin Xiaoyao, a strength-type special ability user, this was naturally no big deal. With the basket on her back, she didnt feel any impact and walked quickly. She arrived at Mountain Spring Town in just half an hour. After wiping the sweat off her forehead, Qin Xiaoyao followed themoners entering the town and began to line up at the city gate to enter the town. ... Indeed, Mountain Spring Town was a big town in this dynasty. Not only did it have a government office, but it was also guarded by soldiers. Themoners even had to pay a toll to enter the town. The cost was not high. It only cost one copper coin if the visitor did not bring any goods. If they were carrying goods, they would be charged an additional one or two copper coins based on the amount of goods. The queue moved very quickly, and soon it was Qin Xiaoyaos turn. In the end, Qin Xiaoyao paid two copper coins before entering the town. Qin Xiaoyao touched the money bag and sighed in her heart, thinking that the money was being used up too easily. Before she set off, she took all the 75 copper coins that Aunt Wang had returned to her. She had spent two copper coins just like that, leaving her with only 73 copper coins. She had to make the best use of her time to earn money After entering the town, Qin Xiaoyao chose to go to the medical clinic as her first stop. Of course, it was not the best, but the Hundred Herbs Hall had a better reputation and a more affordable price. When she arrived at the Hundred Herbs Hall, there were four to five people waiting in line for a consultation. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the old doctor in front of her and joined the queue. The old doctors attitude was gentle while he performed his diagnosis, and his efficiency wasnt slow either. It didnt take long to reach Qin Xiaoyaos turn. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao, the old doctor didnt show a disdainful expression. Instead, he bade her sit down. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the small chair and turned down his offer with a smile. I dont need to sit. Doctor Li, Im not here for an illness. Instead, Id like to invite you to make a house call, Qin Xiaoyao said. Doctor Li stroked his beard. House calls are in the afternoon, so you can tell me about the situation first. If its feasible, you can register, and Ill visit you in the afternoon. Alright, Qin Xiaoyao said hurriedly. Then, she told him about Song Ques condition. Seeing the doctor frowning, Qin Xiaoyao asked, Doctor, can my husband be cured? How long would it take to be cured? Er how about the medical fees? Doctor Li stroked his beard again. Er I wont lie to you. Your husband was bitten by a wild wolf. I havent seen how deep the wound is and where the wolf bit him, so I cant make a diagnosis for the time being. However, the teeth of wild wolves are toxic. Id advise you to treat them expeditiously. Chapter 17 Chapter 17: Its Not Easy to Earn Money Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos anxious face, Doctor Li continued. Regarding the medical expenses, if the injury isnt serious, external application and oral medicine should be enough, and that will be around five to six hundred copper coins. In addition, if I have to make a house call to your Brook Falls Vige, itll be thirty copper coins per trip. If there are other people in your vige who want me to take a look at them, the lowest price is twenty copper coins. Theres an extra five copper coins for the consultation fee. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyaos expression turned troubled again, Doctor Li continued. Therefore, if its convenient, I suggest that you bring him over. This way, I can conduct a face-to-face consultation. Qin Xiaoyao quickly thanked Doctor Li. Doctor, what you just said is only applicable if the injury is not serious. If the injury is serious, then she asked Doctor Li again. Her attractive husbands injuries were in the memories of her predecessor. Not only had he been bitten by a wild wolf, but he had also been caught in a bear trap. At that time, Hunter Huang had spent a lot of effort to help him stop the bleeding. That kind of injury was definitely not light. Doctor Li frowned. If its serious, Ill have to take a look at it first. If we need to use precious herbs, it may cost ten or twenty taels. Its hard to say. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat. Ten or twenty taels? With the 73 copper coins in her pocket, it was not even enough to make up a single silver tael. Fortunately, it was enough to cover the doctors house call and consultation fee. Doctor Li saw Qin Xiaoyaos expression and understood. He was just about tofort her and say that the situation might not be that bad and then persuade her to let him take a look at the patient first. However, Qin Xiaoyao said, Then Ill register first. Ill have to trouble you to make a trip there in the afternoon, Doctor. Doctor Li was satisfied with Qin Xiaoyaos reaction. Then, he took out a book and recorded the patients address. After that, Qin Xiaoyao paid another ten copper coins as a deposit, and the matter was finally settled. By the way, Doctor. Do you ept medicinal herbs here? After he was done, Qin Xiaoyao pulled over the bamboo backpack on her back that she had ced by her side. Facing the doctors puzzled gaze, she pointed at the Chinese yam and said, I dug up some Chinese yam in the mountains. Do you ept them here? Doctor Li was shocked. He got up and walked to Qin Xiaoyaos side to check the things in her backpack. He discovered that it really was full of Chinese yam. Unfortunately, Doctor Lis expression immediately turned into one of regret. Its indeed Chinese yam. Its a pity that our Hundred Herbs Hall only epts processed herbs. Indeed, for conveniences sake, all the medicinal herbs in the Hundred Herbs Hall were purchased from medicinal herb merchants. It could be used immediately after purchase, and there was no need for people to process it. He did know how to process the Chinese yam, but unfortunately, he had to work in the clinic in the morning and often go out on house calls to see patients in the afternoon, so he did not have much time to do these things. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Processed? Only then did she remember that the Chinese medicine in the pharmacies was indeed all processed, and many medicinal herbs could not be used directly. People who didnt know how to process medicinal herbs couldnt even use them most of the time. Qin Xiaoyao felt very disappointed. Doctor Li suddenly spoke. However, the Chinese yam can be used to make congee or stew soup. Its rare for me to see fresh Chinese yam. If Ms. Qin doesnt mind, can you sell ten catties to me? His little grandson was a picky eater, so he thought of buying some Chinese yam for his daughter-inw to cook for the whole family as nourishment. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Of course! she said hurriedly. I dont know how much Ms. Qin is asking for them? Doctor Li asked again. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Er Ive never sold it before. Doctor Li, you can do as you deem fit, she replied. She said that because she knew the old doctor was not the kind of person who would take advantage of others. This persons reputation was considered the best in the vicinity. In addition, she was still waiting for the other party to check on her attractive husbands injuries. Doctor Li muttered to himself. The Chinese yam in the pharmacies is not cheap, but its a dried Chinese yam that has been cut into pieces. But this thing of yours is also hard toe by. How about this? Why dont I pay six copper coins per catty to you? Doctor Li said. The best vegetables on the market could only be sold for three to four copper coins per catty. Even the cheaper lean pork was only ten copper coins. He was buying this Ms. Qins Chinese yam at six copper coins per catty, so he did not take advantage of her. ... Qin Xiaoyao nodded her head without even thinking about it. Alright. Ill take your offer. After that, Doctor Li asked his assistant to get the weighing scale and bought ten catties of Chinese yam from Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao received the sixty copper coins, put them away, and left the Hundred Herbs Hall in a good mood. Now, she had 123 copper coins in her pocket. Walking on the street, Qin Xiaoyao quickly went to the next ce. It was a grocery store that sold leather goods. This was what she had learned when she lived in town. The owner was an old man, and his shop was fairly old. Hunters from outside the town often came here to sell leather goods. When Qin Xiaoyao arrived, a Hunter had just finished selling his leather and wasing out. Thisdy, what would you like to buy? The shop owner thought Qin Xiaoyao was here to buy something, so he weed her warmly. ... Im not buying anything, but I want to sell two hare pelts. Do you ept wild hare pelts, Shopkeeper Wang? Shopkeeper Wang was taken aback. Hehe! I do, I do. Please let this old man here take a look. He beamed at Qin Xiaoyao as he said these words. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Then, she put down the backpack and took out the two pieces of hare pelts. Shopkeeper Wang took the two pieces of wild hare pelts and looked over them. He found that they were rtively intact. Not bad. There isnt much damage to the fur. These two pelts are worth five copper coins each. Its a total of ten copper coins. If you have no objection, I will ept them, Shopkeeper Wang quickly said. He had always been honest in his business dealings. In fact, this price was actually on the high side. The main thing was that the two pieces of pelts were of good quality. It was obvious that they had been obtained by experienced hunters. If he gave this price to thisdy, in the future, when her family got more pelts, they would still send them to him. In business, one had to look at the long term prospects. Deal! Qin Xiaoyao quickly agreed. Then, she epted Shopkeeper Wangs ten copper coins. When she walked out of the shop, the money in Qin Xiaoyaos pocket had grown to 133 copper coins. There was only a bowl of boiled hare meat, a bowl of Chinese yam, and less than twenty catties of raw Chinese yam left in her basket. The clinics dont ept raw Chinese yam, so I have to think of another way, Qin Xiaoyao muttered. Then, she walked in the direction of the market in the west of the town. Yes, she was going to look for her father. So be it if she was shameless. At this point, if she didnt ask her father for help, how was she going to treat her attractive husbands leg? After passing through a busy street, Qin Xiaoyao entered the market. The peddlers shouts and the customers bargaining voices were noisy and ear-piercing. After walking through the crowd for a while, Qin Xiaoyao finally arrived at Qin Dazhuangs meat stall. At this moment, there were many people surrounding the meat stall. Qin Dazhuang was the only one busy behind the counter. He greeted the customers and answered their questions while cutting, weighing, and collecting money. He was so busy that he resembled a spinning top. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows when she saw this. Then, she quickly walked over. Chapter 18 Chapter 18: Qin Dazhuang She ignored Qin Dazhuangs displeased look, put down her backpack, and began helping him. Aunt Zhang, you want this piece? This ones good. It has lots of fat! Uncle Liu, these pigs lungs are very fresh. You can buy them without worry. When the pigs lung soup is made, your little grandchildren will definitely love it! Ah, Grandma Lin, were all old neighbors. Dont you trust our Qin familys pork? The price Im giving you is definitely the best! Qin Xiaoyao greeted the customers with enthusiasm and familiarity, handling them with ease. Seeing this, Qin Dazhuang stopped frowning. He waved his cleaver and got busy. After arge wave of customers had passed, the pork stall finally became quiet. Qin Dazhuang went to the side to pour a bowl of cold water and gulped it down noisily. Seeing that his daughter was also wiping her sweat, he immediately poured another bowl for Qin Xiaoyao. Drink it, Then, he handed the bowl to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stand on ceremony and gulped down the water as well. Then, she returned the bowl to Qin Dazhuang. Why are you the only one running the stall today? Why didnt Big Brother, Second Brother, and Madam Zhange? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Qin Dazhuang took the bowl and looked at Qin Xiaoyao in annoyance. What Madam Zhang? Its fine if you dont call her Mother, but will you lose any anything if you just address her as Aunt? It wasnt without reason that his wife and daughter didnt get along. With her daughters personality, it would be strange if the two of them could get along with each other. Hmph, my mother is already dead. What kind of mother is she? Qin Xiaoyao said in a bad mood. Hmph! I havent said anything yet! Today is the big fair, the busiest time. Why didnt any of theme to help? The so-called big fair was held on days ending with two, five and eight every month. On these days, there were more people entering the town, so the market would be more lively. In the past, before her predecessor got married, she had helped the family a lot, and it wasmon for her toe to the meat stall to help. It was only after Qin Dazhuang married Madam Zhang that her former self was dissatisfied and rarely came over. In the end, it was Madam Zhang or one of her older brothers who came to help. What do you know! Recently, its not easy to ughter live pigs. Your big brother and second brother have gone out to ughter pigs. And your mother... Qin Dazhuang paused when he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him with displeasure. Sigh! Your aunt! He corrected himself helplessly. Shes not feeling well, so I told her not toe out and get in my way! Qin Xiaoyao pouted sullenly. Feeling unwell? Shes obviously cking off, she said resentfully. In fact, as a transmigrator, Qin Xiaoyao shouldnt have hated Madam Zhang so much since she was not her predecessor. She should have not been getting along with Qin Dazhuang so naturally either. However, perhaps because her predecessors emotions were still present, she felt a strong sense of emotional infusion from her predecessor. She even had the delusion that she was the predecessor. Qin Dazhuang red at his daughter. He knew that it was useless to say anything, so he didnt continue the topic. Then, he walked to the meat stall and tidied it up while asking, Didnt I tell you not toe back? Why are you still looking for me? Only then did Qin Xiaoyao remember what she hade here for, and her expression became more congenial. She then stood up. She went to the backpack by the side and took out the bowl of hare meat. Qin Dazhuang was surprised to see the hare meat. Where where did you get this? he asked. With the Song familys situation, how could they afford to eat meat? He looked warily at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Dazhuang now suspected that his wife might be right. Perhaps the eighty taels of silver were really in her daughters hands. Qin Xiaoyao saw Qin Dazhuangs reaction and rolled her eyes. I hunted them in the mountains. Take a look. This is the meat of wild hares, she said. Qin Dazhuang was surprised. He looked at the meat in the bowl carefully and realized that it was not pork or chicken. Seeing the change in Qin Dazhuangs expression, Qin Xiaoyao continued. I went into the mountains yesterday and got two hares and a pheasant. I thought you rarely eat wild game, so I brought some for you. Its already been boiled in water. Later, you can get Madam Zhang to add the seasoning and stir-fry it. Qin Dazhuang looked at his daughter in confusion. He was a little touched, but he was more worried. You went into the mountain? There were many mountains behind Brook Falls Vige, but it was not safe. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Qin Dazhuang. What can we do if we dont go into the mountains? Its not like you dont know about the Song familys situation. They lived in a thatched house and even sold thend to treat Father-inws illness. Now, my husbands leg is injured... Qin Dazhuang paused as a trace of suspicion shed in his eyes. ... Son-inws leg is really injured? He looked at Qin Xiaoyao with suspicion. Qin Xiaoyaos expression was filled with anger. How can I lie to you about this kind of thing? Qin Dazhuang did not say anything. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao step forward and pull Qin Dazhuang to the side. Then, she lowered her head in front of her father. I was too impulsive before. I shouldnt have gone against Madam Zhang and scolded her. But now, my husbands injury can not be dragged on anymore. I can onlye to you. Seeing Qin Dazhuang look away awkwardly, Qin Xiaoyao quickly grabbed his hand again. Ill give a written IOU to pay you back within half a year. If I cant pay up, Ill never approach the Qin family again. As soon as she said that, Qin Dazhuang immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao. ... And Qin Xiaoyaos face shed with a hint of displeasure. If you lend me the money this time, I wont argue with Madam Zhang in the future. In the future, Ill either give in to her or avoid her. In fact, after thinking about it carefully, Madam Zhang didnt do anything to her and her two older brothers. The main thing was that Madam Zhang was a young widow and had been a childless widow for many years. The reason she didnt get along with Madam Zhang was mainly because of her predecessor. This was because her predecessor did not want to have a second mistress in the house. Honest? Qin Dazhuang was a little surprised and asked. Only the heavens knew that his biggest headache was the rtionship between his wife and daughter. Now that his daughter was willing to take the initiative to propose a ceasefire and retreat, he was naturally happy to see it happen. Besides, given his daughters personality, for her to agree to such a condition, it was highly likely that his son-inw was really injured. Although he didnt like his son-inw, since his daughter had already married him, he couldntpletely ignore him. Its the truth, Qin Xiaoyao replied helplessly. After thinking for a while, she said, Father, I was insensible in the past. I caused you to be caught between Madam Zhang and me... Seeing Qin Dazhuang looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao quickly shut her mouth. She then corrected herself immediately. Ahem! Aunt Zhang, putting you in a difficult position. Now that Im married, Ive understood many things. In the future, I will try my best to rely on myself to improve the living conditions of my family. I wont give you any trouble. Qin Dazhuangs eyes shed with emotion. He stretched out his hands and patted his daughters arms. Sigh! Its not as bad as you say. Even if youre married, you are still my daughter. How can I not care about you? he said in an emotionally charged voice, and his eyes had even turned a little red. A warm sensation rose in Qin Xiaoyaos heart as she felt the fatherly love she had not felt for a long time. Thank you, Father! she said sweetly. Chapter 19 Chapter 19: Father-daughter Rtionship At this moment, someone came to buy meat. Qin Dazhuang quickly went to greet the customer. After cutting the customers meat and sending him off, Qin Dazhuang turned around and looked at his daughter again. Theres no need to write an IOU. How much do you want to borrow? he said to Qin Xiaoyao in an authoritarian manner. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Then, her expression became a little embarrassed. Ten ten taels of silver, she whispered. Ten taels might not be enough, but more than that, she was afraid that her father would fall out with her. Qin Dazhuangs eyes widened in shock. How much? Even his voice had changed. Ten ten taels, Qin Xiaoyao replied, her eyes still filled with sorrow. I dont have it! Then, Qin Dazhuang flicked his sleeves and turned around. He wondered why his daughter had changed so much today. So she was here to cheat money. Indeed, Qin Dazhuang was certain that Qin Xiaoyao was here to scam him of his money. What kind of injury would cost ten taels of silver? Did she think he was stupid? Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao quickly ran to Qin Dazhuang. Husband was bitten by a wolf and stepped on a bear trap. Hes really seriously injured! Qin Dazhuang turned his body to the side. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly followed suit. Ive just consulted Doctor Li of the Hundred Herbs Hall. Doctor Li said that if its serious, it would cost ten to twenty taels of silver. Father, if you dont believe me, you can follow me back to Brook Falls Vige to take a look. Seeing that Qin Dazhuangs expression had wavered, Qin Xiaoyao continued. If Im lying to you, Ill let the heavens strike me with lightning! She even made an oath following this. Qin Dazhuangs expression finally changed. He reached out his hand and pulled Qin Xiaoyaos oath-swearing hand down. What nonsense are you saying! He lectured her. Qin Xiaoyao could see her fathers concern and couldnt help butugh. I knew you cared about me, Father. She tugged at Qin Dazhuangs arm and acted coquettishly. Qin Dazhuang red at his daughter in annoyance and pped Qin Xiaoyaos hand away. You have to give me a written IOU. In addition, Ill need your Aunts approval. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos expression change, Qin Dazhuang quickly said, The money is with your aunt now. If she doesnt agree, I cant take out any money. If it were only one or two taels of silver, he would look for his eldest and second sons to discuss and think of a way to help his daughter gather the money. However, if it were ten taels, he wouldnt be able to get this amount alone. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos angry expression, Qin Dazhuang continued. I dont care if you like it or not. Ive already handed over the financial management to your Aunt. Also, your Aunt is pregnant. Youre not allowed to make her angry in the future. After saying this, Qin Dazhuang turned his head away ufortably. He was already forty-six years old, with two sons and a daughter. All his children had gotten married. Who would have thought he could still be a father at this age? Qin Xiaoyaos eyes widened in surprise. She tried to ascertain that she didnt hear wrongly. Then thinking about it carefully, she knew that Madam Zhang was ten years younger than her father, so she could still give birth. Hence, she replied sullenly, Okay, I know. After she got married, the Qin family split up. Although they still lived in the same courtyard dwelling, Big Brother and Second Brother lived separately with their respective wives. Only her father and Madam Zhang were left in the upper room. There was nothing wrong with her father handing the family affairs over for Madam Zhang to manage. Furthermore, Madam Zhang was pregnant now. If she was pregnant Wouldnt she have a younger brother or sister in a few months? A younger brother or sister who was 21 years younger than her, er Qin Dazhuang was a little surprised to see his daughter agree so quickly. Ahem! Thats good. Then close the stall. Ill take you back to see your Aunt, he said awkwardly. To be honest, he was embarrassed to mention this to his daughter. However, he could still say it to his daughter. He hadnt thought of how to tell his two sons yet. Deal! Qin Xiaoyao agreed happily. Then, she seemed to have thought of something and ran to the backpack to get the bowl of Chinese yam. Where did this radishe from? When Qin Dazhuang saw the Chinese yam, he thought it was radish. Qin Xiaoyao was amused. ... What radish? This is Chinese yam! Then, she told him about how she found the Chinese yam in the mountains and how Doctor Li bought ten catties of it from her at six copper coins per catty. There! Those things in my basket are Chinese yam. Seeing her fathers surprised expression, Qin Xiaoyao pointed at the Chinese yam in the backpack and showed him. Peel off the skin and cut it into pieces. It can be used to make soup or you can stir-fry. After some thought, Qin Xiaoyao said, Isnt Aunt pregnant now? You can also give her some. Its good for the spleen, and it can stimte the appetite while aiding digestion. It can alleviate the problem of constipation to a certain extent. Qin Dazhuang was shocked. Deal! How much do you have left? Ill buy them all, he immediately said. If even Doctor Li said it was good stuff, then it must be good. Besides, his daughter was in urgent need of money, so he would take it as helping her. Qin Xiaoyao, however, waved her hand. Who wants you to buy it? Ill give you ten catties to nourish Aunts body. Just take it that Im taking care of my younger brother or sister in my capacity as an elder sister. ... As for the rest, Ill have to count on Fathers help. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes shifted. Qin Dazhuang didnt want to take his daughters things for free, but when he heard the second half of the sentence, he stopped himself from refusing. What kind of help? he asked his daughter. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and didnt rush to say anything. Instead, she asked Qin Dazhuang to get a pair of chopsticks and let Qin Dazhuang try the taste of the Chinese yam first. Qin Dazhuang did as he was told. In the end, someone came to buy meat, so Qin Xiaoyao took the initiative to serve the customer. She cut the meat, weighed it, and collected the money for Qin Dazhuang. Seeing this, Qin Dazhuang was relieved. After he found the chopsticks, he picked up the Chinese yam and tasted it. In the end, he found that the taste was actually quite good. Then, he ate a few pieces in a row. Seeing that Qin Dazhuang was about to finish the whole bowl of yam, Qin Xiaoyao quickly stopped her father. Hmm, this firewood stick tastes good! Qin Dazhuang eximed as he looked at the Chinese yam in the basket beside him. He couldnt remember the name of this firewood stick, but it resembled one. What firewood stick? This is called Chinese yam. Qin Xiaoyao was amused. Then, she moved to Qin Dazhuangs side. When I went into the mountains previously, I found a plot ofnd full of Chinese yam. Theres still quite a lot there. I estimate that it wont be a problem to dig another six or seven hundred catties. Qin Dazhuang was stunned. So much? He was surprised. Yes. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Although this item is good, not many people know about it. I dug it up and brought it to the market to sell. No one has seen it before, so I dont think they will buy it. Thats why... Qin Xiaoyao said as she looked at Qin Dazhuang. Sigh! If you have something to say, just say it. Qin Dazhuang said impatiently as his daughter stared at him. He couldnt understand why she was still hesitating with him, her own father. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Father, didnt you sayst time that Uncle Zhao was promoted to the purchasing manager of Fortune Mansion? Can can you help me to look for him? As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao tugged at Qin Dazhuangs sleeve again. Uncle Zhao was her fathers good friend and had a good rtionship with their family. As for Uncle Zhaos wife, Aunt Zhao, it was her mother who introduced her to him. Chapter 20 Chapter 20: Father Qin Caught in the Middle Ever since Uncle Zhao joined Fortune Mansion and got promotion after promotion, their family had benefited a lot from it. Now, Qin Dazhuang was even delivering pork to Fortune Mansion on a daily basis. When Qin Dazhuang heard this, he paused for a while. Then, he looked at the Chinese yam in the bowl and nodded. Deal! This Chinese yam is good stuff and tastes good. If Fortune Mansion buys it and lets the customers eat something fresh, we can probably make some money. After some thought, Qin Dazhuang added. Other than the Chinese yam, your Uncle Zhao is also in charge of buying some other things for the back kitchen. Ill talk to him again. If you have anything else you can sell in the future, see if you can send it to him. By the way, you should be mentally prepared for the price. You also know your Uncle Zhaos character. We can ask him for help, but he doesnt like those gimmicks. This old buddy of his was an honest man above all else. The owner of Fortune Mansion saw this virtue in him and promoted him all the way to the position of the kitchens purchasing manager. It was one thing for them to benefit from this, but they couldnt drag their brother down with them. I know. I dont expect it to be higher than the market price. Just a little lower than the market price is fine. After all, its a waste of time to physically set up a stall to sell things, and theres no guarantee that we may be able to sell them. As expected of her biological father, he was worried about what she was worried about and always thought for her. If the deal with Uncle Zhao could go through, and they could sell all the Chinese yam to him, she could still find other things to sell. There was no capital investment for the things in the mountains. If she worked a little harder, she could always earn some silver. Qin Dazhuang looked at his daughter beaming happily and sighed. If he had known that his daughter would end up like this after marrying into the Song family, he would not have agreed when his daughter asked to borrow money from him to scheme against Eldest Son Song. Now now that things hade to this, he could only help her out. Fortunately, his daughter seemed to have be more sensible this time. This was considered a relief. The father and daughter chatted until the meat stall was almost out of meat. Qin Dazhuang then closed the stall. Qin Xiaoyao diligently helped to pack up, then followed Qin Dazhuang home. They talked andughed all the way to the entrance of the Qin familys courtyard dwelling. Qin Dazhuang suddenly stopped in his tracks. Why dont you just wait outside? He said to his daughter in embarrassment. It was because they had a big argument yesterday morning. He was afraid that his wife would fight with his daughter the moment she appeared. His wife had just confirmed that she was pregnant, and he was worried that if they made a fuss like this, the unborn child would be in trouble. Okay! Qin Xiaoyao agreed readily and didnt make things difficult for her father. Qin Dazhuang, on the other hand, saw that his daughter was so cooperative and looked at her with a touch of gratitude in his eyes. After that, Qin Dazhuang entered the house. When he went in, he also took Qin Xiaoyaos backpack with him. After that, Qin Xiaoyao didnt wait for long at the door before she heard a roar from inside. Ten taels? Even if you sell me, I wont be worth ten taels! You only care about that girl! You want to give her everything in the house and let her empty it, right? Youre bought over by that little thing? If it were me, I would also trade ten taels of silver for that! If shes your daughter, then what about us? Cant you think for us mother and son? Boo-hoo-hoo! I dont agree! Qin Dazhuang, if you dare to lend her the money, I I will not let you off! Even Qin Xiaoyao, who was standing at the door, felt her heart twist up as she listened. Fortunately, few people passed by this ce at this time. Otherwise, she was afraid she would have to dig a hole in the ground to hide. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao had also made up her mind. She had to hurry up and get some money when she got back so that she could return the money she had borrowed from her father as soon as possible. The matter of borrowing money today had indeed caused trouble for her father. She waited for another fifteen minutes. Qin Dazhuang finally came out. He was carrying Qin Xiaoyaos backpack on his back, and he looked a little pathetic. Qin Dazhuang scratched his head in embarrassment when he saw his daughter looking at him worriedly. Dont hold it against your aunt. Shes just worried... Qin Dazhuang didnt finish his sentence. What was there to worry about? Naturally, he was worried that his daughter would not return the money. Ten taels of silver was not a small sum. Now that his wife was pregnant with a child, it was understandable that he was not at ease. Qin Xiaoyao smiled at Qin Dazhuang tofort him. Father, I understand, she said in embarrassment. It is I who have caused trouble for Father. She added after a while. ... Qin Dazhuangs expression changed. What trouble are you talking about? Youre my daughter. How can I not help you if you encounter problems? he immediately said. When he saw his daughter looking at him with a touched expression, a hint of embarrassment shed across Qin Dazhuangs face. Dont worry. Your Aunt has already agreed to lend you the silver. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. But Qin Dazhuang suddenly stopped. But what? Qin Xiaoyao asked. But I can only send you the silver in the afternoon, Qin Dazhuang said. When he saw his daughters stunned expression, Qin Dazhuang quickly exined, Your aunts intention is for your Big Brother to apany me to the Song family in the afternoon to take a look. If Sigh! If Eldest Son Songs injuries are really that serious, Ill lend the money! Also, she said that Eldest Son Song would be the one to write the IOU. Seeing the confusion on Qin Xiaoyaos face, Qin Dazhuang continued. I guess what your aunt said is not unreasonable. ... This silver was lent to Eldest Son Song to treat his injuries, so he should be the one to write the IOU. Also, that kid has always had a problem with you. He cant see your efforts. This time, its time to let him know how good you are to him. At this point, Qin Dazhuang looked at his daughter with a touch of heartache. Qin Xiaoyao felt a warm sensation in her heart again. Just as she was about to agree, Qin Dazhuang added, By the way, Ill go look for your Uncle Zhaoter to talk to him about buying your Chinese yam. If we cane to an agreement, Ill go to the Song familys house in the afternoon. I can give you an answer then. Six to seven hundred catties of Chinese yam, even if it was sold for four copper coins, would only bring in two to three taels of silver. Nheless, it could more or less relieve some of the pressure on his daughter. Qin Xiaoyao nodded hurriedly. Okay! Then Ill have to trouble Father to make this trip. Oh, yes. I have to tell you how to process the Chinese yam. It is best to avoid touching its skin when peeling it. This thing is like taro, and your skin will itch if you touch it for a long time. Qin Dazhuang nodded. Alright, Ill let your Uncle Zhao know! After that, Qin Dazhuang handed the backpack to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao took it and immediately felt that there was something inside. Seeing that Qin Dazhuang had ced a lotus leaf to cover the backpack, Qin Xiaoyao was ready to open it. Qin Dazhuang stopped her before she could open it. Its gettingte, so Father wont keep you for lunch. Go home quickly. Doctor Li still has to go to your house in the afternoon. Alright. Qin Xiaoyao guessed something but didnt insist. She turned around, took the bamboo backpack on her back, and bade farewell to her father before leaving. Qin Xiaoyao didnt put down the backpack until she had walked out of the alley and turned around to check that there was no one behind her. Finally, she flipped open the lotus leaf and saw what was inside. Chapter 21 Chapter 21: Big Girl Li Who Appeared Suddenly There were two bowls stacked together. The bowl on top contained arge string of copper coins. There was also a piece of pig liver below it. It was the piece that they hadnt sold when they closed their stall. It was estimated to be more than two catties. A warm sensation welled up in Qin Xiaoyaos heart, and her eyes turned red. She was envious of her predecessor She wiped the corners of her eyes. She quickly counted the copper coins and found that there were a hundred of them. She put the copper coins into the money bag and walked forward with the bamboo backpack on her back. What was there to be envious of? Now she was Qin Sanya, and her predecessors father was her father. In the future, she would take good care of her father on behalf of her predecessor. Yes, she would treat him as her own father. Feeling the weight of the money bag on her waist, Qin Xiaoyao calcted that she had about 233 copper coins now. In the afternoon, when Doctor Li came to visit, after deducting the deposit, she had to pay at least another fifteen copper coins for the house call and consultation fee. As for the money for the medicine, the medicine that Doctor Li brought for his visit should not cost much. Even if he wanted to prescribe expensive medicine, he would probably have to wait for her toe into town before he could prepare it for her. When the time came, with the silver borrowed from her father, it shouldnt be a big problem. Qin Xiaoyao felt more at ease when she thought of this. Then, she looked at a grain store in the distance. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows when she recalled how her mother-inw had cooked watery congee this morning. Thereafter, she walked toward the grain store. Since she was already here, she had to buy something to bring back. After entering the grain store, Qin Xiaoyao saw the prices of various grains. The fine rice and noodle flour were as high as six or seven copper coins. With their familys current situation, they could not afford it. Brown rice and rough noodle flour were much cheaper at two copper coins per catty. Miss, how much do you want? The waiter saw Qin Xiaoyao stop in front of the brown rice and came over. I want to buy ten catties of brown rice and ten catties of flour, but I didnt bring anything to hold them. It was only after she entered that Qin Xiaoyao noticed that the people who came to buy grains had all brought their own containers to store the food. Some brought sacks for rice and flour, while others brought jars. The waiter smiled. Oh, thats easy. We have sacks for storing food, and the deposit is five copper coins for one. You can bring it back for a refund the next time youe. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment and then nodded. Then Ill have to trouble you to help me weigh it, my brother. The waiter smiled. 10 catties of brown rice and 10 catties of rough noodle flouring right up! he responded. Then, he immediately went to get a sack and weighed the rice and flour for Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao waited until the waiter helped put the rice and flour into the bamboo backpack on her back before she took out the money and went to the counter to settle the bill. After paying 50 copper coins, she only had 183 copper coins left in her pocket. After leaving the grain store, Qin Xiaoyao felt that the backpack on her back had gained 20 catties, but she didnt really feel the weight all that much. Just as she was about to leave town and go home, she heard the sound of candied hawthorn being sold. She thought of the two little ones at home, and she also felt a little hungry Making up her mind, Qin Xiaoyao finally called out to the man who was selling candied hawthorn. Mister, wait! The man carrying the candied hawthorn stopped in his tracks immediately. He turned around and saw Qin Xiaoyao, a smile on his face. Miss, you want to buy candied hawthorn? He had only made a hundred skewers of candied hawthorn today, and there were only a few left. He could pack up and go home after selling off these remaining sticks. Yes, I am. Mister, how much are your candied hawthorn? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Hehe! Two copper coins for one, the seller replied. How many do you want, Miss? Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Two copper coins for one skewer? It was actually the same price as the rice and noodle flour. However, there was sugar on the candied hawthorn, and sugar was a precious item in ancient times. Thinking about it in this way, the price was reasonable. Qin Xiaoyao took another look at the broom-like holder the seller was holding, stuck with skewers of candied hawthorn. There were exactly five skewers of candied hawthorn left on it. Er Mister, how about giving me all five skewers for eight copper coins? Qin Xiaoyao tried to bargain. This way, Ill get a discount, and you can go home after selling it. You wont have to walk around on the streets anymore. The seller paused for a while. Alright. Its thest few skewers. Ill sell them to you, he said after that. These were thest few remaining skewers, which did not look as good as the ones sold earlier. ... Furthermore, there were not as many people on the streets now as there had been in the morning. It was also good to sell it out early and go home. Thank you, Mister! Qin Xiaoyao quickly thanked him. She then retrieved the money. The seller was also very straightforward and immediately took out the candied hawthorn for Qin Xiaoyao. After a short while, the twopleted the transaction. After getting the candied hawthorn, Qin Xiaoyao put the four best-looking ones into the bamboo backpack. After that, she unwrapped the one with the worst appearance and started eating. The sweet and sour taste made Qin Xiaoyao squint her eyes in delight. She ate two balls of hawthorn in a row, plus the sugar on them. Qin Xiaoyaos stomach felt better, so she wrapped the candied hawthorn again reluctantly and put them back in the backpack. ... Good things would only taste better when eaten with family. Qin Xiaoyao was filled with energy as she imagined the scene of her family eating candied hawthorn with her. In particr, when she imagined the possible expressions on the two little faces, she felt very energetic all of a sudden. After that, she strode toward the West Gate. Once out of the city gate, she hurried home. Along the way, Qin Xiaoyao saw a few more ox-carts and horse-drawn carriages passing by. She couldnt help but feel a little envious. When would she be able to buy an ox-cart? However, it was just a thought before Qin Xiaoyao dispelled the idea. She couldnt even bear to pay two copper coins for the ox-cart ride, so how could she still think about buying an ox-cart? It was better to treat her attractive husbands legs first and pay off the debt she owed her father. Qin Xiaoyao was thinking about making money the whole time, so she didnt realize that she had stepped into Brook Falls Vige. However, just as she entered the vige and walked under the big banyan tree, a person suddenly jumped out from behind the tree. Qin Xiaoyao, who was deep in thought, jumped out of her skin. If she had not stopped herself in time, she would have already attacked the other party instinctively. Surprisingly, Big Girl Li, who had jumped out of nowhere, was the one who had been scared out of her wits by Qin Xiaoyao. She almost thought that Qin Xiaoyao was going to beat her up. Big Girl, why are you here? Seeing the fear on Big Girl Lis face, Qin Xiaoyao smiled at her in embarrassment. Big Girl Li also quickly wiped away the fear on her face. Hehe! Well, didnt you ask me toe and look for you yesterday? I wanted to go to your house, but I heard you went to town. So I I came here to wait for you. How would she dare to go to the Song family? She was dying to stay as far away from the Song family as possible. Waiting for her here helped Big Girl Li avoid the sight of others, thereby solving her problem. She didnt want the vigers to see her as Qin Xiaoyaos ally. Oh. Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Then lets go home and talk, she said enthusiastically. No need, no need! Big Girl Li quickly refused frantically. She saw Qin Xiaoyaos puzzled expression. Big Girl Li continued. Firstly, I came here to thank you. Thank you for the pheasant you gave me yesterday. Chapter 22 Chapter 22: Sister Sanya However, I also know about your familys situation. Its not good to take your stuff for free. As she spoke, Big Girl Li literally took out a handful of copper coins from her pocket. You take this. She then stepped forward and shoved the copper coins into Qin Xiaoyaos hand. She had given her thirty copper coins, which was a little too much. After all, the pheasant and the feathers were probably only a little more than two catties. However, she did not dare to take advantage of Qin Sanya. When Qin Xiaoyao saw so many copper coins, she quickly rejected the offer. I said its a gift. Who wants your money? With a little more strength, she pushed the money back to Big Girl Li. Big Girl Li was pushed back two steps, but she didnt dare toe forward again because of Qin Xiaoyaos strength. Holding the copper coins, she was in a dilemma. Hey, erm Sanya Yes? Qin Xiaoyao replied. She didnt know what Big Girl Li was trying to do by being so evasive. Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao again. Finally, she made up her mind and spoke up. What happened in the past are all in the past now. In the past erm, I was silly and not sensible. Can you dont hold it against me? As she spoke, Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a pleading look. Qin Xiaoyao was quite puzzled and didnt quite get what Big Girl Li was trying to say. What were you not sensible about in the past? she asked Big Girl Li. Big Girl Lis face turned pale. Then, her face turned red again. Its about about your Song family Eldest Son Songs matter, she said in embarrassment. Qin Xiaoyao paused in deep thought. Then she recalled some memories of her predecessor and seemed to understand. Then, she immediately looked at Big Girl Li with displeasure. Youre already married to Liu Daniu, yet youre still hankering after my husband? Her voice was filled with displeasure. No not anymore! Big Girl Li said quickly. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos guarded expression, Big Girl Li quickly exined, Theres really nothing anymore! Ever since I got married to Daniu, Ive only wanted to lead a good life with him. I dont want anyone else! I came to find you because I wanted to clear up this matter with you. I hope we can resolve our past grudges. In the future, well mind our own business and not bother each other. What do you think? After she said that, Big Girl Li didnt dare to look at Qin Xiaoyao anymore. Her eyes were filled with guilt. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li a few times and had an idea of what was going on. The social norms in ancient times were not as liberal as they were during the apocalypse. Although Big Girl Li was bold before marriage, now that she was married, it was indeed unlikely that she would still hanker after her husband. So she was here to draw a clear line? Of course not. Qin Xiaoyao quickly rejected the offer. Big Girl Lis expression immediately turned into one of fear. Then then what do you want? Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos evil smile, Big Girl Li forced herself to suppress the terror in her heart. No matter what you say, my Daniu wont believe you. No one in this Brook Falls Vige will believe you! Qin Xiaoyaoughed with amusement. Then why are you so nervous? I how am I nervous? Big Girl Li pretended to be calm. Hehe! Not nervous? Qin Xiaoyao looked like she was taunting a cat. Then Ill go look for Daniu and tell him about your past. Qin Xiaoyao pretended that she was about to walk off. Big Girl Lis expression drastically, and she quickly reached out to stop her. Dont Sister Sanya, Ill call you Sister! I admit defeat. Just take it that I have lost! Please bepassionate. Dont go and look for my Daniu! Big Girl Li was about to cry. Pitted against Qin Xiaoyao in a contest of martial arts, she could never beat her. In terms of cruelty, she was also no match for her. In short, she could only be bullied by Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao felt somewhat pleased when she heard Big Girl Li call her Sister. It felt a little like she had taken in a junior team member during the apocalypse. Immediately after, she looked at Big Girl Li in a more friendly manner. Its fine if you dont want me to go to your Daniu. Qin Xiaoyao said after some thought. Big Girl Li felt as if she had been granted a reprieve. Thank you, thank you, Sister Sanya! she quickly thanked her profusely. Then you have to listen to me from now on. Big Girl Li was shocked, and she looked terrified once more. Dont worry. I wont ask you to do anything bad. Qin Xiaoyao immediately red at Big Li with annoyance. ... Seeing Big Girl Lis disbelieving face, Qin Xiaoyao decided to just tell her the truth. I found some good stuff in the mountains, and I cantplete the task alone. You, and your Daniu,e with me to help out. Its just a days work. Ill pay both of you a hundred copper coins as wages after its done! A sry of a hundred copper coins for two workers was considered low wages in town. However, they were in the countryside. If they could earn a hundred copper coins every day, there would probably be many people who wanted to do it. Serious seriously? Big Girl Li didnt quite believe it. She found something good in the mountains? There were good things in the mountains? Of course Im serious. If you dont believe me, I can give you twenty copper coins as a deposit upfront. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao reached for her money bag. Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyaos money bag, but she didnt stop her. If she could really earn a hundred copper coins, of course she would be happy to. ... Although their familys situation was much better than the Song familys, they were all from the same vige, and they made a living by farming. How much better could their lives be? If she could earn this one hundred copper coins, she would be able to buy a few catties of meat to satisfy her familys hunger. Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything when she saw Big Girl Lis expression. She counted out twenty copper coins and gave them to Big Girl Li straightaway. You two prepare two sets of sickles and hoes. Wait for me at the foot of the back mountain after breakfast tomorrow. Big Girl Li took the copper coins and couldnt believe her eyes. Qin Sanya was giving her money? Oh, alright. She answered subconsciously. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up. Alright, see you tomorrow then! After speaking, she patted Big Girl Lis shoulder, walked around her, and left. After making a few turns on the vige path, Qin Xiaoyao finally reached home. Song Ye, who was ying in the courtyard, was the first to notice Qin Xiaoyaos return. Sister-inw! he shouted. Looking at Qin Xiaoyaos appearance, he was a little happy but also a little scared. Qin Xiaoyao didnt take it to heart. With a smile on her face, she removed the bamboo backpack from her back and took out a skewer of candied hawthorn. Yeer is such a good boy! Look at what Sister-inw bought you! Then, she took the candied hawthorn and walked toward Song Ye. When Song Ye saw the candied hawthorn, his eyes lit up with joy. There was no longer any fear in his eyes as he immediately ran toward Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was so amused by Song Ye that she handed the candied hawthorn to him and picked this little brother-inw up. This was the scene that Song Yun saw when she came out of the kitchen. Sister-inw She quickly called out when she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking in her direction. Qin Xiaoyao gave a heartyugh. Yuner is a good girl too! As she said that, she carried Song Ye and headed for the kitchen. Seeing Song Yun staring at the candied hawthorn in Song Yes hands with envy, Qin Xiaoyao was somewhat overjoyed inwardly. Qin Xiaoyao only put Song Ye down when she reached the kitchen. Following that, she put down her backpack and took out four candied hawthorns. However, one skewer was missing two balls, which had been eaten. Looking at her mother-inws surprised expression, Qin Xiaoyao began to divide the candied hawthorn. Before I left the town, I met a man selling candied hawthorn. At that time, he only had five candied hawthorns left. Chapter 23 Chapter 23: Making Money I haggled with him and he gave me all five skewers for eight copper coins in the end. There are five people in our family, so we can have one each. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao handed a skewer to Song Yun, who was the closest to her. Thank thank you, Sister-inw. Song Yun saw Song Ye eating so happily and was already craving it, so she took it immediately. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt resist patting her little sister-inws head. Then, she smiled and walked toward Madam Liu. Mother, this one is for you. Then, she picked one that still looked good and handed it to Madam Liu. I I wont be eating it, Madam Liu turned down her offer subconsciously, though she couldnt take her eyes off the skewer. It wasnt that she was a glutton, but her family was too poor, and she hadnt had anything sweet for a long time. Her body instinctively yearned for it. Sigh! I said one for each person. Mother, just take it! Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward with a smile and shoved one skewer toward Madam Liu. Only then did Madam Liu ept it. Thank thank you. She blushed and said awkwardly. Whats there to thank? Were all one family, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a teasingugh. Then, she walked over to the two little ones. This time, Ill have to trouble Yeer to make a trip. Take this candied hawthorn to your Big Brother. After she finished speaking, she handed thest stick of candied hawthorn to Song Ye. Alright, Sister-inw! Song Ye happily epted this task. He took the candied hawthorn and ran off at once. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the back view of the little child as he sprinted away, her heart bursting with joy. After that, she also started eating the candied hawthorn in her hand. After stuffing the candied hawthorn into her mouth, Qin Xiaoyao began to take out the things in the bamboo backpack. There were two bowls, about two catties of pig liver, and two bags of food. Seeing this, Madam Liu was quite taken aback. Qin Xiaoyao exined, Out of that bunch of Chinese yam that I brought to town, I sold ten catties to Doctor Li of the Hundred Herbs Hall. From the remainder, I gave ten catties to my father. And I asked my father to give the rest to my Uncle Zhao. Madam Liu nodded but did not say anything. The Chinese yam was brought back by her daughter-inw, so it was her freedom to deal with it however she wanted. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao was satisfied. Then, she told Madam Liu about her experience while selling the Chinese yam, and also her intention to sell the Chinese yam to Fortune Mansion. When Madam Liu heard the details, she was extremely shocked. Six six copper coins per catty? she stammered. After that, she quickly looked in the direction of the kitchen counter. Rice was being cooked on the stove right now. In order to save food, she had put a lot of Chinese yam in the pot. If she had known that this thing was more expensive than rice and flour, she could never bring herself to cook this for her own consumption. Qin Xiaoyaoughed out loud, amused by her mother-inws reactions. Yes. She reaffirmed with a smile. But that was the price given by Doctor Li. If we sell it to Fortune Mansion, Im afraid it will be lower. However, my Uncle Zhao is a fair man and will not push too hard for a low price. She estimated that it could be sold for four copper coins per catty. Madam Liu nodded. We do not have to pay for things in the mountains. Its good enough as long as you can earn money, she said. Qin Xiaoyao nodded in agreement. In addition, this pig liver was given to me by my father. Ill take it to the stream to washter, and itll be nice to add another dish. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao picked up the pig liver. She was looking forward to having pig liver soupter. When Madam Liu heard this, she felt grateful. Although the inws hade to their house to make a scene in the past, it was indeed their familys fault at that time. And these two bags of brown rice and rough noodle flour. Each bag weighs ten catties. I thought I might as well buy them since I was in town. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she picked up the two bags and went to the rice and flour jars. These sacks belong to the grain store. I put down a 10-copper coin deposit for them. The next time I go to town, Ill have to bring them back and return them to the store. Now theres enough rice and flour at home. Mother, you can put more when you cook. Or, you can bake more pancakes. Dont dilute them anymore. Okay, Madam Liu answered in agreement. Chinese yam was so precious, even more expensive than brown rice and rough noodle flour. She would not dare to put them into the rice in the future. Rather than Chinese yam, it was better to put in more brown rice. Qin Xiaoyao poured the brown rice and rough noodle flour into the jars, folded up the sacks, and put them away. Then she looked at Madam Liu. In addition, about Husbands leg... The moment she brought up this topic, Madam Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyao nervously. Doctor Li has already agreed toe over in the afternoon to give Husband a check-up. He can only give a firm diagnosis after he has seen the patient. However, Doctor Li said that if his condition isnt serious, he can be healed for five or six hundred copper coins. ... Madam Lius expression drastically, and she looked very worried. A fee of five to six hundred copper coins was really not expensive. However, looking at the situation at home Even if it was only five or six hundred copper coins, she couldnt afford it. Qin Xiaoyao saw Madam Lius expression and smiled. Mother, dont worry too much about the medical expenses. If we can sell the Chinese yam, it wont be a problem for us to raise five or six hundred copper coins for the medical expenses. Madam Liu was stunned. Only then did she remember the Chinese yam deal and quickly nodded. But Im worried that Husbands injuries may not be that minor. Madam Lius face immediately tensed up again. Doctor Li said that if its serious, well need to use some expensive herbs. In that case, its possible to spend ten to twenty silver taels. Ten or twenty taels? Madam Liu stammered in shock. ... Qin Xiaoyao sighed again. Yes, she replied. But our family... Where would they get so much silver? This time, Madam Liu became as anxious as ants on a hot pan. Dont worry. Ive already found a way to get the silver. Qin Xiaoyao continued. As Madam Liu stared at her, Qin Xiaoyao exined. I went to talk to my father. He has already agreed to lend us ten taels of silver. However, my stepmother requested for my husband to sign an IOU. Moreover, we have to return the money within half a year. We should definitely sign an IOU, but half a year can we really pay back if its only half a year? Madam Liu mumbled, her voice full of uncertainty. Of course we can, Qin Xiaoyao said immediately. Although we dont havend, we have a mountain behind us, so its convenient to go into the mountains. There are many good things in the mountains. As long as we are diligent, we dont have to worry about not being able to earn money. Seeing that Madam Liu was still worried, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Isnt the Chinese yam a good example? As long as Uncle Zhao is willing to help, we can simply dig up all the Chinese yam from that plot I discovered. It will not be a problem to sell it for two taels of silver. Upon hearing this, Madam Lius expression rxed a little. But its not like theres Chinese yam everywhere in the mountains, she said again after a while. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Its not just Chinese yam. There are also mushrooms, wild fruits, and wild game, all of which can be sold for money too, right? Take those pheasants and wild hares I caught yesterday. Those things are very popr in the restaurants in town. Didnt I sell those two hare pelts for ten copper coins today? Madam Liu was stunned. Wild hare pelts can be sold for money too? She was quite surprised. Yup, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Theres a grocery store in town that specializes in collecting animal skins. Not only can you sell wild hare pelts there, they also take in deerskin, fox pelts, wolf hides, tiger hides, and the like, which are even more valuable. When I was a young girl, I saw it before. Someone sent a piece of tiger skin to the grocery store. It wasnt very big, but it was sold for twenty taels! Chapter 24 Chapter 24: Woven Straw Sandals That was something from her predecessors memory. Back then, this incident had caused quite a stir around the grocery store. Of course, it had been a few years since the incident, and she had only heard of that one instance of someone selling tiger skin. Madam Lius eyes were wide open in shock. What? Twenty taels? For just a piece of skin? Then, she quickly sobered up. No, the mountains are too dangerous. We must not have any ideas about those wild beasts! Tiger skin? That was the skin of a dangerous wild beast. If a person bumped into it, the chances of them getting bitten to death would be so much higher than them killing the wild beast. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. She saw Madam Liu looking at her nervously and could feel her mother-inws concern. Dont worry, Mother. I will try my best not to go deep into the mountains. Even if I cant get any wild animals, I can still get some mushrooms which can be exchanged for some money. Seeing that Madam Liu was still worried, Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and tugged at her hand. Madam Liu trembled, but she endured it and did not retract her hand. Qin Xiaoyao didnt mind Madam Lius reaction and continued. My father wille over in the afternoon to check on Husbands condition and give us some silver taels. Regardless of whether we can pay back the money in half a year, Husbands injuries must be treated nheless. Seeing that Madam Liu was looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao added, Ill have to trouble you to talk to Husband about the issue of the IOU. I A look of embarrassment shed across Qin Xiaoyaos face. Husband has a problem with me. Im afraid he wont agree if I tell him myself. Previously, her predecessor had borrowed money to hire a traveling doctor to treat her attractive husbands father. Although this matter was done secretly, they might not have covered their tracks so well. Thinking back on her attractive husbands reaction after the incident, she suspected that he might have already discovered something. Now that she was going to borrow money from her family and needed him to sign an IOU, she didnt know if her attractive husband would agree. The way Madam Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyao instantly softened. Alright, Ill go tell him. She immediately agreed. Her daughter-inw was right. Her eldest sons injury was more important. As for the rest, she would just take it one step at a time. However, her daughter-inw would have to suffer again. For the sake of their family, she had made her maternal family suffer losses again and again. After that, Madam Liu went to the room next door. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief. She then picked up the pig liver and went to the stream. Qin Xiaoyao only returned after she had washed the pig liver clean by the stream. In the end, just as she walked into the courtyard, she heard Madam Lius cryinging from her attractive husbands room, as well as her attractive husbands helpless and angry voice. Qin Xiaoyao only stood there and listened for a while before she knew what the mother and son were arguing about. Instead of going over, she went straight into the kitchen. Then, she asked her little sister-inw, who looked very worried, toe over and help her start the fire. As for the matter next door, she believed that her mother-inw would be able to take care of it. After all, when her predecessor had sought out the traveling doctor, her attractive husband had also opposed the idea adamantly, but he had not been able to persuade his mother. True enough, by the time Qin Xiaoyao finished cooking the pig liver soup Madam Liu finally returned. When she entered, she even wiped the corners of her eyes. She had obviously been crying. Before Qin Xiaoyao could say anything, Madam Liu smiled and said, Queer has already agreed. All three people in the room heaved a sigh of relief. Thats good! The food is ready. Mother, lets eat first. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she began to set up the table. Madam Liu murmured her acknowledgment and came forward to help. The lunch today was pig liver and wild vegetable soup, stir-fried wild vegetables, and rice mixed with Chinese yam. Qin Xiaoyao prepared the food for Song Que and was about to send it to the room next door when she was stopped by Madam Liu. Its better if I go, Madam Liu said. Queer had a deep misunderstanding of her daughter-inw and she was afraid that her daughter-inw would be wronged if she went. There was no doubt about it. Madam Liu was actually worried that her son would bully her daughter-inw. It had to be said that this psychological change was really quite fast. Just when Qin Xiaoyao was worrying about the same issue, on hearing Madam Lius offer, she immediately agreed. Right now, it was indeed better for her not to see her attractive husband. If she did, she would only get scolded. When Doctor Li arrivedter, and her attractive husband saw that she really wanted to get his leg healed, he would believe her. And so, at noon, Madam Liu took over Qin Xiaoyaos job and went to deliver lunch to Song Que. After lunch, Qin Xiaoyao helped to wash the dishes and clean up the house. She didnt go out because she had to wait for the arrival of the doctor and Qin Dazhuang. ... After cleaning up the kitchen and the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao saw that there was extra straw in the house. She got up and went to get some, then began to weave straw sandals. Yes, as she had grown up in a vige in her previous life, she knew how to do this. After the apocalypse, resources were scarce. When she entered the mountains after the rain, she also wore her own woven straw sandals. For this reason, the lifespan of her boots had been extended a lot during the apocalypse. In this era, she was wearing fabric shoes. This pair of fabric shoes would be more easily worn out than the shoes she had worn in her previous life. From here on, she would have more opportunities to enter the mountain. In order to protect her shoes, she might as well change into straw sandals. In any case, straw sandals were lighter and had anti-slip properties. Most importantly, she was not afraid of wearing out these straw sandals. If she had the materials, she could just weave another pair. ... Qin Xiaoyaos action of weaving straw sandals quickly attracted the attention of the mother and the two kids. Sister-inw, you know how to make straw sandals? Song Yun was the first to realize what her sister-inw was doing. Yes, Qin Xiaoyao replied. At the same time, she tried the half-woven straw sandals on her feet to make sure they were of the right size. Song Yuns eyes lit up. Sister-inw, can you teach me? She looked at Qin Xiaoyao with excitement. At the same time, the little girls feet wriggled. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao notice that the fabric shoes on the little girls feet had holes. The toes of both feet were exposed. Especially her right foot, which had two little toes exposed. Qin Xiaoyao sighed in her heart when she saw the stitches on the little girls fabric shoes. This was torn again after being sewn back. Even if she wanted to repair it, it would not be easy to repair this shoe anymore. Okay! However, weaving straw shoes requires rubbing straw, and rubbing for a long time would hurt your hands. Are you sure you want to learn? Qin Xiaoyao looked at her little sister-inw. Yes! Im not afraid of pain! Song Yun said hurriedly. Alright, then go get a small stool and sit down. Ill teach you. Qin Xiaoyao also agreed readily. Okay! Song Yun replied happily and ran into the kitchen. I want to learn too! Song Ye overheard the conversation between the two and ran over. Qin Xiaoyaoughed at the little ones antics. Youre still too young. You dont even have enough strength to rub the straw. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the little childs fabric shoes, which were also torn, and said, You cane over and help your sister and me. Sister-inw will make you a pairter. The little childs eyes immediately lit up. Really? Thank you, Sister-inw! He almost threw himself into Qin Xiaoyaos arms. The more he interacted with his Sister-inw, the more he liked her. Not only did she roast a bird for him to eat, but she also bought him candied hawthorn. Now, she even wanted to make straw sandals for him. Little kids were so forgetful. After being pampered a few times, he had almost forgotten those bad memories in the past. Not far away, Madam Liu, who was doing embroidery work, also saw the situation. She was quite surprised to see her daughter-inw weaving straw sandals, and that she was very good at it too. Chapter 25 Chapter 25: New Shoes Is it difficult to weave these straw shoes? Madam Liu couldnt contain her curiosity and stopped what she was doing to join in for a look. Its not difficult. Its just that processing the straw and twisting the straw rope will take some effort, Qin Xiaoyao said. While talking, her hands did not stop working, and she continued to weave. There will be more opportunities to enter the mountain in the future. Ill make a few more pairs today since I have the time. Itll be convenient to wear in the future. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Ye and continued. Ill make a pair for each of you. When you go into the mountains to gather firewood, you can also change into straw sandals. Usually, the siblings were the ones who gathered the firewood for their home, so Madam Liu rarely went out. However, asionally, Madam Liu would tag along. The mountain paths were difficult to walk on, and moving around in fabric shoes was not as easy as in straw shoes. Hehe! We dont have to restrict ourselves to wearing them only when we go into the mountains. We can also wear them even for normal activities. The straw sandals are light and durable. Ill let Yuner and Yeer wear straw sandals for a while, and I wont have to repair their shoes. The main point was that there was no way to repair those shoes anymore. Moreover, the childrens feet grew quickly, so even if those shoes were mended, the children would not be able to wear them for long. Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and nodded. Thats true. Its not cold now, so they can wear straw sandals! she replied. In her heart, she was thinking that when she had earned enough money, she would have to buy a pair of fabric shoes for each of her family members. At this moment, Song Yun came out and ced a stool next to Qin Xiaoyao. She was waiting to learn how to weave straw sandals from her Sister-inw. Madam Lius interest was also piqued. She stopped her embroidery work and also moved a stool over to sit on the other side of Qin Xiaoyao. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao was quite happy. Following that, she began teaching. The mother and daughter learned conscientiously. After a few tries, they gradually mastered the essentials. Fifteen minutester, Qin Xiaoyao finally finished weaving her first pair of straw sandals. Its done. Ill try them on first! Qin Xiaoyao let out a breath and stood up. Then, she walked to one side, took off her fabric shoes, and changed into the straw sandals. The soles of the straw sandals were soft, and the sandals were light. They also did not constrain the feet as much as fabric shoes. After wearing them on her feet, it really made her feelfortable. Under the envious gazes of the mother and two kids, Qin Xiaoyao walked back and forth a few times before she nodded in satisfaction. Not bad. Sister-inw, Yeer also wants straw sandals! Song Ye couldnt contain himself any longer and pounced at Qin Xiaoyao. Hehe! Sure! Ill weave them for you now! As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she picked up the little child. She only put Song Ye down when they returned to the spot under the roof eaves. Song Yun looked at the straw sandals on Qin Xiaoyaos feet with envy. Her hand movements quickened, preparing to make a pair of sandals for herself. Thus, the few of them chatted andughed as they got busy. At this moment, in the room next door. Song Que was lying on the bed when he heard themotion outside. After his initial anger subsided, he was also a little confused. What was that woman up to? Now, she didnt bother him anymore but got along so well with his family. Furthermore, this time, she said that she wanted to look for a doctor to take a look at his leg injury, and even wanted to borrow money from her maternal family. Was it true? Or was she nning something again? In the courtyard. This time, Qin Xiaoyao finished weaving a pair of small straw sandals in less than fifteen minutes. Come on, try out your new shoes. Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she ced the straw sandals in front of Song Ye. Alright! Thank you, Sister-inw! The little child quickly thanked her. Then, he allowed Qin Xiaoyao to support him as he changed out of his fabric shoes into the straw sandals. Yeer has new shoes! After changing into his straw sandals, the little child began scampering around the small courtyard. Everyone was amused by his overjoyed demeanor. Qin Xiaoyao nced at her little sister-inws envious face, then at the straw sandals in her hands, which were not very well woven, and said, Next, Ill make a pair for Yuner. Song Yuns face turned red. No, theres no need to. I can weave them myself. Never mind! If you want to make straw sandals that can be worn, youll have to practice a few more times. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. With that, she got busy again. Thank thank you, Sister-inw. The little girl blushed and finally epted Qin Xiaoyaos kind offer. Then, fifteen minutester, Song Yun also put on her new shoes. Then, it was Madam Lius turn. Now that the three of them had new shoes, Qin Xiaoyao was just about to make a pair for her attractive husband when Doctor Li showed up. Hearing his voice, Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly went to wee him. After a round of greetings, she immediately invited him to Song Ques room. ... Doctor Li, thank you for making this trip. Ill have to trouble you to take a look at my husband and see how bad his injury is. Qin Xiaoyao took a stool and ced it beside the bed, inviting Doctor Li to sit. Doctor Li didnt stand on ceremony and sat down. He instructed Song Que, who had already sat up, to stretch out his arm. Before Song Que met Doctor Li, he had been suspicious of Qin Xiaoyao and was somewhat against Qin Xiaoyaos arrangements. However, when he saw that it was Doctor Li who came, he immediately chose to cooperate. The reason was that he had heard people mention Doctor Li when he was studying in the towns academy. Back when his father was seriously ill, he had wanted to ask Doctor Li to treat his father. In the end, his n was interrupted by Qin Sanya. Compared to those unreliable and troublesome traveling doctors, this Doctor Li was definitely much more reliable. Seeing Song Que extend his arm out to Doctor Li for him to take the formers pulse, Qin Xiaoyao and the threesome who followed her into the room, all heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Song Que cooperated. ... In the silence, Doctor Li took Song Ques pulse for a long time before releasing him. Then, he took his medical case from the cab. After taking out his tools, he began to unwrap the strips of cloth used to bandage Song Ques wound. Doctor Lis actions were professional and skilled, but even so, Song Que trembled a few times in pain. After about five minutes, Doctor Li finally removed all the cloth strips that were wrapped around Song Ques legs. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows as she looked at the ck and hideous wound, as well as the fresh blood that flowed out after the removal of the cloth strips. At the same time, she covered the eyes of Song Ye, who was the closest to her. You two go out and y first. Qin Xiaoyao instructed Song Yun. Song Yun was also shocked by what she saw. She knew her sister-inws intention. Okay. She quickly answered, took her brothers hand, and went out. Qin Xiaoyao then looked at Madam Liu. When she saw her mother-inw looking at her attractive husbands leg with tears rolling down her face, she went up and patted Madam Liu on the shoulder. Madam Liu felt her daughter-inwsfort and controlled her emotions a little. When Song Que saw this, he endured the pain, and an odd look shed across his face. Doctor Li, can my leg still be treated? He immediately asked Doctor Li. Doctor Li didnt pay any attention to him. Instead, he turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Go and get some clean hot water and a clean handkerchief. Okay! Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly replied. She then turned around and walked out. Madam Liu also reacted quickly. Ill go help. She added. After speaking, she went after her daughter-inw. Doctor Li continued to clean Song Ques wound quickly with the tools in his hand. Then, he poured some hemostatic powder on it, helping Song Que stop the bleeding temporarily. Only then did he look at Song Que. Chapter 26 Chapter 26: The Generous Father-inw The injuries are not light, but the wounds have been treated. In addition, I came here in time, so there is still hope of recovery. Song Ques face lit up with joy. Doctor Li, are you serious? He looked at Doctor Li in surprise. Doctor Li nodded. However, you not only have a wolf bite wound on your leg, but you also have an injury caused by a bear trap. As the toxicity is different, I have to use different types of medicine. If you want topletely heal your injury, Im afraid the medical expenses wont be low. If it should be treated, well treat it! At this moment, a voice suddenly rang out from outside the door. Immediately, Doctor Li and Song Que looked at the doorway and saw two muscr mening in from outside. They were Qin Sanyas father, Qin Dazhuang, and her eldest brother, Qin Dahu. The two of them hade to the Song family to check out the situation and to give silver to their daughter and sister. As soon as they arrived, they heard that Doctor Li had already arrived, so the duo came directly to this room. Qin Dazhuang stepped forward. When he saw Song Ques injured leg, he immediately frowned. It seemed like his daughter really didnt lie to him. His pauper son-inw had indeed suffered a serious injury in the mountains. Looking at his brother-inws injuries, Qin Dahu also frowned. He regretted not stopping his wife and stepmother from bullying his sister yesterday. Doctor Li, how much money do you need to cure my son-inws leg? Qin Dazhuang asked Doctor Li. Doctor Li stood up and cupped his hands at Qin Dazhuang in greeting. Then, he looked at Song Que, who was lying on the bed, and knew what to do. It turned out that the injured Mr. Song was the son-inw of butcher Qin. Recalling some of the rumors he had heard before, Doctor Lis eyes shed with interest. From the looks of it, the rumors could not be believed. Although Ms. Qins appearance was indeed a bit rough, there was nothing to pick on with regard to her character. She was genuinely very concerned about her husband. Also, butcher Qins attitude towards his son-inw didnt seem to be fake. I estimate that it will cost ten taels of silver. The amount of medicine required will be hefty in the early stages, but after a month, when his condition has clearly improved, the amount of medicine can be reduced and he can slowly recuperate. Stroking his beard, Doctor Li thought for a moment and continued. If he wants to recover fully, Im afraid it will take at least half a year. Everyone was shocked to hear this. Of course, if its just walking around, he should be able to do that in one and a half months. However, even if hes on the ground, he has to take good care of himself and avoid walking too much. Song Que was shocked after listening to the doctor. Even Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu couldnt be bothered to hate him anymore. There was only one sentence echoing in their hearts. His leg would be fully healed in half a year. He would not turn into a cripple Then lets treat it! Qin Dazhuang immediately said. After speaking, he even took out his money bag and handed money to Doctor Li. Doctor Li saw this and looked at Qin Dazhuang with admiration, but he didnt take the money. You dont have to pay all the silver in one go. Ill write a prescription and give some medical adviceter. After this, you just need to follow the doctors advice and go to the Hundred Herbs Hall to get the medicine. When the timees, the Hundred Herbs Hall will collect the money based on the amount of medicine obtained each time. All three of them were relieved to hear this. How much do you charge for this consultation then? As Qin Dazhuang spoke, he prepared to untie the money bag. Doctor Li turned around and looked at Song Ques injuries. The house call fee is twenty copper coins, and Ms. Qin has already paid ten copper coins as a deposit, so there is still a bnce of ten copper coins to be paid. The consultation fee is five copper coins. In addition to the medicinal powder and the medicine that needs to be changedter Ill charge you eighty copper coins in all, he said. Qin Dazhuang was stunned. He looked at his pauper son-inws injury. Just eighty copper coins? he asked in disbelief. Yes, Doctor Li replied. When I make house calls, I only bring some ordinary medicine. This time, Im here mainly to take a look at the patients condition and perform some cleaning. For Mr. Songs injuries, youll need to rely on the medicine to be procuredter. When the timees, youll need medicine for both external application and oral consumption. Youll have to go to the Hundred Herbs Hall and buy it yourself. Qin Dazhuang understood. Nodding his head, he quickly took out a tael of silver from his money bag and handed it to Doctor Li. Doctor Li didnt stand on ceremony and epted the silver. He gave Qin Dazhuang twenty copper coins back in change. Qin Dazhuang didnt want to take the change, but after Doctor Li forced him to ept, he reluctantly pocketed the change. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao brought over some hot water. Seeing that her father had paid for the medical fee, her eyes turned red. Doctor Li didnt pay any attention to this. He asked Qin Xiaoyao to quickly bring the hot water and handkerchief over and began to clean Song Ques wound. Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu took the opportunity to lead Qin Xiaoyao outside. In the courtyard. Qin Dazhuang immediately shoved the money bag into Qin Xiaoyaos hands. Doctor Li said that son-inws injury will take half a year to recoverpletely, and it will cost about ten taels of silver in total. ... Take this money. Theres no need for the IOU. His son-inw was so seriously injured that he would most likely be crippled if he was not treated. Under such circumstances, there was no longer any need to force the other party to sign an IOU. As for his wifes displeasure, he decided to let it go. At most, he would just go back and receive a scolding. Qin Dahu also took out two taels of silver from his pocket and shoved them into his sisters hands. We came here in a hurry, so Father and I didnt bring you anything. This is Big Brothers small token of appreciation. Dont hold it against your sister-inw for what happened yesterday. Qin Xiaoyao only felt the hot sensation of the silver in her hand. She didnt want to ept her father and brothers money, but she could only bite the bullet and ept it. After thinking for a while, she opened the money bag her father gave her and took out five taels of silver. She then returned the rest to Qin Dazhuang. Its not like we have to pay up all ten taels at once. Ill just borrow five taels from you, Father. That should be enough. You can take the rest back and return it to Aunt. ... Seeing that Qin Dazhuang did not agree, Qin Xiaoyao continued. This way, even if you dont get a written IOU from Husband, Aunt wont have too much objection. Also, please tell Aunt that well definitely return the money within half a year. Qin Dazhuang still didnt ept it. He still wanted to persuade his daughter to take the money. However, Qin Xiaoyao firmly shoved the money back into his hand. I already know Fathers good intentions. However, Aunt is pregnant now, so she needs to spend a lot of money. We should also consider her feelings. Regarding the matter of borrowing money, if I werent really out of ideas, I wouldnt... In short, you must exin it clearly to Aunt. When this crisis is over, Ill go to your house to thank her. Qin Dazhuang was shocked by his daughters change. At the same time, his heart ached even more. Meanwhile, Qin Dahu was totally stupefied. Not only was he surprised by his sisters words, but he was even more shocked by the girls words that their stepmother was pregnant. So, their father was He was going to be a Big Brother again? Big Brother, I will ept your silver without shame. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she turned to look at Qin Dahu. When were better off in the future, Ill buy more snacks for my nephew. Qin Dahu was taken aback, then he scratched his head. I still dont know if your sister-inw can give birth to a boy, he said with some embarrassment. He was six years older than his sister. He had been married for three years, but there was no sign of movement in his wifes tummy. It wasnt easy to get a pregnancy this time, so he was very nervous. Chapter 27 Chapter 27: Selling Straw Sandals? Hehe! It must be a boy! Even if it isnt a boy, a daughter of the Qin family will still get pampered, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Qin Dazhuang also nodded happily. Seeing this, Qin Dahu alsoughed foolishly. Then, as if he had thought of something, Qin Dahu suddenly said, Then whats with the beam in the house? Wasnt it still fine before you got married? Looking at the Song familys thatched house, one would invariably feel worried. Only his sister would be so stubborn as to insist on marrying into the Song family. That pauper brother-inw had never once given anyone any weing looks. Other than his good looks, what else was good about him? Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Thinking of her predecessors death-seeking actions, she couldnt help curling her toes in embarrassment. Er the wind blew and broke it yesterday. I havent had the time to clean up yet. Qin Dahu frowned. He did not believe that the wind could break the beam. Qin Dazhuang interrupted him. Since were all here, lets give your sister a hand and change that beam. Okay! Qin Dahu didnt think any further and agreed. The father and son did as they promised. They asked Qin Xiaoyao for a firewood chopper and went into the mountains. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief and went back to check on Song Que. At this moment, Madam Liu was also in Song Ques room. As she watched Doctor Li clean Song Ques wound and Song Ques face twitched in pain from time to time, Madam Liu kept wiping away her tears. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and tugged on Madam Lius hand. Only then did Madam Lius mood lighten up a little. After a while, Doctor Li finally finished treating Song Ques wound. He then applied the medicine. Then, he went to the side and wrote down the doctors instructions while telling Qin Xiaoyao to take note of them. Qin Xiaoyao had a good memory. After listening to it once, she repeated it to Doctor Li. Doctor Li made sure that Qin Xiaoyao had remembered it before he started writing the prescription. Alright, keep this prescription. For the first month, get the medicine ording to these four prescriptions. External application and oral consumption are two doses of medicine each. When applying externally, remember to distinguish it. Dont apply it on the wrong wound. Its okay, Doctor Li. When the timees, Ill ask the staff from the Hundred Herbs Hall to help me mark the medicine clearly, Qin Xiaoyao said. Doctor Li nodded, satisfied with Qin Xiaoyaos intelligence. Then I will take my leave. If you encounter any problems in the future, you cane to the Hundred Herbs Hall to look for me. Doctor Li stood up after saying this. Ill send you off, Qin Xiaoyao said hurriedly. Following that, she apanied Doctor Li out of the door. Initially, Qin Xiaoyao wanted to send him all the way until they were out of the vige, but Doctor Li refused and told her to go back. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao return home. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw her mother-inw waiting for her. Your father and your eldest brother... Madam Lius face was a little anxious. She wanted to say something but stopped. Oh, they havent left, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Big Brother saw that the beam of our house was broken, so he brought my father up the mountain to chop down trees. He said he would bring it back and help us change the beam. Madam Liu was stunned but felt very grateful. Then Ill go to the kitchen and see what I can make. Let your father and brother stay for dinnerter. She turned to leave after speaking. However, Qin Xiaoyao quickly stopped Madam Liu. You dont have to do that. My father has to set up the stall tomorrow, so he has to rush back to ughter the pigs. After helping us change the beamster, theyll probably have to leave immediately. But Madam Liu felt that she was being very impolite. Its okay, Mother. Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and held Madam Lius hand. She then thought for a moment before taking out the five taels of silver from her father and the two taels of silver from her big brother. She gave them all to Madam Liu. Because Doctor Li said that Husbands injury doesnt need to spend ten taels at once, I only asked my father for five taels of silver. In addition, these two taels of silver are a gift from my Big Brother. Keep this money. Ill ask you for more when I go to town to get medicine. Madam Liu could not possibly ept the money. She quickly rejected Qin Xiaoyao. You take it! You dont need to give it to me! In the future, when you enter the town to buy medicine, just do as you see fit! If the money is not enough, Mother can still think of ways to cope. Madam Liu even took two steps back, afraid that her daughter-inw would force the silver into her hands. Then, she took out a few copper coins from her pocket. This is the money I have earned after selling the embroidery work I didst time. You can take it too. Itll help you out. As she said that, she handed over the copper coins in embarrassment. Her daughter-inw had really changed this time. She had to support her since she was thinking about the family! Qin Xiaoyao looked somewhat shocked. Looking at the clearly discernible six copper coins in her mother-inws hand, she pushed them back. You can keep the money from the embroidery. ... Seeing that Madam Liu was still insistent, Qin Xiaoyao added, Ill ask you for more if Im really short of money in the future. Upon hearing this, Madam Liu finally felt relieved. Alright, then. If you really need money, dont hesitate to ask, she reminded her. Okay. Qin Xiaoyao felt a warm sensation in her heart. Qin Xiaoyao walked over to Song Yun, who was still weaving straw sandals under the roof eave, and Song Ye, who was sitting beside her. Her father and big brother had not returned yet, so she could find time to make a pair of straw sandals for them and her second brother, who did note. Her father didnt leave town much, but he could wear it when it rained. As for Big Brother and Second Brother, they would need straw sandals when they went out of town to collect live pigs. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao quickly got busy. When Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu returned, they saw their daughter and sister weaving straw sandals diligently. Father, Big Brother,e and try them on! Before the two of them could say anything, Qin Xiaoyao was already waving at them. ... The two of them walked all the way down from the mountain, and their shoes felt hot. When they saw that their daughter and sister had woven straw sandals for them, they became very interested. They walked to Qin Xiaoyaos side, took the straw sandals, and tried them on. These straw sandals are not bad! Its much stronger than the ones I bought in the grocery store. Qin Dahu put on his straw sandals and walked back and forth a few times. The more he walked, the more satisfied he was. They are really good! These straw sandals are actually morefortable than fabric shoes. Qin Dazhuang chimed in as well. I didnt expect my daughter to have such a skill! Then, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao with pride. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. I learned it from an old craftsman. My handiwork can barely be worn! I made a pair for Second Brother too. Can you help me bring it back for him? As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao handed over the remaining pair of straw sandals by her feet. Qin Dahu reached out to receive it. Second Brother didnt dote on you in vain, he said with a smile. Then, he suddenly thought of something and looked at his sister. If you have such skills, why dont you make straw sandals for sale? he asked. With the Song familys situation, with his pauper brother-inw injured and the mother-inw taking care of two half-grown children, it was evident that they couldnt fend for themselves. It would be a wonder if their lives could get better just by relying on his sister. It was rare for his sister to have the skill of weaving straw sandals. She should be able to make some money with this. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. Then, she came to a sudden realization. Well where do they sell straw sandals in town? she immediately asked her big brother. When Song Yun heard this, she also looked at Qin Dahu. Chapter 28 Chapter 28: Father Wanted to Help Hmm I usually buy them from Wangs Grocery Store. His straw sandals were worth five copper coins. The market fair asionally sells straw sandals for about four to five copper coins a pair. Take your Second Brother and me. We typically wear out at least one pair of straw sandals a month. In the future, if you sell them here, your Second Brother and I will buy them directly from you! Qin Xiaoyao immediately refused. Big Brother, what are you saying? It doesnt take much effort to make these straw shoes. Ill just send them to you and Second Brother regrly in the future. Who wants your money? Qin Dahuughed as he scratched his head. Then, he looked at his father. If you dont want money, then I dont want it. His sisters family was already in such a state. If he still took advantage of her, was he still worthy of being a brother? Qin Dazhuang also looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Its settled then. Your big brother and second brothers straw sandals will be contracted out to you in the future. Theres also mine. Well pay five copper coins per pair. Give us two pairs each first. As he spoke, Qin Dazhuang began to fumble with his money bag. These three pairs count as well. Give me three more pairs. Then, he started counting the money. Qin Xiaoyao refused. Ill make up three more pairs. Father, you just have to give me fifteen copper coins. If you still insist, then I dont want the money and I wont weave for you anymore. And I wont give you straw sandals in the future. Her father had given her copper coins and meat today. After that, he had helped pay for her attractive husbands medical expenses and even loaned her money. Her big brother had also given her two taels of silver. If she only gave him three pairs of straw sandals and still charged him, what would people think of her? Qin Dazhuang knew that his daughter had already made apromise, so he didnt insist further. Alright, take this! Then, he counted fifteen copper coins and gave them to Qin Xiaoyao. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao ept it. Take your time. Ill go with your brother to help you fix the house, Qin Dazhuang said. Okay. Thank you for your help, Father and Big Brother! Qin Xiaoyao replied. Hey, its nothing! Qin Dahu replied to his sister and went in. When Song Yun saw that her sister-inw had gotten copper coins, her eyes were filled with envy. Looking at the poorly-made straw sandals in her hands, she made up her mind. She had to learn how to make straw sandals as soon as possible and make them of the same quality as her sister-inws. This way, they could be sent to town to be sold for money. After a while, Madam Liu came out. She said that she had boiled some water and offered Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu some water. The two of them didnt reject her offer. They drank some water, thanked her, and continued with their work. The thatched houses roof was quickly lifted. Not only did Father Qin and his son rece the broken beam, but they also adjusted the other beams and tidied up the thatched roof. It was already two hourster when they finished the task. After getting off the roof, the two of them each drank arge bowl of water before saying goodbye to their daughter and sister. Oh, I almost forgot something important. I went to look for your Uncle Zhao, Qin Dazhuang quickly walked to his daughters side and said. How did it go? Qin Xiaoyao immediately looked at her father. He agreed. They said theyll pay you five copper coins per catty for a hundred catties of Chinese yam. If it sells well, they will continue to buy from you. In addition, Fortune Mansion also epts wild animals and mountain products. If you have any, you can send them to him. When the timees, send them directly to the kitchen of Fortune Mansion and tell them his name. Someone there will give you a fair price. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up when she heard that. Five copper coins. It was one copper coin higher than what she had expected. A hundred catties was nothing. She had confidence in her Chinese yam, and Fortune Mansion would definitely need more in the future. Anyway, the Chinese yam could be stored. After digging it up, she could sell it slowly. Alright! Thank you, Father! Qin Xiaoyao quickly thanked him. What are you thanking me for? Qin Dazhuang red at his daughter. Also, your straw sandals. Ive just discussed it with your big brother. My pork stall is big enough, and theres quite a lot of people. If youre free, why dont you make some straw sandals to sell at my stall? Ill help you sell them at that point. Anyway, it was easy to sell straw sandals. He didnt need to weigh them and could just charge them by pairs. It didnt take him much effort. Qin Xiaoyao was very surprised. Just follow Fathers suggestion. If they can really be sold, it will also help with your family expenses, Qin Dahu advised. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment and then nodded. Deal! Then lets give it a try. However, I cant let father help me for nothing. How about this, Father? Help me sell them at four copper coins per pair. Ill give you a copper coin for every pair sold as salesmission. The design and quality of the straw sandals she made were not bad. ... There should be a market for it if they were sold for four copper coins a pair. Even if she gave one copper coin to her father, she would get three copper coins for a pair. The straw in the countryside did not cost anything. Other than the time needed to weave it, there was no cost involved. It was quite feasible to rely on this method to get more ie for the family. Qin Dazhuang was about to refuse. Father, if you dont agree, then well forget about this matter. Qin Xiaoyao continued unexpectedly. Qin Dahuughed as he patted his fathers shoulder. Alright, lets do as little sister said. This way, youll be able to answer to Aunt when you return. Qin Dazhuang red at his eldest son in annoyance. How outrageous! He even made fun of his own father. Alright, then. Remember to send the straw sandals to me after youvepleted them. Qin Dazhuang said to his daughter, suppressing the sense of helplessness in his heart. ... Okay! Qin Xiaoyao agreed happily. After Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu said they were leaving, she sent them off. Qin Xiaoyao didnt return to the vige until they were on the main road and only at their urging. Along the way, some people in Brook Falls Vige were watching with excitement. Seeing that Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu were on good terms with Qin Xiaoyao, the rumors about them were quickly dispelled. What was all that about the Qin family disowning this daughter? The moment he heard that his son-inw was injured, this father-inw and brother-inw immediately rushed over. Did this look like they were not acknowledging him? From the looks of it, the Song family was not too unlucky. With the Qin familys help, Eldest Son Songs injuries might very well receive the medical treatment they needed. Qin Xiaoyao didnt care about that. She went straight home and continued weaving straw sandals. After all, it was a money-making business. It was good to make a few pairs a day and sell them in exchange for some food. After her sister-inw came back, Song Yun quickly continued to stare at Qin Xiaoyao weaving straw sandals. She watched and learned carefully, hoping to learn this skill as soon as possible. Madam Liu already knew that the Qin family had agreed to help her daughter-inw sell straw sandals. She also felt that this was a good business opportunity and came forward. Why dont I learn it as well? After we have acquired the skill, Yuner and I can make straw sandals at home, so things will be easier on you. Qin Xiaoyao looked up and nced at his mother-inw. You can also earn money by doing embroidery. Weaving these straw sandals is even more taxing on the hands than sewing, she said. Embroidery work can make a bit of money, but its slow, Madam Liu said. My family doesnt have much money, so I usually only take on some purse-embroidering work from the embroidery workshop. Take the Rainbow Raiment Embroidery Workshop in the town. For a minimum of ten pouches taken up, the deposit is three copper coins each. I have to fork out a deposit of thirty copper coins each time. After the patterns are embroidered and returned to the embroidery workshop, one pouch is seven copper coins. Ten of them can only bring in forty copper coins minus the deposit. This is not even considering the cost of the embroidery. Chapter 29 Chapter 29: Digging for Chinese Yam with Helpers Strictly speaking, I can only earn thirty-five copper coins by embroidering ten pouches. If we deduct the towns entry fee, itll only be thirty-four copper coins. My family doesnt havend, so I dont have to work in the field. Thats why I have more time to do embroidery. But even so, I can only embroider at most two or three pouches a day. Sigh! Its mainly because my eyes arent as good as before... Firstly, it was because she had been doing embroidery work for many years, causing her eyesight to deteriorate. Secondly, she had cried too much after her husband passed away, damaging her eyes slightly. Im guessing that if your pair of straw sandals could earn you three copper coins, the money would be much easier to earn than doing embroidery. The main thing was that she saw that her daughter-inw was very fast at making straw sandals. She could make a pair in about 15 minutes. This was different from her embroidery work. If she could find a stable market for sales, the work of weaving straw sandals could be regarded entirely as viable work. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment, then turned to look at her mother-inw again. Seeing the anticipation in her mother-inws eyes, she finally nodded. Alright. Then you can give it a try. However, my fathers meat stall might not be able to sell many straw sandals. So, even if youve learned how to make straw sandals, theres no need to make too many. Primarily, she was not expecting the three of them to work hard to earn money for the family. It was good enough that they could do their part. Alright! Madam Lius face lit up, and she quickly agreed. Immediately after, she also joined the team to weave straw sandals. Even the little one, Song Ye, dashed over when he saw his mother and sister learning diligently from his sister-inw. However, the three of them unanimously agreed that Song Ye should not get involved in learning how to make straw sandals. That was because the child was still too young and didnt have enough strength. He wouldnt be able to do it well even if he had learned it. Hence, little Song Ye could only continue to be a little freeloader at home. The three of them weaved straw sandals. Madam Liu and Song Yun only stopped work reluctantly when it was dusk. This was because they had to go and cook. After half an afternoon of hard work, the mother and daughter had basically mastered the trick of weaving straw shoes afterpleting a few pairs of unsightly straw shoes. If they continued to practice a few more pairs, they would probably be able to independently weave a pair of straw sandals that could pass muster. Qin Xiaoyao didnt take notice of the mother and daughter and continued with her work. Since she was free today, she could make a few more pairs of straw sandals. She had to go into the mountains starting tomorrow. At that point, she would have less time to weave straw sandals. As Qin Xiaoyao said that she wanted to eat egg pancakes, she took special pains to remind the family to make more. Madam Liu didnt try to save on the rough noodle flour tonight. She scooped out two and a half bowls of flour from the jar, then mixed in wild vegetables and pheasant eggs before making the pancakes. Qin Xiaoyao, who was busy working under the roof eaves, soon smelled the fragrant aroma of the pancake and felt that life was warm and stable. It was nighttime. After eating the egg pancakes for dinner, Qin Xiaoyao used the fire on the stove to weave thest pair of straw sandals with the remaining straw. Then, she wrapped up. The oil and salt on the stove and themp oil at home are almost gone. When Im in town tomorrow, I must buy some back, Qin Xiaoyao mumbled to herself as she stood up. Once the fire in the stove was extinguished, the kitchen would be dark. The room she shared with her attractive husband was still fine. The oil in the oilmp had not been used uppletely. However, in this kitchen and room the mother shared with the two children, they could only rely on the moonlight. There was also oil and salt. These were the two most basic seasonings. If she didnt buy them, it would be difficult to cook the next meal. In fact, she had wanted to buy these things back when she was in town today. However, considering that she did not have enough money on hand and that she had to pay for the consultation fees, she did not dare to buy them. Now that she had more money, she could consider buying them. Madam Liu didnt hear what her daughter-inw said. She smiled and asked Qin Xiaoyao to go and wash up quickly. As for Song Que, Madam Liu had already asked Song Yun to send her big brother some toiletries. Mother, you should rest early after you are done. Im going to take a shower, Qin Xiaoyao said. Oh, alright. Madam Liu agreed with a smile and left. She did not think it was strange that Qin Xiaoyao wanted to take a bath again today, even though she had just taken one yesterday. Qin Xiaoyao went to the stove to get some hot water and brought it to the bathroom. Then, she went to get a change of clothes before taking a bath. By the time she finished her bath, the moon was already high in the sky, and the courtyard was silent. When she returned to her room, the first thing she noticed was that Song Que was looking at her. However, she pretended not to notice and did not light themp. She walked straight to the bed andid down. Then, with a creak, she turned over, her back facing Song Que, and closed her eyes. Seeing this, Song Que was dumbfounded. Was this woman really going to ignore him? Feeling a little upset, Song Que frowned and turned over as well. It would be best if she ignored him. This was the result he wanted! However, that night, he couldnt sleep again. He was so angry As usual, Qin Xiaoyao was not aware of this. ... As she had many things to do, she got up quite early today. When she reached the courtyard, she saw Song Yun helping her wash her clothes. This time, she didnt say anything. She went straight to the kitchen to get water and wash up. Then, she helped Madam Liu make breakfast. This time, she did not even bother with Song Que. After she had her breakfast, she carried the hoe and sickle and went out. Just as she was worried that she might have gone out too early, she saw Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu from far away, waiting for her at the foot of the mountain with tools in their hands. With a smile on her face, Qin Xiaoyao hurried over. Big Girl, Daniu! Morning! Qin Xiaoyao was the first to open her mouth and greet them. I was worried I might keep you waiting, Sister Sanya! Big Girl Li replied awkwardly. As she said that, she even elbowed her man. Liu Daniu also smiled awkwardly at this juncture. Yes. Its only right for us to wait for Mrs. Song, he said. ... Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Daniu. Just as her gaze was beginning to give him goosebumps, she looked away. Then lets go, she said. The two of them quickly responded by following Qin Xiaoyao. Sister Sanya, what exactly are we doing? Big Girl Li asked Qin Xiaoyao soon afterward. She was envious when she saw Qin Xiaoyao walking briskly in her straw sandals. If she had known, she would have worn straw sandals too. Oh wait, she didnt seem to have straw sandals. Liu Daniu followed his wife and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. He was wondering exactly the same thing. What exactly were they supposed to do? To think that she wanted to pay them wages of a hundred copper coins. Youll know when we get there, Qin Xiaoyao replied without exining. Thus, Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu kept their mouths shut. After walking for a while, they finally arrived at their destination. Qin Xiaoyao stopped and began to exin the situation to the two. Do you see this plot of Chinese yam? Its this thing here Qin Xiaoyao tugged at the Chinese yam vines by the side of the path as she spoke. Theres something underneath, and thats what I want. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao began excavating with her hoe. After a few strikes, the ground was dug open, revealing the roots of the Chinese yam. Be careful when you two are digging. Try not to break it. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao continued to dig with all her might. Chapter 30 Chapter 30: Selling Chinese Yam After a series of operations, she finally dug out a thick and long Chinese yam rhizome. Qin Xiaoyaos face was filled with joy. When she saw that the depth of digging was sufficient, she pulled out the Chinese yam tuber and ced it on one side. Just dig ording to the method I just used. Before dark, we have to dig out all the Chinese yam in this plot. Qin Xiaoyao continued. She finally turned to look at the couple, who were dumbfounded. What on earth is this Chinese yam? Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao in bewilderment. This thing looked like a stick of firewood. What was the use of digging it up? Qin Xiaoyao shot Big Girl Li a nce, sessfully making her tense up. Why should you care what it is? You just need to do as I say! When youre done, I wont forget the hundred copper coins of wages we agreed on! Qin Xiaoyao then turned to look at Liu Daniu. Liu Daniu was frowning, though. With such arge plot ofnd, it would not be easy to finish the work in a day ording to Qin Sanyas digging method. No wonder she said they would be paid a hundred copper coins. This money was indeed not easy to earn. However, since they were already here, they would just have to do it. With these one hundred copper coins, he could also buy a few catties of meat to satisfy his familys cravings. Hence, Liu Daniu said, No problem! Dont worry, Mrs. Song. Well definitely do a good job! Qin Xiaoyaos eyes shed with admiration. Then dont just stand there. The earlier we finish, the earlier we can wrap up, she said. Ill join you guys for a while. However, I have to go to town to get medicine for my husbandter. After I go back, I can onlye here again in the afternoon. You two have to help me dig up these Chinese yams carefully. Dont think about pocketing some for yourself. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyaos gaze turned sharp. She was staring at Big Girl Li in particr, with a strong look of warning in her eyes. Big Girl Li tensed up again. Dont dont worry. We dont have much use for this firewood. Liu Daniu also nodded in agreement. Dont worry, Mrs. Song. Since Ive promised to help you do this task, I, Liu Daniu, will not do those disgraceful things! He promised her. Qin Xiaoyao acknowledged their words. She then took the lead and went to the side with the hoe and began to work. Seeing this, Liu Daniu looked at his wife and went to the other side to get busy. Qin Sanya was right. The earlier they finished, the earlier they could wrap up. Seeing this, Big Girl Li girl followed Liu Daniu. Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything. She simply worked with her hoe and started digging up the Chinese yam. After digging for about an hour, Qin Xiaoyao had already dug out more than 100 catties of Chinese yam. Qin Xiaoyao stopped when she saw she had enough to send to Fortune Mansion. In the end, when she walked over to Big Girl Lis side, she realized that the two of them had only dug up a little more than she had. Qin Xiaoyao knew that the reason she was digging so quickly was because of her special ability, so she didnt say anything. She then went to the side and cut some branches, then tied the two hundred over catties of Chinese yam into two bundles. After that, she chopped down a tree and used it as a carrying pole, preparing to carry the Chinese yam home. You two continue. You can go home for lunch at noon ande back again in the afternoon. With that, Qin Xiaoyao left with the Chinese yam. She was afraid that her previous calctions were wrong. The Chinese yam in the middle area grew much better than the ones outside. The Chinese yam in this plot ofnd was definitely not just six or seven hundred catties. If they were lucky, they might be able to dig up a thousand catties without any problem. Thinking of this, Qin Xiaoyao felt even more at ease. After rushing back home, Qin Xiaoyao loosened the bundled-up Chinese yam. After that, she weighed another 100 catties and tied them up. Next, she put the 12 pairs of straw sandals woven yesterday, the two sacks that were used for the brown rice and flour, and three containers into the bamboo backpack. After that, she carried her backpack and the two bundles of Chinese yam, and set off for town. She started her journey a littleter that day. By the time Qin Xiaoyao arrived at the city gate, the sun was already in the middle of the sky. The guards saw that Qin Xiaoyao had brought a lot of things and so charged her three copper coins as an entry fee, which made Qin Xiaoyaos heart ache. After entering the town, Qin Xiaoyao headed straight for Fortune Mansion. After reporting her name, she met her Uncle Zhao as she had hoped. Uncle Zhao sighed with heartache when he saw Qin Xiaoyaos sweaty and muddy face. Yesterday, he had thought that Brother Qin had exaggerated the situation. Now, it seemed that his nieces life was genuinely more bitter than he had thought. Quick, have some water. Just look at your sorry state! Uncle Zhao went to the side to pick up the teapot and personally poured a cup of water for Qin Xiaoyao. ... Qin Xiaoyao didnt stand on ceremony and gulped it down after receiving it. Thank you, Uncle Zhao! She thanked him after finishing the water. She looked like she was extremely thirsty just now. Its just a mouthful of water. Whats there to thank? Uncle Zhao replied reproachfully. You silly girl! With such a heavy load, why didnt you wait by the side of the main road and take the ox-cart? It was more than a hundred catties of Chinese yam. Even if a man were to carry it from Brook Falls Vige to this town, it would not be easy. Hehe, take the ox-cart? Im strong, so I dont feel tired, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. How could she not be tired? After all, she had to use her strength for so long, and she even had to use her special ability. However, she would rather use up some special ability than waste money at this juncture. After leaving Brook Falls Vige, she could go up to the main road. If she waited for the ox-cart to bring her to town on the main road, the fare was not expensive. It was only two copper coins. However, she had brought too many things with her. If she wanted to take the ox-cart, it would probably cost an additional two or three copper coins. This way, the fare would be expensive. ... She might as well work harder and walk on her own. Anyway, she had changed into her straw sandals, so it was much easier for her to walk than before. You A helpless look shed across Uncle Zhaos face. He knew that his nieces family was in a difficult situation, so he didnt try to persuade her anymore. Without further dy, he ordered someone to weigh Qin Xiaoyaos Chinese yam. In the end, Qin Xiaoyao brought a total of 102 catties of Chinese yam. Qin Xiaoyaos initial intention was that she would not charge for the extra Chinese yam beyond 100 catties and simply treated it as free extras. However, Uncle Zhao refused and insisted on paying Qin Xiaoyao for the 102 catties. The total is five hundred and ten copper coins. Ill give you five taels of silver and ten copper coins. Uncle Zhao took out some money and handed it to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly took it, her face filled with joy. Thank you, Uncle Zhao! She thanked him again. Theres nothing to thank me for! Uncle Zhao replied with a smile. To be honest, I dont know anything about this Chinese yam that you brought. However, our boss knows and said that this is excellent stuff. But this dish has never been served in Fortune Mansion before, so I dont know what the response will be. Thats why I only bought 100 catties from you. Now that you have brought them, Ive already instructed the kitchen to start cooking. Ill wait and see. If the dishes sell well, Ill inform your father and have you send more. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly thanked him again. No need to thank me anymore. You silly girl, if your Aunt were to see you like this, Im afraid she would be heartbroken. As he spoke, Uncle Zhao took out a piece of silver coin from his pocket. Uncle didnt bring much money today. Take this one silver coin and use it to buy something nice. Chapter 31 Chapter 31: A Gift from Second Brother How could Qin Xiaoyao possibly ept it? She immediately refused. Uncle Zhao became angry. I told you to keep it, so keep it. Unless you think Uncle gave you too little? Upon hearing this, Qin Xiaoyao didnt dare to refuse anymore. Thank you, Uncle! she said, touched by his gesture. Uncle Zhao red at Qin Xiaoyao in annoyance. There you go again! Following that, he exined to Qin Xiaoyao the procedure to sell items the next time she came to Fortune Mansion. Ive already informed them. In the future, when youe to sell goods, as long as its useful to the kitchen, they will ept them. Even if Im not here, they will still receive the goods and pay for them. You can rest assured. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. After chatting with Uncle Zhao for a while, she was escorted out personally by Uncle Zhao. When the people in the kitchen of Fortune Mansion saw this, they understood that Qin Xiaoyao had a close rtionship with their Manager Zhao, so they didnt dare to ck off. Of course, this was a story forter. After leaving Fortune Mansions kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao took her shoulder pole and carried her bamboo backpack to the Hundred Herbs Hall to get medicine for Song Que. Four prescriptions, a total of twelve applications, had cost her one tael of silver and two silver coins. Fortunately, these twelve doses of medicine couldst for six days. Otherwise, she was really afraid that she would not be able to afford it. After putting the medicine into the bamboo backpack, Qin Xiaoyao went to the store where she bought the grains yesterday. After returning the two sacks used for the brown rice and flour, she got her deposit back. When Qin Xiaoyao found out that the grain store also sold salt, she decided to forgo going to a shop further away and simply bought a catty of salt on the spot. Fortunately, she had prepared in advance this time and brought a container that could hold salt, which saved her the deposit for the salt jar. However, salt was expensive. A catty of salt cost her twenty copper coins. Of course, this was because salt in itself was expensive. In this era, salt was a government-controlled item. The salt tax was extremely high, which raised the selling price of salt. After paying for the salt, Qin Xiaoyao saw that they were also selling sugar next to the salt. Thinking of the taste of the white sugar pancake, she couldnt bear the craving and asked for another catty of white sugar. The reason she only bought one catty was that sugar was also expensive, at twelve copper coins. Leaving the grain store after buying her stuff, Qin Xiaoyao felt that money was too easy to spend. After taking a deep breath, Qin Xiaoyao went to the grocery store to buymp oil. The price ofmp oil was not cheap either, at fifteen copper coins per catty. In the end, Qin Xiaoyao only bought two catties ofmp oil. When she was buying themp oil, Qin Xiaoyao took a look at the grocery store and found that there were straw sandals for sale in the grocery store. They were also being sold for five copper coins per pair. Therefore, after paying for themp oil, Qin Xiaoyao asked the shopkeeper if he epted straw sandals. The shop owner was surprised to see the straw sandals in the bamboo backpack that Qin Xiaoyao was carrying. The straw sandals are not selling very well in my store, so I dont have much need for them, the shop owner said. But, Miss, your straw sandals are woven exquisitely. How about this? If you want, you can sell me five pairs. As for the price... The shop owners eyes shed with hesitation. Then he said, Three copper coins for a pair... Qin Xiaoyao quickly agreed. Deal! Boss, you can choose. Then, she brought out a string of straw sandals. The shop owner agreed with a smile and picked out five pairs of straw sandals. Following that, he gave Qin Xiaoyao fifteen copper coins. Qin Xiaoyao epted it with a smile, thanked the shop owner, and left. Qin Xiaoyaos steps became lighter when she finally got another fifteen copper coins in her ount. Thereafter, she went to the market on West Street. Seeing that the vegetables were cheap, she bought some as well. After that, she went to Qin Dazhuangs meat stall. Since there wasnt any big fair today, there werent many people at Qin Dazhuangs meat stall. When Qin Dazhuang saw his daughter, he waved at her from afar. He waited until his daughter came closer before asking, Why did youe sote? I went to Fortune Mansion to deliver some Chinese yam, and then I went to the Hundred Herbs Hall to buy medicine for my husband. I also bought some things that the house wascking. I only came here after I finished my business, Qin Xiaoyao said as she handed the bamboo backpack to Qin Dazhuang, asking her father to put it aside for her. Qin Dazhuang saw the most eye-catching item, the package of medicine, in his daughters bamboo backpack, and a wave of heartache shed across his eyes. Oh, so much medicine. You must have spent a lot of money, right? He asked tentatively. Its still alright! It might look like a lot of medicine, but its enough for six days. Also, the dosage will slowly decrease, and the medical expenses will also slowly decrease. Qin Xiaoyao replied, but she didnt say how much she had spent. She knew what was going through her fathers mind when she saw his worried expression. Qin Xiaoyao then changed the topic. Yesterday, your son-inw didnt sign the IOU. Did Aunt make things difficult for you? Qin Dazhuang was stunned. ... Why would she? Your aunt, shes... Sigh! Shes not the kind of person whos unreasonable. If she knows that Ive loaned five taels less, shell probably be happy, he replied. It would be strange if she didnt kick up a fuss. However, since the loan was reduced by five taels, she didnt cause too much trouble. However, how could he say these words to his daughter? Qin Xiaoyao looked at her father with a smile. Her expression said, Just keep on pretending. It was only when she saw her fathers embarrassed expression that she looked away. Since you say she didnt kick up a fuss, so be it. Before her father could exin, Qin Xiaoyao took out the straw sandals. There were originally twelve pairs of straw sandals, but I sold five of them at the grocery store over there. Now, there are only seven pairs left. Ill leave these sandals with you. Please help me sell them and see how it goes. ... When Qin Dazhuang heard this, he couldnt be bothered to argue with his daughter about what had happened earlier. Deal! Three copper coins for a pair, right? Ill give you twenty-one copper coins first. As he spoke, he prepared to take out his money. Qin Xiaoyao quickly stepped forward and stopped him. Pay me only after you have sold them! At that point, I wont hesitate to ask you! Feeling helpless, Qin Dazhuang knew he couldnt change his daughters mind, so he nodded. Alright, he said. Qin Xiaoyao then looked at the meat on Qin Dazhuangs stall. Just as she was about to open her mouth and ask her father for some fatter meat, Qin Dazhuang had already taken out arge lump ofrd from the basket at the side. Your second brother asked me to give this to you. I almost thought that you werenting over today, so I thought I may have to make a trip to send this to you. Therd was too heavy. Immediately after Qin Dazhuang took it out, he wanted to dump it into Qin Xiaoyaos bamboo backpack at once. Qin Xiaoyao recovered from her shock and was about to stop him. However, before she could speak, Qin Dazhuang said again, There are about 20 catties here. Your second brother put it aside especially for you. Yesterday, you epted the money from your big brother, so theres no reason not to ept your second brothers gift. Qin Xiaoyaos body stiffened when she heard this. This wasrd, which could produce much more oil than pork fat. Although the price was one or two copper coins less than pork fat, it was the most popr product on the meat stall. If one wanted to buy it, he had toe early. Twenty catties ofrd. If one catty were fourteen copper coins, it would be close to three silver coins. Second Brothers gift was too valuable. Qin Dazhuang helped his daughter wrap up therd. When he saw that his daughters bamboo backpack was finally full, he felt much more at ease. Then, he turned around and went to the meat stall to get pig liver. To his surprise, when Qin Dazhuang turned around, Qin Xiaoyao refused to let him put anything into her bamboo backpack anymore. Chapter 32 Chapter 32: I Want to Eat Lard Ill ept therd that Second Brother gave. I wont ept anything else you guys want to give me, Qin Xiaoyao said sternly. Otherwise, if you guys give me something every time Ie, wont that simply confirm what Aunt said, that Im the parasite of the Qin family? Seeing Qin Dazhuangs awkward expression, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Ive finally decided to turn over a new leaf and rely on myself. You guys better not spoil me anymore. Qin Dazhuang was stunned, speechless. He felt that his daughters words made sense. In reality, this was what he had hoped for. However, for some reason, when he heard his daughter say this, his heart ached a little. The main thing was that now that his son-inw was injured, his daughters family had to spend money in many areas. His daughter was really not having an easy time. Seeing that Qin Dazhuang didnt say anything, Qin Xiaoyao was relieved. Thats settled then. Well do that in the future. If I want to eat meat, Ill pay for it myself. You can treat me as an ordinary customer and charge me as much as required. This way, Aunt will not make things difficult for you either. Qin Dazhuang felt himself choking up. He wanted to argue that his wife didnt dare to make trouble for him, but after thinking about it, he couldnt bring himself to say it out loud. Alright, its gettingte. There are many things to do at home today. Father, Ill make a move first. Qin Xiaoyao said to Qin Dazhuang while looking at the market stalls, which were about to close for the day. After speaking, she prepared to put the bamboo backpack on her back. Qin Dazhuang quickly stepped forward to help her with the basket. Wait for the ox-cart at the city gate. Remember to take the ox-cart back, he reminded her. He couldnt bear to see his daughter walk back with such a heavy load. No need to remind me! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Although she agreed verbally, in her mind, she was dead set against taking an ox-cart. It was still the same reason. As she was carrying too many things, her fare would be increased. After saying goodbye to Qin Dazhuang, Qin Xiaoyao didnt stay in town for much longer and left quickly. On the way back, Qin Xiaoyao walked very fast because she was worried about the situation in the mountains. In the end, it only took her twenty minutes to return to Brook Falls Vige. It wasnt even noon, but the mother and two kids had already returned from collecting firewood on the mountain. At this moment, they were sitting under the roof eaves, weaving straw sandals in the courtyard. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao return with a basket full of things, the three of them were very surprised. Of course, the happiest person was still little Song Ye, who almost threw himself into his sister-inws arms. I left in a hurry today, so I didnt buy candied hawthorn. Qin Xiaoyao was amused and caught Song Ye with augh. A trace of dejection shed across the little ones tiny face, but he quicklyughed again. Its okay if you didnt buy it! Yeer doesnt need to eat candy! he said sensibly. Hearing this, Qin Xiaoyao was even more pleased. I dont have candied hawthorn, but Sister-inw bought some sugar today. In the afternoon, Ill let Mother and Yuner fry therd and put sugar in the dregs of fat. Itll be more delicious than candied hawthorn! Lard scraps were her favorite when she was young. If she added some sugar, the taste would be even better! As she thought of this, she began to crave it greedily. Song Yes eyes also lit up when he heard this. Song Yun also looked at Qin Xiaoyao in joyful surprise. You boughtrd? Madam Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyaos bamboo backpack. Through the holes in the basket, she could see the white-marbled texture of therd inside. Judging by the size, the lump ofrd was quite big. I didnt buy it. My Second Brother gave it to me. Its a total of 20 catties, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Ill tell you everything after Ive put the things away. With that, she went into the kitchen. Madam Liu was no longer in the mood to make straw sandals and followed her. Seeing Qin Xiaoyao trying to lower the bamboo backpack, she quickly went up to help her daughter-inw take it down. Your your second brother gave you so muchrd, he must have spent a lot of money! Madam Liu said with a frown. Yesterday, the inws came over to lend them money and even paid for her eldest sons medical expenses. Then, the daughter-inws eldest brother gave her another two taels of silver. And today, the daughter-inws second brother gave her another 20 catties ofrd. Madam Liu felt that her own family was really taking advantage of the inws! Seeing Madam Lius reaction, Qin Xiaoyao was quite satisfied. This is thest time. Ive already told my father that I wont ept anything from them in the future. Well rely on ourselves to live our life. Madam Liu nodded. Thats right! She agreed with her daughter-inw. ... At the same time, the way she looked at Qin Xiaoyao was more affectionate. It seemed that she had really misunderstood her. Her daughter-inw was indeed a good person Qin Xiaoyao smiled at Madam Liu. Let me tell you what happened in town today. As she spoke, she pulled Madam Liu to one side, and they sat down. Oh, alright. Madam Liu agreed with a smile. Seeing her daughter-inws bright smile, she guessed that something good had happened. First of all, the 100 catties of Chinese yam. Uncle Zhao bought them from me at the price of five copper coins per catty, and the total was 102 catties. Madam Lius eyes lit up. So, thats five five hundred and ten copper coins? She made a quick calction. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Yes. And Uncle Zhao said that if that item sells well at their restaurant, theyll continue to buy from me. Good, good, Madam Liu replied with a smile. ... And then theres the matter of the straw sandals. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. Sure enough, when Madam Liu heard the phrase straw sandals, she immediately looked nervously at her daughter-inw. I went to Sungs Grocery Store on West Street and bought two catties ofmp oil. When I saw that the store was also selling straw sandals, I asked the shop owner whether they ept mine. Qin Xiaoyaos smile became even more radiant when she saw Madam Liu getting more and more nervous. In the end, the shop owner bought five pairs of straw sandals from me at the price of three copper coins a pair! Madam Lius eyes instantly lit up. Ive sent the remaining seven pairs to my father. Looking at the current situation, I think if we can make enough straw sandals Selling them in the grocery stores in town might be a good idea. There were many grocery stores in town, and if they could work with all of them, they would not be able to make enough straw sandals to sell to the stores. Good, good! Madam Liu replied in the affirmative repeatedly. The straw sandals that Yuner and I made are much better looking than the ones we madest night. Ill show them to you and see if theres anything that needs to be improved. With that, Madam Liu stood up. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop her and simply watched her mother-inw walk out. Then, before long, Madam Liu came in with two pairs of straw sandals, followed by Song Yun. Have a look... She walked to Qin Xiaoyaos side and handed her the straw sandals in her hands. Qin Xiaoyao reached out and took them. She found that they were actually quite well-woven, not much inferior to those she wove herself. After scrutinizing them thoroughly, Qin Xiaoyao gave a few suggestions and returned the straw sandals to Madam Liu. Just pay attention to the problem I mentioned, and it should be okay. Alright! Madam Liu answered quickly. Were not in a hurry to make straw sandals. You guys take your time to practice. When you have be more skillful, you can find time to weave them. The mother and daughter quickly nodded. Theres a third matter. Qin Xiaoyao changed the topic. Then, she took out the twelve doses of medicines from the bamboo backpack. After sorting them out into their respective uses, she exined to Madam Liu how to administer the medicine. Chapter 33 Chapter 33: Hercules In the future, Ill have to go into the mountains more often or go to town to sell things. I will have to trouble Mother to brew the medicine for Husband. Madam Liu quickly agreed. Its no trouble at all! You can rest assured and leave these family matters to me! Ive memorized all of these medicines, so I wont make any mistakes! Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. She continued. Today, these twelve doses of medicines cost one tael and two coins of silver, more than what I earn today. If we dont want to spend the money in our pockets, we have to work harder. Madam Lius expression turned serious. Yes. If our whole family works hard together, we will definitely be able to earn enough money to pay for Queers medical expenses, she said with determination. In the past, she wouldnt have dared to say such words. She didnt even dare to think about it. However, now, her daughter-inw had be diligent and had many ideas. She and Yuner had also learned how to weave straw sandals, so they could rely on this to support their family. In this way, they would have the ability to support the family. Song Yun nodded as well. Her heart was filled with a sense of responsibility and self-confidence. She liked the feeling now. In the past, she could only help with some household chores like collecting firewood, doing theundry, and lighting the fire. However, now, she also possessed a skill. When she became more skilled in weaving straw sandals, she could also earn money for the family. Qin Xiaoyao was very satisfied with the feedback from the two. Then, she took out the salt, sugar,mp oil, and vegetables she had bought from the bamboo backpack. Thest item was the huge chunk ofrd. When Madam Liu saw what her daughter-inw had taken out, she couldnt help swallowing a few times. You can addmp oil to thempster. Add some to every room so that all of you dont have to fumble around in the dark at night anymore. Theres also salt and sugar. Theres no need to conserve them. The one-time consumption of seasoning is not much anyway. We can simply buy more after they are used up. In addition, Mother, you and Yuner can fry therd together in the afternoon. In the future, we wont have to worry about the oil for cooking and making pancakes. After some thought, Qin Xiaoyao added. Theres also the oil dregs. Dont keep all of them. Take some out and add some sugar for everyone to have a taste. At this point, Qin Xiaoyaos face broke into a smile. Keep the rest in the container. Next time, when you fry vegetables, put some in and fry them together. The taste will be great! Madam Liu agreed with a smile. I will. Its gettingte. Yun er and I will start cooking then, she said. Okay! Then Ill go to the back mountain again and see if Big Girl Li and Daniu are cking off. I will also bring back another load of Chinese yam. Indeed, she had told Madam Liu about asking Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu to help dig up the Chinese yam. You go ahead. Be careful on the way. I know, Mother. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao take up her shoulder pole and hemp rope, and leave the house. She went all the way to the back of the mountain and walked for a long time before arriving at the ce where she had dug up the Chinese yam. Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased to see that the Li couple was still there and working hard. Thank you for your hard work! With a shout, Qin Xiaoyao attracted the attention of the two. Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu turned around at the same time, and then wiped off their sweat. Its almost time for lunch. Why are you here, Sister Sanya? Big Girl Li asked Qin Xiaoyao. Didnt she say that she would only be here in the afternoon? Was she worried about them? Im here to carry back the Chinese yam you two have dug up. Its gettingte. Lets stop here for the mornings work. You guys can go back and eat, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. With that, she went up to gather the Chinese yam. The couples faces were filled with joy. Liu Daniu looked at the Chinese yam strewn all over the ground and couldnt help but ask. Mrs. Song, you wont be able to carry all these Chinese yams back in one trip. Let us help you carry some of them back. Since he was getting paid, he had to keep his end of the bargain as well. They were going back to the vige anyway, so it was no big deal to help carry them. Big Girl Li turned her head and looked at her man, feeling a little resistant. However, when she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking in their direction, she quickly put on a smile and nodded at Qin Xiaoyao to please her. Qin Xiaoyao was amused by Big Girl Lis reaction. I think theres no need for Big Girl Li to carry since shes a woman after all. If Brother Daniu is willing to help, then help me carry this bundle, she said. Big Girl Li felt like she had been granted a lifeline, and she looked at Qin Xiaoyao with gratitude. Liu Daniu nced at his wife. He knew that she was tired, so he did not insist on her helping. Alright! Ill go chop down a tree! he said. ... Following that, he went to the side to cut down trees to use as carrying poles. Qin Xiaoyao didnt pay Daniu much attention. She asked Big Girl Li toe with her to gather up all the Chinese yam that had been dug up. After that, Qin Xiaoyao began to bundle up the Chinese yam she would carry. When Liu Daniu returned, he saw Qin Xiaoyao tying up most of the Chinese yam with two thick hemp ropes. Based on his visual estimation, the two bundles of Chinese yam added up to four hundred catties. The remaining Chinese yam on the ground might not even add up to two hundred catties. Mrs. Song, dont you dont you think you have bundled up too much? Liu Daniu spoke up. He was already shocked when Qin Sanya left with more than two hundred catties of Chinese yam earlier. Now, she was going to take up the challenge of double the weight? Surely this woman could not possibly be stronger than him, a man? Liu Daniu suddenly felt a little guilty when he thought about how Qin Sanya worked so hard in the morning. ... He did not seem to be as good at work as the other party. Qin Xiaoyaoughed as she patted the bundled-up Chinese yam. Its fine. This is just right. Bring the tree poles over and tie up the rest of the Chinese yam. Well set off together. She said in a forthright manner. Oh, okay! Liu Daniu subconsciously agreed. By the time they reacted, it was toote for regret. Next, Qin Sanya tied up the remaining Chinese yam with practiced ease. Lets go! We should be able to make it back in time for lunch! After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao walked over to the two bundles of Chinese yam. Then, under the shocked gazes of the couple, she hauled up the two bundles of Chinese yam. After that, she stood up and walked forward. Liu Daniu quickly came back to his senses and quickly picked up the Chinese yam bundle and followed her. As for Big Girl Li, she was in charge of carrying the two hoes and two sickles. On the way back, Qin Xiaoyao was walking in front, with quick brisk steps all the way. Liu Daniu, who was following behind her, could only grit his teeth and endure. And there was also Big Girl Li. Even though she only carried two hoes and two sickles, it was still very tough for her to run after them. At this moment, the couples hearts were filled with resentment. Was that Qin Sanya crazy? Didnt she know how to take a break along the way? Of course, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt crazy. She had deployed her special ability, so she didnt really feel much pressure from the four hundred catties on her shoulders. Moreover, it was indeed gettingte. She wanted to quickly bring the Chinese yam back and eat her lunch. Finally, the three of them entered the vige. Then, they went to the Song familys house. Along the way, people saw the three of them together and asked what was going on. When they found out that Liu Daniu and his wife were actually working for Qin Xiaoyao, the vigers were a little surprised. By now, the connection between Big Girl Li and Qin Xiaoyao was truly unbreakable. When Big Girl Li realized that the situation was not right, she was already powerless to change it. Chapter 34 Chapter 34: Different From the Rumors Finally, they arrived at the Song familys home. Qin Xiaoyao brought the two of them into the house and brought Liu Daniu to the kitchen to put down the Chinese yam. Madam Liu quickly gave the three of them three bowls of cold water. Quick, drink it to quench your thirst! Then, she handed the water over. Thank you, Aunt! Liu Daniu was sweating profusely and was extremely thirsty, so naturally, he did not hold back. Thank you, Aunt! Big Girl Li also quickly epted the bowl. Her situation wasnt any better. Even though she didnt carry any Chinese yam on her way back, she was still exhausted from chasing the two of them while carrying two hoes. In the end, after taking a mouthful of the water, the two of them got a shock. This is sugar water? Big Girl Li looked at Madam Liu in surprise. After asking, she took another sip. It was really sugar water, and it was very sweet. Liu Daniu also looked at Madam Liu in surprise. Wasnt the Song family so poor that they couldnt even feed themselves? To think that Aunt Song was actually serving them sugar water! Liu Danius gaze shifted again, and he saw therd on the table that wasnt fully covered. He couldnt help but swallow his saliva. Could that really berd? It looked quite sizable! Sanya went to town to buy some sugar today. You two have worked so hard for Sanya. Drinking sugar water can help you recover your strength quickly, Madam Liu replied with a smile. After the Song familys fortunes declined, they had less contact with the vigers. Usually, very few people came to their house. These two youngsters were her daughter-inws guests, so naturally, she had to give them a warm wee. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao also came forward. She picked up thest bowl of water and gulped it down in a few mouthfuls. It was indeed sweet, and she couldnt help but raise her eyebrows. Qin Xiaoyao smiled when she saw the couple looking at her. We bought enough sugar. Mother, make some more sugar water. Let Yuner and Yeer have a taste too. And you and your husband can also drink it to satisfy your cravings. As soon as she finished speaking, the two little ones could not resist staring at their sister-inw and mother. Madam Liu was amused by Qin Xiaoyaos expression. Alright! It was rare for her to reply with a smile. Then, she turned around to make the sugar water. Liu Daniu and his wife were shocked beyond words. They also had sugar at home, but their mother kept a close eye on it, and they rarely got to taste it. Their mother was not like Aunt Song at all, who was so easy to talk to. By the way, I just baked some pancakes. If you guys are hungry, you can have some to fill your stomachs. At this moment, Madam Liu came out with a big bowl of pancakes. It was indeed a rough flour pancake mixed with wild vegetables, but there was actually sugar sprinkled on top! Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li, who were already starving, couldnt take their eyes off that bowl. Before the two of them could say anything, Qin Xiaoyao wiped her hands on her clothes and reached out her hand. When the two saw this, how could they still hold back out of courtesy? They also wiped their hands on their clothes and then reached out to take the pancake. Thank you, Aunt. Of course, they didnt forget to thank her after taking them. Aunt Song was really generous! She was much more generous than their mother! As the sweet pancakes entered their mouths, Liu Daniu and his wife felt that the taste was so beautiful. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the two of them, then reached out for two more pancakes and looked at the two little ones. Yuner, Yeer,e here! she instructed them. When the two little ones saw Liu Daniu and his wife enjoying their pancakes, they couldnt help bute closer. Then, they took the pancakes from their sister-inw. Qin Xiaoyao distributed two pancakes to her little sister-inw and little brother-inw before continuing to eat. At this moment, Liu Daniu and his wife had also finished the pancakes in their hands. Just as Big Girl Li was about to reach for it again, Liu Daniu pulled on the corner of her clothes and stopped her. The Song familys life was hard, and it was generous of them to take out these things to entertain them. They worked for Qin Sanya and had agreed on their pay. How could they be so shameless as to eat in the Song family? Hence, Liu Daniu said, Well, its gettingte. Our family members are still waiting for us to go back for lunch. Aunt Song, Mrs. Song, well be leaving first. Big Girl Li looked away from the pancakes reluctantly, then smiled at Madam Liu as well. Why are you leaving just like that? Stay for lunch. Madam Liu quickly asked them to stay. No need, no need. This time, it was Big Girl Li who waved her hand and turned down her offer. After that, the couple quickly walked out. ... Qin Xiaoyao finally took action. She reached out and took four pieces of pancakes from the bowl. Then, she quickly ran after the couple. My mothers pancakes taste good. You two can eat them on the way! She caught up to the two of them and directly shoved the pancakes into Big Girl Lis hands. Big Girl Li looked at the pancakes with sugar in her hand and couldnt refuse. It was not until she followed her man out of the Song familys courtyard and shared the pancakes with her man that she came back to her senses. And you said you werent close to Mrs. Song. Liu Daniu only whispered to his wife after they had walked a little further away. He immediately changed the way he usually addressed Qin Xiaoyao from Qin Sanya to Mrs. Song. They had already left, but she still ran after them to give them the pancakes. How could that be considered not close? However, he wasnt angry at all. On the contrary, he felt pretty good about it. Previously, he didnt know much about Mrs. Song. He was influenced by the rumors and her appearance, so he had some misconceptions about her. Now, he felt that Mrs. Song was actually a good person. She was more hardworking and efficient than him, a man. ... She didnt treat her mother-inw, little sister-inw, or little brother-inw badly, unlike the rumors swirling outside. He had seen the situation just now with his own eyes. When did she mistreat the Song family? She couldnt possibly be any nicer to the mother-and-children trio! Notwithstanding other things, even his wife would not be able to treat his mother and siblings-inw so well. We were really not close, Big Girl Li replied subconsciously. However, the moment she said it, even she herself felt that she didnt have any confidence in her own words. Come on! You dont have to be afraid to admit it. I was mistaken in the past. Mrs. Song is actually different from what they had described her to be. Its fine even if youre on good terms with her, Liu Daniu said. Big Girl Li looked at her man and wanted to exin that Qin Sanya was not as simple as she looked. However, she couldnt bring herself to say it. Hence, she could only give up. Thereafter, she had to listen to her man praise Qin Sanya for being strong and filial to her mother-inw all the way until they reached their doorway. Meanwhile, after Liu Daniu and his wife left, the Song family started to prepare for lunch. Taking into ount the hardships that her daughter-inw had suffered when she went into the mountains, Madam Liu followed Qin Xiaoyaos instructions and ensured that the food was sufficient. There was arge pot of brown rice, baked pancakes, fried vegetables, and soup. Although there was no meat, this table of food was much better than the food the Song family usually had in the past. In addition, the person who delivered food to Song Que today was Song Yun. At this moment, in the room next door. Song Que sat up to eat. When he saw that the person who delivered the food was not Qin Xiaoyao, he could not help but frown. Did that woman really not care about him anymore? When he heard his sister talking to him about the things that woman had done for him and the family, Song Ques brows furrowed even more. Its only been three days. Why are they all siding with that woman? Had they forgotten how she treated them before? Or was this part of that womans scheme When he thought of this, a wave of frustration surged through Song Ques heart. Chapter 35 Chapter 35: Gruff Yet Tender Song Que Hmph! So what if it was a conspiracy? The opinion in his heart would never waver. After he had healed his leg, he would have plenty of opportunities to deal with her. As he thought of this, Song Ques heart finally settled down. He picked up his chopsticks and started eating. Big Brother, you will have to change the dressing and take your medicine after eating. Mother and I have already brewed the medicine for you. If you want to change the dressing, we have to get Sister-inw to do it, Song Yun said. Then, she looked at Song Que worriedly. When that timees, dont lose your temper at Sister-inw, she said beseechingly. Song Ques heart skipped a beat, and he immediately red at Song Yun. Sister-inw was wrong before, but she has changed. She is also thinking about the family. Mother and I have already discussed this. In the future, we will work together with Sister-inw and work together to support this family. As Song Yun spoke, she sat down beside Song Que like a little adult. Big Brother, dont worry. With us around, your leg will definitely recover little by little. Song Que was at aplete loss for words. He had never thought that his own sister would be brainwashed by that woman to this extent. Alright, Big Brother, finish your food quickly. Ille back to clean upter. The little girl was immersed in her own thoughts and didnt notice her big brothers reaction at all. After saying that, she left. Song Que held the bowl in his hand as a sense of panic rose in his heart inexplicably. That woman had be even more powerful Song Yun went back to the kitchen and the whole family started to eat lunch. There was enough food, and the family ate very happily. When therd is fried in the afternoon, Mother, you can stir-fry some Chinese yam for dinner. Also, the vegetables I bought can be fried withrd too. By the way, put some oil dregs in it and fry it together. It will taste better. Qin Xiaoyao said to Madam Liu as she ate. When the two little ones heard this, they turned to look at their mother. Ever since their sister-inw came back from town and told their mother to fry therd in the afternoon, they had been craving it. Now, after hearing their sister-inw telling their mother to userd to stir-fry vegetables, the two little ones were filled with even more anticipation. Madam Liu smiled. Forget about the Chinese yam. Theyre precious. Ill just stir-fry the vegetables you bought. With that, Madam Liu looked at the pile of Chinese yams in the corner, her eyes full of satisfaction. Her daughter-inw was really very capable. This yam was five copper coins per catty, so it could be sold for a lot of money. After thinking for a while, Madam Liu said, Actually, you dont need to buy these vegetables. In this season, there were lots of wild vegetables in the mountains. When we go up the mountain to collect firewood, we can dig some back. Then well have vegetables to eat at home. Qin Xiaoyao smile with amusement. Mother, this is not the way to live frugally. Chinese yam may be expensive, but its good for the body. Its our own food, and it doesnt cost much to cook it for our own consumption. If we really buy it outside, even at five copper coins per catty, it would be difficult to buy it. As for the vegetables I bought, how could the wild vegetables dug up in the mountains bepared to the vegetables carefully grown by the farmers? Notwithstanding other things, just in terms of taste, can wild vegetables taste better than the vegetables that the farmers grow themselves? Most of the wild vegetables were bitter and astringent. If it wasnt for the fact that there was not enough food at home, who would go into the mountains often to dig for wild vegetables to eat? Well Though Madam Liu felt that her daughter-inws words made sense, she also felt that something was not right. Just do as I say, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Save some time. You and Yuner can then make more straw sandals. Then well have enough for our family to buy vegetables. As soon as she said this, Madam Liu was immediately convinced. She was right. A pair of straw sandals could sell for three copper coins. The cheap vegetables in the market were only one copper coin per catty. Alright! Then, Ill use oil dregs to stir-fry the Chinese yam and the vegetables you bought at night. Madam Liu replied in the affirmative. Qin Xiaoyao and the two little ones immediately beamed with joy. After the meal, Qin Xiaoyao didnt bother with the kitchen chores. She sent the medicine to Song Que and helped him change his dressing. She was originally quite a straightforward and open person, but for some reason, when she walked into Song Ques room, she felt a sense of restraint and was not as open as before. Drink your medicine first. Ill get ready and change your dressing. Qin Xiaoyao didnt dare to address Song Que as Husband when she saw Song Ques unfriendly eyes ring at her. Although Song Que was feeling resentful towards Qin Xiaoyao, he had no reason to make things difficult for his own body. He picked up the bowl of medicine and drank the ck liquid. Just as he felt a bitter taste in his mouth and was about to puke, Qin Xiaoyao handed him a pancake sprinkled with sugar. He raised his head and nced at Qin Xiaoyao. Song Que didnt want to take it, but he couldnt suppress the reaction in his throat. He quickly reached out to take it and stuffed it into his mouth. The sweetness of the pancake suppressed the bitterness of the medicine, and Song Que felt morefortable. Looking at Song Que acting hostile externally but cooperating internally, Qin Xiaoyaos heart felt carefree and relieved. When she saw her attractive husband looking at her with displeasure again, Qin Xiaoyao quickly retracted her gaze. Ahem. Stretch out your legs, she said. ... Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao in annoyance but still did as he was told. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao untie the cloth strips around Song Ques wound, followed by the cotton cloth. Her movements were gentle but orderly. Song Que was a little surprised, and the resentment in his heart was reduced quite a fair bit. Could this woman have studied medicine before? While he was still feeling confused, Qin Xiaoyao had already changed the dressing for Song Que and wrapped his wound up again. The medicine for external application needs to be changed every two days. The next change will be the day after tomorrow. By then, the wound should have recovered much more, and it wont hurt so much anymore. Qin Xiaoyao said as she helped Song Que bandage his wound. The post-apocalyptic world was full of danger, and it wasmon for her and her team members to get injured. Hence, bandaging wounds was really nothing to her. To her surprise, her attractive husband could really endure the pain. She had pulled on his wound several times just now, but he actually held back and did not scream in pain. ... Hah! Her husband was strong indeed. Hmm. Song Que mumbled a reply, but he didnt re at Qin Xiaoyao anymore. Alright, just take care of your health. After bandaging his wound, Qin Xiaoyao stood up. Ill take my leave now. After that, ignoring Song Que, she packed up her things and left. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyaos back in disbelief and wanted to reach out to stop her. In the end, he still held back the desire to stretch out his hand. Fine, just go. Its best if you donte back after leaving he thought. Qin Xiaoyao only felt her nervousness vanish after she left Song Ques room. Then, she took a deep breath and went to the stream to wash the wooden bucket that Song Que had used. After finishing all her tasks, she then left the house with the hoe, the shoulder pole, and the hemp rope. When she reached the back of the mountain, she saw that Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li werent there yet. She didnt wait for them and went straight to the Chinese yam field. In the end, she found the two of them already busy working in the field. Youre back so early? Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but smile as she greeted the two of them. She had not misjudged them. This couple was honest people. Sister Sanya! Big Girl Li was the first to turn around and call out to Qin Xiaoyao sweetly. Mrs. Song. Liu Daniu followed suit. We started eating the moment we returned from your house. After lunch, we had nothing to do anyway, so we came out earlier, Big Girl Li exined. Chapter 36 Chapter 36: Building a Good Rtionship The truth was, if her man had not urged her, she would have dawdled for a while. However, her man was right. The earlier they finished their work, the earlier they could wrap up. After all, the job had been entrusted solely to them. Thank you for your hard work, Qin Xiaoyao replied. She put down her hoe and started to get busy too. After youre done digging up the Chinese yam,e to my house for dinner. Big Girl Li subconsciously wanted to refuse. However, Qin Xiaoyao added. I have asked Mother and Yuner to fry somerd at home in the afternoon. When the oil dregse out, we can use it for cooking vegetables. Although it cant be considered a precious item, it can just barely satisfy my craving. Hearing this, Big Girl Li subconsciously swallowed her saliva. How could she still refuse? In the past, when she was in her parents house, she was doted on by her parents and had more opportunities to eat meat than now. However, ever since she married into Brook Falls Vige, although the Liu familys financial situation was not bad in the vige, there was an unmarried younger brother and a younger sister who was only ten years old in Danius family. If her mother-inw and father-inw had to start saving up for betrothal gifts for her little brother-inw, wouldnt her familys finances be tight? The problem of not having enough to eat didnt exist, but there was really very little meat and fish. When Liu Daniu heard Qin Xiaoyaos words, he was stunned for a moment. Thinking of the taste of vegetables stir-fried withrd, he couldnt help but swallow his saliva. In fact, his familys situation was still good in the past. It was only after he married his wife that the opportunities for them to eat meat and fish became less. This was because when he married his wife, his family had to give a lot of betrothal gifts. In addition to the renovation of the house and the banquet, after all the wedding preparations, the familys finances had grown leaner. His mother had said that now that he had already gotten a wife, he had to think about his younger brother. What she said made sense, so he did not argue back. Fortunately, though there was less meat and fish, he could still fill his tummy full for every meal. Both he and his wife epted it. So, as the couple remained silent, the matter of eating vegetables stir-fried withrd at the Song familys house was settled. With this matter confirmed, the atmosphere among the three of them became much more harmonious. Liu Daniu actually started asking Qin Xiaoyao about Song Que. We invited Doctor Li from the town to take a look, and he also prescribed some medicine. He said that for Husband to recover fully, hell need to recuperate for half a year. Qin Xiaoyao replied as she worked with her hoe. Liu Daniu gasped as he listened. He has to lie down for half a year? Its not lying down for half a year. He will be able to walk in about one and a half months, but hell need to continue to rest after that. Itll take half a year for him to recover fully, Qin Xiaoyao exined. Liu Daniu still looked at Qin Xiaoyao with sympathy. Big Brother Song is also blessed to have you to support him. That was what he honestly thought at the moment. Just imagine, if he had ended up like Song Que Would his wife work so hard for him? Alright, he wasnt sure Besides, his wife wasnt as strong as Mrs. Song, was she? Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Blessed? If he hadnt gotten angry with me, he wouldnt be in trouble now. Alright, lets not talk about him. Lets talk about you two. When you two got married, I went back to my parents house and didnt show up. Liu Danius face froze as he looked at his wife. It was all his wifes fault for not telling him about her rtionship with Mrs. Song. However, after thinking about it carefully, even if his wife had told him at that time, he probably wouldnt have invited her since he had misconceptions about Mrs. Song then. At the thought of this, Liu Danius expression became a little better. Hehe! The wedding banquet was held in a hurry and I forgot about this. Its my fault. Sister Sanya, you cant hold a grudge against me because of this! Big Girl Li said quickly. She looked like she was sincerely admitting her mistake. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. What grudge can I hold? Out of all the new wives in Brook Falls Vige, were the only ones from town. Im still hoping to spend more time with you so that I can havepany. Grudge? There was nothing like that. If Qin Xiaoyao were Big Girl Li, she wouldnt invite her predecessor either. She would only hide far away. Big Girl Lis expression was full of surprise. Er of course, of course... She replied in a ttering manner. In fact, she was about to cry in her heart. This time, it was really the end. She and Qin Sanya were inextricably bound together henceforth Liu Daniu did not know what was going on. In fact, he was happy to see his wife and Mrs. Songs deep sisterly bond. This is a good rtionship. Ill be more at ease if Big Girl can be closer to Mrs. Song in the future, he said. Big Girl Li looked at her man and only two words appeared in her heart: Stupid idiot Hehe! Its good that Brother Daniu doesnt look down on me. Qin Xiaoyaoughed in response. Before this Sigh, I did do a lot of stupid things. What happened in the past is all in the past now. Mrs. Song, youre deeply devoted to Big Brother Song. He will be able to feel it sooner orter, Liu Daniu quickly said. Look at how good Daniu was. In order tofort Mrs. Song, he even used such romantic words. ... Hehe, it seemed that his four years in the private school had not been spent in vain. Qin Xiaoyaoughed with amusement at Liu Danius words. Then Ill have to thank Brother Daniu for your kind words! she said candidly. Liu Daniu scratched the back of his head. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Mrs. Songs personality was not bad. Ahem At this moment, Big Girl Li cleared her throat and reminded her man. Only then did Liu Daniue back to his senses. When he turned around and saw his wifes look of displeasure, he knew that she was jealous again. He suddenly felt a little happy in his heart. He was still better off byparison. He liked the wife he married and she cared about him too. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the couples situation, then lowered her head andughed. She continued chatting with them. Do you two have any ns for the future? Uh, I mean, are you thinking of doing anything to make a living? ... She knew a little about the Liu familys situation. Old Father Liu and Mother Liu were true-blue farmers. They raised their three children by working diligently on their familysnd. Now that Liu Daniu was married, he still had to take care of Liu Erniu and Liu Xiaomei. There was only so muchnd in the house, and the elderly couple were still strong. They could still manage the workload together with Liu Erniu and Liu Xiaomei, both of whom had grown up, without problems. This was also the reason she could still invite the couple to help her even though it was the busy spring nting season. When Liu Daniu heard this, he fell silent. My mother wants me to go to town to find work to help with the family, he said after some thought. He then looked at his wife. I even asked my father-inw to help me ask around to see if there are any suitable jobs. As he said this, Liu Danius mood wasnt very good. Isnt that good? Working in town might be more cost-effective than farming, Qin Xiaoyao asked with a smile. Whats good about it? The work in the town either requires people to live nearby or they will arrange amodation for us. We are only allowed to go home once every ten days to half a month. Liu Daniu grumbled. Ive just gotten married to Big Girl. If I really go to town, wont we have to separate? When Big Girl Li heard this, she was very surprised, but immediately after that, a feeling of sweet happiness welled up in her heart. So her man didnt want to work in town because he couldnt bear to leave her. Sob She had wrongly med her man. Chapter 37 Chapter 37: Recruiting People to Join Her Partnership Besides, if I leave, I wont be at ease leaving Big Girl alone at home. Liu Danius face turned red from his wifes stare, but he still said it out. Which mother-inw would not bully their daughter-inw? With his protection, his mother could still restrain herself. If he were to leave, his mother would definitely make things difficult for his wife, not to mention bullying her ruthlessly. After all, his wife had asked for ten taels of silver as a betrothal gift. His mother had grumbled about this next to his ears often. Big Girl Li was already extremely touched by her man. She looked at Liu Daniu without blinking and didnt even move her hoe anymore. Qin Xiaoyao also looked at Liu Daniu with admiration. This chap was quite manly. Your family doesntckbor for the time being. Eventually, youll still have to venture outside. However, there are many kinds of work to do in town, so you can take your time to look around. Im sure youll be able to find a job with rtively flexible hours. Qin Xiaoyao said tofort him. Besides Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li. Big Girl, do you have any ns? she asked. Big Girl Li was caught off guard. I dont have any ns, she replied in a daze. What ns could she have? She would help out at home and wait for her man to earn money. In fact, one couldnt me Big Girl Li for not making an effort to improve herself. It was the norm to think like that in this era. After all, it was usually the men who went out to make a living, while the women stayed at home to take care of the elderly and children. Although Big Girl Li didnt have a child yet, and her inws didnt need to be taken care of, she still had to stay at home. Moreover, even if she wanted to go out, she must go with her man. It wasnt easy for women to find work outside anyway. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. I do have some ideas. If youre interested, why dont you join me? Big Girl Li was a little hesitant. On the other hand, Liu Danius interest was piqued. What are you thinking of, Mrs. Song? he asked. There wasnt muchnd at home, so his parents and two siblings could take care of everything. Big Girl Li couldnt help much by staying at home. If there were other ways to earn some money, wouldnt that be a good thing? After all, it might not be long before the couple had a child. Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao as well. She was somewhat tempted, but she was also afraid that she would fall into Qin Xiaoyaos trap. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. Just these things from the mountains. For example, this Chinese yam. And also mushrooms, wild fruits, and so on. The couple looked puzzled. Oh, I forgot to tell you. Qin Xiaoyao looked as if she had just recalled something. The manager in charge of purchasing at the kitchen of Fortune Mansion is a good friend of my father. Hes also an elder who watched me grow up. Uncle Zhao heard that my family is in a difficult situation, so he allowed me to supply goods to Fortune Mansion. Mushrooms from the mountains, wild game, and wild fruits are all eptable. Qin Xiaoyao didnt pay attention to the two surprised people and continued. Our family doesnt havend. Although we cant grow vegetables to sell, there are many mountains near our Brook Falls Vige. There are also many things in the mountains. It hasnt rained these two days. When the raines, the mushrooms in the mountains will pop out. We can pick them and sell them for money. Theres also the water-locked river next to our vige. Ive observed that theres a rtively shallow river bank. If we make a fishing, we can probably catch a lot of fish. We farmers dont really like to eat fish, but its very popr in restaurants. I think I can make some money with this method. Seeing the couples hesitation, Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and said, Of course, this is just my current thoughts. Its not a good idea to keep ourselves busy every day just by relying on these. After Ive secured a stable partnership with Fortune Mansion, I n to build a purchasing point in the vige. Ill buy some mountain products at a low price, along with the things Ive procured myself. Then Ill send them to Fortune Mansion. In this way, the vigers can earn some money, while I can also earn some fees for my hard work. Going into the mountains every day was definitely not a long-term n. She wanted to start a small business in the future. Of course, there was a process to do this. When they heard this, the couple was finally tempted. Sister Sanya, did you just say that this Chinese yam can be sold for money? Big Girl Li asked. She had asked Qin Sanya about it since she saw the Chinese yam, but Qin Sanya had not told her. She didnt believe that Qin Sanya would spend money to get them to dig up a pile of firewood. Moreover, the firewood was still wet and could not be used for a fire. Liu Daniu looked at Qin Xiaoyao as well, and he had more guesses in his heart. ... Qin Xiaoyaos expression changed slightly. Then, she nodded. Yes. The couple was shocked. This thing can be eaten? Fortune Mansion will ept it? Liu Daniu swallowed a few times and asked in disbelief. When he looked back at the Chinese yam, his eyes were filled with curiosity. Yes. Qin Xiaoyao nodded again. How are we supposed to eat this? Liu Daniu felt that he definitely wouldnt be able to handle the taste of Chinese yam. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Peel off the skin and you can stew or fry it. Dont be fooled by its ugly appearance. Its actually very nutritious, and its even a medicinal herb. The couple was shocked. Its because not many people know it that this plot of Chinese yam can grow. I just happened to bump into it, and thats how I managed toy my hands on such a good thing. Qin Xiaoyao continued. ... As for Fortune Mansion, Uncle Zhao didnt say that he would keep epting them. He only bought a hundred catties from me and said that he would try to sell it in the restaurant. If it sold well, hell buy more from me. The couple was shocked again. He bought a hundred catties? However, I have confidence in this Chinese yam. If we dig up this Chinese yam, we wont have to worry about selling them. Big Girl Li instantly understood. Then how much are you selling it for per catty? She asked Qin Xiaoyao in a probing manner. Qin Xiaoyaos brows instantly furrowed. At the same time, Liu Daniu reached out and pulled his wife back. Hey, please dont take offense, Mrs. Song. Shes just curious. You dont have to tell her, he said with a smile. Big Girl Li smiled awkwardly and didnt dare to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Its fine. It doesnt matter if I tell you. Anyway, Fortune Mansion doesnt simply ept goods from just any delivery guy, Qin Xiaoyao said. That was indeed the case. All the suppliers that supplied Fortune Mansion had stores in town. There were only very few things that the kitchen would send people out to purchase. Her Uncle Zhao had helped to open the back door for her. The couples faces turned pale. Also, not many people know about Chinese yam. Most people wouldnt buy it when they see that it resembled a stick of firewood. Qin Xiaoyao said with a bright smile. The couple understood what Qin Xiaoyao meant. She was hinting to them that even if they got their hands on this item, they wouldnt be able to turn it into money. The couple felt a little helpless, but they did not feel too disappointed. After all, they didnt discover this thing. They were only here to earn wages. Then how much did you sell it for? Big Girl Li couldnt help but ask Qin Xiaoyao curiously. Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she extended her hand. Five copper coins for ten catty? Big Girl Li asked again. She would never have thought that Chinese yam could be sold for five copper coins per catty. Chapter 38 Chapter 38: Valuable Chinese Yam Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows and shook her head. Five copper coins for ten catties? Would she be willing to spend a hundred copper coins to hire them to help dig them up if the price was so low? Then dont tell me its five copper coins per catty? Big Girl Li asked in disbelief. Qin Xiaoyao nodded under her shocked gaze. Its really five copper coins per catty, she said immediately. The couples expressions changed drastically, and the way they looked at the Chinese yam on the ground changed. It was as if it was no longer a stick of firewood but a copper coin. Five copper coins per catty! Goodness, this was too valuable! There was a lot of Chinese yam in this plot ofnd, probably more than a thousand catties. Wouldnt that that be worth more than five taels of silver? The two of them, who had been calm and indifferent just now, became excited instantly. However, it was only for a moment before they suppressed the emotions in their hearts. On the one hand, they were afraid of Qin Sanya. They were afraid that she would get angry if they revealed her secret. On the other hand, they were honest people with good character. They felt that they should not be tempted by something that did not belong to them. Qin Xiaoyao observed their reactions carefully. She was satisfied when she saw that they had recovered theirposure quickly. Im thinking that since this Chinese yam can be found here, it may also be found elsewhere. The people of Brook Falls Vige dont know what this thing is. If we really find it, itll be mine. As long as Fortune Mansion can sell the dishes made from this Chinese yam, I wont have to worry about not having a market for this thing in the future. Qin Xiaoyao said smugly. The couples faces were filled with envy. Its just that Im doing this alone and I dont have enough manpower. Mother-inws body is weak, and little sister-inw and little brother-inw are still young, so they cant help me. In this case, my ability alone is limited. Even if I want to get more goods to send to Fortune Mansion sigh, its not possible. Qin Xiaoyao sighed as she spoke. Ill help! Ille and help you! Big Girl Li said quickly. Now, she really wanted to work for Qin Xiaoyao. Putting aside everything else, with this Chinese yam, she would definitely be able to make money if she followed Qin Xiaoyao. It was five copper coins per catty. If only they could find another plot of Chinese yam like this one. If she and Qin Xiaoyao dug together, even if she was only given 20%, she would still get a tael of silver. This speed at which she was making money was even faster than her parents making money by selling tofu in the market in town. That was right. Her parents sold tofu. Although she lived in town, her family was not very well-off. Otherwise, she wouldnt have married into the countryside. Liu Daniu looked at his wife and for the first time, he had a look of admiration in his eyes. Yes, Mrs. Song. Let Big Girl work for you. You just need to share some of the money with her. She cant help much at home anyway. If she follows you, she can at least make some money. Im also not so worried. Liu Daniu looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Big Girl Li nodded at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao looked at them with an amused smile. Deal! Then, Big Girl, youll follow me in the future! She replied in a teasing fashion. Big Girl Li, who was very happy initially, instantly sensed danger and stopped smiling at once. Hehe! Yes, in the future, I will have to trouble Sister Sanya to take care of me, she said in an ingratiating voice. In reality, she was already regretting it. Unfortunately, it was toote for regrets now. The three of them continued to chat while they worked. With Qin Xiaoyaos help, the three of them dug up the Chinese yam much faster in the afternoon. It was only four o clock in the afternoon when they finished digging up the Chinese yam. Ill gather up the Chinese yam. You two tidy up thend and pick some Chinese yam vines to nt back. This way, we cane back and dig again in two or three years. The growth cycle of Chinese yam growing in the wild was two to three years. After they dug it up this time, they could forget abouting back in the short term. When the couple heard this, they hurriedly did as Qin Xiaoyao said. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao start to pack up the Chinese yam. However, because there was too much Chinese yam, the two hemp ropes she had brought couldnt tie all of them up. Ill have to make two trips. Qin Xiaoyao said quickly. Her estimation in the morning was still wrong. The Chinese yam that was dug out from this plot ofnd was more than 1000 catties. In total, it was definitely more than 1600 catties. What two trips? Mrs. Song, you can carry a bit more. As for the rest, Big Girl and I can each carry two bundles, then we can go back, Liu Daniu answered her. Yes, I I can carry a hundred catties. Its not a problem, Seeing her man looking at her, Big Girl Li responded. Well, actually, two hundred catties would be fine for her since she had the physique. However, the mountain path wasnt easy to walk on. She was afraid that she would fall if she carried too much. ... Then give me three hundred catties, Liu Daniu said. There was so much Chinese yam, but his wife was only willing to bear a hundred catties. He would have to carry the rest. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Theres no need for 300 catties. Ill just give you two hundred and fifty or sixty. That will do! she said. She then began to pack up the remaining Chinese yam. Following that, she cut down branches and trees to use as ropes and carrying poles. After packing up, the three of them went back with the Chinese yam. Qin Xiaoyao was still walking in front, carrying two huge bundles of Chinese yam that almost covered her body. In addition to carrying the Chinese yam, she also carried three hoes on her back and three sickles in her hand. When she moved, she resembled a small mountain moving. Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li, who were walking behind her, were amazed. ... This Qin Sanya was really someone with divine strength This eye-catching scene also attracted the attention of the people working in the field. After witnessing Qin Xiaoyaos strength, the vigers were once again afraid of Qin Sanya. After entering the vige, the three of them walked for a while and finally arrived at the Song familys house. At this moment, the Song familys courtyard was filled with a fragrant smell. It was the smell ofrd. Madam Liu and Song Yun were weaving straw sandals under the roof eaves. From the looks of it, they had been weaving for quite a while, because there were alreadypleted straw sandals beside them. Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li were both shocked. Only then did they realize that the straw sandals Qin Xiaoyao was wearing might have been woven by the Song family themselves. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao and the others had returned, Madam Liu quickly stood up. She then went into the kitchen to make some preparations and get the sugar water. Its been hard on everyone. Come in quickly! Madam Liu led the three of them into the kitchen. When she saw the Chinese yam on her daughter-inws shoulder, she felt somewhat shocked and a tinge of heartache. After entering the house, Qin Xiaoyao and the other two removed the Chinese yam from their shoulders one after another. Then, they went to drink some sugar water. After drinking a bowl of sugar water, the three tired people suddenly felt energized. When they saw therge basin ofrd and another tworge bowls of oil dregs on the kitchen counter, Liu Daniu and his wife had to use a lot of effort to shift their gazes away. The Song family had actually friedrd, and there was so much of it. Aunt Song, I saw you and Little Yun making straw sandals just now? Big Girl Li felt the soles of her feet were very hot and quickly asked Madam Liu. She didnt expect the Song family to have such skills. Madam Liu looked surprised for a moment, then she smiled. Oh, yes! Sanya taught us the day before yesterday. Were slow at learning, and weve only just gotten the hang of it. Now, they could be considered to havepletely mastered the technique. She had already made aparison. The straw sandals that the mother and daughter made were not much different from the ones that her daughter-inw made. Big Girl Li was dumbstruck. She looked at Qin Xiaoyao in disbelief. Qin Sanya actually possessed such skills? Chapter 39 Chapter 39: Buying Straw Sandals Qin Xiaoyao returned a humble smile. These straw sandals can be sold for money in town. Aunt Song, you can earn money with this skill! Big Girl Li seemed to have thought of something and looked at Madam Liu with envy. Not only did Qin Sanya know about Chinese yam, but she also knew how to make straw sandals. Why did she feel that the Qin Sanya in front of her was different from the Qin Sanya she knew before Admittedly, she was beginning to feel a little jealous of Qin Sanya. In the past, everyone was somewhat useless and didnt have any skills. However, now, she seemed to be the only one who had no ability. Hehe! Yes. Sanya is now asking her father to help us sell straw sandals. Whether we sell more or less, we can at least get some ie for the family, Madam Liu replied with a smile. She only mentioned that her inws were helping them sell the straw sandals, but she didnt mention that her daughter-inw had gone to the grocery store to sell the straw sandals. The envy in Big Girl Lis eyes grew stronger. Uncle Qins pork stall is doing well, and there are many peopleing and going. Im sure he can help you sell many pairs of straw sandals. Her parents also had a regr tofu stall in the market on West Street, and they had the conditions to help sell straw sandals. It was a pity that she didnt have the skill. Otherwise, she could also rely on this to earn some money, right? Hehe! Im just starting. Well give it a try. Madam Liu smiled and replied. She was obviously looking forward to it, but she said it so humbly. Sigh! Lets not talk about this! Since Aunt Song can weave straw sandals, is there a pair suitable for me? Give me a pair to change into. The soles of my feet are very hot right now! Big Girl Li said quickly. When Liu Daniu heard this, he also looked at Madam Liu. Aunt Song, how much are you selling these straw sandals for? I want a pair too! he also said. Well Madam Liu hesitated and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Seeing her daughter-inw nod at her, she said, Theres no need for money. You two have worked hard helping Sanya. Ill give you two pairs of straw sandals as a gift. With that, Madam Liu turned around and walked out. This wont do! Liu Daniu and his wife quickly ran after Madam Liu. Youre going to sell this for money. We cant take it for free. Besides, when Mrs. Song hired us to work, she promised to pay us wages! However much you sell in town, thats what well pay! Ill have Mrs. Song deduct it from my wagester. The two of us cant take it for free. Liu Daniu protested with determination. They had already taken advantage of the Song family by staying for dinner. No matter how thick-skinned he was, he simply couldnt take two pairs of straw sandals from them without paying. However, Madam Liu did not seem to hear Liu Danius words. She walked to the spot under the roof eaves and started to look through straw sandals. What size do you two take? she asked. Following her daughter-inws instruction, most of the straw sandals she and her daughter made were for adult men. Of course, there were also some for women and children, but the quantity was a lot less. Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li quickly told her the size of their feet. Only then did Madam Liu retrieve two pairs of straw sandals. You two can try them, she said immediately. The couples faces lit up with joy. They quickly took the straw sandals of their respective sizes and went to one side to try them on. In the end, they found that the size was just right, and the straw sandals were also light andfortable to wear. They then immediately took off the other fabric shoe and changed into the pair of straw sandals. This pair of straw sandals is morefortable and sturdy than the pair Father bought for me! Liu Daniu eximed after walking back and forth for a few steps. Big Girl Li was also very satisfied with her new sandals. She hadnt worn straw sandals since she married into Brook Falls Vige. However, in town, she had worn them before on rainy days. She also felt that the straw sandals made by the Song family were better than the ones she used to wear. Aunt Song, how much are you selling these straw sandals? Liu Daniu quickly asked Madam Liu. Madam Liu simply beamed widely and waved her hand without saying a word. If you dont want the money, we dont want it! Seeing this, Liu Daniu made a gesture of taking off his shoes, even though he was a little reluctant. Big Girl Li was also reluctant, but she also cooperated with her man. The main thing was that she was too embarrassed to take advantage of the Song family. Qin Xiaoyao came out at this moment. Seeing the situation, she smiled and said, If you two really want it, Ill just charge you six copper coins for two pairs of straw sandals. If these straw sandals are sent to the town, I also charge my father three copper coins per pair. The extra money from the sale will be considered as payment for my fathers hard work. The couple was shocked. Only three copper coins? Liu Daniu asked in surprise. The straw sandals in the market were usually four to five copper coins a pair, and a pair of straw sandals of this quality would probably be sold for five copper coins. Mrs. Song was only selling it to them for three copper coins? Yup! If the two of you like it, you cane back to buy more in the future. My familys straw sandals will be sold for three copper coins in the future to the people of our vige. Qin Xiaoyao added. Liu Danius eyes lit up. He was really impressed, thinking that Mrs. Song was genuinely a good person. ... Then Ill buy four more pairs for my parents and siblings! he said immediately. His parents straw sandals were already broken, and his siblings did not have any. He and his wife had just earned their wages today, and buying sandals for their family was also a nice gesture, wasnt it? Deal! Qin Xiaoyaoughed as she replied. Then, she looked at Madam Liu and Song Yun, who looked stunned. Mother, then help them search. If we dont have the right size, Yuner, you can help your Brother Daniu weave it up on the spot. Okay! The two of them quickly agreed. Seeing this, Liu Daniu stepped forward and told them the sizes of his family members feet. In the end, only his parents and younger brother could find straw sandals of the corresponding size. His sisters feet were too short, so there werent any suitable ready-made straw sandals for the time being. However, it didnt matter. After Song Yun found out about Liu Xiaomeis feet size, she started to make the straw sandals. Seeing this, Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li were extremely envious. ... This Song familys little girl was also a person with good skills. At such a young age, she could already help her family earn money. How could they not be envious? Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao didnt bother with the two. She went back into the room and took out ny copper coins. Then, she gave Liu Daniu seventy-two copper coins. The is the bnce of ny copper coins of the wages we agreed on earlier. After deducting the cost of the six pairs of straw sandals, thats seventy-two copper coins. Liu Daniu had already done the calctions in his heart. He epted the copper coins and thanked Qin Xiaoyao. After a day of hard work with his wife, he finally had some returns. Qin Xiaoyao acknowledged their thanks and walked toward Madam Liu and Song Yun. Mother, this is the money for selling six pairs of straw sandals. You and Yuner can keep it. As she spoke, she handed over the remaining copper coins. The mother and daughter were so shocked that no one epted the coins. You can keep it! Youre the one taking care of the family now, and youll be in charge of our family in the future. Then, Madam Liu finally blurted out. Her face was full of sincerity. She was genuinely convinced by her daughter-inw and really wanted to give her the right to take control of the family. Song Yun also looked at Qin Xiaoyao and nodded. She also agreed with her mothers decision. Sister-inw had changed. She was now the head of the family. With Sister-inw in charge of the family, the whole family would work hard together, and the days at home would definitely be better. Not far away, when Big Girl Li saw this situation, she was extremely envious. In the beginning, she thought that Qin Sanya was stupid to give the copper coins to her mother-inw and little sister-inw. Chapter 40 Chapter 40: umte Personal Savings? However, Big Girl Li sighed after that. Qin Sanya certainly lived up to her reputation. With just this small trick, she had managed to win over her mother-inw and little sister-inwpletely. Her mother-inw even said that she wanted her to be the head of the household! This new daughter-inw was the head of the household. In Brook Falls Vige, no one would dare argue against the fact that Qin Sanya was the first daughter-inw to head a household. I have money with me. And Ill also think of ways to earn money. Weaving straw sandals takes time and effort. Its not easy for you two to earn this little money. Since Mother wants me to take charge of the family, Ill set a rule today, Qin Xiaoyao said after some thought. In the future, remember the number of straw sandals you two make. Once the straw sandals are sold, the money will belong to you. Seeing that the two of them were about to speak, Qin Xiaoyao continued, With money in hand, ones heart will be at ease, and one will have confidence. In the future, if you want to buy something, you can buy it with your own money. You dont have to ask for my opinion. When the mother and daughter heard this, they were finally a little tempted. In addition, if something urgent really happens at home, Ill also ask you guys for help. Qin Xiaoyao continued. Only then did Madam Liu rx. Then well take two copper coins, and you can keep the remaining one, she said. Qin Xiaoyao was caught by surprise. Once weve made the straw sandals, youll have to sell them in town. That one copper coin will bepensation for your hard work, Madam Liu said. She had learned this from her daughter-inw. When her daughter-inw asked her inws to help her sell straw sandals, didnt she also give them a copper coin for every pair of sandals? Moreover, they were family. It really didnt make sense to save all the money they earned as their private personal money. Giving a copper coin to her daughter-inw was considered a form of contribution. A look of helplessness shed across Qin Xiaoyaos face. Alright, lets do it this way then. She finally agreed. Then, she retained six copper coins and handed over the remaining twelve. This is for you two, she said. The mother and daughter were overjoyed. Only then did Madam Liu step forward to take the money. After getting the copper coins, she gave half to Song Yun. The little girl blushed furiously and refused to take it. It was only when Madam Liu said that it was her sister-inws order that the little girl epted it. Holding the six heavy copper coins, the little girl felt her heart racing. She had money now, and it was a total of six copper coins In the future, she could save even more money. Song Yuns heart was filled with determination and hope for the future. Not far away, Liu Daniu and Li Daniu werepletely dumbfounded. Mrs. Song, aka Qin Sanya, was really in charge now? And she even allowed her mother-inw and little sister-inw to save up for their personal money? While she was surprised, Big Girl Li also felt envious. She had her mother-inw above her, so there was no way she could take charge of the family. Even if she couldnt take charge of the family, it would be good if their mother-inw allowed them to save up some personal money. It was like what the Song family just did, handing over a portion of the money they earned while keeping the rest for themselves. However, her mother-inw kept such a close eye on them that she couldnt even secretly save up, much less agree to allow them to save up for their personal money. Putting aside other things, she thought about herself and her man working for Qin Sanya today. Her man was simply a straightforward person. Qin Sanya said that she would give them a hundred copper coins as wages, so he honestly told his family that the wages was a hundred copper coins. Therefore, even if they got their pay, they would have to hand over every coin in the end. Thinking of this, the resentment in Big Girl Lis heart grew. She couldnt go on like this. She had to talk to her mother-inw and the others when she got back. Her man could hand in the money for his own work, but she couldnt hand over all the money she earned. Otherwise, she wouldnt even be working for Qin Xiaoyao. After all, the money wouldnt go into her pocket. She still had her little brother-inw and little sister-inw at home. If the parents were biased in the future, how would she and her man live in the future? Qin Xiaoyao wasnt aware of any of this. She brought Madam Liu into the kitchen and told her about treating Liu Daniu and his wife to dinner. Okay! Then Ill start cooking! Madam Liu quickly agreed. Then, she went to wash the rice. Im going to wash the vegetables and Chinese yam, Qin Xiaoyao said. Thereafter, she picked some Chinese yam and vegetables and went out. When she went out, she saw that only Big Girl Li was left in the courtyard. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at her, Big Girl Li smiled and exined, Daniu said he was afraid of losing the money, so he went back to keep the money. ... Are you going to wash the vegetables? Ill help you! Big Girl Li said as she came closer. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao had put a lot of Chinese yam in her basket, Big Girl Li was very curious. Five copper coins per catty of vegetables... She didnt even know how to cook them. Hehe, sure. Qin Xiaoyao epted her help. The two of them went to the stream to wash vegetables. After washing the vegetables, the two of them went back to the kitchen to cook. Big Girl Li helped Qin Xiaoyao start the fire enthusiastically, and she saw the whole process of how Qin Xiaoyao processed the Chinese yam. She also didnt expect that the Chinese yam, which looked like a stick of firewood, would be white inside after being cut open. Moreover, it looked like it was really tasty. When it was time to eat, Big Girl Li realized that the Chinese yam not only looked good, but it also tasted really good. It wasnt just Big Girl Li who thought in this way. Even Liu Daniu was amazed. I didnt expect Chinese yam to be so delicious! No wonder they could sell for five copper coins per catty! Liu Daniu couldnt stop eating. He mainly ate Chinese yam and the oil dregs. ... Qin Xiaoyao smiled warmly. If you like it, eat more! Theres enough for everyone, she said in response. She knew that everyone would like this dish, so she deliberately made more. It was a pity that they didnt have pickled peppers at home. Otherwise, they would taste even better if they had been fried together with pickled peppers. Yup! Sister Sanya, Ill follow you from now on. In the future, well go to the mountains to dig up more Chinese yam. This is too delicious! Big Girl Li said. No problem! Not only can we eat them, but we can also sell them in town. Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Then, she started to talk about the business of making money with Big Girl Li. Everyone at the table listened attentively. Every one of them was full of admiration for Qin Xiaoyao. After the meal, Qin Xiaoyao refused Big Girl Lis help to clean up the dishes and personally sent the couple off. The main reason was that the sky was getting dark, and the road wouldnt be so easy to walk if they went back toote. The couple walked out. After they parted ways with Qin Xiaoyao, they were still reminiscing about the food they had just eaten and the content of their conversation with Qin Xiaoyao. This Mrs. Song is really an amazing person! With her, the Song family will be rich, Liu Daniu said with a sigh. Big Girl Lis heart trembled. If I work for Sister Sanya, will I also be rich? she asked. Liu Daniu looked at his wife with some disdain. You can forget about getting rich. But its a rare opportunity that Mrs. Song thinks so highly of you. You should be able to earn some money with her. It wasnt that he looked down on his wife, but he knew her well. His wife might appear hardworking, but she was not very reliable. With her strength and temperament, she really couldnt bepared to Mrs. Song. Hehe. Big Girl Liughed and didnt mind the look in her mans eyes. She didnt want to be rich. She just wanted to earn and save some money. Well, I have something to discuss with you. She looked at her man. What is it? Liu Daniu asked. Chapter 41 - 41 Chapter 41: Convincing Them 41 Chapter 41: Convincing Them Taking the opportunity, Big Girl Li told Liu Daniu about her idea of saving up for her own personal savings. We are not living separately from our parents yet, so how can we do that? Liu Daniu rejected the idea immediately. Big Girl Li immediately became displeased. Whats wrong? Its not like you didnt see how Sister Sanya treats her mother-inw and little sister-inw when she is in charge of the family. !! Not only does she allow her mother-inw to put aside money for her personal savings, but she also allows her little sister-inw to do so. What do you think that little girl Yun will do with her private stash? Wont it go into her own dowry in the future? Sister Sanya didnt even stop this. Shes nothing like your mother! You Liu Daniu was a little annoyed. He wanted to refute her, but he couldnt think of anything. Im telling you, its fine for us to suffer a little hardship. But it wont be long before we have a baby. At that point, we cant wait for our child to be born and then ask for everything from your mother, right? Seeing that Liu Daniu didnt answer, Big Girl Li continued, Its not like you dont know Mothers temperament. Shes extremely stingy. Even if we hand over the money we earn, she wont be generous when we need it in the future. Liu Daniu was silent. Also, Erniu is already 14 years old. In less than two years, well have to talk about marriage for him. Mother has gotten a wife for you, so I have no objection to helping Erniu prepare the betrothal gift. In fact, Im even in favor of preparing a dowry for little sister. But any more than that, Im not in favor. When my baby arrives, Ill definitely have to give more importance to our baby and our small family than them. Liu Daniu did not reply. He wanted to reprimand his wife, telling her she should not say such things. However, he also felt that his wifes words actually made some sense. Seeing that Liu Daniu didnt reprimand her, Big Girl Li felt much more emboldened. If you dont dare to say it, then let me say it. Well both work in the future, and your sry will be handed over to Mother. I can hand over a part of what I earn, but I have to retain the bigger portion. Seeing that Liu Daniu was about to speak, Big Girl Li added, If you disagree, I wont work with Sister Sanya anymore. The money I earned wont end up in my pocket anyway. Liu Daniu immediately swallowed back the words he wanted to say. Knowing his wifes temper, he knew she would really carry out what she said. In that case, he would just let her bring up this subject to his mother. When Big Girl Li saw that her man didnt object, she let out a sigh of relief and felt more confident. When she reached home, she told her inws about this. Her mother-inw naturally objected and was so angry that she almost scolded Big Girl Li. However, Big Girl Li wasnt afraid, and instead, she started to behave shamelessly. If Daniu go out to earn money and hand all his earnings over, its fine. But if you expect me to hand over all my earnings, then Id rather not do anything and just be a freeloader at home. In any case, when Mother sent the matchmaker to my house to propose marriage, she also said that I would not have to work in the fields. At that point, they had painted such a rosy picture, telling her to marry into the Liu family to lead a good life. In the end, she didnt experience the good life she was promised. Fortunately, she was mentally prepared and knew that the farmers life wasnt easy. Otherwise, she would have died of exasperation long ago. Aunt Liu became even angrier, but she didnt dare to vent her anger on her daughter-inw. It was because what her daughter-inw said was true. In order to persuade the Li family to let Big Girl Li marry into the Liu family, she did indeed say such things to her parents. Moreover, if she wanted to arrange for her eldest son to work in town, she would have to ask for help from her inws. If she really offended her daughter-inw, her eldest sons n to work in town would probably be ruined. Seeing her mother-inws expression, Big Girl Lis anger subsided a little. Mother, I never thought that I would be able to live a happy and peaceful life after marrying Daniu. But you cant still make me work so hard to earn money to support this big family when I am already deprived of a good life, right? Aunt Lius brows were tightly knitted. The Song family isnt the only one that allows their family members to have their personal savings. Many families are doing this in Brook Falls Vige. It doesnt make sense that other families are allowed to do it, but when ites to our Liu family, Mother must hold all the money in your hands, does it? What I meant is, we should hand over the money that Daniu earns to save for Ernius betrothal gift and little sisters dowry. I agree with all these. However, I will only hand over 20% of the money I earn. As she spoke, Big Girl Li looked at Liu Erniu. Itll be the same when Erniu gets married in the future. The money Erniu earned will go to the family, his wife would pay 20% of the money she earned, and the rest the couple will keep for themselves. This is fair. And also theres little sister. If shes as capable as the Song familys little girl Yun, she can also save up for her dowry. Anyway, we cant hand over all our money, or Id rather stay at home and be a freeloader! After she finished speaking, Big Girl Li sat down on the stool heavily. She turned her head and did not look at anyone anymore. The members of the Liu family looked at each other, and finally, their gazes fell on Uncle Liu. Uncle Liu looked at his wife and sighed helplessly. Ahem! What the eldest daughter-inw said actually makes some sense Before he could finish speaking, his wife shot him a look that made him shut his mouth. However, after enduring for a while, Uncle Liu continued, Of course, since its a family matter, we cant just listen to eldest daughter-inw alone. Erniu and Xiaomei, what do you two think of this matter? Uncle Liu looked at his second son and youngest daughter. If the eldest daughter-inw wanted to save up for her personal savings, it was inherently unfair to the second son and younger sister. However, after thinking about it carefully, the eldest daughter-inw also said that she would allow the eldest son to contribute to the betrothal gift for the second son and even a dowry for the younger sister. This way, he didnt let his second brother and little sister suffer any losses. It was indeed rare for a daughter-inw to support the family in their farming vige. ... Some families in the vige would ept the money earned by their daughters-inw, but some didnt. In their familys situation, the eldest daughter-inw was not a soft-hearted person. If the family insisted on taking all her money, they were afraid that it would cause chaos in the family. In fact, when Erniu saw that his mother did not explode in anger, he knew that his mother was not that opposed to this matter. However, his mother had been in charge of managing the family for many years. If Erniu didnt find a way for her to retreat in a dignified manner, she would never back off. Liu Erniu exchanged nces with his younger sister as he mulled over these things in his mind. Lets follow Sister-inws suggestion. Sister-inw doesnt have to hand over all the money she earned. It was fine as long as his big brother promised to contribute to his betrothal gift. After he got married, he and his wife couldpletely rely on themselves. Besides, with Sister-inw as a precedent, his wife would be able to save up her own money, right? He didnt suffer any losses. Liu Xiaomei nodded in agreement. Of course, she was supportive. Sister-inw said that she would ask Big Brother to help save up for her dowry. If she had the ability, she could also save up for her own dowry. Things simply couldnt be better. ... Uncle Liu saw this and nodded. Since Erniu and Xiaomei have no objections, then this matter is settled, he said and then looked at his wife. Aunt Liu still did not look very pleased. Uh-huh. In the end, she still agreed to the proposal. When Big Girl Li heard her mother-inws reply, her face immediately lit up, and she quickly turned around. Thank you, Father! Thank you, Mother! Daniu and I will work hard in the future! she said excitedly. Uncle Liu was amused. Even Aunt Liu, who had been pulling a long face, couldnt help but rxed her expression. A farce that he thought would blow up uncontrobly ended just like that. Chapter 42 - 42 Chapter 42: Looking for Ramie 42 Chapter 42: Looking for Ramie Meanwhile, over at the Song familys house. As the oil in the oilmps had been replenished at home, no one went to bed early that night. Madam Liu and Song Yun had sold six pairs of straw sandals during the day. They were very busy now. After finishing the tasks in the kitchen, they started to weave straw sandals under the oilmp. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt idle either. She teased Song Ye from time to time while she busied herself together with the mother and daughter. !! Now that the Chinese yams had been harvested, she felt more at ease and rxed. Tomorrow, I have to go to the mountains to take a look and see if I can find some ramie. Qin Xiaoyao mumbled as she weaved the straw sandals. She was thinking about weaving a fishing. Yes, she knew how to weave a fishing. During the apocalypse, she learned it from an old fisherman she saved. It was because of the fishing she had woven that she got a chance to eat meat asionally during the apocalypse. If she wanted to earn money now, it wasnt that easy to go into the mountains to hunt. Hunting for prey depended on luck. On the other hand, she could try casting fishings in the river next to Brook Falls Vige. If she was lucky, she might be able to make a small fortune. It was just that she didnt have the materials to make a fishing at the moment. As for the ramie thread, the ones sold in the grocery stores in town didnt meet her requirements. She might as well think of a way to get some ramie, make ramie-cotton thread ording to her requirements, and then weave a fishing. Although the progress would be slower, it would result in a more useful fishing. After all, River Ringwaters next to Brook Falls Vige was flowing all year round. It did not even freeze in winter. If she could make a good fishing, she could get to eat fish all year round. Haha! Of course, for now, the main thing was to get the fish and sell them for money at Fortune Mansion. Sigh! She could only depend on hunting and gathering in the mountains as well as fishing for the time being. At the very least, she had to pay back the money she owed her father and not worry about her attractive husbands medical expenses. And once she had savings in her hands, she could then think about running the buying-and-selling business. Yes, she was talking about some big business deals Ramie? Madam Liu asked suddenly. Sanya, are you looking for ramie? she asked when she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking in her direction. Yes, I am. I want to harvest some ramie to make ramie thread and rope, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Mother, do you know where I can find ramie? I do, said Madam Liu immediately. Theres a mountain behind us. After you climb over it, theres a lot of ramie at the mountainside. When the vigers want to make ramie ropes, they will go there to cut the ramie and bring it back to make the ropes themselves. She had been there before, but her skin was too sensitive and would itch whenever she got close to that ce. She had only been there once before her husband forbade her from going there. Alright. Then Ill go take a look tomorrow. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes instantly lit up. Then be careful. That thing can cause skin irritation. If you find that you cant stand it, you can hire someone to help you. Madam Liu reminded her. The real concern was that although her daughter-inw was fat, her skinplexion was really good. Her skin was fair and tender, not inferior to her own skin when she was young. No need to trouble others, Mother. Dont worry. I wont take risks with my own body. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and tugged on Madam Lius arm, acting like a spoiled child. It felt good to have a loved one feeling concern for her As for being allergic to ramie, such worries did not exist as far as she was concerned. After all, her body possessed a special ability. She would not even fall sick, not to mention having skin allergies. Furthermore, even if she were injured, she would recover very quickly. The family chatted and spent a long time making straw sandals. Qin Xiaoyao only urged everyone to wash up and go to bed when she felt it was getting reallyte. She then went to take a bath. When she came out of the bathroom, the moon had already risen high in the sky. Qin Xiaoyao was about to return to her room. To her surprise, the lights in her room were still on. As soon as she entered the room, she saw Song Que turn over on the bed and turn his back to her. The corners of her mouth curled up into a smile. Once again, she interpreted her husbands reaction as being gruff on the outside but tender on the inside. After walking to the bed, she took off her shoes and got into bed. Then, she blew out the lights and went to sleep. The moment the light was blown out, Song Ques eyes darkened. This woman was really not going to talk to him? Hmph! If she didnt want to talk, then so be it! It was best if she held her peace forever and keep holding it until she suffocated to death! ... The next day, before Qin Xiaoyao left the house, Big Girl Li arrived. She carried a bamboo basket backpack on her back, in which there was a sickle and a small hoe. After Qin Xiaoyao exined to Big Girl Li what she was going to do for the day, she took the hemp rope, carrying pole and sickle, and went into the mountain. On the way there, Big Girl Li told Qin Xiaoyao about what she had discussed with her inwsst night. Daniu has already set off for the town. If everything goes well, he will go to work directly. He can onlye back once every ten days. When she said this, Big Girl Lis expression became a little downcast. She had only been married to Daniu for a month, and now they had to live separately for a long time. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li. Whats the problem? If he cante back often in the future, you can go and look for him. Once weve gotten our hands on something, well have more opportunities to go to town in the future. Big Girl Li was surprised, and then her eyes suddenly lit up. Oh yes! I have totally forgotten about this! ... Then, she seemed to recall something. You just said that well go into the mountains to cut the ramie. Can we eat ramie? Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao with skepticism. She didnt think that ramie was edible, but when she thought of the Chinese yam that looked like a stick of firewood, she wasnt sure anymore. Qin Xiaoyao was amused. Why do you think of eating everything? You dont cut the ramie for food. Its to make ramie rope and ramie thread so that I can weave a fishing. Big Girl Li was astounded. Only then did she remember that Qin Xiaoyao had mentioned that she wanted to go fishing in River Ringwaters. You know how to weave a fishing? Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao in surprise. A thought suddenly rose in her mind, and that was: Was there anything that Qin Sanya did not know? I sure do. Qin Xiaoyao replied happily. Im going to weave a bigger to cast over half of the shallow embankment at the east end of our vige. When the timees, well go and pull up the every morning and night. We should be able to get some harvests. Big Girl Li didnt think that fish were that easy to catch. However, when she thought about how it wasntplicated to pull in the twice a day, she didnt object. Alright, Ill follow Sister Sanyas instruction! she responded. Qin Xiaoyao saw through Big Girl Lis mood. She smiled and said, Blood Sisters settle ounts clearly. Since weve brought this up, lets first talk about the distribution. Lets cut the ramie together and process it together. But Im the one weaving the, and I am the one who came up with the idea. When we catch the fish and sell it, well split the money 80-20. Ill get 80%, and you get 20%. Deal! Big Girl Li girl replied. Anyway, she didnt expect Qin Xiaoyao to catch that many fish. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and continued on her way. Soon, the two of them crossed the mountain that Madam Liu mentioned and arrived at the ramie forest. Without another word, the two of them quickly started working. Very soon, the two of them had harvested arge swathe of ramie. Ill carry these ramie nts back first. You stay here and continue cutting, said Qin Xiaoyao when she felt she had enough to carry and stopped cutting. Chapter 43 - 43 Chapter 43: Aunt Li 43 Chapter 43: Aunt Li Sure! Big Girl Li agreed readily. Compared to carrying the ramie back, cutting the ramie was easier. She would rather stay here to cut the ramie. Moreover, Qin Sanya was stronger than her. She could make three or four trips in the time Big Girl Li took to make one trip. If Big Girl Li let Qin Sanya carry the things back, both Qin Sanyas and her overall efficiency would be higher. !! Only then did Qin Xiaoyao go off to gather up the cut ramie and tie them into bundles. After that, she carried two big bundles of ramie home. When she reached home, she dropped the ramie in the yard and went back into the mountain. In this way, the two of them harvested enough ramie in the morning to fill an entire courtyard. Its almost enough. Lets go back after we finish cutting this little bit. Qin Xiaoyao wiped the sweat off her forehead and said to Big Girl Li. Big Girl Li stood up and wiped the sweat off her forehead as well. Alright. Then, together with Qin Xiaoyao, she began to gather up thest batch of harvested ramie. On the way back, Qin Xiaoyao carried all the ramie on her shoulders by herself while Big Girl Li followed her, carrying only the tools. The mountain wind blew over her face. Seeing Qin Xiaoyao in front of her carrying the bundles of ramie, Big Girl Li felt that working with her was not bad. This girls strength was truly astonishing. With Qin Xiaoyaos strength, there was no need for Big Girl Li to carry things on her shoulders. When they were back at the Song familys house, only then did Big Girl Li realize that she and Qin Xiaoyao had harvested arge courtyard full of ramie. How big is the youre going to make? she asked in astonishment. We wont be able to use up all the ramie thread. When the timees, well keep the excess and roll them into ramie ropes. Well be able to use them sooner orter. Qin Xiaoyao replied. Alright, Big Girl Li replied. Then what should we do next? she asked again. Qin Xiaoyao tidied up the ramie spread out in the courtyard as she said, These ramie grass need to be dried in the sun first, then theyll be immersed into the stream to soak. After that, Ill have to let them soak for at least two days before I can start skinning and drying the ramie thread. Of course, we cant just wait and do nothing. Lets go into the mountains again in the afternoon. Big Girl Lis face lit up. Okay! She quickly agreed. She was now focused on looking for Chinese yam. If she found a plot of Chinese yams, she could also make a fortune! At this moment, the fragrance of rice wafted out from the kitchen. Big Girl Li couldnt help but look in the direction of the kitchen, and then her stomach started to growl. Seeing Qin Xiaoyao turn around to look at her, or rather, her stomach, she blushed a little. Er I only had a bowl of porridge this morning, Big Girl Li said in embarrassment. She was about to say that she should go back now. Lets eat here, Qin Xiaoyao said. We can then leave earlier after lunch. Big Girl Lis face lit up. She almost drooled when she thought of the food she had at the Song familys house yesterday. But how can I She said with a slightly red face. Qin Xiaoyao was amused by Big Girl Lis expression. What is there to be embarrassed about? Were sisters now, and well be making money together in the future, so theres no need to be so formal! Big Girl Lis eyes suddenly lit up. Thank you, Sister Sanya! She immediately thanked her. No matter how much Qin Sanya had bullied her in the past or how much she hated Qin Sanya, at least for now, Big Girl Li felt that Qin Sanya was a good person! Hehe! Qin Xiaoyao chuckled a few times. She asked Big Girl Li to help out in the kitchen. After a while, just as Qin Xiaoyao was about to start cooking on the stove, she suddenly heard voicesing from outside. Eldest Son Songs household Qin Xiaoyao was a special ability user, so she had good hearing. As soon as the other party spoke, she heard her voice clearly. Coming! Qin Xiaoyao replied. She put down the spat in her hand and quickly went out. At the entrance of the courtyard stood a middle-aged woman. She was dressed neatly, and there was no patchwork on her clothes. By the standards in the countryside, it was considered more refined and presentable. Aunt Li, why are you here? Within a second, Qin Xiaoyao recognized the person opposite her. She was the wife of Uncle Li, the vige chief of Brook Falls Vige. When Qin Xiaoyaos predecessor married into Brook Falls Vige, this person had even attended her wedding banquet. Of course, just like the other vigers, she did not extend her predecessor much courtesy. Oh, Im here to bring you a message, Aunt Li replied. The way she looked at Qin Xiaoyao showed that she wasnt very happy. If butcher Qin hadnt given her two copper coins worth of meat, she wouldnt have been willing to help bring the message. Your father asked me to send you a message, saying that over at Fortune Mansion, they want you to send another two hundred catties of Chinese Chinese whatever to them tomorrow. And also straw sandals. He said they are sold out. He wants you to send some over as well. Aunt Li stuttered quite a bit. ... Primarily, it was because butcher Qin hadnt exined it clearly, so she had only remembered the rough gist of the message. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up when she heard that. Alright, I know! Thank you, Aunt Li! She quickly thanked her. Just then, Aunt Li suddenly saw many pairs of straw sandals on the steps under the eaves of the Song familys house. Your your family is weaving straw sandals? she asked Qin Xiaoyao after seeing the straw sandals. It was her little grandsons birthday today, and that was why she went to town to get some meat. In the end, she saw that butcher Qin was also selling straw sandals in addition to selling meat. At that time, quite a few people were hanging around looking and buying them, saying that the style was nice and they were cheap. She watched from the side for a while. She was going to buy a pair as well. However, before she could speak, those few pairs of straw sandals were all snatched away. Butcher Qin asked Aunt Li to help him pass on a message asking his daughter to send him straw sandals. She had been feeling puzzled earlier, but now she seemed to understand what was going on. ... So, butcher Qins straw sandals were sent by the Song family? The Song family knew how to weave straw sandals? That didnt sound right. If the Song family had such skills, why didnt they make straw sandals for sale before? Yes, just me, my Mother, and Yuner. When were free, well weave some. After the sandals are done, I ask my father to help me sell them in exchange for a few copper coins, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Aunt Lis expression changed immediately. Then, how much are you selling these straw sandals? she asked Qin Xiaoyao tentatively after listening to her. Butcher Qins stall sold the straw sandals for four copper coins, and everyone was fighting to buy them. She wanted to buy it, but she didnt even get the chance. She wondered how much it would cost if she got them from the Song family themselves. Even if they were sold for the same four copper coins as at butcher Qins stall, it was still worth it to buy straw sandals of this quality. Qin Xiaoyao had an idea suddenly. She smiled and said, Its not anything expensive. People from our vige can buy it for only three copper coins. Aunt Lis eyes lit up. Three copper coins? The surprise in her eyes was almost impossible to hide. Yes. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Aunt Li, do you want to choose a pair? There are all kinds of sizes. After she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao looked at the straw sandals on the steps under the roof eaves. Only then did Aunt Li suppress the excitement on her face. Ill have three pairs then. Pick a pair for Uncle Li and my two nephews. After saying that, she entered the courtyard. At the same time, the way she looked at Qin Xiaoyao was a lot less unfriendly. Good! Ill help you pick. Qin Xiaoyao quickly led Aunt Li over. Then, after inquiring about the lengths of the feet, she showed her a few pairs of straw sandals. When Aunt Li received the straw sandals, she saw that the style and weaving technique were really good. Even the quality was good, and she liked them even more. Why dont I get a pair each for my two daughters-inw and my little grandson as well? Seeing that there were smaller-sized straw sandals, Aunt Li said again. Chapter 44 - 44 Chapter 44: Helping to Promote 44 Chapter 44: Helping to Promote By the way, can the small-sized sandals be cheaper? Aunt Li said as she thought of something. Qin Xiaoyao forced a smile. Er Our family only gets a bit of hard-earned money. The sandals are only sold for three copper coins because the customers are from the same vige. If we send them to town, they are usually sold for four or five copper coins a pair. These small-sized straw sandals might require less straw to make, but it takes a bit more skill to weave them. The effort taken is not less than the bigger-sized sandals. !! Besides, there are very few people who buy small-sized straw sandals, so we dont make many of them Alright, alright. Three copper coins it is then. Help me choose three pairs of smaller ones. Aunt Li interrupted Qin Xiaoyao. She did so mainly because she felt that Qin Xiaoyao was right. The price of three copper coins per pair was indeed very cheap. Alright! Qin Xiaoyao replied enthusiastically. Soon, she had helped Aunt Li pick out the straw sandals. If your size isnt urate Aunt Li asked before she paid for the straw sandals. You can take it back and try it on. If it doesnt fit, you can bring it back to exchange. Qin Xiaoyao said hurriedly. Only then was Aunt Li satisfied, and she began to take out the money. After counting eighteen copper coins, she handed them to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao took the money, thought for a while, and shoved a copper coin back into Aunt Lis hand. Haha! Thank you for bringing me the message, Aunt Li. Our family is poor. This is just a token of our appreciation, she said. The slight displeasure that was beginning to show on Aunt Lis face disappeared immediately. Its just a message, something that I can do on my way. Who wants your money? She pushed it back. However, Qin Xiaoyao insisted on giving it to her. Its also to thank you for patronizing our business, Aunt Li. Just ept it. Its not like Ill give it to you every time. She said with a smile. Only then did Aunt Li ept it. Alright. Then Ill go back and help your family promote them. Your familys straw sandals are indeed good. She said, beaming happily. Butcher Qin gave her two copper coins, and this girl gave her another copper coin. It was equivalent to giving her a pair of straw sandals for free. Haha! Three copper coins for a pair. She had gotten a good deal when she could buy straw sandals of this quality. Thank you very much, Aunt Li. Qin Xiaoyao thanked her with a wide grin. With that, she walked Aunt Li out of the courtyard. After that, they said goodbye to each other warmly before Qin Xiaoyao returned. However, the moment she entered the kitchen, she saw four pairs of eyes staring straight at her. This was especially evident with Big Girl Li, who couldnt hide the admiration in her eyes. They had overheard Qin Xiaoyao selling straw sandals to Aunt Li just now. The way she spoke and the way she treated her customers were in no way inferior to those experienced workers in town. In such a short time, not only did she sell six pairs of straw sandals, but she also won Aunt Lis favor and made her take the initiative to help promote her business. It was beautifully done! After all, Aunt Li was the wife of the vige chief of Brook Falls Vige. If she were willing to help spread the news, the entire vige would soon know that the Song family was selling straw sandals. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. She ignored Big Girl Li and went forward to split the money with Madam Liu and Song Yun. I took two pairs of the straw sandals that Mother made, and the rest belong to Yuner. This is your money. As she spoke, she gave Madam Liu four copper coins and Song Yun eight copper coins. The two of them didnt stand on ceremony and epted the money, feeling very happy in their hearts. When Big Girl Li saw this, she felt envious again. Howe she didnt know how to weave straw sandals? Alright, Big Girl. Start the fire. Qin Xiaoyao said as she looked at Big Girl Li. Following that, she went to the stove. Okay. Big Girl Li responded in a listless way, and then started to help out. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up in a smile again. Oh yes. I have good news, she said. Everyone turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Aunt Li just brought a message. She said that Fortune Mansion wants me to send two hundred catties of Chinese yam to them tomorrow. Everyone was shocked. 200 200 catties? Big Girl Li couldnt help shouting out. She even gulped down her saliva halfway. At five copper coins per catty, if it were two hundred catties, then then that would be one tael of silver! Madam Lius mouth was also wide open as she stared at her daughter-inw. If they were asking for the Chinese yam so soon again, did this mean that Fortune Mansion was doing brisk sales with the Chinese yam? Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. I guess the dishes made with Chinese yam have already opened up a market in Fortune Mansion. ... After this, we wont have to worry about selling our Chinese yam. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she looked at the Chinese yams piled in the corner. Right now, this was the most valuable thing in their family. Big Girl Li also looked in the direction Qin Xiaoyao was looking, her eyes full of envy. There must be more Chinese yam in the mountains, she muttered. She also wanted to dig up Chinese yams to sell! Qin Xiaoyaos hearing was sharp, so naturally, she heard Big Girl Lis mumbling. There are other good things in the mountains besides Chinese yam. Well go into the mountains in the afternoon and have a good search. When we find something good, well bring it back. Well be going to town tomorrow, so we can send all of them to Fortune Mansion in one shot. Big Girl Li nodded quickly. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and said again, Also, Big Girl, if your family has extra vegetables to sell, you can bring them too. Well send them to Fortune Mansion tomorrow. When they are sold, you will get whatever they are sold for. I wont take a cut from you. Since they were sisters, she would take it as helping Big Girl Li. ... Big Girl Lis face lit up. Great! Then Ill go back and ask my motherter! she hurriedly said. Their family was different from the Song family. They hadnd, and there were enough vegetables for their own consumption. In fact, they had a lot more than enough for their own consumption. It was just that the vegetables were cheap, and they wouldnt sell well in town. They had to pay to enter town, so no one would go to town just to sell vegetables. However, if Fortune Mansion could buy them all at the market price, it would still be worth the trip. At the very least, she could guarantee that all the vegetables she prepared would be sold off. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. In addition, my father said that the straw sandals have been sold out. Lets send some more. Qin Xiaoyao then looked at Madam Liu and Song Yun after saying this. Mother, Yuner, Ill have to trouble you two. The two of them looked excited. Well continue weaving in the afternoon! Madam Liu said quickly. Song Yun also nodded. Mother and I will try to make more straw sandals so that tomorrow, Sister-inw can bring all of them along. Weaving straw sandals really earned money quickly. She had already earned fourteen copper coins in two days just by sitting at home. This was just from the straw sandals she had sold in the past two days. If she sold the remaining straw sandals for money, she could earn even more. In the past, she wouldnt even dare to think about such a thing. Lets see how much you can produce. If theres a lot, Ill try to sell some in the grocery stores. If there are not many, Ill give them all to my father and let him help me sell them. It was not difficult to sell them at the price of three copper coins per pair. The main thing was that the design of the straw sandals made by their family was nicer than that of ordinary straw sandals. The mother and daughter nodded, their hearts full of energy. Soon, the rice was ready. Qin Xiaoyao was also done cooking the dishes. After Song Yun delivered the food to Song Que, everyone started eating. The dishes for lunch today were the same asst nights, and Big Girl Li ate until she was satisfied. When she thought of the Chinese yam she ate, which cost five copper coins per catty, she felt that stir-fried Chinese yam tasted even better. Chapter 45 - 45 Chapter 45: Chinese Toon Tree 45 Chapter 45: Chinese Toon Tree After the meal, Big Girl Li returned to the Liu family and told them that Qin Xiaoyao could help them sell their vegetables. After that, she brought her tools back to the Song family and went into the mountain with Qin Xiaoyao. The few mountains out here have been turned upside down by the vigers, so I guess we wont be able to find anything good. We have to go deeper inside. Qin Xiaoyao led Big Girl Li and headed deep into the mountains. That may be true, but its very dangerous deep in the mountains. Were both fragile women. What if something happens? Big Girl Li was a little scared. !! Qin Xiaoyao turned around and nced at Big Girl Li. Well, she would have to excuse Qin Xiaoyaos poor eyesight, but she found it really hard to see how Big Girl Li was a fragile woman. Of course, Qin Xiaoyao herself was probably more manly than Big Girl Li right now. Ahem, forget it. She would not dwell on this question. Im not going deep into the mountains. Im just going to search around the nearby mountains. Ive been here before, but I didnt encounter any wild beasts. It would be great if she could really run into wild beasts. If she killed them and sold their meat and skins, she could make a small fortune with just one beast. Then alright. Big Girl Li could only agree. If it was only on the outskirts outside the deep mountains, there shouldnt be any danger. With this in mind, the two of them quickly went up the mountain where they had dug up the Chinese yams previously. In the end, after walking for only a while, the two of them found a surprise. Sister San Sanya, this this is Chinese yam, right? Big Girl Li almost cried out in surprise. She remembered it very clearly, so she definitely wouldnt be mistaken! Qin Xiaoyao, who was walking not far away, suddenly stopped in her tracks. She quickly walked to Big Girl Lis side and took a look. It was indeed a Chinese yam vine. Hah! It really is a Chinese yam vine! It looks like were going to be rich again! As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao put down the bamboo basket backpack she was carrying. Big Girl Li also put down her backpack, took out her tools, and prepared to work. The two of them quickly started working, and soon they dug out more than 40 catties of Chinese yam. Big Girl Li looked at the Chinese yams that were dug out, and the more she looked at them, the more she liked them. Sister Sanya, will you still give me 20% from the sale of these Chinese yams? She thought of something and looked at Qin Xiaoyao with anticipation. Although she was the one who found the Chinese yams, it was still Sister Sanya who put in more effort to dig them out. In addition, without Sister Sanya, there was no way to sell these Chinese yams to Fortune Mansion. Qin Xiaoyaoughed as she wiped off her sweat. What 20%? When we go out together in the future, well split 60-40 for everything we find in the mountains. Ill take 60%, and youll take 40%! Qin Xiaoyao actually wanted to split it 50-50. However, after thinking about it, she realized that she was stronger and had indeed put in more effort. Furthermore, she had allowed Big Girl Li to follow her. She had to take more to show off her big sisters status, right? Big Girl Lis eyes were already shining. Oh, Sister Sanya, youre the best! She almost rushed up to Qin Sanya to give her a big, emotional hug. She had really misunderstood Qin Sanya in the past. Her Sister Sanya was a good person, the best person in the world! Qin Xiaoyao only felt a sense of chilly disgust and quickly looked away. Weve only walked for a short while before discovering more Chinese yam. It seems there are quite a lot of Chinese yams nearby. Or perhaps, this mountain has a lot of Chinese yams. Qin Xiaoyao analyzed and said. If that was the case, then she could continue to earn money from the Chinese yams. After hearing this, Big Girl Li was even more excited than Qin Xiaoyao. Theres more? Then what are we waiting for? Lets continue searching! she said. Looking at the Chinese yams that she had dug out, Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and said, I still have to go up the mountain. Its not convenient to bring these Chinese yams with me. Lets find a ce to put them first, and well take them with us when wee backter. She might be strong, but it would consume her special abilitys energy too. In the past few days, she had used up most of her recovered power from her special ability, and didnt use much of it to restore her body. Whenever she could save her energy, she would want to do so. She also wanted to lose all the fat and blubber on her body as soon as possible. However, Big Girl Li was a little hesitant. What if they were taken away by others These Chinese yams were at least forty catties, which would bring in more than two hundred copper coins. If she really lost them, she would cry herself to death. Whos going to take them so deep in the mountains and forests? Besides, not everyone knows that this Chinese yam is edible. Qin Xiaoyao replied. That thats true. Big Girl Li finally nodded. Then lets hide them well. As Big Girl Li spoke, she personally took action. Qin Xiaoyaoughed and lent Big Girl Li a hand. After a while, the two of them had hidden the Chinese yams in the grass by the roadside. Qin Xiaoyao even made a mark on a tree at the side. Lets go, she said to Big Girl Li after she was done. Okay. ... The two of them then continued to walk up the mountain. They walked very slowly and checked the surrounding vegetation along the way for fear of missing the Chinese yam vines. Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao made a discovery. Theres Chinese yam here too! Big Girl,e over quickly! She shouted to Big Girl Li. Big Girl Lis face lit up with joy, and she rushed toward Qin Xiaoyao. Where, Sister Sanya? She had found another plot of Chinese yams. She was going to be rich, rich! Here! There are a few vines. Lets dig them out and see. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she began digging with the hoe. After they finished digging, they didnt get as many Chinese yams as they had at the previous ce, but they still got more than ten catties. It seems that there are indeed a lot of Chinese yams in this mountain. If we search more carefully, we can probably dig up a lot more. Yup! Big Girl Li nodded excitedly. ... There werent many Chinese yams this time. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and didnt hide them by the roadside. Instead, she put them into her backpack and continued to walk up the mountain. In the end, after walking for a while, she found something good again. This time, it wasnt Chinese yam, but a Chinese Toon tree. Moreover, it was arge patch of Chinese Toon trees! There were at least a hundred of them. And the one closest to her was right beside her. The reason she was so sure was that her extraordinary sense of smell had already detected the fragrance of Chinese Toon shoots. It was spring now and the perfect time for Chinese Toon to sprout. This was really good stuff! Big Girl, has anyone ever said that youre a Lucky Star? Qin Xiaoyao suddenly asked Big Girl Li. If it werent for the fact that the Big Girl didnt let her go deep into the mountains, perhaps she wouldnt have gone up this particr mountain. If she hadnte here, how could she have found the new Chinese yams and these Chinese Toon trees? The young shoot of a Chinese Toon tree was a truly precious vegetable. Even before the apocalypse, this thing was being sold in taels, or 1?16 of a catty. Huh? Big Girl Li was a little confused. Lucky Star? Big Girl, I think were really going to be rich this time. Suppressing the excitement in her heart, Qin Xiaoyao turned around and looked at Big Girl Li with a solemn face. Not only were the Chinese Toon shoots expensive, but they could also regrow after being plucked. Typically, it would take two to three days for new shoots to grow out. This meant that these Chinese Toon trees could yield more Chinese Toon shoots for them. Huh? Big Girl Li was still a little confused, but her heart started to beat faster. Sister Sanya Qin Xiaoyao suddenly stretched out her hand and pulled over a small tree that was growing upright. Then, from the top of a branch, she plucked a Chinese Toon shoot off. You try smelling She then handed the Chinese Toon shoot to Big Girl Li. Big Girl Li pushed her nose forward and immediately smelled a strong fragrance. This is she asked Qin Sanya in bewilderment. Chapter 46 - 46 Chapter 46: The Tree of Heaven 46 Chapter 46: The Tree of Heaven She had seen this kind of tree before in the mountains where her vige people often go, but it didnt look that special. However, when she plucked the leaves of that kind of tree, they did not have such a strong fragrance. In fact, they were a little smelly. So, this tree was not the same species as the ones she had seen before? Qin Xiaoyaos face was filled with joy. !! This is a Chinese Toon shoot. You can stir-fry it with eggs or make a sd. Its really delicious! Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but swallow her saliva when she thought of the taste of scrambled eggs with Chinese Toon shoots. Speaking of eggs, they had run out of pheasant eggs at home. When she went home at night, she might be able to go to the vige to buy some chicken eggs. Hmm, that was a good idea. This can be eaten? Big Girl Lis face was filled with surprise and joy. After the incident with the Chinese yams, she now hadplete faith in Qin Xiaoyao. If her Sister Sanya said that the Chinese Toon shoots were edible, then this thing must be edible! Of course! Qin Xiaoyaos smile was very radiant. From her predecessors memory, she knew that the Chinese Toon shoots were notmon in Mountain Spring Town. At least, her predecessor did not even know of the existence of such a vegetable. Therefore, it was not strange that Big Girl Li did not know anything about Chinese Toon shoots either. It was good that these people didnt know. If it were something novel and tasted good, Fortune Mansion would like it even more, wouldnt they? The earlier Chinese yam was an excellent example. There are also some ces on the mountains in front of us that have this kind of tree as well! Big Girl Li immediately said. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned, then she became very excited. But the smell of the leaves is different from this type, Big Girl Li continued. How can the leaves of the same kind of tree smell different? Qin Xiaoyao immediately understood after pondering for a while. Different smell? The trees you saw there are not of the same species as this one. Qin Xiaoyao saw that Big Girl Li was still peering closely at the Chinese Toon tree as if she was looking for the differences between this tree and those she had seen before. Qin Xiaoyao continued, The ones you saw before are most likely the Tree of Heaven. The Tree of Heaven look simr to the Chinese Toon tree. Even the branches and leaves are not very different. The only obvious difference is that the leaves of the Tree of Heaven smell bad and are totally different from the smell of the Chinese Toon tree leaves. Big Girl Li understood at once. Thats right. The leaves of those trees are indeed stinky! she said. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She continued, You cant eat the leaves of the Tree of Heaven. Other than chopping them down to use as firewood, that tree is not of much use. Dont go and pick their shoots thinking they are edible Chinese Toon shoots, okay? Big Girl Li quickly nodded. Uh-huh, I know! Thank you for your reminder, Sister Sanya! She quickly smiled and thanked her. Alright. Lets not just stand around. Hurry up and pluck the Chinese Toon shoots. With these Chinese Toon shoots, we can earn another fortune tomorrow! Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were aze with excitement. Then, she taught Big Girl Li how to pluck the Chinese Toon shoots. They could only sell the tender young Chinese Toon shoots, not the old ones. However, when plucking the young Chinese Toon shoots, they had to remove the old shoots too. This way, the new shoots could grow again from the plucked points. After hearing that, Big Girl Li and Qin Xiaoyao quickly got busy. After struggling for a while, both of them finally plucked more than half a bamboo basket backpack worth of the Chinese Toon shoots. Lets explore the surroundings and see if we can dig up some more Chinese yam. Qin Xiaoyao said after cing the two backpacks in the shade. If we cant find anymore, well go back. Otherwise, these Chinese Toon shoots will wilt. Okay! Big Girl Li replied. Holding the sickle and the small hoe, she split up with Qin Xiaoyao again to look for Chinese yam vines nearby. In the end, she did find more Chinese yam vines. The two of them worked together and dug out another 20 catties of Chinese yam. Its such a big mountain. We wont be able to cover the whole mountain within a short time. Qin Xiaoyao wiped the sweat off her forehead. Why dont we stop here for today? Go back and get the stuff ready. We still have to go to town early tomorrow morning. Alright! Big Girl Li replied. She was on the verge of copsing from exhaustion. However, even though she was tired, she felt very happy when she thought of todays harvest. Thus, the two of them gathered up the Chinese yams and returned the way they came. After locating the Chinese yam that they had hidden by the roadside, they quickly returned to the foot of the mountain. Thereafter, they went home. At the Song familys house. ... When the two arrived, Madam Liu and Song Yun were still busy weaving straw sandals. Seeing that the two of them had brought back another big load of Chinese yam, Madam Lius face lit up with joy. She quickly stopped what she was doing and went to the kitchen to make sugar water for the two after weing them. After entering the kitchen and gulping down two bowls of sugar water, Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li finally heaved a sigh of relief. Didnt you say that all the Chinese yams had been dug out? How did you get so many Chinese yams again? Madam Liu looked at the Chinese yams that the two of them had brought back with a beaming face. She was absolutely overjoyed. Weve finished excavating the previous areas, but there are still more on that mountain. And I think there are quite a few more areas. But theres no hurry. The deep areas of the mountains arent as conspicuous as the foot of the mountain. Other than us, there shouldnt be anyone else who would go up that mountain. We can dig slowlyter. Qin Xiaoyao said. Madam Liu nodded with a smile. Thats right. Take it slowly. Theres no rush. She responded. Suddenly, Madam Liu saw the Chinese Toon shoots in the backpacks they were carrying. What are those? she asked, puzzled. ... Arent those leaves? Was there something hidden underneath? Qin Xiaoyao followed Madam Lius line of sight and saw the Chinese Toon shoots. Her eyes lit up at once. Chinese Toon shoots, a treasure found in the mountains! she said happily. Then, Qin Xiaoyao told Madam Liu how she and Big Girl Li found the Chinese Toon trees together. She also talked about how the Chinese Toon shoots were edible and expensive. Madam Liu was shocked to hear this, and at the same time, she admired her daughter-inw even more. Alright. Mother, help me get the scale. Ill weigh todays gains first, Qin Xiaoyao said quickly. Oh, alright. Madam Liu quickly agreed and went to get the scale. After a while, she brought a scale over. Thereafter, Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li weighed what they had obtained today. As the range of the scale was insufficient, they had to split up the goods to weigh many times before they could tabte the final result. The Chinese yams are 78 catties in all, and the Chinese Toon shoots are 18 catties. Qin Xiaoyao said. ording to our previous agreement, Ill take 60%, and youll take 40%. If its 78 catties of Chinese yams, you can get Yes, 31 catties and 2 taels. Then, at 5 copper coins per catty, thats Qin Xiaoyao continued to calcte in her heart. 156 copper coins, she said afterward. Big Girl Lis heart skipped a beat. So so much? she said in surprise. Qin Xiaoyao did the math in her head again. After making sure that her calctions were correct, she nodded. This is the money for the Chinese yams. As for the Chinese Toon shoots, I dont know the price yet, so I can only calcte your share after selling it tomorrow. Big Girl Lis face was full of smiles. Hehe! Its fine, its fine Theres no rush. She was smiling a little foolishly. In just half a day, she had earned 156 copper coins just from the Chinese yams. It was even higher than her mans sry for a days work in town Hehe! If she could do this every day in the future, she would be rich in no time. Qin Xiaoyao was inwardly very happy to see Big Girl Lis reaction. Wait here. Ill give you the money for the Chinese yams first, she said following this. Big Girl Li quickly came back to her senses and pulled Qin Xiaoyao back. Chapter 47 - 47 Chapter 47: The Generous Big Girl Li 47 Chapter 47: The Generous Big Girl Li Hehe! Theres no hurry. You can give me after selling the Chinese yams tomorrow! she said. Qin Xiaoyao gently pushed away Big Girl Lis hand. Its the same if I give it to you now. With the money in your hands, you and your inws will feel more at ease, wont you? Big Girl Li was surprised, but she didnt stop Qin Xiaoyao again. !! Once again, Big Girl Li began to admire Qin Xiaoyaos character. She must have been kicked in the head by a donkey before to think that her Sister Sanya was a bad person. Qin Xiaoyao quickly walked out of the kitchen and went to the room next door to take out a silver coin and 70 copper coins. Returning to the kitchen, she counted one silver coin and 56 copper coins for Big Girl Li. Big Girl Li took the money and was so excited that she almost didnt know what to do. I dont have any eggs at home, so I want to buy some eggs to stir-fry with the Chinese Toon shoots. Big Girl, do you have eggs to sell at your ce? Qin Xiaoyao asked her after that. Seeing that Big Girl Li was looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Oh, Ill use two taels of Chinese Toon shoots. Tomorrow, after I sell them for money, Ill top up the value for these two taels of shoots, and then well split the money. No need! Big Girl Li said quickly. Goodness, Sister Sanya, I didnt mean that! You were the one who found the Chinese Toon shoots. Without you, I wouldnt have recognized it even if it was right in front of me. You can use as much as you want. I have no objections! Honest! Big Girl Li said quickly. These were her true thoughts. Right now, she only felt gratitude towards her Sister Sanya. Also, I have eggs at home! Big Girl Li said again. I have three hens thaty eggs at home. My mother-inw has saved up a lot of eggs. She said she would send them to town to sell when she had enough. Sister Sanya, if you want, Ill send you ten. You dont need to pay! Of course, someone had to pay for the eggs, but Big Girl Li was willing to pay for them herself. The eggs in her house were of average size, and they usually sell for one copper coin each in town. Ten of them were only 10 copper coins, which was nothingpared to what she had earned today. Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased with Big Girl Lis words, but she didnt ept her good intentions. Even blood sisters settle ounts clearly. Were working together on a long-term basis, so we have to follow the rules we set. Even if I take just one tael of Chinese Toon shoots, I must still top up the value, not to mention two taels. Also, how can I take the eggs for free? As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao gave the remaining 14 copper coins to Big Girl Li. There are 14 copper coins here. Help me bring it back to your mother-inw and see how many eggs I can get from her. Ill pay ording to the market price. Youre not allowed to give me more. Qin Xiaoyao added when she saw that Big Girl Li was about to refuse. Big Girl Lis expression was full of conflicted emotions, and she felt very touched again. Alright, she finally nodded and said. At the same time, she made up her mind to follow her Sister Sanya and work hard in the future. Big Girl Li would treat her as her real sister. Then Ill go back first. Ill bring you the eggster. Alright. Qin Xiaoyao agreed. Only then did Big Girl Li pack her things and leave. On the way back, she was still touched by Qin Xiaoyaos kindness. Madam Liu waited until Big Girl Li left before she came to Qin Xiaoyaos side. This one that Daniu married, shes a good one, she said with a sigh. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and turned her head to look at her mother-inw. In her mother-inws eyes, there were probably not many bad people. Yes, Qin Xiaoyao responded. By the way Madam Liu suddenly said. Then, she reached into her pocket and took out five copper coins. After you two left, someone listened to your Aunt Li and came to our house to buy straw sandals. Yuner and I sold five pairs in total. Here are five copper coins. Take them. Then, she shoved the five copper coins into Qin Xiaoyaos hand. Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised, but she didnt refuse and took the copper coins. Hehe! Not bad! Im afraid that our familys business of selling straw sandals is really taking off now! She said with a smile. No wonder her mother-inw didnt stop her from buying eggs just now. It turned out that she had earned money again. It was a good thing! Madam Liu was so happy that she couldnt stop grinning. You are really resourceful. While the straw sandals can still be sold for money, Yuner and I will squeeze more time to weave more! Just do it in moderation. Dont work too hard. Qin Xiaoyao said. Dont worry. I know how to pace myself. Its still early. Ill go make a few more pairs! With that, Madam Liu walked out. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and didnt stop her. Meanwhile, Big Girl Li had already returned to the Liu familys house. ... At that moment, Aunt Liu had just returned from the field with Liu Xiaomei. When she saw that her daughter-inw had also returned, Aunt Liu couldnt bring herself to talk to Big Girl Li because of what happened yesterday. Liu Xiaomei, on the other hand, called out to her sister-inw sweetly. Big Girl Li didnt really mind. She answered Xiaomei and looked at her mother-inw with a smile. Mother! She called out and walked quickly to Aunt Liu. As she walked, she reached into her pocket. Then, she took out a handful of copper coins from her pocket. Upon closer inspection, there was even a small piece of silver inside. Aunt Liu didnt want to be nice to her daughter-inw, but when she saw the money in Big Girl Lis hand, she couldnt take her eyes off it. This is where did you get this? She could not help but ask. The corners of Big Girl Lis mouth curled up in a smile. ... My Sister Sanya gave it to me! She smiled smugly. This afternoon, Sister Sanya and I went into the mountains and dug up more Chinese yams. Oh, its not just Chinese yams. There are also Chinese Toon shoots! Sister Sanya said that the Chinese Toon shoot is more valuable than Chinese yam! However, she hasnt sold the Chinese Toon shoots to Fortune Mansion yet. She doesnt know the price for now, so she couldnt calcte the price for me. Using the hand that was holding the copper coins, she knocked on her pocket that was filled with money. Big Girl Li smiled very brightly. This money is the amount Sister Sanya split with me for the Chinese yams. Thats a total of 156 copper coins! Aunt Liu and Liu Xiaomeis eyes widened. How many? Even as she asked this, Aunt Liu felt her throat dry up. Big Girl Li smiled proudly again. 156 copper coins! My Sister Sanya is very fair. She will split the harvest with me 60-40. Shell get 60%, and Ill get 40%! Aunt Liu swallowed her saliva. She did not dare to be hostile to her daughter-inw anymore. That daughter-inw of Eldest Son Songs family was really capable. Her own daughter-inw could really make a lot of money if she followed the Song familys daughter-inw. Big Girl Li was very satisfied with her mother-inws reaction and started to count the copper coins. After counting out 31 copper coins, she handed the copper coins to her mother-inw. There! We agreed on this before. Ill give you 20% of the money I earn! Aunt Liu was a little embarrassed, but how could she refuse when she saw so much money? She immediately epted the copper coins. Uh-huh. She mumbled in acknowledgment. Seeing her mother-inws expression, Big Girl Li felt even more gleeful. She then saw her little sister-inw looking at her with envy. After some thought, she took out two copper coins and handed them to her little sister-inw. Xiaomei, take this! Liu Xiaomei was very surprised. She wanted to ept them, but she was too embarrassed. Its alright. Since your sister-inw gave it to you, you should just take it. It was only after Aunt Liu said this that Liu Xiaomei epted the money with a red face. Thank you, Sister-inw! she mumbled. Big Girl Li was very pleased. Whats there to thank? In the future, when Sister-inw earns more money, Ill buy you some nice food! Liu Xiaomeis face turned even redder. She felt that her sister-inw was such a nice person. Chapter 48 - 48 Chapter 48: Buying Eggs 48 Chapter 48: Buying Eggs Aunt Liu looked at her daughter-inw with more than double the satisfaction in her eyes. She had been worried that her daughter-inw would not like her second son and youngest daughter. After what happenedst night, she was even more worried. Now it seemed that she had been thinking too much. !! Like all old people, she liked to have a harmonious family where everyone loved each other. She naturally liked it when her daughter-inw treated her own daughter so well. Oh, thats right! Big Girl Li suddenly remembered something. Then, she took out some copper coins from her pocket and started counting again. After counting to 16, she passed the copper coins to her mother-inw. This is from my Sister Sanya. Its a total of 16 copper coins. She asked to buy eggs from you. She asked you to sell them to her ording to the market price and see how many eggs you can give her. Seeing that her mother-inw was about to speak, Big Girl Li emphasized again. We follow whatever the market price is. Sister Sanya has already said that we are not allowed to give her more, or she wont want them. And she wonte to our house to buy eggs anymore in the future. Aunt Liu was taken aback. Once again, she sighed, thinking about how good Qin Sanya was. Alright! Then Ill send 16 eggs to the Song family. Ill go get the eggs! Aunt Liu went back to the house without even taking the money. Big Girl Li quickly took two steps forward and put the copper coins into her mother-inws pocket. Dont forget the money, she said with a smile. Aunt Liuughed. You silly girl she said, then continued walking forward. After a while, Aunt Liu emerged from the house. She was holding a basket in her hand. There were exactly 16 white eggs in the basket. Buying eggs at this time means shes probably waiting to cook them. Send them to her now. Big Girl Li quickly nodded. She took the basket and prepared to go out. Before she left, she thought of something again and turned around to look at her mother-inw and little sister-inw. As I mentioned before, our vegetables can also be sent to Fortune Mansion tomorrow. When are we going to fields to harvest them? A smile appeared on Aunt Lius face. Xiaomei and I will go out after getting ready. Leave this matter to us. You go ahead, dont worry, she said. Alright! Big Girl Li replied and left. After Big Girl Li had left for some time, the mother and daughter finally looked away in the courtyard. Mother Liu Xiaomei called to her mother. She felt that the two copper coins in her palm were very warm. Aunt Liu turned around and nced at her daughter. I think your sister-inw is going to have a bright future. Aunt Liu eventually opened her mouth and said this. Then, she seemed to recall something. The Song family Never mind. Lets make a trip tomorrow. She helped your sister-inw, so we cant possibly not show our appreciation. Yes. Liu Xiaomei nodded her head. This was the first time Liu Xiaomei had seen her sister-inw acting so respectfully to someone, addressing Qin Xiaoyao as her Sister Sanya over and over again. She was also very curious about the Song familys sister-inw. She wondered if she could work with the Song familys sister-inw like her own sister-inw when she grew up. Alright. Pack up and get ready to go out. Well go to the field and harvest some vegetables so that your sister-inw can send them to town to sell for some money, said Aunt Liu. Okay. The mother-daughter pair then gathered their tools and left the house. Meanwhile, Big Girl Li had already arrived at the Song familys house in a cheerful mood. She gave the eggs to Qin Xiaoyao. When Qin Xiaoyao saw exactly 16 eggs, she was delighted. After taking the basket, she took out the eggs and put them into two big bowls. Then, she returned the basket to Big Girl Li. Qin Xiaoyao was amused by Big Girl Lis description of her mother-inws wonderful expression when thetter received the money. Alright. You can tell me, but dont tell anyone else about this. If your mother-inw finds out, shell deal with you. Qin Xiaoyao gave her a mock threatening look. Big Girl Li was still very happy nheless. I know. I cant be bothered to tell others at any rate! She said smugly. She then stopped smiling and said, But then again, although my mother-inw is a little greedy, shes actually a good person. After that, she started to talk about her mother-inw. As Qin Xiaoyao listened, she washed the rice at the same time. Thats why Im contented. After a long speech, Big Girl Li finally sighed. ... Its good as long as you know that! Qin Xiaoyao replied and prepared to start a fire. Only then did Big Girl Li have the thought of leaving. In the end, her eyes swept over the pile of Chinese yams in the corner of the room. Thinking of the taste of the Chinese yam, she went weak in the knees. Sister Sanya, can you sell me three catties of Chinese yam? She tried to resist the temptation, but in the end, Big Girl Li couldnt stand it anymore. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. Big Girl Liughed. Only Daniu and I have tasted Chinese yam. Mother-inw and the others havent tried it yet. Im thinking of buying some back to let them have a taste. She had seen how Sister Sanya process the Chinese yams before stir-frying them, so she knew how to cook them when she brought them back. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Sure! She immediately said, You can weigh it yourself. Luckily, the scale had not been put away yet. It was still sitting on the small table. ... Alright! Big Girl Li quickly agreed. Then, she went to take some Chinese yams to weigh. After weighing three catties, she counted 15 copper coins and ced them on the table. Ill leave the money here. Ill be leaving then. Hugging the Chinese yams, she bade them farewell with a smile. Alright, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. She continued to make straw sandals while starting the fire. Since she had nothing to do, she might as well make straw sandals to sell for money. At night, at the Liu familys house. Aunt Liuined about her daughter-inw being too wasteful for buying such expensive food while eating the delicious Chinese yam. For the first time, Uncle Liu stood firmly on his daughter-inws side. You ate so much, yet the food still cant block your mouth. This is the food that our daughter-inw paid for using her own money to let our family try something new. Why are you feeling heartache? Liu Erniu and Liu Xiaomei looked at each other and giggled inwardly. Big Girl Li almost couldnt hold back herughter. Hmph! Even if it isnt the familys money, my heart will still ache! These 15 copper coins are enough to get one catty of fatty meat, Aunt Liu said, looking at Big Girl Li. Okay! I know, Mother! Big Girl Li replied with a smile. At the same time, she used her chopsticks to pick up another piece of Chinese yam for Aunt Liu. She knew it. Her mother-inw wanted to eat meat. No problem. When she went to town tomorrow, she would buy two catties from Uncle Qin! Hah! Everyone should address her as Tycoon Girl now. Aunt Liu didnt know what her daughter-inw was thinking. She picked up the Chinese yam and ate it. It had to be said that this thing which cost five copper coins per catty did indeed taste good At the same time, over at the Song family. After dinner, Madam Liu, together with her daughter and Qin Xiaoyao, continued their hard work through the night again. They were all thinking of making more straw sandals for Qin Xiaoyao to bring along to sell in town. After her persuasion fell on deaf ears twice, Qin Xiaoyao had no choice but to scoop up some water and take a bath first. After taking a bath, she had to force the mother and daughter to stop work before they relented. The three of them hadnt taken a bath for a few days. Under Qin Xiaoyaos persuasion, the three of them took a bath before going to bed. This was the first time Qin Xiaoyao returned to her room before the mother and the two children. After lying on the bed with a creak, Qin Xiaoyao blew out the light and closed her eyes. Cough At this moment, a cough could be heard beside her. Qin Xiaoyao got a shock. What was wrong with her attractive husband? She wanted to ask, but when she thought about how much the other party hated her, she held it in and didnt make a sound or movement. Cough, cough At this moment, Song Que coughed twice. Chapter 49 - 49 Chapter 49: Delivery The Next Day 49 Chapter 49: Delivery The Next Day The night was pitch ck. What a pity. If it were during the day, Qin Xiaoyao would have seen Song Ques frowning face when she turned around. Damn it! Was this woman pretending to be dead? Er, Hubby Qin Xiaoyao finally spoke before Song Que could cough again to send her a reminder. Qin Xiaoyao didnt dare to move as she was afraid that the bed beneath her would protest again. !! At the same time, her heart tensed up quite tightly. She was afraid that her words would make her attractive husband displeased again. Hmm. To her surprise, Qin Xiaoyao heard the person beside her respond. Her heart trembled, and her face turned red immediately. Damn it! It must be her predecessors love-struck infatuation acting up again. She, Qin Xiaoyao, would never be so infatuated! Qin Xiaoyao forced herself to calm down, but she still didnt dare to move. After waiting for a while, Song Que still did not speak. Hubby, are you not feeling well? Qin Xiaoyao finally said. As soon as she said that, she wanted to p her own head. Her attractive husband obviously had something to say to her. What was he feeling unwell about? This mouth of hers was cursed! Song Que did not answer. Just as Qin Xiaoyao thought that her attractive husband would ignore her and she was about to close her eyes to sleep, she heard the person behind her speak again. Youre going to town tomorrow? Qin Xiaoyaos whole body stiffened. This time, his word count was quite a lot higher, wasnt it? Yes, thats right. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned for a moment before she quickly responded. She still didnt dare to turn around. Can you make a trip to the Cirrus Loft Bookstore? Look for the shop owner to help me procure some book-copying work. Song Que paused a few times as he spoke, clearly not used to talking to Qin Xiaoyao in this manner. Before his leg was injured, he had been doing book-copying work for Cirrus Loft Bookstore to supplement his familys ie. Although the job didnt earn much, it was the main source of ie for the family in the past. Now that the whole family was working hard to earn money, and even his little sister was not idle, it was not good for him to lie there all day doing nothing. In addition, now that there was hope for his legs recovery, he could start nning for some things anew. No matter what, it was not advisable for him to simply lie there and do nothing. Can you copy books in this state? Qin Xiaoyao didnt refuse but asked worriedly nevertheless. Lying in bed all day was indeed boring. In fact, it was good to find something for her attractive husband to do. Yes, Song Que replied with one word. Alright then. Ill go and ask tomorrow. Song Que was caught by surprise. Before his irritation could rise in time, it had already dissipated. She agreed just like that? You still need to buy some paper and ink for copying books. Song Que continued. Alright. Qin Xiaoyao agreed again. Song Que was stunned again. She agreed again? Then, the two of thempsed into a long silence. It was only when he heard the noisy snoring next to him that Song Que came back to his senses. This woman had fallen asleep so quickly again. He turned back in frustration and closed his eyes. The next day, Qin Xiaoyao woke up early in the morning. In the end, she had barely finished breakfast when Big Girl Li arrived. She also carried a bamboo basket backpack on her back, which was filled with vegetables. Qin Xiaoyao quickly packed up her things and asked Big Girl Li to help carry some of the load before setting off with her. On the way out of the vige, Qin Xiaoyao was carrying two bundles of Chinese yams and a backpack of Chinese Toon shoots on her back. On the other hand, Big Girl Li hauled a backpack of vegetables on her back while carrying two wicker baskets. The wicker baskets were full of straw sandals. The two of them carried backpacks and carrying poles, looking particrly eye-catching. When the vigers saw them, some of them asked why they were bringing firewood to town. The two of them only smiled mysteriously and did not answer. As for the straw sandals that everyone was concerned about, the two of them enthusiastically told them about the situation. They told the vigers that they could buy the sandals from the Song family at only three copper coins per pair. After the vigers heard this, many of them immediately thought of buying. ... After leaving the vige, the rest of the journey was less eventful. However, not long after, Big Girl Li couldnt take it anymore and asked to rest. Seeing that they were still early, Qin Sanya agreed. Sister Sanya, why dont we stay here and take the ox-cartter? After sitting on the shoulder pole and resting for a while, Big Girl Li didnt feel like getting up anymore. She really admired her Sister Sanya thoroughly now. The things she carried were obviously much heavier than hers, but she didnt even be breathless after walking for such a long distance. Qin Xiaoyao stood up from her shoulder pole. Why are we waiting for an ox-cart? Were already halfway there. Besides, if the ox-cart took the two of us, plus the things we brought, how can it fit anyone else? These words might sound a little exaggerated, but they were not far off. After all, the two of them had brought a lot of things. In addition, they were both big-sized. This was especially true for Qin Xiaoyao, whose weight alone was more than 200 pounds. ... If they really took the ox-cart, it would ce a tremendous burden on the ox. Big Girl Lis situation was better than hers, but she was still at least 150 or 160 pounds. She was also the kind of person that the ox-cart drivers detest. Big Girl Li felt a little depressed. She looked at the things they had brought and knew that Qin Xiaoyao was right. She had no choice but to get up. Then, when wee back, well take the ox-cart! She said with some resentment. Before Qin Xiaoyao could reply, she said, We can rent the whole ox-cart! Ill pay! Qin Xiaoyao was amused. Okay! She replied, giving up the idea of persuading Big Girl Li. What else was there to say when someone was paying? Only then did Big Girl Li smile. Exchange your backpack with me. You can carry this basket of Chinese Toon shoots. Its lighter. Qin Xiaoyao continued. But How could she possibly allow that? Although she didnt agree, Big Girl Lis eyes lit up as she looked at the backpack with Chinese Toon shoots in front of Qin Xiaoyao. Hand it over. Qin Xiaoyao red at Big Girl Li. Youre truly my blood sister! Big Girl Li said quickly. Then, she happily exchanged backpacks with Qin Xiaoyao. Once the things on her back were lighter, Big Girl Li finallyined a lot less for the rest of the journey. At the city gate, the two of them paid three copper coins each for the entrance fee and then sessfully arrived at the small courtyard of Fortune Mansions back kitchen. After talking to the staff who was busy in the courtyard, Uncle Zhao came out not long after. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Lis sweaty faces, Uncle Zhao quickly waved them to a stone table and asked the staff to bring them some water. It was not until the two of them had drunk some water and recovered their breath a little that Uncle Zhao began to talk to Qin Xiaoyao. The dishes made with Chinese yam have a good reception in our restaurant. Ive discussed this with the boss, and well have you deliver two hundred catties every other day. If we cant use them all, well inform you in advance to make adjustments. Since that thing could be stored, it didnt matter if more were sent in one trip. In addition, ever since the dishes made from Chinese yam had been put on the menu, there were many customers who ordered those dishes. Some customers liked the food so much that they ordered a second serving. In this way, it was also prudent to get the kitchen to prepare more Chinese yams on standby. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up at once. Deal! Ill definitely deliver them on time! She hurriedly said. After thinking for a while, she added, If I really cant get the quantity, Ill let you know in advance. Uncle Zhao nodded. He knew that Qin Xiaoyaos Chinese yams were dug up from the mountains, so the quantity was bound to be limited. Chapter 50 - 50 Chapter 50: Boss Fang 50 Chapter 50: Boss Fang Just deliver ording to this requested amount for the time being. If you cant get enoughter, just send as much as you have. Sure! Qin Xiaoyao nodded hurriedly. Only then did Uncle Zhao look at the things that the two of them had brought. Other than the Chinese yams, there were also other vegetables. Oh, those vegetables are from Big Girls house, Qin Xiaoyao said hurriedly. She had already introduced Big Girl Li to Uncle Zhao just now. She said Big Girl Li was her sister and would deliver goods with her in the future. Uncle Zhao nodded and didnt say anything after listening. The kitchen was also going out to buy vegetables at any rate, so it was fine to ept some vegetables as well since the amount was not much anyway. And one more thing, Uncle Zhao. Ive brought other good things this time! Qin Xiaoyao said quickly. Oh? Uncle Zhao looked at Qin Xiaoyao, puzzled. Qin Xiaoyao stood up and led Uncle Zhao to the bamboo basket backpack that contained the Chinese Toon shoots. Then, she took out a Chinese Toon shoot and gave it to Uncle Zhao. This is a Chinese Toon shoot. Its very delicious when stir-fried with eggs. Please smell it. She said with a smile. Uncle Zhao was skeptical, but he still brought the Chinese Toon shoot to his nose. Immediately, he smelled a rich fragrance. If you can lend me the back kitchen in the back for a while, Ill personally fry it for you to try, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Uncle Zhao was taken aback. Thinking back to the Chinese yams, he hesitated for a moment before nodding. Fortune Mansions business had improved significantly because of the Chinese yam dishes. Now, there were even many customers who came just to have a taste of the Chinese yams cuisine. If this Chinese Toon shoot could be the next Chinese yam, Fortune Mansions business might be even better. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Thank you, Uncle Zhao! She quickly thanked him. Then, she followed Uncle Zhao to the back kitchen of Fortune Mansion. Following that, in front of everyone, Qin Xiaoyao made scrambled eggs with Chinese Toon shoots. This dish was extremely simple to cook. Qin Xiaoyao only needed to wash the Chinese Toon shoots, cut them into small pieces, and then mix them up in the eggs. Then, she simply cooked it ording to the normal steps of cooking scrambled eggs. In just a short while, Qin Xiaoyao was done with the dish. The strong fragrance made everyone present crave it. A waiter quickly went to get some bowls and chopsticks. Uncle Zhaos eyes were filled with anticipation. He picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of egg wrapped in Chinese Toon shoots from the te. Then, under everyones gaze, he put the egg into his mouth. The strong fragrance instantly swept through his mouth, causing Uncle Zhaos eyes to light up. This this taste of the Chinese Toon shoots It was way too fragrant, almostparable to spices. At the same time, the fragrance was extremely pleasant and ptable, which was something that spices couldnt achieve. Ill go and look for the boss. You guys go outside and wait. Uncle Zhao quickly said. After he finished speaking, he took the te and a pair of clean chopsticks and left. Everyone in the kitchen looked at Qin Xiaoyao, curious to know what scrambled eggs with Chinese Toon shoots tasted like. I am not an expert cook, and my cooking skills are just average. Its all because of the good ingredients that the food is delicious. Qin Xiaoyao said to the chefs with a smile. This time, Ive sent a lot of Chinese Toon shoots. If Fortune Mansion is willing to purchase, everyone should be able to make this dish. The chefs looked at one another, somewhat believing Qin Xiaoyaos words. They had seen this Qin girl cooking just now. Her cutting and cooking skills were indeed very ordinary. In fact, based on their requirements, it might not even qualify as ordinary. Therefore, the chefs stopped pestering Qin Xiaoyao and let her follow the waiter out of the kitchen. In the backyard, the two didnt have to wait long before Uncle Zhao returned. He even invited the boss of Fortune Mansion. Sanya,e and greet Boss Fang, Uncle Zhao quickly stepped forward and introduced him to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly stood up with Big Girl Li and bowed to Boss Fang. Sanya hereby pays her respect to Boss Fang! She said sweetly. Haha! Its exactly as you described! Boss Fang said while ncing at Uncle Zhao, making no sense whatsoever. Uncle Zhaoughed. Ive embarrassed myself. The boss smile became more and more friendly, and he looked at Qin Sanya again. No need to stand on ceremony. Ive worked with your Uncle Zhao for many years, and we have a personal friendship. Since you call him Uncle, you can also call me Uncle. ... Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up at once. My greetings to you, Uncle Fang! she immediately said. Haha! Boss Fangughed again in amusement. He was very satisfied with Qin Xiaoyaos response and her calm attitude. Sit down and talk, he said. As Boss Fang spoke, he went to the stone table and sat down. Uncle Zhao sat next to Boss Fang. Qin Xiaoyao sat on the other side of Boss Fang. As for Big Girl Li, she didnt have the guts to sit, so she eventually chose to stand behind Qin Xiaoyao. Boss Fang nced at Big Girl Li, then at Qin Xiaoyao, who was sitting. He found Qin Xiaoyao more and more interesting. The Chinese yams and Chinese Toon shoots you sent are good stuff. Fortune Mansion intends to acquire from you on a long-term basis. Boss Fang went straight to the point. ... Lets discuss first. How much Chinese yams and Chinese Toon shoots do you have on your hands? Can you supply to Fortune Mansion on a long-term basis? Qin Xiaoyaos expression was calm. With regard to the Chinese yams, we still have more than a thousand catties at home. In addition, we havent stopped searching the mountains, so we should be able to find more. But its hard to pin down the exact amount. Qin Xiaoyao said frankly. Seeing Boss Fang nod his head, Qin Xiaoyao continued, As for the Chinese Toon shoots, its much easier to settle. We have more than a hundred Chinese Toon trees in our hands. After the shoots on the Chinese Toon trees are picked, new shoots will grow in two or three days. So, if we deliver the goods once every two days, we should be able to deliver ten catties each time if we manage the harvesting reasonably. In addition, Chinese Toon shoots are seasonal vegetables. Its only avable in spring. After this season, it wont be avable. Boss Fang nodded again. Do you know how to grow Chinese yam? He suddenly asked Qin Xiaoyao. If it could be grown, the Chinese yam-rted dishes could really be a specialty dish on Fortune Mansions menu. I dont, Qin Xiaoyao smiled in embarrassment. She didnt want to nt it even if she knew. Notwithstanding the fact that the Song family didnt have any farnd, the nting cycle of Chinese yam was long. Although she didnt have to worry about caring for it, it would take two to three years from nting to reach the stage where the Chinese yam roots appear. She simply didnt have the patience. Boss Fangs face was filled with disappointment. Then how much do you know about Chinese yams habits? he asked immediately. He had a feeling that the girl in front of him was not that simple. She must know a lot about Chinese yam, otherwise she wouldnt have been able to recognize it. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. She looked at Uncle Zhao, then at Boss Fang. Uncle Fang, if you want to nt Chinese yam, Id advise you to be careful, she continued. Boss Fang was taken aback. Although Chinese yam is easy to grow and doesnt need to be carefully managed, its growth cycle is too long. From nting until the point when the roots can be dug out, it will take two to three years. At the moment, Im afraid that only medicinal herb merchants would grow Chinese yam artificially. After they dig out the Chinese yam, their main use is not for cooking, but to be cut into slices for making medicinal herbs. The profit is much higher than using them for cooking a dish. Chapter 51 - 51 Chapter 51: Selling Chinese Toon Shoots 51 Chapter 51: Selling Chinese Toon Shoots Upon hearing this, Boss Fang understood immediately. It looks like we, Fortune Mansion, have taken advantage of you by taking your Chinese yams for five copper coins a catty, he said with a smile. In other ces, they sold Chinese yams as medicinal herbs, but in Fortune Mansion, they were sold as vegetables, so of course, the price was even lower. What are you saying, Uncle Fang? Its not like we grew those things. They grow in the wild, and we do not need to spend much effort to harvest them from the mountains. Five copper coins per catty is already a sky-high price for us. Boss Fang was feeling increasingly more satisfied with Qin Xiaoyaos attitude. Good! Then well take all the remaining Chinese yams that you have on your hands. He looked at Qin Xiaoyao. And, Ill add one more copper coin to the price. But you have to promise that you will only sell your Chinese yams to Fortune Mansion in the future. Although Fortune Mansion had some reputation in Mountain Spring Town, the town was prosperous and had many restaurants. They had manypetitors in reality. The dishes made with Chinese yam and Chinese Toon shoots should be able to attract a lot of business for Fortune Mansion in the future if things went ording to his expectation. At that time, other restaurants would definitely inquire about the secrets of these two dishes. The staff of Fortune Mansion were very tight-lipped. As long as there was no problem with Fortune Mansions supplier, the secret of the two dishes could be kept a mystery for a long time. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up instantly. Thank you so much, Uncle Fang. Even if you dont tell us, we wont sell it to other ces, she immediately said sweetly. Fortune Mansion was her livelihood. She would not do something that would ruin her own rice bowl for a small profit. Besides, Uncle Zhao was so kind to her. How could she do anything to let him down? Boss Fang was very pleased with Qin Xiaoyaos answer. How are you going to sell the Chinese Toon shoots? he then asked Qin Xiaoyao. He was allowing Qin Xiaoyao to state her price. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up in a smile. Uncle Fang, you saw the stir-fried eggs with Chinese Toon shoots I made just now. Boss Fang nodded. He looked at Qin Xiaoyao with interest. In that dish, I only used a little more than one tael of Chinese Toon shoots in reality. Manager Fang nodded again, thinking, So? Hehe! This thing tastes good and is also valuable. In other ces, they are sold in taels. One tael.. will be three to four copper coins. Qin Xiaoyao said with a serious expression. The other ces she was talking about were naturally not in this era. It was the era before the apocalypse in her previous life. Before the apocalypse, the price of Chinese Toon shoots was indeed three to four dors per 50 grams. ording to herparison, the purchasing power of a copper coin in this era was about the same as that of one dor before the apocalypse. Therefore, the price she stated was not considered expensive. At this moment, Big Girl Li had already taken in a big gasp of air. Three or four copper coins per tael? Wouldnt that be thirty to forty copper coins per catty? Good grief, it was more expensive than pork! Boss Fang was still smiling. Ill give you five copper coins, but the condition is the same as for the Chinese yam. You can only sell your Chinese Toon shoots to Fortune Mansion, he said. In addition, for the delivery, well go with your earlier proposal. Once every two days, as long as its within 15 catties each time! Big Girl Lis eyes instantly widened, and she began to suspect that she was hallucinating. Uncle Fang, youre indeed forthright! If theres anything good in the future, well definitely send them to Uncle Fang! Qin Xiaoyao had already stood up and cupped her fists at Boss Fang in gratitude. Haha you silly girl! Well-spoken! Boss Fangughed. Without further dy, he ordered the staff to weigh the goods the two girls had brought. Thereafter, he left. Once Boss Fang left, Uncle Zhao took charge of the situation. Very quickly, the staff obtained the weights of the goods. The Chinese yams weighed a total of 203 catties, the Chinese Toon shoots weighed 17 catties and 7 taels, and the vegetables from Big Girl Li were 62 catties. Uncle Zhao got someone to bring an abacus and writing materials. After some calctions, he came up with the final amount. The Chinese yam is six copper coins per catty, and the Chinese Toon shoots is five copper coins per tael. As for the vegetables, they are one copper coin per catty. Thats two taels of silver and 165 copper coins. After that, Uncle Zhao handed the list of calctions to Qin Xiaoyao. Take this. If you dont know how to calcte, you can take it back and let your husband check it for you. If you find something wrong, you can bring it over for re-calction next time. Qin Xiaoyao epted it with a smile. That wont be necessary, Uncle Zhao! Then wait here for a while. Ill go to the ountants room to get you the silver, Uncle Zhao said. Okay. Thank you, Uncle Zhao! Qin Xiaoyao quickly bowed and thanked him. ... Uncle Zhao left with a smile. Then, not long after that, Qin Xiaoyao felt someone tugging at her sleeve. Not surprisingly, it was Big Girl Li. Qin Xiaoyao turned around and saw Big Girl Lis dreamy look. Sister Sanya, I hope I didnt hear wrong. Just now, Uncle Zhao said that the goods we have today are worth worth more than two taels of silver? Qin Xiaoyao rolled her eyes at Big Girl Li impatiently. Lower your voice. Stand straight up and dont embarrass yourself! she said in a low voice. Big Girl Lis skin tightened, and she quickly stood up straight. At the same time, she looked around and found that no one was looking at her. She felt quite relieved. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyaos expression rxed a bit. Then, she coughed and cleared her throat. ... Whats the big deal with two taels of silver? Our business has just started, and well only earn more and more money in the future. Youll get used to it when you see more of it in the future, she said in a low voice. Big Girl Li suddenly worshiped Qin Xiaoyao from the bottom of her heart. Yes! Ill listen to Sister Sanya in the future! she hurriedly said. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up in a smile, and she felt very important inwardly. After a while, Uncle Zhao returned. This is the money for the goods. Please count it. He ced the money on the stone table. However, Qin Xiaoyao only took a nce at it before she put the money into her own money bag. No need. I trust Uncle Zhao. Uncle Zhao smiled. Alright. I still have something to do, so Ill be leaving first. Qin Xiaoyao stood up and bowed to him. She only straightened up after Uncle Zhao had walked far away. She then called for Big Girl Li to pick up their stuff before leaving the premises. After leaving Fortune Mansions kitchen, the two chubby girls walked down the street in very high spirits. Qin Xiaoyao was still fine. As she had to act like a boss, she had to force herself to remain calm. Big Girl Li was practically bouncing all the way. Ahem. Todays ounting is a littleplicated. Ill split the money that belongs to you after we go back and do up the calctions. Any objections? Qin Xiaoyao suddenly said. Haha! No objection! I have money on me! You can give me after we are back home! Big Girl Li said quickly. She even patted her bulging purse. Chinese Toon shoots was five copper coins per tael. Their almost 18 catties of Chinese Toon shoots yielded close to 900 copper coins. Sister Sanya said that she would get 40%. Hehe! This time she was really going to hit the jackpot! The money she made from these Chinese Toon shoots was actually more than what she had made from digging up the Chinese yams yesterday! And this was a business that could continue endlessly. In the future, they woulde to town once every two days, and each time, they would be able to send Chinese Toon shoots to sell! How much money could she earn next? Big Girl Li didnt dare to think about it. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li, who was dizzy with happiness, and felt a little disdainful. This girl had no foresight at all (Of course, she was not really disdainful, but she simply felt superior in terms of intelligence.) Chapter 52 - 52 Chapter 52: Cirrus Loft Bookstore 52 Chapter 52: Cirrus Loft Bookstore Alright. Next, I have to sell straw sandals and buy some things. What are you going to do? As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she nced at the two baskets of straw sandals she was carrying. There were a total of 102 pairs of straw sandals, and it was a little too much to give all of them to her father. She had to go to Cirrus Loft Bookstore to help her attractive husband ask for work. On the way, she would be passing by some grocery stores, and she could try to sell the sandals to them. In addition, she might also be able to sell some of them off if she shouted along the way as she carried them on her shoulder. !! I I want to visit my Daniu, then my parents. After that, I want to go to Uncle Qins ce to get two catties of meat. She had not forgotten that her mother-inw had indicated that she wanted to eat meat yesterday. Hehe! She had earned a lot of money today. She couldnt go back without buying anything, right? Okay! Then lets split up. After were done, well meet up at my fathers ce, Qin Xiaoyao said. Alright! Big Girl Li quickly agreed. The two of them then parted ways. Qin Xiaoyao turned around and began shouting as she started to sell straw sandals along the way. Straw sandals for sale! High-quality straw sandals, only four copper coins per pair! She was walking while peddling. Straw sandals of various sizes, four copper coins for one pair! Her voice was shrill, and her pronunciation was clear, so it was easy for her to attract the attention of passersby. The passersby were surprised to see that the woman who shouted in that sweet voice was actually a fat woman. Immediately after, they saw the tworge wicker baskets of straw sandals on her shoulder. Those whocked straw sandals at home or were preparing to change them became quite interested. Very quickly, someone came forward to inquire. Qin Xiaoyao stated her price happily, then put down her pole to let the customer choose. Regardless of size, they are all four copper coins per pair. Take a look. My familys straw sandals are of the best quality and style! A middle-aged woman asked for the price. After hearing Qin Xiaoyaos words, she picked up a pair of straw sandals from Qin Xiaoyaos basket and examined them. She found that they were indeed high-quality straw sandals. Its too expensive. Are you willing to sell it for three copper coins? She then asked Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos expression froze. Three copper coins? This aunt was really good at bargaining. She only got three copper coins when she sold the sandals in bulk to the grocery stores. Er look at the quality and this design, Aunt. How can three copper coins be enough? Suppressing her anger, Qin Xiaoyao said with an aggrieved expression. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat when she saw the womans expression change. After swallowing down her anger, she lowered her voice and whispered into the womans ear, How about this? If you really want to buy it, Ill charge you seven copper coins for two pairs! Theres really no more room for negotiation with this price. In the shop, a pair of straw sandals of this quality is worth five copper coins! The womans eyes wavered. Then give me two pairs. She immediately gave her the required feet sizes. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and quickly fetched the straw sandals for the woman. In the end, before she got paid, more people approached her. Qin Xiaoyao responded loudly whenever she heard price inquiries. Four copper coins. All sizes are four copper coins per pair. What size do you want, Uncle? When the woman who was about to pay heard Qin Xiaoyaos words, she was even more satisfied. She quickly counted seven copper coins and handed them to Qin Xiaoyao. When she handed the money over, she deliberately concealed it so no one could see how much she paid. Qin Xiaoyao took the payment and checked it. She then gave the woman a look that said its our secret before she handed the straw sandals to her with a smile. Take care, Aunt! she said, beaming happily. The woman left with two pairs of straw sandals, feeling very satisfied. On the other side, the uncle saw that the straw sandals were not bad and told her his required feet size. Qin Xiaoyao sold another pair at the price of four copper coins. After the transaction waspleted, Qin Xiaoyao picked up her basket of straw sandals and continued to peddle along the street. When she saw a grocery store on the side of the road, she went in to sell the sandals. Some shops saw that her straw sandals were not bad and bought a few pairs. Some found her annoying and drove her away. Qin Xiaoyao didnt get angry and continued to do her business with a good temper. Finally, she arrived at the Cirrus Loft Bookstore. Seeing that the bookstore wasnt big, Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and ced the backpack and carrying pole somewhere near the side of the entrance. Then, she went into the bookstore alone. There werent many customers in the bookstore at the moment. One of the shop assistants saw Qin Xiaoyao and quickly came up to her. Maam, do you want to buy books? He asked with a smile and even bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly returned the greeting. Im not here to buy books. I just want to ask about your bookstores book-copying work. ... Seeing the shop assistants surprised expression, Qin Xiaoyao quickly added, Oh, Im asking on behalf of my husband. My husbands name is Song Que, and hes been copying books for your esteemed bookstore. He injured his leg a few days ago so he couldnte. The shop assistants eyes lit up. So its Big Brother Song! he then said in surprise. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. Big Brother Song? Her attractive husband was on such familiar terms with this little brother? Then, the shop assistant looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a strange expression. It was rumored that Brother Song was being pestered by a demonic female shrew and he ended up having to marry her. Was she the one? Although this persons appearance However, she was quite polite and gentle when she spoke, so she couldnt be considered a shrew. ... Qin Xiaoyao didnt get angry at the shop assistants stare. Instead, she maintained her smile. Little brother, do you know my husband? she asked gently. Although the other party was a little rude, she could not embarrass her attractive husband. Only then did the shop assistant quicklye back to his senses and quickly looked away. Yes, yes, yes! I owe Big Brother Song a favor. Its all thanks to Big Brother Songs rmendation that Im able to work in this bookstore. The copying of books is arranged by our shop owner. Sister-inw, please follow me. Ill take you to the shop owner now! The shop assistant said hurriedly. Ill have to trouble you then. Qin Xiaoyao thanked him. She turned around to look at the things she had left at the entrance. After making sure that her belongings would not leave her line of sight, she followed the shop assistant to go to the shop owner, who was not far away. Dont mention it, Sister-inw! With just a few steps, the shop assistant led Qin Xiaoyao to the shop owner and exined the situation to him. When the shop owner found out about Qin Xiaoyaos identity, he also looked at her a few times with a strange expression. Thereafter, he even asked Qin Xiaoyao about Song Ques situation. After learning that Song Ques leg was injured and that it would take half a year for him to fully recover, the shop owner felt some sympathy. What a pity. Mr. Song is very talented. If he takes the examination this time, he will definitely pass the elementary schr exam and achieve schrly honor! He directly said achieve schrly honor and did not assume that Song Que would not pass, which showed how high his evaluation of Song Que was. In fact, he was not the only one. Schr Zhang from Cirrus Loft Academy next door also thought highly of Song Que. Even though Song Que started lessons at the Academyte, he had studied a lot at home. Moreover, his talent was extraordinary, far beyond that of ordinary people. Schr Zhang had always regarded him as one of the key nurturing targets of the Academy. If nothing had happened to the Song family, ording to the original n, Song Que would have passed the county examination and would be preparing to participate in the capital examination. However, now Once Father Song passed away, Song Que would have to observe mourning for three years. He would not be able to participate in the Imperial examinations for at least three years. In addition, the Song family was in such a state that Song Que could not even afford to go to the Academy anymore. Even if he had the chance to take the exam again three yearster, the situation would probably be different. In addition The shop owner looked at Qin Xiaoyao again and sighed in his heart. Chapter 53 - 53 Chapter 53: Buying Brush, Ink, and Paper 53 Chapter 53: Buying Brush, Ink, and Paper Even though he was forced to, Mr. Song actually got married during the mourning period. To a schr, this was a huge stain. In this way, even if Mr. Song were to embark on an officials career in the future, he would still be criticized for this. It was a pity that a rare genius was destroyed just like that If Mr. Song is willing to continue copying books, well be more than happy to let him. The rules are the same as before. The deposit for one book is 70 copper coins. After the copying ispleted, the bookstore will pay 45 coins. You will have to get your own brush, ink, and paper used for copying books. In addition, during the copying process, there cant be any omissions or mistakes, and there cant be too many changes, the shop owner exined. Qin Xiaoyao was a little shocked. These conditions were really harsh. With such stringent requirements, he could only earn 45 copper coins by copying a book? If he deducted the money for the nk book, the brush and ink, how much would he have left? Qin Xiaoyao looked at the shop owner with a smile. Deal! Then Ill have to trouble you to arrange two books, two stacks of book-matched copying paper, one stack of low-grade white paper, plus one block of ink, she said. In this era, one stack was equivalent to a hundred sheets of paper. The paper used for copying books was different from white paper. There were lines drawn on it, and the size of the paper was the same as a normal book. If one used needle and thread to sew the sheets of paper together, it could be made into a book. It was simr to the notebook she used in her previous life before the apocalypse. On the other hand, white paper was all nk. The paper size was rtively bigger, and the price varied ording to the quality. Dont ask her how she knew. Of course, it was her predecessor who asked around and found out after she got married to her attractive husband. The shop owner was a little surprised, but before he could reply, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Oh, and a small writing brush. The smallest one will do! She would have to deliver goods to Fortune Mansion more often in the future, so if she had her own writing materials, she could settle her own ounts, right? In addition, perhaps she could also make a book to record the ounts. Alright. Please wait a moment, Mrs. Song. The shop owner didnt ask much and agreed. Then, he asked the shop assistant to get the stuff for Qin Xiaoyao while he went to the counter to settle the bill. The deposit for each book is 70 copper coins. Two books will be 140 copper coins. The paper used for copying books is 15 copper coins per stack. Two stacks will cost 30 copper coins in total. One block of ink, 15 copper coins. Low-grade white paper, 30 copper coins for one stack. A small writing brush is 5 copper coins each. As the shop owner read out the prices, he wrote them on a bill. After recording them, he began to check the numbers on the list while fiddling with the abacus. Thats 220 copper coins in total. After calcting the total, the shop owner wrote the final figure on the bill. Then, he passed the bill to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao took it, nced at it, and took out the money. After the shop owner made sure the sum was correct, he then asked the shop assistant to help Qin Xiaoyao bring the things out. Qin Xiaoyao quickly thanked the two with a smile and walked out to get her bamboo basket backpack. After putting her purchases into the backpack, she thanked the shop assistant again, then carried the backpack and left with her straw shoes bnced on her shoulder. The shop assistant stood at the door and watched Qin Xiaoyao leave, sighing in his heart. After leaving Cirrus Loft Bookstore, Qin Xiaoyao didnt waste any time on the way. She headed straight for the market on West Street, peddling straw sandals along the way. Her luck was pretty good, as she sold four more pairs of straw sandals along the way. As soon as she arrived at the market on West Street, she heard the noisy atmosphere immediately. Qin Xiaoyao hurried towards her fathers pork stall. When she arrived, she realized that her father was busy with the stalls business. She quickly went up to help. When Qin Dazhuang saw his daughter and therge number of straw sandals she brought, he began to talk loudly that he was also selling straw sandals as he cut the meat for his customers. When the customers saw that the quality of the straw sandals was good, many of them paid for them. In this way, the father and daughter were busy for a long time before they managed to deal with this surge of customers. Its fine if its during normal times, but Father, you wont be able to handle this big fair day by yourself. If you cant cope, why dont you let Big Brother or Second Brothere over to help? Qin Xiaoyao sat down heavily on the shoulder pole and looked at her father. Qin Dazhuang chuckled. I know! Ive already told them that theyll take turns to help me out at the stall in the morning on big fair days, so dont worry! Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief then. Okay! Qin Dazhuang looked at his daughter with a big smile. ... Did you deliver the 200 catties of Chinese yam that Fortune Mansion asked for? he asked. His good brother hade to Qin Dazhuang yesterday, telling him that his daughter had made a name for herself. He still felt happy when he thought about that envious look on that guys face at that moment. His daughters personality had indeed changed. She was more motivated and sensible than before. I have delivered them. I also sold some straw sandals on the way here, and Im left with these. Qin Xiaoyao replied. Qin Dazhuang nodded. Then, he went to the money basket to take the money. 21 copper coins for the seven pairs of straw sandals fromst time. He then passed the copper coins to Qin Xiaoyao. Hehe! Thank you, Father! Qin Xiaoyao didnt refuse. She stood up and epted the money happily. Qin Dazhuang smiled and looked at the remaining straw shoes in his daughters wicker basket. Count how many you have left. Ill settle the bill for you first. ... Qin Xiaoyao was about to refuse when Qin Dazhuang said, Your Aunt agreed to it. She knows that Im helping you sell straw sandals and that I can earn a copper coin per pair, so she asked me to continue buying from you in the future. You can just treat my ce here as a grocery store! Even if his daughter sold straw sandals to the grocery store, they also paid her upfront. When it came to his ce, there was no reason for him, as the father, not to pay a single cent upfront. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. She looked at the remaining straw sandals in the wicker basket. Alright then, she finally agreed. Then, she began to count the straw sandals in the wicker basket. After counting, she found that there were 52 pairs left. After some calctions, Qin Xiaoyao realized that while peddling along the way and selling to the grocery stores before arriving at her fathers stall at the market on West Street, she had already sold fifty pairs of straw sandals. Afterplimenting herself in her heart, Qin Xiaoyao reported the leftover quantity to Qin Dazhuang. A total of 52 pairs, 156 copper coins. Qin Dazhuang turned around to get the money. Wait! I want two catties of streaky pork! After deducting 26 copper coins, you can give me 130 copper coins, Father! Qin Xiaoyao said hurriedly. Now that the family was making money, the food could also be improved. Qin Dazhuang was stunned. He didnt want to take the money initially, but after thinking about it, he smiled and nodded. Alright! Two catties of streaky pork for my daughter! After saying that, he went to prepare his daughters order. When he was chopping, he deliberately added two more taels. Qin Xiaoyao didnt keep an eye on her father, so she did not see how much her father had cut for her. She only heard her father say that he had finished weighing two catties and believed him. She then took the meat and money from her father. At this moment, Big Girl Li finally arrived. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao was still there, Big Girl Li finally let out a sigh of relief. She ran to Qin Xiaoyaos side, huffing and panting. Fortunately, youre still here. I was dyed at my parents ce, so I camete! Uncle Qin! Seeing Qin Dazhuang looking in her direction, Big Girl Li turned her head and quickly greeted him. Qin Dazhuang smiled and nodded. After learning that his daughter was getting along well with the daughter of the Li family, Qin Dazhuang looked at his daughter with much tenderness. Sit down and rest for a while. Uncle will cut the meat for you first! he said. Chapter 54 - 54 Chapter 54: Li Family’s Tofu Stall 54 Chapter 54: Li Familys Tofu Stall When his daughter came over, she had told Qin Dazhuang to reserve two catties of fatty meat for the daughter of the Li family. There was still a lot of meat in his stall, enough for her two catties. Oh, thank you, Uncle Qin! Big Girl Li quickly thanked him. Then, she didnt really sit down. She quickly took out some money and gave it to Qin Dazhuang. 28 copper coins, Uncle Qin. Please check! Qin Dazhuang simply nced at it and asked Big Girl Li to put it into the money basket. Here it is! Then, he cut off a b of fatty meat and gave it to Big Girl Li. Big Girl Li was very happy. Thank you, Uncle Qin! She thanked him sweetly, then took the meat and put it into her backpack. Seeing the tofu in her backpack, Big Girl Li then remembered something. She quickly took out a piece of tofu and handed it to Qin Xiaoyao. The tofu was in a bowl, and it didnt look small. Sister Sanya, this is for you! she said with a big smile. Qin Xiaoyao was caught by surprise and did not reach out to take it. Gosh, just take it! My parents gave it to you! Take it. Then I have something to discuss with you. Big Girl Li said. What thing? Qin Xiaoyao nced at the tofu in Big Girl Lis hand, but she still didnt take it. In truth, she wanted to eat tofu badly. However, she didnt want to ept a reward without doing anything Seeing this, Big Girl Li took a step forward and put the tofu into Qin Xiaoyaos backpack, ignoring her gaze. Something good! she said. My parents heard about your family selling straw sandals, so they also want to get some from you to sell at their tofu stall. As for the price, lets go with the price you gave to the grocery store. Three copper coins for a pair. What do you think? Big Girl Li looked up and smiled at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. Seeing her own father grinning and nodding at her, she thought of the tofu stall that Big Girl Lis parents were running. It was quite far from his fathers meat stall, so thepetition shouldnt be too big. Thereafter, she nodded. Sure! How many pairs do Uncle Li and Aunt Li want? she then asked Big Girl Li. Big Girl Lis eyes lit up. Lets start with ten pairs to give it a try. If this business is good, well add moreter. Anyway, well being to town once every two days, so we can send the goods over at any time to replenish the stocks. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment and nodded. Theres no need to wait for the next time. Ill give you ten pairs right now. You two send it to them, so there wont be any dy today or tomorrow! Qin Dazhuang suddenly said. Big Girl Lis face was filled with joy. Thank you, Uncle Qin! she gushed out her thanks immediately. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao understood that she had brought too many pairs of straw sandals this time, so she agreed as well. And so, Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li took out the straw sandals from the wicker basket. After counting out ten pairs, Big Girl Li paid Qin Dazhuang 30 copper coins. Then, she took the straw sandals and left with Qin Xiaoyao. The two of them walked for a while in the market on West Street and finally arrived at the tofu stall. When the elder Li couple saw the two of them, they smiled. They were exceptionally polite to Qin Xiaoyao. After learning about the situation, the couple gave their daughter 30 copper coins and put the straw sandals up for sale. I heard yesterday that Big Brother Qin is helping your family to sell straw sandals. The quality of the straw sandals is good and cheap. Now that I look at it, the skill is really good! Aunt Li caressed a pair of straw sandals with a smile. The more she looked at them, the more she liked them. Her own pair of straw sandals had just been worn out, and it was the right time to change a pair. If they sold the rest at the stall, even if they only sold four or five pairs a day, they could still earn a few more copper coins, right? You tter me, Aunt Li. Were just country bumpkins, trying to earn a few copper coins with our skills. Its not thatplicated to weave these straw sandals. Aunt Li, Ill bring you more if your side sells out! Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Oh, good! Aunt Li quickly agreed. Then, she looked at her daughter and quickly asked Qin Xiaoyao about the two of them selling Chinese yams and Chinese Toon shoots. The reason she asked was that Aunt Li thought her daughter was exaggerating things just to make her happy. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li with a smile and corroborated her words. That is indeed the case. Aunt Lis eyes lit up. A catty of Chinese yam is six copper coins? Are you really really selling Chinese Toon shoots for five copper coins per tael? She still couldnt believe it. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile again. ... Its true. However, these two things are very scarce. I dont think well be able to sell it for a long time. Only then did Aunt Lis shocked expression disappear. Then, she suddenly took a step forward and held Qin Xiaoyaos hand. My dear girl, youve really grown up! My familys Big Girl As Aunt Li said this, she turned back to look at her daughter again. I have to thank you for your support and care! she patted Qin Xiaoyaos hand, visibly moved. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised by Aunt Lis affections, and she turned around to look at Big Girl Li. What are you saying, Aunt Li? Big Girl works with me, so her share is what she deserves. Its not really about whos taking care of who. Besides, in the entire Brook Falls Vige, only Big Girl and I came from Mountain Spring Town. Surely we have to take care of each other? Aunt Li nodded as she listened, and the way she looked at Qin Xiaoyao grew increasingly more fond. After thanking Qin Xiaoyao effusively again, she then allowed the two of them to leave. On their way back, Qin Xiaoyao saw a shop selling farmers chili sauce and pickled cabbage, so she bought some to bring back. ... After that, she bought some other ingredients before returning to Qin Dazhuangs stall. Big Girl Li had some money and also bought some things. Therefore, by the time they returned to the meat stall, they had almost bought everything they needed. Without further dy in the market, the two of them carried their backpacks, picked up their tools or carried them on their shoulders, and bade farewell to Qin Dazhuang. Then, on the way out of town, they passed by a shop that sold candy and pastries. The two of them happily went to weigh some candy before leaving town. When they arrived at the city gate, they saw an ox-cart waiting for passengers not far away from the road. Qin Xiaoyao didnt want to head that way, but she was pulled back by Big Girl Li. Weve agreed to take the ox-cart back! Big Girl Li pulled Qin Xiaoyao towards the ox-cart. Goodness! We have sold everything we brought! Its fine to walk back! Qin Xiaoyao replied. It wasnt that she didnt want to take the ox-cart, but didnt Big Girl Li see the fear and disgust in the eyes of the driver on the ox-cart? No way! I dont want to walk back! Big Girl Li didnt even look at Qin Xiaoyao. She continued to pull her towards the ox-cart. Finally, they reached an ox-cart. How much is it to go to Brook Falls Vige per person? Big Girl Li asked the young man in charge of driving the ox-cart. The young man took one nce at Big Girl Li and Qin Xiaoyao, who was standing beside her. The disgust in his eyes quickly overpowered his fear. Im not going there, he said outright. Why didnt these two big sisters take a look at their own body sizes? If he really carried these two, how could he take on other customers? Big Girl Li girl was shocked, and then she frowned. Theres no one on your ox-cart. Arent you just waiting for a customer here? Why arent you going? she asked the young man with displeasure. The disdain in the young mans eyes deepened. I said Im not going there! he shot back, toozy to exin. Hey! Big Girl Lis temper red up, and she rolled up her sleeves. Qin Xiaoyao saw the situation was spiraling out of control and quickly pulled her back. Chapter 55 - 55 Chapter 55: I Want to Buy a Handcart 55 Chapter 55: I Want to Buy a Handcart Seeing the young mans fearful expression, Qin Xiaoyao said, Will you go if we book the whole cart? The young man opposite her was stunned. He looked at the two womens bodies and the things they had brought. After thinking about it, he realized that his ox could just bear it if it only carried these two people and their belongings. !! Yes! But its 15 copper coins! he said. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. Only to the ce just off the main road, 10 copper coins! she tried to bargain. Good grief! 15 copper coins just for a ride. Why didnt this kid simply rob people? Brook Falls Vige isnt far away. If you dont get off the main road, you can turn back very quickly. You wont lose out with 10 copper coins! Qin Xiaoyao continued. If she had been on her own, she really didnt want to take an ox-cart. However, with Big Girl Lis stubborn nature, there was no other way. The young man pondered, and after thinking about it, agreed that it seemed to make sense. Alright! He finally agreed. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief and finally let go of Big Girl Li. Get onto the cart, she said to Big Girl Li. Big Girl Li knew that it wouldnt be easy for her and Qin Xiaoyao to get an ox-cart. She red at the young man and brought her things to the side of the ox-cart. She first put the things onto the cart with Qin Xiaoyao, then climbed up the ox-cart. After the two chubby girls got on the ox-cart, the ox-cart sank down visibly. Qin Xiaoyao looked away awkwardly, pretending that she didnt see this. The young man didnt mind and got on the ox-cart himself, then drove the ox-cart on the road. Compared to Qin Xiaoyaos uneasiness, Big Girl Li was much happier. It was still morefortable to sit on an ox cart. Not only was it faster than walking, but it also saved energy. Sister Sanya, when do you think we can buy an ox-cart? Big Girl Li asked Qin Xiaoyao soon after In the future, the two of them would have to go to town once every two days, and they would have to bring a lot of things. If they had an ox-cart, wouldnt it be much more convenient to go back and forth? Qin Xiaoyao was about to reply when she heard a snicker from the front. That was right. It came from the young ox-cart driver. Hey, kid! What are youughing at? Big Girl Li also heard him and shouted at the young man. The young mans body stiffened. Imughing at you, he immediately said rudely. Why are youughing at me? Whats so funny? Big Girl Li shot back angrily. Haha! Of course Imughing at you for wanting to buy an ox-cart! Do you think that you can buy an ox-cart just because you want to? Besides, with your body size, haha! Wouldnt you drive the ox to death if you drive an ox-cart? The young man was someone who didnt mince his words, and when he heard Big Girl Lis question, he actually answered frankly. Big Girl Li got angry instantly and almost got up from the ox-cart. However, Qin Xiaoyao grabbed her. This girl didnt even check where she was. Wasnt she afraid of falling off if she stood up on the ox-cart? Ha! Little brother, dont look down on us. You tell me, how much is your ox-cart worth? Hearing Qin Xiaoyaos question, Big Girl Li dialed down her fiery temper and looked at the young man in front of her angrily. He was right to say that she couldnt afford it. Therefore, she also wanted to know how much his lousy ox-cart was worth. The young man smiled proudly. At least ten taels. Although my ox is not in its prime, its worth at least nine taels and five copper coins. As for this cart, its worth five silver coins. When Big Girl Li heard this, her eyes were already wide open, and her mouth closed automatically. Alright, an ox-cart that cost ten taels of silver indeed, she could not afford it. Qin Xiaoyao merely smiled. Little brother, where did you buy this cart from? she asked. The young man was surprised. His heart tightened as he thought, Is this fat woman seriously going to buy an ox-cart? Beside therge livestock market in the west of the town, of course. After my father bought the ox, he bought this cart from the area next to it. Qin Xiaoyao took note of this. This cart is pretty good. She touched the armrest and said. It was indeed too expensive to buy an ox. Moreover, it was not very useful to them at the moment. However, buying a cart was feasible. Even if she didnt harness the cart to the ox, she could still detach it and push it herself. ... In particr, on the main road, it would be much easier to push the cart than to carry the goods on their backs or bnce them on carrying poles. As for the road out of the vige, because the vige chief had previously taken care of the repairs, the cart could also pass through. In addition, if she entered the town with Big Girl bringing a lot of goods, she could save two copper coins on the entrance fee with a cart. Two copper coins might not seem like much, but they had to enter town once every two days, so it would save them 30 copper coins a month. In short, the cart would be very useful. Of course! The young man replied. Hearing Qin Xiaoyao praised his own belongings, his impression of her improved a lot. Qin Xiaoyao went along with the flow and asked the young man some more questions about therge livestock market. She wanted to have a better understanding of the livestock of this era. In this era, the price of poultry was actually not too high. However, livestock such as oxen, horses, mules, and the like was really expensive. This was especially so for oxen and horses. Oxen were precious because they could be used to plow farnd. ... Horses, on the other hand, were controlled livestock, and good horses would not even end up in the market. Soon, they arrived at the entrance of Brook Falls Vige. Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li got off the ox-cart. Big Girl Li took out 10 copper coins and handed them to the young man angrily. The young man took no notice of her. He took the money, turned the ox-cart around, and headed back to Mountain Spring Town. What an uneducated brat! Big Girl Li couldnt help cursing out loud. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Alright. If we had not booked the whole cart, its not worth it for him to give us a ride. If you dont want to be despised, its better that we walk back next time. Big Girl Lis face turned bitter. We really cant buy an ox-cart? she asked Qin Xiaoyao with a pitiful look. Qin Xiaoyao shook her head with a smile. Just as Big Girl Lis face was filled with disappointment, Qin Xiaoyao opened her mouth and said, However, we can consider the cart. Big Girl Li was surprised momentarily, and then her face was filled with joy. I had just observed that young mans ox-cart and found that his cart can be used stand-alone. When the timees, we can push the cart to town. It should be better than carrying the goods on our shoulders now. Big Girl Li nodded repeatedly. Its definitely easier to push than to carry! The cart is a good idea. Its exactly what we need! she hurriedly said. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Though its good, you also heard what the young man said. The cart costs five silver coins. If its five silver coins, then so be it! Next time we go to town, well go buy a cart! Big Girl Li said quickly. After some thought, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao again. Afraid that Qin Xiaoyao wouldnt agree, she added, Lets pool money and buy it together! Qin Xiaoyao shook her head with a smile. Forget it. Let me buy it. With a handcart, my family can use it too. Also, with the way you spend money, it would be a wonder if you could cough up the money to buy a handcart. The handcart was still very useful. Notwithstanding other benefits, it could save a lot of effort for the family to go out and collect firewood. Big Girl Li subconsciously wanted to refute. However, when she touched her almost empty wallet, she realized that she didnt have enough after all. Hah! Right now, I cant afford it. But after a while, Ill have money again. Chapter 56 - 56 Chapter 56: You Don’t Know a Single Word? 56 Chapter 56: You Dont Know a Single Word? There were also Chinese yams and Chinese Toon shoots in the mountains. Big Girl Li could get a lot of money whenever they entered the town. Even if she were to buy it alone, it would only cost her 500 copper coins. However, it would take a few more days. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Lets go, she said. Back at the Song family. Before Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li entered the courtyard, they could already hear theughter inside. Furthermore, Big Girl Li thought that thisughter was familiar. Then, they pushed open the courtyard door and entered. The two of them saw the Song familys mother and two children, as well as Aunt Liu and Liu Xiaomei. At this moment, the mother and daughter of the Song family were sitting on the steps below the roof eaves, weaving straw sandals, while the mother and daughter of the Liu family were sitting on the stools, chatting andughing with the two. Seeing Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li return, everyone in the courtyard was surprised. Youre back! Madam Liu was the first to get up and stopped what she was doing. Why did youe back so early? Aunt Liu also stood up and walked towards the two with Madam Liu. After chatting warmly for a while, Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li finally realized that the Liu familys mother and daughter were here to thank the Song family. They had been here for a while and had even brought over half a basket of vegetables and 20 eggs. Sanya, with you taking care of Big Girl, I dont have to worry! If you need anything in the future, just order her to help. After that, Aunt Liu pulled Qin Xiaoyao affectionately, and Qin Xiaoyao was treated to a repeat telling of what happened in town as narrated by Big Girl Lis mother. Gosh, enough already, Mother! Its almost time! Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos unwilling expression of being coerced, Big Girl Li finally spoke up. Its gettingte. You should quickly take Xiaomei back to cook. As she spoke, Big Girl Li gave the backpack to her mother-inw. Aunt Liu epted it subconsciously. Ill settle the ounts with Sister Sanya and be backter! Big Girl Li was all smiles as she saw her mother-inw off. Aunt Liu had no choice but to thank the Song family again before leading Liu Xiaomei away. After leaving the Song familys house, Aunt Liu finally came to her senses. She then checked the backpack that her daughter-inw had given her. When she found that there was not only tofu, but also meat, candy pieces, and other precious things, Aunt Lius heart ached. Spendthrift what a spendthrift At this moment, Big Girl Li didnt know any of this. She walked up to Madam Liu with a beaming smile and told her what happened after she and her Sister Sanya entered the town. When Madam Liu learned that the price of Chinese yam had increased by one copper coin, and the price of Chinese Toon shoots was five copper coins per tael, she got a big shock. After that, when she heard that the straw sandals had all been sold or ced at stalls, Madam Liu was even happier. Its good that they are sold! Its good that they are sold! she repeated herself unconsciously. Then, she quickly took out some copper coins from her pocket. Today, someone from the vige came to buy straw sandals, and we sold a total of ten pairs. Take this She passed the copper coins to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was quite surprised. The business is getting better and better? She epted it with a smile. The smile on Madam Lius face deepened. He said he only found out that we were selling straw sandals when he saw you two carrying straw sandals to town. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Thats great! After speaking, Qin Xiaoyao took out the things she bought for Song Que from the backpack, as well as the bag of candy. Following that, she also mimicked Big Girl Li and handed the backpack to her mother-inw. I feel like having meat. Theres also tofu. Ill have to trouble you, Mother, she said in a petnt manner. Madam Liu was very surprised. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyaos backpack was indeed filled with these things, she nced at her daughter-inw with some reproach. My dear, you should buy less next time, she said. She only advised her to buy less, but did not tell her not to buy. After all, her daughter-inw was the head of the household now, so she didnt want to interfere too much. I know, Mother. Qin Xiaoyao agreed with a smile, but she didnt take it to heart. After experiencing the apocalypse, she really had no resistance to food. Besides, everyone in the house, young and old, needed to nourish their bodies. It was necessary to improve the quality of the meals. Oh, yes. I also bought some chili sauce and pickled cabbage. They can be used as seasoning. Qin Xiaoyao suddenly remembered something and reminded Madam Liu. It had been so long since she had eaten spicy food, and she missed it so much. Alright! Madam Liu agreed with a smile. ... Only then did she carry the backpack to the kitchen. After Madam Liu left, Qin Xiaoyao pulled the little child who ran over and looked down at her little brother-inw. Then, she handed a big bag of candy to the small child. Youve worked hard, Yeer. Everyone in our family will have a share of these candies. Each person can get three pieces! Yeer will be in charge of distribution. Then, she winked at Song Ye. Song Yes little face immediately broke into a big smile. Thank you, Sister-inw! Then, he grabbed the bag of candy and went to look for Song Yun. Big Girl Li looked on from the side, her face a little envious. Your mother-inw is so easy to talk to. She whispered to Qin Xiaoyao, her tone filled with envy. Madam Liu was not like her own mother-inw at all, who liked poking her nose into this and that. She didnt let Aunt Liu take a good look at the things in her backpack just now. Otherwise, she would have started to nag. Forget it. Even if she could avoid this just now, she would not be able to get any peace when she went backter. ... Thats because I know where to draw the line, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Wait for me here for a while. Ill bring these things to my husband and thene out to settle the ounts with you. Okay! Only then did Qin Xiaoyao carry her purchases and enter Song Ques room. After a few days of recuperation, Song Que was no longer lying down during the day. Instead, he was half-sitting up. He was a bit surprised to see Qin Xiaoyao carrying so many things into the room. You bought so much? He couldnt help but ask. Qin Xiaoyao paused for a moment before replying, Its not just stuff for copying books. I thought you might know how to write and draw, so I bought an extra stack of low-grade white paper. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao walked to the bed and ced everything on the bedside table. In addition, I need some of those papers for copying books. And, I bought this brush for myself. Song Que was confused. This woman didnt know a single word and only knew some basic math, yet she still needed to use paper and brush? Qin Xiaoyao didnt exin when she saw his expression. She took out Song Ques inkstone from the cab, then went to get some water. She then began to grind some ink with the block of ink. Then, she dipped her brush in the ink and started to record her expenses on the book-copying paper. Song Que thought that Qin Xiaoyao was just putting on an act, but then he saw her doing calctions on another piece of white paper. At the same time as she was calcting, Qin Xiaoyao was also muttering something. After a while, Qin Xiaoyao was done with her calctions. Seeing that Song Que was staring at her, she couldnt help but smile at her attractive husband. The result was that the other party rolled his eyes. Qin Xiaoyaos heart tightened, then she left the house with the few pieces of paper. Big Girl Li was still waiting outside. When she saw Qin Xiaoyaoing out, she went up to her. Ive done the calctions. Ill exin it in detail to you now. If you find any discrepancies, you can tell me, Qin Xiaoyao said. Okay. Big Girl Li nodded. Qin Xiaoyao continued, First of all, the price of Chinese yams has increased by one copper coin. Your portion yesterday was 31 catties and 2 taels, so lets take it as 31 catties. Chapter 57 - 57 Chapter 57: Abnormality Discovered 57 Chapter 57: Abnormality Discovered But you bought three catties from me, so I only need topensate you a difference of 28 catties, which is 28 copper coins. Big Girl Li nodded. As for the Chinese Toon shoots, we weighed them out to be 18 cattiesst night, and I used two taels. Logically speaking, there should still be 17 catties and 8 taels left. However, some of the shoots were damaged. Today, Fortune Mansion only weighed 17 catties and 7 taels of shoots. The two of us have to bear the loss of one tael. So, Im only going to make up for the difference of one tael. Are you agreeable to this? Big Girl Li nodded again. She wanted to say that her Sister Sanya was too meticulous. However, after some thought, she decided not to interrupt Qin Xiaoyao. Good. The Chinese Toon shoots are 17 catties and 9 taels in total. One tael is five copper coins, so its a total of 895 copper coins. Then, you take 40%. Thats 358 copper coins. Big Girl Lis eyes instantly widened. Three 358 copper coins? Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li, but she didnt stop. Instead, she continued, And then theres the money from the sale of your familys vegetables today. Its a total of 62 catties, so its 62 copper coins. So, I should pay you 28 plus 358 plus 26, which is equal to 448 copper coins. Big Girl Lis body trembled a little. What? 448 copper coins? That was close to half a tael of silver! As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she reached for her money bag. Wait, Sister Sanya! At this time, Big Girl Li suddenly spoke. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised, and was about to ask what was wrong. Can you help me calcte how much I have to give my mother-inw? Big Girl Li asked. She only knew some basic math, but the ounts between her and Sister Sanya were tooplicated for her to calcte. However, she trusted her Sister Sanya. In any case, whatever Sister Sanya calcted, she would ept it. Therefore, it was better to ask Sister Sanya to help her settle the ounts with her mother-inw. This way, it would save her a lot of trouble. A look of embarrassment shed across Big Girl Lis face. Didnt I tell you before? I have to give my mother-inw 20% of the money I earn. Sister Sanya, please help me calcte it. Ill take it back and give it to her directly! Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Alright! She was very pleased with Big Girl Lis honesty. She didnt hide her ie from her family just because she had earned more money. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao looked at the records on her papers and continued, The 62 catties of vegetables are yours. The 62 copper coins you get will all be given to your mother-inw. Big Girl Li nodded. She didnt intend to take money from her family for helping to sell the vegetables. Then, what you actually earned was the difference of 28 copper coins from yesterdays Chinese yam and 358 Wen from the share of the Chinese Toon shoots. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. Wait a minute. I have to go in and do some calctions with a brush, she continued. Big Girl Li was stunned. Her Sister Sanya knew how to write? Before she could respond, Qin Xiaoyao had already entered the house. After entering the room, Qin Xiaoyao didnt even look at Song Que. She went to the bedside table again. Then, she wrote down the form and began to calcte. After she got the result, she left in a hurry. Song Que was a little confused. Back in the courtyard. Ive done the calctions. Qin Xiaoyao took the paper records and walked over to Big Girl Li with a smile. Your actual share adds up to 386 copper coins. Then, the 20% to your mother-inw is 77 copper coins. Alright, 77 copper coins! Ill remember that! Big Girl Li quickly replied. Then, she repeated it twice in her heart. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao start to split the money with Big Girl Li. She gave two silver coins and 248 copper coins to Big Girl Li. This way, it would be convenient for Big Girl Li to go back and then split the money with her mother-inw. After getting the money, Big Girl Li looked at her heavy, bulging purse, and her chubby face was full of smiles. Thank you, Sister Sanya! Ill go back now and give my mother-inws money to her! Otherwise, she was afraid that she would forget about it after waiting too long. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Go ahead. ... Only then did Big Girl Li walk away quickly. Qin Xiaoyao only returned to her room after Big Girl Li left. She was going to tidy up the things that she had ced on the bedside table. Just as she was about to take the inkstone out to wash, Song Que called out to her. Theres no need to wash it. Ill be using itter. Song Que said. Since the book-copying jobs had been epted, he could start working. As he had nothing to do anyway, it was also good to copy books to supplement his household expenses. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Que, but before he could frown, she looked away. Alright, she said in answer. Then, she left with a stash of book-copying paper. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao had left without even saying goodbye to him, Song Que was slightly annoyed. ... Qin Xiaoyao didnt know any of this, however. She simply took her ledger and went to look for Madam Liu. Yes, she was going to get needle and thread to sew this stack of paper for copying books, and turn it into a book to use as her own ounts ledger. After Madam Liu learned of her daughter-inws intention, she stopped what she was doing and went to get a needle and thread for Qin Xiaoyao. After that, she even personally helped Qin Xiaoyao sew the ounts ledger. Before long, Qin Xiaoyao got her ounts ledger. Then, she happily brought the ledger back to her room and put it into the drawer of the bedside table. Seeing Qin Xiaoyao turn around and leave the room as if she didnt see him, Song Ques suppressed displeasure surged again. After that, he looked at the drawer of the bedside table, and a thought welled up in his mind. Following that, he cast a few nces towards the door before shifting his body to the edge of the bed. He then reached out to open that drawer After a while When Song Que saw the contents of Qin Xiaoyaos ounts ledger, he was shocked. She was really doing ounting, and her handwriting was very neat! Even though some of the characters were written wrongly, but Song Ques heart shuddered. He suddenly recalled how Qin Xiaoyao had cried, made a scene, and then hung herself in front of him that day. She should have died then A chill ran up his spine, and Song Ques eyes suddenly narrowed. After closing his eyes and calming himself down, he ced the ounts ledger back in its original ce. Meanwhile, after Big Girl Li returned to the Liu family and saw Aunt Liu, she was indeed roundly criticized. What was she criticized for? She was criticized for spending money toovishly, of course. Big Girl Li wasnt angry. She simply picked up her heavy money bag and shook it in front of her mother-inw, interrupting her mother-inws nagging. Then, she began to count out the money for her mother-inw. First, she gave her 62 copper coins from selling the vegetables, and then she gave her another 77 copper coins. After receiving the money, Aunt Liu almost thought she was dreaming. It was not until Big Girl Li told her that the Chinese Toon shoots were sold at a high price that she began to thank God in an exaggerated fashion. Dont thank God. Better thank my Sister Sanya. Mother, you dont even know how amazing my Sister Sanya is. I saw her discussing business with Boss Fang of Fortune Mansion with my own eyes today. The way she carried herself As she spoke, she mimicked Qin Xiaoyaos demeanor at the point. However, she felt that she didnt do a good impersonation. Aunt Liu and Liu Xiaomei looked at Big Girl Li and listened attentively. Was Eldest Son Songs wife, aka Mrs. Song, really so amazing? Chapter 58 - 58 Chapter 58: Are You a Martial Arts Expert? 58 Chapter 58: Are You a Martial Arts Expert? After trying twice and realizing that she couldnt get the essence, Big Girl Li gave up. Ahem in short, my Sister Sanya is a Divine Being! In the end, not only was Boss Fang impressed enough to increase the price of the Chinese yam by one copper coin, but she also managed to get Boss Fang to buy our Chinese Toon shoots at a high price of five copper coins per tael. Chinese Toon shoots is a fantastic item. Its different from Chinese yam. After plucking, it can regrow! And it only takes two to three days to regrow! !! From now on, Sister Sanya and I will go to town once every two days, and we will send ten catties each time. This is all money! Hearing this, Aunt Liu couldnt stay calm anymore. You you can get ten catties of it every two days? 10 catties would yield 500 copper coins! Even if her daughter-inw could only get 40%, that was still 200 copper coins! This was not even including the money she got from selling the Chinese yam! Good grief! Earning money this way was even faster than her eldest son working in town! Where where did you two get these things? Aunt Liu swallowed her saliva and could not resist asking her daughter-inw. She thought that if she could find these things, perhaps she could also send them to the Song family to exchange for money. Unexpectedly, Big Girl Lis expression changed suddenly. Not only did her face turn icy cold, but she also looked at her mother-inw and little sister-inw with a warning expression. The two of them almost lowered their heads. Seeing the fear on the twos faces, Big Girl Li realized that she had gone too far and quickly restrained her displeasure. Ahem Mother, dont try to ask around about this thing. Sister Sanya said this is a business secret between us. Only by keeping it a secret can we keep making money in the long run and maintain our good cooperation. Weve already agreed with each other that no one is to reveal the core secret. Not even to our own family. This is also to ensure that the method of making money is absolutely safe. Aunt Liu came back to her senses. She thought for a moment and then nodded. His daughter-inw was right. The things in the mountains had no owners. If their secret was discovered and someone else followed in their footsteps, it would definitely have a big impact on their daughters-inw. Seeing that her mother-inw agreed with her words, Big Girl Lis heart rxed. The reason Im telling you this is to let you know that I can make money and have a bright future working for Sister Sanya. I hope you can rest assured. But dont ask too much about other things. And dont tell anyone about this. Aunt Liu hurriedly nodded. Then, she looked at her own daughter. Listen to your Sister-inw, she instructed Liu Xiaomei. Liu Xiaomei also understood the gravity of the matter and nodded in agreement. Big Girl Li was satisfied. My Sister Sanya is a genius. Her knowledge and ideas were far beyond that of ordinary people. These Chinese yams and Chinese Toon shoots are just the beginning. I have a feeling that shes going to do something else. As for me, I just have to listen to her and work with her. As long as we dont have any evil thoughts, our family will be rich sooner orter if we follow her! Big Girl Li said again. Sister Sanya sometimes felt that she was stupid, but was she really stupid? Hah! She wasnt stupid at all. She would not give up a true money tree for a small profit. As long as she hugged her Sister Sanyas leg tightly, the benefits she would get in the future would be endless. Back at the Song family. With Qin Xiaoyaos help, Madam Liu had turned more than half of the tofu into golden-fried tofu cubes. Then, she stir-fried the streaky pork with golden-fried tofu cubes and chili sauce, before stir-frying another vegetable dish. She used the remaining tofu to make a vegetable soup. The sumptuous meal made the family particrly happy. This was especially true for little Song Ye, who ate until his little stomach was almost full. In the afternoon, Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li went outte. They went to that mountain again and continued to look for Chinese yams. When they arrived near the Chinese Toon trees, Big Girl Li saw that the trees they had just plucked yesterday had already sprouted new shoots in some ces. She was utterly amazed. I told you this thing grows fast. If it rains, the speed will be even faster. Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. Let them grow for another day tomorrow, and well pick them in the morning the day after tomorrow. When the timees, only pick those that are sturdy. After picking them, well send them to town at once. Not only are they fresh, but we dont have to worry about losing some from damage! Alright! Big Girl Li replied, nodding repeatedly. She felt that her Sister Sanyas words made sense. In addition, there was dew in the morning, so maybe it would add to the overall weight. She thought of this but didnt say anything. This mountain is a treasurend. Well search inch by inch. We must not let a single Chinese yam off, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Okay! Big Girl Li nodded again. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao assign an area to Big Girl. Then, she and Big Girl started to search for Chinese yams in two areas not far away from each other. Along the way, even if the two of them found the Chinese yam vines, as long as the quantity was not much, they would process them on their own. They had already set themselves a target. Today, they would search for all the Chinese yams thoroughly in the designated areas. ... Qin Xiaoyao found two vines and swung her hoe to dig up the Chinese yams. Suddenly, she heard rustling soundsing from the bushes not far away. Her eyes flickered as she saw loose stones not far from her feet. Without thinking, Qin Xiaoyao picked up the two pieces of loose stones on the ground. Then, she held her breath and focused her attention, pouring her strength-attribute special ability into the stones, looking in the direction of the sound. Then, when she saw two gray-furred creatures, she quickly struck With two anguished screeches, the two hares kicked their legs and struggled for a while before bing motionless. Big Girl Li had also heard themotion by now. When she turned around, she saw her Sister Sanya running off into the distance urgently with a smile on her face. Sister Sanya! Big Girl Li shouted immediately. However, she controlled the volume of her voice and did not shout too loudly. ... Primarily, she was afraid of being overheard by other people, who would then discover that they were on this mountain. This was their Treasure Mountain after all, so they had to do their best to keep the secret of this mountain. Qin Xiaoyao heard Big Girl Lis voice, but she didnt turn around. She kept running until she reached the location where the two hares were and picked them up. Seeing this, Big Girl Li was shocked. After that, she couldnt be bothered to continue looking for Chinese yams anymore. She threw her tools down and ran towards Qin Xiaoyao. Sister Sanya, youve trapped wild hares! She eximed in a low voice. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao turn to look at Big Girl Li. I didnt trap them, she said with a grin. Then, she carried the hares and walked toward Big Girl Li. Big Girl Li quickly ran to Qin Xiaoyaos side, and only then did she see the bloody holes on the necks of the two hares. This is Big Girl Li was shocked. I shot them, Qin Xiaoyao said outright. Seeing that Big Girl Li didnt understand, she smiled. She picked up a piece of rock, poured the power of her strength-attribute special ability into it, and shot it at a small tree not far away. Then, a miraculous scene happened. The small tree was instantly cut down by the stone. Ah! Big Girl Li couldnt help but exim. Sister Sister Sanya, are you you a martial arts expert? Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao with reverence. Chapter 59 - 59 Chapter 59: Curiosity Piqued 59 Chapter 59: Curiosity Piqued She had heard of this thing called martial arts when she was listening to stories in the teahouse in town. She thought that the storyteller had made it up, but it turned out to be true! Her Sister Sanya actually knew martial arts! Qin Xiaoyao was stunned momentarily. !! She hadnt even made up a story yet, but this girl had already thought of one for her. Then, Qin Xiaoyao simply nodded. Ive cultivated my internal force for a few years and have attained some small achievements! she said somewhat proudly. Hearing the word internal force, Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao with even more admiration. Sister Sanya, can you can you teach me? she said excitedly. A martial arts expert! The kind who could easily beat people up and dish out chivalrous justice! Qin Xiaoyaos face froze, and she frowned at Big Girl Li. Not everyone can cultivate internal force. Your aptitude is too poor. You wont be able to master it even if you practice it, she said. Big Girl Lis expression immediately became crestfallen. Qin Xiaoyao patted Big Girl Lis shoulder when she saw her expression. But you dont have to be disappointed. Now that youre with me, no one can bully you with me around. When Big Girl Li heard this, she cheered up instantly. Yes! Sister Sanya is mighty! she quickly ttered Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao felt very important on hearing that. Were not going into town tomorrow. Its not worth it to make a special trip for these two hares. Well keep the wild hares for our own consumption, Qin Xiaoyao said. After some thought, Qin Xiaoyao decided to hand the smaller hare to Big Girl Li. Mine is a little bigger, so one is enough. This little one is for you to take home to satisfy your cravings. Big Girl Lis eyes lit up, but she didnt take it. No, I cant take it. I didnt put in any effort in killing these hares, so these two hares are yours. Weve agreed before that even blood sisters should settle ounts clearly. I cant take it for free, Big Girl Li said. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos surprised expression, Big Girl Li smiled mischievously again. But I can buy it with money. She patted her wallet as she spoke. Hunter Huang would sell the prey he hunted to the vigers when it was inconvenient for him to go to town. If its a wild hare, he will sell the hare for ten copper coins per catty if he gets to keep the hare skin. As the price was low, the vigers were actually quite happy to buy the prey from Hunter Huangs family. After all, it was more worthwhile than going to town to buy meat. Sister Sanya, if youre willing, Ill buy it from you at the same price. Big Girl Li said. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Thinking about how Hunter Huang sold his prey in the vige, she felt that it was a good idea to sell some small prey to the vigers as well. In particr, she could sell small prey like hares to the vigers at a low price, leaving the skin behind. After that, she could go to town to sell the hare skins, which was not a loss to her. She thought about it and nodded. Alright! As she spoke, she weighed the hare in her hand. I estimate it to be two and a half catties. Just give me 25 copper coins will do. When we get back, Ill skin it and give you the meat and bones, she said. Deal! Big Girl Li quickly agreed. She immediately counted 25 copper coins and gave them to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stand on ceremony and epted the money. After that, she continued to work with Big Girl Li. As the two of them were very energetic, they eventually finished checking the area that they had divided ahead of time. Engrossed with thoughts of eating hare meat, the two didnt stay on the mountain for long after they finished their work. They returned to the Song family with more than 50 catties of Chinese yams. When Madam Liu saw that her daughter-inw had brought back wild hares, she was both surprised and happy. When she learned that her daughter-inw wanted to keep a wild hare for their own consumption, she muttered a few words but still agreed. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li proceed to weigh the Chinese yams and skin the hares. At night, Qin Xiaoyao came out of the bathroom and found that it was raining. After tidying up a little, she quickly returned to her room. As shey down, she thought to herself that it was fortunate that her father and eldest brother hade to help fix the roof a few days ago. Otherwise, she was genuinely worried that the roof would leak. Sigh! It was really not safe to live in a thatched hut. If only she could build a brick house when she had enough money Cough! At this moment, a familiar coughing sound came from beside her. ... It pulled Qin Xiaoyao back to reality. Whats the matter, Hubby? Qin Xiaoyao asked without moving. As she did not have to turn around to look at Song Que, she was not as nervous this time. Song Que furrowed his brows slightly when he saw that Qin Xiaoyao didnt move even though she was talking to him. Then, he calmed himself down and asked Qin Xiaoyao, Did you learn how to write? Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. When I was young, my father sent me to the Academy for two years, and I learned some words. Whats wrong? she replied. Why was he asking this? Could it be that he saw her ounts ledger? Haha! So what if he saw it? Anyway, their ce was only this big, so there was no way for her to hide it. As for being found out or whatever, she didnt care either. ... She had inherited her predecessors memories, and in a sense, she was now Qin Sanya. She was just a Qin Sanya who had be smarter and more powerful. Song Ques eyes shifted. How did she manage to write so neatly after only two years in the Academy? Was that even possible? If it were him, with his fathers guidance and his own hard work, it would be possible. However, in the Qin family, butcher Qin didnt have Father Songs ability. And the writing style and form of those characters Qin Xiaoyao carefully observed the movements of the person behind her. She didnt hear Song Que speak for a long time and was prepared to close her eyes and sleep. Did youe up with the story of the ugly duckling and Ma Liangs magic brush? At this moment, she heard Song Ques voice from behind her again. Qin Xiaoyao was caught by surprise. Oh, I heard about them from someone else, she responded. Once, she had felt bored, so she told Yeer a few fairy tales. Not only did Yeer listen to them, but Yuner and her mother-inw also listened to them. The three listeners all liked the stories and kept pestering her to tell more. From the looks of it, after little Song Ye heard the story, he must have told her attractive husband. Qin Xiaoyaos heart was beating with joy. She wasnt worried about being exposed at all. In fact, she even looked forward to seeing if her attractive husband would change his opinion of her after hearing those stories. Her predecessor, Qin Sanya, was indeed illiterate. She had already returned the things she had learned in the Academy to her teacher. However, Qin Xiaoyao was different. In her previous life, she had at least managed to get into university. However, she only attended two years before the apocalypse happened. After that, she had been making a living in the apocalyptic world, but she was still considered an intellectual, wasnt she? She was a perfect match for her attractive husband, a talented man! Thinking of this, her heart felt very sweet all over. Oh? Who did you hear it from? Song Que continued to ask. There theres a teacher who came to study in town. The teacher was wise and understood many things. He told many interesting stories. Ive memorized some of it, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Hah! Her attractive husband was a little talkative tonight It was a good sign. Oh, really? What other stories have you heard? Song Que asked again. When Qin Xiaoyao heard this, she wasnt rmed. Instead, she was quite happy. Do you want to listen, Hubby? If you want to listen, Ill tell you a long one, she said. She had been worried about how to talk more with her attractive husband and nurture their feelings. Much to her surprise, the opportunity hade so quickly. Chapter 60 - 60 Chapter 60: Closing the Distance 60 Chapter 60: Closing the Distance Go ahead, Song Que thought for a moment before replying. Since he had nothing to do anyway, he could just listen. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up, and she continued. In the distant ancient times, there was a Mountain of Flowers and Fruit in the country of Ai in the East. On the mountain, there was an immortal stone that absorbed the essence of heaven and earth and produced immortal babies. One day, the stone burst. The sound shook the heavens, and the stone gave birth to a stone monkey Qin Xiaoyao recounted the story of Journey to the West as she recalled it. Song Que was listening at her side. He had only wanted to beat around the bush to get more incriminating evidence against Qin Xiaoyao, as well as to kill time, but the more he listened, the more interested he became. Alright, lets stop here for today. If you want to know what happens next, wait for the next episode. After she finished telling how the Monkey God wreaked havoc in Heaven by scrawling the words The Great Sage, Heavens Equal, was here at the end of the sky, Qin Xiaoyao yawned finally and chose to end the story for the night. Song Que, on the other hand, was very captivated by the tale. Listening to Qin Xiaoyaos tale, he was a little reluctant to let her end the story temporarily, but he didnt stop her. Then, before Qin Xiaoyao started snoring, he closed his eyes. As usual, before he fell asleep, he heard a familiar snoring sound beside him. After that, even Song Que himself did not realize that he no longer wanted to pounce over and strangle the noisy fellow beside him to death, unlike in the past. The next day, when Qin Xiaoyao got up, it was still raining outside. After breakfast, Big Girl Li wore a straw raincoat and cameter than usual. Since youre here,e with me and toss these ramie nts into the stream. Before the rain stops today, we wont be going into the mountains, Qin Xiaoyao said. Alright! Big Girl Li quickly agreed. Yup. And, if it rains in the future, well also rest. You dont have toe over. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and said. Big Girl Lis face lit up. Alright! Then, she started to get busy with Qin Xiaoyao. They took the ramie nts from the courtyard to the river and tossed them into the water. In order to stop the ramie from floating away, the two of them also made some barricades. Qin Xiaoyao only let Big Girl Li go back after they were done with the work. After returning to the Song familys house, she had a free day for the first time ever. However, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt someone who could stay idle. She wasnt interested in weaving straw sandals with her mother-inw and little sister-inw, so she went to boil medicine for her attractive husband. In addition, she was preparing to change Song Ques dressing one day in advance. After preparing the tools and ointment, Qin Xiaoyao went to the room next door. At this moment, Song Que was sitting on the bed, copying the book she had brought back from town. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaoe in, he didnt frown like he usually did. He only nced at her once and then looked away. Im here to change your dressing, Qin Xiaoyao said. She felt a bit happy inwardly. Surely it was a good sign that he did not frown upon seeing her? Only then did Song Que raise his head again to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Following that, he put down the brush in his hand and shifted his body outwards. Then, he cooperated with Qin Xiaoyao and ced his leg on the small stool she had brought. Ill have to trouble you then, he said. Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback. She wondered whether she was hearing things. Did her attractive husband just talk to her? You Youre wee, Qin Xiaoyao quickly stammered. Then, she got to work. Can you continue with the story fromst night? Then, Qin Xiaoyao heard Song Ques voice from above her head. Sure, Qin Xiaoyao replied readily. Then, as she changed Song Ques dressing, she continued with the story fromst night. She was serious in her work and kept her eyes focused on Song Ques legs. However, she did not notice that Song Que was looking down at her with his head lowered. His expression was full of inquiry and earnestness. Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao pulled on his wound unwittingly, and Song Que winced in pain. Im sorry! Are you okay? Ill Ill be more careful after this! Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and immediately looked into Song Ques deep eyes. ... Then, her heart thumped with overwhelming joy again. Im fine. You can continue. Song Que quickly adjusted his expression and said gently. For the first time, he realized that he didnt hate this womans infatuated gaze. On the contrary he felt Never mind Qin Xiaoyao came back to her senses. Alright, she said. She blushed and lowered her head. Then, she continued to change Song Ques dressing and told him the story of Journey to the West. The changing of dressing ended very quickly. Qin Xiaoyao pretended to help Song Que back to his previous sitting position. Just as she realized that her actions were a little inappropriate, Song Que unexpectedly cooperated and extended his hand. ... Qin Xiaoyao was very moved. She then reached out to support Song Que, not daring to look at Song Que during the entire process. However, Song Que stared at Qin Xiaoyao intently, his eyes still full of curiosity. Finally, Qin Xiaoyao helped Song Que back to his earlier sitting position. Alright. Ill Ill go out first. With her head lowered, Qin Xiaoyao still didnt dare to look at Song Que. Damn it! Her attractive husband was probably staring at her just now. They were so close that she could feel his breathing. Alright, Song Que replied indifferently. Qin Xiaoyao quickly grabbed her tools and fled in a hurry. She only calmed down when she was outside the room and could feel the cool air hit her face. This wouldnt do! Qin Xiaoyao, you couldnt go on like this! She had to train up some resistance slowly. Otherwise, how was she going to get along with her attractive husband in the future? After reminding herself in her heart, Qin Xiaoyao finally made up her mind. Henceforth, she must no longer avoid her attractive husband. Moreover, she had to talk to him more and get used to living with him. At noon, the sky finally cleared up. Qin Xiaoyao was washing the dishes when Big Girl Li came again. She also carried a backpack on her back, which contained a sickle and a small hoe. Its clear after the rain, so there must be a lot of mushrooms in the mountains now. Sister Sanya, lets not go too far today. Lets just go to the mountains behind to pick mushrooms, Big Girl Li said with augh. The reason was that the paths in the deep mountains were more difficult to walk on if they set off after the rain, making it easier to fall. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Okay! I was just thinking of having mushroom soup. In addition, Fortune Mansion will definitely also ept mushrooms. Even if the restaurant didnt take them, she could still store them after drying. Therefore, after Qin Xiaoyao cleaned up the kitchen, the two of them entered the mountain again together. In the end, when they reached the back of the mountain, they realized that there were many people picking mushrooms. However, most of them were young children from the vige. After asking, Qin Xiaoyao found out that the children often went up the mountain to pick mushrooms after the rain. Some of them were taken back to cook at home, while others were actually used to feed the chickens. When Qin Xiaoyao saw some of the children picking a lot of mushrooms, she had some ideas. Do you think there will be any takers if we say that we are buying mushrooms from other people for one copper coin per catty? Qin Xiaoyao asked Big Girl Li. The mushrooms in the mountains were usually not big or heavy. If she asked for one catty, the amount of mushrooms required to make up the weight would be quite substantial. Even if she and Big Girl Li were quick at picking mushrooms, they probably wouldnt be able to pick many in just half a day. It was better to buy them directly. It was one copper coin per catty. The adults might not think much of it, but the children should be interested. Big Girl Li thought for a moment. We can try. She expressed her concurrence. Chapter 61 - 61 Chapter 61: Receiving Goods? 61 Chapter 61: Receiving Goods? Qin Xiaoyaoughed and started discussing with Big Girl Li. Then, she found a few children and told them she was epting mushrooms. After that, she followed Big Girl Li down the mountain. They soon realized that the mountain paths were really difficult to walk on after the rain. !! Moreover, both of them were heavy. Their centers of gravity were unstable, so they could easily fall if they were not careful. Qin Xiaoyao was slightly better off. With her strength-attribute special ability, she could always stabilize herself at the critical moment. Big Girl Li was in a bad state. After entering the mountain, she had already fallen twice. After returning to the vige, Big Girl Li went straight home to change her clothes. After tidying herself up and washing her clothes, she then rushed back to the Song familys house. By the time she arrived, there were already children running toward the Song familys house. As for her Sister Sanya, she was already weighing the mushrooms for the children and paying out money. Big Girl Li was surprised to see a child take the money and walk out with a big smile. The children in their vige were more enthusiastic than she had thought. Sister Sanya! She shouted into the courtyard and walked toward Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao saw Big Girl Li and quickly called her over. Then, she exined the situation. The children were indeed more enthusiastic than they thought. In fact, some adults even went into the mountains after hearing that the two of them were epting mushrooms. The reason was that those families had surplusbor. When they saw a rare opportunity to make money, they were tempted. I think that when we go to Fortune Mansion tomorrow, we can ask them about their purchase price of various mountain products and vegetables. Then, well buy these goods at a lower price back home. We can make more money in this way, Qin Xiaoyao said. She would not have considered this before. After all, she was going to town alone, and the amount of things she could bring was limited. However, she had already decided to purchase a handcart. If she had a cart, she could load a lot more things on it. The cart had two big wheels, so it took much less effort to push. Even if the cart was loaded to the brim, she could still easily send the goods to town. Big Girl Li thought about it, but she was a little hesitant. If you want to receive goods, you need to have someone at home to keep an eye for you. The two of us have to go into the mountains. We dont have time. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Im not worried about that. My mother and Yuner can help! When the timees, well just split some of the money with them. Big Girl Li looked at Madam Liu and Song Yun, who were still weaving straw sandals, and a hint of hesitation shed across her eyes. Sister Sanya, you can consider this your own business. I wont take any share from the money you earn from receiving goods. Anyway, youre the one who put in the most effort to deliver the goods to town, and youre still the one who pays for the money to receive the goods upfront. I wont take part in this undertaking. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao was about to speak, Big Girl Li said again, Madam Liu and Yuner can also make money by weaving straw sandals now. If you let them help with receiving the goods, wont you take up their time? All of you contributed effort, but I alone didnt contribute money or effort, so Im too embarrassed to join in and take a share of the money. Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and agreed that she had a point. Hence, she nodded. She was feeling increasingly more satisfied with Big Girl Li. That day, by evening, Qin Xiaoyao had collected more than 70 catties of mushrooms. Even after dark, there were still people who sent a few catties over. The enthusiasm of the vigers truly shocked Qin Xiaoyao. However, Madam Liu did not find it strange. After hearing Qin Xiaoyaos n, she even advised her not to ept too many things at once. Although our Brook Falls Vige isnt far from the town, a trip to town will take up half a day, and you have to pay the entrance fee. Some of these low-value vegetables and mountain products are not easy to sell in town. So if you buy them at a low price in the vige, there will definitely be many people willing to sell it. But there are only the two of you, you and Big Girl. Every time you enter the town, you have to bring 200 catties of Chinese yam. How many pairs of hands do you have? Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Then, she smiled at Madam Liu. Thats why, when we go into town tomorrow, Im going to buy a handcart. With this handcart, it will be more convenient for us to deliver goods into the city. In addition, we can also carry more goods. Madam Liu was caught by surprise. Dont worry, Mother. I will try it out slowly with the collection of the goods. I wont collect too much in one shot. After all, if we really collect too much and keep the goods in our hands, not only will we not make money, we might even lose money. Hearing that her daughter-inw had taken heed of her words, Madam Liu felt more relieved. Then, as if she had thought of something, she turned to Qin Xiaoyao and asked, Is the handcart expensive? Its still okay. Qin Xiaoyao patted Madam Lius hand with a smile. Dont worry, Mother. I have enough money in my hands. ... The night was gettingte. Qin Xiaoyao returned to her room after taking a bath. However, as soon as she entered the room, she saw Song Que on the bed looking at her. A thought popped up in her mind. Hubby, Qin Xiaoyao said. Hmm. Song Que actually responded. Then he added, Im waiting for you to continue your Journey to the West tale. Oh. The excitement in Qin Xiaoyaos heart cooled down a little. Following that, sheposed herself and walked to the bed. Then, she blew out the light with practiced ease and went to bed. After that, in the silence, she continued to tell Song Que the tale of Journey to the West. ... Qin Xiaoyao told the rest of the story ording to her memory, but the person behind her was very quiet. Qin Xiaoyao didnt know how much time had passed, but when she didnt hear any movement from Song Que, she thought that Song Que had already fallen asleep. She then stopped talking. Just as she was about to go to sleep, much to her surprise No more? Song Que suddenly said. Qin Xiaoyao got a shock. Then, she calmed down. Oh its a littlete. I still have to go to town tomorrow Song Que was silent. Then go to sleep, he continued. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up in a smile before she closed her eyes. Her attractive husband was feeling some tenderness for her After a while, Song Que heard the familiar snoring sound again. No one saw that in the dark night, the corners of the mans mouth curving up slightly before he closed his eyes and fell asleep. It was a new day. Qin Xiaoyao didnt even have time for breakfast and went into the mountains with Big Girl Li. They hurriedly picked the more sturdy newly sprouted Chinese Toon shoots and returned to the Song familys house to pack their things. Then, they set off for town. As they were thinking about buying a handcart, the two of them were a little excited. They didnt feel that tired on the way, and they arrived at Mountain Spring Town in no time. After paying the entrance fee, the two of them went straight to Fortune Mansion. This time, Uncle Zhao was not around. However, the kitchen staff had already received Uncle Zhaos instructions. When he saw the two of them delivering the goods, he weighed them and paid for them. To Qin Xiaoyaos surprise, Fortune Mansion had set the price of her mushrooms at three copper coins per catty. In other words, she had actually earned more than 150 copper coins by collecting mushrooms yesterday. Seeing this, Big Girl Li felt a little envious. However, she also knew that the only reason these things could be sold for money was because of her Sister Sanyas connections. Their family was already taking advantage of Sister Sanya because she did not take a cut from them when they tagged along with her to sell their own produce. Thinking of this, Big Girl Lis heart felt more at ease again. After they settled the ounts and got the money, Qin Xiaoyao then inquired about the prices of somemon mountain products, meat, poultry, and vegetables from the kitchen staff. To avoid forgetting the details, Qin Xiaoyao even brought out a piece of paper and a charcoal stick that she had prepared and made simple records. Seeing this, Big Girl Lis admiration for Qin Xiaoyao increased even more. After they left Fortune Mansion, Qin Xiaoyao once again suggested that they split up. Chapter 62 - 62 Chapter 62: Buying a Handcart 62 Chapter 62: Buying a Handcart No, lets go together this time. Lets go buy a handcart first! Then, your straw sandals and our tools can be thrown onto the handcart! After that, well go to the market on West Street and see if we need to replenish stocks for Uncle Qin and my parents. At that time, we can leave the handcart with Uncle Qin, and then we can split up! As for the handcart, although Sister Sanya was the one buying it, Big Girl Li couldnt wait to see it. Qin Xiaoyao paused for a while, then she nodded. Okay. Then lets go to therge livestock market! Thus, the two of them quickly walked off. Soon, they arrived at arge livestock market further away from the main street. This area mainly dealt with oxen, horses, mules, sheep, and otherrge-scale livestock businesses. There werent many customers, but they bought livestock in single units. Many shopkeepers directly locked the livestock in the pens for the convenience of their customers to choose. After Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li arrived, they also went in for a look. They didnt ask for the price of the livestock, but they did see some signs with prices. Big Girl Li couldnt read, but Qin Xiaoyao could guess them. Yes, she could only guess. After all, thenguage of this era was written in the traditional form, which was different from what she had learned. However, the general structure and strokes were simr, so it wasnt hard to guess after seeing the characters. There! Theres a handcart there! Suddenly, Big Girl Li pointed to the front. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao pull her gaze away from the ox at the side and look in the direction that Big Girl Li was pointing. When they saw a shop at the corner of the street with a few handcarts disyed at the entrance, they knew they had found the ce they were looking for. Hence, Qin Xiaoyao said, Lets go and make some inquiries! As they spoke, the two of them quickly rushed to the shop. After they got closer, they realized that this shop wasnt the only one selling handcarts. The two shops next to it were also in the business of selling handcarts. Yo, these twodies, do you want to buy a cart? There were no customers in the shop at the moment, so the shop owner weed them warmly when he saw Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li approaching. Looking at the two girls clothes, the shop owners first thought was that these two people might have been sent by their families to buy some cart essories for their carts. essories were things like coffee tables, small stools, and so on. He also sold these small pieces of furniture here. Big Girl Li was a little nervous under the shop owners gaze. However, Qin Xiaoyao smiled very calmly. We dont want to buy cart essories. We want to see your handcarts, she said. The shop owner was stunned. Well its that kind of cart that can be used on its own. When we buy an ox in the future, we can also harness it to the ox, Qin Xiaoyao borated. The shop owners eyes lit up, and he instantly understood. No problem! These two were the ones! Miss, please take a look Then, he led Qin Xiaoyao to the cart parked at the side. It doesnt matter if its used stand-alone or harnessed to animals. It can work either way! Of course, if you want to harness it on animals, you have to add some extra attachments! The shop owner looked at Qin Xiaoyao. If Miss wants to buy this cart, Ill give you the attachment items free! He said with a beaming face. Qin Xiaoyao didnt look at the shop owner. Instead, she put down the things on her shoulders and tried pushing the handcart for a feel. Then, she scrutinized the two big wheels of the cart. Dont worry, Miss. The quality of my cart is guaranteed! The wood and iron used for the carts wheels are of the highest quality. If it breaks down within half a year, as long as its not intentionally damaged, Ill rece the wheel for free! The shop owner said when he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking carefully. He thought that Qin Xiaoyao was serious about buying the handcart. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Then, she went off to try the cart next to it. She also scrutinized the condition of the cart. The shop owner quickly followed and continued to exin, not paying any attention to Big Girl Li at all. Big Girl Li wasnt angry and simply watched her Sister Sanya choose the handcart. Finally, Qin Xiaoyao was almost done looking. Whats the price of these two cars? she asked the shop owner. The shop owners eyes lit up. This one is 600 copper coins, and the other one is 550 copper coins, he said. Qin Xiaoyao frowned immediately. ... If Miss is serious about buying, the price can be lower, the shop owner said. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the shop owner. Of course Im serious. Someone rmended you. Thats why we came here to look for you. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at the two shops further up. But Boss, your price is not sincere. The shop owner was stunned, and his attitude became much more serious. May I know which customer rmended us to you? he asked with a smile. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and said, Its old Mr. Li who drives an ox-cart for a living. He said that the quality of your cart is good and the price is fair. But Qin Xiaoyao looked at the two carts and shook her head. She looked as if she had been deceived. Naturally, Qin Xiaoyao was the one who made this up. ... She didnt know any old Mr. Li driving an ox-cart for a living. She was just making some broad statements. Whether it was in the town or the countryside, most of the people who did the ox-cart driving business were old men. In their Mountain Spring Town, the mostmon surname was Li. This shop was obviously an old shop, and the shop owner would definitely know of an elderly man who matched this profile. Haha! Since its a rmendation from a regr customer, the price will naturally be discounted. True to her expectations, the shop owner replied in the affirmative enthusiastically. How about this? This one here can be 500 copper coins, and the other one can be 450 copper coins. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao was looking at him again, the shop owner hurriedly waved his hand and made a chopping gesture. This is the regr customers lowest price. No further negotiations. He said in a low voice. Qin Xiaoyao only nodded when she saw the shop owners serious expression. And the cart essories freebie, as well as free recement for the wheel if it breaks down within half a year? she asked. The shop owner hesitated like he was put in a difficult position. Thereafter, he nodded. Deal! Also, if the cart breaks down in half a year, you can send it to me for repair. Ill give you a good price, he continued. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. Give me a year of warranty. If its broken within a year, you will fix it for me for free, she spoke again. Free recement for half a year and free repair for one year. Wasnt this supposed to be the normal procedure? The shop owner was stunned. Alright! Miss, you are so calctive, he said helplessly. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. She thought to herself, I cant possibly be more calctive than you. After the price was settled, Qin Xiaoyao asked the shop owner to write her an invoice as proof before paying for the cart. Big Girl Li was overjoyed. She immediately moved their belongings onto the handcart that Qin Xiaoyao bought. She even offered to help push the handcart. Qin Xiaoyao didnt refuse and was happy to let Big Girl Li do the work. The two of them walked along therge livestock market and went back the way they came. Sister Sanya, this handcart is too handy! It doesnt take much effort to push it! Big Girl Li said with some excitement. In the future, when they entered the town to sell things, they would no longer have to carry stuff on their backs or shoulders. Its not bad! Qin Xiaoyao also patted the edge of the handcart in satisfaction. After that, Big Girl Li continued to tter Qin Xiaoyao, saying how good she was at bargaining. Qin Xiaoyao only smiled, but she didnt feel smug. The price of 500 copper coins was definitely not the lowest, but she was already satisfied that she could bargain it down another 100 copper coins. Lets go to the market first. Its still early, so I want to try and see if I can sell straw sandals on the handcart! Qin Xiaoyao said suddenly. Chapter 63 - 63 Chapter 63: The Song Family Was Rich? 63 Chapter 63: The Song Family Was Rich? Her handcart was long and big, and it could be used as a stall after they add something to stabilize it. After that, she couldy out straw sandals on it so that it would be easier for the buyers to choose. Yeah! Big Girl Li looked at the handcart and thought that Qin Xiaoyaos idea was feasible. Thus, the two of them quickly went to the market on West Street. Then, they headed for Qin Dazhuangs meat stall. Qin Dazhuang was very surprised to find out that his daughter had bought a handcart. However, when he thought about how his daughter had to deliver the Chinese yams to town, he could understand the rationale. In fact, he even agreed with his daughters decision. I still have more than ten pairs of straw sandals here. You can just give me another thirty pairs, Qin Dazhuang said. On the other hand, your Uncle Lis ce sold out all the straw sandals yesterday. He even came to me for another ten pairs. You can go and check with themter. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Okay! Ill go now, she said. Immediately after that, she put some straw sandals into her bamboo basket backpack and went to the tofu stall with Big Girl Li. When Aunt Li and Uncle Li saw the two of them, their faces were full of joy. After telling Qin Xiaoyao about their sales activity, they bought twenty pairs of straw sandals straightaway from Qin Xiaoyao. She passed them the straw sandals and took their money. Qin Xiaoyao then bought two more pieces of tofu from the couple before returning. After that, she returned to the meat stall and threw the remaining straw sandals onto the handcart. She then pushed the handcart to a ce a little further away and began to sell the straw sandals. As expected, when many straw sandals were piled together, they attracted more attention. There were many people bustling back and forth in the market, and Qin Xiaoyaos straw sandals were cheap, costing only four copper coins a pair. She sold out the remaining straw shoes without much effort. Qin Xiaoyao was overjoyed that she had earned more money. After pushing the handcart back to Qin Dazhuangs meat stall, she went shopping in the market. With the handcart, she could buy more things this time. First, she bought a small y pot for boiling medicine. Then, she purchased two big and two small wooden basins, and tworge wooden buckets. When she saw someone selling brooms and bamboo baskets, she also bought these two items. Qin Dazhuang was quite surprised to see his daughter buying so many things. He wanted to persuade her to buy less, but when he thought of the Song familys situation, he kept his mouth shut. Gosh! I actually forgot about this! Qin Xiaoyao, who had just ced her things on the handcart, suddenly smacked her head. Whats wrong? Qin Dazhuang asked. Nothing much. I just went to Cirrus Loft Bookstore a few days ago to help my husband procure book-copying jobs. Hes finished copying a book in the past two days. I have to send it to the bookstore, and while Im there, I can ept new jobs too, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Qin Dazhuang was surprised. Then, he nodded. Its good that hes willing to do some work. However, his body hasnt recovered yet, so tell him to take it easy when you get back, he said. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. I know, she replied. Then, Father, help me watch over these things. Ill be back soon! After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao picked up the backpack that contained the books and ran off. Qin Dazhuang looked at his daughters back profile as she left. He smiled and continued with his business. That was good. The son-inws mindset had changed, and he had be more motivated. His daughter could finally look forward to better days After leaving the market on West Street, Qin Xiaoyao walked as fast as she could. When she arrived at Cirrus Loft Bookstore, she handed the book and Song Ques copy to the shop owner. Then, she took on another job for Song Que. After that, she went to sell the two hare skins before returning to the market on West Street. At that moment, Big Girl Li had also returned. She was waiting for Qin Xiaoyao at Qin Dazhuangs meat stall. This time, Big Girl Li didnt buy anything. However, she mentioned that she wanted to buy some staple food to bring back. Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and realized that there wasnt much staple food left in the house. Thus, she suggested going to the grain store with Big Girl Li. Following that, as one of them pushed the cart while the other supported it by the side, they said goodbye to Qin Dazhuang and left. When they arrived at the grain store, they didnt borrow the grain stores rice and flour sack. They directly filled the wooden basins and buckets they had bought with brown rice and rough noodle flour. After that, they prepared to leave town jubntly. In the end, they popped into a candy store along the way and bought some candy respectively. They couldnt help it as they wanted to reward themselves. In addition, Qin Xiaoyao could go back and make the children at home happy. The two of them finally left town in a happy mood. When they arrived at the city gate, they saw the young man driving the ox-cart who had given them a ride previously from a distance. ... The young man also saw the two of them. He was very surprised to see the two of them pushing a brand-new handcart with a lot of things on it. It turned out that those two fat women had really bought a handcart. However, they didnt buy any ox When they got closer to the young man, Big Girl Li gave him a smug look, then followed Qin Xiaoyao and strutted off in a gloating manner. The young ox-cart driver was very annoyed when he saw this. Qin Xiaoyao saw Big Girl Lis expression and couldnt help but burst outughing. Enough already. Why are you at loggerheads with a mere child? Big Girl Lis eyes narrowed in spite. Who asked that kid to look down on people? Then, she patted Qin Xiaoyaos handcart. This cart is really not bad! ... Sister Sanya, its my turn to push. Let me have some fun! she said. Qin Xiaoyaoughed again. Fine! You do it! she responded. It was rare that this girl was willing to take the initiative to work. Hehe! Alright! Big Girl Li quickly switched ces with Qin Xiaoyao. Then, she pushed the cart and chatted with Qin Xiaoyao. They chatted along the way, and it didnt seem like they had walked for long before they returned to Brook Falls Vige. However, because the two had wasted a lot of time in town, many vigers had alreadye home for lunch by the time the two returned to the vige. In the vige, many people liked to bring their bowls out of the house and eat in the open. As a result, many people saw Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li returning with their handcart. After learning that the handcart and the goods on it were mostly bought by Qin Xiaoyao, the vigers were all amazed. They all had the same thought, which was: the Song family had struck it rich. Some people talked about Qin Xiaoyao epting mushrooms in the vige yesterday, and the Song family weaving straw sandals for sale. The vigers all had some ideas. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt bothered by them. She simply pushed the handcart and sent Big Girl Li back to the Liu family first. After Big Girl Li removed her belongings, Qin Xiaoyao turned down Aunt Lius lunch invitation and returned to the Song familys house. By now, in the Song familys house, Madam Liu had already finished cooking, but no one had started eating. Song Yun was still busy weaving straw sandals, while Song Ye volunteered to go outside to see if his Sister-inw was back. Just as Madam Liu was about to tell her youngest son that she woulde along as well, she heard Qin Xiaoyaos voice from outside. Mother, Yuner, Yeer, Im back! Her voice was full of energy and excitement. Who else could it be but her daughter-inw? Little Song Yes face immediately broke into a big grin, and he scampered out. Sister-inw He yelled excitedly as he dashed off. Madam Liu and her daughter looked at each other, and both of them smiled. They stopped what they were doing and got up. Then, before long, they saw Qin Xiaoyao pushing a handcart into the courtyard. And Little Song Ye was sitting on the handcart, swinging his legs happily. Chapter 64 - 64 Chapter 64: Such a Ladykiller! 64 Chapter 64: Such a Ladykiller! Both Madam Liu and Song Yun were delighted when they saw the handcart. They quickly surrounded Qin Xiaoyao. They looked over the handcart, touching here and there, and they fell in love with it. You can tell at a nce that this wood quality is good. How much did you spend? Madam Liu couldnt hide the joy in her eyes as she asked her daughter-inw. Its not expensive. The shop started off with 600 copper coins, but I bargained it down to 500 copper coins, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Madam Liu got a shock. 500 copper coins? She still felt that it was too expensive. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. You get what you pay for. This price should be just right for this quality. At that time, there were other handcarts in the shop which were cheaper by 50 copper coins. However, the workmanship and materials used were a lot more inferior. Moreover, the handcart shop even promised to give new recements for half a year and a one-year warranty. We dont lose anything, Qin Xiaoyao said as she handed the invoice to Madam Liu. Madam Liu took it and looked at the words on it. She calmed down significantly. Alright. Then wed better keep this invoice well. Then, she handed the list back to Qin Xiaoyao. However, Qin Xiaoyao didnt take it. Its better that you keep it. Ive been so forgetful, and itll be terrible if I cant find it, she said as she smiled at Madam Liu. Madam Liu finallyughed with amusement. Fine! Ill keep it then! With that, she took the invoice and went back to her room. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao reach out and carry Song Ye off the handcart. Following that, she took out the bag of candy she bought from the backpack on the handcart. Then, she tore open the oilpaper packaging in front of the two little ones. Just like the day before yesterday, everyone in our family will get a share. Two pieces each! As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she had already taken a piece and popped it in her mouth. Then, she lowered the oilpaper bag to let the two little ones take the candy. Haha! Thank you, Sister-inw! Song Ye said quickly. He reached out and took two pieces of candy. Thank you, Sister-inw! The little girl also blushed and reached out to take two pieces. Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased. As she ate the candy, her whole body felt very sweet all over as well. Seeing that Madam Liu had already emerged from her room, she called out to her mother-inw toe and have some candy. Madam Liuughed with amusement. Im already so old, so I wont eat it. Ill give my two pieces to Yuner and Yeer, she said. She had overheard her daughter-inws words about two pieces per person earlier. Previously, she had eaten candy because her body had been deprived of it for a long time, and she was craving a little sweetness. However, these days, the food at home was better, and she was able to stop thinking about that. She didnt really like sweet food anyway. In the future, dont buy my share. After thinking for a while, Madam Liu reminded Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. If you dont want to eat, then let Yuner and Yeer eat more. I dont have to worry about not being able to finish it. Without waiting for Madam Lius reply, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Im going to send some candy to my husband. Ill have to trouble Mother and Yuner to unload the things on the handcart. After saying that, she distributed another piece of candy to each of the two little ones. Qin Xiaoyao then took the bamboo basket with the books and left with the remaining two pieces of candy. Madam Liu reached out with her hand but put it down again with a smile. Forget it. It didnt make sense Then, Madam Liu and Song Yun unloaded the stuff from the handcart and brought them to the kitchen. Looking at the new items that her daughter-inw had bought, Madam Lius heart ached again. These things were actually avable at home. Although they were a little tight when they were in use, there was really no need to buy so many. No, she had to tell her daughter-inwter. In Song Ques room. Song Que, who was copying books, had heard themotion outside and knew that Qin Xiaoyao had returned. Since then, he was in no mood to copy books. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao entering the room with a bamboo basket, he raised his head and looked at her. Hubby Qin Xiaoyao called out, suppressing the emotional upheaval brought about by the visual impact of the mans attractiveness. Then she heard Song Que say, Youve returned a littlete today. Qin Xiaoyaos face turned red. I went to buy a handcart, and then I sold straw sandals, so I wasted a lot of time, she replied. Then, she did not dare to look at Song Que again and walked over. I bought some candy. Two pieces each for everyone in the family. This is your share. Then, she ced the candy wrapped in oilpaper on the bedside cab. Song Que was caught by surprise. Thank you, he then said. Qin Xiaoyaos heart trembled again. Then, she took out the new book the bookstore owner gave from the basket. ... This is a new book from the shop owner. Song Que reached out to ept it. As she saw his slender, attractive fingers, Qin Xiaoyao got such a fright that she quickly released her hand. Oh, and something else Qin Xiaoyao quickly came back to her senses and touched her purse. The shop owner gave me 45 copper coins after I returned thepleted copy No need. You can keep all the money. Song Que voiced out before Qin Xiaoyao could even take out the money. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Then, she saw Song Que smile at her. I know where you put the money. Ill let you know when I need it, he continued. He had indeed seen where she kept the money. Regardless of silver pieces or copper coins, they were all ced in one ce. ... And unlike in the past, she did not hide it from him. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes almost popped out of their sockets. She felt as if her heart was about to jump out of her chest. He was such adykiller! Alright She quickly forced herself to look away. Then, she pulled open a drawer beside the bed and poured all the money in her money bag into the small money box. Then, she took her ounts ledger and ran out in a mad rush. Seeing this, the smile on Song Ques face widened. Then, he nced at the candy pieces on the bedside cab. He reached out for a piece and put it in his mouth. It was very sweet When Qin Xiaoyao left the room, she realized that although she had her ounts ledger, she didnt bring her brush and ink. After feeling vexed for a while, she felt that she couldnt admit defeat, so she went back. Yes, she had to face her difficulties and solve them instead of being a coward. Otherwise, if she didnt even dare to face her attractive husband, how could she live with him in the future? At this thought, Qin Xiaoyao was a little annoyed at her predecessors infatuation. If it werent for the fact that her previous self was too infatuated, coupled with her own infatuation resulting in an effect multiplied twice over, she wouldnt be in this state. After encouraging herself, Qin Xiaoyao turned back. Song Que was a little surprised to see Qin Xiaoyao back. However, he didnt say anything and continued to copy his own book. This time, Qin Xiaoyao only nced at Song Que before walking toward him. Then, she took out her own writing brush and ced it on the other side of the cab to record the ounts. Song Ques interest was piqued. He stopped copying and started to watch Qin Xiaoyao write. This time, he watched her writing openly and very carefully. He noticed that Qin Xiaoyaos writing posture was proper, and the strokes were well-drawn. Her situation was definitely not as simple as going to the Academy for merely two years Qin Xiaoyao knew that Song Que was watching her, but she tried to calm herself down and not let herself be distracted. After all, she was an undergraduate student before the apocalypse. Naturally, she had more than just two years of education. When she was young, she also practiced calligraphy with her grandfather, so her handwriting was naturally presentable. After a short while, Qin Xiaoyao had sorted out todays ounts. She nced at it with satisfaction and waited for the ink to dry before putting her ounts ledger back into the drawer. After that, she seemed to have thought of something and took out a piece of paper from her pocket. Chapter 65 - 65 Chapter 65: The Wisdom of Madam Liu 65 Chapter 65: The Wisdom of Madam Liu It was that piece of paper that she had used to record the prices of various goods which she had inquired from the kitchen staff at Fortune Mansion today. As it was inconvenient to bring a brush and ink, she only brought the charcoal stick when she set off in the morning. Now that she was back, she naturally had to jot down the contents. After some thought, Qin Xiaoyao eventually spoke to Song Que. Hubby She was just about to ask Song Que to help her transfer the notes. After all, she had to show it to her mother-inw. And her mother-inw would definitely not recognize the simplified Chinese characters she wrote. Song Que looked towards her. His attractive eyes seemed to be hiding a flirtatious look as if he could read her underlying meaning, and she self-consciously fell silent. Whats the matter? When Song Que saw her reaction, he could not help but reveal a hint of a smile. That was such a familiar expression. However, for some reason, it looked much more yful than before. At least he didnt appear to despise or feel disgusted with her like he was in the past. Qin Xiaoyao quickly forced herself toe back to her senses. Hubby, can can I ask you to help me transfer the contents of this paper? Oh, Ill read it out. You can just help me write it, Hubby, she continued. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao resisted Song Ques influence on her. Under the intense exercise of self-restraint, she realized that it was quite effective. Dont you know how to write? Song Que asked with a smile. He looked at Qin Xiaoyao with interest. Qin Xiaoyao was caught off guard. Er my handwriting isnt as good as Hubbys, she replied immediately. Good Grief! Could he not look at her like that? She was really not a good person I need to write it down to show Mother. Its better for Hubby to write it, Qin Xiaoyao added again. Song Que understood then. Following that, he reached out and retrieved a piece of white paper. He didnt ask any more questions and agreed. Go ahead and read it. Qin Xiaoyao also suppressed the thumping in her heart. Then, she began to read the contents to Song Que. After a while, Song Que had written down everything she had read. Are these the prices of the goods that Fortune Mansion is giving you? Song Que put down the brush and asked Qin Xiaoyao. Although he couldnt move around with his injured leg, he knew everything that was happening in the house. Even if he hadnt asked, his younger sister and brother would tell him everything about their sister-inw. Moreover, they only selectively told him the positive parts. However, from yesterday onward, he had taken the initiative to ask them for more information. He found that this woman had indeed done a lot for the family, and she was also very smart. Yup! Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Ive bought a handcart, so I can send more goods to town in the future. I can now bring more goods to Fortune Mansion on every trip. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao and wanted to say something, but in the end, he didnt open his mouth. Thereafter, he handed the paper he had finished writing to Qin Xiaoyao. Thank you, Hubby! Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up with joy as she expressed her thanks. Song Que did not reply. Then Ill go look for Mother. Qin Xiaoyao didnt think much of it. After saying that, she turned around and left. Song Que gazed at the womans departing silhouette, but he was silent for a long time. Qin Xiaoyao left the room and went to the kitchen. In the kitchen, Madam Liu had already ced the rice and rough noodle flour that Qin Xiaoyao had bought into the corresponding jars. And she had also put away the utensils Qin Xiaoyao had bought and was currently slicing tofu. Previously, her family liked the golden-fried tofu cubes she made. Today, she was going to use all two pieces of tofu to make golden-fried tofu cubes. Then, she would split it into two meals and stir-fry it with chili sauce. Seeing that her daughter-inw had arrived, Madam Liu immediately talked to her about the wooden basins and buckets she had bought. How much did those things cost? We have enough wooden basins and buckets at home! Madam Lius tone was full of earnestness. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. They are not expensive. I only spent slightly more than 300 copper coins in all. Since I cant return them, you just use them without worries. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she looked at the wooden basins and buckets stacked up at the side. Our old small wooden basin in the house will be reserved for washing faces. These two new ones are for the kitchen. Also, that old big wooden basin will be used for washing clothes in the future. If you want to wash your feet, pick one of the big wooden basins and use it specifically to wash your feet. The other big wooden basin will also be used in the kitchen in the future. Previously, due to their limited living conditions, the same utensils were used for both kitchen functions and washing up. Now that their living conditions had improved, it was naturally better to have separate utensils. Without waiting for Madam Liu to reply, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Regarding those tworge wooden buckets Our water tank isnt big enough. In the future, other than filling up the water tank, Ill get some extra water and leave it in the buckets. Also, when I finish weaving the and catch some fish, these tworge wooden buckets will be useful sooner orter. By then, she hoped to use one of the big wooden buckets to store the fish and send it to Fortune Mansion to sell for money. When Madam Liu heard that her daughter-inw had nned everything thoroughly, she didnt say anything anymore. Alright. I know you just want to save money. I know Mothers good intentions. Qin Xiaoyao smiled sweetly at Madam Liu and quickly walked over to her. This is our familys new money-making n. Mother, please help me take a look. As she spoke, she handed the paper in her hand to Madam Liu. Madam Liu epted it doubtfully. When she saw the contents of the paper, she was shocked. This her daughter-inw had actually gone to Fortune Mansion to inquire about the prices of various goods. Mother, take a look and see what kind of goods are suitable for us to take in? The quality of our handcart is very good. I think it wont be a problem to pull a thousand catties at one go. She saw Madam Liu looking at her in shock, even with some fear. Qin Xiaoyao smiled in embarrassment. Hehe! Im just saying its possible, but I am not really prepared to pull so much goods, she quickly added. She wanted to bring this much, but whether Fortune Mansion would ept so much was a different question. Only then did Madam Lius expression rx somewhat. After that, Madam Liu looked at the price list and said, If you really want to get goods from the vigers, youll have to choose those with high profits. For example, this fresh edible fungus and mushroom. These are all goods from the mountains. If the vigers go into the mountains to get them, they dont have to spend any capital. If you offer one copper coin, its already a good price. We can then flip them for two copper coins per catty. Although there are a lot of edible fungi and mushrooms in the mountains, its still very difficult to get a lot at once. If the quantity isnt a lot, folks are toozy to go to town to sell them, but they cant sell to the vige either. So, theyll be happy to offload them to you, despite the lower price. There are also the children in the vige. They are usually idle, so if they know they can find mountain goods to exchange for money, they will definitely participate actively. Madam Liu gave her analysis. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Mother, you have a point. As for the mountain goods, well buy them all, like mushrooms, fresh edible fungus, and fresh bamboo shoots. The price will be standardized at one copper coin per catty. Sure. Madam Liu agreed with her proposal. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and said, But we might not be able to get these things every day, so we have to take in some farm vegetables too. Even if the profit is lower, its still worthwhile for us to send them to Fortune Mansion and exchange them for money. Sure, but its not advisable to take in too much, Madam Liu said. Fortune Mansion only offers one copper coin per catty for ordinary vegetables. Their demand might not be that great either. Also, we have to try to keep the vegetables fresh. For example, if we go to town tomorrow, we should only take in the vegetables tonight. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Chapter 66 - 66 Chapter 66: Causing Trouble 66 Chapter 66: Causing Trouble From now on, well harvest the vegetables the night before and send them off the next day. As for the unit price, one copper coin for two catties. Moreover, we only collect a hundred catties every two days. More than that, we will not ept. Yes, Madam Liu replied. A hundred catties could only earn them 50 copper coins, but it was not a small amount nheless. Weve just started, so lets follow this arrangement and take it slow, Madam Liu said as she patted Qin Xiaoyaos arm. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up in a smile. Alright. Well do as Mother says! She said in a petnt manner. Her mother-inw was just a little soft-hearted and kind, but she was actually quite thoughtful and thorough. She could even read and do math. In this ancient era, she could be considered a talent. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao and Madam Liu began to discuss the specific details of the operation. Theres no need to go to each house to inform them either. Ill bring some things to the vige chiefs house after dinner. Then, Ill ask your Aunt Li to help spread the news in the vige, and everyone will know about this. Previously, her daughter-inw had asked the vige chiefs wife to help promote the straw sandals, and the effect was very good. It had only been a few days, but almost the entire vige now knew that they sold straw sandals. Moreover, there were many people who came to buy the straw sandals. Once again, Qin Xiaoyao admired her mother-inws wisdom. Alright! Then Ill have to trouble Mother for this! What trouble? Its all for the good of the family. As Madam Liu spoke, she looked at her daughter-inw with heartache. But it has been hard on you, though. Even though we have a handcart now, you still have to take it easy when transporting things. Take care not to injure yourself. In the whole family, her daughter-inw was indeed the one who had it the hardest. Whether it was going into the mountains or going to town, she hardly had any leisure time. And it was all physically demanding work. Dont worry, Mother. I know how to take care of myself! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. She then went to the stove to start the fire. Time passed by in a hurry. With Aunt Lis promotion, within two days, the entire Brook Falls Vige knew that the Song family was selling straw sandals and coborating with Fortune Mansion. Eldest Son Songs wife had even bought a sturdy handcart and would deliver goods to Fortune Mansion every two days. Now, they had even started to purchase goods in the vige. After hearing the news, some of the vigers in Brook Falls Vige were envious, while others were jealous. However, no matter what, this was a good thing for the vigers. They could sell the vegetables from the fields they couldnt finish eating for some money now. Those who wanted to sell things but didnt want to go to town or couldnt bear to pay the entrance fee could also negotiate with the Song family and sell their stuff to them at a lower price. As long as they could reach an agreement, both sides would benefit. As a result, to the surprise of the Song family, they not only started a business of buying mountain products and vegetables but also got involved with some poultry and hunted prey. After a period of time, there were even people who came up to them, asking the Song family to help them buy stuff. They said that they were willing to pay them to buy things from town on their behalf. Of course, they werent small items, but rather some of the heavier ones. Madam Liu did not agree to all of these. Instead, she took into consideration her daughter-inws situation and only agreed to some of their requests when feasible. For this reason, while Madam Liu gained the favor of most of the vigers, she also offended some people. Take for example, Aunt Wang from next door. Ever since Aunt Wang quarreled with Qin Xiaoyao the other day and was forced to return the rice, noodle flour and money, she had hated the Song family. During this period of time, she witnessed the Song familys situation getting better and better. Not only did the fragrant smell of meat waft out from time to time, but they also bought a handcart. She was jealous and full of hate. Even so, she only dared to scold the Song family behind closed doors. She didnt dare to go up against Qin Xiaoyao. The vigers were talking about the Song family more and more frequently, and many people even sent things to the Song family to sell and earn money. On this day, Aunt Wang finally couldnt sit still anymore. After harvesting about 50 catties of vegetables in the field, she went to the Song family. To her surprise, Madam Liu actually refused to ept her vegetables. Didnt you guys say to collect vegetables the day before you enter the town? I only went to the field to harvest them in order to sell them to your family. And I harvested so much! Yet, now I cant sell them to you just because you said you dont want them? Aunt Wang roared at Madam Liu. Madam Liu got a little scared and subconsciously took a step back. During the days when she was epting vegetables, she hade across some difficult people too, but everything was resolved amicably after some reasoning. Only this Aunt Wang made her a bit fearful. Mrs. Wang, its not like that Because our Sanya only sends 100 catties of farm vegetables to Fortune Mansion every time. If you want to sell vegetables, you have toe to my ce one day in advance to register. This is the only way to ensure that we dont exceed the amount. The quantity were collecting today is already full, so your she exined. Whats full? I think you just dont like me and wont ept my vegetables! Your Song family has risen bytching onto Fortune Mansion, and now youre arrogant, right? Aunt Wangs loud, sharp voice rose to the sky and was so loud that many people nearby heard it. Hence, Madam Liu lowered her voice and tried to persuade her. Weve indeed collected enough vegetables for tomorrow. How about this? You clean up these vegetables and remove the withered leaves. Well take half of them. Beyond that, we really cant take any more. What? I still have to remove the withered leaves? And you are only epting half? Your Song family is a blood-sucking n! You suck the blood of our fellow vigers to fatten yourself up! Unfortunately, Aunt Wang not only refused to ept Madam Lius goodwill gesture, but she also yelled even louder. At this point, though Madam Liu was a mild-tempered person, she became infuriated as well. Just as she was about to refute, she heard her daughter-inws furious voiceing from outside the courtyard. Suck your mothers blood! Even if I, Qin Sanya, wanted to suck blood, I would look down on yours, you old bitch! As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Liu saw her daughter-inw charge in from outside the courtyard like a grizzly bear. Then, she walked briskly to the front of Aunt Wang and yanked her up with one hand. Ah! Qin Sanya, what are you doing? Murder! Help me! The Song family is going to kill me! Aunt Wang cried out in rm and screamed loudly. Her screaming made Qin Xiaoyao really annoyed. She tried her best to suppress the rage in her heart. Shut up! she warned. Help! Ah help! Auntie Wang was already scared out of her wits, so how could she shut up? Instead, she screamed even louder. Qin Xiaoyao felt even more irritated. Without paying any attention to her mother-inws attempt to stop her, she grabbed Aunt Wang and stomped out of the courtyard. Then, she threw her out of the courtyard like trash. Aunt Wang fell to the ground and instantly felt a sharp pain in her butt. She finally came back to her senses and looked at the Song familys courtyard in fear. Eventually, she saw a viger nearbye over and realized that other people had seen her in this miserable state. The fear in her heart was instantly drowned out by her resentment. Aunt Wang had just calmed down and was ready to cry and make a scene so that the vigers would stand up for her. At the same time, she could extort a sum of money for her medical expenses. Qin Xiaoyao reappeared at the entrance with an ominous look, carrying Aunt Wangs bamboo basket backpack of vegetables. From now on, our Song family will not ept anything from the Wang family! Take your things and get lost! With that, Qin Xiaoyao tossed out the backpack as well. Chapter 67 - 67 Chapter 67: Dealing with Jealousy 67 Chapter 67: Dealing with Jealousy Aunt Wang sat on the ground in shock. When the surrounding vigers saw this scene, they were also quite frightened. Then, they all started to me Qin Xiaoyao. Seeing this, Aunt Wang knew that she had the upper hand in public opinion, so she immediately pped the ground and began wailing. Boo hoo hoo what sin have Imitted! Im kind enough to send vegetables to your house, yet you guys just refuse to ept it! And youre still picking on me! We are fellow vigers, yet your Song family insists on making things difficult for an old woman like me? Boo hoo hoo... Boo hoo hoo theres no justice in this world! Her shrill voice cut through the air, making the surrounding people more and more agitated. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows when she saw this. She really wanted to rush over and kick that unreasonable old bitch to death, but after thinking about it, she decided to endure her. All of you, shut up! she bellowed out. Her voice reverberated so strongly that it suppressed Aunt Wangs crying and the sound of surrounding discussions. At this moment, an elderly woman suddenly stood up and said, Eldest Son Songs wife... She wanted to persuade Qin Xiaoyao. However, when Qin Xiaoyao shot her a sharp look, the other party stopped in her tracks and didnt dare toe closer. You sigh! Shes still your aunt after all. Youre so Though the elderly woman didnt show it on her face, she still voiced out her thoughts even though she was a little afraid of Qin Xiaoyao. The chilliness in Qin Xiaoyaos eyes grew even colder. What aunt? Shes a trouble-making bitch! Qin Xiaoyao paid no attention to the shocked expressions of the people around her after they heard her vulgarities. She pointed at the basket of vegetables she had thrown outside. Ive already made it clear when I collect vegetables. First, the quality of the vegetables had to pass the quality test. It had to be at least on par with the quality of the vegetables on the market. Second, you need to tell me in advance before you can sell farm vegetables. This person didnt even give us a heads up before barging in here with the vegetables. Also, everyone, take a look. What kind of vegetables did she bring? Everyone then looked at Aunt Wangs vegetables. They found that these vegetables had indeed not been sorted out, and the withered leaves had not been removed. Such vegetables were sent to my house, and you even wanted us to ept them? Do you think were fools? Qin Xiaoyao red at Aunt Wang in anger. You you have cut the price of the vegetables by half. Why should I only sell you the good vegetable? Seeing that the way the crowd looked at her had changed, Auntie Wang rebutted. Qin Xiaoyao almostughed out of anger when she heard her words. So, Im not allowed to earn a single coin from you, and Im supposed to deliver the vegetables to Fortune Mansion for free? Before Aunt Wang could reply, Qin Xiaoyaos face darkened again. What Im supposed to do is, waste my energy to help you sort out the vegetables, then spend the effort to push the vegetables from the vige to the town early in the morning, and then hand them over to Fortune Mansion at my own loss? With that, Qin Xiaoyao kicked Aunt Wangs basket. If you dont like the fact that Im earning this 5% per catty, you can carry the vegetables into town and pay for the entrance fee yourself, then go to Fortune Mansion or the market to sell them. Try and see if Fortune Mansion is willing to ept your goods. Also, you can see if you can sell all of them at one copper per catty! As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she looked at the people around him. Its the same for all the neighbors. If you feel that the Song family should not earn this money, you can choose not to sell the vegetables to the Song family. I, Qin Sanya, will never force you to buy or sell! As soon as these words came out, the people who were watching the show retreated a little. Some of them were indeed jealous of the Song family using this method to earn money. However, after thinking through carefully, firstly, Qin Sanya had connections with Fortune Mansion. Secondly, she had to put in the effort to send the goods into town, so she was not just sitting idly, collecting money. In short, it was only right for them to earn this money. That may be true, but Song familys daughter-inw she is still your senior. Youre just a junior... The elderly woman stepped forward again. Before she could finish her sentence, Qin Xiaoyao shot another nce at her and made her shut up again. What senior and junior? Whoeveres to my house to find trouble is one who needs to be taught a lesson! Grandma Wang, if you cant stand it, just donte to my house in the future! Also, donte to our house to sell your goods anymore. We dont want to earn your Wang familys money! That was right. This elderly woman was also from the Wang family. Moreover, she was Aunt Wangs mother-inw. However, she was now living in Second Uncle Wangs house, which was not far from Aunt Wangs house. She stood up for Aunt Wang, not because she felt that her eldest daughter-inw was right, but because she couldnt stand Qin Xiaoyao, a junior, bullying a senior and causing the Wang family to lose face. Nevertheless, she didnt expect Qin Xiaoyao not to extend her any courtesy, and blurted out these words. As soon as Qin Xiaoyao said these words, old Grandma Wangs expression changed. The same goes for the rest of you. If you dont like the Song family, you dont have to sell your goods to us. Qin Xiaoyao continued. This was the second time she had expressed this intention. When I first decided to collect goods in the vige, my original intention was to make things convenient for our neighbors and earn a bit of money for ourbor. But since someone is getting jealous, then dont me me for turning them away. To put it bluntly, whether its selling straw sandals at a low price or purchasing the mountain products and vegetables from the vigers, Im doing all this for the sake of the vigers. Otherwise, if I lower the price a little and go to the nearby Brook Rise Vige to collect mountain products and vegetables, I dont have to worry about not being able to get them. It just takes a bit more effort. If we take a step back, even if the Song family doesnt do this business anymore, with my familys skill in weaving straw sandals and my harvests from the mountains, I dont have to worry about not being able to make money. As soon as she said this, some peoples expressions changed. Gosh, Sanya! Dont lower yourself to the same level as those petty-minded people. Were all here to support your family in this business. A woman stood out and said. Thats right! If we cant finish eating the vegetables from the fields, it takes a lot of effort to send them to town, and then we may not be able to sell all of them off. Rather than feeding them to livestock or letting them rot in the ground, its better to send them to your house for some money! Another woman said. And the mountain goods in the mountains too. If we pick them on the way while doing other stuff, we can still exchange them for money at your house. How can we not be happy? With your rtionship with Fortune Mansion, youve been collecting goods and running errands for everyone. Its only right for you to make some money! Theres no need to care about those who are jealous! In an instant, the direction of public opinion changed drastically. It was mainly because some people had long disliked Aunt Wang. They also heard what Qin Xiaoyao said just now. It seemed like the Wang family had the intention of stirring up anger among the vigers. They couldnt hold their peace anymore and began to speak up for justice. The few women who stood out to speak were the ones who hade to the Song family to sell vegetables these few days. Some of their family members had evene to the Song family to sell mountain products. They had just enjoyed the benefits and felt they could work with the Song family for a long time. How could they allow the Song family to stop this business? You you guys... Old Grandma Wang was so angry that she wanted to faint. Qin Xiaoyao didnt take her seriously. Fellow Aunts and Sisters-inw, its good that you all can understand! Our Song family still wees all of you reasonable fellow vigers. Fellow Aunts and Sisters-inw, if youre still willing to sell the vegetables to our Song family, you can still send them over. Of course, the rules are the same as before. First, the quality of the vegetables must pass the test. Second, you have to make an appointment in advance if you want to sell farm vegetables. Chapter 68 - 68 Chapter 68: Century Egg Business 68 Chapter 68: Century Egg Business No problem! Well all follow the rules! someone replied. Thats right. Whoever didnt follow the rules and tried to cut the queue or pester endlessly, you can just ignore her, Sanya! someone else said. As she spoke, she deliberately red at Aunt Wang. As soon as she said that, someone else suddenly remembered. Not only did this Aunt Wang want to force a deal, but she also wanted to cut the queue? If she really seeded in cutting the queue, the people in front of her would be pushed to the back. At the thought of this, everyones dislike for Aunt Wang deepened. Qin Xiaoyao finally had a smile on her face. Thank you for your understanding, fellow Aunts and Sisters-inw. She also thanked everyone for upholding justice. Qin Xiaoyao only entered the house after everyone had left. After everyone had left, Aunt Wang finally realized what had happened. Just as she was about to cry and make a big fuss, someone suddenly grabbed her arm. She turned around and saw that it was her husband. Stop embarrassing yourself and go home! Wang Laoshuan said helplessly. Second Uncle Wang and Second Aunt Wang also came over. They looked at their eldest sister-inw and mother, frowning non-stop. The Song family didnt provoke or offend them. Why did these two have toe to the Song familys house to make things difficult? Now, the Song family had said that they would not take the Wang familys goods in the future. The vegetables in the fields and the mountain products that their children got from the mountains could not be sold for money now. Very quickly, Aunt Wang and old Grandma Wang were taken away. The Song familys courtyard finally returned to silence. At this moment, in the Song familys courtyard. The mother and children trio, as well as Big Girl Li, were worshiping Qin Xiaoyao with reverence. Yes, they were worshiping. The mother and children trio were actually a little scared at first, especially when they heard Qin Xiaoyao scolding people. However, very soon after that, they were no longer afraid. On the contrary, they felt admiration and pride. Their daughter-inw, also sister-inw, was protecting them. It felt good to have a pir of support at home. Mother Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu and called out. She was worried that she had frightened Madam Liu. Im here. Unexpectedly, Madam Liu smiled at her. Qin Xiaoyaos face froze for a moment before a smile broke out on her face. In the future, dont ept any more goods from the Wang family. Also, if anyone dares to speak rudely, theres no need to take their goods either. You have to let me know if you encounter such a situation. Qin Xiaoyao said, then she gazed at Song Yun too. The mother and daughter duo smiled and nodded. We know! Qin Xiaoyao finally felt relieved when she saw the mother and daughter duos beaming smiles. Er Im hungry. Mother, why not... Oh, Ill cook now! Madam Liu said with a smile. Then, she turned around and went into the kitchen. Ill help! Song Yun smiled and ran after her mother. Me too! Song Ye also chimed in and followed his sister into the kitchen. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the mother and children trios backs and couldnt help but smile again. Seeing this, Big Girl Li scurried to Qin Xiaoyaos side. Sister Sanya, you were so awesome just now! She gave Qin Xiaoyao a big thumbs up. Qin Xiaoyaoughed and pressed down on Big Girl Lis thumb. Alright, lets weigh the Chinese yams. After that, you should go back early too. Hehe! Okay! After weighing the Chinese yams, Qin Xiaoyao gave the money to Big Girl Li before letting her leave. After that, she went to the courtyard and continued to weave the fishing before it got dark. Ever since the ramie thread had been made, she would weave some portion of the fishing every day, and now she was in the final stage. When she returned from town the next day, her fishing would be ready to go into the water. It just so happened that she and Big Girl had almostpleted searching that whole mountain. In the future, if Chinese yams were not easy to find and their earnings decreased, she could still use fishing to supplement their ie. As she thought about this, Qin Xiaoyao was filled with motivation once more. During dinner, Qin Xiaoyao told her family about her n to cast the fishing in the river the next day. Its not so easy to catch fish in the river. But since youve finished weaving the, you can go and try. However, you have to let Big Girl go with you. When you go into the river, you must pay attention to safety. Madam Liu reminded her. I know, Mother. Qin Xiaoyao promised her. In addition, Big Girl and I have almostpleted searching that mountain. The next time we go into the mountain, we may not be able to find any more Chinese yams. Therefore, Im thinking we may have to think of other ways to increase our ie. Madam Liu looked at her daughter-inw. What are your thoughts? she asked. Her daughter-inw was a resourceful person. Since she said this, she must have thought of something. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. I want to make some century eggs to sell, she said. She had already learned that no one in this era, or rather, in Mountain Spring Town, knew how to make century eggs. The century egg had a unique vor and tasted great when it was made into a dish. If it was sent to Fortune Mansion, they would definitely like it. Century eggs? Madam Liu was puzzled. Yes. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. That means we process the chicken or duck eggs to make them solid. The century eggs have a unique vor, so Fortune Mansion will definitely ept them. Seeing that her daughter-inw was full of confidence, Madam Liu quickly chose to believe her. Sure. Then lets buy some eggs to try. You can teach Yuner and me how to do it. We can help out together when were free, Madam Liu said. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Theres no hurry at the moment. Well start preparing tomorrow after I go to town and buy the tools. However, for the chicken and duck eggs, you can start collecting them tomorrow. In the past, their family didnt take in chicken and duck eggs because the vigers were unwilling to sell them as their price was too low. If the price was too high, they might incur losses on the way to town as the chicken and duck eggs were fragile. Madam Liu paused for a while. Then, she asked her daughter-inw, How much do you want to take in? Take as much as you can. For chicken eggs, we give eight copper coins for ten, and for duck eggs, twelve copper coins. Its fine as long as the price is two copper coins lower than the market price. No limit? Madam Liu was a little worried. What if she took in too much, and they were stuck with all these eggs? The eggs were not cheap. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Dont worry. Not everyone is willing to sell their eggs to us. Im afraid we wont be able to collect too many eggs in a day. Well buy them at this price first. Collect as much as we can. Anyway, once the century eggs are covered up, it will take at least 30 days before the eggs can be sold. Were destined to have to invest a lot in this business. It was because of this that she had been holding back and did not pay back the five taels of silver she had borrowed from her father. Her family had nond, and her ie from going into the mountains and fishing was not stable. Although she could earn some money by reselling mountain products and farm vegetables, the money was too little. This was especially so now when the Chinese yams were almost all dug out. The business of Chinese Toon shoots could onlyst until the end of spring. And the profit from selling straw sandals was too low. She wanted to improve her familys situation as soon as possible, so she had to find another way out. And selling century eggs might be a good idea. She could buy the chicken and duck eggs directly, but she could make the mud paste to cover the eggs herself. By then, even if she didnt go into the mountains anymore, she could still make money by making century eggs at home. 30 days? Madam Lius expression became worried again. Chapter 69 - 69 Chapter 69: The Plan to Build a House 69 Chapter 69: The n to Build a House Qin Xiaoyao smiled and patted her mother-inws arm. Dont worry. I have confidence in century eggs. Seeing that Madam Liu was still worried, Qin Xiaoyao continued, The cost should be kept within six taels of silver. When the first batch of century eggs is sold and we make money, the rest will be easy. Madam Liu was shocked. Six taels? She stared at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Well use six taels of silver as capital to buy the eggs. After a month, the profit will at least double. By then, we can earn at least six taels a month by selling century eggs. Both Madam Liu and Song Yun were stunned. Once the century egg business gets on track, Ill pay back the money I owe my father. Then we can save money to build a house. This time, the mother and children trio were shocked. Well build the house at the start of autumn and rush toplete the house before the weather turns cold. This way, this winter, our family will no longer have to be afraid. In Mountain Spring Town, it would snow in winter, and sometimes there were blizzards. Once the snow became heavy, the roof beams of the thatched huts might not be able to support it. In the past, there had been cases of vigers houses being crushed by snow. She didnt want this to happen to her family. Besides, Yuner and Yeer are all grown up. Its not convenient for them to stay in the same room with Mother. Well build a room for them to live alone. Even if it was a thatched hut, the rooms in their house were very limited. Yuner was now sleeping in the same bed as Qin Xiaoyaos mother-inw. Although Yeer had his own small bed, it was still ced in the mother-inws room. There was only a straw curtain separating the two beds. There was almost no privacy. The matter of building a house had to be resolved sooner orter. Madam Lius heart trembled. Building building a house would require a lot of silver, she stuttered. Before the childrens father passed away, they had also discussed the matter of building a house. Although their familys situation was better at that time, they still couldnt gather enough money to build the house. Now that the family was in such a state, her daughter-inw made such big ns. Moreover, she actually felt that her daughter-inw was very confident of getting this done. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up in a smile. When ites to building houses, there are expensive construction methods, and then there are cheap construction methods. However, well have to live in the house for decades after it is built. So I want to build it as well as possible and have everything done right from the outset. I dont want to waste money on renovation and reconstructionter. Then how much would that cost? Madam Liu asked excitedly. Hmm If you want to build one with masonry bricks and roof tiles, youll need at least a hundred taels. In truth, she had not inquired about the price, but a hundred taels of silver converted to the purchasing power before the apocalypse was almost equivalent to a hundred thousand dors. For building houses in farming viges, many materials could be excavated from the mountains, and thebor required to build houses was cheaper to hire. Perhaps a hundred taels of silver would be sufficient to get the job done. Of course, if it didnt work, she could change her objectives at that point. In short, she set her goal at a hundred first and would think of ways to earn money. A hundred hundred taels of silver? Madam Lius eyes widened. She had discussed with the childrens father before, and the most they had calcted was forty-five taels of silver. Her daughter-inw was really Theres no need to build such a good one. Based on the wooden structure of the house next door, which has seven to eight rooms, it would only take about forty to fifty silver taels to build. Madam Liu reminded her. Well see. When we have more money, well build it better. If we dont have enough money, wooden houses will do too. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu with a smile andforted her. However, she was thinking inwardly that since she was going to build it, she might as well build a good one. It was only April now. If they were going to start work in September, there were still about five months left. If she worked a little harder and the whole family worked together, it was not impossible to save enough money to build a house. Alright. Madam Liu agreed and nodded her head. At the same time, she made up her mind. From now on, she had to be more diligent together with her daughter, to cooperate with her daughter-inw. It was night. As soon as Qin Xiaoyao entered the room, Song Que looked at her. After more than half a month of recuperation, Song Ques leg was much better now. He was also in much better spirits, and his attitude toward Qin Xiaoyao improved a lot. As for Qin Xiaoyao, after she disyed her powerful adaptability, she no longer lost herposure in front of Song Que as easily as before. Hubby Qin Xiaoyao called out and even smiled at Song Que. Song Que waved at her without hesitation. Why are you sote tonight? There was even a hint of concern in his voice. Oh, the fishing needs some finishing work, so I weaved it with Mother and Yuner for a while. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao went to the bedside. ... Then, she blew out the light and went to bed. Lets continue. Its time to talk about the Womens Kingdom, she added. Song Que had tried to prop himself up, but he quicklyy back down to listen to the story obediently. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao begin to narrate. As the story goes, Buddhist monk Sanzang and his disciples left the vige and headed west. After traveling for less than thirty to forty miles, they finally arrived at the border of Western Liang In the dark of the night, Qin Xiaoyaos voice was particrly melodious and captivating. Song Que was quickly immersed in Qin Xiaoyaos story. An hourter, when Qin Xiaoyao reached the part where Monk Tang and his disciples bid farewell to the King of Womens Kingdom and continued their journey to the west, Song Que even felt a sense of loss. In the Journey to the West, Monk Tang and his disciples went through 81 obstacles before they finally obtained the true Scripture. Everyone said that the easiest obstacle to pass was the Womens Kingdom. What do you think, Hubby? Qin Xiaoyao suddenly asked. Song Que was taken aback, and he snapped out of his daze. His eyes wavered. ... After a long time, he replied, Dont dont you think so? Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and looked in Song Ques direction for the first time in the dark night. Unfortunately, even with her good eyesight, she could not see any other expression on Song Ques face other than confusion. She felt a little disappointed. Then, Qin Xiaoyao turned her head back. I guess so. Its time to sleep, she said indifferently. With that, she closed her eyes. Song Que felt a sudden jolt in his heart, and a strange sense of guilt rose from the bottom of his heart. He turned over and closed his eyes. After daybreak, when Song Que opened his eyes and woke up, Qin Xiaoyao was no longer there. After that, Qin Xiaoyao didnte to help him wash up. After asking, he found out that Qin Xiaoyao had already left for town with Big Girl Li. Song Que was a little shocked when he heard his sister prattling to him about her sister-inws n to build a house for the family at the beginning of autumn. After the shock, he realized that the sense of guilt in his heart had be stronger. After Song Yun left, Song Que angrily punched the bed. Damn it! That woman didnt talk to him about such a major thingst night? At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao, who had just finished delivering the goods to Fortune Mansion, didnt know any of this. She packed some straw sandals for Big Girl Li and asked her to help distribute the sandals to Qin Dazhuang and Aunt Li. Then, she pushed the cart and took the rest of the straw sandals to the market on South Street. That was right. She was no longer selling her straw sandals in the market on West Street whenever she came to town. The main reason was to reduce thepetition with her father and Aunt Li. In Mountain Spring Town, the markets on South Street and North Street were actually very lively. She took turns selling at these two markets, and the straw sandals were sold off quite quickly. Chapter 70 - 70 Chapter 70: Decided to Pay Back the Money 70 Chapter 70: Decided to Pay Back the Money When she arrived at the market on South Street, Qin Xiaoyao found a ce to park the handcart, then opened her mouth and began to yell. The straw sandals, which were worth four copper coins each, were sold very quickly due to their good workmanship. When the straw sandals were sold out, she did not stay any longer and pushed the handcart directly to Cirrus Loft Bookstore to help Song Que hand in the books he had finished copying. At the same time, she would also get new book-copying jobs and buy the necessary writing material as needed. After that, Qin Xiaoyao proceeded to the market on West Street to look for her father and meet up with Big Girl Li. If she needed to buy vegetables or other items, she would go to the market on West Street to buy them or buy them from some grocery stores along the way. Today, she bought some things along the way in preparation for making the century eggs. As it took some effort to find the things she needed, when she arrived at the market on West Street, the market was almost closing. Big Girl Li had been waiting at Qin Dazhuangs ce for a long time. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao appear, she finally felt relieved. Sister Sanya, youre finally here. I almost thought you had forgotten about me! Big Girl Li grumbled as she put her belongings on the handcart. An apologetic look shed across Qin Xiaoyaos face. How can I? Even if I forget anyone, I cant forget you! she said with a smile. I went to buy something and was dyed. Have you bought all the things you wanted? she asked Big Girl Li. All done. Wee to town every other day anyway. Theres nothing much to buy today, Big Girl Li replied. You, on the other hand, can tell me in advance if you have anything you want to buy next time. I can help you buy them, just in case youete, and the market is almost closed. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Well see. I wasnt nning to buy much today. At that moment, Qin Dazhuang returned with a few big bones and was about to put them into Qin Xiaoyaos backpack on the handcart. Father, what are you doing? Qin Xiaoyao immediately called out to stop him. Qin Dazhuang ignored her. The meat on these bones has practically been shaved off. Your aunt will find it troublesome to make soup even if I take them back. You can bring them back. Itll save me the trouble of finding a ce to throw it, he said. Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile, her eyes full of envy. Her Uncle Qin was helping Sister Sanya again. What was he talking about, throwing away bones without meat? Even without meat, there was still bone marrow in the bones. Even with this kind of bone, he could pack it up and sell it for six or seven copper coins, and he wouldnt have to worry about people not wanting it. Notwithstanding other people, if he gave it to Big Girl Li, she would definitely take it. She could take it back, add some vegetables and boil the bone to make soup. It would be very nourishing. How could Qin Xiaoyao not know what her fathers intention was? She knew it was useless to refuse, so she did not stop Qin Dazhuang anymore. Then, she saw that there was still a piece of meat left in Qin Dazhuangs stall. She opened her mouth to ask Qin Dazhuang to weigh that piece of meat for her. Qin Dazhuang nced at his daughter and reached out to take the meat. Two catties. After weighing it, he told her the weight. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly said, Two catties and two taels. Qin Dazhuang was stunned. He turned around and saw his daughter staring at his scale. Evidently, his little trick had been discovered by his daughter. Qin Xiaoyao continued, 10 copper coins per catty of lean meat, so thats 22 copper coins in total. She immediately took out the money. Qin Dazhuang looked a little embarrassed but still took the money. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao take the meat and put it into her bamboo basket backpack. After that, she said goodbye to her father and went back to Brook Falls Vige with Big Girl Li. After they left town, Big Girl Li asked Qin Xiaoyao about her situation since she didnt talk much. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao tell her what was on her mind. Previously, our family was in trouble, so I asked my father to loan me five taels of silver to treat my husbands legs. My husbands condition is much better now, and the medicine he needs is less. We can also deliver goods to Fortune Mansion regrly, so were actually quite well-off. I have money to pay off my debts. Then just pay back so that Aunt wont make things difficult for our Uncle Qin! Big Girl Li said. She had been working with Sister Sanya for so long, and she had also seen Sister Sanyas stepmother. The stepmother couldnt really be considered a bad person, but she always spoke in a strange manner and seemed to be quite fierce to their Uncle Qin. Now, she finally understood the reason. It turned out that not only did her Uncle Qin subsidize Sister Sanya, but he also lent her five taels of silver. To be honest, putting aside her sisterly friendship with her Sister Sanya, in her opinion, it was not unreasonable for Sister Sanyas stepmother to lose her temper. After all, she was carrying the Qin familys child now, and she had to think for the baby in her stomach. Qin Xiaoyao muttered in her heart. Yeah, she responded. ... Forget it. She had to find another way to earn the capital for the century egg business. She didnt need to collect all the eggs at once, so she didnt need to take out six taels of silver in one shot. With their familys current situation, they could actually gather this amount of money. Due to the matter of her borrowing money, her father was now unable to raise his head in front of Aunt Zhang. As a daughter, she couldnt be too cruel. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyaos heart rxed. The next time Ie to town, Ill go to the Qin family to pay back the money. If she returned the money in front of Aunt Zhang, she could return to her familys house with her head held high in the future. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyaos mood had improved, Big Girl Li smiled. Uh-huh! Sister Sanya is mighty! Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li with an amused smile. ... In what way am I mighty? Big Girl Li was stunned. Her mind spun rapidly. The way you dealt with that shrewst night. You were so mighty and overpowering! Then, she gave Qin Xiaoyao a thumbs-up in an exaggerated manner. She was indeed mighty! At that time, she had seen her Sister Sanya grab Aunt Wang up like a little chick. After that, in the face of Aunt Wangs crying and wailing, and with so many vigers watching, her Sister Sanya had said those words in an overbearing manner again. If it were her, even if she had Sister Sanyas strength, she would not have the courage to fight with Aunt Wang. She had even less guts to say those words that came after that. Pfft! Pfft! Qin Xiaoyao burst intoughter when she recalled the farce fromst night. If people dont offend me, I wont offend them. If she wants to give me trouble, then dont me me for taking action. In fact, that Aunt Wang should count her lucky stars. If this had happened in her previous life, Aunt Wang would have died twice. Hehe! Thats true! Big Girl Li agreed. In the future, if anyone dared to bully her, she would return the favor. If she didnt have the ability, then she would look for her Sister Sanya! Her Sister Sanya was her guardian angel! The two of them chatted for a while, and Big Girl Li mentioned the matter of digging up Chinese yams. At this rate, well be able to finish searching that whole mountain for Chinese yams by tomorrow. Sister Sanya, are we still going into the mountain after that? She couldnt be med for asking such a question. After all, they had gone into the mountains for so long. Apart from Chinese yam and Chinese Toon trees, they didnt find anything else in the mountains that could be sold for money. It would be great if they could find more Chinese yams in other mountains. However, luck was not something that could be easily determined. Well still go, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Forget about the inner regions of the mountains. We still have to take a look around the few mountains on the outskirts. Its good if we can find something. Otherwise Qin Xiaoyao paused. Otherwise, what? Big Girl Li asked. Lets use a different way to earn money. Big Girl Li was surprised. What way? she looked at Qin Xiaoyao quizzically. Chapter 71 - 71 Chapter 71: Plan 71 Chapter 71: n Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li with a smile. Im thinking of doing some business. Business? Big Girl Li looked puzzled. Yes. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. As she said that, she looked at the handcart she was pushing. Well use this handcart. Big Girl Li was still puzzled. Just like what I am doing in the vige now, Qin Xiaoyao exined. Ill buy goods at a low price, then raise the price, and sell them in town. In addition, we can also import some goods from the town and do business as a street vendor. Of course, we can forget about Brook Falls Vige. With this handcart, we can go further. We can go down the main road to other viges and make a few rounds there. This Big Girl Li began to understand somewhat, but she was a little worried that she couldnt do it. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li with a smile. In the early stages, well collect the goods personally to test the market. If this business can be done, you can ask your Daniu toe back and help. Big Girl Li was stunned. Then, her eyes were filled with joy. Didnt you say that you hated the fact that Daniu was working in town and couldnt stay at home to be with you every day? If hees back to help us, at least you two can see each other every day. Great! Big Girl Li immediately nodded. After that, Qin Xiaoyao started discussing the next step with Big Girl Li. Although it was called a discussion, it was actually just Qin Xiaoyao talking. Big Girl Li simply perked up her ears to listen. After knowing that Qin Xiaoyao had made so many ns, Big Girl Lis heart felt more at ease. She felt that even if she couldnt find any Chinese yams in the mountains, or if the business of Chinese Toon shoots had ended, she could still follow her Sister Sanya to make money. When they were about to reach Brook Falls Vige, she heard that Qin Xiaoyao had finished weaving the fishing, and they could go and cast the in the afternoon. Big Girl Li was happy again. Ill look for you after lunch. Lets go to River Ringwaters together! Big Girl Li said with some excitement. Alright! Qin Xiaoyao was also looking forward to it. Back at the Song familys house. Madam Liu had already prepared lunch. At the dinner table, before Qin Xiaoyao could say anything, Madam Liu told her about the situation of collecting eggs in the vige. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt surprised when she learned that Madam Liu had only received 30 eggs. Its fine. Just take as much as you can. In addition, if the quantity collected is low, it may be because not everyone knows that were starting to collect eggs. Theres no need to find someone to promote this to the outside world. If someonees to sell vegetables or mountain products, you can just tell them directly. The news in our vige spreads quickly, so everyone will know about this soon, Qin Xiaoyao said. Alright. Madam Liu agreed to her idea. Qin Xiaoyao paused for a moment and seemed to have thought of something. She turned to Madam Liu and asked, By the way, were there many people who came to our house this morning to make appointments to sell vegetables? Yesterdays incident with the Wang family It didnt affect us much, Madam Liu replied with a smile. In fact, there are even more people here today than before. They evenforted me and told me not to bother with the Wang familys mother and daughter-inw. Now that she thought about it, this was the first time the vigers had cared so much about Madam Liu and said these words to her. Although she knew those people were only telling her these things because they wanted to sell more vegetables to their Song family, she still felt very relieved when she heard it. Qin Xiaoyao felt relieved to see her mother-inw smiling so happily. Thats good. In the future, when we interact with the vigers, we should have more dealings with those who are kind and good. If anyone tries to pick a fight with us, just tell me. We wont ept their goods in the future, and we wont have any more dealings with them. Okay! Madam Liu agreed with a smile. In the past, she had always thought that she should not offend the vigers easily, but the actions of her daughter-inw yesterday and the reactions of the vigers today changed her mindset totally. It wasnt a good thing to be constantly giving in and being weak. With her daughter-inw around, the Song family was different from before. Suddenly, Madam Liu asked Qin Xiaoyao, By the way, the vigers are all giving feedback to us, saying that its too little if we only collect 100 catties of vegetables every two days. They asked if we could collect more. There were quite a number of families selling vegetables to them in the vige. In order to allow more people a chance toe to their house to sell vegetables, Qin Xiaoyao set another rule. That rule was each family could only sell 20 catties of vegetables at a time, and only once every four days. However, even so, there were already more than 20 families who came to register and queue up to sell vegetables. Qin Xiaoyao was quite surprised. Then increase it by another 50 catties, she continued. Madam Lius face lit up. Great! Ill have Yeer go and inform two more familiester. Qin Xiaoyao nced at her mother-inw. Actually, Fortune Mansion had already informed me. They said that if I can go to town and deliver vegetables to them every day, theyll give me a quota of 150 catties of vegetables a day. Madam Liu was stunned. So much? she asked in surprise. ... Qin Xiaoyao nodded. The vegetables we send to town are all collected in the evening or evening of the previous day. If we send them to town early in the morning the next day, we can guarantee that the vegetables are fresh. Theres not much difference between Fortune Mansion arranging for staff to buy from the market and buying directly from us. Or rather, its more cost-effective to buy it from us, and its more convenient. With Uncle Zhao around, its not difficult for us to take control of this business. Madam Lius eyes wavered. Every household in our vige grows vegetables. It wont be a problem to gather 150 catties a day, she said immediately. ording to the current unit price, they could earn 5% per catty, so 150 catties would be 75 copper coins. In addition to the mountain products and the poultry that the vigers asionally came to sell, even if she didnt count the Chinese yams and Chinese Toon shoots, it wasnt difficult to make a hundred copper coins. It was more than a hundred copper coins. Even a strongborer wouldnt be able to earn that much money by doing hardbor. At this point, Madam Liu wished she could go to the town herself to help deliver the vegetables. The main thing was that this wasnt a one-time deal. It could be done on a long-term basis. ... However, she also knew that she couldnt do it at all. Her only regret was that her eldest sons leg had not healed. Otherwise, he could also help her daughter-inw. Sigh! Their familys manpower was still too limited. She was useless, and her eldest son was injured. Her daughter and youngest son were still young, so she could not count on them. Otherwise, with their daughter-inws ability, they did not need to hire outsiders to do things. That was right. From Madam Lius point of view, her daughter-inw had hired Big Girl Li and before that, Liu Daniu too, to work for her because theyckedbor at home. Of course, that was the truth. Qin Xiaoyao muttered to herself. Its hard to say whats going to happen in the mountains. But Ive already told Big Girl that well have to search the mountains on the outskirts of the deep mountain area. If we dont find anything valuable, Ill have to find another way out. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu. We have a handcart. When the timees, we can push the handcart around the viges and buy some goods. We should still be able to make some money. When the timees, if it is just me and Big Girl, we may not be able to handle it. However, Big Girl has already agreed. If the business can be done, she can ask her Daniu toe back and help. My n is to let the two of them, or Daniu alone, go to the countryside to collect and sell goods. Or I can bring Big Girl along and go to town to sell goods every day. Chapter 72 - 72 Chapter 72: Fishing 72 Chapter 72: Fishing Of course, not all of the items would be sold to Fortune Mansion. It was possible to set up a stall in the market or sell them to the grocery stores. Their familys straw sandals were a good example. If they could buy some bamboo at a low price in the countryside and make some bamboo products, they could also sell them together with their straw sandals. Simply put, she wanted to be a middleman. When Madam Liu heard this, she once again sighed that her family was powerless and could not help her daughter-inw. How about this? Selling another 150 catties of vegetables a day is not a small business. Ill ask Big Girls opinion in the afternoon and get her to ask her mother-inw if shes willing to let Erniu help. Ask him to help deliver goods to town every other day and pay him 30 copper coins for each delivery. In this way, they could at least earn another 45 copper coins. And 150 catties of vegetables didnt sound light. However, with the handcart, even a young boy like Erniu wouldnt need to exert much effort to push it. If he were fast, it would only take more than an hour to make a round trip. The earlier he set off, the earlier he coulde back, and their work in the fields would not be dyed either. Okay! Madam Liu replied. Although she regretted not being able to save the 30 copper coins, she still agreed with her daughter-inws approach. In addition Qin Xiaoyao suddenly paused. Madam Liu looked at her daughter-inw. In addition, I have thought about it, and I want to return the silver I borrowed from my father, Qin Xiaoyao said. Madam Liu was stunned. You should! Its better to return it earlier! she quickly said. She had actually wanted to bring this up to her daughter-inw before. After all, their family was much more well-off now. However, she didnt know how much money her daughter-inw had. Now that her daughter-inw had brought it up, she naturally had no objections. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Okay, Ill go to town the day after tomorrow and return the silver to my father. Her heart felt more at ease. The Song family had just finished eating when Big Girl Li came to the door. Then, the two of them took the fishing and went out. On the way, Qin Xiaoyao told Big Girl Li about her idea of engaging Liu Erniu to work for her. Sure! Its just a matter of one hour or so. Erniu and my mother will definitely agree! Big Girl Li quickly replied. Ill help you ask when we get back tonight! she said. Okay! Qin Xiaoyao only went into the water with the fishing when she arrived at the shallow mudts of the river at the upper reaches near the vige entrance. Then, she asked Big Girl Li to work with her and cast the over a section of the river. Qin Xiaoyao only got out of the river after she had finished putting the fishing in ce. Its done. Well see if we can get any fish tonight! Okay! Big Girl Li looked at the fishing with some anticipation. After that, she returned to the Song family with Qin Xiaoyao and headed into the mountains with her tools. In the afternoon, the two of them had harvested a total of more than 50 catties of Chinese yams and more than 10 catties of fresh edible fungus. As they were thinking of the fishing in the River Ringwaters, the two immediately returned to the vige after theypleted the excavation of the Chinese yams in the demarcated area. After returning to the Song familys house, they weighed their mountain harvests and split the money. After that, the two of them each carried arge wooden bucket and went to the bank of the River Ringwaters. Madam Liu and Qin Xiaoyao actually didnt think that there was a need for Big Girl Li to carry a wooden bucket as well. They didnt think it was possible to catch so many fish. However, Big Girl Li didnt listen, only saying that there might be a lot of fish. Since their persuasion fell on deaf ears, the mother and daughter-inw let her be. When they reached the river, Qin Xiaoyao was the first to go into the water. She then ordered Big Girl Li to go in as well and help her pull up the fishing. Although Big Girl Li was a woman, she was big-sized and strong, so she worked well with Qin Xiaoyao. The two of them only used about 15 minutes to reel in the fishing and haul it to the shore. There were five or six fish that weighed more than two catties in the. There were many crucian carps and small fishes too. This fishing can really catch fish! Sister Sanya, youre amazing! Big Girl Li quickly went to grab the biggest grass carp. Good grief! This grass carp must weigh more than four catties! Haha! We didnt waste our effort! Qin Xiaoyao chuckled and said She took a bucket and went to the river to get water. Then, together with Big Girl Li, they picked up the big fishes and the slightly bigger crucian carps, tossing them into the bucket. The rest of the small fish were picked up and tossed into another bucket. They were going to bring them back and directly drop them into the pot to make small fried fish. After a while, the two of them had picked up all the fish in the. Qin Xiaoyao then asked Big Girl Li to help her put the fishing back into the river. ... Then, the two of them each carried a wooden bucket and returned to the Song family. Sister Sanya, the fish we can sell added up to more than 20 catties. How much does Fortune Mansion pay for a catty? Big Girl Li asked Qin Xiaoyao excitedly as they walked. How could she not be excited? A single harvest from a fishing could yield more than 20 catties of fish. They could still pull in the fishing twice a day! Sister Sanya had said before that she could get 20% of the ie from the fish harvest. From here onwards, she was going to be rich again! It depends on the type and size. The price is between 10 to 14 copper coins, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. It was not a problem for them to earn more than two hundred copper coins from this fish harvest. It was a good start. As for whether the fishing would be able to produce as much as it did after that, it would depend on luck. Back at the Song familys house. When the mother and children trio saw that the two of them had brought back so many fishes, they were all ted. ... Mother, you can directly fry these small fishes. Ill give some to Big Girl for her to bring backter. Those that can be sold for money, well keep them in the stream. Ill personally send them to town tomorrow. With these fishes, it became necessary to make a trip to town every day. If it so happened that Erniu agreed to help with the delivery, she could bring him along to hand over the goods. Madam Liu immediately understood. Then I Ill have to get Yeer to quickly inform all the families to go to the fields and harvest the vegetables! she said. Yup! Qin Xiaoyao replied and then followed Big Girl Li to the stream. The two of them dug arge pit by the stream. Then, they made partitions and barricades to prevent the fishes from swimming out of the waterhole. By the time the two of them returned to the Song familys house, the fragrant smell of small deep-fried fish was already wafting out from the kitchen. Qin Xiaoyao brought Big Girl Li into the kitchen, took out two bowls, one big and one small, and gave them to Madam Liu to scoop out the fried small fishes. Then, under Big Girl Lis unwavering gaze, she handed her the small bowl of small fishes. Be careful. Its a little hot. Big Girl Li quickly took it. I know! Then, she adjusted the way she held the bowl. Then Ill go back now! After Ive asked my mother and Erniu, Ille back to give you a reply! Okay! Qin Xiaoyao agreed. She smiled as she watched Big Girl Li leave. At this moment, Song Ye also returned. The little kid ran very fast and dashed into the kitchen, huffing and panting. Mom! It smells so good! He even shouted while panting. Both Madam Liu and Qin Xiaoyaoughed in amusement. Your sister-inw brought back some small fishes. There are big bones and meat stewing in the pot. Tonight, were going to have good food again! Madam Liu smiled and looked at her youngest son. The family now ate meat every three to five days, and there was quite a lot of meat for every meal. It was a world of difference from the days before. Not only did she feel that her body was much stronger than before, but her family members were also much more energetic and had even put on weight. Chapter 73 - 73 Chapter 73: The Motivated Liu Xiaomei 73 Chapter 73: The Motivated Liu Xiaomei In particr, her youngest sons little face was almost chubby. On the other hand, her daughter-inw Madam Liu couldnt help but look at Qin Xiaoyao. From her big face down, she peered at her whole body. It seemed that she had lost some weight Thinking of this, Madam Liu decided to let her daughter-inw eat more meat during dinner to nourish her body. Meanwhile, Big Girl Li stared at the small fishes in the bowl. She held back her craving and quickly rushed back to the Liu familys house. Mother As soon as she entered the house, she shouted towards the courtyard. At this point, Aunt Liu had just returned from the field with Liu Xiaomei. They were about to go to the kitchen to cook. When they heard that the daughter-inw had returned, they looked over. Whats the fuss about? Aunt Liu immediately replied loudly. Then, she saw her daughter-inw holding a bowl in her hand and asked, What are you holding in your hand? Big Girl Li didnt mind her mother-inws attitude. Instead, she smiled brightly. Small fried fish given by Aunt Song! Its so fragrant! As she spoke, she quickly ran to the two of them. As Big Girl Li approached, the smell of fragrant oil quickly wafted into Aunt Liu and Liu Xiaomeis noses. Liu Xiaomei looked at the golden, crispy small fishes in her sister-inws bowl and couldnt help but swallow her saliva. Sister-inw, this this is the fish that you and Sister Sanya caught from the river? she immediately asked. Yep! Big Girl Li replied proudly. These are the small fishes that Fortune Mansion doesnt ept. Sister Sanya decided to let Aunt Song fry them and then split them between our two families. When Aunt Liu heard this, she frowned. Your Aunt Song is really extravagant! Look at this fish. Its obvious that she had used a lot of oil! And you dared to ept such a big bowl? Then, she looked at Big Girl Li with displeasure. However, Big Girl Li was still smiling brightly. Why not? My Sister Sanya treats me like her own sister, and Aunt Song also dotes on me! As she spoke, Big Girl Li revealed a somewhat proud expression. Aunt Liu was speechless as she red at Big girl Li. By the way, Sister Sanya and I didnt just get this small amount of fish. The big fish and the other crucian carps added up to about 20 catties! When we send them to Fortune Mansion tomorrow, well make another 200 over copper coins. For my share, I can get more than 40 copper coins! Big Girl Li raised her head, gloating gleefully. She simply adored the way her mother-inw and sister-inw looked at her with admiration. True enough, Aunt Liu and Liu Xiaomei were both shocked and immediately gazed at her with the expression that Big Girl Li adored so much. Then you are going to town again tomorrow? After a while, Aunt Liu finally came back to her senses and asked her daughter-inw. Didnt they just go to town today? Were they going again tomorrow? However, if Sanya and her daughter-inw could really catch so many fish, they would probably have to go to town more diligently. Im not going, Big Girl Li said. Recalling the important matter, Big Girl Li quickly said, Oh, yes. I have something to ask you. Aunt Liu was puzzled. What is it? Tell me, she said with some impatience. Big Girl Li smiled. Its something good! Following that, she told them about Qin Xiaoyaos intention to ask Liu Erniu to help out. Sister Sanyas handcart is light and easy to push. Erniu will definitely be able to push it! That childs speed is also fast. If there is no dy on the road, a round trip will only take slightly more than an hour! Big Girl Li added. Seeing that her mother-inw didnt say anything, Big Girl Li then continued, Sister Sanya only offered this job to Erniu on my ount. Mother, if you dont agree, Ill go back to Sister Sanya now and dont dy her from finding someone else! She was a little angry when she spoke. After she finished speaking, Big Girl Li turned around and was ready to leave. Aunt Lius expression changed, and she quickly pulled her daughter-inw back. What are you so anxious about? Did I say no? she said. Big Girl Li turned around, but her expression wasnt pleasant. Then why didnt you say anything just now? Other families dont even get the chance to do such a good job, even if they want to. You, on the other hand Gosh, I didnt mean it that way! Aunt Liu said hurriedly. Im just afraid that Erniu wont do a good job. If that happens, it will embarrass you and cause trouble for Sanya! Big Girl Li was surprised, and then her expression became more amicable. Why cant he do it well? Tomorrow, Sister Sanya will personally take him along and give him instructions. After that, he only needs to deliver the goods and take the money! Every time Fortune Mansion settles payment with us, they always give us an invoice. My Sister Sanya knows how to read, so she can tell how much money was settled when she sees the invoice. Seeing her mother-inws worried face, Big Girl Li said, Erniu is already 14. Its time to let him go out and see the world. Please consider this matter carefully. When Aunt Liu heard this, the hesitation in her heart quickly disappeared. Okay! Ill call Erniu back now and tell him about this! she immediately said. As she spoke, she walked outside. A smile finally appeared on Big Girl Lis face. ... She turned around and nced at her little sister-inw before going to the kitchen. Liu Xiaomei quickly came back to her senses and gave chase. Sister-inw she followed behind and called out to Big Girl Li. Big Girl Li didnt stop. Whats wrong? she asked as she walked. After entering the kitchen, she began to look for a bowl to rece the one given by the Song family. Liu Xiaomei smiled ingratiatingly and leaned close to Big Girl Lis side. Then she actually asked, Sister-inw, can you help me find a job too? Big Girl Li was stunned. We dont have muchnd, and the spring plowing is almost over. I have nothing to do at home, so I want to earn some money like Sister-inw, Liu Xiaomei said. How could she possibly be idle at home? Whether it was washing clothes, cooking, or feeding the pigs and livestock, which task didnt need her? ... However, what was the point of doing all this? Not a single copper coin could be seen. Her mother wanted her to learn embroidery and then take some jobs from town to do. This was also the main skill that the girls in the vige learned. However, she wasnt interested. Firstly, she felt that she did not have the talent in that area. Secondly, embroidery work did not earn much money at all. It was not like her sister-inws work. She earned so much more money than her Big Brother by following Sister Sanya! Of course, she also knew that she could notpare to her sister-inw. However, Sister-inws work had given her a direction. Who said that women were not as capable as men? Her sister-inw and the Song familys sister-inw were both women, and they were much more capable than most of the men in the vige. If she could follow them, maybe one day she could make a name for herself. Or, it would be great if she could learn a skill that could really make a living like the Song familys Yuner! The straw sandals were sold for four to five copper coins per pair in town. If she knew how to make them, she could even feed her entire family! Well, okay she used to feel sorry for that girl Song Yun, but now she was envious of her. A womans mind matured early. She really didnt want to miss the opportunity in front of her and wanted to fight for a future for herself. Big Girl Li turned her head and nced at her little sister-inw. Youre quite proactive, she said with a hint of admiration. Big Girl Li had been working with Sister Sanya for so long, but her mother-inw and Erniu had not thought in this direction at all. Her mother-inw was even a little hesitant when she proposed on her own ord to let Erniu help out Sister Sanya. Yet, it was her little sister-inw who took the initiative to speak to her. Chapter 74 - 74 Chapter 74: Song Que Was Unwilling to Build a House 74 Chapter 74: Song Que Was Unwilling to Build a House Liu Xiaomei saw that her sister-inw did not reject her and smiled. I also want to be like Sister-inw and be a capable person, she said. Big Girl Li felt somewhat important when she heard her. Thats a good idea, but your brother and I arent at home. You and Mother are in charge of the house now. !! If youre gone, how can Mother handle everything by herself? she said. Although she wanted to lend her little sister-inw a hand, she did not dare to agree to it flippantly. Notwithstanding the fact that this matter required her Sister Sanyas consent, her mother-inw might not be willing to allow the girl to follow Big Girl Li. After all, even though her mother-inw loved her daughter, there was still a difference between a son and a daughter. Her little sister-inw was already 12 years old and would be of marriageable age in two years. After that, they would have to talk about marriage. Once she got married, she would be a member of another family. Yes, it can be done! It would be fine as long as we kept less livestock and poultry at home! As long as I can earn more money, isnt it more worthwhile than raising those? It would also cost money to get food to raise those creatures. Besides, my work is definitely easier than Sister-inws. When I return home, I will also help with the housework and will not let Mother suffer alone. Liu Xiaomei added, afraid that Big Girl Li would refuse. Big Girl Li looked at her little sister-inw again. Seeing her sister-inws sincere expression, she thought about it and finally relented. Alright. I know what youre thinking. When Sister Sanya is short of people, Ill mention it to her. Liu Xiaomeis face lit up instantly. Thank she was about to thank her sister-inw, but was stopped by Big Girl Li. Dont thank me yet. Sister Sanya is not short of people for the time being. And I only promised that when she needs people, Ill help you. At that point, whether she wants to use you or not, and whether Mother is willing to allow you or not, I cant decide, Big Girl Li said. Its fine! Im already very grateful that Sister-inw can help me with this! Liu Xiaomei said hurriedly. She looked at Big Girl Li with an earnest expression. Big Girl Li was satisfied and understood a bit more about her little sister-inw. Then, Liu Xiaomei quickly got busy in the kitchen. Big Girl Li left her alone and went to the yard. After a while, she saw her mother-inwe back with her little brother-inw. Its done! Bring Erniu to the Song family! Just follow your Sister Sanyas orders and proceed ordingly! Aunt Liu said to Big Girl Li. She didnt know when it started, but Aunt Liu had also begun to address the Song familys daughter-inw as Sanya. It could only be surmised that her daughter-inws constant mention of Sister Sanya must have also affected her. She had already told her man and her second son about letting her second son help Qin Sanya deliver goods to town. She was not the only one who agreed. The father and son both agreed too. Although it was only a temporary job, if he did it well, perhaps their second son could take the opportunity to get a job from the Song family. The example of their daughter-inw was right in front of them. The sons future was much more important than the daughter-inws future. Big Girl Li did not know that her mother-inw was thinking about this. She called out to Liu Erniu and went out. When she arrived at the Song familys house, she happened to see Qin Xiaoyao fetching water from a small stream. You cane earlier after breakfast tomorrow! Follow me to deliver the goods. Ill talk to the people at Fortune Mansion when we arrive. Youll be the only one to send the delivery thereafter. Liu Erniu was a little apprehensive. Yes, Mrs. S Song, he stammered. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled when she saw this. Theres no need to be nervous. Your sister-inw and I are good sisters. Since youre her brother, youre also my brother. Work hard from now on. I wont mistreat you if you do your job well, Qin Xiaoyao said. She wanted to pat Liu Ernius shoulder but decided against it. It was ancient times after all, so she had to be careful. Yes! Liu Erniu smiled at once as he replied to Qin Xiaoyao. His heart that had been suspended in trepidation finally settled down. Good, Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She then looked at Big Girl Li. Youll have toe over tomorrow too. Lets go to the river again and see if we can haul in some more fish. Big Girl Li nodded. After that, Ill go to town with Erniu. You Qin Xiaoyao paused. You can just wait at home. When Im back, well go into the mountains together, she continued. The main reason was that the areas deep in the mountains were dangerous. Even though the mountain they were going to was on the outskirts of the deep mountains, it was still part of the deep mountain area. It would be fine if Qin Xiaoyao was with her, as she could ensure the safety of Big Girl. She didnt feel at ease letting Big Girl go alone. Whats the point of waiting at home? Ill go alone first. Sister Sanya, when youe back, you cane to the mountains to look for me! Big Girl Li smiled and replied. She didnt take Qin Xiaoyaos worry seriously at all. ... After all, she had been to the mountains with her Sister Sanya so many times, and they rarely even met small animals, let alone jackals or wolves, tigers or leopards. Just listen to me! Qin Xiaoyao instructed. When Erniu and I go to town, it will take slightly over two hours. Even if you go into the mountains first, you wont be able to do much. Initially, she had wanted to make a trip back to her parents house to pay back the money her father had loaned her. Now it seemed that it would be better if she returned the money the day after tomorrow. She was worried that the Big Girl would not listen to her. In her previous life, she had been taught a lesson from such an experience. Her subordinate had been with her for a long time, and everything had been going smoothly, so he felt that he could do it alone. In the end, he ran into zombies and turned into meat in the zombies mouths. This era was much safer than the apocalypse, but there were still idents. She dared to enter the mountains because she was bold and skilled. In addition, she was forced by reality. However, she was not prepared to develop her business deep in the mountains for a long time. ... If she was already so cautious herself, then Big Girl would need to be even more cautious. Forget it. After she had finished scouting the surrounding mountains, she would have to have a good talk with Big Girl. She didnt want Big Girl to end up like one of her subordinates during the apocalypse. Alright Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos stern expression, Big Girl Li eded to her request. There was a hint of resentment in her tone. Sister Sanya was really too much. She actually lectured her in front of her little brother-inw. It was a little humiliating. Alright! All of you can go back! Qin Xiaoyao continued. She only looked at Big Girl Li and didntfort her. Okay Big Girl Li pouted and left. Liu Erniu bade Qin Xiaoyao farewell and left with his sister-inw. He looked at his sister-inws back and giggled in his heart as he walked. Sister-inw had always been arrogant at home, but in front of Mrs. Song, she was Haha! It was really true that everything had its weakness It was night. Qin Xiaoyaoy on the bed and continued to tell Song Que the tale of Journey to the West. Just as she opened her mouth, she was interrupted by Song Que. Theres no need to build a house, the man said. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. She wondered whether she had heard wrong. What I mean is well, if it costs too much money, its better to buy a dwelling in town. Perhaps he felt that his words were slightly abrupt, so Song Que borated more. Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback once again. How much is considered too much money? she asked Song Que. Song Que frowned. He didnt like Qin Xiaoyao talking to him with her back facing him. However, he couldnt ask the other party to turn around. More than a hundred taels of silver, he said. Chapter 75 - 75 Chapter 75: Qin Xiaoyao’s Troubles 75 Chapter 75: Qin Xiaoyaos Troubles Oh, then our house shouldnt cost us a hundred taels of silver to build, Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief and replied. Song Que frowned. Seventy or eighty taels is also a lot, he continued. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned once again. !! If its made of masonry bricks and roof tiles, it should cost around seventy to eighty taels, she replied immediately. Perhaps, she should ask around for the market price first? Song Que frowned again. Why dont we buy a dwelling in town? he said. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned yet again. Of course, she wanted to live in town. However, how could the courtyard dwellings in town be cheap? Also, their expenses would increase if they stayed in town. Not to mention buying vegetables and grain, even firewood had to be bought using money. Alright if she was more diligent, she could go out of town to pick firewood. However, as long as one entered the town, they had to pay the entrance fee. Most importantly, she was relying on the vige to do her business. Did that mean she would stay in town but return to the vige to go into the mountains to scavenge for mountain goods, and go into the river to catch fish? This wasnt convenient. The key was that Brook Falls Vige was not far from town. If they were fast, they could reach there in less than half an hour. In the future, when her familys conditions were better, she could even buy an ox-cart and go to town faster. Whats the price of a courtyard dwelling in town? Even though Qin Xiaoyao didnt agree with him inwardly, she didnt reject his idea outright. Instead, she asked Song Que for more details. Life in town was definitely more convenient than in Brook Falls Vige. Buying a courtyard dwelling in town would definitely cost a lot more than building a house in the vige. For a long period of time before the apocalypse, people were chasing real estate in the city. Some people even specialized in real estate spection and made a lot of money. Therefore, her attractive husbands thoughts actually made some sense. This time, it was Song Ques turn to be stunned. The price varies greatly in different locations, he immediately said. Qin Xiaoyao thought, Isnt that a nonsensical answer? Whats the general price? she asked again. Song Que frowned again. Around two hundred taels. After thinking about it, he gave a figure. Qin Xiaoyaos heart shuddered. She didnt reply anymore. Good grief! Did he know how expensive daily necessities like firewood and rice were? She already felt that it was very challenging to earn a hundred taels. Yet her attractive husband still wanted to spend two hundred taels to buy a courtyard dwelling in town? Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao didnt reply for a long time, Song Que continued, Actually, theres no hurry to buy a courtyard dwelling. When the timees, we can rent one first. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned again. What? Spend money to rent a courtyard dwelling? What was her attractive husband thinking? Why was he so obsessed with a courtyard dwelling in town? At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao was feeling a little irritable. She could somewhat understand the feelings of those men before the apocalypse who got married without having a good house. When his fiance or girlfriend asked him to buy a house in the city, but he didnt have the money for the time being, what would be going through his mind? Did he think that the other party was too materialistic and unreasonable? Alright she was feeling that way right now. However Forget it. After all, this was her husband, and she liked him so much. Alright, Ill try my best. Suppressing the pressure in her heart, Qin Xiaoyao answered with her eyes closed. Sigh! Who asked her to be the pir of support for the family? She should try her best to satisfy her husbands request. (Author: dont be surprised why our female lead has such thoughts. The main thing was that after the apocalypse, both mens and womens strengths were held in high respect, and the social norm of men and women settling down early no longer existed. As the captain of a mercenary team, the female protagonist was a member of the elite after the apocalypse, and she consciously positioned herself as the head of the household.) Song Que was stunned. He had been mentally prepared to be rejected because even he himself felt that his words were not convincing enough. If other people heard this, they might even think that he was being unreasonable and pestering Qin Xiaoyao. However, this woman actually agreed to it. ... The rate of his heartbeat became chaotic for a moment, but then Song Que quickly regained hisposure. Lets continue with the story, he continued. Alright Qin Xiaoyao dragged out thest syble of her answer. She sounded helpless, like she was cajoling a child. She was like a helpless boyfriend who had to continue coaxing his girlfriend after enduring her unreasonable tantrums. Song Que turned his head to look at Qin Xiaoyao in the dark, and the corners of his mouth couldnt help but curl up in a smile. He then enjoyed the service of his bedtime story with peace of mind. The next day, after Qin Xiaoyao got up, she didnt even eat. She carried the big wooden bucket and went to River Ringwaters with Big Girl Li. After going into the water and working hard for some time, they actually hauled up nearly 40 catties of fish. Big Girl Lis face was filled with joy, and she kept chattering non-stop. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, had a lot on her mind. She only spoke to Big Girl Li asionally while she focused on clearing out the fishing. Sister Sanya whats wrong with you? Is there something on your mind? Big Girl Li finally realized something was wrong with Qin Xiaoyao and asked. ... Its nothing. Qin Xiaoyao didnt want to talk about it, so she simply mumbled a reply. Alright. Throw it back into the river, she added. Okay, Big Girl Li replied. She retracted her gaze in bewilderment. Following that, she went down into the river to set up the fishing with Qin Xiaoyao. After a while, the was rid, and the two returned to the shore. After walking for a long time, Qin Xiaoyao still didnt say anything. Sister Sanya are you really okay? Big Girl Li asked worriedly. Qin Xiaoyao gave Big Girl Li a side nce and sighed when she saw the worry on her face. Nothing much? Its your Brother Song. He told mest night that he wanted to buy a courtyard dwelling in town. Qin Xiaoyao finally told Big Girl Li what had been bothering her. Huh? Big Girl Li was shocked. Seeing her Sister Sanya looking at her, Big Girl Li said, Didnt you say you want to build the house in the vige? Why are you going to town? She knew about her Sister Sanyas n to build a house. She was also very supportive. After all, the thatched hut that the Song family was living in was indeed too shabby. It was spring now, so the situation was still fine. In the summer, the rains became heavier. When the storm came, the thatched hut might not be able to withstand it. As for the winter, the thatched hut was definitely no good in fending off blizzards. Even the winter chill would be a big challenge for the people staying in the hut. How would I know what he wants to do there? In short, he insisted on staying in town and even said that he was willing to rent a courtyard dwelling first! Qin Xiaoyao grumbled. Big Girl Li immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao with sympathy. Then, she stepped forward and patted Qin Xiaoyaos shoulder. When Qin Xiaoyao looked at her with a frown, she quickly released her grip and smiled at her. Gosh, Sister Sanya, dont get so anxious now! Building a house and buying a courtyard dwelling are both major things. Maybe this is just Brother Songs spur-of-the-moment idea! Anyway, its still a long time before your family can build a house or buy a courtyard dwelling. Maybe when that timees, he will change his mind. Sigh! Things were really tough for her Sister Sanya! Although she had married the most handsome man in their Mountain Spring Town, but Fortunately, she didnt fallpletely head over heels for Brother Song. Otherwise, if she were in her Sister Sanyas position, she would definitely not be able to handle it. Hah! Why did she suddenly miss her Daniu? Qin Xiaoyao frowned and looked at Big Girl Li, who was beside her. She felt that thetters current expression was a big eye-sore. Just as she was about to say something, Big Girl Li sensed the dangerous aura emanating from Qin Xiaoyaos body. She quickly looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a fawning expression again. Chapter 76 - 76 Chapter 76: Big Girl Li’s Advice 76 Chapter 76: Big Girl Lis Advice Of course, we cant just ignore this matter. Sister Sanya, you can mention it to Aunt Song. Of course, dont let Aunt Song talk to Brother Song directly. Let her mention it in passing here and there. Brother Song will definitely consider Aunt Songs opinion, Big Girl Li said. Qin Xiaoyaos brows finally rxed when she heard that. !! This was a good idea. However, her attractive husband mentioned buying a courtyard dwelling in town onlyst night. It would be too obvious if she let her mother-inw try and persuade him at once. Forget it. Big Girl was right. There was still a long way to go before she could build or buy a house. There was no rush. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao felt much more rxed. She stretched out her empty hand and patted Big Girl Lis arm. Thank you she said in a forthright manner. Then, she strode forward in big steps. Big Girl Li was surprised. Hey, wait for me, Sister Sanya! She quickly gave chase. Back at the Song familys house. Liu Erniu had already arrived. Qin Xiaoyao asked Big Girl Li to go to the stream and bring back the fish they caught yesterday. She then entered the house and moved the vegetables and mountain products they had collected from the vigers yesterday with Liu Erniu. Before long, the items were loaded onto the handcart. Qin Xiaoyao was about to push the handcart herself, but Liu Erniu beat her to it. Its fine. Let Erniu push! In any case, he would have to push the handcart into town alone in the future. Just let him practice his skills this time, Big Girl Li said. Liu Erniu smiled and nodded. He agreed with his sister-inw. In addition, he found that after he pushed the handcart forward, it was indeed not as heavy as he had expected. Alright! Then well be leaving first! Qin Xiaoyao bade Madam Liu and the others farewell. You can go home and wait, or stay at my house to help. You are not allowed to go into the mountains before I return, she instructed Big Girl Li. I know! Big Girl Li replied awkwardly. Qin Xiaoyao then left with Liu Erniu. They arrived at Fortune Mansion. The people working in the back kitchen of Fortune Mansion had dealt with Qin Xiaoyao many times, and they were already familiar with each other. Seeing Qin Xiaoyao, the kitchen staff in charge of receiving them was very happy. Youve delivered these vegetables just in time. We dont have to arrange for people to go out and buy them! the kitchen staff said. What we said before still stands. From now on, if you can deliver 150 catties of vegetables every day, well give you the job of delivering vegetables! The kitchen staff looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. Thats the purpose of my visit. However, I can onlye every other day. On the other days, can I let this little brother of mine deliver them? What do you think? Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Erniu as she spoke. Liu Erniu tensed up instantly, not even daring to look at the kitchen staff. On the other hand, the kitchen staff sized up Liu Erniu. Okay! When youe, just tell us your name, and well settle the bill! he continued. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Thank you so much, little brother! She quickly cupped her fists in thanks. The kitchen staff cupped his fists and returned the greeting. Why are you being so polite? Its the right thing to do! After that, the kitchen staff ordered his men to weigh Qin Xiaoyaos vegetables and fish, then tabted the total. After that, he wrote out an invoice and paid them the money. Qin Xiaoyao took the money and bade farewell to all the kitchen staff before leaving with Liu Erniu. Liu Erniu, who was pushing the handcart, felt much more at ease after they left the back kitchen of Fortune Mansion. Then, after walking for a while, he suddenly said to Qin Xiaoyao, Mrs. Song, youre really amazing! Back home, he had heard his sister-inw tell them how amazing Mrs. Song was. He didnt believe it before, but now he did. There were so many kitchen staff, including the head of the kitchen staff, but they were all very polite to Mrs. Song. How could an ordinary person have such an ability tomand so much respect? Also, Mrs. Song was too capable at earning money. This one cart of vegetables and fish were actually sold for 810 copper coins! He knew that Mrs. Song and his sister-inw had gathered all this togetherst night and this morning. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Liu Erniu. Hehe! Whats so amazing about that? Its all because of my Uncle Zhaos help, she smiled and replied. ... Lets go. We need to hurry back. Your sister-inw is still waiting for me at home. Alright! Liu Erniu replied hurriedly. Pushing the handcart, he followed Qin Xiaoyao and moved forward briskly. Along the way, Qin Xiaoyao chatted with Liu Erniu about the work situation. She encouraged him and strengthened his courage to enter the town alone to deliver goods. The two of them walked very fast and soon returned to Brook Falls Vige. They arrived at the Song family. As expected, Big Girl Li was there, and she was helping Madam Liu weigh the mountain goods the vigers brought over to sell. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao and Liu Erniu return, Big Girl Li quickly stopped what she was doing and handed the work over to Madam Liu. Youre back? she greeted them with a face full of joy. Yup! Qin Xiaoyao replied. ... She instructed Liu Erniu to push the handcart to the dpidated shed at the side. That was where the Song family used to raise poultry, but ever since Father Song became seriously ill, the Song family stopped keeping poultry. After that, the ce was tidied up and turned into a storage room. Qin Xiaoyao cherished her handcart very much. When she wasnt using it, she would always ce it in the storage room. After Liu Erniu left with the handcart, Qin Xiaoyao finally turned to look at Big Girl Li. Immediately, she called out to Big Girl Li standing in front of her, and they went into the kitchen. The fish this time was sold for a total of 658 copper coins. Ill give you 20%, so thats 132 copper coins. She lowered her voice and said. This was because there were outsiders in the courtyard, and she didnt intend to let them know her ie. Otherwise, it would really be hard not to attract the envy of others. Big Girl Lis eyes were filled with joy. So much? She also lowered her voice and asked Qin Xiaoyao in surprise. Its not that much. All of our fish added up to about 60 catties! Qin Xiaoyao said as she counted out the money for Big Girl Li. After counting the money, she handed it to Big Girl Li. Tell Erniu and your Liu family not to tell anyone about how much money weve made, she reminded her. Otherwise, Im afraid its not safe to put the fishing in the river, and even those Chinese Toon shoots in the mountains may not be secure. In fact, she had warned Big Girl Li about this before. However, she felt that she needed to remind her again today. It was mainly because Erniu had seen her deal with Fortune Mansion with his own eyes. She was a little worried that the child would not be able to keep his mouth shut. I know! Big Girl Li quickly promised her. Ill remind my family again when I get back. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. By the way, can you help me calcte again how much I have to give to my mother-inw? Big Girl Li asked again. Qin Xiaoyao pondered for a while. 26 copper coins is enough! she said. Big Girl Li quickly memorized 26 twice in her mind. Then Ill go back now and send the money back. In case I forget how much it is! As she spoke, Big Girl Li walked out. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop her. She also followed her out of the kitchen. She then called Liu Erniu over and counted 30 copper coins for him. This I cant take this, Mrs. Song! My mother and sister-inw already said that todays work will not be paid! Liu Erniu waved his hand in rejection and even took a step back. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and took a step forward. She reached out and grabbed Liu Ernius hand before forcefully shoving the copper coins into his hand. Chapter 77 - 77 Chapter 77: The Rules of Survival 77 Chapter 77: The Rules of Survival If Im giving it to you, just take it! Work hard in the future! She said with an encouraging look. Liu Ernius face was flushed bright red. Yes! Thank you, Mrs. Song! He finally epted it. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. !! Only then did she say, Alright. Go back now! Okay! Goodbye, Mrs. Song, Aunt song! Only then did Liu Erniu bow to Qin Xiaoyao and Madam Liu before running away happily. Looking at the back of the youngster running away happily, the mother and daughter-inw looked at each other andughed. The people who came to sell the mountain products in the courtyard had already found out from Madam Liu that the Song family had hired Liu Erniu to do some work. When they discovered that he would be paid 30 copper coins just for delivering goods to town, their eyes were filled with envy. They thought to themselves that the poverty-stricken Song family was finally going to make aeback this time. As for themselves, they could also make some money by relying on the Song family. In the future, they would have to interact more with the Song family. It was not just selling goods. It would be even better if they could get work from the Song family, just like Liu Erniu. At the thought of this, one of the sellers went forward and chatted some more with Qin Xiaoyao. Unfortunately, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt familiar with this person. After exchanging a few words, she found an excuse to leave. The seller then left. After the sellers left, Qin Xiaoyao returned to Madam Lius side and helped her pack up the new goods. Suddenly, Madam Liu said, Oh, yes. That girl from the Wang family came over today, Qin Xiaoyao was very surprised. Wang Xiaomei? she asked. Yes, Madam Liu responded and looked at her daughter-inw. She brought some mushrooms and wanted to sell them to us. At that time, the girl had been dawdling outside their courtyard for a long time, and she had only entered after Madam Liu discovered her. Only then did she find out that the girl was here to sell mushrooms. Then you Qin Xiaoyao frowned. In truth, she had a good impression of the two children of the Wang family, whether it was Wang Dashan or Wang Xiaomei. It was a pity that these two children had a mother like Aunt Wang. Since she had already made it clear yesterday that she would not ept the Wang familys goods, she would not change her mind just because of Wang Xiaomei. I did not ept, Madam Liu frowned, her eyes filled with pity. But that child sigh, is so pitiful, she continued. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Whats wrong? I only heard it from the person who bought the straw sandalster. In order to gather a betrothal gift for his son, Wang Dashan, Wang Laoshuan and his wife actually betrothed their daughter to the retarded son of Zhang Mazis family from Brook Rise Vige! Qin Xiaoyao got quite a shock. Wang Xioamei, that girl Shes not of marriageable age yet, right? she asked. She knew that in ancient times, women got married early, but they still had to wait until they were of marriageable age. This wasnt this a little too early? No, she still has two years to go. Madam Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyao. It was said that Wang Laoshuan and his wife were greedy for money and had taken a fancy to the ten taels of silver that Zhang Mazi gave as a betrothal gift! Although they said they were getting Wang Xiaomei betrothed, in reality, they were actually selling her. When the timees, the money will be collected, the marriage contract will be signed, and the Zhang family wille to pick her up. Pushing their own daughter into the fire pit That couple is really devoid of conscience! After speaking, Madam Liu couldnt help but curse at them. Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at her mother-inw. This was the first time she realized that her mother-inw could also scold people. That girl is indeed pitiful, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Seeing her mother-inw looking at her, she then said, But her pitiful state wasnt caused by us. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao patted Madam Lius arm. So, Mother, you dont have to be concerned over this matter. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao smiled again. Besides, the Wang family is greedy for that ten taels of silver as a betrothal gift. Even if we take Wang Xiaomeis mushrooms, we can only give her a few copper coins. To her, this is not much help. It wasnt that she didnt have any sympathy, but she had seen too many people suffer and was already numb to it. In order to survive in the apocalypse, she only believed in one thing: no one would help her except her family and friends. In order to get out of any predicament, she had to save herself. In her opinion, with Wang Xiaomeis situation, it might be a good thing for her to leave the Wang family. With such parents, even if she could avoid being sold this time, what about the next time? At least this time, she was only going to the Zhang family, and the marriage would have to wait two years. Things could still change during this period. ... What if the next time someone offered a higher price, and the ce she was going would be even worse? One couldnt me Qin Xiaoyao for having such thoughts. She had seen too many human trafficking cases during the apocalypse. Parents sold their children, and husbands sold their wives In order to survive, what value was humanity? Madam Liu was shocked by Qin Xiaoyaos smile. Then, she nodded. She tossed out some of the negative spective thoughts in her heart. Her daughter-inw was trying tofort her. Also, her daughter-inw was more open-minded than her After a while, Big Girl Li came back. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao say goodbye to Madam Liu and go into the mountains with Big Girl Li. In the end, Big Girl Li also mentioned Wang Xiaomeis situation to her. ... After she finished recounting the news she had heard, Big Girl Li said with some anger, That girl is too pitiful. How did she end up with such parents? Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li but didnt reply. Some things were destined, such as reincarnation. Why should one question it? Seeing Qin Xiaoyaosck of reaction, Big Girl Li continued, Sister Sanya, dont you have any opinion on this? Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li again. I have my opinion, but its not important. After all, I cant help her. Big Girl Li was stunned. She felt that Qin Xiaoyao was right, but she wasnt used to her cold attitude. Qin Xiaoyao understood Big Girl Lis expression and continued, Since I cant help her, and I dont want to help, why should I think so much? Thats true, but Big Girl Li subconsciously wanted to refute. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. I only have this much energy. Just focus on the important people around you. This was also one of the rules of survival she had followed during the apocalypse. Big Girl Li was stunned again. A sense of panic suddenly shed through her heart. Then I she subconsciously asked. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li and smiled when she saw her nervous expression. Youre my little sister, so of course, I care about you, she said. If it were in the past, indeed, she wouldnt have cared. However, now, Big Girl Li was already a subordinate that she acknowledged, or even a friend. Naturally, she was worthy of Qin Xiaoyaos care and concern. Big Girl Li suddenly smiled, and the uneasiness in her heart disappeared. She no longer minded that Qin Xiaoyaos attitude toward Wang Xiaomei was different from hers. It felt really good! In Sister Sanyas heart, she was someone worth caring about! When they arrived, the two of them went up the mountain and continued their search. Today was thest day. ording to their n, they wouldplete searching the entire Treasure Mountain. Of course, their current location was already far from the original plot of Chinese yams. The probability of finding a new plot of Chinese yams was actually not high. Sure enough, after nearly two hours, the two of them didnt even find a single Chinese yam vine. They only harvested some edible fungi and bamboo shoots. The environment at the back of the mountain was more damp, and there were many edible fungi growing on the fallen dead trees. The two of them spent most of the morning picking edible fungi. Chapter 78 - 78 Chapter 78: Bamboo Rat 78 Chapter 78: Bamboo Rat In addition, the two found a small bamboo forest at the foot of the back mountain. Naturally, the spring bamboo shoots in the bamboo forest didnt escape Qin Xiaoyaos eyes, and so did not escape the demonic ws of the two girls. Sister Sanya, can this thing really be eaten? She dug out a bamboo shoot and examined the object in her hand, her expression a little skeptical. She had seen bamboo shoots before. She had even seen this thing grow into bamboo. Then, the bamboo craftsmen could process the bamboo into bamboo strips and weave them into wicker baskets, bamboo basket backpacks, and so on. However, could this thing be eaten? She had some doubts Of course you can! Qin Xiaoyao dug out a bamboo shoot as well. She peeled off the outer shell of the bamboo shoot as she answered Big Girl Li. Stir-fried meat with bamboo shoots. Its very delicious! And this thing can also be cut and sun-dried into dried bamboo shoots and used as dried vegetables. In the winter, it will be a pretty good dish! After peeling off the outer shell of the bamboo shoot, Qin Xiaoyao ced the remaining flesh of the bamboo shoot back into the backpack. Hurry up! Dig out some more to bring back! After that, well go back to eat. In the afternoon, well bring the basket and continue digging! Thanks to the light rain in the second half ofst night, many spring bamboo shoots had sprouted up. Before she left this morning, Qin Xiaoyao was still worried that she might not get any good harvests. Much to her surprise, she found so many good things again. Okay! Big Girl Li girl quickly responded. No matter! She would do as her Sister Sanya said! Suddenly Ah theres a rat! With a ng, Big Girl Li flung away the hoe in her hand. Qin Xiaoyao followed her line of sight and saw a chubby bamboo rat scuttling past Big Girl. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up with joy, and she immediately lowered her head to search. What was she searching for? A stone, of course. Bamboo rats! She actually saw bamboo rats! This was a rare delicacy in the mountains! During the apocalypse, she had brought her team members into the mountains to look for this creature. Unfortunately, even a small animal like the bamboo rat could not escape the ws of the zombies. Even after rummaging through the whole bamboo forest, it was difficult for them to catch a few. However, this was ancient times, and there were no zombies. She had listened carefully just now and found that there were many of these cute little creatures in this bamboo forest. Very quickly, Qin Xiaoyao found a few pieces of loose rocks. Then, she quickly shot out a piece of rock toward a bamboo rat that had scurried out not far away. Squeak! Squeak! A shrill shriek rang out as the loose stone pierced through the bamboo rats body. Then, after struggling for a while, it stopped moving. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up with joy. She quickly stepped forward and picked up the bamboo rat in her hand. Big Girl Li looked at this scene and didnt dare to step forward. Then, she said with a face full of fear, Sister Sanya this this is a rat! It was dirty and scary, yet her Sister Sanya actually caught it in her hands. Moreover, she was smiling at it. Qin Xiaoyao turned around. What rat? Its a bamboo rat! she corrected Big Girl Li. Then, she handed the bamboo rat in her hand to Big Girl Li. It grew up eating bamboo. Its body is fat, and its meat is delicious! Big Girl Li was a little scared at first, but after hearing Qin Xiaoyaos words, she looked carefully at the bamboo rat in Qin Xiaoyaos hand. In the end, she found that the bamboo rat was indeed much fatter than the rats she had seen before. Its eyes were smaller, and its fur looked softer. This is really not a rat? Big Girl Li asked Qin Xiaoyao again, even though she was more relieved now. It really isnt! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. The meat of this creature is even more delicious than the meat of chickens, ducks, or pigs! As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyaos mouth began to water. Hearing this, Big Girl Li was not afraid anymore. She quickly moved to the front of Qin Xiaoyao. Then, she sized up the bamboo rat in Qin Xiaoyaos hand up close. After confirming that it was really different from the rats she had seen before, she even tried touching it. Qin Xiaoyao threw the bamboo rat at Big Girl Li straightaway. ... Catch it! she said at the same time. Big Girl Li subconsciously caught it, and after finding that it felt good in her hands, she was no longer afraid. There are quite a number of bamboo rats in this forest. Ill go hunt a few more and bring them back for a meal! Qin Xiaoyao said. With that, she walked forward. Big Girl Li didnt follow but simply watched her sister Sanyas performance. After that, she saw Qin Xiaoyao quickly make her move. After a few crackling sounds in the bamboo forest, she hit a few more bamboo rats. After a while, when she saw Qin Xiaoyao returning with three fat bamboo rats in her hands. Big Girl Li almost prostrated herself in admiration. Alright. Lets stop digging for bamboo shoots. Lets call it a day. After we eat their meat at noon, we cane out earlier in the afternoon! Looking at the bamboo rats in her hand, Qin Xiaoyao only wanted to rush back and skin them for meat to eat. She no longer had the mood to continue digging up bamboo shoots. Alright! Naturally, Big Girl Li agreed. Thus, the two of them put on their backpacks and headed back. ... When they returned to the Song familys house, the mother and children trio were quite scared of the bamboo rats. It was only after hearing Qin Xiaoyaos exnation that their expressions rxed significantly. Youll know how good this thing tastes when Im done extracting the meat! Qin Xiaoyao said. Then, together with Big Girl Li, they brought some tools to the stream and began processing the bamboo rats. Ill skin them. You can handle the internal organs. Qin Xiaoyao quickly gave some instructions. The quality of the bamboo rats fur was good, and it could be used to make fur coats. The grocery stores would definitely like it. This thing would be another source of ie if it was sent to the grocery store. In addition, she was preparing to make century eggs. She could use the skin and ask her mother-inw to sew a pair of gloves for her. Hehe! Okay! Big Girl Li smiled and agreed. After that, the two of them worked together and processed the four bamboo rats in no time. Looking at the half-filled wooden basin of meat, Big Girl Li kept swallowing her saliva. This bamboo rat had really good meat under its skin. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li, then reached out and took out a big bamboo rat from the wooden basin. Ill give this to you, she said generously. Big Girl Lis face was filled with joy, and she immediately reached for her money bag. However, Qin Xiaoyao stopped her. I said Im giving it to you. Who wants your money? Seeing that Big Girl Li was about to speak, Qin Xiaoyao continued, These bamboo rats are different from the pheasants and hares we got before. We discovered the bamboo forest together, so the harvest of the bamboo rats is not entirely mine. How about this? Just like the fish in the river, Ill give you 20% for all the remaining bamboo rats I catch in the mountain! Of course, when Im hunting the bamboo rats, you cant stay idle. You still have to continue digging out the bamboo shoots! Tomorrow, well be relying on these two things to make a lot of money! Qin Xiaoyao said. Big Girl Lis eyes lit up. Then, she looked like she was about to cry. Boo hoo hoo Sister Sanya, you are truly my sister! Ill always listen to you from now on! So much for gratitude and tears. Qin Xiaoyao took a step forward and patted Big Girl Lis shoulder. Were sisters. Why are you saying this? she said magnanimously. She had always been willing to spend on her own people. Moreover, it was indeed Big Girls idea to go into that particr mountain, from where they got rich. This girl was really her Lucky Star. Chapter 79 - 79 Chapter 79: Hubby Was Too Delicate 79 Chapter 79: Hubby Was Too Delicate Okay! Big Girl Li replied with determination. After Qin Xiaoyao consoled her, she took the bamboo rat back to the Liu familys house. Great! They could eat meat again! Qin Xiaoyao returned to the Song familys house and entered the kitchen. !! Then, she personally took charge of the kitchen to cook bamboo rat meat to eat. When the mother and children trio saw the bamboo rat meat, their earlier fear and rejection disappeared. Instead, they began to crave it. After all, that meat looked really good. They all stopped what they were doing and went into the kitchen to help. When the bamboo rat meat was served on the table, and the three of them ate it, the remaining fear in their hearts towards the bamboo rat vanishedpletely. All that was left was unanimous praise, followed by happy feasting. Sister-inw, is this really the meat of the bamboo rat? Why do I feel its even more delicious than the wild hare meat we had before? Song Yun couldnt help asking. Thats right! Its even more delicious than pheasant meat! Song Ye added. Im afraid even pork cantpare! Madam Liu also smiled and added. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the trios expressions and smiled. Of course its bamboo rat meat. If you guys like it, take some more. There are many bamboo rats in the bamboo forest. Ill go and hunt for some more at night. The eyes of the two little ones lit up. However, Madam Liu said, These are enough. Its good enough to just have a taste! This is such good meat. Tomorrow you should send some to the inws. After that, send some to Fortune Mansion and ask them if they want it. Tomorrow, her daughter-inw was going back to her parents house to pay off her debts, so with the bamboo rat meat, she would not have to visit them empty-handed. Furthermore, her eldest sons injuries had not fully recovered, and there would be a lot of expenses involved for his oral medicine and wound dressing. The daughter-inw also wanted to build the house at the beginning of autumn. By then, the family would need to spend money on many areas. Qin Xiaoyao paused for a while. Then she agreed with Madam Liu, Okay! Initially, she also wanted to give some bamboo rat meat to her father and two brothers, and then sell some to Fortune Mansion for money. After all, her attractive husband wanted to buy a house in town In the afternoon, Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li went into the mountains early. After heading straight for the bamboo forest, they began to get busy. As it was still early, Qin Xiaoyao started digging for bamboo shoots with Big Girl Li. She waited until the sky was getting dark, and the bamboo rats began toe out and be active before she began to hunt. The stones she shot out were extremely urate, rarely missing. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop until she had killed more than ten bamboo rats. Alright. If we dont go now, the sky will turn dark and it will be difficult to walk on the paths. Qin Xiaoyao kept the prey and walked back to Big Girl Lis side. Alright! Big Girl Li quickly answered. Together with Qin Xiaoyao, they walked back with their backpacks and their carrying poles full of mountain goods. They had really gained a lot from this afternoons trip. In addition to the two backpacks they were carrying and the two baskets of bamboo shoots Qin Xiaoyao was carrying right now, Qin Xiaoyao had already made one trip back earlier with a full backpack and baskets on a carrying pole. In addition to these, there was also the harvest of bamboo rats! I wonder how much Fortune Mansion will pay for the bamboo shoots and bamboo rats? Big Girl Li, who was walking in front, asked with some anticipation. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Well know when we ask them tomorrow. Oh, yes. We dont have to rush to harvest the whole bamboo forest. Even if Fortune Mansion epts our goods, theres a limit to how much they can take in at a time. After that, well go by their required quantity. Well dig up some bamboo shoots and kill bamboo rats each time to earn more money for the next few days. Just like the Chinese Toon shoots, the bamboo forest was a new plot of treasurend. Of course, by her estimation, the bamboo forest could not support them for as long as the Chinese Toon trees in terms of making money. After all, the speed at which they dug out the bamboo shoots would definitely be faster than the speed at which they grew back. Also, the rate of reproduction of the bamboo rats was far below the speed at which she could hunt them. Therefore, after a period of time, when the supply of bamboo shoots and bamboo rats were almost exhausted by them, they would have to give time for this ce to rest and recuperate. Alright. Ill listen to Sister Sanya! Big Girl Li quickly replied. Qin Xiaoyaos face was filled with joy. Now that she had found so many treasures in the mountains, she wasnt that keen on expanding her business as a middleman anymore. Back at the Song familys house, Qin Xiaoyao brought Big Girl Li to the stream to process the bamboo rat meat. The external appearance of the bamboo rat could indeed cause misunderstandings easily. After some hesitation, the two decided to sell the processed meat directly the next day. When Fortune Mansion asked them for details, they would simply say that it was some small wild game from the mountains and it tasted great. They were confident that it would sell. In addition, Qin Xiaoyao could bring along the bamboo rat skins and might be able to sell them for money. ... The two of them wanted to make some money from the bamboo rat skins as well. After processing the bamboo rat meat, the two of them managed to get a small wooden bucket full of meat. Qin Xiaoyao proposed to take some of it back to her parents house. In the end, Big Girl Li also mentioned that she wanted to take one to send back for her parents to try. And so, Qin Xiaoyao simply apportioned some more for herself, which was exactly four times what Big Girl Li had. Alright, after dividing up the meat, you have about 20%. We wont split any more money tomorrow, Qin Xiaoyao said. Deal! Big Girl Lis heart felt very sweet all over. Then, she helped to weigh and pack the bamboo shoots that were to be brought to town the next day. After that, she walked home with light, cheerful steps. At nightfall. That night, Song Que didnt ask Qin Xiaoyao to continue telling him the tale of Journey to the West. Instead, he asked her about the bamboo rat. ... Did we really eat rat meat today? He didnt know it was rat meat before he ate it. He thought it tasted good and ate a lot. However, when Yuner came to clean up the dishes, she told him that it was rat meat, causing him to feel nauseated for the entire afternoon. Rats were the sort of disgusting animal that would eat anything. They would even eat Whenever he thought of those scenes, he wanted to vomit out all the food in his stomach. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. She could hear the displeasure in her attractive husbands tone. Ahem. They are not the kind of rat youre thinking of. Its a bamboo rat. Hearing Qin Xiaoyaos affirmative answer, the man behind her immediately made some puking noises. Qin Xiaoyao quickly turned over and tried to help Song Que up. Are you alright? However, Song Que pushed her away. In the dark night, the man once more looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a familiar look of disgust. Qin Xiaoyao froze on the spot and didnt dare to go forward again. Then, after a while, the man finally calmed down and sat up. Immediately, he said in a stern voice, Next time, youre not allowed to cook that meat again! (Author: Sigh! His predecessor had seen rats eating corpses in his previous life. How could he not feel disgusted?) Qin Xiaoyao was stunned again. Sigh! Its really not the kind of rat you think it is Puke! The man looked like he was about to vomit again, and Qin Xiaoyao was so scared that she quickly shut her mouth. Alright, alright. We wont cook those bamboo that dish anymore. Qin Xiaoyaos face was filled with panic as she hurriedly reassured him. Her husband was too delicate. Fortunately, this was the ancient times and not the apocalypse Otherwise, she was not sure if she could feed him and keep him alive. Bamboo rats were such a delectable delicacy It was a pity that she wouldnt be able to eat them in the future. Qin Xiaoyaos heart was filled with the feeling of self-pity for herself due to the sacrifice she made for the person she loved. Upon hearing this, Song Ques expression finally became less contorted. He sat down and adjusted his mood before lying down. Lets continue with the story, he said. He had to listen to the story to distract himself from the feeling of disgust. Chapter 80 - 80 Chapter 80: Bamboo Rats Were Different From Rats 80 Chapter 80: Bamboo Rats Were Different From Rats Okay. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que worriedly before lying down as well. Then, she continued to tell the story. It was a new day again. After getting out of bed, Qin Xiaoyao got busy. !! Braving the morning mist, she went into the mountains with Big Girl Li to pick the Chinese Toon shoots. Then, she pushed the goods she had prepared in advance and set off for town. In the back kitchen of Fortune Mansion. Qin Xiaoyao came to the back kitchen again and made two dishes for Uncle Zhao and Uncle Fang. One was stir-fried cured meat with bamboo shoots, and the other was roasted bamboo rat meat. Of course, she naturally switched the name bamboo rat meat with wild game meat. They said that they had found this little creature in the mountains. After tasting it, they found it was incredibly delicious, so they brought it to Fortune Mansion, hoping to sell it. Uncle Zhao and Boss Fang were both very interested. They waited for Qin Xiaoyao to finish cooking and tasted the dishes on the spot. This wild game meat is so tender! Uncle Zhao was the first to speak. Theres also the bamboo shoots. Theyre very chewy and have a unique vor when eaten. Uncle Zhao naturally had to show his support for his nieces goods. Moreover, these two ingredients were really good. Even though his nieces cooking skills were average, the dishes were to his taste. Boss Fang nced at Uncle Zhaos exaggerated expression andughed. Uncle Zhaos expression turned awkward for a moment, and he immediately averted his gaze in embarrassment. He was telling the truth Then, Boss Fang turned to Qin Xiaoyao. They are indeed good stuff, he said. Ill take the bamboo shoots and the wild game meat. Lets go out and discuss the price, Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Uncle Fang, please! she hurriedly said. At the same time, she gestured with her hand invitingly. Boss Fang nced at Qin Xiaoyao, and the smile in his eyes widened. Then, he walked forward. In the courtyard, Boss Fang sat at the same stone table as he began asking Qin Xiaoyao. What kind of wild game is that meat? Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Er She didnt know if she should tell the truth. It was mainly because she found that everyone around her was very afraid of bamboo rats, except Big Girl Li. In fact, Big Girl Li was also afraid at the beginning. She only lost her fear after hearing Qin Xiaoyaos exnation. As for the mother and children trio, they were still afraid even after hearing her exnation. Fortunately, they were not afraid of processed meat. It was even more melodramatic when it came to her husband. He didnt even listen to her exnation and wanted to puke the moment he heard the word rat. That was why she was really worried that her Uncle Fang would not buy her meat after finding out the truth. If you cant remember the name, can you just bring the wild game that hasnt been processed next time? Boss Fang continued. The meat of this wild game was indeed of high quality. If they knew what kind of animal it was, their Fortune Mansion could purchase it from outside. In this way, even if this girl couldnt send this meat in the future, Fortune Mansion would be able to make up for it from another source. If Fortune Mansion could provide this meat in the long run, he could turn it into their Fortune Mansions signature dish. If not, it could only be served as a special dish to distinguished guests from time to time. Qin Xiaoyaos expression became even more conflicted. Uncle Zhao noticed the unusual reaction. What is it that you cant tell us? he asked Qin Xiaoyao. Boss Fang also looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt take it anymore when she saw the two pairs of probing eyes. Well, its not that I cant tell you. Its just that the thing doesnt look that nice externally, she said tactfully. Haha! Thats fine. There are tens of thousands of ingredients in the world, and many of them are ugly, but their taste is amazing. Boss Fang said with a smile. Besides, when the customerse to the restaurant to eat, they will only see the ready-made dishes. Why would they care about what the ingredients look like? Qin Xiaoyaos face was still a little stiff despite hearing his reassurances. What if that thing looks like a rat? she said. Behind her, Big Girl Li subconsciously tugged at Qin Xiaoyaos clothes. Qin Xiaoyao didnt move. ... Both Boss Fang and Uncle Zhao were shocked. Boss Fang was the first to recover from his shock and said in a clear voice, Its fine! It didnt matter if they looked like rats as long as they werent rats. Uncle Zhao also nodded. Its fine as long as its not a rat. He voiced out the words in Boss Fangs heart. Big Girl Li was even more nervous now, and she tugged at Qin Xiaoyaos clothes again. Finally, Qin Xiaoyao turned around and gave her a warning look. Big Girl Li then lowered her head and didnt dare to make any other movements. Then, Qin Xiaoyao turned around and looked at Boss Fang and Uncle Zhao again. It is indeed not a rat, but it belongs to the rat family. Its called a bamboo rat. The two people opposite her frowned. ... Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop and continued to exin, Although bamboo rats belonged to the rat family, their habits are very different from normal rats. This type of rat lives in the mountains and mainly feeds on bamboo. Some bamboo rats also eat Miscanthus and nt stems, so they arepletely different from the omnivorous nature of normal rats. Because they only eat fresh bamboo or nts, the bamboo rats meat is delicious and has high nutritional value. ording to medical records, bamboo rat meat has the effect of promoting energy and nourishing female health, detoxification, curing tubercr infection, and quenching thirst. It has a certain medicinal value. This was what one of her traditional medicine students had told her during the apocalypse. That kid liked to eat bamboo rats. Whenever he was free, he would tell her about the good things about bamboo rats and urged her to take them into the mountains. Unfortunately, he died on a missionter. Boss Fang and Uncle Zhao were both shocked when they heard her. They didnt expect bamboo rats to have medicinal value. They were also shocked that Qin Xiaoyao actually knew so much. Seeing Uncle Zhaos confused look, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and exined, Hehe! I heard it from my husband. Her attractive husband was a schr and was quite famous at Cirrus Loft Academy. It would not be strange for him to know such things. True to her expectations, the doubt on Uncle Zhaos face vanished. Then, Uncle Zhao cupped his hands and reported to Boss Fang. Sanyas husband was a student of Cirrus Loft Academy in the past. He is very knowledgeable and is highly praised by the teachers. Since he said that, it should be true. Boss Fang nodded his head. After thinking for a while, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Does this bamboo rat really look different from a normal rat? Qin Xiaoyao nodded hurriedly. Its totally different. The fur of a bamboo rat is softer than that of a rat. The skin can be used to make fur coats. Its eyes arent as big and bright as a rats, but its head is rounder than thetter. In terms of body size, its fatter than a rat, but its movements are far less agile than a rat, Qin Xiaoyao said quickly. Manager Fang finally felt relieved after listening to her. Deal! Then this meat is 20 copper coins per catty. In addition, tomorrow, you will directly bring a few unskinned bamboo rats. We give you 15 copper coins per catty. Ill make a decision on future supplies after I take a look at the creature, he said. Although he had basically confirmed that the bamboo rat was not a rat, he could only be at ease after seeing it with his own eyes. As for the meat that the two girls had brought, since they had already delivered it, there was no reason to ask them to take it back. Since the weather wasnt too hot now, he might as well ask the kitchen to cure the meat. It wouldnt be toote to use it tomorrow after confirming there was no problem. Qin Xiaoyao was overjoyed. No problem! Ill get Erniu to send it over tomorrow! she hurriedly agreed. Chapter 81 - 81 Chapter 81:Paid a Huge Price 81 Chapter 81:Paid a Huge Price Boss Fang was experienced and knowledgeable, and he was also a man, so his knowledge was different from a womans. As long as he could confirm that bamboo rats were different from rats, this deal would most likely be closed. Boss Fangs admiration for Qin Xiaoyao grew significantly when he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was able to guess his thoughts and yet still agree to the request without any hesitation. As for this bamboo shoot, itll be three copper coins per catty. If its convenient, from the day after tomorrow, you can just send 50 catties every day. !! Yes! Thank you very much, Uncle Fang! Qin Xiaoyao quickly thanked him. 50 catties was not a lot, but the unit price was high! Fortune Mansion would only offer this kind of price for the mushrooms in the mountains. However, bamboo shoots were much heavier than mushrooms. Boss Fang stood up with a smile. He then instructed his kitchen staff to weigh the goods. After the staff settled the bill with Qin Xiaoyao smoothly, she then left the premises. After they left Fortune Mansion, Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao with admiration again. She felt that she had once again learned something new this time. Alright, stop with the ttery. I have to sell the bamboo rat skins and hand in the book at the Cirrus Loft Bookstore. After that, Ill have to go to the market at South Street to set up my stall to sell straw sandals. Theres a lot of things to do. By the way, Im going back to my familys house today. Ill be staying for lunch there. After youre done, you can leave first. Dont wait for me. Big Girl Li knew that Qin Xiaoyao wanted to return the money to the Qin family, so she nodded. Okay! she replied. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment and reminded her, After you go back, dont be too anxious to go into the mountains in the afternoon. Well set off after I get back. Alright! Big Girl Li replied coquettishly. Qin Xiaoyao almost had goosebumps. Im leaving! After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao pushed the handcart and left. Then, she peddled straw sandals as she walked toward Wangs Grocery Store. At the grocery store, Shopkeeper Wang took a look at the bamboo rat skins, and true enough, he was interested. The material and quality of this skin are pretty good, but its a pity its a little small. How about this? Ill give you three copper coins for one piece? If a small piece of skin could be sold for three copper coins, the price was not really low. After dealing with him several times, Qin Xiaoyao knew that Shopkeeper Wang was honest and quickly agreed. She then sold all the bamboo rat skins she had brought to Shopkeeper Wang. In addition, she also sold five pairs of straw sandals. After that, Qin Xiaoyao went to the Cirrus Loft Bookstore. After handing in Song Ques work, buying paper, and securing a new job, she left. By the time Qin Xiaoyao set up a stall in the market on South Street and sold out all the straw sandals she brought, the market had already dispersed when she returned to the market on West Street. Fortunately, her father had not left yet. He was cleaning up the stall with her brother. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao appear, the father and sons faces lit up. Why did youe sote? That girl, Big Girl Li, said you want to go home, so weve been waiting for you here for a long time. Qin Dazhuang shouted out to Qin Xiaoyao. Yeah, she didnt say you woulde directly! Its the big market fair today. If you put your straw sandals for sale in the market on West Street, they might sell even faster! Qin Dahu added. Qin Xiaoyao put down the handcart with a smile. Dad and Uncle Li are here. Wouldnt I be stealing their business? Besides, Im used to setting up a stall in the market on South Street. The uncle selling buns next to me has promised to reserve a ce for me the next day! It was true, but she also patronized the uncles stall often. In addition, she also gave him two pairs of straw sandals. Gosh, you Qin Dahu red at Qin Xiaoyao. He knew he couldnt win against his younger sister, so he didnt continue. Lets go. If you have anything to say, we can talk at home! Qin Dazhuang said. Then, he added, Ive already asked someone to send a message back in advance. I asked your aunt and sister-inw to cook together! Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. She was a little worried about the uing lunch. After all, whether it was Madam Zhang or her two sisters-inw, they all had a bad impression of her. She forced herself to smile. Oh, okay! Qin Xiaoyao replied and prepared to push the handcart to follow. However, Qin Dahu got to the handcart before her. Ill push! Knowing there was no way she could snatch it back, Qin Xiaoyao relented. ... She walked towards the Qin family with her father and brother. Along the way, the father and son talked a lot, asking about Qin Xiaoyaos family and Song Ques situation. They were all words of concern. Qin Xiaoyao responded to each and every one of them, feeling a warm sensation in her heart. They finally arrived at the Qin familys house. Just as they entered the courtyard, Qin Erhu emerged from inside. Little Sister! The first person he called out was Qin Xiaoyao. Only then did he greet his father and big brother. Why did you guyse back sote? Aunt and the others have already gotten the food ready for quite some time! Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Just as she was about to answer, a voice rang out from the hall. Shes making people wait for her just to eat. Shes really a spoiled youngdy! It was Madam Zhang. ... The moment she finished speaking, Madam Zhang walked through the door of the hall. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao realize that Madam Zhangs clothes were loose, and her lower abdomen was slightly bulging. She was much rounder than before. Upon seeing this, Qin Xiaoyaos furrowed brows finally rxed. Then, under Qin Dazhuangs worried gaze, she smiled faintly. Its Sanyas fault for making Madam Zhang wait. Aunt and sisters-inw have worked hard to prepare the food. Sanya hereby thanks you! Everyone in the courtyard was caught off guard by her words. Madam Zhangs expression immediately froze. The two Qin familys daughters-inw, who came outter, also looked at their little sister-inw in shock. Was this really their mean and overbearing little sister-inw? With her temper, shouldnt she have immediately scolded and quarreled with Madam Zhang after hearing her sarcastic words? They were all ready to watch the show, but she actually didnt kick up a fuss? Not only did she not kick up a fuss, but she even thanked them? Alright, who are you mocking? Its rare for Sanya toe back, so dont look for trouble! Qin Dazhuang quickly recovered from his shock and immediately reprimanded Madam Zhang. His daughter had indeed be more sensible than before. As such, he could not let his daughter be bullied. As soon as Qin Dazhuang said this, Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu immediately looked at Madam Zhang with displeasure. Then, they gave their respective wives a look of warning. The three women were furious, but they knew that they had lost the upper hand. They could only turn around and enter the house. Dont hold it against your aunt. She Qin Dazhuang pushed out his aged face as he leaned closer to his daughter. He wanted tofort his daughter and, at the same time, speak up for his wife. Before he could finish his sentence, Qin Xiaoyao smiled at him. Its okay. Madam Zhang had a misunderstanding with me before. Itll be fine once the misunderstanding is cleared up. Qin Dazhuang was stunned. His aged face immediately broke into a smile. Yes, thats the right spirit! Come, lets go in and eat! Then, he pulled Qin Xiaoyao and walked toward the hall. However, Qin Xiaoyao stopped him. I havent taken my stuff! she said. Oh Qin Dazhuang suddenly remembered that his daughter had bought something for his family. Just as he was about to turn around and get it from the handcart, he heard his eldest son say, Ill go get it! Without turning around again, Qin Dazhuang said, Let your Big Brother take it! He then pulled Qin Xiaoyao and continued walking forward. Qin Erhu looked at the back of his father and his sister and then at his big brother. Seeing that his big brother had actually unloaded a lot of things, he quickly went over to help. As he helped carry the things, Qin Erhu sighed in his heart. His little sister had really paid a huge price for her return! Chapter 82 - 82 Chapter 82: Denouncing Madam Zhang Angrily 82 Chapter 82: Denouncing Madam Zhang Angrily When they entered the hall, Qin Dazhuang enthusiastically pulled Qin Xiaoyao to sit next to him. Quick, sit down and eat! Qin Xiaoyao agreed with a smile and sat down in the seat to Qin Dazhuangs right. Next, everyone else took their seats. Qin Dazhuang naturally had to sit in the main seat, and he had to sit alone. That meant that inevitably there had to be a female family member sitting next to Qin Xiaoyao. None of the three women was willing. In the end, Qin Erhus wife didnt manage to get a seat with Madam Zhang and could only sit next to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Dazhuang frowned when he saw her aggrieved look. Just as he was about to say something, Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu came in. And they brought the gifts that Qin Xiaoyao had bought. There were sweets, cakes, cloth, and quite a fair bit of meat. The three women were quite shocked to see this. Little Sister, youre spending too much money. These are all precious things and so expensive! Qin Erhu deliberately raised his voice. Just as Qin Xiaoyao was about to say something, Madam Zhang couldnt hold back her tongue again. Whats expensive? Isnt it still our money? You have the money to buy these things for show, but you dont have the money to return to your father? Qin Dazhuang frowned instantly. Arent you delivering goods to Fortune Mansion and selling straw sandals now? Everyone says youve made a lot of money. Since youve earned money, your life must be veryfortable. Why arent you paying back the money? Do you still want to swallow the familys silver like before? Madam Zhang said sharply. She just didnt like this girl. In fact, it wasnt just in dislike. She absolutely loathed her! Ever since she married into the Qin family, she had had enough! Now that she was pregnant, she didnt want to and wasnt willing to endure it anymore! She wanted to see if Qin Dazhuang would ignore her and her son for his little girl. Qin Xiaoyao was furious, but she forcefully suppressed the emotional influence of her predecessor and didnt say a word. Bang! Qin Dazhuang couldnt bear it anymore and mmed his palm on the table. That m frightened Madam Zhang until her whole body shook in fear. Seeing that Qin Dazhuang was about to step forward, Qin Dahu quickly pulled his father back. At this point, Madam Zhangs face was pale with fear, and she began to cry loudly. Qin Dazhuang, you youre going to hit me! You actually want to hit me again for this girl? I Im pregnant with your child! Madam Zhang wailed. She felt she had been wronged and was very angry. Qin Dazhuang was even angrier when he heard this. You shut up! He reprimanded. Why should I shut up? Qin Dazhuang, if you have the ability, then kill me today! If you kill me, your son will be buried with me! As she spoke, Madam Zhang stuck out her belly. She looked as if she was going to fight to the death. Qin Dazhuang became even angrier when he heard this. He was even more determined to teach Madam Zhang a lesson. Seeing that Qin Dahu almost couldnt hold back their father, Qin Xiaoyao finally stood up and held onto Qin Dazhuang. Thats enough, Qin Xiaoyao shouted in a low voice, and Qin Dazhuang was restrained by Qin Xiaoyao. Then, she pressed Qin Dazhuang back onto the seat. Qin Dazhuang tried to struggle, but he found that he couldnt break free from his daughters grip. When he saw his daughters reaction, he also quickly calmed down and eventually stopped struggling. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that her father had quieted down. She then turned around and looked at the still-wailing Madam Zhang. Then, she took out the money bag she had prepared in advance and threw it in front of Madam Zhang. Ivee here this time to return the five taels of silver. Please check and see if the sum is correct, she said in a low voice. Madam Zhang was stunned. For a moment, she even forgot to sob. Then, without even looking at Qin Xiaoyao, she reached out and took the money bag. Then, she opened the money bag in front of everyone. When she found that there were indeed five taels of silver inside, she was a little surprised. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao continued, As for the earlier eighty taels of silver Everyones hearts sank when they heard this. Qin Xiaoyaos gaze swept across everyones faces. It was indeed my negligence. I was deceived. But when I got married, Father didnt give me any dowry. Moreover, he had already told me that those silver would be my dowry. So, that money is already mine. None of you have the right to criticize me again for these eighty taels! Qin Xiaoyao continued. Moreover, before my mother died, the dowry she saved for me was worth more than sixty taels! Before I got married, father also said that if I got married, he would give me an extra twenty taels! So, if you really add them all up, my dowry is actually more than just eighty taels! It was also because her predecessor was too fat that her parents were worried that she would not be able to get married, so they had prepared such a princely sum. ... It was a pity that all the money had been swindled away in the end. Everyone was shocked and looked at Qin Dazhuang. Then, they saw Qin Dazhuang nod his head. That was indeed the case. During this period of time, he had actually regretted not giving his daughter a dowry. It was also because of this reason that he kept thinking of ways to help his daughter. Unfortunately, his daughter did not appreciate it. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Qin Dazhuang and continued, So, those eighty taels of silver were originally mine! It has nothing to do with the Qin family or all of you. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Zhang. Madam Zhangs face instantly turned ashen white. In the past, I was insensible and made things difficult for you and my two sisters-inw, Qin Xiaoyao continued. ... The three women were stunned. The two daughters-inw of the Qin family lowered their heads, not daring to look at Qin Xiaoyao, whose expression was very normal. Only Madam Zhangs face was filled with fear. But its notpletely without reason, especially with regard to you, Qin Xiaoyao told her directly. Madam Zhangs heart trembled. She wanted to retort, but she didnt even dare to raise her head. Its true that my father is ten years older than you, and hes marrying you as his second wife, and you suffered much for it. But is that really suffering? Qin Xiaoyao said icily, voicing out what her predecessor wanted to say. At that time, your family wanted to sell you in exchange for money to support your younger brother. Without my fathers ten taels of silver to marry you, do you think you would have a good ending? Madam Zhangs body swayed, and she almost lost her bnce. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up into a sarcastic smile. A betrothal gift of ten taels of silver is more than enough for a farmer to marry a young, beautiful maiden, let alone a widow. Take the example of Zhang Mazi. He only offered a betrothal gift of ten taels of silver and was able to secure Wang Xiaomei for his retarded son. What advantage do you have? Its just that my father cherished you! As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at Madam Zhang. Qin Dazhuang frowned and wanted to stop his daughter from continuing. However, he decided to endure it and didnt speak eventually. On one hand, you despise my father. On the other hand, youre making use of his love for you to cause trouble at home. Do you think youre the matriarch of the Qin family just because you married into the Qin family? Haha! Its a pity that youve overestimated yourself. My father indulges you, but I wont. Qin Xiaoyao said in a low voice. Qin Xiaoyao continued, ignoring Madam Zhangs pale face. Previously, I heard that you were pregnant. I originally thought that for my fathers sake, I would just endure it and let it go. But since something like this has happened today, then Ill make things clear. Chapter 83 - 83 Chapter 83: Zhang Ershui 83 Chapter 83: Zhang Ershui Madam Zhang, since you have married into my Qin family, you are a member of my Qin family. My father was afraid to let you suffer, so he made Big Brother and Second Brother live separately from him and handed all the money to you to manage. I dont care about that. But youd better take it easy. Dont even think about using my fathers money to subsidize your broken family! Previously, Madam Zhang had scolded her Song family for being poor and in decline. She also said that Qin Xiaoyaos predecessor had taken money from the Qin family to subsidize the Song family. !! However, what about her? How much better was the Zhang familys situationpared to the Song familys? If it werent for the ten taels of silver her father had given her as a betrothal gift, her situation would have been even worse than the Song family. Not to mention that Madam Zhang also had a younger brother who was a gambling addict. Everyones expression changed when they heard Qin Xiaoyaos words. Madam Zhangs knuckles almost turned white. However, Qin Xiaoyaos aura was too strong. Both Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu were standing on Qin Xiaoyaos side, staring at her in unison. Qin Dazhuang didnt say a word, so she didnt dare to refute her. She had no way to refute either. This was because her brother had indeed kepting to her house to ask for money. In order to send him away, she did give him a lot of money, especially after she took over the familys affairs. Qin Xiaoyao knew her guess was correct when she saw Madam Zhangs reaction. Previously, when Madam Zhang married into the Qin family, Madam Zhangs younger brother, Zhang Ershui, hade to visit many times. After being taught a lesson by Qin Xiaoyaos predecessor twice, Zhang Ershui finally restrained himself. However, he still didnt give up and looked for opportunities to get in touch with Madam Zhang in order to grab hold of this money tree, Madam Zhang, tightly. When Qin Xiaoyaos predecessor got married and left the Qin family, this situation only urred more and more often. Thinking of this, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Qin Dazhuang. Father, its not easy for you to earn money. It was only right and proper to give money to your wife and son. But someone wants to use your hard-earned money to feed her own family and a worthless gambling addict. What do you think we should do about this? In an instant, everyone looked at Qin Dazhuang. In particr, Qin Dahu and Qin Erhus expressions were also somewhat ominous. Although they were living separately now, as long as their father was alive, the Qin family was still a whole. If Madam Zhang really betrayed them and gave their fathers money to that Zhang Ershui, they would not spare her either. After all, if their fathers money was really emptied, they might have to take care of their future younger brother or sister. As for their wives, one of them was already pregnant, and the other might be pregnant soon. By then, they wouldnt even have enough time to raise their own children. How could they have the spare energy to help Madam Zhang raise her child? The Qin familys two daughters-inw finally realized something, and all looked at Qin Dazhuang. This matter which did not appear to concern them actually had a lot to do with them. The one in Madam Zhangs tummy, if by chance their father-inw really could not raise it, wouldnt it be the responsibility of the eldest and second sons households? Qin Dazhuangs expression turned from red to ck. He was a little annoyed at his daughters words, but when he thought about it carefully, he felt that his daughter was right. In reality, he knew about the matter regarding Zhang Ershui. However, because his wife was pregnant, he turned a blind eye to her behavior. However, now that his daughter had brought this matter up in front of his two sons and daughters-inw, if he still didnt deal with this matter, it would only cause his family to fall out. Besides, his daughters worry was not without reason. If his wife emptied the familys money, what would happen to his younger son or daughter in the future? Thinking of this, Qin Dazhuang finally looked at Madam Zhang again. Did Zhang Ershuie to look for you again? he asked with displeasure. Madam Zhangs eyes flickered. No no, he didnt, she replied. Dont listen to that girls nonsense! Then, she deliberately raised her voice and looked at Qin Xiaoyao, trying to make her answer sound more confident. After all, before Qin Dazhuang gave Madam Zhang the right to manage the familys affairs, he had made it clear to her that she was not allowed to help her younger brother. However, that was her brother. How could she not care about him? Hmph! Qin Xiaoyao chuckled softly and rolled her eyes at Madam Zhang. Who would believe her? Qin Dahu, Qin Erhu, and their wives looked at each other. They did not believe her either. Qin Dazhuang nced at Qin Xiaoyao, then gave her a warning look. Its good that you didnt, he then said in a deep voice. As soon as he said this, everyone except Madam Zhang looked at Qin Dazhuang. They were a little confused and angry. Did Father intend to let this matter go and let Madam Zhang off? Madam Zhang, on the other hand, heaved a sigh of relief. At the same time, a sense of gloating welled up in her heart. ... As expected, with her son around, Qin Dazhuang did not dare to do anything to her. Seeing everyones reaction, Qin Dazhuang frowned again. Since Sanya has brought up this matter today, then I will make my position clear, he said. Sanya is right. Its only right for a father to earn money for his son or daughter to spend. But theres no reason for him to give his money to outsiders. As he spoke, Qin Dazhuang looked at Madam Zhang. Seeing this, Madam Zhang became nervous again. Following that, Qin Dazhuang looked away from her and turned to his eldest and second sons. Now that our family members are living separately, theres no reason for you to bear the responsibility when your younger brother or sister is born. If Qin Dazhuang paused. He then continued, If someone really did something to betray our family by taking from us to feed outsiders Dont worry. As your father, I will give the family an exnation. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu were both shocked. Then, they saw their father give Madam Zhang a warning look. ... Seeing this, Madam Zhang once again lowered her head, and her heart became uneasy. After a while. Lets eat, Qin Dazhuang said in a low voice. Only then did everyone sit down and start eating. However, this meal was destined to be depressing and tasteless. After the meal, Qin Dazhuang personally sent Qin Xiaoyao on her way. After they left the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao finally pulled Qin Dazhuang back and apologized to her father. Father, I should not have said this in front of Big Brother and Second Brother. After venting her anger, she felt very relieved, but she had ruined the atmosphere in the Qin family. Qin Dazhuang nced at his daughter. He sighed and patted Qin Xiaoyaos arm. The little bit of anger in his heart towards his daughter instantly dissipated. You did nothing wrong. Its true that I didnt handle your dowry well. Father will make it up to youter. Qin Xiaoyao immediately refused. No need! When she saw Qin Dazhuang looking at her, she continued, Im making a lot of money by delivering goods to Fortune Mansion. In the future, my life will get increasingly better. As for you, Father, when little brother is born, youll have to use money on many areas. Since Madam Zhang kept saying she was pregnant with a son, Qin Xiaoyao was happy to go along with that assumption. Qin Dazhuang turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Seeing that his daughter had no intention of continuing, he sighed in his heart. He realized that his daughter still cared about his dignity. Ill give Madam Zhang a warning, he said. I wont be a burden to you. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. What burden? She looked at Qin Dazhuang with a surprised smile. Then, without waiting for Qin Dazhuang to speak, she continued, Even if that day reallyes, I dont care what happens on Big Brother and Second Brothers end. You and little brother can just follow me. Chapter 84 - 84 Chapter 84: Making Century Eggs 84 Chapter 84: Making Century Eggs As long as Im here, I wont let you and my little brother suffer. If that day really came, the child would definitely not end up well if he followed Madam Zhang. However, I dont care about the others. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Qin Dazhuang with a yful look. The others was evidently referring to Madam Zhang. Her expression made Qin Dazhuangugh. Afterughing, Qin Dazhuang patted his daughters arm with a grave expression. He then opened his mouth and said, That day wonte. If it really doesnt work, after the child is born, Ill send her back. His daughters words today had given him a big wake-up call. Madam Zhangs own family had a huge problem indeed. Today, that woman had actually said that she would let his unborn son be buried with her. She didnt think of herself as a member of the Qin family at all. She only thought that she was giving birth to a son for him. If her heart was not with the Qin family and she only wanted to help others, he would only hurt his own family if he indulged her. His unborn son was naturally important, but surely his eldest son, second son, and daughter were equally important? It was really unnecessary to cause unrest in the family and separate father and sons just for a wife. As for his daughters offer to raise him and the child, he could not possibly allow such a thing. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. Qin Dazhuang didnt continue the subject and said, Alright. Father wont send you off. Go back now. Then, without waiting for Qin Xiaoyao to leave, he turned around and returned to the courtyard. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao still didnt know that because of her words today, Qin Dazhuang had finally made up his mind to face some things. And Madam Zhang finally hardened her heart and began to refuse to be her brothers money tree. Back at the Song familys house. As soon as Qin Xiaoyao arrived, she saw that Big Girl Li was there as well. Madam Liu was relieved when she found out that her daughter-inw had already eaten. After she put away the handcart and exined some things to Madam Liu, Qin Xiaoyao returned to her room to pack up. Then, she entered the mountains with Big Girl Li. Where there is a bamboo forest, there will be bamboo shoots. Actually, we dont have to go to that particr mountain to dig for bamboo shoots, Big Girl Li suddenly said. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. Isnt there also a bamboo forest at the front mountain? Big Girl Li immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Perhaps, there are bamboo rats there too. She was referring to the bamboo forest where the vigers would asionally go to chop bamboo. The bamboo forest was close to the vige, and the bamboo grew thickly. It was hard to say whether there would be bamboo rats. After all, she rarely went there and had never encountered bamboo rats there. However, the number of bamboo shoots was definitely more than what the earlier bamboo forest had. Qin Xiaoyao also remembered the bamboo forest that Big Girl Li mentioned, but she didnt agree with her suggestion. Although the bamboo forest in the front mountain has no owner, the vigers have been chopping bamboo there for so many years. That bamboo forest has long been regarded as themon property of the vige. Just like the ramie forest. If anyone needed them, they would just go and take some. As long as one doesnt go too far, no one will say anything. But if people found out that we are using the bamboo shoots in the bamboo forest to earn money, and its a long-term deal, Im afraid things wont be that simple. Thats true Big Girl Li replied. She had only thought that digging bamboo shoots there would be closer, so she had neglected these considerations. If people knew that bamboo shoots were edible and so expensive, even if no one stopped them from digging bamboo shoots there, there would be many people who would follow their lead. If too many bamboo shoots were dug up, it would affect the reproduction of the bamboo. When she and Sister Sanya were digging, they did notpletely dig out the bamboo shoots. Instead, they left some for them to grow. However, other people would not take so much into consideration. However, I can still go there and look for bamboo ratster, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Digging up bamboo shoots would cause some damage to the bamboo forest. Anyone who saw it would be able to guess what had happened. However, killing the bamboo rats was much easier. If no one watched from the side, who would know what she was doing in the bamboo forest? Big Girl Li smiled. Immediately after that, she stopped smiling. I still dont know if Boss Fang will buy bamboo rats from uster on, she said with some worry. Dont worry. He will, Qin Xiaoyao replied withplete confidence. Since the bamboo shoots would only be delivered the day after tomorrow, the two of them did not go to the mountain where they first discovered that bamboo forest. Instead, they went to a nearby mountain to explore. In the end, they only got some edible fungi and mushrooms, and Qin Xiaoyao caught a wild hare. What made Qin Xiaoyao happy was that she found quite a number of hickory trees on that mountain. Unfortunately, spring was not the season for hickory to bear fruit and ripen. Her discoveries were not useful for the time being. ... In the next few days, Qin Xiaoyao found more chestnut trees in the mountains, as well as arge field of jujube trees. Unfortunately, she was still restricted by the season. Other than memorizing the approximate location of these trees, she could do nothing else. Although the search for new mountain products to earn money did not go smoothly, they still encountered some good things. And that was, she and Big Girl Li had found another bamboo forest in one of the mountains. Moreover, this bamboo forest was evenrger than the bamboo forest in the front mountain near the vige. There were also many bamboo rats living inside this bamboo forest. In addition, after seeing what the bamboo rats looked like, Boss Fang agreed to continue purchasing Qin Xiaoyaos bamboo rats. And it was a big-volume purchase, with a temporary daily purchase of 50 catties of bamboo rat meat. For the sake of secrecy, he even asked Qin Xiaoyao to process the meat before sending it over. The processed bamboo rat meat was 20 copper coins per catty. The daily ie of bamboo rat meat alone was one tael of silver. This ie made up for Qin Xiaoyaos ie shortage from the depletion of Chinese yams, which made her feel more at ease. However, Qin Xiaoyao also knew that even if she could hunt bamboo rats in three bamboo forests, the number of bamboo rats was limited. The business of selling bamboo rat meat was destined not tost long. ... Therefore, she started to set up the century eggs business. After Madam Liu helped her sew the gloves, she made the first batch of century eggs. Then, she wrapped some of the chicken and duck eggs she had bought recently to preserve them and turn them into century eggs. After that, Qin Xiaoyao ced the wrapped-up century eggs into the jar she had bought and sealed it. There are too few eggs in the vige. Ill buy some more from town after I sell some goods, Qin Xiaoyao said. Madam Liu was stunned. Now that Ive calcted it, I can collect about 40 to 50 eggs a day. This is still considered too few? Yes. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu. I want to collect more than 200 a day. Fortune Mansions business was getting better and better, so they could easily use up to 200 century eggs every day. Moreover, the century eggs with green pepper would be even more popr in the summer. By then, even 200 a day might not be enough. 200? Madam Liu was a little shocked. Seeing her daughter-inw nod, she then calmed down a little. But chicken and duck eggs are fragile. If you buy too many, how are you going to transport them back? she said worriedly. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the straw beside Madam Liu. Lets make some egg trays. They can absorb the shock. Egg trays? Madam Liu was puzzled. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Mother will know once Ive made it. Chapter 85 - 85 Chapter 85: Liu Daniu’s Return 85 Chapter 85: Liu Danius Return After speaking, Qin Xiaoyao started work. After trying for a while, Qin Xiaoyao made a row of egg trays. She also found some chicken and duck eggs to try out the trays. Seeing that the egg trays could really protect the eggs, Madam Liu and Song Yun were full of admiration for their daughter-inw and sister-inw. !! Teach us quickly. Well help you make some so that we can clear the space for more eggster, Madam Liu said quickly. She was not in a hurry to make straw sandals anymore. Song Yun also looked at Qin Xiaoyao with anticipation. Okay! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Following that, she began to teach the mother and daughter. She was busy again until veryte. The days passed by in a hurry. As Qin Xiaoyao went up the mountains and down the rivers, the Song familys days kept getting better. It waste April. In the blink of an eye, Qin Xiaoyao had been in this world for more than a month. She and Big Girl Li had alreadypletedbing the surrounding areas of the deep mountains. At the moment, other than the ie from bamboo shoots, bamboo rats, Chinese Toon shoots, and fishing, the Song family only had the daily work of collecting vegetables and mountain goods, as well as selling straw sandals to make a living. Since they didnt have to waste a lot of time going into the mountains, Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li had a lot of free time these days. At the same time, Song Ques leg injury had recovered quite a bit, and he could finally get down and walk. Since she was free, Qin Xiaoyao even thoughtfully made a pair of crutches for Song Que. At first, Song Ques face was full of disdain when he saw them, but eventually, he still walked out of the room with his crutches. After being cooped up in his room for more than a month, Song Ques spirit recovered quite a bit when he walked out of his room again. He was a little surprised to see that his mother and sister had their own jobs to do every day, and they were all smiling and full of energy. At the same time, he also felt encouraged. The house was indeed different from before. On this day, Qin Xiaoyao was making egg trays together with Madam Liu and Song Yun when Big Girl Li suddenly came to the door. And she had even brought Liu Daniu along. Qin Xiaoyao was somewhat surprised. Before she could open her mouth to ask, Big Girl Li exined the situation. It turned out that Liu Danius job in town was not secure. He said that after his bosss rtive arrived, they fired him. Hmph! Its just a job that pays one tael of silver a month. Whats there to feel disheartened about? After Big Girl Li finished speaking, she red at her disappointing man. Sister Sanya is preparing to do something big. Instead of going to town to put up with peoples whims just to earn some money, you might as well work with Sister Sanya! Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was very surprised. Then, she looked at Liu Daniu with a smile. Those few mountains have already been almost cleaned out by Big Girl Li and me. Im indeed preparing other ways to make money. Although it might not be as much as what I made with the Big Girl Li before, if it is done well, it should be better than the work you do in town. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li. In addition, you have more flexibility in managing your time. Youll also have more time to apany Big Girl. Big Girl Lis face instantly turned red. Following that, she elbowed Liu Danius arm. Liu Danius face turned red as well. Well the two of us will listen to Sister Sanya! He said. The way he addressed Qin Xiaoyao had also changed from Mrs. Song to Sister Sanya, just like his wife. For the past month, his wife had been working for Sister Sanya. The money she earned in a month was almost equivalent to what his family had earned in a year. Not only that, but his wife also told him that after Erniu started working for Sister Sanya, he also thought he wanted to continue working for her. And his little sister had already told his wife more than once that she wanted to work for the Song family. That was why his wife kept urging him, hoping that he could quickly quit his job in town and go home. He had been hesitating before, thinking it wasnt good to give up the work in town ande back to fight for work with Erniu. However, this time, the boss had fired him outright, so he had no reservations anymore. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Okay! Since youre here, lets talk about this. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao invited the two of them to sit on the steps below the roof eaves. As farming vigers, the couple did not mind. They simply grabbed a handful of straw to use as a cushion and sat down. Fortune Mansion has set up a Fortune Restaurant east of the town. It will open the day after tomorrow. Big Girl Li quickly nodded. She had gone to town with Sister Sanya to deliver goods and witnessed Boss Fang telling her Sister Sanya about this. Boss Fangs intention was to arrange for most of the specialty dishes of Fortune Mansion to be served at Fortune Restaurant so that it could make a name for itself as soon as possible. As her Sister Sanya had a good working rtionship with Fortune Mansion, Boss Fang suggested letting her Sister Sanya supply some goods to Fortune Restaurant. This meant that her Sister Sanyas business was now even bigger. She had an additional restaurant where she could sell a lot of goods to. It was also because of this reason that Big Girl Li was even more eager to get her man toe to the Song family. She didnt want to miss this opportunity. ... Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li and smiled. She continued, When we delivered to Fortune Mansion, the back kitchen ordered 150 catties of farm vegetables, 6 catties of Chinese Toon shoots (since the beginning of daily delivery, the daily delivery volume has been adjusted), 50 catties of bamboo shoots, and 50 catties of bamboo rat meat. Edible fungi, mushrooms, and other mountain products are less than 40 catties. Theres also the supply of fish within 50 catties. Other than the mountain products and fish, we can basically satisfy all their requirements on the other goods. Big Girl Li nodded again. Every family in the vige lined up to sell vegetables at the Song familys house. They could generally collect 150 catties a day without any problem. She and Sister Sanya took turns going into the mountain to pick Chinese Toon shoots, and it was not a problem to pick about five catties a day. Bamboo shoots were even more straightforward. Every time they went into the mountains, they could dig up a few days worth of them. The night before, they had to peel off the outer skin of the bamboo shoots and weigh them to add up to 50 catties. On the other hand, the bamboo rats were much more troublesome. They were all hunted by her Sister Sanya in the bamboo forests when she went into the mountains the evening before. After she returned, she would arrange for Big Girl Li to skin and process them. In short, she felt that these few days were very rxed and leisurely. ... The most important thing was that she could earn money while feeling rxed and leisurely. This was the happiest thing. Now, over at the Fortune Restaurant. Boss Fang has also asked me for these goods. Its just that the quantity is a bit less. Qin Xiaoyao met their gazes and continued, For the time being, Fortune Restaurants order is 100 catties of farm vegetables, 3 catties of Chinese Toon shoots, 30 catties of bamboo shoots, and 20 catties of bamboo rat meat. Edible fungi, mushrooms and other mountain products are to be within 20 catties, while fish is within 30 catties. In addition to these, the Mansion and Restaurant also ept poultry such as chickens and ducks. Its just that there arent many people who sell poultry in our vige, and Ive only bought one or two previously when I encountered them. Ive asked the staff in the back kitchen. If its poultry, its fine even if we send 20 to 30 every day. As for the price, its basically the same as the market rate. So, if we want to expand our business, well also buy and sell poultry. Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu quickly nodded. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment and continued, Right. Lets talk about my current situation. There are a total of eighty-nine households in Brook Falls Vige. ording to the current situation, our family collects 150 catties of farm vegetables a day. Its just about right. Chapter 86 - 86 Chapter 86: Business Sense 86 Chapter 86: Business Sense Anything more than that amount, Im afraid we may not be able to get. Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu nodded. Therefore, the 100 catties of farm vegetables for Fortune Restaurant can only be obtained from other ces. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Liu Daniu. Liu Daniu was surprised, then he nodded. His wife had told him that Sister Sanya would probably ask him to push the handcart to other viges to collect goods in the future. Generally, every family had farm vegetables, so it was not a problem to collect 100 catties of vegetables every day. Qin Xiaoyao saw their reaction and continued, You dont have to worry about the Chinese Toon shoots, bamboo shoots, and bamboo rat meat. Also, there are mountain products such as edible fungi and mushrooms, poultry such as chickens and ducks, as well as fish. After the couple had listened to so much information, their faces began to show some panic. They were afraid that they could not remember the figures. Qin Xiaoyao then said, How about this? Ill make a list. Ill write down the unit price and quantity. Daniu, you can just follow what I wrote and go to the nearby viges to collect the goods. She had heard Big Girl say before that her Daniu had attended a private school for four years and was considered an educated person. If he were in the countryside, he would be considered a rare talent. Alright. Liu Daniu was a little apprehensive, but he still agreed. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled when she saw this. Dont worry. Ill try my best to brief you on all the details before you leave. Alright. Liu Daniu agreed once again and felt more at ease. Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao spoke again. Other than the goods for Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant, I also have some other ideas. This caused the couple to look at her. Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant can only buy a limited amount of goods from us. In that case, our profit is also limited. During this period of time, after I go into town to deliver the goods, I also go to the markets to sell straw sandals. From there, I also discovered some opportunities. That is, we can also ept some woven bamboo utensils or wooden sculptures from the countryside and sell them in town. Faced with the puzzled gazes of the two, Qin Xiaoyao continued, For example, pot brushes, bamboo baskets, pan baskets, dustpans, bamboo basket backpacks, wicker baskets. Even fine-toothbs, wooden hairpins, and so on can be epted! As long as the price is low enough, we can make a profit from the price difference in the market! Im going to set up a stall to sell straw sandals anyway. I can make more money by selling more things together. In addition, the greater variety of goods on the stall would attract more people. Although there were asionally farmers selling these things in the market, most of them only sold a single type, and they typically didnt bring many. After all, bamboo products were different from fast-selling products like straw sandals. They didnt need to be reced in one or two months. Some bamboo products could even be used for several years. As a result, many bamboo craftsmen could not use their skills to make a living. They could only make these crafts for use at home, or when the vigers came to look for them, they would help them make the item and collect some money. They might only go into town to try selling their products on big market fair days, when there was a lull in the farming schedule, or when they needed to buy things in town. Furthermore, even if country folks went to the town market fairs, it would not be very frequent. After all, many viges were quite far from the town, and they had to pay an entrance fee to enter the town. Their Brook Falls Vige was considered a vige that was located very close to the town. However, other than Big Girl and Qin Xiaoyao, many of the vigers didnt even go to town once a month. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao had to give thanks to the towns entrance fee. A small fee of one or two copper coins was sufficient to force many people who wanted to enter the town to do business to retreat. Of course, most people in ancient times were more conservative, and there were not many who dared to take risks and do business. Will will this work? Liu Daniu was a little skeptical. The moment he spoke, he received a warning look from Big Girl Li. He quickly lowered his head. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled and nced at Big Girl Li. Well just have to try and see how it goes, she said. After some thought, Qin Xiaoyao said again, Ill tell you in advance what Im going to buy the next day or over the next few days, as well as the base price. After you collect the goods,e to my house to hand over the goods at the corresponding price. The extra money earned will be considered yours. Liu Daniu was surprised. In addition, you have to go to the countryside to collect the goods. You can also do business as a street vendor. Let Big Girl buy you some needles and thread from town, and you can sell them in the viges. The couples eyes brightened when they heard this. They could earn money from both receiving and selling goods. Deal! Well do as Sister Sanya says! Big Girl Li quickly agreed on behalf of her man. Liu Daniu looked at his wife and did not argue back. This job seemed feasible, but he didnt know how much he could earn. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Daniu with a smile. What I can be sure of now is that I want 100 catties of farm vegetables everyday. The base price is 7.5%. ording to the price I give the vigers I collect from, its 5% per catty. If you buy them at this price, you can earn 2.5% per catty. 100 catties will give you 25 copper coins. In addition, for the edible fungi and mushrooms, I can only collect at most 30 catties from you every day. The base price is two copper coins per catty. The price I give the vigers I collect from is one copper coin per catty. If you buy at this price, you can earn one copper coin per catty. If you can collect 30 catties, you can earn 30 copper coins. Also, I would like to entrust you to help me purchase some chicken and duck eggs. Every ten eggs will be one copper coin more than the vige price. Maintain your collection within 200 a day. With the egg trays, as long as you are careful on the road, the eggs should not crack. This is another 20 copper coins profit. ... Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Daniu, who was counting on his fingers in shock and smiled again. These items I mentioned are the daily required goods. If you canplete all of them, youll earn at least 75 copper coins a day. Of course, if you can, try to buy the goods from outside at a lower price than the vige price. The profit will be even higher. Liu Daniu was quite tempted. Thats true. Hes going door-to-door to collect the goods. Maybe the price can be lowered. In addition to these, I can also give you the base price for poultry such as chickens, ducks, and geese, as well as wild game and fish. Then you can collect them at a price lower than the base price. It shouldnt be a problem to earn one or two copper coins per catty for these goods. If you do it well, the money youll earn from this part may be more than the previous partsbined. Liu Danius eyes flickered again. Theres also the ie from the woven bamboo utensils and the sales of goods as a street vendor. As long as youre willing to work hard, you should be able to earn more than what youre earning in town. Liu Daniu quickly nodded his head. He already felt quite confident. ... Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao smiled again. In addition, you need a handcart for this job. Youll have to get this yourself, she continued. Liu Daniu was taken aback. Big Girl Li, on the other hand, gave Liu Daniu a p. Ill pay for this! she said generously. She had seen how her Sister Sanya bargained with that shop owner. Even the high-quality handcart that her Sister Sanya was using now only cost 500 copper coins. At most, she would also spend 500 copper coins to buy a simr handcart for her man. Liu Daniu immediately looked at his wife with gratitude. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but feel goosebumps when she saw Liu Danius expression. At the same time, she also couldnt help feeling a little envious Chapter 87 - 87 Chapter 87: Fearful of Aggravating Handcart’s Wear and Tear 87 Chapter 87: Fearful of Aggravating Handcarts Wear and Tear She was also willing to spend money on her attractive husband, but her attractive husband probably would never look at her like that Big Girl Li was a little embarrassed by Qin Xiaoyaos stare, so she pulled on her mans arm and reminded Liu Daniu to watch his behavior. Only then did Liu Daniu calm down. He was so embarrassed that he didnt dare to look at Qin Xiaoyao again. Ahem Qin Xiaoyao cleared her throat. !! Since the handcart issue has been solved, Ille up with the list tomorrow. After that, you can decide when to start, Daniu. The day after tomorrow is Fortune Restaurants opening day. Naturally, the sooner, the better! Big Girl Li immediately replied. Lets go buy the handcart tomorrow and start working the day after tomorrow! After she finished speaking, she turned to look at Liu Daniu. Liu Daniu hesitated for a moment before nodding his head with determination. Right, its better to do it earlier thanter! Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased. Alright, then Daniu wille with us to town tomorrow to choose a handcart. Alright! Liu Daniu agreed happily. Then, the three of them talked some more about the follow-up arrangements before the couple left. In the end, just as the couple left, Song Que, who was getting some sun not far away, looked over. Youve received so many goods and are even preparing to sell your own goods. Can that handcart of yours fit all of them? As he spoke, Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyaos figure. She was still very beefy, but her clothes seemed to be much looser. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. It seemed that she had to take into consideration this problem too You and Ernius sister-inw are two different people. Theres no need for you two to move together. Since youve decided to set up a stall, why dont you let one person deliver the goods and the other go to the market to reserve a stall location first? With a two-pronged approach, we wont have any dys on either end, Song Que continued. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned again. What he said made a lot of sense! Doesnt that mean well have to buy another handcart? Qin Xiaoyao asked immediately. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao in disdain. Of course! Then, Qin Xiaoyao scratched her head in embarrassment. Then Ill buy another handcart. When the timees, Big Girl Li and I will push one each. Only then did Song Ques expression be slightly better. And dont just load the goods on the handcart ording to the different destinations. Though the quality of our handcart is not bad, if you use it every day, it will wear out very fast. Its best to separate the goods by type in advance and ce them in frames. Then, you can divide them equally on the two handcarts. After you reach the city gate, you can re-arrange the goods again before you enter the town. This way, the goods on the two carts are about the same weight, so the wear and tear on the handcart will be less. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Okay! Then, she nodded. He certainly lived up to his reputation as Brook Falls Viges number-one talent. He was really smart. Only then did Song Que turn his head back. The corners of his mouth curled up into a small arc. Song Que thought that no one would notice his smile, but little did he know that his faint smile did not escape Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos heart felt as romantic as a wildflower in the mountains. Hah! Why was he worried about the wear and tear of the handcart? He was clearly hoping that Qin Xiaoyao would push fewer goods and let Big Girl Li share the burden with her. Her gruff yet tender husband was actually very concerned about her Qin Xiaoyao was feeling exceptionally happy. Suddenly Cough! Song Ques light cough brought her back to reality. When Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Que, she realized that her attractive husband was frowning. Her attractive husband seemed to have said something to her just now. Apparently, she was distracted and didnt hear him. Er Hubby, whats wrong? Knowing that she had made her attractive husband angry, Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly answered and even took a step forward. She only stopped when she saw Song Que frowning again. I said I want to go to town with you guys tomorrow, Song Que said. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. ... Her eyes subconsciously nced at Song Ques leg. Song Ques face darkened. Qin Xiaoyao quickly looked away. But she was still worried. Ill sit on the handcart, and you can push me, Song Que continued. Er Her attractive husband frowned. All alright, Qin Xiaoyao had no choice but to give in. Only then did Song Que stand up. When he lowered his head, no one noticed that a smile had appeared on his face again. Qin Xiaoyao watched as her husband entered the house, feeling helpless She and the Big Girl Li went to town to deliver goods, and then she had to go sell goods. There were many things to do. ... At that point, how would she take care of him? However, even though she felt helpless, she could not refuse her attractive husbands request. Therefore, she could only think of a way when the time came The next day, Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu arrived early in the morning at the Song familys house. Then, listening to Madam Liu, the couple went to the River Ringwaters to bring up the fish in the fishing. When the two of them returned, Qin Xiaoyao had also returned from picking the Chinese Toon shoots in the mountains. After cing the goods they had prepared in advance onto the handcart, they were ready to set off. Cough! At this moment, a familiar light cough was heard again. Everybody turned around and saw Song Que standing on the steps below the roof eaves. At this moment, Song Que was leaning on a crutch and looking at them with a displeased expression. Er I almost forgot. My husband is also going to town today, Qin Xiaoyao said hurriedly. Then, ignoring everyones astonished gazes, she quickly went to help Song Que. She had thought she would be rejected, but to her surprise, Song Que actually epted her help. He allowed her to help him to the handcart to sit down. After settling Song Que down, Qin Xiaoyao finally heaved a sigh of relief. Was there any other way? If he insisted on going, she had to take him along. Then, she went to push the handcart. Lets go! After that, everyone was very quiet. Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li exchanged nces a few times, but they didnt say anything. The silence was only broken when someone in the vige saw them and greeted them. Only then did Song Que realize that Qin Xiaoyao was actually quite popr in the vige. Qin Xiaoyao also found out that her attractive husband wasnt aloof to everyone. He even had a bright and sunny side to him. On the main road, Big Girl Li finally couldnt hold her tongue anymore and started chatting with Qin Xiaoyao. Naturally, they were talking about buying a handcart. Qin Xiaoyao took the opportunity to tell her what Song Que had told her the day before, that she should buy another handcart. Its indeed necessary to add another handcart. How about this? Ill pay for the new handcart, Big Girl Li said quickly. The handcart they were using now was bought by Sister Sanya, and she was doing business with Sister Sanya. She had benefited so much from it when she should have contributed some money for it as well. Moreover, the handcart was not considered expensive for her now. In any case, she had brought enough silver today. It was more than enough to buy two handcarts. Liu Daniu only nced at Big Girl Li but didnt express his opinion. He supported his wifes actions. Qin Xiaoyao wanted to refuse subconsciously, but then she heard Song Ques voice. Im tired. Stop and rest for a while. Her thoughts were interrupted. Qin Xiaoyao had no choice but to put down the handcart. When she saw Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu looking at her with an odd expression, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly realized that something was wrong. Tired? Her attractive husband was sitting on the handcart, and she was the one pushing him the entire way. How how could he be tired? Chapter 88 - 88 Chapter 88: A Venomous Snake That Could Bite 88 Chapter 88: A Venomous Snake That Could Bite Realizing that she seemed to have made a low-level mistake, Qin Xiaoyao looked a little embarrassed. However, since she had already put down the handcart, she might as well take a break. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao, who was still standing in front of the handcart, and his beautiful brows furrowed. He then said, Im thirsty. Qin Xiaoyao went up to Song Que instinctively. Then, she took out a bamboo container filled with water from a basket and handed it to Song Que. That was right. Ever since she had a handcart, she always brought a bamboo container filled with drinking water with her when she delivered goods to avoid feeling too thirsty on the road. Qin Xiaoyao didnt realize that Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li were looking at her with an even more bewildered expression. Did did she have to be so attentive? Wasnt the bamboo container right beside Song Que? Didnt he have hands? Song Que had also noticed their gazes, but he did not take it to heart. He took the bamboo container from Qin Xiaoyao, opened it, and started drinking. Qin Xiaoyao stared at Song Ques sexy Adams apple moving up and down as he drank the water, and she was almost lost in thought. Her attractive husband was actually drinking water from her bamboo container Did this count as what was that called? After a while, Song Que finished his water and passed the bamboo container back to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly took it. Then, she screwed the cover back on and put the bamboo container back in its original ce. After doing all this, she still stayed by Song Ques side, as if she was waiting for orders. This scene once again shocked Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li. In particr, Big Girl Lis mood was really conflicted and contradictory at this moment. This was her Sister Sanya, the almost omnipotent Sister Sanya, and yet she was bowing and scraping to Song Que! Okay it was her Sister Sanya who forced this marriage on Song Que. However, Song Que couldnt be such a bully! That was right. At this moment, Big Girl Li felt it was too unjust to her Sister Sanya. The more she looked, the angrier she got. Big Girl Li couldnt hold it in anymore and was ready to say a few words for her Sister Sanya. However, just as she stepped forward, her man grabbed her arm. At this moment, Song Que also spoke up. Lets continue. Okay! Qin Xiaoyao quickly answered and prepared to push the handcart. However, Song Que stopped her with a look. Then, Qin Xiaoyao saw that her attractive husband had shifted his annoyed gaze away from her to Liu Daniu. Liu Daniu was shocked. I Ill push the cart! He quickly said. Then, he quickly left his wife and walked towards the handcart. Only then did Song Que retract his gaze. He leaned against the basket of vegetables and closed his eyes. Qin Xiaoyao was a little shocked. She only realized something when the handcart set off again. Then, a goofy smile appeared on her face. Song Que, who had his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes and saw her expression, causing him to give a scornful snort. Big Girl Li was standing right beside Qin Xiaoyao, and she saw everything that had happened. She couldnt hold it in anymore. However, she was once again pulled back by someone, and this time, it was Qin Xiaoyao. Then, she saw her Sister Sanya turn her head and give her a smile that told her to calm down. Big Girl Li could only re at Song Que and suppress her anger, who had closed his eyes again. No! She had to find a chance to talk to her Sister Sanya! How could a man be pampered like this? Someone like Song Que should be whipped with a cane! Just whip him a few times, and lets see if he still dares to act like this! she thought. In her mind, she imagined her Sister Sanya whipping Song Que, and the scene of Song Que crying, Wah! Wah!. Only then did Big Girl Li feel she had finally vented some of her anger. She even had a smile on her face. Qin Xiaoyao, who was watching from the side, was feeling somewhat perplexed. The group of people walked very quickly, and they soon arrived at the city gate. After queuing up and paying the entrance fee, they entered Mountain Spring Town. Send me to the Cirrus Loft Bookstore first. When they reached the fork in the road, Liu Daniu was about to push the handcart to Fortune Mansion when Song Que suddenly spoke. Liu Daniu was stunned and stopped the handcart. ... As for Big Girl Li, her face was filled with anger again. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao quickly went to take over from Liu Daniu. You two wait here. Ill send my husband to the Cirrus Loft Bookstore first. Ill be back in a while, she said as she walked. Thereafter, before the couple could reply, Qin Xiaoyao pulled Liu Daniu away and grabbed the handle of the handcart. Then, she quickly lifted the handcart and pushed it away. When the handcart was more than ten meters away, Big Girl Li couldnt hold it in anymore. What what the hell is he doing? She pointed at the handcart and cursed out loud. Liu Daniu quickly pulled down his wifes arm to restrain Big Girl Li. Enough! Lower your voice. Dont let Brother Song hear you! he whispered. Big Girl Li immediately looked up at Liu Daniu, her eyes even angrier than before. So what if he heard me? Hes a man, but hes using all sorts of methods to torture my Sister Sanya! Why should he still be afraid of people talking about him? ... And you! Why are you afraid of him? Wasnt he just a weak schr? To put it bluntly, he looked like a woman. What was so great about him? At this point, Big Girl Li was extremely angry with Song Que. How could she remember that she herself had once imagined beautiful future visions of Song Que? If anyone reminded her now, she would spit in his face. Enough. I Im not scared. Liu Daniu said guiltily as his wife stared at him. Of course, he was afraid. In Brook Falls Vige, Song Que was the smartest among his peers. Though he might appear weak and powerless, in reality, he was very brutal. None of the people he targeted had a good ending. When Song Que was young, the children in the vige kept hearing the adults at their own homes praise him. Naturally, they did not like him. Seeing that he was weak, they teased him a lot. However, all those whoid a finger on him ended up in trouble. At best, the perpetrator would be beaten up by his family because of this mistake. At worst, the perpetrator fell into River Ringwaters and almost drowned. And Song Que happened to see him fall. He was standing on the shore, watching the child struggling in the water with an icy cold expression. In the end, nothing happened to the child, and in fact, Song Que was the one who saved him. He even received the gratitude of the childs family and the child himself in the end. As a result, the child started to protect him, and no one in the vige dared to provoke Song Que anymore. Daniu was the only one who knew that the child had most likely fallen into the water because of Song Que. Ever since then, he had been afraid of Song Que. He did not dare to get close to Song Que and even stayed far away. In retrospect, it had been ten years since that incident. He thought that he had already forgotten about that matter. However, now he realized that he couldnt forget it at all. Song Que only needed to look at Daniu once, and he would feel a chill in his heart. How would he dare to go against Song Que? That was a venomous snake that could bite! Big Girl Li looked at her man in disbelief. Before she could ask, she heard Liu Daniu continue, What do you know? Dont meddle in the affairs of a married couple! Seeing Big Girl Lis expression darken, Liu Daniu continued, Brother Song is deliberately causing trouble, but its not just to torment Sister Sanya! Chapter 89 - 89 Chapter 89: Selling Books 89 Chapter 89: Selling Books Then why is he doing it? Big Girl Lis face was full of suspicion. Liu Daniu said earnestly, The trouble he caused on the road was because he was afraid that Sister Sanya would be tired, and he wanted me to take over Sister Sanyas ce. Big Girl Li was stunned, then she thought about it. Was it really like this? She looked at her man with some uncertainty. After that incident, it was indeed her Daniu who took over Sister Sanyas ce to push the handcart. Then what about just now? As she spoke, she pointed in the direction where Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que had left, but her tone was much better now. Just now Liu Daniu paused, his mind spinning quickly, trying toe up with a reason for Song Que. I guess what happened just now was because Brother Song wanted to be alone with Sister Sanya! Or is he afraid that if he follows us to Fortune Mansion with one injured leg, he will embarrass Sister Sanya? Liu Daniu then said. What embarrassment? Based on his understanding of Brother Song, it would be a good thing if Brother Song didnt think that Sister Sanya embarrassed him. However, this wasnt important. What was important was that he couldnt let his wife offend that venomous snake. Otherwise, it would be toote for them to regret it. Big Girl Li was stunned again. Then, she suddenly felt a little guilty inwardly. Real really? she asked Liu Daniu guiltily. Liu Daniu quickly regained hisposure. Of course! Brother Song is an awkward person, and hes too embarrassed to tell Sister Sanya about such things. Looking at his simple-minded wife, Liu Daniu reached out and pulled her hand. Lets not get involved in this couples business, he said. Big Girl Li raised her head and looked at Liu Daniu. She thought for a moment, then nodded. Okay. Liu Daniu heaved a sigh of relief. He thought to himself that it was a good thing his wife was easily fooled. Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoyao pushed Song Que all the way to Cirrus Loft Bookstore. When the shop assistant in the bookstore saw Song Que, he immediately came out of the bookstore to wee him. When he realized that Song Que could not move freely, he even reached out to help him. Seeing that the shop owner had alsoe out, Qin Xiaoyao was about to step forward, but she saw Song Que turn around and look at her. He even said to her, You can leave now. Qin Xiaoyaos expression froze. Youre finally here, Mr. Song. At this moment, the shop owner had alreadye over and even cupped his hands in greeting towards Song Que. Mr. Wang, Song Que returned the greeting. Then, Mr. Wang looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Madam Qin. He also greeted Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly returned the greeting. Qin Xiaoyao felt Song Que frowning at her again, and she quickly said, I still have to deliver the goods. Ill take my leave first. After speaking, she cupped her hands at Mr. Wang in farewell. Mr. Wang was quite surprised. Just as he was about to say something, Qin Xiaoyao had already walked to the handcart and pushed it away. Mr. Wang watched as Qin Xiaoyao walked further and further away, and he only came back to his senses after a long while. However, when he turned around, he saw Song Que frowning at him. Oh, pleasee in, Mr. Song Then, he quickly adjusted his state of mind and made an inviting gesture toward Song Que. Please, Song Que also replied indifferently. Then, he allowed the shop assistant to help him into Cirrus Loft Bookstore with Mr. Wang. After entering the bookstore, Mr. Wang brought Song Que to the inner hall and even asked the shop assistant to make tea. After chatting for a while, Song Que took out a book from his pocket and handed it to Mr. Wang. Mr. Wang took the book and flipped through a few pages before his expression changed. This book He looked at Song Que in shock. Song Que nodded. Its Teacher Wen Yuans selected works. Seeing Mr. Wangs shocked expression, Song Que continued, Although its a hand-copied version, the contents are all true to the original. Mr. Wangs expression changed slightly. Then, he asked Song Que, Mr. Song, have you read this book? Song Que nodded. My father taught me. ... Seeing that Mr. Wang was about to speak, Song Que continued, Its not just Teacher Wen Yuans selected works. I also have many simr out-of-print books in my house. Mr. Wangs eyes lit up. Theyre all hand-copied? He asked Song Que. The value of a hand-copied book was far inferior to those original ancient books. However, if it was copied without any mistakes, the value of its usefulness was equal. There was no printing technology in this era, and books were distributed by hand-copying, which was why books were so expensive. Some of the better books would be collected by influential families very quickly after they were released. If it couldnt be circted in the market for a long time, it was easy to turn into an isted copy. For the imperial examination, if one only read ordinary books, a talented candidate still had a chance of securing schrly honor. However, if he wanted to go further, he needed to broaden his horizons and read more widely. If his family didnt have a strong background, they wouldnt be able to read omnilegently. It would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens to stand out from the crowd of schrs. This was also the reason sole-copy books were so hard to find. If Song Que really had the only copy extant of such a masterpiece in his hands, even if it were just a hand-copied version, its value would be hard to estimate. ... Yes, Song Que answered. Mr. Wangs eyes lit up again. Mr. Song, are you willing to sell it to me? He looked at Song Que anxiously. No doubt, after he got these books, he could hire people to copy them and sell the copies. At that point, he did not have to worry about his business anymore. In addition, the children in his family could also use it. Furthermore, if he was unwilling to let the book circte outside, he could seal it at home and leave it behind as the familys inheritance to boost his familys prestige. Yes, Song Que answered. Then he said, 50 taels of silver. Mr. Wang was shocked. Song Que did not seem to mind and reached out to take his book back. Then, he waved it in front of Mr. Wang. This volume of Teacher Wen Yuans selected works is avable for 50 taels of silver if Mr. Wang is interested. In addition, I promise I wont let this book circte in the outside world again, Song Que said in a low voice. The volume of Teacher Wen Yuans selected works was extremely rare in the world. However, this author was revered by schrs of the current era. This volume, even if it was only a hand-copied version, was still worth a lot. Only in a ce like Mountain Spring Town was he willing to sell the book for only 50 taels of silver. If it was in Forget it. In his current situation, 50 taels of silver for this book was already a sky-high price. Hesitation shed across Mr. Wangs face. He looked at the book in Song Ques hand and then looked away. If its just a hand-copied version, the price is too high. Ill pay 30 taels. Then, he reached out his hand. Song Que shot one nce at Mr. Wang and put the book back in his pocket. Then, he stood up. Mr. Wang was shocked and quickly reached out to stop him. Dont be in such a hurry, Mr. Song. Lets discuss this further. Then, he forcefully helped Song Que back to his seat. Mr. Wangs brows were tightly furrowed. He waited until Song Que relented and sat down again. He then spoke again. 50 taels of silver is indeed too high. The thing is, although Ive heard of Teacher Wen Yuans selected works, Ive never read them, so its hard to tell if this is real or fake. Song Que raised his head again and looked at Mister Wang. Mr. Wang, do you think Im lying to you? he said somewhat angrily. Mr. Wangs expression drastically. Chapter 90 - 90 Chapter 90: Reincarnated Person 90 Chapter 90: Reincarnated Person No, I didnt mean it that way, he hurriedly said. Mr. Wang was afraid of offending Song Que. Song Ques lips curled into an icy smirk. Our Song family hailed from a famous family. If it werent for the fact that we had to avoid disaster, my father wouldnt have brought the whole family to this Mountain Spring Town to live in seclusion. Howughable, to actually end up in such a plight !! Never mind. Just take it that I didnte to your bookstore today. With that, Song Que stood up again. Mr. Wangs expression changed again. Theres no need to do this! Mr. Song, surely theres no need to do this? He hurriedly tried to stop him again. I have been too indiscreet. Please forgive me, Mr. Song! Please dont take it to heart! Please dont take it to heart! Mr. Wang apologized frantically as he tried to stop Song Que. He had indeed never read the book that Song Que had brought to him titled Teacher Wen Yuans selected works. However, he had heard of some of the phrases. When he flipped through the book just now, he was already 70% sure that the book was authentic. Now, after hearing Song Ques self-introduction that he hailed from a famous n, coupled with the fact that Mr. Wang had always felt that Song Que had an extraordinary air about him and was different from ordinary people, he believed Song Que even more. Song Ques talent was indeed exceptional. Before he entered the Academy, he had been taught by his father, so it was possible that he had read many books. If it were in the past, in order to keep the sole extant copy a secret and reducepetition It was also possible that the Song family did not sell these books to the public. However, now that Father Song had passed away, and Song Que had to observe mourning for at least three years, he didnt even have the right to sit for the exams. In addition to the Song familys current difficulties, it was understandable that Song Que would make such a decision. At the thought of this, Mr. Wang was even more certain that the book in Song Ques hands was authentic. He then spoke, 50 taels then! 50 taels it is! Mr. Song! Only then did Song Que stop struggling and look at Mr. Wang again. Mr. Wang smiled apologetically at Song Que before releasing him. Please wait a moment, Mr. Song. Ill go get the silver now. He then cupped his hands in a salute to Song Que and left. Looking at Mr. Wangs back as he left, the corners of Song Ques lips curved up slightly. He then ced the book on the table again. His beautiful, slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the book cover. Before long, Mr. Wang returned. He was also holding a tray covered with a cloth. Please check, Mr. Song. After that, he ced the tray on the table. Song Que nced at Mr. Wang. Only then did he reach out to remove the cloth. Then, he saw 5 pieces of 10 taels silver ingots on the tray. Upon seeing this, Song Ques eyes did not waver. Its too heavy to carry around. Ill have to trouble Mr. Wang to prepare a box, he said. When Mr. Wang saw Song Ques calm attitude, he was even more convinced that Song Que was really from a prestigious family. No problem! Ill make the arrangements, Mr. Wang answered. He left again. Then, after a while, he returned with a small box. Only then did Song Que reach out to take the silver, picking up all five silver ingots and cing them into the box. Then, he closed the box and put it aside. Following that, he passed the book to Mr. Wang. Mr. Wangs eyes lit up. After receiving it, he quickly flipped through it. Previously, he was too anxious and in a hurry to ask questions, so he didnt look too carefully. Looking at it again now, Mr. Wang felt that his money was well spent. This was definitely the authentic Teacher Wen Yuans selected works. Who else but Teacher Wen Yuan could have such a writing style and select such a choice of words and sentences? Song Que saw Mr. Wangs expression and did not disturb him. He simply waited with an indifferent expression. He waited until Mr. Wang had finished reading more than half of the book. Mr. Wang then put the book down in amazement. Teacher Wen Yuan is really an exceptional genius! Mr. Wang sighed again and looked at Song Que. Song Que nodded lightly. Only then did Mr. Wang restrain his emotions. Mr. Song, you said earlier that you have other books? he asked Song Que. Yes. Song Que nodded. May I ask which titles? Mr. Wang immediately looked at Song Que expectantly. ... Song Que opened his mouth and listed the names of the five books. They were all works of famous schrs that had vanished from the market. Mr. Wangs eyes lit up when he heard that. You youre willing to sell all of them? he asked. Song Que nced at Mr. Wang and nodded. They are all 50 taels of silver per volume. If Mr. Wang is willing to buy them all, these five books will be 240 taels. Mr. Wang pondered for a while. If it was 50 taels for one volume, the total price should be 250 taels. This Mr. Song was no pushover. He only gave him a discount of 10 taels of silver. However, based on the situation just now, this Mr. Song was not good at bargaining. In fact, he was quite stubborn. If he wanted to negotiate the price, it was basically impossible. ... So if it was 240 taels, then so be it. These were all books that could be passed down as family heirlooms. He would just treat this as an investment to build up the foundation of his family. That was right. Even though he was running a bookstore, he didnt want to use these books to make money. Instead, he nned to keep them as his collection. After all, his two sons had not given up on the Imperial examinations. Even his grandchildren would take this path in the future. As a father and a grandfather, he did not have such an ability. He had worked hard for most of his life but only managed to pass the county-level examinations. After that, he taught at the Cirrus Loft Academy for a while before leaving to open this bookstore. However, he still hoped that his children and grandchildren would be able to go further and pass the provincial-level examinations. For the Wang family to truly be a family of schrs, they had to umte their knowledge slowly. He might as well start with himself Deal! Thus, Mr. Wang agreed. Song Ques eyes finally showed some visible fluctuations. Also, theres one more thing Id like to trouble Mr. Wang with. Then, he cupped his hands at Mr. Wang. Oh please speak, Mr. Song. Mr. Wang quickly returned the greeting. I want to buy a courtyard dwelling in Mountain Spring Town. I hope Mr. Wang Can help me look out for one. Mr. Wang was stunned. May I ask what kind of courtyard dwelling you are looking for? It doesnt have to be too big, as long as it can satisfy the needs of a family of five. Its best if theres a well in the yard, and the price should be under three hundred taels of silver, Song Que said. The six books were sold for a total of 290 taels. If he asked that woman to add more, it would not be a problem to make up 300 taels. That was right. He had thought through this matter over thest few days. It was impossible to save enough money to buy a courtyard dwelling in town before autumn by relying on that woman to go up to the mountains and down to the rivers. After much thought, the matter of buying a courtyard dwelling still depended on him. Fortunately, he had a good memory. After remembering some of the books he liked, he could almost repeat them verbatim and write them down from memory. Otherwise, he really could not think of a way to earn this sum of money. That was correct. He had been reborn. He was reincarnated on the day his leg was injured. In his previous life, after he had injured his leg, that woman had hung herself to death. After that, the Qin family came to help bury the woman and thereafter ignored the Song family. Following that, his leg waspletely crippled because he had no money to treat it. Thereafter, it was a hot summer, and there was no rain for days. A few provinces around Zhao County experienced a great drought. When Mother and Yuner went to River Ringwaters to get water, they fell in and never returned. After that, he and Yeer finally managed to hold on until autumn. Chapter 91 - 91 Chapter 91: The World’s Most Treacherous Official 91 Chapter 91: The Worlds Most Treacherous Official However, the situation did not improve. There were no crop harvests from the fields, and many families ran out of food. Then, the food prices rose, and arge-scale famine began. Some people chose to go into town to find work, hoping to survive. Others could only wait for death at home. He took Yeer all the way to Mountain Spring Town and rushed into town before the city gates were closed. !! Then, he began to beg in the town. In the end, Yeer still died. He starved to death in his arms. He thought that he would die too, but he didnt. Instead, he was saved by the rebel army. Yes, after winter, there was an outbreak of banditry in Mountain Spring Town. The mountain bandits took in many refugees and attacked Mountain Spring Town. They almost ughtered all the inhabitants in the viges around the town. He had been saved by the bandits at that time, but the bandits did not have good intentions. That disgusting thing actually had such filthy designs on him. He had to risk his life to prevent that beast from seeding. Then, ten dayster, while the great armies from the Imperial Court were attacking the town, he thought of a way to get rid of that bastard personally and made a contribution. After that, he actually won the appreciation of the leading general and followed him back to the capital to be his aide. Later, he began to take on a more prominent profile, and step by step, he became an existence that all the powerful and noble people in the capital feared. Then muchter, the world said that he had bewitched the king, killed the innocent, had a vicious heart, and was the most treacherous official in the world. Everyone had the right to punish him. However, he didnt care. In order to repay the kindness of his patron, he was willing to endure those curses. Moreover, the first half of his life had been extremely insufferable. After gaining power, he only wanted to live afortable life. Why should he care about reputation? After that, he died. He was killed by the assassin who had revealed his identity, saying that he was the descendant of a loyal official who had been killed by him. Anyway, he could not remember who it was. When he died, he was actually not sad. On the contrary, he felt a sense of relief. This was because, at that time, the Emperor, who he thought of as a close friend, reprimanded him. In the Imperial Court, there were even people who listed a hundred of his crimes, trying to force the Emperor to punish him. He knew that his retribution wasing. In addition, he must have been poisoned during that period of time as he often dreamed of his parents, Yuner and Yeer. They all told him that they missed him and hoped to reunite with him. He thought that perhaps he could really reunite with his family after he died. Thereafter, he was reborn. In this life, his father had also passed away, but his mother, Yuner and Yeer were still alive. His leg was also just injured. The only difference from his previous life was that the woman didnt die, and her temperament changed. He had his suspicions. At first, he thought that the woman might have been reborn like him. However, heter rejected this idea. After all, their personalities and knowledge were very different. So, he was very certain that this woman had reincarnated in another body. After these days of living together, he wasnt afraid that the other party was some lost, wandering ghost. Now that everyone was living under the same roof, he didnt mind helping her out to tide over the next crisis. As for what would happen after that, he would think about it when the time came Mr. Wang muttered to himself. 300 taels If it was in the east of the town, Im afraid it would be difficult to find a good one. The courtyard dwellings in the other zones are cheaper. If you want a better courtyard dwelling, youll have a higher chance of finding one in the west of the town, he said. Many houses were built illegally in the west of the town. Many people outside the town rented houses there, which caused the environment there to be downgraded by a lot. It was also because of this that courtyard dwellings in the west of the town cost less than in other ces. In the east of the town, most of the residents were rich families in town. The environment was better, and of course, the price of the courtyard dwelling was higher. As for the south and north parts of the town, the closer they were to the center, the more expensive the courtyard dwelling was. If they go out further, the price would be reduced ordingly. Then well go for west of the town, Song Que said. When the mountain bandits entered the town, their first targets were wealthy families. It was not a good choice to live in the east of the town. As for the north and south of the town, the minions of the mountain bandits had also caused quite a bit of trouble there. On the contrary, the west of the town had the most poor people. The mountain bandits realized they couldnt find anything good, so they naturally didnt bother toe back. Also, its best if the location is further away from the town center. After thinking for a while, Song Que reminded him. Mr. Wang was surprised. He nced at Song Que and reminded him, 300 taels should be enough to buy a ce on the west side of the town, not too far from the town center. He thought that Song Que was worried about not having enough money. In his opinion, Song Que was a schr, after all. If the conditions allowed it, they probably wouldnt be willing to live next to the poor. ... We dont need to be close to the town center. Just one or two streets away from the private residential areas will do, Song Que said. Seeing that Mr. Wang was about to speak again, Song Que said, After all, I still have my living expenses after buying the courtyard dwelling. I dont have anything on me, so I can only live within my means. Mr. Wang nodded and did not try to persuade him anymore. Alright. Ill get someone to ask for you over the next two days. If theres a suitable one You can inform my wife, Song Que said. When he said the word wife, his expression was a little odd. When Mr. Wang heard these words, he also looked at Song Que with a strange expression. Seeing that his expression was normal, Mr. Wang quickly adjusted his own expression. Just now, when they were outside, this Mr. Song seemed to be very disdainful of his wife, but now he referred to her as his wife so naturally. Sigh! In the beginning, he also felt that when Mr. Song was matched with such a wife, it was a little However, after so many interactions, he found that Madam Qin was not entirely without her merits, with no redeeming features. ... On the contrary, she was generous, witty, and full of kind words. In addition, every time he saw her, she would be carrying things to sell on her shoulder. It was clear that she was a hardworking woman. Unfortunately, she was far from being a good match for Mr. Song Alright, he said. Collecting his thoughts, Mr. Wang agreed to help in this matter. Then, he began to discuss the details of the book deal with Song Que. In the end, Song Que promised to hand in a book every two days. Mr. Wang had to pay Song Que 50 taels of silver each time until thest book, for which he would be paid 40 taels. After the two of them reached an agreement, Song Que did not leave immediately. He stayed in the bookstore and began reading. Meanwhile, after Qin Xiaoyao sent Song Que to the bookstore, she went back to look for Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu. Then, she brought the two of them to Fortune Mansion to deliver the goods. After the goods were delivered, Qin Xiaoyao asked the couple to make sure that they were able to buy their own handcarts. She gave the couple the bamboo rat skins and some straw sandals and asked them to send these items to the grocery store. Then they were to deliver todays allocation of straw sandals to Qin Dazhuang and Aunt Li. After that, the two parties parted ways. Qin Xiaoyao didnt dare to waste any more time. She quickly went to the market on South Street to sell straw sandals. Her attractive husband was still waiting for her at Cirrus Loft Bookstore. After she had sold her straw sandals for the day, she still had to go pick him up. Qin Xiaoyao didnt know if it was because she was too unlucky, but she realized that the more anxious she was to sell the straw sandals, the more unsessful she was. Seeing that the number of people on the street had started to decrease, Qin Xiaoyao became anxious. Finally, she reduced the price of thest dozen pairs of straw sandals. The remaining straw sandals were quickly sold out at the price of seven copper coins for two pairs. After selling off all the straw sandals, Qin Xiaoyao packed up and was ready to push the handcart away. Chapter 92 - 92 Chapter 92: Because She’s My Wife 92 Chapter 92: Because Shes My Wife When the Uncle selling buns saw this, he smiled at Qin Xiaoyao and asked, Youre even selling your straw sandals at a lower price. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Oh, my husband also came to town. After Im done here, I have to go pick him up. Qin Xiaoyao turned around and saw the piping hot steamer in front of Uncle. She immediately felt hungry. She thought of her attractive husband, who hade out together with her, and guessed that he must be hungry now. !! Qin Xiaoyao made up her mind and bought six meat buns and six vegetarian buns. Three of the meat buns would be given to her attractive husband, and she would eat three vegetarian buns. She would bring back the remaining three meat buns and three vegetarian buns for her mother-inw and the two children. They would be having lunch, so the buns were just enough to let the three of them satisfy their cravings. Hah! No wonder! Your husband is a blessed man! Uncle said with a smile. After being Qin Xiaoyaos neighbor for so long, he already knew about her familys situation. He knew that her husband had injured his leg and would need more than half a year to recover fully. He honestly admired Qin Xiaoyaos attitude of striving for self-improvement and hard work. After Uncle returned home, he used Qin Xiaoyao as an example so his daughter-inw could learn from her. Hehe! I think its my fortune to be able to marry him! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Next, she made payment. When Uncle received the money, he straightaway took one copper coin less and said with a smile, Youre already my regr customer. Thats enough! Thank you, Uncle! Qin Xiaoyao was delighted and quickly thanked him. Then, she took two bags of buns and ced them into the basket. After that, she bid farewell to the bun seller and left. After leaving the market on South Street, Qin Xiaoyao walked quickly and arrived at Cirrus Loft Bookstore in no time. In the end, just as she reached the entrance of the bookstore, she heard amotion from inside. I didnt expect it! So its really our great genius schr Song! Haha! Schr Song is a talented literary schr with an outstanding demeanor. How did he be a cripple now? Haha Hahahaha! Hes already crippled to such an extent. Can he still be cured? The noise wasing from four students dressed in the uniform of Cirrus Loft Academy. They surrounded Song Que, and their mockingughter was as annoying as the buzzing of bees. When Qin Xiaoyao saw her attractive husbands icy cold face and that he was surrounded by a few annoying bees, anger swelled up in her heart. Then, without another word, she barged into the bookstore. Then, she unleashed her move. Ah where did this crazy womane from! You shrew! What are you doing? Qin Xiaoyaos expression was merciless as she casually caught two bees. She twisted their wrists and made the two of them collide with each other. Then, they fell to the ground. She ignored the two jerks wailing and said icily, Hmph! I am taking care of the male shrews! Seeing this, the other two schrs standing inside initially wanted to scold Qin Xiaoyao and uphold justice for theirpanions. However, when they saw Qin Xiaoyaos merciless gaze looking in their direction, they got cold feet. In fact, they even took a step back in fear. Who who are you? Why are you so nosy? A youngster emboldened himself and asked Qin Xiaoyao. When he asked this, he didnt dare to step forward at all. Where did such a fierce womane from? She didnt look like someone who could be trifled with. Qin Xiaoyao glowered fiercely at him. She then took a side nce at Song Que. Seeing that Song Que was not looking at her, she turned back to look at the young man talking to her. What do you care who I am! I just cant stand seeing you guys bully people! Then, she nced at the young mans schr robe. Hmph! Its said that the schrs of Cirrus Loft Academy read the books of Sages and have noble characters. I didnt expect the Academy to have educated scum like you! Today, Ive finally seen it for myself. You The young mans face turned red with anger. Madam Qin At this moment, Mr. Wang was brought over by the shop assistant, and he quickly stopped the fighting. He didnt expect something to happen in the store after leaving for only a short while. He already knew what had happened. Mr. Song had been besieged by his former ssmates in his store, and they had even taunted him ceaselessly. And this scene happened to be discovered by Mr. Songs wife. Thereafter, two of the schrs were taught a lesson by Madam Qin. Moreover, judging by the situation, this matter was not over yet. Mr. Wang. Qin Xiaoyao frowned slightly. However, she still cupped her hands in greeting at Mr. Wang. After all, this person was her husbands employer, so she still had to extend him some courtesy. ... When the rest of the people saw Mr. Wang, they also cupped their hands in respect at him, including Song Que. He was not simply the shop owner of Cirrus Loft Bookstore but also an old schr in their Mountain Spring Town who had taught at Cirrus Loft Academy. Mr. Wang returned everyones greetings. Then, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Madam Qin, please calm down, he said. I already know the root cause of this matter. Can you allow me to be the mediator to help mediate and resolve this matter? After he finished speaking, he even cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao turned around and nced at the young man who had just spoken to her. The young mans face was filled with fear again. Since Mr. Wang is willing to step in, then Ill have to trouble you. With that, Qin Xiaoyao returned Mr. Wang the courtesy. Only then did Mr. Wang break into a happy smile. Thank you very much, Madam Qin. Then, he bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. After that, he turned to look at the four schrs. ... I already know what happened in the bookstore just now. As students of Cirrus Loft Academy, you didnt greet your former ssmate with words of concern when you met him. Instead, you gloated and taunted him. This is really unseemly behavior! As soon as these words came out, the four schrs all lowered their heads. Now, Madam Qin has allowed me to help mediate and solve this matter. Do you have any objections? Mr. Wang asked again. No no objections, one of the schrs replied. Only then did Mr. Wangs expression be less stern. Thats good. Then Im asking all of you to apologize to Mr. Song and Madam Qin, and then this matter will be over. As soon as he said this, the two schrs who had just been taught a lesson by Qin Xiaoyao immediately raised their heads. However, when they saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at them with a menacing gaze, they quickly lowered their heads. Immediately after that, one guy still felt resentful and looked up at Mr. Wang. I can apologize to Song Que, but why do I have to apologize to her? The schr ignored Mr. Wangs furrowed brows and continued, This woman injured Brother Chengyu and me. She should be the one apologizing to us and paying for our medical expenses! His familys situation was not as well-off as the others, and he did not have the money to pay for his injuries. The shrew had struck him too hard just now, and his wrist was still in great pain. He didnt know if it would jeopardize his writing. Before Mr. Wang could say anything, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes narrowed. Very good. This was the first time she had met someone who dared to ckmail her. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Song Ques voice. Because shes my wife. Then, Qin Xiaoyao got aplete shock. The instant she was shocked, the anger in her heart was swallowed by the sudden pleasant surprise. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt the only one who was shocked. Everyone else was shocked as well. Mr. Wang was the first to regain his senses. He looked at Song Que with admiration. As for the four schrs, they all looked at Song Que with strange expressions, their faces filled with sympathy and gloating. Chapter 93 - 93 Chapter 93: Dealing with Scum 93 Chapter 93: Dealing with Scum There were rumors in the Academy that Song Que had been pestered by a ferocious shrew, and he had even married her eventually. So it was actually true. Haha! Now that they knew about this, they were no longer angry at the couple. What was going on? Qin Xiaoyao saw the expressions on the four guys faces, and the anger in her heart instantly surged again. !! Then, she forcefully suppressed it. She took a side nce at Song Que. After seeing that her attractive husband did not have any reaction, she felt a little more at ease. If you want medical fees, sure. Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao spoke up. Seeing the schr who had just spoken look at her in surprise, she said, But your injuries are obviously not serious enough! Why dont I break it for you, and then you can go to the clinic to help you reconnect it? As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao took a step forward. That schrs expression immediately changed drastically, and he took a step back. And your leg. Why not try and break it as well? This way, you can have a taste of beingughed at as a cripple. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at the schrs leg again. The schr quickly retreated so far back that he was practically hiding behind another schr. The other three schrs hadnt even had the chance toin about Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaoughed menacingly. Hmph! A bunch of gutless trash! As soon as these words came out, all the schrs faces turned red with anger. However, before they could say anything, they heard Qin Xiaoyao say, Leave your names and addresses, and promise not to nder my husband. Otherwise, if I find out, Ill kill you all! After she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao took the thickest brush pen from the side. Then, she used her hands to break the brush pen into two. She couldnt be bothered toin to the Academy. She liked to get physical, the kind of physicality that killed people. At this moment, the four schrs and the rest of the people, including Song Que, were stunned. How how much strength did she have to break such a thick brush so easily? The four schrs expressionspletely changed. They knew that they had messed with the wrong person this time. Previously, they had heard that Song Ques wife was unusually fierce and seemed to be a female hooligan in the town. Now, looking at her methods and her style of doing things, it seemed to be true. Being pestered by such a female hooligan and getting beaten up was a small matter, but what if she coveted the victim and he ended up like Song Que? For a moment, the four schrs looked at each other, all of them somewhat panicky. Eventually, it was Mr. Wang who came back to his senses first. He asked the shop assistant to get the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Since Madam Qin had already subdued these four people, then he would proceed ording to her wishes. The four schrs were extremely regretful that they didnt follow Mr. Wangs advice when he offered them a way out before. Helplessly, they could only leave their names and home addresses. They didnt dare to write false information because they werent sure if Mr. Wang and Song Que knew where they lived. If they were discovered to have left behind a fake address, they were not confident that Qin Xiaoyao would let them walk out of the bookstore in one piece. After Qin Xiaoyao received the information from the four, she let Mr. Wang and Song Que read them. After making sure there were no problems with the contents, she put the paper away. Then, she looked at the four of them and said, Its time to apologize. The four of them were shocked. They had already left their contact details, yet they still had to apologize? Huh? Qin Xiaoyaos tone was filled with displeasure. Im sorry, Brother Song! Brother Song, please forgive me! Brother Song, Sister-inw, please forgive me! The four of them hurriedly bowed with their hands cupped in apology in front of them. Only then did Qin Xiaoyaos expression be less threatening. Ill give you onest warning. Dont tell anyone about what happened in the bookstore today. Otherwise you will have to be careful for the rest of your life, she growled in a low voice. Yes, yes, yes! Someone quickly answered, and the four of them bowed. Get lost! Qin Xiaoyao finally relented. The four of them quickly dashed out as if they were running for their lives. When Mr. Wang and the shop assistant saw this, they couldnt help but admire Qin Xiaoyao. This Madam Qin was indeed extraordinary. After the four of them left, Qin Xiaoyao turned around and bowed respectfully to Mr. Wang,pletely changing her terrifying and tyrannical attitude. Those four people have evil intentions. Im afraid Mr. Wang wont be able to deal with them easily, so I took action. I hope Mr. Wang Can forgive me. Illpensate you for this brush. She then looked at the brush that she had broken. ... Mr. Wang smiled and waved his hand. Theres no need forpensation. It happened in my bookstore, but I didnt stop it in time. Its my fault. But As Mr. Wang spoke, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao as if trying to persuade her. Its against thew to hurt people. Madam Qin, you must not be impulsive in the future. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Wang. I know what to do. She looked very confident and calm. Mr. Wang also knew that there were ways to deal with scumbags. Since he had already spoken out to persuade her, it wasnt good to say more. Thereafter, he spoke some more to Song Que and Qin Xiaoyao. He epted the money that Qin Xiaoyao insisted on giving him aspensation for the broken brush before seeing the two of them off. Mr. Wang couldnt resist stroking his beard as he watched the couple leave, one sitting on the handcart, the other pushing the handcart. He suddenly felt that this couple was actually not that ipatible ... As she pushed the handcart, Qin Xiaoyaos mind began wandering. In her mind, she kept recalling the scene when her attractive husband said she was his wife Until she was brought back to reality up by the sound of Song Que knocking on the handcart. Looking at Song Que with a red face, Qin Xiaoyao only realized then that her attractive husbands face had already darkened ominously. Wha what is it? she asked guiltily. Ive called you so many times. Why are you daydreaming? Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos flushed face, Song Ques anger subconsciously subsided substantially. I I Qin Xiaoyao wanted toe up with a reason to exin, but she realized that her brain was like mush, and she couldnte up with anything at all. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao and said, Alright! Lets turn back and take a look at that fabric shop. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. She turned around and realized that they had indeed passed by a fabric shop and had overshot quite a distance. Hence, she quickly turned the handcart around and pushed Song Que back. Damn it! No wonder her attractive husband got so angry. He must have asked her to stop a few times just now, but she didnt hear him. Not daring to be distracted again, Qin Xiaoyao put down the handcart in front of the fabric shop. Then, she helped Song Que into the shop. It was almost noon. Not only were there not many people on the street but there were also no customers in the fabric shop. When the shopkeeper saw the couple enter, he came up to wee them. What kind of fabric would Mister and Mistress like? He asked enthusiastically. Song Que tilted his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao, who was grinning foolishly. He couldnt tell what Qin Xiaoyao was thinking, and a hint of helplessness shed through his heart. I want both fine cotton and coarse cloth. The fine cotton cloth is for making innerwear, while the coarse cloth is for outerwear. There are three adults and two children in the family, Song Que said straightaway. Chapter 94 - 94 Chapter 94: Exchanging Buns 94 Chapter 94: Exchanging Buns Ever since this woman came, the food and quality of life at home had indeed improved a lot. However, he never saw her taking care of their clothes. It had been a long time since the family had bought new clothes. Also, she bathed every day, so her clothes were worn out quickly. Some parts of her clothes were torn, but she didnt even notice it. His mother would asionally help her patch up her clothes, but sometimes she missed out on certain parts. In addition, she had lost a lot of weight in the past month. The clothes she was wearing now were a little loose, but she didnt seem to care at all. Forget it. He had to buy clothes for his family anyway, so he would count this woman in. May I know the size? The shopkeeper quickly asked. The whole family was buying clothes together, so the profit from this business deal would not be low. Song Que frowned slightly. I didnt measure the size in advance. I can only tell you their approximate body length and body shape. Can you help me calcte? he asked. Sure. However, there might be some discrepancies in the calctions. Song Que smiled and said, Its fine. Then, he told the shopkeeper about the height and shape of everyone in the family, except for Qin Xiaoyao. After informing him, Song Que turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos face turned red again. Then, Song Que said to Qin Xiaoyao, Ahem! You can tell the shopkeeper yourself. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Only then did she realize that her attractive husband also wanted to buy her cloth. Her already restless heart instantly went into a state of turmoil again. The shopkeeper looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. Thisdys measurements can be taken on the spot. I have a measuring tape here, he said. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaos clothes, he knew that this woman probably hadnt bought new clothes for a long time. In addition, the clothes she was wearing now were a little loose, so her previous clothes size was definitely not urate. Oh, okay. Qin Xiaoyao quickly agreed. She was busy earning money at home and was busy every day, so she was not very particr about what she wore. Since her attractive husband wanted to buy her cloth, she naturally had to ept it. However, Song Que turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao and frowned. He saw the shopkeeper bring a measuring tape. Then, he reached out his hand to him. Shopkeeper, you can guide me from the side. Ill take her measurements, he said immediately. The shopkeeper was caught by surprise. His gaze swept over the two of them, and then, a faint smile of understanding appeared on his face. He passed the measuring tape in his hand to Song Que. He had been guessing the rtionship between the two. As their appearances were ipatible, he didnt dare to guess even though he saw their intimate behavior. Now it seemed that these two people were really husband and wife. Sigh! It was such a pity for such a handsome husband to marry such a wife. Qin Xiaoyao didnt notice the shopkeepers thoughts. At this moment, her body was almost frozen. This was because her attractive husband was using a measuring tape to take her size. His hand was pressing on her body, and because they were standing so close, she could even feel her attractive husbands breathing. She could only feel that her face was about to burn. I cant stand it, I cant stand it she thought. Fortunately, the sweet torture finally ended after a short while. Song Que returned the measuring tape to the shopkeeper. Then, he turned his head and nced at Qin Xiaoyao. When he saw the womans flushed face, he was surprisingly in a good mood. The shopkeeper took back his measuring tape and ignored those two. He took a brush and began to calcte. After calcting the rough amount of the fabric, he informed Song Que. Song Que asked for the price and was ready to ept. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly came to a realization. She hurriedly went forward and began to bargain with the shopkeeper. After haggling for a while, she finally relented and allowed the cloth to be cut. Seeing the shopkeepers helpless expression and Qin Xiaoyaos delighted expression, Song Ques heart trembled slightly. After a while, the shopkeeper finished cutting the cloth. Qin Xiaoyao took out her money bag and paid the bill. Then, she took the cloth and helped Song Que out of the fabric shop. After that, she pushed the handcart and continued to move forward. ... Suddenly, Song Que said, Lets go to the grocery store and buy a pair of shoes for everyone in the family. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. When she recalled that everyone in the family was wearing straw sandals, she felt that her husband was very thoughtful and quickly agreed. Thus, she pushed Song Que toward the grocery store she was familiar with. All of a sudden, Qin Xiaoyaos stomach started rumbling, and it even rumbled a few times in a row. It was only then that she realized she was hungry. Qin Xiaoyao was a little embarrassed when her eyes met Song Ques gaze. She then said quickly, I almost forgot. I bought some buns at the market on South Street!. Hubby, if youre hungry, you can have some first to fill your stomach. Its in the second basket beside you. You can just take the bag on the left! Song Que finally looked away from Qin Xiaoyao. ... Then, he reached out to get the buns. Following Qin Xiaoyaos instructions, he took the bag on the left. After opening up the oilpaper, he took out a bun to eat. When he discovered that it was actually filled with meat, his eyes were filled with joy. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao swallowed her saliva as a smile appeared on her face. However, she immediately saw Song Que raise his head to look at her. Her face froze. Then, she heard Song Que say, Stop and rest for a while. Almost immediately, Qin Xiaoyao automatically carried out the order and put down the handcart. Song Que continued, Its notpletely cold yet. Come over and have one. Qin Xiaoyaos heart stirred, and she chose to listen to him again. However, when Song Que handed her therge bag of buns wrapped in oilpaper, she quickly came to her senses and turned him down. Then, she went to the basket and took out another bag of buns with a smile. Ill just eat this, she said with a smile. Following that, she ignored Song Ques slightly displeased expression and opened the oilpaper bag, taking out a bun to eat. Song Que, who was still a little angry, was stunned when he saw that the bun Qin Xiaoyao had bitten contained a vegetarian filling. Then, his anger finally vanished. Instead, he gave Qin Xiaoyao a strange look. After that, when Qin Xiaoyao was about to eat the second vegetarian bun, Song Que stopped her in time. Eat this bun, he said. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. I said, eat this bun! Song Que said again, raising his voice. Qin Xiaoyao was a little hesitant. Only when she saw Song Que frowning did she reach out her hand. Then Song Que added, Give me your bag! Qin Xiaoyao looked at the vegetarian buns in her hands and hesitated for a moment. In the end, she still handed the bag of vegetarian buns to Song Que. Song Que took it, and without looking at Qin Xiaoyao again, he took out a vegetarian bun and continued eating. Qin Xiaoyao was very moved. Just as she was feeling touched, she heard Song Que say, Why are you staring into space? Hurry up and eat. We still have to go to the grocery store to buy shoes after eating! Okay, Qin Xiaoyao replied dumbly before taking out the meat bun to eat. After eating two more buns, Qin Xiaoyaos stomach felt better. She then wrapped the oilpaper back and ced them back into the basket. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao, then allowed her to continue on their journey. Following that, the two of them went to the grocery store and bought five pairs of shoes. Qin Xiaoyao had made straw sandals for everyone in the family before, so she remembered their sizes very clearly. It wasnt too troublesome to choose their shoes. Chapter 95 - 95 Chapter 95: Wasn’t It Agreed That She Was the Family’s Pillar? 95 Chapter 95: Wasnt It Agreed That She Was the Familys Pir? After choosing the shoes and paying for them, the couple finally set off for home. The rest of the journey was rtively quiet until the two of them left the town. Hubby, do you want to hear a story? Ill continue. Qin Xiaoyao suddenly said. Her husband had already felt her kindness and was even responding to her. She felt that she could be more caring towards him. !! Song Que turned around and nced at Qin Xiaoyao. Weve already reached the part where the monk and his disciples arrived at the Great Thunderp Temple. If we continue, the story should be almost over. If the tale ended, would he still get to listen to other stories at night? Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. It was as if she had seen through Song Ques thoughts. If the tale ends, Ill tell you another one as long as you want to hear it. Song Ques ears suddenly turned red. After a while, he asked Qin Xiaoyao, You have another story? I do. There are many martial arts tales, such as the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The Water Margin, and so on. If you want to listen to these, I can tell you one by one. Just the four famous works were enough for her to tell stories for a long time. Of the Four Great ssic Novels of Chinese literature, she really liked the other three except for A Dream of Red Mansions, which she didnt really read. In addition to reading the original works, she had watched a lot of rted TV shows before the apocalypse, so it was not difficult for her to retell the general tale. There were also TV drama series that everyone was familiar with before the apocalypse, such as the The Legend of the Condor Heroes, The Return of the Condor Heroes, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils and so on. She had so many stories to tell. Romance of the Three Kingdoms? Song Que became interested. Yes. This tale talks about the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, where the warlords were fighting each other to establish their own supremacy, and the political and military struggles between the states of Wei, Shu, and Wu. Of the Four Great ssic Novels, my favorite is Three Kingdoms! She couldnt bear to miss any episode when this tale was made into a TV series. She had even watched thetest version three times. She could be considered a die-hard fan of the Three Kingdoms. Eastern Han? The states of Wei, Shu, and Wu? Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao quizzically. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Oh, its the dynasty fabricated in the book, she exined. To people in this time and space, wasnt it just a fictional dynasty? ording to her investigation, she already knew that the history of this era was somewhat different from the history of China. How should she put it? Perhaps this was a parallel universe of China. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao and then looked away. Lets wait for nighttime before continuing with the tale, he said. Just as Qin Xiaoyao was feeling a little disappointed, she saw Song Que open the box he had been holding. When she saw the contents inside, she was stunned. Hubby she yelled out unwittingly. Song Que turned around. He frowned when he saw Qin Xiaoyaos shocked face. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao quickly adjust her exaggerated expression. Then, she asked Song Que excitedly, Hubby, where where did you get the silver from? There were actually silver ingots inside, and they were huge! Furthermore, there seemed to be more than one! She had earned quite a lot recently and had seen what silver looked like, but she had never seen silver of this size! With this size each piece would be worth five taels? No, no, perhaps it was more than that. Maybe it was ten taels! Seeing that there was no one around, Song Que took out a silver ingot from the box and let Qin Xiaoyao take a closer look. While ying with the silver ingots in his hand, he said, I earned it from a business deal with Mr. Wang. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes shed. What business is so profitable? she asked immediately. Even when she worked hard from dawn till dusk, she could only earn around two taels a day. Her Hubby, on the other hand, didnt seem to have done anything, but he actually earned so much silver. Hah! As expected of her husband, he was really capable! Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao. You cant do my business, he said with a faint smile. He was able to do this business because he had read those books after he came into power in his previous life. And because he liked them, he memorized them. As for this woman, he didnt think she would be able to memorize any good books. However, the stories she told were not bad. ... If he were in a ce like the capital, he could work with a bookstore and maybe earn some money by writing stories. However, in Mountain Spring Town, few people were willing to spend money to buy storybooks. Seeing Song Que smile, Qin Xiaoyao felt the atmosphere lighten up. Tell me! Maybe I can find an opportunity in it, she said to Song Que. The corners of Song Ques mouth turned upward. I sold six volumes of sole-copy books to Mr. Wang, he said. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. How much is a volume? she asked quickly. Even if she didnt know what a sole-copy was, she knew how expensive books were in this world. The term sole-copy, as the name suggested, referred to books that were out of print. Those things were probably as precious as those antique calligraphy and paintings! ... No wonder her husband could earn so much money in just one trip. That was not right! She had taken stock of everything in the house. (She did this mainly because her predecessor had plundered her house many times before.) However, she did not find any old books at home. In fact, even for new books, she had only seen one or two copies, and those were the ones her husband had copied on the spot. However, this was not important. The most important thing was that her family was going to be rich. No wonder her husband mentioned to her that he wanted to buy a courtyard dwelling in town. As it turned out, her husband had already made ns for it. 50 taels, Song Que said indifferently. After speaking, he took a side nce at Qin Xiaoyao from the corner of his eyes, waiting to see her reaction. And Qin Xiaoyao didnt let him down. Her eyes instantly widened a lot, making her look particrly intriguing. Then then how much is an ingot of silver in your box? Qin Xiaoyao suppressed the shock in her heart and asked again. Good grief! 50 taels! She had been working her ass off for more than a month, but she probably hadnt saved that much money. Her Hubby, on the other hand, simply sold a book for 50 taels! Boo hoo hoo and she still thought that she was the pir of support for the family, but she didnt expect 10 taels for an ingot. There are 50 taels in total here, Song Que replied. His expression was still calm. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos expression bing more and more interesting, Song Que felt even more pleased. I have five books left. I took ten taels less for thest book. Thats 240 taels in total. Ive already made an appointment with Mr. Wang. From now on, Ill send him a book every two days and sell it to him for 50 taels each time. Ill charge him 40 taels for thest book. Without waiting for Qin Xiaoyaos response, Song Que continued, In addition, Ive asked Mr. Wang to help me find a courtyard dwelling in the west of the town. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. The west side of the town is good! she immediately said. But if its on the west side of the town, why do we need Mr. Wangs help? My father and brothers live in the west of the town. He definitely knows more than Mr. Wang! For as long as she could remember, she lived on the west of the town. Her father was also a butcher who sold meat. He knew many people, and there must be people from the real estate brokerage among them. Wouldnt it be more convenient and reliable to ask her own father for help than to ask Mr. Wang? Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao. When he saw her mention Qin Dazhuang and call him Father so naturally, he was a little puzzled. Chapter 96 - 96 Chapter 96: Getting Along 96 Chapter 96: Getting Along He was sure that this woman was not Qin Sanya, but none of the people who were close to Qin Sanya had discovered her secret, whether it was that Big Girl Li or Qin Sanyas father and two older brothers. He really didnt know if it was because those people were too rough and boorish or if she had disguised herself too well. Hehe! Hubby, if youre too embarrassed to talk to Father, Ill go and tell him, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao again and then looked away. !! Keep the budget within 250 taels. Well choose a ce on the street behind your fathers ce or one street away. In addition, the courtyard dwelling should have a well, and it is best to have a cer, he said. If the location in the west of the town were not so close to the town center, 250 taels would probably be enough. It would be just nice to use the remaining silver to buy some furniture for the new house. In addition, he could save some money to stock up on food. After some thought, Song Que added, Its fine if the ce doesnt have a cer, but it must have the conditions to amodate one in the future. We can dig one ourselvester on. Anyway, this woman had such great strength, so it shouldnt be difficult to dig a cer. Qin Xiaoyao nodded hurriedly. Okay! Ill tell Father tomorrow! she said excitedly. How could she not be excited? Their family was going to buy a courtyard dwelling! This was the same as buying a house before the apocalypse! Her family was about to have assets! Song Que pursed his lips, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly, and then he turned his head away. After hearing the good news that her family was about to buy a courtyard dwelling, Qin Xiaoyaos footsteps became light and springy. It didnt take long for her to push the handcart back to Brook Falls Vige. Back at the Song familys house. Madam Liu and Song Yun had already prepared lunch and were waiting for the couple to return. Seeing that the young couple had returned and bought a lot of cloth and shoes, Madam Lius face revealed the tremendous heartache she felt. How much did it cost to buy so much? Hehe! All in all, its not even 800 copper coins! We only bought some fabric and didnt buy any ready-made clothes. Weve saved a lot. Ill have to trouble Mother to make clothes for everyone after this. Qin Xiaoyao gave Madam Liu an ingratiating look. Madam Liu smiled and patted her daughter-inws arm. What trouble? Thats the right thing to do! Its not difficult to make clothes. The clothes I make are not much worse than the ready-made ones in the store! Thats true! Qin Xiaoyao quickly ttered her. Madam Liuughed so hard that she couldnt close her mouth. Qin Xiaoyao smiled when she saw the two little ones staring at the shoes in the basket. She bent down and took out their shoes from the basket. Take it and try it first to see if it fits. If it doesnt suit you, Ill take it to the grocery store tomorrow to exchange. As she spoke, she handed the shoes to the two little ones. Thank you, Sister-inw! The two little ones quickly epted. Holding the shoes, they excitedly ran to the steps under the roof eaves to try them on. Then, Qin Xiaoyao also took out Madam Lius shoes. Mother, you should try it too. She handed the shoes to Madam Liu. Okay! Madam Liu smiled and nodded. She also took her shoes and left. Song Que, who was standing at the side, saw Qin Xiaoyaos gaze turning to him and said, Help me bring my shoes to my room. After that, he walked away on his crutch. Looking at the mans back as he left, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but smile. Following that, she took his shoes and the box of silver on the handcart and ran after him. When she walked to Song Ques side, she reached out to help him along. Song Que didnt refuse her assistance, and he leaned much of his body weight on Qin Xiaoyao. The mother and children trio on the steps saw this and smiled. Madam Liu, in particr, was smiling so sweetly. Back in his room, Qin Xiaoyao helped Song Que to the bed. Then, she squatted down and helped him change his shoes. Song Ques face finally flushed red. He raised his head and turned away. He allowed Qin Xiaoyao to serve him. After helping him put on his new shoe with some effort, Qin Xiaoyao held Song Ques foot and said, Hah! Not bad! The size is just right! Song Que lowered his head to look at the shoe on his foot and said indifferently, Its alright. Help me change into the other one as well. Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at her husband with a bright smile. Okay! Then, she carefully helped Song Que change his other shoe. Seeing how fearful Qin Xiaoyao was of hurting his injured leg, Song Que couldnt help but smile again. He lowered his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao, enjoying the service that Qin Xiaoyao was providing him. ... Finally, she finished putting on the other shoe. Qin Xiaoyao finally stood up. Want to try getting up and walking? She said to Song Que, who had already wiped away his smile. Okay, Song Que replied. Then, he extended his hand naturally to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao quickly went forward to support him. Then, she helped Song Que around the house to test out the shoes. How is it? Is itfortable? Qin Xiaoyao asked after a while. Its eptable, Song Que replied. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao help Song Que back to the bed to sit down. She looked at the old shoes and said, Your old shoes are almost worn out, so just wear these new shoes from now onward. Ill buy more for youter on. Song Que followed Qin Xiaoyaos line of sight and looked at the pair of old shoes he had worn before. ... Alright, he replied. Although they could still be worn, they were indeed a little worn out. Their family would be rich soon, so they didnt have to tighten their belts so much. Lets buy another pair. Its good to have an extra pair to change into, Song Que continued. Alright! Qin Xiaoyao agreed with a smile. There was going to be a lot of money in the family soon. It was just a few pairs of shoes, so what was there to be reluctant about? We can also buy more fabric and let Mother slowly make clothes. Its best if the family doesnt have to wear patched-up clothes when going out in the future, Qin Xiaoyao continued. This caused Song Que to raise his head and look at her. Qin Xiaoyaos face stiffened, and she could only smile awkwardly at Song Que. Surprisingly, Song Que actually nodded. Alright, he said. Qin Xiaoyaos chubby face blushed furiously when Song Que stared at her. Mother Mother is still waiting for us to eat. I do you want me to get you some food? She quickly looked away and stammered. A look of interest appeared in Song Ques eyes, and he stared at Qin Xiaoyao even more intently. I can walk now, so I dont have to eat alone anymore. Lets go. Help me to the kitchen to eat with everyone. As he spoke, he reached out his hand to Qin Xiaoyao again. Qin Xiaoyao could only endure the burning gaze and help Song Que up again. Then, she supported him and walked out of the room. In the courtyard, Madam Liu and the others had already unloaded the things from the handcart and put the handcart back in the shed. Seeing the couplee out, they started to talk about lunch. Then, the whole family went to the kitchen happily. This was the first meal that Qin Xiaoyao had with the whole family sitting together at one table since she transmigrated to this world. The table was filled with joy and harmony, and Madam Liu was the happiest. In the afternoon, Qin Xiaoyao didnt have to go out too early. She stayed at home to weave straw sandals and receive some mountain goods. Madam Liu was busy working on the cloth she had bought. After cutting it, she would start making new clothes for her family. Qin Xiaoyao was favored by Madam Liu and became the first person in the family to get new clothes. When she was taking Qin Xiaoyaos measurements, Madam Liu noticed that her clothes were too loose, and her waist had slimmed down substantially. Chapter 97 - 97 Chapter 97: Redistributing Work 97 Chapter 97: Redistributing Work Then, Madam Liu started to nag incessantly, telling her daughter-inw to eat more and not mistreat herself. What could Qin Xiaoyao do? Of course, she had to promise her. After all, she couldnt tell her mother-inw that she had lost weight because she ate too little. On the contrary, she actually had quite a big appetite. No one at home ate as much as she did. !! At about 3:30 pm, Big Girl Li came to the door. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao carry the wicker baskets and the bamboo basket backpack and go into the mountains with Big Girl Li. Why was she going into the mountains? It was to dig for bamboo shoots and hunt for bamboo rats, of course. More of the bamboo shoots could be dug up at once and then spread across a few delivery days. As for hunting for bamboo rats, she had no choice but to go into the mountains every day. As Fortune Mansion didnt need much bamboo shoots every day, they didnt have to worry about the bamboo shoots in the mountains. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt sure how long she could keep on hunting for bamboo rats either. Fortunately, her husband was about to earn arge sum of money for the family. Even if she could not hunt for any more bamboo rats, she did not have to worry too much. You dont know, but after my husband bought the handcart, he was so happy that he looked like a fool! Theres also Erniu. Hes with his big brother, and each is pushing a handcart around the courtyard. The two brothers are no different from oxen that pull the ox-carts! Big Girl Li regaled them happily. After listening to Big Girl Lis description, Qin Xiaoyao could imagine the scene of the two brothers ying with the handcarts like crazy. When she thought of the two brothers names, she burst outughing. They really were two oxen, just like the character in their names. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao was amused, Big Girl Liughed even more. After a while, she toned down her mirth and said, Daniu said that he can start work tomorrow. Then, in the early stages, Erniu will go with him. With two brothers together, they can take care of each other. It was because her man was inexperienced and had never done such a business before. By allowing Erniu to tag along, not only could Erniu gain experience, but Daniu could also be emboldened. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Thats not a problem. The two brothers can arrange it themselves, she said. After thinking for a while, she added, Ill prepare the price list for collecting goods tonight. Ask Daniu toe to my house tomorrow morning to get it, she said. It was all her Hubbys fault for giving her such a big surprise that she had forgotten about Daniu. Okay! Big Girl Li smiled and agreed. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and said, After that, when Daniu starts work, well have to rearrange our job scope. Okay! Sister Sanya, you can make the arrangements! Hmm If were digging for bamboo shoots, the n remains the same. Well dig once every three days. Big Girl Li nodded. If were hunting for bamboo rats, theres no use for you to follow me. You dont have to follow me in the future. Just wait at my house. After I have hunted the bamboo rats and brought them back, Ill leave the skinning and meat processing to you. Okay! Big Girl Li nodded again. In addition, well still have to work together on the fishing. Well clear the in the morning and evening. This cant change. Okay! And then, the Chinese Toon shoots will still be picked every morning. In the future, Ill leave this job to you alone. If thats the case, youll have to set off from your home earlier. Big Girl Lis expression finally became more serious. Okay! Then, she nodded her head with determination. The next thing is, going into town. Qin Xiaoyaos expression turned serious. Seeing Big Girl Li look at her, she continued, In the future, well have to push two handcarts into town. Before we set off, we can distribute the goods evenly on both handcarts. When we reach the city gate, we can rearrange the goods and move the goods meant for Fortune Mansion onto one cart. The remaining cart will only carry the goods that we are going to sell in the market. Big Girl Li was surprised. The goods for the Mansion and Restaurant are not light, so I will deliver these goods. You can take the other handcart to the market and set up the stall first. After I finish delivering the goods, Ill go to the market on West Street to deliver the straw sandals to my father and your mother. After that, Ill go to the market on West Street and buy what I need. Then, Ill meet up with you, and well sell the goods together. When the timees, you can tell me what you want to buy. Ill buy it for you. Itll save you the trouble of making another trip. Big Girl Li understood, but she didnt dare to nod her head. The thing was, she didnt have any experience setting up a stall, so she was afraid that she wouldnt do well! Qin Xiaoyao thought that Big Girl Li was worried about the money. Lets split the money we earn equally from the stall, she continued. The straw sandals are also included. Well sell one pair for four copper coins and earn one copper coin from selling a pair. Once they are sold, well each get 5% of the profit for each pair of straw sandals. ... After that, its the same for Danius woven bamboo utensils. After deducting the capital, well split the money equally. Seeing Big Girl Lis surprise, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Of course, since Ill split half of the profits with you, youll have to pay for the cost of buying the goods as well. Big Girl Li quickly nodded. In the future, our familys straw sandals will be sold at the unit price of three copper coins per pair. You have to pay at the point of collecting the straw sandals. After that, we have to pay for the woven bamboo utensils that Daniu has collected. The moment the goods arrive, we have to pay up. Well each pay half of the cost. Big Girl Li nodded again, thinking that her Sister Sanyas arrangement was very reasonable. Qin Xiaoyao finally stopped when she saw Big Girl Lis dazed expression. Well do you have any other questions? she asked Big Girl Li. I do! Big Girl Li quickly raised her hand. Go ahead. I Ive never set up a stall before, Big Girl Li said, feeling worried. ... At most, she had only helped her parents look after their stall. However, her parents only sold tofu, and most of the people who came to buy tofu were regr customers. It was different from selling straw sandals and woven bamboo utensils Qin Xiaoyao smiled. No problem! Youll pick it up quite fast! she said encouragingly. Seeing the look in Qin Xiaoyaos eyes, Big Girl Li quickly encouraged herself. Then, she said with determination, Alright! With Sister Sanya around, what was she afraid of? If she learned from Sister Sanya, she could also be very capable. Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased with Big Girl Lis reaction. By the way, theres something else Qin Xiaoyao was a little hesitant. After thinking about it, she decided to share it with her good sister. The thing was that once they had a courtyard dwelling in town in the future, some ns might have to change. Whats the matter? Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a beaming face. Our family will probably be going to town to buy a courtyard dwelling soon, Qin Xiaoyao said. Big Girl Li was shocked. What? She thought that she had heard wrong. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li. Its my husband. He sold the sole-copy books in the house and saved enough money to buy a courtyard dwelling in town. As she exined, she tried to keep her tone as calm as possible, but there was a note of irrepressible pride in it. Of course, she was proud of her attractive husband. Before this, Big Girl had advised her a lot, saying that her attractive husband only had a nice face and telling her not to spoil him too much. Now, Big Girl should know what her attractive husband was capable of. Her attractive husband wasnt poor. He was rich! He could get the money to buy the courtyard dwelling effortlessly. Weve already discussed it. When we go to town tomorrow, Ill go look for my father. Ill ask my father to get a real estate broker to start searching. My Hubby said that the price should be within 250 taels of silver. Its fine as long as theres a well and a cer! Chapter 98 - 98 Chapter 98: Moving In The Summer 98 Chapter 98: Moving In The Summer Big Girl Li was already frozen with shock. 2 200 over taels? she asked in disbelief. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li. I dont know. In any case, the budget was 250 taels. Hubby wants to buy a courtyard dwelling on the street next to my fathers ce or one street away. !! Her fathers house was very close to the area of illegally constructed buildings, so the price was naturally much lower. Her husband was a schr, so it was natural for him to be a little more particr. Moreover, she was also agreeable to living further away from the area of illegally constructed buildings. This way, the environment would be quieter, and the security would be better. Big Girl Li sighed. Then, she began to feel envious. Immediately after that, she turned to Qin Xiaoyao and asked nervously, Then, are you going back to the vige in the future? It was a good thing that Sister Sanyas family was going to town to buy a courtyard dwelling, but if Sister Sanya left, what would she do? Without Sister Sanya, she couldnt seem to do anything! Big Girl Li suddenly became anxious, so much so that tears almost fell. She was afraid that Qin Xiaoyao would abandon her. Of course, Im going back! I have to rely on the vige to earn money. What should I do if I dont go back? Qin Xiaoyao said. Seeing that Big Girl Li was about to burst into tears, she felt very touched inwardly. Then, she reached out and patted Big Girl Lis shoulder. Dont worry. Even if I really live in the town in the future, Ill settle the arrangements for the vige in advance. Big Girl Lis expression became more rxed, and she looked at Qin Xiaoyao piteously. Its a pity our family cant buy a courtyard dwelling in town, she said dejectedly. Although she had been earning money very quickly recently, she still felt it would be very difficult for her to save up more than 200 taels of silver. Moreover, even if they did save enough money, her mother-inw and the others would probably not agree to move the whole family to town. After all,nd was the most important thing to country folks. Qin Xiaoyao patted Big Girl Lis shoulder again. Its fine. You cane to town to visit me in the future. Besides, my house in the vige wont be demolished. Its not like Im noting back. Okay. Only then did Big Girl Li answer helplessly. Qin Xiaoyao smiled at her. Lets go! Start working! Perhaps she thought that Qin Xiaoyao might leave, so when Big Girl Li was digging the bamboo shootster, she only buried herself in her work and didnt say much. Qin Xiaoyao was busy for a while before she went off to hunt bamboo rats, so she didnt pay much attention to Big Girl Li. After returning home, the two of them went to the river to clear the fishing. Then, Big Girl Li proceeded to process the bamboo rat meat. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, went to look for Song Que before the sky turned dark. She asked him to help draw up a price list of the goods for Liu Daniu to purchase. Qin Xiaoyao gave the oral ount while Song Que did the recording. Of course, Song Que also gave his own opinions when he was recording. After hearing some of Qin Xiaoyaos arrangements, Song Ques admiration for her increased. Well have to move to town in the future. Have you thought about what to do at that point? Song Que suddenly said to Qin Xiaoyao after he was done with the price list. Qin Xiaoyao was caught off guard. Well we havent bought the courtyard dwelling yet, she responded. Everything had happened so suddenly, so how could she have time to n? Itll be very fast when the books are sold, Song Que said indifferently. Well talk about it after weve bought the courtyard dwelling. Besides, we cant live there immediately after buying it. Well have to spend money to tidy it up and buy many things. At that point, they would have to spend money on many areas. Song Que nodded in agreement. Then, he said unexpectedly, Once weve bought the courtyard dwelling, we can clean it up first. We can then move into town at the beginning of summer. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Beginning of summer? It was onlyte April now, and the day after tomorrow was May 1st. Summer only started in June. Wouldnt they have to wait for a month to move if they waited until summer? Since her attractive husband was in such a hurry to buy a courtyard dwelling in town, she thought he was in a big hurry. Alright! Qin Xiaoyao quickly answered. A month should be enough for her to settle the matters in the vige ande up with a new n. By the way, with regard to Mother and the others, do we really Qin Xiaoyao thought of something and looked at Song Que again. Song Que waved his hand. Lets keep it a secret for now. Well tell them when we buy the courtyard dwelling. ... With his mothers personality, she would not agree to him buying a courtyard dwelling. Even if she couldnt stop him, she would be anxious for several days. He might as well wait for the dust to settle before telling her. This would save her a lot of worries. Okay, Qin Xiaoyao answered. She didnt like to make such a big decision behind her familys back. However, her husband was the one who paid for it, and she was only going to hide it for a while, so she decided to do as her husband said. After going through the price list with Song Que, Qin Xiaoyao took the list and went to look for Big Girl Li. Since the price list waspleted in advance, there was no need to wait until tomorrow. Just as Big Girl Li finished processing the bamboo rat meat and was returning to the Song familys house, she saw Qin Xiaoyao walking out of the courtyard. The list is out. Take it back to Daniu. If theres anything you dont understand, you cane and ask me. ... Just leave these things to me. You send the list back now. Tomorrow morning, Daniu and brother can set off from home directly. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she looked at the stuff in Big Girl Lis hands. Okay! Big Girl Li quickly answered. After handing the items to Qin Xiaoyao, she left quickly. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao move the bamboo rat skins and the processed bamboo rat meat into the courtyard. When it was almost time for dinner, Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li came to visit. It wasnt that he didnt understand the list, but he was here to get the egg trays. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao remember that she had forgotten to hand over the egg trays. She hurriedly went to get Liu Daniu the many egg trays she had prepared beforehand. The couple marveled at the egg trays effectiveness before leaving. The next day, Big Girl Li pushed a handcart with half a backpack of Chinese Toon shoots and reported for work. After the two of them went to the river to clear the fishing, they ced the goods they had prepared in advance on the handcart before setting off for town. Before Daniu brings back all the woven bamboo utensils, theres no need to set up a stall every day as I dont have many pairs of straw sandals at home. I didnt bring any straw sandals today either, so you can just follow me to deliver the goods. Its just nice. Today is our first time delivering goods to Fortune Restaurant. You can also familiarize yourself with the route, Qin Xiaoyao said. Daniu hadnt gone out to collect the goods yet. Some of the goods on these two handcarts were collected by her and Big Girl Li, while the rest were collected from the vigers. It could basically satisfy all the orders from the Mansion and Restaurant. Okay! Big Girl Li answered. I dont have any ns today anyway. After delivering the goods, you can go back first if theres nothing else. I have to go and look for my father. Big Girl Li immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Its the matter about buying the courtyard dwelling? she asked. Last night, she had told her Daniu about this. She even expressed her desire to buy a courtyard dwelling in town. However, she didnt get any support from her man. Therefore, there was a high probability that she would not be able to live in town. Yes, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Hubby said to look around first. If there is a suitable one, we will buy it and then slowly tidy it up and n theyout. Itll be fine as long as we can move in at the beginning of summer. Youre moving at the beginning of summer? In contrast to Qin Xiaoyaos happiness, Big Girl Li was a little depressed. Chapter 99 - 99 Chapter 99: House-hunting 99 Chapter 99: House-hunting It was going to be summer in a month, so didnt that mean she could only spend time with Sister Sanya like this for one more month? Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li with a smile. Were only moving in a month. Its a pretty long time. Seeing that Big Girl Li was worried, she then promised, Dont worry. Ill make sure everything is in order before we move. Okay. Big Girl Li was still quite depressed. At the same time, she couldnt help but be angry with her man. Whats wrong with moving to town? Even if they couldnt afford a courtyard dwelling that cost more than 200 taels, the houses in the zone of illegally constructed buildings were cheap. If the couple worked hard to save money, it was not impossible for them to settle down in town. After entering the town and delivering the goods, Qin Xiaoyao bade farewell to Big Girl Li and went to the market on West Street to look for Qin Dazhuang. This was the first time Qin Dazhuang had seen his daughtere to look for him so early. He was a little surprised. Qin Xiaoyao was in no hurry to exin the situation. Instead, she helped Qin Dazhuang with his business first. She waited until there were no more customers before she started chatting with Qin Dazhuang. Qin Dazhuang was shocked when he found out that his daughter wanted to buy a courtyard dwelling in town and that the location was better than his own ce. Really? Qin Dazhuang was in disbelief. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Its true! Hubby sold the sole-copy book collection in the house, which was very expensive. One volume costs 50 taels! Qin Dazhuangs eyes widened. So expensive? Its the sole-copy! You can pass it on to your descendants as family inheritance! Qin Xiaoyao said with a hint of pride as she looked at her father. Your son-inws family must be extraordinary to have inherited such a sole-copy book collection. Qin Dazhuang was stunned, and his expression immediately changed. That was right. The Song family did not look like country folks. Especially that son-inw of his, whom he felt really ufortable with. However, his bearing and conduct were indeed different from folks like them. I guess he decided to sell those books because he cant take the Imperial Examinations for the time being, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Her tone was tinged with destion. In her opinion, it was actually quite cost-effective to sell the books. Who cares if it was the sole-copy or not? As long as the content was copied and left behind for decades or even centuries, wouldnt the copied book be the sole-copy too? What was important was the contents of the book. She naturally believed that her attractive husband would copy the book down in advance. Otherwise, he wouldnt have specially made an appointment with Mr. Wang to deliver a book every two days. However, the ancient peoples views were different from her pragmatic views. Otherwise, when her father-inw was seriously ill, the Song family could have sold the books to save him. However, even when they were in that predicament, the Song family still didnt sell books. Her husband had told her not to tell her mother-inw about buying the courtyard dwelling for the time being. Perhaps he was worried that her mother-inw would find out that he was selling the sole-copy book collection in the house. Hmph! Whats the use of holding onto those books when you cant even get by? He should have sold them long ago! Its good that he has figured it out now! Qin Dazhuang said with displeasure. Qin Dazhuang raised his voice again and said, 250 taels of silver is more than enough to buy a courtyard dwelling. Ill go and look for Cao Laosan in the afternoon. His eldest son happens to be working in a real estate brokerage, so hell definitely be able to help! Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Then Ill have to trouble Father for this matter! Hey, what trouble! If you can move into town, itll be closer to home. Father will be overjoyed! Before his daughter got married, he had always wanted to find a family in town for her. It was a pity that no one had the foresight to take a fancy to his daughter. Back then, if it wasnt for his daughters determination to be with that son-inw In addition, it was indeed difficult for him to propose marriage for his daughter. Otherwise, he would not have let his daughter marry out of town. However, it was all good now. His son-inws family was going to move into town, and they were going to buy a courtyard dwelling in town. Hah! He wanted to see who would dare to say that his daughter married a useless man in the future! Okay! Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. She also wanted to live closer to her father, so it would be easier to take care of him in the future. Oh right, Father. How are things back home now Qin Xiaoyao asked again. Ever since she returned to her family home and quarreled with Madam Zhang, she had note to visit her father again. It wasnt just because she had to go to the market on South Street to sell straw sandals, but also because she was too embarrassed to go to her fathers side. Qin Dazhuang looked at his daughter. Its all good, he replied. Seeing the guilt on Qin Xiaoyaos face, Qin Dazhuang reached out and patted her shoulder. ... Its a good thing that youve caused a scene, he said with a smile. After that, your Big Brother and Second Brother caught Zhang Ershui near our house. Your aunt has already made it clear to Zhang Ershui in front of everyone. She also promised me that she would no longer pay any attention to Zhang Ershui and the Zhang family. After that, her temperament also became more restrained. She didnt throw a tantrum at him without rhyme or reason as she did before. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Thats good. My husband said that well only move at the beginning of summer, Qin Xiaoyao added after some thought. When the timees, Id like to invite Father, Aunt, my brothers, and sisters-inw to our new home for housewarming. She had thought carefully about what had happened before and realized that she had indeed gone overboard. After all, Madam Zhang was her elder. She should not have embarrassed her in front of so many people. ... Although that incident was primarily due to her predecessors emotions, she had to bear some responsibility for it. For her fathers sake, she had to mend her rtionship with Madam Zhang. Good! Well definitely go! Qin Dazhuang immediately patted his daughters arm. After that, Qin Xiaoyao and Qin Dazhuang busied themselves at the stall for a while. Then she bought another two catties of meat from Qin Dazhuang before leaving. After returning to the Song familys house, Qin Xiaoyao didnt have to go into the mountains to look for mountain products anymore. She spent another seven to eight days leisurely. In the past few days, Liu Daniu and Liu Erniu had gradually familiarized themselves with the business. On top of receiving goods, they had also added in the street vendor business, and their business was gradually getting on the right track. As for Qin Xiaoyao, with Liu Danius support, the amount of food she sent to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant increased day by day, and her business was doing better and better. And today, Qin Xiaoyao brought Song Que into town to see a new courtyard dwelling. They didnt sell straw sandals today either, so after the delivery, Qin Xiaoyao pushed Song Que to the brokerage. That was right. This wasnt the first time they hade to the broker and followed the broker to go house-hunting. Previously, her father had helped them locate an acquaintance in the brokerage. After that, during this period, this acquaintance had been helping them look for a courtyard dwelling. As soon as the two of them arrived, the broker in charge of their business, Cao An, came up to wee them. Sister Sanya, Brother-inw! This courtyard dwelling was just put on sale yesterday. The son of the head of the family has just entered the county college and their family are preparing to go to the county to buy a courtyard dwelling. They are only willing to sell it at a low price because they are in a hurry. Well go and take a lookter. If youre satisfied or have any other requests, you can talk directly to the family head. Good! Thank you, Brother An! Qin Xiaoyao thanked him quickly. Then, she pushed Song Que along and followed Cao An. After walking for a while, they arrived at the ce. This courtyard dwelling was located in the middle of the alley. It was not too far from the street outside, so it was more convenient to move in and out. At the same time, because of the distance, it was not as noisy as the courtyard dwellings facing the street. Chapter 100 - 100 Chapter 100: Depth Of The Well 100 Chapter 100: Depth Of The Well Cao An went forward to knock on the door. After a while, someone opened the door. It was a well-dressed middle-aged woman. She was wearing fine cotton and had a silver hairpin on her head. The womans attitude was quite good when she saw Cao An. !! However, when she saw Qin Xiaoyao behind Cao An, the womans expression turned unpleasant. Her gaze swept over Qin Xiaoyaos patched-up clothes a few times, and the disdain in her eyes was very obvious. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt too particr about how she dressed. Since she was delivering goods to town, she was doing rough physical work, which was why she didnt change into new clothes. She did not expect to meet someone who cared about such things. However, she didnt really mind. She was here to buy a courtyard dwelling, not to show off to others. As long as she could fork out the money to buy the courtyard dwelling, wouldnt it be fine? Aunt, this is my Sister Sanya and my brother-inw. They are here to look at the courtyard dwelling. Cao An pretended not to see the womans reaction and introduced his clients to the woman. Only then did the woman notice Song Que, who had poked his head out from behind Qin Xiaoyao. She was startled at first, but then she stepped to one side. Come in, she continued. Ah, alright! Cao An answered with a smile and led Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que into the house. There are five bedrooms in this courtyard dwelling. Including the hall, kitchen, storage room, woodshed, and bathroom, there are ten rooms in total. This courtyard is also very spacious. Its possible to build a shed or even open up a piece ofnd to grow vegetables. The woman pointed to arge empty area not far away. If we werent in a hurry to move to the county, we wouldnt be willing to sell it! The woman nced at Qin Xiaoyao as she spoke. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao was ignoring her and was looking at the rooms instead, she turned her gaze to Song Que. When she saw Song Ques face, she went into a daze. It was truly as if a fresh flower was stuck on a heap of cow dung Song Que frowned, and this made the woman look away. He then asked, Is there a well in the courtyard? Yes, its over there! The woman said hurriedly. Everyone followed the womans finger and saw that there was indeed a well not far away from the wall. As the courtyard wasrge, it wouldnt be easy to locate if one didnt look carefully. Qin Xiaoyao saw Song Ques actions and went forward to assist him, and then they walked towards the well. The woman and Cao An looked at each other and followed as well. Is there a lot of water in your well? Song Que asked as they walked. A lot! Even during the great drought five years ago, my well nevercked water. At that time, many people in the neighborhood came to my house to borrow water! The woman said hurriedly. Song Que ignored her. When he reached the well, he stuck his head out to check the situation inside the well. How deep is this well? He immediately asked. How deep? The woman was stunned. She thought for a moment and said, When we were digging the well, our head of the family specifically instructed the workers to dig deeper. Therefore, after they found the source of the spring, they dug a bit further down. The total depth is estimated to be 40 to 50 feet. After she finished speaking, the woman looked at Song Que in bewilderment. She didnt understand why this young man was asking her these questions. However, seeing that the other party had a good appearance and bearing, she didnt mind talking to him a little more. Song Ques gaze swept across the courtyard, and he saw a drying pole in the courtyard. He estimated the length to be about 40 to 50 feet. Thus, Song Que said, Can I borrow your pole to measure it? The uing drought would be even more severe than the one five years ago. By that time, most of the wells in town would run out of water. Only the wells that were more than 40 feet deep had a lower chance of drying up. He was quite satisfied with the size and location of the courtyard dwelling. If the depth of the well was more than 40 feet, and the price was right, they could consider buying it. The womans face darkened upon hearing this. She felt that the two people in front of her were joking with her and making fun of her. Just as she was about to reject him rudely, Cao An walked to her side and pulled her aside. No one knew what Cao An whispered to the woman, but although the womans face was still sullen, she toned down her voice. If you want to test, then do it yourself. However, you have to clean up the poleter and put it back. Okay! Qin Xiaoyao answered quickly. Then, without waiting for Song Ques instructions, she ran over to get the drying pole. After that, she followed Song Ques instructions and used the pole to measure the depth of the well. In the end, Qin Xiaoyao submerged the entire pole into the well. Her arm stretched down a bit more before she felt the bottom of the well. I can feel the bottom. Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at Song Que. ... Song Que nodded. You can get up. Qin Xiaoyao finally stood up. Then, she retrieved the pole, cleaned it up, and returned it to its original position. The woman didnt say anything when she saw Qin Xiaoyaos actions. Then, she heard Song Que ask, Is there a cer? The woman frowned and looked at Cao An. Cao An quickly said, Theres no cer. But this courtyard is big, so its not a problem to open up a cer. As he spoke, he pointed out a piece ofnd to Song Ques attention. In the open space over there, you can clear out a space and open up a cer. No problem at all. Qin Xiaoyao walked over at this moment. ... I think its fine! Its not difficult to dig a cer anyway. When the timees, Ill ask my father and brothers toe over and help. Itll be done in half a day! she said. She was quite satisfied with this courtyard dwelling. The main advantage was that the courtyard wasrge, and the rooms didnt look small. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao and nodded. He then continued, Lets go take a look at the rooms. Cao An heaved a sigh of relief and allowed the woman to lead the way. The woman already appeared extremely impatient, but when she thought about how she had already wasted half a day, she didnt want to give up halfway. She could only continue to show the three of them around the house. In the end, the situation in the rooms was better than what the couple had expected. The furniture in the bedroom wasplete, and two of the rooms even had a desk and a bookshelf. The hall had good lighting and was wide enough to fit tworge tables. The kitchen was also very spacious, and the variety of cooking utensils was much more than what the Song family had. Qin Xiaoyao was also very pleased with the storage room, woodshed, and bathroom at the side. The rooms were big, so they could put lots of stuff inside. In addition, the bathroom in this house was also partitioned, and the bath area was separated from thevatory. This made her like it even more. Therefore, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt suppress the joy in her heart and asked the woman, The furniture, cooking utensils, and the like can all be left behind? The woman nced at Qin Xiaoyao in annoyance. You can have all of them, but theres an extra 10 taels, she said. Qin Xiaoyaos expression turned somewhat cold as she looked at Song Que, seeking his opinion. Seeing Song Que nod at her, she then turned to look at the woman. 230 taels of silver, as well as everything in this courtyard dwelling, she said. The woman was shocked. She didnt expect that Qin Xiaoyao would really buy it. Her attitude became much better instantly. That wont do! Our previous selling price was 240 taels. Now that Im throwing in the furniture, how can the price be lower by ten taels? Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Youre going to the county city. Its not convenient to bring so many things with you. Also, these are all used items. Its not worth it to bring them along, right? Chapter 101 - 101 Chapter 101: Closed The Deal On The New House 101 Chapter 101: Closed The Deal On The New House The transportation fee is so expensive. Its better to buy new ones once you reach the county city. Just as the woman was about to speak, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Furthermore, for a courtyard dwelling in the west of the city in this area, this price is not low. This price is close to 250 taels. At this price, Id rather buy a smaller one. Its also possible to find a courtyard dwelling near the street ahead. Youre in a hurry to sell too. If you wait any longer, you may not be able to find buyers like us who are genuinely interested. !! The woman fell silent when she heard these words. Then, she turned to Qin Xiaoyao and said, If youre really interested, then the price is 240 taels. Take these things in the house as a gift to you. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled. 230 taels is our limit. If you find this price agreeable, well pay a deposit of 30 taels of silver today. Welle over tomorrow to pay the bnce, and then well go to the government office with you to transfer the ownership. You can leave for the county the day after tomorrow at thetest. The woman was silent again. If you dont agree to this price, well have to look elsewhere, Qin Xiaoyao continued. The womans expression changed slightly. Theres no rush, she said. How about this? You guys wait for me here for a moment. Ill go ask the head of the family for his opinion. If he agrees, well sell it. May I ask where that gentleman is? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Hes at the Jade Cloud Pavilion up ahead at the end of the street. Ill be able to find him once Im there. It wont take more than a quarter of an hour, the woman said hurriedly. Qin Xiaoyao pretended to look at Song Que. Song Que nodded. Only then did the woman heave a sigh of relief. Then, Cao An, help me entertain our two guests. Ill be back soon, she said to Cao An. When Cao An nodded his head, the woman then hurriedly went out. Only after she had left the courtyard did Cao An look at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. Sister Sanya, your bargaining skills are even better than mine! Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Its mainly because I dont have much money, so I have to save as much as I can. Song Que also nced at Qin Xiaoyao, and the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. Thereafter, the few of them stood in the courtyard dwelling for a while before the woman returned with a middle-aged man. Cao An made the introductions, and after both parties got to know each other, the middle-aged man readily agreed to the price. However, he stated that they would take away some things like bedding and only leave behind things likerge pieces of furniture and cooking utensils. Qin Xiaoyao didnt n on using someone elses bedding anyway, so she naturally agreed. After both parties reached an agreement, they went to the broker to sign the documents and pay the deposit. They arranged to pay the rest of the money the next day, as well as to transfer the ownership of the house. After settling all these things, the couple left town and went home. Along the way, Qin Xiaoyaos heart was like a little galloping deer that was almost leaping with joy. She couldnt resist humming a little tune. On the handcart, Song Que raised his eyebrows slightly. He was in a good mood as he listened to Qin Xiaoyao humming a tune he had never heard before. When the courtyard dwelling is transferred tomorrow, I will go and get Father and my two brothers and ask them to help dig out the cer, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly said. Although she didnt know why her husband was so insistent on the well and cer, as long as it was her attractive husbands request, she would do her best to go along with his demand and satisfy it. Moreover, having an extra cer in the house meant having an extra ce to store stuff, which was also good! Well do it ourselves. No need to get other people. Much to her surprise, Song Que actually rejected her suggestion Gosh, its really nothing! Father and my brothers will definitely be willing to help! Qin Xiaoyao said hurriedly. She thought her attractive husband did not want to trouble his father-inw and two brothers-inw. Ill watch over you as you work, Song Que continued. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned momentarily. Then, her chubby face turned red. Until the cer ispleted, Song Que continued. Er Alright then. After a while, Qin Xiaoyao gave in. With her attractive husband apanying her as she worked, even if he was just watching her work from the side, she still felt it was a kind of enjoyment. Hehe! She suddenly realized that she was a bit masochistic. What was going on? When Song Que saw this, he turned his head away again, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly. From now on, Ill follow you into town every day. After youre done with your work in the morning, we can clean up the courtyard dwelling in the afternoon. Well go back to Brook Falls Vige in the evening, he continued. Oh, okay, Qin Xiaoyao answered in agreement. Hehe Did this count as a date with him alone ... The next day. The couple went into town again. Again they didnt set up a stall or sell straw sandals. After delivering the goods, they went to the brokers office. Then, under the brokers supervision, they paid the silver and signed a new contract. After that, they went to the government office to file their application and transfer ownership. As the seller was in a hurry and he offered some silver, the official procedures werepleted very quickly. The handover procedures were allpleted before noon. Qin Xiaoyao was in a great mood when she got the key. Then, she pushed Song Que back to her new home. After making sure that the furniture and cooking utensils were all left behind, she finally felt relieved. She had wanted to buy some groceries back to cook, but realized that the market had already closed by this time. Qin Xiaoyao simply brought Song Que to a restaurant instead. ... The couple had a full meal and then returned to their new home and began to make some rearrangements. Of course, to be more precise, it was Qin Xiaoyao who was doing the rearranging. Qin Xiaoyao brought Song Que to thergest bedroom and arranged for him to sit down by the desk. Then she took out a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone and let Song Que help her record what items needed to be added afterward. No doubt she had prepared the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone in advance. These were all expensive things, and she did not think that the previous owner would leave these things behind for them. True to her expectations, all the books and the writing materials in the house were taken away. All that was left were some bare furniture. However, it didnt matter. After all, she was already mentally prepared. Its not good for these bookshelves to be empty. Ill go buy some paper for book-copyingter. After that, you can copy some books on elementary education and put them on the bookshelf. Then, you can also teach Yuner and Yeer, Qin Xiaoyao said as she surveyed the empty bookshelves. Books were expensive, and it was not worth it to buy them. Fortunately, her attractive husband had a close rtionship with Mr. Wang and often took on copying work from the bookstore. It was not difficult to borrow some books on elementary education to copy. In her predecessors memory, everyone in the Song family was literate, including Song Ye. From there, it could be seen that her father-inw and attractive husband had actually taught the family before. Earlier, the familys living conditions were tough, and she was busy making money, so she couldnt take care of the two childrens education. After they moved into town, they could not dy the childrens studies anymore. At the very least, she had to let her attractive husband continue to teach the two children. In any case, her attractive husband had to continue recuperating and had time to teach the two children in their studies. Mm-hmm, Song Que answered in agreement with Qin Xiaoyaos proposal. In that case, Ill write down the titles of the books. You can go to Cirrus Loft Bookstoreter and borrow the books. And buy more paper as well. Alright. Only then did Song Que begin writing. Qin Xiaoyao didnt look at Song Que again and continued to walk around the room. After looking around and not finding a single oilmp, she eximed, Damn! They took the oilmps with them? Song Que raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Chapter 102 - 102 Chapter 102: Cleaning Up The New Home 102 Chapter 102: Cleaning Up The New Home Thempstand isnt big, so its not surprising that they took it. Thempstand at home has been used for many years and is already a little broken. Lets add a new one to the new house. As he spoke, Song Que continued to write. He said while writing, We have five bedrooms, a hall, a kitchen, and avatory. We have to buy eightmpstands. Qin Xiaoyaos heart ached when she heard this, but she didnt stop him. !! It was a new home with a new atmosphere. It was only right to discard and rece some old things. After looking at the outer room, Qin Xiaoyao walked into the inner room and saw arge bed covered with straw. We have to change all the straw on the beds in this house. After that, well spread out new straw and put on new bedding after buying them. The bedding back home in Brook Falls Vige was very old and was barely usable in the summer. In the winter, the function of keeping out the cold was definitely not good. She might as well change them when they moved house this time. Mm-hmm! Song Ques voice could be heard from the outer room immediately. There are five bedrooms, so we need five sets of bedding. In addition, we also need to prepare separate sets of nkets for summer and winter. Qin Xiaoyao felt another wave of pain in her heart. Five sets of bedding were more than enough, yet he still wanted five summer and five winter nkets. She wanted to object and then propose to change the five sets and five pieces to four sets and four pieces. After all, there would be an empty bedroom after they had moved in. Moreover, she felt they could wait until the start of autumn before buying the winter nkets. However, she didnt mention it eventually. Would her attractive husband think too much if she didnt get anything for the fifth room? Would he think that she didnt want to sleep in a separate room from him or something? Well, it was true that she did not want to sleep separately. However, it was also good to sleep separately so that she would not have capricious and uncontroble thoughts or even let her imagination run wild when she slept with him. Sigh! Forget it. Id better listen to my attractive husband she thought. It was good for her to have her own room anyway. Besides, these things in the house would have to be added sooner orter. Qin Xiaoyao gathered up the straw and carried it out of the inner room. Then, she sent the straw to the woodshed. Although this bunch of straw could not be used to make a bed, it could still be used to start a fire. If they stayed in town and didnt go out of town to collect firewood, they would have to spend money to buy firewood, so they had to be more frugal. The previous owner hadnt used up all the firewood in the woodshed. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao felt a little relieved. Then, she went to every bedroom and continued to gather up the straw. After she had gotten all the straw, Qin Xiaoyao went to the kitchen to get a wooden bucket and then went to the well to get water. Thereafter, she found a rag and began to clean the house thoroughly while checking the condition of each room. Whenever she encountered something that needed to be repaired, she would pick it out and put it aside. After she was done with her chores, she would concentrate on repairing them. When she found something missing, she went to Song Que to report it and let Song Que record it down. Qin Xiaoyao was quick in carrying out her tasks. In addition, as people had lived in this courtyard dwelling before and maintained it well, it didnt take much effort for her to clean up the hall and the five bedrooms. Qin Xiaoyao didnt rush to repair the problematic furniture. Instead, she decided to buy the things the housecked that had already been recorded on the list first. Hubby, you wait at home. Ill be back after Im done shopping. Qin Xiaoyao walked to Song Ques side and picked up the list that Song Que had prepared. They had thought that since the previous owner of the courtyard dwelling had left the furniture for them, they wouldnt need to add too much. She didnt expect that she would discover so many things missing in just one afternoon. However, for the sake of a better life, she still had to buy what was needed. Mm-hmm, Song Que replied. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao was about to leave, he thought of something and asked, Did you bring enough money? Qin Xiaoyao turned around. Enough! Dont worry, Hubby! She smiled and walked out of the door. She had already prepared the money in advance, as she had expected toe and clean up the new house and buy some things in the process. When she reached the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao retrieved the handcart and pushed it out of the courtyard. When she left, she did not forget to lock the door as well. This was because her attractive husband had difficulty moving around. She was a little worried about leaving him alone at home. Aftering out of the alley, Qin Xiaoyao went onto the main street. Following that, she went to the corresponding shops to buy things ording to the list. As she was buying a lot of stuff, plus the amount of haggling involved, it inevitably took up a lot of time. By the time Qin Xiaoyao returned to her new home after she finished her shopping, she had been gone for more than an hour. Song Ques mood had also changed from one of rxed leisure to boredom and then to a foul mood. He even got up and sat by the stone table in the courtyard, looking at the gate from time to time, waiting for Qin Xiaoyao to return. When he heard the sound of the door unlocking, his eyebrows twitched. A feeling of anger mixed with joy rose from the bottom of his heart. ... A momentter, the door swung open, and Qin Xiaoyao pushed in a handcart full of goods. When Song Que turned around and saw this scene, the anger in his heart was instantly suppressed. Hubby, why did youe out? Qin Xiaoyao noticed Song Que very quickly, and a smile appeared on her chubby face that was covered with beads of perspiration. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos appearance, thest sparks of anger in Song Que werepletely extinguished. It was stuffy in the house, so I came out to sit in the courtyard, he exined awkwardly. Oh. Qin Xiaoyao didnt think too much about it. There were many things to buy, so I took a bit more time, she exined. In that case, just sit here for a while longer. Ill put away the things in the house, and then we can set off for Brook Falls Vige shortly. It was gettingte. When she got back, Qin Xiaoyao still had to go into the mountains to hunt bamboo rats. After that, she had to go to the river to haul up thes with Big Girl Li. She couldnt dy any longer. Mm-hmm, Song Que replied. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao pushing the handcart past him, he felt a little annoyed for the first time. ... He lowered his head and looked at his injured leg. He felt a little angry that it was healing too slowly. However, Qin Xiaoyao was not aware of any of this. She parked the handcart in front of the door to one of the rooms and began to unload the things from the handcart. Thereafter, she put these things into the corresponding rooms and ced them in the appropriate ces. Only after she had put everything in its proper ce did Qin Xiaoyao push the handcart out to look for Song Que. Lets go home, Hubby. After saying that, she put down the handcart and went to help Song Que. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao, who never once took a breather and felt slightly moved. Sit down and rest for a while before leaving, he said. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking over, he looked in the direction of the well awkwardly. Go get some water. Im thirsty. Alright, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Then, she ran to the kitchen. After a while, she came out with two bowls and ran to the well. Seeing this, Song Ques expression rxed. When she reached the well, Qin Xiaoyao picked up the wooden bucket beside it and filled it with water. After that, she washed her face and hands with cold water. Then, she used a bowl to scoop some water from the well. After drinking three big bowls in a row, Qin Xiaoyao finally felt some of the heat dissipating from her body. When she saw Song Que turn his head to look at her, she quickly used another bowl to scoop water from the well and then brought the water to Song Que. The water from this well is very sweet. Hubby, have a taste! she said with a smile. Chapter 103 - 103 Chapter 103: Still Had To Continue To Keep It A Secret 103 Chapter 103: Still Had To Continue To Keep It A Secret At this moment, the gentle breeze caressed Qin Xiaoyaos face, which was wet from the well water and framed by the loose strands of hair by the side of her face, making her look much more refreshed. When Song Que saw this, he suddenly felt that this chubby womans facial features were actually quite exquisite. If she could slim down, perhaps she might not look ugly. Mm-hmm. He quickly came back to his senses and took the bowl from Qin Xiaoyao. After drinking a few mouthfuls, he realized that it was indeed a little sweet. Song Que didnt return the bowl to Qin Xiaoyao until he finished every drop of the water. Do you want more? Qin Xiaoyao asked with a smile. Thats enough, Song Que replied. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao say, Alright. Wait for me for a while, Hubby. Ill tidy up, and then well go home. Following that, she returned to the well. She put away the water bucket and bowls and brought them back to the kitchen. After that, she came to pick up Song Que. After leaving the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao locked the door again before bringing Song Que out of the town and back to Brook Falls Vige. On the main road, Qin Xiaoyao pushed her husband along and walked at a steady pace. Feeling the breeze blowing by her from time to time, she was in a very contented mood. Dont tell the family about us buying a courtyard dwelling yet, Song Que suddenly said. Qin Xiaoyao was very surprised. Didnt you say previously He had said he would tell Mother and the rest after he bought the courtyard dwelling, hadnt he? Lets keep it a secret for now. Well tell them when weve finished tidying up the courtyard dwelling, Song Que said. Qin Xiaoyao hesitated for a moment. She thought about how she had already tidied up more than half of the house this afternoon. It probably wouldnt take much time for her to finish tidying up the entire courtyard dwelling, so she agreed. Alright, she said. The corners of Song Ques mouth curled up. He was very pleased with Qin Xiaoyaos obedience. He then continued, Well clean up the house some more tomorrow afternoon. Then well start digging the cer the day after. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Que. She thought to herself, My attractive husband is really persistent about having the cer. Seeing Song Que turn his head to look at her, Qin Xiaoyao quickly agreed. Oh, okay. Back at Brook Falls Vige, Madam Liu had been informed earlier that her son and daughter-inw would have to stay in town for a while in the afternoon. Thus, she didnt suspect anything when the two of them came back sote. Therefore, the secret of the couple buying the courtyard dwelling remained a secret. After returning home, Qin Xiaoyao only rested for a short while before entering the mountains. When she returned after hunting the bamboo rats, Big Girl Li had already arrived. Liu Daniu also came with Big Girl Li. The couple had pushed a handcart over, which was filled with many woven bamboo products. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao realize that the craftsman in the countryside that she had asked Liu Daniu to help her find had been located. That old man was very happy when he heard I could take his woven bamboo products. I saw that the price was low, so I decided to buy these back. Liu Daniu pointed out the woven bamboo products to Qin Xiaoyao. This is the purchase price and quantity. Then, he took out a piece of paper and handed it to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao took it and found that the words on the paper were written with a charcoal pencil. Although the handwriting was a little messy, it didnt affect the legibility. She nodded her head in satisfaction. This price is very advantageous! Liu Daniu smiled and nodded as well. Its so much cheaper than the ones sold in the grocery stores in town. Great! Then Ill do some calctions and give you the money! Qin Xiaoyao said quickly. Liu Daniu scratched his head in embarrassment. You can lower the purchase price, he continued. This was because the cost of buying these woven bamboo products was much lower than he had expected. Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Big Girl Li. Big Girl Li also nodded her head. Thats right! Lower the price for him so we can lower the selling price when we set up a stall. It will be easier to sell these things then. Although he was her husband, she had to think for herself and Sister Sanya as well. Besides, her man could only earn more if their business was good, right? She could still distinguish between the different priorities of things. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Alright. Then Ill adjust the purchase price. ... After that, based on the profit of 5% to 5 copper coins per item, she set new purchase prices for Liu Daniu. After the couple agreed on the finalized new prices, Qin Xiaoyao then settled the bill with Liu Daniu. Qin Xiaoyao paid for most of the goods herself, but the capital ouy for this batch of woven bamboo products came from Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Lis joint ount. Liu Daniu took the money and helped Qin Xiaoyao put away the goods before taking his leave first. Big Girl Li stayed behind and followed Qin Xiaoyao to the river to haul up the fishing. Since Daniu has brought back the woven bamboo products, we have to start our street stall business tomorrow. Qin Xiaoyao said as she walked. Right! We have to bring the straw sandals too. Sister Sanya, you havent been selling straw sandals for the past few days. There should be quite a lot at home now, right? Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Its still alright. My mother was busy making clothes for the family and didnt make many straw sandals. Big Girl Lis eyes were filled with envy. ... Aunts embroidery skill is good, so the clothes she makes will definitely look good. Thats true! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. By the way, theres not much straw left in my house. Do you have any more straw at home? Sell me some. Not only did her family need straw to make straw sandals, but she also had to bring some to town to make her beds. I do! Ill get Daniu and Erniu to push two handcarts of straw to your house when I go back. I dont want money! How can I allow that? My family uses straw to earn money! Qin Xiaoyao said immediately. How about this? Ill pay five copper coins for a handcart of straw. If you have more, sell them all to me! Theres really no need! This thing isnt worth much! Big Girl Li insisted. She only nodded when she saw Qin Xiaoyaos determined expression. Alright! Ill do as Sister Sanya says! Qin Xiaoyao finally smiled and went into the river. Big Girl Li followed. The two of them continued to chat as they pulled in the fishing. You bought a courtyard dwelling with Brother Song, but you didnt tell your family. Dont you feel ufortable holding it in? Big Girl Li asked. If she were in Sister Sanyas shoes, she would definitely have suffocated to death. Hehe! Its a little hard keeping it secret. However, Hubby has his own concerns. I think he wants to wait until everything is ready before giving Mother and the others a pleasant surprise. Anyway, its just a matter of a few more days. Theres no hurry! Qin Xiaoyao said with a chuckle. Big Girl Li couldnt help but look at her Sister Sanya helplessly. She felt that her Sister Sanya had beenpletely bewitched by Song Que. Sigh! It seemed that her Sister Sanya wasnt entirely invincible after all She had actually fallen for a mans charm. Alright then. If you dont let Aunt and the others know, you can at least let me know! Dont you need to clean up the house? Bring me along tomorrow! Ill help for free! Big Girl Li said enthusiastically. Although she couldnt afford to buy a courtyard dwelling, it was still good to take a look at the courtyard dwelling that Sister Sanya bought, if only to broaden her mind. Sure! Just dontin you feel tiredter! Qin Xiaoyao couldnt say no to freebor. Hehe! Dont worry! After harvesting the fish and re-casting the, Big Girl Li went home and asked her husband and little brother-inw to send straw to the Song family. And she went to the Song family to process the bamboo rat meat by the stream. The days were busy and fulfilling. The next day, they went into town early in the morning. Due to the addition of woven bamboo products and straw sandals, the handcart was much more crowded. Chapter 104 - 104 Chapter 104: Buying Woven Bamboo Products 104 Chapter 104: Buying Woven Bamboo Products It was good that Song Que was not fat and only took up a very small corner in the handcart, so the three of them were able to set off without a hitch. When they arrived at the town gates, Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li began to redistribute the goods on the handcarts. With this redistribution, Qin Xiaoyaos handcart ended up with more goods, and its weight increased by more than half. Big Girl Li had wanted to ask Song Que if he wanted to sit on her handcart instead and go with her to set up a stall while he waited for her Sister Sanya. !! However, when she saw the bad-tempered manner Song Que was looking at her, she did not dare to speak. Alright. Later, Ill go with my husband to deliver the goods. You can go and set up your stall first at the market on South Street. By the way, if you have anything you want to buy, you can tell me. Ill send my husband home first, and then Ill go to the market on West Street to buy some stuff. Qin Xiaoyao didnt even notice the interaction between her attractive husband and Big Girl Li and directed her words at Big Girl Li. Then help me get two catties of fatty meat and a piece of tofu. Big Girl Li didnt stand on ceremony either and stated her request. Alright! The three of them then went to queue up to enter the town. After entering the town, they split up at a street juncture. Following that, Qin Xiaoyao pushed the goods and Song Que to Fortune Mansion first before going to Fortune Restaurant. When they came out of the back kitchen of Fortune Restaurant, the handcart finally became much lighter. Qin Xiaoyao spoke to Song Que as she pushed the handcart toward their new home. In the afternoon, Big Girl Li will being to our house to help out, so well just cook at home for lunch. Hubby, if theres anything you want to eat, you can tell me. Ill go to the market to buy the ingredientster. Song Que shot a side nce at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao suddenly remembered something, and her expression immediately became nervous. Then, she quickly said, Dont worry. Other than my Father, I only told Big Girl Li about this and instructed her not to tell anyone else. At most at most, only Daniu would know too. Damn it! She had actually forgotten about this. Her attractive husband had indeed told her to keep the purchase of the courtyard dwelling a secret. However, by the time her attractive husband told her that, she had already told Big Girl Li. After that, she thought that since Big Girl Li already knew, she didnt need to hide it from her anymore. Song Que frowned. Did you also say that we were building a cer? he asked in a low voice. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. No, I didnt. What was so interesting about building a cer? Only then did Song Ques expression rx. Dont tell anyone about the underground cer. Also, Ill let todays incident pass. In the future, until we move into the new house, no one else is allowed to go to the new house except us. Alright. Even though she had some doubts in her mind, Qin Xiaoyao still agreed. They arrived at their new home. Qin Xiaoyao opened the door and pushed Song Que into the courtyard. After that, she helped Song Que into the room and prepared water and other stuff for him before leaving with a bamboo backpack. First, she went to the market on West Street to distribute the straw sandals to Qin Dazhuang and Aunt Li. After that, she bought some meat and vegetables. When Qin Dazhuang learned that the courtyard dwellings handover procedures had beenpleted, he asked about his daughters house-moving n and was very eager to go and take a look. Qin Xiaoyao had wanted to agree, but when she recalled Song Ques words, she turned him down. She simply said that the house had to be tidied up, and when it was done, she would invite her father and the whole family to visit. Although Qin Dazhuang was a little disappointed, he didnt think much about it and agreed. At the market on South Street, Qin Xiaoyao saw Big Girl Li at the ce where she often set up her stall. Qin Xiaoyao knew that business was good when she saw many people surrounding Big Girl Lis cart. She quickly walked over. Big Girl Li was worried she couldnt answer the customers questions. When she saw Qin Xiaoyaoing over, she immediately rxed. After that, she watched her Sister Sanya answer the customers questions effortlessly. Not only did she give the correct price, but she didnt straightaway lower the price when dealing with customers who were bargaining. Instead, she asked the customers to buy one more item, and then she would lower thebined price. With this series of actions, Qin Xiaoyao quickly closed the deal with several customers. Big Girl Li was full of admiration. After all the customers had left, Big Girl Li finally looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Sister Sanya, your speed of selling is much faster than mine! she said in admiration. She had never thought of getting customers to buy more before giving a discount. Instead, she simply didnt allow them to bargain and gave them a fixed price. Although she did sell some goods, it was not as much. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Its fine. Just watch what I do and follow. Youll pick it up soon. ... As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao picked up a rice-washing bamboo pan. Then, she began pping it while shouting loudly. Selling rice-washing pans, bamboo baskets, bamboo basket backpacks, winnowing pans, and straw sandals! All kinds of woven bamboo products and straw sandals! The price is unbeatable! Dont miss it! Big Girl Li looked on from the side with even more admiration. Selling rice-washing pans, bamboo baskets, bamboo basket backpacks, winnowing pans, and straw sandals! All kinds of woven bamboo products and straw sandals! Theres a discount if you buy more! The more you buy, the more you save! Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li with a smile and continued to shout. It really did attract a few customers. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao stop and hurriedly receive the customers with enthusiasm. Eventually, only one of the three customers bought something. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt discouraged and was prepared to continue shouting. In the end, she heard Big Girl Li, who was standing opposite her, suddenly begin shouting. Selling rice-washing pans bamboo baskets bamboo basket backpacks Before she could finish, Big Girl Li got stuck like a bullet that got stuck in the barrel. ... Qin Xiaoyaoughed with amusement. Dont rush. Follow me and learn, she said to Big Girl Li. Then, she picked up the rice-washing bamboo pan that she had been pping earlier. Seeing this, Big Girl Li copied Qin Xiaoyaos actions and held up a rice-washing bamboo pan as well. Then, she started to mimic Qin Xiaoyao word for word. As she was learning seriously and had Qin Xiaoyao encouraging her from the side, Big Girl Li quickly overcame her shyness and mastered the essence of hawking wares. Thereafter, the two of them worked together seamlessly, taking turns to sell and hawk their wares, making the stall very lively. The uncle selling buns by their side saw this, and his face was full of smiles. With the two of them shouting beside him, not only did they attract customers for themselves, but they also brought some customers for him. As time passed, the number of goods on the handcart steadily decreased. Qin Xiaoyao only decided to close the stall when there were increasingly fewer people in the market. Big Girl Li was also tired from exerting too much force, so she agreed with Qin Xiaoyaos decision when thetter wanted to close the stall. Not bad. The straw sandals are all sold out. There are also only a few woven bamboo products left. Qin Xiaoyao said with satisfaction after taking stock of the remaining goods on the handcart. Big Girl Lis face was also filled with joy. The profit forrge items is higher. Just now, there was ady who was asking about the bamboo backpack. Unfortunately, I only brought one, and it was sold off earlier. If I had known, I would have asked Daniu to collect more bamboo backpacks! Big Girl Li said with some regret. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Its fine! Just tell Daniu when you get back tonight! Why dont we just stock up on more goods? Qin Xiaoyao suggested after some thought. Anyway, these woven bamboo products dont break easily. When the timees, Ill just send the goods to my new house directly. Its also convenient to retrieve the goods. Big Girl Lis eyes lit up. Sure! she said hurriedly. A smile crept over Qin Xiaoyaos face. Alright then. Ille up with a new list when we go back. Chapter 105 - 105 Chapter 105: All Because Of A Fat Woman 105 Chapter 105: All Because Of A Fat Woman As the two discussed, they packed up the goods and the handcart and headed toward the courtyard dwelling that Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que had just bought. When she saw that Qin Xiaoyaos courtyard dwelling was in a good location, Big Girl Lis eyes were filled with envy. When she entered and saw theyout of the courtyard dwelling as well as the number of rooms in the house, she was amazed again. This courtyard dwelling is really big! Its very spacious for your family to live in! !! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile, Its not bad! Thats the kitchen over there. You can go there and get a basin. And the well is over there. Go and get some water. You can wash your face and freshen up first. I have to go and inform my husband. Ille and look for youter, Qin Xiaoyao said. Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao in annoyance. Go, go. You only think of your husband! she replied in a grumbling tone. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and left. In the room, Song Que had long heard themotion outside. He knew that Qin Xiaoyao had brought Big Girl Li back. He wanted to get up and go out to take a look, but after thinking about it, he held back. He remained sitting in front of the desk, waiting for Qin Xiaoyao toe over. Before long, Qin Xiaoyao arrived, her face flushed and covered with perspiration. She did not even put down the bamboo backpack on her back. Hubby she called out to him with a smile. Song Ques heart skipped a beat when he saw her smile. Then, he quickly regained hisposure and avoided her gaze. After that, he asked casually, All the goods have been sold? No, but only a few pieces of woven bamboo products are left, Qin Xiaoyao replied immediately. The market demand for woven bamboo products is better than we expected. Ive discussed it with Big Girl Li. Were going to buy more goods next time and store them up, then sell them slowly. As for the goods, well put them in our storage room. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao observed Song Que carefully. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao. As long as you dont let any outsiderse into our house anymore before we move in! he said. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Thank you, Hubby! Daniu had only contacted two craftsmen. Even if she wanted to buy more, the craftsmen would not be able to cope with the extra workload. If there wasnt much stock, she could just go into town every day and take out the stock she couldnt sell off previously. She wouldnt need Big Girl Li and Daniu to help her bring the goods. In the future, when the supply from the craftsmen could be ramped up to meet the demand, they would need to deliver the goods directly to her. By then, she would have already dug a cer. Song Que avoided Qin Xiaoyaos gaze again. Then Ill go cook with Big Girl Li, Hubby. Just wait a while. Well be done with the dishes soon! Qin Xiaoyao didnt seem to mind and continued to speak happily. Mm-hmm, Song Que responded and kept his head lowered to copy the book. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao run away. After she had left, Song Que raised his head and looked in the direction of the door. Following that, he couldnt help but touch his chest. Damn it! What kind of ravishing beauty had he not encountered before? Yet, all because of a fat woman Qin Xiaoyao went to the kitchen to put down the bamboo backpack. Seeing that Big Girl Li hadnt returned, she took a bucket and a wooden basin and went to the well. As she had expected, Big Girl Li was still there. After washing her face, she stood by the well and enjoyed the breeze. Sister Sanya! This well of yours is so good! Not only is there a lot of water, but its also very sweet! Seeing Qin Xiaoyaoe over, Big Girl Li shouted. There was a well in the courtyard, and it was not far from the kitchen. It was too convenient! It was totally unlike back in Brook Falls Vige, where every family went to the public well or the stream to get water. For example, Big Girl Lis home was not considered close to these two ces. Every night, she had to arrange for someone to fetch water. If the person was not careful along the way, the water that was brought back might not be enough. Yup! When Hubby was looking into buying the courtyard dwelling, he stated a request that the courtyard muste with a well. When I came to see this courtyard dwelling, I even personally checked the depth. The well was about 50 feet deep! Even if theres a great drought in the future, our house wont be short of water! Qin Xiaoyao said with a chuckle. When Big Girl Li heard this, her face was full of envy once more. Both of you are really far-sighted! she said, praising them. Qin Xiaoyao put down the wooden basin with a smile and then fetched some water with the wooden bucket. After that, she poured some of the water in the wooden bucket into the wooden basin. Ill wash my face too. After that, well go to the kitchen to cook! she said. ... Alright! Big Girl Li stepped back a little to give Qin Xiaoyao some space. After a while, the two of them returned to the kitchen. In the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao took out all the food and ingredients she had bought. Then, she checked the situation in the kitchen and put the grains and flour into the corresponding jars. Thereafter, she prepared to start cooking. There were three dishes, two meat and one vegetable, which were paired with pancakes. Since they didnt need to cook rice, preparing the meal didnt take much time. After cooking, Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li brought lunch to the hall. Following that, Qin Xiaoyao went to call Song Que out for lunch. After copying books for nearly four hours, Song Que was already hungry when he smelled the aromaing from the kitchen. Upon seeing Qin Xiaoyaoing over, he epted her help and went with her to the hall. ... At the table, Big Girl Li was gnawing on the big pancake made by Qin Xiaoyao and pairing it with the sumptuous dishes, enjoying her meal until her face was all greasy. Mmm! Sister Sanya, the food you cooked is really delicious! Big Girl Li didnt forget to praise her as she ate. Song Que furrowed his brows slightly and felt a little disdainful, but he did not let anyone see it. He focused on eating his own food. Qin Xiaoyao nced at her attractive husband. Seeing that he didnt say anything, she felt relieved. She looked at Big Girl Li with a smile. Of course, its delicious if you cook it with enough oil! If you like it, eat more until you are full! Big Girl Li nodded. Yes, thats right! The dishes in your house are cooked with enough oil, so they are all delicious! Its so different from my mother-inw. When I ask her to put more oil in it, its like taking her life! Anyway, although the dishes are made with the same ingredients, the taste is notparable to those from your house. Taking a bite of the pancake, Big Girl Li expressed her envy again. Hehe! You are eating so much food, yet it still cant block your mouth, Qin Xiaoyao chided Big Girl Li. Seeing that her attractive husband still had no reaction, Qin Xiaoyao felt more at ease. This girl was grumbling about her mother-inw in front of everyone. Wasnt she afraid someone would catch her at it and spread this news? Of course, she didnt think her attractive husband would be so gossipy. However, that girl still had to pay attention, right? After Song Que said he was full, the food left on the table was eventually cleared out by Big Girl Li and Qin Xiaoyao. After eating, Big Girl Li burped in satisfaction, and then she cleared the table and went to the kitchen with Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao walked in front, and Big Girl Li walked behind. It was then that Big Girl Li, who was feeling a little bloated, suddenly realized that her Sister Sanya seemed to have lost a lot of weight. She couldnt help but look down at her own bucket-like waist. Big Girl Li felt she did not slim down as much as her Sister Sanya. That was right. Ever since she started working with Sister Sanya, she had lost some weight. This was especially obvious when she entered the mountains every day. She walked and moved a lot, and she clearly felt that the clothes around her waist were looser. However, these few days, she had a lot of free time, and she had eaten a lot, so it seemed that she was putting back what she had lost. Yet her Sister Sanya still seemed to be slimming down Chapter 106 - 106 Chapter 106: Storing Grain 106 Chapter 106: Storing Grain Previously, her Sister Sanyas figure was the size of a small mountain. Now, she was at most the size of a young bull. Sister Sanya, you Do you eat like you did today for every meal? Big Girl Li asked suddenly. Qin Xiaoyao was caught off guard. !! No, I dont. I made a lot of pancakes today, so I ate until I was 90% full. Normally I eat until Im 70 C 80% full. The reason was that she and her husband were not staying here for the time being. If there were any pancakes and dishes left, they could only heat them up for lunch tomorrow. She might as well increase her intake and finish up the extra food. Big Girl Li was somewhat surprised. She ate until 90% full for this meal, while on normal days, she ate until 70% or 80% full. Judging by the way Sister Sanya was eating today, even if she was 70 C 80% full, the amount she ate would still be quite substantial. Moreover, the dishes from the Song family had always been rich in oil. She should have put on more weight more easily after eating such food Sister Sanya, you are not lying to me, are you? Qin Xiaoyao ced the bowl and chopsticks on the stove. She turned around and looked at Big Girl Li. Why would I lie to you? Then why do you look like youve been losing weight? Big Girl Li scrutinized Qin Xiaoyaos body. Qin Xiaoyao was caught by surprise. She also lowered her head and looked at her own body. Oh, its probably because Ive been moving a lot more. Although Ive spent less time in the mountains recently, the work I am doing hasnt decreased by much. Its not like you dont know my familys situation. Im the one doing all theborious work, Qin Xiaoyao exined. Of course, that was not the reason. After all, even though she did a lot of work, she also ate a lot. However, she couldnt tell Big Girl that she lost weight because her strength-attribute special ability was making adjustments to her body. Hehe! If Big Girl knew, she would probably die of jealousy. Oh, I see Big Girl Li said with a disappointed expression. Then, she also put down the bowl and chopsticks in her hands. Alright. You can go out and rest in the courtyard. We can clean up the house after Im done washing the dishes. Qin Xiaoyao waved her hand at Big Girl Li. Okay. Big Girl Li looked at the situation on the stove and knew that she couldnt help even if she stayed, so she went out. Qin Xiaoyao could finally heave a sigh of relief and began to wash the dishes. After washing the dishes, Qin Xiaoyao tidied up the kitchen. Then, she went out into the courtyard to call for Big Girl Li. Following that, the two of them got busy together. With one more persons help, the speed of work was indeed much faster. After an afternoon of hard work, the two of them finally cleaned up all the rooms. They even spread fresh straw on the beds and covered them with new bedding. Qin Xiaoyao also bought some tools and repaired the broken furniture too. In addition, Qin Xiaoyao had also bought the things that the housecked, and she put them up. In short, their current new home was more or less tidied up. After they were done with everything, Qin Xiaoyao suggested they return to Brook Falls Vige without even taking a break. This was because if she didnt go back immediately, it would dy her from going into the mountains to hunt for bamboo rats. Big Girl Li had no choice but to drag her exhausted body and push the handcart along with Qin Xiaoyao. Looking at Qin Xiaoyao pushing Song Que with a smile and a refreshed, energetic look, Big Girl Li conceded that she felt envious again. She was already dog-tired, yet her Sister Sanya was still so energetic. Was there really such a huge difference between people? Qin Xiaoyao could also see how tired Big Girl Li was, and she couldnt bear to see her like this. When we reach the vigeter, you can go home straight away. Then,ter on, when your Daniues to my house to deliver the goods, ask him to follow me to the river to haul up the fishing. As for the bamboo rats, Ill process them today, Big Girl Li stared at Qin Xiaoyao pitifully. She really wanted to show off and say that she could do it. However, in the end, she still couldnt bring herself to say it. Instead, she said, Then Ill go back and tell Daniu. She was really exhausted today. She was tired from delivering the goods in the morning. After that, she set up a stall in the market on South Street. Although she was only standing there, her throat was tired from all the shouting. In the afternoon, she cleaned up the house with Sister Sanya and went out to buy stuff. She was so busy that her feet almost didnt touch the ground from the constant moving. ... Qin Xiaoyao smiled and said, Alright. She then suddenly remembered something and said, By the way, dont forget to give Daniu the list I gave you. From now on, we have to manage the bamboo goods business well. Alright. I know, Big Girl Li replied weakly. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help butugh. The next day, after packing up her stall, Qin Xiaoyao finally started the task of digging the cer. Even though she had no experience, she did a good job with Song Que guiding her by the side. Due to her great strength, she only took half a day to dig out the cer that Song Que had requested. Were almost there. Next, well polish it a little more, and then buy some lime and wooden nks. Lime can be ced in the cer to get rid of moisture and dampness. As for wooden nks, we can put some inside and outside. If ced outside, you must make sure to cover the exit well, Song Que said. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Its gettingte. Lets go back to Brook Falls Vige first. ... Then, Ill buy the things tomorrow. After some more tidying up, it will be almost done. Mm-hmm. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao cleaned up the site and left with Song Que again. Hubby, what are you going to do with that cer? On the way, Qin Xiaoyao finally asked the question that had been lingering in her mind. She wasnt stupid, so how could she not know her husband was nning something? From insisting that she be the one to dig the cer to choosing the most inconspicuous spot in the courtyard for her to dig, he even personally supervised her carrying out the work. And he didnt allow her to tell anyone. It would be strange if nothing were afoot. Even though she enjoyed the feeling of being trusted by her husband, how could she not be curious? Song Que turned around and nced at Qin Xiaoyao. To stock up on food, he said. Qin Xiaoyao got a shock. Stocking up on food? The new house had a separate storage room. If he wanted to stock up on food, he could just put it in the storage room. Furthermore, it wasnt difficult to buy food in town. From their new houses courtyard, if they walked out and turned right on the main street, there was a grain store less than 100 meters away. Wouldnt the food be fresher if they bought it only after they had consumed those in the house? If they hoarded grain, even if they bought fresh grain, it would be old after a year or so. Yes, she had no doubt that her attractive husband intended to stock up on arge amount of food. Otherwise, there would be no need to build such a cer. After experiencing the apocalypse, Qin Xiaoyao was actually not really against her attractive husbands arrangement. In fact, she herself even had the same idea that was akin to a hamsters behavior. She had thought that after she earned money, she would buy more food to keep at home to ensure that the family would not go hungry in the future. However, the thought of stocking up on so much food in one go never once crossed her mind. After all, she felt that her money pouch was not exactly bulging with coins now. Song Que saw Qin Xiaoyaos expression change, but he didnt respond. He then continued, When the cer ispleted, exchange all the money in the family for food. Its best to fill up the cer to the brim. Qin Xiaoyaos expression finally changed drastically. Song Que ignored her and asked, Have you calcted how much money we have left? One 130 over taels, I think, Qin Xiaoyao said with uncertainty. She had wanted to dissuade him initially, but somehow those words didnte out of her mouth. Instead, she ended up answering Song Ques query. Chapter 107 - 107 Chapter 107: Sealing The Cellar 107 Chapter 107: Sealing The Cer About 80 to 90 taels of silver were the money she had earned recently. The remaining 50 taels were left over from purchasing the courtyard dwelling after her attractive husband had sold the books. Song Que frowned. He thought, The money is still too little However, he also knew that Qin Xiaoyao was already working very hard. Moreover, if it had been an ordinary person, even if he worked hard for seven or eight years, he might not be able to save up the same amount of money Qin Xiaoyao had earned recently. Then take out 120 taels of silver to buy the rice and flour. Brown rice and coarse flour will do. You can buy more coarse flour. In fact, buy as much as possible. After buying them, well store them in the cer, Song Que continued. But This time, Qin Xiaoyao finally didnt agree to his request. As soon as she opened her mouth, she saw Song Que turn his head to look at her. Whatever words of objection she had, were swallowed back. Song Que was very satisfied with Qin Xiaoyaos reaction. He continued, After the cer ispleted, make sure rain doesnt leak into it, or water prates it. After that, put the food inside. However, from tomorrow onward, you can buy the food in advance. Put the food in the storage room first after buying. When the cer has been tested to be problem-free, we can then move the food into the cer. Before summer, we have to move all the grain into the cer. After that, we will seal the cer. Without my permission, you are not allowed to open the cer again. As Song Que said this, he turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Also, you cant tell anyone else about this. No one else other than us must know, including Mother and the others. Qin Xiaoyaos heart shuddered momentarily. The frustration she felt earlier was gone, and only excitement was left in her heart. Although her attractive husband didnt tell her the reason for hoarding grain, this this was their secret. Even Mother didnt know about it. It was a secret that belonged to the two of them. Okay! Therefore, as the blood rushed to her head, Qin Xiaoyao nodded again. What did it matter? Anyway, when the money was exchanged for food, the food would still be there. It couldnt run away. Now that her attractive husband trusted her so much, she couldnt let him down over such a small matter. Besides, there was still half a month before summer. Wasnt she still earning money? Money could be earned again after spending it! Besides, the reason she was working so hard was to earn money for her attractive husband to spend, wasnt it? When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao was able to convince herselfpletely. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos reaction, Song Que was very pleased inwardly. Even as he turned his head towards her, the corners of his mouth curved up again. In his previous life, there were many people who followed his orders and obeyed him. Due to his looks, there were also women who were obsessed with him and were used by him. However, this woman in front of him was the one who was least likely to throw tantrums and the one with the least demands. If he said she was stupid, ording to his observation, she was not stupid, but rather, quite smart. However, if he said she was smart, she was too subservient to him Forget it. This was a good thing for him, wasnt it? As such, at Song Ques request, the matter of telling his family that they had bought a courtyard dwelling was to be dyed until after the cer was sealed. Thereafter, after cleaning up the cer, Qin Xiaoyao had a new task, which was to buy food from the grain store. For the next few days, Qin Xiaoyao would go to the grain store to buy grain and flour every afternoon. She didnt just buy from one grain store, but talked to a few different stores. After that, she pushed the handcart and transported sack after sack of grain to her new home. This situation continued until she had spent all 120 taels of silver. The storage room was already filled with food, and the test for the cers water resistance had beenpleted. Under Song Ques guidance, Qin Xiaoyao moved the grain from the storeroom to the cer. The purchasing power of 120 taels of silver was still enormous. Although the food they bought could not fill the entire cer, it was enough to fill up more than half of it. Qin Xiaoyao only sealed the cer after she had stored all the food inside. The outside of the cer had been redone so that the entrance was concealed in the grass. All done. Those who dont know about this wont realize that weve opened a cer here, even if they are standing here! Brushing her hands off, Qin Xiaoyao spoke with a hint of pride. She had dug and set up the cer herself. Now that she had finished her task, of course, she was happy. Song Que nced at the entrance of the cer, then looked around, and nodded in satisfaction. We can start preparations to move house, he continued. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned for a moment, but then her face lit up with joy. Were not going to wait until summer? she asked Song Que. There were still five days before the month of May, and the beginning of summer was on the 5th of May. Therefore, there were still ten more days before the start of summer. Theres no need to wait any longer. The weather is already getting hot. Its better to move early, Song Que said. ... He then looked at Qin Xiaoyao. The date three days from now is not bad. You can make some arrangements for the work on hand, and then well move. Alright! Qin Xiaoyao quickly agreed. The weather was indeed getting hotter day by day. She and Big Girl had already stopped selling the Chinese Toon shoots and bamboo rats. It was difficult to harvest the mountain products in the mountains because of the sunny days. Right now, they were only sending some farm produce, fish, bamboo shoots, and some poultry that Liu Daniu had helped to collect to the restaurants. The fish harvest was already not as good as before, and the bamboo shoots were getting harder and harder to find because it was not raining and summer wasing. Therefore, Qin Xiaoyao was not as reluctant to leave Brook Falls Vige as before. During this time, her focus was basically on preparing the century eggs and selling goods at the stall. She and Big Girl Li had gotten the business of selling woven bamboo products off the ground. As the supply of bamboo products in their hands started to increase, she began nning to set up a stall separately from Big Girl Li to earn more money. Therefore, after they returned to Brook Falls Vige, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt wait to tell her mother-inw and the two kids that their family had bought a courtyard dwelling. Madam Liu thought she must be dreaming. ... She couldnt help but pinch her own arm. Ouch! After she cried out in pain, only then did she know that this was real. When did you buy the courtyard dwelling? Where did you two get the money? Madam Liu asked two questions in a row. Qin Xiaoyaoughed as she exchanged nces with Song Que. I earned it by selling goods! Gosh, Mother, you dont have to ask about this. In any case, the courtyard dwelling has already been bought and tidied up. Hubby has arranged for someone to check for a date to move house. The date three days from now is suitable for moving. Lets make preparations in advance and move to the town in three days! Her husband had told her to keep the book sale a secret and gave her all the credit. Of course, she was happy to take the credit. So rushed? Madam Liu felt that the surprise came too quickly, and she could not quite digest it yet. How is it rushed? We have three days to prepare, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Our new house is very big. There are five bedrooms, a hall, a storeroom, a kitchen, a woodshed, and avatory with a bathroom. The courtyard is also big. Other than having a well, we can still set aside a few plots ofnd. When the timees, you can even nt vegetables and flowers! After they had moved, Qin Xiaoyao was going to tidy up the courtyard. They could forget about nting flowers, but it was good to nt some vegetables and fruits. Really? Madam Liu found it hard to imagine. Qin Xiaoyaoughed as she took Madam Lius hand. Its true! Mother, if you want to go and take a look in advance, you cane with us to town tomorrow. Chapter 108 - 108 Chapter 108: Giving The Business To The Liu Family 108 Chapter 108: Giving The Business To The Liu Family Madam Lius eyes shed with excitement. However, it onlysted for a moment before the excitement disappeared. Then, she said with a worried look, If I were to go to town, what about the familys business? The straw used to weave straw sandals could be bought from everyone in the vige after she returned. !! However, what about receiving the goods? As was well-known, almost all the goods in the vige were sold to their family. Although Daniu and Erniu also received goods, they went to other viges to collect them. By relying on receiving goods, their family could earn money every day. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Dont worry, Mother. Ill take care of the business. Madam Liu was still a little uneasy. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Song Que speak. Mother, well listen to Sanya with regard to this matter. Madam Liu was stunned for a moment, and then she nodded at Qin Xiaoyao. Since they had already bought the courtyard dwelling, she couldnt possibly abandon the newly bought house and not move there, and remain here in this thatched hut all because of this little bit of business. Anyway, the business was her daughter-inws, and her daughter-inw was very smart. She would definitely be able to make proper arrangements for everything. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up with joy. She then continued to talk to Madam Liu and the two little ones about going to town the next day. The two little ones didnt think as much as Madam Liu. They were very thrilled to know that their big brother and sister-inw had really bought a courtyard dwelling in town. They all wanted to go to town to take a look. Thus, the whole family decided to make the trip to town the next day. A whileter, Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu came to deliver the goods. After Qin Xiaoyao took stock of the goods and paid for them, she called the couple to one side and told them about her uing n. Didnt you say youd only move in after summer? Youre moving out so soon? After listening to Qin Xiaoyao, Big Girl Li immediately became anxious. The beginning of summer is in ten days. There is not much difference from moving three dayster, Qin Xiaoyao said. Seeing Big Girl Lis dejected expression, she added, After moving to town, there are many things that are inconvenient for me to do. Therefore, I want to discuss with you the changes and adjustments to our business. Sister Sanya, just tell me! Liu Daniu said immediately. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the disappointed Big Girl Li and continued, First of all, its dangerous for Big Girl Li to go into the mountains alone without me. We wont be doing the bamboo shoot business anymore. Big Girl Li immediately raised her head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. She wanted to retort, but faced with Qin Xiaoyaos stern gaze, she couldnt say anything. This is for your own good. The mountains are not as safe as you think, Qin Xiaoyao said in a grave voice. Moreover, if it doesnt rain after summer, it wont be easy to dig up the bamboo shoots. There are so many ways to earn money. Theres no need to cling onto this. Only then did Big Girl Li nod gloomily. Qin Xiaoyao was slightly relieved and continued, Secondly, after our family moved away, Ill leave the receiving of goods in the vige to you henceforth. As soon as she said that, the couple immediately stared at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Liu Daniu. Erniu has been following you for quite some time, so he should have some experience now. And your little sister. Didnt she always want to do something? Now is the right time. Liu Danius heart skipped a beat. Of course, after youve received the goods, youll still have to deliver the goods to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant in my name. Ill still get a share of the profits. Of course! Liu Daniu said hurriedly. His response caused Big Girl Li to re at him. Qin Xiaoyao knew that Big Girl Li was not happy that her man was taking advantage of Qin Xiaoyao, so she smiled. She then continued, Lets just go with the price I set before. Its equivalent to you receiving the goods and giving them to me, and then Ill sell them. Of course, you cant deliver your goods directly to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant anymore. Youll have to send them to my new house in town. This was also to prevent them from casting her, the middleman, aside in the future. Although she believed in the couples character, what if something unexpected happened? Furthermore, even if Big Girl and her husband didnt have such intentions, it was hard to say for the people of Fortune Mansion. Alright! Liu Daniu agreed to her proposal. Qin Xiaoyao nodded in satisfaction. And then theres the fishing in River Ringwaters. Previously, it was Big Girl who helped me haul up the fishing. Now that Im leaving, I can only leave this job to you two. There are two ways to go about this. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the couple. The first is Ill sell the fishing to you for three taels of silver. In the future, if you catch any fish, itll all be yours. Deliver the goods to town, and Ill buy them from you at the price we set before. Previously, she had set a price for the fish. When Liu Daniu went to the countryside, he asionally brought back fish for her, but not inrge quantities. ... The couples eyes lit up. They all knew how remarkable Sister Sanyas fishing was. Although the amount of fish caught by the fishing had decreased recently, as long as the fishing was still there, they could still catch some fish every day. As long as there was fish, there would be money. The second is to change the profit distribution. In the future, the two of you will be in charge of harvesting from the. If you get any fish, give me 40%, Qin Xiaoyao continued. She was more inclined toward the first option. After all, she would not be living in Brook Falls Vige in the future. As time passed, many things that were agreed upon in the beginning might change. It was also because of this that she only set the price of the fishing at three taels of silver. As everyone knew, there were no fishings for sale in Mountain Spring Town. Her fishing was the only one. And it was the only one that could make money. The couple looked at each other. Finally, Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Sister Sanya, arent you taking too much care of us? She said with some embarrassment. ... Qin Xiaoyaoughed. Take care of what? After moving, I wont be staying here anymore. When the timees, youll be the ones to do all the work. I cant just take advantage of you without contributing much, can I? As for the fishing, if you have the money, I suggest you buy it directly. This way, itll be more convenient for us to trade in the future, Qin Xiaoyao said. Big Girl Li exchanged nces with Liu Daniu once again. Then, she turned around and looked at Qin Xiaoyao with determination. Alright, well buy it! Ill go back and get the moneyter! The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. Theres no rush. You can give it to me after we move. Before we move, well do it the same way as we did before. Yes, yes, yes. Big Girl Li quickly replied. She was afraid that Qin Xiaoyao would misunderstand that she was impatient. Qin Xiaoyaoughed at her reaction. Qin Xiaoyao only let the two of them go after she discussed with them the details of their coboration. The couple returned home and told the news to their family, whereupon the entire Liu family was utterly shocked. Liu Erniu and Liu Xiaomei were the happiest, especially Liu Xiaomei. Since the Song family had given them the business of receiving goods, she was able to help her family now. Liu Erniu was happy as well. They only needed one person to go to the countryside to collect goods. His parents had already told him earlier not to follow his big brother. Now that Big Brother and Sister-inws business had grown, it didnt matter if he didnt go with Big Brother to collect goods in the future. He could go into town with Sister-inw to deliver goods. If he had another handcart at home, he could split up with Big Brother and go to different viges to collect and sell goods. Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu were also happy. The Song family had relied on these businesses to buy a courtyard dwelling in town. If their family took over the business, even if they made less, they could still make a fair bit of money. Chapter 109 - 109 Chapter 109: Her Daughter-in-Law Was Too Good 109 Chapter 109: Her Daughter-in-Law Was Too Good If their family worked hard for three to five years, they might be able to buy a courtyard dwelling in town too. At that time, the Liu family would be able to hold their heads high. While the Liu family was feeling happy, the Song family was in a really jubnt mood. Madam Liu followed what her daughter-inw said and told the people who came to sell the goods that the Song family was going to move into town and that the Liu family would be taking over the business of receiving goods. The vigers who came to sell their goods were extremely envious. One by one, theyplimented and even tried to curry favor with Madam Liu. This made Madam Liu, who had always been looked down upon by the vigers and even received looks of derision, feel extremely ted. The next day, the news that the Song family had bought a house in town and was about to move there spread throughout the whole Brook Falls Vige. The Song family didnt know about this yet at this moment. That morning, the entire Song family followed Qin Xiaoyao into town. Qin Xiaoyao first sent her family to their new home before going to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant to deliver the goods. After Madam Liu and the others stepped into the courtyard, they were shocked. They could not believe that this big courtyard would be their home in the future. Song Que was being supported by Song Yun as he gave an introduction of the courtyard to his mother, younger sister and younger brother. He even assigned the respective rooms to them. The family first visited the hall, followed by the storeroom and the kitchen. After that, Madam Liu helped Song Que to his room. On the other hand, the two little ones ran to their respective rooms excitedly. Seeing that Madam Liu was also looking at her room from time to time, Song Que smiled. Mother, you should go and take a look as well, he said. I Ill help you to sit down first. Madam Lius face was flushed as she stammered. Her eldest son had actually seen through her. As his mother, she felt she was too immature. Song Que didnt say much and allowed Madam Liu to help him to the desk to sit down. Then, he reminded Madam Liu again to go and have a look at her own room. This time, Madam Liu did not refuse. She went out in a happy mood. When he heard the excited voices of the two little ones from outside, Song Que could not help but smile again. It was just a courtyard dwelling with a few rooms, yet his family was already so contented. Days like this were so good After listening for a while with a smile, Song Que started to grind the ink and prepared to continue copying the book. Everyone in the family was working hard. In order to make life better for his family, he should also do his part. At this moment, in Song Yuns room. The little girl found that her room had not only a bed, but also a cab, a dressing table, and a bronze mirror. There were even dressing boxes, hair bands, fine-toothedbs, and so on. After squealing happily for a while, she looked at herself in the bronze mirror and almost cried. Needless to say, these things must have been prepared for her by her Sister-inw. Sister-inw really treated her too well! After sitting in front of the mirror for a while, Song Yun resisted the urge tob her hair with the fine-toothedb and only got up after a long while. Then, she went to the outer room and sat down behind a small desk. Her tiny hands caressed the brush, paper, ink, and inkstone on the table one by one, and the little girl finally couldnt hold back her tears anymore. Her father and brother were schrs, so she naturally knew how expensive these things were. It was understandable for Sister-inw to buy these for Big Brother and Yeer, but she was a girl, and Sister-inw had actually bought them for her too. How could she not be moved? At the same time, in Song Yes room. The little child was obviously not as mature as his older sister. When he saw the big bed in the room, he quickly threw himself on the bed and rolled around on it. The bed was huge, more than twice the size of the small bed he had slept on in Brook Falls Vige. Also, the bedding on the bed was brand new, and it was so fragrant andfortable. Boo hoo hoo! What should he do? He didnt even want to go back to Brook Falls Vige and sleep in that tiny bed anymore. At this moment, Madam Liu also entered her room. When she saw the interior fittings in the room, she was shocked beyond words. There was no need to mention the bed and therge closet. The dressing table and the things on it quickly attracted her attention. After sitting down and looking at the bronze mirror for a while, Madam Liu couldnt help but reach out and caress the mirror for a long time. Finally, tears poured down her face. It had been years since shest saw a bronze mirror Today, when she saw herself in the bronze mirror, she realized that she had really aged. Compared to back then, she had aged so much After a long while, Madam Liu finally got up from the dressing table. She went to the outer room and looked at the embroidery frame ced there. ... As she ran her fingers over the embroidery frame, tears welled up in Madam Lius eyes again. Her embroidery work was very good, but because she did not have an embroidery frame and the environment at home to carry out embroidery work was not good, she could only take on some simple embroidery work, which led to her not earning much. When she was in Brook Falls Vige, she had dreamed of having an embroidery frame and sitting in a quiet andfortable environment to do embroidery. However, she also knew that her family could not afford an embroidery frame. Moreover, the thatched hut was dirty and messy and did not satisfy the conditions that allowed her to doplicated embroidery work. However, now she had an embroidery frame. There was also such a spacious andfortable room. It was her eldest daughter-inw who had done all this for her. Her eldest daughter-inw was even more filial to her than to her own mother. She was so touched! She decided there and then that she would treat her eldest daughter-inw better in the future and dote on her like her own daughter! Thinking of this, Madam Liu Shi walked out of the room. Then, she walked towards the kitchen. ... After checking out the kitchen, she eximed at her eldest daughter-inws good taste in buying this house and how well she hadid out everything. She then left the kitchen. Following that, she called her daughter out and asked her to go out with her. When she found out that her mother was going to the market to buy groceries to prepare a scrumptious lunch for her sister-inw, Song Yun naturally agreed with the idea. After arranging for Song Ye to stay and take care of Song Que, Song Yun went to the roof eave to retrieve a bamboo backpack. After putting on the backpack, she went out with her mother. Even though the mother and daughter werent familiar with the streets nearby, they had heard Qin Xiaoyao describe the general location of the market on West Street the night before. Therefore, after asking two passersby, the two of them went to the market on West Street, which was not far from their home. Mom, this ce is so lively! It had been more than a year since Song Yunst came to the town market. When she saw the bustling market on West Street, she was a little excited but also a little fearful that she would get lost. Madam Lius situation was better, but she also seemed a little ill at ease. Of course, its lively. Of the four big markets in Mountain Spring Town, the market on West Street is the most crowded and has the cheapest goods. She raised her voice and said this to her daughter. Firstly, the market was full of activities, and if her voice was too soft, she was afraid that her daughter wouldnt be able to hear her clearly. Secondly, by raising her voice, she was trying to embolden herself. Song Yun immediately looked at her mother with admiration. Her mother was so knowledgeable. Madam Liu Shi saw the look in her daughters eyes and felt a little proud. Alright. Lets go buy some groceries! After thinking for a while, Madam Liu added, If wee across something our housecks, we can also buy it. We cant always let your sister-inw pay for everything. As she said that, she patted her money pouch. During this period, she weaved straw sandals and helped to receive the goods, so she had received a lot of money. When she came into town today, she hade prepared and brought most of her money. Song Yun smiled and patted her own purse as well. Hehe! Mom, I also brought money! she said with a beaming smile. She didnt have the chance toe to town before, but now that she was able toe to town, she was well prepared. Madam Liu Shi smiled in amusement at her daughter. Chapter 110 - 110 Chapter 110: Buying Groceries 110 Chapter 110: Buying Groceries Alright. There are many people on the street. Cover your money bag well. I know, Mom! Only then did the mother and daughter start to stroll around the market. In the beginning, they were very cautious and only looked but did not buy. As they strolled around, they became bolder and started to buy things. They bought vegetables, live poultry, side dishes, candy, and snacks. Suddenly, Song Yun saw a meat stall and the stall owner who was chopping meat with a cleaver. Mom! Song Yun quickly tugged at Madam Liu, who was still looking around. Look! Isnt that Uncle Qin? She pointed at Qin Dazhuang, who was not far away. Madam Liu looked in the direction her daughter was pointing and saw it was indeed Qin Dazhuang. Madam Lius face lit up, and she quickly said, Yes! Your Uncle Qins meat stall is at a fixed location. Its always there. We havent bought any meat yet. Lets go and talk to your Uncle Qin. Her son and daughter-inw had bought a courtyard dwelling so long ago, but they only told her yesterday. She wasnt sure if her inws knew about this. Since she had bumped into them, she must talk to her inws and ask them to visit. Okay! Song Yun quickly agreed. Previously, she was quite afraid of the Qin family. However, ever since Sister-inw became a better person and she had also heard that the Qin family took care of her family, she was not so afraid anymore. The mother and daughter soon arrived at Qin Dazhuangs meat stall. They didnt rush up to talk to Qin Dazhuang. Instead, they waited for Qin Dazhuang to serve the other meat-buying customers. Qin Dazhuang was so focused on his business that he didnt notice the mother and daughter. After he finished serving the customers near the meat stall, he then looked at the mother and daughter. With one nce, his expression turned into one of shock. Mother Song? He eximed at Madam Liu. Madam Liu smiled and answered in return, Father Qin. Qin Dazhuangs face lit up, and then he looked at the little girl beside Madam Liu. Mother Song, why are you in town? Following that, he looked at the meat hanging at his stall. Todays meat is not bad. Ill cut two catties of fatty meat for you! As he spoke, he prepared to start chopping with the cleaver. Madam Liu quickly stopped him. She stepped forward and said, No, Father Qin! Just give give us three catties of streaky pork! As she spoke, she began to take out the money. Qin Dazhuang immediately stopped her. No need, Mother Song! Its so rare to meet you. If you insist on paying me, youre treating me as an outsider! However, Madam Liu insisted. Thats a separate matter. Our family received a lot of care from your family in the past. Now that our familys situation is better, we cant continue to take advantage of you. As she spoke, she took out the copper coins and started counting. Seeing this, Qin Dazhuang didnt stop her anymore. That was true. His son-inw had already bought a courtyard dwelling. Their situation was indeed different from before. When he thought of this, Qin Dazhuang suddenly felt a little upset. It had been a long time since his daughter and son-inw bought a courtyard dwelling. Yet, up till now, they had not invited him over. Now that Madam Liu had brought her daughter into town, could it be that they had already moved? Here, Father Qin. Please check! After counting the money, Madam Liu gave the copper coins to Qin Dazhuang. Although she hadnt been to town for a long time, her eldest daughter-inw had been buying meat for the family quite often, and almost all of it was streaky pork. Therefore, she knew the price. Qin Dazhuang looked at the money in Madam Lius hand but did not count it. After receiving it, he simply put it into the money box at the side. No need to count. I trust Mother Song! As he spoke, he began to chop up the meat. Madam Liu was all smiles. She then said to Qin Dazhuang, By the way, Father Qin. Did Sanya tell you? She and Queer bought a courtyard dwelling in town. Qin Dazhuangs expression froze for a moment. Yes, he responded. The displeasure in his heart grew. Had they really moved in? Madam Lius face lit up with joy when she heard that. ... I only heard from the two kidsst night that theyve done such a major thing. Qin Dazhuang was stunned. She had just heard about it? Madam Liu smiled and looked at her daughter. When they told me, I was quite shocked. I thought they were just joking with me. Qin Dazhuang saw from Madam Lius expression that she did not seem to be lying and felt a little more at ease. They have had the courtyard dwelling for quite some time now. I was the one who introduced the broker who helped them locate the courtyard dwelling. This matter is indeed true, he said. It seemed that Qin Dazhuang knew about the matter of the young couple buying a courtyard dwelling before Madam Liu did. Hmph! At least that girl still had some conscience. Madam Lius eyes brightened slightly. Then I must really thank you, Father Qin! We came to town today to have a look at the courtyard dwelling. ... There are many rooms in that courtyard dwelling, and the ce is big. Its really good! Then, after hearing this, Qin Dazhuang felt a lump in his heart. He had been wanting to visit his daughters new home, but he had never had the chance. Could this Mother Song be deliberately showing off in front of him? However, were only here today to take a look. The two children said that the day after tomorrow is an auspicious day to move. They told us to move from Brook Falls Vige to town the day after tomorrow. Father Qin, you have toe and visit us when the timees! Also, bring your family over! The whole family! Madam Liu said enthusiastically. Qin Dazhuang finally smiled and nodded. Sure! Well definitely be there! he answered. So they had not moved yet. They were only moving in the day after tomorrow. His daughter and son-inw had really dragged it out for a long time. Here. Its exactly three catties. Qin Dazhuang weighed the streaky pork and made sure that the weight was correct. He then took the meat off and handed it to Madam Liu. Madam Liu took the meat with a smile and put it into her daughters bamboo backpack. She suddenly thought of something. If you are closing early, why dont youe over to our new house for a look? Although we havent moved yet, were all here today. Ive also bought some groceries, so I can prepare a meal when I get back, Madam Liu said. Qin Dazhuang was surprised for a moment, and then his face lit up. Sure, sure! I know the address. Ill go take a look after I close up my stall. If theres anything you need help with, I can help you in the afternoon, he hurriedly said. Not surprisingly, the address was given to him by a close acquaintance after the deal was closed. In addition, he had already told his family about his daughter buying a courtyard dwelling a long time ago, yet he had not seen his daughter invite him to visit. For the past few days, everyone in the family had been looking at him strangely. Today, he would go and take a look and see who still dared to doubt his words. Its a deal then! Madam Liu Shi replied with a smile. She chatted with Qin Dazhuang for a while longer and only said goodbye to him when a new customer arrived. Then, because there were more guestsing, Madam Liu decided to buy some more groceries. In the end, she even bought a jar of wine. It was not until her purse was almost empty that Madam Liu finally brought Song Yun back to their new home. Song Yun carried her bamboo backpack and looked at her mother who was walking in front of her, her hands full of stuff. She couldnt help but smile. It wasnt just her mother who spent a lot today. Song Yun herself also paid out quite a lot of copper coins. However, this was the first time she felt sofortable and happy spending money. They returned to their new home. When Song Ye heard themotion, he quickly rushed out of Song Ques room. When he saw that his mother and older sister had returned, he quickly shouted, Mom! Sis! and ran towards them. The mother and daughter went straight to the kitchen and put down the bamboo backpack and all the stuff in their hands. Chapter 111 - 111 Chapter 111: This Was The Candied Hawthorn Big Brother Was Eating 111 Chapter 111: This Was The Candied Hawthorn Big Brother Was Eating Here. These are candied hawthorns and candy. Take them and eat with Big Brother. Mother and I are going to start cooking. You go and y with Big Brother! Song Yun took out two sticks of candied hawthorns and a few pieces of candy from the bamboo backpack and gave them to the little child. Song Yes face lit up instantly. Yay! Thank you, Sis! His tiny hands quickly grabbed them. Then, he scampered out of the kitchen joyously with the candied hawthorns and candy. !! Seeing this, Madam Liu could not help but smile and shake her head. This child Song Yun also smiled. She then reached out for another piece of candy and handed it to her mother. Mom, try it, she said with a smile. She had paid for it herself. Madam Liu looked at the candy and reached out to take it. You should have one too. After that, we can start our chores, she said to her daughter as she popped the candy into her mouth. Mm-hmm! Song Yun grinned happily and ate a piece of candy too. Thereafter, the mother and daughter then began to prepare lunch. They were busy ughtering chickens and ducks and whatnot. In Song Ques room, after eating two candied hawthorns, Song Que lost interest. This was because the food they ate at home had improved, and he did not crave sweet things as much as before. Thus, he inserted the stick with the remaining candied hawthorns into the brush holder and left it on one side. After Song Ye had finished his snacks, Song Que continued to teach the little one. That was right. After his mother and younger sister left the house, he gave Song Ye lessons. It was only when the two of them returned that the lesson was interrupted. It was rare that he had some free time today, so he had to continue with the lesson. And soon, the sound of Song Ye reciting a book could be heard from the room. At the same time, Madam Liu and Song Yun were already plucking the feathers off the chickens and ducks in the yard. When the two of them heard the sound of the little child reciting the book, they couldnt help but look at each other and smile. After plucking the feathers, Madam Liu went to the woodshed to get some straw. Then, she asked her daughter to work with her and burn off the fine hair of the chickens and ducks. Following that, she took the cleaver and the wooden basin and led her daughter to the well. Theres a well in the courtyard, so getting water is convenient. In the future, well just fetch the water ourselves. Theres no need to let your sister-inw fetch water to the house every day, Madam Liu said with a bright smile as she scooped out the water. Mm-hmm! Itll be much more convenient for me to wash clothes in the future too! Song Yun chimed in. She was the one who washed all the clothes at home. Previously, Sister-inw did not allow her to wash at the stream, and she had to use up a lot of water at home every time. She had always felt bad for her sister-inw. However, now that she could draw water directly from the well, it didnt matter how much water she used. Mm-hmm! The mother and daughter continued to work. They cut open the chickens and ducks and cleaned them out. Then, they returned to the kitchen together. They began to chop up the meat and cook the rice. Half an hour ago, after Qin Xiaoyao delivered the goods to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant, she had gone to the market on West Street. It was then that she found out from her father that her mother-inw and little sister-inw had been to the market and bought a lot of groceries. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. She could guess what her mother-inw and little sister-inw were up to. In that case,e over after youve closed your stall, Father. Get Big Brother and Second Brother to join in too! Since her mother-inw had already invited one, it didnt matter if she invited two more. As for Aunt Zhang and her two sisters-inw, it was better to wait until the actual house-moving day before inviting them. When the time came, it would be more formal. Great! Qin Dazhuang answered. After some thought, he took a chunk of meat from the rack and handed it to Qin Xiaoyao. Take this back and ask your mother-inw to cook two more dishes! Previously, he was the only one who was invited to visit. Now his two sons were invited as well. What if the food prepared by his inw was not enough? Qin Xiaoyao smiled and didnt refuse. Alright! Thank you, Dad! She epted his offer. She then left the stall. She didnt buy any more vegetables, but she went to the wine shop and bought two jars of wine. After that, she took the meat and wine and went home. Upon entering the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao saw her little sister-inw washing vegetables by the well. Sister-inw! Song Yun also saw Qin Xiaoyao and immediately called out to her. Hey! Wheres Mother? Qin Xiaoyao replied and asked. Song Yun nced at the things in her sister-inws hands and said, Mom is chopping meat in the kitchen. We had already gotten meat and wine, Sister-inw. Why did you buy more? ... Just as Song Yun asked this question, Madam Liu heard the noise and came out of the kitchen. Its fine. Just cook more since Ive already bought it! When Qin Xiaoyao saw her mother-inw, she answered her little sister-inw and then walked toward Madam Liu. Song Yun simply smiled and didnt dwell on this matter. She continued to wash the vegetables. Gosh! Why did you get so much meat again? You even bought two jars of wine? Madam Liu saw the things in Qin Xiaoyaos hands and began muttering. Qin Xiaoyao lifted up the stuff in her hands. The meat was given by my father. Ive invited my Big Brother and Second Brother to join uster. If its wine, theres no harm in preparing two more jars, she said with a smile. She did not expect her mother-inw to be so thoughtful and didnt know that she had already bought the wine. However, since she had already bought them, she would just leave them here. It didnt matter if she bought more. Alright! Madam Liu answered with a smile. Once again, she sighed in her heart. The inws were really very kind. Qin Xiaoyao quickly stepped forward and followed Madam Liu into the kitchen. ... She ced the stuff in her hands on the counter. Then Ill leave the rest of the chores in the house to you guys, Mother. I have to go to the market on South Street to look for Big Girl. After closing the stallter, Ill bring Big Girl over to join us for lunch. Ill have to trouble Mother to make a few more dishes. Sure! Madam Liu Shi nodded with a smile. Even if her daughter-inw didnt instruct her, she still had to prepare a good lunch. After Qin Xiaoyao said a few more words to her mother-inw, she came out of the kitchen. It was then that she saw little Song Ye dashing out of the room she shared with Song Que. Sister-inw! The child yelled out to Qin Xiaoyao with a big grin and ran toward her. In his hands were half a stick of candied hawthorns and a piece of candy. Hey, slow down! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. She was a little worried that the little one would trip and fall if he ran too fast. However, the little one did not slow down and ran straight to Qin Xiaoyao. Sister-inw, here! As he spoke, he handed half a stick of candied hawthorns and the piece of candy to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was ted and reached out to take them. She didnt mind that only half a stick of the candied hawthorns was left. The fact that Yeer was willing to give her the half-eaten candied hawthorns meant that he cared about her and was willing to share it with her. Who cared whether it was unsanitary to eat stuff left behind by others? Such concerns didnt exist. During the apocalypse, she could even eat things that had turned moldy after removing the mold, let alone such delicious candied hawthorns. Qin Xiaoyao took the candied hawthorns and ate one. It tasted really good! The little child then opened his mouth. This is Big Brothers candied hawthorns! Big Brother didnt finish it, so he asked me to bring it to Sister-inw! (Well, the truth was that Song Que didnt ask Song Ye to bring Qin Xiaoyao the candied hawthorns, but Song Ye took the initiative to take it. Of course, Song Que did not stop him.) Qin Xiaoyao, who was about to eat a second piece of candied hawthorn, was stunned. As she looked at the three remaining candied hawthorns in her hand, her chubby face turned bright red at a speed that was visible to the naked eye. What? These candied hawthorns and candy piece were all leftovers from her attractive husband? This this The candied hawthorn that she had eaten just now. Perhaps perhaps her attractive husbands lips had touched them? Qin Xiaoyao felt a gush of hot blood rush to her head when she thought of this possibility. Chapter 112 - 112 Chapter 112: It Must Have Been Deliberate 112 Chapter 112: It Must Have Been Deliberate I I have to go! Yeer, you must listen to your Big Brother at home, okay? After she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao fled without even looking at Song Ye. If she didnt run away, she was afraid that her face would turn as red as a baboons butt. Oh, okay. Seeing his sister-inw run off in a hurry, the little child responded with a little disappointment. Then, he returned to the room. !! At this moment, the little child realized that his big brother had actually gotten up and even walked to the door. He seemed to have seen the little one giving his sister-inw the candy. At this moment, Song Que had an odd expression on his face. When he saw his younger brother looking at him with an innocent gaze, he quickly regained hisposure. Ahem! Lets continue with our studies, he said. With that, he walked back to the desk on his crutches. He didnt want to waste food, that was all. After all, they had just bought a courtyard dwelling and didnt have much money left. He didnt stop Yeer from taking the half-stick of candied hawthorns away. That was all Surely he didnt do anything wrong On the other end, Qin Xiaoyao had left the house. She patted her face a few times with her chubby hands before she managed to calm herself down. An indirect kiss! This is the legendary indirect kiss! she mumbled softly. It was her attractive husband who had asked Yeer to give her the candied hawthorns and candy. So, was her attractive husband seducing her? To do such a thing through a little kid, wasnt it That was not right. Could it be that she was thinking too much? No, no, no! She was definitely not thinking too much. Her attractive husband was bing more caring towards her. Perhaps Hehehehe Following that, she couldnt resist letting out a somewhat perverseugh. This attracted the attention of a few passers-by, who turned around to look at her. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao clear her throat, puff out her chest and walk briskly away. As she walked, she was still mulling over the incident in her mind. She really didnt expect it. Her attractive husband had such an outwardly cold but inwardly passionate personality Then, she happily continued to eat the candied hawthorns, followed by the piece of candy. Since her attractive husband had given them to her, she had to eat them. Otherwise, if Big Girl were to see themter and asked Qin Xiaoyao to share them with her, what should she do? When she arrived at the market on South Street, Big Girl Li was trying her best to sell her wares. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao walking over, she quickly reported her sales so far to Qin Xiaoyao. Not many people are buying woven bamboo products after all. The straw sandals are selling better! Unfortunately, we dont have that many straw sandals, and they didntst long. Our straw sandals are cheap and of good quality. Of course, they sell well, Qin Xiaoyao replied. We have no choice for these few days. Were busy moving house and dont have time to make straw sandals. Okay, Big Girl Li responded. By the way, how are Aunt Song and the others? Did they jump for joy when they saw the new courtyard dwelling? she asked Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. She herself would have been overjoyed if she had such a big courtyard house. When she went to Sister Sanyas new house, she was so shocked that she almost jumped. Sigh! When would her family be able to live in such a courtyard house as well? Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li with a smile. They didnt jump, but they were really delighted. Without even telling me, my mother-inw took Yuner to the market on West Street and bought stuff like chicken, duck, and pork to cook for lunch. They even invited my father to our new house for lunch! When Big Girl Li heard they were having chicken and duck meat, she immediately started drooling. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyaoughed even more happily. After that, I asked my father to invite my big brother and second brother as well. Later, when we close the stall, you can go back with me and have a meal together with us. A look of embarrassment shed across Big Girl Lis face. Er Qin Xiaoyaoughed and said, With our rtionship, you dont have to be shy. Hehe! In that case, thank you, Sister Sanya! Big Girl Li epted the invitation quickly. After that, she worked even harder to attract customers. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and worked hard with her. Finally, it was the markets closing time. Even though the business today wasnt as good as before, the two of them closed the stall with a smile. After that, they pushed the handcart toward Qin Xiaoyaos new home. ... Just as they reached the entrance of the courtyard dwelling, the two of them heard voicesing from the courtyard. It seems that my father and brothers have arrived, Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. Big Girl Li responded but was a little more reserved. The moment Qin Xiaoyao pushed the door open and entered, she saw it was indeed her father and two brothers working busily in the courtyard. At that moment, her father, Qin Dazhuang, was helping her brother, Qin Dahu, to chop firewood. Her second brother, Qin Erhu, was fetching water for the kitchen. Above the kitchen, smoke was rising in spirals, and the aroma of food was drifting out from inside. Sanya is back! Qin Dahu was the first to notice Qin Xiaoyao. He raised his head and looked at his sister with a smile. Qin Dazhuang also stood up. He held a long-handled ax as he looked at his daughter. Why did youe back sote? You can always close the stall early! he grumbled a little. Hehe! We have not finished selling the items! Qin Xiaoyaoughed as she replied. ... Qin Dazhuang immediately gave his daughter a disapproving look. Just as he was about to reprimand her, he heard Big Girl Li speak. Uncle Qin, Brother Dahu! Qin Dazhuang was no longer in the mood to chastise his daughter, so he quickly answered Big Girl Li. Qin Dahu also looked at Big Girl Li with a smile. Big Girl, you are here too! He smiled and greeted her. Mm-hmm! Im doing business with Sister Sanya now! Big Girl Li replied. Then, Qin Xiaoyao was ignored as the rest began chatting. Qin Xiaoyao didnt mind. She left Big Girl Li to chat with her father and big brother while she pushed the handcart to the storage room. After putting the remaining woven bamboo products back into the storeroom, she went to help out in the kitchen. Madam Liu and Song Yun had already heard themotion outside and knew that Qin Xiaoyao had returned. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao enter the kitchen, she quickly said, The food is almost ready. You can set up the table in the hall, and then we can bring out the food! Alright! Qin Xiaoyao responded and got to work. Before long, therge round table in the hall was covered with sumptuous dishes. When the crockery and cutlery wereid out on the table together with the wine, Qin Xiaoyao shouted into the courtyard, asking everyone to go to the hall for lunch. The Qin familys father and sons yelled for each other to go in. They also beckoned to Big Girl Li, and they headed for the hall. Qin Xiaoyao then went to fetch Song Ye and Song Que. When Song Que heard themotion outside, he stopped teaching Song Ye. Instead, he let Song Ye read at the side while he continued to copy books. In fact, after his father-inw and his two brothers-inw arrived at the new house, they came in to visit Song Que. However, they didnt say much to him before going outside to look for some tasks they could help with. He had a feeling that his father-inw and his two brothers-inw were a little afraid of him. They didnt even dare to look at him when they spoke to him. In this way, there was no way for him to talk to them more, even if he wanted to. This was different from his previous life. In his previous life, he didnt have much contact with them, but every time he saw them, they were always very fierce and menacing. Although there was a reason for it, it made him detest them. In this life, because of the change in that woman, these three peoples attitude towards him also changed. Now, he couldnt bring himself to hate them anymore. Hubby Qin Xiaoyao entered and saw that Song Que was still busy copying books, so she called out to him. Song Que raised his head and immediately saw his younger brother, who had been sitting at the side a moment ago, throw the book aside and begin running toward Qin Xiaoyao. Chapter 113 - 113 Chapter 113: Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law Relationship 113 Chapter 113: Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law Rtionship Sister-inw, is it time to eat? Song Ye asked his sister-inw happily. Yes! You two have been studying hard, so Im here to ask you two to go out for lunch! Qin Xiaoyao held onto Song Yes tiny hand and gazed at the little one with adoration. Then, she turned around and looked up, only to lock eyes with Song Ques deep, dark eyes. Not surprisingly, she was mesmerized. Song Que was very pleased with Qin Xiaoyaos reaction, and his eyes finally flickered. Come and help me up, he said. Qin Xiaoyao quickly came back to her senses and released Song Ye to go help Song Que up. When the little child saw this, his tiny face fell, and he could not help but re at his big brother in annoyance. Hmph! He was snatching his sister-inw away! He didnt know if it was an illusion, but when Song Ye saw his big brother get up, thetter actually gave him a look of provocation. Yup, it must be an illusion. Surely Big Brother didnt look at him just now Qin Xiaoyao wasnt aware of any of this. She helped Song Que out of the room, and they walked towards the hall. As soon as they arrived, the originally lively hall became quiet all of a sudden. Qin Dazhuang and his sons, who had been talking andughing loudly a moment ago, suddenly shut their mouths in unison. Thest two dishes are here! At this moment, Madam Liu brought Song Yun along with thest two dishes. Dont just stand there. Sit down and eat! Qin Xiaoyao chimed in. Only then did everyone take their seats. Qin Xiaoyao noticed that her father and two brothers had been acting oddly ever since her attractive husband arrived. She could roughly guess what was going on. After all, the three of them had bullied her attractive husband in the past to force him to marry Qin Xiaoyaos predecessor. In addition, because of the matter of loaning the silver, they looked down on Song Que a lot. Now that her attractive husband had bought this courtyard dwelling, his status was elevated now. It would be strange if they didnt feel awkward sitting with him at the same table. This table of dishes today is really amazing! Mother and Yuner, it has been hard on you two! Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. Then, she stood up and poured wine for everyone. Hehe! Its just a few simple dishes. Whats so hard about them? Madam Liu replied happily. She then said to her daughter-inw, You should pour more for your father and two brothers! I know, Mother! Qin Xiaoyao agreed with a smile. Here, Father, Big Brother, Second Brother. Ill pour more for you guys. You guys should have a drink with my husbandter! Then, she poured wine for the Qin familys father and sons. When the three of them heard this, they all replied in the affirmative. However, they only nced at Song Que for an instant and did not dare to look at him for long. When Song Que heard this, he did not reject the proposal. Instead, he pushed his wine bowl forward, signaling to Qin Xiaoyao to pour him some wine. Qin Xiaoyao naturally noticed Song Ques actions and knew that Song Que was not against the idea. She was overjoyed. After pouring wine for the Qin familys father and sons, she poured wine for Song Que. Of course, she was careful not to pour too much for Song Que when filling his bowl. This was because, in the memories of her predecessor, she had never seen her attractive husband drink. Furthermore, her attractive husbands legs had not healedpletely yet, so she felt that it was better for him not to drink so much. As for the drinkingpanion, she was still avable, wasnt she? Thinking of this, Qin Xiaoyao poured half a bowl for herself after pouring wine for Song Que. When he saw this, Song Ques exquisite brows knitted slightly, but he did not say anything. Come! Father, Big Brother, Second Brother! My husband and I will give you a toast. Thank you, Father, for helping us locate a courtyard dwelling and for all the care youve given us all this time! Qin Xiaoyao picked up her bowl of wine and said to the Qin familys father and sons before ncing at Song Que. Song Que returned her nce and decided to y along. Forget it. If she wanted to take center stage, then let her, he thought. That would save him from the awkwardnesster when he couldnt find anything inmon to chat about with the inws. Hey, no need to thank me! Qin Dazhuang was the first to respond. Youre my only daughter. If I dont help you, who else should I help? Thats right, Sis! Dont worry! If theres anything in the future, just go home and tell us! As your Big Brother, I will definitely help! Qin Dahu added. And your second brother too! Qin Erhu chimed in. The same goes for Brother-inw too! Then, he realized that something was wrong and turned to look at Song Que. Yes, Brother-inw as well! If theres anything you need, just let us know! Qin Dahu also turned around and nced at Song Que. Yeah! Qin Dazhuang had wanted to say something to Song Que, but the moment heid eyes on Song Que, he could only utter one word. Good. Thank you, Father-inw, and my two Brothers-inw. Seeing this, Song Que also returned the pleasantry. Cheers Immediately after, he held his wine bowl out. The Qin familys father and sons were both caught off guard for a moment. ... Following that, they all held their bowls out as well. Exercising great control over their strength, they clinked their bowls with Song Ques. Even so, the moment the wine bowls collided, they still felt that they had used too much strength and almost knocked Song Ques wine bowl askew. Sigh! Indeed, uncouth men like them were not suited to drink with schrs. Qin Xiaoyao also held her wine bowl out and drank with the others. After downing a bowl of wine, the atmosphere at the table became much more lively. After that, Qin Xiaoyao entertained the Qin familys father and sons. In between, she also entertained Big Girl Li from time to time while taking care of Madam Liu and the two children as well. The atmosphere at the table was very harmonious. Everyone at the table was smiling except for Song Que. However, although Song Que did not smile like the others, he was still in a good mood. He was happy to see his family so happy. Moreover, todays dishes indeed tasted good. After he was full, Song Que sat at the table for a while before taking his leave. ... After drinking a few more bowls of wine, the Qin familys father and sons finally had the courage to speak to him. These three boorish men were really very outspoken. They simply said whatever was on their minds. They said that they were in the wrong in the past and should not have been so fierce to him, frightening him. They hoped that he would not hold it against them. They then went on to warn him to treat their daughter and sister well and not to bully her. Otherwise, they would make him regret it. In short, although the words were a little rough, the meaning was expressed very sincerely. When Song Que heard that, he couldnt help but look at that woman several times. Seeing that she didnt seem to be pretending, the initially concrete thoughts in his mind began to waver doubtfully. Could this woman really be Qin Sanya? Or did she really believe she was Qin Sanya just because she inherited her body? Forget it. There was no need to dwell obsessively on these things. The current situation was pretty good. As long as she behaved herself, why should he care so much? As such, Song Que responded appropriately to the half-apologetic and half-threatening words of the Qin familys father and sons. After that, the Qin familys trio of father and sons became more enthusiastic toward Song Que. Under the influence of alcohol, they even insisted on drinking with Song Que. It was only when Qin Xiaoyao came forward to say that her husband could not handle alcohol well that they did not continue to pester Song Que. In the end, Qin Xiaoyao arranged for Song Yun to help Song Que back to his room. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao rx and continue to drink with her father and two brothers. Qin Xiaoyao didnt mind beingughed at by her father and brothers. She was happy to let them know how much she valued and cared about Song Que. The meal didnt end until it was almost 1:30 in the afternoon. Qin Xiaoyao personally sent the Qin familys father and sons off. Chapter 114 - 114 Chapter 114: The Wang Family’s Farce 114 Chapter 114: The Wang Familys Farce Fortunately, although the three of them were a little drunk, they were not dead drunk. Qin Xiaoyao reminded Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu to take good care of Qin Dazhuang before returning to the courtyard dwelling. She then went to the kitchen to wash the dishes with Madam Liu and Song Yun. When she reached the kitchen, Madam Liu refused to let her help. You go out and apany Big Girl. Just leave the kitchen chores to Yuner and me. Madam Liu immediately chased Qin Xiaoyao out of the kitchen. If youre tired, just go back to your room and sleep for a while. Take care not to let the alcohol go to your headter. Madam Liu said with concern when she smelled the alcohol on Qin Xiaoyao. Hehe! Mother, Im fine. I didnt drink much! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Seeing the worry on Madam Lius face, she added, Alright, Mother. I understand. Then Ill go and chit-chat with Big Girl. Go on. Only then did Madam Liu smile. Then, she turned around and continued with her kitchen chores. Qin Xiaoyao had no choice but to leave the kitchen. Thereafter, she went to the stone table in the courtyard where Big Girl Li was sitting. Big Girl Li was sitting on the stone bench, enjoying the breeze. When she saw Qin Xiaoyaoing over, she smiled. Sister Sanya, she called out to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao answered her and sat down on the stone bench beside Big Girl Li. After eating my fill, I came to the courtyard to get some air. Its sofortable Big Girl Li said contentedly. As the breeze blew, she closed her eyes in enjoyment. The weather today was the coolest in recent days. There were dark clouds in the sky, and it looked like it was going to rain. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao also followed suit, closing her eyes to enjoy this moment of peace. After a while, Big Girl Li said, What should I do, Sister Sanya? I really feel like moving in to be your neighbor right now. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. Sure. Work hard to save money, and when the timees, you cane and live in town with your Daniu. Big Girl Lis eyes became a little dejected. Forget it. Erniu hasnt gotten married yet. No matter how hard Daniu and I work, we wont be able to buy a courtyard dwelling anytime soon. As she spoke, she swept her gaze across the courtyard before her once more. Seeing that there was arge open space at the side, she said, Its such a waste to leave such arge piece ofnd empty. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Indeed, its a pity. Im preparing to grow some vegetables and fruit trees. Big Girl Li nodded. Speaking of which, I want to talk to you about the Chinese Toon trees, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Big Girl Li was puzzled. The season for selling Chinese Toon shoots had already passed. What use was there for the Chinese Toon trees? I was thinking of getting some branches of the Chinese Toon trees to make nt cuttings. In addition, if there are suitable Chinese Toon seedlings, I want to get them transnted directly. Seeing Big Girl Lis look of surprise, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Although the location of the Chinese Toon trees is on the outer ring of the deep mountains and near the front-most mountain, it is still dangerous. Even if we can sell Chinese Toon shoots again next year, I dont want you to go into the mountains again. Qin Xiaoyao thought she might as well take this opportunity to stop Big Girl from entering the deep regions of the mountains again in the future. As for the Chinese yam, it would be at least the year after the next when it would appear in the mountains again. When the time came, she could just tell Daniu to look after her well or go into the mountains together with Big Girl. If we transnt the Chinese Toon trees out here, firstly, you dont need to go into the mountains anymore, so its safer. Secondly, if the things are nted in our own fields, no one will hanker after them. Big Girl Li thought for a while and nodded. Alright! Ill bring this up to my family and ask them to allocate a piece ofnd to grow the Chinese Toon trees. Although the Chinese Toon shoots could only be sold for less than two months a year, their price was high. If there were enough Chinese Toon trees, it might be more profitable than growing grain. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. Theres no need to setnd aside specifically to nt them. The Chinese Toon trees are easy to grow. We can just transnt some and nt them around the house. Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant are buying our goods at a high price because we are the only ones who can supply them. If theres too much supply, the price may drop. In addition, we have an agreement with Boss Fang. We cant sell the Chinese Toon shoots to other people. Therefore, there was not much advantage in nting them inrge swathes. After all, it was not wise to offend their personal God of Fortune just to grow their Chinese Toon shoots business. Big Girl Li nodded. Then well do as Sister Sanya says! she answered. Anyway, she only needed to listen to her Sister Sanya. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and patted Big Lis shoulder. Then well start work after we get back to Brook Falls Vige. She would set aside a piece ofnd in the courtyard to nt the Chinese Toon trees, as well as some vegetables, melons, fruits, and so on. Alright! The two of them continued to chat for a while. Madam Liu and Song Yun finished their work, came out of the kitchen and brought up the matter of going back to Brook Falls Vige. The reason was that Madam Liu was still thinking about going back to receive the goods. ... Even though it was thest day for them to receive goods, she did not want to miss out on thest chance to make money. Qin Xiaoyao had no choice but to agree. Hence, the group set off and returned to Brook Falls Vige. Back at Brook Falls Vige, Qin Xiaoyao went into the mountains with Big Girl Li to dig up the Chinese Toon trees. For the small trees, they simply dug up the whole tree. For the big ones, they cut some of the branches to use as nt cuttings. As for Madam Liu, apart from receiving the goods, she had already arranged for her daughter and youngest son to pack up the things they needed to move to their new home. She took some time to pack the things she needed to bring and put them aside, waiting for the day after tomorrow to move. At the same time, in the Wang familys residence near the Song familys old home. The Wang familys residence was really lively at this time. Zhang Mazi had brought people to fetch Wang Xiaomei today. He was prepared to bring his future daughter-inw home in advance to marry his retarded son. (In ancient times, weddings took ce at dusk.) To his surprise, Wang Xiaomeis brother, Wang Dashan, had returned home. ... Wang Dashan, who had been working in town and hadnt returned home for a while, finally heard the news from somewhere and ran back from town. Wang Dashan was different from his parents. He truly doted on his sister. When he found out that his parents had betrothed his sister to a retarded guy in order to arrange a marriage for him, he couldnt allow that to go through. After he returned, he quarreled with the Zhang family. When the Zhang family saw this, they were also dumbfounded. It was only then that they found out that Wang Dashan actually didnt know about this. However, they had already given the silver and obtained her indenture, so it was no surprise that they were unwilling to let her go. The two sides could only face each other in a standoff, with neither side giving in. It didnt take long for the news to spread in Brook Falls Vige. The people nearby all came to watch the show, and some even went to invite the vige chief. The Zhang family wasnt afraid when they saw so many people. Instead, they looked angrily at the Wang family. Dont think you can bully us just because you have more people. My family gave you ten taels of silver as a betrothal gift, and we have Wang Xiaomeis indenture too. Even if you go to the government office to sue us, Wang Xiaomei is still a member of the Zhang family! Bullshit! My little sister is only twelve, not even of marriageable age. How can she get married? As long as I, Wang Dashan, am here, dont even think about taking my little sister away! Otherwise Otherwise, even if I have to rush to your vige personally with a kitchen cleaver, Ill kill that idiot of yours and get my sister back! Wang Dashan was also forced into a corner, and he roared angrily at Zhang Mazi. You Zhang Mazi was so angry that he almost choked. He just wanted to spend money to get his retarded son a wife. He didnt force them to do this. The Wang family took the initiative to approach him first. How did things turn out like this? If he had known that Wang Dashan didnt know about it, or that he was such a muddlehead, he would never have sent the betrothal gifts to the Wang family! Chapter 115 - 115 Chapter 115: Not Marrying The Qian Family’s Daughter 115 Chapter 115: Not Marrying The Qian Familys Daughter Then you return the silver that my family gave you! Youll also have topensate me for the banquet my family has prepared to hold in the vige! Only then will I return Wang XiaoMeis indenture to you. Otherwise Otherwise, if my Zhang family cant keep her, other ces can! Wang Dashan, you brat! Dont be unreasonable with me! If you force me, Ill just sell this indenture at a low price to a brothel in town. Lets see if you dare to risk your life against the brothel madam! Wang Dashan was so angry that his eyes turned red. He would return the money! Of course, he wanted to return the money! However, if they could afford to return the money, he would have long forced his mother to give him the money. He had only found out after he returned that his mother had already given away the ten taels of silver, saying that she had arranged for him to meet a cousin from her maiden family. At that time, he had forced his mother to get the money back, but his mother only made a big scene with him, and he could not do anything with her. As a result, the matter was dyed until the Zhang family came to their doorstep. Yes, Dashan. Why dont you return the money to the Zhang family? Then you can take it that this never happened, one of the vigers said. They were from Brook Falls Vige, so they would naturally speak up for their own vigers. However, the Wang family was indeed in the wrong in this matter. Now that the Zhang family had relented, and the Wang family was unwilling to hand over the girl to them, then wouldnt it be fine to just return the silver to them? Thats right! Aunt Wang, quickly return the money to them! Look at what youve done to your little girl! a woman said. Only then did people notice that Wang Xiaomei was squatting behind her big brother, shivering all over. What a sin! For a bit of silver, you sold your daughter to an idiot to be his wife! someone else said. They all sympathized with Wang Xiaomei and began condemning Wang Laoshuan and Aunt Wang. Wang Laoshuan was so embarrassed that he could not lift his head. However, Aunt Wangs temper red up. What do you nosy outsiders know? Its none of your business what my family does! she shouted at the vigers. Then, Aunt Wang looked at Zhang Mazi. Our family cant return the money, so just take the girl with you! Deal with her however you want! she said loudly. As soon as she said that, the vigers were shocked and began castigating Aunt Wang. Wang Dashan was so angry that his eyes almost popped out. Seeing the smug look on the Zhang familys faces, Wang Dashan swept his gaze around and quickly rushed to a nearby spot, picking up a sickle. Then, he rushed back to his sister, shielding her behind him. Ill see who dares! Ill chop whoever dares toe over to death! he said ruthlessly. The moment these words came out, the Zhang family members who were about to step forward stood stunned, motionless. At the same time, the atmosphere became tense. The vigers tried to persuade Wang Dashan not to be rash. Aunt Wang finally panicked and cried as she begged her son to put down the sickle in his hand. Go and get the Zhang familys money back and return it to them! If you dont go, Ill fight it out with them today. When I kill someone, I will pay with my own life! Lets see who will take care of you in your old age! Wang Dashan was not moved at all when he saw Aunt Wang crying piteously. Instead, he roared at his mother angrily and even threatened her. I Ive alreadye to an agreement with them. How Boo hoo hoo! How am I supposed to ask from them? Aunt Wang was still resisting. You take the silver back in the same way that you gave it away! Wang Dashan raised his voice, his face full of rage. I might as well tell the truth. Even if you cant get the silver back, I wont marry your Qian familys daughter! I, Wang Dashan, would rather remain a bachelor than marry your Qian familys women! Wang Dashan said through gritted teeth. As he was too angry, he even spat out a shower of saliva as he spoke. Everyone present sympathized with him. At this moment, everyone realized that Aunt Wang had sold her daughter to get her son engaged. Moreover, it was to a daughter from her maiden family. Seeing Wang Dashans attitude, everyone began making spections in their hearts. How bad was the character of the daughter from the Qian family for Wang Dashan to despise her so much? Hmph! It must be so bad that it was beyond salvation. Wasnt this Aunt Wang standing before them from the Qian family too? At the thought of this, everyone began forming some ideas in their minds. From the looks of things, when they undertake match-making for their own children in the future, they must make sure not to have anything to do with the Qian family. This was simply a cmity! If she married into the family and became the next Aunt Wang, would there still be any peaceful days in the family? They had seen people who tricked others, but they had never seen someone who even tricked her own son. Was there a hole in this Aunt Wangs brain? What do you mean you dont want our Qian familys woman? Whats wrong with Juhua? She is good-looking and hardworking! And shes your cousin! In the face of her sons anger and the vigers criticism, not only did Aunt Wang not repent, but she also quarreled with Wang Dashan. Anyway, Ive already fixed your engagement to Juhua. Even if you are not willing, you still have to marry Juhua! Wang Dashans face became all contorted when he heard that. The veins on his hand that was gripping the handle of the sickle were almost popping out. Fortunately, the vige chief arrived at this moment. All the vigers moved aside to let the vige chief in. After that, someone exined the whole situation to the vige chief in a few sentences. ... After the vige chief understood the situation, he looked at Wang Dashan and asked him to put down the sickle. Only then did Wang Dashan lower the sickle, but he still didnt toss it aside. Instead, he held it in his hand. Seeing this, the vige chief simply frowned, but did not continue to press him. Everyone felt slightly more at ease and waited for the vige chief to resolve the matter. Zhang Mazi quickly came forward. Vige Chief Li, its not like our Zhang family is here to take the girl away forcibly. As long as they pay back my betrothal gift of ten taels of silver as well as the money for my familys wedding banquet today, Ill return the indenture to them immediately. I wont make things difficult for them! Right now, he didnt want to take Wang Xiaomei away at all. With such a brother and such outrageous parents, even if he took her away and let his son marry her, there would be endless trouble in the future. As for what he had said about re-selling Wang Xiaomei to a brothel, that was pure nonsense. He also had a daughter, and he wasnt so heartless as to do such immoral things. ... However, if he couldnt get the money back, he would have no choice if he were forced into a corner. After all, ten taels of silver was not a small sum. The Zhang familys money did not drop down from the sky. The betrothal gifts can be returned to you, but not the money for the banquet, the vige chief said outright. Zhang Mazis expression changed immediately. Why not? If Wang Laoshuan and his wife had not agreed to sell their daughter to me and signed an indenture for me, would I have gone ahead to hold this wedding? Now, they wont let me take the girl, and they still refuse topensate me. What kind of logic is this? Vige Chief Li, are you bullying us because you think there is no one from Brook Rise Vige here? The vige chief frowned. Just as he was about to speak, Aunt Wang suddenly rushed over. Pay my ass! Our family wont pay a single coin! When we signed the indenture, I asked you to take her away at once, but you refused. Anyway, Im giving her to your family. Theres no way Ill give you money! The vige chief subconsciously dodged to avoid Aunt Wangs saliva. He finally frowned in disgust. Then, he looked at Wang Laoshuan and said, Wang Laoshuan! Wang Laoshuan, who was cowering not far away with his head lowered, seemed to wake up in an instant and looked up at the vige chief. Chapter 116 - 116 Chapter 116: Not A Peep No Matter How Badly Beaten 116 Chapter 116: Not A Peep No Matter How Badly Beaten Seeing old Wang Laoshuans cowardly behavior, the vige chief became furious. Discipline your wife! The vige chief said in a grim voice. Wang Laoshuans body trembled as he looked at Aunt Wang. He wanted to say something, but he didnt manage to open his mouth. Firstly, he was used to being afraid of his wife. Secondly, he felt that he would most likely not be able to get back the deposit his wife had paid out. Since that was the case, it was better to let the Zhang family take their daughter away. At the very least, his son would still be able to marry his would-be daughter-inw. As for his sons wishes, he felt that his son had only said those words because he had not thought it through yet. Dashan would agree to it sooner orter. Hmph! Can he control me? You wont get a peep out of him no matter how much you beat him! When Aunt Wang saw this, not only did she not feel touched, but she also scolded her husband. This scene caused the vigers to gossip among themselves. They knew all along Wang Laoshuan was a henpecked husband, but they did not know that he had already reached the point where his wife could ride on his head and shit on him. Isnt this simply too cowardly? Father! Upon seeing this, Wang Dashan yelled angrily at Wang Laoshuan. Couldnt he stand up for them at all? Was he prepared to watch their mother destroy their family? In the face of his sons pleading eyes, an apologetic look shed across Wang Laoshuans eyes, but he still didnt say anything in the end. When she saw this, a smug look shed across Aunt Wangs face. Then, she said to the vige chief, I have the final say in my familys matters! Vige Chief, you dont have to worry about this! The vige chief was instantly infuriated. He then added in a grave voice, Its true that I cant meddle in your familys affairs! But I have the final say in the matters concerning Brook Falls Vige! Although we have sold people in Brook Falls Vige in the past, that was during a natural disaster when the families did not have any food and were unable to feed their own family members. What era are we in now? How can anyone still sell people in a good year? Aunt Wang was about to rebuke him, but the vige chief interrupted her. If something like this were to leak out, the surrounding viges would begin spreading the news. Is your Wang family trying to bring harm to our vigers and tarnish their reputation the way you have tarnished yours? As soon as he said that, the vigers immediately began discussing heatedly among themselves. That was true. If something like this happened in Brook Falls Vige and ruined the reputation of the vige, how would they undertake match-making for the youngdies and young men in the vige in the future? In particr, those who had unmarried sons and daughters at home all began to criticize Aunt Wang. Although Aunt Wang was a shrew, it was difficult for her to deal with so many people alone, and she was quickly put at a disadvantage. When the vige chief saw this, he bade the vigers calm down. Then, he looked at Wang Laoshuan, who still had his head lowered. Wang Laoshuan, youre the head of the Wang family. You have to consider this matter carefully. If you really want to do it your wifes way, its possible Just as everyone was about to dissuade the vige chief, they heard him say, Then please take your family and move out of Brook Falls Vige. It is also to save our Brook Falls Viges reputation from being tarnished by your family! As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Laoshuan finally raised his head again, and his expression had changed drastically. Aunt Wang did not expect the vige chief to say something like that either, and her face turned pale with fear. What? She was selling her own daughter, yet she still got chased out of the vige? Was there any justice in this world? Just as she was about to argue with the vige chief, Wang Laoshuan suddenly came forward and pulled her back. No, Im not selling! Were not selling! he hurriedly said. His roots were in Brook Falls Vige. If he left this ce, how would he live? Wang Laoshuans grip on Aunt Wangs wrist was so tight that it hurt, and she immediately shook him off. Why cant we sell? She was about to have a big fight with Wang Laoshuan. Wang Laoshuan finally panicked when he saw the vige chief frowning. Then, he abruptly pped Aunt Wang. Aunt Wang was instantly dumbfounded. At this moment, the shock was far greater than the pain. Wang Laoshuan was also extremely shocked at this moment. He could not believe that he had actually hit his wife, and the hit even struck home. Wang Laoshuan, Ill fight you to the death! Soon, Aunt Wang regained her senses and rushed toward Wang Laoshuan. Wang Laoshuan dodged subconsciously. Then, he was quickly pressed to the ground by Aunt Wang and viciously beaten up. Someone wanted to stop the fight, but he was stopped by his own family. This Wang Laoshuan was a good-for-nothing who couldnt control his wife and let her run loose to harm the vigers. He deserved to be beaten. Ah! You bitch! How dare you hit my son! At this moment, a sharp cry suddenly rang out. Then, an elderly woman rushed in from behind the crowd. Then, she used her walking stick to hit Aunt Wang. ... The beating caused Aunt Wang much pain, and she retaliated subconsciously. How could the elderly woman be a match for Aunt Wang? With two moves, Aunt Wang grabbed the walking stick and flipped the elderly woman to the ground. Mother At this moment, a middle-aged man squeezed out of the crowd. He rushed over and sent Aunt Wang flying with a kick, and then he helped the elderly woman up. Yes, this elderly woman was Old Grandma Wang, Wang Laoshuans mother, and Aunt Wangs mother-inw. As Wang Laoshuan was the eldest son of the Wang family, rightfully, Old Grandma Wang should be living with the eldest son. However, it was precisely because she did not get along with Aunt Wang and Wang Laoshuan was not in charge that Old Grandma Wang moved in to live with her second son. Over the past few years, there was less friction because they didnt live together. However, because of Aunt Wangs instigation, Old Grandma Wangs rtionship with her eldest son grew distant. This was also the reason Old Grandma Wang had stepped in to help when Aunt Wang caused trouble at the Song family. Old Grandma Wang wanted to use this opportunity to do her eldest daughter-inw a favor and get closer to her eldest sons family. ... However, she didnt expect Qin Xiaoyao to be so tough to deal with. Qin Xiaoyao simply announced outright that she would no longer ept anything from the Wang family. Due to this incident, when Old Grandma Wang returned home, her second son and second daughter-inw chided her quite a bit. After that, she didnt dare to go near her eldest sons family again. Who knew that such a thing would happen in such a short time! This bitch had actually sold her granddaughter off for ten taels of silver. She even took the silver back to her maiden family and betrothed Old Grandma Wangs eldest grandson to her maiden familys cousin. After all these years, her biggest regret was getting such a wife for her eldest son. Now, as if it wasnt bad enough that this woman had harmed her eldest son, she also wanted to harm her granddaughter and grandson. How could Old Grandma Wang tolerate this? When she heard the news, she immediately rushed over. To her great surprise, she arrived to see this bitch straddling her eldest sons body and hitting him. She then rushed up to help, but she didnt expect to be beaten up instead. After the middle-aged man kicked Aunt Wang away, he helped Wang Laoshuan up. The pitiful Wang Laoshuans face was badly scratched, and his body was full of injuries from Aunt Wangs vicious wing. Seeing that his second brother, Wang Dashi, had arrived, Wang Laoshuan was slightly relieved. However, Aunt Wang did not stop. After being kicked away, she quickly got up from the ground and wanted to settle the score with Wang Dashi. At this moment, Wang Dashan finally took action. After throwing away the sickle, he restrained Aunt Wang. Enough! Mother, stop it! Wang Dashan held Aunt Wang tightly, not allowing her to go crazy again. When the crowd saw that the person was under control now, everyone finally calmed down a little. The vige chief stepped forward again. Wang Laoshuan, how do you intend to handle this matter now? He asked as he looked at Wang Laoshuan. Chapter 117 - 117 Chapter 117: Divorcing His Wife 117 Chapter 117: Divorcing His Wife Although Wang Laoshuan was a good-for-nothing, he was still the head of the eldest sons family in the Wang family. The vige chief still had to ask for his opinion. I As he nced at Aunt Wang, a look of terror shed across Wang Laoshuans eyes, and he still couldnt force a word out. Divorce her! Beating her husband and beating her mother-inw, whats the point of keeping such a wife? Divorce her! Suddenly, Old Grandma Wang pointed at Aunt Wang and bellowed furiously. The Wang family was shocked upon hearing her words. The people around them also began discussing heatedly. It was indeed better to divorce this kind of wife. However they were already such an old couple. Among the two children, one was going for match-making, while the other would be of marriageable age in two years. If Wang Laoshuan divorced his wife now, it would not be good for the two childrens marriage prospects in the future. When the deranged Aunt Wang heard this, her face paled, and she finally calmed down. When Wang Dashan heard this, he subconsciously frowned. Then as he looked at his crazy mother being restrained by his hands, he felt that it might be a good thing for his father to divorce his mother. At least there would be peace at home in the future. In addition, there was no need for his little sister to be so worried and afraid of being sold again. Wang Laoshuan, divorce this woman for your mother! Old Grandma Wang said again, looking at her eldest son. Wang Laoshuans body trembled. Thereafter, he couldnt help looking at his wife. Wang Laoshuan! Dont you dare! Aunt Wang immediately roared back. Wang Laoshuan was so frightened that he shrank his neck back. Seeing this, everyone expressed their disdain. Old Grandma Wang was extremely angry and brought her second son to Wang Laoshuans side. If you dont divorce her, Ill do it for you! In the first ce, I should never have allowed this kind of evil woman to enter my Wang familys household! As Old Grandma Wang said this, she turned to look at the vige chief. Ill have to trouble Vige Chief to help me prepare the divorce documents. Ill stamp my thumbprint on itter. As the mother-inw, she had the right to repudiate her unfilial daughter-inw. This bitch actually hit her today. So many people had witnessed it, so there was no way for her to deny it. When Aunt Wang heard this, she finally panicked. No! What right do you have to force him to divorce me, you old hag? Wang Laoshuan, Wang Laoshuan, you goddamn son of a bitch! Youre a good-for-nothing! When you see someone bullying your wife, you simply stand by and watch? Aunt Wangs words were particrly unpleasant to the ears, causing everyone present to frown. Big Brother! Dont you think that youve embarrassed yourself enough? Wang Dashi finally spoke. Wang Laoshuan was finally awakened by these words. Shut up! Wang Laoshuan finally said to Aunt Wang. However, Aunt Wang was already used to trampling all Wang Laoshuan, so how could she let things rest? She did not give a damn and started cursing and swearing in even more unpleasantnguage. Alright. Vige Chief, please prepare the divorce documents! Wang Laoshuan finally said after enduring for a while. With these words, the ce went silent. Oh gosh! You goddamn Wang Laoshuan! Are you trying to drive me to my death? Then, Aunt Wang changed tack and started wailing again. Wang Laoshuans expression changed instantly. Just as he was about to change his mind, he was pulled back by his mother. Vige Chief, quickly prepare the divorce documents! Just state that this Madam Qian disrespected her husband and mother-inw, abused her daughter, and wanted to sell her. Once the documents are ready, my eldest son and I will sign them immediately! Old Grandma Wang said to the vige chief anxiously. The vige chief looked at Wang Laoshuan. Are you sure? he asked. This matter of divorcing a wife had never once happened in Brook Falls Vige during his fathers term as the vige chief, much less during his term now. Although this woman Madam Qian was a shrew and very vicious, the vige chief was actually a little reluctant to break the tradition in their Brook Falls Vige because of her. Wang Laoshuan hesitated. Big Brother At this moment, Wang Dashi spoke again. Wang Laoshuan raised his eyes to look at his second brother. A momentter, he finally nodded at the vige chief. Divorce her then, he said. At this juncture, even his own son didnt step forward to stop him. From this, it could be seen that everyone wanted him to divorce Madam Qian. Since that was the case, he would fulfill everyones wishes and divorce Madam Qian. The vige chiefs eyes flickered. Alright, he said eventually. Then, he remembered that the Song familys residence was next to the Wang familys, so he sent someone to borrow the writing materials from them. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li had just returned from the mountains and saw themotion. Mrs. Song, you came at the right time. The vige chief is going to help Uncle Laoshuan to write the divorce documents and asked me to borrow the writing materials from your ce. A young man walked out of the crowd and said to Qin Xiaoyao when he saw her. Qin Xiaoyao got a shock at first. ... She then replied, Alright. Come back with me to get them. Then, as they walked to her home, she asked what had happened. Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised when she learned about the farce that had happened in the Wang family, but she was not really affected by it. On the other hand, Big Girl Li sympathized deeply with Wang Xiaomei. She kept saying that Wang Xiaomei was so pitiful. After returning to the Song familys residence, Qin Xiaoyao found a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone and handed them to the young man. After that, she prepared to continue with her work. Much to her surprise, Big Girl Li dragged her over to the Wang familys ce to watch the drama. It was not just Big Girl Li. Even Madam Liu and Song Yun also tagged along. Thus, the three of them squeezed into the crowd under Big Girl Lis lead. They saw Aunt Wang struggling under her sons hands like a lunatic, cursing and swearing vehemently non-stop. However, the people around them did not seem to have noticed it. They were watching the spectacle with great interest, and it began to rouse Qin Xiaoyaos interest too. Before long, the vige chief had prepared two sets of divorce documents. ... Following that, Old Grandma Wang and Wang Laoshuan each pressed their thumbprints on the two sets of divorce documents. After that, the vige chief got someone to make Aunt Wang press her thumbprint on the documents too. Naturally, Aunt Wang was uncooperative. In the end, it was Wang Dashi who, together with the vigers help, managed to get Aunt Wangs thumbprint on those documents. Of the two sets of divorce documents, your Wang family keep one set. The other set is for the Qian family. The vige chief said after seeing that the procedures werepleted. No, Im not leaving! Even if I die, I will still die in your Wang family. I wont leave! Aunt Wang finally panicked and hugged her sons leg tightly. Dashan! Dashan, Im your biological mother! Are you just going to watch your grandma and father divorce me? Dashan, boo hoo hoo Wang Dashan frowned. Owing to his sense of filial piety, he couldnt kick away Aunt Wang, or rather, he should address her as Madam Qian now. He could only stand still without saying a word. Old Grandma Wang couldnt stand it anymore. She instructed Wang Dashi to pull Madam Qian away from her eldest grandsons feet. She then said, You can die if you want to! Just aim well and hit your head there! If you die, our Wang family doesnt mind going through a little hardship to carry your body back to the Qian family! Madam Qian looked in the direction that Old Grandma Wang was pointing at. When she saw that it was a stone block, her expression changed. She didnt really want to die, so how could she go that way? Thus, after being pulled away, Madam Qian ran toward Wang Laoshuan. She was ready to pester the simple-minded man. To her surprise, Wang Dashi appeared again and blocked her from getting to Wang Laoshuan. Madam Qians heart was dead set, and she couldnt care less anymore. She simply grabbed Wang Dashis leg instead and wailed. Second Brother, Second Brother! I beg you to give me a chance! I cant be divorced! I cant be divorced! Her cries were quite miserable. Chapter 118 - 118 Chapter 118: Must Settle It By Today 118 Chapter 118: Must Settle It By Today It was a sharp contrast to her tyrannical attitude from before. Wang Dashi frowned and wanted to shake off this unbing pestering from Madam Qian. However, Madam Qian held on to him tightly and refused to let go. The vigers around them started pointing and gossiping, which made Wang Dashi even more irritated. Ahem I dont give a hoot about your Wang familys drama! Zhang Mazi suddenly spoke up. Even though Madam Qian has been repudiated by your Wang family, the indenture that she had made which was signed by Wang Xiaomei, is still valid. How is your Wang family going to resolve this matter? As he spoke, he looked at Wang Laoshuan. Wang Laoshuans expression changed drastically, and he subconsciously looked at his second brother and mother. He was someone who didnt have his own opinion. He divorced Madam Qian today because he was forced to by his mother and second brother. Otherwise, he would not have had such courage. Go to whoever received your silver! Old Grandma Wang said straightaway. After she finished speaking, she looked at Madam Qian with furious resentment. Thats right! The money was taken away by this woman. If you want the money, go to her! Wang Dashi added. Zhang Mazis face instantly darkened. Get it from her? Hmph! Shes not the one who signed a contract with me. Its your familys Wang Xiaomei! If you dont give me money, then give me the girl! As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Wang Xiaomei. Wang Xiaomei began trembling at once and hid behind Wang Dashan. Wang Dashan quickly blocked his sister from Zhang Mazis sight. Just as he was about to ask Zhang Mazi to give him a few more days, Madam Qian suddenly spoke. Ill return it Ill go back to my parents house and get the money back! But you have to take back the divorce documents! Boo hoo hoo Im a member of the Wang family in life and in death. Ill never leave the Wang family! Boo hoo hoo Madam Qian cried loudly. She had no other way out now that things had progressed to this point. If she was really divorced, she would have to return to the Qian family. Her parents were no longer around, and her brother and sister-inw might not ept her. Moreover, she was already at such an advanced age. She had given birth to the Wang familys children. She had also raised her son into an adult and was about to be a grandmother. If she were to be divorced now, wouldnt all the suffering she had gone through before be in vain? Upon hearing these words, Old Grandma Wang did not reprimand Madam Qian this time. Wang Dashi also chose to remain silent. The Wang family definitely had to get the ten taels of silver back somehow. As for Madam Qian, when she had gotten the money back, wouldnt they be the ones to decide how to deal with her? Fine! If you can get the silver back, then you can continue to stay in the Wang family. Old Grandma Wang finally relented. But if you cant get it back Old Grandma Wangs voice turned ominous. Then donte back! And our Wang family will personally go to your family and ask for it! Madam Qians body shrank back. I will get it back! I will definitely get it back! she hurriedly said. Old Grandma Wangs face was full of disdain. Then what are you waiting for? Get lost now! Go and get the money back! she said sternly. Madam Qians body trembled momentarily. She looked up at Old Grandma Wang and wanted to say that it was alreadyte and that she would leave tomorrow. However, seeing that everyone was looking at her angrily and Zhang Mazi was pressing them aggressively, she didnt dare to say anything. Alright. Ill go! Ill go back to my parents ce now to get the money! Hence, she said as she cried. Thereafter, she stood up and nced at Wang Laoshuan and her son, Wang Dashan, before turning around and leaving. Bah! Old Grandma Wang was still furious as she watched. She spat on the ground behind Madam Qians departing figure. She simply hated Madam Qian to the core. Go back to where you came from. Madam Qian has already gone back to get the money. Once we get the money back, our Wang family will return it to you. Old Grandma Wang quickly turned to look at Zhang Mazi. Zhang Mazis face, however, turned very dark. No! Were all here today, so either you return the money or give me the girl! Hmph! Lets not even talk about whether that Madam Qian can get the money back. Even if she can, I dont trust your Wang family. As he spoke, Zhang Mazi turned his gaze to Wang Laoshuan. After all, the indenture doesnt only have Madam Qians thumbprint! he said somewhat sarcastically. Wang Laoshuan immediately avoided his gaze. Indeed, it was not just Madam Qian. He had also signed his thumbprint on his daughters indenture. Although he was forced by Madam Qian, but As he felt his daughter and sons stare boring into him at the same time, Wang Laoshuan wanted to bury his head in the ground. Old Grandma Wang and Wang Dashi also stared at Wang Laoshuan in shock. They didnt expect Wang Laoshuan to do such a thing as well. Vige Chief Li, since youvee forward, I must ask you to uphold justice and settle this matter today. If things dont work out, I can only take the indenture and go to the towns brothel to exchange for silver. At that point, dont me me for being ruthless! ... Dont you dare Wang Dashan immediately yelled out when he felt Wang Xiaomei tugging at him. The surrounding vigers also began to discuss among themselves. They felt that Zhang Mazi was pushing the other party too far. However, there were also quite a few people who could understand Zhang Mazis point of view. The Wang familys matter might very well turn into a bad debt. If Zhang Mazi didnt act ruthlessly, he might not be able to get back the ten taels of silver. Hmph! Your Wang family is just so despicable! You refuse to return the money and are still being unreasonable! As he spoke, Zhang Mazi looked at the vige chief. Or are all the people in Brook Falls Vige this despicable? Upon hearing these words, the vige chiefs face immediately darkened. The surrounding vigers also became furious. They were angry that Zhang Mazi had scolded them in tandem with the Wang family. They were even more angry that the Wang family had dragged the reputation of the entire vige through the mud. ... Alright. Then well settle the matter between your two families today. The vige chief said in a solemn voice. The Wang family was indeed in the wrong in this matter, and Zhang Mazi had some connections with the town official. If this matter was not handled well, he was afraid he would not only offend the town official but it might also affect the reputation of the entire Brook Falls Vige. Vige Chief Old Grandma Wang frantically called out to the vige chief. However, the vige chief only nced at her indifferently. Although Madam Qian hasnt gotten the money back yet, its impossible for your Wang family not to have money. You guys think of ways to gather the money to return them! After Madam Qian gets the money back, she can return it to you! The vige chief said in a solemn voice. His gaze turned to Wang Laoshuan and Wang Dashi. The two of them stiffened and did not say anything. Seeing this, Wang Dashan rushed to the two of them. He grabbed Wang Laoshuans arm and asked, Father, how much money do we have at home? Wang Laoshuan withdrew like a turtle. After a long while, he raised his head and looked at his son. In the end, he uttered these words, We have no money. Wang Dashans expression changed drastically. How can you not have money? Didnt you and Mother save up some money after so many years? And wheres the money that I brought back from working in town? Ive given it all to you. Where did the money go? He grabbed Wang Laoshans arm and asked urgently. At this moment, Wang Dashan was really panicking. He suspected they didnt have much money at home, but it was impossible that they didnt have any at all! If that was the case, how was their family going toe up with those ten taels of silver! We really have no money, Wang Laoshuan said with a pained expression. Your mother brought all the money to the Qian family. It was not just the ten taels of silver but also the money to buy gifts and to thank the matchmaker. She spent quite a bit. At this point, Wang Laoshuans face was thoroughly contorted with guilt. Chapter 119 - 119 Looking for her help? 119 Looking for her help? Chapter 119: Asking Her For Help? Previously, when Madam Qian told him this, he didnt feel that what she was doing was wrong. However, now that he saw his son in this state, he felt he had made a huge mistake by allowing Madam Qian to do what she did! When the vigers heard this, they all began whispering and gossiping. !! What? In addition to the betrothal gift of ten taels of silver, she also gave extra money to buy gifts and thank the matchmaker? Didnt Madam Qian say the other party was a daughter from her maiden family? To whom did she give the money to thank the matchmaker? She had even emptied out her entire familys fortune, so she must have given out a lot! Wang Dashan took a step back and staggered, almost losing his bnce. Brother Thankfully, Wang Xiaomei came in time to help him up and bring him back to his senses. Wang Dashan quickly suppressed the fear in his heart and turned to look at Wang Dashi. Second Uncle, can you Before he could finish speaking, a voice rang out from the crowd. The Second Sons household doesnt have any money! It was Wang Dashis wife, Madam Zhao. Madam Zhao hurriedly squeezed through the crowd and looked at Wang Laoshuan. Eldest Brother, you did not take care of Mother all these years. Mother ate and lived in the second sons household, but we have never said anything. But this matter was caused by you, the eldest sons household. Moreover, it is a princely sum of ten taels of silver! Lets not talk about the fact that our second sons household cant even cough up these ten taels of silver. Even if we can, I wont agree to fill this hole for your family! Upon hearing this, Wang Laoshuan could not lift his head. Wang Dashi hurriedly looked at his wife. What are you saying? he said angrily. Im being serious! Madam Zhao replied immediately. Everyone can see this with their own eyes. Even though Madam Qian has returned to the Qian family, given their moral integrity, what is the probability of getting the money back? If she cant get it back, their family cant return the money. What will our family do if you lend the money and cant get it back? Madam Zhao red at Wang Dashi angrily. Seeing that Wang Dashi was about to speak, Madam Zhao continued, Right now, is your niece more important or the three of us? Wang Dashi, you better think it through! Wang Dashi was stunned. Following that, he became furious. Just as he was about to reprimand his wife, Madam Zhao suddenly raised her voice. Ill make it clear today. If you dare to take out the familys money, we wont stay here anymore! Didnt your Wang family already have one divorce today? Next, you can divorce me as well! Even if you dont divorce me, Ill also separate from you! I refuse to lead this kind of life anymore! After saying this, Madam Zhao turned around and left. Oh gosh! What a sin! Old Grandma Wang quickly came back to her senses and started to wail while pping her thigh. Seeing that her second son was still standing in the same ce in a daze, she quickly shouted to her second son, Why are you still standing there? Go after your wife! Making Madam Qian divorce her eldest son was what Madam Qian deserved, but how could she let Madam Zhao divorce her second son as well? Moreover, Madam Zhao was fairly respectful to her and was also diligent. If her second son were to divorce such a daughter-inw, where else could her second son find another one like her? This matter in the eldest sons family indeed had nothing to do with the second sons household. As a mother, if she didnt handle it properly this time and offended the second sons household, she might not have a good end in the future. Alright! Wang Dashi quickly responded and went after Madam Zhao. The gawking vigers were abuzz with excitement again. Wang Dashan did not stop Wang Dashi from leaving. This was because he could not refute his second aunts words. However, now that his second uncle was gone, what should he do? Wang Dashans gaze swept across the faces of the vigers one by one. When their eyes met, most of the vigers quickly averted their eyes. Even the Wang family themselves didnt believe they could retrieve the money that had been given out, let alone outsiders like them. Suddenly, Wang Dashans legs buckled, and he knelt down in front of the vigers. Then, he solemnly kowtowed to the crowd twice. Uncles, aunts, and elders, I beg you to help our Wang family! Im begging you! Wang Dashan cried. When Wang Xiaomei saw this, she quickly knelt down beside Wang Dashan as well and begged the vigers for help. When they saw the two children kowtow, the vigers were somewhat moved. However, no one stepped forward to help. After all, the chances of not getting the money back were too high. Furthermore, what the Wang family owed was ten taels of silver. Such arge sum of money could not be gathered so readily. When she saw Wang Xiaomei continuously bowing her head to the ground, Big Girl Li couldnt bear to watch anymore. Madam Liu and Song Yun also turned their heads away. This girl Wang Xiaomei was really too pitiful. ... Qin Xiaoyao, however, didnt move. She simply continued to look at the siblings kowtowing to the crowd. Her expression didnt change either. Looking at the situation, Wang Xiaomei would most likely have to go to the Zhang family. In fact, she felt that Zhang Mazi wasnt a bad person. If Wang Xiaomei really went to the Zhang family, the situation might not be as bad as everyone thought. Wang Laoshuan looked at his son and daughter, who were kowtowing non-stop and finally started weeping. Tears streamed down his face as he became overwhelmed by remorse. Unfortunately, it was toote to regret it now Just as he was hesitating whether he should go over and beg the vigers with the two children, the vige chief spoke. Thats enough. Upon hearing his words, the brother and sister stopped and looked at the vige chief. The vige chief frowned and looked at the siblings. ... Since you cant cough up the money, then lets think of other ways. Zhang Mazi was stunned. What other way? Either you give me the girl today, or you return the money! he immediately said. The siblings might be pitiful, but he was even more pitiful! The vige chief shot Zhang Mazi a nce, and Zhang Mazi immediately shut up. Following that, he turned his eyes to Qin Xiaoyao. Then, he opened his mouth and said, Eldest Son Songs family. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned when she saw everyone looking at her. Yes, Vige Chief? Immediately, she replied politely to the vige chief. Youve seen the Wang familys situation. Right now, in our vige, the only one who has the ability to take out ten taels of silver to help these two siblings withoutnding the whole household in disarray is probably your family. Qin Xiaoyao frowned when she saw Wang Dashan and Wang Xiaomei looking at her. Just as she was about to refuse, she heard the vige chief speak again, I wont let you help for nothing, though. If you are willing to take out ten taels of silver, Wang Xiaomeis indenture will be handed over to you. After that, if the Wang family cant return you ten taels of silver and 100 copper coins as a token of appreciation within five days, then well consider Wang Xiaomei sold to your family. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked when she heard his words. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt the only one who was shocked. The Wang family and the vigers were all equally shocked. This seemed to be a good way to deal with this matter. The Song family had earned a lot of money and even bought a courtyard dwelling in town. They would definitely be able to fork out ten taels of silver. Although they were going to move soon, the Song family had lived in Brook Falls Vige for many years, and they knew this vige inside out. Furthermore, the address of their new home was not far away. It was in the nearby town. Even if the Wang family couldnt gather enough money to redeem her in five days, they would have the opportunity to do so in the future. Moreover, there was a high chance that the families would meet again in the future. When Wang Xiaomei heard this, she was stunned at first, and then she turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Thereafter, she crawled on her knees over to Qin Xiaoyao. Im willing to go with Mrs. Song, whether as a ve or a maid! Mrs. Song, I beg you to help me! After she finished speaking, she kowtowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Chapter 120 - 120 Chapter 120: Buying An Indenture? 120 Chapter 120: Buying An Indenture? After todays incident, the Zhang family had already been thoroughly offended by her family. Even if she went to the Zhang family, she would not have a good oue. Besides, Wang Xiaomei didnt want to marry a retarded guy and ruin her life. She could clearly see that it was impossible for her family to borrow any money in the current situation. The only person who could save her now was the person in front of her. Moreover, she genuinely wanted to leave with the person in front of her. Mrs. Song was a capable person, a truly capable person. She had seen with her own eyes how she had supported and propped up the Song family and helped the Liu family earn a lot of money. She also knew that everyone in the Song family was a good person. If she followed such a family, even if she were to be a servant, her days would not be difficult. Furthermore, if she went to the Song family, her big brother would know her whereabouts and have a chance to redeem her. Even if he couldnt gather ten taels of silver in five days, he would still have another chance in the future. She felt safe staying with the Song family, and she didnt mind waiting. Seeing this, Wang Dashan also crawled over on his knees. He begged Qin Xiaoyao to pay to redeem Wang Xiaomeis indenture temporarily. Compared to sending his sister to the Zhang family, he would rather his sister go to the Song family. At least there was no idiot in the Song family forcing his sister to get married. And he would still have a chance to redeem his sisterter. The vigers began discussing heatedly among themselves, hoping that Qin Xiaoyao would agree to this. Everyone, including Big Girl Li, Madam Liu and Song Yun, all turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao simply frowned. Buying a person? Well, it seemed that she was indeedcking a helper. However, was it really good to have a stranger in the house? Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos reaction, Big Girl Li knew that her Sister Sanya was tempted. She couldnt resist tugging on Qin Xiaoyaos sleeve. She whispered to Qin Xiaoyao, Didnt you say that youre going to tell Aunt to stop weaving straw sandals? Its good to buy a person back to make straw sandals! Also, as we agreed before, well split up and set up our stalls separately! With more people, we can go to the market on North Street to reserve a spot in advance. In addition, Wang Xiaomei is a good worker. With her around, Aunt and Yuner will have a much easier time. This was true. As the two elders of the Wang family valued boys more than girls, they often loaded her with all the chores. Even though she was only twelve years old, this girl was famous in the vige for her diligence. When Wang Xiaomei heard Big Girl Li speaking up for her, she quickly added, Mrs. Song, I can take hardships! Washing clothes, cooking, sweeping the floor, washing the dishes, and doing chores in the fields, I can do them all! I beg you. Please take me in! As she spoke, she kowtowed to Qin Xiaoyao once more. Sanya Even Madam Liu couldnt help but call out to her daughter-inw, her eyes full of pity. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head to nce at her mother-inw. Finally, she nodded helplessly. Some of the vigers immediately thanked Qin Xiaoyao on behalf of the Wang family when they saw her response. When the kneeling Wang Xiaomei and Wang Dashan saw Qin Xiaoyaos response, they kowtowed to Qin Xiaoyao again to thank her. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled and asked the two of them to get up. When the two of them got up, she then said, I can forgo the 100 copper coins token of appreciation. If you guys can gather enough money within five days, you cane to my house and take her away. Since she had decided to be a good person, she might as well take it one step further. It could also be considered as giving the Song family a good reputation. After all, her father-inws grave was still in Brook Falls Vige. In the future, they would still have to return to this ce. Wang Dashans face lit up with joy. Just as he was about to thank Qin Xiaoyao again, he heard Qin Xiaoyao say, But once the five days have passed, it wont be so easy for you guys to redeem her. As soon as these words came out, the whole ce fell silent instantly. Qin Xiaoyao didnt take notice. She simply smiled and continued, For the next five days, Ill treat Xiaomei as the neighbors sister. After five days, she can only be considered a servant. Everyone knows that the Song family is engaged in the craft of weaving straw sandals. In order to make money, Ill definitely teach Xiaomei how to weave straw sandals. And its not just straw sandals. Once Xiaomei bes a member of my family, I might even hand over some business for her to manage. At that time, her value to my family will be different. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Wang Dashan. In that case, ten taels of silver wont be enough to redeem her. Wang Dashan, who was initially very angry, instantly felt deted. This was because he couldnt argue against what Qin Xiaoyao said. In fact, he still had to thank Qin Xiaoyao for trusting his sister, teaching her craftwork, and even letting her help with the business. One had to know that such a good opportunity was something that ordinary people could not even get, no matter how hard they wished for it. Being a ve might not be good, but it also depended on what kind of ve that person became. Some servants from rich families with real power lived better than most free people. For example, the innkeeper of the inn he was working at was also a ve. However, he was deeply trusted by the boss and had dealings with the local gentry andndlords. How could he look down on such an innkeeper? On the contrary, he couldnt wait to show his respect to him. ... Therefore, if his younger sister could really gain the favor of Mrs. Song, it might be a good opportunity for his younger sister. When the vigers heard this, many of their expressions changed. They had witnessed the Song familys rise to riches with their own eyes. If Wang Xiaomei was really regarded highly, this was no longer bad luck for her. It was clearly good fortune! Those who had sympathized with Wang Xiaomei previously were now envious of her. Xiaomei is willing to follow Mistress! All of a sudden, Wang Xiaomei kowtowed to Qin Xiaoyao in excitement. She even changed the way she addressed Qin Xiaoyao from Mrs. Song to Mistress. Clearly, she couldnt wait to take on the role of a servant. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered slightly. She thought to herself, This girl is quite smart. The vigers began a heated discussion again. Ahem If thats the case, then this matter is settled, the vige chief suddenly interjected. ... Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She reached out to help Wang Xiaomei to her feet. I I didnt agree to ten taels of silver! Theres still the money for the banquet! Zhang Mazi came back to his senses and quickly said. It was good that someone had bought the indenture. However, since this person had money, why not pay more? The vige chiefs face darkened. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Qin Xiaoyao speak. The banquet has nothing to do with me. Ill only pay ten taels of silver to buy the indenture. Even if you go to a brothel, the brothel madam wont pay you for the banquet either. Zhang Mazis face froze. But No buts. Ten taels of silver is more than enough to buy a twelve-year-old girl. Im only willing to pay ten taels on ount of the fact that Xiaomei is my neighbor. Otherwise, even if its just seven or eight taels, Im not interested, Qin Xiaoyao said indifferently. You can think over this matter. If you are not agreeable, then forget about what I just said. The Wang siblings expressions changed drastically, but they dared not speak. Zhang Mazis expression also changed. In the current situation, if the fat woman did not step forward, no one in Brook Falls Vige would be willing to buy the indenture in his hands. Even if he were to be really ruthless and really sell Wang Xiaomei to a brothel, he probably wouldnt be able to sell her for ten taels of silver. Inparison, selling the indenture to the fat woman for ten silver taels was still the best choice. Alright. I can sell you the indenture for ten taels of silver. But the money for the banquet must be paid by the Wang family! Zhang Mazi quickly said. Chapter 121 - 121 Chapter 121: Uncompassionate 121 Chapter 121: Upassionate Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Youll have to talk to the Wang family about that, she said indifferently. Did they get the wrong person? She had only agreed to buy the indenture. Anything else had nothing to do with her. Zhang Mazi was stunned. He felt like he had been checkmated by Qin Xiaoyao. !! However, what she said made sense. Therefore, even though he was a little upset, he didnt continue to pester Qin Xiaoyao. Instead, he turned to look at the Wang family. If Madam Qian and Wang Laoshuan had not agreed to allow Wang Xiaomei to marry into my family, my family would not have held this banquet. Now that the marriage is canceled, you have to pay for the banquet! Knowing that Wang Laoshuan could not make the decision, Zhang Mazi looked directly at Wang Dashan. Wang Dashan was furious. He didnt want to pay the money. However, he couldnt think of anything to refute him. Helplessly, he could only look at the vige chief. He hoped that the vige chief could help his family solve this problem. The vige chief frowned and spoke quickly. Although Wang Laoshuan and Madam Qian knew about this beforehand, Wang Dashan did not. No one in our Brook Falls Vige knows about it. The loss caused by the wedding banquet is indeed rted to the Wang family, but its not like your Zhang family ispletely free of responsibility. Moreover, all the items at the banquet were being used by your Zhang family. The Wang family didnt get a single share. Its unreasonable for the Wang family to bear all the responsibility. Zhang Mazi didnt reply. He knew in his heart that it was impossible for him to force the Wang family to bear the full cost. Now, Vige Chief Lis intention was to let the Wang family bear a part of the responsibility, and he was agreeable. It was true that he had suffered some losses in this mess today. However, the Wang family divorced Madam Qian because of this matter, which could be considered their retribution. Therefore, it was better to end this matter here. How about this? The Wang family willpensate 200 copper coins for the banquet, and we can close this matter, the vige chief said after some thought. Zhang Mazis expression changed drastically. No way! At least one tael of silver! My family spent three taels on the banquet! In truth, it was only a little over two taels, but at this moment, of course he had to put in a higher price. When Wang Dashan heard this, he was about to step forward, but was pulled back by Wang Xiaomei. The vige chief said sternly and righteously. Ill only offer 200 copper coins as an apology. What does your family holding a banquet have to do with the Wang family? Wang Laoshuan and Madam Qian did agree to this marriage, but they didnt ask your family to make it such a grand affair, right? You cant me this on the Wang family. Thats right. They are just selling their daughter. They didnt ask for a grand wedding one of the vigers said. You wanted to make yourself look good. Who can you me? He just wants to show off. To show off that he got a capable wife for his retarded son The vigers started pointing and criticizing Zhang Mazi. Zhang Mazi was extremely annoyed when he heard them. He knew that the vige chief was biased towards his own vige, and there would be no change in the oue even if he continued to argue, so he finally agreed angrily. Fine! Then 200 copper coins it is. Give me the money and well leave at once! Wang Dashan finally heaved a sigh of relief. However, immediately after, he became nervous again. His family did not even have any money, much less 200 copper coins. At the thought of this, Wang Dashan could not help but look at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao simply ignored him and pretended she did not see. She had no interest in lending money to the Wang family. The vige chief also noticed this situation. He sighed and said to his youngest son, Go. Go home and look for your mother to get 200 copper coins. Yes! The youngest son nced at Wang Dashan and left in a hurry. Thank you, Uncle Vige Chief! Wang Dashan quickly went forward to thank him. Enough! The vige chief waved his hand. This matter is considered closed. Live well in the future. As he spoke, he looked at Wang Laoshuan. Yes! Wang Laoshuan and his son quickly replied. Seeing that the money issue was settled, Zhang Mazi finally agreed to the deal with Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao then went home to get the silver. After a while, she returned with the silver and gave it to Zhang Mazi, whereupon she received Wang Xiaomeis indenture. Zhang Mazi then epted another 200 copper coins from the vige chief before leaving with his men. This farce finally came to a close. The vigers consoled Wang Dashan and Wang Xiaomei and gradually dispersed. Qin Xiaoyao and the others were thest ones left. Take these two days to pack up. Well move first thing in the morning the day after. When the timees, youlle with us. Qin Xiaoyao said to Wang Xiaomei. Okay! Wang Xiaomei quickly nodded. Wang Dashan looked at Qin Xiaoyao anxiously. ... I Ille and help out! he said. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Wang Dashan. She knew that he was trying to ascertain where they were moving to. She didnt refuse and nodded. Alright, she said. After that, Qin Xiaoyao listened to her mother-inw and Big Girl Lifort Wang Xiaomei for a while before bringing them back to the Song familys residence. It was only during dinner that Song Que found out that his family had bought a person. Song Que did not say anything about this at that time. However, after Qin Xiaoyao finished washing up and went to bed, Song Que spoke up. Its not a good thing to have another person in the house. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. It is indeed a little inconvenient. But Im stillcking a helper in my business. Furthermore, if Xiaomeies to our home, she can help Mother and Yuner with some chores. ... Song Que remained silent. Then we have to go to the government office to file an application. And dont let here into contact with the Wang family so often, he added after a moment. Qin Xiaoyao was a little shocked to hear this. It turned out that she was not the only one who was upassionate. Her husband was even more upassionate than her. Alright, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Only then did Song Que rx a little. After lying down, he said, Lets continue with Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile, Alright. She realized that her attractive husbands fondness for Romance of the Three Kingdoms far exceeded that of Journey to the West. Previously, when she told him the tale of Journey to the West, there were times when he didnt want to listen to it. However, ever since he started listening to Romance of the Three Kingdoms, she had never stopped telling the tale every night. Finally, it was the day to move. Early in the morning, Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li pushed the handcart to the Song family to help. Wang Dashan had also arrived at the Song familys residence early in the morning with Wang Laoshuan and Wang Xiaomei. Qin Xiaoyao loaded the goods that were to be delivered to town onto her handcart, and the other two handcarts were filled with the things they needed to move to their new home. Coupled with the apanying people carrying more stuff on their backs or shoulders, they eventually managed to carry all the things they wanted to bring to their new home. Just like that, this group of people left the vige in a grand manner. Many people saw their procession and congratted the Song family. Some even asked for the Song familys new address. Qin Xiaoyao didnt hide anything. She told them the new address and even politely invited the vigers to her house. Of course, everyone only listened to her invitation. No one would really be so thick-skinned as to go to their new house to look for them. In Brook Falls Vige, the topic that the vigers talked about most often was the Song family. All the vigers were full of envy At the town gate, Qin Xiaoyao paid a big sum of entrance fees before leading everyone in. After entering the town, Qin Xiaoyao had to deliver the goods to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant, so Song Que gave the directions and led everyone to their new home. When they entered the courtyard of the Song familys new home, Liu Daniu and the Wang family were all shocked. Liu Daniu was still not too bad. Even though it was his first time here, he had already heard Big Girl Lis description and was mentally prepared. He already knew that the Song familys new courtyard dwelling was huge. The Wang family members however, were genuinely shocked into speechlessness. Chapter 122 - 122 Chapter 122: Moving Into A New House 122 Chapter 122: Moving Into A New House They knew that the Song family had bought a courtyard dwelling in town, but they assumed it was just a small courtyard house close to the illegal construction area. Much to their surprise, this courtyard dwelling was not only two streets away from the illegal construction area but was also so big! There were also many rooms, and there was a well in the courtyard. They could set aside somend to nt crops. How much is this dwelling worth? Wang Laoshuan could not help but ask. !! Madam Liu smiled. Including the subsequent purchases for interior fittings, it should be around 250 taels of silver in total. Her daughter-inw had told her that she spent 230 taels to buy the courtyard dwelling. After that, the broker collected some processing fees, and some taxes had to be paid to the government office. In addition to the things Qin Xiaoyao had bought for their home, she had spent almost that much money. Everyone was shocked. Two 250 taels? Wang Laoshuans eyes almost popped out. He didnt even dare to think about such arge sum of silver. Madam Liu smiled and did not say anything more. She turned to look at Wang Xiaomei. You can stay in that room for the time being. Put your things in there first! Wang Xiaomei was a little scared. However, she still replied hurriedly, Yes! Following that, she took her luggage and walked to the room Madam Liu had pointed to. Wang Laoshuan and Wang Dashan looked at each other and then quickly took the girls belongings and followed her. They thought they would help the Song family unpackter. Now they wanted to see what kind of environment their daughter and sister would be staying in. In the end, when they entered the room, the three of them were stunned. This room was really big! It was even bigger than the main house of the Wang family where Wang Laoshuan and Madam Qian stayed in. Not only was there a bed, but there was also a wardrobe, a dressing table, and a small desk. The bedding on the bed was brand new, and there was a bronze mirror and a fine-toothedb on the dressing table. Is this really a room for servants? Wang Dashan could not help but ask. Gosh! Even if its a youngdy from a rich family, her house is probably just like this! Wang Laoshuan replied excitedly. Oh, Xiaomei! You will enjoy a good life now that you are following the Song family! As he said this, Wang Laoshuan looked at his daughter. Wang Xiaomei was initially very pleasantly surprised, but when she heard Wang Laoshuans words, her expression immediately stiffened. Upon seeing this, Wang Dashan nced at his father. Wang Laoshuan looked away awkwardly. At this point, Wang Dashan stepped forward and patted Wang Xiaomei on the shoulder. Aunt Song and Mrs. Song are good people. They wont treat you badly. Now that Ive seen this house, your Big Brother feels even more at ease. From now on, you should stay and wait in the Song family. Big Brother will definitely go to the Qian family to get the money back and redeem you! A hint of gratitude shed across Wang Xiaomeis eyes. Mm-hmm! she quickly answered. Although she didnt want to go back to the Wang family, she also felt that there was a high chance that she wouldnt be able to. However, when she heard her brothers words, she felt more at ease. When Wang Laoshuan heard this, he wanted to rebuke his son. The Song familys courtyard dwelling was so big, and the room for his daughter was so good. His daughter wouldnt suffer here, so why would he take her back? Not only would he make his daughter suffer, but he would also have to give up ten taels of silver. It was not worth it at all. However, Wang Laoshuan only thought about it inwardly and did not dare to refute his son outwardly. Anyway, he had not gotten the money back yet. He would wait until he went to the Qian family and got the money back before talking further. Alright. I dont have much to tidy up here. Lets quickly go out and help. They are moving today. Im afraid there will be guestsingter, Wang Xiaomei quickly replied. Right! Wang Dashan responded. He walked towards the door. When he turned around, he even red at his father, who had a reluctant look in his eyes. Wang Laoshuan could only retract his gaze and quickly followed his son. Thereafter, the family of three returned to the courtyard and started to help out. It was easier to get things down with more people. Madam Liu directed the rest of the people to get on with various tasks, and it didnt take long for all the things they had brought from their old home to be put in ce. Following that, Madam Liu arranged for Liu Daniu to bring Wang Dashan and Wang Laoshuan to hang red paper and red silk banners. The courtyard quickly took on a festive look. Alright. Just leave the house to Yuner and me. Aunt, you can take Xiaomei to go buy groceries, Big Girl Lipleted her tasks and said to Madam Liu. Uncle Qin and the others will being over at noon, so you have to prepare lunch early. ... Thats right. Then Ill leave with Xiaomei! Madam Liu replied. With that, she turned around to look for Wang Xiaomei. After that, she had Wang Xiaomei carry the bamboo backpack on her back and led her out of the house. As they left, they passed by Wang Dashan and Wang Laoshuan sticking red paper banners at the entrance of the courtyard. Wang Dashan was still civil, and he greeted Madam Liu warmly when he saw Wang Xiaomei walking out with the bamboo backpack on her back. Wang Laoshuans expression was somewhat gloomy. It was only when they were far away that Wang Dashan realized something was wrong and asked his father what was wrong. Weve agreed before that your little sister will only be a ve after five days. Its only the third day, and they are already ordering her around, Wang Laoshuan said with dissatisfaction. Wang Dashans face darkened at once when he heard that. They only asked her to carry a bamboo backpack to buy groceries. You call that ordering her around? He immediately shot back at Wang Laoshuan. Then what about those times when you and Mother forced Xiaomei to do theundry, cook, and go to the fields every day? ... Wang Laoshuans face froze. Wang Dashan did not stop and continued, The Song family is kind enough to help. Now theyre taking in Xiaomei. If she is not allowed to do this or that, then whats the point of taking her in? To worship her like an ancestor? Wang Laoshuan had no answer. Hmph! Now you know how to treasure Xiaomei. Why didnt I see you treasure your daughter before? Wang Dashan muttered again. Wang Laoshuan felt a lump in his heart, but he had no way to refute his son. Madam Liu took Wang Xiaomei to the market on West Street. Then, she told Wang Xiaomei about the situation in the market on West Street as she bought some vegetables. Wang Xiaomei rarely went into town. Seeing such a bustling market, she was a little unused to it. She followed Madam Liu closely, afraid that she would get lost. Fortunately, Madam Liu was very patient and took care of Wang Xiaomei. This was why the two of them had a smooth journey. When they arrived at the meat stall, Madam Liu looked for Qin Dazhuang straightaway. After confirming with Qin Dazhuang that he had left all therd for her, she asked for another four catties of fatty meat and three catties of streaky pork from Qin Dazhuang. Theres a lot ofrd this time, about 30 catties. Ill send it to your house when I close the stallter! Qin Dazhuang raised his voice and said with a smile to Madam Liu. Great! Father Qin, you must close up earlier today and not dy your lunch! Madam Liu responded with a smile. Hey! Dont worry! Ive already asked my wife and two daughters-inw to go to your house to help. If you go back now, theyll probably be there already! At that point, you can simply order them around! Madam Lius face lit up. Father Qin, youre so thoughtful! I was still worrying that I couldnt cope with the kitchen chores at home! Then Ill have to hurry and buy the groceries back, so Ill take my leave first! Alright! Qin Dazhuang smiled and agreed. Madam Liu smiled and left with Wang Xiaomei. When Wang Xiaomei heard that there were people going to the Song familys house to help with the cooking, she felt a little more at ease. At the same time, she had a premonition that there would be many guests at the Song familys house today, so she was a little worried. Madam Liu didnt think so much and continued to buy vegetables with Wang Xiaomei. Chapter 123 - 123 Chapter 123: Housewarming Banquet 123 Chapter 123: Housewarming Banquet In the end, they bought arge bamboo backpack full of groceries. Each of them still carried chickens and ducks in their hands before returning home. When they returned to the Song familys house, Madam Zhang and Qin Xiaoyaos two sisters-inw had indeed arrived. Qin Xiaoyao had alreadypleted her delivery to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant and returned. She was talking to the three people at this moment. Madam Zhang and Qin Xiaoyaos two sisters-inw were initially not on good terms with Qin Xiaoyao. If it werent for their husbands back home, they wouldnt even be willing toe. However, when they arrived and saw the Song familys new courtyard dwelling, the three of them changed their thinking. This courtyard dwelling was so much better than the Qin familys small courtyard house. Before this, they didnt believe what their husbands said about the Song family buying a luxurious courtyard dwelling. They felt that the men in the Qin family were just trying to make their daughter and sister look good. Only now did they realize that what their men back home said was true. The Song family had really made a fortune. The few women were a little jealous, but more than that, they felt very relieved. It was a good thing that the Song family was rich. That way, this sister-inw and step-daughter wouldnt have to return to the Qin family to ask for money. Moreover, since everyone would be living in town in the future, there might be a chance for them to help each other out. As such, Qin Xiaoyao realized that not only her two sisters-inw but even Madam Zhang was much more polite to her. Qin Xiaoyao was also happy to repair her rtionship with the three of them, and their rtionship soon developed to the point where they could talk andugh. Seeing that Madam Liu and Wang Xiaomei had returned, Qin Xiaoyao and the others quickly went to wee them. Oh my, Mother Song. Why did you buy so much stuff? Madam Zhang was the first to speak. Thats right. Its just a family meal today. Why did you buy so much? Quick! Let me take the chickens off your hands! The group of women went to the kitchen in a rowdy manner. In the courtyard, Liu Daniu and the others, who were helping to plow the ground to nt the Chinese Toon trees and the Chinese Toon nt cuttings, smiled when they saw this. It looked like the housewarming banquet at noon today would be especially sumptuous With the addition of the Qin familys mother and daughters-inw, as well as Big Girl Li, Wang Xiaomei, and Madam Liu, the kitchen had more than enough helpers. Qin Xiaoyao was quickly chased out of the kitchen and asked to entertain the guests. However, there were no guests to entertain, so Qin Xiaoyao became the most idle person. She ended up like an all-purpose tool, going wherever help was needed and lending her support. Amidst the womens noisy chatting and the sound of chopping vegetables and meat from the kitchen, waves of aroma finally drifted out of the kitchen. The men who were working in the courtyard, including Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu, all felt their strength drain when they smelled the foods aroma. One by one, they started to discuss the dishes they might get to eat for lunch. Liu Daniu and the Wang familys father and son were the most hungry. They had left early in the morning and did not eat much. After they arrived at the Song familys residence, they had been busy with work up till now. When they heard that there would be chicken, duck, and a lot of meat and vegetables for lunch, they couldnt help but swallow their saliva. They also couldnt stop looking in the direction of the kitchen. After a while, Qin Dazhuang finished his work and finally came over. He went to the kitchen and greeted Madam Liu and the rest. Without a word, Qin Dazhuang also joined the ranks of helping to prepare thend for cultivation. Then, he heard everyone singing his praises. In particr, Wang Laoshuan, who praised him for raising his daughter so well that Qin Xiaoyao became so capable. Qin Dazhuang was so happy to hear him that his heart was bursting with joy When it was almost noon, the kitchen folks finally finished preparing all the dishes. While the women were preparing to serve lunch, Qin Xiaoyao and Qin Dazhuang went out to light firecrackers. With the explosive sound of firecrackers, the Song familys house-moving ceremony was consideredplete. Qin Xiaoyao greeted all the neighbors who hade out to watch the show. She informed them they had just moved in today and that their family would visit themter. Back in the courtyard, the father and daughter went to the hall with beaming smiles. There were two tables set up in the hall. The men sat at one table, and the women sat at the other. It was very lively indeed. Song Que was obviously not used to such asions. Under the encouragement of his two brothers-inw, he drank a cup of wine with the crowd and did not drink anymore. Qin Dazhuang, on the other hand, took on the heavy responsibility of drinking with his son-inw. He kept drinking and kept urging him to drink. At the other table, the women were much quieter. Qin Xiaoyao was happy to let her father drink with the rest while she ate by herself. Todays meal was the most sumptuous she had ever had since she had transmigrated to this world. Not only was it sumptuous, but it was also plentiful. How could she not like it? The rest of the people also ate happily. Even in the Qin family that made a living by selling meat, such a big spread of food was extremely rare. ... In the Liu and Wang families, it was practically non-existent. As Wang Xiaomei ate, she felt as if she had almost swallowed her tongue. There were many dishes on the table, and almost all of them were meat dishes. There was also a wide spread of seasonings, and the dishes tasted extremely delicious. When she was in the Wang family, she didnt even get to eat this kind of food during the New Year. Wang Laoshuan and Wang Dashan, who were sitting at the next table, felt the same way. However, Wang Laoshuan was bent on pleasing Qin Dazhuang and had been drinking with him the whole time. He had not been able to eat much. On the other hand, Wang Dashan only had a few drinks with the Qin family before he started eating seriously. Firstly, he was famished after a busy morning, and secondly, it was rare for him to have such a meal, so his food craving kicked in. Liu Daniu also focused his attention on eating. He felt that it was a wise decision indeed toe to the Song familys ce to help out. After this meal, even if his family didnt eat meat for the next half a month, he wouldnt have anyints. ... After the meal, there was not much food left on the table because almost all the guests were big eaters. Qin Dazhuang was drunk and had to be carried back by Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu. Wang Laoshuan was also drunk. In the end, he was dragged onto the handcart and pushed back by Wang Dashan. Big Girl Li also climbed onto the handcart and let her man push her back to Brook Falls Vige. As soon as these people left, the courtyard dwelling became much quieter. After that, the Qin familys mother and daughters-inw helped to take the dishes back to the kitchen. They helped with the dishwashing before leaving the Song familys house. Qin Xiaoyao and Madam Liu sent them off at the door. It was not until they were far away that the mother-inw and daughter-inw looked at each other and heaved a sigh of relief. It wasnt easy to entertain so many people this morning. Back in the courtyard. Madam Liu returned to the kitchen and taught Wang Xiaomei to refinerd. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, went to clean up the courtyard, preparing to clear out the remaining wastnd. The Song family had officially started their life in town. In the evening, Qin Xiaoyao had finally finished plowing the wastnd. She watered the nted Chinese Toon trees and then sat down by the stone table to rest. Song Yun, with Song Ye tagging along, brought Qin Xiaoyao somerd scraps with sugar in it and spent the time chatting with their sister-inw. Mom asked us to bring somerd scraps and candy to give to our neighbors. She asked us to go with you, Sister-inw! Song Yun said to Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. Qin Xiaoyao agreed with a smile. Ask Mother toe along. As she said that, she stood up. Mom is going to make dinner, Song Ye chirped up. Its okay. Its not toote to make dinner when wee back! Qin Xiaoyao replied. She then walked towards the kitchen. Before long, Madam Liu was convinced toe out of the kitchen. Chapter 124 - 124 Chapter 124: Direct Gaze 124 Chapter 124: Direct Gaze Then, Qin Xiaoyao brought the three of them, one adult and two little ones, out of the courtyard. Wang Xiaomei watched the four of them walk away, a look of envy shing across her eyes. Then, she quickly returned to her senses and went to prepare dinner. After the four of them left the house, they knocked on each of their neighbors doors and visited all the neighbors in the alley. Of course, they didnt enter their premises. They only greeted everyone and got to know them. Some of the neighbors had seen the Song family before, while some were meeting them for the first time. They were very grateful to receive therd scraps and candy from their new neighbor, and some of them even returned the favor. Hence, when the four of them returned home, they were carrying a lot of things in their hands. Hehe! Aunt Sun from next door is too kind. Its good to be her neighbor, Madam Liu said happily. They gave each family the same thing, a bag ofrd scraps and a small bag of candy. Among them, their next-door neighbor, Aunt Sun, returned the most valuable gift. She actually gifted them ten chicken eggs. Moreover, Aunt Sun was about the same age as Madam Liu and treated Madam Liu very warmly. How could Madam Liu not be happy? Then we can get closer to the Sun family in the future. Didnt Aunt Sun also do embroidery? If you are free, you can go and visit them, Mother, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Your Aunt Sun said shesing over! Madam Liu smiled and said to her daughter-inw. Hehe! Then please entertain her. Were new here, so we cant wait to have guests. Madam Liu nodded with a beaming smile. When they returned to the kitchen, the four of them realized that Wang Xiaomei was almost done with the cooking. Madam Liu was a little shocked. She praised Wang Xiaomei outright for her diligence and brought Song Yun in to help. Soon, the Song familys dinner was ready. Most of the dishes were leftovers from lunch, but there were also newly stir-fried vegetables. All the dishes were cooked with plenty of oil. Everyone at the table ate very happily. After dinner, Madam Liu and Wang Xiaomei went to wash the dishes. Qin Xiaoyao brought Song Ye and Song Yun to the courtyard to weave straw sandals and chat with the siblings. Much to her surprise, Song Que also came out on crutches and sat down with them. When he heard Qin Xiaoyao telling stories to the two little ones, he even listened along. Then, he expressed his opinion together with them. The two little ones were very respectful to their big brother. When they heard their big brother telling them about the moral of Sister-inws story, they nodded their heads. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, looked at Song Que with a bright smile, making no attempt to hide the twinkling in her eyes. After Madam Liu and Wang Xiaomei finished their chores and came out of the kitchen, everyone lined up to wash up and take a bath. Qin Xiaoyao noticed it when she was taking a bath. The bathroom in the new house was not bad at all. Not only was it clean, but it was also spacious. It was so much better than the dirty and narrow thatched hut back in Brook Falls Vige. After taking a bath, Qin Xiaoyao felt much morefortable all over. She was just about to suggest taking everyone out for a walk on the streets when she heard the sound of clothes being washed by the well. She walked over and saw that it was Wang Xiaomei doing theundry. Wang Xiaomei also saw Qin Xiaoyao. She smiled at her and said, Mistress, please leave the clothes here. Ill wash themter. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. Its getting dark. You can leave the clothes here and wash them tomorrow. After everyone is done with their baths, Im going to take everyone out for a walk on the streets. Its Yuner whos taking a bath now, so you should go and prepare. Lets go together after you have taken your bath. The weather had been getting hotter and hotter recently. In addition, they moved house today, so everyone had worked very hard. If she didnt shower, she wouldnt be able to sleep well at night. I wont be going. I can do the washing after changing my clothes. Itll be dry by tomorrow morning. However, Wang Xiaomei turned down her invitation. Even though they moved house today, after the Song family finished their work, no one in the family took any breaks at all, except for the youngest one, Song Ye. This was particrly so for her Mistress. She spent the whole afternoon clearing out all thend in the courtyard. Old Mistress refined therd with her and then cleaned up the kitchen. While Young Miss was tidying up the house, she still took the time to weave quite a lot of straw sandals. As for the Master, he had been copying books in his room all the while. Previously, Mistress had said that she wanted to teach her how to weave straw sandals and teach her to do business. However, she was not a ve yet, so she could not be involved in those things. So, all she could do was stay away from the ce where they made straw sandals and help the Song family with the household chores. Anyway, she was used to doing housework at home. It was easy to get water at the Song familys house, and they had all kinds of tools for housework. It was much easier for her to do housework here than back home. Mistress had been kind to her, and Old Mistress had also treated her well. She had self-awareness and knew her position. She would abide by her duty and perform her tasks well. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled and walked quickly toward Wang Xiaomei. ... I said do theundry in the morning, so just do it in the morning. Then, she pulled Wang Xiaomei up. Youve been so busy since you came here early in the morning. Its time to rest. Wang Xiaomei looked at the clothes that were half-washed and was a little anxious. I have already soaked them. Mistress, why dont you let me finish washing these? Qin Xiaoyao ignored her and dragged Wang Xiaomei back. Let them soak then. They wont get damaged from soaking anyway. Qin Xiaoyao only let go of Wang Xiaomei after she had given in and stopped struggling. Go. Go back to your room and get your clothes. Take a bath and lets go out, she said. Wang Xiaomeis eyes were filled with gratitude. Alright, she finally agreed. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but smile as she watched Wang Xiaomei leave. She was only 12 years old and still a child, yet she was so sensible that it made ones heart ache a little ... On the opposite side, Song Que hade out of his room and saw Qin Xiaoyaos smile. His heart couldnt help but race a little. He was about to turn around and return to his room to avoid Qin Xiaoyao when Qin Xiaoyao stopped him. Hubby A clear and crisp voice rang out. Then, Song Que saw Qin Xiaoyao walking toward him with a smile. His heartbeat became more and more chaotic until Song Que felt that he was not normal. He decided to avoid Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. After Qin Xiaoyao came closer, he asked, Whats the matter? Im going to take Mother and the others to the streets for a walk. You shoulde along too! After a period of recuperation, her attractive husbands injuries had already recovered substantially. Although he still had to rely on crutches to walk, it was only a matter of slow speed. They were only going for a walk on the streets, so a slow speed was just right. Song Ques heart jumped momentarily. He lowered his head and looked at his leg, but his excitement was dampened again. I wont be going. You take care of Mother and the others, he said. Qin Xiaoyaos face was filled with disappointment. She didnt insist and helped Song Que back to his room. Doctor Li said that you can exercise your leg now, and its best to maintain a certain amount of exercise. If youre afraid of beingughed at, you can move around in the courtyard. Its good for your legs to walk in the morning and evening. Seeing that Song Que didnt reply, Qin Xiaoyao continued, I and Yeer can support you while you exercise. Song Que finally raised his head to look at Qin Xiaoyao. When he saw that the womans chubby face was a little red, his mood suddenly became better. He then responded, Mm-hmm. Qin Xiaoyao quickly turned her face away from Song Ques direct gaze. Then, she helped Song Que tidy up his desk. Now that weve bought a courtyard dwelling, we dont have to worry about food and drink. Were not as short of money as before. Chapter 125 - 125 Chapter 125: Continue To Display The Hamster’s Characteristic 125 Chapter 125: Continue To Disy The Hamsters Characteristic You can take it easy on copying books too. Theres no need to work so hard. Qin Xiaoyao said as she packed up the books. Song Que raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. If youre really bored, go sit at the stone table under the shade of the tree in the courtyard. The air outside is good. Breathing in more fresh air will lift your mood, Qin Xiaoyao was still nagging on and on. Song Que replied again, Mm-hmm. Qin Xiaoyao finally felt that something was wrong. When she looked at Song Que, her eyes met Song Ques eyes again. Her heart started racing. Just as she averted her eyes, she heard Song Que speak. The money is still not enough. Qin Xiaoyao was caught by surprise. We have to buy morerd and refine more oil. Also, buy more meat from Father-inw and process it into cured meat. And we need to buy all kinds of seasonings. We also need to buy a batch of dried ck fungus and soybeans. As she listened to Song Que, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but feel dazed. Not only did she have to stock up on grains and flour, but she also had to stock up on oil, seasonings, meat, dried goods, and even some daily necessities? Why did she suddenly feel that perhaps her attractive husband was the one who had transmigrated from the apocalyptic world? This hamsters characteristic of stocking up on food was way too exaggerated. Previously, I saw a small attic above our storeroom. You can put the things you buy into that space in the future, Song Que continued. Qin Xiaoyao came back to her senses. Er Hubby, this She finally tried to object. However, before she could finish speaking, her eyes met Song Ques gaze. Then, faced with the mans gaze, she shut her mouth again. This matter should be concealed from Mother and the rest as much as possible. Its good enough that only the two of us know, Song Que added. Qin Xiaoyaos heart started beating wildly. The same words again! He must have been very certain that she couldnt resist his good looks! It didnt work! She could not allow this to continue. But Qin Xiaoyao suppressed the furious thumping in her heart and spoke again. Unfortunately, she had only uttered a single word before she saw Song Que frown. Then, she decided to shut up again. Song Que was in a good mood when he saw Qin Xiaoyao did not approve and was slightly worried. Finally, Song Que said, I have my own reasons for doing this. Just trust me. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Hearing Song Ques words, which could barely be considered an exnation, she simply nodded her head. Forget it. Wasnt it just storing some food and necessities at home? Anyway, the things could be used after they were bought, and it was not like the money spent was going to waste. The corners of Song Ques lips curled up, and a gorgeous smile bloomed on his face, causing Qin Xiaoyao to fall into a daze. That was until she heard Song Yes voice from outside. Sister-inw! Sister-inw! Were all ready to go to the streets! Qin Xiaoyao came to her senses instantly and quickly shifted her gaze away from Song Ques face. Then then you stay at home. Ill take my leave first, she mumbled. With that, she turned and fled. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyaos departing silhouette, and the smile on his face grew even wider. He was in an extremely good mood. Qin Xiaoyao only felt her blushing and racing heart tone down a little after she reached the courtyard and gulped down some fresh air. Sister-inw! Song Ye ran over to Qin Xiaoyao. Lets go! As he spoke, he grabbed Qin Xiaoyaos hand. Qin Xiaoyao finally regained herposure. Yes! Off we go! She beamed happily at the little child. Then, together with Song Ye, she made her way toward Madam Liu and the others. Only then did the whole group leave the house. The night in the town was not something the countryside could hold a candle to. Although not every street was brightly lit, the widest and longest streets running in the directions of North, South, East, and West were still bustling with activities even at night. Not only would the shops on these streets remain open untilte, but even the small street stalls would also gather here. Of course, they sold mainly food and toys. It was the first time this group of people hade to a night market. Seeing the liveliness on the streets, everyone was downright amazed. Qin Xiaoyao took out some money to buy everyone a sugar figurine, and they held it as they strolled down the night market. ... Seeing that Song Ye couldnt peel his eyes away from the toy stall, she spent some money on Song Ye and Song Yun, buying them a Chinese Rings puzzle each. She had wanted to buy masks too but was stopped by Madam Liu, who did not allow her to spend money recklessly. The two children were also sensible and told her that one toy was enough. After that, they held their Chinese Rings puzzle and followed the adults as they moved forward. Even though Wang Xiaomei didnt get a toy, she still got a sugar figurine. Eating the sugar figurine and walking down the street with the Song family, Wang Xiaomei only felt sweetness seeping into her heart. Big Brother said he would go to the Qian family to get the money back and thene to the Song family to redeem her. Was it really possible? If it were possible, she would return to the Wang family and continue living with her parents Thinking of her mothers attitude towards her and her fathers indifference, she suddenly felt a surge of fear in her heart. Her mother had been divorced because of her. When she returned, the way she treated Wang Xiaomei would definitely be worse. ... Her father had never bothered with the familys affairs, and her Big Brother had to go back to town to work. What should she do then? Looking at the Song family membersughing happily, Wang Xiaomeis heart was filled with envy. Why wasnt she born into the Song family? It would be great if she were a member of the Song family. Or else, maybe it might be a good idea too to be a servant in the Song family The posse walked and walked until they reached the entrance of Fortune Mansion. At this moment, Fortune Mansion was brightly lit withnterns hanging high in the sky. It was the brightest ce on the street. When Madam Liu and the others learned that Qin Xiaoyao was delivering goods to this restaurant, they all looked at Qin Xiaoyao in admiration. Letse here for a meal when we have some free time in a few days! This is one of the best restaurants in Mountain Spring Town. The food here is unbeatable! Qin Xiaoyao said with a big smile. The back kitchen was full of experienced chefs, so the food in the restaurant was naturally excellent. However, the food was too expensive. Then again, they didnte to the restaurant often, so it was still fine for them to try it just once. Song Ye and Song Yun were very excited. Madam Liu, however, frowned. Whats so good about the food in the restaurant? Its not a lot, and its expensive. The money is all spent on extravagant decoration, she said disapprovingly. With this money, we can go to the market to buy meat and cook ourselves. And the amount canst us for a few meals. Song Ye and Song Yun exchanged looks with each other and then nodded their heads. That was true. With the same amount of money, they could easily eat several good meals. Why should theye here to eat only one meal? It was more cost-effective to buy meat and cook it themselves. Wang Xiaomei also nodded in agreement with her Old Mistress. Qin Xiaoyao didnt know whether tough or cry when she saw the same expression on all four peoples faces. Of course, eating in a restaurant is different from eating at home. Although the price is high, the atmosphere is nice. Seeing that the other four didnt agree, Qin Xiaoyao knew that she couldnt convince them. Forget it then. Welle here to celebrate when theres a happy asion in our family, she said after some thought. Sigh! She was really so blessed and yet so helpless to have such a family that was so thrifty and practical Happy asion? Song Ye suddenly asked. Then, he stared at Qin Xiaoyaos tummy. Hehe! Is Sister-inw giving birth to a little nephew for me? He actually opened his mouth and said this. When he heard Uncle Qin and the others talking about this today, Big Brother couldnt even answer. Could it be that Sister-inw really had a little nephew in her tummy? Chapter 126 - 126 Chapter 126: Servant Became Long-term Worker 126 Chapter 126: Servant Became Long-term Worker As soon as he said that, everyone immediately stared at Qin Xiaoyaos tummy. Yup that tummy was indeed very big. However, it seemed that before they got married, this daughter-inw, aka sister-inws belly, was already quite big. When everyone stared at her, Qin Xiaoyaos chubby face turned bright red. !! She really felt like scolding her little brother-inw and telling the child not to spout nonsense. She she was still a virgin, and she couldnt reproduce asexually, so how could she have a baby in her tummy? However, faced with the burning gazes of Madam Liu and the others, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt open her mouth. Madam Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyaos belly with a smile and then raised her head and said to Qin Xiaoyao, Ahem Then welle here to eat when theres a happy asion! Her eldest son and daughter-inw had been married for more than three months. If everything went well, her daughter-inw might be pregnant for all she knew. In the past, she didnt dare to think about this, but now Her eldest son had obviously changed his opinion of her daughter-inw, and the two of them seemed to get along quite well. Many things would take their natural course sooner orter. Thinking of this, the smile on Madam Lius face widened. Compared to having a grandson or granddaughter, what was a meal at Fortune Mansion? If her daughter-inw wanted to eat here, then let her eat! Qin Xiaoyao was utterly speechless It was alreadyte when they returned home. Everyone washed up and went back to their respective rooms. As usual, Qin Xiaoyao was lying on the outer edge of the bed, trying to sleep as close to the edge of the bed as possible, not daring to upy too much space on the bed. However, this bed was much bigger and sturdier than the bed she and Song Que had slept on in the thatched hut back in Brook Falls Vige. Hence, Song Que spoke up and told her that she could sleep further in a little. Then, Qin Xiaoyaos whole head turned red as she kept recalling the scene where her mother-inw was staring at her tummy. Her attractive husband and her Could they really have a baby in the future? If she could have a baby with her attractive husband, the baby would definitely be very attractive, right? Just the thought of it made her blood rush through her whole body However, the phrase In me the tiger sniffs the rose was most apt to describe Qin Xiaoyao now Wait, no. She didnt even dare to turn her head. She only shifted her body further in clumsily. Seeing this, Song Que subconsciously frowned. However, he didnt think too much about it and instructed Qin Xiaoyao to continue telling him the tale of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The ming passion in her heart was instantly extinguished. Qin Xiaoyao cleared her throat and began to tell the story. At the same time, the Song familys mother and two kids were lying on their respective soft beds in their own rooms. They breathed in the fragrance of the straw and bedding and felt sofortable that they were bubbling with joy. From today onward, they would be living here. They could sleep in such a soft and spacious bed every day and no longer had to worry about the wind and rain. It was so nice Meanwhile, in Wang Xiaomeis room Looking at the decorations in the room while lying on the bed, Wang Xiaomei felt that everything in front of her was so wonderful that it seemed unreal. Could she really live here? To live for a long time, forever The next day. This was the first day after the Song family moved into their new home. As usual, Qin Xiaoyao woke up early. Much to her surprise, the moment she stepped outside her room and into the courtyard, she heard the sound of clothes being washed. Qin Xiaoyao walked toward the well and saw Wang Xiaomei. When she saw the basin of clothes beside Wang Xiaomei, Qin Xiaoyao immediately realized that the little girl had probably been up for quite a while. M Mistress, Wang Xiaomei noticed Qin Xiaoyao when she reached out her hand to wipe off her perspiration. Ill go and cook after Im done washing these two pieces of clothes. Dont worry, Mistress! She quickly added. Just then, Qin Xiaoyao heard the sound of the door opening again. Then, she turned her head and saw that her mother-inw and sister-inw had also emerged. Sanya Sister-inw When the mother and daughter saw Qin Xiaoyao, they smiled and greeted her. Mother, Yuner! Why dont you sleep a little longer? Qin Xiaoyao asked with a smile. Im used to it. Ill get up and make breakfast. Its easier to do things after breakfast, Madam Liu replied with a smile. Ill help Mom! Song Yun said with a smile. ... In the past, she used to cook breakfast with her mother at home, and then she had to do theundry. Right,undry Song Yun looked towards the kitchen door. She realized that the dirty clothes she had left on the steps below the roof eavesst night were gone. Qin Xiaoyao noticed Song Yuns gaze and looked in the direction of the well. Xiaomei woke up earlier than us, and shes almost done washing all the clothes, she said. Song Yun was shocked, and she immediately ran toward Qin Xiaoyao. Then, she saw Wang Xiaomei, who was still washing clothes by the well, from where Qin Xiaoyao was standing. Sister Xiaomei she eximed and walked toward Wang Xiaomei with Qin Xiaoyao. Wang Xiaomei quickly stood up. You mustnt! Young Miss can just call me by my name! she said urgently. ... She had already thought it throughst night. From now on, she would stay with the Song family and not leave. Even if she stayed here as a ve, it would be better than going back to the Wang family to be tortured. Pfft Song Yun covered her mouth. What Young Miss? What kind of youngdy am I? Sister Xiaomei, dont make meugh. No one in our family really treats you as a servant. Wang Xiaomei felt very touched. Just as she was about to say something about the difference in status between master and servant, she heard Qin Xiaoyao speak. Yuner is right. Three dayster, regardless of whether your big brother can bring money to redeem you, you dont need to treat yourself as a servant in this family in the future. Our Song family dont practice such things. Wang Xiaomei looked at Qin Xiaoyao in disbelief. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. If your big brother cant gather enough money, you can stay in the Song family from then on. You can just take it as a long-term job at my house. However, Im afraid I cant pay you much in terms of sry. M Mistress Wang Xiaomei almost cried. Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and patted the little girls shoulder. Why are you crying? When youve saved enough money, you cane to me to redeem your indenture. Of course, in terms of time, it can only be five years from now, at the very least. In addition, the redemption price will be adjusted ording to your situation in the future. Hmm And also, if you want to get married, Im afraid you will have to dy it at least three years. In this era, when a girl turned 14 years of age, she could discuss marriage. Although Qin Xiaoyao felt that it was a little cruel, she could not change the social norm. Of course, she could not interfere in the affairs of outsiders. In the future, when her little sister-inw was due to discuss marriage, she would have to interfere. She had to at least hold her little sister-inw back until she was seventeen. As for Wang Xiaomei, Qin Xiaoyao had seen the little girls performance these past two days. In the end, she was still an acquaintance, so it was better not to treat her like a servant. Firstly, Qin Xiaoyao was not used to it. Secondly, her family was also not used to it. As long as she had the little girls indenture, it would be good to hire her as a long-term worker. Five years should be enough for her to earn a lot of money and take care of the family better. Wang Xiaomeis face turned red instantly. I wont get married! I Ill stay in the Song family! Thank you, Mistress! she said hurriedly. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Which youngdy doesnt marry? After teasing Wang Xiaomei for a while, she allowed her to continue with theundry. Qin Xiaoyao then went to fetch some water to water the Chinese Toon trees that were nted yesterday, while Song Yun went back to the kitchen to prepare breakfast with Madam Liu. Chapter 127 - 127 Chapter 127: Qin Dazhuang Refused To Sell That Much Pork 127 Chapter 127: Qin Dazhuang Refused To Sell That Much Pork After breakfast, Qin Xiaoyao supported Song Que as he took a walk in the courtyard. Arent you going to file that girls indenture with the government office? After walking for a while, Song Que finally lowered his voice and asked. He only found out about this when he was having breakfast. This woman actually intended to use the girl she bought as a long-term worker. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and nced at Song Que. No, she responded. Why? Song Que asked with a frown. Im not used to it, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Its not just me whos not used to it. Mother and Yuner are not used to it either, she exined when she saw that Song Que was not happy. Its fine if its someone whom we bought directly from outside. I wouldnt know that person then. But Xiaomei used to be from the same vige as us, and she even knew Yuner and Yeer since they were young. The two children used to address her as Elder Sister, yet now they are being addressed as Young Miss and Young Master by Xiaomei. Its no wonder they are not used to it. Seeing Song Ques silence, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Besides, none of the people who live in our alley have a servant. Xiaomei is living under the same roof as us. If people find out that she is a servant and is from the same vige as us, at that time, not only would outsiders look down on Xiaomei, but they would also look at us strangely. I think its better for us not to show off like that. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que. Thisst sentence finally moved Song Que. It was indeed better for their family to keep a low profile. Otherwise, they would be targets more easily during the civil unrest. How about the Wang family Song Que finally relented and asked. Qin Xiaoyao nced at her attractive husband and knew what he was worried about. Ive already spoken to Xiaomei. We wont change our stance as far as the Wang family is concerned. When the timees, if Wang Dashan cant produce the money to redeem her, well just take it that Wang Xiaomei has be a ve. From then on, shes not allowed to have any contact with the rest of the Wang family except for Wang Dashan. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Oh, even for Wang Dashan, we will minimize her contact with him, Qin Xiaoyao added. As for the other members of the Wang family, Wang Xiaomei didnt want to see them. Therefore, when Qin Xiaoyao made this request, Wang Xiaomei agreed without hesitation. However, Wang Dashans significance to Wang Xiaomei was different. These two siblings had a good rtionship. If she were to forcefully stop Wang Xiaomei from seeing Wang Dashan, she would be too upassionate. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao still didnt know that because of her good deed today, she would reap a great reward from Wang Xiaomei in the future. When she had gone to the faraway border to look for Song Que, it was Wang Xiaomei who helped her support the Song family, patiently awaiting Qin Xiaoyaos return. All this woulde muchter. After hearing Qin Xiaoyaos words, although Song Que was frowning, he eventually agreed to this matter. Thus, Wang Xiaomei turned into a rtive and long-term worker of the Song family in the eyes of the neighbors in the alley. After a while, Big Girl Li arrived with Liu Erniu in tow. Qin Xiaoyao helped Song Que to sit down on a stone bench before she went to sort out the goods. Thereafter, she went out with Big Girl Li. She went to make deliveries to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant while Big Girl Li went to the market on South Street to set up her stall. After Qin Xiaoyao left, Song Que called Song Yun and Song Ye to his room for lessons. Madam Liu brought Wang Xiaomei along to do some shopping. Her daughter-inw had cleared thend in the courtyard. She had to buy some seedlings and nt them on the emptynd. In addition, although they could keep some of the farm vegetables that Big Girl Li brought, they still had to buy some other vegetables from the market. Furthermore, her daughter-inw had told her to go and look for the inws again. She was to order two pigs for making smoked meat and 200 catties ofrd. Although she felt that her daughter-inw was buying too much, her son nearby also agreed, so she did not object. After all, her daughter-inw said that there were discounts if they bought more. Moreover, they were giving business to the inws. At the market on West Street. When Qin Dazhuang heard Madam Lius words, he was utterly shocked. You want two pigs, plus 200 catties ofrd? he stammered at Madam Liu. Yes. Sanya and Queer both like to eat smoked meat. Furthermore, therd wont go bad after refining, so we can keep it and eat it slowly. With Xiaomei helping me now, I have free time and can do this! Now that her daughter-inw didnt allow her to make straw sandals and she didnt go to the embroidery workshop to take on embroidery work, she could busy herself with some household chores. Furthermore, with Xiaomei helping her, she had more energy to do things. But isnt this too much? Qin Dazhuang felt that his daughter must be fooling around. Furthermore, as her mother-inw, not only did Madam Liu not stop her, but she also allowed her to do as she pleased. However, as her father, he couldnt just watch his daughter ruin the Song family. It is a little too much. So, theres no hurry. As Madam Liu spoke, she took out five taels of silver from her purse. This is the deposit. As for the outstanding amount, Ill top up when Father Qin sends meat to our home, she said. ... Qin Dazhuang looked at the silver in Madam Lius hand and did not reach out to take it. Gosh! Forget about the deposit! Dont worry about this. When I see Sanya, Ill talk to her first. There are only a few people in your family, so theres no need to buy so much meat andrd. Its still better to eat fresh meat. Madam Liu thought about it and felt that Qin Dazhuangs words made sense. Then dont worry about the pork first, but we still need therd. I dont have anything to do at home, so its good for me to fry and save up the oil. As she spoke, she handed over the silver again. Her daughter-inw made here here. If she went back empty-handed, would her daughter-inw think she couldnt be bothered to do as she had instructed? She was free now anyway, so it was just nice to have Xiaomei help her fry some oil. She would take advantage of this time to fry more. After that, there would be no need to prepare oil at home for a long time. Qin Dazhuang frowned. He still rejected the silver. Even 200 catties ofrd wont cost that much. ... Forget about the deposit. Ill keep therd for these two days for your family. Ill send therd to youter, and at that point, Ill collect the money, Qin Dazhuang said. It would be just nice since he had to look for his daughter and talk to her. Their days had just gotten better. How could they live like this? Er Alright then. Madam Liu finally agreed. After that, she bought two more chunks of pig liver from Qin Dazhuang before leaving. On the other side, Qin Xiaoyao had already handed over the goods and taken the money, and was pushing the handcart back. As soon as Madam Liu and Wang Xiaomei arrived home, Qin Xiaoyao entered the courtyard soon after. Qin Xiaoyao gave her approval when she learned that Madam Liu had bought some seedlings and would nt them with Wang Xiaomeiter. However, when she heard that her father had refused to sell her so much pork andrd and even wanted to see her, Qin Xiaoyao became a little glum. I know, Mother. Ill go to the market on West Street now and talk to my father. We still have to buy the meat andrd. Since Father doesnt ept a down payment, you can pay him when he brings you the meatter, Qin Xiaoyao said. She had already promised her attractive husband that she would buy pork andrd, so she had to get this done. Alright! Madam Liu agreed. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao set off. She headed straight for the market on West Street. In the end, the moment she saw Qin Dazhuang, she received a severe scolding. Qin Xiaoyao stood listening and didnt reply for a long time. Chapter 128 - 128 Chapter 128: No Money To Redeem Her 128 Chapter 128: No Money To Redeem Her She only spoke after her father had finished scolding her. I still have to buy both the meat andrd. Since you wont sell it to me, I can only buy it from outsiders. Seeing Qin Dazhuangs face turning dark, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Im onlying to you because I dont want to let outsiders earn my money, okay? Besides, its just two pigs and 200 catties ofrd. They dont cost a lot. !! Im now delivering groceries to the Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant. Im also setting up a stall to sell goods, so Im making quite a lot of money. Also, my husband and mother-inw have not been idle at home. One is copying books, while the other is weaving straw sandals. To put it bluntly Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at her father. Right now, my family is even more well-off than your Qin family. Qin Dazhuang felt himself choking. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyaos tone became gentler. At worst, you can ask Big Brother and Second Brother to help me find two smaller pigs. No matter what happens, I still have to make the smoked meat and fry therd. Seeing that Qin Dazhuangs expression was still disapproving, Qin Xiaoyao muttered in a low voice, This is something that our entire family has agreed upon. My husband and mother-inw didnt object, but you did. Qin Dazhuangs face froze. Looking at his daughters aggrieved expression, his sense of self-righteousness vanished in an instant. Fine! Ill go back and tell your big brother and second brother, he finally relented. She was right. The Song family didnt object, so what right did he have to object? Anyway, the money was earned by his daughter, and buying meat and oil was not really a waste of money. Why did he have to interfere so much with his daughters life? Only then did Qin Xiaoyao smile. Thank you, Father! After exchanging a few more words with Qin Dazhuang, Qin Xiaoyao quickly left. She still had to go to the market on South Street to set up her stall with Big Girl Li, but she had wasted so much time in the morning. Oh yes. She still had to discuss with Big Girl Li how they were going to set up separate stalls in the future. Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The Song family gradually got used to the life in town. While they enjoyed the clean and convenient life in the town, they were also troubled by the fact that they had to spend money to buy stuff like firewood. That was right. Four days after moving into the new house, Qin Xiaoyao finally spent money for the first time and bought two bundles of firewood. Although she bought two big bundles of firewood for five copper coins, Madam Lius heart still ached when she saw it. She even said that her family could go out of town to chop firewood, and there was no need to spend money to buy it at all. The entrance fee is one copper coin per person. If we want to bring more things in, it will only cost at most three copper coins. Its a waste of time to go out of town to chop firewood. If you have the time, you might as well weave two pairs of straw sandals instead, and you can easily recoup the money to buy firewood. Qin Xiaoyao told Madam Liu as she brought the firewood into the woodshed. In truth, there were also people who went out of town to pick firewood, but most of them went out with their handcarts. Then, they would return with a big load of firewood on their handcarts. They could only save money in this way. However, Qin Xiaoyao didnt want to do this. It was for the same reason. If she had the time to do that, she would rather make a few more pairs of straw sandals or water the vegetables at home. Speaking of water, the weather was getting hotter and hotter, and it hadnt rained for a long time. Sometimes, even if they saw dark clouds, the clouds would be blown away by the wind fairly quickly. When Madam Liu heard this, she did some calctions and found that her daughter-inws words actually made sense. After that, her heart didnt ache as much anymore. Then, Madam Liu said, You wont let me make more straw sandals. When the pork is done and therd is fried, I have to go to the embroidery workshop to take on a big embroidery job. The Qin family had just sent a pig. She and Xiaomei worked hard for a whole day to cure the meat. Somerd had also been sent over, and they had been quite busy in the kitchen for the past two days. Following this, the remaining pork andrd would still be sent over, but it wouldnt keep them busy for more than a few days. Sigh! In the past, she had thought that doing such things was nothing major. However, when she really did it, she realized that it was quite tiring, especially since the weather had been very hot recently. She was a little envious of her daughter, who could weave straw sandals every day. Not only was the work easy, but it also earned money. Of course, she wanted to do embroidery more. Every time she saw the embroidery frame in the room, her hands would itch. She would go and take on a big embroidery job. After the embroidery was done, one set of embroidery could be sold for a few taels or even dozens of taels of silver. Her skill was that good. Alright! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Madam Liu alsoughed. Not far away, Wang Xiaomei seemed to have fallen into a daze. Today was the fifth day of the agreement between her brother and the Song family. Her big brother had promised her that he would bring money to redeem her today. ... However, it was already afternoon, and her big brother and father had not arrived yet. Even though she had already decided to stay with the Song family, her big brothers absence made her feel like she had been abandoned. Qin Xiaoyao and Madam Liu both noticed Wang Xiaomeis expression, but they pretended they didnt see it. Everyone had a tacit understanding and didnt ask Wang Xiaomei to do work. Wang Xiaomei was a sensible girl, however. After she came back to her senses, she took the initiative to help out. It was evening. Finally, someone knocked on the Song familys door. Wang Xiaomeis face brightened up as she looked towards the courtyard door and quickly ran to open it. It was indeed Wang Dashan. However, Wang Dashans current condition was not good. His face was swollen and bruised. There were also injuries where parts of his limbs were exposed. ... Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao quickly asked Wang Xiaomei to bring Wang Dashan in and invited him to the hall. What happened? Qin Xiaoyao frowned and asked Wang Dashan, a sense of foreboding welling up in her heart. Song Que and Madam Liu, who had entered the hall after him, also frowned when they saw this. Wang Dashan lowered his head, and a look of embarrassment shed across his face as he struggled inwardly. In the end, he still raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao and the others. I I didnt manage to get the money back, he said with a sobbing tone. No one was surprised. This was because everyone expected it. Following that, everyone present saw Wang Dashan slide down from the bench and kneel in front of Qin Xiaoyao and Madam Liu. Aunt Song, Mrs. Song! I beg you to give me some more time. Ill definitely gather enough money to redeem Xiaomei! Madam Liu was taken aback. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, frowned. Get up first, she said. No, please promise me, Mrs. Song! Please give me some more time! Wang Dashan did not move. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos frown deepen, Wang Xiaomei hurried forward to help her big brother up. Big Brother, get up first! After spending thest few days with Mrs. Song, Wang Xiaomei understood her character somewhat. Not only would Big Brother not gain Mrs. Songs sympathy, but it would also increase her disgust. Wang Dashan could feel that his sister was using a lot of strength to pull him up, and Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything. In the end, Wang Dashan chose to cooperate with his younger sister. After Wang Dashan stood up, Qin Xiaoyao said indifferently, First, tell me. Why didnt you get the money back? Also, how did you get all these injuries? Thinking of what happened after he went to the Qian family, a hint of embarrassment shed across Wang Dashans face, but he didnt reply. Big Brother His younger sister shook his arm. Wang Dashan then exined what happened. It turned out that Wang Dashan had brought his father to the Qian family two days ago. However, the Qian family refused to admit they had received the deposit that the Wang family had given out. They even insist that the Wang familypensate them for divorcing Madam Qian without reason. Chapter 129 - 129 Chapter 129: Wang Dashan’s Collapse 129 Chapter 129: Wang Dashans Copse In the end, the Qian family had the advantage in numbers, and the father and son were both beaten up. After returning to Brook Falls Vige, Wang Dashan suggested going out to look for Wang Dashi. He was prepared to go to the Qian family again with a few more people. However, Wang Laoshuan got cold feet and even tried to stop Wang Dashan from doing so. Helpless, Wang Dashan could only approach the vige chief and Wang Dashi himself. The vige chief agreed to help get in touch with the vige chief in charge of the vige where Madam Qians family was located. However, Wang Dashi did not agree to go to the Qian family with Wang Dashan because of Madam Zhao. Left with no choice, Wang Dashan thought of his boss in town. Hence, he came to town to look for the innkeeper. Much to his surprise, the innkeeper had already fired Wang Dashan because thetter didnt ask for leave from the innkeeper in time. Wang Dashan had been so busy with the familys affairs that he didnt have time to apply for leave. Therefore, not only did he not manage to borrow any money, he also lost his job. Boo hoo hoo Xiaomei, Big Brother is useless! Big Brother is really useless! After saying all this, Wang Dashan almost burst into tears as he hugged Wang Xiaomei. He had not revealed that after all these things happened, not only did his father not reflect on his actions, but he also med Wang Dashan for going back and being a busybody. He imed that it was because Wang Dashan meddled in Xiaomeis affairs that he had to divorce his mother. And now the house was not like a home anymore. To top it off, the money his family had given away could never be taken back. Wang Dashan hated himself. He hated himself for having such a father and mother. He was also powerless to change the situation, much less save his younger sister. Madam Liu sighed as she watched. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que simply frowned. Wang Xiaomei patted Wang Dashans arm tofort her big brother and gazed at Qin Xiaoyao with an apologetic look. Qin Xiaoyao remained silent. She only spoke again after Wang Dashan had recovered himself somewhat. With your current condition, how many more days do you think youll need in order to get ten taels of silver? Wang Dashan was stunned. 10 er, no! 20 days, he hurriedly said. Wang Dashans tone was filled with uncertainty when he saw his younger sister shaking her head at him. With the current situation, he was not sure if he could get the silver back even if he were given two more months, much less 20 days. After all, the people from the Qian family were too fierce. Hmph, Qin Xiaoyao gave a softugh. Wang Dashan lowered his head when he saw her response. I understand that youre eager to save your younger sister, but theres no point in lying to us. The agreement between our two families was very clear. If you cante up with the money to redeem her within five days, Xiaomei will be a ve. But now that the time is up, youre asking for an extension. Hmph! If youre really capable and can gather the money in a short time, then it doesnt matter. But you clearly dont have the confidence, yet youre trying to deceive me and dy my affairs. Thats not a good intention on your part. Wang Dashan felt ashamed when he heard that. To put it bluntly, if I give you an extra twenty days this time, what happens after that? Are you going to ask me for another twenty days? Your current situation is indeed pitiful, but your pitiful state is not caused by my family. The Song family has no reason to give you an extension, Qin Xiaoyao said indifferently. Madam Liu was surprised to hear her. After a moment of surprise, she realized that her daughter-inw had a point. Following that, she no longer felt as sympathetic toward Wang Dashan as before. As for Song Que, after listening to Qin Xiaoyao, his eyes flickered, and he looked at Qin Xiaoyao with much more admiration. Boo hoo hoo But Wang Dashan wanted to protest. The grief and helplessness in his heart made him cry again. After hearing Qin Xiaoyaos words, he also realized his own problem. However, he had no choice but to beg her. Thud! Wang Dashan knelt down in front of Qin Xiaoyao again. Mrs. Song Boo hoo hoo Im sorry, Mrs. Song! I I had no other choice. Boo hoo hoo I really dont have a choice! Wang Dashan clutched his head and almost broke down. Upon seeing this, Wang Xiaomei also knelt down before Qin Xiaoyao. Mrs. Song she called out to Qin Xiaoyao while looking at her big brother worriedly. Qin Xiaoyao understood what Wang Xiaomei meant. Seeing Wang Dashan in this state, she finally relented. Get up first. The situation is not as bad as you think, she said. Under such circumstances, it was indeed a little too harsh to request Wang Dashan not to use emotional ckmail on the Song family. Moreover, after she had exposed his intentions, Wang Dashan did not show any signs of being embittered. Instead, he knelt down and apologized, which was already remarkable. ... After Wang Xiaomei helped Wang Dashan up, Qin Xiaoyao told him about her agreement with Wang Xiaomei that she was to work as a long-term worker for at least five years. Ive said before that Im short of useful people around me. If I give you another 20 days, its just a waste of time waiting meaninglessly. Therefore, I wont agree to grant any time extension, Qin Xiaoyao said. Wang Dashan was stupefied when he heard that. Then, he quickly came back to his senses. So, after five years, I can still redeem Xiaomei? he asked Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly. And during these five years, Xiaomei didnt need to live as a ve? Qin Xiaoyao nodded. At that time, if Xiaomei has money, she can even redeem herself. After looking at Wang Dashan from head to toe, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Given your current situation, I think the probability of Xiaomei buying her own freedom is higher than you redeeming her. These words were somewhat of a blow to Wang Dashan. When he heard it, he was not angry. Instead, he became more clear-headed. Thank you for your reminder, Mrs. Song. I will work hard to earn money! In the next five years, Ill definitely save enough money to redeem Xiaomei! he hurriedly said. Qin Xiaoyao pursed her lips. ... When she saw Wang Xiaomei smiling at her big brother, she didnt say anything else to discourage Wang Dashan. Thats enough. Since you can ept this arrangement, you should leave as soon as possible. In addition, regarding the Song familys manner of dealing with Xiaomei, the result is the same as what we had said to the people of Brook Falls Vige. Do you understand? Qin Xiaoyao added. Wang Dashan was dumbfounded. He quickly figured out some of the key points. I understand! When I go back, Ill tell Father that Xiaomei has already be a ve. To prevent Father froming here to cause trouble for Xiaomei and the Song family. Qin Xiaoyao nodded in satisfaction. Only then did she gesture for Wang Xiaomei to send Wang Dashan off. The brother and sister thanked Qin Xiaoyao and the rest of the Song family. The siblings then left the hall and walked towards the courtyard gate. The Song family didnt follow them out but chose to give the brother and sister some time alone. At the entrance of the courtyard, Wang Dashan verified with his younger sister whether what Qin Xiaoyao said was true. After finding out that his younger sister was living a good life with the Song family, he finally felt relieved. Dont worry. Five yearster, Big Brother will definitely save up enough money to redeem you, Wang Dashan said with determination. Wang Xiaomeiughed. Five years is still a long way off. Big Brother, you should take care of yourself first. After this, its better that you dont go to the Qian family anymore, Big Brother. Simply asking Uncle Vige Chief to step in may be able get us some money back. A look of dejection shed across her face as Wang Xiaomei continued, If you really cant get it back, then forget it. If the Qian family doesnt return the money, Mother wont be able to return. With her gone, Big Brother, you may perhaps be able to live more freely in the future. Chapter 130 - 130 Chapter 130: The Diligent Wang Xiaomei 130 Chapter 130: The Diligent Wang Xiaomei Wang Dashans face froze. When he thought of how his mother had used up all the familys savings to arrange for him to marry a daughter of the Qian family, a touch of hatred shed through his heart. Qian Juhua was the daughter of his mothers second cousin. When he and his mother went to the Qian family when he was young, he was often bullied by her. When she grew up, that womans reputation in the Qian familys vige was also very bad. If he really married that kind of woman, he would end up no better than his father. Moreover, he already had Forget it. Now that his family had fallen to such a state, it was better not to dy other people. Wang Xiaomei looked up at her big brother. Big Brother, after you go back, n well what you are going to do next. Wang Dashan nodded. Okay, I know! The two of them talked for a while more before Wang Dashan left. Wang Xiaomei sent him off and stood outside the courtyard for a long time before returning. The next day. When Qin Xiaoyao went to deliver the goods, she arranged for Wang Xiaomei to follow her, and she also brought two jars of century eggs. When Boss Fang heard that Qin Xiaoyao had delivered a new dish, he dropped everything he was doing and went to the back kitchen. Qin Xiaoyao went to the back kitchen to show off her skills again. She made congee with century egg and lean meat, century egg with green pepper, and century egg and cucumber soup for Boss Fang and the chefs of Fortune Mansion to have a taste. Of course, the result turned out the way she expected, and the dishes won unanimous praise. After seeing the two jars of century eggs that Qin Xiaoyao had brought, Boss Fang epted them straight away. He then set the price of two copper coins for the chicken egg and three copper coins for the duck egg. Moreover, for the first batch of delivery, he asked for 500 chicken eggs and 200 duck eggs. He also said he would continue to ce orders after he finished using the century eggs. Of course, the condition was the same as before. Qin Xiaoyao was not allowed to supply to other restaurants and eateries. However, this time, Qin Xiaoyao didntpletely agree. Its fine if I dont sell it to other restaurants and eateries in Mountain Spring Town, but I may open a porridge shop in the future. Uncle Fang, you cant say Im breaking the contract when I sell the century egg congee at that point. Of course, opening a porridge shop was just a thought at this moment. After all, renting a shop to do business was not a small matter. Besides, she did not have any free time for the time being. However, it was also good to think about it first. After all, how could setting up a stall to do business be more stable than opening a shop? When she had umted enough money, she would have to develop in the direction of opening a shop. Boss Fang was taken aback. You want to open a porridge shop? he was somewhat surprised. This girl really knew how to n! Based on the taste of the century egg congee alone, once she started the porridge shop, the business might not be bad. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled. Its just a temporary idea. Opening a shop is a big deal. How can we do it just because we want to? I just want to inform you first, Uncle Fang, to avoid any misunderstandingster. Boss Fang nodded his head in satisfaction. If its just you opening your own porridge shop, we, Fortune Mansion, naturally have no objections, he said with a smile. However, other dishes rted to century eggs Dont worry, Uncle Fang, Qin Xiaoyao reassured him hurriedly. I know my culinary skills very well. I dont have the ability to open a restaurant. Since she wasnt opening a restaurant, she wouldnt sell dishes rted to century eggs. Boss Fangughed with amusement. Dont be so modest, girl. Ever since we started working with you, half of the specialty dishes of Fortune Mansion we have been gradually introducing are connected to you. Hehe! Thats because Uncle Fang has a good eye for people and gave me a chance, Qin Xiaoyao responded with ttery. Boss Fang was very pleased to hear this. He reminded Qin Xiaoyao to continue sending any good dishes she had in the future to Fortune Mansion. Qin Xiaoyao agreed with a smile. After settling the ounts and getting the money, she left with Wang Xiaomei. Wang Xiaomei knew beforehand that Qin Xiaoyao had a close rtionship with Fortune Mansion. When she saw with her own eyes Qin Xiaoyao discussing business with Boss Fang, she was full of admiration for her. Mrs. Song, are we really going to open a porridge shop in the future? Wang Xiaomei couldnt help but ask Qin Xiaoyao after they left Fortune Mansion. Not for the time being, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Then you Wang Xiaomei was a little surprised. ... Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Its not so simple to open a shop. The location of the shop and the rent are all not small matters. In addition, a porridge shop doesnt just sell porridge. It should also sell stuff like steamed buns and the like that can go with porridge. I dont know how to cook these items right now. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Wang Xiaomei and continued, I have to learn the skills first. After I master the skills, I still have to set up a street stall to try it out. It wont be toote to open the shop after I have more confidence. After all, she didnt have much money on hand, and it wasnt easy for her to earn money. If they didnt do it step by step cautiously, they might end up back to square one if they made a wrong move. Wang Xiaomei listened carefully and nodded her head. She realized that there was a good reason that Mrs. Song was able to make a lot of money. Next, the two of them went to Fortune Restaurant to deliver goods. After that, they sent the handcart back to the Song familyspound. ... Qin Xiaoyao then brought Wang Xiaomei to the market on South Street to look for Big Girl Li. She then personally taught Wang Xiaomei how to set up a stall and sell goods. She had thought that Wang Xiaomei would be shy, so she would have to spend more effort teaching her. Much to her surprise, Wang Xiaomei picked up the ropes very quickly. Moreover, she quickly noted down the selling prices of all the woven bamboo products and began serving the customers in a practiced manner. Qin Xiaoyao and Big Girl Li were both shocked. They both agreed quickly that Wang Xiaomei was a promising girl. The only thing that gave Qin Xiaoyao some regret was that Wang Xiaomeis grasp of mathematics wasnt very good. When she encountered slightly moreplicated calctions, she had to ask Qin Xiaoyao or Big Girl Li. Qin Xiaoyao made up her mind inwardly that she had to spend some time teaching Wang Xiaomei mathematics. Well she might have to teach her some words too. In addition, she herself might have to learn as well. After all, the written characters used in this era were different from the simplified characters she knew. Thus, over the next few days, Qin Xiaoyao personally taught Wang Xiaomei, as well as Song Yun and Song Ye mathematics. When Song Que heard about it, he also came to listen. When he realized that some of the mathematical forme Qin Xiaoyao taught were simpler, he would asionally ask her for advice. As a result, Qin Xiaoyao inadvertently became the teacher to the four of them. After a few days, Teacher Qin announced that she was very pleased. Her students were all doing very well. The one with the best results was, of course, Song Que. After all, he was well-versed in mathematics, to begin with. To her surprise, the person in second ce was Wang Xiaomei. Of course, this had something to do with her intelligence and diligence. She was especially diligent, and even Qin Xiaoyao, a top student before the apocalypse, was impressed. In third and fourth ces were naturally Song Yun and Song Ye, respectively. The two little ones had some foundation, so they learned quickly. After making sure that Wang Xiaomei had mastered mathematics, Qin Xiaoyao finally decided to set up a separate stall from Big Girl Li. She decided to set up another stall in the market on North Street. And so, one day, Qin Xiaoyao brought Wang Xiaomei to pick out a handcart. Then, she handed the handcart to Wang Xiaomei. From tomorrow onward, well have to set up our stalls separately from Big Girl Li. In the morning, I will make deliveries to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant. You will push the handcart and reserve a ce. Then, you can start selling. Ill go to the market on North Street to take your ce after Im done with my work. After that, Ill need you to go help Mother and the others with the household chores! Qin Xiaoyao said. Chapter 131 - 131 Chapter 131: No Rain For Months 131 Chapter 131: No Rain For Months Alright! Wang Xiaomei quickly answered. She felt that she was being regarded highly. Also, Ive thought about it. Starting tomorrow, well spend an hour every afternoon learning how to read and write from my husband. This will be good for our business in the future. !! Wang Xiaomei was shocked. Thank you, Mrs. Song! she quickly thanked Qin Xiaoyao. She had just started learning mathematics, but she had already realized the benefits of mathematics. Learning how to read and write was something she didnt even dare to think about in the past. Even her big brother didnt get a chance to go to school to study and learn to read, much less a girl like her. Yet now, Mrs. Song wanted her to learn how to read and write with her. Mrs. Song really treated her better than her own parents! Qin Xiaoyao simplyughed. No need to thank me. Just keep up with the progress! Im a fast learner! she said. In her previous life, she was considered a top student. With a prior foundation, of course, she was fast. Mm-hmm! I will definitely work hard! Wang Xiaomei said with determination. After that, Qin Xiaoyao showed Wang Xiaomei what a genius Qin Xiaoyao was. When Mrs. Song was learning to write and read, she only needed to look twice before she mastered it. Wang Xiaomei, on the other hand, would still make mistakes even after repeated practice and recitation. However, she felt that her one single strength was her diligence. Whenever she had time, or even when she was working, she would find an opportunity to revise or review the content of her studies to strengthen her memory. As a result, Wang Xiaomeis progress was astonishing. During the end-of-month examinations, even Song Que was surprised by Wang Xiaomeis results. For the first time, he felt that Qin Xiaoyaos judgment of people was very sharp. It was already the middle of June, and the weather was already at the peak of summer. It had not rained in Mountain Spring Town for two months. Under the scorching sun, the earth was baked dry, and many ces were gradually facing a shortage of water. The crops in the fields alsocked water, so the vigers were trying to find ways to irrigate the farm crops to prevent them from dying from the drought. Some people even began to worry that there would be a great drought this year and they wouldnt be able to harvest the grains this autumn. There was a slight fluctuation in the grain prices in town. Qin Xiaoyao had heard about the situation in the vige from Big Girl Li. Now, the paddy fields in Brook Falls Vige were almost dry. In order to prevent the rice from drying up, some of the vigers had already begun to take water from River Ringwaters. Unfortunately, the effect of using manpower to fetch water to maintain the crops was not very good. The water level in River Ringwaters has dropped a lot, and the small stream in the vige has stopped flowing. Everyone is going to the old well in the vige to get water. Because there are so many people getting water, the well water cant keep up. The vige chief has ordered everyone to line up to get water. Each family can only get two buckets of water a day. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. Only two buckets of water? How is this enough? Big Girl Li gave a helpless shrug. Of course, its not enough! Those two buckets of water are for drinking. As for the rest for the livestock, as well as for domestic use such as bathing, everyone simply goes directly to River Ringwaters to get it. After saying that, Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao with envy. Your house is still the best. You have a well in the courtyard. By the way, your well still has enough water at home? Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Its enough. Its always full. Seeing Big Girl Lis shocked expression, Qin Xiaoyao exined, I dont have any livestock at home. Normally, we just do theundry, cook, and water the few plots ofnd in the yard. I dont use much water every day. Qin Xiaoyaos face broke into a smile as she thought of the few pieces ofnd in the courtyard. It was all thanks to that well. Otherwise, the Chinese Toon trees and those vegetable crops would not have survived. Big Girl Lis eyes were filled with envy again. If wee to town now to buy a courtyard with a well, I wonder if thats possible? she said immediately. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. You mean you have enough money to buy a courtyard dwelling in town now? Big Girl Li immediately gave Qin Xiaoyao a sad look. How can it be so easy ... She looked around the Song familys courtyard and sighed. 250 taels? If they were given another year, perhaps they could get this amount provided their inws lend their support as well. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and patted her good friends shoulder. Dont be discouraged. Youll be able to buy it sooner orter! she said encouragingly. Big Girl Li took a deep breath. Then, she said with a depressed tone, Lets take it slow. Why? What happened? Qin Xiaoyao asked, sensing that something was bothering Big Girl Li. During the zing hot summer days, its not so easy to get the goods. Sister Sanya, didnt you notice that the goods Daniu and I have been sending over have decreased? Mushrooms and the like were almost all gone. In the past, she didnt have to worry about not being able to receive farm vegetables, but now, it wasnt so easy to receive them. It was all because of the drought. The surviving vegetables in the farms all relied on water to grow, so there were fewer vegetables in the vegetable fields. Oh, Qin Xiaoyao responded. When Big Girl Li said this, she remembered something. ... The vegetables that the couple had sent over were indeed not as fresh as before, and the quantity was also less than before. Qin Xiaoyao could understand that it wasnt that fresh. After all, the weather was hot, and some of the moisture in the vegetables would evaporate. She hadnt paid much attention to the decreased quantity before. After all, she didnt earn much from selling farm vegetables. Currently, she was mainly relying on century eggs for her profits from Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant. That was right. Her century egg business was getting better and better after summer. The century eggs she had made before could not meet the sales demand. Recently, Qin Xiaoyao had been increasing the purchase of chicken eggs and duck eggs in order to make more century eggs to sell. Now, not only did she ask Big Girl Li and her husband to help her collect the eggs, she would also go to the market on West Street to collect eggs in batches. Then, in the afternoon, she would spend a lot of time making the mud paste for wrapping the eggs. There were already many jars of century eggs sitting in the storage room. Once the century eggs were ready, they could be exchanged for money at Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant. Her attractive husband saw that she was collecting more and more eggs every day and had even mentioned to her to control the quantity. However, she didnt take him seriously. As long as it was before winter, she was not worried that her century eggs wouldnt sell. She wasnt afraid, even if it was winter. If there was really a lot of stock, she could just take Xiaomei to set up a street stall to sell century egg congee. It just so happened that she didnt earn much from selling woven bamboo products and straw sandals, so it wasnt a bad idea for her to free up some time to do something else. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li after recollecting her thoughts. I see that there are fewer people selling farm vegetables in the market now, and the price of vegetables has risen a little, she said. How about this? When I make my delivery tomorrow, Ill talk to Fortune Mansion. Lets see if we can get them to raise the price of the vegetables. This way, itll be easier for us to follow the market fluctuation. Big Girl Li quickly nodded. Qin Xiaoyao continued to chat with Big Girl Li for a while. After settling the ounts for the past ten days, she gave her the money and saw her off. The sun was already shining brightly outside at this moment. Qin Xiaoyao came to the courtyard and stood under the zing sun. She felt as if her skin was being scorched. Why dont you wait until evening before leaving? Im worried about you going back alone. Qin Xiaoyao said as she held Big Girl Li back. Chapter 132 - 132 Chapter 132: Her Husband Was Not Normal 132 Chapter 132: Her Husband Was Not Normal As the weather became hotter, there were fewer people in the marketpared to before. In addition, the market also dispersed early. This was understandable. After all, the weather was hot, so everyone got up early. They quickly bought or sold all their things and rushed home. When the two set up their stall now, they started early in the morning but had to close it at around 10 am. In the past, the Big Girl Li could still rush back to Brook Falls Vige before the sun had reached its highest point. However, today Big Girl Li came to Qin Xiaoyaos house to settle the ounts, and they inadvertently lingered until it waste. She was really worried that something would happen to Big Girl Li on the way in this weather. Big Girl Li was squinting her eyes under the zing sun, and she was going to endure the difort and reject Qin Xiaoyaos invitation. However, Madam Liu leaned out of the kitchen. Lunch is almost ready. Big Girl, its rare for you to visit us. Do stay for lunch! she called out to Big Girl Li. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao pulled hard and dragged Big Girl Li back under the roof eave. With the tiles on the roof eave sheltering her, Big Girl Lis body instantly felt much morefortable. Qin Xiaoyao then dragged her back into the hall and said as she walked, You dont have to stand on ceremony with my family. Rest for a while after lunch. Its still not toote to go back when the weather is not so hot. Big Girl Li had no choice but to agree. Then, she started chatting with Qin Xiaoyao about the weather. I wonder when its going to rain? she said as she looked at the blinding sunlight outside. If it didnt rain, not only was it bad for their stalls business, but they would also lose a lot of ie if they couldnt get any harvest from their fields. Qin Xiaoyao also looked outside. Who knows? The entire Zhao County and even Hua An Prefecture are suffering from a drought. Qin Xiaoyaos expression suddenly changed. She thought of something and looked at Big Girl Li. If this dry spell continues, and the grains in the field cant be harvested, do you have enough grain at home? she asked Big Girl Li. It hadnt rained for months. Now it wasnt just their stalls business that had been affected, but all other industries were suffering as well. Her fathers meat stall used to be able to ughter at least two pigs a day to cater to the market and Fortune Mansions business. However, now he said that he could only ughter two every other day, and asionally, he could only ughter one for several days in a row. As such, her big brother and second brother did not have to go to the countryside to collect pigs every day, and they were much more idle. However, the ie for the family dropped. Now that the market was dispersing early, she asionally saw that there was still a lot of meat left in her fathers meat stall. The weather was hot, so the meat naturally couldnt be left there. In the end, her father would either send the remaining meat to Fortune Mansion or sell it to the neighbors at a cheap price. Her family had also helped him buy a fair amount. In any case, she saw that her father had been frowning a lot recently. Big Girl Li was taken aback. Stocking up on food? A look of disbelief shed across her face. I think it should be enough. Ever since she started working with Sister Sanya, she had never cared about household matters back home. Before she married Daniu, the Liu family was considered rtively well-off in Brook Falls Vige. A farming family also took food grain seriously. Surely her family shouldnt run out of food, right? Seeing Big Girl Lis uncertainty, Qin Xiaoyao reminded her, Then youd better go back and check, just to be sure. Yesterday, Aunt Sun came over to chat with my mother and said she had a rtive working in the grain store. They said that the grain prices in the grain stores have been increasing recently. If the dry spell continues and the grains for this years autumn harvest cant be harvested, the price of grain will definitely rise. And it was probably not just the grain price. The change in the grain price had a huge impact. At that point, the price of many resources might also increase. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but look in the direction of the room she shared with Song Que. At the moment, she was sitting in the hall, so she naturally couldnt see the situation on the other side. However, she could imagine that her attractive husband should still be copying books. She had previously thought that her attractive husband had a hamster-like personality and liked to store things. Now, it seemed that this matter was not so simple. When she proposed building a house in the vige, he wanted to buy a courtyard dwelling in town. And it had to be one with a well, and the well must not be too shallow. It would be best if the house came with a cer. Later, after they bought the courtyard dwelling, he urged her to dig a cer. After that, he asked her to stock up on arge amount of food inside. Following that, there wasrd, pork, seasonings, dried food, and so on. ... Now, her small attic in the storeroom was already filled with these things. To put it bluntly, if Mountain Spring Town were to suffer from a drought, or even a famine, with the things that they had stored up thus far, it would not be a problem for their family to survive for two or three years. Moreover, they would probably be able to live a better life than most. Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat. Famine? Aftering to this era, she had been living such a smooth andfortable life that she had almost forgotten that this was ancient times. In ancient times, productivity was severelygging behind, and farmers could only rely on the heavens to survive. A drought could really lead to a famine Qin Xiaoyaos heart shuddered at the thought of this. So, her attractive husband had been nning ahead? Did he know that there might be a drought in Mountain Spring Town? No, no. When her attractive husband proposed to buy a courtyard dwelling in town, it was still spring. And it had rained during that period. ... He wasnt a satellite, so how did he know there would be a drought after summer? However What happened after that was too much of a coincidence. Could it be that The price of food is going to increase? Big Girl Li asked in surprise. The grain price in Mountain Spring Town had always been rtively stable. Thest time the grain price had risen on arge scale was a few years ago. At that time, there was also a drought. It was said that during the autumn harvest, there were varying degrees of decreased production in the fields. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao replied in the affirmative. Better prepare in advance. She looked at Big Girl Li. If she had only been guessing earlier, she suddenly had a premonition after thinking about what her attractive husband did. It seemed like she would need to have a chat with her attractive husband. Alright! Big Girl Lis heart was filled with a sense of panic as she replied. Before long, the food was ready in the kitchen. After everyone had lunch in the hall, Qin Xiaoyao arranged for Big Girl Li to rest in Song Yuns room. She also returned to her room and prepared to take a nap to cool off. Song Que was in the outer room. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao enter, he raised his head and nced at her. He then lowered his head and continued writing. Qin Xiaoyao had wanted to say hello before going into the inner room to rest. However, she recalled some of her spections and stopped in her tracks. Hubby Song Que raised his head again. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him, he responded, Yes? Youve been writing all morning. Why not take a break? Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. Song Que was a little puzzled. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao walking towards him, he put down the brush in his hand. You want to discuss something? he asked immediately. Qin Xiaoyao hesitated for a while. However, it was only for a moment before she smiled again. Yes. Whats the matter? Song Ques eyes were filled with curiosity. Why dont we talk inside? Qin Xiaoyao nced at the door and then at the inner room. Song Que followed Qin Xiaoyaos gaze and saw the big bed in the inner room. His expression became awkward for a moment. I want to ask you something, Hubby, Qin Xiaoyao added when Song Que didnt reply. Chapter 133 - 133 Chapter 133: The Prophet 133 Chapter 133: The Prophet She still had a smile on her face, but there was no embarrassment or other simr emotions. Ahem Song Que coughed lightly, knowing that he was thinking too much. Lets just talk here, he said after that. Qin Xiaoyao nced outside. !! Are you sure? she asked. Song Ques expression became puzzled again. What do you want to say? he asked with a frown. Why was this woman acting so strange today? Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao didnt insist. Hence, she went to the side, brought a chair over, and sat down next to Song Que. Then, under Song Ques guarded gaze, she rested her chin on her hands and looked at him. Hubby, are you For the first time, Song Que felt nervous when he saw Qin Xiaoyao staring at him. A transmigrator? Qin Xiaoyao asked with a smile on her chubby face. To be able to predict the weather in the future, could he be a special ability user with the special ability to predict the future? Although she had never met such a person during the apocalypse, she had heard that there was a prophet in the base. It was said that these people were very mysterious and had a special temperament. They even had the ability to influence peoples minds. As soon as she transmigrated here, she felt that her husband was not as simple as he looked. In addition to adoration, she was actually a little afraid of him. Now that she thought about it, if her attractive husband were a prophet, everything would make sense. Song Que was stunned, a puzzled look on his face. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but wonder if she had made a wrong guess. However, she felt that she could not be wrong. Pretending. Are you pretending? Did you already know the story of Journey to the West and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but you pretended not to know to make me happy? Qin Xiaoyao tried her best to speak to Song Que in a joking tone. Tell me. When did you transmigrate here? Which base did youe from? Are you a prophet? This time, she had already made it so clear. These words were equivalent to revealing her identity. He shouldnt continue to hide it, right? Sure enough, Song Ques eyes flickered. Just as Qin Xiaoyao was looking forward to Song Que admitting his identity, he looked at her with a thoughtful expression instead. Gradually, she began to feel fearful of his gaze. So, you are a transmigrator? Suddenly, Song Que opened his mouth. Transmigrators, bases, and prophets? Were these the products of her world? So, the woman in front of him was indeed not Qin Sanya after all, but a ghost? Oh, wait. ording to her, she should be called a transmigrator. She, on the other hand, had actually assumed that he was one of her kind and suspected that he was a Prophet. Based on the superficial meaning, could Prophet be referring to someone who could predict the future? She must have realized that there was something not right with him buying the courtyard dwelling and storing food in advance. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat. She hesitated, not knowing if she should admit it. ErI Suddenly, the corners of Song Ques mouth curled up. Thats right. Im a prophet, he continued. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes instantly widened. Then, she was ecstatic. Really? Brother, youre too good at concealing yourself. You actually made things so tough for me! As she spoke, she pped her hand on Song Ques shoulder. Song Que felt his shoulder sinking under the weight, and he looked at Qin Xiaoyao with displeasure. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao quickly retracted her ws with a look of fear on her face. Its just so rare to meet a fellowrade, so I was overjoyed. We were all from the same ce. Dont be so petty! Qin Xiaoyao said. Hmph! So what if he was a prophet? He didnt have to be so arrogant. Well, fine. Prophets were amazing. She had been in the base for years, but she had never seen him. These people either held high positions in the base or were the guests of the higher-ups. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao inquisitively. Which base are you from? he asked. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. ... Oh, its the Hope Base in City A, she replied. Then, without waiting for Song Que to ask any more questions, she told him about the situation in Hope Base, as well as some matters regarding herself. This included the incident where she led her team on a mission and transmigrated here after her death. Now that she had found a teammate, he turned out to be a big shot with the ability to predict the future. Qin Xiaoyao would never have imagined that the other party was bluffing her. Now, she just wanted to hug the Big Boss leg, set a goal to fight for, and lead a good life. Of course, it was not bad to be able to get close to the Big Boss and be in love with him! Song Que looked calm on the surface, but his heart was in a panic. It was really a ghost that took over her body! Furthermore, it was a ghost from another world. Im in this situation. What about you, Big Boss? After Qin Xiaoyao finished speaking, she looked at Song Que in an exaggerated mboyant manner. ... If youre a prophet, didnt you predict that you might get into trouble? How did you transmigrate here? As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Que curiously. Song Ques eyes flickered slightly, and his face turned gloomy. I was betrayed, he spat out these words. When he died in his previous life, he had indeed been betrayed by his trusted aide. Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback, and she began to imagine what might have happened. In the end, she didnt ask. Instead, she reached out and patted Song Ques shoulder tofort him. Let it be. Its all in the past now. Lets think on the bright side of everything. In the end, we didnt die and even transmigrated to escape the apocalypse, living such a good life. Its an unexpected surprise, isnt it? She smiled brightly at Song Que. Song Que hesitated for a while. Then, the corners of his mouth curved up. Yes, he responded. In his previous life, although he had the power to rule the world, he did not live a happy life. In this life, he had to start over. His legs could still be healed, and his mother, younger sister, and younger brother were by his side. This was quite good. Qin Xiaoyao was dazed for a moment when she saw his smile. Then, she quickly retracted her gaze and removed her hand from Song Ques shoulder. Er Then what was your name in your previous life? How old are you? Are you married? She could not resist asking Song Que. She loved the face in front of her very much. Previously, she had thought that it was mainly because of the emotions inherited from her predecessor. Now, it seemed that it was very likely that she was affected by his special ability. Even though she was in a different world, as a woman brought up on good principles, she felt that she should still rify some things upfront before deciding how to get along with the person in front of her. Song Que looked up at Qin Xiaoyao, and an almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips. If I were to say that I had the same name in my previous life and looked the same as now, would you believe me? Qin Xiaoyao nodded hurriedly. I would! I also look the same as I did in my previous life! She had previously suspected that she only resembled Qin Sanya. It wasnt until she lost some weight that she realized that she didnt simply resemble her. In fact, she was identical to her. The only difference was that one of them was thin, and the other was fat. She saw Song Ques look of disdain. Gosh! I mean after I have slimmed down! Qin Xiaoyao quickly added. Im a special ability user, so my body is perfect! If I hadnt transmigrated, I wouldnt be stuck in this pile of fat flesh. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao pinched her own arm. After she let go, a red mark immediately appeared on the tender flesh. Sigh! It had been more than three months since she transmigrated. Even if she had lost more than 60 pounds, she probably still had 180 pounds on her. Chapter 134 - 134 Chapter 134: Not A Bad Name 134 Chapter 134: Not A Bad Name If Qin Xiaoyao wanted to return to her double-digit weight from her previous life, it would probably still take a long while. The smile in Song Ques eyes deepened. So you were also called Qin Sanya in your previous life? he asked. If she slimmed down and looked the same as she did in her previous life, that would be quite good. !! When he faced her like this, he didnt have to feel like he was facing a ghost wearing someone elses skin. Qin Xiaoyao almost rolled her eyes. Of course not! My name is Qin Xiaoyao! My name means carefree! she said. The corners of Song Ques lips curled up. Not a bad name, he said in praise. This name was quite matching with her temperament. Hearing Song Ques praise, Qin Xiaoyao was in a good mood. You havent answered my question yet. How old were you when you died in your previous life? Were you married Er, no. Did you have a partner? The name and appearance were the same. This was good. She didnt have to keep thinking that a soul with a different appearance was hiding in the body opposite her. It would be even better if he was of the right age and didnt have a partner! A hint of a smile crept across Song Ques eyes once again. Twenty-five years old, not engaged, he answered. It wasnt too much to report his age as ten years younger, right? As for marriage, he was indeed not married. After all, when he was injured that year, the imperial physician said that he could not get close to women. And anyway, he was really not interested in women. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. How about a girlfriend? None as well? she asked hurriedly. The smile on Song Ques lips widened. Even though he didnt understand what Qin Xiaoyao meant by girlfriend, he could roughly guess what she meant. He smiled and shook his head. Thats great! Qin Xiaoyao immediately said. I was twenty-three years old in my previous life, and I was also single! Then, she turned to Song Que and said, Song Que, why dont I pursue you, and you can be my boyfriend? Song Que was shocked. He didnt expect Qin Xiaoyao to be so forthright. Following that, his attractive face actually blushed. This woman was really impudent! Er No rush. You can consider it. Seeing that Song Que didnt reply, Qin Xiaoyao quickly added. Then, she turned her head away awkwardly. I am going to take an afternoon nap. After that, she slipped away happily, leaving behind someone whose mind was in turmoil. After Qin Xiaoyao entered the inner room, she climbed onto the bed. She then closed her eyes with a smile and fell asleep very soon. After that, Song Que, who was outside, heard a familiar snoring sound. Strangely, he didnt feel that the snoring was annoying this time. Instead, he couldnt help but smile. A transmigrated strength-type special ability user How interesting Qin Xiaoyao woke up about half an hourter. She was in much better spirits after the rest. She got out of bed and walked out of the inner room, only to find that Song Que had fallen asleep on the soft couch by the side. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but smile as she walked forward softly. She carefully examined the mans handsome features and was once again amazed by the mans good looks. The Prophet was indeed blessed by the heavens. He was really good-looking As she gazed upon him, Qin Xiaoyao reached out her hand. In the end, before her hand could touch Song Que, the man suddenly frowned. Dont Get lost! Get lost! Then, he began shouting in his sleep! Qin Xiaoyaos expression changed. Before she could withdraw her hand, the man suddenly opened his eyes and reached out to grab her wrist. His eyes looked fierce, astounded, and even brutal. Qin Xiaoyao was so frightened that she forgot to struggle. Only when Song Que regained hisposure did he let go of her on his own ord. Er Are you okay? Qin Xiaoyao asked worriedly when she saw Song Ques pale face. Was he dreaming about zombies or something? Such a drastic reaction. ... Song Que did not reply. He didnt turn his head either. His expression was depressed, and his eyes were filled with a hostile light. Qin Xiaoyaos heart ached a little when she saw this. This ce is very safe. Weve already left the apocalypse. There are no zombies here. She lowered her voice and spoke in aforting tone. Seeing that Song Que still did not move, Qin Xiaoyao simply sat down beside Song Que on the couch. Then, she opened her arms toward Song Que and said, If youre afraid, Ill let you hug me. Song Que was initially still in a foul mood, but when he heard her words, his face immediately stiffened. Following that, all the negative emotions in his heart disappeared in an instant, leaving only shame and anger. Did this woman think she was cajoling a child? Song Que finally raised his head and looked at her angrily. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao put down her arms and smile brightly at Song Que. ... Hehe! Isnt that fine now? Song Que was stunned momentarily. Only then did he realize that Qin Xiaoyao was trying to help him calm down. Dont get up yet. Ill go get a basin of water for you to wash your face, Qin Xiaoyao said. Mm-hmm, Song Que replied. With that, Qin Xiaoyao stood up and left the room. She took the basin to the well and cleaned herself up first. After that, she fetched some water for Song Que. After washing his face, Song Que felt much morefortable and got off the couch. Qin Xiaoyao was about to leave with the wooden basin, but before she left, she said to Song Que, Next time, if youre sleepy, just go to bed and sleep. You can just wake me up. I can make space for you. As a strength-type special ability user, she was used to living a rough life. Therefore, she could sleep on the soft couch. Her attractive husband, on the other hand, was a prophet. As his special ability was unique, though his physique was not much different from that of ordinary people, he was nheless more delicate and weak, so he had to lead a more refined life. Song Que turned his head and looked at the big bed in the room before nodding his head. However, what he was actually thinking at the moment was that since the bed was huge, it was actually fine for the two of them to sleep together. Qin Xiaoyao, however, didnt know any of this. She carried the wooden basin out of the room. After pouring away the used water, Qin Xiaoyao got started on her tasks. What tasks were they? Of course, it was making century eggs. Now, she would wrap four to five hundred century eggs every afternoon. After covering the eggs with mud paste, she ced thepleted century eggs into the jars. Then, she moved the jars into the storage room. As she was the only one doing the whole process, it took a long time to finish the task. As soon as Qin Xiaoyao finished mixing the mud paste for the century eggs, Big Girl Li emerged from Song Yuns room, yawning. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao preparing the century eggs, she rushed over. Do you still have gloves? Ill help! she said with some excitement. She was aware that her Sister Sanya was selling century eggs to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant. Previously, she had even received some century eggs from Sister Sanya, and they tasted really good! Hehe! You havent even wrapped one before. If you dont do it well, you might even ruin my eggs. Its better that I do it myself, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Thereafter, she asked Big Girl Li to get a small stool and sit next to her. Big Girl Li looked around and found a small stool on the steps below the roof eave. She then brought the small stool over and sat down next to Qin Xiaoyao to chat with her. Your houses courtyard is really not bad, especially this little alley that has been demarcated out. Its well-ventted and well-shaded, so its cooler than inside the house. She plonked her butt down on the stool and felt the cool wind blowing in from the alley. Big Girl Lis chubby face was full of enjoyment. Sigh! It was so unlike her own house. The rooms were small, stuffy, and hot. The courtyard was even hotter. Since the beginning of summer, she had only had afortable afternoon nap in the Song familys house just today. Chapter 135 - 135 Chapter 135: One Shouldn’t Judge A Book By Its Cover 135 Chapter 135: One Shouldnt Judge A Book By Its Cover Of course, Big Girl Li could nap at home, but when she woke up, she was covered in perspiration all over. How could she be as refreshed andfortable as she was now? Furthermore, after waking up, she could stille to this cool little alley to enjoy the breeze. Its indeed not bad, Qin Xiaoyao responded. !! After the start of summer, when they woke up, almost all of their Song family members woulde to work in this small alley. Qin Xiaoyao would be preparing century eggs while Yuner and Xiaomei would be weaving straw sandals. Even Yeer woulde here to y. Only her mother-inw and her attractive husband would stay in their rooms. One reason was that it was not easy to move the embroidery frame, for fear of dirtying the embroidery work. The other reason was it was not easy to move the desk, and he did not want to go outside either. Fortunately, their house was big enough, and the roof was made of tiles, so it was not too hot even if they stayed in the room. Sanya! Yuner! At that moment, there was a knock on the door suddenly. Qin Xiaoyao was about to answer when Song Yun answered first. Song Yun came out of Madam Lius room and ran to the courtyard as she answered. Coming, Aunt! That was right. The visitor was Aunt Sun, their next-door neighbor. There was also Aunt Suns little daughter Sun Xiaoyue. Ever since she had seen Madam Lius embroidery work, Aunt Sun would bring her little daughter to pay them a visit at their house whenever she was free. The weather was cool in the morning, and Aunt Sun would usually not visit. After lunch, after they had taken care of everything at home and rested for a while, the mother and daughter would pop over. It just so happened that Madam Liu was about to wake up. They could then do embroidery work together. Qin Xiaoyao smiled when she saw Big Girl Li looking around the courtyard curiously. She said, Thats our next-door neighbor, Aunt Sun. In the afternoon, she often brings her daughter over to chat with my mother. Song Yun weed the two of them into the house. Both of them were holding their sewing baskets in their hands. Big Girl Li nodded her head. Aunt Song is doing embroidery work now? Then, she turned to Qin Xiaoyao and asked with a puzzled expression. How much money could she make by doing embroidery work? It would be better to weave straw sandals. Even though the business at their stall was not as good as before, the straw sandals in her stall always sold well every day. It was a pity that Sister Sanya had given her too few straw sandals. Yes. Making too many straw sandals can hurt the hands. Since Mother has the skill to do embroidery work, then let her do it. Moreover, shes currently taking on big embroidery jobs. One set of embroidery takes one or two months toplete, and once its done, it can be sold for more than ten taels of silver. Big Girl Li was shocked. So much? Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li with a smile. A lot, right? When I first heard about it, I was also shocked. However, its for real. Facing Big Girl Lis curious eyes, Qin Xiaoyao continued, This kind of embroidery work is rarely sent out by the embroidery workshop. Most of it is assigned to be done by the embroiderydies working in the embroidery workshop. But my mothers skills are good! She is even acquainted with the boss of the embroidery workshop. She told him that she wanted to take on a big embroidery job, and the boss of the embroidery workshop agreed immediately. Big Girl Li was a little suspicious. Then, in the past, why didnt Aunt Song An embroidered craft work could be sold for more than ten taels of silver. Moreover, it would only take one or two months toplete it, so there was naturally no need to weave straw sandals. However, since there was such a good deal, why did the Song family Previously, it was because the familys situation was not good, and there was no embroidery frame. Also, the thatched hut was in a mess, and dust would fall from the roof asionally. Our house was in no condition to take on that kind of work. Sigh! In the past, Mother was like the cleverest housewife who couldnt cook without rice. Qin Xiaoyao sighed as she spoke. Big Girl Li nodded, indicating she understood. After Song Yun led Aunt Sun and Sun Xiaoyue to Madam Lius room, she walked toward them. With such good skills, why didnt Aunt Song teach Yuner? Big Girl Li asked Qin Xiaoyao. The neighbor had brought her daughter over, obviously to learn the ropes. It didnt make sense that Madam Liu could teach others but not her own daughter, right? Qin Xiaoyaoughed and said helplessly, Thats only if Yuner has the talent and is willing to be an embroidery worker. She saw that Big Girl Li was still confused. Qin Xiaoyao continued, Dont be fooled by the fact that the girl looks fragile and gentle. In fact Pfft! Her needlework is not much better than mine! Big Girl Li was surprised. Its true! Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. To be an embroidery worker, one must have talent, and one must also work hard to learn and develop the skill. Its hard for Yuner to do this for a living. ... It was for this reason that her mother-inw was the one making all the clothes at home. The little girl could not help at all. Or rather, she didnt want to help. She felt that if she took the time to make two more pairs of straw sandals, she would be able to contribute more to the family. Big Girl Li turned her head and looked at Song Yun, who was walking towards them with a smile on her face. She had some other thoughts about her Sister Sanyas little sister-inw. One really shouldnt judge a book by its cover Seeing that Wang Xiaomei was also walking towards them from behind Song Yun, Big Girl Li began chatting with Qin Xiaoyao again. So, now only Yuner and Xiaomei are making straw sandals for you? It might be a blessing for Big Girl Li that that girl Yuner had no talent in embroidery. Otherwise, wouldnt Big Girl Li be getting less straw sandals every day? Hmm, weaving straw sandals was still better. Once woven, they could be sold for money instantly. The more one weaved, the more one earned, and the sales turnover was quick too. ... Yes, Im mainly relying on them now. Of course, Ill asionally make a few pairs when Im free, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Big Girl Li frowned and looked at Qin Xiaoyaos hands, which were busy working. Youre busy all day long. How much free time do you have? Youve never thought of recruiting an apprentice? When she said this, Big Girl Lis eyes showed a strong interest. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li. How can I recruit apprentices? Weaving straw shoes isntplicated, and straw could be found everywhere in the countryside. Wouldnt teaching an apprentice put me out of business? she said with little interest. Teaching others to make straw sandals wouldnt really put Qin Xiaoyao out of business. However, this skill was too simple and too easy to pick up. If she taught others, she wouldnt get many benefits, but she might lose a lot. Why should she nurture a talent and then watch the talent be herpetitor? Or he might strike out on his own after working for her for a short while? Forget it. She would rather earn less and not do this. Big Girl Li was stunned. What if he gives you money and signs a contract? she continued. She also understood her Sister Sanyas concerns but she wanted to earn more money. In addition, if it still didnt rain, she wasnt sure how long her business of receiving goods wouldst. She had to find alternative ways in advance. Qin Xiaoyao quickly noticed Big Girl Lis odd behavior and asked her, What do you mean? Big Girl Li smiled in embarrassment. Can our Xiaomei and I learn how to make straw sandals from you? The apprenticeship fee will be one tael of silver per person. In addition, well sign a contract to ensure that the woven straw sandals will be provided to you at two copper coins per pair, and we wont pass the skill to outsiders. In this way, she could also make straw sandals to earn money in her free time. In addition, if she handed the woven straw sandals to Sister Sanya, Sister Sanya would give her a small portion to sell at the stall, and she could earn more again. Chapter 136 - 136 Chapter 136: Getting Tough To Do Business 136 Chapter 136: Getting Tough To Do Business Qin Xiaoyao was caught off guard. You also want to learn how to weave straw sandals? You have the time to weave? she was somewhat surprised. Yes, I want to learn! Big Girl Li quickly nodded. After that, she added, How can I not have time? !! Right now, I follow Daniu toe into town in the morning to deliver the goods to you. Then, I go and set up the stall. After returning to the vige, theres almost nothing much to do. Daniu and his younger brother are the ones doing the goods collecting in the countryside. When the vigerse to sell their goods, theres Xiaomei holding the fort. Mother-inw saw that I was free and even asked me to fetch water. When she said this, Big Girl Lis expression was a little glum. Im afraid that if this goes on, shell make me pick firewood to start a fire or even cook and feed the chickens. Doing those dirty and tiring jobs was not asfortable as sitting down and weaving straw sandals. Moreover, the straw sandals could be sold for money. Qin Xiaoyaos expression was one of sympathy. Compared to her good sisters mother-inw, Qin Xiaoyao felt that her own mother-inw was really the best. Sister Sanya, please consider it. If you feel that the apprenticeship fee is too low, I can increase it. Seeing Qin Xiaoyao looking over, Big Girl Li quickly covered her purse. But you cant add too much! she said again. The main thing was that she also wanted to save money to buy a courtyard dwelling. Although that goal seemed very far away, she could always hope, right? Qin Xiaoyaoughed with amusement. After pondering for a moment, she said, Alright then. Ill charge both of you two taels of silver as school fees, and then well sign the contract. The rule is that each of you hmm have to provide me with 400 pairs of straw sandals every month at two copper coins a pair. If you exceed this amount, I can give two and a half copper coins. Or if you dont want to give me, you two can deal with the excess on your own. If its less than 400 pairs Big Girl Li immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Youll have topensate me with as many copper coins as your shortfall. How about it? This was also to prevent the apprentices she had taught from from selling the woven straw sandals inrge quantities to a certain extent. When she was selling straw sandals in the vige, the price was only three copper coins. If the two couldnt satisfy her requirement and yet still sold the straw sandals off at a price below three copper coins, then the whole exercise would be meaningless. However, if the price was higher than three copper coins, it would not be so easy to sell. Big Girl Li frowned. After some thought, she understood the underlying meaning behind Qin Xiaoyaos words. Deal! Then, she smiled and agreed to Qin Xiaoyaos condition. It was all for the sake of making use of the free time she had to earn more copper coins. She didnt expect to rely on this to make a fortune, nor did she think of scamming her Sister Sanya. What was there she couldnt agree to? Lets first set the contract for five years. Unless theres a change in my business operation and I dont allow you to supply so many pairs of straw sandals, each person will have to provide 400 pairs a month, not a single pair less. If you fall short, youll have topensate me money. Big Girl Li quickly nodded. The other thing is keeping the skill a secret. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li. Im not asking you two to keep this skill a secret forever. Lets make it five years as well. Within five years, youre not allowed to spread it to the outside world. Otherwise, for each person you pass the skill to, you will have topensate me ten taels of silver. If the person who learned the skill passed it to a second person, you would have to pay another ten taels. And so on. Big Girl Lis heart was pounding furiously. Ten taels? Moreover, they would have to continue topensate for the subsequent spread of the skill. Yes, Qin Xiaoyao replied. So, you have to make this clear to your little sister-inw. Dont be soft-hearted and pass on this skill to your family members. Otherwise, I wont let this matter rest. She trusted Big Girl, but she didnt have much contact with Liu Xiaomei and the Liu family. Mm-hmm. Okay! Big Girl Li realized the seriousness of the problem and nodded. Suddenly, she thought of something and asked Qin Xiaoyao, You just said that it cant be spread to the outside world for only five years? Qin Xiaoyao saw through Big Girl Lis thoughts and smiled. Yes, you only need to keep it a secret for five years. After five years, Im afraid your little sister-inw will also be married, and I cant keep watching her. Even the factories before the apocalypse might not be able to keep their technology a secret for five years. It would be amazing if she could keep her skill a secret for five years. In addition, she had also asked Yuner to teach Wang Xiaomei how to weave straw sandals. She had also made an agreement with Wang Xiaomei that she would be allowed to redeem herself after five years. At that time, Wang Xiaomei would be a free person, and Qin Xiaoyao wouldnt be able to stop her from making money by weaving straw sandals. Five years Hoho! After five years, she might even have her own career. She probably wouldnt care about the straw sandals business anymore. ... Big Girl Lis eyes lit up. Deal! she said hurriedly. The contract was only limited to five years. After five years, Sister Sanya could no longer be bothered with them. There was hope for her and her little sister-inw to rely on this craft to earn money to support their family in the future As the two of them were talking, Song Yun and Wang Xiaomei arrived one after the other. Song Yun found out that her sister-inw had promised Big Girl Li that she would teach Big Girl Li how to weave straw sandals. Song Yun offered to take Qin Xiaoyaos ce as the teacher. Qin Xiaoyao was also very generous. She gave Song Yun two silver coins, which made the little girl absolutely delighted. And so Big Girl Li began to learn this craft in the Song family. After half a day, although she couldnt fully grasp the trick, she did learn the basic outline. After Qin Xiaoyao finished making the century eggs for the day, she brought Wang Xiaomei to take reading and writing lessons from Song Que. Big Girl Li went along too. ... After signing the contract and paying the silver, the apprenticeship was officially confirmed. She also mentioned that she would bring Liu Xiaomei over tomorrow, and only then did she leave. Before she left, she looked at Wang Xiaomei with envy. Right now, the entire Brook Falls Vige felt this girls life was hard, having signed an indenture at a young age and bing a ve. No one expected that she would not only eat well and dress well in the Song family, but she was also highly regarded by her Sister Sanya. Delivering goods, setting up stalls, and weaving straw sandals she was involved in all of these. Now, Sister Sanya was even taking her to attend lessons, learning how to read and write. Even the girls biological parents did not treat her so well. She could still redeem herself after five years. If this condition was offered to her own little sister-inw, her little sister-inw would probably pounce on it. Sigh! One could only say that a persons fortune could be so strange The next day. When Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu came to deliver the goods, they also brought Liu Xiaomei along. Qin Xiaoyao had to deliver the goods and set up her stallter, so she didnt have time to entertain them. She wanted to arrange for Song Yun to take charge of Liu Xiaomei. Liu Xiaomei, however, suggested that she set up the stall with her sister-inw to see the world. Qin Xiaoyao agreed. She decided to postpone her talk to Liu Xiaomei about weaving straw sandals until after she closed the stall. It was a hot summer day. After Qin Xiaoyao delivered the goods, she went to the market on North Street. She had only stayed there for a while before the market wrapped up. She then pushed the handcart home with Wang Xiaomei, and the two of them chatted as they walked. Mrs. Song, the market is dispersing earlier and earlier. If this continues, Im afraid it will be harder to sell our goods. Not only did the market disperse early, but in the past few days, she found that the number of people going to the market had also decreased. If it still didnt rain, no one would be willing to go out. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the remaining woven bamboo products taking up more than half of the handcart, and her expression turned grim. Chapter 137 - 137 Chapter 137: Borrowing Money 137 Chapter 137: Borrowing Money Have no fear. If it really doesnt work out, we can try setting up our stall at night. Anyway, there were many people selling things at the night market, so it would not be strange for her family to sell woven bamboo products and straw sandals. How could one not earn money living in town as long as one was diligent? Wang Xiaomeis eyes flickered. Okay! she answered quickly. Soon, Qin Xiaoyao and Wang Xiaomei reached the Song familys residence. In the end, when she entered, Qin Xiaoyao realized that not only were Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei there, but Wang Dashan was also there. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao remember that today was the day Wang Dashan was supposed to deliver firewood to their house. That was right. Ever since Wang Xiaomei decided to stay in the Song family Not long after that, Wang Xiaomei found Qin Xiaoyao and told her that she hoped her brother would be allowed to provide firewood for the Song family. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and agreed to Wang Xiaomeis request. She had to buy firewood anyway, and most of the time, she had to carry it back herself. She then asked Wang Dashan to send firewood and straw to their family regrly. It was only muchter that she found out that Wang Dashan had contacted a few more households in the alley. He had also reached a long-term deal with these families and delivered firewood to them regrly. In this way, Wang Dashan now had a new business. He could also enter the town often and meet his younger sister asionally. After getting Qin Xiaoyaos permission, he immediately embraced the business idea. Wang Xiaomei was very happy to see her big brother. Mrs. Song, Wang Dashan looked at Qin Xiaoyao and called out to her in embarrassment. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao responded in return. Just as she was about to push the handcart to the storeroom to unload the goods, she saw that Wang Dashan looked like he wanted to say something, but he hesitated. Hence, she asked Wang Dashan, Is something the matter? Wang Dashan nodded. He looked at Wang Xiaomei worriedly. Qin Xiaoyao paused for a moment before turning to Wang Xiaomei, Xiaomei, you can go unload the goods. Wang Xiaomei looked at her big brother, then at Qin Xiaoyao. Okay! she replied doubtfully. Then, she walked back, took the handcart from Qin Xiaoyao, and pushed it to the storage room. Qin Xiaoyao only walked toward Wang Dashan after Wang Xiaomei had walked a little further away. Lets sit over there and talk, she said. She pointed to the stone table and stone bench under the tree not far away. Previously, she did not have a good impression of Wang Dashan. However, after this period of time, her impression of him changed. After all, her mother-inw had put in a lot of good words for Wang Dashan. She said that most of the firewood he sent were thick chunks, and each time, the quantity was plentiful. In addition, during this period, he didnt look for his sister alone, nor did he let his fathere here to look for Wang Xiaomei, so she was quite satisfied. No, no! Wang Dashan said hurriedly, still looking uneasy. Qin Xiaoyao didnt force him either. Alright then. If you have anything to say, just say it, she continued. Wang Dashan seemed to struggle inwardly for a while before he spoke. I would like to borrow 400 copper coins from Mrs. Song. After saying this, Wang Dashan became even more ill at ease and did not dare to raise his head. Qin Xiaoyao frowned slightly. She looked in the direction of the entrance of the storage room where Wang Xiaomei was standing. Why do you need so much money? Also, have you told Xiaomei about this? Xiaomei had set up the stall with Qin Xiaoyao and helped her make straw sandals. Qin Xiaoyao had given her some money. Now that Wang Dashan was looking to borrow money from her, was it because he had already borrowed money from his younger sister? Qin Xiaoyaos frown deepened when this thought popped into her mind. If that were the case, she would have to go to the market and buy her own firewood. Or, they could find someone else to deliver firewood to their house. No, I havent, Wang Dashan said hurriedly. Xiaomei doesnt know about this matter, so I must ask Mrs. Song not to tell her! He raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was very surprised. Only then did she realize that she might have guessed wrong. Therefore, she waited for Wang Dashan to continue. After a while, Wang Dashan said, I want to borrow money from Mrs. Song to buy a handcart. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and looked at the handcart that Wang Dashan had parked in the courtyard. Although the handcart was old and not as big as her handcart, its functionality was not affected. Wang Dashan noticed Qin Xiaoyaos gaze and quickly exined, I borrowed that handcart from Uncle Vige Chief. But Uncle Vige Chiefs family also needs to use it for themselves. I I have to send firewood to town frequently now. Its not good not good to keep using Uncle Vige Chiefs handcart. ... During this period, he had already contacted a few families who regrly bought firewood from him. In addition, after selling firewood in town for a while, he gradually found an efficient way. If he didnt have the determination to do it for a long time, he wouldnt have thought of buying a handcart. Qin Xiaoyao roughly understood his intentions. Collecting firewood to sell is not an easy job. Have you thought about this matter carefully? Wang Dashans eyes lit up when he saw that Qin Xiaoyao did not reject him. Yes, Ive thought it through! Mrs. Song, if youre still worried, Ill use firewood to pay off the loan. I wont charge you any money for the whole of next year! Qin Xiaoyao finally had a smile on her face. Then wouldnt my family be taking advantage of you? Wang Dashan was now sending firewood to her house almost once every three days. He sent two bundles each time, which cost five copper coins. In one month, her family spent about 50 copper coins on firewood. ... In one year, it would be 600 copper coins. However, Wang Dashan only asked to borrow 400 copper coins from her. Wouldnt she be the one taking advantage of him? Moreover, the sum involved was not small. Wang Dashan scratched his head in embarrassment. How can it be considered taking advantage? Back then, if it wasnt for Mrs. Songs help, Xiaomei Even if I provide firewood for free to your family, its only right! Hehe! I dont want a free gift. Qin Xiaoyao finallyughed. After thinking for a while, she said, How about this? I agree with you about using firewood to pay off your debt. But if you give it away for free for a year, youll lose too much. Yes, 400 copper coins. Its equivalent to 80 shoulder loads of firewood. As Qin Xiaoyao muttered, she looked in the direction of her woodshed. How about this? Give me five more loads of firewood, and Ill count it as interest. After that, you will deliver firewood once every two days until you pay back my 85 loads of firewood. In addition, dont forget to send some kindling wood to start fires. Pine needles, leaves, and other firewood used to start a fire were usually given for free. However, the amount was not much. At the moment, her woodshed was empty, so it was good to take the opportunity to stock up on some kindling wood. Alright! Thank you, Mrs. Song! Wang Dashan quickly thanked her. He didnt feel that it was inappropriate for Qin Xiaoyao to collect interest from him. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao take out four silver coins and hand them to Wang Dashan. Wang Dashan expressed his gratitude again. At this moment, Wang Xiaomei had finished unloading the goods and put away the handcart. She walked over to them. Then you talk to Xiaomei. I will go over there first. Qin Xiaoyao pointed at Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei, who were not far away. Mrs. Song, take care, Wang Dashan said hurriedly. Qin Xiaoyao nodded and left. Even from a distance, Wang Xiaomei could see her big brother bowing with cupped hands to Qin Xiaoyao. After she walked over, she asked Wang Dashan what was happening. Nothing much. I was just telling Mrs. Song about the future firewood delivery. Wang Dashan avoided Wang Xiaomeis gaze. Mrs. Song asked me to deliver firewood every two days henceforth. Chapter 138 - 138 Chapter 138: Didn’t Mind Having More Money 138 Chapter 138: Didnt Mind Having More Money Wang Xiaomei did not suspect anything and even nodded her head. The woodshed at home is empty. Aunt Song was just saying that you can send some more firewood for them to stock up. Wang Dashan smiled. Hehe! Yes, thats right. !! Wang Xiaomei looked at her big brother and took a step forward. Then, she grabbed Wang Dashans hand and shoved something from her hand into his hand. Realizing what his sister was holding in her hand, Wang Dashan quickly pushed Wang Xiaomei away and took a step back. Then, he asked in an annoyed tone, What are you doing? Seeing Wang Xiaomei holding a stack of copper coins without saying anything, Wang Dashan continued, You should save your own money. But Im selling firewood now. I have some ie every day. I wont go hungry, Wang Dashan continued. Wang Dashans heart softened when he saw Wang Xiaomei looking at him with a face full of heartache. Dont worry. After five years, Big Brother will definitely save up enough silver to redeem you! Wang Xiaomeis heart was overwhelmed with a burning sensation. She wanted badly to say that it was fine even if she stayed with the Song family. She really liked her current life. However, after thinking about it, she eventually didnt say anything. You can keep your money. If you want to buy something to eat or use, you can buy it for yourself. Dont always trouble Mrs. Song and the rest. Wang Dashan finally stepped forward again and held his little sisters arms with both hands. Mrs. Song and the others treat me very well. I dontck anything at home, Wang Xiaomei said immediately. Big Brother, on the other hand, was looking more tanned and thinner than before. He had suffered a lot to gather firewood to sell. Wang Dashan smiled. Thats because Mrs. Song and the others are good people. Just stay in the Song family and do whatever Mrs. Song wants you to do. Youll be fine! Mm-hmm! On the other side. After Qin Xiaoyao met up with Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei, Big Girl Li gave Qin Xiaoyao an update and informed her that Liu Xiaomei would tag along to learn how to weave straw sandals in the future. Qin Xiaoyao agreed happily and brought Liu Xiaomei to look for Song Que to sign the contract and collect the fees. You two can learn from Yuner in the future. Well implement the contract in three days. After that, youll have to deliver the goods to me, Qin Xiaoyao said. Okay! The two of them quickly agreed. Liu Xiaomei, in particr, nodded the most vehemently. Qin Xiaoyao gave augh. Then lets go. Ill take you guys to look for Yuner. The two of them indicated their agreement. Qin Xiaoyao then led the two of them to the alley. Song Yun was weaving straw sandals there and was overjoyed to see the three of them. Then, she quickly settled Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei down and became their teacher. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao leave with peace of mind. After leaving the alley, she went to look for Madam Liu. She updated Madam Liu on the new arrangement with Wang Dashan to send firewood to their house and that Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei were going toe to their house to learn how to weave straw sandals. Then Ill make more dishes for lunch for the next few days, Madam Liu said as she put away the needle and thread. Its gettingte. Well go and cook, she added. Alright. For the next two days, Big Girl Li brought Liu Xiaomei to report to the Song familys residence every day. As the two of them learned very seriously, they finallypletely mastered the technique of weaving straw sandals and could end their apprenticeship. However, the two of them were reluctant to leave the Song family. This was because they ate and lived well at the Song familys ce, and the ce was cool. Compared to the Liu familys environment back in Brook Falls Vige, the difference was like heaven and earth. Unfortunately, departure was inevitable. On this day, when it was almost dusk, Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei left Mountain Spring Town and went home. After exiting the town gate and walking along the main road, the two of them looked a little listless. They were not filled with joy that they had mastered the skill of weaving straw sandals at all. Sister-inw, can I live with you after you have bought a courtyard dwelling? Liu Xiaomei suddenly asked Big Girl Li. Big Girl Lis eyes became despondent. By the time I buy the courtyard dwelling, youll probably be married. Why would you be staying with me? she replied. When she heard this, Liu Xiaomeis face fell. Sister-inw, why do you think Father and Mother dont agree to us buying a courtyard dwelling in town? ... Mrs. Songs courtyard dwelling is so nice! There is a well, and the ce is cool. There are also fewer mosquitoes. Big Girl Li sighed, and her eyes brightened as she looked at Liu Xiaomei. Dont even think about it. They cant bear to give up theirnd in the countryside. Also, Erniu isnt married yet, so our family doesnt have the money to buy a courtyard dwelling. Oh Liu Xiaomei responded and didnt say anything else. At the Song familys residence, Qin Xiaoyao and Wang Xiaomei pushed the handcart out onto the streets after dinner. That was right. She had decided to bring Wang Xiaomei to set up their stall in the night market. Qin Xiaoyao pushed the handcart to the busiest street at night in the Western District. Before long, the sky turned dark. As more people came to the street to enjoy the food, business actually boomed. The two of them shouted and sold their goods at the same time, and soon they were kept busy. After a while, Madam Liu arrived with Song Yun and Song Ye. ... When she arrived at their stall, she didnt leave and stayed to help. In the beginning, Madam Liu and Song Yun were still embarrassed. In the end, Song Yes earnest shouting made the two of themugh, and they followed suit soon. Therge family surrounded the handcart to sell woven bamboo products and straw sandals. They seemed to have gained some poprity and even attracted some customers. When the number of people on the street gradually decreased, the quantity of woven bamboo products left on the handcart had also decreased substantially. As she pushed the handcart back, Qin Xiaoyao indicated they could continue with the night market business. After that, she decided that henceforth they would set up a stall in the night market at night. When they got home, everyone washed up and went to bed. By the time Qin Xiaoyao finished washing up and returned to her room, it was already veryte. She thought that the man on the other side of the bed had already fallen asleep, but the moment shey down, the man turned over. Qin Xiaoyao then saw the mans attractive eyes looking at her under the moonlight. Thinking that she might have woken him up, Qin Xiaoyao spoke up, Hubby, youre not asleep yet? Mm-hmm, Song Que replied. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything else, Song Que suddenly asked, Is our family very short of money now? Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Then, she nodded. Of course, who wouldin about having more money? Seeing Song Ques frown, Qin Xiaoyao thought of something and said, Theres no problem with food and clothing. But soon, you have to return to the academy. Yeer is also at the age to enter the academy. By then, the expenses will increase. Besides, we just bought a courtyard dwelling. Shouldnt we earn some money to save up? We wont panic if we have money in our hands, right? Im not going back to the academy. I will teach Yeer so he doesnt need to go to the academy either, Song Que said. He was a little surprised that Qin Xiaoyao actually had the intention of letting him and Yeer enroll in the academy. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned for a moment, then she thought of something. Are you worried that you cant keep up with the learning progress at the academy? Qin Xiaoyao regretted it the moment she said it. Like her, her attractive husband had inherited all of his predecessors memories. Furthermore, he was also a prophet, so his learning ability was naturally not bad. Er what I meant was, since youve already transmigrated here, youll have to adapt to your new identity. In this era, if you want to make a name for yourself, the more reliable way is to take the imperial examination. For yourself and our family, I think you should try! Qin Xiaoyao smiled again when she saw Song Que looking at her. Im not a man myself. Otherwise, Id want to try too! Chapter 139 - 139 Chapter 139: Drought and Locust Plague 139 Chapter 139: Drought and Locust gue Qin Xiaoyaos words were true. She was not a man and was not qualified to take the imperial examination. Otherwise, she would definitely try her best to see if she could gain some fame. After all, she believed that her learning ability was not bad. Song Ques eyes finally showed a hint of interest. Its a shame youre not a man, he whispered. Huh? What? Qin Xiaoyao didnt hear him clearly. Song Que did not repeat, however. Instead, he said, I cant take the schrly examination for the time being, and theres no need to. Why cant you take it? Qin Xiaoyao was puzzled. Isnt the elementary schr exam held twice every three years? You missed itst year, but youll have another chance next year. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao. I am observing a mourning period, he said. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Only then did she remember this. In this era, you are not allowed to sit for the Imperial examinations during the mourning period? she asked Song Que. Yes. I can only go for the examinations after the three-year mourning period ends. Qin Xiaoyao appeared somewhat disappointed. Then you can take the exam three yearster. The two of you go to the academy and learn first. A beard wellthered is half shaved. A hint of a smile crept across Song Ques eyes. Was the idiom A beard wellthered is half shaved supposed to be used in this way? No need. Something will happen in Mountain Spring Town soon. Qin Xiaoyao got a shock. Thinking of Song Ques identity as a prophet, she instantly became nervous. What will happen? she asked worriedly. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos reaction, Song Que couldnt help but feel happy again. Youve guessed it right previously. Mountain Spring Town will experience a great drought soon. Not only Mountain Spring Town, but Zhao County and the dozens of counties around Zhao County will also suffer from droughts. Theres no way we can harvest this autumns grain. The grain price will rise soon. Qin Xiaoyaos heart tightened. So, the food you asked me to stock up on before Yes, Song Que nodded his head. If theres any extra money at home, you can go buy some more food and put it in the storage room. As for the food in the cer, dont touch it for now. Qin Xiaoyao immediately turned to look at Song Que. Song Que sighed again. Once again, he nodded under Qin Xiaoyaos gaze. After the great drought, there will be a locust gue. At that time, not only the crops but some trees would also suffer. There will be a famine in Mountain Spring Town. When the locust gue came, it was overwhelming. The few remaining crops in the farm fields would be gnawed clean, and it would be impossible to harvest anything. Qin Xiaoyaos expression changed. Fa famine? Will people starve to death? she asked. Yes. It will be more difficult for those who live outside the town. When the timees, there will be people squeezing into town. Some people will also choose to flee to other states and capitals. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat. She thought of the documentaries she had watched before the apocalypse. Locust gue, panic fleeing She thought that after escaping the apocalypse, she would be able to live a stable life and no longer have to lead a life on the run. Was she painting too rosy a picture of this world? Back then, if she had not listened to her attractive husband to buy a courtyard dwelling in town but insisted on building a house in Brook Falls Vige, would they also face the predicament ofcking food and water in the future? Would they have to flee with their entire family? With her physique and ability, it would not be difficult for her to survive, but what about the rest of the family? I will go to the grain store tomorrow to buy more grain. After a moment of panic, Qin Xiaoyao quickly calmed down. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao. Mm-hmm, he answered. He hesitated for a moment, but eventually, he decided not to tell Qin Xiaoyao about the mountain bandits. By September, his legs would have fully recovered. ... When the time came, he would make preparations with her. After talking for a while, the couple finally closed their eyes and went to sleep. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, couldnt fall asleep after learning about the drought and locust gue. After turning around twice, Song Que sensed Qin Xiaoyaos unease and opened his eyes. You cant sleep? the man quickly asked. Qin Xiaoyaos body froze. Mm-hmm, she replied after a moments hesitation. Then lets continue chatting, Song Que suggested. Alright. Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and agreed. Tell me about your life during the apocalypse. Song Que was very curious about that world. Qin Xiaoyao was caught by surprise. ... After recalling for a while, she began to describe it to Song Que. Her attractive husband was a prophet and had been protected in the base all year round. He definitely wouldnt know the dangers and excitement outside. It wasnt strange for him to be curious. It was a good opportunity. She could tell him about it and let him know how powerful his wife was. And so, Song Que soon heard a series of thrilling and dangerous stories. Then, as the female lead of the story, his wife was able to turn the tide at almost every critical moment and avert danger. Is your strength-type special ability any different from the Internal Force of this era? Song Que suddenly asked. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Internal Force? Are there really people in this era who have Internal Force? she immediately asked Song Que. She had exined her own strength-type special ability as Internal Force because she felt that it was simr to the Internal Force mentioned by the storytellers. However, she didnt know whether there were really martial arts experts who cultivated Internal Force in this era. There are. Song Que gave an affirmative answer. However, the requirements for cultivating Internal Force are very high. They have to train hard from a young age, and only after many years, or even decades, will they be able to achieve anything. In his previous life, after he gained power, he had martial arts experts to protect him. Those with high Internal Force could even leap onto roofs and vault over walls, and shoot leaves to injure people. Qin Xiaoyaos interest was piqued when she heard this answer. Are there really martial arts experts? Youve met them? What are they like? She turned around and faced Song Que. When the woman turned around so suddenly, Song Ques breathing stopped for a moment. He restrained his urge to back away, and he calmed his mind before saying, Ive met them. Then, he described the scene of him witnessing Internal Force experts leaping onto roofs and vaulting over walls, as well as shooting leaves to hurt people. Qin Xiaoyao nodded, but her eyes were filled with disappointment. Is that all? They cant absorb peoples power or use inner strength to hurt people from a distance? Song Que was a little surprised. Was that all? It was extremely rare to find a martial arts expert with Internal Force. At that time, his office had spent a lot of money and promised a lot of benefits, but he had only managed to engage two people. You can do all of this? Song Que didnt reply and looked at Qin Xiaoyao doubtfully. Qin Xiaoyao pouted. Of course, I cant. Seeing the odd look in Song Ques eyes, Qin Xiaoyao continued, But I can also leap onto roofs, vault over walls, and shoot leaves to hurt people! Only then did Song Que stare at Qin Xiaoyao again. Qin Xiaoyaos face was filled with pride. Of course, because I havent returned to my best state yet, it might be a little difficult to fly over roofs and vault over walls now. Qin Xiaoyao was a little embarrassed to see the other party trying to hold back hisughter. But but its not a problem to hurt people by shooting leaves! Do you remember the wild game we ate in Brook Falls Vige? Song Que held back hisughter. I remember, he said in support. I used my special ability and injected my power into the stones before hitting the prey, Qin Xiaoyao said proudly. Afraid that Song Que would look down on her, she quickly added, I used stones because it saves more energy. If I use leaves and inject more special ability power, its still very powerful! Chapter 140 - 140 Chapter 140: Flying Leaves Just Like Daggers 140 Chapter 140: Flying Leaves Just Like Daggers Song Ques eyes flickered. Can you disy it tomorrow? he asked. So, this woman was also a martial arts expert? If that were the case, then it would be a pleasant surprise. Sure! Qin Xiaoyao immediately agreed. Ill show it to you tomorrow morning when I bring you out for rehabilitation exercise, she said. It was such a good opportunity to show off her power as his girlfriend. Of course, she couldnt let it go. Alright. Song Ques eyes flickered, and his heart was filled with anticipation. Sigh! Dont just talk about me. Hubby, what were you prophets like during the apocalypse? Is your prophetic ability strong? What can it predict? Qin Xiaoyao suddenly asked. Previously, she didnt dare to ask her attractive husband about these things. However, the atmosphere tonight was good, and her mood to chat was already in full swing. She could not control her curiosity anymore. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao, appearing somewhat disinterested. Nothing special. Just like you thought, I just stay in the base. As for the ability to predict the future My prophetic abilities are probably very ordinary. I can only asionally see some images of the future and make some judgments. Oh. Qin Xiaoyao seemed to sense Song Ques sadness and patted his arm. Song Ques body stiffened in fear. Qin Xiaoyaos heart ached even more when Song Que froze. Its fine. Its all in the past now. Ill protect you well in the future. After that, Song Que gave up on the idea of pushing Qin Xiaoyao away. He felt a little touched in his heart inexplicably. Im a little sleepy. Lets sleep, Song Que suddenly said. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. Then, she saw Song Que turn over and disy his back to her. After a while, the woman scratched her nose. She smiled, turned over, and closed her eyes. Her attractive husband must be shy The next day. After Qin Xiaoyao got out of bed and washed up, she helped Song Que to walk around the courtyard as usual for his rehabilitation exercise. Your leg is much better than before. You can basically walk without crutches anymore. Qin Xiaoyao said as she helped Song Que walk. Mm-hmm. Song Ques voice sounded somewhat excited. As his leg got better day by day, he began to feel certain that his leg would fully recover. In this life, he could really be a healthy, able-bodied person. Doctor Li said that you have to move around more. Dont just stay in your room all day. Seeing that Song Que was looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao continued, If youre afraid of beingughed at when you go out during the day, you can go out at night. With Mother and the rest looking after you, I can feel more at ease. Song Ques heart was once againunched into a slight turmoil. What about you? he blurted out this query. As soon as he spoke, he realized that something was wrong. However, it was toote for regrets. He could only look at Qin Xiaoyao and wait for her answer. Qin Xiaoyao was caught by surprise. After she came back to her senses, her face turned red. I I have to set up the stall, she replied. However, at this moment, she was thinking the stall be damned. She wanted even more to take her attractive husband out on a date at night! Qin Xiaoyaos heart thumped wildly. She was hoping that Song Que would invite her again. Then, she could change her mind. Unexpectedly, Song Que responded with Oh. Thereafter, Qin Xiaoyaos expression froze on her face. She supported Song Que and continued to walk forward. She held back for a moment, but in the end, she still couldnt hold it in. I suddenly feel that you were rightst night. In any case, there will be a famine soon. When the prices of goods soar, money will be worthless. Our family is not short of money at the moment. How about I dont go and set up a stall? Song Que turned his head again. He looked at Qin Xiaoyao with an amused expression. ... Qin Xiaoyao didnt dare to look at him directly. After some time, Song Que spoke. Didnt you sayst night that you wanted to show me how you hurt people by shooting leaves? Song Que suddenly changed the topic as if he did not hear Qin Xiaoyaos words. Oh! Thats easy! Qin Xiaoyao quickly agreed. Then, she looked around to make sure that no one was looking at them. She went to the tree next to the stone table and plucked a leaf. Then, she said proudly, Hubby, watch carefully. After making sure that no one was looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao finally struck a pose. Following that, she injected her strength-type special ability into the leaf. As her eyes glinted with a sharp light The leaf in her hand shot out like a flying dagger, stabbing straight into the boundary wall constructed of bricks not far away. ... Song Ques eyes widened in great astonishment. In his previous life, he had also asked the two martial arts experts in his residence to perform this flying leaf attack for him. The flying leaves that the two shot out were indeed powerful. If used well, they could hurt people and even take their lives. However,pared to the person in front of him, they were far inferior. The flying leaf she shot out could no longer be considered a flying leaf. It was not an exaggeration to describe it as a flying dagger. With such sharpness and strength, slicing an enemys throat would not take any effort at all. Now, he honestly believed that this woman had the ability to kill zombies and those special ability users with ulterior motives. Qin Xiaoyao proudly pped her hands. How was it? She looked at Song Que with a beaming smile. Not bad. Song Que suppressed the shock in his heart and gave positive feedback. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao was a little disappointed. She felt that her attractive husbands reaction was too calm. She tried to exin, Ahem I didnt disy it well just now. If if I add more special ability power, the move will be even more powerful. Song Ques eyes flickered slightly. Then, he quickly returned to normal. No need. This is enough. Go and take down that leaf. Dont let anyone find out, he said. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Que and realized that her attractive husband really didnt seem to be interested in watching anymore. Okay, she responded. She went over and removed the leaf she had just shot. However, she did not know that Song Que was still in shock as he looked at her back. He had really picked up a treasure After a while, Madam Liu and Wang Xiaomei finished making breakfast and called for them to eat. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao help Song Que to the hall. After the meal, Big Girl Li and the rest arrived not long after. After that, everyone began their respective work tasks. As usual, Qin Xiaoyao didnt bother with anyone. After taking stock of the goods, she pushed the handcart to Fortune Mansion. After that, she went to the Fortune Restaurant. She settled the ounts and received the money as usual. After she was done with her business, Qin Xiaoyao remembered what Song Que had told herst night and went to the grain store to buy more grain. As Qin Xiaoyao hade to buy arge amount of grain before, the shop assistant recognized her. He was very enthusiastic when he saw her. Qin Xiaoyao immediately became alert when she learned that the price of brown rice and coarse flour had risen to three copper coins per catty. I came with a handcart today. Just help me load 400 catties of coarse flour and 200 catties of brown rice. In addition, reserve 600 catties of coarse flour and 400 catties of brown rice for me. Ille backter to collect them. The shop assistants eyes lit up at once! No problem! The shop owner has just restocked the stock, so Ill take you directly to the warehouse in the backyard to get the goods! He said hurriedly. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. Just restocked? Yup! The shop assistant quickly responded. Chapter 141 - 141 Chapter 141: Stocking Up On Food Again 141 Chapter 141: Stocking Up On Food Again Then I want to change it. Make it 2000 catties of coarse flour and 1000 catties of brown rice then, Qin Xiaoyao said quickly. A total of 3000 catties was only nine taels of silver. It just so happened that a batch of century eggs was produced yesterday, and she earned nearly three taels. In addition to the nine taels of silver she had saved up before, it was still within the range that she could afford. !! ording to her attractive husbands prediction, the price of food would increase. At that time, even if she couldnt finish the food in her family, she could sell it and earn a sum from the price difference. Alright! The shop assistant quickly agreed. The store had just raised the price of grain, and business had not been very good these two days. This big business deal made up for the shortfall. I bought so much, and Im picking up the goods myself. As for the price, you should give me a lower price. Qin Xiaoyao suddenly said when she saw the shop assistants smile. It was not her style to not bargain. The smile on the shop assistants face quickly disappeared. After that, he moved closer to Qin Xiaoyao. When its loaded, Ill give you an extra 50 catties of brown rice and 50 catties of coarse flour. How about it? He said in a lowered voice. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. She bought 3000 catties but only got 100 catties for free. That was only a 3% discount. Hence, she counter-proposed, Add another 200 catties to make it a 10% discount! She knew that this shop assistant had a special position in this shop and had the authority to decide how much discount he could give her. When she came to buy grain and talked to the shop owner previously, it was also this shop assistant who had helped her to negotiate. The shop assistant seemed to struggle inwardly for a moment. Well Madam Qin Help me out. Its not like this is our only business. After Im done with this batch of food, there will be a next time. Qin Xiaoyao said hurriedly and even gave the shop assistant a surreptitious eye signal. The shop assistants expression immediately changed. Deal! Then Madam Qin, please wait a moment. Ill go and talk to the shop owner. Ill try to help you negotiate the price! he said. Hehe! Go then! Qin Xiaoyao said happily. She was very confident that once this good brother took action, this deal would definitely be sessful. Alright! After the shop assistant finished speaking, he quickly left. Qin Xiaoyao didnt have to wait long before the shop assistant came back in a happy mood. He even told Qin Xiaoyao the good news that the price had been agreed upon. Qin Xiaoyao paid two taels of silver as a deposit with a smile on her face. Then, she pushed the handcart and followed the shop assistant to the backyard of the grain store. Over there, he weighed the grains with practiced ease and loaded them onto the handcart. What does Madam Qins family do for a living? Why do you need so much brown rice and coarse flour? The shop assistant asked casually as he helped Qin Xiaoyao load the goods. He was a little curious, but he also wanted to get closer to Qin Xiaoyao so that he could better win over this big customer. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered when she heard that. Ahem Just some small businesses that require a lot of effort but dont make much money, Qin Xiaoyao replied offhandedly. Hey! Help me load more coarse flour. She then changed the topic. Oh, okay! The shop assistant quickly replied. He didnt ask further. After a while, the two of them finished loading the goods. Theres a total of 600 catties here, all of which are coarse flour. After that, you still have 1600 catties of coarse flour and 1100 catties of brown rice, the shop assistant said. Qin Xiaoyao nodded and patted the food on the handcart. Good. Then you take some time to retrieve the goods. Ille overter to pay the remaining money and take the goods away. Alright! The shop assistant replied happily. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao pull the handcart and leave. Looking at Qin Xiaoyaos back as she left, the shop assistant couldnt help but admire her. This Madam Qins strength was really quite remarkable. After leaving the grain store, Qin Xiaoyao pulled a handcart full of grain and flour and headed home. When she got home, she found that Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei had already closed their stalls. When Madam Liu and the others saw Qin Xiaoyao bringing back a handcart full of stuff, they also came forward to ask her what was going on. When they learned that Qin Xiaoyao had bought a total of 3000 catties of food, everyone was aghast. 3000 catties? How can we possibly eat that much? Madam Liu immediately objected. Thats right, Sister Sanya. If you buy so much, Im afraid your family will have to eat this batch until the year after next! Big Girl Li said. Sister Sanya had just mentioned to her that the price of food might rise, and she had already told Daniu to buy 200 catties of food today and store them. She had thought that 200 catties were more than enough, but her Sister Sanya had bought 3000 catties! Good grief! Did she need to stock up so much? ... There was a look of disapproval in Song Yun and Liu Xiaomeis eyes as well. I didnt say its all for eating. Qin Xiaoyao said as she swept her gaze across everyones faces. Everyone was bewildered. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao smile mysteriously. I just got the news today. The price of rice and flour will rise again. Even if we cant finish all the rice and flour ourselves, we can sell them when the price rises. Itll be a profitable business. Qin Xiaoyao directed these words at Madam Liu. It was mainly to pacify Madam Liu. She did have some ns for selling food, but she didnt want to sell too much. After all, the money she had was limited. Even if she really wanted to hoard food to sellter, she wouldnt be able to earn much. Who who said that? When Madam Liu heard this, she did not seem as resistant as earlier. This was because she had heard Aunt Sun mention this before. Therefore, she also believed that the grain price would rise. ... The rest of the people also looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Boss Fang of Fortune Mansion, Qin Xiaoyao lied tantly. I only ordered 3000 catties, but Boss Fang The crowd stared at Qin Xiaoyao without blinking. Ordered 30,000 catties! A peculiar expression shed across Qin Xiaoyaos face as she said this. Hah! Was 30,000 catties a little too much So be it if it was too much. Fortune Mansion had opened a new eatery, and they consumed a lot of rice and flour every day. Er Of course, Boss Fang has his own channels. If he is buying so much rice and flour, it will definitely be cheaper than what I have paid, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Seeing everyones astounded expressions, Qin Xiaoyao reminded everyone again, Oh yes. Keep this to yourself. Dont tell anyone else about it. Everyone hurriedly nodded. Also, dont tell anyone about the rice and flour I have stored up. If we identally make the whole town panic, then whether its Boss Fang or our family, no one will be able to get away with it, Qin Xiaoyao continued. At this moment, Madam Liu and Song Yun became even more nervous and quickly nodded. At the same time, Qin Xiaoyao also looked at Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei. The two of them also hurriedly nodded. They all promised not to spread this news. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao rx and prepare to put away the food in the storeroom. Big Girl Li quickly called out to Liu Xiaomei to follow her in to lend Qin Xiaoyao a helping hand. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop her either. Qin Xiaoyao began to unload the goods in the storage room. Liu Xiaomei helped out by the side. However, Big Girl Li didnte forward. Qin Xiaoyao was a little puzzled. After unloading the goods, she asked Big Girl Li if she was feeling unwell. This was because she just saw that Big Girl Li looked like she wanted to throw up twice. To her surprise, the moment Qin Xiaoyao asked, Big Girl Li abruptly turned her head away shyly. My Sister-inw is fine. Shes expecting! Liu Xiaomei said with a smile at this moment. Qin Xiaoyao got a shock. She couldnt help but look down at Big Girl Lis tummy. Chapter 142 - 142 Chapter 142: Big Girl Li Was Pregnant 142 Chapter 142: Big Girl Li Was Pregnant We had just confirmed it with Doctor Li. He said its been almost two months, Liu Xiaomei said. Its because of this that we closed our stall early and came here. It was also because of this suspicion in her family that Liu Xiaomei had gotten permission toe to town with her sister-inw. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were filled with disbelief. She reached out, wanting to touch Big Girl Lis tummy, but ultimately held back. !! After that, she asked in surprise and delight, Are you really pregnant? She had only seen little babies before the apocalypse as well as at the beginning of the apocalypse. After the apocalypse, life was very hard. It was hard for children to survive, not to mention newborn babies. After the apocalypse, people didnt dare to have children anymore. Even if they did, they would be dealt with after they were discovered. Seeing other people get pregnant and give birth was indeed quite novel to her. Yep! Big Girl Li blushed and replied with a contented smile on her face. Then, she stretched out her hand and ced it on her lower abdomen, gently caressing it. This child is very quiet. He came here sneakily. Fortunately, earlier, we only entered the mountain and went through theborious phase for a short while. Otherwise, I was really afraid I wouldnt be able to keep him. Qin Xiaoyao felt a lingering fear in her heart. She nodded in agreement. Then you have to take good care of your baby. Why dont you take a break from delivering and selling goods? By the way, does your Daniu know about this? As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she looked at Big Girl Lis tummy again. I only went to see the doctor today. How would he know? Big Girl Li replied shyly. Following that, she said, I will definitely not get involved with the delivery henceforth. But I cant stop setting up the stall and selling my goods. Seeing Qin Xiaoyao looking at her, Big Girl Li added, Its precisely because I have a baby that I have to think long-term. It hasnt rained for so long. Its getting harder and harder for Daniu and Erniu to get their goods. If we cant harvest the grain this autumn, life will be hard for our family. Now that Im setting up a stall in the market on South Street, though the business is not as good as before, at least I still have some ie. While my body is still able to move nimbly, I have to save some money quickly. Otherwise, when my tummy gets bigger, I wont be able to do anything. Moreover, after the child is born, I still have to sit through the confinement period and feed the child milk. Without my contribution, if I only rely on Daniu, when can we buy a courtyard house? Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. This girl was still thinking about buying a courtyard dwelling Big Girl Li nced at Qin Xiaoyao and saw through her expression. Itll be easier to send my child to school in the future if we have a courtyard house in town. Otherwise, hell end up like his father, depending on his physical strength to make a living. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She was a little impressed by Big Girl Lis awareness and wisdom. Thats true. But youre pregnant. Even if you dont do deliveries, can you handle walking back and forth between the vige and the town every day? Moreover, the overhead sun was zing hot during these hot summer days. Big Girl Li frowned. At most, Ill just spend money to rent a ce! she continued. Yes! She would do it this way! In fact, it would be best to stay near Sister Sanya. In the future, if she had nothing to do, she could go next door and weave straw sandals with Yuner. Before Qin Xiaoyao could say anything, Liu Xiaomeis eyes lit up. Sister-inw! If you are really doing this, bring me along! Ill take care of you! she said excitedly. She also wanted to live in town, learn how to do business from her sister-inw, and also weave straw sandals. Anyway, she had mastered the skill of making straw sandals now. Even if she only made four hundred pairs of straw sandals a month, she would still get 800 copper coins. This was not a small sum. Before this, Liu Xiaomei didnt even dare to think that she would be able to follow her sister-inw to town. This was because her parents would never agree. However, it was different now. Sister-inw was pregnant. In order to run her business without rushing back and forth, it was reasonable for her to rent a ce in town. Big Brother had to stay in the vige to take care of the family chores and had no time to take care of Sister-inw. Wouldnt she be the most suitable person to take care of Sister-inw? Big Girl Li looked at her little sister-inw. Sure! Then lets split the rent. Youll pay 30%! she said. Liu Xiaomeis face fell. Ah? I I havent even paid back the one tael of silver I borrowed. That was right. The one tael of silver she had paid for learning to weave straw sandals was borrowed from her mother. They had agreed that when she started weaving straw sandals, she would use the money she earned to pay back the debt. Moreover, her mother had already agreed that before she paid off her debt, she didnt need to hand over the money she earned from selling straw sandals. In that case, she had already calcted she would be able to pay off her debt in just over a month. However, if Sister-inw wanted her to pay for the rent as well, she would be under a lot of pressure. Furthermore, living in town meant she had to use money to buy all the food and necessities, so the expenses would definitely be high. ... Thats a different matter. You can slowly return the money you owe mother. Now that you know how to weave straw sandals to earn money, of course you have to pay some rent. At most Ill pay for the food and expenses. Ill just consider it as the fee for you to take care of me, Big Girl Li said. She wasnt going to pay for everything. She still wanted to save some money to buy a courtyard dwelling in the future. Liu Xiaomei frowned and thought for a while, then nodded. Deal! 30% it is! she said. If she lived in town, she wouldnt have to do the housework at home. She could earn some money by running the stall for her sister-inw, and she could also earn some money by weaving straw sandals. Why would she be afraid that she wouldnt be able to earn enough money for 30% of the rent? Pfft Qin Xiaoyaoughed with amusement. Already settled? Renting a room is such a big matter. Surely you should go back first and ask for your familys opinion, right? Big Girl Li nced at Qin Xiaoyao. What opinion can they have? They wont interfere if we rent our own ce. ... Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and felt that Big Girl Lis words made sense. Alright. When youve confirmed it, Ill find someone to help you ask around. Big Girl Li smiled. This ce is good. Try to find a family in your alley. Lets see if they have an empty room for rent. Im not thinking about renting the whole house. Its fine as long as I can rent two rooms! After saying that, she also shot a nce at Liu Xiaomei. Liu Xiaomei nodded in agreement. That was what she meant as well. In this way, they could save some money. Alright. Then when Im free, Ill get Mother to ask Aunt Sun. Aunt Sun was more outgoing than her mother-inw and was familiar with every household in the alley. If she asked Aunt Sun for help, they would definitely get an answer soon. Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomeis eyes lit up. They quickly thanked Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao waved her hand and bade farewell to the two of them before returning to her room. After taking the silver, she set off to the grain store again. She still had a lot of food to bring back. When Qin Xiaoyao returned on the second trip, Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei had already left. Qin Xiaoyao didnt bother and continued to do theborious work. It was almost noon when she finally managed to bring back all the food. At this moment, Wang Xiaomei had also returned. She even went to the storeroom to help put the food away with Qin Xiaoyao. After she was done, Qin Xiaoyao drank a big bowl of water and went to the small alley to get some fresh air. It must be hard work for Sister-inw to bring back so much food today! Song Yun, who was weaving straw sandals, raised her head and smiled at Qin Xiaoyao. Chapter 143 - 143 Chapter 143: Had A Nightmare 143 Chapter 143: Had A Nightmare Sister-inw had it tough. She supported their family all by herself. Their family was leading a good life now all because of Sister-inws hard work. Ahem Its just a matter of putting in some effort. Its not really hard work, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Its just that this sun is really scorching. Qin Xiaoyao squinted at the sun outside and wiped the sweat off her forehead. It was only the beginning of July. ording to her husband, the hot weather would continue for another two or three months. Yes. Its a good thing we bought this courtyard dwelling. And theres a well in the courtyard too, Song Yun added. I heard that the water level from the well at the end of the street has already dropped a lot. The weather is getting hot, and there are many people who need water. Every family is lining up to get water. Mom said Aunt Sun told her that if this situation continues, the water from the well will not be enough. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat. Surely its not that bad? Its because everyone came to get water at the same time that the well water dropped so much. Later on, no one is taking water anymore. The water level will rise back to normal the next morning. There was a live water source in the well. As long as the water source was not exhausted, there would be an endless stream of water. It wasnt scary that the water in the well decreased because people took too much water. The scary thing would be the amount of water produced by the live water source could not keep up with the amount of water everyone was drawing. Although she consoled her little sister-inw and told her not to think too much, she knew very well in her heart. If the drought continued, the well on that street would not be able to support so many people getting water. She could not help but look in the direction of Song Ques room. Qin Xiaoyao once again admired her attractive husbands foresight. The well water in her house waspletely intact. Every time she went to look, the well was filled to the brim. Hehe! Sister-inw is right, Song Yun said with a smile. It doesnt matter whats going on outside as long as our family doesntck water! Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. After a while, Madam Liu and Wang Xiaomei came to call them in for lunch. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Yun stood up to wash their hands and help out. At the dining table, Qin Xiaoyao took the chance to tell everyone about how Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei intend toe to town to rent a ce. When Madam Liu heard this, she was not surprised. Big Girl Li told me about this before she left. There is no need for Aunt Sun to ask around. After her eldest daughter got marriedst year, she had an empty room. In addition to the guest room at home, there are two empty rooms. Your Aunt Sun said before that she wanted to rent out those two rooms and collect some rent to supplement her familys expenses. This is just perfect. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Thats great. When Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomeie over, they can be our immediate neighbors, she said. Madam Liu nodded with a smile. Then, she couldnt resist looking at Qin Xiaoyaos tummy again. She tried to restrain herself, but in the end, she gave in. Er Big Girl and Daniu got married not long ago, and she Sanya, why dont I apany you to see Doctor Liter? The thing was that her daughter-inw was working hard all day long. What if she was really pregnant and the hard work hurt the child? She hadnt thought of that before, but now that even Big Girl was expecting, what if her own daughter-inw was expecting too? Qin Xiaoyao was bbergasted. Huh? With a shocked utterance, she suddenly realized what her mother-inw was talking about. Her face immediately turned red. She did not know how to answer her, so she turned to look at Song Que. Then, the three of them turned to look at Song Que. Song Que, who had been leisurely eating his meal and had nothing to do with the discussion, suddenly froze. Thereafter, he said to Qin Xiaoyao, Then follow Mother to have a check. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes widened as she stared at Song Que. If she remembered correctly, they didnt do that, right? Her predecessor and him, or rather, her predecessor and his predecessor, had never done anything like that either. If they didnt do that, how could she have a baby? Song Que wasnt bothered by Qin Xiaoyaos gaze and continued eating. No one noticed that the corners of his mouth had already curled up slightly. When Madam Liu heard her eldest sons words, she immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. Then, when she looked at Qin Xiaoyaos tummy, she was filled with even more anticipation. It was as if Madam Liu knew that there was already a little life there. ... Qin Xiaoyao was utterly speechless After dinner, Song Yun and Wang Xiaomei washed the dishes. Qin Xiaoyao helped Song Que back to his room. As soon as they entered the room, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help butin. Mother wants to take me to see Sigh! Why didnt you stop her? Qin Xiaoyao frowned and red at Song Que with a glum expression. Song Que couldnt help butugh. Pfft How do I stop her? Hisugh made Qin Xiaoyao even more furious. However, on second thought, it did seem that this matter was really difficult to exin. But you cant just watch your mother Gosh Qin Xiaoyao couldnt continue anymore. ... Song Que finally restrained himself and stoppedughing so outrageously. Mother is only afraid that you will hurt yourself by exerting too much strength. After the doctor has confirmed that you are fine, she will not interfere in the future. Qin Xiaoyao was still depressed. But Dont worry, Song Que continued. His gaze dropped from Qin Xiaoyaos face down to her tummy. Sooner orter, Mother will get her wish. Qin Xiaoyao felt her head explode. She raised her head and looked at Song Que in disbelief. She suspected that she must have been hallucinating. As the woman stared at him so impudently, Song Que couldnt help but blush. He then lowered his head. Ahem Mr. Wang needs this book urgently. I have to finish copying it by today. As he spoke, he reached out for his brush. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos face was already blooming with joy like a flower. Hehe! Ill grind the ink for you, Hubby! She quickly came forward. She didnt hear wrong! Her attractive husband was going to ept her! Hehe! Was she finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel? She felt like she was about to explode from happiness. Mm-hmm, Song Que replied in a low voice and allowed Qin Xiaoyao to help him without looking up. Even without looking, he knew that this woman must be grinning very foolishly at this moment. To ept her as his wife? Hehe! It seemed like a good choice. Besides, wasnt she his wife now? Since he had made up his mind, he would bind her to his side. To a woman, what was more important than status? As for a child In this life, his body was fine, and he could indeed have children. It might be quite good to have a child with her, a child with a special ability talent Then, during the afternoon nap, Song Que had a dream. He dreamed that Qin Xiaoyao was pregnant and gave birth to a chubby little boy. The boy was as strong as an ox and could actually lift a small mountain. He also caused trouble all day long and turned the whole house upside down. This child made his elderly father so angry that he puffed out his beard in a fury, and his eyes nearly popped out. In the end, he grabbed his walking stick and woke up in a rage As soon as he opened his eyes, Song Que saw Qin Xiaoyao staring at him with her big eyes. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyaos face was extremely simr to the little boy in his dream, Song Que got a big shock, and his body shrank back. He wondered whether it was toote for him to change his mind now Chapter 144 - 144 Chapter 144: Better To Have A Daughter 144 Chapter 144: Better To Have A Daughter Hubby, are you having a nightmare? Seeing that Song Que seemed to have been frightened by her, Qin Xiaoyao did not dare to step forward. Song Que quickly regained hisposure. No Im fine. He avoided Qin Xiaoyaos gaze. Oh. Then Ill go get some water for you, Hubby, Qin Xiaoyao replied and didnt ask anymore. She then stood up. Mm-hmm. After hearing Song Ques affirmative response, Qin Xiaoyao went out. Song Que only heaved a sigh of relief after Qin Xiaoyao left. Its too dangerous to have a son. Forget it. Its better to have a daughter. My daughter should be more gentle and quiet Qin Xiaoyao didnt know any of this. She went to the well to get some water and washed herself up first. After that, she fetched some water for Song Que. She only left after Song Que was done washing up. Then, she went to prepare the century eggs for today. As time passed, Song Yun, Wang Xiaomei, and Song Ye also arrived at the alley. They chatted with her as they weaved straw sandals for her. Little Song Ye was ying at the side, asionally being teased by his sister-inw and older sister. Sometimes he would recite his books. As for Aunt Sun next door, she also arrived with her little daughter and went to Madam Lius room. Hearing theughtering from Madam Lius room, Qin Xiaoyao also smiled. The atmosphere in the entire Song family was peaceful and wonderful. Sister-inw, are Aunt Big Girl and Sister Xiaomei really going to live next door? Song Yun suddenly asked Qin Xiaoyao. Wang Xiaomei also looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Yes. If Aunt Liu and the rest of the family dont object, then it is very likely, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. It was good that Big Girl lived next door. She coulde and chat with Qin Xiaoyao from time to time. As for her little sister-inw and Xiaomei, the age difference between Qin Xiaoyao and these two girls was too big. There were many things that she couldnt talk to them about. Thats great! Itll be even more lively in the future! She didnt get much chance to y with Sun Xiaoyue next door. Sister Xiaomei had to follow her sister-inw to do business, so she didnt have much time to talk to Song Yun. If Aunt Big Girl and the other Sister Xiaomei were toe here, she would have more people to chat with. Wang Xiaomei also had a smile on her face. She was also looking forward to having two more people to talk to. Moreover, they were all from Brook Falls Vige, so they were familiar with each other. Now that they were in town, it was even better for them. Big Brother said that the small stream in the vige haspletely dried up. The vige chief went door to door and notified every family. He stipted that every family had to go to the well to fetch water at different times. He also limited the amount of water they can fetch, Wang Xiaomei suddenly said. Now, every household is short of water. If the water carried back from the well is not enough, we can only go to River Ringwaters to get water. When Song Yun heard this, she suddenly remembered what she had told her sister-inw this morning. There are many people going to get water from the well at the end of the street. They said the supply is a bit tight. Song Yun then turned to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered slightly, and she lowered her head to continue wrapping the century eggs. The dry spell is still ongoing. Its normal to experience a shortage of water. By the way, Xiaomei, did your Big Brother say how the crops in the vige are doing? He did. Wang Xiaomei quickly nodded her head. He said almost all the home farm crops have withered. Even those that survived had to be watered and taken care of every other day. The ones in the fields are slightly better, but most of the fields are out of water. In some fields which have difficulty storing water in the past, the rice grown there has already dried up and died. Previously, everyone was carrying water from the River Ringwaters, thinking of saving some fields. But ever since Second Uncle Zheng got a fever after fetching water and copsed, the people in the vige have taken a step back and are only taking care of the home farm crops now. The reason was that even if they wanted to take care of everything, they simply couldnt cope. Now, everyone is worried that if the weather continues to be hot, it will be a great drought. Im afraid we wont be able to harvest this autumns grain, Wang Xiaomei said with a frown. Qin Xiaoyao murmured a reply. She knew that everyones worries would soon be a reality. Hows your familysnd then? Qin Xiaoyao asked Wang Xiaomei. Wang Xiaomei frowned, her expression slightly troubled. The situation isnt good either. Big Brother is busy gathering and selling firewood and doesnt pay attention to the situation in the farm fields. Father My father goes to River Ringwaters to fetch water every day, but when he wakes up every morning, the water in thend has dried up. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Wang Xiaomei. She didnt find the situation that Wang Xiaomei described surprising at all. How much water could one person carry in a day? ... On such a hot day, if the water was poured into the fields, it would soon evaporate. Moreover, some fields were cracked from the suns constant baking, making it even harder for such fields to retain the water. My father isining about my big brother now. He hopes that Big Brother will fetch water with him to keep the rice growing in the paddy field. But my big brother has to go into the mountains to gather firewood. He wanted my father to help and give up on the crops instead. Right now, neither of them can convince the other, Wang Xiaomei said with a frustrated look. Then what are your views on this matter? Qin Xiaoyao looked at Wang Xiaomei with a smile. Wang Xiaomei was taken aback. After thinking for a moment, she said, I hope Father can help Big Brother. In this way, Big Brother will have an easier time. Gathering firewood was honestly not an easy job. Big Brother had to go into the mountains practically before dawn and then stay in the mountains all day. After returning home, he had to send firewood to town. With no one to help, he had to rely on himself for both tasks. ... Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Then you are not going to care about the crops in the farm fields? she asked Wang Xiaomei. Wang Xiaomei seemed to struggle inwardly for a while. Forget the crops. If the drought continues, they will not be able to save them even if they fetch water to irrigate them every day. Its more practical to save some energy and earn some money. Big Brother collected firewood to sell every day. Although it was hard work and he did not earn much, at least he had ie every day. What her father was doing now might not necessarily yield any results in the end. Qin Xiaoyao nodded, quite pleased with Wang Xiaomeis answer. However, she knew that this girl was more biased toward her big brother. Yes. If I were in their shoes, I would also choose to give up the crops in the farm fields. Wang Xiaomeis eyes lit up as she looked at Qin Xiaoyao immediately. Qin Xiaoyao simplyughed. But this is not up to us to decide. They have to decide for themselves. Wang Xiaomeis eyes became despondent again. Then theres no other way. Im afraid its hard to change my fathers mind. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled again. Since theres no way to change it, let nature take its course. Doing our own work properly and living our own lives well is better than anything else. Wang Xiaomei was taken aback. Then, a smile appeared on her face. Yes! Mrs. Song is right! Her eyes had already brightened up. That was true. Just live her own life. In addition, she also had to weave more straw sandals to save money. This way, if the family really encountered trouble, at least she would have the ability to help Big Brother out. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Wang Xiaomei and didnt dwell on this topic anymore. By the way, about setting up a stall in the night market Qin Xiaoyao suddenly said. Wang Xiaomei immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Ive thought about it and decided not to. I didnt rest much during the day, and I still have to set up a stall at night. Its too hard on me. The real reason was she wanted to take her attractive husband out for a walk on the streets. She couldnt just think about making money all the time. She should also enjoy life, right? Chapter 145 - 145 Chapter 145: Very Healthy 145 Chapter 145: Very Healthy Its not hard! Wang Xiaomei said hurriedly. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at her, she quickly rified, I mean, I dont feel its hard. Mrs. Song, if youre tired, I can set up the stall on my own tonight! When she helped Mrs. Song run the stall, she got a share of the sales, and it wasnt a small sum. !! During this period, the morning market ended early, and business was a lot worse. Yesterday, she finally found out that they could sell goods at the night market too, so of course, she didnt want to let go of this opportunity. Besides, Aunt Big Girl and Liu Xiaomei now knew how to weave straw sandals. With so many straw sandals, they had to find a way to sell them. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Wang Xiaomei with a smile. Its sote at night. Im worried if you go out alone to set up a stall. When Wang Xiaomei heard this, she immediately pursed her lips. How about this? When Big Girl and Liu Xiaomei move to town, let Liu Xiaomei go with you. This way, you two will have each other forpanionship. The two girls were both called Xiaomei, and they were both focused on making money. Doing business together should work, right? Wang Xiaomeis face lit up. Sure! Thank you, Mrs. Song! she hurriedly expressed her thanks. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled and continued to wrap her century eggs. In the evening, Madam Liu saw Aunt Sun and her daughter off and brought Qin Xiaoyao to the Hundred Herbs Hall. Qin Xiaoyao didnt want to go at first, but she couldnt persuade her mother-inw. She also couldnt reveal that she and Song Que didnt consummate their marriage at all, so she could only agree. Then, along the way, Madam Liu told Qin Xiaoyao that Aunt Sun had agreed to rent out their rooms. Knowing that its someone who is acquainted with our family, your Aunt Sun is happy to rent out the rooms. Moreover, the rent for two rooms is only 180 copper coins a month, Madam Liu said to Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. Its just that the guest room in her house is a little worse off. There are some small pieces of furniture and such which Big Girl and her little sister-inw have to buy themselves. That should be fine. Since Aunt Sun has agreed, the rest will be easy, Qin Xiaoyao replied. With a monthly rent of only 180 copper coins for two rooms, even if there was nothing in the room, it was still worth it. As for the furniture and other things, they still had to get some anyway. If Big Girl and Liu familys Xiaomei werent too particr, they probably wouldnt need to spend too much. Mm-hmm! Then, when Big Girl and Liu Xiaomeie tomorrow, you talk to them. Your Aunt Sun said she wouldnt be going out tomorrow morning. When theye, they can directly go to see the rooms. Alright! Qin Xiaoyao answered. They arrived at the medical hall. Seeing that Doctor Li was still there, Madam Liu quickly dragged Qin Xiaoyao in. Doctor Li hadnt seen Qin Xiaoyao for quite a while now. He almost couldnt recognize Qin Xiaoyao, who had lost a lot of weight. It wasnt until Qin Xiaoyao greeted him in embarrassment that he realized that the person in front of him was actually Madam Qin from Brook Falls Vige. Take a seat. Ill take your pulse first, Doctor Li said quickly. It never urred to him that Madam Liu had brought Qin Xiaoyao here to check if she was pregnant. He thought she was simply worried that there was something wrong with Qin Xiaoyaos body. After all, in Doctor Lis eyes, Qin Xiaoyao had indeed lost quite a bit of weight. Okay, Qin Xiaoyao answered and did as she was told. Doctor Li checked Qin Xiaoyaos pulse carefully. He was surprised to find that her pulse was strong and evenparable to a mans. After checking again and making sure that Qin Xiaoyao wasnt sick, and she was in fact very healthy, he then let go of her wrist. Madam Qin, where do you feel ufortable? Then, he asked Qin Xiaoyao. He couldnt find any problems with her pulse, so he could only ask her directly. Then, he would treat the ailment ordingly. No I dont feel ufortable anywhere, Qin Xiaoyao said awkwardly. Qin Xiaoyaos face turned red when she saw her mother-inw staring at her anxiously. Er Doctor Li, do you see anything wrong with my body? Doctor Li was puzzled. He couldnt understand what the mother and daughter-inw meant. The pulse is strong, which means that your body is healthy. Theres nothing wrong with it. He could only state his diagnosis honestly. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief and turned to look at her mother-inw. Her look meant, See? I said so, didnt I? However, Madam Liu felt that perhaps Doctor Li didnt look in that particr direction. Seeing that her daughter-inw couldnt say it herself, she decided to speak up herself. Gosh, Doctor Li. Were here to ask you to take a look at my daughter-inw and see if shes pregnant. Doctor Li was caught by surprise. Seeing Madam Lius anxious expression and Qin Xiaoyao keeping her head lowered, he couldnt help butugh. Haha As heughed, he reached out to stroke his beard. ... When Doctor Liughed, Madam Liu instantly became nervous. Seeing this, Doctor Li restrained his mirth. Madam, you are thinking too much. Madam Qin is not pregnant, he said. Seeing the disappointment on Madam Lius face, Doctor Li continued, However, Madam Qins body is healthy. With a little effort, I believe that you will soon be able to hold a grandchild. As soon as he said this, Madam Liu, who had been a little disappointed just now, suddenly brightened up. She immediately looked at her daughter-inw, who couldnt even lift her head. Hehe! Then Ill be counting on Doctor Lis auspicious words. With that, she quickly took out money to pay for the consultation fees. Then, she left with Qin Xiaoyao. On the way back, Madam Liu couldnt contain her joy and kept smiling, which made Qin Xiaoyao feel embarrassed and helpless. She decided that she would talk to her attractive husband about this tonight. ... She shouldnt be the only one feeling embarrassed and awkward. On their way back, the mother and daughter-inw passed by the street junction and saw many people lining up to get water from the well. As they walked closer, Qin Xiaoyao went up to take a look and found that the well water had really gone down 20 to 30 feet. Looking at the long line of people waiting to get water, she was now sure that the well was really not going tost much longer. Lets go, Mother. Lets go home first. After returning to Madam Lius side, Qin Xiaoyao reached out and pulled her away. Only then did Madam Lius slightly grave expression vanish, and she quickly left with her daughter-inw. It was not until they returned to the courtyard that Madam Liu could not help but talk to Qin Xiaoyao about the well at the street junction. Your Aunt Sun said that if it doesnt rain soon, someone wille out to manage the well. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Madam Liu exined, That means at that point, there will be people guarding it. Then, the people nearby will fetch water based on their house number tes. Theres a limit to the amount of water that can be taken every day. Five years ago, during the great drought, it was done in this way. The situation at the time was much more serious than this. The water flow at the mouth of the spring became very little, and the well could not support the water consumption of so many people nearby. In the end, each household could only receive half a bucket of water a day. Qin Xiaoyao looked aghast. Madam Liu continued, This is still considered good. At least the well is not dry. And the amount of water produced is not small. Your Aunt Sun said that during the drought that year, almost half of the wells in town were dry. In the end, only a fewrge wells and those wells that were dug very deep could still produce water. At that time As Madam Liu spoke, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao. There are also people who made a fortune from their own wells at home. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. She thought of something and looked in the direction of the well in her courtyard. What Aunt Sun meant is She looked at her mother-inw. Chapter 146 - 146 Chapter 146: Selling Water for Profit? 146 Chapter 146: Selling Water for Profit? Madam Liu nodded. It was the family who owned this courtyard dwelling previously, she replied. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. Selling water to earn money? she asked. At the same time, she imagined herself standing by the well, selling water and collecting money. It seemed like this money was very easy to earn Yes! Madam Liu replied. Seeing that her daughter-inw seemed to be tempted, she continued, At that time, this family was selling a bucket of water for ten copper coins, and everyone in the whole alley was furious. But theres no other way. Since their own housecked water, they could onlye here to buy. Although they earned money, they also offended the people nearby. During the great drought, no one said anything. But after the incident, many peopleined. In the next few years, almost no other family had any contact with this family. Madam Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyao. When we first moved in, didnt you say that some neighbors were very cold to us? This is one of the reasons. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Ten copper coins for a bucket of water is indeed a little expensive. However, this is a transaction between willing parties, and the family didnt force them to buy it. Its a little unreasonable for them to be angry, right? We cant just ask them to give people water for free, right? Qin Xiaoyao didnt quite agree with Aunt Suns words. They dont have to give it away for free, but they were neighbors. How could they do that? Madam Liu said. At that time, other ces in town were also short of water. Some families with wells also sold their excess water, but the price was generally only five or six copper coins per bucket. At that time, someone came to this house and told them about this. In the end, the family threw him out directly. The wife of the family head also said that it was up to everyone to buy or not. At that time, all the households were short of water. Even if they could go to other ces to buy water, they might not be able to get a ce in the queue. And the trip back and forth would also take up time. Therefore, most people still gritted their teeth and came here to buy. But they also bore a grudge after that. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. So, it was not that she wasnt allowed to sell water to make money, but she had to take a light touch? Mother, then what you mean Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu. Madam Liu looked at the well in the courtyard. After a while, she turned around to look at her daughter-inw. Youre in charge of the house, so Ill listen to you. I just happened to hear about it and wanted to give you a reminder. Qin Xiaoyao was so amused that sheughed. Alright! I understand now, Mother! She smiled and tugged at Madam Lius arm. She led Madam Liu to the kitchen. They were just in time to see Song Yun and Wang Xiaomeiing out of the kitchen with the dishes for dinner. Thus, the Song family began their dinner. The weather was hot, so the Song familys dinner was rtively simple. There were congee, pancakes, and some cold dishes. Speaking of cold dishes, they were the most popr dishes in the Song family recently. As there was nock of seasoning at home, Qin Xiaoyao told her family about the method of seasoning cold dishes after trying it once. Cold dishes were easy to make. Whether it was a meat dish or a vegetable dish, as long as the seasoning was mixed in, the taste was refreshing and delicious. Therefore, the Song family would make cold dishes practically every night. Everyone liked them too. Even Song Que would eat two more pancakes or an extra bowl of porridge when he saw cold dishes. After dinner, Madam Liu and Wang Xiaomei washed the dishes. The rest of the people waited for the two of them to finish up the kitchen chores before they went out to the streets together. Qin Xiaoyao supported Song Que and was soon left behind. Seeing that Madam Liu and the rest were almost out of their sight, Qin Xiaoyao wanted to stop them but was stopped by Song Que. Why are you pulling me? If we dont call out to them, well lose sight of them. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que. A look of speechless helplessness shed across Song Ques eyes. Mother deliberately left us behind, so its useless to shout. Qin Xiaoyao was caught by surprise. Then she recalled something. Immediately, a look of embarrassment shed across her face. Oh, she replied sullenly. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos expression, Song Ques mood lifted. Then, he asked Qin Xiaoyao, You want to walk with Mother and the others? No. Its fine if its just the two of us, Qin Xiaoyao said quickly. A smile appeared on the mans face. Lets go then, he said and limped forward. Wait for me! Qin Xiaoyaoughed as well and quickly went to help Song Que along. ... She caught up to him and supported him. By the way, Hubby, I have something to tell you, Qin Xiaoyao said with a beaming smile. Yes? The man was in a good mood, and he leaned onto Qin Xiaoyao without any reservation. Its regarding the well in our courtyard Following that, Qin Xiaoyao told Song Que about the situation of the well at the end of the street, as well as what Madam Liu had told her. Based on this situation, Im afraid that in a few days, the town will face a shortage of water. Do we sell the water in our well? If were going to sell it, what price should we set? Qin Xiaoyao asked. After all, this courtyard dwelling was bought by her attractive husband. She wanted to discuss the matter of selling water with him. What do you think? Unexpectedly, Song Que did not reply but asked her in return. Sell it. We cant use up all the water in the well anyway. Also, there was a great drought five years ago, so there should be many people nearby who know about our well. Even if we dont sell it, Im afraid someone wille looking for us. Its just that we have to consider the price. ... Song Que nodded. How much are you going to set? he asked. How about four copper coins per bucket? Qin Xiaoyao replied. Ten copper coins is too expensive. Although we can still sell at this price, we will inevitably incur the hatred of the people around us just like the previous family. If the market price is five or six copper coins, our price of four copper coins is not much lower. We can also gain a good reputation. Song Que turned his head to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Set it at three copper coins, he said. Qin Xiaoyao was very surprised. Three copper coins? Isnt that too low? She didnt quite agree. Looking at Qin Xiaoyaos expression of heartache, Song Que wanted tough. Its not low. The water in the well did not cost us anything. It is already a pleasant surprise to be able to sell it for money. Since you want to do the neighbors a favor, why not give them a discount of one more copper coin and let everyone understand our familys good intentions. Other families are selling for five or six copper coins, but were selling for three copper coins. Who will have any objections? Even if someone gets jealous, other people will help to teach them a lesson. Do you believe it? Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and nodded. Song Que smiled slightly and continued, In addition, we have to set another rule. Our water is only sold to the people in the alley and the street outside, and each household can only buy four buckets a day. Qin Xiaoyao was quite puzzled. This way, they will feel that we are really taking care of them and not just selling more water, Song Que added. Qin Xiaoyao suddenly understood. This is wonderful! Only byparison can we show our benevolence. Hubbys idea is good! she immediately praised him. He certainly lived up to the expectation of being the bases brains. The Prophet was indeed very smart. This way, Mother shouldnt have to worry about our familys rtionship with the neighbors turning sour, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Im afraid that not only will the rtionship not turn sour, but it will get better. It just so happened that if their rtionship was good, she could also buy some chicken eggs, duck eggs, and so on from them and sell some goods at the same time. Although they lived in town, each family had their own courtyard, and there were many families who raised chickens and ducks. Chapter 147 - 147 Chapter 147: Sugar Figurine 147 Chapter 147: Sugar Figurine For example, since Aunt Suns family found out that Qin Xiaoyao was collecting eggs, they would directly sell them to her. Although it was at the market price, it was convenient for her to receive them since the seller delivered them to her doorstep. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao and didnt say anything else. If they were not nning to leave Mountain Spring Town, it was indeed necessary to build a good rtionship with their neighbors, wasnt it? Of course, the most important thing was not to offend the people nearby. Otherwise, when the town fell into chaos, his family would be in a lot of trouble. Qin Xiaoyao supported Song Que as they slowly walked forward, step by step. After entering the bustling street, they looked around and pointed at this and that. Qin Xiaoyaos bright smile put Song Que in a very good mood. All of a sudden, Qin Xiaoyao noticed a stall selling sugar figurines. She quickly pulled Song Que over to buy sugar figurines. When he saw that the stall was surrounded by children, Song Que did not want to go. However, he couldnt resist the womans strong pull and eventually arrived in front of the stall. Uncle, give me two sugar figurines. Make them ording to our appearances! Qin Xiaoyao replied quickly. As she spoke, she took out the money. The uncle who was selling the sugar figurines took the money with a smile. Seeing Qin Xiaoyao and Song Ques intimate behavior, he guessed that they were husband and wife. Although he was surprised that their appearances were somewhat ipatible, he didnt think much about it. Alright. Mister, Missus, please wait a moment. After that, he began to extract the sugar mixture to make sugar figurines. Uncle, please make my husband first! Qin Xiaoyao continued. When she turned her head to look at Song Que, her eyes seemed to be sparkling. Hehe! Sure! The uncle selling sugar figurines agreed with a smile. Then, as he looked at Song Que, he began making the outline. This old man had been selling sugar figurines for more than ten years since he learned how to make them. This was the first time he had seen such a good-looking husband. As a result, the uncle selling sugar figurines put in extra effort when he drew the sugar figurine. After a while, the sugar figurine was done. Qin Xiaoyao held the sugar figurine that looked very simr to Song Que, and her face was all smiles. Im taking this one. Ill give you the one that looks like me when ites outter! she said to Song Que. Song Que simply nced at Qin Xiaoyao and did not say anything. It was considered a tacit agreement. Seeing that Song Que did not object, Qin Xiaoyao was delighted. She held the sugar figurine in her hand andpared it to Song Que. It really does look like you! He has even drawn your expression, Hubby! Song Que nced at the sugar figurine in Qin Xiaoyaos hand and thought, Which part of that thing looked like me? He was so much better looking in real life than that sugar figurine whose facial features couldnt be discerned, alright? However, despite his thoughts, the man couldnt help but smile, betraying his good mood. The uncle making sugar figurines continued to make sugar figurines with a big smile. From time to time, he would look up at Qin Xiaoyao to make sure that the new sugar figurine looked like her. Before long, the new sugar figurine was ready. Song Que took the sugar figurine from the uncle selling sugar figurines, and a smile appeared on his handsome face again. He looked at the sugar figurine in his hand and said to Qin Xiaoyao, Hah! It does indeed look like you. The figurine had a round face and was much bigger than the one of his likeness. Qin Xiaoyao understood what Song Que was implying and red at him. As she helped Song Que along the way, she said, In what way does it look like me? Ive slimmed down a lot now. She estimated that she should still be around 170 pounds. However, she was 1.65 meters tall, which was considered tall in this era. Right now, she could only be considered er muscr Song Que turned his head and nced at the depressed Qin Xiaoyao, and the smile on his face grew wider. Youve indeed slimmed down a lot. However, if you slim down, you wont be able to buy such a big sugar figurine in the future! Pfft The man couldnt hold back hisughter this time. Qin Xiaoyaos face turned red. Seeing Song Queugh so outrageously and impudently, the little bit of gloominess in her heart quickly disappeared. What is there to be afraid of? If Hubby likes it, I can just buy one more in the future, she retorted. Hmph! Teasing her? She would show him who was teasing who! She thought he didnt like sweet food? Yet now, he wasining that the sugar figurine would be smaller after she slimmed down? No, no Its a waste to buy more. Your husband only needs one. Once again, Song Que was amused by Qin Xiaoyaos aggrieved expression, and he smiled as he waved the sugar figurine in his hand. ... He found that the sugar figurine was charmingly cute and was really exquisitely made. Qin Xiaoyaos heart thumped furiously when she heard this. She was a little suspicious, wondering whether her attractive husband was taking the opportunity to confess to her. Hmph! You are the one who said this! After saying this shyly, the woman did not dare to look at her husband again and continued to help Song Que walk forward. When they reached a less crowded section, Qin Xiaoyao began to eat the sugar figurine in Song Ques likeness. Before eating, she even looked at it several times, almost as if she couldnt bear to eat it. Song Ques situation was simr. He didnt like sweet food to begin with, and he felt that the sugar figurine in his hand had more ornamental value than edible value, so he really didnt have the desire to eat it. However, he also knew that this thing could only be kept for a few days. Moreover, there was still that little glutton, Yeer, at home, so there was no way he could keep this figurine from him. Therefore, he still took a bite and started eating the sugar figurine with Qin Xiaoyao. ... After that, the two of them ate sugar figurines and chatted as they went shopping together. Song Que had stayed at home for a long time. In addition, in his previous life, he had only gone shopping in the street like this when he was young, so he quickly immersed himself in this freedom and joy. Very soon, the two of them passed by a stall that sold jewelry. Qin Xiaoyao simply nced at it without any interest. Song Que, however, really wanted to go and take a look. He wanted to stop Qin Xiaoyao, but he stopped himself when he realized that he didnt bring any money with him. Forget it. There was still tomorrow anyway. Tomorrow, he would bring some money with him when he went out. At this moment, Song Que had not realized that he was no longer against going out. He was even looking forward to going shopping tomorrow night. After walking for a while, the two finally bumped into Madam Liu and the others who wereing back from shopping. Song Ye was the first to notice the two. Hey! There were also two sugar figurines that the two of them had not finished eating. Big Brother, Sister-inw! You guys bought sugar figurines? The little child looked at the remaining half of the sugar figurine in Song Ques hand and could not take his eyes off it. He also wanted to eat sugar figurines. When he saw them earlier, his older sister had promised to buy them for him. However, their mother stopped her. She said that they had already had dinner that night and were not allowed to spend money needlessly. After that, he was a little depressed for a while. Song Ye had almost forgotten about it after much difficulty, but then he saw Big Brother and Sister-inw had bought sugar figurines. Boo hoo hoo! He wanted to eat too. Hearing Song Yes words, everyone immediately looked at the sugar figurines in the couples hands. Song Que wanted to hide the remaining half of the sugar figurine in his hand. How embarrassing Qin Xiaoyao didnt think much of it. She even bent down and gazed at Song Ye with a big smile. Yup! Do you want to eat it too, Yeer? She reached out and stroked the little greedy kids face. I want! The little child quickly yelled loudly. Qin Xiaoyao was so amused sheughed. Alright! Sister-inw will take you to buy some. She straightened her body. She then looked at the crowd and said, One each! Song Yun and Wang Xiaomeis faces lit up with joy. Madam Liu frowned instead. However, seeing that the children all wanted to eat, she didnt stop them. Chapter 148 - 148 Chapter 148: Chatting 148 Chapter 148: Chatting Seeing this, the childrenughed even more happily. Yay! Im eating sugar figurines with Sister-inw! Song Ye called out first as he handed his tiny hand to Qin Xiaoyao. Then, he dragged Qin Xiaoyao and scampered forward. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop him. She went along with Song Ye while calling out to Song Yun and Wang Xiaomei. The two little girls only hesitated for a second before informing Madam Liu. After that, they abandoned her and ran after Qin Xiaoyao and Song Ye. Madam Liu smiled, but she also felt a little helpless. No sense of maturity at all, shemented. Opposite her, Song Que was surprised. He subconsciously hid the sugar figurine behind his back. Seeing this, Madam Liu could not help but burst outughing. Im not talking about you, she said to her eldest son. Then, she held back herughter and walked forward to support her eldest son as they went after those people who had left them behind. Her eldest son had always been dull and somewhat mature. She was a little surprised to see him like this today, but more than that, she was very happy. Young people should be more carefree and happy. All of this was thanks to her daughter-inw When Madam Liu and Song Que caught up with Qin Xiaoyao and the others, Song Yun and the others were all holding sugar figurines in their hands. Furthermore, the sugar figurines all looked the same. They all looked like Qin Xiaoyao. Of course, this was because the sugar figurine made in her likeness was bigger, so everyone could take a few more bites! That woman said so herself. In order to take advantage of the bigger size, she didnt care about her pride. Haha! In Qin Xiaoyaos hands, other than the sugar figurine that she hadnt finished eating, there was another intact one. Mother, this is yours! When she saw Madam Liuing over, she went forward and handed the sugar figurine to her. Then, she took over supporting Song Que. Madam Liu didnt want to eat the sugar figurine, but when she saw the chubby girl handed over by Qin Xiaoyao, she couldnt help but reach out and take it. Hey! This sugar figurine looks familiar? she spoke again. Song Que, who was beside her,ughed. He nced at Qin Xiaoyao. The person is right in front of you. How can it not look familiar? Madam Liu followed her eldest sons gaze, and her eyes stopped at Qin Xiaoyao. Realization hit her immediately. Hehe! This sugar figurine was actually drawn in Sanyas likeness! She was amused. Sister-inw said that the figurine would be bigger if it was drawn in her likeness! At this moment, Song Ye ran over and shouted. Everyoneughed the moment he blurted out these words. Only Qin Xiaoyaos chubby face was flushed a deep red. Seeing that Song Que wasughing the most, she could not help but reach out and pinch his arm. Of course, she used very little force. She just wanted to protest her displeasure. The man immediately reacted. He turned his head to look at Qin Xiaoyao and couldnt helpughing again. Then, he looked at the crowd. You all should feel grateful now. After a while, when your sister-inw has slimmed down, you guys wont be able to eat such a big sugar figurine anymore. As soon as he said that, the three little ones immediately stopped smiling and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. They were actually hoping that Sister-inw would not lose any more weight. Then, Sister-inw, dont slim down anymore! Yeer still wants to eat lots and lots of sugar figurines! They must all look like Sister-inw! As he said that, he even waved the sugar figurine in his hand. The crowd burst intoughter again. They then talked andughed as they walked home. When they reached home, everyone took turns washing up. By the time Qin Xiaoyao got into bed, the moon was already high up in the sky. Qin Xiaoyao was still sleeping on the outer edge of the big bed. As soon as she got onto the bed, the person behind her leaned closer. That womans body tensed up for a moment. Sheposed herself before turning around. Whats wrong? she said to the man who was very close to her. I cant sleep. Lets chat, Song Que spoke up. Alright! Qin Xiaoyao became interested. She thought for a while and asked, Lets talk about you. What did you do before the apocalypse? What happened after the apocalypse? ... What do you like to eat and y with, and what color do you like? What type of girl do you like Qin Xiaoyao blurted out a series of questions that she was curious about. After Song Que heard this, he only frowned. My past Theres nothing much to say, he continued. He was not that person from her previous world, so how could he answer these questions? Qin Xiaoyao was a little disappointed, but then heard Song Que continue, However, I can talk about other things. Qin Xiaoyaos interest was piqued. Go ahead, she urged him. I like to eat After that, Song Que began to talk about some of his hobbies. When they talked about the type of woman he liked, Song Que couldnt help but think of the night when he and Qin Xiaoyao were buying sugar figurines by the roadside. This woman had slimmed down a lot, and her facial features were more prominent and more beautiful than before. If she slimmed down further, perhaps she would really be a beauty Hurry up and tell me! What kind of woman do you like? Qin Xiaoyao waited for a while, but Song Que didnt continue. She started to get anxious. ... Looking at the womans anxious expression, Song Que could not help but smile in his heart. She should be outspoken and unpretentious, and capable And she should be beautiful. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao and expressed his opinion of her. That was right. In his heart, the woman in front of him had these qualities. Of course, as for thest quality, he was probably the only one who could discern it for now. Qin Xiaoyao listened to Song Ques description and was very happy until she heard thest condition. This was because it was hard for her to go against her conscience and think of herself as beautiful. However, Qin Xiaoyao was only depressed for a moment before her fighting spirit was ignited. She wasnt beautiful now, but she could slowly be more beautiful. At the current rate of 20 pounds per month, she would be able to lose 120 pounds in another two and a half months. At that time, she would definitely be a slightly chubby little beauty. She would have to wait for another month before she could return to her ideal weight. Hmph! When the time came, she would see who else in this Mountain Spring Town could be more beautiful than her, other than her attractive husband. Yes, Qin Xiaoyao was also a beauty in her previous life. It wasnt as if she had no suitors pursuing her. It was just that herbat power was too strong, and ordinary men did not dare to get close to her. Most of those who dared to approach her were big, tall and muscr. And they were also extremely chauvinistic and were not her type at all. It was for this reason that she had always been single. Much to her surprise, after transmigrating, she actually met Song Que, the kind of pretty-faced man she dreamed of. Moreover, this pretty-faced man wasnt just all looks without substance. He had knowledge and wisdom and was capable. How could she not be infatuated with him? Oh! I know now, Hubby. I will definitely work hard! Qin Xiaoyao gathered her thoughts and quickly said to Song Que. Song Que was stupefied. She knew now? She would work hard? Alright. Its gettingte, Hubby. Im going to sleep. Good night! Qin Xiaoyao added. After she finished speaking, she ignored Song Que, turned around, and closed her eyes. Song Que came back to his senses. He wanted Qin Xiaoyao to turn back again so that he could tell her that he wasnt referring to anyone else. However, he resisted the urge, and in the end, he did not raise his hand. After that, he also turned over. He closed his eyes and went to sleep. The next day was another brand new day. The Song family had just finished their breakfast when Big Girl Li andpany arrived. She also brought news regarding Liu Xiaomei and her renting a ce in town. Chapter 149 - 149 Chapter 149: Something Happened In The Qin Family 149 Chapter 149: Something Happened In The Qin Family You are in luck. Yesterday, my mother asked Aunt Sun, and she said she had two rooms avable in her house. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao exined the situation to Big Girl Li, Liu Daniu, and Liu Xiaomei. When the three of them learned that the rent was only 180 copper coins per month, they were all very happy. Then, they immediately requested to go next door to view the rooms. Qin Xiaoyao had to deliver the goods and so didnt apany them. She called Madam Liu over and asked her to apany the three of them next door. Madam Liu agreed with a smile. Before Qin Xiaoyao left, Madam Liu brought the three of them next door. Qin Xiaoyao packed her stuff and set off for Fortune Mansion. In the end, when she arrived, she bumped into her second brother. Second Brother she called out to Qin Erhu. Qin Erhu turned around and was surprised to see his youngest sister. Following that, he avoided her gaze. Qin Xiaoyao immediately noticed something unusual. Dont you always deliver meat early in the morning? Why are you sote today? Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and asked. That was right. When her family sent meat to Fortune Mansion in the past, they would always send it over before dawn. After that, her father would open his stall. Why did Second Brothere to deliver the goods at such ate hour? Oh, something came up at home, so I was dyed, Qin Erhu replied. His eyes were still a little evasive. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. Whats the matter? she asked. She had a bad feeling about the whole situation. Its nothing. Ive also finished delivering my goods, so Ill be leaving first, Qin Erhu said. After he finished speaking, he prepared to walk around Qin Xiaoyao and head out. Qin Xiaoyao took two steps forward and stood in front of Qin Erhu. Qin Erhu frowned. Whats wrong? When he raised his head again to look at Qin Xiaoyao, a smile appeared on his face. What happened at home? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Qin Xiaoyao opened her mouth again when she saw Qin Erhu smiling, looking like he was trying to deflect her query. If Second Brother doesnt say, Ill go hometer and ask Father myself. It just so happened that she hadnt gone back to her parents house for a while now. Qin Erhus expression changed. Facing his younger sisters threatening gaze, he finally caved in. Sigh! Father doesnt allow us to tell you! If he finds out that I told you, he will beat the crap out of me! Qin Xiaoyao was both anxious and amused. If you dont tell me, Ill go back and see for myself. Father will still find out, and he will still beat you up. But if you tell me, I will help you plead for mercy, and Father might not wallop you. Qin Erhu thought for a while and felt that his younger sister was right. In addition, his younger sister was also a member of the Qin family. He should let her know about this. Therefore, Qin Erhu told her everything. It turned out that the reason he waste in delivering the goods today was because Qin Dazhuang had fallen ill from anger. Zhang Ershui, that bastard! He brought people from the gambling den to our house early in the morning. After Father asked, he found out that Madam Zhang had not cut off contact with the Zhang family and had been helping Zhang Ershui pay off his gambling debts. The money that Father has saved up is almost all used up by that woman! At this point, Qin Erhus eyes were filled with hatred, as if he wanted to skin the Zhang siblings alive. Qin Xiaoyaos face darkened after she heard that. She had warned Madam Zhang before, but when her father said that Madam Zhang had changed for the better, she really believed him. It turned out that she had been pretending. Hows Fathers situation now? Wheres Big Brother? Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly asked. The doctor said that his heart was attacked by a rush of anxiety. After the doctor prescribed some medicine, he took the medicine and is now resting at home. He said hell be fine after his anger subsides. Big Brother has gone out to set up the stall. The meat at home has been prepared, and it cant be kept for too long on such a hot day. Qin Xiaoyao nodded and felt a little more at ease. Then, her face darkened, and she asked again, What about Madam Zhang? A look of hatred shed across Qin Erhus face. Shes still at home. Father chased her away, but she refused to leave. We didnt chase her away since she was pregnant with such a big belly. ... Hmph! If it werent for the child in her tummy, he would have Qin Erhu clenched his fists but then rxed his hands again. Qin Xiaoyao roughly understood the whole situation at that point. Then what about Zhang Ershui? When she asked this, the killing intent had already risen in her heart. If Madam Zhang was detestable, then this guy Zhang Ershui deserved to die. Perhaps she should have helped the Qin family get rid of this trouble previously. Father didnt pay, and Big Brother and I also came forward to say that that guy has nothing to do with our Qin family. In the end, Zhang Ershui was brought back to the gambling den. They said that if no one paid the ransom in three days, they would cut off one of his hands. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered slightly. So, Madam Zhang is still staying in our house because she wants Father to take money to redeem her brother? Qin Xiaoyao asked, suppressing her anger. Qin Erhu was stunned. ... It was as if this thought had just urred to him. Goddamned evil woman! he cursed outright. No. I have to go back and keep an eye on her! Qin Erhu was about to leave after he finished speaking. Qin Xiaoyao quickly pulled him back. Wait for me! she said. Her father was soft-hearted, and her big brother and second brother were both men, so it was not easy for them to deal with Madam Zhang. She still had to step in for this matter. Qin Erhu looked at the vegetables that Qin Xiaoyao had brought. Seeing that the kitchen staff had already weighed them and were ready to make payment, he nodded. Thereafter, the siblings waited for a while. After Qin Xiaoyao received her money, she took the vegetables that had been sorted out and sent them to Fortune Restaurant before returning to the Qin familys house together with her second brother. As soon as she entered the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao saw the whole ce was in a mess. As for her two sisters-inw, they were tidying up in an annoyed and dejected manner. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao return, the two of them became overjoyed. Sanya is back! Sanya, why did youe back? The two of them called out to her and then stopped what they were doing and walked toward Qin Xiaoyao. With such an incident at home, as daughters-inw, there were many things that they wanted to say but could not. Their husbands could speak, but they were of the younger generation, so there were many things they couldnt say. It was even more difficult for them to intervene in this matter. However, now their rebellious and fearless sister-inw had returned. Finally, someone could step forward and take care of this matter. When Second Sister-inw walked over, she even gave Qin Erhu a look of admiration. She thought that her man had finally be smart this time and took the initiative to look for her young sister-inw. However, she didnt know that everything was a coincidence. Eldest Sister-inw, Second Sister-inw! Qin Xiaoyao greeted her two sisters-inw with a smile. Wheres Father? she asked. Oh, Father was so angry that he developed blisters on his mouth. Hes lying down in his room. Eldest Sister-inw said hurriedly. She even specially mentioned how her father-inw was so angry that blisters had popped up on his mouth. Qin Xiaoyaos expression darkened. Alright. I know. Ill go see Father first. After she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao turned and left. Qin Erhu immediately prepared to follow. When he passed by Second Sister-inw, he was pulled back by his own wife. Seeing his wife shake her head at him, Qin Erhu controlled himself and stopped in his tracks. Eldest Sister-inw also looked at Qin Erhu. Second Brother, dont go. Let Sanya handle this matter, she said. Chapter 150 - 150 Chapter 150: Idea 150 Chapter 150: Idea It was most appropriate for her young sister-inw to step in to deal with this matter. Her father-inw doted on this daughter the most, and she had married out of the family. Even if this daughter dealt with the matter ruthlessly, her father-inw would not bear a grudge. On the other hand, if their eldest sons household and the second sons household said too much, the old man would not just bear a grudge. It was easy for the ties in the whole big family to be strained when they lived together in the future. Qin Erhu looked in the direction that Qin Xiaoyao walked off and sighed before turning around to leave. Qin Xiaoyao went to Qin Dazhuangs room. Just as she reached the door, she heard Madam Zhangs sobbing from inside. An ominous look shed across her face as Qin Xiaoyao pushed open the door. Inside the room, Madam Zhang, who was in the outer room, saw Qin Xiaoyao almost immediately. Madam Zhangs hand which was holding the handkerchief trembled. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao, it was as if she had seen a ghost, and her face turned pale. Seeing Madam Zhangs bulging stomach, Qin Xiaoyao barely managed to suppress the anger in her heart. Get out, she opened her mouth and said. Madam Zhangs body trembled again. She quickly got up and ran out of the room. Only after that person had left did Qin Xiaoyao feel the air in the room was more bearable. After adjusting her mood, she went into the room to see her father. Qin Dazhuang, who was in the inner room, had already heard themotion outside and knew that his daughter had returned. His mood had also changed from the initial frustration and worry to guilt and helplessness. Father As she entered the inner room, Qin Xiaoyao saw Qin Dazhuang lying on the bed. Not only had he lost his previous lively spirit, but there were also blisters on his mouth. Why did youe? Qin Dazhuang propped himself up as he tried to sit up. Qin Xiaoyao hurried forward to help him up. After helping Qin Dazhuang to sit up on the bed, she sat down on the edge of the bed. Why cant Ie? If I still didnte back, the whole family would be in chaos, she said. An evasive look shed across Qin Dazhuangs face. Did Erhu tell you? he asked with some annoyance. Second Brother didnt want to say it. I forced it out of him! Qin Xiaoyao red at her father in a foul mood. Hmph! Youre still trying to hide it at a time like this! Second Brother is really obedient. He almost hoodwinked me! Upon hearing this, Qin Dazhuang no longer felt angry at Qin Erhu. Then, he spoke, I know what to do for this matter. You dont need to get involved. Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at her father. What are you going to do? You tell me. If you can reallye up with a solution, I wont get involved, she said. How could she not know her fathers character? He appeared cold on the outside but was soft on the inside. He appeared rough and tough on the outside but was actually very indecisive on the inside. If his character werent like this, he wouldnt have allowed Madam Zhang to pester him to live separately from Big Brother and Second Brother in advance. And he would most definitely not have handed money over to Madam Zhang, who had previous offenses and ended up turning the whole family into such a mess. Then what do you intend to do? Qin Dazhuang said helplessly in the end. Indeed, he had note up with any ideas yet. The people from the gambling den came to make a scene, so he knew that Madam Zhang had emptied out the entire familys fortune behind his back. After that, he fainted on the spot from anger. After he woke up, he wanted to divorce Madam Zhang and drive her away. However, when he thought of the baby in her tummy, he couldnt bear to do it. Just a while ago, Madam Zhang had been sobbing and wailing in the outer room, making him extremely irritated. He really regretted it. If he had known that marrying Madam Zhang would bring about so much trouble, he would never have married her. However, now, he had already married her, and Madam Zhang was even pregnant with his child. What else could he do? Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flicker. What I intend to do depends on what you think, Father, she said. Qin Dazhuang looked at Qin Xiaoyao in bewilderment. Qin Xiaoyao opened her mouth again. Father, do you still want the child in Madam Zhangs tummy? she asked. Qin Dazhuangs body shuddered, and he immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao. What are you going to do? he asked nervously. Qin Xiaoyao understood and smiled. ... Im not doing anything. If you still want the child, there are ways to deal with this matter. If you dont want the child, there are other ways to deal with the matter. Qin Dazhuang heaved a sigh of relief. The child is innocent. Besides, he will be born in two months, he said with a sigh. In the beginning, he had really looked forward to the arrival of the child, but now Nheless, it was still his child. Even if the childs mother did something wrong, the child was innocent. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. That means you want the child. Qin Dazhuang nced at his daughter and didnt answer. It was considered a tacit acknowledgment. Qin Xiaoyao continued, If you want the child, what about Madam Zhang? ... Qin Dazhuangs expression changed. The child is in her body. Can Father, dont think too much. You just need to tell me if you still want Madam Zhang after the child is born. Qin Xiaoyao interrupted Qin Dazhuang. Qin Dazhuang was silent. After a long while, he finally closed his eyes. Forget it. If she doesnt repent, shell be a disaster for the Qin family if she stays. In the future, when the child is born, its not good for the child to have a mother who takes the side of outsiders. A child without a mother was pitiful, but with a mother like that, perhaps the child would be even more pitiful. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She was satisfied that her father was notpletely muddleheaded. Then Zhang Ershui Why should we care about that bastard? His life or death has nothing to do with the Qin family! Qin Dazhuang quickly interrupted Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao nodded again. Alright! I know what your intentions are now, Father. Qin Dazhuang immediately turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Then what should we do? he asked worriedly. He still couldnte up with any ideas. Since his daughter had returned and he had been thoroughly humiliated before her, he might as well allow his daughter to give him some ideas. Divorce her, Qin Xiaoyao said right away. Qin Dazhuang was shocked. But shes still pregnant Qin Dazhuang didnt finish his sentence as his daughter was ring at him. There are no rules that say that a married woman cannot be divorced once she is expecting, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Madam Zhangmitted the crime of theft. She stole the property of the family and privately helped her brother from her maiden family. And the amount involved was huge. Its reasonable for you to divorce her, Father. But Qin Dazhuang was still a little resistant, mainly because of the child in Madam Zhangs tummy. You can talk to the Zhang family about the child. After the child is born, have them send the child over. But will they be willing to do so? Qin Dazhuang finally wavered. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. Naturally, they will not be willing. Moreover, even if Madam Zhang has made a mistake, it wont be so easy for Father to divorce her. Then what do we do? Qin Dazhuang suddenly became nervous. Now, he was not against the idea of divorcing Madam Zhang at all. Just say well report it to the authorities if they dont agree. Its a fact that Madam Zhang stole money from our family. At that time, not only will Madam Zhang be divorced, but the entire Zhang family will also have to cough up the money to pay back and maybe even go to jail. A look of guilt shed across Qin Dazhuangs eyes. Report to the authorities? He was just amoner who had lived for decades and had never once entered the premises of the government office. How would he dare to report it to the authorities? Chapter 151 - 151 Chapter 151: The Arrangement 151 Chapter 151: The Arrangement Moreover, if this matter really made its way to the county government office, wouldnt the whole town know about his familys scandal? Qin Xiaoyao could see Qin Dazhuangs worry. She reached out and patted her fathers shoulder. Were just scaring them. As long as they agree, we dont need to report it to the authorities, she reassured him. In ancient times, themon people were very afraid of the government, and she understood her fathers thinking very well. !! If her father was afraid, the Zhang family would be even more afraid. Moreover, the Zhang family was the one in the wrong. As long as the authorities handled this matter impartially, she wasnt sure if the Zhang family would be imprisoned, but she was sure that they would have topensate the Qin family. She wasnt afraid that the Zhang family wouldnt be able to pay that much money. Anyway, when they went to collect the debt, it would be enough to destroy the Zhang family. If the Zhang family werent stupid, they would just take Madam Zhang back. Of course, after Madam Zhang was brought back, how she would be treated was no longer her business. She only needed the Zhang family to guarantee that Madam Zhang would be allowed to give birth to the child safely. As for why Qin Xiaoyao didnt let Madam Zhang stay in the Qin family until the child was born, this was undoubtedly to prevent her father from bing soft-hearted and getting bewitched by Madam Zhang again. Since such a thing had already urred, there was no room for leniency. But what if they dont agree? Qin Dazhuang was a little tempted, but he was still very worried. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Theyll probably agree. Otherwise, well make thempensate us. They can forget about keeping the money theyve spent so much effort toy their hands on and the house they are staying in now. At this point, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes shone with an icy glint. Hearing his daughters words, Qin Dazhuang felt a little depressed. He knew very well where the money the Zhang family now had and the money for renovating the house came from. Right now, he really wanted to get all the money back, but Forget it. He would just treat it as an investment for his unborn child. Mm-hmm. Therefore, Qin Dazhuang nodded. Looking at her fathers dejected face, Qin Xiaoyao reached out with her hand again and patted her fathers arm. Lets just take this as stemming the loss in time. You can always earn back the money youve lost. Think about it from another perspective. Without that thieving rat Madam Zhang in the house, with your ability, sooner orter, you will be able to save up the familys wealth again. Qin Dazhuang was surprised. When he heard this, his heart finally felt much more at ease. Mm-hmm! Hence, he nodded again. Qin Xiaoyao finally heaved a sigh of relief. Then Ill go and look for Second Brother and ask him to inform the Zhang family. Well take care of this matter when they arrive in the afternoon, she continued. Qin Dazhuang nodded again. Qin Xiaoyao finally stood up. In addition, my family doesnt know that Ive returned to my maiden family. I have to go back. Qin Dazhuang immediately raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. A hint of uneasiness shed across his eyes. Dont worry. Ille back after I let my family know. Then, Ill only leave after this matter is settled. Only then did Qin Dazhuang rx. You go back then, he said. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. After saying goodbye to her father, she left the room and went out. In the courtyard, Madam Zhang had not gone far and was still lurking around the house. When she saw Qin Xiaoyaoing out, she quickly lowered her head and avoided Qin Xiaoyaos gaze. A look of disgust shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. Im going home now. Ill be backter. When Im not around, youre not allowed to enter my fathers room and disturb him. Otherwise Qin Xiaoyao didnt finish saying the rest of her threat. However, judging from Madam Zhangs trembling body, the effect was not bad. Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything more and walked out. Not far away, the Eldest Sister-inw and Second Sister-inw saw Qin Xiaoyaoing out and surrounded her to ask for an update. Qin Xiaoyao didnt say much. Instead, she asked where her second brother was. Oh, its the big market fair today, so your second brother went to help out at the market. Do you want him toe back? Second Sister-inw said quickly. She was about to go out and call her man back. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. No need. She stopped her Second Sister-inw. Im going home for a while. On the way, I will drop by the market on West Street to have a talk with my brothers. ... Ill have to trouble my two sisters-inw to keep an eye on the house. Before Ie back, dont let Madam Zhang enter my fathers room. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Zhang, who was still standing outside her fathers room. Although Qin Xiaoyao had already warned her, who knew if Madam Zhang would listen? It wasnt easy for her to persuade her father, and she couldnt let anything scuttle her efforts. Eldest Sister-inw and Second Sister-inw also looked at Madam Zhang. Knowing their young sister-inw would returnter, they felt more at ease. Immediately, Eldest Sister-inw answered, Alright! When Second Sister-inw saw Eldest Sister-inw looking at her, she quickly agreed to her young sister-inws request. Since it was their young sister-inws instruction, they could just push all the me to her if things go wrong. Now that Madam Zhang had done something wrong, she would not dare to make trouble with them. Mm-hmm. Then Ill take my leave now, Eldest Sister-inw, Second Sister-inw, Qin Xiaoyao said. After that, she went to retrieve her handcart and left. ... After leaving the Qin family, Qin Xiaoyao went straight to the market on West Street to look for her big brother and second brother. The weather was hot, and the morning market ended early. When she arrived at the Qin familys meat stall, the Qin brothers were already preparing to close up. Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and told them the result of her discussion with Qin Dazhuang. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu were extremely shocked after hearing this. Its good that hes divorcing her. This will prevent her from continuing to harm our Father and our Qin family! Qin Dahu was the first to respond. Thats right! However, Zhang Ershui is still being held by the people from the gambling den. Im afraid that the Zhang family wont let our Father divorce his wife so easily. Qin Erhu expressed his approval, but he was a little worried. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao told them her n. If they dont want to lose everything and have Madam Zhang and Zhang Ershui end up in jail, they will have to ept it. If it really doesnt work, we three siblings are not to be trifled with. Well think of a way to cripple the two of them and see if they wont cooperate. As she said this, a hint of ruthlessness shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. The only bad thing about this era was that many things couldnt be solved purely by using force. Otherwise, things would have been much simpler. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu both looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Then, the two brothers exchanged looks with each other again. Dont act recklessly! If we are really going to do it, itll be your second brother and me who will take action! Qin Dahu continued. Qin Erhu nodded in agreement. He didnt know who his younger sister took after. When she was ruthless, she could be even more ruthless than the men in the family. However, his younger sister was right. To deal with scum, sometimes one had to use some extreme means. Otherwise, people would think they could push the Qin family around. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but smile when she felt the care and love from her two brothers. She didnt agree or refute and continued, Then, this matter is settled. I have to go home and let my family know. Second Brother, go and inform the Zhang family toe over. Oh yes. Just say that Zhang Ershui has been detained by the people from the gambling den. Dont say anything else. Well just summon the two elders of the Zhang family and the eldest brother of Zhang Ershui! Qin Xiaoyao reminded. Mm-hmm! Qin Erhu agreed immediately. Chapter 152 - 152 Chapter 152: The Zhang Family’s Visit 152 Chapter 152: The Zhang Familys Visit The three siblings exchanged a few more words before parting ways. When Qin Xiaoyao pushed the handcart back to the Song familys house, everyone had already returned. Big Girl Li brought Liu Xiaomei over, saying that they had already rented Aunt Suns rooms and would move in the next day. Thats great! If you need help moving, juste over and tell me! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. !! I have some matters to attend to at my fathers ce, so I have to go overter. You and Xiaomei can stay for lunch! she said. What happened? Uncle Qin Nothing. I just need to go over. Qin Xiaoyao interrupted Big Girl Li with a smile. I wont be having lunch at home. Big Girl Li wanted to ask more, but Qin Xiaoyao had already pushed the handcart away. Helpless, Big Girl Li could only give up. If her Sister Sanya was not going to be at home, she was too embarrassed to stay for a free meal. So, after discussing with Liu Xiaomei, the two of them took advantage of the fact that the sun had not yet risen so high to bid farewell to Madam Liu and return to Brook Falls Vige. After Qin Xiaoyao put down the handcart in the storeroom, she went to her room to look for Song Que. After that, she went to exin to Madam Liu the general situation before proceeding to the Qin family. At the Qin family. Qin Xiaoyao entered the courtyard and realized that Madam Zhang was still outside her fathers room and did not go inside. Her eldest sister-inw was working in the courtyard while keeping an eye on Madam Zhang. Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased. When Eldest Sister-inw saw Qin Xiaoyao had arrived, she immediately smiled and felt more at ease. Sanya, youre back! Your second sister-inw has already gone to cook. Today, well be eating together. Sanya, you have to stay for lunch! Eldest Sister-inw said immediately. Her husband had already packed up and returned. She asked him about the situation, but he refused to say a word. She didnt know where her second brother-inw had gone to. He still hadnt returned. It made her feel very uneasy. However, now that her young sister-inw was back, she felt more at ease. Mm-hmm. Its been hard on you, Eldest Sister-inw and Second Sister-inw! Ill lend you all a hand! As she spoke, she prepared to step forward to help. Gosh! We dont need you! Go and apany Father-inw and talk to him more. Well inform you when lunch is ready. Eldest Sister-inw quickly turned down her offer. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Madam Zhang, who was looking into her fathers room furtively, and nodded with a smile. Alright then. After that, she went to Qin Dazhuangs room. When Qin Xiaoyao went over, Madam Zhang didnt dare to have any other thoughts. She lowered her head again and stood further away. Qin Xiaoyao red at Madam Zhang before entering. Qin Erhu finally returned just before noon. He also brought back the two elders of the Zhang family and Zhang Dashui. As soon as the group of people entered the house, they saw Madam Zhang standing outside Qin Dazhuangs room. When Madam Zhang saw the Zhang family, she put on an aggrieved expression at once. She didnt care about the situation in the house anymore and quickly walked toward the Zhang family. Her tears fell like rain. Father, Mother Younger Brother! When the Zhang family saw this, they finally realized that something was wrong and quickly went to Madam Zhangs side. As they were talking, Qin Erhu rushed to Qin Dazhuangs room. After a while, he and Qin Xiaoyao helped Qin Dazhuang out. At the same time, Qin Dahu came over after hearing the news. He stood in the courtyard and stared at the Zhang family with an expression full of hostility. The Zhang family was surprised to see that Qin Dazhuang, who used to be as strong as an ox, had be so sickly. Son Son-inw, what happened to you? The old man from the Zhang family looked at Qin Dazhuang with fear and some worry. He was a little afraid of his son-inw. After all, his son-inw ughtered pigs, and he ughtered more than one every day. Hmph! I am not worthy of being your son-inw, Qin Dazhuang replied icily. As he uttered the phrase son-inw, he even nced at Madam Zhang. Madam Zhangs expression changed drastically when she heard this. Master, Master, I was wrong! Boo hoo hoo Please let me off this time! She quickly stepped forward and was about to pester Qin Dazhuang. She was really panicking now. The family head was serious this time. He even called her family over. How could she not be afraid? Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. She took a step forward and directly gripped Madam Zhangs two arms. Then, with a slight twist, she restrained the personpletely. ... Argh Sanya, what are you doing? Let me go! Madam Zhang cried out in pain. She wanted to scold her but eventually held her tongue. Seeing this, the two elders of the Zhang family did not dare to step forward, but Zhang Dashui shouted at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Sanya, what are you doing? Shes your stepmother! His tone of voice was a little angry. Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at Zhang Dashui with displeasure, causing thetter to choke on his words. The words that were left in his throat, which he intended to lecture Qin Xiaoyao with, were swallowed back. What stepmother? Shes just a big rat that stole our Qin familys money. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Zhang in disgust. I asked you toe here today to bring this rat back. Our Qin family will no longer have such a character here. Madam Zhang was shocked and immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Whats the meaning of this? Qin Sanya, let me go! She started to struggle. Realizing that she couldnt break free from Qin Xiaoyaos grasp, Madam Zhang immediately looked at Qin Dazhuang. ... Master, what does Sanya mean by this? Master, say something! As she shouted at Qin Dazhuang, Madam Zhang kept crying. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head. Seeing that her father didnt say anything, she spoke again. What do I mean? Of course, it means my father is divorcing his wife! she said loudly. As soon as these words came out, Madam Zhangs body went limp. The Zhang family members on the opposite side were all shocked. Zhang Dashui was the first to regain hisposure and said hurriedly, What what divorce? Qin Dazhuang, what reason do you have to divorce my sister? Shes pregnant with your child! He didnt dare to question Qin Xiaoyao, but directed his words at Qin Dazhuang. Thats right! Qin Dazhuang, what right do you have to divorce me? I Boo hoo hoo Im pregnant with your son! Madam Zhang also wailed and insisted that she was pregnant with a son. Qin Xiaoyao found them very noisy and was about to reply. Surprisingly, Qin Dazhuang finally spoke. Based on the fact that you helped outsiders and betrayed our family and stole from our family! Youve vited the Seven Rules for Divorce! Without waiting for Madam Zhangs reply, Qin Dazhuang continued, I must have been blinded byrd to hand over the management of the household to you in the past! And you have some nerve indeed. You took out all the money in our family and gave it to your brother, Zhang Ershui, and your maiden family. Sanya is right. You, Madam Zhang are a rat! A big rat that specializes in stealing from my Qin family! Its good that I divorce a rat like you! If we report this to the authorities, not only you, but also your Zhang family will not be able to escape! Qin Dazhuang took a stumble after he finished speaking. If not for Qin Erhus support, he would have fallen down. When the Zhang family heard this, they were all aghast. They had indeed received a lot of benefits from Madam Zhang, but Qin Dazhuang said that Madam Zhang had emptied out the Qin familys coffers. The amount was definitely far more than what they had received. Then, when they thought of Zhang Ershui, the Zhang family suddenly understood the big picture. Chapter 153 - 153 Chapter 153: Taking Madam Zhang Away 153 Chapter 153: Taking Madam Zhang Away The two elders of the Zhang family didnt dare to say anything, but Zhang Dashui red at Madam Zhang. If Madam Zhang really emptied the Qin familys coffers to continue to pay off his younger brothers gambling debts, then he really couldnt me Qin Dazhuang for divorcing his wife. Madam Zhang was so frightened by Zhang Dashuis re that she quickly looked away. Zhang Dashui understood instantly. It seemed like what Qin Dazhuang said was true. !! Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak up for Madam Zhang, Madam Zhang unexpectedly spoke first. Boo hoo hoo Master, I I didnt mean to Ershui Ershui has already promised me that he will turn over a new leaf. He promised not to gamble anymore Boo hoo hoo Please spare me this time Master, I cant leave the Qin family If you made me go, boo hoo hoo What will happen to our son? With that, Madam Zhang actually slumped to the ground. How could Qin Xiaoyao let her have her way? She exerted force in her hand and lifted her up slightly, forcing her to stand up again. Seeing her father looking at Madam Zhangs tummy, Qin Xiaoyao quickly spoke. Hmph! You havent even given birth yet. Who knows whether its a son or a daughter? Without waiting for Madam Zhangs rebuttal, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Also, thew doesnt state that a husband cant divorce his wife if she is expecting. After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at her father. My father now has my big brother, second brother, and me. He has both son and daughter. You think he will miss the one in your stomach? After giving Qin Dazhuang a reassuring look, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Besides, if the child of a woman with such a bad character like yours isnt brought up well, wouldnt the Qin familys reputation be ruined if he ends up like you? As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she looked at the Zhang family. However, on ount that this child is indeed my fathers child, our Qin family does not want to be too ruthless. After you bring Madam Zhang back, you must take good care of her. When the child is born, send it to our Qin family. On what basis? Zhang Dashui forgot his fear and yelled back immediately. On the basis that the house your family is living in now was acquired with the money she stole from my family! Qin Xiaoyaos eyes widened as she stared straight at Zhang Dashui. Hmph! Its fine too if you dont want to! Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao changed her tone. Then well go to the county government office and have the county magistrate charge Madam Zhang and your Zhang family with the crime of theft. Then, well go to your house and confiscate the house to pay off your debt! As soon as Qin Xiaoyao said that, Qin Dahu and Qin Erhus eyes glowed with a murderous light, and they took a step forward in unison. The Zhang family was so scared that they couldnt speak. Even Zhang Dashui didnt dare to look Qin Xiaoyao in the eye again. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao was satisfied. She turned to look at Qin Dazhuang. Father, bring out the divorce documents, she said. That was right. The divorce documents had been prepared. When she returned home just now, she had asked Song Que to help her prepare them. After she brought them over, she asked her father to sign them. Now, they only had to wait for Madam Zhang to sign them, and the divorce documents would be valid. Only then did Qin Dazhuang take out two pieces of paper from his clothes. Seeing this, Madam Zhang shook her head and tried to escape. No! Master I was wrong. I really know my mistake! Dont chase me away! I dont want to leave the Qin family! However, what kind of person did she think Qin Xiaoyao was? How could Qin Xiaoyao let her escape? Qin Xiaoyao turned a deaf ear to Madam Zhangs wailing and restrained her tightly. She then asked Qin Erhu to bring the divorce documents for Madam Zhang to sign. Qin Erhu took the divorce documents from his father and walked forward. Then, he ignored Madam Zhangs struggling and made Madam Zhang sign the documents. After signing, Madam Zhang finally lost all hope and started cursing at Qin Dazhuang. Qin Xiaoyao became incensed when she saw that. In the end, she simply gave her a big p on the face, causing her to shut up. Seeing this, Qin Dazhuang took a step forward, but he held his tongue. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao return Madam Zhang to the Zhang family. Take her back and remember to keep a close eye on her. If anything were to happen to the child in her stomach Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were filled with killing intent as she continued, At that point, it wont just be houses. No one in your Zhang family, young or old, will have an easy time. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu took another step forward menacingly, showing off their bulging biceps to the Zhang family members. The Zhang family had never encountered such a scene before, and they were all shocked into silence. Zhang Dashui even took the initiative to restrain Madam Zhang, preventing her from rushing toward Qin Dazhuang. In the current situation, the Qin siblings were all present. It was clear that they would not tolerate Madam Zhang. Qin Dazhuang had also been convinced by the three siblings, and it was too difficult to change his mind. Zhang Dashui could only think about their next stepter. Anyway, his sister was carrying the seed of the Qin family in her tummy, and the Qin family had also acknowledged this child. There might still be a chance to turn this matter around. ... Qin Xiaoyao was satisfied when the Zhang family didnt say anything else. She reached out and took the two sets of divorce documents from her second brothers hands. After that, she retrieved a copy and handed it to the old man of the Zhang family. Take her back. Then, she looked at Madam Zhang in disgust. The old man of the Zhang family didnt dare to take it, so he looked at Zhang Dashui. Seeing Zhang Dashui nodding at him, he reached out with his hand to take it. After that, he led his family away and was sent off in disgrace by the Qin siblings. Qin Xiaoyao brought Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu along and followed them all the way until they chased the whole family out of the Qin familys premises. Only then did they close the door and turn back. At this moment, Eldest Sister-inw and Second Sister-inw, who had been hiding behind the door of the hall, also stuck their heads out, their faces full of joy. Their young sister-inw was really amazing. She actually solved the problem with just a few sentences. At this moment, Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu both heaved a sigh of relief and looked at their younger sister with admiration. ... Qin Xiaoyao smiled back at the two of them and then looked at Qin Dazhuang, who was still standing at the door. At this moment, Qin Dazhuang looked a little sad, but his expression seemed more rxed. He did have some feelings for Madam Zhang, but no matter how deep his feelings were, they had all been obliterated after all these events. Qin Xiaoyao walked toward Qin Dazhuang and returned the remaining set of divorce documents to her father. Thereafter, she said something to Qin Dazhuang. Everyone watched as Qin Dazhuang entered the room alone. Following that, he walked out again after a while. Dont just stand there. Is the food ready? He immediately said. His voice was already full of energy. Eldest Sister-inw was the first toe back to her senses and responded, Its ready! Ill set the table now! With that, she led Second Sister-inw to the kitchen and got busy. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and reached out to help Qin Dazhuang. Lets go, Father. Lets eat! she said. Qin Dazhuang replied in the affirmative and allowed his daughter to help him walk. In the Qin familys main hall. When Qin Dazhuang and Qin Xiaoyao arrived, the dishes were already served. There were three meat and three vegetable dishes respectively, which were much better than the Qin familys usual fare. Of course, this was because Qin Xiaoyao had returned to her parents house. It was also because the two sisters-inw were grateful that their young sister-inw had returned to help. During the meal, no one in the family said a word, and they all focused on eating. After a while, Qin Dazhuang finally sighed and spoke first. Chapter 154 - 154 Chapter 154: Hand Over To Eldest Son’s Household 154 Chapter 154: Hand Over To Eldest Sons Household Ive caused you guys much worry with this matter.
Everyone was caught by surprise. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged nces andforted their father. Were fine. Father, as long as nothing happened to you, its fine. Qin Erhu nodded in agreement. Qin Xiaoyao also turned to look at her father. The matter has been resolved. After this, you can rx and take care of your body, Father. Theres Big Brother and Second Brother to support the family. Even if they cant cope, I cane back to help. Things wont end up in a mess, sheforted him. Qin Dazhuang looked at his daughter, his eyes full of gratitude. Youre all filial he said. The three siblings looked at each other, and their faces disyed faint smiles.
Sessfully sending Madam Zhang away was indeed the result of the joint efforts of the three siblings. But, although Madam Zhang has left today, whates next Qin Dazhuangs face still appeared worried. With the Zhang familys temperament and Madam Zhangs personality, they would not be willing to let go of a money tree like him. The reason they left today was because Sanya and his two sons were around. Besides, Qin Dazhuang was also determined. However, as long as the child in Madam Zhangs tummy was still there, the Zhang family would not give up on looking for him. He was afraid that his heart would soften. Qin Xiaoyao could see Qin Dazhuangs worry. Father, you dont have to worry about whats going to happen next. You should rest at home these few days. You can open your stall when youre better. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu.
In any case, business is not good these days. Big Brother and Second Brother need not go out to collect live pigs every day. Just let them hold the fort for now. The two brothers quickly nodded. When youre better, you can stay at home to work or help out at the stall. Ill let Big Brother or Second Brother stay by your side. At that point, if the Zhang family dares toe Younger Brother and I are not to be trifled with! Qin Dahu immediately replied. The two brothers were different from their father. They didnt care much about Madam Zhang and the child in Madam Zhangs tummy. Moreover, now that their father had divorced Madam Zhang, they had nothing to do with the Zhang family anymore. Therefore, they no longer have to worry about taking action against their elder. If the Zhang family dared to provoke them, theyd better be prepared to get beaten up. Qin Erhu nodded his head immediately. He totally agreed with his big brothers words. He had been displeased with the Zhang family for a long time, but it was not easy to deal with them in the past. After this, if the Zhang family dared toe looking for trouble, he would not hold back. Qin Xiaoyao was very satisfied with her two brothers reactions. She then looked at Qin Dazhuang. When he heard this, Qin Dazhuangs heart felt more at ease. Right now, he didnt care about feeling humiliated anymore. After this incident, he had also thought through many things. He was old, but his children had grown up and could take his ce to support the Qin family. It was time for him to step down and give the opportunity to support the family to his eldest and second sons. Qin Xiaoyao was amused by her big brothers response. Following that, she added, One other thing. We cant just leave the Zhang family alone. Everyone immediately turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Qin Dahu. After all, Madam Zhang is carrying our Qin familys seed. We have to send someone to watch the Zhang familys situation. Qin Dahu frowned. Its best to get people from the Zhang familys vige to keep an eye on them. Once they discover anything amiss, they cane and inform our family. Also, when she gives birth, they have to inform us. This way, we can bring the child back as soon as possible. It is also to prevent Madam Zhang or the Zhang family from having any designs on the child. She did previously tell the Zhang family to send the child back after Madam Zhang had given birth, but she was not expecting the Zhang family to really do so. Once the child was born, the Zhang family would definitely use it to threaten her father. They naturally had to take early precautions. Qin Dazhuang quickly nodded and agreed with his daughter. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged looks and nodded. Although they hated Madam Zhang, their younger sister was right. The child in Madam Zhangs stomach was the child of their Qin family. They couldnt let a member of the Qin family be stranded outside. Then Ill go to the Zhang familys vige again and use some silver to find someone to help keep an eye on them, Qin Erhu said. No need. Your presence there will be too conspicuous. The next time Zhang Laosanes to town, Ill talk to him! Qin Dahu said. Zhang Laosan was the Zhang familys neighbor. He didnt get along with the Zhang family, but he was on good terms with Qin Dahu. If he asked Zhang Laosan for help, thetter would definitely agree. Hearing this, Qin Erhu remembered Zhang Laosan and nodded. After arranging all this, the atmosphere at the table became much more rxed. Suddenly, Eldest Sister-inw said, Gosh! When the child is brought back, he needs milk. Dont we need to make some preparations in advance? As soon as she said this, everyone seemed to remember this detail. Then, they all looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was amused by her eldest sister-inws expression and turned to look at her father. Qin Dazhuang finally spoke. Ive already discussed this with Sanya. The Liu family in her alley has a daughter-inw who just gave birth to a baby. They say that she has plenty of milk. When the child is taken back, well send him to the Liu family and ask that daughter-inw to help feed him. Ill give them some money. It should work. Eldest Sister-inw immediately felt relieved when she heard this. After that, she blurted out, Then Ill Ill carry him there! She had been married to her husband for almost three years, but she had not been able to conceive. There was going to be a baby in the family soon, so it was good for her to get close to him and have some baby luck rub off on her. If she really couldnt get pregnant Her father-inw was already old. If she were to raise her future brother-inw or sister-inw as her own child, the child would definitely remember her kindness in the future. Everyone turned to look at Eldest Sister-inw. They could all see through Eldest Sister-inws intentions. Second Sister-inw couldnt help but touch her slightly bulging belly as she sympathized with her eldest sister-inw. Fortunately, she had just gone to the Hundred Herbs Hall to get Doctor Li to check her pulse and confirm that she was indeed pregnant. Otherwise, she would be as panicky as her eldest sister-inw. Qin Dazhuang nced at his eldest daughter-inw and nodded. When the child returns, you can raise him in the eldest sons household, he said. After the incident with Madam Zhang, he would not think of looking for another wife in the future. He was a rough and boorish man, and he was afraid that he would not be able to take care of the child well. Since the eldest sons household was willing to take care of the child, he would leave it to his daughter-inw. It would be good too for the child to show filial piety to the eldest sons household in the future. Eldest Sister-inws face was filled with excitement. Yes. Thank you, Father! she hurriedly said. At the same time, there were almost tears in her eyes. Only God knew how much pressure she had been under in the past year or so. Although her father-inw and her husband had never pressured her, her own mother had urged her every time she visited her family. Her mother was afraid that the Qin family would despise her daughter and divorce her. She also wanted to get pregnant and give birth to a child for her husband, but However, Doctor Li of the Hundred Herbs Hall had already confirmed with her that it would be difficult for her to get pregnant with her constitution. She could only try her best to build up her body and hope that the Child-endowing Goddess would take pity on her. However, she knew very well that she probably wouldnt be able to get pregnant Now, things turned out well. Madam Zhang had been divorced, and no one was taking care of her child. Chapter 155 - 155 Chapter 155: Business Was Getting Tough 155 Chapter 155: Business Was Getting Tough Her father-inw had promised to let her raise the child. Therefore, in the future, that child would be a member of their eldest sons household. As long as she raised the child well, even if she could not give birth to a child in the future, her husband would not have any other thoughts with her father-inw around. She could also continue to stay in the Qin family and be their daughter-inw. Qin Dahu looked at his wife and could not help but pat her back tofort her. He had always known his wifes worry, but he had no way to untie the knot in her heart. It might be good for the eldest sons household that this incident had happened at home. When the child was taken back, the couple would be able to live a good life. Yes, he had never thought of divorcing his wife. His wife had been with him for three years and had taken good care of the house and him. She was very thoughtful. They had a good rtionship, so how could they break up just because they didnt have a child? Moreover, he was a butcher, so it wasnt easy for matchmakers to get him a match. Otherwise, he wouldnt have had to wait until after the age of twenty before he managed to marry this wife. Eldest Sister-inw turned her head to look at her husband, the tears in her eyes brimming even more. She quickly lowered her head and wiped her eyes. Alright. Lets eat! Qin Dazhuang said. Only then did everyone ignore Eldest Sister-inw and continue eating. After the meal, the men left first, leaving Qin Xiaoyao behind to wash the dishes with Eldest Sister-inw and Second Sister-inw. The two sisters-inw didnt let Qin Xiaoyao do anything. Eldest Sister-inw immediately pulled Qin Xiaoyao outside. Sanya, in the past In the past, it was I who let you down. This time I really have to thank you for this oue! Eldest Sister-inw said to Qin Xiaoyao gratefully. She could not conceal the joy in her eyes. She had never thought of adopting a child from elsewhere and raising him before. Besides, the Qin family would definitely not agree to such a thing. However, everything turned out well now. That child was the Qin familys child, to begin with. She had also helped her father-inw in the process, so the Qin family would only remember her kindness. This time, it was all thanks to her young sister-inw that she could receive such a blessing. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. What are you saying, Eldest Sister-inw? Speaking of letting down, it was I who had let Eldest Sister-inw and Second Sister-inw down. You and Second Sister-inw have been magnanimous enough not to hold it against me. For that, Im very grateful. As for this matter, since you are willing to help Father take care of the child, the entire Qin family should thank you! Qin Xiaoyao reached out and held her Eldest Sister-inws hand when she saw thetters eyes glistening with tears again. After you bring the child back, you can just raise him as your own. When he grows up, hell treat you and Big Brother like his own mother and father! Eldest Sister-inws heart skipped a beat. Yes! she answered quickly. After that, Qin Xiaoyao led Eldest Sister-inw back to the hall. Then, she went to the kitchen with Second Sister-inw to wash the dishes. It was time for Qin Xiaoyao to repair her rtionship with her two sisters-inw. Sure enough, after working together for a while, Qin Xiaoyao and her two sisters-inw put aside their previous enmity and became much closer to each other. After she finished her chores in the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao saw her father and two elder brothers enjoying the shade under the big tree in the courtyard. They seemed to be discussing something, so she walked over to them. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao walking over, Qin Erhu quickly patted the seat next to him and beckoned her over. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stand on ceremony either, and she walked over and sat down. Father are you guys talking about? she asked. Qin Dazhuang squinted his eyes and looked at the ring sun in the courtyard. He looked a little worried. Were talking about the weather. If it doesnt rain soon, Im afraid we can only ughter one pig every two days. Qin Xiaoyao was a little shocked. Qin Erhu chimed in, Its not just the meat stalls business thats not doing well right now. Uncle Zhao has also given us notice to reduce the amount of pork sent to Fortune Mansion daily by 30% from tomorrow onward. Yesterday evening, your Uncle Yang came to look for me. He asked if we could share some of the meat with them. He said that his family wont be ughtering pigs for the time being. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Uncle Yang was also a butcher, and his meat stall was not far from her fathers. However, his familys business had never been as good as the Qin familys. In addition, the Qin family had a big customer like Fortune Mansion, so naturally, Uncle Yangs family couldntpare. However, even so, Uncle Yang had been a butcher for many years, and his familys business in the market on West Street was not bad. He should not have given up so quickly Then what are your thoughts, Father? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Qin Dazhuang frowned. I agreed, he said. Seeing his two sons and daughter looking at him, Qin Dazhuang said, If I allocate him some meat, we can still ughter pigs ording to our previous quota. We cant lose our business at Fortune Mansion. Were relying on this meat business to make a living. ... Moreover, now that something like this had happened at home, it was even more critical to keep the business going. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu were both silent, their expressions grim. Oh yes. Theres one more thing. Suddenly, Qin Dazhuang turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Go ahead, Father, Qin Xiaoyao replied hurriedly. We raise and kill pigs at home, so we use a lot of water every day. However, there are too many people drawing water from that well at the street junction recently. I have to queue for half a day to get two buckets of water. Its too much of a hassle. I was thinking that if we go to your house, it wont be too far if we go by the alley. I was wondering whether you can let your eldest brother and second brother go to your house to get water in the future? Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu immediately turned to Qin Xiaoyao. There were indeed some problems with the water supply at home. The reason was that when they went to collect live pigs, they would not kill them on the same day. Sometimes, they would even keep a few in the pigsty. Raising pigs consumed not only food, but also water. ... Furthermore, when they ughtered the pigs, they needed to scald the pigs fur and wash the pork, which also required a lot of water. Requiring such arge amount of water was causing them problems. No big deal. We are not able to use up our well water. If you need water, just go to my familys well and get it! Or, I can also help send a few buckets over to you every day! I dont need you to send us. Younger Brother and I will go and carry them ourselves! Qin Dahu hurriedly said. It was already bad enough that they were going to his younger sisters house to get water. If he still let his younger sister bring the water to them, they might risk the ire of her inws. Qin Erhu also nodded in agreement. Qin Dazhuang also said, Let them go and fetch by themselves. Qin Xiaoyao then smiled and nodded. Alright, then. But dont forget to inform me if anything else happens at home in the future, she reminded them. Take for example this incident. If I hadnt bumped into Second Brother at Fortune Mansion that morning and interrogated him, I wouldnt have known that such a big matter had happened at home. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhus faces froze as they turned to look at their father. Qin Dazhuang finally sighed. Fine! In the future, if anything happens at home, well discuss it together, he said. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu were both surprised and delighted to hear their father say this. Their father was not going to insist on having the final say and allowed them to have a say in the familys big decision? This was a good thing! Qin Xiaoyao also had a smile on her face. Then she seemed to recall something and added, Oh, yes. There is some recent news that said that the price of food will rise. Have you ever thought of stocking up on food? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Chapter 156 - 156 Chapter 156: People Who Had Experienced Famine 156 Chapter 156: People Who Had Experienced Famine As the drought continued, the price of food would definitely rise. She didnt have much savings left. Otherwise, she would have continued to stock up on grain inrge quantities. Since she already knew what was going to happen next, she had to remind her family. However, her father had only just realized that their familys coffers had been emptied. It would not be easy for them to stock up on food. Its not news anymore. The price has already gone up, Qin Dazhuang said with a frown. When I opened my stall yesterday, I heard more than one person talking about this. Previously, it was only one or two grain stores. Now, people are saying that all the grain stores in the west of the town have raised their prices. Brown rice and coarse flour are now sold for three copper coins per catty. Some grain stores even sell them for three and a half copper coins! If the drought continues, we wont be able to harvest this autumns grain. Im afraid the price of grain will go up some more. When Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu heard this, their faces turned grim. Today, I was thinking of going to the grain store to take a look and spend some money to buy some grain. But But Cough-cough When Qin Dazhuang recalled what had happened at home recently, he wanted to give himself two big ps. He felt really remorseful Qin Xiaoyao hurried forward and supported her father, and then she helped to soothe him. Father, dont be angry! Its not worth it to get angry and harm your body! she said as she helped to soothe and pacify him. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu also stood up worriedly. When they saw Qin Dazhuang had calmed down, they felt more relieved and sat down again. Im fine, Qin Dazhuang said to his daughter after he had caught his breath. He gestured for Qin Xiaoyao to go back and sit down. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao return to her seat. Its necessary to stock up on grain, Qin Dazhuang said to Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu. The brothers faces froze. After exchanging nces, Qin Dahu turned to look at his father. How much should we stock up? he asked. See how much money your two households have. If you have enough money, we can just stock up 6 to 700 catties. If you dont have enough money, we must still stock up at least 200 catties, Qin Dazhuang said. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu were both shocked. So much? Qin Erhu asked at once. Qin Dazhuang nced at his second son. Its not much. If we cant harvest the grain this autumn, the grain price wont drop until the next autumns harvest. This might still be considered good. If it was the same as 25 years ago when we had that massive cmity, the situation could be even worse. Qin Dazhuang sighed when he saw his two sons skeptical looks. He told them about the disaster that happened in Mountain Spring Town 25 years ago. The drought at that time was much more serious than the one five years ago. The affected area was also much wider. After the drought, there was a locust gue, which ate up almost all the crops in the viges around Mountain Spring Town. Some people sell their children, and some even exchanged their children for food. The three Qin siblings were all stunned. As they listened to Qin Dazhuangs story, they felt a chill in their hearts despite the hot weather. That year, your mother and I just got married. Its all thanks to your mothers foresight. After she realized that the situation was not right, she pawned off the dowry and bought 200 catties of grain in advance. Our family only managed to survive because of that. The three siblings heaved a sigh of relief when they heard this. So, was that why you bought a few hundred catties of grain in advance when the drought happened five years ago, Father? Qin Dahu suddenly remembered this and asked Qin Dazhuang. Yes. Qin Dazhuang replied. Only those who have actually experienced famine know how terrible a food shortage is. He sighed again. The three siblings fell silent. If your family has extra money, dont forget to stock up on some food. As Qin Dazhuang spoke, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. Dont worry, Father. Ive already stocked up on all the food, she said. Qin Dazhuang was stunned. Oh? How much did you stock up? He was a little surprised. 2000 catties of coarse flour, 1000 catties of brown rice, and some dried food and seasoning. In any case, with just the few of us in my family, the food canst us for two years without any problem, Qin Xiaoyao said outright. If she included the food in the cer, it couldst for another five or six years. ... Of course, she had an agreement with her attractive husband that the food in the cer was a secret and could not be revealed to outsiders. So much? Qin Erhu immediately stared at his younger sister. Qin Dahu and Qin Dazhuang were equally stupefied. Qin Xiaoyao smiled in embarrassment. Hehe, I didnt just hoard them for food. I feel that the price of food will probably increase. If it really rises, we can earn some money from the price difference by selling it. It doesnt matter if it doesnt rise. Next year, Im going to open a porridge shop so we can use up the food at home at that point. The trio of father and sons nodded. They totally agreed with Qin Xiaoyaos thinking. Then my household will stock up 400 catties. 200 catties each of brown rice and coarse flour. It should be enough tost our whole big family for two to three months, Qin Dahu said. My household will also stock up 400 catties, Qin Erhu added. ... If we really encounter a great cmity, 800 catties of food should be sufficient. Qin Dazhuang nodded. Then you two brothers should get this done as soon as possible. Otherwise, the price of food will continue to rise if you dy. Yep. Dont worry, Father. When the sun is not so hot, Ill get it done with Younger Brother! Qin Dahu immediately replied. Qin Erhu also nodded. Only then did Qin Dazhuang feel relieved and start to talk about other topics with the three siblings. Qin Xiaoyao chatted with the three of them until it was almost three oclock in the afternoon before she got up and left. She didnt want to leave, but she had to go back and prepare her century eggs. Fortune Mansion was still purchasing her century eggs inrge quantities. However, Second Brother said that the meat that Fortune Mansion ordered had decreased, so their business must have declined. When she went to deliver the goods tomorrow, she would have to ask Uncle Zhao about the situation. She had to review whether she needed to adjust the number of century eggs she prepared every day. After all, if she made too many century eggs which could not be sold off, her small family wouldnt be able to finish all of them. In addition, with the famine, it was hard to say if she could open a porridge shop. The Qin familys father and sons saw that the sun was still high overhead, so they all wanted to keep Qin Xiaoyao back for a while longer. Qin Xiaoyao replied that if she went by the alleys, she wouldnt get too much sun. Only then did the three of them let Qin Xiaoyao go. As soon as she walked out of the shade, Qin Xiaoyao felt a heat wave hit her body. Following that, she didnt think about it anymore and left quickly. After leaving the Qin familys residence, Qin Xiaoyao quickly turned into the nearest alley leading to the Song familys residence. Then, after weaving through the streets and a few alleys, she finally made her way back to the Song familys house. It was Song Yun who opened the door for Qin Xiaoyao when she knocked on it. Song Yun was overjoyed to see her sister-inw. She asked about the Qin family. Qin Xiaoyao was in no rush to answer. Instead, she went back to her room to look for Song Que. At this moment, Song Que had already gotten up and was writing at his desk. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao had returned, his heart, which had been held in worried suspense, finally settled down. Qin Xiaoyao entered the room and saw a pot of tea on the coffee table. She immediately walked over and poured herself a cup. After that, she poured another cup from the teapot and gulped it down again. Its too hot. I feel as if Im almost half dead after walking all the way back. Chapter 157 - 157 Chapter 157: Food Prices Had Risen Again 157 Chapter 157: Food Prices Had Risen Again Qin Xiaoyao only felt a little better after downing tworge cups of tea. Song Queughed softly in amusement. Only when he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him did he stop smiling. Hows the situation at Father-inws house? he asked. !! In his previous life, he had little contact with the Qin family, so he naturally didnt know about Madam Zhang and the Zhang familys situation. However, now that he knew there were gamblers in the Zhang family and the Zhang family were not good people, he had been a little worried after Qin Xiaoyao left. As a result, he couldnt fall asleep even when he was lying on the bed. After that, he simply got up and started to practice calligraphy. He had been waiting for a long time. Fortunately, this woman finally returned. Everything went smoothly! Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Then, she told Song Que about what had happened to the Qin family and the subsequent arrangements. Its good that your Eldest Sister-inw is willing to raise that child. She can also fulfill her own and Big Brother-inws wish, Song Que said after hearing this. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. You dont know how happy Eldest Sister-inw was about this. She even held my hand and thanked me! she said with some excitement. Song Que also smiled. It seems youve gained a lot from this trip back to your parents house. Of course! Now, Eldest and Second Sisters-inw dont hate me anymore. Big Brother, Second Brother, and Father all believe in me! Song Que smiled again. He realized that he quite enjoyed seeing Qin Xiaoyaos self-satisfied look. Thats good. Qin Xiaoyao turned around with a smile. Oh, yes. I have something to tell you. I dont think you will believe me. What is it? A look of curiosity shed across Song Ques eyes. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que and said, My father had also nned to stock up on food. Song Que was taken aback. He was really surprised. Then, Qin Xiaoyao told him what her father had experienced. Fathers money was all spent by Madam Zhang. In the end, it was Big Brother and Second Brother who will fork out the money to stock up on food. Each household is contributing 400 catties, so its a total of 800 catties. Qin Xiaoyao then turned to look at Song Que. I estimate that if they dont have enough, we can help them out when the timees. By the way, in your prophecy, how long will the famine in our townst? Do we need to stock up on more food? Song Que was silent. The cmity is quite serious. Im afraid its no less serious than the drought Father-inw experienced 25 years ago. It took almost three years for Mountain Spring Town to recover a little. This time, the situation should be simr. In his previous life, he left with the Emperor not long after winter began. In addition, he didnt pay much attention to the situation in Mountain Spring Town after that, so he didnt know much about it. However, the entire city of Hua An Prefecture and even the surrounding areas were suffering from drought at that time. The Imperial Court had indeed spent a lot of time on disaster relief and re-settling the refugees. It seemed that the Imperial Court was still sending out money for disaster relief the following year. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos frown, Song Que continued, You dont have to worry too much. Our Mountain Spring Town is the biggest town in Zhao County. Its also located along the major transportation artery leading to Hua An Prefecture, so there are many merchantsing and going. If theres a famine in Hua An Prefecture, the various towns and cities may experience a temporary food shortage. But once the merchantse in, the food will arrive quickly. Well have more security if we live in the city. After winter, the snow will melt, and the grain stores in the city will reopen. No one should starve to death then. However, the price of grain may not drop in the short term. At that time, it would be the time for the various businesses topete with each other. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Three years is too long Ill take stock of the money at hometer and see if I can stock up on more grain. After the grain price rises, we can still make money by selling it, Qin Xiaoyao said. It was good to have a prophet at home. She wasnt afraid of making such an investment. Mm-hmm. Song Que did not object. It was good to buy more food. The two of them chatted for a while longer before Qin Xiaoyao went to retrieve the three money boxes in the house. In the end, she only managed to count fifteen taels of silver. There were quite a lot of copper coins though, filling up tworge boxes. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the copper coins that were heaped in one ce. Then she nced at Song Que and gave him the job of counting the coins. I have to go and wrap the century eggs. Ill have to trouble Hubby to count these copper coins. 100 coins in one bundle. Later on, I will use some to buy food from the grain stores. It also saved her the trouble of going to the bank to exchange them for silver. Song Que raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Mm-hmm. He actually agreed to her proposal. ... Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Do your best then, Hubby! She gave Song Que some encouragement and then left. The womans tinklingughter echoing in Song Ques mind only disappeared after she had left for a while. He shook his head to get rid of the emotions in his mind. Only then did Song Que start to count and arrange the coins. After Qin Xiaoyao left the room, she went to prepare the century eggs. In the end, before the mud paste for the century eggs was ready, Madam Liu came to the alley. At this moment, Song Yun, Wang Xiaomei, and the little kid Song Ye were all present. Girl, how did you handle the Qin familys matter? Do you need our help? Madam Liu asked with concern. The inws family had been very helpful to their family in the past. Now that the inws family had run into trouble, they would definitely help as much as they could. Its fine. Everythings settled, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Then, she told her mother-inw about the general situation. ... When she heard that Madam Zhang had been divorced and that the child would be brought back to the Qin familys eldest sons household, Madam Liu heaved a sigh of relief. Then, she said with another sigh, Thats good. With one less troublemaker, the family will be more peaceful in the future. You should also try to persuade your father to look on the bright side of things. Madam Liu said to Qin Xiaoyao after she appeared to recall something. Qin Xiaoyao smiled with amusement. I know, Mother. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao could still smile, Madam Liu finally felt relieved. Sheforted Qin Xiaoyao some more before returning to her room to continue her embroidery work. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and continued to wrap her century eggs. After shepleted wrapping the century eggs, Qin Xiaoyao only rested for a while before returning to her room. After that, she chatted with Song Que about something, andughter could be heard from the room from time to time. About an hourter, Qin Xiaoyao finally left the room with a money box in her arms. Following that, she went to the storage room to retrieve the handcart. Song Yun asked where her sister-inw was going. Qin Xiaoyao left after simply saying that she was going to buy something. After leaving the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao went to the grain store where she had bought her grain previously. She was familiar with the ce by now. At this moment, there were no customers in the store. When the shop assistant saw his big customer, his face lit up like a blossoming flower. Madam Qin! He shouted out to Qin Xiaoyao excitedly. Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Im here to look for you again, Little Brother. Besides brown rice and coarse flour, I also want to buy some soybeans this time. Whats the price in your shop now? At this point, Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and whispered, Same old rules. Give me an honest price. The shop assistant smiled. I always give Madam Qin an honest price. However, the price of grain has been rising recently, so the shop owner said not to reduce the price. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. The shop assistant smiled adorably and said with a lowered voice, But Madam Qin has always been patronizing our store, so how can we treat you like our other customers? Chapter 158 - 158 Chapter 158: Couldn’t Be Eaten Or Worn 158 Chapter 158: Couldnt Be Eaten Or Worn Qin Xiaoyaos mood improved immediately. Seeing this, the shop assistant began to list out his prices. An hour ago, the shop owner sent a message. He said to increase the price of coarse flour and brown rice by 5%. But since Madam Qin wants it, I can still make the decision and sell it to you at the price of three copper coins per catty. But in terms of quantity, Ill only give you 1000 catties at most. Also, if youe back tomorrow, I can only sell to you at the new price! Only 1000 catties? Qin Xiaoyao frowned. The shop assistant revealed a pained expression. Thats quite a lot, my dear aunt. Our shop owner said that the entire Hua An Prefecture is facing a food shortage. Our boss is currently thinking of ways to transfer grain from other ces. Think about it. How much more would it cost to transport grain from other ces, transport carriages, manpower, and material resources? The shop assistant leaned closer to Qin Xiaoyao and whispered, Thats why the price of food will continue to rise! Qin Xiaoyaos heart shuddered momentarily. Then Ill take 500 catties of brown rice and coarse flour each. By the way, whats the price of soybeans? You havent told me yet, Qin Xiaoyao asked again. The shop assistant nced at the soybeans in the enclosure. Make it three copper coins as well. If you buy 500 catties, I can make the decision and throw in 20 catties for free for you. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything, the shop assistant continued, If it were other people, I wouldnt even give a catty free. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao look at the shop assistant. She tried to negotiate. Buy 1000 catties, get 50 catties free. Although soybeans were not a staple food, they could be used to grow bean sprouts or to grind tofu. In the winter, there were few fresh vegetables, and bean sprouts were the only green vegetable she could think of. As long as Fortune Mansion didnt close, she could still make some money by selling bean sprouts. Based on her spection, even if there was a famine in the areas surrounding Mountain Spring Town, it was unlikely that all the restaurants in the town would be closed. After all, the rich families were well-off, and their ability to ride out the famine far exceeded that of the poor. The saying The red entrance stinks of wine and meat, but frozen skeletons lie on the streets existed for a reason. A hint of hesitation shed across the shop assistants face. Alright! Ill do it on Madam Qins ount! After a while, he finally gritted his teeth and made up his mind. Qin Xiaoyao was extremely satisfied. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao open the money box in her hand. When the shop assistant saw a box full of bundled copper coins, he brought Qin Xiaoyao to the counter. Then, he directly used a scale to weigh her coins and skipped the counting altogether. After epting Qin Xiaoyaos 4000 copper coins and two taels worth of silver coins, the shop assistant brought Qin Xiaoyao to the backyard to weigh the foodstuff. There was a total of 2050 catties of foodstuff. After the shop assistant took out the foodstuff and weighed it, he helped Qin Xiaoyao put some of it on the handcart. Only you have the strength, Madam Qin. You only need to run three rounds to transport all these goods back! The shop assistant dusted off his hands and looked at Qin Xiaoyao with admiration. The customer in front of him was really strong. He had rarely seen anyone who couldpare to Madam Qin, even among the men. Hehe! Little Brother, youre too kind. Then Ill take my leave first! Ille backter! Qin Xiaoyao said as she lifted the handcart. The shop assistant sent Qin Xiaoyao off. Qin Xiaoyao pushed the handcart out of the grain store. When she reached the street, it was much easier to move because the street was t. After that, she quickly brought the food back home. Seeing that her daughter-inw had bought food again, Madam Liu went up to her. Why did you buy food again? Didnt you just buy 3000 catties? Madam Lius heart ached a little. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled. We can never have too much food. Moreover, it isnt just rice and flour here. There are soybeans too. Its getting harder and harder for Daniu andpany to collect farm vegetables these days. Im going to send out some bean sprouts to test the market. If Fortune Mansion wants it, our family will have another source of ie. In addition, bean sprouts can also grow in winter. Theres ack of fresh vegetables in winter, so we wont have to worry about not being able to sell them, Qin Xiaoyao said. The main thing was that her house didntck water, and the courtyard was big enough to build a few sheds to grow bean sprouts. Bean sprouts? Madam Liu was puzzled. She didnt understand what Qin Xiaoyao was saying. Mm-hmm. Its the shoots of soybeans. Theyre fresh, tender, and delicious. When I have grown the bean sprouts, youll understand after you have a taste, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. In this era, or rather in Mountain Spring Town, she had indeed never seen anyone selling bean sprouts. There were people selling tofu, though. Big Girls family was in the tofu business. Moreover, if Aunt Lis house didnt have enough soybeans in the future, Qin Xiaoyao might be able to sell some to them. ... Oh, okay! Madam Liu finally relented with a smile. Her daughter-inw had a lot of ideas. Although she had never seen bean sprouts before, she believed that they must be good stuff. More importantly, wasnt the century egg at home a good example? Only her daughter-inw could bear to take out the century eggs from time to time to add an extra dish to the households meals. If Madam Liu had been in her shoes, she would never have sacrificed a single century egg. Fortune Mansion charged two or three copper coins for each of those things. They were so precious! She couldnt bear to eat even one. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. She really liked the look of trust in her mother-inws eyes. Then, with the help of her mother-inw, she pushed the handcart to the storage room. After that, they unloaded the goods. She then went back to her room to return the money box. Following that, after hesitating for a moment, she took out another three silver coins. ... Since she had decided to sell bean sprouts, 1000 catties of soybeans might be too little. While the price of soybeans had not risen, she would order another 1000 catties. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao quickly took the silver coins and the handcart and went out again. At the grain store. When the shop assistant heard that Qin Xiaoyao wanted another 1000 catties of soybeans and asked for 50 catties free, he felt he was being put in a difficult position. However, in the end, he still agreed. As a result, the amount of goods Qin Xiaoyao had to haul back increased by another 1000 over catties. She was busy until the sky turned dark. Madam Lius heart ached when she saw this. The Song family also waited until Qin Xiaoyao came back. Then they helped her unload the goods and put them away before they had dinner together. After the meal, everyone thought that Qin Xiaoyao must be tired, so no one brought up the matter of taking a stroll on the street. After sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard for a while, Qin Xiaoyao took the initiative toe back and ask everyone to go out for a walk in the streets together. After that, she went to fetch Song Que and brought him out of the courtyard. Song Que was a little worried about Qin Xiaoyao initially, but he could see that she was still full of energy, as if nothing had happened. After asking her and finding out that her strength-type special ability had helped her recover, he felt more relieved atst. Thus, the couples sweet date began again. After walking for a while, the two of them finally arrived in front of the jewelry stall that Song Que had seen yesterday. Qin Xiaoyao didnt take it seriously. Just like yesterday, she lifted her feet and strode forward, but she was pulled back by the man beside her. Whats wrong? She turned around and looked at Song Que with a puzzled expression. An awkward expression shed across Song Ques face. Lets go over and take a look, he said. Qin Xiaoyao followed Song Ques gaze and saw a stall selling jewelry. Whats so interesting about those things? We cant eat them or wear them, she responded. The little fiery passion in Song Ques heart was instantly extinguished by half. I want to go and take a look, he continued. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Que and seemed to have thought of something. Finally, she nodded. Lets go then, she replied. Then, she brought Song Que to that stall. Chapter 159 - 159 Chapter 159: Buying A Hairpin 159 Chapter 159: Buying A Hairpin When the stall owner saw a customer approaching, his face broke into a warm smile. Mister, Missus, take a look and see if anything catches your fancy. There are all kinds of designs. Mm-hmm, Song Que answered and lowered his head to browse the goods. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, seemed to be a little disinterested. However, she felt bored, so she also browsed through the goods with Song Que. Thereafter, she discovered a bright, white jade hairpin. Qin Xiaoyao felt it looked quite nice and reached out for it. Missus has good taste. This hairpin is lustrous and white. The quality is top-notch. Paired with your husband, it will definitelyplement him well! the stall owner said hurriedly. When the stall owner looked at Song Que, he could not hide the admiration in his eyes. This husbands appearance was indeed extraordinary. No matter what kind of hairpin he used, he still looked absolutely stunning and peerless. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and agreed with the stall owners words. Thus, she turned her head to look at Song Que. Hubby,e over here. Ill put it on for you to have a look, she said. Sigh! When she thought about it, she had never given her husband any decent gift. Todays outing could be considered an opportune time. If the price was right, it was not a bad idea to give her husband a love token. Hehe! Thinking of the words love token, that woman was so happy that she wanted to wag her tail like a dog. Unfortunately, she could not. Song Que was caught by surprise. Looking at the jade hairpin in Qin Xiaoyaos hand, he realized that it was indeed made of jade, but the quality wasnt very good. However, he didnt mind and agreed with a smile. After that, he allowed Qin Xiaoyao to remove the wooden hairpin from his head and rece it with the jade hairpin. Qin Xiaoyao grinned widely in satisfaction as she admired her masterpiece. Indeed, her attractive husband appeared even more attractive after she put the jade hairpin on him. Song Que didnt feel ufortable under Qin Xiaoyaos infatuated gaze, and his eyes even revealed a look of adoration subconsciously. Hepletely ignored the stall owner, who was busy praising and ttering him. Then, he also picked out a jade hairpin from the stall and inserted it into Qin Xiaoyaos somewhat disheveled hair. Only then did Qin Xiaoyaoe back to her senses. She reached out and pulled the jade hairpin off her head. Hehe! I dont want it. Hubbys jade hairpin is still the most beautiful. She disyed a look of infatuation again. Song Que simply smiled and reached out to take the jade hairpin from Qin Xiaoyaos hand. How much is this jade hairpin? he asked the stall owner. Mister, the one in your hand is two taels of silver, and the one on your head I can give it to you for one tael and five copper coins. Qin Xiaoyao, who was by his side, was shocked. She quickly pushed Song Ques hand to return the jade hairpin. I dont want this. Two taels of silver is too expensive! she said. Song Que smiled, but he avoided Qin Xiaoyaos hand. Then, he took off the hairpin on his head and changed back to the wooden hairpin he had used before. Although these two jade hairpins are indeed made of jade, the quality is not good. One tael and a half is enough for this. The other is worth at most 800 copper coins. As Song Que spoke, he waved the two jade hairpins in his hand. The stall owners face froze. He knew that he had encountered an expert. As for Qin Xiaoyao, she was already looking at Song Que with the utmost admiration. She had always thought that her husband wasnt good at haggling, but she didnt expect that this man was even more ruthless than her when it came to haggling. What surprised her even more was what the stall owner said next. Since Mister has such a discerning eye, Ill go along with the price you have quoted. For a total of two taels and three silver coins, these two hairpins are yours. The other party had given him some leeway in the price he had stated. If the stall owner were to sell at his price, he would still make some profit. Moreover, he had disyed these two jade hairpins for a long time, but no one had been interested in them. It would be good to take this opportunity to sell them off so that he wouldnt have to keep them on his hands. Song Que smiled and was about to agree. However, he was stopped by Qin Xiaoyao. Lets just buy this one that costs 800 copper coins. I dont even like the one you chose, she said. The truth was, it wasnt that she didnt like it, but it was just too expensive. At one tael and five silver coins, it was almost twice as expensive as the one she had chosen for her attractive husband. ... Song Que smiled. Then which one do you like? He turned to browse through the jewelry on the stall again. In his eyes, none of these things were exquisite enough. However, now that he was short of money, he could only give a small token to express his feelings. Qin Xiaoyao followed Song Ques gaze and understood that her husband also wanted to give her a gift. After thinking about it, she decided to ept his goodwill. Give me a silver hairpin then! she said. Silver was good, valuable, and resistant to breakage. Price must be within one tael of silver! Qin Xiaoyao added as an afterthought. Song Que smiled in amusement. He looked at the stall owner. Do you have any silver hairpins that are below one tael of silver? he asked the stall owner. Yes, I do! The stall owner quickly replied. ... Then, he began to introduce his wares to Song Que. Regardless of whether he was buying a jade hairpin or a silver hairpin, they were all precious items in his stall. He could earn more by selling these goods than other jewelry. After that, Song Que saw the three silver hairpins handed over by the stall owner. Their designs were very ordinary, and only one of them was barely eptable. Song Que stretched out his hand and took the silver hairpin that was barely eptable. Hows this one? he asked Qin Xiaoyao. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos chubby face was slightly red, and she nodded repeatedly when she saw the silver hairpin in Song Ques hand. Song Que then looked at the stall owner. How much is it? he asked. The stall owner spread out his hands. When he saw Song Ques serious expression, he hesitated for a moment before saying, If you really want it, its 850 copper coins. He then added, No bargaining. Qin Xiaoyao frowned and was about to bargain, but Song Que stopped her. Deal! Song Que replied, then reached for his money pouch. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything more. As she watched Song Que make payment, her heart was filled with joy. Surprisingly, Song Que only paid for the silver hairpin. Mister, you dont want this jade hairpin? The stall owner epted the money and looked at Song Que in surprise. Qin Xiaoyao quickly came back to her senses. I want it! I want it! she blurted out. Then, under Song Ques gaze, she quickly took out her money. She was so happy that she became muddleheaded. Since they were giving each other gifts, both of them had to pay for their respective gifts. Very quickly, Qin Xiaoyao took out her money and paid for the jade hairpin. Then, the young couple, one holding the jade hairpin and the other holding the silver hairpin, continued to move forward with a tacit understanding. After walking for about ten meters, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly stopped in her tracks. Why dont I put it on for you? she said to Song Que. The corners of Song Ques lips curved up. Mm-hmm. Then Ill put yours on for you too, he responded. The couple then gave each other the gifts they had bought. Thereafter, when the two saw the hairpins they had chosen for each other attached to the other partys head, they each felt that the other party had be even more attractive. Following that, Qin Xiaoyaos actions gradually changed. She was now holding Song Ques hand An atmosphere of romance enveloped the two of them. That was until they bumped into Madam Liu and the rest. After seeing Madam Liu and the rest, Qin Xiaoyao immediately let go of Song Ques hand as if it was a conditioned reflex. She switched her hand-holding gesture back to supporting Song Que. However, everyone had seen the two of them. Her overreaction had attracted attention instead. Madam Liu and the rest all had ambiguous and thought-provoking expressions on their faces. Chapter 160 - 160 Chapter 160: Big Girl Li Moving House 160 Chapter 160: Big Girl Li Moving House Madam Lius eyes were aze like torches, and she quickly discovered the hairpins on her eldest sons and daughter-inws heads. The smile on her face widened. Its gettingte. Lets go back. In consideration of the two young peoples pride, Madam Liu decided to keep her mouth shut. Hehe! Who had never experienced the youthful passions of young people? Everyone turned back. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que inadvertently ended up trailing behind the whole group again. Suddenly, Song Que let go of Qin Xiaoyao and held her hand. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. She turned her head and saw that Song Que did not turn back and continued to walk forward. Looking at the mans handsome side profile, the woman couldnt help but smile. Matching Song Ques pace, she followed him slowly. Morning came as promised. As usual, Qin Xiaoyao was helping Song Que with his rehabilitation exercises in the courtyard. At this moment, Qin Dahu arrived. He was carrying tworge wooden buckets to fetch water. Qin Xiaoyao went to open the door. Seeing that it was her big brother, she immediately smiled. Qin Xiaoyao was relieved to know that the Qin family had already stocked up on the grainst night. Its cool in the morning, so I came to get three buckets of water. When eveninges, Younger Brother wille and fetch three more buckets. The water buckets in his house were big, and six buckets a day were enough. Juste over. Theres a lot of water in my well. We cant finish it, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. After saying a few more words to Qin Dahu, she continued to help Song Que with his rehabilitation exercises. Seeing this, Qin Dahu smiled and nced at his brother-inw a few times. The rtionship between his younger sister and his brother-inw seemed to be getting better and better Then, after Qin Dahu made two trips and the Song family was about to start eating, Big Girl Li andpany also arrived. As they were moving today, Big Girl Li andpany had set off earlier today, so they arrived earlier. Qin Xiaoyao invited everyone to have breakfast together, but they said they had already eaten. After cing some things in the courtyard, Big Girl Li then went next door. After returning to the hall, Qin Xiaoyao made some arrangements while eating. Xiaomei and I will be going outter. Mother, you and Yuner go next door to take a look and see if you can help. You dont have to tell me! Madam Liu answered with a smile. Mm-hmm! Song Yun also nodded. After their meals, Qin Xiaoyao finally left the house with peace of mind. When she arrived at Fortune Mansion, Uncle Zhao ordered another 800 century eggs from Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao took the opportunity to chat with Uncle Zhao about the Qin family sending meat to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant. Recently, the business of the Mansion and the Restaurant have been declining. However, were not the only ones. The weather is getting hot, and the business of the other restaurants and eateries in town are also affected. Its quite normal to use less pork, Uncle Zhao said. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Then, my century eggs There is not much impact on your century eggs. Uncle Zhao immediately waved his hand. Now, almost all the customers whoe to the Mansion to eat will order a serving of century egg with green pepper. Some customers will even order two servings outright. Theres also cucumber and century egg soup and congee with pork and century egg. Theyre very popr too. A customer is still asking around. He wants to buy some standalone century eggs back and ask his familys kitchen staff to make these dishes. Its just that the Boss is still hesitating. Hes afraid it will affect the Mansions business. Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised. She didnt expect her century eggs to be so popr. So, dont worry about the century eggs. Uncle Zhao looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Besides, didnt you say that you wanted to open a congee shop and sell century egg congee? Uncle has high hopes for your business! He gave Qin Xiaoyao a look of approval. Whether at the Fortune Mansion or Fortune Restaurant, the congee with pork and century egg that the back kitchen prepared every day was always the first to be used up. Many customers liked to take some away when they left, which showed how much they liked the congee. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. Hehe! Thank you, Uncle! She gave Uncle Zhao a mischievous grin. Uncle Zhaoughed with amusement. Qin Xiaoyao suddenly thought of something and said, Oh, yes! Uncle, theres one more thing. Go ahead, Uncle Zhaos smile faded. Its getting harder and harder to collect farm vegetables these days. The weight of the vegetables that Erniu andpany send over is almost never enough. Im preparing to grow a new vegetable. It could also be considered a farm vegetable, the kind that could be harvested all year round. The taste isnt that special. The only good thing about it is that it is fresh and tender. Do you think you can allocate a quota to me for this vegetable? ... Uncle Zhao was taken aback. A vegetable that can be harvested all year round? He was a little surprised. Mm-hmm. Even in winter! Qin Xiaoyao emphasized. Uncle Zhaos eyes lit up. Sure. Then you try growing it. I can make the decision now. Lets fix it at 50 catties a day for ten days, he said. He had confidence in his niece. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. Theres no need for ten days. From the moment its nted to when its fully grown, itll only take three to four days! Just allow me to supply four days worth! When the Mansion is satisfied, I can nt more any time! Uncle Zhao was even more shocked. It would mature in three to four days? What kind of vegetable was this? In addition, this vegetable is somewhat different from the Chinese Toon shoots and century eggs. There is nothing special about it. Im just going to sell it like an ordinary farm vegetable, Qin Xiaoyao continued. In this way, Im not going to provide this vegetable to Fortune Mansion exclusively. In the future, if we grow a lot, I might send some to the market to sell. ... Er Uncle Zhao was a little hesitant. After thinking for a moment, he said, If its really an ordinary vegetable, sure. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Thank you, Uncle Zhao! she hurriedly expressed her thanks. No need to thank me! If your vegetable is good, our Fortune Mansions business will be good, and I can get more pay, Uncle Zhao replied with a smile. This was the truth. His monthly sry had already increased twice because of this girl. Now, the owner and the manager also hold him in even higher regard. Qin Xiaoyao chatted with Uncle Zhao for a while more before leaving. When she got home, she didnt look for Wang Xiaomei. Instead, she went to help out next door. As there were many people helping out, Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei had already settled down next door. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao had arrived, the two of them asked her to have lunch with them. Qin Xiaoyao didnt refuse, but she offered to help out with the cooking. So, at noon, the Song family all came to Aunt Suns house for lunch. Aunt Sun was very hospitable, and after the meal, everyones neighborly rtionship became even better. Knowing that it was not convenient for the Sun family to get water now, Qin Xiaoyao even took the initiative to invite Aunt Sun to get water from her house. Aunt Sun was extremely grateful for that offer. The rtionship between the two families grew closer than ever. After lunch, the Song family returned next door. Qin Xiaoyao helped Song Que back to his room. Thats great. Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei have finally moved into town as they wished, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. The two of them were quite obsessed with living in town and had already talked about it in front of her several times. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao and smiled. It is indeed much more convenient to live in town, he replied. More importantly, they might even preserve their livester on. Of course, he didnt say this part out loud. Mm-hmm. At least she doesnt have to travel back and forth between Brook Falls Vige and town every day. Chapter 161 - 161 Chapter 161: Building Sheds 161 Chapter 161: Building Sheds Moreover, its much more convenient to get water with the well in this house. It was even more difficult to get water in Brook Falls Vige now. Except for the water meant for human consumption, almost all the water was taken from River Ringwaters. Big Girls house was not close to River Ringwaters, so it took a lot of time to fetch water every day. Song Que smiled and did not respond anymore. By the way, I told Uncle Zhao that I was going to nt bean sprouts when I delivered the goods to Fortune Mansion earlier today. He agreed to buy the first few batches of bean sprouts I had at a rate of 50 catties a day! Qin Xiaoyao suddenly piped up, her eyes glowing brightly. 75 copper coins? Song Que asked after making some calctions in his heart. Previously, the price of the farm-grown vegetables purchased by Fortune Mansion was one copper coin per catty. After the drought, it was not so easy to harvest vegetables, so the price increased by five percent. Since the bean sprouts were considered ordinary vegetables, the price should be the same. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao replied. Its the same price as the farm vegetables. However, if the drought continues, it should be able to reach two copper coins. When winteres, its not impossible for the price to be three copper coins per catty. In the winter, there would be a shortage of vegetables. Only some farms or very few farmers would cultivate greenhouse vegetables, which were much more expensive than usual. Such vegetables could even be sold for four or five copper coins, not to mention three copper coins. Hows the profit? Song Que was not too optimistic. After all, soybeans were needed to grow bean sprouts, and the soybeans at home were three copper coins per catty. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and gave Song Que a p on his arm. One look, and I can tell that you lived like a prince before the apocalypse. You dont know anything about farming at all. If the soybean sprouts are cultivated well, they will grow strong. A catty of bean seeds can typically produce 12 catties of bean sprouts. Even if its only sold for one and a half copper coins per catty, the profit will still be huge! Song Que was shocked. 12 catties. If one catty were one and a half copper coins, that would be 18 copper coins. The cost of bean seeds was only three copper coins. If he were to calcte in this way, it was really Can it really grow so well? The man was somewhat in disbelief. Qin Xiaoyao smiled confidently. Of course! With the well in our house, everything is under control. Song Que smiled with amusement and allowed Qin Xiaoyao to help him into the inner room. Then I shall look forward to it. Mm-hmm! After some thought, Qin Xiaoyao added, But Ill have to build four sheds in the courtyard. When they arepleted, we can nt bean sprouts directly in the sheds. One shed could house about 300 catties. Thereafter, the crops would be harvested ording to the order of nting, and then the seeds re-nted. This way, it would not be a problem to produce 300 catties of bean sprouts a day. At that point, she would set aside a portion to send to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant. The rest could still be sold in the market. It just so happened that after the weather became hot, there were fewer vegetables being sold in the market. In addition, their woven bamboo products business was not doing well, so it was timely to add some bean sprouts to sell. At that point, she could also give some to her fathers meat stall in the market on West Street. Then she would allocate two baskets to Big Girl stationed in the market on South Street. And there was still Xiaomei stationed in the market on North Street. If the three ces sold vegetables at the same time and the price was right, they would definitely be able to open up a market. Where are you going to build them? Song Que asked. Ill build them next to the well in our house. Itll be more convenient to water the nts in this way. But in that case, well have to sacrifice some of our vegetable plots. At this point, Qin Xiaoyaos expression became a little hesitant. We have too many vegetable plots to begin with, so lets remove some plots. Even if half of them are gone, the remaining vegetables we grow will still be enough for our family, Song Que said. There were indeed too many vegetable plots. The vegetables that were nted after they moved house had already ripened, and their family couldnt finish eating them. For this reason, Mother harvested a lot and asked Qin Xiaoyao to send them to Fortune Mansion. Mm-hmm. Then Ill inform Mother, Qin Xiaoyao said. The two of them talked for a while more before lying down for an afternoon nap. After she woke up, Qin Xiaoyao went to look for Madam Liu and told her about the n to take up some vegetable plots. Although Madam Liu felt a little reluctant, she eventually still agreed to her daughter-inws arrangement. After that, Qin Xiaoyao went to prepare the century eggs. Following this, she drew up building ns in preparation for building sheds in the courtyard. When the overhead sun was slightly lower, and some parts of the courtyard became cool, Qin Xiaoyao brought her tools and started to get busy. A whileter, Qin Erhu came to fetch some water. ... When he saw that his youngest sister seemed to be engrossed in some major undertaking, he came to ask her what she was doing. After finding out that they were going to build sheds to grow something called bean sprouts, Qin Erhu offered to help without any hesitation. Father said that the family has collected enough pigs and told Big Brother and me not to collect pigs these two days. Now, our family only ughters one pig a day or two pigs at most. Big Brother and I are not busy! Qin Erhu said. Building sheds sounds easy, but its not easy for you to do it alone! Wait for me to carry the water back and get Big Brother to help. Tomorrow, well also take turns toe and help. By the day after tomorrow at thetest, your shed will be ready. As the weather was hot, they couldnt keep working all day. Otherwise, they could have finished by the next morning. Alright then. Ill have to trouble Second Brother! Qin Xiaoyao agreed after a moment of hesitation. The reason she agreed was that it was indeed not easy for her to build the shed alone. Taking for example the mounting of the upper beam, with the cooperation of other people, she could achieve twice the result with half the effort. In addition, for conveniences sake, the big wooden pirs that supported the shed had to be bought from the lumber shop. Otherwise, Qin Xiaoyao would have to go out of town and into the mountains to chop them. ... In order to save time and hassle, she naturally didnt want to waste so much effort. If there were anything that could be solved with money, she was prepared to spend money. However, even so, she still had to go to the lumber shop to haul the wooden pirs back. In short, building a shed seemed simple, but it was not an easy task in fact. Hey! What are you being so polite for? Qin Erhu replied. He hauled up the water buckets and stood up. Wait for me. Well be there in a while. After he finished speaking, he strode off and left. After that, Qin Xiaoyao didnt have to wait long before Qin Erhu returned. Not only did he bring Qin Dahu, but he also brought her father. All three of them were holding tools in their hands and were obviously here to help. This gave Qin Xiaoyao a shock. Father, why have youe? She quickly stopped working and went to support Qin Dazhuang. Qin Dazhuang simply pushed Qin Xiaoyaos hand away. Why cant Ie? Seeing his daughters worried expression, Qin Dazhuang said, Im fine now! I was idle at home anyway, so I came over to work with you guys so that you could finish your task earlier! As he spoke, Qin Dazhuang immediately began giving instructions. He got Qin Dahu to saw the wood and instructed Qin Erhu to dig holes. Then he told Qin Xiaoyao to go to the lumber shop to buy wood. Qin Xiaoyao saw her father was full of energy and knew that he wouldnt listen to advice, so she could only give up trying to talk him out of it. She then pulled Qin Dazhuang to the side and only allowed him to supervise the tasks on site. After that, she discussed with Qin Dazhuang the materials needed for the sheds before she went to look for Madam Liu. Thereafter, she went to the storeroom to push the handcart out. It had to be said that Qin Dazhuang was indeed experienced in this job scope. In addition, the Qin family members were all adept at carrying out various tasks. By the time it was dark, the rough outline of the shed waspleted. The Qin family stayed at the Song familys house for dinner. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que came forward and warmly weed Qin Dazhuang and his two sons. Chapter 162 - 162 Chapter 162: Wife-doting Qin Erhu 162 Chapter 162: Wife-doting Qin Erhu Younger Brother-inw, your familys cold dish and century eggs are really excellent! Qin Dahu gave effusive praise as he chomped on the cold dishprising pigs ear. Thats right! Qin Erhu chimed in. He then thought of something and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. By the way, Youngest Sis, do you have any more century eggs? Sell some to me. Your second sister-inw doesnt have much appetite these days. She said that she just wants to eat the porridge with pork and century egg, he said. !! Ever since his wife became pregnant, her morning sickness had been really bad. His heart ached even as he watched over her. During this period, he had also bought a lot of good food and drinks, but his wife said she couldnt stomach them. Over the past few days, she seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Previously, his youngest sister had sent him some century eggs, and his wife had made porridge with lean pork and century eggs and some cold dishes with century eggs ording to his youngest sisters instructions. In the end, because Qin Erhu loved them so much, the 20 century eggs that were allocated to the second sons household were quickly consumed by him. As a result, his wife couldnt even have some century egg porridge now. Qin Dahu immediately turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao as well. He wanted to buy some too, but he felt that his youngest sister would definitely not ept his money, so he kept his mouth shut after thinking about it. Qin Dazhuangs expression was simr. Just like his two sons, he also liked to eat century eggs. However, he was very poor now and had to live with his two sons in the future, so he was too embarrassed to ask. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. What are you talking about? Second Brother, youre treating me like an outsider! I make century eggs every day now, and there are plenty of century eggs at home. When you go backter, Ill load up a batch of 60 eggs for you guys. After you take it back, your two families can split it among yourselves. When youve eaten them all, juste back and ask me for more. How can we allow this? Your century eggs are worth two to three copper coins each! Qin Erhu said hurriedly. Thats right! 60 is more than 100 copper coins. How can we take advantage of you like this? Qin Dahu added. As he spoke, he intentionally looked at Song Que. He was afraid that his younger brother-inw would be unhappy. However, Song Que had a smile on his face the entire time and did not show any signs of displeasure. That price is for selling to Fortune Mansion. They didnt allow me to sell century eggs to outsiders, so naturally, they gave me a high price. Actually, the cost of this thing is not much more expensive than regr chicken eggs, Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. Ive already promised Fortune Mansion that I wont sell to outsiders, so how can I sell to you? If you want to eat it, you can just ask me for it directly! Besides, in the past, when my family was in trouble, you guys gave me money and helped me. Today, when you found out that I was going to build a shed, you all rushed over to help. And all I did was give you some century eggs? Qin Dahu was just about to speak when Song Que, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up. This is a token of appreciation from my wife and me. Father and two Brothers-inw should just ept it. After he finished speaking, he even exchanged a nce with Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. This scene caused the Qin familys father and sons, as well as everyone at the table to look away. They couldnt help but feel happy for the two of them. This young couples rtionship seemed to be getting better and better The Qin familys father and sons were truly happy for their daughter and youngest sister at this point. They felt that her struggles and hard work were beginning to bear fruit. With regard to Song Que, the Qin family members were increasingly more satisfied with him. Although he was a frail schr and couldnt help their daughter and youngest sister with the family chores, he was reasonable and knew how to care for others. They were still around anyway, and the two families were staying not far from each other. If anything were to happen to their daughter and youngest sister, they would still be able to take care of her. Ahem Since thats the case, you guys can ept it this time. But the next time you want to eat century eggs, bring your own chicken eggs or duck eggs, and give your youngest sister somebor fees in exchange, Qin Dazhuang said. He could not possibly allow his daughter to suffer losses for the century eggs from here onward. However, his daughter was not willing to ept their money, so he could only resort to this. In this way, his daughter would not have to send century eggs to their house in the future, and his sons would not have to worry about his daughter not taking money and, thus, dared not ask for them. After all, their family really liked century eggs. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu agreed. Qin Xiaoyaoughed and answered, Alright. Following that, Qin Xiaoyao taught Qin Erhu how her own family prepared the cold dishes. She told him to go back and let her second sister-inw try it to see if it was appetizing. Qin Erhu, who had always been boorish, was actually very serious about learning the recipe. He said that when he returned, he would definitely let his wife try it out. Qin Xiaoyao was overjoyed to see her second brother dote on his wife so much. The Qin familys trio of father and sons only left after dinner endedte into the night. Before he left, Qin Dazhuang even said that he would bring Qin Dahu over to help again the next day after he was done with his household chores. Qin Xiaoyao agreed with a smile and sent the three of them off. Back in the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao wanted to help out, but Madam Liu wouldnt let her. Take Queer for a walk in the streets to aid with digestion. Itll be easier to sleep when youe backter. Well go and look for you after were done washing the dishes. Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and agreed. After that, she went to look for Song Que. Song Que had been forced to drink a few cups of wine by his father-inw and his two brothers-inw on this night. Although he was not drunk, he was feeling a little lethargic. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaoing over to take him out, not only did he not cooperate, but he actually pulled Qin Xiaoyao over with some force and sat her on the soft couch beside him. Almost immediately, Qin Xiaoyao could smell the faint whiff of alcohol on Song Que. ... Hmm it wasnt as strong as the smell of alcohol on her, but perhaps because the face in front of her was too handsome, she felt a little intoxicated. Song Que turned his head and smiled at the woman who was staring at him. Then, his body went limp, and he allowed himself to lean on Qin Xiaoyao. Sigh After that, he let out a sigh of contentment. This sigh made Qin Xiaoyaos heart tremble, and her face turn red. She tried hard to stop herself from extending her ws and hugging her husband. To her surprise, Song Ques body slowly slid down again and fell into her arms. Then, just like that, hey in her arms and looked up at her with a smile. He simply stared straight at her, like a vixen that was very seductive. Qin Xiaoyaos body froze. She was at a loss. ... Itsted until Song Que felt ufortable, and he reached out, took one of her arms, and used it as a pillow under his head. Hubby Qin Xiaoyao finally spoke. The second syble was almost lost as her voice trailed off. Shush Song Ques beautiful eyes blinked, and he ced his hand against his mouth to make a gesture of keeping quiet. Then, he continued to look at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. Perhaps his eyes were not that good before, but after a closer look, his wife was actually more beautiful than he had thought. It was the kind of soldierly beauty that was very alluring Qin Xiaoyaos face was burning, and she didnt dare to look at Song Que directly. This was a demons trick, right? The reincarnation of a vixen? Did he know that staring at her like that was very dangerous? Well, the other party obviously didnt know. As if it wasnt enough to just look at her, he even made a move on her. In short, Qin Xiaoyao finally kissed him and then began chewing on Song Que. She almost caused him to suffocate with her chewing. After that, the woman who quickly fled swore to herself. As long as she was given more opportunities to practice, she would never let her attractive husband look at her with those eyes full of resentment again After all, she really had no experience in this Chapter 163 - 163 Chapter 163: You Asked For It 163 Chapter 163: You Asked For It Thus, Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que didnt leave the house that night. Moreover, by the time Madam Liu and the others came back from the street in one big noisy group, the lights in their room had already been extinguished. It was a new day again. This was the first time Qin Xiaoyao had woken upte since she transmigrated. When she heard some movement outside, she opened her eyes. She then saw Song Que, who was wearing his undergarments that covered half of his body, looking at her. This man He really resembled a vixen. He appeared pure and innocent, but when he went crazy, he was really too much. Its daybreak. I I have to get to work. Recalling what happenedst night, Qin Xiaoyao simply didnt dare to look at the person beside her in the eye. She was afraid that she would lose control of herself again! Song Ques eyes flickered momentarily. He didnt say anything. However, his long, slender fingers picked up a cluster of hair by Qin Xiaoyaos cheek. He started to y with her hair carelessly. It was as if he was teasing a cat. If he was not careful, his fingers would gently slide across Qin Xiaoyaos skin. It tickled her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, and she was moring inwardly Ahem Hubby, I really have to get up. Otherwise, Daniu will be delivering the goods soon. And and Father and my brothers areing over to help too Suddenly, the man pounced on her The warm sensation made Qin Xiaoyaos eyes widen, and her brain instantly turned into mush. Immediately, the woman flipped herself over. Fuck you, Song Que! You asked for it! When Qin Xiaoyao finally opened the door and came out of the room, it was already an hourter. At this moment, the womans eyes were full of energy, and she looked like she was in high spirits after experiencing a joyous asion. She greeted everyone she saw. Good morning, Mother! That woman had already greeted Wang Xiaomei, Song Ye, and Song Yun. This time, it was Madam Lius turn. Oh. Good morning! Madam Liu replied awkwardly. Breakfast is ready. Lets eat, she continued. In fact, breakfast had already been ready for quite a while, but her eldest son and daughter-inw had note out of the room. She didnt know what was going on, so she could only tell the two little ones not to go and disturb them. Now that her daughter-inw hase out, they could finally have breakfast. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao answered in the affirmative with a smile. Then, she went into the kitchen. Madam Lius expression became a little puzzled. She looked in the direction of Qin Xiaoyao and Song Ques room. Was she thinking too much? After a while, Qin Xiaoyao came out again. She was holding a tray with a serving of rice and vegetables for one person. Oh yes, Mother. Hubby isnt feeling well, so he wont be joining us for breakfast. Ill send breakfast to him personally. Madam Liu was shocked. When she came back to her senses, she saw that her daughter-inw had already walked away with a smile on her face and a tray in her hands. After returning to her room, Qin Xiaoyao ced the food on the small table and then turned around to close the door. After that, she helped the person who was lying on the bed with a resentful expression get off the bed. Ill go get you some water to wash up. After washing up, you can have breakfast. Rest for a while after eating. You can go out after youve rested. Unlike someone who was feeling resentful, she only felt joy. Mm-hmm, Song Que replied in a glum voice. Then, he felt a sudden warm sensation on his forehead. Following that, he heard Qin Xiaoyaos voice. Wait for me Song Que turned his head and saw Qin Xiaoyaos bright smile. By the time he touched his forehead where he had been kissed, Qin Xiaoyao had already opened the door and left. The gloominess in that mans heart quickly dissipated. He smiled and didnt think about it anymore. After she left the room, Qin Xiaoyao thoughtfully closed the door behind her. Thereafter, she went to fetch water for Song Que and then brought the water to him. When she returned to the hall after finishing her tasks, the trio of mother and two children were looking at her with puzzled expressions. ... Madam Liu was a little worried that her eldest son was really not feeling well and asked her daughter-inw about Song Ques condition. Oh, its not that serious. Hell be fine after some rest, Qin Xiaoyao said as she ate her porridge. Thinking of her husbands slightly gaunt body, Qin Xiaoyao thought to herself that she had to give him more training. She wasnt expecting her husband to be a martial arts expert, but he should at least have a strong body. In this way Shoo, shoo! Qin Xiaoyao quickly interrupted the thoughts in her mind. Madam Liu and the others were relieved when they heard her. Their daughter-inw and sister-inw cared a lot about their son and big brother and would never take his health lightly. Madam Liu quickly talked to Qin Xiaoyao about other things. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao realize that Liu Daniu had already been here. However, seeing that she wasnt around, he went next door to visit Big Girl Li andpany. ... And her big brother had already finished fetching the water. He said he woulde over to help build the shed in a while. Okay. Then Ill go look for Daniu after eating, Qin Xiaoyao replied. She had to tell Daniu to collect some bamboo baskets. She needed to get more baskets in preparation for selling bean sprouts after this. In addition, if my big brother and the otherse, just let them get started first, Qin Xiaoyao continued. I know, Madam Liu answered. Qin Xiaoyao ate quickly. After eating, she went back to her room. When she saw that Song Que had finished eating, she gave her husband a goodbye kiss with a beaming smile, saying that she was going out to deliver the goods. Then, she carried the tray and took the utensils back to the kitchen. After Qin Xiaoyao left, Song Que opened the door only after a long while. Then, he made Song Ye study with him. When Madam Liu and the others saw that there was nothing unusual about Song Que, they finally felt relieved. After Qin Xiaoyao delivered the goods to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant, she rushed back to the Song familys house. Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu were still building the shed. Looking at the work progress, the shed was almostpleted. Qin Xiaoyao quickly put down the handcart and went to help. Then, before the scorching sun rose overhead, shepleted the shed with the father and son duo. Alright, Father, Big Brother! Dont bother about the rest! Ill clean up on my own! You guys should go and rest. Drink some water to avoid heatstroke! Qin Xiaoyao shook her arms and wiped the sweat off her forehead as she spoke to Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu. This damn weather was simply too hot! It was a pity that she could only watch her father and big brother strip down to their bare chests while she had to cover herself up tightly. Sigh! She really missed the crop tops and short jackets from her previous life Okay! You can stop work too! Qin Dazhuang said with a frown. The sun was too hot, and there was really no need to continue working. Mm-hmm! The three of them then left the courtyard and went to the small alley to get some fresh air. Madam Liu and Song Yun quickly brought over water and handkerchiefs, as well as some sugar water. After wiping their faces and bodies and letting the wind in the alley dry the moisture on their faces and bodies, the three of them finally feltfortable. When they finished drinking the sugar water, they felt that most of the heat in their bodies had dissipated. Youngest sister, you have made a really good choice buying this courtyard dwelling. The wind is strong and cool in this small alley! Qin Dahu sat on the edge of the steps, leaning against the wall and enjoying the cool breeze. He felt extremelyfortable. Hehe! Its really very cool! Its much cooler than sitting under the big tree in our courtyard! Qin Dazhuang chimed in. Qin Xiaoyao also plonked her butt down on the edge of the steps. Its all thanks to Father, who helped me get Cao Ans help back then. Otherwise, we might not have been able toe into contact with this courtyard. Chapter 164 - 164 Chapter 164: Wife Improved Very Fast 164 Chapter 164: Wife Improved Very Fast Cao An had indeed put in a lot of effort. The moment the house was put up for sale, he immediately contacted her father. Haha! Its nothing. Its still fate that brought you to this courtyard dwelling! After chatting with the father and son for a while, Qin Xiaoyao got up and went to get some water. When she returned to the small alley, Madam Liu came to call them in for lunch. Thus, the whole group proceeded to the hall. During the meal, the hall was bustling with activity. Seeing that Qin Dahu was about to force Song Que to drink again, Qin Xiaoyao finally stopped him. She had no choice but to stop her brother. Otherwise, she was not confident that she could prevent what happenedst night from happening again. More importantly, she had to take care of her husbands health. Let me drink with Big Brother instead! Qin Xiaoyao looked at Qin Dahu with a beaming smile. At the same time, she gave him an eye signal. Qin Dahuughed with amusement. After looking at his younger brother-inw with an ambiguous expression, he graciously granted his youngest sisters wish. Thereafter, the three people from the Qin family were full of boisterous chatting and drinking. After the meal, Qin Xiaoyao wanted to keep her father and brother back for a while longer and go to the alley to cool down. However, the two of them insisted on leaving. They had imposed upon the Song family two meals in a row. It would not be good if they created too much ruckus and went overboard, thereby making the inws unhappy. Qin Xiaoyao sent her father and brother out of the house before returning. After that, she returned to her room. Now that she was free, she naturally had to apany her husband. Song Que saw Qin Xiaoyao return with a smile on her face. He patted the seat beside him and gestured for her toe over and sit down. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stand on ceremony. She went to Song Ques side and plonked her butt down. After that, Song Que began to teach Qin Xiaoyao how to write with great interest. Qin Xiaoyaos heart was racing as Song Que held her hand while teaching her. Concentrate! The man was clearly doing it on purpose. In reality, he was very satisfied with the other partys response, but he still pretended to be serious and reminded her. Qin Xiaoyao was jolted awake, and she quickly corrected her attitude. In the future, Ill only teach you alone how to write. Xiaomei can learn from Yuner, Song Que continued. He really enjoyed the feeling of holding Qin Xiaoyaos hands and teaching her how to write. Do you have to teach in this way all the time? the hapless woman asked. She felt that if she were to learn like this, her progress would definitely be very slow. Mm-hmm. Song Ques voice was tinged with a hint ofughter. But its hard for me to concentrate. Qin Xiaoyaos heart was restless. Its okay. You are improving very fast. We can take it slowly. Qin Xiaoyao was speechless That afternoon, Qin Xiaoyao didnt get to take a nap. By the time Song Ques interest in teaching her how to write had faded, resulting in him dozing off, and she had to help him to bed, it was alreadyte. After helping Song Que onto the bed, she fanned him for a while with the palm-leaf fan. Qin Xiaoyao only left the room quietly after he had fallen asleep. After that, she carried on making the century eggs. Thinking of what happenedst night and today, Qin Xiaoyao didnt feel tired at all. Instead, she evenughed out loud foolishly from time to time. Song Yun and Wang Xiaomei were very puzzled. Sister-inw what are you so happy about? Qin Xiaoyaos silly expression froze for a moment. No Nothing, she replied with a smile. Seeing that her little sister-inw didnt believe her and was about to continue asking her, Qin Xiaoyao opened her mouth again. Ahem By the way, your big brother said that Xiaomei would learn how to read and write from you in the future. From now on, youll take an hour every afternoon to teach Xiaomei the Thousand Character ssic. The two little girls were stunned. Wang Xiaomei quickly turned to Song Yun, afraid that thetter would reject the idea. It must have been because her brain was not too good, and she didnt learn as fast as Mrs. Song, so Big Brother Song despised her. If Yuner didnt agree to teach her, then wouldnt that mean she wouldnt be able to learn how to read and write anymore? Alright! To her surprise, Song Yun actually agreed happily. The business in the market was not as good as before. Soon, Aunt Big Girl and Liu Xiaomei would join them in making the straw sandals. Her tasks hereafter would not be as onerous. Of course, she would be happy to do something else. ... As for making straw sandals to earn money Hehe! She could just make an appropriate amount every day. Wang Xiaomei looked at Song Yun with gratitude. Yuner she called out. Song Yun smiled at Wang Xiaomei. I cant teach you as well as Big Brother. I hope you dont mind. In addition, after youve learned the Thousand Character ssic, you can recognize words and learn by yourself. Big Brother has copied a lot of books recently. You can read them with us. If theres anything you dont understand, we can discuss it together. If we still cant figure it out, we can then ask Big Brother! When her father was around, he mainly taught her big brother and Yeer. She only learned the Thousand Character ssic with them. Everything she learned after that was taught to her by her mother in her free time. Although she wasnt taught much, Song Yun had been improving herself all the while. ... In the past, her family was poor and could not afford to buy books. Therefore, she had no way to learn more. However, their family conditions were better now. Whenever her big brother received a job copying books, as long as it was a title their family did not possess, he would copy an extra book to keep at home. Thus, she had books to read now. Now that there was another person at home learning to read and could apany her to read and learn together, she thought it was quite a good idea. Mm-hmm! Wang Xiaomei felt quite touched and quickly nodded. Before long, Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei arrived. Now, the small alley was even more lively. Everyone was weaving straw sandals and enjoying the cool breeze, feeling very contented. After Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei found out that the Song familys straw was bought from Wang Dashan, and his price was not high, they both had ideas. Big Girl Li immediately told Wang Xiaomei that she also needed Wang Dashan to help deliver the straw and firewood. After getting Qin Xiaoyaos approval, she was even able to store the bulk of her straw in the Song familyspound. She did this was because the two of them had decided toe to the Song familys house often in the future to enjoy the cool breeze in the alley. Qin Xiaoyao happened to need a lot of straw to build the thatched shed, so she quickly reminded Wang Xiaomei of this matter. . She instructed her to tell her big brother to help bring a few carts of straw over first. Wang Xiaomei smiled and agreed to all the requests. She felt that her brothers business would increase substantially by just relying on the Song family and the Sun family next door. Wang Xiaomei thought of something and said to Liu Xiaomei, Oh yes, Xiaomei! Last time, Mrs. Song and I discovered that we could set up stalls on the main street at night. Do you want to try setting up a stall with me? Liu Xiaomei was taken aback. She first looked at Qin Xiaoyao and then looked at Big Girl Li with a quizzical expression. Her eyes were filled with anticipation. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Forget about me. I almost dont care about setting up my stall anymore. As she spoke, she looked at Big Girl Li. Big Girl is pregnant. Although the main street is bright, there are many dark ces to go through on the way there. Its better for Big Girl not to go at night. Big Girl Li, who was initially a little tempted, immediately dispelled the idea when she heard this. If thats the case, then you can go with Wang Xiaomei. You two Xiaomei can work together and see if you can make more money! Big Girl Li said with augh. Great! Thank you, Sister-inw! Liu Xiaomei quickly thanked her. Wang Xiaomeis face was also filled with joy as she looked forward to the arrival of the night. After Qin Xiaoyao finished making the century eggs, she made straw sandals with the rest. When it was dusk, she went to the courtyard to pack up the remaining timber materials and other things for building the shed. The frame of the shed had beenpleted, and the next step was to wait for the straw. When the straw was put over the roof, and the sheds four walls were sealed, the shed would be trulypleted. Chapter 165 - 165 Chapter 165: Buying Straw 165 Chapter 165: Buying Straw When Wang Dashan arrived, Qin Xiaoyao went to meet Wang Dashan personally, even though she saw that Wang Xiaomei had gone up to talk to her big brother. She told him that she needed a lot more straw. If its convenient, help me send the straw tomorrow. The more, the better. At least four carts. It didnt matter if the straw couldnt be used up. They could be piled up in the courtyard. In the future, whether it was for weaving straw sandals or for lighting a fire, they would still be useful. !! No problem! Ill borrow the vige chiefs handcart and ask my father to send it with me tomorrow! Wang Dashan quickly replied. With his current handcart, if hepressed the straw tightly and loaded it high enough, one handcart could carry 7 to 800 catties. Mrs. Song paid him 38 copper coins for one such cart of straw. After deducting three copper coins for the towns entrance fee and about five copper coins for buying the straw, he could earn 30 copper coins in one trip. Even if the vige chiefs handcart couldnt carry that much straw, it wouldnt be a problem to make 25 copper coins per trip. If there were four carts of straw, there would be a profit of more than 100 copper coins. Most importantly, straw was different from firewood. There was no need to go into the mountains to chop and pick it up. Although he had to spend money to buy it from the vigers, straw was cheap, and almost every household had it. One copper coin could buy a whole heap of straw. After receiving Mrs. Songs request, he would go to the vigers houses to pick up the goods. This money was much easier to earn than selling firewood. Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised. Wang Dashan could read her thoughts, and he said in a good mood, My father will also be chopping wood and selling firewood with me in the future. In the future, he will go into the mountains to chop wood while Ill send it to town to sell. Of course, he had to enter the mountains when he was not selling firewood. Only in this way would the family have enough firewood to sell in town. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She had heard Wang Xiaomei talk about her family matters before and knew that it was not easy for Wang Dashan to get Wang Laoshuan to agree to give up the grain in the paddy fields. Qin Xiaoyao only let Wang Dashan leave after paying for the straw in advance. The next day, Wang Dashan and Wang Laoshuan arrived early in the morning. After unloading two carts of straw, they left in a hurry. By the time the two of them arrived for the second time, Liu Daniu had just arrived. Qin Xiaoyao learned that there was still straw in the vige, so she discussed with Big Girl Li. They each bought another cart of straw and paid for them separately. This made the Wang father and son duo extremely happy, and they happily pushed the handcarts out of the courtyard. After that, they sent over two more carts of straw. Qin Xiaoyao and Wang Xiaomei hadnt returned yet when they arrived. Wang Dashan had initially wanted to leave with Wang Laoshuan straight away and make a trip back home to bring the firewood into town to sell. Wang Laoshuan refused to leave, saying that he wanted to wait for Wang Xiaomei to return. Wang Dashan couldnt persuade him. As he was in a hurry, he had no choice but to let Wang Laoshuan stay on the Song familys premises. As he sat on a stone bench in the Song familys courtyard, Wang Laoshuans eyes were filled with envy as he looked around the courtyard. In the past, they were all from the same vige and were neighbors. His familys situation was much better than the Song familys. However, it had only been a short while, and the difference between the two families circumstances had be as vast as heaven and earth. The Song family moved into town, and they owned such arge courtyard dwelling. His family, on the other hand Notwithstanding the fact that his wife had left, the familys coffers had also been emptied. He and his son still had to collect firewood every day to pay off their debts. Big Brother Wang, have some water while you wait. Xiaomei should be back soon. Madam Liu brought a bowl of water over. Thank thank you! Wang Laoshuan subconsciously stood up and bowed. It was because Madam Liu was dressed differently from before. Now, she was dressed like a town-dwelling person, which made him feel that he dared not look at her directly. Youre wee, Madam Liu responded. After saying a few words, she left. She was well aware of the Wang familys affairs. She had onlye over to offer some water because she didnt want to appear too impolite. Wang Laoshuan did not leave with Dashan and even stayed behind to look for Xiaomei. She could only hope that he would not cause trouble for Xiaomei. After Madam Liu left, Wang Laoshuan sat down to drink some water. When he found sugar in the water, his eyes lit up. Then, he quickly finished the sugar water. He became even more envious of the good life the Song family was leading. After this, Wang Laoshuan continued waiting in the courtyard again. Finally, Wang Xiaomei returned. Wang Laoshuan saw Wang Xiaomei pushing a handcart into the courtyard, and there were still quite a number of woven bamboo products left on the handcart. Upon seeing this, Wang Laoshuan quickly went to help. Why are you pushing such a big cart of goods alone? Let Father help you. As he said that, he stepped up to take over the job from Wang Xiaomei. Wang Xiaomei was shocked by Wang Laoshuans sudden appearance. ... She did not want to hand over her work to Wang Laoshuan, but she wasnt able to stop him and so could only let him take over. Mrs. Song has a lot of things to do, so Im the one who sets up the stall now. These things look like a lot, but theyre actually not heavy. Wang Xiaomei said as she led Wang Laoshuan into the courtyard. What? Youre setting up a stall by yourself? Wang Laoshuan was shocked. Seeing Wang Xiaomei frowning at him, Wang Laoshuan tried to restrain himself. What Father means is, its too hard on you. To his surprise, Wang Xiaomei simply shot back directly, Its not hard. Im eating well and living well now. Mrs. Song even asked Yuner to teach me how to read. Its much better than when we were in Brook Falls Vige. Wang Laoshuans face froze when he detected the hard edge in his daughters tone. Hehe! Shes just a mere slip of a girl. She doesnt even know many words. How can she teach you anything? Wang Laoshuan said with a smile. His original intention was to ease the atmosphere. Much to his chagrin, Wang Xiaomeis face turned ominous. So what if shes a little girl? Yuner finished learning the Thousand Character ssic when she was six years old. After that, she learned the Three Character ssic, the Book of Family Names, and so on under Aunt Songs guidance. Now, shes reading the books on Big Brother Songs bookshelf. Even the schrs in Cirrus Loft Academy might not be better than Yuner! ... Wang Laoshuan was shocked. What? How could a little girl be more learned than a schr from Cirrus Loft Academy? Wang Xiaomei nced at Wang Laoshuan and immediately went forward to grab the handcarts handle back. Ill do it myself. The goods that have not been sold need to be returned to the storage room. Father, you havent done this before, so you wont be able do it well. Wang Laoshuan could feel his daughters displeasure. He scratched his nose and did not dare to say anything more. After not seeing her for a month, his daughter had changed. Her personality had changed a lotpared to when she was at home, and he couldnt help but feel a little fearful. Yes, fear. His daughter was a lot fairer and chubbier than when she was at home. She was also dressed so much better than when she was in Brook Falls Vige. If he didnt know that she came to the Song family to be a ve, he would have suspected that his daughter was also a town-dwelling person. Back then, when that incident happened in his family, sigh He knew that his daughter med him, but this matter was initiated by her mother, so it had little to do with him. Besides, even though she was now a ve, the Song family had been treating her well. They provided her with good food and drinks and even allowed her to study and learn how to write. Her life was so many times better than what he and his son were leading back in Brook Falls Vige. What did she have toin about? At this thought, Wang Laoshuan went up to Wang Xiaomei once again. A hint of irritation shed across Wang Xiaomeis eyes. There are many things piled up in the storeroom, and outsiders arent allowed to enter. You can wait outside, Father, she said. Chapter 166 - 166 Chapter 166: Emotional Blackmail Didn’t Work 166 Chapter 166: Emotional ckmail Didnt Work Wang Laoshuan stopped in his tracks. Oh. After responding, he didnt dare to step forward again. Wang Xiaomei heaved a sigh of relief and went to open the door. After that, she pushed the handcart into the storeroom. Then, she sorted out the remaining unsold woven bamboo products and ced them back in their respective positions. Finally, she tidied up the handcart and put it away before turning around and leaving. When she stepped out of the storeroom, she saw Wang Laoshuan looking at her. A wave of frustration washed over her heart. Wang Xiaomei immediately looked away and walked into the courtyard. As she walked, she spoke, Tell me, Father. Why did youe to look for me? She had already figured it out when she was still in Brook Falls Vige. In her parents hearts, there was no one else besides themselves and her big brother. At that time, even when her parents sold her to the Zhang family, she had neverpletely given up hope. She still had a glimmer of hope that they would eventually change their minds and keep her. However, in the end, if her big brother had not rushed back that day, she would have ended up going to the Zhang family and marrying the retarded fellow. Hmph! On that day, Big Brother had already pulled out all the stops, yet they never once thought about changing their minds In the Wang family, the value of this daughter was even worse than withered grass. It was good that she had thought it through. If she had no expectations, she would not be disappointed again. Seeing that Wang Xiaomei was walking in a hurry, Wang Laoshuan felt a little angry. However, he still restrained his temper and ran after Wang Xiaomei. He even called after her, Daughter, walk slower. Wang Xiaomeis lips curled up into a scornful smile. She pretended not to hear him and continued walking towards the stone table and stone bench under the tree. Wang Laoshuan was furious by now. However, he didnt allow himself to lose his temper and simply rushed to catch up. Finally, he reached the stone table and stone bench. Wang Xiaomei went up and sat down before looking at Wang Laoshuan leisurely. She asked sarcastically, Father, can you tell me why youre here now? Wang Laoshuan was absolutely infuriated by her behavior. What kind of attitude is this? He rebuked her angrily. Wang Xiaomei didnt show any fear, unlike in the past. Instead, she smiled. What kind of attitude does Father want? Ive signed an indenture, and Im now a servant of the Song family. Strictly speaking, Im no longer Fathers daughter. Father, do you still expect me to be your good daughter like I was in Brook Falls Vige? Thats also possible! As long as Father gives me ten taels of silver, I will go and beg Mrs. Song to let me go free. After that, Ill immediately go back to Brook Falls Vige with Father. I will do whatever Father wants me to do then. She was really d that Mrs. Song did not allow her big brother to tell her father about her real situation. Her status as a ve could save her a lot of trouble from her father. After following Mrs. Song for the past few days, her knowledge and understanding had expanded a lot. She would never allow herself to be troubled by such matters again. And she would definitely not allow herself to bring trouble to the Song family because of these trivial matters. Therefore, since her father hade to look for her, she had to make things clear. It would also save him from endlessly pestering her in the future. Wang Laoshuans face froze. I Wang Laoshuan was at a loss for words. Where would he get ten taels of silver to redeem her? Even if he had the money, she was doing well in the Song family. Would she go back and suffer with her family? The corner of Wang Xiaomeis lips curled up in a mocking smile. Since Father cant produce the silver and has no intention to help me redeem myself, lets not waste time on such things. Mrs. Song should be back soon. When she sees you, she wont be happy, Father. So, Father, if you have something to say, say it quickly. Wang Laoshuans expression changed when he heard Wang Xiaomei mention Qin Xiaoyao. He was in no mood to get angry anymore, so he turned to look at Wang Xiaomei. He finally spoke. Well Our family has just returned the money we owe your Uncle Vige Chiefs family. The handcart that your brother bought was also bought with a loan. Can you Although his daughter was a servant of the Song family, the Song family treated her well and would definitely give her some sry. She was just a little girl who lived and ate with the Song family. She had no use for money, yet she still didnt know how to help with the familys expenses. His son was too embarrassed to ask her, but as a father, how could he not care? ... His son said that the money for buying the handcart was borrowed from someone. No matter who he borrowed it from, he had to return the money as soon as possible. In addition, he didnt care about the crops in the field anymore. There was a high probability that they wouldnt be able to harvest this autumns grain, so the family had to make early ns. I knew it! Wang Xiaomei thought. A gloating look shed across Wang Xiaomeis face as her suspicions were confirmed. Wang Laoshuans heart felt stifled again. Even if youre a ve, youre still my daughter and your brothers sister. Your brother gave up his wife for you. You even caused your mother to be divorced, and she had to return to her parents home. Its all because of you that our family is in this state now! At least youre eating and drinking well every day. You are living well, and you wear nice clothes! Why dont you think about what kind of life your big brother and I are living back home? Wang Laoshuan said angrily. These few words pierced through Wang Xiaomeis heart. In her fathers eyes, everything that happened was her fault. Her mother was not in the wrong, and Father was even less so. ... He felt that she should have been sold to the Zhang family, and then the whole family would be peaceful and harmonious. She thought she didnt care anymore, but why did her heart still ache so much Wang Xiaomei couldnt help but lower her head and she clutched at her chest. After a long while, she finally suppressed the emotions in her heart. Since Father feels that everything that happened is my fault, then you can just pretend that you did not have a daughter like me. Ive already been sold off by you anyway, she said. Her eyes were icy cold, and she looked at Wang Laoshuan as if she was looking at a stranger. Wang Laoshuan panicked, feeling as if something he couldnt grasp was slipping through his fingers. Moreover, if that thing slipped away this time, it would nevere back again. As for money, I dont have it. Even if I do, I wont give it to you. Upon hearing this, the panic in Wang Laoshuans heart instantly disappeared and turned into anger instead. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Qin Xiaoyaos voiceing from outside the courtyard. The father and daughter looked in the direction of the voice and saw Qin Xiaoyao pushing a handcart filled with sacks into the house. Wang Xiaomei looked at Wang Laoshuan worriedly. She was worried that Qin Xiaoyao would be displeased to see her father. Wang Laoshuan quickly looked away. He wanted badly to disappear immediately. In the Song family, Qin Sanya was the fiercest and most difficult to deal with. This was a person who could even subdue his wife. He did not have the guts to argue with her. Qin Xiaoyao also saw Wang Xiaomei and Wang Laoshuan. When she saw that the courtyard was full of straw, but Wang Dashan was nowhere to be seen, she could guess in her heart what had happened. Wheres Dashan? she asked Wang Xiaomei. Wang Xiaomei quickly stood up. Big Brother has already left! she answered. Oh, Qin Xiaoyao responded. Immediately after that, her gaze turned to Wang Laoshuan. Uncle, is there something you need from our Xiaomei? she asked in a quizzical manner. Her expression was clearly displeased. The reason she asked this was to help Wang Xiaomei. She was not blind. How could she not see that the old man was pestering Xiaomei? True enough, as soon as Qin Xiaoyao asked this question, she received a grateful look from Wang Xiaomei. Wang Laoshuans demeanor immediately turned uneasy. Chapter 167 - 167 Chapter 167: Production of Bean Sprouts 167 Chapter 167: Production of Bean Sprouts Not nothing. Its just that I havent seen her for a long time, so Im asking her about her situation, Wang Laoshuan stammered. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and looked at Wang Xiaomei. Is that true? She opened her mouth and asked casually. Wang Laoshuans heart was in his mouth when he heard that. !! Wang Xiaomei looked at her fathers nervous expression and wanted tough in her heart. It is true, she replied. Wang Laoshuan heaved a sigh of relief. Er I still have things to do at home. Since I know now that Xiaomei is safe and sound here, I Im relieved. Ill take my leave now! Wang Laoshuan said and started walking away. Qin Xiaoyao didnt move. She only turned around and looked in the direction that Wang Laoshuan walked off. Then Uncle, take care! Be careful on the way! As soon as she finished speaking, Wang Laoshuan staggered and almost fell. Pfft! Qin Xiaoyao nearly burst outughing. Wang Xiaomei almost burst outughing herself when she saw her fathers reaction, but she managed to control herself. Wang Laoshuan became even more nervous when he heard theughter. He didnt dare to turn his head back and hurriedly left the courtyard. Qin Xiaoyao turned her gaze back and looked at Wang Xiaomei. You didnt give him any money, did you? she asked. Wang Xiaomei was stunned. She thought to herself Mrs. Song was really very perceptive. No, I didnt, she replied. Dont worry, Mrs. Song. I know what to do, she continued. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. If you find that you cant deal with it, just look for me or my mother. Youre a member of my family now, so he has no right to bully you. Wang Xiaomeis eyes were filled with gratitude. Mm-hmm. Dont worry, Mrs. Song. I dont think helle again. She had already made it clear to him that she would not give him any money, so there was no point in himing. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered slightly. She was quite pleased with what Wang Xiaomei said. Lets go, Mrs. Song. Lets unload the goods. Wang Xiaomei smiled as she walked towards the handcart. Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she followed suit. Let me push it. You wont be able to move it, Qin Xiaoyao said as she walked over. That was right. She had gone to order another 2000 catties of soybeans. She was very confident in the bean sprout business, and she would start making arrangements immediately. Hehe! Alright! Wang Xiaomei answered. She worked with Qin Xiaoyao and helped bring the handcart to the storage room. After unloading the goods in the storeroom, Qin Xiaoyao went out again to continue transporting goods from the grain store. Meanwhile, Wang Xiaomei went to the kitchen and started preparing lunch with Madam Liu. When Madam Liu saw Wang Xiaomei, she was also very worried that Wang Laoshuan had tried to make things difficult for her. Wang Xiaomei was very touched and exined the situation to Madam Liu. Madam Lius heart ached immensely, and she repeatedlyforted Wang Xiaomei, telling her not to care too much about Wang Laoshuan. Wang Xiaomei simply said that she would bear that in mind, feeling very touched and at ease. In the evening, Qin Erhu came to the Song familys residence to fetch water. He also took the opportunity to help Qin Xiaoyao put the straw onto the sheds roof. Then, he tied the remaining straw into big bundles. At this point, Qin Xiaoyaos shed was finallypleted. The next day, Qin Xiaoyao used her free time to carry out the final modifications to the interior of the shed. After that, she went to buy the cloth and other tools needed to grow bean sprouts. Then, before the sky turned dark, she took out a sack of soybeans. After organizing everyone to help filter out the beans, they soaked about 50 catties of soybeans. Once the seeds were soaked, they would be able to start sprouting shoots early the next morning. The next day, Qin Xiaoyao woke up early and brought the soaked soybean seeds into the first shed. No one knew what she was doing inside. They only learnedter that she had already nted the seeds. Over the next three days, Qin Xiaoyao did the same thing and nted soybeans in the three sheds at the back. At the same time, she would also go to the first shed to water the nts every day. Everyone in the Song family, as well as the people next door, were very curious when they saw her doing all this. ... Finally, on the morning of the fourth day, Qin Xiaoyao took out a basket of bean sprouts from the first shed with a beaming smile. These bean sprouts were white and tender, and they appeared very plumb. Their leaves were pale yellow, and there were even dewdrops on them. At first nce, they looked fresh and delicious. Song Que was the first person Qin Xiaoyao shared the news with. He was very surprised to see the bean sprouts and even touched them a few times. Madam Liu and the others heard themotion and came over for a look. When they saw the fresh and tender bean sprouts, they all liked them very much. Is this thing to be stir-fried? Madam Lius interest was piqued very quickly. You can stir-fry or make soup! Its no different from any other vegetables, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. You can bring this basket of bean sprouts to the kitchen, Mother. You can fry itter and have a taste. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao handed the bamboo basket to Madam Liu. Alright! Madam Liu quickly took it. She then left happily with Song Yun. ... Next, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Wang Xiaomei. Go get a few baskets, ande with me to harvest the bean sprouts. Following what we have discussed previously, well set aside 50 catties for Fortune Mansion and my father, respectively. You and Big Girl will each take half of the remaining 200 odd catties. Later, well send them to the market to try and sell them. Alright! Wang Xiaomeis face lit up with joy, and she quickly agreed. If they sold 100 catties of bean sprouts for two copper coins per catty or three copper coins for every two catties at the market, they would get at least 150 copper coins. Mrs. Song had told her to hand over 125 copper coins after she sold all of them. The rest of the earnings was her share. If she calcted in this way, after selling this basket of bean sprouts, she could earn at least 25 copper coins. This was more than the total amount she earned when she went out to the morning market and sold the woven bamboo products and straw sandals. After Wang Xiaomei left, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Que. This little girl she said with a smile. Song Queughed and reached out to brush Qin Xiaoyaos hair away. Its a good thing, he replied. Qin Xiaoyao smiled shyly. Sister Sanya At this moment, Big Girl Lis voice rang out from the door of the courtyard. When they looked in the direction of the voice, the couple saw Big Girl Li entering, followed by Liu Xiaomei behind her. When the two visitors saw the couple behaving so intimately, they were visibly surprised. Seeing their reaction, Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly backed away, keeping a distance from Song Que. Song Que furrowed his brows slightly and lowered his hand. Er you are here, Big Girl and Xiaomei! Qin Xiaoyao greeted the visitors opposite her. Big Girl Li quickly came back to her senses. Didnt you say yesterday that the bean sprouts would be ready today? I brought Xiaomei over to help. How was it? Have the bean sprouts grown well? With Liu Xiaomei by her side, she walked toward Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. They are ready. I just picked a full basket for my mother. If you two havent had breakfast, you can stay and have a taste together, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Gosh, thats a pity! We only came over after taking our breakfast! Hehe! No problem. Then Ill leave two catties for you twoter, and you can try stir-frying it at noon for a taste! Qin Xiaoyao said straightaway. I knew Sister Sanya would treat me well! Big Girl Li said quickly. At this moment, Wang Xiaomei had also brought over the baskets. Qin Xiaoyao led the three of them to the shed. She entered the shed and removed the cloth covering the bean sprouts. When the three of them saw the luxuriant bean sprouts, they were all shocked. These nts are growing so well! Big Girl Li was the first to speak. They are very tender too. One look, and I can tell its delicious! Liu Xiaomei chimed in. Chapter 168 - 168 Chapter 168: Selling Bean Sprouts Wholesale 168 Chapter 168: Selling Bean Sprouts Wholesale Liu Xiaomei couldnt resist squatting down and touching the bean sprouts covered with dew. Are these few baskets enough? Shall I go and get two more baskets? Wang Xiaomei asked. The bean sprouts had grown so well. She reckoned they could probably harvest more than 300 catties. No hurry. Lets harvest first and see how it goes! !! The baskets are definitely not enough. Well have to move them back and forth to weigh themter, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Then, she called out to everyone to start harvesting the bean sprouts. It was easy to harvest the bean sprouts, and arge bunch of them could be picked effortlessly. They could even be ced neatly into the baskets. The four women were quick with their hands and feet. It didnt take long for them to fill up the four baskets. Looking at the remaining bean sprout plots in the corner of the shed, Qin Xiaoyao asked everyone to stop. Well just leave these remaining plots. When we want to eat bean sprouts, we cane and harvest them. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li. Big Girl, after were done, you cane over with your own bamboo baskets to pick them yourself. Also, give Aunt Sun two catties as well. Big Girl Lis face lit up. Great! Thank you, Sister Sanya! She quickly thanked Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled and turned to look at Wang Xiaomei. Go get another bamboo backpack and pluck four or five catties. Ill let my big brother take it back with himter, she said. Big Brother hade to fetch water earlier and knew that the bean sprouts in her shed were ready for harvesting today. He said that he woulde backter to get 50 catties of bean sprouts and 10 pairs of straw sandals. The Qin family had just experienced that incident with Madam Zhang, and they had to stock up on food. They needed money right now and were very willing to help Qin Xiaoyao sell these bean sprouts. Sure! Ill go at once! Wang Xiaomei hurriedly went off. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao leave the shed with the basket. Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei carried another basket. Before long, Qin Xiaoyao began to weigh and adjust the volume of bean sprouts in the basket. At this moment, Qin Dahu arrived. Qin Dahu was shocked when he saw the baskets of fresh and tender bean sprouts. Younger Sis, are these the bean sprout you were talking about? They look so tender! Qin Dahu couldnt help reaching out for a touch. He barely used any strength, yet he broke one of the white and tender bean sprouts. Its a sprout. Of course its tender. It also tastes very fresh, Qin Xiaoyao said as she weighed the sprouts. This basket has already been weighed. Its exactly 50 catties. In addition, those in the bamboo backpack are for Second Brother and your households to have a taste of something new. Big Brother, you take it back and give half to Second Brother. Seeing that there were quite a lot of bean sprouts in the bamboo backpack, Qin Dahu was about to refuse. However, Qin Xiaoyao seemed to know what he was going to say and spoke again. Its not just for you to eat. Father is taking turns eating at both of your households, and Second Sister-inw is pregnant. Take it back and let them have a taste. Qin Dahu couldnt find any words to refute her. Only then did he take out his money. 50 catties of bean sprouts and 10 pairs of straw sandals. A total of 80 copper coins. Take this! As he spoke, he handed a string of copper coins to Qin Xiaoyao. That was right. The bean sprouts that his younger sister supplied them were sold at a price of one copper coin per catty. As for how much they could sell them at the market, they could decide for themselves. In his opinion, it was entirely possible to sell such fresh and tender bean sprouts at two copper coins per catty. Of course, if the customer bought more, they could lower the price for him. In short, if this basket of bean sprouts was sold out, it should not be a problem to earn 20 or 30 copper coins. Qin Xiaoyao didnt have time to waste. Put it on the table. Ill get itter. Okay. Qin Dahu did as he was told. Qin Xiaoyao then instructed Wang Xiaomei to bring the straw sandals out of the house. Then, she allowed Qin Dahu to choose the straw sandals he wanted. After that, Qin Dahu spoke to Qin Xiaoyao for a while longer. After confirming that there was nothing else he could help with, he carried the bamboo backpack on his back and left. Following this, Qin Xiaoyao finished weighing another basket and looked at Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei. Alright. These two baskets are for you two. They weighed 100 catties in total, so thats 100 copper coins, she said. Give me 30 pairs of straw sandals too. So thats a total of 190 copper coins, Big Girl Li added. As she said that, she reached for her money as well. ... At the same time, Liu Xiaomei stepped forward to select the straw sandals. That was right. Ever since Big Girl Li and Qin Xiaoyao set up their stalls separately in the markets on South Street and North Street, their businesses had also been separated. Although the woven bamboo products in the Song familys storeroom were shared by the two of them, they were stored separately. It was only because Big Girl Li hadnt moved to town before then, and she didnt have a ce to put these things that she put the goods in the Song familys ce. A few days ago, she had already moved her portion of the goods away. At night, when the two Xiaomeis went out to set up their stall in the night market, they used the stock that belonged to Qin Xiaoyao. Of course, Qin Xiaoyao only got one-third of the money after they earned it. The remaining two-thirds went to those two Xiaomeis. In this regard, Big Girl Li did not contribute anything. On top of that, her husband, Liu Daniu, was Qin Xiaoyaos supplier. There was some profit to be made from this, so she didnt mind. Without waiting for Qin Xiaoyaos reply, Big Girl Li ced the silver and copper coins that she had prepared in advance on the stone table. It was ced away from the money Qin Dahu gave, forming two piles. Qin Xiaoyao only took a nce and continued to work. ... Soon, another three baskets of bean sprouts weighing 50 catties each were sorted out. In the end, they even had half a basket left. When Big Girl Li saw this, she proposed to split the half basket. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Wang Xiaomei, and seeing that she didnt object, she sold the remaining half basket of bean sprouts to Big Girl Li and got another 20 copper coins. Just then, Liu Daniu arrived. After Qin Xiaoyao paid for the new woven bamboo products and eggs she ordered, she also paid Liu Daniu the money she received from the Mansion and Restaurant the day before after deducting her own share. That was right. She didnt really take stock of the goods that Liu Daniu sent over nowadays. She simply sent those goods and her own goods to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant straightaway. After that, based on the procurement receipts the two establishments issued, she would calcte the portion that was due to Liu Daniu. It was more convenient and faster this way. After Liu Daniu received the bill, he wouldpare it with the goods he had delivered the day before. After verifying that almost all the quantities were roughly the same, he had also epted this method. Both sides had been working together in this way for a while now, and it saved them a lot of effort. After sending Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li off, Qin Xiaoyao brought Wang Xiaomei back to the hall for breakfast. It seems that Ill have to ask Yuner to help in the future. Otherwise, the two of us will not be able to cope, Qin Xiaoyao said as they walked along. The thing was that they had another business at home now. She had to harvest the bean sprouts and weigh them, which took a lot of time. No problem. Ill just wake up earlier tomorrow and harvest the bean sprouts in advance! By the time Mrs. Song gets up, we can weigh and pack them straightaway! Yuner has to make breakfast with Aunt Song. So she wont be free. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Wang Xiaomei with a smile. How long is it going to take if you harvest by yourself? Its better to get Yuner to help. In the future, when Im too busy, you can bring Yuner to help with the ounts and collect money. If you two can graduate to help out, Ill be able to rx a little. Wang Xiaomei was shocked. Mrs. Song wanted her to settle ounts and collect money? Qin Xiaoyao chuckled again. What? Youre not confident? she asked. Chapter 169 - 169 Chapter 169: Collecting Eggs 169 Chapter 169: Collecting Eggs Not at all! Thank you, Mrs. Song! Wang Xiaomei quickly thanked her. She had to have confidence in this kind of thing! It was rare for Mrs. Song to think so highly of her. She would definitely do a good job. When they arrived at the hall and started their breakfast, everyone was full of praise for the bean sprouts. After a while, Qin Xiaoyao told everyone about getting Song Yun to take on more work. Song Yun, on the other hand, was very thrilled. She had lost interest in weaving straw sandals recently and was even a little envious of Wang Xiaomei for being able to set up a stall. Unfortunately, she was two years younger than Wang Xiaomei, and her strength was far from Wang Xiaomeis, so she couldnt help her sister-inw much. However, now that her sister-inw had taken the initiative to ask for her help, and it even involved settling ounts and collecting money, she was naturally delighted. With Xiaomei by her side, she didnt have to worry too much about making mistakes. It was great! Yeer can also help to harvest the bean sprouts! Just as everyone wasughing and chatting, Song Ye suddenly opened his mouth. He even looked at Qin Xiaoyao with anticipation. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help butugh. Alright. If you can get up early, Ill allow you to harvest bean sprouts with the two sisters. The prerequisite is that you have to work seriously, and you cantin about feeling tired! Qin Xiaoyao said. Ever since they moved to town, because everyone at home was busy and Yeer was more introverted, Yeer didnt go out to y with other children of the same age. She had wanted to send Yeer to the academy initially. However, her husband didnt allow it. In this way, this little childs life was somewhat restricted. Besides learning from Song Que, it would be good to arrange some work for him and give him training. Mm-hmm! Im not afraid of being tired! The little childs face lit up with joy as he hurriedly answered. Hehe! Of course! Our Yeer is the most powerful! As Qin Xiaoyao praised the little tike and even caressed his head, everyoneughed even more merrily. They quickly finished their meal. Wang Xiaomei then packed up her things and pushed her handcart to set up her stall in the market on North Street. Qin Xiaoyao also packed up her goods and pushed her handcart out of the courtyard. Madam Liu and Song Yun began washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. After everything was settled, they also carried the bamboo backpacks and baskets and went out. Madam Liu and Song Yun had to go to the market on West Street to deliver the straw sandals to Aunt Li and collect some chicken and duck eggs for Qin Xiaoyao. At the same time, they also had to buy food for lunch and dinner. Of course, now that they had bean sprouts at home and still had the vegetables in the vegetable plots, they didnt need to buy vegetables today. When the mother and daughter arrived at the market on West Street, Madam Liu had just put down her bamboo backpack and was standing at the spot where she usually collected chicken and duck eggs when someone came up to her at once. This was because Madam Liu often stood here to collect chicken and duck eggs, so some of the people who often sold chicken and duck eggs knew her well. Madam Liu quickly greeted the sellers. At the same time, she told Song Yun to deliver the goods to Aunt Li and buy the things needed for their home. Hence, the mother-daughter pair split up and worked separately. Song Yun walked to Aunt Lis tofu stall with the straw sandals on her back. After giving Aunt Li the straw sandals she asked for, Song Yun went on to buy two pieces of tofu from her. After that, she went to buy other things. In the end, when she passed by the Qin familys meat stall, she saw a few people surrounding Qin Dahu to buy bean sprouts. Meanwhile, Qin Dazhuang was also cutting meat for his customers. However, there was still quite a lot of meat hanging at the stall. It seemed that the Qin familys meat business wasnt very good today. Song Yun walked towards the meat stall and said to Qin Dazhuang, Uncle Qin, Ill have one catty of tenderloin and one catty of streaky pork! Ever since they moved to town, they had meat on the dining table every day. As for the pork they ate at home, they had always bought it from Uncle Qins family. Alright! Youre here again today? Did Mother Song go to collect eggs again? Qin Dazhuang asked with a smile. Yes! If Brother Daniu doesnt have enough eggs, Mom and I wille to the market to collect some to make up for it, Song Yun replied with a smile. At this moment, Qin Dahu looked over. Yuner, youre here! He greeted Song Yun with a smile. Speaking of century eggs! Dad, why dont I go and buy a few dozen eggs? We can send them to Younger Sis for her to help us make century eggs. Itll also save you from giving us that look of heartache every time we take out the century eggs, Qin Dahu said with augh. He had not forgotten what his father said to his younger sister at the Song familys ce. His father said to send the eggs over and give his younger sister somebor fees in exchange for the century eggs. Although they were still taking advantage of his younger sisters family at the end of the day, at least they didnt let his younger sister suffer too big a loss. If he did it this way, he wouldnt feel so bad inwardly. Qin Dazhuang nced at his eldest son. Whats the hurry? Dont we still have century eggs at home? If you want to eat, just take and eat. Dont put the me on your old man! he responded. Qin Dahu scratched his head. ... But, when Younger Sis finishes making the century eggs, the eggs have to be stored for one month before they can be eaten. If I send the eggs earlier and then go get the century eggster, it will also help to reduce the time Young Sis has already spent making them. Qin Dazhuang was caught by surprise. He felt that his eldest sons words made sense. Then send more over! Send them today! he said. Previously, he had only thought of paying his daughter for thebor so that she would not suffer a loss. He had forgotten that it would take some time for the century eggs to ripen, and the time taken was a month. That would mean that they could only retrieve the eggs they sent one monthter so that his daughter wouldnt suffer a loss, wouldnt it? Song Yunughed at the interaction between the Qin father and son. No need. Sister-inw is making 500 century eggs a day, and Fortune Mansion cant use up all of them. If she shared some with you guys and our household consumes some, theres still a lot more left over. The Qin family father and son were both stunned. ... After that, the father and son stopped arguing. Then you decide for yourself, Qin Dazhuang said to Qin Dahu. Qin Dahu smiled and answered, Alright! Seeing that someone hade to ask about the bean sprouts again, he quickly turned to serve the customer. This vegetable is very fresh and tender. Its only two copper coins per catty. Thats enough to eat for two meals! Then give me one catty! Alright! Qin Dahu hurriedly began weighing. At the same time, Qin Dazhuang also began cutting two pieces of meat for Song Yun. Only then did Song Yun look away from Qin Dahu and pay the bill. Thereafter, she said goodbye to the Qin familys father and son and left. After buying some other stuff on the way, Song Yun returned to Madam Lius side. At this point, Madam Liu had already collected 150 eggs, and it was almost time to pack up. When she saw her daughter return, a smile appeared on her face. Have you bought everything? Madam Liu asked. Mm-hmm! Song Yun replied. She returned the money pouch that Madam Liu had given her. Madam Liu took the money pouch and put it away. Ill take 50 more eggs, and then well go home! Madam Liu said. As she spoke, she began to shout. Though her voice wasnt loud, everyone passing by and in the vicinity could hear her clearly. Some of the people who were previously unwilling to sell their eggs at a lower price wavered after hearing this. They were not willing to wait any longer and eventually sent the eggs to Madam Liu. There were also some who had just arrived at the market and were toozy to wait for a buyer, so they simply sold them to Madam Liu. As a result, Madam Liu was able to collect the remaining 50 eggs very quickly. Only then did the mother and daughter pack up the eggs, haul the bamboo backpacks on their backs, and carry the bamboo baskets home. On the way back, Song Yun told Madam Liu about the situation regarding the Qin familys stall selling bean sprouts. Chapter 170 - 170 Chapter 170: Buying Refined Rice And Flour 170 Chapter 170: Buying Refined Rice And Flour Big Brother Qin is actually selling it for two copper coins per catty, and I can see that there are quite a number of people buying! Song Yunughed somewhat excitedly. How could she not be excited? This proved that their bean sprouts were popr! Her sister-inws sheds could produce more than 300 catties of bean sprouts a day! When Madam Liu heard this, her face lit up. The bean sprouts your sister-inw nted are tender and fresh. One catty is not a small amount. Its not a big deal to sell them for two copper coins. The thing was, the weather was getting hotter, and there were fewer vegetable sellers now. There were even fewer vegetables that looked fresh and tender. Her familys bean sprouts were indeed pleasing to the eye. If she didnt have them at home, she would be willing to spend two copper coins to buy a catty of them herself if she saw them. Hehe! Thats true! Sister-inw is really amazing! In the future, well have extra ie from selling bean sprouts! Song Yun said happily. Hoho! Your sister-inw is indeed a capable person! Madam Liu praised Qin Xiaoyao as well. At the same time, over at the Fortune Mansion. Qin Xiaoyao was in the kitchen, instructing the chef on how to cook stir-fried bean sprouts, bean sprout soup, and other dishes like boiled meat slices. Uncle Zhao and Boss Fang were both straining their necks and looking forward to the new dishes. The two of them had heard from Qin Xiaoyao that the bean sprouts tasted no different from ordinary vegetables. However, when the two of them saw the bean sprouts, they still harbored some expectations. The reason was that the bean sprouts appeared white and tender, and they looked delicious at first nce. Soon, the dishes were served one by one and ced on the stone table in the backyard. Uncle Zhao and Boss Fang quickly started eating. Thereafter, they found that the bean sprouts had a light and fragrant taste and possessed a unique vor. However, they also knew that they felt this way primarily because this was their first time trying this kind of vegetable. If they were to eat this kind of vegetable a few more times, it would indeed be not much different from the other vegetables. Boss Fang was a little disappointed. Recently, Fortune Mansions business had been on the decline, and he was still hoping that Qin Xiaoyao would bring him some more surprises this time. It seemed like it was all for naught. However, fresh and tender vegetables were hard toe by during this period. Therefore, this bean sprout was not bad on all counts. 50 catties a day is too little. Add another 30 catties. Reduce the other vegetables by 30 catties, Boss Fang said quickly. If you want to sell this vegetable to outsiders, we at Fortune Mansion wont interfere. However, the price will have to be the same as the other vegetables. Qin Xiaoyao quickly agreed. Deal! Whatever you say, Uncle Fang! she said right away. One catty was one and a half copper coins, so 80 catties would be 120 copper coins. The key was that he wanted to have this item every day, so it was quite a lot after adding up. After settling this matter, Boss Fang and Uncle Zhao left quickly. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao start to settle the ounts. After receiving the payment and handing over the goods, Qin Xiaoyao delivered the goods that Fortune Mansion had set aside for Fortune Restaurant before returning home. When she passed by the grain store, she couldnt resist walking in again. When the shop assistant saw Qin Xiaoyao, he was as enthusiastic as if he had seen his own mother. After learning that the price of brown rice and coarse flour had risen to four copper coins and soybeans to three and a half copper coins, Qin Xiaoyao didnt have the intention to buy these things anymore. Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised when she saw the prices of the refined rice and flour. Recently, the price of brown rice and coarse flour has doubled. But the prices of refined rice and flour didnt increase by much? she asked. She remembered that brown rice and coarse flour were sold for two copper coins per catty respectively while refined rice and flour were sold for six copper coins. However, now that the prices of brown rice and coarse flour had doubled to four copper coins, the prices of the refined rice and flour had only increased by one copper coin. The shop assistant smiled. The source of goods is different. We dont sell much refined rice and flour, so we still have the same stock from the earlier batch. If it werent for the rising trend of the grain price, our boss would still have made a profit from the refined rice and flour even if the price didnt increase. The shop assistant whispered to Qin Xiaoyao. Madam Qin, do you want to buy some refined rice and flour back and try them at home? Its a good deal to buy it now! The shop assistant made his rmendation to her. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the shop assistant. For your boss, it is indeed worth it, she responded. The shop assistant smiled in embarrassment. Ahem. Its worth it, whether for you or the boss. After all, the grain prices have increased. Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and realized that it was true. Then give me 100 catties each of the refined rice and flour, she thus said. Oh yes. Theres no problem with giving me an extra 10 catties free, is there? Qin Xiaoyao spoke again just as the shop assistant was about to ept the order with a delighted expression. 10 catties? The shop assistant looked worried. Qin Xiaoyaos expression turned grim. Im only asking you for 10 catties free for 200 catties. Its only a 5% discount. Why do you look like you are cutting off your flesh? Alright. Only then did the shop assistant agree with a troubled expression. ... In reality, he was very happy inwardly. Following that, Qin Xiaoyao paid one tael and four coins of silver and took the 210 catties of refined rice and flour from the grain store. Naturally, she did not buy these refined rice and flour for stocking up but for the family to eat. Now that the family had the bean sprout business and the century egg business had stabilized, they had the means to eat more refined rice and flour. In the past, they were poor, so their main consideration was filling their stomachs and value for money. Now that they could afford to lead a better life, of course they should not be stingy. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyaos heart became even more determined. At the same time, she was looking forward to having refined rice and noodles made from refined flour. When Qin Xiaoyao got home, Madam Liu and Song Yun were already back. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao had brought back more food grain, and this time it was refined rice and flour, their hearts ached terribly. When Madam Liu heard the price of the refined rice and flour, she felt even more heartache. ... Refined rice and noodles to feed ourselves. Our whole family has been working hard these days, so I decided to buy some refined rice and flour to nourish our bodies. But there is still so much in the storeroom Madam Lius brows were tightly knitted. Theres no need to worry about the brown rice and coarse flour When the price rises a little more, we can sell them. Both Madam Liu and Song Yun were shocked. It can still rise? They didnt quite believe it. The current price was already double the previous price. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the two of them with a smile. Mm-hmm! Just put your hearts at ease. As she spoke, she began to unload the goods. Madam Liu and Song Yun didnt think too much about it anymore and went forward to help. Now that her daughter-inw/sister-inw was the head of the family, they just had to follow her arrangements. As the three of them worked, Song Yun quickly told her sister-inw what she saw, and that was the matter of Qin Dahu selling bean sprouts. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt very surprised to hear this. Our bean sprouts are so fresh. Its not considered expensive to sell them for two copper coins per catty, she said. Today Big Brother only took 50 catties. It might not be enough to sell. The market on West Street was the most crowded of the four markets. Although the prices of goods were rtively lower, there were still many people who paid attention to the quality of goods. Their familys bean sprouts were good in quality and plentiful in quantity, so it was not difficult to sell them. Its definitely not enough to sell! Song Yun replied with a smile. When I stood in front of the stall for a while, Big Brother Qin managed to sell four to five catties! The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up in a smile. Hehe! Second Brother will being to get some water in the afternoon. He will definitelye and talk about this. Well know when the timees. Even though she said that, Qin Xiaoyao already had a rough idea of what was going on. Her bean sprout business was considered sessful. Chapter 171 - 171 Chapter 171: Bean Sprouts Were Very Popular 171 Chapter 171: Bean Sprouts Were Very Popr The result was just as Qin Xiaoyao had expected. Before long, Wang Xiaomei, Big Girl Li, Liu Xiaomei, and Qin Dahu all arrived. Moreover, each and every one of them had sold off all the bean sprouts they had taken. Younger Sis, the bean sprouts you grew are really good! Ive only put it out for around an hour, and it was all sold out! Qin Dahu said excitedly. 50 catties of bean sprouts and his younger sister only asked for a wholesale price of 50 copper coins. He had sold it at two copper coins per catty. In just a short while, he had earned 50 copper coins. This money was too easy to earn. Tomorrow, do you think you can give me another 50 catties? Theres a lot of people in the market on West Street, so 100 catties can be sold out easily! Qin Dahu hurriedly added. The moment he said that, Big Girl Li, Liu Xiaomei, and Wang Xiaomeis faces all tensed up. The response in the market in South Street is also not bad! Our 120 catties have all been sold out too! Big Girl Li said quickly. Although they did not sell all the bean sprouts at two copper coins per catty, it was not a problem to sell 100 over catties in a day. Wang Xiaomei also wanted to reply, but she held back after thinking for a while. There were only so much bean sprouts that could be produced at home every day. If they gave more to one, they would have to give less to the other. One was Mrs. Songs brother from her maiden family, and the other was Mrs. Songs close friend. What right did she have to fight with them? Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, looked at Wang Xiaomei. Hows the situation in the market on North Street? she asked. Wang Xiaomei was taken aback. Oh, theyre all sold out too! Most of them were sold at two copper coins per catty. I gave two customers a discount of one copper coin on the overall price because they bought a lot, she hurriedly answered. When Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei heard this, their eyes flickered, but they didnt say anything. Qin Xiaoyaos gaze swept across the crowd. She thought for a moment before speaking. Ahem. Today we sent out the first batch of bean sprouts. I estimated that one shed can produce about 350 catties. Following this, if I make more efficient use of the space in the shed, I should be able to produce about 400 catties a day. Lets take our production capacity as 400 catties of bean sprouts a day. When the bean sprouts are harvested, Ill definitely give priority to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant. Then, Qin Xiaoyao told everyone about Boss Fangs request to add another 30 catties of bean sprouts. After deducting the 80 catties that Boss Fang ordered, there are around 320 catties left. My intention is to split this remaining 320 catties among the three of you. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Qin Dahu. There are many people in the market on West Street, so the vegetables should sell better. Therefore, if Big Brother doesnt have any objections, Ill give you 110 catties. Naturally, she had to take care of her maiden family. In addition, the market on West Street was indeed much bigger. Qin Dahus face lit up. No objections. Of course I have no objections! he hurriedly said. At the same time, Big Girl Li and the others looked a little disappointed. However, they only looked at Qin Dahu with envy and didnt show really show their true feelings. After all, it was very normal for people to feel closer to their kin and people with blood ties. Moreover, even if 110 catties were given away, there were still 210 catties left. It shouldnt be a problem for them to take 100 catties. Qin Xiaoyao nodded, then looked at Big Girl Li. Big Girl, the traffic volume in the market on South Street is second only to that in West Street. Plus, you and your Xiaomei are two people, so the effect of your hawking will be better. If you dont have any objections, Ill also give you 110 catties, Qin Xiaoyao said. Big Girl Lis face was filled with joy. Sure! she quickly agreed. She had only estimated that she would get 100 catties earlier. Now that she had received an additional 10 catties, how could she not be delighted? Liu Xiaomei also looked at Big Girl Li with a big smile. An extra 10 catties would earn them an additional 10 copper coins. That was 300 copper coins a month, which was not a small amount. Qin Xiaoyao finally turned to look at Wang Xiaomei. You can have the remaining bean sprouts, she said. Wang Xiaomei had to help Qin Xiaoyao harvest and weigh the bean sprouts. In addition, out of the three market stalls in West Street, South Street, and North Street, she set up her stall thetest, so it was just nice for her to gather up the remaining bean sprouts to sell. Qin Xiaoyao said that the shed produced 400 catties of bean sprouts a day, but that was only an estimate. In reality, the amount was unknown. In short, it was fine whether there was more or less. 100 catties was more than enough for Xiaomei to sell. Mm-hmm! Wang Xiaomei quickly nodded. Her eyes were bright, and she didnt have anyints. Qin Xiaoyao was quite pleased inwardly. She chatted with the others for a while more. ... After Big Girl Li led Liu Xiaomei and left, Wang Xiaomei went to help out in the kitchen. Qin Dahu then brought out the two baskets of chicken eggs and a small string of copper coins he had brought with him and handed them to Qin Xiaoyao. You also know that Father, your second brother, and I all like to eat your familys century eggs. There are 50 eggs in total. Ill give you another 15 copper coins. Is it enough for me to exchange 50 century eggs from you? Qin Dahu said in embarrassment. Qin Xiaoyao took the baskets but not the copper coins. Forget about the money! Ill exchange the 50 eggs for 40 century eggs. I will take the 10 eggs as my fee for mybor, she said. Seeing that Qin Dahu was about to speak, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Well do it this way in the future. If there are no more century eggs at home, Big Brother can just send more eggs to me to exchange. However, in the future, I can only exchange 80% of the egg quantity for Big Brother. It was better to collect eggs than money. After all, they had to buy many of their familys eggs from the market. If Big Brother could send them directly, it would save some trouble for the family. As for the century eggs, she made them every day anyway, so it wouldnt take much time for her to make a few dozen more. Qin Dahu was a little hesitant. The main reason was that he felt he was taking too much advantage of his younger sisters family. ... If Big Brother is agreeable, Ill go and clear the baskets and pick the century eggs for you, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Alright then. Only then did Qin Dahu agree. He thought that he would just treat his younger sister better in the future. Qin Xiaoyao then told him, You can sit here and wait, Big Brother. After that, she left with the two bamboo baskets. She went to the storage room to empty the eggs from the baskets and then went to the section where the ripe century eggs were stored to collect the century eggs. There were 40 in total. It didnt take long for Qin Xiaoyao to retrieve the century eggs. Then, she took the two baskets and handed them to Qin Dahu. When Qin Dahu saw the two baskets filled with century eggs, his face was filled with joy. He thanked her profusely. Youre still so polite to your own sister. After teasing Qin Dahu a bit, Qin Xiaoyao sent him off. When she returned to the courtyard, she talked to Song Que in his room for a while, and then lunch was ready. For todays meal, Madam Liu had followed Qin Xiaoyaos instructions and used refined rice. The fragrant white rice made everyone extremely happy, and they all requested an extra bowl of rice. This refined rice is indeed delicious, but its too expensive. When they were clearing the table, Madam Liu couldnt help but nag again. Qin Xiaoyao smile in amusement. Its good as long as you find it delicious! Our family makes so much money in a day. Whats wrong with having a little refined rice and flour? Madam Liu was surprised momentarily. Then she thought of the bean sprouts at home, and her mood calmed down again. Youre busy enough all day long. Let Yuner and me know what you need to do next. We can all help, she said. Chapter 172 - 172 Chapter 172: Preparing To Sell Water 172 Chapter 172: Preparing To Sell Water Although being able to harvest more than 400 catties of bean sprouts every day was a very gratifying result, it took a lot of effort and kept her daughter-inw very busy. Qin Xiaoyao was involved in filtering out the seeds to soaking the bean seeds and then watering the seedlings. She had to look after the four sheds in turns, and a lot of whatever precious free time she had left was taken up by these tasks. I know, Mother. I know what to do. Qin Xiaoyao answered her with a smile. !! Indeed, she did not intend to do everything by herself. The supply of straw sandals was quite sufficient for the time being, and Yuner and Xiaomei could help her grow bean sprouts. There was strength in numbers. When the work was divided up, each person actually didnt have to spend so much effort. Go back to your room and rest. Well wash the dishes. Madam Liu then looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao knew her mother-inw was worried about her, so she didnt reject her kindness. Alright! Ill have to trouble you guys then! She said in response and left without hesitation. As the group of people watched Qin Xiaoyaos departing back profile, they all had smiles on their faces. Back in the room, Qin Xiaoyao went to Song Ques side. Song Que took the opportunity to pull her to his side and sit down. You did a good job with the bean sprouts! He smiled and praised Qin Xiaoyao. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up in a smile. Of course. Didnt you know who was running the operation? she replied proudly. Song Que also smiled. Wife, you are a gifted genius. As your husband, I am proud of you. The woman tilted her head and was immediately bewitched by the mans good looks. Hehe! Hubby, you have such a sweet tongue. You should be rewarded Smooch Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the end of July, and autumn was about to arrive. While the Song family kept themselves busy with a fruitful, peaceful life, the drought in the world outside was getting worse. In the viges around Mountain Spring Town, more than half of the farm crops had dried up. Only a few fields that normally did not face water shortage in the past years had notpletely dried up. At the same time, the water shortage in the viges and towns became more and more serious. A few households in the alley had already approached the Song family and offered to buy water from them. Ive already discussed this with Hubby. We can sell the water at home for three copper coins per bucket. Qin Xiaoyao said to Madam Liu and the others. Well measure it using the bucket we have at home. In addition, each household can only buy four buckets a day. If they want more than that, we wont sell. There are also four different time sessions when they can collect water. They are 5 to 7 am, 11 am to 1 pm, 5 to 7 pm and 9 to 11 pm, respectively. There are 40 queue slots for 5 to 7 am, 30 for 11 am to 1 pm and 5 to 7 pm, respectively, and 25 for 9 to 11 pm. Apart from these sessions, our family does not sell water to outsiders. This was also to make better use of the spring water in the well. After all, no matter how much water came out of their well, the springs water source wouldnt be able to keep up with people constantly drawing water from the well. She had to give the well time to umte water again. When the neighborse to line up, you take note of the number of people, Hubby. Once the quota has been reached, you have to remind the people whoeter toe back at the next session. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu as she spoke. That was right. She intended to let Song Que assist Madam Liu in managing the familys water-selling business. Selling water was very simple. They only needed to ce two buckets by the well. At the appointed time, they could just get the people who came to buy water to use those two buckets to fetch water and pour it into their own buckets. They would then be charged ording to the number of buckets. All the mother and son needed to do was to make sure that the number of people did not exceed the quota and to collect money. It was still not convenient for her husband to walk around. Therefore, he could sit at the stone table and help to register the number of people. As for her mother-inw, she could just stay by the well and collect the money. Sigh! This was actually something that couldnt be helped. After all, there was a limited number of people at home, so she could only ask her husband to help. Alright, Song Que agreed. Later, I will write a notice and paste it on the door. In addition, you and Mother can go look for Aunt Sun. Well ask her to help us spread the news of us selling water to every family, he said. Aunt Sun came to their house to get two to three buckets of water every day, and they didnt charge her a single coin. It was naturally not a problem to ask her for help on such a small matter. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao answered. After that, she discussed with her family again before settling the matter. After lunch, everyone split up to get on with their tasks. Song Que returned to his room to write the notice while Qin Xiaoyao followed Madam Liu to go next door. Aunt Sun was a little surprised to see Madam Liu and Qin Xiaoyao. She instructed Sun Xiaoyue to brew some tea quickly. The mother-inw and daughter-inw did not stand on ceremony and quickly conveyed the purpose of their visit. This is great news! No problem! Just leave this matter to me. Ill go to every house to inform themter! Aunt Sun agreed to help them readily. Some people saw that Aunt Sun had a good rtionship with the Song family, and many people had approached her to ask whether the Song family was selling water. Now that the Song family was offering to sell water, and the price was only three copper coins per bucket, this was good news indeed. ... More importantly, she was helping because the Song family didnt charge her for the water she took. Her family used three buckets of water a day. If she followed the Song familys pricing, it would be nine copper coins. Saving nine copper coins every day was not a small amount! Then I have to thank Aunt Sun! Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly thanked her. Whats there to thank? Youre too polite, girl! Aunt Sun replied with a smile. She had a good rtionship with the Song family, so she naturally knew that her good sister Madam Lius daughter-inw was the head of the Song household. Previously, she felt it was a little unfair to Madam Liu and thought she should not have given the authority to head the family to her daughter-inw. However, the more she got to know the Song family, the more she understood and admired Madam Liu. Not only did this old sister of hers have good foresight, but she also had great wisdom though she pretended to be stupid. It was a pity that Aunt Sun didnt have a son. Otherwise, she would also want to look for a daughter-inw like Qin Xiaoyao! As the few of them chatted, Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei also arrived. ... After finding out why Qin Xiaoyao and Madam Liu hade to visit, the two of them straightaway suggested that they could go to the Song familys house in the morning to help harvest the bean sprouts. Ever since they moved to town, they had received a lot of care from the Song family. They had so much business dealing, and there was also the matter of water. Both of them went to the Song familys house to get water every day, and the Song family didnt charge them any money. It was not just in the vige. Even the water supply in the town was also very tight. The water wagon that was used to sell water had already raised its price to five copper coins per bucket, and the bucket used was not very big. Now, water was extremely precious. Big Girl, you dont have toe. But if Xiaomei is free, she cane over and help tidy up. Its just nice since I can also sort out the vegetables you guys want first, Qin Xiaoyao said. Alright! Liu Xiaomei quickly agreed. The mother-inw and daughter-inw chatted with the few people there for a while more before they went home. In the end, except for Aunt Sun, the rest of the people followed them back to the Song familys house. This had already turned into amon practice. Sun Xiaoyue was used to following her mother to the Song family to do embroidery with Madam Liu. After lunch, Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei would go to the Song familys ce every day to weave straw sandals. The reason was that the little alley in the Song familys house was cooler, and the Song familys house was more lively. When they got home, Qin Xiaoyao went to her room to look for Song Que. Song Que had already finished writing the notice. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao had returned, he called her over to take a look. After Qin Xiaoyao read it, she was once again amazed by her husbands handwriting. The characters are really as beautiful as the author. If Hubbys calligraphy were to be passed down in the future, it would be admired after by tens of thousands of people. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. There is no need for tens of thousands of people to admire it. As long as my wife likes it, its good enough. Chapter 173 - 173 Chapter 173: Would The Price of Grain Rise Again? 173 Chapter 173: Would The Price of Grain Rise Again? Qin Xiaoyao was the only person that mattered in Song Ques beautiful, almond-shaped eyes. Qin Xiaoyao felt as sweet as honey in her heart. Hubby The woman couldnt help calling out. Hmm? Song Que replied with a smile. !! In the future, dont let anyone see you act this way. After saying this, the woman pounced on him. An hourter, the woman walked out of the room feeling refreshed. Then, she fetched some water and brought it to Song Ques room. When the people in the alley saw Qin Xiaoyao, they simply assumed that she had just taken her afternoon nap and didnt think much about it. After tidying herself up and helping Song Que to clean up, Qin Xiaoyao went out again to make the century eggs. She had work, which could earn her money. She had good food and an attractive and considerate husband. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao felt that life could be considered perfect if it was like this. When she reached the alley, Big Girl Li and the others immediately started chatting with Qin Xiaoyao. The morning market is ending earlier and earlier. The woven bamboo products and straw sandals business has dropped quite a bit. Only the bean sprouts are selling better! In addition, the crops in the countryside have almost all dried up. Its getting harder and harder for Daniu andpany to receive the goods. As she spoke of this, Big Girl Li even sighed. Her familys ie was decreasing every day. It was fine if they earned less, but the critical work was not easy. Daniu and Erniu practically worked themselves to death every day, but they didnt earn much money. During this period, she saw Daniu had be thinner, and his skin had be more tanned. She heard from them that the watering out of the well in the vige had decreased, and the water each household was allocated was even less. Most of the water for domestic uses could only be taken from River Ringwaters. The elders in the vige were even saying that if the drought continued, River Ringwaters might even stop flowing. At that point, some people might die of thirst. Compared to her family, she and Xiaomei were really blessed. Notwithstanding other things, as they were staying next to the Song family and Sister Sanya didnt charge them for the water, it was much more convenient for them to get waterpared to the rest of their family. However, when she saw Daniu delivering goods every morning, her heart would ache. She wanted Daniu to just move into town and stay there. Unfortunately, she still didnt have enough money to buy a courtyard dwelling. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li with a smile. At this juncture, every family is having a hard time. Its fine if we earn less. Its better than staring at each other all day and not earning a single coin, she said. This was the truth. Although the Liu familys current situation was not good, the other families in Brook Falls Vige would only be worse off. The crops in the fields could not be harvested, and most of the families hard work and investment for more than half a year was in vain. It was still okay if there were other jobs and ways of making a living, as they could still find some other ces to make up for the loss in ie. Those who only relied on farming for a living had almost no way to earn money. It wasnt just the people in the vige. The people in the town were also affected. When the weather got hot, business was bad, and there was less work avable. On the one hand, everyone was earning less, but on the other hand, the prices of some necessities were rising. The water that was free in the past now had to be paid for by the bucket. The prices of rice, flour, and other foodstuff had also risen by arge margin. The price of brown rice and coarse flour had increased from two copper coins per catty to five and a half copper coins. Many people who had been hoping for the price to drop and didnt stock up on food regretted it now when the price rose again. This included the Liu family and the Wang family from Brook Falls Vige. Of course, as Big Girl Li and Wang Xiaomei were present and they knew that Qin Xiaoyao had stocked up on a lot of food, they also followed suit and bought some in advance to store it. Those two families lives werent too hard now. This was particrly so for the Wang family. Wang Dashan was still bringing Wang Laoshuan with him to chop firewood to sell. Whenever he came to the Song family to deliver firewood, he would also bring back some food from Wang Xiaomei. At first, Wang Dashan was unwilling to ept his sisters help, but he couldnt afford the high price of the grain in the grain store. After thinking about it, he epted the grain. However, even so, the amount of food that Wang Xiaomei could give Wang Dashan was limited. Furthermore, the two siblings had already agreed upfront that when Wang Dashan returned, he should tell Wang Laoshuan that the grain was bought from the grain store and had nothing to do with Wang Xiaomei. As a result, this long-term help and relief operation went smoothly. Sigh! Big Girl Li gave another sigh. I wonder when itll rain again As soon as she said that, everyone instinctively looked at the ground not far away, reflecting the suns rays until it was blinding. Their hearts felt somewhat heavy. ... Qin Xiaoyao also looked into the distance and shook her head with a smile. She knew the great drought had already begun and would not end before winter. No matter how much people prayed and wished for better conditions, things would not change. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao said, Just carry out your own tasks well and prepare for the worst in advance. Life still has to go on, right? Everyone was stunned momentarily. Then, they all nodded. They had to learn from Sister Sanya/Mrs. Songs mentality. Wang Xiaomei thought for a moment and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Mrs. Song, do you think the price of the grain will still increase? she asked. She ate and lived in the Song family, so she didnt have to worry about food. Moreover, Mrs. Song had already stocked up enough food in advance, so it was impossible for the Song family to be short of food. ... Though the Song family did notck food, the Wang family did. She had to think for her big brother and father. In the current situation, Big Brother didnt have much money on his hands, and he was even more reluctant to go to the grain store to buy grain. She did have some savings, but if the food prices didnte down, she would feel a lot of heartache buying them. However, if she didnt buy them, the lesson of the precedent was right in front of her. If she didnt buy now, she would have to spend more money on food if the price of food continued to rise. It would be even more less value for money then. She was very regretful now. If she had known that the price of food would rise so much, she would have spent all her money on food when she saw Mrs. Song stock up on food for the first time. After hearing Wang Xiaomeis words, Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei also turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. They were all hoping to hear Qin Xiaoyao say that the grain price would fall. After all, they had started stocking up on food a littleter than Qin Xiaoyao. At that time, they didnt dare to stock up too much because the price of food had already risen quite substantially. However, given the current situation, the price of grain would probably increase further. If they stocked up on grain now, they faced even greater risks. They were also regretting it now. If they had known this would be the case, they would have followed Qin Xiaoyaos lead and hoarded grain on arge scale, even if it meant emptying their familys coffers. Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world. I guess so. Its going to be autumn in a few days, and you know what the crops back in the farms are like. If the crops cant be harvested, the grain price wont drop. Now, most of the grain in Mountain Spring Town, Zhao County, and even the entire Hua An Prefecture is transported from outside. If the drought continues, the transportation costs will increase. The transportation system in ancient times was not as developed as it was before the apocalypse. They mainly relied on boats, as well as oxen and horses to pull carriages. If there was a drought, the water level of the river would drop, and it was even possible that the river would stop flowing. Chapter 174 - 174 Chapter 174: The People Buying Water Had Arrived 174 Chapter 174: The People Buying Water Had Arrived When the shipping routes were cut off, they could only rely on oxen and horses. At that point, there would definitely be a shortage of food in the Hua An Prefecture. Once there was a food shortage, what would happen next was self-evident. When Big Girl Li, Liu Xiaomei and Wang Xiaomei heard this, the three of them looked very grim. Then if we stock up on food now Liu Xiaomei couldnt help but ask, but she didnt finish her sentence. This was because Big Girl Li and Wang Xiaomei were both looking at her at this moment. The price of brown rice and coarse flour had increased to five and a half copper coins, which was almost the price of refined rice and flour before the price increase. Was it really worth it to stock up on grain at such a high price? Moreover, even if the price of food continued to rise, they couldnt buy much food with the money they had. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the three of them with a smile. If you have money, its better to buy more food. After all, food can be eaten, but money cant, she said. This could be considered a reminder to them. This was the best she could do. She couldnt possibly tell them that the drought would continue for a long time and that there would be a locust gue after that. The three of them looked at each other and came up with an idea. Even if they didnt exchange all the money they had for food, they still had to buy more food as soon as possible. Sigh! Big Girl Li suddenly sighed again. Sister Sanya, Im really impressed with you! When you said you wanted to buy a courtyard dwelling, you simply went out and bought it. After that, when you talked about stocking up on food, you stocked up on so much food. And now there are still your familys century egg business and bean sprout business. How can youe up with so many money-making ideas? As Big Girl Li spoke, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao with envy. The other two girls had simr expressions in their eyes. Even Song Ye and Song Yun, who were not far away, looked at their sister-inw. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up in a smile. Because Im smart and capable! she replied mischievously. Everyone was momentarily stunned by her words, and then they allughed. After making the century eggs, Qin Xiaoyao went back to her room. Now, when she wasnt busy, she particrly liked to hang around her husband. She would fan her husband, help him out and chat with him while admiring his good looks at the same time. In the end, not long after she entered the room, Song Yuns voice could be heard from the courtyard. Sister-inw, Big Brother, someone is here to buy water! Her voice was filled with joy and excitement. How could she not be excited? This was a new business opportunity for the family. The well water was readily avable, and it could regenerate continuously. It couldnt be any easier to earn this money. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes froze as she looked at Song Que. Then, she saw Song Que smile. He put down his brush and walked towards her. Lets go out and take a look. Oh. The woman had no choice but to follow Song Que out helplessly. That was right. Her husbands leg had almost healed. Although he was still limping slightly, he no longer needed anyone to support him. When they arrived at the courtyard, the couple saw a few people carrying water buckets. Their mother was talking to those people and leading them to the well. The sun is still so high up. They came too early, Qin Xiaoyao muttered to herself as she fanned Song Que with the palm-leaf fan attentively. Song Que nced at his wife and couldnt help but smile. Fan yourself, he said. Thereafter, he walked toward the well. It was almost 5 pm. There would only be more peopleingter. Their familys water-selling business had just started. If they didnt help exin the situation to these people, their mother wouldnt be able to handle it alone. Qin Xiaoyao quickly caught up and continued to fan Song Que. Her skin was rough and thick, so it was fine to be exposed to the sun. However, her husbands body was delicate and precious. If he were to suffer sun damage, her heart would ache. (Hehe! That was right. She was definitely the best wife in the world, the kind that ranked number one in doting on her husband!) Song Que nced sideways at his wife, and he couldnt hide the smile on his face anymore. This woman Finally, the two of them arrived at the well. Song Que invited the visitors to a shady area at once. ... Then, he stepped forward and exined the specific rules governing how his family sold water. The well water is limited. This arrangement is to allow as many neighbors to buy water as possible. In the future, you dont have toe so early. My family sells water to outsiders for eight hours a day. If you miss this session, you can still make it for the next one. In addition, every two hours, after the number of people has exceeded the stipted quota, if anyone is willing to wait a little longer and theres still enough water in the well at that point, I can make the decision to add more spots for people. Of course, if there isnt enough water in the well, these people who arrived after the quota is filled may have waited in line for nothing. Youll have to take this into consideration. In addition, outside the stipted four sessions, regardless of whether the quota of people has been filled or not, my family will not sell water to outsiders. I hope you can understand, my fellow neighbors. Outside the stipted sessions to get water, the rest of the time was to allow the well to umte water again. If they were able to draw water from the well continuously, there would be no need to allocate fixed time periods for everyone to get water. We understand! someone immediately replied. Young Master Song is an upright man. We know that. Well definitely follow the rules in the future! Thats right! Well keep an eye on each other. Whoever doesnt follow the rules, we wont let hime to the Song family to buy water! ... Everyone echoed enthusiastically. The reason was that the Song familys act was really benefiting the neighbors. Since they had benefited from their act, they naturally had to protect the Song family. That was right. It was all thanks to Aunt Sun, who made door-to-door visits to exin the situation to every family. Everyone now knew that the Song family knew that the previous owner of their courtyard dwelling had sold water at a high price and had made a lot of money, but they still decided to sell water at a low price. Everyone remembered the Song familys kindness. Some of the neighbors who hade to buy water had seen Song Que before, while some were meeting him for the first time. They were all shocked by Song Ques looks and the way he carried himself. Then, they saw Qin Xiaoyao standing beside Song Que with a love-struck look on her face, fanning him with the palm-leaf fan. The men looked on with envy. Everyone had more or less heard about the Song family that had just moved into Yong An Lane. They knew that in this family, the daughter-inw was the main breadwinner. Speaking of this Madam Qin, many of them had seen her before. What exactly had they seen? They had seen her pushing therge handcarts full of goods in and out of Yong An Lane every day. Her strength and her perseverance to work hard impressed even the men who saw her! At the same time, some people also knew about the rtionship between Qin Xiaoyao and the Qin butcher family at the market on West Street. This made her appear even more impressive. Everyone felt that Qin Xiaoyao was even more diligent and down-to-earth. What kind of person was butcher Qin? Having been in the market on West Street for decades, he rarely didnt open his stall. He was also very honest. Many of the people who lived in Yong An Lane bought pork from butcher Qin. On top of that, Qin Xiaoyao had lost quite a bit of weight recently. She was only about 140 pounds now. After she lost weight, her appearance blossomed. The current Qin Xiaoyao could no longer be called fat. At most, she could only be called well-endowed. In fact, because of her pleasant-looking facial features, she could almost be considered a beauty. So, when the men saw how attentive she was to Song Que, how could they not be envious? Chapter 175 - 175 Chapter 175: Easy To Make Money 175 Chapter 175: Easy To Make Money Who didnt want to get a down-to-earth, capable, smart, and considerate wife? The couple didnt know any of this and were very pleased with everyones reaction. After asking everyone to help ry the information to each other, Song Que allowed everyone to go get water. Only then did Madam Liu start to make arrangements and collect the money. Qin Xiaoyao went to the kitchen when she saw this. She brought out a small table and two small stools and ced them under the shade of the tree. She did this so that her mother-inw and husband could conduct the water-selling exercise sitting down. Very quickly, the customers paid for the water in an orderly manner and started to get water. As the people in the queue were all standing under the shade of the trees, they didnt feel too hot. Everyone chatted as they waited in line. The line moved very quickly, and two people could go to the well to get water at the same time. As long as one person was done with the water, the next person could step up. Some of the people only bought two buckets of water and they quickly carried them away after getting the water. For those who wanted four buckets of water, they would get a token after paying and then go to fetch water and carry the water back. When they came backter, they wouldnt need to queue up again. They could return the token and cut the queue to get the remaining two buckets of water. As people carried the water out of the Song familys house, more people carrying water buckets arrived in session. Seeing that there were people queuing up, everyone consciously walked over and joined the queue. Only then did Song Que stand up. He walked over and confirmed the thirty spots, then informed the people who cameter. Some people were not willing to take the risk of waiting. They chose to go back, intending toe back at another session. Some people stayed, thinking that when it was their turn, there would definitely be water avable. Just like that, the line continued to move forward. After about 45 minutes, the 30 people within the quota had already taken at least two buckets of water. ording to the tokens issued, there were still eight buckets of water in the well that had not been taken. Song Que nced at the five people who were still waiting in line. After making sure that there was enough water in the well, he allowed them to continue waiting. Then, he sessfully sold another 16 buckets of water. When there was no longer anyone in line, Song Que went to the well to take a look and found that the water level was almost at the bottom of the well. In fact, the mouth of the spring at the bottom of the well was exposed, and it was currently spitting outrge amounts of water. Seeing this, Madam Liu smiled and said, This well in our house produces quite a lot of water. At this rate, they could collect two more buckets of water before long. Mm-hmm, Song Que replied with a smile on his face. There are still four paid buckets of water that have not been collected. If someonees to buy waterter, let them wait. We have to serve the person who paid first, Song Que said. Mm-hmm. Madam Liu agreed with a smile. Ill go get some thread, count the coins and string them together, she said. Her daughter-inw had given her a big bowl to hold the copper coins. In such a short time, the copper coins collected had almost filled the bowl. Since she was free now, she could count all the money and give it to her daughter-inwter. Then her daughter-inw wouldnt need to count itter. Song Que smiled and let his mother do as she pleased. He could tell that his mother liked to count money. She would be very happy if he let her do this kind of thing. After a while, Madam Liu returned. She returned to the table, sat down, and then began to count the money seriously. She ced 10 coins in one stack and then strung them together when the stacks totaled 100 coins. When she had finally counted all the coins, she realized that they had earned 306 copper coins in just one hour. Isnt isnt this money a little too easy to earn? Madam Liu looked at the copper coins she had counted in disbelief. They earned more than 300 copper coins per session, and there were four sessions a day. Her family could probably earn more than a tael of silver a day just by selling water! Song Que smiled as he looked at his mother. Theres still nearly two hours left. If more peoplee to buy water, we can still make some money. Madam Lius eyes flickered. Yes, yes, yes. You said well be selling for two hours, but its not time yet. With that, she quickly sat down. Song Queughed again. Then Mother, you stay here and keep watch. Ill go back to my room first, he said. There were not many peopleing after this, and his mother should be able to deal with them alone. ... Sure! Walk carefully! Madam Liu quickly said. Song Que then turned around and left. When he left, his face was full of smiles. They were so happy just because they earned one tael of silver a day. His family was really easy to satisfy. Surely this was good, wasnt it? After Song Que left, more people came to buy water. There were even people who came to buy bean sprouts and sell chicken eggs. This made Madam Liu so happy that she even called Song Yun over to help. At this point, it could said that the Song familys business of selling water had officially started. In addition, the neighbors came to buy bean sprouts and sell chicken eggs from time to time, which brought more profit and convenience to the Song family. After 7 pm, Madam Liu closed her booth. ... She brought the harvested vegetables back to the kitchen to make dinner. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, went to the courtyard, wondering if she should add another thatched shed to grow more bean sprouts. Her familys bean sprouts had been on the market for some time. They were very popr, whether at the Mansion and Restaurant or in the three markets. Recently, there were many people who came to buy bean sprouts because they wanted to eat fresh vegetables. That being the case, it was also viable to nt bean sprouts in one more shed. It just so happened that there were still some lumber materials left from thest time she built the sheds. It should not be a problem to build another thatched shed next to the existing sheds. Qin Xiaoyao was still hesitating when Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu arrived with water buckets. That was right. Now that the business of the Qin familys meat stall was continuing to decline, the two Qin brothers had much more free time. Since the two brothers were free today, they decided toe to the Song family to fetch water. Little Sis! The two brothers saw Qin Xiaoyao first and called out to her. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up upon seeing them. Big Brother! Second Brother! she answered back. Then, she quickly left the shed and walked towards the two of them. Hehe, Little Sis! I heard that your family is selling water now, and only to the dozen or so families in Yong An Lane and the street up front? Qin Dahu asked Qin Xiaoyao with a smile when he arrived before her. Selling water was a profitable business, and they were very happy for their younger sister. Mm-hmm. We just started this afternoon, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. In the future, my family will sell water to outsiders from 5 to 7 am, 11 am to 1 pm, 5 to 7 pm, and 9 to 11 pm. Big Brother, Second Brother, you two just need to avoid these hours when youe to get water. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged nces. Okay! they quickly replied. On our way here, we heard a lot of people in Yong An Lane talking about your family selling water. They were all saying that your family was benevolent and upright, only charging three copper coins for a bucket of water. Is this true? Qin Erhu asked. Yes, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Hubby said that the water in our well doesnt cost any capital. Well just earn a little from selling water this time. The main thing is to use this opportunity to build a good rtionship with everyone so we can get along better in the future. The Qin brothers looked at each other and then nodded. Younger Brother-inw is right. Its your Second Brother and I who are short-sighted, Qin Dahu said. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Big Brother, what are you saying? Youre just afraid that Ill make a loss, she replied mischievously. Chapter 176 - 176 Chapter 176: Hiring Workers 176 Chapter 176: Hiring Workers Two copper coins less for a bucket of water. The price was reduced by almost half. With so few money-making opportunities, how many people would not mind earning less? Didnt Qin Xiaoyao also suggest that a bucket of water should only be one copper coin less than the market price? Then when wee here to get water Qin Erhu became somewhat hesitant. His family used up a lot of water. Previously, they had used about ten buckets of water a day. It was better now, but they still needed to use seven or eight buckets of water. Even if it were three copper coins per bucket, it would still cost more than twenty copper coins in all! In the past, their younger sisters family didnt sell water to outsiders, so they didnt feel any psychological burden when they took advantage of her. However, now Qin Xiaoyao looked at her two brothers with a smile. You guys can juste over! Were family. Dont tell me Big Brother and Second Brother think that I will still ask you for money? she rebuked them with augh. The two brothers exchanged looks with each other and felt relieved. However, your little sis needs Big Brother and Second Brothers help again, Qin Xiaoyao continued. As she said this, she looked at the few thatched sheds in her house. Qin Dahu immediately asked, What kind of help? He even put down the burden on his shoulders. Little Sis, just tell us what to do. Qin Erhu also put down his burden. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Well, I want to build another thatched shed there and nt more bean sprouts. Today, when the neighbors came to buy water and eggs, they heard that the bean sprouts were from my family. So many people came to buy from us directly. They even said that if they wanted to buy them in the future, they would simplye to my house. I was thinking that the bean sprouts are also selling well in your area. If I nt more, I wont have to worry about selling them. The Qin brothers eyes lit up when they heard this. How can one shed be enough? If you want to build, why dont you build one more shed! This way, you can produce an extra 200 catties of bean sprouts a day. As for the market on West Street, even if you give us another 100 catties, its not a problem! As for Sister Big Girl and Xiaomei, it shouldnt be a problem for them if you allocate them 100 catties, Qin Dahu said. The bean sprouts grown by his younger sister were really good sellers. The 110 catties of bean sprouts that they got every day would be sold out very quickly. They wanted to sell more, but there was no stock. At the moment, the familys meat business was not doing well, so it was also good to sell more bean sprouts to make up for the ie loss. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat when she heard this. Is there really such a big demand in the market on West Street? she asked the two. The two of them quickly nodded. Its not just individual customers now. There are also eateries that want to talk about long-term coboration after seeing that we have bean sprouts every day. Its because we dont get enough stock every day, and we cant even meet the individual customers demand that we didnt agree. If you can allocate more stock to us, we are not worried that we cant sell them. It was just a matter of earning more or less. After all, they would be working together on a long-term basis. If they bought a lot, the Qin brothers would have to give them a discount. A look of hesitation shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. Its mainly because we have limited manpower in our family. Now, our family has another business selling water. Im afraid I wont be able to take care of the vegetables in two more sheds. Early in the morning, her mother and husband would have to keep an eye on the water-selling business. She, Xiaomei and Yuner had to harvest the bean sprouts, weigh them, and sort them into baskets. At that point, there might not even be anyone at home to make breakfast. Although Big Girl had told Liu Xiaomei toe over to help, she couldnt expect too much from other people. Thats easy. Ill get your sister-inw to help when we get back! If it doesnt work out, I cane over too! Qin Dahu immediately replied. Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback, and she suddenly had an idea. If Eldest Sister-inw is here, can Second Sister-inw handle the family chores by herself? She knew that the men in the Qin family were usually in charge of matters outside the house. The women stayed at home to doundry, cook, feed the pigs, and clean. The work was not easy. As for what her big brother said about himing over to help, she didnt dare to think about it. She didnt have much heavy work to do at home. If there was, she could do it herself. There was no need to let Big Brother, a strongborer,e over and waste his time. Why cant she handle it? Qin Erhu continued. Now we only kill one pig a day, so Big Brother and I have more time at home. I take turns with Big Brother to feed the pigs and clean the pigpen. Your second sister-inw only does some light work, such as cooking. It wont be a problem. ... Ever since their father divorced Madam Zhang, their two households had actuallybined again though they were said to have separated previously. During this period, the two households had been eating together. Eldest Sister-inw and Qin Erhus wife took turns cooking and did the household chores together. Due to Second Sister-inws pregnancy, Eldest Sister-inw took on more chores. Thats right! At most, your second brother and I can be more diligent at home! Qin Dahu added. The bean sprout business was of great significance to them, so they had to convince their younger sister. Seeing the two brothers looking at her with anticipation, Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and finally nodded. How about this? Ill pay 50 copper coins a day and have Eldest Sister-inwe over to help. Before Qin Dahu could speak, Qin Xiaoyao quickly added, The working hours are from 5 to 7 am in the morning, and in the afternoon from 1 pm to 7 pm. A total of eight hours. The morning was the busiest time at home. Her mother-inw and husband had to sell water from 5 to 7 am. She had to bring people to harvest the bean sprouts and other vegetables. ... With more people helping out, she could afford to set aside a person and arrange for her to make breakfast. In the afternoon, when her Eldest Sister-inw came over, she could help Qin Xiaoyao filter the bean seeds and soak them. Maybe she could also learn how to make century eggs. With Eldest Sister-inw to help her with some basic tasks, she only needed to prepare the mud paste for the century eggs and work in the sheds. It didnt take much effort to make the century eggs mud paste. The work in the sheds was mainly watering the nts and flipping over the cloths that covered the beans. There was not much to do in reality. Even if she had to take care of the bean sprouts in two more sheds, she would be able to handle it without any problem. How about this? She will only work from 5 to 7 am in the morning, and Eldest Sister-inw can go home after that. It wont dy the chores at home. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Qin Dahu with a smile. Deal! However, lets forget about the sry. Shes just here to help. Why pay money? Qin Dahu said. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Of course I must pay her. Even if I dont hire Eldest Sister-inw, I will still have to spend money to hire someone else. But I dont feel at ease using outsiders. Whether it was century eggs or bean sprouts, they were her familys livelihood. If she didnt guard against outsiders, it would be troublesometer. If her eldest sister-inw came over and discovered anything, she would not dare to do anything on ount of Qin Xiaoyaos big brother and father. This was the most important thing. Qin Dahu was taken aback. After some thought, he finally nodded. Alright, but the pay is too high. You can just give 40 copper coins. Shes only working for two hours in the morning, so it wont cost that much money. His younger sister was giving his wife work, which was already taking care of his family. How could he ask for such a high sry? Hehe! She is only working for two hours in the morning, but she has to work for six hours in the afternoon. The work isnt as easy as you think. Besides, Im asking Eldest Sister-inw to work, not you. You dont have the final say in the sry. Chapter 177 - 177 Chapter 177: Eldest Sister-in-law Qin Came To Work 177 Chapter 177: Eldest Sister-inw Qin Came To Work Qin Xiaoyao looked at Qin Dahu with a smile. This matter is settled then. Big Brother, when you go backter, talk to Eldest Sister-inw and see if shes willing toe. If shes willing, then she can start work tomorrow morning. If shes not willing, then Ill have to look for an outsider to help. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged looks with each other and finally nodded. Their younger sisters business was so important. How could she let outsiders get involved? Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. After that, its the matter of building the sheds. Since my two brothers have a way to sell bean sprouts, and my courtyard has enough space, Ill build four more sheds. It doesnt matter even if the sheds cant be used up. In the future, if you open up more sales channels, I can nt more bean sprouts at any time. As soon as she said that, the eyes of the Qin brothers lit up. Their younger sister was too supportive of them! Qin Xiaoyao could guess what the two brothers were thinking when she saw their expressions. She couldnt help butugh again. But its not all for you two, my brothers. The profit is still quite substantial when I sell the bean sprouts wholesale to you. The more you guys sell, the more I earn. The two brothers nodded in unison. That may be so. But you can sell wholesale to anyone, and we have no issue. This business is clearly profitable! Were all grateful to you, Little Sis! Qin Dahu said. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up in a smile again. Were all family. You dont have to be so polite. The three of them looked at each other andughed. I wont get involved in the construction of the sheds. I will contract the job out to you two, my brothers. Ill buy the required raw materials, and you guys help me build it. Ill pay you 300 copper coins after they arepleted, Qin Xiaoyao said. Thest time she built the sheds, she realized that she was far inferior to her father and two brothers in this field. Rather than blindly struggling through the job, it was better to let them help her. How can we allow this? Well just help you. Why talk about money? Qin Erhu was the first to protest. Thats right! Little Sis, youre treating us like outsiders! Qin Dahu added. He didnt look too pleased. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Im not treating you as an outsider. Its only right that I pay you! From now on, we have to sell water at home, and we dont have enough manpower to cook. When you guyse over to help, I cant possibly not cook anything, right? Qin Xiaoyao said. So, I wont keep you for a meal this time. Ill just pay you directly. This way, Ill feel better inwardly. Seeing that the two of them still wanted to protest, Qin Xiaoyao retracted the smile on her face. If two elder brothers do not agree, I will go outside to look for someone else to do this job. At that point, someone else will earn this sum of money. As she said this, Qin Xiaoyao looked at her two brothers deliberately. Sure enough, the brothers expressions changed when they heard this. Why would you need to look for someone else? Qin Dahu immediately replied. When Qin Dahu saw Qin Xiaoyao staring at him, he finally sighed helplessly. Alright then. Leave this to us, he said. Since their younger sister had the heart to take care of them, they should just ept it. After a few more words, Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu went to the well to get water. When he saw that there was not much water left in the well, he felt grateful to his younger sister. The two brothers fetched the water and brought it home. After that, Qin Dahu went to look for his wife and told her that his younger sister wanted her eldest sister-inw to work for her. Eldest Sister-inw Qins face lit up when she heard that. Younger Sister is offering 50 copper coins? she asked her man in surprise. Mm-hmm. Qin Dahu nodded. I asked her to pay less, but she refused. Shes taking care of our family, he continued. The reason he told her all this was that he hoped that his wife would remember his younger sisters kindness. Eldest Sister-inw Qin quickly nodded. Younger Sister is indeed good! she responded. Her words made Qin Dahu very pleased. Then do a good job at the Song familys ce. You cant take so much money from Little Sis for nothing, Qin Dahu reminded her. Okay! You dont have to tell me! Eldest Sister-inw Qin agreed readily. 50 copper coins a day, and she only had to work two hours in the morning. Where else could she find such a good job? Even if her husband didnt say anything, she would still do her best. ... Now that her family was leading a life of hardships, she had to think of ways to earn some money. Otherwise, the pressure would be even greater when the child came back. Qin Dahu was finally satisfied. After that, he went to the Song familys ce again with Qin Erhu. Before the sky turned dark, they would be able to dig out the holes for the pirs in advance today. Then, they would be able to set the wooden pirs in tomorrow. At the Song familys house. Qin Xiaoyao was relieved to know that her eldest sister-inw had agreed to work at their home. She then worked with her two brothers and got busy in the courtyard. That night, after dinner, other than Wang Xiaomei and next doors Liu Xiaomei who went out to set up their stall, the rest of the Song family members did not go out. Before 9 pm, people were already queuing up with buckets to buy water. ... Song Que saw that the well was almost full again and did not make everyone wait any longer. He arranged for this round of water collection to start earlier. After that, thenterns in the courtyard were lit until after 11 pm when the Song family finally closed the door for the night. The next day, before 5 am, Eldest Sister-inw Qin arrived at the Song familys house. When Madam Liu went to open the door, she found that not only was Eldest Sister-inw Qin there but there were also people who hade early in the morning to buy water. Hence, the Song familys courtyard was bustling with activity again. Qin Xiaoyao first brought Wang Xiaomei, Song Yun, Song Ye, and Eldest Sister-inw Qin to work in the sheds for a while. After Liu Xiaomei and Big Girl Li came over, she sent Wang Xiaomei and Song Yun to the kitchen to make breakfast. In this way, she managed to cope with the mornings busy workload. They even managed to sort out the bean sprouts ahead of time. Alright, Eldest Sister-inw! The works done. You can go back first ande back again in the afternoon. After finishing her work, Qin Xiaoyao looked at her eldest sister-inw with a beaming smile. Her eldest sister-inw was quick at work and was indeed a good helper. But Eldest Sister-inw Qin looked at the people who wereing in from outside the courtyard to buy water. The time isnt up yet, she said. Didnt they agree that she would work for two hours? Its fine. Im mainly harvesting bean sprouts in the morning. After this is done, there is nothing else to do for the time being. You can go back first. Ill still pay you the same sry, Qin Xiaoyao exined. How can I allow this? I I can also help to sell bean sprouts! Eldest Sister-inw Qin said immediately. When they were sorting out the bean sprouts, some of the people who came to buy water would also buy some bean sprouts. It was two copper coins per catty, which was twice as expensive as the wholesale price that her younger sister-inw charged them. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. No need. There are fewer peopleing to buy water now, so I can just let Mother and my husband handle the selling of water. Even if more people show up, we still have so many people here. So we can handle it. You can go back first. If you go back now, you can still help Second Sister-inw make breakfast. Later, Father and the rest will have to open their stall so time is tight. Upon hearing this, Eldest Sister-inw Qin no longer protested. Alright then. Then Ill take my leave first. If theres more work next time, Ill work a little longer, she said. Her younger sister-inw was pregnant, so it would indeed be better if she went back to help. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao answered with a smile. Only then did Eldest Sister-inw Qin leave in a hurry. Chapter 178 - 178 Chapter 178: The Great Drought Continued 178 Chapter 178: The Great Drought Continued Qin Xiaoyao smiled and looked away from her eldest sister-inw. She then turned to look at Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei. You guys should go back too. Also, Eldest Sister-inw will being over to help in the future, so you dont have toe over in the morning. Big Girl was also pregnant, and Qin Xiaoyao didnt pay Liu Xiaomei any sry. It wasnt good to make others work for nothing. Since her eldest sister-inw was here, she was not short of manpower for the time being. Liu Xiaomei looked at Big Girl Li. When she saw Big Girl Li nod at her, she agreed to the proposal. Then, she left with Big Girl Li. After the two of them left, Qin Xiaoyao took half a basket of bean sprouts and went to look for Madam Liu and Song Que. Mother Qin Xiaoyao called out to Madam Liu from a distance. Madam Liu turned around and saw her daughter-inwing over with her youngest son, their faces full of smiles. Whats the matter? she asked. Ill leave this half basket of bean sprouts here. If someonees to buy bean sproutster, you can weigh it for them straightaway! As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao brought over the bean sprouts and the scale. Sure! Madam Liu quickly answered. A few people said they woulde over to sell eggs and buy bean sproutster! Thats great. If we can get enough eggs, you dont have to go to the market to collect them anymoreter on, Qin Xiaoyao responded with a smile. How can it be enough? How much can our neighbors bring? I will still have to go to the marketter to collect some more! Alright then! Then lets have breakfast first! Qin Xiaoyao continued. Xiaomei and Yuner had already prepared breakfast. After eating, everyone would have to go back to their own jobs. Madam Liu immediately said, Good! Then Ill bring my breakfast out to eat here! During this time, people were stilling to their house, so she had to keep an eye on them. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Why dont we all have our breakfast here? Its cooler in the courtyard anyway. Madam Liu thought about it and felt that it made sense, so she agreed. Thus, the whole family ate breakfast in the courtyard. During their meal, there were people who came to buy water, buy bean sprouts, sell chicken eggs, and so on. They were able to serve these people without dy. After the meal, Liu Daniu, Big Girl Li, Liu Xiaomei and Qin Dahu arrived one after another. After Qin Xiaoyao distributed the goods and settled the ounts with Liu Daniu, she got busy with her work again. Wang Xiaomei followed her, pushing the handcart out of the courtyard. After Madam Liu and Song Yun cleaned up the kitchen, they also carried the bamboo backpacks and went out into the street. Things finally quietened down in the Song familyspound. In the end, after Madam Liu left, another neighbor came to buy bean sprouts and sell eggs. Song Que came out to serve him. After buying and selling the goods, he went back to his room and wrote a new notice before instructing Song Ye to stick it on the door. In the future, the family would only sell bean sprouts and collect eggs during the four sessions when they sold water. They would not do business at any other time. When Madam Liu came back and learned of this news, she expressed her approval. Otherwise, it would be a headache if people kepting to disturb them from time to time. After a while, Qin Dazhuang arrived with Qin Erhu. After greeting Madam Liu and Song Que, the two of them started to get busy in the courtyard. On the other side, after Qin Xiaoyao delivered the goods to the Mansion and Restaurant, she went to the lumber shop. She bought a handcart full of materials and pulled it home. Then, she helped Qin Dazhuang and Qin Erhu with the construction work. As a result, by noon, the frame of the shed was more than halfpleted. Alright, well stop here for the morning. Ill get your big brother over in the afternoon. Well be able to finish this job before dark! Qin Dazhuang said to Qin Xiaoyao as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. Well be leaving now. Its hot outside. Hurry and go inside! Whats the hurry? Ill go get some hot water for you two to wash up. Rest a while first before leaving! Qin Xiaoyao said hurriedly. She didnt ask them to stay for lunch since she didnt even have time to cook. Right now, the kitchen chores were done by Xiaomei with Yuner in tow. The two little girls could only make some simple dishes. They were not up to the task of cooking the more challenging main dishes. No need! Its the same if we go back and wash! Qin Dazhuang immediately refused her offer. Thats right. After washing up, Ill still be drenched in sweatter when I leave this ce! Qin Erhu chimed in. Your eldest sister-inw and second sister-inw should be done with the food by now. We should go back for lunch. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao not hold the father and son back and allow them to leave. After the two of them left, Qin Xiaoyao went to the kitchen to get some hot water. ... Then, she washed her face, wiped her arms, and so on to cool herself down. Thereafter, she rested for a while before going to the kitchen to help bring the food to the hall. After setting up the table, Qin Xiaoyao went to the tree under the scorching sun to call Madam Liu and Song Que for lunch. Ill keep watch. Mother, you go eat with Hubby first. After youve eaten, you cane and swap ces with me, Qin Xiaoyao said. It was almost 12:45 pm, and there were only three people in the queue. One person was enough to keep watch. Just as Madam Liu was about to protest, Song Que spoke first. Ill keep watch. You guys go eat. How can I allow this? Qin Xiaoyao was the first to object. The sun is so hot. You wont be able to stand it. Be good and go back to eat with Mother. Then go back to your room after eating, she said. Madam Liu was very surprised to hear this, but Song Que felt quite awkward. Er her daughter-inw was genuinely concerned about her eldest son, yet Why did Madam Liu feel that these words sounded a little strange? ... After Madam Liu gave him a strange look, Song Que felt embarrassed instantly. Ahem. I told you to go eat, so just go. Then, his face clouded over. Seeing Song Ques darkened face, Qin Xiaoyao finally didnt argue back again. Alright, Hubby. Then Ille and swap ces with you after lunch, she hurriedly said. After she finished speaking, she reluctantly left with Madam Liu. Only after they had gone far away did Song Que raise his head and look at Qin Xiaoyaos departing back profile. The corners of his mouth curved up into a smile discreetly. The blessed and happy days passed by quickly, and it waste August in the blink of an eye. In the past month, there was still no rain. The crops in the fields had long withered and died, and there was almost no harvest this autumn. After the water in the paddy fields evaporated, cracks appeared on the ground, forming ugly crazed patterns. The nearest river to Mountain Spring Town, River Ringwaters, had almost dried up. At this point, the price of grain in Mountain Spring Town rose again. The price of brown rice and coarse flour had risen to seven copper coins per catty. ording to Qin Dazhuang, this price was the same as the price during the drought more than 20 years ago. The high grain prices had driven up the prices of some other necessities in the town. This caused themon folks to feel uneasy. At the same time, over at the Wang familys residence in Brook Falls Vige. Boo hoo hoo! Master, I was wrong about what happened in the past! Just let me stay! Its not that I dont want to get the money back. They wont give it to me! Now, the water source at the Qian familys vige is almost dry. The vige chief made arrangements and told the families to prepare to move out of the vige. Brother and Sister-inw are not willing to take me with them. I have no choice but toe and look for you! On ount of the fact that weve been husband and wife for more than 20 years, and Ive also given birth to Dashan and Xiaomei for you, let me stay! Boo hoo hoo Madam Qian sat on the ground and hugged Wang Laoshuans thigh, crying piteously. The current Madam Qian looked nothing like the woman who left Brook Falls Vige back then. Chapter 179 - 179 Chapter 179: Madam Qian Came Back 179 Chapter 179: Madam Qian Came Back She had more white hair, and had be thinner and more tanned. As she hadnt drunk any water for a long time, her lips were also cracked. Coupled with her ragged clothes, she didnt look much better than a beggar. In reality, Madam Qian had regretted it long ago. !! It was just that under the urging of her brother and sister-inw, she had gone too far, so she did not dare to return to the Wang family. When she first returned to the Qian family, she genuinely wanted to help the Wang family get the betrothal gift back. However, her brother and sister-inw, as well as her cousins, did not agree. They even advised her not to have any more contact with the Wang family. They imed that everything was the Wang familys fault and even told her to stay with the Qian family with peace of mind. In the future, her nephew would take care of her when she was old. She didnt know what was wrong with her, but she must have been blinded byrd and actually believed their nonsense. Not only did she not ask for money from her cousins again, but when Wang Laoshuan and Wang Dashan came to her house, she even stepped up and told the Qian family to chase them away. When they came the second time, the Qian family was even more ruthless and almost crippled Wang Dashan. After that, the father and son did note to her house again, and she finally felt at ease. However, the situation changed very quickly. Her cousin, cousin-inw, and even her brother, sister-inw, and nephew all changed their attitudes toward her. Where she used to get meat from them for all her meals, she now received only raw vegetables. She had no choice but to cook for herself. She could let this pass as she thought that she couldnt always remain a guest at her maiden familys house. However,ter on, they didnt even send her vegetables and even made her work for them. They even treated her like a servant but did not give her any pay. She was naturally unhappy and started quarreling with her sister-inw. After that, she was beaten up by her nephew and big brother. They actually told her to get lost if she couldnt stand it. Get lost? She had already been divorced by Wang Laoshuan. Where could she go? She could only run to her cousin and his wifes house. She had thought that her cousin and cousin-inw would seek justice for her, but to her surprise, they all stood on her brother and sister-inws side and spoke for them instead. They even advised her to stay at her brother and sister-inws house and to listen to them. Otherwise, if she were really chased out of the house, she would be homeless. Of course, she felt aggrieved and immediately demanded that her cousin and cousin-inw return the money. However, the two persons attitudes changed immediately. Thest bit of patience those two had was exhausted, and they took up a rod and drove her away outright. They also said they would never return her the money, and that the money had already been split between their family and her brother and sister-inws family. She felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck her when she found out about this. That night, she wanted to run back to Brook Falls Vige. However, when she thought of what she had done to Wang Laoshuan and Wang Dashan, she was too ashamed to return. Hence, she could only return to her brother and sister-inws house and turn into their servantpletely. She had thought that on ount of their blood ties, everything would be better after her brother and sister-inw calmed down. Contrary to her expectation, the situation did not improve but deteriorated further. No matter how much she did for her brothers family, no matter how much work she did, they never seemed to see it. They would only think that she was a freeloader. This time, when the Qian familys vige was preparing to flee the drought, they even chased her out of the house and made her go to Brook Falls Vige to look for the Wang family. She didnt want toe back initially. However, she recalled the attitude her brother, sister-inw, and nephew held toward her. She knew that even if she escaped with them to avoid the drought in the Qian familys vige, she would probably be abandoned by them if they encountered any difficulties in the future. Instead of letting them abandon her and leaving her to die by the roadside, she might as well return to Brook Falls Vige. At least the Wang family wouldnt abandon her when they were fleeing. Let go! Wang Laoshuans brows were tightly knitted, and he really wanted to kick Madam Qian away, who was clinging to him. However, because of his weak character, he didnt dare to kick her. No, I wont let go! Boo hoo hoo Master, I really know my mistake now! You and Dashan must not abandon me! Madam Qian cried even harder. When Wang Dashan saw this, his brows were so tightly knitted that they were about to form the Roman numeral III. He knew that his father couldnt do anything to Madam Qian. After a moments hesitation, he finally walked out of the house. Although Madam Qian had been divorced, she was still the one who gave birth to him, so he could noty hands on her directly. His father only knew how to be tyrannical at home, so Dashan could only look for his Grandma and Second Uncle to solve this matter. When Madam Qian saw Wang Dashan leaving, an ominous feeling welled up in her heart. Dashan she quickly shouted, trying to call Wang Dashan back. Much to her chagrin, Wang Dashan simply picked up his pace and walk even faster. In desperation, Madam Qian quickly pulled on Wang Laoshuans pants. ... Master, quickly go after Dashan. Dont let him look for anyone! Master! Seeing that Wang Laoshuan did not move, Madam Qian exerted even more strength. Hurry up! She almost pulled off Wang Laoshuans pants. Wang Laoshuan could only grab his belt tightly, but he still did not move. After experiencing so many things, if he still didnt know that Madam Qian was a scumbag, he must have possessed a pigs brain. At present, the family was leading a very difficult life. He and his son had to gather and sell firewood every day, and only then did they barely manage not to go hungry. If they added one more person, they would definitely not be able to fill their stomachs. Moreover, this woman only came to them because she had no one else to turn to and not because she had truly repented. If he were to go soft on her now, she would trample all over him again in the future. Madam Qian was quickly angered by Wang Laoshuansck of response and finally got up from the ground. I told you to go after Wang Dashan. Are you deaf? ... You gutless good-for-nothing! Hurry up and go after him! As she spoke, she began hitting him. If the soft approach didnt work, she would use the hard approach. She knew her man well. He would only respond when she treated him like this. True enough, Wang Laoshuan did not dare to fight back against Madam Qian at all. Even though he was in pain from being pinched by Madam Qian, he still did not dare to retaliate. Seeing this, Madam Qian became even more ruthless. She kept pushing Wang Laoshuan to go after Wang Dashan. Wang Laoshuan gritted his teeth and endured the pain, refusing to give in. In the Wang familys courtyard, Madam Qians cursing and swearing began to grow louder. After that, it didnt take long for themotion to attract the neighbors attention. Some people came to the Wang familys house to watch the show. They saw that Madam Qian was already all over Wang Laoshuan and hitting him. It was only then that Wang Laoshuan seemed to remember and quickly called for help. Though the neighbors looked down on Wang Laoshuan for being useless, they still entered the house and pulled Madam Qian away. At this moment, Madam Qian had almost turned into a mad woman, punching and kicking the people who came to break up the fight and even spitting at them. She red at Wang Laoshuan as if she wanted to gobble him up. Wang Laoshuan did not dare to look Madam Qian in the eye at all. He only lowered his head gloomily, trying to relieve the pain in his body. After a while, Old Grandma Wang arrived with Wang Dashi. She saw that Wang Laoshuans face had been badly scratched by Madam Qian. The clothes on his body had also been torn by Madam Qian, and Old Grandma Wangs anger immediately surged. Ill beat you to death, you bitch! How dare you stille to our Wang family? This old woman here will beat you to death! As Old Grandma Wang cursed, she raised her walking stick to hit Madam Qian. When Madam Qian saw this, she immediately dodged. Fortunately, the person who was holding Madam Qian was afraid of getting implicated, and he let go of her. Thus, after being hit twice, Madam Qian broke free from the person restraining her and regained her freedom. You bitch! You still dare to dodge? Old Grandma Wang was furious. She waved her walking stick and continued to chase and hit Madam Qian. Chapter 180 - 180 Chapter 180: Qian Family’s Village Preparing To Flee The Drought 180 Chapter 180: Qian Familys Vige Preparing To Flee The Drought Mother! I was wrong. I was wrong. Dont hit me! Madam Qian hurriedly begged for mercy. As she begged for mercy, she hid behind someone. Madam Qian had no choice. She could not deal with this old woman the same way she dealt with Wang Laoshuan. Ill beat you to death, you bitch! You hit my son! Ill beat you to death! Old Grandma Wang cursed and swore. Even though her steps were a little wobbly, she still ran after Madam Qian, trying to hit her. !! Madam Qian could only dodge and beg for mercy at the same time. After getting hit by the walking stick a few more times, the vige chief finally arrived. Thats enough. After the vige chief spoke, Wang Dashi then went forward to help his mother back. He then calmed Old Grandma Wang down and asked her not to be angry. As for Madam Qian, no one dared to go near her. She was standing there all alone, wiping away her tears. Vige Chief, you have to seek justice for me! Mother has already hit and scolded me. But she cant drive me away again! Boo hoo hoo Madam Qian quickly pleaded with the vige chief. The vige chief frowned when he heard her. Old Grandma Wang was so angry that she stomped her walking stick on the ground. Thats because you deserve to be beaten, you bitch! Our Wang family doesnt want a piece of trash like you, trash that the Qian family also doesnt want. Hurry up and go back to your Qian family! Boo hoo hoo! Mother Madam Qians body went limp, and she suddenly sat on the ground. Just as she was about to cry and make a scene, the vige chief unexpectedly spoke again. Shut up! Then, the words that Madam Qian was about to pour out stopped in her mouth. Vige Chief she called out to the vige chief pitifully. The people of the Qian familys vige wanted to flee the drought and refused to take me with them. If you dont help me, I wont be able to live Boo hoo hoo she continued. As soon as these words came out, the people standing around were all shocked, and then they all felt terrified and uneasy. Flee the drought? All the people from the Qian familys vige were leaving? Had it alreadye to this? The vige chief was also surprised. What do you mean by that? The people in the Qian familys vige are leaving? he quickly asked Madam Qian. Since the beginning of August, the drought situation had be more and more severe. All the viges were in dire need of water. Just the day before yesterday, the watering out of the only well in Brook Falls Vige had also decreased. If this continued, the vige might not be able to get water from the well anymore. By then, everyone would have to go to River Ringwaters to get not just water for domestic uses but also water for human consumption. However, the current situation of River Ringwaters was not good either. In some ces where the water was shallow, that part of the river had already dried up. If River Ringwaters dried up, they would really be finished. The Qian familys vige was located upstream of their Brook Falls Vige, so their situation was definitely more severe than theirs. They must have felt that there was no hope in staying in the vige, so the vigers decided to flee and move away. What about them? Should Brook Falls Vige follow suit? Or, at the very least, the vige had to make some preparations in advance. Yes. Except for a few families with a lot of surplus food, all of them have to leave! They will set off tomorrow morning! Madam Qian hurriedly said. She could only hope that the vige chief would speak up for her and let her stay with the Wang family on ount of the important news she had brought back. As soon as she said that, the vigers began to discuss heatedly among themselves. The vige chiefs brows knitted even more tightly. It was not necessarily good to abandon ones home and flee to another ce. It was said that the drought affected a vast area this time. It was not only Hua An Prefecture but several other prefectures in the surrounding areas were also affected. Under such hot weather, the vigers would copse on the road before they even walked out of the disaster area. However, if they didnt leave, the situation might very well get worse. Vige Chief, lets flee too! You can organize the people of Brook Falls Vige to flee together. The more people there are, the more imposing we will be, and it will be safer to walk on the road. Ill lead the way. I know which way the people of the Qian familys vige will go! Madam Qian couldnt wait to show her value. As soon as she said that, the vigers began discussing even louder. Shut up. Stop saying things to scare people. The vige chief spoke again when he saw the reaction. His words immediately suppressed the panic at the scene. Our Brook Falls Viges geographical conditions are much better than your Qian familys vige. Qian Youcai, that gutless man, is ready to abandon his hometown with the entire vige after such a trivial event. That only shows that he is timid and incapable! I, Li Desheng, am different from him. As he spoke, the vige chiefs gaze swept across everyones faces. Now, the well in our vige is not dry yet. And we can still get water from River Ringwaters. If thats not enough, there are still a few mountains behind us. If we go into the mountains, well definitely be able to locate a new water source. As long as theres water, our Brook Falls Vige will have a way to live. ... The vige chiefs voice was sonorous and powerful, instantly giving the vigers confidence. Each and every one of them felt more at ease. That was right. Their Brook Falls Vige had a good geographical location and was close to the town too. It was in a much stronger position than the Qian familys vige. With that, the vige chief looked at Madam Qian. Madam Qian, stop trying to scare people and fan the mes of their emotions! Madam Qians body trembled. No no. Vige Chief, I Gosh! If you dont want to go, then dont go! Vige Chief, I just want toe back to the Wang family and live with my husband and Dashan. Whether were fleeing or staying in Brook Falls Vige, I just want to go back to the Wang family! Vige Chief, please have some pity on me! Madam Qian quickly begged. ... A look of irritation shed across the vige chiefs eyes. In the midst of the crowds discussion, the vige chief looked at Wang Laoshuan and Wang Dashan. What do you guys think? he asked. The fact that Madam Qian had returned to Brook Falls Vige and even brought news about the Qian familys vige was of some value to him. After all, the reason he said he wouldnt leave was he wanted to calm everyone present down. If they really had no other choice, they would still have to flee Brook Falls Vige. At that point, the information provided by Madam Qian would be useful. However, it was up to the Wang family to decide whether to take in Madam Qian or not. After all, Madam Qian returned to seek refuge with the Wang family. Besides, Madam Qian had done so many things to harm the Wang family. No one could make the Wang familypromise if they refused. Wang Laoshuan couldnt answer and looked at Wang Dashan instead. Wang Dashan frowned. He wanted to refuse but was too embarrassed to do so due to his status as Madam Qians son. What do you mean? This bitch has been divorced by our Wang family long ago. She has nothing to do with our Wang family! Oh, now that she was thrown out by the Qian family, she thought of our Wang family? Do you think our Wang family is a bunch of trash collectors? Old Grandma Wang quickly opened her mouth. She won the unanimous approval of the vigers. They had all heard about the feud between the Wang family and the Qian family. This matter was indeed Madam Qians fault. Now that Madam Qian had fallen to such a state, it could be said that she had gotten her just deserts. There was no reason for the Wang family to suffer the consequences. The vige chief frowned and nced at Old Grandma Wang, but he didnt say anything. Seeing this, Madam Qian became anxious. Vige Chief, Vige Chief, please help me! I I swear I will definitely change in the future! I mean it! As she spoke, she raised four fingers to the sky. Old Grandma Wang spat on the ground straight away. Ptooey! Can anything thates out of your mouth be trusted, you bitch? You want toe back? Sure! Chapter 181 - 181 Chapter 181: Good-for-nothing 181 Chapter 181: Good-for-nothing Return the money that your Qian family took from my eldest son! Then, redeem my poor, suffering granddaughter! Only then will I let youe back! Otherwise, even if you die outside, donte and dirty our Wang familysnd! At this point, Old Grandma Wang almost fainted from anger and staggered backward. Fortunately, Wang Dashis eyes were sharp, and his hands were fast, so he caught Old Grandma Wang in time. Upon seeing this, Wang Dashan also quickly walked to his grandmas side. Together with his second uncle, they supported his grandma. Seeing this, the vige chief finally chose to shut his mouth and decided not to interfere with the Wang familys decision. Mother Madam Qian saw the change in the vige chiefs expression and quickly crawled toward Old Grandma Wang. To her chagrin, before she could even get close to Old Grandma Wang, she was kicked away by Wang Dashi. Before Madam Qian could speak, Wang Dashi spoke first. Youre no longer our Wang familys daughter-inw, so stop making a din here! After Wang Dashi finished speaking, he looked at the vige chief. Vige Chief, how can we let such a shameless, crazy woman stay in the vige? Please help us persuade the vigers to follow me to drive her out of our Brook Falls Vige! Now that things hade to this, his elder brother and nephew were both useless, he had no choice but to be the viin. He couldnt just watch idly while his mother became so infuriated by this woman to the point of copse. He then looked at Wang Laoshuan and Wang Dashan. Seeing that the two of them did not object, Wang Dashis expression became more determined. The vige chiefs gaze swept across the Wang family members. Seeing that the vigers also seemed keen to help the Wang family, he finally nodded. Madam Qian, since youve already returned to the Qian family, you have nothing to do with the Wang family anymore. Youd better leave, he said to Madam Qian. Madam Qians expression changed, and she waspletely panic-stricken. While still on her knees, she was about to pounce on Old Grandma Wang and the others. Before she could act, she was kicked away by Wang Dashi again. Then, Wang Dashi opened his mouth. Fellow vigers, please help us throw this crazy woman out of the vige! Our Wang family would be very grateful to you! The few men who hade to watch the show stepped forward immediately. Then, they quickly subdued Madam Qian. No matter how much she resisted and cursed and swore, the men lifted her up and walked towards the vige entrance. Everyone followed the group. Wang Dashan also wanted to follow, but he was pulled back by Wang Dashi. You dont have to go. Stay here and look after your father and grandma! Wang Dashan looked at his second uncle and nodded. Wang Dashi then caught up with the group of people. Very quickly, that group of people carried Madam Qian out of the vige. My brothers, Ill have to trouble you to put in more effort and throw this woman behind the mountain up front! Itll prevent her from running back, Wang Dashi said. The few men carrying Madam Qian agreed. Wang Dashi, you heartless bastard! Even if you throw me back to the Qian familys vige, I will stille back! Dont even think about getting rid of me! Boo hoo hoo Wang Laoshuan, you heartless good-for-nothing. Look at how your second brother is bullying your wife! Wang Laoshuan! Wang Dashan, Ive raised you in vain! Are you just going to stand by and watch others bully your mother? Boo hoo hoo Im not leaving! You guys put me down! As the group of people walked further and further away, Madam Qians voice gradually disappeared from the vige. At this moment, Wang Dashan seemed to have just woken up. Ill go get a stool for Grandma, he said. Old Grandma Wang nced at her eldest grandson and sighed, but she didnt stop him. After her eldest grandson left, she turned to look at Wang Laoshuan, who was standing at the side in a daze. A look of anger and bitter disappointment shed across her eyes. In the end, her expression turned into a sigh again. Wang Laoshuan heard his mother sigh. When he turned around and saw Old Grandma Wangs expression, he lowered his head. He was the one who had embarrassed the Wang family. A whileter, Wang Dashan brought a stool over. He also helped Old Grandma Wang to sit down. Old Grandma Wang felt better and looked at Wang Laoshuan again. Eldest Son ... The moment she called out to him, Wang Laoshuan turned to look at his mother. Then, he bowed and remained silent. Old Grandma Wang was somewhat incensed when she saw his behavior. However, after thinking about it, she suppressed her anger. The matter of Madam Qian is now in the past for the time being. But Im afraid shelle back again. How are you going to settle thister? Old Grandma Wang asked. I Wang Laoshuans face turned anxious as he raised his head and mumbled something to Old Grandma Wang before lowering his head again. The anger that Old Grandma Wang had just suppressed rose again. Youre the head of the eldest sons household. Do you expect your son and younger brother to help you solve your problems every time? As she spoke, Old Grandma Wang even stomped her walking stick on the ground. Wang Laoshuans body trembled. I He wanted to raise his head and defend himself. ... However, when he met his mothers eyes, he was so scared that he lowered his head again. Wang Dashan, who was watching from the side, was absolutely furious. He was always like this. He only knew how to throw a tantrum at Dashan and his little sister. He was a tyrant at home, but when facing other people, he was always a coward. Old Grandma Wang was also quite angry. After all, that Madam Qian is Dashans mother. How can Dashan hit his mother? And your second brother. Hes also addressed Madam Qian as Eldest Sister-inw for more than twenty years. But now, because of you, hes willing to forsake his reputation. Youre just going to hide behind them with a clear conscience? I Wang Laoshuan responded again but still didnt continue in the end. Old Grandma Wang could only try her best to suppress the anger in her heart to avoid letting the anger overwhelm her. Nheless, in the end, she still couldnt suppress it If it really doesnt work, you can just get out of Brook Falls Vige with Madam Qian! Shes right. Youre just a piece of trash that wont utter a peep no matter how much you are beaten! Let her climb all over your head and shit on you every day. She can just beat you to death for all I care! Wang Laoshuans expression finally changed when he heard his mothers words. Mother I Mother, how can you say that? I Ive already divorced that woman! he hurriedly said. Leave Brook Falls Vige and go with Madam Qian? He wasnt tired of living! The people of the Qian familys vige were going to flee. So was he going to flee with Madam Qian as well? He worked with his son in Brook Falls Vige to gather firewood. Although life was hard, they could eat their fill every meal, and it was considered stable. Follow them to flee the drought? That could cost him his life at any moment! Furthermore, that evil woman, Madam Qian, hated him very much. She was the one who had caused him all these injuries. If he were to flee with her, wouldnt he be tortured to death by her? When Old Grandma Wang saw Wang Laoshuans reaction, the anger in her heart finally eased a little. Since you know that youve already divorced her, why did you still let her hit you? If Dashan hadeter to look for me and your second brother, would you have tolerated her and gotten beaten to death by her? At this point, Old Grandma Wangs anger rose again. Madam Qian was right. Her eldest son was a good-for-nothing. He didnt even know how to fight back when a woman was climbing all over him and beating him. He was simply too cowardly. No. Dashan walks fast. And Second Brother wont ignore me, Wang Laoshuan said quickly. This sentence almost made Old Grandma Wang faint from anger again. Chapter 182 - 182 Chapter 182: Throwing Madam Qian Out 182 Chapter 182: Throwing Madam Qian Out Wang Dashan looked at Wang Laoshuan with a frown as he tried to soothe Old Grandma Wangs breathing. Next time, I wont look for Second Uncle again. I wont meddle in your affairs anymore, he said. He used to think that his father was just cowardly, but now it seemed that he was not only a coward but also a schemer. Moreover, he was only scheming against those who cared about him the most. !! Xiaomei had said before that she was disappointed in her father. Although he understood, he felt that she might have been thinking too much. From the looks of things now, Xiaomei was not wrong after all. It was clear that he, Dashan, had thought too well of his father. His father only had himself in his heart. His wife, children, parents, and brothers were all not important. They only existed for him to make use of. Wang Dashan knew that his current thoughts might be a little extreme, but that was exactly what he was thinking right now. He felt that he and his younger sister were really unlucky to have such parents. Wang Dashans words immediately attracted the attention of Old Grandma Wang and Wang Laoshuan. Old Grandma Wang was a little surprised. She knew that her eldest grandson was speaking in a fit of anger. When Wang Laoshuan Wang heard this, he became furious. What are you saying? Are you throwing a tantrum at your father? His voice was full of energy. Compared to his performance just now, he was like apletely different person. This time, not only Wang Dashan but Old Grandma Wang also frowned. What are you saying? My eldest grandson is right! She immediately reprimanded her eldest son. Why should we save a good-for-nothing like you? Its just right for you to be beaten to death by Madam Qian! Itll also save Dashan and your second brother from being implicated! Mother Wang Laoshuans expression changed as he looked at Old Grandma Wang in fear. Only then did Old Grandma Wangs expression rx a little. This matter is settled, she continued. Then, she looked at her eldest grandson. In the future, if Madam Qianes looking for you again, you and your second uncle do not have to bother anymore. Let him handle it himself. Ignoring Wang Laoshuans panic-stricken expression, Old Grandma Wang continued to speak to Wang Dashan, If your father allows Madam Qian to stay, Ill make the decision for you and let you be adopted by your second uncles household. In the future, just treat our Wang family as having only the second sons household. Wang Laoshuans expression changed drastically, and he almost lost his bnce. What? Not only did his mother not help him teach his son a lesson, but she also wanted to let his second brother adopt his own son? And she would also disown him in the future? Before Wang Laoshuan could say anything, Wang Dashan actually nodded at Old Grandma Wang. Ill listen to you, Grandma, he answered straight away. As soon as Dashan uttered these words, Wang Laoshuan almost fainted from anger. At the same time, he was so frightened that his face turned pale. He was counting on his son for the rest of his life. If Dashan were to be adopted by his younger brother, what would he do in the future? At this moment, Wang Laoshuan finally realized that he could no longer indulge Madam Qian. He could no longer hide behind his son and younger brother with a clear conscience and wait for them to help him solve his problems. I wont let Madam Qiane back. If shees back again, I I will Wang Laoshuan said hurriedly in a panic. What are you going to do? Old Grandma Wang immediately looked at Wang Laoshuan. Wang Dashan also looked at Wang Laoshuan, but there was no sense of anticipation in his eyes. Wang Laoshuan made up his mind and said, Ill kick her out! Old Grandma Wangs expression froze. She exchanged a look with her eldest grandson. Then, she asked Wang Laoshuan in disbelief, You really dare to do that? Facing the suspicious gazes of his mother and son, Wang Laoshuans gaze became firm. He braced himself and said, Why why wouldnt I dare? I even gave her a pst time! Previously, the vige chief almost drove their family out of the vige. He couldnt take it anymore and pped the woman, didnt he? That woman only appeared scary, but if he really fought with her, it would be strange if she could still beat him. Old Grandma Wang finally nodded in satisfaction. Since your father has the confidence to resolve this matter, you should give him another chance, she said to Wang Dashan. If he really cant make the cut, you can then be adopted by your second uncles household. Wang Dashans eyes glowed brightly. Yes, Ill listen to Grandma, he hurriedly answered. Wang Laoshuan was speechless On the other side. Wang Dashi had already led the vigers to carry Madam Qian up the mountain. Lets do it here. Thank you for your hard work, everyone! Wang Dashi said when they reached a mountain ridge. Only then did everyone stop. ... Then, ignoring Madam Qians curses, they dumped her on the ground. Madam Qian scrambled to her feet and prepared to settle the score with Wang Dashi. However, she was stopped by the people who had carried her earlier. Facing the ferocious Madam Qian, Wang Dashis face turned ashen. If you know whats good for you, quickly get the hell back to your Qian familys vige. If you continue to pester us, I wont hold back anymore. As he spoke, he waved his fist. Then, he even spat on the ground. Ptooey Im not my big brother! Madam Qian got a fright. However, in the next second, she still rushed toward Wang Dashi. If she returned to the Qian familys vige and her brother and sister-inw refused to bring her along, how would she survive? Since she didnt have a way out, others shouldnt be allowed to live either! Wang Dashi frowned. ... His heart was filled with disgust, and then, his body reacted subconsciously. With one kick, he sent Madam Qian flying, and she fell t on her face. This was not a light blow. Madam Qian wailed twice, but she was unable to get up immediately. When the vigers saw this, the look they gave Wang Dashi changed substantially. However, no one said anything, nor did they sympathize with Madam Qian. This was also thanks to Madam Qians mouth, which had not stopped scolding people along the way. Ptooey Ill say it again. Get the hell back to your Qian familys vige! Wang Dashi spat to the side again. If youe and bother my big brother and our Wang family again, Ill throw you into the deep parts of the mountains to feed the wolves! he threatened. In any case, things had already reached this point. He, Wang Dashi, didnt care about his reputation anymore. He had to scare this evil woman off. Boo hoo hoo Wang Dashi, you cold, heartless bastard How could you be so ruthless to your sister-inw Madam Qian finally got frightened and did not dare to stand up and fight with Wang Dashi anymore. Instead, she chose to wail loudly. Your Wang family is full of ckhearted people You guys wont die peacefully Madam Qian wailed to the heavens and banged her head and pped her hands against the ground. It was as if she had suffered a great grievance. Wang Dashis expression was icy cold. He called out to the vigers to leave with him. As they walked further away, Madam Qians voice gradually trailed off, and Wang Dashis expression slowly rxed. Dashi, er is it fine to leave her there? Its getting dark. What if Madam Qian Someone looked behind and asked Wang Dashi worriedly. Wang Dashis kick just now was not light. What if that kick rendered Madam Qian unable to stand up? It was very dangerous for a woman like Madam Qian to stay in the mountains alone. What can possibly happen? Wang Dashi replied in a foul mood. I exercised some restraint with that kick, he added when he saw the other partys worried expression. Its no problem for her to get up and walk back to the Qian familys vige. Unless she herself doesnt want to live. Then she couldnt me him. However, ording to his understanding of that woman Madam Qian, she was extremely afraid of death. If she really didnt want to live anymore, she wouldnt havee back to the Wang family. Chapter 183 - 183 Chapter 183: The Liu Family’s Plans 183 Chapter 183: The Liu Familys ns What if That man was still worried. Theres no if. People like her are terrified of death. Wang Dashi gave that person a nce. Dont worry. If something really happens, Ill bear the responsibility, he said. !! Only then did everyone feel relieved, and no one looked back anymore. That night, at the Liu familys ce in Brook Falls Vige. Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu called their two sons over for a chat. Its getting drier and drier these days. Its not just our vige. I can see that youre bringing back fewer and fewer goods. Your mother and I are thinking that if things really dont work out, the two of you should stop going out to collect goods for the time being. We can talk about it again after the drought. Uncle Liu looked at his two sons as he smoked a long-stemmed tobo pipe It had been hard on the two of them recently. The two of them had turned as ck as charcoal from working long hours in the sun. The two brothers looked at each other. Finally, Liu Daniu looked at his father. Alright! Then Ill go to town tomorrow to inform Mrs. Song. And Big Girl andpany, should we ask them toe back? Liu Daniu asked with uncertainty. His wife and sister were leading a good life in town, with no shortage of food and water. From the bottom of his heart, he did not want them toe back and suffer. However, if he and his younger brother did not go to collect goods, his wife and sister would have less work to do in town. He was afraid that his parents would not agree to allow the girls to continue to stay in town. Hearing his eldest sons words, Uncle Liu nced at Aunt Liu. Aunt Liu only gave Uncle Liu a look and did not say much. No need, Uncle Liu then said. They are helping Eldest Son Songs family sell bean sprouts and weave straw sandals so they are able to make some money. Its better for them to stay in town than at home. Besides, your wife is pregnant. Well feel more at ease if she stays in the town. When Liu Daniu heard this, he felt relieved. Then, Father, what should we do next? Liu Erniu asked quickly. The crops in their fields had dried up, and almost all the livestock in the house had been sold off. Now that they werent collecting goods, they had to do something else, right? Uncle Liu turned his head again and looked at Aunt Liu. After seeing Aunt Liu nod, he looked at the two brothers again. The two of you should already know what happened at the Wang familys ce today. The two brothers looked at each other and nodded. Wang Dashan was really unlucky to have such parents. Uncle Liu sighed. Madam Qian has brought back news that the Qian familys vige is already preparing to flee. Also, based on the situation of those viges you went to, most of the viges within ten miles are not doing well, except for a few. Your mother and I are worried Uncle Liu did not finish his sentence. Both Liu Daniu and Liu Ernius expressions changed. Father, what are you worried about? Liu Erniu asked him directly. Uncle Liu looked at his second son. Im worried that if the drought continues, more vigers will flee. At that time, Im afraid our Brook Falls Vige will also be affected. He had lived in Brook Falls Vige for most of his life, so he was naturally unwilling to abandon his home. However, with so many viges fleeing, some people in their own vige would definitely be tempted to follow suit. At that point, once someone followed them, there would be fewer people in the vige, and it would be troublesometer. Didnt Uncle Vige Chief say that the people of Brook Falls Vige will not flee? Liu Erniu asked immediately. Uncle Liu nced at his second son. Thats what the vige chief said to calm the people down. If you dont leave when you have no other choice, are you going to stay and wait for death? he said. Liu Ernius expression changed. Then what do we do? Liu Daniu also frowned as he looked at his father. Our family has also made some money during this period, and now we just about have enough food at home. We dont have to follow them and flee, do we? he asked. Mm-hmm. Uncle Liu nodded. But if we dont go, other people will. It might not be good for us to stay, he continued. Upon hearing this, everyone was silent. They could imagine what their father was worried about. One of the most important reasons everyone was able to live in peace in the vige was that there were many people. ... If the vigers were to leave while the Liu family continued to live in the vige, they might run into a lot of trouble. The family might even encounter danger. Then, Father, what are your ns? Liu Daniu quickly asked Uncle Liu. Liu Erniu also turned to look at his father nervously. Uncle Liu took a deep puff of the pipe and blew out some smoke. If things really dont work out, we will also move to the town, he said after sighing. The two brothers were stunned when they heard that. Then, their faces lit up. Father! You mean, we are going to town to buy a courtyard dwelling? Liu Erniu asked immediately. Father! Liu Daniu also shouted out excitedly. Uncle Liu looked at his two sons in annoyance. ... He took out his pipe and knocked it on the table. Thats easy to say! Its not that easy to buy a courtyard dwelling in town! The Song family had spent almost 250 taels of silver on that courtyard dwelling. All of the Liu familys assets added together were not even half of what the Song family had. Based on the previous market rate, he might be able to buy a smaller courtyard house near the market on West Street. However, in the current situation, there were probably not many who were willing to sell their courtyard houses. Besides, the family couldnt possibly spend all their money on a courtyard house and not keep a single coin on their hands. If the famine really started, the food in their family would notst long either. Upon hearing this, the two brothers looked a little disappointed. Seeing this, Aunt Liu finally spoke. Your father and I want to rent a courtyard house in the town. Even if that isnt possible, we can consider renting a few rooms. Seeing the two brothers looking at her, Aunt Liu continued, There arent many people who want to enter the town now. You guys can take this opportunity to go into town tomorrow and ask around. If you can rent a courtyard house, you two can live in town. Then you can look for work in town. Aunt Liu looked at Uncle Liu as she spoke. Your father and I will stay in Brook Falls Vige for the time being. If the vigers are really preparing to flee, we will go to town and live with you. There were many people in town, and there was a lot of work, so it was easier to earn a livelihood. No matter how they thought about it, it was better than fleeing. The two brothers looked at each other. Then, they all nodded. If they could get a ce to live in town, it would indeed be much easier to find a job. Okay! Then Ill ask Mrs. Song and the others for help when I deliver the goods tomorrow. Theyve lived in town for so long, so theyre more familiar with the situation there than we are. The two rooms that his wife and sister rented were arranged by the Song family. Not only was the house good, but the rent was also cheap. Now that they were looking for a house, it would be most reliable to ask the Song family for help. Mm-hmm! Thats what I was thinking too, Aunt Liu said. After thinking for a while, she added, Dont go empty-handed. Tomorrow, Ill pick 20 chicken eggs for you. Take it to them as a small token of our appreciation. Liu Daniu agreed with a smile. The next day, in the Song familys courtyard. Liu Daniu arrived early in the morning with Liu Erniu. At this moment, the Song family was still selling water in the courtyard. Qin Xiaoyao and the others were also busy harvesting bean sprouts in the sheds. After learning that the Liu brothers had arrived, Qin Xiaoyao finally came out of the shed. Chapter 184 - 184 Chapter 184: Liu Family Wanted To Move Into Town 184 Chapter 184: Liu Family Wanted To Move Into Town There arent many vegetables left in the viges. The livestock is almost all gone because of theck of water. I only managed to collect this amount yesterday. Liu Daniu looked at Qin Xiaoyao with an apologetic expression. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the goods on the handcart and nodded. !! Its fine. Its still better than nothing. The business of Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant arent as good as before. If you cant gather enough, then so be it, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Er Mrs. Song. Another thing about the goods delivery Liu Danius face suddenly tensed up, and he began stammering. Qin Xiaoyao was very puzzled when she saw his expression. Whats wrong? Just say it. She smiled at Liu Daniu. Only then did Liu Daniu tell her what his family had said to him. Qin Xiaoyao simplyughed when she heard that. Even if you didnt bring it up, I was also prepared to discuss this matter with you these two days. The woven bamboo products that Ive bought are selling very slowly. We wont be out of stock for the time being. As for the goods Fortune Mansion wants, you guys are getting less on your collection rounds. Theres not much point in continuing. Now that youve decided to give up, we can put aside the matter of collecting goods for now. After the drought is over, we can go back to this business. At that point, we can discuss again and restart this business. The two brothers faces lit up with joy, and they both looked relieved. Liu Daniu quickly took the basket of chicken eggs from the handcart. These are 20 eggs prepared by my mother. I hope you can ept them, Mrs. Song. Its all thanks to your care that our Liu family can lead a better life. Theres also Big Girl and Xiaomei. We have to thank you for your familys care during this period. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Daniu and saw the sincerity in his eyes. She only pretended to reject it for a while before eventually epting the basket of eggs. Thereafter, she asked the two about their ns after this. Liu Daniu told Qin Xiaoyao about what had happened at the Wang familys home the day before, as well as his parents ns. After consoling Wang Xiaomei a little, Liu Daniu turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Father and Mothers intention is for us toe to town to rent a courtyard house or two rooms. After that, well think of a way to get a job in town. After that, if they really cant stay in the vige anymore, our parents will alsoe to town to seek refuge with us, Liu Daniu said. As he spoke, he also looked at Qin Xiaoyao with anticipation. Mrs. Song, youre familiar with the town. Can I trouble you to ask Aunt to help me ask around and see if there are any cheap courtyard houses for sale or rent near the market on West Street? Liu Erniu also looked at Qin Xiaoyao expectantly. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised by the Liu familys decision. However, when she thought about the news she had heard about the drought, she could understand. Alright. Ill ask my motherter. However, my mother is not a broker. If youre in a hurry, you can go straight to the broker and ask. If you dont know any broker, I can help introduce one to you. Cao An, who had helped them purchase their courtyard dwelling earlier, was a good person. Theres no hurry. Well look for work for the next two days and wait for news from Aunt Song. If it doesnt work, well go and look for a broker, Liu Daniu said immediately. His concern was if they approached a broker, they would have to pay a middlemans fee. It would be good if they could save this sum of money. From today onward, they no longer needed to go to the countryside to collect goods. He was not afraid of going back and forth between the town and Brook Falls Vige. Well, actually, they wanted to live next door to the Song family. Big Girl and Xiaomei had rented two rooms next door, so they could actually free up one room for the two of them temporarily. However, the neighbors staying next door were all women. When the girls rented the rooms, Aunt Sun made it clear upfront that men were not allowed to move in. After that, whenever he came to town, he would try his best not to visit the Sun family. Therefore, there was no other way. Fortunately, their parents agreed to let them rent a courtyard house in town. If he could really rent a courtyard house, the girls could give up the two rooms they rented from the Sun family. This way, he could hug his wife to sleep again in the future. Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and nodded. She chatted with the two of them for a while longer before going back to work. The two brothers stayed in the courtyard, waiting for Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei toe over. Later, when the Song family was having breakfast, Qin Xiaoyao told Madam Liu about this matter. Oh, renting a courtyard house? Its not easy to rent a courtyard house now, Madam Liu said quickly. Seeing that everyone was looking at her, she continued, During such hot weather, fewer people go out, and there are fewer empty courtyard houses. Suddenly, Madam Liu thought of something, and her eyes flickered again. ... Oh yes! The Huang family at the end of thene! A few days ago, Grandma Huang mentioned it when she came to sell chicken eggs! She said that theres a small courtyard house in the illegal construction area near her house that is looking for a buyer. Madam Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Shall I go ask herter? she asked. If it had been anyone else, she would not have bothered to help. However, the Liu family was on good terms with her daughter-inw and had some friendship with the Song family. It was worth it for her to make this trip. Mm-hmm. Then Ill have to trouble Mother to ask her. Lets see what the price is. If they dont want to buy it, perhaps they can rent it? Qin Xiaoyao said. Ever since she moved into her new home, she had looked down on the houses located in the illegal construction area. However, such houses might have a different meaning to the Liu family. Good! Ill go after my meal! Madam Liu immediately said. Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaomeis eyes flickered, but she didnt say anything. After the meal, Madam Liu packed up and went out. ... Recently, there had been a lot of peopleing to her house to sell chicken and duck eggs. In addition, she had collected a lot of eggs in the market on West Street yesterday, so she did not have to go to the market on West Street today. As for the matter of buying groceries, it was already taken care of by her daughter, so she did not need to worry about it. After leaving the house, Madam Liu walked along thene and found her way to the end of thene. After inquiring from the neighbors she met on the way, she finally found the Huang familys ce. Grandma Huang was just about to go out to the streets when she saw Madam Liu. Her face lit up. What brings you here? Hurry ande in! She hurriedly weed Madam Liu into the house. Madam Liu of the Song family was very popr in Yong An Lane. The neighbors in Yong An Lane now went to her house to buy water almost every day. The chicken and duck eggs produced by each household were also sent to be sold to Madam Liu. asionally, she would also buy some fresh bean sprouts from Madam Liu to eat. In short, Madam Lius business was so good that everyone was envious, but they did not feel any jealousy. Everyone in her family was capable. Moreover, they were kind, so everyone was willing to deal with their family. Hehe! Im here to ask you something. Madam Liu entered with a smile. Then, she followed Grandma Huang to the hall, chatting andughing. Grandma Huang served tea in an extremely polite manner. Madam Liu drank her tea and looked at Grandma Huang with a beaming smile. Its like this. My neighbor from the vige came to me and said that he wanted to rent a courtyard house in town. If the price is right, they may even buy it. Previously, I heard you say that your family happened to have a courtyard house that you wanted to dispose of. I wonder if its still avable? she asked Grandma Huang. Grandma Huang was taken aback. Then, she broke into a wide smile. Chapter 185 - 185 Chapter 185: No Property Deed 185 Chapter 185: No Property Deed Avable! Its still avable! Recently, Ive asked someone to look for buyers, but so far, no one has bought it. Yesterday, Dng even asked me to make a trip to the broker today to check with the broker. I was just about to go there now. Now that youre here, its great! Grandma Huangs face was filled with joy. So I havee at the right time? Madam Liu smiled and responded. The two children of this family are looking for work in town. They wille to my house at noon. Aunt, if its convenient for you, why dont I bring them over at noon, and you can take them to have a look? As it was not convenient for the guys to enter the Sun familys house, whenever the two children came over to look for Big Girl and the Liu familys Xiaomei, they spent most of their time at the Song familys house. They didnt go into the house and just stayed beside the stone table and stone bench in her courtyard. They were very polite. Grandma Huangs eyes lit up. Sure! My Dng ising back at noon. When the timees, Ill have Dng take them there, she said immediately. Madam Liu agreed with a smile. Suddenly, Grandma Huang said, Oh yes. Theres something I need to exin to you first. Aunt, please go ahead, Madam Liu said hurriedly. Its a courtyard house in the illegal construction area. The environment there is definitely not as good as our Yong An Lane. In addition, that courtyard house Theres no property deed, only and deed. Madam Liu was shocked. Its actually quitemon in the illegal construction area, Grandma Huang said with a smile. For those who buy the courtyard house in the future, if they want to change thend deed into a property deed, they can go to the government office to look for someone to do it. But I guess they will have to prepare some silver. When she said this, Grandma Huangs eyes gave some hints of what she meant. Oh. Madam Liu quickly answered to show that she understood. Since the illegal construction area was defined as illegal construction, the construction of many courtyard houses in it was definitely against thew. Under such circumstances, it was not easy to change thend deed to a property deed. If the buyer went to the government office and used his connections to bribe them with silver, there was indeed hope that this could be done. However, if he didnt know anyone there, it would be difficult to achieve this. Grandma Huang was satisfied when she saw Madam Lius expression. Actually, it doesnt matter whether theres a property deed or not, she added. Before I moved to Yong An Lane, my family lived in the illegal construction area for more than ten years. After that, we rented out the courtyard house for more than three years. The government office has never sent anyone to investigate. Its actually nothing much, even if they really investigated. There are many courtyard houses like that in the illegal construction area. The government office cant possibly tear down everyones houses by force, can they? At this point, Grandma Huangs face broke into a smile. Actually, its a good thing if they really investigated. At that point, the government office will most likely gather and organize everyone to change thend deed into a property deed. At the same time, the illegal construction area will undergo renovation and repairs. When those courtyard houses have property deeds, the price of the courtyard houses can only go up. Madam Liu nodded her head when she heard that. Then, Aunt, how much are you going to sell your courtyard house for? she asked. Grandma Huangs eyes flickered. Were neighbors, so I wont hide it from you. If your old neighbor wants it, we wont go through the broker, and we can sell it for 90 taels of silver. She saw Madam Lius eyes flicker momentarily. Grandma Huang quickly added, My house is huge. There were five individual rooms. In addition, theres a hall, kitchen, storage room, woodshed, andvatory. Also, the courtyard of that house is big. The previous tenants were from two different families. They even built another kitchen in the courtyard. To tell you the truth, it wouldnt be a problem for two or three families to live in that courtyard house of mine. When Madam Liu heard this, her mind spun quickly, and she could roughly imagine the situation. Then, is someone still living in your courtyard house? she asked Grandma Huang. Theres still one family. But in three days, they will move out. Ahem. They feel that the rent is too expensive! I might as well not rent it out anymore and let them find another ce to stay! Grandma Huang replied with a smile. Madam Lius heart skipped a beat. Alright! I get it. Ill go back and tell the two children about the situation. It doesnt matter whether theye to take a look or not. Ill stille over in the afternoon to update you. After saying that, Madam Liu stood up. Grandma Huang hurriedly followed suit. Alright. Then I wont go to the broker today. Ill be waiting for your message. With that, she smiled and sent Madam Liu off. Back at the Song familys ce. Qin Xiaoyao and Wang Xiaomei arrived home one after another. As soon as she entered the courtyard, Madam Liu came up and told Qin Xiaoyao about what she had discussed with Grandma Huang. ... Wang Xiaomei didnt walk away either and listened to the entire conversation. Its a bit expensive to buy a courtyard house in an illegal construction area for 90 taels. But ording to Grandma Huang, that courtyard house is rather big, so it might be worth this price. When Daniu and the otherse backter, lets tell them. Let them see for themselves and let them decide for themselves whether to buy or not. The truth was that Qin Xiaoyao didnt know how much money the Liu family had set aside to buy the courtyard house. Alright, Madam Liu answered. She said a few more words before leaving. After Madam Liu left, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Wang Xiaomei. Whats the matter? she asked with a smile. This girl had been listening to them for a long time, but she had held her tongue all this while. Wang Xiaomeis face froze for a moment. A hint of hesitation shed across her face before she finally spoke. Mrs. Song do you think there will really be people from Brook Falls Vige fleeing the drought? she asked Qin Xiaoyao. ... She had been feeling uneasy ever since she heard the news this morning. She was not worried about her mother. When her mother made the decision to sell her to the Zhang family, and then she led the Qian family to beat up her big brother and chase her big brother out of the Qian familys vige, she no longer treated Madam Qian as her mother. She did not really care about her father now either. Her only worry was her big brother. If all the people in the viges within ten miles really fled, would her big brother and father also follow suit? If they fled, what if something happened on the way? However, if they didnt flee, they would have to make some preparations in advance, like the Liu family. It was indeed a good idea to move to town and live there. However the Wang family was penniless now and could not afford to buy a courtyard house. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. This question Alright. She was sure people would flee. Could she say it out loud directly? Of course not. This If the weather continues to be dry and River Ringwaters also dries up, maybe they will flee. Of course, it wasnt maybe. It was definitely. She didnt know if River Ringwaters would dry up, but her husband had said that in at most half a month, there would be a locust gue in the areas surrounding Mountain Spring Town. When the locusts passed by, the greenery on the ground would be almostpletely destroyed. Even the forest would suffer severe damage. In this way, even if the vigers wanted to hide in the mountains to survive, it would be very difficult. Seeing the little girl frowning, Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and patted her on the shoulder. Let your big brother worry about the matters at home. Theres a limit to what you can do, so dont give yourself too much pressure. She knew the little girl had bought food to help her big brother. Since she was spending the money she earned, Qin Xiaoyao had no objections. However, seeing her like this, she still felt a little sorry for her. Mm-hmm. Wang Xiaomei appeared visibly touched momentarily. She mumbled a reply and did not say anything else. When it was almost noon, Big Girl Li and the others came to the Song familys ce. Chapter 186 - 186 Chapter 186: House-viewing 186 Chapter 186: House-viewing Wang Xiaomei took the initiative to follow Madam Liu to receive them. After Madam Liu exined the situation, Wang Xiaomei finally spoke to Big Girl Li and the others. She suggested that if the Liu family bought a courtyard house, she hoped to rent a room for Wang Dashan from the Liu family. Even if they did not buy a courtyard house, she still hoped to rent one together with the Liu family. !! Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu looked at each other. In the end, Liu Daniu agreed to the suggestion. No problem! Its more cost-effective to have more people to share the rent. Besides, were all fellow vigers, so we wont feel like strangers if we live together. Only then did Wang Xiaomei break into a smile. She sent Madam Liu, Big Girl Li, and the rest off. Madam Liu quickly led them to the Huang familys ce. Grandma Huang had been waiting for them. She was very enthusiastic when she saw Madam Liu and the others. After exchanging a few warm greetings, Grandma Huang got her eldest grandson to lead Liu Daniu and the others to the ce near the market on West Street to have a look at the courtyard house. The weather was hot, so Madam Liu did not go. Big Girl Li was pregnant and shouldnt have gone, but she couldnt contain her desire to buy a courtyard house, so she followed them. Under Huang Dngs lead, the group set off under the scorching sun. The road to the market on West Street was easy to walk on, but after passing the market on West Street and entering the illegal construction area, the situation changed. Not only were the alleys much narrower but the surroundings had also be dirty and messy. This was amon sight in illegal construction areas. Seeing that both Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei were frowning, Huang Dng exined, This is the situation of illegal construction areas. The environment is naturally notparable to that of Yong An Lane. But this area is close to the market on West Street, and the price of the courtyard house is a lot cheaper than those in Yong An Lane. Its actually a better choice for you guys to buy the courtyard house here if you need temporary lodging. As he said that, Huang Dng smiled. When my family first came to town, this was our consideration. Ive lived in this area for more than ten years, so Im used to it. I think its still pretty eptable When everyone heard this, they all agreed. Even Big Girl Li and Xiaomei Liu didnt feel ufortable anymore. It was fine if the environment was not that good. It was still better than Brook Falls Vige, wasnt it? After walking for a while, Huang Dng suddenly said, Its just up ahead. Then, he led the group to the gate of the courtyard house. Theres another family living inside. Please wait a moment, he said to everyone. Huang Dng went up and knocked on the door. Knock, knock, knock Who is it? Soon, a womans loud and impatient voice rang out from inside. Huang Dng furrowed his brows. Immediately, he responded loudly. Mrs. Zhao, its me! The door was opened quickly. Oh, its Master Huang! Pleasee in! When the woman saw Huang Dng, she became very warm and attentive. However, when she saw a group of people behind Huang Dng, her face immediately clouded over. These she asked. Oh, these are my friends. They are here to take a look at the courtyard house, Huang Dng replied casually to pacify her. He entered the courtyard straightaway. At the same time, he ignored the woman and invited Liu Daniu and the others into the house. Liu Daniu and the others did not stand on ceremony and entered the courtyard under Huang Dngs guidance. This is the courtyard house. You guys can look around. If you have any questions, you can ask me directly. After youre done with the courtyard, Ill show you the individual rooms, Huang Dng said. The womans face darkened when she heard this. What is this supposed to mean, Master Huang? Didnt my husband say he wanted to buy this courtyard house from you? Why did you bring people here? The woman quickly confronted Huang Dng. As soon as she said that, Liu Daniu and the others all looked at Huang Dng. Huang Dng quickly smiled apologetically. Its fine. You guys can continue to look around. My family doesnt intend to sell this courtyard house to them, he said to Liu Daniu and the others. Seeing that the woman was about to speak again, Huang Dng looked at the woman again. Before she could speak, he said, Your husband wants to buy this courtyard house, but he doesnt seem sincere! Its only because your family has rented this courtyard house for almost two years that my family is willing to give you a low price. But your husband had some nerve. He said he would only pay 40 taels of silver. Is that how your family show your intention to buy it? Huang Dng growled in a low voice. Now, your houses rental lease is almost up. From now on, my family wont be renting out this courtyard house anymore. You guys should find a new ce to live as soon as possible. ... The Zhao family was a troublesome family. Ever since their Huang family had rented a few rooms to them, the other rooms had never been rented out. It was also because of this situation that his family decided to take back the courtyard house and sell it off. Who says we have no intention to buy it? Our family has been living here for more than a year, and weve developed feelings for this ce! But this courtyard house of yours doesnt have a property deed, and the courtyard has even been expanded outward. The actualnd area it upied does not tally with what is stated on thend deed at all! My husband is offering 40 taels ording to the area stated in thend deed. How is that causing you a loss? The woman shouted. She deliberately wanted Liu Daniu and the others to hear that the area stated in thend deed of the courtyard house did not match the actualnd area upied. Seeing that Liu Daniu had indeed turned around, the woman continued, My husband has already checked. The government office doesnt recognize this kind of illegally built courtyard house. In the future, if there are any demolition or simr situations, they can directly tten this house. Even if therespensation, its only calcted ording to the cultivatednd area on thend deed. How much money can that be? ... As she said this, the woman intentionally looked in the direction of Liu Daniu and the others, hoping to scare them away. Yes, she had used this method to scare off several groups of people who came to see the courtyard house in the past. Hmph! The Zhao family already had their eyes on this courtyard house. Even if they couldnt seal the deal at the price of 40 taels, she couldnt let the Huang family sell this courtyard house off. When Huang Dng heard this, he felt a headacheing on. Most of the courtyard houses in the illegal construction area are like this. Besides, the government office wont rashly demolish the houses here. The woman immediately rolled her eyes at Huang Dng. Who can say for sure? She had a look of disbelief. If were unlucky, you can simply take the money and run off, but the dozens of taels of silver we spent to buy the courtyard house would be wasted, wouldnt it? Huang Dng became more and more annoyed when he heard that. Thats why I wont sell this courtyard house to you! You guys dont have to worry about losses then. Happy? he said angrily. Hey, Master Huang, I dont like what youre saying. What do you mean by not selling us? When we rented the courtyard, we had an agreement. You agreed that our family has priority in buying this courtyard house. Huang Dng felt as if his ears had been blown up by this woman. You only have priority to buy it under the same conditions. My courtyard house is priced at 90 taels. If you can give me 90 taels, Ill sell it to you. If you cant, then stop talking nonsense! As he said that, Huang Dng walked around the woman. Seeing that the woman was about to catch up, Huang Dng quickly added, Your lease is up the day after tomorrow. Ille over personally to take back the courtyard house! The womans expression changed. When the lease period is over, we can still renew the lease! Master Huang, what are you saying! Her tone suddenly softened substantially. Chapter 187 - 187 Chapter 187: A Difficult Woman 187 Chapter 187: A Difficult Woman Seeing that the woman was about to cling to him, Huang Dng quickly dodged to the side. Stand aside! he retorted with a look of disdain. A look of anger shed across the womans face, but she quickly smiled again. How can this courtyard house be worth 90 taels? Since you cant sell it anyway, why dont you continue to rent it to our family? At least you can collect some rent, right? !! Looking at the smile on the womans face, Huang Dng only felt a wave of nausea. He had never seen such a disgusting and difficult woman. Whether its worth 90 taels or not, I have the final say. I wont rent it out even if it means my courtyard house has to remain empty. Hurry up and find a new ce! Waving his hand impatiently, Huang Dng quickly went to look for Liu Daniu. Even if his n to show the house to prospective buyers was ruined again, he still had to take good care of his guests. After all, this group of people was Madam Lius neighbor back in the vige. Hey The woman was still chasing Huang Dng. Liu Daniu and the others were speechless when they saw this. In particr, Big Girl Li felt a strong sense of disgust for that woman after seeing her for a while. The weather was already hot, and she was pregnant, yet she had to listen to that womans endless unreasonable pestering. Even though she wasnt the one being pestered, Big Girl Li still felt a headacheing on. Thus, Big Girl Li spoke, Big Brother Huang, this courtyard house is not bad. Were quite satisfied. Please take us to see the rooms now. As she spoke, Big Girl Li intentionally nced at the woman. Huang Dngs eyes lit up when he heard that. No problem! You guys, follow me! he hurriedly said. The womans face turned grim, and she even rushed to the front to block him. Hey! What did you mean by not bad? Did you go to the other houses for a look? This courtyard house is so run-down. Whats good about it? Moreover, this courtyard has been expanded outward and built against thew several times. The courtyard area and the area on thend deed dont match at all! she shouted. Big Girl Lis brows knitted, and her hands felt a little itchy. To her surprise, before she could make a move, she saw her man take a step forward. Its none of your business whether we look at other courtyard houses or not. Move aside. Dont block the way. Liu Daniu red at the woman with displeasure, his expression quite ferocious. The woman was shocked. In the past, when she did this, the people who were looking at the house would find it troublesome and turn around to leave at once. Why was the situation different this time? However, it was only for a moment before the woman straightened her neck and shouted at Liu Daniu and the others, I This is still the courtyard house that my family rented. You guys cant go in! She was just a woman who didnt even have the strength to truss a chicken. She didnt believe that they would dare toy a finger on her. Liu Daniu frowned instantly and was about to make a move. Huang Dng finally stepped forward and grabbed Liu Danius shoulder, pulling him back. What do you mean you rented the courtyard house? Your family only paid rent for two rooms. Well just look at the other rooms. Hurry up and move aside, Huang Dng said, barely controlling his temper. The womans expression changed. No way! This is the courtyard house my family rented. You guys are not allowed to enter. Hurry up and get out! She actually retorted fiercely. When Big Girl Li heard this, she couldnt suppress her anger anymore. She immediately prepared to roll up her sleeves However, she was once again pulled back by Liu Daniu. Liu Daniu nced at the woman who was looking at his wife with a hint of fear in her eyes. He forced himself to suppress his anger. They are moving out the day after tomorrow, correct? Welle back the day after tomorrow. What do you think, Big Brother Huang? He said to Huang Dng. He had to admit that he had said this on purpose. He just wanted to anger this annoying, trouble-making woman to death. He had already thought about it just now. They were only here to look at the house. He did not necessarily have to buy it. He didnt have to stand up for the Huang family just because he didnt like this woman. If there were any trouble, they would still be the ones to suffer. Huang Dng looked at the annoying woman in front of him and then at Liu Daniu and the others. A look of helplessness shed across his face, and he was quite touched. Alright. Welle again when the lease is up, he said. As he spoke, he ignored the woman and left with Liu Daniu and the others. The woman panicked when she saw this. She really wanted to stop them, but she didnt know what she could do after she stopped them. She had said everything she needed to say, but these people who hade to see the house were not affected at all. Moreover, they seemed to be deliberately going against her. ... What should she do? Were they really going to return the house three dayster and move out of there? No way! This was their home. Where could they go? It seemed that she had to discuss this with her husband. If 40 taels really couldnt buy this courtyard house, they could just top up a little more. Huang Dng led the group of people out of the courtyard house without saying a word along the way. Only when they had left the illegal construction area and the road was wider did he turn around and apologize to everyone. Im sorry for making you alle here for nothing today. Liu Daniu and the others exchanged nces. Big Brother Huang, youre being too serious. It cant be considered a wasted trip. Weve seen the general condition of the courtyard house. Although we didnt enter the rooms, I saw two of the rooms had their doors open, so I was somewhat able to see the situation inside. ... Huang Dng still looked apologetic. Buying a courtyard house is not a small matter. I have to let you all see clearly. Looking at the current situation, sigh As he said that, Huang Dng sighed. If all of you dont mind, Ill bring you here again in four days. Before that, Ill definitely drive them out. Huang Dng promised. Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li looked at each other. That woman Liu Daniu opened his mouth hesitantly. Im afraid this matter isnt that simple, right? Huang Dngs face froze. Then, he smiled faintly. The lease period is over. If they dont leave, what can they do? Dont worry. Ill take care of the tenants. Four dayster, you cane to my house to look at it again, Brother Liu. If youre really interested in that courtyard house, we can discuss the price again, Huang Dng simply gave in. It was mainly because he had suffered this kind of trouble a few times, and he was already very annoyed. In addition, he had quite a good impression of this family. He also felt that they were sincere in wanting to buy the courtyard house. Liu Danius eyes lit up. Great! Then well wait for you for a few days, Big Brother Huang! he replied. Before he looked at the courtyard house, he thought the 90 taels of silver the other party asked for was a little too expensive. However, after looking at the courtyard house, he realized that it was indeed not small. It was almost as big as the Song familys courtyard dwelling. Although he didnt enter the rooms, he could see the situation in each room. However, from what he observed in the courtyard, each room would not be small. Thus, 90 taels for a courtyard house like this was not considered expensive. In fact, it was even a little cheap. He guessed that the Huang family offered this price because of the tenant. If he could sessfully deal with that family, he would definitely be able to sell this courtyard house for 90 taels. Huang Dng quickly agreed. Only then did he return to Yong An Lane with this group of people. At the Song familys ce, Madam Liu took Wang Xiaomei to the kitchen to heat up some food and then cooked two more dishes to serve Liu Daniu and the others. Qin Xiaoyao and Madam Liu sat at the table and listened to them rte their experience viewing that courtyard house. Chapter 188 - 188 Chapter 188: Gathering Money To Buy Courtyard House 188 Chapter 188: Gathering Money To Buy Courtyard House There is no need to wait for this ce. I will help you ask around in the next few days. If there are other suitable ones, you can take some time to go take a look. I didnt know about the Huang familys situation beforehand, Madam Liu said. Qin Xiaoyao nced at her mother-inw and continued, That family clearly doesnt want the house they rented to be sold off. Based on your description, it wont be easy for the Huang family to get rid of them. Liu Daniu nodded. !! I think so too. But Big Brother Huang said that if we like the courtyard house, the price can be discussed again. To be honest, that courtyard house is big and looks good. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised for a moment. Then the corners of her mouth curled up into a smile. Youve taken a fancy to it? A look of embarrassment shed across Liu Danius face. He then looked at his wife. Only then did Big Girl Li look at Qin Xiaoyao. Gosh, hes a thin-skinned person. Sister Sanya, dont tease him, she said. That courtyard house is indeed not bad. Its not much smaller than your house. To be honest, I also think the price of 90 silver taels is quite a good deal. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She thought for a moment and said, If youre really keen, then lets lend the Huang family a helping hand. Wasnt it just getting rid of a tenant whose lease was about to end? Qin Xiaoyao was good at this kind of thing. Big Girl Li and her husbands eyes lit up. Now that their Sister Sanya had spoken, things would be easier to handle. That was right. After working together for this period, the couple really admired Qin Xiaoyao. They were even more convinced of their Sister Sanyas martial strength. However, buying a courtyard house is a big matter. After you go back, you should discuss this with Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu. Well go to the Huang familys ce after you have confirmed that you are going to buy it. By then, if they helped the Huang family solve their problem, the price of the courtyard house might very well be lowered further. However, though it was a price of 90 taels, Big Girl and her family still felt it was quite worth it. No matter how much the price was lowered, it probably wouldnt go too low. Alright! Thank you, Sister Sanya! Liu Daniu quickly thanked her. After the meal, Liu Daniu and the rest stayed at the Song familys ce to help out with some chores. The reason was that the sun was too hot, so it was not convenient to go out and look for work. It was only when it was almost evening when people came to the Song familys courtyard to buy water that Liu Daniu and Liu Erniu went out to the streets. Throughout the day, the two brothers inquired at many ces, but they could not find any work. They only set off for Brook Falls Vige when it was almost dark. That night, at the Liu familys house in Brook Falls Vige. After dinner, the Liu family sat down again to discuss the matter of moving into town. The two elders of the Liu family knitted their brows when they learned that their two sons had gone to town and found a fairly decent courtyard house, but the other party actually asked for 90 taels. Mother, how much money do we have left? Is it enough to buy this courtyard house? Liu Daniu thought for a while and asked Aunt Liu. After waiting for a while and his mother still didnt reply, he continued, That courtyard house is really not bad. Its just that the tenants living there now are a little troublesome. But Sister Sanya has already agreed to help solve the problem of the tenants. When the timees, with her help, the Huang family may reduce the price a little further. Liu Erniu also turned to look at his own mother. Thats right, Mother! It was also because of that tenant family that the Huang family was willing to sell the courtyard house at a lower price. Itll be a pity if we miss it! he said. Also, the Wang familys Xiaomei came to us, saying that she wants to rent a room in our house. Ive taken a look at that courtyard house. It has five rooms. Other than the rooms for our own family, theres also an extra guest room that we can rent to the Wang family! Aunt Liu finally looked up at her two sons. Our family can only afford to fork out 80 taels of silver, she said with a sigh. Moreover, even if this sum is enough to buy that courtyard house, we cant just spend it all without leaving any money in our hands. The two brothers fell silent. That was right. The drought wasnt over yet, and it would be winter soon. Food and necessities had to be added. How could they spend all their money to buy a courtyard house? However After a moment of silence, Liu Daniu suddenly said, Big Girl and I will pay a portion. His wife had saved up a lot for her personal savings, and she had mentioned to him before that she could use some of it to buy a courtyard house. At present, the drought was severe, and there was no telling when the folks in Brook Falls Vige would also flee the drought. He had to make arrangements early. His wife was pregnant now. As her husband, he had to hurry into town and reunite with his wife. ... Anyway, the family would have to buy a courtyard house sooner orter, so it was better to grit their teeth and take this opportunity to buy it. Everyone turned to look at Liu Daniu. I can also pay a portion. At this moment, Liu Erniu chimed in. He had followed his big brother to the countryside to collect and sell goods and had also saved some money. Although it wasnt much, it could help a bit if he offered it. Uncle Lius eyes flickered. Then well take out 70 taels on our side. You three siblings can chip in for the bnce, he said. Since the three children were willing to pay, this matter would be much simpler to settle. Liu Daniu and Liu Erniu exchanged nces. They all nodded. The next day, after the two brothers entered the town, they went to Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei to discuss this matter. ... To their surprise, Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei approved of their decision wholeheartedly. Ill contribute five taels! Liu Xiaomei said straightaway, revealing a shocking figure. The reason she could give so much was that she had been setting up a stall with her sister-inw in the day and with Wang Xiaomei at night. In addition, she had been weaving straw sandals in the afternoon, so she had earned quite a lot of money. Ever since she moved into town, her sister-inw had made her pay for some of the rent, but the other expenses were all paid by her sister-inw. As a result, she had unknowingly saved up a lot of money. Now that the family wanted to buy a courtyard house and she would get her own room, she was naturally willing to make a contribution. When Liu Erniu heard this, he was extremely shocked. I Ill also offer five taels, he chimed in. He wanted to offer six taels at first, thinking that he should contribute more than his younger sister. After all, he was the male offspring in the family. However, he was very short of money and couldnt afford six taels. Sigh! It seemed like he had underestimated his younger sister. His younger sister might be young, and her work in town was easier than his, yet she earned more than him. Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li were amused by Liu Ernius expression. Alright. Well pay for the rest then, Big Girl Li said. After pondering for a while, she rified further. Father and Mother will pay 70 taels. As for the bnce, our eldest sons household will pay half while you two will split the other half equally. Mm-hmm. Liu Erniu and Liu Xiaomei both nodded. Thus, the matter of the Liu family buying a courtyard house was finalized. After confirming the details, Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu went to Qin Xiaoyao to discuss this matter. A smile appeared on Qin Xiaoyaos face when she heard this. Sure. When I have finished sending the goods, Daniu and Erniu wille with me to the Huang familys ce and talk to them about this. Alright! Liu Daniu agreed. After Qin Xiaoyao packed up, she went out. In the end, when she returned from delivering the goods, she found that the two brothers were waiting for her. Sister Sanya! Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao had returned, Liu Daniu immediately went up to her. You guys didnt go and look for work? Qin Xiaoyao asked when she saw that the two of them didnt seem to have left the house. No, we didnt. We inquired about jobs at many ces yesterday, and all of them require that we have a ce to stay in town. Chapter 189 - 189 Chapter 189: Intimidating Martial Strength 189 Chapter 189: Intimidating Martial Strength Erniu and I were thinking that it would be better to wait until the courtyard house was settled before we go and look for work. Liu Erniu scratched his head as he added, We still have to tidy up the courtyard house after we buy it. Theres actually no rush for us to look for work. Qin Xiaoyao smiled in amusement. Thats true. !! Then wait a moment. Ill put the handcart away, and then I can take you to the Huang familys ce. Mm-hmm. Thank you, Sister Sanya! Qin Xiaoyao told the two of them not to stand on ceremony with a smile before she went to store away the handcart. Thereafter, she brought the two brothers to the Huang familys ce. In the end, the moment the three of them arrived at the Huang familys house, they heard amotioning from the courtyard. Qin Xiaoyao stood at the door and listened for a while before she got an inkling of what was happening. By coincidence, the person who was quarreling with the Huang family was the tenant of the Huang familys courtyard house in the illegal construction area. Liu Daniu and Liu Erniu had also heard parts of the exchange inside. The two brothers looked at each other with grim expressions. Qin Xiaoyao gave the two of them a nce and knocked on the door. After a few knocks, the courtyard finally quieted down. Then, someone opened the door. It was Grandma Huang who opened the door. At first, Grandma Huang looked very troubled, but when she saw Qin Xiaoyao, a smile immediately appeared on her face. Its Madam Qin! Whats the matter? she asked. When she saw the Liu brothers standing behind Qin Xiaoyao, Grandma Huang could guess the reason for their visit. Rightfully, she should wee them into the house, but at the moment, the courtyard was really in no condition to receive visitors. Qin Xiaoyaos gaze shifted away from Grandma Huang and swept over her shoulders to the rear. Unfortunately, she didnt see the woman who was speaking in a loud voice. Mm-hmm. I brought my two brothers here to talk to you about your courtyard house. Is it convenient for you to invite us in to talk? Qin Xiaoyao asked courteously. She looked into the courtyard again. Grandma Huang was taken aback, and a hint of hesitation shed across her face. What courtyard house? Our family is buying the Huang familys courtyard house so you can go back to where you came from! At that moment, a shrill female voice rang out. Then, Qin Xiaoyao saw a beefy woman walking towards the door. Her expression was ferocious and extremely arrogant. Qin Xiaoyao knitted her brows at once. Before the woman could push Grandma Huang aside and close the door, Qin Xiaoyao kicked the door. The door, which was almost closed, was kicked wide open by Qin Xiaoyao with ease. Ouch! The beefy woman was hit by the door and fell to the ground with a loud exmation. Qin Xiaoyao strode through the door and saw the situation in the courtyard clearly. On the Huang familys side, besides Grandma Huang, Grandma Huangs daughter-inw, grandson Huang Dng and his wife were also present. Three of the four in the family were women. Other than the Huang family, there were three other men in the courtyard. A middle-aged man and two youngsters. Without exception, all of them looked quite beefy. From the looks of things, these people should be that tenant family with the surname Zhao. Mother Before Qin Xiaoyao could say anything, the two youngsters from the Zhao family rushed toward her. Then, one of them went to help the woman up, who fell to the ground after being hit by the door and was still cursing and swearing. The other one charged at Qin Xiaoyao. You shrew As soon as the word shrew came out of his mouth, Qin Xiaoyao shot him a stern re. Then, she intercepted him. You uncivilized dog! Who are you calling a shrew? In just one move, Qin Xiaoyao had caught one of the youngsters wrists. Then, with just a light twist, she made the other party cry out in pain. Argh! Let go! You shrew! Let me go! Younger Brother, Father! Help me quickly! That brat still didnt know how to restrain himself after being taught a lesson and even called for help. As the father and son surrounded Qin Xiaoyao, Liu Daniu and Liu Erniu immediately stood beside Qin Xiaoyao without waiting for her to say anything. They looked at the father and son warily. Their demeanor seemed to be saying, Come at us if you have the guts! ... Seeing that his big brother was being restrained by Qin Xiaoyao, the other youngster wanted to rush up to her. However, he was stopped by Liu Danius stare and his own fathers eye signal. Gosh! Where did this vicious womane from? How can shee to other peoples house to make trouble? Let go of my son! The real shrew by the side couldnt care less and simply charged at Qin Xiaoyao. She thought that since she was a woman, the Liu brothers would not dare to stop her. On the other hand, Qin Xiaoyao was still holding onto someone and could not deal with her. To her surprise, Qin Xiaoyao lifted her leg and gave a kick. With that kick, she sent that shrew flying with ease. Mother The youngster, who was restrained by Qin Xiaoyao, immediately cried out in shock. Im going to kill you! Then, he gritted his teeth and prepared to fight Qin Xiaoyao to the death. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes turned ominous. With just a little force, she dislocated his wrist. Then, she twisted the youngsters calf with another kick and stepped on his back after he fell to the ground. ... How dare you act so big in front of me? You uncivilized dog! Qin Xiaoyao said scornfully. This series of actions shocked everyone in the courtyard. This woman was a martial arts practitioner! Moreover, she was probably a ruthless person. When Liu Daniu and Liu Erniu saw this, they looked at Qin Xiaoyao with eyes that were sparkling so brightly only stars were missing. Their wife/sister-inw was indeed right. Sister Sanya was really mighty and formidable without parallel! When they saw this, the Huang familys confidence was instantly restored. Huang Dng, in particr, really wanted to go up to Qin Xiaoyao and express his gratitude. This Zhao family relied on the fact that they had more men than his family, so they dared toe to his house to coerce and make trouble. If the Song family were willing to help, it would be great. With Madam Qin, the two Liu brothers, and butcher Qins family, he wanted to see if the Zhao family still dared to cause trouble. In contrast to the Huang familys sense of relief, the Zhao family was scared out of their wits. Qin Xiaoyaos vicious moves had convinced the Zhao family. The shrew and the eldest son of the Zhao family didnt dare to curse and swear at Qin Xiaoyao anymore. They simplyy on the ground, moaning and groaning. This this woman The middle-aged man looked fearful. He took a step forward and cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. My wife and my son spoke rudely. I I hope you wont take it to heart. As he spoke, the middle-aged man looked at his eldest son, who was sprawled on the ground like a tortoise, unable to move. Qin Xiaoyao was stepping on him at this moment. I must beg Madam to be magnanimous. Lets talk this over. The middle-aged man bowed, his face full of humility. It formed a sharp contrast with the fierceness of his family. He really didnt expect the Huang family, which had no background and only had women and children in the family, could still hire such a person to help. This woman was ferocious and arrogant. One look and one could tell that she was not to be trifled with. It was just that he didnt know what kind of background she had. Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and nced at the middle-aged man. Seeing that the mans attitude was not bad, she moved her foot away from his eldest sons back. The youngster coughed violently twice, then crawled and stumbled away from the ground. Then, he ran to his mother and younger brother. In response, Qin Xiaoyao only looked at him with contempt and didnt say anything. Hmph! Qin Xiaoyao gave a scornful snort and then turned her attention to the middle-aged man. Chapter 190 - 190 Chapter 190: I’ll Protect Them 190 Chapter 190: Ill Protect Them My two younger brothers have taken a fancy to the Huang familys courtyard house. If your family also wants to buy it, then well have a fairpetition. I wont interfere. But if you bully my Grandma Huangs family with the intention of getting something for nothing I advise you to take stock of your own abilities. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao blew on her fist. With this series of threatening words, the Zhao family was frightened into submission. They were furious but didnt dare to act rashly. The middle-aged mans heart skipped a beat. He calmed himself down before he cupped his hands and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao again. May I ask what is the rtionship between Madam and Grandma Huangs family? The members of the Huang family immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao nervously. They all hoped that Qin Xiaoyao would say she had a close rtionship with their family. This way, their family would be able to avoid being pestered by the Zhao family in the future. How could Qin Xiaoyao not understand the crux of the matter? Neighbors. In addition, my mother is on good terms with Grandma Huang, so the rtionship between our two families is naturally more than just normal ties. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the middle-aged man with disdain. Im protecting the Huang family as far as this matter is concerned. In the future, if your family still wants to survive in this area near the market on West Street, you better know whats good for you and obediently move out of my Grandma Huangs courtyard house, Qin Xiaoyao said tyrannically. The moment these words came out, the Zhao family was filled with fear and trepidation. You The middle-aged man wanted to ask Qin Xiaoyao about her background, but he was too scared to finish his sentence. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were filled with contempt as she took the initiative to announce her family name. Butcher Qin of the market on West Street is my father! I, Qin Sanya, have been active in the market on West Street since I was a child. I have my ways to make sure your family cant stay on in the area near the market on West Street. The faces of the Zhao family members changed. Who didnt know butcher Qin, who made a living in the market on West Street? It was rumored that butcher Qin had been in the mafia before he became a butcher. Furthermore, he had two sons. One was called Qin Dahu, and the other was called Qin Erhu. Both were tall and strong, and also very fierce. He didnt expect that the Qin family didnt only have the father and son trio who were so fierce. Even his youngest daughter was also so tyrannical. Thus, after confirming that he could not afford to offend the Qin family, the middle-aged man quickly made a decision. Misunderstanding. Hehe! Everything before this was just a misunderstanding. We genuinely want to buy the courtyard house from the Huang family. Its just that we havent reached an agreement on the price, the middle-aged man exined. Oh? One corner of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled upwards. Since your family genuinely wants to buy this courtyard house from the Huang family, just like my two younger brothers here, then lets discuss this together. The middle-aged mans face froze. He wanted to refuse, but he couldnt find a good excuse. Oh, sure! He could only agree eventually. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao turn to look at Huang Dng. Brother Huang, lets find a ce, she said. Huang Dng quickly came back to his senses. Yes, yes, yes! Mrs. Song and two brothers of the Liu family, this way! This way, please! he hurriedly said. He couldnt hide the smile on his face. Immediately after that, he quickly asked his mother and wife to prepare refreshments. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and led the Liu brothers to the hall together with Huang Dng and Grandma Huang. As for the Zhao family, no one could be bothered with them at all. The dejected Zhao familys wife and two youngsters really wanted to leave right now. Now that they already knew Qin Xiaoyaos identity and were certain that they couldnt afford to offend her, they could only swallow this loss in silence. As for buying a courtyard house, how could their family afford it if the courtyard house was sold at the normal price? The middle-aged man had no intention of leaving, however. It wasnt that he didnt want to leave, but that he couldnt. You guys wait here. The middle-aged man said with a frown to his wife and two sons. He then followed the rest to the hall. Since things had already progressed to this stage, he had to smooth things over. In addition, he might also try to fight for that courtyard house. Otherwise, the entire family would have to move. Where would they move to? When the middle-aged man entered the hall, Qin Xiaoyao and the others had already taken their seats. When Huang Dng saw the middle-aged mane in, his expression stiffened momentarily. In the end, he still said, Have a seat. Sure, The middle-aged man answered awkwardly and found a seat before sitting down. Before long, Huang Dngs wife and mother brought tea over. ... They poured everyone a cup of tea. Qin Xiaoyao only spoke after taking a sip of tea. Lets not waste any more time. Well discuss it right away. With that, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Daniu and then at Huang Dng. Liu Danius expression froze, and he did not say a word. Huang Dng, on the other hand, smiled and continued the conversation. Sure! However, Brother Daniu didnt even go into the house for a look yesterday. You may not know the overall condition of the courtyard house well enough. Why dont I bring you there to take a look again? Yesterday, he was stopped by someone. However, in this situation now, he didnt believe that the Zhao family would dare to stop him. Sure enough, the middle-aged man didnt say anything when he heard this. ... To his surprise, Liu Daniu said, No need. Ive seen the general condition. They had already wasted Sister Sanyas time by troubling her toe over with them to discuss this matter. He couldnt make Sister Sanya follow him to the illegal construction area to look at the courtyard house again. Since the Zhao family was also present, it was better to settle the matter of the courtyard house now. What happened afterward would be much simpler to handle. Huang Dng nced at Qin Xiaoyao and nodded with a smile. Alright. A momentter, Huang Dng looked at Liu Daniu again. I wonder how much Brother Daniu is willing to pay to buy my house? he asked. Liu Daniu was taken aback instantly. He looked at Qin Xiaoyao and didnt know what to say. He was the buyer, so naturally, he wanted the price to be as low as possible. However, just now Sister Sanya told the Zhao family that Aunt Song was on good terms with this familys Grandma Huang, so he couldnt haggle openly. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Why dont you tell us how much youre going to sell to us, Brother Huang? She deliberately used the word us. Huang Dng got the hint. He looked at the Liu brothers. He smiled and said, I was originally going to sell it for 90 taels. But since you are Mrs. Songs younger brother, then lets make it 80 taels of silver. Everyone was shocked when they heard this. The Liu brothers were pleasantly surprised. They did not expect Huang Dng to reduce the price by 10 taels of silver. Grandma Huang frowned slightly, however. Nheless, she simply nced at her eldest grandson and did not say anything. After all, she had finally understood at this juncture. If they didnt sell the courtyard house to the Liu family, they would be pestered by the Zhao family again. And the Zhao family would definitely not be able to cough up 80 taels of silver. Rather than that, it would be better to follow her eldest grandsons idea and sell the courtyard house to the Liu family at a lower price. It could be considered doing the Song family a favor. Earlier, the Song familys eldest daughter-inw had already said that she would protect the Huang family. With this rtionship, the Huang family would be able to lead a better life in Yong An Lane in the future. That was right. Even though her family was fairly well-off, her husband and only son had passed away one after another. Her eldest grandson was the only one supporting the family now. With an orphan and a widowed mother, their family did not lead an easy life. The middle-aged man beside him frowned. 80 taels for that courtyard house was a very good deal. However, it was far beyond his budget. Qin Xiaoyao nodded and looked at the Liu brothers. What do you all think? she asked. The Liu brothers exchanged a nce with each other. Chapter 191 - 191 Chapter 191: Buying The Courtyard House 191 Chapter 191: Buying The Courtyard House Good! We ept! Liu Daniu eximed in pleasant surprise. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. Then, she looked at the middle-aged man. How about you? she asked. I The middle-aged man opened his mouth a few times with a very pained look. !! If he could afford 80 silver taels, he would definitely fight for it, even if it meant offending the people sitting opposite him. After all, he had an agreement with the Huang family when he first signed the lease. If the Huang family were to sell their courtyard house, he would have priority to buy it under the same conditions. However, the problem was that he really didnt have 80 taels of silver. Moreover, even if he borrowed money from his rtives, he wouldnt be able to gather so much silver in a short time. Qin Xiaoyao understood and smiled. Since you cant afford it, then this courtyard house will go to my two younger brothers, she said. The middle-aged man nced at Qin Xiaoyao. Then he looked away and lowered his head. It could be considered that he admitted defeat. When everyone saw this, their faces were filled with joy. This was particrly true for the Huang family. All the members looked relieved. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and looked at Huang Dng. Since both sides have reached an agreement, lets settle the contract today. Well pay 10 taels of silver as a deposit first. After we take over the courtyard house, well pay the remaining 70 taels. Huang Dngs expression froze. Dont worry. If anyone is unwilling to move out, I will bring my two brothers from my maiden family to help, Qin Xiaoyao added. As she spoke, she looked at the middle-aged man. The middle-aged mans body stiffened, and he didnt dare to raise his head. Only then did Huang Dngs face reveal a hint of a smile again. Deal! Lets sign the contract! he said happily. Immediately after this, he quickly asked his wife to get the brush and ink. Everything that followed was much smoother. The two sides signed the contract, and the brothers from the Liu family paid the Huang family 10 taels of silver. The middle-aged man who was sitting not far away witnessed everything. After telling Liu Daniu to keep the contract, Qin Xiaoyao turned to the middle-aged man. The middle-aged man met her gaze and quickly avoided her eyes. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao felt even more disdainful. At noon the day after tomorrow, I will bring my two younger brothers to take back the house. You guys can pack up after you go back, she said. The middle-aged man did not answer. Did you hear that? Qin Xiaoyao quickly added. Her voice was a lot louder, and it was tinged with displeasure. Ye yes, I heard you. The middle-aged mans body trembled, and he quickly answered. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao nod her head in satisfaction. She turned around and looked at the Liu brothers. Lets go. Its time to go back for lunch, she said. The two brothers were overjoyed and quickly agreed. Huang Dng stood up immediately. Well send Mrs. Song off! he said enthusiastically. Thus, he brought his wife with him and sent Qin Xiaoyao and the others off. When they reached the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao saw the Zhao familys trio of mother and children. At this moment, the three of them were no longer as arrogant as when Qin Xiaoyao had just entered the courtyard. Each of them appeared dejected and depressed. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the youngster who had been taught a lesson by her. He was cradling his arm, dragging his leg, and was still wiping away his tears. A wisp of hesitation shed across Qin Xiaoyaos heart, and she eventually stopped in her tracks. Come here. She directed her words at the youngster. That youngster immediately became panic-stricken. At the same time, the Zhao familys mother and the other youngster looked at Qin Xiaoyao in fear. Qin Xiaoyao frowned, and her face was filled with impatience. Just as her patience was about to run out, the youngster opposite her responded. Yes He answered fearfully and limped and hobbled toward Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the youngster walking slowly toward her and felt that he was taking too long. ... She took the initiative to go up to him. Then, under everyones shocked gazes, she quickly grabbed the youngsters wrist that she had broken. Then, a crisp cracking sound was heard, and the youngster screamed. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop there. She quickly grabbed one of the youngsters legs. She didnt care that the other party was thrown to the ground by her act, and she acted on his leg as well. There was another cracking sound as she helped the youngster set his leg bones. When the middle-aged man came out and saw this scene, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets. However, it was only a momentter when he saw his eldest son heave a sigh of relief, and he guessed what had happened. Upon seeing this, the Zhao familys mother was already charging at Qin Xiaoyao. Just as she was about to fight Qin Xiaoyao to the death, her husband called out to her. The middle-aged man quickly stepped forward. ... He stood in front of his wife and son and cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. Honorable Madam Qin, thank you for not holding a grudge against us and setting my sons bones to help him recover. Well go back and pack our belongings now. Well hand over the house the day after tomorrow. Previously, he had thought that the other party was unreasonable and fierce, but now it seemed that as long as he did not anger her, she was still reasonable. Moreover, not only was she highly skilled in martial arts, but she also knew how to set bones. Such a person was not someone their family could afford to offend. Since the matter of moving could not be changed, the Zhao family would cooperate. As long as they didnt cause any trouble, the other party probably wouldnt cause them any trouble in the future. When everyone heard this and saw the expression on the youngsters face, they instantly understood what Qin Xiaoyao had done. While they were amazed by Qin Xiaoyaos methods, they also felt that it was a pity that Qin Xiaoyao had helped the youngster from the Zhao family heal his fracture. This was particrly so for the Huang family, who had suffered a lot from the Zhao familys actions. Today, they even came to the Huang familys house to bully the Huang family. However, Qin Xiaoyao was the one who helped them settle the mess at home. Now that Qin Xiaoyao was doing this, they naturally couldnt interfere. Furthermore, they could understand why Qin Xiaoyao did this. After all, they were the ones who were at loggerheads with the Zhao family. Qin Xiaoyao didnt actually have any grudges against them. Qin Xiaoyao nodded in satisfaction and left with the Liu brothers. She walked out of the Huang familys courtyard and into the alley. The Liu brothers faces were filled with joy, and they were full of admiration for Qin Xiaoyao. Sister Sanya, youre really amazing! Liu Erniu could not hold back any longer and quickly went up to tter her. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled at his little act. Its nothing much! The woman replied. Youre too humble. How can this be considered nothing much? Its simply mighty and overpowering! Sister Sanya, do you practice martial arts? Liu Erniu asked again. He had practically turned into Qin Xiaoyaos little fan. Hehe! Its not really martial arts. But its sufficient to deal with a dozen gangsters or so, the woman said, pretending to be humble. This made the two brothers admire her even more. Their Sister Sanya could fight ten people at once? And her opponents were gangsters too! She was such a powerful expert! It looked like they would have to learn from their wife and sister-inw in the future and stick closely to Sister Sanya. Just like that, Qin Xiaoyao returned to the Song familys residence, basking in a sea of ttery from the two brothers. In the Song familys courtyard, Big Girl Li was there. Liu Xiaomei was sent to the kitchen by Big Girl Li to help with the cooking. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao and the others had returned, Big Girl Li quickly went up to them. Then, without waiting for Big Girl Li to ask, the Liu brothers told her about their Sister Sanyas heroic deeds. Big Girl Li was already aware that her Sister Sanya knew martial arts, so she didnt think that her husband and her brother were exaggerating. Chapter 192 - 192 Chapter 192: Tidying Up The Courtyard House 192 Chapter 192: Tidying Up The Courtyard House Thats great! Its only 80 silver taels! Big Girl Li said excitedly. Her inws would pay 70 taels. The eldest sons household only needed to pay 5 taels, and Erniu and Xiaomei would pay the remaining 5. Mm-hmm! Liu Daniu replied with a delighted expression. Sister Sanya, thank you so much! Youve really helped us a lot this time! Big Girl Li quickly tugged at Qin Xiaoyaos arm. !! Alright. Were sisters, so dont stand on ceremony! The Zhao family has agreed to hand over the house at noon the day after tomorrow. I will go there again with Daniu and Erniu then. After youve cleaned up your rooms, you can go and clean up your courtyard house and find an appropriate time to move in. Mm-hmm! In the evening, the Liu brothers helped the Song family with some work. When the sky was getting dark, they left the town and returned to Brook Falls Vige. After they got home, the two brothers could not wait to tell the Liu family elders about the situation. Its already decided? Looking at the contract, Uncle Liu still felt that it was unreal. It had only been a few days since the family decided to buy a courtyard house in town, and his son had already brought back the contract. Its decided! The day after tomorrow, Sister Sanya wille with us to take back the house. After weve taken over the house, we can clean up the house and move in! Liu Daniu said excitedly. Thats right, Father! After Big Brother and I have taken back the house, Ill bring you and Mother to take a look, Liu Erniu chimed in. That courtyard house is huge. I guarantee youll like it! Aunt Liu and Uncle Liu looked at each other, and a hint of a smile finally appeared in their eyes. Good! Anyway, I dont have to take care of the crops in the farm fields now, so I can go into town to clean up the courtyard house, Aunt Liu said. Mm-hmm. Our whole family will clean it up together! Uncle Liu replied. At that moment, the four of them smiled. Oh yes. Remember to catch thest two chickens at home and let Daniu and Erniu bring them along. It was all thanks to the help of Eldest Son Songs family that we were able to buy the courtyard house this time. We must at least show some gratitude, Uncle Liu said. Yep. You dont have to tell me! Aunt Liu nced at Uncle Liu and agreed. In the blink of an eye, it was time for the Liu family to take back the courtyard house. After Qin Xiaoyao delivered the goods to the Mansion and Restaurant, she stayed home and chatted with Big Girl Li and the others for a while. It was only when Huang Dng came looking for her that she brought Liu Daniu and the others to the illegal construction area with Huang Dng. When they arrived outside the Huang familys courtyard house, Huang Dng only knocked on the door a few times before someone came to open the door. It was the middle-aged man from the Zhao family. Unlike thest time when Liu Daniu and the others came, the middle-aged man was very polite. Everything in my house has been moved away. Weve also tried our best to restore the courtyard house to its original appearance before the rental period. Master Huang, please take a look. If theres no problem, Ill return the key now, the middle-aged man said politely. Only then did everyone realize that the other members of the Zhao family were indeed not present. Alright. If theres no problem after I check the ce, Ill return the deposit to you, Huang Dng responded and strode in. Liu Daniu and the rest followed. They found that the mess in the courtyard had been cleaned up a lot, and the courtyard looked tidier. After that, they went into the house and saw the situation inside. It was better than they had expected. Although a lot of furniture needed to be fixed, it did not seem to be a big problem. After looking around the house, Huang Dng walked toward the middle-aged man who was waiting in the courtyard. Its really clean. Here is the deposit. As he spoke, he handed over a string of copper coins. Give me the key, he added. Yes, sure! The middle-aged man quickly answered. After the two made their exchange, the middle-aged man left. When he saw that the middle-aged man had left, the pressure in Huang Dngs heart finally disappeared. It was all thanks to Mrs. Song that this matter could be resolved so smoothly. Turning around to look at Liu Daniu and the others, Huang Dngs face broke into a smile. I got the key back. Next, our two families can transfer thend deed. When do you guys think is a convenient time? The faces of the Liu family members were filled with joy. We can do it tomorrow morning! Thend deed will be under my fathers name, and my parents wille tomorrow, Liu Daniu quickly replied. At that point, well bring the rest of the silver. Huang Dngs face broke into a smile. Alright! After that, the group of people left the courtyard house together. Another day passed, and as the Liu family waited with anticipation, the morning finally arrived. ... On this day, the Liu family members changed into their best clothes early in the morning. After they packed up their belongings, they brought their things and pushed the handcart into town. When they arrived at the Song familys ce, Madam Liu received the two chickens and some vegetables from the Liu family. Madam Liu received the Liu family warmly. Then, when it was almost time, the Liu family followed Huang Dng to the government office to transfer thend deed. After that, both sides exchanged money and the key. With both sides fully prepared, there was no dy. The two familiespleted their transaction before noon. Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu got the key and couldnt wait to visit their new home. The Liu brothers naturally agreed to take them. They pushed the handcart and brought the whole family to their new home. After opening the door, they saw that the courtyard was really wide and big. Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu were absolutely delighted. ... Following that, under the guidance of the second son, the Liu family visited each room and felt increasingly more satisfied. Its indeed not smaller than the Song familys ce. These 80 taels of silver were well spent! Uncle Liu couldnt help but exim. Who would have thought that he would still be able to live in town when he was old? It was all thanks to his sons and daughter! Aunt Liu was also very happy. Since were already here, dont just sit around. Everyone get moving. Clean up the courtyard and kitchen. Well cook and eat lunch here! We can continue to clean up in the afternoon after lunch. Get the house ready as soon as possible. Aunt Liu had already expected this, so when she left the vige this morning, she brought pots and pans, as well as vegetables, grains, and even firewood. The town entrance fee wasnt cheap. Since she was in town, she had to stay a bit longer and get more things done. Moreover, now that their house had such a nice courtyard, Aunt Liu couldnt wait to move in. Alright, Mother! Liu Xiaomei was the first to reply. She and her sister-inw had been living at Aunt Suns house for a while and had almost gotten used to life in town. However, that was a rented room, and Liu Xiaomei lived in the same courtyard house as the owner of the house. It was inevitable that she had to pay attention to many things in her daily life. However, things turned out well. Her family had bought a courtyard house. Although the environment outside was not as nice as the one in Yong An Lane, it did not have much of an impact when the door was closed. Most importantly, this was her familys own courtyard house. She even paid a portion of it. There would be more freedom if Liu Xiaomei lived with her own family. Ill go with Mother! Big Girl Li said. She was also very happy that her family had bought a courtyard house. After the courtyard house was cleaned up and she moved over, she could live with her husband. Although it was convenient to live in Aunt Suns house, if she wanted to see her man, she could only go to the Song familys ce. Chapter 193: Conserving Money Chapter 193: Conserving Money Big Girl Li actually felt a little apologetic for often disturbing her Sister Sanya and the others. "Alright!" Aunt Liu replied. After that, the Liu family got busy. Even though the sun was getting higher, no one felt hot. Qin Xiaoyao arrived at noon. She even brought tworge buckets of water. When the Liu family members saw this, they were extremely grateful. Aunt Liu even held Qin Xiaoyao back and asked her to stay for lunch. "It''s fine. The food at home is ready. They''re waiting for me to go back and eat. "I came here because I was worried that you guys might not have water to cook, so I brought two buckets of water. "These two buckets of water are definitely not enough. "After 1 pm, you can get Daniu and Erniu to go to my house to get water. "Although it''s a bit far, it''s free. If you buy it outside, not only is it expensive, but you also have to try your luck to buy it," Qin Xiaoyao said. Fortunately, Qin Xiaoyao hade. Otherwise, this family would not be able to cook without water. In addition, they also needed water to clean the house. Just theck of water was enough to trouble them. Yes, the wells in the illegal construction area were also under the town management''s control. Now, each household could only get water with their number te. Each household could only get half a bucket of water. Moreover, they had to queue up early and were not allowed to get others to queue on their behalf. If they wentte, they wouldn''t be able to get any water. The Liu family had just bought the courtyard house and hadn''t applied for their house number te. They couldn''t even queue up for water even if they wanted to. In addition, there were water wagons selling water in town. However, the price was five copper coins per bucket, and the buckets used were not big. Not only was it expensive, but one also had to be lucky to meet one. In short, the water in the town was extremely precious. "Sanya, I really have to thank you!" Aunt Liu held onto Qin Xiaoyao''s hand, her eyes filled with gratitude. She knew that the Song family was selling water. Her two sons had also told her about the water prices in town. The Eldest Son Song''s family had always allowed Aunt Liu''s eldest daughter-inw and daughter to use water for free. Now that the Liu family had bought a courtyard house, the Song family still allowed them to get water from the Song family for free. Even if the Liu family went to buy water every day at the price the Song family usually sold their water, it would cost them more than 10 copper coins a day! It was not a small sum. "Aunt Liu is too polite. Big Girl and I have a close rtionship. The rtionship between our Liu and Song families is not something that others canpare to," Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. "My family is still waiting for me to go back for lunch, so I won''t be staying any longer." "Aunt Liu, remember to get Daniu and Erniu to fetch water from my house after 1 pm," Qin Xiaoyao continued. "Sure! Then I''ll send you off!" Aunt Liu finally let go of Qin Xiaoyao. "No need, no need. Aunt Liu, please don''t trouble yourself!" Qin Xiaoyao made a gesture of refusal and left. As she left, Aunt Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyao''s back profile and sighed in her heart. The debt of gratitude their family owed the Song family was getting bigger. In the future, she must ask her family to repay the Song family more. "Mother, I''m going to wash the rice and cook!" At this moment, Big Girl Li walked out with a small wooden basin. "Alright!" Aunt Liu replied with a smile. "Just wash it once. Conserve the water," she quickly added. "You don''t have to remind me!" Big Girl Li''s voice rang out from inside very quickly. Only then did the Liu family start a fire in the kitchen and start cooking. In the end, the Liu family only had their meal after 1 pm. The whole family sat around the table in the hall. Although their faces were covered in sweat, they all looked very happy. The meal was not sumptuous, but the first meal in the new home was delicious. After the meal, the Liu family members did not rest. The two Liu brothers went to the Song family''s ce to fetch water while the rest of the family began to clean up the rooms. They swept and wiped while checking on the furniture in the house. They cleared out some of the items that could not be used. Those that needed to be repaired would be noted down for repairster. In this way, with the whole family working hard, the entire courtyard house was almost tidied up before dark. "The town entrance fee is very expensive. I''ve discussed it with your father. We''ve decided that the two of us and Erniu will stay here for the night." "Daniu, go home and take care of the matters at home. "Tomorrow morning, bring some of the more important things here. "Tomorrow, we''ll clean up for another day, and this courtyard house will be ready," Aunt Liu said to Liu Daniu. If the whole family went back and came again tomorrow, they would have to pay the entrance fees for the whole family. If only her son went back, the family could save on the entrance fees for three people. "But the beds aren''t even ready?" Liu Daniu did not oppose the idea, but he was worried that his parents would not be able to sleep well. "Hehe! What''s the big deal? With such hot weather, even if I don''t go into the house, I can still find a ce to lean against out here and sleep until dawn," Uncle Liu said straightaway. Aunt Liu and Liu Erniu nodded in agreement. Liu Daniu finally agreed. "Alright then. Erniu, take good care of Father and Mother." "Don''t worry, Big Brother! No need to remind me!" Liu Erniu answered hurriedly. Liu Daniu quickly left town before the sky turned dark. At night, Uncle Liu, Aunt Liu, and Liu Erniu were sitting on the steps of the hall, chatting. They felt that even if they could not go into the house and sleep on the beds tonight, it would still be morefortable than their home in Brook Falls Vige. The reason was that their courtyard wasrge, and the venttion was good. It was cooler than their old house in Brook Falls Vige. "When Big Brother brings new straw tomorrow, we can put them on the beds in each room." "After that, we''lly out the bedding and sleeping mats, and Father and Mother can go into the room to sleep," Liu Erniu said with a face full of anticipation. A smile appeared on Aunt Liu''s face. "There are many things to do at home. You can''t expect your Big Brother to move everything in one trip. "We''ll have to go back tomorrow after another day of cleaning. "After that, we''ll decide on a good date and move in together as a family. "By the way, remember to go to the Song family and invite them over for a meal." Aunt Liu said to her second son as an afterthought. "Mm-hmm!" Liu Erniu quickly replied. After a while, Liu Erniu spoke again, "Oh yes, Mother. We still need to add many things to our new home." Aunt Liu didn''t reply. "Ahem. Like oilmps, buckets and so on." Initially, Liu Erniu had thought of many things. However, when he saw that his mother was not too pleased, he only mentioned two things in the end, and they were the two most important things. There was no oilmp in the house at all, which was why they couldn''t light anymps. As for the water bucket, the kitchen didn''t have either. When he went to the Song family''s ce to fetch water with his big brother, they had to borrow the water buckets from the Song family. Their home in Brook Falls Vige had these things, but if they brought all of them here, there would be no more buckets at their old home. They would still go back to Brook Falls Vige asionally to check on things. Even if they brought some things to town, they would not leave the old house empty. Therefore, there were still many things that their family had to buy. Uncle Liu couldn''t help butugh when he saw his wife''s expression. "Alright. Since we''re moving to a new house, we should furnish it properly. "When the house is cleaned up tomorrow, you guys cane and report to your mother what you need to buy. Then go and buy everything you need." Chapter 194 - 194 Chapter 194: One Could Only Get Rich By Working Hard 194 Chapter 194: One Could Only Get Rich By Working Hard Uncle Liu understood his wifes thoughts. The family had spent a lot to buy a courtyard house. Now, they couldnt wait to split a single coin into two to spend, but they couldnt save this money. Liu Ernius face lit up as he turned to his mother. When he saw his mother nce at his father in displeasure without retorting, his heart bloomed with joy. At the same time, in Brook Falls Vige. Liu Daniu had just returned to Brook Falls Vige, and on the way, he happened to bump into the Wang familys father and son duo who had just returned from collecting firewood. As both families were on good terms with the Song family, Wang Dashan and Liu Daniu were thus on good terms with each other. After greeting each other, they started chatting. I heard from Xiaomei that you have already decided on your courtyard house. Hows the situation now? Wang Dashan asked Liu Daniu with a smile. There was a hint of envy in his tone. How could he not be envious? It hadnt been long since the Song family moved to town, and now, the Liu family had also bought a courtyard house there. Although the Liu family had been quite well-off in the past, they were able to go to town to buy a courtyard house because of the Song familys support to arge extent. Apart from collecting goods in the vige, the Liu brothers also went to the countryside every day to collect goods. The Liu familys eldest daughter-inw and youngest daughter had been doing business with Eldest Son Songs wife in town. Naturally, they earned quite a bit. Mm-hmm. Weve already bought it. We just transferred the deed, Liu Daniu replied with a smile. He didnt want to show off, but the vigers would know about this sooner orter. Moreover, the Wang familys Xiaomei had just told him that she wanted to rent a room for the Wang familys father and son to live in. In this way, everyone would be living in the same courtyard house in the future. Of course, he would not mention this matter for the time being. This was because he had already promised the Wang familys Xiaomei that she could approach the Liu family to rent a room only when they needed it. After all, he knew very well why the other party was renting the room. If Brook Falls Vige didnt flee the drought, it would be fine if the Wang familys father and son continued to stay in the vige. Otherwise, letting them live in town would only bring trouble to the Wang familys Xiaomei. In any case, his wife had already told him about these things. Now that his wife and Xiaomei had a good rtionship with the Wang familys Xiaomei, he naturally had to stand on Wang Xiaomeis side and think more for that little girl. The father and son of the Wang family were stunned. Their eyes were filled with even more envy. Wang Laoshuan, in particr, looked at Liu Daniu with a fawning expression. Amazing, Daniu! Which courtyard house did you buy? Is it big? Wang Laoshuan quickly asked Liu Daniu. Wang Dashan frowned when he heard this. Liu Daniu was only slightly startled before he replied, The size is okay, but the location isnt very good. Its in an illegal construction area. Oh, its a little worse than the Song familys Yong An Lane, Wang Laoshuan replied. Both Liu Daniu and Wang Dashan were speechless when they heard that. Although this was the truth, was it really appropriate to say it out loud? Wang Dashan was about to pull his father back and ask him to stop talking nonsense. However, Wang Laoshuan continued, Then when are you guys moving? Do you need any firewood? Dashan is now sending firewood to town to sell every day. If you guys want, we can give your family priority! Wang Dashan was taken aback. When he saw his fathers expression under the moonlight, the displeasure in his heart instantly disappeared. Even though he still felt embarrassed by his fathers behavior, his father was thinking of Wang Dashan and the family when he uttered these words. Liu Daniu was caught by surprise. Oh, thank you, Uncle. However, our family doesnt have much money left. As for the firewood, my father has already told us to go out of town and gather them ourselves. I wont trouble you. They had to spend money on many things when they stayed in town. Their family was not as extravagant as the Song family, who could afford to buy firewood the moment they entered town. After things settled down, Liu Daniu would definitely have to go out of town to chop firewood. Anyway, they had a handcart at home. If he gathered more in one go, it would be enough tost for a long time. Wang Laoshuan did not pester him and said, Oh, I see. Alright then! If you cant handle it, remember to look for my Dashan! With that, Liu Daniu didnt have any more hard feelings against the old man. Sure! He even answered happily. Wang Dashan was also relieved to see that. He asked about the details of Liu Danius courtyard house. Liu Daniu was very talkative and exined how his family procured the house to the father and son. When they found out that it was Qin Xiaoyao who had helped the Liu family buy the courtyard house, and that the price of the courtyard house had been reduced by 10 taelspared to the original price, the father and son duo were envious. Its indeed thanks to Sister Sanya that my family could sessfully buy the courtyard house, Liu Daniu said with augh. ... Hey! I have to go this way. Uncle Wang, Dashan, well chat again next time, Liu Daniu said when they reached the intersection. He felt that if he continued to talk, he would really be the one showing off in front of the Wang familys father and son duo. However, he felt pretty good when he talked about this matter. Alright. Well catch up next time! Wang Dashan responded, and the father and son duo parted ways with Liu Daniu. After that, the father and son did not speak for a long time. Wang Laoshuan only spoke after they had walked for a long distance. The Liu family is really lucky to be able to cozy up to the Song family. He sighed. Wang Dashan nced at his father. Thats because their family is willing to work hard. Look at Daniu and Erniu. In the entire vige, is there anyone with darker skin than them? Ever since the Song family moved out of Brook Falls Vige, he had not seen the two brothers rest for even a day. ... There were also other members of the Liu family, including Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu. Ever since the Liu family took over the Song familys duties of collecting goods in the vige, one of the elders took care of external matters while the other took care of internal matters. The old couple stoically carried the burden of all the work inside and outside the house on their own shoulders. In addition, although Danius wife and Liu familys Xiaomei had gone to town, they were not idle. This was especially so for the youngest daughter of the Liu family. Not only did she set up a stall with her sister-inw in the morning, but she also weaved straw sandals in the afternoon. In the evening, she still went out with Wang Xiaomei to set up a stall in the night market. Everyone in the Liu family was working hard, so it would be strange if they didnt save up any money. Wang Laoshuan nced at his son. Look at your skin. Its almost as dark as those two brothers skin, he said. When Wang Laoshuan said this, his tone was filled with heartache. How could he not feel heartache for his own son? Wang Dashan was taken aback. His heart skipped a beat. How can I not get tanned when I go into town to sell firewood every day? So what if Im a little darker? As long as I can earn money, Im willing to be as dark as charcoal! Wang Dashan said after a while. Wang Laoshuan was silent. He had thought over many things over the past few days, and he had also thought through many things. If he hadnt indulged Madam Qian so much and didnt let her empty out the familys coffers, their family wouldnt have ended up in this state. His son was now selling firewood. Although he earned money every day, it was not easy to earn this money. The only thing he could do now was to help and support his son. His son was right. As long as they were diligent, their familys life would get better sooner orter. Suddenly, Wang Dashan stopped in his tracks. Wang Laoshuan noticed that his son had stopped behind him. He stopped and turned around to ask, Whats wrong? Theres someone in our house, Wang Dashan said in a low voice. Wang Laoshuans expression changed as he looked toward his own courtyard. Sure enough, the lights were on in the house behind the fence. Chapter 195 - 195 Chapter 195: Beating Up Madam Qian In Anger 195 Chapter 195: Beating Up Madam Qian In Anger Wang Laoshuans heart tensed up, and he could not help but swallow nervously. Who can it be? he asked Wang Dashan a little fearfully. There were many households in Brook Falls Vige, and the character of the vigers was good. Usually, even if they didnt lock their doors, there wouldnt be any burry. !! When Wang Laoshuan went out with his son today, he had locked the door. How could the house be lit up? Wang Dashan shook his head. He quickly took a thick wooden stick from the handcart. After that, he crept carefully towards his own courtyard. When Wang Laoshuan saw this, he swallowed nervously. A hint of hesitation shed across his face. Then, he followed his sons action and took a wooden stick from the handcart. After that, he followed in his sons footsteps. The father and son entered the courtyard one after another. Then, they went to the doorway of the hall. When he saw the person inside, Wang Dashans face clouded over, and his hand that was holding the wooden stick rxed. When Wang Laoshuan, who was right behind Wang Dashan, saw this, he was somewhat puzzled. Just as he was about to ask what was going on, he heard a familiar voiceing from the hall. Dashan, youre back! That was right. It was Madam Qian. At this moment, Madam Qian was eating. In front of her was arge bowl, and there were even bones beside the bowl. Wang Dashans expression changed as he thought of something. He ignored Madam Qian and walked towards the chicken shed. As he walked, he prayed. No, it could not be. The only hen left in the house thatid eggs would definitely be fine. Wang Laoshuan looked at his son and wanted to ask him where he was going. However, his gaze identally slid to the table in the hall and saw the bones beside Madam Qians bowl. Wang Laoshuans heart was jolted, and he instantly guessed what his son was up to. What was there to see? This greedy woman must have eaten the hen in the house! When he saw therge bowl in front of Madam Qian, Wang Laoshuan was instantly enraged. He wasnt afraid and entered the hall with the stick. Although Wang Laoshuans murderous aura was quite strong, Madam Qian was not afraid when she saw Wang Laoshuan enter the room. Instead, she continued to eat in front of him. That was right. In the big bowl in front of her, there was fragrant chicken meat on top and rice at the bottom. And where did these thingse from? Of course, she must have ughtered the hen at home and found the rice at home to cook it herself. That day when Madam Qian was thrown out of Brook Falls Vige by Wang Dashi and the fellow vigers, she had returned to the Qian familys vige. The next day, the people of the Qian familys vige moved away. She begged her cousin and cousin-inw to take her with them, but they refused. Madam Qian could only stay in the Qian familys vige with the few remaining families. For the past few days, she had been relying on the little food left by her cousins family to survive. However, yesterday, the grain in her cousins house was depleted. Madam Qian could not find any other way to get food, so she could only return to Brook Falls Vige. Fortunately, she had the key to her house, and she was careful along the way so she didnt get discovered. After returning home, the next thing she did was cook. Including yesterday, she had gone hungry for two days. Not surprisingly, she could not wait for her son toe back. Fortunately, there were grains and meat at home, so she began cooking. Hmph! To think that Madam Qian had thought that her family would not be able to survive. She did not expect that there would be so much grain. There was not only grain but also eggs and a hen, and some dry goods. This father and son duo really knew how to pretend to be poor. Wang Laoshuan saw that Madam Qian was not even looking at him and was even happily gnawing on a chicken drumstick, and the rage in his heart intensified. After that, he smashed the stick in his hand at Madam Qians bowl. Ill let you eat! You scumbag woman! ng! Madam Qians bowl was smashed and fell to the ground. The rice and chicken meat were scattered all over Madam Qian. Madam Qian jumped in shock and immediately turned to look at Wang Laoshuan. ... Wang Laoshuan, what are you doing? Are you trying to turn the house upside down? she shouted at Wang Laoshuan in a high-pitched voice. At the same time, she stood up and pounced at Wang Laoshuan. After not seeing him for a few days, it seemed to her that Wang Laoshuan had really grown some courage. Even a good-for-nothing dared to be rude to her. Wang Laoshuan subconsciously raised his hand to block her. Then, Madam Qian stared at the stick in Wang Laoshuans hand. Immediately, she lunged to grab the stick. How bold! He still dared to use a stick. If she didnt snatch it and teach him a lesson, she wouldnt be his wife! Wang Laoshuan quickly realized Madam Qians intentions. When he saw Madam Qians fierce demeanor, how could he not know what she was thinking? He suddenly remembered what he had promised his elderly mother. Then he thought of the hardships he had suffered during this period. Wang Laoshuan did not know why, but his anger instantly overwhelmed his fear. ... He picked up the stick and struck Madam Qian with it. You bitch! You need to be taught a lesson! Mother is right. What you need is a beating! Ill beat you to death! How dare you eat my chicken! How dare you steal my rice! Ill beat you to death, you bitch! Wang Laoshuan yelled as he swung his stick and brought it down on Madam Qians body. His voice drowned out Madam Qians curses and wails at one point. In the beginning, Madam Qian was furious and wanted to fight it out with Wang Laoshuan. However, after being hit several times in a row by the stick, all that was left in her was fear. Seeing that Wang Laoshuans attacks were getting increasingly more vicious, Madam Qian finally ran out. Wang Laoshuan was already extremely angry. He had just experienced the pleasure of venting his anger, so how could he let Madam Qian off the hook? He carried his stick and gave chase. Seeing this, Madam Qian quickly rushed over to Wang Dashan and called out, Dashan! Ouch! Dashan, save me! At this moment, she did not dare to act arrogantly in front of Wang Laoshuan anymore. She only had fear for him. Wang Dashans expression was ominous. Not only did he not step forward, he even stopped in his tracks. He had already verified that what his mother had just eaten was the only remaining hen in the house. A woman like her was not worthy of being a mother to him and Xiaomei. Now, his father had finallye to his senses and dared to fight against his mother. His father had even begun hitting her. Naturally, Wang Dashan would not stop his father. Dashan, help me block this bitch. Im going to beat her to death today! When Wang Laoshuan saw that Madam Qian actually had the guts to ask his son for help, he spoke up. Today, he was going to vent all the anger in his heart. Even if he didnt beat this bitch to death, he had to beat her half to death. This was to ensure that she wouldnt dare toe to their house to steal anymore. Madam Qians expression changed drastically. Seeing that Wang Dashan had no intention of helping her, and instead, he appeared unfriendly, Madam Qian quickly ran towards the door. Crazy, they were all crazy! This father and son duo really wanted to beat her to death. Wang Dashan didnt stop Madam Qian when he saw her rushing towards the door. He did not stop Wang Laoshuan from running after her with a stick either. He simply watched the two of them run out of the courtyard. Then, he stood still and listened to the curses and wails outside. His father had finally be tough for once. That was good. Wang Dashan hoped that this time, his father would be able to beat his mother until she was afraid and nevere to their house again. Wang Dashan only felt a little scared after themotion outside trailed off. It was fine if Father taught Mother a lesson, but he must not end up killing her. At the thought of this, Wang Dashan quickly gave chase. Before long, he ran into his second uncle. Whats going on? Wang Dashi obviously knew something about the situation, but he didnt know the details. Thus, he could only ask Wang Dashan. Chapter 196 - 196 Someone Had Grown Capable 196 Someone Had Grown Capable I went home with Father and found someone at home. In the end, I found out that it was Mother. She sneaked into our house and even killed and ate the hen. I went to check on the chicken coop, and Father took action against Mother, chasing her and beating her up. Im afraid he might have chased Mother out of the vige by now, Wang Dashan said as he rushed forward. Wang Dashi was shocked. Then, his face lit up with joy. Your father is capable of this? When his nephew did not respond, Wang Dashi quickly followed Wang Dashan. Dont worry. As long as he didnt kill her, it will be fine. It was that shrews fault for breaking into the Wang familys house. Even if she was beaten to death, she deserved it. Of course, if Wang Laoshuan really killed her, things would be troublesome. In particr, that shrew was still the mother of Dashan and Xiaomei at the end of the day. Wang Dashan didnt answer and walked even faster. Seeing this, Wang Dashi did not say anything more and continued to follow his nephew to the vige entrance. In the end, they bumped into many vigers who came out to watch the show. Thus, through these incidental encounters, many people ended up tagging along behind the uncle and nephew. Wang Dashan walked very quickly and finally caught up with Wang Laoshuan and Madam Qian at the vige entrance. At this moment, Madam Qian had fallen to the ground after being chased and beaten by Wang Laoshuan. Even though she kept begging for mercy, Madam Qian still couldnt escape Wang Laoshuans stick which kept hitting her furiously. Seeing this, Wang Dashan simply frowned but did not say anything. By the time he reached Wang Laoshuan, Madam Qian had already fainted. Seeing that his father still had no intention of calming down and was still hitting Madam Qians body, Wang Dashan finally stepped in to stop Wang Laoshuan. Thats enough, he said. It was as if Wang Laoshuan had just woken up from a dream. He looked at the woman lying on the ground who seemed to have been killed by him, and a wisp of fear shed across his face. At the same time, the wooden stick in his hand dropped to the ground. Wang Dashans face was also a little pale. He was a little regretful that he had stopped his father toote. It was Wang Dashi who eventually stepped forward, squatted down, and checked for Madam Qians breathing. He heaved a sigh of relief when he found out that she had only fainted. Shes not dead. She simply passed out from the beating. Wang Dashi stood up and said to the father and son. The father and son, as well as the vigers who hade to watch the show, all heaved a sigh of relief collectively. Wang Dashi smiled and stepped forward. He patted his big brothers shoulder with a look of admiration on his face. Then, he turned around and looked at the vigers. Weve made a fool of ourselves again. Madam Qian sneaked into my big brother and nephews house when they werent home. She even killed the hen and stole the food at home to eat. She deserves to be beaten. Now that she has fainted from the beating, serve her right! Since the Wang family has settled the matter, everyone can go back. The vigers all began to discuss among themselves. They pointed at Madam Qian, who was lying on the ground, feeling that she deserved it. This woman was really thick-skinned. She was thrown out of the vigest time. It had only been a few days, yet she still came back to be a thief. Wang Laoshuan had also grown more courageous this time. He actually used a stick to beat Madam Qian to the point that she passed out. Everyone hoped this woman would really learn her lesson this time and note to their Brook Falls Vige to cause any more trouble. With such thoughts in mind, the crowd quickly dispersed. After everyone had left, Wang Dashi looked at the worried father and son. Second Second brother, what should we do? Wang Laoshuan asked Wang Dashi in fear. Wang Dashan looked at Madam Qian, who was lying motionless on the ground, and then looked at his second uncle. Hah! Wang Dashi gave a loudugh. Im going back to sleep. What else can I do? he said. After he finished speaking, he looked at Madam Qian, who was lying on the ground. If she woke up, she would leave on her own if she knew what was good for her. Otherwise, if she went to pester his big brother again, her flesh would suffer more pain. At the thought of this, Wang Dashi once again looked at his big brother with admiration. It seemed that their elderly mothers words had some effect. His big brother finally showed some manliness now. A hint of hesitation shed across Wang Laoshuans face as he turned to look at his son. ... He only agreed with Wang Dashis proposal when he saw Wang Dashan nod at him. Thus, the three of them ignored Madam Qian and returned to the vige together. On the way back, Wang Dashi was a little excited and talked to the father and son for a long time. He praised Wang Laoshuans behavior today and advised the father and son not to show any mercy to Madam Qian. The father and son both agreed with him. After returning to the Wang familys house, the two of them cleaned up the table and ate the food Madam Qian had left behind. After the meal, with a tacit understanding, the father and son did not talk. After cleaning themselves up, they fell asleep. However, neither of them slept well that night. It wasnt until the next day when they found out that Madam Qian had disappeared, that the father and son were relieved. On the other side, Liu Daniu packed up a big handcart full of things and set off for town. ... In the Liu familys newly bought courtyard house in the illegal construction area, the Liu family members were busy again. As Liu Daniu had brought over quite a lot more things, after the house was furnished, they could finally live in the courtyard house normally. In addition, the two brothers had gone to their mother to get some money to buy some things, which made the courtyard house even more livable. After lunch, Uncle Liu led the two brothers to repair the furniture while Aunt Liu led Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei to do some cleaning work. In addition, Big Girl Lis parents had brought her younger brother over to help. By dusk, the courtyard house waspletely tidied up. Aunt Liu wanted to invite the inws to dinner, but the Li family refused. They said they woulde and join in the fun on the actual house-moving day. Aunt Liu didnt insist anymore. After having dinner at their new home, the old couple left for Brook Falls Vige with their two sons. After they left the town, they walked on the main road and started talking about moving house. Im afraid it will be a bit rushed to move the day after tomorrow, Aunt Liu said. Her daughter-inw had sought someones advice, who said that the day after tomorrow was good. The timing was very close, but it was too tight. Whats the hurry? The courtyard house has already been tidied up. The earlier we move in, the better! Uncle Liu said. After saying that, Uncle Liu looked at his two sons. The new house doesntck anything except some firewood. Tomorrow, our whole family will go into the mountains to gather more firewood. Then, before the sky turns dark, two persons can push one handcart and send the firewood to our new home. If their familys two handcarts were loaded with firewood, it would be enough tost for a long time. Alright! The two brothers quickly answered. They were only moving the day after tomorrow, so they could go into the mountains to gather more firewood tomorrow. Even if they couldnt send all of them to their new home in town, it would be good to leave some at home. As for buying firewood and other simr stuff, their family was not well-off, so it was better to forget about it. In addition, send more foodstuff to town. Well eat the grain leftover fromst year first, Uncle Liu said. In the vige, their family was considered one of those families with surplus food. They still had more than 100 catties ofst years grain surplus. However, even so, his two sons had bought a lot of grain to stock up at home during this period. The price of grain was now rmingly high. In his opinion, there was no need for his family to buy any more grain. If they really wanted to buy, they could wait until they had finished eating the current stock. Maybe by that time, the grain price would have dropped. They had no choice. They had just bought a courtyard house and had to spend arge sum of money. From now on, their family would have to tighten their belts. Chapter 197 - 197 The Locust Plague Arrived 197 The Locust gue Arrived Mm-hmm! The two brothers replied in the affirmative again. As they talked about the happenings in the vige, Liu Daniu told everyone about the Wang family. He didnt actually go to watch the showst night, but it didnt stop his neighbors from going. Then, early in the morning, he heard about the Wang familys farcest night. !! Yo! That Wang Laoshuan. Hes got some guts this time! Uncle Liu said in surprise. Thats right. I heard that Madam Qians body was covered in injuries, and her head was also cracked. In the end, she was beaten until she became unconscious. Only when Dashan went over did Wang Laoshuan stop. Thats what she deserved! Uncle Liu replied. This kind of scumbag bitch should be killed to put an end to the trouble she caused. Aunt Liu shot a nce at Uncle Liu. Uncle Liu then looked away awkwardly. Why was his wife looking at him like that when he scolded Madam Qian? His wife wasnt a scumbag. Liu Daniu could not help butugh when he saw this. That Madam Qian is still Dashan and Wang Xiaomeis mother. He would have gone overboard if he beat her to death. But this time, Wang Laoshuan has be more unyielding and hit Madam Qian ruthlessly. I believe she wont dare toe again. Uncle Liu nodded in agreement. Its good if she dares note back again. That kid Dashan will have less burden without a mother like that. Of the many offspring in the vige, Uncle Liu had a fairly good impression of Dashan. Especially since the incident involving his sister, that child had been working day and night to support the family. That Dashan was a good kid! True, Everyone voiced their agreement. Liu Daniu brought up the matter that Wang Xiaomei had mentioned to him, which was she wanted to rent a room from the Liu family. No problem! They are all from the same vige, and we have an extra room in the house anyway. If they need it, well rent it to them, Uncle Liu gave his approval readily. Aunt Liu also nodded. Although Wang Laoshuan and Madam Qian arent that great, the two younger ones in the Wang family are good, she said. Everyone expressed their agreement. The group of people returned to Brook Falls Vige as they talked. At the same time, at the Song familys residence. Qin Xiaoyao had just finished taking a bath and entered the room when she saw Song Que lying on the bed, waving at her. Under the dim light of the oilmp, the mans gorgeous face looked even more alluring and delectable. The woman stared until her eyes almost popped out. How could Song Que not see through that womans thoughts? The smile at the corner of his mouth deepened. He even patted the spot beside him. Come quickly! Song Que urged. When the woman heard this, it was as if she had been hit by a hallucinatory mushroom. Qin Xiaoyao immediately walked over. Then, she took off her shoes and climbed into bed. She was just about to pounce on him like a tiger, but the man grabbed her hand. Then, Qin Xiaoyao heard the man say, The pillow is a little low. Lend me your tummy for a while. The womans slightly perverted expression instantly froze on her face. The mans heart was filled with delight when he saw her reaction. However, the man held it in and continued to act innocent. (Author: This guy was so evil inwardly!) A look of disappointment shed across Qin Xiaoyaos face. After looking at her innocent little white flower, she endured the disappointment andy down. After that, Qin Xiaoyao patted her chubby little belly generously. Come on, she said. Forget it, forget it. He was her husband, after all. She would pamper him! Song Que smiled and immediately rested his head on his wifes lower abdomen. Then, he picked up a book and started reading. Qin Xiaoyao saw this and reached out to grab Song Ques book. Itste at night, and reading will damage your eyes. You can read tomorrow, she said. A look of reluctance shed across Song Ques eyes, but he did not stop Qin Xiaoyao from taking his book away. Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased. Whats so good about books? Lets have a chat, she said. Chat about what? Song Ques eyes were also filled with interest. ... Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment. Didnt you say that there was going to be a locust gue in our town? Do you know the exact time? she asked. It was already September, and the weather would gradually turn cold in October. The locust gue was probably not far away. Qin Xiaoyao had just taken some time out to make some dried vegetables and the like with her family, intending to keep them for consumption in winter. All the vegetables in the courtyard had been plucked clean. She did not have to worry about the crops being harmed by the flying locusts. Qin Xiaoyao wanted to understand more purely out of curiosity. Song Que was taken aback. Soon. Probably in the next few days, he continued after some thought. After all, it had been so many years. How could he remember the exact date? However, it was already September, and it was almost time. After the locust gue, the number of people fleeing from the famine around Mountain Spring Town would increase, and some people from Brook Falls Vige would also leave. If the people could still tolerate the drought, the locust gue was thest straw that crushed the peoples confidence. ... Once the locust gue broke out, and the insectsid their eggs, the gue might happen again in the following year. It would not only affect this seasons crops. Previously, he had heard his mother talk about how the grain price had risen sharply. After the locust gue, the price of grain would really soar. Within these few days? Qin Xiaoyao muttered. Then do we still need to make any preparations? At this point, Qin Xiaoyaos tone became nervous. She had never experienced a locust gue before, but she had seen it on TV before the apocalypse. It was quite scary when the overwhelming ck mass swept over. Song Que thought for a moment. Tomorrow, go and get some cloth back. When the timees, we will seal up all the rooms. Especially the storage room for our food. Just dont let the locusts in, he said. In his previous life, he was still in Brook Falls Vige when the locust gue happened. The run-down houses in Brook Falls Vige could not resist the locusts at all. Fortunately, there was no food at home at that time, so it didnt cause much damage. However, even so, he and Yeer had been bitten by the locusts and suffered quite a bit of injury. Later, he found out that some of the vigers livestock had been killed by the locusts. The locusts did not eat only food and nts but also animals. Fortunately, the locust gue onlysted for about five days before the insects moved on. He and Yeer barely managed to hold on. Thinking of this, Song Que added, Oh yes. Ask Mother to prepare some dry food and biscuits over the next two days. At that time, we wont leave the house if theres no need to. If anyone opened the door, the locusts might enter the house, and it would be troublesome to clean them up. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Alright! She nodded in agreement. At the same time, she thought she had to bake more biscuits with her mother-inw and then send some back to her parents house. Previously, Big Brother and Second Brother had only stocked up a total of 800 catties of grain, and she didnt know if the grain they were eating recently was newly bought. If it wasnt, their families might not have enough food to eat in the future. After chatting with Song Que about the locust gue for a while, Qin Xiaoyao finally changed the topic to the matter of the Liu family moving house. Big Girl said theyre moving the day after tomorrow. When we first moved, Daniu and Erniu came to help. When its time for their house moving, Ill have to go there earlier too. But we cant stop our familys water business. I mean, when the timees, Yuner and Xiaomei will stay at home to keep watch. Mother, the two of us, and Yeer will go to the Liu family for dinner, Qin Xiaoyao said. Song Que raised his head and looked at his wife. Ill stay with Yuner. You take Xiaomei, he said. Chapter 198 - 198 Baked Biscuits 198 Baked Biscuits Then you Qin Xiaoyao was a little hesitant. Didnt Xiaomei say that she wanted to rent a room in the Liu familys house? Let her go too. As for us husband and wife, its fine as long as youre there. The reason was that he had had nothing much inmon to chat with the Liu family even if he went. In addition, the sun was too hot, and he didnt want to go there under the scorching sun. !! Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and nodded. Alright, she said. A smile appeared on Song Ques face. He finally got up from Qin Xiaoyaos tummy. Lets go to sleep. Then, Song Que pounced on the woman. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned for a moment. Then, her face turned ecstatic as she flipped over like a ferocious tiger The next day, Qin Xiaoyao followed Song Ques instructions and went to the textile shop to buy a lot of cloth to store at home. She then took the time in the afternoon to get Wang Xiaomei to help her start a fire and make some dried biscuits. Considering that the shelf life of these dried biscuits was only a few days longer than that of ordinary pancakes, Qin Xiaoyao made three baskets worth of biscuits before stopping. After making the biscuits, Qin Xiaoyao let everyone have a taste. In the end, the response was not very good. In the room, Song Que took a small piece and tried it too, but he also felt that the taste was a little unsatisfactory. No worries. It doesnt taste good because I didnt add any seasoning. If I prepare some chili oil, crush two century eggs and mix them in, the biscuits will definitely taste good if we eat them with the seasoning, Qin Xiaoyao said. Song Que thought for a moment. You can try, he said. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. Then Ill go make it now! After saying that, she took a piece of remnant biscuit, put it in her mouth, and went out. Then, she called Wang Xiaomei over and went to the kitchen to get busy. Qin Xiaoyao took this opportunity to make not only some chili oil but also some chili sauce. The taste was naturally not as good as that mass-produced by some reputable household name before the apocalypse, but it still had a unique vor. After that, when the finished product was presented, it received unanimous praise from everyone. After Song Que had a taste, he was also very satisfied. This ones not bad. Its perfect for the biscuit. The man was not stingy with his praise. Hehe! Thats good! Then Ill make more and send some to Father and the restter! Qin Xiaoyao immediately said. Mm-hmm. Song Que approved of her idea. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao leave the room again. By the evening, Qin Xiaoyao had already achieved a bountiful result. Qin Xiaoyao selected a basket of biscuits, arge jar of chili sauce, and arge basket of century eggs before returning to the Qin family with Eldest Sister-inw Qin. It wasnt that she wanted to make this trip, but Eldest Sister-inw Qin insisted that Qin Xiaoyao go back with her. She said that her family was waiting for Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao only found out about the details after she followed Eldest Sister-inw Qin out of the courtyard. It turned out that Eldest Sister-inw Qin was worried about that child. Yes, ording to the news from the Zhang familys vige, Madam Zhang was about to give birth. And now, the entire Qin family was worried about this. They hoped that Qin Xiaoyao could go back and discuss it with them. Qin Xiaoyao pondered for a moment after hearing what her eldest sister-inw said. She realized that it was almost time for the birth. Hence, she said, Lets go. Well talk at home. Divorcing Madam Zhang was something Qin Xiaoyao had suggested at the beginning, and she had helped her family carry out that task. She had to finish what she started, so she really had to go over. She could at least give her father and the rest some ideas. Mm-hmm! Eldest Sister-inw Qins heart instantly felt at ease, and she quickly followed her young sister-inw. When they returned to the Qin familys house, everyone was there. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao had brought so many things, Qin Dazhuang grumbled about how much his daughter had brought, but he couldnt hide the smile on his face. My family has baked three big baskets of these biscuits, so Ive brought one basket over. The biscuits are very dry. They can be eaten directly without heating. When you eat it, dip it in some of the spicy sauce I made. It tastes very good! As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she introduced the items to everyone. Or you can add two century eggs in the chili sauce and mash them. Itll taste even better if you eat them with the biscuits! Good! My daughters century eggs have always been delicious! Qin Dazhuang immediately said. He loved century eggs the most. If it werent for the fact that he was too embarrassed to get his two sons to go to his daughter to exchange century eggs, he would have eaten several of them every day. Younger Sis is so considerate! Qin Dahu added. Younger Sis still thinks of us! Qin Erhu was also smiling. ... What are you saying? Were family. If I dont think of you guys, who else should I think of? Qin Xiaoyao scoffed. She suddenly thought of something and looked at her father. When I came over, I saw three pigs still in our pigpen? she said. Qin Dazhuangs expression turned grim. Mm-hmm! he replied. Now, it was even harder to sell pork. The family would only ughter the pigs during the big market fair. Those three pigs at home would probably take more than ten days to be ughtered. If it were in the past, raising three pigs at home would not be a big deal. However, water and food were precious now. The cost of raising those three pigs was not low. Qin Xiaoyao frowned as she recalled what Song Que had told herst night. Three is too many, and raising them is also a waste of food. Why dont we ughter one tomorrow? ... Send some of the pork to Fortune Mansion, and my family will take the rest, she said. If Qin Xiaoyao told her father and the others that the locust gue wasing and the locusts might suck the pigs blood or even bite them to death, they would definitely not believe her. She could only find an excuse to let them deal with the pigs in advance. They could kill one tomorrow and another the day after for the market fair. If there was only one left, it would not be so troublesome to deal with, even if there was a locust gue. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt be med for worrying about this. The pigpen of the Qin family was in the courtyard, and two of the four sides were open. When the locusts came, it would be difficult to keep the insects out. Why does your family need so much pork? Qin Dazhuang asked immediately. When he heard his daughter say this, he was naturally a little touched. However, he was more concerned about her reason than feeling touched in his heart. He didnt want his daughter to do things that would harm her own familys interests just because she wanted to help her maiden family. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Some will be turned into cured meat, and some will be eaten, she said. Also, Big Girls family is moving house tomorrow. I also want to send some meat over. The Qin familys father and sons exchanged nces. They had also heard that the Liu family had bought a courtyard house in the illegal construction area. Yesterday, Eldest Sister-inw Qin was still muttering at home, asking if she should make a trip to the Liu familys ce. Then thats fine! Qin Dazhuang said. Following that, he looked at his eldest son and eldest daughter-inw. In that case, you two should also make a trip there at that point, he said. The Liu family was on good terms with his daughter, and now they had moved to town. Since the Qin family had heard about it, they would also join in the celebration. Alright! Qin Dahu and his wife quickly answered. Only then did Qin Dazhuang and Qin Xiaoyao start discussing the matter of ughtering pigs. Of course, itll be based on market price. Otherwise, I dont want it! Not surprisingly, Qin Xiaoyao didnt agree with her father giving her a lower price. Her family made a living by selling century eggs, distributing bean sprouts wholesale, and selling water. They were earning a lot of money every day. On the other hand, her fathers meat stall business was not doing well, and he did not deliver goods to Fortune Mansion every day. It could be said that the Qin familys ie was greatly reduced. But you havent finished those meat you bought earlier and turned into cured meat, have you? Qin Dazhuang asked. He was just afraid that the Song family would have a bad opinion of his daughter if they saw her doing this. Chapter 199 - 199 Madam Zhang’s Child Was Due 199 Madam Zhangs Child Was Due So what if we havent finished eating? It wont go bad if we store it, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Besides, with the current situation, if we really waited until the end of the year, it might be hard to buy pork for the new year. Im making preparations in advance. Qin Dazhuang was stunned. He realized that his daughters words made sense. Alright, this matter is settled then, Qin Xiaoyao continued. As she spoke, she even patted Qin Dazhuangs hand. Only then did Qin Dazhuang not protest anymore. After this, Eldest Sister-inw Qin came up to talk and mentioned that Madam Zhang was going to give birth soon. Zhang Laosan just came to pass a message. He said that Madam Zhang will be giving birth in a few days. But the Zhang family didnt take it seriously. Zhang Laosan asked if we want to help them make some preparations, Qin Dahu said. Of course we do, Qin Xiaoyao said immediately. After thinking for a while, she asked, Is there a midwife in the Zhang familys vige? It wasnt easy to give birth in ancient times. She wasnt worried about Madam Zhang, but she was afraid that something would happen to the child. There is! Qin Dahu replied. Zhang Laosans eldest aunt is one. He came here this time specifically to discuss this matter. But the Zhang family still doesnt have any intention of engaging his eldest aunt. Qin Xiaoyao immediately broke into a smile. This is easy. Ask his eldest aunt to help Madam Zhang deliver the baby. Our family will pay for them, but dont tell the Zhang family the truth. Just say that his eldest aunt happened to encounter their situation, and she decided to help for free, she said. With the Zhang familys habit of taking advantage of others, they would naturally be happy to ept other peoples help for free. Everyone nodded. As long as the child could be born safely, it was not a big deal to spend money to hire a midwife for Madam Zhang. In addition, get Zhang Laosan and his eldest aunt keep a close eye on Madam Zhang. Once Madam Zhang goes intobor, Father and the rest of you will have to set off for the Zhang familys vige. Once the child is born, you have to bring him back at once. Otherwise, Im afraid things may take an unexpected turn if were toote. Previously, because the Qin family didnt bother with Zhang Ershui, thetter was only released after one of his arms was broken by the gambling house. It was said that the Zhang family even lost arge amount of silver. Due to this, the Zhang family bore a deep hatred towards the Qin family. However, they didnt dare to cause trouble for the Qin family, so they could only vent their anger on Madam Zhang. It was only because Madam Zhang was expecting and the Qin family had warned that the Zhang family was not allowed to hurt the child in Madam Zhangs belly that the Zhang family could only try their best to restrain themselves. Moreover, the Zhang family was still thinking of using the child to win back the Qin family, so they naturally did not go too far in their treatment of Madam Zhang. However, so much time had passed, and the Zhang familys patience was running out. When Madam Zhangs child was born, the Zhang family would definitely take action. Mm-hmm! Qin Dazhuang replied. His expression was quite grim. Qin Xiaoyao frowned again when she thought about the locust gue that might happen soon. What if Forget it. Big brother, if theres no work at home, why dont you just stay in the Zhang familys vige? Stay there for a few days and watch over them until the birth of the child. It was not safe for people to walk outside when the locust gue was raging, and the locusts were flying everywhere. If they waited until Zhang Laosan came to report, it would be toote if he was dyed. But A look of hesitation shed across Qin Dahus face. Only after Eldest Sister-inw Qin red at him did he nod in agreement. Alright. Then Ill go and stay at Zhang Laosans house for a few days, he said. Qin Xiaoyao nodded, feeling more at ease. After chatting with the Qin family for a while and having dinner there, she went home. The next day, Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu sent the pork over early in the morning. Qin Xiaoyao was overjoyed. She quickly weighed it and paid the money. After that, she arranged for her family to cure the pork. After she was done with the necessary matters, she chose another five or six catties of meat and put them in the basket. Then, she went to the Liu familys house with Madam Liu and the others. At this moment, the courtyard door of the Liu familys house was open, and it was very lively inside. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao and the others, Aunt Liu and Big Girl Li quickly came up to wee them. Seeing that Qin Xiaoyao had brought so much meat over, the Liu mother-inw and daughter-inw were grinning so widely that they couldnt close their mouths. I was worried that the meat was not easy to buy, but you actually sent so much. We dont have to worry about buying meat anymore! Big Girl Liughed. It just so happened that my father was ughtering pigs, so I bought more and brought some to your house. Is there anything else to do at home? Were all here to help, so just tell us what to do! Haha! The house has been cleaned up. Theres nothing to do. Just sit and chat! Aunt Liu said hurriedly. Big Girl, entertain your Aunt Song and the others, she instructed Big Girl Li. ... Big Girl Li broke into a smile, and she was about to answer in the affirmative. However, Madam Liu said, You two can talk. Ill go help out in the kitchen with Xiaomei. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and didnt stop her. She let her mother-inw take Wang Xiaomei and Song Ye, and they left with Aunt Liu. After that, she followed Big Girl Li, and they found a ce to sit down and chat. Congrattions. Youve finally gotten this new courtyard house that you have been dreaming of, Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. Big Girl Li smiled and touched her belly, which was already showing. Thanks! Actually, I thought that it would be more convenient for the baby to live in the town after he was born. Itll be good to send him to the academy in the future. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Lis tummy and couldnt help feeling moved. She opened her mouth and said, This child is indeed blessed. ... Then, she couldnt help but look down at her tummy. Due to the drought and the impending locust gue, she and her husband had been using birth control. However, that kind of thing wasnt absolutely safe. She didnt know if she was Forget it. She would just let nature take its course. Seeing Qin Xiaoyaos reaction, Big Girl Li couldnt help butugh. Then, she turned to Qin Xiaoyao and asked with a cheeky smirk, You also have good news? Qin Xiaoyaos face turned red. What good news? Dont spout nonsense, she replied. Seeing that Big Girl Li was about to speak again, Qin Xiaoyao quickly changed the topic. When are you and Xiaomei nning to move in? Also, have Daniu and Erniu found a job yet? The teasing look on Big Girl Lis face disappeared, and her smile also vanished. Its easy for me and my Xiaomei to move. I can just ask Daniu and Erniu toe with us in the afternoon, and well be able to move everything over. On the other hand, those twos job-hunting The weather is so hot now. Many shops are only open for half a day or at night. Its not easy to find work, she said. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. The current situation is indeed not good. The business of my fathers meat stall has declined sharply. He and my two brothers have a lot of free time now. Previously, I heard my eldest sister-inw say that Father wanted Big Brother and Second Brother to go out and find some work to do. Big Girl Li was shocked. Are there any leads? she quickly asked. Her Uncle Qin knew a lot of people, and there were many people who were willing to do him favors. If he wanted to help the two brothers of the Qin family find work, he would definitely be able to do it. There are. But the work is not easy, Qin Xiaoyao said with a frown. What kind of job? Whether it is easy or not, they still need people to do it, dont they? If theyre still short of people, can you ask Daniu and Erniu to join them? Big Girl Li said quickly. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li and was amused by her expression. Its hard work, and they will be exposed to the sun. Its really not easy, she said. Seeing that Big Girl Li was still curious, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Hes a dock hand supervisor at the dock my father knows. Chapter 200 - 200 Wanted To Go To Work 200 Wanted To Go To Work They said they need a few people to help carry the big sacks and move goods. Big Girl Lis expression froze. Working on the dock was indeed not an easy job. However, it was only for a moment before Big Girl Li looked at Qin Xiaoyao again. What are the working hours? Hows the pay? she asked. Although the work at the dock was tough, the pay was much higher than working as a shop assistant. Furthermore, the family was in dire need of money now. It was also good to let Daniu and Erniu work at the dock for a while and earn more money. The reason was that it was not easy to find a job now. Seeing that Big Girl Li wasnt joking with her, Qin Xiaoyao paused for a moment, but eventually, she still told Big Girl Li the details. They start work at 5 in the morning and work until 10 am. They dont work in the afternoon. Then they continue to work at night, from 7 pm to 10 pm. In a day, they have to work for a total of eight hours. The sry is 90 copper coins. In addition, if the work exceeds the time and they have to work overtime, they are paid 18 copper coins for every hour. Big Girl Lis eyes flickered. The wages arent low! she said. At least 90 copper coins a day. If there was a lot of work and the head arranged for overtime work, one could earn more than 100 copper coins a day. Its alright. However, the work is really not easy, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Especially these days, even if the head didnt arrange for the work to be done at the hottest time, the weather in that area was so hot that it would still be very difficult to do the job. Previously, her father had also wanted to go, but he was dissuaded by her big brother and second brother. Young people might still be able to endure the hardship, but old people might faint from the heat if they were not careful. Big Girl Li thought for a moment and then raised her head to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Can you help me talk to Uncle Qin? Let Daniu and Erniu try, she said. It was already September, and winter wasing in November. It would cost a lot of money to prepare for the winter. Big Girl Li had to make preparations early. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Big Girl Li. No need. When my big brother and eldest sister-inwe overter, you can ask Daniu and Erniu to look for my big brother directly. My big brother has already started working there. However, he will have to rest for the next few days. The reason was that Madam Zhangs baby was due in a few days. Once the child was brought back, Big Brother could then go to work with ease of mind. Sigh! Things were not easy for her big brother and eldest sister-inw. If it werent for that child, the two of them wouldnt have had to look for work and keep themselves busy earning money. Big Girl Lis face lit up. Great! Then Ill go tell Daniu and Erniu! Big Girl Li said immediately. Qin Xiaoyao stretched out her hand, intending to stop Big Girl Li, but she put it down in the end. Forget it. Big Girl was so anxious to get her Daniu to go out to work because she had no choice. It was not easy to raise a child and feed the family At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but lower her head and look at her tummy again. If she had a baby, she would probably be like the Big Girl and her husband, trying to create better living conditions for the baby. Big Girl Li came back very soon after leaving. Then, she was just in time to bump into Qin Dahu and Eldest Sister-inw Qin at the entrance. Big Girl Li quickly went to wee them and called Liu Daniu and Liu Erniu over. When Qin Dahu heard the two fellows intentions, he immediately agreed to help introduce them to his supervisor. Uncle Kuan is easy to talk to, and there were a few workers who just left because they couldnt take it. Hell definitely ept you two if you go over. Its just that the work is really tough. The two of you need to be prepared to suffer! With that, Qin Dahu patted the two brothers shoulders. Whats the big deal with suffering a little? When we brothers went to the countryside to collect and sell goods, it was probably not much easier! Liu Daniu said. Thats right! Big Brother Qin, we are not afraid of hardships! Liu Erniu chimed in. Qin Dahu nodded with a smile. Alright! Ille over to get you two after dinner. At that time, you two put on some loose-fitting clothes. When you reach there, you should be able to start work on a probation basis, he said. Alright! Thank you, Big Brother Qin! The two brothers quickly thanked him. Then, the three of them went to the hall, talking andughing all the way. Uncle Liu was already aware of this matter, and he greeted Qin Dahu warmly when thetter entered. Eldest Sister-inw Qin, on the other hand, ignored Big Girl Lis urging to stay and went straight to the kitchen to help. Big Girl Liughed and could only continue to apany Qin Xiaoyao. Eldest Sister-inw Qin is really polite, she said to Qin Xiaoyao. ... Qin Xiaoyao looked at her eldest sister-inws back profile as she left andughed as well. My eldest sister-inw is indeed a hardworking person, she responded. As the two of them chatted, they began to talk about other things. In the end, before long, Big Girl Lis maiden family arrived. Big Girl Li had to go and receive her parents and younger brother. The mother and daughter hadnt seen each other for a while, so they naturally had a lot to talk about. Not surprisingly, Qin Xiaoyao was ignored. However, she didnt mind and started to look around the Liu familys courtyard. The Liu familys courtyard was indeed no smaller than her own. This was because she had built quite a few thatched sheds in her courtyard. Strictly speaking, the Liu familys courtyard looked much wider than her own. ... Qin Xiaoyao noticed that the Liu family had marked out some plots in the courtyard. She guessed that they must also be nning to plow thend in the courtyard to grow vegetables. She wondered if she should give Big Girl a few reminderster. In such hot weather, it was not easy to grow vegetables. If she really wanted to grow, she might have a chance after the locust gue. After strolling around the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao returned to the tree in the courtyard and sat down to rest. She was a little bored. It seemed that her husband was right not toe. After Qin Xiaoyao stared into space for a while, Big Girl Li finally came out to call her. Thereafter, the Liu family finally set off firecrackers, and they started eating a whileter. After dinner, the Liu family refused to let Qin Xiaoyao and her family help with the dishes. Qin Xiaoyao then brought her family home. When they returned home, the people who hade to buy water in the courtyard had already dispersed. Only the wet marks on the ground showed that many people still came to buy water at noon. When she returned to her room, Song Que was indeed there. Qin Xiaoyaos first question was, Hubby, have you had lunch? I settled lunch with the biscuits you baked yesterday and the century eggs and chili sauce. The taste is not bad, Song Que replied. Why are you back so quickly? he then asked. Daniu and the others have already cleaned up the house. There were guests at home, and they didnt need our help, so we came back. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao walked to the side of the bed and plonked her butt down. Oh yes. Big Girl heard that Big Brother went to work at the dock, so she asked her Daniu and Erniu to go too. Song Que raised his head and looked at his wife. Daniu should be able to do it. As for Erniu, can he carry such heavy goods? he asked. Although Erniu was quite strong, he was still young. It was not so easy to earn money on the dock. I dont know, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Big Brother promised to bring them to work at night to try. Well know whether they can do it after they try. The Liu family has just bought a courtyard house. The whole family is in a hurry to earn money. Plus, Big Girls tummy is getting bigger by the day, so its normal for her to be anxious. As she said this, Qin Xiaoyao nced at her husband. Chapter 201 - 201 There Was Still War Disaster 201 There Was Still War Disaster Then, Qin Xiaoyao stood up and walked towards Song Que. Hubby she called out in a coquettish manner. Song Que felt as if an electric current had run through his body. He felt goosebumps all over his body. Whats the matter? After calming himself down, he turned to look at his wife. !! Then, he saw Qin Xiaoyao touch her tummy in front of him. What do you think will happen when we have a baby in the future? she said with a face full of anticipation. Song Que felt like his head was about to explode. Thinking of the dream he had before, he subconsciously shook his head. Unfortunately, his shake of the head caused Qin Xiaoyao to misunderstand him. What do you mean by this? You dont want a baby? she immediately asked Song Que. Her tone was rather annoyed. When Song Que saw this, he knew he had angered his wife. He hurriedly shifted his butt to make space for his wife and then stretched out his arm to let her sit in his arms. Hmph! Qin Xiaoyao gave a snort, but her body still moved to sit down next to Song Que. Only then did Song Que hug his wife. Then, he sighed in his heart, thinking, She seemed to have lost a lot of weight again. In reality, Qin Xiaoyao stopped being angry when her husband hugged her. However, she wanted to pretend for a while longer to make her man feel more heartache for her. My wife, you are thinking too much. How can your husband not want a baby? Song Que coaxed Qin Xiaoyao in a low voice as he held her in his arms. At the same time, his eyes were also looking at Qin Xiaoyaos lower abdomen. Then lets make a baby tonight, Qin Xiaoyao said immediately. She said this purely on impulse and in a moment of excitement. After all, having a child was a big deal, and she was not really ready for it. Song Ques face froze. Then, Qin Xiaoyaos face instantly clouded over. Seeing this, Song Que quickly hugged Qin Xiaoyao even more tightly. My wife, dont misunderstand. I have my reason, he said hurriedly. This time, Qin Xiaoyao broke free from Song Que instead. What reason? She looked at Song Que with an icy expression. Song Que was sure that his wife was really angry this time. He also understood how much she cared about him, as well as the uncertainty and fear she felt about their rtionship. With a sigh, he finally told the truth. I didnt tell you this before. But after the locust gue, there will be a war disaster. Im afraid it will affect you if youre pregnant. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him in surprise, Song Que reached out again and pulled his wife into his arms. If you want to have a child, well work hard together next year, he continued. Qin Xiaoyaos heart softened, and she suddenly felt like crying. Who wants to have children with you? she said angrily. After saying that, she broke free from Song Ques arms again. Song Que smiled. He felt that he had finally discovered the shy side of his wife. He reached out again and pulled his wife into his arms. If you dont have children with your husband, who do you want to have children with? At that time, one will not be enough. We have to have at least two. I want both a daughter and a son so that the house will be lively. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and happened to see Song Ques handsome side profile. When she heard him say this, the sweetness in her heart rippled outward Her original intention to argue with Song Que vanished. She tacitly agreed with him. A son and a daughter would be good. It would be best if one looked like her husband and the other looked like her. Of course, the childs body shape should only resemble Qin Xiaoyao after she slimmed down. When she thought of her body size, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but lower her head and look at her own body. She was only about 125 pounds now, and when she walked on the streets, the number of heads turning was much higher than before. She could almost be considered a beauty. In another month, she should be able to lose another 20 pounds, and then she would be within the ideal weight range. Her figure from her previous life was finallying back. Wait a minute. Just as Qin Xiaoyao was feeling gleeful secretly, she suddenly thought of something. ... What war disaster? Why didnt you say so before? she quickly asked Song Que. Song Que nced at his wife and pulled her into his arms again. He even pressed her head down and ced it on his shoulder. I didnt tell you before because I was afraid you would panic if I told you too early. Now that all the necessary preparations at home arepleted, theres no harm in telling you. After that, he told her about how the bandits colluded with the refugees to attack Mountain Spring Town before winter. So, its not safe for us to live in town either? Not surprisingly, Qin Xiaoyao was a little nervous after hearing that. She wasnt afraid that she would be in danger. After all, if she really ran into someone who picked a fight with her, it would be the other party who would be in trouble, not her. However, she was afraid that the bandits and rebels would harm her family. After all, she was the only one who was extremely strong in her family. The others, whether it was her mother-inw or her husband and the rest, were all very weak. ... No worries. As long as we dont go out and antagonize anyone, it shouldnt be a big problem. Song Que patted Qin Xiaoyaos head andforted her. Actually, the feeling of touching his wifes head was quite good. The rich people in Mountain Spring Town mainly live in the east and the middle of the town. At that point, not many people wille to the west of the town. Upon hearing this, Qin Xiaoyaos heart finally rxed. Suddenly, Song Que added, However, the grain that we hoarded Qin Xiaoyao raised her head again and looked at Song Que. Its a little too much. Itll be troublesome if were discovered by the people whoe to search. This was also the reason he had asked his wife to dig a cer to store food in the beginning. After all, the storage room was too conspicuous. If someone really came to search, the food would be easily discovered. As for the cer, if outsiders didnt search carefully, they wouldnt be able to find it. There will be peopleing to search? Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered as she asked. Im not sure. But we cant rule out this possibility, Song Que said. After all, both the bandits and the refugees are short of food. Theres a high chance that theyll rob food after entering the town. The grain store was, of course, the biggest target. After that, the residents of the town would not be spared either. Qin Xiaoyao was silent. Then Ill think of a way to sell the grain at home, she said. Instead of risking their food supplies getting robbed, it was better to sell them for silver to fatten her money pouch. Since the price of grain had increased by several times now, she could make a lot of money by selling it now. However, Song Que said, Theres no rush. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him, he continued, After the locust gue, the price of grain will rise by a lot. Well make our move then. In addition, you have to be careful when you sell grain. Dont let others see you. This is to avoid future trouble. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. She thought for a moment and then nodded. Yes, we have to be careful, or we might be recognized. It would be troublesome if other people knew that we hoarded grain and the secret was leaked. Song Que nodded, pleased that Qin Xiaoyao understood what he was thinking. I have to think over this matter carefully, Qin Xiaoyao muttered. Song Que nced at his wife and did not say anything more. He believed in his wifes ability. He knew that as long as he gave her a general direction, she would be able to get things done. After dinner, Qin Xiaoyao remembered that she hadnt gone out with Song Que in a long time. She brought Song Que out, and they went for a walk on the streets. It had been almost half a year since she transmigrated to this world. Her husbands leg hadpletely recovered, and he didnt need her to support him anymore. Holding hands and going on a date with her husband on the street was very delightful. Chapter 202 - 202 Jealous 202 Jealous Walking hand in hand with Qin Xiaoyao on the street, Song Ques usual aloof expression was reced with a faint smile. This caused the passers-by to stop in their tracks. Of course, he was not the only reason the passers-by stopped in their tracks. Qin Xiaoyao was the other reason. Qin Xiaoyao, who had slimmed down, was no longer as beefy as she was before. !! She was not only quite beautiful, but she also possessed a heroic kind of beauty. She was far more eye-catching than she gave herself credit for. Therefore, after a while, when Song Que saw a man staring at Qin Xiaoyao, he could no longer smile. Wed better go home earlier. There will be peopleing to buy water at 9 pm. However, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt in a hurry to return. Why are you in such a hurry? Lets walk to that location before turning back. It wasnt easy for her toe out, so she wanted to wander around a bit longer. Song Que red at her with displeasure. As there was a young master looking at his wife from a distance, Song Que could not say anything, so he dragged Qin Xiaoyao away and quickened his pace. Qin Xiaoyao followed Song Que for a while before she quickly pulled her husband back. Walk slowly. Your leg has just recovered, she reminded him. Qin Xiaoyao only realized that something was wrong when she saw the mans angry look. Whats the matter with you? she asked her husband. Song Que nced at the woman in front of him, who was attracting attention from the opposite sex like a flower attracting bees and butterflies. He suddenly felt that perhaps it would be better if she was a little fatter. That person just now. His eyes were almost all over you, Song Que continued. When he spoke, his tone sounded a little angry. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Hahahaha Then, she burst outughing. When she saw the mans jealous face, the more she tried to hold back herughter, the more she couldnt. In the end, sheughed for a long time. Song Que frowned when he saw her reaction. After a while, he calmed down again. Then, he said to Qin Xiaoyao in a resentful tone, Thats enough. Qin Xiaoyao once again forced herself to suppress herughter. Enough. Haha! Yes, enough its enough, she responded. It was so funny. Her husbands jealous look was so cute! The resentment in Song Ques eyes deepened, but he didnt say anything else. Qin Xiaoyao sensed someones displeasure and finally restrained her mirthpletely. After that, she shamelessly grabbed Song Ques hand. She said as she continued to lead the man forward, If others want to see, then let them. Its their eyes, after all. Its not like we can do anything to them. Besides, if people look at you, it means youre good-looking! It also proves that I have good taste. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao turned her head to look at Song Que. Hubby, youre much better looking than me. There are many people on the street who are staring at you. If I were to be jealous like Hubby, wouldnt I drown in jealousy? Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. Song Que was silent. When he thought about it carefully, it did seem to be the case. However, he did not want others to stare at his wife like that. Qin Xiaoyao thought that Song Que had already thought things through and said with a smile, Alright. Its fine once you get used to it. She even reached out and patted Song Ques arm. Then, she continued to walk forward with her husband. Song Que also kept his thoughts to himself and continued strolling with Qin Xiaoyao. Meanwhile, at the dock of Mountain Spring Town. Qin Dahu had already brought Liu Daniu and Liu Erniu there to work. Just as Song Que had guessed, Liu Daniu was still able to get the work done with some difficulty, but Liu Erniu was having a hard time. If you cant take it, then give up. Youre still young. You cane back in two years when your body is stronger! Qin Dahu said to Liu Erniu. This brother was good at working hard, but his physique was a little weak, which was a pity. Big Brother Qin, dont worry. I can do it! Liu Erniu replied as he gritted his teeth while carrying a huge sack. Buying a courtyard house had almost emptied his familys coffers. He didnt want to miss out on this job that could pay at least 90 copper coins a day. If Big Brother could do this, so could he. If he endured a while at the dock, he could save up money to get a wife. It would also save his parents from worrying about him. Qin Dahu smiled but did not reply. After Liu Erniu had walked far away with his big sack, Qin Dahu pulled Liu Daniu back, who was about to carry a new sack. ... Liu Daniu looked at Qin Dahu with a puzzled expression. Qin Dahu nced at Liu Erniu, who had just left. You should talk to Erniu. This job isnt suitable for him, he said. Liu Daniu was taken aback. Qin Dahu patted Liu Danius shoulder. I know your family is short of money now. But Erniu is still too young. His bodys bones have not developed fully yet. Its not good to do too much of such heavy-lifting work. If he really exerts too much force and injures his body, Im afraid the subsequent side effects will be quite substantial. At that time, Im afraid itll be toote to regret. After he finished speaking, he gave Liu Daniu a look and patted his shoulder again. Only then did he continue to carry the sacks. Liu Daniu looked at his younger brothers back profile and sighed. He knew what to do. ... At the Song familys residence. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que returned home just before 9 pm. Soon, someone came to buy water. The courtyard quickly became a hive of activity. As the whole family was present, there was sufficient manpower to deal with the work. By the time Qin Xiaoyao finished her work, washed up, and went to bed, it was already veryte. Qin Xiaoyaoy in Song Ques arms, her heart filled with contentment. I really hope that life will continue to be peaceful and happy like this. No locust gue, and no war disaster either, she said. Song Queughed and helped Qin Xiaoyao brush away the stray hair on her cheek. Dont think too much. Weve already made sufficient preparations in advance. Everything will pass smoothly. After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and kissed his wife on the forehead. The womans eyes immediately turned a darker hue. Then, like a hungry tiger, she flipped over. The next day, Qin Dahu brought his luggage and left for the Zhang familys vige early in the morning. On the Liu familys side, Liu Daniu went to the dock while Liu Erniu was left at home. On the way back from the dockst night, Liu Ernius big brother had exined to him the pros and cons of this job. Liu Erniu didnt want to give up, but he was unable to convince his big brother. In addition, when he returned home, his parents listened to his big brother and did not allow him to go to the dock again. He had no choice but to listen to them. Then, when he woke up this morning, the soreness and pain all over his body made him give up the idea totally. Aunt Liu noticed that her second son didnt look so well. After she identally touched him and elicited a very strong reaction, she guessed what was going on. That kind of physical work cant be done just by gritting your teeth and forcing yourself, Aunt Liu tried to exin to him earnestly. Forget it. You can rest for today. Dont go to work. Recuperate for a while, and then go out and look for other work. How can I do that? Liu Erniu refused immediately. Its just my shoulder thats slightly injured. My legs are fine. The sooner I find a job and have ie, the sooner I will feel at ease, he said. Aunt Liu looked at her second son with a pained expression. I told you to rest, so just rest! Our whole family is thinking of ways to make money! Why are you in such a hurry? Then, Aunt Liu looked at Uncle Liu. Later on, take a look at the wound on Second Sons shoulder. See if theres a need to apply some medical oil on it. Chapter 203 - 203 Days of Hardships 203 Days of Hardships The Liu family had medical oil. Whenever they got injuries from falls, they would apply some medical oil themselves to save on the money needed to go to the medical hall. Alright, Uncle Liu answered. Liu Erniu could feel the aching pain in his shoulder. He tried to endure it, but he did not reject the offer. Then, after Liu Erniu took off his clothes, the Liu familys elders finally saw how serious the injury was on their younger sons shoulder. !! Aunt Lius heart ached, and she quickly asked Uncle Liu to get the medical oil. Then, she nagged next to them as she watched Uncle Liu apply the medical oil on Liu Erniu. On the other hand, Liu Erniu endured the pain. Even though tears were welling up in his eyes, he did not let them fall. It was his fault for making his parents worry. In addition, it was really painful If he had known earlier, he wouldnt have forced himself to endure for so long. Meanwhile, Qin Dahu had already sneaked into the Zhang familys vige and gone to Zhang Laosans house. Zhang Laosan was very enthusiastic when he saw Qin Dahu and arranged a room for him to stay in. Brother Qin, you can stay without worry. Ive asked my wife to keep an eye on Madam Zhang. Ive also talked to my eldest aunt. Once Madam Zhang goes intobor, shell go over, pretending to pass by and going in to help. Qin Dahu sized up the room he was going to stay in. He didnt mind that the room was dpidated, and he nodded his head. After putting down his belongings, he took out a string of copper coins from his pocket and handed it to Zhang Laosan. This is my amodation fee for the next few days. You dont have to worry about the food. Just help to bring me a basin of water every day, Qin Dahu said. The price of food had soared, and food was extremely precious now. He had brought a lot of things on this trip. He had the dry biscuits that his younger sister had sent previously, as well as chili sauce and century eggs. He was only staying a few days, and his meals could be settled easily with what he brought. Zhang Laosan saw that Qin Dahus luggage was heavy and knew that he had brought his own food, so he didnt think too much about it. Alright! Thank you, Brother Qin! He quickly took the money. When he received it, he weighed it in his hand. He found that there were quite a number of copper coins. There were at least 60 copper coins or more, and he was delighted. After that, Qin Dahu allowed Zhang Laosan to excuse himself. Zhang Laosan didnt stay any longer and left happily. Only then did Qin Dahu begin to clean up the room. Thereafter, he would have to stay guard here. He could only hope that Madam Zhang would go intobor as soon as possible. Outside the house, as the sun rose, it once again began to roast the earth. Qin Dahu was sweating from the heat inside the room. He saw Zhang Laosan and his family processing the vegetables they had harvested under the shade of the trees in the courtyard. He decided to go out of the room to chat with the family. Brother Qin, youre here! Quick, have a seat! Zhang Laosan said enthusiastically when he saw Qin Dahu. He then said to his wife, Quick, go get a bowl of water for Brother Qin! Sure! His wife quickly responded and went to the kitchen. Qin Dahu nced at Zhang Laosans wife and then walked to the spot that Zhang Laosan had pointed. Then, he sat down. When he saw Zhang Laosans child looking at him, his grave and stern face softened a little. Why did you harvest so much vegetables? he asked Zhang Laosan. Zhang Laosan smiled bitterly. The drought is still ongoing, and its not raining. River Ringwaters is almost dry, and I dont have the time to water the nts every day. My wife said that its better to harvest all of them and turn them into dried vegetables. Itll also save them from drying up the fields. At that point, we will end up with nothing. Looking at the vegetables on the ground, Zhang Laosan sighed again. This is all I can harvest from my familysnd. Theres ack of food and vegetables. I really dont know what to do next. Qin Dahu looked once more at the little child who was staring at him. With a sudden thought, he took out a small piece of tbread from his coat. Take it. He extended his hand and handed the tbread to the little child. The little childs eyes lit up, but he looked at Zhang Laosan and didnt dare to take it. Just ept it, and remember to thank Uncle Qin! Zhang Laosan said immediately. The little childs face lit up. Thank you, Uncle Qin! he hurriedly said. Following that, he took the tbread and started to chew on it. He hadnt eaten food made from flour for a long time, so he was particrly happy. ... Zhang Laosans heart ached a little, and he quickly looked away. Brother Qin, you didnt bring much dry food. No need he said to Qin Dahu. Food was precious, and their family had already started to eat diluted food. The adults could still bear it, but it was hard on the little child. In the morning, when Brother Qin came over and said that he would stay at his house for a few days, Zhang Laosan was worried about the food provision. In the end, Brother Qin said that he wouldnt eat at his house, so Zhang Laosan was relieved. Sigh! If it werent for Brother Qins help, their family would have run out of food long ago Just then, Zhang Laosans wife brought some water. Qin Dahu didnt stand on ceremony. After receiving it, he gulped it down. Zhang Laosan red at his wife when he saw this. Hey, you dumb woman! How is this enough? Go and get another bowl! He opened his mouth and hollered at her. ... Yes! Zhang Laosans wife looked at her husband in fear. She quickly took the bowl and left. Qin Dahu nced again at the back profile of Zhang Laosans wife as she left. He gestured for Zhang Laosan to calm down. Theres a water shortage at home? he asked. Zhang Laosans face became more dejected. How can we not becking water? Theres only one well in the vige thats still producing water. ording to the headcount in each family, those families with more than four people can get one bucket each. Those with less than four people can only get half a bucket. There are only three people in my family, and we live on half a bucket of water every day. As if recalling something, Zhang Laosan turned to Qin Dahu. Brother Qin, dont get me wrong. Im notining to you. Although we cant get much water from the well, we can go to River Ringwaters to get water. Right now, we can still get water from River Ringwaters. Qin Dahu smiled, which showed that he didnt think too much about it. The three of them could only get half a bucket of water a day. No wonder just now In the future, just give me four bowls of drinkable water every day. Then give me half a basin of water for washing my face and wiping my body, he said. How can I allow that? Zhang Laosan immediately refused. Qin Dahu raised his hand and interrupted him. Your family doesnt get much water every day in the first ce. If Ie here and take some of your water, your lives will be even harder. Ive brought trouble to your family this time. This Brother Qin, what are you saying? Zhang Laosan said immediately. Qin Dahu raised his hand and interrupted him once more. Just then, Zhang Laosans wife came over with a bowl of water again. This time, she even changed to a bigger bowl, which contained more water. Qin Dahus impression of Zhang Laosans family became even more favorable. After thanking Zhang Laosans wife, he didnt stand on ceremony and drank more than half of the bowl. Then, he saw the little child at the side staring at him again. He asked the little child toe over and then fed him the remaining water. Zhang Laosan and his wife felt quite moved. Putting down the empty bowl, Qin Dahu asked the little child to y by the side. Then, he looked at Zhang Laosan. He scrutinized Zhang Laosan up and down a few times, and a hint of hesitation shed across his eyes. Then he said, I found a job in town. Its hard work, but the pay is good. When things are done here, do you want to go with me and try it out? he asked. Chapter 204 - 204 The Middlewoman Came By 204 The Middlewoman Came By Zhang Laosan was stunned for a moment, and then he was ecstatic. Great! Thats great! Thank you, Brother Qin! Zhang Laosans wife also looked at Qin Dahu in happy surprise. Thank you, Brother Qin! She thanked him together with her husband. Qin Dahu nced at the two of them. Dont thank me yet. That job isnt that easy to do. With that, Qin Dahu exined the situation at the dock to the couple. The couple didnt care at all about how back-breaking Qin Dahu said the job was. They only heard the wage of 90 copper coins a day. 90 copper coins! Even if Zhang Laosan had to work like an ox pulling a plow, he was willing! That was what Zhang Laosan was thinking at the moment. Alright then. When things here are settled, Ill bring you to work, and you can try it out, Qin Dahu said. Zhang Laosan wasnt very strong, but he had arge body. He might be able to work at the dock. The Zhang family had helped their Qin family so much this time. If Qin Dahu could help them back, he was also willing to lend a hand. Great! Thank you, Brother Qin! Zhang Laosan thanked him again. Then, he started to chat with Qin Dahu about the situation in the Zhang familys vige. Several families in the vige have already run out of food. Some people have already gone into the mountains to dig for wild vegetables and tree roots. I heard that most of the people in the Qian familys vige have left. Someone from our vige also approached the vige chief, intending to leave, Zhang Laosan said. Who would be willing to leave their home if they could still endure it? However, if the drought continued, everyone would lose hope and have no choice but to leave to make a living. Qin Dahu frowned upon hearing this. He sighed in his heart. It seemed that it was not just the people in town having a hard time. The people in the countryside were even worse off. Zhang Laosan suddenly recalled something and turned to Qin Dahu. By the way, the Zhang familys situation isnt very good either. Last night, my eldest aunt said that she saw them inviting a middlewoman to their house. Qin Dahu was taken aback. A middlewoman? he asked. Mm-hmm! My eldest aunt said that it seemed to be the middlewoman from the Zhao familys brokerage. They specialize in buying and selling women and children. Hearing the word children, Qin Dahus face immediately darkened. If the Zhang family dared to touch his fathers child, he would definitely strangle them to death. Zhang Laosan saw Qin Dahus expression and knew that he had misunderstood. I dont think its because of the child in Mrs. Zhangs tummy, he said. Even if the child is born, hell still be a baby. Itll be hard to raise him. Qin Dahu was puzzled. Then A look of disdain shed across Zhang Laosans eyes. ording to my eldest aunts analysis, it is probably Zhang Dashui who wants to sell his daughter. And Qin Dahu frowned. Then, he understood. Girls had never been valued in the Zhang family. Previously, the Zhang family had almost sold Madam Zhang off to pay Zhang Ershuis debt. If his father had not taken a fancy to Madam Zhang and given the betrothal money to the Zhang family, Madam Zhang would have been sold at that time. What else is there? Qin Dahu asked. Although he asked, he wasnt really interested in knowing more. After all, Zhang Dashuis daughter had nothing to do with him. And my eldest aunt said that the Zhang family may sell Madam Zhang too, Zhang Laosan said hesitantly. Qin Dahu got a big shock. Eldest Aunt said that she saw Zhang Dashui bring the middlewoman to look at Madam Zhang. After that, he even talked to the middlewoman for a long time on one side. If thats true Zhang Laosan looked at Qin Dahu worriedly. I dont care if its true or not. My father has already given the divorce document to the Zhang family, so how they want to deal with Madam Zhang has nothing to do with my family. It was just nice if she was sold. It would be best if the middlewoman sold her to a ce further away after taking her. It would prevent her from harming his father or his soon-to-be-born younger brother or sister. When he heard this, Zhang Laosans expression rxed a little. Then, he scolded out loud, That family is downright despicable! Qin Dahu nced at Zhang Laosan but did not reply. Has there been any news from Zhang Ershui recently? he asked again after a while. When he heard Qin Dahu mention Zhang Ershui, a look of disgust shed across Zhang Laosans face. Ptooey! That rascal has always been a thief. After his hand was broken, he only stopped for less than half a month. After that, he started harming the vigers again. ... Hes been plucking the vegetables from my vegetable fields. And the chicken that went missing in my house previously. It was most likely stolen by him. Zhang Laosan thought he must be jinxed with many generations of bad luck to be neighbors with that family. After losing one chicken, he simply sent all the remaining chickens in the house to town to sell the next day, to prevent them from getting stolen by that rascal again. Now, he had also harvested all the vegetables in the fields. Zhang Laosan wanted to see if that rascal could still steal his familys belongings. Qin Dahu didnt find it strange when he heard this. After all, he already knew that Zhang Ershui had a bad reputation in the Zhang familys vige. He didnt go to town to gamble again? he asked. Zhang Ershui was a gambler. Even though one of his arms had been crippled, it was not easy for such a person to quit gambling. ... How could he not go? Zhang Laosan said immediately. Ive seen him before at the gambling stall on the street. Qin Dahu nodded his head. He had a rough understanding now. No wonder the Zhang family wanted to sell people. Could it be that they were trying to help Zhang Ershui pay off his new gambling debts? If that was the case, it made sense that Zhang Dashui wanted to sell his daughter to pay off his brothers gambling debt. Just like that, Qin Dahu and Zhang Laosan chatted until noon. He rejected Zhang Laosans family invitation to have a meal together. Qin Dahu took out some biscuits and chili sauce. Then he added a century egg into the chili sauce. And he ate the biscuits with the seasoning like that. When he saw the little child staring at him with a greedy look, Qin Dahu hesitated for a moment before giving some of his food to the family. Zhang Laosans family was very grateful. Then, when they tasted the vor of the biscuit, the chili sauce, and the century egg, they couldnt stop praising it. My younger sister made these and sent a lot to my house. I dont know how long Ill have to stay on this trip, but my father has packed more than half of that batch for me. I reckon its enough to feed me alone for four to five days without any problems, Qin Dahu said. When they talked about century eggs, Qin Dahu couldnt resist bragging about his younger sisters ability. My younger sister is really amazing! She dares to think big and act boldly. She is the one who is supporting the whole family. Zhang Laosan and his wife were impressed by Qin Dahus words. When the couple heard that Qin Xiaoyao had many money-making ideas and their family did not have to worry about food or other expenses, they were very envious. They were even more certain that this guy before their eyes, Qin Dahu, was their benefactor. They had to stick closely to Qin Dahu in order to lead a good life in the future. Due to this, Zhang Laosans family took very good care of Qin Dahu. The next day, before dawn, Qin Dahu heard amotion from the Zhang family next door. Turning over, he got out of bed, and just as he stepped out of the room, Qin Dahu saw Zhang Laosan rushing in frantically from outside. Shes going intobor! Big Brother Qin, Madam Zhang is going intobor! Zhang Laosan said excitedly. Qin Dahu was dumbstruck. Then, he quickly came back to his senses. Chapter 205 - 205 Snatching The Child 205 Snatching The Child Quick! Go get your eldest aunt. After that, you go to town and report the news to my family! As Qin Dahu spoke, he took out a few copper coins and gave them to Zhang Laosan. Yes! Right! Zhang Laosan quickly answered. After receiving the money, he quickly dashed out. After Zhang Laosan left, Qin Dahu started to get anxious. Madam Zhang had gone intobor, and the child could be born at any time. He definitely couldnt go over now. Otherwise, if the Zhang family were alerted to his presence, it would be even more difficult to take the child away. All he could do now was wait. After his father and second brother came, the three of them would act together. With their advantage in numbers, there was a higher chance of taking the child away. Of course, he couldnt just wait. If the child was born before his father and the rest arrived, he would have to go and grab the child immediately. This was to prevent the Zhang family from harming the child. With that thought in mind, Qin Dahu turned to look at Zhang Laosans wife, who was busy working in the courtyard. He walked over and spoke to her, Mrs. Zhang. Brother Qin. Zhang Laosans wife quickly responded and even stood up. Qin Dahu hesitated for a moment before taking out another six copper coins from his pocket. Can I ask you to go to the Zhang familys house to help? If the child is born,e back immediately and inform me, he said. At the same time, he handed over the copper coins. A hint of fear shed across the face of Zhang Laosans wife. She looked at the copper coins that Qin Dahu handed out, and after a moment of hesitation, she actually rejected them. Theres no need for money. Youve already given us money earlier. Ill go over now. Ille back immediately to report to you once I have news! After that, Zhang Laosans wife wiped her hands on her apron and walked out. After taking a few steps, she told her child to listen to Qin Dahu, stay at home obediently, and not go outside to wander around. When she saw Qin Dahu pick her son up, she then left with ease of mind. Qin Dahu was filled with gratitude as he watched Zhang Laosans wife leave. Zhang Laosans wife was also a good woman. Thereafter, as Qin Dahu waited anxiously Finally, four hourster, before noon, Qin Dazhuang, Qin Erhu, and Qin Xiaoyao arrived. That was right. Qin Xiaoyao was here as well. Today, Qin Xiaoyao only delivered three baskets of bean sprouts to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant. She had nothing to do after that, so she went to the market on West Street to look for her father to see if she could help in any way. As a result, she bumped into Zhang Laosan, who was looking for the Qin family. Hence, Qin Xiaoyao decided to tag along. When Qin Dahu saw that his father, younger brother, and younger sister had all arrived, he felt more at ease. Hows the situation now? Qin Dazhuang asked anxiously. Although he had already divorced Madam Zhang, that was his child. How could he not be anxious? Qin Erhu and Qin Xiaoyao also looked at Qin Dahu. Shes still inbor, Qin Dahu replied. Seeing that Zhang Laosan was also looking at him, Qin Dahu turned to Zhang Laosan and said, I asked Mrs. Zhang to go over and help. She came back just now and said that the child should be due soon. Zhang Laosan nodded and felt more at ease. Just as everyone was talking, the sound of a little child crying suddenly rang out from next door. Qin Xiaoyaos hearing was exceptional, and she was the first to hear it. Before she could confirm it, she heard her father beside her yell excitedly, She gave birth! Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu also heard the cries, and their faces lit up. Qin Xiaoyao withdrew her smile and said quickly, Theres no time to lose. Father, lets go and grab the child! Mm-hmm! Qin Dazhuang did not hesitate and quickly agreed. Following that, the four of them quickly left Zhang Laosans house. After that, they tried their best to avoid the vigers and took a detour by the main road. Then they rushed to Madam Zhangs house in a hurry. At this moment, in the Zhang familys courtyard house. The two elders of the Zhang family, Zhang Dashuis family, and Zhang Ershui were all there. When they saw the Qin family, they were all astounded. Brother-inw Zhang Ershui was the first to call out to Qin Dazhuang. The way he looked at Qin Dazhuang was very warm and friendly. ... How could he not be warm and friendly? This was his money tree. Previously, it was because of this brother-inw that he was able to live sofortably. If his sister hadnt offended his brother-inw and was sent home after being divorced, how would he have ended up having his arm broken by the gambling house? How would he be living such a miserable life during this period? When the other members of the Zhang family saw Qin Dazhuang, their faces also lit up with joy. They thought that Qin Dazhuang must havee to visit Madam Zhang. To their surprise, when Qin Dazhuang heard Zhang Ershuis voice, his face clouded over instantly. Whos your brother-inw? he said bellowed angrily. Then, without even looking at the Zhang family members, he gestured to his two sons with his eye. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu immediately took action and headed straight for Madam Zhangs room. The Zhang family finally realized that something was wrong and quickly stepped forward to stop them. ... What are you guys doing? How can you just barge into the room where a woman is giving birth? Thats right! Dont you think its unlucky? If theres any issue, cant we discuss it? Old Mrs. Zhang and Zhang Dashuis wife spread their arms out and blocked Qin Dahu and Qin Erhus way. They were still quite polite when they spoke, mainly because they were hoping that Qin Dazhuang would get back on good terms with Madam Zhang. Previously, they were actually a little worried that the Qin family would really ignore Madam Zhang. After all, it had been so long, and the Qin family had note to ask about Madam Zhangs situation. However, it was different now. The Qin family had taken the initiative toe. Moreover, Madam Zhang had just given birth to a boy. For the sake of his son, it was still possible for Qin Dazhuang to take Madam Zhang back. To their surprise, Qin Dahu retorted, Get lost! Even Qin Erhu started to take action. He grabbed Old Mrs. Zhangs arm and pushed her to the side. Seeing this, Qin Dahu didnt think too much anymore and also followed suit. He pushed Zhang Dashuis wife away and barged into Madam Zhangs room. When they saw this, the expressions of all the Zhang family members changed. Gosh! They hit me! The Qin family is hitting me! Zhang Dashuis wife fell to the ground on her butt and started wailing. A man breaking into his stepmothers room! The people of the Qin family have gone crazy! Old Mrs. Zhang also wailed. Theres no justice! Come quickly and take a look! Fellow vigers, quicklye and speak up for us! The Qin family is bullying us! At the same time, Zhang Dashui and Old Man Zhang became more courageous and went to the side to get hoes. They looked like they were going to fight Qin Dazhuang to the death. Qin Dazhuang, youve gone too far! Zhang Dashui picked up the hoe and pointed it at Qin Dazhuang. How could Zhang Dashui not see it at this point? Qin Dazhuang didnt bring his people here to pick up his sister. They were clearly here to snatch the child. Although he didnt know how the other party knew that his sister was giving birth today, he would never allow the Qin family to take the child away! Qin Xiaoyao frowned instantly. Before her father could speak, she took a step forward and shielded her father behind her. Then, without saying anything else, she stepped forward straightaway and snatched the hoes from the hands of Zhang Dashui and Old Man Zhang with just a few moves. Immediately after that, Qin Xiaoyao kicked Zhang Dashui to the ground and then stomped on him. It was so painful that Zhang Dashui gritted his teeth and cursed and swore. When Qin Xiaoyao heard that Zhang Dashui still dared to scold her, she stomped her feet. Following that, Zhang Dashui spat out blood. Chapter 206 - 206 Teaching The Zhang Family A Lesson 206 Teaching The Zhang Family A Lesson This sight frightened the Zhang family tremendously. Even Old Mrs. Zhang and Zhang Dashuis wife didnt dare to make a scene. Master! Zhang Dashuis wife ignored her fear and was about to rush toward Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. When Zhang Dashuis wife got closer, she simply grabbed her neck with one move. !! Zhang Dashuis wife was so scared that she screamed in horror. Qin Xiaoyao frowned more deeply. Shut up. If you continue to scream, Ill send you to meet the King of Hell! she said in a sinister voice. Zhang Dashuis wife immediately shut up and stared at Qin Xiaoyao as if she was looking at a ghost. Other than being afraid, she didnt dare to make a sound. Suddenly, there was a pungent smell. Qin Xiaoyaos gaze tracked down the source of the smell and realized that the woman in her hand had peed. A look of disgust shed across her face, and Qin Xiaoyao flung Zhang Dashuis wife aside straightaway. Zhang Dashuis wife cried out in shock and fell down not far away. Then, she hurriedly scrambled and crawled away, not daring to look at Qin Xiaoyao. At the same time, everyone in the courtyard looked at Qin Xiaoyao in terror. Even Qin Dazhuangs eyes were filled with surprise. He knew that his daughter had great strength and maybe even some godly power. However, he didnt expect her to be this powerful. However, this was a good thing. When his daughter disyed her skill and subdued the Zhang family, they would have less trouble. Of course, he had to remind his daughter that she must not kill Zhang Dashui. Otherwise, she herself would be in trouble. When he thought of this, Qin Dazhuang was about to speak. However, Qin Xiaoyao spoke first. Ive said it before. The child in Madam Zhangs stomach is the offspring of our Qin family. Whoever is blind and wants to stop the Qin family from bringing the child back is courting death. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao increased the force on her foot. It crushed Zhang Dashui further, causing him excruciating pain. Sigh! This kind of rough method was still the fastest way to solve problems. She missed the recklessness of the apocalypse somewhat now. What should she do? If they were in the apocalypse now, things would not be soplicated. She could simply kill them or throw them to the zombies, which was convenient and saved a lot of trouble. When they saw this, the Zhang family members were worried, but they didnt dare to look. What was the point of looking at Zhang Dashui? It only pained them when they looked at him. In particr, Zhang Ershui even used his hands to cover his face. Qin Sanya had lost a lot of weight since thest time Zhang Ershui saw her. However, she was stronger and more ruthless than before. It seemed that Zhang Ershui would have to take a detour if he saw her again. Just then, the sound of a child crying came from Madam Zhangs room. After that, Qin Xiaoyao and Qin Dazhuang saw Qin Dahue out with a swaddle in his arms. Qin Erhu and Zhang Laosans eldest aunt followed behind. Zhang Laosans wife wasnt there because she had gone back to report. Her timing happened to miss the Qin family rushing here. Qin Dahu, put the child down! At this moment, Madam Zhangs voice rang out from the room as well. It sounded like she was trying to shout herself hoarse, yet it ended up somewhat weak. This was understandable. After all, Madam Zhang had been inbor for so long that her strength was almost exhausted. However, Madam Zhang knew very well that if the Qin family took her child away, she would be finished. Hence, she had to stop Qin Dahu even if she had to use herst breath. Then, everyone saw the pale-faced Madam Zhang scrambling out of the room. She swayed unsteadily, trying to make Qin Dahu return the child to her. However, Qin Dahu ignored her and passed the child to Qin Dazhuang. Qin Dazhuang held the child and looked at the childs wrinkled face. His face was full of heartache. Just as he was about to tell everyone to leave, he saw Madam Zhang. After not seeing her for more than two months, Madam Zhang had changed a lot. She had lost a lot of weight and became more tanned. In addition, she had just given birth to a child. Her tanned face was suffused with a gray tinge, and she didnt look beautiful at all. Master When Madam Zhang saw Qin Dazhuang, tears immediately welled up in her eyes. She reached out with her hand and called out to Qin Dazhuang. Ever since she was divorced and returned to the Zhang family, she had been thinking about the Qin family almost all the time. ... Even in her dreams, she regretted her foolish actions, whichpletely broke Qin Dazhuangs heart. Qin Dazhuang had been so good to her when she was with the Qin family. She was provided with good food and clothes, and she didnt even have to do much work. She was even allowed to manage the household. However, when she returned to the Zhang family, everyone despised her and felt that she was a burden that was freeloading on them. If not for the fact she was pregnant, and they were nning to make her use the child to tie Qin Dazhuang down again, she would have been kicked out of the house. And today, Qin Dazhuang showed up. Naturally, she could not let him go. If he wanted to leave, he had to take her and the child with him. Madam Zhang had thought that Qin Dazhuang would not be able to bear it after seeing her like this. After that, she would say a few nice words to him, and the matter would be settled. To her surprise, Qin Dazhuang only gave one nce at her and looked away. Then, he said, Lets go. ... Following that, he turned around and left with the child in his arms. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu heaved a sigh of relief in unison. They red at Madam Zhang and quickly followed. Madam Zhangs expression changed drastically. She didnt care about anything else and ran after them. Master Boo hoo hoo, Master! Dont go! However, she was blocked by Qin Xiaoyao before she could even take a few steps. Madam Zhang was just about to scold Qin Xiaoyao to make her move away. However, Qin Xiaoyao flipped her over onto the ground effortlessly in one move. She ignored Madam Zhang, who was screaming in pain and looked directly at the Zhang family. Keep an eye on your family member properly. If anyone still continues to try to cling to my family shamelessly, he will get killed if hes not careful. The Zhang family members were terrified, but Qin Xiaoyao was very satisfied. The corners of her mouth curled up into a coldhearted smile as she turned around and left. Of course, things would not end here. Wasnt there going to be a locust gue followed by a war disaster in Mountain Spring Town soon? She would wait. When the war disaster came, she would find a chance to get rid of this problem once and for all. After all, her new younger brothers kin were just these people. If these people lived on, they were a hidden danger. Hehe! Qin Xiaoyao was suddenly looking forward to the war disaster. What was wrong with her? Qin Dazhuang carried the child and led Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu away. They walked all the way very quickly. They didnt stop until they were out of the Zhang familys vige. Then they stopped by the roadside to wait for Qin Xiaoyao. At this moment, the father and sons trio were both excited and nervous. They did not expect that they would be able to bring the child back so smoothly. After a while, Qin Xiaoyao arrived. Only then did Qin Dazhuang rx. After making sure that the Zhang family did note after them, they carried the child and continued on their way. Qin Xiaoyao knew her father was anxious to bring the child back to the Qin familys house, so she didnt say much and followed the three of them quickly. As they were feeling anxious, they didnt feel like they had walked for long, even though it was a long journey. They returned to the Qin familys house before noon. Eldest Sister-inw Qin was already waiting at home, straining her neck eagerly. When she saw her father-inw and the others return, she hurriedly came forward to wee them. Seeing that his eldest daughter-inw wanted to carry the child, Qin Dazhuang wasnt unwilling to let go. He straightaway handed the child to his eldest daughter-inw. Hurry up and send him to the Liu family. Also, think of a way to reduce the heat for the child, Qin Dazhuang said. Although he was careful on the way and tried not to let the child get exposed to the sun, the child had just been born, and Qin Dazhuang had carried him for such a long distance. The child must have suffered from the heat. Alright! Eldest Sister-inw Qin answered quickly. Then, she put on her bamboo hat and went out. Chapter 207 - 207 Raising Him As Their Son 207 Raising Him As Their Son Ever since her family received the news, Eldest Sister-inw Qin had already gone to the Liu family to inform them. It was also possible to send the child there to cool him down. Besides, Mrs. Liu was more experienced in taking care of children than Eldest Sister-inw Qin was, so the former would definitely be able to take better care of the child. Qin Dazhuang watched as his eldest daughter-inw carried the child away. He only came back to his senses when he heard his daughter calling him. !! Stop staring. Eldest Sister-inw has sent the child for milk feeding. Shell bring him backter. Its hot outside. Lets go in and talk, Qin Xiaoyao said. Mm-hmm, Qin Dazhuang replied and entered the house with Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu were already waiting in the house. Second Sister-inw Qin even brought over some sugar water. When Qin Xiaoyao saw the sugar water, she didnt stand on ceremony. She picked up one bowl and gulped it down. The trio of father and sons from the Qin family did the same. After walking all the way back from the Zhang familys vige under the scorching sun, they were all extremely thirsty. After finishing the water, Qin Xiaoyao and Qin Dazhuang pulled out the benches and sat down. Then, they each took out a palm-leaf fan to fan themselves. Qin Xiaoyao only fanned herself twice before she directed the fan at Qin Dazhuang and started fanning him. Qin Dazhuang immediately broke into a grin and finally recovered his good humor. Fan yourself. Look at your forehead. Its covered in sweat, he said to his daughter. Im heat-resistant. Its not a problem! Father, you should cool down first! As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she continued to fan Qin Dazhuang. Qin Dazhuang nced at his daughter and didnt reject her goodwill anymore. He enjoyed his daughters service in peace. He even put down his own fan. After a moment, he said with a sigh, Sigh! The matter has finally been resolved. When they heard that, everyone in the Qin family also heaved a sigh of relief. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, looked at her father with a smile. Its good that the matter has been resolved. But why are you still frowning? Youve seen it. Its a younger brother, right? What should I name him? Qin Dazhuang spoke up again. As soon as Qin Dazhuang said this, the members of the Qin family immediately looked at him. Qin Dazhuang paused for a while. After a moment of silence, he said, Lets call him Xiaohu. Qin Xiaohu. He had actually thought of giving his child a name before, but he had only considered girls names. In the end, he had a son. Qin Xiaohu As Qin Xiaoyao repeated the name, she could not help but smile as she looked at her big brother and second brother. Her big brother was called Qin Dahu, which meant big tiger, and her second brother was called Qin Erhu, which meant second tiger. Now, there was Qin Xiaohu, which meant little tiger. It was obvious that they were a family. It was not a bad idea. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged nces and nodded as well. Xiaohu Thats a good name, Qin Dahu muttered. Then, from now on, Xiaohu will be our youngest brother, he continued. Both Qin Erhu and Qin Xiaoyaoughed. The atmosphere instantly became more cheerful. Qin Dazhuang didntugh. Instead, he frowned. He looked at his eldest son. Xiaohu will be given to your eldest sons household. You can raise him as your son. When he grows up, let him take care of you and your wife in your old age, Qin Dazhuang said. The underlying meaning of his words was that he was not prepared to acknowledge this son. This was for the good of his eldest sons family and Xiaohu. There was a high chance that the eldest son and the eldest daughter-inw would not be able to have children in the future. They could raise Xiaohu with all their heart and be good enough to be Xiaohus parents. In addition, giving Xiaohu to the eldest sons household could also avoid some trouble, especially from the Zhang family. Qin Dahu was shocked instantly. But How can I allow this? he stammered. Xiaohu was his fathers son, his little brother. How could he be Qin Dahus son? Although Qin Dahu had thought in this direction before, he quickly dispelled the idea. Qin Erhu and Qin Xiaoyao also frowned and looked at Qin Dazhuang. It was indeed not very ethical to do so, but it was reasonable. Keeping Xiaohu in the eldest sons household would indeed save them a lot of trouble. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and suddenly said, I think its feasible! When she saw everyone looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao said, Many people knew that Madam Zhang was married to Father. ... Now that Xiaohu has returned suddenly, and hes Fathers child, it is inevitable that others will talk. In this current situation, Xiaohu will not be able to break all ties with the Zhang family. Father has also divorced Madam Zhang, which is not good for Xiaohu. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she turned to look at Qin Dahu. Why dont you and Eldest Sister-inw just adopt Xiaohu, Big Brother? Lets just take it that Eldest Sister-inw gave birth to Xiaohu. At that point, Xiaohu would have a father and a mother. Even if the neighbors around us get suspicious, its not good for them to say anything without evidence. In this way, our family canpletely cut off all ties with the Zhang family. When Xiaohu grows up, people wontugh at him either. It was entirely possible for a child whose mother had been divorced to beughed at by his peers. To ensure that Xiaohu had a happy childhood, Qin Xiaoyao supported her fathers idea. When she saw that Qin Dahu was still hesitating, Qin Xiaoyao chuckled and said, Big Brother, dont think too much about it. Xiaohu is a child of our Qin family and your biological brother. And you two have such a big age difference. Its perfectly fine for you and Eldest Sister-inw to raise him and let him acknowledge you as his father. ... As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Qin Dazhuang. And Father, on his end, can be directly promoted to be a grandfather. Its quite a good idea. Hehe! And I still want to be his aunt! Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Qin Dazhuang was still a little glum at first, but after hearing Qin Xiaoyaos words, he suddenly felt that grandfather sounded better than father. After all, he was already an old man. It was a little awkward to be called father by a baby in the future, now that he thought about it. Besides, his two daughters-inw had not given him any grandchildren yet. In fact, he had been looking forward to hearing a little child calling him Grandpa. Therefore, Qin Dazhuang spoke outright, This matter is settled then. Qin Dahu was taken aback as he looked at his father. He saw his father looking back at him. Alright! Qin Dahu responded. It was considered that he had agreed. When Qin Erhu saw this, he quickly said with a smile, Great! Im also an Uncle now! Im going to be his Aunt! Second Sister-inw Qin also chimed in. The room quickly became lively. The Qin family was overjoyed. After a while, Second Sister-inw Qin said, The food in the kitchen is ready. Father, wait a moment. Ill go bring out the food! Qin Xiaoyao quickly stood up. Second Sister-inw, Ill help you! she said as she followed Second Sister-inw Qin. Second Sister-inw Qin courteously asked Qin Xiaoyao to sit down, but she wasnt able to resist Qin Xiaoyaos persistent offer to help out. The two sisters-inw then set aside a portion of the food for Eldest Sister-inw Qin. After that, they set out the remaining dishes on the dining table. Due to the happy asion at home, the family ate very happily. After dinner, Qin Xiaoyao and Second Sister-inw Qin cleared the table and washed the dishes. Eldest Sister-inw Qin only came back when the two were halfway through washing the dishes. Eldest Sister-inw, you must be hungry. Quick, have your meal! Qin Xiaoyao quickly said to her sister-inw when she saw her. Wheres Xiaohu? Second Sister-inw Qin asked. At the same time, she went to help Eldest Sister-inw Qin get the bowl and utensils. I left him with Mrs. Liu. Mrs. Liu said she would help me look after him. Ill go over again after eating, Eldest Sister-inw Qin replied. After epting the bowl and utensils, she sat at a small table and began eating. Is Xiaohu alright? Has his body heat subsided? Qin Xiaoyao also asked. Hes fine, Eldest Sister-inw Qin replied with a smile. Mrs. Liu is very good at taking care of children. When I carried the child over, she immediately helped to wipe the childs body. Chapter 208 - 208 Half of Stocked Up Grains Consumed 208 Half of Stocked Up Grains Consumed After that, she fed the baby milk. Ive already coaxed the child to sleep. Thinking of the adorable demeanor of the sleeping child, Eldest Sister-inw Qin couldnt resist smiling. Although the child looked wrinkly, he was still very cute. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and exchanged a look with her second sister-inw. !! After that, Qin Xiaoyao exined her fathers intentions to her eldest sister-inw. When Eldest Sister-inw Qin heard this, she was both surprised and delighted. Did Father really mean it? she asked. He sure did! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. In the future, you will be Xiaohus mother, Eldest Sister-inw. Im his little aunt! And Im his second aunt! Second sister-inw Qin chimed in as well. The kitchen was filled withughter in an instant. After dinner, Eldest Sister-inw Qin washed her own dishes before going with Qin Xiaoyao to meet Qin Dazhuang and the others. At this moment, the father and sons trio were enjoying the shade under the tree in the courtyard. When they saw Eldest Sister-inw Qin and Qin Xiaoyaoing over, the three of them stopped talking mid-conversation. After that, Qin Dazhuang asked Eldest Sister-inw Qin about Qin Xiaohus condition. When they learned that Qin Xiaohu was fine, the father and sons trio were relieved. Qin Dazhuang then exined his thoughts and arrangement. Qin Xiaoyao had already told Eldest Sister-inw Qin about this when they were in the kitchen. Thus, Eldest Sister-inw Qin was already aware, and so she naturally agreed to the arrangement. In this way, Qin Xiaohus identity was confirmed. After the initial joy, Eldest Sister-inw Qin turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Then she spoke up, I still have to go over to the Liu familys ce for a look. Younger Sis, Im afraid the work today ording to their previous agreement, Eldest Sister-inw Qin had to go to the Song familys residence to help out from 1 pm to 7 pm. However, Xiaohu had just returned, so she had to spend a lot of time taking care of him. Although Mrs. Liu had agreed to help Eldest Sister-inw Qin look after the child, Eldest Sister-inw Qin was afraid that it would not be good in the long run. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. No problem. Its more important to take care of Xiaohu. Besides Qin Xiaoyao paused for a while. Now that Xiaohu is back, lets change our working hours as well, she continued after some thought. The amount of goods I send to Fortune Mansion every day is less than before. I can do many things myself. How about this, Eldest Sister-inw? You will work two hours less every day. Come to my ce after 3 pm. Then youll have more time to take care of Xiaohu. Eldest Sister-inw Qins expression drastically. How can I do this? She immediately refused. After pondering for a while, she continued, How about I go to your house at 9 pm and help out for another two hours to make up for the time? When she saw that Qin Xiaoyao didnt reply, a hint of hesitation shed across Eldest Sister-inw Qins face. Or, you can reduce my wages. You can deduct two hours from the total wages every day, she said. Of course, Eldest Sister-inw Qin didnt want to be paid less, but now she had to take care of Xiaohu. She also had to take care of her second sister-inw at home since thetter was pregnant. Eldest Sister-inw Qin was struggling somewhat to cope. A look of hesitation shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. After thinking for a while, she finally said, Alright. Then you will work two hours less in the afternoon, and the wages will be changed to 40 copper coins. Eldest Sister-inw Qin pondered for a moment and realized that her younger sister-inw had calcted too much wages for her. When she was about to object, Qin Xiaoyao spoke up first. Well set it at 40 copper coins. As for the extra pay, take it as a gift to Xiaohu from me, his aunt. With these words from Qin Xiaoyao, Eldest Sister-inw Qin could find no way to refute her. Touched by the gesture, Eldest Sister-inw Qin agreed. The other members of the Qin family didnt say anything either. After Eldest Sister-inw Qin left, Qin Xiaoyao returned to her fathers side and sat down. She continued to chat and keep her father and two brotherspany. Although its not easy to harvest pigs now, we dont kill pigs so often. Theres no need to get worried, Qin Dazhuang said to his second son. But the dock.. Dahu has already gone to work there, and he thinks its fine. Do you want to go too? A look of hesitation shed across Qin Erhus face. I can go. But if I do that, youre managing the stall all alone Whats wrong with managing the stall alone? Now, we only sell our meat during big market fairs. Usually, I only sell some bean sprouts and straw sandals. You think I cant do it alone? Qin Dazhuang replied. Seeing his second sons worry, he added, Dont worry. ... Now that we have brought Xiaohu back, I wont be soft-hearted even if the Zhang familyes to beg me. If they know whats good for them, theyd better note. Otherwise, theres no other oue for them other than getting beaten up. He had already divorced Madam Zhang for so long and had long thought things through. It wasnt easy for the family to restore harmony. Things were good now. Naturally, Qin Dazhuang would not want to cause any more trouble for his family. Qin Erhu was still hesitant as he looked at Qin Dahu and Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Dazhuang was a little annoyed by his sons expression. Stop staring! Isnt it a waste to keep both of us at the stall for so little work? Your wife is about to give birth soon. If we dont think of ways to earn more money now, what will we do when we need money? Qin Erhus heart skipped a beat as he frowned. Of course, he was also worried about this. ... His eldest brothers household seemed to be in a more difficult situation than his. After all, Xiaohu had returned. However, in reality, his own households future would probably be more tenuous than his elder brothers. After all, his wife was about to give birth. As for Erhu and his wife, they didnt have any work to do. Although he could make some money by running a stall with his father, buying pigs, killing pigs, and selling their meat, Erhus share of the earnings was really limited in a situation where business was not good. At this moment, Qin Dahu spoke up, Juste with me! Lets go to the dock together. We can take care of each other. Its convenient to ask for leave at the dock anyway. When the timees, if Father needs help, we can just apply for leave! Qin Erhu finally nodded his head. Alright! Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up in a smile when she heard them. The family would be better off if her two brothers had jobs. Then, Qin Xiaoyao recalled something and asked the three of them, By the way, have you consumed the food that youve been stocking up? How much is left? The father and sons trio were stunned. After exchanging a few nces, Qin Dahu spoke. Both our households are having meals together now. The batch of food that we bought previously has beenbined and stored together. At first, your two sisters-inw didnt intend to touch the food. But we didnt expect the price of grain to keep rising. The two of them couldnt bear to spend money on new grain. They thought that since there was still grain at home, they used the existing stock instead. At this point, Qin Dahu couldnt help but sigh. It was already toote when I found out the day before yesterday. I estimate that we have less than 500 catties of grain left at home. Upon hearing this, Qin Erhu also appeared extremely dejected. The day before yesterday, Big Brother told me about this. We were still thinking about going to the grain store to buy some more grain to make up for it. But The price of the grain in the grain store had already soared sky-high. The price of brown rice and coarse flour had already risen to 10 copper coins per catty. Back then, not even refined rice and flour were sold at this price! Even though the two brothers went to the grain store, they didnt buy anything and came back empty-handed eventually. Qin Dazhuangs eyes widened when he heard this. His two sons had never mentioned this to him before! Chapter 209 - 209 Planning To Sell Grain 209 nning To Sell Grain Almost half of the food stocked up earlier had already been eaten! How could this situation be allowed? What if there really was a famine? Seeing that Qin Dazhuang was starting to get angry, Qin Xiaoyao quickly tugged on her fathers arm. Father, dont be anxious, she said. The father and sons trio looked at Qin Xiaoyao with troubled expressions. How could they not be anxious about this situation? Even if the brothers went to the dock, they only earned 90 copper coins each after working for a day. ording to the current grain prices, one person could only buy nine catties of brown rice or coarse flour. It would be too difficult to stock up on food again. Besides, there were other expenses in the family besides food. After receiving the wages, how could they use it all to buy food to stock up? Qin Xiaoyao gave augh. Dont worry. I still have quite a lot with me, she said. The eyes of the three men flickered. Then, Qin Dazhuang immediately expressed his objection. What your family has belongs to your family. Besides, grain is very precious now. You can store this thing, but dont let people know. It was fine if his daughter gave them money under normal circumstances, but if she really brought the grain over, the Song family would definitely have something to say. If Qin Dazhuang were in their shoes, he would also have something to say. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu nodded as well. They appreciated their younger sisters consideration for her maiden family. However, they couldnt allow their younger sister to bring the Song familys grain back to the Qin family. Qin Xiaoyaoughed again when she saw this. I didnt say Id give it for free! She raised her voice a little as she said this. The father and sons trio stared at her in stunned silence. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled and continued, My husband discussed it with me yesterday. He said that theres too much food stored in the house. Now that the price of grain has risen, I just want to get rid of a batch. But my family doesnt own a grain store, so how can we use the same selling price as the grain stores? Thats why I asked about the situation of your family stocking up on grain. If your family is still short of food, we will give priority to selling to you. As for the price, I can sell you at 5 copper coins, Qin Xiaoyao said. She wanted to give it to them for free, but that was provided her father and two brothers were willing to ept it. Therefore, Qin Xiaoyao decided to set a token price with a 50% discount to pacify them. The expressions on the father and sons trio instantly rxed substantially. However, Qin Dazhuang was still frowning. Whats the price in the grain store now? he asked. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged nces. Following that, Qin Dahu replied, 10 copper coins per catty. To be honest, Qin Dahu was really tempted when his younger sister wanted to sell them at 5 copper coins per catty. It was mainly because they did not have much money at home. However Forget it. Hed better listen to Father. Qin Dazhuang was taken aback. A hint of hesitation shed across his face. Sell us at 8 copper coins per catty, he said. After a moments thought, he asked again, How much more grain do you have stocked up, and how much are you nning to sell? Qin Xiaoyao was caught by surprise. How much grain was stocked up? Including those batches in the cer, she probably had tens of thousands of catties. Of course, she had to keep this a secret. Quite a lot because my husband said that the price of grain would rise. Some time ago, I had money in my hands, so I went to the grain store to buy grain. Im afraid that the total amount of food we bought is more than 10,000 catties, I guess More than 10,000 catties was a bit exaggerated, but the amount of brown rice and coarse flour in the storage room definitely added up to at least 6,000 catties. If she didnt give a higher figure, her father might not let her sell all of them. If she kept them, it might turn into a disaster for all she knew. As for the Qin family, since Qin Xiaoyao was the Qin familys daughter, she knew that their family had a suitable ce to store grain, and it was quite well concealed. It was not much worse than the Song familys cer. ... When the time came, if a war disaster really broke out in the town, she believed that with her fathers wisdom, he would know where to store the food. Qin Xiaoyaos words stunned the father and sons trio. More than 10,000 catties? Qin Dahu stammered as he asked. Qin Dazhuang and Qin Erhu were also extremely shocked. They knew that their daughter/younger sister was capable and had led the whole Song family to earn a lot of money. However, with more than 10,000 catties of grain, even if she were to sell them at the original price, she could still earn 20 to 30 taels of silver. Wasnt Qin Xiaoyao too good at earning morning? And she was too willing to spend money on such things. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. I was thinking of selling about 6,000 catties. The remaining 4,000 catties should be enough, she continued. Qin Dazhuang quickly recovered himself. ... Theres no hurry, he said in a low voice. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him, he said, You can slowly sell some, but dont be in a hurry to sell all of them. The price of grain might increase again after this. Since you have grain in your hands now, you can take your time to release them. This way, you can earn more. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Her father had a really good brain. However she couldnt afford to wait so long. She had to get rid of the grain before the war disaster. Of course, there was no hurry at the present moment. They still had to wait for the locust gue to break out, and the price of grain would rise again. Hehe! Other than the Qin family, no one else could dream of buying grain from her at such a low price. Even if the price were 10 copper coins per catty, she would not sell. That was right. The reason Qin Xiaoyao brought up the matter of selling grain to her father and two brothers now was In fact, she was thinking of selling the grain to them at a lower price before the price of grain soared again. Sigh! Qin Xiaoyao was really blessed and troubled by the fact that she had such a considerate father and brothers. Mm-hmm. Indeed, theres no rush. In any case, Ive already discussed it with my husband. Ill give you priority when I sell the grain. The price has also been set. Its 5 copper coins! Seeing that Qin Dazhuang was about to say something, Qin Xiaoyao quickly interrupted him. Father, dont be in a hurry to object. Theres a reason for this. Qin Dazhuang was puzzled. It was also in this ce that you mentioned to my two brothers about stocking up on grain, Qin Xiaoyao said. After I went back that time, I told my husband about this. Following that, the two of us started to stock up on grain in great quantities. Moreover, Ive already considered that you guys dont have much savings. I was afraid that you wouldnt be able to stock up on too much food, so I intentionally stocked up more. I also told my husband and the rest that of the amount I bought, I was helping to stock up 1,000 catties for you guys. We had agreed that if the price of grain increased, I would sell it to you at 5 copper coins. If it didnt increase, then we could keep it for our own use. Qin Xiaoyao made up a tant lie without her face blushing or her heart missing a beat. The Qin familys father and sons were all extremely shocked. Their daughter/younger sister had actually done such a thing for them? And the Song family had agreed to it? Well, the Song family members, whether it was Song Que or Madam Liu, were all very easy to talk to. They treated their daughter/younger sister very well too. Such a thing was indeed possible. When she saw the expressions on the faces of the father and sons trio, Qin Xiaoyao said, So, for 5 taels of silver, I can give you 1,000 catties of brown rice or coarse flour. She saw that the three of them were still in a state of shock and didnt reply. Qin Xiaoyao then added, Also, if your family is in a hurry, you dont have to pay up at once. Big Brother and Second Brother are going to the dock to work, right? You can pay me when you have more money in your hands. Qin Dazhuang finally came back to his senses. How can I allow that? he said, but his tone was no longer as determined as before. It was obvious that the old man was tempted. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu immediately turned to their father. Qin Xiaoyao smiled in amusement. My family agreed on it in advance. Why cant I go ahead with it? Chapter 210 - 210 Selling A Thousand Catties 210 Selling A Thousand Catties Since Ivee here today to inform you, then theres no time to waste. Later, Big Brother and Second Brother, you two can go to my house to get the grain. Just take a thousand catties. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu looked hesitant. After exchanging a nce, they turned to look at their father. Since their younger sister had already said so, it was very difficult for them to refuse. !! Qin Dazhuang thought for a while and finally nodded. Since Sanya has said so, you two can go and get the grain. However, you mustnt dy the payment. I can take out one tael on my part. For the remaining four taels, you two households fork out two taels each. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged nces. Alright! they answered in the affirmative. After that, the three of them got up and went back to their rooms to get the money. Qin Xiaoyao was utterly speechless. After a while, the father and sons trio returned. They pooled the five taels of silver and gave the money to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao felt a little helpless, but she still epted the money. Then, she reminded her two brothers again to go to her house to bring back the grain. Dont worry. Well go when the sun is a little lower. When the timees, Ill need to borrow your familys handcart, Qin Dahu said. Just help yourself. The handcart is in the storage room. Ill bring you guys to get it at that point, Qin Xiaoyao responded readily. After settling the matter of getting grain, the family began chatting about other things very quickly. For the entire afternoon, the Qin family was immersed in a joyous atmosphere. Qin Xiaoyao stayed in the Qin familys ce until evening before leaving. She brought her two brothers back to the Song familys residence as well. Ever since Eldest Sister-inw Qin went to the Song familys ce to help, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt as busy as before. The business from Fortune Mansion had declined. Now, she only sent some bean sprouts every day. Even the sale of century eggs dropped. After it became more difficult to collect the chicken and duck eggs, Qin Xiaoyao only prepared century eggs once every two days now. At the moment, the most time-consuming work at home was taking care of the bean sprouts in the sheds and selling water. At the moment, the Song family had enough manpower. Back at the Song family. Qin Xiaoyao brought Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu to the storage room straightaway. Then, she helped the two of them take stock of the goods. These rice and flour were all packed by the grain store. Each sack is 50 catties. If its 1000 catties, then its 20 sacks. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao pointed at two piles of grain. This pile is brown rice, and that pile over there is coarse flour. You can decide how much each type of food you need. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged nces. Then, after some calctions, they made a decision. Give me more coarse flour. I want 12 sacks. Ill have brown rice for the remaining 8 sacks, Qin Dahu said. Coarse flour could be used to make pancakes, and they could be eaten directly with chili sauce and pickled vegetables. When brown rice was cooked, they still had to cook other dishes to go with it. If there was a famine, coarse flour would be more useful than brown rice. Alright. Then lets load the goods. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she began to move the sacks. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu knew that their younger sister was strong, so they didnt stop her. Soon, the three siblings loaded a total of 20 sacks of brown rice and coarse flour onto the two handcarts. After that, Qin Xiaoyao personally sent the two of them off. After that, she went to the courtyard to help her husband and mother-inw sell water. Upon seeing her daughter-inw walking over, Madam Liu gave up her seat with a smile. Since youre here, its your turn to keep watch here. Ill go make dinner, she said. There werent so many people who came to buy water recently. The reason was that everyone knew that the Song family had enough water, so they didnt rush here early to queue up. Those who were more anxious came earlier. Those who were not in a hurry wouldeter. Anyway, the Song family always sold water for two hours per session. As long as they came over at the corresponding session, they would usually be able to buy water. Hehe! Thank you for your hard work, Mother! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. She sat down in the seat that Madam Liu had vacated. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt good at cooking, and she didnt really like to cook. ... Therefore, her mother-inw, little sister-inw, and Xiaomei were the ones who usually settled the cooking chores at home. What hard work? You silly child! After chiding Qin Xiaoyao gently, Madam Liu walked away with a smile. After Madam Liu had walked far away, Song Que turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Hows the matter at my father-inws ce? he asked with curiosity. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. With me taking action, of course, its all settled! she said somewhat proudly. She recalled the scene where she taught the Zhang family a lesson in the morning. Qin Xiaoyao was still reveling in gleeful satisfaction at the thought. After that, Qin Xiaoyao regaled Song Que with an ount of how she attacked everyone in the Zhang family and subdued them. She also told him how she protected her father and two brothers as they took Xiaohu away. After we returned, Father made an announcement. He decided to let Big Brother and Eldest Sister-inw raise Xiaohu as their own son. ... Song Que listened and nodded. This way, they can indeed save a lot of trouble, he said. Yes, thats what I thought too. After some thought, Qin Xiaoyao moved closer to Song Que. She shielded Song Ques ears with her hands and said in an even lower voice, In addition, just now, I allowed Big Brother and Second Brother to bring back a thousand catties of grain. I epted five taels of silver from them. Song Que was surprised. He looked at Qin Xiaoyao. I didnt ask for it. It was Father who insisted on paying me, Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly exined. In the beginning, Father wanted to pay me 8 copper coins per catty. Thankfully, I was smart. I lied and said that Ive discussed this in advance with you and agreed that the price is 5 copper coins. Only then did Father finally agree. Upon hearing this, Song Ques expression rxed considerably. Then go to the textile shop tomorrow and get some good cloth to send to Eldest and Second Sisters-inw, he said after some thought. Just say its for the two children. Almost all of the money for the familys grain was earned by his wife, so Song Que didnt have any objections to using some of that money on his wifes maiden family. Now that his wife had epted the money, he had to find a way to give some of the money back to the Qin family. It was just nice that Xiaohu was back. In addition, Second Sister-inw was about to give birth soon. It was also good to get some cloth for them so that they could make some clothes for the children. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. This is a good idea! My husband is indeed smart! She gave Song Que a thumbs up. Song Que smiled in amusement. Then, he quickly retracted his smile. He scanned the area around him to make sure that no one was looking at him. Then he put on a serious expression again. Qin Xiaoyao found his action quiteical. However, she didnt expose her husband. After thinking for a while, she added, Then Ill buy some coarse cloth as well to help Father and the rest shield the house against the locusts. The rooms in her maiden familys home were not as enclosed as her own house. If the Qin family didnt use cloth to shield their rooms, many of the locusts would fly into their house. Mm-hmm, Song Que replied. Very soon, the water-selling session ended. Madam Liu and the others had already prepared dinner. The Song family began to eat in the hall. During the meal, Madam Liu also asked about the Qin familys situation. When she found out that the matter had been resolved, Madam Liu was relieved. After learning that Qin Xiaoyao was going to sell grain, Madam Liu was also very supportive. I heard that the price of brown rice and coarse flour has risen to 10 copper coins per catty. If we sell them now, we can make quite a bit of money, Madam Liu said with a smile. The reason was that there was too much grain at home, so it was just nice to sell some. Wang Xiaomei was a little surprised. She looked at Qin Xiaoyao but didnt say anything. Chapter 211 - 211 Giving Silver Lockets 211 Giving Silver Lockets Wang Xiaomei held a different view from Madam Liu. She felt that the price of food would probably rise further. It was also for this reason that after she made money from selling goods and weaving straw sandals, she spent most of her money on food, just like Qin Xiaoyao. Even now, when the price of grain had reached 10 copper coins, Wang Xiaomei had not stopped stocking up. Even though she was buying less and less now, she still persevered. !! This was because she had to think of her big brother and father. If a famine really broke out, Wang Xiaomei could still live a good life with the Song family. However, her big brother and father would probably have a hard time. Yet now, Mrs. Song said she wanted to sell her grain. Was Mrs. Song not optimistic that the grain price would rise? Wang Xiaomei did not quite believe it. At the same time, she was a little scared. After all, the cost of the grain she bought was much higher than what Mrs. Song had paid for hers. If the grain price really rose to a high point, it would fall soon. Wang Xiaomei would lose money on her purchase then. Qin Xiaoyao saw Wang Xiaomeis expression but she didnt borate further. Instead, she looked at her mother-inw. Theres no rush. Well wait a few more days before selling. Well just get rid of some, and the rest will be enough for us to eat for half a year, she said. In fact, there was no need to keep enough stock for more than half a year. Four to five hundred catties would be enough. If the quantity was less, it would be easier to hide them when the need arose. Of course, Qin Xiaoyao didnt need to tell her mother-inw about this. Otherwise, she would be worried again. Thats what I thought too. Madam Liu did not think too much and replied with a smile. After the meal, Madam Liu and Song Yun went to wash the dishes, and Wang Xiaomei finally approached Qin Xiaoyao. Mrs. Song Qin Xiaoyao nced at Wang Xiaomei and asked with a smile, Whats the matter? The grain are you really going to sell them? Wang Xiaomei asked nervously. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Mm-hmm, she responded. Wang Xiaomeis expression changed. Is the grain price going to drop? she asked urgently. Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback. No, its not. It probably wont fall, and the probability is high that it will still rise, she said after some thought. Wang Xiaomei felt more at ease, but nheless, she still asked, Then why Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Its because Ive stocked up too much food. Since the price has already risen and reached my ideal price, I feel that I can release them for sale. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the puzzled Wang Xiaomei and continued, If I only make my move when the price reaches the highest point, I will naturally earn the most. But who knows where the highest point is? Its enough as long as I make sure that I can make money. If I can earn the amount I anticipated in the beginning, its good enough. After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao reached out and patted Wang Xiaomeis shoulder. I think I know what youre worried about. Since youre not buying grain to make money, theres nothing to worry. If you need to continue to stock up on grain, then continue to stock up. After all, if the famine really breaks out, money may not be able to get you any food. Wang Xiaomeis heart shuddered. She seemed to experience a feeling of sudden enlightenment. Mm-hmm! She quickly nodded at Qin Xiaoyao, no longer hesitant in her heart. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were filled with admiration as Wang Xiaomei left. After she returned to her room, she told Song Que about this. Im quite impressed with this girl Xiaomei. If she is nurtured well, she will be capable of great things in the future. Just the fact that Xiaomei could spend so much money to follow in Qin Xiaoyaos footsteps to stock up on grain was enough to show that girls intelligence. Qin Xiaoyao had heard a story before the apocalypse. It was said that when the driver of a certain big shot retired, the big shot wanted to reward him with two million dors, but the driver turned down his offer. The reason was that the driver had been driving for the big shot for 30 years. In the car, he had heard the big shot discussing a lot of business matters with other people on the phone. He knew which real estate, which plots ofnd, and which stocks the big shot was paying attention to. After that, the driver simply followed in the big shots footsteps and invested in the same areas. Just like that, the driver obtained arge amount of investment returns just by following the big shots judgment. And these profits had already exceeded 10 million over the course of 30 years. It was enough for the driver to spend his old age infort. Even though Qin Xiaoyao wasnt a big shot, she was analogous to the big shot while Wang Xiaomei was the driver, at least in Wang Xiaomeis eyes. ... After all, Qin Xiaoyaos information came from her husband, a prophet who could predict the future. If Wang Xiaomei followed in Qin Xiaoyaos footsteps, not only would the girl save money, but she could also save her life. Song Que nodded in agreement. Then, he asked Qin Xiaoyao, Will you really let her go after five years? Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback. After thinking for a while, she shook her head. I dont know. Well see how our familys situation is when the timees. Five years was still a long time. Song Que could not resistughing softly. Sure enough, it was just as he had thought. His wife was not as kind as she appeared to be. ... However, he liked it. The next day, after Qin Xiaoyao delivered the goods to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant, she went to the textile shop. After getting four rolls of fine cloth, she bought quite a lot of coarse cloth. Then, on the way to the Qin family, she passed by a silver shop. On the spur of the moment, Qin Xiaoyao entered the silver shop and chose two small silver lockets. Thereafter, she proceeded to the Qin family. Both Eldest Sister-inw Qin and Second Sister-inw Qin were at home. Seeing that their young sister-inw had arrived, they quickly weed her warmly. When they saw that their young sister-inw had sent so many pieces of cloth, the two of them were extremely grateful. I was just thinking of buying some more materials to make clothes for Xiaohu. This is great. I can save money again. Eldest Sister-inw Qin said to Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. Second Sister-inw Qin looked at her tummy and added, Thats right. I have to start preparing too. I dont even need to go to the textile shop now. Ahem. I happened to pass by, so I bought them. Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she picked up the cloth from the handcart. Each of you will get half. Tell me where to put it so I can move them for you, Qin Xiaoyao said in a forthright manner. Eldest Sister-inw Qin hurried forward to help. You can help Second Sister-inw move her share. Ill move mine myself! Thus, the three women quickly got to work. After dividing the fabric, Qin Xiaoyao looked at her eldest sister-inw. Wheres Xiaohu? Is he at home? she asked curiously. Hehe! Hes here. But hes already asleep. Ill bring you to take a look at him? Eldest Sister-inw Qin said with augh. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Alright! she immediately answered. Yesterday, she did not get to take a good look at the little child. She must not miss the chance today. Come with me, Eldest Sister-inw Qin said immediately. Then, she led Qin Xiaoyao into the house. Qin Xiaoyao entered the slightly dark room and saw the little baby sleeping on the bed. At this moment, the baby was sleeping soundly. He was so small, like a wrapped up silkworm baby. Qin Xiaoyaos hands itched to touch the childs tiny tender face. However, she restrained herself eventually and didnt reach out. A baby at the suckling stage was hard to cajole. If Qin Xiaoyao really woke him up, he would keep her sister-inw very busy for a good while. A look of hesitation shed across Qin Xiaoyaos face. In the end, she didnt take out the silver locket. Instead, she stood up, tugged at Eldest Sister-inw Qins arm, and quietly followed her out of the house. She only took out the small silver locket when she was outside. She gave one of them to Eldest Sister-inw Qin. This is for Xiaohu. When he wakes up, you can put it on for him, Eldest Sister-inw! Eldest Sister-inw Qin quickly refused her gift. How can I ept this? Its too valuable! The silver locket might appear small, but it probably weighed around one tael. Two lockets would weigh two taels. Chapter 212 - 212 The Locust Plague Arrived 212 The Locust gue Arrived In addition, there was the cloth that her young sister-inw had sent over. The total value was probably close to three taels of silver. Yesterday, their family had just bought five taels of silver worth of grain from the Song family at a low price. Today, her young sister-inw had returned with a gift worth three taels of silver. This was really Gosh, Eldest Sister-inw, just ept it! This is what Im giving Xiaohu as his aunt. Its not meant for you. Also, theres one for Second Sister-inw too. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao grabbed Eldest Sister-inw Qins hand and shoved a small silver locket into her hand. Eldest Sister-inw Qins face turned red. Then Ill ept it without shame, she said with some embarrassment. In the past, when Madam Zhang was still around, Eldest Sister-inw Qin had actually stood on Madam Zhangs side to make things difficult for her young sister-inw quite often. Yet now Luckily, her young sister-inw didnt take it to heart. And she was so kind to Eldest Sister-inw Qin too. Eldest Sister-inw Qin had to treat her young sister-inw better in the future. Just ept it. Its to give him protection! Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. After talking to Eldest Sister-inw Qin for a while, Qin Xiaoyao went to look for her second sister-inw. After giving the other silver locket to her second sister-inw, Qin Xiaoyao left the Qin family. When she got home, Qin Xiaoyao told Song Que about Qin Xiaohu. You dont even know how tender that babys face looked. It made me want to reach out and pinch him. Qin Xiaoyao was still a little excited when she recalled the moment sheid eyes on that baby. That baby really took after her father. In the future, he would definitely be a tall man with thick eyebrows and big eyes like her father. Song Que nced at his wife. With your strength, he wont be able to withstand your pinch, he replied with a smile. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao retract the smile on her face. Thats what I thought too. I didnt even dare to touch him for fear of waking him up. Ive heard that those little babies love to cry the most and will definitely cry when they wake up. At that point, Eldest Sister-inw will definitely have a hard time pacifying him. Song Que smiled again and did not reply. Its better to wait until hes a little bigger. When he can walk and call me Aunt, Ill bring him to our house to y. At that point, I can pinch him as often as I want. A look of longing appeared in Qin Xiaoyaos eyes when she thought of herself bringing the little bundle of joy around and having fun at home. A little bundle of joy calling her Aunt, Aunt would be so cute. When Song Que saw this, he simply smiled and shook his head. It was only because his wife had never experienced it that she found it refreshing. It would be a surprise if she didnt find it annoying when she actually had to bring the child up. How did he know? Well, Song Que had to take care of Yuner and Yeer quite often. However, if it was their own child, perhaps it might be different When he thought of this, Song Ques eyes were also filled with longing. At noon, people began pouring into the Song familys courtyard to buy water. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que were collecting money and giving out number tokens when suddenly A series of fine buzzing sounds rang out, and then the clear sky began to turn dark. Whats that? someone eximed in surprise. Is it going to rain? another person said in surprised delight. Ah, no! Its the locusts! The locusts are here! The voices quickly turned into fearful shouts. As soon as the voices rang out, the overwhelming locust army swarmed over. The people standing in the courtyard were soon attacked by the locusts. The trees above Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que were instantly covered with locusts. One could even clearly hear the sound of locusts gnawing on the leaves. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que were not spared either. Arge number of locusts flew around and pounced on them. Due to the impact, it was quite painful. When the locustsnded on a person, they would crawl around and even bite. The people in the courtyard quickly started shouting and frantically swatted away the locusts on their bodies. However, there were so many locusts, so how could they be swatted away? Some of the scrawnier people were even almost knocked down by the locusts. ... For a moment, there were screams of fear everywhere. Even though Qin Xiaoyao had experienced the apocalypse, she was still quite badly frightened by this scene. She didnt dare to stay any longer and shielded Song Que. She quickly pulled Song Que and ran towards the house. As she ran, she shouted to the people in the courtyard. Dont worry about your things. Lets hide in the hall in my house! The people quickly came back to their senses. They abandoned the water buckets and other stuff they had brought and rushed toward the hall of the Song familys residence. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao finally felt more at ease. She quickly led Song Que into the house and closed the door and windows tightly. Countless locusts flung themselves against the doors and windows, making pitter-pattering sounds. When she saw Song Ques somewhat pale face, Qin Xiaoyao quickly took two steps forward and gave Song Que a hug. ... Its alright. Next, well use the cloth to seal the doors and windows so that the locusts wont be able to get in, she said as sheforted Song Que. Song Que finally recovered himself when he felt his wife hugging him. Yes, the locust gue had brought back memories of his previous life. It reminded him of his painful past when he was staying in the thatched hut in Brook Falls Vige in his previous life. At that time, Song Que and Yeer were alone and helpless. The thatched hut was still full of gaping holes everywhere, and arge number of locusts slipped into the thatched hut, pouncing on him and Yeer. If they did not struggle and kill the locusts on their bodies, they might end up like the livestock in the vige, bing food for the locusts. Even at night, when the locusts were no longer flying around, Song Que and Yeer still had to endure the harassment and bites of a small number of locusts. He could also hear the sound of locusts gnawing on the thatched roof. That was right. Those ravenous locusts did not even spare the dry straw. At that time, what he was most worried about was that the locusts wouldpletely devour the thatched hut at home. If that happened, he and Yeer would not even have a ce to hide. In the end, the locusts did notpletely devour the thatched hut, but they did destroy most of it. Song Que didnt even know how he had managed to survive with Yeer It had happened so long ago, so long ago that it was practically in his past life. Song Que thought that he had almost forgotten about it. However, now that he was facing these locusts again, he realized that those memories had long since been deeply embedded in his bones. Thinking of this, Song Que hugged Qin Xiaoyao back tightly. Yeer, Yeer he mumbled. Qin Xiaoyao was caught off guard. Yeer is fine. Just now, when we rushed into the room, I saw Mother bring him into the house. Ive sent cloth to every room in our house. Mother and Yeer will be fine, she said hurriedly. Only then did Song Que rx. When Qin Xiaoyao felt that Song Ques mood had lifted somewhat, she released him. Ill leave the sealing of the doors and windows to you. I have to go to the courtyard to take a look, in case someone is trapped by the locusts and hasnte into the house, she said to Song Que. Right now, the sky outside was filled with a ck mass of locusts, and there were also locusts flying everywhere on the ground, so the visibility was far from normal. When Qin Xiaoyao ran into the house with her husband, she had asked the people in the courtyard to run to the hall in her house. However, it was hard to tell how many people actually heard her and how many could sessfully run into her hall. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt such a goody two shoes, in truth. However, they were all her neighbors. If someone really died in her courtyard because of a locust gue, there would be trouble in the future. Song Que subconsciously pulled Qin Xiaoyao back. Although he didnt say anything, the expression in his eyes were clear. He didnt want Qin Xiaoyao to go outside. Chapter 213 - 213 Saving Lives 213 Saving Lives Qin Xiaoyao smiled. She knew that her husband was worried about her. Dont worry. Im a special ability user. These locusts cant hurt me. Ill only be out there for a moment. Ill be back after Ive ascertained no one is trapped in our courtyard. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao reached out and patted Song Ques arm. Only then did Song Que let her go. !! Nheless, he went to the closet, took out a nket, and gave it to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao took the nket and draped it over her body. Then, she opened the door and dashed out. When she went outside, she realized that the situation outside was worse than she had thought. The flying locusts were like bullets, shooting haphazardly everywhere. The courtyard resembled the gray-white battlefield during the apocalypse. Fortunately, Qin Xiaoyao had the nket that her husband had given her, which helped her block many of the locusts bullet-like assaults. She didnt hesitate and quickly dashed to the outer reaches of the courtyard. As she ran, she shouted, Has everyone entered the hall? Is there anyone else out here? Suddenly, a womans voice rang out. Over here Help Ah! Save me Qin Xiaoyaos expression changed, and she quickly ran toward the source of the voice. Iming! Soon, she realized that it was a middle-aged woman struggling on the ground. At this point, there were still countless locusts charging at her body. Some were crawling all over her and biting her body. The middle-aged woman was in so much pain that she rolled around on the ground as she swatted at the locusts. Unfortunately, there were too many locusts. Her actions were utterly futile. Qin Xiaoyaos expression changed drastically, and she ran over quickly. Following that, she pulled the middle-aged woman to her feet and covered the middle-aged woman with the nket. She then picked her up and dashed towards the hall. In the end, along the way, Qin Xiaoyao met an elderly woman who was also facing the same predicament. The elderly womans condition was even worse than the middle-aged womans. Due to her weak physical strength, she almost couldnt shout out. Qin Xiaoyao had no choice but to change her route. Aftering to the elderly womans side, she picked the woman up with her other hand, tucked her under her arm, and dashed to the hall. When the three of them arrived at the entrance of the hall, Qin Xiaoyao banged on the door. Someone opened the door and let Qin Xiaoyao and her group in. Quick! Remove the locusts from their bodies. If theres water, wipe and clean the wounds, Qin Xiaoyao instructed. Alright! someone hurriedly replied. A few women hurriedly helped the two people who had been rescued clean up their bodies. The men all praised Qin Xiaoyao for her strength and sense of righteousness. Everyone, please dont praise me. Check and make sure everyone is here. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao wrapped the nket over her back and prepared to go out again. Only then did everyone start to do a head count on the number of people. Two of the men even offered to go out with Qin Xiaoyao when they saw that she was going out again. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment and gave the nket to the man who looked stronger. Just one of you following me will do! Theres probably no one else outside, so we dont need so many people to take the risk. After we go out, Ill take the right, and you take the left. After ensuring there is no one else, return at once. Dont waste too much time outside, Qin Xiaoyao issued some quick instructions. The man took the nket and wanted to return it to Qin Xiaoyao. However, Qin Xiaoyao had already opened the door and rushed out. The man felt very helpless. After a moment of hesitation, he quickly covered himself with the nket and dashed out. Qin Xiaoyao entered the courtyard again. Without the nket, her vision was much better, and her movements were more agile. Although it was easier for the flying locusts to attack her now, she had her special ability, so the impact was not that big. As Qin Xiaoyao yelled whether there was anyone else in the courtyard, she headed to the right side of the courtyard to search. However, after checking one round, she didnt find anyone. Qin Xiaoyao felt a little more at ease and prepared to return. At this moment, she heard a cry for help not far away. Qin Xiaoyao quickly ran over. She realized that it was the man who had offered toe out with her to look for people. At this point, the man was helping a thin and weak teenager. However, the teenagers injuries were not light, and his face was covered in blood. Even though the man had covered the teenagers back with the nket, arge number of locusts still pounced on the teenagers face because of the attraction of blood. ... Mrs. Song,e quickly and help! Xiao Wuzi has already fainted! the man said anxiously. If the fellow was awake, the man was confident that he could bring him back. However, the teenager couldnt even stand up, and the locusts were flying everywhere. There was no way the man could bring the teenager back! The man was really full of admiration for Qin Xiaoyao now. When he saw Mrs. Song carrying two people back, he thought it would be easy. Only now did he realize that Mrs. Songs divine strength was not something that ordinary people couldpare to. Iming! Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly responded. She dashed over in a few strides and lifted Xiao Wuzi up. You should go back too. Ille out and search againter. After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao walked away briskly. A look of hesitation shed across the mans face. He could feel the locusts smashing into his body, and it was extremely painful. ... He crushed to death another two flying locusts that were biting him and quickly gave chase. Forget it. He could still protect himself, but saving people was indeed a little difficult. Hed better not cause any more trouble for Mrs. Song. By the time the man returned to the hall, Qin Xiaoyao had already gone out again. And she didnt even protect herself with a nket. This was because she realized that she could move much faster without a nket. Moreover, those flying locusts did not really cause much harm to her. After dashing into the courtyard again, Qin Xiaoyao went to the left side of the courtyard and searched around. After making sure that no one was there, she returned to the hall with peace of mind. When everyone saw that Qin Xiaoyao had returned, they all came forward to show their concern. Im fine, she said. I have checked the courtyard. No one else is left there. Have you all done a head count? Are the people with you all ounted for? Qin Xiaoyao asked the crowd. Everyone nodded to indicate everyone was ounted for. Everyones here! Mrs. Song, its all thanks to you! someone answered. Thats right. Its all thanks to you, Mrs. Song! Otherwise, Im afraid we would have For a while, everyone gushed an endless stream of gratitude. Qin Xiaoyao raised her hand, signaling for the crowd to quiet down. Ill go back to my room and get the first aid box. Later, everyone can help apply medicine on the wounds of those who are seriously injured. After this, everyone, please be patient and wait here. When the locusts stop flying around, and the situation is more stable, everyone can go home, Qin Xiaoyao said. The first wave of the locust gue was the most terrifying. After the first batch of locusts hadnded and started to gnaw on the trees, the danger would not be so great afterward. As for whether or not there would be another wave of flying locusts and when the next wave woulde, it was hard to say. However, there was at least a time gap between the first and second waves. This way, everyone would have time to evacuate. Everyone in the hall expressed their concurrence. Qin Xiaoyao then left the hall and returned to her room. She had just knocked on the door when Song Que opened it. Then, he pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his arms. He hugged her so tightly that it made Qin Xiaoyaos heart feel sweet all over. Chapter 214 - 214 Poisonous Locusts 214 Poisonous Locusts Knowing that she had caused Song Que to worry, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and did not move. Song Que only released her after a long while. When he saw the womans sweet smile, the mans face darkened. Youre stillughing! he reprimanded. !! Im just happy! Qin Xiaoyao said coyly. She even shook her shoulders yfully. This action made the mans anger vanish instantly. Youre still happy after getting all these wounds? The man touched the small wound on Qin Xiaoyaos forehead. Qin Xiaoyaos expression indicated she was thoroughly enjoying the attention. Whats the big deal about this? During the apocalypse, whenever I got wounded in action, it was always more serious than this! Im just happy that Hubby is worried about me. Hehe As Qin Xiaoyao said that, she buried her head into Song Ques arms with a delighted look. Song Que was helpless and could only reach out to hug his wife. At the same time, he felt a sense of heartache. He had never experienced the apocalypse. However, it didnt stop him from imagining. Just a locust gue was able to leave such a huge psychological trauma on him. He could only say that his wife was really stronger than him. Qin Xiaoyao was ted and stayed in Song Ques arms for a while longer before she took the initiative to pull away. I almost forgot. I came back to get the first aid box. There are a few people who are quite badly injured. We need to take some medicine and help them apply it, she said. Song Que grabbed Qin Xiaoyaos hand. Apply it on yourself first, he said. She herself was injured, yet she was thinking of others. Qin Xiaoyao simplyughed. She wanted to say that it was just a small injury and that it was no big deal. However, when she saw that her husband was so concerned about her, she changed her mind. Then you help me apply the medicine, she said. Mm-hmm, Song Que answered. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up with joy, and she sat down obediently at the side. Song Que, on the other hand, went to retrieve the first aid box. Then, he started to cleanse Qin Xiaoyaos wounds with medicinal alcohol. After he was done, he gently applied some medicine to her external injuries. When Qin Xiaoyao saw her husbands serious expression and looks of heartache shing across his eyes asionally, Qin Xiaoyaos heart was brimming with happiness. At this moment, she felt that even if she were to die from the pain, it would be worth it if she could have her husband take care of her. After a while, Song Que finally finished treating the wounds on Qin Xiaoyaos forehead and arms. Just as Qin Xiaoyao thought that the sweet torture was about to end, Song Que spoke again. Take off your clothes. Let me check to see if there are any more injuries on your body, he instructed. Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback. She looked at her husbands serious face. He didnt seem to be teasing her. She quickly cleared her throat. Ahem I really dont have any other injuries! My clothes cover me very well, and the locusts are unable to bite me! She quickly got up and extended all her limbs for her husband to verify. Qin Xiaoyao was a woman without a strong will. There were still so many people waiting for her in the hall. At this moment, she didnt want to be Song Que saw Qin Xiaoyaos eyes darting around and immediately guessed what she was thinking. A sense of shame and anger welled up in his heart. At this point, this woman was still thinking about such nonsense. Go on. Come back at once after you deliver the first aid box. Finally, Song Que waved his hand at Qin Xiaoyao in frustration. A look of disappointment shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. However, she quickly recovered. Alright! Ill be back soon! she said with a smile. Then, she packed up the contents of the first aid box on the table. After that, she picked up the first aid box and prepared to leave. The moment she lifted her foot, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly stopped and looked at Song Que, who was not far away. Then, she quickly dashed to Song Ques side, and before Song Que could react, she nted a big kiss on his face. Thereafter, she dashed out of the room. ... Song Que was utterly speechless. After the door was closed, he reached out and touched his damp face. Then, a charming smile spread across his face. This woman After leaving the room, Qin Xiaoyao dashed to the hall. The people in the hall were a little worried when they saw that Qin Xiaoyao had been gone for so long. The moment they saw her returning safely, they felt relieved instantly. Qin Xiaoyao opened the first aid box and exined to everyone the types of medicine that could be used and the general treatment method for external injuries. After that, she left the first aid box behind and ran back to her room. She did not want to hang around with this group of people. At this moment, she felt morefortable staying by her husbands side. Of course, it would be better if they could do something morefortable together. (Author: Hehehe!) ... In the room, Song Que had already recovered from the sneak attack just now. He was using the cloth that Qin Xiaoyao had prepared earlier to seal the windows. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao return, he quickly asked his wife toe over and help. The woman, who had been fantasizing about wonderful things, became somewhat deted instantly. However, she also knew how to prioritize matters and obeyed Song Que. Following that, the couple sealed the windows and the door frame tightly together. After sealing the room with cloth, the room became much darker. Qin Xiaoyao thought she might as well light the oilmp. Only then did she notice that there were still many locusts crawling around in the room. Lets clean up these locusts too, Song Que said. Without waiting for Qin Xiaoyaos reply, he got started first. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat when she saw her husband pick up a jar and put the locusts into it. She also went to get a jar and cleaned up the locusts in the room with Song Que. The two of them worked together, and it didnt take long for them to clean up almost all the locusts in the room. Looking at the tworge jars of locusts on the table, Qin Xiaoyao felt a great sense of pity. This thing is supposed to be very nutritious. Such a pity. I heard that during a locust gue, the locusts are poisonous. If you eat too much, you will get poisoned. Otherwise, she really wanted to fry some and eat them as a snack. Song Que was taken aback as he looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Were they poisonous? He didnt notice. In his previous life, he and Yeer had only managed to survive and go into townter by relying on those locusts for food. There were also many vigers in the vige who ate locusts. Hubby, you didnt know? Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help butugh as she asked Song Que. There was a smug look on her face. Here was a living example. No matter how talented a person was, his knowledge was not all-epassing. Qin Xiaoyao might be an uncouth fellow, but there were also times when she knew more than her husband. What poison? Song Que asked. It could be considered he was asking for her advice. The smug look on Qin Xiaoyaos face grew even more pronounced. Well, I cant remember what the poison is called. Anyway, the general gist is that the locusts during the locust gue are different from the locusts under normal circumstances. Under normal circumstances, locusts live alone when they are just born. They are mild-tempered and do not cause much harm. At this point, they are not poisonous. However, when the number of locusts reaches a certain level, and they be overcrowded, their bodies will secrete a poisonous substance. They willpel themselves to be brutal and even undergo gic mutation to avoid being eaten themselves. Right at this moment, Qin Xiaoyao noticed that a locust had slipped through the cloth not far away. She walked over and grabbed it. If theres a chance topare, youll find that locusts under normal circumstances have alternating green and white bands on their bodies. As for the locusts during the locust gue As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao handed the locust in her hand to Song Que. Chapter 215 - 215 The Ferocious Locusts 215 The Ferocious Locusts Because of the toxins, the color of their bodies have turned into alternating yellow and ck bands. Song Que looked at the locust in Qin Xiaoyaos hand. Then, he thought about it and realized that it was true. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and continued, Of course, even though these locusts are poisonous, it doesnt mean that eating them will definitely cause problems. !! But, for safetys sake, its better not to touch them. Song Que nodded. Indeed, in his previous life, he and Yeer ate these only as ast resort. And now, there was indeed no need to touch them. Moreover, in his recollection, this thing was not tasty. Qin Xiaoyao saw that Song Que was no longer curious about the locust and shifted her butt to Song Ques side. She then called out coyly, Hubby Song Que felt an electric current run through his body, and goosebumps rose all over his body. He hurriedly shifted to the side, distancing himself from Qin Xiaoyao. Whats wrong? he asked cautiously. Hehe! I think that there might be other injuries on my body. The woman blinked herrge eyes and looked straight at Song Que. Hubby, why dont you help me take a look? After she finished speaking, she did not wait for Song Ques reply and started to undress. Song Ques face turnedpletely red. Following that, Qin Xiaoyao blew out the oilmp. This this woman was getting more and more outrageous! Yet, he liked it Perhaps it was because the locust rain outside was too heavy, which made the room feel even more passionate and heart-warming. Qin Xiaoyao let Song Que use her arm like a pillow, and she smiled in satisfaction. Hubby, are you hungry? We still have the biscuits I made thest time. If youre hungry, Ill go get them, she said to Song Que in a doting tone. Mm-hmm, Song Que repliedzily. He turned his body around, freeing Qin Xiaoyaos arm. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao lift the thin nket, turn over, put on her clothes, and get out of bed. Song Que looked at the womans skillful movements and frowned subconsciously. It was a pity that his wifes physique was the exact opposite of his. Otherwise Qin Xiaoyao, however, was unaware of all this. After lighting the oilmp, she went to the outer room to get some biscuits and chili sauce. After that, she lit up an oilmp in the outer room and ced the biscuits and chili sauce on the small table. After setting up everything, she called out to Song Que. Then, Song Que got dressed and came out. As he came closer, Qin Xiaoyao realized that her husbands handsome face was still flushed. The woman couldnt help feeling a little intoxicated. It was only when Song Que red at her that the woman withdrew her lecherous gaze. After sitting down, the couple began to eat. Since they hadnt eaten lunch and just had an exercise session, the two of them were a little hungry. The more they ate, the more they felt the biscuits were delicious. These flying locusts have been wreaking havoc for almost two hours now. I wonder how long itll be before they stop? Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but mutter. Fortunately, her husband had given her a reminder beforehand, so she made some dry biscuits to standby. Previously, she had distributed some biscuits to each room, so her mother-inw and the others should not go hungry either. However, a few days had passed, and there were probably not many biscuits left in each room. When the flying locusts moved on, Qin Xiaoyao would have to go to the kitchen to make some more. Otherwise, the next time the flying locusts swarmed over and the duration was longer, her family would definitely go hungry if they were holed up in the house. It mightst more than an hour at the shortest, but it is also possible for it tost for four to six hours, Song Que replied. The situation was different in every ce. Anyway, when he was in Brook Falls Vige, there were both long and short durations when he experienced the locust ques those few times. That long? Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised. Song Que nodded. Just wait it out patiently. Theyll stop eventually. Okay, Qin Xiaoyao replied. She then gave up the idea of going outside. Well, she was actually a little worried about her thatched sheds. ... Or rather, the bean sprouts in the thatched sheds. This locust gue definitely wouldntst just one day. She would definitely not be able to sell the bean sprouts she grew. Her family couldnt finish eating them either. They would go to waste. In addition, the straw on the sheds might be at risk. Although locusts only liked to eat green nts, the locusts in the locust gue were all famished. If they really pounced on the patches of dry straw, they would not spare them, even if they were just dry straw. Sigh! She hoped fervently that those locusts wouldnt devour her thatched sheds to the ground. More than two hours ago, at the Qin family. When the locusts arrived, the Qin family was eating in the hall. Since they had closed the door in time, nothing serious happened. Furthermore, it was fortunate they had the cloth that Qin Xiaoyao had sent over the day before. ... The Qin familys trio of father and two sons joined forces to seal the windows and doors. Almost no locusts flew into the house. In addition, the only pig left in the family had already been ughtered and disposed of. It did not take much effort for the Qin family to deal with this locust gue. After sealing up the critical room where the grain was stored, Qin Dazhuang brought Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu back to the hall. In the hall, both Eldest Sister-inw Qin and Second Sister-inw Qin were present. One of them had a big belly and was restless and anxious, while the other was holding Xiaohu, who was bawling his lungs out. The two women felt much more at ease when they saw the trio of father and two sons return. Second Sister-inw Qin quickly went to pour some drinking water for the men. At the same time, she asked her husband, Are the rooms sealed properly? Whats the situation outside? She had never encountered such a scenario before. There were so many locusts, and they were swarming like they had gone berserk. Qin Erhu picked up the bowl and drained the water in it. Everything is settled. Father says this is a locust gue, he said. Qin Dahu and Qin Dazhuang also drank some water and felt much morefortable. Fortunately, all the pigs in the house have been ughtered. Otherwise, itll be hard to deal with a locust gue like this, Qin Dazhuang said. Theres also Xiaohu. Thank God Eldest Daughter-inw brought him back in time. Fortunately, the gue happened during lunchtime. Otherwise, if they were walking on the road and couldnt find a ce to hide, they would have gotten into trouble. This was particrly dangerous for his eldest sons wife, who was still carrying a child in her arms. The consequences would be unimaginable. After some thought, Qin Dazhuang looked at the child in his daughter-inws arms. When this locust gue blows over, you can bring some money and food and stay at the Liu familys ce for a while. Bring Xiaohu back only after the locust gue haspletely ended, he said. This child had to drink milk and several times a day too. Qin Dazhuang didnt know when the flying locusts woulde again, so it was best to let his daughter-inw take Xiaohu to the Liu family. But Eldest Sister-inw Qin was a little hesitant. Listen to Father! At this moment, Qin Dahu spoke up. Once the locust gue starts, it may not necessarilyst just one day. With the current situation outside, even an adult man would suffer if he stayed outside for too long, let alone a woman like you. Before going, bring along more money, food, and luggage. Ill send you two over. Ill go talk to the Liu family. Well give them more money, and then you work harder there and help out more. Theyll agree, Qin Dahu said. Only then did Eldest Sister-inw Qin nod her head. Chapter 216 - 216 The Famine Was Coming 216 The Famine Was Coming Father, whats going on with this locust gue? How long will itst? Second Sister-inw Qin asked as she looked at Qin Dazhuang worriedly. She couldnt help but worry. She was pregnant, after all. If she suddenly went intobor and the midwife couldnte, what should she do if she had to give birth? The rest of the family members also looked at Qin Dazhuang. !! After all, the others had never encountered a locust gue before. Only Qin Dazhuang, who was older and more experienced, knew more. Qin Dazhuang sighed. A locust gue means there was over-breeding of locusts until it turned into a disaster, causing them to form groups to wreak havoc. Usually, a locust gue will only break out after a great drought. When the locust gue urs, the grain in the fields will be practically all eaten away. Even the forests, as well as other green nts like vegetables, will be devouredpletely. There will almost be no greenery left wherever the locusts pass by. Also, if there is a locust gue in the first year, the following year, or even in the next two to three years, the locust gue might recur. Even if the gue does not happen, there will be more locusts in the fields in the following year. The locusts will eat crops. Once there are too many locusts, the grain harvests in the fields will definitely decrease. Everyones heart sank when they heard this. What was the implication when grain harvests decreased? As long as the local grain crops couldnt be harvested, the grain merchants had to transport grain from other ces, which meant that the price of grain wouldnt drop. There was a drought in Mountain Spring Town, and they were already suffering from a food shortage. Some people were even panicking as a result. Now that there was a locust gue, the town might really suffer from a famine this time. At the same time, everyone felt they were quite fortunate. Thankfully, they had just bought 1,000 catties of grain from the Song family. Otherwise, if the price of grain continued to rise, their family would lead a hard life. Then, Father, how long will this locust guest? When Second Sister-inw Qin heard Qin Dazhuangs words, she was so scared that she almost cried. When he saw this, Qin Erhu quickly pulled his wife to sit down and patted her back tofort her. Qin Dazhuang could tell that his second daughter-inw was worried. He said, Dont worry. The locusts wont stay for more than a few days. After they finish devouring, they will fly away to the next ce to continue devouring. I estimate that in five or six days at most, the locusts will leave, Qin Dazhuang said after some thought. Only then did Second Sister-inw Qin feel more at ease. She touched her tummy and looked at her husband to give herself more confidence. Qin Dazhuang looked at his two sons. Eldest Daughter-inw is going to the Liu familys ce. The rest of you dont go out for the next few days, either. Second Daughter-inw, you are at thete stage of your pregnancy now. Just take good care of yourself these few days. Eldest Son and Second Son, you two take charge of the household chores together. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged nces. Alright! they both responded. On the other hand, over at the Liu familys house. As the locust gue broke out during their mealtime, the Liu family was able to handle it well too. However, they did not prepare cloth to seal up the windows and door frames, so many locusts had broken into their house. Fortunately, the impact wasnt too great. The family members didnt stay idle, and it wasnt difficult to catch the locusts that had barged in. After a while, Liu Xiaomei even got a little addicted to catching them. There are so many locusts. After deep-frying them, we can sprinkle some salt on them. They will definitely taste good! Liu Xiaomei said as she grabbed the locusts and stuffed them into the sack. As Big Girl Lis tummy was quite big now, she could only watch from the side. Aunt Liu was also catching locusts, and she replied to Liu Xiaomei at the same time. You think deep-frying doesnt need oil, is it? Its not easy to buy pork andrd these days, and we dont have any oil at home for you to waste! Gosh, Mom! But this thing doesnt taste good if its not deep-fried! Its such a pity to waste free food! Upon hearing this, Aunt Lius expression rxed somewhat. Lets catch them first! she replied. It didnt matter whether it was delicious or not. As long as it was edible, it was good enough! It was a pity that Liu Xiaomei didnt know what her mother was thinking right now. Otherwise, she would not be so enthusiastic about catching the locusts. Compared to the three womens positive attitude, the three men from the Liu family all had grim expressions. Fortunately, we moved house. Otherwise, if we were still in Brook Falls Vige and got caught up in this locust gue, Im afraid it wouldnt be so easy to deal with, Liu Daniu said. Their house in Brook Falls Vige was small and dpidated. If they had not moved, they would still have kept poultry. When the locusts came, they didnt even have time to take care of people, so how could they take care of the poultry? ... Liu Erniu expressed his agreement. There are so many locusts. I wonder where they came from? When will they stop? he chimed in. Uncle Liu had a deep frown on his face. No matter where they came from, once these locusts arrive, Im afraid our lives in town will be quite hard over the next few days. He then gave a heavy sigh. Whats wrong? Liu Erniu asked. He had not realized the severity of the problem. Uncle Liu finally exined the horror of the locust gue. This time, the Liu brothers could no longer remain calm. Doesnt that mean that the price of grain will continue to rise, and the price will remain high for a long time? We dont have much food left in our house! Liu Daniu said anxiously. Uncle Liu pped his thigh. ... Exactly! he said angrily. Then, he quickly looked at the two brothers. When the locusts outside have stopped swarming, the two of you take all the money at home and go directly to the grain store. No matter the price, buy as much as you can. Buy the grains back! Uncle Liu said quickly. If he had known that there would be a locust gue, he wouldnt have listened to his wife and stopped buying grain for the family these few days. However, now that there was this locust gue, people would be rushing to grab the grain in the grain stores. He didnt know how high the price would go. Liu Daniu and Liu Erniu looked at each other and quickly answered in the affirmative. The situation was getting serious. The famine was really going to happen After about an hour, the ck mass of locusts finally dispersed. Most of the locusts had flown away, leaving only a small number of locusts on the ground, which continued to gnaw at the nts. Of course, this so-called small number was rtive, and this was inparison to the massive locust army that flew away. Therefore, when people walked out of their rooms, there were still many locusts outside. At the Song familys residence. The people of Yong An Lane came out of the hall in the Song familys residence. When they saw the clear sky and felt the scorching hot sun, they felt as if they were in a different world. Perhaps it was because they had been frightened by the locusts, but everyone felt that the weather wasnt so hot anymore. Not only did the people in the halle out, but the Song family members also emerged from their rooms. When the crowd saw Qin Xiaoyao and the others, they immediately came forward to thank the Song family. Qin Xiaoyao and the rest told everyone not to stand on ceremony. Qin Xiaoyao also took the opportunity to announce that her family would continue to sell bean sprouts and water. And during the lull before the next locust gue, there would be no restrictions on the time and quantity when they sold water and bean sprouts. As long as the locusts did note, everyone coulde over to buy water and bean sprouts when it was convenient. In addition, the price of the bean sprouts had been reduced to three copper coins per two catties. Qin Xiaoyao told everyone that they could take this opportunity to buy some vegetables and store them at home. Everyone thanked the Song family for their generosity. After that, only a few people stayed to continue buying water, and most people left. Chapter 217 - 217 Shortage of Resources 217 Shortage of Resources This was because the people were worried about their families and were in a hurry to go back and check on them. Qin Xiaoyao arranged for Wang Xiaomei and Song Yun to make dry biscuits in the kitchen. Then, she arranged for Song Que and Madam Liu to handle the water sales while she prepared herself to go to the thatched sheds and check on the situation there. In the courtyard, there were still many locusts crawling on the thatched sheds. When Qin Xiaoyao got closer, she could even hear the sound of the locusts gnawing on the straw. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt in the mood to clean up, so she opened the door and entered the shed. Fortunately, her thatched shed was well-covered, and very few locusts got in. After briefly cleaning up the interior and making sure that her bean sprouts were fine, Qin Xiaoyao left. Following that, she checked on the other thatched sheds sequentially. After making sure that all the bean sprouts were undamaged, Qin Xiaoyao finally felt relieved. Over the next few days, she wouldnt need to grow a new batch of bean sprouts. She only needed to take care of the existing bean sprouts that had been nted and sell them off sessfully. After leaving the thatched sheds, Qin Xiaoyao went to get some water to water the bean sprouts. Suddenly, she realized that Eldest Sister-inw Qin had arrived. Eldest Sister-inw, why are you here? Are Father and the others alright? Qin Xiaoyao dropped what she was doing and quickly went up to inquire. Theyre all fine. Eldest Sister-inw Qin grabbed Qin Xiaoyaos hand. When she saw the wound on Qin Xiaoyaos forehead, she asked worriedly, Are you alright? Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Im fine. Its just a small injury. I dont think the locust gue is over yet. Who knows when theyll start a locust swarm again. Donte over for the next few days. Mm-hmm, Eldest Sister-inw Qin replied. I came over precisely to talk to you about this. Ill leave after informing you. Your big brother has already helped me pack my things and sent Xiaohu to the Liu familys ce. Until the locust gue is over, I will stay with the Liu family. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Mm-hmm! This is a good arrangement! Then you should take good care of yourself and Xiaohu. When the locust gue is over, Ill go back to the Qin familys ce to visit Xiaohu, Qin Xiaoyao immediately said. Alright! Eldest Sister-inw Qin answered. In addition, Father asked me to bring you a message. He told you not to go out for the next few days. If the locust gue starts, Fortune Mansion will definitely not open. He wants you to stop your deliveries. Also, regarding the matter of selling grain, Father wants to remind you not to be anxious for the time being. He says that once the locust gue breaks out, our Mountain Spring Town will experience a famine. The price of grain will rise by arge margin. Qin Xiaoyao nodded as she listened. Alright. I already know, she responded. Sister-inw Qin gave Qin Xiaoyao a few more reminders before leaving in a hurry. Qin Xiaoyao watched her eldest sister-inw leave and sighed. After that, she carried on with her own tasks. Not long after, many people suddenly came to the Song familys courtyard. They brought their whole families, almost all of them carrying water buckets. Some were even carrying bamboo baskets or carrying bamboo backpacks on their backs. Those carrying the water buckets were here to buy water. Those carrying bamboo baskets and hauling bamboo backpacks on their backs were naturally here to buy bean sprouts. Since the Song family was now selling water and bean sprouts without restrictions, every family who came bought a lot. Soon, they could see the bottom of the Song familys well. At the same time, all the bean sprouts on sale were snapped up. Qin Xiaoyao came forward to announce that all the bean sprouts had been sold out today. However, for the next four days, there would berge amounts of bean sprouts being sold every day. They would be sold on a firste, first-served basis. There would be discounts if customers bought inrge quantities. As for selling water, Qin Xiaoyao also encouraged everyone not toe at the same time to buy water. After all, there was a limit to how much water the well could produce. If they took too much water, the wells water production rate wouldnt be able to keep up. After learning of this situation, the long queue of people dispersed substantially. Only a small number of people at the front of the queue were willing to wait. They were prepared to wait until there was water in the well before filling their buckets. The Song family members could understand everyones feelings. After all, the locust gue had frightened everyone. ... Moreover, no one was sure when the next round of locusts would start swarming. They thought it would be better to stock up on more water and food at home before the flying locusts came again. However, it was no big deal. Anyway, the Song family members were not going out for the next few days. They had time to keep watch on the well and the sheds. On the other side, after Liu Daniu and Liu Erniu heard Uncle Lius words, they took the money from Aunt Liu and hurriedly pushed the handcart to the grain store. When they arrived, they found that the grain store was already crowded with people, and those people were all ready to buy grain, just like the Liu brothers. The shop assistant called out to the people outside the shop to queue up. At the same time, he informed them that there would be a limited supply of brown rice and coarse flour today, and they would only sell 2,000 catties of each type. The sale would also be apportioned ording to the number of people queuing up to buy food. Each customer would only be sold five catties. The price was also adjusted to 18 copper coins per catty. When this news came out, themoners started toin. ... However, only a small number of people left. The bulk of the people stayed behind and formed a long queue. Big Brother, what should we do? Liu Erniu and Liu Daniu joined the queue as well. However, Liu Erniu was so anxious that he was on the verge of tears. Their mother had given them all the remaining money in the family when their father asked them to use all the money to buy grain. However, now when he and his big brother queued up this time, they could only buy 10 catties. How long could 10 catties of grainst? Liu Danius face was grim as well. After thinking for a while, he looked at his younger brother. You push the handcart back and tell Father the news now. After that, call Father and the others toe and queue up! he said. Earlier, the shop assistant had specifically said that they were not allowed to queue on behalf of others. As a result, the sale would be conducted ording to the actual number of people in the queue. There were a total of 4,000 catties of brown rice and coarse flour, and each person was only allowed to buy five catties. That meant the store could serve 800 people. If Erniu went back home to call for help now, their family members might still be able to make it in line. At the moment, this was the only way to help his family to buy more food. A look of hesitation shed across Liu Ernius face as he looked at the long queue behind him. He was somewhat reluctant to leave. If he left, his position in the queue would be lost. What if his family cameter, and they couldnt get in line again? Then wouldnt the five catties of food that he could have bought be lost too? Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and go! Seeing this, Liu Daniu urged his younger brother. At the same time, he took out some copper coins from his money pouch and gave the rest of the money to Liu Erniu. Liu Ernius face became determined. Alright! he finally responded. Thereafter, he took the money pouch, pushed the handcart, and ran off. Yes, Liu Erniu ran. When he reached home, Liu Erniu quickly exined the situation. Aunt Liu was still hesitating when she heard that the price of the grain had risen to 18 copper coins. It was only when Uncle Liu yelled at her and hurriedly asked everyone to follow him that she snapped back to her senses and quickly ran after him. When the family returned to the grain store, the people queuing outside the store had already formed a big massive sea. Aunt Liu didnt dare to say anything at this point anymore. She simply followed her family members and went to the back of the line. As soon as they got in line, more people came and queued up behind them. When they saw this situation, the faces of the Liu family members became grim, and their hearts were filled with worry. Master, this When its our turn, they wont stop selling grain, right? Aunt Liu tugged at Uncle Lius sleeve and asked worriedly. Chapter 218 - 218 Difficult to Buy Grain 218 Difficult to Buy Grain Didnt the grain store say that they would only sell 4,000 catties in all? There were so many people. How was this quantity sufficient? Uncle Liu yanked back his sleeve and red at Aunt Liu in a foul mood. Shut your goddamn mouth! Well know soon if they have grain or not! he said. !! Aunt Liu got a shock. She could feel her husbands anger and didnt dare to say anything more. She was in charge of managing the familys finances, and she had indeed made a mistake in the matter of buying grain. Then again Aunt Liu felt a little aggrieved, but she could only endure it silently. The line of people moved forward slowly. After an unknown amount of time, it was finally the Liu familys turn. They were also lucky. When they entered the store, there was still some brown rice and coarse flour left. The coarse flour was almost sold out, and there were only 40 catties left. There were still about 300 catties of brown rice left. There are five of us here, so just give us 25 catties of coarse flour! Uncle Liu said straightaway. Heres the money, As he spoke, he handed over the copper coins that he had prepared in advance. The shop assistant received the money and looked at the five of them. He didnt think further, and straightaway got someone to weigh the flour. Uncle Liu only felt a little more at ease when he received the 25 catties of coarse flour. He got Liu Erniu to carry the coarse flour on his back and lead the whole family home. On the way, Aunt Liu looked at the coarse flour on her second sons back. She wanted to say something several times, but she held back eventually. 35 catties of coarse flour had cost them 450 copper coins. And there was no guarantee they could buy this amount even if they queued up. How were they going to live in the days after this When they finally reached home, the whole family followed Uncle Liu to the hall after they entered their house. After everyone had sat down, Uncle Liu was about to speak when he heard some movement outside. It turned out that Liu Daniu had also returned. He was carrying grain on his shoulders, which looked to be more than five catties. Liu Daniu quickly realized that the entire family was in the hall. Hence, he carried his grain over to the hall as well. He ced the grain he bought next to those his family had bought. After I bought the grain, I queued up again and bought an extra five catties. Everyone understood then. Looking at the packs of grain on the table, they all sighed. 18 copper coins per catty! Such a small amount of food had actually cost them more than five coins of silver. Suddenly, Uncle Liu pped his thigh and heaved a heavy sigh. The price of grain will definitely continue to rise. Our familys surplus grain wontst for long. No matter how expensive it is, if we can buy it, we still have to buy it! Uncle Liu looked at his two sons as he spoke. Since the grain store has started this practice today, then theres a high probability that they will continue to do the same thing hereafter. When the locust gue starts, dont go out to work or look for work for the next few days. Keep an eye on the grain stores nearby. Once you find a grain store selling grain,e back and inform the family. Well all go and queue up with our whole family. Well buy as much as we can. Everyones face was grim. No one responded, but no one objected either. Aunt Liu wanted to say something, but she stopped herself when she saw her old mans stern expression. Also, apart from the daughter-inw, everyone elses food ration will be halved. Since the weather is hot, it is possible for us to eat more diluted food! Uncle Liu added. His daughter-inw was pregnant, and they could not cut her food ration. As for the rest of the family, they should conserve food as far as possible. Chapter 219 Buying Grain At The Song Familys Place Chapter 219 Buying Grain At The Song Family''s ce "Alright!" Liu Daniu agreed to his wife''s proposal very readily. Most of the family''s money was earned by his wife. Furthermore, Daniu''s father-inw, mother-inw, and little brother-inw had always been good to him. At this point, if he had the ability, it was only right for him to show some filial piety. Only then did Big Girl Li smile. She felt that she had not married the wrong man. "Then I''ll go look for Father and the rest now," Liu Daniu finally said after some thought. "Mm-hmm." Liu Daniu returned not long after he left. He even brought along Uncle Liu and Liu Erniu. "We''ve gathered the money, but Father said he''lle with us," Liu Daniu whispered to his wife. Big Girl Li was taken aback. She looked at her father-inw and her young brother-inw, who were standing outside the door. "They don''t have any ulterior motives. Father just want to visit Sister Sanya and the Song family personally to thank them," Liu Daniu exined. Big Girl Li thought for a while and finally nodded. "Then let''s go," she said. The couple then left the room. After that, the Liu brothers each pushed a handcart and followed Uncle Liu and Big Girl Li to the Song family''s residence. When they arrived at the Song family''s ce, Big Girl Li went to look for Qin Xiaoyao and told her that she wanted to inquire about buying grain. "If your family is still preparing to sell grain, then sell some to my family. As for the price, if the price of 20 copper coins is not eptable, we can still negotiate for a higher price." "But my family is seriously short of food, so you have to sell me more." Big Girl Li acted coquettishly and tugged on Qin Xiaoyao''s sleeve. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li with a smile. After that, her line of sight went past Big Girl Li''s shoulder and looked at the trio of father and two sons who were standing not far away, looking somewhat uneasy. "How much do you want?" Qin Xiaoyao asked. Big Girl Li''s face was instantly filled with joy. "I knew you''re the best, Sister Sanya!" she hurriedly said. After she finished speaking, she took out a pouch of silver from her pocket. "There are a total of 22 taels here. The sum of 20 taels is for our Liu family. With the remaining two taels, I want to buy some grain and send them back to my maiden family." "Just give it as you see fit!" As she spoke, Big Girl Li shoved the silver into Qin Xiaoyao''s arms. Qin Xiaoyao immediately felt the weight of the pouch. She opened the money pouch and found that it was indeed full of silver. After putting away the money pouch, Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and finally said, "Then we''ll do as you say. 20 copper coins per catty." "22 taels of silver. The total is 1100 catties of brown rice and coarse flour." Big Girl Li''s face was filled with joy. However, Qin Xiaoyao continued, "But at this price, I can only give you 50% brown rice and 50% coarse flour. In other words, 550 catties of brown rice and 550 catties of coarse flour." Coarse flour would definitely sell better than brown rice in the future. Qin Xiaoyao also wanted to sell the rest of the flour for more money. "Deal!" Big Girl Li agreed. "Then I''ll go tell them now!" After she finished speaking, Big Girl Li turned around and went to look for the Liu family''s father and sons. When the trio of father and sons heard the details, they all agreed with the deal. After that, Uncle Liu followed Big Girl Li to meet Qin Xiaoyao. He expressed his gratitude to Qin Xiaoyao. "Uncle is too polite! I was already prepared to sell some grain, so selling it to you was just a convenience." "The selling price is very different from the price I bought it at. I hope you won''t mind it too much," Qin Xiaoyao said. "I won''t! I won''t mind at all! The entire Liu family only feels gratitude toward you!" Uncle Liu said hurriedly. Qin Xiaoyao nodded, then brought the few of them to the storeroom to move the grain sacks. They were all in sacks of 50 catties each. Qin Xiaoyao retrieved 11 sacks of brown rice and coarse flour each for the Liu family. Before they left, the Liu family expressed their gratitude again. Uncle Liu also took Big Girl Li to look for Madam Liu and expressed their gratitude to her. After the Liu family had left, Madam Liu went to Qin Xiaoyao to talk about this matter. "You''re selling the Liu family grain at 20 copper coins per catty?" She asked her daughter-inw in disbelief. 20 copper coins was an astronomical price. The Liu family had bought more than 1,000 catties and had evene to thank her. "Mm-hmm," Qin Xiaoyao replied. Seeing her mother-inw''s eyes widen, she lowered her voice and said, "The price of brown rice and coarse flour in the grain stores has risen to 18 copper coins per catty. "And there is a limited supply. Each store only sells 4,000 catties of brown rice and coarse flour a day. "There''s also a restriction. Each person can only buy 5 catties if he queues up. "Big Girl''s family just went to queue up to buy brown rice and coarse flour. Daniu even queued up twice. The whole family went together, but they could only buy 30 catties of coarse flour and 5 catties of brown rice." Qin Xiaoyao ignored her mother-inw''s shocked expression and continued, "Now everyone knows that a locust gue ising, and there will be a famine. "Today, the grain in the grain stores is 18 copper coins. Tomorrow, it may be 20 copper coins. It may even be higher. "It''s because Big Girl is my sister, and our family has a good rtionship with the Liu family. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have sold them so much grain at 20 copper coins per catty." Madam Liu was utterly bbergasted. At this moment, she only had one feeling, and that was the grain in the house''s storage room was almost turning into gold. "Then the grain in our house..." Qin Xiaoyaoughed and lowered her voice as she said to Madam Liu, "Don''t worry. I''ll think of a way to sell them." Then she seemed to have thought of something and added, "Oh yes. This matter about our family having grain and preparing to sell them You have to keep it a secret and don''t tell anyone, Mother." "Why?" Madam Liu was puzzled. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao look in the direction of her family''s well. "Don''t forget the incident about the well," she said. Madam Liu was stunned. Only then did she remember that the previous owner of her courtyard dwelling had sold water at a high price, which caused the neighbors to hate her. However, was there any basis forparing this grain crisis with the water incident? After thinking about it carefully, it really did seem like "Then you''re going to..." Just as Madam Liu was about to ask some more, Qin Xiaoyao stopped her with an eye expression. "Don''t worry. I already have a n for this," Qin Xiaoyao reassured her. Although she could earn more by selling to retail customers, it was too risky as she might be recognized. Therefore, it was best to sell the grain to the grain stores. Of course, Qin Xiaoyao would have to discuss this matter with the stores. However, there was no rush. She would wait for a period of time after the locust gue ended. The grain stores were also starting to run out of grain, so it wouldn''t be toote for her to deliver it to them at that point. "Oh Alright then." When she saw her daughter-inw''s confident look, Madam Liu did not ask further, although she was a little curious. In any case, she just had to believe in her daughter-inw. It was all thanks to her daughter-inw that the family was bing more well-off. Not long after Madam Liu left, Wang Xiaomei came looking for Qin Xiaoyao. After all, she was very clear about the things kept in the storage room. "Mrs. Song, you sold grain to the Liu family just now?" she asked Qin Xiaoyao. Although the Liu family had covered up the handcart so that no one could see what they had put on the handcart, Wang Xiaomei could still tell. After all, she was very clear about the things kept in the storage room. "Mm-hmm," Qin Xiaoyao replied without any intention of hiding anything. Wang Xiaomei was taken aback. "What''s the price?" she immediately asked. "20 copper coins," Qin Xiaoyao replied honestly. Wang Xiaomei''s eyes instantly widened. "20 20 copper coins?" she stammered as she spoke. Chapter 220 The End Of The Locust Plague Chapter 220 The End Of The Locust gue "Mm-hmm. It''s two copper coins higher than the price they paid at the grain store," Qin Xiaoyao continued. Wang Xiaomei was shocked once more. The price of grain in the grain stores had already risen to 18 copper coins per catty? Qin Xiaoyao nced at Wang Xiaomei and could roughly guess what she was thinking. "The grain store''s price just rose. There''s a high chance that it''ll continue to rise. "If you also want to buy grain here, I can sell some to you at 20 copper coins per catty by today." Wang Xiaomei''s eyes flickered. "I can only pay five taels Er, no. Five taels and four coins of silver," she quickly said. The sum of five taels and four coins of silver was practically all of her savings at the moment. Although Wang Xiaomei had asked Mrs. Song before, and the answer she got was that the price of grain would probably rise, she did not use up all her savings. After all, Mrs. Song had mentioned that she would sell grain. However, the situation was quite clear now. Wang Xiaomei had to seize this opportunity. The amount of grain that could be exchanged with the money in her hand would be less and less. A smile shed across Qin Xiaoyao''s eyes. "Not bad." This little girl was indeed capable. She had quietly saved up so much money. However, it was also true that this girl was diligent. She would set up her stall in the morning and at night. In the afternoon, she would weave straw sandals whenever she had time. It wasn''t easy for her to earn this money. A look of embarrassment shed across Wang Xiaomei''s face. "But, are you sure you want to spend all your money on food?" Wang Xiaomei was probably buying the grain for her big brother and father. It was fine to support her big brother a little. After all, Wang Dashan really doted on his younger sister. However, in the case of Wang Laoshuan Well, he was Xiaomei''s father, after all. Forget it. It was Wang Xiaomei''s private matter, so Qin Xiaoyao shouldn''t interfere too much. Besides, it was good to let this girl empty her purse. It would prevent her from saving up too much money and give rise to the idea of redeeming herself and leaving. Qin Xiaoyao couldn''t bear to let go of such a diligent girl. A look of hesitation shed across Wang Xiaomei''s eyes. A momentter, she nodded her head firmly. "Mm-hmm." The corners of Qin Xiaoyao''s lips curled up. "Deal! Five taels and four coins of silver. That''s exactly 270 catties of grain." "Give me the money, and you can go to the storeroom to get the goods. "By the way, for this price, you are getting 50% brown rice and 50% coarse flour. "In other words, you get 65 catties of brown rice and coarse flour each." Wang Xiaomei nodded. "Alright!" "But can I take the goodster?" When she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at her, Wang Xiaomei quickly added, "I''ll give you the money immediately afterward." Qin Xiaoyao nodded. "Alright. However, you have to take the goods away within half a month." Half a monthter, she would go to the grain store to get rid of the grain. At that time, it would be easier to check how much grain was left in the storage room after Wang Xiaomei had removed her goods. A look of hesitation shed across Wang Xiaomei''s face. "Alright." In the end, she still agreed. After she finished speaking, she went back to her room to get the silver. Not long after, Qin Xiaoyao received the money. Today, she had earned nearly 30 taels of silver just by selling the grain. Qin Xiaoyao was in a good mood. The next morning, the flying locusts attacked again, as expected. It was just that the scale was not as great, and the duration not as long as yesterday. Not long after the flying locusts flew off, many people came to the Song family''s courtyard. Some people came to buy water, while others came to buy bean sprouts. They bought water because it was a necessity in life. Others bought bean sprouts because they thought the price was low. The grain price in the grain store was skyrocketing, and the bean sprouts were also grown from grains. The Song family''s bean sprouts were only three copper coins for two catties. That was a good bargain! How much bean sprouts could they buy with the money saved from buying one catty of brown rice and coarse flour? Qin Xiaoyao naturally understood this logic. However, in the current situation, she couldn''t deliver goods to Fortune Mansion or sell bean sprouts at the market. There were too many of these bean sprouts that had been grown in advance, so she could only settle for small profits in preference for a quick turnover. However, she also exined the situation to the neighbors. Due to the rise in food prices, the price of her family''s bean sprouts would also rise with the increase in food prices after the locust gue. After all, ording to Qin Xiaoyao''s exnation, the beans she was going to use next had to be bought from the grain store, which would not be cheap. Everyone expressed their understanding of this matter. They were also very grateful to Qin Xiaoyao for selling them bean sprouts at such a low price. Just like that, the Song family gained another wave of goodwill in Yong An Lane. There were also many people who came to the Song family''s ce to buy bean sprouts. In fact, after learning that Qin Xiaoyao didn''t restrict selling bean sprouts only to people who stayed in Yong An Lane, some people even introduced their acquaintances to buy bean sprouts at the Song family''s residence. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao, who had been worried that she wouldn''t be able to sell all her bean sprouts, discovered that all her bean sprouts were sold out before nightfall. In the evening, at the Wang family''s house in Brook Falls Vige. The father and son of the Wang family, who had just returned from fetching water, were sitting on the steps below the roof eaves with dejected expressions. The father and son did not dare to enter the mountain again when the locust gue broke out. In the morning, they fought against the locusts at home. After the flying locusts flew off, the two of them cleaned up the courtyard. Then, they dried the locusts they caught and turned them into dry food. There were less than 20 catties of brown rice and coarse flour left at home. And these brown rice and coarse flour were given to them by Wang Xiaomei. Considering that there wasn''t much food left, the father and son didn''t dare to touch the food since the locust gue started and instead ate the locusts. However, the locusts were dried and not fried with oil, so they didn''t taste good at all. In addition, there weren''t a lot of locusts, so their stomachs were extremely empty. "I wonder how your sister is doing?" Suddenly, Wang Laoshuan spoke up. As soon as the words left his mouth, Wang Dashan shot a sharp look at Wang Laoshuan. This caused Wang Laoshuan to avoid his son''s gaze. Knowing that his son had misunderstood him, Wang Laoshuan exined, "I don''t have any other intentions. I''m just worried about Xiaomei." He was genuinely worried. After all, when the flying locusts were wreaking havoc, it was entirely possible for a person to suffer great injuries if he stood outside. Of course, he also wanted to ask his daughter for some help. Notwithstanding other things, the food supply at home was Wang Dashan nced at his father and did not say anything else. To be honest, his father had changed a lot recently. This was particrly obvious when it came to the way he treated his mother. His father was apletely different person. However, his attitude to Xiaomei Forget it. How could a person change overnight? Perhaps, he should give his father more time. Therefore, Wang Dashan said, "When the locust gue is over, let''s continue to gather firewood." "When the firewood is sent to the town, I will go and visit Xiaomei." He was also a little worried about his younger sister, but he believed that she would be fine with the Song family. There was more greenery in the countryside, and the locusts liked toe to the countryside a lot more. If it was in town, the locust gue might not be as severe. Wang Laoshuan nced at his son. "Mm-hmm." After mumbling a reply, he didn''t say anything else. Five days passed in the blink of an eye. After two consecutive days when the locust gue did not break out in Mountain Spring Town, the locust gue was considered to have finallye to an end. The streets of the town started to be lively again, and order was slowly restored in the town. In Brook Falls Vige, the father and son of the Wang family went into the mountains to gather firewood again. The next morning, Wang Dashan pushed a handcart full of firewood into town. Chapter 221 - 221: Town Entrance Fee Increased Chapter 221: Town Entrance Fee Increased Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion In the end, when Wang Dashan was about to enter the town, he found out that the entrance fee had increased. And it was a 100% increase. In his situation, he only needed to pay three copper coins for himself and the goods in the past. This time, he had to pay six copper coins. When Wang Dashan thought of how little he was earning from his handcart of firewood, he was so angry that he almost wanted to turn around and leave. However, he swallowed his anger eventually. After paying the fee, he entered the town. In the end, after he entered the town and went to the ce where he sold firewood, he found out that many things in town had increased in price. This was particrly true for the grains in the grain store. The price of brown rice and coarse flour had reached 22 copper coins per catty. And it could continue to rise at any time. The prices of other food-rted items also rose. Everyone was talking about this, thinking that a famine wasing. When Wang Dashan heard this news, he felt a very heavy weight in his heart. Fortunately, there was also good news. The price of firewood had also increased. Previously, two bundles of firewood were only sold for five copper coins, but now the price had risen to eight copper coins. It could be considered a big increase. After selling the firewood, Wang Dashan pushed the firewood meant for the Song family to Yong An Lane. On the way, he met some regr customers. When they saw Wang Dashan, they all ordered firewood from him. For those who had ordered from him earlier, Wang Dashan immediately epted their orders and said that he would send the firewood over after he went back. As for those who orderedter, Wang Dashan said they would have to wait until the next day. Although some people were unhappy with the price increase, most people expressed their understanding. After all, there were too many items that had increased in price. Wang Dashan finally arrived at the Song familys ce. When Wang Xiaomei learned that Wang Dashan was here, she quickly came out to meet her big brother. Wang Dashan was relieved to see that Xiaomei was fine. Knowing that youre fine, Big Brother can be at ease. Mm-hmm, Wang Xiaomei answered, touched by his concern. Im doing well in the Song family. Aunt Song and Mrs. Song take good care of me. Hows the situation at home? How are you and Father doing these past few days? Wang Xiaomei asked again. The disaster in the countryside was definitely more severe than in the town. Wang Xiaomei had been worried about them these past few days. Its alright. Father and I are fine. Wang Dashan replied with a smile. Oh yes. When 1 entered the town today, I realized that the price of firewood in town has increased! From now on, Father and I will work harder so we can earn more money! Wang Dashan couldnt wait to share this good news with his younger sister. However, Wang Xiaomei didnt smile. Instead, she frowned. But the price of grain has also increased, and by arge margin. Also, the prices of almost everything rted to food have increased, she said. As soon as these words came out, the smile on Wang Dashans face froze. Only then did Wang Xiaomei realize that her big brother already knew about this. After a short pause, Wang Xiaomei asked again. Is there still food at home? Wang Dashan was stunned. There is. Then, he quickly shed a smile at Wang Xiaomei. He didnt want his younger sister to worry. Wang Xiaomeis expression indicated she didnt quite believe him. After all, she was the one who gave them the food. And each time, she didnt give a lot. How much more? Wang Xiaomei asked again. Wang Dashan paused. After being stared at by his sister for quite a while, he eventually told her. Theres still about 20 catties. If we use them sparingly, its enough tost Father and me for another half a month, he quickly added. The locust gue isnt entirely a bad thing. Father and I have caught a lot of locusts during this time. Those insects can also be used to fill our stomachs after we dry them over the stove. Wang Xiaomeis face changed. So, youve been eating locusts all this time? she immediately asked. Previously, Mrs. Song had said that the locusts from the locust gue were poisonous. Moreover, with her familys situation, Big Brother and Father would definitely be reluctant to use oil to fry them. If they were dried and eaten directly, notwithstanding the bad taste, the toxicity might even be higher. Wang Dashan did not reply. It was considered a tacit acknowledgment. Youre not allowed to eat them anymore! Wang Xiaomei said hurriedly. Only now did she understand why her big brothers face appeared so dull gray today. This was clearly because he was poisoned and starving. Xiaomei Wang Dashan spoke up. He wanted to tell his younger sister not to worry about him. However, he only managed to say one word before his younger sister shot him a look and he shut his mouth. Then, Wang Dashan lowered his head. As a big brother, he was really ipetent. He couldnt even support himself and his father. He even said that he wanted to redeem his younger sister, but in the end, he still had to ept her help. When she saw her big brother lower his head, Wang Xiaomei gave a sigh. Those locusts are poisonous. If the temperature is not high enough during the processing, the toxicity will be even higher. Im just afraid that something will happen to you and Father, she exined. Wang Dashan was surprised. Its true. Thats why Mrs. Song didnt allow us to fry and eat the locusts. Wang Xiaomei looked at Wang Dashan. If there are still locusts in the house, you and Father should stop eating them. After you dry those things, you wont get much left, and they wont be enough to fill your stomach. I still have some brown rice and coarse flour stocked up here, she said. Wang Dashan immediately looked at Wang Xiaomei. But He still wanted to object. However, when his eyes met Wang Xiaomeis, he swallowed the words he wanted to say. Also, when the Liu family bought their courtyard house, I went to look for Brother Daniu and the others. They have agreed. If you and Father need it, they can rent out a room to you. The rent is only 100 copper coins a month. Wang Dashan was shocked. Just as he was about to refuse, he heard Wang Xiaomei continue, After the locust gue, the famine will start, and the lives of every family will be even more difficult. If the people of Brook Falls Vige flee just like the Qian familys vige, you and Father can move to the town at that point. Our whole family will stay in town, so we wont get separated. Wang Dashan did not object anymore. This was because his younger sisters considerations were right. Ever since the locust gue started, almost everyone in the vige was in a state of panic. Many of the vigers were already discussing the matter of fleeing. Wang Dashans second uncle had alsoe to talk to him about thisst night. He said that if he couldnt find a job in the town, he might leave Brook Falls Vige with his family. He even asked Wang Dashan whether he wanted to bring his father along and leave with them. At that time, his father rejected the invitation from Wang Dashans second uncle without even thinking. He said that he didnt want to leave his hometown and didnt want to leave his daughter behind. When Wang Dashan heard that, he even praised his father in his heart. After that, Wang Dashan also turned down his second uncles offer. As long as his younger sister was still in Mountain Spring Town, he would not leave. However, even his second uncle had thoughts of leaving. There were probably many families in the vige who had such thoughts. In that case, there might really be arge number of vigers leaving. If the vigers really left, it would indeed not be safe for him and his father to stay in the vige. When she saw her big brothers expression, Wang Xiaomei knew that he had taken her words to heart. She continued, Its safer to live in the town. Life will also be more convenient. At that time, you and Father can still go out of the town to gather firewood. There are a few mountains outside the town. You can go to the mountains to gather firewood directly. You dont have to return to Brook Falls Vige. Wang Dashan was tempted again. Alright. If the vige chief really decides that we should flee, Ill bring Father to look for the Liu family, Wang Dashan finally said. The rent of a hundred copper coins per month was indeed not expensive. Wang Dashan and his father could pay for it themselves.. Chapter 222 - 222: Stocking Up On Firewood Chapter 222: Stocking Up On Firewood Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion As for food and sustenance, whenever Wang Dashan and his father went into the mountains to gather firewood, they would find something in the mountains from time to time. In addition to the money he earned from chopping wood, and the subsidy given by his younger sister, the father and son might be able to survive. Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaomei finally felt more at ease. Dont worry about the food. I have stocked up almost 800 catties of brown rice and coarse flour here. If you and Father are a little more frugal, it should be enough tost us for quite a while, she said. Wang Xiaomei had just bought 550 catties of brown rice and coarse flour with Mrs. Song. Together with those that she had been stocking up cumtively previously, she had at least 800 catties now. Wang Dashan got a big shock. So much? He found it a little unbelievable. Wang Xiaomei nodded her head. However, you must keep this a secret for now. Dont tell Father yet. After you guys move to town, you cane here to take the food away. Wang Dashan thought for a while and nodded. Alright, he said. Immediately after that, he looked like he wanted to say something but stopped. Whats wrong? If Big Brother has something to say, feel free to say it. Wang Dashans hesitation caused Wang Xiaomei to smile. The food you Wang Dashan asked. Wang Xiaomeis eyes flickered momentarily. Oh, those? I stocked up on them earlier. Previously, Mrs. Song said that the price of grain might rise. After 1 earned the money, I exchanged it for food and began stocking up, Wang Xiaomei said, pretending to be rxed. Thankfully, I did that. Otherwise, you and Father would have to sufferter on. You exchanged all your money for food? Wang Dashan eximed in shock. Wang Xiaomei paused for a while before nodding her head. Mm-hmm. So, you guys have to pay for the rental of the room yourself. We should be paying for the rental ourselves in the first ce! Wang Dashan immediately said. How much did you spend on those grains? he asked again anxiously. Wang Xiaomeis eyes flickered a little. Not much really, she replied. Gosh, Big Brother! Dont ask so many questions. At this point, food is more important than money. If theres no money, we can just go on to earn itter. As long as one is alive and his hands are working, one will be able to make money sooner orter. Wang Dashan was silent. When she saw this, Wang Xiaomei smiled. Oh, yes. You better hurry up and decide on the room rental issue soon. Its best to confirm it within ten days. Previously, Mrs. Song had told her to take the grain away within half a month. If her big brother and father did note and get the grain, Wang Xiaomei could only move the grain into her own room. At that point, she was afraid that it would take up a lot of space. In her opinion, it didnt matter if the people of Brook Falls Vige fled or not. It would be more cost-effective for big brother and father to live in the town. After all, the rent was only 100 copper coins a month, but it could save the two of them time traveling back and forth. With the time saved, they might be able to gather an extra handcart of firewood. Before Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu bought the courtyard house, they had wanted to go back to Brook Falls Vige to live. However, in the end, aftering to town, they never once considered going back. Although the couple alsoined that they had to spend money on many aspects of town life, grumbling about spending money to buy this and that, ultimately they also liked the cleanliness and convenience of the town. The couple actually preferred the life they were leading now. A wisp of hesitation shed across Wang Dashans face. After his younger sister looked at him, he nodded. Ill find time to discuss this with Father after 1 go back, he said. Although Wang Dashan said it was a discussion, he was fairly certain that his father would be happy to move. In fact, the moment Wang Dashan brought up this subject, his father would definitely be eager to move immediately. After all, the old man often grumbled in front of Wang Dashan, saying how much he envied the Song and Liu families. Wang Dashan sighed in his heart when he thought of this. He was really useless. If it wasnt for his sister making these arrangements, he really didnt know what to do next. The brother and sister chatted for a while more. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao came over. Mrs. Song! The two of them greeted Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Dashan. She turned toward Wang Dashan. Yes, Mrs. Song! Wang Dashan quickly replied. Of the 85 loads of firewood I ordered previously, how much has been delivered? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Wang Dashan was caught by surprise. After pondering for a while, he answered, Including todays delivery, its 46 loads. I still owe you 39 loads. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. I heard that the price of firewood has increased? she asked again. Wang Dashan was surprised again. Then, a smile appeared on his face. It did rise a little. But it doesnt affect the firewood you ordered earlier. Ill still deliver the remaining 39 loads of firewood to you! he said. The Song family treated his younger sister well and even allowed her to earn so much money. He was grateful for that inwardly. When Wang Xiaomei heard this, she nodded her head as well. Obviously, she agreed with her big brother. However, Qin Xiaoyao simplyughed. The town entrance fee has increased. If we still base it on the original price, youll lose a lot. How about this? Ill give you an additional two copper coins for every load of firewood. Take it as we are helping topensate you for some town entrance fees. However, you will have to give priority to my family when you deliver firewood. Give me the 39 loads of firewood you owe me within a month. Seeing Wang Dashans surprised expression, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and said, My familys woodshed isnt full yet. In addition, you can also store some firewood in the storage room. There were many things in the attic of the houses storage room, so Qin Xiaoyao had to think of some way to cover them up. In addition, it was also good to stock up on more firewood at home now. ording to her husband, Mountain Spring Town would be sealed off before long. Then, the town gate would only be opened again when the war disaster broke out. No problem! Wang Dashan quickly answered. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao leave. After that, the Wang siblings chatted for a while longer before Wang Dashan left. After hearing his sisters words during his trip to town this time, Wang Dashans heart was much more at ease. He didnt stay idle after he returned home and continued to deliver firewood to town. After delivering the firewood for the second time, he finally went home. Wang Laoshuan was also at home. He had cooked a pot of porridge, and the side dishes were salted vegetables and the locusts which had been dried earlier. For the past few days, Wang Laoshuan and his son had only been eating locusts, and he really felt that he couldnt stomach it anymore. When he saw that his son had returned, Wang Laoshuan quickly asked Wang Dashan about the situation in town. After learning that his daughter was doing well and the price of firewood in town had gone up, Wang Laoshuans aged face immediately broke into a smile. Since youve earned money, why didnt you buy some grains? Wang Laoshuan asked again very quickly. Wang Dashan nced at his father. The price of firewood has increased, but the price of grain has increased even more. In addition, the price of anything that is remotely rted to food has grown by arge amount. Wang Laoshuan frowned. Whats the price of brown rice and coarse flour now? he asked hurriedly. Wang Dashan sighed and replied, 22 copper coins. What? Wang Laoshuans eyes widened, thinking that he had heard wrong. You didnt hear wrong. The price of brown rice and coarse flour has risen to 22 copper coins per catty. And its limited in supply. If people queue up, each person can only buy five catties at a time. If they go toote, they wont be able to buy any! Fortunately, Wang Xiaomei had stocked up on the grain in advance. Otherwise, he wouldnt know what to do henceforth. Then what do we do? Our family As he said that, Wang Laoshuan looked in the direction of the kitchen in a panic. We have only a dozen catties of food left.. Chapter 223 - 223: Locusts Should Not Be Eaten Chapter 223: Locusts Should Not Be Eaten Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion At this moment, Wang Laoshuan looked at the porridge on the table and could not help but swallow a few times. At the same time, he was filled with regret. If he had known that the price of grain had soared to this extent, he would not have cooked porridge. By eating the locusts, he and his son could hold out for two more days. Wang Dashan nced at his father and swallowed the words he was about to say. It was better not to tell his father about moving to town and the matter about the grain. During these few days, he would observe the movements of the vigers first before deciding what to do. What can we do? Well take one step at a time. Lets eat. After saying that, Wang Dashan sat down at the table. Wang Laoshuan sighed and sat down without thinking further. Wang Dashan picked up his chopsticks and saw the locusts on the table. After thinking for a while, he stood up. Carrying the bowl of locusts, he walked out. What are you doing? Wang Laoshuan asked hurriedly. We have to dispose of this. This thing can t be eaten! Wang Dashan replied without turning his head. It was a pity that thest hen in the house had been eaten by his mother. Otherwise, these locusts would not have been wasted. Ah Why cant we eat it? Wang Laoshuans expression changed drastically. He quickly got up and ran out of the room in pursuit. Unfortunately, he saw that Wang Dashan had already thrown the locusts away. Gosh! You useless bum! This is food! Wang Laoshuan only felt a pang of heartache. After pping his thigh, he literally cursed out in anger. Wang Dashan turned around and nced at his father, but he was not angry. These locusts are poisonous. If you eat too much, you might end up in trouble, he said. Wang Dashan had been feeling somewhat unwell these days. He had always thought that it was because he had not eaten his fill. Today, after his younger sisters reminder, he found out that he had eaten too many locusts and had been poisoned. Fortunately, he and his father did not encounter any major problems. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable. However, now, he must not eat them anymore. What? Wang Laoshuan was shocked. Then, his expression changed again. How can they be poisonous? Weve been eating locusts for a few days, and there are so many people in the vige who eat locusts, but I dont see anything wrong with anyone? Wang Laoshuan was somewhat in disbelief. Its true! Mrs. Song said so! Wang Dashan said. Nothing happened to us previously probably because we were in good health. However, we will still be affected. Ive been feeling that I dont have enough strength these past few days, and Im aching in many parts of my body. Also, when Xiaomei saw me today, she said that I didnt look too well. As he spoke, Wang Dashan looked at his father. From what I can see, your condition is more serious than mine. Yourplexion is so much worse than before. Wang Laoshuans expression changed visibly. After looking at his son, he couldnt help but reach out and touch his own face. There was no mirror in the house, and now there was ack of water. He had not looked at himself for a long time. However, his sonsplexion was indeed very different from before. Wang Laoshuan had thought that it was because his son was hungry, but it turned out that he was poisoned! Well, he also had the symptoms that his son mentioned. Are they really poisonous? Thus, Wang Laoshuan began to believe his son. Mm-hmm, Wang Dashan replied. The two walked into the house together. Later, throw away the remaining locusts in the house as well. Although we dont have enough food, we cant afford to be sick at the moment, he said. If they fell sick, it would dy them from going into the mountains to gather firewood. They could not afford to be dyed now. Wang Laoshuan thought for a while. Although he still felt that it was a pity, he finally nodded. Alright! Lets eat, Wang Dashan said again. Only then did he return to the table with Wang Laoshuan to eat. The father and son drank the porridge paired with the salted vegetables. They felt that the taste was excellent. After the meal and a short rest, the father and son set off and went into the mountains together again. Although a great deal of the mountain greenery had been destroyed by the locusts, there was still a lot of vegetation left, so it was not that hot. If they were a little more careful when gathering firewood in the mountains in such weather, they would not get too much sun. They kept themselves busy, and before they knew it, it was almost dark. When they returned to the vige, a viger called out to them as soon as they reached the entrance. Why are you two still here? The vige chief has summoned everyone for a meeting at his house! That person saw the Wang family duo pushing a big handcart of firewood, and carrying loads of firewood on their shoulders, so he knew that they had just returned from outside. Therefore, he informed them of the meeting. Wang Dashan was stunned. Uncle Vige Chief called for a meeting? Whats he announcing? he asked. I dont know! Its about to start. You guys better hurry and go take a look! the man replied. Alright. Uncle Guangzi, you go ahead. Well go back and put down the firewood first, and then well go! Wang Dashan said. Alright! The man left in a hurry. Only then did Wang Dashan pick up his pace and quickly rushed home with Wang Laoshuan. Suddenly, Wang Laoshuan spoke, They are probably talking about fleeing the famine. I heard that people from Brook Rise Vige, Reed Flower Vige, and Paddy Levee Vige are all preparing to flee. Apparently, if the vige chief leads the vigers to flee together, they can take care of each other. Wang Dashan turned his head and nced at his father. You also want to flee? he asked. Wang Laoshuans expression changed instantly. Im not leaving, he said straightaway. Fleeing the famine is not so simple. We will be short of clothes, food, and water, and we have to keep moving forward without stopping, traveling a long distance. If we fall sick on the way, a small illness can drag on to be a serious one, and it can even be fatal. Moreover, we might encounter wild beasts and bandits on the way. One wrong move and you might lose your life on the way. In fact, the reason Wang Laoshuan was so afraid of fleeing was that histe father had fled to Brook Falls Vige and settled down there back then. When he was young, his father told Wang Laoshuan a lot about how he had fled when he was young. This was the reason he was so afraid of fleeing and so strongly against this idea. When he saw his son looking at him again, Wang Laoshuan continued, They fled because the crops in the fields were gone. They were also afraid the crops in the fields wont be able to grow in theing year due to the locust gues influence. They cant depend on anything other than crops. But our family is different. We re now gathering firewood to sell. Although we dont earn much, were still making a living. As long as we work hard enough, we wont starve to death. When he said this, there was a hint of pride in Wang Laoshuans tone. Oh, yes. Tomorrow morning, why dont I go to the town with you and deliver the ordered firewood to them earlier? When wee back, you make another trip again. Then, in the evening, the two of us will go into town once more. This way, we can sell five handcarts of firewood tomorrow! After a few days of locust gues, there was a lot more firewood in the mountains. Today, he had gathered a lot of firewood with his son. Although he didnt manage to bring them all back, he noted down their locations in the mountains. The father and son would set off early the next day and simply use the handcart to bring everything back. Wang Dashan was a little surprised at his fathers diligence. Alright! He smiled and agreed to the proposal. He went with Wang Laoshuan to offload the firewood before heading to the vige chiefs house. When they arrived, they found that the vige chiefs house was already packed with people inside and outside. There were many people gathered there. Wang Dashi saw the father and son duo and called out to them. The vige chief asked everyone to check if everyones neighbors had arrived.. Chapter 224 - 224: Brook Falls Village Would Flee Too Chapter 224: Brook Falls Vige Would Flee Too Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When everyone was sure that most of the vigers had arrived, the vige chief began to talk about the main topic. True enough, he was talking about fleeing the famine. The vige chief, who had previously vowed that he wouldnt flee, changed his attitude this time. It was said that many of the surrounding viges had the idea of fleeing. Now, he wanted to ask for the opinions of the vigers and see what they thought. What thoughts can we have? Lets go! Theres nothing to look forward to if we stay! someone voiced out. Thats right! We have almost consumed all the food at home. Notwithstanding the fact it is not easy to buy grain in town, it is also extremely expensive! They are clearly not giving us a way out! someone else said. Theres also the well in our vige. The amount of water it is discharging has be less. If this goes on, with so many households in our Brook Falls Vige, Im afraid that we wall die of thirst! We go! This locust gue has already started. Why arent we leaving? Lets leave Hua An Prefecture before winteres! Thats right! Only by getting out of here can we have a chance of survival! The vigers were getting more and more agitated. Most of the people were in favor of leaving. It was mainly because many people were badly affected by the locust gue. In addition, the viges nearby were also discussing this matter. The people within each vige were more or less rted by blood. When everybody joined forces, the idea of fleeing didnt seem that scary anymore. Of course, there were also some who were unwilling to leave. However, there were too few of them, and their voices were easily drowned out. The venue was filled with the vigers mor for a while. After a long time, the vige chief finally raised his hand and motioned for everyone to quiet down. I am aware of the situation. Since so many people are willing to leave, then lets leave! the vige chief said outright. As soon as he said that, the crowd erupted into a heated discussion. Some people supported the idea, while some people were hesitant. Previously, many people were filled with righteous indignation and imed that they wanted to leave. In reality, some of them were simply venting their emotions. After all, since the beginning of summer, the vigers had not led an easy life. The recent locust gue had almost driven everyone crazy. However, now the vige chief had spoken and the vige had really decided to flee. Many people started to panic again. The vige chiefs gaze swept across everyones faces. He understood the vigers worries. Everyone, be quiet. Lets listen to Uncle Vige Chief first! At this moment, a young viger shouted. The whole ce quickly became quiet. I understand everyones concerns, the vige chief continued. But in this situation, Im afraid we have no choice but to leave! Just this morning, I received the actual news. The few viges closest to us, including Brook Rise Vige, Reed Flower Vige, Paddy Levee Vige, and Great Meadows Vige, have all decided to leave. Among them, Brook Rise Vige and Reed Flower Vige have already decided to join forces and will leave together tomorrow. As for Paddy Levee Vige and Great Meadows Vige, although they havent set a date for departure, they are already making preparations. When ites to fleeing, our journey will be easier if there are more people and we can watch out for each other. So, in my opinion, our Brook Falls Vige can set off with the people from the Paddy Levee Vige and Great Meadows Vige. This way, our journey will be safer. As soon as he said that, the vigers began discussing heatedly again. All the viges nearby were going to leave. If they didnt leave, they would be left behind. If they decided to leaveter, they could only travel together with their own people from the same vige. At that point, there would be fewer people and lower numbers meant less strength. The journey would indeed be more perilous. At the thought of this, the people who were hesitating stopped hesitating. Then lets go! Right! Lets go together with the people from Paddy Levee Vige and Great Meadows Vige! one viger quickly said. The vige chief nodded in satisfaction. He raised his hand again, gesturing for everyone to be quiet. Thats good! Then, lets begin our preparations. Each household, go back and pack your things. Bring along dry food, water bags, farm tools, and the like. As for the luggage, each family will do what they can to the best of their ability. The important thing is, dont forget to bring your household registration certificate. When we reach a new ce, we will have a proper status and identity if we have the household registration certificate. The government will then give us relief funds and even help us settle down! the vige chief reminded everyone. We know! a viger replied loudly. The vige chief gave some more instructions. He said that after this, he would discuss with the vige chiefs of Paddy Levee Vige and Great Meadows Viges to decide on a specific departure time. Then, he dismissed everyone. The Wang family members also departed with the crowd. Wang Dashi only stopped when they reached a fork in the road. He called out to Wang Dashan and Wang Laoshuan. Are you two really not going to leave with the rest? He asked the father and son with a grave expression. The father and son looked at each other. Wang Dashan spoke up. Im not going. Xiaomei is still in Mountain Spring Town. What will happen to her if we leave? Besides, Im chopping firewood with my father to sell. We have more or less some ie. Maybe we can survive. Its not easy to flee the famine, and the journey is perilous. We don want to take the risk. Wang Laoshuan also nodded in agreement by the side. Wang Dashi sighed when he heard this. Then, your grandmother He directed his words at Wang Dashan. Wang Laoshuans expression changed briefly. Ill go tell Mother, he said. His mother would understand. It was such a pity that though his mother had worried about him her whole life, he didnt show proper filial piety to her for even a day before he had to part ways with her. Forget it. He would just take it that he was an unfilial son in this life. In the future, if his second brother brought his mother back, he would definitely treat her well. Ill go too, Wang Dashan chimed in. Grandma doted on him, and they were going to part soon. He didnt know if they would meet again in the future. He wanted to spend some time with Grandma. At this moment, Wang Dashan hated himself once again. If only he could buy a courtyard house in the town like the Liu family, he would definitely ask his father to keep Grandma by their side and live together in town with them. It would also save Grandma from having to leave her hometown with Second Uncles family at such an old age. Fortunately, Second Uncles family had always been filial, and they had a donkey at home, which should be able to save Grandma a fair amount of walking. Wang Dashi sighed again. Alright, he said. Only then did he bring the father and son back home. Then, before long, the sound of scolding came from Old Grandma Wangs room, followed by crying. It was only after a long time that the room slowly quieted down. Wang Dashi was sitting on the steps under the roof eaves outside the hall, smoking a pipe while waiting for his big brother and nephew toe out. After waiting for almost two hours, the father and son finally emerged from the room. At this point, the father and son appeared very dejected. One could tell with one look that they were not in a good mood. How is it? What did Mother say? Wang Dashi rushed forward and asked Wang Laoshuan. Mother has agreed, Wang Laoshuan replied, but his tone was very depressed. Wang Dashan stood at the side and did not speak. Wang Dashi looked a little disappointed. Alright! Your sister-inw has made dinner. Stay and eat with us! he said. Wang Laoshuan quickly refused. No! Ill just go back with Dashan to eat! After he finished speaking, he lifted his feet and quickly walked out. Wang Dashan quickly ran after his father. At the same time, he turned around and said to his second uncle, We wont be joining you. We have already cooked dinner at home! In reality, they had not cooked anything.. There was a shortage of food right now, so how could they eat at Second Uncles house? Chapter 225 - 225: Madam Qian Died Chapter 225: Madam Qian Died Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion??????? Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Wang Dashi raised his hand and wanted to stop the father and son. However, when he turned around, he saw his own wife, who had appeared at the door without his realization, Wang Dashi restrained himself for a moment, and finally, put his hand down. Ill go ask Mother toe out for dinner, the woman spoke up. Mm-hmm, Wang Dashi responded. He then turned around and entered the house. After the Wang familys father and son left Wang Dashis house, they returned to their own home. The father and son then lit the lights and went to the kitchen to cook. Wang Laoshuan wanted to cook porridge but Wang Dashan stopped him. Lets make pancakes.1 We ll make more. Tomorrow morning, we ll send some to Second Uncles house, Wang Dashan said. Wang Laoshuan was surprised. A hint of hesitation shed across his face. Following that, he agreed. Okay! Then, he turned around and prepared to go and retrieve the coarse flour at home. Use all of them, Wang Dashan said again. Wang Laoshuan was stunned this time. He turned around and looked at his son. Hl go to town tomorrow to buy some grain, Wang Dashan said. Wang Laoshuans eyes flickered. He recalled what his mother had said to him at his second brother1 s house. His eyes suddenly turned red-rimmed. Alright! he replied and proceeded to get the coarse flour. After that, the father and son did not speak again. After Wang Laoshuan mixed the flour up, he and Wang Dashan baked all the flour into pancakes. Eventually, they ended up baking one big basket of pancakes. Lets eat. We can sleep better after we eat our fill, Wang Dashan said. Then, tomorrow morning, we111 send the remaining pancakes to Second Uncles house. In addition, we ll give them too copper coins. Ill get yon the moneyter. Wang Laoshuan nodded again. After that, he picked up the pancake and began eating together with Wang Dashan. As he ate, his tears began to fall, making pitter-patter sounds on the ground. At first, he could still hold back the tears, but in the end, he really couldnt bear it anymore and actually cried out loud. When Wang Dashan saw this, he also choked on his emotions. Eventually, he reached out and patted Wang Laoshuans shoulder. Go ahead and cry. Youll feel better after crying, he said as he tried to hold back his own tears. Grandma had agreed to let them stay, but the words she said made them feel very awful inwardly. Grandma said that this farewell might be a permanent farewell. Mother and son, grandmother and grandson might never see each other again. The next day, Wang Dashan handed the money to Wang Laoshuan early in the morning. After eating two pancakes with Wang Laoshuan, Wang Dashan gave him the rest. After that, he packed up the firewood and set off for town. Along the way, Wang Dashan was in emotional turmoil He was still thinking about his father going to his second uncles house to deliver the stuff. This was the only thing he and his father could do. After paying the fee and entering the town, Wang Dashan went straight to the customers who had ordered the firewood from him yesterday and delivered the firewood to them. When he was left with two bundles of firewood, he sent them to the Song familys ce. At this moment, Wang Xiaomei had already returned after selling off all the bean sprouts. When she saw that her big brother hade again, she went over to talk to Wang Dashan. The vige chief has already spoken. He allowed everyone to follow him voluntarily. Second Uncles family is also leaving, Wang Dashan said. Then Grandma WangXiaoineis expression changed slightly as she asked. Grandma will also follow them and leave, Wang Dashan replied. Last night, 1 visited Grandma with Father. She has agreed to let us stay. Following that, Wang Dashan told Wang Xiaomei about how he and Wang Laoshuan baked pancakes and sent them to Second Uncles house. He also told her about the extra 100 copper coins. Wang Xiaomei nodded. Thats the right thing to do. The journey is not easy. If they have more things in hand, Second Uncles family can live a little better. Then, Wang Xiaomei thought of something. The flour at home is all used up. 111 go ger some for you, she said. Mm-hmm. Just five catties will do, Wang Dashan said. 1 havent told Father about renting a room at the Liu familys ce. Also, he doesnt know about the food youve stocked up. Wang Xiaomei was taken aback. She then nodded. Alright! After that, she took the sack from Wang Dashan and went into the house to help Wang Dashan get rhe coarse flour. When Wang Xiaomei returned, the sack in her hand was already filled with stuff. Wang Dashan took the food with a dejected expression. Grandma, she He opened his mouth and only managed to say two words. He didnt finish his sentence. Wang Dashan actually wanted Grandma to stay with them. However, there was only one extra room in the Liu familys house. He could still squeeze in with his father, but Grandma wouldnt be able to stay in the same room with them. In addition, staying in Mountain Spring Town did not necessarily mean that it was better than fleeing the famine. Most importantly, even if Grandma knew the real situation, she might choose not to go with them. It had always been like this, hadnt it? She was always thinking about their family and didnt want to be a burden to them. Wang Xiaomei could read her big brothers mind. She went up and patted Wang Dashan1 s arm. Just let Grandma follow Second Uncle. With him around, Grandma will be safe and sound, she consoled her big brother. Compared to their father, Second Uncle was much more reliable. At the moment, there was a limit to what they could do as juniors. This was as far as they could go. Wang Dashan nodded. He quickly turned around and left. He had to quickly leave the town and then go home and send another handcart of firewood to town to sell for money. He needed money. With this thought in mind, Wang Dashan walked quickly and returned to Brook Falls Vige. However, as soon as he entered the vige, he heard the bad news. When a viger saw Wang Dashan, he told him to go home quickly. He said that something had happened ar home. When he saw the viger looking at him with some sympathy, Wang Dashan suddenly felt that something was dreadfully wrong. He didnt ask any more questions and quickly pushed the handcart and ran home. When he got home, Wang Dashan saw a few people standing in the courtyard. He recognized two of them. They were from rhe Qian familys vige. Dashan, youre finally back! When Wang Laoshuan saw that his son had returned, he quickly stood up to receive him. Wang Dashi also looked at Wang Dashan worriedly. They say your mother is dead! Wang Laoshuan said, half-sobbing. Wang Dashan was dumbfounded. He felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Dead? he asked his father in a daze. Nor long ago, she even came back to steal the chicken and rice at home. Although she looked unkempt, she still had the strength to fight with his father. How did she die? Wang Dashan could nor describe what he was feeling ar the moment. All in all, he was far more shocked rhan sad. Then, his hatred for Madam Qian seemed to vanish all of a sudden. Shes dead! They say shes been dead for a few days! They smelled a foul odoring from rhe courtyard and broke the door down. That was when they saw it. Her head had been cracked open and her body was lying in the courtyard. Nobody knew who did it! Wang Laoshuan said anxiously. Wang Dashan looked at Wang Laoshuan in a daze. The body has started dposing? Wang Dashan asked. Yes, it has! At this moment, one of the people from the Qian familys vige spoke up. The locusts even ate quite a bit. When we went in The mans face showed a tinge of fear and he didnt continue speaking. Sigh! Anyway, shes gone, he added after a while. We suspect some thief must have found out that she was alone at home and this gave rise to his evil intentions. Weve already reported the case to the government office. Next, its the funeral arrangements, that person continued.. Chapter 226 - 226: Retrieving The Corpse Chapter 226: Retrieving The Corpse Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Even though Madam Qian has been divorced and returned to the Qian family, her maiden family is gone, so you guys have to take care of the burial. As these people were from the same vige as the Qian family, they had helped to report the case. By doing this, they had already gone beyond the call of duty. Madam Qian had died and her body had fallen into such a state. The fellow vigers really didnt want to help her with her funeral. Wang Dashan finally came back to his senses. I understand. Well pack up and go over to deal with it now, he said. No matter how many mistakes his mother had made before, she was dead now, and everything should end at this point. Wang Dashan should go and take care of her corpse. Wang Dashi looked at his oldest nephew. He frowned but did not say anything. Wang Laoshuan watched as his son strode into the house and then he quickly ran after him. When they saw this, the vigers from the Qian familys vige did not stay any longer. They had already delivered the message and the deceaseds family had agreed to go to the Qian familys vige to deal with Madam Qians corpse. They could leave now. Thus, the vigers from the Qian familys vige bade Wang Dashi farewell right away. Inside the house, Wang Dashan went straight to the bed, took a woven bamboo sleeping mat, and then walked out. Upon seeing this, Wang Laoshuan quickly stopped his son. What are you doing with the woven bamboo sleeping mat? he asked. Wang Dashan looked at his father and replied, To wrap up her body. With the current situation at home, it was impossible for their family toe up with the money to buy a coffin. And giving his mother a grand burial waspletely out of the question. Wang Dashan could only wrap his mothers body up with a mat and find a ce to bury her. Wang Laoshuans expression changed slightly, and he reached out to stop his son again. Her cousin must have a mat at home. Dont take ours, he said. Wang Dashan was stunned. He looked at his father. To think that his father was still thinking about such things at this juncture Wang Laoshuan avoided his sons gaze, but he still refused to give in. Wang Dashan sighed in his heart again. He felt that his father was cold and heartless, but then again, wasnt he the same in the past? Well bring it there just in case. If the Qian family has one, well take it from them. If the Qian family doesnt have any, well use this, Wang Dashan said in the end. Wang Laoshuan stared nkly for a while before stepping aside. Then, he left together with his son. When he reached the courtyard, he realized that the vigers from the Qian familys vige had all left. When Wang Dashi saw the father and son, he came up to them. After finding out their n, he went with the father and son to look for a hoe each. Then, the three of them set off for the Qian familys vige. They finally arrived at the Qian familys vige and proceeded to the house of Madam Qians cousin. As soon as they arrived outside the courtyard, the three of them smelled a foul stench. A look of hesitation shed across Wang Dashans face before he pushed the door open and entered the premises. The courtyard was in a mess, and a broken, rotting body was lying in the middle of the courtyard. Judging from the clothes on the corpse, there was no doubt that it was Madam Qian. Puke! Wang Laoshuan could not suppress the nauseating feeling in his throat and ran to the side to vomit. Wang Dashi also quickly reached out and covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve. At the same time, he reminded Wang Dashan to quickly cover his mouth and nose as well. The weather is so hot. I wonder how long she has been dead. And there are so many maggots! After Wang Dashan covered his mouth and nose, he did not go directly to the corpse. Instead, he entered the Qian familys house. After moving further away from the corpse, the smell wasnt so bad anymore. Go and look for some cloth to make a mask. Also, look for two woven bamboo bed mats so that we can wrap up her bodyter, Wang Dashan said. Mm-hmm! Wang Laoshuan and Wang Dashi quickly answered. Then, the trio started to search the Qian familys house. Wang Dashan went to one of the Qian familys rooms first before going to the kitchen. He found that the room waspletely empty. There was no mat at all, not even a bed curtain. The kitchen was even more empty. There was nothing but half a bucket of water and some withered wild vegetables. Wang Dashan sighed in his heart,menting how cruel the Qian family members were. Then, he heard his second uncle shout out that he had found some cloth. When he saw the clothes in Wang Dashis hand, Wang Dashan finally knew what his second uncle had found. Yes, those were his mothers change of clothes. Lets tear it up to make a mask, Wang Dashan said. The Qian family members had plundered everything in the house before they left. Besides his mothers clothes, they probably wouldnt be able to find any other fabric material. True enough, Wang Laoshuan emerged empty-handed after a while. I can t find any cloth or mats! This Qian family is too ruthless! Wang Laoshuan chided angrily. It was fine if they didnt take Madam Qian with them, but they didnt even leave a woven bamboo sleeping mat for her! He couldnt help but nce at Madam Qian in the courtyard, and the hatred in Wang Laoshuans eyes diminished a lot. Then we ll just use the mat 1 brought, Wang Dashan said. A trace of internal conflict shed across Wang Laoshuans eyes, but in the end, he didnt object. Tsk! They had wasted another one of their own woven bamboo mats. Father,e with me to dismantle one of the beds so that we can use the nks to carry herter, Wang Dashan said again. Alright, Wang Laoshuan quickly responded. After that, the father and son entered one of the rooms in the Qian familys house. After a cacophony of banging noises, the headboard of one of the Qian familys beds was taken down. When they brought the bed headboard out, Wang Dashi had already made the masks. The three of them put on their masks and then carried the bed headboard to the body. As they approached, Wang Laoshuan saw Madam Qians corpse and almost vomited again. Wang Dashi and Wang Dashan were also terrified. However, Wang Dashan had no choice. He could only muster the courage and step forward with the woven bamboo mat. He pushed the corpse of Madam Qian onto the mat while enduring the stomach-churning flies and maggots. Unfortunately, the corpse had already dposed badly. The moment Wang Dashan moved it, the body almost broke in half. Upon seeing this, Wang Dashi couldnt bear it anymore and stepped forward to help. Then, together with Wang Dashan, they ced Madam Qian on the mat and wrapped her up. After that, the two of them lifted the mat and ced it on the bed headboard. Following that, they each carried the front and back of the headboard and transported the body out of the house. Wang Laoshuan quickly grabbed the three hoes. He couldnt be bothered by the stench anymore and caught up with the two of them. The trio then left together. After leaving the Qian familys courtyard, the trio moved swiftly up the mountain. Once there, they found a shady ce at the foot of the mountain and put down the headboard. Thereafter, the trio picked up their hoes and began digging. After they had dug deep enough, they ced Madam Qians corpse inside and covered it with earth. As the body was gradually buried, the stench also faded. After a while, the pit was filled up, and a small burial mound was built on top of it. Following that, Wang Dashan and Wang Dashi threw the bed headboard that was used to carry the corpse a little further away, and the whole matter finally came to a close. When he saw his oldest nephew staring in the direction of the burial mound, Wang Dashi sighed and patted Wang Dashans shoulder. Lets go back, he said. Wang Dashan turned around and nced at his second uncle. Mm-hmm! He nodded his head. The three of them then headed back to Brook Falls Vige. However, no one spoke along the way. After returning to Brook Falls Vige, the three of them instinctively went to the banks of River Ringwaters. They only returned home after washing themselves thoroughly. After the father and son arrived at their home, they started cooking while their tummies rumbled with hunger. Use the coarse flour to make pancakes. Itll be faster this way, Wang Dashan said. After their meal, they still had to go into the mountains. Wang Laoshuan was caught off guard. Only then did he remember that when his son came back, he seemed to have brought flour. He suppressed the difort in his throat. Alright! After answering his son, he went to get the flour.. Chapter 227 - 227: Madam Zhang Was Sold Chapter 227: Madam Zhang Was Sold Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Wang Laoshuan was also hungry, but he did not have much of an appetite. After all, he was still suffering from some lingering psychological trauma after handling the corpse. Therefore, after getting the coarse flour, Wang Laoshuan did not take out much to make pancakes. Oh, yes. You have to tell Xiaomei about your mother. Wang Laoshuan said as he kneaded the dough. The conflict between his daughter and Madam Qian was very deep. However, now that Madam Qian was dead, everything shoulde to an end. Furthermore, once Madam Qian was dead, and his daughter s hatred had faded, she would probably treat Wang Laoshuan better. Wang Dashan nced at his father and said in response, Mm-hmm! In the afternoon, at the Song familys house. Eldest Sister-inw Qin rushed to the Song familys ce in a hurry. She only felt at ease after making sure that she wasntte. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and calmed her sister-inw down, telling her not to rush. She asked her sister-inw if she was in such a hurry because Xiaohu was making a fuss at home. No, he didnt. Ive sent Xiaohu to the Liu familys ce. Eldest Sister-inw Qin turned to Qin Xiaoyao. Zhang Laosan came over. I stayed a little longer to listen to the news. Qin Xiaoyao was caught by surprise. What is he doing here? she asked. Now that they had brought Xiaohu back, they should have nothing to do with the Zhang family for the time being. Could it be that the Zhang family was up to their old tricks again? Didnt your brother promise to take him to work at the dock? He came here because of this matter. Oh. Qin Xiaoyao nodded and felt a little more at ease. In addition, Zhang Laosan brought some news. Its about Madam Zhang. Eldest Sister-inw Qin lowered her voice and looked at Qin Xiaoyao suddenly. What news? Qin Xiaoyao asked. They said that yesterday afternoon, the Zhang family invited the middlewoman to their house and they took Madam Zhang away. And that girl from Zhang Dashuis family was also taken away! Qin Xiaoyao got a shock. The Zhang family sold Madam Zhang? she asked. Thats right! Eldest Sister-inw Qin replied immediately. I heard that they only got six taels of silver in total. As she said that, Eldest Sister-inw Qin couldnt help but cover her mouth andugh. As for Madam Zhang Hehe! She was only worth one tael. Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at her sister-inw, and only then did thetter stopughing. Does Father also know about this? she asked. Eldest Sister-inw Qin was taken aback as if she only realized something now. He knows. Then what was his reaction? Qin Xiaoyao asked worriedly. Eldest Sister-inw Qin tried to recall. He didnt really have much of a reaction. He didnt even ask any questions. He appears quite normal. Qin Xiaoyao felt more at ease. Thats good. Sister-inw Qin nced at her younger sister-inw, and a smile crept across her eyes again. I heard that it was Zhang Ershui who went to ask the middlewoman toe to their family. That Madam Zhang has been fiercely defending Zhang Ershui all this while. This is her retribution at longst! Qin Xiaoyao nced at her sister-inw, and the corners of her mouth curled up into a smile. Was he in debt again? she asked with a smile. I havent heard anything about that. However, it seems to be because they intend to flee the famine. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. She then remembered that Wang Xiaomei had told her that the people in Brook Falls Vige were also preparing to flee. Moreover, it seemed that it was not only Brook Falls Vige. Many viges seemed to be making preparations to flee. The Zhang family is also preparing to flee? Qin Xiaoyao asked. If this was true, then things would not be so easy. After all, she had wanted to go all out and find an opportunity topletely eradicate this problem. Most probably, Eldest Sister-inw Qin replied. But there doesnt seem to be any consensus in the Zhang family members opinions. It appears that the two old ones didnt seem Milling to leave and wanted to use the money they got from selling their daughter and granddaughter to buy food and try to survive the disaster. Qin Xiaoyao gave a smirk. They only got six taels of silver. How much food can they buy? Furthermore, the grain stores are selling limited amounts of grain every day. Who can they find to help them queue up to buy? However, it was a good thing that they were unwilling to leave. In fact, it was best if none of them left. When the time came, it would be more convenient for Qin Xiaoyao to take action. Eldest Sister-inw Qinughed as well. I guess those two old ones think that the price of grain will not increase again, she said. One could only say, what wisdom could these two old creatures possibly have? Qin Xiaoyao understood now. She didnt continue to ask about the Zhang family but asked about Zhang Laosan instead. So, Zhang Laosans family isnt going to flee? If he can get some work at the dock, he probably wont leave. Its at least 90 copper coins a day. A family of three should be able to survive if they are more thrifty, Eldest Sister-inw Qin added. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Her eyes flickered momentarily. Eldest Sister-inw, when you go backter, ask Big Brother to pass a message to Zhang Laosan. Ask him to continue to help keep an eye on the Zhang family. Lets see if the Zhang family stays or flees in the end. The two elders of the Zhang family were not that important. The main problem was Zhang Dashui and Zhang Ershui. If these two were not eliminated, they would be a problem sooner orter. This was particrly true of Zhang Ershui, who had brought so much harm to her father. Alright! Eldest Sister-inw Qin didnt ask much and quickly answered in the affirmative. Later in the day, Wang Dashan came again. Thereafter, when Qin Xiaoyao saw Wang Xiaomei again, she realized that there was something not quite right with the little girls mood. Only after asking did she find out about the matter regarding Madam Qian. Mrs. Song, I should hate her. But when I found out that she had died, and in such a pitiful manner, 1 feel a little sad, Wang Xiaomei said despondently. Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and gave Wang Xiaomei a hug. Then let yourself feel sad for a while. She gave birth to you after all. Then, when you wake up tomorrow, continue to live your life fruitfully. In this world, not all parents loved their children. This was especially true for families that valued boys over girls. Daughters only existed seemingly for the sole purpose of helping the family seek benefits. Wang Xiaomei and her big brother should be grateful that they did not turn out bad despite growing up in that kind of family. Mm-hmm! Wang Xiaomei replied as she choked on her emotions. She felt much better now. After Qin Xiaoyao sent Wang Xiaomei away, Madam Liu came up and asked Qin Xiaoyao what happened. Qin Xiaoyao didnt hide anything and told Madam Liu about how Madam Qian was killed and how her corpse was exposed in the courtyard for many days. Madam Liu was nearly frightened out of her skin. That girls a little moody right now, so dont let her do anything today. Mother, you and Yuner will have to do more work, Qin Xiaoyao said. No problem! Madam Liu responded quickly. Another two days passed. On this day, before dawn, the vigers of Brook Falls Vige dragged their families and arge amount of luggage and gathered at the vige entrance. That was right. Today was the day the vige chief had set for everyone to leave the vige. Wang Dashan and Wang Laoshuan also went but they did not leave with the rest. Instead, they were there to send their family members off. Old Grandma Wang held her eldest grandsons hand with tears pouring down her face, unwilling to let go of his hand. It wasnt until the group started moving and Wang Dashi began urging Old Grandma Wang that she got on the donkey. Wang Dashan and Wang Laoshuan stood where they were and watched Wang Dashi and his family walk away. They only withdrew their gazes after the group of vigers disappeared at the end of the road. At this moment, there were still a few families nearby who had not left. They had alsoe to send off the people who opted to leave. Very soon, someone came forward to talk to the Wang familys father and son. Madam Qians example is right in front of us. Those of us who stayed behind have to be united and alert, that person said.. Chapter 228 - 228: Wang Family’s Father and Son Moving Away Chapter 228: Wang Familys Father and Son Moving Away Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Obviously, everyone knew that Madam Qian had been killed at home, and the Wang familys father and son had gone to the Qian familys house to retrieve the corpse. That viger was also worried that the same thing might happen in their vige. After all, when there were fewer people in the vige, the probability of incidents urring would be much higher than usual when felons decide to cause trouble. Wang Dashan nced at the man, hesitated for a moment, and said, Yes, we have to be more careful. But we will be moving into town after this. So, Uncle Kun, I think its better that you guys discuss this matter among yourselves. That man was shocked. Did this mean that the vige was going to have one less family? Wang Laoshuan was also shocked and looked at his son. Wang Dashan did not exin and turned to leave. Wang Laoshuan quickly gave chase. After he caught up, he did not say anything until he returned to his own house. Dashan, we, are we moving to town? Finally, Wang Laoshuan spoke up. Wang Dashan turned around and nced at his father. Then, he continued with his work. Mm-hmm. Theres an extra room for rent in the Liu familys newly bought courtyard house. Ive discussed it with them before. Theyve agreed to rent it to us. Wang Dashan did not mention his younger sisters involvement. As for the reason, it was naturally because he did not want Wang Laoshuan to pester his younger sister. Wang Laoshuans heart skipped a beat. How much is the rent? He rushed forward and asked Wang Dashan. 100 copper coins a month, Wang Dashan replied. So expensive? Wang Laoshuans eyes widened. Wang Dashan shot a nce at his father in annoyance. Do you think its a house in the countryside? For courtyard houses in town, even if its just renting a room, it will cost more than two hundred copper coins a month at least. Its because we are from the same vige that the Liu family is willing to rent out their room to us at a low price. Wang Laoshuan did not dare to say anything more after his son red at him. I have to tell you this upfront. Our family is able to rent the Liu familys room because the Liu family is upright. After we go to town, well all live under one roof. Youd better not cause any trouble, Wang Dashan added. One couldnt me Wang Dashan for warning his father in advance. This was primarily because if he didnt tell his father in advance, he was afraid his father would cause friction between them and the Liu family. I know. Wang Laoshuans expression was a little awkward, but he still gave his word. Nheless, it was good that they could move to town at this time. The main reason was what happened to Madam Qian had also frightened him. He didnt really dare to stay in Brook Falls Vige anymore. After a while, Wang Laoshuan looked at his son again. Then when are we moving? he asked. Ill go talk to the Liu family. We can probably move there tomorrow at the earliest. If not, it will be the day after tomorrow. Most of the vigers had left, including Second Uncles family. There was no reason for them to continue staying in Brook Falls Vige. Wang Laoshuans eyes lit up. Alright! Then Ill pack my luggage when Im free. Wang Dashan nced at his father again and did not say anything in the end. After packing up the firewood, he set off for the town. After selling the firewood, he sent the remaining two bundles of firewood to the Song familys residence. Wang Dashan then told his younger sister about their n to move to town. After that, Wang Dashan went to the Liu familys house. As for the Liu family, they naturally agreed because Wang Xiaomei had already spoken to them about this. After this, Wang Dashan gave the Liu family 200 copper coins,prising a deposit of 100 copper coins plus a months rent. After settling the rental lease with the Liu family, they agreed to let the Wang family move in the next day. The fact that Wang Dashan only had to pay one months rental deposit and one months rent on a monthly basis was because the Liu family was upright. Wang Dashan was very grateful for that. When he returned home, he told Wang Laoshuan the news. Wang Laoshuan was so happy that he could not stop grinning for a long time. He was no longer in the mood to go into the mountains to gather firewood, so he began to pack his luggage. Although Wang Dashan was a little displeased, he did not stop his father. Forget it. Ill just get rid of the remaining firewood at home, he thought. After that, when they had moved, they would just go to the mountains outside the town to gather firewood. Thus, Wang Dashan didnt go to the mountains near Brook Falls Vige to gather firewood again. He simply hauled back all the firewood that he and Wang Laoshuan had stored in the mountains. Thereafter, he went to town and sold all the firewood. It was already evening when Wang Dashan was done with his tasks. Back home, Wang Dashan sat on the steps below the roof eaves. He did not feel like moving at all. Fortunately, Wang Laoshuan was not idle at home. Not only did he finish packing the stuff they needed to bring along when they moved the next day, but he also went to the well to get water and made dinner. Wang Laoshuans heart ached a little when he saw his sons state. He brought some water for his son and waited for Wang Dashan to finish drinking. After resting for a while, he brought his son into the house for dinner. In a sense, the father and son got along quite harmoniously. Early the next morning, the father and son put their luggage of various sizes on the handcart. After that, they pushed the handcart full of their belongings and moved to town. When they arrived at the Liu family, the two elders of the Liu family came to help. However, Wang Dashan turned down their offer and said that they could handle it themselves. Thus, the Liu family did not get involved. And so the Wang familys father and son settled down in the Liu familys house. At noon, Wang Xiaomei came over. She even brought some bean sprouts over. Wang Laoshuan straightaway started cooking in the small kitchen in the courtyard. That was right. When the Liu family tidied up the courtyard, they did not demolish the small kitchen. They left it behind for the Wang family. After the Wang family moved in, they were very happy to find they had their own small kitchen. Wang Laoshuan was very pleased with their current living environment. Its good to know that you guys have settled down. I wont be having lunch with you. Many peoplee to the Song familys house at noon, so Ill go back first. Wang Xiaomei said and rejected Wang Laoshuans invitation to stay for lunch. The Song familys business of selling water and bean sprouts had gone into full swing. This was especially true for the bean sprout business. Even though the price had increased to five copper coins per catty, there was still an endless stream of people buying bean sprouts. In the past few days, Mrs. Song had nted bean sprouts in all eight sheds. The household was busier than before. Wang Dashan expressed his understanding. Sure! Then have a safe journey back, he responded. Wang Laoshuan wanted to say something else, but after some thought, he did not ask his daughter to stay. After all, the food at the Song familys house was definitely better than theirs. Now that food was in short supply, it was good to let his daughter go back to the Song familys house to eat. After the meal, the father and son did some tidying up and finally settled down in their new home. Following that, Wang Dashan brought Wang Laoshuan to the Song familys house to fetch water. At the same time, he was also showing Wang Laoshuan the way. After all, there were only the two of them at home. In the future, they would have to take turns fetching water. On the way, Wang Dashan gave his father another warning. He told his father about the Song family selling water to outsiders, and that they were only able to get water for free on ount of their younger sister. He reminded him not to offend the Song family. Wang Laoshuan bore his sons reminder in mind. The Song family charged three copper coins for a bucket of water. The Wang family was allowed to fetch two buckets a day. That could have cost them six copper coins a day. Wang Laoshuan naturally had to take care when the other party was doing them such a big favor. At the same time, Wang Laoshuan also felt that his daughter still remembered them and was not as cold as she seemed on the surface. When they reached the Song familys residence, Wang Laoshuan saw the people who hade to buy water and bean sprouts. Ever since the locust gue, the Song family did not set a fixed time for selling water. As and when anyone needed it, they coulde to the Song familys ce to buy water or bean sprouts.. Chapter 229 - 229: Forming Partnership To Sell Firewood Chapter 229: Forming Partnership To Sell Firewood Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When he saw that the Song familys business was doing so well, and also heard that bean sprouts were being sold for five copper coins per catty, Wang Laoshuan had to take off his hatpletely to the Song family. When he faced the Song family members, he couldnt help lowering his head. On the way back, Wang Laoshuan could not help but sigh to his son. He felt that the Song family was different from what they were in the past. They had really struck it rich. Wang Dashan simply listened and did not respond. The weather isnt that hot anymore nowadays. Im going to leave the townter to take a look at the mountains outside the town and see if I can gather some dry wood. Were also short of firewood in our own house. Fortunately, the kitchen in the Liu familys courtyard was big enough, and there was a straw shed next to it where they could store firewood. In the future, they didnt have to worry about not having space to pile up the firewood. Ill go with you! Wang Laoshuan immediately said. Now that they had settled down, it was time to work hard to earn money with his son. Food was so expensive, so they had to make good use of their time to earn more money. Forget it. With one more person leaving the town, the entrance fee when we return will be increased. Tidy up the house and go to the areas nearby to familiarize yourself with the surroundings. We ll leave the town together tomorrow morning. When were out of town, you will onlye back at night, Wang Dashan said. As for Wang Dashan, he would probably have to go in and out of the town several times. After all, he had to sell the firewood. Wang Laoshuan thought for a while and nodded. Alright, he replied. After returning home, Wang Dashan pushed the handcart and went out. After leaving the town, he traveled along the main road to go to the nearest mountain forest. Then, without another word, he started to get busy. The amount of firewood in the mountain forest here was not as much as that in the back of the mountains in Brook Falls Vige. However, due to the drought, there were many dried-up trees in the mountains. He didnt spend much effort chopping and gathering firewood. Wang Dashan worked hard by himself and finally managed to get a big handcart full of firewood before dark. Then, he rushed back into town before the town gates closed. As the time was toote, Wang Dashan did not proceed to sell the firewood. Instead, he pushed the firewood back to the Liu familys house directly. When the Liu family members saw this, they all praised Wang Dashan for hispetence. He had only gone out for a short while and had managed to bring back so much firewood. Aunt Liu asked Wang Dashan about the selling price of the firewood. After learning that the firewood was now sold for five copper coins for two bundles, she instantly had an idea. There were probably eight bundles of firewood on the Dashans handcart. Two bundles were sold for five copper coins, so eight bundles would be twenty copper coins. If he could sell all of them, he would make quite a lot of money. Thank you for lending us some firewood in the afternoon and evening. Consider this bundle of firewood as our repayment to you. Ill help you bring it to the kitchen! As Wang Dashan spoke, he took a bundle of firewood from the handcart. Then, he walked toward the Liu familys kitchen. As Aunt Liu gushed that he was being too polite, she also smiled and told him to take it easy. After entering the Liu familys kitchen, Wang Dashan ced the firewood behind the stove. He then prepared to leave. However, he was stopped by Aunt Liu. Dashan, I heard from my daughter that your younger sister said that youre doing quite well in the firewood business? Wang Dashan was stunned. Aunt Liu, youre jesting. How can my work be considered a business? he responded. Huh? Why not? I heard that in Yong An Lane, there are no less than ten families who have ordered firewood from you. Also, every time you bring firewood to the town to sell, its sold out very quickly! Thats true, right? Aunt Liu smiled and looked at Wang Dashan. Wang Dashan scratched his head in embarrassment. Thats because the firewood my father and I gathered is too little. Thats why it is sold off so quickly, he answered. Aunt Lius eyes lit up when she heard this. Does this mean that if theres a lot of firewood, you can also sell everything off? she asked immediately. Wang Dashan thought for a moment. I think so. After all, there are many families in town that need firewood. Aunt Lius eyes lit up even more. Her eyes flickered, and she actually pulled Wang Dashan back. Wang Dashan almost jumped in shock. Only then did Aunt Liu let go of Wang Dashan and smiled at him in embarrassment. Dont misunderstand. I dont have any ulterior motives. I just wanted to ask if you could let your Uncle Liu and Brother Erniu gather firewood and sell it with you? Aunt Liu finally spoke her mind. Thanks to the 1000 catties of grain they had bought from the Song family, their family was no longer under so much pressure worrying about food shortage. However, after stocking up on food, the familys savings had decreased substantially. Later on, her family had to make preparations for the winter, so how could they not make good use of their time to earn more money? Aunt Lius eldest son had already gone to work at the dock. Although it was hard work, at least he had an ie every day. However, her youngest son had been looking for work for many days, but he had had no sess. As for her old man, he was already so old so it was even less likely he couldnd a job. If her youngest son and the old man could follow the Wang familys father and son to gather firewood to sell, it would at least be a way of making money. Wang Dashan was silent. He thought for a while but didnt reply. Aunt Liu quickly smiled in a conciliatory manner. You can just treat them as your assistants. In terms of sry, you can just give them a share of the money you earn! she said. It was normal for the child to hesitate. After all, almost everyone could do something like gathering firewood to sell. If Wang Dashan taught his disciple well, the disciple might very wellpete with the master for business. At that point, the masters business would be affected. Wang Dashan quickly looked at Aunt Liu with a smile. Aunt Liu, you are jesting with me. If Uncle Liu and Brother Erniu really want to work for me, I naturally cant treat them shabbily, he said. In the current situation, it was true he didnt have to worry about selling the firewood. If Wang Dashan could have two more people to help him gather more firewood a day, he would naturally be able to earn more. Furthermore, he was living with his father in the Liu familys ce. Now that Aunt Liu hade to talk to him about this matter, if he rejected her, the two families might be estranged in the future. Wang Dashan thought for a moment. How about this? The price of firewood in town now is five copper coins for two bundles. If Uncle Liu and Brother Erniu are willing, they can sell firewood to me at half price. They just need to help me bring the firewood to the side of the main road. Ill do the rest. This way, he only needed to focus on delivering the firewood into town and selling the firewood once inside. With his father and the Liu familys father and son helping him gather firewood, the amount of firewood he could sell every day would increase by a lot. Aunt Liu muttered to herself for a while. Wang Dashans idea was simr to the previous partnership arrangement between the Song familys daughter-inw and their family. Their family would focus on working and delivering the goods, and then the other party would receive the goods and sell them. We only need to bring the firewood to the side of the main road and not into town? Aunt Liu asked. The current entrance fee was not low. If the handcart was really filled to the brim with firewood, it would cost six copper coins to enter the town per trip. If the handcart was loaded with eight bundles of firewood, they would only earn 40 copper coins per trip. After deducting the entrance fee of six copper coins, they were left with 34 copper coins. After deducting the wages for her old man and her second son, then there were only 16 copper coins left Although 16 copper coins were not a small sum, they had to go in and out of the town and go through the streets and alleys to sell firewood. If it wasnt managed well, the effort of selling the firewood might be more than gathering the firewood. When she thought of this, Aunt Liu had already determined that this job was feasible in principle.. Chapter 230 - 230: Bandit Trouble Wouldn’t Happen So Soon Chapter 230: Bandit Trouble Wouldnt Happen So Soon Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Yes, just bring the firewood to the side of the main road, thats all, Wang Dashan said. Since he dared to make such an arrangement, he naturally had the confidence to sell off the firewood. Notwithstanding the families in Yong An Lane who regrly purchased firewood from him, Wang Dashan had been selling firewood in town for so long that he already knew where were the best ces to sell firewood. He had a handcart, so he could send the firewood to the doorstep directly and just knock on the doors. Most families would be willing to buy two bundles of firewood if they did not have much left at home. This was especially true for the area near the town center district. It was possible for some families to buy a lot in one go. It was just that it was a little further from the towns West Gate, and he had to walk a little further. However, this was nothing to him. Alright! Ill go tell your Uncle Liu and Erniu! Aunt Liu quickly answered. Then, she walked away with a beaming smile. Wang Dashan returned to the room he shared with Wang Laoshuan. The father and son then began to eat. After they had taken only a few bites, Uncle Liu and Liu Erniu arrived. They even brought some pancakes over, with the intention to discuss the matter of gathering firewood. Wang Dashan quickly invited the two of them to join them for a meal. However, the two of them said that they had already eaten. They even ced the pancakes on the table for the father and son to eat. The Wang father and son didnt stand on ceremony either. They had only eaten very diluted food for dinner which couldnt quite fill their stomachs. The pancakes came at the right time. As they ate the pancakes, the four of them began to talk about gathering firewood to sell. Uncle Liu and Liu Erniu were very willing to do this job, and they were very grateful to Wang Dashan. Uncle Liu, you dont have to be so polite with me. Its not easy to earn money now. By doing this, everyone will have a way to survive, Wang Dashan replied. Uncle Liu and Liu Erniu looked at each other and sighed. Wasnt it all about finding a way to survive? Given the current situation in Mountain Spring Town, who knew if people like them, who didnt have much household savings, could survive? After confirming a few more details, both parties agreed to go out of town to gather firewood the next morning. The Liu familys father and son then left. After the duo left, Wang Laoshuan looked at his son. They Are they really going to gather firewood with us in the future? he asked his son. Ever since the Liu family took over the Song familys goods collection business in Brook Falls Vige and subsequently moved to town, he had thought that the Liu family had struck it rich. He thought they were very different from his own family. However, from the looks of things, the Liu familys situation was not good either. Other than the eldest son of the Liu family, the second son and his father had no work to do. Now, they even had to gather firewood with the Wang family to sell! Mm-hmm! Wang Dashan replied. In the future, the three of you will gather firewood together so that you can take care of each other. Leave the wood-selling task to me. Also, Ill pay you for the firewood you gather in the future, Wang Dashan added after some thought. It will be the same arrangement as agreed with the two of them. Two and a half coins for a bundle of firewood, in ordance with the price of the firewood in the town minus 50%. Wang Laoshuan was very surprised. Wang Dashan continued, In addition, you will pay for 40% of the familys expenses in the future. Er Wang Laoshuans face stiffened somewhat. He was a little excited but also at a loss. He had lived to such an old age but had never once managed money. When he saw his son looking at him, Wang Laoshuan quickly said, Oh, what I mean is, its better that you keep the money. He was afraid his son would misunderstand him. It was actually quite a good idea to have his son take charge of the money. Anyway, as long as his son had a bite to eat, he would not let his own father starve. You can keep it for yourself. Just dont spend it carelessly, Wang Dashan said. He would let his father take the money himself. When his father could feel the actual money, he would be more motivated to work. The way Mrs. Song managed the Song family was something worth learning from. Alright! Wang Laoshuan finally agreed. Wang Dashan raised his head to look at his father again. When he saw the smile on Wang Laoshuans face, he was even more certain that he had done the right thing. After the meal, Wang Laoshan cleared the table and went to wash the dishes. Wang Dashan suddenly said, Oh, yes. Remember to bake some pancakester. In the future, well eat pancakes for breakfast and lunch. We can eat more diluted food at night. When we go out in the morning, bring the pancakes along for lunch. Whether it was gathering firewood or selling firewood, it was allbor-intensive manual work. If he didnt eat something filling, he wouldnt be able to endure the hard work. Fortunately, his younger sister still had food with her, and it was enough to feed them for a while. Of course, when he had more money, he would have to go to the grain store to buy some grain from time to time. Alright! Wang Laoshuan answered with a smile. It was already very good to be able to eat two filling, undiluted meals! The next day at daybreak, Wang Dashan brought Wang Laoshuan and the Liu familys father and son out of the town. After bringing them to a mountain that was closer to the towns West Gate, the few of them began to get busy. At the same time, in the Song familys residence. Before she left to deliver the bean sprouts to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant, Qin Xiaoyao found Wang Xiaomei and asked her about moving her portion of the grains. This matter Ive already discussed it with my big brother. Wang Xiaomei said with a troubled expression. His intention is he still hopes to leave the food with me. Then, when he needs it, he wille and ask me for it. This way, my father wont Wang Xiaomei didnt finish her sentence. Qin Xiaoyaos expression froze. Wang Xiaomei quickly added, If Mrs. Song feels that its not convenient, I can move the food into my room. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. She could understand the Wang siblings thinking but What she was worried about was that the food might be snatched away in the future. Compared to their home, the Liu familys home was much safer as it was located in the illegal construction area. After all, if the Liu familys house was located in the middle of the illegal construction area, the bandits might not even bother to search there. Qin Xiaoyao hesitated for a moment when she saw the pleading look in Wang Xiaomeis eyes. Alright. Then you dont have to move it. Also, dont move it to your room. Just leave it in the storeroom. When the timees, Ill set aside a corner for you to put your food, she said. It was only a few hundred catties of grain, so hiding it in a pile of firewood might not be a big problem. Thank you, Mrs. Song! Wang Xiaomei quickly thanked her. Qin Xiaoyao gave a smile. Only then did she leave to deliver bean sprouts to the Mansion and Restaurant. On the way back, she passed by the grain store at the corner of the street and found that there was a long queue of people waiting in line. Qin Xiaoyao asked a random person in the queue and learned that the price of brown rice and coarse flour today was 25 copper coins per catty. Qin Xiaoyao had an idea of what she wanted to do. When she got home, she went to her room to look for Song Que. After updating Song Que on the situation, Qin Xiaoyao said to him, I dont want to wait any longer. It was already October, and she felt that the temperature had dropped a little over the past two days. Her husband had only said that before winter, there would be an outbreak of bandit trouble in Mountain Spring Town, but he was not sure when exactly. What if the outbreak urred within these few days? It was only right to make preparations in advance. Song Que merely smiled. Dont be impatient, he said. Seeing that his wife was still not calm, he continued, Dont worry. The bandits wonte until the gates of Mountain Spring Town arepletely closed off. Then, Song Que told Qin Xiaoyao that there would be arge number of refugees flooding into Mountain Spring Town. And after that, the town gates would be closed off. There would also be arge number of refugees who would hang around the town gates, unwilling to leave. Qin Xiaoyaos heart tightened when she heard this, but at the same time, she felt very certain at that point that the bandit problem would not happen so soon. Qin Xiaoyao felt a little more at ease then.. Chapter 231 - 231: Selling Grains Chapter 231: Selling Grains Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion In that case, lets wait for a few more days, Qin Xiaoyao said. Song Que reached out and ced his hand on the back of Qin Xiaoyaos hand. Dont worry. Our family will be fine, he said gently. For some inexplicable reason, Qin Xiaoyaos heart calmed down. Mm-hmm! she replied with a smile. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. The weather was getting colder, but it still didnt rain. However, Mountain Spring Town did not be prosperous again as a result of the cool weather. On the contrary, more and more shops on the streets were closed. Other than the morning market, there were fewer and fewer people on the streets. The only shops that were still doing a roaring trade were the grain stores. As long as the grain stores were open for business, there would be an endless stream of people queuing up at the entrance. Every grain store was still selling a limited amount of grain every day, just like they did previously. The food supply problem in the town was getting worse. At the same time, everyone realized that there were more beggars in the town. Many people from nearby viges couldnt survive and ran into the town to earn a living. After not being able to find a job and using up all their money, they turned to begging. As the number of beggars increased, public safety in Mountain Spring Town also became worse. The government office finally announced the news that they were nning to close the town gates. At this point, the town entrance fee had already risen to three copper coins per person. If they brought a lot of things, the fee could go up to nine copper coins. When Qin Xiaoyao received the news, she couldnt sit still anymore. After a discussion with Song Que, she went to the store from which she had bought the most grain previously very early in the morning. Even though she went very early, there was already a long queue of people at the entrance of the grain store. Furthermore, there was a previous incident whereby the grain store was robbed by the people. At the entrance of the grain store, several guards carrying sticks had appeared. When Qin Xiaoyao saw that the shop assistant who had attended to her before was also there, her face lit up with joy and she walked over. When one of the guards saw that Qin Xiaoyao did not queue up, he stepped forward to stop her. As soon as the two sides started talking, they were discovered by the shop assistant. The shop assistant quickly came forward and asked the guard to step aside. The new staff dont know the rules and they are not acquainted with Madam Qin. Please forgive them, Madam Qin. The shop assistant smiled and cupped his hands politely in greeting at Qin Xiaoyao. Thisdy was his benefactor. Previously, it was because of thisdy that he was regarded highly by the owner. He had now risen to be the deputy shopkeeper of this grain store. Although he was a deputy, the shopkeeper himself didnt really get involved in managing the shop. Therefore, the deputy shopkeeper more or less had the final say in the shop now. In addition, the price of grains had been soaring recently. He had a feeling that thisdy Madam Qin, who had bought arge amount of grains from him previously, was not an ordinary person. Its alright, Qin Xiaoyao responded with a smile. I want to discuss a business deal with your shopkeeper. Can you introduce me to him? Then, she stated her intention outright. The shop assistant was stunned, and then his eyes lit up. Oh? What business deal is it? he asked. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him, he exined, The shopkeeper is not here today. But Im now Link Tradings deputy shopkeeper. I can make the decisions on all the various matters in the shop. What he meant was, Qin Xiaoyao could also talk to him about her business deal. Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised. Following that, she smiled and congratted the shop assistant. Hehe! Then I must congratte you, Shopkeeper Wei. Thank you, thank you. In the future, you can just call me Deputy Shopkeeper Wei! Deputy Shopkeeper Wei said with a smile. He even deliberately emphasized the word Deputy. Of course, it wasnt because he enjoyed hearing other people address him as Deputy Shopkeeper. Rather, he was hoping that the shopkeeper would see that he had no intention of overstepping his boundaries. Qin Xiaoyaoughed and readily epted his advice. Alright. Then I shall congratte you, Deputy Shopkeeper Wei. Thank you very much! Thank you very much! Deputy Shopkeeper Wei also answered with a smile. Then, he quickly asked Qin Xiaoyao what she wanted to talk about. Qin Xiaoyao looked around. There are too many people here. Can we talk somewhere else? she said. Deputy Shopkeeper Wei nced at Qin Xiaoyao and felt that it made sense. This way, please Therefore he gestured invitingly to Qin Xiaoyao to proceed inside. The two of them then went to the backyard of the grain store. Qin Xiaoyao made sure that there was no one around before she exined her intention. The total is 2600 catties of coarse flour and 1800 catties of brown rice. If Link Trading is able to take it, Im able to deliver the goods to you tonight. Naturally, she chose to deliver the goods herself because she wanted to prevent people from finding out her home address. Although her house was not far from the grain store, Qin Xiaoyao believed that this man still did not know where she lived. Seeing Deputy Shopkeeper Weis silence, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Today, the price of brown rice and coarse flour in your grain store is 28 copper coins per catty. I am only asking for 25 copper coins. Deputy Shopkeeper Weis eyes lit up. Then, the glint in his eyes was quickly extinguished. Why are you not selling them yourself, Madam Qin? With the current market, even if you sell it for 30 copper coins per catty, Im sure there will be many people buying it. After all, all the grain stores in the town were limiting their supply for sale. Many people were unable to buy more even if they wanted to. If there were people selling grain in the market, even if the price was slightly higher than the price in the grain stores, they would definitely be able to sell it. Well I have my own reasons. Qin Xiaoyao didnt give an answer. If I sell this batch of grain to Link Trading at this price, Link Trading will definitely make money. If it is managed well, the profit margin might not be small. As she spoke, a meaningful look shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. Deputy Shopkeeper Weis heart skipped a beat. He wasnt stupid, so he naturally understood what Madam Qin meant. He was now Link Tradings deputy shopkeeper and held great authority. If he had money, he could buy this batch of goods all by himself and then find a way to mix them into Link Tradings goods and sell them off. Even if he did not have enough money, he could discuss it with the shopkeeper and take on this batch of goods together. They could still make a lot of money. The worst n would be to report it and get the owners approval to treat Madam Qins goods as regr goods. When he thought of this, Deputy Shopkeeper Wei couldnt suppress the impulse in his heart. Since the drought, life for his family had not been easy. Although he had been promoted to the position of Deputy Shopkeeper recently and his wages had increased by arge amount, the money he earned was just a drop in the bucketpared to the high price of food and goods. As the deputy shopkeeper of the grain store, although he could buy more grain than others, it was not much more. Moreover, the price he paid was the same as the people outside. The pressure on his family was huge too. However, if he take in the 4400 catties of grain, the situation would be different. It was impossible to get grain at the price of 25 copper coins per catty in the entire Zhao County, or even the Hua An Prefecture City, not to mention Mountain Spring Town at present. He could keep some of the grain for his own family. As for the rest, he would sell them when the price of food was higher. He would definitely earn a lot. Without a doubt, the deputy shopkeeper was tempted. However, the problem was he could not afford to pay for 4400 catties of grain, even if it was only 25 copper coins per catty. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Deputy Shopkeeper Weis expression and was certain that he was interested, but she was not in a hurry to press him for an answer. Instead, she patiently waited for his reply. After a while, Deputy Shopkeeper Wei finally made up his mind. Madam Qin, can you wait for me for a day? he said.. Chapter 232 - 232: Sealing Off The Town Chapter 232: Sealing Off The Town Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When he saw Qin Xiaoyaos puzzled expression, Deputy Shopkeeper Wei exined, To be honest, Im very interested in Madam Qins goods. Its just that I have limited money. So I hope that Madam Qin can give me a days grace period. Tomorrow, I will definitely gather enough money! After he finished speaking, he even cupped his hands and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao pretended to hesitate for a moment before agreeing. Alright then, she said. On ount of the fact that we are old acquaintances, I will wait for you for a day. However, if it doesnt work out tomorrow, I can only look for someone else, Qin Xiaoyao said. Deputy Shopkeeper Weis face lit up. Dont worry. Ill get the things ready! Following that, the two of them agreed to meet at the entrance of Link Trading at the same time the next day. Only then did Deputy Shopkeeper Wei see Qin Xiaoyao off. At the same time, outside the town, Wang Dashan was pushing a handcart full of firewood back to town. When he arrived at the town gate, he realized that there were more people crowding around it today. These people were dressed in tattered clothes and appeared haggard. Many of them even had their families with them. As soon as Wang Dashan appeared, someone ran after him and asked him for money and food. Wang Dashan himself was leading a hard life now, so not surprisingly, he didnt give anything to him. In the past, whenever he encountered such a situation, the other party would stop pestering after a while. However, this time, the person clung to Wang Dashan. Several people from the other side also came up and wanted to snatch his belongings from him by force. Fortunately, Wang Dashan cried for help, and the soldiers guarding the town gate saw him and came to his rescue. Otherwise, Wang Dashan would not be able to tear himself free. Three town guards escorted Wang Dashan into the town. The leader of the guards kindly gave Wang Dashan a few reminders because he often saw him entering the town to sell firewood. You guys better return to the town early. Also, dont go out of the town to gather firewood anymore henceforth. Wang Dashan was stunned. Sir He looked anxiously at the guard who spoke. His family was now relying on gathering firewood to make a living. If they didnt leave the town, how could they earn money? A look of sympathy shed across the guards face. Just listen to me. The government office has just sent a message saying that the town gates will be sealed off in four hours. Who knows whether the time may be brought forward When he saw that Wang Dashan was still hesitating, the guard said, Its also because I can see that things are not easy for you guys, so I am reminding you out of kindness. There are more and more refugees outside the town. Once the town gate is closed, we dont know when it will be opened again. If these few people were really locked outside the town, they would definitely not meet with a good end. Wang Dashans heart shuddered. He finally understood what the guard meant. He quickly saluted the guard. Thank you very much, Sir! Ill send the firewood home and then go out and tell them toe back! They were going to close the town gates and lock down the whole town. Mountain Spring Town was going to be sealed off. In this situation, how could they still gather firewood? They had to hurry back to the town! The guard was satisfied when he saw that Wang Dashan understood. Only then did he lead his twopatriots to continue with his duty. On Wang Dashans side, he stopped selling firewood. He quickly pushed the firewood back to the Liu familys house. After that, he quickly unloaded the firewood and left the house with the handcart again. He was practically running out of the town gate to look for Wang Laoshuan and the other rest. When he found the three of them, they were still busy gathering firewood, and they had gathered quite a lot. Wang Dashan quickly exined the situation to the three of them. After the three of them heard this, they began panicking. Seal the town? Why would they want to seal the town? Wang Laoshuan said in fear. Thats right. If the town is sealed, what do we do next? Uncle Liu was also panic-stricken. Brother Dashan, is this news reliable? Liu Erniu also looked at Wang Dashan worriedly. It wasnt easy for them to familiarize themselves with the nearby mountains and get used to the life of gathering firewood. Once the town gates were sealed, their livelihood would be terminated. Its reliable! The town guard told me himself! Wang Dashan said hurriedly. At the same time, his hands didnt stop working. Dont just stand there. Hurry up and pack up. We have to rush back to town. If we are really locked outside, well be finished. The three of them quickly returned to their senses. They didnt think too much anymore and quickly step forward to help. They gathered up the firewood and ced them on the two handcarts. After that, they pushed handcarts and rushed back. When they reached the town gate, Wang Dashan didnt know if it was an illusion, but he felt that there seemed to be more refugees at the gate. This time, because the four of them arrived at the town together, and as soon as the four of them appeared, the guards at the town gate immediately approached them, so no refugees dared to go near the four men. When Wang Dashan saw the guard who had given him the reminder earlier, he quickly bowed and thanked the guard again. After paying the entrance fees, Wang Dashan quickly brought the few of them into the town. The group only heaved a sigh of relief when they were some distance away from the town gate. At this point, the three of them finally believed Wang Dashan. With heavy hearts, the four of them headed back to the illegal construction area. What do we do next? Suddenly, Liu Erniu spoke up. Uncle Liu and Wang Laoshuan also looked at Wang Dashan. All this while, they had gotten used to listening to Wang Dashan. Under Wang Dashans guidance, they were able to do a good job. The money they earned every day was actually fairly substantial. Wang Dashan sighed. Lets wait and see. Well go take a lookter. Then well know if the news is true. If the town is really sealed off Wang Dashan paused. We can only talk about it when the timees. The other three were disappointed. However, they also knew that this matter was not within Wang Dashans control. Thus, they didnt say anything more. Back at the Liu familys house, Wang Dashan and Wang Laoshuan did not cook. Instead, they ate the pancakes they had prepared in the morning. I have to go to the Song familys ce and inform Mrs. Song, Wang Dashan suddenly said. On one hand, he had to inform the Song family of this news. On the other hand, he had to discuss what to do next with his younger sister. That was right. Ever since Wang Dashan began going in and out of town, he had always discussed with his younger sister before deciding on all the major and minor family matters. After his younger sister went to the Song family, she learned a lot of things and was much more knowledgeable than him now. Furthermore, he had given most of his money to his younger sister for her to manage the household finances. Ill go with you! Wang Laoshuan said suddenly. When he saw that his son was not pleased, he added, Ill go fetch some water. Wang Laoshuan didnt need to gather firewood in the afternoon, and now that something like this had happened, he would be flustered if he stayed at home with nothing to do. In addition, he wanted to see his daughter, perhaps because he hadnt seen her for a long time. I can fetch the water. To Wang Laoshuans surprise, Wang Dashan still refused to let him tag along. When he saw that Wang Laoshuan wasnt happy, Wang Dashan continued, If youre bored, you can tidy up the firewood at home. Since we wont be able to leave the town henceforth, we wont be selling any of the firewood left at home. In addition, if you have time, bake some more pancakes to stock up. After that, we dont have to start a fire so often and can save on firewood. Alright. Only then did Wang Laoshuan relent. With something to do, he felt more at ease. Wang Dashan quickly went out and made his way to the Song familys residence. After Qin Xiaoyao learned of the situation, she couldnt quite stay calm anymore. The decision to seal off the town came so quickly. That would mean that the bandits woulde soon. Fortunately, she had already contacted the grain store.. Chapter 233 - 233: Finding Another Way Out Chapter 233: Finding Another Way Out Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion By the looks of things, if Qin Xiaoyao couldnt close the deal tomorrow, she would have to look for the next grain store immediately. As for the firewood, Mrs. Song, I I can only make it up to you in the future. Or, if you convert it to money, I can pay you back! As of now, I still owe you eight loads of firewood, Wang Dashan said. It was also because he had more people working for him recently that he was able to pay back most of the firewood he owed the Song family in such a short time. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Forget about converting to money. When the town gate opens in the future, you can just pay me back then. The firewood shed was already full, and there was also a lot of firewood in the storeroom. The firewood in her house was enough tost her family for a long time. Alright then! Thank you for your understanding, Mrs. Song! Wang Dashan said hurriedly. Qin Xiaoyao then asked Wang Dashan about the situation outside the town before leaving. After Qin Xiaoyao left, Wang Dashan started to chat with Wang Xiaomei. If we cant leave the town, Father, Uncle Liu, and Erniu will not be able to gather firewood to sell. In the current situation, Im afraid Daniu and the rest wont be able to go to the dock. But the Liu family has a good financial foundation. Also, Aunt Liu and the youngest daughter of the Liu family are still selling straw sandals and bean sprouts at a stall. Even if their days are a little hard, they should be able to survive. But for me and Father, theres really nothing we can do. I came here to discuss with you to see if theres any work that Father and I can do, or other means to earn money. Wang Xiaomei was silent. Mrs. Songs bean sprout business is pretty good, she said after some thought. She mentioned before that she wanted to try setting up a stall in the market on East Street. However, weve been unable to spare any manpower. As she spoke, Wang Xiaomei looked at her big brother. The market on East Street is quite far from the western district. Its not very lively there, and were not familiar with the people and the ce. If we go there, it wont be easy to get the business going. Wang Dashans eyes lit up when he heard that. So what if its far away? Im not afraid even if Im not familiar with the ce. After going there a few times, Ill be familiar with it! When I first started selling firewood, I didnt know anyone either. At most, Ill go door to door to sell the bean sprouts like I sell firewood! The Song familys bean sprouts were really good. Whether at the markets on West Street, South Street, or North Street, they all sold very well. Even the Liu family and his own family would asionally eat bean sprouts. Of course, they didnt have to pay for their bean sprouts. The youngest sisters of the two families deliberately left some unsold and gave them to their respective families. Wang Xiaomei nodded her head. Alright then. Ill go talk to Mrs. Songter. If she agrees, then you and Father can take some bean sprouts wholesale and go to the east of the town to try selling them. Mm-hmm! Wang Dashan quickly nodded. The brother and sister chatted for a while longer. After that, Wang Xiaomei went to retrieve 20 catties of grain and handed them to Wang Dashan before he left. After sending her big brother off, Wang Xiaomei returned to her tasks. She thought she would wait for Qin Xiaoyao toe out before asking her if she could allow Xiaomeis big brother and father to sell some bean sprouts as well. That was right. Qin Xiaoyao had gone back into the room again. She was exining the situation outside the town to Song Que. We do have to hurry up and get rid of the excess food at home, Song Que said. He suddenly thought of something and said, There should still be a lot of soybeans left at home, right? Why dont we sell them off as well? After all, the market would not be able to open once the bandits overran the town. At that point, business would not be good. Qin Xiaoyao was startled, and she hesitated. Didnt you say that the bandit problem wouldntst long? she asked. By the time the bandit trouble is over, it will be winter. When the snow falls, we wont be able to sell water. In addition, when the weather is cold, it will not be easy to sell straw sandals and preserved eggs. Other than selling bean sprouts, we dont have any other business to make money from. Qin Xiaoyao did have a lot of soybeans left, but she had never thought of disposing of them. On one hand, it was used to grow bean sprouts. On the other hand, when soybeans were used to stew cured meat or simply stir-fried, they were very tasty. Qin Xiaoyao was still waiting for winter to arrive so that she could have a few more good meals. Song Que thought for a while and felt that Qin Xiaoyaos words made sense. In his previous life, not long after the bandits started rampaging, the future Emperor, who was still the Second Prince at the time, brought troops to suppress the bandits. Not surprisingly, the unruly mob was no match for the military troops. It seemed that the Second Prince had only taken two days to take over Mountain Spring Town. In this life, he was naturally not prepared to have anything to do with the mountain bandit leader, and he had no intention of currying favor with the Second Prince. The present situation at home was very good. Once the bandit trouble ended, Mountain Spring Town would return to peace. Moreover, Song Que still wanted to have a child with his wife. After that, he would educate his siblings and children well. When the mourning period was over, he would then take the Imperial Examinations. He wanted to try and see how far he could go with his own abilities. Thus, Song Que said, If youre going to keep them, then youd better hide them well. It was a pity. If he had known this would happen, he would have asked his wife to dig a bigger cer. Or, they could have simply dug another cer. Then they wouldnt have had to fret over how to hide the food now. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao replied. In the storage room, she was prepared to pile firewood on the outside and hid the food in the middle. Even if the mountain bandits came to search their house and saw a pile of firewood, they probably wouldnt rummage through the firewood to check in detail. After all, when the bandits entered the town to rob, they moved fast and eyed multiple houses. After discussing the arrangements with Song Que, Qin Xiaoyao left the room. Thereafter, Wang Xiaomei came looking for her very soon and told her about Wang Dashans predicament. Market on the East Street? Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised. The eastern part of the town was the wealthy district of Mountain Spring Town. Although there was also a market there, there were not many people who set up stalls and not many people bought things there. After all, wealthy families usually have servants. The family members rarely went to the market, but the servants were happy to walk further and pick up fresh and rtively cheaper things. As a result, the market on East Street was not very lively, and there were very few people who set up stalls there. Qin Xiaoyao had thought about expanding her bean sprout business to the market on East Street before. After weighing the pros and cons, she still chose to give up eventually. However, now Its not necessarily only in the market on East Street. Big Brother has been selling firewood for a while and has some experience. He wants to try to go to the town center district and the eastern district to sell bean sprouts door to door. Qin Xiaoyao began thinking seriously. How much does he intend to take wholesale? she asked. Qin Xiaoyao now had eight thatched sheds in her courtyard, and all of them were nted with bean sprouts. Apart from those that were sent out wholesale every day, there were also many individual customers who came to her house to buy the bean sprouts. After taking into ount the above, there werent that many bean sprouts left. If she wanted to expand her business to the market on East Street, she would have to build more sheds and expand the nting area. Of course, this was dependent on Wang Dashans ability. He had to sell enough bean sprouts to make this n viable. Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaomeis face lit up. Mrs. Song, you are agreeable? Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Mm-hmm. But I have a condition, she said after some thought. Mrs. Song, please go ahead! Wang Xiaomei said hurriedly. It was good that she had agreed. Wang Xiaomei believed that with her big brothers ability, and the fact that the bean sprouts were genuinely good products, this business would definitely be sessful.. Chapter 234 - 234: A Deal Was Reached Chapter 234: A Deal Was Reached Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion I hope that Dashan can bring my big brother and second brother along to work together for a while, Qin Xiaoyao said. It wont be too long. Just half a month thereabouts. Later on, they can divide the markets in the town center district and the east of the town among themselves. Once the town gate was closed, Big Brother and Second Brother would not be able to go to the dock. At that point, they would also need to look for new jobs. However, in the current situation, there were shops in the town that were closed every day. How could it be so easy tond a job? Wang Xiaomei did not agree immediately. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded. Okay! With Big Brother Qin and Second Brother Qin around, it will be safer, she said. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. Alright then. When Eldest Sister-inw Qines to workter, I will tell her about this. I will also request Big Brother and Second Brother toe over and help me build a few more sheds. Yes, Qin Xiaoyao was quite optimistic about Wang Dashans idea of selling door-to-door. The town center and east of the town were quite far from the three markets where they were currently selling bean sprouts. And right now, there were shortages in all kinds of resources. If someone delivered the goods to their doorstep, she believed that many people would be willing to pay for them. Maybe long-term orders were also possible. She didnt expect this business tost long. It was good enough as long as it couldst until the next spring. If she could grow a few more sheds of bean sprouts, even if she couldnt do the business of selling water, century eggs, and straw sandals, she could still make a lot of money every day from the bean sprouts. In fact, she might possibly earn more. After all, there was a shortage of food at present and the price of bean sprouts had also increased. In addition, if she expanded the market, she wouldnt have to worry about not making a lot of money! Upon hearing that Qin Xiaoyao wanted to build a few more sheds, Wang Xiaomeis eyes lit up. Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Song! After talking to Qin Xiaoyao for a while longer, she went back to work. A littleter, Eldest Sister-inw Qin came to work. Before Qin Xiaoyao could tell her sister-inw about this matter, her sister-inw startedining. Not surprisingly, she wasining about the towns North Gate being closed ahead of time. Sure enough, the situation was just as Qin Xiaoyao had expected. Today, the North Gate was closed in advance, just like the West Gate. Moreover, the government office quickly put up a notice in town, saying that the town gates would be closed from tomorrow onward, and the date for the reopening of the gates had not been determined yet. Your big brother and second brother are working at the dock. Our lives are just beginning to get better. Now that the town gates are closed, they cant go to the dock. How are we going to live? Eldest Sister-inw Qins face was full of worry. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and told her about the favor Wang Xiaomei had asked of her. Go to the town center district and the east of the town and sell bean sprouts door to door? Eldest Sister-inw Qin was quite surprised. She thought about it and felt that it might work. This was because the bean sprouts her younger sister-inw grew were really good. Mm-hmm! If theyre willing, Ill build a few more sheds in the courtyard. I think its feasible! Ill ask them when I go back! Eldest Sister-inw Qin said immediately. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Then, she asked Eldest Sister-inw Qin about other things. Any news from Zhang Laosan? Now that the town had been sealed off, and the Zhang family had not left yet, there was a high probability that they would not leave. Nope, Eldest Sister-inw Qin replied without raising her head. She was focused on carefully picking out the bean seeds. Recently, the Zhang family members had been very well-behaved. Even when her father-inw went to the market on West Street alone to sell bean sprouts and straw sandals, they did not approach him. At least, that was what she heard. They also didnte to look for her and her husband, which was very good. Ah, Qin Xiaoyao replied. More thoughts popped up in her mind. It was good that they didnt flee Later that night, the Song family had just finished dinner when Qin Dazhuang came to their house with his two sons. They came to help build the sheds. How many sheds are you going to build this time, Younger Sis? Just leave everything to us! Qin Dahu said. Ill be able toe over and help tomorrow morning after Im done selling the bean sprouts, Qin Dazhuang added. Ever since the locust gue urred, the family had not bought or killed any pigs. Now, he only took some bean sprouts and straw sandals from his daughter every day to sell in the market on West Street. When the items were sold out or when it was time to close the stall, he could pack up early. He had a lot more free time on his hands now than in the past. Lets build a few more this time and use up the entire piece ofnd over there. Even if we cant grow that many bean sprouts, we can use them to store firewood and the like, Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. Not counting this time, her family had already built sheds twice in a row. This time, Qin Xiaoyao thought she might as settle everything in one go and upy that entire piece ofnd. It would also stop her mother-inw from having ideas about continuing to grow vegetables there next year. Their house was not far from the market on West Street, so they could buy whatever they wanted to eat from the market next year. There was really no need to expend time and effort to grow their own vegetables. In this ancient era, they did not use pesticides on vegetable crops, and chemical fertilizers were not used either. There was not much difference between those vegetables bought in the market and those grown in ones own home. No problem! Qin Erhu answered readily. He and his eldest brother were just worried that they would not have any work to do next, but his younger sister had already arranged things for them. Now that his younger sister needed their help, they would definitely do their best. After talking for a while, the three of them went to the courtyard and started working. Qin Xiaoyao also went up to help out, noting down the required materials and other stuff. And so, the Song familys new project began. The next day, Qin Xiaoyao went to Link Trading early in the morning to meet with Deputy Shopkeeper Wei. As soon as she arrived, Deputy Shopkeeper Wei came out to receive her and brought Qin Xiaoyao to the backyard. In the backyard, Link Trading grain stores current shopkeeper, Shopkeeper Pan, was already waiting. Deputy Shopkeeper Wei introduced the two of them, and then the three of themunched straight into the main topic. Thank you for choosing our store, Madam Qin. Our Link Trading will ept your 4400 catties of grain, Shopkeeper Pan said to Qin Xiaoyao. I wonder when will Madam Qin be able to deliver the goods? This time, his deputy Wei was really lucky to have encountered such a good piece of luck. It was also thanks to the fact that this kid didnt have enough money in his hands and came to look for him, otherwise Shopkeeper Pan wouldnt have been able to get a share of the loot. Naturally, it was better to close the deal as soon as possible. Yesterday afternoon, the government office had just issued a notice to seal off the town. The grain price would continue to rise. Just today, some grain stores had already raised the price of brown rice and coarse flour to 30 copper coins. It was only a matter of time before it rose again. Qin Xiaoyao saw that the other party was very forthright and didnt haggle on the details. I can send them tonight, she said. After pondering a while, she asked, Where do you need me to send them to? Shopkeeper Pans eyes flickered and he exchanged a nce with Deputy Shopkeeper Wei. Then, he smiled. Since Link Trading bought the goods, they should be sent to Link Trading. How about this? After 11 pm, Deputy Shopkeeper Wei and I will wait for you here, Madam Qin. What do you think? Since they were taking the goods for themselves, they couldnt let others catch on to what they were up to. A look of realization shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. Sure! Ill arrange for someone to deliver the goods on time, she said. She was very confident in her martial skills and did not believe that these two people would try to snatch her goods. Of course, she wouldnt deliver the goods alone either. She would call upon her father and two brothers. The four of them would be able to deliver all the goods in two trips. Shopkeeper Pans eyes lit up.. Chapter 235 - 235: Buying and Selling Food Chapter 235: Buying and Selling Food Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Well also get the money ready, Shopkeeper Pan responded. Was he thinking of ways to snatch the goods? That thought was non-existent. The total cost of this batch of goods was only no taels of silver. To ordinary people, it might be a huge sum of money. However, it was nothing to him. At the moment, food was more important than money to him. There was no need to take the risk of using violence if matters could be resolved peacefully. After all, with his years of experience in judging people, this Madam Qin was not as simple as she appeared. Qin Xiaoyao nodded in satisfaction. After Qin Xiaoyao came to an agreement with Shopkeeper Pan, Deputy Shopkeeper Wei saw her off at the entrance. Back at the Song family, Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu had already arrived and were busy in the courtyard. Qin Xiaoyao did not rush to help them. Instead, she went back to her room to update Song Que on the deal. After the couple talked for a while, Qin Xiaoyao then left the house to deliver the goods to Fortune Mansion and Fortune Restaurant. After that, when she was done with the deliveries, she returned home to help. Qin Xiaoyao waited until Qin Dazhuang arrived before she told him that she needed the three of them to help her deliver the goods. What? You only sold them for 25 copper coins per catty? The lowest price in the grain stores today is 30 copper coins! Qin Dazhuang immediately said after listening to his daughter. Although he didnt go to the grain store to buy food, he could hear a lot of news from his stall in the market on West Street. In particr, the most talked about topic on everyones lips was the grain price. Now that the government office had closed the town gates, the price of grain would obviously rise further. It was not worth it for his daughter to sell the grain now. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu also looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Im afraid the price of grain will still increase. If you dontck money, you should wait, Qin Dahu chimed in. Big Brother is right! Qin Erhu nodded as well. However, Qin Xiaoyao simplyughed. How can I go back on my promise? Besides,pared to the price I bought the grain at, Ive already earned several times more by selling it at this price! One must know when to be content. The trio of father and sons looked at each other. In the end, Qin Dazhuang nodded. Alright then. Tonight, well go with you to deliver the grain, he said. It was good that his daughter could think this way. In reality, there was a hidden danger when she hoarded so much grain. It was good to take advantage of this opportunity to get rid of some goods. Thank you, Father and Brothers! Qin Xiaoyao quickly thanked the trio. The trio of father and sonsughed, their eyes filled with doting love for Qin Xiaoyao. The day passed quickly, and night soon came. Before long, it waste at night. The Qin familys father and sons arrived early. Following that, the four of them cleared out the storage room for a while and only left the house after 11 pm. Along the way, other than some barking and a few beggars who lived on the streets, it was very quiet. In Qin Xiaoyaos group of four, three were strong and muscr men. They looked very intimidating, so naturally, no beggar dared to stop them. After a while, the four of them arrived at Link Trading with four handcarts. At the entrance of Link Trading grain store, Shopkeeper Pan and Deputy Shopkeeper Wei were already waiting with a few guards. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao and the others, the two of them were overjoyed. One party proceeded to check the goods while the other party counted the money. After making sure that everything was in order, Qin Xiaoyao took half of the money. Where do you want us to unload these goods? After we unload them, well go back and send the rest of the goods over, Qin Xiaoyao said. Deputy Shopkeeper Wei immediately looked at Shopkeeper Pan. Shopkeeper Pan stroked his beard a few times. Lets unload them here. After saying that, he gestured with both hands to the front. Immediately, the guards got busy. Upon seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao and her posse were happy to have people help them, so they didnt do anything. After all the goods were unloaded, Qin Xiaoyao andpany pushed the handcarts away. Only after they had walked far away and made sure that Shopkeeper Pan and the others had not followed them did the Qin familys father and sons trio rx a little. Those people that Shopkeeper Pan brought with him arent decent characters, Qin Dazhuang said suddenly. He noticed that the guard in the lead had a hideous scar on his arm, and his lower body was very stable. One look and he could tell that he was a martial arts practitioner. Moreover, the other three guards did not appear to be ordinary people. When Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu heard this, they felt a heavy weight in their hearts. We have to be careful when we deliver the goods againter, Qin Dahu warned. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up. II Mm-hmm! II We must always be on our guard against others. But we dont have to be too nervous either. Ive already collected half of the money, and the remaining half is only 55 taels of silver. Theres no need for them to risk their lives for that little money. After all, even though her martial strength didnt seem obvious, her father and two brothers still looked very intimidating. Qin Dazhuang nodded in agreement with his daughter. Just be alert, thats all, he said. Soon, the group of people returned to the Song familys residence. Qin Xiaoyao returned to her room and gave the 55 taels of silver to Song Que, entreating him to keep it safe. When she saw her husbands worried gaze, Qin Xiaoyao leaned forward and nted a kiss on his forehead. Dont worry. Ill be back after I deliver thest batch of goods. Give me another half an hour at most. II Initially, she had wanted to let her husband sleep first. However, she guessed that he wouldnt be able to sleep at this time anyway, so she might as well ask him to wait for her. You, Father-inw and the rest, be more careful, Song Que replied. We will! Qin Xiaoyao answered with a smile. Only then did she leave. In the storage room, the Qin familys father and sons had already loaded the second batch of grains onto the handcarts. The four of them quickly set off again. They walked out of the dark alley and entered the main street. Before long, they arrived at Link Trading grain store again. Then, just like before, one side checked the goods and the other collected the money. The goods are all here. Thank you so much, Madam Qin! Shopkeeper Pan gave the rest of the silver, along with the money box, to Qin Xiaoyao. He cupped his hands in thanks at Qin Xiaoyao. Shopkeeper Pan, you are too polite. The goods and money are all in order. We have both benefited from this. Shopkeeper Pans expression froze momentarily. Hahahaha Then, heughed out loud. What Madam Qin said is very reasonable. Its so efficacious to do business with Madam Qin! Suddenly, Shopkeeper Pans eyes flickered again. Madam Qin, in the future, if you still have any more surplus grain you want to deal with Qin Xiaoyao immediately looked at Shopkeeper Pan. How can there be any more surplus grain? I didnt report this batch of goods to the higher-ups. Thats why I can obtain this bargain. II Regarding this matter, I hope Shopkeeper Pan and Deputy Shopkeeper Wei can keep it a secret and not reveal it to the outside world. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes revealed a pleading look. Shopkeeper Pans expression froze momentarily. Then, he quickly smiled. Oh, yes, yes. Dont worry, Madam Qin. So it was someone from above who had secretly confiscated the grain? At this point, he could understand why she had bought so much grain previously. Now, they were selling it at a low price and offloading so much food to their store. They had something to hide. Hehe! That was a good thing. This way, both parties would not have to worry about the other side leaking the secret. At that thought, Shopkeeper Pans gaze toward Qin Xiaoyao became increasingly more friendly. Then in the future, I hope that Madam Qin will continue to patronize our Link Trading! he said. This person, or rather, the person behind her, was indeed a big client of Link Trading.. Chapter 236 - 236: Made a Lot of Money Chapter 236: Made a Lot of Money Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion More importantly, after this deal, they could be considered friends. There might be more cooperation opportunities like this in the future. A trace of understanding shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. Hehe! Well take care of each other, she responded. Shopkeeper Pan was very pleased with Qin Xiaoyaos answer, so he asked Deputy Shopkeeper Wei to personally send Qin Xiaoyao and the others off. No need to send us any further, Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile when they reached the door. Then, she left with the Qin familys father and sons trio. Deputy Shopkeeper Wei turned around and looked at Shopkeeper Pan. Shopkeeper Pan waved his hand and didnt ask him to go after Qin Xiaoyao. Instead, he told Deputy Shopkeeper Wei toe back. This Madam Qin is not as simple as she appears he said. Deputy Shopkeeper Wei nodded and did not answer. In the future, when Madam Qines again, you must receive her well. Youre quite lucky, kid! Shopkeeper Pan gave Deputy Shopkeeper Wei an appreciative look. Hehe! Yes! Deputy Shopkeeper Wei scratched his head in embarrassment and had a goofy grin on his face, which put Shopkeeper Pan in a good mood. After a while, Shopkeeper Pans smile disappeared. As for the grains outside Based on our previous agreement, Ill give you 1500 catties, and Ill get someone to haul away the rest. Yes! Ill follow what you say, Shopkeeper Pan! Deputy Shopkeeper Wei quickly replied. Shopkeeper Pan nced at Deputy Shopkeeper Wei with a smile and then left the shop after instructing someone to follow up with the arrangements. Deputy Shopkeeper Wei hurriedly followed him in a fawning manner. After the guards started to move the goods, he also went to the backyard to get a handcart. Deputy Shopkeeper Wei was prepared to move his share to the backyard of the grain store. When Shopkeeper Pan saw this, he immediately frowned. He simply issued another instruction, telling Deputy Shopkeeper Wei that he would get the guards to make another tripter to help Deputy Shopkeeper Wei bring his share back home. Deputy Shopkeeper Wei quickly thanked him. Not only did he thank Shopkeeper Pan, but he also thanked the guards in turn, and gave each of them some copper coins. The guards felt that this person was quite honorable and were willing to help. When Shopkeeper Pan saw Deputy Shopkeeper Weis actions, he felt increasingly more certain that Deputy Shopkeeper Wei was a man of great potential. He thought of recruiting and nurturing him again. As for Deputy Shopkeeper Wei, he felt very sweet in his heart at this moment. Although out of a total of 4400 catties of grain, he only got 1500 catties in the end, which was not even half, he was still very d that he was smart enough to look for his shopkeeper in time. In this situation tonight, if the shopkeeper wasnt here, he wasnt sure he would be able to trade with Madam Qin so smoothly. After all, the three men that Madam Qin brought didnt seem to be easy to deal with. On his side, he couldnt even summon a single strong, muscr person. Moreover, even if he sessfully traded the goods with Madam Qin, he wouldnt be able to transport the food home tonight without help. And it wasnt very appropriate to leave it in the shop with so many people around. So, this final oue was good. There was someone to help manage the overall situation and render support while he also stood to gain some benefits. Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoyao left the main street swiftly with the father and sons trio. After making sure that no one was following them, they quickly entered the alley. For the rest of the journey, none of them spoke a word. They traveled at full speed until they reached the Song familys residence. The four of them heaved a sigh of relief only when they entered the courtyard. Things were going much smoother than they had expected. The goods were delivered and the money was collected. Everything was finally settled. Qin Xiaoyao felt touched by the reaction of her father and brothers. She invited the three of them to the hall to chat, but Qin Dazhuang refused. Its toote. If you have anything to say, you can say it tomorrow. Well go back first. Mm-hmm! Anyway, wereing here tomorrow to build the sheds, Qin Dahu added. Qin Erhu nodded in agreement. They had been working hard for more than two hours under very tense and stressful conditions, so they were indeed a little tired. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and didntpel them. She took out five taels of silver from the money box. Then, she handed it to Qin Dazhuang. Take this back. How could Qin Dazhuang ept it? He immediately rejected the money. However, Qin Xiaoyao insisted on giving it to him. Just take it if I tell you. Tonights matter was not easy to handle. Moreover, this silver is not only for you. Big Brother and Second Brother also have a share. As for the specific distribution, you guys can do as you see fit! Upon hearing this, Qin Dazhuang looked at his two sons. After hesitating for a moment, he epted the silver. You littless. Youre too honest, he chided Qin Xiaoyao. He was her father, and Dahu and Erhu were her two brothers. It was only right for them to help her. Yet, she kept thinking aboutpensating them and giving them money. However, the Qin family was indeed in a difficult situation. In that case, he would just ept it and take it as a token of his daughters filial piety. Hehe! Thats because I take after you! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. After chatting andughing with the three of them for a while, she sent them off. Qin Xiaoyao only closed the courtyard door and locked it after they had walked far away. Just as she was about to return to her room, she saw Song Queing out to look for her. Hubby Qin Xiaoyao called out. She deliberately kept her voice low, afraid that she might wake up those who had already fallen asleep. She had already informed her family about what she was going to do that night. She even specially instructed everyone to go to bed early and not toe out even if they heard any movement. She wondered if everyone had fallen asleep. Song Que looked behind Qin Xiaoyao and saw that she was alone under the moonlight. After taking two steps forward, he straightaway pulled her into his arms. Qin Xiaoyao was a little bewildered. As shey there feeling the mans light embrace and smelling the pleasant scent on his body, Qin Xiaoyao squinted her eyes in happy contentment. She had wanted to reassure her husband that she was fine, and then follow up with some words offort. In the end, after thinking it through, she didnt say anything. The current atmosphere was quite nice, and she wanted to enjoy it a little longer. Song Que did not know what was wrong with him at this moment. Ever since Qin Xiaoyao came back after the first trip and told him that the other party had a lot of people and even engaged guards, he had been very worried. When he heard themotion in the courtyard, he tidied himself up simply and came out. Thankfully, the woman had returned safely. After a while, Song Que finally calmed down and let go of the woman who was smiling sweetly. Father and both Brothers-inw have left? Song Que asked awkwardly. They have probably left. After all, he did not see anyone else. At this moment, Song Que became a little worried that someone had seen him lose hisposure. They have left, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. They said it waste at night, so they didnt want to stay any longer. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao reached out and grabbed Song Ques wrist. Then she led him back to the room. Dont stand here. Lets go back to the room, she said as she walked. Song Que went along with her wishes. Qin Xiaoyao closed the door after she returned to her room. Then, she passed the money box to Song Que. This is the remaining money. In addition, I took out five taels of silver to give to Father and my brothers. Song Que nodded and had no objections. Qin Xiaoyao was pleased when she saw his reaction. Then, she plonked her butt down beside her husband. Weve made a lot of money tonight she said happily. Song Ques eyes finally showed a hint of a smile. Mm-hmm, he responded.. Chapter 237 - 237: Lack of Firewood Chapter 237: Lack of Firewood Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion She had only collected a hundred over taels of silver, and she called that a lot of money? His wife got satisfied really easily. Then shall we celebrate? The womans gaze quickly turned viinous. Song Ques cheeks turned red when he met her eyes. He quickly recovered himself and said, Ahem. Ill go wash up first After that, he walked briskly into the inner room. Where on earth was there a woman who behaved like her? She was really so outrageous that he found it hard to control himself. When he heard the womansughter behind him, Song Que could not help but clench his fists. Should he try reasserting his husbandly authority tonight? In the outer room, Qin Xiaoyao giggled for a while before she stopped. Well, she had only wanted to tease her husband. However, when she saw her husbands bashful expression, she began to feel frisky and excited. Therefore, she had better hurry and wash off the stinky sweat on her body. After that, she could hop into bed and hug her husband! When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao quickly zipped through the door. Two days passed in the blink of an eye. The sheds that Qin Xiaoyao asked for were allpleted. In the past two days, there had been a lot of changes in the town. The price of grain had risen to 35 copper coins per catty. At the same time, there were more incidences of beggars hurting people and robbery cases soared. There were even more refugees gathered outside the town, surrounding the town gates, hoping that the government office would open the town gates to let them in. The entire town was in a state of nervous anxiety. Despite the weather having cooled down, the morning market ended even earlier. There were no more night markets at night, and in fact, people rarely ventured out after dusk. Under such circumstances, Wang Dashan and the Qin brothers were extremely worried. The bean sprouts that Qin Xiaoyao promised to give them hadnt even been distributed yet, but the situation had already be so tense. Their business would not be doing well from now on. At the same time, the Liu brothers had also found out that Wang Dashan was about to coborate with the Qin brothers. After the two brothers thought about it, they approached Wang Dashan and the Qin brothers. Following that, they went to the Song familys ce to look for Qin Xiaoyao. They expressed their desire to join the group of people selling bean sprouts and coborate with Wang Dashan and the Qin brothers to operate this business. Moreover, the two brothers had already discussed with the Qin brothers and Wang Dashan that they would split up and work in different areas. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt surprised to hear this news. She indicated her willingness to support them. After that, Qin Xiaoyao arranged for Eldest Sister-inw Qin to pick out twice as many beans. Since she had decided to expand her business, she had to take action. As for the bandit trouble, since Qin Xiaoyao was not sure which day it would happen, she could not wait indefinitely. Hence, four dayster, Wang Dashan andpany received the first batch of bean sprouts from Qin Xiaoyao. The few men had already discussed and agreed on how they would split up the work scope in their coboration. After they went their separate ways, they pushed their handcarts to the town center district and the eastern district to begin their door-to-door sales methodology. Thanks to Wang Dashan who gave them prior training, based on his personal experience of selling firewood door to door, those few guys all knew that they had to knock on the back doors of the big families. In addition, they also paid attention to the way they spoke. In the end, after a series of operations, they found that their bean sprouts were actually selling quite smoothly. Most of the families would buy a few catties when they saw the fresh bean sprouts. After all,rge families had more mouths to feed and needed more food. Some even made reservations for a few days after learning that they could ce orders in advance. So, after the group of guys had sold out the bean sprouts they obtained wholesale one after another, they were very excited when they returned to the Song familys house. They were all discussing the big clients they had met today and the pre-orders they had received. Qin Xiaoyao was also very happy when she heard this news. Based on everyones requirements, she began to adjust the amount of bean sprouts she was nting. And so, the Song familys bean sprout business expanded further. Before they realized it, it was the end of October. It had been more than 20 days since the town gates of Mountain Spring Town were closed. The oppressive feeling in the town was getting more and more severe. During the day, there were fewer shops open for business. The incidence of individual households shutting their doors also became higher than before. More beggars were starving to death in the town, and there were some nasty incidents too. At the same time, the situation outside the town was getting worse. Riots broke out among the refugees outside the town. Some people were robbed while others were killed. urrences of cooking human flesh and exchanging children for food had already taken ce. There were even some refugees who had organized themselves and wanted to break through the town gates and besiege the town. Fortunately, the town gates of Mountain Spring Town were sturdy, and thebat ability of the soldiers was better than that of the refugees. Not only did the refugees not seed, but they also suffered heavy losses. At the Song familys residence. Sanya, I dont want the pay for these few days. Can you give me a few bundles of firewood instead? Eldest Sister-inw Qin twisted her hands and said to Qin Xiaoyao in embarrassment. Her younger sister-inw paid her every five days, which came to 200 copper coins. ording to the market price before the town was sealed, 200 copper coins was enough to buy a lot of firewood for the family. However, there was a severe shortage of goods and resources in town. The town had been sealed for more than 20 days, and every household was short of firewood. Some families had to resort to starting a fire only every two days. Even if Eldest Sister-inw Qin had the money, she couldnt find anyone to buy firewood from. Among the people she knew, only her younger sister-inws family had a pile of firewood that seemingly could not run out. She had to hand it to her younger sister-inw. She really had foresight. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised momentarily. Only then did she realize that she had only been concerned with sending food to her maiden family but had forgotten to give firewood. Ill still pay you. When Big Brother and Second Brother return, tell them toe and take two bundles of firewood each back home, she said. It was just firewood. She had plenty at home. When the firewood is used up, just get Big Brother and Second Brother toe around and get some more, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Eldest Sister-inw Qins heart skipped a beat and she immediately said, How can I allow that? Why not? Qin Xiaoyao asked with a smile. I have so much in the house. We cant finish using them anyway. The bandit trouble wouldntst long. When the bandit trouble ended and the town gates were opened again, the firewood could be replenished. Besides, Qin Xiaoyao had indeed overstocked a little too much firewood. But No buts. The temperature has dropped sharply these few days. How can you not make a fire at home? Besides, even if you guys can endure it, I cant bear to see my father and my nephew suffer, Qin Xiaoyao said. It was not good to eat raw and cold food and drink cold water for a long time. Alright! Thank you, Sanya! Eldest Sister-inw Qin finally agreed, and her eyes were glistening with grateful emotions. Were a family. No need to be so polite! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. She paid Eldest Sister-inw Qin her sry. After talking to Eldest Sister-inw Qin for a while longer, Qin Xiaoyao saw her off. When it was almost noon, the Qin brothers finished selling the bean sprouts and returned to the Song familys residence. The bean sprouts were also selling well today. The two brothers talked andughed as they walked into thepound. After meeting Qin Xiaoyao, they exined the situation to her. They also suggested that theye in the afternoon to get more bean sprouts and continue to sell them in the town center district. After bing familiar with the bean sprout business, the group of men allocated different areas for themselves and they worked separately. Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased after inquiring about her brothers sales. She then asked them to send some firewood home.. Chapter 238 - 238: Going Back to Her Maiden Family’s Home Chapter 238: Going Back to Her Maiden Familys Home Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Among them, Wang Dashan and his father were in one group, the Liu brothers were in another group, and Qin Xiaoyaos two brothers were in a third group. The area they were assigned to was the best, located in the town center district forming thergest area. It was also because of this that the Qin brothers bean sprouts always sold out the fastest. If they really tried their best to sell them, the amount they could sell in a day would definitely be much more than what they could sell now. I cant increase the quantity now. Even if I do additional nting now, itll take four days before I can increase the quantity for you. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and turned her brothers request down. Moreover, the situation in the town is getting increasingly more tense. Its better for us to take it easy with this business. Just go and sell in the morning. Its better if you two dont go out in the afternoon. Given the current situation, the bandits might very well break into the town tomorrow. For the time being, Qin Xiaoyao was really not nning to nt more bean sprouts. As for the future, she would wait until the bandit trouble had blown over. At that point, she definitely would grow more bean sprouts to sell even without her two brothers mentioning it. Vegetables were in short supply during winter. Qin Xiaoyao was hoping to use up the few thousand catties of bean seeds at home during this winter. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged nces with each other and nodded. They didnt press their younger sister. Qin Xiaoyao then mentioned to the two that they should bring firewood home. The two brothers were not willing to take the firewood for free, but Qin Xiaoyao refused to ept money. She then brought up the excuse of taking care of her father, her eldest nephew, and her unborn nephew or niece before she managed to convince her two brothers. When you have used up the firewood,e here and get some more. I have a lot of firewood at home, so dont let your family suffer, Qin Xiaoyao continued. The two brothers exchanged nces again and finally nodded at Qin Xiaoyao. Their eyes were filled with gratitude. After that, Qin Xiaoyao brought the two of them to the woodshed to get the firewood. After sending her two brothers off, Qin Xiaoyao finally remembered that she hadnt returned to her maiden familys house for a long time. When she thought of the impending bandit trouble, Qin Xiaoyao decided to bring some things back to her maiden familys house when she was free in the afternoon. Therefore, after lunch, Qin Xiaoyao asked Wang Xiaomei for help and started to get busy in the kitchen. What were they busy with? They were busy baking pancakes, of course. Pancakes were great as they could be stored for a long time. With the chili sauce and preserved egg, not only could they stave off hunger, but they also tasted great. This time, Qin Xiaoyao went all out and baked threerge sacks of pancakes. Each sack was filled with almost a hundred pancakes. Qin Xiaoyao left two sacks of pancakes at home and put the other sack into the bamboo backpack. After that, she took out two jars of chili sauce, 60 century eggs, and two chunks of cured meat. Only when the bamboo backpack was full did she take out a piece of cloth to cover it. Qin Xiaoyao then carried the bamboo backpack and returned to her maiden familys home. When she reached the Qin familys house, other than Eldest Sister-inw Qin, who had brought Xiaohu out for milk-feeding, the rest of the family was there. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao carrying so many things, the members of the Qin family were all shocked. Qin Dazhuang was the first to recover from his shock. He turned to look at his daughter with a worried expression. Docs your mother-inw know that you brought so many things here? His tone was stern. His daughter had helped them time after time. In the past, she sold them food at a low price or shoved money to them. Now, when food supply was scarce, she had brought over such a big basket of food. She knows. Qin Xiaoyao smiled brightly. Mother even asked me to bring more. Its just that this bamboo backpack cant hold anymore. Otherwise, I was prepared to put two more chunks of cured meat. Second Sister-inw is going to give birth soon. At that point, she needs to nourish her body. Her maiden family had nock of meat in the past, but it had been a long time since her father and brothers ughtered pigs. If they didnt ughter pigs at home, there would be no meat. During this period, Qin Xiaoyao noticed that theplexions of her sisters-inw and the rest seemed worse. Upon hearing this, Qin Dazhuangs expression finally rxed somewhat. Your mother-inw is too embarrassed to say too much, he said. Ill let it go this time, but dont send anything over in the future. In the past, he had looked down on the Song family and felt that it was unfair for his daughter to marry into the Song family. From the looks of things, his daughters mother-inw was quite easy to talk to and treated his daughter well. In the end, Qin Dazhuang was wrong about them. It was also fortunate that his daughter had insisted on marrying into the Song family, and that was why she had a good marriage with his son-inw now. Hehe! Well talk about it next time, Qin Xiaoyao replied cheekily. Qin Dazhuang looked at her helplessly but he didnt say anything more. Qin Xiaoyao told her second brother to follow his wifes instructions to put the things away. Then she chatted with her father and big brother for a while. Following that, she stayed at the Qin familys house for dinner. After the meal, she chatted with her family for a while again before returning home under the moonlight. On the way, Qin Xiaoyao encountered a beggar who blocked her way with the intention to rob her. Qin Xiaoyao naturally wasnt afraid of him. She immediately taught the beggar a lesson and chased him away before continuing on her way home. When she got home, she told Song Que the news. He immediately ordered his wife not to stay outside at night again. Qin Xiaoyao knew that her husband was worried about her, so she happily agreed to obey him. Second Sister-inw and Big Girl are about to give birth soon. Theres Aunt Liu and her own mother to look after Big Girl, so it shouldnt be a big problem. But for Second Sister-inw, Eldest Sister-inw has to work and look after Xiaohu. Im afraid she wont be able to cope with taking care of Second Sister-inw. Second Brother told me today that he hoped that I could go back and help at the critical moment, Qin Xiaoyao said to Song Que as she took off her shoes and got into bed. Thinking of the possibility of bandits appearing at any time, Song Que frowned. Then youll have to take extra care, he finally said. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao smiled and pulled Song Que over to hug him. Thank you for your support, Hubby. Ill be careful and not let anything happen to me, she answered, touched by his concern. Song Ques heart started racing, but he stopped struggling in her arms. Since your second brother has requested your help, then you should pay more attention. Help to arrange for a midwife in advance. Its best to let the midwife live directly in the Qin familys house, Song Que said. Once the bandit trouble started, they might kill people after entering the town. At that point, all the houses would be locked up and no one would go out. It would not be easy to get the midwife to go out again. Or, why dont we spend some money to hire someone to take care of your second sister-inw at the Qin family? Itll save you the trouble of going over, Song Que continued. He was still worried about his wifes safety. Qin Xiaoyao let go of her husband. We must definitely make arrangements for the midwife in advance, but we can forget about hiring outsiders. Second Brother will definitely not ept that. Otherwise, her second brother would not have asked for her help. When she saw Song Que frowning again, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but reach out to stroke his eyebrows. Dont worry. With my martial skills, I have not encountered anyone who can hurt me. If the bandits really bump into me, it is their bad luck! Song Ques expression was grim. When he recalled his wifes ability to hurt people by shooting leaves, he finally nodded. Tomorrow, go to the textile shop and buy some more cloth back. Get Mother to make a few sets of mens clothes for you, Yuner, and Wang Xiaomei, he continued. His wife had changed a lot in the past six months. Not only was she not fat anymore, but her figure was also curvaceous and very striking. Coupled with her beautiful face, she was simply too attractive.. Chapter 239 - 239: Mountain Bandits Entered the Town Chapter 239: Mountain Bandits Entered the Town Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion With the impending turmoil looming ahead, it would be much safer for the womenfolk to wear mens clothes. Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback. After she understood the meaning behind Song Ques words, she nodded her head solemnly. The couple talked for a while longer before they fell asleep. The next day, Qin Xiaoyao dutifully went to the textile shop and brought back a lot of cloth. When Madam Liu received the cloth and learned that Qin Xiaoyao wanted to make mens clothes, she was a little surprised. Gosh! Its too chaotic outside now. Wearing mens clothes will make things more convenient, Qin Xiaoyao exined. Next, not only will I have to wear mens clothes, but Yuner and Xiaomei will also have to wear mens clothes when they go out in the future. Now, Wang Xiaomei would still go to the market on North Street to set up a stall to sell bean sprouts every morning. However, Yuner would apany her there. It was only in the morning when the security in the town improved slightly that the two girls could remain unharmed. However, after the incident where the beggar tried to stop herst night, Qin Xiaoyao was already a little worried. Perhaps, she might have to cancel the bean sprout business in the markets on South Street and North Street. Or else she would have to arrange for other people to take their ces. When Madam Liu heard this, she thought for a while and felt that it made sense. Only then did she agree to make the mens clothes. Then Mother, dont do anything else these few days. Lets get these clothes out first, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Oh, alright. Madam Liu replied. Qin Xiaoyao then went to look for Wang Xiaomei. She told Wang Xiaomei about her decision to temporarily suspend selling bean sprouts in the markets on South Street and North Street four days from now. When Wang Xiaomei heard this, she immediately became anxious. Mrs. Song, I can do it! The market on North Street isnt far from our house, and Im familiar with those streets. Ill be fine! she hurriedly said. It wasnt easy to sell straw sandals now, so she could only depend on selling bean sprouts to earn money. If Mrs. Song did not allow her to sell bean sprouts, how would she be able to earn money? Qin Xiaoyao patted Wang Xiaomeis shoulder to reassure her. Its just a temporary measure that Im not allowing you to go there. After things have settled down in the town, Ill still let you handle the business of setting up a stall in the market on North Street, she said. Wang Xiaomei wanted to say something but was interrupted by Qin Xiaoyao. This matter is settled. After four days, when thest batch of bean sprouts has been sold, you will stay at home to help. Well talk about this again after the town gates have reopened. When she saw Qin Xiaoyaos look of determination, Wang Xiaomei didnt say anything more. Mm-hmm, she answered. She knew that Mrs. Song was doing this for her own good, so she had to listen to Mrs. Song. Qin Xiaoyao was relieved to see this. Then, she patted Wang Xiaomeis shoulder to calm her down again. After that, she left. When Big Girl Li and Liu Xiaomei came to visit the next day, Qin Xiaoyao told them the same thing. Although the two girls felt that it was a pity, they both agreed to Qin Xiaoyaos arrangement. After all, Big Girl Li was due to give birth soon, and it was indeed not very safe at the moment to let Liu Xiaomei go to the market on South Street all alone to sell bean sprouts. And so, Qin Xiaoyao began to reduce the number of bean sprouts she nted every day. Finally, another four days passed. The bean sprout business in the markets on South and North Streets came to a stop. Meanwhile, Madam Liu had also finished making all the clothes that Qin Xiaoyao had asked for. Qin Xiaoyao made a point of calling Song Yun and Wang Xiaomei over and giving them two sets of clothes each. In the future, both of you will be wearing mens clothes and having your hair tied up in a mans bun like me, Qin Xiaoyao said. And for the next few days, you will stay at home just like Mother. Dont go out until the town gates have reopened. Qin Xiaoyao had basically gotten ready all the food and necessities at home. It would not be a problem for the family to stay at home for a few months. Wang Xiaomei and Song Yun looked at each other and obeyed Qin Xiaoyao. It was night. Just when everyone thought that the night would pass like any other, something happened in Mountain Spring Town. Arge number of mountain bandits suddenly appeared at the towns West and North Gates. Moreover, they used some simple siege weapons to take down the town gate towers at lightning speed. Following that, the mountain bandits who had infiltrated the town opened the town gates and allowed the mountain bandits outside the town to enter. In addition, arge number of refugees took the opportunity to flood into Mountain Spring Town, and the town began to fall into chaos. After the mountain bandits entered the town, they attacked the government office that very night. They killed the people in the government office and gained a foothold. At the same time, many peoples homes were robbed. Those who tried to stop the bandits were killed. In one night, Mountain Spring Town descended into hell. When the incident happened that night, the Song family also heard themotion. All of them got out of bed and came out of their rooms. However, Qin Xiaoyao told everyone to go back to their rooms, close their doors, turn off the lights, and go to sleep. She and Song Que stayed up until dawn. After daybreak, the situation on the street was indeed much better. At least, there were no more screams likest night. The family ate breakfast with heavy hearts. Qin Xiaoyao then suggested going out to take a look. The whole family instantly voiced their objection to her suggestion. Dont worry. Im just going to walk around Yong An Lane. After I have checked out the situation, I wille back immediately, Qin Xiaoyao said. Someone had to go out and check out the situation outside anyway. This would enable the family to make the appropriate arrangements. And in the whole family, who else was more suitable than her? But Madam Lius expression was anxious. She knew that her daughter-inw was right, but there was indeed a lot of shouting andmotion outsidest night. Madam Liu could not sleep for most of thetter half of the night. If her daughter-inw went out and bump into anyone or anything Dont worry, Mother. I know how to take care of myself. Qin Xiaoyao patted the back of Madam Lius hand and reassured her. When she saw that Song Que was also frowning at her, Qin Xiaoyao also gave her husband a reassuring look. Only then did Madam Liu nod her head anxiously. Then you must be careful. See how the situation is ande back quickly. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao answered quickly. With that, she left the house. Yong An Lane was exceptionally quiet today. Almost every household had its doors closed. After Qin Xiaoyao left the house, she only met two bold neighbors who came out to check out the situation. However, when they saw a corpse in the alley, the two of them were so frightened that they rushed back. Qin Xiaoyao was the only one who still pressed forward like a sneaky cat to check further upfront. Qin Xiaoyao only heard some movement on the street when she was about to reach the end of the alley. It was an army of bandits removing the corpses from the street. As she continued forward, Qin Xiaoyao finally saw two small teams of mountain bandits. A small team of mountain bandits was pushing two handcarts. They were throwing the corpses on the ground onto the handcarts at that moment. Another small team of mountain bandits was knocking on the doors of the shops along the street. When they met someone who opened the door, they would enter the shop straightaway to plunder the stuff inside. When there were people who didnt open the door, the bandits would simply break down the door and barge in. When they encountered uncooperative people or those who refused to open the door, these mountain bandits would kill them outright. Qin Xiaoyao only tailed one of the teams. After walking for a short distance, she witnessed three people getting killed by the mountain bandits. This group of people was vicious and merciless, and they really killed people without blinking. Qin Xiaoyao sneaked into another street as she did not want to bring trouble upon herself. After taking a look there, she returned to Yong An Lane. Thereafter, she went home. Song Que heard the knocking and quickly opened the door for Qin Xiaoyao. When he saw his wife return, he closed the door and dragged Qin Xiaoyao inside. Madam Liu and the others quickly came up to Qin Xiaoyao and asked her about the situation outside. Back in the hall, Qin Xiaoyao took a sip of water and told everyone about the situation outside. They are mountain bandits.. Chapter 240 - 240: The Situation Was Grim Chapter 240: The Situation Was Grim Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion And all of them are extremely vicious. They were the ones who entered the town to killst night. Based on the situation outside, the government office has already been taken down by these bandits. Now they are removing the bodies on the street while robbing the shops along the street at the same time. When they encountered people who cooperated with them, the victims would only lose some of the shops property at most. Those who didnt cooperate were killed outright by the mountain bandits. Upon hearing this, everyone in the room held their breaths. Was it really the bandits who went around killing people? The mountain bandits even took over the entire government office? What should they do? Did that mean Mountain Spring Town had fallen into the hands of the mountain bandits? For now, the mountain bandits main focus is tob through the streets. Next, they will definitely go into the various alleys. And into private houses as well. At this point, Qin Xiaoyaos expression became a little more grim. As for the rest of the Song family, their faces had all turned pale. This group of mountain bandits killed without batting an eye. If they really broke into their home, what would they do? Qin Xiaoyao sighed. Lets make preparations in advance. Yuner, Xiaomei, you must wear mens clothes properly from now on and dont keep yourself too clean. Make yourself look a little unkempt. Also, if you have nothing to do, stay in the house and dont go into the courtyard. Song Yun and Wang Xiaomei looked at each other and nodded. Qin Xiaoyao then looked at Madam Liu and Song Ye. During this period, Yeer will move to stay with Mother. Dont go out if theres no need, she said. Madam Liu pulled her youngest son into her arms and replied, Mm-hmm! Only then did Qin Xiaoyao feel more at ease. Then, she looked at her husband. Hubby, you too. Dont go out so often, she reminded him In fact, Qin Xiaoyao was most worried about her husband. This was because her husbands appearance was the most outstanding in the family, and some might even say he appeared somewhat androgynous. If the mountain bandits saw him, they might even think that he was a woman in disguise. She was a little worried that her husbands looks would attract trouble Song Que nodded. You stick with me too. Stay in the room, he added. He was regretting it now. He shouldnt have agreed to let his wife go back to her parents house to take care of her second sister-inw. It was too dangerous outside, and he was afraid that something would happen to his wife. A look of hesitation shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. Ill try my best, she responded. At this moment, she also remembered what she had promised her second brother. In the current situation, her maiden family would definitely be in more trouble. Xiaohu still needed to be breastfed. The most ideal situation would be for her eldest sister-inw to bring Xiaohu to live with the Liu family. This way, her sister-inw and Xiaohu wouldnt run into any danger on the streets. However, once her eldest sister-inw left, there would be no woman left in the Qin family. Who would take care of her second sister-inw then? She wasnt afraid of going back and forth between the houses of the Song and Qin families alone. Instead, she was worried that something might happen to her maiden family when she was not around. Song Que still wanted to say something, but when he saw his mother looking over, he did not continue. It was only after he and Qin Xiaoyao returned to their room that Song Que brought up this matter to his wife. There might not be anything happening at sister-inws ce these few days. Why dont you forget about going there? After sitting at the writing desk for a long time, Song Que finally spoke. Qin Xiaoyao understood her husbands worry, so she came to Song Ques side and squeezed into the chair beside him. No way. Second Brother has already told me about this matter in advance, and I have also agreed. Right now, the Qin family is in dire need of helping hands. If I dont go, what will Second Brother think of me in the future? Song Que was silent. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao reach out and grab Song Ques hand. Ill take the chance to go back to my maiden familys house to take a look while the mountain bandits are still busy robbing the shops. I will let Father and my two brothers worry about the arrangements for Eldest Sister-inw. I am thinking of sending Second Sister-inw to Big Girl Lis house. Only then did Song Que look at his wife. And send the midwife there as well, Qin Xiaoyao continued. The midwife lived between the Liu family and the Qin family. If Qin Xiaoyao paid her a bit more money, she should be able to engage the midwife sessfully. With a midwife around, follow-up care would be somewhat guaranteed when the two pregnant women gave birth. Besides, Aunt Liu and Liu Xiaomei were still around in the Liu familys house, so they could help to look after her second sister-inw. Song Que thought for a while and felt that his wifes arrangement was quite reasonable. Fine. Then bring more money with you. It didnt matter if the Song family paid for the midwife themselves as long as his wife didnt have to take any risks. Qin Xiaoyao was a little touched when she heard this. Mm-hmm! she answered Song Que in the affirmative. Then, she quickly packed up and left the house. With her exceptional alertness and decent martial skills, Qin Xiaoyao managed to bypass the mountain bandits in the town swiftly and arrived at Big Girl Lis house. When the Liu family saw Qin Xiaoyao, they were both surprised and happy. This was particrly true for Liu Daniu. He was worried about his wifes impending childbirth, but there was no one who could discuss it with him and help hime up with ideas. Now that Sister Sanya was here, he felt a lot more at ease. Long story short. Qin Xiaoyao entered the hall and looked at the Liu family. I can fork out the money to pay for a midwife for Big Girl. But I have one condition. Liu Danius eyes lit up. Sister Sanya, please speak! he said hurriedly. I need to bring my second sister-inw here as well. When the timees, Ill have to trouble you to help take care of her. Until things outside have calmed down, Qin Xiaoyao said. The members of the Liu family were a little surprised. However, after thinking for a while, they understood the key point. No problem! Let your father stay with Erniu, and Xiaomei will stay with me, Aunt Liu suddenly said to Liu Daniu. After that, well clear out Xiaomeis room for Sanyas second sister-inw, and the midwife. Then we can all fit in! As she said this, Aunt Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Sanya, you can just send her over. With me and Xiaomei here, well definitely be able to take good care of the two pregnant women. Under the current situation, Sanya would have to pay a lot of money to hire a midwife for her eldest daughter-inw. Even if Sanya didnt help to pay, now that she had approached them, the Liu family still had to lend a helping hand. There was no other reason than the fact that the Liu family owed the Song family too many favors. Liu Daniu nodded and turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was satisfied and gave the Liu family a few instructions. She then turned down Liu Danius offer to apany her to the Qin family to pick up her second sister-inw. After that, she left the Liu familys ce and headed back to the Qin familys house. Qin Xiaoyao moved fast and arrived at the Qin familys house in no time. After knocking for a while, Qin Erhu came to open the door. When he saw his younger sister had arrived, he was both surprised and happy. At Qin Xiaoyaos request, Qin Erhu quickly brought her to meet Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu. Ill go straight to the point. Father, Brothers, you all should already know the situation outside by now. These are my suggestions. First, we send Eldest Sister-inw to the Liu familys ce and let her and Xiaohu live there for a while until peace is restored in our Mountain Spring Town. Second, send Second Sister-inw to Big Girls house and let the two pregnant women stay together. After that, I will send the midwife there too. Ill pay for the midwife. The Qin familys father and sons immediately objected when they heard that. Qin Xiaoyao quickly interrupted them. The situation is urgent. Dont argue with me about this. I have promised Second Brother toe back and help. But in this situation, the Song family cant do without me. I can only think of this method.. Chapter 241 - 241: Proper Arrangements Chapter 241: Proper Arrangements Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Ill pay for the midwife! Hubby has agreed to this! When she saw that the three of them still wanted to speak, Qin Xiaoyao continued, The circumstances are exceptional. If we dont pay enough money, the midwife wont agree to go to the Liu family. Second Sister-inw and little nephew are the most important. At this point, lets not stand on ceremony with each other. The Qin familys father and sons looked at each other, and finally, no one objected. However, Qin Erhu had already made up his mind. He would definitely return this sum of money to his younger sister in the future. Qin Xiaoyao finally nodded in satisfaction when she saw their reactions. Then lets not dy any further. Quickly get Eldest Sister-inw and Second Sister-inw to pack up. Then, well escort them away separately, she said. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged nces and murmured their acknowledgment. They hurriedly went off to look for their respective wives. Qin Dazhuang sighed as he watched his two sons leave. Fortunately, his daughter hade back and made the decision. Otherwise, the three of them would still be hesitating. After a short while, the two women came out with their luggage. In Eldest Sister-inws arms was Xiaohu, who was looking at everyone curiously with his eyes wide open. Fortunately, it was still early and not time for her to send Xiaohu for his milk feeding. Otherwise, the child would definitely be crying. Qin Xiaoyao was a little worried when she saw that her eldest nephew was awake. Although Xiaohu tended not to cry as much as other children his age, such a young child was prone to bursting into tears without warning. If he were to cry on the wayter, it would attract too much attention. After hesitating for a moment, Qin Xiaoyao decided to bring her sister-inw and nephew to the Liu family personally. Eldest Sister-inw and Xiaohu wille with me. Second Brother, you will send Second Sister-inw to Big Girls house. In addition, Father, you and Big Brother will go and pick up the midwife, Qin Xiaoyao said. As she said this, she took out five pieces of silver from her pocket. Well have to talk to the midwife and ask her to stay at Big Girls house until the two babies are born. A hint of hesitation shed across Qin Dazhuangs face, but he still reached out to take the silver that his daughter had given him. Qin Xiaoyao then looked at her second sister-inw, who appeared very nervous. Ive already spoken to Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu. Second Sister-inw, theyll take good care of you after you go over. Second Sister-inw nodded with a pale face. I have caused you trouble, Younger Sister, she said. Qin Xiaoyao felt a little apologetic when she saw her expression. Its not a problem, she replied. Thereafter, she immediately got everyone to start moving. Only then did the Qin family leave. Qin Xiaoyao carried the luggage and walked in front, followed by Eldest Sister-inw, who was carrying Qin Xiaohu in her arms. The three of them walked carefully into the alley. Qin Xiaoyao surveyed the path ahead cautiously. When she noticed there was someone ahead, she would immediately turn back and warn the people behind her. Eldest Sister-inw, on the other hand, was highly focused as she carefully carried the baby, afraid that he would cry mid-way. It didnt take long for the two of them to arrive at the Liu familys residence in an uneasy mood. Eldest Sister-inw carried Xiaohu in her arms and looked at both ends of the alley vigntly, waiting for Qin Xiaoyao to knock on the door. The closer they were to the end of the journey, the more nervous they were as they were afraid that something would happen. Qin Xiaoyao didnt hesitate and quickly knocked on the door. In the end, after knocking for a while, no one came to open the door. She guessed that the people of the Liu family must be terrified and thought that she was a mountain bandit, which was why they didnt dare to answer the door. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows tightly. She nced at her eldest sister-inw, who was panic-stricken, and didnt hesitate any longer. This time, after knocking on the door, she spoke up. Is Aunt Liu here? Were from the Qin family, and were here to ask Mrs. Liu for a favor! Her voice wasnt loud, but it wasnt soft either. If there was someone behind the door, they would definitely hear her. Sure enough, the door was opened immediately. It was opened by the eldest son of the Liu family. Madam Qin, Mrs. Qin! Liu Dng called out when he saw the two of them. Immediately, he let the two in. After the two of them entered, Liu Dng quickly closed the door. Then, he invited the two of them inside. Im really sorry. Just now Liu Dngs face was flushed, and his tone was very apologetic. His family had already agreed to feed Xiaohu milk and had received a lot of money and food from the Qin family. Yet when they came looking for him, he had almost turned them away. I can understand, Qin Xiaoyao replied. After her sister-inw carried Xiaohu away to look for Liu Dngs wife, she and Liu Dng went to one side. Then, she took out a tael of silver from her pocket. From here onward, my sister-inw and nephew will have to impose on your family for a while. This one tael of silver is a little token of my appreciation. Please keep it. Liu Dng rejected her offer immediately. How can I ept this? Big Brother Qin had already given me money before. The money we paid before was for Mrs. Liu to help with the milk feeding. This tael of silver is for my sister-inws food and amodation for the next few days. Qin Xiaoyao insisted on paying. In addition, Ille back again after dark. Ill bring you guys some food. We have to ensure that there is food for the family so that there is milk for the two babies, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Liu Dngs eyes lit up as he thought of something. Then, his eyes dimmed again. I think just forget it. The situation outside The mountain bandits outside were killing people randomly. It was already risky enough for Madam Qin toe here. How could he let her make another trip? Its okay. I know what Im doing. When the timees, Ille over and call out to you. Just open the door for me, Qin Xiaoyao interrupted Liu Dng straightaway. Liu Dng hesitated for a moment when he realized that there was indeed not much food left at home. Eventually, he nodded his head. After that, Qin Xiaoyao went to the room of Liu Dngs wife. After taking a look at her sister-inw and Xiaohu, she left. After leaving the Liu familys house, Qin Xiaoyao went back to the Song familys residence. As both families were staying in Yong An Lane, it didnt take much effort for her to return home. When Song Que saw that his wife had returned, his heart was finally at ease. After the couple talked for a while, Qin Xiaoyao mentioned that she wanted to give away biscuits. Im thinking that I should send some biscuits to Big Girls house and the Liu familys house. Now, theyre not only short of food but also firewood. If I send some biscuits over to help them tide over these few days, the rest will be easy to settle. Song Que only felt that his wife was being too considerate to other people. However, considering the rtionship between his wife and her maiden family, he didnt say anything in the end. Theres still quite a lot of those biscuits left which you made previously. Our family probably cant finish them. Take some out and send it to them, Song Que said after some thought. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. I was thinking the same thing. Also, Ill be sending them some bean sprouts. In any case, our family cant sell bean sprouts these few days. In two more days, those bean sprouts will all be old. Song Ques face clouded over slightly. Youre doing this alone. How can you carry so many things? he said. It was already risky enough to deliver the biscuits. If she still brought bean sprouts, wouldnt she be a bigger target? Qin Xiaoyaoughed. Dont worry. Ill carry the bamboo backpack. I will make the deliveries to the two families separately. The mountain bandits have just taken over Mountain Spring Town. They have killed people and robbed things. Theres a high chance they wonte out to rob again tonight. Instead, they would eat and drink their fill and enjoy the fruits of their victory. After a good rest, they would continue to rob during the day the next day.. Chapter 242 - 242: Restore Order to Mountain Spring Town Chapter 242: Restore Order to Mountain Spring Town Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao and knew that he could not stop her. He nodded helplessly. And so, the first day of the mountain bandits takeover of the town passed just like that. When night fell, Qin Xiaoyao carried a bamboo backpack and went out. She packed some bean sprouts and half a bag of biscuits in it and went to the Liu familys house. After handing the items over to Liu Dng, she returned home. Following that, she carried another bamboo basket that she had packed in advance and went to Big Girl Lis house. Qin Xiaoyao only left after she made sure that both Big Girl Li and her second sister-inw were fine. After that, they began their life remaining holed up in their home all day. The couple enjoyed two days of leisure without any shame or embarrassment. Finally, on the third day, some mountain bandits came knocking on their door. After instructing her family to stay put, Qin Xiaoyao personally went to open the door. She nodded and bowed to the mountain bandits who were holding sabers, appearing to be quite attentive. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was so tactful, the mountain bandit leader didnt use force on her. The general has ordered us to inspect every household in Mountain Spring Town. With regard to the families in Yong An Lane, each household must pay 50 catties of grain or food, plus three taels of silver! the mountain bandit leader said. His gaze swept across the Song familys courtyard. The mountain bandit leader felt that the living conditions of this house should be pretty good, so he had no intention of going in to cause any destruction. There were many families in Yong An Lane. If he had to lead people to search and smash every household, how long would he have to take before he could collect all the things that the higher-ups wanted? These people were really too much. Couldnt they just cooperate a little? Why did they have to force him to use force? Yes, yes, yes! Please wait a moment, officers. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly nodded and bowed. She even addressed the mountain bandits as officers. Ill go and get the stuff for you, Sir! she continued. Naturally, it would be best if she could send these demons of pestilence away peacefully. Mm-hmm. Hurry up! The mountain bandit leader was very pleased with Qin Xiaoyaos way of doing things. Following this, he left a mountain bandit behind to wait for Qin Xiaoyaos supplies. He then left with the rest of the people. As for Qin Xiaoyao, she quickly returned to her room before going to the kitchen. Thereafter, she carried a bag of food and returned to the courtyard. Qin Xiaoyao put on a fawning smile when she saw the mountain bandits impatient look. Im really sorry, officer. This is the only food we have at home. She saw the mountain bandits expression change. How about I give you an extra tael of silver to make up for it? Qin Xiaoyao quickly added. As she spoke, her eyes were filled with a pleading look. Immediately after that, Qin Xiaoyao quickly handed over five taels of silver. The other one tael is for your hard work, officer. I hope you can make an exception, officer. Qin Xiaoyao said with an apologeticugh. How many families in Mountain Spring Town could afford to give out 50 catties of grain? If she were to give this amount to him without any hesitation, she might bring trouble to herself. It was better to give more money to appease them. The mountain bandit took the silver and lowered his head to check the amount. He was satisfied. Then, he took the sack from Qin Xiaoyaos shoulder with a sullen face. He checked it and weighed it in his hand. He found that the weight of the grain should not be less than 35 catties. He knew what to do then. At least youre sensible! he spoke up. The amount of 35 catties was actually enough. ording to the amount set by the higher-ups, each family only needed to give 30 catties of grain, plus two taels of silver. The excess was added by their leader. This was to guard against the possibility that they couldnt collect sufficient food or silver. Of course, based on the current situation, whether it was grain or silver, the amount collected was enough. Anyway, when the time came and there was excess, their leader would take the lions share while the rest of them would also get a share. Thank you, officer! Qin Xiaoyao quickly thanked him and bowed again to pacify him. The mountain bandit red at Qin Xiaoyao in annoyance before he continued, Our general has ordered that from tomorrow onward, order will be restored to Mountain Spring Town. All businesses have to open for business. Youmoners should go on the streets and not stay at home! Yes, yes, yes! Qin Xiaoyao quickly responded. From the looks of things, the chaos in the early stage was finally over, and the mountain bandits had the intention of upying the town for a long time. At any rate, it would not be so dangerous for her to go out. It was a good sign. The mountain bandit red at Qin Xiaoyao again before leaving with the food. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief. She only closed the door after the man had left. After closing the door, she returned to her room. When Song Que saw that his wife had returned, a heavy weight was finally lifted from his shoulders. He was about to step forward and say something to Qin Xiaoyao. However, they heard movement outside. It turned out that Madam Liu and the others hade out of the house and were walking towards them. Sanya Madam Liu quickly reached the door and called out to Qin Xiaoyao worriedly. Sister-inw / Mrs. Song! The rest of the people also came up. All of them had worried expressions. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao turn her eyes away from her husband and look at the others. The person has already been dealt with and he has left. Everything is fine, she said with a smile. Immediately after that, she went out of the room to help Madam Liu into the outer room and got her to sit down at the table. Then, she told everyone what the mountain bandits told her, which was to restore order to Mountain Spring Town the next day. Looking at the situation, it will be much safer to go out from tomorrow onward, Qin Xiaoyao said. When she saw Madam Liu and the others heave a sigh of relief, Qin Xiaoyao continued, However, these mountain bandits are too brutal. If they take control of Mountain Spring Town, it is likely that it wont be very peaceful outside. So, from now on, if you dont have to go out, its best if you dont. If you really need to go out, just let me know and Ill do it. Everyone looked at each other and then nodded. The only one who could make decisions at a critical time and take charge of the family was indeed Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaoforted the crowd for a while before sending them out of her room. Only then did the couple have time to be alone. You dont go out either. Just as she closed the door, Qin Xiaoyao was hugged by Song Que from behind. A warm sensation welled up in the womans heart. Alright. If theres no need to go out, Ill stay at home too, she answered. He was telling her not to go out? How could she allow that? She still didnt know what was the situation with Big Girl and Second Sister-inw. She wanted to go and take a look. Furthermore, order would be restored in the town tomorrow, so the town gates should be open. After all, she still had to make a trip to the Zhang familys vige. Nheless, she still had to put her husbands mind at ease. At the end of the day, she was still a good wife! When Song Que heard this, his body stiffened momentarily. He knew that his wife would not be so obedient. After hugging Qin Xiaoyao for a while and calming down, Song Que finally let her go. Then, he reached out and pulled Qin Xiaoyao to the soft couch to sit down. The couple began acting lovey-dovey with each other again. The next day, many shops on the streets of Mountain Spring Town opened. Themoners also came out of their houses. Qin Xiaoyao heard themotion outside and was about to go out to take a look when Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu arrived. Before long, Liu Daniu and Wang Dashan also came to her house. When Qin Xiaoyao found out that the Qin family and the Liu family were safe, she felt a little more relieved. However, when she heard that these people hade for the bean sprouts, she was quite surprised.. Chapter 243 - 243: Zhang Ershui’s visit Chapter 243: Zhang Ershuis visit Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Although the mountain bandits intend to restore order to Mountain Spring Town, how can these people follow the rules like the people from the Imperial Court? I prefer to talk about the bean sprouts business at ater stage, Qin Xiaoyao said. When she saw the disappointment on everyones faces, Qin Xiaoyao continued, But if you really cant stay idle, then why not go out of town and continue with the gathering of firewood to sell? The town gates are open now, and there are many people who are short of firewood. With so many of you working together, it will be safer. The few of them exchanged nces with each other, and they felt that Qin Xiaoyao had a point. Thereafter, Wang Dashan consented to this proposal. Its just in time. I still owe Mrs. Song 8 loads of firewood. This time, Ill make up for the firewood I still owe Mrs. Song first, Wang Dashan said. However, Qin Xiaoyao simplyughed. Theres no hurry. I still have enough firewood at home. Just arrange for the firewood to be delivered as you did before, she responded. Mm-hmm. Wang Dashan had a rough idea of the Song familys situation, so he didnt insist. Qin Xiaoyao only left after exchanging some more information with the visitors about the situation outside. After Qin Xiaoyao left, the crowd dispersed as well. Wang Dashan was the only one who stayed behind to talk to Wang Xiaomei. At the same time, he also took some food back from Wang Xiaomei. At noon, the weather changed abruptly. A violent wind suddenly rose, followed by the appearance of massive, overwhelming dark clouds. After such a long drought in Mountain Spring Town, it finally started to rain heavily. And once this storm started, itsted for three consecutive days. When the storm stopped, notices from the mountain bandits appeared on the streets. They proimed that their general was the one chosen by heaven. He had just settled in Mountain Spring Town when heavy rain fell from the sky and solved the drought in Mountain Spring Town. Themoners naturally did not believe this. How could a person chosen by heaven be so brutal and kill people without blinking? In addition, the storm did more than just solve the drought problem in Mountain Spring Town. It also destroyed many houses and caused great damage, bringing tremendous hardships to peoples lives. Many homeless refugees also died in the storm. After the storm, peace did not descend on Mountain Spring Town. Barely five dayster, after the temperature dropped, snowkes began to fall from the sky. The residents of Mountain Spring Town finally weed the winter season for this year. On this day, good news finally came from the Liu family. The Qin familys second daughter-inw gave birth before Big Girl Li. Another chubby little boy was added to the Qin family. The Qin family was extremely overjoyed. Soon, the Qin family brought Second Sister-inw back home. After making sure that Second Sister-inw had enough milk, Eldest Sister-inw also brought Xiaohu back to the Qin family. She handed Xiaohu over to Second Sister-inw for milk-feeding. At the same time, Eldest Sister-inw took care of Second Sister-inws daily needs. Qin Xiaoyao went back to visit her little nephew and even sent some cured meat and dried food for her second sister-inws post-natal nourishment. The members of the Qin family were extremely grateful. In the Qin familys hall, the Qin familys father and sons were discussing some serious matters with Qin Xiaoyao. Yesterday, I saw Zhang Ershui at the entrance of the gambling house, Qin Dahu suddenly said. His words made everyone look at him. He was frowning and looked very worried. That rascal seems to have some connections with the mountain bandits, Qin Dahu continued. Everyone was shocked by his words. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows at once. It was not good news that Zhang Ershui was in cahoots with the mountain bandits. What if How did he get acquainted with the mountain bandits? Are you sure youre not mistaken? Qin Dazhuang immediately asked his eldest son. He also looked nervous. No doubt about it. Its definitely him, Qin Dahu reaffirmed. With him were a few mountain bandits. Youve also met two of them before. They are two of the people who came to our Xiang Yang Lane to collect grain not long ago. As soon as he said that, the Qin familys members all became very glum. If Zhang Ershui really had connections with the mountain bandits, then the Qin family would definitely be in for a rough time. Qin Xiaoyaos gaze swept across her father and two brothers, and she quickly came up with an idea in her mind. She had long nned to get rid of the Zhang family, but she had never gotten around to doing it. Now, it seemed like she had no choice but to take action. In her heart, she was calcting if she should set off tomorrow. Suddenly, there was the sound of banging on the door. That was right. It was the sound of banging, not the sound of knocking. There must be a lot of people out there, and they were malting quite a ruckus. Their voices were particrly loud. The Qin familys faces all changed. Qin Dazhuang quickly told his eldest daughter-inw to go in and take care of his second daughter-inw. Then he brought his two sons to open the door. Qin Xiaoyao was told to stay in the hall by Qin Dazhuang. Although she did not go out, she went to the door to see what was going to happen. Soon, she saw Zhang Ershui barging into the Qin familys courtyard with a few people. Thereafter, he yelled at her father. Brother-inw Oh, no, youre not my brother-inw anymore, Zhang Ershui said dramatically to Qin Dazhuang. You divorced my sister. You even snatched away my sisters baby. I didnt have any other intentions when I invited Brother Qiang and the rest over. If you hand over my nephew, I wont make things difficult for you. Otherwise At this point, a trace of ruthlessness emerged in Zhang Ershuis eyes. He had lost a hand, his sister had been sold, and the Zhang family had fallen into such a state all because of Qin Dazhuang. In the past, he was not capable and could not do anything to the Qin family. However, now, he would not let the Qin family have an easy time. Oh right. There was also that bitch Qin Sanya. After he was done with the Qin family, he would go and look for her. When he thought of that womans face and the figure she had now, Zhang Ershuis face turned lecherous. When he pinned that woman under him, he would see if she still dared to argue with him. Qin Dazhuang frowned deeply. We dont have your nephew here. Our family doesnt have the person youre looking for. Hurry up and leave, he said. Your oldest sons brat with the name Xiaohu or something. Isnt he my sisters child? Do you think I dont know just because you put him under your eldest sons household? Zhang Ershui said immediately. If you know whats good for you, then quickly bring that brat out for me. Otherwise Zhang Ershui looked at the three mountain bandits he had brought with him. The one called Brother Qiang immediately picked up the long saber that he carried with him. The threatening look was self-evident. Zhang Ershui was a gambler Brother Qiang had met in a gambling house before he joined the mountain bandits. As they both shared the same vile habits, they often gathered together to gamble in the past. However, his status had changed now, and Zhang Ershui was trying to curry favor with him. He naturally had to extend him some courtesy on ount of their friendship and lend him some support. Of course, it was also because Zhang Ershui had promised to give him five taels of silver, so he was also tempted. The faces of the Qin familys father and sons changed. Qin Dahu was the most infuriated. He wanted to rush forward but was stopped by his father. Xiaohu is my oldest sons child. He has nothing to do with the Zhang family, Qin Dazhuang said. Qin Dazhuang sighed again when he saw the murderous look in Zhang Ershuis eyes. I cant give you the child. Tell me, how much do you want? he said. Zhang Ershuis expression at once. Only then did a smirk appear on his face. Hehe! Brother-inw, thats the way! You took the child away from our family. How can you not give us somepensation? How about this? This time you give us twenty taels of silver. I wont insist on seeing my nephew. As for the future, he would definitely have to visit again since he was the uncle. The faces of the Qin familys members changed instantly.. Chapter 244 - 244: The Malignant Tumor Must Be Removed Chapter 244: The Malignant Tumor Must Be Removed Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion 20 taels? Why dont you just rob someone? Before Qin Dazhuang could say anything, Qin Dahu had already blurted out. When he saw this, Zhang Ershui did not get angry. Instead, he smiled wickedly. Then, he held up both arms and cupped them. Rob? The great general has given the order that no one is allowed to rob themoners. Qin Dahu, are you trying to nder my three brothers by saying this? At this point, Zhang Ershuis voice became a bit sharp. When the three mountain bandits heard their names mentioned, they immediately looked at the Qin familys father and sons trio with hostility. The Qin familys father and sons appeared fearful. It wasnt that they didnt think they were a match for the other party. Due to the other partys status, their family couldnt afford to offend them. Qin Dazhuang grabbed his eldest son again and smiled apologetically at the mountain bandit named Qiang Zi. Officer, please dont misunderstand. Our family doesnt have that intention. Then what do you guys mean? Qiang Zi said with displeasure. When he saw that Qin Dazhuang was stumped by Qiang Zis words, Zhang Ershuis eyes turned one round. These three brothers of mine are busy with official business. Their time is precious. Brother-inw, you seem so uncooperative. Are you not even extending courtesy to my three brothers? Sure enough, as soon as he said this, the three mountain bandits expressions turned even more unpleasant. They all looked at Qin Dazhuang with displeasure. Qin Dazhuangs expression changed again. I didnt mean it that way, officers. I really didnt mean it that way! He hurriedly cupped his fists and said in apology. Hmph! If you didnt have that intention, then go and bring me the money at once! What a waste of time! Qiang Zi said outright. A look of inner struggle shed across Qin Dazhuangs face. He finally turned around and told Qin Erhu to go in and get the money. They had no choice but to give them the money. Their family couldnt afford to offend these demons of pestilence. He could only send them away first, and after they left, they could discuss how to deal with them next time. Father Not surprisingly, Qin Erhu didnt agree with his father. Go! Qin Dazhuang said in a low voice. Qin Erhu didnt insist anymore. He red at Zhang Ershui, who was looking at him smugly, gave a furious snort, and walked off. Zhang Ershuiughed very gleefully. As the wheel of fortune continued on its inexorable cycle, things were finally looking up for him. As long as Zhang Ershui lived, the whole Qin family would not have an easy time. Qin Erhu went back to his room to look for his wife and his elder sister-inw to pool the silver. In the end, he only managed to gather 15 taels. Fortunately, Qin Xiaoyao had brought money with her, which helped him gather 20 taels of silver. Qin Erhu looked angry and frustrated. When Zhang Ershui brought those three mountain bandits to our house, I guess many people saw them, Qin Xiaoyao reminded him. We cant deal with this matter rashly. When she saw her second brother looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Fathers way of handling things is correct. Lets get rid of these people first, and then well think of a long-term nter. Qin Erhu felt somewhat enlightened. After hearing his younger sisters words, he finally felt better. He nodded at Qin Xiaoyao. After that, he went to deliver the silver to Zhang Ershui and the others. Zhang Ershui and the others watched Qin Erhu bring out the silver. And the bits and pieces added up to 20 taels. All of them were extremely smug. I knew my brother-inw has a rich family! Alright. Since its not convenient for me to visit my nephew this time, I wont bother you any longer. Ille back in two days! Zhang Ershui said with a smug look. How could 20 taels of silver be enough? If the Qin family could take out 20 taels for the first time, they would be able to take out the same amount for the second time, the third time At any rate, the Qin family owed him this! You Qin Dahu couldnt hold it in anymore. He wanted to rush up and beat Zhang Ershui up. However, he was stopped by Qin Dazhuang again. Facing the ferocious gazes of the mountain bandits, Qin Dazhuang apologized again and even personally sent them out. After everyone had left thepound and gone far away, Qin Dazhuang closed the door and walked back. Qin Dazhuang sighed when he saw his eldest son looking at him angrily. Follow me. After saying that, he walked towards the hall. Qin Erhu tugged at his big brother and dragged him along with him. Soon, Qin Xiaoyao and the Qin familys father and sons sat down at the table once more. However, the current atmosphere waspletely different from before. The father and sons all looked very troubled and kept their heads lowered. When she saw that the three of them had no intention of speaking first, Qin Xiaoyao finally took the initiative to speak. Zhang Ershui and the Zhang family mustnt be allowed to live. As soon as she said this, the father and sons trio were stupefied. Then, they all raised their heads and looked at Qin Xiaoyao collectively. Qin Dazhuang opened his mouth a few times, but in the end, he didnt say anything. Before Zhang Ershui left, he left a message saying that he would be back in a few days. This guy was a malignant tumor, and he had be even more toxic than before. If they didnt get rid of him, the Qin family might really be destroyed by him. After a long while, Qin Dazhuang finally spoke, Mm-hmm. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu immediately turned to look at their father when they heard him. They were all suspecting whether they were hallucinating. However, the words Qin Dazhuang said next left no doubt in their minds. Ill go to the Zhang familys vige tomorrow night. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhus hearts skipped a beat. Their father wanted to go to the Zhang familys vige. What was he going to do? Could it be Father Qin Dahu gulped nervously and called out to his father anxiously. Qin Erhu also looked at his father apprehensively. I Ill go with you, Father, he stammered. If his father really wanted to go and silence that family, how could he do it alone when there were so many people in the Zhang family? Ill go too! Qin Dahu nced at his second brother and quickly added. That bastard Zhang Ershui had actually brought people to his house to threaten his family. If he didnt kill Zhang Ershui, he wouldnt be able to give vent to his anger. As for the other members of the Zhang family, none of them were good people. It was better to eliminate them together. Qin Dazhuang frowned. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, was a little surprised. Her father and two elder brothers were quite tenacious indeed. You guys What are you thinking? Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao asked with a smile. Her words instantly attracted the gazes of the father and sons trio. Younger Sis, what you mean is Qin Dahu was at a loss for words. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Yes. But its not what you guys think. The father and sons trio were very puzzled. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao say, The mountain bandits have entered the town, and its very chaotic outside right now. There are many desperate people. What I meant was to spend money and hire someone to do it. When she saw the hesitation on the faces of the three, Qin Xiaoyao continued, If we want to do it, we have to be ruthless. Father, do you think I dont know your character? With regard to the Zhang brothers and the two elders of the Zhang family, I have no doubt that youre capable of doing it. But how about Zhang Dashuis wife and that kid in his family? Can you really bear to show them no mercy? If they were not merciless, they might get exposed and leave behind the seeds of future trouble. In the current situation, it might notnd them in any trouble. However, what about after peace was restored to Mountain Spring Town? Once the truth was revealed, the Qin family would be finished at that point. When Qin Xiaoyao said that she would hire someone to do it, it wasnt really the case. Instead, she would do it herself. After all, no one was more reliable and more efficient than her.. Chapter 245 - 245: Hiring a Hitman? Chapter 245: Hiring a Hitman? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The reason she said that was only to remove herself from the situation and make her family feel more at ease. No. To her surprise, Qin Dazhuang rejected her proposal. It was indeed difficult for him to be ruthless to the entire Zhang family, but since things hade to this, he would rather be cold-blooded this once. Although his daughters suggestion was good, the familys money had been depleted, and he could not afford to hire a hitman. In addition, even if he could afford it, he would not be willing to. Notwithstanding the fact that the amount of money required would not be small, even if it was a small sum, someone would have a hold on their family. He might as well do it himself. If something really happened, he would assume responsibility for everything himself. In any case, he was the root cause of all this trouble. Ill handle this matter myself. You three siblings dont interfere, Qin Dazhuang said as if he had made up his mind. Qin Xiaoyao frowned and was about to say something, but she was stopped by a look from Qin Erhu. She realized that it was useless for her to insist, and her second brother seemed to have something to say to her. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and didnt say anything. Then this matter is settled. For the next two days, Dahu and Erhu, both of you should stay at home and not go anywhere! Qin Dazhuang added. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged a nce and some unspoken words with their eyes, but they didnt say anything more. It was considered a tacit acknowledgment. When he saw this, Qin Dazhuangs expression became more rxed. Then, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao. You too. Go back to the Song family and stay at home obediently. Take care of your mother-inw and husband, he said. Qin Xiaoyao also exchanged a nce and some unspoken words with her eyes with her big brother and second brother. Okay, she answered her father. They would just humor him for the time being. Only then did Qin Dazhuang be more at ease. Following that, he asked Qin Erhu to send Qin Xiaoyao back to the Song familys house. Qin Dahu wanted to send his younger sister off, but Qin Dazhuang told him to stay at home. Therefore, Qin Erhu sent Qin Xiaoyao out of the house. After leaving the Qin familys house, they walked for a while. After making sure that their father had gone back and that there was no one around, the siblings immediately discussed the matter of hiring a hitman in a low voice. That was right. Although Qin Dazhuang opposed Qin Xiaoyaos earlier suggestion, Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu agreed with her somewhat. It was not exactly a full agreement since the two brothers were actually thinking of carrying out the deed themselves. However, now, their father had given the order that they were not allowed to go out. In this case, hiring a hitman to carry out the deed became the most appropriate choice. In short, they would never allow their father to go to the Zhang familys ce all alone. Although the Zhang family was weak, they had many family members. It would not be easy for their father to get rid of the entire family without anyone knowing. Younger Sis, do you already have some idea how to go about doing what you suggested just now? Qin Erhu asked Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Of course. Leave this matter to me. Im 90% confident. What 90%? With her taking action personally, there would definitely be no slip-ups. Qin Erhus eyes lit up. Really? Then, his face fell. How much does the other party want? he asked. Qin Xiaoyao nced at her second brother andughed. Dont worry about the money. Ill make the arrangements. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao patted the back of Qin Erhus hand. Qin Erhu immediately looked at his younger sister. But He really wanted to refuse his younger sisters help, but he couldnt bring himself to say it even though the words were on the tip of his tongue. This was because if they didnt hire a hitman, their father would have to do something stupid. At that point, there was a high chance that things would go awry. No buts. When you go back, you and Big Brother help to hold Father back. Tonight, Ill arrange for someone to go to the Zhang familys vige to settle the matter. When the newses back tomorrow, Father will see that the matter has been settled, so there is no need for him to take action anymore, Qin Xiaoyao said. It was not just the Zhang family. She also had to find an opportunity to get rid of the three mountain bandits that went to the Qin family today. Only then could the Qin family remainpletely safe without anyone knowing anything about what happened. Qin Erhu thought for a while and finally nodded. Then Ill have to trouble you for this. How much money is spent Younger Sis, you help me and Big Brother pay for it first. Well definitely return this sum of moneyter! Qin Erhu said firmly. Once again, he was very grateful to his younger sister. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Alright! Father doesnt only belong to you and Big Brother. And also, it was my idea to have Father divorce Madam Zhang. Im also responsible now that this issue has cropped up. Just treat it that Im tying up the loose ends. After talking to Qin Erhu for a while longer and rejecting his request to send her home, the siblings finally parted ways. When she arrived at the Song familys house, Qin Xiaoyao quickly slipped into the house. When Song Que saw that his wife had returned, he looked like he wanted to say something but was hesitating. He put down his brush and sat down beside her. Reaching out to pull his wife into his arms, the mans face was full of affection. Didnt you say that Second Sister-inw has given a son to the Qin family? It should be a happy asion. Why are you looking so troubled? Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at her husband. A hint of hesitation shed across her face. A momentter, she eventually told him. Its a happy asion, but something bad also urred. She had to take action tonight, and once she went out, she could not do it behind her husbands back. After mulling over it for some time, she thought it might be better to tell the truth. After all, after living with him over this period, she had already discovered that her husband was not really a kind and naively sweet person. To put it bluntly, he was quite ruthless. However, his ruthlessness was only reserved for outsiders. This was actually very good. At least it suited her taste. Song Que was stunned. What happened? Then, he pretended to hug his wife as if nothing had happened. Its Zhang Ershui, Qin Xiaoyao finally said. After that, she told Song Que what happened to the Qin family. After she finished speaking, she even told Song Que about her n. When Song Que heard her n, he was somewhat surprised. He knew that his wife was bold and capable, and could do extraordinary things in extraordinary circumstances. However, when he heard that she was going to exterminate someones entire family, he was still a little shocked. How should he put it? Other than shock, he was also worried. In the depths of his heart, he was actually a little envious. If he had his wifes martial arts skills, perhaps, he would be able to live as confidently and freely as her. Notwithstanding other things, just take for example that mountain bandit leader who was currently staying in the Mountain Spring Towns government office. Song Que wanted quite badly to chop him up. Of course, it was just a thought. After all, in his current incarnation, he simply did not have that ability. Even more so, he couldnt bear to let his wife take risks for him. After exining the situation, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que with a pitiful expression. She hoped to get Song Ques permission. Song Que was indeed pulling a long face. However, he looked away very quickly. After giving a sigh, he hugged Qin Xiaoyao. If I stop you, what will you do? he asked. In reality, he should feel assured of his wifes ability, but he just didnt want her to take the risk. After all, her family needed her. And he needed her more When did it start? It seemed that he was almost unable to leave her side. Qin Xiaoyaos body froze. Then, she whispered, I cant do anything. But I still have to go. Song Que was silent. After a long while, just when Qin Xiaoyao thought that the conversation was going to end on a sour note, Song Que finally spoke.. Chapter 246 - 246: Eliminating Future Trouble Chapter 246: Eliminating Future Trouble Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Then you can go. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up with joy and she immediately raised her head to look at Song Que. Song Que smiled at her dotingly. But you have to promise me toe back early. Also, remain safe and sound. Dont get hurt. Qin Xiaoyao smiled radiantly and pounced on Song Que instantly. I promise! Thank you, Hubby! Song Que was amused by her pounce. He was just about to put on a stern face and scold his wife. However, he saw the womans eyes suddenly darken as she nibbled at him. Alright, it seemed that he didnt feel like resisting anymore The winter night came a little early. The Song family had an early dinner today. After the meal, the family washed up and went to bed early. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, bade Song Que farewell and sneaked out of the house without telling the rest of the family. It was very quiet on the street, and there was almost no one around. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but curse at Zhang Ershui as she endured the cold bitter wind. If not for that bastard, why would she have to go out on such a cold night? Wasnt it better to stay in the warm room and keep her husbandpany? After crossing two streets, Qin Xiaoyao finally arrived at the entrance of the gambling house. This was the only ce still open along these few streets. It was already sote, yet the ce was still so lively. Without much hesitation, Qin Xiaoyao quickly entered the gambling house. It was even noisier inside than outside, as there were many people and they were very rowdy. The gamblers surrounded the tables of pai gow and dice games. Their voices were very loud. Every single one of them. In her previous life, Qin Xiaoyao was actually very used to such ces. In particr, when they were in the base, it wasmon for the mercenaries to go to the gambling house in the base to rx after returning from their missions. During that time, she would asionally go to the gambling house with her subordinates to try her luck. However, ever since she transmigrated to this world, everything from her previous life seemed to be getting further and further away from her. Now that she had arrived at this gambling house, she actually didnt feel excited or rxed at all. In fact, she felt it was too noisy. Frowning, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt in the mood to watch other gamblers or join in for a few games. She started to search for Zhang Ershui and the three mountain bandits who had gone to the Qin familys ce during the day. After walking past a few gambling tables, she finally found those few people. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help smiling as she felt a little happy. Hehe! Not bad. All of them were here. It saved her the trouble of looking for them one by one. At this moment, Zhang Ershuis face was flushed and his voice was extremely loud. There was a pile of silver pieces in front of him. From the looks of things, he had won quite a lot of money. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up again when she saw those silver pieces. This fellow extorted 20 taels of silver from her father and brothers. Later, she would naturally make him pay back using every single coin on him. After that, Qin Xiaoyao didnt bother Zhang Ershui and the other three mountain bandits. Instead, she pretended to gamble a bit at a spot not far from them so that she could monitor the four of them at the same time. She waited until the four of them left the gambling house. In the end, she waited until thetter half of the night. Among the three mountain bandits, one of them had lost all his money and was in a bad mood, so he suggested leaving. Zhang Ershui and the other two mountain bandits were quite lucky, so they still wanted to continue. However, the person who was unlucky was a low-ranking leader of the mountain bandits, so they had no choice but to leave with him. Zhang Ershui won the most money today. In addition, he had extorted money from the Qin family. He generously proposed to treat the three mountain bandits to a drink. The four of them then left the gambling house happily. Qin Xiaoyao followed them cautiously. When they reached the end of the street and entered an alley, Qin Xiaoyao finally revealed herself. After making sure that there was no one around, a cold glint shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. Then, a dagger appeared in her hand. After that, she charged at two of the four people as nimbly as a gust of wind. The four of them had gambled for most of the night and were already tired. Coupled with Qin Xiaoyaos swift actions, the four of them didnt even notice what was going on. The two people that Qin Xiaoyao had picked first had their necks slit in just an instant. Just as they uttered a sound, causing Zhang Ershui and the bandit leader to turn around, Qin Xiaoyao had already discarded the two corpses and darted like a Grim Reaper toward the remaining two who looked back. The two of them widened their eyes. Before they could react, Qin Xiaoyao had already rushed up to them. Immediately after that, the bandit leader next to Zhang Ershui was the first to have his throat slit. Blood spurted out and quite a lot sshed on Zhang Ershuis face. He was so terrified that his eyes became very wide. Just as he was about to scream, the corners of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up maliciously. Following that, she slid her hand across his neck. Blood spurted out again, and Zhang Ershui only gave half a wretched scream before copsing. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but frown when she realized her clothes had inadvertently been stained by some blood. Nheless, she didnt dy any further. She quickly began to search the corpses. On one hand, she had to recover the Qin familys money. On the other hand, she had to create the illusion that these people had been killed for their money. After all, the bodies of these four people would definitely be discovered the next morning. Closing the case with a verdict of murder for money could save a lot of trouble. Qin Xiaoyao quickly looted all the valuables from the four of them and left swiftly. She was on high alert along the way and moved quickly. It didnt take long for her to return to the Song familys house. Naturally, she couldnt knock on the door. Instead, she climbed over the boundary wall and entered her home. Thereafter, she carefully made her way through the courtyard and returned to her room. Although the lights in the room were off, Song Que did not sleep. When he heard someone knocking on the door from outside, he immediately got down from the soft couch and went to open the door. When he saw that his wife had returned, the man finally felt relieved. Qin Xiaoyao entered the room and lit themps nimbly. Then, she took out all the money she had gotten from looting the corpses and ced it on the table. I got rid of them. I obtained this money from their bodies. Leave 20 taels. 111 send it to Father and my brothers tomorrow. As for the rest, you can put them away safely, Hubby. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao walked into the room. I still have to make a trip to the Zhang familys vige to get rid of the remaining hidden pestilence. You dont need to wait up for meter. With that, Qin Xiaoyao took out a coil of rope and a parcel. Song Que looked worried, and he felt a little like stopping Qin Xiaoyao. Though he wanted to speak, he hesitated for a while and eventually, he did not say anything. Finally, he said, Be careful. Also, I will only sleep when youre back. He even looked at the areas on Qin Xiaoyaos clothes that were stained with blood. Qin Xiaoyao followed Song Ques line of sight and looked at her own blood-stained clothes. This is someone elses blood, she exined. Song Que nodded at her before replying, Okay. After that, Qin Xiaoyao dashed out of the house. Along the way, she moved nimbly as if she was a night stalker. It didnt take long for her to leave Yong An Lane and reach the town gate. Then, she found a more remote corner. She threw the rope up the town gate tower, climbed over the wall, and exited the town. To be honest, she really had to thank these mountain bandits. After they took over Mountain Spring Town, they did not manage it strictly. Otherwise, she wouldnt have been able to get out of the town so easily by climbing over the wall. Once out of town, Qin Xiaoyao braved the wind and snow and traveled through the night to the Zhang familys vige. After entering the Zhang familys vige, Qin Xiaoyao sneaked into the Zhang familys house with a sense of familiarity. Then, she entered the room. With every raise of the hand and fall of the de, the entire family was soon wiped out. Following that, Qin Xiaoyao even re-arranged some things on the scene. This was to create the impression that this was a case of robbery cum murder.. Chapter 247 - 247: One Way to Solve Husband and Wife’s Disputes Chapter 247: One Way to Solve Husband and Wifes Disputes Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Doing such things was really not difficult for her. It was nothing more than a matter of taking up some time. As for killing people, she didnt feel any psychological burden when she killed people who might seem innocent to others. This included that kid belonging to Zhang Dashui. She had always been very clear about herself. She was never a good person. She only cared about herself and the people she cared about. Whoever threatened her or the people she cared about, she didnt mind eliminating them one by one. After getting rid of the Zhang family, Qin Xiaoyao went out in the dark. Halfway through her journey, she burned her blood-stained clothes. She then took out new clothes from her parcel and put them on. After the matter was settled, Qin Xiaoyao was much more rxed on the way back. Considering that it was almost dawn, she didnt take the risk of climbing the town gate tower. Instead, she went to the town gate and waited. After the town gate was opened, she followed the first batch of people into the town. She had just returned to her house and knocked on the courtyard door when Song Que came to open it. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao had returned and she had changed her clothes, Song Ques tense expression finally rxed. Then, he pulled Qin Xiaoyao into the house. Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything and followed Song Que to their room. Although her husbands expression didnt change and he didnt speak to her, he was probably very angry. Otherwise, he wouldnt have grabbed her hand so tightly and walked so fast. They finally returned to their room. After he pulled Qin Xiaoyao into the room, Song Que closed the door. Did anyone at home find out that I went outst night? Qin Xiaoyao opened her mouth before Song Que could. No. After Mother woke up, I told her that you had already gone out, Song Que replied with a frown. When he saw his wife heave a sigh of relief and was about to continue asking questions, Song Que quickly interrupted, Have you settled the matter in the Zhang familys vige? And, why did youe back sote? Didnt this woman know that he was at home feeling worried about her? Ever since she left the house, he had been on tenterhooks. As time went on, he became more worried. At daybreak, he almost couldnt control himself and wanted to dash out to look for her. Qin Xiaoyao was stupefied. When she saw Song Ques angry face, realization dawned on her. She quickly went up to hug Song Que. However, the man didnt appreciate it and broke free from her hug. How could something like that deter Qin Xiaoyao? With just a little more force, she was able to trap Song Que firmly in her arms. Ahem I forgot this detail, she apologized. In my previous life, I was the captain of my team. I was always the one who worried about others, and no one had to worry about me. When I went out to carry out a task this time, I actually forgot that my husband was waiting for me at home. Its my fault. Hubby, dont hold it against me As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she buried her head in Song Ques chest. Then, she even rubbed against him. She wanted to use this method to calm Song Que down. This move was indeed effective. Sure enough, Song Ques anger subsided quite a bit. After listening to Qin Xiaoyao, he recalled she told him what happened during the apocalypse, and his heart ached for her a little. In spite of this, Song Que still did not relent. Instead, he continued to stand upright stiffly. What happened in the past was all over now. He and the woman in his arms were now husband and wife. There were still many things they had to go through in the future. This time, he must let her know that there was someone at home waiting for her and feeling worried about her. He feared that she would do the same thing again in the future. And he didnt want to live like this. The truth was, he had been very pleased with his wife in the past. This was because no matter what she did, she would always discuss it with him beforehand. This included some dishonorable things and even the murder this time. However, afterst night, he realized that it was not enough. He was that greedy. He hoped his wife would treat him as the top priority, and that her heart would bepletely upied by him. Gosh, Hubby When she saw that Song Que didnt respond, Qin Xiaoyao once again rubbed her head against Song Ques chest and even started acting coquettishly. When he realized that Qin Xiaoyaos hands were starting to behave indiscreetly, Song Que finally broke free from Qin Xiaoyaos grasp with a red face. Its so early in the morning. Stop fooling around! he scolded. The woman pressed on shamelessly, smiling radiantly. How am I fooling around? Its not against thew for me to touch my husband. With that, she went forward again. She pulled Song Que over and dragged him into the inner room straightaway. After a while, the room was filled with the intermittent sounds of dubious panting. Qin Xiaoyao felt very pleased. Sure enough, there was nothing that an intimate session between husband and wife couldnt solve. If the problem couldnt be solved, that meant one session wasnt enough. They would need two sessions in that case. After about an hour, Song Que looked at his wife in his arms and finally wasnt angry anymore. There was nothing he could do with a woman like her. Whats the situation at the Zhang familys vige? Song Que asked with a sigh. In fact, when he saw that his wife had returned safe and sound, he was almost certain that the matter had been settled. However, he still had to ask so that his heart would bepletely at ease. Of course, its all settled, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. After that, she exined the general situation to Song Que. Dont worry. After I got rid of the people, I also re-arranged the interior of the Zhang familys house. I didnt leave behind any money or food. After that, I even burned my blood-stained clothes on the way back. I didnt leave any clues behind. After she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at Song Ques handsome side profile. Actually, its not that I didnt consider the possibility that you would be worried at home. Its just that when I came back, the sky was almost bright. I was thinking that if I climbed over the town gate tower again, I might be discovered. So I waited outside the town until the town gate was open before I entered the town. Song Que lowered his head and looked at the woman in his arms. There was a hint of doubt in his eyes. A momentter, he chose to believe her in the end. He nted a kiss on her forehead. If thats the case, then it is right that you wait until the town gate is open beforeing back, he said. Naturally, her safety was more important than him worrying bout her at home. However, he still didnt quite believe her. Otherwise, with her personality, she would have exined it to him when he was upset. Why did she have to use the trick of dragging him to bed in the end? Well, this trick was indeed effective Qin Xiaoyao rolled her eyes and she felt a little gleeful inwardly. She had finally smoothed the matter over perfectly. Ahem So this matter is considered over and done with. Now that the matter with the Zhang family has been resolved, there will be no more trouble after this. In the future, I will definitely be a good wife. I wont let you worry anymore. Qin Xiaoyao made an oath to please him. Song Que gave her a nce of speechless resignation. Dont let it happen again. The man tossed out this sentence. Then, he ignored Qin Xiaoyao and rolled over to catch up on his sleep. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Now that she knew Song Que was no longer angry, she was finally relieved. Then take a rest, Hubby. Ill go get you some breakfast, she whispered. Mm-hmm. Qin Xiaoyao only got off bed after hearing Song Quesnguid reply. Sigh! He was on tenterhooks the entire night and didnt sleep at all. When she came back in the morning, she even tormented him for quite a while. It had indeed been hard on her husband.. Chapter 248 - 248: The News That Arrived Chapter 248: The News That Arrived Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Hmm She would have to ask Mother to make something delicious at noon to provide her husband with some nourishment As she was thinking over these things, Qin Xiaoyao put on her clothes and left her room. When she returned to her room with breakfast, she realized that Song Que had already fallen asleep. As she couldnt bear to wake up Song Que, Qin Xiaoyao went out again and took some dry food from the kitchen which she ced on the small table in the room. After that, she also had a quick meal. Only then did she take some silver and leave the house. Since the matter had been settled, she had to inform her father and brothers so that they wouldnt continue to worry. In the end, before Qin Xiaoyao reached the Qin familys house, she bumped into some investigators on the way. It turned out that the corpses of Zhang Ershui and the three mountain bandits had already been discovered and they were now investigating. Qin Xiaoyao was confident that no one had seen her take actionst night, so she dealt with the investigators very calmly. The other party didnt make things difficult for her either. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyaos attitude was good, they let her through quickly. When she arrived at the Qin familys house, Qin Xiaoyao realized that they had also sent some investigators to the Qin familys ce. It was obvious that the matter of Zhang Ershui bringing people to the Qin family to make a scene yesterday had been known. However, the Qin family didnt go out afterst night, and they had neighbors who could vouch for them. In addition, when Qin Xiaoyao arrived, she gave some silver to the people who were investigating, so the Qin familys father and sons were not taken away. After sending off the mountain bandits and neighbors who came to investigate, Qin Xiaoyao returned to the hall with her father and two brothers. Qin Dazhuang looked at his daughter as soon as he sat down. Were you responsible for what happened to Zhang Ershui? he asked his daughter. One could not me him for being suspicious. Yesterday, his daughter mentioned that she wanted to hire someone to get rid of Zhang Ershui. In just one night, Zhang Ershui and the three mountain bandits were already lying dead on the streets. How could there be such a coincidence? Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged nces before turning to look at their younger sister. They were different from Qin Dazhuang. They had made a prior agreement with Qin Xiaoyao to let her arrange for someone to carry out the killing. Now, those people were dead. The two of them were almost certain that their younger sister was responsible. At this moment, the two of them really admired their younger sister. Her efficiency was really high. Once she said she would do it, she really did it. All four of them were eliminated in one night. Moreover, she didnt even leave any incriminating evidence behind. Although the mountain bandits hade to investigate the Qin family, they were just asking casually in reality. Judging from the mountain bandit leaders words, they all thought that the murderer had killed them for money. After all, Zhang Ershui and the other three mountain bandits had all their valuables robbed. ording to the testimony from the gambling house, three of these four people had won a lot of money at the gambling housest night. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled. Hehe! If you say so, then so be it, Father, she answered. Qin Dazhuangs expression changed when he heard this. He immediately looked toward the door. After making sure that there was no one at the door, he quickly got up to close the door. Then, he cautiously returned to the table and sat down. How dare you He looked at Qin Xiaoyao furiously. Qin Xiaoyao was still beaming brightly. She then took out a bag of silver from her pocket. I have already dared. This is the silver 1 got from searching the bodies of Zhang Ershui and the others. The bulk was given to the person who carried out the task. These 20 taels are yours. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao pushed the bag of silver forward and gave it to Qin Dazhuang. The father and sons trio looked at the big bag of silver pieces in front of them and were a little stunned. How was it when she hired a hitman, the other party still gave her some of the money? Qin Dazhuang was the first to regain his senses. He didnt take the silver but frowned at his daughter. How much did you spend when you hired that person? he asked. Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu also quickly came back to their senses and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. If the other party didnt even want 20 taels of silver, their younger sister must have spent quite a lot. Qin Xiaoyaos gaze swept across the faces of the father and sons trio. Then, she smiled again. Actually I didnt spend any money. The three of them were dumbfounded. Tell the truth! Then, Qin Dazhuangs face became stern. It was obvious that he did not believe his daughters words. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao stop smiling. Its like this. The person who helped me owed me a debt of gratitude. It was I who helped him and gave him food that allowed him to survive. So, when I asked him to help me with this, he didnt ask for money and agreed. When she saw that her father still didnt quite believe her, Qin Xiaoyao continued, However, he also said if Zhang Ershui and the others have more than 20 taels on them, the excess would go to him. Thats why things have ended up this way. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao pushed the bag of silver toward Qin Dazhuang again. When she saw that her father was finally wavering, Qin Xiaoyao added, So, you guys should take back this money. Only then did Qin Dazhuang raise his eyes and look at his daughter again. When he saw the steady look in her eyes, he hesitated for a moment before asking Qin Erhu to keep the money. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief inwardly and continued, In addition, that person left Mountain Spring Townst night. Before he left, he even promised to help tie up the loose ends in our familys affairs. As soon as she said that, the Qin familys father and sons looked at Qin Xiaoyao again. Its exactly as you guys think. The matter at the Zhang familys vige should have been settled by now, Qin Xiaoyao said in a low voice. The father and sons were shocked. Thereafter, they fell into silence. After a while, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Qin Dahu. Big Brother, is Zhang Laosan still in contact with you? she asked. He is! Qin Dahu hurriedly said. He came to me yesterday, hoping that I could help him find a job. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. This way, you guys dont have to deliberately inquire about the Zhang family. If the matter is settled, Zhang Laosan shoulde to inform you of this news soon. After all, the Zhang family and the Qin family had always been embroiled in disputes with each other. The father and sons trio nodded. If something had really happened to the Zhang family, they would arouse suspicion easily if they rashly went to ask around. While Qin Xiaoyao was still talking, they heard shouting and knockinging from outside the courtyard. The four stopped talking at once. Qin Dahu stood up and left the hall to open the door in the courtyard. Sure enough, it was Zhang Laosan. Bro Brother Qin, something happened Zhang Laosan was panting heavily, and he looked very anxious. It was obvious that he had run quite a distance. Having heard what Qin Xiaoyao said previously, Qin Dahu already had some conjectures in his heart. He steadied himself mentally and asked Zhang Laosan, What happened? Why are you so anxious? Come in and talk. He then looked behind Zhang Laosan and pulled him into the courtyard. The mountain bandits had just been here. At this juncture, they couldnt do anything too conspicuous and bring more trouble to themselves. Zhang Laosan followed Qin Dahu into the courtyard obligingly. After taking a few deep breaths, he finally exined what happened. It turned out that something had really happened to the Zhang family. In one night, everyone in the Zhang family, including the old and the young, was killed in their homes by bandits. At dawn, when the vigers discovered this, the Zhang familys gate was wide open, and the door was sttered with blood.. Chapter 249 - 249: Qin Dahn’s Wisdom Chapter 249: Qin Dahns Wisdom Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Later, the few remaining families in the vige gathered together and everyone bolstered their courage to enter the house. Only then did they discover that the Zhang family had all died tragically in their homes. Furthermore, all of their belongings and food had been plundered. Zhang Laosan hade to the town this time for two purposes. Firstly, it was to report to the authorities. Secondly, it was also to deliver the news to the Qin family. After all, he had been helping the Qin family to keep an eye on Zhang Ershuis family previously. Qin Dahus eyes flickered when he heard Zhang Laosan say that he was going to report this to the authorities. The government office is now upied by the mountain Er, no, upied by the bandits general. Where are you going to find an official? Qin Dahu spoke. Zhang Laosan was astounded. After thinking for a while, Qin Dahus words seemed to make sense. However, there was a murder in the vige, and it was a massive tragedy where one whole family was exterminated. It was uneptable to not report it to the officials. When he saw Zhang Laosans expression that was wrought with conflicting emotions, Qin Dahu continued, Before the general entered the town, many people were killed and robbed in the viges around our town. Dont you know who did those things? Qin Dahu lowered his voice as he spoke to Zhang Laosan. All the viges were ransacked and even the vigers were killed. Of course, it was the work of the mountain bandits and the refugees who had colluded with the mountain bandits. Many people had even seen the mountain bandits kill people with their own eyes. Could it be Zhang Laosans body trembled as he thought of some possibilities. Brother Qin, you mean he said with a face full of fear. Could it be the mountain bandits were responsible for what happened to Zhang Ershuis family? If that was the case, then why would he still report this to the government office? Wouldnt he be bringing trouble upon himself? Qin Dahu nodded his head solemnly. Other than those people, who else would be so brutal? When he saw that Zhang Laosan was still hesitating, Qin Dahu added, Also, theres something you might not know yet. What what is it? Zhang Laosan asked. Zhang Ershui is also dead, Qin Dahu said in a low voice. Zhang Laosans eyes instantly widened. What? His face was filled with disbelief. Qin Dahu quickly patted Zhang Laosans shoulder. Its true. It happenedst night. It was said that he went to the gambling house to gamble with three mountain bandits. After they came out, Zhang Ershui was killed along with the three mountain bandits, Qin Dahu said in a low voice. Zhang Laosan was utterly shocked. Qin Dahu nced at Zhang Laosan and continued, Besides those people themselves, who else would dare to kill people in the town? Zhang Ershui was on good terms with those three mountain bandits, so he might have offended the other mountain bandits. Thats why he was killed as well. In my opinion, those family members of his are most likely implicated, Qin Dahu said as he looked at Zhang Laosan. At the same time, he couldnt help but admire his own ability to make up stories. Huh? Er then, what should I do next? Zhang Laosan immediately turned to Qin Dahu for help. Brother Qins analysis was very reasonable. If Zhang Ershuis family was really killed by the mountain bandits, wouldnt he cause trouble for the murderer by going to the government office now? What if they retaliated against him? However, if he did not report this to the officials Sigh! He had already promised the vigers he would report it. It would be hard to exin when he returned. Qin Dahu was silent for a moment. After a while, he looked at Zhang Laosan. If I were you, I would not go to the government office, he said. But Zhang Laosans expression immediately became anxious. But Ive already promised the vigers, he continued. Qin Dahu nced at Zhang Laosan. The mountain bandits have upied the government office, but they are not taking charge of matters like the old officials in the past. When you go back, just say that youve already reported it to the officials. Who would really go to the government office and ask if there was such an incident? Anyway, when such murder cases happened in other viges, Ive never seen those people care about it. Zhang Laosan instantly fell silent. His eyes darted around a few times, and he realized that Qin Dahus words made sense. Then, he suddenly said as if he was enlightened, Youre right! Youre right, Brother Qin! Gosh! Its a good thing I came to look for you before I went to report to the officials. Otherwise, I might have gotten into trouble! Brother Qin, thank you for helping me out of this predicament! Zhang Laosan grabbed Qin Dahus arm gratefully. Qin Dahu hurriedly told Zhang Laosan not to stand on ceremony. Were brothers, and youve helped my family a lot before. This trivial thing is nothing, Qin Dahu replied. Also, regarding the matter of helping you look for work. Now, the town isnt stable enough yet, so Im only following a few brothers to gather firewood and sell them. If you dont mind the low earnings, I can talk to them to add you in, Qin Dahu continued. Zhang Laosans eyes lit up. I dont mind! I dont mind! Its good enough as long as I can cam a bit of money and not let my wife and child starve to death! Thank you, Brother Qin! Tears welled up in Zhang Laosans eyes as he spoke, and he prepared to kneel down before Qin Dahu. Qin Dahu quickly went up to stop Zhang Laosan. What is this? How can a man of honor do this so frivolously? he reprimanded. Only then did Zhang Laosan stop kneeling. However, his voice was already breaking up as he choked back his tears. Im just thanking you, Brother Qin. Without you, our family of three would have starved to death long ago. In the past, you lent me food. This time you helped me avoid a disaster. You even found a job for me. Brother Qin, youre our familys great benefactor. I, Zhang Laosan, will never forget your great kindness as long as I lived! Zhang Laosan said in a strong and determined voice. Qin Dahu was visibly moved. They arc all just small matters. You have also helped me a lot in the past. Alright, lets not talk about this anymore. Ill get you some food to bring back. You adults can eat less, but dont let the child starve, Qin Dahu said. Thank you, Brother Qin! Thank you, Brother Qin! Zhang Laosan quickly bowed and thanked him. At this point, his tears couldnt help flowing down. Qin Dahu gave a sigh before turning around and walking inside. Then, he took out a sack containing four catties of brown rice and gave it to Zhang Laosan. Theres a shortage of food, and my family isnt well-off either. I can only give you this much, Qin Dahu said as he watched Zhang Laosan stuff the sack into his pocket. He gave Zhang Laosan food because this guy had been giving his best when helping his family monitor the Zhang family. This time, it was all thanks to him that he came to report this news. Otherwise, if the news of the Zhang family getting wiped out were to spread, Zhang Ershuis matter would not be settled so easily. This guy Zhang Laosan was not a bad person. In the future, Qin Dahu was also willing to look out for him. I cant thank you enough. Theres so much rice. If we conserve a little, itll be enough tost our family of three for ten days. When I start working and earning money, our family of three will have a way to live. Thank you, Brother Qin! Really thank you so much! Zhang Laosan expressed his gratitude again. The reason he had always given his best to the Qin family was actually for the sake of benefits and advantages. This included this asion when he came to deliver the news. In fact, he also wanted to take the opportunity to curry favor with the Qin family and then borrow some grain from them. He did not expect Brother Qin to give food to him outright. He even agreed to arrange work for him. Brother Qin was really their whole familys benefactor. Qin Dahu was visibly moved. He stepped forward and patted Zhang Laosans shoulder. Alright. You dont have to thank me. Keep your things safe and be careful when you leave the town. As he spoke, he nced at the rice sack Zhang Laosan had stuffed into his pocket.. Chapter 250 - 250: The Child Has a High Fever Chapter 250: The Child Has a High Fever Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Right now, food was very precious, and the situation inside and outside the town was chaotic. If someone found out Zhang Laosan was hiding food on himself, the possibility of him getting robbed was not that small at all. After you go back, pack up some belongings. Wait for me at the West Gate tomorrow morning. Yes. Alright! Zhang Laosan quickly answered. After bowing to Qin Dahu once more, he left. After Zhang Laosan had left, Qin Dahu closed the courtyard door and returned to the hall. Following that, he exined what happened to Qin Xiaoyao and the rest. Not bad, Big Brother! I didnt realize in the past you were so good at bluffing. Qin Xiaoyao quickly turned to look at Qin Dahu with a beaming smile. Qin Dazhuang and Qin Erhu were a little surprised. However, they were all very pleased with what Qin Dahu had done. Qin Dahu scratched his head in embarrassment. I was just thinking that we cant let Zhang Laosan go to the government office. After that, my brain was suddenly hit by a divine light. Smiles crept across everyones faces. Thereafter, they discussed how to deal with this matter. The final conclusion they arrived at was to pretend that they didnt know anything. They would continue with their daily activities. They werent the ones who killed those people. As long as they didnt panic, the mountain bandits wouldnt be able to find out that they were responsible. Thus, the problem that had troubled the Qin family for a long time was solved. After she was done with her business, Qin Xiaoyao didnt stay in the Qin familys house for long. She quickly bid farewell to her father and brothers and returned home. Following this, the most tense period after the mountain bandits entered the town passed. The Song familys days were still stable even when they were not busy with their business. As for the Qin family, the Wang family, and the Liu family, although they were not idle, they only did some small business of collecting and selling firewood. Their lives were rtively peaceful and uneventful. A few more days passed and Big Girl Li finally gave birth. The couple had a chubby daughter whom they named Liu Chunhua. Her figure was very simr to Big Girl Lis, and she appeared very sturdy. This made Big Girl Li very depressed, but the child was still her daughter. Very quickly, Big Girl epted the reality. On the other hand, Qin Xiaoyao didnt dislike little Chunhua at all. In fact, she liked her very much. In the end, she even epted little Chunhua as her goddaughter. In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the year. Finally, news arrived in Mountain Spring Town that the Imperial Courts army wasing to deal with the mountain bandits. The situation in the town became tense again. The mountain bandits started to impose martialw in the town. At the same time, they closed the town gates and continued to plunder the wealth and food of the civilians. For a time, themoners in the town were full ofints, and the shops in the town closed their doors again. Qin Xiaoyao obeyed Song Ques instructions and stayed at home, keeping himpany all day. This wouldst until the Imperial Courts army broke through the towns defenses and end the chaos in Mountain Spring Town. To their surprise, Big Girl Li and her husband suddenly broke the peace in the Song family. Sister Sanya, Chunhuas fever is very high and we cant locate any doctor outside. We have no other choice but toe to you. Boo hoo hoo Sister Sanya, please help Chunhua. Please help us think of a solution! As soon as she entered thepound, Big Girl Li started crying. Qin Xiaoyao quickly went up to hold Big Girl Li up. What are you doing? You just gave birth. Instead of staying at home to observe your confinement period and taking good care of yourself, youre out running around on such a cold day. Daniu, what are you doing? Big Girl doesnt know any better, and you dont know how to stop her? Qin Xiaoyao red at Liu Daniu furiously. At the same time, she quickly brought Big Girl Li into the house. Liu Daniu wanted to exin, but he wasnt able to say anything in the end. He simply carried the child and followed Qin Xiaoyao. After entering the house, the interior was much warmer. After drinking the hot water that Qin Xiaoyao gave her, Big Girl Li felt much better. Sister Sanya, dont me Daniu. I was the one who insisted oning. Now the shops outside are all closed and there is no way to find a doctor. Our daughter Boo hoo hoo! I had no other choice, so I brought my daughter here with Daniu to look for you. Boo hoo hoo Chunhua Our Chunhua has been having a fever for the entire night. If the fever continues, Im afraid Im afraid her brain may get damaged Big Girl Li quickly pulled Qin Xiaoyao back, tears and snot flowing down her face rapidly. The sight made Qin Xiaoyaos heart ache, but she also found it a littleical. Dont be so anxious. Let me take a look. Afterforting Big Girl Li, Qin Xiaoyao went to pick up her goddaughter. Qin Xiaoyao took little Chunhua from Liu Danius arms. Sure enough, she noticed that the childs face was flushed and she did not appear very normal. She touched the child and found that she was indeed running a high fever. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows when she recalled that Big Girl Li said the child had been running a fever the entire night before. When little Chunhua was born, she was bigger than the average child. Qin Xiaoyao had thought that this child would be more healthy than the average child, but now Sister Sanya Liu Daniu called out worriedly. He knew that they were imposing on the Song family when they came to Sister Sanyas house so rashly to ask for help. However, they really had no other choice. In this town, the only one who could help them was probably Sister Sanya. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Daniu. Indeed, Chunhuas condition cant be dyed. How do you want me to help? she asked. Putting aside the sisterly rtionship between her and Big Girl, little Chunhua was her goddaughter no less. Now that her goddaughter was in trouble, how could Qin Xiaoyao, as her godmother, stand by and do nothing? A look of agitation shed across Liu Danius face. We weve already found out where Doctor Li lives. Its just that The street over there has been sealed off. The mountain bandits are blocking the way. No one is allowed to go that way. Thats why were here. Sister Sanya, we want to ask if you can help us pull some strings and bring me and little Chunhua to see Doctor Li. Sister Sanya knew many people and had a widework. She was the most likely person who could help that the couple could think of and could locate. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. Using connections to get past the mountain bandits? She didnt have such connections at all. Even if she did, she would never use it. The mountain bandits would be exterminated by the Imperial Courts army very soon. If they were associated with that group of people, there was a risk of the authorities settling ounts with themter. I dont have any such connection. However, if you guys trust me, let me take little Chunhua with me. I will find a way to take her to see Doctor Li, Qin Xiaoyao replied quickly. Little Chunhuas illness couldnt be dyed, so she could only take her to the doctor. With her skills, she should be able to bring little Chunhua and break through the sealed area. If she brought Daniu along, it would be more troublesome. The couple looked at each other. We trust you! Well do as you say, Sister Sanya! Thank you, Sister Sanya! Big Girl Li said quickly. Liu Daniu also nodded in concurrence. Qin Xiaoyao finally looked away from little Chunhuas face. Then lets not dy. Daniu, hold the child first. Ill go back to my room and pack up. Then Ill leave. With that, Qin Xiaoyao returned the child to Liu Daniu. Mm-hmm! Thank you, Sister Sanya! Liu Daniu quickly did as he was told. After handing the child over to Liu Daniu, Qin Xiaoyao quickly returned to her room. As she changed her clothes, she briefed Song Que on the situation. When Song Que heard this, he quickly frowned. However, little Chunhua was also his goddaughter. After seeing that child, he also adored her very much.. Chapter 251 - 251: Killing the Mountain Bandits Again Chapter 251: Killing the Mountain Bandits Again Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Knowing that he couldnt stop his wife, the man could only choose to consent again. Dont worry. When I bring little Chunhua to see Doctor Li, after I have confirmed that the childs fever has subsided, Ille back. After changing her clothes, Qin Xiaoyao went to Song Ques side. Not only did she seat herself down on Song Quesp, she even wrapped her arms around Song Ques neck. A hint of helplessness shed across Song Ques face. He wanted to say a few words, but in the end, he didnt. Qin Xiaoyao, however, knew what Song Que was thinking. She leaned forward yfully and kissed him on the cheek. Although the mountain bandits are desperate, they wont go so far as to randomly enter the house and kill people. You take care of Mother and the rest and stay at home obediently. Just dont go out. If you really encounter mountain bandits whoe to our doorstep to ask for something, just give it to them, she continued. Mm-hmm. I know, Song Que replied. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao get up from Song Quesp. However, just as she was about to get up, the man stopped her. Then, as he pulled her down, she was unexpectedly trapped in the mans arms. Following that, Song Que leaned over and kissed Qin Xiaoyao directly on the lips. After that, they acted all lovey-dovey. Song Que only released her when Qin Xiaoyao almost recovered herself and was on the verge of taking control proactively. Song Queughed when he saw the womans regretful expression. Next time, close your eyes and be more cooperative. This woman didnt know what being reserved and shy was at all. She needed to be taught properly. Qin Xiaoyao was utterly speechless. Okay, she answered. Thereafter, she got out of Song Ques arms again. Then, when Song Que was not paying attention, she kissed him on the cheek again. Following that, she quickly slipped away. Soon, only Qin Xiaoyaosughter could be heard from outside the door. Song Que, who was in the room, covered his handsome face andughed helplessly. After leaving the room, Qin Xiaoyao went to the hall. She asked Madam Liu to help Liu Daniu and his wife settle down and allowed them to wait at the Song familys house. After that, she carried little Chunhua on her back and dashed out of the house hurriedly. The tense situation on the street was indeed worse than before. Many of the roads had been blocked by the mountain bandits, and civilians were not allowed to pass. Qin Xiaoyao either took a detour or climbed onto the roofs to bypass the blockade and headed toward the town center district. That was right. Doctor Lis address was in the town center district, and it was in an area that was rtively closer to the central town district. As she continued to advance in the direction of the town center, Qin Xiaoyao quickly realized that the closer she got to the town center area, the tighter the mountain bandits defenses were. While she was climbing over the roofs, Qin Xiaoyao also discovered that the mountain bandits were actually breaking into the houses to rob and extort some residents. Of course, such urrences were moremon the closer she was to the town center district. Qin Xiaoyao spected that this was probably rted to the armys presence outside the town. Previously, the mountain bandits had wanted to defend the town and turn Mountain Spring Town into their base camp. Hence, other than the few days after they entered the town, the mountain bandits did not harass the residents too much. However, now, the Imperial Courts army had already arrived, and the mountain bandits knew that they couldnt defend Mountain Spring Town. They were thus prepared to drain the wealth of the town and evacuate at any time. Qin Xiaoyao could hear the cries of pain and pleading in her ears, but she turned a deaf ear to them. The situation in the west of the town would definitely be better than in these ces. However, the mountain bandits might not let that area off. She had to quickly send little Chunhua to Doctor Lis ce and then go back as soon as possible. Her husband was so weak and fragile, and the rest of the family was also so feeble and defenseless. She was worried. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao quickened her pace. A whileter, she finally arrived at her destination after traveling rapidly. This was a small courtyard. Compared to therge courtyards in the town center district of the town, it seemed very low-key. Despite this, the mountain bandits still entered the courtyard. Moreover, there was the sound of intense piging and arguments in the courtyard. The mountain bandits had looted quite a number of things and piled them up in the courtyard. When a mountain bandit found a brocade box in the house, Old Master Li finally couldnt take it anymore and went up to argue with the mountain bandit. Old Master Li wanted to tell the mountain bandits that they could take everything else except for the things in the brocade box, which he could not give them. However, the mountain bandits werent easy to talk to. The more Old Master Li wanted to retain the contents in the brocade box, the more they refused to let go. The two sides only argued for a while before the mountain bandit drew his saber. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes narrowed when she saw that the big saber was about to sh at Old Master Lis neck. She finally took action. The flying dagger shot out and knocked away the mountain bandits big saber straightaway. At the same time, she leaped down from the roof. A dagger appeared in her hand. It was as if she was cutting vegetables. She effortlessly sliced the necks of the five mountain bandits who were preparing to attack her collectively. The Li family members, who were still terrified just now, were so scared out of their wits now that they huddled together. After a round of massacre, Old Master Li and Doctor Li were the first to return to their senses. They gathered their courage and stepped forward. Ma Madam Qin, thank thank you for saving my father. Doctor Li had met Qin Xiaoyao several times before, so not surprisingly, he knew who she was. Suppressing the fear in his heart, he stepped forward and cupped his hands respectfully at Qin Xiaoyao. This woman Madam Qin used to have a massive and powerful figure and was said to be incredibly strong. After that, for some reason, she suddenly lost weight. Now, her figure was very well-proportioned, and it waspletely impossible to tell that she was actually a martial arts expert. Based on the situation just now, her martial arts had simply reached the level of perfection. Even if there were a dozen more mountain bandits, she would probably still be able to kill them all, much less those few guys earlier. Although the other party had killed people in his house and it could cause trouble for his family, the other partys original intention was to save his father. In that situation just now, if Madam Qin didnt take action, his father would definitely not be able to escape certain death. Furthermore, once the mountain bandits started killing, they would probably kill the rest of the family too. Therefore, Madam Qin could be considered their entire familys savior. When he thought of this, Doctor Li bowed even more respectfully. Qin Xiaoyao took two steps forward with the intention to get Doctor Li to straighten up. To her surprise, as she approached, she saw that the faces of the Li familys members were filled with fear. Some of them even took a step back. Qin Xiaoyao was astonished. Following that, she smiled awkwardly and didnt go forward anymore. Its only right for me to help when I see injustice. These mountain bandits have upied Mountain Spring Town for many days. Theyve killed and robbed, and theyve done all sorts of evil things. Now that the Imperial Courts army has arrived, its a good time for us citizens with some ambition to serve the country and y the traitors! Therefore, all of you dont have to be afraid Qin Xiaoyao said the words she had prepared in advance, acting like a righteous person serving out justice. Since she dared to take action in front of so many people, it meant she had already prepared a way out for herself. The Imperial Courts army was about to break through the towns defenses. She would not be faulted for killing the mountain bandits. In fact, she would be credited with having made a contribution. Sure enough, the expressions of the Li familys members became more rxed after hearing this. They were no longer as terrified as before when they looked at Qin Xiaoyao. In particr, there was even a young man among them who looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a trace of admiration. Haha! That should be the case! That should be the case! Madam Qins chivalry is unparalleled. I am impressed! Old Master Li suddenly spoke. Following that, he said enthusiastically again, Quick, Madam Qin.. Pleasee in Chapter 252 - 252: Nightmare Chapter 252: Nightmare Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Immediately after, he ordered his family members to prepare tea and refreshments. Thank you Qin Xiaoyao cupped her hands respectfully in return and entered graciously. Only then did Old Master Li and Doctor Li follow suit. When they arrived at the hall, the three of them took their seats. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao state her purpose foring here. Thereafter, she took little Chunhua from her back and handed her to Doctor Li. Dont worry, Madam Qin. I will definitely do my best to treat her, Doctor Li quickly said. Immediately after that, he started to give little Chunhua medical treatment. After asking Qin Xiaoyao about little Chunhuas condition, Doctor Li quickly came up with a diagnosis. The situation is indeed not optimistic. Fortunately, we have the medicine you need in our residence. In that case, I will immediately arrange for someone to boil the medicine. Madam Qin, you only need to stay here for one day and one night. After the child has taken the medicine and her fever subsides, you can leave, Doctor Li said. The child was quite seriously ill indeed. It would undoubtedly take half a day to boil the medicine, feed her the medicine, and then allow the medicine to take effect. In addition, the reason he wanted to hold Madam Qin back was rted to the few corpses in the courtyard. Five mountain bandits had died in his house, and he didnt know when the other mountain bandits would find out that something was amiss ande looking for theirrades. With Madam Qin around, the Li family would have some sense of security. Once she left, the Li family would be doomed if the mountain bandits came back. As for the fact that one day and one night might not be enough, they had no other choice. At least, while Madam Qin was here, they might be able to discuss a way to dispose of the bodies. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows slightly. When she saw Doctor Li and Old Master Li looking at her nervously, she could guess their worries. After hesitating for a moment, she finally agreed. Alright. Then Ill have to trouble you. She was the one who killed those people, so there was no reason for the Li family to bear the subsequent risks. It was only for one day and one night. Forget it. She would stay. Doctor Li quickly stood up and said, No trouble! No trouble! I will get someone to help clean up the guest room for you, Madam Qin. With that, he left the hall. A look of helplessness shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. When she turned around, her eyes met the gaze of Old Master Li. Old Master Liughed. Hes just a coward. I hope you dont take offense, Madam Qin, he said. Doctor Lis worry is not without reason. Ill take care of the corpses in the courtyard before I leave, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Old Master Li was taken aback. Thank you, Madam Qin. He then stood up and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao once more. Qin Xiaoyao raised her hand to stop him. Youre too polite, Old Master Li. This matter started because of me, so of course, I will deal with the aftermath. After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao also stood up. She strode out of the house and went to the courtyard. When Old Master Li followed her out, he saw Qin Xiaoyao carrying one of the corpses and leaping up to the roof. He was about to say something, but Qin Xiaoyao had already darted far away with the body. Old Master Li was impressed when he saw that. He was amazed at this womans unrivaled martial arts skills. In just over an hour, Qin Xiaoyao had sent all the corpses in the Li familys courtyard away. The Li family heaved a sigh of relief when they saw this. They didnt care where Qin Xiaoyao had sent the bodies. As long as they werent in the Li familys courtyard, the Li family wouldnt be in so much danger. As for what would happen after that, Madam Qin was right. The army of the Imperial Court was about to break through the towns defenses. Perhaps the Imperial Courts army had already attacked before the mountain bandits discovered their corpses. After getting rid of the bodies, Qin Xiaoyao asked the Li family to get some tools to clean up the courtyard and get rid of the bloodstains. Only then did she stop. After doing all that, the Li family was even more grateful to Qin Xiaoyao. Although the entire family still looked at Qin Xiaoyao with some fear in their eyes, there was more respect and admiration. Doctor Lis youngest son, in particr, had been secretly sizing up Qin Xiaoyao from the side. He looked like he wanted to step forward to speak to her but didnt dare to. Qin Xiaoyao found it somewhat intriguing, but she pretended not to notice and continued with her own business. After she was done, she went to check on little Chunhua before going back to her room to rest. After a busy morning, she was actually a little tired. In the afternoon, the Li family was a little nervous. They were worried that the mountain bandits woulde again. In the end, to everyones surprise, there were no new mountain bandits at the door. No one seemed to have noticed the disappearance of the five mountain bandits. It wasnt until the sky turned dark that the Li family heaved a sigh of relief. The first day passed uneventfully. They could only hope that the Imperial Courts army outside the town would attack the town tonight and wipe out all the mountain bandits in the town. This way, they would no longer have to be afraid. Only then would Mountain Spring Town regain its peace. With such thoughts in mind, the Li family went to bed early. After Qin Xiaoyao checked on little Chunhua, she also went to bed fully dressed. As she thought about the situation outside and worried about the things back home, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep for a long time. In the end, it was around thetter half of the night before she fell asleep. However, she was woken up by a nightmare. In the nightmare, more than ten mountain bandits barged into the Song familys residence, robbing everything they saw, and killing anyone they saw. Her mother-inw, little sister-inw, little brother-inw, and Xiaomei were all killed one after another. In the end, even her husband was not spared. Thest scene in the nightmare showed Song Que calling out her name while looking outside. Qin Xiaoyaos heart ached terribly when she saw this. When she woke up in shock, her forehead was covered in sweat. Her hands were clenched so tightly that her veins were bulging. As she looked out of the window, Qin Xiaoyao realized that the sky was already starting to brighten. Qin Xiaoyao didnt continue to lie on the bed. She decided to get up. Then, she packed up and waited for dawn. Qin Xiaoyao went out the moment she heard some movement in the Li familys courtyard. After that, she went to check on little Chunhua. After one night, little Chunhuas high fever finally subsided. In addition, Doctor Lis eldest daughter-inw helped to feed her milk earlier, so the child was sleeping soundly at the moment. Qin Xiaoyaos heart softened greatly when she saw the little babys cute sleeping face. Nheless, immediately after that, she picked up the child. I wont be having breakfast. This childs parents are still waiting at home. Ill send the child back first, Qin Xiaoyao said immediately. The Li couples faces changed at once. The Li familys eldest daughter-inw quickly tried to dissuade her. One night has already passed. Theres no need to rush now. Besides, the dew is even denser in the morning. If you take the child out, she may catch a cold again. The eldest son of the Li family nodded in agreement. As long as they could extend the time longer, they would be more at ease with Madam Qin around. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows. She only paused for a moment before continuing. Ill wrap the child up a little more securely. Shell be fine. When she saw the couple was still trying to stop her, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Dont worry. The courtyard has already been cleaned up. Now, those mountain bandits are busy with their own affairs. They probably wouldnte to investigate. If they doe, you can just say that those people have taken your belongings and left your house. They wont suspect you.. Chapter 253 - 253: Song Que Had Been Captured Chapter 253: Song Que Had Been Captured Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Who would believe that five strong and muscr mountain bandits died at the hands of such a family? The Li couple was still struggling inwardly when Doctor Lis voice rang out from the door. Madam Qin Qin Xiaoyao carried the child and walked to the door. She was in time to see Doctor Li and Old Master Li rushing over. Doctor Li, Old Master Li, Im sorry to have imposed you for the night. Now, the childs fever has subsided. I didnt returnst night and didnt send a message to my family. Now they must be worried sick. Im going to help the child pack up and Ill take my leave now, Qin Xiaoyao said straightaway. I know! Im here to send you off and bring you the medicine. Doctor Li didnt stop her, and even handed her two packets of medicine. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly epted it. Thank you, Doctor Li. Then, she prepared to retrieve her money. Doctor Li immediately refused when he saw Qin Xiaoyao take out the money pouch. Madam Qin, you saved my entire family yesterday. How can I charge Madam Qin consultation fee? Madam Qin, take these two dosages of medicine back and instruct the childs family to give the child half a bowl of medicine in the morning and evening. She can stop taking the medicine tomorrow, Doctor Li said. Alright. Ill remember it all, Qin Xiaoyao quickly answered. She no longer insisted on paying the consultation fee. Next, with the help of the Li familys eldest daughter-inw, she wrapped little Chunhua up and put the child on her back. Then, she bade the Li family farewell and leaped onto the roof. Thereafter, she headed towards the west of the town. The Li family watched as Qin Xiaoyao vanished into the distance. Once again, they were amazed by Qin Xiaoyaos skills. Qin Xiaoyao sprinted along the way and realized that the situation in the town today was even more chaotic than yesterday. There were even more mountain bandits out and about in the town, and there were even more people who invaded houses and robbed people than yesterday. Qin Xiaoyao quickened her pace with an uneasy heart. Finally, she arrived at Yong An Lane. When she saw that her own courtyard house was just ahead, Qin Xiaoyaos face broke into a smile. She quickly continued forward. In the end, just as she approached her own courtyard house, she heard a mor. Judging from the sound, quite a number of people seemed to be present. She could hear the voices of her father and her two brothers, as well as the voices of Wang Dashan and Liu Daniu. Qin Xiaoyaos expression changed at once, and she quickly dropped down from the roof. Upon reaching home, she saw there was indeed arge number of people who had gathered in the courtyard. When they saw that Qin Xiaoyao had returned, everyone quickly surrounded her. Sister Sanya! Liu Daniu shouted out, but he looked like he was on the verge of tears. Sanya Mrs. Song Daughter Everyone cried out when they saw Qin Xiaoyao. All of them had expressions with conflicting emotions. Qin Xiaoyaos gaze swept across the crowd, but she didnt see Song Que. Her heart skipped a beat abruptly. Boo hoo hoo Sanya, Queer, Queer, he Madam Liu came forward very quickly and almost threw herself into Qin Xiaoyaos arms. Qin Xiaoyaos eyelids twitched. What happened to my husband? she hurriedly asked. Boo hoo Queer Queer has been captured by the mountain bandits. He was taken awayst night Qin Xiaoyaos face clouded over instantly. What on earth happened? Her voice was trembling a little. He was just staying at home. How could something have happened? The mountain bandits mountain bandits came in to search the house and robbed everything they saw They even wanted to take Yuner and Xiaomei away. Boo hoo Queer Queer came out to stop them. In the end Boo hoo in the end, the mountain bandits captured him instead. They said they said Boo hoo Qin Xiaoyao frowned. They said what? she asked ominously. They said that they wanted to offer Queer to their great general. Sanya Now now, what do we do? Madam Liu finally finished what she wanted to say. Theres a rumor that the leader of the mountain bandits likes men. At this moment, Qin Dahu suddenly spoke up. As soon as these words came out, various kinds of expressions shed across everyones face. Madam Lius face turned pale instantly. Her eyelids fluttered, and her body went limp. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were sharp and her hands were quick. She quickly stepped up to steady Madam Liu. Then, she turned to the two little girls not far away and said, Yuner, Xiaomei! Help Mother back to her room. Song Yun and Wang Xiaomei quickly came forward to help Madam Liu. No. I have to go save Queer. Boo hoo hoo The mountain bandits are so vicious. What will happen to Queer if he is captured? Madam Liu said weakly, sobbing uncontrobly. Qin Xiaoyao frowned and looked at Madam Liu. Leave the task of rescuing people to me. Mother, theres nothing you can help with. The only thing you can do now is to go back and rest. Dont make me and my husband worry. Madam Liu was caught off guard. After a while, she finally nodded with tears in her eyes. Boo hoo hoo Sanya, you must be careful. Thereafter, she epted Song Yun and Wang Xiaomeis help and went off. Qin Xiaoyao gave a sigh. Only then did she put down the child on her back and hand her over to Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li. Following that, she took out the two packets of medicine. She briefed the parents on Doctor Lis instructions. Big Girl Li and her husband were extremely grateful. At the same time, they also felt apologetic. If they had note to ask Sister Sanya for help, Sister Sanya would not have left home. Perhaps, the current situation would be different then. Qin Xiaoyao gestured with her hand in response to the couples apology and expression of regret. Its toote to say these things now. The most important thing now is to solve the problem, Qin Xiaoyao said in a low voice. The town is inplete chaos now. The mountain bandits are everywhere on the streets. Its not safe to go out at this time. You and Daniu should stay at my house for now. Ill take care of my husbands matter. After she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao did not bother with the couple anymore and turned around. When she saw her father and two brothersing up to her, Qin Xiaoyao immediately made a gesture to stop them. Father, you and Big Brother and Second Brother should not interfere in this matter. Quickly go home. Theres no man at home. Its not safe for Eldest Sister-inw and Second Sister-inw to take care of the two children all by themselves, Qin Xiaoyao said in a low voice. Qin Dazhuangs expression changed slightly, and he was about to speak when Qin Xiaoyao spoke again. The mountain bandit leader is most likely staying in the residence inside the government office. There are too many checkpoints on the way from here. If I bring you guys along, I wont be able to get across. Qin Dahu was also going to speak, but he was interrupted by Qin Xiaoyao. Dont worry. Ill look for someone to work with me. With him around, well definitely be able to save my husband. At this point, a trace of hidden meaning was reflected in Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. The Qin familys father and sons were stupefied. They quickly guessed who was that someone Qin Xiaoyao was talking about. That was right. It was the same person Qin Xiaoyao had made up, the one who had helped her kill Zhang Ershui, the three mountain bandits, and the entire Zhang family. The Qin familys father and sons had already witnessed that persons abilities. Upon hearing that Qin Xiaoyao was going to ask that person to help, they were naturally more at ease. Yet they also found it odd, since Qin Xiaoyao said that this person had already left Mountain Spring Town. After thinking for a while, they thought perhaps their daughter/younger sister had lied to them previously in order to better protect that persons safety. With that thought, they felt more at ease atst. Since it involved the Zhang familys murder case, the three of them couldnt ask too much. For a while, neither of them spoke. You guys go back and take care of your family. I have to go now, Qin Xiaoyao added. Qin Dazhuang quickly said, Let your big brother and second brother go back. Ill stay.. Chapter 254 - 254: How Dare They Bully Her Hubby Chapter 254: How Dare They Bully Her Hubby Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion His son-inw had just gotten into trouble, and there was no one in the house who could take care of things. What if something happened again? Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and nodded her head. Mm-hmm! she answered. With that, she turned around. Then, with a tap of her feet, she leaped onto the boundary wall. Everyone in the courtyard was shocked by this disy of martial arts skills. Even after Qin Xiaoyao had disappeared, the crowd was still in a daze. Father when did Younger Sis learn such martial arts? Qin Dahu asked Qin Dazhuang in surprise. Qin Erhu also looked at his father quizzically with a face full of surprise. Such a disy of talented skills was not much different from those described by the storytellers. Qin Dazhuang wiped away the astonishment on his face. How would I know? Perhaps she learned it from that mysterious hero? Why are you asking this now? Listen to your younger sister. You two, hurry back and take care of the household affairs. Dont let anything happen to our family! After he finished speaking, Qin Dazhuang reached out and gave his two sons a push. Earlier, he was still a little worried that his daughter would be in danger when she went to save his son-inw. Now, after seeing his daughters skills, he was much more at ease. With the help of his daughters master, the two of them might really be able to rescue his son-inw. Sigh! When everything was over, he would have to ask his daughter what exactly was going on. In addition, he would also have to treat his daughters master to a good drink. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt aware that her father had imaginatively added so much to the story she made up. She sped in the direction of the government office like a gust of the wind. Damn it! Those mountain bandits actually stole her man and even wanted to offer her husband to the mountain bandit leader. She would not be Qin Xiaoyao if she did not kill them all! As she was anxious, Qin Xiaoyao arrived at the courtyard of the government office in less than half an hour. The defensive setup of the government office was much tighter than that of other ces. When she got closer, Qin Xiaoyao saw many armed mountain bandits patrolling back and forth. However, this wasnt a problem for Qin Xiaoyao. After waiting for a while, when a group of patrolling bandits had left, Qin Xiaoyao sneaked into the government office. After that, she crept stealthily and sessfully evaded a few patrolling teams before arriving at the back residence of the government office. Following this, Qin Xiaoyao began to search for her husband. She had to locate him first and make sure that he was safe before she could think of a way to take him away. There were many rooms in the backyard of the government office. Qin Xiaoyao checked the situation in the rooms one by one by flipping the roof tiles above the rooms. In the end, after she had searched all the rooms, she still could not locate Song Que. She had even checked the mountain bandit leaders location but to no avail. Feeling a little anxious, Qin Xiaoyao thought that she might as well go and kidnap the mountain bandit leader and force him to tell her where her husband was. Right at this moment, the mountain bandit leader in the room spoke. The mountain bandit leader was pacing back and forth with an anxious look. Beauty has my beauty not given in yet? he asked his subordinate outside. A momentter, a mountain bandit immediately came forward. General, there is no news from the dungeon yet! He bowed and cupped his fists as he spoke to the mountain bandit leader. Hmph! Useless thing! When the mountain bandit leader heard this, he immediately cursed out loud. Very soon, the mountain bandit leader added, No. I have to go and see for myself! After he finished speaking, he strode out. Last night, when he was about to go to sleep, his subordinates suddenly came to report that they had found him a stunning beauty. With the intention of taking a casual look, he had asked someone to bring the beauty over. To his surprise, that person was truly a stunning beauty. With just one look, he knew that he had already set his mind on obtaining that beauty. Unfortunately, the beauty was stubborn and refused to obey him. He had only been a little more aggressive, but the beauty had actually threatened tomit suicide. Helplessly, he sent the beauty to the dungeon. He just wanted to wear down the beautys stubbornness. However, after he sent the beauty away, he became the one who couldnt stop worrying. He didnt sleep well for the rest of the night, for fear that his men would be too vicious in their methods and really hurt his beauty. And now, he really couldnt sit still anymore. He had to go and meet the beauty and have a good talk with him so that he would leave Mountain Spring Town willingly with him. Sigh! It was such a pity. When he had conquered this town, he had really intended to take root here and manage the town well. He had not expected the Imperial Courts army to arrive so quickly, and they had sent so many people too. Since the town was destined to fall, he could only retreat. Fortunately, he met a beauty before he left. As long as he could take the beauty away to apany him for the rest of his life, he would not have attacked the town in vain. Qin Xiaoyao, who was on the roof, had some conjecture in her heart when she saw this scene. She had searched the entire back residence of the government office but could not find her husband. However, she had forgotten about the dungeon. If this mountain bandit leader was really into men, then the beauty he was referring to was most likely her husband. When a certain possibility popped into her mind, Qin Xiaoyao red at the mountain bandit leader with a gaze filled with immense hostility. He had better pray that her husband was fine, otherwise Without further dy, Qin Xiaoyao tailed the mountain bandit leader as soon as he left. Very soon, the mountain bandit leader entered the dungeon. Qin Xiaoyao noticed that there were two guards at the entrance of the dungeon. She knew that it would be difficult to lure them away, so she simply attacked and quickly slit their necks. After taking down those two, Qin Xiaoyao sneaked into the dungeon. Then, whenever she discovered guards along the way, she would kill them straight away. In the end, after following the mountain bandit leader and his men for a while, she finally found Song Que. Qin Xiaoyaos face turned downright ominous when she saw that Song Que was locked up in a cell wearing only an unlined shirt and a pair of unlined pants. He was feeling so cold that he was trembling all over. Damn it! That bastard actually dared to torture her husband like this! Before the mountain bandit leader could even speak to Song Que, Qin Xiaoyao made her move. She appeared suddenly like a whirlwind and immediately took control of the head of the subordinate the mountain bandit leader had brought with him. Then, with a slide of the dagger, she ended his life abruptly. Immediately after that, under the mountain bandit leaders shocked gaze, Qin Xiaoyao swiftly attacked him as well. The mountain bandit leader had some martial arts foundation, so he was able to dodge quickly. At the same time, he hurriedly shouted, Men! Theres an assassin! Damn it! Where did this experte from? He actually came for his life! Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows and continued to attack. However, this time, she did not use any killing moves. She had no choice. She had not been able to kill him with one blow just now, and this mountain bandit leader had yelled for help. Now, she could only hold the mountain bandit leader hostage so that she could safely escape with her husband. The mountain bandit leader dodged again and continued to call for help. However, because his martial arts ability was no match for Qin Xiaoyaos, he was soon stabbed by Qin Xiaoyao and fell into her hands. The mountain bandit leaders face was filled with fear as he came face to face with the dagger that was pressed against his neck and could slit his throat at any moment. Brave hero, please spare my life. If you have any requests, I will agree to them! he quickly said. He couldnt figure out Qin Xiaoyaos identity at all, so he could only promise the other party some benefits in the hope that he could escape this cmity. Hmph! Qin Xiaoyao merely gave a scornful snort. At this moment, some mountain bandits finally arrived. There were quite a number of them, probably twenty to thirty people. Qin Xiaoyao immediately brought her dagger closer to the mountain bandit leaders neck.. Chapter 255 - 255: Song Que Was Found Chapter 255: Song Que Was Found Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The sharp dagger immediately drew a line of blood on his neck. The mountain bandit leader immediately became nervous and extended his hand to stop the mountain bandits froming over. All of you, stop! He was afraid that when his men came near and antagonized Qin Xiaoyao, she would hurt him. When they heard him, the mountain bandits didnt dare to move forward anymore. However, they had all drawn their weapons and were locked in a confrontation with Qin Xiaoyao. Very soon, a person who could take charge of the situation walked out from the group of mountain bandits. Release the great general, or Ill make sure you die on the spot! The person who stepped up looked uncouth. One could tell with just one look that he was a fierce and violent person. However, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt afraid at all. Instead, she smiled menacingly. Quit threatening me! Put down your weapons and leave the dungeon obediently. Otherwise As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao once again brought the dagger closer to the mountain bandit leaders neck. Immediately, more blood flowed out of the mountain bandit leaders neck. Number Two! What the hell are you trying to do? Do as he says! The mountain bandit leader quickly leaned his head back to avoid being cut by the dagger. At the same time, he yelled to the mountain bandit in charge. Opposite them, the face of the second mountain bandit leader clouded over. II Retreat! he barked. Following that, he raised both his hands and led the mountain bandits to take a step back. Then, he turned to Qin Xiaoyao and said, Lets talk things over. Gold, silver, money. As much as you want. Release our great general and Ill let you go. An icy smile shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. I fear I may not live long enough to spend them even if I receive them from you. Ill say it again. Take those people behind you and leave the dungeon. My patience is limited! When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was about to make another move, the mountain bandit leader shouted in fear. Leave this ce quickly! Number Two, are you trying to kill me and then usurp my position? The second mountain bandit leaders expression changed the moment he heard that. Following that, he shouted again, Retreat! Thereafter, he finally left with arge group of mountain bandits. Qin Xiaoyao only felt a little more at ease after everyone had left. The mountain bandit leader carefully tilted his neck back again, trying to move further away from the de of the dagger. However, as soon as he moved, Qin Xiaoyao pressed her dagger closer to him and stopped him. Dont move, Qin Xiaoyao spat out the words maliciously. Argh Okay, I wont move! II Ill definitely cooperate. Be careful, brave hero. Dont dont kill me! The mountain bandit leader no longer had his previous tyrannical bearing. He was extremely afraid of death. Qin Xiaoyaoughed icily, but she was very pleased. After making sure that she was in control of the situation in the dungeon, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Que, who was in the cell. Then, she spoke up, Dont be afraid, Hubby. Im here to save you. As soon as she said this, the face of the mountain bandit leader she was holding hostage changed. What was going on? The intruder was actually a woman? And she was the beautys wife no less? What the hell? Could a woman be so powerful? Just as he was feeling astonished, the mountain bandit leader suddenly felt a pain at the back of his head. Then, his eyes closed and he copsed to the ground. Qin Xiaoyao withdrew her weapon and nced at the mountain bandit leader. After making sure that he had been knocked unconscious, she walked to the dungeon cell. With the dagger in her hand, Qin Xiaoyao jabbed at the lock of the cell door with force, and the lock was easily pried open. Immediately after that, Qin Xiaoyao quickly opened the cell door. Just as she was about to go up and talk to Song Que, the man had already stood up. He walked up quickly and pulled her into his arms. He hugged her very tightly, exerting quite a lot of force. After a while, the man finally said, Its too dangerous. You shouldnt havee. Qin Xiaoyao was stumped. Then she smiled and patted Song Ques back. How can I note when something happened to my Hubby? she said. Only then did Song Que let go of Qin Xiaoyao. As he looked at the woman in front of him, his eyes were filled with conflicting emotions. Following that, he said, Itll be hard for you to escape if you take me with you. This was also why he didnt show his emotion in front of the mountain bandits even though he was very agitated when he saw her earlier. His wife was very skilled. Without him dragging her down, she might be able to kill her way out. As for him, as long as the mountain bandits didnt know about his rtionship with his wife, he might be fine for the time being. However, his silly wife had just revealed her identity in front of the mountain bandit leader. After this, perhaps he could only When he thought of this, Song Ques eyes turned icy as he looked at the mountain bandit leader lying on the ground. He continued, Kill him. Qin Xiaoyao followed Song Ques gaze and looked at the mountain bandit leader. She thought her husband was feeling resentful toward the mountain bandit leader for locking him up. She tugged at Song Ques arm and said, We still need to use him as a hostageter. Well kill him after we get out. Ill get you some clothes to wear first. As she spoke, she walked towards the mountain bandit leader. Her husband was really too pitiful. He was left to freeze like this for an entire night. When she got outter, she must stab this mountain bandit leader two more times, otherwise, she wouldnt be able to give vent to her anger. Song Que looked at the thick clothes the mountain bandit leader was wearing. He clearly wanted those clothes, but he pulled Qin Xiaoyao back. Dont worry about me. Just kill him and escape, he said. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. Other than him, no one else knows about our rtionship. They wont kill me for the time being, Song Que said hurriedly. It was only then that Qin Xiaoyao understood what Song Que meant. Her husband actually wanted her to abandon him and escape alone. II No! I can tell with one look that the second mountain bandit leader who was here earlier didnt look like a good person. Even if its just a suspicion, he still wont let you off. Also, I came here to rescue you. How can I leave you behind and run off alone? Song Que frowned. He was about to continue persuading Qin Xiaoyao, but was interrupted by her. Listen to me. Well just stay in this dungeon and not go out, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered as she suddenly added. The Imperial Courts army is about to attack the town. They wont dy for so long. Once the army breaks through the towns defenses, the mountain bandits wont care about us anymore. When the timees, well go out! Her husbands worry was not without reason. If she tried to force her way out, she would have to hold the mountain bandit leader hostage while taking care of her husband at the same time. She might not be able to cope on both ends. She was still confident that she could get rid of all the enemies that got close to her. However, if the other partyunched covert attacks from a distance, she was afraid that she would not be able to protect her husband. Therefore, rather than going out and taking risks, it was better to stay in the dungeon. In any case, with the mountain bandit leader in their hands, the other party would not attack rashly. Even if the second mountain bandit leader really rebelled, it wouldnt be so easy to attack from the outside if she guarded the entrance well. Hmph! If she were that second mountain bandit leader, there was a high chance that she would rebel next. However, she wouldnt attack the underground dungeon. Instead, she would focus on dealing with the Imperial Courts army outside and find an opportunity to retreat. As for the mountain bandit leader, the second mountain bandit leader himself was already facing an impending disaster, so who could care about the leader? When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao had more or less made up her mind. After Song Que listened to Qin Xiaoyao and thought for a while, he felt that her words made sense. He had been too worried about his wife earlier and had forgotten about the great army outside the town. Hence, he looked at the mountain bandit leader and said, Help me get the clothes then. The weather was so cold today. He had been left to freeze for most of the night and he was already a little dizzy. Alright! Qin Xiaoyao quickly answered.. Chapter 256 - 256: Teaching the Mountain Bandit Leader a Chapter 256: Teaching the Mountain Bandit Leader a Lesson Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Immediately after that, Qin Xiaoyao went to strip off the mountain bandit leaders fur coat. After that, she removed the outer coat. If Song Que had not stopped her in time, the woman would have pulled off the fellows pants. After putting on the clothes, Song Que finally felt better. He quickly instructed Qin Xiaoyao to drag the unconscious mountain bandit leader away and chain him up on the torture rack. After that, Song Que asked Qin Xiaoyao to help him look for a saber. He held this saber and guarded the mountain bandit leader. Song Que sat on the stool his wife had brought for him and said to Qin Xiaoyao, Alright, leave this person to me. Ill leave the dungeon entrance to you. Although he was a little dizzy at the moment, probably because he had caught a cold, he was still able to handle a minor task like this. His wife was all alone. It would be too difficult for her if she had to watch over the mountain bandit leader and guard against the people outside at the same time. Qin Xiaoyao looked into Song Ques eyes with a deeply worried look. She stepped forward and touched Song Ques forehead, and the worry on her face deepened. Hubby, youre having a fever, she said with a frown. She had noticed that her husbands face was flushed and hisplexion appeared abnormal. It turned out that he was indeed having a fever. What should she do? If her husband didnt see a doctor, his condition would only get worse. It doesnt matter. When the Imperial Courts armyes, well be able to escape. Quickly go and guard the entrance. Guard the entrance well before the second mountain bandit leader stage a revolt. If they didnt go out and refused to release the mountain bandit leader, the second mountain bandit leader definitely wouldnt keep waiting. It was only a matter of time before the other party led people to attack the dungeon. Therefore, at this point, it was better for them to make early preparations. Qin Xiaoyao was still a little worried. Go quickly Cough, cough Song Que waved his hand strenuously and finally couldnt hold it in anymore and started coughing. Qin Xiaoyao rushed forward and was going to help Song Que up. However, Song Que avoided her. The meaning in his eyes was obvious. He didnt want Qin Xiaoyao to stay and take care of him. Qin Xiaoyao pursed her lips and eventually did not insist anymore. Instead, she walked to the torture rack and gave a stab to the mountain bandit leaders body. Damn it! It was all because of this piece of shit! Otherwise, her husband wouldnt have caught a cold after being left to freeze overnight! If she didnt have to stall for time, she really wanted to kill him with a few shes right now. When Qin Xiaoyaos dagger stabbed into his body, the mountain bandit leader was quickly woken up by the pain. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Qin Xiaoyao staring at him with a pair of sinister eyes. At the same time, she was holding a blood-stained dagger in her hand. And this dagger was obviously the one that had been used to stab him just now. The mountain bandit leader didnt even bother to cry out in pain orin about the cold. He simply begged for mercy at once. Brave hero Argh oh no, merciful goddess! Please spare my life, merciful goddess! I wasnt the one who captured your husband! I didnt do anything to him either! I beg you to let me go! Let me live! What do you want? Ill give you anything you want! As long as I have it, Ill give it all to you! He saw that Song Que had been released by Qin Xiaoyao and was wearing the clothes that had been taken from his body. On the other hand, he was tied to the torture rack and was stabbed once. The mountain bandit leader was truly terrified now. Judging from the situation, it was obvious that this woman was prepared to kill him to vent her anger. Damn it! If he had known that the beauty was already married, and was married to such a fierce and violent woman, he wouldnt have dared to have any crooked ideas about the beauty even if he was beaten to death. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were still icy even after she heard the mountain bandit leaders words. The dagger swung out again, and it straightaway sliced through the tendons on the mountain bandit leaders two hands. Argh the mountain bandit leader screamed again. Shut up! The moment he screamed, Qin Xiaoyao shouted at him. The mountain bandit leader was so frightened that he really shut his mouth. However, his body was still trembling and he was whimpering. His hands had been crippled. They hurt a lot When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyaos menacing expression finally became less ominous. She then turned around and walked towards Song Que. Both his hands are crippled, so he shouldnt be able to cause any trouble. Hubby, watch him. If anything happens, just shout for me, she said to Song Que. Song Que nodded weakly. Go to the entrance quickly, he urged in a hoarse voice. When she saw Song Ques state, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were filled with worry. She held back her anxiety and left eventually. Damn mountain bandit leader! Damn mountain bandits! After they had made it through this difficult period, she would teach them a good lesson! Song Que watched his wife leave. He finally felt a little more at ease. Then, he poured himself a ss of water to moisten his throat. As for the mountain bandit leader, when he saw that Qin Xiaoyao had left and Song Que had taken her ce to guard him, a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes. Er Mister previously previously, I Argh I was wrong. But your wife has already crippled my hands and tortured me to such an extent. You must have vented all your anger and grievance by now. I beg you I beg you to let me live. Gold, silver, and jewelry. Ill give you as much as you want! Or a high post with a generous sry? I I will make you an official. How about it? The mountain bandit leader lowered his voice and tried his best to speak to Song Que in a friendly manner. It was useless to plead with that goddess of hell. On the other hand, this beauty appeared so soft and weak, so his heart must be soft. If he was willing to let him go, that goddess of hell might let him live for the sake of her husband. Song Que frowned as he listened. He was already feeling a little dizzy because of his cold. Yet the mountain bandit leader kept talking to him, yammering non-stop, which made him feel very annoyed. Shut up Song Que said eventually. His voice was a little weak and carried no menace at all. How could this scare the mountain bandit leader? On the contrary, when the mountain bandit leader saw that Song Que was paying attention to him, he became even more motivated and continued to persuade him. Song Que only felt more irritated. Finally, he picked up his saber, propped himself up, and went up to the mountain bandit leader. After that, he said in a low voice, I said shut up. Didnt you hear me? As he spoke, the long saber in his hand glided all the way down from the mountain bandit leaders chest until it finally stopped at the mountain bandit leaders crotch. The mountain bandit leaders expression was a little nervous at first, but when he saw that Song Que couldnt even stand steadily and looked like a sickly creature that was about to copse to the ground at any moment, his heart began racing, and he started to have wicked thoughts. Thereafter, a certain part of his body became erect. When Song Que saw this, a look of disgust shed across his face. Following that, he swung the long saber in his hand. Argh A blood-curdling scream was heard. This time, the mountain bandit leader genuinely fainted from the pain. Qin Xiaoyao was already at the entrance of the dungeon. When she heard the scream, she turned around and looked inside the dungeon hesitantly, wondering whether she should go back and take a look. However, when she saw the mountain bandits outside the dungeon looking like they were ready to pounce, she didnt move in the end. Judging from the sound of the voice earlier, it came from the mountain bandit leader. Her husband should be fine. Despite that, Qin Xiaoyao still dashed into the dungeon to ask what happened. Almost immediately, Song Que deliberately raised his voice and shouted out, Im fine! You guard the entrance. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao feel relieved and didnt ask further. As for the mountain bandits outside, after hearing their leader scream horrifically twice in a row, their hearts were extremely restless.. Chapter 257 - 257: Four Hours Chapter 257: Four Hours Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion What did you do to our general? The second mountain bandit leader red at Qin Xiaoyao furiously. After leaving the dungeon, his original n was to set up an ambush outside and capture this intruder. Then, he would take the opportunity to identally injure or even kill the leader. After that, he would be able to smoothly take over the leadership position. To his dismay, the intruder decided to hide in the dungeon and refused toe out. As such, it would be difficult for him to deal with the leader. Hmph! I didnt do anything. Its just that your great general wasnt too cooperative, so he was given a small punishment for him to repent his ways. Qin Xiaoyao didnt seem to care about the second mountain bandit leaders threat at all as she replied leisurely. These words infuriated the second mountain bandit leader. How dare you use torture on our great general? he yelled angrily. What torture? Dont talk nonsense if you didnt see it, Qin Xiaoyao said straightaway. Then, sheughed again. Oh, I know. Youre saying this on purpose, hoping to stir up their anger toward me. Then, you will bring them along without giving a damn about anything else and kill me in the name of saving your leader, regardless of whether your leader lives or dies. Youre trying to usurp his position, arent you? Qin Xiaoyao said. The second mountain bandit leaders expression changed at once when he heard that. The gazes of the other mountain bandits that were directed at the second mountain bandit leader also became more thoughtful. Dont listen to him! Hes trying to sow discord. I, Wu Laoer, am loyal to the great general. I will never disregard the great generals safety or endanger his life. I will nevermit such a dishonorable deed! The second mountain bandit leader said quickly. As he said this, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a gaze that seemed to be soaked with venom. Damn it! He would kill this rascal sooner orter! However, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt affected at all. Hehe! If thats the case, then just wait here obediently. I still have some matters to discuss with your great general. When weve finished discussing, well naturally release him. What was there to discuss? Her current n was to buy time. It would be best to drag it out until the Imperial Courts army attacked the town. How much time do you need for your discussion? The second mountain bandit leader red at Qin Xiaoyao angrily. He didnt have that much time to waste with this guy. The great army outside the town could break through the towns defenses at any time, and he still wanted to retreat with his loot and hisrades. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes shifted a little. It will take at least four hours. After four hours, once we have a result, Ill naturally return him to you, she said. Sigh! If she could, of course, she wouldnt state only four hours. However, she was afraid that the second mountain bandit leader would not be willing to wait if she dragged on any longer. He might decide to charge straight in without a care for anything else. Sure enough, after hearing Qin Xiaoyaos words, the second mountain bandit leaders expression turned extremely ominous. Ill give you two hours at most! If you dont release our great general in two hours, Ill bring my men to tten the dungeon. After that, I will skin you alive! Qin Xiaoyaos face also turned ominous when she heard this. I said four hours, so it is four hours! You im to be loyal to your great general, but you cant even wait for four hours? Do you want me to ask your great general right now and tell him toe out and talk to you? Qin Xiaoyao pretended to threaten him. The second mountain bandit leader frowned. Just as he was about to say something, he was stopped by someone beside him. It was not known what that person said to him. After that the second mountain bandit leader actually relented. Alright! Four hours it is then! If you dont release him in four hours, Ill lead my men to attack at that point! Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief inwardly. Sure! she answered with a smile. Following that, she disappeared from the entrance of the dungeon. Of course, she didnt really leave. Instead, she went to a location slightly further in. After observing for more than 15 minutes and making sure that no one outside came to investigate and that the second mountain bandit leader had left, Qin Xiaoyao quietly walked into the dungeon. Just as she reached the location where Song Que and the mountain bandit leader were, Qin Xiaoyao was utterly shocked by what she saw. The mountain bandit leader had already fainted, and there was a pool of blood on the ground below his body. There was also that thing that was chopped off So, the scream just now was actually Qin Xiaoyao covered her mouth and stared at her husband, who was sitting weakly on one side having a rest. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao realized that her husband could be really ruthless when he took action. How was he a meek, white rabbit? He was clearly a meek, white rabbit that had gone berserk Hehe! However, she liked his ruthlessness When Song Que saw that Qin Xiaoyao had returned, he raised his head weakly and nced at her. Then he saw that she was staring at something on the ground and a touch of displeasure appeared on his reddish face. Come here! he said to Qin Xiaoyao. Okay Qin Xiaoyao quickly turned her eyes away and walked toward her husband. Song Que nced at her and asked her to sit down. Then, he leaned weakly on her shoulder. Qin Xiaoyaos body tensed up a little. She felt a little overwhelmed by his disy of affection. She touched Song Ques forehead and realized that it seemed to be even hotter than before. Her heart ached again. Whats the situation outside now? Song Que finally asked in a hoarse voice after leaning on Qin Xiaoyaos shoulder for a while. Qin Xiaoyao quickly exined what transpired earlier. I went to take a look before I came in. That second mountain bandit leader has already left. Im guessing that hes probably making arrangements to retreat or to defend against the Imperial Courts army. I dont think hell be back for the time being. They had agreed on four hours, and the other party had agreed to it in front of so many mountain bandits. It was highly unlikely that he would go back on his word. Otherwise, when she killed the hostage, even if the second mountain bandit leader was promoted, he would have to bear a bad reputation. Song Que gave a nce at Qin Xiaoyao and felt more relieved. Theres a jar of wine over there. Go get it and help me lower the fever. He then looked at a jar of wine not far away. This used to be the ce where the jailers rested. There was food and wine here, and he could make use of these readily avable materials to help himself relieve some of his symptoms. Qin Xiaoyao followed Song Ques gaze and saw the jar of wine. Oh, okay! She quickly went to get it after answering him. After taking the wine, she immediately cut a piece of cloth from her clothes. After wetting the cloth, she helped Song Que wipe his chest, hands, and forehead. The alcohol evaporated and removed some of the heat from his body in the process. Song Que felt much morefortable instantly. He leaned against the wall and enjoyed Qin Xiaoyaos service for a while before telling her to stop. Alright. Thats enough for now. Keep the rest of the wine and use itter, Song Que said, breathingboriously. Qin Xiaoyaos heart ached terribly when she saw him in this state. Mm-hmm. Sure. She nodded and put the jar of wine away. Then, she sat back down beside Song Que and let him lean on her. Song Ques body was weak and limp. He was extremely frail now and incredibly meek and agreeable. Ill rest for 15 minutes. Remember to wake me up when the time is up, he said. The feeling of leaning on his wife was veryfortable, and it made him feel at ease. He was really struggling to hang on at this moment. However, the crisis outside had not been resolved yet, so he did not dare to fall into a deep sleep. Qin Xiaoyao reached out and caressed the side of Song Ques face. Mm-hmm, she replied. At this juncture, Song Que finally closed his eyes. After that, all was peaceful inside the dungeon.. Chapter 258 - 258: A Couple Going Through Thick and Thin Chapter 258: A Couple Going Through Thick and Thin Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion As Qin Xiaoyao thought about her next n, she kept looking at Song Que from time to time. After a while, she realized that the mountain bandit leader had woken up. Just as she was about to threaten the mountain bandit leader to keep quiet so as not to wake her husband up The mountain bandit leader had already howled in pain. This ear-piercing sound immediately woke Song Que up. When Qin Xiaoyao saw this, she red at the mountain bandit leader furiously. After helping the newly-awakened Song Que to adjust his posture to lean against the wall, she immediately walked towards the mountain bandit leader. The mountain bandit leaders face was filled with terror. What what are you doing? Donte near he yelled out. However, before he could finish his words, Qin Xiaoyao grabbed his jaw and twisted it to shut him up. Immediately, the mountain bandit leaders words became muffled, and his voice was also much softer. When she saw that the mountain bandit leader still trying to shout, Qin Xiaoyao frowned and cut off another piece of cloth from her clothes. Then, she yanked the mouth of the mountain bandit leader open and shoved the cloth into his mouth. Oof oof oof The mountain bandit leader struggled in pain but to no avail. This time, the loudness of the sounds he made was finally within an eptable range. Qin Xiaoyao was still not satisfied and threatened, Shut up! Otherwise, Ill cut off your tongue so that you are unable to speak for the rest of your life! The mountain bandit leaders eyes widened, and he finally kept quiet. However, tears kept flowing out of his wide-open eyes. What sin had hemitted in his past life that led him to bump into this fiend? And there was this fiends husband too. He must have been blind to think that he was lucky in love. These two people were simply demons As he looked at the ground, specifically at something that had been cut off from him, the mountain bandit leader felt extreme pain in both his heart and body. In spite of this great pain, he still didnt want to die. He could only take revenge if he survived. When he thought of this, the mountain bandit leader felt very encouraged inwardly. He put up with the pain and didnt make a sound anymore. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyaos expression finally rxed a little. She returned to Song Ques side to take care of him. After sleeping for a while, Song Que was in better spirits, and his mind was much clearer. He asked Qin Xiaoyao to fetch some water and then he drank it. Thereafter, he said, Alright. I feel much better already. You dont have to stay here and watch over me. You have to go and take a look at the entrance. Its best to set up some traps. If someonees in, well be able to detect him at the first moment. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and nodded. Alright! She then held the bowl and made Song Que drink the rest of the water. After that, she left and went to the entrance of the dungeon. There were still arge number of mountain bandits standing guard outside, but Qin Xiaoyao still didnt see the figure of the second mountain bandit leader. After making sure that these people wouldnte in for the time being, Qin Xiaoyao began to think about the matter of setting up traps that her husband had just brought up. The conditions in the dungeon were limited, so not surprisingly, she couldnte up with a contraption that could hurt people. However, it was still possible to set up a warning contraption. The simplest way was to look for something to block the entrance. If the people outside wanted toe in, they had to clear the obstacles at the entrance. As long as there were enough obstacles, they would definitely make some noise. Once she heard the noise, she would know that someone hade in. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao quickly took action. It had been almost a year since she came to this world. As her body adapted to it, her special ability had almost fully recovered. As a level 5 strength-type special ability user, her strength was definitely enough to dominate this world. Therefore, moving things and such was extremely easy. Very soon, Qin Xiaoyao finished setting up the obstacles. She then counter-checked once through. After ascertaining that it would take a lot of effort for the people outside toe in, Qin Xiaoyao then returned to the inside of the dungeon with peace of mind. When Song Que saw Qin Xiaoyao returning, he asked about the situation outside. After learning about Qin Xiaoyaos arrangements, he felt much more at ease. This works too. Now, we just have to wait until the time is up. He could only hope that the Imperial Courts army would not dy any longer. In his previous life, he remembered that the Imperial Courts army broke through the towns defenses at night. It should be almost noon now. Even if they dyed another four hours, it still wouldnt be nighttime. However, the army would release the news to the town before attacking, so the mountain bandits probably wouldnt wait until thest minute to retreat. Now, they only needed to wait for the Imperial Courts army to release the news, and the mountain bandits outside would definitely be in turmoil. Given the second mountain bandit leaders character, if he couldnt break in within a short period of time, he might not continue to attack aggressively and fight to the death with them. After that, they would be saved if they could hold on until nighttime. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao replied. She walked to Song Ques side. Then, she checked Song Ques forehead and found that it was still very hot. Do you want to rub some wine on it? she asked with a frown. Song Que looked at the jar of wine that Qin Xiaoyao had ced in the corner and nodded. And so, Qin Xiaoyao got busy again. This time, Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop until she had used up all the wine in the jar. Following that, Song Que groggily fell asleep again. Qin Xiaoyao quietly held Song Que in her arms, her eyes deep and distant. No one knew what she was thinking. Qin Xiaoyao didnt know how much time had passed. Suddenly, she heard a noiseing from outside. When she heard the noise a second time, Qin Xiaoyao gently shook Song Que. Hubby! she called out. Although Song Que was not feeling well, he did not dare to let himself fall into a deep sleep because he was still in a dangerous predicament. He opened his eyes very quickly. When Song Que heard themotion outside, he quickly got up from Qin Xiaoyaos shoulder despite his fatigue. Go and take a look quickly he said in a hoarse voice. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao didnt hesitate. She quickly stood up, picked up the dagger on the table, and headed out. When she reached the entrance of the dungeon, she saw some mountain bandits removing the obstacles she had set up. Moreover, by the time she arrived, the obstacles she had set up were almost all destroyed. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes narrowed and she rushed forward at once. The two sides shed violently at close quarters. Qin Xiaoyaos sudden appearance caught the other party off guard. In addition, she was swift and violent with her dagger, and it didnt take long for her to slit the throats of all six mountain bandits who had entered the dungeon. When the mountain bandits outside heard themotion, a few more people charged in. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were icy as she continued her killing spree. The sounds of fighting and miserable screams soon rang out. Before long, Qin Xiaoyao killed the next six mountain bandits who had entered. She even sent thest mountain bandit flying out of the dungeon with one kick. When he crashed to the ground, not only was his neck slit, but he also spat out blood before he stopped breathing. The mountain bandits outside were still in shock when Qin Xiaoyao appeared at the entrance of the dungeon. She red at the second mountain bandit leader and the other bandits around him with a ferocious expression. Even though the second mountain bandit leader was confident of his martial arts skills, he was still terrified when he saw Qin Xiaoyao kill twelve of his men in such a short time. Nevertheless, despite his fear, he had so many people with him and he even trapped the other party in the dungeon. He had the upper hand. Thus, he quickly suppressed his fear. Then, he roared to Qin Xiaoyao, Times up. Release our great general! Hmph! Qin Xiaoyao only gave a scornfulugh.. Chapter 259 - 259: Delay Another Two Hours Chapter 259: Dy Another Two Hours Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Indeed the time is up. However, you didnt inform me in advance and even sent someone to sneak in to hurt me. You still want me to release him with this kind of attitude? Qin Xiaoyaos smile was a little sinister. That was right. She was going to renege on the deal. She would never release him. It would really cause a lot of trouble for her and her husband if she were to release him. If these people wanted to save him, they could simply step forward and give it a shot. She wanted to see who could get past her. You The second mountain bandit leader was so infuriated that his face almost turned as ck as thunder. She was clearly the one in the wrong by refusing to release the hostage. Yet now, she was making bogus usations, iming that they had annoyed her and that was why she refused to release the hostage. I what? However, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt afraid at all. She looked as if she wanted to infuriate the other party to death. Just as the second mountain bandit leader was about to lose his cool and order his men to attack, Qin Xiaoyao continued, If you dont want your great general to die, then continue to wait. Two hourster, bring ten thousand taels of silver notes over. Well hand over the person as you hand over the money at the same time. The moment Qin Xiaoyao uttered these words, the expressions of the mountain bandits who were still hopping mad just a moment ago changed at once. Judging from Qin Xiaoyaos earlier attitude, it was obvious that she wasnt going to release the hostage. Thus, they could only fight to the bitter end with her and then rescue their great general. However, now, she relented. She even proposed to exchange the hostage for money. The situation was different now. If they could avoid risking their lives, who would be willing to take the risk? In particr, no one wanted to go up against this cursed woman, who was so bloodthirsty and so brutal in her methods. Qin Xiaoyaos words made the mountain bandits hesitate, but it didnt affect the second mountain bandit leader. Why drag it out? Ill go get the ten thousand silver notes now. When I bring it, well do the hostage exchange! the second mountain bandit leader said. This intruder was simply stalling for time. In another two hours, he would probablye up with a new excuse and continue to dy. Just a while ago, the Imperial Courts army had already shouted for them to surrender ande out of the town. The siege was probably imminent. If he didnt settle the leaders matter soon, he was afraid it would dy hisrades retreat. tl Hmph! Im telling you my decision, not discussing it with you. I said two hours, so its two hours. u If you cant wait, you cane forward and try. Qin Xiaoyaos tone was extremely arrogant, and she even waved the dagger in her hand. The blood stains on the dagger were still visible, and it was obvious that the dagger was very sharp. The second mountain bandit leaders face became ominous. He wanted badly to order an aggressive attack, but he was pulled back by someone beside him. Following that, a few mountain bandits who probably held fairly high ranks gathered in front of the second mountain bandit leader. This intruder is very highly skilled in martial arts. He easily killed twelve of our people. If we attack rashly, Im afraid well suffer even more casualties, one of them said. Yes, Second Leader. Since he has made a request, well do as he says. This is the only way to ensure the great generals safety. Its just another two hours. We can afford to wait, another person said. And so the discussion continued. Qin Xiaoyaos hearing was very good. When she heard these words, she felt a little gleeful. Hehe! It seemed that she could dy another two hours. Unlike Qin Xiaoyao who was gloating, the second mountain bandit leaders face was already as ck as thunder. These people didnt dare to go forward because they were afraid of death, or they were afraid that too many of their men would die. Fighting for the great generals sake? It was all nonsense! However, even though he knew this, he couldnt say anything. In fact, he couldnt even act willfully. Otherwise, he would have to bear the infamy of betraying the great general to usurp the leadership position. In this way, even if he killed the intruder on the other side and sessfully became the leader, the people under hismand would probably not submit to him. It might even leave hidden dangers for him when he was in power in the future. Alright! Then Ill give you two more hours. Two hours from now, if you still dont hand over our great general, regardless of what you say, well barge in on a killing spree at that juncture! The second mountain bandit leader narrowed his eyes and gave his ultimatum. Alright! Just get the silver notes ready. However, Qin Xiaoyao merely shrugged her shoulders nonchntly, as if she didnt take the second mountain bandit leader seriously at all. With that, she didnt even wait for the second mountain bandit leader to reply and went back into the dungeon. The second mountain bandit leader was downright incensed. He clenched his fists and took a few deep breaths. Eventually, he still rxed his fists. Everyone looked at the second mountain bandit leader, and no one dared to step forward and speak. What are you still standing there for? Go and prepare the silver notes! Suddenly, the second mountain bandit leader bellowed. Yes! Someone quickly responded. Then, he quickly left. The second mountain bandit leader flicked his sleeve angrily and left as well. Keep an eye on this ce. Ille back in two hours! He tossed out this statement as he went off. Peace descended on the area outside the dungeon once more. After Qin Xiaoyao entered the dungeon, she quickly threw the corpses at the entrance out of the dungeon like she was throwing trash. After that, she brought back the obstacles that the mountain bandits had removed and blocked the entrance again. After she was done, she dusted her hands and returned to the dungeon. Although Song Que did not go out, he had been listening to all the happenings outside. Even though he couldnt hear the sounds clearly, he guessed that Qin Xiaoyao had probably solved the problem. When he saw that his wife had returned safely, Song Ques expression finally rxed a little. Then, without waiting for Song Que to ask, Qin Xiaoyao briefed him on the situation. II Ive killed twelve of them and intimidated some of the mountain bandits outside. And that helped to give us another two hours. II If the Imperial Courts army still doesnt attack the town, well probably have to fight the mountain bandits in two hours, Qin Xiaoyao said worriedly. Song Que stretched out his hand and ced his hot, feverish hand on the back of Qin Xiaoyaos hand. When Qin Xiaoyao looked at him, he gave her a reassuring look. II Dont worry. The siege is tonight. II Furthermore, the mountain bandits outside should have received the warning by now. When the timees, as long as you can guard the dungeon for a while longer, they will give up when they see that they are unable to break into the dungeon. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Mm-hmm. She thought to herself that this was the only way now. As she was feeling a little hungry, Qin Xiaoyao went to look for some food and had a simple meal with Song Que. After that, they waited for two hours to pass. The time passed by quickly. As Qin Xiaoyao kept watch while Song Que rested, a sound was finally heard from outside. This time, it wasnt the sound of the obstacles being destroyed, but the shouts of the mountain bandits. When Song Que heard the voice, he immediately shifted his head away from Qin Xiaoyaos body and looked at her worriedly. Dont worry. Wait here. Im going to take a look. Qin Xiaoyao gave a reassuring smile. She reached out and patted Song Ques shoulder. Then, she stood up, took the dagger, and headed outside. If you donte out, well force our way in! Just as she was about to reach the entrance, Qin Xiaoyao heard the second mountain bandit leader shout out. His tone was angry and anxious. It was obvious that he couldnt wait any longer. Whats the hurry? Qin Xiaoyao shot back. As soon as these words came out, the outside of the dungeon became quiet. However, it was only for a moment before the second mountain bandit leaders voice was heard again. Weve already prepared the silver notes. Wheres our great general? Qin Xiaoyao didnt answer. She was deliberating whether she should remove the obstacles or not. After that, she would go out and toy with the mountain bandits for a while.. Chapter 260 - 260: Release Him? Chapter 260: Release Him? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion If the obstacles were removed and there were no more barricades, when she fought themter, it would be a bloody fight at close quarters. However, if she did not remove the obstacles and the barricades remained, the obstruction could still impede the mountain bandits for a while. Why are you not replying? Is the great general still alive? The second mountain bandit leader shouted again. At the same time, he secretly hoped from the bottom of his heart that their leader had already been killed by Qin Xiaoyao. This way, he could order the attack without any reservation. Now, the Imperial Courts army outside the town was getting more and more restless. In the past two hours, they had even sent spies into the town. Fortunately, his subordinates discovered them in time and forced them away. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable. However, this also meant that the Imperial Courts army could not wait any longer. He was worried that the army would charge in by tonight at thetest. Therefore, he had to solve the problem here at once. Qin Xiaoyao still didnt reply. The second mountain bandit leader was overjoyed and immediately barked out, I knew you wouldnt keep your promise, you son of a bitch! Men Who are you calling a son of a bitch? To their surprise, Qin Xiaoyao spoke up at this moment. Then, she appeared at the entrance of the dungeon. You The second mountain bandit leader was a bit surprised. When he didnt get a reply from Qin Xiaoyao just now, he thought that she wouldnte out. He did not expect This son of a bitch! Goddammit! Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she looked at the second mountain bandit leader. When she saw that he was quite angry, her smile became even more radiant. Why? Are you disappointed that I havee out? The second mountain bandit leader nearly choked. Qin Xiaoyao didnt give him any reprieve. She continued, Dont worry. Your great general is still alive and well. After all, he is worth ten thousand taels of silver. I cant bear to see him die. Then where is our great general? Hand him over now! The second mountain bandit leader snapped back to his senses and shouted at Qin Xiaoyao angrily. It was eptable if the other party was willing to make the exchange. Anyway, he had already arranged for someone to take action during the exchange. He would kill the great general by mistake while he was killing the intruder. As for the ten thousand taels of silver notes, some people were not destined to live long enough to spend that sum of money! Qin Xiaoyao took note of the expression on the second mountain bandit leaders face. Hes in the dungeon, of course. Bring the silver notes over first, then Ill bring the person out for you, Qin Xiaoyao said. No! Weve already agreed on this. We make the exchange for the hostage and the money concurrently! The second mountain bandit leader immediately added, Besides, how do we know if the great general is still alive? He knew it. This son of a bitch was very cunning. Heh! Why would I lie to you? Qin Xiaoyao didnt get angry. Instead, sheughed in a rxed manner. Alright! How about this? Youe in with me and take a look See for yourself whether your great general is still alive. If hes alive, then give me the silver. The second mountain bandit leaders face turned ominous. Who wants to go in with you? Wouldnt entering that ce be equivalent to amb entering a tigers den? Qin Xiaoyaos smile didnt change. Didnt you say that youre not sure if your great general is still alive? Ill bring you in now for a look Why are you unwilling now? When she saw that the mountain bandits were getting a little irritable, Qin Xiaoyao chuckled and said, Alright. Ill tell you the truth. Your great general is actually slightly injured. He wont be able to walk out by himself. What did you do to our great general? Immediately, some of the mountain bandits began questioning Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the mountain bandit who had spoken and still maintained an amiable smile on her face. Nothing much. He just didnt cooperate, so he suffered a little. You can just send any two of your men toe in with me. They can then help him out. When she saw that persons expression wavering, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Why dont you and your second mountain bandit leader do it? I think you two are the most concerned about your great general. That mans expression changed immediately. Yet, he couldnt say anything. Instead, he looked toward the second mountain bandit leader for help. The intruder on the other side didnt y by the rules. If they were to go in with the intention to bring the great general out, there was a high chance that they would not be able to return. The second mountain bandit leaders face was very glum. Not surprisingly, he would never listen to Qin Xiaoyao. We still dont know whether the great general is alive or dead. Number Three and I have to deal with the affairs outside. You, and you The second mountain bandit leader pointed at two people as he spoke. You two go in with him and bring the great general back. The two mountain bandits who were called out immediately shivered. Second Leader! Some of his men even looked at the second mountain bandit leader with pleading eyes. The intruder was very vicious and extremely cunning. If they went in, they would most likely die inside. Wasnt the second mountain bandit leader sending them to their deaths? The second mountain bandit leaders face became as ck as thunder. What are you shouting for? Its your honor to be allowed to enter and save the great general! he said in a low voice. The great general has never mistreated you in the past. Now, its time for you guys to repay him! The two mountain bandits faces turned ashen when they heard this. Finally, they epted their mission with trembling voices and walked toward Qin Xiaoyao. The corner of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth was still curled up. When the two of them got closer, she smiled again. Lets go, she said. The two mountain bandits quickly followed. After they entered the dungeon, Qin Xiaoyao walked in front. The two mountain bandits stared at Qin Xiaoyaos back profile and carefully followed her from four to five meters away. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos expression was icy and callous. The smile she had earlier was nowhere to be seen. The only reason she brought these two mountain bandits in was to buy some more time. However, once they met the mountain bandit leader and brought him out, there was no way to dy anymore. Sigh! In the end, she still had to fight a tough battle Finally, they arrived. There go see if your great general is still alive, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly spoke. She turned to look toward the torture rack, where the barely alive mountain bandit leader whose mouth was stuffed with cloth was hanging from. The two mountain bandits froze abruptly. Then they turned to look in the direction Qin Xiaoyao was pointing. When they saw the miserable state of the mountain bandit leader, the two of them were so aghast that their eyes widened and they couldnt speak at all. Their great general had been given a penectomy by this intruder When the mountain bandit leader heard that someone had arrived, he raised his eyes and saw Qin Xiaoyao and the two mountain bandits who hade in with her. Hope was instantly ignited in his originally dejected eyes, and he began to struggle vigorously. At the same time, muffled cries could be hearding from his mouth. One of the mountain bandits quickly came back to his senses and rushed towards the mountain bandit leader. Great General, Great General! Are you alright? As he asked anxiously, he fiddled with the chains that bound the mountain bandit leader. It was only when he got closer that he realized that the tendons on the great generals hands had been sliced through by the assassins. This was too brutal The intruder had already crippled the great general! However, this was not important. No matter what the great generals condition was, as long as he was alive, they had to bring the great general out. As long as they could get out of here safely, the great general would definitely reward them handsomely. With such thoughts in mind, the mountain bandit became even more anxious. The other mountain bandit came up and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Brave hero, Ill have to trouble you to give me the key. We well take the great general away. He didnt have the guts to question or scold the intruder.. Chapter 261 - 261: Strategy Chapter 261: Strategy Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Now, he only hoped that the intruder would keep his word and allow them to take their leader away toplete their mission. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and looked at the mountain bandit who spoke. The mountain bandits immediately avoided her gaze in fear. They didnt dare to look Qin Xiaoyao in the eye at all. Qin Xiaoyao gave an icyugh. She then took the key from the table and tossed it at the mountain bandit. The mountain bandit caught the key and quickly thanked Qin Xiaoyao. Thank you, brave hero! Thank you, brave hero! At the same time, he passed the key to hisrade and asked him to unlock the mountain bandit leaders chains. The mountain bandit leader was extremely excited when he saw them unlocking him. The muffled sounds from his mouth became even louder. Thereafter, he was quickly released from the torture rack. After that, the two mountain bandits held him up and supported him as they prepared to walk out. Wait a minute At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao spoke up. As soon as she said that, the three men froze. A momentter, the mountain bandit who had asked Qin Xiaoyao for the key bit the bullet and raised his head to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Brave he hero, do you have any other instructions? He asked Qin Xiaoyao with a smile so strained it looked worse than a crying face. Qin Xiaoyao was in no hurry to speak. Instead, she slowly walked toward the three of them. The three of them were so frightened that they lowered their heads and avoided Qin Xiaoyaos gaze, not daring to look her in the eye. When she saw this, the corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up into an icy smile. After walking up to the mountain bandit leader, she suddenly reached out and grabbed the mountain bandit leaders jaw. Immediately after that, under the terrified gazes of the two mountain bandits, she quickly helped the mountain bandit leader straighten his dislocated lower jaw. The mountain bandit leader was so terrified that he cried out in fear. Following that, he realized that Qin Xiaoyao was actually helping him set his bones. Only then did he calm himself down and not have a nervous breakdown. Thank you, merciful goddess! Thank you, merciful goddess! The mountain bandit leader said hurriedly after he regained his ability to speak. At this moment, he also believed that this she-devil was really prepared to let him go. The two mountain bandits who were supporting the mountain bandit leader were a little surprised when they heard the mountain bandit leader address Qin Xiaoyao as a goddess. However, they still didnt dare to raise their heads. They simply supported their great general without moving and pretended to be a tool. Regardless of the intruders gender, it didnt change the fact that she was a demon. They still had to be careful and make sure they did not offend her. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. Ive already tortured you into this state, and youre still thanking me? she asked with a smile. The mountain bandit leaders expression froze. Then he quickly said, Thats because I deserve it! Please forgive me this time, merciful goddess. Ugh, ugh ugh, ugh In the future, in the future, I will definitely not make the same mistake again! Even as he spoke, his whole body was trembling. Ugh, ugh He really couldnt hold on any longer Just release him quickly Qin Xiaoyao pursed her lips. Alright then. Anyway, in the future She nced at the mountain bandits lower body. You wont be able to do anything anymore, she said with a smile. That smile was so acerbic the mountain bandit leader nearly had a breakdown. In spite of themselves, the two mountain bandits who were supporting their leader wanted tough. However, they didnt dare tough out loud and could only hold it in. As for Qin Xiaoyao, she felt his husbands displeased gaze and finally cleared her throat softly. Ahem This matter can be considered over and done with. The moment she said that, the mountain bandit leader and the other two mountain bandits heaved a sigh of relief. However, Qin Xiaoyao continued, But we still need to talk about whats going to happen next. If Please speak, merciful goddess, the mountain bandit leader said hurriedly. Mm-hmm Well, I asked for ten thousand silver from the people outside to redeem you. You know what to do when we go outter, right? Qin Xiaoyao said. She had carried out the kidnapping and had taken such a big risk this time. Therefore, she still had to collect the ransom. I know, I know! The silver notes should be offered to you as a sign of respect, merciful goddess. I will get them to hand over the silver notes when we get out! the mountain bandit leader said hurriedly. Qin Xiaoyao nodded in satisfaction. Mm-hmm. Since youre so cooperative, Ill tell you something. The second mountain bandit leader outside doesnt seem to want you to live, and he doesnt want me to release you The mountain bandit leaders expression changed at once when he heard this. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the mountain bandit leaders expression and continued, Youre still my hostage now. If you die, I will be his next target. And youre so obedient. Im sure you wont make things difficult for me after we get out, right? The mountain bandit leader quickly nodded. So, I think we can work together. The mountain bandit leader was shocked. He raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. When we go outter, you cooperate with me and lure the second mountain bandit leader over. Then, I will help you kill him. After that, you will pay me an extra ten thousand taels of silver notes and let me go with my husband. How about it? Qin Xiaoyao said with a solemn expression. This attitude waspletely different from her frivolous demeanor just now. The mountain bandit leader was caught by surprise. He pondered for a moment and then nodded. Number Two did indeed harbor thoughts of rebelling. Now that he was injured to this extent, even if he was released, there was a high chance that Number Two would plot something against him. It was also good for him to use this opportunity to let the she-devil get rid of Number Two. As for the matter of giving her another ten thousand silver, he would consider it if she was still alive at that point. As long as he could get out of here, he had so manyrades outside. With their strength in numbers, they could still kill her, no matter how formidable she was. Hmph! At that point Alright! the mountain bandit leader quickly said after making up his mind. A trace of satisfaction shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. She even reached out and patted the mountain bandit leaders shoulder. Alright then. Lets go! she replied. She turned around and walked out. The two mountain bandits exchanged nces with each other and helped their leader along as they hurriedly followed her. The great general was going to join forces with the intruder to kill the second leader? They had actually heard this news with their own ears. What should they do next? Of course, they should help the great general. If the great general sessfully removed the second leader, they would be credited with saving the great general and rewarded after they got out of this ce. As for the second leader, if he really wanted to harm the great general, they would be in danger tooter. When they thought of this, the two mountain bandits knew what they had to do. Very soon, Qin Xiaoyao and the rest arrived at the entrance of the dungeon. When the mountain bandits outside the dungeon saw their mountain bandit leader appear, various kinds of expressions swept across their faces. Some of them looked happy, while others were pretending to be happy. The second mountain bandit leader was thetter example. Great general! The second mountain bandit leader shouted excitedly at first. Then, as if he had just noticed the mountain bandit leaders injuries, he shouted angrily at Qin Xiaoyao, What did you do to our great general? Hehe! The injuries on his wrists were so obvious. It was most likely his tendons were cut. And there was a piece of clothing tied on his waist and hanging downward. What kind of injury was it covering? If Big Brother, oh my Big Brother! You have been tortured so badly that you are in this state now. You are really pitiful, he thought. The expression on the second mountain bandit leaders face did not escape Qin Xiaoyaos eye. The corner of her mouth curled up. Cant you see what has been done? If Now that Ive brought him out, where are the silver notes I asked for? The second mountain bandit leader frowned. Nheless, he gestured with his hand to the people behind him. A mountain bandit immediately brought over a stack of silver notes. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. You are to personally bring the silver notes over to exchange for the hostage, she said.. Chapter 262 - 262: Getting Rid of Second Mountain Bandit Leader Chapter 262: Getting Rid of Second Mountain Bandit Leader Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The second mountain bandit leaders face clouded over. You send it he said straightaway to the person who brought the silver notes. He had already arranged for archers to take action. If he went near them, how could the archers take action? The mountain bandit who brought the silver notes trembled, but before he could say anything, Qin Xiaoyao spoke again. Its not eptable for others to give it to me! I have to guard against you getting your archers to attack me. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes looked toward the courtyard. Immediately, the archers hiding in the dark withdrew their bodies. Every one of them was suspecting if they had been exposed. The second mountain bandit leaders face turned ominous. He did not expect the other party to see through his n. When she saw that the second mountain bandit leader didnt reply, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at the mountain bandit leader. Great general, it seems like your second-inmand is not willing toe and receive you. Tell me, when I receive the money and hand you overter, if someone suddenly shot an arrow in the dark, would they identally kill you as well? After all, weapons have no eyes. Its very normal for idents to happen. The mountain bandit leaders face turned ominous instantly. Then, he said to the second mountain bandit leader in a low voice, Number Two, do as she says. You bring the silver notes and exchange them for me! The second mountain bandit leaders face turned as ck as thunder. He genuinely hated Qin Xiaoyao to the core now. However, even though he wished the mountain bandit leader could die immediately, he did not dare to go against his order in front of so many people. Yes! he responded. Only then did the second mountain bandit leader take the silver notes and slowly walk towards Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao smiled radiantly as she looked at the silver notes in the second mountain bandit leaders hand with some anticipation. After all, those were ten thousand taels of silver notes. When she came to this world and toiled like a horse for more than half a year, the money she had saved was probably not more than a thousand taels. When the second mountain bandit leader saw the look in Qin Xiaoyaos eyes, he felt more at ease. He was worried that the other party was not greedy for money. Since he was greedy, then he was not that scary anymore. Very soon, the second mountain bandit leader arrived in front of Qin Xiaoyao. Take it Immediately after that, he handed over the silver notes in his hand. Qin Xiaoyao epted it with a smile. She flipped through a few of the notes. Thergest note had a value of 2000 taels, and the rest had values varying from 500 to 1500 taels. Qin Xiaoyao didnt really count the money carefully but simply put the silver notes away into her pocket after a quick check. Following that, she turned to look at the mountain bandit leader and the other two guys behind her. Alright. Since Ive received the silver notes, you guys can go, she said in a forthright manner. The three of them were overjoyed. The two mountain bandits immediately helped their leader up and walked away. Right at this moment, the second mountain bandit leaders expression changed abruptly. He turned around and tried to escape. How could Qin Xiaoyao let him off? In a sh, she appeared behind the second mountain bandit leader When he saw that the situation wasnt right, the second mountain bandit leader immediately attacked. However, he was no match for Qin Xiaoyao at all. The moment he threw out a punch, Qin Xiaoyao dodged it. Not only did Qin Xiaoyao evade his strike, but she also quickly retaliated. Her dagger pierced through the arm of the second mountain bandit leader instantly. Following that, the second mountain bandit leader let out an anguished wail as he was captured by Qin Xiaoyao. Thereafter, it was a deja vu all over again. The dagger was pressed horizontally against his neck and the second mountain bandit leader fell into Qin Xiaoyaos hands. The mountain bandits not far away, as well as those who were lying in ambush, were all shocked. No one expected the situation to turn out like this. Quick, lets go! Take me away quickly! At this moment, the mountain bandit leader prodded the two mountain bandits who were supporting him and urged them. Sure enough, the second mountain bandit leader had been captured. Shouldnt he take the opportunity to flee now? Stop right there To their surprise, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly spoke up. The two mountain bandits became very flustered and they unwittingly stopped in their tracks. Following that, they quickly recovered themselves. Under the urging of the mountain bandit leader, they quickly supported the mountain bandit leader and dashed forward. Qin Xiaoyao was furious. When she felt the second mountain bandit leader struggling in her arms, her eyes turned chilly and the dagger in her hand slid across his neck. Thereafter, fresh blood spurted out, and the second mountain bandit leader, who was so ferocious a while ago, instantly fell to the ground. His wide-open eyes were filled with disbelief as if he had never thought that he would be killed in this fashion. Qin Xiaoyao didnt even look at him. She quickly dashed forward and caught up with the three. Following that, she killed the two mountain bandits who were supporting the mountain bandit leader with one sh each. Then, she yanked up with one move the mountain bandit leader who had fallen to the ground after his legs buckled under him. Under the terrified gazes of the other mountain bandits, she pressed the dagger against the mountain bandit leaders throat once more. The sudden change happened too quickly, and Qin Xiaoyaos methods were too brutal. The mountain bandits were almost scared out of their wits. Their second leader had died just like that Many people stood rooted to the ground in shock and only came back to their senses after a long while. As for the mountain bandit leader, his entire body was trembling, and he was almost unable to speak. How did things turn out this way? He had fallen into the hands of this she-devil again Get up! Qin Xiaoyao said icily. Then, with one yank, she lifted the mountain bandit leader up. Everyone was shocked again. Their great general weighed close to 200 pounds, while the intruder was probably only around 100 pounds. However, with just a casual yank, he had lifted their great general up easily. What kind of divine power did he have? When they thought back to how Qin Xiaoyao had killed their second mountain bandit leader, they looked at Qin Xiaoyao with even more fear. No one dared to speak, and no one dared to step forward. Argh Merciful goddess, spare my life! Merciful goddess, spare my life! When the mountain bandit leader realized that he was being lifted up, he quickly cried and begged for mercy. He no longer cared about his dignity. He was already scared out of his wits at this moment, so how could he still be worried about his dignity? Qin Xiaoyao, however, frowned. Shut up! she said in a grave voice. The mountain bandit leader quickly shut his mouth. After his feet touched the ground, he forced himself to stand firm, but his body was trembling and he didnt dare to say another word. Only then was Qin Xiaoyao satisfied. She looked at all the mountain bandits opposite her. Your second leader has ulterior motives and is trying to harm me and your great general. Now, Ive joined forces with your great general and killed him. Next, you guys go and prepare another ten thousand taels of silver. Once you fulfill the conditions agreed between your great general and me, I will release him, Qin Xiaoyao said. All the mountain bandits were stunned. What? The intruder and their great general joined hands to kill the second leader? Moreover, if they heard their great general correctly, this devil was a goddess? When Qin Xiaoyao saw that the mountain bandits didnt move, she slid her dagger back and forth against the mountain bandit leaders throat. You have agreed to give me another ten thousand taels of silver notes. You tell them. Get them to go and get the silver for me! Qin Xiaoyao threatened. Even though they were mountain bandits, they still wouldnt be able to gather ten thousand taels of silver notes so easily. However, this was for the best. This way, she could dy the time further. Furthermore, she had also eliminated that second mountain bandit leader who was hopping mad at her. The rest of the people didnt seem to be a cause for concern, so she wasnt that worried now. As long as she had the mountain bandit leader in her hands, the rest of the mountain bandits would not be able to do anything. The mountain bandit leader seemed to have just recalled this matter. Yes, yes, yes! he repeatedly answered. Then, he shouted to two of the mountain bandits on the opposite side, Number Three, Number Four, you guys You guys quickly go and prepare the silver notes! It had to be said that Qin Xiaoyao really knew how this mountain bandit leader thought like the back of her hand.. Chapter 263 - 263: The Army Finally Arrived Chapter 263: The Army Finally Arrived Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Every time the mountain bandit leader was caught in a desperate situation, she would give him hope. She wanted him to choose to cooperate with her. As a result, the mountain bandit leader chose to cooperate with her again. Not only did he admit that he was working together with her to get rid of the second mountain bandit leader, but he also agreed to help her get money and stabilize the situation. On the other side, the third and fourth mountain bandit leaders exchanged looks with each other. Yes! In the end, they all bowed to the mountain bandit leader. After instructing the rest of the people to guard the ce well, they turned and left. Qin Xiaoyao was pleased when she saw that the mountain bandits were all so cooperative. In fact, no one even dared to look at her. Then, she escorted the mountain bandit leader back to the dungeon. When she passed by the corpse of the second mountain bandit leader, Qin Xiaoyao stopped for a moment. This corpse is mine. Ille back to get itter. You guys, dont touch it, she said to the mountain bandits outside. When they heard this, the mountain bandits faces turned ashen. No one dared to reply. Qin Xiaoyao assumed that they had heard her and didnt say anything else. She brought the mountain bandit leader back to the dungeon. When Song Que saw that Qin Xiaoyao had returned with the mountain bandit leader, he was extremely surprised. Qin Xiaoyao locked the mountain bandit leader back on the torture rack while updating Song Que on her earlier heroic deeds. Song Que was dumbfounded. He had not expected his wife to be so brave and astute. After Qin Xiaoyao had dislocated the mountain bandit leaders jaw and stuffed a piece of cloth into his mouth again, Song Que began to exin his analysis. With the death of the second leader, the mountain bandits outside probably wont dare to act rashly. They would have learned the lesson from their leaders mistake. However, I dont think youll be able to get the second cache of ten thousand taels of silver notes. Why? Qin Xiaoyao was puzzled and plonked herself down beside Song Que. Without the threat of the second leader, she was not in a hurry to collect the second leaders corpse and set up new obstacles. Song Que turned his head and nced at his wife. The Imperial Courts army outside the town is about to attack. Right now, the mountain bandits are in a state of panic and turmoil. At this point, they cant even take care of themselves. Who would risk everything to save a person who dared to kill his subordinate? As he said this, Song Que shot a nce at the mountain bandit leader. If it were in the past, there might still be people among the mountain bandit leaders subordinates who really wanted to save him. However, after the second mountain bandit leader was killed, the remaining people should have given up on that idea. It was very likely that they would lose their lives if they came to rescue him. They might as well leave the mountain bandit leader behind and escape with their loot quickly. Oof, oof oof, oof When the mountain bandit leader heard these words, he immediately started to struggle. However, Qin Xiaoyao had tied him up tightly, and he was also seriously injured. How could he possibly struggle free? Qin Xiaoyao followed Song Ques gaze and looked at the mountain bandit leader too. As the noiseing from the other party wasnt loud, she didnt pay attention to him. In that case, the mountain bandits outside might not care about us anymore? This was good. This way, she wouldnt have to take the risk of fighting with the mountain bandits. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Its only a possibility. We still have to put up the defenses that should be put up. We have to at least hold on until the Imperial Courts army attacks the town. At that point, the town and the government office will be in chaos. We can take advantage of the chaos to leave. Qin Xiaoyao nodded in agreement. Then, she took out the silver notes from her pocket and gave them to Song Que. You keep these silver notes. Count them as well to see if there are ten thousand taels. Ill go drag the body of the second leader in and set up the obstacles, Qin Xiaoyao said. If the Imperial Courts army attacked and the corpses of the mountain bandit leader and second leader were lying around, they could conveniently im credit and prove that they were not in cahoots with the mountain bandits. Mm-hmm! Song Que agreed. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao leave. When she arrived at the entrance of the dungeon, she realized that the third and fourth mountain bandit leaders, who had been instructed by the mountain bandit leader earlier, had not returned. She was even more convinced by her husbands analysis. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt too bothered by the mountain bandits that were guarding the ce. She dragged the corpse of the second mountain bandit leader directly into the dungeon. After this, she started to set up obstacles at a spot very near the entrance of the dungeon. The reason she did this was to make it convenient for her toe outter to investigate the situation. After she was done, Qin Xiaoyao returned to the dungeon and continued to take care of Song Que. Once again, the dungeon regained its peace. asionally, Song Ques coughing could be heard. Time passed slowly. Qin Xiaoyao went out to check on the situation a few times. Night finally fell. At this moment, the number of mountain bandits who were guarding the dungeon outside was less than one-third of the number they had during the day. Qin Xiaoyao knew that her husbands analysis had probably be a reality. When she returned to the dungeon, Qin Xiaoyao informed Song Que of the situation outside. Its already dark, and the Imperial Courts army will charge into the town at any time. Furthermore, they might have already barged their way in. Shall we leave now? Qin Xiaoyao said. The remaining ten or so mountain bandits outside were nothing to be afraid of. If she dashed out straightaway, she would be able to get rid of them within a short time. Then, she would take her husband out of the government office under the cover of darkness. It should not be a big problem. Song Que was silent. There was a sh of hesitation in his eyes before he said, Theres no hurry. Qin Xiaoyao was a little puzzled. Lets wait for the Imperial Courts army to break into the government office before we go out, Song Que continued. We have the second leader and the bandit leader. The Imperial Courts army will not make things difficult for us. He looked at Qin Xiaoyao and continued, Not only will they not make things difficult for us, but there may also be rewards. However, in this case, he would have toe face to face with the Second Prince again. He felt somewhat conflicting emotions towards the Second Prince. Most of the emotions were gratitude, but there was also a lot of sorrow. In this life, his original intention was to avoid meeting him. He only wanted to lead a stable life with his wife and family, but he didnt realize that many things still couldnt be changed. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned for a moment, but her face lit up with joy the next moment. Thats true. We still have two protective amulets in our hands! she said happily. With that, she even deliberately nced at the mountain bandit leader who had already fainted from the cold. Since its safer to stay here, theres no need to take the risk of going out. After all, the streets would be filled with the Imperial Courts troops and mountain bandits. It would be a chaotic mess. If she and her husband were not careful, they might be injured by mistake. Hence, the two of them chose to continue to wait. During this period, Qin Xiaoyao still strolled to the entrance of the dungeon from time to time to check out the situation outside. In the end, when she went to take a look for the third time after dark, she realized that the mountain bandits outside had all run away. At the same time, she also heard the sounds of fierce fighting outside. She knew then that the Imperial Courts army had arrived. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat. She quickly turned back and told Song Que the news. What do we do now? Do we continue to wait? She was a little excited inwardly. At the same time, she couldnt quite hold back since she was used to taking the initiative to attack. Just wait, Song Que said in a low voice. In fact, he was equally nervous. Alright, Qin Xiaoyao answered. Then, she sat down beside Song Que.. Chapter 264 - 264: The Second Prince Chapter 264: The Second Prince Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Before long, the sounds of fierce fighting outside spread into the dungeon. The two of them knew that the Imperial Courts army must have already attacked the government office. Qin Xiaoyao could feel Song Ques fear and reached out to hold Song Ques hand. Song Que nced at his wife and felt much more at ease. After another half an hour, the government office finally regained its peace. Just as Qin Xiaoyao was about to say something to Song Que, she suddenly heard the sound of someone destroying the obstacles outside. Her body stiffened, and just as she turned her head, her eyes met Song Ques gaze. Qin Xiaoyao only stood up after Song Que nodded at her. Then, she walked out warily. When she was about to reach the entrance of the dungeon, Qin Xiaoyao saw that someone was indeed removing the obstacles she had set up. Moreover, the people who came were all dressed in military uniforms. After making a guess at the general situation, Qin Xiaoyaos heart was slightly at ease. Then, she shouted to the people outside, Those of youing in from outside! Are you from the Imperial Courts army? Thats right! Whos inside? Why did you seal the dungeon? a soldier asked immediately. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief. There are only me, amoner woman, and my husband inside. Earlier, my husband was captured by bandits, so I came to rescue him. In the end, the two of us were trapped here by the mountain bandits. The obstacles were set up to prevent mountain bandits from barging in and threatening our lives! Qin Xiaoyao suddenly thought of something and quickly added, In addition, the second mountain bandit leader has already been killed by me. The mountain bandit leader has also been captured by me and is currently locked up in the dungeon! The soldier who answered her from outside was stunned at once. The few soldiers who were still dismantling the obstacles also stopped their actions unwittingly. What? A woman said that she killed the mountain bandits second-inmand and even captured the bandit leader alive? Without waiting for a reply, Qin Xiaoyao only needed to think for a moment before she guessed the reason for their reaction. She immediately grabbed the corpse of the second mountain bandit leader nearby and brought it to the obstacles. This is the corpse of the mountain bandits second-inmand. Sir, you can verify his identity immediately. The soldier who had just answered her was shocked. He quickly came forward. After having a close look at the appearance of the corpse, he quickly got someone to bring a portrait. When he had verified that the corpse on the ground was really the second mountain bandit leader, he got a shock. Then, he asked Qin Xiaoyao, Madam, is what you said just now true? Before they broke through the towns defenses, the Second Prince had ordered them to take the heads of the mountain bandit leader and his second C in Cmand. However, now that they had taken back the town, they had yet to find any sign of these two people. To his surprise, these two guys were here. Of course, its true. Moreover, the bandit leader is still alive and in the dungeon. Sir, you cane with me to check it out, Qin Xiaoyao said hurriedly. The soldiers face lit up. Alright! He immediately ordered several soldiers to speed up the removal of the obstacles. On the other side, Qin Xiaoyao also cooperated and helped to remove the obstacles. The soldier was very surprised to witness Qin Xiaoyaos immense strength. At the same time, he also felt more convinced by the words Qin Xiaoyao said earlier. Thisdy said that she had killed the mountain bandits second-inmand and captured the bandit leader alive, so her martial arts skills must be extraordinary. As such, it was not surprising that she possessed such strength. Very soon, the obstacles were all removed. The soldier could see Qin Xiaoyao clearly without any obstruction. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaos heroic appearance and her bearing which was in no way inferior to a mans, a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes. After saying a few simple words, he brought his men and followed Qin Xiaoyao to the dungeon. Then, he easily found the mountain bandit leader who was tied to the torture rack. When he saw the miserable state of the mountain bandit leader, the soldier felt a pang of heartache. In particr, when he saw that his lower body was covered and a particr body part had dropped to the ground, the soldier felt that this mountain bandit leader was really unlucky. However, he didnt sympathize with him. He brought out the portrait topare his appearance, and after confirming that this was the right person, he was all smiles. Thats right. This is indeed the bandit leader! Madam, you captured the bandit leader alive and killed the second leader of the mountain bandits. Youve made a great contribution! The soldier looked at Qin Xiaoyao with excitement. Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and cupped her hands at the soldiers. I dont dare to ept such a great merit. It was these mountain bandits who first made things difficult for us husband and wife. I had no choice but to retaliate. After she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and looked at her husband worriedly. My husband was locked up in the dungeon by the mountain bandit leader to freeze for an entire night. He has caught a cold and now his body almost cant take it anymore. Sir, I hope you can grant us a favor and allow me to take my husband away to go look for a doctor to treat him. Cough, cough Right on cue, Song Que started coughing violently. Qin Xiaoyao hurried over and held Song Que up to soothe him. When he saw this, the soldier frowned. He thought to himself that this couple before him The wife was indeed extraordinary, but this man Other than being a little handsome, he didnt seem to have any redeeming qualities. Sigh! He was a man, yet he looked so sissy. No wonder he was captured by the mountain bandits. Fortunately, he had married a powerful woman That was right. The soldier was indeed aware of the mountain bandit leaders hobbies. Even though he did not hear Qin Xiaoyaos detailed exnation, he could guess the reason for Song Ques abduction. Theres no need to go outside to look for a doctor. Our military doctor is already here. Ill make arrangements for the military doctor to take a look at your husband when we go outter. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Thank you, Sir! She quickly cupped her fists and thanked him. The officer gestured with his hand. Theres no need to thank me. Youve made such a great contribution. You have toe with me to meet the Second Prince. The Second Prince will definitely reward you handsomely! Qin Xiaoyao was absolutely ted. Yes, Sir! she happily answered. The crisis has been resolved. Her Hubby can be treated by a military doctor. Now, she could even be rewarded. She couldnt possibly ask for more! Alright. Then you guys cane with me! The soldier said with a smile and strode outside. Qin Xiaoyao quickly helped Song Que up and followed him. After that, a few soldiers followed closely behind the two of them. They either escorted the bandit leader or carried the corpse of the second mountain bandit leader out of the dungeon. It was only when they were outside that Song Que realized that the sky had already darkenedpletely. Fortunately, there were enough torches in the courtyard, which lit up almost the entire backyard of the government office. When they arrived at the courtyard, the soldier quickly made the necessary arrangements. He had originally nned to have someone bring Song Que to see the military doctor separately, but when he found out the military doctor was attending to the Second Princes injuries at this moment, he decided he would bring Song Que along to meet the Second Prince. Very soon, the group of people arrived outside the main hall in the front courtyard. The soldier sent someone to pass the message. Before long, they heard a voice telling them to go in. Only then did the soldier lead Qin Xiaoyao and the others in. Greetings, Your Highness! The soldier paid his respects to the Second Prince. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que followed suit. You may dispense with the formalities. A majestic voice rang out. Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and saw a handsome man. He had straight, well-defined eyebrows with sharp, bright eyes. He possessed a powerful aura and had the presence befitting a high-ranking authoritative personality. The Second Prince, Huangfu Wudi, sensed Qin Xiaoyaos gaze. When his eyes met Qin Xiaoyaos gaze, a look of surprise shed across his eyes. Youre the one who killed the mountain bandits second-inmand and captured the bandit leader alive? he asked in a deep voice.. Chapter 265 - 265: Drill Ground Test Chapter 265: Drill Ground Test Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The guards had reported the situation earlier. He honestly didnt expect the ferocious mountain bandit leader and his second-inmand would fall into the hands of the same person. Moreover, this person was such a valiant young man. Your Highness, it is indeed me, amoner woman. Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and cupped her hands in a respectful bow. The Second Prince was stunned at once. He couldnt help but raise his handsome, sharply-defined eyebrows. He sized up Qin Xiaoyao again and peered at her. Amoner woman? This person was actually a woman? Then, the Second Prince turned his gaze to the soldier. The soldier knew that the information he had given the guard was limited. The guard most likely did not exin the situation clearly to the Second Prince. After taking a step forward, the soldier exined in detail the circumstances surrounding Qin Xiaoyao and her husband to the Second Prince. After the Second Prince listened to everything, he turned his gaze to Song Que, who was standing beside Qin Xiaoyao. When he saw that Song Ques looks were indeed unparalleled, he instantly knew what was going on. Then, he said to the guard beside him, Take Master Song away and ask the military doctor to take care of him. This couple was really interesting. The husband was so beautiful he brought trouble upon himself, and his wife barged into the enemys camp to rescue her husband. More critically, she genuinely rescued him. Yes, Sir! The guard answered. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que quickly expressed their thanks. Ah, youre wee. Master Song, please go and see the doctor with peace of mind. I still have some things to ask your wife, the Second Prince said to Song Que. Song Que gave Qin Xiaoyao a nce before bowing to the Second Prince. Then, he left, with the guards helping to support him. Qin Xiaoyao watched Song Que leave and only withdrew her gaze after the group had left the hall. When the Second Prince saw this, he couldnt help feeling intrigued. Madam, you and Master Song are so deeply in love with each other. Its touching indeed, he said. Qin Xiaoyao was a little dumbfounded when she caught the jesting tone in the other partys words. Ive embarrassed myself in front of Your Highness, she immediately responded. She didnt know this person very well, did she? Was he joking and making fun of her? The smile on the Second Princes face froze when he saw that Qin Xiaoyao didnt appreciate the joke. He immediately became solemn. Ahem This time, the mountain bandits wreaked havoc and seized Mountain Spring Town. Ive been ordered to annihte these mountain bandits. But the mountain bandits are cunning and they are too familiar with the terrain of Mountain Spring Town and its surroundings. The clean-up operation was extremely challenging. This time, its all thanks to you, Madam. You managed to control the bandit leader in time and killed the mountain bandits second-inmand. That was how we managed to hold back most of the bandits and keep them in the town. Now that our army has won, weve already eliminated most of the mountain bandits. Your contribution in this battle is undeniable. The Second Prince praised her, and as he gazed upon Qin Xiaoyao, his eyes were once again filled with admiration. At the same time, he also felt a little regretful. Unfortunately, she was a woman. Otherwise, he would have taken such a talent for his own use. Youre too kind, Your Highness. Im only taking advantage of the situation. My husband and I were saved because of Your Highness. If Your Highness had not led the troops to attack the town and caused turmoil within the ranks of the mountain bandits, I could not have defended the dungeon all by myself, Qin Xiaoyao cupped her fists and replied. The Second Prince nodded. He was very pleased with Qin Xiaoyaos modesty. Im very interested to know how you captured the mountain bandit leader alive and how you got rid of the second leader. Can you tell me the details? the Second Prince continued. This group of bandits was different from ordinary mountain bandits, especially the leader and his second-inmand. Their hands were stained with the blood of countless people. He was really curious about this womans ability. Yes, Sir, Qin Xiaoyao answered. Following that, she told the Second Prince everything that happened after she sneaked into the government office. The Second Prince listened with great interest. After he heard how Song Que gave ideas for Qin Xiaoyao, as well as Qin Xiaoyaos various deeds after that, his eyes were filled with admiration. This couple was indeed extraordinary. Haha! How wonderful! Theres a drill ground in the backyard. Would you like to follow me to go for a try-out? The Second Prince quickly said after hearing from Qin Xiaoyao that she had easily taken care of the second leader and three other mountain bandits. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned momentarily. As you wish, Your Highness, she immediately answered. It seemed that the Second Prince wanted to test her martial arts skills. Since there was someone taking care of her husband, she would go and y with him then. Haha! This way please! The Second Prince stood up and immediately brought Qin Xiaoyao to the backyard. The so-called drill ground was just a temporary setup. It probably had something to do with the Second Princes love for the martial arts. When they arrived, the Second Prince quickly brought two bows and arrows. Madam, do you want to try? He even handed one bow to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the bow and arrow that the Second Prince handed to her, and then peered at the target that was less than fifteen meters away. She epted the bow and arrow. The Second Prince had already drawn his bow and taken aim. He quickly shot the arrow. The arrow hit the bullseye spot-on. The faces of the surrounding guards were full of amazement. The Second Prince was also in a good mood and had a smile on his face. By contrast, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt really bothered. When he saw her reaction, the Second Princes smile vanished and he said to Qin Xiaoyao, Madam, dont you want to try? He thought to himself, Although this cant be considered shooting with exact precision, it is still considered good archery. However, this woman didnt seem to take it seriously. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the bow and arrow in her hand. After some thought, she returned the bow to the Second Prince, leaving only the arrow. The Second Prince was still wondering what was going on when he saw Qin Xiaoyao breaking the arrowhead off with ease. Then she casually tossed it to the other side Crack! A crisp sound rang out as the arrowhead pierced the center of the targets bullseye. In fact, it even passed through the red center and shot through the target outright. Some of the guards watching this thought they were hallucinating. It wasnt until they heard the Second Princes order telling them to check the target that they sprang into action. After the guards left, the Second Prince looked at the target opposite anxiously, waiting for news. After a while, the guard brought back the arrowhead that Qin Xiaoyao had shot out and the target that had been pierced through. The Second Princes eyes widened in shock when he saw this. Madam, what excellent skills you have! Then, he quickly turned around and cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. Just a moment ago, he had thought that this woman had gone too far and exaggerated her own abilities. To his surprise For a person to be able to hit and even prate the target with just an arrowhead, he must surely possess tremendous power in terms of uracy and strength! Who would believe that she was not a martial arts expert? Qin Xiaoyao raised her hand with a smile. Second Prince, youre too kind. I dont know how to shoot with a bow. Just now, I was anxious and broke off the arrowhead and used it instead to shoot the target. Please dont take offense, Your Highness. Although she said these humble words, Qin Xiaoyaos underlying meaning was not humble at all. He wanted to test her, but now he knew how powerful she was! The Second Prince also saw through Qin Xiaoyaos attitude, but he wasnt angry at all. Instead, he found Qin Xiaoyao very interesting. Very quickly, he asked Qin Xiaoyao for her guidance on how to shoot an arrowhead. The Second Prince was amazed to learn that Qin Xiaoyao was not only good at shooting with arrowheads, but she could also hurt people by shooting with leaves. He immediately asked Qin Xiaoyao to demonstrate. Qin Xiaoyao didnt hold back. She plucked a few leaves from the flower bed next to her and used them as darts, shooting them at another target opposite her.. Chapter 266 - 266: The Meteor Hammer Chapter 266: The Meteor Hammer Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion A sight that shocked everyone emerged. The fragile leaves flew out like sharp flying daggers, piercing straight into the target. Excellent! Teacher, you are amazing! The Second Prince quickly said. This time, he changed the way he addressed Qin Xiaoyao from Madam to Teacher. It should be noted that Teacher was a respectful form of address in this era. When a man was addressed as Teacher, it meant the other party respected very much the man who was being addressed in this manner. Women, on the other hand, almost never received such a form of address. Qin Xiaoyao only gave the Second Prince a nce before epting his token of respect. Its just a small trick. Ive embarrassed myself in front of Your Highness. She bowed and cupped her hands as she replied. Sigh! Teacher, youre too humble. The Second Prince looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. The more he looked at her, the more satisfied he was with her attitude. At the same time, he once moremented inwardly that it was a pity the person in front of him was not a man. Teacher, your martial arts skills are outstanding. Did you practice martial arts since you were young? May I know who your master is? The Second Prince asked Qin Xiaoyao after suppressing some other thoughts. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. I didnt practice martial arts when I was young, she cupped her hands once more as she replied. Its just that I have always been strong from a young age. When I was ten, I was picked up by a traveling Taoist priest and was taught some martial arts. When she saw the curiosity on the Second Princes face, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Its a pity that master didnt tell me his name and only called himself the Crazy Taoist Priest. She was Qin Sanya. Where was she supposed to learn martial arts from? However, she was pretty good at bluffing. Crazy Taoist Priest? the Second Prince muttered. He noted it down mentally. He was thinking when he went backter, he would send someone to check if there was such a person in the martial world. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him, the Second Prince quickly regained hisposure. Teacher, your inner strength is strong, and your ability to shoot leaves to hurt people is superb. I wonder how are your sword and saber techniques? he asked. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the row of weapons at the side. She caught sight of a meteor hammer lying among the myriad weapons. The sword and saber are too light. Im not used to them. I usually use daggers. Or, the meteor hammer over there is not bad either. As she spoke, the dagger slid down Qin Xiaoyaos sleeve, and a dagger that glowed with a silver light instantly appeared in her hand. The guards at the side got a big shock and immediately surrounded her. However, the Second Prince stopped them. After telling the guards to step back, the Second Prince looked at the dagger in Qin Xiaoyaos hand with a smile. So, you used this dagger to get rid of the mountain bandits second-inmand and the other mountain bandits who were killed? Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Then, she gently weighed the dagger in her hand. Although the dagger is light, it is portable and easy to conceal. Its not as troublesome as a sword or saber. After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao looked at the meteor hammer not far away, and a hint of interest shed across her eyes. If I encounter a big-sized enemy, the meteor hammer will be a better choice of weapon. The Second Prince followed Qin Xiaoyaos gaze. When he saw the meteor hammer, a look of intrigue shed across his eyes. That meteor hammer weighs 280 catties. Ordinary people wont be able to wield it. But Teacher, you possess divine strength. Perhaps you can give it a try. That meteor hammer was left behind by his master, thete North-conquering Great General. His master was also born with divine strength. With this meteor hammer, he swept through the battlefield wiping out thousands of enemies, and was almost invincible. Unfortunately, no one could use this weapon after his masters death. In the end, he took the meteor hammer and brought it along with him. Qin Xiaoyao looked at it with interest. After ncing at the Second Prince, she walked towards the meteor hammer. After going closer and observing for a while, she reached out with her hand. Following that, the Second Prince and the others saw Qin Xiaoyao lift the meteor hammer up easily. Then, she began to swing the weapon around in the middle of the drill ground in an impressive manner. The moves were swift and forceful. One could asionally hear the sound of the weapon tearing through the air. The Second Prince was overjoyed. Teacher, you are powerful indeed! You can use it to strike the decorations on the drill ground or the flowers and nts in the garden to test the power of this meteor hammer. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up and she did not hold back any longer. She quickly tossed the meteor hammer at the archery target not far away. When the target was hit, it emitted splintering sounds before quickly falling apart. Next was the weapon rack. The moment the rack was hit by the meteor hammer, the weapon rack also copsed to the ground in pieces. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered when she saw a wooden floor not far away. She tossed out the meteor hammer again. Bang! With a loud noise, the wooden floor was smashed right through, leaving a gaping hole. Next, it was the trees and flowers in the garden. They were all hit by the meteor hammer. Qin Xiaoyao felt as if this meteor hammer was specially made for her. When she swung it around, it felt extremely effortless. This weapon was really good. Even if she was surrounded by zombies during the apocalypse, she was confident that she could break through their encirclement with this weapon. This meteor hammers ability to deal with multiple enemies at once was amazing! Under the Second Princes constant praise, Qin Xiaoyao continued swinging the weapon for more than half an hour before she finally stopped. Qin Xiaoyao reluctantly returned the meteor hammer to its original position and walked back to the Second Prince. She cupped her hands as she expressed her thanks. Thank you for letting me test the hammer, Your Highness. The Second Prince was all smiles. Youre too polite, Teacher! A treasured hammer for a hero! I cant unleash the meteor hammers full potential even if I keep it with me. Why dont you take it with youter? You will definitely not bring disgrace to this weapon. As soon as he said this, the expression on the guards by his side changed. Just as they were about to dissuade him, they saw the Second Prince gesture to them to shut up. Thus, the guards did not dare to move again. The Second Prince wanted to give away the weapon left behind by the North-conquering Great General? What was His Highness thinking? Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered slightly when she saw the guards reaction. Then, she cupped her fists and bowed to the Second Prince. Thank you, Your Highness. I appreciate the Your Highness kind intentions. However, I think Id better not take this meteor hammer, she said. The Second Princes expression changed slightly. Whats wrong? Teacher, dont you like this meteor hammer? That shouldnt be the case. After all, when he saw her pick it up, swinging it around as if she wasnt willing to let go, it would be strange if she didnt like it. No, Qin Xiaoyao replied. However, Im afraid that the meteor hammer wont be of any use in the hands of a meremoner woman like me. This weapon can only realize its value by following Your Highness to the battlefield. She liked the weapon, but she didnt have to have it. Who would be willing to fight and kill when they could live a peaceful and happy life? Wasnt it morefortable to be with her husband, living every day like a perfectlypatible and harmonious couple than to fight on the battlefield? That was right. Qin Xiaoyao had already seen through the Second Princes intention to recruit her. To be honest, she was a little tempted, but she still preferred her current life. It was more practical to lead an ordinary life. She already had such a good husband and such a fine family. Why would she still pursue that kind of exciting life? The Second Prince was stunned momentarily. Teacher, why dont you follow me he immediately said. However, before he could finish his sentence, Qin Xiaoyao took a step back and bowed to him. Im just amoner woman. I only wish to follow my husband, stay at home to help my husband and raise my children, and live a stable life. Your Highness is a man of great talent and strategy. There are naturally countless famous schrs and generals to do your bidding at your disposal. Her words were considered a rejection. The Second Princes face stiffened. When he thought of the fact that Qin Xiaoyao was a woman, he felt another pang of regret.. Chapter 267 - 267: Going Home Chapter 267: Going Home Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Fine. Everyone has his own ambition, he said with a sigh. Then, he invited Qin Xiaoyao to have a meal with him. When he noticed that Qin Xiaoyao was somewhat reluctant, the Second Prince sent someone to invite Song Que as well. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao agree to join him. When they reached the front hall, Song Que was already waiting. After the Second Prince inquired from the military doctor and found out that Song Ques condition was not serious, Qin Xiaoyao felt more relieved. During the meal, the Second Prince saw that Qin Xiaoyaos eyes and heart werepletely focused on Song Que, and soon, he lost all interest in eating. In the end, the meal ended quickly and he arranged for someone to send the couple home. After he surmised the couple had already left the government office, the Second Prince stood by the window and said with a sigh, Its a pity that such a talent is lost The guard at the side nced at his master and didnt say anything. Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoyao brought Song Que home. Everyone was overjoyed to see the couple return safely. Its good that youre back. Its good that youre back Madam Liu even held her eldest son and eldest daughter-inws hands,ughing and crying at the same time. Gosh, Mother! Its a joyous oue that my husband and I have returned safely. Why are you still crying? Dont cry anymore. If you continue to cry, our hearts will ache, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and patted her mother-inws back as she remonstrated petntly. Mm-hmm! Its a joyous oue. Boo hoo I wont cry! I wont cry! Madam Liu immediately replied as she choked back her tears. When she saw that Song Que wasnt looking too well, Qin Xiaoyao turned to Song Yun and said, Alright, its gettingte. Yuner, quickly help Mother back to her room. If theres anything else, we can talk about it tomorrow. Mm-hmm! Song Yun answered hurriedly. Mother, lets go. Big Brother and Eldest Sister-inw have been busy for the whole day. We should let them rest early, she said to Madam Liu. Madam Liu also noticed that Song Quesplexion wasnt too good and nodded. After Madam Liu and Song Yun left, Song Ye and Wang Xiaomei also left. Sister Sanya! Brother-inw Big Girl Li came forward and looked at the couple worriedly. The reason the Song family got into trouble this time was primarily due to her and Daniu. She had almost been tormented to death by guilt for one whole day and night. Fortunately, Sister Sanya had found her husband. She could only hope that they were all fine. Qin Xiaoyao simply gave Big Girl Li a nce before telling Liu Daniu to help her back to her room. Following that, she also told her father to return to his room to rest as soon as possible. Thereafter, she helped Song Que along and left. It wasnt that she was angry with Big Girl Li and her husband, but Song Que was still suffering from a cold, so how could she stand here and chit-chat with them? Big Girl Li looked at the back profiles of the two people as they left, and tears suddenly poured down. Alright. Listen to Sister Sanya and go back to your room. Brother Song is not feeling well, and Sister Sanya has to take care of him. At this point, lets not give her any more trouble. If theres anything, well talk about it tomorrow! Liu Daniu said to his wife. Big Girl Li looked at her husband as tears continued pouring down her face. Then she nodded and left with Liu Daniu. As Qin Dazhuang watched his daughter and son-inw walking off, he gave a sigh and returned to the room that the Song family had arranged for him. Qin Xiaoyao helped Song Que back to their room and began to help him undress. After settling Song Que down, she went to the kitchen to get some hot water and quickly helped Song Que to wipe his body. Following that, she helped Song Que to bed. Hubby, have a good sleep. Tomorrow morning, I will go and ask Doctor Li toe here. Your cold will get better soon. Qin Xiaoyao leaned closer to Song Que and said in a gentle voice. The moment Song Ques head hit the pillow, his entire body became limp and feeble again. When he heard Qin Xiaoyaos affectionate words, he replied mildly, Mm-hmm. Following that, he closed his eyes. He had finally returned safely. It felt so good to be home Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that Song Que had fallen asleep. She walked out of the room quietly. Ever since she left home yesterday, she had killed people and yed with the meteor hammer, so her body did not smell good right now. She had to take a hot bath before going to bed. In the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyao boiled a huge pot of water. After that, she went to the bathroom to take a bath. When she returned to her room after her bath, Song Que was already sound asleep. As she looked at Song Ques peaceful sleeping face, Qin Xiaoyaos heart was at peace. She got into bed andy down carefully. Then, she leaned against Song Que contentedly and closed her eyes. In thetter half of the night, it began to snow. The whistling north wind gusted, and it was extremely cold. In the couples room, the couple slept close to each other, but they felt very warm. The next day. When Song Que opened his eyes, he realized that Qin Xiaoyao was not awake yet. When he woke up, he still had a headache, but it was much better than yesterday. Knowing that his wife was exhausted from the happenings over past two days, Song Que did not move but turned his head to look at Qin Xiaoyao. His wife seemed to be even more beautiful than before. Those facial features had really grown increasingly more to his liking. Now that the bandits were eliminated and Mountain Spring Town had regained its peace, he was alsopletely at ease. He would just wait a little longer. When he had recovered from his cold, he would definitely ask his wife for a child. His wife adored little Chunhua so much. When their child was born in the future, she would definitely adore their child even more. As he thought of the possible scenarios, the corners of Song Ques lips could not help curling up into a warm smile. He looked like a flower blooming in March and was downright stunning. When Qin Xiaoyao opened her eyes, this was the sight that greeted her. She almost fell into a daze. However, she quickly regained her senses. Then, she stretched out her hand and ced it on Song Ques forehead. She heaved a sigh of relief when she realized that Song Que was no longer running a fever. When did you wake up, Hubby? Why didnt you wake me up? As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao inched closer and looked at Song Que. The more she looked at him, the more she liked what she saw. She couldnt resist reaching out to touch his face. She traced his eyebrows and caressed his face. Finally, she reached his lips. Song Que didnt even try to avoid her touch. He simply allowed Qin Xiaoyao to do as she pleased on his face. Do you like what you see? Suddenly, the mans lips moved and he asked with a smile. Should he be grateful for his face, and that he was born in a form that could charm his wifes heart? I like it, Qin Xiaoyao answered happily. The baby we have in the future will definitely be good-looking! Just the thought of it made her happy. Song Que raised his eyebrows. When I have recovered from my cold Before he could finish, Qin Xiaoyao had already kissed him, cutting off the rest of his words. Then, she kissed Song Que until he almost suffocated before she let him go. Song Que had not recovered from his cold and was panting heavily. He looked like a young wife being bullied as he looked at Qin Xiaoyao with an exasperated face. Arent you afraid of catching my cold as well? he said somewhat angrily. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, wasughing heartily. Your wife is as strong as an ox. What is there to be afraid of? she said proudly. However, seeing that you are not feeling well today, Ill let you off this time. Next time, youll have to make up for it. After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao turned over and got off the bed. Song Que was left alone on the bed, cursing Qin Xiaoyao for acting like a hooligan in his heart. After getting out of bed, Qin Xiaoyao quickly put on her clothes and went to the kitchen to wash up. She also got some water for Song Que to wash his face. When she finally went out, she realize that it was already bright outside. Madam Liu and the others were all up and waiting for them to have breakfast.. Chapter 268 - 268: Made a Fortune Chapter 268: Made a Fortune Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Qin Xiaoyao quickly had breakfast delivered to the hall. After she sent a portion to Song Que, she apanied the others to eat breakfast in the hall. At this moment, Madam Liu finally couldnt contain herself anymore and asked Qin Xiaoyao what happened yesterday. Everyone also looked at Qin Xiaoyao, waiting to hear more. Oh, theres nothing much to tell really. After Song Que was captured by the mountain bandits, he was locked up in the government offices dungeon. After that, I found him in the dungeon. I also took the mountain bandit leader hostage and killed the mountain bandits second-inmand. Following that, we guarded the dungeon and waited for the Imperial Courts army to attack the government office. Eventually, the Imperial Courts army only arrived after the sky turned dark. After that, we exined the situation to the Imperial Courts army and followed the soldiers to meet the Second Prince. From there, we were sent back, Qin Xiaoyao recounted factually. One night had passed sincest night, and the government office would probably have released a notice today to calm the people down and announce the execution of the mountain bandit leader. The Second Prince had said that he would give her a reward, so she definitely would not be able to hide it from her family. Therefore, she might as well tell the truth. As for the details, she wouldnt reveal too much and simply allowed everyone to fill in the nks with their own imagination. Qin Xiaoyao spoke calmly, but everyone was shocked as they listened to her. Only Qin Dazhuang was not very affected. He felt that Qin Xiaoyao was able to do all this because of her masters help. However, the rest of the people were incredibly shocked. They knew that Qin Xiaoyao had great strength and was highly skilled in martial arts, but they did not realize that she was so capable! She had kidnapped the mountain bandit leader, killed the second leader, and then went to meet the Second Prince? She had actually done so many great deeds? While everyone was still in shock, there was a knock on the door from outside the courtyard. Qin Xiaoyao went to open the door personally. Then, she saw some soldiers carrying tworge chests of things inside. After that, they read out the Second Princes decree. It turned out that the reward that the Second Prince had promised had arrived. There was a total of 1000 taels of silver in the chest. It was a reward for Qin Xiaoyao from the Imperial Court for capturing the bandit leader and killing the mountain bandits second-inmand. When the chest was opened, the sparkling silver was reflected in everyones eyes, and they finally believed Qin Xiaoyaos words. In addition, the Second Prince also asked us to bring a message to Madam Qin. When hes done with the government offices matters, hell personallye to visit, the leading officer said to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was astounded. Oh, alright! Sir, I have to trouble you to reply to the Second Prince. When the timees, my husband and I will definitely wee him with open arms. She cupped her hands and replied to the officer. Now that everything was over, and she had already turned down his offer to join him, why did he still want toe here? Could it be that he had not given up? He still wanted to win her over? Forget it. She couldnt be bothered with him. However, she couldnt say no to himing to visit. For the sake of the 1000 taels of silver, she had to entertain him. Furthermore, the Second Prince didnt say that he was going to take back the 10,000 taels of silver the mountain bandits had given her. Thus, strictly speaking, what he had given her was not merely 1000 taels of silver. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao epted this turn of events very happily. After exchanging some pleasantries with the soldiers, she sent them off. As soon as Qin Xiaoyao returned from sending off the soldiers, she was surrounded by everyone. It was obvious that everyone had not recovered from the shock yet. They were all waiting for Qin Xiaoyao to exin the situation. The Second Prince the Second Prince had actually sent so much silver. He even suggested that he would pay them a visit in person in a few days. That was the Second Prince! The Emperors royal offspring! They were allmoners, and they could hardly get a chance to meet the county magistrate, much less someone with a status like the Second Prince. As for being acquainted with the Second Prince, that was even more out of the question. Dont just stand there. Help me bring the silver back to the house first, Qin Xiaoyao said, feeling amused by the looks on everyones faces. Everyone quickly returned to their senses. Following that, they all stepped forward to help bring the silver back to Qin Xiaoyaos room. After they were done, everyone left the room and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao didnt continue exining and asked everyone to continue with their breakfast. Thereafter, she sent Big Girl Lis family of three off. Next, she looked for her father and gave him a 100 taels silver note. Qin Dazhuang was shocked. How could he ept it? However, it didnt stop Qin Xiaoyao from insisting on giving it to him. Father, just take it. Your daughter has made a fortune this time on this outing. This is really nothing! When he saw that Madam Liu and the others seemed to be looking in their direction, Qin Dazhuang finally did not refuse. Even if you have made a fortune, its still yours. I Qin Dazhuang thought that his daughter was referring to the 1000 taels of silver that she had just earned when she said a fortune. Qin Xiaoyao nced at her father. Its all thanks to Father and my two brothersing here to help out when my husband got into trouble this time. Without you here, how can I go to the government office to save my husband in peace? When she saw that Qin Dazhuang was about to speak again, Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and held his hand. She whispered, Besides, I got these silver notes from the mountain bandits. It was equivalent to getting it for free. Its not a big deal to share some with you! Qin Dazhuang was astonished and immediately stared at his daughter. Dont worry, Father. Ive mentioned this to the Second Prince. The Second Prince didnt take the silver back, so you dont have to worry about using this silver note! Qin Xiaoyao continued. Only then did Qin Dazhuangs expression rx. You even got silver notes from the mountain bandits? No, wait Did your master do this, or did you do this? he asked. Qin Xiaoyao was stumped momentarily. Then, her eyes flickered for a while. Ah, I got it together with my master. We got quite a lot. I gave the bigger share to master and I got the smaller share, she added, going along with Qin Dazhuangs narrative. Qin Dazhuang nodded. What about your master? He also went to meet the Second Prince? he asked again. No Qin Xiaoyao quickly replied. Master is used to being carefree and doesnt want to be restrained. When he discovered that the Imperial Courts army had broken through the town, he left after making sure that my husband and I were safe. Qin Dazhuang gave a sigh of relief. Can you still contact him? His daughters master had done his daughter and the Qin family a great favor. He wanted to meet him in person and express his immense gratitude. Masteres and goes without a trace, and this time hes deliberately avoiding the Second Prince. Im afraid I wont be able to contact him any time soon, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Qin Dazhuang looked disappointed. At this point, he roughly understood why the Second Prince wanted toe and visit his daughters family in a few days. What a pity After giving another sigh, Qin Dazhuang finally stopped harping on this matter. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief inwardly when she saw this. Now that weve gotten rid of the bandits in Mountain Spring Town, I believe that order will be restored in the town soon with the Second Princes presence. Father, you should go home and tidy up the house with my brothers. We should be able to lead a normal life in two days. After seeing Qin Dazhuang nod, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Im also getting ready. Ill start growing bean sprouts this afternoon. When the bean sprouts ripen, Ill be counting on Big Brother and Second Brother to help me sell them this winter. Sure! Ill tell your big brother and second brother when I get back! Qin Dazhuang quickly replied. Then Ill get your big brothers family toe over and help out this afternoon, he said after some thought. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Lets forget today. The Imperial Courts army has just entered the town. The situation outside may not be able to recover so quickly.. Chapter 269 - 269: Planning to Purchase Property Chapter 269: nning to Purchase Property Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Let Eldest Sister-inw take care of Xiaohu at home for a day. Everyone in my family is free now. Its only for half a day this afternoon. We should be able to handle it ourselves. Qin Dazhuang thought about it and felt that what his daughter said made sense, so he nodded. Qin Xiaoyao chatted with Qin Dazhuang for a while longer before sending him off. After sending her father off, Qin Xiaoyao went out to look for Doctor Li. When the Li family saw Qin Xiaoyao, they were very warm and weing. Then they learned that Qin Xiaoyao hade to them to look for the doctor. When he considered that the town was basically safe now and that Qin Xiaoyao had promised to send him back and forth, Doctor Li took his medicine box and went with her dly. Along the way, Qin Xiaoyao saw many soldiers patrolling the streets. At the same time, there were also civilians who came out. Every one of them looked quite spirited. It waspletely different from the time when Mountain Spring Town was upied by the mountain bandits. Doctor Li couldnt help but smile when he saw this. He sighed with relief knowing that the Hundred Herbs Hall might be able to open for business again in a few days. Qin Xiaoyao was in a good mood as well. She even praised the Imperial Courts army and the Second Prince. When they arrived at the Song familys house, Doctor Li went into the room to check on Song Que. The Song family members were all waiting anxiously. Madam Liu, in particr, looked very worried. Very soon, Doctor Li finished his examination. He didnt give a prescription, but simply took out three doses of medicine from the medicine box and gave them to Qin Xiaoyao. Mr. Songs high fever has subsided. Only themon symptoms of a cold are left. From hereon, take three more days of medicine and rest for a few days. He should be able to recover fully. After handing the medicine to Qin Xiaoyao, Doctor Li exined to the crowd. Everyone was finally at ease. In particr, Madam Liu, who had been holding her breath, almost fainted again. Luckily, Song Yun and Wang Xiaomei were keeping an eye on her and helped her to a seat. Qin Xiaoyao quickly asked Doctor Li to also check her mother-inws pulse. After ascertaining that Madam Liu only suffered from too much fright and that her body was fine, Qin Xiaoyao was relieved. After she sent Doctor Li off, she went to look for Madam Liu and the others. She told them about the situation outside and that basically the storm had passed. Its all over now. Peace will be restored in Mountain Spring Town soon. Ive already decided. From today, our family will continue to sell bean sprouts. Also, after the new year, I will let my husband and Yeer attend the academy. Since the social disadvantages no longer existed, and she was not short of money, it was time to send her husband and little brother-inw to school. As soon as she said this, joy swept across everyones faces. They werent afraid of being busy. They only felt at ease when they were busy. On the contrary, they had been idle during this period of time. When they were idle, they tended to think too much, and every day was filled with fear. Moreover, getting the boys in the family to go to school was something that everyone had been nning. And today, it was about to be a reality. Madam Liu was the most excited, and she looked at Qin Xiaoyao with gratitude. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth lifted into a smile. Also, I n to open a porridge shop after the new year. Everyone was shocked when they heard her. Although Mountain Spring Town was peaceful now, the food problem had not been solved yet. Previously, there had been a drought and a locust gue. If peoples lives in Mountain Spring Town were to be restoredpletely, it would probably take a long time. To open a porridge shop, one would need a lot of food. Previously, the Song family did not sell their food supply, so they still had some means to try to operate this kind of business. However, they had already sold the grain, and now Qin Xiaoyao wanted to open a porridge shop. Would this work? Faced with everyones puzzled gazes, Qin Xiaoyao could easily guess what they were thinking. However, she did not rush to exin. Instead, she smiled. I have a way to solve the food supply issue. When the timees, you can all wait to get busy with me! The bean sprout business wouldst until the next spring, after which there would be new farm vegetables on sale. At that point, the bean sprout business would not be so good. As for setting up stalls, the ie from those was not as stable due to the unpredictability of the sun and rain. Furthermore, when Qin Xiaoyao delivered the goods to Fortune Mansion, the profit was not that much when the source of the goods was not under her control. Among those goods, the most profitable ones were still her own goods, such as the century eggs and the bean sprouts. Of course, she could continue to supply these goods to Fortune Mansion in the future. However, it didnt make much sense to continue with the other goods. If the porridge shops business could get better in the future, she could get Daniu to contact Fortune Mansion directly. In fact, it was no big deal. In short, in theing year, the familys ie would mainly be from the porridge shop and the supply of century eggs to Fortune Mansion. Then, in the winter, they would also have the bean sprout business. The porridge shop would be her focus from now on. In fact, Qin Xiaoyao had been thinking about this for a long time. It was just that she didnt have much savings in the past. In addition, she had a variety of businesses, and her total ie had always been quite good. She didnt have time to do more anyway, so her actions on the porridge shop stopped at the nning stage. However, now, she had obtained 11,000 taels of silver in one go. With so much money, it was more than enough to open ten porridge shops, let alone one porridge shop. With the money in hand, Qin Xiaoyao did not have to fret, and it was easy to get things done with money. Now that the town was undergoing restoration, she would buy a few shops to collect rent and then choose one to open a porridge shop. In the future, she would not have to worry about her familys livelihood. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyaos heart felt very much at ease. Madam Liu and the others looked at each other and finally nodded in agreement. Their daughter C inw/sister-inw was so capable that she could even get to know someone like the Second Prince. She was reliable in whatever she did. Qin Xiaoyao gave the crowd more encouragement again and asked Madam Liu and the rest to make some delicious dishes for lunch before leaving. After calming down her family, Qin Xiaoyao returned to her room to apany Song Que. When she saw that Song Que was in good spirits, she told him about her uing ns. Song Que was surprised that Qin Xiaoyao had already nned how to spend the sum of money in her hands so quickly, but he didnt object. With the food stocked up in the cer, its not a problem for you to open a porridge shop, Song Que said. However, you have to choose the location carefully when ites to buying a shop. Although the civil unrest in Mountain Spring Town had ended, the people would still live in a time of famine and impoverishment for a long time. There would be many people who were willing to sell their shops and move their entire families. It was indeed a good time to buy a shop. However, even if they bought the shops, it was highly likely that they would not be able to rent them out. It would be impossible to make a living by collecting rent for the time being. Mm-hmm! When youre feeling better, well go and look around together, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Although it was a close call this time, our family has also made a fortune. Only the two of us know about the 10,000 taels of silver, but the 1000 taels were sent by the government office in broad daylight. Im afraid we wont be able to hide it from the people around us. As for that 1000 taels, I think its better to spend them on things visible to the public. It would also prevent other people from hankering after their money. Song Que nodded. If its just a porridge shop, it doesnt cost 1000 taels of silver, he said. Obviously, one shop will not use up all of it. So, when the timees, well just tell outsiders that weve bought two shops. And we can also improve the clothes we wear and the things we use in the future. After the new year, when you and Yeer attend the academy, you can dress up more decently. Now that Qin Xiaoyao had money, there was no need to scrimp and save like they did in the past.. Chapter 270 - 270: Buying a Horse Carriage Chapter 270: Buying a Horse Carriage Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Mm-hmm. The couple quickly reached an agreement. For the next two days, Qin Xiaoyao didnt go out. On one hand, she was apanying Song Que at home, but she was also making some follow-up ns. For example, she made a list and nned what she wanted to buy for the family. In addition, she was preparing to buy shops for investment and open a porridge shop. On this day, the sky cleared up after the snowfall. Qin Xiaoyao finally went out. Then, she returned in less than two hours. She was also leading a horse carriage in her hand. That was right. The rich tycoon finally spent money to buy her first car since arriving in the ancient era. When the horse carriage entered thepound, the whole Song family was shocked. They all gathered around to ogle curiously. Among them, little Song Ye was the happiest. He climbed into the carriage and stayed there, not wanting toe out anymore. After he came out, he asked Qin Xiaoyao to carry him and ride the horse together. With a carriage, I can personally pick up Yeer and my husband to and from the academy, Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. They lived in the west of the town, while Cirrus Loft Academy was in the east. It was actually not far if they traveled by foot. Moreover, with a horse carriage, it would be much more convenient for the family to travel and deliver goods. Of course, the more troublesome part was that Qin Xiaoyao had to provide the horse with horse feed. However, this was not a big deal. When she bought the horse, the shop owner introduced her to a supplier who sold horse feed. As long as she paid him, that fellow would deliver the horse feed the next day. She had already made arrangements with him. When Madam Liu saw the carriage, she also liked it very much. When she heard her daughter-inw say that she bought the horse carriage to ferry her two sons, she was even more touched. Actually, its fine to walk. We used to live in Brook Falls Vige, which was even further away from Cirrus Loft Academy. Queer also walks to and from the academy back then, Madam Liu said. Thinking back to the days in Brook Falls Vige, Madam Liu felt a lot of different emotions. Ever since their daughter-inw suddenly came to her senses, their familys life had been getting better and better. Now that the bandits in Mountain Spring Town had been eliminated, all her sons were going to the academy. Everything in the family was developing in a good direction. In the past, our circumstances were more restricted. Now that our family is well-off, our life will naturally be better, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Lets go. While the weather is good today, lets drive the horse carriage to the streets and buy some stuff, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Song Yun and Wang Xiaomeis faces lit up and they immediately looked at Madam Liu. There was a sh of hesitation in Madam Lius eyes. After Song Ye tugged at the corner of her clothes, she smiled and nodded. Then, other than Song Que, who was still recuperating and could not go out, the entire family got into the carriage. Finally, Qin Xiaoyao sat on the shaft of the carriage and drove the horse carriage out. Today, Mountain Spring Town had basically returned to its normal state. There were fewer soldiers on the street, and more shops were open for business. There were many more civilians on the streets than when the mountain bandits were around. The people appeared to be in good spirits and all of them had hope on their faces. The few people in the horse carriage drew the curtain aside and looked at the situation outside. With Song Yes joy infecting the rest, everyone was also very happy. Qin Xiaoyao drove the horse carriage around the main street and finally stopped the horse carriage in front of arge textile shop. That was right. Since she wanted to buy some good fabric, she naturally had to choose arge textile shop. The Song family had lived in the town for a long time, so they knew about this textile shop. When she saw that Qin Xiaoyao was about to go in, Madam Liu quickly stepped forward and pulled her back. Its alright, Mother. I brought all of you out today to buy you some nice clothes. Its not just clothes. Ill take you all to the silver shopter to buy some silver jewelry. When she saw that Madam Liu was about to object, Qin Xiaoyao quickly said, Dont forget. The Second Prince will be here in two days. Our entire family should dress up more appropriately to avoid being looked down upon by the Second Prince. The Second Princes visit was not a bad excuse so Qin Xiaoyao decided to make use of it. Sure enough, after hearing this, Madam Liu stopped rejecting her gesture. The whole group followed Qin Xiaoyao into the textile shop. The shop assistant weed her warmly. Madam, do you want to buy cloth or ready-made clothes? Our shop has all kinds of colored cloth. Qin Xiaoyao took one look around the shop. Lets look at the ready-made ones first, she said. The shop assistants face was filled with joy. Alright! This way, please! He hurriedly led the way. The profit from ready-made clothes in the store was much higher than that from cloth. Most people who came to the textile shop would buy cloth and go back to make their own clothes. Those who bought ready-made clothes were usually the more generous customers. Qin Xiaoyao led the group of people and followed with a smile. When they arrived at the ready-made clothes section, they found that there were all kinds of fabrics and clothes of all designs and colors. They were a little overjoyed. Then, Qin Xiaoyao went straight to the silk section to choose. This gave Madam Liu a shock. However, because the shop assistant was there, she couldnt stop Qin Xiaoyao. She could only follow her daughter-inw dumbly with an awkward expression. It was not only Madam Liu. Even Song Yun, Song Ye, and Wang Xiaomei were also feeling the same way. They were afraid that Qin Xiaoyao would really buy these silk clothester. In their eyes, it was already decent enough to buy fine cotton clothes to wear. Their worries quickly became reality. Qin Xiaoyao quickly picked out a set of clothes that she thought was suitable for Madam Liu. She even asked the shop assistant to take them down for Madam Liu to try on. Madam Lius face turned red and she refused repeatedly. Go, Mother! Trust my judgment. Youll definitely look good in this dress! Qin Xiaoyao said. When she saw that Madam Liu was still not obliging, she said, Even if its not for receiving guests, New Year is around the corner, so I should buy you some nice things. You dont have to be so polite with me. When he saw this, the shop assistant also tried to persuade Madam Liu. Madam Liu couldnt argue against them, so she went to try the clothes. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop and continued to look at the other ready-made clothes in the store. Very soon, she also picked out a set for Song Yun, Song Ye, and Wang Xiaomei respectively. Those three peoples faces also turned very red. As they stood there not knowing what to do, Madam Liu emerged. After changing into the silk dress, Madam Liu seemed to have be a different person. Her noble bearing suddenly became obvious. A person who wasnt that striking just now instantly became an eye-catching presence. She was no different from a richdy from a wealthy family. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up when she saw Madam Lius current demeanor. She had long known that her mother-inw was very beautiful and had a gentle temperament. However, she did not expect that a set of clothes could bring about such a great change in her appearance. Song Yun and the others were also very surprised. The shop assistant had already started to praise her, which made Madam Liu feel very embarrassed. Qin Xiaoyao arranged for Song Yun and the others to try on their clothes. She went forward and led Madam Liu to the bronze mirror to show her the effect. Although Madam Liu felt awkward, she obliged. When she saw herself in the mirror, she couldnt resist touching her own face. Qin Xiaoyao lowered her head to Madam Lius neck and said, It fits you perfectly. This set of clothes is really suitable for you, Mother! She was now certain that her husbands good looks were indeed inherited from her mother-inw. Oh no. It seemed that he also inherited some from her father-inw. In any case, he had picked the best parts of the two of them to develop himself. Madam Liu tugged at her clothes. She was still a little ufortable, but her eyes clearly showed that she liked them.. Chapter 271 - 271: Looks Age Easily Chapter 271: Looks Age Easily Trantor: Draqon Boat Trantion Editor: Draqon Boat Trantion This dress was indeed beautiful, and the material was alsofortable. In addition, wearing it reminded her of some memories of her youth She felt a little emotional. Mm-hmm. Finally, Madam Liu consented and epted her daughter-inws gift. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. She was ready to pick another set of clothes for Madam Liu. However, Madam Liu rejected her gesture. Upon Qin Xiaoyaos insistence, Madam Liu eventually agreed to buy some silk fabric and make the clothes herself. Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and agreed. After a while, Song Yun and the rest came out of the fitting room. Every one of them had changed a lot after changing into silk clothes. This was particrly true for Song Yun and Song Ye. They looked like the young miss and young master of a rich family. Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased. She chose a few more sets of clothes for the three of them to try on, telling them to choose the ones they liked the most. As for herself, she quickly started to try on the clothes. When the family left the textile shop, each of them had bought a set of silk clothes, plus arge amount of silk cloth and fine cotton. When Madam Liu saw that Qin Xiaoyao paid a total of 40 taels of silver, her heart almost broke from the heartache. However, when she got on the horse carriage and saw the goods being loaded onto the horse carriage, she liked what she saw immensely. Qin Xiaoyao was thest to get on the carriage. She then drove the horse carriage to thergest silver shop on that same street to buy jewelry for her family. In the end, she spent another 50 taels of silver. After they left the silver shop, Qin Xiaoyao wanted to continue shopping but was stopped by Madam Liu. This time, no matter what Qin Xiaoyao said, Madam Liu wouldnt let her continue to take them to spend money frivolously. She forced Qin Xiaoyao to take them home. Qin Xiaoyao had no choice but to do as she was told. When they got home, Qin Xiaoyao brought her clothes and Song Ques clothes back to the room, as well as the silver hairpin she had picked for Song Que. When he saw he also had new clothes and that his wife had even bought him a hairpin, Song Que was in a good mood. You were not there, unfortunately. This set of clothes was picked out by the shop assistant after I told him your size. Ill help you put it on to try. If it doesnt fit, I can take it back and change it. Qin Xiaoyao held the clothes and looked at Song Que with a smile. Ever since she bought the clothes, she couldnt wait to let her husband wear them for her to take a look. Her husband would definitely look good in such beautiful clothes. Mm-hmm, Song Que replied. He got up obligingly and allowed Qin Xiaoyao to help him change his clothes. in the end, when Song Que was dressed in silk clothes, his bearing was immediately elevated to a higher level. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were filled with loving emotions. She quickly took out the silver hairpin she had bought and wanted to put it on Song Ques head. Song Que was in a good mood, so he sat in front of the dressing mirror and allowed Qin Xiaoyao to do whatever she wanted. It didnt take much effort for Qin Xiaoyao to fix up Song Ques hair. As she stared at the man who was as beautiful as an immortal, Qin Xiaoyao felt that her heart was filled to the brim with emotions. When Song Que saw Qin Xiaoyao staring at him without blinking, a smile appeared on his face. Then, he pulled Qin Xiaoyao over and made her sit in his arms. You like your husbands appearance that much? he asked in a good mood. In his previous life, he had once hated his own appearance. In this life, when he saw that his wife was so infatuated with him, he could not deny that he was actually a little d. Oh no. Rather, he should say he was very d. Qin Xiaoyao seemed to have been bewitched by a demon. She nodded dumbly. Song Que was in an even better mood when he saw her reaction. Then, he said with some jealousy, My wife, you pay so much attention to external appearance. What if in the future you meet a man who is better-looking than your husband? What should I do? How can I meet a man whos better looking than my husband? Qin Xiaoyao said hurriedly. When she saw Song Que frowning, the woman quickly added, In my heart, you are the most handsome man in the world! One may meet many wonderful opportunities in life, but it is sufficient to catch hold of just one such opportunity. Ive set my mind on you, Hubby, and I will never change in this life! After she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao even made a vow. Song Que immediately broke into a smile. But looks ago easily. One day, I will no longer be young, 111 be old and ugly, and Ill be a terrible old man. When that timees, your husband will no longer look like this. Will you dislike your husband? Song Que asked again as his smile disappeared. Of course not! When my husband gets old, I will also get old. Besides, lrm older than you, so 111 get old first. 1 should be the one asking you not to despise me, Qin Xiaoyao said earnestly. She loved her husband for his looks, but it was not only because of his looks that she loved him. As they got to know each other better, she also loved his wisdom, his character, and his understanding of her. She was d that she could find someone who didnt mind her killing people and the darkness buried in her heart, and also someone who could understand her. Perhaps it was because they both came from the same world, in short, this kind of rtionship where they could support and understand each other was really wonderful. The corners of Song Ques lips curled up. He was very satisfied with Qin Xiaoyaos answer. Hubby, you wont despise me in the future, will you At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos face suddenly looked worried. She hadnt paid much attention to it before, but now that she thought about it, she remembered that her current body was three years older than her husbands. Women aged faster than men. Although she was a special ability user and had a good physique, she would still age although she would age more slowly. Song Queughed in amusement. I wont, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao and replied. After he finished speaking, he even lowered his head and gave Qin Xiaoyao a light peck on the lips. While Qin Xiaoyao was still in a daze, he leaned over to her ear and whispered, Rather than your appearance, your husband loves your soul more. Qin Xiaoyaos heart shuddered, and at the same time, she felt her soul tremble momentarily. Then, a huge wave of happiness swept through her whole body. Just as Song Que was about to raise his head, Qin Xiaoyao reached out and grabbed Song Ques neck. Then, she nted her lips on Song Ques The next day, Song Que finally felt much better and came out of the room. When he saw Liu Daniu and the rest, as well as his two brothers-inw,ing to get the bean sprouts, he even went up to help. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop him when she saw him. She also made up her mind to arrange some physical training for her husband to help him improve his physical fitness. After working busily for a while, Liu Daniu and the rest took the bean sprouts away, and the Song family prepared to have breakfast. In the end, someone from the government office suddenly came to inform them in advance that the Second Prince would arrive before noon. This made the Song family very anxious. In particr, Madam Liu was so frantic that she couldnt even cat. She just wanted to quickly tidy up the house, afraid that she would not be able to serve the Second Prince well at noon. Theres no need to deliberately tidy up. The house just needs to be clean and neat. Then, 111 go to the marketter. Ill buy some good vegetables, good wine, and tea. Since an important guest ising, we will just entertain him well within our own limits. The Second Prince had a high status, so he must have eaten a lot of exotic and luxurious delicacies. Nheless, they could not offer food that was too shabby. Now that the market had reopened, even though they couldnt buy any good vegetables, they could still buy some reasonable stuff.. Chapter 272 - 272: Styling a Hair Bun Chapter 272: Styling a Hair Bun Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion In addition to the cured meat, bean sprouts, and century eggs at home, it should not be difficult to make a slightly more sumptuous meal. Madam Liu agreed, but she was still a little panicky. She only felt better after Qin Xiaoyao calmed her again. After the meal, Qin Xiaoyao drove the horse carriage out to deliver bean sprouts and century eggs to Fortune Mansion. That was right. Fortune Mansion had sent someone to her house yesterday to inform her that they would be re-opening today and wanted Qin Xiaoyao to deliver some goods to them. Qin Xiaoyao happened to have bean sprouts ready for harvesting, so she epted their order. When she arrived at the Mansion, Qin Xiaoyao ran into Uncle Zhao as soon as she entered the premises. The two of them had not seen each other for a long time and chatted for a long time. Uncle Zhao had heard from Qin Dazhuang about some of the major deeds that Qin Xiaoyao had done recently. He was very impressed with Qin Xiaoyao. You silly girl. Its a pity that you were born a girl. Otherwise, you will have a bright future if you can get to know the Second Prince this time! Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Hehe! I think things are very good the way they arc now. If I am a man and the Second Prince holds me in high regard, I will have to follow him to the battlefield. How can I still lead a peaceful life? And I wont be able to take care of my family. Qin Xiaoyaos attitude was very calm. Uncle Zhao thought for a moment and nodded with a smile. You have a point he responded. Oh yes. The Second Prince just sent someone to inform us this morning that hell be paying my house a visit at noon. My house we dont have anything good to serve him. Do you think Qin Xiaoyao said as she looked in the direction of the kitchen. The market had just recovered, and many ingredients were not easy to buy. On the other hand, Fortune Mansion had a great reputation and a widework of supply channels. They definitely didntck ingredients. Uncle Zhao was very surprised. The Second Prince is really going to your house? he asked. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao replied. She looked at Uncle Zhao with a pair of big eyes that were filled with pleading. If you have extra ingredients, how about you sell some to me? It will also save me the trouble of searching all over the ce. Uncle Zhao was silent for a moment. Sure! However, good ingredients are hard toe by now. The meat in the kitchen was also obtained when our boss approached the supplier in person. I dont dare to share too much with you. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. Its fine. Its just to serve one or two meals. I wont use too much ingredients! she hurriedly said. Even though she said that, Qin Xiaoyao still picked quite a number of ingredients in the kitchen. Sigh! On the one hand, they were needed to entertain the Second Prince. On the other, she herself was also craving them. Anyway, she had just made a fortune and was not short of money now. After getting the ingredients from the restaurant, Qin Xiaoyao drove the horse carriage away with a satisfied look on her face. Thereafter, she went to the street to buy tea leaves and wine. Only then did she go home. At this moment, the Song family was a hive of activity. Even though Song Que had also told Madam Liu and the others that they did not have to be too concerned about this, Madam Liu still gathered everyone to clean up the house. When Qin Xiaoyao returned, she was greeted with the sight of the entire family working together. Even Song Que was assigned to wipe the tables. When Madam Liu saw Qin Xiaoyao return, she also assigned work to her. When Qin Xiaoyao recalled that New Year was in ten days, she thought it would be good to clean up the house in advance and so sheplied. After sending the ingredients to the kitchen, she joined the spring-cleaning team. The more people there were, the faster things could be done. In just over two hours, the house was thoroughly tidied up. Without even taking a break, Madam Liu took Song Yun and Wang Xiaomei to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Qin Xiaoyao followed, thinking that she would help out too, but she was driven out by Madam Liu. Leave the kitchen to us. You go change your clothes and tidy yourself up. Later, you and Queer will receive the guests together, Madam Liu urged. There was even a hint of disdain in her eyes when she looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Ever since the mountain bandits attacked Mountain Spring Town, her daughter-inw had almost never worn womens clothing. She didnt even bother with details when she dressed up and didnt look like a woman at all. Now that the bandit trouble had been quelled, this daughter-inw should look more like a woman. Qin Xiaoyao lowered her head and looked at the mens clothes she was wearing. She realized that these clothes were indeed inappropriate. Okay. After saying that, she left. Upon returning to her room, she went to look for the silk clothes she bought yesterday. Then, sheined to Song Que about how her mother-inw despised her. Song Queughed in amusement. The important guest will be visiting soon, so we should be more mindful. When he saw that his wife was not in a good mood, he said, I will go get the clothes and personally help you dress up. How about it? Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Then Ill have to trouble you, Hubby! She finally consented with a smile. Song Que then went to get her clothes. Following that, he personally helped Qin Xiaoyao change her clothes. After that, he brought her to the dressing table and helped herb and tie her hair. He even styled her hair into a very beautiful bun. Qin Xiaoyao had always lived a rough life. As she found it too troublesome to bundle up her hair properly, she usually did it in the simplest way, which could be done in two or three moves. Now that she had seen Song Ques craftsmanship, the womans eyes were filled with joy. If she could be beautiful, why would she want to be rough-looking? Of course, the premise was that she should not have to spend too much time and effort to be beautiful. Hubbys styling skills are really good! The woman was not stingy with her praise. Song Que looked at his beautiful wife and was also very pleased. Thats because my wife is good-looking, he said. His wife was indeed good-looking. With just a little dressing up, she could look simply stunning. Qin Xiaoyaos face turned red. She reached out and touched the bun Song Que hadbed for her. Hubby, where did you learn this skill from? she asked, her tone already tinged with a bit of jealousy. Using this trick to please women was too familiar. Could he have learned it from another woman? Song Que was astonished. Its such a simple hairstyle. Is there a need to specially learn it? he asked in return. Although this kind of hair bun was notmon in Mountain Spring Town, in his previous life, most women of the capitalbed their hair like this. What he had done was just a basic outline, done in the simplest style. It was much moreplicated if he went for the exquisite style. Qin Xiaoyao was astounded. Is it so simple? she asked. She recalled that Song Que had indeed finishedbing her hair very quickly just now. Well, it did seem pretty simple. When he saw the woman lower her head, Song Que understood at once. Its only a few steps. If you want to learn, I can teach you, he said softly. Qin Xiaoyao immediately raised her head. Great! she quickly answered. After that, she allowed Song Que to undo her hair bun and he began to teach her. The steps were indeed not thatplicated. After Qin Xiaoyao watched him a few more times, she began to do it herself. Then, very quickly, she was able tob her hair into a bun. The woman was overjoyed to learn a new skill. She got up and mored to do up a hair bun for Song Que. Being a man, Song Que was naturally unwilling. As a result, the couple chased each other and fooled around until they both fell on the soft couch. The atmosphere became lovey-dovey, and the passion in Qin Xiaoyaos heart was ignited Just as she leaned closer, Song Que reached out and covered her mouth. Then Qin Xiaoyao heard the man say in a hoarse voice, Its gettingte. The Second Prince will be arriving soon. The fire in her eyes dissipated a lot instantly. When she saw the light sweating on Song Ques forehead and his Adams apple bobbing, Qin Xiaoyao stood up. Alright, the timing was not right If her husband could hold back, so could she! Chapter 273 - 273: Peaceful Life Chapter 273: Peaceful Life Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Song Que stood up with Qin Xiaoyao and sat there for a long time before he managed to suppress the passionate heat in his heart. Then, he pulled Qin Xiaoyaos hand and returned to the dressing table. Ill help you draw your eyebrows, he said. Qin Xiaoyao had already taken a few nces at her husband. She found his pretentious but solemn expression very interesting. Alright, she answered happily. Then, she sat down obediently and allowed Song Que to serve her. Song Que took the eyebrow pencil and was about to start, but he suddenly frowned. Then, he walked out abruptly. Qin Xiaoyao was about to call out to Song Que, but she stopped when she saw that he was not going out of the room. Before long, she saw Song Que return. He was holding two thin threads in his hands. Just as she was about to ask him what he was doing, Song Que spoke first. Your eyebrows need to be trimmed. Immediately after that, Song Que stepped forward. Then, he started to trim Qin Xiaoyaos eyebrows with the two threads. Her messy eyebrows were caught by the thin thread and then pulled out. The stinging pain made Qin Xiaoyao grimace from time to time. Bear with it. Your eyebrows need to be trimmed, Song Que said when he saw her reaction. Due to his gentle voice, Qin Xiaoyaos brows no longer knitted together. Instead, she began to enjoy it. Herrge eyes were staring straight at Song Que, whose face was almost touching hers. Her stare made Song Ques breathing unstable. Song Que could only force himself to calm down and focus on trimming Qin Xiaoyaos brows. This wife of his was actually leading a life that was rougher than a mans life like his. One look at her eyebrows and he could tell that she had never trimmed them. However, his wifes skin was really good. Even when he looked at it up close, it was still so fair and milky, with very little fine hair. After a while, Song Que finally managed to finish trimming Qin Xiaoyaos eyebrows. Her somewhat thick eyebrows had be slimmer and more attractive after the trimming, making Qin Xiaoyaos facial features appear even more beautiful. Song Que was very satisfied and he asked Qin Xiaoyao to take a look at herself in the mirror. Qin Xiaoyao was pleasantly surprised when she saw the woman in the mirror. She touched her slightly stinging eyebrows and felt that staying beautiful was indeed quite a burden. However, with her husband helping her with the process, she was not afraid of this bit of pain. Not bad! The woman said with a smile, feeling very pleased. Ill draw your eyebrows now, Song Que continued. He was very willing to serve his wife. Qin Xiaoyao immediately raised her head obligingly for Song Que. The corners of Song Ques lips curled up as he picked up the eyebrow pencil and began to draw Qin Xiaoyaos eyebrows. His actions were soft and gentle, and his expression was very earnest. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were wide open as she continued to stare at Song Que. A feeling of peace and quiet overwhelmed her. Song Que was already used to being stared at by Qin Xiaoyao, so he didnt feel nervous now. Instead, he found it intriguing. He also enjoyed this kind of bedroom intimacy with his wife. After a while, the eyebrows were finally drawn. Alright. Take a look. Song Que was in a good mood as he spoke to Qin Xiaoyao. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao look away from Song Ques face and look into the bronze mirror again. The woman in the bronze mirror had long and slender eyebrows. Her heroic demeanor had been reduced by a lot, and she was more alluring. Your skill is not bad! Qin Xiaoyao couldnt resist rubbing her brows as she spoke. Song Que hurriedly reached out to stop her. Just leave it like this. Dont rub it off, he said. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao put down her hand. In the future, please help me draw my eyebrows, Hubby! she said to Song Que. Mm-hmm! Song Que answered. They still had a long life ahead of them. He was happy to do so When Qin Xiaoyao was almost done dressing up, she stood up to help Song Que. Song Que didnt stop her and enjoyed Qin Xiaoyaos service. By the time the two of them finished dressing up and left the room, it was alreadyte. They had just reached the courtyard and were about to take a walk when they heard knocking on the door. The couple was not far from the courtyard gate, so they both went to the entrance. True enough, the Second Prince had arrived. When the Second Prince saw Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que again, he was shocked. It was primarily because the two of them were dressed very differently from the time when they first met. This was particrly true for Qin Xiaoyao. Previously, she was dressed as a man and she did not bother with details in her actions. If she had not revealed her female identity, he would not have realized she was a woman. However, today, she had changed into womans clothes and even tied her hair into a womans bun. She was now every inch a pretty woman. When she smiled, she seemed to emanate a certain radiance, making him feel a little dazzled. And then there was Song Que. Previously, the Second Prince had only taken a quick nce and felt that the other party was good-looking. When he met him again today, he realized that not only was he good-looking, but his bearing was also very out of this world. Even whenpared to the scions of the wealthy families in the capital, he could only be considered superior and not inferior to them. Previously, he had thought that the two of them were not really a good match. However, now, he couldnt help but sigh. They were indeed a perfect couple. Greetings, Your Highness! The couple stepped forward and bowed to the Second Prince. The Second Prince raised his hand. No need to be so polite. I came here today to look for friends for a small chat. Keep everything simple. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que exchanged looks with each other. Yes, Your Highness! they replied respectfully. Looking for friends? They had only met once thest time, and he already treated them as friends? However, it didnt matter. They were the ones receiving all the benefits anyway. Your Highness, pleasee in. Song Que quickly said. He stepped forward and led the way. Mm-hmm. The Second Prince nced at Song Que and followed. The whole group walked into the courtyard. While they were walking, the Second Prince looked around the Song familys courtyard at the same time. He was very curious when he saw the many thatched sheds that were built in the courtyard. Why did you build so many sheds in your house? he asked. Song Que didnt answer. Instead, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao finally spoke. Oh, these sheds are used to grow bean sprouts. It can be considered a family business. Bean sprouts? The Second Princes eyes shed with interest. Mm-hmm. Its the tender shoots from the bean seeds. After the bean seed is soaked and watered with the right amount of water, it can sprout and grow quickly. The tender shoots that emerged are white and crunchy. The taste is not bad when they are stir-fried or used to make soup, Qin Xiaoyao exined. The look of interest in the Second Princes eyes grew stronger. Youve grown bean sprouts in all of your sheds? This was the first time he had seen someone grow vegetables in the shed. Was the principle the same as a greenhouse? If it was the same logic, it would have cost a lot of firewood to maintain so many greenhouses. Qin Xiaoyao gave augh. Not all of them. Your Highness, to tell the truth, ever since the mountain bandits entered the town, our family has stopped doing this business. It was only a few days ago when you led the Imperial Courts army to take back Mountain Spring Town that we started nting again. But I didnt dare to nt too much. Well have to see how good the sales are before slowly increasing the amount we nt. Then, as if she thought of something, Qin Xiaoyao said, Today, the first batch of bean sprouts is ready for harvesting. If Your Highness is interested, please feel free to follow me in to take a look. Now that resources in Mountain Spring Town were in short supply, she could sell her bean sprouts to anyone. The Second Prince had many soldiers under hismand, and if that didnt work, there were still many people at the government office who needed to eat. This guy was potentially a big customer.. Chapter 274 - 274: Song Hong Chapter 274: Song Hong Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The Second Prince was already curious, and his interest was piqued when he heard Qin Xiaoyaos words. Please lead the way, Teacher! he immediately said. When Song Que heard the Second Prince address Qin Xiaoyao as Teacher, he nced at his wife. However, he quickly looked away and didnt say anything. After that, he apanied the few of them to the shed closest to them. When they arrived at the shed, they figured that the shed wasnt big enough, and eventually, only Qin Xiaoyao, Song Que, and the Second Prince entered the shed. The rest of the group stood guard outside. When the Second Prince saw the many trays of luxuriant bean sprouts, he was greatly surprised. They are growing so well! he eximed. He had seen vegetables in the greenhouse before. However, he had never seen vegetables that were so luxuriant and fresh. When he saw there was no sign of a fire in the shed, the Second Prince couldnt resist squatting down to check the bean sprouts on the ground. When he touched the bean sprouts, he found that there were still water droplets on them, and the sprout stems were so pleasingly tender that he could not resist pulling one out. Then, with a light pinch of his fingers, the sprout stem broke. This vegetable is so tender! the Second Prince said with a hint of joy on his face. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Crunchy and tender are the characteristics of bean sprouts. You can try themter, Your Highness. The Second Prince immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao. That would be great! he responded. Fresh vegetables were rare in winter. This was especially true now in Mountain Spring Town, where all kinds of resources were in short supply. Even the Second Prince himself hadnt been able to eat well these days. When he saw these bean sprouts today, he began looking forward to tasting them. After looking around in the shed for a while, Qin Xiaoyao invited the Second Prince out of the shed because the air cirction inside wasnt very good. However, the Second Prince didnt lose interest in the bean sprouts. Instead, he asked Qin Xiaoyao more questions about it. Just now I thought that this shed in your house was built like a greenhouse but I did not see any sign of a fire inside. Dont bean sprouts need to be grown in a warm indoor environment? Qin Xiaoyao smiled. It definitely needs such an environment, but its different from the greenhouse vegetables. Bean sprouts only need to grow in a shady ce protected from the sun. Also, because bean sprouts are considered sprouts, their growth cycle is particrly fast. From the start of seed preparation to that stage of growth shown just now, if the nts are taken care of properly, the whole process only takes three to four days. The Second Prince was astounded. So fast? He quickly did some calctions in his mind. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Otherwise, how could our family distribute enough bean sprouts to supply the entire town? Her words were somewhat exaggerated, but with the help of Daniu and his gang as well as her maiden family, her familys bean sprouts were indeed being sold all over the town. The Second Prince was astonished again. He didnt expect the Song family to be so capable. Therefore, he asked Qin Xiaoyao, How much do you sell these bean sprouts for? The current wholesale price is 6 copper coins per catty, and the retail price is 8 copper coins. This is thetest price, Qin Xiaoyao said. Its not that expensive. The Second Prince paused for a while before muttering to himself. If this was the price under normal circumstances, it was definitely considered high. However, now, Mountain Spring Town was short of food, and winter vegetables had always been more expensive than vegetables in other seasons, so the Song familys price was indeed not high. Qin Xiaoyao smiled but didnt say anything. ording to your familys current situation, if you nt more bean sprouts, how much more can you increase your daily production? the Second Prince quickly asked. Since the price of the Song familys bean sprouts was reasonable, and the soldiers in the army were facing a shortage of vegetables, he might as well buy vegetables from the Song family. It would be good to improve the food quality of the troops. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. She knew a business deal was imminent. If we use all of these sheds, it wont be a problem to have an extra 300 catties of bean sprouts every day, she quickly said. The Second Prince nodded. 300 catties. Thats not a small amount. In that case, my army also needs vegetables. If Teacher is willing, how about sending 300 catties of bean sprouts to the camp in the east of town every day? This willst until the Lantern Festival. As for the price I can give 5 copper coins. The Second Prince had wanted to say that he would offer 6 copper coins, which was the wholesale price. However, when he saw the glint in Qin Xiaoyaos eyes, he reduced the price by 1 copper coin at thest minute. Although he wasnt short of military funds, he still had to conserve his resources when it was necessary. Qin Xiaoyao noticed the Second Princes hesitation, but she didnt mind. This was because the price in her mind was 5 copper coins as well. 300 catties of bean sprouts a day would bring her one tael and five silver coins. There was still more than a month until the Lantern Festival, so this business deal would bring in a lot of money. Thank you, Your Highness! Hence, Qin Xiaoyao cupped her fists and expressed her thanks. Haha! The Second Princeughed out loud. He was very pleased with Qin Xiaoyaos response. He then strode towards the hall. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que looked at each other and followed. In the hall, Song Que kept the Second Princepany while Qin Xiaoyao went to make tea personally. The Second Prince finally had the time to turn his attention to Song Que. The more he looked at him, the more he felt that Song Ques bearing was extraordinary and that he was indeed very attractive to women. Suddenly, the Second Prince spoke up, I heard that you followed your father to take refuge in Zhao County? Song Que was astonished. A thought popped into his mind. Then, he turned around calmly and cupped his hands respectfully at the Second Prince. It is indeed so. So you were originally from the capital? the Second Prince asked again. His eyes were staring straight at Song Que. Song Que was astounded again. Yes. He responded again. Song Que guessed that the Second Prince had probably already investigated his background thoroughly. The Second Princes eyes flickered. Song Hong he continued. The moment he dropped this name, Song Ques expression changed slightly. The Second Princes eyes flickered again. What is the rtionship between the former Prime Minister, Song Hong, and you? he asked in a low voice. Song Que appeared to be shocked. He quickly stood up and bowed to the Second Prince. A faint smile appeared in the eyes of the Second Prince. He thought to himself, So it is indeed true. When he saw that Song Que only bowed and did not speak, the Second Prince continued, The former Prime Minister Song Hong is extremely talented and capable. Unfortunately The Second Prince did not continue his sentence. Unfortunately, he was too upright and offended Empress Jias faction, and was persecuted to death. He even implicated his family and brought retaliation upon the whole Song family, resulting in the annihtion of almost the whole n. More than ten years had passed, and Empress Jias power had declined. The situation at the Imperial Court had changed. It could be said that now was the Song familys opportunity. In reality, it was a coincidence. He had only sent people to investigate Qin Sanya. To his surprise, he did not uncover anything unusual with Qin Sanya. Instead, he found out her husbands identity. This guy Song Que had inherited his grandfathers talent and looks. He had caught his wifes eye and even caused his wife to want to marry him at all costs. The Second Prince couldnt help but smile when he recalled the things his subordinates had found out. No wonder Teacher Qin had charged into the banditsir alone for this person and then did those things to the bandit leader and his second-inmand. This guy Song Que was really Teacher Qins most beloved. When he saw Song Que looking at him, the smile on the Second Princes lips disappeared. The influence of Empress Jias faction on the court is weakening day by day.. Chapter 275 - 275: The Second Prince’s Invitation Chapter 275: The Second Princes Invitation Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Master Song, as a descendant of the Song family, have you never thought of redressing the injustice and exonerating your grandfather? the Second Prince quickly asked. Upon hearing the Second Prince point out his identity, Song Ques body trembled momentarily. After a long while, he cupped his hands and bowed to the Second Prince. Im just amoner. My words carry little weight. I dont dare to have such outrageous thoughts. In his previous life, it was because of these words that he resolutely followed the Second Prince and left Mountain Spring Town. Thereafter, he would assist the Second Prince to climb to the top step by step. However, in this life, he had something that he cared about and only wanted to lead a low-key peaceful life. Things like exonerating the name of the Song family and restoring his ancestors glory didnt mean much to him. The Second Prince looked at Song Que and thought that he was just being polite. Thus, he said, What if I can help you? Song Hongs descendants would definitely be of great help to him. In addition, he didnt want to give up a battle talent like Teacher Qin. Teacher Qin didnt want to follow him because of her female identity and also she couldnt bear to leave her attractive husband. If he brought her husband along, Teacher Qin would naturally follow him. If he could obtain these two, then he would have profited tremendously on this trip to Hua An Prefecture. Song Ques body froze momentarily. Thank you for your kind intentions, Your Highness. However, Grandfathers final words were for Father to take his family away from the capital. He also instructed that for the next thirty years, the descendants of the Song family were not to not enter the Imperial Court. This was also the reason his father had enrolled him in the academyter than usual and did not rush him to take the imperial examination. In reality, strictly speaking, before his father passed away, there was still a long time before the thirty-year restriction his grandfather had imposedpsed. However, his father had high hopes for him and didnt really care much about the thirty-year restriction. The Second Prince was stunned. Then, he nced at Song Que. Thirty years he muttered. The reason Prime Minister Song set the thirty-year restriction was that he felt that Empress Jias faction could not stay in power for 30 years. But the facts have proven that Prime Minister Song overestimated the ability of Empress Jias faction. Now that Empress Jia and Emperor Fathers health is deteriorating day by day, whether its our Huangfu family or the ministers in the court, the opposition to Empress Jia is growing stronger by the day. Empress Jias fall will ur sooner orter. In other words, once his Emperor father passed away, everyone would have no scruples, and Empress Jia would soon fall from power. Song Que was silent. In his previous life, after he had followed the Second Prince, the Emperor passed away two yearster. Following that, the Second Prince stormed the pce with his troops and forced Empress Jia to relinquish the reins of power to the Huangfu family and make him the next Emperor in waiting. After the Second Prince ascended the throne, he did exonerate the Song family and even promoted Song Que all the way until he became the new Prime Minister. Looking at the present state, the current Empress Jia, like the Emperor, was in her twilight years. Now that she was no longer as ruthless, her grip on the Imperial Court was indeed not as strong as before. If Song Que wanted to, he only needed to follow the path taken in his previous life. Glory, wealth, prestige, and reputation would all be at his fingertips. Unfortunately, he no longer wanted to walk the same path as he did in his previous life. The Second Prince gazed at Song Que. When he saw that thetter did not respond, he was a little annoyed. He felt that Song Que was upromising and inflexible. At the same time, he doubted whether he had made the wrong judgment about this guy. However, when he thought of Qin Xiaoyao, he felt that he had to fight harder to win over Song Que. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Xiaoyao returned. She was quite surprised to see her husband standing in front of the Second Prince rigidly, not even daring to raise his head. When the Second Prince saw Qin Xiaoyao, he quickly changed his expression and asked Song Que to return to his seat. Song Que did not stand on ceremony and cupped his hands at the Second Prince before returning to his seat. Qin Xiaoyao didnt ask any questions and poured tea for the Second Prince. Then, she poured one cup each for Song Que and herself. Following that, she sat down and invited the Second Prince to have a taste of the tea. The Second Prince was extremely keen on recruiting Qin Xiaoyao, so he was very obliging. Its been a long time since Ive had tea so leisurely. The Second Prince took a sip of tea and said with a sigh. Of course, this tea was not really very excellent tea. However, he was in a rare mood to appreciate tea. In the past few years, the Second Prince had been fighting wars outside almost all the time because of Empress Jias political machinations in the Imperial Court as well as the enmity between the Imperial Court and the surrounding states. This time, he came to Hua An Prefecture to suppress the rebellion and finally came to Mountain Spring Town. It was considered an unusual expedition. And now that it was close to the end of the year, he was allowed to station troops in Mountain Spring Town and recuperate until after the Lantern Festival. It brought him a rare period of weed peace. This was the first time he felt that the quality of tea was not determined by the tea leaves or the skills of the person who brewed it, but by the mood of the person who drank the tea. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Thats because Your Highness is busy with a lot of work. If Your Highness is willing to take a break from your busy schedule, there is a lot of such tea avable. Although the tea leaves she bought were not bad, they were not the best either. It was impossible for her to catch the eye of this person by just using the quality of the tea leaves. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao talking to him without restraint and was very at ease in front of him, the Second Prince was quite pleased inwardly. Teacher, you have a point. Its just that the Imperial Court has assigned me to station my troops in Mountain Spring Town and manage the county affairs. Its hard for me to get free time The Second Prince sighed again. As he spoke, his gaze once again turned to Song Que. The mountain bandits rebelled and killed wantonly. Many officials in the county have been killed, and there arent many suitable candidates in Zhao County that I can use Qin Xiaoyao could catch the hidden meaning in the Second Princes words and she followed the Second Princes gaze to look at Song Que. Your Highness is short of manpower? Then, she smiled and asked the Second Prince. The Second Prince was clearly interested in recruiting her husband. If it was only helping with the county affairs, it was definitely a good opportunity for her husband. It would be beneficial for her husbands future development if he could get familiar with the staff at the government office. Upon hearing Qin Xiaoyaos question, Song Que looked at his wife. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao wink at him, the man felt a little helpless. When he was faced with the Second Princes recruitment offer, he had resisted the pressure and chosen to refuse. However, his wife did not understand him Then again he might as well try. The Second Prince would not stay in Mountain Spring Town for long anyway. It was fine if he only went to the government office to help deal with some administrative tasks. At the thought of this, Song Que smiled faintly back at Qin Xiaoyao. The Second Prince noticed the couples interaction and found it intriguing that Song Que was finally relenting. Indeed, weck manpower. This time, Im not just here to visit you two. I also want to ask you two to help the government office with some work, the Second Prince added. Qin Xiaoyao was very surprised. I have to go too? she asked. She could understand why he was looking for her husband. After all, her husband was famous for his talent in Mountain Spring Town. However, what did he want her for? She didnt know anything about government affairs. Other than her strength, she didnt seem to have anything else worthy of the Second Princes attention. The Second Prince smiled and nodded. Teachers martial arts skills are outstanding. If you can agree to help train the troops, the soldiers will definitely benefit a lot. As for Master Song, you can go to the government office to help. When she heard the earlier statement, Qin Xiaoyao was a little reluctant. However, when she heard thest statement, she did not want her rejection to affect her husband. Although she didnt want to admit it, it was clear that a martial arts expert like her was more highly-valued by the Second Prince than her husband.. Chapter 276 - 276: Opening Porridge Shop Near the Government Office? Chapter 276: Opening Porridge Shop Near the Government Office? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Er Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Que. Then, she looked at the Second Prince. Im just a bit stronger, but I dont know how to train soldiers. When she saw the Second Princes expression change, Qin Xiaoyao continued, However, since Your Highness thinks so highly of me, I am willing to give it a try. The Second Princes eyes immediately lit up. How about this, if Your Highness is agreeable, I will report to the military camp every other afternoon. Of course, she had no experience in training troops, but she had experience in leading people to do physical training. With the knowledge in her mind, she could still help the soldiers improve their physical fitness. She would only go there every other day, and it was only one afternoon each time, so it didnt really hamper her own business. Why would I not agree? I cant wait to have you on board! the Second Prince said excitedly. Thus, the couple agreed to assist the Second Prince. The difference was that Song Que had to go to work every day, except for his rest days. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, only needed to go to work on alternate days for half a day. After this, the three of them continued to chat. Whether intentionally or not, the Second Prince talked a lot with the two of them about the matters of Mountain Spring Town and Zhao County. In fact, towards the end, he even discussed the Imperial Court. Moreover, Qin Xiaoyao noticed that whenever he mentioned the Imperial Court, the Second Prince would always look at her husband, intentionally or otherwise. If it were only once or twice, it could still be a coincidence. However, as the number of times increased, Qin Xiaoyao started to have more doubts. However, she didnt have the chance to ask now, so Qin Xiaoyao held back her curiosity. Finally, it was time for lunch. Madam Liu and the others slowly brought the cooked dishes to the table. The Second Prince knew about the current situation in Mountain Spring Town, so he didnt have much expectation for this meal. However, after seeing quite a number of meat dishes, he also began to have cravings. Where did you get this meat from? After they started eating, the Second Prince asked after eating several pieces of meat in a row. It was now very hard to get fresh meat in the entire Zhao County, let alone in Mountain Spring Town. He was already quite surprised that the Song family had cured meat to eat, but they could even get fresh pork. Qin Xiaoyaoughed as she exchanged a look with Song Que. The cured meat was prepared beforehand, of course. I bought the fresh pork from Fortune Mansion. Fortune Mansion? Oh I see. The Second Prince quickly understood. He had heard of Fortune Mansion. It was reputed to be the best restaurant in the town. Some of the special dishes had unique vors and earned praise from many quarters. Someone had invited him to eat there before, but he had not gone there because he was busy. Does your family have connections with Fortune Mansion? the Second Prince suddenly asked. To be able to get fresh meat at a time like this, the owner of Fortune Mansion must be quite capable. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Its not really a connection. We have only been supplying some ingredients to Fortune Mansion. Over time, Ive be familiar with the kitchen staff. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she gestured to the Second Prince to try the century egg on the table. This is one of the ingredients my family supplied to Fortune Mansion. Why dont you try it, Your Highness? The Second Prince looked at the century egg on the table and became interested. He picked up a piece and had a taste, and his eyes lit up at once. What is this? he quickly asked. This is century egg, Qin Xiaoyao exined with a smile. Its created after chicken eggs or duck eggs are given additional processing. The century egg has a unique vor. As soon as it was introduced, it became a special dish of Fortune Mansion. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she asked the Second Prince to try the century egg soup and the porridge with pork and century egg. The Second Prince tried them one by one and found that the taste was indeed amazing. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao take the opportunity to mention that she was going to buy a shop to open a porridge shop. Not bad. If the porridge shop sells this kind of porridge, there will be many customers, the Second Prince said confidently. The porridge with pork and century egg was indeed a delicious dish. Even if he was in the capital, or even in the pce, it was very rare to get a taste of such a dish. Where do you intend to set up the porridge shop? Is it near the government office? If it was close, he felt that he could consume a few bowls of it every day. That was right. One bowl was definitely not enough. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Its naturally good to choose a location near the government office. But I dont know if the shops near the government office are easy to buy, she said hesitantly. The government office was located in the town center district, and there were many people nearby. Moreover, her husband was going to help out at the government office, so at that juncture, she could also go there and get to know the people there. There were definitely benefits to having a porridge shop near the government office. In addition, the purchasing power in the town center was slightly higher, so it didnt matter even if the price of her century egg porridge was slightly higher. It should be easy to buy. When I passed by earlier, I saw a few shops being put up for leasing. Although leasing out the shop didnt necessarily mean selling it, one didnt necessarily have to buy a shop to do business. They could still rent or lease the shop. In any case, he was hoping privately that the Song family would open a porridge shop near the government office. In that case, he could get to indulge his taste buds for quite a while in the near future. In addition, he also hoped that the Song family could get closer to him. He was very interested in both Teacher Qin and Song Que. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up at once. In that case, well go and ask around tomorrow! she quickly said. Previously, she was worried that her husbands cold hadnt recovered yet, so she didnt make preparations to buy a shop. Now that her husbands health had recovered, it was time to settle the matter of the property purchase expeditiously. The situation in Mountain Spring Town had just stabilized, and many things were still unknown. It would be more cost-effective to buy a shop now. Upon hearing this, the Second Prince nced at the couple. In that case, Ill give the two of you three days. Three dayster, the two of you will go to the government office and the military camp to help. How about it? Now the couple could see how good he was, and how open-minded and magnanimous he was. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que exchanged looks with each other and thanked the Second Prince. They were thinking of buying more shops. Three days was actually a little tight. However, after that, only Song Que had to go to the government office every morning to report for work, while Qin Xiaoyao still had time to look around and buy shops. Next, Qin Xiaoyao got the Second Prince to try the bean sprouts. The Second Prince found that the bean sprouts were fresh and fragrant, and he also liked them very much. He even sighed that the soldiers in the camp could finally have better food. After the meal, the Second Prince stayed at the Song familys ce for a long time before bidding farewell. Before he left, he also took a hundred century eggs and a basket of bean sprouts from the Song family. The couple personally sent the Second Prince off. It was not until the Second Prince and his entourage disappeared into the alley on their horses that the two of them exchanged a nce and returned to the courtyard. While riding the horse, the Second Princes guard, Han Chao, who had found Qin Xiaoyao in the government office previously, started talking to the Second Prince. Your Highness, why do you value Master Song so much? It was fine that he thought highly of Teacher Qin. After all, Teacher Qins ability was obvious to all. However, Master Song Well, even if Master Songs identity was special and he was the grandson of the former Prime Minister, Song Hong However, His Highness was trying so hard to take him in and keep him by his side. Surely there was no need for him to go through so much trouble? The Second Prince nced at Han Chao, and there was a faint smile on his face. Song Que is moreplicated than you think, he said. After that, he didnt pay attention to Han Chaos puzzled eyes and rode the horse forward.. Chapter 277 - 277: Not Going To Explain? Chapter 277: Not Going To Exin? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Han Chao quickly cast away the doubts in his mind and galloped after him. Meanwhile, after sending off the Second Prince, Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que returned to their room. Song Que went to the soft couch and sat down. Qin Xiaoyao followed suit and sat down beside Song Que. Then, she looked at Song Que and asked, Youre not going to exin? Song Que nced at his wife and knew that she had already noticed something. We, the Song family, are actually not natives of Mountain Spring Town, he said after some thought. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and nodded. She knew that. Didnt he say that he was from another town? Our family, or rather, the Song n, used to be a distinguished n in the capital, Song Que continued. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, looked at Song Que intently, waiting for him to continue. The Song familys reputation reached its peak in my grandfathers generation. Our grandfather, Song Hong, was the previous Prime Minister. A look of astonishment finally swept over Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. However, it onlysted for a moment before the astonishment in her eyes disappeared. Her husband was so outstanding. He indeed had an extraordinary background. The reason for the Song familys good genes was finally revealed. Song Que saw Qin Xiaoyaos reaction. When he saw that she epted it so calmly, he thought of her personality and felt much more rxed. Then Father took you out of the capital to seek refuge because of Grandfather? Did Grandfather offend someone, or did hemit a crime? That shouldnt be the case. The Prime Minister was a leading schr and the head of the officials. It was already good enough that his grandfather didnt make things difficult for others. Who would dare to make things difficult for his grandfather? Could it be the Emperor? Qin Xiaoyao finally couldnt stay calm after some spection popped into her mind. If the Song family had really offended the Emperor, then there was really nothing they could do. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao and nodded. My grandfather was an outspoken person. He offended Empress Jia because he advised the Emperor to depose Empress Jia. Thereafter, he was persecuted by Empress Jias faction. The entire Song n was almostpletely wiped out, other than my Father who brought us out of the capital in advance and we managed to escape with our lives. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were slightly startled. Empress Jia? Then, she recalled some rumors she had heard. In this dynasty, the current Emperor did have a very powerful Empress with the surname Jia. Moreover, this person was very simr to a female Emperor in the annals of history in her previous life. The only difference was that Empress Jia did not im to be an Emperor. Nheless, all the major matters in the Imperial Court were basically handled by Empress Jia. If his grandfather had really antagonized the other party, it was not surprising that that party retaliated against his grandfather and family. Then the Second Prince and Empress Jia Qin Xiaoyao quickly asked. Surely the Second Prince couldnt be the son of Empress Jia, right? If that were the case, then wouldnt their family be asking for trouble? The Second Prince is the son of Concubine Chen who harbored a grudge against Empress Jia. Knowing his wifes worry, Song Que exined. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes shed with a trace of curiosity. Song Que then borated, Before Empress Jia ascended to the position of Empress, her biggestpetitor was Concubine Chen. Back then, the support for Concubine Chen to be Empress was the strongest. Grandfather is also standing on Concubine Chens side. Unfortunately, the Emperors heart belongs to Empress Jia. In addition, Empress Jia colluded with some court officials and framed Concubine Chen, causing Concubine Chen to be banished to the Cold Pce. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat. This scenario was a little familiar. Then, how is Concubine Chens situation now? she asked. Shes dead. There are rumors in the pce that she died at the hands of Empress Jia. The cause was that she identally met the Emperor. The Emperor couldnt bear it and almost released Concubine Chen. Qin Xiaoyaos heart trembled again. What a coincidence Then the Second Prince If Concubine Chen died at the hands of Empress Jia, then the Second Prince and Empress Jia could be considered irreconcble archenemies. Under such circumstances, would Empress Jia allow the Second Prince to ascend the throne? All these years, it was because of Empress Jia that the Second Prince distanced himself from the Imperial Court and was marginalized. In addition, when he left the capital and joined the army, it was the Second Prince who asked for this transfer himself. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Rather than staying and waiting for death, its indeed a good choice to leave. A look of approval shed across Song Ques eyes. The army gets involved in many battles. Over the years, Empress Jia and her faction have tried to make things difficult for the Second Prince, trying to make him die in an ident. Its a pity that the Second Prince has always been able to turn misfortune into fortune. Hes been growing stronger and stronger, and has nurtured his own faction in the army. At this point, a hint of respect shed across Song Ques eyes. In all fairness, the Second Prince was a good master and a good Emperor. In his previous life, if he had not been so extreme in his actions, perhaps the Second Prince would not have abandoned him Qin Xiaoyao gave Song Que a peculiar look. You know the Second Prince so well? he asked. From what she could see, it didnt look like they had just met. Song Ques expression froze for a moment. Then, when he looked at Qin Xiaoyao, he knew that he had made another slip of the tongue again. He struggled internally for quite a while, not knowing if he should tell Qin Xiaoyao the truth. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, kept staring at Song Que with an expression that said, Im waiting. She could tell that Song Que actually felt somewhat guilty. After a long while, Song Que finally gave a sigh in the face of Qin Xiaoyaos tireless persistence. He stretched out his arms and pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his embrace. Promise you wont get angry if I tell you? he immediately asked. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised momentarily. Why would I be angry? she asked. She only wanted to hear the secret, and the secret itself had nothing to do with her. Why would she be angry? Looking at his silly wife who was staring at him with her big, innocent eyes, Song Que could not help but me himself and despise himself. His wife trusted him wholeheartedly, but he Youll probably be angry, the man said guiltily. After all, he had lied to her. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Her gaze toward Song Que was finally tinged with a hint of hostility. Dont tell me you and the Second Prince are she narrowed her eyes and said. Hmph! Hed better not even think about it! He could only have her in this lifetime! His heart and eyes must only have her alone! As for the other men or women, if he really dared to think about it, she would definitelyy her hands on those people even if she was reluctant toy her hands on him! The mountain bandit leader earlier was a living example! At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes shed with ruthlessness. It had better not be like this, otherwise Song Que got a shock. He didnt know whether tough or cry at the anger in his wifes eyes. Knowing that he had caused his wife to think too much, he reached out and grabbed Qin Xiaoyaos hand. What on earth are you thinking? He tried to pacify her. Qin Xiaoyaos expression was still not pleasant. Alright. I swear. I, Song Que, only want this woman Qin Xiaoyao in this life. Ill love her for life and never change, Song Que said in a conciliatory tone. Qin Xiaoyaos expression finally became a little better when she saw Song Ques actions. Following that, her face suddenly turned icy. You will only want me alone, not this woman! she emphasized. Huangfu Wudi wasnt a woman! Song Que didnt know whether tough or cry again. He quickly swore again. Alright. Regardless of man or woman, I only want you. If I break my oath, let me be struck by lightning and be rendered impotent. Pfft! Qin Xiaoyaoughed in amusement instantly. When she heard thest part of the oath, she couldnt resist looking at a certain part of Song Ques body.. Chapter 278 - 278: Song Que’s Secret Chapter 278: Song Ques Secret Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Song Que hugged her tightly and stopped her from being cheeky with him. So, for the sake of my future sexual happiness, I will not have any other thoughts. Song Que lowered his voice and buried his head in Qin Xiaoyaos neck. Qin Xiaoyaos face turned red from the teasing. Her dainty fist quicklynded on Song Ques thigh. Dont stray from the topic. Hurry up and tell me. Whats going on between you and the Second Prince? she said seriously. The frivolity on Song Ques face instantly disappeared, and was reced by a guilty look. Promise me you wont be angry first. Then Ill tell you, he said. A look of hesitation shed across Qin Xiaoyaos face. She felt that as long as it was not a matter of principle, she could probably forgive him. Even though she was a little uneasy, she still nodded. Song Que heaved a sigh of relief. Then he said, Actually, I did note from the same world as you. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. Then, a look of understanding shed across her eyes. Well, she wasnt really surprised by this. After all, every time she mentioned the apocalypse to him, he would avoid telling her his experience and instead liked to ask about her experience. In addition, although he had learned some 21st-century speech and living habits from her, he still had more characteristics of the ancient people. If he was a transmigrator too, he shouldnt be behaving like this. However, she had never been able to exin how he knew what would happen in the future, so she had never been willing to doubt him. Was her husband finally going to tell her the truth? Then where are you from? Are are you human? Could he be a demon? The more she looked at Song Que, the more Qin Xiaoyao felt that it was possible. With such good looks, he could very well be a vixen spirit. Song Que felt a little helpless when he saw Qin Xiaoyaos expression, but he was quite d that she wasnt angry. Hence, he said, Of course, Im human. However, Ive been reborn. Reborn? Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. It was already incredible enough that she had transmigrated here. There was even such a thing as rebirth? However, it finally all made sense. It was no wonder her husband knew what would happen in the future. It was no wonder he didnt act like a modern person. As it turned out, she was the one who had thought in the wrong direction. Mm-hmm. Song Que nodded. Then, he selected the important things from his previous life and told Qin Xiaoyao briefly. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes widened when she heard his tale. She felt heartache for her husbands experience in his previous life, but she also admired his ability. With his own strength, he became the Prime Minister at such a young age. Her husband was indeed not an ordinary person. So, the Second Prince will ascend the throne in the future? Qin Xiaoyao quickly asked. In this life, because of her arrival, the circumstances surrounding her husbands meeting with the Second Prince had changed. However, the ruler and the minister still met. Moreover, the Second Prince was still very determined to win him over. If her husband were to serve the Second Prince as he did in his previous life, he would definitely rise again and reach the highest official position. Mm-hmm. If nothing changes, the Second Prince will be able to return to the capital with his troops in three years. At present, it seemed that Song Que was the biggest variable. However, the Second Prince had many capable people around him. Even without him, the probability of his sess would still be very high. Qin Xiaoyao paused for a while. Then Hubby, do you still wish to follow the future ruler? she asked. In her heart, she secretly hoped to see her husband soar to great heights and receive titles of nobility or achieve high official positions. However, she noticed that her husband didnt seem to be too warm to the Second Prince. In fact, he even seemed to be avoiding him. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao and held his wifes hand. If I choose to stay in Mountain Spring Town and apany you and my family After that, I will study properly and take the imperial examination to be an official. Will you look down on me? In this life, his leg was not crippled. He could take the imperial examination again after the mourning period was over. He was confident that he could enter government service through the imperial examination. However, this would take a longer time. Moreover, his future would not be as bright as the other choice. Qin Xiaoyao saw the worry in Song Ques eyes and immediately smiled as she held Song Ques hand. Of course, I wont. I am not staying with you because I know you will be the Prime Minister in the future. Even if you are just a poor schr, I will still apany you and well support each other for the rest of our lives. With that, Qin Xiaoyao leaned into Song Ques arms shyly. Song Que only felt that his heart was filled to the brim, and he held his wifes hand even more tightly. For the first time, he felt that the heavens had been kind to him. The two of them cuddled for a while. Qin Xiaoyao finally remembered something. So, you had a wife in your previous life? Or rather, did you take a concubine? A Prime Minister had both money and power. In addition, he was so good-looking. Even if he didnt take the initiative to attract the opposite sex, there would be countless women throwing themselves at him. When she thought of this possibility, the woman became so jealous that her hair stood on end. Song Queughed at his furious wife in his arms. He could not resist nting a kiss on her forehead. You know the wife I married. Shes Qin Sanya. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. But Qin Sanya died on the day you transmigrated. I never consummated my marriage with her, Song Que said. Qin Xiaoyao wanted tough when she recalled the time when she first transmigrated. She had received the memories of her predecessor, so she naturally knew the situation. What happened after that? She held back herughter and continued to speak with a straight face. After that Song Que paused. He took a look at the person in his arms who was staring fixedly at him. Then he sighed and continued, After that, the mountain bandits invaded Mountain Spring Town, and I fell into the hands of the mountain bandit leader. Because I refused to give in, my body was destroyed. I wasnt able to get close to any woman for the rest of my life. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. Soon, she remembered that her husband had personally cut off the mountain bandit leaders Pfft! She nearly burst intoughter. So, her hubby didnt take action on the mountain bandit leader because he was caught and insulted? It was because of the grudge from his previous life? And, was she really the only woman in her husbands previous and current life? Haha! Forgive her for gloating a little. She wasughing so wickedly! Song Que looked at his wife with a resentful expression. Was it really a good idea to be so gleeful in front of him? Qin Xiaoyao finally stoppedughing when she saw Song Ques disgruntled expression. She reached out and patted her husbands shoulder. Alright! What happened in the past is all in the past! Everything is good now. As long as you dont betray me, the oath wonte true. You will always be a healthy and good man. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyaos gaze shifted downwards again. Song Ques face instantly turned bright red as he wrapped his arms around the wayward woman. Youre so shameless! he growled. Hche! In what way am I shameless? Im not looking at someone elses husband! Qin Xiaoyao replied with augh. You still want to look at other peoples husbands? Song Que continued to growl in a low voice, and he began acting in a shameless way like the woman. No, I dont You need to be taught a lesson! The room quickly became lively. About an hourter, Qin Xiaoyao left the room feeling refreshed. Then, she drove the horse carriage out of the house.. Chapter 279 - 279: Celebrating The New Year Chapter 279: Celebrating The New Year Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion While it was still early, she had to hurry to look for a broker and discuss the matter of buying a shop. As for going around to look at the shops, when her husband was done resting, they could go and take a look the next day leisurely. The next day, early in the morning, Qin Xiaoyao hadnt even finished harvesting the bean sprouts when someone from the broker came to her door. He said that he had already sorted out many shops that met her requirements. Qin Xiaoyao didnt dy any longer. She simply assigned the work at home to Wang Xiaomei and the others, then called Song Que and went out. In the end, for the rest of the day, she and Song Que were led by the broker almost all the time to look at the various shops. Of course, this was mainly because of the famine in Mountain Spring Town. As a result, the current market demand for shops was not very good, and there were more people selling their shops. As they had more spare money on hand, the couple nned to buy more shops. When they saw a good shop with a reasonable price, they didnt hesitate and asked the broker to help them negotiate with the owner straight away. As long as the price was right, the transaction could bepleted the next day. This made the broker extremely happy, and he was even more attentive in serving the two of them. Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During these three days, the couple had already bought a total of eight shops of varying sizes. They were all over the eastern, western, and center parts of the town. The towns western district had the most shops, with four, followed by the town center district, with three. The towns eastern district had the least with only one. In total, they had spent almost 8000 taels of silver. After Song Que started going to work at the government office, Qin Xiaoyao also slowed down her pace of looking for shops. She still had close to 4000 taels of silver in her hands, and she would at most buy two more shops. Even as she told the broker to continue to look out for suitable shops, Qin Xiaoyao also chose a ce to open her porridge shop. The shop she chose was not far from the government office, located at the intersection of the main street. It was essible in all directions and the location was very convenient. The next thing to do was to prepare for the opening of the porridge shop. She had delegated practically all the bean sprouts business and delivery matters at home to other people, and she was fully focused on getting the porridge shop ready. Qin Dazhuang went to help her every day. Other than selling bean sprouts, the Qin brothers also went to her shop to help out. Song Que had already started work at the government office and had gotten to know many people there. In addition, Qin Xiaoyao had gotten to know many generals and soldiers in the military camp. As a result, the porridge shop was already bustling even before it officially opened. In the blink of an eye, it was New Years Eve. This was the first time Qin Xiaoyao celebrated the New Year after she came to this world. On this day, Mountain Spring Town was even more lively. There were many people on the streets. All of them had changed their earlier dejected looks and were weing the arrival of the New Year in high spirits. Song Que and Qin Xiaoyao were both on leave today, and they werent busy with the porridge shop either. They took their whole family out shopping. Then, the family celebrated a lively New Years Eve. At night, they went out for a walk on the streets again beforeing back to stay up all night to wee the New Year. Little Song Ye almost couldnt stand it and nearly fell asleep. Thanks to Qin Xiaoyao telling them fairy tales, the little child was able to hold back his sleepiness. In the end, Song Ye wasnt the only one who was mesmerized by Qin Xiaoyaos stories. The whole family couldnt get enough of her stories. At midnight, the first sound of firecrackers going off was heard. Following that, the street was filled with the sound of firecrackers popping. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up with joy. She also brought her family to the courtyard to light some firecrackers. Happy New Year! It was not known who said this, but the whole family broke into smiles. After setting off the firecrackers, everyone wished each other Happy New Year before returning to their rooms to sleep. In the room, Qin Xiaoyao was lying on the bed, but she was so excited that she couldnt sleep. It was New Years Day today, but she felt everything was so surreal. The memories of her previous life were getting further and further away from her. It was as if only what was happening before her eyes was real. However, this reality gave her an indescribably wonderful feeling. Whats wrong? Song Que asked when he felt the person beside him turn over a few times. Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at the man beside her. She felt a surge of sweetness in her heart. Then, she snuggled into Song Ques arms and said, Hubby, I feel so happy. Song Que was caught by surprise. Following that, a smile appeared on his face. He couldnt resist reaching out to stroke Qin Xiaoyaos head. Me too, he responded. Thereafter, he lowered his head and nted a kiss on Qin Xiaoyaos forehead. Qin Xiaoyaos heart felt even sweeter. I cant believe it. Ive been in this world for almost a year, Qin Xiaoyao took a deep breath and continued. Oh, yes. Hubby, when did you realize that Im not Qin Sanya? She didnt feel like sleeping and suddenly wanted to chat. Song Que thought for a moment. Probably the third day after you transmigrated, he replied with a smile. When he recalled what had happened back then, Song Que still felt likeughing. Oh So fast? Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised. She thought she had done a good job. At the very least, her father and two brothers had never suspected her. Her mother-inw and the rest of her family also didnt seem to notice her abnormality. Song Que smiled as he looked at the woman in his arms and kissed her on the forehead again. Of course, he said proudly. Otherwise, do you think I would allow Qin Sanya to keep jumping around by my side? At this point, a dangerous look shed across Song Ques eyes. Qin Xiaoyaos sharp senses detected it, and she felt her skin unwittingly tighten. That Qin Sanya didnt offend you, did she? she asked guiltily. It couldnt be helped. Qin Sanya was too special to her. Most of the time, due to the mix-up in her memories, she even felt that she was Qin Sanya. It was just that Qin Xiaoyaos will had taken up a more dominant position. Song Que smiled as he nced at the woman in his arms. She schemed so many times and joined hands with the wandering doctor to set a trap to force me to marry her. Arent all these enough to offend me? She even said that she wanted to sell Yuner and Ye er. Her thoughts are even more vicious. When he said this, Song Ques eyes were already filled with hatred. Qin Xiaoyaos heart trembled. She did not expect Song Que to know everything about her predecessor. Er It was indeed Qin Sanyas fault for teaming up with the wandering doctor to set up a trap. But thats also because she likes you too much When she saw Song Que looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao gulped nervously and continued, Also, when she said that she would sell Yuner and Yeer, she was just saying it flippantly. It was just to attract your attention. Youre speaking up for her? Song Que suddenly said. Qin Xiaoyao smiled guiltily. No Im not really speaking up for her. Its just that I happened to know the real situation. Song Ques eyes darkened. Did Qin Sanya have a deep influence on you? he asked. Qin Xiaoyao was astounded. Then, she nodded. Mm-hmm. Actually, Im suspecting that maybe I was her in my past life. When she said this, Qin Xiaoyao reached out and wrapped her arms around Song Ques waist. She did not dare to look at Song Que and continued, If I were her and grew up in the environment she was in, theres a high probability that Ill do some despicable things to get you too. Qin Xiaoyao felt the body of the man she was hugging stiffen. She quickly added, However, I wont be as stupid as her to get spiteful with you. And I wont do things that will hurt you and your family.. Chapter 280 - 280: The Opening of the Porridge Shop Chapter 280: The Opening of the Porridge Shop Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion I will love everyone in the house. While I love you, I will also protect your family. Because they are also my family. Song Que felt very touched. He hugged the woman in his arms tighter. So, shes not you. And the only person I will fall in love with is you. Qin Xiaoyaos heart trembled momentarily, and all her worries disappeared. She hugged Song Que and squeezed him harder. She felt very sweet and blissful inwardly. In the future, well live as a happy family, Song Que murmured. Mm-hmm. Over the next few days, many people came to the Song familys house. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que also took advantage of the holidays to visit other families. The two of them finally had some free time on the fifth day of the New Year. They spent another two days at home leisurely. On the seventh day of the New Year, the two of them began to get busy. On the eighth day of the New Year, Songs Porridge Shop was officially open for business. Many people came to the shop early in the morning. Most of them were Song Ques colleagues in the government office and officers from the army. There were manymoners nearby who came to join in the fun. After all, when Songs Porridge Shop was being renovated, there was a lot ofmotion. Today was the opening day, and the shop even had a promotional event. The porridge sold in the porridge shop was mainly porridge with pork and century egg, century egg porridge, vegetable porridge, eight treasure congee, and in porridge. In terms of price, the porridge with pork and century egg was the most expensive. One bowl cost 10 copper coins. The century egg porridge was 8 copper coins, followed by the eight treasures congee which was 6 copper coins. The vegetable porridge was 4 copper coins, and the in porridge was only 3 copper coins. In addition to selling porridge, the shop also sold buns with fillings, steamed buns, spring rolls, sesame balls, sticky rice cake, deep-fried dough sticks, and so on. The prices were the same as the market prices. In addition, the pickled vegetables in the shop were free. Every customer who went there to purchase something could get a small te of pickled vegetables for free. In short, it was a premium breakfast shop from before the apocalypse. On the opening day, customers who came to the shop would get 1 copper coin discount for every 10 copper coins spent. At the same time, Qin Xiaoyao alsounched a membership card service. If a customer was willing to spend 100 copper coins to apply for a VIP card, he could pay 2 copper coins less for every 10 copper coins spent at Songs Porridge Shop. The porridge and breakfast items from Songs Porridge Shop were indeed delicious, and they were not expensivepared to the current prices in Mountain Spring Town. In the end, many people chose to apply for a VIP card. Wang Xiaomei assisted Qin Xiaoyao to sell things and collect payments while conducting other business transactions at the same time. Qin Xiaoyao was extremely busy but happy. In addition to the customers who dined in, Songs Porridge Shop also provided takeaway services. Customers could bring their own utensils or pay a deposit to use the utensils provided by the shop. In the morning, many customers would also order takeaways after eating. As a result, the porridge that Songs Porridge Shop had prepared in advance was sold out very quickly. It was not only the porridge, but also the small steamed dumplings, spring rolls, sesame balls, and sticky rice cake that sold very quickly. Madam Liu, Song Yun, and the three middle-aged female helpers they hired worked in the back hall. They almost never stopped their work. They were always busy cooking porridge, malting steamed buns, or frying spring rolls, sesame balls, and so on. When the cooked items were ready, Liu Erniu, who was working as a waiter in the shop, would quickly send the cooked items to the outer hall for Qin Xiaoyao and Wang Xiaomei to sell. However, no matter how fast they worked, the speed of food production could not keep up with the speed of sales outside, and the kitchen was constantly pressed to rush. It wasnt until 10 am that the number of customers in the porridge shop finally decreased. Everyone who had been busy could finally heave a sigh of relief. When it was past noon and there were only one or two customers left in the shop, Qin Xiaoyao allowed everyone to rest and eat. The meal naturallyprised the porridge and food items left in the shop. Everyone was exhausted, and the porridge and food items were delicious, so they ended up eating a lot without realizing it. This was especially true for the three middle-aged female helpers that Qin Xiaoyao had hired. All three ate until they almost burst. It was mainly because food was so precious now. They were poor and could not bear to eat such thick porridge back home. Furthermore, there were so many food items avable. The three of them worked in the porridge shop and so they naturally knew the price of these food items. Based on what they ate, each persons meal easily cost more than 20 copper coins. In addition to their daily sry of 50 copper coins, they reaped quite a lot. It was a pity that the staff could not have takeaway for the items in the shop. Even though the food items were half-price for staff takeaways, the three women still felt that it was a little expensive. Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything when she saw this. Instead, she said that everyone had worked hard today and had to eat their fill. The porridge shop was only open in the morning and noon, but judging from todays situation, the business was too good, and everyones workload was not light. Therefore, after closing the shop, Qin Xiaoyao talked to everyone about recruiting more people on the way back. We need to make some adjustments to our work process, Qin Xiaoyao said. From now on, Xiaomei will be in charge of selling porridge and collecting money. Yuner and Mother will work together with her. If Qin Xiaoyao was free, she could also go to work as a cashier. However, she could not guarantee that she would be there every day. The ideal situation for the porridge shop should be that it could still operate normally without her. The three people whom Qin Xiaoyao named were caught by surprise. Er will it work? Why dont I stay in the back hall and help make the buns? Madam Liu said doubtfully. Although the back hall was busy, she didnt have to face or deal with guests, so she felt that she could still do it. However, if she went to the front hall, she would have to pick the food items for the customers and collect money. She was afraid that she would not be able to cope. Song Yun also looked at Qin Xiaoyao anxiously. She wanted to go to the front hall to help, but she was also worried that she would not be able to handle it. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Dont worry. It doesnt matter if you guys are slow. Ill be watching from the side for the next few days, and Xiaomei will be there too, so things wont go wrong. Wang Xiaomei looked at the two of them and said, Thats right! In fact, the work in the front hall is notplicated. You just have to help pick the food items and total up the bill. With Yuner and Aunt Songs arithmetic abilities, it wont be difficult to handle these tasks. As for the customers who want to apply for the card, you can let Mrs. Song handle it. As she spoke, Wang Xiaomei looked at Qin Xiaoyao. The corner of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up. Sure. For the next few days, Ill take care of all the customers who apply for the card. In the future, she was also prepared to hand this task over to Wang Xiaomei. After all, her original n was to let Wang Xiaomei take charge of this porridge shop. Of course, this could only be possible after the porridge shop was well on the right track. When Madam Liu and Song Yun heard this, they felt more at ease and they finally consented to the arrangement. Then the back hall Madam Liu asked again. She was worried that without her daughter and herself, the back hall wouldnt be able to cope. Ill hire two more people to help make the food in the back hall. Also, I will hire an extra person to do odd jobs and wash the dishes in the kitchen. She didnt expect the business to be so good. Madam Liu and the others were also doing the chores and washing the dishes in the back hall. This way, the speed at which the kitchen produced cooked food slowed down, affecting the speed at which the shop could serve the customers. Since the manual work wasnt much, things would be much easier if more people shared the burden and everyone had their own duties. Ive already asked Erniu to go back and ask Aunt Liu. If shes willing toe over, well let her do the odd jobs and washing chores, Qin Xiaoyao said. And theres the Liu familys Xiaomei. If shes willing toe over and help with the cooking, we only need to hire one more person.. Chapter 281 - 281: The Lantern Festival Chapter 281: The Lantern Festival Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion As for the other person, Madam Wang had already rmended a candidate to Qin Xiaoyao. She rmended her own sister-inw, saying that she was as quick as her and knew how to make buns. Tomorrow, Madam Wang would be able to bring her to try the job. The three of them nodded. They also agreed with Qin Xiaoyao on hiring the Liu family members. After all, they were all from the same vige, and the Liu family had a special rtionship with their family. The horse carriage swayed along the way and soon returned to the west of the town. When they returned to the Song familys residence, the whole family became more rxed and went back to their rooms to rest. It was not untilte in the afternoon that the family started to get busy again. Together with Eldest Sister-inw Qin who hade to help, they began to sort out the soybean seeds. As Qin Xiaoyao worked, she thought that she might have to hire a helper for her family as well. Notwithstanding anything else, the work of harvesting bean sprouts in the morning had to be done by someone. Her eldest sister-inw couldnt handle it all by herself. She also couldnt just let her big brother, second brother, Daniu, and Dashan do it themselves every time. That would waste too much of their time. After thinking for a while, Qin Xiaoyao decided to bring up this topic. Eldest Sister-inw Qin naturally advised her younger sister-inw not to hire anyone, saying that they could handle it. However, Qin Xiaoyao insisted. Eventually, Eldest Sister-inw Qin introduced the daughter-inw of the Liu family, who had been breastfeeding Xiaohu. Alright then. If Mrs. Liu doesnt mind the short working hours and low pay, she cane over to work tomorrow, Qin Xiaoyao said. 20 copper coins for two hours. Who wouldin about such a job? Said Eldest Sister-inw Qin. Dont worry. Ill go talk to her. Shell definitelye! Qin Xiaoyao agreed with a smile and stopped worrying about this matter. The Song family was very busy thereafter, and they busied themselves all the way until the Lantern Festival when the porridge shop was closed. The Lantern Festival was the 15th day of the new year. On this day, perhaps because the situation in Mountain Spring Town was getting better, it was more lively than the 1st day of the new year. The Second Prince, as the person in charge of Mountain Spring Town, had ordered his men to prepare for the Lantern Festival in advance now that they had plenty of time on their hands. This time, there were not only firecrackers but also fireworks in Mountain Spring Town. The government even joined hands with some merchants to organize activities likentern appreciation and solvingntern riddles. After dinner, the Song family went out to the streets. In the beginning, everyone was still walking together. After a while, Song Que dragged Qin Xiaoyao away and they went off alone, spending some private moments with each other. As the well-known talented schr of Mountain Spring Town, solvingntern riddles was definitely Song Ques forte. As soon as Qin Xiaoyao had her eyes on antern, Song Que would win it without a hitch. After a while, Qin Xiaoyao had collected quite a number ofnterns. Qin Xiaoyao enjoyed this kind of treatment very much. When she saw the envious gazes of the young girls around her, her heart was filled with indescribable joy. That was understandable. This was like having a boyfriend helping to grab a soft toy in the w machine before the apocalypse. A boyfriend who had the ability to help his girlfriend grab a soft toy and, ahem was also handsome, with an attractiveness that was absolutely unbeatable! Qin Xiaoyao only stopped when she was holding six or seven of the most exquisitenterns in her hands. She did not let Song Que continue solving thentern riddles. This was to prevent themselves from solving the riddles on all the prettynterns, which would attract too much hatred. Lets go! Lets go for a walk and then floatnterns on the river! As they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. It was so romantic to release antern on the water and make a wish. Mm-hmm. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao lovingly and reached out to hold her hand. Then, under the envious gazes of the young men and women, the couple left. In the end, they didnt walk far before they ran into a group of people. They were the army officers led by Han Chao. Teacher Qin! Ah! Its Teacher Qin! That big group of men noticed Qin Xiaoyao and quickly waved to her. After spending time together over this period, this group of people had grown to admire Qin Xiaoyao. In the beginning, because Qin Xiaoyao was a woman, many of them were unconvinced and had their noses up in the air. In the end, after a round of training, they were all fully convinced. Not only were they convinced, but after witnessing Qin Xiaoyaos abilities and even fighting with her, they were all in awe. In particr, when everyone heard that Qin Xiaoyao could actually wield that meteor hammer and was even able to deploy it with great vigor, everyone almost worshiped her as their idol. In fact, it was all thanks to Han Chaos help in promoting Qin Xiaoyao. In any case, Qin Xiaoyao was now a god-like existence in the army. Today was the Lantern Festival, so everyone was granted leave and they wanted to go out for a walk. They had wanted to join in the fun, but they did not expect to bump into their idol. Not surprisingly, they had toe up and greet her. After that, they would have to buy their Teacher a drink. As for Song Que, well Thatrge group of people chose to ignore him. Qin Xiaoyao instinctively wanted to greet them when she saw them. Then, she seemed to have thought of something and dragged Song Que away in a bid to escape. If this had been another asion, she would definitely be willing to drink and y morra games with those people and have a great time together. However, today, she was keeping her husbandpany. How could she bring her husband to drink and fool around with her and those rough men? If her husband ended up being frightened by her rough behavior, it would not be worth it. Song Que saw the change in Qin Xiaoyaos expression and realized that she was pulling him to turn around, but he did not resist. That group of people not far away saw this and quickly called out. Hey! Teacher Qin! Teacher Qin, dont go! Teacher Qin! Someone shouted loudly and then quickly ran after her. Qin Xiaoyao wanted badly to escape with Song Que, but she didnt dare to drag too hard, so that fellow quickly caught up with the couple. Teacher Qin, it really is you! Im not mistaken! Teacher Qin! Gosh! Why did you run when we called out to you just now? I almost thought I got the wrong person! another person chimed in. As he spoke, he sized up Qin Xiaoyao. That mans eyes lit up at this moment Teacher Qin, you look quite pretty in this outfit, he continued. Usually, when Teacher Qin went to the military camp, she would wear mens clothes. If they had not known in advance that she was a woman, almost no one would have dared to suspect her of being a woman. However, today, Teacher Qin was dressed like a woman. Moreover, she was dressed up so attractively That was right. She looked very attractive. It was different from the other girls attractiveness. Teacher Qins attractive looks were very heroic! As soon as the man spoke, he immediately felt a hostile gaze on him. Following the other partys gaze, he realized it was from Song Que. The mans eyes froze for a moment, and then a look of disdain appeared in them. Through Han Chao, they already knew that Teacher Qin had a husband. However, her husband was not manly at all. He had a girly face and used it to seduce Teacher Qin. Now that this guy looked at Song Que, he realized that Han Chaos description was really urate. When Song Que saw that mans expression, his eyes narrowed slightly. Just as he was about to step forward and say something, Qin Xiaoyao pulled him back and pushed him behind her back. Hehe! Everyone! I didnt notice you guys just now. Its my fault. However, I have to go shopping with my husband tonight. I wont be apanying you guys. Another day perhaps? Ill be the host on another day. How about I invite all of you to Fortune Mansion for a drink? Fortune Mansion! She would have to fork out a big sum to treat these booze-loving heavy drinkers. However, in order to deal with the current situation, she had no choice but to spend this sum of money. It was better than making her husband angryter.. Chapter 282 - 282: A Drink at Fortune Mansion Chapter 282: A Drink at Fortune Mansion Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion To her surprise, when that bunch of men heard this, they still refused to let her off. Theres no better time than the present! I think tonight will do! Han Chao said loudly. It just so happens that Master Song is here as well. Lets go to Fortune Mansion for a gathering! Yeah! Lets go together! the rest of the people chirped up. Qin Xiaoyao felt frustrated. Just as she was about to turn him down, Song Que suddenly spoke. Sure. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que in surprise. Song Que simply smiled faintly at her. The Second Prince and the other officers are about to leave Mountain Spring Town. Rightfully, we should give them a fitting farewell, he said. I dont know if theres still time after today. Tonight is just right. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned for a moment before she remembered this. When she saw that Song Que was smiling and did not look angry, she finally relented. Then lets do it tonight. My husband and I will treat everyone to a drink. Han Chao and the others all looked at Song Que. When they saw how obedient Qin Xiaoyao was to him, their expressions became a little strange. Haha! Then I will have to thank Teacher Qin! Teacher Qin, please Han Chao quickly said. He even gestured for Qin Xiaoyao to go first. He didnt mention Song Que at all nor did he take him seriously. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows slightly. She held Song Ques hand tightly. Lets go, Hubby, she said to Song Que. Then, she pulled Song Que along with her. Han Chao and the rest of the people followed behind the two with sullen expressions. That girly-faced guy was really not sensible at all. Soon, the group arrived at Fortune Mansion. The waiter weed the group warmly. Song Que spoke up and asked the waiter to prepare a private dining room for him. Then, he ordered some food and wine with practiced ease. Everyone was somewhat surprised by Song Ques attitude. Master Song, are you very familiar with Fortune Mansion? Someone could not help but ask. This was the best restaurant in the town, and the cost of dining here was not low. They themselves had only been here once or twice since they arrived in Mountain Spring Town. And even when they came here, they were very careful when ordering. They had to order the wine sparingly, afraid that they couldnt afford it. However, this fellow didnt even look at the menu and just ordered a whole list of dishes. Moreover, the wine he ordered was not the kind of lower-priced wine that they used to drink. A little, Song Que replied with a smile. Im working at the government office. The higher-ups arranged for me to meet up with the merchants in Mountain Spring Town. Its inevitable that Im often invited to eat at Fortune Mansion. Aftering a few times, I have be familiar with this ce. When he saw that Han Chao had deliberately looked away as if he did not want to look at Song Que, Song Ques eyes swept across his face. And Im indebted to Boss Fang for thinking highly of me and giving me some discounts, he continued with a smile. Whenever Ie and eat, I only have to pay 80% of the bill. Everyones expression changed immediately when they heard that. Other than Han Chao, no one else looked at Song Que with contempt. In fact, a few of them not only stop looking down on Song Que, but they also looked at him with quite a bit of respect. This was Fortune Mansion after all. Even the rich didnte here often, but he did. Not only did hee often, but the restaurant owner even gave him a discount. It was a 20% discount, no less. Based on the prices here, he could save a lot of money. When he heard this, Han Chao was still not willing to cut Song Que any ck. The cost of a meal at Fortune Mansion is not low. It can easily cost more than a dozen taels of silver. Even if you only pay 80%, its still a huge sum of money. Can a mere schr like Master Song afford it? Hmph! Wasnt it all thanks to Teacher Qin? He was very clear about the Song familys situation. This guy Song Que was just a pretty face with no real talent and a wholly undeserved reputation. The Song family could lead the life they currently had all because of Teacher Qin. She worked with Fortune Mansion to sell bean sprouts and century eggs. And now she was running a porridge shop. These were all Teacher Qins ideas and she had been running these operations all along. Otherwise, if they just relied on Song Que alone The family might still be cowering in one corner of Brook Falls Vige. At any rate, he simply couldnt stand Song Que. He couldnt understand why the Second Prince and Teacher Qin think so highly of him. There was a moment of silence at the table when he spoke these words. Han Chaos words were too deliberate and hurtful. Even if everyone wanted to cover up for Han Chao, there was no way for them to do it. Before Song Que responded, Qin Xiaoyaos face had already clouded over. This fellow Han Chao was usually quite polite to her, and she was more familiar with him because of what happened in the government office previously. She had not expected him to single out her husband like this. Qin Xiaoyao was just about to give Han Chao a piece of her mind when Song Que suddenly grabbed her hand under the table. She saw Song Que give her a reassuring smile. Then, Song Que looked at Han Chao with a smile. Theres no need for you to worry about that, Captain Han. Thanks to the young master of the Liang family holding me in high regard, Ive invested in some of the Liang familys grain transportation business in Zhao County. The first batch of grain has just arrived in Mountain Spring Town. Once the profits have been distributed, its still barely enough to afford a meal at Fortune Mansion. Everyone was shocked by his words. Song Que had actually invested in the Liang familys grain transportation business? Now, the entire Mountain Spring Town Oh, in fact, the entire Zhao County, and even Hua An Prefecture, wascking food most severely! Even if they didnt know the exact situation, they knew that the Liang family was one of the biggest grain merchants in Zhao County. There was no other reason than the fact that Link Trading, owned by the Liang family, had the most grain stores in Zhao County. To think that Song Que had actually invested in the Liang familys grain transportation business in Zhao County. Then who could still say that he was living off a woman? Just based on this venture alone, he could earn a big fortune in the near future. Right now, the way the officers looked at Song Que hadpletely changed, and they no longer dared to look down on him. When some of them saw him sitting together with Qin Xiaoyao, they even began to feel that the two of them were increasingly morepatible. They even admired Qin Xiaoyaos foresight. When Han Chao heard this, he was also shocked. It had not crossed his mind that Song Que would be able to achieve such great things after working less than a month at the government office. After the initial shock, he did not dare to look down on Song Que anymore. He stayed by the Second Princes side and so he knew how hard the Second Prince worked to solve the food shortage problem in Zhao County. After that, it was said that the matter was settled with the help of the Liang family. He did not realize Song Que was involved in this. Even if Song Que didnt know how to do business, with Zhao Countys current situation, he could still make a fortune by participating in the Liang familys grain transportation business without the need to do anything. Earning money was just one aspect, but to be able to work with the Liang family and convince them to give out a share of their grain transportation business, Song Que was definitely no ordinary person. At this moment, Han Chao suddenly realized that perhaps he had really been looking down on Song Que. If Song Que was able to catch the attention of the Second Prince and Teacher Qin, he must truly be extraordinary. Qin Xiaoyao saw that Han Chao was rendered speechless by Song Ques rebuttal, so she simply lowered her head and drank her wine. As the rest of the people congratted orplimented her husband, she was very happy inwardly. No doubt she knew that her husband had invested in the Liang familys grain transportation business. At that juncture, their family had already bought eight shops and had about 4000 taels of silver left. Following that, they spent 3500 taels of silver to buy a share of the grain transportation business, and so they gave up on buying more shops. In the grain transportation business, although their family only got a 20% share, the profits were huge. For this 3500 taels they had spent, they would probably be able to earn back the capital before the next summer.. Chapter 283 - 283: I’m Envious of You for Having Such a Wife Chapter 283: Im Envious of You for Having Such a Wife Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion And this was only the mary reward. Now that they had embarked on a coboration with the Liang family, they would have more ways to make money in the future. If the Song family wanted to rise again, they still had to rely on her husband. Next, Qin Xiaoyao witnessed Song Que talking andughing with everyone skillfully and easily. She saw how humorous he was and what a good sense of propriety he had, and she felt very proud. After a while, Song Que not only got along very well with the officers, he had also dissolved the estrangement between Han Chao and him after two toasts. By the time the meal was over, all the officers in the army had already epted Song Que. They were also full of praise for Song Que. They even reminded Qin Xiaoyao repeatedly to treat Song Que well. They also said that she and Song Que were a match made in heaven, and so on. Qin Xiaoyao was dumbfounded as she watched them. It wasnt until they bade everyone farewell at the entrance of Fortune Mansion that Song Que, who had been pretending to be drunk, sobered up and pulled her into his arms. Standing against the slightly chilly wind, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que, whose face was totally flushed, in shock. You are not drunk? she asked. During the meal, her husband had drunk quite a lot. She had intended to help her husband drink, but she had beenughed at by those people. Then, her husband forced himself to drink. It wasnt untilter when his cheeks turned all red but he still managed to hold himself together, maintaining a state of being almost drunk yet not quite drunk, that he finally gave in and stopped pitting himself against those wine-guzzling drunkards. When she saw that he was slow to react andughed foolishly from time to time, she thought, just like everyone else, that he was really drunk. However, looking at his clear eyes now, he did not look drunk at all. Qin Xiaoyaos expression turned odd as she recalled something. Your capacity for liquor That was not right! Back in the past, if her husband had drunk as much as he did today, he should have been drunk long ago. However Oh, that was great. He had been pretending all along When she recalled the first time they had slept together after getting drunk, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly realized that it was not drunk sex, but something that he had nned for a long time When he saw that the look in his wifes eyes had changed, an awareness of impending danger shed across his eyes. Following that, Song Ques grip on Qin Xiaoyaos waist tightened. Then, he shed a charming smile at his wife. Wine doesnt make men drunk, men get themselves intoxicated. If I look at my wife more often, I will be intoxicated even if I am not drunk. Qin Xiaoyao was mesmerized by his charm. Hmph! At least youre tactful! She snorted and did not argue with Song Que. Instead, she leaned into Song Ques arms. The couple quickly held hands and walked home. This night in Mountain Spring Town was warm and wonderful. The next day, the first day after the Lantern Festival, Songs Porridge Shop was open for business as usual. Qin Xiaoyao was busy in the shop when Song Que skipped work and came to the porridge shop to meet his wife. To their surprise, the Second Prince suddenly came to the shop with Han Chao. Song Que was caught skipping work, but he did not feel ufortable. Instead, he calmly received the Second Prince personally. Give me two bowls of porridge with pork and century egg, two baskets of steamed dumplings, four sesame balls, and two spring rolls. The Second Prince didnt stand on ceremony as he ced his order with Song Que. He was like an ordinary customer and did not put on any airs. Please wait a moment, Song Que replied with a smile. He went to get the Second Princes order personally. Everything was ready-made and it wasnt long before Song Que brought the food items that he had gathered. The Second Prince picked up his chopsticks and was about to start eating. When he saw that Song Que was about to leave, he quickly said, Sit down and eat together. I cant finish this much by myself. He said this as if he was chatting with a friend. Song Que nced at Han Chao, who had already gone to the counter to order his own food. He realized that the Second Prince had ordered these dishes not to eat with Han Chao. After a moments hesitation, he sat down. Ive already had breakfast. Im afraid I wont be able to eat much, Song Que said as he picked up a pair of chopsticks. After all these days, in addition to the interaction and connection he had from his previous life, he had be familiar with the Second Prince. The rtionship between the two of them was no longer that of a ruler and a minister from his previous life. Instead, they were more like friends. The Second Prince nced at Song Que. Then, he turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao, who was still busy. Im so envious of you for having such a wife. She was pretty, capable, and knew much about good food. Having stayed in Mountain Spring Town for so long, the more he understood the couples life, the more envious he was. If he were not a Prince or the son of Concubine Chen, but just an ordinary person, he would probably be willing to stay in Mountain Spring Town and lead a simple life. Notwithstanding other things, he really loved porridge with pork and century egg- After leaving Mountain Spring Town, it would be difficult to have a taste of this dish again. Song Que followed the Second Princes gaze and saw Qin Xiaoyao turning back to smile at him. The corners of his mouth couldnt resist curling up. Then, he said to the Second Prince with a smug look, Im afraid Your Highness cant be envious of such a thing. Cough! The Second Prince almost choked. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao didnt overhear them, he also smiled at her. The Second Prince was utterly speechless. He felt that Teacher Qin definitely didnt know her husbands true temperament. You really dont know how to spell the word humble, the Second Prince said as he nced at Song Que in annoyance. Song Que smiled indifferently and lowered his head to eat the porridge. After that, he asked, When does Your Highness n to leave? The rxed expression on the Second Princes face finally vanished. Three dayster. He lowered his head and looked at the porridge in his bowl. What a pity. Im afraid I wont be able to have such a nice porridge in the future Song Ques expression was slightly startled, and a look of sorrow appeared on his face. If Your Highness needs it, we can send some century eggs tomorrow for you to bring along, he said. The Second Prince nced at Song Que. Two hundred eggs, he said at once. Song Ques expression froze for a moment, then heughed in amusement. Sure, he answered with a smile. When winter came, Fortune Mansion ordered fewer century eggs, so there were still many century eggs left at home. It wasnt a problem to take out 200 eggs to give away. When he saw the change in Song Ques expression, the Second Prince smiled. But rather than having the century eggs, I would much rather have the person who made the century eggs. When he saw Song Ques expression freezing up, the Second Prince continued, Although Teacher Qin is a woman, she is a talented war general. If she remains in this Mountain Spring Town, it is a waste of her talent. And you, Brother Song Your talent is no less than your grandfathers. If you can take up an official post, you will definitely be able to bring benefits to the people in this world. Im really reluctant to leave you two behind in Mountain Spring Town the Second Prince said with a sigh. In the past, he had valued Teacher Qin more. After this period of time, he realized that Song Ques potential was far greater. At first, he had recruited Song Que into the government office only to win over Teacher Qin, but Song Ques performance amazed him time and time again. Even though he was just amoner, Song Que was able to use his connections and authority to win the favor and adtion of all the different factions, even to the point that they were willing to share their benefits to curry favor with him. Whenever he encountered a difficult problem, he was often able to find a novel solution and solve it in a way that others couldnt. Such a talent was simply too rare. If he was given more space, his potential would be infinitely amplified. And the Second Prince was able to give Song Que such an opportunity. At the same time, the Second Prince also needed such a talent. He really didnt want to lose out on recruiting this couple Song Ques eyes flickered momentarily. After a while, he lowered his head and continued to eat his porridge.. Chapter 284 - 284: The Second Prince’s Departure Chapter 284: The Second Princes Departure Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion There are too many capable people in the world. Your Highness will meet a good talent sooner orter, Song Que said in response. The Second Prince was visibly disappointed. He gave a sigh, but he did not continue to solicit Song Que. Then, he continued to speak while eating, Your familys spring rolls, sesame balls, and sticky rice cake are also very good. A smile appeared on Song Ques face. He turned his head again and looked in the direction of his wife. She always has a lot of ideas. His eyes were filled with admiration. The Second Princeughed in response. After feeling envious for a while, he continued to enjoy the food. After breakfast, the Second Prince did not stay in the porridge shop for long and quickly left with Han Chao. Song Que personally sent him off. As soon as he returned to the shop, Qin Xiaoyao came up to him. Why did hee? she asked worriedly. Song Que reached out to hold Qin Xiaoyaos hand and led her to the table. Its nothing. He just came over to take a look before leaving. He wanted to try onest time and see if he could take both of us with him. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que. I turned him down, Song Que said. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief. She had considered letting her husband follow the Second Prince to make a name for himself. However, after hearing about her husbands background and Empress Jias powerful influence, she discarded that idea. While it was good to make a name for himself, safety was the most important. In any case, Empress Jia was not young anymore. It would not be toote for her husband to establish himself after she had died. If they managed their life carefully and took things step by step, their life would be better, and that was good enough. When Song Que saw his wifes reaction, he knew that he had made the right choice. 1 agreed to give him 200 century eggs, he continued. Qin Xiaoyao was astounded. Then she saw Song Que smiling at her. Oh, alright. Then you can bring it to him in the afternoon, she said. 200 century eggs were nothing. As long as the problem could be solved and no one was offended, it was good enough. Mm-hmm. Over the next two days, there were more soldiers on the streets. When the people learned that the Second Prince was leaving, the hearts of the people became restless again. With the arrival of the county magistrate, he worked with the Second Prince to calm the civilians down. On the third day, the Second Prince finally led his army out of the town. The civilians lined the streets to bid their farewells. It was evident that everyone was full of respect and gratitude for the Second Prince. After the Second Prince left, the Song family was not affected much. However, Qin Xiaoyao did not need to go to the military camp anymore. Although Song Que still went to the government office to help, his daily work days had changed to half a day every two days. The main thing was that with the arrival of the county magistrate, the positions in the government office had gradually been filled by new officials. As Song Que refused to work in the government office on a long-term basis, his working hours were naturally reduced. In fact, his role would bepletely eliminated muchter. However, Song Que did not mind. This was because he was already attending sses at the Cirrus Loft Academy with Song Ye. Since he had set the path for himself to sit for the Imperial examination and enter government service, it was more important to return to the academy and continue his studies. In addition, as a famous schr in Mountain Spring Town, and with the reputation he had made recently, he could do a lot of things while studying even if he was just a schr. In the blink of an eye, it was early spring. The cold winter was over, and the trees were sprouting new leaves. Signs of life began to appear in the mountains and the countryside. After surviving a difficult winter, the faces of the residents of Mountain Spring Town began to show smiles and hope. Outside the town, some of the refugees had already returned to the viges. The government office also issued a decree to distribute grain seeds to the vigers who returned to the vige. When the vigers got the grain seeds and returned to the vige to grow them, they would have hope of survival Everything was developing in a good direction. In the Song familys house, with the arrival of spring, Qin Xiaoyaos bean sprouts business wasnt doing so well. Taking into consideration that the soybeans at home were running out, Qin Xiaoyao simply stopped nting bean sprouts inrge quantities. Instead, she would only distribute one shed of bean sprouts every day, and then hand the bean sprouts to her maiden family to sell. Now that the fresh vegetables are out, bean sprouts arent as easy to sell as before. The effect wont be good if we sell them door to door. Big Brother, Second Brother, you two can go to the market on West Street to set up a stall there. The price can be adjusted ordingly. The earnings will be split in half between us. After pondering for a while, Qin Xiaoyao added, I think it is enough to assign one person to sell bean sprouts. When is Father going to reopen his meat stall? If you guys are not in a hurry, do one of you want to help me out at my porridge shop? Although the pay for helping out at the porridge shop wasnt high, it was still an ie, wasnt it? Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu exchanged nces. Following that, Qin Dahu turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Father wants me to go to the countryside to look for live pigs within the next two days. If you can handle the work at the porridge shop, then dont hire anyone else. Leave the bean sprout business to Younger Brother. I will follow Father to open the meat stall first. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Thats good too. The three siblings chatted for a while longer before Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu left. Qin Xiaoyao was just about to pack up and go to the porridge shop to help when Big Girl Li, Liu Daniu, and Wang Dashan arrived. Qin Xiaoyao was quite happy as she hadnt seen Big Girl Li for a long time. She held onto Big Girl Lis hand for a long time. Youve just finished your confinement. Why dont you rest at home? Wheres little Chunhua? Chunhua is at home. Its still a little cold outside, so I didnt bring her here. Big Girl Li followed Qin Xiaoyao to the hall. Thereafter, they all sat down and chatted. Its still a little cold. When the weather gets warmer, Ill go visit little Chunhua! Qin Xiaoyao replied quickly. She had been too busy recently and had not visited her goddaughter for a long time. Big Girl Lis face was full of smiles. Chunhua is lucky to have you as her godmother. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Isnt that so? Our little Chunhua is the most blessed child! Afterughing for a while, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Big Girl Li girl and the other two. By the way, what brings you guys here? Although she asked outwardly, inwardly Qin Xiaoyao already had some conjectures. Previously, Daniu and Dashan had also been taking bean sprouts wholesale from her to sell. However, now that the bean sprout business was not doing well, their jobs were lost. The profit of the firewood business was low, and after the mountain bandit trouble in Mountain Spring Town was quelled, the people could leave the town freely. In a situation where everyone did not have enough money, many people went out of town to collect firewood by themselves. As a result, the firewood business became even more difficult to run. These people were most likely here to look for work. The three of them looked at each other, their expressions somewhat troubled. In the end, it was Big Girl Li who spoke to Qin Xiaoyao. Sister Sanya, I was the one who shamelessly asked them toe with me. I just wanted to discuss with you the supply of goods to Fortune Mansion. And also to ask if you have any work that we can do. Ive also finished my confinement period. I cant always stay at home. Furthermore, Daniu and Dashan need to look for a job to earn money as soon as possible. Liu Daniu and Wang Dashan quickly nodded when they saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at them. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment. Weve already agreed that the business at Fortune Mansion will be handed over to Daniu, she said.. Chapter 285 - 285: War at the Border Station Chapter 285: War at the Border Station Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Daniu, if youre still willing to do it, Hl bring you to Fortune Mansion to meet Uncle Zhaoter. In the future, you can liaise directly with Uncle Zhao. Liu Daniu quickly nodded his head. Im willing, Im definitely willing! Thank you, Sister Sanya! Although it was difficult to get goods from the countryside now, he had experience and was confident that he could get the goods. Furthermore, spring had arrived. Simply selling the Chinese Toon shoots was already a fairly substantial source of ie for him. If he still used the fishing to catch some fish in River Ringwaters, his daily ie would probably be more than doing a small business. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. As for you, Big Girl, little Chunhua is still small. Are you sure you want toe out and work? Following that, she looked at Big Girl Li. She really wanted Big Girl to help her, but when she took into consideration Big Girls situation, she was a little hesitant. I Big Girl Li had been quite determined earlier on, but after hearing what Qin Xiaoyao said, she became somewhat hesitant. Although her confinement period had ended, her baby was still young and needed to be breastfed and have her nappies changed. Right now, both her little sister-inw and mother-inw had gone to work at Sister Sanyas porridge shop, leaving her to look after the child alone. If she were to go out to work too, it would indeed be difficult to take care of the child. Qin Xiaoyao reached out and grabbed Big Girl Lis hand. I think you should stay at home for a while. When little Chunhua is fully weaned, you can hand her over to Aunt Liu and Uncle Liu and let them help you take care of her. At that point, you cane to the porridge shop to help me. Big Girl Li looked a little depressed. In the end, she still nodded. She knew that if she insisted, Sister Sanya would definitely allow her to take the child to work with her. However, she was not confident that she could do her job well and take care of her child at the same time. She was getting paid, yet she couldnt do her job well. At that point, she would be letting her Sister Sanya and her child down. So, she thought it was best not to give Sister Sanya any more trouble. Danius problem was solved atst. Now that they had an ie, she would feel at ease even if she didnt go out to work. In addition, although she had to take care of a child, it was still possible for her to do some things. At the very least, she could still make straw sandals at home. Even though it wouldnt earn much, it was still some ie. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao felt a little more rxed. Finally, she looked at Wang Dashan. Dashan After she called out to him, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly stopped. Wang Dashans face tensed up. Yes, Mrs. Song? he quickly responded. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment before she said, Your brain is more nimble and youre more practical in doing things. It is a waste of talent to let you work as a waiter. Wang Dashan became anxious and quickly said, Mrs. Song, I However, Qin Xiaoyao stopped him before he could finish. Its like this. Im currently stationed at that porridge shop in the town center district. Business is not bad. I have a n to open a branch in the west of the town. If youre willing to go there, I can let you manage this branch. As for the sry, its four taels of silver a month, Qin Xiaoyao said. She did have a n for the branch porridge shop. However, there was no suitable candidate for the shop manager. Now that Wang Dashan had approached her, she thought he was quite suitable. Speaking of which, the Wang siblings aptitudes were quite good. With a little training, they could make themselves quite useful. Wang Dashan got a big shock. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him with a smile, he quickly thanked her. Thank thank you for thinking so highly of me, Mrs. Song! Qin Xiaoyao nodded in satisfaction. Alright. Ill leave the preparation for the branch shop in the west of the town to you. After you go back, get yourself prepared well. Tomorrow, follow me to the porridge shop in the town center to have a look. You can check out the situation over there first. After that, we can start preparing for the new shop. Yes! Wang Dashan quickly answered. Big Girl Li and Liu Daniu looked at Wang Dashan with envy. At the same time, they were also happy for Wang Dashan. Qin Xiaoyao noticed that Big Girl Li seemed to be feeling left out, so she reached out and tugged her hand. If the branch in the west of the town can also do well, I will continue to open more branches. When the timees, Ill hire you to be the manager of the next branch. On the one hand, she wanted to take care of her sisters feelings. On the other hand, she also felt that Big Girl really had the potential to be a manager. Really? A glint of bright light shed across Big Girl Lis eyes. Of course! Qin Xiaoyao said immediately. Sister Sanya, youre so nice! Big Girl Li felt very touched instantly, and she leaned on Qin Xiaoyaos shoulder. Liu Daniu was a little jealous when he saw that. Qjn Xiaoyao pretended not to notice and even patted Big Girl Lis shoulder. So, theres nothing to worry about. For now, you just have to stay at home and take good care of little Chunhua. In the future, you still have me! Mm-hmm! When Big Girl Li replied, she was almost on the verge of sobbing. Qin Xiaoyao calmed Big Girl Li for a while longer before sending the three of them off. As she watched Big Girl Li walk away, Qin Xiaoyao sighed again. Big Girl used to be so optimistic. Yet she had be so fragile just because she had given birth to a child. Fortunately, Qin Xiaoyao was strong enough and she believed she would not be like Big Girl. She would give birth to a child, and she would still be able to take care of her career. At the thought of having children, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but look down at her lower abdomen. Ever since the bandit trouble was quelled, she and her husband had stopped using birth control. She did not know when her precious baby would arrive Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was April. As spring arrived, something happened again in the increasingly warm Mountain Spring Town. There was news from the border station that the Great Jin States archenemy, the Great Liao State, had once again encroached on the border and had already taken down three cities under the Imperial Court. Although Zhao County was not that close to the border, it was not that far away either. If the Great Liao State continued to attack and the Imperial Courts army could not repel them, in less than half a month, Zhao County would be affected. As soon as the news came, the residents of Mountain Spring Town were in a state of panic again. Some passionate and righteous people were filled with indignation and wanted to join the army. There were also people who were afraid of war and wanted to flee the county. In short, with the release of the military enlistment notice, Mountain Spring Town, which was slowly getting back to its feet, was quickly overwhelmed by all kinds of emotions. Qin Xiaoyao went to Cirrus Loft Academy to pick up Song Ye and Song Que. In the end, at the entrance of the academy, she saw a schr giving an impassioned speech. The general content was that the generals of the Imperial Courts army should follow the lead of the Second Prince and galvanize the soldiers to fight bravely against the enemy and eliminate all the invading enemies. The Imperial Court should not keep makingpromises to amodate the Great Liao State. The consequence ofpromise would only serve to embolden the Great Liao States ambition, and the Yelu n would be more greedy and demand even more. On the horse carriage, before Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que could discuss this matter, Song Ye actually brought up the border war issue first. The child was like a little adult, and like the schr at the gate of the academy, he was very angry at the Imperial Courts attitude of not taking a firm stand against the Great Liao State. Song Que and Qin Xiaoyao looked at each other, but they didnt say anything. Then, after a while, Song Ye couldnt hold it in anymore. Our Great Jin State clearly has so many elite soldiers and generals. Why should we fear the Great Liao State? Its a pity that there arent many courageous generals like the Second Prince. Those in the court are all cowards! Song Ques eyes flickered momentarily. Big Brother, tell me! Are those people in the Imperial Court ipetent and muddleheaded, and are they useless bums who dont do any work? Song Ye continued.. Chapter 286 - 286: The Harsh War Chapter 286: The Harsh War Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The phrase useless bums who dont do any work was indeed used to describe those court officials. As for being ipetent and muddleheaded, Song Ye didnt really spell out who he was referring to. Upon hearing this, Song Ques expression finally became stern. Yeer, watch what you say, he admonished. Only then did Song Ye shut his mouth, but his expression showed that he was still a little indignant. Song Que sighed and then added, Fighting a war is not that simple, especially against a strong state like the Great Liao. If we really fall out with the Great Liao State, leading to an all-out war between the two states, the people of Great Jin State will live in misery. If we get caught in the quagmire of war, and Great Jinn, who is watching greedily from the side, also gets involved, Im afraid the Great Jin State will be in danger of destruction. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Yes expressions changed at once when they heard this. However, it was only for a moment before Song Yes expression was filled with displeasure and anger. When he saw this, Song Que did not get angry. Instead, he patted his younger brothers shoulder and continued, The Great Liao States invasion is not without reason. Song Ye immediately looked at his big brother. Previously, many provinces and prefectures in the whole Great Jin State suffered from droughts. Take for example our Hua An Prefecture. The drought that we suffered is one of the most serious among all the other prefectures. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled. Countless people have starved to death or died at the hands of the refugees and bandits. Our Mountain Spring Town was previously upied by mountain bandits. If it wasnt for the Second Princes army that wiped out the mountain bandits, Im afraid Mountain Spring Town still wouldnt be at peace now. Lets not talk about ces further away. In Hua An Prefecture, a case like Mountain Spring Town is not the only one. And even now, not all the towns have been cleared of bandit trouble. And this is not only happening in Hua An Prefecture. In the entire Great Jin State, there are many ces in the same situation as Hua An Prefecture. Upon hearing that, Song Ye quickly fell into silence. When Song Que saw this, he knew that his younger brother had taken his words to heart and continued, The current Great Jin State can be said to be facing both internal trouble and external aggression. If we fight to the bitter end with the Great Liao State, it will be very difficult to suppress the rebellion within the territory and restore the peace in peoples lives. In addition, the Imperial Court has spent a lot of money and food on disaster relief. Im afraid it will be difficult to raise enough funding for military supplies to support the war at the border. The Great Liao State must have noticed this and thats why they invaded at this time. They wanted to take advantage of the situation to plunder our wealth and people. If the Imperial Court seeks peace, the Great Liao State can take the opportunity to extort money andnd. If the Imperial Court supports war and keeps losing, the Great Liao State will most likely take the chance to destroy the Great Jin State. As for thetter option, the Great Jin State will not be able to bear the consequences. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Yes hearts sank when they heard this. In particr, Song Yes tiny face had already turned pale from fright. He only heard his ssmates talk about how the Imperial Court did not do anything and allowed the Great Liao State to trample on thend of the Great Jin State and how hateful those invaders were. He didnt know that there were so many factors at work behind this war. If what Big Brother said was true, then the Great Jin State was really in a precarious situation. As a citizen of the Great Jin State, everyone, including him, was naturally afraid of bing a ve in a fallen country. When Song Que saw Song Yes reaction, he patted his shoulder again tofort him. Youre still too young. You can just listen to the matters of the Imperial Court. But dont get incited or be easily led astray, in case you get into trouble. Although Empress Jia might be quite open-minded, not everyone in her faction was like her. Many people would make use of such opportunities to please and tter Empress Jia. In the past few years, there had been many cases of the literary inquisition. When he saw that Song Ye did not reply, Song Que continued, When youre older, youll take the Imperial examination and enter government service. You may even enter the hall of schrs whereupon you can preach and listen. There will naturally be people who will listen to your words then. Your words can even affect the fate and future of the state. Song Ye was stunned. Just like that, a seed was nted in his heart by his big brother. Qin Xiaoyao agreed with what Song Que said. The way she looked at Song Que was tinged with ayer of admiration. Her husband was indeed extraordinary. Back at the Song family, after dinner, the couple washed up early and went to bed. Then, inevitably, they talked about the most popr topic in Mountain Spring Town. In my previous life, after I left with the Second Prince, I stopped paying attention to the situation in Mountain Spring Town. But ording to the development of the war in my previous life, the Great Liao State did attack Hua An Prefecture in the end. Theres a possibility of an attack on Mountain Spring Town, Song Que said with a frown. Qin Xiaoyaos face tensed up. Then what do we do? Do we need to move? she asked. Song Que shook his head. No need. Many ces in Hua An Prefecture are still in chaos. If we leave Mountain Spring Town, the journey to other ces may not be safe. Moreover, Hua An Prefecture is huge, and Mountain Spring Town is located in the deep interior of Hua An Prefecture. Its only a possibility that the Great Liao State will attack. Its not an absolute certainty. Qin Xiaoyao was still a little uneasy. Perhaps it was because themoners hated the Liao army too much. The way everyone described the Liao army was much more terrifying than the way they described the mountain bandits. Although the mountain bandits had killed indiscriminately when they entered the town, they didnt casually massacre themoners after that. However, it was said that the Liao army had captured many ves and massacred thousands in many cities. In a town like Mountain Spring Town which was located so far ind, it was too troublesome to capture ves and bring them back, and the probability of massacring the entire town was higher. When Song Que saw her reaction, he reached out and held Qin Xiaoyaos hand. Dont worry. The Imperial Court has already sent messengers to negotiate with the Great Liao State. When the Liao army arrives at Hua An Prefecture, the negotiation will be more or less settled. Even if the Liao army doese to Mountain Spring Town, they will retreat soon afterward. Qin Xiaoyao nodded and leaned into Song Ques arms. In her heart, she felt powerless all over again. Thest time she had this feeling was when the mountain bandits entered the town. After arriving in the ancient times, she believed that she could protect her family with her special ability and unparalleled martial arts. However, when the mountain bandits entered the town, she realized that she could not control the situation or change anything by herself. After that, when something happened to her husband, although she held the bandit leader hostage andter killed the bandits second-inmand with her own hands If the Second Prince had not stationed his troops outside the town and attacked the town in time, she would not have been able to escape with her husband by herself. If the Liao army were toe next And if they proceeded to massacre the entire town, killing everyone indiscriminately, would she be able to protect her family Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at her husband, who had already closed his eyes and was ready to sleep. Other thoughts unwittingly popped into her mind. She and her husband had rejected the Second Prince and stayed in Mountain Spring Town. Was it really the best choice? If she had troops in her hands, and her husband had power, would they still need to fear the mountain bandits or the Liao army? In ancient times, when there was chaos, human lives were as insignificant as grass. If she wanted to be an ordinary person and lead a peaceful life, it was simply too difficult- ording to her husbands memories, after the Great Liao State invaded, the Great Jin State would still fall into internal strife. They would have to wait until the Second Prince took over the reins of imperial power three yearster. Only then would the Great Jin State enjoy decades of peace. Would their family be able to survive this cmity safely Staring at the mans handsome face, Qin Xiaoyaos heart was filled with longing. After looking at her husband for a while, she moved her body, got up, and blew out the light. Then she went to bed and fell asleep.. Chapter 287 - 287: Sealing The Town Again Chapter 287: Sealing The Town Again Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Over the next few days, the atmosphere in Mountain Spring Town became even more tense. As the governments troops enlistment exercise did not achieve the desired result, the government office issued a conscription notice and began to force the people to serve in the military. As Song Que had no achievements, he was also conscripted. Fortunately, the mandatory military service could be offset with money. After paying 15 taels of silver, Song Que was let off the hook. However, the Qin, Wang, and Liu families all had to fulfill the quota for military service. In particr, the Qin family and the Liu family were each required to fill two spots. Fortunately, these few families had been diligent. They had earned some money from selling the bean sprouts they took wholesale from Qin Xiaoyao. In addition to the money they had saved up recently, they finally gathered enough money to exempt their family members from military service. However, once the money was paid, the families became poor again. This was particrly true for the Wang family. Wang Dashan and Wang Laoshuan rented a room in the Liu familys house. As they had earned some money during this period, their original n was to work harder to save up more money to buy a small courtyard house. However, now, they had taken out 15 taels of silver in one go, instantly shattering Wang Dashans hope. Fortunately, he was now a shop manager in Qin Xiaoyaos newly opened porridge shop in the west of the town, and his sry was not low. In addition, the porridge shops business was doing well, so he could get some bonus. Wang Dashan was still full of hope for the future. Another five days passed. In the increasingly tense situation, the Liao army finally entered Hua An Prefecture. All of a sudden, the people in Mountain Spring Town were in a state of panic. The people on the streets walked faster than usual, and each household no longer liked to venture out as much as before. The business of Songs Porridge Shop slowly fizzled out. Over at the Cirrus Loft Academy, the students were more irascible than before. After the officials from the government office came to make arrests twice, they still did not manage to contain the upsurge of anger. Instead, a violent altercation broke out between the two sides. On this day, something happened. When it was dismissal time, Qin Xiaoyao went to pick up Song Que and Song Ye from the academy, but Song Que was nowhere to be seen. It was onlyter that she learned that Song Que had been forcibly taken out of the town by a group of people. Qin Xiaoyao had a bad feeling in her heart. She forced herself to calm down and drove the horse carriage to send Song Ye home first. After that, she unharnessed the horse from the carriage and rode off on the horse, preparing to leave the town to look for Song Que. In the end, just as she reached the town gate, she found that the town gate had been closed. Facing arge group ofmoners who were moring to leave the town, an official shouted, The county magistrate has ordered the town gates to be closed for three days. For the next three days, no one is allowed to leave Mountain Spring Town. At the same time, another official next to him went to one side and put up a notice. Qin Xiaoyao frowned and followed some people to read the contents of the notice. Only then did she find out that many people were fleeing for their lives because of the news of the Liao army attacking Hua An Prefecture. In order to retain the poption and protect the people in Mountain Spring Town, the county magistrate had ordered the town gates to be closed. The notice said that the town gates would be closed for three days. However, the limit of three days was obviously just an assumption. Three dayster, if the Liao army did not retreat, the gates would be closed for another three days. If the Liao army really attacked, Mountain Spring Town would fall in less than three days. No matter what the oue was, her husband was alone outside and it would be difficult for him to survive. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao quickly pushed away the people blocking her and went to look for the official who had just spoken. The official naturally knew Qin Xiaoyao. As Song Que used to work in the government office, he was on friendly terms with Song Que. Things dont look good. If he was really captured together with those schrs, they would probably have been escorted to the front lines by now. After hearing Qin Xiaoyaos description, the officials expression turned grave. This wasnt the first time the students of Cirrus Loft Academy had caused trouble. The Lord County Magistrate was also annoyed. This time, he decided to simply send all the troublemakers out of the town and let them fulfill the quota for military service. The Imperial Court has recruited many soldiers this time and these people have been sent to quite a number of ces. Now, even if you go out of town to look for him, Im afraid you wont be able to find him, Madam Qin. At this point, a hint of sympathy shed across the officials eyes. Moreover, even if you do locate him, Master Song has probably already been conscripted into the military, and you wont be able to bring him back. Qin Xiaoyaos heart sank as she listened. Her husband was a schr without the strength to even truss a chicken, yet he had been captured to serve as an able-bodied man. How could he survive in the military? Also, on the battlefield, how could he be a match for those ferocious Liao soldiers? Qin Xiaoyao panicked and quickly took out some silver from her pocket. Brother Zhang, please do me a favor and let me out to look for my husband. When I find my husband, Ill definitely thank you handsomely! When she found her money pouch, Qin Xiaoyao stuffed it into the officials hand without even looking at its contents. However, the official refused her offer. I really cant! Madam Qin, the Lord County Magistrate has already given the order to close the town gates and not let a single person out. If I let you out of the town, my official robes will be stripped off. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaos pleading face, the officer was very sympathetic. Furthermore, if you leave the town now, not only will you not be able to save Master Song, but you will also be in danger. Youd better hurry home. If the Liao armyes and Master Song is not there, your whole family can only count on you. Qin Xiaoyaos heart sank. As she looked at the town gate, she finally gritted her teeth and turned to leave. She definitely had to save her husband, but she couldnt just leave so rashly. Before she left, she had to settle her family down first. After leaving the town gate, Qin Xiaoyao didnt go straight back to the Song familys house. Instead, she went to the Qin familys house first. Due to the changes in the town, the Qin familys father and two sons were all present. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao returning with a slightly pale face, the father and sons trio quickly surrounded her. Qin Xiaoyao quickly exined what had happened to Song Que and even told them that she had decided to go look for him. When the Qin familys father and sons heard this, their faces turned grave. Qin Dazhuang wanted to say something but stopped. He wanted to dissuade his daughter, but he found that he was unable to express himself. As a father, he had personally witnessed the feelings of his daughter toward his son-inw. Over the past year, his daughter had finally warmed up her son-inws heart, and the young couple led a happy life. Now that his son-inw had met with such a mishap, how could his daughter simply stay at home and wait for news? Qin Dahu and Qin Erhu had simr thoughts. Their expressions were also contorted with conflicting emotions. Younger Sis In the end, Qin Dahu still spoke up. However, he was stopped by Qin Xiaoyaos gaze after saying just two words. Big Brother, you dont have to say anything to dissuade me. My husbands safety is the most important thing to me. I have to go look for him. When she saw that the three of them were silent, Qin Xiaoyao continued, This time, Im here to ask for your help. Well help you take care of the Song family, Qin Dazhuang said eventually. Since he could not stop his daughter, he could only ensure that she could leave without any worries. Mm-hmm! Younger Sis, you can count on us! Qin Erhu added. Qin Dahu was clearly struggling inwardly, but he still nodded eventually. When his younger sister was gone, they would definitely help to take care of the Song family. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were filled with gratitude. Thank you, Father, Big Brother, and Second Brother! she hurriedly said. As she spoke, she prepared to kneel down. Qin Dahu hurriedly pulled his daughter to her feet. Whats this for? Chapter 288 - 288: Entrusting Chapter 288: Entrusting Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The Song family is our familys inws. In the past, the Song family has taken care of our family many times. Ill take care of them when youre gone, Qin Dazhuang said in a low voice. Qin Xiaoyao wiped away her tears and nodded. She then gave her father some further instructions before leaving. After leaving the Qin familys house, Qin Xiaoyao returned to the Song familys residence. Ever since Song Ye was sent back by Qin Xiaoyao and her family learned that Song Que had been forcibly taken out of the town, everyone waited at home anxiously for news. When they saw that Qin Xiaoyao had finally returned, Madam Liu and the others immediately surrounded her. Madam Lius face was full of worry when she saw that Song Que had not returned with her. Sanya, Queer I havent found him yet, but Ill continue to look for him. Qin Xiaoyao reached out to hold up Madam Liu. Mother, lets go to the hall first. I have something to say. Mm-hmm, Madam Liu answered. Thus, the whole group went to the hall. After everyone sat down, Qin Xiaoyaos gaze swept across everyones faces. After that, she told them about the town gates being closed and that Song Que might have been captured to serve in the military as an able-bodied man. Madam Lius tears poured out when she heard this. What should we do? Queer with his physique, how can he take it if he goes to the military camp? Song Ye and Song Yun were also very anxious. Ive already thought about it. After Ive settled you guys down, Ill set off to look for my husband. If I cant find him, I wonte back! Qin Xiaoyao said in a low voice. As soon as she said these words, the hall instantly fell silent. Madam Lius heart had calmed down substantially, but at the same time, she was worried about the people in the house. But based on what youve just said, the Liao army may arrive at any time. If youre not around, we Madam Liu didnt really care about herself, but Yuner and Yeer were still young, and she was afraid she couldnt protect them. Thats right, Mrs. Song! The family cant do without you. Why dont you wait a few more days for the situation to be clearer before you set off? Wang Xiaomei looked at Qin Xiaoyao and said in an earnest tone. I know youre anxious, but the town gates are closed and Brother Songs whereabouts are unknown. If you leave the town now, you wont know where to go. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Wang Xiaomei, frowned, and thought for a moment before rejecting her idea. The earlier I set off, the higher the chance of finding my husband. Ill make the arrangements for our home right now. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu. Mother, you dont need to worry too much. Before I came back, I went back to my maiden familys house. Ive already discussed this with my father and two brothers. After I leave, they will take turns toe here and look after all of you. If you encounter any trouble thereafter, you can tell them. Qin Xiaoyao paused for a while. Next, if the Liao army really attacks, you will move to the Qin familys house for a few days, she continued. That ce is closer to the illegal construction area, and the poption there is denser. Itll be safer with more people looking out for each other. Madam Liu nodded. With that, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Wang Xiaomei. Xiaomei, dont open our porridge shop for business for the time being. Ill go to the Liu familyter and tell your big brother about this. After the Liao army retreats, you guys can choose a day to reopen your business. In addition, during the period when the shops are closed, the workers wages will be halved. Let everyone rx. This turmoil will notst long. Alright! Wang Xiaomei answered. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She continued, When Im not around, well postpone the opening of new branch shops. Henceforth, you will still be in charge of the porridge shop in the town center. Ill put you overall in charge of the shops in the west of the town as well. Wang Xiaomei immediately raised her head to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Wasnt her big brother in charge of the porridge shop in the west of the town? As for the matters in the shop, let your big brother take care of them. What I meant is, you will be overall-in-charge. In other words, your big brother will answer directly to you in the future. Its not just the porridge shop. When Im not around, Ill leave all the matters in the Song family to you. Wang Xiaomei got a big shock. From now on, youll be the head of the Song family, and also the head caretaker. Ill give you a list of some of the items in the houseter. When Im not around, you have to help me take care of the Song family, Qin Xiaoyao said earnestly. While Wang Xiaomei felt very touched, she also felt a great weight on her shoulders. It never urred to her that Qin Xiaoyao would entrust the Song family to her. Mrs. Song, I This trust Qin Xiaoyao ced in her made her feel touched and scared at the same time. After all the time they had spent together, Mrs. Song and the Song family had be her family. The Song family treated her even better than her own parents. Aunt Song treated her like her own daughter, Yuner and Ye er treated her like their own older sister, and Brother Song and Mrs. Song doted on her like their own younger sister. Every time Mrs. Song bought things for the family, she never treated her differently just because she was a servant or a long-term worker. Whether they were stuff for eating or for use, she received the same treatment as Yuner. This included the valuable silk clothes and jewelry as well. Now, Mrs. Song was going to look for Brother Song and was entrusting the Song family to her. She was naturally willing to take on this heavy responsibility and protect the Song family and ensure a peaceful life. However, she was afraid that she was not capable enough to protect the Song family. If something really happened, how could she face Mrs. Song and Brother Song when they returned? Qin Xiaoyao reached out her hand and patted Xiaomei Wangs shoulder. Youre the only one who can take on the main responsibility in the family now, she said. Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaomeis heart sank. Finally, she nodded at Qin Xiaoyao. Mm-hmm! she said with determination. Qin Xiaoyao finally had a smile on her face. However, I have two requests, Wang Xiaomei suddenly said. Everyone was stunned. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Wang Xiaomei. Go on. Firstly, I want to acknowledge Aunt Song as my godmother and be a true member of the Song family, Wang Xiaomei then said. Qin Xiaoyaos face broke into a smile. When she saw Madam Liu and the others smiling as well, she nodded. Mother actually had this intention long ago. Its just that she never had the chance to bring this up. For this matter, you just have to offer her a cup of teater. Wang Xiaomeis face lit up and she looked at Madam Liu, visibly touched by the gesture. When she saw Madam Liu nodding affectionately at her, her eyes became a little moist. After wiping away her tears, Wang Xiaomei looked at Qin Xiaoyao again. Secondly, please take my indenture with you, Mrs. Song, she said. Everyone in the room was shocked when they heard this. This is particrly so for Qin Xiaoyao. She didnt expect that Wang Xiaomeis second condition wasnt intended to take care of her own interests. By asking Qin Xiaoyao to take away her indenture, Wang Xiaomei was effectively putting her fate in Qin Xiaoyaos hands. When she returned in the future, no matter how well Wang Xiaomei did, Wang Xiaomei would still be under Qin Xiaoyaos control. Xiaomei did this to let Qin Xiaoyao leave with peace of mind. After the initial shock, Qin Xiaoyao quickly recovered. I do not doubt the people I use. Xiaomei, you dont need to do this, she said. Ill return the indenture to youter. From now on, youre a member of the Song family. A look of gratitude shed across Wang Xiaomeis eyes. Then, she suddenly knelt down in front of Qin Xiaoyao. I appreciate Mrs. Songs kind intentions. However, both of my conditions must be fulfilled. If Mrs. Song does not agree, then please forgive me as I shall not be able to ept Mrs. Songs request.. Chapter 289 - 289: Handing Over The Business Chapter 289: Handing Over The Business Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Wang Xiaomei had followed Mrs. Song to the Song family and had gained a lot of knowledge and learned a lot. She knew that absolute control was much more reliable than rtive trust. Although she had no intention of betraying the Song family, she was afraid that she would waver as time passed. As for Mrs. Song, even if she trusted her now, as time passed, she would definitely be worried too. Rather than let that happen, it was better to do something that could make both parties feel at ease. After all, when the crisis was over and Mrs. Song returned, she would return Wang Xiaomei her freedom. To Wang Xiaomei, it was only a matter of time. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Wang Xiaomei for a while before finally nodding. Alright. If you insist, she replied. At the same time, her trust in Wang Xiaomei increased, and she thought even more highly of her. This girl really knew how to be grateful and was way smarter than she had thought. Wang Xiaomeis face lit up. Thank you, Mrs. Song! she immediately said. Alright. Get up quickly! Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she personally helped Wang Xiaomei to her feet. Then, she asked Song Yun to go to the kitchen and prepare some tea. Sure! Ill go now! Song Yun quickly responded and ran off. The group didnt have to wait long before Song Yun brought them the tea. Following that, Qin Xiaoyao got Wang Xiaomei to serve tea to Madam Liu. Wang Xiaomei agreed excitedly. She took a cup of tea, walked respectfully to Madam Liu, and knelt down. Godmother, please have some tea! she said loud and clear. Madam Liu smiled. Sure! she responded before epting the teacup. Then, she took a big gulp. Then, as Xiaomei Wang smiled brightly, Madam Liu put down the teacup and helped her goddaughter up. Get up quickly. The floor is still cold, she told her with concern. My pants are thick, so I wont feel cold! Wang Xiaomei replied with a smile. With Madam Lius help, she got up from the floor. Sister Xiaomei, youre my older godsistcr from now on! Song Yun said quickly. She tugged happily on Wang Xiaomeis arm. And me too. I also have an older godsister! Song Ye chimed in. The smile on Wang Xiaomeis face widened. I also have a younger godsister and younger godbrother now! With that, Wang Xiaomei looked at Madam Liu again. And I have a godmother to dote on me! she said in a coquettish manner. This made Madam Liu smile again. As Qin Xiaoyao watched them from the side, the sadness in her heart faded quite a bit. She couldnt help but smile. After a while, when everyone had calmed down, Qin Xiaoyao continued to discuss matters with Wang Xiaomei. Qin Xiaoyao returned to her room and brought a small box over. This is the property deed for the house, and these are the sale deeds for the shops. Your Big Brother and I bought a total of eight shops. Were currently using two for ourselves and have rented out four. You can go on to rent out the remaining two shops after some time. You have to pay attention to the rental due dates and go and collect rent regrly in the future, Qin Xiaoyao instructed her. Wang Xiaomei was astounded. She took the houses property deed, the shops sale deeds, and the stack of receipts and looked through them. When she realized that these were indeed the items Qin Xiaoyao just mentioned, she was extremely shocked. When did Mrs. Song and Big Brother buy so many properties? These shops were all in good locations, and theirbined value was astonishing. Notwithstanding the value of these shops, just the rent they brought in was astounding. With so many shops, they could earn more than 30 taels in a month. Even if they didnt do anything, the whole family could live well just by collecting rent. It wasnt only Wang Xiaomei who was shocked. Madam Liu and the rest were also very surprised. Although they didnt know where the shops were or how much they cost, they knew that the prices of the shops were generally high. With eight shops, even if each shop cost only 500 taels, it would still cost more than 4000 taels of silver to buy all of them. Although their family had been making money very quickly this year, they could not believe that they had earned more than 4000 taels of silver in a year. Qin Xiaoyao knew that everyone was puzzled, so she exined, When the bandits captured Song Que, I extorted 10,000 taels of silver from them when I went to save him. After that, when the Second Prince found out, he didnt take back 10,000 taels of silver. He even rewarded me with an additional 1000 taels. My husband and I bought these shops together after that. Everyone was shocked upon hearing that. When they heard the phrase 10,000 taels, they almost stopped breathing. Qin Xiaoyao didnt pay much attention to their reactions and continued, Other than these shops, my husband also spent some money to invest in the Liang familys grain transportation business. Although we dont own many shares, our profits are not low. The Liang family will send us the ount books once a month in the future, along with the dividends. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Wang Xiaomei as she spoke. Since your big brother and I are not here, Ill leave this business to you as well. Wang Xiaomeis expression changed slightly. Upon seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao reached out and patted Wang Xiaomeis shoulder. For this business, my family only contributed some money and didnt get involved personally in the running of the business. When the timees, the Liang family will send the ount books. You can just take a look. Theres no need to delve deeper. We were able to invest in this business because Young Master Liang thought highly of your big brother. After this, when your big brother and I are not around, this rtionship is not so stable anymore. If the Liang family deliberately tries to deceive you, you can pretend you are not aware. You can just ept whatever dividends they send. There is no need to be calctive or argue with them. Well talk about it when your big brother and I return. Xiaomei Wang was relieved and nodded obediently. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao pass the coboration contract with the Liang family to Wang Xiaomei. Now that she had instructed Wang Xiaomei on the most important things, she then gave the ount book of the porridge shops to Wang Xiaomei. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao had effectivelypleted the handover of all the family businesses. Ill teach you and Yuner how to prepare the mud paste to make the century eggster. The century egg business at Fortune Mansion can still be continued. Also, our two porridge shops have to rely on the century egg porridge to keep the business going. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at the two girls. In the future, the century egg business will be handed over to you two. Remember, you must not leak the recipe to outsiders. Mm-hmm! The two of them quickly nodded. Qin Xiaoyao felt more at ease. After that, she began to take stock of the gold and silver ingots and silver notes in the box. After she finished counting, she only took out a note worth 50 taels of silver and 10 taels worth of silver coins before giving the rest of the items to Wang Xiaomei. This is the remaining money at home. Its more than a thousand taels in total. Ill leave it to you to manage. In the future, if the family has more spare money, you can also decide if you want to invest in a property. But I have a request, and that is to set aside at least 1000 taels of spare money. Do not use all of it for investment in property. This is to ensure that our familys livelihood wont be affected and to guard against any risks. Wang Xiaomei nodded. Yes! she quickly answered. Qin Xiaoyao was quite pleased. Following that, she gave some more instructions to Wang Xiaomei. After that, she asked Madam Liu to go to the kitchen to help prepare dry food, while she coached Wang Xiaomei and Song Yun on how to make the mud paste for the century egg. The two girls were extremely diligent when they were learning, and it didnt take long for them to grasp the trick and produce the qualified mud paste. As for making the actual century eggs, the two girls had helped Qin Xiaoyao for a while in the past, so that step wasnt a problem for them.. Chapter 290 - 290: Encounter Robbers on the Road Chapter 290: Encounter Robbers on the Road Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion After making sure that she had told her family everything she needed to, Qin Xiaoyao went back to her room to pack her luggage. Then, she went to the kitchen to get some dry food Madam Liu had prepared. Finally, she said goodbye to her family and went off. After leaving the house, Qin Xiaoyao rushed to the Liu familys house again before the sky turned dark. When Big Girl Li and the others learned that Qin Xiaoyao was leaving, they were all very worried. In particr, Big Girl Li repeatedly tried to dissuade Qin Xiaoyao and hold her back. However, Qin Xiaoyao had already made up her mind and didnt listen to any advice. In the end, Big Girl Li could only send off her good sister in resignation. Sister Sanya, dont worry. With me and Daniu here, well take good care of Aunt Song and the rest! Mm-hmm! Next to her, Liu Daniu chimed in as well. Dont worry, Mrs. Song. Erniu and I will go to the Song familys house more often, Wang Dashan added. Liu Erniu, who was nearby, also nodded his head. Qin Xiaoyao felt more at ease. She cupped her hands at the crowd before turning around and leaving. After going out, she went out of the alley and headed straight for the town gate. Of course, it was impossible for her to leave the town through the town gate. Fortunately, Qin Xiaoyao was experienced. She found a familiar spot and threw the rope up straightaway. Then, she climbed up the town gate tower and released the rope to lower herself down the town gate tower. Due to her skillfulness and the fact that the soldiers in the town didnt expect anyone to leave the town at this hour, no one noticed Qin Xiaoyaos presence. When she arrived outside the town, the sky was already dark. Qin Xiaoyao lit a torch and walked all the way to the fork in the road outside the town. This was a three-way junction. The three main roads were all official roads that led to different prefectures. Qin Xiaoyao frowned as she recalled what the official had told her during the day. In the end, she chose the official road leading to the border. Her husbands whereabouts were currently unknown. If she were to search for him alone, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Now, the only person she could ask for help from was the Second Prince. She had to locate the Second Prince first, and then ask the Second Prince to help her look for Song Que. This way, the probability of her finding Song Que would be higher. And right now, the Second Prince should still be at the border, fighting against the Liao armys reinforcements. With this idea in mind, Qin Xiaoyao hurried on her way through the night, her feet moving very quickly. The spring night was a little cold, but she was feeling so hot that she was sweating as she walked. Whenever she thought of Song Ques current situation, she would not feel pain or fatigue anymore. In the middle of the night, the torch burned out, and Qin Xiaoyao was forced to find a ce to rest by the roadside. She didnt want to sleep at first, but when she remembered how she had to maintain her strength, she still closed her eyes. In the end, she had a nightmare. She dreamed that Song Que and a group of schrs were escorted to the battlefield. Then Song Que kept calling her name, asking her to save him. She wanted to save him, but she found that her legs were as heavy as lead, and she couldnt move at all. Just as the Liao army took their battle sabers and hacked at her husband, she woke up in fright. When she opened her eyes, she realized that she was in the wilderness. The mist was dense in the middle of the night, and some parts of her body were even a little cold. After wiping the cold sweat that popped out on her forehead due to the nightmare, Qin Xiaoyao took out a piece of clothing from her bag and draped it over herself. There was still some time before dawn. Although she was no longer sleepy, she still had to continue to rest. She also thought about her next n. Finally, it was dawn. When she could see the road clearly, Qin Xiaoyao packed up her luggage and continued on her way. She had to get to the nearest town as soon as possible and buy a horse as a means of transportation. Only then could she speed up her journey. As she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao walked even faster. However, because she didnt have a map and didnt meet any travelers on the road, she didnt walk with much confidence. In particr, whenever she passed by a fork in the road, she was afraid that she would go the wrong way. Finally, when she reached an official mountain road, Qin Xiaoyao met someone. Hand over all your food and belongings, then get lost! Four men with sticks and hoes in their hands suddenly appeared and blocked Qin Xiaoyaos way. When she saw that the four of them had sallow faces and not much flesh on their bodies, Qin Xiaoyao immediately guessed that they were probably refugees. And when she saw the weapons in their hands, she surmised that these people had just newly taken to the woods to be ouws. Hehe! If you have the ability,e and take it from me, Qin Xiaoyao said indifferently. Of course, she wasnt afraid of these weaklings. Not only was she not afraid, but she was also a little happy. Right now, she was worried that no one would show her the way, and these few people appeared just in time to help her. Youre looking for death! Before the man in the lead could say anything, a short man standing behind him yelled out. Then, the short man said to the leader of the group, Big Brother, Ill go and deal with him! The man in the lead took a look at Qin Xiaoyao. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was not tall, and was thin and weak inparison with a man, he believed the other party was definitely no match for his subordinate. He nodded. The short man immediately revealed a sinister smile. He pped the stick against his palm as he walked toward Qin Xiaoyao. In the end, just as he was about to raise his rod, Qin Xiaoyao raised her foot and gave him a kick that sent him flying. Ouch! The short man wailed in pain. When the rest of the group saw this, they became fearful. It was only after the leader spoke that they suppressed their fear. Lets attack together! The man in the lead waved his hand forward. The three of them exchanged looks and then charged at Qin Xiaoyao with their weapons. The corner of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up slightly. She took aim and hit out at their weak points. With just two or three moves, she effortlessly knocked those three weaklings down to the ground. Ouch! Wails of anguish rang out continuously. After brushing the dust off her hands, Qin Xiaoyao then walked leisurely toward the leader. Hero, please spare me! Were only doing this because were starving. We were all vigers from nearby, not mountain bandits! The man in the lead quickly begged for mercy. The other three also got up, but they didnt run away. Instead, they ran over and knelt in front of Qin Xiaoyao. They all begged Qin Xiaoyao to let them and their leader go. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyaos impression of them improved somewhat. How long have you guys been here? How many passersby have you robbed? Have you killed before? Qin Xiaoyaos tone was a little grave when she said thest sentence. No weve never killed anyone! The short man cried in fear. We have only only robbed twice. You you are the third one! another tall man said. Were so hungry that we cant help ourselves. Although we robbed them of their things, we didnt rob everything. We left them some rations and let them go! When he saw Qin Xiaoyao frowning, the tall man quickly added. Really? Qin Xiaoyao looked at the leader, who was lying on the ground with the most serious injuries. The leader nodded. Its true! We wouldnt dare to lie. Please please forgive us, hero. Please give us give my three brothers a chance to live. The leader had long been prepared to take the fall for the rest when they first embarked on this path. The other party was a martial arts expert and his methods were brutal. Now that he and his brothers had offended the other party, he was afraid that they wouldnt be able to escape. He could only hope that the other party would let his three brothers go. He was willing to bear the consequences alone. No! I beg you to spare our big brother. We will kowtow and apologize to you! the short man cried. He then kowtowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Each kowtow was extremely weighty and full of sincerity. When the tall man and the other man saw this, they also followed suit.. Chapter 291 - 291: Taking In Underlings Chapter 291: Taking In Underlings Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion What are you guys doing? the leader shouted. Back then, I was the one who brought you guys out to do this. Now, whoever can leave should grab the chance now. Why arent you guys getting out of here quickly? Big Brother, if you dont leave, we wont leave cither! The short man continued to kowtow as he said in a sobbing voice. Thats right! We agreed to live and die together! If were going to die, well die together! the tall man said. Second and Third Brothers arc right! The taciturn fellow who had been silent all this time also spoke up at this point. Qin Xiaoyao, who was watching from one side, felt likeughing. Enough. Did I say I wanted to take your lives? she said. The three people who were kowtowing and the leader who was on the ground with a face full of grief and indignation froze. Immediately, the four of them became ecstatic. Hero, you are not going to kill us? Arc you serious? the short man immediately asked Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the short man. Since you guys didnt kill anyone, I suppose your crime doesnt quite warrant death. Help him up, I have something to ask you. If you answer well, Ill let you live. Thank you, hero! Thank you, hero! The short man quickly thanked her. Together with the tall man, they helped the leader up. Hero, if you have anything to ask, just go ahead. We will definitely tell you everything we know. The leader stood up with the help of his two subordinates and cupped his hands respectfully to Qin Xiaoyao. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao speak. Wheres the nearest town from here? How far are we from there? Also, is this the way to the border station? The four of them didnt have much of a reaction when they heard the first question, but when they heard the second question, the four peoples eyes flickered. Hero, you are going to the border station? the leader said with some excitement. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the man and nodded. The leader immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao with admiration. Youre quite highly skilled, hero. Are you going to join the army? he asked. Qin Xiaoyao paused for a moment. After thinking for a while, she said, Yes. Im going to join the Second Princes army, she added. There were too many people in the military camp. Even if she found the Second Princes team, she probably wouldnt be able to get inside. Joining the army and then entering the military camp, followed by looking for the person was the most reliable way. The leaders eyes lit up at once. Hero, can you bring us along? When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him, the leader immediately knelt down on one knee. We are willing to follow you to join the Second Princes camp! The other three followed suit. They also mimicked their big brother and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. When he saw the bewilderment on Qin Xiaoyaos face, the leader continued, We are not vigers from nearby in reality. As Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered again, the leader hurriedly added, But were from Hua An Prefecture nevertheless. Its just that were from Chen County, which is adjacent to Zhao County! Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything and waited for him to continue. When he saw her reaction, the leader felt more at ease and continued, There was a drought in Hua An Prefecturest year, and then there was a locust gue. In the entire Hua An Prefecture, our Chen County suffered the most. Almost all the vigers in the surrounding viges have moved away. They are all trying to flee to other ces. Some went to other prefectures, while some didnt leave Hua An Prefecture. Instead, they fled to the various major towns. Back then, our families entered the town. By doing manualbor for others, we originally thought that we could still make a living and ensure that our family would not starve to death. To our dismay A pained expression appeared on the leaders face. To our dismay, the price of food soared. The money we made was not enough to feed our entire family. In the end The mans eyes were already filled with tears at this point. Qin Xiaoyao didnt reply, but her expression was one of sympathy. In times of famine, it wasmon for people to starve to death. Even in Mountain Spring Town, many people were found to have starved to death on the streets. In the end, my mother and youngest sister starved to death in order to save food for the family, the man said as he wiped away his tears. With two less people in the family, the rest of us were barely able to survive. But then, the mountain bandits came. After they entered the town, they killed anyone they see. My father, my wife, and my three-year-old son They all died in the hands of those bastards! At this point, the mans eyes were bloodshot and his body was even trembling. At the same time, the rest of the people were also weeping. This was because their situation was simr to their big brothers. After wiping away his tears again, the man continued, We killed the mountain bandits at that point and left the Huang n town. It was a pity that there were too many mountain bandits. We couldnt beat them, so we could only escape. Later on, we found out that the Second Princes army had wiped out all the bandits in Huang n town. It was not only Huang n town, but many other ces in Hua An Prefecture have been cleansed by the Second Princes army. The four of us brothers have all lost our families. After learning that the Second Prince had stationed troops in Mountain Spring Town, we thought of joining him and came here. But when we arrived at Mountain Spring Town, we discovered that we were toote and that the Second Prince had already left. We had no choice but tomit robberies on the roads nearby. At this point, the man looked at Qin Xiaoyao again and cupped his hands at her. Hero, your martial skills are excellent. If you join the army, youll definitely be put in an important position. We have nothing left to worry about. We are grateful to the Second Prince for avenging our families. Therefore, we want to join the Second Princes army. Hero, if you are willing to ept us, from now on, the lives of us four brothers will belong to you. We will follow your orders to carry out everything! The other three also looked at Qin Xiaoyao with earnest expressions. They had previously agreed among themselves to join the army under the Second Prince. In the end, the Second Prince left with his army. They thought that they had no more chances, so they stayed here and passed their days in a daze. However, they saw new hope now. If they followed this hero, they would definitely be able to sessfully join the Second Princes troops. After that, they might even be able to make a name for themselves. Qin Xiaoyao paused for a while. She thought to herself that these people had been wandering outside for a long time and had been to more ces than she had. At least within Hua An Prefecture, they should be more familiar with the ce than she was. If she brought them along, at least she would not get lost within Hua An Prefecture. Besides, more people meant more power. With subordinates at her disposal, it would be easier for her to look for Song Que in the future. Alright. Then you guys will follow me from now on. Well talk about the rest of the matters after we find the Second Princes army. She had only embarked on this journey to look for her husband and had no intention of joining the army or following the Second Prince. When the matter was over, she would definitely leave the military camp. The leader was overjoyed. He didnt mind that Qin Xiaoyao didntpletely agree to let them follow her. He exchanged a look with his three brothers. Then, they all bowed to Qin Xiaoyao again. Huang Fei hereby pays his respect to Big Brother! Huang Shi hereby pays his respect to Big Brother! Huang Daqiao hereby pays his respect to Big Brother! Huang An hereby pays his respect to Big Brother! The four men spoke at the same time. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned for a moment. This scene reminded her of her previous life when she led a few members of a small mercenary team on a mission. Her brothers also often looked at her with the same expression. However, they called her Leader.. Chapter 292 - 292: “Buy” Horses At The Wang Clan Village Chapter 292: Buy Horses At The Wang n Vige Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Qin Xiaoyao coughed awkwardly and said, Ahem In the future, you can call me Leader. The four of them looked at each other. Yes! Greetings, Leader! they quickly said. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao nod. You may rise, she said. The four stood up. Qin Xiaoyao took two steps forward. Suddenly, she grabbed the arm of the leader, also known as Huang Fei. Then, under the four peoples terrified gazes, she quickly helped Huang Fei to correct his dislocated bones. Huang Fei was initially quite frightened, but when he felt his bones return to their original positions, he immediately realized Qin Xiaoyaos good intentions. He hurriedly bowed and thanked Qin Xiaoyao. Thank you, Leader! When the others saw this, they also instantly realized the truth and heaved a sigh of relief. Qin Xiaoyaos gaze swept across the four of them. The news Ive received is that the Second Prince is stationed at the High Pass Town on the border with his army, she said. But I dont know the route to get there. Moreover, Im alsocking some transportation tools. So, I am thinking of buying a few horses from the nearest town. After that, well ride our horses to rush there. The four of them were shocked. After exchanging nces, Huang Fei stepped forward and cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. Leader, your arrangement is very reasonable. Greenhill Town is less than one mile away from here. But the Liao army is about to arrive, and the town gates of Greenhill Town have been closed since yesterday. Even if we rush to Greenhill Town now, Im afraid we wont be able to enter the town. Therefore, even if Leader has enough money, Im afraid you wont be able to buy a horse. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. Did Greenhill Town seal its town gates like Mountain Spring Town? Damn it! Even if she could fly into the town, she wouldnt be able to bring the horse out of the town. However, if Leader wants to get a horse, I know of a way, Huang Fei suddenly said. Qin Xiaoyao turned to Huang Fei. Go on, she said. Although we cant enter Greenhill Town now, theres a Wang n Vige outside the town. Its the property of the richest man in Greenhill Town, Landlord Wang. Last night, I brought my three brothers over to take a look. There are many people in the vige, and they have horse carriages and ox carts. It wont be a problem to get five horses. If it wasnt for the fact that the other party had more people and was vignt, he would have led his brothers to attack. The four of them were not strong enough, so it was naturally difficult for them to seed. However, with their Leader around, the situation would be different. At that time, it would be up to their Leader to decide whether to buy or rob, right? Qin Xiaoyao nced at Huang Fei and quickly nodded. Alright. Lets go take a look. She just wanted to get the horse as soon as possible. As for whether it was by snatching or other means, she didnt feel any pressure on her conscience. At most, she would arrange for someone topensate them the money after the matter was over. Yes! Well lead the way now! Huang Fei said hurriedly. As he spoke, he made a hand gesture. Huang Shi, Huang Daqiao, and Huang An followed him and led the way upfront That was great. Their Leader was going to take them to rob the Wang n Vige. Next, not only would they have horses, but they would also be able to eat a good meal. Qin Xiaoyao didnt know what these people were thinking and followed them. As the groups pace was very fast, they soon arrived at the ce. After entering the vige, Qin Xiaoyao walked to the front and openly looked around for the residence inside the vige. There were indeed quite a number of people in the residence. When the servants at the entrance saw Qin Xiaoyao and the others, they chased them away before the visitors could even exin their intentions. Before Qin Xiaoyao could say anything, Huang Shi had already stepped forward and started shouting. Who arc you shouting at? Our Leader is here to buy a horse from your Landlord Wang. If you know whats good for you, hurry up and inform your caretaker. Otherwise Huang Shi said arrogantly. He even rolled up his sleeves. This show of might immediately made the servant fearful. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao and the others did not appear friendly, the servant finally took a step back. You you guys wait here. Then, he turned around and ran into the courtyard. Huang Shi smiled smugly before turning around to look at Qin Xiaoyao with a fawning expression. He looked like he wanted to be praised. Qin Xiaoyao didnt know whether tough or cry. The five of them waited for a while and soon, someone came out of the residence. It was a middle-aged man, and under the lead of a servant, he led a group of guards and dashed out. There were more than a dozen of them flexing their muscles, and all of them were armed with weapons, looking incredibly impressive. Qin Xiaoyao watched as her own group of five was surrounded by this group of people, but she didnt panic. On the other hand, Huang Fei and the others were very frightened. However, they all still stood around Qin Xiaoyao in a protective wall. Qin Xiaoyao scanned her surroundings and pushed aside Huang Fei, who was blocking her way. She then looked at the middle-aged man standing at the entrance. She cupped her hands and bowed to the other party, saying in a neither servile nor overbearing manner, My surname is Qin, and Im from Mountain Spring Town. I passed by your vige and learned that you have horses, so I came specially to buy them. I hope you can do us this favor, Sir. When he heard her, the middle-aged mans expression was very unfriendly. Hmph! Our familys horses are used to pull carriages. There are so many things in the vige that need to be moved into the town. Where can we find extra horses to sell to you? If you know whats good for you, leave quickly. Otherwise At this point, the middle-aged mans eyes turned sinister. Among the five people, four of them were holding weapons in their hands. They looked sallow-faced and emaciated and were obviously refugees. It would be a wonder if they could afford a horse. He suspected their intention to buy horses was a lie, and in reality, they wanted to rob him of his horses. Hmph! These people did not even know their own abilities, yet they dared to barge into the vige. If they angered him, no one would care even if he really killed them. Qin Xiaoyaos expression clouded over. Otherwise what? She narrowed her eyes and looked at the middle-aged man with a menacing look. Her original intention was to negotiate. Even if they couldnt reach an agreement on the price, she would leave a letter for them to go to Mountain Spring Town to collect the rest of the money. However, it was obvious that the other party was not even willing to talk to her. She was not such a reasonable person. Now that she needed a horse and this person was not willing to sell it to her, he was deliberately going against her. And for those who opposed her, she would never make things easy for them. The middle-aged man was stunned for an instant. He immediately recovered himself and found itughable. He had so many subordinates. Why would he be afraid of a thin and weak shorty? Otherwise, Ill make sure you leave this ce horizontally! The middle-aged man threatened. The middle-aged man was embarrassed and angry when he recalled how he had been frightened by Qin Xiaoyao earlier. Get them! Beat them to death! he then said. As soon as he said this, the guards surrounding Qin Xiaoyao and the others all sprang into action. Qin Xiaoyao quickly pushed Huang Shi and Huang An away, helping them to avoid the attacking rods. At the same time, she reached out to grab the two rods that the guards were swinging toward her. With a light twist, she flipped the two guards over. When she saw another guard charging at her, she raised her leg and sent him flying off with one kick. After that, Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop. She dodged nimbly and counterattacked again. Very quickly, the dozen or so guards were all thrown to the ground. Ouch! After the guards copsed to the ground, they all wailed in pain repeatedly, and not a single guard was able to get up.. Chapter 293 - 293: The Liao Army Arrived at Chen County Chapter 293: The Liao Army Arrived at Chen County Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The middle-aged man looked at Qin Xiaoyao in horror. His legs trembled and his knees almost buckled. As for Huang Fei and the others, they all had smug expressions on their faces as they looked at the middle-aged man with hostility. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was also looking at him, the middle-aged mans knees finally gave way and he knelt down. Please spare me, righteous hero! Just now just now I am a lowly person who doesnt know any better. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao didnt answer and was walking toward him instead, the middle-aged man quickly said, As for the horses in the vige, you can take as many as you need. And and all the valuables! I can also gift them to you, righteous hero! Huang Fei and the others were overjoyed. Qin Xiaoyao, however, raised her eyebrows slightly. I said Im here to buy a horse. Do you think Im a robber? she said. The middle-aged man trembled. He couldnt figure out Qin Xiaoyaos thoughts. How how would I dare to take the money of a righteous hero? If theres anything you need, just let me know, righteous hero, he stammered. When she saw the middle-aged mans reaction, Qin Xiaoyao knew that even if she offered money, the other party would not ept it. Thus, she said outright, Get someone to bring five horses. There was no point in wasting time on such ineffectualmunication. Getting a horse and setting off as soon as possible was the right thing to do. Sure, sure, sure! The middle-aged man quickly answered. Immediately after that, he ordered the only servant who was still standing nearby to get someone to bring the horses over. Qin Xiaoyaos expression eased a little when she saw the servant leave in a panic. At this moment, Huang Shi suddenly stepped forward. Er Leader After taking a nce at the middle-aged man, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a hesitant demeanor. His eyes were darting around evasively, and it was obvious that he didnt have any good intentions. Qin Xiaoyao didnt understand him and asked, Whats wrong? Huang An then rubbed his stomach symbolically. Leader, he just said that he would give us valuables. You really dont want them? Also, we brothers havent had a full meal for a few days. Do you think we can Qin Xiaoyao nced at Huang An, then at Huang Fei and the others. When she saw them swallowing their saliva, she realized that these few followers she had taken in were still starving. After some thought, Qin Xiaoyao looked at the middle-aged man opposite her. The middle-aged man quickly lowered his head, not daring to look Qin Xiaoyao in the eye. Go and get us some dry food. Well take it with us, Qin Xiaoyao said. Upon hearing these words, Huang Fei and the rest were overjoyed. Their Leader was in a hurry, so it was fine if he didnt want money. If they could get hold of some dry food, it was fine if the food could fill their stomachs. Alright, the middle-aged man answered. He hurriedly bowed to Qin Xiaoyao, turned around, and rushed into the courtyard. Then, before long, the horses and dry food were brought out. The horses did not look strong, but they were not inferior horses either. However, there was quite a lot of dry food. There were dried meat, pastries, and tbreads. Huang Shi took one of the sacks and examined it. After seeing what was inside, he took a biscuit and started gnawing on it. As he gnawed, he walked back. He opened the sack and offered it to Qin Xiaoyao for her to choose the food inside first. However, Qin Xiaoyao didnt take any and told Huang Shi to distribute the food to the others. As soon as she finished speaking, the rest of the group surrounded them. The group grabbed the food madly. After taking the food, they began eating, shoving the food into their mouths rapidly. Whether they were pastries or tbreads, the group ate them heartily. Indeed, it was a good idea to follow their Leader. At least they wouldnt go hungry. Qin Xiaoyao only nced at the few of them, but her gaze didnt stay on them for long. Instead, she looked at the middle-aged man. The middle-aged man stood there respectfully, awaiting her instructions. After a while, he had more or less ascertained this fact. Qin Xiaoyao was probably not a mountain bandit, or rather, this fellow didnt have any intention of entering their residence to rob them. This was the best oue. With five horses and some food, they could send this group of demons of pestilence away, which was considered a great stroke of good luck in this misfortune. Initially, Qin Xiaoyao wanted to say something, but when she saw that the middle-aged man didnt even dare to look at her, she gave up saying the words she had prepared. Following that, she took out the silver note worth 50 taels from her pocket. This 50 tales silver note is my payment for these five horses and the food. After taking a look at the horses and therge sacks of dry food on the ground, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Although the amount is somewhat little, you guys shouldnt be losing money. The middle-aged man froze. He raised his head in astonishment and saw Qin Xiaoyao handing him a silver note. He didnt know if he should reach out to take it. Take it Qin Xiaoyao urged him upon seeing his reaction. 50 taels was a lot, okay? She hadnt even walked out of Hua An Prefecture, yet she had already spent 50 taels. She was feeling a great deal of heartache, okay? Alright The middle-aged man quickly answered and epted the silver note. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao step up to get the horse. After that, she leaped nimbly onto the horse. She leaned forward, held the reins with one hand, and said in a low voice, Take the dry food. Lets go! Huang Fei and the rest finally stopped eating and hurriedly went to grab the dry food and load them on the horses. Thereafter, they all mounted their horses and followed Qin Xiaoyao. As they rode their horses behind Qin Xiaoyao, carrying lots of dry food on the backs of the horses, the four men were exceptionally excited. Once again, they felt that following Qin Xiaoyao was the wisest decision they had made. The group of people quickly left the Wang n Vige and arrived at a fork in the road. Whoa Qin Xiaoyao finally pulled back the reins. Which way should we go next? She turned around and asked the four men. Huang Fei nudged his horse forward a few steps. If we go left, the road leads to Greenhill Town, but the gate of Greenhill Town is closed now. We might not be able to enter the town if we go there. On the right, the road will get us out of Zhao County and lead us to Chen County. After that, the road will lead us out of Chen County and we will depart Hua An Prefecture. We can head to High Pass Town from there. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. However, Huang Fei continued, But the Liao army has already entered Hua An Prefecture. Chen County is the outermost county of Hua An Prefecture, so there are bound to be Liao soldiers there. If we go that way, well probably bump into them. After speaking, Huang Fei and the other threes faces turned grim. Now, the people outside Hua An Prefecture were all crowding into the inner area or retreating to the other prefectures, trying to flee the Liao soldiers. If they followed this route, they would be going against the flow of fleeing hordes. However, if they didnt take this road, they would have to take a detour. Furthermore, the Liao army was constantly on the move. Even if they took a detour, they might still bump into the Liao army. Lets take this path. Just be careful on the road! Qin Xiaoyao quickly made a decision. Giddy-up She immediately tugged on the reins and galloped forward. Huang Fei and the other three looked at each other and followed her. The rest of the journey was smooth. At noon, Qin Xiaoyao got off the horse and let it rest. At the same time, she ate with the four men to replenish her energy. In the afternoon, the group continued their journey. In the end, before they had even left Zhao County, they met a group of migrating refugees. The group of five did not stop and continued forward, but they saw more refugees. Some groups had dozens or hundreds of people while others had more than ten people. The smallest groupprised at least a family of a few people. Taking advantage of the break time, Huang Shi volunteered to ask the refugees about the situation. It was only then that he found out that most of the refugees hade from Chen County. Chen County had indeed fallen into the hands of the Liao army. After the county was upied, the Liao army burned, killed, and plundered, causing countless deaths and injuries.. Chapter 294 - 294: Slaying the Liao Soldiers Chapter 294: ying the Liao Soldiers Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Huang Shis expression was grave after he finished his inquiry. When he returned to the ce where Qin Xiaoyao and the others were resting, he told them what he had found out. Damn Liao scumbags! After updating the rest, Huang Shi angrily waved his fist and cursed out loud. Its a pity that the Second Prince has left Hua An Prefecture. Otherwise otherwise, how could the Liao scumbags have invaded Hua An Prefecture? Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at Huang Shi. She then spoke up, Only a small number of Liao soldiers have entered Hua An Prefecture. If the Second Prince really abandoned High Pass Town, arge number of Liao soldiers would march straight in unchallenged. At that point, it would be a real disaster not only for Hua An Prefecture but for the entire Great Jin State. Unfortunately, in the vast Great Jin State, there were not many generals who were good at war. Otherwise, how would the Liao State dare to act so impudently? Huang Fei and the others were astounded. They didnt expect Qin Xiaoyao to have such a perceptive insight. Qin Xiaoyao didnt exin too much. Not surprisingly, she knew all this from her husband. Leader, are we still going to Chen County? Huang An asked Qin Xiaoyao worriedly after he recovered himself. The rest of the group also looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Were going. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes darkened. Just be careful on the road. After entering Chen County, well go around the town. Try to avoid bumping into the Liao army. If we run into them Qin Xiaoyao paused for a moment. If we run into them, what should we do? Huang Fei asked nervously. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Huang Fei, and a hint of hostility shed across her eyes. If we cant avoid them, just kill them. Just take it as exacting revenge for the people of Chen County. These Liao soldiers who had entered the heart of the Great Jin State had taken many lives. After this, they might even rush to Mountain Spring Town and threaten her family. She just didnt have enough time and she was alone. Otherwise, if she encountered such an opportunity, she might have stayed where she was to y all the Liao soldiers until none was left. Huang Feis eyes flickered. Alright! Then we shall kill the Liao scumbags! he said angrily. Kill the Liao scumbags! The other three echoed him in a low voice, but their voices were filled with determination. After resting and taking their lunch, the group quickly continued on their way. As they got closer to Chen County, they saw more refugees. At dusk, the group finally left Zhao County and entered Chen County. Just as Qin Xiaoyao was about to ask everyone to dismount and rest, she suddenly heard shrieks and sounds of fightinging from the front. Realizing that something was happening, Qin Xiaoyao quickly disyed a halt gesture, signaling the four men behind her to stop. Huang Fei and the others also heard the noise. Their faces turned grim, and they didnt even dare to breathe loudly. Ill go take a look in front. You guys wait here. Qin Xiaoyao said after looking at the conditions of the four men. It wasnt that she didnt want to bring them along, but the weapons in their hands were too crude. These weapons were fine to deal with ordinary people but to deal with the Liao army who were used to fighting on the battlefield, the weapon users would only be throwing their lives away. It was safer for her to go alone. She could attack when pressing forward and flee when retreating. If there were not many people from the Liao army, she could just ughter them and seize some weapons for her followers to use. Later, on their journey, she would take some time to teach them some saber techniques and hand-to-handbat skills. By the time they reached High Pass Town, theirbat ability would improve a lot. If there were too many people from the Liao army, it would not be difficult for them to escape after the sky became dark since they had horses. Leader Huang Fei called out hesitantly. He roughly understood what his Leader meant. He knew that he felt that they were not strong enough and might not be of any help. However, when they knew that there was danger ahead, how could they let Leader take the risk alone? To their surprise, Qin Xiaoyao simply tossed out one sentence. Listen to my orders. Then, she left on her horse. Big Brother! Huang Shi called out to Huang Fei worriedly. He looked at Qin Xiaoyaos departing back profile with an expression full of conflicting emotions. The rest of the group also looked at Huang Fei, waiting for him to make a decision. We listen to our Leader, Huang Fei said in a low voice. At the same time, he made up his mind that he must be stronger. They followed their Leader not to seek his protection, but to help him and make a name for themselves with him. The rest of the group looked at Huang Fei and nodded. Qin Xiaoyao drove her horse forward and went around a mountain ridge. She soon saw the battlefield. It was actually a dozen Liao soldiers going on a killing spree, chasing a few dozen refugees. The Liao soldiers held their long Liao-style sabers and killed anyone they saw among the mass of fleeing civilians. After killing them, they looted their belongings. When they encountered women, they would reach out their demonic ws and pull them back. If the women screamed and didnt cooperate, they would be killed. By the time Qin Xiaoyao saw this, there were already many corpses on the ground. Qin Xiaoyaos face turned ominous. She spurred the horse forward and dashed out like the wind. Then, she pulled out a dagger, bent over, and slit the throat of the Liao soldier closest to her. The murderous Liao soldier, who had just killed a few people in a row, did not expect to die in an instant. When he fell, his face was still full of disbelief. Qin Xiaoyao took the opportunity to dismount and snatch the Liao-style saber from the hands of the Liao soldier. Then, she quickly mounted her horse again and dashed rapidly into the battlefield. Following this, it was as if Qin Xiaoyao was possessed by the god of death as she tore her way through on her horse, ying wildly along the way. She killed every single Liao soldier she saw along the way. Every time she made a move, she was decisive and ruthless. Each time she struck, the adversary would be killed with one sh. Soon, the cries of themonersing from the battlefield were mixed with the screams of the Liao soldiers. The Liao soldiers at the back finally discovered Qin Xiaoyao. They realized that her killing intent was extremely strong and that she was very skilled. The leader of the Liao army immediately ordered the few Liao soldiers closest to Qin Xiaoyao to stop her. However, who could possibly stop Qin Xiaoyao? In this era, if she imed to be Number Two in martial arts, no one would dare to im to be Number One. Facing those few Liao soldiers, she used the Liao-style saber to attack the legs of her own horse. With a flip of her body, she leaped off the horse in advance. Then, she threw the Liao-style saber in her hand and slit the throat of the Liao soldier nearest to her. Following this, her body shed forward and she picked up the Liao-style saber of that fallen Liao soldier. As fast as lightning, she arrived in the middle of the Liao army. Then, the wretched screams of the Liao soldiers could be heard. In less than five seconds, four Liao soldiers were lying dead on the ground. This scene shocked the Liao soldiers at the rear. The leader of the Liao army panicked and quickly mounted his horse. Quick! Retreat! he said in a panic. The rest of the Liao soldiers did as they were told, scrambling away in a chaotic panic. The lucky ones managed to get on their horse. Those who were unlucky couldnt even get on the horses because they were too anxious. Qin Xiaoyao didnt waste any time and abandoned her injured horse. She darted towards the Liao soldier nearest to her. After ying the Liao soldier with one strike, she mounted his warhorse. Immediately after that, she raised her Liao-style saber and went after the fleeing Liao soldiers on a killing spree. And so, the refugees witnessed a peculiar scene. The Liao soldiers who had been chasing them on horses were now being hunted in turn. Those evil demons who were so vicious earlier were now as flustered as mice. Ultimately, they were unable to escape their doom. That was right. Qin Xiaoyao tore through the field on her horse and caught up with the Liao soldiersgging behind in no time. She slew them easily. Only the horse of the leading Liao soldier ran the fastest. However, in the end, he still couldnt escape.. Chapter 295 - 295: Out of Chen County Chapter 295: Out of Chen County Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion This was because at thest moment, Qin Xiaoyao took out a dagger and used it as a dart, shooting it at her adversary. Thest Liao soldier died just like that. Qin Xiaoyao continued to move forward on her horse until she reached the corpse of the Liao soldier. Then, she searched his body and found a token and a money pouch. The money pouch wasnt heavy, but when she opened it, there were four gold leaves and two silver ingots. Qin Xiaoyao was satisfied after weighing the items in her hand. She put away the token and the money pouch. After that, she mounted her horse and returned to the ce where the refugees were being hunted by the Liao soldiers. The surviving refugees who didnt manage to escape the Liao army in time knelt down to thank Qin Xiaoyao when they saw her return. They were grateful to this righteous hero for saving them. Before the sky turns dark, you guys should hurry and set off. The Liao army has already taken over Chen County and will most likely continue to move to other ces in Hua An Prefecture. You guys go along the main road, as far as possible. Its best not to stop even after you reach Zhao County. There was a limit to what she could do. If she killed these Liao soldiers today, she might be discovered very soon and attract other pursuers. Of course, the target of the pursuit would turn out to be them eventually However, it didnt matter. As long as the great army did note, she would be able to kill as many Liao soldiers as she could in this sort of small-scale sorties. Thank you so much, benefactor! Thank you very much, righteous hero! The refugees expressed their thanks one after another. After that, they left. Qin Xiaoyao continued to clean up the battlefield. Before long, Huang Fei and his brothers arrived. When they saw the situation, Huang Fei and the others were astounded. Their Leader was indeed powerful. He had killed more than a dozen Liao soldiers by himself. When Qin Xiaoyao saw the four of them, she immediately ordered them to search the bodies. The four people didnt hold back and boldly did as they were told. After a short while, they found many things. There was only one token, which was the one Qin Xiaoyao had found earlier. The rest of the items were all valuables, weapons, and horses. Qin Xiaoyao kept a portion of the loot and gave the rest to the four of them. Then, she allocated one Liao-style saber to each of her followers. Following that, she got them to each strip off a set of Liao soldiers uniform that matched their body size. Qin Xiaoyao also went to rip off a uniform that she could wear. Thereafter, the whole group changed their clothes, and then rode on the horses belonging to the Liao soldiers and headed toward the inner parts of Chen County. After a short journey, they stopped because it was dark. The group of five started a campfire and surrounded it to eat their dry food. Although they had changed into the Liao armys uniform, they were not thinking of entering the town. There were many Liao soldiers and they naturally did not know each other. If they entered the town, they might be interrogated. However, in the external wilderness, this uniform was the best protection. Leader, your martial arts skills are really powerful. If we had ten percent of your ability, we would be able to make a name for ourselves at the border station, Huang Shi said to Qin Xiaoyao as he ate. Thats right, Leader! Where did you learn your martial arts? Leader, were you a martial arts expert in the past? Huang Daqiao chimed in. Leader, can you teach us a few moves? Huang An, who had always been a man of few words, also spoke up. His eyes were filled with longing. Huang Fei also looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Although he didnt say anything, his thoughts were simr to Huang Ans. Qin Xiaoyaos gaze swept across everyones faces. Sure, she replied immediately. Then, she stood up under everyones expectant gaze. After a while, Qin Xiaoyao led those men to practice their saber techniques with the Liao-style saber. These few followers were extremely conscientious in learning. After memorizing all the moves, they began to practice on their own. Qin Xiaoyao left them alone and went back to the campfire. She sat down and began thinking about what to do next. She didnt know where her husband was now, whether he was feeling hungry or cold The road ahead was long, and she could only hope that the rest of the journey would be smooth and that she could locate the Second Prince as soon as possible. Hubby, wait for me Worried about Song Ques safety, Qin Xiaoyao added more firewood to the campfire listlessly. When she felt sleepy, she arranged for those few men to take turns keeping watch, and then she went to sleep. Over the next few days, the group continued their journey. The number of refugees they encountered on the road was much less, but they encountered many Liao soldiers. As long as she saw that there were not many Liao soldiers, Qin Xiaoyao would make her move. She was the main attacker, while the others took the chance to practice. Huang Fei and the others were panicky and struggling to deal with such a situation in the beginning. However, Qin Xiaoyao was there, and they watched how she killed people. Furthermore, knowing that they had their Leader backing them up, they quickly became emboldened and adapted rapidly to fighting with the Liao soldiers. As their number of battles increased, they became more and more familiar with the saber techniques that Qin Xiaoyao taught them, and they could deploy them more smoothly. In the beginning, they could only fight two against one, but after a few days, they could almost go up against two opponents alone. While they marveled at their own progress, they also discovered the remarkable aspect of the saber techniques their Leader taught them. What their Leader had taught them was not an ordinary saber technique, but a saber technique that could kill. The moves werent shy at all, but when deployed well, each strike was fatal. In particr, after they had mastered it, their moves could be varied at any time. As long as they could locate the enemys weakness and use the corresponding killer move, it would be very difficult for the enemy to escape. Qin Xiaoyao observed the changes in the group and felt very gratified with their progress. On this day, their group dealt with another squad of Liao soldiers numbering about 20 people. After cleaning up the battlefield and traveling for a while, Qin Xiaoyao was ready to stop and rest. Leader, there seems to be a small town not far ahead. Our brothers have been camping outside for a few days now. Why dont we go into the town tonight? Huang Shi suddenly suggested out of the blue. As the saying goes, boldnesses with superb skill. They didnt really dare to do so previously. However, now, they had killed so many Liao soldiers in a row. Even if they encountered any mishaps after entering the town, they were confident that they could deal with it. Furthermore, they were indeed a little tired after eating and sleeping in the open for so many days. The town was right in front of them. If they could spend a night infort, of course, they would want to spend it infort. The rest of the group looked at Qin Xiaoyao, but they didnt stop Huang Shi. Their thinking was obviously the same. Qin Xiaoyao looked up ahead, her eyes filled with a little hesitation. She could understand everyones feelings as they had been on the road and had to eat and sleep rough all the way. It wasnt just them. In fact, she was also a little tired. Now that they had left Chen County, they could probably reach High Pass Town in three days if they did not encounter dys on the road. It might be a good thing to tidy themselves up before they arrived at High Pass Town. It was also good to enter the town to get some information. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Mm-hmm. Follow me into the town then, she said. With that, she rode away. Huang Shi and the others were overjoyed and quickly followed her. The few of them galloped on the main road and soon arrived at a town gate. The Liao soldiers guarding the town saw the uniforms they were wearing and didnt stop them. After that, the group entered the town brazenly. After entering the town, they saw there were not many people on the streets. Huang An scouted the road ahead and found an inn to stay at. When the innkeeper and the waiter saw the uniforms that Qin Xiaoyao and the others were wearing, they bowed and fawned over them, afraid of offending them.. Chapter 296 - 296: Yellow Flower Town Chapter 296: Yellow Flower Town Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Huang An walked up and said, I want five superior rooms, and prepare some hot water and some food. He took out a silver ingot generously. Sure, sure, sure! the shopkeeper quickly answered. Quick! Bring the officers to the third floor. He immediately said to the waiter. Sir Sir, this way please! The waiter hurriedly led the way. Their small town had already been upied by the Liao army. During this period, many members of the Liao army hade over to stay, eat, and drink, but they rarely paid. Although five more demons of pestilence arrived today, they were generous and so they must be served well. Qin Xiaoyao and her followers followed him upstairs. On the third floor, they each checked into five individual rooms adjacent to each other. Qin Xiaoyao asked the waiter to prepare some hot water. After the hot water arrived, she took a bath and washed up. Then, she asked the waiter to prepare some hot food. A table full of food was served. Qin Xiaoyao was about to go out and call Huang Fei and the others over to eat. Just then, there was a knock on the door. When she opened the door, it was Huang Fei and the others. When Huang Fei and the others saw Qin Xiaoyao, they were all astonished. After their Leader had washed up and let his hair down, he looked so delicate and pretty. Ahem He actually looked a little like a woman. The four of them were stunned for a moment, but Qin Xiaoyao cleared her throat and brought them back to their senses. Come in. After you eat, help me with something, Qin Xiaoyao said as she stepped aside. Everyone quickly followed her into the room and dispelled the unrealistic thoughts in their minds. Their Leader was extremely strong and valiant without peer. How could he be a woman? Leader, if you have any instruction, just say it! Huang Fei replied. Qin Xiaoyao went to the table and sat down. Lets eat first, she picked up her chopsticks. After leaving Mountain Spring Town, she had been sleeping in the open and eating only dry food. She could finally have some normal food tonight. She was already starving. Mm-hmm. Everyone answered and began to pick up their chopsticks. Next, a flurry of activity swept across the table, and therge table of food was quickly wiped out. After Huang Shi finished eating, he burped in satisfaction and rubbed his belly. Its too delicious he muttered. The other three also had smiles on their faces, their faces full of contentment. Qin Xiaoyao had also eaten her fill and was in a good mood. She looked at the few men. After this, you guys go outside and ask around to see whats the situation in this town. And also whether the Second Prince is still in High Pass Town. In addition, find out roughly how to get to High Pass Town, Qin Xiaoyao said. The four men exchanged nces. Alright! They all cupped their hands at Qin Xiaoyao. Be careful. Dont give yourself away, Qin Xiaoyao reminded them. Dont worry, Leader. We brothers know what to do! Huang Fei replied with a smile. Before they followed their Leader, they often hung out in the streets and around gambling dens. They were not the kind of timid, honest countryside men. Furthermore, after following their Leader for so long, they also learned a lot from him. It was not difficult for them to carry out such a trivial task. Very soon, Huang Fei and his brothers stood up and took their leave. After Huang Fei and the others left, Qin Xiaoyao didnt go out. After the waiter had cleared the table, she found a ce to rest and waited for her wet hair to dry. After about two hours, Huang Fei and the rest returned. Each and every one of them had a look of joy on their faces. It turned out that they had all gone to the gambling den in town. Not only did they get some information, but they had also won some money. This Yellow Flower Town is only a small town, but because of its special geographical location, there are actually 2000 Liao soldiers stationed here. The Liao soldiers here dont leave the town much to harass the people. They have only one task Huang Fei suddenly stopped. What task? Qin Xiaoyao asked. To guard the food rations. Huang Feis eyes lit up. With Yellow Flower Town as the center, the grain of the dozens of towns around the Liao army is being supplied from Yellow Flower Town. Most of the grain in Yellow Flower Town was looted by the Liao scumbags from our Great Jin State. Only a small portion was transported here by them. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes darkened slightly. Leader, since weve run into them, why dont we go all out! Burn the Liao scumbags food rations and cause them to fall into chaos! Huang Shi suddenly said. The rest of the group also looked at Qin Xiaoyao, their eyes filled with excitement. If they hadnt run into this situation, it would have been fine. Now that theyve encountered it, how could they let go of such a good opportunity? As long as they could burn the food supply of the Liao scumbags, the Liao scumbags located in the dozens of surrounding towns would be in trouble. If the Imperial Courts army happened to attack, those Liao scumbags would definitely suffer a crushing defeat. Even if the Imperial Courts army didnt attack, the Liao scumbags would definitely be in turmoil after losing their food supply and might even retreat. Qin Xiaoyao paused for a while. She was a little tempted. However, she didnt rush to reply and instead asked, Is there any news about the Second Prince? Huang Fei quickly cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. The Second Prince should still be at High Pass Town. The Liao scumbags both fear and hate the Second Prince. Its because the Second Prince blocked the main road at High Pass Town that the Liao scumbags who have entered the Great Jin State are unable to receive reinforcements. Its a pity that thebat ability of the Imperial Courts army is too weak. The capital wants to make peace. Otherwise, they would have killed all the Liao scumbags that invaded our territory! Upon hearing this, the other three also looked quite enraged. How far is it from Yellow Flower Town to High Pass Town? Have you found the way to get there? Qin Xiaoyao asked again. Ive already found out, Huang Fei replied. Based on our previous speed, we should be able to get there in two days if we head north after leaving the town. If we ride at top speed, it will only take a day and a night at the fastest. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. When he saw her reaction, Huang Fei wanted to say something but stopped. Leader, about those food rations He finally spoke again. He knew that his Leader was eager to join the Second Princes army, but it would be a pity to miss such a good opportunity. Moreover, if this matter really seeded When they went to High Pass Town in the aftermath, they would be more highly regarded after making such a contribution, right? The rest of the group also looked at Qin Xiaoyao. It was obvious that they had the same thoughts as Huang Fei. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Huang Fei, then swept her gaze across the faces of everyone else. Since Yellow Flower Town is where the food rations and army provisions of the Liao troops stationed in more than a dozen towns are stored, its defense must be strong. There are only five of us. Im afraid it wont be easy to burn the provisions. If our actions are exposed Were not afraid! If we can burn the food rations of the Liao scumbags, its worth it even if we leave our lives behind! Huang Shi suddenly said. Right! Burn those motherf *ckers food rations! Huang Daqiao said. Leader, lets do it! If something really happens, you dont have to worry about us. With your skills, no one can stop you from escaping, Huang An added. Qin Xiaoyao was silent for a moment. Then, she looked at them again. Fine! Since all of you have this intention, then lets do it! she finally spoke. On the way from Mountain Spring Town, she had seen what the Liao soldiers had done and the suffering of countless people. She did not have a heart of stone, so she naturally hated the Liao soldiers. It was just one more day of dy, so she might as well just do it.. Chapter 297 - 297: Let’s do it? Chapter 297: Lets do it? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Moreover, if her husbands army happened to be fighting the Liao army nearby and she burned the Liao armys provisions at this point Perhaps, she might end up helping her husband. The four men were overjoyed. However, we cant do it rashly. We have to make some preparations in advance, Qin Xiaoyao replied quickly. You guyse here With that, she called them to the table. Then, she began to assign tasks. Later, Huang Fei, you follow me to check out the location of the grain storage. Okay! Huang Fei immediately responded. His eyes were brimming with radiance. After that, Huang Shi and Huang An, you two think of a way to buy wine. The more the better. The rations and provisions of a dozen towns will definitely not be little. If there isnt enough fuel, we wont be able to burn them all. Okay! Huang Shi and Huang An also answered. Finally, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Huang Daqiao. Ill leave the transportation to you. You must find someone who can transport the wine to the grain storage location. Also, get the other party to cooperate. Okay! Huang Daqiao agreed excitedly. Qin Xiaoyao added a few more words before allowing them to leave. They agreed to start the operation in 15 minutes. Although the specific time of action was the following night, they had to start preparing tonight. After they left, Qin Xiaoyao tied up her hair, changed her clothes, and went out. When she left the room, she found Huang Fei already waiting for her. Qin Xiaoyao gestured with her hand and set off with Huang Fei. After they left the inn, Huang Fei led the way and brought Qin Xiaoyao to the campsite of the Liao army. Although I didnt manage to find out the exact location, the food rations should be stored in this army camp. This ce isnt that big. Lets look around. We should be able to find it, Huang Fei said in a low voice. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao replied in a low voice. Then lets split up and search. You will go left, I will go right. Regardless of whether you find it or not,e back here in half an hour, Qin Xiaoyao instructed quickly. Okay! Huang Fei replied. He quickly left. Qin Xiaoyao also swiftly went searching on the right side of the camp. In the dark night, she moved as fast as a phantom, and the patrolling Liao soldiers did not notice her at all. After a round of searching, Qin Xiaoyao didnt find any ce where they stored their food rations. However, she did find the tent of the head of the Liao army. When she overheard a meeting going on in the tent, and thinking that it was still early for her to meet up with Huang Fei, Qin Xiaoyao decided to hide and listen in on the meeting. Theres nothing to worry about. Even if the Jin States Second Prince blocks our reinforcements and follow-up provisions, we wont run out of food for ten days, someone said. Thats right! Sir, I have just received news that the Imperial Court of the Jin State has made up their mind. They have agreed to the new conditions of our envoy. Hahaha! We might not even need 10 days to return to the Great Liao State! another person said. As soon as he said that, the tent was filled withughter. After a while, the leader on the main seat raised his hand, and everyone quieted down. Although the people of the Jin State are all cowards, there are people like the Second Prince. Lets not underestimate our enemy. Now, the negotiations between our Great Liao State and the Jin State have entered the final stage. We cannot afford to be careless at this final juncture. Yes! Everyone saluted. Then, the leader exined the short-term arrangements, such as details of the defense and patrol arrangements. Qin Xiaoyao perked up and took mental notes as she listened. At this moment, she was d that her memory was not bad. With this information, it would be much easier for them to burn the food rations tomorrow night. In addition, she didnt need to look for the ce where the food rations and provisions were stored anymore, because these people had already told her outright. Qin Xiaoyao waited until the discussion in the tent was over before leaving quietly. When she returned to the ce where she had agreed to meet Huang Fei, Huang Fei was already waiting for her. Huang Fei heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Qin Xiaoyao return. Hows the situation? Have you discovered where the Liao soldiers store their food rations? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Ive found it! Huang Fei said with some excitement. The ce where the Liao soldiers stored their food rations is less than 1500 feet from here. They have stocked up on a lot of food rations, and there are also a lot of people guarding and transporting the food rations in and out. In order to avoid being discovered, 1 didnt dare to go too deep inside to investigate. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Take me there, she immediately spoke. Although she knew about the internal arrangements within the military camp going forward, she still had to go to the actual site to check it out just to be safe. This way, Qin Xiaoyao could make the appropriate arrangements when she returned. Not only did she have to check out the ce where the food rations were stored, but she also had to go to some key checkpoints within the military camp and some critical routes in Yellow Flower Town. This way, they would be able to get out of here in one piece after aplishing tomorrows big operation. Okay! Huang Fei replied. He quickly brought Qin Xiaoyao to where the Liao army had stored their food rations. Along the way, Qin Xiaoyao observed her surroundings keenly, memorizing the terrain as she walked. When she reached the ce where the food rations were stored, she told Huang Fei to wait outside while she sneaked in alone. In the end, Qin Xiaoyao discovered that there were indeed a lot of food rations stored there. At the same time, there were also many people from nearby towns who came to transport the grain out. Qin Xiaoyao watched the exchange between the two parties for a while and formed some ideas in her mind. After staying for a while longer and getting a fairly good understanding overall, she sneaked out. When she returned to Huang Feis hiding spot, Huang Fei let out a sigh of relief again. Lets go. Well talk when we get back, Qin Xiaoyao said. Okay! Huang Fei replied. The two figures quickly crept out of the military camp. Then, the duo returned to the inn. When Qin Xiaoyao returned to her room, Huang Shi and the others had yet to return. She locked herself in her room and began to draw up the map of the Liao armys camp. Of course, she couldnt draw thepleteyout, but most of the areas were already imprinted in her mind, and the map she drew was enough to deal with the operation tomorrow night. As soon as Qin Xiaoyao finished drawing the map, Huang Daqiao came back. After letting Huang Fei and Huang Daqiao in, Qin Xiaoyao turned to Huang Daqiao. How did it go? Huang Daqiao cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. Ive already found the people and carts. The other party agreed to help transport the goods into the military camp. However, well have to personally bring them in. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. There are five of us. We have just enough manpower. How about this? Can we negotiate with the other party and let them rent five carts to us? When the timees, well act on our own. At the grain storage area, she discovered that there were not many people in each team that went to retrieve the army provisions. Some teams had more than ten people, while others only had a few. If they went in as a team of five, they wouldnt be so conspicuous. The key was that they had to find a way to mix in with the crowd. In addition, the other party didnt know their intentions at all if they were to hire outsiders to act together. If they were to fight, those people would be implicated and might even lose their lives. Huang Daqiao thought for a while. I think it can be done! he responded. Then lets do it this way. Tomorrow, you will go and get the carts settled. Once Huang Shi and Huang An have bought the wine, well load the carts and send the carts to the military camp. Okay! Huang Daqiao answered.. Chapter 298 - 298: Preparation Chapter 298: Preparation Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Knock! Knock! Knock! At this moment, someone knocked on the door. Everyone in the room immediately fell silent. Qin Xiaoyao gestured for Huang Fei to open the door. Huang Fei went to the door and asked in a low voice, Whos there Its us! Huang Shi and Huang Ans voices could be heard from outside the door. Huang Fei heaved a sigh of relief and opened the door. When Huang Shi and Huang An saw Huang Fei, they entered the house, beaming happily. Leader. After they entered the house, they cupped their hands and greeted Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao nodded at them. Hows the situation on your side? Huang Shi and Huang An looked at each other with smiles in their eyes. Its settled, Huang Shi said with a smile. We went to the gambling den and asked people where we could buy wine. In the end, someone took the initiative to approach us. That man is a wine seller in Yellow Flower Town. He happened to have some wine that he wanted to sell. He only told us the details when he saw that we were willing to pay the deposit. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were filled with curiosity. After the Liao army entered the town, they robbed everything. A lot of his wine has also been looted, Huang Shi exined. The remaining wine he has now was stored in the cer by his family in advance. In the beginning, he didnt know our background and was only willing to sell us one or two jars. But then he saw that we were generous with our money and wanted to buy more, and we were also able to pay arge deposit straightaway. After some negotiation, he told us the truth and led us to see his wine. There were at least a hundred jars of wine left in his cer. If we buy all of them, well have enough to burn the Liao scumbags food rations! Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered momentarily. Well done! She praised the two men. Huang Shi and Huang An exchanged nces. They also felt that they had done a great job this time. Now, I know about your situation. So, let me tell you about my situation, Qin Xiaoyao replied quickly. Then, she took out the map that she had drawn earlier. As she exined her findings, she pointed out the various locations on the map. ording to my observation, there are many people who enter the army camp to collect food rations every day. Usually, theye in teams of five to fifteen people, and these people are probably from the surrounding towns. If we hold a food-transporting team hostage prior to their entry, and swap ces with them, then we can mix in with the crowd and use the token to enter the army camp. Qin Xiaoyao continued to point at the map. When the timees, well enter from here and pass through here. Well soon reach the ce where the grain is stored. Huang Fei and the rest looked at one another and nodded. When we enter the warehouse, well first get rid of the guards inside. Then, we will pour the wine and set the ce on fire. After that, well split up and retreat. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao pointed out two more routes. When the timees, Ill take this path alone and lead the pursuers away. You guys go this way. After we leave the army camp, well leave the town separately. Before midnight, we will meet up about 3 miles north of the town. Everyones expression changed at once. They exchanged looks with one another before nodding their heads. Their skills were far from their Leaders. If they insisted on following their Leader, they would not only be of no help, but they would also be a burden to their Leader. If the four of them left together, they would be able to take care of each other and have a higher chance of escaping. Qin Xiaoyao was very satisfied with everyones response. Then well act separately tomorrow morning and confirm our escape routes. In the afternoon, well go outside the town and wait for a food-transporting team. Well start the operation after dark. Alright! the four of them answered. Qin Xiaoyao said a few more words before dismissing everyone. That night, everyone fell asleep in a state of nervousness and excitement. The next day, Huang Fei and the other three left the inn together early in the morning. Qin Xiaoyao woke up slightlyter. After breakfast, she strolled along the streets. The streets of the town upied by the Liao army were not lively, and there were very few shops open for business. Qin Xiaoyao was dressed in the Liao soldiers uniform and was able to walk freely on the streets. She didnt go into any shops. She simply looked around to confirm theyout of the streets in Yellow Flower Town so that she could evacuate more easilyter at night. After strolling around for a while, she suddenly saw a grocery store in front of her. A sudden thought popped into her mind and Qin Xiaoyao entered the shop. She didnt buy anything on disy, but she bought arge box of needles from the shopkeeper. In fact, she much preferred darts, but they were too big and she couldnt carry too many at once. Moreover, she had to escape at night. Once the darts were shot out, they could not be retrieved, which was a waste. Therefore, a small needle was the most suitable for her. With her uracy and strength, even a small flying needle could kill someone in an instant. After buying the item, Qin Xiaoyao returned to the inn and waited for Huang Fei and the others. The four of them rushed back before lunchtime. They looked very confident, and it was obvious that they had arranged things well. After the five of them had lunch together, Qin Xiaoyao led them out of the town brazenly. Then, they went to a fork in the road and waited for their prey. After waiting for more than two hours, a group of Liao soldiers pushing carts finally arrived. Qin Xiaoyao pretended to be a Liao soldier in the town and went forward to chat with the other party. After confirming that the other party was from Welkin Gate Town and obtaining other basic information, she suddenly shot a look at the few people behind her. Following that, the five of them quickly drew their sabers and attacked. Before the Liao soldiers from Welkin Gate Town could even figure out what was happening, they had already died under the des of those five people. Quick, clean up the site and change your clothes! Qin Xiaoyao said in a low voice. The five of them moved quickly. Before long, they had all changed into the clothes of the Liao soldiers from Welkin Gate Town. They even threw the corpses into a ditch by the road and hid them. As she looked at her followers who had changed their clothes, Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up into a smile. The carts are all avable for our taking. It seems that we can save on the money to rent the carts, she said. Huang Daqiao reached out and patted the cart in front of him, smiling brightly. This cart is indeed good! Lets head back to the town! On Qin Xiaoyaos order, the group headed toward Yellow Flower Town. When they entered the town, the Liao soldiers guarding the town only checked the token before allowing them to enter. After returning to the town, the group of five pushed the carts and went to buy wine. Naturally, four carts couldnt hold a hundred jars of wine. In the end, Qin Xiaoyao only bought forty jars. She found some rope and tied all the wine jars to the bottom of the carts, securing them firmly. Then, she covered the carts with somerge pieces of sackcloth. Once the sky turned dark, if the Liao soldiers did not pay attention, it would be difficult for them to discover the wine jars hidden under the cart. At night, after dinner, Qin Xiaoyao led the group to embark on their mission. With prior experience of pretending to be Liao soldiers, the group was very self-assured. When they arrived at the army camp, the Liao soldiers on duty saw the group of people and routinely checked Qin Xiaoyaos token. Then, he didnt ask any more questions and let them in straight away. After that, Qin Xiaoyao brought her group to the grain storage area. The checks here were more stringent. The warehouse officer checked Qin Xiaoyaos token again. When he saw that she was a new face, he asked more questions. Why did you guys change the people transporting the food rations for your Welkin Gate Town today? Qin Xiaoyao smiled ingratiatingly. Oh, our Captain Tuqiu was dyed by something today, so he arranged for me to make this trip. The warehouse officer nced at Qin Xiaoyao and nodded. You can go in, he said. Since the new guy knew the fellow Tuqiu, the warehouse officer had no further doubts.. Chapter 299 - 299: Burning Food Rations Chapter 299: Burning Food Rations Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Alright. Qin Xiaoyao cupped her hands in thanks. Follow me! Then, she straightened up and waved to the people behind her. Huang Fei and the rest pushed the carts and hurriedly followed her. As they walked, they were full of admiration for their Leaders performance. They entered the grain warehouse. The group of five was shocked by the scene inside at once. The food rations and provisions here were much more than what they had expected. Just the Liao soldiers distributing the food rations alone numbered more than 10 people. Fortunately, Qin Xiaoyaos group was the only team that came to collect the food rations, which saved them a lot of trouble. Qin Xiaoyao lowered her head, and her eyes quickly met the gazes of Huang Fei and the rest. Then, they quickly exchanged non-verbal cues. Following that, as the leader of the Liao army who was in charge of distributing the food rations came over and was about to ask Qin Xiaoyao about their requirements, Qin Xiaoyao made her move. She pulled out a dagger from her sleeve and slit that leaders throat. At the same time, Huang Fei and the rest also covered the mouths of the Liao soldiers closest to them. They used the same method to deal with the Liao soldiers silently. As for the Liao soldiers who were a little further away from them, they were killed by Qin Xiaoyaos flying needles before they could even react. When the group saw this, they were once again amazed by their Leaders martial arts. Dont just stand there. We need to hurry up while no one is here! Qin Xiaoyao said in a low voice. The four of them nodded. Immediately after that, they pulled out the Liao-style sabers from under the carts. Then, they cut the ropes and took out the wine jars. Following that, they lifted the wine jars and poured the wine onto the food rations and other provisions. The five of them worked in tandem and finished pouring the wine in less than 15 minutes. After giving the four of them a look, Qin Xiaoyao took out a fire sparks retainer. At the same time, Huang Fei and the rest also took out their fire sparks retainer. After blowing on them to ignite the mes, they smiled and threw their fire sparks retainer into the mmable food rations. The people outside finally realized that something was wrong only when they saw fire and smoke emanating from the warehouse. The warehouse officer led a group of people and rushed in from the entrance. When they saw the corpses on the ground and the actions of Qin Xiaoyao and her group, they immediately started shouting, Enemy attack! Then, the two sides exchanged blows at once. Retreat! Qin Xiaoyao shouted. At the same time, she charged in the direction of the entrance with her Liao-style sword. Huang Fei and the rest followed close behind. They wielded their Liao-style sabers and began ying ruthlessly. Qin Xiaoyaosbat strength was unparalleled. It didnt take long for her to cut a bloody path out and lead the four of them out of the grain storage point. Act in ordance with our n! Qin Xiaoyao quickly added. Charge She then gave a loud shout and charged towards the tent of the Liao armys leader with her Liao-style sword. At the same time, Huang Fei and the other three started to break out in another direction. Qin Xiaoyaos killing intent was so strong that no one could stop her. Any Liao soldier that got close to her was either killed on the spot or sent flying. Qin Xiaoyao was getting closer and closer to the Liao army leaders tent. The Liao soldiers realized that Qin Xiaoyao might be trying to kill their leader. The majority of the Liao army quickly charged toward Qin Xiaoyao. As for Huang Fei and the other three, they finally felt less pressure and began to speed up their escape. Qin Xiaoyao kept moving forward and soon arrived near the tent of the Liao armys leader. At this moment, there were countless Liao soldiers surrounding Qin Xiaoyao. However, the Liao army was already terrified of Qin Xiaoyaos killing spree. Even though they were holding onto their weapons, they did not quite dare to step forward. As Qin Xiaoyao moved forward, they couldnt help but retreat. All of a sudden, a long spear was thrust viciously at Qin Xiaoyao. At the same time, several long spears also came thrusting at Qin Xiaoyao. However, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly leaped up from her location and broke a few spears with a kick. Then, she jumped onto the spears, grabbed one of them, and swept it out. Argh Wretched screams were heard as arge number of Liao soldiers fell to the ground. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop. She continued to brandish her spear, killing anyone who tried to get close to her. At the same time, the leader of the Liao army was watching this scene from a distance icily. It was toote to realize that the grain storage point had been burned down, and it was almost certain that they couldnt save it now. This person had burned his provisions and even dared to attack his tent aftermitting the deed. If he did not make him leave his life behind today, he was not worthy of being a chiliarch of the whole army. At the thought of this, the chiliarch ordered his subordinates to bring a bow and arrow. Then, he drew the bowstring and prepared to fire an arrow surreptitiously. Qin Xiaoyao was busy killing her enemies and didnt notice what was happening elsewhere. However, when the arrow came tearing through the air, she quickly noticed something unusual with her keen senses. Immediately, she turned her body to the side and dodged the arrow. At the same time, the arrow missed its target and hit a Liao soldier instead. Fuck! The chiliarch cursed out loud when he saw this. Just as he was about to shoot another arrow at Qin Xiaoyao, Qin Xiaoyao had already taken the time to turn around and look at him. When his eyes met Qin Xiaoyaos gaze from afar, the chiliarch felt a chill in his heart. That person exuded such a strong sense of hostility. Even though the chiliarch couldnt see his expression clearly, he could feel that the other party was looking at him as if he was already a dead person. Indeed, Qin Xiaoyao truly hated the person who had shot an arrow in the dark at her. However, when she saw the clothes he was wearing, she was overjoyed. Very good. She had not intended to look for the leader and kill him initially. Yet, he had taken the initiative to appear in front of her. Since that was the case, she did not need to stand on ceremony anymore. As this thought shed through her mind, Qin Xiaoyao whipped out a flying needle. With a wave of her hand, the flying needles in her hand shot out. Not far away, a group of Liao soldiers fell to the ground with loud wails. At the same time, Qin Xiaoyao moved swiftly. She changed her direction and headed toward the chiliarch. When the people around the chiliarch noticed this, they quickly requested that the chiliarch retreat. However, although the chiliarch was terrified, he refused to retreat. He raised the bow and arrow and continued to aim at Qin Xiaoyao, trying to kill her. He was very confident of his archery skills. It was a coincidence that he didnt hit the other party with one shot earlier. This time, he was going to shoot the other party to death. Whoosh! The arrow flew out again. While Qin Xiaoyao was fending off the attacks of the Liao soldiers, she was already prepared and dodged easily again. At the same time, when she turned around, she actually shot a dagger out. The speed of the dagger was extremely fast, and it shot straight in the chiliarchs direction. The chiliarchs men didnt expect Qin Xiaoyao to retaliate at all. As the distance between the two wasnt too far, it was toote to dodge when the chiliarch realized something was wrong. Although the chiliarch was pulled away by his subordinate and the dagger missed his heart, his arm was cut open, leaving arge wound. Argh The chiliarch screamed in anguish as he covered his wound that was bleeding non-stop. When he finally realized that he was no match for Qin Xiaoyao, he hurriedly ordered his men to bring him away in a panic. Retreat! Quickly retreat! His subordinates, who had wanted to retreat long ago, promptly took action when they heard his order. However, how could Qin Xiaoyao let go of a prey that had entered her hunting range? She sped up and ran in the direction of the chiliarch. While ying the Liao soldiers who blocked her way, she was also looking for an opportunity to snatch a weapon andunch a long-range attack at the chiliarch. The chiliarch was attacked several times in a row, and there were a few times when he was almost injured or killed. He was so terrified that he was running around blindly. After falling a few times, it seriously affected his running speed. In the end, Qin Xiaoyao caught up with him and killed him on the spot. The whole Liao army fell into chaos. The moment their leader died, the soldiers began to flee in all directions.. Chapter 300 - 300: Chu Jin Chapter 300: Chu Jin Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Just like that, Qin Xiaoyao unexpectedly strolled out of the predicament she was in. The Liao army was already in chaos. Qin Xiaoyao had no intention of staying any longer and quickly began to retreat. In the end, when she left the army camp and arrived on the streets of Yellow Flower Town, she realized that something had happened in the town. The Jin States army had actually attacked this night, and a small number of soldiers had already entered the town. Qin Xiaoyao quickly changed her mind to exit the town when she anticipated that the area near the town gate would be in chaos and that Huang Fei and the others might not have left the town yet. Thus, she found a ce and changed her Liao army uniform into the Jin army uniform. At the same time, she began searching for Huang Fei and his brothers. In the end, the two sides bumped into each other after a while. At this moment, Huang Fei and the others had already changed into the Jin army uniform. Just as Qin Xiaoyao was looking for them, they were also searching for their Leaders whereabouts. The two sides met sessfully, and they were instantly relieved. After learning that the Liao armys provisions had been burned and that Qin Xiaoyao had even killed the leader of the Liao army who was guarding Yellow Flower Town, Huang Fei and the others were filled with admiration. Do you know who is the general from the Great Jin State leading the attack on the town tonight? Qin Xiaoyao suddenly asked. Huang Fei and the others looked at each other and shook their heads. Find an opportunity to ask around, Qin Xiaoyao said. In the current situation, it was not possible to leave the town. They could only stay and wait for the battle to end. Since they had nothing to do, it would be good to help the Jin army kill some Liao soldiers and take the opportunity to understand the situation. Okay! Huang Fei and the rest answered. Thereafter, the four of them went to the streets and mixed in with the Jin army, chasing and killing the Liao soldiers on the streets. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stay idle and joined in as well. Then, with her outstanding skills, she quickly became familiar with several Jin soldiers. Qin Xiaoyao almostughed out loud when she learned that the Jin army that attacked Yellow Flower Town tonight was led by Chu Jin, a general under the Second Princesmand. She knew Chu Jin! When they were in Mountain Spring Town, she had lectured him a lot because he was a little prickly. Following that, after two rounds of training, he became very obedient and showed tremendous respect to her. Where is Colonel Chu now? Qin Xiaoyao asked quickly. If she could meet Chu Jin, it would be more convenient for her to look for the Second Prince. Since Chu Jin hade to Yellow Flower Town, the Second Prince might not be far away, or perhaps he was not in High Pass Town at all. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos heart was filled with joy. As long as she could contact the Second Prince, she would be able to find her husband. Im not sure. Our Colonel is different from other generals. He doesnt like to stay in the rear. In normal battles, he often takes the lead and leads our brothers to charge into the enemy lines, the soldier said. The soldier suddenly thought of something and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Hey, are you new? You dont know about our Colonels bravery? he asked. Qin Xiaoyao smiled awkwardly and scratched her head foolishly. Yes, I just joined the army. In the future, Ill still have to depend on you to take care of me. No problem, no problem! With your abilities, youll be able to rise in rank sooner orter. Its hard to say wholl take care of who by then. The soldier suddenly thought of something and said to Qin Xiaoyao, My name is Liu San, and Im a decurion now. Brother, how should 1 address you? Although this new guy seemed refined and weak, he was a martial arts expert in reality. Such a person might be able to rise in rank after this battle. Decurion, centurion, and even the rank of chiliarch. Under Liu Sans colonel, the subordinates promotion was based on ability. He thought that this brother was not bad, and his future was bound to be infinitely bright. It would only be good for him to befriend such a person. Oh, my surname is Qin. You can call me Qin San, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Then, she continued to ask Liu San for information. Since both of them were the third children in their respective families, Liu San was very friendly to Qin Xiaoyao. He told her a lot of information that he knew. Hence, by the time Qin Xiaoyao and Liu San parted ways, Qin Xiaoyao had basically found out the details regarding Chu Jins team. It turned out that Chu Jins men had reallye from High Pass Town, but they did not arrive on this night. Instead, they had arrived a few days ago and had been fighting the Liao army in the areas nearby. The reason they came to attack Yellow Flower Town was that they knew that a lot of food rations had been stocked up at Yellow Flower Town. Qin Xiaoyao felt that Chu Jin was really lucky to have made it in time for her operation tonight. Moreover, the timing of his attack was also good. It was right after they had burned the enemies food rations. At that juncture, the Liao army camp was in utter chaos. In addition, the person in charge of the army had been killed. In such a chaotic situation, they had no time to deal with the Jin army. If the Jin army attacked the town at this juncture, it was impossible for them to fail in taking back the town. After that, Qin Xiaoyao did not leave Liu Sans side again. Instead, she clung to Liu San closely and worked together with him. Once the battle was over, she would go with Liu San to meet his superior, a centurion named Liu Hong. It was said that the centurion was Liu Sans youngest uncle, and Chu Jin trusted him deeply. If she could get Liu Hong to introduce her after she met him, she would be able to meet Chu Jin. The battle ended quickly. Before long, Qin Xiaoyao went charging back into the Liao army camp with Liu San. Then, along with the many Jin soldiers, they slew all the Liao soldiers. The more Liu San saw Qin Xiaoyaos abilities, the more he admired her. I think youre even more capable than my youngest uncle! Oh, right. I think 1 saw my youngest uncle over there just now. Lets go. 111 take you to meet him! Liu San said enthusiastically. Qin Xiaoyao quickly answered in the affirmative. Then 1 must thank you, Brother Liu! She cupped her fists at Liu San. Ahem. Were all brothers. Whats there to thank? After he finished speaking, Liu San strode off. He had wanted to pat Qin Xiaoyaos shoulder before he left, but he stopped himself when he recalled Qin Xiaoyaos reaction earlier. After a while, Liu San brought Qin Xiaoyao to Liu Hong. To Qin Xiaoyaos surprise, Liu Hong actually knew her. Teacher Teacher Qin, its you? When Liu Hong saw that the person his nephew brought with him was actually Teacher Qin, whom his Colonel admired the most, he was so shocked that his eyes almost dropped out. Liu San was right. Liu Hong was one of the centurions that their colonel trusted the most. When they were in Mountain Spring Town, they were fortunate enough to watch their colonel being trained by Teacher Qin. Teacher Qins methods and grace not only convinced the colonel, but thetter also ended up admiring Teacher Qin a lot. Now that he saw Teacher Qin again, he was sure that he didnt recognize the wrong person. Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised to be recognized, but she was even happier. In that case, it would be much easier for her to meet Chu Jin again. My respects to you, Centurion Liu. Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and cupped her hands courteously. Liu Hong hurriedly returned the courtesy. Teacher, you tter me! My subordinates found out that before we attacked the Liao scumbags army caipo..their_fQQd_rafkms had _aJxeadv_been -burned_______ _____ camp, their food rations had already been burned. Also, the chiliarch of the Liao scumbags who were stationed here was killed in advance. Are you responsible for this, Teacher? Liu San immediately turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. His eyes were filled with disbelief and even some admiration. He was Liu Hongs nephew. Naturally, he had heard his uncle mention Teacher Qins deeds many times in the past. To his surprise, Teacher Qin actually showed up next to him. Furthermore, he had even addressed him as Brother and they had in the Liao scumbags together. Qin Xiaoyaoughed in embarrassment. It was indeed my doing.. Chapter 301 - 301: Reminiscing About the Old Days Chapter 301: Reminiscing About the Old Days Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion There are four other brothers who are with me. They should be here by now. Oh? Liu Hongs eyes lit up. The people Teacher Qin brought must be very capable! Qin Xiaoyao smiled but didnt reply. Teacher, please go to the tent to rest first. Our Colonel will be here soon. Ill go tell him the good news! Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Liu Hong quickly told Liu San to follow Qin Xiaoyao and instructed him to take good care of her. Then, he went to look for Chu Jin personally. Qin Xiaoyao and Liu San entered a tent together. Then, she found a ce to sit down. Qin Xiaoyao could not help butugh when she saw Liu San standing not far away with a stiff posture and sneaking a peek at her from time to time. Brother Liu, why do you keep sneaking a look at me? she asked. Liu Sans movements froze. A look of embarrassment appeared on his face when he realized he had been caught in the act. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him with a smile, he quickly suppressed his nervousness. You are you really Teacher Qin? he asked Qin Xiaoyao. At the same time, his eyes scanned Qin Xiaoyao from head to toe. His youngest uncle had mentioned before that Teacher Qins martial arts were unparalleled in the world. Based on what he saw earlier, Qin Sans martial arts skills were indeed powerful. However, he remembered that Teacher Qin was a woman This guy Qin San did not talk or act like a woman at all. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu San and nodded. That is indeed me, she said. Liu Sans eyes widened. Then you are a woman? he asked. He only realized that he had said something wrong after he asked the question, so he quickly covered his mouth. Qin Xiaoyao was astonished momentarily. Only then did she remember that she was wearing mens clothes. Following that, she smiled calmly. Why? Cant a woman kill Liao scumbags? she asked. No no! Liu Sans face instantly turned red as he subconsciously blurted his reply. Other women might not be able to, but Teacher Qin is different! This was someone even the Second Prince himself regarded highly. It was said that having Teacher Qin was equivalent to having an army of ten thousand men. Who in the entire Great Jin State could receive such lofty praise? Haha Qin Xiaoyaoughed in amusement. Thisugh made Liu San even more embarrassed, and his face turned even redder. Fortunately, Chu Jins voice could be heard from outside the tent soon after. Teacher Qin, is it really you? Chu Jins voice was loud and urgent. She could tell that the person who had arrived had walked here in a hurry. Just as Qin Xiaoyao looked at the entrance of the tent, she saw Chu Jin striding in from outside. When he saw that the person in the tent was really Qin Xiaoyao, Chu Jin was pleasantly surprised and quickly came forward. Chu Jin hereby pays his respects to Teacher! He cupped his fists and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao returned the greeting with a smile. Colonel Chu, 1 hope youre well. The atmosphere immediately became more rxed. Haha! All thanks to Teacher, I am doing well! I heard about it from Liu Hong on the way here. The reason the attack on Yellow Flower Town went so smoothly tonight was all thanks to you, Teacher! I must thank you, Teacher! Chu Jin cupped his fists again. Qin Xiaoyao gestured with her hand. I only did it in passing. I didnt know that Colonel Chu would attack the town tonight. As for now, its good that the war is going smoothly. Chu Jins face was full of smiles. Teacher, you have made a great contribution. We should congratte you. 1 have already instructed people to prepare a banquet. How about following me for a chat, Teacher? he continued. He had already heard about the details from the captives of the Liao army. A group of people had burned their food rations and provisions, and one person had chased the Liao armys chiliarch while being surrounded by thousands of soldiers and then killed him with one strike. Initially, he thought that the Liao army captives were exaggerating. Now that he knew that it was Teacher Qin who was responsible, he felt that it should be true. Back in Mountain Spring Town, the Second Prince had wanted to recruit Teacher Qin. Unfortunately, Teacher Qin didnt have the ambition to make a name for herself. In the end, His Highness could only leave with regret. Today, Teacher Qin hade to Yellow Flower Town and even took the initiative to attack the Liao army. There must be some unspoken reasons leading up to this stage. Since the Second Prince was not here now, he naturally had to take good care of Teacher Qin. If he could help His Highness win over Teacher Qin, he would definitely have made a great contribution. To His Highness, and to the Great Jin State, this would be an incredibly good oue. In that case, 1 shall not stand on ceremony anymore, Qin Xiaoyao answered with a smile. As she was leaving, she suddenly thought of something. She then told Chu Jin about Huang Fei and the rest. Chu Jin made the necessary arrangements immediately before leaving with Qin Xiaoyao. In a restaurant in Yellow Flower Town, Chu Jin led Qin Xiaoyao into a private dining room in the restaurant. Good wine and delicious food had already beenid out in the room, and the spread was very sumptuous. When Qin Xiaoyao saw this, she felt hungry at once. After sitting down, she did not stand on ceremony and started eating as she chatted with Chu Jin. From time to time, she would have a drink with Chu Jin. It was as if she had returned to the days in the military camp in Mountain Spring Town. The Second Prince will be very happy to know that you havee! Chu Jin clinked his cup with Qin Xiaoyaos and said in a probing manner. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Chu Jin and didnt say anything. She drank the wine in her ss in one gulp. A momentter, she said, Indeed, I came here to look for the Second Prince. Qin Xiaoyao sighed when she saw Chu Jin looking at her. She continued, Something happened at home, and after thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that only the Second Prince can help me. What happened? Chu Jin immediately asked worriedly. Qin Xiaoyaos face appeared very troubled. My husband has been taken away, she finally told the truth. Chu Jin was shocked. Realization dawned on him immediately. They had all seen how much Teacher Qin loved her husband. If something had really happened to Master Song, it would make sense for Teacher Qin to travel thousands of miles to ask for help. When she saw the curiosity on Chu Jins face, Qin Xiaoyao then exined the details of Song Ques disappearance. When I came out, the Liao army had already appeared in Hua An Prefecture. At that time, it was not only at the border, but there were also many ces in the Great Jin State that were at war. After the Imperial Court recruited soldiers, the way they assigned the troops was chaotic. Thus, I cant be sure where my husband has been assigned to. The only feasible method that I can think of is to ask the Second Prince for help. Ask him to help me look for my husband. Thats why 1 left Hua An Prefecture and came all the way to Yellow Flower Town. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she took a sip of wine listlessly. I had only intended to rest in the town for a night, and then continue on my journey to High Pass Town to look for the Second Prince. Unexpectedly, 1 learned that the Liao army has hoarded arge amount of grain in Yellow Flower Town. With Yellow Flower Town as the center, this ce supplies resources to more than a dozen towns around it. Huang Fei and a few others brought up the idea of burning the food rations to me. I thought that it wouldnt take long, so 1 agreed. Chu Jin raised his cup to toast Qin Xiaoyao. Teacher, you have helped me a lot this time! he said. Qin Xiaoyaoughed and clinked cups with Chu Jin before downing her drink in one gulp. Three days ago, 1 was given orders to leave High Pass Town. Although the Second Prince has stopped the Liao army from increasing the number of their troops, arge number of them have already infiltrated into the heart of the Great Jin State. Many ces in the Great Jin State are already in chaos due to the famine and bandit trouble earlier. The Imperial Army is struggling to deal with these ces. With the arrival of the Liao army, the situation became even moreplicated. The Imperial Court is trying to seek peace. Although they had no choice but to do this, it is very disappointing. Only then did His Highness give the order for Han Chao and 1 to each bring some men into the heart of the state and take out some of the Liao soldiers.. Chapter 302 - 302: Staying Behind Chapter 302: Staying Behind Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion If we can win, it will have a positive effect on the peace talks between the Imperial Court and the Liao State. After all, the more badly defeated they were, the fewer conditions they had to negotiate with. Chu Jin sighed and poured himself a cup of wine. Unfortunately, after leaving High Pass Town, I fought a few battles and lost many soldiers. 1 brought three thousand soldiers with me, but in the end, we were beaten until only a thousand or so were left. Initially, 1 was full of ambition and wanted to lead my three thousand brothers to kill the Liao scumbags in this area. However, we were chased by the Liao soldiers all over the ce. It was a coincidence that Yellow Flower Town was a grain storage point. Its also my final hope. 1 was risking everything in this single venture of attacking the town tonight. To my surprise Chu Jin smiled at this point. He poured Qin Xiaoyao another cup of wine, then poured himself a cup and clinked cups with Qin Xiaoyao again. After clinking the cups, Chu Jin emptied his wine cup with a smile. I, Chu Jin, am not fated to die. Teacher, your unexpected action saved my life! Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Your words are too serious. Without me, you might still be able to take down Yellow Flower Town. Chu Jin smiled at Qin Xiaoyao again. Even if we can take the town, Im afraid we wont have many men left. At most, we can burn the Liao armys food rations. But we can forget about defending the town. If they couldnt defend the town, they would be killed by the surrounding Liao troops sooner orter. Qin Xiaoyao seemed surprised as she realized something. What are you going to do next? She was so happy she managed to contact Chu Jin that she had neglected the fact that Chu Jin was also unable to contact the Second Prince right now. If Chu Jin couldnt even contact the Second Prince, how could she get to see him? Defend Yellow Flower Town, Chu Jin said in a deep voice. Then, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao. I would like to ask you to stay and guard Yellow Flower Town with me, Teacher. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaos silence, Chu Jins face was filled with guilt. Teacher, I know your ability. If you leave, you will be able to reach High Pass Town without a hitch. But But 1 for my own selfish motives, I still want to ask you to stay, Teacher. With Teacher here, it is definitely possible to protect Yellow Flower Town. Our brothers will have a better chance of surviving. Qin Xiaoyao still didnt reply. She drank two more cups of wine before sighing. Previously, I overheard the discussion in the Liao armys tent. They said that the peace talks between the Jin and Liao States areing to an end and there will be results soon. Once the peace talks are concluded, the Liao army will retreat. At that time, you guys wont have to defend Yellow Flower Town anymore. If its just a few days I can stay. In the end, she was still affected. Like the people of the Jin State in this era, she hated the Liao people to the core. At the same time, she couldnt bear to see her friend stay behind alone. Of course, she was also worried that even if she went to High Pass Town, it wouldnt be so easy for her to meet the Second Prince. By following Chu Jin, she could at least ensure that she would be able to meet the Second Prince when the matter was over. Chu Jins face lit up. On behalf of all the soldiers, I thank you, Teacher! He actually stood up and raised his cup to Qin Xiaoyao and bowed. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly returned the gesture. Youre too polite. You guys are protecting the state for the people of the Great Jin State, she responded. Then, she picked up the wine cup on the table and filled it up again before drinking with Chu Jin again. After that, since the two of them were going to defend Yellow Flower Town together, they became closer to each other. The topic of their conversation slowly shifted to the guards of Yellow Flower Town. Qin Xiaoyao shared some of her opinions because she had explored the terrain of the Liao army camp and therge area to the north of Yellow Flower Town. Chu Jin listened attentively and shared his own opinions from time to time. After aprehensive discussion, the two came up with a n to deal with these ces. After they had their fill of food and drinks, Chu Jin brought Qin Xiaoyao back to the army camp. It was also the ce where the Liao army was previously stationed. After Chu Jins troops upied that ce, they used it directly as their new army camp. After bringing Qin Xiaoyao to the main tent, Chu Jin sent for the two chiliarchs and the other centurions to discuss matters. The two of them did not wait long in therge tent before the centurions and chiliarchs arrived one after another. Due to the high number of battle casualties, there were not many people. In fact, there were less than ten in total. After everyone had arrived, Chu Jin quickly introduced Qin Xiaoyao to everyone. He also appointed Qin Xiaoyao to be their Deputy Colonel, so the entire army would not only listen to his orders but also to Qin Xiaoyaos. The centurions and chiliarchs did not all know Qin Xiaoyao, but after hearing Chu Jins introduction, they knew that she was the warrior who had killed the Liao armys chiliarch by herself. They were all impressed by her. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao settled down in Yellow Flower Town temporarily. When she returned to her tent, Huang Fei and the others were already waiting for her. It was Liu San who had brought them over. Qin Xiaoyao was relieved to see that the four of them were safe and sound. Huang Fei and the other three were extremely excited to see Qin Xiaoyao. They knew that their Leader was powerful, but they didnt expect her to have such an influential background. And she was a woman no less. That was right. After they were found by Liu San, they heard about their Leaders aplishments from him. Thereafter, they found out that their Leader knew the Second Prince and was highly regarded by the Second Prince. She had even helped the Second Prince train his soldiers. When the Second Prince left the town, he even said that his biggest regret was not being able to take their Leader with him. And now, their Leader had taken the initiative to join the Second Princes army. No doubt, their Leader was assured of a bright future. Liu San already knew that Qin Xiaoyao had been promoted to the position of Deputy Colonel, so he was very respectful to Qin Xiaoyao. He even took the initiative to inform her that he had received the order and would henceforth stay by her side to carry out her instructions. Qin Xiaoyao was quite satisfied with this arrangement and nodded to show that she understood. Then, she dismissed Liu San. Following that, she beckoned to Huang Fei and the others to follow her into the tent. The moment they entered the tent, Huang Fei and the others knelt down on one knee at once and paid their respects to Qin Xiaoyao. We hereby pay our respects to you, Deputy Colonel! they proimed excitedly. A Colonel! Although she was just a deputy colonel, she was currently the second highest-ranking military officer in Yellow Flower Town. As expected of their Leader, she became a high-ranking officer the moment she came. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and raised her hand, gesturing to the four of them to stand up. The four men then stood up. I epted the Deputy Colonel rank at the request of a friend. When the Liao army retreats and I go to meet the Second Prince, 1 will no longer lead the army, Qin Xiaoyao said. The four peoples expressions changed at once. Qin Xiaoyao continued, Judging by your demeanor, Liu San must have told you something about me. Actually, I didnt leave Mountain Spring Town to join the Second Princes army. 1 need to seek the help of the Second Prince for something else. Ill leave after Im done. Huang Fei and the rest were all shocked. After exchanging looks with one another, Huang Fei spoke on behalf of the group. Leader, you are skilled in martial arts and are highly regarded by the Second Prince. Why are you not willing to join the army? They had already made up their minds to fight with their Leader. If their Leader were to leave, what would they do? Qin Xiaoyao nced at the four of them and knew what they were thinking. After thinking for a while, she said, Im just a woman. Fame and fortune are not that important to me. Well, she had expressed herself a little awkwardly, and her words were a little untruthful. The main reason she didnt want to stay in the army camp was that she didnt want to be separated from her husband.. Chapter 303 - 303: A Noble Wife Brings Glory to Her Husband? Chapter 303: A Noble Wife Brings Glory to Her Husband? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Huang Fei and the other three exchanged nces once more. So what if you are a woman? Leader, your ability and talent far surpassed men! Besides, the Second Prince treated Leader so courteously and didnt mind Leaders female identity. The other three also looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Evidently, they fully agreed with Huang Feis words. They had followed their Leader all the way, and their Leaders bravery and strategizing had impressed them. When they found out that their Leader was a woman, although they were shocked, their respect and admiration for their Leader did not change. Even if their Leader was a woman, she was still the most powerful woman in the world. It was their honor to be able to follow her. Qin Xiaoyao seemed to be deeply moved, and she was actually a little surprised. It was said that in ancient times, men were considered superior to women, and society was prejudiced against women. However, the men of this era that she hade into contact with seemed to be quite amodating toward her. Her husband was like this, and so was the Second Prince. Now, her four little followers didnt have any other thoughts even after they found out she was a woman. Alright Ill tell you the truth. I actually came out this time to look for my husband. Im married and have a family. Furthermore, I love my husband deeply. I dont want to be separated from my husband for fame and fortune, Qin Xiaoyao said earnestly. Married people had to be responsible. As the pir of the family, she had to take care of all the matters in the family. That was what she had always reminded herself constantly. When Huang Fei and the others heard Qin Xiaoyaos words, they were all dumbfounded. Their Leaders exnation was bold and direct. After the initial shock, the four of them couldnt help feeling curious about Qin Xiaoyaos husband. They did not know what kind of man had actually caught their Leaders eye. This is actually fine. Leader, you can always arrange for your hus Ahem, brother-inw to stay by your side. At that point, wouldnt it be a wonderful thing for a noble wife to bring glory to her husband? Huang Fei said somewhat against his conscience. A noble wife bringing glory to her husband? If this were to happen to him, he would be afraid of other people saying that he was living off a woman. However, their Leaders situation was special. How could an ordinary manpare to their Leader? It was such a waste of her ability and talent to let such a powerful character like their Leader help her husband and raise his children. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned momentarily A noble wife bringing glory to her husband? Surely they meant a glorious husband ennobling his wife? Besides, she had never felt that her husband was less capable than her. It was just that they were good at different things. Ahem. Dont try to persuade me on this matter. When I go to High Pass Town and find the Second Prince, and then after I find my husband, I will leave. As for you guys, Ill make arrangements for you guys before I leave. After all, they had been together for a few days and she had taken them in as her followers. She should at least do this for them. In addition, they werent stupid, and after this period of experience, they had be more capable. It shouldnt be a problem for them to get official positions in the army camp in the future based on their aplishments. Leader Huang Fei quickly tried to dissuade her. However, he was stopped by Qin Xiaoyao as soon as he opened his mouth. You dont have to persuade me anymore. Qin Xiaoyaos words immediately crushed the other four mens intention to dissuade her. Ill be staying in Yellow Flower Town for a while. You will be assigned to Colonel Chus team ande under mymand. Weve burned the Liao armys food rations and we have reimed Yellow Flower Town. But right now, were also trapped on our own. After this, the Liao army will not let us off. Its only a matter of time before they attack us. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the four of them. This is both a good and a bad thing. When theres a war, theres a chance to make a contribution. From now on, perform well. As long as you can make a contribution, I will make the decision for your promotion. She couldnt guarantee anything else, but with the abilities of Huang Fei and his three brothers, it shouldnt be a problem for them to be promoted to decurions first and then centurions. Huang Fei and the other three exchanged looks with one another. They knew that it was useless to continue persuading Qin Xiaoyao, so they finally agreed. Yes, Leader! In any case, it was not the final moment yet, and everything was still in a flux. They would work with their Leader first, and talk about the other things in the future. Thats enough. Everyones tired tonight, so you can ask Liu San to help you arrange lodgings. Then,e and look for me tomorrow, Qin Xiaoyao said with a wave of her hand. Yes, Leader! The four of them then retreated. After they left, Qin Xiaoyao asked the soldiers outside the tent to prepare water for her to wash up. After hastily tidying up, she went to sleep. The next day, when Qin Xiaoyao brought Huang Fei and the others out of the army camp, Yellow Flower Town had already be orderly. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but admire Chu Jins ability to manage the army and make appropriate arrangements. After meeting with Chu Jin at the North Town Tower, Qin Xiaoyao took over the troops stationed at the North Town Tower and became the person in charge of the North Town. (Since Yellow Flower Town only had two town gates, when Qin Xiaoyao took over the north of the town, it was equivalent to taking over half of the military strength of Yellow Flower Town.) Thus, Liu Hong became a general under her directmand. Qin Xiaoyao was very satisfied with the arrangement. She quickly led Liu Hong and the others on a tour of the North Town. They made some adjustments to the original deployment. In just half a days time, Qin Xiaoyao had a clear understanding of the situation in North Town. Of course, this was because she had investigated North Town before. After that, the peace and quiet in Yellow Flower Town onlysted until the evening. Qin Xiaoyao was drinking tea at a tea stall on the street when a soldier suddenly came to report that arge number of Liao soldiers had arrived at the North Town Gate. Qin Xiaoyao put down her teacup and went to the North Town Gate. Over there, they saw arge group of Liao soldiers gathered not far from the town. There were about four to five hundred of them spread out in an impressive array. Colonel Qin Liu Hong looked at Qin Xiaoyao worriedly. As they felt that Deputy Colonel didnt sound nice, everyone addressed her as Colonel Qin now. In any case, their Colonel and Teacher Qin had different surnames. Qin Xiaoyao withdrew her gaze from the Liao army. Just guard the town gate tower well. If they dare toe within 300 feet of the town gate, order the archers to shoot. Yes, Colonel! Liu Hong immediately answered. Qin Xiaoyao turned around again and looked at the Liao army outside the town. In addition She suddenly narrowed her eyes. Tell the Special Forces Team to get ready. If the Liao army doesnte after dark, we will take the initiative to attack, she said in a low voice. That was right. The first order she gave after taking over North Town was for Liu Hong to select 30 of the bravest soldiers from his men to join the Special Forces Team. These men were selected based on their ability and not their military ranks. If they were holding any military ranks, their military duties would be temporarily assigned to their deputies orpetent subordinates. After the candidates were selected, she personally inspected them to ensure that every Special Forces Team member was qualified in terms of capability. After these people were selected, they were assigned to Huang Fei and the other three to receive urgent training. The content of the training was not physical fitness. It onlyprised one topic, and that was the Liao-style saber technique. Huang Fei and the others were originally refugees, but after learning the Liao-style saber technique, they improved their skills by leaps and bounds in a short period of time. These soldiers, who had already experienced hundreds of battles, would only improve faster. During the apocalypse, she had worked with her teammates toe up with the ying de technique. If it was deployed on the battlefield, it would have a tremendous effect.. Chapter 304 - 304: Special Forces Members Chapter 304: Special Forces Members Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion As he looked at the vast and mighty Liao army outside the town, Liu Hong was a little worried. If the Liao army did not attack the town, they were probably waiting for more reinforcements. If they left the Liao army alone, they would only face more enemies in the future. Hence, Colonel Qins decision was not wrong. However, there were only 30 people in the Special Forces Team. Even with the four people that Colonel Qin brought, there were only 34 people in total. Would it really work if they just charged out rashly? Yes, Colonel! But he still acknowledged the order. Firstly, Colonel Qin was his superior and he had to follow her orders. Secondly, he did not have any better suggestions. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao descend from the town gate tower. Hows the preparation of the things 1 asked for? she asked as she walked. Liu Hong nced at Qin Xiaoyao and quickly cupped his hands. The army is short on ironware and there is a shortage of craftsmen. The progress is not ideal. An hour ago, 1 came to report that the 35 tri-daggers you wanted have beenpleted. But for the arm crossbow, they have only made fifty crossbow bolts. As for the bow, they havent made it yet. He had seen the drawings given by Colonel Qin and found that the tri-dagger she wanted was simr to a dagger, but its structure was slightly moreplicated. After the craftsmen adjusted the mold, it was not difficult to make it. However, the structure of an arm crossbow was tooplicated. He had looked at it carefully a few times but still couldnt figure it out. The situation on the craftsmens side was better, but the finished products they made could not meet Colonel Qins requirements. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. Tell them to make the best use of their time and make more crossbow bolts. In addition, they must also hurry up in the production of the arm crossbow. Forget it. Take me there to take a look, Qin Xiaoyao replied quickly. If the crossbow had not been made, it was most likely because the craftsmen did not understand the drawing she gave them. She only found out about such a critical matter now. Yes, Colonel! Liu Hong answered. Then, he brought Qin Xiaoyao to the workshop. When she arrived, Qin Xiaoyao first checked the tri-daggers and crossbow bolts that the craftsmen had rushed out. She realized that although the quality of the tri-daggers was a little different from what she had expected, it was still much better than a dagger. As for the crossbow bolts, it was just as she had expected and they matched her requirements. Where are the craftsmen in charge of making the arm crossbows? Get them to bring the drawing over, Qin Xiaoyao said quickly after checking the tri-daggers and crossbow bolts. Ive already sent someone to summon them. They will be here soon, Liu Hong replied. As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from outside. Liu Hong went out and quickly brought in four craftsmen. After learning that these four people were the ones in charge of making the arm crossbows, Qin Xiaoyao asked about their progress. Then, Qin Xiaoyao saw several abandoned versions of the crossbows that the four of them had made. After some testing, Qin Xiaoyao realized that these versions of the crossbow did have different levels of problems. When shepleted the testing, Qin Xiaoyao pointed out roughly the problems for the craftsmen. Then, she asked the craftsmen to spread out the drawings she had given them before and exined the structure of the arm crossbow to them. The craftsmen listened attentively. When they encountered something they didnt understand, they would immediately ask Qin Xiaoyao for rification. After hearing Qin Xiaoyaos exnation, a sudden look of realization swept across all the craftsmens faces. The way they looked at Qin Xiaoyao was also filled with admiration. After you guys go back, 111 have to trouble everyone to speed up to make the arm crossbows. You have toplete 35 crossbows before noon tomorrow, Qin Xiaoyao said. If you encounter any more problems, you cane to me directly. Even if the Liao army outside the town could be dealt with, there would definitely be more Liao soldiersing. She had no way to improve thebat ability of all the soldiers in the town, but she could focus on arming the Special Forces Team. A Liao-style saber, a tri-dagger, and an arm crossbow, coupled with the corresponding training. Her Special Forces Team members might not be able to fight one against a hundred, but they could at least fight against twenty. One should not underestimate such a team just because it had very few members. If deployed well, it could exert an extremely formidable effect. At the crucial moment, they could deal a heavy blow to the enemy. Yes, Sir! The craftsmen quickly answered. Their voices were clearly filled with great excitement. They were very interested in the arm crossbow, to begin with, but they couldnt make it because they didnt fully understand the drawing. Now, they had already gotten the answers to the questions they had. Naturally, they wanted to create this special weapon as soon as possible. After the craftsmen left, Qin Xiaoyao looked back at the tri-daggers that had been forged. She picked one and kept it. Then, she said to Liu Hong, Get someone to bring these things and follow me to the drill ground. It was time to meet her team members. Yes, Colonel! Liu Hong answered. At the drill ground, after Qin Xiaoyao arrived, Huang Fei gathered all the Special Forces Team members. Qin Xiaoyao didnt waste any time and immediately gave them an update about the situation outside the town. The Liao army hasnt attacked the town yet, but the more they dy, the more dangerous the situation will be for Yellow Flower Townter on. So, we cant just sit around and wait for death. We have to strike first. If nothing unexpected happens, we will take action tonight. As soon as she said that, the Special Forces Team members became very excited. Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything more. Instead, she looked at Liu Hong. Liu Hong immediately distributed the tri-daggers personally. This is a tri-dagger, an improved version of a dagger. It can spill blood faster, and the damage dealt is more serious. At the same time, the possibility of saving a person who gets stabbed by this is also lower. Qin Xiaoyao gave an introduction. The workshop has made a total of 35 tri-daggers. In addition to myself, only you guys in the whole army will be given one. I will personally teach you how to use the tri-daggerster. You guys have to learn well. At the critical moment, the tri-daggers can be yourst resort to win. Yes, Colonel! the Special Forces Team members immediately responded. Their eyes were gleaming brightly. After half a day of brainwashing by Huang Fei and the rest, the members of the Special Forces Team already regarded Qin Xiaoyao as a God. Now, the God they worshiped had given them special weapons and was going to teach them how to use them personally. How could they not be excited? Qin Xiaoyao nodded in satisfaction. After the tri-daggers were distributed, the crowd was separated. Following that, Qin Xiaoyao began to exin in detail the tri-daggers structure and principles, as well as the reason it was more lethal than a dagger. Not only were the Special Forces Team members surprised and impressed, but even Liu Hong was also in awe. He looked at the tri-dagger in Qin Xiaoyaos hand with envy. It was such a good weapon, but it was a pity that there were only 35 of them in the entire army. When the workshop had more free time, he must definitely get them to make more. At the very least, he had to allocate some to the Colonel and the other higher-ranked military officers like him. After exining the principles, Qin Xiaoyao began to teach her team members the close-rangebat techniques using the tri-daggers. Qin Xiaoyao was as fierce and agile as a leopard. With the tri-dagger in her hand, she attacked swiftly and ruthlessly. Even though there was no enemy in front of her, everyone could imagine that if an enemy existed, he would be stabbed or killed in just one or two moves. The members of the Special Forces Team watched her demonstration with immense admiration. One by one, they even rubbed their hands eagerly and couldnt resist mimicking her. As he stood next to them, Liu Hongs eyes widened as well, and he wished vehemently that he could practice it himself.. Chapter 305 - 305: Swinging Into Action After Midnight Chapter 305: Swinging Into Action After Midnight Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Qin Xiaoyao quickly demonstrated the moves. After that, she began to break down each move and got her team members to follow her actions. After recovering from the shock just now, the team members learned very diligently. Even Liu Hong and the few soldiers he brought along could not help but start mimicking the moves as they stood by the side. Qin Xiaoyao didnt interfere and let them be when she noticed them. After that, Qin Xiaoyao only taught them three times, and her team members had already memorized all the moves. Qin Xiaoyao was quite pleased with this result. The moves are only the external form. Only after youre familiar with them can you deploy them flexibly and create the intent, Qin Xiaoyao said to the crowd. Just like the Liao-style saber technique 1 taught you earlier, if you want to maximize the function of the tri-daggers, you need to master it and deploy it flexibly ording to the actual situation. Of course, theres a procedure to this. But I believe that it wont take too long. Because youre members of the Special Forces Team, the dagger specialists team. There are many opportunities for actualbat and to gain experience. At this point, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Huang Fei and the rest who were nodding their heads. Im sure you guys already know Huang Fei and his brothers. They didnt learn the Liao-style saber technique much earlier than you guys did. But its precisely because theyve experienced more actualbat that theirbat strength has risen rapidly. Now, putting aside other considerations, lets just talk about saber techniques alone. Im afraid not many of you are their match. The members of the Special Forces Team exchanged nces with one another, then they turned to look at Huang Fei and the others, who were standing with their heads held high and chests puffed out. The members all agreed with Qin Xiaoyaos words in their hearts. This afternoon, when the Special Forces Team was first established, some of the members were not willing to take orders from Huang Fei and the others and decided to challenge them. At that point, Huang Fei deployed the Liao-style saber technique. As the saber techniques killing intent was too strong, he almost caused trouble. However, it was also because they had witnessed the power of the saber technique that everyone was finally convinced. Then, for the entire afternoon, they did nothing but practice saber techniques with Huang Fei and the others and listen to them talk about Colonel Qin. After practicing for an entire afternoon, they had already memorized the moves of the Liao-style saber technique by heart. Unfortunately, they didnt have the chance to try it out. This was because this saber technique was too formidable, and it was a killing move the moment it was deployed. It was not practical to use it against their own people, so it could only be used on the enemy. However, it was all good now. ording to Colonel Qin, she was going to take them on a mission tonight. Hmph! When they reached the battlefield, they would let those Liao scumbags witness the power of their saber technique. When she saw everyones reaction, Qin Xiaoyao knew that Huang Fei and the others had already established their authority. She was extremely pleased. Next, I want you to continue to focus on practicing the Liao-style saber. The tri-daggers will be used as a backup. Also, be ready at any time to move out together with me! Qin Xiaoyao said in a stern voice. As soon as she said that, all the eyes of the Special Forces Team members lit up. Yes, Colonel! Their voices were extremely excited. However, Liu Hongs expression changed. He wanted to say something, but he didnt go forward. After Qin Xiaoyao left, Liu Hong quickly followed her. Colonel Qin, youre also going to participate in the operation as well? he asked worriedly. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and nced at Liu Hong. Mm-hmm, she responded. These 34 people are the elites of the army. Losing even one of them is a huge loss. Its their first battle. 1 have to apany them. But Liu Hong instinctively tried to stop her. Dont worry. There are only four to five hundred Liao soldiers outside the town. The thousands of Liao soldiers in the Liao army camp couldnt stop me. What can these few people do to me? If they put in more effort, do you believe that we can ughter all the Liao soldiers outside the town with just the 35 of us? Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Hong with a smile. It was only four to five hundred Liao soldiers. It was really not that many. If her teammates from her previous life were here, she wouldnt even need more than 30 people. Just seven or eight people would be enough to end the battle. Moreover, the other party probably wouldnt even realize that something had happened until halfway through the massacre. Liu Hong was surprised and a little doubtful of Qin Xiaoyaos words. However, when he recalled that Qin Xiaoyao had indeed taken the life of the leader of the Liao army while under attack by more than 1000 people, he chose to believe her. Forget it. Since nothing would happen to Colonel Qin, let her be. At most, when the situation turned disadvantageous, he would lead the troops to rescue them. In any case, the distance between the two sides was not far and the number of Liao soldiers was not that big. When Qin Xiaoyao saw Liu Hongs expression, she knew that he did not believe her. She didnt exin further but simply smiled and left. It didnt matter if he didnt believe her. When the deed was aplished and the facts wereid out in front of him, he would believe her. After dinner, night fell gradually. Sure enough, the Liao army outside the town did not attack the town. When she saw that there were even campfires for cooking in the camp outside the town, Qin Xiaoyao knew what was going on. After settling her military duties, she went to the drill ground again. On the drill ground, the Special Forces Team members were already rubbing their hands in anticipation. Qin Xiaoyao finally brought them the good news that they would be taking action at midnight. Change into the Liao peoples clothes and sneak out of the town with me. We will catch the Liao army off guard and y them all, Qin Xiaoyao instructed. Yes, Colonel! The Special Forces Team members quickly changed their clothes. Previously, they had heard Huang Fei and the others talk about how they had disguised themselves as Liao soldiers and killed countless Liao scumbags. Now that it was their turn, how could they not be excited? After everyone got started, Qin Xiaoyao took out a red scarf and tied it around her neck. If you wear a red scarf around your neck, it means youre one of us. When the timees, dont go crazy and fight with your own people, she reminded them. Hahahaha The team members exploded intoughter. They then followed Qin Xiaoyaos action and tied the red scarf around their necks. When the preparations wereplete, Qin Xiaoyao then briefed everyone on the uingbat arrangements. They would probably lower a rope down from the North Town Gate and then sneak into the campsite of the Liao army. They had to eliminate as many Liao soldiers as possible without alerting the enemy. If they were discovered by the Liao army, they would form teams of five andunch a massacre. In short, the goal of the Special Forces Team tonight was to ughter all the Liao soldiers outside the town. They were to show theirrades within the town the strength of their team. Qin Xiaoyaos final sentence was like a shot of steroids for the members of the Special Forces Team. All of them were extremely excited after being motivated and felt that they would be able to make a name for themselves tonight. If we win this battle, the military merits will be awarded based on the number of kills, which is the same as in the past. After our triumphant return, I will report to Colonel Chu and reward everyone ording to their contributions! Qin Xiaoyao said in a stern voice. Yes, Colonel! Everyone responded in unison. Qin Xiaoyao nodded her head in satisfaction and continued to say a few more words to her team members. When it was almost time, she led the team members to the North Town Tower. Then, at the designated time, they immediately sprang into action. Several ropes were lowered from the top of the town wall. Qin Xiaoyao, Huang Fei, and the others took the lead and nimbly slid down the town gate tower. The rest of the team members were also agile and followed them. After reaching the ground, they moved swiftly and hid in the dark, creeping toward the Liao army camp. The Liao army camp was only about a thousand feet away from the North Town Gate. The Special Forces Team arrived in a short while. After Qin Xiaoyao arrived, she immediately shot out several flying needles and killed the sentries outside the Liao army camp. Thereafter, she led the Special Forces Team members and sessfully sneaked into the Liao army camp.. Chapter 306 - 306: A Big Victory Chapter 306: A Big Victory Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Next, Qin Xiaoyao showed a hand gesture. The team members quickly divided into seven groups and began to take action separately. In the silence that followed, many Liao soldiers had their necks slit. The Special Forces Team members were like a group ofte-night Grim Reapers, harvesting the souls of the Liao soldiers all the way into the depths of the Liao army camp. After a short while, approximately the amount of time it took to finish a cup of tea, the teams actions were finally exposed. Some Liao soldiers who got up in the night to pee discovered the presence of the Special Forces Team members and shouted, Enemy attack! Although that Liao soldier was quickly silenced by a slit across the neck by one of the Special Forces Team members, he had already caused amotion. The surrounding Liao soldiers were quickly woken up and they began to shout. Following that, the Liao armys campsite quickly descended into chaos. Kill! Qin Xiaoyao shouted when she saw this. She brandished her Liao-style saber and quickly charged at a group of Liao soldiers who ran out from within the camp. Kill! The other members of the Special Forces Team responded one after another. They also brandished their Liao-style sabers and quickly charged at the Liao soldiers that they could see. Colonel Qin had given the order that their mission tonight was to kill all these Liao scumbags. No matter how many they were, the team members would kill on sight until they had eliminated all of them! The two sides quickly engaged in closebat, and the Special Forces Team members were all iparably fearless. With goodbat capabilities and the confidence of a confirmed victory, they straightaway overwhelmed the Liao soldiers. Other than Qin Xiaoyaos invincible attitude of killing anyone who stood in her way, Huang Fei and his brothers were the ones who killed the most ferociously. They were already extremely familiar with the use of the Liao-style saber technique and could practically kill a person with just one strike. Even if the first strike did not hit, the second strike rarely missed. The power of their ying de technique was fully revealed here. It was surprisingly effective when deployed directly against the opponents weakness. Some of the members who had been hesitating, afraid that their unfamiliarity with this move would backfire, also began to deploy the Liao-style saber technique. Some used it together with their original martial arts skills while others simply deployed the Liao-style saber technique directly. At first, the members were indeed a little unfamiliar, but after a few rounds, they gradually got the hang of it. Thereafter, the more they slew, the smoother their actions became, and the more they killed, the more energetic they became. As Qin Xiaoyao ughtered in all directions, she also checked the progress of her team members around her. She would onlye to the rescue in time when she found out that any one of her team members was in trouble. With her flying needles around, no one could even think about hurting her men. When the Special Forces Team members realized this, they immediately killed even more brazenly. They simply used the Liao army as a tool to practice their saber technique. They forgot all about their fatigue and became more excited as they killed. As time passed, the Liao soldiers gradually came to their senses. When they saw that they couldnt beat the Special Forces Team at close range, they actually summoned the archery team. Qin Xiaoyao had been paying attention to the situation around her. When she noticed this, she immediately took action. She was like a fierce tiger that had just escaped from its cage. She used the flying needles to clear the way and headed straight in the direction of the archery squad. Shoot! Shoot him to death! The head of the Liao army next to the archery team was so frightened when he saw Qin Xiaoyao that his eyes widened and he hollered his order furiously. However, before the archers could arm their bows, they were shot by a wave of flying needles and they all fell. The corner of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up into a sinister smile. She shot out another handful of flying needles, killing the panicking army leader and the remaining few archers beside him on the spot. It was just like a max-level expert yer returning to the vige where novices started out. Killing these people was too easy Huang Fei and the others were ecstatic when they saw this from a distance. Colonel Qin has already taken care of the archers. Everyone, continue killing! Kill all these Liao scumbags! he shouted. Kill! Kill the Liao scumbags! For a while, the team members were very hyped-up. They howled like wolves and continued to fight. Retreat! Retreat quickly At this moment, someone in the Liao army shouted. Many Liao soldiers turned around and fled. Without waiting for Qin Xiaoyaos orders, her team members had already taken up their sabers and went after the Liao soldiers. Liao scumbags, dont run. Kill them Kill them! The sounds of fighting continued. After catching up with the Liao soldiers and dealing with them, the team members saw that some of the Liao soldiers had already ridden far away on their horses. Some of them mounted horses and prepared to give chase. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao quickly called out to stop them. Dont go after a desperate enemy! Clean up the camp and eliminate the Liao scumbags that didnt escape! The team members who were ready to give chase pulled up the reins. They then dismounted to carry out Qin Xiaoyaos order. At the same time, Huang Fei and the other three walked toward Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. Leader! Their tone was full of pride. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao responded with a smile. Bring two of our brothers back to the town and inform Chiliarch Liu Hong to bring some men over to help clean up the battlefield. Yes, Leader! Huang Fei quickly answered. Thereafter, he left with two other people. After that, Qin Xiaoyao did not have to wait too long before Liu Hong arrived with his men. When he saw that the Liao army camp was full of corpses but the members of the Special Forces Team were all alive and well, he was amazed. With just 35 people, they had destroyed a 400 to 500-strong Liao army. And the Special Forces Team had not lost a single person. Colonel Qin was truly a God! Colonel Qin! Liu Hong stepped forward and bowed to her excitedly. He waspletely convinced by Qin Xiaoyao now. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she answered him. The Liao soldiers have been cleaned up and a few of them have been caught alive. Ill leave you to tidy up the loose ends and conduct the interrogation. Ill take the team members back first. Those who need medical treatment will be given treatment while those who need rest will be rested. Although she managed to protect the lives of her team members, some of them were still injured. Fortunately, after she had taken a look, she found that their injuries were not that serious. They could just go back and have them bandaged. Yes, Colonel! Liu Hong hurriedly answered. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao instruct Huang Fei to gather their team members, and then she led them back to the town. It was a lively atmosphere all the way back. The team members were all in high spirits, and they held their heads high. Each member was boasting about how many Liao soldiers he had killed and how he had done it and so on. Qin Xiaoyao walked in front with a smile and said a few words to everyone from time to time until they returned to the town. She summoned the military doctor to take care of the injured and asked Huang Fei to help tally everyones achievements. Then, Qin Xiaoyao followed the man Chu Jin sent to the south of the town. When Qin Xiaoyao arrived at South Town, the battle was still going on there. The Liao soldiers took advantage of the night tounch an attack, and the battle was intense. Fortunately, Chu Jin was well prepared. With sufficient defensive equipment, he did not let the Liao soldiers break through the towns defenses. Initially, Chu Jin was overseeing the battle on the town gate tower. When he learned that Qin Xiaoyao had arrived, he quickly pulled Qin Xiaoyao to the side. Teacher, I heard that there was a great victory in the North Town. You guys have killed over four hundred Liao enemies. Is this true? he asked excitedly. Of course, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. 1 have better luck. The Liao army there is small in number and they are waiting for reinforcements. In such a situation, we made the first move and managed to catch the other party off guard. Good! Good job, Teacher! Chu Jin said excitedly. The North Town was able to win without any casualties because of your good leadership. When the war here is over, I will definitely reward you based on your contributions! Qin Xiaoyao smiled and cupped her hands at Chu Jin. Ill pass, but before I came, I promised the members of the Special Forces Team that I would help them ask for rewards ording to their military merits.. Chapter 307 - 307: Taking Action Again Chapter 307: Taking Action Again Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion This time, all of them fought valiantly and killed many enemies. When the timees, I hope Colonel Chu Jin wont be stingy with your rewards. Naturally! Naturally! Hahahaha Chu Jin quickly answered. After talking to Qin Xiaoyao for a while longer, he brought Qin Xiaoyao up to the town gate tower and continued with his battlemand duties. There were indeed more Liao soldiers in the South Town, but the town gate tower was easy to defend and hard to attack by default. In addition, Chu Jins side was well prepared. The Liao army attacked many times but failed to take down the town gate tower. In addition, the Liao army had learned that something had happened in North Town, so their desire to attack had greatly diminished. After persevering for a while, they chose to retreat. Chu Jin heaved a sigh of relief inwardly when he saw that. He was just about to instruct the soldiers to tally their losses and regroup to prepare for the next wave of attack. Why dont we go after them and wipe out these remaining soldiers? Qin Xiaoyao asked suddenly. She didnt know where the Liao army got their courage from. On the northern side of the town, they had only four to five hundred men yet they dared to set up their camp so close to the town gate. On the southern side, despite suffering such heavy losses, they still did not learn their lesson. After their defeat, they still did not retreat far away. Was it because they were sure that the Jin States army would only defend and not counterattack? They were really overconfident. Chu Jin paused for a while. He nced at the direction in which the Liao army was retreating. He found that they had indeed not gone far, and the light from the torches was much dimmer than before. This meant that the other party had suffered a serious loss in terms of headcount. A look of hesitation shed across Chu Jins face. He was tempted, but he did not give the order immediately. After all, sending out troops meant losing troops, and defending would at least preserve their strength. Qin Xiaoyao could read Chu Jins mind. Why dont we let the Special Forces Team do it? In any case, they dont mind the burden of military merits, she said with a smile. Excluding her, the Special Forces Team had a total of 34 people. Only four of them were slightly injured, while the rest had all retreated in one piece unharmed. The four people who were injured did not have any vital injuries, so it would not affect theirbat ability. Therefore, it was technically possible for all of them to go on another operation. Even if the four injured members didnt go, there would still be 30 members left. With her joining in, it wasnt impossible to y all the remaining soldiers outside the town. Er Chu Jin was a little tempted. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. How about it? If youre okay with it, well do it, she said. Chu Jin then nodded. Alright! If your team can kill all the Liao soldiers, the military merits will be counted as well! he said in a deep voice. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. She cupped her hands at Chu Jin. Then Ill go summon them myself! she said. With that, she turned around and left. After descending from the town gate tower, Qin Xiaoyao got on her horse nimbly and rushed to the Special Forces Teams camp. When she saw that Liu San and Huang Fei were still awake and chatting on the drill ground, Qin Xiaoyao told them to wake up the rest. When the two of them learned that there was a new mission and they could continue to umte military merits, they were very excited and quickly ran off. Before long, the Special Forces Team members were all assembled. They stood in a neat formation and faced Qin Xiaoyao. The general situation is that the Liao army at the south of the town failed to take down the South Town Gate. Now, the remaining Liao soldiers have retreated. But they didnt go far. Hmm they are probably less than half a mile from the South Town Gate. As for the number of people, ording to the estimation of ourrades in South Town, there are about five hundred people. The number is higher than those Liao soldiers we dealt with before. Moreover, these people have just undergone a bitter war, so their sense of vignce would be stronger than those soldiers we encountered earlier. Therefore, it will be more difficult to fight this group of people. What is there to be afraid of? Its just 500 people. Even if there are more, if our Special Forces Team take action, we can definitely take them down! Liu San said suddenly. Thats right! Leader, dont worry! Our brothers only treated the earlier operation as an appetizer to practice. This will be the main dish! Since the Liao scumbags have sent themselves to our doorstep for our dining pleasure, how can we not ept it? Huang Fei replied. As soon as he said that, everyone burst into raucousughter. All of them agreed with Huang Feis words. They were all moring to kill the Liao scumbags to gain military merits. Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased with their response. After a few more words of encouragement, she led everyone to the South Town Gate. When they arrived, Chu Jin came to receive them personally. He first praised the Special Forces Team for their previous performance, then encouraged them and reminded Qin Xiaoyao and the others to pay attention to their safety. Qin Xiaoyaoughed without restraint. Colonel, you can just wait for my good news! she said. Then, she led the Special Forces Team down the town gate tower. That was right. The team was prepared to sneak their way in just like before. They were prepared to sneak into the enemy camp, catch them off guard and y them all. After descending from the town gate tower, the Special Forces Team members once again hid in the dark. Then, they quickly crept forward under Qin Xiaoyaos lead. In a short while, they reached the Liao army camp. At this moment, the Liao soldiers were still setting up camp and tidying up the campsite. Qin Xiaoyao arrived with her men. She didnt have the intention to kill secretly. Instead, she suddenly shouted loudly. y the Liao scumbags! As soon as she finished speaking, the 34 men behind her also shouted, Kill them! That group of men charged into the Liao army camp and started a massacre of the helpless Liao soldiers. The wails of ughter resounded throughout, and arge number of Liao soldiers instinctively fled. However, how could they outrun the menacing momentum of the Special Forces Team members? Within a short while, arge number of the Liao soldiers were killed. Some of the Liao soldiers came back to their senses and went back to the camp to get their weapons, preparing to put up resistance against the Special Forces Team members. However, many of them were killed on their way to retrieve their weapons. Some of them, even if they managed to get their hands on weapons, could not withstand the attacks of the Special Forces Team members and died tragic deaths. Of course, this was only the beginning. The sudden appearance of Qin Xiaoyao and the others caught the other party off guard and gave Qin Xiaoyaos team a huge advantage. After the Liao army recovered themselves, the Liao soldiers in the camp quickly armed themselves and charged out. In fact, they had even prepared archers. The battle situation began to turn grim. Qin Xiaoyao still remained calm. She told everyone to continue killing while she dealt with the Liao armys archery team. The members of the Special Forces Team had already seen Qin Xiaoyaos capabilities before, so they had a lot of confidence in her. They continued to swing their Liao-style sabers to y enemies. They slew to their hearts content until their eyes were bloodshot. Qin Xiaoyao didnt let the Special Forces Team down. She was like a meat grinder, killing her way through. Not only did she kill all the enemies in her way, but she also annihted all the archers before they could shoot. When the Liao soldiers saw this sight, they were all terrified. Just as the Liao soldiers were forced into retreating, someone suddenly shouted out, Kill! Kill him! Whoever takes this mans head will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold! As soon as he said that, the Liao soldiers who had been retreating just now quickly surrounded Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt afraid at all. She snatched one spear directly from one of the Liao soldiers and swept it out, slicing down a swathe of Liao soldiers. Following that, Qin Xiaoyao looked in the direction of the voice. She saw a person who was dressed differently from the regr Liao soldiers. When she realized that the other party was the leader of these Liao soldiers, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes glowed with a chilly light. Very good. She had really found him without any effort. The head of the Liao army on the opposite side met Qin Xiaoyaos gaze and his heart froze. When he realized that the situation didnt feel right, he turned around, got on the horse, and fled to the back.. Chapter 308 - 308: It Was So Terrifying Chapter 308: It Was So Terrifying Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon E As Qin Xiaoyao continuously slew the Liao soldiers charging at her, the corners of her mouth curled up into a wicked smile. She suddenly leaped up and after hacking down anotherrge swathe of Liao soldiers, she charged in the direction that the leader had fled. At this moment, she was like a killing machine. As long as mortals got close to her, they would die instantly but she still charged forward bravely. The fleeing Liao army leader looked back at Qin Xiaoyao from time to time. When he realized that the soldiers could not stop her and she was still chasing him, he quickly spurred his horse and fled again. That pursuer was a demon. If he didnt flee faster, he would definitely die in that guys hands. When she saw that her target was getting further and further away while the Liao soldiers were still pestering her, Qin Xiaoyao finally became angry. Her attacks became increasingly more ruthless, and her actions became progressively faster. In the end, even though she managed to kill all the Liao soldiers who were obstructing her, she could only watch helplessly as the leader of rhe Liao army escaped from her sight. Qin Xiaoyao was furious that the target of her pursuit had disappeared. She started to massacre the Liao soldiers without any hesitation once more. Spears, Liao-style sabers, flying needles, and all sorts of methods were used. She kept killing as the Liao soldiers around her kept falling. The Liao soldiers finally dodged and escaped again. In particr, after someone shouted that their leader had escaped, the Liao soldiers were even more unwilling to fight. Unfortunately, Qin Xiaoyaos killing intent had already be exceedingly strong at this point. The Liao soldiers that were further away from her might be able to escape. Those who were close to her could only have their souls mercilessly harvested. Due to Qin Xiaoyaos wild massacre, the battle ended faster than expected. When Huang Fei and the others arrived, they saw Qin Xiaoyao holding a Liao-style saber dripping with blood standing in a sea of corpses around her. This sight was truly terrifying. They used to think that they were vicious enough and worthy of rhebel homicidal maniac. However, now, when theypared themselves to their Leader, they realized that they werent really worthy of thatbel. Their Leader was the true blue homicidal fiend! Only when she saw Huang Fei and the others did Qin Xiaoyao withdraw her vicious hostility. Go back and send two people to inform Colonel Chu Jin. Ask him to arrange for people to clean up the battlefield, she said. Special ability users were ultimately violent deep down in their hearts. Just now, Qin Xiaoyao realized that she had been suppressing her tendencies in the past. She relied on hard work to tire herself out to suppress the violence within her body. However, in reality, the effect was not very ideal. The truth was that she had always had the urge to kill. That was why she had killed the members of the Zhang family and those mountain bandits. Ever since she killed Zhang Ershui and the two mountain bandits, she didnt seem to hold back anymore when killing people. Previously, she had thought that it was because those people should be killed and deserved to be killed. However, now, she suddenly realized that the main reason was that she wanted to kill. This realization made her feel a little depressed. Yes, Colonel! Huang Fei and Liu San acknowledged the order. The two then turned around and left. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the rest of the team. Tell our brothers to gather here and take stock of the number of injured people. Then, well pack up and return to the town, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Halfway through this operation, she had gone to deal with the archers and hunt down the Liao army leader, so she didnt watch over the Special Forces Team all the time. She could only hope that there were no casualties among her subordinates. Yes, Colonel! someone immediately responded. Thereafter, it didnt take long for the Special Forces Team to gather. Qin Xiaoyao asked everyone to do a roll call. She was relieved to see that there was no missing person. She then asked about everyones injuries and learned that two people were more seriously injured and five people were slightly injured. She frowned. Go get two stretchers. Those who are seriously injured, go on the stretchers. Those who are fine, help carry them back to the town for treatment immediately, she barked. Yes, Colonel! everyone responded in unison. After that, the injured were evacuated. Qin Xiaoyao and the rest of the team waited at the same spot for a while until Chu Jin came with his men. After Qin Xiaoyao finished updating Chu Jin, she led the rest of the team back to the town. That night, the soldiers of Yellow Flower Town were in high spirits. Qin Xiaoyao and her Special Forces Team became heroes in the hearts of all the soldiers. In the military camp, gossip about the Special Forces Teams fame spread quickly. All rhe soldiers were looking forward to bing a member of the Special Forces Team. On Chu Jins side, after taking over the Liao armys battlefield, he saw the tragic situation. From the injuries on the bodies of the Liao soldiers, he could roughly judge how intense the battle was at that time. The saber techniques deployed by the Special Forces Team were indeed lethal. Whether it was the Liao-style saber or the tri-dagger, these weapons ail injured the vital parts of the Liao soldiers. Almost all of the corpses showed signs of being killed in one blow. This team that had been formed in such a short time was shockingly vicious. What was even more startling was therge swathe of corpses in the middle of the camp. Judging from the positions and shapes of the bodies, as well as the wounds, all of them had died at the hands of the same person, and almost at the same time. Corpses with these simr characteristics formed a trail in rhe Liao army camp. These bodies ounted for almost more than 30% of all the corpses in the Liao army camp. What did this mean? If his guess was not wrong, more than 30% of rhe Liao soldiers had died at the hands of the same person. Besides Teacher Qin, who else could the culprit be? She had killed nearly 200 people by herself, and she was stillpletely unscathed. To think that such a character actually existed in this world. As he thought of this, Chu Jin quickly made a decision. In the following period of rime, he would have to interact more with Teacher Qin and make sure that he could make her stay for rhe sake of rhe Second Prince. In addition, with Teacher Qin and her Special Forces Team here, it might be possible to defend Yellow Flower Town after all. Meanwhile, after Qin Xiaoyao brought rhe Special Forces Team back to the town, she returned to the camp to visit the injured. After giving a pep talk to everyone, she returned to the tent. When Chu Jin returned to the town after taking care of rhe Liao army camp, he learned that Qin Xiaoyao had already retired to her rent, so he did not bother her. The next day, he came to her tent. The two then had breakfast together. After that, Chu Jin proposed to go to the drill ground with Qin Xiaoyao to watch the Special Forces Team members train. He would also take the chance to announce the military merits and rewards. Qin Xiaoyao agreed with a smile. At the drill ground. When the two of them arrived, what greeted their eyes was the sight of Huang Fei and his brothers leading the Special Forces Team members to practice the Liao-style saber and tri-daggers. The members of the Special Forces Team all brandished their Liao-style sabers and tri-daggers with great vigor, their shouts full of momentum. Chu Jins eyes were filled with interest when he saw this. It wasnt until he saw Huang Fei leading the group to practice two rounds of the saber techniques that he turned to Qin Xiaoyao, visibly excited. Is this the Liao-style saber technique you mentioned before? Every move of this technique was extremely treacherous, so it was no wonder they could unleash such a formidable effect. Qin Xiaoyao followed Chu Jins gaze into the distance and looked at Huang Fei and the rest. She smiled and nodded. Theyre all pretty good. They learn and put into practice quite quickly. Chu Jins eyes flickered. Teacher, do you mind teaching this saber technique to the army? If everyone in my army can learn this saber technique, wouldnt every soldier in my army be able to rake on ten people at once? The Special Forces Team was only formed just yesterday. Just one Liao-style saber technique could improve thebat effectiveness of the Special Forces Team members so much. If the entire army was equipped with this skill, why would he still worry about not being able to defend Yellow Flower Town? In fact, if they fought their way out, it might even be possible for them to take back a few more cities.. Chapter 309 - 309: Military Merit Chapter 309: Military Merit Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Qin Xiaoyao nced at the excited Chu Jin and smiled helplessly. I dont mind if the technique is taught to outsiders. After all, the saber technique has already been passed on to the Special Forces Team, so its considered as having been passed on to you. But 1 dont rmend that you do that, she said. Oh? Chu Jin was puzzled. Qin Xiaoyaos gaze swept across the Special Forces Team members, and then she looked at Chu Jin again. The Liao-style saber technique is extremely vicious. It is the ying de method. It has higher requirements for the user. Its not suitable for everyone. This is also the reason the Special Forces Team only has 34 members. Although Huang Fei and the other three had no foundation, they were all desperadoes. Their mental strength and courage were not inferior to some of the ruthless figures in the army. In addition, at that time, she had personally supervised and guided them, so she was able to nurture them to this level. As for the other members, only 30 people were selected from a team of more than 1000 people. One could imagine the ratio of suitable candidates. When she saw Chu Jins look of disbelief, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Colonel Chu, if you dont believe me, you can arrange for a few soldiers to join in the training for a try. However, they will probably only learn its external form and not understand its inner spirit. Not only will they be unable to unleash the saber techniques true might, but the saber wielder may also be exhausted by the saber technique, which will affect his originalbat strength. Chu Jin frowned. Mm-hmm, he responded. Nheless, he was determined to send some candidates to try. Qin Xiaoyao didnt say anything else when she saw his reaction. She then brought Chu Jin to meet everyone on the drill ground. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao and Chu Jin, Huang Fei immediately signaled for everyone to stop their training. Greetings, Colonel Chu! Greetings, Leader! Huang Fei stepped forward and cupped his fists. Greetings, Colonel Chu! Greetings, Leader! The members of the Special Forces Team followed suit. That was right. Everyone was now addressing Qin Xiaoyao as Leader. They had learned this from Huang Fei and his brothers. When Chu Jin heard how the members addressed Qin Xiaoyao, he only nced at her and did not ask anything. Qin Xiaoyao didnt have any intention of exining. She raised her hand to silence the crowd and began to speak. Youve all worked hard for the two consecutive battles yesterday. Before the mission, I promised you that if youpleted the mission, you could im military merits. Now, Ive brought the person who will be awarding you your military merits. Everyone can be rewarded ording to their contributions. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Chu Jin with a smile. Chu Jins expression froze. This was the first time he had been introduced in such a way. Thank you, Colonel Chu! The members of the Special Forces Team had already turned to look at Chu Jin. Under Huang Feis lead, they all cupped their fists at Chu Jin. Chu Jin quickly smiled and raised his hand to indicate everyone could dispense with the formalities. Then, he got the soldier behind him to take out the list of the military merits aplished by the Special Forces Team members that had been counter-checked against the results of cleaning up the battlefieldst night. Then, after saying a few words, he began to read out the military merits. Huang Fei, your kill count is a total of 80 enemiesst night. You have been promoted to the rank of decurion and rewarded with 10 taels of silver. When we return to High Pass Town, you will officially take up this post. Huang Feis face lit up. Yes, Colonel! He hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed. Huang Daqiao, your kill count is a total of 50 enemiesst night. You are promoted to the rank of decurion, and rewarded with 6 taels of silver. When we return to High Pass Town, you will officially take up this post, Chu Jin quickly read out again. Yes, Colonel! Huang Daqiao was also excited and quickly responded. Chu Jin continued to read out the list. In the end, of the 34 members, Huang Fei killed the most. He killed 80 Liao soldiers while the lowest kill count by other members was at least 15. The members of the Special Forces Team received different levels of rewards based on their previous military merits and the results of this battle. Although not everyone was promoted, everyone was rewarded with silver. They might not be able to enjoy the military rank and power for the time being, but they would be able to get the reward money immediately. Furthermore, the rise in sry that came with the promotion would take effect immediately. As for the military merits for the promotion of military ranks, they could be umted. The soldier only had to wait for the next time he made a contribution. With enough military merits, he would naturally be promoted. Therefore, the team members were all very happy. Aftermending the Special Forces Team members, Chu Jin said a few words of encouragement to everyone before he went to look at the weapons Qin Xiaoyao had requested for. That was right. They were going to look at the tri-daggers and arm crossbows. The workshop had worked all night and made 20 more tri-daggers, 10 arm crossbows, and some crossbow bolts. Qin Xiaoyao already had enough military tri-daggers, and the extra 20 were requested by Liu Hong to be given to Chu Jin and the other officers. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop him back then. As for the arm crossbows and crossbow bolts, the Special Forces Team itself was short of these items, so she wasnt prepared to give them to other people. Chu Jin picked up a tri-dagger and examined it. After scrutinizing the item, he said, This tri-dagger looks quite unique. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. The key is that its useful. Then, she exined to Chu Jin the advantages of a tri-dagger over a dagger. After listening to Qin Xiaoyaos exnation, Chu Jin was filled with admiration inwardly. In the past, he only knew that Teacher Qins martial arts skills were unparalleled, but he didnt realize that her understanding and insight into weapons were so profound too. It wasnt an exaggeration to say that her expertise was at the master level. A tri-dagger is as convenient to carry as a dagger. It can be pulled out at a critical moment to give the enemy a fatal strike. Its the best choice for killing and saving lives at crucial moments. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly lifted her leg. Then, with lightning speed, she pulled out a tri-dagger from her boot. Just as Chu Jin reacted, Qin Xiaoyao had already pointed the tri-dagger at his face, making him so terrified that his face turned pale. Qin Xiaoyao smiled when she saw his reaction. Only then did she put away the tri-dagger. See? If you were an enemy, you would have lost your life already, she said with augh. Chu Jin forced himself to calm down and suppressed the fear in his heart. He returned Qin Xiaoyao a trace of a smile. If Teacher Qin has the intention to kill me, 1 will not be able to escape even if 1 am prepared. However, he didnt antagonize her, did he? Was it fun to suddenly scare him like this? Qin Xiaoyao smiled and toyed with the tri-dagger in her hand. She didnt refute him. I dont have any other intentions. 1 just want to tell you, Colonel Chu, that this thing is quite useful to use as a hidden weapon, she said somewhat slyly. Chu Jin was astonished. He suddenly thought of something. Then, a trace of excitement shed across his eyes. Just as quickly, it disappeared. These tri-daggers He looked at Qin Xiaoyao. The members of the Special Forces Team already have one each, and these extra ones were made by the workshop at Liu Hongs request for you and your officers, Colonel Chu. You can take one for yourself, Qin Xiaoyao said magnanimously. The Second Prince had treated her and her husband well. After this, she still had to ask him for help. This time, she would just treat it as doing him a favor at no cost. A tri-dagger was much more useful than a dagger. If it was given to secret bodyguards or assassins, wouldnt it be more efficient for his subordinates to carry out missions in the future? She didnt believe that the Second Prince only had soldiers and not those special subordinates. Chu Jins face lit up. Thank you very much, Teacher Qin! He cupped his fists at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao waved her hand, gesturing for Chu Jin to not stand on ceremony. She then brought up the matter that she had taught the Special Forces Team some tactics for deploying the tri-dagger. If Colonel Chu is interested, you can also send people to learn from that group of fellows. If the tri-dagger is used well, it is possible to turn defeat into victory at the critical moment. It might even be possible to kill the opponent. This was especially true for assassins.. Chapter 310 - 310: Tri-daggers and Arm Crossbows Chapter 310: Tri-daggers and Arm Crossbows Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion She felt that even though she did not say it explicitly, her hint was obvious. Chu Jin should know what she meant. Thank you, Teacher! Chu Jin thanked her again. He was extremely excited. Of course, he knew what Qin Xiaoyao meant. He also knew that although this person had not agreed to serve the Second Prince, her heart was already inclined towards the Second Prince. This was the best thing. Youre wee, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Then, she looked at the arm crossbow. After that, she took out a crossbow bolt to test the arm crossbow. The arm crossbow that she had designed could fire ten crossbow bolts in a row. The arm crossbow was light in design, and together with the ten crossbow bolts, thebined weight was controlled to be within five pounds. With this weight, it would have a limited impact on the soldiers performance if attached to the arms of well-trained soldiers. If the soldier trained for a long period, he could even achieve a state where he waspletely unaffected by this extra weight. Compared to the tri-daggers, which was a close-range weapon, the arm crossbow could be used in both close-range and long-rangebat. In this era of cold weapons, thebination of this treasure and the tri-dagger was simply a killerbo! Under Chu Jins curious gaze, Qin Xiaoyao quickly loaded up an arm crossbow. She then raised her arm crossbow and shot at an archery target not far away. A crossbow bolt immediately flew out and hit the center of the target. Before Chu Jin could even cheer, the second bolt flew out. Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Following that, a total of ten bolts were shot out consecutively. The short crossbow bolts all hit the bullseye of the target in a densely packed cluster. Chu Jin was dumbfounded. She only needed to pull the trigger, and she could shoot an arrow without drawing on a bowstring to store energy? Furthermore, she was able to fire ten shots in a row? Not only that, but the arrows that were shot out seemed to be quite lethal in terms of damage dealt. Teacher Chu Jins voice was filled with excitement. Qin Xiaoyao put down her arm crossbow and turned to smile at Chu Jin. Colonel Chu, do you want to try? she asked. Chu Jin was astounded and quickly nodded. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao guide Chu Jin on how to load the arm crossbow. After the preparations wereplete, she stepped back to let him do a test shoot. Chu Jin followed Qin Xiaoyaos instructions and gently pulled the trigger Then, a scene that startled him happened. The bolt that was loaded into the crossbow swiftly flew out of the rail groove and into the target on the opposite side. Although he didnt hit the bullseye directly like Qin Xiaoyao, he could see that the crossbow bolt that was shot out dealt quite a powerful blow. Without waiting for Qin Xiaoyaos instructions, Chu Jin adjusted his posture and pulled the trigger again. Then, the second crossbow bolt also shot out Then, the third, the fourth There were ten bolts in total. After shooting all the crossbow bolts in the arm crossbow, Chu Jin was not in a hurry to talk to Qin Xiaoyao. Instead, he ran to the target to check out the result. When he realized that every crossbow bolt he shot was embedded deeply enough, Chu Jin waspletely convinced. This arm crossbow was too amazing! If such a weapon could be used in the army, it would definitely greatly improve thebat ability of the soldiers. Teacher! This this arm crossbow You you really are a God! Chu Jin held the arm crossbow and walked back to Qin Xiaoyao before bowing deeply to her. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled. What God? Im not the one who invented this thing, she said. Chu Jin was astonished. Oh. I just happened to see it in a book. Qin Xiaoyao gave a convenient excuse at thest minute. Of course, she had never read such a book, but in the early days of the apocalypse, the weapons she used were arm crossbows and tri-daggers. At that time, these two weapons were as close to her as her left and right arms, so it would be strange if she didnt know their construction. Chu Jin did not doubt her and quickly asked, Oh? What kind of book is it? Is it still around? Are there any other weapons recorded on it? Its gone. At that time, 1 just casually flipped through it a few times and noted down the tri-dagger and the arm crossbow. I dont have any impression of anything else, Qin Xiaoyao replied indifferently. Chu Jin was visibly disappointed instantly. Thats a pity, he said regretfully. Qin Xiaoyaoughed again. Theres nothing to feel pity about. If these two weapons are used well, they can perform many tasks. Chu Jin thought for a while and nodded. This arm crossbow is meant for the Special Forces Team members. Every member will get one and it will be attached to his arm and loaded with ten crossbow bolts. At critical moments, it can also save lives. Of course, it could also kill people. With the arm crossbows, thebat ability of the Special Forces Team members would be even stronger. At that juncture, each member would truly be able to fight against more than twenty people. Furthermore, once he familiarized himself with the use of the Liao-style saber, the tri-dagger, and the arm crossbow, and was able to use these three weapons interchangeably with flexibility, his individualbat capability would be even greater. Chu Jin nodded. Although this arm crossbow is light, its destructive power is not small. In my opinion, ordinary soldiers should be able to use it, he continued. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Chu Jin. They can use them, but theres no need for them to do that. When she saw Chu Jin looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Firstly, the production of the arm crossbow is cumbersome. The workshops production speed is too slow and cant meet the demand if its too excessive. Secondly, the shooting range of this thing is far inferior to that of a regr bow and arrow. In arge-scale battle, the bow and arrow are more suitable. Qin Xiaoyao added when she saw Chu Jin frowning, However, you can also choose some candidates to form a crossbow team. Its specialized in dealing withrge groups of enemies that suddenly approach. After killing a wave of the enemy, arrange for the crossbow unit to retreat and send another team to fight with the enemy in closebat. Chu Jin thought for a while and nodded. He felt that Qin Xiaoyaos suggestion was very feasible. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Chu Jin again with a smile. However, the prerequisite is that the arm crossbows and bolts produced by the workshop must first satisfy the needs of our Special Forces Team. Chu Jinughed at this point. Naturally. At the same time, he muttered in his heart, Seems like this arm crossbow can also be used by His Highness secret bodyguards and assassins. At noon, the workshop delivered some more arm crossbows and crossbow bolts. Qin Xiaoyao checked the weapons and distributed them to the members of the Special Forces Team after she found that there was sufficient quantity. Then, she began to teach everyone how to use the arm crossbow, after which she allowed them to practice. After the team members received the arm crossbows and tested them, they were all extremely happy. They couldnt wait to go on a mission at once and kill the Liao soldiers again. Qin Xiaoyao only said that there would be plenty of opportunities in the future, so everyone should get used to fighting with arm crossbows quickly. Although the arm crossbow, including the ten crossbow bolts, weighed less than five pounds, the user would still need time to get used to the five pounds of extra weight on his arm. The Special Forces Team members all responded eagerly. After putting on the arm crossbows, they never took them off again. At the same time, many Liao soldiers had gathered outside of Yellow Flower Town once more. They were present at both the North Town and South Town. And their numbers were even greater than before. There were more than four thousand troops in North Town alone. There were fewer people in South Town, but the estimated number was no less than 2000. On the North Gate Tower, Qin Xiaoyao and Chu Jin looked at therge number of Liao soldiers stationed outside the town and felt very troubled. The Liao army has mobilized most of the nearby troops to encircle and annihte us, Qin Xiaoyao said as she narrowed her eyes. They were smart. They didnt send only a few hundred people like yesterday. Otherwise, she would definitely devour them without any hesitation.. Chapter 311 - 311: Another Large Batch of Liao Soldiers Arrived Chapter 311: Another Large Batch of Liao Soldiers Arrived Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Now that there were so many people, it wasnt so easy for Qin Xiaoyao to make a move. Mm-hmm, Chu Jin responded with a frown. The enemys forces are several times bigger than ours. After this Although they had the geographical advantage, he was afraid that they would not be able to defend the town if the other party attacked by force. Well deal with them using appropriate measures as and when they attack. If they want to attack, well defend. If they simply squat outside the town to wait Qin Xiaoyao suddenly paused. Then what should we do? Chu Jin asked. Then well send the Special Forces Team out for a walk. Well kill as many as we can. Its best if we can kill them until theyre scared and their morale drops, she said in a low voice. Chu Jins face froze momentarily. Then, he nodded. That was one way to go about it. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Chu Jin and patted his shoulder. Dont be too nervous. Although I burned arge amount of food rations in Yellow Flower Town, there are still some left. There are even more provisions left. If you use these supplies to defend the town, they can stille in very useful. The Liao army hase from far away. They dont have enough food rations and provisions. Even if they have more people than us, it wont be that easy for them to take down the town. Chu Jin nodded. He agreed with this reasoning. After checking out the situation outside the town with Qin Xiaoyao for a while, he left. Colonel Qin Just as Chu Jin left, Liu Hong came forward. She could tell from Liu Hongs expression that he was worried. Just do what you have to do, she said in a low voice. Yes, Colonel! Liu Hong answered and did not say anything else. Qin Xiaoyao stood on the town gate tower and looked into the distance. She looked for a while longer before leaving. After descending from the town gate tower, she didnt go far. She ate at a ce very close to the North Towns gate tower. After eating, she returned to the North Towns gate tower and asked about the defense of the town. After confirming that all the defensive weapons were in ce, she personally took charge of the town gate tower. Minutes and seconds passed by, and the sun began setting. Evening was approaching. Cooking smoke appeared from the campsite of the Liao army. They had already started fires to cook. It seemed that the battle would not break out before dark. However, Qin Xiaoyao did not rx. She only allowed the soldiers to take turns to eat while she continued to guard the town gate tower. Night soon fell in Yellow Flower Town. It was still quiet outside the town. Qin Xiaoyao was still standing guard on the town gate tower at 10 pm when someone finally arrived from South Town. He was a messenger sent by Chu Jin. Colonel Qin. That messenger stepped forward and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. You may dispense with the formalities, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Whats the situation on Colonel Chus end? she asked immediately. Nothing is happening. Colonel Chu asked me toe over to ask you, Colonel Qin. Can you send the Special Forces Team out of the town and disrupt the enemy campsite in South Town? the messenger said. The Liao army did not make any move for a long time, and no one knew what they were thinking. If this continued, the soldiers would be under a lot of pressure. At this juncture, unleashing the Special Forces Team to go out of the town to embark on a killing wave could also startle the Liao army and increase the confidence of the Jin soldiers. Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows. Well She was a little hesitant. Last night, she led the Special Forces Team out of the town twice in a row and made great military achievements. However, in both attacks, some of the Liao soldiers escaped. The Liao army that rushed over today definitely knew what happenedst night. She was a little worried that she would be asking for trouble if she attacked the enemy rashly. Is there anything wrong? the messenger quickly asked. Mm-hmm. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Im a little worried that the reason they didnt attack the town was to set a trap. They wanted me to lead the Special Forces Team into the trap at night. The messengers expression changed at once. Then you must not go out! he immediately said. The Special Forces Team was their trump card. If they were to be injured, the consequences would be unimaginable. Qin Xiaoyao gave a nce at the messenger. After thinking for a while, she said, Go back and inform Colonel Chu that the Special Forces Team will be deployed tonight. But the time and ce will be decided by me. Just inform him to guard the South Gate well. The messenger was surprised. Yes, Colonel! He quickly cupped his hands and left after that. Qin Xiaoyao withdrew her gaze and once again looked at the Liao armys camp that was lit up in the night. After a long while, she said to the people beside her, Go to the camp of the Special Forces Team and ask everyone to have a good rest. Well take action at 0500 hours. Yes, Colonel! Someone immediately went to deliver her message. Qin Xiaoyao stood there for a while longer before making her way down the town gate tower to rest. She also needed to rest and conserve her energy. Sure enough, thetter half of the night was peaceful. Qin Xiaoyao woke up on time before 5 am. After washing her face with cold water, she went to the town gate tower. After a while, all the Special Forces Team members arrived. Every one of them was equipped with a Liao-style saber and dressed in night-travel clothing that was very conducive for hiding in the dark. The target of this mission is the Liao armys campsite outside our North Town. There are no less than 4000 people on the enemys side. We cant kill them all with just the few of us. Therefore, the purpose of your mission this time is to create chaos and buy me time. 111 find a way to get rid of the enemys great general and throw them into chaos before theyunch their attack after dawn. As soon as she said that, the team members were all shocked. After exchanging looks with each other, they all bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Yes, Leader! They responded in unison. If it was an ordinary person, they would definitely not be at ease to let their Leader go after the enemysmander alone. However, they were talking about their Leader, a god-like figure. They believed that she would definitely be able to do it. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. For this mission, we will still split up into small groups and coordinate our movements. The duration of action will be half an hour after we enter the Liao armys campsite. After half an hour, no matter what the situation is, all of you must retreat, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Yes, Leader! The team members answered again. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao nod and give the order. Lets move out! The group of people was like leopards in the dark night, and they quickly melded into the darkness. Outside the town, in the Liao armys campsite. The situation was indeed as Qin Xiaoyao had suspected. The Liao army, both in the north and south of the town, had set up a trap to lure Qin Xiaoyaos Special Forces Team in order to get rid of them. This was especially so for the southern part of the town. There were fewer Liao soldiers there, and the other party felt that their campsite would be more attractive to Qin Xiaoyao, so their trap was more well-prepared. Unfortunately, Qin Xiaoyao didnt take the bait. Or rather, she didnt take the bait at the right time. At this point, the Liao army in the north that was lying in ambush had been on high alert for one whole night and was very tired. In addition, the sky was almost bright, and many people felt that the Special Forces Team would probably note, so they were even morecent. However, right at this moment, Qin Xiaoyao came with her men. Under the cover of the remaining darkness, the members of the Special Forces Team easily sneaked into the Liao armys campsite. As the traps that had been set up were not very clever, and the people lying in ambush in the dark were in low spirits, the traps did not have any effect at all. Instead, the people who were holding fort at the trap were yanked out by the Special Forces Team members one by one, and they were all taken care of without a sound. After dealing with the people hiding in ambush, the Special Forces Team members sessfully sneaked into the camp. One tent after another, they began to harvest the souls of those sleeping Liao soldiers. With each raise of the hand and fall of the saber, it was as easy as chopping melons and slicing vegetables. Of course, such arge-scale massacre could not be kept a secret for long. Very soon, some Liao soldiers discovered that something was wrong and started to make a ruckus. However, the Special Forces Team didnt panic. Since their presence was already exposed, they might as welle out into the open and brazenly kill more viciously and swiftly. At the same time, they would attract the attention of the Liao soldiers away from their Leader.. Chapter 312 - 312: Who Was Keeping Who Back Chapter 312: Who Was Keeping Who Back Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion That was right. Qin Xiaoyao had already sneaked into the inner perimeter of the Liao army campsite and was looking for the tent of the Liao armys Great General. Iler speed was extremely fast, and her figure was like a phantom, shuttling between the tents without anyone noticing. Qin Xiaoyao knew that the Special Forces Team had been exposed when she heard the battle cries from behind. She increased the speed of her search. Right at this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. She saw a few peopleing out of arge tent in front of her. The man in the lead was wearing the uniform of the Liao armys general, and it was more exquisite than the regr generals uniform. Thinking that the other party was very likely to be the person she was looking for, Qin Xiaoyao quickly approached him. Soon, she was close enough to hear what the other party was saying. Hmph! Just in time! Deputy Vanguard General, take my archery team. We must make sure that those Jin people do not leave this ce alive! The mans arrogant voice soon rang out. Yes, Great General! The man who was the Deputy Vanguard General immediately answered. Just as he was about to leave, he was stopped by the earlier man. Wait a minute The Deputy Vanguard General quickly stopped, turned around, and saluted the first man. Great General he spoke up. If that particr Jin man they mentioned appears,e back and report immediately. Yes, Great General! Following this, the Deputy Vanguard General left. Immediately after that, the Liao army generals beside the first man began to talk to him. Someone was urging the man to hide himself to avoid the possible appearance of that Jin States god of massacre. Others advised the man to send more archers to support and ensure that all the iing Jin people who attacked were killed. Among these generals, Qin Xiaoyaos sharp eyes even noticed a familiar face. It was the leader of the Liao army who had escaped from her in the southern part of the townst night. From the moment he started to speak, he had been describing how terrifying the god of massacre of the Jin State was. He strongly advised that man not to show himself. As a result, some of the Liao army generals looked at him with contempt. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, was very pleased to hear this. She quite liked this persons evaluation of her. When she heard the phrases loathsome manyer, god of massacre, and so on, she felt it was such high praise for herself! Unfortunately, it still did not change the fact that she was going to kill himter. It was not just his life alone. She intended to take the lives of all the people opposite her. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao quickly took out a bunch of flying needles. Then, after injecting some special ability force, she shot the flying needles out. Protect the Great General someone quickly shouted when several people fell to the ground. Immediately, arge number of Liao soldiers dashed out from the surroundings, shielding that man and many of the Liao generals in an encirclement. Qin Xiaoyao didnt hide herself anymore. She leaped up and shot out a bunch of flying needles again. Then, as the flying needles went shooting out, there was another wave of wretched screams. At the same time, Qin Xiaoyao had already shed her way through to the front of that group of people. Her Liao-style saber was like the scythe of the god of death, harvesting the souls one by one. Retreat! Hurry up! Protect the Great General and retreat! someone eximed in fright. You guys go and block him! someone else shouted. In an instant, many Liao soldiers swarmed toward Qin Xiaoyao. However, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were fixed on the great general of the Liao army and the other Liao army generals beside him. It was as if the eyes of the god of death had locked onto them, sending waves of fear through those peoples bodies. Where do you think you are running to? Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao yelled out sternly. At the same time, she brandished the long spear that she had seized from someone at some point and quickly annihted a swathe of Liao soldiers who were blocking her way. Thereafter, taking advantage of this gap that had opened up, she shot out another shower of flying needles. Arge group of Liao soldiers fell. Three of the generals of the Liao army who could not hide in time were also hit. The Liao armys great general waspletely aghast. Quick! Shield me as I retreat! he shouted loudly. Quick! Stop him! Great General, follow me! The army leader who had escaped from Qin Xiaoyaost night shouted. At the same time, he shielded the Liao armys great general and continued to retreat to the back. At this point, among the generals of the Liao army who were standing by the great generals side, he was the only one still alive. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but sigh. This guys luck was quite good. However, no matter how good his luck was, it was going to end today. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes turned chilly. She swept away the Liao soldiers that blocking her way and continued to pursue. She eyed the right moment before stepping on the shoulders and heads of the Liao soldiers and swiftly dashed forward As a result, her speed became even faster. Very soon, the two people who were being pursued slipped back into her attack range again. The corner of her mouth curled up into a cruel smile, and she shot out another wave of flying needles. This time, she finally seeded The Liao armys great general and that army leader who had been desperately running for their lives just now instantly stiffened their bodies. Then, to the shock of the people around them, they fell down. Great General Great General! Numerous exmations rang out. Hahahaha! Today, 1, Qin Xiaoyao, have killed yourmander! You guys are still not going to surrender? Upon seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly burst outughing. Her voice was extremely loud and spread far and wide. The Liao soldiers, who were still fighting with the Special Forces Team members, instantly start to waver. At the same time, those Liao soldiers who were rushing over immediately started to think about retreating when they heard these words. Their great general had been killed. In other words, their highest-rankingmander was gone. What should they do next? Some of the Special Forces Team members also heard Qin Xiaoyaosughter and hollered out as well. Colonel Qin has already beheaded yourmander! Arent you going to surrender? Colonel Qin killed the Liao armysmander! Colonel Qin is mighty! Colonel Qin is invincible! Colonel Qin killed the Liao armysmander single-handedly! For a while, all kinds of voices reverberated throughout the Liao armys campsite. The Liao army was terrified when they heard them. At the same time, the Special Forces Team members fought even more viciously, forcing the Liao army to retreat repeatedly. When they saw that the half-hour time limit Qin Xiaoyao set was up, some people were so engrossed in killing that they almost didnt retreat in time. Fortunately, there were still people on the team who were still clear-headed and quickly called out to their own team members. Then, they quickly retreated from the Liao armys campsite. On Qin Xiaoyaos side, she continued to yrge numbers of Liao soldiers. When she realized that the time was almost up, she also chose to retreat. At this moment, the Deputy Vanguard General who had left earlier rushed back. Hemanded the Liao soldiers from afar, trying to hold Qin Xiaoyao back. However, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt afraid at all. She continued to wave the spear in her hand and used her actions to terrorize the Liao soldiers. By the time she retreated to the edge of the Liao armys campsite, the Liao soldiers no longer dared to go near Qin Xiaoyao. This god of massacre would kill anyone who got close to her. Countless of theirrades had died, but they hadnt even touched his hair. Go! Hold him back! Go now! The Deputy Vanguard General hollered angrily from the rear. The Liao soldiers surrounding Qin Xiaoyao charged at her again when they heard the order. Qin Xiaoyao swept across the battlefield once again, ying yet anotherrge swathe of people. At the same time, Qin Xiaoyao leaped up and shot an icy gaze in the direction of the Deputy Vanguard General. The Deputy Vanguard Generals face turned pale when his eyes met this gaze. Thereafter, he saw that Qin Xiaoyao didnt continue to retreat to the outside. Instead, she turned around and stepped on the Liao soldiers heads as she dashed toward him! The Deputy Vanguard Generals eyes widened, and his first thought was to escape. Quick! Stop him! As he shouted, he turned around and fled. The Liao soldiers continued to pursue Qin Xiaoyao, but she was not in a hurry. She slew more Liao soldiers while going after the Deputy Vanguard General. She wanted to see who would be the one to hold who back. Qin Xiaoyao timed herself and seized the right time before suddenly pulling out her tri-dagger.. Chapter 313 - 313: The Person Who Died Was Xiao Yuan’s Grandson Chapter 313: The Person Who Died Was Xiao Yuans Grandson Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Then, the tri-dagger shot toward the Deputy Vanguard General who was fleeing. The tri-dagger tore through the air and quickly stabbed into the back of the Deputy Vanguard Generals head. The Deputy Vanguard General of the Liao army, who was still fleeing moments earlier, copsed just like that. Qin Xiaoyao was overjoyed when she saw this. Then, she roared out loudly, The Deputy Vanguard General is dead! You guys still want to resist? As soon as she said that, many Liao soldiers started to flee in panic. Qin Xiaoyao didnt care about the fleeing soldiers. She turned around and walked toward the outside of the campsite. The Liao army had lost theirmander and arge number of generals and was utterly routed and dispersed. The danger faced by North Town was considered resolved. When she rushed back to the town, it was already dawn. The Jin States army was waving banners and cheering from the top of the town gate tower, weing Qin Xiaoyaos return. This battle made Qin Xiaoyao famous. The name Qin Xiaoyao had be the Liao armys nightmare. Chu Jin personally came from the south of the town to receive Qin Xiaoyao. He expressed his admiration and gratitude. The Liao army at the north of the town has been defeated and the soldiers have fled. The army in the south of the town has to go after the fleeing soldiers and bring them back to stabilize the morale of the army. They dont have the time to give us trouble for the time being. It was also because of this that he dared to leave the southern part of the town toe and check on the situation in the north. Mm-hmm. This is a good oue, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Its a pity that the difference in numbers between them and us is too great. We werent able topletely annihte the Liao army outside the town. Sigh This present oue is already very good. The effect is better when we cripple them and make them fearful, shaking their morale thoroughly than to kill them all. Haha! Its better to give the Liao army in the south of the town something to do than to let them keep an eye on us all the time! Chu Jin said with augh. The current predicament of the Liao army was more tenuous than theirs. At least they were in the town, so they didnt have to worry about food supply for a while. However, the Liao army had no food rations. Secondly, theirmander had been killed, and there were many deserters. No matter which of these two things happened, it was enough to give the surviving generals of the Liao army a big headache. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and felt that it made sense. Thats true. Chu Jinughed heartily again. Haha! Dont think about the Liao scumbags for the time being. Teacher, since you have made another great contribution, Ill treat you to a good meal! he said. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Chu Jin with a smile and cupped her hands in thanks. Then I have to thank Colonel Chu! This is what I should do, what 1 should! The two of them chatted andughed as they walked into the heart of the town. They went to a restaurant, drank copious wine, and ate plenty of meat. They had a carefree good time. Qin Xiaoyao was even more pleased when she learned that the army had also arranged good food for the Special Forces Team. All the Special Forces Team members who had participated in the mission were also given their rightful military merits. Teacher, your Special Forces Team is a real treasure. Its a pity that theres only one team. If theres another team like this, even if its just one more, I wont be afraid even if the Liao army sends another 2000 more people! Chu Jin raised his wine cup and said to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao raised her cup and clinked it with Chu Jins. This is nothing! Because time was too tight, they could only disy this little ability. We need ample time to give them more training. Give me two more months, and theirbat strength will at least double. And if you have enough people, it wont be difficult to form a few more teams. Use the ratio of one in a hundred as your selection criterion. Chu Jins eyes lit up when he heard that. Thebat strength can be doubled? Now, each Special Forces Team member could almost fight against a dozen or even twenty people single-handedly. How powerful would each member be if hisbat strength was doubled? Also, regarding the issue of choosing one out of a hundred to gather new members to form a new Special Forces Team He didnt have many subordinates, but the Second Prince had many. After he returned, it was entirely possible for him to advise the Second Prince to form more of such teams. This kind of elite squad was truly a mass killing weapon. The results would be surprisingly good if these members carried out some key missions. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Its the same physical training I taught your men before. They will also be given specialized training for the Liao-style saber, arm crossbow, and tri-dagger. Practice makes perfect. After mastering these skills, theirbat strength will naturally increase rapidly. In addition, each team will also be divided into small groups. The team members eat and live together, train and carry out missions together, and they can cooperate seamlessly with each other. In this way, when we take action, thebat ability of the small groups, or even the entire team, will be stronger. Chu Jin nodded as he listened. Teacher, the way you set up the Special Forces Team makes a lot of sense! he said with certainty. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Indeed! she replied without any modesty. Haha! Chu Jinughed heartily and filled Qin Xiaoyaos cup again. He really loved Qin Xiaoyaos temperament very much, albeit in a brotherly manner. Considering that there was still the threat of Liao soldiers outside the town, the two of them stopped drinking after a while. Teacher, please return to the camp to rest first. When the crisis in Yellow Flower Town ispletely resolved, I, Chu Jin, will drink with you until Im dead drunk! Chu Jin was really looking forward to the arrival of this day. After Qin Xiaoyaos sess, he was now very confident of his troops ability to defend Yellow Flower Town. Alright! Qin Xiaoyao answered with a smile. Only then did she leave. When she returned to the tent, the woman fell asleep immediately. She slept all the way until night and was woken up by hunger. After she got up, Qin Xiaoyao first sent someone to prepare some food. After a full meal, she asked about the situation outside the town. She learned that the Liao army in the north of the town had all retreated and that the troops in the south of the town had increased from 2000 to 4000. Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised. She suddenly thought of something and asked, The additional 2000 people are from the north of the town? Thats right! Liu Hong replied. After the Liao army in the north of the town suffered a setback, the south of the town reacted very quickly. They took in the Liao soldiers from the north of the town. However, ording to the reports of our spies, the Liao army in the north of the town was scared out of their wits. Furthermore, because they were under different superiors previously, they were not that willing to listen to the orders of the Liao army in the south after they arrived. I guess thats probably the reason the army at the south of the town didnt attack today. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but smile. It was indeed just as Chu Jin had said. The generals who were killed in the north of the town seem to have higher ranks than those in the south? Qin Xiaoyao asked in a good mood. Thats right! Liu Hong replied with a smile. Weve just received news that the Liao armys Great General you killedst night was Xiao Tu. He was actually the grandson of the Liao States Supreme Commander Xiao Yuan. Xiao Tu was a great general of the Liao State and had aplished many achievements. In addition, he is Xiao Yuans grandson, so his prestige in the Liao army is extremely high. Colonel Qin, when you personally killed this guy, the shock to the Liao army was extraordinary. Oh? The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up in a smile of surprise. Xiao Tu? This was the first time she had heard of this name. However, she had heard of the name Xiao Yuan many times. It was said that he was the Liao States God of War. He had led troops to attack other states many times, especially the Great Jin State. In the past ten years, the Great Jin State had suffered quite a lot due to this character. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaos reaction, Liu Hong smiled and continued, Now that Xiao Tu has been killed by you, the news will probably reach Xiao Yuans ears very soon, Colonel Qin. Colonel Chu surmised that it is not that the Liao soldiers in the south of the town do not want to retreat, but that they dare not. Theyre worried that if they retreat, they will anger their Supreme Commander. At that point, they cant afford to bear the consequences.. Chapter 314 - 314: Seemed to Have Gotten Into Trouble Chapter 314: Seemed to Have Gotten Into Trouble Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Hong andughed even more merrily. In that case I seemed to have gotten into trouble? Although she put forth this question, her tone was very rxed, without any trace of worry or fear. Liu Hongughed in amusement again. Indeed, it is so. He felt that the more he interacted with Qin Xiaoyao, the easier it was for him to be convinced by her character. Then, do you think Xiao Yuan will personallye to settle the score with me? Qin Xiaoyao asked with a smile. I dont think so. After all, the Second Prince is personally guarding High Pass Town. Xiao Yuan probably wont be able to enter, Liu Hong replied with a smile. Then is it possible that after knowing that his grandson is dead, he wille charging here regardless of the consequences? Hey, does Xiao Yuan have any other grandchildren? Qin Xiaoyao asked again. Liu Hong finally stopped smiling. It seems like he only has one grandson, he said with a grave expression. Xiao Yuan is also the father-inw of the Liao States Emperor. The Empress of the Liao State is his daughter. In other words, Xiao Tu would be able to address the Emperor of the Liao State as Cousin. Now, the eldest grandson of the Xiao n, and the only male descendant, had been killed. If Xiao Yuan really sent troops recklessly, would the Liao State stop him? If the Liao State didnt stop him, would the Second Prince be able to stop his troops? Hmm, is his background that influential? Qin Xiaoyao pursed her lips and said. Her tone was still rxed. However, at this moment, Liu Hong was already frowning. The situation seemed to be more serious than he had thought. If Xiao Yuan were to start something, the war between the Liao and the Jin States might not stop. It might even be more intense. Unless Liu Hong couldnt help but look at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao had a bad feeling when she saw Liu Hong looking at her. If things really progressed to that stage, the Great Jin State wont hand me over to appease Xiao Yuans anger, will they? she said half-jokingly. Liu Hong did not reply. Then, the smile on Qin Xiaoyaos face disappeared. Liu Hong quickly bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Dont worry, Colonel Qin. I cant speak for others. But with the Second Prince around, what youre worried about will never happen, he said in a grave voice. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Mm-hmm, she murmured a nomittal reply. She asked Liu Hong a few more questions before dismissing him. After Liu Hong left, Qin Xiaoyao leaned on the desk and started to think. She seemed to have really gotten into trouble this time. However, she figured it shouldnt be a big deal. Worse came to worst, she could just run away when she realized something was wrong. No one would be able to stop her if she wanted to flee. If anyone dared to threaten her with her family, she would just take revenge on them one by one. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyaos heart rxed somewhat. She got up and prepared to go for a walk in the town. Tonight, Yellow Flower Town was very peaceful. Other than the patrolling soldiers on the streets, the civilians almost never came out. When the soldiers saw Qin Xiaoyao, they greeted her one after another. Qin Xiaoyao also waved her hand in response. After walking for a while, Qin Xiaoyao arrived at the South Town Gate. When Chu Jin heard of her arrival, he came out to look for her. Teacher, why are you here? Are you looking for me? Chu Jin said with a smile to Qin Xiaoyao. No, Im not. I just woke up and was strolling around. Are you free, Colonel Chu? Qin Xiaoyao suddenly asked. Chu Jin was surprised. Since Teacher is inviting me, I am naturally free, he quickly said. Qin Xiaoyaos face broke into a smile. If youre free, lets have a drink together. She extended an invitation to him. A look of hesitation shed across Chu Jins eyes. He looked in the direction of the town gate before nodding at Qin Xiaoyao. Alright! Qin Xiaoyao pretended not to see anything and turned to leave. Chu Jin quickly followed. In a small tavern on the street. Qin Xiaoyao downed a few cups of wine in a row, causing Chu Jin to frown. Teacher, did you encounter something that is troubling you? Chu Jin asked when he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was about to drown her sorrows again. Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at Chu Jin. Then, she responded, Mm-hmm. Can you confide in me? Perhaps I can help youe up with some ideas? Qin Xiaoyao looked at Chu Jin again. She thought for a moment before speaking. Im worried about my husband. Chu Jins face froze. Ahem Er when we go to High Pass Town, the Second Prince will definitely agree to help you look for Master Song, he said with some embarrassment. This fellow Teacher Qin really didnt avoid taboo topics with outsiders Qin Xiaoyao nced at Chu Jin. Im just afraid that not only will the Second Prince not help me, but he will also harm my husband, she said. Chu Jin was stunned at once. Why do you think so, Teacher? he immediately asked. Qin Xiaoyao smiled bitterly. He may not do that in the past perhaps. But now, I killed Xiao Tu. Do you think the Second Prince will be able to protect me? Chu Jin frowned and did not answer immediately. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and didnt wait for his reply. Actually, Im not worried about being betrayed, she continued. As long as I dont want to, no one should be able to trap me. But Im worried about my husband. If something happens to him, I might go crazy Maybe 1 will really be a murderous demon and kill anyone I see. After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao poured herself another cup of wine. Chu Jin, who was listening and watching at the side, felt a chill inwardly. He knew that Qin Xiaoyao was not lying. In this world, the person I care about the most is my husband. Just now in the tent, Liu Hong told me Xiao Tus identity. 1 wasnt worried at first. I was thinking that if something really happened, 1 could just run away. If someone threatens me with my family, 111 hide and kill them all to avenge my family. But in the end, Im still scared Im afraid they will harm my husband. I dont even dare to imagine what 1 would do if something happened to my husband. Chu Jin was shocked and did not say a word. To think that Teacher was so deeply in love with Master Song This rotten world! 1 used to think it was good in every way. But now, I just feel that its downright terrible! Without power and influence, one can only be bullied by others and be powerless to resist. My husband is such a good person. Everyone in Mountain Spring Town praised him, but he was captured and sent to the battlefield to fight as an able-bodied person. 1 want to bring him back, but 1 havent been able to contact anyone who can help me. Im actually used to standing on my own feet, and 1 dont often ask for help from others. But I have no choice I cant locate my husband on my own As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, her voice was clearly choking back her tears. And and those refugees I saw along the way. They are innocent too. Its because they have no power or influence. When danger came, they only realized it muchter and could only flee with their entire family. As for those who had power and influence, they had already received the news in advance and left. Even if they didnt leave in time, they had servants and bodyguards, so it would be much safer for them on the way. Qin Xiaoyao didnt value power that much in the past. She felt that it was good enough if she could earn more money for the family to let them lead a well-off life. However, she had forgotten that this was ancient times. Moreover, it was a war-ravaged feudal era. The lower the social status of the people, the more they would be oppressed and the more they would not be able to help themselves. Chu Jins heart shuddered.. Chapter 315 - 315: Luring the Enemy to Attack the Town Chapter 315: Luring the Enemy to Attack the Town Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Teacher, since you dont like to ask for help, why dont you hold the power yourself? As long as the power in your hands is strong enough, why do you still need to ask for help from others? She would not even need to ask the Second Prince for help. Chu Jins words came from the bottom of his heart. It wasnt just to help the Second Prince win over Qin Xiaoyao. It was also a sincere suggestion to a friend in need. In his heart, he felt that Qin Xiaoyao was born to be on the battlefield. She was supposed to shine and achieve great things. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. She lowered her head and didnt reply. Lets take Master Songs matter as an example, Chu Jin continued. If you have a military rank, would the officials from the government office dare to capture Master Song? Qin Xiaoyao still didnt reply. Also, regarding the matter of Xiao Tu. If Teacher is a general in our army, you will hold a high position. Even if Xiao Yuan really wants to settle scores with Teacher for Xiao Tus matter, who in the Jin States Imperial Court will have the guts to suggest using you to appease Xiao Yuans anger? Im afraid that not only will no one dare to give such advice, but everyone will praise Teachers bravery. They will view your killing of Xiao Yuans grandson as having raised the prestige of our Great Jin State. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Its not toote if you change your mind now, Teacher Chu Jin was already looking at Qin Xiaoyao. His eyes were earnest and filled with anticipation. A battle general who had won every battle, as opposed to a meremoner, had apletely different meaning to the Second Prince and the Imperial Court. If she wanted to, she could be a battle general without any problem at all. And he would definitely lend her a hand. Qin Xiaoyao was touched. After a long while, she finally raised her head and looked into Chu Jins eyes. When she saw the sincerity in Chu Jins eyes, Qin Xiaoyao finally nodded. Alright. Chu Jins eyes lit up at once when he heard this. He quickly poured a cup of wine for himself and Qin Xiaoyao. Drink up! he said excitedly. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up. Sure! she responded. Then, the two of them drank to their hearts content until they finished the remaining three jars of wine on the table. After that, the two of them went to the town gate tower in the south of the town. Right now, there are still 4000 Liao soldiers out there. Teacher, since you want to establish a career here, do you have a good n to force the enemy back? Chu Jin pointed in the direction of the Liao armys campsite outside the town and asked Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao looked in the direction of Chu Jins finger. She kept quiet for a moment. Colonel Chu, do you think the Liao army will attack the town tonight? she immediately asked. Chu Jin smiled. Im not sure. However, I do hope that they will attack. After all, he had made ample preparations over the past two days. Even if the Liao troops outnumbered his army, he still had defensive weapons. In addition, the entire army was united. With Teacher Qin and the Special Forces Team members, the probability of the Liao army taking down the town gate tower was not high. On the contrary, they could take the opportunity to destroy many Liao soldiers. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head to look at Chu Jin. Youre very confident, arent you? she asked with a smile. Chu Jin smiled and nodded. Although the other party has many troops, they are not united. Were well prepared, so were not afraid. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Thats true. After pondering for a while, she added, Since thats the case, why dont we force them to attack the town? What do you think? Teacher, you have a good n? Chu Jins eyes lit up. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled. It cant be considered a good n. Why dont I tell you and you hear me out first? Id be delighted to hear more! Chu Jins eyes were filled with anticipation. If they dont attack, Ill bring the Special Forces Team members out. Well kill a few hundred troops, then pretend to be injured and run towards the town gate to lure them to pursue us. In order to capture or get rid of Xiao Tus murderer, which is me, the other party will most likely pursue us and then seize the opportunity to attack the town. At that point, the rest will be up to you. Chu Jin nodded after listening. He felt that the n was highly feasible. In addition, after we enter the town, we will immediately rush to the North Town Gate. Then, I will lead the Special Forces Team and the North Town soldiers out of the town from the North Town Gate and go around to the back of the Liao armys campsite in the south of the town. Well catch them off guard andunch a massacre. If the Liao army attacked the town, in order to ensure sess, they would probably deploy arge portion of their forces up front. As long as the number of Liao soldiers left in the rear was less than 1500, she was confident that she could wipe out all of the Liao soldiers in the enemy camp when the other party was caught off guard. Chu Jins eyes suddenly lit up. He eximed excitedly, What a brilliant n! Teacher, you are indeed a genius! Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. We need to work together in this battle. You have to guard the town gate well. Otherwise, everything will be for naught. If they lost Yellow Flower Town, even if they destroyed the Liao armys campsite, it was still a defeat for them. Chu Jin nodded. Dont worry. Well defend to the death! he said in a deep voice. A hint of slyness shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. Then, shall we try? she asked with a smile. Haha! Sure! Lets give it a try! Chu Jin replied with augh. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao quickly sent someone to pass on her order. The Special Forces Team members quickly gathered at the South Town Gate. After listening to the instructions of Qin Xiaoyaos mission, they followed her out of the town. After suffering severe losses from the previous attacks by the Special Forces Team, the Liao armys security outside the south of the town was much stricter than before. Even so, many of the sentries on the periphery were still silently killed by the Special Forces Team members. In less time than it took to drink a cup of tea, the Special Forces Teams presence was discovered and the two sides began to fight fiercely. Qin Xiaoyao maintained an exceptionally high-profile. She kept moring that she would kill the new Liao armys great general just like she killed Xiao Tu. The members of the Special Forces Team all echoed her loud taunts. They were like wolves surrounding their alpha wolf leader, moring and ying madly at the same time. The Liao army put up a strong resistance. Even though the great general didnt show himself, arge number of Liao soldiers rushed out to fight with the Special Forces Team. Furthermore, the Liao soldiers that came were very disciplined. There were not only infantrymen but also cavalries and archers. The other party was clearly prepared. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt surprised by this. She continued to lead the Special Forces Team to fight for a while, then deliberately pretended to be weak and feigned injury. Following that, she ordered her team to retreat. When the team retreated, they even intentionally got injured twice. At the same time, Qin Xiaoyao made sure the Special Forces Team members deliberately retreated slowly, giving the impression that their adversaries could easily catch up to them at any time. Sure enough, the Liao soldiers pursued them all the way to the South Town Gate. Quick! Open the town gate! Qin Xiaoyao anxiously shouted to the top of the town wall, making herself out to be very pathetic and in a sorry state. The town gate was quickly opened, allowing Qin Xiaoyao and her team to enter the town. The Liao soldiers who were pursuing the Special Forces Team also arrived soon after. When the soldiers on the town gate tower saw that the Liao soldiers hade within their attack range, the archers immediately started shooting. Many of the Liao soldiers at the forefront were shot, and they stopped their advance. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao had already climbed up the South Towns gate tower and looked down at the Liao army that was pursuing her. In particr, one of the leaders of the Liao army caught her attention. Earlier on, this guy was chasing her the most vehemently, moring to capture her alive. Hmph! If you have the guts, then attack the town ande in to capture me, Xiao Tus murderer. After that, you can go to Xiao Yuan to im your reward! Qin Xiaoyao taunted him. The eyes of that Liao armys leader turned icy and menacing. You just wait! he said through gritted teeth. Haha! Great! Ill be waiting here! Youre a son of a bitch if you donte! Qin Xiaoyao burst outughing.. Chapter 316 - 316: Attacking the Base Camp Chapter 316: Attacking the Base Camp Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The expression of the Liao armys leader became even more unpleasant. He almost wanted to give the order to attack the town but was stopped by the people beside him. After a while, he suppressed the anger in his heart and turned his horse around to leave. Upon seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao knew that he was going to ask for permission, so she wasnt in a hurry. She continued to stay on the town gate tower to act as bait. Then, before long, a banner appeared behind the enemys formation. When she saw that the enemys great general had finally shown himself, Qin Xiaoyao knew that her n had worked. She tilted her head and exchanged nces with Chu Jin. Chu Jin was also smiling as he looked forward to what would happen next. Following that, Chu Jin and Qin Xiaoyao did not have to wait long before the Liao armyunched their attack. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt in a hurry to leave. Instead, she led the Special Forces Team to help the soldiers on the South Gate Tower defend the town. The soldiers on the South Gate Tower were fully prepared. In addition, the members of the Special Forces Team were all experts at deploying the crossbows. Practically all their crossbow bolts hit their targets with great lethal precision. The first wave of attack by the Liao army was quickly quelled. After easily devouring more than a hundred enemies, Qin Xiaoyao looked in the direction of the Liao armys great general with a smug look. Tsk! You only sent so few people. Are you trying to fill the gaps between my teeth? Send more! she hollered loudly. Haha! The Jin soldiersughed along with her. The Liao armys morale was visibly shaken. Then, very soon, additional Liao soldiers gathered. The one leading the additional troops was the leader who was chasing Qin Xiaoyao earlier. Dont be so arrogant! Today, 1 will definitely behead you! The leader shouted at Qin Xiaoyao, who was standing at the top of the town gate tower. Qin Xiaoyao, however, was smiling. Haha! Thene and try! Kill him! The army leader said immediately. As soon as he finished speaking, the Liao soldiers behind him quickly rushed forward. Kill! At the same time, the sound of fierce fighting resounded across the sky. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes finally turned grave. This time, the number of people charging forward was much more than before. Moreover, they also had tools for climbing walls and knocking down the town gate. After confirming that the Liao army wasunching a serious attack this time, Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and exchanged nces with Chu Jin. The Jin army began to focus on defending the town. The archery team and trebuchets made their appearance as well. The Liao soldiers below the town walls wailed in anguish as they suffered heavy casualties. Against the orderly defense put up by the Jin army, the Liao armys second wave of attack was still unsessful. Qin Xiaoyao was still on the town gate tower at this juncture. She had no choice as she had to continue to hang around to attract the enemies hatred. What if the Liao army gave up on attacking the town if she were to leave? Qin Xiaoyaoughed out loud as she looked at the army leader who was sitting on a horse not far away. She didnt even need to look to know that the other party was not in a good mood. Haha! Is this all youve got? Then you should go back and rest early! By the way, remember to wash your neck more thoroughly before you go to bed. 1 will bring people to slice through it soon! Haha! Wash your neck clean! The soldiers on the town gate tower echoed her taunt. When that army leader heard this, he almost exploded in rage. He immediately turned his horse around and once again galloped in the direction of the great generals banner. This time, Qin Xiaoyao and the others waited for a longer time. In the end, the Liao army stillunched an attack. This time, it was almost 70% of the Liao army that came. Sounds of fighting that were even more ferocious than before reverberated throughout the field. Qin Xiaoyao and Chu Jin personally directed the battle operations from the town gate tower, instructing the soldiers to repel the attack. The battle this time was visibly more intense than before. The Liao army had many men and was very aggressive. When the troops in front fell, the troops behind took over and continued to fight, row after seamless row. However, the Jin army only had limited troops on the town gate tower. They could only continuously exhaust their physical strength to deal with the attacking Liao army. Qin Xiaoyaomanded from the side for a while before she personally took part in the action as well. At the same time, she signaled to Huang Fei to bring the Special Forces Team to retreat and start splitting up to embark on their mission. That was right. She wasnt going to the north of the town to participate in the follow-up campsite attack. The reason was that there were people watching her from below the town wall, and they were all watching her very closely. She was afraid that her n would fail if she left. Huang Fei didnt waste any time and quickly passed down Qin Xiaoyaos orders. Following that, the Special Forces Team members began to quietly withdraw from the battlefield. The army leader and the others who had been keeping an eye on Qin Xiaoyao didnt notice this at all. As Qin Xiaoyao put in a lot of effort, she was able to stop arge number of Liao soldiers from climbing up the town gate tower single-handedly. She was like a Hercules who did not know fatigue. She could easily lift a huge rock and then smash it down. Or, she could easily break arge number of arrows and then toss them down, killing arge mass of Liao soldiers who were trying to climb up the town gate tower. In short, her actions made the army leader and the other soldiers in the Liao camp extremely angry. Yet, they could do nothing to her. They had also tried to secretly shoot arrows at her, but none of them hit her. Instead, the person who fired the arrow was shot dead by Qin Xiaoyaos arrow. In short, this Jin States god of massacre was truly terrifying and evil. Even so, some people didnt believe in evil forces. Take for example this leader of the Liao army. As he was lucky enough to injure Qin Xiaoyao in the campsite just now, he didnt think she was as terrifying as other people made her out to be. In fact, he even felt that he would be able to capture Qin Xiaoyao with his own hands. Thus, even though the Liao army suffered countless casualties, he still pressed on with the attack on the town. At this point, the Liao army generals were all staring at Qin Xiaoyao on the town gate tower. They saw her as a thorn in their side and wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible. However, they didnt know that the Special Forces Team members had already gone to the north of the town to meet up with the soldiers guarding the North Gate. Thereafter, they organized the troops there and took advantage of the dark night to leave the town gate and outnk the enemys base camp. The majority of the Liao soldiers that were left behind to guard the base camp were not from the Liao army originally stationed in the south of the town. They were soldiers who had been gathered from the north of the town. These Liao soldiers were the very ones who had been scared out of their wits previously by Qin Xiaoyao and the Special Forces Team. The enemys great general had not brought them along and had deliberately left them behind in the rear in order to maintain the morale of the fighting troops. However, now, his seemingly clever n had backfired spectacrly. When the Special Forces Team and the Jin army from the north of the town suddenly attacked the campsite, the Liao army in the base camp fell into chaos very rapidly. In particr, when they saw the Special Forces Team members wielding the Liao-style saber among the ranks of the Jin army, many of them simply chose to flee. When he saw this, Huang Fei and the restughed outrageously. At the same time, they swung their Liao-style saber and harvested a number of unfortunate souls along the way. The morale of the Jin army that came along also rose as a result. They followed the Special Forces Team members to chase and kill the Liao soldiers. The Liao armys base camp swiftly fell into enemy hands. When the mes started to spread at the campsite, the Liao army generals who were attacking the south of the town realized that something was wrong. Some Liao soldiers escaped from the base camp to report to their superiors stationed in the south of the town. However, it was toote when the generals of the Liao army received the news. Their base camp had already been attacked. If they were to bring the rest of the people back, the soldiers attacking the town gate below would definitely all perish. However, if they didnt return, all the people in the base camp would be done for. Damn it! When that army leader heard the news, he was so angry that he cursed at Qin Xiaoyao, who was still on the town gate tower. At the same time, he looked at Qin Xiaoyaos surroundings. Only then did he realize that her subordinates had long disappeared from the town gate tower.. Chapter 317 - 317: What the Evil Side of Society Was Like Chapter 317: What the Evil Side of Society Was Like Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Only now did the army leader realize that Qin Xiaoyaos men had already left. They had even brought men to attack their base camp from behind. The damn people of the Jin State are too treacherous! Qin Xiaoyao was standing on top of the town gate tower. Not surprisingly, she noticed what was happening in the Liao armys base camp. When she saw the fire ring up in the Liao armys base camp, she knew what to do next. Brothers, hang on! The Special Forces Team and our brothers at the north of the town have already burned down the base camp of these Liao scumbags! Qin Xiaoyao suddenly shouted. We will hold on and not let the Liao scumbags enter the town. Wait for our brothers from the north of the town to charge here, then well charge as well in a pincer attack and exterminate this group of Liao scumbags! As soon as she uttered these words, the crowd on the town gate tower became very excited. The Jin soldiers who were already exhausted instantly became energetic and continued to shoot arrows or throw boulders at the hordes at the base of the town gate tower to prevent the Liao army from breaking through the towns defenses. The leader from the Liao army at the base of the town wall had also heard Qin Xiaoyaos words. As a sh of resentment shed across his eyes, he said angrily, The great general has ordered us to break into the town at all costs! The first person to break through the town gate will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and be promoted two ranks! Anyone who captures and kills Colonel Qin Xiaoyao of the Jin army will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold and be promoted three ranks! Charge now! When the soldiers heard the words of that leader, theyunched a fierce attack again. In reality, the Liao army had no other choice at this juncture. If they couldnt break through the town as soon as possible, they might really be caught in a pincer attack, just as Qin Xiaoyao said. At that point, they would be in danger. Not only were the Liao soldiers at the base of the town wall anxious, but the Jin soldiers on the town gate tower were worried as well. As the battle dragged on, the avable defensive tools on the town gate tower were running out. At the same time, everyone was extremely exhausted. After the town gate tower was handed over to Qin Xiaoyao, Chu Jin went to the back to take charge of military supplies. In a situation where the military supplies were insufficient and it was difficult to replenish them for the time being, he finally appeared at the town gate tower. He even informed Qin Xiaoyao of this bad news. Qin Xiaoyaos heart sank when she heard this. If thats the case, Ill leave the town gate tower to you. You lead the soldiers and guard this ce. Kill whoeveres up! Even without the defensive weapons, they still had the geographical advantage. The Liao army had to climb up from below the town wall. As long as the Jin army defended in time, the other party would not be able to climb their way into the town so easily. Then what about you? Chu Jin asked immediately. An icy glint shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. 111 go out of the town and meet them. The decisive battle was about to begin. If she exited the town now, she could kill more Liao soldiers before the Special Forces Team arrived. At the same time, it would also reduce the pressure on her brothers on the town gate tower. Chu Jin instinctively wanted to stop Qin Xiaoyao when he saw the big Liao army amassed below the town gate. However, when the words reached his mouth, he found that he was unable to express them. This was because he knew that this was the best strategy. Thus, Chu Jin said, Then be careful. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao replied. She then turned around and took up a spear and a bundle of rope. Following that, she tied one end of the rope to the town wall and lowered the rope, rappelling down the town gate tower rapidly. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos figure was as light as a swallow. As she rappelled down, she used her spear to kill along the way a few Liao soldiers who were climbing up the town wall near her. Not far away, the leader had been staring at Qin Xiaoyao intently. When he saw that she took the initiative toe down from the town gate tower, his eyes lit up at once. Qin Xiaoyao has appeared! Kill him! he roared excitedly. At the same time, he finally couldnt hold back anymore. He lifted his long spear and charged at Qin Xiaoyao. As long as he could kill her, he would be able to make a great contribution and be famous. And he was confident he could definitely do it. A mere leader like him still had his uses. The moment Qin Xiaoyaonded, arge number of Liao soldiers stabbed their weapons at her. Fortunately, she was nimble and dodged all the strikes. At the same time, she swept her spear out horizontally, killing arge swathe of Liao soldiers that were close to her. Argh The wretched wails of the Liao soldiers were endless. Those who were familiar with this sound would know that this meant that the god of massacre was about to start his massacre again. Unfortunately, the battlefield was already inplete chaos. The Liao soldiers had no way out. Either they attacked the town with all their might or they had to kill Qin Xiaoyao. In the absence of a third option, arge number of Liao soldiers still chose to kill Qin Xiaoyao. The result was that the corpses around Qin Xiaoyao quickly piled up. Suddenly A sharp spear came flying straight at her. Qin Xiaoyao swung her head and dodged the strike. After that, the spear was swiftly pulled back, and Qin Xiaoyao also saw the person who had stabbed her with the spear. Very good. It turned out that it was that leader of the Liao army. With a cruel smile on her face, Qin Xiaoyao swept out with her spear again and slew several Liao soldiers. Then, she looked at the leader of the Liao army. Come! Ill send you on your way to theherworld! After tossing out this icy riposte, Qin Xiaoyao attacked the other party. To be honest, this leader was quite skilled. Otherwise, Qin Xiaoyao wouldnt have pretended to lose to him earlier. However, this brat really thought too highly of himself. He actually believed that he was more capable than her. And now, the acting was over. It was also time to show him what the evil side of society was like. Hmph! The leader gave a scornful snort. He was actually not afraid and instead came forward to meet Qin Xiaoyao head-on. When she saw this, the smile on Qin Xiaoyaos face became even more cruel. The spear in her hand immediately collided with the opponents spear. Then, she saw the leaders face turn pale as she had hoped. The spear in his hand was actually jolted away by the impact of the recoil. This split-second slip-up was enough. Qin Xiaoyao pointed the long spear outwards. With a beautiful arc, she slit the throat of the leader. The leaders eyes were wide open. When he fell, his face was still full of disbelief. How could this be? She was actually not injured. Qin Xiaoyaoughed menacingly. 1 was just pretending to lose to lure you guys to attack the town. Do you really think that my nickname of god of massacre is undeserved? Hmph! Kid, when you reincarnate next time, remember to use your brain. With a soft chuckle, Qin Xiaoyao withdrew her spear. Then, without even looking at the leader, she charged into the battlefield. The Special Forces Team wasing soon. She had to kill as many as she could. She would take all these Liao soldiers outside the town for herself. With Qin Xiaoyao stirring up trouble for them below the town gate, the Liao armys attack on the town was slowed down. The pressure on the Jin soldiers on the town gate tower was substantially reduced, and they could just manage to deal with the Liao army. The Jin soldiers actually managed to repel all the Liao soldiers trying to scale the town gate tower. Very soon, the Special Forces Team finally arrived with the Jin army from the north of the town. Kill the Liao scumbags! Following Huang Feis holler, the Special Forces Team members charged into the Liao army hordes like a pack of wolves. An intense battle erupted once again. On the town gate tower, Chu Jins face lit up when he saw this. Open the town gates! Follow me out of the town to y the enemy! he barked out. The tables had turned when the reinforcements arrived. None of these Liao scumbags would be able to escape. Kill the enemy! Kill the Liao scumbags! For a while, the morale of the Great Jin State Army peaked. After that, there was no need for the Liao soldiers to continue attacking the town. The Jin army opened the town gate of their own ord. The Jin States cavalries galloped out on their horses while the infantrymen dashed out of the town on foot. They swung their weapons and tore into the mass of Liao soldiers. Battle cries reverberated throughout the heavens, and the battlefield became unprecedentedly lively.. Chapter 318 - 318: Why Not Annihilate the Liao Army in Huai County Chapter 318: Why Not Annihte the Liao Army in Huai County Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When rhe Liao soldiers saw this sight, they became terrified and quickly lost their fighting spirit. The pressure on Qin Xiaoyaos side was quickly reduced, which finally gave her time to look for the Liao army smander. That was right. The task of killing these low-ranking soldiers should be left to others. She still preferred to y the other partys generals andmander. In any case, she had already killed Xiao Tu previously, so if she continued to kill more second-generation descendants of these officials, she wasnt afraid of drawing more hatred to herself. It would be best if she could run into Xiao Yuan and kill that old fart as well. Qin Xiaoyao chased the enemies all the way to the Liao armys campsite, only to discover that Huang Fei and Liu San were actually stealing her job. The two of them were riding on horses, pursuing several Liao generals who were fleeing frantically. When she saw that her brothers would catch up with their quarry soon, she swiftly killed a Liao cavalry soldier beside her. Then, she mounted his horse nimbly and went after those few Liao generals. Giddy up! As she went in hot pursuit, she repeatedly spurred the horse onward. Her p on the horse wasnt light. As she had injected some special ability force, the horse was so agitated that it galloped faster. Soon, Qin Xiaoyao was not far from the Liao generals. Of course, she was also not far from Huang Fei and Liu San. Huang Fei noticed her presence and guessed his Leader s thoughts. He quickly raised his arm and aimed his arm crossbow. He was just about to pull the trigger and snatch the kill from his Leader when the Liao army generals nor far away all fell to the ground suddenly. Huang Fei was shocked. He turned his head and saw his Leader with a smug smile on her face. Whoa! Huang Fei pulled the reins and halted his horse glumly. He exchanged a look with Liu San, who had stopped as well and then rode his horse slowly toward Qin Xiaoyao. At this moment, the two of them had the same resentful look in their eyes. Pfft! Qin Xiaoyao burst intoughter when she saw their expressions. Alright, alright! Their heads are more useful to me now than to you. After Ive settled Xiao Tus matter, if theres such an opportunity in the future, Ill return a few heads to you! Qin Xiaoyao said in a forthright manner. Huang Fei and Liu San looked at each other. They seemed to realize something suddenly, and immediately withdrew the resentment on their faces. Leader, if you need them, just take them! Huang Fei cupped his fists at Qin Xiaoyao. We can also help Leader get a few heads! Liu San added. The two had already discussed the matter of Xiao Tu before among theirrades. Some people analyzed that their Leader might get into trouble because of this. They didnt take it seriously back then as they felt that the analysis was too groundless. However, it seemed that that man s worry had some validity. Now that their Leader was in trouble, they would definitely nor shy away from helping her. Even if they were to carry out more dangerous missions and get more heads for their Leader, they would be more than willing, not to mention these few heads! Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Dont worry. There will still be chances. We still have a long journey ahead of us, she responded. Then, she instructed the two of them to help Chu Jin kill enemy soldiers while she went hunting for more prey herself. Just like that, before daybreak, the Jin army scored another big victory and annihted all the Liao soldiers that surrounded Yellow Flower Town. By the time the battlefield was cleared, the sky had just turned bright. Chu Jin walked over to Qin Xiaoyao in high spirits. In this battle, you have made great contributions again, Teacher! When I return, Ill definitely report to the Second Prince and fight for rewards for your contributions! Qin Xiaoyao smiled faintly and turned around to look at the vast fields outside the town. Im afraid that this little military merit is not enough for the Second Prince to protect me, she spoke casually. Chu Jin was silent. How about we exterminate the Liao army in Huai County while we still have time? Qin Xiaoyao suddenly turned around. Chu Jin was stunned. Then, his brain began working furiously. With just the few of us? he asked. He was already a little tempted. Yellow Flower Town was considered the center of Huai County. It was also for this reason that the food rations and military provisions of the nearby towns were all arranged to be stored here. Over the past two days, the Liao soldiers hade to attack Yellow Flower Town on and off, but they were all wiped out by the Jin army. Right now, in some of the nearby towns, the number of Liao soldiers was actually very low. If their Jin army were to attack them, it wasnt impossible to take down those towns. In fact, some of the towns could be taken back without much effort. The only difficulty was that he had limited troops. Even if they managed to take back the town, he didnt have enough people to guard it. If he were to distribute his troops to defend the towns, then when there were too many towns, the avable troops left for him would be fewer and fewer. Of course nor, Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Itll mainly be me and the Special Forces Team. You guys just need to help me hold the line and wait for an opportunity to charge in. After we take down the town, we ll let the Imperial Courts army guard it. As long as we get in touch with the nearby Imperial Courts army in advance, they should be happy to station themselves in the towns weve conquered. Chu Jins eyes lit up at once. The Imperial Court s army was weak and the Imperial Court s attitude was unclear, so they didnt really engage the Liao troops in direct confrontations. After Huai County was invaded by the Liao army, the Imperial Courts army within the county had withdrawn from the county. In spite of this, the Imperial Courts army did not go far. If he sent someone to contact them, he should be able to make contact very quickly. Most of the Imperial Courts soldiers were originally from Huai County. It would be odd if they were unwilling to return to Huai County to guard their towns. This is a good idea! Chu Jin quickly replied. In addition, we have to send someone to inform the Second Prince. Get him to help to dy the negotiations between the Liao and Jin States. If we can take back Huai County, the terms of the peace negotiations may change. Chu Jins eyes lit up brightly. Alright! I ll immediately send people to High Pass Town! he quickly said. Huai County wasnt far from High Pass Town. If they recovered this county, it would be a great encouragement to rhe Jin army. Following that, as long as rhe Second Prince sent more troops, it was very likely that they could rake back more counties. They did not need to recover all the county cities upied by the Liao army. They only needed to reim the county cities near High Pass Town. As long as they could cut off the retreat route of the Liao army, that was good enough. As such, as long as the follow-up Liao army could not enter High Pass Town, the Liao army that invaded rhe Jin State would nor be able to retreat. It was only a matter of time before they were devoured. If the situation could really develop in this vein, the oue of this battle between the Jin and Liao States might be changed. When he thought of this, Chu Jins heart was filled with excitement. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and watched Chu Jin leave. Now, it was up to the Second Prince to decide. After calming down her emotions, Qin Xiaoyao returned to the town alone. After returning to her tent, she fell asleep at once. By the time she woke up, it was already afternoon. Qin Xiaoyao rubbed her empty tummy and instructed the soldiers outside to bring food. In the end, rhe soldier informed her that Chu Jin had already prepared a meal for her. He was also waiting to talk to her. Then bring the food up and invite Colonel Chu over, Qin Xiaoyao said. Yes, Colonel! The soldier then excused himself. Thereafter, the piping hot food arrived. Qin Xiaoyao had just picked up her chopsticks when Chu Jin entered the tent. Do you want to join me for some grub? Qin Xiaoyao invited Chu Jin with a smile when she saw him enter. Chu Jin smiled. No, thanks. Im not hungry yer. With that, he went to rhe seat next to Qin Xiaoyao and sat down. Im here to talk to you about the Imperial Courts army. The man we sent our has already contacted the Imperial Courts army. The county magistrate and the generals of the Imperial Courts army are all in one ce. They said that as long as we take down the town, they are very willing to send troops to guard it and let Huai County return to peace earlier.. Chapter 319 - 319: Reclaiming Huai County Chapter 319: Reiming Huai County Trantor: Draqon Boat Trantion Editor: Draqon BoatTr Qin Xiaoyao ate her meal and looked at Chu Jin in between mouthfuls of food. She was not surprised by this news. Does that mean that we can take action tonight?1 If she took action at night, her team would be able to catch them off guard. Of course, the main reason was that there were two towns near Yellow Flower Town, which were very close to Yellow Flower Town. Definitely! Chu Jin said with some excitement. Just the thought of recovering lost territory was enough to get him all hyped up. Qin Xiaoyao then looked at Chu Jin. Alright. Then you arrange for 500 people to stay behind. The rest will help me hold the line, she said. Sure! Chu Jin quickly answered. He chatted with Qin Xiaoyao for a while longer before leaving. In the evening, Qin Xiaoyao arrived at the drill ground on time. After gathering the Special Forces Team members, she took the lead and led the Special Forces Team to set off first. As they neared the small town next to Yellow Flower Town, the group slowed down and got off their horses. After that, Qin Xiaoyao sent a few men into the town to gather information. After confirming that the situation was as she had expected, sheunched a sneak attack on the town. In the end, the battle went more smoothly than expected. There were only about 100 Liao soldiers left in the town and they had already heard about the incidents in Yellow Flower Town. After seeing the arrival of the Special Forces Team, most of the Liao soldiers chose to surrender. In this fashion, Qin Xiaoyao conquered two small towns in one night. This made Chu Jin, who was following behind, feel that victory hade too easily. He had thought that after the Special Forces Team had gone inside, he would have to more or less send troops after them and contribute a little effort. To his surprise, he was only here to go through the motions. Other than talcing over the territories that Qin Xiaoyao had conquered and helping to detain the surrendered Liao soldiers, he did not help with the fighting at all. Nheless, this was a good oue. The more smoothly their operations went, the more it indicated that the Liao army was weak. If their army had a good start, they would have more confidence in the future. Over the next two days, Chu Jin s wish came true atst. Qin Xiaoyao led the Special Forces Team to attack the small towns in the front, while he led the troops to bring up the rear, sending troops to help her at the critical moment. After talcing down the town, the Imperial Courts army would take over very quickly. The speed at which they recovered their lost territory was faster than they had expected. At the same time, Qin Xiaoyao and Chu Jin finally received their reinforcements. That was right. The Second Prince had increased their troops. Qin Xiaoyao also received an official military appointment and became a Colonel of the same rank as Chu Jin. The newly arrived reinforcement of 5000 troops would be under Qin Xiaoyaosmand. To Qin Xiaoyao, this was equivalent to doubling her might, like adding wings to a tiger. Soon, the speed of her attack on Huai County increased. At the same time, her reputation of being the Great Jin States God of Massacre quickly spread among the Liao army. Now, the Liao army was not the only one who had heard about Qin Xiaoyao. The Great Jin State1 s army and the officials of the Imperial Court also began talking about Qin Xiaoyao. On this day, Qin Xiaoyao and Chu Jin finally reimed Huai Countypletely. From the time Qin Xiaoyao started to attack the towns to the time the Jin army reimed Huai Countypletely, it had only been eight days. The recovery of Huai County had indeed affected the negotiation process between the Liao and Jin States. With the Second Princes personal guarantee, the Imperial Court finally changed its previous attitude and no longer yielded to the envoys of the Liao State like they did in the past. On this day, Qin Xiaoyao received a new letter and certificate of appointment from the Second Prince. Due to the recovery of Huai County, Qin Xiaoyao was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and gained another 5000 troops. At this point, Qin Xiaoyao already had 10,000 men under her. Now, not only Chu Jin, but Han Chao had also be her subordinate. The two of them assisted her in wiping out the Liao troops within the Great Jin Stare. That was right. The Second Prince had decided to make a big move after stabilizing the situation with the envoy in the Imperial Court. He was the one who throttled the Liao army and prevented the Liao army reinforcements from entering High Pass Town. Qin Xiaoyao would then coordinate with him to eliminate the Liao troops in the Jin State as soon as possible. Thus, they would be able to win the battle between the Liao and Jin States. The Second Prince did not even dare to dream of such an oue in the past. After all, he could not attend to so many things by himself. He could not block the Liao armys reinforcements and also drive out the Liao army that was rebelling within the Great Jin State at the same time. However, Qin Xiaoyaos appearance had given him that hope. And the probability of that hope bing a reality was very high. Qin Xiaoyaos ability to lead troops in battle was way stronger than he had thought. With the help of such a person, he naturally dared to think more boldly and dared to do more. The Second Prince wasnt the only one who was excited at this moment. Qin Xiaoyao, Chu Jin, and Han Chao were also very excited. The battle to recover theirnd had been smooth sailing, so how could they not be excited? As the number of troops under hermand increased, Qin Xiaoyao once again sped up the process of recovering the lost territories. Not only did her troops lull and capture the Liao soldiers in the Great Jin State, but they also wiped out the bandits along the way. There was new and positive progress every day. In an instant, both the Second Prince and the Imperial Court of the Great Jin State were filled with hope. Some of the courtiers who were originally afraid of the Liao State and wanted to make peace with the Liao State gradually changed their minds. Since the Great Jin State had such a ferocious general and the Jin soldiers could fight well, they naturally did not need to bow to the Liao State. At this moment, the Liao army was bing more and more impatient. As time passed, the Liao army within the Great Jin State did nor receive any reinforcements and was trapped within the Great Jin State. In the beginning, they could still burn, kill, pige, and plunder resources from Great Jin State snd. However, this piece ofnd that had just suffered from the famine had limited resources. With the passage of time, they faced problems with their military supplies. In addition, Qin Xiaoyao and the others were closing in step by step, and many Liao soldiers were fearful. In their despair, they didnt even have rhe heart to resist their enemies. ording to Qin Xiaoyaos policy, as long as they werent the main instigator, the soldiers who surrendered wouldnt have to die. After that, the Jin and Liao States would exchange captives, and those soldiers would still have a chance to return to the Liao State. Han Chao was the one who had suggested not killing the captives. When he first brought it up. he was met with opposition from everyone. After all, the Liao army in the Great Jin State had lulled so many people in the Great Jin State. Not one of the soldiers was innocent. However, Han Chao still managed to convince Qin Xiaoyao in the end. There were two reasons. Firstly, if they were to exterminate the Liao army, it would arouse their desire to rebel. In the situation where there was no way out, the Liao army could only fight them to the death. This way, it would be more difficult for them to recover their lost territory, and their progress would be slowed down. Secondly, when the states were negotiating, exchanging captives had always been amon topic. The captured soldiers and civilians were valuable. When they captured the Liao soldiers, they could use these people to exchange for the Jin soldiers and civilians who had been captured by the Liao army. Of course, they could also exchange them for money and food as long as the two sides coulde to an agreement. Exchanging captives, or rather trading captives, was actually a positive thing for both states. Another three days passed. On this day, Qin Xiaoyao personally directed the Special Forces Team led by Huang Fei and sessfully took down a county town in Ming County. That was right. As Qin Xiaoyaos military strength increased, she expanded the size of the Special Forces Team. Now, she had 5 Special Forces Teams of 35 men each under her. Huang Fei and the other three, as well as Liu San, became the team leaders of these five teams. They acted as the vanguard, charging at the front line to recover lost territories.. Chapter 320 - 320: Requesting Reinforcements from the Empress Dowager? Chapter 320: Requesting Reinforcements from the Empress Dowager? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion After Huai County was reimed and when most of Ming Countys towns had also been reimed by Qin Xiaoyao, the Liao army became even more uneasy. At this moment, near High Pass Town, in the tent of Xiao Yuan, the Liao States Supreme Commander. Xiao Yuan, who had received thetest battle report, had an indescribably ominous expression on his face. The Liao army generals, who had been summoned for a meeting, all had tense expressions. When they saw the Supreme Commander so enraged, they didnt even dare to raise their heads, fearful that they would be med. Xiao Tus mishap had already infuriated the Supreme Commander. Now, not only was the murderer not punished, but he was also killing and exterminating their men. I low could the Supreme Commander not be angry? Xiao Yuan was indeed furious at the moment, but he quickly ced the battle report in his hands on the army desk. We must break through High Pass Town, he said in a low voice. If they didnt break through High Pass Town, there was a high probability that the men of the Liao State who were trapped in the Jin State would never return. Those hateful Jin people made a gesture of seeking peace and deluded the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. As a result, he couldnt deploy his full troop strength against High Pass Town. However, the peace talks had been going on for almost a month, and they still hadnte to an agreement. Previously, when the Great Jin State was at a disadvantage, they didnt need to worry. In any case, the longer they dyed, the more people and money the Liao army would be able to capture and plunder. However, now, the situation hadpletely changed. His only grandson had died on Jin soil. The Jin army also started to wipe out the Liao army within the Jin territory. If this continued, the consequences would be too terrible to imagine. Upon hearing this, the Liao generals, who had their heads lowered, exchanged nces with each other. They all maintained their bowed posture, but no one spoke. They wanted to break through High Pass Town too. However, the Second Prince of the Jin State was different from the other useless military leaders of the Jin State. That person was famous for being brave and good at fighting. All these years, whenever they encountered this adversary, they lost nine out of ten battles. The only time they won was when the other side retreated of its own ord. In this situation, it would be strange if the other side retreated. High Pass Town was easy to defend and hard to attack by default, and the Second Prince had a strong army of 50,000. If they wanted to break through High Pass Town, only one word could describe this mission, namely arduous. Xiao Yuans gaze turned to the generals. When he saw everyones reaction, his expression turned grim. Gentlemen, dont you have anything to say? he immediately said. Everyone remained silent. Just as Xiao Yuan could not hold it in any longer and was about to blurt out in anger, someone finally spoke. Supreme Commander The one who spoke was a veteran general who had followed Xiao Yuan all this time. Speak, Xiao Yuan responded when he saw him. He forced himself to suppress his anger. The veteran general raised his head to look at Xiao Yuan, but he quickly lowered his head again. Its too difficult to take down High Pass Town with our current military strength. However, if If what? Xiao Yuan asked with displeasure. If His Majesty can send more troops to you, Supreme Commander The veteran general looked at Xiao Yuan tentatively. When he saw Xiao Yuan looking at him, he quickly lowered his head again. We dont need too many. Just 30,000 will do. With the bravery of our Liao soldiers, we can definitely take down High Pass Town. The Second Prince of the Jin State had 50,000 troops at High Pass Town, while they only had 4.0,000. The other party also upied a town that was easy to defend and hard to attack, not to mention the fact that the Liao army was outnumbered. Despite the Liao armys various provocations, the Jin army simply defended and refused toe out of the town. Under such circumstances, it was almost impossible for them to take down High Pass Town. If they wanted to take down High Pass Town, they could only attack by brute force and fight the other party with overwhelmingly superior troop numbers. Werent there 50,000 troops at High Pass Town now? Then they would fight them with 70,000 troops. The sons of the Liao State fought valiantly. Even if the other party had the geographical advantage, in a situation of seven against five, it was not impossible for them to win. Xiao Yuan was silent. He gazed down at the generals who were whispering and expressing their agreement, and his brows were tightly furrowed. How could he not know that the Great Liao State would have to pay a huge price to break through High Pass Town? However, if High Pass Town wasnt broken, the Great Liao States losses would be even greater. Furthermore, regarding the request for reinforcements from the rear, he had already written an appeal and had it sent back to the capital. However, the decree to send more troops did note. Now, the capital was still waiting for the Great Jin State to take the initiative to make peace. They were not willing to deploy more troops. If the reinforcements did note, Xiao Yuan would not dare to act rashly. Otherwise, they would be sending their troops to their deaths at High Pass Town. He could only watch helplessly as the situation developed in an unfavorable direction, but there was nothing he could do. Supreme Commander At this moment, the veteran general suddenly spoke again. Xiao Yuan raised his head and looked at the veteran general. Supreme Commander, why dont you write a letter to the Empress Dowager, stating clearly the pros and cons, and ask for reinforcements as soon as possible? the veteran general suggested. As soon as he said this, all the generals responded in the affirmative in low voices. The Empress Dowager had a lot of authority in the court and had even presided over court affairs on behalf of the Emperor. Although the reins of power had already been returned to the Emperor, the Empress Dowagers authority still existed. If she spoke, the Emperor would not disobey. Their Supreme Commander was the Empress Dowagers father, so the matter of sending more troops rightfully shouldnt be soplicated. Xiao Yuan frowned again. It was not that he had not thought about going directly to the Empress Dowager and bypassing the Emperor. However, before the Empress Dowager returned the reins of power to the Emperor, she had taken special pains to talk to him. She told the Xiao family to restrain themselves and only be loyal to the Emperor in the future. He must not bypass the Emperor to carry out his duties. Now, the Emperor had been in power for more than half a year. Although he didnt do anything great, he didnt do anything wrong either. Step by step, he was growing into a qualified Emperor of the Great Liao State. The Xiao family had always been well-behaved because of the Empress Dowagers instructions. That was why they had not attracted the Emperors suspicion because of their outstanding achievements. However, if he contacted the Empress Dowager this time and asked the Empress Dowager to ask the Emperor to send troops, he would definitely offend the Emperor. This move was extremely disadvantageous to the Empress Dowager and the Xiao family. Xiao Yuans face turned glum, and he was unable to make up his mind for a long time. After a long while, when the generals had quieted down again, he finally gestured with his hand. All of you may leave, he said. Yes, Sir! The generals bowed and left the tent. A hint of hesitation shed across the veteran generals face, but he also bowed along with the others. After that, he left. After the generals left, Xiao Yuan sat in front of the desk for a long time. In the end, he still picked up his brush and wrote a new appeal. At the same time, in a big tent of the Jin armys campsite at High Pass Town. The Second Prince held thetest battle report from Ming County with a smile. The Great Jin States God of Massacre certainly lives up to her reputation. What a brilliant battle result! When the generals in front of him saw this, their faces were also filled with joy. Many of them had personallye into contact with Teacher Qin, whom His Highness regarded highly. They all said that she was a rare genius, and was valiant without equal. She was a rare talented general. Today, Teacher Qin had used her own strength to clear her name. The current battle situation between the Jin and Liao States had changed subtly. As long as they continued to defend High Pass Town, the tables would be turned quickly. These Jin troops had suffered under the Liao States oppression for so many years, and if they could defeat the Liao State this time, they would finally be able to hold their heads high. Your Highness, congrattions on obtaining such a talent! a general said as he cupped his hands at the Second Prince. Congrattions, Your Highness! The rest of the people followed suit. The Second Prince smiled and gestured his hand at the crowd. He couldnt stop smiling. With Teacher Qin around, Ming County is free from worries, he said. As he spoke, he looked at the map hanging on the wall.. Chapter 321 - 321: Rushing to High Pass Town Chapter 321: Rushing to High Pass Town Trantor: Draqon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon BoatTran Next, theres Zheng County, Qiushui County, and Shang County. Once we take down these ces, rhe Liao troops in Ning An Prefecture will all be eliminated. Pointing at rhe corresponding locations on the map, the Second Prince was almost beaming with joy. Once Ning An Prefecture is cleared. Teacher Qin will have further cut off the Liao armys retreat. After that, we can make our move on Hua An Prefecture. It wont rake long topletely eradicate the Liao army from the Great Jin Stare!11 Your Highness is blessed with good fortune. Your wish will definitelye true! another general said. The rest of the generals echoed the earlier guy and poured ttering remarks. The Second Prince turned around and suppressed the joy in his heart. He motioned for the crowd to be quiet. With Teacher Qins ability, I can rest assured. As long as she is given enough time, she will definitely be able to get rid of the Liao threat in the Great Jin State. So, at the moment, we have to coordinate our operations with Teacher Qin and defend High Pass Town steadfastly. As long as we defend High Pass Town well, victory in this battle will definitely belong to our Great Jin State! the Second Prince said in a deep voice. His eyes were filled with excitement. It had been his greatest wish to defeat the Liao State ever since he joined the military forces. And now, it seemed that his wish was about to be a reality. Yes! Dont worry, Your Highness. We will defend High Pass Town resolutely and not let a single Liao soldier get past! another general said in a deep voice. Defend High Pass Town resolutely! The rest of the subordinates echoed the earlier guy. For a while, the emotions of rhe people in rhe big tent reached a peak. The Second Prince nodded in satisfaction. His heart was full of hope. In the blink of an eye, another three days passed. Qin Xiaoyaos army had already taken down Ming County, and their next target was Zheng County. When rhe Liao army in Zheng County learned of this news, they were all terrified. For a while, this county sent out an endless stream of requests for help to other prefectures and numerous missives back to the Liao State. At High Pass Town, the Second Princes men had intercepted arge number of letters asking for help. They also caught many spies from the Liao State. At this juncture,pared to the lively fighting on Qin Xiaoyaos side, High Pass Town was still peaceful. Xiao Yuan had received some of the requests for help. Although he was anxious, he still held back and did not move. He was still waiting for a reply from the capital to send him reinforcements. He believed that when the Empress Dowager saw his appeal, she would definitely think of a way to send more troops to him. However, he had to wait, and waiting took time. And so, over the next five days. Qin Xiaoyao took down Zheng County. At this point, the morale of the Jin army was greatly boosted. Not only the troops of rhe Second Prince, but even the soldiers of the Imperial Courts army were full of confidence in this General Qin. At the same time, the Jin States envoy was more unyielding when negotiating with the Liao State. In fact, there were signs that he didnt even want to continue the negotiation. On this day, the anxious Xiao Yuan finally received a reply from Empress Dowager Xiao. The reinforcements he wanted had finally arrived. However, it was not easy to gather 30,000 troops and the corresponding provisions. It would take seven to eight days for the great army to arrive. Xiao Yuan was anxious, but he could only continue waiting. The Second Prince received news of the Liao armys reinforcements half a dayter than Xiao Yuan. Then, he immediately gathered the generals for a meeting and informed them of the matter. I have already written a letter to Teacher Qin, asking her to continue to speed up the process of wiping out the Liao army. I have requested her to reim Ning An Prefecture at ail costs before the Liao armys reinforcements arrive. As long as we take back Ning An Prefecture, Hua An Prefecture will be nothing to worry about. After all, the Liao army in the Great Jin State was basically concentrated in Ning An Prefecture. Even though some Liao troops went to Hua An Prefecture, their numbers were much smaller. Even if Teacher Qin didnt wipe them out, the Imperial Courts army would still be able to eradicate the Liao soldiers if they spend more time. Although it was a crisis for the Jin army when the Liao army increased their troops, if Teacher Qin could bring her troops back to High Pass Town in time, the Second Prince was not worried that he wouldnt be able to defend High Pass Town. Teacher Qin will definitely live up to Your Highness expectations! a general replied. The rest of the subordinates echoed their sentiments. They were all filled with confidence in Qin Xiaoyao. As for Qin Xiaoyao, she did not let the Second Prince down. She led her army and continued to recover the lost territories at an extremely fast speed. Not only did they ughter and capture the Liao soldiers, they also recruited many young and strong refugees into the army. The original army of 10,000 troops quickly expanded to 15,000 people. And this was the result after the candidates had undergone Qin Xiaoyaos strict selection criteria. She only wanted young and strong new recruits. Otherwise, the number of new recruits would have been several times more. The main reasons were firstly, Qin Xiaoyaos reputation had attracted these people to follow her willingly. Secondly, these people were starving during this famine period. There were many who chose to join rhe army for a meal. Six dayster, the entire Ning An Prefecture was finally reimed after relentless battles day and night. The entire army was overjoyed. On the same day, Qin Xiaoyao also received her new official position. She had been promoted from Brigadier General to Major General. At the same time, the Second Prince s letter also arrived. The letter stated that more troops from the Liao State had arrived outside High Pass Town and could attack at any time. He wanted Qin Xiaoyao to rush to High Pass Town as soon as possible to help defend the town. After Qin Xiaoyao finished reading the letter, she sent for Chu Jin and Han Chao. The Liao army has added 30,000 troops this time. In addition to the original 40,000, they now have a total of 70,000 troops. Although the Second Prince imed to have 50,000 troops at High Pass Town, he only has 35,000 troops in reality because he distributed his troops to various locations. If the war starts and both sides fight, the Liao army will soon find out that something is wrong. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the two of them as she spoke. His Highness wants me to lead the troops back to High Pass Town as soon as possible to provide assistance. Including the 5000 new recruits, I have close to 20,000 men. In addition to the 35,000 men under His Highness, we can at least reduce the gap difference in numbers with the Liao army. In addition. High Pass Town is easy to defend and hard to attack, so its not impossible to defend it. Chu Jin and Han Chao exchanged looks with each other. Then, when do you n to leave, General? Han Chao asked as he bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Not surprisingly, he hoped that the general could continue to lead them to wipe out the Liao army in Hua An Prefecture in one go. However, the predicament of High Pass Town was obviously more urgent. The faster they moved, the better. Chu Jin also looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao paused for a while. Lets set off in the afternoon. However, I dont intend to let go of Flua An Prefecture. Chu Jin and Han Chaos eyes flickered. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the two of them and continued, How about this? I ll leave Huang Daqiao and Liu San here. Then, one of you will stay behind and lead 3000 elite soldiers to continue wiping our the Liao army in Hua An Prefecture. Chu Jin and Han Chao looked at each other, their eyes filled with excitement. 3000 soldiers were not a lot, but elite soldiers were not weak. In addition to the two Special Forces Teams led by Huang Daqiao and Liu San, it should not be a problem to take down the small number of Liao soldiers on the run in Flua An Prefecture. I am willing to stay! Chu Jin exchanged a nce with Han Chao and quickly bowed to Qin Xiaoyao as he replied. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile. Good! Then, she made arrangements for the uing matters. Thereafter, in the afternoon, the big army set off and rushed to High Pass Town. Qin Xiaoyao rode high on a horse, feeling very proud. She was finally going to High Pass Town. When she saw the Second Prince, she would be able to have a good chat with him. Previously, they had been exchanging letters, but the Second Prince had informed her that there was no news of her husband.. Chapter 322 - 322: A Malicious Ghost? Chapter 322: A Malicious Ghost? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When she went to High Pass Town next, she had to ask the Second Prince for help so that she could look for her husband faster. In addition, there were many generals in High Pass Town. Other than the Second Prince, she could also ask the other generals to help her. At this moment, in the Liao armys camp. Xiao Yuan, who had been pulling a long face for a long time, finally had a smile on his face today. This was because the reinforcements he had been waiting for had finally arrived. In the big tent of the middle regiment. Pass down my order. We will attack the town tomorrow morning! Take down High Pass Town in one fell swoop! Xiao Yuan said after setting out the mission. After waiting for so long, he had already reached his limit. If it wasnt for the fact that the reinforcements had just arrived and they needed to rest, he would have given the order to attack the town tonight. He would definitely take down High Pass Town! Yes, Sir! All the generals hurriedly answered somewhat excitedly. All of you go and prepare! Xiao Yuan added. Yes, Sir! After the generals left, Xiao Yuan returned to his desk. He had to win this battle at all costs, deal the Jin army a heavy blow and take over arge part of the Jin States territory. Only then would the ministers in the court not use this to attack the Empress Dowager. It would also reduce the Emperors suspicion of the Empress Dowager. At the end of the day, they were not truly mother and son rted by blood ties. The rtionship between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager was not of the kindly mother and filial son type that it appeared to be on the surface. This time, he had brought trouble to the Empress Dowager. Xiao Yuans heart felt very heavy at the thought of this. The next day, just as the sky brightened, the Liao army sounded the horn to attack. In this attack, the Liao army came charging with fierce momentum. They moved as fast as wolves and their numbers were so great that they resembled a big tide. They constantly attacked the town gate towers of High Pass Town. Fortunately, the Second Prince was well prepared in advance. His soldiers met the enemy quickly and fought a bloody battle, firmly blocking the Liao soldiers outside the pass. In a situation where both sides were fighting with all their might, the battle situation was extremely tragic. Both the Liao and Jin armies suffered heavy casualties. After half a day, corpses piled up like a mountain outside High Pass Town, and blood flowed like a river at the base of the town gate. Even though the Liao army had charged up the town gate tower several times, they were all beaten back by the Jin army. The bravery of the Jin army gave the Liao army a renewed understanding of their adversary. Xiao Yuan, who was at the front line, had a grave expression on his face when he read the battle report. He had already arranged for 30,000 troops to attack the three town towers at High Pass Town for half a day, but they had not taken down a single one. The Second Prince of the Great Jin State certainly lived up to his reputation. The soldiers under him were indeed unlike those ordinary Jin troops. However, even so, they could not stop the armored cavalry of their Great Liao State. Pass down my order. Continue to attack! For the battalion that breaks through High Pass Town first, its general will be promoted by one rank and all the soldiers under him will be rewarded! Xiao Yuan said in a deep voice. Yes, Sir! Someone immediately went to report. Xiao Yuan looked at the map on the desk and was already thinking about how to charge into the Jin territory unchallenged after breaking through High Pass Town. This time, the Great Liao State had paid such a huge price. He had to make the Jin State pay an even greater price to recover all the losses suffered by their Great Liao State. Inside High Pass Town. When the Second Prince and the other generals heard the battle report from the front, they all had grim expressions. Upon hearing that the Liao army had once again increased their troops to attack the town and had the die-hard mentality of not giving up until they take down the town, the Second Princes brows were so tightly knitted that his forehead resembled the Roman numeral III. Where is Teacher Qin now? The Second Prince asked in a deep voice as he looked away from the map. ording to the report of the scout an hour ago, she should be less than 31 miles away from High Pass Town, a subordinate bowed and replied. Good. The Second Princes eyes flickered with a little hope. Pass down my order. Tell the soldiers to hang on. Defend all three town gate towers until Teacher Qin arrives! he said in a stern voice. Yes, Your Highness! all the generals answered. When the Second Prince gathered everyone to discuss how to deal with the enemy, he had already decided on a n. And that was to gather all the troops and focus on defending the three town gates. They would make use of the geographical advantage toy waste to as many Liao soldiers as possible. However, the terrain at the three gates was different, and the distribution of troops was not exactly the same. As long as the Liao army took a little longer to test, they would be able to find the weakest point and then concentrate more troops to attack there. In that case, the town gate might very well be broken through. The Second Princes intention was to defend the town at all costs and dy the Liao army from breaking through the towns defenses until the reinforcements arrived. When the reinforcements arrived, they could set up an ambush in advance. At that point, they could take the initiative to reveal one w and deliberately let the Liao army break through one of the town towers and fall into their trap. Qin Xiaoyao was known as the Great Jin States God of Massacre. The members of those few Special Forces Teams under her killed people without any feelings. Even some of the other elite soldiers, after undergoing Qin Xiaoyaos training, were all extremely vicious. Those soldiers were the most suitable for carrying out such wipe-out operations If everything went smoothly, the difference in numbers between them and the Liao army might be even after this battle. Once that happened, given Xiao Yuans cautious personality, perhaps both sides could dere a truce again. Thus, the battle of High Pass Town continued. The entire High Pass Town had be a meat grinder venue. As time passed, Xiao Yuans patience was almost exhausted. As for the Second Princes side, his troops were finding it harder to repel the enemies. Fortunately, Qin Xiaoyao finally arrived before nightfall. When the Second Prince received the news, he personally led the generals out of the camp to wee her. After that, the two sides didnt exchange any more pleasantries before jumping into the main topic. Qin Xiaoyao was in full agreement with the Second Princes n. Thereafter, she and her troops acted in ordance with the Second Princes n. Not long after night fell, the West Town Gate of High Pass Town was finally broken through by the Liao army. Arge number of Liao soldiers poured into High Pass Town. When Xiao Yuan heard the news, he was overjoyed. He deployed another 10,000 troops and they rushed to the west of the town in High Pass Town. He wanted to use these troops to break through the North Town Gate and South Town Gate in High Pass Town and take down the townpletely. When the Liao army brandished their Liao-style sabers and charged into the west of the town in High Pass Town, they did not know that Qin Xiaoyao had already led her men to set up an ambush and was waiting for them. When they entered the encirclement, Qin Xiaoyao immediately gave the order to attack. The Jin army under her was like a horde of divine soldiers from heaven. They suddenly appeared and surprised the Liao soldiers before ying them mercilessly. Arrows shot out at the Liao soldiers from all directions and the hapless soldiers fell in droves. Or a small team would be surrounded, separated from theirrades, and annihted. Street battles and small-scale sorties broke out endlessly. Among the attackers, the most active and ruthless were, of course, those few Special Forces Teams. As they had familiarized themselves with the terrain, they used this knowledge to their advantage by shuttling through the small alleys repeatedly and chopping off the heads of the Liao soldiers. Wherever one passed, one could hear the wretched wails of countless Liao soldiers who died. The night that was supposed to be quiet was filled with the sound of horses hooves and all kinds of anguished screams. When the Liao army charged into the town, they were very excited initially. They were focused on charging to the north or south of the town and wanted to work with the Liao army outside the town to take down the two town gate towers there. However, they were constantly attacked along the way, and their numbers were getting smaller and smaller. After witnessing the Jin troops popping up here and there in mysterious circumstances and their terrifying killing methods, the Liao soldiers were soon afraid. The morale of the Liao army began to waver. The Jin army in High Pass Town didnt look like living people, but a group of malicious ghosts. They appeared and disappeared unpredictably, and they treated living humans as their prey. Once any Liao soldier became their target, it was difficult to escape their demonic ws. Many Liao soldiers saw with their own eyes theirrades being killed by these ghosts in front of them. Then, the ghosts even smiled at them in a sinister manner. All of this had already exceeded what they knew and what they could bear.. Chapter 323 - 323: The Harvest Chapter 323: The Harvest Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Drago Whenever any Liao soldier shouted the phrase A ghost! the morale of the Liao soldiers copsed even faster. Then, they were quickly killed by the Jin army. Just like that, after close to 20,000 Liao soldiers entered High Pass Town, they were slowly devoured by the 8000 elite soldiers led by Qin Xiaoyao. Although a small number of Liao soldiers arrived ar rhe town gate towers in rhe north and south, they were discovered and eliminated by the Jin army. Two hourster. Xiao Yuan, who had been waiting for the good news with a beaming face, found that he was no longer able to smile. At this point, the defense at the town gate rowers at the south and north of High Pass Town still didnt change. If Xiao Yuan still didnt notice that something was wrong, he must be really stupid. Oh no! Weve been tricked! Suddenly, Xiao Yuan clutched his chest and smashed his fist on the desk in front of him. Quick! Pass down the order. Dont send any more troops to the west of the town! Cough Tell everyone to retreat! Supreme Commander A general tried to advise. T hese generals still didnt understand why they had to retreat when they were in an advantageous position. Carry out mymand! Xiao Yuan bellowed in a deep voice. He forcefully suppressed the sickly taste of blood welling up in his throat. A hint of hesitation shed across the faces of the generals. Yes, Sir! After exchanging nces with one another, they quickly answered. Soon, the sound of the Liao army beating their gongs and calling for a retreat could be heard on rhe battlefield. The Liao army quickly retreated and the battle ended. T he pressure on the town gate towers in the north and south of High Pass Town vanished immediately, and the generals and soldiers guarding rhe town were relieved. At that moment, Qin Xiaoyao1 s men were still ughtering away in the town. T he Liao soldiers outside the town had retreated, but the majority of the Liao soldiers who had entered the town could not retreat in time. T hey could only remain in the town and be dead spirits. After the Liao army retreated, it was only after about an hour that the Liao soldiers inside the town were wiped out. After knowing that rhe Second Prince was looking for her, Qin Xiaoyao asked her men to coordinate with the rest of the Jin army to tidy up rhe loose ends while she went to the big tent of the middle regiment. She had just reached the outside of the rent when she heardughtering from inside. T he Liao army retreated in the middle of the night and rhe Jin army achieved a great victory. It seemed that everyone was very happy. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but smile as well. She got the guard outside to go in to inform the rest of her arrival. Teacher Qin is here! Weve been waiting for you for so long! Before long, the Second Prince came out of the tent to personally wee her. Many generals also followed him. Your humble servant hereby pays her respects to Your Highness! Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and bowed. Please dispense with the formalities! Please dispense quickly! The Second Prince hurried forward to help her up. Teacher, it is all thanks to your timely arrival that the Liao army can be repelled!1 The Second Prince looked at Qin Xiaoyao, visibly moved by emotions. Although the results of the battle were not out yet, he had a rough idea of the situation. When the town gate in rhe west was opened, the total number of Liao soldiers entering the town was definitely no less than 20,000. Of these 20,000 troops, only a few managed to retreat. In other words, Teacher Qin had helped him y at least 10,000 enemies tonight. It could only be said that her nickname of Great Jin State s God of Massacre was not for nothing. T he way she led her troops and the soldiers under her was more vicious than he thought. Your Highness, surely your words are an overstatement. We were able to win this battle due to Your Highness strategic nning and adequate arrangements, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Haha! Dont just stand there. Lets talk inside! The Second Prince then invited Qin Xiaoyao inside. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao didnt stand on ceremony and followed him in. Thereafter, things quickly became lively inside the rent. After the Second Princes introduction, Qin Xiaoyao quickly became familiar with the generals. Some of these people knew Qin Xiaoyao long ago, but some faces were new to her. However, that didnt stop them from getting along very well with Qin Xiaoyao. By rhe time the meeting ended, all the generals had already made an appointment with Qin Xiaoyao to go have a drink together. The Second Prince appeared somewhat disappointed when he saw their arrangements. He had no choice but to change his n and invite Qin Xiaoyao our to attend a wee party he was personally hosting for her alone the next day. T hus, Qin Xiaoyao was escorted by the generals to the best restaurant in High Pass Town. During the meal, everyone exchanged their battle experiences, drank, and yed morra games. The whole atmosphere was very lively. After drinking for a while, Qin Xiaoyao felt that the atmosphere was about right, so she finally mentioned Song Ques matter to everyone. Master Song has been captured and enlisted in the army? How did such a thing happen? General Qin, did you find the person who did this? someone immediately asked. T his man happened to be acquainted with Qin Xiaoyao and her husband previously, and he even had a drink with Song Que before, so he had a fair bit of familiarity with Song Que. Thats right! How dare they capture the family members of General Qin! one of them chimed in. At that time, the news 1 heard was simply that the officials took my husband and the others away but I did not know the final destination where they have been taken to. Back then, I was worried about my husbands safety, so overnight, I packed my things and came out, Qin Xiaoyao said. I was thinking ofing to look for the Second Prince to ask him and the rest of you to help me look for my husband. T he crowd exchanged looks with one another. They had discovered by ident the reason Qin Xiaoyao joined the army and came to High Pass Town. This was indeed a ssic example of the saying Even heroes sumb to the charms of beauties. Except that this beauty had changed gender this time. Ahem Well, even though they were being a little unkind, they were still grateful to that guy Master Song. If that guy had not been captured, General Qin would not have left the town. Then, she would not have gone on a killing spree, exterminated the Liao invaders, or returned to High Pass Town to support them. Dont worry about this matter, General Qin. Well go back and pass down the order for a thorough investigation. If Master Song is at High Pass Town, I will bring him to you immediately, one of the generals said. Right! Investigate our own men first. In addition, I will also send letters to ask other colleagues I know to ask them to help investigate as well! another general said. Mm-hmm! My uncle is a Lieutenant General of the Imperial Courts army, and he is in charge of many troops. In addition, he is familiar with many generals who lead troops. Ill write to him when I get back and ask him to help me look for Master Song! a third person said. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. She quickly raised her cup and gave everyone a toast. Thank you so much, everyone! Ill use this wine to show my gratitude. Ill drink first to roast all of you! With that, she tilted back her head and emptied the wine in the cup. Cheers! Everyone responded to her toast. They then all drained their cups of wine. Thereafter, the group continued to drink and feast merrily. They had a really enjoyable time. Meanwhile, in the middle regiments big tent in the Liao armys campsite. Xiao Yuan propped himself up and listened to thetest battle report. Cough! Cough! After two consecutive violent coughs, he actually coughed blood out into the handkerchief. Supreme Commander When the guard at the side saw this, he stepped forward anxiously. However, Xiao Yuan reached out and stopped him. Looking at the blood-stained handkerchief in his hand, Xiao Yuan folded it with one hand and gripped it in his palm. Where can you find ghosts in this world? It s even more impossible for a ghost army to exist! I have received the intelligence reports. The ghost army that you guys mentioned is that character known as Great Jin States God of Massacre. She has a few Special Forces Teams under her, and the members of these teams are all killers. Each member is skilled in the ying de technique. They are also equipped with a dagger-like weapon called a tri-dagger and a small crossbow. It is said that each of these people has thebat ability to fight one against twenty. Or in fact even more. Cough Xiao Yuan coughed violently again. This time, the handkerchief that he had used earlier could no longer be used.. Chapter 324 - 324: Continue To Fight Chapter 324: Continue To Fight Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Xiao Yuan had just thrown the handkerchief aside when his guard brought a new one. Xiao Yuan nced at the guard and epted the new handkerchief. Then, he looked at the person in front of him. Supreme Commander Please take care of your health. The person before him spoke first. He looked very worried. The Supreme Commander was already so old, yet he was still leading the army this time. If anything were to happen to him, the consequences would be unimaginable. Xiao Yuan waved his hand dismissively. I know my own body well. Right now, in the entire army, apart from you and my personal guards, no one knows that Im ill. My condition must be kept a secret from the outside world. At this point, Xiao Yuan gave a warning look to the person in front of him. Otherwise, the morale of the army would be shaken and the Jin army would seize the chance to attack. Yes, Sir! The man knew the gravity of the matter and quickly answered. Xiao Yuans expression improved somewhat upon hearing him. This time, 1 was too anxious. I didnt expect Qin Xiaoyao to return to High Pass Town and set up an ambush in the town. What a pity Cough, cough Xiao Yuan coughed violently again. Its a pity that it was at night. Otherwise otherwise, why would it end up like this! he said with bitterness. If they had broken into the town during the day, even if there was an ambush in the town, it would not have affected the morale of their army and caused such arge number of casualties. More than 23,000 soldiers were gone just like that He felt so remorseful Cough! Cough! The sickly taste of blood rose up in his throat again, and Xiao Yuan coughed out a lot of blood once more. Supreme Commander, please take care! The expression of the person in front of him changed at once, and he hurriedly bowed. Xiao Yuan finally showed signs of fatigue. Was I really wrong he suddenly said. Previously, he had asked the Emperor for reinforcements, but the Emperor had dragged his feet in approving the request. However, it was not entirely to suppress the Xiao family that he did this. It was just that the situation of the Great Liao State was not much better than the Jin State. The current Jin State couldnt afford to get embroiled in a war, and the Great Liao State was in a simr predicament. It would be good if he won when he deployed troops against the Jin State. They could plunderrge amounts of resources and ves from the Jin State, as well as obtainnd and marypensation. However, if they were defeated, the days toe for the Great Liao State would be difficult. And Xiao Yuan would be a sinner of the Great Liao State and the Xiao family. The Empress Dowager was in a delicate situation. If Xiao Yuan were defeated, it would be a big blow to the Empress Dowager and the Xiao family. Unfortunately, there was no antidote for regret in this world. Now, it was toote for him to regret sending troops to High Pass Town. Supreme Commander, dont be discouraged. We havent lost yet! That person in front of him cupped his fists and said to Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuans expression brightened up visibly. That person then continued, Qin Xiaoyao has returned to support High Pass Town. The defense of High Pass Town has been strengthened. Although it will be more difficult to take it down, now, we still have more than 10,000 more soldiers than the Jin army. So we still have the upper hand. Since Qin Xiaoyao has returned to High Pass Town, she wont be able to continue attacking our troops within the Jin State. It will give our troops a chance to catch their breath. After this, as long as we can take down High Pass Town, we can attack the Jin States forces in a pincer attack and annihte the Jin army. At that point, not only can we save our men within the Jin territories, but we can also defeat the Jin army thoroughly! Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuans spirits finally lifted. Now, I can only take this final gamble, he said in a low voice. If he gave up and returned to the court now, what awaited him and the Xiao family would be his ns decline. If he continued, there was still hope for the Xiao family to retain their glory. For the sake of the Xiao family, he had to fight one more time. Xiao Yuans eyes were filled with determination when he thought of this. Go. Summon all the generals for a meeting, he said in a low voice. Yes, Sir! The person acknowledged the order and retreated out of the tent. Inside High Pass Town. By the time Qin Xiaoyao finished drinking and came out with the generals, it was already past midnight. As they were still in the middle of a war, no one drank until he was very drunk. After leaving the restaurant, Qin Xiaoyao was just about to return to the camp when someone came up to invite her. When she found out that it was the Second Prince who had invited her, Qin Xiaoyao hesitated for a moment before agreeing to go. After that, she was ushered onto the horse carriage. As soon as she got into the carriage, she found the Second Prince sitting inside. Greetings, Your Highness, Qin Xiaoyao immediately bowed and she became more sober all of a sudden. Teacher Qin, please dont stand on ceremony. Have a seat and apany me for a ride around the town, the Second Prince said with a faint smile. He didnt look as stern as he usually did, and he seemed quite kind and gentle. Yes, Your Highness, Qin Xiaoyao answered. She found a seat and sat down. After that, she didnt dare to move. This was because she noticed that the Second Prince was staring at her from time to time. In such a constrained space, she felt that the atmosphere was a little Well, she had to admit that if the Second Prince wasnt so stern-looking, he would be quite good-looking. Unfortunately, her heart already belonged to someone else. Her heart waspletely and utterly upied by her husband. As a virtuous wife, she would not be fickle-minded nor would she blow hot and cold to string people along. Hehe The Second Prince couldnt help butugh out loud when he saw Qin Xiaoyaos wary expression. Thisugh made Qin Xiaoyao even more nervous. She didnt dare to look at the Second Prince and asked stiffly, Your Highness what are youughing at? How dare youugh! If you werent my boss, 1 wouldnt be putting up with your shit! she thought. Damn it! She never thought that someone like her would also suffer from workce harassment one day. Pfft! To her surprise, Qin Xiaoyaos reaction made the Second Prince burst outughing. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him speechlessly, the Second Prince finally suppressed his smile. Teacher, theres no need to be nervous. 1 invited you out to discuss the defense strategy of High Pass Town and guarding the town, the Second Prince said with a solemn demeanor. Well, he did actually have some other thoughts. As a Prince, he had seen many beautiful women, of course. However, this was the first time he had seen someone like Teacher Qin who was so special. It was a pity that Teacher Qin was already someones wife and doesnt seem to be interested in him. And he couldnt possibly take someones wife by force. Qin Xiaoyao then heaved a sigh of relief and looked at the Second Prince. Ahem Please speak, Your Highness, she immediately said. So he wanted to discuss work-rted matters? That was fine. In this battle, although the losses of the Liao army are greater than ours, they still have the advantage in terms of military strength. ording to the information from the spies, the Emperor of the Liao State is not willing to get embroiled in a protracted war with our Great Jin State. Xiao Yuan requested his reinforcements from Empress Dowager Xiao. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaos puzzled look, the Second Prince gave her an analysis of the situation in the Liao Imperial Court. So, if he is defeated, it wont be as simple as a mere battle defeat. It will also drag down Empress Dowager Xiao and the entire Xiao family. Hence, I predict that Xiao Yuan will not withdraw his troops after this defeat. Not only will the Liao troops not retreat, but they will alsounch a second attack soon. They want to take down High Pass Town before we totally wipe out the Liao troops still stuck inside the Jin territories, the Second Prince said in a deep voice. Therefore, after this, they still had a tough battle to fight. Furthermore, after being tricked this time, Xiao Yuan would be even more cautious in his next operation. How many soldiers does the Liao army still have? How much more than us? Qin Xiaoyao asked. She was Xiao Yuans bitter enemy. Now that the news she was at High Pass Town had been leaked, Xiao Yuan would definitely be eager to capture her and tear her into pieces to avenge his grandson.. Chapter 325 - 325: Fixation Chapter 325: Fixation Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Since that was the case, she might as well kill Xiao Yuan first and end it all. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyaos eyes shed with killing intent. The Second Prince noticed her expression and a trace of intrigue shed across his eyes. Xiao Yuan is not Xiao Tu, and hes definitely not anything like those Liao army generals you killed before. The Liao armys campsite outside High Pass Town stretches for a few miles and the ce is guarded strictly. Its difficult for outsiders to sneak in. And dont even bring up the topic of assassinating the Liao armys Supreme Commander, the Second Prince said. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the Second Prince, feeling a little aggrieved. I wasnt thinking of that, she said. Of course, she was thinking of that. After all, Xiao Yuan was themander of the Liao army and he was the one who was determined to attack the Jin State. If she could kill Xiao Yuan, the Liao army would naturally retreat. Pulling the carpet from under their feet was also one way to deal with the Liao army. It was much less troublesome than fighting the Liao army head-on. However, since the Second Prince had voiced his objection, she could not continue with this line of thought. No matter how capable she was, she was still one person at the end of the day. If she was surrounded by tens of thousands of Liao soldiers, she would still die, just like countless ants could bite an elephant to death. The Second Prince smiled at Qin Xiaoyao. Its good that you dont have such thoughts. Next, lets talk about the defenseyout. Also, whats the most appropriate arrangement for your Special Forces Team and the elite soldiers? Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao nodded. The Second Prince then began to exin the situation regarding his own troops. After the battle, the Liao soldiers suffered heavy casualties, but many of his men died as well. Now, he only had 20,000 soldiers left. As for Qin Xiaoyaos side, after deducting the casualties, she only had 14,000 people left. There were only about 5000 elite soldiers while the rest were new recruits whockedbat experience. Your Highness, youll be in charge of the town gates in the north and south. Ill take care of the town gate in the west, Qin Xiaoyao said in a low voice. When she saw that the Second Prince didnt object, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Ill deploy 3000 elite soldiers and 3000 new recruits to guard the town. The remaining 6000 new recruits will be incorporated into the logistics department and will be distributed to the different town gate towers to assist in providing logistics support to the soldiers defending the town. The Second Princes eyes flickered. Good! 2000 men will be responsible for one tower, and the military supplies department will make the overall arrangements, he responded. As they had suffered too many casualties, the Second Prince was preparing to transfer the soldiers who were previously in charge of logistics to the front line, but he was worried about problems with the logistics support. Now that Teacher Qin had arranged for her men to take over, it had solved his worry. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Then I still have 2000 elite soldiers and 3 Special Forces Teams left. A glint shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes when she said this. The Second Princes interest was piqued as well, and he looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Tell me your n, he said with a smile. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. How about the same n asst night? Set up an ambush in advance, then let some Liao troops enter the town, and afterward we swallow them up. Her men had achieved a great victory at a very small price. Right now, everyone was still feeling a little unsatisfied. How could she not continue? However, the Second Prince frowned. Im afraid it wont be that simple. Xiao Yuan has just suffered such a huge loss from our ambush. He wont be fooled so easily again. At the very least, he probably wont attack the town at night again. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up once more. No problem. Daytime is fine. I want to make things so difficult for him that whether he sends his troops in or not are both equally hard decisions. Of course, if I really want to let his troops enter the town, I have to pick the right time. I also cant have too many people in one go. It should be restricted to about 5000 people or less each time. With her 3 Special Forces Teams and 3000 elite soldiers working together, they would be able to get rid of them in less than two hours. If the Liao army was stupid enough, after falling for their trap twice, their advantage in numbers would soon be gone. At that point, if Xiao Yuan still dared to attack the town, she would really have to respect him as a hero. The Second Prince pondered as he listened, and then he nodded. If the Liao army still attacks the town from three sides, we can try this strategy. However, based on my understanding of Xiao Yuan, hell probably concentrate his forces on one of the town towers. In any case, if he were the other party, he would most likely make such a decision too. This way, after the town was broken through, they would concentrate their forces and charge in. No matter what kind of ambush was inside, as long as they had enough troops, they would be able to neutralize the ambush. Qin Xiaoyao was silent. She thought for a while it and felt that the Second Princes analysis made sense. She then praised the Second Prince in her heart. The Second Prince was indeed more experienced in warfare than she was. Then, if Xiao Yuan really only attacks one tower, how does Your Highness n to deal with it? Qin Xiaoyao quickly asked. The Second Princes eyes lit up. Your 3 Special Forces Teams and 3000 elite soldiers dont need to stay in the town, he suddenly said. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. Let the 3 Special Forces Teams each lead 1000 elite soldiers. They will leave the town overnight and go into hiding. Tomorrow, if Xiao Yuan attacks the three town gate towers together, tell them to bide their time and wait for the right opportunity. At the right time, they willunch their attack to kill the Liao soldiers and help defend the town. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment. With such an arrangement, the danger faced by the Special Forces Team and the elite soldiers would be greater. At the same time,pared to luring the enemy into the town to surround and annihte them, the battle results would not be as good. However, there were also benefits. If the Special Forces Team and the elite soldiersunched their attack at the critical moment, they could reverse the situation and prevent the Liao army from breaking through the town gate towers. Looking at the big picture, the Second Princes strategy was more reliable. What if the Liao army focuses their forces on one of the town gate towers? Qin Xiaoyao asked. It could be considered that she agreed with the Second Princes n. The Second Princes eyes flickered. Then these 3000 men will wait outside the town for an opportunity to strike. When the bulk of the Liao troops enters the town, let them kill their way into the Liao armys base camp at the rear. Its best if they can kill Xiao Yuan. If they cant, they should at least set on fire all the food rations in the Liao armys base camp. In this way, even if the Liao army could take down High Pass Town, they could forget about invading the heart of the Jin territories without any food rations. Moreover, with the Second Prince around, even if the defenses of High Pass Town were broken through, he would definitely defeat the Liao army thoroughly. If Xiao Yuan thought he could march straight into the Jin State unchallenged via High Pass Town, he must be dreaming. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes widened in shock. She almost pped her hands and cheered. Your Highness is a genius. Your humble servant is impressed! Qin Xiaoyao replied quickly. She was really full of admiration. The Second Prince certainly lived up to his reputation as a veteran on the battlefield. This strategy was something that ordinary people could not have thought of. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaos expression, the Second Prince felt quite pleased. The generals who followed him actually looked at him with this kind of expression quite often. However, he felt exceptionally happy when Teacher Qin also showed this sort of reaction. If thats the case, its not impossible to kill Xiao Yuan as well, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly said. Your Highness, why dont I also leave the town? If the Liao army really breaks through the towns defenses, I will go and kill Xiao Yuan. With me personally taking action, the chances of sess will be higher. Xiao Yuan was a big threat as long as he was alive. It was better to kill him for greater peace of mind. When dealing with enemies, it was better to kill them as soon as possible. Otherwise, if the enemy was constantly thinking about hitting back, he might really strike at some point. The Second Prince nced at Qin Xiaoyao. He realized that she was very fixated on killing Xiao Yuan. He could naturally guess some of the reasons. However, he still felt that this womans appetite for vengeance was a little too strong. Or rather, her perception of hidden danger was a little too paranoid. No. You have to stand guard at the west gate so that the Liao army wont discover anything is amiss, the Second Prince said in objection to her proposal.. Chapter 326 - 326: The War Started Again Chapter 326: The War Started Again Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and felt that the Second Princes words made sense. Then how about 1 wait for the Liao army to break through the town and then leave the town? she asked again. She really wanted to get rid of Xiao Yuan, that hidden threat. Moreover, she felt that Xiao Yuan might not be killed sessfully if someone else were to take action instead of her. After all, she had heard that the old fart was quite powerful and could be considered a figure who had fought his way up the ranks of the Liao army with real ability. Her subordinates could still deal with ordinary soldiers. However, it would be very difficult for them to assassinate a general like Xiao Yuan. The Second Prince turned his head to look at Qin Xiaoyao again. When he saw the sincerity in her eyes, he thought for a while and finally nodded. Then youll have to settle the affairs at the west of the town well in advance. In addition, if the enemy has not broken through the towns defenses, you are not allowed to sneak out of the town, he said with a stern expression. If this woman could seed in assassinating Xiao Yuan, the battle situation would be reversed instantly. And it seemed that she was the only one who was confident of sess in such a dangerous task. Ah, well. There was no harm in taking a gamble. If she really seeded, the Jin and Liao States would be able to stop fighting. Moreover, it would end with a victory for the Great Jin State. Your Highness, dont worry! A smile appeared on Qin Xiaoyaos face as she immediately answered. The horse carriage continued traveling on the streets of High Pass Town. The Second Prince began to exin the current state of High Pass Town to Qin Xiaoyao. Due to the war, the civilians in High Pass Town had either been arranged to move elsewhere in advance or they had gone to the east of the town. There were almost no civilians in the south, north, and west of the town. These areas were all under the control of the Jin army. When Qin Xiaoyao had just arrived at High Pass Town and ambushed the Liao army, she had already known about this. And now, when she got arger-scale view of High Pass Town and heard about the series of arrangements made by the Second Prince, she was very impressed inwardly. After taking a ride around the town for a while, the Second Prince was almost done with the introductions. At the end of the ride, he sent Qin Xiaoyao back to the campsite in the west of the town. Just as he was about to leave, Qin Xiaoyao asked him to stay back. The Second Princes heart skipped a beat, and he couldnt resist having some wishful thinking on his part. Following that, he got off the carriage and followed Qin Xiaoyao into the tent. In the end, he had indeed thought too much. Qin Xiaoyao had asked him to stay just to talk about Song Que. I have to trouble Your Highness to take care of my husbands matters. My heart can not rest at ease as long as I cant find my husband. At this point, Qin Xiaoyaos face was filled with deep worry. The Second Prince did not feel good inwardly when he heard her plea. Nheless, he quickly suppressed his emotions and said to Qin Xiaoyao, Dont worry. Master Song is blessed by the heavens. He will be fine. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. The matter of looking for him she looked at the Second Prince again. Ive already made the arrangements. However, there are a lot of things to do in the army right now, so the search will definitely be dyed. When the war is over and the military orders are clear, I believe there will be news soon, the Second Prince continued. Qin Xiaoyao nodded again. Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness! She cupped her fists and bowed to the Second Prince. The Second Prince gestured with his hand. Its nothing. 1 should be the one to thank you foring to High Pass Town to help me. Qin Xiaoyao smiled in embarrassment. When I find my husband, both of us can serve Your Highness, she bowed to the Second Prince again. The Second Princes eyes flickered. Haha! If thats the case, 1 should put in more effort! Heughed heartily. Qin Xiaoyaoughed as well. After so many twists and turns, the couple still ended up following the Second Prince. They might as well do it. People strive to climb higher, and they should work toward making their lives better. Since power was already at her fingertips, why should she refuse it? The two of them talked for a while longer before Qin Xiaoyao sent the Second Prince off. After that, Qin Xiaoyao didnt rest and immediately sent someone to summon Han Chao and the others over. Based on the results of her discussion with the Second Prince, she began to deploy and arrange the troops ordingly. When I leave, you will be in charge of the west town gate. At that point, if the Liao army attacks the other town gates, you should provide support at the critical moment, Qin Xiaoyao said to Han Chao. Han Chao had followed the Second Prince for many years and was his trusted aide. After she left, she would feel very reassured if Han Chao was put in charge of the west of the town. Yes, General! Han Chao immediately answered. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. After that, she walked toward the 3000 elite soldiers and the 3 Special Forces Teams that stood in front of her. Then, she told everyone about the n she hatched with the Second Prince. When everyone heard the n, they were all very excited. The opportunity to make a name for themselves hade again. If they could break into the Liao armys base camp this time and burn their provisions, they would be able to make a great contribution! Soon, Qin Xiaoyao assigned the tasks to the 3 Special Forces Teams. After that, she gave some instructions to the 3 Special Forces Team leaders before releasing them to sneak out of the town overnight. After the Special Forces Team and the 3000 elite soldiers left, Qin Xiaoyao asked Han Chao to arrange for the new recruits to be logistics soldiers. Qin Xiaoyao only returned to her tent to rest after she had arranged everything. Although it wasnt long before daybreak, there was still a tough battle tomorrow, so it was good to rest for one or two hours. After all, if everything went well, she might really be able to leave the town to kill Xiao Yuan. As long as they could take Xiao Yuans head, the battle would be over. She, Qin Xiaoyao, would be able to be famous throughout the world. She really needed a good reputation right now. Only by bing powerful enough could she find her husband as soon as possible and protect her family Qin Xiaoyao was woken up by the sound of the Liao armys horn less than four hours after shey down. When she got out of bed and inquired, she found out that the Liao army had attacked at daybreak. And just as the Second Prince had predicted, they were focusing their forces on just one of the towers, namely the South Town Gate Tower. Of the three town gate towers that faced the outside of High Pass Town, the North Town Gate Tower was the most magnificent and had the strongest defense. The second was the South Town Gate Tower, and thest was the West Town Gate Tower. However, the Liao soldiers had already learned that Qin Xiaoyao was at the West Town Gate Tower and they had previously suffered a great loss at the west part of High Pass Town. Perhaps it was for this reason that the enemy gave up on attacking the West Town Gate Tower and chose to attack the South Town Gate Tower instead. Qin Xiaoyao didnt find it strange when she received this piece of news. Hows the battle situation in the south of the town? Did the Second Prince send any orders? Qin Xiaoyao quickly asked. Han Chao cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. The Second Prince has ordered us to bide our time. Defend the west of the town securely. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Hes right. The Liao army has just started its attack. How do we know if its a trap? It wont be toote for us to go and help them after the enemy has deployed more troops. That was what the Second Prince was thinking, Han Chao replied. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Han Chao. Alright. Then well act ording to the Second Princes orders. In addition, you should keep an eye on the logistics. We cant make any In addition, you should keep an eye on the logistics. We cant make any mistakes, Qin Xiaoyao instructed. Yes, General! Han Chao answered. He quickly left the tent. Qin Xiaoyao ate something, and soon left the tent and went up to the gate tower in the west of the town. She discovered that although there were some Liao soldiers outside the town, they maintained a fairly far distance from the town gate tower. Moreover, these Liao soldiers were just facing them from a distance and had no ns to attack the town. They are here to monitor me? Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help muttering to herself. Then, she looked at Han Chao next to her. Is there such a situation in the north of the town? As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she pointed at the Liao army.. Chapter 327 - 327: We’ll Talk After the Killing Spree Chapter 327: Well Talk After the Killing Spree Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion There were no less than 4000 of them, and they had many cavalrymen. If they were to leave the town to chase them, the other party would definitely flee. If they didnt give chase, they would have to be on guard against the enemy suddenly turning back to attack the town. In this way, even if she wanted to go to the south of the town to support herrades, she would not dare to send out too many troops. Yes, there is! Han Chao replied. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Han Chao and then at the Liao army. She frowned immediately. They are really an eyesore, she said. Han Chao nced at Qin Xiaoyao and smiled as he rubbed his nose. They were the enemy, so of course they were an eyesore. Its a pity that we are somewhat short of troops. Otherwise, we could have sent out the Special Forces Team and the elite soldiers to attack them in a pincer attack in tandem with us. We could have simply devoured this group of people. The feeling of having to abstain from eating when the meat was delivered to her mouth was really unbearable. Han Chao smiled in amusement. General, dont worry. They havent set up camp yet, so they might leave soon. The Liao army used these troops to restrain them, but they themselves were also being restrained in return. The south town gate was not that easy to break through. If the Liao army wanted to break through the town, the current number of troops they had deployed was not enough. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Han Chao. I cant be bothered to wait. I want to go out and send them on their way to theherworld! she said. With that, she descended from the town gate tower. I want 1500 cavalrymen. Elite soldiers at the front and new recruits at the back. Follow me out of the town andunch a killing spree! she said as she walked. The other party had no intention of fighting, and they were sitting astride their horses, ready to retreat at any time. They were just a bunch of timid birds that would get startled easily. Once she gave chase, the other party would definitely retreat. If she could run fast, she might be able to kill some enemies to satisfy her craving. The enemy was already right under her nose. If she didnt do anything, wouldnt Xiao Yuan look down on her? Didnt these people want to make sure that she and her men were in the town? She would personally send herself to their doorstep and help them confirm it. Wouldnt that be great? Han Chao was surprised. Then, he smiled and followed her. At the same time, he responded, Yes, General! Before long, 1500 cavalrymen had gathered at the town gate. Qin Xiaoyao held a long spear in her hand and mounted the horse. Follow me and kill our way out! she said sternly. Kill them! The soldiers were full of fighting spirit. Then, the town gate was opened. Qin Xiaoyao took the lead and sped away on her horse. The many cavalrymen behind her followed closely, kicking up a cloud of dust from the ground. Such a hugemotion naturally attracted the attention of the Liao soldiers outside the town. The Liao soldiers, who had been very rxed, became nervous suddenly. Perhaps sensing the strong killing intent of the other party, the warhorses under the enemy troops began prancing in circles nervously. Commander A personal guard beside themander of the Liao army spoke up. As soon as he spoke, themander raised his hand to stop him. Lets wait a little longer, themander said in a deep voice. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Qin Xiaoyao, who was leading the charge at the front. The military order given to him by the Supreme Commander was to make sure that Qin Xiaoyao was in the west of the town. Even if he wanted to leave, he had to get a clear picture of the circumstances first. Previously, the distance was too far, and he was worried that it would be difficult to determine. And now, he had a chance. In any case, he would leave once he was sure that it was Qin Xiaoyao. He wasnt going to fight with Qin Xiaoyaos men, so nothing would happen. Although he was thinking along this line, as Qin Xiaoyao got closer and closer, themanders heart became increasingly more tense. After all, he was facing the Great Jin States God of Massacre. The grandson of their Supreme Commander and arge number of Liao generals had all died in her hands. And those ghost soldiers under her also ughter people without emotions. Commander When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was less than eighty steps away from them, a soldier reminded themander again. His tone was a little flustered, obviously frightened by the battle cries on the other side. How could he not be afraid when those were all homicidal demons opposite him? Besides, they didnt have any mission this time. Why should they stay and risk their lives fighting this group of murderous demons? Themanders head was already covered in sweat. However, his eyes were fixed on Qin Xiaoyao without blinking. If the other party were closer, just a little closer, he would be able to see if the other party was truly Qin Xiaoyao. Just wait a little longer just a moment more. Right at this instant, Qin Xiaoyao, who had been keeping her head low as she rode her horse, suddenly raised her head. An icy, sinister smile appeared on her heroic face. Following that, two flying daggers suddenly flew out of her hands. When themander who was standing around fifty steps away saw this, his expression changed at once. He immediately grabbed the man beside him to shield himself. At the same time, he ducked his head down and cowered low, hiding himself behind the man. In an instant, the two flying daggers struck. The sharp de sliced through the flesh. One of the flying daggers slit through the throat of the human shield, while the other one shed through the right arm of themander, which he couldnt hide in time. Argh themander let out a wretched scream. He quickly threw away the dead human shield. Advance troops, bring up the rear. The rest of you, follow me and retreat! he barked out. Then, without even looking at Qin Xiaoyao, he turned his horse around and fled. For a while, the Liao army was in utter chaos. They had the advantage in numbers, yet all of them turned tail and fled. Qin Xiaoyao pulled out her Liao-style saber and quickly shed at the advance troops of the Liao army who were bringing up the rear. They didnt go after the miserable fleeing soldiers. Those few troops left behind were still enough for them. The advance troops of the Liao army retreated as they resisted, trying to escape their misfortune. However, the result was destined to be a tragedy. In just a short while, they were all in by Qin Xiaoyao and her men. Looking at therge group of Liao troops that had already fled far away, some people wanted to give chase but were stopped by Qin Xiaoyao. Enough! Beware of ambush if we go too deep. Quickly clear the battlefield and return to the town! Qin Xiaoyao said in a stern voice. Yes, General! All the soldiers answered. Immediately, they got busy on the battle site. The soldiers were very experienced in cleaning up the battlefield. It didnt take long for them to sort out all the weapons and horses. Then, they followed Qin Xiaoyao back to the town in a grand manner. After returning to the town, the soldiers in the west town cheered, and the morale of the Jin army was high. Qin Xiaoyao once again went up the town gate tower to observe the situation outside the town. After confirming that the Liao army had not returned, she felt more at ease. General At this moment, a messenger ran up from below. The South Gate Tower is in danger. The Second Prince has ordered General Qin to send 1000 troops to the south town to support him! The messenger knelt down on one knee and quickly reported when he arrived in front of Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos expression changed slightly. Han Chao she immediately ordered. Yes, General! Han Chao immediately responded. Pick out a thousand soldiers and have Liu Hong lead them to the south town! Yes, General! Han Chao hurriedly answered. He left with the messenger. Qin Xiaoyao waited on the town gate tower for a while longer until Han Chao returned. Whats the situation in the south of the town? Also, has the Liao army in the north of the town retreated? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Han Chao cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. They have retreated! Currently, the Liao army is attacking the south town gate with all their might. The South Town Gate has fallen twice in a row. At thest moment, our soldiers beat the Liao scumbags back. But the Liao scumbags have attacked with great momentum this time. Im afraid they will break through the South Gate sooner orter, Han Chao said worriedly. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and nced at Han Chao. Get someone to keep a close eye on it. Once the South Gate is breached, inform me immediately, she instructed. Let the gate be breached. If the enemy did not break through the town, how could she leave the town? Chapter 328 - 328: Fell Into a Trap Chapter 328: Fell Into a Trap Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Yes, General! Han Chao answered. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao leave the town gate tower and go to rest. Though she said she was resting, she didnt leave the town gate tower. Instead, she sat in a small room in the town gate tower and drank tea. She was waiting for news. After waiting for about half an hour, Han Chao finally arrived again. He told her that the South Town Gate had been broken through. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. She went up to the town gate tower and gave a pep talk to boost the troops morale with great fanfare. After showing her face for thest time, she handed over themand of the west of the town to Han Chao and sneaked out of the town. After leaving the town, Qin Xiaoyao sped along. Very soon, she met up with Huang Fei and the rest who were lying in ambush outside the west town. Qin Xiaoyao was relieved to know that the Liao army had not returned to the west town. Contact the other two teams. Well take action now! Qin Xiaoyao quickly gave the order. Yes, Leader! Huang Fei replied excitedly. Half an hourter, Qin Xiaoyao led 3 Special Forces Teams and 3000 elite soldiers to the vicinity of the Liao armys base camp. Unfortunately, based on her observations, Qin Xiaoyao realized that the defense of the Liao armys base camp was much tighter than she had expected. There were many sentries, both in the open and in the dark. Leader Huang Fei looked at the Liao armys base camp on the opposite side, his eyes filled with eagerness. Dont be impatient, Qin Xiaoyao quickly said. She then frowned and said, The number of troops left behind has exceeded my expectations. We might not be able to win if we fight them head-on. Lets do it this way. Well split up. Huang Fei, take your men and 3000 elite soldiers and attack from the front to attract the attention of the Liao army. Huang Shi and Huang An, the two of you, look for the ce where the Liao army stores their food rations and think of a way to burn their food rations. The three Huang brothers exchanged looks with one another and nodded at Qin Xiaoyao. Leader didnt say what she was going to do, but they all knew that she was going to do something big. What big thing? Hehe! Of course, it was to kill the Liao armysmander! This was their leaders habitual tactic now. Move out! Qin Xiaoyao said. The three Huang brothers quickly went their separate ways. Before long, Huang Fei led his men to charge into the Liao armys campsite and started fighting with the Liao soldiers. Meanwhile, the two Special Forces Teams sneaked into the Liao armys campsite and searched for the food rations store. Qin Xiaoyao acted alone and also entered the Liao armys campsite, searching for Xiao Yuan. She was nimble and moved swiftly. While observing the Liao armys campsite situation, she also deduced the best route to move forward. It was a pity that the Liao armys campsite was too big. Although she had found the tents of several Liao generals, she still could not locate Xiao Yuans whereabouts. In order to avoid alerting the enemy, she did noty her hands on the Liao army generals she saw. However, as time passed, she started to panic. This was because the soldiers in the Liao armys campsite were bing calmer and calmer, and the battle cries from the periphery of the Liao armys campsite were bing softer and softer. This was not normal Unless Huang Fei and the 3000 elite soldiers had already been subdued. There was also the fact that the Special Forces Team led by Huang An and Huang Shi had yet to make any moves. Something was not quite right At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao looked to the front and saw a general of the Liao army who was carrying out his duties. Finally, she didnt hesitate any longer and suddenly appeared. Then, she charged forward and killed the other party on the spot. Thereafter, she killed the few generals around him, as well as some soldiers. I, Qin Xiaoyao, am here! Where is Xiao Yuan? Tell him toe out and meet his death quickly! she shouted viciously. The Liao troops within the camp reacted quickly when they heard these words. Arge number of soldiers began to gather here. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt afraid. After snatching a long spear, she started to kill the Liao soldiers that surrounded her. As she killed, Qin Xiaoyao continued to mor. Xiao Yuan, you old fart! Come out quickly! Come and meet your death! Ive killed your grandson and so many of your men. You gutless coward, dont you want to take revenge? Hahahaha Qin Xiaoyaoughed very outrageously. At the same time, her actions were seamless. Despite being attacked by numerous Liao army troops, she remained unharmed. Not only was she uninjured, but she also continued to y the Liao soldiers that got close to her. She looked like an evil demon that had just crawled out of hell. The Liao soldiers felt their skin turning numb as they watched. There were many who were afraid to fight her. However, with the Liao army generals supervising the battle from behind, they could only keep pushing forward. They tried tounch a human wave attack to overwhelm Qin Xiaoyao. Of course, Qin Xiaoyao knew what the Liao army was thinking but she didnt run away. Instead, she continued to yell arrogantly and made an even biggermotion to attract the attention of the Liao army. Only then would the Huang brothers have a chance to retreat with their men. That was right. Now that things hade to this, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but specte that her men were probably in trouble. Or rather, they might have fallen into someones trap. 3 Special Forces Teams and 3000 elite soldiers. It wasnt easy for her to train up all these men. She would cry if they were all lost here. Thus, she would be the one to attract hatred and attention. It would buy them some time to make it easier for them to retreat. As for her, as long as she could just stall for a while In the short term, no one should be able to hurt her. Qin Xiaoyaos guess was correct. The Liao army had indeed set a trap in the base camp. The 3000 elite soldiers were quickly surrounded after they broke into the Liao armys campsite. The other two Special Forces Teams that went around the back werent any better off. After entering the campsite, they were quickly discovered and trapped. Fortunately, both the Special Forces Team members and the elite soldiers were well-trained. Although they were trapped, they kept resisting heroically and were not totally destroyed by the Liao army. However, even so, their situation was not optimistic. The number of Liao soldiers in the Liao armys campsite was way beyond their imagination. As long as the Liao soldiers continued to add troops to kill the elite soldiers and the Special Forces Team members, what awaited thetter would be death. Qin Xiaoyao had taken the initiative to expose herself to attract the attacking power, which gave them a chance to catch their breath. She could only hope that the three Huang brothers would be smart enough to think of a way to break out of the encirclement as soon as possible. They would have to save as many people as they could. Without a doubt, Qin Xiaoyaos strategy was effective. As soon as she showed up, the Liao army dispatched arge number of Liao soldiers to encircle her. The more tenacious she was, the more they transferred troops over. Xiao Yuan already held a grudge against her. In addition, she had prestige in the Jin army and was a deterrent force to the Liao army. To Xiao Yuan, killing Qin Xiaoyao was more worthwhile than killing the 3000 elite soldiers and the 3 Special Forces Teams. As she saw more and more Liao soldiers within her line of sight, almost forming a swamp around her like a tide, Qin Xiaoyaos face sank. Damn it! If she didnt leave now, she really wouldnt be able to leave anymore After she made up her mind, she no longer hesitated. Qin Xiaoyao suddenly leaped up and stepped on the shoulder of a Liao soldier beside her. Then, she stepped on the shoulders and heads of countless Liao soldiers and charged out Xiao Yuan, you old fart! Ille and take your wretched head next time! Qin Xiaoyao shouted sternly as she rushed out. Release the arrows! At this moment, someone behind her suddenly shouted. Before Qin Xiaoyao could turn around, she heard the sound of arrows tearing through the air. A cold glint shed across her eyes as she fended off several arrows with the spear in her hand.. Chapter 329 - 329: Revenge Chapter 329: Revenge Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Then, without looking back, Qin Xiaoyao continued to dash forward. Hmph! They wanted to keep her here? No way The Liao army continued to block and pursue her. They even attacked Qin Xiaoyao and the hapless Liao soldiers near her indiscriminately. Unfortunately, Qin Xiaoyao was like a machine that had been pre-programmed. She was able to dodge every strike and escape with her life. Outside the sea of Liao soldiers, Xiao Yuan, who was dressed like a regr soldier, had a grim expression on his face when he saw Qin Xiaoyao escaping. The Great Jin States God of Massacre indeed lived up to his name. It was a pity that such a powerful general did not hail from their Great Liao State. What was even more unfortunate was that the ambush they had set up today had failed to take him down. Now that this person had escaped, there would probably be endless trouble in the future Qin Xiaoyao ran all the way and charged for almost half an hour before she barely managed to break out of the Liao armys encirclement. She then dashed out of the campsite and snatched a horse before riding it to escape back to High Pass Town. As she fled, Qin Xiaoyao was cursing in her heart. Damn it. If she had dyed any longer, she would really have suffered a big setback. Xiao Yuan, that old fart, had better not let her catch him. Otherwise, she would definitely take revenge on him for today! She rode her horse all the way back to the west town in High Pass Town. In the end, Qin Xiaoyao ran into Huang Fei and the others who were waiting outside the west town. Huang Fei and the rest did not return to the town. Instead, they stopped not far from the west town and waited for her. When they saw that Qin Xiaoyao had returned and there were no pursuers behind her, they all heaved a sigh of relief. Leader Leader Leader The three Huang brothers all stepped forward and looked at Qin Xiaoyao with worried expressions. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and nced in the direction of the Liao armys campsite. A trace of hatred shed across her eyes. Then, she turned around and looked at the three brothers. Well talk when we get back! she said in a sharp voice. Then, she spurred her horse onward and went inside first. The three Huang brothers hurriedly led their own men and followed. After they entered the town, they followed Qin Xiaoyao to the resting room in the town gate tower. Han Chao was also there. When he saw the four of them in a sorry state, he had a bad feeling. After sitting down, Qin Xiaoyao poured herself arge cup of tea and said, Tell me about the losses. The three Huang brothers looked defeated. After exchanging nces, Huang Fei bowed to Qin Xiaoyao first. There are only 500 elite soldiers left. More than half of the Special Forces Team has been lost, he said with difficulty. Nearby, Han Chao was shocked. Including me, only 10 of my men are left, Huang Shi added. Our team only has 12 people left, Huang An added. The room fell silent at once. Qin Xiaoyao held the teacup with one hand, and her face was extremely glum. Han Chao was dying to ask a barrage of questions, but in the face of such a depressing atmosphere, he couldnt open his mouth. After a long while, Qin Xiaoyao finally spoke. You guys are not to me. That old fart Xiao Yuan had set up a trap in advance. Its already very good that you were able to get these people to retreat in time and bring back these remaining people, she continued. Leader Huang Fei was a little anxious as he called out. However, Qin Xiaoyao raised her hand and stopped him from continuing. We will take revenge for this sooner orter! For now, go down andfort your brothers. Make sure those who are injured get medical treatment. In addition, you have to personally take care of thepensation and make sure everything is in order, Qin Xiaoyao said in a low voice. Yes, Leader! Huang Fei cupped his fists and replied in an emotionally charged voice. Then, he brought Huang An and Huang Shi down. After they left, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Han Chao. After I left, whats the situation in the south of the town? she asked. Han Chao hurriedly bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Not long after you left the town, the Liao army was repelled. The Second Prince sent a letter to ask about your situation. After learning that you had left the town, he rxed the defense of the South Gate. After that, the South Gate was broken through. Fortunately, the Liao troops that entered the town were not as many as we expected. Currently, our men are fighting the Liao army in the town. Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at Han Chao. The battle is still ongoing in the south of the town? she asked. Mm-hmm. However, the battle seems to be spreading out and the Liao soldiers are mainly heading to the east. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. The east of the town was the inner part of High Pass Town. Once the enemy exited from the east of the town, they could directly charge into the depths of the Jin territories. The Liao armys actions were not unusual. Theres no need to guard the West Town Gate Tower anymore, Qin Xiaoyao said after some thought. Gather all the troops and follow me to the east town. We will stop the Liao army outside the town. There were still arge number of civilians living in the east town. If the Liao army was able to reach this area, there would probably be many casualties. Moreover, she had just managed to wipe out all the Liao troops outside of Hua An Prefecture with much difficulty, so she was not willing to allow new Liao troops in. Now that south town had been breached, they had lost their geographical advantage. In that case, they would have to fight the enemies head-on. It would not be that easy for Xiao Yuan to get through High Pass Town. Yes, General! Han Chao quickly answered. In a short while, they had gathered all the troops. When Qin Xiaoyao arrived, she realized that Huang Fei and the others had gathered here as well. When she saw them, Qin Xiaoyao only nced at them and didnt say anything. More people meant more power. This was particrly true for members of the Special Forces Team, who could fight one against twenty. This battle only has one purpose, and that is to stop the Liao army from entering the east town! From there, we can stop them from entering the heart of our Great Jin State! Qin Xiaoyao said in a stern voice. There are still 100,000 civilians in the east town of High Pass Town. Their lives and properties are in our hands. Beyond the east town, there are tens of millions of civilians in the Great Jin State. If we let these Liao invaders in, the civilians lives will be in grave danger. Now, tell me, do you have the confidence to defend the east town? Qin Xiaoyao bellowed sternly. We have! the soldiers responded immediately. I swear to defend the east town and High Pass Town with my life! Han Chao suddenly hollered. I swear to defend the east town and High Pass Town with my life! The soldiers immediately echoed his slogan. For a moment, the crowd was furious. Qin Xiaoyaos heart was surging with emotions. After raising her hand to signal for everyone to be quiet, she began toy out the battle n. Liu Hong Yes, General! Liu Hong immediately stepped forward. 1 order you to take 500 soldiers and immediately head to the east town gate to provide support. Dont let a single soldier leave the East Gate before the great battle is over! Yes, General! Liu Hong acknowledged the order in a deep voice. Then he quickly gathered his troops and set off. Qin Xiaoyao then turned to look at Han Chao. Han Chao Yes, General! Han Chao quickly stepped forward. I order you to take the rest of the troops other than the Special Forces Team and rush to the main road in the town center district. Barricade the intersection and stop the Liao army from advancing toward the east town! Qin Xiaoyao said in a stern voice. Yes, General! Han Chao immediately responded. Then, he gathered his men and set off. After Han Chao and the others left, the West Town Gate Tower became very empty. Qin Xiaoyao watched as they marched away. Then, she looked at Huang Fei and the rest, as well as the Special Forces Team members who had returned alive. From now on, the Special Forces Team will be renamed the Phantom Army. Ill lead this army personally. Next, we will go and attack the South Town, Qin Xiaoyao said in a low voice. Yes, Leader! the Special Forces Team members replied in unison. There is but one objective in this mission. Kill. Kill all the Liao scumbags that invaded High Pass Town! Take revenge for our fallen brothers! Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were filled with a murderous glint. Revenge! We want revenge! The Special Forces Team was in a frenzy. Qin Xiaoyao didnt silence the crowds chanting.. She waited until everyone quieted down before she hollered in a stern voice, Move out! Chapter 330 - 330: The Battle Royale in the South of the Town Chapter 330: The Battle Royale in the South of the Town Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Following that, Qin Xiaoyaos figure dashed off swiftly. The Special Forces Team members followed in her footsteps like phantoms. Soon, Qin Xiaoyao and the others entered the south town. They formed themselves into small-scale military units and began ying the small teams of Liao troops they encountered. They moved swiftly and killed expeditiously. In a short while, they had in arge number of Liao soldiers. Qin Xiaoyao wasnt afraid even if her army encounteredrger-scale Liao army troops. One person would charge forward, taking the head of the enemysmander straightaway, thereby scattering the enemy troops. The Special Forces Team would wait for the opportunity to attack and split the enemy up before finishing them off. After half a day, when the sky turned dark, Qin Xiaoyao and her Special Forces Team had already ughtered their way from the south of the town to the center of the town. They had no idea how many people they had killed. At this moment, everyone was exhausted. Even Qin Xiaoyao felt that her special ability force was a little overdrawn. Huang Shi!1 Qin Xiaoyao finally stopped at a corner and shouted to the back. Yes, Leader! Huang Shi immediately ran forward. As he got closer, Qin Xiaoyao realized that Huang Shis forehead was covered in sweat. He was also a little breathless when he spoke. Qin Xiaoyao turned around and looked at the other people who were equally exhausted. She leaned against the wall. Take a few brothers with you and find a safe ce. Let everyone eat something and recuperate. They had just cleared this area, so it was safe for the time being. In addition, the town center district was rtively closer to the east of the town. Previously, there were asionally civilians who were actively doing business here. With some effort, they should be able to find food. They had not had enough food and water for the entire afternoon. If they continued, they would die of exhaustion even if they were not killed by the Liao soldiers. She wasnt rhe only one who needed to replenish her energy and recover her power. The rest of the ream also needed to replenish their energy. Yes, Leader! Huang Shis face lit up with joy as he quickly replied. Then, he turned around and quickly left with the others. Qin Xiaoyao and the others stayed where they were to rest and wait for Huang Shis news. Qin Xiaoyao leaned against rhe wall and rested for a while. When she turned to the side, she saw Huang Fei. Then, she looked at the Special Forces Team members behind her. They were either leaning against rhe wall or sitting on the ground in exhaustion. Her heart felt somewhat heavy. How many people do we have now? she asked Huang Fei. Huang Fei didnt even turn his head as he cupped his hands ar Qin Xiaoyao. Including you. Leader, theres 20 of us, he said in a low voice. In just one afternoon, the number of members had been reduced by half again. As for those who survived, theirbat power was far from what it was before. If this continued, they might lose even more people. Qin Xiaoyaos expression was grave. She pinched the bridge of her nose and didnt say anything more. After a while, Huang Shi finally returned. He led the way and brought the group into a house. When they arrived at the back kitchen of the house, everyone saw that there was food and drinks. They immediately reached out to take some and gobbled them up. As the food entered their stomachs, their depressed moods were instantly lifted. As the members of the Special Forces Team ate heartily, they started smiling. They were all enjoying this moment of happiness. Qin Xiaoyao was also earing without manners. When her eyes met Huang Feis gaze, who was sitting not far away, she gave a faint smile. Huang Fei was taken aback, but he also smiled back. At this moment, everyone had a tacit understanding and enjoyed the food with ease of mind. After a quarter of an hour, everyone was almost full. Putting away their rxed mood, the group gathered around Qin Xiaoyao, waiting for new orders. However, Qin Xiaoyao remained seated and did not move. Its been hard on you today, my brothers, she said. After this, have a good rest and recharge your energy. We ll take action again after midnight. The crowd exchanged looks with one another. Yes, Leader! Huang Fei was the first to answer. Only then did the rest of the people respond in a simr fashion. Qin Xiaoyao then allowed Huang Fei and the others to stay behind and scheduled rotating shifts of guard duty. Thereafter, the courtyard returned to its usual tranquility. Leader, why dont I go out and check out the situation in the east of the town?11 Just as Qin Xiaoyao was about to close her eyes for a while, Huang Fei came over. Qin Xiaoyao turned to Huang Fei. When she saw his worried expression, a hint of hesitation shed across her face. In fact, she was also curious about the current situation outside. However, after thinking for a while, she still rejected his suggestion. Youre not allowed to. Its too dangerous for you to act alone. Not only are the Liao troops running around in the town, but our own people are also dispersed everywhere. On our way here, except for the east town district, the other districts are caught up in melee battles. Wait for dawn. I ll personally go check out the situation after dawn. She had already agreed with the Second Prince long ago. Once the town gate tower of High Pass Town was breached, the east side of the town would be sealed off immediately. After night fell, be it rhe Liao or Jin army, they could not enter the east of the town. Otherwise, they would all be killed without exception. Earlier in the day, she had chosen to lead the Special Forces Team to stay on the outer perimeter in order to kill the Liao troops that had swarmed into the town and reduce the pressure on the east towns defense line. And now, this mission had to continue. At least, she had to hold on until the next day. After all, the light at night was not good, if they rashly approached the east side of the town, it would only cause misunderstandings. Huang Fei was silent. After a moment, he answered, Alright! Then, he went to a ce not far away from Qin Xiaoyao and halfy down. Since he couldnt go out to scout for information, he might as well rest. Only by resting and recovering his energy would he be able to deal with the uing battle. Qin Xiaoyao withdrew her gaze and closed her eyes as well. It wasnt until thetter half of the night that she was suddenly woken up by the battle cries outside. As soon as she stood up, the people around Qin Xiaoyao stirred as well. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and looked at the people who had woken up earlier than her. Huang Fei was among them. Leader Huang Fei had already made his way briskly to Qin Xiaoyao. What time is it? Qin Xiaoyao asked in a low voice. Its already past midnight, Huang Fei replied. Qin Xiaoyao flung off the clothes covering her body and stood up. Its almost time. Go and wake up our brothers, she said. Yes, Leader! Huang Fei quickly left after replying to her. Qin Xiaoyao stretched her limbs and looked at Huang An, who was not far away. Take two men to see whats going on outside. Dont attack before you have thoroughly investigated the situation. Come back and report first, Qin Xiaoyao instructed. Yes, Leader! Huang An answered. He summoned two men very quickly and they headed out. Before long, the Special Forces Team members were all assembled. After resting for more than four hours, everyones spirits were visibly much better. When they looked at Qin Xiaoyao, many of them even had smiles on their faces. After a while, Huang An and the other two returned. Leader Huang An quickly walked up to Qin Xiaoyao and greeted her with cupped fists. How is it? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Its a group of Liao soldiers who fought their way here. They bumped into General Zhaos men. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. General Zhao? Zhao Shikuan? Zhao Shikuan seemed to be rhe only one with the surname Zhao and the rank of general in the Jin States army. This person could be considered an old acquaintance of hers. She had known him back in Mountain Spring Town. After she came to High Pass Town, Zhao Shikuan and the other generals invited her for a drink and promised to help her look for her husband. General Zhaos men are fighting tenaciously, bur the enemy has more people. Im afraid theyre no match for them. Leader, do we attack? Huang An quickly asked.. Chapter 331 - 331: Entering the East of the Town Chapter 331: Entering the East of the Town Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Of course! Qin Xiaoyao replied. She immediately looked at the other members of the Special Forces Team. Follow me and kill our way out. We will assist General Zhao and kill all the Liao scumbags! she said. Yes, Leader! the Special Forces Team members quickly responded. Then, the group of people moved quickly and killed their way out of the courtyard. On the streets, when Qin Xiaoyao and her team appeared, they quickly turned the tide of the battle. Initially, Zhao Shikuan was full of despair, but when he saw that people from the Special Forces Team hade to help, his eyes were filled with hope once more. Kill! Kill all these Liao scumbags! Zhao Shikuan suddenly hollered. He raised his saber and shed at the Liao soldier closest to him. At this point, when Zhao Shikuans men saw that reinforcements had arrived, their morale was greatly boosted, and they once again fought the Liao troops with valor. In addition, Qin Xiaoyao and the others had superior martial strength. In a short while, they had in all the Liao soldiers who were engaging them in battle. General Qin! Zhao Shikuans sharp eyes spotted Qin Xiaoyao, and he quickly walked toward her. General Zhao! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Thank you for your help, General Qin! Zhao Shikuan quickly cupped his fists at Qin Xiaoyao. General Zhao, you are too polite! I just happened to run into you guys and 1 thought Id give you guys a helping hand, Qin Xiaoyao said with a wave of her hand. Why are you here, General Zhao? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Zhao Shikuan was the Second Princes trusted aide, and he usually followed the Second Prince around. Why wasnt he with the Second Prince this time? Im here on His Highnesss orders to check out the situation in the war zone. I just came from the east towns defense line. To my surprise, not long after we came out, we encountered these Liao soldiers, Zhao Shikuan said glumly. By the way, General Qin, did youe from the west town? Hows the situation at the west town? Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered momentarily. Im not sure. When she saw Zhao Shikuans puzzled look, Qin Xiaoyao said, We left the west town yesterday afternoon. After that, we have been wandering around the south of the town to kill the Liao soldiers. We only entered the town center district when it was almost dark. After that, we hid here to rest and recover our energy. Zhao Shikuan was surprised. You guys have you been fighting with the Liao army for so long? He turned his gaze to the soldiers behind Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos men were indeed in a sorry state, but they were all full of vigor. When he recalled their bravery when they killed the enemies earlier, Zhao Shikuan had some spection. They are all from the Special Forces Team? he asked. Mm-hmm. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. After the South Town Gate was breached, 1 followed the n 1 agreed with the Second Prince and led them to attack the Liao armys base camp. In the end, my guys were ambushed and we lost more than half of our men. After returning to the west of the town, 1 led them to the south of the town to kill the Liao troops. By now, weve lost almost another half of my group. Qin Xiaoyao sighed. After night fell, we sneaked here to rest. Now, everyones condition is much better than before. However, weve been fighting for too long, so weve suffered many injuries and our weapons have been severely damaged. If possible, 1 want to bring them into the east of the town. Those who need medical treatment will be treated. Weapons that need to be changed will have to be changed, Qin Xiaoyao said. A hint of hesitation shed across Zhao Shikuans face. Alright. Then 111 take you guys to the east towns defense line first, he said thereafter. In addition, the Second Prince has been looking for you. Its just as well. You can also go and meet His Highness. Thank you, General Zhao! Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up with joy and she quickly thanked him. This is what 1 should do! Zhao Shikuan replied. Following that, he brought Qin Xiaoyao and her group to the east of the town. With Zhao Shikuan leading the way, Qin Xiaoyao and the others sessfully passed through the eastern line of defense and entered the east town. As soon as they entered the east town, everyone could feel the difference between this area and the other districts. Although there were many soldiers patrolling the east town, it was quiet and peaceful. It was segregated from the other districts in High Pass Town as if the two parts were two different worlds. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao felt more at ease. Previously, she had been worried that High Pass Town would most likely fall after the South Town Gate Tower was breached. Now, it seemed that the Second Prince had long nned to defend the east town securely. Even if the Liao army broke through the South Town Gate Tower, it would not be easy to take down the east town. Zhao Shikuan didnt stay with Qin Xiaoyao after they entered the east town. Instead, he handed Qin Xiaoyao over to another general and asked that person to bring her to meet the Second Prince. Then, he left in a hurry. Qin Xiaoyao asked the general to help arrange for someone to bring Huang Fei and the others to Han Chao. Only after that did she leave with the general. 15 minutester, Qin Xiaoyao was finally brought to the outside of the Second Princes tent to wait for the Second Prince to summon her. She saw that the Second Princes tent was still lit, and there were many shadows moving inside, as well as loud arguments. Qin Xiaoyao had a bad feeling about this. A whileter, after the soldier went in to report, the Second Prince came out of the tent. Teacher! You are back, Teacher? As he walked out, he called out loudly. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao, the Second Prince was even more excited and strode briskly toward her. He even reached out to hold her hand. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the generals who had followed the Second Prince out of the tent but then quietly avoided her. Thereafter, she cupped her fists and bowed to the Second Prince. My respects to Your Highness! Only then did the Second Princee back to his senses and withdrew his hand to cover up his earlierpse in decorum. He reached out and helped Qin Xiaoyao up. Theres no need to be so polite, Teacher. Im relieved to know that youre fine, Teacher, the Second Prince said excitedly. Come! Well talk inside! The Second Prince quickly said as he reached out to pull Qin Xiaoyao inside. Qin Xiaoyao evaded his touch again, keeping a distance from the Second Prince as she followed him. The Second Princes expression froze for a moment, but he didnt persist. After entering the tent, the Second Prince quickly dismissed the other generals. Following that, he asked Qin Xiaoyao about what happened after she left the town. The Second Princes expression turned grim after listening to Qin Xiaoyao. Xiao Yuan is a cunning old man. 1 made a wrong judgment this time. Its a good thing you returned safely, Teacher. Otherwise The Second Prince didnt finish his sentence. When he realized that something might have happened to Teacher Qin, he was tormented by regret. He even almost made the wrong decision again because of this. Later, after Han Chao led his troops to the east of the town, the Second Prince was relieved after finding out that Teacher Qin had returned safely. However, when he found out that she had still stayed in the battle zone with the Special Forces Team, his previous sense of relief was reced by anxiety again. Fortunately, Teacher Qin had finally returned. His heart was also at ease again. Qin Xiaoyao pretended not to notice the worry in the Second Princes eyes and said arrogantly, Hmph! It wont be that easy for that old fart Xiao Yuan to kill me. Its a pity that the operation failed. We didnt manage to burn that old farts food rations. And we lost so many men. The Second Prince was affected by Qin Xiaoyaos fervor, and a smile appeared on his face. Its not a pity. The number of men he lost was several times, even dozens of times more than yours. Even if the Liao State sends him more than 30,000 soldiers, ultimately the number will be limited. No matter how many troops there are, they cant stand the grinding. As long as he cant take down High Pass Town, well slowly wear them out and fight a war of attrition. Well even out the number difference between the two sides sooner orter! At this point, a touch of radiance shed across the Second Princes eyes.. Chapter 332 - 332: Re-entering the Liao Army’s Base Camp Chapter 332: Re-entering the Liao Armys Base Camp Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The Second Prince was now leading the troops to defend the east town. At the same time, he also sent soldiers into the war zone to fight with the Liao soldiers. He was nning to continue to use their geographical advantage to wipe out as many Liao troops as possible. Only by doing so could they continue to reduce the difference in numbers between the two sides in preparation for the final battle. Qin Xiaoyao understood what the Second Prince meant and nodded. Unfortunately, beyond the east town, there was no way to retreat or defend anymore, she interjected. The Second Prince remained silent. When I came over, I saw some civilians being escorted out of the town? Qin Xiaoyao suddenly asked. The Second Prince looked at Qin Xiaoyao and nodded. This is all I can do for now, he said in a deep voice. When the war started, the most helpless were themoners. He had the intention to stop the enemy outside the east town, but he also knew that the Liao army woulde sooner orter. At that point, the east of the town would be a war zone, and then it would be toote. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the Second Prince and felt touched inwardly. This person really cared for the people. Right now, how many more soldiers does the Liao army have than us? Can we really stop them if we fight to the death? Qin Xiaoyao asked again. The Second Prince was stunned momentarily. If someone else had asked him this question, he would probably have questioned the intention of the person who asked. However, when Qin Xiaoyao asked this, he wasnt suspicious of her. Earlier, the Liao Imperial Court said that they would send 30,000 reinforcement troops, but in reality, they sent 50,000, the Second Prince said in a low voice. The news camete. By the time it was confirmed, our n had already been implemented. I wanted to send someone to inform you, but it was toote. If he had known that Xiao Yuan had so many troops under hismand, he would not have allowed Teacher Qin to take the risk of assassinating him. It was also fortunate that Teachers martial arts skills were outstanding and she managed to escape unscathed. Otherwise, he would really regret it very bitterly. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was still staring at him, the Second Prince said in a grave tone, Right now, we still have about 15,000 men. I estimate that Xiao Yuans military strength is close to 30,000. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes narrowed. The enemy was twice as strong as them? Its only estimated to be 30,000. After tonight, it might only be 10,000 more than us, the Second Prince added. When he said that he still had 15,000 soldiers left, he was excluding those who had entered the battle zone. If these people stayed in the battle zone, they could more or less whittle down some of the Liao armys forces. If the decisive battle could be dyed until the next day, it was highly likely that the Liao army would lose another 5000 people. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. They didnt have many soldiers, to begin with. Even if they had 10,000 less, the difference in strength between the two sides was still huge. Do we have any reinforcements? Qin Xiaoyao asked again. Previously, she had recovered the lost territory in the Jin State, and the towns she had recoveredter were all guarded by the Imperial Courts army. If the Imperial Courts army coulde to their aid, they would be of great help. As for the refugees in Ning An Prefecture, if they were to be recruited, they could quickly form a new batch of soldiers. Even if theirbat power was not good, as long as they had enough manpower, the Liao army would not be able to gain an advantage. In other words, if the Liao army lost the same number of troops as they did and the whole Jin army perished, only 10,000 enemy troops could get through High Pass Town. If they were to replenish with new troops, a 20,000-strong Imperial Courts army or 30,000 new soldiers would definitely be able to stop this group of people. Of course, the prerequisite was that the Imperial Courts army or the new army had to join the battle. The Second Prince frowned. He then shook his head and continued, The authorities back there have arranged to recruit new soldiers, but time is too tight. Im afraid they wont be in time. As for the Imperial Courts army, the Second Princes face became very bitter at the thought of those people. When the Imperial Court saw that the situation had reversed, they slowed down the speed of the peace negotiations, but they did not provide him with any substantial support. Right now, allowing him to recruit soldiers in Ning An and Hua An Prefecture was already the limit. That person in the pce was still very guarded against him. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the Second Prince and then looked away. In that case, we can only rely on ourselves, she muttered. Not really. As long as we can hold on for two more days, new troops will be sent over, the Second Prince said. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the Second Prince again. But Xiao Yuan wont give us that much time, he said with a sigh. The Second Prince frowned and finally stopped talking. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and said, Let me go again. The Second Prince immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Ill go to the Liao armys campsite again to look for an opportunity. Ive just suffered a loss at Xiao Yuans ce recently. He probably wont expect that Id still dare to go there. Also, even if I dont seed, I can at least scare him. Make him dy some of his forces. Itll be easier to defend the town on your side then, Your Highness, Qin Xiaoyao said. The Second Prince frowned again. He didnt want Qin Xiaoyao to take the risk, but he knew that she was right. Qin Xiaoyao smiled when she saw his reaction. It doesnt make much impact to the overall situation for me to stay in the town. On the contrary, doing this can be of great use. Your Highness, please let me go. The Second Princes heart skipped a beat when he saw that sh of a smile. Thereafter, he finally nodded. Alright. Qin Xiaoyaos smile grew even more radiant. Is there anything to eat here, Your Highness? she then asked. The Second Prince was taken aback. I want to replenish my strength before leaving. I want to eat meat and drink some wine, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Of course! the Second Prince quickly replied. Then, he gave the order. It did not take long for the soldiers to bring the meat and wine into the tent. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stand on ceremony and immediately started eating. The Second Prince was watching from the side the entire time and eventually also apanied Qin Xiaoyao to eat some food. After more than 15 minutes, Qin Xiaoyao finally had her fill and felt that her special ability had been fully restored. She stood up and bade the Second Prince farewell. The Second Prince watched her leave very reluctantly and personally sent Qin Xiaoyao off from the tent. It was only when Qin Xiaoyao asked him to stay that he didnt continue to send her off. After leaving the Second Princes tent, Qin Xiaoyao quickly melded into the dark. Following that, she left the east town and entered the town center district. After killing some Liao soldiers, she changed into a set of Liao soldiers uniform. After that, she passed through the town center district and entered the south town district. As she rushed towards the South Town Gate, she also killed some of the Liao soldiers who were alone or part of a small team. asionally, she would mingle with therge troops and eavesdrop on some news about the Liao army. When she reached the South Town Gate, Qin Xiaoyao blended in with a group of cavalrymen and followed them out of the town, returning to the Liao armys campsite outside the town. The sky was still dark, but the Liao armys campsite was brightly lit. Qin Xiaoyao discovered that the Liao armys campsite was still heavily guarded. However,pared to the day before when she came, the atmosphere was much more rxed. In addition, there were much fewer people in the Liao armys campsite tonight than yesterday during the day. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled into a smile. True to her expectations, it was a great opportunity toe back now. She could only hope that she would be able to locate Xiao Yuan sessfullyter. In that way, this trip would beplete. Very soon, Qin Xiaoyao made her move. She quickly traversed through the Liao armys campsite to search. As she searched, she also paid attention to the movements of some Liao army generals. Sometimes, she would follow some Liao army generals to see if they would go to meet Xiao Yuan. Unfortunately, she still couldnt find Xiao Yuan even after more than 45 minutes.. Chapter 333 - 333: Killing Xiao Yuan With Her Own Hands Chapter 333: Killing Xiao Yuan With Her Own Hands Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When she saw that dawn was approaching, Qin Xiaoyaos expression grew more and more grim. ording to her and the Second Princes spection, the Liao army would definitelyunch an overall attack after daybreak. After that, the east town would quickly be a war zone. As for the Second Princes men, they had no town to defend and would definitely not be able to hold the defense line for long. If she still could not locate Xiao Yuan, she would have to expose herself like she did yesterday. Only then would she be able to force Xiao Yuan to retain some of his forces behind to guard against her, an assassin who could appear at any time. Qin Xiaoyao leaned against the outside of a military tent and reminded herself not to be anxious. There was still some time before the skypletely lit up. If the Liao army wanted tounch an overall attack, Xiao Yuan had to personally give the order. Perhaps, Xiao Yuans whereabouts would be exposed soon. She had to be patient. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao calmed her mind and continued to search through the various tents. Gradually, the sky finally brightened. Qin Xiaoyao was hesitating, wondering whether she should continue to wait when the sound of horse hooves suddenly burst out from ahead. Thereafter, she saw a few people dressed in the uniform of the Liao armys general galloping past her on their horses. A thought popped into her mind and Qin Xiaoyao moved quickly, following them secretly. In the end, she saw the few of them enter a small tent. Qin Xiaoyao approached the tent and went around to the back. When she leaned closer and listened in, her face lit up. She had finally found him! Yes, the person staying in the tent was Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan was currently having a meeting with his generals, discussing the attack on the east town of High Pass Town. Qin Xiaoyao hid in the dark and listened. She was not in a hurry to make a move. It wasnt easy for her to find him, and if she wanted to make a move, she had to be absolutely certain her strike was failproof. There were too many people in the tent now, so she had to wait a little longer. Xiao Yuans meeting didnt take too long. In less than 15 minutes, he had already assigned the battle missions. Soon, the generals went out. After Xiao Yuan watched thest general leave, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao finally sprang into action. From the back of the tent, she circled back to the front. After silently taking care of the soldiers guarding the tent, she sneaked into Xiao Yuans tent. In the end, the moment Qin Xiaoyao entered the tent, Xiao Yuans eyes, which were closed earlier, snapped open. At this moment, the flying dagger in Qin Xiaoyaos hand was already flying toward him. Xiao Yuans expression changed, and his body moved instantly, falling off his chair. Even though he fell, he still managed to barely avoid Qin Xiaoyaos strike. Men! Theres an assassin Xiao Yuan immediately yelled out when he saw Qin Xiaoyao. While he was shouting, Qin Xiaoyao had already shot out two more flying daggers at him. She then pulled out the Liao-style saber at her waist and charged at him. Xiao Yuan dodged awkwardly again. Although his vital parts avoided getting hit, his left shoulder and right arm were shed by the flying daggers. In the face of Qin Xiaoyaos Liao-style saber, Xiao Yuan ignored the pain in his body and quickly flipped sideways to avoid the iing Liao-style saber. He looked at his long saber on the shelf not far away. Xiao Yuan wanted to get up and retrieve his weapon. However, Qin Xiaoyao would never give him such an opportunity. She attacked him swiftly and ruthlessly. Xiao Yuan could only dodge continuously. He couldnt even stand up on his feet. Even though he managed to dodge Qin Xiaoyaos numerous strikes with his fairly good skills and years of experience, he couldnt dodge all of them. Before long, Xiao Yuans body was shed many times. Following Xiao Yuans cry for help, the Liao soldiers quickly rushed in from outside. Qin Xiaoyao knew that she couldnt dy any longer. Her eyes darkened, and she increased the speed of her attack. At the same time, a concealed weapon appeared in her hand again. Xiao Yuan was already sick, and he had been injured by Qin Xiaoyao, so his reaction speed was gradually slowing down. Eventually, he did not manage to dodge in time. His arm was hit by the flying dagger which nailed him to the ground. Qin Xiaoyao took the opportunity to press the saber against Xiao Yuans neck. The whole area instantly fell silent. The Liao soldiers who had wanted to charge at Qin Xiaoyao all froze on the spot. In fact, some even took a step back. Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled into an icy smile. She reached out and yanked Xiao Yuan, who was no longer resisting, up from the ground. Supreme Commander, it wasnt easy to find you, she said as she red at Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuans brows were tightly furrowed, and his expression was extremely unpleasant. I didnt expect that you still have the guts toe again, he said in a deep voice. Hmph! Qin Xiaoyao gave an icy sneer. The saber in her hand pressed close to Xiao Yuans neck, drawing a line of blood. When the Liao soldiers saw this, they retreated again. Quickly release the Supreme Commander! Otherwise a general shouted viciously. Otherwise what? Qin Xiaoyao turned her head abruptly and shot the general who spoke a sharp gaze. At the same time, the saber in her hand moved closer to Xiao Yuans neck, drawing a deeper line of blood. That generals face instantly turned pale, and he didnt dare to act rashly anymore. Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled into a cruel smile. Only then did she turn around to look at Xiao Yuan again. Pass down the order to withdraw your men from High Pass Town, she said in a stern voice. Xiao Yuans expression was grim, but he didnt reply. I dont want to say it a second time, Qin Xiaoyao continued quickly. At the same time, she slid the Liao-style saber slightly again. Xiao Yuans neck started to bleed, and the pain finally made him frown. If I kill you, the army loses theirmander and the morale of the army will be thrown into chaos. Your men will still suffer defeat! Qin Xiaoyao added. Xiao Yuan finally looked at Qin Xiaoyao. If you kill me, you wont be able to escape from the Liao armys campsite! he said. To his surprise, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt the least bit afraid. Instead, sheughed out loud. Haha! If I want to leave, who can stop me? Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyaos face turned chilly. Since you are not willing to cooperate, then you can die! After she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao pulled out her Liao-style saber viciously Xiao Yuan didnt have time to say anything more before his head dropped down. Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoyao had already lifted the head with practiced ease and charged toward the Liao soldiers at the entrance. The old fart wanted to stall for time so that the Liao soldiers could surround her, but that would have to depend on whether she was willing to cooperate. After all, her initial goal was to kill him. Since it was too troublesome to capture him alive, she might as well go back to her initial goal. She was really downright practical and not greedy Qin Xiaoyao was filled with killing intent and quickly slew all the Liao soldiers blocking the entrance of the camp. At the same time, she carried Xiao Yuans head and shed her way out of the Liao armys campsite. As she slew, she didnt forget to shout loudly, informing all the Liao soldiers that she had already killed Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan is dead. Withdraw your troops quickly, or youll end up like that old fart. Hahahaha Qin Xiaoyao mounted the horse and raised the head high in her hand. She kept shouting as she galloped out of the campsite. Her voice could carry very far and the news soon spread throughout the Liao armys campsite. When the Liao soldiers heard the news, they were terrified. Some people saw Qin Xiaoyao holding the head in her hand. Although they couldnt see the face of the head, the head made Qin Xiaoyaos words more credible. With that, the Liao armys morale was in turmoil. When some of the soldiers saw Qin Xiaoyao appear, they didnt even stop her. Just like that, Qin Xiaoyao sessfully charged out of the Liao armys campsite. After leaving the Liao armys campsite, Qin Xiaoyao went directly to the South Town Gate.. Chapter 334 - 334: End of the Great Battle Chapter 334: End of the Great Battle Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Qin Xiaoyao continued to outrageously holler out the news that she had beheaded Xiao Yuan. Along the way, the Liao troops were simrly terrified. When some Liao generals saw this, they immediately threatened her and denied the news that Qin Xiaoyao had killed their Supreme Commander. However, when many of the soldiers saw the head in Qin Xiaoyaos hand, they could not disbelieve it. In fact, many people began to waver. With that, the Liao armys morale began crumbling and the troops began to think of retreating. The Supreme Commander was dead, so was it still necessary for them to continue attacking High Pass Town? Ive already killed Xiao Yuan. You all should retreat quickly! Qin Xiaoyao was iparably arrogant as she continued to gallop on her horse. She was not afraid even when she encounteredrge groups of Liao soldiers on the way. She simply rode her horse through them. Along the way, she even slew a few more Liao soldiers. The Liao soldiers were downright terrified, and not many of them dared to pursue Qin Xiaoyao. Even if some soldiers gave chase, they would stop after a certain distance. Firstly, they couldnt catch up with the horse, and secondly, their fighting spirit had been eroded. It was the same rationale. If their Supreme Commander was really killed, what was the point of them attacking High Pass Town? Just like that, Qin Xiaoyao shouted all the way into the town center district. After that, she returned to the east town. When the Second Prince heard that Qin Xiaoyao had returned triumphantly, he came out with a group of generals to personally wee her. When they saw that the head in Qin Xiaoyaos hand was really Xiao Yuans, everyone was shocked. This Teacher! You really did it! the Second Prince eximed. At the same time, he gestured for the guard beside him to take the head from Qin Xiaoyaos hands. The rest of the generals also praised Qin Xiaoyao when they saw that. They felt that Qin Xiaoyao was like a heavenly general. In less than a night, she had gone to the Liao armys campsite that housed tens of thousands of troops and chopped down the head of the enemysmander. This was Xiao Yuan! He was the Supreme Commander of the Liao State and also the biggest enemy of the Great Jin States border stations for decades. He was actually in just like that! Many people couldnt believe their eyes and kept staring at Xiao Yuans head. Qin Xiaoyao exchanged a few words with the generals before handing Xiao Yuans head to the guard. Thankfully 1 didnt fail you! Now that Xiao Yuan is dead, the rest is up to you, Your Highness. The Second Prince smiled brightly. Dont worry. We will definitely win this battle! he said confidently. Men! Send Teacher Qin back to rest! the Second Prince instructed quickly. Qin Xiaoyao didnt decline and quickly left. After that, the Second Prince began to make arrangements for the follow-up tasks. The first thing he had to do was to spread the news of Xiao Yuans death. Passing the news to the Liao army was one thing, but he also had to pass it on to the Liao State and the Great Jin Imperial Court. Once Xiao Yuan died, not only would the Liao army retreat, but the Liao State would also change its policy toward the Great Jin State. Next, peace talks were inevitable. However, the two parties could, at the very least, sit down and talk as equals. In fact, if they grasped the situation well, their Great Jin State might even have the upper hand. After returning to the campsite, Qin Xiaoyao asked someone to bring her some food. She went to sleep after eating. Perhaps because she knew that the hidden threat had been removed, Qin Xiaoyao had a particrly good sleep. When she woke up, it was already night. At this juncture, the battle at High Pass Town had ended. After the Liao army confirmed Xiao Yuans death and lost many soldiers, a portion of the Liao army retreated from High Pass Town and returned to the campsite outside the town. At this moment, the Liao armys campsite was covered in white banners and the entire army was dressed in white mourning robes. The news that Xiao Yuan had been killed by Qin Xiaoyao had be a widely acknowledged fact. Qin Xiaoyao was pleased when she heard the news. Following this, she went to look for the Second Prince. At first, the Second Prince was busy with the post-war matters, but when he heard that Qin Xiaoyao was here, he threw aside the matters in his hands and went out to wee her. Then, he ordered his men to prepare some food and wine with the intention to treat Qin Xiaoyao to a meal. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stand on ceremony. As she ate, she asked the Second Prince for an update on the current situation. The Liao army has lost theirmander and the banners calling for a truce are hanging high in their campsite. They will not attack High Pass Town anymore. In addition, the news of Xiao Yuans death has been sent back to the Liao State by our people and the Liao army itself. The Liao Imperial Court should have a response soon. Previously, the Liao Emperor was not willing to get embroiled in arge-scale chaotic war with our Great Jin State. Now that Xiao Yuan is dead and the Liao army has been defeated, the Liao State cant continue to fight us. Therefore, the peace talks between the two states will continue very soon. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She agreed with the Second Princes analysis. However, now that the situation has reversed, our Great Jin State cannot agree to the conditions that the Liao State has offered in the past. At this point, the Second Princes face was already full of smiles. On the contrary, if the Liao State wants to redeem their people, they will have to pay a high price. He didnt forget that Teacher Qin had previously captured some Liao soldiers in the Jin territories. He had already passed down orders to all the counties and cities to escort the captives to High Pass Town. If the Liao State wanted to redeem its people, they had to use real gold and silver to exchange. And it just so happened that he had lost a lot of men during this period of time. Recruiting new soldiers and maintaining them required arge amount of army provisions. This time, it is really all thanks to you, Teacher. Ive already submitted a petition to the Imperial Court to ask for credit on your behalf, Teacher. I believe the Imperial decree wille soon, the Second Prince continued. He looked at Qin Xiaoyao with eyes full of appreciation. Qin Xiaoyao also smiled. Thank you, Your Highness! She cupped her fists at the Second Prince. Since she was determined to pursue power, she naturally treasured the reward from the Imperial Court. She only hoped that the Imperial Court could give her a higher rank, with greater authority. In fact, the greater the authority, the better. The Second Prince was very pleased with Qin Xiaoyaos reaction. Next up is the matter of the peace talks between the two states. It will most likely be moved to the capital. In two days, when the situation at the border has settled down, you can return to the capital with me, Teacher, the Second Prince continued. When he spoke of returning to the capital, there was even some sparkle of radiance in his eyes. His Emperor fathers health was getting worse and worse, and he finally began to pine for his son who had been staying at the border. In addition, this time, his son was stationed at High Pass Town and turned the tide at the critical moment, crushing the Liao army. Under the advice of the various ministers in the court, his Emperor father finally had enough reason to summon him back to the capital. He was finally going back. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and nodded. Alright. The capital was a ce where people vie for glory, so it was good for her to go. Besides, she would have a better chance of finding her husband if she went there. The Second Prince was overjoyed as he raised his cup to Qin Xiaoyao. Teacher, cheers! Your Highness, cheers! Qin Xiaoyao returned the toast. Over the next five days, High Pass Town gradually regained its liveliness. Large numbers of Liao army captives were escorted to High Pass Town. At the same time, Chu Jin had finally ended the war in Hua An Prefecture and led his troops back to High Pass Town. At this point, the Liao armys invasion had ended inplete failure. On the tenth day, the Imperial decree from the Imperial Court finally arrived. Qin Xiaoyao was directly conferred the rank of Lieutenant General because of her outstanding achievements. Moreover, the Imperial Court had also ordered Qin Xiaoyao to return to the capital to ept her reward. The Second Prince had also received the Imperial decree for his reward and entered the capital on the same day as Qin Xiaoyao. As the two of them had a tacit understanding, the next day, they led their guards and set off on the journey back to the capital. The two of them still didnt know that the capital was currently in a state of turmoil. As the two of them set off, the situation in the capital would change dramatically. Half a monthter, on the day after Qin Xiaoyao and the Second Prince arrived in the capital, the pce finally sent an Imperial decree to announce that the two would go to court the next day.. Chapter 335 - 335: Meeting the Emperor Chapter 335: Meeting the Emperor Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion At this moment, the Second Prince came to the side courtyard to look for Qin Xiaoyao. He happened to see the official court robe that the pce attendants had sent over to Qin Xiaoyao. The Second Prince was truly happy for Qin Xiaoyao as he looked at the exquisite official court robe of a Lieutenant General. This is the first time that a woman has joined the army and risen in ranks to be a Lieutenant General. If you wear this official court robe, Teacher, you will definitely look very charming. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled. How charming can I be if Im wearing official court robe? Its good enough as long as it fits me, she replied casually. The Second Prince was a little disappointed to see Qin Xiaoyao was pretending not to understand his hint again. Try it on. If it doesnt fit, we can inform the pce and have it amended quickly, he said. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao answered. Then, she looked at the Second Prince. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao didnt move, the realization hit the Second Prince. I Ill wait for you outside. With that, he turned around and went out. After the Second Prince left, Qin Xiaoyao asked the maid to help her change her outer clothes. That was right. The official court robe was worn on the outside, so she only needed to take off her outer clothes before trying on the robe. If this was in her previous life, she wouldnt have felt anything was wrong if she changed her clothes in front of others. However, this was the ancient times, and the Second Prince always seemed to want to flirt with her, whether intentionally or otherwise, so she had to take special care. She was an honest person and only liked her husband. All the other charming and flirtatious sluts could forget about seducing her. At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao put on her clothes even more quickly. Before long, she had changed into her official court robe. As she looked at the tall figure in the bronze mirror and heard the pce maid praising her, Qin Xiaoyao was quite pleased with the official court robe she was wearing. After admiring herself in the mirror for a while, she asked the pce maid to invite the Second Prince in. When the Second Prince entered the room, he was stunned to see Qin Xiaoyao in her official court attire. Sure enough, Teacher was different from the other women. Her unique bearing became even more apparent when she wore mens clothes or formal attire. Not bad. It fits you very well! This Lieutenant Generals uniform can really bring out the best in you, Teacher, the Second Princeplimented her. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and looked down at the official court robe she was wearing again. She felt more even more pleased. Mm-hmm! The size is just right, she replied. Your Highness, please wait for a moment. Your humble servant wille out after changing out of the official court robe, Qin Xiaoyao continued after a while. The Second Prince was taken aback momentarily. Thereafter, he smiled and left the inner room again. As he walked, he was pondering something. He would have to ask the housekeeper to help buy more new clothes for Teacher. Teacher was still a woman, after all. It was obvious that she really liked that new official court robe. Qin Xiaoyao quickly changed out of her court attire and into the clothes she was wearing previously. After that, she went out to meet the Second Prince. Ordinary clothes were not asplicated as the official court robe, and they were much lighter and more efficient to wear. Apart from the joy of wearing new clothes, Qin Xiaoyao felt that simple clothes still suited her better. In the outer room, when the Second Prince saw Qin Xiaoyaoing out, he smiled. Then, he sat down and briefed Qin Xiaoyao on the visit to the pce to attend the court session tomorrow. When the timees, you can travel with me and just stand behind me. Ill be there to take care of everything. Dont worry, the Second Prince said. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. In addition, youve just arrived in the capital and are now in the heart of the most turbulent wind and waves. There are many people who want to test you. The Second Prince looked at Qin Xiaoyao as he spoke. They are not just testing you, but also testing me. After all, you hailed from my army. Now, in their eyes, youre one of my people. At this point, the Second Princes eyes flickered slightly. Qin Xiaoyaos expression froze momentarily. Then, she pretended not to get the hint again. Then, 1 wont be going out to socialize for the time being. She had only just arrived in the capital, but she had already received many invitations. Most of the invitations came from the army, but there were also some from the civilian court officials. In order to find her husband as soon as possible, she had thought of epting the invitations and going out for someworking. However, since the Second Prince had implicitly advised against this, she would have to wait for a while. After all, if someone with ulterior motives knew that she was looking for her husband, it might put her husband in danger. The Second Prince nodded, satisfied with Qin Xiaoyaos answer. Your Highness, now that you have already put aside your border duties and returned to the capital, the matter of searching for my husband Qin Xiaoyao suddenly said. So far, her greatest hope of finding her husband still depended on the Second Prince. The Second Prince was taken aback. Dont worry. Ive already made arrangements. I believe there will be news soon, he said. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaos expression change to one of joy after hearing his words, the Second Prince felt a little downcast. Was he really that badpared to Song Que? Oh no. Could it be that he was inferior whenpared to Song Que? Didnt they say that most women in the world were vain and pursued wealth and glory? His status was more noble than Song Ques, and he held more power and authority. Apart from that, even if one were to judge on appearances, his looks were not inferior to Song Ques. Of course, his appearance was more masculine, which was different from Song Ques. Could it be that he had lost because of this aspect? Well, fine. If Teacher only liked men with feminine looks, he could only admit defeat. Thank you, Your Highness! Qin Xiaoyao quickly thanked him. The Second Prince felt another wave of disappointment in his heart. However, he quickly set aside his sense of disappointment and continued to tell Qin Xiaoyao about the things she needed to pay attention to. Qin Xiaoyao also listened attentively and made mental notes. She was a neer, so she had to listen to her seniors in order to do better in this social circle. After resting for a day, Qin Xiaoyao followed the Second Prince into the pce early in the morning. Upon entering the pce, they passed through several pce gates before entering the Hall of Court Affairs. Qin Xiaoyao was like a curious newbie along the way. As she peered around, she was amazed by the luxury of the ancient pce. Indeed, it was more astounding when she saw the ce with her own eyes than when she saw it on television. Not long after that, Qin Xiaoyao and the Second Prince arrived at the Hall of Court Affairs. His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress have arrived As the eunuch made the announcement, the previously somewhat lively and noisy Hall of Court Affairs instantly quieted down. The officials stood in line ording to their civil and military ranks and bowed in respect in the direction of the Dragon Throne. May the Emperor live for tens of thousands of years! May the Empress live for thousands of years! Qin Xiaoyao, who was standing behind the Second Prince, also followed the officials and called out and lowered her head in greeting. Haha! All ministers, you may rise. A slightly aged voice rang out from the direction of the Dragon Throne, but it sounded like the speaker was in a good mood. Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Royal Highness! the courtiers responded. Only then did they straighten up. Qin Xiaoyao took the opportunity to get a good look at the two people on the Dragon Throne. That was right. There were two people. The current Emperors health was not good, and Empress Jia had apanied him to court. In fact, she had even attended court alone on behalf of the current Emperor for many years. It could be said that Empress Jia had sat on this Dragon Throne in the Imperial Court for even longer than the current Emperor. Qin Xiaoyao lowered her head after a quick nce. She thought to herself, The Emperor is really not in good health. Hisplexion looks like he has been suffering from a serious sickness for a long time. Empress Jias condition was better. At least, she looked much more energetic than the Emperor. This must be the most important hero of our Great Jin States resistance against the Liao State, our Great Jin States God of Massacre! The Emperors gaze quickly fell on Qin Xiaoyao.. Chapter 336 - 336: A Woman Admiring Another Woman Chapter 336: A Woman Admiring Another Woman Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly took a step forward and bowed respectfully to the Emperor. The victory in the war with the Liao State is the result of all the soldiers uniting together to y the enemy. Your humble servant dares not im the credit, she responded. Haha The Emperorughed out loud. He exchanged a nce with Empress Jia beside him. Immediately after that, Empress Jia spoke up, Official Qin, you dont have to be so modest. With just over a thousand men, you can take down several towns. After that, you even recovered Ning An Prefecture and wiped out most of the Liao invaders inside the Great Jin State. After arriving at High Pass Town, you repeatedly aplished amazing achievements. You annihted tens of thousands of Liao troops and even killed the archenemy of our Great Jin State, Xiao Yuan. This incidentpletely changed the outlook of the war between the Jin and Liao States. Empress Jias gaze at Qin Xiaoyao was filled with appreciation. Whats even rarer is that you are actually a woman. At this point, Empress Jia even nodded her head, her face full of pride. When Qin Xiaoyao heard this, she couldnt help but raised her head to look at Empress Jia. When she saw her expression, her heart felt a little moved. In ancient times, there were many restrictions and oppressive practices ced on women. In this era, women like her and Empress Jia were indeed rare. It was not strange for Empress Jia to admire her. It was a pity that Empress Jia was her husbands enemy. Otherwise, she probably wanted to be closer to her. As soon as Empress Jia said this, many people stole a nce at her, including the Emperor. The other people cast her odd looks, but the Emperor gave her a somewhat doting look. Empress Jia did not seem to mind and looked at Qin Xiaoyao again. Since you have made so many great contributions, you should be duly rewarded! she said excitedly. Then, without waiting for Qin Xiaoyaos reply, she continued, Qin Xiaoyao, receive the decree! Qin Xiaoyao was stunned momentarily Then she hurriedly bowed. Your servant is ready to receive the decree! She then cupped her fists and bowed. Empress Jia looked at Qin Xiaoyao with satisfaction. Lieutenant General Qin Xiaoyao is brave and good at fighting. She has made many outstanding achievements in war and has made great heroic contributions to our Great Jin State. Today, Xiaoyao is hereby conferred the title of First-ss Marquis, inheritable in eternity. In addition, the Zhao County is hereby renamed to Xiaoyao County and shall be Marquis Xiaoyaos fiefdom. We shall further bestow upon our beloved official a Marquiss estate in the capital and a thousand taels of gold as a reward. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked when she heard this. She didnt expect that not only would she be a Lieutenant General, but she would also be made a Marquis, and even be awarded Zhao County as her fiefdom. In addition, she also received a residence and arge amount of money. Didnt the Second Prince say that she was now seen as one of his people? Empress Jia and the Second Prince were not on good terms. However, now, Empress Jia was so doting toward her. Did she do it deliberately for the courtiers to see, or did she have other intentions? Forget it. It didnt matter if she had ulterior motives. Since the benefits hade, she would be a fool not to ept them. Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Royal Highness! Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly bowed. Haha! Please rise. Empress Jia actually walked down personally and helped Qin Xiaoyao up. When she saw Qin Xiaoyaos delicate features and heroic good looks, she admired her even more. Official Qin, you must stay in the capital for a few more days. When you are free, you cane into the pce to keep the Emperor and mepany. The Emperor and I have been hearing a lot about your recent exploits, and we are very fascinated. Ive been looking forward to seeing you return to the capital, so I can see with my own eyes what youre capable of! Empress Jia said as she held Qin Xiaoyaos hand. As she spoke, she even turned around and smiled at the Emperor. When he saw this, the Emperor nodded his head affectionately. Qin Xiaoyao watched from the side and felt that the Empresss feelings were out of the ordinary. Your humble servant shall obey! Qin Xiaoyao replied. Since she was going to stay in the capital, going into the pce was naturally unavoidable. Empress Jia was pleased and smiled in response. After exchanging a few more words with Qin Xiaoyao, she turned her gaze to the Second Prince. Wudi, you have also made a great contribution this time. You have recruited a great talent like Marquis Xiaoyao for our Great Jin State. But your status is very noble as you are a Prince, to begin with. In addition, youre also the Imperial Courts Minister of War and General, so its no longer wise to continue bestowing titles on you. But such a great service cannot go unrewarded. How about this, Your Majesty? Why dont we give Wudi the title of Prince Huaiyin? And shall we award the Huaiyin Province to Wudi as his fiefdom? Empress Jia looked at the Emperor with a smile. The smile on the Emperors face froze. Huaiyin Province was not that great a territory. The Empress was still pretending to be magnanimous. She had already agreed to make his second son the emperor-in-waiting but in the end Er The Emperor looked at the Second Prince with a troubled expression. In the past two years, his health had been getting worse and worse. He couldnt help thinking of his sons, and he thought of his second son the most. He also felt that he had let down his second son the most. He had been wanting to make it up to him. This time, his second son had made a great contribution, and he had even taken the initiative to mention to the Empress that he wanted to make his second son the emperor-in-waiting. In the end, the Empress had agreed very readily. The Emperor was still very happy at that point. He was thinking that after so many years, there was finally a chance to resolve the conflict between the Empress and his second son. He didnt expect the result to be the same in the end. When the Second Prince saw the Emperors expression, a hint of helplessness swept through his heart, but he did not show it on his face. He bowed to the Emperor. Your son thanks Emperor Father and Empress Mother for your kindness. After all these years, he had gotten used to it. So, there was nothing to be disappointed about. To be able to return to the capital and be made a Prince with his own fiefdom was already very good for him. As for where the fiefdom was, it didnt really matter. After all, what he wanted was never as simple as a fiefdom. He would slowly get back from Empress Jia what she owed him and his Concubine Mother. Ignoring the apologetic look the Emperor was giving the Second Prince, Empress Jia smiled and said to the Second Prince, Wudi is still so sensible. Following that, the Second Princes reward was settled. Next, they discussed the peace negotiations between the Great Jin and Great Liao States. The envoy from the Liao State would be arriving in the capital the next day. The Great Jin State had the upper hand in this peace negotiation. Empress Jia had actually arranged for the Second Prince to enter the Ministry of Rites to preside over this matter. In addition, the task of appeasing the refugees in the Jin State was assigned to the Third Prince, who was also the current Crown Prince. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Empress Jia was paving the way for her son to win over the peoples hearts. The Second Prince naturally knew her intentions, yet, he had epted it all. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao witnessed Empress Jias methods in the Imperial Court. She saw how the Second Prince was bullied by the other party, but he still maintained a calm and rxed attitude, and even treated the other party with respect and gentleness. Her heart was filled with admiration for him. When the court session finally ended, Qin Xiaoyao left together with the Second Prince. In the end, she had just walked out of the Hall of Court Affairs when a pce servant came to look for her. He said that the Emperor and the Empress had summoned her. Qin Xiaoyao had no choice but to let the Second Prince leave first, while she followed the pce servant to meet the Emperor and Empress. Qin Xiaoyao left the Hall of Court Affairs with the pce servant. After walking for a long time, she finally arrived at the Imperial Garden. At this moment, the Emperor and the Empress were already waiting for her in the Imperial Garden. The spring greenery was in full bloom. Coupled with the warm sun today, the scenery in the Imperial Garden was extremely beautiful. The Emperor and the Empress were sipping their tea and enjoying the beautiful scenery. They seemed to be in a good mood. Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and bowed. Your humble servant hereby pays her respects. May the Emperor live for tens of thousands of years! May the Empress live for thousands of years! Empress Jia first looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile in her eyes, and then she said, Official Qin, please get up.. Chapter 337 - 337: Probing Chapter 337: Probing Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: D Thereafter, Empress Jia said to the pce servant beside her, Quick. Bring me a seat. Yes, Your Royal Highness, the pce servant answered. He quickly went to get a chair. Thank you, Your Royal Highness. Qin Xiaoyao bowed again and sat down on the chair. Empress Jia had a smile on her face rhe entire time. The Emperor and I are very curious about you, Official Qin. Therefore, we summoned you as soon as the court session ended. Hope you dont mind? she said. Your Royal Highness, you are too kind. It is my fortune to be summoned by the Emperor and Your Royal Highness, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Empress Jia nodded with a smile, pleased with Qin Xiaoyao1 s answer. Suddenly, Empress Jia asked, Official Qin, are you from the Hua An Prefecture? Qin Xiaoyao1 s face stiffened at once. Yes, Your Royal Highness, she answered. At the same time, an rm went off in her mind. If Empress Jia was able to ask this question, she must have investigated Qin Xiaoyaos background. If the Second Prince was able to find out her husbands identity in the past, surely Empress Jia could do the same? At the thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but clench her fingers and she became more guarded. When Empress Jia saw Qin Xiaoyao s reaction, sheughed. Theres no need to be nervous, Official Qin. The Emperor and I are only curious about what kind of ce and what kind of family can nurture a person like our beloved official here. Who else is in your family? Who is your martial arts master? Empress Jia continued to ask. She was full of curiosity. Qin Xiaoyao didnt dare to be careless and cupped her hands at Empress Jia. Your Royal Highness, in my maiden family, there are 6 people, namely my father, brothers, sisters-inw, and nephew. In my husbands family, theres my husband, mother-inw, as well as young brother-inw and young sister-inw. As for my martial arts skills, it was taught to me by a traveling Taoist priest. Master calls himself the Crazy Taoist Priest. After teaching me martial arts for a while, he left. Perhaps its because my master and I are not fated to meet anymore, but I have never seen my master again all these years. After she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao s face even showed a look of regret. This exnation was the same as what she had said to the Second Prince before, and it would never change in the future. Empress Jia nodded as she listened. When she heard Crazy Taoist Priest, she even made a mental note. Suddenly, Empress Jia asked again, My beloved official, youre actually married? She saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at her. Empress Jia smiled and said, Im a little curious. What kind of family could be so open-minded that they allow their women to join the army and go to the battlefield? Qin Xiaoyaos heart sank. She quickly got up and bowed to Empress Jia. It was a coincidence that I joined the army. My family didnt know about it, she exined. In this era, although there was no rule stating that women were not allowed to join the army, it was true that no woman would do such a thing. It was not unreasonable for Empress Jia to punish her for this reason. Empress Jia smiled and gestured at Qin Xiaoyao with her hand. I have no intention of condemning you. Dont be nervous. Sit down. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao sit back down worriedly. Im just curious. Why did you join the army? After all, there arent many women with such courage in this world. When she said this, Empress Jias voice already carried undertones of sighing. The Emperor nced at Empress Jia but eventually chose to continue drinking tea. In terms of eagerness to excel, his Empress was the most ambitious among the women. It was rare for her to meet someone aspetitive as her, so it was normal for her to want to chat more with the other party. A hint of hesitation shed across Qin Xiaoyao s eyes. When she saw that Empress Jia kept staring at her, she said after a while, I wont hide it from Your Royal Highness. I joined the army because I want to look for my husband. Qin Xiaoyao thought it was probably impossible to hide anything from someone as powerful as this character. Therefore, she might as well just tell her everything. Oh? The interest in Empress Jias eyes intensified. The Emperor next to her also looked at Qin Xiaoyao. A look of embarrassment shed across Qin Xiaoyao s face. Then, she told her about how Song Que had been captured to serve as an able-bodied soldier, and how she had left Mountain Spring Town to track him down. My initial thought was to look for Prince Huaiyin and ask him to help me look for my husband. In the end, I encountered Liao soldiers chasing and ughtering the civilians on the way. In a fit of anger, I killed those Liao soldiers. After that, 1 gathered a few people and set off together. However, when we arrived at Yellow Flower Town, we identally learned that the Liao army had stored arge amount of food rations and provisions there. I thought since 1 was there, I might as well help out. So my followers and I burned the Liao armys food rations. In the end, we caught up with Prince Huaiyins soldiers when they came to attack Yellow Flower Town. Through this coincidence, we stayed in Yellow Flower Town to help defend the town.11 The Emperor and Empress listened with great interest. In particr, the Emperor greatly admired Qin Xiaoyaos act of traveling thousands of miles in order to save her husband. Tve heard that youve also killed many Liao generals in Yellow Flower Town? Empress Jia continued to ask. Yes, Your Royal Highness, Qin Xiaoyao replied. After we took down Yellow Flower Town, many Liao soldiers came back to take revenge. And we didnt have many people. Killing the enemysmander was the fastest way to win. I killed Xiao Yuans grandson, Xiao Tu, by mistake at that time. The reason she used the phrase by mistake was that Qin Xiaoyao felt that if she had known Xiao Tus identity earlier, she wouldnt have been so reckless as to kill him outright. It was because she killed Xiao Tu and was afraid of Xiao Yuans revenge that she changed her attitude and joined the Second Princes camppletely. And then, step by step, she reached where she was today. Though it had to be said, she did not regret the result. However, if she had a choice, she felt that she probably would not have chosen this path. Empress Jias eyes flickered slightly as if she had thought of something. So, you were afraid of Xiao Yuans revenge, and thats why you decided to follow Prince Huaiyin wholeheartedly? she asked. If that were the case , it would make sense. After all, when Prince Huaiyin went to Mountain Spring Town back then, he had a close rtionship with her. However, she had no intention of following him at all. It was really such a coincidence. The husband of the person that Prince Huaiyin regarded highly was captured not long after he left the town. Later on, in order to ask for help, she could only take the initiative to look for Prince Huaiyin. And by coincidence, she killed the only grandson of the Liao armys Supreme Commander by mistake, leaving her no choice but to join Prince Huaiyins camp. It had to be said that Prince Huaiyins luck was really good. Qin Xiaoyao nodded without even looking at Empress Jia. She felt that by saying this, Empress Jia might keep her separate from Prince Huaiyin. After all, she really didnt want to offend Empress Jia, and she couldnt afford to either. True enough, Empress Jias gaze on Qin Xiaoyao became even gentler. Actually, theres nothing to worry about. Xiao Tu led the Liao troops to invade our Great Jin State. As a citizen of the Great Jin State, there is nothing wrong with killing him. Even if hes Xiao Yuans grandson, it makes no difference. No matter how strong and overbearing Xiao Yuan is, he cant manipte the Imperial Court of our Great Jin State. Of course, she said this because Xiao Yuan was already dead and the Liao State had lost. Otherwise, the Great Jin State would really have to negotiate with the Liao State in a weak position. Sacrificing an unimownmoner woman to calm the anger of the Liao general and the Empress Dowager was really nothing to the Imperial Court. But then again The woman in front of her could kill Xiao Yuan and change the battle outlook between the Jin and Liao States all by herself. It was amazing. Your Royal Highness is wise indeed. Qin Xiaoyao cupped her hands at Empress Jia. Empress Jia smiled and continued, But its still a good oue..1 Chapter 338 - 338: Princess Xiangyang Chapter 338: Princess Xiangyang Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Without this misunderstanding, the Great Jin army wouldnt have obtained a talented general like you. Qin Xiaoyao smiled awkwardly but didnt reply. Then did you find your husband? Empress Jia suddenly asked. Not yet. However, Prince Huaiyin has already given the order to help me find him. He said that there should be news soon, Qin Xiaoyao replied honestly. Even though she also wanted Empress Jia to help her find her husband and felt that it might be faster if she enlisted Empress Jias help, she was somewhat unwilling. She wanted to avoid this character. She didnt want to owe her a favor. Her intuition told her that it was not good to be involved with this character too much. Moreover, her husband had a grudge against her. Empress Jia might not have taken any notice of her husband at first. If she enlisted the Empress help and thetter started investigating and found out his identity, it would lead to trouble. Empress Jia nced at Qin Xiaoyao and did not persist. If thats the case, then you can wait and see, she responded. After she finished speaking, Empress Jia looked at the Emperor. Weve chatted for a while. Your Majesty, why dont you let Official Qin show you her martial arts skills? 1 also want to take a look, she said in a petnt manner. The Emperor was very pleased to hear this. He immediately turned his gaze to Qin Xiaoyao. Official Qin Yes, Your Majesty. Qin Xiaoyao stood up and cupped her fists. Then, she looked around her surroundings. Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, can you allow your servant to pluck some leaves? Please do as you please, my beloved official. The Emperors expression was somewhat puzzled, but he still consented. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao go to a tree at the side and pluck a few leaves. After returning to her original position, Qin Xiaoyao bowed to the Emperor and Empress and said, Its a pity that your servant has to be such a killjoy in such an excellent setting. The Emperor looked at Qin Xiaoyao with some curiosity and said magnanimously, Haha! My beloved official, just go ahead without worry. Empress Jia, who was next to him, also nodded. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao turn around. Then, she injected her special ability force into the few leaves in her hand. After that, she shot the leaves at a cluster of peonies in full bloom not far away. An amazing thing happened. The stems of several peonies were cut off and the flowers fell to the ground. The Emperor was stunned. Empress Jia stood up in shock. Good! Its so amazing! General Qin, you certainly live up to your reputation as the number one warrior of our Great Jin State! At this moment, a crystal clear voice suddenly rang out from the pavilion behind. Qin Xiaoyao turned toward the source of the voice and saw a bright youngdy in light yellow clothes pping her hands as she walked toward them. Qin Xiaoyao was wondering who that woman was. Empress Jia and the Emperor looked at each other with a smile and then looked at Qin Xiaoyao. This is my youngest daughter, Xiangyang, Empress Jia introduced. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly bowed. My greetings to Your Highness, she greeted Princess Xiangyang. Oh, General Qin, you dont have to be so polite! Princess Xiangyang quickly walked up to Qin Xiaoyao. The leaves are so fragile, yet General Qin can use them as flying daggers to cut off the stems of the peonies. 1 am impressed! Its just a small trick. Princess, youre too kind, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Indeed, she didnt use her full strength. Otherwise, the flying leaves could not only cut off the stems of peonies but could also kill people. General Qin, you are too modest! Ive heard people talk about some of those martial arts heroes who can hurt people by shooting leaves, but Ive never had the chance to meet them. Today, Ive finally seen it for myself! Princess Xiangyang looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a look of adtion. In the face of Princess Xiangyangs burning gaze, Qin Xiaoyao found it difficult to respond. Haha! Thats enough, Xiangyang. In the end, it was Empress Jia who spoke. Official Qin, my youngest daughter doesnt like the four arts, but she loves sabers and spears, swords and halberds. After hearing about your exploits, she kept pestering me and the Emperor, saying that she wants to meet you. I hope you dont mind. Your Royal Highness, you speak too highly of me. It is my honor that the Princess thinks so highly of me. Qin Xiaoyao cupped her hands in response. Empress Jia looked at her youngest daughter. When she saw that the girl kept looking at Qin Xiaoyao with admiration in her eyes, Empress Jia felt a little helpless. If she didnt know that Qin Xiaoyao was a woman, she would have misunderstood her daughter. The Emperors intention, and mine as well, is for Xiangyang to acknowledge you as her master. This way, she can learn some real skills, and the Emperor and I will also feel at ease. Official Qin, what do you think? Empress Jia said. As soon as she said this, Princess Xiangyangs gaze toward Qin Xiaoyao became even more passionate. However, Qin Xiaoyaos face stiffened. Master! Master, please ept me! I promise Ill train hard with you and not bring disrepute to Masters reputation! Princess Xiangyang had already grabbed Qin Xiaoyaos arm and was even shaking it coquettishly. Er then your humble servant shall do as you wish. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao consent. Although Princess Xiangyang was only a Princess, the Emperor and the Empress doted on her the most among all the princes and princesses. Now that Empress Jia had handed the Princess to her and appointed her to be Princess Xiangyangs master, it was too obvious that the Empress wanted to win Qin Xiaoyao over. However, this was also good. Since Empress Jia had the intention to win her over, the former would not do anything to harm her in the short term. However, she hoped that Prince Huaiyin would not read too much into this event. Hehe! Thats great! Master, please ept your disciples respects! Princess Xiangyangs eyes were filled with wild joy as she bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly helped her up. Princess, you mustnt. I am too undeserving! No harm! Since Xiangyang has acknowledged you as her master, you should ept her respects! Empress Jia said with a smile. After that, she allowed Princess Xiangyang and Qin Xiaoyao to spend some time together. Princess Xiangyang had a lively personality. Now that she had be Qin Xiaoyaos disciple, she was like a chatterbox, tugging on Qin Xiaoyaos arm and talking non-stop to her. She asked Qin Xiaoyao how she had captured the mountain bandit leader of Mountain Spring Town alive and killed his second-inmand. She then asked her how she had killed Xiao Tu and Xiao Yuan. In short, she had already heard about Qin Xiaoyaos exploits, but she wanted Qin Xiaoyao to tell it to her personally. What Qin Xiaoyao said was naturally different from what the Princess had heard, but the general gist was the same. Qin Xiaoyao included her judgment and thoughts on the situation at that time in the story, which made Princess Xiangyang even more excited. Master, youre simply a role model for the women of our Great Jin State! In the future, when you lead your troops to war, how about you bring me along? 1 want to be like you, and fight on the battlefields and make contributions to the Great Jin State! Princess Xiangyangs eyes were filled with excitement. She was a Princess, and she was not destined to sit on the Dragon Throne. She also had no interest in that position. As for getting married and bing a woman staying in the back of the house, she was even less interested in that. She also wanted to make a name for herself and leave her name in history, just like her master. She wanted to be a different kind of Princess of the Great Jin State! The swords and sabers on the battlefield have no eyes. Things are not so simple out there, you silly girl. Dont go and cause trouble. The Emperor suddenly interjected. The doting look in his eyes was tinged with worry as he looked at Princess Xiangyang. However, Empress Jias attitude was different. Its not impossible to go to the battlefield. However, with your superficial knowledge of martial arts skills, you are still not good enough. If you want to go to the battlefield with Official Qin, you have to have at least 20% of her strength, alright? Empress Jia said with a smile. As she spoke, she turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Since Xiangyang has such an ambition, I will have to trouble Official Qin to take care of her. If she really has that ability, so why dont I let her go and expand her ambitions? Chapter 339 - 339: Witnessing Injustice Along the Way? Chapter 339: Witnessing Injustice Along the Way? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The Emperor looked at Empress Jia and knew that she was advocating her feminist idea that a woman was not inferior to a man, so he did not respond. In any case, he was well aware of his youngest daughters capabilities. If she wanted to achieve 30% of Qin Xiaoyaos martial arts proficiency, she would need to train hard for several years. And with that girls limited amount of perseverance, he had only one word to describe the possibility of her aplishing that, namely unlikely. Thank you, Mother! You love me the most! Princess Xiangyang quickly went to Empress Jia and gave her a hug. She didnt forget to give her father a provocative re. Her childish behavior made the Emperor and Empress smile. Qin Xiaoyao, who was watching from the side, also felt that this scene was very heart-warming. This Princess Xiangyang was indeed doted upon With a goal in mind, Princess Xiangyang pulled Qin Xiaoyao over and asked her to teach her martial arts immediately. However, Qin Xiaoyao had only taught her a few moves before the new disciple felt a little overwhelmed. Fortunately, the young girl was not one to give up easily. She gritted her teeth and persisted. In the afternoon, Qin Xiaoyao was asked to stay back in the pce to have lunch with the Emperor, the Empress and Princess Xiangyang. She didnt leave the pce until the afternoon and was taken to her own residence by the pce staff. The Marquis Xiaoyaos residence was on the same street as the residence of the Prince of Huaiyin, but they were separated by more than half a street and could be considered quite far apart. Qin Xiaoyao felt that this was probably the doing of that person in the pce. However, she didnt think too much about it and followed the caretaker into the residence. That was right. Marquis Xiaoyaos residence had also been allocated servants. Although there werent many of them, every position was filled. This was also arranged by the pce. After Qin Xiaoyao entered, the caretaker quickly called all the servants over and asked Qin Xiaoyao to give them her orders. Qin Xiaoyao didnt say much and only told them to do their job well. Everything in the residence should be done ording to the rules. Immediately after that, she asked the caretaker to show her around the residence. After walking around and checking out the interior of the residence, Qin Xiaoyao was extremely pleased. Just as she was preparing to rest in her own courtyard for a while, the pce sent her some mary reward. Qin Xiaoyao could only go to the front yard to collect the money and thank the Imperial emissary. Then, she kept a portion of the money in her room and handed the rest to the bookkeeper. It was a good thing to have a Marquiss residence, but with so many servants in the house, the expenses of the residence in the future would not be small. In addition, if she wanted to gain a foothold in the capital, she would have to spend a lot of money on social activities in the future. Sigh! It was simply not possible to just rely on her paltry sry. Perhaps she still needed to set up some businesses. At this thought, Qin Xiaoyao went to the study to write a letter to her family. She had been away from Mountain Spring Town for a long time, and she didnt know how her family was doing. Now that she had settled down in the capital, she could bring her family over. It was easier to get things done with more people. Xiaomei and the others coulde and help her open a few porridge shops. It would be good to run a few shops. After writing the letter, Qin Xiaoyao asked the servant to call the caretaker over and she got him to arrange for the letter to be sent out. Following that, she left the residence and went to Prince Huaiyins residence. When Prince Huaiyin heard that Qin Xiaoyao had arrived, he personally weed her into the front yard and then invited her to the study. Prince Huaiyin didnt show any odd reaction when he learned that Empress Jia had allowed Princess Xiangyang to be Qin Xiaoyaos disciple. That girl Xiangyang loves to y with swords and spears. She has always wanted to be a female general. In the past, everyone thought that she was talking nonsense. To everyones surprise, a female general like you actually appeared in our Great Jin State. Now, she is pestering Emperor father and Empress Jia to allow her to be your disciple. This is well within expectations. If you have the time, just give her some pointers. If she really has that ability, its not impossible for her to lead the army with you in the future. Its still better than being trapped in the capital and waiting until adulthood before being bundled off in a marriage alliance, Prince Huaiyin said. Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised. Your Highness, you and Princess Xiangyang Prince Huaiyin smiled. Although Empress Jia is against me, Xiangyang is different from her. That girl deserves everyones love, he exined. When he was young, before he left the capital, it was all thanks to that girl that he was not persecuted to death by Empress Jia. That girl truly treated him as her second brother. He had also already thought it through. Xiangyang was not just the daughter of Empress Jia. She was also his Emperor fathers daughter and his younger sister. He should limit the grudge between him and Empress Jia to just the two of them. There was no need to involve more people. Qin Xiaoyao nodded in agreement with what Prince Huaiyin said. After that, she exined the situation of her residence. The residence indeed needs some capable servants. Empress Jias people must have been nted among those arranged by the pce. But theres no rush. When Aunt Song and the others enter the capital, you can find an opportunity to slowly rece them, Prince Huaiyin said. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. It was indeed a good reason to say that her family was not used to these servants in the residence to have them reced. Prince Huaiyin then turned to Qin Xiaoyao. Empress Jias intention to win you over is already very obvious. Henceforth, its better that you donte here so often. If theres anything to discuss, we can talk in the army camp. In any case, they all had military positions. Even if they returned to the capital, they had to report to the army camp almost every day. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao agreed. She was quite touched by Prince Huaiyins trust in her. The two of them exchanged some more information before Qin Xiaoyao left. After returning to the residence and having a sumptuous dinner, Qin Xiaoyao went to bed early. Qin Xiaoyao slept on the warm andfortable bed soundly without any dreams. The next day, she woke up early. After breakfast, she rode her horse and set off for the army camp. In the end, just as she left the street where the Marquiss residence was located, she encountered a disturbance in front of her. A few horse carriages were blocking the middle of the road, and there were many people watching, causing traffic congestion. Qin Xiaoyao got off her horse and led it to check on the situation. She saw three young men in luxurious clothes bullying another young man. The young man was in a very sorry state from all the bullying and even fell to the ground. Qin Xiaoyao frowned subconsciously. She was just about to leave and take a detour. Unexpectedly, the young man suddenly raised his head and revealed half of his face. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes widened when she caught a glimpse of that face. This was because the young mans appearance was very simr to her husbands. When she saw one of the luxuriously dressed young menshing out with his whip at the young man, Qin Xiaoyao instinctively shot out a copper coin. It sent the whip of the well-dressed youth flying straightaway. Argh Who was it? How dare you attack me sneakily! The well-dressed young man winced in pain. He shook his injured wrist and looked behind him. At the same time, the other two well-dressed young men were also looking in Qin Xiaoyaos direction with ferocious gazes. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the three of them and frowned slightly. I was the one, she said in a low voice. The three young men immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao. When they saw that it was only a thin, feeble-looking man, their faces were filled with hostility. Hmph! Youre quite bold. You still have the guts to admit it after hurting me! Men! Arrest him! As soon as he finished speaking, the servants standing beside the three well-dressed young men all sprang into action and headed toward Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos brows furrowed even deeper. She watched as themoners stepped back and the servants surrounded her. Very soon, a servant brandished a rod and came forward. Qin Xiaoyao didnt move at all. She waited until the rod was right in front of her before she suddenly kicked out and sent the servant flying.. Chapter 340 - 340: Courtesan Yun Niang Chapter 340: Courtesan Yun Niang Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Soon, it was the second servants turn, followed by the third servant. In a short while, all the servants were knocked to the ground, every one of them wailing in pain. When they saw this, the three well-dressed young men finally revealed a look of fear. Do do you know who we are? How dare you stir up trouble for us? One of the young men gathered his courage and asked Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao smiled in amusement. I dont know, she replied casually. When she saw that the three were both angry and afraid, she had some thoughts of teasing them. Then, do you guys know this Marquis here? Qin Xiaoyao said as she lifted her head. So they wanted to use their influence to oppress other people? It seemed like she could give it a try herself. When they heard the word Marquis, the three young men all got a shock. This person was actually a Marquis? An unfamiliar Marquis and he was skilled in the martial arts. Could it be One of the well-dressed young mens expression changed at once. You youre Marquis Xiaoyao? he said with a fearful expression. As soon as he said that, the eyes of the two well-dressed young men beside him widened as well, and they looked at Qin Xiaoyao in horror. They were not the only ones fearful. The surroundingmoners also stood further away. Qin Xiaoyao was the Great Jin States God of Massacre. She had killed countless Liao soldiers on the battlefield with her own hands, infiltrated the camp of tens of thousands of Liao soldiers, and killed that damned Liao Supreme Commander, Xiao Yuan. When the news was sent back to the capital, everyone was saying that this fellow General Qin had killed countless people without any emotion and her face resembled the King of Hell. While themoners respected her, they were also afraid of her. It was said that the Great Jin States God of Massacre had entered the pce to meet the Emperor yesterday and was then conferred the title of Marquis Xiaoyao. If the person in front of them was a newly-conferred Marquis, he could very well be Qin Xiaoyao. However, didnt they say that Qin Xiaoyao was a woman with a tall and powerful build, and that she was extremely ferocious? This persons appearance didnt quite match Mm-hmm. You still have some brains, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Just as she finished speaking, the well-dressed young man who asked the question shouted, Run! Immediately, the three well-dressed young men took to their heels. Even their servants got up from the ground and scrambled and crawled away rapidly, ignoring the pain Themoners didnt run away, but they moved further away and secretly sized up this new war god of the Great Jin State. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao rubbed her nose. She saw that the young man who had been bullied was still sitting on the ground. She led her horse and walked forward. Theyve all left. Get up, she said. At the same time, she reached out her hand to him. The young man was taken aback. He raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes widened in shock as she looked at the pair of almond-shaped eyes that were almost identical to Song Ques. Qin Xiaoyao only quickly came back to her senses when she saw a sh of fear in the other partys eyes. The ground is cold. Youd better get up yourself. Then, she withdrew her hand in disappointment. The fear in the young mans eyes finally dissipated. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was about to turn around and leave, he quickly called out to her. Benefactor, please wait Immediately after that, he got up from the ground with great effort. Qin Xiaoyao turned around and saw the young mans face clearly. This young man really looked like her husband. This was particrly true of his eyes, which were almost exactly the same as her husbands. However, his looks were somewhat inferior to her husbands, and his bearing was more gentle and lissome than her husbands. Or rather, it could be said that he was a little too effeminate. Benefactor, are you really Marquis Xiaoyao? The young mans face was a little red, and he didnt quite dare to look at Qin Xiaoyaos face. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao replied. The young man immediately raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. When he met Qin Xiaoyaos eyes, he quickly looked away, like a little rabbit that had been startled. I, Liu Ling, hereby thank Lord Marquis for saving my life. The young man quickly stood straight and bowed respectfully to Qin Xiaoyao. He was really like a delicate willow in the wind, with a decidedly unique charm. Youre too polite. Those people here earlier probably wont being back. However, you should leave quickly, Qin Xiaoyao said. She was a person who always sympathized with beautiful people, especially those weak, fragile ones. However, that was where she drew the line. If she interfered more than this, she would be crossing the line. Yes! Thank you for your reminder, Lord Marquis, Liu Ling quickly answered. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She mounted her horse and rode away. Liu Ling stood where he was and watched Qin Xiaoyaos back profile until she disappeared at the corner of the street. Marquis Xiaoyao waspletely different from what the rumors said. Qin Xiaoyao went straight to the army camp and didnt take this interlude on the way too seriously. After she arrived at the army camp, she first familiarized herself with the environment and then began to deal with the military affairs. Due to her high efficiency, she finished todays work before evening. Huang Fei and the others had also received their rewards today. All the various army leaders were extremely happy. They went to look for Qin Xiaoyao, saying that they wanted to treat the new Marquis to a meal. Qin Xiaoyao thought about how everyone had fought for so long and worked so hard. Now that she had returned to the capital, she ought to celebrate, and so she epted their invitation. Thus, the whole group of people left the army camp early and went to the most famous brothel in the capital, Cloud Scent Court, for a drink. Of course, the location was decided by her subordinates, and she, as the Leader, was just following them. However, Qin Xiaoyao didnt really object to this suggestion. It wasnt just men who could drink with femalepanionship. In her previous life, during the apocalypse, she also frequented the red-light district. After entering Cloud Scent Court, Qin Xiaoyao immediately booked the entire second floor. The various army leaders looked left and right like country bumpkins who had just entered the town. They were extremely amazed. When the fine wine and delicacies, as well as the beautiful women, were served, everyone quickly became lively. Everyone was drinking and feasting heartily, or chatting and having fun with the beautiful women. It was a very merry atmosphere. Qin Xiaoyao sat in the seat of honor, apanied by a beautiful woman too. And it was said that this woman was the top courtesan of this Cloud Scent Court. She was known as Courtesan Yun Niang. This was because Qin Xiaoyaos status was noble, so Yun Niang took the initiative to apany her. Otherwise, even if the customer offered a high price, he might not be able to get Yun Niangspanionship. Lord Marquis is serving the state and the people. Yun Niang hereby offers a toast to Lord Marquis again. The beautys smile was as beautiful as a flower, and her eyes were full of admiration as she looked at Qin Xiaoyao. This made Qin Xiaoyao very pleased. She picked up her wine cup and drank a toast with Yun Niang. Miss Yun Niang, you are too polite. Today, 1 came over to drink with my brothers. It was all thanks to Miss Yun Niang that 1 was able to save some money on the wine, Qin Xiaoyao expressed her thanks. She had only found out how expensive the wine was in Cloud Scent Court aftering here. If Yun Niang didnt give them a discount, Qin Xiaoyaos monthly official sry wouldnt even be enough to treat her gang of brothers to a meal. Fortunately, Yun Niang had spoken up and asked the brothel owner to give Qin Xiaoyao a discount. She even promised to bring some of her sisters to apany Qin Xiaoyaos gang for free. She could just barely afford this meal after a 50% discount. Sigh! She suddenly realized that she was actually very poor The matter of purchasing properties and making money had to be scheduled as soon as possible. Hehe! Lord Marquis is too polite. Lord Marquis has killed countless enemies for the Great Jin State and protected the countlessmoners of the Great Jin State. You are a great hero. 1 am only doing something that is within my capability for you, Lord Marquis. How can it be worthy of Lord Marquiss thanks? If Lord Marquis does not despise me because 1 am a lowly person, in the future, you cane to Cloud Scent Court more often. 1, Yun Niang, will definitely wee you.. Chapter 341 - 341: My Presumptuous Request Chapter 341: My Presumptuous Request Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion As she spoke, Yun Niang once again brought the wine cup in front of Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she received it. Haha! Whats there to despise? How many women in this world are as generous and beautiful as Yun Niang? After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao drained the wine in her cup. Yun Niangs face turned red when she heard Qin Xiaoyaos forthrightments. After all, which woman didnt like to be praised for her beauty? At this moment, a new performance began on the stage on the first floor. Qin Xiaoyao didnt take it seriously at first, but with her excellent eyesight, she saw the person on the stage clearly and was stunned at once. This was because that person was none other than the young man she had saved on the street this morning. Mm-hmm The one who was called Liu Ling. A young man in a white robe was dancing in the middle of the stage with a long sword in his hand. His figure was even more graceful than a womans. His sword dance was ahem Although it didnt contain any strength, it was still quite pretty. Qin Xiaoyao watched for a while longer with an appreciative attitude. Then, Yun Niang, who was nearby, looked at Qin Xiaoyao demurely. Is my younger brothers dance worthy of Lord Marquiss attention? Yun Niang suddenly said. Qin Xiaoyao got a shock at once. She looked at Liu Ling, who was dancing with his sword, and then looked at Yun Niang. These two were siblings? Hehe Yun Niang covered her lips with her embroidered handkerchief and smiled charmingly. Then, she asked coquettishly, 1 dont look like my younger brother? Qin Xiaoyao looked at Yun Niang again, then at Liu Ling. Upon closer inspection, she realized that their eyebrows and lips were indeed somewhat simr. You do, Qin Xiaoyao replied eventually. However, Liu Ling looked more like her husband. Yun Niang smiled charmingly. Suddenly, she leaned close to Qin Xiaoyaos ear. Lord Marquis, what do you think of my younger brother? she whispered demurely. Qin Xiaoyaos heart shuddered momentarily. Then, she quickly backed off. Yun Niang surely you are joking with me. Her expression was slightly tense as she spoke. No way! This girl wanted to pimp her younger brother to her? A married woman like her could not afford to get embroiled in such dealings. When she saw this, Yun Niang stared at Qin Xiaoyao coquettishly. Does Lord Marquis despise us siblings? She was so charming. Qin Xiaoyaos body almost trembled when she saw her behavior. No no. 1 dont mean that, she stammered. When she realized that she had lost herposure a little, Qin Xiaoyao quickly recovered herself. Ahem 1 already have a husband. Yun Niang, dont joke with me like this, she said. It turned out that sometimes, men really couldnt be med for not having enough self-control. When they met such seductive vixens outside, not everyone could remain virtuous and exercise temperance. Fortunately, she was determined and only had her husband in her heart. Upon hearing this, Yun Niang was stupefied for a moment. Then, she smiled. Lord Marquis is so heroic. How can you use the standards of an ordinary woman to measure yourself? she asked in a probing manner. Surely even your husband cant restrict you now, right? Qin Xiaoyao nced at Yun Niang. She realized that this womans thinking was quite unconventional. At the very least, she was very different from the women of this era. He cant restrict me, and simrly, I cant restrict him. We respect and love each other. In addition, when two people are truly in love, no third person cane between them. Not even if it has nothing to do with love and its just lust for beauty. My husband and 1 cherish our feelings for each other. I wont ruin this wonderful rtionship because of some insignificant things. She was actually a very serious person, and she was also a little fastidious. However, she was just fastidious in rtionships. After falling in love with her husband, she had never thought of giving her heart to anyone else. Of course, she would not allow her husband to fall in love with anyone else other than her. She believed that her husband felt the same way about her. Yun Niang was astounded again. Finally, she withdrew the flirtatious look on her face and looked at Qin Xiaoyao with some respect. I have been rash. Lord Marquis has a noble character. I fully admire you. After she finished speaking, she raised her wine cup and toasted Qin Xiaoyao before downing it in one gulp. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Yun Niang and didnt say anything. Soon, Yun Niang spoke to Qin Xiaoyao again, However, 1 still have a presumptuous request. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Yun Niang and was not in a hurry to respond. If it was just a simple request, she wouldnt mind consenting to it. However, if it wasnt simple This was the first time they met. There was no need for Qin Xiaoyao to make things difficult for herself, right? When she saw this, Yun Niang looked a little embarrassed. To Lord Marquis, this is just a small favor. Moreover, after this is done, 1 will definitely thank you generously, she then said. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao be interested. Oh? Then why dont you tell me about it? she said. However, she still did not consent outright. Yun Niang knew that she couldnt make Qin Xiaoyao agree to help her first. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke up. I would like to ask Lord Marquis to redeem my younger brother. Her beautiful eyes stared straight at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was astonished. Just as she was about to refuse, Yun Niang said, I will pay the silver for the redemption. Moreover, after this matter is done, I will give Lord Marquis an additional 2000 taels of silver to thank you. Qin Xiaoyao immediately swallowed her words of refusal. The sum of 2000 taels was very generous. Er Qin Xiaoyao had to admit that she was tempted. Lord Marquis only needs to help me redeem Linger and then take him in for a month. One monthter, after Ive arranged everything, 111 take Linger away, Yun Niang continued. Her expression was solemn,pletely different from her flirtatious demeanor just now. Qin Xiaoyao hesitated again. If this person were to move into the Marquiss residence, Im afraid it would be detrimental to the reputations of both Young Master Liu and me. This was particr so for her. If people knew that she had redeemed a male prostitute from a brothel and even hid him in the Marquiss residence, heavens knew what kind of rumors would spread. Well, she could indeed handle it in such a way that she would still appear innocent without the need to exin herself. However, what if her husband found out and misunderstood? Furthermore, her family would being to the capital soon. If they found out about this, they might misunderstand as well. No worries. As long as we are careful, no one will find out. In addition, when you redeem him, Lord Marquis, you can instruct the brothel madame not to publicize it. She doesnt have the guts, Yun Niang hurriedly said. When she saw that Qin Xiaoyao was still unwilling, Yun Niang continued, Lord Marquis, dont worry. I will instruct Linger not to leave the residence unless something unexpected happens. This way, no one will know that he has gone to your residence. Its just for one month. One month is enough. I beg Lord Marquis to showpassion and help us siblings. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. If this matter is sessful, if Lord Marquis needs my help in anyway in the future, please feel free to instruct. 1 will definitely do my best, Yun Niang added. At the same time, Qin Xiaoyao saw that someone had actually gone up to the stage downstairs to harass Liu Ling. Fortunately, the brothels male attendant acted in time and the brothel madame also came forward to mediate, so the matter did not blow up. Has Young Master Liu offended many people? Qin Xiaoyao suddenly asked. In the morning, she had seen him being bullied by three well-dressed young men.. Chapter 342 - 342: Song Que Appeared Chapter 342: Song Que Appeared Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion It had only been a short while, yet he was being bullied again. Did this person have a physique that was prone to bullying? There was a bitter expression on Yun Niangs face. Mm-hmm. She nodded. Then, she exined the circumstances to Qin Xiaoyao. It turned out that the brother of Empress Jia had taken a fancy to Liu Ling and was determined to redeem him and bring him back to the Jia familys residence. However, Liu Ling himself was not inclined toward people of the same gender as him, and he was the only male offspring of the Liu family. How could he be willing to be redeemed by the brother of Empress Jia? In addition, the situation in the Jia familys residence wasplicated, and the various households were fighting each other openly and plotting secretly. Even if Liu Ling entered the Jia familys residence, he would not lead a good life. Yun Niang was very unwilling to let her younger brother suffer this kind of hardship. That was why she approached Qin Xiaoyao. She thought that since Qin Xiaoyao was a woman, even if her younger brother followed her without a title, he would not be forced to submit to others. If he was lucky, he might even end up with male offspring. Thus, she decided to probe thoroughly. She found out that Qin Xiaoyao was actually upright and did not have any improper thoughts about her younger brother. This was even better. If she could borrow Qin Xiaoyaos hand to help her younger brother leave Cloud Scent Court, her younger brother would be able to live like an ordinary person in the future. Qin Xiaoyao listened to Yun Niangs exnation as well as her conclusion that Qin Xiaoyao was the upright and honorable type. She looked a little embarrassed at the end. Was it really good for this girl to be so outspoken? However, Qin Xiaoyao was not afraid of offending that brother of Empress Jia. After all, she was now someone that Empress Jia wanted to win over, and the brother of Empress Jia probably wouldnt dare to go against her. As for the future, if her husband and Prince Huaiyin became enemies with Empress Jia, there was a high chance that she would end up going against Empress Jia. Therefore, it didnt seem like a big deal to have an additional feud with Empress Jias brother. The influence of Empress Jias brother is wide-reaching and overpowering. In the entire capital, there are really not many who dare to go against him. Your humble servant has no other choice but to approach you, Lord Marquis. I implore Lord Marquis to sympathize with us siblings and help us this time. In the future in the future, if Lord Marquis has any need for me, I, Yun Niang, will go through fire and water, and definitely risk my life to serve you! Yun Niang said with determination. Qin Xiaoyao felt quite moved. Let me think about this matter. She finally relented. Although she wasnt afraid of offending Empress Jias brother, there would definitely be trouble if she took Liu Ling in. Of course, there were also benefits. Needless to say, receiving 2000 taels of silver for doing nothing was one of them. In addition, she could make use of Yun Niangs connections to quickly buy some properties in the capital. She had just arrived and was not familiar with the capital. If she could get Yun Niangs help, carrying out these tasks would definitely be much smoother. When she saw that Qin Xiaoyao had finally relented, Yun Niangs expression rxed quite a bit. No hurry, no hurry. Lord Marquis, you can give me an answer within three days, she said. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Yun Niang with a puzzled expression. Empress Jias brother mentioned to the brothel madame that he wille to redeem Linger in five days. If she gave Qin Xiaoyao three days to consider and if she didnt consent to help, Yun Niang might be able to think of another way within the remaining two days. Alright. Qin Xiaoyao finally agreed. Following that, the private dining room became lively again. Tonight, the second floor that Qin Xiaoyao booked was the most raucous in Cloud Scent Court, and it stole the most limelight. Although some people found them noisy, no one dared to find fault with them. That was because Qin Xiaoyao was around. When the people who found them too rowdy heard Qin Xiaoyaos name, they all shrank back. It was enough to show how intimidating the reputation of the Great Jin States God of Massacre was. Downstairs, after Liu Ling finished his performance, he also came upstairs. He personally toasted Qin Xiaoyao to thank her for saving him this morning. After inquiring, Qin Xiaoyao found out that the three well-dressed young men were from the Jia family. The reason they bullied Liu Ling on the streets was that they did not want their father and uncle to bring Liu Ling into the Jia familys residence. Upon learning of this situation, Qin Xiaoyao subconsciously sympathized with Liu Ling. Thereafter, she didnt allow Liu Ling to leave. She retained the siblings to drink and have fun with her gang of brothers. The merry-makingsted until midnight. Without any worries of trouble in the aftermath and without the need to worry about being ambushed by the enemy, Qin Xiaoyao could finally let her hair down and drink a little more. When she left Cloud Scent Court, Qin Xiaoyao felt that she was already 70% drunk. The reason she thought she was 70% drunk was that she realized that she had almost mistaken Liu Ling for Song Que several times. However, every time she mistook him for her husband, she would quickly sober up. Then, she would ascertain that Liu Ling was not her husband. After rejecting the Liu siblings offer to send her off, Qin Xiaoyao boarded the horse carriage from the Marquiss residence and returned to the residence. Meanwhile, in a private dining room on the third floor of Cloud Scent Court. A man in a green robe stood by the window, watching Qin Xiaoyaos horse carriage leave. He only turned around when the carriage disappeared into the night. What was surprising was that this person was none other than Song Que, who had been missing for a long time. The two people standing opposite Song Que were Yun Niang and Liu Ling, who had been drinking with Qin Xiaoyao earlier. Master and Mistress are so deeply in love. Its enviable, Yun Niang suddenly said with a smile. Liu Ling, who was next to her, also nodded. He looked at Song Que with deep envy in his eyes. Having been in Cloud Scent Court for many years, he and his elder sister were used to seeing men who were unfaithful after they became rich. There were even women who became like that too. There were really very few people like Qin Xiaoyao who could still maintain their original purity after bing famous overnight. A warm smile appeared on Song Ques face. She is indeed very good, he replied. Thereafter, he said to the two of them, Sit down and talk. The Liu siblings looked at each other and sat down. Although Mistress promised to consider helping, she did not give a definite answer. Three dayster, if Mistress changes her mind Yun Niang looked worriedly at Song Que. That was right. It was Master Songs idea to arrange for Liu Ling to enter Marquis Xiaoyaos residence. Furthermore, the two siblings were Masters followers. Strictly speaking, they were also Masters rtives. They could be considered his cousins. When Prime Minister Song Hong got into trouble back then, the Liu family was also implicated. She and her younger brother had escaped by chance and they ended up in Cloud Scent Court. Not long ago, Master suddenly found them and helped them solve a big problem. Only then did they join Masters camp and started working for him. They would take revenge for the Liu family sooner orter. If they followed Master, the Liu family would definitely regain its glory. She will agree, Song Que replied with a faint smile. Even if she didnt agree, he would think of a way to make her agree. Yun Niang and Liu Ling looked at each other again and finally let go of their worries. What other instructions does Master have for us? Yun Niang asked next. I dont need you guys to do anything else for the time being. Just focus on helping her buy her properties and establish herself in the capital, Song Que said. As he spoke, he looked at Liu Ling. Find an opportunity to show her your ability to manage a business. After this, she would probably open a porridge shop and sell century egg porridge. That porridge tastes very good. It should be able to earn money. With you helping her, I can rest assured. Alright, Liu Ling quickly answered. Song Que nodded. Also, Empress Jias brother he continued Dont worry, Master. 1 know how to handle it, Liu Ling said in a low voice.. Chapter 343 - 343: Master, Here I Come! Chapter 343: Master, Here I Come! Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion That good-for-nothing Jia Kun wasnt hard to fool. Even if Liu Ling entered Marquis Xiaoyaos residence, he was confident that he could leave that fellow hanging. Jia Kun was Empress Jias biological brother. He naturally couldnt abandon such an important leverage. You must take care of yourself. Song Que suddenly looked at Liu Ling. A ripple of emotion shed across Liu Lings eyes. Dont worry, Master Song. I know what to do, he immediately replied. The Masters worries were unnecessary. He and his elder sister had stayed in Cloud Scent Court for so many years, yet they were still able to maintain their purity. How could they not have any tricks up their sleeves? If he really had no other choice, there was no harm if he sacrificed himself a little to win Jia Kun over. As long as they could overturn Empress Jia Song Que frowned as he looked at Liu Ling. In the end, he did not say anything else. He chatted with the siblings for a while longer before leaving Cloud Scent Court. Qin Xiaoyao went to sleep after returning to the residence. When she woke up the next day, she asked the servants to bring hot water for her to wash up and bathe. However, just as she was about to enter the bathtub, a maidservant came to report that Princess Xiangyang had arrived. Qin Xiaoyao wanted to ask the servants to pass a message to Princess Xiangyang, telling her to wait for Qin Xiaoyao to finish her bath before meeting her. To her surprise, that girl came barging into the room. Master! Master, here 1e! Soon, the sound of her chattering could be heard outside the door. Qin Xiaoyao had no choice but to open the door to stop anyone from bothering her while she was bathing. When Princess Xiangyang saw Qin Xiaoyao, a bright smile immediately appeared on her face. She then pped her way to Qin Xiaoyao. Master! Im here to seek refuge with you! From now on, Ill be staying in your residence. Ill train with you and go to the army camp to train the soldiers! Look! I even brought my luggage! Princess Xiangyang said. At the same time, she looked behind her at the young pce maid and young eunuch who had followed her. The young pce maid and the young eunuch were carrying bundles in their hands and on their backs. They seemed to have brought a lot of things. Qin Xiaoyao frowned slightly. Do the Emperor and Empress know that Your Highness has left the pce? she asked. Staying in her residence? And she wanted to stay for a long time? Wasnt this girl acting too familiar with Qin Xiaoyao? They know! 1 only left the pce after Mother consented! Princess Xiangyang immediately replied. Mother told me to learn from Master and be respectful to Master! As she spoke, she even tugged on Qin Xiaoyaos arm. Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback. Empress Jia consented? In that case, it would not be easy for her to chase the girl away. Ahem Qin Xiaoyao cleared her throat lightly and removed her arm from Princess Xiangyangs grasp awkwardly. In that case, you can stay here for now. Xiao Lu, help Her Highness move into the Orchid Courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao instructed her maidservant. Yes, Maam, Xiao Lu hurriedly bowed and answered. Princess Xiangyang was delighted. Then Master, Ill take my leave first. Please have your bath first. Ille backter! After saying that, Princess Xiangyang scooted off. Qin Xiaoyao shook her head helplessly as she watched the young girl leave. It seemed that this girl knew that she was going to take a bath Qin Xiaoyao didnt think any further and returned to her room. She began to wash up and bathe. By the time she came out, the sun was already shining warmly in the sky. Today was her day off, so she didnt n to go out. She moved a chair out andy down on it, basking in the sun. The weather was reallyfortable Hehe! Master, Master, Im here Qin Xiaoyao was enjoying herself when she suddenly heard a familiarughter. Following that, the voice came closer and soon reached her ear. Master, your recliner looksfortable! Do you have another one? I also want to lie down and apany you to bask in the sun. Wow! When Master let down her hair, her female appearance was so beautiful. And when she was lying down on the recliner leisurely, she appeared even more extraordinary. Sure enough, no matter what kind of posture a martial arts expert maintained, her bearing was different from other peoples. Theres another one in the room. If you dont find it troublesome, you can move it yourself, Qin Xiaoyao did not even raise her head as she replied to hernguidly. She was in azy mood and did not bother to be polite to Princess Xiangyang. Furthermore, this girl was also behaving in an overly familiar manner with her. It was meaningless for her to be polite to her. Heh! Alright! Princess Xiangyang answered happily. Immediately, she went off to do the task herself and did not ask her servants to help. She entered Qin Xiaoyaos room and moved out another recliner. After cing it beside Qin Xiaoyao, shey down next to her. As soon as shey down, the slightly bright sunlight shone on Princess Xiangyangs eyelids. It was slightly ring, so she closed her eyes. As she enjoyed the warmth of the sun, Princess Xiangyang did not open her eyes again. She imitated Qin Xiaoyao and closed her eyes to rest. Sofortable she muttered. The corner of Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. You can bask in the sun anywhere. Is it ufortable to bask in the sun in your own residence? she asked with a smile. This girl gave her the feeling that she was too clingy, like a lump of sticky candy. She was also a little like a sparrow, chirping non-stop. She really talked a lot. How is that the same? When Im by Masters side, I feel that even the air smelled fragrant, Princess Xiangyang said happily. Qin Xiaoyao knew that she was bluffing, but she stillughed. This girl was really honey-tongued, and her words sounded very sincere too. Rest for a while. When my hair is dry, I will teach you again, Qin Xiaoyao said. Anyway, she had nothing to do, so she would just apany this girl to pass the time. Hmm, the title Master sounded pretty pleasing. Sure! Thank you, Master! Princess Xiangyang immediately said. Thus, the master and disciple continued to lie therenguidly. In the beginning, Princess Xiangyang would talk to Qin Xiaoyao from time to time. As time passed, she felt sleepy. Then, the two of them fell asleep just like that. When Qin Xiaoyao woke up, she realized that the young girl was still asleep. As she looked at the young girls cute sleeping face, Qin Xiaoyao stretched and got up. She entered her room and brought a thin nket over. After that, she covered the young girls body with the nket. It was getting windy. She had a sturdy physique and would be fine even if she fell asleep in the open. However, this girl might not be so lucky. As a result, the young girl woke up just as the thin nket was draped over her. She opened her eyes slightly and saw that it was Qin Xiaoyao. However, the young girl closed her eyes again. Master she called out drowsily. Her soft and gentle voice almost melted Qin Xiaoyaos heart. She suddenly wondered if she and her husband were to have a daughter in the future, would she also be so cute Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but smile. She said gently, Sleep a little longer. 111 wake you up when lunch is ready. Mm-hmm, Princess Xiangyang murmured without opening her eyes. Then, she continued to sleep. Qin Xiaoyao smiled again when she saw the young girls expression. She straightened up and returned to her room. She tied up her hair and changed into a smart set of clothes before heading to the kitchen. She felt very energetic after a good nap. She thought she would go to the kitchen to make something she liked. What should she eat? Naturally, it was hotpot. Although there were many delicacies in ancient times, there were not many dishes with strong vors. She had not eaten the hotpot for many days, and her mouth felt so nd that everything was almost tasteless.. Chapter 344 - 344: Resuming Her Old Business Chapter 344: Resuming Her Old Business Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When the back kitchen staff in the Marquiss residence saw Qin Xiaoyao, everyone was very nervous. Fortunately, they soon found that Qin Xiaoyao was easy to get along with, so they cooperated and helped her. When the spicy soup for the hotpot was at full boil, the air was filled with a choking smell. Everyone doubted whether the food made by their Lord Marquis was edible. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were sparkling bright and she was very enthusiastic. As she continued to boil the soup, she asked someone to bring over the meat and vegetables that had been prepared in advance. When the soup was almost ready, she began to put the meat and vegetables into the pot. The meat and vegetables sank into the fiery red soup. Before long, the ingredients were stained a delectable red. One could tell with one look that it was extremely delicious. When they saw this, the servants changed their minds. Some servants couldnt resist swallowing a few times, yearning to have a taste. Qin Xiaoyao picked up a small iron pot and scooped the contents from the big pot into the small pot. She didnt scoop out everything, of course. In fact, she left more than half of a pot behind. Alright! Two of youe and help me bring this hotpot to my courtyard. Also, prepare a tub of rice. As for the leftovers in the pot, all of you can take them yourselves. You can all have a taste. You can practice in the kitchen when youre free. This way, when 1 want to eat it in the future, you will know how to cook it, Qin Xiaoyao said. The servants were delighted. Alright! they quickly answered. Qin Xiaoyao then left the kitchen and returned to the courtyard. As soon as she arrived, the greedy little girl woke up when she smelled the fragrance. It smells so good, Master! What is this? Princess Xiangyang ran towards Qin Xiaoyao excitedly and looked at the servant carrying the pot behind Qin Xiaoyao. This is the hotpot 1 made. Youre in luck today, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. She went around Princess Xiangyang and walked into the room. Princess Xiangyang looked at the pot in the hands of the servant in front of her again and then quickly ran after Qin Xiaoyao. Master, you know how to cook? You are so awesome! she said in a fawning manner. Your Master knows a lot. Youll know after a while, Qin Xiaoyao replied without any shame. They entered the room together. After the servants put down the food, Qin Xiaoyao and Princess Xiangyang started to eat together. Having considered that the young girl might not be used to spicy food, Qin Xiaoyao did not make the hotpot very spicy. Even so, the young girl felt the dish was so spicy that tears fell from her eyes. Although she was eating in a wretched fashion, the young girl could not stop eating. She was still mumbling as she ate, Boo hoo hoo Its delicious! Qin Xiaoyao couldnt bear seeing her eat like this and eventually said, Slow down. No one is snatching the food from you. This hotpot is so spicy. But its so delicious. Master, youre amazing! the young girl said as she ate. How can it be called hotpot* if its not spicy? Take it easy. If you cant take it, wash it down with water before continuing. If you eat too fast, you might get diarrhea, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Im not afraid. My stomach is strong. The young girl did not take her words seriously at all. In the afternoon, the young girl realized that she had overrated herself. Not only did she keep running to thevatory, but her butt also suffered a great deal and felt burning hot. When she saw the young girls listless appearance, Qin Xiaoyao felt some heartache, but she also thought it wasical. Then, sheforted the girl, saying, No worries. Youll get used to it after you eat it a few more times in the future. The young girl nodded obediently after hearing Qin Xiaoyaos words. As the girl was not feeling well, not surprisingly, she could not practice martial arts for long. Qin Xiaoyao then ignored her and summoned the servants in the residence to help her prepare the century eggs. That was right. She was going to resume her old business and develop her century eggs and century egg porridge business. The eggs were naturally bought by the residences servants from the streets, and she was the one who made the mud paste for the century eggs. Then, she arranged for all the servants in the residence to help her coat the century eggs with the mud paste. She had no choice. It would take more than a month for the century eggs to mature. She felt that the earlier she got started, the better. Princess Xiangyang was very curious when she saw Qin Xiaoyao doing this. Soon, she came up to Qin Xiaoyao and asked her, Master, youWhat are you doing? Making century eggs, Qin Xiaoyao didnt hide anything and told her frankly. When she saw the young girls puzzled look, she smiled and exined, The century egg tastes very good. The young girls eyes flickered. Then, she asked again, Youre going to make so many? The numerous baskets of chicken eggs and duck eggs were all going to be made into century eggs. If it was just her and her master, they would have to eat for a long time. Even if the century egg was really delicious, theirbined eating force was not that strong. When Qin Xiaoyao saw the young girls astonished expression, she knew that the girl was mistaken. What are you thinking, silly girl? Of course, I wont eat them all myself. When they are ready, Im going to sell some. Also, 1 will keep some for the porridge shop. Sell? The young girl was taken aback. Mm-hmm. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. There are a total of sixteen servants in this residence. Just the monthly sry alone is not a small expenditure. With your masters paltry sry, its very tough to maintain the daily expenses of the residence. So, I think 1 should invest in some property and do some business. The young girl was even more astounded. Master, are you so short of money? Didnt Emperor Father reward you with a lot of money previously? It was a thousand taels, which was not a small sum. Moreover, in such arge residence, there were only sixteen servants. How was that a lot? Qin Xiaoyao nced at the young girl. Your master only has that little wealth in her hands. If I dont think of a way to sustain a constant ie as soon as possible, when the money runs out, well have nothing to eat. The young girl thought for a while and realized that what her master said seemed to make sense. However, she had never thought that her master would be troubled by mundane things like money. After all, she herself had never been short of money. Of course, it was mainly because she received a lot of money every month, and her Emperor father and Empress mother often gave her rewards. But Master, if you have to do it yourself like this, or ask the servants in the residence to help, its not a good idea. Its better to procure some people outside and open a workshop, the young girl said. There were only so many people in the residence. If they were to be taken out to make century eggs, then who would do their work? If it was for a short period of time, it would be fine. However, as time went on, the whole Marquiss residence would definitely be in chaos. You have a point. But I dont have time to arrange those matters for the time being. 1 can only do these things first. Opening a century egg workshop was a good idea. She just didnt know how much capital it would require. Renting a ce, procuring people, and buying chicken eggs and duck eggs all required capital. If she spent too much, she would probably not have much left when she wanted to open the porridge shop. A thousand gold taels sounded like a lot. However, it was only 10,000 taels of silver after conversion. Property prices and the cost of materials in the capital were not cheap. It was not so easy to do something big. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but think of Yun Niang. Yun Niang had asked her for help, and she had agreed to give her 2000 taels of silver after the matter was done. Also, Yun Niang was familiar with theyout of the capital and had a lot of connections.. Chapter 345 - 345: Going to Cloud Scent Court Again Chapter 345: Going to Cloud Scent Court Again Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion If Qin Xiaoyao could get Yun Niangs help, it would be much smoother for her to buy property, rent a shop, do business, or procure or hire people to work. But this wont do! the young girl immediately said. Her eyes suddenly flickered. Why dont I help you, Master? she said. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the young girl. Hehe! Forget it. 1 have my own ns, she said with a smile. She didnt dare to rely on the young girl due to her unpredictable nature. After all, Qin Xiaoyao was the one forking out the money. And she was quite poor Perhaps, she still had to contact Cloud Scent Court after all. As she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao began formting a n in her mind. Thus, the next day, after returning from the army camp, Qin Xiaoyao brought her clingy disciple to Cloud Scent Court. In contrast to Qin Xiaoyaos calm demeanor, Princess Xiangyang was much more curious. She looked here and there and found the ce very novel. She had only heard of Cloud Scent Court before, but she had nevere in to have fun. She didnt know that it was so lively here. After the two of them entered Cloud Scent Court, they were taken to a private room by the brothels male attendant. A whileter, Yun Niang pushed the door open and entered. My greetings to you, Lord Marquis. 1 have kept you waiting! As soon as she entered, Yun Niang bowed. When she noticed that there was a young girl dressed as a man standing behind Qin Xiaoyao and that young girl was staring straight at her, Yun Niang gave her a charming smile. Princess Xiangyang blushed at once. This was the first time she realized how seductive a woman could be. We just arrived. We didnt wait long, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. I came here this time to talk to you about what we discussed previously, Qin Xiaoyao quickly got to the main topic. Yun Niang instantly became serious. She looked at Princess Xiangyang again. Qin Xiaoyao followed Yun Niangs gaze and looked at Princess Xiangyang as well. This is my disciple. She wont reveal our matter to the outside world. Princess Xiangyang nodded quickly. Only then did Yun Niang rx. After that, she asked, Then 1 wonder if Lord Marquis is willing to help? Mm-hmm. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. However, 1 also have some matters that require Yun Niangs help, she continued. Yun Niang immediately broke into a smile. No problem. If Lord Marquis has anything that needs my help, feel free to give me your instructions. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. No rush. Lets deal with Young Master Lius matter first. Yun Niang nodded. Lord Marquis, please wait here for a while, she continued. Qin Xiaoyao indicated her consent. Only then did Yun Niang leave the room. After she left and closed the door, Princess Xiangyang went to Qin Xiaoyaos side. Master, that girl is really beautiful. She certainly lives up to the reputation of being the Top Courtesan of Cloud Scent Court. Master, how did you get to know her? Also, she wants your help? Qin Xiaoyao smiled and nced at Princess Xiangyang. We got to know each other by chance. As for helping her, 1 guess so What kind of help? Princess Xiangyang was instantly interested. Qin Xiaoyao did not give any details and only said, Youll knowter. Princess Xiangyang looked disappointed, but she did not ask further. Anyway, she would knowter. She would wait. After a while, Yun Niang returned. She was carrying a box in her arms and she brought someone behind her. It was Liu Ling. When Princess Xiangyang saw Liu Ling, her eyes almost popped out. She thought that Yun Niang was already attractive enough. She didnt expect that there was someone more attractive than Yun Niang. And it was a man. Greetings, Lord Marquis. After Liu Ling entered, he quickly bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. When he realized that Princess Xiangyang was staring at him, an awkward look shed across his face, but he did not look at her anymore. No need for formalities, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Following that, she looked at Yun Niang. Yun Niang then handed the box in her hand to Qin Xiaoyao. The things inside are worth 10,000 taels. 2000 taels is a gift of thanks to you, Lord Marquis. The remaining sum of 8000 taels is to redeem my younger brother. 111 have to trouble you, Lord Marquis. As soon as she said this, Princess Xiangyang immediately withdrew her gaze from Liu Ling and turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao didnt even look at the girl and reached out to take the box. Then, she opened the box and checked the contents. Most of the things in the box were silver notes, but there were also some gold ingots. The box was very full. You feel at ease when you simply hand these items to me like that? After confirming that the sum was correct, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and looked at Yun Niang. Liu Lings worth was actually eight thousand taels, which was beyond her expectations. Furthermore, this girl Yun Niang was really amazing. She could simply produce 10,000 taels of silver at the drop of a hat. One should remember that when Qin Xiaoyao made such a great contribution, the Emperor only rewarded her with 1000 taels of gold, which was equivalent to 10,000 taels of silver. Of course. Thats because I trust you, Lord Marquis, Yun Niang replied with a smile. But 1 dont trust myself, Qin Xiaoyao said. How about this? You go and invite the brothel madame over now. 111 redeem Young Master Lius freedom right now. The matter will be settled today. That way, both of us will be at ease. Yun Niang was stunned. Then, her face lit up with joy. Thank you, Lord Marquis! She hurriedly bowed and thanked Qin Xiaoyao. Youre wee. Its only right for me to do this after epting your thank-you gift. Lord Marquis, please wait here for a moment. I will be back soon! Yun Niang hurriedly said. Alright. Qin Xiaoyao answered. Then, Yun Niang left again. After Yun Niang left, Princess Xiangyang went to Qin Xiaoyaos side again. From time to time, she would secretly sneak a peek at Liu Ling before looking at Qin Xiaoyao again. She was specting what her masters n was. Master was trying to redeem the beautiful man opposite her. Surely it couldnt be what she was thinking? Didnt Master already have a husband? Furthermore, the reason she left her hometown and went to the battlefield was to look for her husband. Well alright. This man was indeed good-looking. It would be normal for her master to be tempted when she saw him Princess Xiangyang was still indulging in her wild thoughts when Yun Niang brought in the brothel madame. The brothel madame had met Qin Xiaoyao before, so she immediately bowed to her after entering. As she had already found out why Qin Xiaoyao was looking for her on her way up, the brothel madames expression was a little awkward the moment she entered the room. Lord Marquis, its not that I dont want to help you. Its just that the Empresss brother has already reserved Liu Ling. If I give him to you. Im afraid I wont be able to exin to the Empresss brother. How about this? Other than Liu Ling, we have other male escorts in Cloud Scent Court. You can choose whichever one you like. I will send them directly to your residence, the brothel madame said with a fawning expression. Just as she could not afford to offend Empress Jias brother, she could not afford to offend this person either. If sacrificing a male escort could solve this problem, she was willing to do it, and she wouldnt mind losing some money in the process. When Princess Xiangyang heard the brothel madame mention Empress Jias brother, she was shocked. In the Great Jin State, other than her uncle who was Empress Jias brother, there shouldnt be anyone else, right? Did this mean that her uncle had set his eyes on the beautiful man opposite her? To think that her uncle had homosexual tendencies! Well, she had heard about her uncles homosexual tendencies. However, she thought that it was just a rumor. So, that rumor was actually true? But Im not interested in the other male escorts, Qin Xiaoyao said icily.. Chapter 346 - 346: Redeeming Liu Ling Chapter 346: Redeeming Liu Ling Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Bo Qin Xiaoyao then gave the box from which she had taken out 2000 taels of silver to the brothel madame. Theres 8000 taels of silver in here. Give me Liu Lings indenture and Ill take him away.11 Lord Marquis The brothel madame became anxious. However, just as she opened her mouth, she was stopped by Qin Xiaoyaos icy gaze. If the Empresss brother asks, just tell him my name. If he has the guts, then let him go to my residence to ask for Liu Ling, Qin Xiaoyao said in a deep voice, her tone filled with hostility. The brothel madame shrank back. She was frightened by the aura Qin Xiaoyao released. When she recalled how this person had killed countless people on the battlefield without emotions and was now a new upstart in the capital, she didnt dare to refuse her demand. Yes, Lord Marquis. Then, please please wait a moment. After hesitating for a moment, the brothel madame finally gave in. Thereafter, she carried the money box and went out. Yun Niang and Liu Ling looked at Qin Xiaoyao excitedly as soon as the brothel madame left. Their eyes were filled with gratitude. Qin Xiaoyao gave the two of them a reassuring look and waited leisurely. After a while, the brothel madame returned. She even brought Liu Lings indenture. Qin Xiaoyao took the indenture and checked it. Then she let Liu Ling take a look. After confirming that there was no problem, she kept the indenture in her pocket Thank you for your help, Madame. Liu Ling stepped forward and bowed to the brothel madame. The brothel madame looked at Liu Ling with conflicting emotions and sighed. Since Lord Marquis has redeemed you, you can follow Lord Marquis without worries in the future. Mm-hmm, Liu Ling answered docilely. Only then did the brothel madame bid farewell to Qin Xiaoyao. Before she left, she didnt forget to take another look at Yun Niang. Yun Niang was definitely involved in the matter of Qin Xiaoyao redeeming Liu Ling. However forget it. The two of them were siblings after ail, and Yun Niang was her top courtesan. Since she didnt lose money, she was happy to grant Yun Niang this favor. The siblings watched the brothel madame leave. After she left, Liu Ling looked at Yun Niang worriedly. Elder Sis he called out worriedly. Yun Niang raised her hand. No worries. Madame still needs me to support Cloud Scent Court. Your matter is already settled. She wont make things difficult for me. Liu Lings expression became more rxed. The matter has been settled. You should leave early with Lord Marquis. Once you go to the Marquiss residence, you must listen to rhe Marquis s instructions, Yun Niang reminded him. Mm-hmm, Liu Ling hurriedly answered. Yun Niang then looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Henceforth, 1 will have to trouble Lord Marquis, she bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Dont mention it, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Thereafter, she left Cloud Scent Court with Princess Xiangyang and Liu Ling. On the way back, Princess Xiangyang still nced at Liu Ling from time to time. When this carried on until Liu Ling felt very uneasy, Qin Xiaoyao gave a cough to put a stop to it. Cough! Since were all living under the same roof from now on, let me introduce you to each other first, Qin Xiaoyao said. This is my disciple. She is also the youngest princess of the Emperor and Empress, Princess Xiangyang. Qin Xiaoyao pointed at Princess Xiangyang and introduced her to Liu Ling. Princess Xiangyang raised her head proudly. Liu Lings face turned pale when he heard that. He looked at Princess Xiangyang with fear in her eyes. That expression stung Princess Xiangyang. Immediately, the haughtiness disappeared, leaving only anger. What did this person mean by that look? Judging by his reaction, it was as if she could eat him alive. Cough! This is Liu Ling, Young Master Liu. He was a performer at Cloud Scent Court previously. Qin Xiaoyao pretended not to see Princess Xiangyangs expression and introduced Liu Ling. Oh. Princess Xiangyang nced at Liu Ling with a somewhat annoyed look. It was his fault for looking at her like that. Your humble sub subject hereby pays his respects to Princess Xiangyang? After getting red at by Princess Xiangyang, Liu Ling hurriedly turned towards her and bowed. However, this greeting made Princess Xiangyang frown even deeper. Princess Xiangyang was about to say something when Qin Xiaoyao interrupted her. Empress Jias brother and Xiangyang are two different people. Xiangyang is a kind-hearted girl who can distinguish right from wrong. Young Master Liu, you dont have to be afraid of her. When Princess Xiangyang heard this, she turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. She finally discerned some underlying meaning. When she saw Liu Ling s expression rx a little, the spection in her heart became even stronger. Master, what do you mean by that? Could it be that my uncle When Qin Xiaoyao shot her a nce, the girl shut her mouth at once. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Liu Ling carefully before saying to Princess Xiangyang, I will exin this matter to youter. Princess Xiangyang also nced at Liu Ling and answered, Okay?1 Qin Xiaoyao then changed the topic. Xiangyang will be staying at the Marquiss residence for a period of time. As for Young Master Liu, he will also be staying in the Marquiss residence for a month. From now on, both of you are my guests. I hope you two can get along peacefully, Qin Xiaoyao said. Princess Xiangyang and Liu Ling looked at each other. Okay. Yes, Maam? They replied respectively. Qin Xiao looked at the two of them. One of them was unwilling, while the other was suffering in silence to maintain the peace. She felt a little helpless in her heart. Nheless, she did not say anything else. The horse carriage slowly traveled all the way back to the Marquis s residence. When she got home, Qin Xiaoyao handed Liu Ling to the caretaker and asked him to arrange a courtyard lodging for Liu Ling. Thereafter, she returned to her courtyardpound. in the end, Princess Xiangyang caught up with her. She pulled Qin Xiaoyao back and asked, Master, whats going on between Liu Ling and my uncle? Did my uncle bully him? On the way, she almost suffocated from holding back, but her master did not allow her to ask. Now that she was finally separated from Liu Ling, she had to get to the bottom of the matter. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Xiangyang. Didnt you already guess it? she asked. Xiangyangs eyes widened. I guessed it? No, I didnt guess it. My uncle is a good person and treats me well. Though though theres a rumor that says he likes men. But that is all groundless usations. Otherwise, how could 1 have two cousins? Qin Xiaoyao nced at Xiangyang again. You are the youngest princess of the Emperor and Empress, and also the niece of the Empresss brother. Isnt it normal for him to treat you well? As for the matter of him liking men, where is it written that a man who likes men cant have children with a woman? Qin Xiaoyao looked at Xiangyang in annoyance. When she saw that Xiangyang had lowered her head, her expression became more rxed. In the first ce, I have never met the Empresss brother, so I shouldnt have criticized him. But Ive personally seen three young masters from the residence of the Empresss brother bully Liu Ling on the streets. After that, 1 met Yun Niang who came to beg me. She asked me to help her redeem her younger brother. This is to prevent Liu Ling from being forcibly redeemed by the Empresss brother and brought into the residence of the Empresss brother. ording to what Yun Niang said at that time, if Liu Ling entered the residence of the Empresss brother, he probably wouldnt be able to survive. Xiangyang was shocked again and raised her head to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao sighed. I sent someone to inquire after the incident. The Empresss brother had previously brought a male he doted on back to the residence. But not long after that, he was gone. Xiangyangs heart skipped a beat. What whats going on? She felt that the person her master was talking about was different from the uncle she knew.. Chapter 347 - 347: Song Que Showed Up Chapter 347: Song Que Showed Up Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion There are different opinions. Some people say that he was tortured to death by the Empresss brother. But what is more believable is that he must have died at the hands of those few young masters in the residence of the Empresss brother, as well as the wife and concubines, Qin Xiaoyao said. Xiangyang was shocked again. I dont need you to choose between Young Master Liu and your uncle. Henceforth, I only hope that you can treat Young Master Liu with equanimity. After all, he is my guest. Are you able to do it? Qin Xiaoyao asked. It was normal for people to discriminate between those who were close to them or distant from them. To Qin Xiaoyao, the Empresss brother was definitely not a good person, but to Xiangyang, he might be an elder who loved her. Xiangyang felt a surge of emotions in her heart. Mm-hmm. After a while, she finally nodded. However, she was still a little unconvinced in her heart. She made up her mind that she had to investigate this matter personally. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt be bothered with her anymore and went back to her room. Over the next few days, Qin Xiaoyao continued to visit Cloud Scent Court. Yun Niang was indeed a big help to Qin Xiaoyao, The former introduced her to a reliable broker. Thereafter, she also helped to pull strings to enable Qin Xiaoyao to buy a small courtyard dwelling across the street from the Marquiss residence and open a workshop. Liu Ling was not idle either. After learning of Qin Xiaoyaos n, he took the initiative to offer to help her. He helped Qin Xiaoyao to pick seven or eight people to sign irredeemable indentures and sent them to the workshop in preparation for work. Qin Xiaoyao saw that Liu Ling was experienced in management matters and could read and write. She could not help having some ideas in her mind. In addition, Liu Ling actually came to her to offer his help. After hesitating for a while, Qin Xiaoyao temporarily handed the workshop to Liu Ling to manage on her behalf. It was mainly to arrange some early-stage preparatory work, manage the workers in the workshop, and arrange the amodation of the workers. These matters were numerous and a littleplicated, but they were not very important matters. After the workshop went into operation, Qin Xiaoyao took Xiangyang to check on the situation several times. Qin Xiaoyao was pleased to find that the ce was orderly and the number of century eggs produced by the workshop every day was above the quota she had set. Thus, she began to think highly of Liu Ling. As for Xiangyang, her attitude towards Liu Ling had also changed greatly. When the two first met, Xiangyang did not like Liu Ling as she sided with her own uncle. However, after her investigation, she actually felt apologetic toward Liu Ling. From time to time, she would approach Liu Ling, wanting to talk to him or do something for him. At first, Liu Ling was still fearful and avoided her. However, after realizing that Xiangyang did not have any ill intentions, he slowly became familiar with her. As Qin Xiaoyao had hoped, the two guests lived in harmony in the Marquiss residence. In the army camp, after Qin Xiaoyao finished her work, she went to look for Prince Huaiyin. It had already been half a month since she came to the capital. Now, she had already settled down in the Marquiss residence and opened her workshop. The biggest worry in her heart had not been resolved. Her husband was still missing. When he learned the purpose of Qin Xiaoyaos visit, Prince Huaiyins expression disyed conflicting emotions. However, this look of conflicting emotions gave Qin Xiaoyao hope. Have you found him? Your Highness, where is my husband? Qin Xiaoyao asked excitedly. Prince of Huaiyin nced at Qin Xiaoyao and sighed. Why must you insist on looking for him? Have you ever thought that after you found him, the oue might not be what you think? Qin Xiaoyaos heart sank. What does Your Highness mean? Did something happen to my husband? Her expression immediately turned ominous. If anyone dared to hurt her husband, she would definitely make that person pay a hundredfold. Upon seeing this, Prince Huaiyin couldnt help but envy Song Que. Hes fine, he continued. Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief. Then what happened exactly? she quickly asked Prince Huaiyin. Prince Huaiyin gave Qin Xiaoyao a look full of conflicting emotions. I have indeed found him. But But what? Qin Xiaoyao was anxious, and her tone became somewhat hostile. Prince Huaiyin didnt mind. Instead, he looked troubled. In the end, he still spoke up before Qin Xiaoyao could ask again. But he is now a live-in guest in Minister Shens residence and is very close to the Eldest Young Miss of the Shen family. There is news that Minister Shen intends to have Song Que marry into his family. Qin Xiaoyaos body trembled, and actually swayed a little. Then, she quickly stabilized herself and calmed her mind. Its just a rumor, she said. Prime Minister Shen, the brother-inw of Empress Jia, was also Empress Jias greatest helper in the Imperial Court. Hubby held a grudge against Empress Jia. Why would he help the enemysckey? Perhaps the person Prince Huaiyin found was not her husband. Even if it was really her husband, there must be a reason behind this turn of events. Yes, that must be the case. Prince Huaiyin gave Qin Xiaoyao a conflicted look. He has been rmended by Minister Shen and is now stationed in the Ministry of Rites to help handle the peace talks with the Liao State. If you want to see him, you can follow me to the Ministry of Rites tomorrow, Prince Huaiyin said. Qin Xiaoyaos heart trembled. Alright! she answered. Following that, Qin Xiaoyao did not know how she left Prince Huaiyins tent. She only knew that by the time she came to her senses, she had already returned to the Marquiss residence. Princess Xiangyang was still prattling to her non-stop. When the girl saw that Qin Xiaoyao was absent-minded, and when she replied, she only replied with one or two words, the young girls face puffed up with anger. Gosh, Master! Are you even listening to me? Your mother-inw and the others will arrive in the capital tomorrow. Shall we go out of the city to pick them up? the young girl continued. Qin Xiaoyao finally regained her senses. Mother and the others have arrived in the capital she muttered. That was right. It had been a while since she sent them the letter. After they received the letter, if they had set off quickly, they would be arriving any time now. Qin Xiaoyao suppressed the turmoil in her heart and immediately asked, When will they arrive? Tomorrow morning probably. Lets go out of the city to pick them up so that they dont have to queue up to enter the city. There are many people entering the capitals south city gate every day. If they line up to be let through, they will have to wait a long time. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Alright. Then tomorrow morning, well go pick them up, she replied. Since Prince Huaiyin had confirmed that her husband was in the Ministry of Rites, it was fine for her to go a dayter. The right thing to do was to help Mother and the others settle down first. She also needed to sort out her emotions. She thought about how she should ask her husband about Minister Shen after she met him. Mm-hmm! Xiangyang immediately answered. At the same time, she was looking forward to meeting her masters family. Hehe! Her master was so nice. Her masters family would definitely be nice as well. And she was so cute. They would definitely like her. The next day, early in the morning, Xiangyang ran over to wake Qin Xiaoyao up. Qin Xiaoyao didnt sleep well the whole night and was really woken up by Xiangyang. After washing up, Qin Xiaoyao brought Xiangyang out of the residence. They left the city and waited outside the city gate. Before long, two carriages arrived. Younger Sis! Sanya! From afar, Qin Xiaoyao heard two familiar voices. As she traced the source of the voice, Qin Xiaoyao saw her big brother and father.. Chapter 348 - 348: Family Members Arrived Chapter 348: Family Members Arrived Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The two of them were sitting on the horse carriages and they drove the carriages toward Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up with joy as she went up to receive them. Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu quickly jumped off the horse carriages and walked towards Qin Xiaoyao. Younger Sis, I finally get to see you! Qin Dahu took the lead to step forward and held Qin Xiaoyaos hand. Big Brother! Father! You guys have had a difficult journey, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. She looked at the two carriages and saw Madam Liu and the others sticking their heads out. She smiled even more joyously. Then, she asked, Second Brother and the others didnte? No. Your eldest sister-inw and second sister-inw are both taking care of the children. We need a man at home to look after them. Also, your second brother asked Xiaomei to stay behind to help. He said that this would make him feel more at ease. Qin Xiaoyao suddenly noticed something. She realized that Wang Xiaomei was indeed absent from Madam Lius side. We sent the inws over this time. After confirming that youre fine, well go back, Qin Dazhuang interjected. He never dreamed that his daughter would aplish so many great things after leaving Mountain Spring Town. Now, she had even been conferred a title of nobility and high military rank, bing a marquis and general. He did not expect this at all. The sons of the Qin family did not achieve anything great, but his daughter made the Qin family proud. Moreover, it was an achievement that made everyone extremely proud! Why are you still going back? Your daughter is now a Marquis. I have tens of thousands of soldiers under me. In the past, our family didnt have that kind of opportunity and couldnt take the path of an officials career. Now, if Eldest Brother and Second Brother are willing, they can join the army and work with me. In the future, when Xiao Hu and Second Sister-inws son, Datou, grow up, they can also join the army. Our Qin family can take the opportunity to move up in society. She was now the equivalent of a first-generation war general. As long as she managed it well, her descendants could be second-generation war generals. They couldpletely change the fate of their family. This was also what she had nned. Er Qin Dazhuang was quite tempted when he heard that. Qin Dahu also looked at his father. His expression was even more excited than Qin Dazhuangs. Can your big brother and second brother really enlist? Qin Dazhuang quickly asked. Of course, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. In the past, she had stopped her big brother and second brother from serving in the army because of the chaotic situation at that time. If they went to the border, they would only be cannon fodder. However, the situation waspletely different now. With her watching over them, the probability of anything happening to Big Brother and Second Brother was very small. Moreover, with her around, their advancement speed would also be very fast. Younger Sis Qin Dahu finally couldnt hold it in anymore and called out to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Alright. Lets not talk about this matter for the time being. You guys have had a rough journey. Lets return to the Marquiss residence first. Well talk about the restter, Qin Xiaoyao said when she saw Madam Liu getting off the horse carriage. Mm-hmm, the father and son answered. Qin Xiaoyao then walked towards Madam Liu. Mother! she shouted. Sister-inw! At the same time, Song Ye and Song Yun shouted out to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao nodded and stepped up to support Madam Liu. Mother, Ill bring you into the city first. Lets go back to the residence and rest for a while. Madam Liu swallowed the words she wanted to say and instead replied, Alright! After taking a look at the city gate tower from afar, they returned to the horse carriage. Then, Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu also returned to the horse carriages. They drove the carriages and followed Qin Xiaoyao and Princess Xiangyang to the city gate. They didnt line up but moved along the official road. Qin Xiaoyao only had to show her identity que and the soldiers bowed and allowed her through. After entering the city, the horse carriages continued forward. In the carriage, Song Ye and Song Yun lifted the carriage curtain and admired the prosperity of the capital city. They were so excited as they watched and pointed. The capital city was truly amazing. It was not something that Mountain Spring Town couldpare to. It was not just Mountain Spring Town. Even Zhao County was like the countrysidepared to the capital. Madam Liu also saw the situation outside through the gap in the curtain. However, her expression was not as excited as the two childrens. Instead, her expression seemed a little conflicted. The horse carriage traveled a few streets before finally arriving at the Marquiss residence. The caretaker was already waiting with the servants. As soon as Qin Xiaoyao arrived, the caretaker ordered the servants toe forward and help carry the luggage. Qin Xiaoyao personally helped Madam Liu out of the horse carriage and then led everyone into thepound. Qin Dazhuang and his son, Song Ye and Song Yun were all astounded by the Marquiss residences grandeur. It was only at this moment that they genuinely believed that Qin Xiaoyao had truly be the Marquis. Qin Xiaoyao quickly called the caretaker over and asked him to assign Madam Liu and the others their respective courtyard lodging and to bring them there to rest. Mother, you guys have had a rough journey. Go with the caretaker to take a rest first. Well talk in detail during lunch. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu. Alright. You go ahead with your own work then, Madam Liu replied. She did look somewhat tired. Her body had always been in poor condition, and after traveling for such a long time, she was indeed a little overwhelmed. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao instructed the caretaker to call for a doctor. Qin Xiaoyao only heaved a sigh of relief when the caretaker and servants led Madam Liu and the rest away. Xiangyang, who hadnt been able to get a word in all this while, quickly came over. Master, there are so many people in the residence. Should we get some more servants? Why dont we take the time to go to the brokerage? Her masters family members were all travel-worn, and she did not want to dy their rest by going up to greet them just now. After this, it would be good if she could do something for them. She would just take it as showing filial piety for Master. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment. When she saw Xiangyangs eager face, she nodded. Ill leave this matter to you then. Just go to Wangjiao Street to look for Mr. Lu and ask him to help choose a few capable ones to be ced in the various courtyards. Help me pay for it first. Ill pay you when youe back, she said without hesitation. Ahem! Master, arent you treating me as an outsider? Your disciple is more well-off than you. Its just a few servants. Take it as my wee gift to the elders! Xiangyang said as she patted her chest. Qin Xiaoyao smiled in amusement. Alright then. Go ande back quickly. Dont bete for lunch. Alright! Xiangyang replied. She quickly scampered away. Qin Xiaoyao shook her head as she watched the young girl leave happily. She returned to her courtyard. She had applied for leave from the army camp today, but there were still some official documents that needed to be approved. At this juncture, the official documents should have been delivered. When she returned to her courtyard and entered the study, the official documents had indeed arrived. After Qin Xiaoyao sat down, she started reading. Then, she quickly gave instructions andpleted the work. After running through the documents, she ordered her in-house messenger to send them back to the army camp. At this point, the time was almost noon. Qin Xiaoyao then left the courtyard and went to the courtyard where Madam Liu and the rest were staying. Just as she walked to the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyao overheard Song Yun and Song Yes voices. The two little ones were talking to Madam Liu in the courtyard. The content of their discussion was about Qin Xiaoyao. They were talking about her great achievements that had been spread all over the world. Madam Liu giggled when she heard them prattling and praised Qin Xiaoyao from time to time. Qin Xiaoyao listened for a moment before entering the courtyard. Haha! Its not as exaggerated as Yuner and Yeer said. At that point, if a hundred thousand troops had really surrounded your daughter-inw, even if there were two of me, we still wouldnt be able to escape from the Liao armys camp! Qin Xiaoyao said with augh as she walked in.. Chapter 349 - 349: Moving Into the Marquis’s Residence Chapter 349: Moving Into the Marquiss Residence Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The moment Qin Xiaoyao uttered these words, she instantly attracted the gazes of the three people in the courtyard. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao realize that the three of them had already changed into the clothes that she had asked someone to prepare in advance. She had helped her family buy clothes before and knew their size. However, she did not expect that after they put on these luxurious clothes, their bearing would be so refined. Madam Liu had turned into a dignified, nobledy. As for Song Yun and Song Ye, they had the bearing of a young miss and young master. When she recalled her inws family background, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly felt that this was how things should be. Sister-inw! Song Ye and Song Yim immediately shouted when they saw Qin Xiaoyao. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and responded before quickly walking towards the three of them. Did you rest well, Mother? she asked Madam Liu. Then, she looked at Song Yun and Song Ye. You two! Did you disrupt your mothers rest? No, they didnt. The doctor came and gave me a check. He said that Im fine. After washing up and taking a bath, 1 rested for a while. 1 felt refreshed after that. Then I asked the siblings to chat with me. Weve only been chatting for a while before youre here, Madam Liu said andughed. I heard that youre busy with work. Are you done? When she married into the Prime Ministers family, her father-inw was also often busy at home. Sometimes, he would be busy for half a day, so it was not easy. Its not much. Ive already finished my work. I can spend the rest of today with you guys, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Lunch should be ready by now. Mother, follow me to the front hall to eat. Madam Liu smiled as she answered, Mm-hmm! Following that, she asked Song Yun to help her up. Madam Liu suddenly thought of something and said, What about Father Qin and your brother Ive already asked the caretaker to invite them. If we go over now, they might all be there already, Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Madam Liu fell more relieved when she heard that. She continued chatting with Qin Xiaoyao as she walked to the front hall. Along the way, Song Yun and Song Yes eyes never stopped looking at the flowers and greenery beside the corridor as well as the exquisite garden structure. If not for the fact that their sister-inw was talking to their mother ail the while, the two of them would have grabbed their sister-inw and prattled for half a day. The Marquis s residence certainly lived up to its name. It was so beautiful! Sister-inw was too amazing. To think that she could move into such a residence. As they chatted and walked, they arrived at the front hail. Qin Xiaoyao helped Madam Liu into the room. True enough, her father and big brother were already there. Not only were Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu there, but Princess Xiangyang and Liu Ling had also returned. Moreover, the Qin familys father and son and the two guests of the Marquiss residence were clearly already acquainted with each other. She could tell when she saw how cautious they were and did not dare to look at Princess Xiangyang directly. After Madam Liu entered the door, she quickly noticed Liu Ling. A look of shock shed across her eyes instantly. As for Liu Ling, when he saw Madam Liu, he was also taken aback. However, it was only for a moment before he withdrew his odd reaction. It was so fast that no one noticed it. Master Granny! Why took you so long? Princess Xiangyang suddenly spoke. Then, she rushed to Madam Liu and grabbed her other hand. Did you have a good rest, Master Granny? Are the maidservants to your liking? If you dont like any of them, you can tell me directly. 1 will arrange another one for you! Princess Xiangyang said to Madam Liu in a very friendly manner. T his made Madam Liu a little confused. Upon seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Mother, this is my new disciple, Xiangyang. Now, she is also staying with us in the Marquiss residence. The servants serving the courtyards that you, Yuner and Ye er are staying in were all procured by her. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu. Father and Big Brother, the servants in your courtyard were also procured by Xiangyang. Consider it a little token of her appreciation. Everyone looked at Princess Xiangyang. Princess Xiangyang blushed under the intense scrutiny. Little girl, thank you! Madam Liu held Princess Xiangyang s hand and spoke kindly. Princess Xiangyang felt a warm sensation in her heart and was about to demur politely. Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu then spoke up. Thank thank you, Your Highness! As they spoke, they even bowed to her. As soon as they uttered this, the whole hall instantly fell silent. Madam Lius hand that was holding Princess Xiangyangs hand froze. Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao stiffly. Qin Xiaoyao smiled awkwardly. Xiangyang is indeed the youngest princess of His Majesty and the Empress, she exined to Madam Liu. Madam Lius face instantly turned pale, and her legs buckled Qin Xiaoyao used more force to hold Madam Liu up. Mother, dont be nervous. Although this girl is a princess, she is also my disciple. When she lives in the Marquis s residence, there is no room for her to act like a princess. Right, Xiangyang? As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao tipped her head at Princess Xiangyang. Yes, yes, yes! Princess Xiangyang quickly answered obligingly. Over here, Im just Masters disciple and your good grand disciple, Master Granny. Master Granny, please dont despise Xiangyang. As she spoke, Princess Xiangyang put on a pitiful expression. T his yful look made people lose their tense emotions very quickly. However, Madam Liu only nced at Princess Xiangyang and then looked away. Although she was no longer as fearful of Princess Xiangyang as before, she still deliberately avoided her. Qin Xiaoyao did not persist when she recalled the enmity between the Song family and Empress Jia. After giving Princess Xiangyang a reassuring look, she helped Madam Liu to sit down at the table. In contrast, Song Yun and Song Ye gave Princess Xiangyang a smile to show their friendliness. Song Yun was particrly friendly, as she was about the same age as Princess Xiangyang. As soon as their eyes met, they had a good impression of each other. As such, Princess Xiangyang did not think too much about the awkwardness anymore. She also sat down at the table. From time to time, she would exchange nces with Song Yun. T he two young girls had not even said a word, but they had already formed a friendship. At this moment, everyone had already taken their seats and started eating. Qin Xiaoyao took the opportunity to talk about the uing arrangements. Ill be free in the afternoon. If Mother isnt tired, Ill bring you around rhe streets. Ill buy some things for you, Yuner, and Yeer. Madam Liu hurriedly refused. Theres really nothing to buy. I Im not going out. When she saw the disappointment on Song Yun and Song Yes faces, Madam Liu said, Just bring Yuner and Yeer out. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Madam Liu, thought for a moment, and relented. Alright. Then please stay in the residence to rest, Mother. If we see anything nice, well buy it for you. Her mother-inw didnt want to go out probably because she was afraid of being recognized. Carrying such a big secret on her shoulders was really hard on her. A smile finally appeared on Madam Liu s face as she replied, Alright. Qin Xiaoyao then looked at her father and big brother. Father, Big Brother, do you want toe with us? If theres any ce you want to go, you can also ask the caretaker to send you there. The ces that womenfolk and children liked to go were definitely different from the ces her father and big brother liked, it was not appropriate to arrange for them to go out together. Qin Dahu and Qin Dazhuang exchanged looks with each other. Then, Qin Dazhuang spoke up. Dont worry about us. The caretaker has already arranged it for us. We can take care of our own itinerary. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and nodded.. Chapter 350 - 350: Aunt and Nephew Reunite Chapter 350: Aunt and Nephew Reunite Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Tran Alright then. Father and Big Brother, remember toe back in time for dinner. Mm-hmm, Qin Dahu replied. Then, tomorrow, I have to go to the army camp. Big Brother, you cane with me, Qin Xiaoyao said. Great! Qin Dahu hurriedly replied. Qin Xiaoyao then continued to pick up food to eat. At the same time, she reminded Madam Liu and the others to eat more. After the meal, Qin Xiaoyao brought Princess Xiangyang, Song Yun, and Song Ye out after a short rest. The three little ones were all young, so they sat in the same carriage. Not long after they left the residence, they became familiar with each other. Princess Xiangyang even took the initiative to hold Song Yuns hand and kept calling her Young Master Aunt. Song Yuns face turned red from being addressed like this. She was only a month older than Princess Xiangyang, yet the other party addressed her as Young Master Aunt. By contrast, Song Ye was very calm when he heard Princess Xiangyang address him as Young Master Uncle. When they reached the street, Princess Xiangyang brought the siblings to go shopping. Qin Xiaoyao became the person who tagged along to pay. As she looked at the three lively youngsters, Qin Xiaoyao felt that she was quitefortable being a big sucker. Meanwhile, after Madam Liu was led back to the courtyard by the maidservant, she did not stay in the courtyard for long. She left her own courtyard and went to Liu Lings courtyard. Liu Ling was preparing to go to the workshop when he saw Madam Liu walking in, supported by a maidservant. He was taken aback. Greetings, Old Mistress. Then, he quickly bowed to Madam Liu. Madam Liu looked at Liu Ling and her eyes stopped on his face. She didnt speak for a long time. Just as Liu Ling was about to speak to break the unbearable silence, Madam Liu spoke up. Young Master Liu, youre too polite. I have something to ask Young Master Liu. Can we talk in private? Liu Lings eyes flickered momentarily. Sure, he replied after hesitating for a moment. Then, he walked to one side. Go and stand guard outside, Madam Liu said to the maidservant beside her. A hint of doubt shed across the maidservants face, but she still left the courtyard. When Madam Liu saw that the maidservant had left the courtyard, she walked towards Liu Ling. Old Mistress, what do you want to ask me? Liu Ling bowed to Madam Liu. Madam Lius gaze fell on Liu Lings face again. She stared at him intently and refused to shift her gaze. Liu Ling became very uneasy as a result. Do you know Liu Hui? Finally, Madam Liu spoke. As she asked, Madam Liu still looked straight at Liu Ling and did not look away. Liu Lings face stiffened. Following that, he asked Madam Liu instead, Old Mistress, why do you ask this? Madam Lius eyes shed with a hint of excitement. Because Liu Hui is my older brother. Back then back then, my husbands family and my maiden family met with misfortune one after the other. The whereabouts of my sister-inw and her children are unknown. Are you my long-suffering nephew? At this point, Madam Lius eyes were already filled with tears. This young man had the exact same name and looked very much like her eldest brother. She couldnt be mistaken. Liu Lings expression stiffened again. Linger, its you, isnt it? Where are your mother and elder sister? Are they alright? Madam Liu couldnt hold back any longer. She stepped forward and grabbed Liu Lings hand. Liu Ling didnt evade her touch. A sense of helplessness shed through his heart. He knew that his identity could not be hidden from his aunt for too long. He did not expect her to guess that it was him the moment she saw him. Aunt Finally, Liu Ling called out. Madam Liu s body froze when she heard him. Then, she immediately raised her head in delight and gazed at Liu Ling. It really is you! Linger! Ive Ive found you? she said excitedly. Mm-hmm, Liu Ling hurriedly replied. Thereafter, he went forward to support Madam Liu. Aunt, dont be anxious. Lets sit over there and talk, he said. Good, good! Lets sit down! Sit down and talk! Madam Liu was overjoyed as she gazed upon Liu Ling. Then, she allowed Liu Ling to lead her to a stone bench not far away and sat down. After helping Madam Liu to sit down, Liu Ling also sat down. Then, he looked at Madam Liu, who was looking at him kindly. I didnt expect that 1 would be recognized by Aunt on our first meeting, Liu Ling said. A smile appeared on Madam Lius face. How can I not recognize you? You and your father look exactly alike. Liu Ling also smiled. Aunt, do you still remember what Father looks like? His father had been dead for more than ten years, and his memories were very fuzzy. The smile on Madam Lius face immediately disappeared. How can I not remember? When your father was around, he doted on me the most. Unfortunately1 As she recalled the past. Madam Liu wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. When he saw this, Liu Ling hurriedly soothed Madam Liu by patting her back. So many years have psed since those events in past. Aunt, you must rake care of your health. Please dont grieve. Madam Liu looked at Liu Ling and nodded while weeping. Then, she asked, What about your mother? And Yuner? Liu Ling was silent. A momentter, when he saw Madam Lius expression turning anxious, he replied, After Mother brought us out of the Liu familys residence, she died of illness not long after. Elder Sis is still here. Shes also in the capital. When she heard the first sentence, Madam Lius heart trembled. However, when she heard that Liu Yun was still alive and in the capital, she felt much more rxed. When theres a chance, I will bring Elder Sis to see you, Liu Ling added. Madam Liu quickly nodded. Good! She held onto Liu Lings hand. Liu Ling felt aforting warmth in his palm. The situation in the capital isplicated. There are many reasons why I moved into the Marquiss residence. Cousin-inw doesnt know my identity yet. Aunt, can you keep it a secret for me? Liu Ling quickly said. Madam Liu was momentarily stunned. Then, she quickly replied, Sure! Whether it was the Song family or the Liu family, they both suffered injustice. It wasnt easy for her daughter-inw to get to where she was today. It was better not to let her know too much. It was also to avoid implicating her when the matter was exposed. Only then did Liu Ling rx. Then, he started chatting with Madam Liu. He listened to Madam Liu talk about the situation over the years, and then he talked about what happened to him and his elder sister Liu Yun. Of course, Liu Ling did not divulge the matter regarding Cloud Scent Court. He did not let Madam Liu know that he had worked in a brothel with his elder sister. Its good that you are helping Sanya run the workshop now. Previously, Sanya ran a century egg business and a porridge shop in Mountain Spring Town. Her business was very good. When century eggs are ready, the business will definitely be able to earn money, Madam Liu said with a smile. Liu Ling nodded. I am also very optimistic about Lord Marquiss business. Madam Liu smiled and patted Liu Lings hand. If your elder sister is free, you can ask her toe over and help. Its our familys business. We can only be at ease when our own family members take charge. Liu Lings expression froze. Dont worry. I ll talk to your cousin-inw. She will agree. Liu Ling was utterly speechless. Well, fine. Aunt was so enthusiastic that it was beyond his expectations. Ahem Elder Sis is busy with her own matters. She probably wont be able toe, Liu Ling hurriedly said. Madam Liu looked disappointed. Alright then. Then lets talk about this another time. Then, she held onto Liu Ling s hand and continued chatting.. Chapter 351 - 351: Meeting Song Que Chapter 351: Meeting Song Que Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Liu Ling kept Madam Liupany and chatted for a while. When he heard themotion outside, he got up. There is still a lot of work to do at the workshop. Old Mistress, I have to take my leave first. As he spoke, Liu Ling bowed to Madam Liu. Madam Liu also heard themotion outside, and a sh of understanding shed across her eyes. Alright. Young Master Liu, please go ahead. Ill talk to you about the century eggs next time. Liu Lings eyes were tinged with a trace of a smile. He bowed to Madam Liu again before turning around and leaving. After Liu Ling left, Madam Liu also stood up. When she saw the maidservant returning, she gestured for her toe over and help her up. Then, she followed the maidservant back to her own courtyard in a good mood. Before she came to the capital, she was struggling inwardly. After she embarked on the journey, her heart was in her mouth throughout the trip. And now, she unexpectedly met her long-lost nephew. She now felt that this trip to the capital was much more worthwhile. In the evening, Qin Xiaoyao finally returned with the three little ones. The three little ones had purchased many things on this shopping trip. Food, toys, and many new, novel things. Of course, there were also many practical things. When she saw this, Madam Liu said that Qin Xiaoyao spoiled them too much and should not let them spend money so recklessly. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, was very happy all the while and said that she didnt spend much. Thereafter, she started to pick out the things she bought for Madam Liu from the heap of gifts and showed them to her. Madam Liu kept muttering that her daughter-inw was wasting money, yet she appeared very happy outwardly. In particr, when she saw some good-quality fabrics, she couldnt bear to put them down the moment she touched them. Ill take these fabrics then. I have nothing to do at home. I can cut some fabrics and make some new clothes for all of you, Madam Liu said, looking very pleased. Her identity was special, and it was not appropriate for her to appear in public. It was just right for her to stay in the residence to make clothes. Qin Xiaoyao knew her mother-inws intention and did not stop her. Sure! Then take your time to make them. Once they are done, our whole family will wear what you made! Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Madam Liu smiled and replied in the affirmative. She was already prepared to do that. Following that, Qin Xiaoyao led the three little ones and quickly sorted out all the gifts. Then, she asked the servants to send the gifts to the respective owners courtyard. At this moment, the Qin familys father and son, as well as Liu Ling, had also returned. When they heard that they also had gifts, they were very happy. As for what they are, you can go back and see for yourself. However, you have toe back quickly after youre done. Because were going to have dinner soon, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. The father and son reassured her and left. Upon seeing this, Liu Ling also excused himself to go back to his courtyard to look at his present. About fifteen minutester, everyone returned to the front hall for dinner. After spending time together and interacting during the day, the people eating dinner at the same table tonight were finally familiar with each other, or rather, they were much more friendly. Everyone was talking andughing, and the atmosphere was very good. When Qin Xiaoyao saw this scene, she felt much more at ease. The next day, Qin Xiaoyao woke up early. After having breakfast with everyone, she brought Princess Xiangyang and Qin Dahu to the army camp. As soon as she arrived at the army camp, Qin Xiaoyao heard that Prince Huaiyin had sent someone to summon her for a meeting. She knew that Prince Huaiyin was going to bring her to the Ministry of Rites to meet Song Que. After suppressing the emotions in her heart, she arranged for Qin Dahu to follow Huang Fei. She also told Xiangyang to go to the Special Forces Team for training before going to look for Prince Huaiyin. Inside Prince Huaiyins tent. Greetings, Your Highness! After Qin Xiaoyao entered the tent, she bowed to Prince Huaiyin. Please dispense with the formalities. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao, Prince Huaiyin was all smiles. The Ministry of Rites has entered the final stage of the peace talks with the Liao State. After today, the peace talks will conclude. He might return to the Prime Ministers residence. Thats why I was in a hurry to get someone to invite you over. Mm-hmm. Thank you for your thoughtful arrangement, Your Highness, Qin Xiaoyao replied. When he noticed that Qin Xiaoyaos expression wasnt too happy, Prince Huaiyin sighed and stood up. In that case, lets go. After the meeting, if you two have anything to say, you can talk face to face. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao responded again. She then left with Prince Huaiyin. After leaving the tent, the two of them each got on a horse. After arriving at the pce gate, they changed to a horse carriage and entered the Ministry of Rites. In the Ministry of Rites, a bustling, rowdy hall suddenly fell silent when Prince Huaiyin appeared. Greetings, Your Highness! Immediately after that, the officials came forward and bowed to Prince Huaiyin. Qin Xiaoyao followed Prince Huaiyin into the hall. Her gaze swept across the officials who were bowing with their heads lowered. Finally, she spotted Song Que in a not-so-remote position in the second row. At this moment, Song Que also lowered his head like everyone else very respectfully. Qin Xiaoyao felt a wave of emotions inwardly. Please rise, Prince Huaiyin responded. Thank you, Your Highness! The officials then straightened up. Qin Xiaoyao watched intently as Song Que straightened up. When her eyes met Song Ques gaze, she finally saw Song Ques face clearly. Upon seeing Qin Xiaoyao, Song Ques expression froze. Then, under Qin Xiaoyaos eager gaze, he avoided her gaze. Qin Xiaoyao panicked and was about to step forward However, Prince Huaiyin reached out and stopped her with his hand. In the face of Prince Huaiyins cautionary gaze and the gazes of many people locking onto her, Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Que and finally chose to give up. Prince Huaiyin then heaved a sigh of relief. After that, he introduced Qin Xiaoyao to the officials. This is Marquis Xiaoyao. The officials were astounded. Greetings, Marquis Xiaoyao. Thereafter, they hurriedly bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. The reason they were able to negotiate with the Liao State in the capital and even had the upper hand now was all due to Marquis Xiaoyaos achievements. They had heard many rumors about Marquis Xiaoyao. However, they did not expect the real Marquis Xiaoyao to appear so gentle. At the very least, she waspletely different from the image of the legendary female demon they had heard. Please dispense with the formalities, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Her gaze was still fixed on Song Que. Many people noticed this. However, they only thought that Qin Xiaoyao was attracted by Song Ques appearance. Other than despising Song Que in their hearts, the officials didnt think too much about it. Alright. Lets talk about business first, Prince Huaiyin said quickly. Then, he went to the main seat and sat down to discuss with the officials. Qin Xiaoyao sat on the right side of Prince Huaiyin and listened absent-mindedly. Only when Song Que spoke did she regain her spirit and continue to stare at Song Que. Song Que spoke with assurance, and the few points he mentioned all concerned the crux of the negotiation. And these points made Prince Huaiyin nod repeatedly. Although there were quite a few people among the officials who detested Song Que for using his looks to rise through the ranks, they couldnt help but agree after hearing Song Ques words. Thus, many of Song Ques suggestions were retained. After Qin Xiaoyao heard the suggestions, she was also impressed by some of Song Ques ideas. She was wondering whether her husband had joined Minister Shen to expand his ambitions The meeting did notst long. Prince Huaiyin had just set the general policy and terms when the Liao envoys arrived. Following this, Qin Xiaoyao followed Prince Huaiyin to another chamber to negotiate with the envoys of the Liao State. This time, Prince Huaiyin did not bring many people with him. They were all officials who had spoken first, including Song Que.. Chapter 352 - 352: Peace Talks Chapter 352: Peace Talks Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Qin Xiaoyao followed the team to the negotiation table, but she simply watched the entire process as a bystander. She watched as the officials of the Great Jin State shed with the envoys of the Great Liao State. In the end, not surprisingly, her husbands performance was the most outstanding. Many of the points he raised were epted by the Liao States envoy. The two sides talked for nearly an hour, and the negotiations finally hit a roadblock on a point. That was the issue of exchanging captives between the Jin State and the Liao State. In fact, ording to the previous practice of both sides, one soldier could be exchanged for three civilians. However, this time, the number of Liao soldiers captured was toorge. Although both sides had already exchanged some captives, there were still arge number of captives in Prince Huaiyins hands. As for these captives, the Liao State no longer had any captured civilians from the Jin State to exchange for them. If they were to use silver to exchange for them, it would be at least ten silver taels per person. The Liao State felt that this expenditure was too big. Now, the two sides were negotiating the ransom sum. In this peace talk, our Liao State has already agreed topensate your Jin State with 100,000 taels of silver. Now, the ransom for the captives is still so high. Isnt this bullying? The top-ranking envoy of the Liao State said angrily. These words made the officials of the Jin Stateugh. Bullying? In the past, when the Jin State and the Liao State were negotiating, didnt they suffer a lot from thetters bullying? Moreover, ten taels of silver per soldier was the price that the Liao State had set for them. Every time after a great battle between the two states, the amount of money that the Jin State had to spend to redeem the captives reached unimaginable figures. Now, it was time to make the Liao State bleed. So how could the other party use them of being bullies? If Your Highness thinks its expensive, your state can choose not to redeem them, Prince Huaiyin replied to the Seventh Prince. In any case, our Great Jin State is also very short of manpower. Although the soldiers of the Liao State cannot be citizens of our Great Jin State, they can still be ves. Its good to send them to excavate ore mines or simply sell them asborers. I can still recoup my losses, Prince Huaiyin said with a smile. Emperor Father and Empress Jia had already agreed to give him the remaining money from the exchange of Liao soldier captives to use as military expenses. Did the Liao State really believe that they could cut down his military expenses? You The Seventh Prince of the Liao State was furious, but he could only utter one word. Prince Huaiyin was still looking at him with a beaming smile, totally unperturbed. Qin Xiaoyao found it somewhatical when she saw this. Then, she looked at the Seventh Prince of the Liao State. The Seventh Prince also returned Qin Xiaoyaos gaze. His re was very hostile. The reason their Great Liao State had failed in their invasion of the Jin State was all because of this woman! Moreover, this woman killed their Supreme Commander andpletely destroyed the morale of their Liao warriors. How despicable! Qin Xiaoyao was not afraid. Instead, she smiled even more brightly, just like Prince Huaiyin. Alright. I agree with your conditions. However, 1 also have one condition, the Seventh Prince of the Liao State suddenly said. The officials of the Jin State perked up instantly. What condition? Prince Huaiyin asked. Her The Seventh Prince of the Liao State pointed at Qin Xiaoyao. Prince Huaiyin frowned. I want to have a match with Marquis Xiaoyao. As soon as he said this, all the officials of the Jin State burst intoughter. Prince of Huaiyin, who was somewhat worried initially, also smiled. Your Highness, are you sure? He asked the Seventh Prince in a light-hearted mood. Was there something wrong with this guy? He actually took the defeat so hard that he wanted topete with their Great Jin States God of Massacre? When the Seventh Prince saw their reaction, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao haughtily. General Qin, do you dare to ept my challenge? he said arrogantly. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the Seventh Prince. Then, she asked, Compete in what? If its a martial artspetition, I ept. But if its apetition to show off ones literary skills, then I do not dare to ept your challenge, she said with a smile. Hahahaha When the officials of the Jin State heard this, they all guffawed. At the same time, they felt a little more admiration for their Marquis. When the Seventh Prince of the Liao State issued a challenge, they had assumed by default that it would be a martial arts fight. However, Lord Marquis was so meticulous that she even inquired about the nature of thepetition before agreeing. They had no doubt that Lord Marquiss martial arts skills were unparalleled in the world, but they had no confidence in Lord Marquiss literary talent. The Seventh Prince of the Liao State was so angry that his face turned red and ashen-white alternately. Of course, its a martial artspetition. If I lose, I will agree with the Jin States condition to redeem our Liao soldiers at the price of ten taels of silver per soldier. Prince Huaiyins eyes lit up. Thereafter, he said, Alright. If Marquis Xiaoyao loses, 1 promise Your Highness to lower the ransom to eight taels of silver per person. The expression on the face of the Liao States Seventh Prince finally rxed. Deal! He looked at Prince Huaiyin and Qin Xiaoyao with a burning gaze. Qin Xiaoyao and Prince Huaiyin looked at each other and felt likeughing. Lets start then. Immediately, Qin Xiaoyao stood up. Hmph! The Seventh Prince of the Liao State red at Qin Xiaoyao and left first. Qin Xiaoyao felt likeughing again. After exchanging a nce with Prince Huaiyin, she led everyone and followed the Seventh Prince out. After leaving the hall of the Ministry of Rites, everyone arrived at a wide, open space. The Liao States Seventh Prince took the lead and walked to the center of the open space. He pulled out the Liao-style saber on his body and turned around to point it at Qin Xiaoyao. Come on, he said with a vicious expression. Qin Xiaoyao raised her eyebrows slightly and prepared to step forward. However, she was stopped by Prince Huaiyin. Be careful. This Seventh Prince of the Liao State is considered a first-ss expert in the Liao State. Moreover, he has a close rtionship with the Xiao family. Although the Seventh Prince was not the son of Empress Dowager Xiao, he was raised by Empress Dowager Xiao. The Xiao family had been bullied so badly by Teacher Qin. It was no wonder that he would make things difficult for Teacher Qin. However, no matter how talented the other party was, Prince Huaiyin did not think that the other party was a match for Teacher Qin. Nheless, he still had to warn Teacher Qin up front. Qin Xiaoyao nodded at Prince Huaiyin before walking toward the Seventh Prince of the Liao State. The Seventh Prince of the Liao State frowned when he saw this. You are not going to use a weapon? he asked. Qin Xiaoyaos gaze swept over the Liao-style saber in the other partys hand. Then, she took out a tri-dagger from her boot. Ill use this, she said. When he saw the tri-dagger and recalled some of the things he had heard, the Seventh Prince of the Liao State narrowed his eyes. Following that, he raised his Liao-style saber and charged at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao did not move at all. It was only when the Liao-style saber was above her face that she quickly raised her tri-dagger to block. The Liao States Seventh Prince, who came charging menacingly, was gritting his teeth but he was unable to sh the Liao-style saber down on Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, dealt with the strike easily, as if she was just ying a game with the other party. At this moment, the others did not know the situation, but the Liao States Seventh Prince knew very well. He had deployed 100% of his strength in this sh. If it was in the past, even a huge boulder would have been chopped in two by him. In the past, when he went all out like this, the enemys head would have been split in half by him. However, this person in front of him had actually blocked his killing move so easily. Her hand did not even jolt from the impact. The opponents weapon was not simple. More importantly, her strength was simply terrifying. When she saw the disbelief on the Seventh Princes face, Qin Xiaoyao smiled leisurely.. Chapter 353 - 353: Defeating the Enemy in Two Moves Chapter 353: Defeating the Enemy in Two Moves Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Then, Qin Xiaoyao raised her hand and pushed away the Liao-style saber in the hands of the Seventh Prince of the Liao State. Following that, she quickly attacked again. With a flick of the tri-dagger in her hand, she easily sent the Liao-style saber in the other partys hand flying. The Liao-style saber flew out and stabbed into a crack in the ground not far away. ng! A crisp sound was heard. At the same time, Qin Xiaoyaos tri-dagger was already pressed against the neck of the Seventh Prince of the Liao State. The turnaround came too quickly. Whether it was the envoys of the Liao State or the officials of the Jin State, they were all shocked. It was Prince Huaiyin who broke the silence by pping his hands. Immediately after this, the officials of the Jin State spoke up one after another, praising Qin Xiaoyao for her unparalleled bravery. The envoys of the Liao State lowered their heads or looked away. They couldnt bear to look at the Seventh Prince. At this moment, the Seventh Prince of the Liao State had also turned from a proud rooster to a cowering quail. His dejected expression was filled with disbelief. He knew that Qin Xiaoyao was very strong, but he did not expect her to be this strong. She was simply not a human! That sh of his had at least 500 pounds of force, yet she was able to withstand such a heavy blow so easily. Moreover, she even counterattacked him afterward. He, the newly promoted number one warrior of the Liao State, only managed tost two moves against her. It was simply a great humiliation! Just kill me! The Seventh Prince of the Liao State roared angrily. To him, such a great humiliation was harder to ept than death. Qin Xiaoyao moved the tri-dagger away. Then, she swiftly inserted the tri-dagger back into her boots. The Great Jin and the Great Liao States have already reached a peace agreement. Whats the point of killing you? I have no intention of starting a war between our two states. When they heard this, the envoys of the Liao State heaved a sigh of relief. The Seventh Prince lowered his head and did not dare to meet Qin Xiaoyaos gaze. Qin Xiaoyao didnt look at him anymore. She turned around to look in Song Ques direction, and their eyes met. Song Ques eyes flickered, but he immediately lowered his head. A trace of disappointment shed across Qin Xiaoyaos face. She then looked at Prince Huaiyin, indicating that she would hand over the matters hereafter to him. Prince Huaiyin smiled and went forward to negotiate with the Seventh Prince and the envoys of the Liao State. Very soon, both sides set the final conditions for the peace deal. At this point, the battle between the Jin and Liao States officially ended. After the two sides signed the peace treaty, the representatives of the Liao State left first. Following that, the officials from the Ministry of Rites held a simple meeting before dispersing. Song Que was about to leave with the officials, but he was stopped by Prince Huaiyin. No doubt Prince Huaiyin held him back for Qin Xiaoyaos sake. After asking Song Que to stay behind, he left the chamber to the two of them. Qin Xiaoyao was grateful. After Prince Huaiyin left and closed the door behind him, she rushed toward Song Que immediately. She hugged him tightly from behind. When she smelled the familiar scent on Song Ques body, Qin Xiaoyao instantly felt her heart, which had been hanging in her throat, settle down. Hubby Qin Xiaoyao only called out after hugging him for a long time. Song Ques heart skipped a beat. He felt his cold, hardened heart instantly disintegrate. In the end, he suppressed his turbulent emotions and replied, Mmm. Hubby, where did you go after leaving Mountain Spring Town? How did youe to the capital? How did you enter the Ministry of Rites? Qin Xiaoyao asked rapidly. There was an aggrieved note in her tone. Song Ques heart ached. I He wanted to say something tofort Qin Xiaoyao, but in the end, he only uttered one word. Soon, Qin Xiaoyao tightened her grip on Song Ques waist. It was as if she was afraid that she would be abandoned if she let go. As he lowered his head to look at the arms that were wrapped tightly around his waist, Song Que felt a warm sensation in his heart. After thinking for a moment, he finally spoke again. After 1 was captured, some of my ssmates and I were sent to Lin An City. After that, I was saved by Miss Shen there. Then I was brought back to the capital. Upon hearing the words Miss Shen, Qin Xiaoyaos body stiffened. Is she the eldest daughter of Minister Shens family, Shen Rong? she asked cautiously. She had not forgotten that Prince Huaiyin had mentioned to her that Minister Shen intended to have her husband marry into his family for his daughters sake. For this reason, she even specially sent someone to inquire about Minister Shens daughter. It was said that Shen Rong was beautiful and intelligent, well-known for being virtuous and talented. And now, her husband said that Shen Rong had saved him, so he was indebted to her. How could she not be worried? Mm-hmm, Song Que replied. Qin Xiaoyao panicked. Then, she suddenly retorted, You want to be heartless and unfaithful? Song Que was stunned at once. Finally, he turned around and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him angrily, he avoided her gaze with some fear after he looked at her and sighed in his heart at the same time. When have I ever said such a thing? Song Que grabbed Qin Xiaoyaos arms after giving another sigh. Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback. With just this sentence, the uneasiness in her heart immediately dissipated. Then why did you stay in the Prime Ministers residence? Also, Ive been in the capital for so long. Why havent youe to look for me? Now that she was so famous, she did not believe that he did not know where she was. Song Que fell silent. Qin Xiaoyaos heart instantly tensed up again. Then, she asked icily, Is Shen Rong interested in you? Song Que raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Then, he suddenly reached out and pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his arms. Qin Xiaoyao was annoyed and struggled for a while. As she didnt use much strength, she was still hugged tightly by Song Que eventually. My dear Song Que called out. These two short words instantly made Qin Xiaoyao go weak. There are many things I cant exin to you now. But I hope that you can trust me. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat. The capital is more dangerous than it looks. If you have the chance, you should leave as soon as possible. Take Mother and the others with you. It doesnt matter if you guys returned to Mountain Spring Town or go to the border. Try not to stay in the capital. When she heard Song Ques words, Qin Xiaoyaos heart calmed down a lot, but she quickly asked, What do you mean? Do you think Im an eyesore in the capital? Song Que hugged Qin Xiaoyaos waist. You know thats not what I meant. Qin Xiaoyao immediately looked at Song Que with a resentful expression. Then what do you mean by that? Song Que, if you really treat me as your wife, then tell me everything clearly. We agreed before that we would shoulder the burden together. Besides, Im now officially a Lieutenant General and a Marquis. 1 can do more things than you, Qin Xiaoyao said in an energetic manner. Song Que frowned when he heard that. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was still determined, he finally sighed. It is precisely because of this that I dont dare to acknowledge you publicly, he said. Qin Xiaoyao got a shock. Empress Jias faction is extremely powerful. If she finds out about your rtionship with me and the Song family, Im afraid that you will soon be in danger. Empress Jia would never allow her potential enemy to be stronger. Especially since the enemy had such a strong connection to Prince Huaiyin. The reason she did not make a move on his wife now was that she felt there was still a possibility of winning his wife over.. Chapter 354 - 354: Husband and Wife Meeting Chapter 354: Husband and Wife Meeting Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion If Empress Jia knew Song Ques identity, she would never tolerate his presence. The reason he got close to Shen Rong and joined Minister Shens camp was that he had reached an agreement with Prince Huaiyin. That was right. The one who really saved him was not Shen Rong, but Prince Huaiyin. However, the other party did not let him leave after saving him. Instead, after discussing with him, Prince Huaiyin made other arrangements for him. At that time, he had agreed to Prince Huaiyins conditions in order to protect himself and his family. However, he did not expect that his wife would also look for Prince Huaiyin in order to locate him. Moreover, she fought her way through and became the Great Jin States God of Massacre, changing the battle outlook between the Jin and Liao States in the process. After that, she had been further conferred the title of marquis and general and also came to the capital. Now, things had beplicated. He could only brace himself and continue moving forward. He had already joined hands with Prince Huaiyin. Other than defeating Empress Jias faction and supporting Prince Huaiyin to ascend the throne, there was no other way. Qin Xiaoyaos face clouded over. Then lets get rid of Empress Jia and let Prince Huaiyin take the throne, she said. She didnt care about Empress Jia or Prince Huaiyin. She only knew that she would kill anyone who tried to stop her from being with her husband. Song Que initially appeared very grim, but he almost burst outughing because of Qin Xiaoyaos words. He couldnt resist reaching out to cup Qin Xiaoyaos face. Its not that simple. I have my own ns for this matter. Be good and look after Mother and the others. When the opportunityes, go back to your fiefdom in Xiaoyao County. Or go to the border. In short, stay away from the capital. When the overall situation in the capital is settled, 1 will definitely return to look for you. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que and broke free from his grip. No way! If you dont agree to work with me, Ill do it myself. Its just defeating Empress Jia, isnt it? If you can do it, so can I! Moreover, she felt that her chances of sess were higher. After all, she was doing much better than him. Song Que frowned. Xiaoyao! he shouted helplessly. It was precisely because he was worried that such a situation would happen that he did not dare to meet her. Qin Xiaoyao merely nced at him in annoyance. Its useless to call me by my name. Its settled then. If you can really watch me take risks so mindlessly, then you can just watch from the side. In short, it was impossible for her to retreat first. A look of helplessness swept over Song Ques face. Alright. Finally, he sighed and relented. Qin Xiaoyaos face lit up. She leaned forward and kissed Song Que on the cheek. Dont worry. The strength of two people is greater than one. Moreover, if it reallyes to a point where we have no other choice, 111 take you and Mother and run away. The world is so big. There will always be a ce for us. As he looked at Qin Xiaoyaos confident expression, Song Que suppressed the emotions in his heart and smiled. Alright. Then, he reached out and pulled Qin Xiaoyao back into his arms again. Qin Xiaoyaos heart was filled with sweetness. She leaned on Song Ques shoulder with ease of mind. Hubby, weve been apart for so long. Do you miss me? Qin Xiaoyao asked shyly as she wrapped her fingers around a strand of hair on Song Ques chest. Song Que felt his heart bing aze with passion. Suddenly, he whispered into Qin Xiaoyaos ear. Yes. I miss you day and night he said in a low voice. This was true. After all, he was a normal man. Qin Xiaoyaos body trembled. Then, her cheeks flushed a deep red. Then why dont we go back to the Marquiss residenceter? As she said this, her gaze toward Song Que was already tainted with a tinge of coquettishness. Song Ques breathing quickened. No way. He rejected her suggestion. However, his hoarse voice betrayed him somewhat. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled. Then how about going to an inn? she said yfully. Song Ques eyes darkened. Okay he consented. The couple had a tacit understanding. After agreeing on the time and ce, they parted ways. Then, they tidied up their messy clothes and left the hall separately. Outside, Prince Huaiyin was still waiting. When he saw the two of theme out with grave expressions, he had some spection in his heart. Your Highness, lets go. Qin Xiaoyao spoke first. Her voice was distant, and she didnt even look at Song Que. Prince Huaiyin nced at Song Que and looked as if he wanted to say something but was hesitant. Then, he cupped his hands at Song Que and left with Qin Xiaoyao. Song Que stood on the spot and watched the two of them leave ahead of him with a deep and profound look in his eyes. He stood there until a young male servant came up to call him. Only then did he leave. After Qin Xiaoyao and Prince Huaiyin exited the gate of the Ministry of Rites, they boarded a horse carriage. In the carriage, Prince Huaiyin had been observing Qin Xiaoyaos expression from time to time. He still looked like he wanted to say something but was hesitant. Qin Xiaoyao knew what Prince Huaiyin wanted to ask, but she held her tongue and said nothing. She had an agreement with her husband that she had to pretend not to know him in front of outsiders and not reveal their rtionship to anyone. This naturally included Prince Huaiyin. Ahem Young Master Song might have some difficulties that he couldnt reveal. After a while, Prince Huaiyin couldnt contain himself any longer and spoke to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao merely raised her eyes and nced at him. Your Highness, you dont have to speak up for him. I only believe what 1 see, she said icily. Prince Huaiyin was stunned momentarily. You and Young Master Song he continued to ask. Qin Xiaoyao raised her eyes again and nced at Prince Huaiyin, but her expression was already tinged with irritation. Since he has been found, there is no need to trouble Your Highness with the matter between me and him, she said. Alright then. Prince Huaiyin had no choice but to stop probing for information. He was even more certain of his earlier spection. Although he felt a little sorry for Song Que, he felt more happy. Teacher Qin was disappointed in Song Que. To him, it was a good thing, wasnt it Qin Xiaoyao did not know what Prince Huaiyin was thinking. Although she was maintaining an icy expression, she was actually very excited. She was already nning her rendezvous with Song Que in the afternoon. It was all thanks to you for defeating the Seventh Prince of the Liao State in todays negotiation. Only then can the peace talk be sessfully concluded. Regarding this matter, 1 will submit a petition to the Emperor and ask for credit for you. Prince Huaiyin changed the topic. Its fine. It was a piece of cake, Qin Xiaoyao replied indifferently. She didnt seem very interested. Though it was a piece of cake for you, it was a great help to us. I will make arrangements for this matter, Prince Huaiyin insisted. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao only responded indifferently as if she didnt really care. Prince Huaiyin was a little disappointed. Since he knew that Qin Xiaoyaos mind was still dwelling on the conflict with Song Que, he didnt say anything else. The horse carriage swayed along the way and finally left the pce gates. After Qin Xiaoyao and Prince Huaiyin got off the carriage, they switched back to their horses. Your Highness, I still have some matters to deal with in my residence, so 1 wont apany you back to the army camp, Qin Xiaoyao said suddenly as she cupped her hands at Prince Huaiyin. Her military rank was high enough, so she didnt need permission to take leave. As long as she couldplete her military duties and not dy the armys operation, it was fine for her to go on leave. Therefore, she was definitely going to skip work in the afternoon. As for what she was going to do after skipping work, hehe Prince Huaiyin did not think much of it and replied, Alright then. You go ahead and do your own things first.. Chapter 355 The Small Courtyard House Bought by Song Que 355 The Small Courtyard House Bought by Song Que Then, Prince Huaiyin left on his horse. Qin Xiaoyao waited until he rode his horse far away before she mounted her horse. After leaving the pce, she headed for Taiping Street. Taiping Street was quite a distance away from the street where the Marquis''s residence and the nobility and high-ranking officials lived. That street wasn''t in the sphere where most of these people moved in. The ce where Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que had agreed to meet was on this street. Qin Xiaoyao recited the address in her heart as she tracked down the ce. Finally, she found the house in an alley. After confirming that she did note to the wrong ce, Qin Xiaoyao went up and knocked on the door. After a while, an old woman came out. Qin Xiaoyao was puzzled and wondered if she hade to the wrong ce. The old woman spoke first. "It''s Mistress, right? I have been waiting for Mistress for many days. Mistress, pleasee in." As she spoke, she looked behind Qin Xiaoyao to make sure that no one was following her. Qin Xiaoyao looked down at the clothes she was wearing. For the sake of convenience, she had been wearing men''s clothes ever since she came to the capital. This person could recognize her identity as a woman at a nce and even addressed her as "Mistress." There was no doubt that this person was stationed here by her husband. "Mm-hmm," Qin Xiaoyao responded. She quickly led the horse and followed the old woman into the courtyard. As soon as Qin Xiaoyao entered, the old woman immediately closed the door. Then, she walked to Qin Xiaoyao''s side with a smile. "Master has bought this courtyard for some time now and instructed me to wait for Mistress here." "Today, I have finally met you, Mistress." "Mistress, this way please," the old woman said enthusiastically. Qin Xiaoyao''s eyes flickered, and she stopped in her tracks. "How do you know me? Also, who is this master you speak of?" she asked. The old woman''s words made her 70 to 80% sure that the former was hired by her husband. However, she still had to be on her guard. She had to confirm her identity first. The old woman was taken aback. Then, she smiled again. "Mistress, you need not worry. The reason I recognized you was that Master had shown me a portrait of you, Mistress. He also told me that Mistress likes to wear men''s clothes. "As for who Master is, he once told me that his surname is Song." Qin Xiaoyao was finally relieved. Only then did she nod and allow the old woman to continue to lead the way. "You said that it has been some time since my husband bought this courtyard house?" she asked as she walked. "Yes. It''s been more than half a month," the old woman replied. Qin Xiaoyao''s heart skipped a beat. In other words, half a month ago, her husband had predicted that he would meet her here? Hmph! He still told her to leave the capital first. She knew it. He was so pretentious. "Is there anyone else here?" Qin Xiaoyao asked again. At the same time, she looked around the courtyard. The courtyard was quite small, but it was clean and tidy. Compared to their home in Mountain Spring Town, it was probably less than half the size of their home. "Mistress, there is only me, the servant." "Master has instructed me to stay in this courtyard to wait for Mistress and Master," the old servant replied. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the old woman. "How should I address you?" she asked again. "Oh, Mistress, just call me Granny Hu," the old woman hurriedly replied. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. "Granny Hu," she called out. "Yes, Mistress," Granny Hu quickly answered. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. "When did you start following my husband? Did you work for him before?" she continued to ask. Judging from her attitude to her behavior, Granny Hu did not appear to be an ordinary old woman. Where did her hubby find such a person? He even arranged for her to stay here alone. It was enough to show that he trusted this person. Granny Hu was taken aback. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "I used to be a servant of the Song family. I was saved by Master half a month ago, and then I was arranged toe here." Master had told her that she could tell Mistress everything she knew. She was responsible for guarding this ce. It was normal for Mistress to have doubts about her. Qin Xiaoyao was quite surprised. "I see," she said. Finally, she stopped asking. "Mistress, please rest in the room for a while. I will go and harness the horse," Granny Hu suddenly said when they reached a side room. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the room in front of her and nodded. She handed the reins to Granny Hu. "By the way, Mistress, what would you like to eat? I will prepare itter," Granny Hu took the reins and asked again. Since Mistress had alreadye here, perhaps Master wouldeter. She had to prepare more food. Qin Xiaoyao nced in the direction of the kitchen. "Buy some tofu, eggs, vegetables, and meat, and get two jars of wine." "I''ll cook with youter," Qin Xiaoyao said. It had been a long time since she cooked anything after leaving Mountain Spring Town. Aftering to such a small courtyard with only a few people, she suddenly felt the urge to cook. Qin Xiaoyao couldn''t help but look forward to eating the food she cooked with her husbandter. "Sure!" Granny Hu smiled and replied. She turned around and prepared to leave. "Wait" Qin Xiaoyao stopped her. Then, under Granny Hu''s puzzled gaze, she took out her money pouch. "No need, Mistress." When she saw this, Granny Hu quickly gestured with her hand. "Master has already given me money. It''s enough to buy groceries." Qin Xiaoyao ignored her and took out five taels of silver from her purse. "What my husband gave you is from him. What I am giving you, you can just keep it." As she spoke, she handed over the silver. A trace of gratitude shed across Granny Hu''s face. "Thank you, Mistress," she finally epted the silver. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. "Alright. Go do your work. "My husband will be here soon. Let''s try to get the food ready before he arrives." "Yes, Mistress," Granny Hu smiled and answered. She then left quickly. Qin Xiaoyao also smiled and turned around to enter the room. When she entered the room, she realized that the furnishings in the room were very simr to the room that belonged to her and her husband back in Mountain Spring Town. Knowing that this was definitely Song Que''s arrangement, Qin Xiaoyao felt a surge of warm sensation in her heart. Qin Xiaoyao opened the closet and took out a set of women''s clothing. After changing into it, shebed her hair into a bun. Following that, she left the room and sat in the courtyard. Then, before long, Granny Hu returned. She carried a bamboo backpack on her back, and there were many things inside. As she came closer, Qin Xiaoyao realized that not only were the things she asked for in the backpack, but Granny Hu had also bought some other vegetables. When Granny Hu saw that Qin Xiaoyao had changed her clothes, her eyes were filled with approval and admiration. She praised her Master inwardly for his good taste. "Let''s go cook," Qin Xiaoyao quickly said after going through the things that Granny Hu had bought. "Alright," Granny Hu smiled and answered. Thus, the two of them went to the kitchen. Soon, as the two of them cooked together, they became familiar with each other. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao learn that when Granny Hu was young, she was actually her mother-inw''s dowry maid. Chapter 356 Let’s Produce An Older Brother 356 Lets Produce An Older Brother After her husband was born, this maid had personally taken care of him for several years. Unfortunately, after the Song familynded in trouble, the servants of the Song family''s residence were all sold. Granny Hu was lucky. She was redeemed by someone andter got married. Unfortunately, because she was not able to get pregnant for several years, she was bullied by her husband''s family and sold again. After that, she worked for the family that bought her until Song Que found her. "Master is kind and redeemed me. He even gave me a ce to live and promised to let me enjoy my old age in the future. "I have no other thoughts now. "I only hope that Master and Mistress can live in harmony as husband and wife. "In the future, when Mistress gives birth to a child, if you don''t despise me, I can help you take care of him." At this point, Granny Hu''s face lit up with anticipation. Her biggest regret in life was not being able to have a child. If Master and Madam had a child in the future, she would definitely take good care of him. Qin Xiaoyao blushed furiously. She could not help looking down at her tummy. When she was in Mountain Spring Town, her mother-inw had taken her to see Doctor Li. At that time, Doctor Li said that her pulse was strong and it was easy for her to get pregnant. In the end, she and her husband did not use any birth control for months, but she did not get pregnant. She didn''t know if it was not the right time or Forget it. Her husband was in a dangerous predicament now. It might not be a good thing to get pregnant at this juncture. It was better to let nature take its course. "Then I''ll have to trouble Granny Hu," Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. She thought to herself that when the overall situation had stabilized, they had to bring Granny Hu back with them. When her mother-inw saw Granny Hu, she would definitely be happy. "It''s only right. It''s good that Mistress doesn''t despise this old servant," Granny Hu said hurriedly. Before she met Mistress, she was really worried. The Master did not mind her old age and was willing to take her in on ount of their past rtionship. However, it was hard to say on Mistress''s side. Now that she met Mistress and realized that Mistress was of good character and treated her well, she felt more at ease. "Hehe! What are you talking about? We''re so happy that you are willing to help us take care of our children," Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. In an instant, she closed the distance between her and Granny Hu again. The two of them chatted andughed, and it didn''t take long for them to make a table full of sumptuous home-cooked dishes. When thest dish was served, there was finally a knock on the door. Qin Xiaoyao''s hearing was extraordinary, and she was the first to notice the noise. "I''ll open the door." After saying that, she ran into the courtyard. Granny Hu smiled in amusement. Instead of going out, she took over Qin Xiaoyao''s role and continued to work in the kitchen. Qin Xiaoyao quickly rushed to the front of the courtyard. She opened the door and saw that it was indeed Song Que. When Song Que saw that Qin Xiaoyao had already changed into women''s clothing and was wearing the clothes he had chosen previously, a glint shed across his eyes. "Come in quickly." Qin Xiaoyao smiled and reached out to pull Song Que. Song Que smiled and went in obligingly. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly closed the door after he entered. He became even more amused. "Why are you smiling foolishly? "Granny Hu and I have already prepared the meal. Hurry up and help in the kitchen!" Qin Xiaoyao retorted in annoyance. "Okay," Song Que replied with a smile. Suddenly, he leaned close and grabbed Qin Xiaoyao''s hand. Qin Xiaoyao didn''t shake his hand off and allowed Song Que to pull her towards the kitchen. Then, Granny Hu saw the two of them chatting andughing as they entered the kitchen holding hands. When she saw this scene, Granny Hu''s face radiated with joy. She was happy to see that Master and Mistress were so loving. "Let''s do it together. We can eat now," Qin Xiaoyao said. "Sure!" Granny Hu answered with a smile. Thereafter, the three of them got busy. The food was then brought to the hall. Granny Hu was initially unwilling to eat with the couple, but Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que both insisted that she stay. In the end, she could only give in. During the meal, Qin Xiaoyao fussed over Granny Hu like a younger offspring caring for her elders. She would pick food for Granny Hu from time to time. As she ate the fragrant and steaming hot food, enjoying the rare show of affection, Granny Hu began weeping at one point. After the meal, Granny Hu steadfastly refused to allow Qin Xiaoyao to wash the dishes with her. She drove Qin Xiaoyao away to Song Que''s room. As she knew that Granny Hu wanted her to spend more time with Song Que, Qin Xiaoyao wasn''t bashful and quickly left. Eventually, she knocked on the door of their room. The door was opened. Then, Song Que pulled Qin Xiaoyao into the room with a strength that she never knew he possessed. Following that, it was a passionate kiss as their world turned topsy-turvy. Qin Xiaoyao was only caught off guard for a moment before she quickly turned the tables joyously and took the lead. The magpies outside the window began chirping and singing about the beauty of spring An hourter. Qin Xiaoyao finally rested her head on Song Que''s arm in contentment. She turned her head to look at the handsome side profile of the man beside her and smiled sweetly. "Hubby" she called out in a sweet voice. The corners of Song Que''s mouth curled up. "Hmm?" he repliednguidly. "Granny Hu said that she wants to take care of our children in the future," Qin Xiaoyao said with a blushing face. Song Que turned his head to look at the woman beside him and lowered his head to give her a peck on the forehead. "Mother also wants to take care of our kid. Then let''s have two children in the future," he said with a smile. "Huh? Granny Hu will definitely live with us in the future. She and Mother can bring up the child together." Two? She had only nned for one for the time being. However, her husband had such good genes, and hers seemed to be quite good too. Wasn''t it a waste if they had only one child? It seemed that it was not impossible to have two children "Mm-hmm Let''s have a son first. What do you think? Afterward, we can have a daughter. This way, our daughter will have an older brother to dote on her." The woman couldn''t resist imagining a beautiful life in the future. Song Que smiled in amusement. "Mm-hmm. Let''s do it this way," he replied. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Que. "How can we decide whether to have a son or daughter just like that?" "Then what should we do?" Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao dotingly. "How would I know?" Qin Xiaoyao pouted. "You think of a way." Then, she looked at Song Que sternly. Song Que was taken aback. Then, he whispered into Qin Xiaoyao''s ear, "Ahem Then let''s try it out with one first. If it doesn''t work, we can continue. We will eventually end up with an older brother." Qin Xiaoyao''s ears burned with embarrassment. Her fist smashed toward Song Que. "Who wants to keep having children with you?" she retorted petntly. "If you don''t want to have children with your husband, then who do you want to have them with?" Song Que pretended to be annoyed. "Hmph! I''m not going to argue with you!" The young couple bickered as if they had returned to the carefree days in Mountain Spring Town. After a while, the two of them, who had been lying in bed for a long time, finally got up. After tidying up, Qin Xiaoyao put on her clothes and went to the outer room. It was only at this point that Qin Xiaoyao asked Song Que about what had happened to him during this period of time as well as his current situation. Song Que only gave a brief description, simr to what he had told Qin Xiaoyao at the Ministry of Rites in the morning. "Does Minister Shen really intend to have you marry into his family?" Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que with some bitterness. Chapter 357 Husband and Wife Talk 357 Husband and Wife Talk Song Que''s expression stiffened slightly. Then, under Qin Xiaoyao''s intense gaze, he nodded. "Although Prime Minister Shen didn''t mention it to me, his wife did bring up this matter to me in a roundabout way. "She said that he wanted me to participate in the next Imperial Court Talent Recruitment Examination. If I can get into the top three, then then" He looked at Qin Xiaoyao worriedly. Qin Xiaoyao''s face clouded over. "Don''t worry, my dear. Even if I make it into the top three, your husband will not marry into the Shen family''s residence," Song Que hurriedly said. Qin Xiaoyao''s expression became even more ominous. "Are you really going to get into the top three?" she asked. She knew about the Imperial Court Talent Recruitment Examination. There was not only a literary test, but also a martial test. Many people in the army camp were preparing for this. She was even prepared to let her big brother try it out. The talent recruitment examination was a special examination. For candidates with good results, the Imperial Court would take them in straightaway after the results were out. It was much more efficient than the imperial examination. Of course, the talent recruitment examination was not held every year. Instead, it was an examination that the Imperial Court decided to hold at thest minute ording to the actual situation. Her husband had never participated in the imperial examination before, so he did not have any achievements. The current talent recruitment examination was indeed an opportunity for him. She also believed that as long as her husband wanted to, it shouldn''t be a problem for him to get into the top three. However, if he got into the top three, it meant that he had to marry Shen Rong. She would rather he did not do so well. Song Que looked helpless. "Mm-hmm. Only the top three can be put in an important position by the Imperial Court. Minister Shen will also spare no effort to pave the way for me as he trusts me even more." When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was about to speak again, Song Que stepped forward and pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his embrace. "My dear, don''t worry. The rtionship between Shen Rong and your husband is not what you think." "What do you mean?" Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at Song Que. Song Que nced at Qin Xiaoyao. "Shen Rong already has someone she likes," he said after a moment of hesitation. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. "Who is it?" she asked. No way. There was actually a woman who didn''t take a fancy to her husband and liked someone else? However, although this answer surprised her, it made her quite happy. "Meng Xuan, a schr whose family fortune has declined," Song Que replied. "This time, he should also be participating in the talent recruitment examination. "However, Minister Shen looks down on him, so he probably won''t let him get into the rankings." In Qin Xiaoyao''s mind, she had already imagined the plots of a few big TV dramas. "Ahem why does Prime Minister Shen look down on that Meng Xuan? Is that person very bad?" That shouldn''t be, right? If Meng Xuan was really an idiot, would Shen Rong be attracted to him? However, if Meng Xuan was talented, why didn''t Minister Shen give him any chance? After all, her husband''s situation was probably not much better than Meng Xuan''s. Song Que looked at the inquisitive woman in his arms again and said, "The Meng family and the Shen family were actually family friends going back a long way. In fact, Shen Rong and Meng Xuan were engaged previously. "Butter on, the Meng family was convicted of an offense because of Minister Shen, and the family went into decline. Minister Shen naturally does not want to acknowledge the engagement with the Meng family." Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She finally understood. If it were her, she wouldn''t dare to marry her daughter to someone she had harmed. However, after his daughter had broken off the engagement, it would not be so easy to find a better marriage match. Under such circumstances, recruiting a live-in son-inw was indeed a good choice. He did not need a son-inw with a good family background. After all, he had power and influence. As long as the son-inw''s talent was not bad, he could actually raise the son-inw as a son. Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao''s heart skipped a beat. "It seems that Minister Shen''s family doesn''t have a son, right?" she asked again. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao again and nodded. "Shen Rong''s future husband might be the next Prime Minister," he said with a sigh. At least for now, this was what Minister Shen had indicated to him. He had to admit that Minister Shen really liked him. Unfortunately, they were not in the same boat from the beginning. Qin Xiaoyao''s expression froze. "You are genuinely not tempted?" She looked at Song Que anxiously. Her husband''s grandfather was also the prime minister in the past. Her hubby wanted to clear the name of the Song family. If he could rise to the position of Prime Minister, wouldn''t it be easy to do that at that juncture? At that point, not only would the Song family be exonerated, but they would also be able to fulfill the ardent expectations of their ancestors. It would be considered a perfect conclusion. Song Que smiled as he nced at the woman in his arms and hugged Qin Xiaoyao tighter. "I''m not tempted. "Because what is even more tempting right now is in my arms." As he spoke, the man lowered his head and kissed Qin Xiaoyao on the forehead. Qin Xiaoyao smiled, and the uneasiness in her heart was instantly dispelled. Thereafter, she leaned into Song Que''s embrace gently. "Hubby, you''re so good to me," she said sweetly. Song Que felt very contented. He hugged the woman in his arms tightly and did not say anything else. After a while, Qin Xiaoyao asked Song Que more questions again She even suggested that Song Que work hand in hand with Prince Huaiyin. "His Highness is a good person. In your previous life although he let you down in the end, strictly Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao with an expression that implied, "Try harder." 09:23 Qin Xiaoyao''s suppressed guilty conscience surfaced again. speaking, he didn''t seem to have ill-treated you too much," Qin Xiaoyao said. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao evaded his gaze with a somewhat guilty look. Then, Song Que spoke up, "That was not what you said before." When he told her that he had been abandoned by Prince Huaiyin in his previous life and was killed by an assassin in the end, she was very angry and almost cursed the eight generations of Prince Huaiyin''s ancestors. "Er that was then. Things are different now. "With just the two of us, we are too weak. It''s too difficult to defeat Empress Jia''s faction and exonerate the Song family. "The so-called enemy of my enemy is my friend. "We have the same enemy as Prince Huaiyin. Wouldn''t the probability of sess be higher if we cooperate with him?" Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que in a fawning manner. Song Que''s eyes flickered. "That''s all?" he asked. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly nodded. "Of course!" "But why did I hear that Prince Huaiyin took such good care of you? And when the two of you were in the army, you two often drank together?" There were even rumors that his wife was the confidante of Prince Huaiyin, with some saying that the two of them were a match made in heaven. He spat at that time. Other than being a match made in heaven with him, how could anyone else be worthy of his wife? A look of guilt immediately shed across Qin Xiaoyao''s face. However, she suppressed her guilty conscience just as quickly. "Who who told you that? You believe in such nonsense? "Don''t you know what kind of person I am? Other than you, all other men are like wood blocks in my eyes." Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao with an expression that implied, "Try harder." Qin Xiaoyao''s suppressed guilty conscience surfaced again. "Ahem All right. I admit that I admire Prince Huaiyin. I''m also grateful for the help he gave me when I was at the border. "But to be honest, I really only treat him as an older brother. "I''m not interested in any other man besides you!" As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao even raised her hand to make an oath. Only then did Song Que''s expression rx a little. "Be more mindful in the future and keep an appropriate distance from him," he said. "Sure! I''ll definitely take care in the future!" Qin Xiaoyao quickly promised him. Only then did Song Que nod in satisfaction. Chapter 358 The Shop Is Too Expensive 358 The Shop Is Too Expensive "As for Prince Huaiyin, I will deal with him as I deem fit. Don''t act rashly for the time being. "Now that the Great Jin State and the Great Liao State have already signed a peace treaty, there should be no war at the border in the short term. "Empress Jia is also bent on wooing you. I''m afraid she won''t let you leave. "In that case, you can stay in the capital in peace. Enjoy your life as Marquis Xiaoyao. Don''t get too close to Prince Huaiyin, and don''t take the initiative to approach the officials in the Imperial Court." Qin Xiaoyao nodded. "That''s what His Highness told me. He said that as long as I don''t get close to him or form cliques for personal gain, Empress Jia won''t deal with me." After all, she was now a peace restoration divine weapon in the eyes of the Great Jin State. As long as she did not have ulterior motives and did not favor anyone, Empress Jia could actually tolerate her. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao again. "Er Prince Huaiyin is smart to think of the same thing as Hubby!" Qin Xiaoyao quickly added. Song Que couldn''t help butugh. He hugged his wife and started talking about other topics. The afternoon passed quickly. When the two of them left the room, it was already evening. Granny Hu was busy in the kitchen at this moment. She heard some movement outside and came out to see what was going on. When she realized that the two of them were leaving, she hurriedly tried to persuade them to stay and only leave after dinner. The couple looked at each other and agreed after a moment of hesitation. Then, they waited until the sky was dark before leaving the courtyard separately. Qin Xiaoyao leftter. On the way back, her mood was happy but a little depressed. She was happy that she found her husband and confirmed that he was still devoted to her. What made her depressed was that what her husband was going to do next was extremely dangerous. The two of them would definitely struggle in the quagmire for a long time. After returning to the Marquis''s residence, Qin Xiaoyao had just entered when a servant went up to her to report. Then, Madam Liu and the others came out to wee her. Every single one asked with concern where Qin Xiaoyao had gone and why she had only returned at this hour. "I just met an acquaintance and went out for a drink. I thought that I woulde back earlier, so I didn''t send anyone to inform all of you. "Next time, don''t wait for me. You guys can go ahead and have dinner at the residence when it''s time. "I''m already an adult. I know how to take care of myself outside," Qin Xiaoyao said. When she found out that Madam Liu and the others had not eaten yet and were all waiting for her, she felt a little guilty. "What are you waiting for? Why aren''t you bringing the food out?" As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at the servants not far away. "Yes, Lord Marquis!" The servants answered and left quickly. Qin Xiaoyao then supported Madam Liu and walked towards the hall. As she walked, she promised that if she couldn''te back in time in the future, she would definitely send a message back in advance. She then chatted with the others for a while before returning to her courtyard. After getting the servants to bring hot water to wash up, Qin Xiaoyaoy down. Sigh! That was great! She had already found her husband. Next, she should not act rashly. She would start her business first. After all, money was the foundation of survival. If she wanted to establish a foothold in the capital, starting a business and investing in property were a must. As she mulled over her ns in her mind, Qin Xiaoyao was preparing to sleep. She did not know when she fell asleep. The next day, Qin Xiaoyao woke up early. In the morning, she went to the army camp to settle the military affairs. After instructing Huang Fei to train her big brother well, she went to Cloud Scent Court. The clingy Princess Xiangyang also tagged along. After this period of interaction, the young girl was now more interested in her master per se than learning martial arts from her. When she learned that her master wanted to buy some property and start a business, she volunteered to help. Qin Xiaoyao didn''t reject the idea of having more people to give her more help. When she reached her destination, Qin Xiaoyao didn''t wait long before Yun Niang arrived. After learning that Qin Xiaoyao wanted to buy or rent a few shops, Yun Niang enthusiastically offered to help. "The shops on Rong Hua Street are the most expensive in the entire capital. Based on Lord Marquis''s request, a shop would cost at least 5000 taels of silver," Yun Niang said after hearing Qin Xiaoyao''s description. Almost all the people living on Rong Hua Street were high-ranking officials and nobles of the capital. There were many restaurants on the street, and all of them were well-known restaurants in the capital. The customer spending on the entire street was very high. Even though the shop that Lord Marquis wanted wasn''trge, the price wouldn''t be cheap given the location. Moreover, one couldn''t simply buy a shop on this street just because one wanted to. There were actually not many people who were willing to sell their shops. "I do know andlord who happens to have a shop on Rong Hua Street that he wants to sell. "If Lord Marquis really wants to buy it, I can help you arrange a meeting. At that point, you two can talk face to face." As for the price, she probably wouldn''t be able to help much. Qin Xiaoyao''s eyes flickered. "Five thousand taels is a bit over budget. If I were to rent instead" she said. She only had slightly in excess of 11,000 taels of silver in her start-up fund. it. 09:24 The workshop made so many century eggs every day, and it cost her a lot of money. Opening a shop, hiring staff, buying materials, and so on all required capital. If she spent more than 5000 taels to buy a shop, the remaining money was too little. Yun Niang smiled. "Renting is fine too. If it''s a long-term rental, I can help to ask around." "It is definitely a long-term rental," Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly said. Yun Niang nodded. Following that, she introduced Qin Xiaoyao to two more reliable brokers from other streets. "The owners of these two brokerages are considered my old customers. If Lord Marquis send someone there and mention my name, they will definitely arrange for the task to be carried out properly." "Thank you, Yun Niang!" Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly cupped her hands in thanks. "Lord Marquis, you are too polite!" Yun Niang replied with a smile. "It''s difficult for me to repay Lord Marquis''s great kindness. Furthermore, when I help Lord Marquis, I am actually helping myself. "When I introduced Lord Marquis to other patrons, the patrons will take better care of me in turn." She had been in Cloud Scent Court for many years, and she was able to secure her position as the Top Courtesan not only because of her looks and talent. What many of her clients saw in her was her social skills. Not everyone had those base thoughts about her. Many people, or even most people, looked for her to embellish their own reputation or to get to know some valuable people through her. And Lord Marquis herself was an extremely valuable person. When Lord Marquis asked her for help, it wasn''t so much that she helped Lord Marquis. Rather, it was Lord Marquis who had helped her. With such a figure backing her, her status in the brothels of the capital would be even higher. Even if someone wanted to touch her, they would have to consider the person backing her. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Although she agreed with Yun Niang''s words, she was still grateful to her. She had just arrived at the capital. She couldn''t get close to Prince Huaiyin, and she could not make friends with the nobles in the court. Even if her identity was not ordinary, it was not easy to carry out her business directly. No matter what, Yun Niang had given her a breakthrough. "In another ten days, my first batch of century eggs will be ready. At that juncture, I will definitely send some over for you to have a taste, Yun Niang," Qin Xiaoyao quickly said. The tasting was secondary. Primarily, she wanted Yun Niang and Cloud Scent Court to help promote it. The workshop made so many century eggs every day, and it cost her a lot of money. When the finished products were ready, they had to sell well outside to form a healthy cash flow cycle. Chapter 359 - 359: First Batch of Century Eggs Is Ready Chapter 359: First Batch of Century Eggs Is Ready Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Thank you, Lord Marquis! Yun Niangs eyes shed with understanding as she yfully bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao personally went forward to help her up. The more she looked at Yun Niang, the more she admired her. When she thought of Liu Lings performance in managing the workshop, she felt a little regretful that she could not get Yun Niang to work under her as well. However, it was fine for now. When her business expanded in the future, it was not impossible for her to poach Yun Niang. Haha! One should have more self-confidence. After that, Qin Xiaoyao and Xiangyang had a meal at Cloud Scent Court before leaving. Another five days passed. With the help of Liu Ling and Xiangyang, Qin Xiaoyao finally decided on the three shops to be her porridge shops. She rented all of them. The next step was to renovate and recruit staff. As she didnt buy any of the shops, Qin Xiaoyao had ample funds on hand. After discussing with Liu Ling and Xiangyang, Qin Xiaoyao decided to buy the workers for her shop. Although the cost would be much higher, it could reduce staff turnover and ensure that the skills would not be leaked to outsiders. Thus, Liu Ling stepped forward and went to the brokerage to select some workers. After settling the workers down, they began to prepare for the renovation and theunch of the shop. After another seven to eight days, the first batch of century eggs that Qin Xiaoyao made with the servants of the Marquiss residence was finally ready. As everyone waited in anticipation, the Marquiss residence was the first to eat dishes that used century egg as ingredients, such as porridge with lean meat and century egg, cucumber and century egg soup, and cold century egg sd. Xiangyang and Liu Ling, who were initially suspicious of the century egg, were full of praise for it after tasting it. They were instantly filled with hope in what they were doing. Therefore, they became even more motivated when they carried out their work after this. When she saw that everyone was satisfied with the century egg, Qin Xiaoyao brought two servants from the kitchen with her to Cloud Scent Court that very afternoon. That night, a new dish appeared on Cloud Scent Courts menu. Moreover, Cloud Scent Court had specially rmended the new dish to every customer who came to spend money. The so-called new dish was naturally referring to the dishes rted to century eggs. Of course, the most important dish was the century egg and lean meat porridge. After the customers tasted it, they were full of praise. This was particrly true for the porridge with century egg and lean meat. Some people even asked the kitchen to specially pack some up for them to bring back. In the end, the century eggs Qin Xiaoyao sent were not enough. The brothel madame came forward and apologized profusely many times before she could pacify the guests. At this moment, in Yun Niangs room. Gosh, my precious daughter! The porridge and dishes made from the century eggs sent by Lord Marquis are truly not bad! Tomorrow, go and tell Lord Marquis to send more. Mama will pay for them, the brothel madame said. When she saw that Yun Niangs expression didnt change, the brothel madame reached out and grabbed Yun Niangs hand. Good daughter, help Mama invite Lord Marquis over. 1 will personally talk to her. How about it? She had not imagined that the century eggs sent by Lord Marquis would be so delicious. It simply kept the customersing for more. Although their Cloud Scent Court was a brothel, the wine and dishes were also a major feature. They were also a main source of ie. Based on the sales tonight, if Cloud Scent Court could continue to sell dishes and porridge rted to century eggs, their business would definitely be even better. In fact, if she could use this opportunity to further increase her establishments fame, her brothel might even be able to stand out from all the other brothels! Yun Niang finally nced at the brothel madame, but her expression was still indifferent. She hadnt forgotten what she suffered because of her younger brothers matter. Although the brothel madame didnt do anything to her on the surface, she secretly made things difficult for her. There was also her rtionship with the Marquis. Although the brothel madame didnt stop her, she would give her dirty looks every time they bumped into each other. Tonight, the brothel madame had added the century egg dish to the menu on Lord Marquiss ount, but she had also added a prerequisite. That was, Cloud Scent Court wouldnt pay a single coin for the century eggs that Lord Marquis had sent over. Moreover, the two servants from the Marquiss residence were the ones helping to make the dishes rted to the century eggs. Fortunately, Lord Marquis had taken the initiative to bring this up. Otherwise, she could only pay for the servants herself. Gosh, my precious daughter! Mama was wrong about what happened before. Just take it that Ive let you down. Just be magnanimous. Dont be angry with Mama, okay? The century eggs that Lord Marquis sent over are indeed good stuff. Ask Lord Marquis out and Mama will talk to her personally. The price is negotiable! The brothel madame patted Yun Niangs hand and smiled ingratiatingly. Yun Niangs expression rxed a little. Alright! Since Mama has always treated me well, tomorrow, Ill help you invite Lord Marquis over, she said. Great! the brothel madame hurriedly answered. She beamed so happily that her two eyes turned into slits. She held onto Yun Niang and talked for quite a while before leaving. After the brothel madame left, the maidservant came to Yun Niangs side. Hmph! Now shees a-begging, she said with some anger. Yun Niang nced at the maidservant and smiled. Its fine. Its not like you dont know the madames personality. Its good to take the opportunity to appease her this time. From now on, our days will be a little easier. The maidservant was still resentful. Shes just greedy for money! Why doesnt she think about how much you and Young Master have earned for her all these years? Yun Niang smiled again. The money isnt just for her. Regarding Lingers matter, 1 caused her to offend Empress Jias brother. Ive indeed let her down over this matter. Right now, Lord Marquis needs to open up a market for century eggs. If Madame is willing to buy the century eggs from Lord Marquis and sell them in Cloud Scent Court, this is a good thing for Lord Marquis. If this deal is sessful, Madame will no longer be angry and Lord Marquis will also benefit. Its good for everyone. The maidservant finally stopped talking. She nodded and agreed with Yun Niangs words. Only then did Yun Niang pick up her brush and write a letter. Immediately after that, she got the maidservant to arrange for someone to deliver the letter to the Marquiss residence. Not long after that, Qin Xiaoyao received Yun Niangs letter. After reading the contents of the letter, her face lit up with joy. She went to look for Liu Ling immediately. She asked him about the number of century eggs he had that were ready. Liu Ling took out a logbook. After making some calctions, he reported the figure to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao knew what to do next upon receiving the information. When the business deal from Cloud Scent Court is secured and we receive the first sum of money, we can increase the production capacity of the workshop next. Century eggs take a long time to mature. Its better to make more to stock up, Qin Xiaoyao said. Yes, Maam! Liu Ling answered with a smile. After tasting the century egg, he was full of confidence. He was also prepared to talk to Qin Xiaoyao about this matter before she brought it up. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and added, If the workshop doesnt have enough manpower, its fine to add a few more workers. Alright! Tomorrow, I will go to the brokerage and ask the broker to keep a lookout for suitable staff, Liu Ling quickly replied. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She chatted with Liu Ling about the workshop matters for a while longer before leaving. The next day, Qin Xiaoyao reported to the army camp in the morning. At noon, she didnt even have lunch in the army camp. Instead, she went to Cloud Scent Court. She had just met Yun Niang when the brothel madame came. She warmly greeted Qin Xiaoyao and even got her staff to prepare a table of sumptuous dishes. Qin Xiaoyao had already read Yun Niangs letter and knew what the brothel madame was nning, but she pretended not to know anything.. Chapter 360 - 360: Opening Up A Market Chapter 360: Opening Up A Market Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Come, Lord Marquis. Please drink up this cup. The brothel madame enthusiastically raised her wine cup and toasted Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Yun Niang instead. When she saw this, Yun Niang smiled and raised her wine cup as well. Your humble servant also offers a toast to Lord Marquis. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao raise the wine cup in front of her and toasted the two women. Then, she drank the wine in the cup. The brothel madame looked at Yun Niang gratefully, smiled apologetically, and drank the wine too. Lord Marquis, regarding Liu Lings matter 1 have already exined everything to the Empresss brother. The Empresss brother knows that Lord Marquis redeemed Liu Ling. After 1 exined and mediated, he has already let this matter rest. In the future, even if Young Master Liu appears in front of others, no one will make things difficult for him. The brothel madame looked like she was asking for credit. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the brothel madame and nodded. Due to Yun Niangs reminder, she was indeed a little worried about Liu Ling. For this reason, every time Liu Ling went out, even though the road to the workshop was not far, she arranged for someone to follow him. She was afraid that something would happen to him on the way. Now that the brother of Empress Jia had decided to let the matter rest, it would save her some trouble. After all, she wasnt prepared to let Liu Ling manage only that small workshop for her. After all, the most capable people were the ones who did the most work. Liu Ling could still do many things. Then 1 must thank you, Madame. Qin Xiaoyao cupped her hands at the brothel madame as she spoke. Hehe! Its only right, its only right. Lord Marquis, youre too polite, the brothel madame hurriedly replied. Then, her eyes flickered. Lord Marquis, regarding those century eggs She finally cut to the chase. Qin Xiaoyao pretended not to understand and asked, Oh, whats wrong? Hehe! Its like this. The century eggs that you gave to Yun Niang yesterday were added to the menu of our Cloud Scent Court. In the end, all the customers liked it very much. I was thinking of asking Lord Marquis where you got those century eggs. I want to see see if I can buy some for the dishes, the brothel madame said. Qin Xiaoyao pretended to be mildly surprised. Oh, 1 didnt buy them. It was made by my workshop, she replied. Even though she already knew the answer, the eyes of the brothel madame lit up. Then can Lord Marquis sell some century eggs to our Cloud Scent Court? 1 want 500 Er, no! 1000 eggs! the brothel madame quickly said. Although one dish didnt use many century eggs, the stock might notst if the customers ordered more. In addition, some customers wanted to order take-outs. This way, the amount used would increase. Anyway, the eggs wouldnt go bad within a short period of time after she bought them. It didnt matter if she bought more to stock up. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Er Madame, you didnt even ask about the price first? she said. The madames expression froze. It was as if she had just remembered this. Ahem! May I know what price Lord Marquis is prepared to sell the century egg at? she asked solemnly. Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. Its not expensive either. The big ones cost io copper coins, and the small ones cost 5 copper coins, she said. This price was much higher than the price she had set in Mountain Spring Town. In terms of profits, it was massively profitable for her. However, she was not just randomly stating a price. After all, the rarer something was, the more valuable it was. Other than her porridge shops, she was only going to supply these century eggs to high-end restaurants in the capital for the time being. The eyes of the brothel madame flickered. The big ones cost io copper coins, while the small ones cost 5 copper coins. In terms of ingredients, they were slightly expensive. However, the century egg was clearly worth the price. After pondering in her heart, the brothel madame quickly said, Deal! Then Ill order 600 big ones and 400 small ones. This gave a total of 1000 eggs, which was only eight taels of silver. It was not considered expensive. She could buy more century eggs after she finished using up this batch. As she spoke, the brothel madame straightaway took out a silver ingot worth ten taels and handed it to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and epted it. Immediately, she even gave the brothel madame two taels of silver in change. However, the brothel madame didnt want to ept it. Haha! Business is business. Madame, you should keep it. However, if you want to buy century eggs in the future, you can directly ask the purchasing manager of Cloud Scent Court to contact the workshop in the Marquiss residence. Oh, yes. Young Master Liu is helping me manage the workshop. Afterward, Madame, you can get your manager to contact him directly. The brothel madame was stunned. It never urred to her that Qin Xiaoyao did not redeem Liu Ling to be her kept man. However, she did not think too much about it. Liu Ling had already left Cloud Scent Court, so his affairs had nothing to do with her. All, great! Thus, the brothel madame agreed to the arrangement. Qin Xiaoyao then continued eating and drinking. Cloud Scent Courts wine and dishes were expensive, so she couldnt waste them. After the meal, the brothel madame and Yun Niang personally sent Qin Xiaoyao off from Cloud Scent Court. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao return to her residence. Thereafter, she went to the workshop to look for Liu Ling and asked him to arrange for someone to deliver the goods to Cloud Scent Court. A total of 1000 century eggs only sold for 8 taels of silver. It was not considered a big order. However, it was the first order since the workshop started, so Qin Xiaoyao and Liu Ling attached great importance to it. Its better to arrange for the addition of workers to the workshop in advance. In addition to the workers who buy chicken and duck eggs mentioned earlier, we still have to arrange for two delivery workers. As well as staff for the sales department. Liu Ling was astonished. Sales staff? he asked. He knew about purchasing and goods delivery, but what did the sales staff do? Its the people who go to various big restaurants or grocery stores to promote our goods. As they say, no matter how good the product is, without promotion and marketing, its still difficult for customers to locate our product. Its not a good idea to sit idly and wait for business toe to our doorstep. Liu Lings heart skipped a beat. Yes, Maam! he immediately answered. He looked as if he had been enlightened. Of course, we dont take on every order. In the future, the century eggs from our workshop will be sold at 10 copper coins for the big ones and 5 copper coins for the small ones. If the order is less than 5 taels, we wont ept the order. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Ling and continued, This is only the early stages. When the workshops business is in full swing, we will continue to raise the threshold and turn away orders below 10 taels. A trace of hesitation shed across Liu Lings face. Yes, Maam! he answered again. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Then she told Liu Ling what the brothel madame had told her regarding the fact that she had already settled the matter with the brother of Empress Jia. Next, you can consider training an assistant in the workshop. When the porridge shop is open, I will have an urgent need for management talent. At that point, Ill have to rely on you. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Ling. Liu Lings eyes lit up. Yes! Thank you for thinking highly of me, Lord Marquis! Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Work hard! If you do well, 1 wont mistreat you! she encouraged him. Mm-hmm! Liu Lings eyes were filled with determination. The next day, Princess Xiangyang returned to the pce. Before Qin Xiaoyao could give any instructions, Princess Xiangyang had already ordered the kitchen of the Marquiss residence to prepare a big batch of century egg dishes and century egg porridge. Then, she went to the workshop and bought 500 century eggs. Following that, she packed the stuff and brought them into the pce. A dayter, the porridge with lean meat and century egg became wildly popr in the concubines pce. The nobledies in the concubines pce were all obsessed with the taste of century egg and lean meat porridge. Everyone was scrambling to find out where they could buy century eggs. Princess Xiangyang took the opportunity to help Qin Xiaoyao open up a market in the pce and sold many century eggs. She even became the spokesperson for the sale of century eggs in the pce.. Chapter 361 - 361: Business Was Booming Chapter 361: Business Was Booming Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion During the period of time that followed, the porridge with lean meat and century egg and other dishes with century egg quickly spread from the pce to the outside. Coupled with the influence of Cloud Scent Court, century eggs became the most sought-after ingredient in the capital. The nobles and high-ranking officials took pride in being able to eat century eggs at home and serve their guests century eggs at home. Cloud Scent Court had gained some fame for the century eggs, but they had gained even more benefits. In one leap, it became the most famous brothel in the capital and firmly established its foothold. Under such circumstances, some of the restaurant businesses and the customers who spent money in Cloud Scent Court smelled a business opportunity. Some of them found their way to Qin Xiaoyaos century egg workshop by asking around for information. Others were introduced by Yun Niang. After that, the business of the century egg workshop improved day by day. Liu Ling brought his assistant and established working rtionships with manyrge restaurants in the capital. They would supply theserge restaurants on a long-term basis. At the same time, some merchants also contacted Liu Ling directly. The number ofrge orders continued to increase. Almost at the same time, Qin Xiaoyaos three porridge shops were also ready. With everyone working hard in the Marquiss residence, the three porridge shops opened on three different auspicious days one after another. Qin Xiaoyaos shop opening n was the same as those in Mountain Spring Town. As there was a lot of activity on the opening day, there were many people who came to watch the excitement. After tasting the porridge and breakfast items, the customers were all amazed. This was especially true for breakfast items such as the century egg porridge, sesame balls, and sticky rice cakes. As a result, arge number of customers applied for membership cards to the porridge shops. The three porridge shops opened their businesses smoothly and quickly got on the right track. Qin Xiaoyaos series of actions attracted the attention of many people. This included Empress Jia and many of the court officials. Empress Jia was also a loyal fan of the porridge with lean meat and century egg, and she was full of praise for Qin Xiaoyaos business acumen. When she found out that her daughter was bing more familiar with Qin Xiaoyao and had even participated in Qin Xiaoyaos business n, she paid more attention to Qin Xiaoyao. The more she paid attention to her, the more highly she thought of her. What an excellent woman. Not only could she fight and win battles, but she could also run a business so sessfully. She was simply killing a whole group of men! Your master is indeed a good person. Shes the role model for the women of our Great Jin State. You should learn well from your master. I dont expect you to be like her and go to the battlefield to make contributions. If you can learn her business skills and manage the business that I will give you in the future, that will be good enough. She doted on her youngest daughter very much. There was no need to use her for a political marriage, nor did the girl need to make any sacrifices for the Imperial Court. She only hoped that her little girl could live a peaceful and smooth-going life without worries, and not be bound by too many social norms that predicated that men were superior to women. How can I do that? I want to learn all of Masters skills! I keep my job to earn money for my livelihood. 1 go to the battlefield to kill enemies for my ideals, Xiangyang proimed proudly. That was what her master had told her, and she had taken it to heart. In the future, she wanted to be like her master and be a woman with lofty ideals and aspirations! Haha Empress Jiaughed with amusement. Alright. Then you have to work harder, she quickly added to encourage her daughter. Mm-hmm! The little girl quickly answered in a voice full of fighting spirit. Empress Jia was amused again. Bring your master to the pce tomorrow. Mother hasnt spoken to her for some time. Since shes free tomorrow, lets invite her to the pce for a chat. Yes, Mother! Xiangyang answered again. Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoyao was currently having a secret rendezvous with Song Que in the small courtyard. She had been busy with the business recently and hadnt paid much attention to her husband. Now that everything was on the right track, her focus naturally returned to her husband. The businesses of the century egg workshop and the porridge shops are getting better by the day. Right now, Liu Ling is already preparing to continue running his shop while opening branch shops. Qin Xiaoyaoy in Song Ques embrace and yed with a strand of his hair leisurely. She felt extremely contented. Now, her image as the Great Jin States God of Massacre in the hearts of the people of the capital had changed quite a bit. At the mention of Marquis Xiaoyao, the first thing that came to everyones mind was not necessarily her title of the God of Massacre. It might well be her century eggs and the porridge shops. If she were given more time, she would definitely be able to continue expanding the century egg business. At that point, not only would the people of the capital and Xiaoyao County be able to eat her century eggs, but they would also be able to consume the porridge from her porridge shop. She even wanted all the people in the Great Jin State to be able to eat her century eggs and porridge. Song Que nced sideways at his wife, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. Then, he asked, Is that Liu Ling really that capable? His tone was slightly jealous. Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Que. A smile shed across her eyes. Hubby, are you jealous? she asked in a mischievous tone. She had told her husband beforehand that she was going to use Liu Ling in order to avoid misunderstandings. However, when she saw her husband getting jealous of Liu Ling, she felt quite sweet in her heart. Hehe The smile in Song Ques eyes deepened. I heard that Liu Lings reputation in Cloud Scent Court was not inferior to his sister Yun Mangs, he continued. When she realized that Song Que seemed to mind quite a bit, Qin Xiaoyao became a little anxious. So what? No matter how outstanding his talent and appearance are, hes not even one ten-thousandth as good as my husband, she said. Haha Song Queughed in amusement instantly. He turned his head, kissed Qin Xiaoyao on the cheek and finally decided to stop teasing her. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes darkened at once as she counterattacked. The couple only stopped when it was evening. After holding back her curiosity for a while, Qin Xiaoyao finally couldnt contain herself anymore and asked, The talent recruitment examination is about to begin. How are your preparations? Song Que opened his eyes and looked at the woman in his arms. I didnt make any special effort to prepare for it. However, it shouldnt be a big problem. After all, Prime Minister Shen had already paved the way quite a lot for him. Qin Xiaoyaos expression darkened. Do you really have to participate? she asked. Her business was on the right track now and she had a firm foothold in the capital. Perhaps, there was no need for them to take the risk to do those things. After all, Empress Jia did not seem to have found anything up till now. Mm-hmm, Song Que replied in a low voice. Qin Xiaoyaos heart sank. If you really get into the top three, Minister Shen will get you to marry into his family Qin Xiaoyao didnt finish her sentence. Only then did Song Que reach out and pull Qin Xiaoyao into his embrace. Dont worry. The marriage wont happen, he said in a low voice. After saying that, he kissed Qin Xiaoyao on the head. Qin Xiaoyao struggled to break free. You think it wont happen just because you said so? Shen Rong is just a weak woman. Can she withstand Minister Shens coercion? At that point, if Minister Shen forcefully coerces her, Shen Rong will ept her fate. What can you do? Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao and didnt reply for a moment. This made Qin Xiaoyao even angrier. Let me tell you, Song Que. If you really dare to marry into the Shen family or do something to let me down.. Ill Chapter 362 - 362: Difficult to Have Offspring Chapter 362: Difficult to Have Offspring Trantor: Draqon Boat Trantion Editor: Draqon Boat Trantion Song Que was amused by his wifes jealous expression. Youll do what? he asked. To his surprise, his reaction angered Qin Xiaoyao even more. Then, Qin Xiaoyao said without thinking, Ill castrate you! As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao felt that her words were somewhat inappropriate. However, when she thought for a while, she felt that this was her true thought. Her man had to be loyal to her. If he wanted to cheat, she would cut off his cheating tool. Yes, just like that! When she thought of this, the awkwardness in her heart disappeared. Qin Xiaoyao even raised her head and looked at Song Que provocatively. She was the Great Jin States God of Massacre, so it was extremely easy for her to do such a thing. Song Que lowered his head and whispered into Qin Xiaoyaos ear. Can you really bear to do it? he said with a hint of evil tempting. immediately, Qin Xiaoyaos heart shuddered. Then, she said in a stern voice, I can! Hmph! Dont even think about getting away with it. Haha! Song Que suddenlyughed. Then, he pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his arms. Dont worry. For my sexual happiness, I wont do anything to let my wife down/ he said with a sigh. Qin Xiaoyao was slightly satisfied, but her gaze toward Song Que was still not very friendly. Upon seeing this, Song Queughed again. He then revealed, Shen Rong and Meng Xuan have already consummated their rtionship. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. So what if they did? In Minister Shens eyes, the Shen family is a prestigious family. You will be getting a great bargain if he is willing to marry his daughter off to you. As for Shen Rongs chastity, it was not that important in Minister Shens eyes. Song Que had a smile on his face. You have a point. But though Minister Shen is willing, Shen Rong is not. In particr, when the results of the talent recruitment examination are out not long from now, she may already be pregnant with Meng Xuans child. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Que. Youre that sure? she asked suspiciously. A hint of confidence shed across Song Ques eyes. Of course. After all, I was the one who gave Meng Xuan the idea. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. You know Meng Xuan? Song Que nodded. We met once. After that, I got someone to give him some advice. In the end, that fellow did as I said. At this point, a sly expression as cunning as a foxs shed across Song Ques face. He wasnt afraid that Qin Xiaoyao would be frightened by his expression. In fact, he felt a little smug. And Qin Xiaoyaos reaction was what he expected. She did not disapprove of his idea at all. What did you advise him? Qin Xiaoyao asked curiously. Song Que nced at his wife. Its nothing much. I simply reminded him that Minister Shen will never let him get into the Talent Recruitment Rankings. If he wants to rise, he can only rely on Shen Rong. And if he wanted a woman to risk everything and yet force Minister Shen to relent, the best way was to take Shen Rong down and secretly make her pregnant. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Youre too mean, she said, but there was no reproach in her tone. After all, she did not know Shen Rong. Prime Minister Shen belonged to Empress Jias faction and was the enemy of her husband and her. She had no sympathy for him, let alone sympathize with the enemys daughter. Song Que was very pleased with his wifes reaction and hugged Qin Xiaoyao tighter. It was a little mean. But the two of them were both willing parties. No one forced anyone. Moreover, this might really be an opportunity for the two of them, provided that Minister Shen is not that ruthless. Indeed, the possibility of Minister Shen taking a hard line was not high. Thats true, Qin Xiaoyao replied as she nodded. After thinking for a while, she still felt a little uneasy. But what if Shen Rong doesnt ger pregnant? Also, what if Minister Shen is not willing topromise for the sake of the child in Shen Rongs tummy? For example, forcing Shen Rong to abort the child. Then, he will use Meng XuanS life to threaten Shen Rong and force her to marry you. It was not impossible, and she felt that the possibility was nor low. Song Ques eyes darkened. Then we can only sacrifice Shen Rong, he said with a somewhat sinister tone. Qin Xiaoyao instantly felt the surrounding air pressure drop by two degrees. Of course, if you are willing to retreat, Shen Rong and I can also be a fake couple. Suddenly, Song Que smiled and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. This was actually the best solution. This way, he would gain Minister Shens trust. Moreover, it would be more convenient for him to carry out his n. However, he did not want that to happen, nor did he want his wife to suffer. Dont you dare Qin Xiaoyao immediately red at Song Que. Following that, she looked threateningly at a certain spot in Song Ques body. Song Ques body shrank back. Then, heughed and hugged Qin Xiaoyao tightly again. I wouldnt dare! Therefore, 1 would rather let Shen Rong die than marry her. Hmph! Qin Xiaoyao finally gave a snort in satisfaction. She did not feel that it was immoral for her man to send an innocent woman to her death for such a reason. Song Que smiled as he looked at rhe woman in his arms. If Shen Rong is gone, I will acknowledge Minister Shen as my godfather. This way, although the progress will be slower, things will be much simpler. As long as 1 can enter the Imperial Court and get the help of Minister Shen, I will be able to control the Imperial Court in less than two years. Then, he would coordinate with Prince Huaiyin to help him to ascend the throne. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the high-spirited man and felt her heart beating rapidly. She couldnt resist kissing Song Que on the cheek. When she saw Song Que lowering his head to look at her, Qin Xiaoyao smiled. When are we going to have a baby? she asked. He only knew how to give Meng Xuan ideas to make Shen Rong pregnant secretly. The two of them had been doing it for a long time, but they had yet to conceive a child. Although the current situation did not seem to be suitable for having a child, taking down Empress Jia was not something that could be done overnight. The two of them were not considered young in ancient times. It was time for them to have a baby. Song Que fell silent. This silence made Qin Xiaoyao frown. Just as the woman couldnt hold it in any longer and was about to re up, Song Que finally spoke. My dear, do you really like children that much? Qin Xiaoyao was astonished. Then, she nodded. She probably liked children. She liked the daughter of Big Girl Li and Daniu. There were also her eldest brother and second brothers two children. However, the child she would like the most would definitely be the child that belonged to her and Song Que. The thought that the child might be able to grow to have thebination of good genes from her and Song Que made her look forward to it. Song Ques eyes flickered. But what if 1 dont like children? he continued. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Why not? Didnt you approve of having children before? There was a time when the couple worked hard together on this goal. A hint of evasion shed across Song Ques eyes. Qin Xiaoyao caught that look. Whats wrong? Qin Xiaoyao quickly asked as her expression also became nervous. Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao. With a hesitant expression, before Qin Xiaoyao could interrogate him, he finally spoke with difficulty. Im afraid itll be very difficult for me to have an offspring. In this life, he did not experience the torture of his previous life. He thought that he would be fine. However, he had been with his wife for so long, but his wife had never gotten pregnant.. Chapter 363 - 363: Chief Examiner Chapter 363: Chief Examiner Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When Song Que was injuredst time, the military doctor treated him. He asked the doctor about this matter and was told that he was suffering from oligospermia. He had always known how much his wife wanted to give birth to a child for him, but in the end, he was probably unable to fulfill her wishes. At the same time, this matter also made him feel depressed. He had wanted to tell his wife all along, but he didnt dare to. He was afraid that his wife would be disappointed and that he would be despised. What do you mean by its very difficult to have an offspring? Qin Xiaoyao asked. The look of internal struggle on Song Ques face became even more obvious. The military doctor diagnosed that Im suffering from oligospermia, he finally revealed. After saying that, he did not quite dare to look at Qin Xiaoyao. When Qin Xiaoyao heard this, she was stunned. Then, she muttered, Oligo spermia. Then, the doubts in her heart were quickly cleared up. No wonder after they had tried for so long, she still didnt get pregnant. Previously, Doctor Li had said that she was in good health and could get pregnant easily So, it was really her husbands problem? It would be a lie to say that she was not disappointed, but Qin Xiaoyao quickly adjusted her state of mind. She reached out and grabbed Song Ques hand. Very difficult to have offspring doesnt mean there is absolutely no chance of having an offspring. Its difficult for you, but its easy for me, isnt it? Lets try more often and I will get pregnant sooner orter, she said. Its not that easy. The doctor said that with my condition, theres a high chance that Song Que didnt continue. He also wanted a miracle to happen, but the chances were too small. He did not want his wife to be too hopeful. Qin Xiaoyaos expression froze again. She took one look at Song Ques dejected expression and sighed. If I really cant get pregnant, then so be it. If it really doesnt work out, we can always adopt a child. Or, we can always spend the rest of our lives with just the two of us alone. It was a pity that she couldnt have a child, but she felt that being with her husband was probably enough. Only then did Song Que look at Qin Xiaoyao. When he saw the sincerity in her eyes, he pulled her into his arms. Ive made you suffer, my dear, he said with some heartache. At the same time, he hated his own body. Why couldnt the heavens treat him better Hehe! Whats there to suffer? I want children because I want to see the continuation of our love. But that has to be our child. Without you, no matter how many children I have, its meaningless, Qin Xiaoyao consoled him. Song Que hugged Qin Xiaoyao tightly and didnt say anything else. He was deeply moved. He was wrong. The heavens treated him well enough after all. He only hoped that the heavens would let this woman apany him forever. He wouldnt ask for anything else The next day, Qin Xiaoyao answered the summon and followed Princess Xiangyang into the pce to meet Empress Jia. Before she went there, Princess Xiangyang had specifically asked the kitchen of the Marquiss residence to prepare some breakfast items as well as century egg and lean meat porridge from the porridge shop for her to bring along. They arrived at the Empresss inner chamber. After the Empress had met the two of them and learned that Princess Xiangyang had brought porridge and breakfast items for her, she immediately asked the pce maids to serve the food. As she ate the delicacies, Empress Jias mood was indescribably good. The porridge and breakfast items from the residence of my beloved official are really unique. It makes people crave more, Empress Jia said to Qin Xiaoyao as she ate the porridge with century egg and lean meat. Qin Xiaoyao cupped her hands. Your Royal Highness, you praise me too much. If Your Royal Highness likes it, your lowly subject can teach the cooking method to the pce maids serving Your Royal Highness. At that point, Your Royal Highness will be able to eat at any time. Empress Jias eyes lit up at once. However, after thinking for a while, she rejected the idea. Forget it. These breakfast items may be good, but theyre a little greasy. My body is not strong. Its okay to try them asionally, but its better not to eat these things too often. But this century egg and lean meat porridge is nutritious and nourishing. It is really to my liking. As she spoke, Empress Jia looked at her youngest daughter. With Xiangyang regrly sending century eggs to me, I cant stop eating this delicious porridge. Qin Xiaoyao also nced at Xiangyang, and the corners of her mouth curled up. Princess is so full of filial piety. Your Royal Highness is so blessed. Haha Empress Jia was pleased by these words. She smiled and replied, This child is indeed filial. Youre her master and also her elder. She has to be more filial to you in the future. As she spoke, she looked at Princess Xiangyang with a smile. Princess Xiangyang smiled shyly. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at her, Princess Xiangyang chimed in, Yes, Xiangyang will also be filial to Master in the future! Pfft! Qin Xiaoyao was so amused she almost burst out inughter. The atmosphere around the three of them instantly became much more intimate. Empress Jia quickly started chatting with Qin Xiaoyao. They chatted for a long time. It wasnt until noon that they got down to business. I have already discussed this with the Emperor. Ill put you in charge of the martial arts talent recruitment examination. If there are no problems on your side, I will issue an edict to settle this matter during the morning court session tomorrow. When she saw Qin Xiaoyaos surprised expression, Empress Jia continued, The talent recruitment examination is designed to allow the Imperial Court to recruit talents. Those who pass the examination will be quickly entrusted with important posts by the Imperial Court. It is of great significance. On the warriors side, the only one who is qualified to manage the talent recruitment examination and worthy of my trust is you, my beloved official. At this point, Empress Jias eyes darkened somewhat. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. I know that you have a close rtionship with Prince Huaiyin, but the talent recruitment examination is rted to the fate of the Imperial Court. I have no other requests. I only hope that when you are presiding over the examination, you can enforce the rules impartially and select truly capable warriors for the Imperial Court. This way, you wont let down me or His Majesty down, Empress Jia said with a grave expression. Qin Xiaoyaos expression also turned solemn. Yes, Your Royal Highness! She stood up and bowed to Empress Jia. It was a good thing that she was put in charge of the talent recruitment examination. Notwithstanding the fact that she would be able to help Prince Huaiyin, at the same time, she could even help many of her subordinates. Many of the soldiers under her had signed up for the talent recruitment examination. In fact, she even asked her big brother to participate. It would definitely be a good thing if she could be the chief examiner. Only then did Empress Jia smile. Mm-hmm! She nodded in satisfaction. At noon, Empress Jia retained Qin Xiaoyao and Princess Xiangyang for lunch in the pce. After that, she sent someone to send the two out of the pce. On the way back, Princess Xiangyang was even more excited than Qin Xiaoyao. Congrattions, Master! You are going to be the chief examiner of the martial arts examination! Empress Mother actually rmended Master to Emperor Father. She really treats you as part of our own family! Princess Xiangyang smiled brightly. In her eyes, her master was family. Of course, her understanding of family was somewhat different from her mothers understanding. Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback momentarily. What family? The Empress said to let me choose talents for the country. As her daughter, dont misinterpret your mothers thoughts and tarnish her reputation, she admonished. Empress Jia rmending her was indeed somewhat unexpected, but it was also within reason. After all, in the capital, the only people who were most qualified to take charge of the martial arts examination were her and Prince Huaiyin. Empress Jia was not on good terms with Prince Huaiyin, so she naturally could not let Prince Huaiyin be the chief examiner. In this case, it was not strange for the Empress to rmend Qin Xiaoyao. At the same time, she could also do Qin Xiaoyao a favor and try to win her over. When Empress Jia asked her to select talents for the country, this was the bare minimum request and also the most basic request.. Chapter 364 - 364: Wholehearted Service For The Public Good Chapter 364: Wholehearted Service For The Public Good Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion As long as she was not biased toward Prince Huaiyin and went easy on his men, it was still within what Empress Jia could tolerate. Of course, if she could grant Empress Jias faction some favors on ount of the Empress rmending Qin Xiaoyao for this post by loosening her hand at the right time, Empress Jia would be even happier. Hmph! I wasnt wrong at all. Mother had always wanted to win Master over. Its just that Master has been pretending not to be aware, Princess Xiangyang said as she looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Without waiting for Qin Xiaoyao to speak, Princess Xiangyang continued, My Empress Mother is extremely powerful. There are countless people in the court who want to win her favor and work for her. Why arent you tempted, Master? She was genuinely curious. After all, in her opinion, her mother was very sincere. Not only did her mother ask her to acknowledge Qin Xiaoyao as her master, but she also made Qin Xiaoyao a marquis and rmended her to be the chief examiner of the martial talent recruitment examination. Emperor Fathers health wasnt good, and Empress Mother had always been helping Emperor Father manage the court affairs. If Master was willing to serve her mother, Masters future would be even more glorious. So what if Master was conferred the title of marquis? If she were to make more contributions in the future, it wasnt impossible for her to be conferred the title of a Prince. After all, her mother admired her master from the bottom of her heart. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Princess Xiangyang. Since there are countless people in the court who are flocking to the Empress, why would she still need me? When she saw that Princess Xiangyang was about to speak, Qin Xiaoyao continued, Previously, Prince Huaiyin told me that you dont interfere in court affairs. Now, you want to help your mother win me over? As Princess Xiangyangs expression change slightly, Qin Xiaoyao added, Like you, I dont want to get involved in those things. I can work for the Great Jin State and themoners under the sky. However, I wont work for a single person or a single faction. The Empress also knows this, so she has never made things difficult for me and even treated me with courtesy. Her husband had said that as long as she did not side with Prince Huaiyin and did not form a faction with him, Empress Jia would not make things difficult for her. Qin Xiaoyao had been maintaining this status quo all this while, at least on the surface. As for Empress Jia, it was indeed as her husband had said. She had never made things difficult for Qin Xiaoyao. Princess Xiangyangs eyes flickered momentarily. Master, you are right. Xiangyang spoke without thinking. As she spoke, a look of regret shed across Princess Xiangyangs face. Between Mother and Second Brother Grudges are hard to resolve. Master is stuck between them. Master, your choice is correct. Although both of them are doing this for the sake of the Great Jin State, they also have their own selfish motives. Master chose to be loyal only to the Great Jin State and Emperor Father. It was the right choice. I admire you! After saying that, Princess Xiangyang cupped her hands at Qin Xiaoyao. She thought to herself, Master certainly lives up to her reputation. Her thoughts are more profound than ordinary people. Ordinary people only wanted to take shortcuts, but her master only believed in doing what was right. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Princess Xiangyang. Theres no need to admire me. 1 Qin Xiaoyaos lips suddenly curled into a smile. Actually, I learned it from you. Princess Xiangyang was astounded. Qin Xiaoyao suddenly became interested and continued, The Empress and Prince Huaiyin doted on you so much. Have you ever thought about the reason? Princess Xiangyang was surprised again. Her eyes were filled with bewilderment. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and didnt say anything else. Princess Xiangyang quickly fell silent. After a long while, she finally spoke. The reason Mother and Second Brother treat me well is that I never get involved in their political struggles? she asked. Her mother and father were a loving couple, and she was not the only child they had. Even though she was their youngest daughter, it was hard for her to get so much love from them based on this fact alone. For example, she still had her Crown Prince Brother, Third Sister, Sixth Sister, and Ninth Brother. They were also the offspring of Emperor Father and Empress Mother, but her parents never doted on them as much as they doted on her. As for Second Brother, he had never been nice to her other brothers and sisters. So, the real reason was that she was not obsessed with power? Instead, she simply treated them as her mother and elder brother? Qin Xiaoyao nced at Princess Xiangyang and smiled, but did not answer. This girl would arrive at her own conclusion eventually. Sure enough, Princess Xiangyang nodded soon. So thats why. Actually, I didnt think too much about it. 1 only hope that they can get along peacefully. One of them is my mother, and the other is my second brother. I really dont want to see them fight against each other, or even To the point where one day they would fight each other to the death. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang. When she saw that the little girl was in low spirits, she reached out and patted the back of her hand tofort her. The contention between them is not something you and 1 can get involved in. Just maintain your current state. If that day reallyes, perhaps the situation wont be as bad as you think, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly said. Princess Xiangyang immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Master Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Your Imperial family members value their dignity. Believe in your Masters words. At the very least, if Prince Huaiyin won, due to his status of being the younger generation and his good reputation, he would at most force Empress Jia to give up her power and then put Empress Jia under house arrest. If Empress Jia achieved victory, the fate of Prince Huaiyin would naturally be more tragic. However, her husband said that ording to the oue in his previous life, Prince Huaiyin was the final winner. Therefore, what Xiangyang was worried about would not happen. Princess Xiangyang was astounded for a moment before she nodded her head firmly. Mm-hmm! 1 believe in you, Master! Qin Xiaoyao smiled and pulled aside the curtain of the carriage to look outside. The horse carriage swayed as it made its way back to the Marquiss residence. Over the following period of time, Qin Xiaoyao took on the role of the chief examiner of the martial talent recruitment examination and began to get busy. Five dayster, the talent recruitment examination officially began. Qin Xiaoyao sat in the martial examination hall and watched the candidates participate in the examination together with many examiners. Her job was actually quite simple. She just needed to sit there and watched the candidates fight each other. Every win or loss was decided by the examiners below her rank. If she was unwilling to speak, she could even stay mum throughout the whole process. Of course, the candidates and examiners would show her some respect if she spoke up and gave some pointers. For example, when it was Qin Dahus turn, she would give him a few words of advice after he won. After this, Qin Dahus opponents were practically all weaklings. And for those who were truly capable. Qin Xiaoyao would also give him some pointers and words of encouragement. These people quickly became the focus of attention. In the end, they all made it to the final round. In just three days, the martial examination entered its final stage. Other than giving some advantage to her big brother Qin Dahu, Qin Xiaoyao had always maintained a fair attitude. She did not give any benefit to Prince Huaiyins men, nor did she take special care of Empress Jias people. Both Empress Jia and Prince Huaiyin were very satisfied with this result. No one came to find fault with her. While presiding over the martial examination, Qin Xiaoyao also sent people to inquire about the news from the literary examination. After two consecutive rounds, Qin Xiaoyao was both happy and worried when she received the candidate rankings of the literary examination.. Chapter 365 - 365: Immortal Poet? Chapter 365: Immortal Poet? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion This was because after two rounds, Song Ques name was in the rankings, and he was leading the rankings too. Furthermore, her husbands name was not Song Que now, but Song Rui. During this period of time, it wasnt just her name Qin Xiaoyao that shook the capital. The Great Talent Song Rui of the Prime Ministers residence was also famous in the capital. Whether it was his stunning performance during the peace talks with the Liao State or his outstanding talent that was disyed during the talent recruitment examination this time, he made everyone exim in amazement. Around this time, some of Song Ruis poems were also circting in the streets. For a period, these poems received great acim from the schrs in the capital. Qin Xiaoyao naturally had also read Song Ruis poems. However, after reading them, she wanted tough. Dont you see the Yellow Rivers water falling from the sky, Plunging into the ocean never to return. Dont youment your white hair when you look into the halls clear mirror, ck hair in the morning had turned snow-white in the evening This Song Rui is really a talent without parallel! Princess Xiangyang took the poem she had just received and recited it while speaking to Qin Xiaoyao. Her face was filled with admiration. Qin Xiaoyao wanted tough when she heard this. Talent without parallel? The representative work of the Immortal Poet was no doubt good enough to amaze the world. Alright, this was the first time she realized that her husband was quite thick-skinned. In order to make a name for himself, he actually giarized a poem. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled and replied, Mm-hmm. Its not bad. Naturally, she couldnt tell the truth. Only not bad? Princess Xiangyang said to Qin Xiaoyao in surprise. Master, your standards are so high she said with some disapproval. She felt that her master had really underestimated the Great Talent Song Rui this time. Upon seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at her precocious disciple. Er 1 was wrong. Song Ruis talent is indeed unparalleled, and this poem can be said to be peerless. It is good enough to be passed down to future generations, she said in a somewhat mocking tone. Princess Xiangyang didnt care about the mocking tone in Qin Xiaoyaos voice. Instead, she nodded in agreement. Such a good poem should indeed be passed down to future generations. This Song Rui is worthy of being our Great Jin States Poetry Saint. Qin Xiaoyao was astounded. Are you sure its the Poetry Saint and not the Immortal Poet? she muttered. Wine Toasting was the representative work of the Immortal Poet and had nothing to do with the Poetry Saint. Princess Xiangyangs eyes lit up. Immortal Poet? Yes, Song Rui should be the Immortal Poet! Only immortals can have such an elegant poetic talent! Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Er I was just joking, she said with some embarrassment. Princess Xiangyang looked at Qin Xiaoyao. No, Master, Youre right. This Mr. Song deserves to be called the Immortal Poet, she said solemnly. Qin Xiaoyao looked at her disciple again. She wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, she did not say anything more. Following that, within a few days, Song Ruis reputation as an Immortal Poet spread. As for how it came about, it was naturally thanks to the help of Qin Xiaoyaos good disciple. When her disciple entered the pce, she brought Song Ruis poem manuscript and presented it to Empress Jia and the Emperor as if it was a treasure. After Empress Jia and the Emperor read it, they naturally admired Song Ruis talent. They also felt that Song Rui was worthy of the title of Immortal Poet that their youngest daughter had mentioned. Thus, by this natural progression, Song Rui became the Great Jin States Immortal Poet. It was even acknowledged by the Emperor and Empress. At the same time, Song Rui was officially recognized by Empress Jia and the Emperor. When the final results of the talent recruitment examination were published and Song Rui came out tops, the Empress saw the rankings and thought even more highly of Song Rui. Not only did the Emperor and Empress both summon Song Rui into the pce, but Empress Jia also saw that Song Rui was indeed a good-looking talent. When she noticed that her youngest daughter especially admired him, she began to develop other thoughts. Empress Jia had actually known about Song Rui before this. After all, Minister Shen was her rtive. Minister Shen had rmended Song Rui to her before and had expressed his intention to let Song Rui marry into the Prime Ministers residence and take over his position in the future. She didnt think much of it back then After all, Minister Shen was not considered old. He would be able to hold the position of Prime Minister for at least another seven or eight years. It was not a big deal for him to want to nurture someone in advance. Once the person was nurtured, Minister Shen would have a capable assistant under him. And if he couldnt be nurtured, he could be reced at any time. Previously, she had guessed that Song Rui was not ordinary. Otherwise, he would not have caught Minister Shens attention. She did not expect this guy to be so extraordinary. There were a total of six examinations in the talent recruitment examination, and he actually came out on top in every round. She had seen his answer scripts before, and his answers in every round were amazing. And his poetic talent was even more stunning. If such a person did not be an official, he would still leave a memorable mark in history. Moreover, from his performance in the Ministry of Rites, this person was quite capable. If he were to embark on an officials career, he would definitely be able to aplish some achievements. What made her even more pleased was that Song Rui was extraordinarily handsome. Everyone loved to look at beautiful people. She felt her mood was even better when she spoke to such a handsome man. Such a good young man should be matched with her youngest daughter and be the emperors son-inw. For him to marry into the Shen familys residence and be a live-in son-inw was too unfair to him. At the thought of this, Empress Jia looked at Song Rui even more warmly. At the same time, Empress Jias gaze would asionally nce at her youngest daughter. This girl was staring at the young man so intently. She didnt even know how to exercise some restraint. At this moment, Princess Xiangyang was indeed staring nkly at Song Rui. It was not because the other party was too good-looking, but because she realized that Song Rui resembled Liu Ling, who lived in the Marquiss residence, too much. If she didnt look carefully, she would have thought that the two of them looked almost identical. Ahem Young Master Song, where do you live? Are you married? Empress Jia suddenly asked. As she spoke, she nced at Princess Xiangyang again. Song Rui was quite a few years older than her Xiangyang. However, it was normal for men to be older than women in marriage. Anyway, the other party was not that old. He could just wait for two more years until her Xiangyang grew older. With such good looks coupled with her pretty Xiangyang, in the future, their children would definitely look attractive. Unknowingly, Empress Jia had already thought very far ahead. Her youngest daughter deserved the best in the world Princess Xiangyang finally came back to her senses. When she saw her mother smiling at Song Que in a kindly manner, she finally realized that something was wrong. She wanted to stop her mother, but she couldnt find a chance to speak. Your Royal Highness, I am from Hua An Prefecture. After the faminest year the Prime Ministers residence helped me. Therefore, I am currently living in the Prime Ministers residence as a live-in guest of the Prime Minister, Song Rui replied respectfully. Then, he raised his head and looked at Empress Jia in awe before continuing, After the famine, I was the only one left in my family. Now, Im all alone. Empress Jia frowned. Then, did you have a wife before this? she continued. Her Xiangyang would not be someone elses second wife. As soon as she said this, not only Song Rui, but the Emperor and Princess Xiangyang also looked at Empress Jia. Song Rui was initially shocked, but he quickly regained hisposure. No, he replied. He gave the same answer to Minister Shen too.. Chapter 366 - 366: Peerless Poetic Talent Chapter 366: Peerless Poetic Talent Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Tran Only then did Empress Jia appear satisfied. She was about to continue speaking when Princess Xiangyang quickly interjected. Young Master Song is so talented. No wonder he caught Cousin Shen Rongs eye. Empress Jia immediately frowned when she heard that. Then, she looked at her daughter with a puzzled expression. Could this girl not tell that her mother was thinking of her interests? Why did she have to mention Shen Rong at this point? Song Ruis expression also froze momentarily. However, it was only a moment before his expression returned to normal. Your Highness must be making fun of me. Young Miss saved my life and introduced me to the Prime Ministers family. I am extremely grateful to her. Young Miss is beautiful and magnanimous. Your Highness must not take the rumors seriously. As soon as he said this, Empress Jias eyes instantly lit up. However, Princess Xiangyang was annoyed. What did this guy mean? When he saw that her mother had the intention to take him in as her son-inw, he did not even acknowledge his engagement with Cousin Shen Rong? To think that she had thought that his talent was unparalleled before. Why was his moral character so abominable? So, Young Master Song, you dont have any sweetheart? Empress Jia asked with a smile. The moment these words were uttered, everyone present was shocked. Even the Emperor turned to look at his beloved wife. Was it really good to ask so tantly? Empress Jia didnt take it seriously and continued to look at Song Rui with a smile. The more she looked at him, the more satisfied she was. Such a good young man should be matched with her Xiangyang. Song Ques expression stiffened for a moment before he cupped his hands at Empress Jia. Then, under Princess Xiangyangs disdainful gaze, he said to Empress Jia, Your lowly subject has a sweetheart. Princess Xiangyangs expression froze at once. As for Empress Jia, her previously smiling face instantly sank. Just as she was about to ask who the sweetheart was, Princess Xiangyang interrupted again. A woman who can win Young Master Songs love must be extraordinary. When she saw that everyone was looking at her, Xiangyang didnt feel awkward. Instead, she continued to say to Song Rui, Young Master Song s poetic talent is unparalleled. Today, the view of the imperial garden is magnificent. Why dont Young Master Songpose a poem and let Emperor Father, Empress Mother and me appreciate it together? The Emperor was the first to heave a sigh of relief. After all, he was worried and was not prepared to settle his youngest daughters marriage so hastily. Then, he turned to look at Empress Jia beside him. At this moment, the anger in Empress Jias eyes had dissipated quite a bit. As she couldnt read her youngest daughters mind, she was no longer in a hurry to ask about Song Ruis situation. Therefore, she nodded and expressed her desire to take a look at Song Ruis poetic talent. Empress Jias gaze swept around the imperial garden and finally stopped on a lovely peony in full bloom not far away. Lets use this peony as the theme, she said. Everyone looked at the peony and then at Song Rui with anticipation in their eyes. Song Rui also looked at the peony, and his mind started to spin rapidly. Then, he quickly bowed to Empress Jia and the Emperor. Thereafter, he got up and slowly walked toward rhe peony. As he walked, he recited, Common peony in yonder court is gorgeous but spineless, Lotus in the pond is pure but passionless. Only the tree peony is worthy of being the kingdoms beauty, During its blooming season, the whole capital is dazzled. As Song Rui recited the poem, everyones expressions kept changing. In particr, when they heard thest two sentences, Only the tree peony is worthy of being the kingdoms beauty, During its blooming season, the whole capital is dazzled, everyones eyes lit up. Excellent! What an excellent finale for the poem! Well said! After Empress Jia heard this poem, she even stood up and pped her hands. Among all the flowers, she loved tree peonies the most. Tree peonies were graceful and noble and considered the queen of flowers. Since ancient times, there had been many schrs who sang the praises of tree peonies, but Song Ruis version was the best. Song Rui humbly cupped his hands and bowed to Empress Jia, but did not reply. Young Master Song is indeed a peerless poet! With Young Master Song in our Great Jin State, the literary scene will flourish! Empress Jia looked at Song Rui with admiration. Only then did Song Rui reply, Your Royal Highness, you praise me too much. I dont deserve it. Ah, its not over-praising. With your talent in poetry, you deserve the title of Immortal Poet! Song Rui was stunned. Just as he was about to reply, Empress Jia had already changed the topic. She chose a new topic and bade Song Rui continue topose poems. Song Rui did so obligingly throughout andposed poems upon request readily. Every poem heposed was novel and of high quality, and Empress Jia thought even more highly of him after listening to his poems. Even the Emperor looked at Song Rui with admiration. The Emperor looked at his own youngest daughter again. Then he looked at Song Rui with renewed admiration. He subconsciously began to consider Empress Jias earlier intention. Perhaps, the Empresss idea was not that hasty. Such a talent was indeed worthy of their Xiangyang. Princess Xiangyang did not know what her Emperor father and Empress mother were thinking. As she listened to Song Ruipose poems, she asked someone to fetch a brush and ink. She personally recorded all of Song Ruis poems. When she returned, she had to show Young Master Songs poems to her Master. She wanted to let her master appreciate the literary talent of their Great Jin States Immortal Poet. The tea partysted for an entire afternoon without the participants realization. Princess Xiangyang recorded a total of twelve poems of different lengths. Without exception, every poem was good enough to amaze the world. After the tea party ended, Princess Xiangyang left the pce impatiently and rushed back to the Marquiss residence. Then, she excitedly took the poems she had recorded and went to look for Qin Xiaoyao. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao was enjoying the cool air in the courtyard. When she saw her precocious discipleing toward her with something in her hand, Qin Xiaoyao was a little curious. Thereafter, she heard from Princess Xiangyang about Song Ruis performance in the pce today and had some guesses in her heart. Her husband was indeed good at writing prose. He also had some talent for poetry writing. However, he was notparable to the great poets who had left their names in the annals of history in her previous life. Nheless, although it was difficult for him to produce a masterpiece, he had heard her recite many poems to him. Back then, in order to show her husband that she was a top student, she had recited many poems to him. She even asked him toe up with a question for her to recite the corresponding poem as an answer. Thanks to therge number of poems in her memory, her husband had noted down many good poems. If he really memorized all those poems, his knowledge would probably not be much worse than hers. For most of the questions, he should be able to find the corresponding poem to answer. Sure enough , after unfurling the papers that Princess Xiangyang brought back, Qin Xiaoyao saw the familiar poems. Under Princess Xiangyangs expectant gaze, she flipped through the entire stack of papers with the poems written on them. However, Qin Xiaoyao didnt show any surprise or shock. They are really good poems, right, Master? Princess Xiangyang was obviously disappointed when she saw Qin Xiaoyaos reaction. Nheless, she still posed her query to Qin Xiaoyao. Mm-hmm. They are indeed masterpieces, Qin Xiaoyao could only respond thus when she saw those poems. Of course, they were all masterpieces. However, the real author of these masterpieces was not her husband. Moreover, these poems were not written by one person Princess Xiangyang was a little disappointed when she saw Qin Xiaoyao s calm reaction. It urred to her immediately that since her master was a martial arts warrior, perhaps she did not understand the profundity of poetry or was not interested in poetry.. Chapter 367 - 367: To Each His Own Chapter 367: To Each His Own Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When she thought of this, Princess Xiangyang no longer fretted over Qin Xiaoyaos reaction. However, the way she looked at her master was filled with pity. It was unfortunate that while her master was unparalleled in martial arts, in the realm of literary aplishment, she was Qin Xiaoyao looked a little embarrassed when she saw Xiangyangs reaction. Ahem they are pretty good. I met this guy Young Master Song at the Ministry of Rites previously. Young Master Song is not only talented in literature, but he is also quite capable. In addition, he is also very handsome. When she said thest sentence, a smile had already crept across Qin Xiaoyaos face. Of course, her husband was handsome. Up until now, she had never seen anyone who was more good-looking than her husband. Princess Xiangyang nodded in agreement with Qin Xiaoyao. She had personally witnessed Song Ruis poetic talent. However, she had only heard about his performance at the Ministry of Rites from other people. When she entered the pce today, her mother had personally told her about it, so she understood it even more clearly. As for his looks Princess Xiangyang suddenly looked at Qin Xiaoyao as if she remembered something. I feel that Young Master Lius looks are not worse than his. She felt that it was a little against her conscience to say that Master Liu was more handsome than Song Rui. However, she honestly felt that Liu Lings looks were not inferior to Song Ruis. In the beginning, she was indeed biased against Liu Ling. However, after knowing the truth and having spent a long time with Liu Ling, observing how he handled things, not only did she not hate Liu Ling now, but she also admired him. If it wasnt for his poor background, Liu Ling could have relied on his own abilities to make a name for himself. Qin Xiaoyao was a little surprised. She did not expect Princess Xiangyang topare Liu Ling to her husband. However, when she thought of their simr appearances, she suddenly felt that it was not that strange anymore. You seem to think quite highly of Liu Ling, Qin Xiaoyao said with a meaningful look. In her heart, no one wasparable to her husband. Moreover, in terms of other tangible aspects, Liu Ling was indeed very much inferior to her husband. This girl Xiangyang actually said that Liu Ling was not inferior to her husband. She did not know if it was because her sense of aesthetics was different from others, or Xiangyangs expression stiffened. Master, dont misunderstand. I 1 didnt mean anything else. 1 simply felt that Liu Ling was quite good-looking. Moreover, he is very capable, she quickly exined. To her chagrin, her exnation only made the meaningful look in Qin Xiaoyaos eyes even stronger. You mean Liu Ling is more capable than Song Rui? Xiangyangs face turned red at once. Song Rui was indeed very capable, and he had made great contributions at the Ministry of Rites. Compared to Song Rui, Liu Lings ability in doing business seemed There was really noparison. Yet, for some reason, she still felt that Liu Ling was not inferior to Song Rui. When she saw that her master was still looking at her with that kind of meaningful gaze, a hint of guilt shed across Princess Xiangyangs heart. Gosh, Master! You know I dont mean that! Dont look at me like that! Hehe! When you say you dont mean that, what is that referring to? Qin Xiaoyao refused to let Princess Xiangyang off and continued to tease her. This girl had been quite close to Liu Ling recently. Could it be that she had really developed feelings for him at such a young age? Master! Princess Xiangyang protested in embarrassment. You refuse to talk seriously. 1 wont talk to you anymore! Then, she turned around and fled. Hahahaha Qin Xiaoyaos loudughter rang out from behind. Upon hearing thisughter, Princess Xiangyang became even more embarrassed and annoyed. She quickened her pace. In the end, she bumped into Liu Ling just as she left the courtyard. Lord Marquis Liu Ling was rushing into the courtyard hurriedly while calling out anxiously to Qin Xiaoyao. When he saw Princess Xiangyang walk out of the courtyard, he quickly stopped and prepared to rush toward Princess Xiangyang to pay his respects to her. Princess Xiangyangs face was flushed. She looked at Liu Ling with an evasive expression and then averted her eyes quickly. Then, without saying anything to Liu Ling, she ran away. Liu Lings bow froze in mid-air. The words that he wanted to say also froze on his tongue. Haha! Is it Young Master Liu? At this moment, Liu Ling heard Qin Xiaoyaos voiceing from the courtyard. Liu Ling, who was initially puzzled by Princess Xiangyangs reaction, instantly recovered himself. Yes, it is I, he shouted toward the courtyard. Thereafter, he quickly walked into the courtyard. After entering the courtyard, Liu Ling saw Qin Xiaoyao sitting on a recliner under the shade of a tree. Liu Ling hurried forward and reported the workshops work progress to Qin Xiaoyao. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao learn that the workshop had received another big order today. Ive approved the recruitment of new staff. In addition, an additional twenty workers is too little. Just go and procure another hundred workers. It doesnt matter if you get more workers. We can inform the broker to keep a look out for us while we slowly pick the right candidate. Previously, Yun Niang mentioned that a guy called Landlord Zheng was interested in selling a manor in the suburbs. Its just that the price is a little too expensive. Hes asking for 8ooo taels of silver. After you go back, take stock of the money collected from the porridge shops and the workshop and see how much you can withdraw. If you can gather 5000 taels, I will go and buy that manor. Later on, well move the century egg workshop to that manor. In this way, there was no need to worry about not being able to amodate so many workers. Moreover, the manor was big and came with some opennd. After buying it, she could arrange for the workers to stay there and let them farm and raise poultry and such. They would be self-sufficient. Liu Lings eyes flickered. Theres no need to take stock. Last night, 1 checked the ounts and found that there are more than 5500 taels of excess silver that can be used, he said. The reason the century egg workshop and the porridge shops could umte so much silver in a short time was firstly, the deposits from therge orders that the century egg workshop received had been received. Secondly, the ie from the customers who applied for membership cards in the porridge shops was quite substantial. This was especially true of the ie from the membership fees. Even though it didnt cost much to set up a membership ount, the number of people who signed up was enormous. Once the number of people increased, the membership fees collected would not be a small amount. Liu Ling also received a lot of deposits for the century egg workshop. Forrge orders, he took 50% of the other partys payment straightaway, and for small orders, he took at least 30%. As for delivering the other partys goods, he was not able to arrange order fulfillment for most of them because the workshop was short of manpower. Even if he used up the deposits, he had calcted that the remaining money in the ount was enough to purchase the two raw materials since chicken eggs and duck eggs were cheap. Moreover, the century egg workshop was delivering arge number of goods to the outside world every day. Uponpleting the delivery, he would receive the remaining payment. As the profits from the century egg business were huge, the money received could then be used to buy the two main ingredients, which were chicken and duck eggs, again. If the funds allocated for specific purposes were used as designated, it would not be long before a new surplus would appear in the ounts. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. So much? She was a little surprised. Liu Ling nodded. Its not a problem to take out 5000 taels. Except that we may have to slow down on opening new porridge shops. After all, they only had this amount of funds. If he took care of this end, there wouldnt be enough funds for the other side. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Lets buy the manor first. Clothes, food, amodation, and transportation are all expensive in the city. Moving the workshop to the manor earlier can save a lot of money.. Chapter 368 - 368: Minister Shen’s Thoughts Chapter 368: Minister Shens Thoughts Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Also, we also need a ce to settle our workers in advance. It will save me the trouble of having to buy workers at thest minute every time 1 need extra hands in the future. Even if they used a brokerage in the capital, it was not always possible to get a suitable worker every time. Yes, Lord Marquis, Liu Ling answered. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Ling again and suddenly recalled what her precocious disciple had said earlier. Do you know Song Rui? she suddenly asked. She didnt pay much attention to it before, but now that she thought about it, Liu Ling and her husband did look too simr. Liu Ling was startled. When he saw Qin Xiaoyaos eyes fluctuate, he quickly regained hisposure. Is it that Young Master Song from the Prime Ministers residence? he asked Qin Xiaoyao. Only then did the suspicion in Qin Xiaoyaos heart dissipate. Mm-hmm, she replied. That person has been very famous recently. Ive naturally heard of him. As he spoke, a smile appeared on Liu Lings face. I heard that Young Master Song is not only very talented but also very handsome. Unfortunately, 1, Liu Ling, am not fated to meet him. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Liu Ling again before retracting her gaze. Youll have the chance to meet him sooner orter. Ignoring Liu Lings surprised expression, Qin Xiaoyao changed the topic. Continue to keep an eye on the workshop and put in extra effort for the next few days. When the manor has been purchased and the workshop is moved over, arrange for people to guard the manor. At that juncture, you can take some time off to work on the expansion of the porridge shop. Yes, Lord Marquis, Liu Ling answered again. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She chatted with Liu Ling about the business before allowing him to leave. At this moment, in the study in the Prime Ministers residence. As soon as Minister Shen returned to the residence, he summoned Song Rui to the study for a chat. After Song Rui arrived, he bowed respectfully to Minister Shen. However, this time, Minister Shen was not as enthusiastic as before and did not allow Song Rui to straighten up. The atmosphere in the study was very tense. Minister Shens displeasure was particrly obvious at this point. Song Rui remained calm and maintained his bowed posture, but his expression did not change. After an unknown amount of time, when Song Rui felt his waist and legs go numb and he could barely hold on, Minister Shen finally spoke. No need for formalities. Song Ruis eyes flickered. He put down his cupped hands and straightened up. Thank you, my lord! he replied calmly. Minister Shen nced at Song Rui and saw that his expression was normal. A sense of admiration welled up in his heart. However, the more this was the case, the more he could not suppress the anger in his heart. Today, the Emperor and the Empress summoned you. Do you know what the Empress is thinking? Minister Shen quickly asked. He did not expect that the Empress would also take a fancy to the person he had taken a fancy to. Moreover, she wanted to snatch his man and give him to Princess Xiangyang as her prospective marriage partner. If it was just someone he thought highly of, and the Empress took a fancy to himter, not only would he not stop her, he would even offer that person up with both hands. However, he really liked Song Rui. Ronger was his only daughter, and he wanted Song Rui to marry into his family so that he could raise him as his son. This was to pave the way for him to inherit everything in the Prime Ministers residence and uphold the glory of the Shen family. He was prepared to entrust the future of the Shen family to Song Rui. How could he let go of such a person so easily? However, this matter concerned the Empress. If Song Rui was tempted, he would have to let go even if he didnt want to. What annoyed him was that after the Empresss interference today, his authority to suppress and control Song Rui had undoubtedly weakened. Previously, he had the absolute advantage, and Song Rui could only rely on him if he wanted to stand out. And he was willing to let Song Rui marry into the Shen family and take their family name. It could be considered a great gift to Song Rui, and also the best way for him to rise to the top and enter the Imperial Court as an official. However, now, the Empress had also extended an olive branch to Song Rui. Now that his future son-inw Song Ruis reputation was already known, and he was also favored by the Empress, if he really joined the Empresss camp, the Shen familys residence would really be helpless. Not only would he be helpless, but if Song Rui really became the son-inw of the Empress, he would probably have to show that guy a fair amount of respect. At the thought of this possibility, Minister Shen became more and more irritated, and even felt a little disgusted. When had he, Shen Ming, ever helped other people achieve their aspirations without gaining any benefits for himself? Song Ruis eyes flickered, and he quickly cupped his hands and bowed to Minister Shen again. I have some guesses. However, I dont dare to think too much about it, he said in a neither servile nor overbearing manner. Minister Shens eyes became stern. Ill allow you to think too much. What are you going to do? When he asked this question, Minister Shens eyes had already narrowed. Song Rui paused. Then, he raised his head to look at Minister Shen before lowering his head again. Following that, he cupped his hands and said, Ive already expressed my feelings to the Empress. My heart already belongs to someone else. This was clearly a rejection. His heart indeed belonged to someone else. He only had his wife in his heart, and his heart and eyes were upied by that woman. However, when these words reached Minister Shens ears, he simply assumed that guy was referring to his own daughter. The reason he took a fancy to Song Rui was not only because of his ability but also because his daughter treated Song Rui differently from other men. His daughter was famous for her talent. Even though she was engaged to the Meng family previously, the engagement waster annulled by him. In spite of this, with the powerful influence of the Prime Ministers residence, there were still many families who wanted to propose marriage to his daughter. However, none of those families caught his eye, and he did not n to let his daughter marry out of the family. He and his wife had mentioned the matter of taking in a live-in son-inw to his daughter before, but his daughter had always been pining for that fellow Meng Xuan. His wife had arranged many young masters from reputable families for her, but she didnt take a fancy to any of them. On the contrary, she kept begging them to help her reunite with Meng Xuan. Of course, he wouldnt allow that. It was under such circumstances that Song Rui appeared next to his daughter. Although this persons family background wasnt good, he was very talented and skillful in handling things. Most importantly, his daughter didnt reject this person. In fact, she treated him differently from the other men. Although he was not a woman, he believed that a person like Song Rui could easily capture a womans heart if he had the intention. He was already prepared to find a husband for his daughter. The Prime Ministers residence was rich and powerful, so there was no need for a live-in son-inw to have an influential background. It was even better if the son-inw had a lower social status. It was more convenient for him to control the son-inw. With him watching from the side, he was not afraid that his son-inw would rebel. After meeting Song Rui, he actually had such thoughts. After a few rounds of probing and discovering Song Ruis talent, he was even more tempted. Therefore, when his wife came to him to talk about this matter, he consented immediately. He even allowed his wife to talk to Song Rui about marrying into his family. After receiving an affirmative answer, he began to pave the way for Song Rui and groomed him as his future son-inw. However, he did not expect that Song Rui would not only develop very well but even exceeded his expectations. In the end, the Empress suddenly intervened. Fortunately, Song Rui still had feelings for his Ronger and had politely rejected the Empress. When he thought of this, Minister Shens expression became more rxed. Princess Xiangyang is still young. The Empress only had such thoughts in a fit of excitement. You mustnt take it seriously, Minister Shen said. Yes, my lord, Song Rui replied respectfully. When Minister Shen saw Song Ruis reaction, he was pleased. Ronger is devoted to you, and I also treat you as my son.. Chapter 369 - 369: Mrs. Shen’s Change in Attitude Chapter 369: Mrs. Shens Change in Attitude Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion After the two of you get married, I will do my best to nurture you. Its not difficult for you to rise to the top and even enter the Imperial Court, Minister Shen said as he handed Song Rui some sweet dates to eat. After all, things were different now. Song Rui was no longer the lowlymoner he used to be. Song Rui raised his head and looked at Prime Minister Shen, and a hint of excitement shed across his eyes. Thank you, my lord! he said gratefully. Minister Shen smiled. He stepped forward and patted Song Ruis shoulder. Were all family. Theres no need to be so polite. Mistress and Ronger are very happy that youvee out tops in this talent recruitment exam. I will get the residence to prepare a good meal. Tonight, you can stay back in the front hall and eat with us. Song Rui looked at Minister Shen again and cupped his hands in deference. A satisfied expression swept over Minister Shens face. Mistress and Ronger are waiting for you in the backyard. You can go over first and talk to them, he continued. His wife was not very satisfied with Song Rui previously. She felt that this young man was not worthy of their daughter. However, after learning that this young man had caught the Empresss attention, she became even more anxious than he was. Now, it was also good to let him go over and talk to his wife. It could be considered as winning over their future son-inw. A trace of surprise shed across Song Ruis eyes. Following that, he answered, Yes, my lord. Then, under Minister Shens satisfied gaze, he left the study. Thereafter, he headed to the backyard. When he arrived at the backyard, Mrs. Shen and Shen Rong were already waiting. This time, Mrs. Shens attitude had changed greatlypared to her earlier attitude. She was no longer arrogant toward Song Rui. Instead, she was more affectionate. Young Master Song, your achievement this time is worthy of celebration. If Ronger hadnte to inform me, 1 wouldnt have known that Young Master Song had actually be the top schr. Mrs. Shens face was full of smiles. When she said this, she turned her gaze from Song Rui to her own daughter. Shen Rong was a little shy and embarrassed. She quickly avoided her mothers gaze. Even if I dont tell you, you will find out sooner orter, Mother. Young Master Songs reputation has risen rapidly. His name has spread among the people of the capital, Shen Rong replied. At the same time, she had a renewed admiration for Song Rui. Young Master Song was indeed very talented. Not only did he get first ce in the talent recruitment examination, but his poetry talent was also even more peerless. She had read all of his poems. They could only be described as stunning. It was a pity that her Meng Xuan did not have that kind of talent, and his poetry was not stunning enough. Due to her fathers interference, he didnt even get to enter the talent recruitment examination. When Mrs. Shen heard this, her eyes lit up with interest. Oh? Her gaze shifted from her daughter back to Song Rui. Song Rui bowed. Surely Young Misss words are an overstatement, he said humbly. When Mrs. Shen heard this, the smile on her face became even wider. Its not an overstatement, she replied with a smile before Shen Rong could speak. Ronger has already shown the poems you wrote to me and the Master. All of them are excellent works. Especially that Wine Toasting. It was written with so much grace and elegance. When Master read it, he was full of praise for you. It was indeed good. After reading it, she could not help but feel passionate and wanted to look for someone to have a drink with. Previously, when the Master and her daughter had taken a liking to Song Rui, she felt that she did not quite approve of him. Now, just based on that poem entitled Wine Toasting, Song Rui was now worthy of Ronger. Song Rui nced at Shen Rong and bowed to Mrs. Shen again. Ive embarrassed myself in front of the Prime Minister and Mistress, he said humbly. When she saw Song Ruis attitude, Mrs. Shen was even more pleased with him. I say! How can such a masterpiece be an embarrassment? Dont just stand there. Come here and sit down. Lets sit down and chat. Tell me. How did youe up with this Wine Toasting poem? Yes, Mistress, Song Rui replied respectfully and sat down opposite Shen Rong. As soon as he sat down, he met Shen Rongs gaze. When he saw the worry in Shen Rongs eyes, Song Rui gave her a reassuring look. Only then did Shen Rong feel much more at ease. Thereafter, Mrs. Shen showed great enthusiasm and kept talking to Song Rui. She asked him how heposed the poem and even gave Song Rui a question, asking him topose a poem as an answer on the spot. Fortunately, Song Rui had many poems stored in his mind, so he was able to handle it with ease. After some interaction, Mrs. Shen and Shen Rong had a better understanding of Song Ruis poetic talent. Not surprisingly, Mrs. Shen found her future son-inw more and more pleasing to the eye. Shen Rong was even more amazed by Song Ruis talent. In the evening, the Shen family and Song Rui had dinner together. During this meal, Minister Shen and Mrs. Shen were very enthusiastic toward Song Rui. Song Rui also handled it well. He didnt get carried away just because Minister Shen and his wife showed so much enthusiasm for him. Instead, he remained neither servile nor overbearing. However, it was precisely this attitude that caught the attention of Minister Shen and his wife. Thus, the more they looked at Song Rui, the more satisfied they were. After dinner, everyone dispersed. Shen Rong, who had a lot on her mind, left first, followed by Minister Shen, and Song Rui was the third to leave. However, before he could return to his courtyard, he was stopped by Shen Rongs maidservant. Young Master Song, our Young Miss is over there. She wants to talk to you, the maidservant stated her intention outright. She was the Young Misss personal maid and had grown up with the Young Miss. She knew everything about the Young Miss. Naturally, she also knew about the Young Misss rtionship with Young Master Song and Young Master Meng. Young Miss and Young Master Song had always been tonic friends. It wasnt like what the Master and Mistress thought whereby she had feelings for Young Master Song. The only person that Young Miss had fallen in love with all the while was Young Master Meng. Moreover, now, Young Miss and Young Master Meng had even Sigh! In short, only Young Master Meng could be their familys son-inw. As for Young Master Song, he was also aware of the rtionship between Young Miss and Young Master Meng. He had even covered up for the two of them. However, now, Young Master Song had already won first ce in the talent recruitment examination and could be considered to have passed the test that the Master and Mistress had set for him. Now that the Master and Mistress were about to decide on the marriage between Song Rui and Young Miss, how could Young Miss not be anxious? Song Rui looked around and nodded after making sure there was no one around. Lead the way, he said in a low voice. Mm-hmm! the maidservant quickly answered. Then, she led Song Rui forward and he saw Shen Rong waiting under the tree. Shen Rong, who had been a little anxious, calmed down after seeing Song Rui. Lier, go and stand guard over there, Shen Rong spoke quickly. The maidservant nodded and did not continue forward. Instead, she turned around and went to the intersection not far away. Song Rui did not pay her any attention and walked up to Shen Rong. Then, he cupped his hands at Shen Rong. Young Miss. Young Master Song, no need to stand on ceremony. I was anxious to see you because of the marriage proposal that Father and Mother had mentioned to you, Shen Rong said straightaway. Young Master Song, you told me to calm down previously. You said that the talent recruitment examination is also an opportunity for Young Master Meng. But now, because of my fathers interference, Young Master Meng couldnt even enter the examination hall. You, however, came out tops in the talent recruitment examination Shen Rong did not continue. However, her expression indicated she was clearly displeased.. Chapter 370 - 370: Shen Rong Was Pregnant Chapter 370: Shen Rong Was Pregnant Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon BoatTrar Of course, she was displeased, even though she believed that Song Rui was the top scorer because of his own ability. However, the Prime Minister s residence also contributed a lot. At the very least, her father had arranged for people to spread the poems that Song Rui wrote. Song Ruirs rise to fame in the past two days was due in no small part to the help rendered by the Prime Ministers residence. However, when she thought about how her Meng Xuan couldnt even participate in the exam, much less get a ranking, she was very resentful. Why did Father have to go against the Meng family and insist on making things difficult for Meng Xuan? Meng Xuan was very talented. If he could participate in this talent recruitment examination, he would definitely be able to get a good ranking! Everything that happened was too unfair! Song Rui nced at Shen Rong and cupped his hands at her. I didnt expect the Prime Minister to arrange for someone to stand guard outside the examination hall. It was my oversight. But now that the talent recruitment examination has ended, the oue cannot be changed. Im afraid Young Miss and Young Master Meng can only make other ns. Shen Rungs expression changed at once. What other ns? If he cant participate in the talent recruitment examination, how can he embark on an officials career? she asked in a tense voice. That was right. She was angry with the person in front of her. Just before the talent recruitment examination, she had already discovered that she was pregnant. At that point, after discussing with Meng Xuan, her original n was to confess to her father. She hoped that her father would ept Meng Xuan for the sake of the child in her tummy. However, after the person in front of her found out about this, he dissuaded her. Song Rui told them to wait until after the talent recruitment examination when Meng Xuan got a good ranking before telling her father the news. At that point, the possibility of her father epting Meng Xuan would be even greater. And he would also not punish her too much. She and Meng Xuan believed in Song Rui wholeheartedly, so they agreed to his n. However, the result was that her Meng Xuan couldnt even enter the examination hall. Song Rui, on the other hand, had used her fathers influence to be the top scorer in the examination. Now, he had be a famous figure in the capitals literary world. At this moment, not only her father, but her mother had also changed her attitude towards Song Rui. She couldnt help but worry if Song Rui had other thoughts about her or the Prime Ministers residence. Song Ruis expression did not change when he heard Shen Rongs words. Based on the current situation, as long as the Prime Minister is around, Young Master Meng will not be able to make a name for himself. When he saw Shen Rong looking at him, Song Rui continued, Previously, in order to allow Young Master Meng to sessfully take the examination, I have done everything that I should and shouldnt have done. The Prime Minister wasntpletely unaware. Shen Rong was surprised. Song Rui sighed and continued, Actually, on the first day of the talent recruitment examination, the Prime Minister summoned me to the study and told me about Young Master Meng. Shen Rongs face turned pale. At that time, the Prime Minister warned me not to get involved in Young Master Mengs matters anymore.11 And he even said What else did he say? Shen Rong asked anxiously. Song Rui looked at Shen Rong awkwardly. He even said that if 1 continued to get involved, something might happen to Young Master Meng. Moreover, even without me, Young Master Meng would still not be able to be the Prime Ministers son-inw. Shen Rongs body suddenly swayed. Song Rui reached out with his hand, and she evade his touch slightly to stabilize herself. Song Rui withdrew his hand and looked at Shen Rong worriedly. For the sake of Young Master Mengs safety, and also my fear that you would act impulsively if you found out about this, I only told Young Master Meng about this matter. Shen Rongs expression changed immediately. Meng Xuan knows Her voice sounded a little hoarse when she uttered thest word. No wonder when Meng Xuan missed the exam, he kept telling her not to act rashly and even told her to listen to Song Rui. So, this was the reason? Not only did Father harm the entire Meng family, but he also wanted to make a move on Meng Xuan now? Song Rui nodded with a troubled look. Shen Rong stumbled again. She held onto the trunk of a big tree beside her and stabilized herself again. Song Rui looked on worriedly. Young Miss, you should take care of yourself. Even if its not for your own sake, you have to take care of He looked at Shen Rongs lower abdomen as he spoke. Shen Rongs expression changed drastically, and she subconsciously covered her abdomen with her hand. Following that, she looked at Song Rui in disbelief. You are aware she said with some panic. Only Li er and Meng Xuan knew that she was pregnant. Lier would never tell Song Rui the secret. So, Meng Xuan told Song Rui about this? This matter concerned her reputation and chastity! Meng Xuan actually trust this person to this extent? Song Rui nodded. Young Master Meng is my good friend. Since he trusts me, you can trust me too, Young Miss, he said sincerely. Shen Rongs expression froze momentarily. When he saw this, Song Ruis expression rxed a little. Furthermore, Young Miss has saved my life and helped me. 1 am grateful and I just want to repay you. Shen Rong looked at Song Rui for a moment before finally nodding. I lost myposure just now. Ive embarrassed myself in front of you. Young Master Song. However, Song Ruis expression was gentle. Young Miss, you are just anxious. Its understandable, he replied. Shen Rong smiled in embarrassment. Then, she asked anxiously, Since Meng Xuan trusts you, Young Master Song, 1 will trust you too. In your opinion, what should Meng Xuan and 1 do next? Her father had already said that he was going to endanger Meng Xuans life. Right now, she had to be extremely careful when she acted. Song Rui looked at Shen Rong. Under Shen Rongs anxious gaze, he was silent for a moment. After hesitating for awhile, he finally spoke. Actually, I have been thinking about this for the past few days. Well? Shen Rong quickly asked. It was as if she had grabbed onto a life-saving buoy. Song Rui hesitated again. Just as Shen Rong was about to ask again, he finally said, Before 1 tell you my n, 1 would like to ask you a question. Young Miss. What is it? Shen Rong frowned. Are you truly sincere in your feelings toward Young Master Meng? Shen Rong became furious. Or should I say, how devoted is Young Miss toward Young Master Meng? If Young Master Meng is unable to be an official in this lifetime and can only be an ordinary person, and in fact, he might even live a very miserable life, are you still willing to follow Young Master Meng? Whats more, after Young Miss leaves with Young Master Meng, you will never be able to see the Prime Minister and Mistress again. Are you still willing to follow him, Young Miss? Song Rui continued. Shen Rongs expression changed drastically. She thought for a while. Im willing. As long as I can be with Meng Xuan, I can give up all the fame and fortune. As she spoke, Shen Rong caressed her belly. As for Father and Mother, Father is the Prime Minister and holds a high position with great power. Mother has Father to take care of her. Even if Im not by their side, they can still live well As for Meng Xuan, he had only her and the child. She could not abandon him. Song Ruis eyes flickered. Shen Rongs decision was just as he and Meng Xuan had expected. Then, he told Shen Rong about his n. Shen Rong was shocked after listening to him. Will this really work? she said with some doubt. Song Rui nodded. This is the strategy I thought of after much consideration.. Chapter 371 - 371: Eating and Living Very Well Chapter 371: Eating and Living Very Well Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion If Young Miss is agreeable, you can discuss it with Young Master Meng first. If you are not agreeable, you can pretend that 1 never mentioned this matter, Song Rui said. He looked like he was thinking of Shen Rongs interests. A hint of internal struggle shed across Shen Rongs face. Ill discuss it with Meng Xuan before giving you an answer, Young Master Song, she then said. Song Rui was right. Her father was already prepared to make a move on Meng Xuan. The capital was also filled with her fathers spies. If they stayed in the capital, Meng Xuan could be in danger at any time. Since things had already progressed to the stage where Meng Xuan would have no chance to embark on an officials career as long as her father was alive, there would be little meaning for them to continue staying in the capital. It would be better to make a clean break surreptitiously and go as far as the horizon permitted. As she mulled over this, a wave of determination swept over Shen Rongs heart. So what if she left the capital? As long as she could be with Meng Xuan, her days would be happy. Mm-hmm, Song Rui responded as he looked at Shen Rongs expression. He knew in his heart that his n was already 80%plete. After all, Meng Xuan trusted him more than Shen Rong. Moreover, he had already discussed this matter with Meng Xuan. After making up her mind, Shen Rong looked at Song Rui with a kinder expression that was even tinged with a little gratitude. Meng Xuan and I thank you, Young Master Song. As she spoke, she bowed to Song Rui respectfully. Dont mention it, Young Miss. Leaving the capital is not exactly a good idea for you, Young Miss. I still hope that Young Miss can think twice before acting. Song Rui looked at Shen Rong as he spoke. Shen Rong was taken aback. Song Rui was staring at her and she almost fell into a daze. However, she quickly regained her senses and averted her eyes. I 111 give you an answer after discussing it with Meng Xuan, she said in a flustered manner. Why was Song Rui looking at her like that? Was he interested in her? So he was hoping that she would stay? If there was nothing between her and Meng Xuan and she was not pregnant, perhaps Just as she had this thought, Shen Rong quickly stopped herself. There was no perhaps. She was already Meng Xuans woman. In this life, she could only apany Meng Xuan for the rest of her life. No matter how good Song Rui was or how talented he was, he was not suitable for her. Fortunately, her Meng Xuan was not bad either. As long as she could be with Meng Xuan, in the future, the two of them would be able to live like a couple with mutual respect, and she would stay by his side as he studied. They would be able to lead the life of a perfectlypatible and harmonious couple When she thought of this, the trace of regret in Shen Rongs heart was quickly quelled. She was even more determined to elope with Meng Xuan and leave the capital. Song Rui nodded and didntpel her anymore. After saying a few more words to Shen Rong, he left. Shen Rong watched Song Rui leave. After he had moved far away and her maidservant had returned, she went back to her courtyard together with her maidservant. Over the next few days, as Song Ruis new poems spread out in the pce, his reputation as an Immortal Poet was reinforced. Countless schrs in the capital were proud of being able to memorize Song Ruis poems. When they went out on gatherings, they would talk about Song Rui. Meanwhile, Song Rui, who was staying in the Prime Ministers residence, also received various invitations to poetry recitals. There was even a visiting card from a great schr. For a while, there were countless people who wanted to meet Song Rui. At this point, Song Rui was holed up in the small courtyard dwelling, having a wonderful time with his beautiful wife. Over the past few days, as the Pce and the Prime Ministers residence kept adding fuel to the fire, Song Ruis fame was second to none in the capital. Meng Xuan and Shen Rong had already agreed to Song Ruis suggestion. At this moment, Song Rui was in high spirits due to the series of happy events and everything going smoothly. As for Qin Xiaoyao, she had just bought the manor on the outskirts of the capital yesterday. With her first official business established in the capital, the woman was in a very good mood. Early this morning, Liu Ling brought some workers to the manor to settle everything. After they clean up the manor, Ill move the century egg workshop there. Not only will we save on the rent of the house, but we can also amodate more workers. Qin Xiaoyao was smiling brightly. From now on, there will only be a sales department left in the city. If the customers want to pick up the goods, they have to go directly to the manor. Separating the sales and the workshop will also prevent others from taking advantage of any loophole and leaking out the recipe. When he saw his wifes smug look, Song Rui was in a good mood and kissed her on the forehead. Based on this momentum, you will probably be rich very soon, my dear. He was quick to grovel at her feet. Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased when she heard him. She stretched out a finger and lifted Song Ruis chin. Of course. When Im rich, my hubby will be able to eat and live well with me! she said magnanimously. Song Rui smiled in amusement. He pulled the mischievous woman into his arms. Alright. When my wife is rich, your husband will obediently warm your bed. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes darkened instantly. Why wait After saying that, she pounced on him. By the time the two of them left, it was already evening. After eating the dinner prepared by Granny Hu, the two of them left the courtyard one after another. The difference was that Song Rui rubbed his waist several times when he left, whereas Qin Xiaoyao was very lively and her face was filled with expressions of love and passion. Another three days passed. The hiring results for the candidates who passed the talent recruitment examination were announced. Many of Qin Xiaoyaos soldiers had obtained official positions through the martial examination. The four Huang brothers and her big brother were all among them. It was unknown if Empress Jia was intentionally taking care of them, but the four Huang brothers and Qin Dahu were all assigned to the army under Qin Xiaoyaosmand. Qin Xiaoyao was very satisfied upon learning of the result. That night, she went to Cloud Scent Court and booked a few tables. After drinking to her hearts content with her subordinates, she returned to her residence. As for the literary examination, Song Ruis performance was outstanding. Coupled with the support from the Prime Ministers residence and Empress Jia, he entered the Ministry of Appointments straightaway and became a sixth-grade official. Once this appointment was announced, it caused anothermotion. The sharp-eyed officials had already noticed the difference in this new official from the Ministry of Appointments. For a while, not only were the schrs flocking to Song Rui, but there was also an endless stream of courtiers who wanted to get close to Song Rui. After another three days, the Prime Ministers residence finally sent out news. Prime Minister Shen announced that the newly appointed official of the Ministry of Appointments would be marrying into his family, and he would be giving the hand of his only daughter to Song Rui. Once the news came out, there was a new topic to talk about in the capital. Some people felt that Song Rui was both talented and capable, but in order to rise in society, he actually agreed to marry into the Prime Ministers family, thereby giving up his dignity. There were also people who felt that a real man should know when to give and take, so it was fine for him to marry into the Prime Ministers family. After all, the Prime Minister only had that one daughter. After marrying into the family, although Song Rui was a live-in son-inw, Prime Minister Shen would definitely groom him as his sessor. In the future, after Prime Minister Shens death, the world would be Song Ruis oyster. At that point, what did it matter if he married into the family? Song Rui would have the world at his feet. Song Rui didnt care about thements from outsiders. At this moment, the only person he was worried about was Qin Xiaoyao. That was right. Qin Xiaoyao had also heard the news. Back then, Princess Xiangyang had rushed into Qin Xiaoyaos courtyard happily and told her about it. Then, her initially good mood instantly turned gloomy. She ignored Princess Xiangyang who was talking enthusiastically, stood up, and left the Marquiss residence with a long face.. Chapter 372 - 372: Bringing Forward The Plan Chapter 372: Bringing Forward The n Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Where did she go? Of course, it was the small courtyard house where she and Song Rui often met up. Not long after Qin Xiaoyao went to the small courtyard house, Song Rui received a message from Granny Hu. After learning why his wife was so anxious to see him, Song Rui sighed in his heart. After packing up, he went to meet up with her. In the small courtyard, Song Rui had just arrived when Qin Xiaoyao pulled him into their room. Then, before the man could exin, he was dragged away by Qin Xiaoyao for a workout session. Song Rui could feel his wifes nervousness and urgency, so he was very obliging and responded enthusiastically. When everything was over, he endured his fatigue and pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his arms. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyaos irritable mood had calmed down a lot, and her expression also softened. However, she still remained silent and did not speak. Song Rui couldnt bear it anymore and reached out to pinch her face. Are you jealous? Didnt I already exin it to you before? Getting engaged to Shen Rong is just a stop-gap measure. Your husband has already made arrangements. In the end, I wont really marry Shen Rong. He had indeed made arrangements. When the time was right, he would let Shen Rong and Meng Xuan fake their deaths and escape. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Rui expressionlessly. It was obvious that she was still angry. If you were in my shoes if you see me getting engaged to another man, and well even have a wedding soon, how will you feel? she replied. Song Rui was stunned momentarily. When he thought of that scene, his face immediately darkened. When Qin Xiaoyao saw this, the corners of her lips finally lifted, but it was a scornful smile. See? You cant ept it either, can you? In the past, she thought that she could love her husband more and be more amodating toward him. It wasnt until this incident that she realized that she couldnt do it. She would also be calctive and hope that her husband would give her the same amount of love. She hoped that her husband would cherish their rtionship and not let their feelings be caught up in any schemes or political machinations. In reality, she believed her husband when he said that he would arrange everything and not marry Shen Rong. However, she was still worried and terrified. Moreover, she felt disgusted. Song Rui was silent. Qin Xiaoyaos heart softened again. Is revenge really that important? If we abandon everything Before she could finish speaking, Song Ruis gaze stopped her. In just a moment, the look in Song Ruis eyes softened again. He patted Qin Xiaoyaos back and said in a low voice, Its not that I have to take revenge. Its just that you and I are already in a quagmire and cant get out. Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback. She seemed to have caught something in her mind, but at the same time, she seemed to have caught nothing at all. Song Rui did not exin further. Instead, he promised her, Give me five more days. I will definitely resolve Shen Rongs matter. When she saw his husbands solemn expression, Qin Xiaoyao could not help but feel a little guilty. Are five days enough? she could not help but ask in a low voice. At this moment, she actually felt some regret. She felt that her words just now were actually a little willful. Her husband was in a perilous predicament in the Prime Ministers residence. He had already arranged Shen Rongs matters beforehand, but now he had to change his ns because of her. If this caused her husband to fall into danger, what should she do? The more she thought about it, the more worried she became. Qin Xiaoyao wanted to tell him to drop the idea. However, Song Rui simply smiled. He patted Qin Xiaoyaos back again. Its enough. Previously, I didnt give enough consideration to you. Dont worry. I will settle this matter within five days. His wife was right. If the roles were reversed, he would not be able to stand watching his beloved get engaged to another man. His wife had already suffered so much for him. How could he let her continue to worry? He had already made arrangements for Shen Rong and Meng Xuan. All that was missing now was an opportunity. Previously, he had set the implementation date to be the day he and Shen Rong got married. Now, he was just bringing forward the timing. After all, he had already entered the Ministry of Appointments and Prime Minister Shen had already taken him under his wing. Since it did not affect anything to send Shen Rong and Meng Xuan off earlier, then he would do so earlier. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Rui and hesitated for a moment before nodding. She indeed did not want her husband to continue to be the future son-inw of the Shen familys residence. After leaving the courtyard house and returning to the Prime Ministers residence, Song Rui went about implementing his n. Soon, he found time to meet Shen Rong and Meng Xuan. Meng Xuan was fine with the new arrangement and quickly agreed to cooperate with Song Ruis n. However, Shen Rong was a little hesitant. Are we going to take action in three days? Isnt it a little too fast? She thought that she had already made up her mind to go far away with Meng Xuan no matter what happened. Yet when things had finally progressed to this stage, she became a little afraid. She was afraid that something would go wrong with the n and that she would really sever all ties with her father. Things may change if we dy. The Prime Minister may attack Young Master Meng at any time. The sooner we act, the safer Young Master Meng will be, Song Rui said in a low voice. Shen Rongs expression changed at once. Didnt 1 already agree to the marriage? Father still wants to take action against Meng Xuan? Song Rui frowned. Its precisely because Young Miss agreed to the marriage that Young Master Meng is in more danger. As he looked at Shen Rong, Song Rui continued, Only bypletely cutting off Young Misss extraneous thoughts will Young Miss get married wholeheartedly. The Prime Minister can then protect the reputation of the Prime Ministers residence. Song Rui then looked at Shen Rongs tummy. Moreover, with Young Misss condition, its not appropriate to continue dying. Shen Rong shrank back and subconsciously reached out to cover her tummy. Panic shed across her eyes. Then, she calmed herself down and raised her head to look at Song Rui. Finally, she no longer hesitated and said in a low voice, Alright. Song Rui finally smiled. Then please get ready after you go back, Young Miss. Three dayster, you will follow the Mistress to Mount Dragon to pray to Buddha, he said. Shen Rong nodded. Alright. After confirming the details with Song Rui, she left. Song Rui watched as Shen Rong walked away. He looked around to make sure that no one saw him before returning to the courtyard. Three days passed quickly. The Prime Ministers residence dispatched its men early this morning. The Mistress and the Young Miss of the Prime Ministers residence were going to the Buddhist Temple on Mount Dragon to pray to Buddha. As the future son-inw of the Prime Ministers residence, Song Rui tagged along. The group of people went up the mountain without a hitch. The Mistress retrieved a divination lot for her daughter and went to see the abbot to ask him to decipher the lot. Thereafter, the Prime Ministers daughter suddenly disappeared. After the Mistress found out, she immediately asked Song Rui to look for her. After a round of searching, the servants of the Prime Ministers residence finally found the Prime Ministers daughter on a spot on the mountainside. What was shocking was that their Young Miss was actually with a schr. When she saw her fiance appear, not only did she not let go of the schrs hand, but she also red at Song Rui angrily. All kinds of expressions swept across the servants faces. An elderly staff from the Prime Ministers residence had seen Meng Xuan before and had some spection in his mind. The new staff did not understand why their Young Miss would abandon such an outstanding future fiance and choose to meet a pauper schr here. However, this did not stop the news from spreading quickly. After a round of Song Ruis fruitless dissuasion, Mrs. Shen quickly rushed to the scene.. Chapter 373 - 373: Threat of Death Chapter 373: Threat of Death Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When she saw her daughter standing on the edge of the cliff with Meng Xuan, looking hysterical and emotionally unstable, Mrs. Shen was fraught with anxiety. At this moment, Mrs. Shen could not care less about the dignity of the Prime Ministers family and stretched out her hand worriedly toward Shen Rong. Ronger, everything can be discussed. Its dangerous over there. Come over first. Mother Mother will definitely stand up for you. Okay Mrs. Shen said cautiously. At the same time, she took two steps forward. Donte over! Shen Rong shouted. That shout stopped Mrs. Shen in her tracks. At the same time, Shen Rong took two steps back. With this step back, she was even closer to the edge of the cliff. Dont I wont go over. Mother wont go over! Ronger, you move closer this way. Be more careful Mrs. Shen was so anxious that she was about to cry. What on earth was going on? Didnt she agree to the Master looking for a husband for her? Why was her daughter still entangled with Meng Xuan at this time? And now, it had even reached this precarious stage! Mother, dont worry. Ill be fine for the time being. I want to see my father now. Please send someone to ask Father toe here. I want to talk to my father, Shen Rong said as she grabbed Meng Xuans arm tightly and suppressed the fear in her heart. Young Master Song was right. Now, she had to tell her father that she was pregnant and threaten him with her death. This was herst chance. If her father felt sorry for her, he could only help to unite her and Meng Xuan. If her father was really that ruthless, she and Meng Xuan would listen to Young Master Songs suggestion and flee the capital after faking death. It would be considered a blessing to live a carefree life as a perfectlypatible and harmonious couple from then on. Why do you want to see your father? Whatever you want, Mother will agree to it! Ronger,e over first. We can talk about everything, okay? Mrs. Shen said quickly. In broad daylight, her daughter had done such a shameful thing with someone else. If Master really came, he would definitely be furious. At that time, what if Master couldnt control his temper and forced his daughter to the wall? Shen Rong shook her head. No. Only Father can consent to what 1 want. Send someone to ask Father toe here. 1 will only talk to Father. With that, Shen Rong moved closer to the edge of the cliff. Mrs. Shens heart thumped so furiously it almost jumped out of her chest. Alright. Ill get someone to ask your father toe here. Dont move in that direction anymore, Ronger! she quickly replied. Only then did Shen Rong stop. At this moment, her hands and feet were actually trembling. She could only grab onto Meng Xuan tightly to prevent herself from identally falling off the cliff. Meng Xuan gave Shen Rong a look of reassurance, trying tofort and encourage her at the same time. When Mrs. Shen saw this, she was worried about her daughter, but she was also furious at Meng Xuan. Helplessly, she finally ordered her servant to look for Minister Shen. Mistress Song Rui called out to Mrs. Shen worriedly when he saw this. Things have already progressed to this stage. Why are you still worried over so many things? In response, Mrs. Shen scolded him instead. Previously, she had found the future son-inw Song Rui pleasing to the eye, but that was only because her daughter had a good impression of Song Rui. However, now, it seemed that what her daughter had presented before was all an illusion. Her daughter had never let go of Meng Xuan. Now, she was even threatening her mother with her life for Meng Xuans sake. If that was the case, what use was this guy Song Rui to the Prime Ministers residence? Master had spent so much effort to nurture him, but he couldnt even win over their daughters heart. He was simply useless! That was right. The more Mrs. Shen looked at Song Rui, the angrier she got. Song Rui didnt take it to heart after listening to her outburst. Frowning, he looked at Shen Rong with a worried expression and did not stop Mrs. Shen from sending people to ask Minister Shen toe here. After the servant sent to inform Minister Shen left, Mrs. Shen continued to persuade Shen Rong. Mother has already sent someone to inform your father. Ronger, be good ande closer. I promise not to act rashly. Shen Rongs expression changed slightly as she nced at Meng Xuan. However, Meng Xuans face remained sullen and unmoved. Thus, Shen Rong, who had been a little tempted, withdrew the expression on her face. No need. Its fine for me to stand here. Then, she added in a low voice, When Father is here and agrees to my conditions, 1 will go over. Mrs. Shen felt a sharp pain in her heart and clutched her chest with one hand. Fortunately, she was supported by the nanny beside her. Otherwise, she would have copsed. When she saw this, Shen Rong subconsciously took a step forward. However, Meng Xuan pulled her back without batting an eyelid and stopped her from moving forward. Shen Rong looked at Meng Xuan and saw the warning look in his eyes. She quickly regained her senses and her expression turned icy again. When Mrs. Shen saw the change in Shen Rongs expression, the little bit of hope that had risen in her heart was instantly shattered. When she realized that she couldnt make her daughter soften her heart, Mrs. Shen quickly looked at Meng Xuan. Young Master Meng After suppressing the disgust in her heart, she tried her best to speak calmly to Meng Xuan. When Meng Xuans name was called out, he finally turned his body and shifted his gaze away from Shen Rong to look at Mrs. Shen. Aunt. Then, he cupped his hands and bowed to Mrs. Shen. A look of disgust shed across Mrs. Shens face. Aunt? How dared he address her like this! In the past, the Shen family and the Meng family were well-matched in terms of social status. This fellow was engaged to her daughter, so she was fine with him addressing her as Aunt. However, now, the Meng family had fallen into such a state. This fellow was a nobody without any official post, yet he still dared to address her as Aunt? Her Ronger had always been obedient since she was young. When had she ever done such an outrageous thing as what she was doing today? It was all this fellows fault for seducing and instigating her! Mrs. Shen hated Meng Xuan to the extreme. However, when she saw her daughter looking at her and Meng Xuan worriedly, she could only suppress the disgust in her heart and try her best to speak to Meng Xuan calmly. Young Master Meng, Ronger is young and immature. Youre older than her, so you should know how serious the situation is. If you have any requests, you can mention them to Master directlyter. Theres no need to put Ronger in danger. Let Rongere to me first. We can discuss everything else. Mrs. Shens tone was halfmanding and half-persuading. She was still putting on airs. When Meng Xuan heard this, he couldnt help but sneer in his heart. At this point, the old woman still thought that he was easy to deal with. Meng Xuan didnt reply immediately. Instead, he looked at Shen Rong with a look tormented by internal struggle. Following that, Shen Rong stepped forward and shielded him behind her. Mother, you dont have to pressure Young Master Meng. Everything that happened today was your daughters idea. I like Young Master Meng. In this life, I will only marry Meng Xuan. If Father and Mother refused to grant my wish to be with him, I will die today to show my sincerity. Shen Rongs eyes were filled with determination as she spoke. Mrs. Shen almost stumbled upon hearing that. If it wasnt for the nanny beside her supporting her, she would have copsed again. When she surveyed the surrounding servants, as well as the temple visitors who came to gawk at the drama while discussing animatedly, Mrs. Shen was in a sorry state, but at the same time, she also felt extremely humiliated. While she was worried that Shen Rong would really seek death, she hated Meng Xuan even more.. Chapter 374 - 374: The Scandal in the Prime Minister’s Residence Chapter 374: The Scandal in the Prime Ministers Residence Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion At the same time, Mrs. Shen was also worried that if Minister Shen came, things would really get out of hand. Ronger, do you know what youre saying? She saw the people around them casting odd looks and some even pointed and gossiped. Even though she was worried about her daughter, Mrs. Shens gaze became more severe. At the same time, she regretted not clearing these people out of the site immediately. His daughter, an unmarrieddy, actually said such words. If the news got out, not only would her reputation be ruined, but the reputation of the Prime Ministers residence would also be ruined. The Master orded such things the utmost importance. When he arrived, the consequences would be unimaginable. Shen Rong also noticed this situation and a hint of panic shed across her face. Then, she felt Meng Xuans strong grip of reassurance in her palm and calmed down. Since she had decided to be together with Meng Xuan, she was already prepared to disregard her reputation. In fact, what she did today was to ruin her reputation so that her father would be forced by public opinion to help her and Meng Xuan get together. Since she had already made up her mind, she could not be overcautious and indecisive. When she thought of this, the look in Shen Rongs eyes became even more determined. Of course, I know. Young Master Meng and I are childhood sweethearts. We grew up together and were engaged from a young age. Just because the Meng family is in decline, Father sent someone to break off the engagement and cut off the marriage agreement between me and Young Master Meng. Shen Rongs eyes were filled with some anger now. I could still let things be at this juncture. But even at this point, Father is still unwilling to let Young Master Meng off. Not only did he send people to make things difficult for him time and time again, he even He even stopped Young Master Meng from taking part in the previous talent recruitment examination Mrs. Shens expression changed at once. Shut up! she scolded loudly. Shen Rongs face turned pale and she instantly shut her mouth. When Mrs. Shen saw this, her heart calmed down a little. Then, she looked at Song Rui angrily. Why arent you asking those people unrted to us to leave? she lowered her voice and said angrily. Song Rui seemed to have been roused from his daze at this point. He quickly asked the servants to send away the people who came to gawk at them. When he saw this, Meng Xuan panicked and squeezed Shen Rongs hand again. Shen Rong quickly came to a realization. She hurriedly continued, Mother, you are so worried about sending outsiders away. Are you worried that your daughter will say more things that are not good for the reputation of the Prime Ministers residence? Shen Rong squeezed Meng Xuans hand when she saw Mrs. Shens expression turning more ominous. She gathered some courage and continued, Father wants to use his daughters marriage to win over Young Master Song and make him work for the Prime Ministers family. But now, I am already carrying Meng Xuans flesh and blood in my tummy. How can 1 marry Young Master Song? As soon as she said that, everyone stared at Shen Rongs abdomen. Even Mrs. Shen was no exception. The onlookers started gossiping heatedly again. This unfolding drama today was turning out to be quite earthshaking. The daughter from the Prime Ministers family was meeting her lover in private while apanied by her fiance. After that, there was even a scandal that broke out, saying that she had secretive trysts with her lover and became pregnant. This was like giving the Prime Ministers residence and Great Talent Song Rui one tight p each in the face. Shen Rong ignored Mrs. Shen, who could no longer stand up and was being supported by a servant. She then looked at Song Rui with a look that seemed to be questioning her own life. Young Master Song, 1 thank you for your great affection. But my heart already belongs to someone else. As she spoke, Shen Rong looked at Meng Xuan affectionately. At the same time, she reached out to touch her lower abdomen. Then she looked at Song Rui again. I only want to be with Meng Xuan henceforth. So I cant marry you. Song Ruis eyes turned sharp, but he didnt say anything. I dont know what Father told you. But 1 have made up my mind. Today, 1 hereby break off the engagement. Young Master Song, please fulfill my wish as repayment for saving your life back then. Song Ruis eyes flickered for a while. He nced at Mrs. Shen, who was so angry that she was about to faint, and then nodded with great reluctance. Following that, he turned around. When the people nearby saw this, they felt sorry for Song Rui. So this was the Immortal Poet who had been in so much limelight recently. He was such an excellent and talented man without peer, but his fiancee had made him a cuckold after he got engaged. He was simply too pitiful When Mrs. Shen saw Song Ruis behavior, she was even more furious. Things were now hanging in the bnce, yet this person still listened to her daughter and did not care about this matter anymore. How cowardly! What are all of you waiting for? Young Miss is suffering from hysteria and spouting nonsense. Yet you guys are taking it seriously. Get those people unconnected to us to leave here first, then bring Young Miss back. Send her back to the residence for treatment, Mrs. Shen said in a stern voice. If they continued with this ruckus, the situation would only get worse. They had to clear the area of gawkers first. The servants quickly looked at Song Rui. However, Song Rui still looked very downcast and out of sorts and did not respond. Yes, Maam! Very quickly, a servant in charge stepped forward and responded to Mrs. Shen. Thereafter, he brought some servants to drive away the people who hade to gawk at them. Before long, the onlookers were all chased away, and the surroundings finally quieted down. Mrs. Shen finally calmed down substantially. She looked at Shen Rong again, trying to persuade her toe back. Shen Rongs attitude was firm and uncooperative. Mrs. Shen once again set her sights on Meng Xuan. She used all forms of persuasion to force Meng Xuan to let Shen Rong go. Unfortunately, Meng Xuan refused to bow down to Mrs. Shens coercion. He only put on an appearance of being bullied and looked at Shen Rong with a pitiful expression. Following that, Shen Rong would shield Meng Xuan behind her like an old hen protecting her chicks and stand up to confront her mother. As a result, Mrs. Shen had almost no way to deal with Meng Xuan and Shen Rong. This situation continued until Prime Minister Shen arrived. That was right. Minister Shen rushed over here in less than two hours. Along the way, he had already learned about the situation here from the servants. On one hand, he was angry that his daughter had let him down and embarrassed the Prime Ministers residence. On the other hand, he was also worried about his daughters safety. Shen Rong, who was at the edge of the cliff, turned pale the moment she saw Prime Minister Shen. Meng Xuan, who had been very calm earlier, also panicked momentarily when he saw Prime Minister Shen. Even Mrs. Shens face turned pale when she saw the Shen familys Master. As she turned back to Shen Rong, a trace of worry shed across her eyes. What are all of you waiting for? Bring the Young Miss back here. After arriving at the scene, Minister Shen immediately gave an order. The servants looked at each other and did not dare to go over. This carried on until Minister Shen turned his gaze to the two servants in charge. The two servants then acknowledged the order. Yes, Sir! They bowed to Minister Shen. Thereafter, they walked towards Shen Rong. Shen Rong and Meng Xuans expressions changed drastically. Donte over! If youe any closer, Ill jump down from here! Shen Rong said quickly. At the same time, she took a step toward the edge of the cliff. The two servants quickly stopped in their tracks. They all turned to look at Minister Shen, only to see his ashen and extremely furious face. Who allowed you two to stop? Go over! he barked in a deep voice. The two servants faces were very pale, but they could only continue. Shen Rongs face turned ashen white again. She braced herself and closed her eyes Upon seeing that her daughter was about to jump off the cliff, Mrs. Shen finally cried out in terror.. Chapter 375 - 375: Cold-Blooded Minister Shen Chapter 375: Cold-Blooded Minister Shen Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Master she screamed shrilly at Minister Shen. At the same time, she charged toward Minister Shen. She sessfully stopped the two servants and Shen Rong at the same time. Master, we we only have one daughter. You cant be so cruel! Mrs. Shen stumbled and fell in front of Minister Shen. She reached out and grabbed one of Minister Shens hands, afraid that Minister Shen would really not care about her daughters life. Minister Shens expression was still grim. He only nced at Mrs. Shen before looking at Shen Rong again. Come over on your own, on ount of our father-daughter rtionship. If youre willing to marry Ruier, I can let bygones be bygones, he said in a stern voice. As he had already decided that Song Rui was to be his future son-inw, he had already put in a lot of effort and paid a high price to nurture him. Now that Song Rui was about to marry into the Shen family, his daughter had actually tripped him up like this. He just couldnt understand why his daughter was so hung up on Meng Xuan when Song Rui was far more talented and good-looking than Meng Xuan. He and his wife had taught her carefully since she was young and taught her to be learned and reasonable. Yet now, she had turned against him and done such a shameless thing. How could he not be angry? When Shen Rong heard this, an icy wave swept over her heart. She knew that her father did not like to be threatened, so she was prepared for the possibility that her negotiations with him would fall through. However, she did not expect her father to have such an attitude even before she started talking to him. No. Your daughter already has Meng Xuans flesh and blood in her belly. How can I marry someone else while carrying this life? Shen Rong said fearfully but firmly. As soon as these words came out, Minister Shens eyes clouded over at once. He looked at Shen Rongs abdomen with a gaze that seemed infused with poison. Shen Rong was so frightened that she subconsciously hid behind Meng Xuan to protect her lower abdomen. Hes hes your grandson too. Father, cant you just let your daughter and Meng Xuan be together? Shen Rong lowered her head and said, not daring to look at Minister Shen again. Master Mrs. Shen tugged at Minister Shen again at this point. Although she didnt agree with her daughters actions, at this point, it might be the best choice to help her daughter fulfill her wish. Her daughter was right. The child in her tummy was also the Masters and her grandson. When the child was born, he would call her Grandma. Since Master could nurture Song Rui, surely he could swap him out and nurture Meng Xuan instead. If he was worried that Meng Xuan would hold a grudge against him for what had happened to the Meng family, he could just not let him rise too high in the future. If that didnt work, they could still nurture their grandson after he was born! When she thought of this, Mrs. Shen quickly convinced herself and she switched sides to be Shen Rongs ally. However, Minister Shen looked at Mrs. Shen ominously and flung her away. Shut up! Its all because you spoiled her since she was young that she became so bold and rebellious! he reprimanded. After he finished speaking, Minister Shen looked at Shen Rong again. I hate it when people threaten me. Since you are my daughter, 1 will give you onest chance. Come over yourself, abort the child in your tummy, and marry Ruier. In that way, you are still the Young Miss of my Prime Ministers residence. Otherwise As he spoke, a hint of malice shed across Minister Shens eyes. He would not show mercy to those who ruined his n. Even if that person was his daughter. Shen Rongs heart shuddered, and her body started to tremble. Meng Xuan, who was standing in front of her, also turned pale. He didnt expect the old man to be so cold-blooded and not care about his daughters life. At this moment, Meng Xuans heart was filled with hatred. This old man was cold-blooded and cruel. Since even the child in Shen Rongs tummy couldnt force him to fulfill their wishes, he would make him regret it then. Meng Xuan looked at Shen Rong as he thought of this. Shen Rong panicked at once. Meng Xuan she called out uncertainly. Meng Xuan looked at Shen Rong and nodded at her. At the same time, he held Shen Rongs hand tightly. Shen Rongs flustered heart instantly calmed down substantially. After that, she wasnt as afraid as before and even nodded at Meng Xuan. Then, she walked toward the edge of the cliff with Meng Xuan. No! Ronger, dont do anything stupid! Upon seeing this, Mrs. Shen yelled in a shrill voice. When she saw the two of them stop in their tracks, she quickly scrambled and crawled forward and grabbed the hem of Minister Shens clothes. Master, I beg you! Please fulfill their wishes! Give our Ronger a way out, okay? she begged piteously. Minister Shen narrowed his eyes and red menacingly at Meng Xuan, but he didnt say a word. Meng Xuan and Minister Shens eyes met. This time, the former did not evade thetters gaze. A momentter, he squeezed Shen Rongs hand again. Then, Shen Rong pulled Meng Xuan forward with a determined look and prepared to jump off the cliff. Master! Mrs. Shen screamed. Minister Shen frowned. He finally spoke. What do you want he asked Meng Xuan. The two people at the edge of the cliff stopped in their tracks again, and their hearts were filled with a little joy. This was particrly true for Shen Rong. His father actually relented. Was he going topromise? Although she was prepared to jump down with Meng Xuan, who knew if the arrangements at the bottom of the cliff were adequate? If Song Rui didnt make proper arrangements, jumping down would really kill them. If her fatherpromised and allowed her and Meng Xuan to be together openly, this was the best oue. Meng Xuan felt a little smug. From the looks of things, the old man still cared about his daughters life. Today, for the sake of Shen Rong and the child in her tummy, if the old man really allowed them to be together and let him enter the Prime Ministers residence In due course, he would definitely take back what the Shen family owed him, including interest. Suppressing the emotions in his heart, Meng Xuan put on a terrified expression and cupped his hands in salute to Minister Shen. Uncle, you misunderstood. 1 have no other request than to be with Ronger and to take good care of Ronger and our child. As Meng Xuan spoke, he looked sadly at Shen Rongs abdomen. Heaven and earth can vouch for my feelings for Ronger. Other than Ronger, I, Meng Xuan, will never marry another woman in this life. Uncle, please grant us our wish! Meng Xuans words sounded extremely sincere, and Shen Rong felt extremely touched. When the others heard this, they only felt that it was hypocritical. In particr, Minister Shen almost wanted to send someone to shoot Meng Xuan until his body resembled a honeb. Back then, in order to get close to Empress Jia, he married her older sister. In order to win Empress Jias trust, he had only had one wife all these years in the Prime Ministers residence. He didnt even have a personal maidservant in an adjoining room, much less take on concubines. It was also because of this that the Mistress and the Jia family supported him tremendously in his career, allowing him to reach his current position step by step. However, he knew very well that his wife had never been the woman he liked the most. At this moment, Meng Xuan was the same. He was like a wolf cub. When he said that he only had Shen Rong in his heart, it was just a lie he told in order to get into the Prime Ministers residence and turn things around. When the time was right, not only the Shen family, but even Shen Rong would suffer the bacsh from this wolf cub. And he would never allow such a thing to happen.. Chapter 376 - 376: Die in the Name of Love Chapter 376: Die in the Name of Love Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion You cannot enter the Shen residence. Change your request. A look of disgust shed across Minister Shen s eyes. He would never let a wolf into his house. Meng Xuans face turned pale. I have no other requests. I just want to be with Ronger, he pleaded earnestly. Unclej please grant us our wish! After he finished speaking, he cupped his hands and bowed to Minister Shen again. Hmph! In response. Minister Shen only gave a contemptuous snort. Before Meng Xuan could say anything, Shen Rong couldnt stand it anymore. She reached out to grab Meng Xuan and said, Forget it, Meng Xuan! Theres no need to beg him anymore! After she finished speaking, she looked at Minister Shen in disappointment. In Fathers eyes, only the dignity of the Shen family and the Prime Minister1 s residence is important. When have you ever cared about your daughter? Its good to talk things out today. 1 can now give uppletely. As she spoke, Shen Rong looked at Mrs. Shen with determination. Mother, I thank you for giving birth to me and for raising me for so many years. Unfortunately, our mother-daughter rtionship is short-lived. 1 can only repay you in my next life. After saying that, she ignored Mrs. Shens attempts to stop her and turned around with Meng Xuan. Meng Xuan tugged at Shen Rong. He had wanted to fight a little more and bargain with Minister Shen. However, when he saw Shen Rongs determined expression, he hesitated for a moment before choosing to cooperate with her. Following that, the two of them jumped down from the cliff under everyones horrified gazes. No! Ronger Mrs. Shen stretched out her hand and screamed. Then, she fainted. Minister Shen stood rooted to the spot in shock. He did not expect his daughter to really jump off a cliff with Meng Xuan in the name of love. However, it only took him a moment to regain his senses. His body swayed slightly as he suppressed the emotions in his heart and said in a deep voice, If alive, I want to see the person. If dead, I want to see the corpse. Search the bottom of the cliff and bring them back to the Prime Ministers residence. Yes, Sir! The servants answered and quickly left. Song Rui looked at Minister Shen with an expression full of conflicting emotions. After awhile, he went forward. My Lord he called out worriedly. Minister Shen did not turn around for a long time. After a while, he finally turned around to look at Song Rui. There was suspicion and fury in his eyes. Previously, when he betrothed his daughter to this person, his daughter and this person did not express any objections. However, now, his daughter had a tryst with someone and even died for love. He didnt believe that this person didnt know anything about the matter between his daughter and Meng Xuan. Song Rui s eyes evaded his gaze. He lowered his head and cupped his hands at Minister Shen again without saying anything else. Minister Shen looked at Song Rui for a long time before finally looking away. Then, he asked icily, Did you know about Ronger and Meng Xuans matter beforehand? Song Rui raised his head to look at Minister Shen. When he saw Minister Shen nce at him, he quickly lowered his head again. Following that, he replied, My Lord, 1 know a little. Minister Shen s eyes became more icy in a sh. How much do you know? When did Shen Rong start having an affair with Meng Xuan? Minister Shen paused for a moment before saying the word affair. His daughter, a girl who had not yet married, actually had an affair with another man, and even secretly got pregnant. It was simply a disgrace to the family. However, the Prime Minister s residence was heavily guarded, and his daughter rarely had the chance to go out alone. How did she get in touch with Meng Xuan? Furthermore, their rtionship had reached such a stage. Song Rui looked terrified. He quickly said, I know that Young Miss has met Young Master Meng in private, but 1 dont know anything else! Minister Shen looked at Song Rui and recalled when he had betrothed his daughter to Song Rui. As his daughters future husband, it was definitely unlikely that Song Rui would allow his fiancee to do such a thing with other men. Therefore, Song Rui probably had nothing to do with his daughters rtionship with Meng Xuan and how it developed to such a stage. When he thought of this, Minister Shens expression became less unpleasant. However, Minister Shen was still not prepared to let Song Rui off and continued to ask, Ronger is your fiancee. How dare you allow her to meet another man in private? Song Rui appeared downcast. I just dont have the heart to make things difficult for the Young Miss. At that point. Young Miss only said that she wanted to meet Young Master Meng and settle things. I didnt think much of it. Minister Shen s eyes flickered. With his daughters present personality, it was indeed possible for her to trick Song Rui into allowing her to meet Meng Xuan. Forget it The incident had already happened, and it was ultimately Meng Xuans fault. It was that rascal who had seduced his daughter intentionally, leading her to do things that were out of line, and even made things progress to this point. It was also because he and his wife were too careless that they did not realize that their daughter had been bullied under their noses. Now that his daughter and Meng Xuan had jumped off the cliff together, it would be fine if she didnt die. There was still a chance to turn things around. However, if she were gone When he thought of this possibility, Minister Shens heart ached at once. Following that, he quickly calmed down. If she were gone, then so be it. If Shen Rong was dead, he could easily cover up the scandal that she had caused. On the contrary, if Shen Rong was still alive, the scandal of the Prime Ministers residence would probably continue to exist. At the thought of this, Minister Shen looked at Song Rui again. Ill leave the search for Ronger and Meng Xuan to you. Send someone back to the Prime Ministers residence to gather some people toe here and to look for them. No matter what you find, report to me immediately. Yes, Sir! Song Rui quickly answered. If she is still alive, dont send her back to the Prime Ministers residence for now. Song Rui was stunned and looked at Minister Shen. When he saw Minister Shens callous expression, he quickly lowered his head again. Yes, Sir! he answered again. Only then did Minister Shen leave. Song Rui remained in a bowed posture until Minister Shen was far away before he straightened up. When he realized that someone was looking at him not far away, Song Rui looked over. It was the old nanny who was taking care of the unconscious Mrs. Shen. When rhe old nanny saw Minister Shen leave, she looked very worried. Together with another maidservant, they supported the unconscious Mrs. Shen, not knowing what to do. This time, their Young Miss had done such a thing, but the Mistress had pleaded for Young Miss and offended the Master. The Master had left just now, but he didnt make any arrangements for the Mistress. Almost all the servants had gone to look for the Young Miss. With just a few of them, it was impossible for them to send the Mistress back to the residence. Ill arrange for someone to send all of you back to the Prime Ministers residence, Song Rui said as if he had seen through the nanny and the maidservants worries. Upon hearing this, the nannys face lit up at once. Thank you. Young Master Song! she quickly thanked him. Song Rui raised his hand and cut short the nannys words. Take good care of Mistress on the way. Also, dont tell Mistress about Masters arrangements, he continued. The nanny and maidservants faces stiffened. Thereafter, the nanny nodded to indicate she understood. Young Miss had jumped off the cliff, and it was a big blow to Mistress. If she were to find out that even if Young Miss was still alive, Master was not prepared to let Young Miss return to the Prime Ministers residence, Mistress would definitely not be able to take it. Song Rui then called for his personal servant and asked him to get a horse and carriage to send Mrs. Shen and the others back to the Prime Minister s residence. At the same time, he would return to the Prime Ministers residence to gather some men toe back here. After everyone left, Song Rui strolled to the edge of the cliff. He looked down at the situation at the bottom of the cliff, and a trace of a smile shed across his eyes. For the next two days, Song Rui didnt leave the mountain where Shen Rong and Meng Xuan had jumped off the cliff.. Chapter 377 - 377: Conflict Between Husband and Wife Chapter 377: Conflict Between Husband and Wife Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion At this point in the capital, the news of the Prime Ministers daughter having an affair with her lover and secretly bing pregnant spread like wildfire. It became the biggest topic of conversation among the people of the capital in their leisure time. While people despised the Prime Ministers family, they also pitied Song Rui, the great schr. In the teahouse, a schr said indignantly, That Young Miss of the Prime Ministers residence must be blind! She didnt want a talent like the Immortal Poet and actually had an affair with someone else! He was the Immortal Poet. He couldpose beautiful essays and he possessed unparalleled poetic sentiments. Moreover, he was so handsome. Yet, he was still cuckolded. Hey, seriously. How can anything be more interesting than illicit acts? What if the Young Miss Shen doesnt like that kind of weak and feeble-looking schr and likes other types? a burly man at the table next to him chimed in. Although there were rumors that the Young Miss of the Prime Ministers residence was having an affair with someone, there was no mention of who the lover was. In his opinion, that lover must be very different from Song Rui. Otherwise, why would Young Miss Shen abandon the Immortal Poet and go look for someone else? That lover must be as powerful and physically strong as him. Thus, he exuded a different kind of attraction for women When he thought of this, the brawny man could not help but let his imagination run wild. He heard that the Young Miss Shen was both talented and good-looking. If her personality was really that bold and unrestrained, he wondered if he would have the chance to catch her attention Haha! Thats right! The weak and feeble schr was good-looking but useless. Miss Shen must have felt that the body of the Immortal Poet was not enough to satisfy her! Haha! Another brawny man beside the first brawny man added. As he spoke, he winked at the first brawny man with an expression that implied, If you get my drift These words immediately stirred up a heated discussion. Some people nodded and felt that it made sense. However, some people felt that it was an insult to their intellect and held a disdainful attitude. Nheless, neither line of thought could stop Shen Rongs reputation from getting more unsavory as the rumors spread. In the Prime Ministers study. When Minister Shen heard the news brought back by the servants, his face turned downright ominous. Just as he was about to say something, he heard wailinging from outside. Master, I beg you to let Rongere back! Shes our only daughter It was Mrs. Shen. That was right. Mrs. Shen regained consciousness not long after she returned to the residence. Thereafter, she somehow found out about the order that Minister Shen had given Song Rui. Following that, she mored to see Minister Shen. Minister Shen naturally did not want to see her, so Mrs. Shen knelt outside Minister Shens study and begged. A day and a night had passed. During this period, Mrs. Shen even fainted once, but she still did not manage to see Minister Shen. In spite of this, Mrs. Shen did not give up and continued to linger outside in the courtyard, begging from time to time. When he heard the pleas again, Minister Shen became furious instantly. Damn it! He cursed out loud. Thereafter, he swept everything off his desk with one hand. Ignorant woman! If she hadnt let those onlookers at the Buddhist Temple leave, my Prime Ministers residence wouldnt have fallen to such a state! Minister Shen bellowed angrily. The servant stood at the end of the study, his heart filled with fear. He kept his head lowered and did not dare to raise it at all. Right now, those rumors about the Young Miss and the Prime Ministers residence must have been spread by those people who were gawking on that day. At that point, in order to prevent the Young Miss from embarrassing herself in public, the Mistress had told people to drive those onlookers away. However, at that juncture, the people who were watching the drama had already heard everything, including things that they should not hear. Mistress simply got servants to ask them to leave straight away, which only gave others more room to let their imaginations run wild. It could be said that she had outsmarted herself. Master Boo hoo hoo At this moment, Mrs. Shens weeping could be hearding from outside again. Minister Shens expression turned even more ominous. Finally, he could not hold back his anger any longer and dashed out of the study. The servant was badly frightened when he realized that his master had stalked past him like a gust of wind. Following that, the servant came back to his senses and quickly followed his master. Thereafter, the servant witnessed with his own eyes the sight of his Master rushing to the courtyard and kicking Mistress to the ground. Shut up! Ronger ended up like this all because you spoiled her! Minister Shen was so furious that his eyes were as round as saucers and his beard was fluttering from his huffing. He totally ignored Mrs. Shens expression, which changed from the initial shocked look to weeping piteously again. However, Mrs. Shen did not have the luxury of indulging in sorrow at receiving her husbands violent treatment. Instead, she quickly grabbed the hem of Minister Shens robe. Its my fault. Sob, sob 1 was wrong! Its not Rongers fault! Master, Master, I beg you! Please give Ronger a way out and let Rong ere back! she wailed pitifully. Minister Shens expression darkened even more. He flung away Mrs. Shens hand that was holding onto him and pushed her over again, causing her to fall to the side. You still have the cheek to plead for leniency for that rebellious daughter? The dignity of the Prime Ministers residence has beenpletely destroyed by that unfilial daughter! When he saw that Mrs. Shen was about to pounce on him again, Minister Shen quickly dodged. Following that, he ordered in a deep voice, Men! Yes, Sir! Two servants quickly responded. Send Mistress back to her room. In the future, without my orders, she is not allowed to take a step out of the room! Minister Shen continued. He did not even look at Mrs. Shen when he spoke. The two servants hesitated. When they saw Minister Shen looking at them with displeasure, they hurriedly went forward. Mrs. Shens expression changed drastically and she wanted to pounce on Minister Shen again. Master, you cant treat me like this! Master However, Minister Shen avoided her once again and still did not look at her. When she saw that the two servants were about to forcefully take her away, Mrs. Shen became anxious. How dare you two touch me? I am the wife of the Prime Minister, the Empresss biological elder sister! she shouted. These words frightened the two servants so much they froze. Minister Shen finally looked at Mrs. Shen. Mrs. Shens eyes finally lost the look of pleading. She looked at Minister Shen and her face also turned icy as she stood up from the ground. I am the Empresss biological elder sister! she spoke again. When she saw Minister Shen narrow his eyes dangerously, a hint of fear shed across Mrs. Shens eyes, but she straightened her neck again. Master, have you forgotten what you promised my father and the Empress? she questioned Minister Shen. Back then, Minister Shen was just a poor schr without a single penny. It was because of the Jia family and the Empresss support that he hade this far. Back then, the reason she was willing to marry him was not because she loved him. It was her father who admired him and betrothed her to him. If he hadnt taken the initiative to mention to her father and younger sister that he would only love her in this life and that she would be the only mistress in the residence, Mrs. Shen wouldnt have agreed to the marriage due to feeling touched by his gesture. Over the years, she had indeed lived a very happy life and was envied by the womenfolk of countless officials. And as she spent more time with him, she gradually discovered his good and excellent qualities. Gradually, she fell in love with him. Back then, when she gave birth to Ronger, she had fallen ill and was unable to give birth to any more children thereafter. Due to this, she had even felt guilty. She even took the initiative to propose that she would look for a concubine for him. However, he used his previous promise as an excuse to refuse. He even said that even if they only had one daughter, he would be content. From then on, her heart sank to the bottompletely. Was the truth really as what he presented? Before she found out that the Master was keeping a lover outside, she had really thought so. However, when the cruel truth was right in front of her, how could she still deceive herself? Chapter 378 - 378: Keeping A Woman Outside Chapter 378: Keeping A Woman Outside Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion After discovering that Master had a woman outside, she immediately sent someone to deal with her. When Master came back, he only lost his temper in the study but did not kick up a fuss with her. However, their rtionship as husband and wife had been estranged ever since. Due to this, she went to the pce to look for the Empress. She thought that the Empress would help her, but to her surprise, the Empress said that Master was already the Prime Minister and that things were different now. Since Master did not bring her into the residence, she should try to turn a blind eye. At this moment, she realized that perhaps, the Master had never been sincere to her. The true feelings he showed earlier were all methods that he had no choice but to use in order to climb up. With the Jia family and the Empress in absolute power, perhaps everything could be as before. However, when the Master held power and had the authority to talk to the Jia family and the Empress, the Jia family and the Empress would not be enemies with the Master for her sake. In fact, they would even help him persuade her to give in and endure. This was the reality In the end, she chose to endure. She turned a blind eye to the Masters extramarital affairs. Eventually, she didnt even bother to inquire and investigate anymore. As long as the woman didnt enter the residence, everyone would maintain their superficial acts. This was how she had lived these few years. She gradually shifted her thoughts from the Master to her daughter. However, now, her daughter had abandoned her and the Prime Ministers residence for a poverty-stricken rascal. How could she not feel heartache? And there was the Master himself. She thought that even if Master might bear a grudge against her for what happened before, he would not vent his anger on their daughter. To her surprise, he was so ruthless. He actually forced his daughter to jump off the cliff. He even ordered that if his daughter was still alive, she was not allowed to return to the Prime Ministers residence. Her Ronger had been pampered and doted upon since she was young. If she was not allowed to return to the Prime Ministers residence, how could she survive outside? Therefore, this time, she could not tolerate it anymore. For her daughters sake, she had to fight for it! Minister Shens expression was sullen. Ever since he gained power, what he hated the most was people bringing up his past to talk about him. Back then, if he hadnt been forced by his father-inw, and because he had no way to embark on an officials career, he wouldnt have approached the eldest daughter of the Jia family. In order to win the Jia familys trust, he disregarded his dignity as a man and became theughingstock of all the courtiers in the Imperial Court. Even though he had secured the position of Prime Minister and those people did not dare tough at him outwardly anymore, behind his back, there were still people whoughed at him for relying on women to rise to the top. As his interests were in line with the Jia familys interests, he continued to swallow his pride and did not change his attitude towards his wife at home. However, this time, the daughter she gave birth to had brought such a huge scandal to the Prime Ministers residence and to him. As if this wasnt enough, she was actually making a fuss with him now and even brought up the Jia family and the Empress. Did this woman really see him as the poverty-stricken schr who was bullied by anyone back then? With regard to what I promised Father-inw and the Empress, 1 have never gone back on my word. But if you dont know whats good for you, 1 dont mind going back on my word. When he uttered these words, Minister Shens eyes had already emitted an ominous chill. Mrs. Shen staggered and almost fell. In the face of Minister Shens icy gaze, her face turned pale and she didnt dare to say another word eventually. Hmph! Minister Shen gave a scornful snort, flung his sleeves, and strode out. Mrs. Shens legs went weak. The nanny beside her could not support her in time, and Mrs. Shen finally copsed to the ground. Just as the nanny was shouting worriedly, the servants came forward to bring Mrs. Shen back to her courtyard. The nanny was about to reprimand them when she was stopped by Mrs. Shen. Help me back to my ce Mrs. Shen said in a trembling voice. Now, Master was so furious that he was not even willing to maintain a superficial rtionship with her anymore. If she continued to go against Master, not only would she not be able to save Ronger, but she would also get into trouble. It might even implicate the entire Jia family. If something like that really happened, the Jia family and the Empress would not protect her. How tragic She was a true member of the Jia family, the Empresss biological elder sister. Yet, in their eyes, she was not as important as the Master, an outsider. The nanny looked worried, but in the end, she still helped Mrs. Shen up. Under the escort of the servants, they slowly walked toward the rear courtyard. At the same time, in Qin Xiaoyaos manor on the outskirts of the capital. Qin Xiaoyao saw Shen Rong and Meng Xuan, who were supposed to be dead. That was right. Song Rui didnt betray the two of them that day. He had set up protective measures less than ten meters below the cliff in advance. That day, after the two of them jumped off the cliff, they fell into therge that had been set up in advance. Thereafter, Song Rui found an opportunity to secretly send the two of them to this manor. After arriving at the manor, the two of them did not step outside, so they still did not know the situation in the capital. Qin Xiaoyao had heard the rumors circting among the people in the capital and learned that Song Rui had settled this couple in her newly-bought manor. How could she sit by idly? She immediately came to the manor to check on the situation. When she met Shen Rong, Qin Xiaoyao was slightly stunned. Then, she felt relieved. She had previously thought that the Young Miss of the Prime Ministers residence was really a stunning beauty, but now it seemed that she was only so-so. It seemed that her identity as the precious daughter of the Prime Ministers residence had given her an additional halo. As for that Meng Xuan, he was indeed quite handsome, but he was far from beingparable to her husband. Qin Xiaoyao had a better impression of Shen Rong when she thought about how she still chose Meng Xuan over her husband despite these circumstances. Young Miss Shen and Young Master Meng can just stay here in peace. Qin Manor is my territory. No one dares to barge in, Qin Xiaoyao said magnanimously. Now, she waspletely at ease. Her husband did not lie to her. He really did not need to marry Shen Rong anymore. Shen Rong and Meng Xuan exchanged nces. Meng Xuan quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. Thank you, Lord Marquis! Ronger and I have imposed on you. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Young Master Meng, dont mention it. You two are friends of Young Master Song, so you are also my friends. Henceforth, all of you can stay here without worry. However, if you need anything, you can tell the caretaker in the manor. The two of them looked at each other again, and their eyes were filled with gratitude as they looked at Qin Xiaoyao. At this moment, Shen Rong stepped forward. She bowed to Qin Xiaoyao gracefully. I wonder how Young Master Song is doing on his end? she asked. The smile on Qin Xiaoyaos face froze. Then, she realized that Shen Rong was probably just asking about the situation and was not concerned about her husband, so she smiled again. After you two jumped off the cliff, Minister Shen arranged for him to lead people to search for your whereabouts. Right now, he should still be making arrangements for the follow-up matters. When hes done with his work, helle and meet up with you two. In order to avoid any leaks, you two should stay here for the time being and not show your faces in public before he returns. The two of them exchanged looks with each other and quickly consented. Song Rui had mentioned before that he would arrange for two corpses simr to their bodies to rece them and allow them to fake their deaths. It was indeed inappropriate for them to show their faces now. This was to avoid being discovered and causing the n to fail.. Chapter 379 - 379: Sever All Ties Chapter 379: Sever All Ties Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When she saw their reactions, Qin Xiaoyao felt more at ease. She then asked the two of them some more questions with concern before leaving. It was night. Song Rui, who had been busy with his errands outside for more than two days, finally rushed back to the Prime Ministers residence overnight. In Minister Shens study. After hearing Song Ruis report, Minister Shens face was as heavy as still water. After a long while, he asked somewhat wearily, Are you sure they are really Shen Rong and Meng Xuan? Although he hated Shen Rong for ruining the reputation of the Prime Ministers residence and causing him to be theughingstock of the whole capital, Shen Rong was still his daughter after all. He still felt very downcast when he learned that she was dead. Song Rui was in a miserable state, and his face was full of sorrow. Then, he bowed to Minister Shen and said disconstely, Im sure. There is no doubt they are Young Miss and Young Master Meng. When he heard that, Minister Shen waved his hand wearily. Just bury her, he continued. Song Rui was stunned. Then, he asked, My Lord, arent you going to take a look personally? Seeing will only increase my sorrow, so I might as well not go! Minister Shen replied with his head lowered. Then, without waiting for Song Rui to speak again, Minister Shen said, Spread the news that Ronger was infected with a serious disease and died suddenly. Three dayster, the Prime Ministers residence will hold a funeral. Song Rui paused again. Then, he bowed and replied, Yes, Sir! You may leave. Minister Shen finally gestured at Song Rui. Yes, Sir. Song Rui then left the room. As he turned back to look at the quiet study, Song Ruis eyes flickered. After that, he left Minister Shens courtyard. In the end, just as he returned to his courtyard, someone came looking for him. The person who came was the head maidservant in Mrs. Shens courtyard, Sanger. Greetings, Young Master Song! The maidservant stepped forward and bowed to Song Rui politely. Miss Sanger, please dont stand on ceremony, Song Rui quickly said. Then, he asked, May I know why Miss Sanger is looking for me? This was despite the fact he already knew why she was here. Mrs. Shen was arrogant, and even her subordinates also thought highly of themselves. This Sanger, as the head maidservant of Mrs. Shens courtyard, was deeply trusted by Mrs. Shen. Although she was a servant of the Prime Ministers residence, the guests and officials in the residence all had to extend her some courtesy. Sanger looked at Song Rui. Mistress sent me to inquire about news of the Young Miss. When she saw Song Ruis troubled expression, Sanger quickly said, Young Master Song, you only need to tell me alone. After Mistress learns of this, she will definitely not make things difficult for you. This was what Mistress had promised in person before Sanger left. At present, Mistress could be said to have shed all pretenses of cordiality with Master. Without Masters protection, Mistresss authority in the Prime Ministers residence plummeted. Things were different now, and she had to know her ce here. When she saw that Song Rui still did not respond, Sangers tone softened again. Now that Master is angry with Young Miss, he will definitely not let Young Miss have it easy. Presently, in the residence, the only ones who truly care about Young Misss safety are Mistress and you, Young Master Song. When Young Miss did those things she did hurt you, Young Master Song. But then she did save you before and introduced you to Master, thereby helping you arrive at where you are today, Young Master Song. Im sure Young Master Song cant bear to see Young Miss being persecuted to her death by Master like this, can you? Sanger asked. When she saw Song Ruis eyes wavering momentarily, Sanger continued, If Young Master Song is willing to reveal the information, Mistress will definitely remember the favor. Although Master is angry with Mistress now, Mistress is still the eldest daughter of the Jia family and the Empresss biological elder sister. Even Master himself would not dare to do anything to Mistress. When this matter is over, Master will definitely allow Mistress toe out. In other words, Mrs. Shens status as the mistress of the Prime Ministers residence would not be shaken. If Song Rui knew what was good for him, he should not offend Mistress recklessly. Otherwise, when Mistress came out, he would not have a good ending. Song Rui frowned. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke. Its not that Im unwilling to tell Mistress about the news of Young Miss, but Minister Shen has given the order that 1 am not allowed to divulge anything. Sangers eyes lit up. Dont worry, Young Master Song. After Mistress learns of Young Misss news, she will definitely not reveal that the news came from you, Young Master Song! she immediately said. A trace of hesitation shed across Song Ruis face again. Young Master Sanger called out anxiously. Song Rui finally nodded. Then, under Sangers joyful gaze, he told her about Shen Rong and Meng Xuans deaths. He also told her about Minister Shens refusal to see Shen Rongs body and his request that Song Rui publicize the news of Shen Rongs sudden death due to illness. When Sanger heard this, she stood rooted to the same spot in shock. The Young Miss was dead? Well, after falling from such a high cliff, the chances of survival were not high after all. Nheless, she was still a little shocked when she found out that the Young Miss was really gone. More importantly, how would Mistress ept this news? The only person Mistress cared about was Young Miss. Now that Young Miss was gone, Mistress would probably go crazy. At that point, the Prime Ministers residence would truly be in chaos. When he saw the head maidservants eyes darting around anxiously, Song Rui put on a sorrowful expression. I didnt expect that Minister Shen wouldnt even want to see Young Miss for thest time. Sigh! If Mistress wants to see Young ATiss for thest time, she has to hurry. With that, Song Rui then told her where Shen Rong and Meng Xuans bodies were being housed. I can make the decision to dy the burial until tomorrow night. Sanger finally suppressed her emotions and nodded gratefully at Song Rui. Fine. I will inform Mistress of this news when I get back. Thank you, Young Master Song. Then, she bowed to Song Rui politely. Miss Sanger, youre wee. If Mistress wants to see Young A^iss, you can send someone to inform me in advance. I can make some arrangements beforehand. Mm-hmm! Sanger answered and bid farewell to Song Rui. Before she left, she looked left and right to make sure that no one saw her before quickly disappearing into the darkness. Song Rui watched Sanger leave and waited for her to disappear before a smile appeared on his face. Then, he turned around and returned to his room. After a while, in Mrs. Shens courtyard. Inside the originally quiet room, heart-wrenching cries of anguish erupted not long after Sanger arrived. After a long while, Mrs. Shen finally stopped crying after the nanny and Sangerforted her tirelessly. Enduring the gut-wrenching pain in her heart, she gritted her teeth as she looked towards the courtyard of Prime Minister Shen. Shen Hongyu, youre really ruthless Just you wait she muttered. When they saw this, the nanny and Sanger exchanged looks with each other, their eyes filled with worry. Please do not grieve too much, Mistress. Master confined Mistress in the room because he didnt want Mistress to find out about Young Miss. If Master finds out that Mistress already knows that Young Miss has passed away, it will probably be even more difficult for Mistress to get out, Sanger advised. Thats right, Mistress. You still have to see Young Miss onest time, the nanny also reminded her. Only then did Mrs. Shen stop crying. Thats right. I have to see Ronger onest time. Sanger, go and look for Song Rui. Get him to make arrangements. Im going to see Ronger now! As she spoke, Mrs. Shen stood up. Sanger and the nanny quickly pulled her back. Sanger lowered her voice, afraid that someone outside would hear their conversation. Mistress, dont be anxious. Young Master Song has already agreed to help.. Chapter 380 - 380: Mrs. Shen’s Thoughts Chapter 380: Mrs. Shens Thoughts Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion But Master still has people guarding this ce. We have to think this through carefully. Mrs. Shens heart sank, and hatred appeared in her eyes again. Following that, she calmed down a lot. After a moment of silence, Mrs. Shen looked at Sanger again. Tell Song Rui that Im going to see Ronger tomorrow night. Tell him to get things arranged properly, she said in a low voice. Yes, Mistress, Sanger finally answered. Then, she turned to leave. Wait Mrs. Shen suddenly stopped her again. Sanger turned around and saw a hesitant look on Mrs. Shens face. After a moment, Mrs. Shen continued, Tell Song Rui that 1 will ept this favor today. Tell him to cooperate with me. In the future, he will definitely benefit. She didnt like Song Rui, of course, but this dislike was nothingpared to her hatred for Shen Hongyu. In the Prime Ministers residence, she was under Shen Hongyus control and could not do anything on her own. On the other hand, Song Rui was deeply trusted by Shen Hongyu. If she could rope him in, it would be of great help to her. Sangers face lit up. Yes, Mistress! she quickly answered. Previously, she was worried that Mistress did not understand the current situation and would continue to make things difficult for Young Master Song. This only made things even harder when she had to approach Young Master Song for help. Now, it was good that Mistress was clear about her current situation and was willing to make changes. In her opinion, the reason Young Master Song was still willing to help Mistress at this juncture was that he was indebted to the Young AAiss for saving his life previously and because of the affection he had for her. However, with Young Miss gone, those feelings of gratitude and affection might notst long. If Mistress wanted to rope in Young Master Song, it was a good time now. Mrs. Shen noticed Sangers reaction and raised her head to look at her. Only then did Sanger realize that she had lost her concentration. She quickly withdrew the expression on her face and lowered her head. A look of understanding shed across Mrs. Shens eyes. Think of a way to pull Song Rui to my side. After the matter is done, I will betroth you to him, she said. Sanger was shocked initially. Following that, she was delighted. She only hesitated for a moment before kneeling down in front of Mrs. Shen. Thank you for your favor, Mistress! She expressed her thanks. Young Miss did not have a discerning eye and that was why she abandoned Young Master Song. She was different from the Young Miss. In her opinion, Young Master Song was dozens of times better than Young Master Meng. Whether in terms of talent or appearance, he was a rare specimen in this world. In addition to that, Young Master Song also valued kinship and friendship and was upright. Even after the Young ATiss had done such a thing, he still did not forget the Young Misss kindness and was willing to help the Mistress. It was her blessing to be able to marry such an upright and kind young man. Even if she wasnt his legal wife, she would be content if she could be his concubine. Mrs. Shen looked at Sanger again, and a look of disdain shed across her eyes. Thereafter, her disdain quickly disappeared. She asked Sanger to get up. She gave Sanger some instructions before allowing her to leave. After Sanger left, the nanny looked at Mrs. Shen. Mistress she called out worriedly. Mrs. Shen looked at the nanny and sighed. Then, she spoke again, Sanger is a quick-witted girl. If I dont say this to fulfill her wish, Im worried that shell bite her master back. There were benefits to using smart people, but there were also risks. Shen Hongyu was too difficult to deal with. She had to ensure that the most capable person around her would not give her any problems. Only by using Song Rui to tie Sanger down could she be safe. The nanny thought for a moment and nodded. Mistress is wise. Mrs. Shen smiled. Its just an ordinary method. In the past, I would have disdained to use it, but now She had no choice but to use it. Sighing again, Mrs. Shen gestured for the nanny to help her up. The nanny quickly stepped forward and helped Mrs. Shen up, walking towards the bed. Mrs. Shen only felt morefortable after lying down on the bed. You should also prepare yourself. Tomorrow night, I have to see Ronger, she said wearily. Before seeing Ronger, she could not believe that her Ronger was gone. She had to make a trip there and confirm the truth with her own eyes. And she also had to personally send her daughter off. Yes, Mistress. The nanny answered and helped to tuck Mrs. Shen in. Following that, she excused herself. On Song Ruis side, he had just finished washing up in his room and was about to sleep. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Song Rui was surprised and looked toward the door. Who he asked. Young Master Song, its me The deliberately muted voice of Sanger immediately rang out from outside the door. Song Ruis eyes flickered. He picked up the coat on the screen and quickly put it on. After he was dressed, he walked towards the door. Upon opening the door, he found that it was indeed Sanger standing outside. When Sanger saw Song Rui, she immediately smiled. Young Master A hint of shyness shed across her face as she called out softly. Then, she looked at the room behind Song Rui, and it was tantly obvious that she wanted to go in. Her heart had been beating like a deer bounding around madly just now when she made her way here. The thought of marrying Young Master Song in the future made her secretly very happy. If it were in the past, she wouldnt be too willing to enter a mans room at night. However, Mistress had already spoken, so she did not have to worry anymore. She was even a little curious and wanted to go in and take a look. Song Rui noticed Sangers abnormality, but he didnt think too much about it. Miss Sanger, is there anything else? he asked Sanger, but he didnt invite her in. It was not for the sake of Sangers reputation, but for himself. He was a married man, so he had to take care to avoid suspicious acts. When Sanger saw that Song Rui didnt let her in, she didnt mind. Instead, she admired Song Rui even more. Young Master Song was a gentleman. He was indeed different from others. Mm-hmm. Young Master Song, can we talk in private? Even so, Sanger still looked into Song Ruis room again. She came here secretly, so she couldnt let anyone see her. It would be safer to talk in the room. Song Rui was stunned momentarily. No one wille at night, so Miss Sanger can speak here, he then said. Sangers face froze at once. When she saw Song Ruis solemn face, she hesitated for a moment before finally telling him what Mrs. Shen had instructed her. Tomorrow night, Mistress will think of a way to leave the Prime Ministers residence. At that point, 1 will have to trouble Young Master Song to bring Mistress to see Young Miss, Sanger said. Song Ruis expression froze for a moment before he nodded. Then, he asked, What time? Sangers face lit up at once. The time has yet to be determined. Young Master Song, you can just send someone to wait after midnight, she quickly said. Song Rui nodded again. Alright. After receiving an affirmative answer, Sanger felt very relieved. Following that, she looked at Song Rui affectionately. Young Master Song, A/listress said it can be considered that she owed you a favor this time. She will definitely repay you in the future. And Sanger was one of the ways to repay him. Song Ruis eyes flickered. Mistress is too kind. Im not doing this because I expect repayment. Young Miss has done me a favor. It should be considered as me repaying her kindness this time. In the future I will serve Minister Shen well and will not go against his wishes. In other words, he would not betray Minister Shen and would not turn around to align himself with Mrs. Shen. A look of disappointment shed across Sangers face, but it quickly disappeared. It was normal for Young Master Song to have such an attitude.. Chapter 381 - 381: Another Adopted Daughter Chapter 381: Another Adopted Daughter Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion However, since he had helped Mistress this time, he would help again the next time. It was not impossible for Mistress to win him over. Sanger smiled and didntpel Song Rui. Young Master, you have misunderstood. Mistress only wants to thank you. Moreover, Mistress is the mistress of the household in the Prime Ministers residence and is a family member of the Masters family. Isnt it the same whether you work for the Master or the Mistress? Song Rui looked at Sanger and saw her smiling brightly. In response, he also smiled and nodded. Miss Sanger is right. Sanger gave Song Rui a look that implied, If you get my drift. She chatted with Song Rui for a while longer before leaving. On the way back, Sanger was in high spirits. When she thought about how Song Rui smiled at her, she felt as if she had tasted honey inwardly. Meanwhile, Song Ruis expression clouded over soon after Sanger turned around and walked barely a few steps. Then, he turned around, closed the door, and went back to his room. A mere servant girl actually had such outrageous thoughts toward him. It really made him feel nauseous. Sigh! His wife was still the best. Unfortunately, it was toote now. Even if he went to their secret courtyard house, he wouldnt be able to see his wife tonight. Song Rui took off his clothes andy on the bed. As a strong sense of longing for his wife filled his mind, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. In his dream, he had returned to Mountain Spring Town. He was practicing calligraphy and painting with his wife, as happy and carefree as free spirits. The next day, Song Rui followed Minister Shens instructions and arranged for people to publicize the news that Shen Rong was on the verge of death. Although he missed Qin Xiaoyao very much, Song Rui controlled himself. He was thinking he would send a message to his wife as soon as the matter was over. After a busy day, in the evening, news of Shen Rongs serious illness spread out in the capital. ording to the news, the Young Miss of the Prime Ministers residence had not even gone to Fahua Buddhist Temple to offer incense. The news about her having an affair with a schr and even dying for love were all fake. The real situation was that Young Miss Shen had contracted a serious illness and had been recuperating in the residence. The Prime Minister had even invited the imperial physician to treat her. Unfortunately, her condition could not be treated. Miss Shens current condition was still very bad. When Minister Shen heard the news reported by the servant, he had a satisfied look on his face. The person he had taken a fancy to certainly lived up to his expectations. Song Rui was indeed quite capable. After dismissing the servants, Minister Shen ordered someone to look for Song Rui. Before long, Song Rui arrived at the study. After entering the room, Song Rui bowed respectfully to Minister Shen. My lord! Minister Shen raised his head to look at Song Rui. You may rise, he said. Song Rui straightened up upon receiving the word. Minister Shen sized up Song Rui. While he was satisfied with Song Rui, he couldnt help but feel regretful. It was such a pity. He really wanted Song Rui to be his son-inw. He even wanted to groom him to take over his position as Prime Minister. It was all that unfilial daughters fault. She had done such a shameful thing and even dared to jump off the cliff to die for love. Now, that unfilial daughter was no longer around. He could only give up on the marriage. He really felt that it was a pity My lord Song Rui gave Minister Shen a reminder when he saw the older man staring at him in a daze. Minister Shen quickly came back to his senses and withdrew his gaze from Song Rui. Our Shen residence has let you down with regard to the matter of that unfilial daughter. When this matter is over, I will make it up to you, he said. Song Rui quickly bowed to Minister Shen. My lord, your words are too harsh. I am also responsible for the Young Misss matter. If it wasnt for the fact that I didnt understand Young Miss intentions, Young Miss wouldnt have Hmph! Minister Shen snorted scornfully and interrupted Song Rui. When he saw Song Rui looking at him, his expression softened a little. What did it have to do with other people when shemitted something so disgraceful? Its good that shes dead now. So now she cant bring disgrace to me and the Shen family! Song Rui wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, he didnt say anything. When Minister Shen saw this, he felt a little better. He thought to himself, This kid did have some feelings toward my rebellious daughter. What a pity Suddenly, he thought of something and looked at Song Rui again. Other than that unfilial daughter, 1 have another adopted daughter That was right. Although he only had one wife in the Prime Ministers residence, he had other women outside. Naturally, he had other children. Not only did he have an illegitimate daughter, but he also had an illegitimate son. He had already arranged for the illegitimate son to be ced under the care of a branch family and had already paved the way for him. As for his illegitimate daughter, he had no other arrangements for her for the time being. In the past, he did not bring his daughter into the residence because of the Mistress and the Jia family. However, now, with the death of that unfilial daughter, his wife would definitely not let matters rest. Anyway, he was going to fall out with her, so this time, he might as well make it aplete fallout. It would also be a timely reminder to the Jia family and the Empress that the current Shen Hongyu was no longer the schr that they could easily manipte. Song Rui was shocked. He raised his head and looked at Minister Shen. Adopted daughter? What adopted daughter? He hadnt found out anything about this before. It was not easy for him to arrange for Shen Rong to leave. He didnt want a Shen Rong Number Two toe here! Thank you for your l1 Mrs. Shen looked at Song Rui with a rare gentleness in her eyes. When she saw that Song Rui couldnt forget her daughter, her opinion of Song Rui improved somewhat. Mrs. Shen nodded. Im counting on you to take care of Rongers funeral. I cannot leave the Shen residence for too long. After Ronger is buried, please let me know her final resting ce. At that point, 1 will find an opportunity to arrange for the grave to be moved. Shen Hongyu had gotten people to create the illusion that his daughter was seriously ill. Thereafter, he would definitely release the news of her sudden death. Following that, she would find an opportunity to swap her daughters corpse back so that her daughter could enjoy the glory of a grand funeral that should have belonged to her. As her mother, this was the only thing she could do for her daughter. That heartless Shen Hongyu not only hid the news of his daughters death, but he didnt even give her a proper funeral. She swore that she would make him pay. Song Rui looked at Mrs. Shen and guessed her thoughts. The Prime Ministers residence will hold a grand funeral for Young Miss. If Mistress wants to switch anything secretly, Im afraid it wont be easy, he advised. Mrs. Shen stared straight back at Song Rui, to the extent that Song Rui had to lower his head. Dont worry. 1 know what to do. I wont implicate you. At this moment, Mrs. Shen spoke up. I didnt mean it that way Song Rui quickly tried to exin. However, just as he raised his head, he saw Mrs. Shen gesturing at him to stop him from continuing. Its normal for you to be worried. However, youre worrying too much. I will arrange everything. Moreover, even if Shen Hongyu finds out, I have a way to make him not re up. I can even make him promise to let Ronger enjoy the grand burial that should have belonged to her. After all, the Jia family and the Empress were still standing behind her. She only wanted him to let her daughter be buried in the ce that should have belonged to her. He had no reason to object. As long as she gave him her word to continue being the Prime Ministers wife and maintain the rtionship between the Prime Ministers residence and the Jia family, as well as the pce Since her daughter was already dead, she naturally could not expect anything more from Shen Hongyu. Her love for Shen Hongyu had beenpletely wiped out. Now, she only had hatred for him.. Chapter 383 - 383: Mrs. Shen’s Level Chapter 383: Mrs. Shens Level Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Song Ruis eyes flickered, and he immediately bowed to Mrs. Shen without saying anything else. When Mrs. Shen saw this, she felt even more sorry for her daughter. This person indeed had some feelings for Ronger. Unfortunately, her daughter had been bewitched by that rascal Meng Xuan. When she looked at the female corpse in the coffin again, Mrs. Shen wiped away her tears once more. Send me back to my residence, she said after a while. Mistress, this way please Song Rui said quickly. Only then did Mrs. Shen leave. Outside the house, Song Rui saw the horse carriage off. He waited until the candlelight on the horse carriage had disappeared from his sight before turning around and returning to the house. He instructed some people to bury the two coffins. After personally watching over the people carrying out this task until they were done, Song Rui then mounted his horse and returned to the Prime Ministers residence. The next day, the Prime Ministers residence finally held the funeral. The news of the sudden death of the Prime Ministers daughter the night before spread throughout the capital. On the night of that very day, Mrs. Shen sent someone to look for Minister Shen and proposed to have a talk with him. Initially, Minister Shen did not want to bother with Mrs. Shen, but then he thought since she was the matriarch of the Shen residence, she would definitely have to attend Shen Rongs funeral. After thinking for a while, he consented. Soon, Mrs. Shen was invited to the study. When Mrs. Shen entered the room, she saw Minister Shen looking at his official documents with his head lowered. In the past, she found Minister Shens busy appearance very attractive, but now, she only felt disgusted. After entering, Mrs. Shen only sized up Minister Shen and did not speak. As for Minister Shen, he already knew that his wife had entered his study. However, he still kept his head lowered and busied himself, pretending to be unaware. After an unknown period of time, Minister Shen finally finished approving the official documents on the desk. Then, he raised his head to look at Mrs. Shen. When did you arrive? he asked. Of course, he knew when she came in, but he didnt want to admit it. In the past, he had been too amodating towards the Mistress, which was why the mother and daughter pair had caused him this kind of trouble. Now, he had to be stricter with the Mistress. A look of fear shed across Mrs. Shens face. She hurriedly bowed to Minister Shen. I have been here here for quite a while, Master, she said fearfully. Minister Shen was very pleased when he saw her behavior. There was finally a smile on his face. Since youvee in, why didnt you call out to me? he said in a good mood. When she saw his smile, Mrs. Shen only felt a chill. I wouldnt dare. Master is busy with important matters. 1 can wait, Mrs. Shen continued to speak cautiously. The smile on Minister Shens face deepened. A sense of tion surged up from the depths of his heart. He and the Mistress had been husband and wife for nearly twenty years. When the two of them were together, he had always been the one who had to tread cautiously. Now, their positions had finally changed. Ahem I heard from the servants that Mistress has something to discuss with me? Minister Shen asked. Yes. Mrs. Shen still maintained a docile appearance. Raising her head once more, she looked at Minister Shen fearfully. What is it? Minister Shen quickly spoke. Mrs. Shens body trembled and she raised her head again. I saw a white banner hanging in the residence I was panicking, so I came to ask Master. Who in the residence had passed away? As she spoke, Mrs. Shen looked at Minister Shen nervously. She looked like she wanted to know the answer but was afraid to hear it. When Minister Shen saw this, his eyes finally showed some tenderness. A momentter, he nodded with a troubled look. You guessed right. Its our Ronger, he said. Mrs. Shen staggered and almost fell. Minister Shens eyes were filled with pity when he saw her reaction. Ronger is gone? Mrs. Shens eyes instantly lost their vigor. Minister Shen frowned. Mm-hmm. He nodded. How how did it happen? Is the the information urate? Mrs. Shen continued. Minister Shen nced at Mrs. Shen. She was infected with a nasty disease and died suddenly. In order to avoid infection, I have already ordered Ronger to be buried tomorrow, he said. When he said this, his tone had already be more icy. Mrs. Shens eyes widened as she looked at Minister Shen in disbelief. Just when Minister Shen thought that the woman opposite him was going to yell at him like usual, he saw Mrs. Shen kneel down in front of him. Ronger is the well-born daughter of the Prime Ministers residence and my only daughter. How can 1 not participate in her funeral? Please, Master. Let me preside over Rongers funeral. As she spoke, Mrs. Shen looked at Minister Shen with a face full of pleading. Minister Shen was startled. He was surprised by Mrs. Shens behavior. After the initial shock, he fell silent and did not immediately agree to Mrs. Shens request. Something was amiss if things were out of the ordinary. He was worried that his wife was formting some unsavory thoughts. However, what his wife said was right. The Shen residences only daughter died of illness and if the Mistress of the house did not appear during the funeral, it would attract many peoples suspicions. In addition, Shen Rong had the blood of the Jia family in her after all. It was fine if he did not extend any courtesy to the Mistress, but he could not do the same to the Jia family and the Empress. Mm-hmm. After much hesitation, Minister Shen finally consented. Mrs. Shens face lit up at once However, Minister Shen spoke again. But I have one condition. Mrs. Shens face froze. Then the expression on her face disappeared. Following that, she bowed to Minister Shen again with deference. Master, please feel free to speak, she said. Minister Shen felt another burst of joy in his heart. All these years, we only have one daughter, Ronger. Now, Ronger has passed away. In order to ensure that you dont feel lonely, 1 want to take in an adopted daughter, arrange for her to enter the residence and attend to you and make you happy, Minister Shen said as he observed Mrs. Shens reaction. What do you think? Upon hearing this, Mrs. Shen immediately raised her head and looked at Minister Shen. There was fury in her eyes, but it onlysted for an instant before it vanished. Her expression then turned into one of helplessness and sorrow. When Minister Shen saw this, he felt somewhat gratified in his heart. Back then, the Mistress had harmed a kept woman whom he liked very much, as well as the daughter he had with that woman. At that time, he had made up his mind that sooner orter, he would slowly bring his children into the residence to spite his wife. Now, he had finally achieved his wish. Mrs. Shen lowered her head and finally nodded with much effort. Suppressing the bitterness in her throat, she answered, I will follow everything as instructed by Master. Minister Shen was delighted. He personally got up from the chair and walked over to Mrs. Shen to help her up. Thats right. You and 1 have been husband and wife for more than twenty years. The Prime Ministers residence can only be peaceful if we give in to each other. Mrs. Shen wiped away her tears. Master, youre right. She gave a smile. Haha Minister Shenughed out loud and even reached out to pull Mrs. Shen into his arms. If you had been so sensible earlier, we husband and wife would not have ended up like this, he said with a sigh. Thereafter, he even helped Mrs. Shen to a chair to sit down. Lianer is obedient and sensible. She doesnt lose out to Ronger in the realms of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You will definitely like her, Minister Shen said enthusiastically. Mrs. Shens face stiffened at once. In her heart, she wished she could kill Minister Shens illegitimate daughter. However, she didnt show it on her face. She even nodded as if she had epted her fate. Thus, the couple in the Prime Ministers residence reconciled peacefully on the surface.. Chapter 384 - 384: Striking It Rich Chapter 384: Striking It Rich Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Thereafter, Mrs. Shens house arrest was lifted. She became the Mistress of the household in the Shen residence once more and personally presided over Shen Rongs funeral. When Song Rui saw Mrs. Shen again, Mrs. Shen had changed her usual arrogant image. She was now dignified and calm. Greetings, Mistress! Song Rui stepped forward and bowed to Mrs. Shen. No need for formalities, Mrs. Shen said. She looked at Song Rui with some gentleness. Master has already handed Rongers funeral arrangements to me. Next, Ill have to trouble Lord Song to help. As she said this, a hint of underlying meaning shed across Mrs. Shens eyes. Song Rui quickly lowered his head and avoided Mrs. Shens gaze. Yes, Mistress, he replied. When she saw this, Mrs. Shen didnt get angry and immediately talked to Song Rui about the funeral arrangements. If she were Song Rui, she would not betray the Master and work for the Mistress immediately either. However, it was fine. She had plenty of time and patience. The next day, the Prime Ministers residence finally announced the funeral. The coffin was brought out of the Prime Ministers residence all the way until it was outside the city. Under the arrangement of Mrs. Shen and Song Rui, a body had already been ced inside the empty coffin. When the funeral was over, there was almost nothing for Song Rui to do in the Prime Ministers residence. He was finally free to meet Qin Xiaoyao. In the small courtyard, Song Rui had just arrived when Qin Xiaoyao leaped into his arms. Hubby! I missed you so much! The woman was very excited. When she threw herself into Song Ruis arms, she even kicked back one of her legs like a little girl. Song Rui was in a good mood as well. He reached out and held his wifes slim waist to stop himself from falling because of the force she exerted on him. Your husband missed you very much too! Song Rui said with a smile. He even reached out and pinched Qin Xiaoyaos face. Then, the two of them walked into the courtyard house hand in hand. In the hall, Qin Xiaoyao and Granny Hu had already prepared lunch. It was just some simple dishes, but the three of them found them especially tasty. Hubby, have some meat. After not seeing you for a few days, you have be thinner. Qin Xiaoyao picked up some food for Song Rui. Song Rui smiled and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. He also picked up a piece of meat for Qin Xiaoyao. You have some too, my dear. Eat more meat and youll have more strength, he said. His wife had said that her special ability was rted to the food she ate. Only by eating well and eating more would her special ability be sufficiently powered up. Mm-hmm! Qin Xiaoyao smiled sweetly and picked up the meat to eat. When she saw this, Granny Hu, who was sitting at the same table, grinned widely. Ah, the strength of the affection between the Young Master and Young Mistress! She had never seen such a loving couple before. After lunch, the couple retired to their room. Two hourster, they finally got down to discussing serious business. Our workshop has already been moved to the manor. The manpower arrangement is almost in order. Lets go all out. The century egg workshop will soon make a lot of money. Qin Xiaoyaos face was full of smiles. Not only was her business doing well, but her husbands troubles were also settled. How could she not be happy? Song Rui smiled and patted his wifes head. Thats good. Oh, yes. I also went to the manor to visit Shen Rong and Meng Xuan, Qin Xiaoyao said as she looked at Song Rui. Mm-hmm, Song Rui responded, but there was no change in his expression. Qin Xiaoyao then shifted her gaze away. Then, she said jealously, That Young Miss Shen doesnt seem to be that outstanding. Song Rui smiled in amusement. He reached out again and patted Qin Xiaoyaos head. Mm-hmm. Compared to you, she is indeed nowhere near as good. Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up as she looked at Song Rui arrogantly with an expression that implied, At least youre sensible. After lying in Song Ruis arms for a while, Qin Xiaoyao raised her head to look at Song Rui again. Now that the funeral in the Prime Ministers residence has been settled, Shen Rong and Meng Xuan are considered dead. What are you going to do with them? It was not a good idea to keep those two in her manor for a long time. If someone saw them and told other people, wouldnt it cause trouble? Besides, she had no interest in taking them in. Song Rui gazed to the front. Arrange for them to go to Yong Prefecture first. When the time is right, well bring them back. It was not safe to ce them in the capital, not even in the suburbs. Moreover, he had never thought of letting his wife take the risk in this matter. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Yong Prefecture is a big ce and not too far from the capital. Its a good ce. However, 1 dont think those two can rely on themselves to stay alive. If you let them go to Yong Prefecture, can they support themselves? She knew how difficult it was to earn money in ancient times without any skills. If she didnt have the skills to make century eggs, even if she were to rely on her brute strength to support her family, they could only lead a moderately well-off life. I bought a bookshop in Yong Prefecture. After they go there, Meng Xuan will be the shopkeeper of that bookshop, Song Rui said with a smile. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. Where did you get the money? She immediately asked Song Rui. Song Rui smiled. My dear, do you think that your husband cant even get this bit of money while following Minister Shen? He was the future son-inw of the Prime Ministers residence, the most popr and powerful upstart in the Imperial Court. There were countless people who wanted to curry favor with him or use him to get in through the back door to reach Minister Shen. He didnt want his wife to receive a big blow. Otherwise, if he told her about the property and money in his hands, his wife would get a big shock. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and understood. Did someone use that bookshop to bribe you? A bookshop was not cheap. Hubbys ability to earn money was not low Song Rui looked at his wife whose eyes had a crafty look, and nodded with a smile. It was such a pleasure to be with his wife. What other people thought was bad and unbearable, the couple didnt think so and could reach a consensus. Mm-hmm. Its not just the bookshop. There are other things. Moreover, there are quite a number of them, Song Rui said as he looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. How many? She looked like a little money-grubber. Ahem Song Rui cleared his throat. Just a few manors, some shops like bookshops, and some gold, silver, and banknotes. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up even more. How how many manors? Some shops and bookshops? Where are the shops? Dont tell me they are in the capital? She had inquired about the shops in the capital, and the prices were shocking. It was because she didnt have enough money that she chose to rent all the porridge shops. Song Rui looked at his wifes adorable face and nodded with a smile. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were practically radiating with light. Where are the shops? How many? she asked as she tugged at Song Rui. The smile on Song Ruis face deepened as he told her the location of the three shops. Song Rui spoke again when he saw his wifes eyes rolling around as if she seemed to have made up her mind. I cant give you these things for the time being. The smile on Qin Xiaoyaos face immediately disappeared as she looked at Song Rui. Song Rui quickly reached out and pulled her into his arms again. Although Minister Shen has never seen those shops, he more or less knows about them. In order to avoid arousing suspicion, its best if you dont touch them for the time being. When he saw that his wife was a little unhappy, Song Rui smiled. He suddenly sat up and got out of bed.. Chapter 385 - 385: Pillar of Support Chapter 385: Pir of Support Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Then, he took his clothes and retrieved a stack of things from his pocket. But its not like 1 cant give you anything. A total of 30,000 taels. Its enough for you to buy a few shops. As he spoke, he passed the silver notes to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned for a moment before her eyes lit up and she quickly epted the silver notes. She had no choice. Although her century egg workshop and porridge shops were very profitable, her expenses had been huge recently. In the early stages of her business, her funds were still a little low. However, with these 30,000 taels, she did not have to worry about anything else henceforth. Many ns did not need to be postponed and could be directly put on the agenda. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao leaned close to Song Rui and kissed him hard on the cheek. Thank you, Hubby! Hubby is really the pir of support in our family! Song Rui was very pleased to hear that. He pulled his wife into his arms again. When this matter is over, 1 will hand over all the assets in my hands to you, he said. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up, and her heart was filled with honey. Didnt they say that wherever a mans money was, his heart would be there? What confession could be more touching than this? Qin Xiaoyao stayed in Song Ruis arms for a while before breaking free from his arms. When are you nning to arrange for Shen Rong and Meng Xuan to leave? she asked. Probably three dayster, when the uproar has died down some more. Dying for too long would also be risky. Three dayster, when the buzz of the burial of the Prime Ministers daughter had died down, it should be about the right time. When he thought of Shen Rongs funeral, Song Rui couldnt help but think of the new fiancee that Minister Shen had forced upon him. He couldnt resist frowning. Qin Xiaoyao noticed the change and looked at him. Whats wrong? A look of hesitation shed across Song Ruis eyes. He held back for a while, but eventually still told her the issue. Shen Lian? Qin Xiaoyaos face immediately clouded over when she heard that. It wasnt easy to get rid of one Shen Rong, and now there was another Shen Lian? How many daughters did Minister Shen have? Also, how much did this Minister Shen like her husband? Why did he have to insist on making Song Rui his son-inw? When he saw Qin Xiaoyaos reaction, a hint of guilt shed across Song Ruis face, and he immediately pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his arms again. The situation was urgent at that time. In order to prevent that old fox from getting suspicious, 1 could only agree verbally first. He saw Qin Xiaoyao raising her head and looking at him angrily. But dont worry, my dear, Song Rui quickly exined. Your husband has told the old fox that the marriage can only be discussed after Shen Lian enters the Prime Ministers residence. Also, because of Shen Rongs matter, Mrs. Shens rtionship with the old fox haspletely broken down. This time, 1 helped Mrs. Shen. Now, she wants to rope me in to deal with the old fox. The old fox is keeping a woman outside behind Mrs. Shens back and now he wants to bring his illegitimate daughter into the Prime Ministers residence. Mrs. Shen will not let him and that Shen Lian have an easy time. Yes, he already knew about Mrs. Shenspromise. He also knew that she had used this condition to exchange for her release from house arrest and the right to preside over Shen Rongs funeral arrangements. However, her only daughter was forced to her death by Minister Shen, and she had to watch her husband bring the illegitimate daughter into the residence to take over her own daughters position. As the daughter of the Jia family and the Empresss biological elder sister, how could she possibly swallow this? Speaking of which, Song Rui had never thought of using Shen Rongs matter to make the Shen couple be estranged or even fight. It was actually a pleasant surprise for him that things had developed to this stage. Qin Xiaoyao cast a strange look at Song Rui. Everyone says that Minister Shens love for his Mistress is deep and unwavering. Even though Mrs. Shen only gave birth to a daughter, he did not take in a concubine. He doesnt even have a personal maidservant in an adjoining room in the residence.. Chapter 386 - 386: Going to Yong Prefecture Chapter 386: Going to Yong Prefecture Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon BoatTrar But now, Shen Lian has popped out. Moreover, ir seems that other than this Shen Lian, Minister Shen has other illegitimate daughters or even illegitimate sons. At this point, Qin Xiaoyao had a look of disdain on her face. Following that, she looked at Song Rui. One day, when you ascend to a high position and hold power in your hands, you wont do such a thing, will you?11 Human nature was selfish. She was not surprised that Minister Shen had done such things, but she despised him extremely for that. Song Rui quickly made an oath. I wont! Im satisfied to have you alone as my one wife! If 1 break this oath, you can take my head! His wife was so good. Why would he still hanker for other women? There were tens of thousands of women in this world. It was enough for him to have this one wife. He would find it annoying if other base and mediocre women were forced upon him. A satisfied look broke out on Qin Xiaoyaos face. Anyway, just remember what you promised me. Youre not allowed to marry anyone else, she said. Naturally! Song Rui immediately answered. The two of them continued to talk about other topics. However, now that she knew about Shen Lian, Qin Xiaoyao could no longer be as happy as before. After chatting with Song Rui for a short while, she lost interest in continuing the conversation. Song Rui saw that his wife was no longer in high spirits, so he didnt continue to talk to her and instead, brought her out of the room. After having dinner in the small courtyard house, the couple left one after another. In the blink of an eye, three days passed. Finally, it was time to send Shen Rong and Meng Xuan off. On this day, not only did Song Rui personally go to the manor, but Qin Xiaoyao also tagged along. The earlier I leave, the better. If someone finds out that Im here and reports it to my father, Father might really want my life, Shen Rong said fearfully. The Prime Ministers residence had already arranged a funeral for her. With her fathers character, he would never allow her to show her face again. If ir was in the past, she was still uncertain and thought that her father would at most hide her. Now, after learning that her father had an illegitimate daughter outside, she no longer had any doubts. No wonder her father had always been so strict with her and did not care about her feelings at all when it came to marriage. It turned our that she was not his only daughter Her fathers love for her mother was all fake. How did he manage to disguise himself for twenty years? When she thought of this, Shen Rong felt a chill down her spine. Meng Xuan noticed Shen Ro ngs unusual behavior and reached out to squeeze her palm. He gave Shen Rong a look of reassurance. Shen Rong turned to look at Meng Xuan and felt a little more at ease. Father was Father, but Meng Xuan was different. Her Meng Xuan was definitely not someone like her father. When Qin Xiaoyao and Song Rui saw this scene, they exchanged looks with each other discreetly. Their unspoken thoughts were clear. If it wasnt for the fact that Song Rui and Qin Xiaoyao were afraid of exposing their rtionship, they also wanted to hold each others hands. Ahem Thats true. But where are you two going? Do you need my help? Qin Xiaoyao pretended not to know about Song Ruis arrangements and said enthusiastically. Shen Rong and Meng Xuan turned to Song Rui when they heard these words. They didnt have any arrangements. They simply listened to Young Master Songs instructions. Song Rui nced at the three of them before telling them about sending Shen Rong and Meng Xuan to Yong Prefecture. I happen to have a bookshop in Yong Prefecture, and 1 need a shopkeeper to manage the business. If Young Master Meng doesnt mind, you can go to the bookshop and help me for a while, Song Rui said. Meng Xuan was delighted. He cupped his hands and bowed to Song Rui. How can I possibly mind? Young Master Song has helped us a lot. Ronger and 1 are extremely grateful. Ever since the decline of the Meng family, he had been poor and had suffered a lot. To be able to work as a shopkeeper in a bookshop was considered very good for him. Of course, he was nor surprised by Song Ruis arrangement. After all, this person was the first to approach him. Meng Xuan did not know what kind of enmity this person had with the Shen residence, or which faction in the Imperial Court that was hostile to Minister Shen had arranged for Song Rui to conceal himself so sessfully by Minister Shens side. This guy topped the talent recruitment examination and was made an official in the Ministry of Appointments. Meng Xuan felt really envious However, this guy had real talent and skills. Not even ten Meng Xuans couldpere with him. Therefore, he was only envious, and not jealous. Moreover, it was precisely because Song Rui was capable that Meng Xuan was willing and able to cooperate with him with ease of mind. As long as he could bring down Shen Hongyu and the Shen family, he would do anything! When the Shen family finally copsed, with his ability, even if he couldnt easily rise to the top like Song Rui, he would still have a chance to take the Imperial examination. By his side, Shen Rong gave a side nce at Meng Xuan. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she didnt say anything. If he was going to be a shopkeeper, then so be it. They were unfamiliar with Yong Prefecture, so it was good to let Meng Xuan find a job to do first. Meng Xuan did not know that Shen Rong had actually made some preparations for their escape. What did she prepare? Money, of course. A total of 5000 taels of silver was not a lot, but it was not a small amount either. In fact, if she wasnt worried that taking too much would arouse suspicion, Shen Rong would have brought all her private belongings, even jewelry. Nheless, this sum of 5000 taels of silver was enough. Her original n was actually to wait until the child was born and both she and Meng Xuan had be familiar with the ce. She would then take out a portion of the money and help Meng Xuan start a small business. Then, with the ie from the business, their family of three would live happily. Now, Young Master Song wanted Meng Xuan to be the shopkeeper of the bookshop. If it was only for a short period of time, it was fine. During this period, she and Meng Xuan could also investigate and see what business was suitable for them. At the thought of this, Shen Rong decided to discuss this matter with Meng Xuan thoroughly when she reached Yong Prefecture. Song Rui nodded in satisfaction. In that case, you two can leave tonight. Ive already arranged for a coachman and a horse carriage. After dark, someone wille to pick you up, Song Rui said. Meng Xuan and Shen Rong exchanged looks and then nodded at each other. Following that, Meng Xuan bowed to Song Rui again. Brother Song, I cant thank you enough, he replied. Song Rui gestured with his hand, signaling to Meng Xuan not to stand on ceremony. The coachman will send you directly to your residence in Yong Prefecture. When he saw Meng Xuan and Shen Rong looking at him, Song Rui smiled and continued, It s just a small house not far behind the bookshop. Its just a little token of my appreciation. I hope both of you wont despise it. Meng Xuan and Shen Rong looked at each other again with smiles in their eyes. How can we despise it? Im afraid 1 wont be able to repay Brother Songs kindness, Meng Xuan said. Song Rui also smiled and looked at Shen Rong. Its only a small token. Compared to Young Misss act of kindness when she saved me in the past, it is really not worth mentioning, he said. Shen Rong smiled and looked at Meng Xuan. The misgivings in rhe hearts of the two then lessened somewhat. They charted some more with Song Rui about the arrangements for rhe future before sending Song Rui off. Qin Xiaoyao naturally left together with Song Rui. After leaving the Meng couples courtyard, rhe Song couple walked closer to each other as a matter of course. The two of them were in no hurry to leave the manor. Instead, they went to the main courtyard. Qin Xiaoyao felt much more at ease now that she had arrived at her own ce. Then, she spent some quality time alone with Song Rui.. Chapter 387 - 387: Vacant Post at the Ministry of Appointments Chapter 387: Vacant Post at the Ministry of Appointments Trantor: Draqon Boat Trantion Editor: Draqon Boat Trantion I really dont want to be separated from you. Before they parted, Qin Xiaoyao held Song Ruis hand; unwilling ro let go for a long time. Song Rui also looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a face full of longing. He then reached our to touch his wifes face and sighed. I dont want ro be separated from you either. But bear with it a little longer Ir shouldnt be too long now7. The Emperors health was getting worse. Empress Jias condition was not much better. And Prince Huaiyin couldnt hold ir in anymore. The undercurrents of various factions in the Imperial Court had been surging during this period of rime. Something big should happen soon. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Rui resentfully and then leaned into his arms. Then, she asked with some dejection, How much longer do we have to endure? They were clearly a legally married couple, but every time they met, they could only do it sneakily, as if they were having an illicit affair. Now, one of them had just canceled one engagement, but a new7 match had been forced upon him. The other was rumored to be entangled with a male prostitute from a brothel. That was right. When Liu Ling helped her manage rhe business, he was recognized by the past customers of Cloud Scent Court. Those people knew that Qin Xiaoyao had redeemed Liu Ling, and she had even ended up being ar loggerheads with Empress Jias brother over this. Thus, they began specting about her rtionship with Liu Ling. She didnt really think much of it. However, if there were too many rumors, it would inevitably spread to her family in the Marquiss residence and her husband. This was definitely not a good consequence. Half a year at most. Song Ruis eyes flickered as he spoke. As long as the old fox trusted him a little more and gave him another leg up, the time could be shortened even more. Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Rui. When she saw7 the confidence in his eyes, she felt more at ease. It was only half a year. It wasnt that long, so she would wait a little longer In the blink of an eye, another ten days passed. Just as Song Rui had predicted, even though Shen Rongs funeral had already passed for several days, Shen Lian still could not enter the Prime Ministers residence. Of course, it wasnt that Minister Shen didnt want to bring Shen Lian into the residence. The reason was that Mrs. Shen, who had originally agreed to Minister Shens conditions, had dyed the time for Shen Lian ro enter the Prime Ministers residence. Although Minister Shen was somewhat annoyed by this matter, he did not force Mrs. Shen to ept his arrangement. Due to Shen Rong s passing, the Empress and Jia family were more sympathetic toward Mrs. Shen. And now, because of Shen Rong s matter, the Empress and the Jia family had a lot of opinions about him. If he were to brave the storm to bring Shen Lian into the residence and re-assign Shen Rongs fiance to Shen Lian, it would only make the rift between him and the Empress and the Jia family grow wider and wider. In the Prime Ministers study. Did you hear the news about Official Wang of the Ministry of Appointments wanting to retire? Minister Shen put down the document in his hand and raised his head to look at Song Rui. Song Rui raised his head and nced at Minister Shen. Then he bowed. My lord, 1 know a little. Official Wang has already passed 6o years of age. This time, his elderly mother passed away and he was preparing to return to his hometown to mourn. He has been an official in the Ministry of Appointments for several years, but he has not made any progress. Its understandable for him to retire now. ording to the Great Jin States regtions, the age of forced retirement for officials was 70 years old. In fact, as long as the officials did not take the initiative to resign, the Imperial Court rarely urged people to retire. Official Wang knew that there was no hope for his promotion. In addition, his mother had passed away and he had to return ro his hometown to mourn for three years. That was why he decided to retire in advance. With his departure, there was now a vacancy. It was difficult to enter the Ministry of Appointments, and an official of the Ministry of Appointments was a fifth-grade official position. There were many people who coveted it. Naturally, Song Rui was also eyeing it. Moreover, even if the old fox did not look for him this time to broach this subject, he was prepared to ask the old fox for help. His qualifications were far from enough, but with a sufficiently powerful backer behind him, qualifications were not important. If the old fox could help him be an official in the Ministry of Appointments, he would have some authority to rmend and appoint or remove officials. It could be considered that he officially held some power at that point. In this way, he would be able to better help Prince Huaiyin carry out his n. Minister Shen looked at Song Rui and nodded with a smile. There was a look of admiration in his eyes. The position of an official in the Ministry of Appointments is very important. It has to be one of our people. But currently, 1 dont have anyone suitable to send there. As for you, if you are promoted to be an official in the Ministry of Appointments, it will be a good thing for you and the overall situation, Minister Shen said. Song Rui was delighted. Thank you, my lord! he hurriedly expressed his thanks. However, Minister Shen raised his hand. Dont thank me yet. The joy on Song Ruis face immediately disappeared and he looked at Minister Shen again. Minister Shen smiled and suddenly asked, Mistress has been looking for you recently? Song Ruis face turned pale at once. My lord He hurriedly bowed to Minister Shen. Before he could finish, Minister Shen extended his hand to stop him. Theres no need to exin. Because of Rongers matter, Mistress has some misunderstandings about me. 1 dont me her. After all, she is my wife and the daughter of the legal wife of the Jia family. Sooner orter, she will understand and know what to do. He could understand that the Jia family and the Empress were dissatisfied with him at the moment. He could also allow his wife to be temperamental for a while, but sooner orter, she would have to ept him bringing Lianer into the residence. As long as the Jia family and the Empress tacitly agreed to this matter, his wife could no longer continue to throw a tantrum. As Minister Shen said this, he looked at Song Rui. Mistress is just a woman. Although she is a true blue direct descendant of the Jia family, she does not represent the Jia family. Do you understand what I mean? He really thought highly of Song Rui and had high hopes for him. He honestly didnt want him to misjudge the situation and think that by relying on his wife, he would be able to rely on the Jia family and the Empress. Song Rui quickly bowed to Minister Shen. My lord is indeed perceptive. Song Rui is only loyal to you! I definitely won t dare to contact Mistress again. Minister Shen nodded with a satisfied expression on his face. Theres no need for that. If rhe Mistress asks you to carry out tasks, you still have to do them if they are reasonable. However, there are some things that you better know what to do. As he spoke, Minister Shen looked at Song Rui meaningfully. Song Ruis eyes flickered as he quickly bowed again. Yes, Sir! If there are any unusual movements on Mistresss side, 1 will definitely report it to you in time! he said. Minister Shens eyes revealed a satisfied expression once again. Talking to a smart person was really effortless. As he looked at Song Rui again, Minister Shen felt somewhat encouraged. When Lianer enters the residence, I will put your marriage on the agenda. After bing my excellent son-inw, in the future, the Imperial Court will be our world, father-inw and son-inw worIcing hand in hand. He really regarded Song Rui very highly and had high hopes for him. At this critical moment, he only hoped that this kid would not stand on the wrong side and waste his good intentions. Thank you, Sir! Song Rui answered. However, he couldnt help but curse Minister Shen in his heart. First, he was threatened with a big stick, then he was lured with a carrot. The old fox was afraid that he would get close to Mrs. Shen and then rely on the Jia family to go against him. And he was quite good at painting rosy pictures, talking about turning the Imperial Court into their world Well, fine. He was interested in ruling over the Imperial Court, but he was not interested in doing it with him And as for that Shen Lian, he was not interested at all. Mm-hmm. Minister Shen nodded.. Chapter 388 - 388: Humiliation? Chapter 388: Humiliation? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion I will arrange for you to take the position vacated by Official Wang. Minister Shen finally relented. Song Ruis face lit up. Thank you, my lord! He thanked Minister Shen excitedly. Minister Shen gestured with his hand and smiled. Were family. Theres no need to be so polite. Then, he instructed Song Rui on some other matters before dismissing him. Song Ruis expression darkened the moment he walked out of Minister Shens study. Minister Shen knew that Mrs. Shen was trying to win him over, but the old fox only gave him a few verbal words of admonishment. Was he certain that Song Rui would give up on relying on Mrs. Shen and the Jia family for the sake of the rosy picture he painted? Well, alright. He wasnt prepared to rely on Mrs. Shen. However, cooperation was inevitable. In addition, with regard to the Jia family behind Mrs. Shen and the Empress Who said that he wouldnt join them? Putting the Jia family aside for now, he had always been in contact with Empress Jia. After all, that person held Song Rui in very high regard After walking out of Minister Shens courtyard, Song Rui originally nned to go back to his own courtyard, but he realized that someone was already waiting for him outside. That was right. He was the caretaker of the Prime Ministers residence and also Minister Shens trusted aide. Lord Song. When the caretaker saw Song Rui, he came forward and bowed. Upon seeing Song Rui gesture at him, he straightened up. The horse carriage is already waiting outside. The coachman will take Lord Song to Second Miss, he said. Song Ruis eyes clouded over momentarily. The old fox had asked him to go to Shen Lian just now to apany Shen Lian to rx, euphemistically speaking. In reality, he wanted Shen Lian to capture his heart. Shameless old thing. In order to tie Song Rui down, he was even willing to make use of his own daughter. Mm-hmm, he replied indifferently. Song Rui immediately changed his direction and headed toward the main gate of the Prime Ministers residence. The caretaker watched Song Rui leave and remembered the change in his expression. After Song Rui walked away, he went to Minister Shens courtyard. Not long after that, the news of Song Rui taking a horse carriage to meet Shen Lian reached Mrs. Shens ears in the rear courtyard. The news included details of Song Rui pulling a long face when the caretaker went to invite him. Hmph! Does Shen Hongyu think that everyone is like him? That kid Song Rui looks respectful on the surface, but hes actually very arrogant, Mrs. Shen said as she dressed up in front of the mirror. Through the bronze mirror, she saw Sanger, who was reporting the news to her with a worried expression. She could not help but smile. Dont worry. It was only Shen Hongyus wishful thinking to betroth Shen Lian to Song Rui. With me around, this matter will not seed so easily. Sangers eyes flickered. Besides,pared to Shen Lian, perhaps Song Rui likes you more, Mrs. Shen continued. Sangers face lit up with joy when she heard this. Sensing that she had forgotten her manners somewhat, Sanger quickly restrained her expression. Then, she shyly said to Mrs. Shen, Mistress, you are making fun of Sanger. Haha! Mrs. Shenughed in amusement. Im not making fun of you. Although Song Rui doesnte from an influential background, hes truly talented. The title of the Immortal Poet alone is enough to make up for hisck of background. Besides, hes no longer a meremoner now. Even if his position isnt high, hes still formally a sixth-grade official of the Ministry of Appointments. Yet Shen Hongyu doesnt think it is humiliating to him to let him marry a shameful illegitimate daughter. Sanger was surprised, but thereafter, she was secretly delighted. However, it was only for a moment before the secret joy disappeared. ording to Mistress, Young Master Song might not be interested in Shen Lian. Then what about her? Her status was even lower than Shen Lians Mrs. Shen saw through Sangers thoughts and smiled again. Although your status is not as good as Shen Lians, at least you have a clean background. Furthermore, you will be the concubine and Shen Lian will be the wife. Theres no basis forparison between the two of you. After saying this, a hint of disdain shed across Mrs. Shens heart. Although Shen Lian was an illegitimate daughter, she was still Shen Hongyus daughter. A servant girl actually dared topare herself to Shen Lian. This girl was really brazen. However, even though she despised the maidservant in her heart, Mrs. Shen did not show it on her face. The more Sanger was obsessed with Song Rui, the more loyal she would be to her. When Sanger heard this, a hint of dissatisfaction shed across her heart. There was definitely no way she couldpare herself to the deceased Eldest Young Miss. However, Shen Lian was just an illegitimate daughter. Moreover, Young Master Song was forced by Master to marry this woman. It was a disgrace to Young Master Songs reputation. In the future, if she followed Young Master Song, she might not lose out to Shen Lian in winning Young Masters heart. In fact perhaps Young Master Song would be more biased toward her As she thought of this, Sanger could not help but feel a little smug. Mrs. Shen caught a glimpse of Sangers reaction in the mirror and found it even more ridiculous. At this moment, there was a knock on the door. Mrs. Shen looked at the door. Who is it Sanger asked. Mistress, Eunuch Xiao Dezi is here. He said that he received the Empresss decree to invite you to the Pce. A servants voice immediately rang out from outside. Mrs. Shens expression froze as she exchanged nces with Sanger. Alright, she said. Please ask Eunuch to wait for a moment. I will pack up and follow him into the pce. Yes, Mistress! The voice outside the door responded and left. Mrs. Shen then instructed Sanger to continue to help her dress up. Thereafter, she changed her clothes and went out. In the end, the Empress still came looking for her. Ronger had only been gone for a short while, and Rongers aunt was already forcing her to allow Shen Hongyu to rece her own daughter with an illegitimate daughter. Mistress Sanger called out worriedly when she saw Mrs. Shens gloomy expression. Only then did Mrs. Shen look at Sanger. When Sanger saw that look, she became afraid and lowered her head. Dont worry. 1 will not fall out with the Empress. However, 1 will notpromise easily. My Ronger is the only Young Miss in the Prime Ministers residence. She would never allow Shen Lian to usurp her daughters position. With that, Mrs. Shen left, leaving behind a fearful Sanger. In the Empresss sleeping chamber. After receiving the summon, Mrs. Shen followed Xiao Dezi into the inner hall. In the hall, Empress Jia was still feeling unwell and lying in bed. The bed curtain had been lowered down, so no one could see the person inside. Mrs. Shen did not look at her and went forward to bow. Your humble officials wife hereby pays her respects to Your Royal Highness. May the Empress live for thousands of years! A hand finally reached out from behind the bed curtain. Immediately, the two pce maids standing by the side hurried over. One of them helped to lift up the bed curtain while the other went to support Empress Jia. With the help of the pce maid, Empress Jia got up from the bed. Cough, cough Elder Sister, please rise quickly. We sisters dont have to be so formal, Empress Jia said as she looked at Mrs. Shen. Thank you, Your Royal Highness! Mrs. Shen answered. When she straightened up, she realized that Empress Jiasplexion was very poor, and the look of grave illness hung heavily on her face. She had known that the Empress was not in good health, but she did not expect it to be so serious. Empress Jia and Mrs. Shens eyes met. When she saw Mrs. Shens worried expression, a pale smile appeared on Empress Jias face.. Chapter 389 - 389: Meeting Empress Jia Chapter 389: Meeting Empress Jia Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Last night, I was too desirous of the cool breeze and stayed in the Imperial garden for too long. 1 caught a cold when I came back. Cough, cough Has Your Royal Highness summoned the Imperial Physician to take a look? Mrs. Shen asked worriedly. She was a little angry at the Empress for not standing up for her and Ronger. However, the Empress was still her younger sister after all and had treated her well all these years. In addition, the Jia family could not do without the Empresss care, so not surprisingly, she did not want anything to happen to her younger sister. Empress Jia raised her eyes and looked at Mrs. Shen with a smile. 1 have. He gave me a prescription to treat a cold. But I didnt drink it because the medicine was too bitter. How can Your Royal Highness do that? Mrs. Shen quickly said. She went forward to support Empress Jia personally. Good medicine may be bitter but its good for the disease. Your Royal Highnesss body isnt very strong, to begin with. If you dont take medicine, how can Your Royal Highness recover quickly? Haha When she saw her elder sisters concerned look, Empress Jias mood improved a little. After seeing Mrs. Shens reproachful gaze, Empress Jia smiled and patted the formers hand. I can drink the medicine if you want me to, but you have to feed me personally, she said. When she was young, she also found medicine bitter. Every time she fell sick and her family brewed medicine for her, she would secretly pour away the medicine. This went on until she was discovered by her elder sister and was coaxed by her elder sister to drink the medicine. Time really flew by. In the blink of an eye, decades had passed. She and her elder sister had both married and had children. As their identities and statuses changed, the rtionship between them also changed. It was no longer as pure as before but was mixed with many things. Mrs. Shen nced at Empress Jia, her eyes filled with myriad emotions. Alright, she immediately replied. Then, she asked the pce maid to bring the medicine and she personally fed it to Empress Jia. Empress Jia drank the medicine obligingly. Although she frowned from time to time andined that the medicine was bitter, she took one mouthful after another and did not stop. When the pce servants saw this, they were all delighted. They sighed in their hearts. The Empresss elder sister was still the best. Only she could make the Empress drink the medicine obediently. Mrs. Shen saw the reaction of the pce servants and looked at Empress Jia. Youre already so old, but youre still so willful, she said. Empress Jia turned to look at Mrs. Shen. Not only was she not angry at herck of respect, but her smile became even warmer. No matter what age 1 am, I am still the younger sister that Elder Sister dotes on the most, Empress Jia said with augh. As if recalling the past, Mrs. Shens eyes also showed some tenderness. Rather than saying that 1 dote on you, its more like youre taking care of me. Youve been smart since you were young. You can talk about all things big and small in the family. Father and Brothers all listened to you. If it werent for you, my life wouldnt have been so easy. When she took care of the Empress, it was mostly reflected in her daily life. Whereas when the Empress took care of her, the formers actions changed her life. Their Jia family was not powerful from the start. Before the Empress entered the pce or rather, before she was conferred the title of Imperial Concubine, their Jia family was actually just an ordinary family of an official. Her father was a seventh-grade county magistrate, and his family had no powerful rtives. It was the Empress who brought the Jia family into the capital and made the Jia family a powerful and influential force in the capital. With the support of the Empress, Mrs. Shen avoided the fate of being forced into a marriage alliance by her father and brothers and eventually married Shen Hongyu. In hindsight, it seemed that marrying Shen Hongyu was not a good choice. However, at that time, the Empress had indeed helped her a lot. The Empress said that she, the elder sister, was the one who took care of her. However, she knew very well that her younger sister was the one who took care of her more. Since that was the case, why didnt her good younger sister take care of her a bit more? To help seek justice for her Ronger and help her keep what belonged to Ronger. Empress Jia smiled and patted the back of Mrs. Shens hand again. She then asked Mrs. Shen to help her up. Mrs. Shen did as she was told. She helped Empress Jia to the soft couch to sit down. After Empress Jia sat down, she patted the seat beside her and bade Mrs. Shen sit next to her. Mrs. Shen nced at Empress Jia and did as she was told. After Mrs. Shen sat down, Empress Jia continued to chat with her. My health hasnt been good recently, so 1 didnt summon you into the pce, Elder Sister. Elder Sister, youre really heartless. You didnt even bother toe and visit me. At this point, a hint of reproach shed across Empress Jias eyes. Mrs. Shen was stunned momentarily. When she looked at Empress Jia, a hint of emotion shed across her eyes. Did she not want to enter the pce? It was clearly Empress Jia who did not want to see her On the day of Rongers funeral, she wanted to look for Empress Jia, but she was stopped by thedy-in-waiting by Empress Jias side. She really knew how to shift the me, turning around to say that Mrs. Shen did not want to enter the pce to visit her Empress Jia saw through Mrs. Shens emotions, but she was not angry. She reached out and grabbed Mrs. Shens hand. We sisters have been close since we were young. In my heart, Elder Sister is a very important person, she said earnestly. Mrs. Shens heart skipped a beat. When she looked at Empress Jias eyes which were filled with sincere emotions, the little anger in her heart finally disappeared. If Your Royal Highness really thinks this way, then help this humble officials wife again! Then, she suddenly got up and knelt down in front of Empress Jia. Elder Sister, what are you doing? Empress Jia quickly stopped her. Lets sit down and talk. Mrs. Shen nced at Empress Jia before obediently returning to her seat. Then, she wiped her tears. Your Royal Highness, I thought thought that Your Royal Highness really didnt care about me anymore. Sob, sob Why do you say that? Regardless of whom I dont care about, 1 cant possibly not care about my Elder Sister. Empress Jia quicklyforted her. She even allowed Mrs. Shen to cry on her shoulder. Elder Sister, if you have any grievances, feel free to tell me. 111 seek redress for you, Elder Sister, Empress Jia said. Mrs. Shen suddenly felt a lot more at ease. She even suspected that it might have been thedy-in-waitings idea to block her back then and that it had nothing to do with the Empress. Sob, sob Your Royal Highness A well of sorrow suddenly gushed up from Mrs. Shens heart and she threw herself into the Empresss arms. The Empress quickly patted Mrs. Shens back tofort her. At the same time, she ordered the pce servants to leave. After all the pce maids and eunuchs had left, the Empress continued, Alright, Elder Sister. Dont cry. Tell me. What exactly happened to you? Only then did Mrs. Shen choke back her tears as she got up from the Empresss arms. Then, she began talking about Shen Rong. Your Royal Highness, I only have one daughter, Ronger but Shen Hongyu Shen Hongyu caused her death. Sob, sob Not only did he kill my daughter Now, he wants to bring his illegitimate daughter into the Prime Ministers residence and upy everything that belongs to Ronger. Sob, sob Hes almost bullying me to death When the Empress heard this, her face darkened instantly. Ronger was really forced to her death by Minister Shen? she asked in a low voice. She knew that Shen Rongs death was not as simple as it appeared, but she did not expect it to be due to this reason. Shen Hongyu had indeed gone overboard this time. However, Shen Rong was also too much. She abandoned Song Rui, who was such a good man, and actually got entangled with another man, even secretly getting pregnant. Yes! Shen Hongyu just couldnt bear to see anyone disobey him! Thats why he forced my Ronger to her death! Mrs. Shen said angrily. Empress Jia nced at Mrs. Shen and nodded. Then, she said, This time, Ronger has indeed gone a little overboard in her actions. Mrs. Shens expression turned anxious. She wanted to say something but was stopped by Empress Jia. But even if that child was in the wrong, Minister Shen should not be so heartless.. Chapter 390 - 390: Even Empress Jia Had Worries Chapter 390: Even Empress Jia Had Worries Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Upon hearing this, Mrs. Shen was finally relieved. She quickly nodded. Thats right! Shen Hongyu is too vicious! He must have wanted to bring the bastard from outside into the residence for a long time. Thats why he forced my Ronger to her death Sob sob Ronger, my Ronger is too pitiful Mrs. Shen continued to dab at her tears. Empress Jia looked at Mrs. Shen again with an expression full of conflicting emotions. I beg Your Royal Highness to help me seek justice. Help Ronger seek justice Mrs. Shen seemed to have grabbed onto a life-saving buoy as she tugged on Empress Jias arm. Sigh Empress Jia let out a long breath. She reached out and held Mrs. Shens hand. Then, she spoke as Mrs. Shen looked on with an expectant gaze. Back then, I had already advised you to think twice before you get married. Shen Hongyu is not as simple as he appeared, but you didnt believe me. She actually thought quite highly of Shen Hongyu. Back then, she was the one who rmended him to her father. However, she did not expect that not long after Shen Hongyu entered the Jia residence, he began having designs on her elder sister. By the time she realized it and wanted to stop him, it was already toote. In fact, she also knew that her elder sister did not have to marry Shen Hongyu, but she was afraid that her father and elder brothers would arrange another marriage for her. With her future uncertain, her elder sister chose Shen Hongyu, who had ced all his attention on her at that time. And she, under her elder sisters insistence, chose to help her. Hence, the marriage between the Jia family and Shen Hongyu was formed. Shen Hongyu was indeed a talent. With the help of the Jia family, he rose steadily. Moreover, Shen Hongyu had yed an indispensable role in her path to bing the empress. Unfortunately, such a character was not such a good person. She had long known that Shen Hongyu had broken his promise and kept other women outside. When she found out, she was a little angry. However, she soon calmed down. She thought that as long as Shen Hongyu did not make those things public and did not let her elder sister know about it, it was actually no big deal. After all, things were different now. It was indeed a little unfair for the Prime Minister to keep bowing down to the same woman. However, not long after that, the matter blew up. Her elder sister found out about Shen Hongyus affairs and even sent someone to deal with Shen Hongyus lover. Her elder sister had even caused a ruckus in the pce. After the incident, Shen Hongyu showed a different attitude toward her elder sister for the first time. Shen Hongyu felt no guilt towards her elder sister, only anger. As a result, he also had less respect for Empress Jia. Empress Jia knew that if she threatened Shen Hongyu again, the effect would be counterproductive and Shen Hongyu might even turn against her. After weighing the pros and cons, she persuaded her elder sister and told her to turn a blind eye. As long as Shen Hongyu didnt make things public, she would still be the only mistress of the household in the Prime Ministers residence. She even looked for Shen Hongyu and got him to make a promise. As long as her elder sister was alive, he could not bring any woman or illegitimate child into the Prime Ministers residence without her elder sisters permission. This was to preserve her sisters dignity. At that time, although her elder sister was very disappointed, she still listened to Empress Jias advice. Only then did the Prime Ministers residence gain several years of peace. However, now, something had happened again. Mrs. Shen looked at Empress Jia in an aggrieved manner. But its toote for me to regret Sob, sob Your Royal Highness, please seek justice for me! Sob, sob Empress Jia frowned. Alright, stop crying first. She reached out to wipe away Mrs. Shens tears. Only then did Mrs. Shen stop crying in front of Empress Jia. Prime Minister Shens words carry weight in the Imperial Court and he is deeply trusted by the civil and military officials. Even I have to ord him some respect. As she spoke, Empress Jia sighed. The rtionship between the current Prime Ministers residence and our Jia family changed a long time ago. Besides Cough, cough Empress Jia coughed violently twice. When she saw that Mrs. Shen was about to pat her back to help soothe her, she gestured with her hand to stop Mrs. Shen. Moreover, over these two years, I feel that my health is getting worse. When ones energy iscking, though ones heart is willing to do many things, ones strength is not up to the task. Mrs. Shens eyes flickered, and she hurriedly called out, Your Royal Highness She thought that Empress Jia was unwilling to help. Empress Jia raised her hand again to stop Mrs. Shen from speaking. This time, in Rongers ident, Minister Shen is indeed to me. But Rongers actions are too out of line. But even if Ronger did something wrong, she doesnt deserve to die. He is Rongers biological father, but he forced Ronger to her death. Your Royal Highness, how can I swallow this? Sob, sob My Ronger doesnt know anything. She was still so young Sob, sob Empress Jia frowned again and reached out tofort Mrs. Shen. The Fahua Buddhist Temple incident was not entirely Minister Shens fault. Its also Ronger who couldnt think things through When she saw Mrs. Shen looking at her, Empress Jia shut her mouth. However, at this point, he wants to bring his illegitimate daughter into the Prime Ministers residence and give Rongers previous fiance to his illegitimate daughter. It is indeed inappropriate. Mrs. Shens expression became less unpleasant. How about this? I will summon Minister Shen here to see what he has to say, Empress Jia continued. Thank you, Your Royal Highness! Mrs. Shen hurriedly bowed and thanked her. If the Empress was willing to get involved in this matter, things would be easier to handle. Empress Jia sighed and helped Mrs. Shen up. I still reiterate the same view. The current Minister Shen is different from the one in the past. Even I cant do anything rashly to him. Since Minister Shen has mentioned to you that he wants to bring Shen Lian into the residence, Im afraid that it will be difficult to turn the situation around. I can only try my best to fight for some rights for you, the Empress said. Mrs. Shen was stunned for a while. Finally, she nodded. She knew that this was the Empresss final concession. Empress Jia sighed again and patted the back of Mrs. Shens hand. In the future, its best for Elder Sister to be more patient toward Minister Shen, she suddenly added. Mrs. Shens face stiffened at once. Empress Jia continued, My health is getting worse by the day. If If one day, 1 am gone, the Jia familys greatest reliance is Minister Shen. Mrs. Shens expression changed drastically. What is Your Royal Highness saying? Your royal body is fine she said hurriedly. However, before she could finish speaking, Empress Jia stretched out her hand to stop her. I know my own body well. Elder Sister Empress Jia said as she looked at Mrs. Shen. Mrs. Shens expression was grim. The Jia family is where it is today because of me. In the past, 1 always felt that 1 was the hero of the Jia family, allowing the Jia family to be the capitals number one powerful family. But now, I am somewhat uncertain Your Royal Highness Mrs. Shens heart inexplicably became anxious. Empress Jia interrupted her again. These years, the Jia family has enjoyed boundless glory, but they have also made many enemies. If I am around, naturally no one would dare to touch the Jia family. But if 1 am gone Those people from the Huangfu n will not let the Jia n off This is especially true of Huangfu Wudi. She did not expect that her one act of benevolence back then would actually leave behind such a huge disaster. Now, it was almost impossible to get rid of him. On the contrary, Empress Jia might be the one who would lose. As the Empress, she wasnt worried that Huangfu Wudi would take things too far with her.. Chapter 391 - 391:1 Don’t Have That Ambition Chapter 391:1 Dont Have That Ambition Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion However, it was hard to say for the rest of the Jia nOr rather, it was more urate to say that people would seek to settle old scores with the Jia nter. The Jia n rose because of her, and in the end, it would probably fall because of her. Panic shed across Mrs. Shens face again. Although she rarely got involved in those matters, she knew that the fate of the Empress and the Jia n were closely rted. As for the Huangfu n, because of the Empress, they had indeed been very badly suppressed these few years. Once the Empress passed away, the Huangfu n would definitely regain control as they were the Imperial family. And the Jia n would definitely be dealt with. Unless When she recalled some of her fathers and brothers ns, Mrs. Shen looked at the Empress fearfully. Unless the Empresspletely seized power and seized everything that belonged to the Huangfu n, making it impossible for the Huangfu n to make aeback. The Empress noticed Mrs. Shens expression and the corners of her mouth curled up. But Elder Sister, dont worry too much. With Prime Minister Shen around, I will definitely be able to protect Elder Sister. Prime Minister Shen had been managing the Imperial Court for many years and was a wily old fox. Even if she fell from power and Minister Shen was implicated, the Shen familys situation would be much better than the Jia family. Furthermore, the current Minister Shen was the target of various factions wanting to win him over. If he defected in advance, the glory of the Shen family might continue. Therefore, she really couldnt touch Shen Hongyu now. In fact, she had to give him more respect. Mrs. Shen was shocked. Then, she looked at Empress Jia with some irritation. Why must Your Royal Highness act like this? If Your Royal Highness directly proim she said. Shut up! However, before she could finish, she was interrupted by Empress Jia. At this moment, Empress Jias eyes were icy and stern. She red at Mrs. Shen with a strong warning look. Mrs. Shen was so frightened that she froze on the spot and did not dare to look at Empress Jia. After a while, Empress Jia shifted her gaze away from Mrs. Shen. The affairs of the court are tooplicated. Elder Sister, you should just do your part well as the wife of the prime minister. As for other things, its better not to get involved too much, she said. Mrs. Shens heart sank. Yes, she replied fearfully. Only then did Empress Jias expression rx a little. After taking care of me for so long, Elder Sister must be tired. Servants Empress Jia suddenly shouted to someone outside. Soon, a pce servant came in. Empress Jia then spoke, Send Mrs. Shen out of the Pce. Her expression was stern and no longer as gentle as before. Mrs. Shen did not want to leave, but when she saw that Empress Jias expression clearly indicated that she would not entertain any guests anymore, she was very afraid. Your humble officials wife will take her leave. She finally stood up and bowed. Thereafter, she left with the pce servants. Empress Jia watched the pce servants lead her elder sister away with an ominous expression. It was not until Mrs. Shen walked out of the main hall that she withdrew her gaze. Hmph! Empress Jia gave an angry snort and then gestured for thedy-in-waiting to help her back to the bed. Thedy-in-waiting hurried forward. She helped Empress Jia up and they walked to the bed. Your Royal Highness, please dont be angry. Mrs. Shen said those words because she didnt understand Your Royal Highnesss predicament. Thedy-in-waiting nced at Empress Jia and tried tofort her tentatively. Empress Jia shot a nce at thedy-in-waiting, causing her to lower her head. Then, she withdrew her gaze. Hmph! She didnt understand my predicament? If she really didnt know about my predicament, why would she say such treasonous words? Its precisely because shes my elder sister that 1 have been tolerant of her. Otherwise As she spoke, a chilly glint shed across Empress Jias eyes. Otherwise, if anyone else dared to say such words to her, she would have already gotten someone to take action against the speaker. The Jia family had indeed grown bold. Even her elder sister, who had never cared about political affairs, was now persuading her to proim herself as the Emperor. One could imagine how much more concerned about this matter her father and brothers were in private. There was really no end to these peoples greed. The Jia familys power had already reached this stage, yet they were still not satisfied. That was right. She had never thought of usurping the Huangfu familys throne. From the beginning to the end, she was well aware of her identity. She was the daughter-inw of the Huangfu family. The Emperor treated her very well. If she really carried out that treacherous act, when the Emperor passed on to theherworld, how would he face his ancestors? Moreover, she was a woman. If she really proimed herself to be the Emperor, who could she appoint to be the crown prince thereafter? Her son? Her sons surname was Huangfu. If she made her son the crown prince, her son would only go against her. Then should she make her nephew from the Jia family the crown prince? The throne was not passed to her son but to her nephew? What kind of logic was that? To put it bluntly, after she had passed away, the ones who would offer incense at her grave would only be her descendants, not her nephews. Therefore, why bother to start a dynastic change? However, even if she didnt think of doing such things, other people would think of such things on her behalf, and even try topel her to do it. All these years, she had indulged the Jia family too much. Thedy-in-waiting nced at Empress Jia. Mrs. Shen has just lost her beloved daughter. Its inevitable that she would oversimplify things. She continued tofort Empress Jia. Empress Jia nced at thedy-in-waiting and finally stopped being angry. Instead, she said with a sigh, This elder sister of mine is now different from back then Thedy-in-waiting did not say anything else. Empress Jia returned to the bed. She allowed thedy-in-waiting to help her lie down. Go. Make the arrangements. After the court session tomorrow, invite Minister Shen to see me, she continued. Yes, Your Royal Highness, thedy-in-waiting answered. She tucked Empress Jia in before leaving. Meanwhile, Mrs. Shens expression was glum as she walked out of the pce. The Empress had already agreed to stand up for her, which was exactly what she had hoped for. However, the Empresss attitude was not what she hoped for. The Empress actually had no interest in the throne and even treated Shen Hongyu as one of the Jia familys escape routes. If the Empress did not change her mind, then wouldnt she and the Jia family have to rely on Shen Hongyu to survive? How could she ept this? In a sudden panic, Mrs. Shen gripped the embroidered handkerchief in her hand tightly. Immediately after that, she thought of Song Rui and let go of her handkerchief. The Empress treated Shen Hongyu as the Jia familys escape route because he was the Prime Minister of the Great Jin State. However, what if he was no longer the Prime Minister? Didnt Shen Hongyu want to groom Song Rui to be his sessor? What if this sessor was not for the Shen family, but for the Jia family? When she thought of this possibility, a smile subconsciously appeared at the corner of Mrs. Shens mouth. The Empress held Song Rui in very high regard. Previously, she even wanted to entice Song Rui to be Princess Xiangyangs Prince Consort. Hmph! It was indeed difficult for her to snatch Song Rui away from Shen Hongyu. However, if it was the Empress or the Jia family taking action, the situation would be different. Upon thinking of this, Mrs. Shen quickly hatched a n in her mind. Meanwhile, after Song Rui got into the horse carriage outside the Shen familys residence, he was sent to a manor in the suburbs by the coachman. Once there, he saw Shen Lian, who had been arranged to stay in that manor by Shen Hongyu. Shen Lian must have known about Song Rui very early on as she was very shy the moment sheid eyes on Song Rui. She looked at Song Rui with shyness and fear in her eyes, and also a tinge of adtion. Father mentioned Young Master Song to me before. Young Master Song, you are even better in person than what Father described. Shen Lian didnt even dare to look at Song Rui when she said this. This Young Master Song was not just good. He was like a celestial being descending to the mortal world. There was probably no one else like him in the entire world. That Shen Rong was really blind to abandon such a good husband and do such a foolish thing.. Chapter 392 - 392: Shen Lian Chapter 392: Shen Lian Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion However, it was a fortunate oue. If Shen Rong had not made a mistake, Shen Lian would not have had the chance to be valued by her father. She would not even have the chance to enter the Shen familys residence and get betrothed to Young Master Song. Song Rui looked at Shen Lian with disdain in his heart, but he did not show it on his face. Young Miss, you tter me. Its not an exaggeration! Young Master Song is peerless in talent and knowledge, and you are you are also extraordinarily handsome. You certainly live up to your name as the Immortal Poet! Shen Lian hurriedly said. She was afraid that Song Rui would think that she was lying. Song Rui was stunned. Then, a smile appeared on his face. Thank you, Young Miss. Following that, he cupped his hands and bowed to Shen Lian. When he bowed, he even intentionally nced at Shen Lian. Shen Lian felt as if an electric current had passed through her body, and she stared back in a daze. Song Rui smiled again and even let out a softugh, which roused Shen Lian from her daze. As he looked at Shen Lians shy-looking face, he continued, Minister Shen is worried that Young Miss is notfortable living in the manor. He specially asked me toe over and take a look. Now that I know Young Miss is well, Minister Shen can rest assured. Im thankful thankful for Fathers concern, Shen Lian hurriedly said. She did not dare to look at Song Rui anymore. Song Rui nced at Shen Lian, and the disdain in his heart intensified. He was lustful but not brazen. Not only was this girl notparable to Shen Rong, who had already left the Shen family, but she was also worlds apart from his wife. If there is anything that the manorcks, Young Miss can give your instructions directly to Uncle Wang. Minister Shen said that there were some obstacles in bringing you into the residence. Im afraid Young Miss will have to stay in the manor for quite a while more. Shen Lians expression changed at once as she looked at Song Rui. Song Rui smiled and continued, Its just some minor obstacles. Dont worry, Young Miss. With Minister Shen around, the trouble will be resolved sooner orter. Shen Lians expression finally became more rxed. She bowed to Song Rui coyly. Please go back and tell Father that Lianer is not in a hurry. Please ask Father to prioritize his health and dont overwork himself for Lianer. Song Rui nced at Shen Lian and nodded. Young Miss is so full of filial concern. I will definitely pass on the message. She was a little stupid, but she wasnt stupid at the critical moment. The old fox had more than one illegitimate daughter outside but he only fancied her and wanted to bring her into the Shen familys residence. From the looks of it, it wasntpletely without reason. Thank you, Young Master. Shen Lian bowed again, and a shy and timid look appeared in her eyes. Ahem Lets take a walk over there, Song Rui suddenly said. Mm-hmm. Young Master, this way please. Shen Lian led the way. Then, she brought Song Rui around the manor. During this walk, Shen Lian enthusiastically introduced Song Rui to the things in the manor. Under Song Ruis prompting, she also told him a lot about herself and Shen Hongyu. Song Rui listened and noted everything down mentally. He thought to himself that the old fox really treated Shen Lian and her mother well. Unfortunately, as long as Mrs. Shen was around, Shen Lians mother could never enter the Shen familys residence. However, it was a good thing that Shen Lians mother was still alive. In this way, there would be an irreconcble conflict between Mrs. Shen on the one hand, and the mother and daughter together with Shen Hongyu on the other. The next day, after the court session ended, Minister Shen was invited to the Empresss sleeping chambers. Lord Shen, this way please. After thedy-in-waiting went in to report, she quickly ushered Minister Shen in. Minister Shen entered. Greetings, Your Royal Highness. May Your Royal Highness live for thousands of years! After seeing the Empress, he went forward and bowed. Minister Shen, no need for formalities, the Empress replied with a smile. Then, she said to the pce servant not far away, Bring a seat. Immediately, a eunuch brought a chair over. Prime Minister Shen turned his head to look at the chair and his expression rxed substantially. Thank you, Your Royal Highness. After bowing, he stood up and walked towards the chair. Then, he sat down openly. As he looked at Empress Jia, Minister Shen pretended not to know anything and spoke up. May I know why Your Royal Highness summoned me? He had been bowing to Empress Jia and the Jia familys tyranny for many years, but now the situation was different. If the Empress really wanted to stand up for his wife this time, then she could not me himter. Empress Jia looked at the slightly hostile expression on Minister Shens face and sighed in her heart. However, a smile appeared on her face. Indeed, I have something to discuss, she said. A hint of glumness shed across Minister Shens eyes, but it quickly disappeared. Oh? he asked. Empress Jia nodded. Mm-hmm. I want to talk to you about Ronger. Minister Shens expression clouded over and he did not reply. Empress Jia smiled and continued, Yesterday, Elder Sister came to the pce and told me about Ronger. Only then did 1 find out that Ronger did not die suddenly, but As she spoke, a look of bitter disappointment shed across Empress Jias eyes. Minister Shens eyes flickered and he hurriedly bowed to Empress Jia. The unfilial daughtermitted a mistake and brought shame to the Prime Ministers residence. I was forced to lie that she died suddenly. Please forgive me, Your Royal Highness. If one took a simplistic view, he had lied to everyone for the sake of preserving the reputation of the Prime Ministers residence and his daughter. However, if one took a serious view, it was a crime of deceiving the Emperor. If the Empress punished him for this, no one could say anything. In fact, their Shen familys dignity would bepletely destroyed. Empress Jia smiled and raised her hand. Im not saying that your handling of this matter is improper. Only then did Minister Shen rx a little. But To his surprise, Empress Jias words suddenly turned around. Having just put his mind at ease, Minister Shen instantly became worried again. Following this, Empress Jia continued, But, Ronger is still my niece. She is my elder sisters only daughter. The matter of the Fahua Buddhist Temple Do you think that the way you handled it was too reckless? As she spoke, Empress Jia looked at Minister Shen, her gaze no longer as gentle as before. Minister Shens heart shuddered. He hurriedly bowed to Empress Jia. The moment he lowered his head, he realized that Empress Jia was intimidating him. A wave of anger shed in his heart, but Minister Shen quickly calmed himself down. After 1 thought about this matter in the aftermath, indeed some things could have been handled better. As he spoke, Minister Shen raised his head to look at Empress Jia. He then added, Ronger is also the apple of my eye. How can 1 stand by idly when she When he said this, a pained look crept over Minister Shens face. That child has been bewitched by someone and wont listen to persuasion. At that time, I thought she was just threatening me and would not take her life flippantly. Who could have thought Minister Shen closed his eyes in anguish. After a while, he continued, It is true that I have not handled this matter properly. I have also failed in my duty in her upbringing, resulting in hermitting such a shameful act! Empress Jia watched Minister Shens performance and sighed in her heart. Minister Shen certainly lived up to his reputation. Though he admitted his mistake, in the end, he did not forget to mention that Shen Rong hadmitted a morally reprehensible act. Even if Empress Jia wanted to find fault with him, it would be difficult for her to do so. A ripple of emotions shed across her eyes. Then Empress Jia sighed and gestured for Minister Shen to rise. You are indeed to me for this matter, she said. Minister Shens body stiffened as he raised his head to look at Empress Jia. Empress Jia continued, However, its not entirely because of the matter of Ronger at the Fahua Buddhist Temple. Its your attitude towards your wife after the incident. Minister Shen was shocked. Only then did Empress Jias expression soften as she continued, Rongermitted suicide. The greater responsibility lies with her. Actually, no one is to me.. Chapter 393 - 393: Empress Jia’s Manipulative Talk Chapter 393: Empress Jias Maniptive Talk Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion But my elder sister has suffered greatly in this matter. Faced with Minister Shens surprised gaze, Empress Jia continued, Just like you, my beloved minister, she experienced the pain of losing her daughter. What she received next was not her husbands concern, but house arrest. Minister Shens heart shuddered and he subconsciously avoided Empress Jias gaze. Empress Jia continued, Not only that. Her husband also concealed the news of her daughters death and made changes in name to mourn for her. Minister Shen lowered his head as his eyes darted around, not knowing how to respond. Empress Jia continued again. Whats more, her husband even tried to take his illegitimate daughter into the residence to rece her daughter. At this point, Empress Jias expression had already turned frosty. I wish to ask you, my beloved minister. If you were my elder sister, are you able to swallow this insult? Minister Shens heart shuddered again. He quickly stood up and bowed to Empress Jia. Your Royal Highness! There is another story behind this matter, and it is not entirely what the Mistress said! Oh? Then why dont you tell me whats going on? Empress Jia effected an angry look. Minister Shen hurriedly continued, The order to put the Mistress under house arrest in the courtyard is to prevent her from finding out about Rongers death in case she couldnt take the blow. As for Lianer I did not take her into the residence to rece Ronger. She is only my adopted daughter. After entering the residence, she will alsoe under the Mistresss name. I have been husband and wife with the Mistress for nearly twenty years. How could 1 do such a despicable thing? Minister Shen spoke with certainty. If Empress Jia did not know the real reasons, she would have almost believed his words. In that case, is Shen Lian really the illegitimate daughter that you raised outside? Empress Jia quickly said. There was an undisguised anger in her tone. The matter of Minister Shen keeping women outside was already an open secret to the Jia family and her. However, everyone did not bring the matter up publicly because they wanted to preserve their pride and dignity. Now, the cover waspletely removed. Minister Shen was stunned. His expression darkened, and then he raised his head to look at Empress Jia. Following that, he admitted it outright. Yes. Empress Jias eyes flickered. Then do you still remember what you promised me and my father when you asked to marry my elder sister? she asked. Minister Shens expression darkened further. I remember, he said in a low voice. How could he not remember such a great humiliation? When Empress Jia saw this, she did not rush matters. Instead, she sighed and picked up the teacup on the coffee table. Then, she took a sip. Actually, I dont me you for breaking the promise you made back then. After all, you are already the Prime Minister of the Imperial Court. Its indeed unfair for you to keep to one woman for decades. Minister Shen was caught off guard. The anger in his heart was substantially dispelled. To his surprise, Empress Jia did not pursue the matter further after bringing up this topic. What I find strange is that you gave my elder sister a dream that all women look forward to. Yet, you shattered that dream with your own hands. Shen Hongyu, the harm youve done to my elder sister is much deeper than you think. Minister Shen was stunned. When he thought of his arrogant wife, he felt a rare sense of guilt. When Empress Jia saw this, she continued, Previously, when you were keeping a woman outside, I advised Elder Sister to turn a blind eye. After all, all men flirt. As long as you dont make these things public and as long as she is still the only mistress of the house in the Prime Ministers residence Minister Shen lowered his head and did not answer. Over the years, he had indeed done so. Although he had other women outside, he had never allowed those women to appear in front of his wife. On the other hand, his wife had punished his lover when she found out that he was keeping a woman outside. At that juncture, there was a fight between them. In the end, the Mistress gave in as long as he did not bring her out in the open, thereby ending the quarrel. All these years, although he and his wife were no longer loving, they were still respectful to each other. If nothing had happened to Ronger, this situation would have continued. However, who would have thought that Ronger chose tomit suicide? He had no choice but to choose Lianer to rece Ronger. All of this was not entirely for himself, but for the Shen family. Empress Jia nced at Minister Shen and sighed again. She put down the teacup. The reason you and my Jia family and I have always been able to help each other is because you married my elder sister and Ronger was born to you two. But now, you want to bring Shen Lian into the residence. Minister Shen raised his head and was about to exin when he was interrupted by Empress Jia. And you also want to betroth Shen Lian to Rongers previous fiance. As Empress Jia spoke, she looked at Minister Shen. If I remembered correctly, youre preparing to nurture Lord Song to support the Shen family, correct? She still remembered that guy Song Rui. Previously, she had intended to win over that person to be her Xiangyangs Prince Consort, but she was rejected by that person. Coupled with the fact that Minister Shen came to her and pleaded with her, she gave up on her previous thoughts. She didnt expect that silly girl Shen Rong to be socking inmon sense. Not only did she give up such an outstanding man, but she was also seduced by a poor schr and evenmitted suicide. It was fine if her elder sister alone was born without any scheming tendencies, but she had even raised her daughter into such a useless person. Now, Shen Rong was gone. The connection between Minister Shen and Empress Jia and the Jia family was broken. In the future, how were they going to maintain the trust between them? Minister Shens expression was solemn as he sighed in his heart. If Shen Rong had not died, how would things havee to this? He had cooperated with the Empress and the Jia family for many years. If he had no other choice, he would not be willing to offend them and cause trouble for himself. He had no choice but to make such arrangements. Thus, Minister Shen responded, Yes. He still had to pave the way for Song Rui and n for the Shen familys future. These things could not be hidden from the Empress. Empress Jia nced at Minister Shen and smiled, but her smile was tinged with chilliness. In that case, my elder sisters worry is not without reason. My beloved minister, if you can bring Shen Lian into the residence today, by tomorrow, you will be able to bring Shen Lians mother into the residence. Moreover, today its Shen Lian Number One. Tomorrow it might be Shen Lian Number Two, Shen Lian Number Three, or even more. Minister Shen wanted to exin but was interrupted by Empress Jia again. My beloved minister, are you trying to say that it wont be like this? Empress Jia smiled. It might not be the case now. But you still want to betroth Shen Lian to the future head of the Shen family. As Song Ruis status rises and he bes more powerful, wont Shen Lian have other thoughts? Dont you think she would want to fight for the status of her birth mother? At that point, there will be many things that you cant do as you please, my beloved minister. Minister Shen frowned. The words that he had prepared were stuck in his mouth. This was because he knew that what Empress Jia said had a high chance of bing a reality. However, as long as Song Rui could take over his position and support the Shen family, what happened to the Jia family at that time would have nothing to do with him. Nevertheless, now, he wanted to pave the way for Song Rui, so he couldnt offend Empress Jia and the Jia family. After hesitating for a moment, Minister Shen finally said, Then what does Your Royal Highness have in mind? When he uttered this, it was as good as making a concession.. Chapter 394 - 394: Shen Lian Asking For Help Chapter 394: Shen Lian Asking For Help Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Empress Jias eyes lit up. She knew that she had achieved her first goal. Its very simple. Get rid of the mother but keep the child, she said. Minister Shen was shocked and raised his head to look at Empress Jia. Empress Jias expression was gentle as if what she had just said was just a casual chat about the weather. Deal with Shen Lians birth mother and put an end to the daughters thoughts. Then, bring her into the residence and raise her under the name of my elder sister. In this way, my elder sister will be Shen Lians adoptive mother and take over the status of being her mother. Only then can the Jia family and I treat her as one of our own. Ignoring Minister Shen who was still in shock, Empress Jia continued, In addition, there are two youngdies in the Jia family. If you dont mind, you can take one of them as a concubine and carry on the family line. As for the other person, how about you let Lord Song take her? Empress Jia looked at Minister Shen with an inquiring expression. Minister Shen was even more shocked. He did not expect Empress Jia to make such an arrangement in order to control the Shen family. Should he agree now? If he agreed, the Shen family would once again form a close alliance with Empress Jia and the Jia family. At this juncture, it was not necessarily a good thing to stand with the Jia family again. However, if he didnt agree, he would be breaking off rtions with the Jia family. Next, he would have to face retaliatory measures from Empress Jia and the Jia family. Most importantly, he was afraid that he would no longer be able to pave the way sessfully for Song Rui. If that happened, many of his ns and arrangements had to be scrapped. Er Isnt it asking too much of the Jia familys young miss to marry Song Rui as a concubine? Minister Shen said. As for him, he felt there was no harm in taking in a concubine. Empress Jia smiled. Its not considered asking too much. As long as Minister Shen and Lord Song agree to this, Lord Song will immediately be promoted to the position of an official in the Ministry of Appointments. He will be a fifth-grade official in the Ministry of Appointments. And hes still young, with an infinitely bright future. It is not a loss to the Jia family to marry off a concubines daughter to be a concubine. Minister Shens eyes flickered. He thought to himself that Empress Jia had indeed guessed correctly that he wanted Song Rui to fill the position vacated by Official Wang. In that case, I shall do as Your Royal Highness say, he replied. The corners of Empress Jias mouth curled up as she nodded in satisfaction. Three dayster, when Official Wang retired and returned to his hometown, Song Rui took over his position and was promoted to the position of an official in the Ministry of Appointments. The moment the Imperial edict was issued, all the ministers congratted him. Song Rui had once again be the most worthwhile new upstart to cozy up to in the Imperial Court. On this day, Song Rui had just finished drinking with his colleagues and was preparing to return to the residence. A servant suddenly appeared and blocked Song Ruis way. After inquiring, he found out that Shen Lian had sent him. Shen Lian was actually in a hurry to see Song Rui. Song Rui only hesitated for a moment before agreeing to meet Shen Lian. The servant was very anxious and led the way on horseback. Song Rui sat in the horse carriage at the back, specting why Shen Lian was looking for him. In the end, he arrived at the ce before he could figure out why. He followed the servant and quickly arrived at Shen Lians courtyard. As soon as Song Rui appeared, Shen Lian quickly walked over. Young Master Song! she shouted anxiously with red-rimmed eyes. She even went forward to grab Song Ruis hand without any regard for etiquette. Song Rui evaded her touch and Shen Lian did not seed in her attempt. His action also sobered Shen Lian up a little. She nced at her maidservant, who then gave the male servant an eye signal. Following that, the two of them excused themselves from the courtyard. When he saw this, Song Rui frowned. He was just about to say that this was inappropriate and that they had to avoid arousing suspicion. Shen Lian bowed to him respectfully. Young Master Song, 1 beg you to help me! Song Rui was caught off guard. Just as he was about to ask what had happened, he saw Shen Lian raise her head and look at him with a pair of teary glistening eyes. Father gave my mother poison and wanted her tomit suicide. Im begging you, Young Master Song. Please help me plead with Father. Boo hoo hoo! My mother my mother doesnt want anything! She doesnt get in the way of anyone even if shes alive! Boo hoo hoo I 1 have always been with my mother since young, with the two of us relying on each other. I cant live without my mother Shen Lian was crying her eyes out. If Song Rui had not avoided her earlier, she would have thrown herself into Song Ruis arms again. Song Rui frowned and remained silent. The old fox had told him about the conditions he discussed with Empress Jia. However, he didnt realize that other than taking in the daughter of the Jia family as a concubine, there was also this condition. Then again, it was not that strange. In order to stabilize Mrs. Shens position in the Shen familys residence, how could Empress Jia be soft-hearted? Young Master Shen Lian called out worriedly when she saw that Song Rui didnt respond. Song Ruis eyes finally flickered, but he looked at Shen Lian with a troubled expression. Young Master Shen Lian panicked and called out to Song Rui again. I know that this matter has put Young Master in a difficult position, but but other than Young Master, I dont know who else I can ask for help from. Boo hoo hoo Shen Lian cried helplessly. It was heartbreaking to see her. However, Song Rui was definitely not one of the people who felt heartache for her. At this moment, Song Rui was not only not feeling heartache. On the contrary, he was feeling extremely annoyed. Didnt know who else to ask for help? Wouldnt it be more convenient to look for the old fox directly? She clearly did not want to offend the old fox and lose the opportunity to enter the Prime Ministers residence. What a hypocritical woman. Hmph! All the women in the world were indeed hypocritical. Only his wife was always true to herself. Er Song Rui suppressed the disgust in his heart and put on a troubled expression. Shen Lian immediately looked at Song Rui. Please help my mother beg for mercy. If Father doesnt want my mother to appear, she can hide or go far away. She wont ruin Fathers ns! Song Rui nced at Shen Lian and sighed. It is very difficult to change Minister Shens mind once he has decided, he said. Shen Lians face turned pale. She unwittingly took a step back, almost losing her bnce. Song Rui looked at Shen Lian with a hint of pity in his eyes. Eventually, he said, But there might be another way. Shen Lian was surprised for a moment, then her face was filled with joy as she immediately looked at Song Rui. What way? she asked anxiously. Song Rui appeared troubled again. Young Master Shen Lian shouted anxiously. She was afraid that Song Rui had changed his mind, but didnt want to say it. Song Rui looked at Shen Lian again. Fake her death to deceive Minister Shen and the others, he said after a moment of hesitation. Shen Lians eyes widened. A trace of hesitation shed across her eyes. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she looked up at Song Rui again. How do we do it? she asked in a low voice. If this matter was exposed, her father would definitely be furious. However, she only had one mother. How could she watch her mother die for her? Therefore, she decided to take some risks. After she married Young Master Song, she would be respected due to her husbands noble status. At that point, even if someone found out that her mother was still alive, they probably wouldnt dare to do anything to her mother. I have a drug that can allow people to fake their deaths. After taking it, their breathing and pulse will stop. As long as she takes the antidote on time, she cane back to life. Song Rui looked at Shen Lian. At that juncture, as long as we find the right opportunity to rescue your mother in time, we can hide this matter from everyone. Shen Lian was utterly shocked. Young Master, is what you say true? she looked at Song Rui with some suspicion. Its true, Song Rui replied. After 1 save your mother, you can personally feed her the antidote. Its just that you have to arrange well where your mother will go in the future.. Chapter 395 - 395: Pseudocide Chapter 395: Pseudocide Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Draqc Song Rui looked at Shen Lian worriedly. After all, the one who really wants your mothers life isnt Minister Shen, he said meaningfully. Shen Lians expression changed at once. As if she had thought of something, a hint of hatred shed across her eyes. However, it was only for a moment before she returned to normal. I will arrange for Mother to leave the capital, she continued. Of course, she knew that it was not her father who wanted her mothers life. Her father loved her mother very much. If not, her father would not have brought her mother from Yun Prefecture to the capital, and allowed her mother to stay in the capital for more than ten years. The one who wanted her mothers life was Madam Jia. It must be that Madam Jia. She was afraid that Shen Lian would threaten her position after entering the residence, so she wanted to ger rid of her mother in advance. Madam Jia had really gone too far! When he saw Shen Lians expression, Song Rui felt very satisfied inwardly. Arranging for your mother to leave the capital is not a simple matter. Young Miss, do you have any suitable candidate for the task?11 Shen Lian was taken aback, and a troubled expression appeared on her face. All these years, she had lived with her mother in the courtyard house arranged by her father. There were only four servants serving them. This time, her father had sent someone to bring her to live in this manor. Her mother had allowed her to bring one maidservant and one male servant. After this, she would still need to use these two people. It was not suitable to arrange for them to do this. Moreover, even if she arranged for them to leave with her mother, her father would definitely notice. If that was the case, it would only backfire. Song Rui nced at Shen Lian and smiled inwardly. However, he didnt show it on his face and cupped his hands at Shen Lian. If Young Miss doesnt have a suitable candidate, 1 can arrange it for you, he said. Shen Lian immediately looked at Song Rui. Her eyes were filled with joy. Then, she withdrew her smile. Er Young Master has already helped me a great deal. If you still help to arrange my mothers matters, will it be Shen Lian lowered her head shyly. When he saw this, Song Rui felt a wave of contempt in his heart. However, on the surface, he was full of enthusiasm. Young Misss matter is my matter. Moreover, in the future, Young Miss s mother will be my Ahem In short, if Young Miss hands this matter over to me, I will definitely arrange it properly. When Shen Lian heard these words and saw Song Ruis attitude, her heart thumped so fast that it almost jumped out of her chest. Lord Song was willing to do so much for her. In the future, when she had such a talented and doting husband, what else could she ask for? Lord Song Shen Lian looked at Song Rui with affection. Song Rui felt a chill in his heart. After exchanging a nce with Shen Lian, he averted his eyes. Shen Lian thought that Song Rui was embarrassed. She thought that since she and the other party were not married yet, she could not go too far. Thus, she withdrew her affectionate gaze. Then Ill leave this matter to you, Lord Song. Following that, she bowed courteously to Song Rui. Song Rui quickly replied that this was his duty. Afterforting Shen Lian, he left. He left the manor and boarded the horse carriage. Song Ruis face immediately clouded over once inside. He lowered his head and looked at the clothes he was wearing. He couldnt resist dusting his clothes off a few times. When he recalled how Shen Lian had touched his clothes, Song Rui reminded himself that he would have to change his clothes when he got back. At this point, Song Rui still didnt know that there was someone else waiting for him in his courtyard in the Prime Minister s residence. That woman was also waiting anxiously for him. She was Sang er, Mrs. Shens maidservant. As soon as he returned to the Prime Ministers residence and entered his own courtyard, Song Rui saw Sanger, who had been waiting for a long time. When he saw Sang er looking at him with a gaze simr to Shen Lians, Song Rui felt a disgusting chill in his heart again. He suddenly realized that it was not a pleasant experience for people other than his wife to long for him. Lord Song Sang er came forward and bowed shyly at Song Rui. Miss Sanger, please dont stand on ceremony. Suppressing the disgust in his heart, Song Rui replied with a smile. Miss Sanger, are you looking for me for some matter? Sanger was surprised. She didnt expect that Song Rui was in no mood to chat with her at all and would immediately ask about serious matters the moment he arrived. However, after thinking for a while, Lord Song was someone who was busy with important matters. When he saw her, he must have thought that something had happened to Mistress. When she considered that he didnt want to dy important things, she felt more relieved. Mm-hmm. Sanger nodded. Mistress asked Sanger to invite you, Lord Song. She said that she had something important to discuss with Lord Song. Song Rui was stunned. Oh? Did Mistress say what is it regarding? A look of hesitation appeared on his face. Sanger smiled. No. However, its definitely a good thing for you, Lord Song. She looked at Song Rui with eyes aze with emotions. The Empress had already stood up for Mistress, and now even Master had to give in to Mistress. The Empress had already informed Mistress of her arrangements, and as Mistresss personal maid, she knew most of it. The matter of the Masters illegitimate daughter entering the residence was inevitable. However, even if Shen Lian entered the residence, she would still be living under the Mistresss control. As long as Mistress was alive, Shen Lian would not be able to do anything. In addition, Lord Song was not only favored by the Master and Mistress, but even the Empress favored him. Not only did the Empress promote Lord Song to be an official in the Ministry of Appointments, but she was also prepared to arrange for a young miss from the Jia family to marry Lord Song as a concubine. Although that girl was only a concubines daughter, it was enough to show how highly the Empress and the Jia family regarded Lord Song. Although she didnt like the fact that she had to share Lord Song with someone else, she was happy for him. With the help of the Master, the Empress, and the Jia family, Lord Songs future would be limitless. Song Rui nced at Sanger. When he saw that the maidservant was looking at him in an increasingly disrespectful manner, he felt another wave of disgust. Hehe! Then Miss Sang Er, please lead the way Song Rui said with a smile and gestured forward invitingly. Sangers pretty face turned red and she led the way. They went all the way to the back courtyard. After Sanger went in to inform her mistress, Song Rui saw Mrs. Shen not long after. Song Rui hereby pays his respects to Mistress. When he saw Mrs. Shen leisurely trimming a ported nt, Song Rui stepped forward and bowed respectfully. Mrs. Shen turned to look at Song Rui. Lord Song, you are here, she replied with a smile. Then, she handed the gardening shears in her hand to the nanny. Following that, she walked to the chair and sat down. After she sat down, she saw Song Rui still standing. Mrs. Shen smiled and looked at Sanger. Invite Lord Song to sit down. Sanger quickly looked at Song Rui. Lord Song, please have a seat, she said with a smile. Song Rui nced at Sanger and then cupped his hands and bowed to Mrs. Shen. Thank you, Mistress, he said. Thereafter, he did not stand on ceremony and went to sit on the chair. Mrs. Shen looked at Song Ruis back profile. After he sat down, she sized him up again. The more she looked at him, the more pleased she felt. While regretting her daughtersck of taste, she also sighed at the Empresss good taste. Song Rui felt a little awkward under Mrs. Shens intense gaze. Just as he was about to ask Mrs. Shen why she was looking for him, Mrs. Shen spoke up. Lord Song, thank you for your help in Rongers matter previously. Mrs. Shen smiled kindly. Mistress, you are wee. I owe Eldest Young Miss a debt of gratitude, so I feel that its only right for me to make a final effort for her.. Chapter 396 - 396: Free To Choose Chapter 396: Free To Choose Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Mrs. Shen nced at Song Rui and smiled. Why did he have to make it so clear every time? Was he so afraid of her trying to rope him in? Rongers favor is hers alone. I still have to thank you. With that, Mrs. Shen looked at Sanger. Sanger understood and immediately went to the inner room. Soon, a tray was brought out. There was an exquisite wooden box on the tray. One could tell with one look that the item inside was very expensive. This is a little token of my appreciation. Lord Song, please ept it, Mrs. Shen said. Song Rui looked at the wooden box and hesitated for a moment before standing up to express his thanks. Thank you, Mistress! Mrs. Shen looked pleased and looked at Sanger. Only then did Sanger bring the tray over. Song Rui epted the wooden box. However, he simply ced it on the coffee table and did not immediately open it. Mistress, are you looking for me to discuss some matter? After receiving the gift, he naturally had to ask what he was supposed to do. Mrs. Shen became solemn. Mm-hmm, she replied. Then, she looked at Sanger and the nanny. The two of them immediately bowed to Mrs. Shen and excused themselves from the room. Song Rui frowned and looked at the door. After hesitating for a moment, he didnt say anything eventually. When she saw this, Mrs. Shen smiled again. Lord Song, dont worry. Sanger will be standing guard at the door. No one wille in. Song Rui looked at Mrs. Shen and tried to contain himself. In the end, he didnt argue with her. May 1 know why Mistress is looking for me? he asked after that. His tone was no longer as gentle as before. Although this Mrs. Shen was not much younger than his mother, there was still a difference between men and women. Her actions were way out of line in terms of etiquette. When she noticed this, Mrs. Shen was not annoyed. Instead, she asked Song Rui, Does Lord Song know about the deal between the Empress and the Master? Song Rui was stunned momentarily. I know a little, he immediately replied after that. Mrs. Shens eyes flickered. Thereafter, she told him about the agreement the Empress and Minister Shen had reached. When Song Rui heard this, his expression remained the same. Obviously, he knew about the part of the agreement that was rted to him. When she saw his reaction, Mrs. Shen was not too surprised. Lord Song, what do you think of this matter? Mrs. Shen quickly asked. Song Rui looked at Mrs. Shen. Then, he cupped his hands to the left in her direction. The agreement between Minister Shen and the Empress is not something 1 can discuss. I am indebted to Minister Shen for his kindness in recognizing my ability. I will naturally follow his arrangements. Mrs. Shens eyes flickered as she cursed in her heart. What kindness in recognizing his ability? If he really wanted to repay kindness, shouldnt he repay her daughter? Back then, it was her daughter who saved him and even rmended him to Shen Hongyu. The reason he cooperated was that Shen Hongyu was willing to pave the way for him and ensure he had an infinitely bright future. Even though she was cursing in her heart, Mrs. Shen still had a smile on her face. Thats right. However, we can still make some adjustments within the broad arrangements. As Song Rui looked at her, Mrs. Shen continued, My elder brother has four concubines daughters. Among them, Concubine Wus daughter is the most favored. Although Qier is the child of a concubine, she is almost like a legitimate daughter in the Jia family. If Lord Song epts Qier as your concubine, the Empress and the Jia family will definitely value her more. There were also differences between the concubines daughters. Judging from how much Jia Qi was doted upon, the possibility of her elder brother marrying her off to Song Rui as a concubine was not high. However, this matter was not without room for negotiation. As long as Song Rui promised that he would make Jia Qi his secondwful wife in the future, and even rece Shen Lian Although Jia Qi was born of a concubine, her mother was the daughter of an official. Although the concubines father wasnt a high-ranking official, her background wasnt considered lowly among the concubines. Compared to Shen Lians mother, who was a shameful kept-woman, Jia Qis mother was way stronger. Song Ruis eyes flickered. When she saw this, a smile crept over Mrs. Shens eyes. She thought to herself that he was indeed tempted. Therefore, Mrs. Shen told Song Rui about Jia Qis situation. Elder Brother loves this daughter very much. He almost raised Jia Qi as a legitimate daughter. This girl is proficient in the four arts. She is not inferior to Ronger. At this point, Mrs. Shen smiled again. Previously, everyone in the capital called her and Ronger the twin beauties of the capital. Upon hearing Mrs. Shen mention Shen Rong, Song Ruis eyes flickered again. When Mrs. Shen saw this, a hint of disappointment appeared in her eyes. Its a pity that my Ronger doesnt have the fortune and has let Lord Song down. Mrs. Shen looked at Song Rui as she said this. However, since the Jia family is going to enter into a marriage alliance with Lord Song, perhaps 1 might be able to pull some strings and find you a good marriage match. Song Rui nced at Mrs. Shen and then quickly looked away. Er he said hesitantly. Mrs. Shen smiled. Lord Song, you dont have to worry about this. The matter of the marriage alliance between the Jia family and Lord Song was agreed upon by the Master. However, the Jia family can decide on the candidates for the marriage alliance. As long as Mrs. Shen suddenly paused. Song Rui immediately raised his head to look at Mrs. Shen. Mrs. Shen then continued, As long as Lord Song agrees to make Qier your secondwful wife when the time is right. She could put aside the issue of recing his first wife for the time being. Song Rui probably wouldnt dare to answer even if she brought this matter up now. However, Song Rui could fulfill his promise to make Qier his secondwful wife. Moreover, Mrs. Shen wasnt asking him to do it now. Instead, she was asking him to wait until the time was right. A look of hesitation swept over Song Ruis face. Then, he spoke again, On Minister Shens side Upon hearing this, Mrs. Shen smiled. Lord Song, you dont have to worry about the Master. It is the Jia familys decision to marry Qier to you, Lord Song. It has nothing to do with Master, she said with a smile. Song Rui finally smiled. He quickly got up and bowed to Mrs. Shen. Then Song Rui must thank you, Mistress! Mrs. Shen smiled and gestured for Song Rui to sit down. Lord Song, you are too polite. When Song Rui sat down, she looked at him and continued, When Qier marries over, Young Master Song and our Jia family will be considered family. A strange look shed across Song Ruis eyes. This time, he wasnt in a hurry to establish clear-cut non-affiliations. Mrs. Shen felt pleased inwardly once more. In the future, I hope Young Master Song can treat Qier well. Song Rui quickly cupped his hands at Mrs. Shen. Song Rui will definitely obey your instructions! he said with some excitement. Mrs. Shen nodded in satisfaction. After chatting with Song Rui for a while longer, she was ready to send her guest off. Just as she looked toward the door, she suddenly thought of Sanger. As a thought popped into her head, Mirs. Shen changed her mind about seeing her guest out. She looked at Song Rui and spoke again. Lord Song, what do you think of Sanger, the girl working for me? Song Rui was caught off guard. He nced at the door. He noticed that there was a slight movement outside the door. It was obvious that the movement came from Sanger. A look of bafflement shed across Song Ruis face as he looked at Mrs. Shen. Mrs. Shen also nced at the door before smiling at Song Rui. Sanger has followed me for many years and has a gentle personality. If Lord Song doesnt mind, 1 can give Sanger to you after you move into the new residence, she said.. Chapter 397 - 397: Meeting at Cloud Scent Court Chapter 397: Meeting at Cloud Scent Court Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion That was right. Song Rui had already bought a dwelling outside. Once he was done packing up, he would leave the Prime Ministers residence and live in his own residence. It was also for this reason that Mrs. Shen was anxious to call him over to talk about this matter. The Empress had just made the decision to let the Jia family marry their daughter to Song Rui as a concubine. It was inappropriate for her to bring up the matter of offering Sanger to be Song Ruis concubine. She could only say that she was giving Sanger to Song Rui. If Song Rui epted her, it was only a matter of time before she became his personal maidservant in an adjoining room. In another one or two years, when Sanger became pregnant, it would be logical for her to be promoted to concubine. Since she wanted to win Song Rui over, she had to station as many people as possible by his side. If Sanger went to Song Rui, she would naturally repay Mrs. Shens kindness. Song Rui was stunned. A hint of malice shed across his heart. All of them wanted to push women into his arms. Did they think he was someone like Shen Hongyu? Er Song Rui nced at the door and looked at Mrs. Shen with a troubled expression. He didnt want Sanger, whether sincerely or otherwise. If he really brought her to the residence, wouldnt it be obvious to the old fox that he was in contact with Mrs. Shen? Lord Song, dont worry about the Master. Mrs. Shen looked at Song Rui. Moreover, didnt Master ask Lord Song to feign civility with me? So, even if you have Sanger in your residence, it doesnt matter, right? A look of surprise shed across Song Ruis eyes. He did not expect Mrs. Shen to know what the old fox had told him. Mrs. Shen simply smiled. The Master and I have been husband and wife for nearly twenty years. How could I not know his personality? she exined. Song Ruis expression became a little more rxed. Then, he cupped his hands at Mrs. Shen. Thank you for your kindness, Mistress. Its just that my marriage is imminent and its really not convenient As he spoke, he raised his head and looked at Mrs. Shen, but he did not finish his sentence. When Mrs. Shen heard this, she was not angry. Instead, she smiled even more brightly. He didnt reject her outright, which meant that he was tempted. Thats fine. I can arrange Sanger to be Shen Lians dowry maid. At that point, she will follow you to your residence. Most of the dowry maids of rich families would be personal maidservants in an adjoining room after the daughter was married off. In this way, Sanger would logically be Song Ruis personal maidservant after Song Rui married Shen Lian. Song Rui lowered his head and a sinister look shed across his face. Then, he answered, In that case, thank you, Mistress. He had no choice but to agree to this arrangement. If he did not agree, how could Mrs. Shen be at ease with him and believe that he could be roped in? Mrs. Shens face lit up. Come in, she shouted to the person outside the door. Then, Sanger pushed open the door and entered. She looked at Song Rui shyly and then knelt down in front of Mrs. Shen. Mrs. Shen nced at Song Rui and then looked at Sanger with satisfaction. Then, she asked Sanger with a smile, Did you hear my conversation with Lord Song just now? Sangers pretty face was flushed a deep red. She did not dare to raise her head and nodded obediently. Mm-hmm, she replied coyly. Mrs. Shen was all smiles. Following that, she asked, Then 1 intend to let you follow Shen Lian when she gets married and moves to the Song residence. Do you have any objections? Sanger blushed even redder. I will follow Mistresss arrangements, she replied shyly. Hahahaha Mrs. Shenughed out loud. Her gaze swept between Song Rui and Sanger. Very good, very good! she said as sheughed loudly. Sanger also turned to look at Song Rui. When she saw Song Rui smiling at her, she quickly turned around. Her heart was thumping furiously. Lord Song actually smiled at her. He must have a good impression of her. As she thought of this, Sanger felt her ears beginning to burn. In that case, this matter is settled, Mrs. Shen continued. Sanger, help me send Lord Song off. Sanger got up and did not dare to look at Song Rui anymore. Lord Song, please, she said in a gentle voice. Song Rui nced at Sanger and acknowledged her with a reply. After bidding farewell to Mrs. Shen, he left. After they left the room, Sanger still kept her head lowered and led the way. She did not dare to look back at Song Rui at all. It was not until the two of them walked out of Mrs. Shens courtyard that Sanger stopped. Song Rui frowned. Then, before Sanger turned around, he quickly withdrew his expression. Lord Song, your servant will send you until this point. My lord, please take care. Sanger looked up at Song Rui and quickly lowered her head again. Mm-hmm. Miss Sanger, you take care too, Song Rui replied. Thereafter, he left. Sanger did not move. She only dared to look up at Song Rui again after he had walked far away. Then, she watched Song Rui disappear at the end of the path before she turned around and left excitedly. Mistress was really going to give her to Lord Song, and Lord Song had epted her. She was going to move to Lord Songs residence. Although she could only be a personal maidservant at first, with Lord Songs fondness for her, it wouldnt be long before she could be promoted to concubine. She was simply too blessed to be able to serve Lord Song and spend time with a man like Lord Song. Song Ruis expression clouded over after walking far away. A servant girl actually dared to covet him. It seemed that he had to hurry up. Otherwise, he was afraid that more and more people would shove women into his arms. Although he wasnt interested in those women, he wouldnt be able to get past his wife. At Cloud Scent Court. Song Rui and Yun Niang didnt chat for long before a servant came to report that the person he was waiting for had arrived. Song Rui got up after dismissing the servant. Ill have to trouble you and Linger to take care of Xiaoyao, he said to Yun Niang. Dont worry, Cousin. Linger and I know what to do, Yun Niang replied. Song Rui then left. Following that, he brought the servant to the room that he had booked earlier. When he saw the personal guards of Prince Huaiyin standing at the door, Song Rui looked left and right. After that, the servant stayed behind to keep an eye on the surrounding. Song Rui walked towards the room where Prince Huaiyin was waiting. After entering the room, Song Rui walked a few steps and saw Prince Huaiyin drinking by the window. Following the gaze of Prince Huaiyin, Song Rui looked out of the window. He then stepped forward and bowed to Prince Huaiyin. Your Highness. Prince Huaiyin turned his head. A smile appeared on his face. Come and sit down. Thank you, Your Highness. Song Rui didnt stand on ceremony and walked to the seat opposite Prince Huaiyin. Prince Huaiyin smiled and looked at the dishes on the table. His gaze fell on two of the century egg dishes. The vor of your familys century eggs is indeed unique, he said. It wasnt just at Cloud Scent Court. Almost all the big restaurants in the capital, as well as the dining tables of the rich and powerful, had this dish. Marquis Xiaoyaos century egg business was really doing well. Song Rui followed Prince Huaiyins gaze and looked at the dishes on the table. When he thought of his wife, the corners of his mouth subconsciously curled up. Then, he replied to Prince Huaiyin, Your Highness is too kind. His wife was indeed amazing. Previously, she had said that he earned money faster than her.. Chapter 398 - 398: Public Display of Affection Chapter 398: Public Disy of Affection Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion However, that was only the beginning. When his wifes business grew bigger and expanded widely, she would make a lot of money every day. How could hepare to her? Prince Huaiyin noticed Song Ruis expression and smiled. This couple really did not let go of any chance to show off their affection at all times. Ahem Why did you ask me out this time? Prince Huaiyin brought up the main topic. Song Rui became solemn and started discussing serious matters with Prince Huaiyin. Initially, I was going to use Shen Rongs matter to drive a wedge between the old fox and Empress Jia. But now, the n has failed. As he spoke, Song Rui told Prince Huaiyin about the agreement between Minister Shen and Empress Jia. When Prince Huaiyin heard this, he raised his head to look at Song Rui. He did not expect Minister Shen and Empress Jia to value Song Rui to this extent. He had to admit that he had made the right choice by choosing Song Rui to infiltrate the Prime Ministers residence. You received three beauties for free. Arent you tempted? After listening for a while, Prince Huaiyin suddenly looked at Song Rui tauntingly. Well, fine. He must admit he had the intention to test the other party. Although he had not interacted much with Marquis Xiaoyao, he knew her personality. If Song Rui really dared to be fickle and have a wandering heart No matter how much Marquis Xiaoyao loved him, she would not tolerate it. If the two of them separated because of this, would he still stand a chance? Song Rui was stunned. Then, he looked at Prince Huaiyin with some displeasure. If Your Highness likes them, I can give them to you after the matter is over, he said in a deep voice. Prince Huaiyin almost choked. For a while, he could not give any reply. Following that, Song Rui added, My wife is the only one for me in this life. The same goes for my wife. As he said this, Song Rui gave Prince Huaiyin a warning look. When he saw this, Prince Huaiyin immediately felt guilty. He suspected that his devious thoughts had been seen through by the other party. Ahem I was just joking. Brother Song, please dont take it to heart. Hence, he tried to smooth things over. Song Rui once again looked at Prince Huaiyin in annoyance. Your Highness, please dont make such jokes next time, he responded in a deep voice. The smile on Prince Huaiyins face froze. Ahem okay. 1 will remember it, he replied. After saying this, Prince Huaiyin felt a little strange. This rascal was really bold. To think that he dared to talk to him like this. Strangely enough, Prince Huaiyin himself did not find it repulsive. Lets continue with serious business then, Prince Huaiyin quickly said. Song Rui nodded. He then reported the situation to Prince Huaiyin. Ive already promised my wife that I wont marry Shen Lian. When he saw Prince Huaiyin looking at him, Song Rui added, And I most definitely wont marry Jia Qi and Sanger. At this point, Song Rui gave a sigh. My wife still doesnt know about Jia Qi and Sanger, Song Rui continued. Prince Huaiyin looked at Song Rui. Then, the corners of his mouth could not help but curl up into a gloating smile. Then what do you have in mind, Brother Song? he asked. Song Rui nced at Prince Huaiyin. What else can I do? Tell her the truth, he said with a sigh. As he spoke, he picked up the wine cup on the table and took a sip. Upon seeing this, the smile on Prince Huaiyins lips deepened. What if Marquis Xiaoyao doesnt agree? Song Rui looked at Prince Huaiyin in annoyance. There are no ifs. My wife would never agree. Besides, even if she agreed, I would never do it. Prince Huaiyins face stiffened at once Song Rui nced at Prince Huaiyin again but didnt argue with him. So, Your Highnesss n has to be brought forward, he continued. Prince Huaiyins eyes widened substantially. He couldnt believe that Song Rui would ask him to bring forward his n just because of this. Song Rui saw his reaction but chose to ignore him. He continued, Mrs. Shen is certain that the old fox forced Shen Rong to her death. Now that she sees that the old fox wants to bring his illegitimate daughter into the residence, she will not let the old fox off the hook. When she saw that she couldnt win me over by herself, she began thinking of using the Jia family and the Empress. After this, if she can really convince Jia Kun to marry Jia Qi to me as a concubine, the Jia family and Empress Jia will inevitably have other thoughts. At this point, Song Rui gave Prince Huaiyin a somewhat insidious smile. Prince Huaiyin was stunned. He thought of something and his heart skipped a beat. Are you saying that Empress Jia might let you rece Shen Hongyu? Song Rui nced at Prince Huaiyin and took another sip from his wine cup. Why not? Shen Hongyu rose because of the Jia family, but now he has other thoughts. If there is a suitable candidate, it is not a bad idea to rece Shen Hongyu, isnt it? And he, Song Rui, was the most suitable candidate. After all, Shen Hongyu was currently focused on grooming him. Prince Huaiyins eyes flickered momentarily. How confident are you? he asked Song Rui solemnly. Song Rui was working for him all along. If he could get the support of Minister Shen and Empress Jia, with the help of all three parties, Song Ruis career would definitely be smooth sailing. As long as there was a suitable opportunity, it was not impossible to rece Minister Shen. Song Rui raised his eyes to look at Prince Huaiyin. As long as Mrs. Shen can persuade Jia Kun, I am 90% confident, he said with self-assurance. Prince Huaiyins eyes lit up. If thats the case, we can try, he said. Song Rui smiled. Leave the Imperial Court to me. As for the armys end, Your Highness should speed up. Prince Huaiyin nodded. I will take note of this. Then, he raised his wine cup to Song Rui. Song Rui raised his cup in return. The two of them toasted their first cup of wine. On Marquis Xiaoyaos side Suddenly, Prince Huaiyin looked at Song Rui. Song Rui looked at Prince Huaiyin with displeasure again. We agreed before that we wouldnt let my wife get involved, he said. Prince Huaiyin smiled awkwardly. But, perhaps Marquis Xiaoyao is willing to participate? Brother Song has been hiding these things from her. In the end, when the truthes out, she might be angry. The displeasure in Song Ruis eyes deepened. Prince Huaiyin stopped talking. Right now, other than Your Highness, no one knows about my rtionship with her. Even if the truth is revealed, I, Song Que, will be the only one who will die. Theres no need to drag her along and take the risk with me, Song Rui said. Prince Huaiyin finally gave up the intention to test him and lowered his head to drink a cup of wine. After a while, he spoke again. It is Marquis Xiaoyaos fortune to have Brother Song as her husband. Song Rui smiled again. No. It is my blessing to be able to marry her. When he saw the smile on Song Ruis face, Prince Huaiyin felt that someone had just openly disyed his affection in front of him again. The 18th of next month will be Emperor Fathers 60th birthday. Theres already news from the pce that there is going to be a big celebration. When the timees, if you can please His Majesty with a congrattory gift, it will be good for you, Prince Huaiyin said as he changed the topic. It wasmon for the Emperor to reward his officials when he received a gift that pleased him. In the past, someone had been promoted by three ranks because he had given his Emperor Father a gift that he liked. If Song Rui made good use of this opportunity, and with the help of Minister Shen and Empress Jia, it would be easy for him to be promoted. Song Rui nodded. The old fox also mentioned this matter to me. He even asked Song Rui to think about it carefully and prepare a special and meaningful gift for the Emperor.. Chapter 399 - 399: Resurrection Chapter 399: Resurrection Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon BoatTran Prince Huaiyin nodded. You should think more carefully about this matter, he instructed. Mm-hmm, Song Rui answered. Then, he discussed some other matters with Prince Huaiyin. Two hourster, Song Rui finally emerged from the room. Thereafter, he brought the servant to a private residence. When they arrived, there were people keeping watch in the courtyard. Shen Lian had been waiting there for a while. When she saw Song Rui, Shen Lian and her maidservant quickly came up to him. My lord! she called out anxiously. If there werent other people in the courtyard, she would have thrown herself into Song Ruis arms. Young Miss, dont be anxious, Song Rui replied. Ill go save your mother now. Then, he avoided Shen Lian and walked in quickly. Upon hearing this, Shen Lian felt a little more at ease and quickly followed. Soon, the three of them entered a room. When he walked into the inner room, he saw a beautiful woman lying on the bed. She was undoubtedly Shen LianS mother. Shen Lian saw that her mother had her eyes closed like a dead person, and her heart was filled with fear and worry. She was afraid that Song Rui would not be able to save her mother. Young Miss, dont worry. 111 give your mother the antidote right away, Song Rui said to Shen Lian. Alright. 1 have to trouble you then. Lord Song, Shen Lian quickly replied. Song Rui took out a bottle of medicine from his pocket. He walked towards the woman on the bed. Then, he opened the bottle and poured out a pill. Following that, he opened the womans mouth, lifted her chin, and popped the pill in. Thereafter, with a series of maneuvers, he made the pill go down the womans throat. After doing all this, Song Rui stepped away from the bed. Shen Lian became even more anxious when she saw this. She took a step forward and was about to ask, but was interrupted by Song Rui. Young Miss, dont be anxious. This medicine needs at least fifteen minutes to take effect. If youre worried, Young Miss, you can go to the bedside and wait for her, Song Rui said when he saw Shen Lian frowning. When your mother wakes up and sees you, she will definitely be overjoyed. Shen Lian froze momentarily. When she looked at the person on the bed, a hint of fear shed across her eyes. When Song Rui saw her reaction, a wave of contempt swept over his heart. Even if the woman on the bed was dead, she was still this womans biological mother. This woman was actually afraid of her own mother. What a delicate youngdy. Shen Lians expression changed when she noticed that Song Ruis gaze at her was a little odd. Then, she braced herself and said, Alright. She couldnt ruin her image in Lord Song s heart just because she was afraid. That person lying on the bed was her mother. Even if her mother really couldnte back to life, it wouldnt harm her. Therefore, she did not need to be afraid. After she prepared herself mentally, Shen Lian brought her maidservant and mustered up her courage to go to the bedside. That was right. When she went in, she gestured for the maidservant to follow her, as a way to boost her courage. Song Rui nced at Shen Lians back profile and felt even more disgusted. If she was afraid, so be it. Why did she have to pretend to be unafraid? Then I wont intrude upon you and your mothers time together. Song Rui pretended not to notice Shen Lians fear and added, When your mother wakes up, Young Miss can ask Luer to inform me. There was still a while before the antidote took effect. He did not want to stay here and apany the three women in the room. Panic shed across Shen Lian s eyes. When she saw Song Rui leaving, she didnt dare to ask him to stay. Song Rui left the room and went to the courtyard to ask the person who was arranged to keep watch here about the things that happened earlier. The person who kept watch told him everything truthfully. After confirming that no one followed Shen Lian to this ce, Song Rui was relieved. Not long after that, Shen Lians maidservant ran out of the room. As she ran, she shouted for Song Rui. Mistress is awake. Lord Song, our Mistress is awake! Her tone was extremely excited. Song Rui frowned. Then, he quickly withdrew the expression on his face and turned to look in the direction of the maidservant. At this moment, the maidservant had already run up to Song Rui. Panting, she continued, Lord Song, huff Our Mistress is awake! Song Rui smiled. Its good that shes awake. When she first wakes up, she may feel a little unwell. However, after a short rest, she will be fine soon. Go to the kitchen and take a look. Make a cup of tea for her. Yes. Your humble servant will go now! The maidservant quickly answered. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something and bowed to Song Rui. Mistress woke up and wants to see you, Lord Song. She asked me to invite you over, she said. Song Rui nodded. Go do your work. Ill go there myself. Yes, Sir. Only then did the maidservant leave. Song Rui sighed in his heart and walked toward the room. When he reached the door, he heard Shen Lian and her mother s voicesing from inside. He was about to knock on the door. Shen Lian had already heard the movement outside. She called out in the direction of the door, Is Lord Song here? There was joy in her voice, indicating that the speaker was in a good mood. Song Rui bowed to the upants inside the room and said, Song Rui is here to see Mistress and Young Miss. Shen Lian was delighted. Lord Song, pleasee in! She even got up and went outside to wee him. Shen Lians mother couldnt help butugh when she saw her daughter like this. She had known about the marriage that Master had arranged for her daughter. She knew that her future son-inw was not only talented but also extremely handsome. Previously, Master had asked someone to send her poison and let her kill herself. She thought that she would die for sure, regretting that she would not be able to see her daughter get married and see her future son-inw. To her surprise, she came back to life after dying. After she woke up, her daughter told her rhe reason. Only then did she know that she was able to survive because of her future son-inw. The fact that her future son-inw could do these things for her daughter was enough to show his sincerity towards her daughter. Her daughter was luckier than her. Song Rui entered and saw Shen Lianing out of the inner room happily. My mother is awake! Lord Song, pleasee in! When she saw Song Rui, Shen Lian quickly invited him over. Song Rui cupped his hands at Shen Lian. Mm-hmm. After replying to her, he followed Shen Lian into the inner room. The woman who was lying on the bed had already sat up. Although her face was a little pale, her eyes were quite lively. The moment sheid eyes on Song Rui, she almost froze. Shen Lian noticed her reaction and could not help but smile. Then, she walked to the bedside and said to her mother, Mother, this is Lord Song. You were able to escape safely this time because of Lord Songs help. Shen Lians mother finally came back to her senses at this point. She propped herself up and got ready to thank Song Rui. Song Rui quickly stepped forward and said, Mistress, you have just woken up and will need a while to recover to your usual state. Please lie down and rest. Thats right, Mother. You should rest first. Shen Lian also went forward and helped her mother back to her bed. Shen Lians mother didnt object andy down obligingly. Following that, she turned her body and thanked Song Rui. Thank you for saving me, Lord Song. 1 am extremely grateful. Song Rui returned the greeting to Shen Lians mother. Mistress, you are too kind. It is my fortune to be able to help Young Miss and Mistress. As he spoke, Song Rui even nced at Shen Lian. Shen Lian blushed and quickly averted her gaze in embarrassment. However, she was very happy in her heart, and her fingers were toying with the embroidered handkerchief in her hands.. Chapter 400 - 400: Going to Yong Prefecture Too Chapter 400: Going to Yong Prefecture Too Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Upon seeing this, Madam Zhao could not help but look at her daughter in a teasing fashion. Shen Lian felt even more embarrassed as a result. As she knew that her daughter was shy, Madam Zhao looked away again. When she looked at Song Rui again, Madam Zhao sighed. Although I managed to survive this time, because of me, you two have gone against the Masters orders. If the Master finds out Her tone was full of worry. Shen Lian finally couldnt care less about her shyness and raised her head to look at her mother. Thereafter, she turned to give Song Rui a nce before saying, Mother, dont worry. Father doesnt really want your life. Lord Song has already made the arrangements. He will get someone to send you to Yong Prefectureter. Once you reach there, someone will be there to take care of you. Madam Zhao looked at Shen Lian in surprise, then turned toward Song Rui. Song Rui nodded. Mistress, you can go to Yong Prefecture without worries. When the situation in the capital is settled, 1 will arrange for someone to bring you back. Madam Zhaos heart skipped a beat. But on Masters side she said with hesitation. Before shepleted her earlier sentence, she uttered again, Can I reallye back? Her daughter was her only family, and she was already used to life in the capital. Of course, she wanted toe back. However, if the one who wanted her life was Master, could she really return to the capital as a living person? Song Rui smiled. Of course, you can. However, Im afraid you will have to wait a little longer. When he saw the puzzled look on Madam Zhaos face, Song Rui said, Mistress should know that it is not the Master who wants your life, but Song Rui paused and didnt continue with his sentence. Upon seeing Madam Zhaos expression change, Song Rui added, Some things will be settled sooner orter. Even if it might take a little longer. At that point, not only will Mistress be able to return to the capital, but you will also be able to return in glory. Even the Master will be overjoyed when he sees you again and will not have any other thoughts. When she heard this, Madam Zhaos imagination was already running wild. She thought of the moment when her daughter and son-inw would her back in glory a few yearster. At this thought, the uneasiness in her heart was gone. Instead, she became more excited. That was right. She had confidence in her future son-inw. After all, this future son-inw of hers was someone that Master had taken a liking to. Master said that he would nurture him and make him the next Prime Minister. When that day came, she, the Prime Ministers mother-inw, would naturally return in glory. Moreover, even Master would have to show her some respect. At the thought of this, Madam Zhao looked at Song Rui even more kindly. Then, she nodded at Song Rui. In that case, Ill have to trouble Lord Song, she said. When Shen Lian saw that her mother had agreed to go to Yong Prefecture, she heaved a sigh of relief and immediately looked at Song Rui. Song Rui smiled back at Shen Lian. Then, he cupped his hands at Madam Zhao. Mistress, youre wee. You can go with ease of mind. I will take good care of Young Miss in the capital, he then added. Upon hearing this, Shen Lians face immediately turned bashful. Madam Zhao smiled and nced at her daughter before looking at Song Rui. Mm-hmm. Since Lord Song isnt an outsider, 1 wont stand on ceremony anymore. Although Lianer is Masters daughter, she doesnt have an official status. In the future, we will rely on Lord Songs protection. Song Rui raised his eyes to look at Madam Zhao. Then, he cupped his hands again to indicate that he had taken note. Madam Zhao revealed a satisfied expression. Once I arrive in Yong Prefecture, 1 will pray for you two every day and ask Bodhisattva to bless you two to have everything go smoothly, she continued. Shen Lians eyes sparkled when she heard this. Mother she called out and grabbed Madam Zhaos arm. Madam Zhao looked at her daughter and patted the back of her hand. Dont be sad. Didnt Lord Song say so? Ill be back sooner orter. As she spoke, Madam Zhao smiled and nced at Song Rui. Who knows? By then, your children will be all grown up. Its just a pity that 1 cant help you take care of your children. At this point, Madam Zhaos eyes were filled with a little disappointment. When she left this time, she would probably not be able to return in a few years or even more than a decade. At that time, even if she came back, things would probably be different. Shen Lian nced at Song Rui shyly, but Song Rui felt depressed inwardly. He would never have a child with this woman. Even if he could still have children, he would only have children with his wife. Mistress, you worry too much. If I have time in the future, 1 can arrange for Young Miss to go to Yong Prefecture to visit you. As soon as he said this, the faces of the mother and daughter lit up. Really? Madam Zhao asked. Song Rui smiled and nodded. Madam Zhao became even more pleased with Song Rui instantly She kept chatting with Song Rui for quite a while until the maidservant brought her tea before she stopped. After drinking the tea, Madam Zhao felt much more energetic. The strength in her whole body had also returned. Its almost time. Mistress, lets set off now. The earlier you leave the capital, the safer it is, Song Rui eventually urged her. Madam Zhao looked at Shen Lian. When she saw Shen Lian nod at her, she got up from the bed. Then, she sighed and said to Song Rui, Lets go. Song Rui quickly led the way. Then, together with Shen Lian, they led Madam Zhao onto the carriage. Under the night sky, the horse carriage left the courtyard and quickly disappeared into the alley. When he could no longer hear the horse carriage, Song Rui looked at Shen Lian. Young Miss, you should also go back quickly. Take care that you are not discovered, he said. As she looked at Song Ruis handsome face, a look of reluctance shed across Shen Lians eyes. Mm-hmm, she responded. Following that, she bowed to Song Rui courteously. Then I will take my leave first. As she spoke, she brought the maidservant into the remaining horse carriage in the courtyard. Song Rui personally sent her off. After Shen Lian left, he asked the servant to bring him the horse. Then, he mounted his horse and went to look for Qin Xiaoyao. That was right. He hadnt seen his wife for many days, so he had already made an appointment to meet his wife tonight. He had wanted to go over earlier, but he didnt expect that it would be dark before he could finish his work. When he thought of this, Song Rui spurred his horse onward and sped up. Hopefully, his wife wouldnt be angry. When he arrived, Song Rui knocked on the gate. However, the moment he knocked, Qin Xiaoyao came to open the gate at once. This time, a look of joy shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes when she saw Song Rui, but thereafter, she turned around and walked inside. Song Rui knew straightaway that his wife was angry. He quickly dismounted and ran after Qin Xiaoyao. He even grabbed Qin Xiaoyaos hand anxiously. Qin Xiaoyao pretended to struggle, but Song Rui pulled her back and she quickly stopped struggling. You still remembered toe here? I thought you had forgotten you arranged to meet someone here. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Rui in annoyance. Song Rui quickly put on a fawning smile. How could 1 forget? When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him in annoyance, Song Rui said, No matter who 1 forget, 1 will never dare to forget my wife. I was really busy and got dyed. Song Rui stood up straight after he said this. How about this? 1 will make it up to you, my dear. You can punish me in any way you like, okay? As he said that, a wicked smile appeared on his face.. Chapter 401 - 401: She Had to Help (1) Chapter 401: She Had to Help (1) Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Tran t ion Qin Xiaoyao was no longer angry at this moment. Song Rui almost made her burst outughing. When she saw Song Rui smiling at her, Qin Xiaoyao stopped smiling. Dont do it again, she admonished petntly. Then, she took the initiative to hold Song Ruis hand and walked into the house. Granny Hu has prepared a meal and we are waiting for you toe over to eat together. But you Its my fault. There won t be a next time, Song Rui hurriedly swore an oath. He thought for a moment and added, If something urgent pops up next time, Ill arrange for someone toe and inform you. Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Rui. Its better not to. Its fine as long as only the two of us know about this ce. If theres really a dy Qin Xiaoyaos face was filled with displeasure at this point. You cane overter. Song Rui heaved a sigh of relief. But you muste over as soon as youre done with your tasks. If I find out that you have been deliberately dying As she said that, a fierce glint shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. She even raised her fist menacingly at Song Rui. The threat was self-evident. Song Ruiughed in amusement. Yes. Your husband will remember well! he replied. When Qin Xiaoyao saw that her threat waspletely ineffective, she wanted to emphasize it again. However, Song Que grabbed her hand. Lets go. Im hungry, Song Rui said as he pulled Qin Xiaoyao inside. Qin Xiaoyaos threatening words stopped on the tip of her tongue. She looked at rhe mans handsome side profile and gave up on malting things difficult for him. They arrived at the hall. When Granny Hu heard themotion outside, she had already brought the hot food out. As soon as the couple entered, she bade them sit down. Soon, the three of them started eating dinner. After the meal. Granny Hu went off to wash the dishes. Song Rui brought Qin Xiaoyao back to their room early. Two hourster. Song Rui leaned against the headboardnguidly, not wanting to move at all. Qin Xiaoyaoy in Song Ruis arms and yed with Song Ruis hair intermittently. Lord Song has been living a life flushed with sess recently, Qin Xiaoyao spoke up. Even she, who did nor care much about the affairs of the Imperial Court, knew that he had been promoted again in a short period of time. Furthermore, he was promoted to the post of an official in the Ministry of Appointments. After Official Wang retired, many people had their eyes on this post. Who would have thought that a neer like him would take up the post when so many veterans were not able to get this post? Song Rui smiled. He propped himself up and puiied his clothes over. Then, he took out a stack of silver notes. Its not just promotion. This is the harvest for this period of time. Keep it well, my dear. As he spoke, Song Rui handed the silver notes in his hand to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. She took the silver notes and counted them. She found that the value was more than ten thousand taels. She then turned around and happily put away the silver notes. When she turned back again, she had turned into a docile little creature. Hubby, youre so capable. 1 dont even want to work so hard anymore now that my husband is supporting my family, Qin Xiaoyao said sweetly as she stroked Song Ruis chin. Of course, she still had to work hard. During this period, the business of her century egg workshop and porridge shops had be even more popr. With the encouragement of Liu Ling and that girl Xiangyang, she almost wanted to try and make it into the capitals richest people list. Hehe! It was still a long way for her to climb up the list of the richest people in the capital. However, the business in her hands was getting better and better with each passing day. The speed at which she earned money was also getting increasingly faster. Sooner orter, it would help her climb onto the rankings. Now, she had her husbands money to support her. She could climb up the rankings even faster! Song Rui gave a side nce at the woman in his arms, indicating that he was very pleased with her words. Its all up to you, my dear. As he spoke, he lowered his head and nted a kiss on Qin Xiaoyaos forehead. Qin Xiaoyao smiled sweetly and snuggled into Song Ruis arms again. Youre sessful in your career. I bet you must be sessful in the romantic arena too? When will Minister Shen bring Shen Lian into the residence? Even without thinking, she also knew that her husband s position as an official in the Ministry of Appointments was the result of Minister Shens help. As for Minister Shen, how could he help for nothing? Song Ruis heart sank. He thought to himself, Here ites. Then, he tightened his arms around Qin Xiaoyao. Havent I always been sessful in the romantic arena? As he spoke, he scratched Qin Xiaoyaos nose. Qin Xiaoyao felt a little itchy and pped Song Ruis hand away. Dont change the topic. Tell me clearly. Whats the situation on Shen Lian s side? she asked in annoyance. Song Rui knew that he couldnt get past her anymore. He sighed and told Qin Xiaoyao about the agreement between Minister Shen and Empress Jia. Qin Xiaoyao was extremely furious when she heard this. As if one Shen Lian was not bad enough, they wanted to add a young miss from the Jia family as well? Chapter 402 - 402: She Had to Help (2) Chapter 402: She Had to Help (2) Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Song Rui looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a guilty expression. He was not sure if he should tell his wife about Sanger. After hesitating for a moment, Song Rui finally chose to confess. When Qin Xiaoyao heard this, she became even more annoyed. Great. He could really attract all kinds of romantic interests. So it wasnt just two, but three! Oh no, if Shen Rong was included, there would be four! So, you werete tonight because Mrs. Shen wanted to talk to you about something? Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Rui with displeasure. It was as if Song Rui would be punished if he dared to answer yes. No, Song Rui answered hurriedly. However, he immediately looked guilty again. Then what reason was it? Qin Xiaoyao asked. She had already guessed that the reason for Song Ruis dy was rted to those three women. Its because of Shen Lian. Song Rui held back for a while before finally opening his mouth. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes widened and she was about to re up. Song Rui quickly hugged her. Its not what you think. I went to meet Shen Lian to save her mother. Song Rui quickly told her about how Minister Shen forced Madam Zhao tomit suicide. Upon seeing that his wife had calmed down, Song Rui continued, Shen Lian asked me to save Madam Zhao. I thought that Madam Zhao might be useful to me in the future, so 1 agreed. My dear, you have to believe me. Other than you, your husband is really not interested in other women! Song Rui raised a hand and uttered an oath as he exined. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Rui in annoyance. Who would believe you she interjected. However, her mood improved after hearing Song Ruis words. A momentter, Qin Xiaoyao couldnt suppress the curiosity in her heart and asked Song Que, Then Madam Zhao was really saved? Where is she now? Shes saved. Shes on the way to Yong Prefecture now, Song Rui replied. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Rui. Yong Prefecture? Arent Shen Rong and Meng Xuan in Yong Prefecture? Song Rui nodded. Mm-hmm. Yong Prefecture is easier to arrange. After she arrives there, they wont see each other anyway. Song Ruis eyes darkened a little. Moreover, even if they do, it doesnt matter. Yong Prefecture was being watched by Prince Huaiyins men, so nothing could go wrong. Qin Xiaoyao had a strange feeling in her heart, but she ignored it when she saw the Song Ruis expression was normal. Thats good, she replied. Then, she rxed again and indulged herself in lying in Song Ruis arms. In short, my bottom line is that you are not allowed to marry anyone else. Just dont cross it. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao closed her eyes. Song Rui sighed in his heart. Mm-hmm, he responded. He caressed Qin Xiaoyaos back and helped her calm down. Qin Xiaoyao closed her eyes in enjoyment and allowed herself to fall asleep. Before long, Song Rui heard Qin Xiaoyaos soft breathing. The corners of his mouth curled up into a smile subconsciously. Song Rui sighed andy down as well. After a while, he also fell asleep. Not far away, the candlelight danced in the night. A breeze blew past, and the dancing mes were blown out. It was time to add oil to themp The next day, when Qin Xiaoyao woke up, Song Rui was already gone. Looking at the empty spot beside her, Qin Xiaoyao felt a sense of disappointment. She stared at the bed canopy for a while before getting out of bed. After tidying up, she walked out of the room. When Granny Hu saw that Qin Xiaoyao was up, she came over to inform her that breakfast was ready. I still have things to do in the Marquiss residence so 1 wont be staying for breakfast today, Qin Xiaoyao said and walked straight to the stable. She led the horse out and left the courtyard. Recently, she clearly sensed that her husband had be busy. However, she had been focusing on her own business and matters in the army, so she was of no help to him at all. She could not continue like this. She had to do something. After returning to the Marquiss residence, as she had covered up in advance, the people in the residence did not know that she had not returned all night. She climbed over the wall and returned to her courtyard. Qin Xiaoyao then pretended to have just woken up. Following that, she went to the front hall to have breakfast with her family. After that, she left for the army camp. Then, she went to meet Prince Huaiyin on the pretext of handing him some documents. After handing over the documents, Qin Xiaoyao did not leave. Prince Huaiyin was a little puzzled when he noticed her behavior. Marquis Xiaoyao, is there anything else? he asked Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. Ever since he and Song Rui told her to keep a distance from Prince Huaiyin to prevent Empress Jia from suspecting her, Qin Xiaoyao had been abiding by their instructions dutifully. She rarely came into contact with him, and even if she did, she would leave very quickly. Today was a little unusual. To be honest, Prince Huaiyin was quite happy about this. It was rare that Marquis Xiaoyao would take the initiative to look for him. Mm-hmm. Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a solemn expression. Prince Huaiyins eyes flickered. He extended his hand and invited Qin Xiaoyao to have a seat. Sit down and talk. Alright. Qin Xiaoyao nodded and sat down. Prince Huaiyin was in a good mood. He looked at Qin Xiaoyao and waited for her to speak. Qin Xiaoyao organized the words in her heart and then looked at Prince Huaiyin. I came here this time to discuss something with Your Highness. Prince Huaiyin raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, Marquis Xiaoyao, please speak. Qin Xiaoyao turned serious and continued, 1 want to ask Your Highness to help my husband take revenge. Prince Huaiyin got a shock. At the same time, we can also help Your Highness ascend to the throne, Qin Xiaoyao continued. She had always been working for Prince Huaiyin. However, she did not know if Prince Huaiyin did not take any action or if he really did not need her. He hadnt arranged anything for her at all. However, now, she couldnt contain herself anymore. As long as Prince Huaiyin was willing to take action, she could persuade her husband to join Prince Huaiyin. This way, with the cooperation of both parties, the chances of her husband carrying out his revenge sessfully would be higher. In terms of speed, it could also be greatly increased. She was already tired of sneaking around with her husband during this period. As long as she dealt with her husbands enemies, she would be able to stay with her husband forever. A trace of embarrassment shed across Prince Huaiyins face. He thought to himself that Song Rui had really kept Qin Xiaoyao totally in the dark. He didnt even let her know about their rtionship.. Chapter 403 - 403: Warfire Chapter 403: Warfire Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Er As he looked at Qin Xiaoyao, Prince Huaiyin was very tempted by Qin Xiaoyaos suggestion. However, he still remembered what he had promised Song Rui. Thus, Prince Huaiyin answered, This matter is of grave importance. Therefore, please allow me to consider it thoroughly. If he rejected her outright, he would definitely be suspected. However, it was inappropriate to ept her proposal. He could only dy it and ask Song Rui for his opinion. Actually, he genuinely wanted to drag Marquis Xiaoyao into this matter too. With her help, he might be able to get things done ahead of time. Qin Xiaoyao nodded and epted Prince Huaiyins reply. This matter was quite major, and she had to allow him time to consider it. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao said, Your Highness, why dont you give me an answer within three days? Prince Huaiyin frowned in his heart. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyaos gaze beginning to turn doubtful, he agreed to her suggestion. Alright. The doubt in Qin Xiaoyaos eyes disappeared. She stood up and bid farewell to Prince Huaiyin. Then 111 take my leave first. With that, she left Prince Huaiyins tent after obtaining his permission. Prince Huaiyin watched Qin Xiaoyao leave. After she left, he frowned. If Song Rui found out about this, he wouldnt think that he was deliberately instigating her, would he? This matter wasnt that easy to handle After Qin Xiaoyao left Prince Huaiyins tent, she returned to her own tent. After settling the military affairs, she went to the drill ground and selected some people to go to the back mountain for training. That was right. Aftering to the capital, she had more troops under hermand and more time. Hence, she created a special forces team and named it Warfire. She took charge personally as the instructor and led them through actualbat training. After a period of training, the members of the Warfire team were even stronger than the members of the earlier Special Forces Team. If they really went to the battlefield, they would definitely be good scouts and human head harvesters. Most importantly, Warfire was her private army and was directly under her control. Even if one day she was no longer working in the army, she could still bring Warfire with her. At the back of the mountain, following Qin Xiaoyaos order, the 30 members quickly dashed into the forest. In less than the time it took to finish a cup of tea, they all disappeared into the forest without a trace. Immediately after that, Qin Xiaoyao ordered her subordinates to gather a thousand troops. Then, she ordered the 1,000 men to go into the mountain and search for the 30 men. For each person captured, there will be a reward of 100 taels of silver, plus promotion of two ranks. Soldiers without military ranks can be promoted to centurions. Decurions will be promoted to chiliarchs. Chiliarchs will be promoted to Colonels! Qin Xiaoyao stood in front of the thousand-strong army and announced to the soldiers. As for the War fire team, her rule was that if they were caught by these soldiers, their training would be doubled. At that point, the member could either choose to endure the harsher training and improve hisbat strength. Or he could give up and leave the Warfire team. Under such a strict training policy, so far, not a single person out of the 30 members had chosen to give up. In the current Warfire team, any one of them could easily fight against a hundred. He could adapt to the situation and make good use of all the resources around him to quickly eliminate the enemy. Yes, General! the soldiers replied excitedly. Although there were rumors in the army that the people from the Warfire team were extremely difficult to deal with, no matter how tough these people were, there were only so few of them. 1,000 against 30. The soldiers didnt believe that they couldnt take down just one of them. Those who caught a member of the Warfire team would not only be highly regarded by the Marquis but would also be promoted. Moreover, this matter alone could give them bragging rights for a long time. Qin Xiaoyao nodded in satisfaction. She gestured with her hand for them to set off and the soldiers immediatelyunched into action. Before long, Qin Xiaoyao and her two subordinates, who were waiting at the foot of the mountain, heard wretched screamsing from the forest. And the screams were endless. Soon after that, some soldiers returned from the mountain. These soldiers all kept their heads lowered, looking very dejected. Qin Xiaoyao and her two subordinates looked at each other with smiles on their faces. Before the training, she had given the order. Be it the members of the Warfire team or the one thousand soldiers, they could only use wooden weapons. The rule of fighting was not to take the other partys life. Once one party was subdued, it meant that they were killed. Those who were killed had to leave the mountain and get out of the battlefield. These returning soldiers were undoubtedly killed by the members of the Warfire team. Following that, more and more soldiers retreated from the mountain as miserable screams continued to ring out. The soldiers who had retreated didnt line up again. Instead, they simplyy on the open space to rest in scattered groups. Some of the soldiers were injured, but they were still helping each other to check their injuries. As they checked each other, they cursed and swore at the Warfire members for being too ruthless. There were also people who spoke up for the Warfire team and their words were full of admiration for them. They were envious that the Warfire members could train themselves to such an incredible level of skillfulness. Qin Xiaoyao sped her hands behind her back and continued to look into the mountain. Lord Marquis, do you think that there will be Warfire members captured this time? Chu Jin stepped forward and asked Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. After returning to the capital, he had been transferred to follow Lord Marquis and was now under Lord Marquiss directmand. Nearby, Huang Fei nced at Chu Jin and took a step forward. Last time, it was that fellow Liu Mings mistake that allowed him to get caught. However, that kid has already been harshly trained by me. He definitely wont make any mistakes again. As for the other members from Warfire, they would definitely not make any mistakes. That was right. Huang Fei was now the deputy instructor of the Warfire team. Usually, when Qin Xiaoyao wasnt around, he was the one leading the training for the members of the Warfire team. Of course, he himself was not idle either. He did not participate in the actualbat exercise for this round. In the past, he was always involved and performed exceptionally well. Chu Jin nced at Huang Fei and smiled. He didnt pay much attention to him and continued to look at Qin Xiaoyao. This fellow was Lord Marquiss true confidant, and Lord Marquis had practically handed over the whole Warfire team to him. However, this fellows ability was really not bad. He was worthy of Chu Jins admiration! Qin Xiaoyao turned around. Her gaze swept across the two of them before she spoke. Captured? The corners of her mouth curled up into a somewhat wicked smile. Whoever gets captured will have to train until he faints for the next three days of training, she said. Upon hearing that, Chu Jin and Huang Fei couldnt help feeling terrified. Train until he fainted Just thinking about it made one gulp nervously. Of course, it was not due to anticipation, but fear. The intensity of the training would have to be extraordinary if one were to really faint from it. It wont happen. They are all well-trained. One against a hundred is not a problem! Huang Fei quickly replied. As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Huang Fei. Then lets guess how long it will take for the members of Warfire to kill off these 1,000 soldiers, she said. Huang Fei was stunned. Following that, a smile appeared on his face. Lord Marquiss words were an affirmation of the strength of their Warfire team. When he thought of this, Huang Fei looked at Chu Jin gleefully. Why dont you make the first guess, Colonel Chu? he said. Chu Jin was caught off guard. Then, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile before cupping his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. If my guess is right, can Lord Marquis agree to my request? he said. Qin Xiaoyao raised her eyebrows. What request? she asked. Chu Jin simply smiled.. Chapter 404 - 404: Lobbyist Chapter 404: Lobbyist Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion I would like to request Lord Marquis to assign a few members of the Warfire team to me to act as instructors and help me form two or three special forces teams. Or, they can go to the existing special forces teams and be instructors there for a while, so that those special forces team members can improve theirbat strength, Chu Jin said with a smile. He only had one special forces team under him, and it was not solely for his own benefit. Instead, he was working together for the benefit of all the special forces teams under Prince Huaiyin. Although he was now under Marquis Xiaoyao, he still acknowledged Prince Huaiyin as his leader in his heart. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Chu Jin. She knew what he was thinking, but she didnt point it out. She had no conflict with Prince Huaiyin, and now she was hoping that Prince Huaiyin would start a rebellion and allow her and her husband to help him. Sure. Among the three of us, if your guess is the most urate, what harm is there in me agreeing to your request? Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. A trace of excitement shed across Chu Jins eyes. Thank you, Lord Marquis! He hurriedly cupped his fists and thanked Qin Xiaoyao. Thereafter, he looked in the direction of the forest. As his eyes flickered, he said, 1 guess six hours. Qin Xiaoyao nodded and looked at Huang Fei. I guess four and a half hours. Huang Fei hesitated for a moment before giving his answer and cupping his fists at Qin Xiaoyao. Chu Jin had said six hours, but he had to ord the Warfire team some dignity by stating a shorter time. However, there were a thousand soldiers on the mountain after all. If the time was too short, even if the members of the Warfire team were all experts, they would not be able toplete the mission. As soon as Huang Fei gave his reply, Chu Jin looked at him. He thought to himself, This fellow is a little too confident, isnt he? Qin Xiaoyaos gaze swept across the two of them, but she was smiling. You two believe in the Warfire team so much. But 1 trust them more than you do. I guess four hours. Chu Jin and Huang Fei looked at Qin Xiaoyao in surprise when they heard her guess. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and looked ahead. Then, she shouted in the direction of the forest, Members of Warfire, listen up. End this battle in the next three hours! Theres a reward forpleting this mission! If you cantplete it, there wont be lunch or dinner for you guys! Chu Jin and Huang Fei were dumbfounded instantly. This was shameless cheating. One had to know that the members of the Warfire team trained hard every day, and they eat a lot for every meal. It would be strange if they didnt risk their lives when their meals were threatened. Sure enough, as soon as Qin Xiaoyao finished speaking, the wretched screamsing from the mountain became much louder and more frequent. Soon, the crowd saw waves of soldiersing down from the mountain, their whole bodies covered in grime. Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased when she saw that. She turned around and nced at Chu Jin and Huang Fei before asking them to apany her to the side to have some tea while they waited. Huang Fei immediately followed in a fawning manner. Chu Jin looked at the mountain in disappointment before following him. It was not easy to have an opportunity to get Lord Marquis to agree to help raise the strength of the special forces team. Now, it seemed that his n was ruined. Next, Qin Xiaoyao brought the two of them to one side to wait leisurely. When more and more people came down the mountain, she asked the chiliarch to get the returning soldiers to fall in before doing a headcount. When the four hours was almost up, thest five soldiers finally left the mountain. A look of satisfaction swept over Qin Xiaoyaos face when she saw this. She stood up and ordered, Inform the members of the War fire Team on the mountain that they can retreat. Also, give them extra food when they get back! As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Huang Fei. Huang Feis face lit up at once. Thank you, Lord Marquis! He hurriedly cupped his fists at Qin Xiaoyao. After he finished speaking, he did not forget to cast a smug look at Chu Jin beside him. Chu Jin was somewhat speechless. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and gave Chu Jin a side nce before leaving. When he saw this, Chu Jin quickly went after her. Lord Marquis he shouted as he ran after her. Qin Xiaoyao didnt stop and let Chu Jin run after her. Chu Jin quickly caught up to Qin Xiaoyao. Lord Marquis He called out to Qin Xiaoyao with a fawning expression. Is something the matter? Qin Xiaoyao asked with a smile, pretending not to see through Chu Jins thoughts. Her feet did not stop moving. Yes, Chu Jin hurriedly answered. When Qin Xiaoyao looked at him, he smiled ingratiatingly again. The matter of the Warfire members acting as instructors Qin Xiaoyao looked at Chu Jin. I was the one who guessed the time most urately. In other words, she was hinting to Chu Jin that his guess was off. Chu Jin smiled awkwardly. Lord Marquis, indeed you won. But, that doesnt stop Lord Marquis from giving the order to help me, right? he said shamelessly. Qin Xiaoyao was amused. What benefits do I get from helping you? she asked. Chu Jin was surprised. Benefits? He looked very troubled. Lord Marquiss military position was higher than his, and she was also richer than him. What benefits could he possibly give her? Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered when she saw his reaction. Then, she smiled and patted Chu Jins shoulder. Ill tell you. Why dont you see if you can help me achieve it? she said. Chu Jins face lit up at once. Lord Marquis, please speak, he quickly said. Help me persuade His Highness. Get him to start the big thing quickly, and I will do my best to help, Qin Xiaoyao said in a teasing fashion. She had taken the initiative to cast her lot with him, but Prince Huaiyin was indecisive. Perhaps, if Prince Huaiyins trusted aide tried to persuade him, the effect would be better? Chu Jins expression changed at once. Lord Marquis, such things mustnt be said so carelessly, he said nervously. After he finished speaking, he looked left and right, afraid that Qin Xiaoyaos words might have been overheard. Qin Xiaoyao didnt take it seriously, however. She continued to smile at Chu Jin and added, You know very well whether Im saying these things carelessly or not. In short, you think of a way to persuade His Highness. If His Highness agrees to let me serve him, get him to arrange some tasks for me. 1 will then agree to your request regarding getting the Warfire members to be instructors. Chu Jin frowned. He did not dare to answer. Nheless, Qin Xiaoyao was not annoyed. Alright. 111 be leaving first. After saying that, she turned and left. Chu Jin was left pping helplessly in the wind. What was going on? Marquis Xiaoyao took the initiative to join His Highness and wanted to help him, but His Highness didnt agree? And then Marquis Xiaoyao came to look for him and asked him to persuade His Highness to fight for the throne? Didnt she know that His Highness had been working hard for the throne all along? Oh, she definitely didnt know. If she knew, she wouldnt have asked him to persuade His Highness. His Highness was also weird. He had always wanted to rope in Marquis Xiaoyao for his own use. Now, Marquis Xiaoyao was already in a high position and held great power. She even took the initiative to offer to serve him but he didnt want her? Why did this matter feel stranger the more he thought about it? No, he had to ask His Highness about this. It was better to rope in a talent like Marquis Xiaoyao! He couldnt bear to see His Highness lose such a formidable general. With this thought in mind, Chu Jin immediately went to Prince Huaiyins tent. Prince Huaiyin listened to Chu Jins presentation and frowned. Your Highness, Marquis Xiaoyao is a valiant warrior and has many elite soldiers under her. If we can get her help, it will be of great help to Your Highnesss n! Chu Jin advised earnestly. Prince Huaiyin couldnt help pinching the spot between his eyebrows. Did this Chu Jin really think that he didnt know all these things? What he said was all nonsense. And Marquis Xiaoyao was too much too. Why was she in such a hurry to get someone to plead for her? And when she spoke, her words were totally indiscreet. If certain people were to overhear Chapter 405 - 405: Agreed At Last Chapter 405: Agreed At Last Trantor: Draqon Boat Trantion Editor: D Well, fine. It didnt matter if others overheard it. In any case, Empress Jia s faction was very ciear about his intentions. However, it could also be very troublesome Your Highness When he saw that Prince lluaiyin did not reply to him and had lowered his head, seemingly deep in thought, Chu Jin called out to him. His Highness was simply too unconcerned about such a big matter. Prince lluaiyin finally raised his head and looked at Chu Jin. I have my own views on this matter, he said. Warfire? Well, alright. He had seen Warfiresbat strength before. It would be a lie to say that he wasnt greedy to have them, but he couldnt touch the benefits that Chu Jin mentioned for the time being. It was better to talk to Song Rui first. A look of hesitation shed across Chu Jins face. Yes, Your Highness. Then, he cupped his fists at Prince Huaiyin. When he saw that Chu Jin was still standing there, Prince Huaiyin spoke again, You may leave. Chu Jin raised his head and nced at Prince lluaiyin. He eventually cupped his hands and left. His Highness was not even willing to talk to him. Was he doubting Marquis Xiaoyaos sincerity? Although Marquis Xiaoyao was close to Princess Xiangyang and had a lot of contact with that person in the pce, it was impossible for her to side with that person in the pce. Forget it. It was useless for him to specte on his part. It was better to inquire about the situation with his good brothers first. It would be best if he could find out some information, but if even they didnt know the reason, he would get everyone to persuade His Highness together. In short, he couldnt sit by and watch His Highness lose a talent like Marquis Xiaoyao. Prince lluaiyin was totally unaware of Chu Jins thoughts. Not long after Chu Jin left, he sent someone to send a message to Song Rui, asking thetter to meet him. It was night. Patrons were still flocking to Cloud Scent Court in droves. In the private dining room on the third floor. Song Rui finally arrived to meet Prince Huaiyin. After paying his respects to Prince Huaiyin, Song Rui sat opposite him. Is Your Highness looking for me for some urgent matter?11 Song Rui quickly asked. His tone carried a tinge of displeasure. If people found out that they were meeting in private, the impact would be unimaginable. Prince lluaiyins eyes flickered, then he gestured to Song Rui to have a drink. After Song Rui picked up his wine cup, Prince Huaiyin told him about Qin Xiaoyao looking for him as well as getting Chu Jin to talk to him. When Song Rui heard that, he frowned deeply. Prince lluaiyin watched Song Rui carefully and continued, With Marquis Xiaoyaos personality, if I dont agree, shell probably still try to get other people to persuade me. Its fine if theyre all trustworthy people, but what if What if she found someone who was problematic? At that point, it could cause a lot of trouble. For Prince Huaiyin, he would be fine since at most he would only receive more suspicion. Marquis Xiaoyao, however, could no longer remain neutral in front of Empress Jia. Once that happened, Empress Jia would probably make a move on her very soon. This would go against Song Rui s original intention of keeping her out of the picture. So, Your Highness wants to agree to my wifes request? Song Rui looked at Prince lluaiyin with displeasure. Though he said it in a dignified manner, his thoughts were not pure. Prince lluaiyin s face stiffened. Then he smiled awkwardly. In this situation, I feel Before he could finish, Song Rui shot him a look. It forced him to swallow the rest of his words. A momentter, just as Prince Huaiyin was feeling a little annoyed and felt that Song Rui had offended him, Song Rui finally opened his mouth. Then just agree to her request. Song Ruis face was bitter when he spoke atst. The anger in Prince Huaiyin s heart instantly disappeared, and a sense of guilt rose instead. After all, when Song Rui agreed to help him, the only condition Song Rui stated was for Prince Huaiyin to protect Qin Xiaoyao well and not let her get involved in these things. Yet, now Your Highness, please assign her less dangerous missions and try to let her remain neutral for a while longer, Song Rui continued. He understood his wifes personality the best. Since she insisted on helping him, he would let her participate. However, he had to make some arrangements for his family. That way, the two of them would not have any worries at the back of their minds. Good! Prince lluaiyin quickly answered. He picked up his cup again and drank with Song Rui. The next day. Qin Xiaoyao had just arrived at the army camp when Chu Jin came looking for her. Chu Jins face was full of smiles. He cupped his hands and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao as soon as he entered her tent. Greetings, Lord Marquis! When she saw that Chu Jin was in a good mood, Qin Xiaoyao also smiled. What is it? she asked. The smile on Chu Jins face grew wider. I am here to inform I havepleted the task that Lord Marquis gave me yesterday, he announced. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Then, she thought of something, and a smile broke out on her face at once. You mean She looked at Chu Jin. Chu Jin smiled and nodded. His Highness asked me to invite Lord Marquis over, he said. Qin Xiaoyao felt delighted all over again. She immediately stood up from behind the desk. Lets go! Then, she strode out of the tent. Chu Jin followed with a grin. After leaving the tent, he even quickened his pace and ran after Qin Xiaoyao. Lord Marquis, I have alreadypleted the task you gave me. Then what you promised me yesterday Qin Xiaoyao nced at Chu Jin. The corners of her lips curled up. Whats the rush? Wait until 1 meet His Highness and confirm that youre not lying, you rascal. I will naturally fulfill my promise afterward. When Chu Jin heard this, he was not annoyed. Instead, he smiled even more brightly. Deal! lie continued to follow Qin Xiaoyao toward Prince lluaiyin s tent. Outside Prince lluaiyins tent, QinXiaoyao was just about to let the guards inform the prince of her arrival when Prince Huaiyins voice rang out from inside. Come in. That was right. Prince lluaiyin was inside and had already heard themotion outside. He knew that Chu Jin had brought Qin Xiaoyao over. Qin Xiaoyao strode into the tent. Chu Jin, however, stopped not far from the tent and did not follow her in. Greetings, Your Highness. Upon seeing Prince Huaiyin, Qin Xiaoyao stepped up with a smile and bowed. She thought that she would have to wait for three days before she could get an answer. She did not expect Prince Huaiyin to agree so quickly. Chu Jin that rascal had aplished this task beautifully! No need for formalities. Prince Huaiyin looked at Qin Xiaoyao and gestured with his hand at her. Thank you, Your Highness! Qin Xiaoyao straightened up. Prince lluaiyin looked at Qin Xiaoyao who seemed to be in a good mood and felt a little helpless. Marquis Xiaoyao, please sit down, he then said. Qin Xiaoyao thanked him again and sat down on a chair not far away. After sitting down, she saw tea and snacks on the desk. She even acted impudently and helped herself to the food and drinks. When he saw this, Prince lluaiyin s mood rxed a little. Although the couple did not respect him much, they treated him as a friend. This kind of rtionship made him feel quitefortable asionally. After a while, Prince Huaiyin spoke, I have carefully considered the words Marquis Xiaoyao said yesterday. Qin Xiaoyao immediately stopped eating and looked at Prince Huaiyin. Then what is Your Highnesss decision? Although Chu Jin had already told her the answer, she still had to hear it from Prince Huaiyin himself. Prince lluaiyin sighed in his heart, but a smile appeared on his face. Tin naturally grateful that you cane to help me. As for Song Rui Prince Huaiyins eyes flickered. My husband is easy to deal with. If 1 go and persuade him personally, he will definitely agree, Qin Xiaoyao said immediately. Her husband s current situation was indeed special. It was understandable that Prince Huaiyin would be concerned.. Chapter 406 - 406: Casting Her Lot With Prince Huaiyin Chapter 406: Casting Her Lot With Prince Huaiyin Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Prince Huaiyin thought to himself, You are really confident. However, he didnt show it on his face. You and Lord Song he asked, pretending to be unaware. We have always been in contact, Qin Xiaoyao said. My husband didnt really join Minister Shens camp. Figuratively speaking, he was in Cao Caos camp but his heart was with the Han State. Prince Huaiyin stared at her nkly. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao remember that the people of this era did not know about the history of the Three Kingdoms at all, much less the analogy she had just mentioned. Er it means though he is physically staying by Minister Shens side, his heart is with me, Qin Xiaoyao exined. Prince Huaiyin nced at Qin Xiaoyao and deliberately disyed a look of disbelief. Its true! Ever since we met at the Ministry of Rites, we actually met often in private. Qin Xiaoyao was afraid that Prince Huaiyin would not believe her, so she added, Also, Shen Rongs ident had something to do with my husband. Prince Huaiyins eyes finally showed some interest. Shen Rong is actually not dead, Qin Xiaoyao continued. It was my husband who thought of a way for her and Meng Xuan to escape by faking their deaths. My husband did all this because he didnt want to marry Shen Rong. When she said this, Qin Xiaoyaos face was tinged with some gleeful gloating. Her husband was really good to her. When Prince Huaiyin saw this, his heart ached momentarily. This couple really liked to show off their affection for each other in front of him, didnt they? Well, fine. He had to admit that he was a little envious. If he could have a wife who was his kindred spirit and they hadplete trust in each other mutually, his life would indeed be much more wonderful. Ahem I see. No wonder the Prime Ministers daughter died so suddenly, and then the funeral was arranged very quickly, Prince Huaiyin replied. Qin Xiaoyao smiled again. She felt very pleased inwardly. She had not told Prince Huaiyin about these things in the past because she wanted to protect her husband. Only the heavens knew how upset she was when she saw her husband being misunderstood by Prince Huaiyin as an unrighteous person. So, Your Highness, dont worry. As long as I take charge personally, I will definitely be able to persuade my husband to work for Your Highness, Qin Xiaoyao said. She just fell short of patting her chest and giving him a promise. Prince Huaiyin smiled and nodded. He lowered his head and drank his tea. After taking a sip, he put down the teacup. Then lets do as you say, Marquis Xiaoyao. If I seed in the future, I will definitely appoint Lord Song to be the Prime Minister. As for you, Marquis Xiaoyao, how about 1 confer you the title of Great General Overlord and let you take charge of the Great Jin States army? Prince Huaiyin said as he nced at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat. However, it was only a moment before she cupped her hands and bowed to Prince Huaiyin. Indeed, my husband has the makings of a prime minister. If Your Highness appoints him to be the prime minister, it will certainly benefit the Great Jin State. As for me Im not very interested in power. On the day we seed, I hope Your Highness will allow me to resign from my military post and only retain the title of Marquis Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao broke into a smile. Then, I can focus on my century egg business and sell the century eggs in our workshop to the whole state, or even other states. She and her husband were holding one civil and one martial official post each. If they were appointed high positions holding great power, even if Prince Huaiyin trusted them in the beginning first, he would soon be suspicious of them. She and her husband did not have the intention to rule the world, so why did they have to bring trouble to themselves? In her family, only her husband needed to have power and influence. Once that happened, no one would dare to bully her family and that was good enough. As for her, she could take the business path. Bing a millionaire would also give her a sense of great aplishment. If she really couldnt hold it in anymore and wanted to experience the thrill of killing At that point, she could also take the initiative to seek Prince Huaiyins permission to let her take the members of the Warfire team to the battlefield for a rampage. This kind of thing should not be a problem. Prince Huaiyins eyes flickered. He did not expect Qin Xiaoyao to be so broad-minded. Then, he said, Lord Song is truly blessed. Since ancient times, it had always been the social norm for husbands to take a leading role while wives yed supporting roles. However, in the case of Marquis Xiaoyao, it was indeed not appropriate. Marquis Xiaoyao had extraordinary martial arts skills and was brave and resourceful. She was a natural general. Countless men had to bow their heads down in front of her. She could win honor for herself through her efforts. However, she chose to give up all of this so readily just to fulfill her husbands ambition. Indeed, Prince Huaiyin would never allow the husband and wife to hold power at the same time. It wasnt just him. Anyone else who ascended to that position would never allow such a situation to happen. Now, upon hearing that Marquis Xiaoyao was going to resign eventually, he was a little reluctant though it was a good oue for him. Marquis Xiaoyao was like a sharp de. Wherever that de touched, all enemies were swept away cleanly. If he wanted to dominate the world, he had to use Marquis Xiaoyao. However, Song Rui was more important to him now. After all, before he could dominate the world, he had to ask Song Rui to help him get onto the throne of the Jin State. Hehe! I feel that Im the one who is blessed, Qin Xiaoyao replied cheerfully. When Prince Huaiyin saw this, he sighed in his heart once more. Why didnt he have the luck to get such a wonderful woman? Alright. Then go and give it a try. 1 await your good news. As he spoke, Prince Huaiyin raised the teacup in his hand at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. She, too, raised her teacup and toasted Prince Huaiyin from afar. Then, she finished the tea in her teacup in one go. When Prince Huaiyin saw this, he sighed once more in his heart. What a waste of a great talent. Your Highness, Ill take my leave now. Ille back when the matter is settled, Qin Xiaoyao said as she stood up. In front of outsiders, it was better for her not to get too close to Prince Huaiyin. The longer she hid her rtionship with Prince Huaiyin, the more advantageous it would be. Mm-hmm, Prince Huaiyin replied and did not try to hold her back. Qin Xiaoyao strode out of Prince Huaiyins tent with airy steps and was in a good mood. Chu Jin, who was waiting outside, saw this and quickly came over. Lord Marquis, how was it? What did His Highness say? he asked anxiously. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and looked at Chu Jin with a smile on her face. You have performed brilliantly this time! she praised Chu Jin. Chu Jins face lit up, and he instantly felt relieved. This is what I should do, he replied thereafter. Then Lord Marquis, regarding the matter of Warfire sending people When I go back, I will order the men to be transferred to you immediately, Qin Xiaoyao said generously. In any case, the members of the Warfire team had almost finished their stipted training. And she didnt have any missions for them at the moment. It would be good to let them coach the special forces teams. Now that she had cast her lot with Prince Huaiyin, the stronger Prince Huaiyin was, the more advantageous it would be for her. Thank you, Lord Marquis! Chu Jin hurriedly cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao excitedly. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Chu Jin again and left quickly. She had to quickly arrange for someone to send a letter to her husband and tell him the good news from her. Meanwhile, Song Rui had just returned to the Prime Ministers residence when he received a secret signal from Qin Xiaoyaos messenger asking him to meet her tomorrow morning. Song Rui felt both happy and helpless about this. Prince Huaiyin had met up with him earlier, so not surprisingly, he knew why his wife was looking for him. After giving a sigh, Song Rui put away the small message sent by his subordinate. At this moment, the voice of a servant rang out from outside the door. Lord Song, the main courtyard sent someone here. Lord Prime Minister invites you to go over. Song Rui was surprised. Alright, he answered to the voice outside the door. Then, he tidied up his appearance and went out.. Chapter 407 - 407: Going to the Jia Residence Chapter 407: Going to the Jia Residence Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When Song Rui arrived outside Minister Shens study, before anyone could go in to report, Minister Shen had already called out to let him in. Song Rui entered and saw Minister Shen sitting behind the desk. He went forward and bowed to the older man. Greetings, my lord! Minister Shens expression did not look very pleasant. He gestured with his hand at Song Rui with some annoyance. No need for formalities, he said before giving a sigh. Thank you, my lord, Song Rui straightened up. My lord, is something troubling you? Song Rui asked tentatively. Minister Shen then raised his head and looked at Song Rui. After looking at Song Rui for a while, he narrowed his eyes and asked, Did the Jia family look for you? Song Rui looked baffled. No. Why do you ask, my lord? he asked. Minister Shen frowned and continued to stare at Song Rui. The Jia family has already decided on the woman to marry you as a concubine. Do you know who it is? he asked. Song Ruis heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Mrs. Shen had already convinced Jia Kun? Even though he already had some guesses in his heart, Song Rui still maintained a puzzled expression on his face. I dont know. Please enlighten me, my lord, he said to Minister Shen. The person the Jia family is giving you is Jia Qi, said Minister Shen. His gaze was still fixed on Song Rui. Song Rui looked surprised. Is there something special about this Jia familys young miss? Song Rui continued to pretend that he was totally unaware. Only then did Minister Shen withdraw his probing gaze. Although Jia Qi is the daughter of a concubine, her mother, Madam Wu, is very favored. Her status in the Jia familys residence is actually not lower than that of a legitimate daughter, he said. Song Rui was shocked. His eyes flickered, and then a hint of panic shed across them. My lord, I really dont know anything about this. Your lordship has already betrothed Miss Lianer to me. How can 1 be ungrateful and still try to curry favor with the Jia family? Minister Shen stared straight at Song Rui. Song Rui kept his head lowered and didnt dare to move. After a long while, Minister Shen finally spoke and asked Song Rui to straighten up. After Song Rui straightened up, he still didnt dare to look at Minister Shen. He seemed terrified. Since you didnt ask for Jia Qi, then go to the Jia familys residence and break off the betrothal with Jia Qi, Minister Shen finally said. He didnt want to work hard to promote someone, only to end up helping other people achieve their aspirations without gaining any benefits for himself Of course, he could alsoe forward and discuss this matter with the Jia family and the Empress. However, the effect of him making an appearance was not as good as Song Rui making an appearance. He wanted Song Rui to personally go to the Jia family to get rid of Jia Qi and offend the Jia family. This was the only way to eliminate all chances for Song Rui to rely on the Jia family and make Song Rui work for him wholeheartedly. At the same time, it would also stop the Jia family from trying to win Song Rui over. Let the caretaker go with you, Minister Shen added. Not surprisingly, this arrangement was to ensure that Song Rui could not cause any trouble behind his back. Song Rui lowered his head and an icy glint shed across his eyes. Yes, Sir, he quickly answered. Only then did Minister Shens expression be more rxed. Theres no time to lose. You can set off now. The caretaker has already prepared a horse carriage and is waiting for you at the entrance of the residence, he said. Yes, Sir, Song Rui responded again. After bowing to Minister Shen, he turned around and left. Following that, he went out of the Prime Ministers residence without stopping. As he walked out of the entrance, the caretaker of the Prime Ministers residence was already waiting for him. Upon seeing Song Ruie out, the caretaker quickly came forward and bowed to Song Rui. Lord Song. Mm-hmm, Song Rui responded. He looked at the horse carriage not far away. Then, he walked towards the horse carriage. The caretaker quickly followed. After getting into the horse carriage, Song Rui didnt say anything and closed his eyes. The caretaker sitting opposite him did not dare to say anything. The Master had asked him to watch over Lord Song and record everything that happened to Lord Song on the way to the Jia residence and the aftermath. Afterward, he was to go back and report to the Master. He would just do as he was told. The horse carriage swayed as it traveled and it soon arrived at the Jia familys residence. The voice of a servant from the Jia family rang out from outside the horse carriage. However, Song Rui remained seated with his eyes closed and did not move. After a while, the servants of the Jia family were already asking what was going on, but Song Rui still did not move. Lord Song The caretaker finally spoke up to wake Song Rui. Song Rui then opened her eyes. When he looked at the caretaker, he appeared extremely displeased. Fear rose in the caretakers heart and he quickly lowered his head. However, he still mustered his courage to remind Song Rui. Lord Song, weve arrived. Song Rui frowned and got up. He lifted the curtain and got off the horse carriage. Outside the horse carriage, the servants of the Jia family saw Song Rui and hurriedly bowed. Greetings, Lord Song! They had never met Song Rui before, but they had heard of his deeds. It was said that Lord Song had the talent of a poet and was also extremely handsome without equal. Now that they had seen him in person, they felt that the rumors were not exaggerated at all. Mm-hmm, Song Rui responded. Please go and inform Lord Jia that I, Song Rui, wish to request a meeting with him, he continued. Yes, Sir! a servant hurriedly replied. With that, he turned around and entered the Jia familys residence. Song Rui didnt wait long outside the Jia familys residence. The caretaker of the Jia familys residence came out and personally led Song Rui and the caretaker from the Shen familys residence inside. After passing through the front courtyard of the Jia familys residence, Song Rui and hispanion were quickly led to the front hall of the Jia familys residence. At this moment, Jia Kun was already waiting in the front hall. When he saw Song Rui, his eyes almost popped out. At the same time, he stood rooted to the spot in shock. There was actually such a beautiful man in this world? Furthermore, this fellow Song Rui looked too simr to Liu Ling from Cloud Scent Court. As he tried to suppress the furious thumping in his heart, Jia Kun only roused himself from his reverie after Song Rui stepped forward and bowed. Lord Song, no need for formalities. He quickly smiled and gestured with his hand at Song Rui. At the same time, he kept staring at Song Rui. Previously, Jia Kun had heard from his second younger sister, the Empress, that this guy Lord Song was unparalleled in the world, but he did not quite believe it. After all, he had seen many beautiful men and women. Among the men, only Liu Lings appearance and bearing could be said to be stunning. It was hard for him to believe that there was someone better than Liu Ling. To his surprise, Song Rui was actually more attractive-looking in person than Liu Ling. He remembered that he had promised his first younger sister that he would let Qier marry Song Rui. In the future, this guy Song Rui would be his son-inw. Jia Kun felt somewhat delighted. If this future son-inw of his really had the interests of the Jia family at heart, he would definitely do his best to help him rece that ungrateful Shen Hongyu as soon as possible. Have a seat. Serve the tea. Jia Kun turned his head to the outside. Then, his gaze returned to Song Rui and he stared at him brazenly. Thank you, Lord Jia. Suppressing the disgust in his heart, Song Rui cupped his fists and bowed to Jia Kun. Following that, he went to the chair and sat down. The caretaker of the Shen familys residence followed and stood behind Song Rui. The servants quickly served tea. Song Rui only nced at the tea but did not touch it. At this moment, Jia Kun finally realized that it was quite rude of him to keep staring at others. Ahem is there some matter that Lord Song wishes to discuss? he asked. Yes, Song Rui replied solemnly. Oh? Jia Kun became interested. What is it? he asked. Song Rui frowned. After hesitating for a moment, he finally stood up and cupped his fists at Jia Kun. The rank of my post is low and Im not worthy of Miss Qier.. Chapter 408 - 408: Breaking off the Betrothal Chapter 408: Breaking off the Betrothal Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Please choose another worthy husband for her, Lord Jia. Song Rui didnt even dare to look at Jia Kun. At present, Jia Kun was no longer as amiable as he was earlier. His entire face had turned ominously dark. Great. So this guy was actually here to break off the betrothal. Did this fellow Song Rui really think that he was some kind of big shot? If it wasnt for his first younger sistering up to him and persuading him relentlessly, he wouldnt have considered allowing Qier to be someone elses concubine. Yet, this fellow was really exceeding his expectations! Before Jia Kun could reply, Song Rui mustered his courage and raised his head to look at him. When he saw the ominous look on Jia Kuns face, he quickly lowered his head again. Jia Kun became even angrier when he saw Song Ruis action. Do you know what youre saying? he asked in a deep voice. This guy honestly did not know how to appreciate favors. Song Rui was silent. A momentter, he bowed to Jia Kun again. I know, he said. Impudent! Jia Kun finally exploded with rage. He picked up the teacup in his hand and threw it at Song Rui, hitting him squarely on the forehead. Song Rui felt the pain and blood oozed out of his forehead, but he maintained his posture. Lord Jia, please calm down, he said. When he saw Song Ruis reaction, the anger in Jia Kuns eyes dissipated a little. Hmph! How can you expect me to calm down? Jia Kun snapped in annoyance. Do you really think that no one wants my Qier? I wouldnt dare Song Rui hurriedly bowed. Miss Qier is both beautiful and talented without peer. She is famous throughout the capital for this. Its its because Im not talented enough to be worthy of Miss Qier. As he spoke, he carefully nced to the side. Jia Kun finally noticed the situation. Following this, he looked at the caretaker of the Shen familys residence standing behind Song Rui. The caretaker of the Shen familys residence became frightened and quickly lowered his head. He was just a tool who tagged along to keep an eye on things. He didnt want to offend the Empresss brother. Jia Kun finally realized that something was not right. His heart skipped a beat as he looked at Song Rui again. Alright. Since thats the case, then the marriage between you and Qier will be called off. In addition, remember this, you with the surname Song. This is not the end of this matter. With that, Jia Kun stood up at once. See the guests off! After that, he left the hall first. Song Rui came to break off the betrothal, but he brought a servant with him. Things were not as simple as they appeared. Since his first younger sister was the one who pulled the strings, it was better for him to ask her about the actual situation. As for Song Rui and Qier Since Song Rui had alreadye to break off the betrothal, there was no need to proceed with it. Fortunately, the news of the Jia family marrying their daughter to Song Rui had not spread out yet. Thus, there was no mention that the daughter he was going to marry off was Qier. In this way, his daughters reputation was not damaged. After Lord Jia left, Song Rui and the caretaker of the Shen familys residence were relieved. The servants of the Jia family came in and offered to see them off. Song Rui sighed and left. The caretaker of the Shen familys residence quickly followed. On the way back, Song Rui closed his eyes to rest without saying a word, just like he did on his way here. Did Jia Kun guess that he was held back by reasons that he could not reveal? He had already given Jia Kun a hint, so he should have guessed it. After this, he would not be able to meet Jia Kun again for the time being. Mrs. Shen should be able to help him exin things clearly. When he thought of this, Song Rui felt a little more at ease. Perhaps it was not a bad thing after all for the old fox to ask him to do this thing that offended the other party. Once the matter was done, the old fox would be at ease. However, behind his back, Song Rui would still be working with the Jia family. Soon, the horse carriage returned to the Prime Ministers residence. Song Rui opened his eyes and got out of the carriage. He didnt say a word on the way back to his own courtyard. The caretaker immediately went to see Minister Shen. After a while, a servant went to Song Ruis courtyard and asked him to go to Minister Shens study. Song Rui had no choice but to go. This time, Minister Shen looked more pleased. After hearing the caretakers report, he was very satisfied with Song Ruis performance. Alright. Dont feel dejected. The matters of the Jia family are not all decided by the Empresss brother. My agreement with the Empress still stands. Even if the Empresss brother doesnt marry Jia Qi off to you, he will find another daughter to rece her, Minister Shen said with a smile. As long as the Jia family is still going ahead with the marriage alliance with you, they will not make things too difficult for you in the future. Song Rui raised his head to look at Minister Shen. Yes, Sir, he replied respectfully. Minister Shen nodded. Lets put this matter aside for the time being. I still have something to tell you. My Lord, please go ahead, Song Rui replied. The matter of bringing Lianer into the residence cannot be dyed any longer. 1 have alreadymunicated with the Mistress. The day after tomorrow will be a good day. I want you to make a trip to the manor and bring Lianer back. A trace of annoyance shed across Song Ruis heart. Yes, Sir. However, he answered with an expression full of joy. When he saw this, Minister Shen was very pleased. 1 heard that youve seen Lianer a few times in your personal capacity? Previously, he was worried that Song Rui would miss that unfilial daughter, but now it seemed that he was thinking too much. A good man did not need to worry about having no wife. Moreover, Lianers talent and appearance were not that inferior to that unfilial daughter. Furthermore, Song Rui had him as his backing. No wonder this fellow was so attentive to Lianer. Regardless of how sincere Song Rui was and how much of it was because of him, he was still quite pleased with Song Ruis behavior. Song Rui panicked momentarily. My lord He immediately tried to exin. However, Minister Shen waved his hand and cut him off. 1 dont want to get involved in the matters of you young people, he said with a smile. Its just that the two of you havent officially gotten engaged yet, so its better to be more careful. Song Ruis heart skipped a beat, and he felt relieved. That was close. He thought that the old fox had found out that he had helped Madam Zhao fake her death to escape. Yes, Sir, Song Rui quickly replied again. He could not wait to be more careful. It was just nice that the old fox had spoken. It would save him from being pestered by Shen Lian endlessly. Minister Shen then seemed to recall something and asked Song Rui, In addition, hows the renovation of your residence? Since Song Rui was not marrying into the family, it would not be appropriate to let Song Rui continue to stay in the residence after Lianer entered the residence. Its almost done. After procuring the servants, 1 can move in, Song Rui quickly replied. Living in the Prime Ministers residence meant living right under the old foxs nose. There was almost always someone watching him. Song Rui had wanted to move out a long time ago. Mm-hmm. Tell your people to hurry up. When Lianer enters the residence, 1 will announce your engagement to the public as soon as possible. After that, 111 let the two of you get married as soon as possible. A wave of frustration swept over Song Rui. Thank you, Sir! However, he still had to pretend to be excited. Minister Shen nodded. He then told Song Rui about some matters in the Imperial Court before letting Song Rui leave. It was night. After a busy day, Song Rui prepared to go to bed early, so that he would be in better spirits to meet his wife the next day. Knock! Knock! Knock! Suddenly, there was a knocking on the door. Song Rui looked irritated. Who is it? Song Rui asked in the direction of the door. Lord Song, its me. Sangers voice immediately came from outside the door. Song Rui frowned at once. Suppressing the anger in his heart, he went to the door and opened it. Lord Song Sangers face blossomed like a flower the moment she saw Song Rui. Then, she tried to enter his room.. Chapter 409 - 409:1 Have My Difficulties Chapter 409:1 Have My Difficulties Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Song Rui seemed to have already guessed her thoughts. He turned his body to the side and blocked the door. When she saw this, Sangers expression stiffened. Miss Sanger, why are you looking for me? Song Rui asked Sanger with a smile. Sanger instantly forgot about feeling upset when she saw his beautiful face. She forced herself to look away before she remembered her purpose foring here. Following that, worry swept over Sangers whole face. In the afternoon, Lord Jia sent someone to talk to Mistress. He said that you went to Lord Jias residence to break off the betrothal with Miss Qier. Song Rui frowned. Thereafter, he nodded. When she saw this, Sanger was secretly delighted, but at the same time, she looked even more anxious. Lord Song, why did you do this? Mistress had to beg Lord Jia for a long time before she was able to get him to agree to give Young Miss Qier to you. Although she didnt want Lord Song to take Miss Qier as his concubine, she knew that if Lord Song didnt take Miss Qier, he wouldnt be considered a part of the Jia family. When that happened, the cooperation between Lord Song and Mistress would not be easy to achieve. And Sanger would not be able to follow Lord Song. Song Rui immediately looked at Sanger with some displeasure in his eyes. Sangers heart skipped a beat. She was a little frightened by his expression. She subconsciously lowered her head. After a while, Song Rui spoke, I have my own difficulties regarding this matter. Lord Song, what difficulties do you have? Upon hearing this, Sanger seemed to have forgotten her fear and raised her head to look at Song Rui. When she saw that Song Ruis gaze had softened, her pretty face immediately turned red. Mistress thinks very highly of you, Lord Song. Why dont you tell Mistress your difficulties? Mistress will definitely be able to help you, Lord Song, Sanger said as she avoided Song Ruis gaze. Song Ruis eyes flickered. Then, he let out a long sigh. Please thank Mistress for her kind intentions. However, this time, 1 can only let Mistress down, he said. When Sanger heard this, she thought, This is bad. She couldnt care less about feeling shy anymore and looked at Song Rui again. Lord Song, if you have any difficulties, why dont you tell me? At least 1 can go back and report to Mistress, to give her an answer. A trace of hesitation shed across Song Ruis eyes. Sanger was extremely nervous when she noticed that. She was about to persuade Song Rui again when Song Rui sighed and finally spoke atst. It is not my wish to approach the Jia family to break off the betrothal. Its the Prime Ministers order. Sanger was shocked. When I went there back then, caretaker Han was with me, Song Rui continued. Therefore, I have no choice but to say such a thing and end up offending Lord Jia and his family. And now, the offense has beenmitted. I know 1 have let Mistress down. How can I still bring myself to see Mistress? As he spoke, Song Rui looked at Sanger with a reluctant expression. Lets just forget what has been agreed with Mistress previously, he said meaningfully. Sangers heart felt like it had been hit hard, and her face instantly turned pale. Lord Song, please dont be anxious. Since there are unspoken reasons behind this matter, there is inevitably no room for a turnaround. When Sanger goes back to report to Mistress, Mistress will definitely be able to mediate between you and Lord Jia. Lord Song, please dont be discouraged yet. Song Rui was stunned. A look of hesitation shed across his eyes. But the Prime Minister does not like me to be on good terms with Lord Jia. Since I already know his intentions, if I still continue in this fashion Lord Song, youre wrong, Sanger hurriedly interrupted Song Rui. When she saw Song Rui looking at her in surprise, Sanger quickly bowed to Song Rui courteously. Then, she continued, Although Master has the intention to nurture Lord Song, he is extremely selfish. He wants to control you, Lord Song. If Lord Songpletely obeys Masters orders, Im afraid Sanger did not finish the rest of her sentence. When Song Rui heard this, his face clouded over. Afraid of what? Sanger nced at Song Rui and continued, Im afraid that even if you are able to rise very smoothly to the top with the support of Master, you will never be free, Lord Song. You will be controlled by Master for the rest of your life and be a ve for the Shen family. Song Ruis eyes flickered. A momentter, his eyes were filled with displeasure as he looked at Sanger. How dare a mere servant like you nder Minister Shen, he reprimanded. Sanger nced at Song Rui. Not only was she not afraid, but she also bowed to him again. Your servant is not ndering Minister Shen but thinking for Lord Song wholeheartedly. Lord Song, do you know that Master not only has illegitimate daughters but also an illegitimate son? A look of surprise shed across Song Ruis eyes. Sanger then continued, Master knows that Mistress will only allow him to bring illegitimate daughters into the residence, but she will never allow illegitimate sons. So, he already arranged for his illegitimate son to be adopted under the name of the Shen family through his cousin. Master thought that he had done it without anyone knowing, but in fact, Mistress had always known. Its just that due to their rtionship as husband and wife, and the fact that Master didnt go too far, Mistress didnt make a move on that illegitimate son. But now, because of Young Miss, although Mistress and Master still maintained a peaceful rtionship on the surface, their rtionship haspletely broken down. Yesterday, Mistress received news that not only did Master want to bring Shen Lian into the residence, but he also made arrangements for that illegitimate son. Lord Song Sanger looked at Song Rui with an emotionally-charged expression. Master said that he wants to nurture you and even let you take over his position in the future. But you mustnt take it seriously! The real purpose of Master supporting you is to divert the attention of Mistress and the Jia family, and then secretly support his illegitimate son. In the future, when that dayes, Master will use your shorings to threaten you. Im afraid you can only be manipted by him to serve and support that illegitimate son. Song Ruis expression changed at once. Is that true? he asked Sanger anxiously. Mm-hmm. Sanger nodded earnestly. Afraid that Song Rui wouldnt believe her, she added, 1 personally heard that person report to Mistress. Song Rui frowned, then he lowered his eyes in hesitation. After a while, he finally looked at Sanger again. Since thats the case, then you should go back and check with Mistress. If Mistress can really mediate and help me reconcile with Lord Jia, 1 will naturally help Mistress solve problems at the appropriate time. These words were rtively clear. Song Rui was willing to cooperate with Mrs. Shen. Sanger was overjoyed when she heard that. Yes, Sir. Sanger will go back and report to Mistress now! she said happily. Mm-hmm. Song Rui smiled and nodded. Sanger smiled shyly and bowed to Song Rui courteously before quickly disappearing into the darkness. Song Rui watched Sanger until she vanished. The smile on his face gradually disappeared. There was no doubt that he believed Mrs. Shen would plead with Jia Kun for him. He just didnt know if Jia Kun would really forgive him. After all, it was rumored that Jia Kun was quite a petty character. After sighing in his heart, Song Rui closed the door and returned to his room. He decided not to think about anything else. It was better to sleep early so that he could meet his wife tomorrow in high spirits. The next day, Song Rui got up early and tidied himself up before leaving the Prime Ministers residence. After circling around the streets twice, he went to the small courtyard. When he arrived, Qin Xiaoyao was already waiting for him. When the couple met, they naturally couldnt resist having a round of lovey-dovey actions. After that, they quickly got down to business.. Chapter 410 - 410: Wanted to Return to Mountain Spring Town Chapter 410: Wanted to Return to Mountain Spring Town Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Ive already gone to talk to Prince Huaiyin. If we cooperate with him, we will definitely get twice the result with half the effort. Moreover, he also agreed. When the big matter ispleted, he will appoint you to be the prime minister. At that point, you can show off your abilities, Hubby. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Rui with a beaming smile. Song Rui nced at his wife and reached out to pull her over to lean on his shoulder. He sighed and asked, Then what about you? If he became the Prime Minister, his wife would not be able tomand the army. Me? I will be Marquis Xiaoyao. 1 will take care of my own fiefdom and at the same time, make our familys century egg business bigger and better, Qin Xiaoyao said happily. Song Rui lowered his head and nced at the woman in his arms. Then, he nted a kiss on Qin Xiaoyaos head. You dont want to be a Great General and go into battle to y enemies? he asked. Although he had never seen his wife in action on the battlefield disying her invincible skills, he had heard others describe it. Prince Huaiyin had once said that his wife was a natural-born general. Moreover, when he saw how his wife interacted with the soldiers, he knew that his wife actually liked that kind of life. His wife was sacrificing herself to help him. Qin Xiaoyao shook her head. Nope, she said against her conscience. Whats the point of fighting and killing? I still like doing business to make money! The corners of Song Ruis mouth curled up. Being a great general and earning money are not in conflict, he said with a smile. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. After that, she heard Song Rui continue, I have no interest in being the Prime Minister either. My dear, why dont you be the Great General? I will resign from my post, stay at home and freeload off you? He seemed to recall this was how the word freeload was used. Qin Xiaoyao shifted her body quickly and got out of Song Ruis arms. How can you do that? Youll beughed at here. In fact, not only in this era, but even in the 21st century before the apocalypse, men who freeloaded off women were also looked down upon. Previously, after they moved into Mountain Spring Town, there were also some people who looked at her husband strangely, thinking that he was living off a woman. Song Rui smiled. Why do you care about what others think? As long as my wife doesnt despise me, its good enough. As he spoke, he pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his arms again. Qin Xiaoyao did not resist and obedientlyy back down. She lifted a lock of Song Ruis long hair and yed with it in her hand. But 1 dont want you to be misunderstood. My husband has the talent to stabilize the country. You are not just a pretty face. Song Ruiughed in amusement. Once more, he felt d inwardly that his wife liked his face. After sighing, Song Rui gently stroked Qin Xiaoyaos back. Forget about being the Prime Minister. If you dont want to be the Great General, lets return to Mountain Spring Town after this matter is over. It just so happens that Xiaoyao County is your fiefdom. Well keep watch over that small piece ofnd and live a carefree life. As he spoke, a look of yearning appeared on Song Ruis face. At that time, the hidden danger would be gone. Their family was also in his wifes fiefdom, so no one would dare to cause trouble for them. It was also considered a form of happiness to lead a stable life like that. Qin Xiaoyao turned around and looked upward at Song Rui. Are you serious? she asked. Actually, it was good to go back to Mountain Spring Town. After she left that ce, she had dreamed of her days in Mountain Spring Town several times. Mm-hmm, Song Rui nodded. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Alright. Then lets go back to Mountain Spring Town. Song Rui smiled dotingly and pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his arms again. Qin Xiaoyaos heart was filled with sweetness and peace. After a while, she thought of something and asked, Last time I heard you say that you bought a residence. It seems that you will be able to move in soon. Mm-hmm. I already have a caretaker. After procuring some servants and tidying up the premises, I can move in. When exactly? Qin Xiaoyao asked. I want to go and take a look, she added. Song Rui was stunned. Before you move in. Ill sneak in without being discovered, Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly added. She was curious about her husbands house. Song Rui smiled and reached out to scratch Qin Xiaoyaos nose. Then go the day after tomorrow. The timing is just right. The courtyards will be almost cleaned up by then. Qin Xiaoyao felt very satisfied and snuggled into Song Ruis arms. After a moment of silence, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly remembered something again. That Shen Lian hasnt been looking for you recently, has she? she said with some displeasure. Song Ruis heart instantly tensed up. No. Qin Xiaoyaos expression rxed a little. But 1 have to pick her up from the manor tomorrow. When he saw his wifes face turning sour, Song Ruis expression became nervous. Nheless, he still continued, The old fox told me to pick her up. Tomorrow, Shen Lian will enter the residence. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. So fast? she asked with displeasure. Song Rui nodded. Then, your marriage with her At this point, a dangerous glint shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. Song Rui looked at his wife guiltily. He said that it would be announced to the public soon. When he saw his wifes face darken further, Song Rui quickly said, But dont worry, my dear. The marriage wont happen in the end. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Rui in annoyance. A momentter, she made up her mind. How about I go and look for Prince Huaiyin and ask him to rebel straightaway? When the timees, 1 will lead my troops to help him attack the Imperial Pce. We will force the Emperor to abdicate outright. More than half of the capitals army was in her and Prince Huaiyins hands. With her help and the help of her subordinates in the Warfire team, taking care of a few thousand guards in the pce was not a problem at all. Song Ruiughed in amusement at his wifes expression. He reached out and hugged his wife tighter. How can things be that simple? Forcing the Emperor to abdicate is the worst strategy. Unless it is absolutely necessary, Prince Huaiyin will not do this. If he didnt get the position through proper procedures, even if he sat in that position, he wouldnt be able to sit with ease. Moreover, with such a precedent, it would be difficult for the Great Jin State to remain stable in the future. Then what should we do? We cant possibly wait for the old Emperor to die and then read out the posthumous edict, can we? Qin Xiaoyaos face was tinged with some impatience. They couldnt afford to waste time. No need, Song Rui said. When Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at him, he added, The current Emperor dotes on Empress Jia too much. As long as we can get evidence of Empress Jia and the Jia family plotting a rebellion, Empress Jia and the Jia family will not be able to escape punishment. Prince Huaiyin will then let the Emperor abdicate willingly. The Emperor actually didnt care much about holding onto power. He would most likely be very happy to exchange the throne for his beloved empress. Is the evidence easy to get? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Not easy, Song Rui replied with a smile. However, your husband has been working hard all this while. There are already some clues. When Qin Xiaoyao heard this, she was still a little dejected. Its so much simpler to kill our way in. Why do you have to make it soplicated? she said with some displeasure. Song Rui smiled and patted Qin Xiaoyaos shoulder. Dont worry. It wont be long. At the soonest, perhaps things can be aplished on the Emperors birthday next month. Now, the old fox trusted him more and more. Through his rtionship with the old fox, he knew and even took control of many of the old foxs connections.. Chapter 411 - 411: So You Guys Were in Contact All Along Chapter 411: So You Guys Were in Contact All Along Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Next, Song Rui would cooperate with the Jia family. He believed that he would soon be able to obtain more evidence and take control of more courtiers. At that point, these people would be sufficient to sink Empress Jia, the Jia family, and the old fox together. At the same time, he could take over everything belonging to the old fox smoothly and stabilize the situation in the Imperial Court. Really? Qin Xiaoyao didnt quite believe it. Mm-hmm. Song Rui smiled and nodded. When the matter is aplished, the court will be stable again. We can then go back to Mountain Spring Town. At this point, Song Ruis face was already filled with yearning. Qin Xiaoyaos heart skipped a beat. Mm-hmm! She felt at ease at once. After a while, she suddenly realized something. Oh, 1 see! You and Prince Huaiyin so you two were in contact all along! She struggled out of Song Ruis arms abruptly. They even had ns to take down Empress Jia, the Jia family, and Minister Shen on the Emperors birthday next month. How long had these two been in contact? It was not possible that these two guys had juste into contact with each other. To think that she was constantly worried about him and thought of myriad ways to get Prince Huaiyin to help him. It turned out that these two guys had hooked up long ago. Song Ruis expression froze. Oops. He was too careless. So its true. Qin Xiaoyao was even more annoyed when she saw this. My dear, lis listen to my exnation first. Song Rui immediately panicked. Alright. Then tell me. Qin Xiaoyao suppressed the anger in her heart and red at Song Rui. Song Rui gulped. This this matter He racked his brains, trying to find an excuse. However, when he faced his wifes face which looked as if it was about to explode in rage, he realized that all his efforts would be in vain. Qin Xiaoyao was even more annoyed when she saw this. Tell me When did you guys hook up? she asked. Her tone sounded like Song Rui was a husband who had been caught cheating on her. Thats not how you use the phrase hook up, is it? A look of awkwardness shed across Song Ruis face as he carefully nced at Qin Xiaoyao. If thats not how it is used, then how should it be used? Hurry up and answer my question! Qin Xiaoyao said impatiently. She now suspected that that rascal Prince Huaiyin had tricked her. And he was still talking about how he had helped her locate her husband in the Prime Ministers residence aftering to the capital. Perhaps, he had found her husband long ago. Moreover, the two of them had even worked together. One of them had infiltrated the Prime Ministers residence, and the other had pulled her along to help deal with the Liao soldiers who had breached the border. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao instantly felt furious. Tell me quickly! She looked angrily at Song Rui, who didnt reply in time. Song Ruis heart shuddered. Then if I tell you, can you not get angry? he asked Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao almost gritted her teeth in anger. What do you think Song Ruis eyes were filled with fear. I guess not, he replied. Then why are you still asking? Qin Xiaoyao was even angrier. Song Rui looked at Qin Xiaoyao guiltily again. On the third day after leaving Mountain Spring Town, I was saved by His Highness, he finally said. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. Just as she was about to blow up, Song Rui added, In return, I agreed to work for His Highness. I just didnt expect you to leave Mountain Spring Town and go to the border to carry out so many deeds. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. Since you were out of danger, why didnt you send a message home? Or inform me, she questioned him. A trace of guilt shed across Song Ruis eyes again. Following that, Song Rui didnt answer her but asked instead, If you found out that Im in the capital, what would you have done? Dont ask stupid questions. Of course, I would havee to look for you, Qin Xiaoyao immediately said. As soon as she said that, she understood what Song Rui meant. Even if you were afraid that I woulde to the capital and expose your identity, Im still here now, arent I? Havent I met up with you and acknowledged you? Qin Xiaoyao said indignantly. Was she someone who didnt know priorities? If he told her the truth, not only would she help him keep his identity a secret, but she could also help him in secret. Song Rui sighed again. But now you entered the capital as a warrior. After that, you were conferred the titles of a marquis and a general. Even the Empresss brother wouldnt dare to antagonize you in your current status. You can even protect our family. He didnt need to worry so much about Marquis Xiaoyao, but he was worried about Commoner Qin Xiaoyao. Moreover, the fact that his wife would be entering the capital was already set in stone at that time. There was no way to change it. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Only then did she figure out the key points. Nheless, she was still annoyed. After a moment of silence, she finally couldnt bear to remain angry at Song Rui. She pulled a long face and asked Song Rui What else are you hiding from me? Song Rui was surprised, but he felt a little relieved. However, after recalling some things, a guilty look shed across his face again. When Qin Xiaoyao saw this, her anger surged again. Oh, great. So there are still other things. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt hold it in anymore and said angrily, Song Que, tell me everything honestly today. Otherwise, I wont let you off! Song Ruis heart shuddered. My dear, dont be angry. Ill tell! 111 tell you everything! he quickly said. After hesitating for a moment, he revealed everything under Qin Xiaoyaos gaze. The other thing was, after you came to the capital, I arranged for someone to help you. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Who is it? She couldnt be bothered to think any further and simply asked directly. Liu Ling, Song Rui said guiltily. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned again. Then, she red furiously at Song Rui. That was great. This guy had been jealous of her all this while, presumably because of Liu Ling. Yet now, he was saying that Liu Lings involvement was arranged by him. Was it fun to toy with her? When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was about to blow her top, Song Rui quickly grabbed Qin Xiaoyaos hand. Liu Ling is not an outsider, he continued. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Rui. Song Rui quickly continued, Hes my younger cousin. And Yun Niang from Cloud Scent Court. Shes also my younger cousin. Their father is our mothers younger brother, our uncle. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. Thereafter, a wave of understanding shed across her heart. It was no wonder that Mother seemed overly concerned about Liu Ling. Had she recognized Liu Ling? Good grief. Liu Ling looked so much like her husband. Also, his face looked a little simr to her mother-inws. Yet she didnt notice anything unusual! So, you were the one who arranged for Yun Niang to take the initiative to approach me and ask me to redeem Liu Ling? Qin Xiaoyao asked. To think that she thought she was charming and capable, which was why Yun Niang approached her. It turned out that her husband was the one who instructed Yun Niang. Recently, she was still feeling smug, thinking that her business was doing well and that she had the talent to do business. It turned out that it was because her husband had helped her behind her back. Song Rui looked at Qin Xiaoyao guiltily. Mm-hmm. Then, he nodded. Yun Niang and Liu Ling have been in the capital for many years. It just so happened that during that period of time, Jia Kun was pestering Liu Ling. So 1 made those arrangements and asked Liu Ling to help you. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Rui and felt a little better inwardly. It seemed that Liu Lings trouble was not entirely fake. Otherwise, she really didnt know how she would get along with Liu Ling in the future. After a moment of silence, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Rui again. 1 remember that you promised me in the past that we husband and wife would not hide anything from each other and would face everything together.. Chapter 412 - 412: Bringing Shen Lian Back to the Prime Minister’s Residence Chapter 412: Bringing Shen Lian Back to the Prime Ministers Residence Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Song Ruis heart sank at once. But you hid things from me again. Song Rui tightened his grip on Qin Xiaoyaos hand. My dear he called out guiltily. Qin Xiaoyao pulled her hand away and lowered her head, refusing to look at Song Rui anymore. Song Rui panicked. He wanted to exin, but he realized that no matter what he said, it would seem very weak. After a long while, Qin Xiaoyao finally raised her head. Song Que, dont do this again. After this time, dont ever do this again, seriously. Eventually, Qin Xiaoyao chose to forgive him. She was a little angry at herself for being such a weakling, but she couldnt bear to genuinely separate from Song Rui because of this. Song Rui felt relieved instantly. He quickly reached out and pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his arms. Then, he hugged her tightly. It was as if he was afraid that if he let go, the woman in his arms would disappear. At this moment, the anger in Qin Xiaoyaos heart was gone. She would settle for being a weakling then. It would be such a pity to lose such a good husband. Enough. If you exert more strength, 1 wont be able to breathe, Qin Xiaoyao said. Her tone had regained its lightheartedness. Song Rui quickly let go of Qin Xiaoyao and turned her face toward himself. Its good that you are not angry anymore, my dear, he said. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Rui. Mm-hmm, she mumbled with some displeasure. Song Rui was delighted. He then remembered something. He quickly reached out and took his coat from the bedside. Following that, he took out arge stack of silver notes. This is the most recent ie. Keep it safe, my dear. As he spoke, he handed the stack of silver notes to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Rui and reached out to take it. She flipped through it and saw the face value of the silver notes. After that, the little bit of annoyance in her heart disappeared totally. Forget it. She would let matters rest on ount of the fact that her husband had handed over the control of the finances. Upon seeing this, Song Rui finally smiled. At the same time, he secretly decided that he had to earn more money in the future to make his wife happy. Alright. Youre making it look like 1 only care about your money. As she held back the joy in her heart, Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Rui. Song Rui understood and pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his arms. Of course not. I know you like me for what I am. And 1 also love you deeply, my dear, he said gently. If it was in the past, he would have felt like vomiting if he heard such words. Now that he said it himself, he only thought that this was truly what he felt. What a flippant mouth. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and tapped Song Ruis lips. She snuggled into Song Ruis arms contentedly. The young couple continued to act lovey-dovey for a while. Since you were already in contact with Prince Huaiyin long ago, then I wont get involved in the n that the two of you have hatched together. However, this time, lets make it clear upfront. If you have any ns or arrangements, you have to tell me in advance. I wasnt joking when I said not to do it again. At this point, Qin Xiaoyaos tone became more serious. Song Ruis expression stiffened momentarily. After hesitating for a moment, he finally answered. Alright. Forget it. Since things had alreadye to this, he would let his wife carry out the n together with him. If anything happened to his wife, he could just kill the person who harmed her and leave with his wife. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao feel more at ease. After thinking for a while, she added, Since were going to do something big, should we make some arrangements for Mother and the others? Mm-hmm, Song Rui responded. Find an excuse and arrange for Big Brother to send Mother and the others back to Mountain Spring Town. Let the people from the Warfire team escort them in secret. When they arrive at Mountain Spring Town, keep a portion of the team behind to protect them. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. You know about the Warfire team? She was a little shocked. The members of the Warfire team were all experts. It was indeed a good choice to let them escort and protect Mother and the others. Song Que smiled. Of course, I know. His Highness has mentioned it to me many times. He is dying toy his hands on them. His wife was indeed amazing in leading troops into battle and training soldiers. Moreover, his wife was smart too. She knew how to make the Warfire team her private army, so it was useless for anyone to covet it. Hmph! Its useless for him to covet it, Qin Xiaoyao snapped in annoyance. When she thought about how Prince Huaiyin had lied to her time and time again, she could not help but feel angry. Although she couldnt bear to be angry at her husband, she had no qualms about being angry at other men. Song Ruiughed in amusement. Alright. Dont be angry. Previously, it was I who made His Highness promise not to tell you about my whereabouts. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Rui. 1 didnt ask for anything when 1 decided to serve His Highness. Except for this condition, Song Rui continued. Qin Xiaoyao was astounded. A warm sensation flowed through her heart. Hmph! After that, she gave a scornful snort and turned her head away. This guy did it on purpose. Song Rui smiled dotingly. He reached out and pulled Qin Xiaoyao back. After this, your husband will tell His Highness to let you participate in the big matter. However, I have a request. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. She raised her head and looked at Song Rui. What request? Dont be impulsive when handling things. For certain important decisions, you must discuss them with me. Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment. Deal. She nodded in agreement. A smile spread over Song Ruis face again. Then tomorrow, you can go with me to pick up Shen Lian, he suddenly said. Qin Xiaoyao was delighted. Then, suspicion appeared in her eyes. Really? she asked Song Rui. Mm-hmm. Song Rui smiled and nodded. Following that, he told Qin Xiaoyao about his n. Since you want to help,e out in the open. If you save me and Shen Lian, you will be the benefactor of the Prime Ministers residence. I believe that old fox will also be very happy to befriend a new upstart of the Imperial Court like you. Qin Xiaoyao turned her eyes around and a wicked smile appeared on her face. Deal! Im the best when ites to saving the damsel in distress. At that juncture, she would send a few members of the Warfire team to pretend to be bandits, and she would show up to help Song Ruis group chase the bandits away. A delicatedy like Shen Lian would definitely be deeply grateful to her. Song Rui was once again amused by Qin Xiaoyaos expression. Youre so naughty. He couldnt resist reaching out to scratch Qin Xiaoyaos nose. Qin Xiaoyao retaliated. Following that, two of them very quickly began to fool around. The next day. Early in the morning, Song Rui packed up and set off from the Prime Ministers residence to pick up Shen Lian from the manor. When he reached the manor, Shen Lian was already waiting eagerly. When she saw Song Rui arriving, she went up to him with a smile. Young Miss, sorry to keep you waiting. If your luggage is already packed, I will get the servants to carry it into the carriage, Song Rui said to Shen Lian before she could speak. Thank you, Lord Song. I dont have much luggage, Shen Lian replied with a blushing face. No problem. Minister Shen has already ordered the caretaker to make the necessary purchases. When Young Miss returns to the residence, everything will be in order. If there is anythingcking, Young Miss can tell the caretaker. The caretaker will take care of it, Song Rui said. Shen Lian felt more at ease. She still wanted to talk to Song Rui. However, Song Rui had already turned around and ordered the servants to move the luggage. When she saw this, Shen Lian could only give up. Soon, all the luggage was loaded onto the carriage. Shen Lian finally seized the opportunity to approach Song Rui to thank him. She also invited Song Rui to sit in the same horse carriage as her. Song Rui frowned in his heart, feeling very reluctant.. Chapter 413 - 413: Pretending to Be Mountain Bandits Chapter 413: Pretending to Be Mountain Bandits Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion This is my first time going to the Prime Ministers residence. Im terrified. When she saw that Song Rui didnt reply immediately, Shen Lian looked at Song Rui with a pitiful expression. A trace of hesitation shed across Song Ruis face. Young Miss, after you please. He finally consented. Shen Lian immediately smiled. She quickly walked towards the horse carriage. Song Rui followed. As he watched Shen Lians back profile, he frowned. In order to let Song Rui spend more time with Shen Lian, the old fox had only asked the caretaker to arrange for two horse carriages when he came. One of them had to take Shen Lians servants and her luggage. In fact, even if Shen Lian did not invite him, he would still have to get into Shen Lians horse carriage in the end. However, he would bump into his wife on the roadter. If his wife saw him sitting in the same carriage with another woman, she would probably get angry again. Suppressing the unwillingness in his heart, Song Rui sighed in his heart again. Then, he followed Shen Lian. After getting into the horse carriage, Song Rui realized that Shen Lian was not the only one in the horse carriage. Her maidservant was also in there. Thus, he felt a little more at ease. Fortunately, this woman still had some sense of propriety and did not act too impudently. Otherwise, when he met his wifeter, it would be even more difficult for him to answer to her. When the maidservant saw Song Rui get into the horse carriage and sit opposite her and Shen Lian, she looked at her Young Miss cheekily. Shen Lian red back at her bashfully. Thereafter, Shen Lian looked at Song Rui shyly. Lord Song she called out sweetly. She lowered her head and twisted her embroidered handkerchief. Song Rui rolled his eyes inwardly. However, outwardly, heforted her by saying, Young Miss, you dont have to worry. Minister Shen has arranged everything. After entering the residence, Young Miss can settle down with ease of mind. Shen Lian nodded. On Mrs. Shens side Thereafter, worry welled up in her eyes. How could she not be worried? Mrs. Shen saw her and her mother as a thorn in her side. She had even asked her father to force her mother to end her life. After she entered the residence, she had to go under Mrs. Shens name and be her adopted daughter. At that point, she would definitely not have an easy time. Nheless, she still had to enter the Prime Ministers residence. Only then could she truly be the daughter of the Prime Minister. Then, she would be able to marry Lord Song in a proper and glorious manner. When she thought of this, Shen Lian became even more determined. However, her face still disyed weak frailty, and she looked at Song Rui with a pitiful expression. Since Mistress has already agreed to Minister Shens request to let Young Miss enter the residence, she will probably not make things too difficult for you, Young Miss, Song Rui said tofort her. She would not make things too difficult, but it didnt mean she wouldnt make things difficult. She would definitely make things difficult. As long as nothing serious happened to the girl, the old fox would only turn a blind eye. Shen Lian probably knew that Song Rui couldnt help her, so she didnt put him in a spot. However, she still maintained a soft and weak demeanor as she listened to Song Ruisforting words. Song Rui was already extremely frustrated, but when he thought about how his wife was waiting for him on the way, he still yed his part patiently. The horse carriage traveled all the way and finally passed through a mountain valley. Suddenly, six masked mountain bandits with weapons in their hands blocked the path of the two horse carriages. The leader of the mountain bandits ced the iron hammer in his hand arrogantly in the middle of the road, blocking half of the road. 1 opened up this mountain and nted this tree. If you want to pass through, leave behind money to pay for your way out! the bandit leader shouted loudly. Upon hearing this, Song Rui almost burst outughing. Needless to say, he knew that these words were taught by his wife. This was because his wife had told him beforehand. Lord Song Shen Lian was scared out of her wits, however. Her beautiful face turned pale as she looked at Song Rui nervously. Dont be afraid. Ill go down and take a look first, Song Rui said in a deep voice. My lord, you mustnt, Shen Lian hurriedly said. She was afraid that Song Rui would be in danger. Song Rui turned to look at Shen Lian. Dont worry. 1 know what to do, he said. Then, he got off the horse carriage without looking back. After alighting from the carriage, he realized that the people in the carriage in front were already on the ground before him. Moreover, because of the unsessful negotiation with the mountain bandits, those people had already been captured by two mountain bandits. One of the mountain bandits was moring for the mountain bandit leader to give the order to search the carriage when he suddenly saw Song Rui alighting from the carriage behind. The mountain bandits eyes were filled with shock, and he instantly believed his vice-captains words. The vice-captain had told them before they set off that they were pretending to be bandits so that their leader could save the beauty in distress. They were told that there was a peerless handsome man among the people they would be robbing. He didnt believe it back then. However, now, he believed it totally. This man was simply too good-looking, wasnt he? He was even more handsome than that fellow with their leader, Young Master Liu. Poor Young Master Liu. If the leaders wish came true this time, he would probably be reced very soon. Hey! There is a gigolo here! Leader! The mountain bandit did notment for long in his heart. He quickly got into character and called out to the mountain bandit leader. When the mountain bandit leader and the others heard this, they immediately followed the mountain bandits gaze and saw Song Rui. Following that, everyone was shocked. After exchanging looks with one another, they finally understood. Their leader had really good taste. Song Rui frowned when he heard the mountain bandits words. Hmph! Gigolo All the valuables in the carriage can be yours. You are only seeking wealth. Can you let my two servants and me go? Song Rui walked to the front and cupped his hands at the bandits. As he got closer, the mountain bandits saw Song Ruis face more clearly. The admiration in their eyes deepened. Their leaders eyes were indeed sharp. This guy was indeed more good-looking than Young Master Liu. After looking at him, the mountain bandits turned to look at the mountain bandit leader. They were prepared to listen to the mountain bandit leaders orders. Who said we only want money? The person is not bad too, isnt he? The bandit leader suppressed the awkwardness in his heart and tried his best to put on a lecherous expression as he looked at Song Rui. As soon as he said this, all the mountain bandits cast odd looks at the mountain bandit leader. Two of them could not help but take a step away from him. It was as if they were afraid that they would be his target. The bandit leader Oh, he was Huang Fei. He only felt a wave of chilly disgust in his heart. He wasnt interested in men who were hard and stiff, alright? No matter how good-looking he was, he was still a man. If it wasnt for Leaders sake, he would never do such a thing. When he thought of this, Huang Fei suppressed his difort again. He even started taunting Song Rui. The more he listened, the more ominous Song Ruis expression became. As he endured the humiliation, he secretly decided that when this matter was over, he would definitely have to get his wife to mend this person well. When Huang Fei felt that his performance was done sufficiently, he finally ordered the bandits to kidnap Song Rui. Wait At this moment, a female voice rang out from the horse carriage behind. All the mountain bandits looked in that direction. They saw Shen Lian and her maidservant alighting from the horse carriage. Upon seeing them, that delicate youngdy was clearly very afraid, but she still braced herself, straightened her back, and walked over. At this moment, Huang Feis mind was blown. He finally realized that he had taunted the wrong person just now. His leader asked him to pretend to be a mountain bandit and rob the convoy halfway. Not only did he have to rob money, but he also had to rob the beauty. She also said that there was a very good-looking man in the horse carriage. He thought Motherfucker! This time, he had really embarrassed himself no end! Chapter 414 - 414: Acting Chapter 414: Acting Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When the mountain bandits saw this, they also realized something was not right. Then, they looked at Huang Fei meaningfully. Huang Feis face had darkened so much that it resembled the bottom of a pot. Before Shen Lian reached him, he suppressed the annoyance in his heart. Yo! Theres a beauty here as well. Perfect! Grab her and take her back to be my wife! Huang Fei said in an exaggerated performance. Then, he gave the order. Men, tie her up and take her away! The mountain bandits exchanged looks with each other before walking towards Shen Lian with lewd smiles. Shen Lian looked terrified. Then, she pretended to be calm and said loudly, How impudent! Do you know who is in front of you? Song Rui frowned and turned to look at Shen Lian. Shen Lian straightened her back and continued to berate loudly, This young master is Lord Song, an official of the Ministry of Appointments! Also, I am the adopted daughter of the Prime Minister! Youd better leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, the Imperial Court and the Prime Ministers residence will not let you off! When the mountain bandits heard this, they exchanged looks with one another. Thereafter, Huang Fei quickly shouted, What are you all standing there for? Why arent you making a move? Are you really waiting for people to discover us? Are you waiting for the Imperial Court to send people to capture us? Shen Lians eyes widened. She did not expect that even after revealing her identity, the other party would still not let them off. When Huang Fei saw Shen Lians expression, he smiled somewhat wickedly. He continued, One is an official, and the other is the daughter of an official. If I really let you guys go, you will definitely get someone to give me troubleter. I might as well just capture all of you and take you all away. This way, no one will know that you guys are in my hands. The Imperial Court and the Prime Ministers residence wont be able to give me any trouble. Shen Lians face turned pale as she looked at Song Rui. Song Rui was also frowning as he looked at her. Shen Lian immediately regretted it immensely. She didnt expect to outsmart herself with her actions just now. Now, not only was she in danger, but she had also implicated Lord Song. When she thought of this, Shen Lians eyes became glistening. Her eyes were filled with an aggrieved look as she looked at Song Rui. When Song Rui saw this, he felt a wave of disgust. It was bad enough that she was brainless. She had clearly done something wrong, yet she only knew how to act pitiful. The mountain bandits quickly came forward. Song Rui didnt resist and let the bandits tie him up. He even had a resigned expression on his face. When she saw this, Shen Lians desire to escape fizzled out. She only trembled as she watched the mountain banditsing towards her. Just as the mountain bandits were about toe up and tie her up, a threatening voice suddenly rang out from the front. Stop right there! The voice was clear, and it was undoubtedly Qin Xiaoyaos voice. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Qin Xiaoyao riding a fine horse toward them. She was dressed smartly and looked downright valiant. Initially, Shen Lian still felt hopeful, but the moment she saw Qin Xiaoyao, the hope in her heart was extinguished at once. This person wanted to save them. She thought that this person had a team of people with him. To her surprise, he was all alone. Moreover, the person who came was thin and did not seem to be a man. Not only would he not be able to save them, but he might also have to sacrifice himself. Song Ruis eyes lit up the moment he heard Qin Xiaoyaos voice. At the same time, Huang Fei and the others were also very happy. Thus, they put more effort into their performance. Who are you? How dare you ruin our ns? Huang Fei bellowed at Qin Xiaoyao. He didnt dare to use words like scumbag and could only use you. Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. The one who took the head of themander of ten thousand troops. Who do you think this Marquis is? She looked at Huang Fei with a mocking expression. Shen Lian was shocked. Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao in disbelief. Took the head of themander of ten thousand troops? He even called himself this Marquis. Who else could it be but Marquis Xiaoyao? Even though she didnt step out of the manor, she still knew this persons name. Was this person really Marquis Xiaoyao? Shen Lians eyes were soon filled with excitement. If this person was really Marquis Xiaoyao, then they would be saved. Huang Fei and the others appeared shocked when they heard Qin Xiaoyaos words. How how do you prove your identity? Huang Fei asked Qin Xiaoyao immediately. After asking, he nced at Song Rui and Shen Lian, and his face disyed a look of reluctance. It was as if he was hesitating whether to give up these two people and flee. Hmph! You will know after youe forward and exchange blows with me. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Huang Fei with contempt. The mountain bandits were a little terrified. They exchanged looks with one another. They looked like they wanted to retreat but were unwilling to. Leader, I think shes most likely lying. If she is really the God of Massacre, how could she possibly speak to us in such a pleasant manner? a mountain bandit asked. A hint of evil intent shed across his eyes. Yeah, Leader! She is most likely impersonating her. Its just to scare us away! another mountain bandit said. A simr trace of evil intent shed across his eyes. Leader, you should go and spar with her, a third mountain bandit urged him. If you cant beat her, well retreat. If you win, hehe! We can kidnap one more. When Huang Fei heard this, he cursed and swore inwardly. Were these damn rascals itching for a beating? How could they set him up at this moment? When the mountain bandits saw Huang Feis expression, they smiled guilelessly. They were mountain bandits now! How could they simply run away? It was only logical for their leader to get into a ferocious fight with the other party and only retreat if they were no match for her, wasnt it? Huang Fei felt very helpless. He had to continue acting. He could only carry the hammer and look at Qin Xiaoyao. He tried his best to pretend to be arrogant and said to Qin Xiaoyao, Then lets try! He didnt want to fight with his Leader at all. Wasnt that simply asking for a beating? However, if he didnt fight, how could that be eptable? If that gigolo and the delicate youngdy noticed anything unusual, Leader would definitely punish him even more harshly. Forget it. No matter how heavy the Leaders strikes on him wereter, he would return the favor to those rascals who had set him up when they went back. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up as she looked at Huang Fei with a mocking expression. You asked for it, she said leisurely. As soon as she finished speaking, she leaped down from her horse. Then, she gave Huang Fei a kick. Huang Fei quickly dodged. However, that leg seemed to have eyes. It shed by like a shadow and kicked his hand that was holding the hammer. That kick caused great pain in his hand. At the same time, the hammer in his hand was sent flying by that kick. Nearby, Shen Lian was dumbfounded by what she saw. This person who called herself Marquis Xiaoyao was really strong. When the mountain bandit ced his hammer on the ground earlier, that hammer sent a cloud of dust flying up from the ground. However, she easily kicked that hammer away. At this moment, Shen Lian finally believed. This person was definitely Marquis Xiaoyao. Their Great Jin States God of Massacre certainly lived up to her reputation. She was so powerful! When Song Rui saw his wife unting her power, his eyes were filled with admiration. That was right. This was his wife! His wife was so powerful! Qin Xiaoyao took a split second to nce at Song Rui. When she saw the admiration in her husbands eyes, she felt good all over. She dispelled the thought of letting Huang Fei go at this stage. Following this, she stepped forward and gave Huang Fei another impressive kick. She sent Huang Fei flying straightaway, and he was flung quite far away.. Chapter 415 - 415: Going to the Prime Minister’s Residence Chapter 415: Going to the Prime Ministers Residence Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Of course, Qin Xiaoyao deliberately restrained her strength. And the ce where she kicked was not a vital part. Huang Fei knew what his Leader was thinking, so he even cooperated with her when he was sent flying. Therefore, he wasnt actually kicked that hard in reality. Nheless, it was enough for him to suffer quite a bit. Ouch! Afternding, Huang Fei wailed out loud. Then, he quickly got up from the ground. You win! After saying that, he ran away. He didnt even ask for his own weapon. When the rest of the mountain bandits saw their leader running away, they quickly ran after him. Hahahaha Qin Xiaoyaoughed outrageously. When the bandits heard herughter, they ran even faster. After a while, the whole group followed Huang Fei into the mountains and disappeared without a trace. Shen Lian frowned when she saw this. Marquis Xiaoyaos martial arts skills were indeed formidable. However, if that was the case, why did she let those mountain bandits go? Wouldnt she be eliminating evil for the people if she killed them off? Or else, she could send them to the government office and let them deal with the bandits, couldnt she? Song Rui, on the other hand, was smiling brightly like a spring breeze as he looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Lord Marquis, thank you for saving us! He took the initiative to step forward and cupped his hands in greeting at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao smiled radiantly. Lord Song, you are too polite. You and I are both officials of the same court. Since Lord Song is in danger, how can 1 not save you? Song Rui smiled again. Ive heard that Lord Marquiss martial arts skills are unparalleled. 1 have finally seen it for myself. Haha! The rest of the people are just exaggerating! Though her words sounded modest, her attitude was not modest at all. Shen Lian, who was at the side, saw the two of them chatting happily and came over. Shen Lian hereby greets Lord Marquis. Thank you for saving my life! She bowed to Qin Xiaoyao politely. This was their Great Jin States God of Massacre. Even if her father met her, he would have to show her some respect. Not surprisingly, Shen Lian wanted to get to know Marquis Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao then withdrew her gaze from Song Rui and looked at Shen Lian. She sized Shen Lian up silently and realized that this woman was not as good-looking as Shen Rong. In terms of bearing, she was also inferior to Shen Rong. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyaos sense of superiority rose. This was a woman who couldnt evenpare to Shen Rong. What was there for her to worry about? You are Qin Xiaoyao inquired, pretending not to know anything. Song Rui nced at Shen Lian and gave an introduction. Oh, this is the adopted daughter of Mrs. Shen, Miss Shen Lian. Today, 1 am under Minister Shens orders to bring Miss Shen Lian into the residence. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Shen Lian again. Oh, 1 see. So youre Minister Shens daughter! she said with a smile. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao smiling at her, the smile on Shen Lians face grew even wider. Lord Marquis is valiant and heroic, a hero among women indeed. Today, after witnessing this, 1 have certainly broadened my horizon, she said in an attempt to tter Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. She thought to herself, This woman is quite good at observing peoples expressions and ttering others. She did not know if it was due to this reason that she was chosen by Minister Shen to enter the Prime Ministers residence. Miss Shen, you are too kind, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Then, she looked at Song Rui again. Theres still some distance to the capital. Why dont I apany the two of you there? she said. Song Rui hurriedly cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. That would be great! Ill have to trouble you, Lord Marquis. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and gestured with her hand. No problem. Anyway, Im preparing to return to the capital. We are going the same way. Nearby, Shen Lians eyes lit up. After we enter the capital, why dont youe with us to the Prime Ministers residence, Lord Marquis? Today, Lord Marquis saved me and Lord Song. Once Father hears about this, he will definitely reward you generously. If she could bring Marquis Xiaoyao back, her father would definitely think highly of her. In the future, her position in the Prime Ministers residence might also be different. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Shen Lian. She understood the thoughts in her mind. It doesnt matter whether you thank me or not. However, it so happens that our Ministry of War has something to discuss with Minister Shen. In that case, 1 might as well pay Minister Shen a visit. Shen Lians face lit up at once. Lord Marquis, please she hurriedly said. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and nodded at Shen Lian. She turned around and got on the horse. Shen Lian then looked at Song Rui. Thereafter, she walked with Song Rui toward the horse carriage behind. As Qin Xiaoyao watched the two of them leave, a glint of menace shed across her eyes. Well done, Song Que. Just you wait she thought. Song Rui, who was listening to Shen Lian, felt a sudden chill run down his spine. He felt totally helpless knowing who was staring at him. It was just as he predicted The group quickly set off. They soon arrived at the capital safely. After that, they crossed a few streets and finally arrived at the Prime Ministers residence. Song Rui was the first to get off the horse carriage and instructed the gatekeeper to inform Minister Shen that Marquis Xiaoyao hade to visit. At the same time, he told another servant to bring Shen Lian to her courtyard. Shen Lian wanted to follow Qin Xiaoyao and Song Rui to see Minister Shen, but after thinking for a while, she decided against the idea. She would be able to see her fatherter. If she went with them now, her father might not think that she was the one who helped the Prime Ministers residence win over Marquis Xiaoyao. Instead, he might think that she was greedy and did not know her limits. In that case, 1 will take my leave first, she smiled and bowed to Song Rui and Qin Xiaoyao. Shen Lian only left after the two of them responded. After she had walked far away, Qin Xiaoyao red at Song Rui. Song Rui, on the other hand, smiled at Qin Xiaoyao ingratiatingly and put on an innocuous expression. At this moment, someone came out from the Shen familys residence. Ill deal with you another time, Qin Xiaoyao growled to Song Rui in a low voice. Then, when she turned around and looked toward the Prime Ministers residence, her face was already full of smiles. Marquis Xiaoyao, you are here. What a rare guest! A rare guest indeed Minister Shen came out and headed towards the main entrance to wee Qin Xiaoyao personally. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly cupped her hands in return. Lord Shen, you are too polite! 1 came here unannounced without even sending you an invitation first. It is me who iscking in manners. Please dont say that. Whenever Lord Marquis wants to pay us a visit, just get someone to inform us, Minister Shen said with a smile. Oh, yes. I heard that Lord Marquis saved my adopted daughter and Lord Song? As he spoke, Minister Shen looked at Song Rui. On the way here, the servant had already told him a little about the incident. However, he wasnt clear about the exact details. Song Rui quickly bowed to Minister Shen. Thats right. On the way back from picking up Miss Lianer, we encountered a group of bandits at the foot of Grimalkin Mountain who tried to rob us. Thankfully, Lord Marquis appeared and chased the mountain bandits away. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable. Minister Shen pondered for a while. There are bandits outside the Imperial City but Lord Marquis didnt capture them? he asked Qin Xiaoyao very quickly. Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she looked at Minister Shen. Its not difficult to capture those few people, but there are many more mountain bandits in Grimalkin Mountain than those few. Previously, I heard that there were bandits on Grimalkin Mountain causing trouble, so I was prepared to bring my men there to flush them out of theirir. But the terrain of Grimalkin Mountain isplicated, and there are many traps inside. It was difficult to locate traces of the mountain bandits. Therefore, the matter of suppressing the bandits was dyed. And now, weve already discovered traces of the mountain bandits. As long as we follow the tracks of those few mountain bandits, we will be able to locate theirir.. Chapter 416 - 416: The Reason for Looking for Minister Shen Chapter 416: The Reason for Looking for Minister Shen Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion This way, it will be much easier to eliminate the bandits. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and continued, Although 1 didnt manage to capture those few mountain bandits, my men have already followed them into the mountain. I believe there will be news soon. She had already nned everything out when Song Rui asked her to put up this act. Even if the old fox went to investigate, he would not be able to find out anything. After all, there was indeed a group of mountain bandits on Grimalkin Mountain. And she had indeed received the order to exterminate the mountain bandits. It was just that she was too busy recently, so she had put that mission on hold. Realization dawned on Minister Shen immediately. He also understood why Qin Xiaoyao was at Grimalkin Mountain at that moment. It seemed that everything was just a coincidence. When he thought of this, Minister Shen became even more enthusiastic toward Qin Xiaoyao. Mm-hmm. Lord Marquiss n is brilliant. With Lord Marquiss help, I believe that those mountain bandits wont be able to survive for long. Alright. Lord Marquis, dont stand at the entrance. Lets talk in detail when we go into the residence. As Minister Shen spoke, he invited Qin Xiaoyao inside. After you please. Qin Xiaoyao epted his invitation and stepped into the Prime Ministers residence. In the front hall of the Prime Ministers residence. The moment Qin Xiaoyao and Song Rui sat down, the servants served tea at once. Please help yourself Minister Shen sat on the seat of honor and extended his hand invitingly to Qin Xiaoyao. Thank you, Lord Shen, Qin Xiaoyao responded and picked up her teacup. She took a sip and found that the tea tasted pretty good. Hence, she said, Good tea! Haha! Minister Shenughed out loud. This is the newly harvested Dragon Well Tea from the tea ntation in the Southern River region. If Lord Marquis likes it, I will ask the servants to bring some for Lord Marquis to take awayter. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up. Then 1 must thank you, Lord Shen! she expressed her thanks to him. It would be a waste not to ept this tea. Although she didnt know how to appreciate tea, she still recognized that this tea was good. It was not bad to have some in the residence to serve her guests. As Song Rui watched his wifes reaction, he couldnt help butugh inwardly. His wife was a down-to-earth person. Minister Shen, who was seated on the seat of honor, was stunned momentarily. He didnt expect that Qin Xiaoyao would really ask him for tea leaves. However, it only took a moment for him to revert to his earlier expression. It was just tea leaves. If Marquis Xiaoyao liked it, there was no harm in giving her some. Thus, Minister Shen replied, Lord Marquis, youre wee. Thereafter, he ordered the servants waiting outside the door to prepare the tea leaves. Following that, he asked Qin Xiaoyao about the details of how she saved Shen Lian and Song Rui. Qin Xiaoyao recounted the incident briefly. Song Rui added some details every now and then. Of course, during the process of adding details, he ttered Qin Xiaoyao effusively and expressed his admiration for her. Haha! Lord Marquiss martial arts skills are indeed formidable! The Great Jin State is impregnable with Lord Marquis around. Minister Shen looked at Qin Xiaoyao with admiration. Putting everything else aside, Marquis Xiaoyao was indeed a good warrior in terms of fighting. Previously, she was the one who turned the tide of the battle against the Liao State. If this person was here, the Liao State would probably not dare to attack the Jin State again. Just this point alone made Marquis Xiaoyao worthy of respect from all the people of the Great Jin State. Naturally, that included him. Qin Xiaoyao exchanged pleasantries with Minister Shen for a while. After that, she proposed to discuss some matters regarding the Ministry of War with Minister Shen. Minister Shen was easy to talk to and agreed. Then, Qin Xiaoyao told him about the soldiers and generals in the army who didnt receive adequate benefits. She even said that when she applied for those benefits, the Ministry of Revenue did not approve her application. Our soldiers risk their lives to go to the battlefield to y the enemy. We wage bloody battles. Other than protecting our state, we are also fighting for a share of the glory or some money to support our families. This is especially true for those soldiers who died in battle. When soldiers die, we can only ept the fact. But their families havent been able to get theirpensation payment despite waiting for a long time. Not only did they have to bear the pain of losing their loved ones, but they also had to face the pressures of life. In the long run, wont it make the soldiers feel demoralized? At this point, Qin Xiaoyaos voice rose a little, appearing somewhat indignant. Besides helping her husband, the other reason she came to look for Minister Shen was indeed for this matter. The Imperial Court had already tacitly agreed to let Prince Huaiyin support his own soldiers. And her soldiers were also Prince Huaiyins soldiers. Based on the previous arrangement, Prince Huaiyin should have paid for her soldiers. However, after she was officially conferred the title of Marquis, Prince Huaiyin no longer cared about her and her soldiers. She knew that Prince Huaiyin was intentionally keeping a distance from her. However, theck of funds had indeed brought her a lot of trouble. In reality, she was able to support thousands of soldiers without problems. However, she couldnt bear to use her own money. Wasnt it nice for her to save up her own money and spend it on herself and her family? Why should she give it to outsiders? However, she had no choice but to support them. The soldiers went into battle to y enemies. Now that there was no war, they still trained every day and all of them worked hard. Everyones sry was only so little. If she didnt pay them, she would feel quite bad. After all, she still had the fiefdom in Xiaoyao County. The taxes from the fiefdom were actually barely enough to support these few thousand people. However, she would not want to pay if she could help it. After all, although those soldiers were her soldiers, once she resigned from her current position as a general, they would no longer be hers. As for her, she was prepared to resign in the future. Minister Shen was stunned. Then he seemed to remember something. Prince Huaiyin didnt approve the soldiers sries andpensation payments? he asked Qin Xiaoyao. Empress Jia held Marquis Xiaoyao in high regard and often summoned her into the pce. She even made Princess Xiangyang acknowledge her as her master. Was it because of this reason that Prince Huaiyin excluded Marquis Xiaoyao? Qin Xiaoyao revealed a troubled expression. His Highness knows that the Empress holds me in high regard and that I have taken Princess Xiangyang as a disciple. Thus, he has some veiled criticisms about me. The matter of food rations and pay was cut off by His Highness a month ago. Qin Xiaoyaos face was filled with bitterness. When she saw Minister Shen look at her, she continued, I already knew about the discord between His Highness and the Empress. But I did not expect that things had already reached this stage. Truth be told, I can guess what they are thinking. But 1 have no interest in joining factions or taking sides. I only want to be loyal to the Great Jin State and the Emperor. As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she cupped her hands. As for other things, I really dont want to get involved. Minister Shens eyes flickered. Lord Marquis, you are right. Its a pity. There are too few people in the court who think in the same way as Lord Marquis, Minister Shen said with a sigh. Then, an idea popped into his mind. The food rations and pay of Lord Marquiss soldiers should indeed be paid by the Imperial Court. I will take note of this matter. Tomorrow, I will personally go to the Ministry of Revenue and help Lord Marquis procure the food rations, Minister Shen said. It was good to be neutral. He could not wait topletely shake off Empress Jia and the Jia family and be a neutral party himself. If he did this favor for Lord Marquis now, he might be able to get something in return in the future. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up when she heard that. Lord Shen, do you really mean it? she asked Minister Shen excitedly. Minister Shen nodded. Im not joking, he said with a smile. Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly stood up, straightened her body, and cupped her hands at Minister Shen. In that case, I must thank you, Lord Shen! And I also thank you on behalf of the eight thousand soldiers! Chapter 417 - 417: Congratulations, Lord Song Chapter 417: Congrattions, Lord Song Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Minister Shens expression turned solemn. Lord Marquis, you are too polite. Its fine if 1 didnt know about this before. Now that I know, I cant sit by idly. This is also my duty. Minister Shen is righteous indeed! Qin Xiaoyao cupped her hands again. Minister Shen smiled and gestured for Qin Xiaoyao to sit down. Soon, he started to talk about other topics with Qin Xiaoyao. Then, they began talking about Song Rui. Ive already bought my residence and will move there in a few days. At that point, if Lord Marquis is free, you are wee toe and visit us, Song Rui said with a smile as he extended an invitation to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Song Rui and then at Minister Shen, who was smiling brightly. Is is that okay? Then, she looked at Song Rui with some interest. Previously, she had expressed that she did not have many close friends in the Imperial Court. After garnering this reaction, it was considered an eptable performance, wasnt it? You are most wee! Song Rui said with a smile. Haha Minister Shen alsoughed. He didnt expect that he and Song Rui would be able to rope in Marquis Xiaoyao so easily. At the very least, in the eyes of Marquis Xiaoyao, they were already considered friends, werent they? Then when the timees, I will definitely prepare a gift and visit you! Qin Xiaoyao quickly replied. She even raised her teacup at Song Rui. Song Rui quickly raised his cup in response. They then finished the tea in their respective cups. The three of themughed and chatted again. Qin Xiaoyao yed the part of a simple-minded and socially awkward martial arts expert thoroughly. The more Minister Shen looked at her, the more pleased he became. The three of them chatted until it was almost noon. Minister Shen then asked Qin Xiaoyao to stay for lunch. He even got someone to invite Mrs. Shen and Shen Lian to join them for the meal. It was also at the dining table that Qin Xiaoyao met Mrs. Shen. This woman looked graceful and noble, and there was some resemnce between her face and the face of Empress Jia in the pce. When Mrs. Shen saw Qin Xiaoyao, she was very warm and enthusiastic toward her. She didnt hesitate to express her admiration for Qin Xiaoyao, the battle god. Shen Lian, on the other hand, was put in a spot when she went to pay her respects to Mrs. Shen earlier. Now that she was eating with Mrs. Shen, she did not dare to take the initiative to say anything. The crowd did not take Shen Lian seriously, almost treating her as an invisible person at the table. It was Song Rui who voiced out some concern for Shen Lian because he kept receiving pitiful looks from her. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and looked at Song Rui. The fury in the depths of her eyes made Song Ruis heart tremble violently. Song Rui was in turn furious at Shen Lian. Couldnt this woman stop for a while? If he ignored her, he was worried she would think too much. However, if he showed her concern, he would end up angering his wife. After that, he would probably have to suffer. Lord Song, you really have a lot of concern for the fairer sex? Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Rui and Shen Lian. There was a strong sense of interest in her eyes. When Shen Lian heard that, she immediately lowered her head shyly. Song Rui forced himself to smile under Qin Xiaoyaos gaze. Haha! Minister Shen was stunned at first, but then heughed heartily. Following that, he ignored Mrs. Shen who was pulling a long face, and looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. To tell you the truth, Lord Marquis. Ive already decided to betroth Lianer to Lord Song. After the Emperors birthday, I will announce this good news to the public. When the timees, Lord Marquis muste to the engagement banquet and enjoy a cup of celebratory wine on us! Minister Shen said as he extended an invitation to Qin Xiaoyao. Previously, he had heard that when Marquis Xiaoyao went to the Ministry of Rites, she had spoken to Song Rui alone. Looking at the way things were going now, Marquis Xiaoyao was probably Hehe! Song Rui was a capable and good-looking kid, and he was extraordinarily talented too. No wonder he attracted Marquis Xiaoyaos attraction Although he heard that Marquis Xiaoyao was married, women, especially those with power, had the same thoughts as men. Otherwise, why would that male prostitute from Cloud Scent Court end up by her side? Someone with a status like Marquis Xiaoyao would naturally cherish and take care of her own reputation, and not think about marrying Song Rui. However, who could say anything if she were to have a secret interlude here and there? This way, it would not affect Lianers position in the Song familys residence in the future, and it would also help Song Rui win over more connections in the court. In short, he didnt mind Song Rui offering to sleep with Marquis Xiaoyao. If Marquis Xiaoyao could stand on their side, even Empress Jia and the Jia family would not be able to do anything to him. As soon as Minister Shen said this, Mrs. Shens face sank. However, even so, she only nced at Minister Shen and did not object. This was because this was what she and Master had discussed before. Master had thought that after Shen Lian entered the residence, he would let her be engaged to Song Rui. If she hadnt firmly opposed it, perhaps the engagement banquet would have been right in front of them now. Fortunately, in order to sessfully bring Shen Lian into the residence, Master agreed to postpone the engagement banquet. Although it was only dyed by a month, it was enough time for Mrs. Shen to properly teach Shen Lian a lesson. Shen Lian, who was sitting at the side, was originally very shy. However, when she noticed Mrs. Shens expression, her face immediately turned pale. Minister Shen also noticed this situation, but he still continued to smile, pretending that he did not notice it. Mistress agreed to let him take Lianer into the residence. In return, he had to agree to her training Lian er. Anyway, it was only for a month. The grievances would pass eventually. After the engagement banquet, he would marry her off as soon as possible. When she went to the Song familys residence, no one would dare to make things difficult for her. Of course! Qin Xiaoyao swept her eyes over Song Rui and Shen Lian before raising her cup to Minister Shen. Minister Shen immediately raised his cup and drank with Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao finished the wine in her cup and smiled at Song Rui and Shen Lian again. Congrattions. You two make an ideal couple, she said with a smile. Shen Lian was secretly delighted. She really wanted to toast Qin Xiaoyao to express her gratitude. However, because Mrs. Shen was beside her, she did not dare to move. She lowered her head and said timidly, Lord Marquis, your praise is too generous. As for Song Rui, he was extremely nervous when Qin Xiaoyao stared at him. However, he still had to appear calm on the surface. Lord Marquis, you are too kind. Please allow me to offer you a toast, Lord Marquis. Song Rui braced himself and looked back at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao stared at Song Rui without blinking. When they saw this, Minister Shen and Mrs. Shens eyes wavered. This Marquis Xiaoyao was really A momentter, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and raised her wine cup. Congrattions, Lord Song, she responded. However, her smile didnt extend to her icy eyes. Thank thank you, Marquis Xiaoyao. Song Rui was under a lot of pressure, but he still had to bite the bullet and reply. Shen Lian finally noticed something odd. She raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao, however, smiled at her. Shen Lian blushed and lowered her head again. The odd feeling in her heart was gone. The rowdy atmosphere at the table continued. After what happened earlier, Shen Lian no longer wanted to be stared at. She meekly turned into an invisible person again. Everyone did not look at Shen Lian anymore. They chatted merrily and ate happily. After the meal, Minister Shen still wanted to keep Qin Xiaoyao back. However, Qin Xiaoyao pretended to be slightly drunk and turned down his request. Song Rui and the caretaker of the Prime Ministers residence personally sent Qin Xiaoyao out of the premises and into the horse carriage. After that, she left. Qin Xiaoyao opened her eyes as soon as the horse carriage began moving.. Chapter 418 - 418: Showdown Chapter 418: Showdown Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao was no longer drunk like she was previously. There was only gloominess left on her face. Even though she knew that her husband was just putting on an act, she was still very annoyed. She really wanted to rush up and kill all those annoying people. After finishing off those annoying people and things, she could return to Mountain Spring Town with her husband and lead a happy and carefree life. However, frustratingly enough, she couldnt. A hundred thoughts ran through her mind. After a moment, Qin Xiaoyao finally suppressed the frustration in her heart. Then, she rxed and leaned against the horse carriage wall to rest. The horse carriage swayed as it traveled along the way and soon arrived at the Marquiss residence. Qin Xiaoyao jumped off the horse carriage and entered her home. Then, not long after that, she went to Madam Lius courtyard. In Madam Lius room, Qin Xiaoyao looked at her mother-inws exquisite features and sighed at her own carelessness again. Liu Ling not only looked like her husband but also her mother-inw. Moreover, her mother-inw was very concerned about Liu Ling right under her nose. The two of them looked so simr and were so close to each other under her very nose every day, but she did not suspect anything. Sanya, what do you want to talk about with me? Madam Liu asked awkwardly when she noticed that her daughter-inw had been staring at her since she entered her room. Qin Xiaoyao finally regained her senses. Oh. I came to confirm something with you, Mother, she said. What is it? Madam Liu immediately asked. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu. That Liu Ling is your nephew? she asked. Madam Liu was shocked. A trace of panic shed across her face. When Qin Xiaoyao disyed an expression that implied I knew it!, Madam Liu knew that she had been exposed. Sanya She wanted to exin at once that she didnt mean to hide it. However, when the words reached her mouth, she realized that no matter how she exined it, it would sound very weak. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Mother, you dont have to be nervous. Since weve confirmed that Liu Ling is my husbands younger cousin, hes a part of our family. In the future, I have to treat him better. Madam Liu felt slightly relieved, but she still looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a worried expression. But if his identity is exposed, Im afraid it will bring you trouble, she said worriedly. It was also for this reason that she did not openly acknowledge Liu Ling. She herself didnt even step out of the residence, afraid that others would find out and use her to threaten Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled. If he were to be discovered, he would have been discovered long ago, sheforted her. However, Mother, you shouldnt hide such a big matter from me. A hint of guilt appeared on Madam Lius face. I wanted to tell you, but I was worried Besides, Liu Ling had also reminded her not to tell her daughter-inw about this. Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and held Madam Lius hand, patting the back of her hand to reassure her. Forget it. Lets not dwell on those things. In the future, if you encounter such a thing again, dont hide it from me anymore, Mother. Alright. Ill tell you everything in the future! Madam Liu hurriedly answered. Qin Xiaoyao smiled again. Then, she asked, Younger Cousin has been here for so long. Did he reveal my husbands whereabouts? Madam Liu was shocked. Linger knows Queers whereabouts? Where is Queer? she asked in pleasant surprise. Qin Xiaoyao instantly understood. Liu Ling had indeed acknowledged his rtionship with her mother-inw, but he did not tell her anything else. This was also within reason. Mother-inw couldnt help. If she knew those things, there was no benefit to her at all other than making her worry. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao nodded at Madam Liu. My husband is in the capital. He was the one who sent Younger Cousin here to help me gain a foothold in the capital, Qin Xiaoyao said. Madam Lius eyes flickered. Then where exactly is he? Why didnt hee back? she asked. A look of hesitation shed across Qin Xiaoyaos face. After a while, she said, I cant tell you now where exactly he is. You only need to know that he is fine. Madam Liu was a little puzzled, but she still nodded. Although she did not know what her son was doing, she at least confirmed that he was safe now. With that, she could rest assured. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Madam Liu and said, The capital is considered a ce of trouble for our family. Im preparing to arrange for you, Yuner, and Yeer to return to Mountain Spring Town tomorrow. Let my big brother bring some people to send you back. The new Marquiss residence is in Mountain Spring Town. I have received news earlier that it is ready for upation. After you return, all of you can move in straightaway, Mother. When she saw that Madam Liu was about to speak, Qin Xiaoyao added, Xiaomei has already moved there in advance. With her taking care of things, I can also rest assured. When she heard this, Madam Liu was also relieved. However, she still looked at Qin Xiaoyao worriedly. What about the rest of you? She asked about the rest of you, which naturally included Song Que and Liu Ling. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. My husband and I still have to stay behind to do some things. When we are done, we will return to Mountain Spring Town and reunite with all of you, Mother. At that point, Ill invite both my younger cousins along. Our house will be so lively. Upon hearing this, Madam Liu couldnt help but imagine that scene, and her heart was filled with longing. A momentter, Madam Liu replied, Alright. Then well go back first. It will save you and Queer from worrying about us at the back of your minds. Qin Xiaoyao was astonished. When she saw the determined look her mother-inw gave her, she knew that her mother-inw must have suspected something. However, even so, Qin Xiaoyao did not intend to exin. Instead, she instructed her mother-inw to pack her luggage in advance and inform Song Yun and Song Ye of the news. Madam Liu answered in the affirmative. Qin Xiaoyao then left Madam Lius courtyard. After this, she had to meet her younger cousin Ling. After leaving the Marquiss residence, Qin Xiaoyao headed straight for the manor she bought. Then, she found Liu Ling who was busy with his work in the manor. Liu Ling was a little surprised when he learned that Qin Xiaoyao hade specially to look for him. Qin Xiaoyao did not exin. You guys go out first, she said to the other workers in the room. The people who were doing the ounts in the room looked at one another and left the room in session. At the same time, they began specting that Lord Marquis indeed had a ndestine rtionship with Young Master Liu. It seemed that they would have to treat Young Master Liu as their master in the future. When he saw this, Liu Ling felt even more baffled. Lord Marquis He stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. No need for formalities, she said as she gazed at Liu Ling. Liu Ling straightened up and felt uneasy when he saw Qin Xiaoyaos smile. When she noticed his uneasiness, Qin Xiaoyao smiled even more happily. Sit down. Then, she strode to the side and sat down. Liu Ling felt even more uneasy. Nheless, he replied, Yes, Lord Marquis. Then, he sat on a seat slightly further away from Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao found it a bit amusing. Ahem I came to look for you because I received a piece of news. Liu Lings eyebrows twitched. What what news? Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she peered at Liu Ling. News that said you, Young Master Liu, are my husbands younger cousin, she said. Liu Lings eyes widened at once, but he calmed down immediately after that. He cupped his hands and got ready to exin. Qin Xiaoyao spoke again. Theres no need to exin. Your older cousin is the one who told me. In addition, your aunt, in other words, my mother-inw, has also admitted it. Liu Ling was shocked.. Chapter 419 - 419: Reuniting Chapter 419: Reuniting Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Liu Ling didnt know if he should believe it. Qin Xiaoyao smiled again, thinking that this young man was quite vignt. Ive discussed it with my husband. Well help Prince Huaiyin aplish his big matter together. We will take down Empress Jia, the Jia family, and also Prime Minister Shen. When its done, well return to Mountain Spring Town together. At that point, if you and your older sister are willing toe together, you cane back with us. Liu Ling was bbergasted. He no longer suspected that Qin Xiaoyao was lying to him. Therefore, he stood up at once, and bowed respectfully to Qin Xiaoyao. My respects to you, Cousin-inw, he said. Qin Xiaoyaos lips curled up. Dont stand on ceremony. Sit down, she replied. Thank you, Cousin-inw, Liu Ling answered and sat down. After reverting to his true identity and interacting with Qin Xiaoyao, Liu Ling could not help feeling a faint sense of joy when Qin Xiaoyao looked at him with an affectionate gaze. Tell me about your Liu family. Also, how did my husband reunite with you guys previously? And when you are stationed by my side, are you really just helping me expand my business? Liu Ling was astounded. After hesitating for a moment, he told Qin Xiaoyao what she wanted to know. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao find out that the Liu family was implicated by the Song family. After the Liu family was convicted, only the sister and brother siblings survived. After that, for many years, the siblings led a hard life. It wasnt until Song Rui appeared and reunited with the siblings that the siblings started thinking about revenge. It was also at this moment that Qin Xiaoyao found out that Cloud Scent Court was actually Prince Huaiyins property. Furthermore, Prince Huaiyin and Song Rui met there. Elder Cousin and Elder Sis didnt want me to get involved too much, so they arranged for me to stay by Cousin-inws side, Liu Ling said somewhat helplessly. If it wasnt for Jia Kun pestering him so relentlessly, he wouldnt have agreed to their arrangement. Now, although his elder sister could still gather a lot of information in Cloud Scent Court, she would get more tired without his help. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. It was probably your elder sisters idea. My husband just went along with her wishes. This kind of thing was understandable. Liu Ling was the only male descendant left in the Liu family, and Yun Niang was the elder sister, so she would definitely want to protect her younger brother. Liu Ling nodded. But actually 1 also want to help, he said a little gloomily. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Is that why my century egg workshop is doing so well? You have dealings with many high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital now, she said in a somewhat shrewd tone. This younger cousin was already talented in the arts, and now that he had her reputation backing him, those high-ranking officials and nobles would not dare to look down on him. Instead, they would rush up to him and curry favor. Liu Lingughed and cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. I cant hide it from Cousin-inw. 1 am indeed using the excuse of doing business to help my Elder Cousin gather information. Qin Xiaoyaos smile became even brighter. Not bad, shemended him. Qin Xiaoyao added when she saw Liu Ling looking at her in surprise, You can continue. Liu Ling was delighted. Cousin-inw is wise! he immediately said. Qin Xiaoyaoughed. She replied without any modesty, Of course, Im wise. Then, she told Liu Ling about her ns. From now onward, 1 will join them in carrying out their n. Why dont you work with me and we expedite this n together? Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were shining brightly. Liu Ling immediately felt that he was being taken seriously and was extremely happy. Great! Thank you, Cousin-inw! He hurriedly nodded. A pleased look swept over Qin Xiaoyaos face. She quickly told Liu Ling about some of her arrangements. After discussing them with Liu Ling, Qin Xiaoyao said, 111 go to Cloud Scent Courtter. I will ask Younger Cousin Yun Niang to make a trip here. You and your elder sister can then be reunited with Mother. Liu Ling was astonished. He felt extremely touched. Cousin-inw He cupped his hands and bowed. When he raised his head again, there were faint signs of tears in his eyes. Qin Xiaoyao smiled again. This is a happy event. You shouldnt cry. These words made Liu Lingugh. Qin Xiaoyao added, When the big matter is over, our whole family will return to Mountain Spring Town together. At that time, the Marquiss residence will be your home. With me and your Elder Cousin around, we wont let you two suffer anymore. Liu Ling felt a warm sensation well up in his heart. Mm-hmm! He nodded with determination. Qin Xiaoyao then bid farewell to Liu Ling and left the manor. After returning to the capital, she headed straight for Cloud Scent Court. As she had a special rtionship with Yun Niang, Qin Xiaoyao was invited into a private room upon arrival. Thereafter, Yun Niang came over. Yun Niang did not expect Qin Xiaoyao toe today, so she was a little surprised by her arrival. Greetings, Lord Marquis She didnt ask, but instead stepped forward and gracefully bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao broke into a smile. Come and sit here! she said immediately. She then looked at the young maidservant who hade with Yun Niang. You go out first, she spoke again. The young maidservant immediately looked at Yun Niang. Yun Niang nodded at her. Following that, she bowed to the two of them and excused herself from the room. After the young maidservant excused herself, Yun Niang walked towards Qin Xiaoyao. She sat down opposite Qin Xiaoyao. Reaching out with her delicate hands, Yun Niang rose up and poured wine for Qin Xiaoyao. Lord Marquis, you didnt go to the army camp today? she asked seemingly casually. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and nced at Yun Niang. Are you trying to gather information? she said jokingly. Yun Niang was stunned. Lord Marquis, you are joking with me. Thereafter, she reverted to her earlier expression. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Yun Niang and continued to smile. Why didnt I notice before? Yun Niang, you resembled my mother-inw quite a lot, she said. Yun Niangs hands trembled momentarily and she almost spilled the wine. When she saw that Qin Xiaoyaos eyes had an inquiring, probing look, she felt extremely regretful in her heart. She thought worriedly whether her actions had been exposed. And also whether her Cousin-inw had already found out something? Lord Marquis, why are you staring at me like this? After pouring herself some wine, Yun Niang sat down and finally said to Qin Xiaoyao. Her face was also tinged with a bashful look. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and looked away. Alright. I wont tease you anymore. I came here to bring you back to the Marquiss residence. When she saw Yun Niang looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao continued, My husband has already allowed me to join them in carrying out their n. Younger Cousin Ling has also admitted his identity. This time, I specially came to pick you up. Yun Niang was shocked. Since weve already acknowledged each other, its time for a reunion. Especially since Ive already arranged for people to send Mother-inw back to Mountain Spring Town tomorrow. When shes gone, itll take at least a month before we can meet again. Of course, this is based on the premise that our n goes smoothly. At this point, Qin Xiaoyao gave Yun Niang a look that implied If you get my drift. Yun Niang was very shocked inwardly, but she remained silent outwardly. 111 bring you back while theres still some time so that all of you can meet and have a meal together. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Yun Niang. Your aunt misses you very much, she said solemnly. Upon hearing this, Yun Niang finally couldnt hold it in anymore. Lord Call me Cousin-inw. Qin Xiaoyao immediately interrupted her. Yun Niang blushed instantly. Cousin Cousin-inw, she finally spoke. It could be considered that she was acknowledging her true identity.. Chapter 420 - 420: A Short Reunion Chapter 420: A Short Reunion Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Tran tion Great! Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. Then, she said someforting words before getting Yun Niang to leave with her. During the day, there was almost no business at Cloud Scent Court. Therefore, Yun Niang did not hesitate and agreed to Qin Xiaoyaos request. The two of them went outside. Yun Niang instructed the maidservant to inform the brothel madame before leaving with Qin Xiaoyao. On the horse carriage back to the manor, Yun Niang looked very nervous. She was looking forward to meeting her aunt, but she was also a little afraid. In the end, she was afraid of meeting up with a close family member. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and reached out to hold Yun Niangs hand. Yun Niang flinched at once. After realizing that it was Qin Xiaoyaos hand, she rxed again. Mother is very easy to get along with. Dont be nervous. Qin Xiaoyao tried to pacify her. Yun Niang nodded. Mm-hmm. I know. Her younger brother would asionally tell her about her aunt. She knew that her aunt missed her, and she also knew that her aunt was a very gentle elder. However, she was still a little worried. She was afraid that her aunt would despise her. She, the daughter of the Liu family, had fallen to the level of working in vice dens, bringing shame to the Liu family. Qin Xiaoyao tightened her grip on Yun Niangs hand. She gave Yun Niang a reassuring smile. Youre going home this time to meet your rtives. Just keep an open mind. There is nothing to worry about. To your aunt, knowing that Younger Cousin Ling is still alive, and you are still alive, and that she can see you two again with her own eyes, she is already very contented. As for the other things, they are not that important by a long shot. Yun Niang froze momentarily. She finally felt more relieved inwardly. Mm-hmm. She nodded at Qin Xiaoyao. The horse carriage soon arrived at the Marquiss residence. Qin Xiaoyao got out of the carriage first, then she reached out to help Yun Niang out. Yun Niang got out of the carriage and looked at the big characters Marquis Xiaoyaos Residence on the que. She was a little afraid again. There was once when she wanted badly to enter this ce and secretly take a look at her aunt. Now that Cousin-inw had personally brought her over, ironically she did not have so much courage to do it. She lowered her head to encourage herself. When she raised her head, Yun Niangs eyes were calm. Then, she smiled at Qin Xiaoyao and said, Lets go. Qin Xiaoyao smiled when she saw her expression. She didnt let go of Yun Niangs hand and straightaway led her through the gate. After entering the residence, Qin Xiaoyao ignored the servants who bowed to her. She brought Yun Niang directly to Madam Lius courtyard. Oh, right. To add a side remark to this event, the servants of the Marquiss residence had already been reced by Qin Xiaoyao. Now, the servants in the Marquiss residence were all trustworthy people that Liu Ling had helped her select. Even Princess Xiangyang was invited out of the residence by Qin Xiaoyao. Though she was helping Qin Xiaoyao deal with the century egg orders in the pce, and the family members of the court officials still came to her often, Princess Xiangyang was no longer staying in the Marquiss residence. in Madam Lius courtyard. At this point, Madam Liu was doing embroidery work when she suddenly heard Qin Xiaoyaos voiceing from outside. Mother,e and see who 1 brought to meet you! Her voice was filled with joy. It was obvious that the speaker was in a good mood. Madam Liu couldnt help but smile. She put down the embroidery in her hand, got up, and walked out of the room. Who is it? she asked as she walked out. When she arrived ar the door, Madam Liu immediately saw Yun Niang who was being pulled along by Qin Xiaoyao. Immediately, the smile on Madam Liu s face froze. Following that, she said, You are Yuner? Her voice was controlled to be a little soft, but it was filled with emotion, as if she was afraid that if she shouted loudly, the person in front of her would disappear. Its its me, Aunt. Yun Niang looked at Madam Liu and replied. Madam Liu quickly ran forward and grabbed Yun Niangs hand at once. Quick. Let your aunt take a look at you. As she spoke, she sized up Yun Niang. Youre still as pretty as when you were young. No, my Yuner is even more beautiful now than when she was young. Madam Lius eyes were already glistening. When you were young, you were very clingy to me. No one could cate you when you cried. You only allowed me to carry you. In the blink of an eye, my Yuner has already grown into a fine, youngdy. Madam Liu held Yun Niangs hand and refused to let go. Yun Niangs eyes were also filled with tears. Yes, I still remembered. When 1 was young, Aunt doted on me the most. Her voice was a little hoarse. Although those memories were very old, she still remembered that she had an aunt who loved her very much. Alright. Reuniting is a good thing. Wipe your tears and go in, Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Madam Liu wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Sure, okay! she replied with a smile. Come! Lets go in and talk! Then, she pulled Yun Niang into the hall. Yun Niang also wiped the corners of her eyes and gave Qin Xiaoyao a grateful smile. She then followed in Madam Lius footsteps. Qin Xiaoyao stood where she was but did not follow. Mother, you guys take your time to chat. I will go and arrange dinner for tonight. When Younger Cousines back, lets have dinner together tonight. Madam Liu turned around and saw that her daughter-inw had already turned around and left. She then gave up the idea of asking Qin Xiaoyao to join her. She turned back and continued to pull Yun Niang into the house. Qin Xiaoyao walked off for a while before turning back for a look. When she saw that the two of them were no longer in the courtyard, the corners of her mouth could not help curling up. Then, she turned around and left. in the evening, Liu Ling returned to the Marquiss residence. As soon as he returned, he was pulled back by Song Yun and Song Ye. The two of them already knew Liu Lings identity. The two of them had a good impression of Liu Ling in the past. After finding out that Liu Ling was their elder cousin, they liked this elder cousin who treated them well even more. Elder Cousin! Elder Cousin! The two kept calling out to Liu Ling and even begged him to buy stuff for them. Liu Ling replied dotingly that he would buy for all of them. Enough. We are leaving for Mountain Spring Town tomorrow. Even if your elder cousin wants to buy things for you two, you wont be able to receive them. Madam Liu emerged and called out to the two children. When Song Yun and Song Ye heard this, their faces sank immediately. Unlike Madam Liu, they didnt really want to leave the capital so soon. The capital was so good. It was much more bustling and livelier than Mountain Spring Town. However, they also knew that Sister-inw must have her reasons for making such an arrangement. As their sister-inws loyal supporters, they were willing to abide by all her arrangements. When Liu Ling saw the reaction of the two children, he smiled at Madam Liu. Its fine. Im also going to Mountain Spring Town after that. When the timees, Ill bring the things with me. Yuner and Yeer will still get to use them. Song Yun and Song Ye were overjoyed instantly. Cousin Ling is the best! They began showering Liu Ling with praises. Liu Ling was very pleased to hear them. Madam Liu looked at this scene and a smile appeared on her face. Alright. Stop pestering your Cousin Ling, she said. Then, she looked at Liu Ling. Come in and eat. Yuner and Sanya were already waiting inside. Liu Ling was stunned. Alright, he answered. Then, he called out to Song Yun before leading Song Ye into the hall. In the hall, the dishes on the dining table were very sumptuous. When Qin Xiaoyao saw Liu Ling, she hurriedly bade him take a seat. The whole family had a lively and joyous meal. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the scene in front of her and felt a little regretful. It was a pity that her husband was not here.. Chapter 421 - 421: Meeting Empress Jia’s Brother Again Chapter 421: Meeting Empress Jias Brother Again Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The next day. After breakfast, Qin Dahn brought his men and escorted Madam Liu and the two children back to Mountain Spring Town. Without any worries at the back of her mind, Qin Xiaoyao and herpatriots also began to be active. She befriended Prime Minister Shen and Song Rui and use their connections to garner more business for her century egg workshop. In fact, she was using this excuse to establish contacts with the court officials. While Qin Xiaoyaos side was progressing smoothly, Song Ruis side was also progressing without any problems. Ever since Shen Lian entered the residence, Mrs. Shen had made things difficult for Shen Lian in every possible way, and her hatred for Minister Shen grew stronger. The longer this matter dragged on, the more determined Mrs. Shen was to deal with Minister Shen. Therefore, under Mrs. Shens mediation, Jia Kun, the Empresss brother, listened to Mrs. Shens words and was willing to meet Song Rui again. The meeting ce was at Cloud Scent Court. On this day, Jia Kun arrived early. He used to be a regr customer here, but he had not been here since Liu Ling left. Now that he was here again, Jia Kun actually felt some nostalgia in his heart. When the brothel madame saw that the Empresss brother had patronized them again, she was very happy. She asked the kitchen to serve Jia Kun a table of sumptuous dishes and prepared to get Yun Niang to apany him. However, her offer was rejected by Jia Kun. Just send the food and wine over. 1 have an appointment today and am here to discuss serious matters. Yes, Lord Jia. Whatever you say, the brothel madame said ingratiatingly, fearful of offending Jia Kun. With that, she bowed and left. The food and wine were quickly served. Jia Kun drank while enjoying the performance downstairs. He felt a little disinterested. Indeed, in the entire Cloud Scent Court, no one couldpare to Liu Ling in terms of singing and dancing. Just as he was mulling over this, there was a knock on the door. Lord Jia, Lord Song requests an audience. Jia Kun withdrew his gaze from downstairs. Let him in, he said in a deep voice. The door was quickly opened. A handsome man in a white robe walked in. It was Song Rui. Jia Kuns eyes flickered. He was once again stunned by Song Ruis appearance. He sighed in his heart. It was a pity that such a character was an official in the same court as him. Greetings, Lord Jia. Song Rui stepped forward and bowed to Jia Kun. Lord Song, please dont stand on ceremony, Jia Kun said indifferently. When Song Rui straightened up, Jia Kun pointed at the seat opposite himself and asked Song Rui to take a seat. Thank you, Lord Jia! Song Rui bowed again. Only then did he sit down opposite Jia Kun. Jia Kun tried his best to be indifferent. He peered at Song Rui, who was slightly reserved and sighed in his heart once again that Song Rui was born with such good genes. Then, he said, Tell me. How are you going to exin what happened earlier? Song Rui raised his head. He once again cupped his hands at Jia Kun. What happened earlier was all a misunderstanding. 1 beg Your Lordship to give me a chance to exin in detail. Mm-hmm. Jia Kun nodded. Only then did Song Rui tell him about how he was forced by Prime Minister Shen that day. On that day, with Caretaker Han following me, 1 was unable to exin myself to Lord Jia and could only offend you. Although there is a reason for this, it is indeed my fault. Please forgive me, Lord Jia. Jia Kun was silent. Song Ruis excuse was something his younger sister had told him before. He more or less believed her at that time. Otherwise, he wouldnt have agreed to meet Song Rui. Now, after hearing Song Rui say the same thing, he believed Song Ruipletely. Believing the other party was one thing, but being offended was another. If he forgave the other party so easily, wouldnt it make him look like a weak pushover? Hmph! Shen Hongyu, that old fox, is indeed not a good person. But you Since you have submitted to his tyranny and are willing to offend me on his ount, why are you stilling to me now to get rebuffed? Song Rui hurriedly bowed to Jia Kun again. Please forgive me, Lord Jia! 1 have no intention of offending Your Lordship at all. At that time, I simply had no choice. The Empress has made the decision to personally arrange my marriage with the Jia family. From that moment on, I have already regarded Lord Jia as my future father-inw in my heart. Upon hearing this, Jia Kuns eyes flickered. Father-inw? Your future father-inw should be Shen Hongyu, isnt it? he continued to speak with an attitude. Wasnt Shen Hongyu going to betroth his illegitimate daughter to you and make her your official wife? As he spoke this, Jia Kun became a little angry. He didnt know what was wrong with the Empress, but she actually let his daughter be someone elses concubine. Moreover, it was under the circumstances that the would-be mistress of the house was an illegitimate daughter. Song Rui paused momentarily. When he raised his head and looked at Jia Kun, his eyes were already filled with anger. Prime Minister Shen used his power to pressurize me. I really had no choice, Song Rui said in a low voice. Jia Kun finally showed some interest. Whats wrong? You dont want to marry Shen Hongyus daughter? he asked. Song Rui cupped his hands at Jia Kun again. If I were to take her as a concubine, I would have noints. But Minister Shen wants me to marry Shen Lian as a legal wife. Although I was born with a humble background, I have studied many books from the sages and be very learned. Now, I have be an official. How can I be matched with an illegitimate daughter? The corners of Jia Kuns mouth finally curled up. But 1 am also not betrothing my legal wifes daughter to you. Dont you resent it? Song Rui hurriedly said, I wouldnt dare! Lord Jias status is very noble and lofty. Even if you betroth your concubines daughter to me, 1 would be happy to ept such an arrangement. Moreover, the Empress has already instructed me to take her as a concubine. In other words, the daughter of a concubine was better than an illegitimate daughter. Jia Kun finallyughed. What a pity. Since you dont want Qier, 1 am not prepared to betroth any other daughter to you after this. Song Rui muttered in his heart. He would rather he didnt betroth anything to him. He was not interested in any of the youngdies of the Jia family at all. However, he couldnt say that out loud. Song Rui stood up straight and bowed to Jia Kun again. Although 1 know my request is rude, 1 still want to beg Your Lordship to give me another chance. I can promise Your Lordship right now. As long as Your Lordship is willing to marry your daughter to me, when the time is ripe, I will definitely make Miss Jia my second legal wife. In fact. Song Rui stopped talking at this point. Jia Kun raised his eyebrows. In fact what? His tone became more grave. Song Rui raised his head. In fact, Miss Jia may even rece the first legal wife, he said in a low voice. His face was very clearly filled with disgust toward Shen Lian. At this moment, Jia Kun was finally satisfied. Shen Hongyu thinks very highly of you. He has released news that he wants to train you to rece him and make you the next prime minister. How can you treat his daughter like this? Jia Kun asked in a probing manner. Song Rui cupped his hands at Jia Kun again. Its just a rumor. It is indeed thanks to Minister Shen that I have arrived at where I am today. However, the one who I am indebted to is actually Miss Shen Rong. Song Rui paused after saying this. After hesitating for a moment, he continued, Back then, Minister Shen said that he wanted to betroth Miss Shen Rong to me. At that time, even though he asked me to marry into his family, I still had noints. After all after all, I genuinely admired Miss Shen Rong. But Butter, Miss Shen Rong had an affair. At this point, Song Ruis voice was tinged with some anguish.. Chapter 422 - 422: Teaming Up With The Empress’s Brother Chapter 422: Teaming Up With The Empresss Brother Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Actually, Miss Shen Rong had another love. I was prepared to give up on that marriage and choose to give my blessings. But But Minister Shen forced her to death. Jia Kun sized up Song Ruis expression, trying to see through his y-acting. Unfortunately, he didnt find any trace of acting on Song Ruis face. I could actually let this go. After all, it was Miss Shen Rong who did something out of line. But Prime Minister Shen chose to bring an illegitimate daughter into the Shen familys residence before Young Miss Shen Rongs corpse had even turned cold. He also wants to marry his illegitimate daughter Shen Lian to me as a legal wife. How can 1 ept this? At this point, Song Ruis face was already filled with furious resentment. When he saw this, Jia Kun had some ideas. Just as he was about to speak, Song Rui continued, It is said that Prime Minister Shen is wholeheartedly nurturing me. He even wants to hand over the Shen family to me. But in reality, thats not the case. Jia Kun became increasingly more interested. Oh? he asked Song Rui. Song Rui cupped his hands at Jia Kun again. Prime Minister Shen takes great care of me in front of outsiders. But in private, he is extremely strict with me. It didnt seem like he was training a subordinate, but rather, it seemed like he was training a dog. Song Ruis tone was tinged with some hatred when he said the final few words. Jia Kun narrowed his eyes. Later, 1 found out that he was indeed raising me like a dog. Its to pave the way for his illegitimate son. Song Rui finally looked at Jia Kun at this point. Jia Kuns eyes widened at once. A momentter, he looked away. So youre looking for me to deal with Shen Hongyu? he asked Song Rui. Thats right! Song Rui immediately said. Ignoring Jia Kuns gaze that was focused on himself, Song Rui continued, As long as Lord Jia is willing, 1 can work for Your Lordship and the Empress. I can watch over Minister Shen on behalf of Your Lordship and the Empress. And what do you want in return? Jia Kuns lips curled up as he asked with interest. Song Rui raised his head carefully and looked at Jia Kun. Your humble official your humble official only hopes that when the time is ripe, Your Lordship and the Empress can lend me a helping hand and let me rece Prime Minister Shen. Your humble official promises this. When 1 be the next Prime Minister, I will be absolutely loyal to the Empress and Your Lordship, and will never have any thoughts of disloyalty! Song Rui said enthusiastically. Jia Kun was stunned momentarily. Hahahaha Then, heughed out loud. After looking at Song Rui for a moment, he said, Back then, in order to climb up the ranks, Shen Hongyu did not hesitate to seduce my first younger sister. In order to gain the trust of my father, he even made a promise that he would never take a concubine and would always be loyal to my first younger sister. However, after more than twenty years, although he did not take concubines, illegitimate sons and daughters popped up. Moreover, that illegitimate daughters age is not much younger than Ronger. The current Shen Hongyu is no longer the same as the one in the past who used to obey the orders of our Jia family. Moreover, he is even prepared to stab our Jia family in the back at any time. Now, you want to be the second Shen Hongyu, do you? Jia Kun looked at Song Rui with an inquiring look. I wouldnt dare, Song Rui lowered his head and replied. When Jia Kun heard this, he simply shook his head and smiled. Is it dare not, or dare not admit it? he asked. I dont dare, Song Rui replied. I have no intention of being the second Minister Shen. But Song Rui suddenly stopped. Then, he looked up at Jia Kun. I want to be a subject of the One on the Dragon Throne. Jia Kuns expression froze abruptly. He looked at Song Rui with a dangerous look in his eyes. If I can be the Prime Minister, I will only be loyal to the Emperor! In this way, there would be no talk of betrayal at all, Song Rui continued. Jia Kun narrowed his eyes. Lord Song, do you know what youre saying? he asked in a deep voice. Of course, I know. Song Rui cupped his hands. Your humble official wishes to assist Lord Jia to ascend the throne and support Lord Jia to be a wise ruler. Jia Kuns heart trembled momentarily. He looked at Song Rui menacingly. After a long while, he finally withdrew his oppressive gaze. Then, he asked with a smile, You dare to utter such treasonous words? He naturally had such ambitions. However, his Empress younger sister did not allow it. This was the first time a court official had made such a request to him so frankly. Song Rui smiled and rxed. Your Lordship is a man of great talent and strategy, so you can naturally distinguish this humble officials sincerity. Moreover, Your Lordship can weigh the pros and cons and will be willing to ept my proposal, he continued. Jia Kun was startled. Then, heughed out loud. You sure are confident, he said with a smile. He felt that this ttery was very satisfying. The corners of Song Ruis mouth curled up. Its not that Im confident. Its because I believe in Your Lordship, he said. Jia Kun smiled in amusement again. Sit down, he said. He hadpletely forgotten about Song Ruis previous offense. Moreover, he was receptive to what Song Rui had just said. Song Ruis eyes were filled with excitement. Thank you, Lord Jia! After bowing to Jia Kun, he sat back down. Following that, the atmosphere between the two of them became much warmer. Song Ruis ttery made Jia Kun extremely pleased. Not long after that, Jia Kun said that he would still marry Jia Qi to Song Rui. You mustnt Song Rui turned down his offer. Jia Kun frowned at once. It wasnt easy for me to get Minister Shen to believe that I have offended Lord Jia, Song Rui quickly exined. If Lord Jia still betroths Miss Qier to me, Minister Shen will definitely be suspicious. When Jia Kun heard this, his brows instantly rxed. Following that, he asked Song Rui directly, Then who do you want to ept? Song Rui pondered for a moment before bowing to Jia Kun. Please betroth the most neglected youngdy in the Jia family to me. Jia Kun was stunned for a moment, but he quickly figured out the crux of the matter. If Song Rui had really offended him, with his personality, he would not disobey the empresss orders. He would probably shove into Song Ruis arms the daughter he disliked the most. After thinking for a while, Jia Kun nodded. Alright. Thereafter, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. When the big matter ispleted, 1 will then marry Qier to you to be your official wife, he added. At that juncture, Song Rui would be the Prime Minister and would be worthy of his Qier. Song Rui hurriedly bowed to Jia Kun. Thank you, Lord Jia! he said with some excitement. The more Jia Kun looked at Song Rui, the more pleased he felt. Following that, he said to Song Rui, Sit down and have a drink with me. As you wish, Your Lordship, Song Rui smiled and answered. After a few cups of wine, their rtionship became even closer. In the end, Jia Kun almost called Song Rui good son-inw. Under Song Ruis probing, Jia Kun also told Song Rui a lot of secrets about Minister Shen. In short, this trip was worth it for Song Rui. After a few more days, it was finally time for Song Rui to move to his new residence. Minister Shen personally came to congratte him, and more than half of the officials in the court were present. Qin Xiaoyao was also among them. Song Rui beamed like a blooming flower in spring and happily received the guests. However, his gaze would asionally nce at Qin Xiaoyao.. Chapter 423 - 423: Xiangyang’s Thoughts Chapter 423: Xiangyangs Thoughts Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Song Rui couldnt wait for the banquet to end as soon as possible so that he could send all the guests away and then he could keep his wifepany. Qin Xiaoyao also looked at Song Rui from time to time. When she saw how pleased he was with himself and how skillfully he dealt with his guests, she was happy for her husband. Master, what are you looking at? At this moment, Princess Xiangyang suddenly jumped in front of Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao got a shock. Thereafter, she quickly regained herposure and asked Princess Xiangyang, Why are you here? Princess Xiangyang nced at Song Rui, who was not far away. Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a crafty look in her eyes. That Master Song is very handsome, right? she asked Qin Xiaoyao in a taunting manner. Qin Xiaoyaos heart trembled a little as she looked at Princess Xiangyang. Mm-hmm! Hes handsome, she replied honestly. When she saw Qin Xiaoyaos reaction, Princess Xiangyang plonked herself down beside her. Master, arent you tempted when you are facing such a handsome man? she continued asking. Qin Xiaoyao raised her eyebrows. Youve grown bold, havent you? You dare to make fun of Master. She looked at Princess Xiangyang sternly. Princess Xiangyang simply shrugged. How is this making fun? If Master likes him, Xiangyang can ask for an edict from Empress Mother on your behalf. I met that Shen Lian just now. How could a girl from a humble family be worthy of Lord Song? Princess Xiangyang kept her eyes on Qin Xiaoyao all the time. She did not want to miss the reaction on thetters face. She had realized long ago that her master was paying too much attention to Lord Song. Although her master was married, she had been looking for her husband for so long but she still could not find him. Presumably, he was no longer alive. Besides, so what if he was still alive? Her Master was different now. Even if she were to have a few more men, it was not a big deal. Unfortunately, Princess Xiangyang didnt notice anything unusual on Qin Xiaoyaos face after staring for a long time. Dont take matters into your own hands. If your Master is really interested in a man, would she need help from others? Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang. As for you, the Empress had the intention of matchmaking you with Lord Song. Yet you were unwilling. Are you really unwilling, or do you already have someone you like? Women matured early in ancient times, so it was not strange for Xiangyang to have someone she liked. In addition, she also wanted to use this topic to change the direction of the discussion. Princess Xiangyang was stunned momentarily. The image of a figure shed through her mind. Immediately, her face turned red. So there really is someone. Tell me. Who is that person? If I find that person eptable, 1 will speak to the Empress on your behalf. Princess Xiangyangs expression changed at once. Theres no such person! Master, you changed the topic and deliberately made fun of Xiangyang! Princess Xiangyang stood up after giving a retort. Hmph! Ill go over and sit near Uncle! After saying that, Princess Xiangyang immediately ran away. Qin Xiaoyao was left behindughing out loud. She only withdrew her gaze after Princess Xiangyang had gone far away. After looking in Song Ruis direction again, she put away her thoughts. Even Xiangyang had noticed her abnormal behavior. Could others have noticed it too? After this, she had to pay more attention to her behavior. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao held back and did not pay attention to Song Rui anymore. Thissted until Song Rui came over personally to propose a toast. Congrattions, Lord Song! Qin Xiaoyao and the guests at the same table raised their cups and toasted Song Rui. Thank you, everyone! Song Rui replied with a smile. After drinking the wine in his cup, his gaze turned to Qin Xiaoyao deliberately. I hope you can forgive me for my poor hospitality. Lord Marquis, please carry on. Song Rui then took special care to attend to Qin Xiaoyao. This was not eye-catching in itself. After all, Qin Xiaoyao had the highest status among the people at the table. The news of Song Rui being on good terms with Qin Xiaoyao had long spread. Furthermore, Marquis Xiaoyao was a savior to him and Shen Lian. Qin Xiaoyao replied politely and sat down to continue eating. Song Rui was a little disappointed that his wife didnt say much to him. He didnt say anything and quickly turned to leave. The lively banquet soon ended. Qin Xiaoyao did not stay for long. She quickly bid farewell to Song Rui and left the Song familys residence. Song Rui was disappointed again. However, when he thought about how they would be able to meet again at night, he felt a little gratified. At night, Qin Xiaoyao arrived as promised. She was like a phantom in the dark night. After climbing over the boundary wall, she quickly entered Song Ruis courtyard. Then, she sneaked into Song Ruis room without anyone noticing. At this moment, Song Rui was taking a bath when he suddenly felt a breeze blowing past. Who A hint of wariness shed across his eyes as he called out apprehensively. He turned his head to look, but he didnt see anyone. When he turned back, Qin Xiaoyao was already standing in front of him. She was staring at him with devilish intentions. The nervousness in Song Ruis heart was gone. Instead, he smiled. My dear, you are here. Why didnt you call out to me? Qin Xiaoyaoughed somewhat wickedly. Even when 1 didnt call out to you, you still saw me, right? As she spoke, she walked towards Song Rui. Two hourster. Next, we have to reduce the frequency of contact between us, Qin Xiaoyao saidnguidly as shey in Song Ruis arms. Why? Song Rui frowned at once. Ever since his wife saved him and Shen Lian, he no longer had to sneak around when he met his wife. He had been leading a good life for the past few days, but now he had to go back to what it was in the past? Qin Xiaoyao then told him about Princess Xiangyangs probing. Maybe youre just thinking too much, Song Rui said after listening to her. Mm-hmm. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. However, its still better to be careful, she said. The Emperors birthday is just around the corner. We must not let anything go wrong at thest minute. Song Rui was a little upset, but he still nodded. Then, he shared with Qin Xiaoyao the progress he had made in the past two days. Qin Xiaoyao helped to analyze the situation as she listened. Whenever she heard something that she could help with, she would propose to help Song Rui. Song Rui didnt reject her offer. After thinking about it and feeling that it was feasible, he would let his wife participate. There was a great sense of harmony between the two of them. Qin Xiaoyao didnt get up until it was almost dawn. She pried away the mans hand that was wrapped around her waist and said goodbye to Song Rui. I really hope that next time, you can sleep in my arms until dawn, Song Rui said in a hoarse voice. Qin Xiaoyao nted a kiss on Song Ruis forehead. It wont be long now. When we return to Mountain Spring Town, everything will be fine, she said. She wasforting both Song Rui and herself. Mm-hmm. Song Rui closed his eyes. Qin Xiaoyao looked at the man in her arms. After Song Rui fell asleep, she helped himy back on the bed. Then, she left. Taking advantage of the fact that the sky had yet to brighten, Qin Xiaoyao sprinted all the way back to the Marquiss residence. After returning to her room, she took a short rest and tidied up before going to the front hall for breakfast. In the end, Princess Xiangyang arrived halfway through the meal. Without waiting for Qin Xiaoyaos invitation, Princess Xiangyang ordered the servants to bring her bowls and chopsticks. You didnt even have time to eat breakfast beforeing over. Do you really miss the meals of our Marquiss residence that much? As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao intentionally nced at Liu Ling, who was sitting at the same table. Princess Xiangyang followed Qin Xiaoyaos gaze and looked at Liu Ling. Her face instantly turned red.. Chapter 424 - 424: Your Disciple Fancies Young Master Liu Chapter 424: Your Disciple Fancies Young Master Liu Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Liu Ling was a little puzzled by the two women staring at her. When she noticed this, Princess Xiangyang quickly averted her gaze. Then, she said to Qin Xiaoyao, Im not just here to freeload. Xiangyang is here to announce the edict. At the same time, she felt guilty. Oh no her master seemed to know what she was thinking. Oh? Qin Xiaoyao didnt believe her at all. Ahem Princess Xiangyang immediately cleared her throat. Marquis Xiaoyao, receive the decree, she continued. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Princess Xiangyang and finally stood up. She cupped her hands at Princess Xiangyang and bowed. Your servant is ready to receive the decree, she said in a solemn voice. The Empress has decreed that Marquis Xiaoyao should follow Princess Xiangyang into the pce for an audience with the Emperor, Princess Xiangyang said gleefully. Well, she was not lying. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered. Your humble servant obeys. Only then did she straighten up. Then, she sat back down. When are we leaving? Her disciple had asked for cutlery, so she was obviously not in a hurry to leave. Hehe! Ill leave after breakfast, Princess Xiangyang replied with a smile. She plopped herself down beside Qin Xiaoyao. When she sat down, she didnt forget to slip a nce at Liu Ling. If her master had already found out, then so be it. When her master saw that she was so obedient, her master might even help her. When Qin Xiaoyao saw this, her eyes flickered again. Just as she suspected, this girl Xiangyang had actually taken a fancy to Liu Ling. Unfortunately When she looked at Liu Ling, who was focused on eating and did not notice Xiangyangs expression, Qin Xiaoyao sighed in her heart. It was such a pity. Notwithstanding the fact that their backgrounds and statuses were wildly ipatible, the Liu family had a grudge against Empress Jia. Xiangyangs feelings would probably be met with disappointment. The meal was quickly finished. Liu Ling bid farewell and left quickly. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang, who was watching Liu Lings back profile as he left. Stop looking. When he turns aroundter, he will discover you, she teased. Princess Xiangyang quickly withdrew her gaze. Upon seeing Qin Xiaoyaos smiling face, she felt a little embarrassed and annoyed. Master, youre making fun of me! She clenched her small fists and was ready to smash them on Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao retreated in time to avoid the attack. Alright. Lets go to the pce first. Well talk about other things on the way. Princess Xiangyang red at Qin Xiaoyao before letting her off. The two of them left the Marquiss residence and boarded the horse carriage. In the horse carriage, Princess Xiangyang stole a few nces at Qin Xiaoyao. Unfortunately, she realized that Qin Xiaoyao couldnt be bothered with her at all. Master Finally, the girl couldnt hold it in anymore. Qin Xiaoyao shot a nce at the restless girl in front of her. She pretended to be unaware and asked, You have something to discuss? Princess Xiangyang nodded shamelessly. Yes. At this point, she couldnt care less about her own dignity anymore. The right thing to do was to persuade her master to help. Oh? Qin Xiaoyao replied. Her expression waspletely uninterested. Princess Xiangyang became anxious. Yesterday at Lord Songs residence, Master agreed to help! she immediately said. Qin Xiaoyao was astonished momentarily. Only then did she remember that she had indeed teased this girl on that day. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao said, Ahem Isnt your master allowed to crack a joke? The critical point was that, if this girl had her eyes on someone else, it would be fine, but she had taken a fancy to Liu Ling. There was no way she could help with this, and she didnt want to either. No! Princess Xiangyang immediately retorted. Then, she grabbed Qin Xiaoyaos hand. How can you go back on your word, Master? She had hesitated for a long time before deciding to ask her master for help. A trace of helplessness shed across Qin Xiaoyaos face. Then tell me, she finally said. Princess Xiangyangs aggressive expression instantly turned bashful. Then, she tugged at Qin Xiaoyaos sleeve and said, Your disciple your disciple fancies Young Master Liu Ling. Qin Xiaoyao frowned inwardly. It was as she suspected. Before Qin Xiaoyao could reply, Princess Xiangyang hurriedly said, This matter is not difficult for Master to help. Qin Xiaoyao frowned and looked at Princess Xiangyang with a puzzled expression. Master, you only need to acknowledge Young Master Liu as your sworn brother and then ask my Empress mother for my hand in marriage on behalf of Young Master Liu. My mother regards Master very highly and will definitely agree. Qin Xiaoyao shook her head after listening to her. What? Master, you are not willing to help? Princess Xiangyang was immediately upset. Thats right, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Then, before Princess Xiangyang could speak again, she exined, No matter how highly the Empress regards me, she will never let her most beloved daughter marry a man with a background in the vice industry. Princess Xiangyang was silent. Qin Xiaoyao sighed and continued, If I really do as you wish and bring up this matter to the Empress Im afraid that not only will I offend the Empress, but 1 may even bring danger to Young Master Liu Ling. Princess Xiangyang got a shock. Some thoughts popped into her mind then and her face turned pale. A hint of struggle shed across her eyes. Then, she finally sat back down with a dejected expression. After a while, she asked Qin Xiaoyao in despair, Is is there no other way? As soon as her master said that, Princess Xiangyang realized that she had oversimplified things. However, she really liked Young Master Liu and only wanted to spend her life with him. If she couldnt be with Young Master Liu, she felt that she wouldnt be able to do as she wished for the rest of her life. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang. So, it has to be Liu Ling? she asked. Princess Xiangyang nodded. Yes, it has to be him. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. After staring at Princess Xiangyang for a while, she sighed again. You are a Princess. Only the Empress and the Emperor can have any say in your marriage. However, whether its the Emperor or the Empress, they will never agree to this marriage. If you want to be with Liu Ling, unless Princess Xiangyangs eyes lit up. Unless what? she asked hurriedly. Unless you are no longer a princess. Or Or what? Gosh, Master! Just say it quickly! Princess Xiangyang urged impatiently. Or you can remain unmarried until the next Emperor agrees to your request. Princess Xiangyang looked at Qin Xiaoyao in shock. She did not expect Qin Xiaoyao to say such brazen words to her at all. However, she soon felt relieved. Master treated her as one of her own and that was why she told her such things. Then, Princess Xiangyang leaned against the wall of the horse carriage dejectedly. I was born a princess. How can 1 not be a princess? As for the other way She didnt even dare to think about it. Although both Emperor Father and Empress Mothers health werent good, they should still be fine. Besides, she didnt want anything to happen to them. Moreover, even if they really passed away in the future, the next Emperor would not be so easy to talk to unlike her Emperor Father and Empress Mother. Perhaps, when the time came, not only would he not grant her her wish, but he might even make use of her. He might use her as a tool in some marriage alliance. Besides, even if she could wait, Young Master Liu could not. She did not want to see Young Master Liu get married and take another woman as his wife. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Princess Xiangyang. I dont know about that, she replied. That was about all she could say for now. If she allowed this to continue, she was afraid that this girl would really carry out her n. If Liu Ling also had reciprocal feelings for her, it would be fine. However, if it was just this girls one-sided wishful thinking, then this girl would probably end up being hurt badly.. Chapter 425 - 425: Arranging Marriage for My Beloved Official Chapter 425: Arranging Marriage for My Beloved Official Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Master! Princess Xiangyang stared at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. I really dont know what to do. Besides, feelings are two-way. You like Young Master Liu, but do you know how he feels about you? Princess Xiangyang was astounded. If I were you, I would first confirm whether Young Master Liu has the same thoughts. Now that things hade to this, only Liu Lings rejection could perhaps put an end to this girls thoughts. Princess Xiangyang was silent. After thinking for a moment, she nodded. Thats true. Perhaps Young Master Liu doesnt know what Im thinking, she said. At this point, she could not help but feel a little worried. For some reason, she felt that perhaps Young Master Liu did not have the same feelings for her as she did for him. Upon hearing this, Qin Xiaoyao felt relieved. When she saw that Princess Xiangyang was deep in thought again, she did not bother her anymore. The horse carriage quickly entered the pce. Before long, Qin Xiaoyao and Princess Xiangyang arrived at Empress Jias sleeping chamber. Empress Mother! When she saw Empress Jia, Princess Xiangyang instantly became lively and ran towards Empress Jia. Empress Jia also smiled and allowed her daughter to hug her. Greetings, Your Royal Highness! Qin Xiaoyao also came forward and bowed. Marquis Xiaoyao, no need to stand on ceremony, Empress Jia replied with a smile. Bestow a seat! she then instructed the people beside her. A pce maid immediately brought a stool over. Thank you, Your Royal Highness! Qin Xiaoyao once again cupped her hands before sitting down. Empress Jia chatted with Princess Xiangyang for a while before telling her to sit at the side. Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Marquis Xiaoyao, things have been going very smoothly for you recently, she said with a smile. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. What does Your Royal Highness mean? she asked somewhat quizzically. Ever since she went to the Prime Ministers residence, she had indeed been in contact with the officials in the court more often. In addition, the business of her century egg workshop was getting better and better. The number of times she dealt with the nobles and officials in the court also increased. Not surprisingly, she knew that Empress Jia was not that happy to see this development. I heard that Marquis Xiaoyao saved Lord Song and the Prime Ministers adopted daughter a few days ago? Empress Jia continued to ask with a smile. Yes, Your Royal Highness, Qin Xiaoyao replied, acting as if she had no ulterior motives. Empress Jias eyes flickered, and she finally stopped smiling. Qin Xiaoyaos expression became much more nervous. Your Royal Highness, do you do you not like your humble servant to interact with Lord Song? Qin Xiaoyao asked cautiously. When she heard this, Empress Jias worries lessened a little. After some thought, Empress Jia looked at Qin Xiaoyao. My beloved official, you are an important weapon of the state. With you around in the Great Jin State, the Emperor and 1 can feel at ease. An important weapon like you only need to deal with enemy states. Domestically, the Emperor and I do not wish to see you have any inclination towards any party. This was a very clear hint. Empress Jia hoped that Qin Xiaoyao could remain neutral and only be loyal to the Imperial Court and not get involved in any factional strife. Qin Xiaoyaos expression changed momentarily. 1 was negligent! However, Lord Song and 1 are honorable friends and our friendship does not involve military or political matters. Please dont listen to the nderous words of those with ulterior motives! she said as she bowed to Empress Jia. Empress Jia raised her eyes to look at Qin Xiaoyao. She thought to herself that this Marquis Xiaoyao was truly a forthright person. She had already made things so clear, yet Qin Xiaoyao still insisted she did not do anything wrong. However, this was also what made people like Marquis Xiaoyao, wasnt it? When she thought of this, Empress Jias gaze softened somewhat. Lord Song has an extraordinary rtionship with Minister Shen. Even if you are just honorable friends with him, in the eyes of outsiders, they may not think so. Others will only think that you, Marquis Xiaoyao, have gotten close to Minister Shen. Qin Xiaoyaos expression changed at once. Empress Jia continued, When this happens, perhaps many people will follow in your footsteps and get close to Minister Shen. Such a development will be disadvantageous to the Imperial Court. Moreover Empress Jia looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Moreover, you are a woman after all. If you get too close to Lord Song, it will affect your reputation. Qin Xiaoyao finally looked at Empress Jia. Your Royal Highness is right. I have not considered the consequences of my actions thoroughly in the past. In the future In the future, I will definitely keep my distance from Lord Song, she quickly added. The corners of Empress Jias mouth curled up as she nodded in satisfaction. Theres no need to deliberately keep a distance. Just dont go so close to him, she said. She actually didnt mind Marquis Xiaoyao and Song Rui getting intimate. However, she did mind if Marquis Xiaoyao got too close to Minister Shen. Or worse, if she simply joined Minister Shens camp. After all, on the surface, Song Rui was still Prime Minister Shens man. That was right. Empress Jia had already agreed to Jia Kuns suggestion. She decided to support Song Rui and find a suitable opportunity to let him rece Minister Shen. Yes, Your Royal Highness! Qin Xiaoyao answered as she bowed. Empress Jia was satisfied and nodded again. Ive summoned you into the pce this time because I want to ask you something. Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at Empress Jia with a puzzled expression. Your Royal Highness, please ask. The corners of Empress Jias mouth curled up. When you first arrived in the capital, you told me and His Majesty that you had been looking for your husband. Is there any result now? Qin Xiaoyao was astounded momentarily. She then immediately replied, No. Empress Jia was not surprised. She obviously knew the situation. So many people have been searching for him, but there havent been any results after so long. My beloved official, have you ever thought that perhaps he has already Empress Jia did not continue. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered, and her expression suddenly became sorrowful. Your Royal Highness is right. My husband might not be around anymore. But if hes alive, I want to see his person. If hes dead, I want to see his corpse. I will continue to send people to search, Qin Xiaoyao said. Empress Jia looked at Qin Xiaoyao with some admiration in her eyes. Have you ever thought that if hes really gone Qin Xiaoyao was stunned for a while. She did not answer for a long time. Empress Jia nced at Qin Xiaoyao and continued, My beloved official, you are in the prime of your life and are currently holding a high position. Even if you want to remarry, Im sure your inws will have no objections. She knew that Marquis Xiaoyao had brought her inws to the capital. She also learned from Xiangyang that Marquis Xiaoyao treated her inws and her husbands family very well. Unfortunately, her mother-inw was not used to the life of a wealthy family in the capital and suggested returning to Mountain Spring Town. Marquis Xiaoyao had no choice but to arrange for them to leave. Qin Xiaoyao got a shock. Your Royal Highness what do Your Royal Highness mean by this? A bad premonition rose in her heart. Empress Jia smiled. I want to arrange a good marriage for you, my beloved official, she said. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes widened at once. I wouldnt dare to ept, she hurriedly bowed to Empress Jia. What the fuck! Her husband was still alive and well, and she loved him very much. What fucking good marriage was she talking about? Her husband was a man. She could let it go if they kept shoving women into his arms. However, she was a woman. Why were they also shoving men into her arms? When she heard Qin Xiaoyaos refusal, Empress Jia did not get angry. Instead, her smile grew wider. Dont be in a hurry to reject, my beloved official. Why dont you listen and find out who 1 have arranged for you? Qin Xiaoyao lowered her head and her face clouded over somewhat. No matter who the hell she arranged, he could never beparable o her husband. Just as she was about to raise her head to refuse, Empress Jia spoke first.. Chapter 426 - 426: That Coward, The Crown Prince? Chapter 426: That Coward, The Crown Prince? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Xiangyangs second brother, my eldest son. As Empress Jia spoke, she nced at Princess Xiangyang who was munching on snacks beside her. Cough Princess Xiangyang almost choked. Thereafter, she looked at her Empress mother in astonishment before turning to her Master. Brother Crown Prince? Princess Xiangyang asked her Empress mother. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao also raised her head and frowned at Empress Jia. Empress Jia smiled and nodded. There are only two Secondary Consorts in the Crown Princes residence, and the position of Principal Consort is still vacant. As she said that, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao affectionately. The Emperor and I have chosen many youngdies from officials families for the Crown Prince. After choosing for a long time, he hasnt found anyone he liked. You, however, have caught my eye, my beloved official. Minister Shen wanted to break away from her and the Jia family, while her brother was ambitious. She could not kill her maiden family for her son. She also could not sacrifice her son for her maiden family. After thinking about this dilemma, this was the only way to protect her son. At the same time, she could also put an end to her brothers ambitious thoughts. When Qin Xiaoyao saw that Empress Jia was serious, she hurriedly bowed to Empress Jia. I wouldnt dare! Your Royal Highness, your humble servant is too undeserving! Your humble servant is a rough person and has also married before. I am too unworthy of His Highness the Crown Prince! Empress Jia simply smiled. My beloved official, you are too humble. Your martial arts skills are unparalleled and you have made outstanding contributions to the Great Jin State. Just based on that achievement alone, you are worthy of anybody. As for being married before, thats no big deal. After thinking for a while, Empress Jia said, If If your husband is no longer around, then he will also be happy that you have been offered such a good match. But if that Mr. Song is still around Empress Jia paused for a while. Qin Xiaoyao also raised her head to look at Empress Jia. I can reward him with 10,000 taels of gold and give him the position of an official to make up for it. 10,000 taels of gold and the position of an official was already a great reward for a meremoner. Empress Jia felt that her suggestion was very good. After Qin Xiaoyao heard this, she only felt a wave of fury in her heart. She was her husbands priceless treasure, but in Empress Jias eyes, she was only worth 10,000 taels of gold and a minor officials position. Aftering to the capital, the silver notes her husband gave her had already totaled more than 10,000 taels of gold. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao immediately said, Its not When she saw Empress Jia looking in her direction, Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly lowered her head and bowed. Your humble servant is uncouth and is definitely unworthy of His Highness the Crown Prince. In addition, I believe that His Highness the Crown Prince would not fancy a woman like me. Of course, Qin Xiaoyao didnt think that she was vulgar. On the contrary, she felt that a coward like the Crown Prince wasnt worthy of her. Besides, she suspected the Crown Prince probably wouldnt dare to marry someone like her. She didnt even need to think to know that all of this was Empress Jias own idea. After hearing this, Empress Jias face immediately clouded over. The atmosphere on site instantly froze. When she saw this, Princess Xiangyang quickly grabbed Empress Jias hand. Gosh, Empress Mother! Brother Crown Prince getting a Princess Consort is such a big matter. How could it be settled so hastily? Also Princess Xiangyang looked at Qin Xiaoyao with an aggrieved expression, then looked at her Empress mother. Master is my elder, but Brother Crown Prince is of the same generation as me. If you let Master marry Brother Crown Prince, wouldnt that be disregarding seniority? Her childish words instantly made Empress Jias anger vanish instantly. After giving a nce at Qin Xiaoyao, Empress Jia then smiled at her daughter. How is it disregarding seniority? If Marquis Xiaoyao really marries your Crown Prince brother, you can just cancel your master-disciple rtionship at that point. Princess Xiangyang was shocked. It didnt ur to her that her Empress mother would refuse to back off even though she had found a graceful way out for her Empress mother. It seemed that her Empress mother was really determined to make her Master marry her Crown Prince brother. Sigh No matter how she looked at it, Princess Xiangyang felt that her Master and Brother Crown Prince were really notpatible at all Qin Xiaoyao raised her head to look at Empress Jia. After hesitating for a moment, she straightened up. Then, she knelt down on one knee in front of Empress Jia. She did not say a word, but her attitude was firm. Empress Jia was instantly furious. Her expression turned ominous, and Princess Xiangyang, who was watching from the side, did not dare to persuade her anymore. A momentter, Empress Jia also stood up. Hmph! After saying that, she turned around and left. Empress Mother Princess Xiangyang hurriedly ran after her. Before she left, she did not forget to look at her master a few times, signaling with her eyes to her master not to go against her Empress mother. Unfortunately, Qin Xiaoyaos attitude was very firm. She waspletely indifferent to Princess Xiangyangs advice. She still remained kneeling on one knee and did not move at all. Princess Xiangyang felt very helpless and could only go ahead to cate her mother. Empress Jia angrily left the outer chamber of the pce and entered her inner chamber. She sat down by the bed. Princess Xiangyang quickly caught up. She sat down beside Empress Jia andforted her mother. Gosh, Empress Mother! Dont be angry. Its bad for your health if you are too angry. When Emperor Father sees this, his heart will ache. Her face was full of cheeky teasing. When Empress Jia heard this, she burst outughing. Then, she red at Princess Xiangyang, You cheeky girl, youre actually making fun of your Empress mother. Hehe! Princess Xiangyang shamelessly ced her head on Empress Jias shoulder. The people of our Great Jin State all know how much Emperor Father loves Empress Mother. The women of our Great Jin State are all envious of you, Empress Mother. Upon hearing this, Empress Jia felt sweet inwardly all over. She could not help but smile. Princess Xiangyang giggled as she looked at her mother for a while. After confirming that her mother was no longer angry, she spoke tentatively again. But how many men in the world are like my Emperor father? Empress Jia smiled and nodded, agreeing with her daughters words. Coincidentally, my masters husband is actually that kind of man, Princess Xiangyang finally said. Empress Jias face immediately clouded over. So after saying so much, youre just here to plead for her. As she spoke, she turned to look outside. Hehe! Princess Xiangyang smiled at Empress Jia shamelessly. She reached out and grabbed Empress Jias hand. Empress Mother, she is my master. But now, youre making things difficult for her. How can 1 not care? Empress Jia red at Princess Xiangyang. Shes your master, but have you forgotten Im your mother? She doesnt know how to appreciate favors. Am I not allowed to punish her? As she spoke, Empress Jia raised her voice and even flung Princess Xiangyangs hand away. Princess Xiangyang quickly grabbed Empress Jias hand and continued to smile shamelessly at her. She should be punished! She should be punished! But But what? Empress Jia looked at Princess Xiangyang in annoyance. Princess Xiangyang smiled ingratiatingly again and said, However, Empress Mothers arrangement is indeed a little too coercive. When she saw that Empress Jia was about to get angry again, Princess Xiangyang quickly said, Empress Mother, dont be angry. How about listening to Xiangyangs exnation first? Empress Jia looked at her daughter and finally nodded. Alright, tell me! I want to hear what excuse she has, she said angrily. Princess Xiangyang looked at Empress Jia and organized her words well before speaking again.. Chapter 427 - 427: Persuading Empress Jia Chapter 427: Persuading Empress Jia Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion After spending time with Master, I can see very clearly, Princess Xiangyang said. Master is a person who values rtionship and kinship. The kind who is passionate and devoted. As she spoke, Princess Xiangyang looked at Empress Jia. Empress Mother should be able to see this in her. Empress Jia nced at her daughter and nodded. Marquis Xiaoyao was indeed a forthright person who wore her heart on her sleeve. When she saw her mothers reaction, Princess Xiangyangs expression rxed a little. She continued, Although I have never met Masters husband, 1 have heard a lot of things about Master and her husband. As she spoke, Princess Xiangyang nced at Empress Jia again. Empress Jias eyes flickered slightly. Alright. Then tell me. A momentter, driven by curiosity, she finally relented. Princess Xiangyang was delighted. She hurriedly said, Master and that Mr. Song, pfft She had just started talking when she couldnt help but burst outughing. It attracted the attention of Empress Jia. Princess Xiangyang quickly suppressed her mirth. After a while, when she hadpletely suppressed herughter, she continued, Actually, it was Master who took a fancy to her husband first. At that point, Masters figure was not what she is now. She was pfft! A 250-pound obese woman! Empress Jia was shocked. Two 250 pounds? Marquis Xiaoyaos current body weight was at most a hundred pounds. 250 pounds? Wasnt that more than double her current weight now? Mm-hmm! Princess Xiangyang replied. Then, under Empress Jias incredulous gaze, she continued, As for that Mr. Song, he is a famous local schr. Not only was he talented, but he was also good-looking. Empress Jia instantly became even more curious. She signaled with her eyes to Princess Xiangyang to continue. Princess Xiangyang smiled and continued, Under such circumstances, it was naturally impossible for Mr. Song to fall in love with Master. So, Master devised a trick. Following that, Princess Xiangyang told her mother about how Qin Xiaoyao curried favor with Madam Liu, colluded with the traveling doctor to plot against the Song family and then brought her maiden family to force the Song family to agree to her marriage. Empress Jia was extremely surprised. At the same time, she could not help butugh. Such a bold undertaking was indeed Marquis Xiaoyaos style. When Princess Xiangyang saw that Empress Jia had a smile on her face, she felt somewhat relieved. It was only after she married Mr. Song that Master started to lose weight. Furthermore, she slimmed down quickly and became what she is this today. Empress Jia was astonished and looked at Princess Xiangyang. She lost more than half of her weight? How much willpower was needed for her to achieve this? Empress Jia gained weight for a while previously and she wanted to lose weight too. However, she gave up after three days. Princess Xiangyang looked at Empress Jia. Theres one more thing. Back then, Mr. Song injured his leg, and Master pushed him into town to have his injury treated. Along the way, they dropped by a bookshop. In the bookshop, one of Mr. Songs former ssmates mocked Mr. Song. That guy said that Mr. Song married a shrew and his leg was crippled, so now he was a good-for-nothing. Empress Jia frowned. Princess Xiangyang smiled and continued, Then Master overheard that guy. Guess what Master did at that time? she asked Empress Jia. What did she do? Empress Jia asked straightaway. Princess Xiangyang smiled. Master rushed in and broke the hand of one of the guys. Then, she threatened the others. She warned that if she heard anyone criticizing her husband or spreading the news of what happened that day, she would kill that fellow responsible. Empress Jia got a shock. She couldnt resist ncing outside. That was true. Marquis Xiaoyao was known as the Great Jin States God of Massacre. She had killed so many people on the battlefield that the Liao army became terrified whenever they heard her name. If anyone became her target, he would not be able to escape his luckless fate no matter how many guards he had around him. At the thought of this, a sense of danger crept up Empress Jia spine. Since ancient times, when one takes a life, he pays with his life. She is too arrogant, Empress Jia said. Princess Xiangyang looked at Empress Jia and smiled. Thats only if the perpetrator is caught or someone got hold of the evidence. With my masters skills, if she intended to kill someone, would she let anyone gather this kind of evidence against her? Empress Mother, dont forget that there were no less than 10,000 troops in the Liao army camp that day. Yet my master sessfully infiltrated the Liao camp and beheaded theirmander, Xiao Yuan, just like that. After that, she even broke out of the encirclement and killed her way back to our camp. Empress Jia nodded. Marquis Xiaoyaos valor was indeed rare. When she saw her mothers expression, Princess Xiangyang smiled again. Other than these, Empress Mother, do you know that the reason Master joined the army and rose all the way to where she is today is because of her husband? Empress Jia frowned. Princess Xiangyang ignored her reaction and pressed on. On that day, Mr. Song was cornered by the schrs of the Academy and then driven out of the town by the officials. Thereafter, his whereabouts was unknown. After Master found out, she packed up her bag that day, bid farewell to her family, and left Mountain Spring Town overnight to embark on a journey to look for her husband. The only reason she went to look for Brother Second Prince was that he was the only person who could help her locate Mr. Song. But it was a pity. Until today, Master still couldnt locate Mr. Song. Princess Xiangyang could not help but sigh at this point. She had heard these things from her master and the people near her. In this world, there was probably no woman who could live in such a carefree manner as her master. If she were topare the women in the world, she felt that no one was more blissful and fortunate than her Empress mother. However, in terms of men, there was probably no one who couldpare to that Mr. Song. Upon hearing this, Empress Jia began mulling over some ideas again. She gave a nce toward the outside again and sighed. But that Song Que is very likely no longer alive, she replied. She had asked someone to investigate Marquis Xiaoyao previously and knew a little about what her daughter had told her. However, she didnt realize that Marquis Xiaoyaos feelings for Song Que were even stronger than she had expected. In this case, it would be impossible for Marquis Xiaoyao to marry the Crown Prince. Nheless, she couldnt give up on this idea just like that. Princess Xiangyang nced at her mother and guessed her thoughts. Hence, she said, Its not entirely impossible for Empress Mother to get my Master to marry Brother Crown Prince. Oh? Empress Jia looked at Princess Xiangyang. Princess Xiangyang smiled and continued, Provided Brother Crown Prince can attract Masters attention and make Master fall in love with him. After seeing the hesitation in Empress Jias eyes, Princess Xiangyang added, If Brother Crown Prince can really do it, that would be the best. For a passionate and devoted person like Master, once she falls in love, she will not turn back. If Brother Crown Prince gets Masters help in the future, would Emperor Father and Empress Mother still need to worry about him? Empress Jias heart skipped a beat. She raised her head and looked at Princess Xiangyang. Princess Xiangyang nodded at her mother with a solemn look in her eyes. Empress Jia finally relented. Sigh She sighed deeply. Im afraid that she will not fancy your older brother, she responded. As she spoke, she even looked outside. She knew her son. The Crown Prince was good in everything, but his character was too weak.. Chapter 428 - 428: Let Her Go Back Chapter 428: Let Her Go Back Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion This was her fault. She was too tyrannical when she was young and had disciplined him too harshly. She had thoroughly frightened her son. All these years, Empress Jia could actually tell that her son was very afraid of her. He was afraid that she would seize the Huangfu familys kingdom and side with the Jia family. He was even more afraid that she would do something to him. However, she was his mother. How could a mothery her hands on her own son? Now, she wanted to make up for it, but she didnt know if it was already toote. For a woman like Marquis Xiaoyao, the kind of man she liked was definitely different from other women. Empress Jias son resembled her more. Thus, she was not worried about his external appearance. However, it would be difficult to attract Marquis Xiaoyao with that personality of his. Nheless, her sons status was noble, which was also one of his strengths. If she could get her son to interact more with Marquis Xiaoyao, he might very well stand a chance. When she thought of this, Empress Jia had an idea. Thus, she instructed thedy-in-waiting not far away, Forget it. Go inform Marquis Xiaoyao to let her go back. Yes, Your Royal Highness! Thedy-in-waiting quickly answered and went out to deliver the order. Princess Xiangyang finally heaved a sigh of relief. Regardless of what her Empress mother was thinking, it was good that her mother was willing to let her master off. Outside, Qin Xiaoyaos knees were already starting to feel ufortable. However, she did not dare to move and could only force herself to endure. Xiangyang was pleading with Empress Jia on her behalf. If she did not grit her teeth and endure, Xiangyangs efforts would be in vain. At this moment, thedy-in-waiting walked out and smiled at Qin Xiaoyao. The Empress has issued her order. Marquis Xiaoyao can rise. Her Royal Highness will drop the matter raised earlier for the time being. When the Princess was talking to the Empress, thisdy-in-waiting was standing by the side and had heard everything about Marquis Xiaoyao and her husband. She couldnt help but admire Marquis Xiaoyao somewhat. At the same time, she couldnt help but feel a little regretful that Marquis Xiaoyao wasnt a man. A man with such a temperament would be hard toe by in this world. Qin Xiaoyao was delighted. Please give my thanks to Her Royal Highness! She hurriedly cupped her fists and bowed. Then, she stood up. As she had been kneeling for a long time, she almost fell when she tried to stand up. Thedy-in-waiting quickly stepped forward to help her upon seeing this. Only after Qin Xiaoyao had steadied herself did thedy-in-waiting let go of her hands. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao casting a grateful look at her, thedy-in-waiting returned a faint smile. Then, she said, The Empress said that you can leave now, Marquis Xiaoyao. Alright. Qin Xiaoyao looked at thedy-in-waiting gratefully. After bowing, she turned around and left Empress Jias sleeping chamber. Thedy-in-waiting watched as Qin Xiaoyao walked through the door of the sleeping chamber, and the corners of her mouth could not help but curl up into a smile. Only then did she return to Empress Jias side to report to her. In the inner chamber, Princess Xiangyang was finally relieved when she saw thedy-in-waiting returning. She quickly found an excuse to leave and ran after Qin Xiaoyao. After leaving Empress Jias sleeping chamber, Qin Xiaoyao didnt walk very fast and Princess Xiangyang soon caught up with her. In the horse carriage, Princess Xiangyang watched Qin Xiaoyao, who was silently resting with her eyes closed, and her face almost burst into a smile. I really didnt expect this. Hehe! To think that Empress Mother actually wanted Master to be Brother Crown Princes primary consort. When she thought of her Master marrying her Brother Crown Prince, and that one of them was tough and fierce and the other was weak and timid, she couldnt resist the urge tough. She really didnt know what her Empress mother was thinking. By asking her Master to be the Brother Crown Princes primary consort, did she want Brother Crown Prince to be bullied to death? With Brother Crown Princes personality, even if her Master did not do anything and just stood there, she could still frighten him. Qin Xiaoyao shot a side nce at Princess Xiangyang. Frightened by that look, Princess Xiangyang immediately stopped smiling. Notughing anymore? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Princess Xiangyang quickly shook her head. Im notughing anymore, she replied. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao shift her gaze away from Princess Xiangyang. Following that, her tone softened considerably. Thank you for helping me reason with Empress Jia. Has the Empress given up on that idea? she asked further. Princess Xiangyang shook her head again. I dont think so. Qin Xiaoyaos face sank immediately. Princess Xiangyang hurriedly said, But Ive already told my Empress mother about the matter between Master and Masters husband. I also reminded her that Masters battle prowess is unparalleled. After this, even if Empress Mother doesnt give up on that idea, she probably wont coerce Master too much. After all, things could only backfire when pushed to the extreme. Her Empress mother was also afraid that if shepelled her Master too aggressively, her Master might turn against her mother. It would bring danger to her mother and Brother Crown Prince. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Princess Xiangyang. The matter between me and my husband? she asked. Yes, yes! How you lost more than 100 pounds for your husband, schemed against his family, and joined the army to kill the enemy in order to look for him. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned. Then, she turned to Princess Xiangyang with a menacing re. Who told you all these things? Qin Xiaoyao did tell this girl certain things about her and her husband, but not everything. In particr, that part about how her predecessor schemed against her mother-inw and husband. Even her mother-inw did not know about this. Princess Xiangyang smiled slyly. Who else could it be? Big Brother Qin, of course. Masters big brother was really easy to talk to. Of course, in order to dig out these secrets, she had also put in a lot of effort. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. She was d that her big brother had already left the capital. At the same time, she was d that he didnt know much. Hey, Master! I really didnt expect you to do such a despicable thing. Princess Xiangyang suddenly looked at Qin Xiaoyao with an evil smile. I wonder if Masters husband were to find out about this Qin Xiaoyao immediately red at Princess Xiangyang. Princess Xiangyang quickly shut her mouth. Her Master looked so ferocious that she was scared. Dont you dare have any evil thoughts. My husband already knew about this, Qin Xiaoyao snapped testily. Huh? Princess Xiangyang was surprised. Qin Xiaoyao nced at her in annoyance. Huh what? My husband is so smart. Do you think I can hide my little tricks from him? Qin Xiaoyao couldnt help but smile when she recalled this. Hes just toozy to argue with me. If it was her predecessor, her husband would have exacted vengeance against her until no part of her corpse was left. She was the one who had managed to touch him with her sincerity and gotten her husbands deep affection in return. Princess Xiangyang saw Qin Xiaoyaos expression and felt a wave of mushy sentimentality in her heart. She couldnt help but shake her body in disgust as if she wanted to shake off the goosebumps on her body. This made Qin Xiaoyao roll her eyes. Hehe! Master, now that you mention it, I am really curious now about your husband. I wonder if I can still get to meet him. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered as she looked at Princess Xiangyang. Theres no need to probe. I believe that my husband is still around. I will meet him again sooner orter. Moreover, she wouldnt have to wait too long for this day. Princess Xiangyang finally stopped smiling. But what if Before she could finish, she was stopped by Qin Xiaoyaos gaze. There are no ifs. Princess Xiangyang shut her mouth and swallowed the words she wanted to say. With her Masters resolute attitude, Brother Crown Prince was destined to have no hope. Her Empress Mothers thoughts were ultimately just wishful thinking. The rest of the journey was quiet.. Chapter 429 - 429: Xiangyang Actually Liked Him Chapter 429: Xiangyang Actually Liked Him Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion At the corner of the street, Qin Xiaoyao instructed the coachman to drive the carriage to the army camp instead of returning to the Marquiss residence. Princess Xiangyang did not get out of the carriage either. She tacitly agreed to follow her Master to the army camp. Qin Xiaoyao only nced at Princess Xiangyang and did not chase her off the carriage. After a while, Princess Xiangyang couldnt sit still anymore and spoke to Qin Xiaoyao again. Master, why dont you help me take down Young Master Liu and I will help you resolve the matter of the Crown Prince? What do you think? She would put aside the matter of asking her Emperor father and Empress mother to bestow upon her the marriage between her and Young Master Liu for now. Her Master was right. She had to figure out how Young Master Liu feel about her first. It was best that Young Master Liu was interested in her. If he was not interested, she had to think of a way to make Young Master Liu fall in love with her. Just like the way her Master took down her husband. llehe! She had to admit that her Master was really amazing! Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and nced at Princess Xiangyang. I can take care of the matter of the Crown Prince myself, she said. As long as the Emperor and Empress Jia did not personally bestow the marriage, she did not believe that the Crown Prince would have the guts to covet her. If he was really bold enough to get close to her, she could still easily frighten him away. Princess Xiangyang put on a troubled expression at once. Master Im your good disciple. Cant you help me? At this point, her little face had already disyed a pitiful look. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang again. If I were to really help you, I might end up harming you instead. If her disciple was interested in someone else, perhaps she might really help her disciple. However, if it was Liu Ling, it was better to forget it. Princess Xiangyangs expression froze. Then, an anguished look shed across her face. What if 1 say that I can give up the position of princess for Young Master Liu? she said solemnly. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked. When she saw Princess Xiangyangs solemn expression, a hint of worry shed across her heart. Xiangyang She had just called out when she was interrupted by Princess Xiangyang. Master, Im begging you to help me. Qin Xiaoyao was silent. After a long while, she finally sighed. I can help you ask Young Master Liu about his feelings. If he Before she could finish, Princess Xiangyang interrupted her again. Thank you, Master! When she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at her, Princess Xiangyang continued, Lets first confirm how Young Master Liu feels first! There were no ifs. It was best if Young Master Liu liked her. If he didnt like her, she would try her best to earn his liking. She had already thought about this matter carefully. In this life, she only wanted to marry Young Master Liu. Other than him, she didnt want anyone else. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. In the end, she did not say anything else. In the evening, Liu Ling had just returned to the Marquiss residence when he was summoned to Qin Xiaoyaos study by a servant. Liu Ling thought that Qin Xiaoyao had something important to discuss with him, so he walked very quickly along the way. Knock! Knock! Knock! After arriving at the ce, he knocked on the door. Come in. Qin Xiaoyaos voice immediately rang out from inside. Liu Ling smiled and pushed the door open. Cousin-inw Upon seeing Qin Xiaoyao inside, he walked toward her. When she saw Liu Ling, Qin Xiaoyao also smiled. Sit. She looked at the chair not far away. Thank you, Cousin-inw. Liu Ling did not stand on ceremony and sat down on the chair. Then, before Qin Xiaoyao could speak, Liu Ling updated her about the recent business progress and also some information that he had obtained. After Qin Xiaoyao heard his report, she didnt pay much attention to it. Instead, she looked like she had a lot on her mind. Cousin-inw, what happened? Liu Ling asked Qin Xiaoyao when he noticed her behavior. Nothing. Qin Xiaoyao finally came back to her senses. After sorting out her thoughts, she raised her head and looked at Liu Ling. Ive been in the capital for so long, but Ive never really cared about you and Yun Niang. The two of you have already reached the age where you should be engaged. I wonder if you and Yun Niang already have someone in your hearts? Qin Xiaoyao asked. Liu Lings expression froze instantly. Then, he cupped his hands and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Cousin-inw, dont worry. Before the big matter ispleted, my elder sister and 1 wont have those thoughts, he said. Qin Xiaoyao was stunned momentarily. Oh Thats not what I meant. Liu Ling raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a puzzled expression. I Gosh! I just wanted to ask if you and Yun Niang already have someone in your hearts. If you have, as your cousin-inw, I can help you two arrange it. Revenge is a grave matter, but marriage is not a small matter either, right? Qin Xiaoyao tried her best to smile. Inwardly, Liu Ling felt this whole meeting was very odd. Even so, Liu Ling still replied respectfully to Qin Xiaoyao, Oh 1 dont fancy anyone right now. My elder sister probably doesnt fancy anyone either Qin Xiaoyao heaved a sigh of relief, but then she started to worry. It was a good thing that Liu Ling didnt fancy anyone in his heart. At least it proved that he didnt have any feelings for that girl Xiangyang. However, it was also a bad thing. After all, Xiangyang was a persistent girl. As the saying goes, when a woman pursued a man, it was as difficult as tearing through thin gauze. Perhaps Liu Ling might end up being entangled with her. Really no one? Qin Xiaoyao was a little unwilling to give up and pressed Liu Ling further. Liu Ling was even more perplexed and replied again, No no one. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao sighed. After hesitating for a moment, she told Liu Ling about Princess Xiangyangs crush on him. Liu Ling was very shocked. At the same time, when he thought of Princess Xiangyangs behavior, his heart couldnt help but beat faster. How could this be? How could a high and mighty princess like a lowly person like him Even though he was shocked, Liu Ling remained calm on the surface. He didnt want others to notice anything strange. Qin Xiaoyao saw this and only thought that Liu Ling genuinely did not have any feelings for Princess Xiangyang. That girl Xiangyang is quite stubborn. Its possible that She may pester you. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Liu Ling worriedly. When she saw that Liu Ling still did not have any reaction, Qin Xiaoyao sighed. Empress Jia and that girl are two totally different people. Although she is Empress Jias daughter, what happened back then had nothing to do with that girl- I hope that you can separate her from Empress Jia. Liu Ling cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. I know, he replied. It went without saying that he treated Princess Xiangyang and Empress Jia as separate people. Otherwise, he wouldnt be getting along so well with that girl during this period. That girl was so open and candid, optimistic and hardworking. How could anyone bear to hold a grudge against her? Qin Xiaoyao nced at Liu Ling. That girl will probably pester you after this. If youre not interested in her Qin Xiaoyao paused, not knowing how to continue her sentence. Liu Ling once again cupped his hands at Qin Xiaoyao. Cousin-inw, dont worry. I know what to do, he said. Princess Xiangyang was just an innocent person. He would not make use of her to take revenge on Empress Jia. At the same time, the enemy Empress Jia was sandwiched between them. It was impossible for any rtionship to take root. Therefore, he would put an end to her fantasy. Qin Xiaoyao nodded and finally stopped talking about Princess Xiangyang. After asking Liu Ling about the tasks she had asked him to carry out, she allowed Liu Ling to leave. Liu Ling excused himself from Qin Xiaoyaos study. On the way back, his heart was very tense. He was unable to digest what Qin Xiaoyao had told him. Xiangyang actually liked him Chapter 430 - 430: The Crown Prince Arrived Chapter 430: The Crown Prince Arrived Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The next day, Qin Xiaoyao had just arrived at the army camp when she heard that the Crown Prince hade to look for her. When she entered her tent, the Crown Prince was already waiting for her. The Crown Prince, who was waiting inside the tent, froze the moment he saw Qin Xiaoyao. Then, he quickly lowered his head. He did not dare to look Qin Xiaoyao in the eye. Qin Xiaoyao frowned and stepped forward to greet the Crown Prince. Greetings, Your Highness, she said as she bowed. The Crown Prince braced himself and replied, Marquis Xiaoyao, please dispense with the formalities. He still did not dare to look at Qin Xiaoyao. He didnt want toe here at all, but because of his Empress mothers orders, he had no choice but toe. His Empress mother had actually asked him toe and get familiar with Marquis Xiaoyao. She even told him to pursue Marquis Xiaoyao, so that Marquis Xiaoyao would willingly be his primary consort. It was simply too shocking! Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at the Crown Prince with a not-quite-happy expression. Your Highness, do you have some matter to discuss? she asked. The Crown Prince did not hold any real power in his hands and basically had no need to interact with her. However, this time, he had speciallye to look for her. Other than what happened yesterday, she couldnt think of any other reason for this visit. Empress Jia was really insistent. Qin Xiaoyao had already clearly rejected her proposal and Xiangyang had also told her so much, but she still sent the Crown Prince over. Yes 1 have. When he felt the pressure from Qin Xiaoyao, the Crown Prince became even more nervous. He could only bite the bullet and blurt out a reply. Qin Xiaoyao bowed again. Please speak, Your Highness. Empress Empress Mother asked me toee to Marquis Xiaoyaos tent to assist Marquis Xiaoyao in handling the military affairs in the Ministry of War, the Crown Prince stammered. This caused Qin Xiaoyao to frown even deeper. Thereafter, Qin Xiaoyao replied directly, The Ministry of War doesnt have many military matters to deal with these days. I alone can deal with everything. Your Highness must be very busy. There is no need to waste time here. In any case, she was a forthright person in Empress Jias eyes. Even if the Crown Prince were to pass the message back, she was not afraid. She wasnt interested in working with a weakling every day. When the Crown Prince heard this, he heaved a huge sigh of relief. Yes. Marquis Xiaoyao is right. Then 1 will take my leave first. After saying that, the Crown Prince hurriedly scurried away. He practically flew out of Qin Xiaoyaos tent. After that, he quickly left the army camp with his personal guards. Along the way, it was as if there were dogs chasing them. When he saw this, Prince Huaiyin couldnt help bursting out inughter. Indeed, Marquis Xiaoyao was not an ordinary woman Furthermore, with the Crown Princes character, even if Prince Huaiyin himself didnt fight with him, would he still be able to sit firmly on the Imperial throne? On Qin Xiaoyaos side, when she saw the Crown Prince leave, she felt much more at ease. She didnt think too much about it and got busy. Two hourster, in the Empresss sleeping chamber. After listening to the Crown Princes report, Empress Jias expression clouded over. So, you left just because Marquis Xiaoyao asked you to? she asked the Crown Prince with displeasure. The Crown Princes heart shuddered. Yes yes, he replied fearfully. His demeanor made Empress Jia even angrier. You are the current Crown Prince and are under my orders to assist her in handling the affairs of the Ministry of War. Shes just an official but she didnt listen to orders and asked you toe back. Yet you really came back! The Crown Prince panicked instantly. He immediately knelt down in front of Empress Jia. Empress Mother, please calm down! Empress Mother, please forgive me! he cried out in panic. When Empress Jia saw this, she finally flew into a rage. She picked up the teacup on the desk beside her and threw it at the Crown Prince. You are the current Crown Prince. How can you kneel for no reason! Are your knees that weak? The Crown Prince became increasingly more panicky. He endured meekly as the teacup shattered beside him, not knowing what to do. He wanted to get up, but he didnt dare. Empress Mother, please calm down! Empress Mother, please calm down! he could only mutter non-stop. Empress Jia instantly felt a headacheing on. She reached out and rubbed the spot between her eyebrows, forcefully suppressing her anger. When the Crown Prince saw this, he really wanted to approach her and inquire about her health. However, because of his fear, he still chose to kneel. After a while, Empress Jia calmed down a little and finally looked at the Crown Prince. When she saw the fear and worry in the Crown Princes eyes, the bitter disappointment in her heart faded a little. The Crown Prince was cowardly, but he was also filial. Marquis Xiaoyao is the pir of the country. With her around, our Great Jin State can enjoy long-term peace and stability. In addition, her martial arts skills are strong and she has the courage of an invincible warrior. If you can get her help, no one will be able to harm you in the future. In addition, if she bes your Princess Consort, I can also rest assured and hand her more military power. Empress Jias eyes darkened. In fact, I may even allow her to take charge of all the troops in the state. Most of the troops of the Great Jin State were still in the hands of Prince Huaiyin. Marquis Xiaoyao was the only logical choice she could think of who could rece Prince Huaiyin. When the Crown Prince heard this, he was utterly shocked. Empress Mother He looked at Empress Jia in fear once again. He was afraid that this was a test from Empress Jia. He once had a dream of sitting in that position after his Emperor father passed away. However, after being punished and frightened by his Empress mother a few times, he gave up on those thoughts. Now, he didnt dare to think about anything. He didnt dare to want anything. He only wanted to live. When she saw the Crown Princes expression, Empress Jia sighed in her heart. The First Prince is no longer around. You are my son and direct descendant, and also the eldest of the existing princes. In the future, you will naturally inherit your Emperor fathers throne. The Crown Princes heart shuddered momentarily, but his gaze was still filled with bewilderment. Empress Jia continued, In the past, there were some things that 1 did without consideration. Now, both your Empress mother and Emperor father are not as healthy as before. I can only try my best to pave the road for you while I still have some energy left. It will also prevent Prince Huaiyin from carrying out his wild ambitions, making it impossible for you to sit on the throne firmly to rule after I am gone. The Crown Princes heart trembled again. Everyone inside and outside the Imperial Court knew that Prince Huaiyin was ambitious. Previously, the Crown Prince had even secretly hoped that Prince Huaiyin would be able to defeat his Empress mother and restore the prestige of the Huangfu n. However, now Was Empress Mother really prepared to let him inherit the throne and return the imperial power to the Huangfu n? The Crown Prince was a little tempted at this point. However, when he thought of Prince Huaiyin, the temptation in his heart instantly weakened considerably. Prince Huaiyin had made great war contributions. Other than Marquis Xiaoyao, no one else was as powerful as him. Moreover, his capability was not only shown on the battlefield. There was nock of ministers in the court who supported him. Apart from his status and identity, did the Crown Prince have the ability topete with Prince Huaiyin? If he couldnt win and offended Prince Huaiyin, what would happen to him? When he thought of this, the Crown Prince couldnt help but shudder. Thus, the Crown Prince spoke, Emperor Father and Empress Mother will be long-lived. Noth nothing will happen. When Empress Jia saw this, anger surged in her heart again. Before she spoke, she suppressed her anger once more. Continue to help Marquis Xiaoyao. Think of a way to get close to her, she said. The Crown Prince raised his head and looked at Empress Jia, his face full of reluctance. When he saw that Empress Jias expression had be displeased, he quickly answered, Your son shall obey your wishes. Only then did Empress Jias expression rx a little. Marquis Xiaoyao is a passionate and devoted woman. Under normal circumstances, she is different from her usual self on the battlefield. She is not that ferocious and terrifying. And in terms of appearance, although Marquis Xiaoyao is somewhat different from those youngdies of noble families, she can still be considered a peerless beauty.. Chapter 431 - 431: Drunk Lunatic Chapter 431: Drunk Lunatic Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion If you can catch her eye, you will definitely be able to get her to help you fully. That was right. He had to catch the eye of Marquis Xiaoyao. Empress Jia had to admit that it was indeed very difficult for her son to attract a woman like Qin Xiaoyao. The Crown Prince was extremely reluctant to do so, but he did not dare to disobey. He could only brace himself and reply, Yes, Empress Mother. Only then did Empress Jia gesture with her hand. Go then. Go and stay by Marquis Xiaoyaos side, she said with some fatigue. The Crown Prince raised his head to look at Empress Jia. Yes, Empress Mother, he answered as he bowed again. Then, he turned around and left. In the afternoon, Qin Xiaoyao had just finished her meal and was about to wrap up early when the Crown Prince came again. When she saw the Crown Prince, who was clearly extremely reluctant but still trying his best to smile at her, Qin Xiaoyao was also in a bad mood. Your humble servant has already eaten. The food in the army is simple and crude. Im afraid Your Highness will not be used to it, she said, but inwardly, she thought, So, can Your Highness please leave quickly? Its fine. Im not picky, the Crown Prince hurriedly said. He was afraid that Qin Xiaoyao would chase him away again. Of course, it wasnt that he was willing to stay, but he was worried that his Empress mother would punish him if he was chased away. Qin Xiaoyao almost rolled her eyes at the Crown Prince. Oh, 1 see. In that case Men! Qin Xiaoyao shouted to someone outside the tent. A soldier immediately entered the tent. Lord Marquis! He bowed to Qin Xiaoyao and replied loudly. Bring His Highness the Crown Prince to the kitchen for his meal. Make sure the people in the kitchen serve him well, Qin Xiaoyao instructed. Yes, Lord Marquis! the soldier immediately answered. Then, he walked toward the Crown Prince. Ignoring the Crown Princes obvious unwillingness to leave, he said loudly, Your Highness, this way please The Crown Prince looked at Qin Xiaoyao. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao did not even look at him, he finally left with the soldier. Qin Xiaoyao only raised her head to look at the entrance of the tent when the Crown Prince had walked out of the tent. Then, she quickly packed up the documents and stood up from behind the desk. If she didnt leave now, when would she be able to leave? After leaving the army camp, Qin Xiaoyao decided to go to the manor for a look. When she arrived at the manor, she heard that Princess Xiangyang was also there. A bad feeling welled up in her heart as Qin Xiaoyao walked towards the manor. As soon as she entered the front courtyard, she saw Princess Xiangyang running out crying. Hey, you Qin Xiaoyao called out to her instinctively. Her voice attracted Princess Xiangyangs attention. However, Princess Xiangyang only nced at her once before looking away. Sob sob After crying out loud twice, she covered her face and ran away. Qin Xiaoyao stretched out her hand in an attempt to stop Princess Xiangyang. However, after raising her hand, she put it down eventually. Then, she turned around and walked inside quickly. At the same time, the ominous feeling in her heart grew stronger. Qin Xiaoyao finally found Liu Ling in the back courtyard. At this moment, Liu Ling was checking the ounts as if nothing had happened. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao, he quickly stood up and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao with a smile. Lord Marquis Qin Xiaoyao frowned. Just now She pointed outside in an inquiring manner. Liu Ling was surprised momentarily before he thought of something. Lord Marquis wants to ask about the Princess? he asked with a smile. Mm-hmm, Qin Xiaoyao replied. The smile on Liu Lings face finally disappeared. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Qin Xiaoyao enter the room and close the door. After closing the door, Qin Xiaoyao then turned around and walked toward Liu Ling. I bumped into that girl in the front courtyard just now. She ran out crying, Qin Xiaoyao quickly spoke up. Liu Ling frowned. What did she say to you? Qin Xiaoyao asked in a probing manner. Liu Ling raised his head. Qin Xiaoyao quickly shut up. After a moment of silence, Liu Ling finally nodded. Yesterday, you asked me if I had a sweetheart, Cousin-inw. Did the princess ask you to ask me? he asked Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos expression froze. When she saw the certainty in Liu Lings eyes, she nodded. Liu Lings eyes flickered, but he quickly regained hisposure. His expression implied I knew it. Thereafter, he stood up straight and cupped his hands in greeting to Qin Xiaoyao. Cousin-inw, please help me tell the princess that my background is lowly and I am not worthy of her. Please ask her not to think about me, he said solemnly. Qin Xiaoyao froze again. This was a trulyplete rejection. Also, that girl Xiangyang was really bold. She actually came to ask him directly. Er Qin Xiaoyao looked like she was put in a spot. That girl had just been rejected. If she were to go and say those words to that girl again, wouldnt it upset her again? When he saw this, Liu Ling bowed to Qin Xiaoyao once again. His attitude was very firm. Qin Xiaoyao sighed at this point. When she thought of Princess Xiangyangs demeanor when she ran out, she felt a little bit of heartache for her. Actually, Empress Jia and that girl are two different people. She I have already made up my mind. Cousin-inw, please dont persuade me anymore on this matter. His status was worlds apart from that of the princess. Even if Empress Jia fell one day, she would still be the noble princess of the Great Jin State. As for him, even if the Song family and the Liu familys grievances were redressed, it would not change the fact that he had once descended to working in a brothel. Putting aside the enmity between their ancestors, their disparate identities meant that they were not destined to be together. Since it was destined to be so, why should he give the other party hope? Qin Xiaoyao sighed and didnt try to persuade him anymore. When he saw this, Liu Ling quickly went forward and reported the recent revenue of the century egg workshop to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao saw that Liu Ling was serious about his work and did not seem to be affected by Princess Xiangyangs matter at all. She was even more certain that Princess Xiangyangs wish would not bear fruit. After putting away her worries, Qin Xiaoyao quickly immersed herself in listening to the business report. By the time she left the manor, more than two hours had passed. After leaving the manor, Qin Xiaoyao mounted her horse and quickly left. After returning to the city, she went straight back to the Marquiss residence. True enough, Princess Xiangyang was waiting for her at the Marquiss residence. Moreover, she pounced on Qin Xiaoyao when she saw thetter, her whole body reeking of alcohol. As Qin Xiaoyao held her up, her brows were furrowed somewhat tightly. How much did you drink? she asked. This silly girl even knew how to drown her sorrows in alcohol? Hehe Not much. Just just one jar. Boo hoo, Master Master, they lied to me Didnt they say that getting drunk would solve a thousand troubles? Boo hoo 1 drank so much that 1 almost couldnt stand properly. Why why do 1 still feel so troubled? Furthermore, boo hoo Furthermore, the taste of this wine is terrible Princess Xiangyang threw away the wine jar in her hand as she spoke. The wine jar crashed to the ground and shattered into numerous pieces. Qin Xiaoyao quickly supported Princess Xiangyang and brought her to one side. Initially, she was a little angry that Princess Xiangyang was dumping rubbish in her own house. However, she could not bring herself to scold her when she saw her anguished expression. Only when youre used to it will it taste good. A little girl like you naturally wouldnt be able to appreciate it, Qin Xiaoyao replied. Following that, she put her arm around Princess Xiangyangs waist and brought her to the back courtyard. Why is a decent well-brought up little girl like you drinking wine? Youre even acting like a drunk lunatic after drinking. Just look at you Forget it. Follow me to go rest now. Ill settle the score with you after you sober up. Princess Xiangyang was very cooperative when she was being supported by someone and knew that the person who was supporting her was her own master.. Chapter 432 - 432: Where Did You Learn to Be Thick-Skinned Chapter 432: Where Did You Learn to Be Thick-Skinned Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Soon, Qin Xiaoyao sent Princess Xiangyang to the guest room. Qin Xiaoyao threw her onto the bed and was about to leave when she was stopped by Princess Xiangyang. Dont go, Master! Dont go! The little girl cried out in a drunken voice. Obviously, Princess Xiangyang was notpletely drunk. She had taken advantage of the alcohol to act crazy. Qin Xiaoyao tried moving forward and realized that she couldnt break free. When she turned around and saw the pitiful look on the little girls face, she finally couldnt bear it any longer. She sighed and sat back on the bed. She wanted tofort Princess Xiangyang, but after some thought, she said, You are a beauty born of a noble family. You have nock of male suitors at your disposal. Why do you have to get so hung up over some unworthy swain like Liu Ling? Initially, she wanted to say, There are plenty of fish in the sea. Why get stuck in a one-sided rtionship with a de of seaweed? However, she was afraid that the little girl would not understand, so she changed her words. Hehe Nock of male suitors? Cant 1 look for a suitor like Young Master Liu Xiangyang retorted. What unworthy swain? Young Master Liu is not an unworthy swain! He is so good-looking. Even if hes a swain, he is a good-looking swain. Boo hoo Master, 1 really like Young Master Liu. Just like how Master likes her husband, I, too, like him very much! My heart and eyes are totally upied by him. Even if he rejects me, 1 still like him! Boo hoo Anyway anyway, I am already beyond redemption. Master Master, please help me! Princess Xiangyang begged somewhat incoherently. She even reached out and grabbed Qin Xiaoyao tightly. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. Let go first, she said. No I wont. Unless Master agrees to help me. To her surprise, Princess Xiangyang began to act like a shameless brat and grabbed Qin Xiaoyao even more tightly. Qin Xiaoyaos brows furrowed even more tightly. She exerted force abruptly and broke free from Princess Xiangyangs grasp. When she saw that little girl almost falling off the bed because she broke free, she became nervous momentarily. Then, she took two steps back to avoid getting grabbed by Princess Xiangyang again. Boo hoo Master, even you are bullying me When she saw Qin Xiaoyaos attitude, Princess Xiangyang burst into tears at once. This time, she was really crying her heart out. Her tears and snot were all gushing out. Qin Xiaoyao couldnt bear it anymore. Finally, she opened her mouth again. He has already rejected you. Why are you still hankering after him? Princess Xiangyang raised her head and pouted in an aggrieved manner. Then why didnt you give up when your husband rejected you previously? Even if she rejected him, it didnt mean that she wouldnt stand a chance. Werent Master and her husband the perfect example before her eyes? Qin Xiaoyao almost choked on that question and became speechless. Then, she retorted somewhat angrily, How can my situation be the same as yours? This silly little girl was alwaysparing herself to her master. Qin Xiaoyao had strong psychological endurance and would do anything to achieve her goals. How could this girlpare to her? Her husband also had strong psychological endurance and was not a simple character. Liu Ling couldnt evenpare him. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao was truly remorseful. If she had known earlier, she would not have been so smug and bragged about her past to the little girl. Of course, its different. Im even more persistent than you, Master! Princess Xiangyang immediately retorted angrily. Then, as if she was encouraging herself, she proimed loudly, In any case, I wont stop until I capture Young Master Lius heart! Qin Xiaoyao felt a headacheing on. Then, she replied with some frustration, Alright, alright, alright. You can decide for yourself. Just dont drag me into it. With that, she prepared to walk out. Princess Xiangyang panicked at once. She quickly got off the bed and stumbled and scrambled to go after Qin Xiaoyao. Then, she grabbed her master again. Master! Master, you have to help me! she begged. I cant help you. Qin Xiaoyao rejected her outright. Princess Xiangyang became anxious now. Then, with a thud, she knelt on the ground. Qin Xiaoyao, who was about to shirk off that incredibly clingy girl, suddenly stopped in her tracks. Master, please take it that Im begging you! As long as you promise to help me, Ill do anything you want me to do in the future! Princess Xiangyang said pitifully but sincerely. Qin Xiaoyaos heart shuddered momentarily. She quickly went to help Princess Xiangyang to her feet. Stop fooling around. You are a princess, and everything below your knees is more valuable than gold. How can you kneel to anyone so casually? Although she was the girls master, she could not ept such a big show of respect from her other than on the day she acknowledged her as her master. Princess Xiangyang refused to be helped up by Qin Xiaoyao to her feet. As long as Master agrees to help me pursue Young Master Liu, I am willing to kneel. Ill even kowtow to you! Princess Xiangyang said loudly. As she said that, it wasnt known if she was influenced by the alcohol, but she really kowtowed to Qin Xiaoyao twice with two resounding knocks. Qin Xiaoyao was aghast. Finally, she reached out and forcefully yanked Princess Xiangyang to her feet. However, Princess Xiangyang was unwilling to get up and even tried to struggle free. She wanted to continue kowtowing to Qin Xiaoyao in order to coerce Qin Xiaoyao to help her. Alright! Stand properly and talk. Otherwise, I really wont care about you! Qin Xiaoyao said in a stern voice. Princess Xiangyangs eyes lit up when she heard that. She finally allowed Qin Xiaoyao to pull her up and stood up straight. After standing properly, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a pitiful expression. Master she called out. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang in annoyance. I really dont know where you learned to be so thick-skinned! she said with some annoyance. The Emperor and Empress Jia were high and mighty, and they both appeared to have calm characters. Howe their daughter was afflicted with such a problem? Princess Xiangyang smiled and shamelessly leaned on Qin Xiaoyao. Thereafter she rubbed herself against Qin Xiaoyao like a spoiled child. Who else could I have learned from? From you, of course! she said ingratiatingly. Qin Xiaoyao was utterly speechless. Hehe! Master, how are you going to help me? After waiting for a while, Princess Xiangyang took the initiative to ask before Qin Xiaoyao could speak. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang, feeling a little stifled. Then, she sighed. This kind of thing cant be rushed. After this, dont meet Liu Ling for the time being. Princess Xiangyang immediately panicked. How can this be eptable? Qin Xiaoyao rolled her eyes. Why is it not eptable? Following that, she added, After this, let me speak for you. Firstly, whether intentionally or otherwise, I will say more good things about you in front of him to soften his heart. Secondly, distance creates fondness. If you dont take the initiative to appear in front of him for a period of time, he wall begin to appreciate your good points. And, also Qin Xiaoyao gave Princess Xiangyang a look of speechless resignation. And also what? Princess Xiangyang asked immediately. What Master said actually made sense. A look of helplessness shed across Qin Xiaoyaos eyes. Also, youre a girl after all. Its better for you to be more reserved. How could a young girl be so shameless? Princess Xiangyang felt very aggrieved and immediately tried to defend herself. Qin Xiaoyao raised a hand and clenched it into a fist. She spoke first, Dontpare yourself to me. My two fists can y a bull. Can yours? Princess Xiangyang shook her head. Of course, not.. Chapter 433 - 433: Infiltrating the Prefectural Magistrate’s Chapter 433: Infiltrating the Prefectural Magistrates Residence at Night Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion When Qin Xiaoyao saw that Princess Xiangyang did not object, she felt a little more at ease. Everyone has his own style, and my style is different from yours. Besides, Young Master Liu is different from my husband. If you follow my method, it may backfire, Qin Xiaoyao continued. Princess Xiangyang was surprised. After thinking for a while, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao with some suspicion. When she saw Qin Xiaoyaos serious expression, she felt that her master did not seem to be bluffing her. Hence, she nodded. Qin Xiaoyao instantly heaved a sigh of relief. She felt very relieved inwardly that she was fortunate enough to fool Princess Xiangyang sessfully. Anyway, the Emperors birthday was just around the corner. At that juncture, when the big matter was aplished, Empress Jia would fall from power, and Liu Lings true identity would be revealed. That girl Xiangyang could still choose again. Alright. In that case, leave this matter to me. Go and rest first. After resting, return to your Princesss residence tomorrow. When I have news, I will send someone to inform you, Qin Xiaoyao said as she helped Princess Xiangyang back to bed. Princess Xiangyang did not refuse her masters help. However, she still vaguely sensed that something was wrong. How long will it take? Also, how do 1 know whether you have really helped me liaise with Young Master Liu? She turned her head and asked Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes flickered slightly. She thought to herself that what she had just experienced was probably a deluded impression. This girl was not easy to fool after all. One month, Qin Xiaoyao quickly replied. Wait for me for a month. After a month, even if I cant soften Young Master Lius heart, I will still send someone to inform you. Princess Xiangyang was silent. Then, she counter-proposed, Half a month. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao frowning, Princess Xiangyang added, One month is too long. Half a month is enough. If after half a month, Master still cant help me persuade Young Master Liu, I will think of another way. Qin Xiaoyao pondered for a while. Half a monthter, it was coincidentally the Emperors birthday. Hence, Qin Xiaoyao agreed to the request. Deal! Princess Xiangyangs eyes lit up with joy at once. I just know that Master dotes on me the most! Following that, she leaned her head on Qin Xiaoyaos shoulder. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Princess Xiangyang and finally sent her to bed. Then, she helped the girl lie down and tucked the girl in. Have a good sleep. Tomorrow, it will be a new day, Qin Xiaoyaoforted her. Mm-hnim, Princess Xiangyang answered obediently and closed her eyes. Qin Xiaoyao then left. After leaving the guest room, she returned to her own courtyard. In the blink of an eye, it waste at night. In the bedroom, Qin Xiaoyao, who was lying on the bed, suddenly opened her eyes. Then, she got out of bed and changed into a suit of ck night-travel clothing. She even covered her face, revealing only her eyes. Then, she went out and quickly melded into the night. Along the way, Qin Xiaoyao leaped over roofs and walls at an extremely fast speed. She darted into the prefectural magistrates residence like a phantom. As she hid on a beam, Qin Xiaoyao began to recall the topographic map her husband had given her. Coupled with the situationid out before her eyes, Qin Xiaoyao was able to determine her location quickly. Then, she began to follow the topographic map in her mind and sneaked all the way to the prefectural magistrates courtyard. After that, she sneaked into Prefectural Magistrate Lius room. Under the dim moonlight, Qin Xiaoyao saw clearly that Lord Liu wasnt the only one lying on the bed. There was also a woman dressed in skimpy clothes. As she swept her gaze around the room, Qin Xiaoyao felt that it would be a little difficult for her to search on her own. It was better to ask for it directly. It was more practical. Thus, she revealed the dagger in her sleeve.. Chapter 434 - 434: Between Life and Death Chapter 434: Between Life and Death Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon BoatT Qin Xiaoyao walked to Lord Liu s bedside. The icy cold dagger in her hand pped against Lord Liu s face. Wake up she said icily. Lord Liu was woken up by the chilly sensation. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a dagger ced horizontally across his neck, gleaming with a steely glint under the moonlight. His body shuddered at once and he instinctively backed away. However, Qin Xiaoyao wasnt prepared to let him off so easily. The dagger immediately followed. At the same time, she reached out her other hand to press against Lord Lius back, stopping his movement. If you move again, you may lose your wretched life! Qin Xiaoyao threatened. Lord Liu immediately stopped moving. Hero, please spare me! If you have any orders, I will I will definitely obey. I only beg beg you to spare my life, hero! he cried out in panic. His voice woke the woman beside him. When the woman opened her eyes and saw what was happening, she immediately wanted to scream. However, before she could scream, she was knocked out by Qin Xiaoyao with one p. When he saw this, Lord Lius eyes were filled with even more fear. He hadpletely given up the idea of yelling for help when the intruder was caught off guard. This intruder s skills were amazing. If he yelled for help, he would probably lose his life before he could utter a sound. Hero hero, are you short of money? I 1 am willing to offer 5000 taels of silver notes. 1 beg beg you to spare my life, hero, Lord Liu said as he cowered down. Qin Xiaoyao rolled her eyes. As a prefectural magistrate, your life is only worth 5000 taels of silver? she said with displeasure. She hade to collect evidence of Jia Kun epting bribes and engaging in ruthlessnd grabs thereby forcing people to their deaths. She had no intention of robbing him. However, since the other party had taken the initiative to offer money to her, how could she not take it? Anyway, no one wouldin about having too much money, right? Lord Liu s body trembled momentarily. At the same time, he also felt a little more at ease. It was good that the intruder wanted money. What he feared most was that the party was not here for money but for revenge. Then how about 10,000 taels? Lord Liu quickly said in a very timid tone. A trace of chilliness shed across Qin Xiaoyao1 s eyes, and she immediately tightened her grip on the dagger. How much do you want, hero? Just name it! Lord Liu immediately screamed. He was afraid that Qin Xiaoyaos hand would slip and end up taking his lowly life. He even controlled the volume of his voice and did not dare to scream loudly. A faint smile appeared on Qin Xiaoyaos face under the mask. A hundred thousand taels, she said in a deep voice. Lord Liu s heart sank. He only hesitated for a moment before agreeing. Fine! As soon as he agreed to her request, Qin Xiaoyao became a little annoyed. She suspected that she might have asked for too little. However, when she recalled the reason she was here, she did notpel Lord Liu anymore. Get the money now. Qin Xiaoyao waved her dagger again. Yes, yes, yes! Lord Liu quickly replied. Thereafter, he allowed Qin Xiaoyao to hold him hostage as he get out of bed to retrieve the silver notes. The silver notes were actually hidden in a secretpartment inside the same room. When Lord Liu opened the secretpartment and Qin Xiaoyao saw many things inside, she immediately pulled Lord Liu away. Then, she reached out to grab the items herself. Hero, you cant Lord Liu quickly stopped her. However, Qin Xiaoyao only moved her dagger slightly, and Lord Liu did not dare to go forward anymore. Qin Xiaoyao quickly took out the items in the secretpartment. There was a big stack of silver notes, all of which had face values of 500 taels each. After a rough estimation, there were indeed about 100,000 taels. What was left were some letters and two ounting ledgers. Based on her experience in watching TV dramas before the apocalypse, Qin Xiaoyao quickly guessed that these things were most likely what she was looking for. Under the mask, she smiled gleefully again. She thought to herself that it really didnt take any effort to get these items. As she flipped through one of the ledgers, she saw the information recorded on it. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes lit up instantly. Lord Liu, however, was on the verge of tears. He wanted to persuade Qin Xiaoyao to leave the ounting ledgers and letters for him. After all, those things were not worth much to her. However, when he saw Qin Xiaoyao flipping through the ounting ledgers with great interest, he knew then that things were not as simple as they seemed. Sure enough, Qin Xiaoyao packed up everything in his secretpartment with the silver notes, including the letters and ledgers. Hero hero, you you are not here to ro ask for money. Lord Liu stammered. He was not even using a questioning tone. He wanted to say rob, but before he said it, he changed it to ask for money at thest minute for fear of offending Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Lord Liu. Lord Liu immediately lowered his head. Dont talk nonsense! Qin Xiaoyao responded in annoyance. She took a step forward and tapped the dagger carelessly on Lord Lius shoulder. Other than these things, there are also the case files of the Wang and Yun families in the suburbs suing Jia Kun. And also hand over the two guys Wang Cheng and Yun Kuan to me, Qin Xiaoyao said. Lord Liu s body instantly went limp. If Qin Xiaoyao hadnt held him up, he would have copsed to the ground in fear. Hero, please spare me, please spare me! Lord Liu didnt allow Qin Xiaoyao to help him up. Instead, he broke free from Qin Xiaoyaos grip, knelt on the ground, and began kowtowing to Qin Xiaoyao. By now, how could Lord Liu not see what this person was here for? What money? He was here to take his life! The overwhelming power of the Empresss brother extended from the Imperial Court to all levels of society. He also had the protection of Empress Jia. If the evidence of Jia Kuns crime was leaked out from his hands and Jia Kun found out, how could he still stay alive? Lord Liu was afraid that he would not be the only one affected. At that point, his entire family would probably not be able to escape. If this wasnt equivalent to taking his life, then what was? Who wants your life? Qin Xiaoyao said icily. Jia Kun has done many evil things and has already incurred tremendous public wrath. Right now, there are already people in the Imperial Court preparing to make a move against him, You have to give me the things. When the timees, honorable men will use these things to bring down Jia Kun and Empress Jia. Not only will you be fine, you might even be able to im some credit. Lord Liu was shocked inwardly. When he heard Qin Xiaoyaos words, a particr person quickly came to mind. Following that, he kowtowed twice to Qin Xiaoyao. Hero, please spare me. 1 only want to live a stable life. 1 do not seek wealth and prosperity. 1 dont want to get involved in the struggles of the honorable men! Who else in the Imperial Court could go against the Jia family and Empress Jia besides Prince Huaiyin? However, even if it were Prince Huaiyin, Lord Liu didnt think that this guy could definitively defeat Empress Jia. If that guys scheme failed, what awaited Lord Liu and his family would be a devastating disaster. He did not want ro take such a risk. Qin Xiaoyao curled her lips and stepped on Lord Lius back. The force in her foot was so overwhelming that Lord Liu couldnt straighten his back. At the same time, he didnt dare to raise his head. You have to get involved whether you want to or not. These things are already in my hands, so theres no reason for me not to take them away. As for you, if you dont cooperate, theres no need for you to live. Give me your answer before I count to five. If you agree to cooperate, Ill let you live until you hand over the two guys Wang Cheng and Yun Kuan ro me. If you dont agree Hmph! Since I have already obtained the items, I think theres no need for you to live.1 Lord Liu s body trembled, andrge beads of sweat kept appearing on his forehead. One At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao had already started counting. Hero, please spare my life! This matter concerns my entire family and even the lives of my entire n.. 1 cant give you an answer right away! Chapter 435 - 435: Things Were Going Too Smoothly Chapter 435: Things Were Going Too Smoothly Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Two11 Qin Xiaoyao didnt care and continued counting. I Hero, I give me three days. Er, no! Just one day is enough! How about it? Lord Liu continued to plead. Three Qin Xiaoyao ignored him and continued counting. Four? She even increased the speed of her counting. When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao was about to count to five, Lord Liu hurriedly blurted out, Agree! i agree! With that, a drop of sweat dripped onto the ground. His entire body was prostrated on the ground. His limbs were so weak that he could not really get up. Hmph! Look at you. Qin Xiaoyaoughed scornfully. The smell of urine was already in the air. Then, she removed her foot from Lord Lius back in disgust. Lord Liu wanted badly to wail and cry loudly, but he could only tremble and force himself to endure it. Qin Xiaoyao fanned her nose in disgust. Alright. Dont be so depressed. The honorable men wont act so rashly. Without the confidence of victory, they will not rashlyunch any action. Lord Liu was stunned, but he felt somewhatforted inwardly. At least he did not feel as hopeless as before. Qin Xiaoyao spoke again when she saw his expression. Get up. Since youve agreed to cooperate, I still have some things for you to do. Yes, yes Lord Liu quickly replied. He regained some strength and hurriedly got up from the ground. Qin Xiaoyao then told Lord Liu about the arrangements. Lord Liu agreed to all the arrangements. He had no choice. Right now, his miserable life was still in the hands of the person in front of him. Qin Xiaoyao was satisfied with Lord Lius attitude. After telling Lord Liu about the arrangements, she reached out and patted Lord Lius shoulder. You cant go back on your word once you have agreed to carry out these things. Otherwise, I cane and take your miserable life at any time. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao extended her fist and smashed a hole in the wall beside her. The entire room shook from the impact. Lord Liu s eyes were filled with terror. As he looked at the hole in the wall, all thoughts of resisting or squealing on Qin Xiaoyao vanished at once. Even if he went to report, Empress Jia might not be able to convict Prince Huaiyin. Even if Prince Huaiyin was punished, the punishment would most likely not be very serious. Whereas Lord Liu would have offended Prince Huaiyin thoroughly. It was not hard for Lord Liu to imagine his own oue. Right now, the most pragmatic thing was still allowing himself to be threatened by this man in ck day and night. Even if Lord Liu could transfer some people to protect himself, who knew when these staff would be negligent over time? Furthermore, ordinary guards and even soldiers were probably no match for this guy. His prefectural magistrates government office could be considered to be heavily guarded, yet this guy still managed to sneak in easily. T wouldnt dare! I will definitely obey your orders, hero! 1 will not dare to be negligent! Qin Xiaoyao felt satisfied inwardly. Alright! Then 111 be waiting to pick those two up tomorrow. Lord Liu, take care of yourself. After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao swaggered towards the door. As she walked, she paid attention to what was happening behind her. She thought to herself that as long as this fellow with the surname Liu dared to call for help, she would immediately make a move and end his life. In the end, Lord Liu remained silent and did not even make a sound. Qin Xiaoyao even felt a little disappointed after walking through the door. Tonights mission was a little too simple. However, it was also a good thing that things went smoothly. When she thought of this, Qin Xiaoyao slowed down again. She stopped at an intersection and looked in the direction of Song Ruis residence. She shifted her feet and finally sighed. She then turned around and went back to her Marquiss residence. In another half a month, the big matter in the capital would be over. She and her husband would be able to spend the rest of their lives together. After returning to the Marquis s residence, Qin Xiaoyao changed out of her night-travel clothing and fell asleep on her bed. She slept rather soundly this time. The next day, Qin Xiaoyao went to the army camp to report for work as usual. Not surprisingly, the Crown Prince was here again. When she saw that the Crown Prince was forcing himself to smile at her again, Qin Xiaoyao returned the courtesy with her own fake smile. The Crown Prince was so freaked out he almost wanted to escape. Theres nothing urgent in the army today. Since Your Highness wants to stay by my side, then follow me to take a look at the training of the Special Forces Teams. Good good, the Crown Prince agreed fearfully. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the Crown Prince, then stood up and left the tent. The Crown Prince mustered his courage before running after her. He followed Qin Xiaoyao and they soon reached a martial arts training ground. When she saw Huang Daqiao talking to the special forces team members, Qin Xiaoyao nced behind her and strode over. Leader! When Huang Daqiao saw Qin Xiaoyaoing over, he hurriedly bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Greetings, Lord Marquis! The special forces team members hurriedly followed suit and bowed. Mm-hmm. Qin Xiaoyao responded and stepped forward. Her gaze swept across the faces of the team members, making them both nervous and excited. When the Crown Prince saw this scene, he watched from afar and hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should follow. In the end, he still followed Qin Xiaoyao into the training ground. When Qin Xiaoyao saw this, the corners of her mouth curled up into a wicked smile. Following that, she spoke up. This is His Highness the Crown Prince. Greetings, Your Highness! Huang Daqiao immediately bowed to the Crown Prince. His voice resounded loudly. The Crown Princes face almost turned pale from fright. Greetings, Your Highness! The special forces team members followed suit. Their voices became even louder, scaring the Crown Prince so much that his face turned even more ashen. Please please rise. Suppressing the fear in his heart, the Crown Prince forced himself to calm down. He had done his homework beforeing to the army camp, so he naturally knew about the special forces team. In the previous confrontation with the Liao army, Marquis Xiaoyao had led a special forces team into battle with repeated sess. At that time, the special forces team wasbeled the beheading team by the Liao army. That team was the nightmare of the Liao army. After Marquis Xiaoyao entered the capital with Prince Huaiyin, she also brought the special forces team with her. It was said that most of the members had been incorporated into a team called Warfire. At the same time, other special forces teams were formed within the army. Currently, it was said that there were close to ten such teams in the army. The members of these special forces teams trained hard every day to advance themselves. Each member could purportedly fight against ten people. They were the elite soldiers among elite soldiers! Huang Daqiao s eyes flickered when he saw the Crown Princes reaction. He looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao gave Huang Daqiao an eye signal. Huang Daqiao was somewhat surprised to see this signal. Following that, he quickly smiled faintly at Qin Xiaoyao. When the special forces team members saw the Crown Prince, they were a little excited initially. However, when they saw the Crown Princes reaction, they were ail a little disappointed. Despite this, it only took a moment for their disappointment to be suppressed. They were not just Lord Marquiss soldiers. They were also Prince Huaiyins soldiers. All of them had fought bloody battles at the border with Prince Huaiyin. In their hearts, Prince Huaiyin was more qualified to be the next heir to the throne than the Crown Prince. Now that they had seen the Crown Princes cowardly appearance, they were even more convinced of their inner thoughts. How could such a Crown Princepare to their brave Prince Huaiyin? When she saw that Huang Daqiao understood what she meant, Qin Xiaoyao spoke, The Crown Prince hase personally to witness the strength of our special forces team. Lead everyone to practice for the Crown Prince to take a look. Huang Daqiaos eyes lit up. Yes, Leader! He bowed and responded loudly. He lowered his head and a wicked smile shed across his eyes.. Chapter 436 Qualifying Assessment 436 Qualifying Assessment When the Crown Prince heard Qin Xiaoyao''s words, he instinctively wanted to object. However, when he faced Qin Xiaoyao, he didn''t dare to voice his objection. He was the one who wanted to follow Marquis Xiaoyao here. Marquis Xiaoyao had only instructed the special forces team to do this because of him. What reason did he have to object? The Crown Prince quickly convinced himself. Huang Daqiao didn''t care what the Crown Prince was thinking. He had already turned around and was facing the special forces team members. "Listen up, bastards" He had only uttered the first sentence when the Crown Prince''s face turned pale again. This fellow was really uncouth. He was muscr and his skin was very tanned. The Crown Prince thought that his voice was already somewhat loud earlier, but now his voice was even louder. It was practically as loud as thunder. If he had not ascertained that this fellow was from the army, he would have suspected that this fellow was a bandit. "The Crown Prince hase personally to take a look at your capabilities. "Today, all of you better get your spirits up and show the Crown Prince your most vicious and ferocious side!" Huang Daqiao bellowed. "Yes, Sir!" the special forces team members responded loudly. Their voices shook the sky and almost shattered the Crown Prince''s eardrums. The Crown Prince forcefully steadied his body so that he would not lose his dignity. At this moment, he was already beginning to regret following Qin Xiaoyao to this ce. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the Crown Prince. When she turned her head, a smile had already appeared on her face. Then, without paying the Crown Prince any attention, she walked towards the desk not far away with her hands behind her back. When he saw this, the Crown Prince quickly followed her. At present,pared to facing this group of ferocious special forces team members, he felt that it would be safer for him to follow Marquis Xiaoyao. When he saw this, Huang Daqiao''s lips curled into a smile. With a wave of his hand, the special forces team members quickly dispersed. Then, the special training began. The first was sparring training. The members of the special forces team formed groups of two and fought bare-handed. Every member put on a brave disy, and their strikes were merciless. Before long, injuries appeared on their bodies. Even so, they didn''t stop. Instead, they became increasingly more aggressive as they fought. It was as if the opponent in front of them was their enemy, which they attacked without mercy. Qin Xiaoyao, who was not far away, was watching with great interest. The Crown Prince, however, felt his skin go numb. He had always been gentle and weak. When had he ever witnessed such a scene? The face of the special forces team member in front of him was swollen, and one of his eyes was even bruised. How painful it must be! There was also his opponent. He had been kicked in the waist by the other party just now, and he had almost been sent flying. The Crown Prince wondered if his bones were broken. Even so, it seemed like they did not know pain and continued clobbering each other. Qin Xiaoyao enjoyed the real-lifebat in front of her while ncing at the Crown Prince''s reaction. When she saw the Crown Prince repeatedly closing his eyes, she felt that this level of excitement was not enough. Hence, she looked at Huang Daqiao. "Go. Bring over the assessment tools I prepared for the reserve members of the Warfire Team," she instructed. Huang Daqiao was stunned momentarily. After ncing at the Crown Prince, he quickly understood. "Yes, Leader!" he answered Qin Xiaoyao in a loud voice. Then, he walked to the soldiers not far away and gave some instructions. When the Crown Prince heard Qin Xiaoyao''s arrangements, he was a little afraid but also curious at the same time. Warfire. This team was said to be stronger than the special forces team. They were all elite soldiers, and this team was Marquis Xiaoyao''s private army. If a soldier wanted to get into the Warfire team, the first step was to get into the special forces team. Then, only those who performed the best in the special forces team were qualified to apply for assessment to get into the Warfire team. Only those who passed this assessment could get into Warfire. In the army, the members of the Warfire team were regarded as objects of worship by all the soldiers. Qin Xiaoyao saw the curiosity in the Crown Prince''s eyes and a smile subconsciously appeared on her face. There was going to be a good show soon. After a while, amotion suddenly came from afar. Qin Xiaoyao and the Crown Prince looked in the direction of the sound and saw fourrge iron cages. Inside those cages were actually wild wolves! As the iron cages approached, the howling of the wild wolves and the sound of them banging against the iron cages became louder and clearer. It made people shudder when they heard it. When the Crown Prince saw this sight, his heart almost stopped in fright. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao smiling breezily, he felt his skin go numb. "This this is the test for the reserve members of the Warfire?" the Crown Prince stammered at Qin Xiaoyao. His legs were beginning to tremble. He wanted to leave, but his legs had already turned weak. "That''s right." Qin Xiaoyao pretended not to notice the Crown Prince''s fear and replied with a smile. "This is the first stage." As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at the four iron cages that had been brought to a location not far away. "As long as the candidate can kill a wild wolf with his bare hands, he will pass this stage." The Crown Prince''s eyes widened. "Kill killing a wild wolf with bare hands" He swallowed nervously and almost couldn''t speak clearly. "Mm-hmm." Qin Xiaoyao smiled and nodded. "After the first stage, there is still the second stage. "The second stage is also simple. He has to go to the mountains and capture a wild wolf back." Qin Xiaoyao smiled and looked at the wild wolves in the cage. "These wild wolves were caught by the people who participated in the previous assessment." The Crown Prince''s breathing stopped abruptly, and his heart almost jumped out of his chest. Fighting with wild wolves? Catching wild wolves in the mountains and bringing them back? Was this something a human could do? Just as he was about to stand up and bid farewell to Qin Xiaoyao Qin Xiaoyao spoke first. "Men, open the cage and let the four people from the first and second groups try first." Huang Daqiao nced at the Crown Prince. "Yes, Leader!" He replied to Qin Xiaoyao loudly. The moment he lowered his head, he could not help but smile. As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers guarding the four iron cages dutifully opened them. The wild wolves immediately dashed out of the cages. When he saw the four members of the special forces team that Qin Xiaoyao had just called out heading toward the wild wolves, the Crown Prince subconsciously closed his eyes. A momentter, he heard roars and sounds of jaws tearing at people. He felt his skin go numb. "Good!" At this moment, the Crown Prince heard the sounds of Qin Xiaoyao pping and cheeringing from beside him. The Crown Prince was almost scared out of his wits. He opened his eyes a crack and saw a wild wolf charging at him. " Argh! " The Crown Prince immediately cried out in horror. Then, he toppled over with a thump. He fainted from fright. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head to look at the fallen Crown Prince. "Hahahaha" Then, sheughed loudly. Following that, she picked up a rock from the ground and threw it at the wild wolf that was charging at the Crown Prince. The rock shot out like an arrow leaving the bow, smashing directly into the wolf''s head. Then, it pierced through the wolf''s head, creating a simr opening on the opposite side. The ferocious wild wolf was instantly killed. This scene stunned many soldiers who were crowding around gawking. Previously, they had heard that Lord Marquis''s martial arts skills were invincible, but now they had seen it for themselves. "Lord Marquis is mighty!" Huang Daqiao was the first to react and shouted excitedly. "Lord Marquis is mighty!" The soldiers quickly shouted. Qin Xiaoyao finally stood up. She looked at the other wolf that had been killed not far away, as well as the special forces team member who had killed that wolf. "Not bad. You have passed the assessment for the first stage," she said. Chapter 437 Passed the Assessment 437 Passed the Assessment The special forces team member was delighted. "Thank you, Lord Marquis!" He hurriedly bowed. Qin Xiaoyao turned her gaze to the other three people who were fighting the remaining two wild wolves. "The rest of you, I''ll count to ten for you to finish up. If you can''t take down the wild wolf, it will be considered a failure," she said in a stern voice. "One." Qin Xiaoyao started counting. The expressions of the three candidates changed. After letting out a loud roar, they all charged toward the wild wolves. "Two." Soon, Qin Xiaoyao uttered the second number. "Three." Thereafter, she uttered the third number. When they heard that, the special forces team members looked at the three candidates worriedly. Earlier, they had been envious of the four guys for being lucky enough to be chosen by Lord Marquis to participate in the Warfire reserve team''s assessment. However, now They were not surprised that the strongest guy among the four had sessfully passed the test. After all, that guy''s ability was the strongest in their team. However, the other three were in danger. Those were wild wolves, and they had been starved for two days. The degree of savagery was extraordinary. If anyone was scratched or bitten, wouldn''t he have to recuperate for ten days to half a month? Under the worried gazes of the watching special forces team members, the three special forces team members exchanged nces with one another and quickly attacked the two wild wolves again. With this, another round of thrilling scenes appeared again. Everyone couldn''t help breaking out in a cold sweat as they watched the three of them. Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, continued to countdown. "Nine." In the blink of an eye, she had already counted to nine. "Argh!" Suddenly, a roar rang out. One of the wolves was finally killed by two special forces team members. "Argh!" At the same time, there was another wretched scream. The remaining member of the special forces team had his arm bitten by the other wolf. Due to the wild wolf''s strong bite, a piece of flesh on the special forces team member''s arm was torn off. The wild wolf tasted the flesh in its mouth and began to chew it inrge mouthfuls. The scene was extremely gory and terrifying. The injured special forces team member was bleeding profusely and rolling on the ground in pain. about to go to the rescue when Qin Xiaoyao spoke. 10:00 "Ten." The other two special forces team members who had teamed up to kill the wolf saw this and were about to go to the rescue when Qin Xiaoyao spoke. "Ten." Everyone turned around and saw that Qin Xiaoyao was still extremely indifferent. "Take him away and hand him over to the military doctor. As for the others, those who need medical treatment will be treated. Follow up on this ording to the rules," she said. Huang Daqiao was the first to regain his senses. "Yes, Leader!" After saying that, he gestured with his hand and let the people get on the stretcher. As soon as the stretcher and medics approached, the wild wolf bared its teeth at the people carrying the stretcher. As a result, no one dared to go forward. "Argh! I''ll kill you, you bastard!" At this moment, the two members of the special forces team who had joined forces to kill one wolf just now disregarded their own injuries and charged toward the remaining wild wolf. The three of them were not strong enough to kill two wild wolves in a short time. Hence, they split up the work. The strongest guy would fight against one wild wolf alone. The remaining two would join forces to deal with the other wild wolf. After the two of them killed the wild wolf, they would help the first person kill the remaining wild wolf. However, to their chagrin, while they joined forces to kill one wild wolf, the other person got injured. Furthermore, such a huge piece of flesh was torn off. If the injury was not properly treated, his arm would probably be crippled. He was injured because of them. How could they not avenge him? Qin Xiaoyao did not stop them when she saw their reaction. She watched the two of them rush up and kill that wild wolf. At this moment, a hint of satisfaction finally shed across Qin Xiaoyao''s eyes. She gave Huang Daqiao an eye signal. Huang Daqiao immediately ordered the stretcher and medics to check on the two guys'' injuries. Qin Xiaoyao finally stood up and walked towards the training ground. She looked at the special forces team member whose arm had a chunk of flesh torn off and was fully bandaged now. Then, she turned to the remaining three special forces team members. After that, she said, "This time, only one person has met the assessment standards set by me. But" Her gaze swept across the three of them. "But, your cooperation is good, and your performance has satisfied me. "Therefore, I have decided that all four of you passed the assessment." The four of them were delighted. The special forces team member whose arm had a chunk of flesh bitten off did not even care about the pain anymore. He struggled to get down from the stretcher and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. "Thank you, Lord Marquis!" Qin Xiaoyao nced at that guy. "After this, recuperate well. After you have recovered, report to the reserve team," she told him. "Yes, Lord Marquis!" That guy bowed again, his eyes gleaming. He had thought that he would never have the chance to get into Warfire in this lifetime. However, Lord Marquis had allowed him to enter the Warfire reserve team. Once there, he would be able to train with the other people who had passed the first stage of the assessment. When the time was right, he would go for the second round of assessment. When he passed, he would be a member of Warfire. The members of the Warfire team were the most powerful existences in the army. Wherever they went, they would attract people''s adtion. Qin Xiaoyao gestured with her hand. The medics immediately went forward to help that guy back onto the stretcher and then carried him away. At this moment, Qin Xiaoyao had already turned her gaze to the other three members. The three of them were also very excited. This was particrly true for the two who had joined hands to kill one wild wolf. They thought that they had failed the assessment, but in the end, Lord Marquis allowed them to pass. They had identally taken a big step toward their goal. Of course, what made them even happier was that their teammate had also passed. In this way, they felt less guilty. "All of you can go off and get your injuries treated. After you have recovered, report to the reserve team." Qin Xiaoyao said. "Yes, Lord Marquis!" The three of them were delighted and quickly answered her. Soon, all of them left too. The gawking special forces team members were all extremely envious. If they could enter the Warfire reserve team, what was a little injury? No matter how serious their injuries were, they would be happy to suffer. Qin Xiaoyao''s gaze swept across everyone''s faces. "Ahem, ahem" Then, she cleared her throat. The discussion on site instantly stopped. The special forces team members quickly lined up and stood in position. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao step forward and stand in front of the team. "You all saw the situation just now. "The assessment test of the Warfire reserve team is cruel and harsh." The special forces team members exchanged looks with one another and agreed fully with Qin Xiaoyao''s words. Warfire had only recently started recruiting new members. They had heard some things about the assessment test before, but not everyone knew the specifics of the assessment. Moreover, even if they knew about it, it was not as thrilling as seeing it with their own eyes. Not everyone had the courage to fight a wild wolf with bare hands. Moreover, hearing about the specifics was one aspect, but actualbat was another. This kind of realbat assessment was on apletely different levelpared to their daily training. Although their daily training was tough and there was a certain degree of danger, especially in events like sparring one-on-one,pared to the assessment test of the Warfire reserve team, the sparring was nothing. In that kind of assessment, if something went wrong, there was a possibility of being crippled. In more serious scenarios, it was even possible for the candidate to lose his life. Chapter 438 - 438: The Crown Prince Retreated Chapter 438: The Crown Prince Retreated Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Therefore, if you guys want to apply to join the Warfire reserve team in the future, you have to be mentally prepared. Qin Xiaoyao paused after she said this. Today, because the four of them didnt apply for the assessment in advance but were chosen by me, 1 made an exception and allowed them to pass. But in the future, there wont be such an urrence. The members of the special forces team began discussing again, and they were once again envious of the four guys who took the assessment earlier. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the special forces team members. Ahem, ahem She cleared her throat softly. Everyone on site fell silent again. Dismissed, Qin Xiaoyao barked out. When she turned around, a smile had already appeared on her face. When she saw the Crown Prince who had fainted by the desk in front of her, the smile on her face disappeared. Send His Highness to the military doctor as well! she ordered. Yes, Leader! Huang Daqiao replied loudly. This time, he didnt hide his expression at all. His words contained a strong overtone of amusement. Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Huang Daqiao and couldnt help but smile. Thereafter, she strode off. The morning passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was time for lunch. Qin Xiaoyao put away her documents and prepared to leave in advance. After getting up, she suddenly remembered the Crown Prince. It had been almost four hours since she asked Huang Daqiao to deliberately scare the Crown Prince. Logically speaking, the Crown Prince should have regained consciousness by now. However, he didnte to her tent. Qin Xiaoyao thought that was strange. Could it be that a mishap had resulted from her act of frightening him? It would be troublesome if that were the case. Men! Qin Xiaoyao shouted to someone outside. A soldier quickly entered the tent. Lord Marquis. After entering, he bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Mm-hmm. Qin Xiaoyao acknowledged the soldiers greeting. Go to the military doctor and check on the Crown Princes condition. After getting the facts,e back and report to me. Although she looked down on that weakling, that fellow was still the Crown Prince after all. If something really happened, she would definitely not be able to answer to Empress Jia and the Emperor. The soldier was stupefied momentarily. He raised his head and nced at Qin Xiaoyao before bowing again. Lord Marquis, there is no need to go and check. His Highness the Crown Prince regained consciousness two hours ago and left with his men. He also instructed us not to inform Lord Marquis for the time being. His Highness said The soldier looked at Qin Xiaoyao fearfully. He said what? The soldier saw the Lord Marquis smiling brightly. Hehe! That fellow ran away without even saying goodbye? It was good that he had run off! It seemed that her painstaking efforts were not in vain. He said that he would nevere and look for Lord Marquis again, the soldier continued. Hahahaha Qin Xiaoyaoughed out loud. The soldier was a little dumbfounded. The Crown Prince was clearly scared out of his wits by Lord Marquiss actions today. He must have gone back in anger this time. Why was their Lord Marquis not worried, but in a good mood instead? Qin Xiaoyao didnt care what the soldier was thinking and gestured her hand at him. Alright. You may leave. Yes, Lord Marquis! The soldier replied and left the tent. Qin Xiaoyao hummed a tune and continued to pack her things happily. Thereafter, she left the army camp in a good mood. When she returned to her residence, Qin Xiaoyao instructed the kitchen to prepare some delicious food. After having lunch, she returned to her courtyard to take a rest. When it was almost time, she brought Huang Fei and a few men who hade to report her and left the Marquiss residence. The few of them left the capital city. When they reached the outskirts of the city, they changed their clothes and covered their faces with masks. They dressed themselves up as mountain bandits. Following this, they rushed to the ce where they had agreed with Lord Liu to receive the captives. On a slope, in a pavilion located at the three-mile milestone. Lord Liu had been waiting here for quite a while with four guards. He stared at the intersection in the road for a long time. When the person he was waiting for still had not arrived after a long time, Lord Liu became increasingly more worried. After being threatened by that intruderst night, he barely slept for the rest of the night. He spent most of the night vaciting and only finally made up his mind this morning to make this trip. Before Lord Liu came, he was feeling very uneasy and a little regretful vaguely. However, after waiting here for a long time, the intruder who appeared yesterday did not show up. Lord Liu then became worried instead. He was afraid that the other party would note. Right at this moment, the sound of people riding and spurring their horses came from the direction of the intersection. Lord Liu got a shock and immediately looked in the direction of the intersection. When he saw a few masked people appearing, his heart skipped a beat. Qin Xiaoyao and a few men rode their horses over at an extremely fast speed and soon arrived at the pavilion. When she saw that Lord Liu had indeed brought the two people she wanted, a smile appeared on Qin Xiaoyaos face. Hah! Not bad. At least youre sensible! Qin Xiaoyao said with a chuckle. Then, she added, Leave them here. You guys can leave now. Lord Liu and his four subordinates were trembling with fear. Lord Liu looked at Wang Cheng and Yun Kuan, but he still mustered up his courage and stepped forward. He cupped his hands and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao sitting astride her horse. Hero, can you tell me if the person behind all this is Prince Huaiyin? he asked. If it was someone else, he would not be able to feel at ease. However, if it was Prince Huaiyin, after today, he wouldpletely submit to Prince Huaiyin. He would no longer have to think about other things and his heart would be at ease. Lord Liu suspected this matter was most likely instigated by Prince Huaiyin. However, before he could confirm it, he still felt uneasy. Qin Xiaoyao chuckled softly. She lowered her head and gazed down at Lord Liu from her lofty position. So what if he is? So what if he isnt she said. Lord Lius face turned pale. He mustered his courage and pressed on. If he is responsible, I swear on my life to follow Prince Huaiyin and help His Highness achieve great things. What if he isnt? Qin Xiaoyao was still smiling casually. Lord Lius heart shuddered momentarily. If he isnt Hero, please tell me. Who is the Master? he pleaded anxiously. He did not dare to risk his life for the other party without even knowing who his master was! Hmph! Qin Xiaoyao gave a scornful sneer. Since you are already prepared to acknowledge him as your master regardless of whether he is Prince Huaiyin or not, then is the Masters identity still important? Lord Lius expression changed at once. Following that, he knelt down in front of Qin Xiaoyao. It is important. If it is really His Highness, then my heart will be at ease. I will definitely work for His Highness faithfully and would never have disloyal thoughts. If it isnt I will still work diligently, but my heart will never be at ease and will keep worrying about slip-ups. Hero, please tell me the truth and let me feel at ease. After Lord Liu finished speaking, he actually kowtowed to Qin Xiaoyao. In fact, not only did he guess that the master behind this person was Prince Huaiyin, but he also had some guesses about this persons identity. As the prefectural magistrate of the capital, he had been in this position for several years. No matter how stupid he was, he had learned a lot during this period. Although this person was dressed in mens clothing and his actions were quite manly, he could still tell that this person was a woman. In the capital right now, how many women had such skillfulness as this person? Who else could it be other than Marquis Xiaoyao? Everyone in the Imperial Court was saying that Marquis Xiaoyao had been roped in by the Empress and had parted ways with Prince Huaiyin. It was said that Marquis Xiaoyao had distanced herself from Prince Huaiyin and expressed her true feelings to the Emperor and Empress. She said she would only be loyal to the Imperial Court and would not take sides. Now, if this person was really Marquis Xiaoyao, then the strength of Prince Huaiyins faction was different from the earlier assessment.. Chapter 439 - 439: Birthday Chapter 439: Birthday Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Qin Xiaoyao nced at Lord Liu once again but ignored his plea. Instead, she gestured to the back with her hand. Immediately, Huang Fei and Huang Shi dismounted. Thereafter, they went to Lord Lius men to take custody of Wang Cheng and Yun Kuan. Lord Lius subordinates saw that the two approaching men were fierce-looking and had a strong murderous aura, so they did not dare to go against those two. When the two of them came over, Lord Lius subordinates handed over Wang Cheng and Yun Kuan to them. Huang Fei and Huang Shi gave the four subordinates a look that implied, At least you know whats good for you. Then, the duo moved the blindfolded Wang Cheng and Yun Kuan, who had their hands tied, onto the horses they were riding as if they were moving goods. After that, they each mounted their own horses, firmly securing the person in front of them. Upon seeing this, Lord Liu was anxious, but he did not dare to stop the duo. Alright! Now that we have gotten the people, were going back! Qin Xiaoyao said. Yes, Leader! Huang Fei and the others answered. They then turned their horses around and left. Qin Xiaoyao, however, stayed behind. She hesitated for a moment inwardly before speaking to Lord Liu. Dont ask questions that you shouldnt ask in the future. Also, regarding Masters identity, you can think whatever you want. After saying that, Qin Xiaoyao also turned her horse around. Giddy-up! After spurring her horse forward, the steed Qin Xiaoyao was riding dashed forward in pursuit of her men. She quickly overtook the few people in front of her and once again took up the leading position in front of the group. Lord Liu only raised his head when the sound of hooves was far away. He watched the group of people gallop away until they disappeared from the intersection. My lord One of Lord Lius trusted aides came forward. Lord Liu raised his hand and stopped him from asking. That person just now has already made it very clear. In the future, dont ask questions that you shouldnt ask, he said in a deep voice. After saying that, he walked towards his carriage with firm steps. He could think whatever he wanted? Hehe! Now, his heart was finally at ease. This matter appeared to be a crisis, but now, it seemed like it might be an opportunity knocking on his door. If Prince Huaiyin could really ascend to that position, Lord Liu could be marginally considered a subject of the ruler of the dragon throne. At the thought of this, Lord Liu could not help but smile. Qin Xiaoyao did not return to the capital with Huang Fei and his men. Instead, she changed her disguise halfway and shoved Wang Cheng and Yun Kuan into the carriage before sending them to the manor. After she was done, Qin Xiaoyao returned to her residence. Following this, she continued to uncover evidence of other crimes during her investigation now that the crack that was Lord Liu had been pried open. Qin Xiaoyao deployed the same method and obtained a lot of evidence incriminating Jia Kun and the other members of the Jia family. By the beginning of August, everything was in ce except for the final piece of the puzzle. In the blink of an eye, another eight days passed. The day of the Emperors birthday had finally arrived. On this day, all the officials in the Imperial Court gathered in the imperial garden of the pce. The Empress personally held a banquet in the imperial garden to entertain the officials. Halfway through the song and dance performance, the gift-giving segment began. The Crown Prince gave a painting depicting a hundred characters of longevity. The birthday gifts given by the various princes and princesses were mostly rted to the word longevity. Most of the gifts were made personally. Other officials above the rank of second grade also presented their congrattory gifts. Qin Xiaoyao presented the Emperor with a dagger seized from the Liao army and won the Emperors favor. As a result, she was rewarded with two jars of fine wine. Song Rui listened to Qin Xiaoyaos suggestion and sent people to the suburbs of the capital to pick some crops that were growing well. He then projected that the Great Jin State would wee a bumper harvest soon and offered this as a congrattory present for the Emperors birthday. The Emperor was overjoyed when he received this gift. He praised Song Rui for his concern for the state and the people, saying that he would definitely be able to aplish useful achievements for the Imperial Court and the people in the future. Thus, Song Rui became the second person to be rewarded with fine wine. Soon, almost all the gifts from the Imperial family members and the courtiers were disyed. Only Jia Kun and Prince Huaiyin had not presented their gifts. Jia Kun wanted to be thest to present, but when he saw that Prince Huaiyin had no intention of presenting before him, Jia Kun hesitated for a moment before finally standing up. After walking to the center, he cupped his hands and bowed to the Emperor and Empress Jia. Your lowly official pays his respects to Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness. May Your Majesty live for tens of thousands of years! May Your Royal Highness live for thousands of years! he proimed loudly. The Emperor smiled. Please rise! He gestured for Jia Kun to straighten up. After looking at Jia Kun, he even turned his head to look at Empress Jia. He exchanged looks with Empress Jia and smiled. Thank you, Your Majesty! Jia Kun straightened up. Then, he gestured for the person beside him to present the gift box to the Emperor sitting on his throne. This is my congrattory gift. Your Majesty, please take a look. The Emperor once again exchanged nces with Empress Jia, who was beside him. The look in his eyes indicated that he was very interested. Oh? I am really curious about the congrattory gift from Lord Jia, he said. He gestured to the eunuch beside him to bring the congrattory gift to him. The eunuch bowed to the Emperor and went down to retrieve the gift box. He quickly took the gift box and presented it. After opening the gift box, he invited the emperor to check the contents. The Emperor nced at Jia Kun before looking at the gift box. When he saw that there were some letters and ounting ledgers in the gift box, he was slightly stunned. Then, the Emperor flipped through the contents of the ounting ledgers. Following that, the smile on his face disappeared. After flipping through one of the ledgers, the Emperor threw it aside with an ominous expression. Then, he opened one of the letters. After reading the contents of the letter, the Emperors facepletely clouded over. Jia Kun, who was standing below, secretly nced at the Emperors reaction. Then, he turned his head and nced in the direction of Prime Minister Shen. Prime Minister Shen sensed Jia Kuns gaze and a bad premonition rose in his heart. He also looked upwards at the Emperor. At this moment, the Emperors gaze happened to turn to Prime Minister Shen, and his expression was extremely grim. Prime Minister Shen only felt a stinging pain in his eyes and quickly avoided the Emperors gaze. Just as he was feeling a little flustered, the Emperors voice rang out. I ept this congrattory gift from Lord Jia. Lord Jia, please return to your seat and partake of the delicacies. That was right. The congrattory gift that Jia Kun gave the Emperor was actually evidence of Prime Minister Shens crime. The Emperor naturally knew about the fight between the two. However, he had always turned a blind eye to it. The two parties had been shing openly and plotting secretly for a long time, but they had never brought their feud into the open publicly. Thus, the Emperor pretended not to know and wanted to protect both of them. However, today, on his birthday, in front of all the civil and military officials, the Empresss elder brother presented him with evidence of Prime Minister Shens crimes. The conflict between the two of them had already reached such a stage. At this moment, the person he was most angry with was not Prime Minister Shen, but the Empresss elder brother. Why did Jia Kun have to cause trouble on his birthday, of all days? Did Jia Kun not want him to have a peaceful birthday? He nced at Empress Jia beside him and saw that her eyes were filled with curiosity. The Emperor still smiled and calmed his Empress down. He was doing it for the Empress. Otherwise, he would have dealt with Jia Kun long ago. Over the years, Jia Kun hadmitted far more crimes than Prime Minister Shen, and they were much more serious. If the Emperor hadnt hushed up some matters, the crimes would have been enough to convict Jia Kun and give him the death sentence many times over. Jia Kun raised his head to look at the Emperor. However, he did not excuse himself and maintained his bowed posture. When the various officials saw this, they all sensed that something was wrong. In particr, Prim Minister Shen stared at Jia Kun with a piercing gaze. Suddenly, Jia Kun turned his head and gazed back at Prime Minister Shen. Jia Kun then gave him an icy, sinister smile. Prime Minister Shens heart shuddered momentarily. Then, he saw Jia Kun cupping his hands and bowing to the Emperor again.. Chapter 440 - 440: Rebellion? Chapter 440: Rebellion? Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Prime Minister Shen epted bribes, disregarded human lives, and endangered the Imperial Court. Your Majesty, please order a thorough investigation! Jia Kun ignored the Emperors words and responded in a deep voice. Since Jia Kun had decided to stir up trouble, how could he give up his ns just because of a sentence from the Emperor? The Emperor was really too much. He knew that Prime Minister Shen hadmitted many crimes all these years. Now, Jia Kun had even brought the evidence directly to the Emperors face, yet he still refused to punish Prime Minister Shen. Was Shen Hongyu that important to him? As soon as Jia Kun finished speaking, the whole court fell silent. None of the officials dared to speak. They all looked at Jia Kun and Prime Minister Shen. It seemed that the Emperors birthday today was not going to be peaceful. Shen Hongyus gaze met Jia Kuns, and his gaze seemed to be saturated with poison. He hadnt even made a move on Jia Kun, yet thetter had alreadyunched the first move to make things difficult for him. When he saw this, Jia Kun smiled smugly. Hehe! If he didnt have full confidence, would he have made the first move? Prime Minister Shens heart tightened when he saw the other partys reaction. He quickly frowned. Then, he hurriedly got up and walked to Jia Kuns side before bowing to the Emperor. Your Majesty is wise and perceptive! Please investigate! Lord Jia must have been instigated by a traitor to make things difficult for me. Your subject has been an official for more than twenty years. Although 1 have not made many achievements, I believe that I have not let the Emperor and the Imperial Court down. One does not need to worry about rumors if one is upright. I deny all the allegations that Lord Jia has leveled at me. After saying that, Prime Minister Shen knelt down in front of the Emperor. The Emperor frowned. At this moment, Empress Jia also sensed that something was wrong. After taking a look at the Emperor, she turned to look at her elder brother. She had long known that there were conflicts between her elder brother and Prime Minister Shen. However, her elder brother did not discuss this with her beforehand and actually did this on the Emperors birthday. He was a little too brazen. When Jia Kun saw Empress Jias expression, he did not feel guilty or regretful at all. Instead, he felt a little smug. Empress Jia frowned when she saw his expression. At this moment, the Emperor spoke. Of course, I trust you, Prime Minister Shen. However, since Lord Jia has delivered the evidence here, then I have no choice but to investigate. But As the Emperor spoke, he looked at Jia Kun. Today is my birthday, and Prime Minister Shen is the pir of the state. There is no good reason to judge and convict him straightaway. How about this? The birthday celebration will continue for now. As for the rest of the matters, 1 will arrange and deal with them in tomorrows morning court session. Jia Kuns eyes darkened at once. The resentment he felt towards the Emperor grew even stronger. Even at this juncture, the Emperor was biased toward Shen Hongyu. Narrowing his eyes, Jia Kun once again bowed to the Emperor. Your Majesty, you mustnt! The crimes that Prime Minister Shenmitted are simply heinous! If Your Majesty doesnt order an investigation and punishment at once, Im worried that if its toote there might be changes. As he spoke, he looked at Prime Minister Shen once again. Your Majesty, please investigate! Lord Jia harbors ulterior motives and has framed me! He is even trying to rm people and interfere with Your Majestys birthday, Shen Hongyu also said loudly. Please punish him and ensure a correct understanding of the facts, Your Majesty! You Jia Kun was so angry that he pointed at Shen Hongyus nose. I what? Prime Minister Shen didnt give in at all and raised his eyes in retaliation. Thereafter, he turned around and bowed to the Emperor. Just yesterday, someone sent me a secret letter. In the letter, it mentioned that Lord Jia hadmitted many major crimes. There were also many letters affixed with Lord Jias personal seal as evidence. As he spoke, Prime Minister Shen red at Jia Kun furiously. He then continued to tell the Emperor. I was worried that someone might be trying to frame Lord Jia, so 1 didnt hand over the evidence. To my surprise When he said this, Prime Minister Shens eyes were already filled with anguish and resentment. To my surprise, though I thought in this manner, Lord Jia did not extend the same consideration to me. Your Majesty Lord Jia must have found out that 1 have already obtained evidence of his crimes. Thats why he deliberatelyunch his attack first on todays birthday. The thief cries thief first. He wants to ask Your Majesty to convict me so that I cant expose him! So he had evidence? Who didnt have evidence? Since he didnt want everyone to live in peace, then Prime Minister Shen might as well break off all rtionships with himpletely. He wanted to see who the Emperor would protect in the end. The various officials exchanged looks with one another. They couldnt interrupt a fight between goliaths. When he saw this, Song Rui exchanged nces with Qin Xiaoyao. His eyes were filled with intrigue. The Emperor frowned even more as he sat on his throne. He hadnt even dealt with Jia Kun yet, but Prime Minister Shen was already making a scene. If this continued, werent these two worried that things wouldnt end well? Just as the Emperor was about to speak, Jia Kun opened his mouth again. What evidence do you have against me? Even if there is, it must be you who framed me! Your Majesty! Please issue an edict to investigate Shen Hongyu! As long as the investigators search the Prime Ministers residence, they will definitely be able to find more evidence! Your Majesty! Minister Shen also shouted. Their antics infuriated the Emperor. Enough! The Emperor mmed his palm on the dragon throne. Finally, Jia Kun and Shen Hongyu were forced to stop arguing. In spite of this, the two of them still red at each other, neither of them giving in to each other. I have already said that the matter between the two of you will be dealt with during tomorrows morning court session, the Emperor bellowed. Whoever brings up this matter again today will be sent to the Court of Judicial Review at once! He just wanted to celebrate his birthday in peace. Couldnt these two characters stop? At this point, the Emperor looked at Empress Jia beside him with an unpleasant expression. The reason Jia Kun was so bold was because of his connection with the Empress. The Empress was too amodating toward her elder brother. When Empress Jia met the Emperors gaze, her heart skipped a beat. Thereafter, she looked at Jia Kun, and a look of reproach appeared in her eyes. Recently, she was not feeling well and rarely showed any concern for the Jia familys matters. She didnt expect her elder brother to be so brazen. He didnt even discuss it with her before carrying out this deed. Worse still, he even chose to act on the Emperors birthday. His behavior was simply too reckless and outrageous. When Jia Kun saw Empress Jias expression, not only was he not afraid, but his face turned even more chilly. His younger sister always said that she had the Jia familys interests in her heart. However, a daughter who was married off was like water that had been poured away. Even though she had reached such a powerful position, she still did not want to let the Jia family advance further. Forget it Jia Kun decided to risk it all. Following that, he straightened his back. Your Majesty, youre wrong He raised his head and looked at the Emperor. At this moment, not only the Emperor, but all the civil and military officials in the court disyed a drastic change in their expressions. Lord Jia was actually so bold as to refute the Emperor. The Emperor became enraged. Just as he was about to unleash his might, a troop of pce guards suddenly barged in. The scene changed abruptly. All the civil and military officials in the Imperial Court were immediately taken under control by the pce guards. The Emperor sat on the dragon throne, frowning deeply. Only now did he realize that something was wrong. When he saw Jia Kunughing outrageously, he turned his head to look at Empress Jia beside him. Empress Jia shook her head and hurriedly exined to the Emperor. This has nothing to do with me. I did not know in advance what my elder brother was going to do. After saying that, Empress Jia looked at Jia Kun. Elder Brother, what are you doing? Are you trying to stage a rebellion? she said angrily. Hadnt the Jia family gained enough all these years? Why didnt they know how to be content? Jia Kun smiled. Rebellion? Haha! Your Royal Highness has spoken too harshly. I just cant bear to see the Emperor being instigated by crafty sycophants and am preparing to purge evil ministers from the Emperors side. He could not afford to shoulder the crime of treason. Wasnt it much more elegant to phrase it in another way? As soon as he utter these words, everyone stared at Jia Kun.. Chapter 441 - 441: Song Rui Was Song Que Chapter 441: Song Rui Was Song Que Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Was the older brother of the Empress really going to rebel? At this moment, Prime Minister Shen and the people in his faction became nervous. Lord Jia and Prime Minister Shen were not on good terms. If Lord Jia seeded, would the people in Prime Minister Shens faction still have a good life? In particr, Minister Shen was shocked and fearful. That was right. For the first time in many years, he was fearful of Jia Kun. Recently, his disputes with Jia Kun had be more and more frequent. He did expect that Jia Kun would one day sh with him openly. However, he never thought that Jia Kun would have the guts to rebel. Based on Jia Kuns temperament, if he really seeded in his rebellion, Minister Shen, as the number one thorn in Jia Kuns eyes, would definitely end up in a miserable state. Minister Shen forced himself to calm down. Then, he shouted, What do you mean by purging evil ministers? Jia Kun, you are a traitor! Everyone has the right to kill you! After saying that, he turned his gaze to Qin Xiaoyao and the other generals, focusing particrly on Qin Xiaoyao. Marquis Xiaoyao, do you want to watch this traitor Jia Kun stage a rebellion and force the Emperor to abdicate? he said sternly. Right now, the only one who could turn the situation around was Marquis Xiaoyao. It was said that Marquis Xiaoyao had the courage to fight against ten thousand enemies. As long as she took down Jia Kun, there might be a chance for this matter to be turned around. Immediately, everyones gaze shot toward Qin Xiaoyao in unison. This included the Emperor and Empress Jia who were sitting up on the dais. In particr, Empress Jia looked at Qin Xiaoyao with an expression full of conflicting emotions. Now, for the safety of the Emperor, she naturally hoped that Qin Xiaoyao would make a move. However, she was also worried that her older brother would be captured and the Jia family would have to be sacrificed together with her older brother. The Jia family was her maiden family after all Initially, Qin Xiaoyao was just enjoying the show as a spectator. When she saw everyone looking at her, she stood up helplessly. Hahahaha At this moment, Jia Kunughed loudly. Marquis Xiaoyao knows right from wrong and understands my thoughts. Why would she listen to the words of a crafty viin like you? he said gleefully. Minister Shens expression changed at once. When they saw that Qin Xiaoyao did not refute Jia Kuns words, the Emperor and Empress Jia, who initially still held some hope, also revealed a change in their expressions. Marquis Xiaoyao had also been roped in by Jia Kun? When did this happen? Jia Kun had actually done so many things behind everyones back. The whole ce was in an uproar. Ahem, ahem Qin Xiaoyao cleared her throat softly. After ncing at Song Rui, she stood up from behind the desk. Then, she walked to the center and bowed to the Emperor. Regarding Minister Shens matter, your humble official requests Your Majesty to immediately investigate and pass judgment. This is to clear the names of those who had been framed by him. The Emperors face turned pale. At the same time, he looked at Qin Xiaoyao with anger in his eyes. You Marquis Xiaoyao, the Empress and I have treated you well. Even you want to force my hand? he said angrily. At this moment, the Emperor was not only angry but also very depressed. If Marquis Xiaoyao had also been bribed by Jia Kun, who else could save him? Qin Xiaoyao bowed to the Emperor. Your Majesty has misunderstood. Your official is not standing on Lord Jia Kuns side. Everyone was shocked when they heard her words. A threatening look shed across Jia Kuns eyes. However, he didnt look at Qin Xiaoyao, but at Song Rui. There was even a hint of viciousness in his eyes. The reason he dared to carry out such a big matter today was that Song Rui had supposedly helped him rope in Qin Xiaoyao. Justst night, the three of them were drinking together at Cloud Scent Court. It was also at that juncture he found out that the friendship between Marquis Xiaoyao and Song Rui was not that superficial. In fact, it went beyond friendship. It was actually an illicit rtionship of some sort. At that time, Jia Kun thought that Marquis Xiaoyao had good taste and that Song Rui was more scheming than he thought. He thought that Song Rui would resort to unscrupulous means to achieve his goal. Now, upon hearing Marquis Xiaoyaos words, a little uneasiness rose vaguely in his heart. At present, Marquis Xiaoyaos expression was not as determined asst night. What was she trying to do by refusing to admit that she was on his side? Marquis Xiaoyao, you are the stabilizing force of the Great Jin State. How can you watch this traitor Jia Kun threaten the Emperor? Marquis Xiaoyao, hurry! If you capture Jia Kun, the Emperor will reward you handsomely! Minister Shen seemed to have grabbed onto a life-saving buoy as he urged Qin Xiaoyao. Minister Shen believed that he had a good rtionship with Qin Xiaoyao during this recent period. He felt that even if Qin Xiaoyao didnt deal with Jia Kun, she would still speak up for Minister Shen. However, Qin Xiaoyao simply looked at him icily. When he felt the pressure from Qin Xiaoyaos iciness and murderous aura, Minister Shen subconsciously looked away. A trace of a scornful smile crept across Qin Xiaoyaos face. She bowed to the Emperor again. Your humble official is only in agreement with Lord Jias request asking Your Majesty to interrogate Minister Shen now and seek justice for those who were persecuted by him. And also to seek justice and exonerate me and my family members. The moment she said that, everyone started discussing animatedly. What did Marquis Xiaoyao mean by this? Marquis Xiaoyaos family was also harmed by Minister Shen? They had never heard of it. Also, even if Minister Shen held a high position, he wouldnt have provoked Marquis Xiaoyao, would he? Who would dare to provoke such a demonic fiend? Song Rui, who was sitting a little further away, swept his gaze across the crowd. He finally got up. Under everyones astonished gazes, he walked toward Qin Xiaoyao. Minister Shens eyes were initially very downcast with a look of defeat, but when he saw Song Rui getting up, his eyes lit up with hope once again. That was right. He had a powerful future son-inw. With Song Rui taking action, perhaps he could help Minister Shen persuade Marquis Xiaoyao? After all, Marquis Xiaoyao treated Song Rui somewhat differently. When Qin Xiaoyao saw Song Ruiing over, a smile suddenly appeared on her chilly face. Her smile caused some bewilderment in everyones heart. They thus looked at Song Rui with curiosity. Even the Emperor and Empress Jia exchanged nces and looked at Song Rui. Empress Jia could not help muttering in her heart. Previously, she had asked the Crown Prince to get close to Marquis Xiaoyao, but Marquis Xiaoyao had frightened the Crown Prince into running back. After that, the Crown Prince stated that even if he was no longer the Crown Prince, he was not willing to look for Marquis Xiaoyao. Empress Jia had no choice but to give up on her earlier idea. At that point, she really thought that Marquis Xiaoyao was so deeply in love with her husband that she didnt even want to be the Crown Princess Consort. Yet now Marquis Xiaoyao and Song Rui obviously had an unusual rtionship. Song Rui wasnt bothered by the gazes of the other people. He also looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile in his eyes that was full of deep affection. Finally, Song Rui arrived beside Qin Xiaoyao. Your humble official pays his respects to Your Majesty. He bowed to the Emperor, but totally ignored Empress Jia. The situation had changed so quickly that almost no one noticed this. The Emperor looked at Song Rui with a hint of bafflement in his eyes. He didnt understand why Song Rui stepped forward. Your Majesty, please allow me to exin, Song Rui quickly spoke again. Then, he turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao, his eyes filled with tenderness. He then said to the Emperor, I am Marquis Xiaoyaos family member. Everyone was shocked when Song Rui uttered these words. Even Jia Kun got a shock. Werent these two just lovers? When did they be a family? When she saw that everyone was looking at Song Rui, Qin Xiaoyao stepped forward and cupped her hands at the Emperor. Your Majesty. Lord Song is indeed my family member. He is the husband 1 have been looking for, Song Que. Next to the Emperor, Empress Jias eyes widened abruptly. Song Rui, Song Que? What was going on? The Emperor frowned. You said that he is your husband. Why didnt you discover that earlier? he asked.. Chapter 442 - 442: Song Hong’s Grandson Chapter 442: Song Hongs Grandson Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion After asking Qin Xiaoyao, the Emperor looked at Song Que. Since you are Song Que, why did you change your name to Song Rui? This was a crime of deceiving the Emperor. At present, the Emperor still had to rely on Marquis Xiaoyao. Therefore, if this person was really Marquis Xiaoyaos husband, he would not pursue the matter. Qin Xiaoyao got ready to exin after listening. However, before she could speak, Song Que beat her to it. Your Majesty Back then, 1 was forcibly taken out of the town with a few students from the Cirrus Loft Academy in Mountain Spring Town. After that, 1 was captured and sent to serve in the army. However, we encountered an ident halfway. At that time, my group encountered a group of mountain bandits. Because the mountain bandits were too fierce, and my group was mostly weak, gentle schrs, we were unable to defeat them. I was forced to fall off the cliff. After that, luckily, I didnt die and was saved by Young Miss Shen Rong. However, 1 have injured my head and lost my previous memories. At that juncture, I only remembered that my surname was Song and had forgotten everything else. That was why I took on the name of Song Rui and started a new life. To my surprise, I bumped into Marquis Xiaoyao in the capitalter. When I first met Marquis Xiaoyao, I felt particrly close to her, and I found it hard to suppress my feelings for her. It wasnt until yesterday when 1 slipped and fell that 1 regained my earlier memories. I then remembered that 1 am Song Que, the husband that Marquis Xiaoyao has been searching high and low for. At this point, Song Que turned his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao again. His eyes were one again filled with deep affection, and it made everyone present want to facepalm a little. Was he serious? Amnesia? And the memories only came back yesterday. This guy really could make things up. Then again, so what if he made it up? Song Rui Oh, no. He was Song Que now. No one could prove that what he said was false. And based on what he said, his action was really not sufficient to constitute the crime of deceiving the Emperor. When the Emperor heard this, his expression darkened somewhat. Lord Song doesnt know his own identity, but what about you, Marquis Xiaoyao? You cant say that you are unable to recognize your own husband, can you? he asked somewhat angrily. He didnt believe that he couldnt get a leverage on Marquis Xiaoyao. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao withdraw her gaze from Song Ques face and look at the Emperor. Thereafter, she bowed to the Emperor. Your Majesty, of course, I recognize him. But my husband refuses to acknowledge his identity. As she spoke, a sorrowful expression appeared on Qin Xiaoyaos face. At that time, I thought that my husband was deliberately not acknowledging me because he was determined to be Minister Shens son-inw. Qin Xiaoyao smiled again at this point. I only found outter it wasnt that my husband didnt want to acknowledge me, but that he was injured and didnt remember me. It was also from then on that I tried to get close to my husband intentionally, trying to find an opportunity to help him recover his memories. Fortunately, just yesterday, by some fortuitous chance, my husband actually recovered his memories. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao turned her head to look at Song Que beside her. This was yet another scene that made everyone want to facepalm. The Emperor frowned. They had really fabricated the story to such an incredible extent. This fellow Song Que was clearly intentionally nting himself as a mole near Minister Shen. However, no one knew what kind of enmity he had with Minister Shen. Then tell me, what injustice have you two suffered? What grudge do you have against Prime Minister Shen? the Emperor said. As long as Marquis Xiaoyao wasnt on the same side as Jia Kun, there might still be a chance to turn things around. As for Minister Shen, now that things had progressed to this stage, if the Emperor had to abandon him, then he would do so. As soon as the Emperor said this, Minister Shen immediately looked at the Emperor sitting high up on the dais. Your Majesty! he shouted. At this moment, Minister Shen was already in aplete panic. Whether it was Jia Kun, Marquis Xiaoyao, or Song Que, they all wanted him dead. If the Emperor refused to save him, he would really be finished. The Emperor nced at Minister Shen and a hint of irritation shed across his eyes. The innocent will be exonerated. If you didnt do those harmful things, you dont have to be afraid of being exposed. Minister Shen finally did not say anything more. He only turned his head to look at Song Que and stared at him so hard that it seemed as if his eyes could bore a hole through Song Que. He trusted Song Que so much that he even wanted to marry two of his daughters one after another to him and hand the future of the Shen family to him. Yet, in reality, Song Que was a liar. He was a venomous snake lurking beside Minister Shen, getting ready to take thetters life. Now that Minister Shen thought back to everything that had happened after he met Song Que, he realized that many things were too coincidental. Yet, he had been so careless that he had overlooked everything. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que looked at each other. Qin Xiaoyao then bowed to the Emperor and said, I shall let my husband exin this matter. The Emperor nodded. Only then did Song Que take a step forward. Your Majesty, my name is Song Que. My real identity is the grandson of the former Prime Minister Song Hong. As soon as he said this, the entire ce was in an uproar. Minister Shens eyes widened, and he staggered, almost losing his bnce. Empress Jia, who was beside the Emperor, also almost swayed. She stared straight at Song Que. Song Que? Song Hong? No wonder when Empress Jia looked at Song Que, she felt a faint sense of familiarity. Although this person didnt quite look like his grandfather, his bearing was somewhat simr. Song Hong was a capable official who could stabilize the country and also a literary giant of his generation. Unfortunately, he was too stubborn and inflexible, and he objected to the Emperor making her the Empress. He was always opposing Empress Jia. Back then, she had no choice but to let Shen Hongyu frame Song Hong in order to get rid of thetter. After that, Shen Hongyu took his ce and became the Prime Minister. It had been more than ten years since the incident. She had always thought that Song Hongs matter had been dealt with very thoroughly. Who would have thought When she thought of this, Empress Jia looked at Minister Shen. A trace of bitterness shed across Minister Shens eyes. Song Hongs descendant hade looking for him. He was finished When Empress Jia saw his reaction, her body instantly felt a little weak. Finally, she couldnt take it anymore and leaned back on the chair. The Emperor hadnt noticed this situation. When he heard Song Que iming to be Song Hongs grandson, his eyes were filled with somewhat conflicting emotions. Song Hong, one of the key ministers left behind by thete emperor to help in running the country, was once his Imperial tutor and served as his teacher. At that time, his Emperor father had passed away and he had just ascended the throne, so he was very dependent on Song Hong. However, he was still young at that time and his temperament had not settled down. Gradually, he began to dislike being controlled by others. It was also from then on that he gradually distanced himself from Song Hong. After that, he met the love of his life, who was his current empress, and he wanted to make her his empress. However, Song Hong firmly opposed it. Not only did he oppose it, but he also colluded with the courtiers to force him not to make the woman he liked his empress. In order to get rid of that kind of life where he was always controlled by others, the young Emperor was determined to deal with Song Hong. Later on, Song Hong was really suppressed. There was even someone who reported that he had taken bribes and perverted thew, selling official positions and offering titles of nobility for money. The person who reported Song Hong was the current Minister Shen. At that time, the young Emperor was determined to punish Song Hong. Even though there were many suspicious points in the case, he still convicted Song Hong. The Emperor thought that the dust had settled on this matter. To his surprise, after so many years, Song Hongs grandson actually appeared before him. He even wanted to help reverse the verdict in his grandfathers case. Song Hong Song Hong Even though it had been almost twenty years, the Emperor still couldnt forget that person. This was particrly so in recent years when his health was not as good as before. asionally, he would dream of his teacher to whom he owed so much. He dreamed that his teacher reprimanded him in the court for viting the etiquette of the ancestors, and scolded him for allowing lust to overwhelm his wisdom. Besides the Emperor and the others who were shocked, Jia Kun and all the civil and military officials were also extremely astounded.. Chapter 443 - 443: Reversing The Verdict In Song Hong’s Case Chapter 443: Reversing The Verdict In Song Hongs Case Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Even though many years had passed, the memory of former Prime Minister Song Hong was still deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people. Although this minister was convicted and died of illness during the current dynasty, he had made many major contributions in the previous dynasty. The reason the people of the Great Jin State could lead better lives than before in the past few decades was all due to this persons achievements in promoting reforms in the previous dynasty. Many people, especially some of the older officials in the court, had some doubts about Song Hongs conviction. However, because of the bias of the Emperor and Empress Jia, no one dared to bring up his case. Jia Kuns eyes flickered, and his heart was filled with panic. He was very clear about how Song Hong was convicted back then. Even though it was Shen Hongyu who exposed Song Hong, Jia Kun was the one who instigated the whole matter. Did Song Que know about all this? He was a little uncertain. Or rather, it could be said that Song Que probably knew In this case, when Song Que came looking for Jia Kun and said that he wanted to help Jia Kun achieve great things, was this matter still credible? Of course not. When he thought of this, Jia Kuns heart shuddered as he suddenly looked at Song Que. Song Que noticed Jia Kuns gaze but didnt turn back. Instead, he cupped his hands at the Emperor and told him about how the Song family was wronged. Song Que also told him about the evidence and witnesses he found that Minister Shen used to frame the Song family. My two cousins, a sister and her younger brother, are the survivors of the Liu family. In their hands were some letters left behind by Lord Liu and some evidence found at that time, Song Que said. The reason the Liu family was implicated by the Song family was that Song Ques maternal grandfather and uncle were searching for evidence to help redress the injustice for Song Ques grandfather. Unfortunately, before the evidence that had been found could be submitted, the Liu family became embroiled in trouble. The Emperor looked at Minister Shen. When he saw Minister Shens defeated expression, the Emperor had already roughly guessed the situation. It seemed like what Song Que said was true. Minister Shen had most likely framed the Song family and then took action against the Liu family too. Where are the Liu siblings now? the Emperor asked. Since he had already decided to redress the injustice for the Song family, there was no reason for him to hesitate. Moreover, he had no other choice in this situation. Song Que hurriedly bowed to the Emperor. Your Majesty, they are currently waiting outside the Imperial Garden. The Emperors eyes flickered slightly. It seemed like everything had been nned in advance. Then again, if Jia Kun could stage a rebellion, what was the big deal with Marquis Xiaoyao and Song Que bringing just two people into the pce? The Emperor didnt fret any longer and spoke up, Summon them here. Yes, Your Majesty, Song Que answered. Then, he looked at a captain of the Pce Guards. That person bowed to Song Que and left. When Jia Kun saw this, the uneasiness in his heart increased. There were actually people in the Pce Guards working for Song Que. What about the other Pce Guards? Could they be working for Song Que too? In fact, the Pce Guards helping Jia Kun this time were all Song Ques men After all, Song Que was the one who had been bribing the Pce Guards, providing Jia Kun with a channel to connect with the Pce Guards. When he thought of this, Jia Kun felt his skin going numb involuntarily. Despite this, he could only wait and see right now. He could only hope that the fire Song Que started would not burn him. Everyone didnt have to wait long before the captain of the Pce Guards brought Yun Niang and Liu Ling in. The moment the two of them appeared, many people were shocked. This was because many of them knew the two Liu siblings. Who would have thought that the top courtesan of Cloud Scent Court was actually the daughter of the Liu family? And Liu Ling, who was also very popr in the past, was actually the surviving direct male descendant of the Liu family. After the initial shock, many peoplemented ruefully inwardly. Back then, the Liu family was considered a notable family. Otherwise, they wouldnt have been able to form a marriage alliance with a reputable family like the Song family. Who would have thought that after one generation suffered a misfortune, the descendants would end up in a brothel? At this moment, apart from the shocked civil and military officials from the Imperial Court, there was another person who was shocked. It was Princess Xiangyang, who had been staying in the princesss residence and did not step outside for quite a while. At this moment, Xiangyang was both shocked and excited. Young Master Liu was the grandson of thete Assistant Minister Liu. Previously, she was worried that his background would make her Empress mother and Emperor father unhappy. Now, if the injustice suffered by the Liu and Song families could be redressed, Young Master Liu would regain his identity. Then wouldnt Young Master Liu and her When she thought of this, a wave of delight swept over Princess Xiangyangs heart. No wonder her master had made her wait for half a month. It turned out her master was making her wait for today. Master truly doted on her after all. Before long, the Liu siblings had already arrived beside Song Que. Thereafter, they bowed to the Emperor. Liu Yun and Liu Ling hereby pay their respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! At this moment, nearby, Jia Kun was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped off. It had never, ever urred to him that the survivors of the Liu family were Liu Ling and Yun Niang. He nced at Liu Ling and then at Song Que. Jia Kun instantly hated himself. These two faces were so simr. Why didnt he suspect anything before? Not surprisingly, Liu Ling noticed Jia Kuns expression, but he pretended he didnt see it. He had changed his usual weak and gentle image. He was now standing confidently with a calm expression. At this moment, Liu Ling really looked like a noble young master from an aristocratic family. The Emperor gestured with his hand. You may rise, he said. When the two of them straightened up, the Emperor said, Lord Song said that you two have evidence that proved that Minister Song was wronged, as well as evidence that Minister Shen framed Minister Song. As he spoke, the Emperors gaze turned towards Minister Shen again. At this moment, Prime Minister Shen was already very dejected. He kept his head lowered as if he had lost his soul. Jia Kun was determined to kill him, and Song Que and Marquis Xiaoyao were fully prepared. Today, even if the two Liu siblings could not produce any evidence, he would still be doomed. Yes, Your Majesty! Liu Ling replied. Then, he took out the evidence from his sleeve. The Emperor nced at the eunuch beside him. The eunuch hurriedly went up to collect the evidence. Soon, the eunuch brought the evidence to the Emperor. The Emperor shot Liu Ling a nce before opening one of the letters and then began reading. Following that, he read the second letter, and then, the third letter. After reading all of them, the Emperor pped the armrest of the dragon throne. Preposterous! he shouted angrily. Minister Shens body trembled and he almost couldnt control himself and nearly fell to his knees on the ground. Minister Shen, what else do you have to say? The Emperor bellowed angrily when he saw Minister Shens reaction. At the same time, he threw all three letters down. Minister Shen raised his head. At the same time that he looked at the Emperor, his gaze swept toward Empress Jia. He wasnt the main culprit for what happened back then. His actions were instructed by Empress Jia and her older brother, Lord Jia Kun. Now that things had progressed to this point, there was no doubt that Minister Shen would not be able to escape. However, if Empress Jia could be saved, she might be able to protect the rest of the Shen family. And with the Emperors love for Empress Jia, the probability of her being saved was not small. Empress Jias eyes flickered, and she nodded at Minister Shen imperceptibly. Only then did Minister Shen step forward. He picked up the three letters and began to read them. After reading them, his body sank down slowly and he finally knelt down. Your Majesty is wise and perceptive! Please investigate! Your humble official has never written these letters. Someone must have impersonated me to write these letters, he protested loudly. These letters alone were not enough to convict him. Even if he knew that he was going to die, Minister Shen would not stick his neck out and wait to be executed. The Emperor frowned. The handwriting on the letter isnt yours? he asked with displeasure. This is my handwriting. However, the letters were not written by me.. Chapter 444 - 444: Minister Shen Had Fallen Chapter 444: Minister Shen Had Fallen Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Since that person intended to frame me, it was not difficult for the person who wrote the letter to imitate my handwriting, Minister Shen tried to argue his way out. The Emperor was just about to reprimand him angrily when Song Que spoke first. Since Prime Minister Shen feels that these are not enough for you to admit responsibility for this matter, then lets look at other evidence. Everyone looked at Song Que. He still had other evidence? Song Que calmly bowed to the Emperor. What evidence do you have? Bring all of them out, the Emperor said. Yes, Your Majesty, Song Que answered. He turned around and looked at the captain of the Pce Guards who went out earlier. The captain of the Pce Guards cupped his hands at Song Que and left again. As he looked at the panic-stricken Minister Shen, Song Que smiled indifferently. He bowed to the Emperor again. Other than the material evidence, I have witnesses too. Oh? The Emperor also nced at Minister Shen. Then, he said to Song Que, Summon all of them here. Yes, Your Majesty, Song Que answered. After Song Que looked at another Pce Guard, that person also went out. Before long, the captain of the Pce Guards brought over a bundle. Another Pce Guard brought in five people. Some people were so shocked that their eyeballs almost fell out. How how was this possible? Who did they see? The Young Miss Shen Rong of the Shen family! Wasnt she already dead? They said that she had contracted a disease and died suddenly. Back then, the Prime Ministers residence held a funeral and it was known throughout the entire city. However, today, the dead had been resurrected! When Empress Jia saw this scene, her eyes widened abruptly. When she saw Shen Rong and Mrs. Shen appear together with Shen Lian and an unfamiliar woman by their side, Empress Jia already had some guesses in her heart. When Minister Shen saw Shen Rong, Meng Xuan, and Madam Zhao, who were supposed to be dead, his body went limp. So Shen Rong and Meng Xuan didnt die. Madam Zhao was also alive. That was right. Back then, he had arranged for Song Que to handle these two matters. It wasnt impossible for Song Que to fake their deaths and hide them. When his eyes met Mrs. Shens gaze, Minister Shen felt as if his eyes had been stabbed. Mrs. Shen was no longer as kind as she used to be. There seemed to be thousands of sharp arrows in her eyes that were about to shoot at Minister Shen as if they wanted to turn his body into a sieve that was full of holes. Your humble officials wife and daughter hereby pay their respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Your humble subjects hereby pay their respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! With Mrs. Shen taking the lead, Shen Rong, Meng Xuan, Shen Lian, and Madam Zhao all bowed to the Emperor. The Emperor only knew Shen Rong and Mrs. Shen. When he saw Shen Rong, he was also very surprised. No need for formalities, he said. The dead had been resurrected. It seemed that Minister Shens crime was about to be confirmed. Song Que had also received his bundle. He bowed to the Emperor. Immediately, a eunuch came down to retrieve the bundle. The eunuch took the bundle and opened it before showing the contents to the Emperor. The Emperor flipped through the documents, and the more he read, the more unpleasant his expression became. Previously, he felt that he could not bear to punish Minister Shen this time. However, now, he didnt have such thoughts anymore. Back then, Prime Minister Shen used Song Hong of taking bribes and bending thew, selling official positions and titles of nobility for money. However, what the Emperor saw now was not limited to just taking bribes and bending thew, selling official positions and titles of nobility for money. So this was the way the prime minister led the civil and military officials to serve the country! Shen Hongyu! How dare you! The Emperor flew into a rage and threw the documents in his hand at Minister Shen again. Minister Shen was terrified, but he still mustered his courage to pick up the things on the ground. The more he looked through them, the paler his face became. The previous excuse he used was no longer applicable. That was right. Song Que had been lurking by his side all this while, gaining his trust step by step. During this process, how was it possible that Song Que did not do anything? Minister Shen had even arranged many tasks for Song Que. Minister Shen staggered, and his body almost fell back. When Shen Rong and Shen Lian saw their fathers reaction, their expressions were somewhat conflicted. The Emperors eyes were icy, however. He began asking the witnesses for details. Mrs. Shen knew the most, and every single matter she revealed shocked everyone present. She was a daughter of the Jia family. Before today, she had already reached an agreement with Jia Kun to deal with Minister Shen. In addition, Song Que had sent Shen Rong to her. After losing her daughter and getting her back, Mrs. Shen became even more determined to deal with Minister Shen in order to protect her daughter. As for Madam Zhao and Shen Lian, they were initially hesitant. However, after Song Queid out the pros and cons, he managed to convince the two of them. Since Minister Shen was destined to fall, why should they perish with him? Furthermore, Madam Zhao was still officially a dead person. When he heard the people closest to him using him of various crimes, Minister Shen finally could not hold on any longer. His body went limp and he fell to the ground. As he looked at the furious Emperor, Minister Shens heart was filled with despair. He no longer thought of struggling to stand up. He simply sat there and listened to his family members continue to use him. After the four women finished speaking, it was Meng Xuans turn. Meng Xuan did not only use Minister Shen of framing the Meng family and forcing him to break off the engagement. He even used Minister Shen of havingplete disregard for human life by sending people to take his life several times. Then, he presented the material evidence. Shen Hongyu, what else do you have to say now? The Emperor looked at Minister Shen furiously. Minister Shen raised his head to look at the Emperor like a downtrodden stray dog. Finally, he propped himself up and knelt before the Emperor. I plead guilty. Your Majesty please punish me! Then, he kowtowed to the Emperor. The Emperors face had turned purple with rage. Good! Men he said sternly. No one responded when he uttered these words. As he looked at the Pce Guards around him, the Emperors face became ashen. When Qin Xiaoyao saw this, the corners of her mouth curled up. She looked at the captain of the Pce Guards. Following that, the two Pce Guards beside the captain walked forward and bowed to the Emperor. The Emperor frowned and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Only then did he realize that the one controlling the Pce Guards was not Jia Kun, but Marquis Xiaoyao. With this conclusion, the Emperor felt much more at ease. Didnt Marquis Xiaoyao want to avenge the Song family? As long as he reversed the verdict in Song Hongs case for the Song family, Marquis Xiaoyao would have no intention of rebelling. At that point, if he promised her some benefits, she would naturally be grateful for the Emperors kindness. As for Jia Kun, he would suffer the consequences when the time was ripe. All these years, because of the Empress, the Emperor had indeed doted on the Jia family too much. That was why Jia Kun had be so brazen. After this, he would no longer be lenient. He believed that the Empress would understand. Take Minister Shen to the Imperial Prison and hand him over to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation. How he will be judged in the end, just let justice takes its course! the Emperor said angrily. Yes, Your Majesty! the two Pce Guards answered and went forward to lift Minister Shen up before escorting him away. All the officials were shocked. Although they knew that the Emperor had no choice but to issue this decree, they still felt that Minister Shens state was a littlementable. The head of all the officials, Prime Minister Shen, had actually fallen just like that. Minister Shen did not resist and allowed the Pce Guards to drag him out. His eyes swept across the faces of Mrs. Shen and the others before finally stopping on Empress Jia. He stared at her until he could no longer see her. Only after Minister Shen was dragged far away did the Emperor look at Qin Xiaoyao and the others. Since thete Prime Minister Song was wronged, I will naturally reverse the verdict to clear his name. Pass down the decree. From today onward, thete Prime Minister Song will be conferred the title of Marquis Anding. The Chen County will be given to the Marquis Anding as his fiefdom.. Chapter 445 - 445: Empress Jia’s Older Brother Had Fallen Too Chapter 445: Empress Jias Older Brother Had Fallen Too Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The descendants of the Song family shall inherit the Marquis title. In addition, 1 observed that Song Que has shown the inherited attributes of thete Marquis Anding. From now on, Song Que will be promoted to the position of Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Appointments. Many people looked at Song Que enviously when they heard this decree. Even Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Que. Well, this was just great. She had aplished so many great things at the border before she was granted the title of Marquis Xiaoyao. Moreover, the title was not hereditary. Yet now, her husband had earned a hereditary marquis position for the Song family. Furthermore, he was also promoted. It hasnt even been three months since her husband took up an official position in court, but he has already risen several ranks. He had probably broken the record in this dynasty. Song Que smiled at Qin Xiaoyao. Thereafter, he bowed to the Emperor. Thank you, Your Majesty! he said with a calm attitude. He did not show any joy on hearing the Emperors decree at all. When the Emperor saw this, he looked at Song Que with admiration. Previously, he didnt know that Song Que was Song Hongs grandson. Now that he knew all of this, he realized that in terms of bearing and aura, this person was quite simr to Song Hong. The Emperor smiled at Song Que. Thereafter, he also cleared the Liu familys name and gave Liu Yun and Liu Ling somepensation. After Liu Yun and Liu Ling thanked him, the Emperor then looked at Qin Xiaoyao. What does Marquis Xiaoyao think of this arrangement 1 have made? The decrees had already been issued, yet the Emperor only asked at this juncture. No doubt he felt that his reward was already very appropriate. He was confident that Qin Xiaoyao would be satisfied. Qin Xiaoyao was naturally satisfied. She cupped her hands and bowed to the Emperor. Your Majesty is wise, she said with a smile. The Emperor also smiled. Then, he looked at Jia Kun. At this moment, there was no more smile on his face, only ayer of iciness. Jia Kun subconsciously avoided the Emperors gaze. Marquis Xiaoyao, what do you mean by this? We had an agreement before! Jia Kun looked at Qin Xiaoyao angrily. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes had a hint of a smile. What did we agree on? Howe I am not aware? As she spoke, she looked at Song Que quizzically. Song Que also smiled before looking at Jia Kun. The two of us only agreed to help Lord Jia overthrow Minister Shen. Jia Kuns face turned pale. You He finally realized that he had been deceived. Then he saw that everyone in all directions was looking at him. Some people were angry, some were sympathetic. Various emotions kept crisscrossing in Jia Kuns mind. Following that, he knelt down in front of the Emperor and Empress. Your official is guilty! he uttered loudly at the Emperor before kowtowing. Please spare this officials life on the Empresss ount! Empress Jias expression flickered. The Emperor was still infuriated. He did not look at Empress Jia. At this moment, Song Que suddenlyughed again. Lord Jia is indeed guilty, he said. Everyone was shocked. Song Que turned around and bowed to the Emperor. Your Majesty, Lord Jia took bribes and perverted thew, hiring people tomit murders. Today, he still wanted to rebel. Your Majesty, please punish him! As soon as Song Que said that, Jia Kuns body trembled. Empress Jias eyelids also twitched. Sure enough, even though Minister Shen did not expose the Jia family, Song Que was not prepared to let them off. What does Minister Song mean by this? Lord Jia might have been muddle-headed and had the brazen audacity to bring his troops into the Imperial Garden. But to say that he intended to rebel, this is not exactly true, is it? Empress Jia finally spoke. She had no choice but to speak up. Once her elder brother died, the other members of the Jia family would soonnd in trouble. The Jia family might be finished as a result. Once the Jia family was done for, Empress Jia would probably be done for as well. Song Que looked at Empress Jia. He did not hide the very obvious keen sharpness in his eyes, and Empress Jia could not help but avoid his gaze. Your Royal Highness, although you are the younger sister of Lord Jia, you are also the Empress of our Great Jin State. All the officials in the court have witnessed what Lord Jia has done today. Isnt it inappropriate for Your Royal Highness to lightly brush aside the matter of rebellion by saying that Lord Jia is just muddle-headed? Song Que said loudly. As soon as he said this, all the civil and military officials began to discuss heatedly. Empress Jia frowned and her face turned somewhat ashen. However, Song Que didnt stop there. He continued, Besides, I was reporting to the Emperor. Since ancient times, the Empress and Imperial consorts have never been allowed to interfere in the matters of the Imperial Court. Has Your Royal Highness overstepped the boundary of propriety? When he said thest sentence, the volume of Song Ques voice had already risen several degrees. At this moment, the ce fell silent. The Empress had a long history of interfering in the matters of the Imperial Court and even ruling the country herself. There were many civil and military officials in the court who strongly opposed this. However, with the Emperors support and Empress Jias powerful tactics, everyone could only hold back their anger silently. Some people were even used to it now. Today, in front of all the civil and military officials and the Emperor, Song Que had reprimanded Empress Jia resoundingly. This was something that many people wanted to do but did not dare to! When the Emperor saw this, his face also turned ashen. Song Que reprimanded his Empress right in front of him. This guy simply had no regard for him, the Emperor, at all. However, when he saw Qin Xiaoyao standing guard beside Song Que and the threatening gaze Qin Xiaoyao gave him, the Emperor didnt dare to say anything. So what if he was the ruler above all? Right now, his fate and the fates of the Empress and all the civil and military officials were in the hands of Marquis Xiaoyao. Song Que indeed had what it took to strut his stuff today. Before the Emperor could react, Empress Jia turned to look at the Emperor. When she saw the Emperors face had turned ashen and he was not even looking at her, she was furious inwardly. However, it was only for a moment before she suppressed her aggrieved emotions. Suppressing the anger in her heart, Empress Jia looked at Song Que. Its its my fault for making inappropriatements, she said. The moment she uttered these words, everyone present was bbergasted again. That was Empress Jia, an extremely arrogant and despotic character. Today, she actually conceded to Song Que on her own ord. Faced with all the court officials who were discussing animatedly, the hands in Empress Jias sleeves were already clenched into fists. She told herself that she had no choice but to concede this time. The situation here was now under Marquis Xiaoyaos control. Even if the Emperor wanted to protect her, he might not be able to, much less protect her older brother. Now that Song Que was making things difficult for her older brother, there was a very strong likelihood that he already knew that the Jia family was the instigator behind Song Hongs matter. As long as her brother was not dead and the Jia family did not fall, Song Que would not let things rest. As for Empress Jia herself, if she didnt cause trouble, on ount of the Emperors protection, perhaps she would still have a chance of survival. She ought to be content as long as she could survive today. As long as she was still alive, there was still a chance to turn the tables. Song Que nced at Empress Jia and did not continue to make things difficult for her. He quickly looked away. He continued to bow to the Emperor. Your official has witnesses and material evidence to prove that Lord Jia Kun hasmitted countless crimes. Your Majesty, please investigate! The Emperor frowned. Your Majesty! Your Majesty, he is talking nonsense! He he is deliberately framing me! Your Majesty, please dont believe him! Jia Kun panicked and looked anxiously at the Emperor. At this moment, he was no longer as arrogant as he was earlier. All that was left was endless terror. How could he be so muddle-headed? He actually believed Song Que like he was bewitched. After that, he even helped Song Que step by step and also conveniently sent himself to hell. The Emperor looked at Jia Kun. His face was still ashen, but he did not say anything. When Jia Kun saw this, he quickly looked at Empress Jia. Your Royal Highness, Your Royal Highness, save me He then turned to Empress Jia for help.. Chapter 446 Lets All Perish Together 446 Let''s All Perish Together Empress Jia couldn''t bear it. In the end, she turned her head away. Upon seeing this, the Emperor felt slightly relieved. "Present the evidence. Bring the witnesses here as well," he said. Song Que''s eyes flickered. "Yes, Your Majesty!" he replied loudly. Then, he turned to look at the captain of the Pce Guards. Before long, the material evidence and witnesses arrived. The Emperor looked at the various letters and flipped through a few ounts ledgers. He became extremely incensed inwardly. He looked at Jia Kun again and saw him lowering his head and kowtowing repeatedly, appearing to be trembling with guilt. The Emperor then made a decision in his heart. Very soon, Wang Cheng and Yun Kuan, the two guys who had been rescued by Qin Xiaoyao earlier, appeared. The two of them walked up to stand behind Song Que and then knelt down to pay their respects to the Emperor. "Your humble subjects Wang Cheng and Yun Kuan hereby pay their respects to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor." The Emperor nced at the two of them and gestured for them to rise. Then, he quickly asked the witnesses for their statements. Wang Cheng was the first to answer. "More than two months ago, Lord Jia Kun took a fancy to Embroidered Clouds Settlement where our Wang and Yun ns live. He sent people to ask us for this ce, but the price they offered was not evenparable to the price of barrennd. "Our Wang and Yun ns'' ancestral homes and ancestral halls were all located in Embroidered Clouds Settlement, so naturally we didn''t want to leave. "At that time, the person who came to our door threatened us, saying that they would make us regret it. "After that, just barely three dayster, masked men riding horses came to our Embroidered Clouds Settlement. "Those people killed everyone they saw. They did not even spare the old and the young. "After killing the people, they even set fire to the entire Embroidered Clouds Settlement, burning the whole ce downpletely." Wang Cheng''s eyes became red-rimmed, and his tears and nose snot all flowed out. "Back then, the two of us happened to be out and were lucky enough to escape the cmity." The Emperor frowned. "Even so, it doesn''t prove that this matter wasmitted by Lord Jia Kun," he said. It wasn''t that he wanted to protect Jia Kun, but the testimony of these two people was indeed not enough to convict Jia Kun of the crime of contract killing. Yun Kuan stepped forward. "Your Majesty is wise and perceptive! Indeed, what Wang Cheng said is not enough to convict Lord Jia Kun. "Your subject here has other evidence." The Emperor raised his eyebrows. "What other evidence do you have?" he asked. Yun Kuan kowtowed and continued, "When the two of us returned to Embroidered Clouds Settlement, it was already a swathe of scorchednd. "After that, we found the waist token left behind by those viins in the ruins." After saying that, Yun Kuan took out a waist token from his pocket. The Emperor nced at the eunuch beside him. The eunuch immediately went to retrieve the waist token. When the Emperor received the waist token, he saw that there was arge "Jia" character printed on it. Yun Kuan frowned when he saw the Emperor looking at the waist token. He continued, "This waist token is enough to prove that the one who ordered people to ughter the more than 500 inhabitants of Embroidered Clouds Settlement was Lord Jia Kun!" Yun Kuan pointed at Jia Kun angrily. "No it wasn''t me," Jia Kun quickly denied the allegation. When he heard this, Yun Kuan felt even more resentful. "Who else could it be if not you? "After the incident at the Embroidered Clouds Settlement, the whole settlement was assigned to Lord Jia''s residence in less than a month." Yun Kuan didn''t wait for Jia Kun to continue defending himself and kowtowed to the Emperor once again. "Both of us are certain that the destruction of the Embroidered Clouds Settlement has something to do with the Jia family. After that, we reported it to the government office in the capital. "To our surprise, the prefectural magistrate did not dare to offend Lord Jia Kun. After learning both of us had lodged aint about this matter, he ordered the two of us to be thrown into prison that same day. "He even interrogated us to see if we had any aplices and wanted to hand us over to Lord Jia Kun for punishment." At this point, Yun Kuan looked at Qin Xiaoyao gratefully. "It''s all thanks to Marquis Xiaoyao''s help. She saved us and agreed to help us seek justice." After saying that, Yun Kuan looked at the Emperor agitatedly and kowtowed to him again. "Your Majesty, please seek justice for usmoners and the more than 500 people who died tragically in the Embroidered Clouds Settlement!" After hearing all this, the officials were in an uproar. The incident had happened not far from the outskirts of the capital. It was a horrific massacre of the whole vige, involving the lives of more than 500 people. Lord Jia Kun had actually grown so brazen. When the Emperor heard this, he was also furious. He had long known that his brother-inw was overbearing and had done many outrageous things that were out of line. However, he never thought that this fellow would actuallymit such a major crime. While the Emperor was hesitating about whether he should make a judgment immediately, he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him. Her gaze was somewhat icy and mocking. The Emperor got a shock. Then he finally made up his mind. "From today onward, Jia Kun''s title as a Lord will be stripped, and his residence will be searched and all items confiscated," he said. He further added, "Men, throw Jia Kun into the Imperial Prison and choose a day to execute him." Jia Kun''s expression changed drastically. He hurriedly begged for mercy. He not only begged the Emperor but also Empress Jia. The Emperor was originally worried that Empress Jia would plead with him. However, after waiting for a while, he did not hear Empress Jia say anything. He felt relieved. At the same time, he felt gratified at the Empress''s understanding of the bigger picture. When he saw this, Jia Kun was extremely terrified. He struggled to escape from the hands of the Pce Guards, but he was unable to tear himself away from the two strong Pce Guards. "Your Royal Highness, Your Royal Highness! I''m your elder brother! "Younger Sister, save me! Save me!" Empress Jia remained silent. "Jia Ruxue! You''re so ruthless! So ruthless!" After not hearing Empress Jia plead for him, Jia Kun finally exploded and called out Empress Jia''s full name. "Song Que, Marquis Xiaoyao! The one who ordered Shen Hongyu to frame the Song family and kill the Liu family was not me, but Empress Jia! "Hahahaha! Didn''t you guys want revenge? If you have the ability, go after her!" Jia Kun didn''t care anymore and shouted loudly. If he was going to die, everyone could all go to hell together with him. The moment he said this, everyone fell silent. On the dais, the hands in the sleeves of Empress Jia were clenched tightly into fists. The Emperor beside her had a look of panic on his face. "Shut him up!" he ordered sternly. It was the most ideal oue for things to end with Jia Kun. He did not want the fire to burn his beloved Empress. The Pce Guards did not listen to the Emperor and stopped in their tracks. "Hahahaha" When he saw this, Jia Kunughed maniacally again. "Your master still wants to hear me speak. Take me back!" he said to the two Pce Guards. The two Pce Guards looked at each other and then turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the pale-faced Empress Jia up on the dais and nodded at the two. Only then did the two Pce Guards move. They dragged Jia Kun back like they were dragging a dead dog. Under the fearful gazes of the Emperor and Empress Jia, they flung Jia Kun onto the ground. Jia Kun didn''t cry out in pain and sat up straight instead. Just as he was about to speak, he heard the Emperor''s reprimand. "Jia Kun, how dare you! "Your Jia n and you are where you are today all because of Empress Jia. "You actually want to nder Empress Jia now. Aren''t you afraid that I will settle the score with your Jia family?" This was considered a threat. Jia Kun wasn''t afraid when he heard that. Instead, he turned around and looked at the Emperor and Empress Jia mockingly. "Hmph! So what if you settle the score with us? It''s better for all of us to die together so that I won''t have to go to hell alone and be lonely," he proimed like a madman. As he spoke, Jia Kun looked straight at Empress Jia. "Your Royal Highness, I am also curious to know if the Emperor will abandon you for the sake of the country today." Empress Jia frowned deeply. Chapter 447 Unless The Empress Is Willing To Die 447 Unless The Empress Is Willing To Die At this moment, Jia Kun looked at Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que. "Marquis Xiaoyao, Song Que! The Empress was the main culprit for the incident back then!" Jia Kun pointed straight at Empress Jia. "That year, your grandfather Song Hong tried to stop the Emperor from making her the Empress. "In order to be the Empress, she told me and Shen Hongyu to fake evidence and frame Song Hong. "I was the one who arranged for the nting of the evidence while Shen Hongyu was in charge of exposing it." "And the Liu family! She was the one who ordered us to destroy them!" As Jia Kun spoke, he looked at Liu Ling who was not far away. His eyes were tinged with somewhat conflicting emotions. However, a trace of hatred and disgust shed across Liu Ling''s eyes and he quickly averted his eyes. When Jia Kun saw this, his expression turned sorrowful. Nheless, he very quickly reverted to his furious, resentful look. "Don''t you guys want revenge? Then how can you let the culprit go?" As he spoke, Jia Kun pointed at the Empress on the dais again. Song Que frowned, and his gaze finally turned to Empress Jia, who was seated on the dais. A hint of panic shed across the Emperor''s face and he was about to speak. Suddenly, a figure appeared beside Song Que and Qin Xiaoyao. "Master! Lord Song! "Don''t believe him! Empress Mother is definitely innocent! "He saw that Empress Mother was unwilling to save him, so he deliberately took revenge!" The one who spoke was Princess Xiangyang. Earlier, when she found out that Young Master Liu was Assistant Minister Liu''s son born of his legal wife, she was secretly delighted. However, after her uncle got into trouble, Princess Xiangyang''s joy vanished quickly. Now, she was downright anxious. How could her Empress Mother be the culprit who harmed the Song and Liu families? Right! Empress Mother must have been framed by her Uncle! Qin Xiaoyao frowned. "We have our own judgment on the truth of this matter. Go wait by the side," she said. Earlier, she had discussed with her husband that the matter of revenge would end with Empress Jia. As long as Empress Jia was deposed, the matter would end. Xiangyang would not be implicated. After all, this young girl was not scheming and did not get involved in the disputes of the Imperial Court. "No! "Master" Xiangyang was anxious and spoke again. However, Qin Xiaoyao stretched out her hand and interrupted her. When she saw that Qin Xiaoyao didn''t even look at her, Princess Xiangyang knew it was impossible for her to plead with her master. She then looked at Song Que. Song Que also turned his head away and didn''t look at her. She then looked at Liu Ling who was not far away. Princess Xiangyang''s eyes widened when they met Liu Ling''s gaze. Then, she hurried toward Liu Ling. "Young Master Liu! "Please help me persuade my master and Lord Song to speak up for my Empress Mother!" She was so anxious that tears were about to fall. Liu Ling looked troubled. When Princess Xiangyang saw this, she became anxious. Ignoring everyone''s gazes, she stepped forward and brazenly grabbed Liu Ling''s hand. "I''m begging you, Young Master Liu! "Worsees to worst worsees to worst, I''ll sob, sob I won''t pester you anymore in the future!" Princess Xiangyang''s tears were already flowing out of her eyes by the time she finished her sentence. It was only now that she realized this was the reason her master did not agree to help her pursue Young Master Liu and even thought of a way to make her not see Young Master Liu for a while. Young Master Liu actually had a grudge against her Empress Mother, and it was such a deep-seated grudge. That was right. She was the daughter of Empress Mother. What right did she have to like Young Master Liu? It turned out that there was more than just a difference in status between them. There was even a deep-seated blood feud between them. The moment Princess Xiangyang uttered these words, she attracted a lot of attention. When the officials saw this scene, they started discussing heatedly. She was a princess, yet she was actually pestering a male prostitute. Moreover, it seemed like she was really in love with him. Now, Princess Xiangyang didn''t even care about her dignity and blurted this matter out in public. When Liu Ling got stared at by people from all directions, he looked at Princess Xiangyang worriedly. Before he could speak, Empress Jia spoke up. "Xiangyang, step aside!" Empress Jia said sternly. "Empress Mother" Princess Xiangyang turned around and cried out in a tearful voice. Her eyes were filled with anxiety. "Step aside!" Empress Jia''s tone became sterner. When Empress Jia saw Princess Xiangyang shaking her head at her, Empress Jia''s tone finally softened a little. "This is a grudge between me, the Song family, and the Liu family. It has nothing to do with you. Go wait on one side," she said. After saying that, Empress Jia looked at Song Que and Qin Xiaoyao. "Xiangyang is ignorant. When the incident happened, she was not even born yet. "Can I request that Xiangyang not be implicated in the grudge between me and all of you?" Song Que''s eyes flickered slightly as he looked at Qin Xiaoyao. "Sure," Qin Xiaoyao quickly replied to Empress Jia. Empress Jia appeared visibly relieved. After pausing for a moment, she looked at Song Que and Qin Xiaoyao again. "I was indeed wrong in the past. However, things were not as Jia Kun said." As Empress Jia spoke, she looked at Jia Kun. "Back then, Minister Song did oppose the Emperor''s decision to make me Empress. In order to stop the Emperor''s decision, he even ganged up with the officials to boycott the court session. "Back then, Jia Kun came to me and presented his proposal to deal with this crisis. I didn''t stop him. "As for the Liu family, it was the same." Qin Xiaoyao frowned and was about to speak when she was interrupted by Empress Jia. "But even so, Jia Kun relied on my status and influence. It was indeed my mistake for not stopping Jia Kun." As Empress Jia spoke, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao. "Taking into consideration that I wasn''t really the one who gave the order, can Marquis Xiaoyao and Lord Song be lenient? "I shall offer to be deposed as Empress. Other than Jia Kun, the rest of the Jia family will be demoted tomoners. For the next three generations, no one will be allowed to take up positions as officials." As soon as she said this, everyone looked at Empress Jia. Even the Emperor was no exception. Though the Emperor felt a lot of heartache, he still heaved a sigh of relief. It was rare for the Empress to make such concessions. Qin Xiaoyao''s eyes flickered as she looked at Song Que. Song Que gave Qin Xiaoyao a nce, and then he cupped his hands at the Emperor and Empress. "Everyone knows that His Majesty dotes on Your Royal Highness. For Your Royal Highness''s sake, he only maintained an Imperial harem in name for many years. "Today, even if Your Royal Highness requests to depose yourself as Empress, as long as Your Royal Highness is alive, you still have the final say in the Emperor''s Imperial harem. "Though Your Royal Highness may be deposed now, in the future, with the Emperor''s decree, Your Royal Highness can be reinstated as the Empress in a matter of seconds. "At that point, those who made things difficult for the Jia family and Your Royal Highness today will probably not be able to escape revenge." Both the Emperor and Empress Jia''s hearts shuddered. Empress Jia suppressed her emotions and looked at Song Que. "Then what do you want, Lord Song?" she asked. If she couldn''t escape death today, she could only stick her neck out and ept execution. However, she couldn''t bear to leave behind the Emperor and Xiangyang. When she thought of this, Empress Jia looked at Princess Xiangyang, who had been watching her mother tearfully. It was her fault as a mother for not realizing that her daughter already had someone she liked. It was a pity that because of her, her daughter ended up being implicated. Not only would she not be able to get together with the person she liked, but it would also affect her future marriage. Even if she was a princess of an Imperial family that was in power, it was still difficult for her to marry a suitable husband. Moreover, she had a mother who was such a sinner. Song Que''s eyes became stern as he spoke while the Emperor looked on worriedly. "Unless Your Royal Highness is willing to die." Chapter 448 Concubine Chens Cause of Death 448 Concubine Chen''s Cause of Death Song Que''s words were like a heavy hammer that struck down on everyone''s hearts. This fellow Song Que was indeed bold. Then again, he was genuinely qualified to be so bold today. "How dare you!" The Emperor was furious and pointed at Song Que. However, just as he said this, he was instantly greeted by Qin Xiaoyao''s sharp re. When he saw this, the Emperor''s bearing quickly weakened, and he did not even dare to look at Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que anymore. Song Que''s expression was calm, and he even smiled. "Your humble official''s words are merely a factual analysis. "Your Majesty''s reaction only served to confirm my earlier conjecture." The Emperor was furious. He looked at Empress Jia beside him, but he did not dare to speak again. Empress Jia gave the Emperor a reassuring look and looked at Song Que and Qin Xiaoyao again. "Other thanmitting suicide, is there any other way out for me?" she asked. There was even a faint smile on her face. After saying that, she looked at Prince Huaiyin who was sitting in a rxed manner not far away. When he saw Empress Jia''s gaze on him, Prince Huaiyin leisurely raised his wine cup to her. Then, he started to enjoy the wine in aid-back manner. Song Que followed Empress Jia''s gaze and also saw Prince Huaiyin. The corners of his mouth then curled up. Thereafter, he turned around and bowed to Empress Jia. "There is," Song Que said. "Oh?" Empress Jia raised her eyebrows. "Why don''t you tell me?" she prompted. Song Que raised his head, nced at the Emperor, and cupped his hands again. "It depends on whether His Majesty is willing to abdicate." As soon as he said this, the entire ce was in an uproar. Some smart people had already realized something and looked at Prince Huaiyin. However, Prince Huaiyin was still as calm as ever, as if everything happening in front of him had nothing to do with him. The Emperor hadn''t noticed these exchanges yet. After hearing Song Que''s words, his face turned downright ominous. "Traitor! How dare you usurp the throne!" he bellowed at Song Que. However, Song Que was not afraid at all. He was still smiling breezily. He once again cupped his hands at the Emperor and bowed. "Your Majesty has misunderstood. I have no intention of usurping the throne." The Emperor was taken aback, and a puzzled expression appeared on his face. Before he could ask, Song Que continued, "I''m only asking Your Majesty to abdicate and be the retired Emperor, and let a talented and virtuous prince take over the throne." As he spoke, Song Que turned around and looked at Prince Huaiyin. Obviously, the talented and virtuous prince he was referring to was Prince Huaiyin. The Emperor looked at Prince Huaiyin. At this moment, the realization finally dawned on him. How could everything happening today be a rebellion by Empress Jia''s elder brother or Marquis Xiaoyao and her husband? It was clearly a coup nned by his second son. The feud between his second son and the Empress had been going on for a long time. He had always been worried that the two of them would fight to the death one day. Now, this day had finallye. When he saw that everyone was looking at him, Prince Huaiyin could no longer pretend. He stood up and walked to the center. He bowed to the Emperor. "Emperor Father," he called out. The Emperor looked down at Prince Huaiyin with an expression full of conflicting emotions. "What happened to Concubine Chen back then was not entirely Empress Jia''s fault..." the Emperor spoke up. The Emperor had wanted to say something more, but when he saw his second son looking at him, the Emperor stopped. Upon seeing this, Prince Huaiyin smiled. "I have my own judgment on what happened back then. "Everyone says that Emperor Father is deeply in love with the Empress. "Marquis Xiaoyao and Lord Song have already given Emperor Father a way to save Empress Jia''s life. It all depends on whether Emperor Father wants your kingdom or the beauty." When he said "beauty", Prince Huaiyin nced at Empress Jia. He thought to himself, "It''s really hard to think of the present Empress Jia as a ''beauty''." The Emperor''s expression became even more conflicted. After staring at Prince Huaiyin for a while, he finally sighed. "If I pass the throne to you, will you really let the Empress off?" he asked. The moment he said this, all the civil and military officials were shocked. The Empress also looked at the Emperor. A hint of panic finally appeared on her face, which had remained calm up to this point. "Your Majesty" She grabbed the Emperor''s hand and shouted. At the same time, she stared at the Emperor and slowly shook her head. She was indicating to the Emperor that he should not do this. The Emperor turned his head and patted the back of Empress Jia''s hand, giving her a reassuring smile. "I have long wanted to abandon everything and take you on a sightseeing tour. "If abdication can save your life, what is there for me to hesitate?" At this moment, all the officials were astounded. Even Empress Jia was deeply moved. However, Prince Huaiyin felt that this scene stung his eyes. Empress Jia looked into the Emperor''s eyes for a while and was finally convinced by the affection in the Emperor''s eyes. Thus, she nodded. Following that, a relieved smile appeared on her face. Thereafter, she turned her head and looked at Prince Huaiyin. "Huangfu Wudi, whether you believe it or not, Concubine Chen''s death was her own fault. "Even today, I do not regret executing Concubine Chen." Prince Huaiyin''s face clouded over as he looked at Empress Jia with a sinister expression. When he saw this, the Emperor instinctively raised his hand, intending to shield Empress Jia behind him. However, Empress Jia pushed his hand away. "Back then, in order not to affect you, the Emperor did not announce the cause of Concubine Chen''s death to the public. "Today, you want to take revenge on me. I have no need to hide this matter anymore." Prince Huaiyin frowned. Empress Jia continued, "Back then, His Majesty doted on me and neglected many consorts in the harem. However, he did notpletely neglect the concubines who had given birth to princes and princesses. One of them is your mother, Concubine Chen. "Concubine Chen has a prominent background and is the best candidate to be the Empress as she was supported by the ministers of the previous Imperial Court. "Back then, although His Majesty wanted to make me empress, he didn''t force his will on anyone. "At that juncture, if your Concubine Mother didn''t do anything wrong, she would have been the Empress." Prince Huaiyin frowned and looked at the Emperor. A look of conflicting emotions shed across the Emperor''s eyes as he nodded. Before meeting the Empress, Concubine Chen was the one he liked the most among the beauties in the harem. After Concubine Chen gave birth to his second son, he treasured the mother and son even more. Thissted until the Empress appeared and upied his mind and heart. Even so, the Emperor had never thought of deposing Concubine Chen and alienating their children. However, Concubine Chen shouldn''t have Empress Jia nced at the Emperor and continued, "Back then, both Concubine Chen and I became pregnant respectively. "Because Concubine Chen was afraid that I would give birth to a prince, she harmed herself to frame me." The moment she said this, everyone was shocked again. Imperial Pce secrets! Prince Huaiyin frowned. "Unfortunately, her n didn''t seed. In the end, both my child and hers were not saved." At this point, Empress Jia appeared very sorrowful. A momentter, a stern look shed across her face once more. "That was my first child. How could I not hate her? "Therefore, the first thing I did after ascending the throne was to deal with her. "I knew that if His Majesty found out, he would definitely try to stop me. "So, I acted quickly. "By the time His Majesty found out, Concubine Chen was already dead." At this point, Empress Jia actually smiled. It was as if she recalled the scene of herself taking revenge for her unborn child. A sinister glint shed across Prince Huaiyin''s eyes. The Emperor was terrified when he saw his son''s reaction. He stretched out his hand to try to stop Empress Jia. However, he was pushed away by Empress Jia. Chapter 449 - 449: Willing to Abdicate Chapter 449: Willing to Abdicate Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Empress Jia looked straight at Prince Huaiyin. I do not consider myself a virtuous empress. After dealing with Concubine Chen, in order to eliminate future troubles, 1 did order people to take action on you. But all those people failed. At this point, Empress Jia disyed a regretful expression. When she saw Prince Huaiyins eyes flickering, she continued, The reason these attempts failed was not because the people I arranged were unreliable. Neither was it because you were lucky, Huangfu Wudi. It was because Empress Jia suddenly paused. Prince Huaiyin frowned slightly again. Empress Jia sighed and continued, Its because of your Emperor Father. Prince Huaiyin looked at the Emperor upon hearing these words. The Emperors eyes revealed an uncharacteristic look of affection, and his gaze was filled with conflicting emotions. Prince Huaiyins heart shuddered slightly when he saw that expression. Empress Jia continued, Your Emperor Father knew that 1 would take action against you, so he stopped me repeatedly. In the end, when he saw that I refused to give up, he sent you to the border. At this point, the corners of Empress Jias mouth curled up into a sarcastic smile. So, Huangfu Wudi, the reason you can live until today and be invincible in the world is not because youre really powerful or lucky. Its your Emperor Father who has been protecting you in secret. If you want to deal with me, who killed your mother, I have nothing to say. But if you want to deal with your Emperor Father, thats not allowed by thews of the heavens! Empress Jias words were like a heavy hammer that struck the heart of Prince Huaiyin. It made Prince Huaiyin unwittingly recall those difficult times. It was indeed impossible for him to have survived all the idents and assassinations by sheer luck. There were indeed some possibilities that he had spected about before. However, he refused to think that his Emperor Father had anything to do with those possibilities. It was fine to just retain the hatred. If he didnt hate her, how could he face his Concubine Mother in theherworld? Yet today, Empress Jia highlighted all these matters. Moreover, she said it in front of all the officials. Prince Huaiyin had no choice but to face it. After a moment of silence, Prince Huaiyin finally looked at the Emperor. Is what she said true? he asked in a deep voice. The Emperor had a conflicted look on his face, but he still nodded. Even though Concubine Chen was at fault first, you were innocent. It has been hard on you all these years, Liner. Prince Huaiyin was astonished. Liner was the pet name that his Emperor Father and Concubine Mother used to call him when he was young. Before Empress Jia appeared, he was the prince most favored by his Emperor Father. His Emperor Father named him Wudi meaning invincible and called him Liner which meant outstanding. The Emperor had high hopes for this son. Back then, almost everyone thought that his Emperor Father would make him the Crown Prince. However, Empress Jias appearance changed everything. Not only did Emperor Father alienate Concubine Mother, but he also alienated the young Prince Huaiyin. His Concubine Mother, who used to be gentle and kind, seemed to have changed into a different person, bing irritable and violent. She even ordered the pce servants to be beaten up or killed. When Empress Jia said that his Concubine Mother had framed her, Prince Huaiyin did not doubt her. His Concubine Mother hated Empress Jia so much that he had even seen her sticking pins on a voodoo doll with Empress Jias name stuck on it. However, so what if his Concubine Mother did all this? All the misfortune that he and his Concubine Mother suffered came from Empress Jia. As he suppressed the emotions in his heart, Prince Huaiyins face quickly regained its iciness. Just because Your Royal Highness and Your Majesty say that Concubine Chen made a mistake doesnt mean that she had really made a mistake. Concubine Chen is not someone you two can convict just because you casually say so. The Emperor thought that Prince Huaiyin did not believe him and wanted to continue exining. However, Empress Jia grabbed his hand. When he saw Empress Jia shaking her head at him, the Emperor gave up on exining. Empress Jia then looked at Prince Huaiyin. Guilty or innocent, it doesnt change the fact that I punished Concubine Chen. A hint of relief suddenly appeared in Empress Jias eyes. I am willing to die, but I only ask you to let your Emperor Father off. And Dont let your hatred continue. As she spoke, Empress Jia looked at the Crown Prince, who was panic-stricken, and Princess Xiangyang, whose face was covered with tears. Previously, Empress Jia was still bitterly disappointed with the Crown Prince that he did not live up to her expectations, but now Perhaps it was a good thing that the Crown Prince turned out like this. As a Crown Prince without ambition, even if he was deposed, as long as he could live a stable, peaceful life, he would not be unhappy. Empress Mother The Crown Prince and Princess Xiangyang were both moved as they called out to her. Empress Jia appeared reluctant, but she quickly looked away. She closed her eyes and was prepared to let Prince Huaiyin take action but the Emperor hurriedly interjected. Liner, dont touch the Empress! Empress Jia opened her eyes and saw the Emperor looking anxiously at Prince Huaiyin. Dont you want the throne? I agree to abdicate! Ill pass the throne to you! As long as you let the Empress off! The moment he said this, the entire court was in an uproar again. The Emperor had actually abandoned the kingdom for a beauty. Prince Huaiyins eyes flickered as he looked at the Emperor. There was no joy in his eyes. Instead, they appeared rather chilly. The Emperor ignored that look and continued, I was prepared to pass the throne to you in the first ce anyway. These years, you have developed very well at the border. You are so outstanding that you have even exceeded my expectations. 1 am fully aware of all your aplishments. I feel very reassured if the Great Jin State is in your hands. I believe you will do even better than me. As he spoke, the Emperor looked at the Crown Prince. Crown Prince, as for you, your personality is too weak and not suitable to sit in this position. My decision today is a good thing for you. The Crown Prince looked at the Emperor and hurriedly bowed. Emperor Father is right! he replied. In this situation, how would he dare to fight with Prince Huaiyin? Not only must he not fight, but he had to show his submission. And it had to be the wholehearted and sincere kind of submission. Moreover, the Crown Prince had always lived under the oppression of his Empress Mother, so he did not really have that much desire to ascend to the throne. After all, Prince Huaiyins surname was also Huangfu. It was better for him to be the Emperor than for the Jia family to usurp the Huangfu familys kingdom. When he saw that the Crown Prince had no intention of objecting, the Emperor felt more at ease. He looked at Prince Huaiyin again. Liner, I will depose the Empress as you wished. Let her live and 1 will take her away, is that alright? At this point, the Emperors eyes were already filled with pleading. Prince Huaiyins expression was so callous that no one could tell what he was thinking. He simply stared at Empress Jia icily, and the two of them locked eyes for a long time. Haha! Suddenly, Prince Huaiyinughed. The Emperor and Empress Jias hearts shuddered. Emperor Father is really infatuated! Prince Huaiyin said icily. The Emperor looked embarrassed. He could only silently endure his sons ridicule. Good! Emperor Father actually gave up the kingdom for a woman. It was indeed not suitable for you to continue sitting on the throne, Prince Huaiyin finally said. The Emperor was instantly relieved. At this point, he didnt even feel it was a big deal to be mocked. When he saw this, a hint of disappointment shed across Prince Huaiyins eyes. However, it was soon reced by indifference. However, though 1 can let the Empress off, she can not leave the pce. He still wanted to bring that woman out of the pce to have fun? His Emperor Father had oversimplified matters. The Emperor instantly frowned. Prince Huaiyin continued, The Empress hasmitted a grave mistake. The Jia family hasmitted so many heinous crimes because of her. If Emperor Father deposes her and banishes her to the Cold Pce, it is already the lightest punishment.. Chapter 450 - 450: The Overall Outcome Had Been Decided Chapter 450: The Overall Oue Had Been Decided Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The Emperor turned his head to look at Empress Jia and then turned to plead with Prince Huaiyin. However, Prince Huaiyin continued at this point, I am also thinking of Emperor Fathers interest in this arrangement. I believe that after Emperor Father leaves the pce, you will no longer think of bing the Emperor again. But she At this juncture, Prince Huaiyin looked icily at Empress Jia. Empress Jia is extremely vengeful and has a strong desire for power. Can Emperor Father guarantee that after leaving the Pce, she will not think of revenge and reinstatement? The Emperor was astounded. Emperor Father, you dote on Empress Jia so much that you are willing to give up the kingdom for her. When the time is ripe and she wants to be reinstated, will Emperor Father help or not? It was not impossible to spare Empress Jia. After all, no matter what Empress Jia had done, she was still his Empress Mother in name. The Great Jin State ruled the world on the t of filial piety. If Prince Huaiyin forced Empress Jia to her death, the world would not think that Empress Jia deserved to die. They would only think that Prince Huaiyin was unfilial and unjust. However, not killing her did not mean that he had to let her off. It was even more inadvisable for him to leave behind future trouble for himself. Confining her to the Cold Pce was the best solution. When the Emperor heard this, his eyes flickered but he did not refute his sons words. This was because he felt that what Prince Huaiyin said was actually reasonable. The Emperor had given up the throne this time and was not prepared to return to it in the future. He actually did not object to passing the throne to his second son. In fact, he even felt somewhat relieved. After retiring, he had originally thought of bringing the Empress to tour the mountains and rivers and living a carefree life as a perfectlypatible and harmonious couple. However, the Empress most likely did not have the same thoughts as him. Her Jia family was killed, and she was downgraded to amoner from an empress. She was such a proud person. She would not be content with being ordinary. In this way, it was actually a good choice to let the Empress stay in the pce. They would live together under the surveince of their second son. Even if the Empress wanted to plot anything, she wouldnt be able to. With such an arrangement, the Emperor felt a little regretful that he could not bring the Empress to tour the beautiful rivers and mountains. Nheless, he felt that it was not bad to be able to shed the heavy responsibility on his shoulders and apany the Empress every day. When Prince Huaiyin saw this, hemented his Emperor Fathers deep affection in his heart once more. Without waiting for the Emperor to reply, he looked directly at Empress Jia. What does Your Royal Highness think? Empress Jia frowned. At this moment, the Emperor also turned to look at her. His eyes had a pleading look. Empress Jia felt moved. She closed her eyes and finally nodded. Forget it. Jia Kun and the Jia family had done such a treasonous thing this time that it was no longer worthwhile for her to help them. Under such circumstances, even if Huangfu Wudi was ousted from the throne and she was reinstated, what could she possibly do? In fact, in the past few years, she was no longer so obsessed with power. This was mainly due to her declining health. Today, since things hade to this, she would apany the Emperor for the rest of her life. It would be considered repaying the Emperor for his lifelong affection. When he saw Empress Jias reaction, a look of excitement shed across the Emperors eyes. Then, he turned his head and looked at Prince Huaiyin. The Empress has agreed! he said excitedly. Prince Huaiyin nced at Empress Jia and then looked icily at his Emperor Father. If she agreed, then so be it. Was there a need for him to be so excited? When he saw his sons look, the smile on the Emperors face disappeared. He finally realized that his actions were a little embarrassing. A momentter, the Emperor looked at Prince Huaiyin again. Ahem, ahem the Emperor cleared his throat first. Then, he spoke. As of today, I hereby pass the throne to Prince Huaiyin. Henceforth, all matters in the pce will also be decided by Prince Huaiyin. The moment he said that, the entire court was in an uproar once more. They didnt expect the Emperor topromise so easily. Prince Huaiyin raised his eyebrows and looked at the Emperor. The Emperor immediately understood. Then, he announced that the Empress would be deposed and banished to the Cold Pce and ced under confinement. Although it was called the Cold Pce, it was actually just a rtively more remote pce in the ptialplex. With him around, the Emperor was confident that his days with the Empress would not be too bad. After saying all this, the Emperor left with the Empress on the grounds that he was not feeling well. Of course, Prince Huaiyins men followed closely behind them. Thereafter, the proceedings in the Imperial Garden came under Prince Huaiyins control. The Great Jin State was nowpletely in the hands of Prince Huaiyin. After Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que helped Prince Huaiyin stabilize the situation, they separately returned homete at night. That was right. Song Que returned to Marquis Xiaoyaos residence. Song Que finally walked into his wifes residence as the master of the household. As soon as he entered, he saw Qin Xiaoyao, who was dressed in beautiful clothes, waiting for him in the courtyard. The silver hairpin in her hair was the one he had given her back in Mountain Spring Town. Hubby, wee home. Qin Xiaoyao spread out her arms and smiled at Song Que. The corners of Song Ques mouth could not resist curling up. He quickly stepped forward and pulled his wife into his arms. He held her tightly and didnt want to let her go for a long time. This was his wife, the greatest gift from the heavens When Qin Xiaoyao was hugged by Song Que, she was a little shy at first and felt that it was extremely sweet. However, after waiting for a long time, her husband did not let go of her. Then, she felt a little ufortable. Thus, she struggled to move. To her surprise, just as she began twisting her body, she heard Song Que say, Dont move Qin Xiaoyao immediately stopped struggling. She thought that Song Que would let go of her. Instead, he held her tightly once more without moving. After waiting for a while, Qin Xiaoyao could not take it any longer. Its its a bit hot, she said. In this era, womens clothing had moreyers than mens. She was already used to wearing mens clothes. If it werent for the fact that she was weing her husband today, she wouldnt want to change into this outfit at all. The main thing was that these clothes were really hot. When he heard her, Song Que was surprised. He snapped out of his quiet reverie and also felt the heat. Only then did he let go of Qin Xiaoyao. Do you have ice at home? he asked. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Of course! After saying that, she held Song Ques hand and pulled him towards her courtyard. That night, the courtyard was filled with yelling and murmuring. The two of them were no longer holding back. For the next three days, the couple did not go anywhere. They holed themselves up in Marquis Xiaoyaos residence and acted all lovey-dovey. It was as if they wanted to make up for all the lost time when they could not be together. On the fourth day, Prince Huaiyin sent someone to summon Song Que again. Only then did Song Que step out of Marquis Xiaoyaos residence. In the pce, Prince Huaiyin was staying temporarily in the Tai Kun Pce. Song Que entered looking as pleased as punch. When he saw Prince Huaiyin, he went forward and bowed to him. Greetings, Your Highness! Prince Huaiyin raised his head and saw Song Ques face which was so radiant that he felt it was somewhat ring to his eyes. Please rise, he replied not very happily. After that big matter was settled that day, these two had slipped away one after another. After that, they hid at home and did note out at all. Prince Huaiyin did not have a break at all when all his subordinates came to ask him for instructions on all matters big and small. How could Prince Huaiyin be in a good mood? Song Que straightened up as if he didnt notice that Prince Huaiyin was in a bad mood. He was still smiling brightly. After that, Prince Huaiyins expression turned even more unpleasant. Then, he asked Song Que, Marquis Xiaoyao didnte? He had asked his men to summon them both, but only one came. Well, fine. One was still considered good.. Chapter 451 - 451: Wanted To Resign Chapter 451: Wanted To Resign Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion After all, when Prince Huaiyin sent his men to summon them earlier, these two people had actually ignored his messenger. In the end, none of them came. When he thought of this, Prince Huaiyin suppressed that little bit of dissatisfaction in his heart. He couldnt convict the two of them, so he would just have to make do with one. At least with one, it would still lessen his workload. Song Que cupped his hands and bowed to Prince Huaiyin. My wife is not feeling well and is resting at home, he answered. Prince Huaiyin raised his head and nced at Song Que. With Marquis Xiaoyaos incredible strength, he had never seen her fall sick before, so how could she be feeling unwell? Forget it. There was no point in quibbling with Song Que. Ahem Then let her rest. However, you cant rest. I still have many tasks for you to do, Prince Huaiyin said good-naturedly. Yes, Your Highness, Song Que answered happily. It was good that his wife could rest. As for him, he had rested well enough for the past three days. Only then did Prince Huaiyin begin to issue instructions to Song Que. Even though the Jia family and Minister Shen had already been convicted, the two families residences had not been searched and their belongings not confiscated. Furthermore, those people whose ties with the Jia family and Minister Shen ran too deeply had not been cleaned up. Prince Huaiyins coronation ceremony was in ten days. He had to deal with those who needed to be dealt with before this date. As Song Que listened to Prince Huaiyin, he already had a n in mind. He had been by Minister Shens side for a long time, and Minister Shen trusted him greatly. To him, it was not difficult to dig out and eradicate Minister Shens allies. As for the Jia family, although he did not have many connections with the family members, he still knew a few important people. Once he tracked down those few characters by following the clues, with the terrifying method of interrogation by torture that he was famous for in his previous life, it was not difficult to dig out most of the Jia familys allies. It wasnt difficult for Prince Huaiyin to seed to the throne smoothly on coronation day without any mishaps. As he mulled over this, Song Que quickly replied, Yes, Your Highness! Prince Huaiyin then looked at Song Que with fervent eyes. After 1 ascend the throne, the first thing I will do is to make you the Prime Minister. Song Que raised his eyes to look at Prince Huaiyin, but he was not excited. Thank you, Your Highness. However, 1 have already discussed it with my wife. After Your Highness has ascended the throne and the state of the Imperial Court has settled down, I will resign and bring my wife back to my hometown in Mountain Spring Town. Prince Huaiyin got a shock. He honestly didnt expect that this couple truly did not covet fame and fortune. How can this work? I am still waiting for you to assist me in governing the Great Jin State! He wasnt prepared to keep the two of them in court at the same time, but either of them could help him a lot. This was particrly true for Song Que. Since there was no war at the border for now, Song Que could help with all matters in the court. Ever since he met Song Que, he knew that this fellow would make a good minister of the state. If he let such a good minister slip through his fingers, it would be a loss for both him and the Great Jin State. Song Que smiled indifferently and bowed to Prince Huaiyin once again. Of course, it can work. Your Highness is wise and perceptive and knows how to use the right people. The Great Jin State will definitely prosper and enjoy a long period of peace and stability with Your Highness in charge. Song Que added some ttery for good measure. Not surprisingly, Prince Huaiyin was pleased to hear this. Forget it. The matter of resigning is not urgent for the time being. You settle the matters on your hands first and then we can discuss again, he said. No doubt he would not let the two of them leave. If he couldnt convince Song Que, he could still look for Marquis Xiaoyao. He heard that Marquis Xiaoyaos century egg business in the capital was doing very well. If she really left the capital and returned to Mountain Spring Town, it would be disadvantageous to her business, wouldnt it? Yes, Your Highness, Song Que answered and did not say anything else. He then discussed some political matters with Prince Huaiyin before leaving. Song Que would be busy for quite a while. He had to settle the matters in the capital as soon as possible before he could bring his wife back to Mountain Spring Town. At Marquis Xiaoyaos residence. These few days, Qin Xiaoyao was exceptionally carefree. Ever since her husband went out to work, no one from the pce came to bother her. After resting for a few consecutive days, Qin Xiaoyao was about to go out for a stroll when a servant came to report that Princess Xiangyang had arrived. Send her in, Qin Xiaoyao said immediately. She thought to herself that this time, that girl finally knew how to be polite. She actually didnt barge into her courtyard directly. Yes, Lord Marquis, the servant answered and left. Qin Xiaoyao was rocking on the reclining chair under the tree in the courtyard. Before long, she heard Princess Xiangyangs footsteps. She thought that she would hear the girls voice very soon. However, when she was very close, the girl still did not say anything. Qin Xiaoyao was a little puzzled. She propped herself up and turned her head to look. Then, she saw Princess Xiangyang, who was less than five meters away from her. Princess Xiangyang did not expect Qin Xiaoyao to suddenly look at her and she got a shock. Despite this, she still didnt say anything. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised for a moment before she smiled. Hey, little girl, she greeted Princess Xiangyang first. However, Princess Xiangyang did not smile. She walked up to Qin Xiaoyao. Xiangyang hereby greets Marquis Xiaoyao. Then, she bowed respectfully to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyaos expression froze. You little girl! When did you be so polite to me? she asked with a smile. Princess Xiangyang raised her head and nced at Qin Xiaoyao. Then, she lowered her head again. In the past, it was Xiangyang who didnt know manners. Ive made a fool of myself in front of Lord Marquis, she replied in a distant manner. The smile on Qin Xiaoyaos face froze once again. A momentter, the smile on her face disappeared. Are you ming me for what I did that day? she asked in a low voice. She had been with this girl for so long and the girl had addressed her as Master for so long. It would be a lie to say that she had no feelings for the girl. Xiangyang wouldnt dare, Princess Xiangyang replied after a pause. Lord Marquis, you have your valid reasons. Marquis Anding is Lord Marquiss family member, so Lord Marquis naturally regards him as the most important. Lord Marquis also owes Second Elder Brother a debt of gratitude for his patronage and protection, so it is only right for Lord Marquis to help him. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Princess Xiangyang. Thereafter, the corners of her mouth curled up. In that case, why are you angry with me? Princess Xiangyang nced at Qin Xiaoyao. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao giving her an amused look, Princess Xiangyang felt a wave of anger inwardly. Princess Xiangyang suppressed her anger when she recalled the psychological preparations she had made for herself before she came. Xiangyang is not angry with Lord Marquis, she replied. Qin Xiaoyaoughed in amusement immediately. Haha! Youre not angry? Look at your cheeks. Theyre almost bloated like pufferfish! Hahahaha She pointed at Princess Xiangyangs cheek. The anger that Princess Xiangyang had suppressed earlier instantly surged. Master, youre bullying me! she said angrily. Qin Xiaoyao instantly stoppedughing. She looked at Princess Xiangyang again. You finally stopped pretending? she asked Princess Xiangyang. Who said she couldnt take care of this mere slip of a girl? Princess Xiangyang was stunned. A hint of bitterness shed across her eyes. Then, she lowered her head. Qin Xiaoyaos heart softened. She then looked at the other reclining chair beside her. If you have anything to say, lie down first, she instructed. There were two reclining chairs here, one of which originally belonged to this girl- In the past, the master and disciple had spent a lot of time lying on these chairs to chat. Princess Xiangyang looked at her chair and a hint of hesitation shed across her face. What are you waiting for? Qin Xiaoyao urged. If you dont lie down, dont talk to me, she said. Princess Xiangyang nced at Qin Xiaoyao and finally stopped being bashful. Shey down on the reclining chair beside Qin Xiaoyao.. Chapter 452 - 452: Princess Xiangyang’s Visit Chapter 452: Princess Xiangyangs Visit Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon BoatTransL; The moment sheid down, Princess Xiangyangs previous seriousness and restraint could no longer be maintained. Qin Xiaoyao turned her head and nced at Princess Xiangyang. When she saw that the girl was much more rxed than before, a smile appeared on her face. Did youe to me because of Liu Ling? she asked. Other than Liu Ling, she couldnt think of anything else that this girl could ask of her. Now, Empress Jia had been deposed but her life had been spared. It was not impossible for a rtionship to blossom between Xiangyang and Liu Ling. Princess Xiangyangs rxed heart tensed up again. A ripple shed across her eyes, but she quickly suppressed the emotions in her heart. No, she said. Then what is it? Qin Xiaoyao was puzzled. A pleading look swept over Princess Xiangyangs face. I wish to invite Master to visit my Empress Mother, she said. Qin Xiaoyao was astounded. Princess Xiangyangs expression immediately turned anxious. Empress Mother has been confined to the Guan Ju Pce by Second Brother. Now, even 1 cant see her. Second Brother doesnt want to see me. After thinking about it, 1 think only Master can get to see my Empress Mother. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. Master, dont worry. 1 only want to meet Empress Mother and have no other intentions. I Just want to make sure that shes fine. As long as Empress Mother is fine, I 1 have nothing else to ask for. At this point, Princess Xiangyangs face had turned very gloomy. Qin Xiaoyao was slightly moved when she saw this. She reached out and held the little girls hand. Alright. I agree to help you, she answered. This was after all her disciple showing her filial piety. As her master, she should fulfill the girls wish. Moreover, Empress Jia had indeed doted on this girl in the past. Now that something had happened to her mother, and Qin Xiaoyao was the one responsible, Qin Xiaoyao should at least go and take a look. When Princess Xiangyang heard this, a smile immediately appeared on her face. Thank you. Master! she hurriedly said. Before she came, she was very nervous at first. After all, things were different now. Her Emperor Father and Empress Mother were under house arrest, and her Master was involved in the n that dealt with them. Princess Xiangyang couldnt even be sure if her Masters love for her in the past was intentional or if her Master truly cared about her disciple. Qin Xiaoyaos eyes were filled with doting affection. What are you thanking me for? she replied. Since when have you ever been so polite to me? The smile on Princess Xiangyangs face instantly disappeared and she became silent again. When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao sighed in her heart. The Song family has a grudge against your Empress Mother, but that matter happened during the generation of Lord Songs grandfather. As for Lord Song Qin Xiaoyao paused momentarily. He and his family were disced because of your Empress Mother and so they were naturally resentful. But its not to the point where they want your Empress Mother to die. Before the Second Prince implemented his n, he asked for Lord Songs opinion. What he said was also true. As long as the Song familys grievance is redressed and your Empress Mother is deposed, it is good enough. Now, he has achieved all he wanted so he won t make things difficult for your Empress Mother anymore. This much I can promise you. You can rest assured. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang earnestly. Thank you. Master! Princess Xiangyang answered at once, her eyes indicating she was visibly moved. Qin Xiaoyao withdrew her gaze, rxed her body, andy back on the reclining chair. Then, she began rocking the chair. Theres no need to thank me. I only have one disciple and that is you. In the future, dont be so formal and distant with me. Princess Xiangyangs face stiffened momentarily. Qin Xiaoyao continued, Your Second Brother said before that you are a simple-minded girl. You cannot be ced in the same camp as your Empress Mother. Lord Song and I also think so. Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao ced her feet on the ground again and stopped rocking the reclining chair. Of course, if you hate us because we dealt with your Empress Mother and view us as your enemies Then so be it. Take it that our rtionship as master and disciple ends here. As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang. Princess Xiangyang panicked immediately. No no! This matter is Empress Mothers fault. How can I hate Master and Lord Song because of this? she quickly responded. Master and Lord Song did not view me as an enemy because Im the daughter of Empress Mother. For that, I am already very grateful! Qin Xiaoyao smiled again. Shey down once more and leisurely rocked the reclining chair. Since thats the case, dont address me as Lord Marquis in the future. If others hear this, they may think that your Master is very mean to you. Xiangyang finallyughed in amusement. Yes, Master, she answered. At the same time, her heart finally rxed. When she saw her master ying with the reclining chair enthusiastically. Princess Xiangyang could not resist rocking the reclining chair as well. This reclining chair designed by her master was reallyfortable. She had to get the blueprints and ask the carpenter to fabricate a few for her in the future. Qin Xiaoyao nced at the girl beside her. She saw her rocking the reclining chair as well. Although the girl was not rocking the chair as hard as Qin Xiaoyao, the girl was clearly much more rxed now. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up slightly. When do you want me to go see your Empress Mother? she asked. Xiangyang immediately stopped rocking the reclining chair. The sooner the better, she quickly said. Qin Xiaoyao smiled. Then shall 1 go now? she asked. Xiangyang gave a bitter smile. Theres no need for that. It would be time for dinner very soon. She did not dare to trouble her Master and ask her Master to enter the pce at this hour. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and finally stopped teasing her little disciple. Tomorrow then. In addition, since youvee, theres no need for you to go back today. Tomorrow, follow me to go visit your Empress Mother. Qin Xiaoyao had to send someone to send a message to Prince Huaiyinter. She believed Prince Huaiyin would probably not stop her. Princess Xiangyang was delighted. Is that possible? she asked Qin Xiaoyao in pleasant surprise. Qin Xiaoyao smiled confidently. With your Master taking you, of course, its possible. Thank you. Master! Master is the best! Princess Xiangyang said quickly. Finally, she hadpletely recovered and reverted to Qin Xiaoyao s little fangirl. The corners of Qin Xiaoyaos mouth curled up, and she felt quite pleased in her heart. She closed her eyes and yed with the reclining chair again. When she saw this, Princess Xiangyang also rocked on her reclining chair. One teacher and one disciple, both ying on rhe reclining chairs together. The scene was unusually harmonious. Since she had nothing to do, her disciple came over at the right time for Qin Xiaoyao to have someone to talk to. Soon, she began telling Princess Xiangyang that she was preparing to return to Mountain Spring Town. When Princess Xiangyang learned that not only were her master and her husband going back to Mountain Spring Town, but Young Master Liu and his elder sister were also going to Mountain Spring Town too, she felt a wave of sorrow in her heart. However, she did not show it. Lord Songs career is smooth sailing and he is so talented. If he stayed in the capital. Second Brother would definitely entrust him with important tasks. Its quite a pity that he wants to resign and return to Mountain Spring Town now. She knew that her Master wanted to return to Mountain Spring Town. Back then, her Master had told her that she would return to her fiefdom after she found her husband. Now that her husband had been found and the big matter waspleted, Master was just carrying out her earlier n. Qin Xiaoyao nced at Princess Xiangyang. It is indeed a pity. However, my husband has already made up his mind and is willing to return home with me.. I cant refuse, can I? Chapter 453 - 453: Disciple Is Envious Of Master Chapter 453: Disciple Is Envious Of Master Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion Princess Xiangyang nced at Qin Xiaoyao and didnt talk about this matter anymore. When Qin Xiaoyao saw this, her eyes flickered slightly. Do you want to follow me to Mountain Spring Town? she suddenly asked. Empress Jia had already fallen. After this, even if Prince Huaiyin did not make things difficult for Xiangyang, as a princess, her situation would not be that optimistic. That being the case, instead of staying in the capital, perhaps it might be better if she left with Qin Xiaoyao as well. Although as a princess, her status was noble, the corresponding responsibilities she had to shoulder were not light. If Xiangyang followed Qin Xiaoyao, at least the girl would be able to have more control over her marriage in the future. Moreover, this girl had learned how to run a business from Liu Ling for a period of time. She was actually quite talented in this aspect. If she followed Qin Xiaoyao to Mountain Spring Town, the girl would not have to worry about having no job to do. The other thing was In her heart, Qin Xiaoyao actually hoped that her disciple and Liu Ling could try again. In the beginning, she felt that it was impossible for the two of them as they had totally ipatible backgrounds. However, after observing for a while, Qin Xiaoyao realized that Liu Ling was actually not totally without feelings toward Xiangyang. In fact, there were even some feelings that he himself did not notice. Since the grudges of the previous generation had ended and if Xiangyang was willing to abandon her identity as a princess, then it might not be impossible for Xiangyang and Liu Ling to develop their rtionship further. Princess Xiangyang was stunned momentarily. Her heart began racing. However, she quickly suppressed her thumping heart. Then, she rejected her Masters invitation. I dont think so. How could she possibly face Young Master Liu again in her current state? With her status, going to Mountain Spring Town with her Master would only cause trouble for everyone. In addition, Emperor Father and Empress Mother were confined in the pce. It was hard for her to feel at ease if she went so far away. When she saw that her disciples expression had be dejected, a touch of heartache shed across Qin Xiaoyaos heart once again. If youre worried Qin Xiaoyao was about to say that no one would treat her as an enemy. However, Princess Xiangyang interrupted her. Master, dont try to persuade me. I want to stay in the capital. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised momentarily. She then finally gave up on persuading the girl. The two of them fell silent again. After a while, Princess Xiangyang changed the topic. After Master and Young Master Liu leave, there is no one suitable to take care of the century egg business in the capital. Master, if you dont mind, how about you hand over all the business in the capital to me? 1 will definitely manage the business well for you, Master, Princess Xiangyang said solemnly. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang and saw her forcing out a smile. Alright. Thereafter, Qin Xiaoyao nodded. Princess Xiangyang smiled again, trying her best to make herself smile more happily. Thank you, Master! she expressed her thanks again. Qin Xiaoyao sighed and looked away. Princess Xiangyang also shifted her gaze and started rocking her reclining chair. Suddenly, Princess Xiangyang said, Master, 1 really admire you. Oh? Qin Xiaoyao did not open her eyes and repliedzily. She was so outstanding that it was normal for others to admire her. Princess Xiangyang smiled. Her response to Qin Xiaoyaos self-indulgent reply was only a few words in her heart, As I predicted. She then continued, Perhaps all the women in the world are envious of my Empress Mother, but Im envious of you. Qin Xiaoyao was finally interested. Oh? Indeed,pared to your Empress Mother, I also feel that my situation is better. Hehe! Princess Xiangyang turned her head to look at Qin Xiaoyao again, her expression somewhat speechless. Her Master was really Princess Xiangyang continued, Empress Mother is greatly favored by Emperor Father, but Emperor Father is unable to make her his only one. If she were a heartless person, then so be it. She could have used that favor to ascend to the throne and hold absolute power, which would have been beneficial to her remaining infallible. Princess Xiangyang sighed at this point. But she isnt. Everyone says that she is full of ambition and blinded by greed. But if she was truly blinded by greed, the Huangfu n would have lost control of its kingdom long ago. How can Second Brother and you guys still defeat her? Qin Xiaoyao finally turned her head and looked at Princess Xiangyang. When she saw that Princess Xiangyang did not look at her and was still rocking on the reclining chair, Qin Xiaoyao withdrew her gaze. Following that, she smiled and continued with her leisurely rocking. After thinking for a while, Qin Xiaoyao said, Come to think of it, you do have a point. If Empress Jia hadpletely disregarded the Emperors wishes and killed Prince Huaiyin from the beginning Prince Huaiyin would not have been able to grow up. Then how could he have retaliated against her today? Furthermore, if she really wanted to seize the Huangfu ns empire, who could stop her if the Emperor did not stop her? The courtiers all felt that Empress Jia was overbearing and autocratic. However, if she thought about it carefully, Empress Jia was in fact not overbearing enough, nor was she autocratic enough. Qin Xiaoyao had always felt that Empress Jia was the person in this era who bore the greatest simrity to her own personality. Now, on second thought, it seemed that Empress Jia was still deeply influenced by feudal ethics. Princess Xiangyang smiled. Its still the best to be like Master. You have no ambition, and you are brave enough to pursue what you like. You can do what you like without any restrictions or scruples. Qin Xiaoyao tilted her head and thought for a moment before nodding again. Thats my personality, she replied. Princess Xiangyang smiled again. Master, your personality is really good. Im very envious. She once wanted to follow in her Masters footsteps and live a carefree and happy life. However,ter on, she realized that she could not do it. Qin Xiaoyao froze for a moment as she suddenly recalled something. Well maybe you can, too? She looked at Princess Xiangyang in a probing manner. With Liu Ling Master, dont mention this matter anymore. Before Qin Xiaoyao could finish, she was interrupted by Princess Xiangyang. Immediately after that, Qin Xiaoyao saw a bitter smile on Princess Xiangyangs face. Previously, I felt that I could be like you, Master. However, ever since the incident with my Empress Mother, I realized that I couldnt do it. She was not confident that Young Master Liu would ept someone like her, who was the daughter of his enemy. She was even more afraid that Young Master Liu would look at her with hatred. Qin Xiaoyaos face was fraught with conflicting emotions. After a while, she sighed and said, In terms of being thick-skinned, you are indeed inferior to me. Pfft! Princess Xiangyang burst outughing. The gloominess in her heart dissipated a lot. Thats right! Thats why you are my Master! she said with augh. Qin Xiaoyao alsoughed. The atmosphere between the master and the disciple finally returned to normal. It was soon noon. Princess Xiangyang stayed behind to have lunch in the Marquiss residence. In the afternoon, Qin Xiaoyao did not go out either. She continued to stay in the residence and allowed her little disciple to y with her. Song Que returned to the residence in the evening. When Princess Xiangyang saw Song Que, her expression was a little fearful and she immediately became uneasy. Lord Song She bowed at Song Que and did not dare to raise her head. Previously, she felt that her masters husband was not as approachable as he looked. Ever since the day of her Empress Mothers incident, her intuition had been proven correct. The current Lord Song also did not appear approachable at all. Mm-hmm. Song Que nced at Princess Xiangyang indifferently and walked right past her. When he looked at Qin Xiaoyao, he could not help smiling. That smile was extremely warm and mesmerizing.. Chapter 454 Yun Niangs Thoughts 454 Yun Niang''s Thoughts Qin Xiaoyao also smiled. "We were waiting for you toe back for dinner. We are so hungry now," she pouted. Song Que pulled on Qin Xiaoyao''s hand. "You don''t have to wait for me next time," he said gently. After saying that, he led his wife to the front hall. Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she followed Song Que. "I asked the kitchen to make delicious food today. After dinner, we''ll take a stroll on the streets," she said. When Qin Xiaoyao passed by Princess Xiangyang, she even turned her head and signaled with her eye at Princess Xiangyang, hinting to her to follow them. Princess Xiangyang followed the two of them. When she saw the two of them behaving intimately as if no one was around, she felt very strongly that she was a third wheel. Even though she felt very awkward, she could only follow the couple. They finally arrived at the front hall. Princess Xiangyang then realized that Liu Ling and Yun Niang were also there. She became even more nervous at once. When Liu Ling saw Princess Xiangyang, his expression froze. His heart skipped a beat, and then he quickly averted his gaze. When Yun Niang saw Princess Xiangyang, there did not seem to be any emotional fluctuations on her face. She only nced at her younger brother imperceptibly. When she saw her younger brother''s strange expression, the corners of her mouth could not help curling up. "Elder Cousin, Cousin-inw, please sit down!" Yun Niang said enthusiastically. Ever since the fall of Empress Jia, she had epted her Cousin-inw''s invitation and moved into the Marquis''s residence. However, there were many things to do in Cloud Scent Court, so she did note back every day. That was right. Yun Niang was no longer working as a courtesan for hire in Cloud Scent Court but had be the new madame of Cloud Scent Court. Then again, saying that she was a madame didn''t seem appropriate either. This was because Cloud Scent Court was currently undergoing a reform. In the future, Cloud Scent Court would no longer operate as a brothel. Or rather, it would no longer operate purely as a brothel. The girls in Cloud Scent Court would no longer need to sell their bodies to receive customers. This was also the only condition her Elder Cousin stated as a prerequisite before allowing her to stay in Cloud Scent Court. "Let''s all sit down and eat," Qin Xiaoyao replied with a smile. "Mm-hmm," Yun Niang answered. However, she did not sit down immediately. Instead, she looked at Princess Xiangyang. "Your Highness,e sit here!" she said to Princess Xiangyang. Everyone was quite surprised when they heard Yun Niang''s words. Liu Ling looked at his elder sister. Princess Xiangyang stood rooted at the same spot in shock. "Come here!" Yun Niang smiled and gestured at Princess Xiangyang. Princess Xiangyang finally came back to her senses. "Okay," she replied in a daze and walked toward Yun Niang. When she passed by Liu Ling, she couldn''t resist stealing a nce at him. Yun Niang noticed the entire process and a smile shed across her eyes. "Sit here." Then, she pulled out the chair beside her. "Thank thank you," Princess Xiangyang said awkwardly. She practically didn''t dare to look Yun Niang in the eye. "Thank me for what?" Yun Niang said with a smile. Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao. "Your Highness is Cousin-inw''s disciple, so you are one of us. "If you don''t mind my lowly background, you can just call me ''Sister'' in the future." At this point, a glint shed across Yun Niang''s eyes. As soon as she said this, a peculiar expression crept across Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que''s eyes. The couple exchanged nces with each other and knew what to do then. Yun Niang had taken a fancy to her future younger sister-inw. Otherwise, how could this disciple address the cousin of her master''s husband as "Sister?" That was one generation apart. Nearby, Liu Ling did not notice these hints. He kept his head lowered, tormented by conflicting emotions. Princess Xiangyang felt overwhelmed by the attention. She simply assumed that Yun Niang didn''t hate her that much, but she didn''t dare to think too much about it. "Sis Sister." Thus, Princess Xiangyang called out somewhat bashfully, her face all flushed. "That''s right!" Yun Niang replied happily. After she sat down, she quickly patted the chair beside her. "Sit down!" Yun Niang told Princess Xiangyang. "Thank you, Sister." After address her like this the first time, Princess Xiangyang didn''t find the second time so awkward. With that, Princess Xiangyang sat down beside Yun Niang. Thereafter, scene after interesting scene happened at the table. At Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que''s side, the couple kept picking food for each other every now and then. They kept showing off their love endlessly. On the other hand, Yun Niang seemed to be a chatterbox. She kept asking Princess Xiangyang about her hobbies and favorite food and so on, beaming all the while. And she kept heaping food into Princess Xiangyang''s bowl. Princess Xiangyang had to constantly thank her while answering Yun Niang''s questions in a daze. While eating, she still couldn''t resist stealing a few nces at Liu Ling from time to time. Was Young Master Liu unhappy that his elder sister treated her so well? Why didn''t he say anything? When she saw Princess Xiangyang''s reaction, Yun Niang was not angry. Instead, she was more and more pleased with her future younger sister-inw. That was right. Future sister-inw! Everyone finished their meals in a lively manner. After the meal, Princess Xiangyang couldn''t bear Yun Niang''s enthusiasm anymore and wanted to follow her Master out. However, when Song Que shot her a nce, she found herself unable to say that she wanted to follow her Master. At this moment, Yun Niang had already grabbed Princess Xiangyang''s hand. "Your Master and her husband have only been reunited for a few days. Don''t intrude upon them. "Come to my courtyard. I still have many things to say to you," Yun Niang said with a smile. Princess Xiangyang was a little hesitant. She could not help stealing a nce at Liu Ling again. This time, her eyes met Liu Ling''s gaze. Liu Ling panicked and immediately looked away. Qin Xiaoyao looked puzzled. 09:30 Then, he turned around and left. A look of disappointment swept over Princess Xiangyang''s face then. Yun Niang covered her mouth and smiled when she saw this. "Let''s go." She smiled and tugged at Princess Xiangyang''s hand. Princess Xiangyang had no way to turn her down, so she could only murmur in the affirmative. When Qin Xiaoyao saw this scene, she could not help giggling out loud. Fortunately, her voice was not loud, so Princess Xiangyang did not hear her. However, Song Que, who was beside her, heard everything clearly. He lowered his head and stared at his wife. When his wife signaled to him with her eyes, Song Que could not resist smiling as well. The two of them walked out of the front hall and soon arrived at the front courtyard. Qin Xiaoyao finally couldn''t hold back anymore and spoke up. "I didn''t expect Yun Niang to be so pleased with that girl," she said with a smile. Previously, she was still worried about Xiangyang, but now, she was no longer worried. Yun Niang liked Xiangyang so much. As long as Liu Ling did not really hate her, this matter would most likely be sessful. Song Que looked at his wife again. "Of course she''s pleased," he said. Qin Xiaoyao looked puzzled. "Although the Liu family''s injustice has been redressed, the reputation of the siblings has been ruined," exined Song Que. "Although Yun Niang didn''t say it, she was actually very worried about Cousin Ling''s marriage prospects." At this point, Song Que sighed. "Even if it was an ordinary family, if they found out about the past of the siblings, they would probably not be willing to discuss marriage with Cousin Ling, not to mention the noble families and official families. "And Cousin Ling is after all the legitimate son of the Liu family''s first wife. Yun Niang also doesn''t want to let him down." "But Xiangyang" Song Que''s lips curled up at this juncture. "Although Empress Jia has been deposed, that girl is still a princess. She is a true-blue daughter of the Imperial Family, and her status is noble and exalted. "What''s even rarer is that that girl is still deeply in love with Cousin Ling. She didn''t mind at all Cousin Ling''s past." When he saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at him, Song Que continued, "As for the enmity between the Liu family and the Jia family" Chapter 455 Paying Her Mothers Debts 455 Paying Her Mother''s Debts "Just like what Empress Jia said that day, when the Song and Liu families were in trouble, Xiangyang was not even born yet. There was no need to implicate her in these matters. "Even if they really want to settle scores, letting Xiangyang marry Cousin Ling could be considered a way to pay off her Empress Mother''s debt." Qin Xiaoyao was stunned when she heard this. They could still settle scores in this manner? When he saw her reaction, Song Que grabbed Qin Xiaoyao''s hand. "Let''s go for a walk on the streets," he said. "Okay," Qin Xiaoyao answered. She followed Song Que for a few more steps before she gathered her thoughts and stopped thinking about the Liu siblings. The couple soon reached the street. The streets of the capital had always been bustling. Even at night, it would be lively untilte at night. Qin Xiaoyao felt contented as she walked down the street. She couldn''t help thinking back to the time when she was in Mountain Spring Town. After dinner, the whole family would go out for a walk in the streets to digest their food. "Oh, right. When you went to see His Highness today, did he agree to let you go back to Mountain Spring Town with me?" Qin Xiaoyao asked. "Not really," Song Que replied. When he saw Qin Xiaoyao''s baffled expression, he said, "But he didn''t object either." "What do you mean?" Qin Xiaoyao was even more puzzled. "He said we can discuss it again once the situation in the capital haspletely stabilized," Song Que said. Qin Xiaoyao nodded. "I think there''s a high probability he won''t agree. "If I were His Highness, I probably wouldn''t let you go either." Her husband was so capable. With the help of such a talent, wouldn''t it be much easier for His Highness to carry out his duty as the Emperor in the future? Song Que smiled. "I feel that His Highness is even more reluctant to part with you," he said. He had followed the Second Prince for two lifetimes. No one knew his personality better than Song Que. The Second Prince was about to ascend the throne, and thereafter he had to govern his kingdom. After a few more years, when the kingdom had stabilized, he would have other thoughts. His Highness was full of ambition. Merely taking control of the Great Jin State was not his ultimate goal. If His Highness wanted to expand his territory, Song Que''s wife would be his best helper. Moreover Song Que had already noticed this. His Highness treated his wife somewhat differently. Just based on this point, he could not allow his wife to stay in the capital. As for him, he naturally had to follow his wife. Qin Xiaoyao''s heart trembled slightly as she thought of something. Almost immediately, she suppressed the tiny tinge of guilt in her heart. It was fine. She had never taken Prince Huaiyin''s probing and flirting seriously. Her husband was probably referring to the fact that Prince Huaiyin valued her ability to lead troops into battle. "So what if he is reluctant? "It''s not like he''ll let us be officials at the same time. I''m not interested in helping him fight and kill," Qin Xiaoyao said against her conscience. Sigh! Only God knew that her original n was to asionally go to the border to kill people. She was thinking she could do this to release the evil energy that had umted in her body. However, right now, her husband''s feelings were more important. Whatever things that might happen in the future could be discussedter. Song Que turned his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao quickly gave her husband a bright smile. Song Que smiled in amusement. He could not resist reaching out to scratch Qin Xiaoyao''s nose. "Ouch!" Qin Xiaoyao deliberately yelled out and stepped back to evade his touch. Song Que exerted some strength to pull his wife back. He did not insist on scratching the bridge of her nose again. Instead, he gave a deep sigh. "In the future, I don''t mind whether you be a Great General or not. However, you have to remember to have less contact with His Highness," he said with a tinge of jealousy. Qin Xiaoyao shrank her nose back as she carefully nced at the man beside her. She finally realized that her husband had sensed Prince Huaiyin''s feelings for her. "Hubby, you have the final say! I''ll listen to you, Hubby!" Hence, she hurriedly said. Song Que turned his head and gave his wife a re with a smile. "You can''t refuse to listen. "When the matters in the capital are settled, I will follow you. "Wherever you go, I will follow. At that point, even if a certain someone had the intention, he would not have the chance. Of course, deep down, he still believed that his wife wouldn''t have such bad taste. In other aspects, he might not be able to beat Prince Huaiyin. However, his appearance alone was enough to capture his wife''s heart. Nheless, to be on the safe side, after returning to Mountain Spring Town, he would think of a way to tie his wife downpletely. Recently, he went to look for a miracle healer doctor. With more treatment, there might still be a chance for his body. Sigh! He was really looking forward to the day when his wife became pregnant with his child. Qin Xiaoyao''s heart was filled with sweetness. She tightened her grip on Song Que''s hand. "Alright. Wherever Hubby is, that''s where I''ll be," she replied sweetly. At most, she would bring her husband to the border. She could just take it as having a vacation with her husband. Song Que smiled dotingly as he held Qin Xiaoyao''s hand and walked forward. After walking for a while, Qin Xiaoyao told Song Que that she was going to the pce to visit Empress Jia the next day. The person she sent to inquire with Prince Huaiyin had already returned to report that His Highness had given permission for her to bring Princess Xiangyang into the pce to visit Empress Jia the next day. Song Que wasn''t unhappy after hearing that. "Since you are going, you may as well ask for Empress Jia''s opinion," he said. "If she really cares for her daughter, she should be willing to let Xiangyang marry Cousin Ling." Qin Xiaoyao nodded. "I was thinking the same thing," she concurred. All of them would be leaving. If they left that girl Xiangyang all alone in the capital, Qin Xiaoyao did not feel quite at ease. After chatting about Princess Xiangyang for a while, Qin Xiaoyao asked Song Que about the matters of the Imperial Court. "As for those people who have been unearthed from the earlier investigation, the Ministry of Justice has already arrested them after following the clues. "The rest will be caught soon." Furthermore, many people would spill out the people and things they knew in order to protect themselves. Even if someone was stubborn, they would not be able to withstand Song Que''s torture methods. After all, in his previous life, he was a famous cruel official. What kind of rumor did other people spread about him Oh, yes. They said he had a face as lovely as a peach blossom and a heart as venomous as a snake or scorpion. Although the memories of his previous life were already a little far away, he still had not forgotten those methods. "That''s good. "Quickly settle the matters in the capital so that we can return to Mountain Spring Town as soon as possible. I miss Mother and Yun ''er and Ye''er. There''s also my sister-inw and Big Girl Li. "I wonder how big those few babies are now." In particr, Little Chunhua had always been chubby since she was young. Now she must be even cuter. That was her goddaughter! "Mm-hmm!" Song Que answered. He couldn''t help thinking of the people and things in Mountain Spring Town. His heart was filled with yearning. Meanwhile, Yun Niang dragged Princess Xiangyang to her courtyard. Then, she asked Princess Xiangyang more questions. She was like a big sister who was very concerned about Princess Xiangyang. Princess Xiangyang was a little reserved at first. Towards the end, she felt that Yun Niang was really concerned about her and she felt a little touched. "Sister, don''t you hate me?" Suddenly, Princess Xiangyang asked Yun Niang. Yun Niang was stunned momentarily. When she saw Princess Xiangyang looking at her nervously, she had some guesses about what the girl''s worries were. Thus, she smiled. "Why would I hate you?" Yun Niang asked in return. Chapter 456 We All Support You 456 We All Support You When Princess Xiangyang heard this, her emotions calmed down considerably. "My my Empress Mother she" she said, but she was unable to finish her sentence. Yun Niang finally stopped smiling. Princess Xiangyang tensed up again when she saw Yun Niang reach out for her head. She instinctively wanted to dodge, but she realized that Yun Niang had no ill intentions. Thus, she decided to ept her gesture. When she saw this, Yun Niang smiled faintly again. She stroked Princess Xiangyang''s head. Then, she stroked it a few more times. "Your Empress Mother is your Empress Mother, and you are you. How can we lump you two together?" she said. Princess Xiangyang looked at Yun Niang, feeling a little incredulous. Yun Niang smiled and continued, "You weren''t even born when the incident happened. "It''s unfair to put the me on you." Princess Xiangyang felt very moved. Yun Niang smiled again. "As for you Ling''er and I have such a background, yet you" Yun Niang looked at Princess Xiangyang. "Little girl, are your feelings for my younger brother Ling sincere?" she asked earnestly. Princess Xiangyang''s eyes widened. Then, she blurted out, "I''m sincere!" As soon as she finished speaking, she regretted it. She lowered her head and dared not look at Yun Niang. Being shy was one thing, but more than that, she was worried that Yun Niang despise her brazenness. To her surprise, she heard Yun Niang''sughter. Puzzled, Princess Xiangyang raised her head cautiously. Then, she saw Yun Niang looking at her with a beaming smile. Princess Xiangyang''s little face instantly turned red. "Sister" she called out shyly. Yun Niang looked at Princess Xiangyang with even more fondness and reached out to hold her hand. "Since you like him, don''t give up! "My younger brother Ling is just a little awkward. After spending some time with him, you will know that he is actually a good person." Princess Xiangyang was already in a daze. She couldn''t believe that Young Master Liu''s elder sister not only did not hate her, but she also approved of her getting together with Young Master Liu. "Moreover, ording to my observations that kid may have Hehe! Some feelings for you," Yun Niang continued. Princess Xiangyang was shocked and raised her head to look at Yun Niang. Yun Niang nodded. "It''s true. "You also know that my younger brother Ling was with me at Cloud Scent Court. "Although he was just a performing courtesan, he still had to apany patrons to drink asionally. He dide into contact with quite a number of people. "When he came into contact with many people, not surprisingly, he also met some who had true feelings for him. "However, no one could stir his heart. "Regardless of whether the other party was sincere or not, Ling always responded with the same attitude." As Yun Niang spoke, she observed Princess Xiangyang''s reaction at the same time. When she saw that Princess Xiangyang really did not appear to despise her younger brother, she was even more pleased with her. "As for you... "Although my younger brother Ling tries his best to hide it, I can still tell that he treats you differently from others." Princess Xiangyang''s heart shuddered. "Is what you said true, Sister?" She almost could not suppress the joy in her heart. "Mm-hmm." Yun Niang nodded. "Others only think that he is a friendly person and very smooth in dealing with people. But in reality, he is very aloof to the bone. "It''s too difficult for outsiders to enter his heart." It was precisely because of this that Yun Niang was worried that her younger brother might die single. It was not easy for a girl to appear who could make his emotions fluctuate. She didn''t want to see him miss the opportunity just like that. Princess Xiangyang''s whole face blushed. Then, she thought of something and a hint of self-doubt shed across her eyes. "But Young Master Liu rejected me outright before," she said. Princess Xiangyang felt a sense of dejection as she recalled the day she had recklessly rushed to the other party to confess her feelings but was rejected. If Young Master Liu was really interested in her, he would not have disyed such an attitude. Yun Niang could see Princess Xiangyang''s emotions. She patted the back of the girl''s hand. "I''m his elder sister. I watched him grow up. How can he possibly fool me?" she said with a smile. Princess Xiangyang''s heart skipped a beat. She then looked at Yun Niang. Just as she was about to say something, Yun Niang spoke again. "In short, I support the two of you getting together. "And I''m not the only one who supports you two. Your master and her husband also approve of this." Princess Xiangyang''s eyes flickered. Yun Niang smiled and said, "If you still wish to be with him, I can help." Princess Xiangyang immediately looked at Yun Niang. Yun Niang continued, "Elder Cousin''s business in the capital will not be settled so quickly. "I think you two can use this time to get in touch with each other more often. "If everything goes smoothly, I can go and ask my Elder Cousin and Cousin-inw to ask His Highness for a favor to let you return to Mountain Spring Town with us when the time is ripe." Princess Xiangyang''s expression froze. She struggled in her heart, but in the end, she still shook her head. When she saw that Yun Niang was puzzled, she exined, "I... want to stay in the capital." Yun Niang was astounded but then she thought of something. "Are you worried about your Empress Mother?" she asked. Princess Xiangyang lowered her head. "Mm-hmm," she replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito buzzing. She was afraid that Yun Niang would be upset. Yun Niang remained silent. After a while, she sighed. "It''s good that you are so filial," she said. Princess Xiangyang raised her head to look at Yun Niang and saw that she was not angry. She lowered her head again. She felt a little guilty. Yun Niang''s lips curled up when she saw the girl''s expression. "Little girl, though you are willing to stay in the capital for your Empress Mother, it doesn''t necessarily mean she wants you to do this," she said. Princess Xiangyang raised her head and looked at Yun Niang again. "When a new ruler takes over, all the officials in the Imperial Court are changed. "After His Highness ascends the throne, he will definitely eliminate the remaining members of the Jia and Shen families. "Although you are a princess, and His Highness may not make things difficult for you, the officials in the court may not let you off. "In order to show their loyalty to His Highness, it is not impossible for them to scheme against you. "Precisely because you are a princess, it is easier for you to be schemed against. "Do you understand what I''m saying?" Yun Niang said with heartfelt concern. How would they scheme? By arranging for marriage, of course. For example, a marriage alliance could be arranged for her, or she might be tasked by the Emperor to win over the ministers. A princess without any support and whose mother had a feud with the current Emperor would find it hard to get the respect she deserved, whether in terms of negotiating a marriage alliance or marrying a courtier or a courtier''s son. Xiangyang''s heart shuddered. When she saw her reaction, Yun Niang patted the back of Xiangyang''s hand tofort her. "I heard Cousin-inw say that she will bring you into the pce tomorrow to meet your Empress Mother. "You can tell your Empress Mother about this matter. Listen to her opinion first," she suggested. Yun Niang heard that Empress Jia had always doted on Princess Xiangyang. Presumably, she would not object to this arrangement. Princess Xiangyang hesitated and did not reply. When she saw this, Yun Niang felt relieved somewhat. This girl''s reaction at least indicated that she had taken Yun Niang''s words to heart. As for the matter of discussing marriage with Empress Jia, Yun Niang would entrust her Cousin-inw to do this. Upon thinking of this, Yun Niang quickly changed the topic. She pulled Princess Xiangyang away and started to talk about other things. By the time Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que returned from strolling through the night market, Yun Niang and Princess Xiangyang were almost done chatting. Chapter 457 Asking Cousin-in-law To Help Propose Marriage 457 Asking Cousin-inw To Help Propose Marriage Yun Niang was not in a hurry to rest and went to Qin Xiaoyao''s courtyard. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que were surprised to see Yun Niange over sote at night. "Why are you smiling so happily?" Qin Xiaoyao asked with a smile. The corners of Yun Niang''s mouth curled up even higher. "Cousin-inw, you are really smart." "Oh?" Qin Xiaoyao became interested. Even Song Que looked at Yun Niang. Yun Niang then told the couple what she was thinking. "It''s rare toe across someone who can tug at my younger brother Ling''s heartstrings. I... want to fulfill their wishes." Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que exchanged a nce, and a glint shed across their eyes that indicated, "As I expected." Song Que turned to look at Yun Niang. "We have no objections to this matter," he said with a smile. A joyous expression broke out on Yun Niang''s face. Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao. "Then I''ll have to trouble Cousin-inw to bring up the matter of marriage to Empress Jia on behalf of our Liu family tomorrow," she said. Qin Xiaoyao was astonished. This girl acted so fast? However, her astonishment did not stop her from consenting to help. "Alright." Yun Niang was delighted and finally felt relieved. "Then I won''t intrude upon Elder Cousin and Cousin-inw anymore. I will take my leave." "I''ll send you off." Qin Xiaoyao prepared to get up. "No need." Yun Niang turned down her offer and hurriedly left. Finally, the next day arrived. Princess Xiangyang boarded the horse carriage first. However, after getting into the horse carriage, she did not see Qin Xiaoyao get in. As she pulled aside the curtain of the horse carriage to check outside, she saw that Qin Xiaoyao had already mounted her horse. She opened her mouth as she was thinking of asking her Master to apany her in the carriage so that she could chat with her. However, the words stopped at the tip of Princess Xiangyang''s tongue. She put down the curtain and sat back in the horse carriage. The coachman quickly drove forward and the horse carriage rocked and swayed as it traveled. Princess Xiangyang, who was sitting in the carriage, felt tormented by emotional conflicts. Initially, she had already made up her mind to stay in the capital to apany her Empress Mother. However, Sister Yun Niang''s wordsst night made her waver. Today might be herst chance to be with Young Master Liu. If she gave up, their rtionship might reallye to an end. Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoyao rode her horse up front with a big smile. She turned around and looked at the horse carriage behind her. Today, she chose to ride a horse into the pce. Other than feeling that the air was better on horseback, she also did not want to talk too much with her disciple. Last night, Yun Niang hade to ask her for help, so she just had to do as Yun Niang said. She would not listen to anything else. The two of them finally arrived at the pce gate. Qin Xiaoyao was full of anticipation while Princess Xiangyang was caught up in conflicting emotions. After that, they went to Guan Ju Pce where Empress Jia was currently staying. There were guards keeping watch outside Guan Ju Pce. When they saw Qin Xiaoyao appear, they hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Lord Marquis!" After bowing, the head of the guards saw that Princess Xiangyang was right behind Qin Xiaoyao, so he bowed at Princess Xiangyang as well. "Greetings, Your Highness!" "Mm-hmm," Qin Xiaoyao responded. "We want to go in and meet the retired Empress," she said. "This way please" The head guard immediately stepped aside. Princess Xiangyang shifted her gaze from the head guard to her master. She sighed in her heart. Previously, she hade over several times to visit her Empress Mother. However, this person refused to allow her in. Now, when her Master arrived, this guard didn''t even ask any questions and simply allowed them to enter. Indeed, she was now just a princess in name only without any authority. As she followed Qin Xiaoyao into Guan Ju Pce, Princess Xiangyang quickly gathered her emotions. While walking with Qin Xiaoyao to the interior, she observed the surroundings of Guan Ju Pce. The courtyard of Guan Ju Pce was very in, with very few flowers and nts. At the same time, after the two of them came in, they did not find a single servant. When they finally arrived at the front of the pce, Princess Xiangyang finally saw the head pce maid who used to serve her Empress Mother. "Your Highness!" When the head pce maid who used to serve Empress Jia saw Princess Xiangyang, she quickly came forward to wee her. However, when she saw Qin Xiaoyao standing in front of Princess Xiangyang, her happy footsteps stopped again. "Greetings, Marquis Xiaoyao!" She immediately withdrew the joy on her face and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao with some trepidation. Before Qin Xiaoyao could say anything, Princess Xiangyang had already walked out from behind her. "Why are you the only one in the pce? Where is my Empress Mother?" she asked anxiously. The pce maid raised her head and nced at Qin Xiaoyao. Then, she lowered his head and answered Princess Xiangyang. "Prince Huaiyin only allowed Her Royal Highness to bring two pce maids. Only Nanny Gui and I followed her." That day, Empress Jia had given instructions that the servants were free to decide whether to follow her. In the end, only she and Nanny Gui volunteered to follow. Empress Jia had treated her well in the past. Even if Empress Jia was in trouble now, she would always follow her. "Your Highness, don''t worry. Although there are fewer attendants, Guan Ju Pce still has everything. Even if wecked something, someone would give it to us. Her Royal Highness is currently doing well." Although Empress Jia was banished to the Cold Pce, the Emperor was still concerned about her all this while. He would order people to send things over every three to five days so that they wouldn''t have to live a miserable life. Upon hearing this, Princess Xiangyang felt much more at ease. "Take us to meet Empress Mother," she then said. "Yes, Your Highness," the pce maid hurriedly replied. Soon, she led Qin Xiaoyao and Princess Xiangyang into the hall. Empress Jia heard some movement outside and had just asked Nanny Gui to go out to check what was happening. Thereafter, she saw Qin Xiaoyao and Princess Xiangyang. Empress Jia was astounded. She opened her mouth but no words came out. Then, she raised her arms. Princess Xiangyang could no longer control her emotions at that point. "Empress Mother!" she called out and immediately ran towards Empress Jia. Then, she flung herself into Empress Jia''s arms. "Empress Mother" Empress Jia hugged her daughter tightly, her heart overwhelmed by a warm sensation. Nearby, the pce maid and Nanny Gui wiped their tears and excused themselves after exchanging a nce with each other. When Qin Xiaoyao saw this scene, she also felt somewhat moved. Just as she was considering whether she should excuse herself too and leave some private space and time for the mother and daughter, Empress Jia looked at her. "Marquis Xiaoyao, please take a seat," Empress Jia said. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. After hesitating for a moment, she epted the invitation. "Thank you, Your Royal Highness!" She cupped her hands at Empress Jia. A self-deprecating smile appeared on Empress Jia''s face. She wanted to say something but eventually didn''t. Qin Xiaoyao felt a little awkward when Empress Jia kept staring at her. She was the reason that Empress Jia was in this state. After avoiding Empress Jia''s gaze, Qin Xiaoyao found a stool and sat down. She even deliberately sat a little further away from Empress Jia. When she saw this, Princess Xiangyang freed herself from Empress Jia''s arms. "Empress Mother, it is all thanks to Master''s help that I am able to enter Guan Ju Pce to visit you," she said. Empress Jia looked at Qin Xiaoyao again. "I have to thank Marquis Xiaoyao for this matter then," she said. "Haha! Your Royal Highness is too polite," Qin Xiaoyao replied. When she saw the awkwardness on Qin Xiaoyao''s face, Empress Jia smiled. "Marquis Xiaoyao, you don''t have to be so reserved," she said. When she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking in her direction with a somewhat guilty expression, she smiled again and continued, "As far as I''m concerned, being able to live peacefully in this Guan Ju Pce is already very good. "Perhaps all of this is thanks to you, Marquis Xiaoyao." Prince Huaiyin and Song Que were unlikely to pity her. She was able to keep her life probably because of Marquis Xiaoyao. Chapter 458 Agree To Marriage Proposal 458 Agree To Marriage Proposal Qin Xiaoyao looked at Empress Jia again. "Your Royal Highness" Her awkwardness lessened considerably. Empress Jia smiled again. After taking a look at her daughter, she said to Qin Xiaoyao, "I also have to thank you for bringing Xiangyang into the pce." Qin Xiaoyao also smiled. "It''s what I should do." She looked at Princess Xiangyang and saw that the girl was smiling happily. She wondered when she should bring up the matter of the Liu family''s marriage proposal to Empress Jia. Empress Jia also looked at Princess Xiangyang. When she saw that her daughter seemed to have lost some weightpared to her earlier self, she could not help giving a sigh. "I deserved everything that happened to me. "It''s just that this girl" As she said this, her eyes were filled with heartache. After hesitating for a moment, Empress Jia looked at Qin Xiaoyao. "Does Marquis Xiaoyao truly care for this girl?" she asked. Previously, her daughter had often praised Marquis Xiaoyao in front of her. Her words also revealed that she had a good rtionship with her Master. Back then, she simply thought that Marquis Xiaoyao was just trying to please her. Now, it seemed that Marquis Xiaoyao truly cared for her daughter. Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang and saw that the young girl was also looking at her. "Of course, I care for her," she said to Empress Jia. Empress Jia''s expression immediately rxed a little and she nodded. "Since that''s the case, I have a presumptuous request." As she spoke, Empress Jia stood up. Then, she bowed to Qin Xiaoyao. Qin Xiaoyao was shocked and quickly stood up to stop her. However, Empress Jia still bowed. Qin Xiaoyao frowned. "What request do you have, Your Royal Highness?" she asked. This woman was such a proud person in the past, but now Empress Jia straightened up and looked at Qin Xiaoyao. Then, she looked at Princess Xiangyang. "I would like to ask Lord Marquis to plead with Prince Huaiyin to let Xiangyang follow Lord Marquis in the future. "In the future, whether it''s her marriage or anything else, Lord Marquis will make the decision for her." She had already been deposed as Empress, and the Emperor was going to abdicate soon. Other than Marquis Xiaoyao, she could not think of anyone else who could protect her Xiangyang. As for the Crown Prince, she was no longer able to do anything for him. And right now, it was best for the Crown Prince if she didn''t do anything. Qin Xiaoyao got a big shock. She never dreamed that Empress Jia''s request could be this. "Empress Mother" Princess Xiangyang called out to Empress Jia. Tears had already welled up in her eyes. Empress Jia looked at her daughter and quickly looked at Qin Xiaoyao again. "Now, the only thing I am still worried about is this girl. "It is indeed my just deserts to have fallen to this plight today. But this girl is innocent" Qin Xiaoyao felt moved. "I" "I will follow my husband back to Mountain Spring Town," she said. Empress Jia was astonished. Then, a smile appeared on her face. "You two are indeed bold in action and decisive in letting go. Good for all of you," she said. After looking at Princess Xiangyang, she turned to Qin Xiaoyao again. "It''s good to let Xiangyang follow you two to Mountain Spring Town." Qin Xiaoyao was slightly startled. Empress Jia smiled again. "Right now, how I wish this girl is just amoner." The identity of a princess was an honor but also a restriction. A princess whose mother was a sinner would find it difficult to lead a good life. Qin Xiaoyao felt relieved at once. "Someone asked me to bring her here to discuss marriage with Your Royal Highness," she finally said. Princess Xiangyang got a shock. Empress Jia raised her eyebrows slightly. Then, she thought of something and gave a sigh. "Is it the Liu family?" she asked. "Mm-hmm. Yun Niang wants to ask for Princess Xiangyang''s hand in marriage from Your Royal Highness on behalf of her younger brother, Liu Ling," Qin Xiaoyao said. Empress Jia remained silent. When Princess Xiangyang saw this, her palms started to sweat. Sister Yun Niang actually went to ask her Master for help in this matter. Furthermore, her Master actually brought up this matter to her Empress Mother. Would her Empress Mother agree? Empress Jia was silent again. She looked at her daughter. Just as her gaze met Princess Xiangyang''s eyes, she saw her daughter lowering her head. At this moment, Empress Jia understood everything. Since her daughter didn''t say anything to object, it meant she was also agreeable to this matter. After giving another sigh in her heart, Empress Jia finally looked at Qin Xiaoyao. "Will the Liu siblings, because of me" "Your Royal Highness, don''t worry. Yun Niang is truly sincere in asking for Xiangyang''s hand in marriage for her younger brother Ling. She will not mistreat Xiangyang in the future." Before Empress Jia could finish her question, Qin Xiaoyao had already answered. "As for Younger Cousin Ling, he won''t treat Xiangyang badly either." Empress Jia looked at her daughter. Xiangyang quickly nodded. "Sister Yun Niang treats me very well," she chimed in. Only then did Empress Jia''s brows rx a little. "Since that''s the case, then I will agree to this marriage. "However, this girl is still young. Can the wedding date be postponed to ater date?" It was not good for the woman''s body if she got married too early. As for that Liu Ling, it was fine if his status was slightly inferior. The most important thing was that her daughter liked him. Moreover, given the current situation, it was good that the Liu family did not transfer their hatred onto her daughter. Qin Xiaoyao was delighted. "Of course!" she quickly answered. "When we go to Mountain Spring Town, my husband and I will be Xiangyang''s family. I think, when this girl turns eighteen, I will arrange her marriage with Younger Cousin Ling." As soon as she answered, Qin Xiaoyao began discussing the details with Empress Jia. In the past, Empress Jia was in a high and lofty position, and Qin Xiaoyao would watch what she said very carefully. Now, there was nothing for her to worry about. When Empress Jia heard Qin Xiaoyao speak to her in such a tone, she wasn''t angry. Instead, she became a little more cordial. "That''s good," she replied with a smile. Thereafter, she looked at her blushing daughter. "Daughter" Then, she gestured to her daughter. "Empress Mother." Princess Xiangyang raised her head and called out with a flushed face. Empress Jia sighed in her heart. Girls should be married off once they were big enough. When her daughter came toward her, she held the girl''s hand and walked toward Qin Xiaoyao. Thereafter, she handed Xiangyang over to Qin Xiaoyao. "Today, I will hand my daughter over to you, Marquis Xiaoyao. "I hope that Lord Marquis will not forget what you said today." Qin Xiaoyao tilted her head and smiled at her precocious disciple. She then nodded at Empress Jia with a beaming smile. "I will definitely keep my word," she replied. Empress Jia nodded and pulled Qin Xiaoyao to one side to ask about the details of Mountain Spring Town. Qin Xiaoyao answered her truthfully. Princess Xiangyang didn''t interrupt at first, but gradually, she also started to interject. From time to time, she would interrupt her Empress Mother and ask Qin Xiaoyao about things that happened in Mountain Spring Town. The more they listened, the more intrigued they became. In the end, Empress Jia even felt a little regretful that she could not go to Mountain Spring Town for a visit. The three of them chatted until noon. Then, Qin Xiaoyao and Princess Xiangyang stayed in Guan Ju Pce for lunch. Princess Xiangyang waspletely relieved when she saw that Empress Jia''s meals were not bad at all. After lunch, Empress Jia finally expressed that she wanted to see the guests out. Before leaving, she gave Princess Xiangyang many instructions and personally sent her daughter and Qin Xiaoyao out of the main hall. She watched until her daughter and Qin Xiaoyao disappeared around the corner before she finally sighed and turned around to return to the hall. The pce maid hurriedly went forward to support Empress Jia. "Her Highness is full of filial piety. Your Royal Highness should feel gratified," she said tofort Empress Jia. Empress Jia turned her head to look at the pce maid, and the corners of her mouth curled up into a smile. "You''re right. "It''s just that this time, once she leaves, I''m afraid we won''t be able to see each other again." After saying that, Empress Jia''s footsteps became heavier. Chapter 459 New Emperor Enthroned 459 New Emperor Enthroned Her body probably couldn''t hold on for much longer. "Your Royal Highness, please take care. There is still a long road ahead. You and Her Highness will definitely be reunited," the pce maid hurriedly said. Empress Jia smiled helplessly but she didn''t say anything else. Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoyao led Princess Xiangyang out of the pce. On the way, the young girl did not say a single word. When the horse carriage exited the pce gate, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly dismounted and squeezed into the horse carriage. "Mas Master." The young girl got a shock. Qin Xiaoyao''s lips curled up. "I''ming in to talk to you." Princess Xiangyang finally rxed a little. Qin Xiaoyao proceeded to sit opposite Princess Xiangyang. She looked at Princess Xiangyang intently. Her gaze made the young girl very uneasy. "Why did you be so quiet the moment you left Guan Ju Pce? "Weren''t you quite eloquent in Guan Ju Pce just now?" Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. Princess Xiangyang blushed furiously. "Master" she called out. Qin Xiaoyao smiled again. She knew that her disciple was worried about Empress Jia. She reached out and held Princess Xiangyang''s hand. "Don''t worry. With His Majesty around, your Empress Mother''s life won''t be too hard." Even if Prince Huaiyin was resentful toward Empress Jia, he would not carry things too far on the Emperor''s ount. Princess Xiangyang''s lips twitched. "I hope so," she said. "Of course, it will be so," Qin Xiaoyao said. "Now, your Empress Mother has agreed to the marriage, you can follow me withplete ease of mind." Princess Xiangyang looked at Qin Xiaoyao. "Don''t weigh yourself down with the psychological burden. "Only when you are leading a good life will your Empress Mother feel at ease. Obeying her will is the best filial piety you can show her," Qin Xiaoyao said. Princess Xiangyang''s heart trembled momentarily. She finally nodded. Only then did Qin Xiaoyao start teasing her precocious disciple. After she said a few more words, Princess Xiangyang''s mood was lifted. By the time the two of them returned to Marquis''s residence, the young girl''s mood was already much better. After dinner, Qin Xiaoyao went to Yun Niang and told her the good news. At the same time, the two women decided to y matchmaker for Liu Ling and Xiangyang. In the blink of an eye, it was the new Emperor''s coronation day. On this day, the sky was clear and the atmosphere in the pce was solemn and dignified. After many days, the Emperor finally appeared in court again. As witnessed by all the civil and military officials, the Emperor personally led Prince Huaiyin to the throne. At this point, the new Emperor ascended the throne and was called Emperor Xuan. After Emperor Xuan ascended the throne, he first issued a decree to grant amnesty to allmoners, reduce unpaid forcedbor, and reduce taxation. Then, the second imperial decree installed Song Que in the Ministry of Justice. His task was to thoroughly investigate the remaining members of the Jia and Shen families topletely remove the poisonous ulcers still festering in the Great Jin State. Over the next three months, the officials witnessed Song Que''s ruthless methods. Many officials in the Imperial Court and the local government officials alsonded in trouble. There were cases of people going to jail and having their residences searched and assets confiscated almost every day. For a time, everyone in court was in a jittery state, and everyone felt insecure. It wasn''t until the fourth month that Song Que finally stopped hauling in people who were implicated. Thereafter, Song Que submitted his resignation request to Emperor Xuan. Not surprisingly, Emperor Xuan was unwilling to let Song Que leave. However, Song Que had intimidated the entire Imperial Court with his ruthless methods. Although the officials were angry at him, they didn''t dare to say anything, but they were extremely displeased. Under such circumstances, Emperor Xuan could only take into consideration the officials'' sentiments and finally agreed to let Song Que resign. With this method, Emperor Xuan made use of this sharp sword in the shape of Song Que topletely eradicate all hidden dangers and was thus able to rule securely over his empire. As for Song Que, he had Qin Xiaoyao protecting him. He was also able to escape the fate of being disposed of once he outlived his usefulness in his previous life and resign sessfully. Soon, Emperor Xuan issued an edict to hold a talent recruitment examination. The purpose was to choose talented people to fill the positions vacated by those officials who were implicated by the Jia and Shen families and were dismissed. The capital, which was once shrouded in fear due to the mass arrests, indictments, and persecutions, returned to its lively form once again. On this day, in the private room of Cloud Scent Court. Emperor Xuan sat at the table, drinking and chatting with Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que. The current Cloud Scent Court had already been sessfully reformed. Although there were stilldies apanying patrons to drink, there was no longer any flesh trade. The business hours had also changed. In the past, they were only open in the evening. Now, they operated from noon to evening. "The talent recruitment examination will begin soon. Since you and your wife have not left the capital, why don''t you two stay and help me take charge of the literary and martial examinations respectively?" Emperor Xuan said with a smile at Song Que and Qin Xiaoyao. Between the couple, one was the top scorer of the previous literary examination, while the other was the chief examiner of the previous martial examination. Moreover, both of them were about to return to Mountain Spring Town. They had no conflict of interest with any of the officials in the court. They were the most appropriate candidates to preside over the literary and martial examinations to help him select talents. Song Que and Qin Xiaoyao exchanged looks with each other. Then, Qin Xiaoyaoughed out loud. She raised her wine cup to Emperor Xuan. "Your Majesty, are you going to squeeze out everyst bit of value from us husband and wife?" she said impudently. Her husband "ughtered" many people with his "sweeping saber" in order to clear the obstacles for Emperor Xuan. During those days, there had been several waves of assassins who overestimated themselves and wanted to take her husband''s life. It was only because she had sent members of the Warfire team to keep watch over her husband that those people did not seed. Otherwise, her husband would have died countless times if left by himself. After finally settling the matter, the two of them were prepared to leave and they did not want any moreplications. The Emperor drank the wine and finally put away the thoughts he should not have. 10:33 He chatted with the two of them again. Emperor Xuan was stunned. Thereafter, heughed out loud as well. "Marquis Xiaoyao Forget it Only you can still speak so freely in front of me." With that, Emperor Xuan nced at Song Que. "Brother Song is so lucky. You make me envious!" "Come, let''s drink!" Then, he raised his wine cup at Song Que. Unfortunately, there was only one Qin Xiaoyao in this world. A Qin Xiaoyao whom no one couldpel. Even now, when he had be the Emperor, he still couldn''tpel this woman. Song Que raised his wine cup. "Thank you, Your Majesty!" he said. Then, he finished the wine in his cup. The Emperor drank the wine and finally put away the thoughts he should not have. He chatted with the two of them again. Song Que still had some reservations. When he spoke to the Emperor, he had always mindful of not overstepping the boundary. However, Qin Xiaoyao didn''t have any reservations at all and treated Emperor Xuan as a friend. Fortunately, Emperor Xuan liked Qin Xiaoyao''s bold temperament and was not angry at all. "Sigh! I''m a little envious of you two. When you return to Mountain Spring Town this time, you will be far away from the disputes of the Imperial Court. There will be nothing for you two to worry about. "As for me, I have to deal with thousands of state matters every day, and I have a heavy burden on my shoulders," Emperor Xuan suddenly said. He truly found it a littlementable. Previously, he thought that this couple was a little silly. They gave up their bright future, forgoing fame and riches, and wanted to return to a small ce like Mountain Spring Town. Now, when he was encumbered byplicated state affairs, he really felt a little tired. He couldn''t help but envy these two people. Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que looked at each other and smiled. "Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and the Great Jin State has just experienced war and many things need to be rebuilt. It is to be expected that you will be a bit busy," Song Que said. "In a few more days, the new officials will be in ce. Then everything will be fine." Qin Xiaoyao also chimed in with a smile, "At that point, if Your Majesty is free, why note to Mountain Spring Town to visit us? "The two of us will definitely give you a warm wee!" Emperor Xuan raised his eyebrows and immediately raised his wine cup to the two. "In that case, it''s settled!" Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que raised their cups in return. Chapter 460 Returning to Mountain Spring Town 460 Returning to Mountain Spring Town This wine feaststed until almost evening. Emperor Xuan was eventually helped out of the premises half-drunk by his eunuchs. Song Que was also a little drunk and Qin Xiaoyao was the one who helped him out of Cloud Scent Court. In the end, just as he left Cloud Scent Court and got into the horse carriage, Song Que became sober considerably. He then pulled Qin Xiaoyao into his arms. "You''re quite generous, aren''t you? You are inviting him toe and look for us in Mountain Spring Town when he''s free?" the man said with a hint of drunkenness. Qin Xiaoyao was surprised. Then, she smiled and patted her husband''s back. "I was just being polite. "He is the Emperor now. He is carrying the weight of the kingdom and the well-being of the people on his shoulders. How can he have the time to bother us in Mountain Spring Town?" she said. Song Que''s eyes were still filled with reproach. He nced at Qin Xiaoyao and continued, "What about going to the border?" "We agreed to resign. Why did you promise him that you would bring the Warfire team to the border every year to undertake missions?" Qin Xiaoyao was astounded again. Well, she couldn''t possibly reveal that she had made this request to Emperor Xuan in advance, asking him to deliberately mention this in front of her husband, could she? Of course, not. "Hehe! If we stay in Mountain Spring Town all the time, it will be a little boring, won''t it? "Isn''t it nice to go to the border every year to rx? "When the timees, I''ll definitely bring you along," Qin Xiaoyao said. Only then did Song Que''s expression be more rxed. He allowed himself to lean on Qin Xiaoyao. "You can''t go back on your word," he said. Then, he closed his eyes. Qin Xiaoyao smiled and was about to tell Song Que that she would never go back on her word. However, Song Que had already fallen asleep. The corners of Qin Xiaoyao''s mouth curled up slightly. She adjusted Song Que''s body to a morefortable sleeping position before settling down to lean against the wall of the horse carriagefortably. Such days were really good The next day was the day Marquis Xiaoyao and Marquis Anding depart the capital. Qin Xiaoyao, Song Que, the Liu siblings, and Princess Xiangyang were escorted by a team of guards as they set off on their way back to Mountain Spring Town. In the pce, Emperor Xuan stood on the highest tower in the pce and looked in the distance in the direction of the city gate. He couldn''t see that group of people leaving, but he still stood there for a long time. Suddenly, he asked the eunuch standing behind him, "At this hour, Marquis Xiaoyao and the rest should have already left the capital, right?" The eunuch took a step forward. "Your Majesty, Marquis Xiaoyao and her group have already set off at 9 am. "At this hour, they are probably about three miles away from the city." Emperor Xuan remained silent. He finally turned around. "Prepare my carriage to return to the Hall of Court Affairs," he said in a deep voice. With that, he strode away. Qin Xiaoyao and her group traveled and stopped intermittently, admiring the beautiful scenery along the way. Finally, ten dayster, they had almost reached Mountain Spring Town. The guards went ahead to report their impending arrival. Qin Xiaoyao and the rest were still following right behind them slowly. After entering Mountain Spring Town, the convoy went straight to the Marquis''s residence Qin Xiaoyao had set up. Madam Liu and the others had received the news early in the morning. When she received news that her son and daughter-inw wereing back, she had already instructed the servants to get the ce ready. Thus, when everyone returned, they could move directly into their own courtyards. Their lunch was not dyed either. During the meal, Madam Liu asked many questions about the capital. After hearing about the "big matter" her son and daughter-inw had aplished in the capital, Madam Liu was terrified. She also learned that the Song and Liu family''s cases had been overturned, and her son had been conferred the title of Marquis Anding. Moreover, the title was inheritable in eternity for the Song family. Madam Liu was so excited that she almost cried. She also learned that Emperor Xuan had personally decreed that Princess Xiangyang be betrothed to Liu Ling. Madam Liu held Liu Ling and Xiangyang''s hands and was so emotional that she choked. "Alright, Mother. It''s all good news. "Now we''re all back. In the future, we''ll stay by your side and shower you with filial piety!" Qin Xiaoyao said with augh. "Sure, sure!" Madam Liu answered repeatedly. She wiped her tears away with a smile. "Let''s eat!" Qin Xiaoyao said with a smile. Only then did everyone start eating happily. After the meal, everyone returned to their respective courtyards to unpack their luggage or rest. Although they traveled slowly on the road, the bumpy journey was still very tiring. 10:34 Initially, Madam Liu had a lot to say to the younger generation, but she held back and did not bother any one of them. It was only at night, after dinner, that she rushed to Yun Niang''s courtyard. The aunt and niece chatted untilte at night. Over the next few days, the Marquis''s residence was very lively. First of all, the officials from Mountain Spring Town, Xiaoyao County, and Anding County came to pay their respects. After that, some friends of Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que came to visit. It was not until the fifth day that Big Girl Li and her husband brought their child to visit. Little Chunhua was already more than ten months old and was as sturdy as her mother. Her chubby little face was different from her mother''s, though. It was fair and tender, and Qin Xiaoyao liked it very much. She carried the child in her arms and almost could not bear to let go. "Sister Sanya, you and Brother-inw are really amazing. You two just went out of town once and returned as Marquises after that!" Big Girl Li looked at the two people in front of her, her eyes filled with admiration. She knew that her Sister Sanya was not an ordinary person. She had only been out for a short time, but not only had she led the soldiers of their Great Jin State to y the Liao army until they retreated, but she had also be a Marquis! And her Brother-inw Song Que was also amazing! Back then, when Brother-inw Song Que got into trouble, all of them thought that he was doomed. Who would have thought that today, he had also be a Marquis! This couple was simply too awesome! Qin Xiaoyao smiled and exchanged nces with Song Que. Then, she replied to Big Girl Li without any modesty, "It''s not bad. "The two of you are not bad either! "Daniu''s business with Fortune Mansion is getting better and better. You have also opened up a grocery store." As the saying went, small wealth depended on hard work. In less than a year, the Liu family was able to reach a stage where they could fill their stomachs, have clothes to keep themselves warm, and still run a business in a disadvantageous environment. This aplishment was no doubt due to the concerted efforts of the entire family, as well as the down-to-earth hard-working ethics of the entire family. Big Girl Li and her man looked at each other and nodded happily. Their family had changed a lot during the time their Sister Sanya was not around. While the two families were chatting, the Wang family''s father and son also came to visit. Just like Big Girl Li and her husband, the Wang family''s father and son also came to look for Qin Xiaoyao and the rest. It was thanks to the Song family and Wang Xiaomei''s help that they managed to survive the famine. After that, it was also thanks to the Song family giving them permission so that they were able to rely on the Song family''s business to earn money to support their family. In less than a year, with their hard work and Wang Xiaomei''s help, they had moved out of the Liu family''s courtyard house. They had even bought their own courtyard house. Although the courtyard house wasn''t big, it was still considered a ce to stay in town. Recently, Wang Dashan also bumped into the girl who had some affection for him in the past. Back then, something had happened at home, so Wang Dashan stopped thinking about her because he did not dare to dy her future prospects. Now that he knew that the girl had yet to discuss marriage with anyone, hope welled up in his heart again. In short, the Wang family''s father and son were also grateful to the Song family. The people who came were all acquainted with one another, so Qin Xiaoyao simply arranged for them to be received together. She instructed the caretaker to get the kitchen to prepare delicious food and warmly weed the guests who had arrived. Chapter 461 Final Chapter 461 Final Chapter During lunch, Big Girl Li and the others talked about their days in Brook Falls Vige. Memories flooded back into Qin Xiaoyao''s mind. This caused Qin Xiaoyao to nce at Song Que from time to time. When she had just transmigrated to this world, the conditions were indeed a little difficult. She was fat and in order to please her sweetheart, she had to work like an ox all day long. Fortunately, her hard work was not in vain. Her efforts warmed up her husband''s heart of stone bit by bit. Song Que and Qin Xiaoyao looked at each other. Song Que also couldn''t help recalling those days when his wife had just transmigrated and the time they spent together in Brook Falls Vige. Immediately after that, he couldn''t resist reaching out to grab his wife''s hand under the table. Fortunately, he didn''t do anything stupid back then. Otherwise, he would have missed the happiness in this life. After the meal, the couple personally saw the guests off. On the way back, they discussed and agreed that they would return to Brook Falls Vige in a few days to take a look. It was said that many of the vigers who fled Brook Falls Vige back then had returned. There were also some refugees who had registered with the government and moved into Brook Falls Vige. Therefore, the current Brook Falls Vige was not abandoned. Another two days passed. Finally, no more guests came to the Marquis''s residence. Qin Xiaoyao had gotten people to prepare gifts in advance and was finally ready to bring Song Que back to her maiden home. Incidentally, the Qin family had already moved to a new house. They moved from the street next to the illegal construction area to a courtyard house on Yong An Lane. The courtyard house was not far from the courtyard dwelling where the Song family used to live. Qin Xiaoyao was the one who arranged for the Qin family to move house. Previously, she wanted the Qin family to move into Marquis''s residence. However, Qin Dahu rejected her offer outright. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao gave Qin Dahu 2000 taels of silver and told him to bring it back to Qin Dazhuang so that he could arrange to buy a house. After Qin Dazhuang received the silver notes, he did not buy an expensive house. Instead, he bought a courtyard house on Yong An Lane. He wanted to stay closer to his daughter''s ce. After Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que returned to Mountain Spring Town, they had been wanting to visit Qin Xiaoyao could only get Qin Dahu to send a message to the Qin family, saying that she would 10:35 return to her maiden home in a few days. Qin Dazhuang, but they were dyed by the endless stream of visitors. Qin Xiaoyao could only get Qin Dahu to send a message to the Qin family, saying that she would return to her maiden home in a few days. Incidentally, ever since Qin Dahu escorted Madam Liu and the rest back, he had been working in the Marquis''s residence. Not only did he hold a military position, but he was also the head of the guards in the Marquis''s residence. It was precisely because he had received Qin Dahu''s message and Qin Dahu had said that there were many guests at the Marquis''s residence presently that Qin Dazhuang had resisted the urge to visit his daughter. He had been waiting at home all this while for his daughter and son-inw to visit. Furthermore, Qin Dazhuang was no longer a butcher. Qin Xiaoyao had asked Wang Xiaomei to open a porridge shop for the Qin family and let them run it themselves. Now, Qin Dazhuang, Qin Erhu, and the two daughters-inw of the Qin family were all helping out in the porridge shop. The family relied on the porridge shop business and lived a fairly prosperous life. Early the next morning, Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que brought generous gifts and went to the Qin family''s new courtyard apanied by Qin Dahu. Qin Dazhuang brought his whole family out to wee the couple personally. After they met, the father held his daughter''s hand, his eyes filled with tears. Thousands of words had umted in his heart, but he couldn''t say anything for a long time. Qin Xiaoyao was the first to speak and she told her father to go into the house to chat. Only then did the group stop standing in the courtyard. Qin Dazhuang finally spoke when they reached the hall. He asked Qin Xiaoyao what happened after she left Mountain Spring Town, as well as her current situation. Actually, he had already learned many things from his eldest son. However, he still couldn''t resist asking his daughter personally. Qin Xiaoyao told him everything truthfully. She told him everything that had happened to her and Song Que during this period of time. Qin Dazhuang and the others were dumbfounded as they listened. In the end, he sighed. "It''s good to stay in Mountain Spring Town. Leading a peaceful life is better than anything else," Qin Dazhuang said with a sigh. Qin Xiaoyao nodded in concurrence. "That''s true. My husband and I have already resigned from our official positions. This time, we havee back to settle down for good," she said. Qin Dazhuang nodded repeatedly. Then, he talked about what happened to the Qin and Song families after his daughter left. Qin Xiaoyao listened patiently and praised her father from time to time, making Qin Dazhuang very happy. The couple stayed in the Qin family''s house for the whole day. In the evening, they had dinner at the Qin family''s house before leaving. On the way back, the couple did not take the horse carriage but walked. They walked on the familiar streets, looking at the familiar sights. As they recalled what happened on these streets in the past, the couple had different feelings in their hearts. A faint sense of happiness enveloped their hearts. Another half a month passed. The couple finally had enough rest and began to get down to business. What business? It was, of course, pushing through reforms in Xiaoyao County and Anding County. These two counties had already be their fiefdoms. As they were the overall people in charge in those counties, they naturally had to work for the well-being of the people in their fiefdoms. Qin Xiaoyao''s idea was to at least think of a way to let the people of the two counties have water to use when they encountered a drought, so as to prevent incidents where the people had to flee from famine again. This would cause the poption of the fiefdom to dwindle. At the same time, it would be even better if they could enable the people of the two counties to eat their fill and have clothes to keep them warm so that everyone could be happy. After all, if the people under their rule became rich, they would also be rich in turn. This was particrly critical for Anding County as the title of Marquis Anding was inheritable in eternity in the Song family. This meant that as long as the Song family did notmit any major crimes and the Great Jin State was not destroyed, Anding County would always be the Song family''s fiefdom. Therefore, it was necessary to develop Anding County into a wealthy county. When the couple was discussing how to develop the economy of the two counties, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly had someints. In the long run, they definitely had to prioritize developing Anding County. However, they were living in Mountain Spring Town in Xiaoyao County. It seemed like they were nning for some farawaynd instead of nning for their own hometown. Thus, Qin Xiaoyao simply submitted a petition to Emperor Xuan, expressing her hope that Emperor Xuan would also give Xiaoyao County to Song Que. And that it would be passed down to the Song family in the future. After Emperor Xuan received the petition, he didn''t know whether tough or cry. Only Marquis Xiaoyao, and no one else, would dare to make such a direct request to the Emperor. However, it was only because the petition came from Marquis Xiaoyao that he approved the request. That was right. Emperor Xuan approved Qin Xiaoyao''s request. Thus, the couple quickly came up with a n and started working quickly. Over the next few years, Xiaoyao County and Anding Countymenced work on dredging the canals, digging ditches, building water tanks, and storing water. At the same time, the Marquis''s residence paid to dig wells in every vige. The number of public wells in the town was also increased. In addition, Mountain Spring Town had be the home of century eggs. Under the management of the Liu siblings, Princess Xiangyang, and Wang Xiaomei, Qin Xiaoyao''s century egg business spread all over the kingdom. Mountain Spring Town became Qin Xiaoyao''s base for producing century eggs. Every day, fresh eggs were sent to Mountain Spring Town, and century eggs were shipped out in an endless stream. In the blink of an eye, another year passed. This year, Liu Ling and Xiangyang finally got married. One day, Qin Xiaoyao was about to submit a memorial as she nned to go to the border when she suddenly felt a wave of nausea. She didn''t think much of it at that point, but Song Que got the servant to summon Doctor Li over. Finally, Marquis''s residence weed the joyous news that everyone had been looking forward to. That was right. Qin Xiaoyao was finally pregnant. That night, Song Que stroked Qin Xiaoyao''s t belly and couldn''t fall asleep for a long time. In another eight months, the baby he and his wife conceived would be born. Such a life was really good. Chapter 462 Bonus Chapter Song Que (1) 462 Bonus Chapter Song Que (1) My name is Song Que. When I was born, my parents and grandfather had high hopes for me. Song Que is the name my grandfather personally picked for me. He hoped that I could inherit his literary talent and have some attainments in the literary world. The memories of my childhood are too long ago. I can''t remember them clearly anymore. I can only remember that Grandfather loved me very much. Whenever he returned to the residence, he would often carry me around and y with me. I was only four years old when the incident happened in the Prime Minister''s Residence. On that day, arge number of guards suddenly appeared outside the Prime Minister''s Residence. After Grandfather returned from outside, he became seriously ill. Thereafter, he passed away very quickly. Father took Mother and me and we fled overnight from the capital. After numerous stints in various ces, we finally went to Brook Falls Vige. Following that, we settled down in Brook Falls Vige. Mother told me to forget the past in the capital. She wanted me to integrate into the vige and be a part of it. I did as she said. As time passed, the memories of the capital faded away and I almost thought that everything in the capital was just a dream. Even so, because of our incongruous appearance, it was difficult for our family to integrate into the vige. The children in the vige who were the same age as me would look at me strangely and even bully me. They treated me like I was a girl. I put up with all of this. However, what I got in return was even worse bullying and they started taunting me with words. And so, I finally made my move. Anyone who bullied me or offended me, I would not let any of them off. Some of them were framed by me for destroying the crops in the fields and they ended up getting beaten up by the adults in their families. Some of them were instigated by me to fight with other children. As for the one who bullied me the most, I plotted against him and sent him into River Ringwaters. At that point, I was standing by River Ringwaters and watching him struggling in the water, sinking to the bottom again and again. There was a bamboo pole by my feet. If I were willing, I could have saved him at any time. However, I didn''t want to save him. I actually enjoyed watching him struggle in the water. If I hadn''t suddenly realized that someone had seen me, I think I might have really watched him drown in the end. Yes, I saved that child in the end. And I even became a great benefactor to him and his family. That child never caused me any more trouble after that. Instead, he became my bodyguard. As for the child who saw me harm that child and witnessed the entire process, he was also frightened by me. He didn''t dare to tell anyone about what he saw that day, nor did he dare to approach me again. Actually, even if that child told other people about it, I was not afraid. After all, I was the "good child" in the eyes of the neighbors. How could I do such a ruthless thing? As long as I refuse to admit it and then cry piteously, how would the adults believe him? After that incident, under that child''s "protection," I finally lived a peaceful and smooth-sailing life. Thissted until my father suddenly decided to send me to the academy in town. That was right. Before I turned fifteen, I studied under my father in the vige. In fact, I almost never left Brook Falls Vige. Father and Mother also rarely left the vige to go to town. After I started going to Cirrus Loft Academy, due to my good talent and my father''s diligent coaching, I quickly gained the favor of the teachers. In addition, my increasingly beautiful appearance attracted the attention of many young girls. My name spread quickly throughout Mountain Spring Town. Back then, I received presents almost every day. Whenever I went out, I would attract many people to gawk at me. Among them, the one that left the deepest impression on me was an extremely fat girl. That girl was extremely bold. She actually confessed her love to me in front of everyone. She even attacked other girls who liked me. On the one hand, I hated her. On the other, I also willingly allowed her to help me get rid of those love-struck women. However, I didn''t expect her to target my family. Moreover, when my father was seriously ill, she took advantage of my absence to collude with a traveling doctor to plot against my mother. When I found out about the situation, Mother had already taken her money and bought medicine for my father. After that, Father''s life was not saved. Then, just as I predicted, that woman brought her family over. They actually wanted me to marry that fat woman. For the sake of my mother and my younger siblings, I could onlypromise. Qin Sanya, that damned woman. She actually became the only person who seeded in scheming against me in the past 18 years. Not surprisingly, how could I let her have it easy? After we got married, I thought of dozens of ways to kill her. Unfortunately, before I could take action, she revealed her true colors and started acting like a demon. That vicious woman actually wanted to sell Yun''er and Ye''er off. That day, I was forced to go up the mountain. Unfortunately, I encountered a pack of wolves unexpectedly. If it wasn''t for Hunter Huang from the vige who saved me in time, I would have died in the mountains. However, even though I didn''t die, my leg was injured. My leg injury was extremely serious, but my family didn''t have the money to help me treat it. Under such circumstances, that woman was still making a scene. She even wanted to hang herself in my room. Of course, I didn''t believe her threat and knew that she just wanted my heart to go soft on her and cate her. However, my tolerance for her had already reached its limit. How could I still cate her? In the end, she really hung herself. Although she didn''t really want to hang herself in reality, an ident happened. When she fell, she hit her head on the stool and died. I was very surprised at that time, but after that, I only felt happy in my heart. Toward the end, everyone did not even have enough water to drink. 10:37 It was then that Mother and Yun''er met with an ident. Even if this woman didn''t court death that day, I would have thought of a way to kill her. However, after the initial glee, trouble soon came. That woman''s father and brothers quickly came to look for me and wanted to kill me topensate for that woman''s life. Fortunately, her stepmother stopped them and the other vigers helped us. Thus, our family was saved. Nheless, I still had to make a trip to the government office. The investigation at the government office confirmed that the woman had indeed died from a fall. After I told them they had to bear the me for that woman''s death, the woman''s family stopped pestering me. Thereafter, that woman''s matter was resolved. However, my life was also ruined. My leg became crippled and I could no longer have any hope of taking the Imperial examinations. In the past, I was so proud and so sought after. At that juncture, I was in such a sorry and pitiful state, despised by others. I hated those people who looked at me with pity. However, I was like a person who had fallen into a quagmire and could not get out at all no matter how I struggled. A few months passed like that, and Zhao County began to suffer from a drought. Even though Brook Falls Vige was right beside the River Ringwaters, it was not spared. The drying up of River Ringwaters caused all the families to have a poor harvest. Toward the end, everyone did not even have enough water to drink. It was then that Mother and Yun''er met with an ident. The two of them went to River Ringwaters to get water and lost their lives. After the ident, I was extremely sorrowful and regretful. It was because I had abandoned myself to despair that Mother and Younger Sister lost their lives. Mother''s health was not good, to begin with, and she still had to do embroidery work to support the three of us. If it wasn''t for the fact that they didn''t have enough food and didn''t have the strength, she and Yun''er wouldn''t have fallen into the water and couldn''t climb out. My leg might be crippled but my hands were still fine! I could have copied books to earn money! Chapter 463 Bonus Chapter Song Que (2) 463 Bonus Chapter Song Que (2) Even if I couldn''t earn a lot of money, it would still be enough to feed my family. It would still be enough to fill the stomachs of Mother and my younger siblings. Unfortunately, it was useless no matter how much I regretted it. Mother and Yun''er wouldn''t be able toe back anymore. There was only one thing I could do. I would bring Ye''er along and live on I had a feeling that the drought would only get worse and worse, and the people of Brook Falls Vige would most likely flee. My leg couldn''t move freely, and Ye''er was still young. We wouldn''t be able to catch up with them. Moreover, even if we followed them, there was a high chance that we would be abandoned and left to die on the road when there was insufficient food. Therefore, I nned to bring Ye''er to town. Going to town would be the only chance for Ye''er and me to survive. Before that, I had to make some preparations. I had to bring everything that could be eaten and could be used. After we left, we would not considering back anymore. However, before we had finished preparing, disaster struck again. The locust gue arrived. The locust swarm that blocked out the sky and earth flew towards Brook Falls Vige. The locusts did not only eat the crops in the fields, but also the vegetation in the mountains. Even the thatch on the roofs of the vigers'' houses was not spared. The roof of our house was covered with thatch. When the locust swarm came, the locusts headed straight into the house. There were too many holes in the house and the building could not stop them at all. I could only use the tattered nket at home to cover Ye''er and myself. On such a hot day, no matter how hot it was, we did not dare to remove the nket. We survived amidst the sound of locusts pping their wings, hitting objects, and gnawing the thatch on the roof. Perhaps we should be grateful for the locust gue. Thanks to the locust swarm, Ye''er and I caught many locusts. And those locusts became our food for a long time thereafter. After the locust gue ended, I realized that I could not wait any longer. I dragged my crippled leg and crawled to Mountain Spring Town with Ye''er. Yes, I crawled there like an abandoned stray dog. After arriving at Mountain Spring Town, we became beggars and begged on the streets. We abandoned all our dignity and lived like abandoned dogs. asionally, we would bump into my former ssmates. Some of them would mock me, and some would pity me, but none of their words could aggravate me anymore. Oh no. Some words were still aggravating. However, my heart was already numb. That kind of aggravation no longer had as much of an impact on me as before. When I was begging, sometimes I wished I could meet them. This was because after they humiliated or sympathized with me, I would ask them to give me some copper coins or food. And they were more desirous of preserving their dignity. Regardless of whether they were willing or not, they would at least give me some money for the sake of their dignity. As for me, I had to rely on that little money to raise Ye''er and survive. After that, I did not know how much time had passed. I only knew that there was a sudden uproar that night. Arge number of mountain bandits armed with weapons appeared on the streets. Those mountain bandits killed anyone they saw and even broke into houses to kill people. I covered Ye''er''s mouth tightly and hid in a junk pile with him and managed to escape. Those terrifying sounds tortured us the entire night. In fact, the nearest murder scene was right next to our hiding ce. After the mountain bandits killed the people, they went elsewhere to continue killing. We spent that night next to the corpses. Ye''er and I didn''t dare to sleep. We didn''t even dare to breathe loudly. In the middle of the night, I heard some faint sounds. I knew those were rats. The soft sounds came from the rats gnawing on the corpses. That was right. I had seen beggars who starved to death before. As their corpses were not dealt with in time, they were eaten by rats. After the famine, it was not just people who were starving. The rats were also starving. The next day, Mountain Spring Town fell into the hands of the mountain bandits. The whole town was put under a curfew. I couldn''t bring Ye''er with me to continue begging. We still had to hide from those mountain bandits who were searching everywhere. Fortunately, I led Ye''er away and changed our hiding spot in time, thereby evading the first wave of the mountain bandits'' search. Following that, a curfew was imposed for several more days. After this, the mountain bandits finally allowed themoners to go out and forced the merchants to open their doors for business. This was a great thing for us. Only when there were people on the streets would Ye''er and I be able to get food and survive. Unfortunately, I was soon targeted. That day, the mountain bandits suddenly captured me and wanted to take me away. Ye''er tried to save me. As a result, he was killed by one of the mountain bandits with one sh of the saber. At that moment, my whole worldpletely copsed. I didn''t know how I was taken away. By the time I regained my senses, I had already been cleaned up and they had put resplendent clothes on me. Thereafter, they sent me to the bandit leader''s room. That repulsive thing actually Naturally, I refused to submit, and I eventually threatened to end my life. The bandit leader then locked me up and punished me. It was also at that time that my body was destroyed. A few dayster, I learned from the mountain bandits guarding me that the Imperial Court''s army had attacked. The mountain bandits might have to retreat. I realized that this might be myst chance for revenge. Thus, I finally relented and proposed to go and meet the bandit leader. The bandit leader was naturally happy. After seeing me, he said that he was willing to listen to everything I said. And the first condition I mentioned was that he had to kill Ye''er''s murderer. The bandit leader was hesitant at first, but I only smiled and was able to make him agree. The next day, I saw the decapitated head of the murderer. After that, I continued to pretend to bepliant with the bandit leader. I dragged out the charade until nighttime and then found an opportunity to kill him as well. Thereafter, I worked with those few mountain bandits who kept watch over me in prison and we surrendered to the Imperial Court''s army. They wanted to live, and I wanted revenge. It was a happy cooperation. Later on, I found out that themander of the Imperial Court''s army was actually the Second Prince. This person held an extraordinary position in the hearts of the people of the Great Jin State. The Second Prince personally summoned me. After learning of everything I did, he was full of admiration for me. He finally proposed to take me in as an aide. At that point, I was all alone and had nowhere to go, so I chose to ept. After that, my life began to change. I quickly became the Second Prince''s most valued aide. Following that, I even moved to the front of the public eye and became an official. Thereafter, I became the Second Prince''s most ruthless saber. I helped him pave a blood-stained way through, eliminating those against him and removing obstacles for him. In the process of dealing with those people, I also rose step by step. Not long after the Second Prince ascended the throne, I became the new Prime Minister of the Great Jin State. The Prime Minister''s post was upied by my Grandfather previously. After Father fell seriously ill, he passed away from depression. He regretted that he could not help to exonerate his own father. However, when it was my turn, I managed to do it. Not only did I achieve that, but I also became the Prime Minister and restored the Song family to its former glory. Then again, so what if I did that? The Song family had long been destroyed. Other than me, no one else in the Song family was left. There was also the Liu family. My two younger cousins were still around at that point. However, in the confrontation between me and the Jia family, they lost their lives because they were threatened by Jia Kun. I was probably a jinx to everyone. Anyone who was close to me would be cursed and end up dead. First, it was Grandfather, then it was Father, followed by Mother and Yun''er, and then Ye''er. Chapter 464 Bonus Chapter Song Que (3) 464 Bonus Chapter Song Que (3) I had located Liu Yun and Liu Ling only after much difficulty. In the end, they also died under the threats of my political opponents. There was also the Second Prince. Oh, no. He was already the Emperor at that time. I helped him to ascend to the throne, but I alsomitted too many murders and triggered public anger. Although he didn''t say it explicitly, he distanced himself from me. Even when political opponents attacked me, he no longer defended me. Despite this, I didn''t really need his protection. I knew that at that time, the only thing I could still do for His Majesty was to die in order to illustrate his wisdom. Thus, that night, when the assassin came to assassinate me, I could have dodged, but I didn''t. What was the point of a person without tomorrow and hope like me continuing to live in this world? It would be better to help His Majesty by dying, thereby repaying his kindness onest time. To a person whose heart was dead, death was not that scary. In fact, it even made me feel that I had been set free. However, when I opened my eyes, I found that I was alive again. I had returned to the day after I turned eighteen and injured my leg. It was also the day that the fat woman had an ident. At this moment, my Mother and younger brother and sister were still alive! Everything had started over! I was shocked, then ecstatic! I was waiting for the fat woman to fall to her death and then I could pull myself together and change the fate of my previous life. To my shock, the fat woman did not die this time! I was very surprised and wondered why the development of my current life was different from my previous life. Thereafter, I controlled my temper and observed that fat woman. At the same time, I was also looking for an opportunity to get rid of her. However, the result surprised me even more. This was because based on my discovery, that fat woman might also not be the same person as before. Yes, Qin Sanya had changed a lot. Although she still looked at me with that disgusting gaze, she was no longer forcing her will on me andpelling me like before. She, who had always beenzy, seemed to have changed into a different person. She suddenly became diligent. She no longer spoke harshly to Mother and my siblings. In fact, she suddenly treated them well. She knew how to identify Chinese yam and Chinese Toon sprouts. She also knew how to weave fishings and straw sandals. She knew how to hunt, and she could even tell stories She was much stronger than before, and her temper had also changed. She did not hesitate to rush out to quarrel with the Wang family. In fact, she was able topletely subdue the most shrewish woman in the vige. She even used her maiden family''s connections to start the business of delivering goods to the Fortune Mansion. Thereafter, she even borrowed money from her maiden family and earned money to hire a doctor for me. All in all, there were signs that the person in Qin Sanya''s body was very likely not the same person as the one in her previous life. When I found out that there was still hope for my leg to be healed and that she could take care of my family during this period, I stopped thinking about killing her. It was not that I was afraid of harming innocent people, but I wanted to make use of her. I must admit that I was not a good person. Hah! I was not a good person, to begin with, wasn''t I? How could a cruel official whose hands were covered in blood and who was cursed by all as the number one crafty sycophant in the Great Jin State be a good person? I just wanted to use her and then get rid of her or abandon her when the time was right. At first, I had indeed nned to do so. However, I watched her leave early and returnte every day, working tirelessly for my family time and time again. When she bought something good, she thought of me, Mother, and my younger siblings first, and put herselfst. Unknowingly, my heart softened. Moreover, I didn''t know when it started, but we started to talk more and more. She told me many stories, all of which I had never heard before. Those stories were either bizarre or full of wonder, but without exception, they were all very exciting. In fact, I suspected that it was very likely that she came from another world. Thus, that night, I asked her directly. I thought that she would try to hide. In the end, she admitted it. After the initial shock, I went along with her assumption and admitted to being the person she thought I was. Hehe! She thought that I was from that world, just like her. That woman looked smart but also seemed gullible. Following that, I probed her about the situation in her previous world. Only after asking did I realize how magical that world was. Yes, it was magical. Many people in that world actually had special abilities, or in the words of the people of our era, they possessed the ability to cast spells. Some spells could control water, fire, and lightning. Some could affect people''s minds while others could instantly heal injuries. There were also people like her who had boundless strength. On her end, based on my presumed identity, she guessed that I could predict the future. I secretly guessed that the world in her previous life was either heaven or hell. vigers, it was unrealistic to expect her to earn enough money to buy a courtyard house in a short 10:40 period of time. She called that world "Apocalyptic World," and there was a kind of monster called "Zombie." I thought that world was more likely hell. Therefore, I was most likely married to a ghost from hell, a ghost that wasn''t too smart. A vicious and evil, crafty sycophant and a female ghost from hell seemed to be quitepatible. Haha! Ever since I found out about her identity, I realized that not only did I not reject her so much, I was actually somewhat attracted to her. I couldn''t resist the urge to feel concern for her. In the end, I decided that after my family had settled down, I could refrain from taking action against her. Of course, before that, I still had to continue using her. At the same time, I was also helping her. After all, if the trajectory of my previous life did not change, the famine and locust gue would still ur. There was also the war disaster, which was destined to happen as it did previously. Just like in my previous life, I didn''t want to bring my family to flee the famine with the vigers, even though she was here in this life and she was definitely able to protect my entire family. There were still a few months before the famine and locust gue. As long as we could earn enough money, we could move to town. Thereafter, we would be able to stock up on food in advance to survive. As for the war disaster, as long as we chose a suitable location for the courtyard house and were closer to the western town gate, we wouldn''t be affected so much. The war disaster wouldn''tst long anyway. As long as we didn''t go out, we might be fine. Even if something happened, I believed that she alone would be able to solve the problem. After all, she was a female ghost, the kind with infinite strength. Hehe! I suddenly felt that having such an obedient hatchet woman by my side was better than using my own hands and feet. So, when she proposed to save money to build a house, I objected. I even suggested that we go to town to buy a courtyard house. She was in a difficult position, but she agreed to my suggestion without even arguing. She was really obedient to me. Over the next few days, I saw her worrying about making money. After all, buying a courtyard house in town was much more expensive than building a house in the vige. While I was secretly gloating, I also finally took action. Yes, I never thought of asking her to earn money to buy a courtyard house. Even if she could endure hardship and her ability to earn money was much stronger than the other vigers, it was unrealistic to expect her to earn enough money to buy a courtyard house in a short period of time. Whereas I could actually earn enough. This was because I had the memories of my past life. In my previous life, after I became famous, I collected many sole-copy books because of my hobby. Chapter 465 Bonus Chapter Song Que (4) 465 Bonus Chapter Song Que (4) A small portion was bought, but most of my collectionprised books confiscated from the homes of political opponents. Without exception, they were all rare good books. There were a few volumes that I liked very much. After reading and practicing copying the words numerous times, I was able to memorize them. After I wrote down one of the books from memory, I told her to push me to the town and look for the shop owner of Cirrus Loft Bookstore, Mr. Wang. Sure enough, Mr. Wang agreed to buy my book. Although the price was not high, if I copied a few more books from memory, the total sum would be enough. Now that the money to buy the courtyard house was secured, my first reaction was to share it with her. Unfortunately, before she came to pick me up, I bumped into my former ssmates from the Cirrus Loft Academy. Among those three familiar faces, in my previous life, one died at the hands of the mountain bandits, one died in the army, and thest died at my hands. When I recalled the scene on that day when he knelt in front of me and begged me to spare his life, saying that he regretted his actions, I felt that the memories were already very far away. I realized that I didn''t hate them as much as before. However, they made things difficult for me and insulted me again, which still triggered my anger. In particr, when they called her a demonic shrew, I was incensed. Just as I was about to attack, she arrived. She subdued them in a few moves and even forced them to apologize to me. In fact, she even warned that they were not allowed to say anything about this matter between me and her to outsiders. In order to preserve my dignity, she actually did this. Thereafter, I didn''t disappoint her, of course. I personally acknowledged her rtionship with me. Then I saw her face turn red. She looked very cute. On the way back, she was worried that I was hungry, so she gave me the buns she bought. After eating one, I realized that she gave me the bun with meat filling while she ate the vegetarian one. At that moment, I must admit. That female ghost called Qin Xiaoyao truly moved me. In the following days, I slowly began to show concern for her and gradually became closer to her. I began thinking that perhaps, bing a real husband and wife couple with her might not be impossible. Soon after that, we bought a courtyard dwelling in the town. After that, I began to follow her to town often. I gave her instructions on how to set up the courtyard dwelling properly. Thereafter, we started to stock up on food. Following that, we moved to the town and began living there. She was really better than my own hands and feet. Whatever I said, she would do ordingly. The more I interacted with her, the more I realized that I couldn''t leave her side. It was not just because she listened to me and was capable. It was also because she had such an affable nature that I found it hard not to love her. She never avoided the fact that she liked me, nor did she hide the dark side of her personality. When she wanted to scheme against people or make a move against them, she never hid her thoughts in front of me. Sometimes, she even brought up such issues to discuss with me. In short, she was not a kind person. In fact, she was not even a good person by the standards of the general popce. Then again, she was a female ghost from hell and not a fairy from heaven. How could she be a good person? As for me, in the first ce, the one I liked was not a fairy but a female ghost, wasn''t she? How could I not love a female ghost whose eyes and heart were totally upied by me, who was pure and kind to my family and the people around me, and yet was cold-blooded and ruthless to outsiders? Thus, I no longer hid my admiration for her. In fact, I even disyed both my good and bad sides to her without shame. She was indeed a match made in heaven for me. She could understand the dark side of my human nature and even fully agreed with my thoughts. After that, our life in the town was sweet and happy. While I recuperated, I copied books and taught her and Ye''er how to read. And she began to busy herself with making a living again. She started selling straw sandals, century eggs, and then bean sprouts. As long as we were diligent enough, the money we earned from these businesses was enough to feed our whole family. However, she was the one doing everything. I knew that she wanted to earn money to support my family. She was indeed different from the women of this era. Later on, the drought became even more serious, and the locust gue arrived. As we had already made preparations in advance, we dealt with the disasters very calmly. I thought that perhaps in this life, we would be able to survive those disasters safely. However, when the war disaster came, something still happened to our family. That day, she brought our goddaughter out to see the doctor. We were waiting at home. In the end, the mountain bandits actually came to our door. They even discovered me. In this life, I was dressed more decently than in the previous life, so it was even more impossible for me to escape from those people''s demonic ws. Soon, I was captured and brought to meet the bandit leader. When I met the bandit leader I killed in my previous life, my heart turned cold and scared. In my previous life, I had nothing, so I could go all out and fight with all my might. However, in this life, I had my family and her. How could I still take the risk? Nheless, it was impossible for me to submit to him. Thus, I was once again thrown into the dungeon by the mountain bandits. Just like in my previous life, I was locked up with just my thin inner clothes and left to freeze in the dungeon. When I was locked up in the dungeon, my heart was very chaotic. On the one hand, I hoped that she coulde and save me. On the other hand, I was fearful that she woulde and save me. Even though she was very capable, Mountain Spring Town had already been upied by the mountain bandits. I was trapped in the mountain bandits''ir. I was worried that not only would she not be able to save me, but she would also be dragged down by me and fall into danger. To my chagrin, my worries quickly turned into reality. She arrived very quickly. And she even held the bandit leader hostage as she came here. conflicted. 10:42 After all, in my previous life, I not only treated him as my master but also as my benefactor and However, she didn''t know that not everyone in this group of mountain bandits listened to the mountain bandit leader. This was particrly true now that they were surrounded by the Imperial Court''s army. Putting aside other things, the second mountain bandit leader had the intention to flee. True enough, when she arrived, she bumped into the second mountain bandit leader. At that time, I was already feverish, so there was no way I could leave with her. Even if I could walk out of the dungeon by myself, I probably wouldn''t be able to walk home. When she appeared, I was very moved, but more than that, I was fearful. I was not fearful that I would die, but I was afraid that something would happen to her. It was then that I realized how much I loved her. However, she was unwilling to leave. I knew her character, so I could only keep my spirits up and think of a way to protect both of us. In the end, we seeded. We sessfully dyed the bandits until the Imperial Court''s army attacked. Moreover, not only did we capture the bandit leader, but the second mountain bandit leader also died at her hands. The guards who came to search the dungeon learned of the situation and brought us to meet the Second Prince. Upon meeting the master in my previous life, I no longer felt grateful, but my feelings were still a little conflicted. After all, in my previous life, I not only treated him as my master but also as my benefactor and confidant. When I recalled that I have already repaid him for his kindness in my previous life, I felt relieved again. In this life, the person who killed the bandit leader wasn''t me, and the person he noticed became my wife. This was good. It was better that we did not cross paths again. Only then can I lead a peaceful life with my family. However, things didn''t go as I expected. After the Second Prince witnessed my wife''s capabilities, he actually had the intention to recruit her. He even found out about my background. Upon realizing that he failed to recruit my wife, he then changed his mind and tried to recruit me. He wanted to make use of me to pull my wife into his faction. Of course, I wasn''t willing to join him. Even though he invited me time and time again, I chose to reject him. However, there was no way I could avoid bing familiar with him once more. Chapter 466 Bonus Chapter Song Que (5) 466 Bonus Chapter Song Que (5) It was inevitable that I was affected. It was not for glory and wealth, but because the Second Prince reminded me that my identity posed a huge hidden danger. If he could find out my true identity, then so could other people. If I didn''t join the Second Prince and work with him to kill or bring down my enemies in advance, our family might end up in danger at any time. However, I still didn''t want to disrupt the current peaceful life. I didn''t want to embark on the path of my previous life. Unfortunately, even the bestid ns could be overturned by unforeseen circumstances. Something still happened to me. At that time, the news of the Liao army invading the Great Jin State had reached Mountain Spring Town. Within the Great Jin State, other than the Second Prince''s army which was actively fighting against the Liao army and defending High Pass Town, the rest of the Imperial Court''s army either fought passively or retreated outright. The actions of the Imperial Court''s army ignited the anger of the students of the Academy. The schrs of the Cirrus Loft Academyunched several propaganda activities and even riots. Although I had already realized that something was wrong, I didn''t have time to react before I was dragged out of the ssroom by several ssmates. Then, we were captured. And we were quickly sent out of the town. I wanted to argue with the people who captured us, but I didn''t even have the chance to get close to them. Thereafter, our group was quickly split into several teams. We were then sent to different ces. On the second day of departure, I found out that we had been forcibly recruited into the army. The group I was in was heading towards the border. After my appeal to the new soldiers fell on deaf ears, I recalled that the Second Prince was at the border and felt a little more at ease. I was thinking that when we reached the border, I would be able to think of a way to solve the predicament. After all, not only did I know the Second Prince but I also knew many of his generals. Even if I couldn''t meet the Second Prince, the chances of meeting the other generals were very high. At that point, I would be able to escape. Thus, I could only continue to move forward with the team for now. However, something happened on the way. At this moment, there were not only Liao soldiers but also mountain bandits in the inner regions of the Great Jin State. Although we managed to get through a few dangerous situations along the way, something happened that one time. The soldiers who escorted us suffered heavy casualties and could no longer protect us. Most of us were weakly schrs without even the strength to truss a chicken. When we were surrounded by the mountain bandits, we had no way to fight back. When the fighting started, everyone scattered and began to flee. Some were killed by the mountain bandits while others died at the hands of the soldiers who escorted us. Some people even fell off the cliff in a panic. I was also forced to the edge of the cliff and was almost captured by the mountain bandits. Fortunately, the Second Prince arrived just in time. At the critical moment, his men killed the mountain bandits who surrounded me and saved me. At this moment, after experiencing what happened on the road, my mentality had changed again. This world didn''t seem like a ce where I could live in seclusion just because I wanted to. To control one''s own fate and protect one''s family, one needed to have power in one''s hands. Otherwise, the next time something happened, I might be dragged into yet another desperate situation like this again. Yes, I needed to make myself stronger. This was the only way to prevent such a thing from happening again. At the same time, I wanted to prevent these things from happening to my family. Thus, I agreed to join the Second Prince when he asked me. Moreover, I quickly came up with a n with him to work undercover in the Prime Minister''s residence. In exchange for performing all these tasks, I only had one request, and that was that he must not tell my wife what happened to me. He must not let my wife get involved in our matters. Along the way, while I was worried about myself, I was more worried about her. With her personality, I was afraid she would abandon everything to look for me. The world was so big. How could she locate me without any clues? Furthermore, there were already many Liao troops that had infiltrated the inner region of the Great Jin State. They were burning, killing, and looting everywhere. What if they went to Mountain Spring Town and she wasn''t home and then something happened to my family? However, I didn''t have time to return to Mountain Spring Town anymore. I could only entreat the Second Prince to find out news about her and take good care of my family. After that, I made use of Shen Rong to get into the Shen family. Then, I quickly gained Minister Shen''s trust and slowly became the subordinate that Minister Shen cared about the most in the Prime Minister''s residence. At this juncture, I still didn''t know that my wife had left Mountain Spring Town to look for me. She had set off on the day that incident happened to me. What was even more astonishing was that she aplished many great achievements along the way. Not only did she kill arge number of Liao soldiers, but she also helped the Second Prince''s men recover many towns that had been captured by the Liao army. Step by step, she killed her way to fame. Later on, she even helped the Second Prince repel the Liao army at High Pass Town. She also brought her Special Forces Team members to sneak into the enemy camp several times and eventually killed themander. The Xiao family''s Xiao Tu and Xiao Yuan from the Liao State died at the hands of my wife one after another. Of particr significance was Xiao Yuan, who was the Supreme Commander of the Liao army and the father of the Liao State''s Empress Dowager. Not only was he a high-ranking official who wielded great authority and a masterful military strategist, but he was also the father of Empress Dowager Xiao, the de facto power holder in the Liao State. In fact, from the moment she identally killed Xiao Tu, my wife had already fallen into the vortex of trouble. Xiao Tu was Xiao Yuan''s only grandson, but he died at her hands. How could Xiao Yuan be willing to let things rest? At that time, the Great Jin State and the Great Liao State were in the midst of peace talks, and the Great Jin State was in a disadvantageous position. Who knew if the Great Jin State would sacrifice my wife''s life to pacify Xiao Yuan? At that point, the only way out for my wife was to get rid of Xiao Yuan as well. My younger cousin brother Liu Ling resembled me. 14:00 When I first made those arrangements, I was actually a little worried. This way, not only would she be able to make greater contributions but she would also be able to turn the situation around for herself. And in the end, she really aplished this. Charging through tens of thousands of people, she took the Supreme Commander''s head. She killed Xiao Yuan in the Liao army''s camp and crushed the morale of the Liao army, thereby making great contributions to the Great Jin State. The Second Prince was right. My wife was a natural-born general. By the time I received news of my wife, she was already on her way back to the capital. On one hand, I was angry that the Second Prince didn''t keep his promise to me and got my wife involved in his struggle for the throne. On the other hand, I was also worried about how I would face her next. She had made such a great contribution that the Emperor would definitely reward her. It was inevitable that she would be offered the post of an official. We were both in the capital. Even if I wanted to hide, we would still bump into each other sooner orter. Though I was worried, I still had to make preparations in advance. The Imperial Court was controlled by Empress Jia. When the Second Prince returned to the capital, even he would be subjected to Empress Jia''s control, not to mention my wife. My wife must not get close to the Second Prince. In fact, she must not even have any connections with any factions in the court. Only then would she be safe. However, by the same token, she would also have no support. This would not be beneficial to her effort to gain a foothold in the capital. Thus, I arranged for my two younger cousins to take action. I asked my younger cousin sister to take care of her and at the same time, sent my younger cousin brother to her side to help her. That was right. I located my younger cousins Liu Yun and Liu Ling earlier. This time, I would protect them well. I would not let the tragedy of my previous life repeat itself. My younger cousin brother Liu Ling resembled me. When I first made those arrangements, I was actually a little worried. I was afraid that after my wife saw Liu Ling, she would develop some feelings for him because of his appearance which was simrto mine. Chapter 467 Bonus Chapter Song Que (6) 467 Bonus Chapter Song Que (6) As was known earlier, my wife had admitted it in the past. She fell in love with me at first sight because of my appearance. Although Liu Ling was not as good-looking as me, his temperament was more gentle and frail. Perhaps my wife liked men who appeared more gentle and frail. Thus, after Liu Ling went to my wife''s side, I paid a lot of attention to her situation. Then, when the Second Prince came to me and said that it would be difficult to continue covering for me, I agreed to meet my wife. I had no choice but to meet her. My wife had been asking people to help look for me. If she continued to look for me, I was worried that my identity would be exposed. At the same time, I was worried that my wife would really be attracted to Liu Ling. So, we met at the Ministry of Rites that day. Initially, I was worried that she would lose control of her emotions when she saw me. In the end, my worries were unfounded. She was calm all throughout. She even pretended that she was meeting me for the first time. Only after the peace talks between us and the envoys of the Liao State were over did she ask me to stay and talk to me. True enough, she was very angry and even asked me about Shen Rong. I hurriedly updated her on the situation and calmed her down. She was really a good wife. Not only was she understanding toward me, but she also expressed her wish to help me. I knew that refusing was useless, so I could only agree. However, I only promised her verbally and did not tell her about the agreement between me and the Second Prince. After that, we began to meet and date in secret. I had secretly bought a small courtyard house and arranged for an old servant who worked for the Song family before to stay there. Thereafter, I would meet my wife here. Even though I knew that if we met in private, there would be a risk of getting exposed, I still couldn''t resist the urge to go and look for her. We cherished dearly every opportunity to meet. We couldn''t wait to spend the whole day together in each other''s arms. My wife even wanted to give birth to a child for me. However, the fact was my body was not in good condition. Perhaps it was because I hadmitted too many sins in my previous life. In this life, although the mountain bandits did not cripple my body, I still found it hard to impregnate my wife. When we were in Mountain Spring Town, my wife had mentioned the matter of having a child to me many times. I knew that she liked children very much. She loved the child of Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li from the vige and even took the baby in as her goddaughter. If we could have a child, she would definitely like her own child even more. However, it was very difficult for me to fulfill her wish. After enduring for a long time, I finally told her about this matter after she sensed that something was not right. In the end, my wife didn''t despise me. She even said that she wanted a child because she loved me. If it was not with me, she wouldn''t even want to give birth at all. I almost cried when I heard that. Eventually, I could only hug her tightly and thank the heavens for bestowing her on me. After that, we met more often and became more attached to each other. For her sake, I changed my n and instigated Minister Shen''s daughter, Shen Rong, to get close to her ex-fiance, Meng Xuan. I also urged Meng Xuan to take revenge on Minister Shen and make use of Shen Rong''s guilt to lure her into falling in love with him and giving herself to him. Yes, Meng Xuan had a grudge against the Shen family. The decline of the Meng family was due to Prime Minister Shen. After the Meng family declined, Prime Minister Shen regretted his daughter''s engagement to Meng Xuan. He even intentionally made things difficult for Meng Xuan. Meng Xuan hated Prime Minister Shen to the bone, so he naturally agreed to my suggestion. Soon, Shen Rong became pregnant secretly. Following that, I arranged for the two of them to escape by faking their deaths. Right under Minister Shen''s nose, I helped them stage a cunning disappearance act that allowed the two to leave the capital. After Shen Rong''s "death," a rift soon developed between Mrs. Shen and Prime Minister 14:01 Shen. After Shen Rong''s "death," a rift soon developed between Mrs. Shen and Prime Minister Shen. In addition, Prime Minister Shen brazenly proposed to bring his illegitimate daughter into the Prime Minister''s residence to rece Shen Rong and marry me. At that point, Mrs. Shen fell out with Prime Minister Shenpletely. This also meant that the alliance between Prime Minister Shen and the Jia family was about to copse. Later, Empress Jia stepped forward to mediate in this matter. Prime Minister Shen made a concession and agreed to execute his mistress, the mother of his illegitimate daughter. He also agreed to let me take a daughter of the Jia family as a concubine. Hmph! I was not interested to marry the Shen family''s daughter, and I was even less interested in the Jia family''s daughter. For the rest of my present life, the only person I wanted was my wife. In order not to make my wife sad, I found the Second Prince who had already been conferred the title of Prince Huaiyin, and suggested bringing forward the n. I could tell that Prince Huaiyin was hesitant, but he still agreed to my request eventually. Next, I sent people to save the life of Minister Shen''s mistress and hid her secretly. Whether it was Meng Xuan and Shen Rong, Mrs. Shen who stood behind them, or this mistress Madam Han, they would all be witnesses in my n to overthrow Minister Shen. Yes, in the hands of these few people, they all held evidence of Prime Minister Shen''s crime or clues that could prove his crime. Minister Shen''s coercion and abandonment only served to push them to stand on the opposing side. In this way, I was able to turn them into a de in my hand that would take his life. Initially, I thought that after my wife knew that Prince Huaiyin and I would act soon, she would continue to give me time and wait for me. To my dismay, she could not wait any longer. She once again offered to help me and even sought out Prince Huaiyin and pressured him to ept her help. Left with no choice, Prince Huaiyin revealed his working rtionship with me. After my wife found out, she was very angry. She med me for breaking my earlier promise to her. That was right. She said that we were a couple and thus, should shoulder burdens together. However, what I was doing was extremely dangerous. How could I let her take the risk with me? She was genuinely angry, but she still couldn''t bear to lose her temper with me. In fact, she forgave me very easily. My wifeHow could I not love her? After that, my wife officially joined our n. With her help, our n was indeed able to proceed more smoothly. On the day of the Emperor''s birthday, we would execute our n as scheduled. Firstly, we made use of Jia Kun to get rid of Minister Shen before getting rid of Jia Kun subsequently. Thereafter, we forced the Emperor to redress the injustice for the Song and Liu families and exonerate them. We also forced the Emperor to depose Empress Jia and abdicate the throne. The Emperor was indeed caught up in his infatuation. He actually agreed to depose the Empress and abdicate. Just like that, the control of the Imperial Court fell into the hands of Prince Huaiyin and us. The oue had been determined. Over the next few days, regardless of what happened in the pce or how many matters Prince Huaiyin had to deal with, I followed my wife back to the Marquis''s residence and holed up there. I didn''t care about anything and kept my wifepany for several days. It was only when the Pce began urging me more frequently that I left the Marquis''s residence and entered the Pce to render my service. The first thing I did when I saw Prince Huaiyin was to inform him of my wish to resign. I could see that Prince Huaiyin didn''t want to let me go and didn''t consent right away. However, I would make him consent. Thus, I executed the same series of actions that I was so familiar with in my previous life and became the ruthless and cruel official in my previous life again. Hah! My methods were cruel, and I killed people like killing flies Who in the court doesn''t fear and hate me in this form? If Prince Huaiyin wanted the courtiers to submit to him, how could he retain me? As for me, I had my wife and her subordinates to protect me, so I didn''t have to worry about my own safety. Once I was far away from the Imperial Court, there would be no more stakes involved. Even if there were still people who might try to assassinate me, how long could they persist? A few monthster, we left the capital without hups and returned to Mountain Spring Town. I was prepared to leave all the fame and glory behind me. For the rest of my life, I was only contented to keep my wifepany. My wife wanted to develop the economies of Anding County and Xiaoyao County, so I helped her. She also wanted to go to the border to y enemies, so I apanied her. In short, wherever she was, I would be there. When my wife got pregnant, we finally had the fruit of our love. As I hugged my wife, I felt that my life wasplete. Chapter 468 Bonus Chapter Huangfu Wudi (1) 468 Bonus Chapter Huangfu Wudi (1) My name is Huangfu Wudi, the second son of the Emperor of the Jin State. My mother is Concubine Chen. She was once Emperor Father''s most beloved concubine. My Concubine Mother''s maiden family was one of the preeminent big families in the Great Jin State in the past. Before the age of six, my Concubine Mother and I led extremely blissful lives. Emperor Father not only doted on Concubine Mother but also doted on me. He named me Wudi, which meant invincible. He hoped that I would be invincible in the world. He also gave me a pet name Lin''er and ced high hopes on me. Everyone thought that Concubine Mother would be Emperor Father''s Empress and I would be Emperor Father''s Crown Prince. In the end, the appearance of a woman changed everything. It was said that the woman was the daughter of a ninth-grade county magistrate and was injured by Emperor Father when he went out hunting. After Emperor Father saved her, she bewitched Emperor Father. Emperor Father brought her back to the pce and personally watched over her. He did not allow anyone to check on her. When she first heard this news, Concubine Mother did not take it too seriously. When the other imperial concubines came to look for Concubine Mother, she never thought of standing up for them. Concubine Mother knew that those imperial concubines had ulterior motives. They were hoping that she would stand up for them and anger my Emperor Father. However, in the following month, Emperor Father stayed by that woman''s side and never once stepped into the pce of the Imperial harem. Concubine Mother finally couldn''t remain calm. That day, another imperial concubine came to talk about that woman. After a series of provocative words, Concubine Mother was finally provoked. Although Concubine Mother didn''t say anything in front of that imperial concubine, she finally took action after that imperial concubine left. She personally made soup for Emperor Father and went to see him. Yes, Concubine Mother had actually sent someone to deliver soup to Emperor Father before. She wanted to use this opportunity to lure Emperor Father over. However, Emperor Father only took the soup and gave the excuse that he was too busy and sent the pce maid back. 14:02 and sent the pce maid back. This time, Concubine Mother decided to go personally. In the end, when she arrived outside Emperor Father''s sleeping hall, she found out that Emperor Father had gone to look for that woman again. Concubine Mother couldn''t hold it in anymore. Thus, she went to the pce where that woman was staying. She wanted to see just what kind of beauty that woman was to be able to bewitch Emperor Father to such an extent. However, when she arrived, Concubine Mother was stopped by the guards. Upon hearing the familiar and unfamiliarughtering from inside the pce, Concubine Mother could not control her emotions this time. She shouted toward the inside. Thereafter, Emperor Father finally came out. After seeing Concubine Mother, he did not appear happy. He only frowned. Emperor Father first reprimanded Concubine Mother. Then he sent people to send her back to her chambers. Concubine Mother looked at the man who used to be so affectionate to her and felt that she seemed to have misjudged him. The person in front of her was not her husband at all but aplete stranger. After returning to her chambers, Concubine Mother did not eat or drink for a day. After that, she asked someone to bring me to her. Following that, she asked me to go and see Emperor Father. She told me to invite Emperor Father to her chambers. I did as she said. I rushed to intercept Emperor Father after the court session before he went to the woman''s pce. Emperor Father carried me and walked in the Imperial garden for a while, but very quickly, he put me down and hurriedly went to look for that woman. When I saw how much Emperor Father cared for that woman, I couldn''t help but worry for Concubine Mother. When I returned to Concubine Mother''s chambers, I saw the hope in her eyes changing to disappointment before finally changing to anger. Then, Concubine Mother actually hit out at me. She pped my butt and said some reproachful words. She scolded me for being useless because I didn''t bring my Emperor Father here. She also said that if she lost Emperor Father''s favor, it would be game over for both me and her. At that moment, Concubine Mother had turned into aplete stranger to me. She was like a crazy hag from the marketce. She no longer had the graceful and noble demeanor she possessed in the past. And I was beginning to fear her. That was right. Beginning. This was because after that, when Emperor Father did not step into Concubine Mother''s pce, her temper became more and more irritable. Not only were the people in her pce repeatedly punished by her, but even I also became her punching bag. She would be ferocious to me, but after that, she would cry and hug me and apologize to me. After that, she asked me to go see Emperor Father again and bring him to her. Under her threats and coercion, I went to see Emperor Father again. However, Emperor Father still didn''t follow me back to see Concubine Mother. Even when I did as Concubine Mother said and made up a lie about her falling ill, Emperor Father simply sent the Imperial Physician to her and did not personally visit. Later on, I was forced by Concubine Mother until I became desperate and finally knelt down to beg Emperor Father. Emperor Father discovered that I had an injury on my neck, so he brought me to Concubine Mother. However, he was not there to visit her, but to question her. That day, I was outside Concubine Mother''s chambers and heard Emperor Father''s furious reprimand. I also heard Concubine Mother''s cries and pleas. I was very afraid. As I was considering whether to go in and stop the two of them from quarreling, I saw Emperor Father walk out of the pce in a huff. Concubine Mother came chasing after him, crying and wailing. She fell to the ground and grabbed the hem of Emperor Father''s robe. Emperor Father was very angry and forcefully pulled his robe out of Concubine Mother''s hands. He even bluntly said that the more she acted in this manner, the more determined he was to make that Madam Jia his concubine. In fact, he even ordered people to issue a decree on the spot to confer on Madam Jia the title of "virtuous consort." Thereafter, Emperor Father ordered someone to take me away. After that, I never went to Concubine Mother''s chambers again. And I also rarely get to meet her alone. After Emperor Father issued the imperial edict to name Madam Jia "virtuous consort," Madam Jia walked out of her pce and appeared in the public''s eye. The woman who made countless concubines curious and afraid was not extremely beautiful. In fact, in the Imperial harem filled with beauties, she could only be considered above average. However, she had a unique bearing that made her very attractive even among the beauties. Emperor Father probably loved that bearing of hers very much. The moment she appeared, there would be no one else in Emperor Father''s eyes. A few yearster, Madam Jia became the most favored in the harem. Although Emperor Father didn''t dote on Madam Jia as much as before, he rarely went to the other concubines'' pces. Emperor Father was also not as close to us princes and princesses as he was in the past. And Concubine Mother''s attitude towards me was not as good as before. Thissted all the way until the end of the year when the Imperial Court''s courtiers in the earlier reign brought up the issue of selecting the Empress. Concubine Mother and Madam Jia became the most likely candidates to be made Empress. The rivalry between the two of them, who were already at loggerheads with each other, became even more visible. Concubine Mother''s status was higher than Madam Jia''s, but Madam Jia had Emperor Father''s support, so neither of them gave in to the other. Their fight ended with the tragic death of Concubine Mother, thereby handing the victory to Madam Jia. No one knew how my Concubine Mother died. They only knew that on that day, Madam Jia went to my Concubine Mother''s chambers and then my Concubine Mother died suddenly. After that, Madam Jia became Empress Jia and ascended to the position that my Concubine Mother dreamed of the most. After Concubine Mother died, my predicament quickly became difficult. Emperor Father no longer paid attention to me. At the same time, I began to encounter poisoning incidents and assassinations. Even though I was staying in the pce, I almost lost my life many times. After that, my maternal uncle found me and wanted to arrange for me to flee the capital. After much hesitation, I finally approached Emperor Father again and brought up the matter of going to the border to gain experience. Emperor Father immediately agreed. I thought that Emperor Father must have really hated me. He couldn''t wait to get rid of me so that my existence in the pce wouldn''t make his sweetheart unhappy. Chapter 469 Bonus Chapter Huangfu Wudi (2) 469 Bonus Chapter Huangfu Wudi (2) Thus, at a young age, I went to the border. The border was a bitter and cold ce. When I first went there, I wasn''t quite able to stand the ce. However, I had no way out, so I could only grit my teeth and hold on. Fortunately, I eventually got used to it. With the help of my maternal uncle and his friends, I grew up step by step. I even took General Huang Zhi, whose achievements included conquering the north, as my master and learned martial arts. Under my master''s guidance, I gradually made a name for myself in the army. With my own ability, I rose step by step to be themander of the army. Unfortunately, Master''s old injuries rpsed subsequently and he left me. My maternal uncle also died of illness in the capital. Once again, I became an orphan without anyone to rely on. The difference was the current me was already strong enough. I no longer needed the protection of others. I led the great army to resist the attacks of the foreign tribes and wiped out the bandits within the territory. I was hailed as the "God of War" by the people. That year, there was a great drought in the southwest of the Great Jin State. Themoners were in dire straits and the mountain bandits repeatedly rebelled. I led my soldiers from the border to wipe out the bandits along the way until we arrived at a small town. That ce was called Mountain Spring Town. It was said to be thergest town in Zhao County. At that time, it was taken over by a group of mountain bandits. After the mountain bandits invaded Mountain Spring Town, they burned, killed, and looted. They did all kinds of evil deeds, and the people in the town were in a constant state of panic. At that time, my men were strong and powerful. If we attacked aggressively, we could easily take down Mountain Spring Town. However, after surrounding Mountain Spring Town, I didn''t give the order to attack for a long time. It wasn''t that I didn''t want to exterminate the mountain bandits, but I was worried that the attack would affect the lives of the innocent people in the town. However, the next night after we surrounded the town, the scouts returned with news. They reported that the bandits in the town no longer had the heart to resist my army. Moreover, the bandit leader seemed to have met with a mishap, and the second bandit leader became the leader in charge of the bandits''sir. Thus, Iunched an attack that night. The attack went very smoothly. My great army easily broke into the town. Thereafter, we quickly killed the bandits in the town and entered the government office. I quickly arranged for Han Chao to clean up the government office. To my surprise, he brought two people back to me. The two of them were husband and wife. The woman was called Qin Xiaoyao while the man was called Song Que. The bandit leader of Mountain Spring Town was captured alive by Qin Xiaoyao and the bandits'' second-inmand was also killed by her. Qin Xiaoyao''s contribution was undeniable in my ability to take down Mountain Spring Town so easily. When I saw that she was thin and small-sized and a woman no less, I was a little suspicious of her words. Thus, I suggested that she take a test. She agreed. The result was beyond my expectations. She was actually able to wield the meteor hammer left behind by my master. Not only that, but she could also manipte it with great mastery. Other than my master, she was the second person who was able to unleash the full might of the meteor hammer. Even I couldn''t do it. I immediately valued her talent highly and wanted to recruit her. However, she rejected me outright. When I recalled that I still had to stay in Mountain Spring Town for a period of time, I didn''tpel her. After that, I sent people to investigate her background. However, I unexpectedly found out a shocking piece of news. Her husband was the grandson of Prime Minister Song. Yes, the former Prime Minister Song Hong. Haha! Her husband, Song Que, actually had the same enemy as I did. Yes, Song Hong died because of Empress Jia, and the Song family was also destroyed because of Empress Jia. Thus, I used this as a breakthrough point to approach Song Que. However, the result went against my expectations. Song Que didn''t agree to help me. I had no choice but to continue persuading. I got Song Que to help out at the government office and also invited Qin Xiaoyao to the army to coach my subordinates. Qin Xiaoyao''s martial arts were so powerful that my subordinates were all impressed. I was not surprised by this. However, Song Que''s ability to carry out tasks was surprisingly strong. In fact, I realized that Song Que''s ability might be even greater than Qin Xiaoyao''s! As such, I didn''t want to lose out on having this couple''s assistance. Unfortunately, despite my multiple attempts to recruit them, my efforts were futile. After a month, I could only leave Mountain Spring Town in disappointment. When I left, I felt regretful and a little reluctant I couldn''t forget Qin Xiaoyao. Yes, I actually developed feelings for a married woman. After leaving Mountain Spring Town, I thought I wouldn''t be able to see them again for quite a while. To my surprise, I bumped into Song Que soon after that. And I even saved him from a group of mountain bandits. The thoughts that I had already given up rose again. I once again asked Song Que to join me. This time, Song Que finally agreed. Based on our n, he went to work undercover at Prime Minister Shen''s residence. As for me, I have to hold back the Liao reinforcement troops at the border. Yes, the Liao army attacked again. Moreover, arge number of Liao troops had already entered the inner regions of the Great Jin State. At that point, I didn''t have the resources to take care of the Liao army in the inner regions of the Great Jin State anymore. I could only defend High Pass Town to the death and not let the Liao reinforcement troops enter. Chapter 470 Bonus Chapter Huangfu Wudi (2) 470 Bonus Chapter Huangfu Wudi (2) The situation at High Pass Town was not good, and so was the situation within the Great Jin State. I predicted that this war will end with the Great Jin State seeking peace, ceding territory, and paying for reparations. Nobody could have foreseen Qin Xiaoyao''s arrival. And how with her own ability, she gradually changed the entire battle situation. She was more powerful than I thought. She killed arge number of Liao generals, including Xiao Tu and thereafter, Xiao Yuan. Of particr importance was Xiao Yuan, who was the Great Liao State''s Supreme Commander and also the leadingmander of the Great Liao State''s attack on the Jin State. She almost single-handedly killed so many Liao soldiers until the Liao army became demoralized and earned the well-deserved moniker of "Great Jin State''s God of Massacre." The more I interacted with her, the more I found myself attracted to her. I even went against my agreement with Song Que and tried to probe her feelings. Compared to Song Que, I thought I was more outstanding. My status was higher than Song Que''s, and my appearance was more impressive than Song Que''s. Moreover, I still had the hope of ascending to the throne. I could give her the most noble position among all the women in the world, which was an Empress position. However, she was not moved at all. All she could think about was Song Que. I felt a little defeated. After the situation at the border stabilized, we returned to the capital. Empress Jia held her in very high regard and even made her most beloved princess daughter acknowledge Qin Xiaoyao as her master. Song Que was worried about her safety and reminded me of what I promised him earlier. In addition, I also didn''t want her to get too involved in the factional strife. Thus, I told her to be suppliant to Empress Jia and remain a neutral party. She did as she was told. She then started a small business and continued to look for her husband. Initially, I didn''t want her to meet Song Que, but I was worried that Song Que''s identity would be exposed, so eventually, I could only arrange for them to meet. Before this, I even intentionally revealed Song Que''s current situation. I wanted her to know that he was about to be Prime Minister Shen''s son-inw. She was so proud and arrogant. If she knew that Song Que had betrayed her, perhaps she would change her mind? In the end, I was still disappointed. The two of them soon got back together. Hah! They thought that their every tryst was very well concealed, but in fact, I knew all about their activities. I was a little disappointed, but I still maintained my patience. If Song Que wanted to gain Minister Shen''s trust, he had to be his son-inw. This was considered a betrayal toward Qin Xiaoyao. They would fall out sooner orter. However, what happened next still disappointed me. For her sake, Song Que did not hesitate to change his ns. And she even forced me to let her join our n for Song Que''s sake. The two of them trusted each other too much. I didn''t stand a chance at all. With Qin Xiaoyao joining us, our n progressed very smoothly. In the end, weunched our n as scheduled during Emperor Father''s birthday banquet. We overturned Prime Minister Shen, the Jia family, and finally Empress Jia one after another. For the sake of Empress Jia, Emperor Father also agreed to give up his throne to me. Then, Empress Jia revealed the truth about my Concubine Mother''s death. She admitted that she was the one who killed my Concubine Mother. Even the assassins who tried to poison me and tried to assassinate me were arranged by her. However, she said that the reason behind all this was that my Concubine Mother made the first move. Furthermore, the reason I was able to safely leave the capital and even survive at the border was all because of my Emperor Father. In the end, I chose to let it go for the sake of my Emperor Father. Thereafter, I ascended the throne in ordance with my wishes and became the new emperor of the Great Jin State. I had thought of using my Imperial authority to coerce Qin Xiaoyao to submit to me. However, in the end, I gave up. This was because that woman was "carefree and rxed," just like the meaning embodied in her name. Even if I were to give her the position of Empress, it would only be a shackle to her. Moreover, no one could force her to do anything she was unwilling to do. It wasn''t easy for me to ascend to the throne and achieve my wish. I didn''t want to take the risk of offending her and losing my life. Yes, I had no doubt that if I forced her to stay, she would take action against me. There was also Song Que, whose methods were extraordinary. These two, one a civil official and the other a martial official, could be hailed as the kingdom''s heroic talents. Unfortunately, none of them wanted to stay by my side and work for me. In order to get rid of me, Song Que deployed ruthless methods when he purged the factions connected to the Shen and Jia family. Almost none of those who were involved with the two families escaped. At the same time, he also took the opportunity to "eliminate dissidents" and caused everyone in the court to feel insecure. Under such circumstances, if I still retained him, it would only cause the courtiers to be fearful. In fact, no one would dare to present opposing views to me again. It could only be said that Song Que was truly ruthless and bold. He had offended so many people, yet he still had no qualms about resigning from his post and going into retirement. He was truly fearless when he knew had invincible backing. With Qin Xiaoyao and her private army, the undercover guards called Warfire, protecting him, there was no one who could attack him in the dark. Fortunately, although Qin Xiaoyao resigned from her military post, she agreed to go to the border every year to carry out missions. Furthermore, she was the one who took the initiative to approach me and asked me to speak to Song Que about this on her behalf. In the beginning, I was secretly happy that Qin Xiaoyao wasn''t as uninterested in power as she seemed on the surface. Later on, I found out that she really had no interest in power. The reason she wanted to go to the border was to kill people. Yes, that confident and unrestrained woman actually possessed a "killer''s nature." The reason she had to go to the border every year to "carry out missions" was to find a suitable ce to give vent to her "killer''s nature." I was not the only one who discovered this point. Song Que also noticed it. I felt quite fearful in reality. Unlike me, Song Que wasn''t afraid at all. He insisted on apanying her to the border. At that moment, realization finally dawned on me. I did not have what it took to desire Qin Xiaoyao, and neither did I dare to desire her. She and Song Que were truly a match made in heaven. However, a number of yearster, when their child was born, I began to have other thoughts. I already have a son and a daughter. Regardless of whether they have a son or a daughter, I can get their offspring engaged with mine, right? It is best if they have a daughter. In the future, after I have confirmed the Crown Prince, I will get their daughter to marry my Crown Prince and be the Princess Consort. It is fine even if they have a son. I will recruit him to be my daughter''s Prince Consort. In short, the two of them can forget about shirking their duties. Although Song Que can''t attend court sessions, he can still give me counsel and help mee up with ns and strategies. As for Qin Xiaoyao, I wee her at any time to put on her armor and help me expand my territory. Haha! I am looking forward to it. Chapter 470 - 470: Bonus Chapter Huangfu Wudi (2) Chapter 470: Bonus Chapter Huangfu Wudi (2) Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The situation at High Pass Town was not good, and so was the situation within the Great Jin State. 1 predicted that this war will end with the Great Jin State seeking peace, ceding territory, and paying for reparations. Nobody could have foreseen Qin Xiaoyaos arrival. And how with her own ability, she gradually changed the entire battle situation. She was more powerful than I thought. She killed arge number of Liao generals, including Xiao Tu and thereafter, Xiao Yuan. Of particr importance was Xiao Yuan, who was the Great Liao States Supreme Commander and also the leadingmander of the Great Liao States attack on the Jin State. She almost single-handedly killed so many Liao soldiers until the Liao army became demoralized and earned the well-deserved moniker of Great Jin States God of Massacre. The more I interacted with her, the more I found myself attracted to her. I even went against my agreement with Song Que and tried to probe her feelings. Compared to Song Que, I thought I was more outstanding. My status was higher than Song Ques, and my appearance was more impressive than Song Ques. Moreover, I still had the hope of ascending to the throne. I could give her the most noble position among all the women in the world, which was an Empress position. However, she was not moved at all. All she could think about was Song Que. I felt a little defeated. After the situation at the border stabilized, we returned to the capital. Empress Jia held her in very high regard and even made her most beloved princess daughter acknowledge Qin Xiaoyao as her master. Song Que was worried about her safety and reminded me of what I promised him earlier. In addition, I also didnt want her to get too involved in the factional strife. Thus, I told her to be suppliant to Empress Jia and remain a neutral party. She did as she was told. She then started a small business and continued to look for her husband. Initially, I didnt want her to meet Song Que, but I was worried that Song Ques identity would be exposed, so eventually, 1 could only arrange for them to meet. Before this, I even intentionally revealed Song Ques current situation. I wanted her to know that he was about to be Prime Minister Shens son-inw. She was so proud and arrogant. If she knew that Song Que had betrayed her, perhaps she would change her mind? In the end, I was still disappointed. The two of them soon got back together. Hah! They thought that their every tryst was very well concealed, but in fact, I knew all about their activities. 1 was a little disappointed, but I still maintained my patience. If Song Que wanted to gain Minister Shens trust, he had to be his son-inw. This was considered a betrayal toward Qin Xiaoyao. They would fall out sooner orter. However, what happened next still disappointed me. For her sake, Song Que did not hesitate to change his ns. And she even forced me to let her join our n for Song Ques sake. The two of them trusted each other too much. I didnt stand a chance at all. With Qin Xiaoyao joining us, our n progressed very smoothly. In the end, weunched our n as scheduled during Emperor Fathers birthday banquet. We overturned Prime Minister Shen, the Jia family, and finally Empress Jia one after another. For the sake of Empress Jia, Emperor Father also agreed to give up his throne to me. Then, Empress Jia revealed the truth about my Concubine Mothers death. She admitted that she was the one who killed my Concubine Mother. Even the assassins who tried to poison me and tried to assassinate me were arranged by her. However, she said that the reason behind all this was that my Concubine Mother made the first move. Furthermore, the reason 1 was able to safely leave the capital and even survive at the border was all because of my Emperor Father. In the end, I chose to let it go for the sake of my Emperor Father. Thereafter, I ascended the throne in ordance with my wishes and became the new emperor of the Great Jin State. 1 had thought of using my Imperial authority to coerce Qin Xiaoyao to submit to me. However, in the end, I gave up. This was because that woman was carefree and rxed, just like the meaning embodied in her name. Even if I were to give her the position of Empress, it would only be a shackle to her. Moreover, no one could force her to do anything she was unwilling to do. It wasnt easy for me to ascend to the throne and achieve my wish. I didnt want to take the risk of offending her and losing my life. Yes, I had no doubt that if I forced her to stay, she would take action against me. There was also Song Que, whose methods were extraordinary. These two, one a civil official and the other a martial official, could be hailed as the kingdoms heroic talents. Unfortunately, none of them wanted to stay by my side and work for me. In order to get rid of me, Song Que deployed ruthless methods when he purged the factions connected to the Shen and Jia family. Almost none of those who were involved with the two families escaped. At the same time, he also took the opportunity to eliminate dissidents and caused everyone in the court to feel insecure. Under such circumstances, if I still retained him, it would only cause the courtiers to be fearful. In fact, no one would dare to present opposing views to me again. It could only be said that Song Que was truly ruthless and bold. He had offended so many people, yet he still had no qualms about resigning from his post and going into retirement. He was truly fearless when he knew had invincible backing. With Qin Xiaoyao and her private army, the undercover guards called Warfire, protecting him, there was no one who could attack him in the dark. Fortunately, although Qin Xiaoyao resigned from her military post, she agreed to go to the border every year to carry out missions. Furthermore, she was the one who took the initiative to approach me and asked me to speak to Song Que about this on her behalf. In the beginning, I was secretly happy that Qin Xiaoyao wasnt as uninterested in power as she seemed on the surface. Later on, I found out that she really had no interest in power. The reason she wanted to go to the border was to kill people. Yes, that confident and unrestrained woman actually possessed a killers nature. The reason she had to go to the border every year to carry out missions was to find a suitable ce to give vent to her killers nature. 1 was not the only one who discovered this point. Song Que also noticed it. I felt quite fearful in reality. Unlike me, Song Que wasnt afraid at all. He insisted on apanying her to the border. At that moment, realization finally dawned on me. I did not have what it took to desire Qin Xiaoyao, and neither did I dare to desire her. She and Song Que were truly a match made in heaven. However, a number of yearster, when their child was born, I began to have other thoughts. 1 already have a son and a daughter. Regardless of whether they have a son or a daughter, I can get their offspring engaged with mine, right? It is best if they have a daughter. In the future, after 1 have confirmed the Crown Prince, 1 will get their daughter to marry my Crown Prince and be the Princess Consort. It is fine even if they have a son. I will recruit him to be my daughters Prince Consort. In short, the two of them can forget about shirking their duties. Although Song Que cant attend court sessions, he can still give me counsel and help mee up with ns and strategies. As for Qin Xiaoyao, I wee her at any time to put on her armor and help me expand my territory. Haha! I am looking forward to it.. Chapter 470 - 470: Bonus Huangfu Wudi (2) Chapter 470 - 470: Bonus Huangfu Wudi (2) Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion The situation at High Pass Town was not good, and so was the situation within the Great Jin State. 1 predicted that this war will end with the Great Jin State seeking peace, ceding territory, and paying for reparations. Nobody could have foreseen Qin Xiaoyaos arrival. And how with her own ability, she gradually changed the entire battle situation. She was more powerful than I thought. She killed arge number of Liao generals, including Xiao Tu and thereafter, Xiao Yuan. Of particr importance was Xiao Yuan, who was the Great Liao States Supreme Commander and also the leadingmander of the Great Liao States attack on the Jin State. She almost single-handedly killed so many Liao soldiers until the Liao army became demoralized and earned the well-deserved moniker of Great Jin States God of Massacre. The more I interacted with her, the more I found myself attracted to her. I even went against my agreement with Song Que and tried to probe her feelings. Compared to Song Que, I thought I was more outstanding. My status was higher than Song Ques, and my appearance was more impressive than Song Ques. Moreover, I still had the hope of ascending to the throne. I could give her the most noble position among all the women in the world, which was an Empress position. However, she was not moved at all. All she could think about was Song Que. I felt a little defeated. After the situation at the border stabilized, we returned to the capital. Empress Jia held her in very high regard and even made her most beloved princess daughter acknowledge Qin Xiaoyao as her master. Song Que was worried about her safety and reminded me of what I promised him earlier. In addition, I also didnt want her to get too involved in the factional strife. Thus, I told her to be suppliant to Empress Jia and remain a neutral party. She did as she was told. She then started a small business and continued to look for her husband. Initially, I didnt want her to meet Song Que, but I was worried that Song Ques identity would be exposed, so eventually, 1 could only arrange for them to meet. Before this, I even intentionally revealed Song Ques current situation. I wanted her to know that he was about to be Prime Minister Shens son-inw. She was so proud and arrogant. If she knew that Song Que had betrayed her, perhaps she would change her mind? In the end, I was still disappointed. The two of them soon got back together. Hah! They thought that their every tryst was very well concealed, but in fact, I knew all about their activities. 1 was a little disappointed, but I still maintained my patience. If Song Que wanted to gain Minister Shens trust, he had to be his son-inw. This was considered a betrayal toward Qin Xiaoyao. They would fall out sooner orter. However, what happened next still disappointed me. For her sake, Song Que did not hesitate to change his ns. And she even forced me to let her join our n for Song Ques sake. The two of them trusted each other too much. I didnt stand a chance at all. With Qin Xiaoyao joining us, our n progressed very smoothly. In the end, weunched our n as scheduled during Emperor Fathers birthday banquet. We overturned Prime Minister Shen, the Jia family, and finally Empress Jia one after another. For the sake of Empress Jia, Emperor Father also agreed to give up his throne to me. Then, Empress Jia revealed the truth about my Concubine Mothers death. She admitted that she was the one who killed my Concubine Mother. Even the assassins who tried to poison me and tried to assassinate me were arranged by her. However, she said that the reason behind all this was that my Concubine Mother made the first move. Furthermore, the reason 1 was able to safely leave the capital and even survive at the border was all because of my Emperor Father. In the end, I chose to let it go for the sake of my Emperor Father. Thereafter, I ascended the throne in ordance with my wishes and became the new emperor of the Great Jin State. 1 had thought of using my Imperial authority to coerce Qin Xiaoyao to submit to me. However, in the end, I gave up. This was because that woman was carefree and rxed, just like the meaning embodied in her name. Even if I were to give her the position of Empress, it would only be a shackle to her. Moreover, no one could force her to do anything she was unwilling to do. It wasnt easy for me to ascend to the throne and achieve my wish. I didnt want to take the risk of offending her and losing my life. Yes, I had no doubt that if I forced her to stay, she would take action against me. There was also Song Que, whose methods were extraordinary. These two, one a civil official and the other a martial official, could be hailed as the kingdoms heroic talents. Unfortunately, none of them wanted to stay by my side and work for me. In order to get rid of me, Song Que deployed ruthless methods when he purged the factions connected to the Shen and Jia family. Almost none of those who were involved with the two families escaped. At the same time, he also took the opportunity to eliminate dissidents and caused everyone in the court to feel insecure. Under such circumstances, if I still retained him, it would only cause the courtiers to be fearful. In fact, no one would dare to present opposing views to me again. It could only be said that Song Que was truly ruthless and bold. He had offended so many people, yet he still had no qualms about resigning from his post and going into retirement. He was truly fearless when he knew had invincible backing. With Qin Xiaoyao and her private army, the undercover guards called Warfire, protecting him, there was no one who could attack him in the dark. Fortunately, although Qin Xiaoyao resigned from her military post, she agreed to go to the border every year to carry out missions. Furthermore, she was the one who took the initiative to approach me and asked me to speak to Song Que about this on her behalf. In the beginning, I was secretly happy that Qin Xiaoyao wasnt as uninterested in power as she seemed on the surface. Later on, I found out that she really had no interest in power. The reason she wanted to go to the border was to kill people. Yes, that confident and unrestrained woman actually possessed a killers nature. The reason she had to go to the border every year to carry out missions was to find a suitable ce to give vent to her killers nature. 1 was not the only one who discovered this point. Song Que also noticed it. I felt quite fearful in reality. Unlike me, Song Que wasnt afraid at all. He insisted on apanying her to the border. At that moment, realization finally dawned on me. I did not have what it took to desire Qin Xiaoyao, and neither did I dare to desire her. She and Song Que were truly a match made in heaven. However, a number of yearster, when their child was born, I began to have other thoughts. 1 already have a son and a daughter. Regardless of whether they have a son or a daughter, I can get their offspring engaged with mine, right? It is best if they have a daughter. In the future, after 1 have confirmed the Crown Prince, 1 will get their daughter to marry my Crown Prince and be the Princess Consort. It is fine even if they have a son. I will recruit him to be my daughters Prince Consort. In short, the two of them can forget about shirking their duties. Although Song Que cant attend court sessions, he can still give me counsel and help mee up with ns and strategies. As for Qin Xiaoyao, I wee her at any time to put on her armor and help me expand my territory. Haha! I am looking forward to it.. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!