Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 163 - 162: Death List

Oh, Qin Yao doesn’t count.

She’s not feeling heavy-hearted at all because she just figured it out.

At this time, the likelihood that the conscripted villagers who haven’t returned are gone is ninety-nine percent, probably buried somewhere unknown.

Or worse, they’re not even buried, just rotting somewhere, with only a few bones left after being gnawed by wild beasts.

Liu Qi is tall and capable, and this young man is someone Qin Yao quite likes.

But the dead can’t come back to life, so she can only pat the old village chief on the shoulder and offer her condolences.

The village chief looked bewildered, "Miss Qin, you don’t seem worried about your Liu Ji, do you?"

The old man suddenly remembered that when conscripting villagers, Qin Yao was the only one in the village who voluntarily came to put down a name.

As for the others, it was either because he urged them or because they looked helpless, with no desire to undertake the forced labor.

Qin Yao is still living in the village, so she can’t afford to be suspected of murdering her husband, right?

She quickly explained, "I’m worried, but worrying is useless. I’m just comforting myself by thinking positively."

Only then did the village chief’s doubts ease, and he sighed, "You’re a person with a hard life too."

Qin Yao secretly raised an eyebrow. How is her life hard?

Ever since she let go of Liu Ji, this good-for-nothing, she’s had no more backaches, her legs don’t hurt, food tastes better, she can eat five bowls at a meal, and she sleeps until daylight!

If she could just stop farming and become the wife of a landlord, her life would be perfect.

Qin Yao rode ahead on horseback, while the village chief and the others took an ox cart behind. They traveled from noon until dusk, arriving at Kaiyang County before nightfall.

Last time she came, Qin Yao felt the place wasn’t lively because there were few people.

This time arriving in town, perhaps because more people returned, the feeling was quite different.

The difference was probably the mix of crying and laughing voices that had increased.

Those who returned naturally laughed.

Those who didn’t gather at the government office’s entrance, waiting for the death list to be posted.

The village chief settled five villagers in a teahouse, called Qin Yao over, and the two went to a small courtyard next to the county government.

A young government officer opened the door, let the two in, then quickly closed it again.

The officer recognized Qin Yao and called her Miss Qin in surprise.

But in Qin Yao’s memory, there was no trace of this person, so she looked at him with suspicion, "And you are?"

The officer gave a bitter smile, saying his name was Zhou Zheng, and he had previously followed Qin Yao up Yuhua Mountain to combat bandits.

Qin Yao revealed a suddenly enlightened expression, but she actually didn’t remember at all.

Zhou Zheng didn’t care about these details. Knowing the village chief’s purpose for coming, he invited the two inside, poured two cups of hot tea, and then spoke:

"I placed that kid Liu Qi under Shangguan Lie. He’s an experienced veteran, with full martial arts prowess, and used to follow convoys bringing supplies that mostly turned danger into safety, so the people should still be on the road."

"Besides, I haven’t received Liu Qi’s name here, Uncle, don’t worry, maybe that kid will be back in a few days."

Qin Yao heard him call Village Chief "Uncle" and realized that the village chief had a nephew working as an officer.

Zhou Zheng then looked at Qin Yao, "Does Miss Qin also have someone in the supply team?"

Qin Yao nodded, glanced at the village chief, and seeing him gesture for her to ask boldly, she said, "My husband, Liu Ji, also left with the convoy but hasn’t returned yet."

"Oh?" Zhou Zheng found the name somewhat familiar. After thinking for a while, he exclaimed, "What a coincidence, I’ve met this person. Isn’t he a particularly handsome scholar, a bit younger than me?"

Qin Yao was surprised and looked at him, nodding, "Yes, he’s quite good-looking."

Zhou Zheng immediately showed Qin Yao a reassuring expression, "He’s in the same team with Liu Qi, both under Shangguan Lie. They might be returning together and are still on the road."

There was one thing Zhou Zheng didn’t mention.

The reason he arranged for people under Shangguan Lie was because he had taken a bribe of five cents.

Doing things for money, and they were all from the Liu Family Village, so of course, he needed to look out for them.

"I didn’t expect him to be Miss Qin’s husband." Zhou Zheng was even more surprised than Qin Yao. He thought that for a bandit-fighting heroine like Qin Yao, only a man stronger than her could be her match.

Who would’ve thought her husband was a gentle scholar.

The village chief further inquired about the other five people’s situation, and Zhou Zheng’s expression grew heavy, "Their names are on the list. I specifically checked for Liu Family Village. Exactly eight names."

The village chief sighed, unsure how to deliver this tragic news to those five families.

But knowing his grandson might be safe, his heart was slightly relieved, and he asked Zhou Zheng to keep an eye out in the county office. If he saw Liu Qi returning, or if his name appeared on the list, to inform him immediately.

Zhou Zheng comforted, "Uncle, you’re overthinking. That boy Liu Qi is big and tough; he’ll be fine."

"Just go back and wait, in a few days he’ll be back!"

He also gave Qin Yao a shallow smile, signaling her not to worry. He believed Liu Ji looked quite resourceful and most likely wouldn’t die.

Not saying that last sentence was fine, but after saying it, Qin Yao felt unwell.

The village chief and others assumed she was worrying, looking at her with sympathy.

Leaving Zhou Zheng’s place, the sky was already completely dark.

Zhou Zheng originally wanted to have the two stay over, but the village chief declined because there were still five villagers in the teahouse.

Qin Yao followed the village chief back to the teahouse, their expressions heavy, and when they hadn’t even spoken, the five villagers had already gotten the answer from their looks, each lowering their heads, silently reddening their eyes.

The city gates were already shut, making it impossible to return that day. Qin Yao brought everyone to Manager Fan’s inn, rented a large shared bed and two single rooms.

The five villagers slept in the large shared bed, while she and the village chief had one single room each.

The villagers said they would reimburse Qin Yao for the accommodation when they returned to the village, but Qin Yao waved it off, saying she’d cover it today.

Since they’re all from the same village and their wives and children work at her water mill, as the boss, Qin Yao wouldn’t hesitate to be generous when necessary.

The group thanked her, quickly ate something to fill their stomachs, and then went to rest in low spirits.

Having watched these kids grow up, the village chief also felt bad. Plus, with no news of Liu Qi yet, he sat in a corner of the hall with Qin Yao, insisting on analyzing where Liu Qi and Liu Ji might be now.

The more they analyzed, the less comfortable Qin Yao felt she had a bad premonition—Liu Ji probably hasn’t died.

When he left, he was well prepared, bringing warm clothes and thick-soled shoes, not forgetting his raincoat and hat.

If nothing unexpected happened, the journey from Kaiyang County to Xuanyue Pass should be safe.

The only place where he might have gotten killed was outside Xuanyue Pass.

Liu Ji may lack martial arts skills, but his intelligence was high. He snuck away with her dagger, and if it came to just hiding and defending, the chance of being stabbed by the enemy army was only fifty percent at most.

Another point that gave Qin Yao a headache was that Liu Ji’s dodging skills had become extremely honed under her constant beatings.