Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 165 - 164: Liu Qi: I’m Tainted

So, on a moonless and windy night, Liu Ji, who had almost recovered after taking several doses of medicine, secretly woke Liu Qi and left while Wang Wu was still sound asleep.

Liu Qi was burdened with guilt, wanting to turn back several times, but was always called back by Liu Ji wielding his elder’s authority.

Liu Ji quickly found a cart to rent, and the two of them rode in an ox cart for two days. Once they were sure Wang Wu couldn’t catch up, Liu Ji found time to educate the young man.

"If you’re not looking out for yourself, heaven and earth will strike you down. To tell you the truth, Uncle does have some copper coins on him, but it’s not enough for the three of us. Even for just you and me, it’s barely enough."

"If you still want to go home for the New Year, stop thinking about irrelevant things. Use that time to seriously consider how we can earn some money."

We previously stayed together beyond the pass for safety in numbers; now that we’ve crossed, let’s each go our own way and not hold each other back.

Liu Qi still felt uncomfortable and said softly, "Uncle Wang doesn’t have a single cent on him. Now that it’s so cold, how is he going to get back?"

"How do you know he doesn’t have a cent?" Liu Ji retorted.

Liu Qi was taken aback, "Does he have any?"

Liu Ji snickered, giving him a look that said "You’re still too young," "These days, who doesn’t keep a little something hidden? Look at his shoes, tied up so tightly—there’s definitely something inside."

"Then why did he say he had no money?" Liu Qi asked, puzzled.

Liu Ji wore a smug expression as if he’d seen through everything, "He doesn’t want to use it on us, of course."

Seeing Liu Qi still wanted to ask, Liu Ji was already growing impatient, "The ox cart only takes us this far. We’ll rest outside this inn for the night and figure out tomorrow how to earn some money to buy food for the journey home."

Liu Qi glanced at his uncle’s chest, "Uncle, don’t you still have some?"

Liu Ji gave him a smack on the head, "If we spend it all at once, how will we continue? Do you really want to beg your way back home?"

Liu Qi held his head and didn’t dare speak further.

After this experience, he significantly revised his view of his third uncle and even felt some admiration.

The people in the village all said the third uncle was scoundrelly, but what Liu Qi saw was a perceptive elder, daring to confront enemy forces, and able to navigate the vast grasslands to lead him out.

But ditching Wang Wu and running off alone did seem rather scoundrelly.

Just as the young man thought this, Liu Ji shot him a glance, reminding him that they were both being quite scoundrelly now.

Liu Qi: Boo-hoo, I’ve become tainted!

Liu Ji’s idea of resting outside the inn for a night was actually masquerading as a fortune teller to con businessmen passing by the inn lobby, scoring some food and drink, and persuading the innkeeper to let him sleep on the floor in the lobby.

Liu Ji knew well that with the weather so cold, especially in the north, if they really slept outside, he and Liu Qi would freeze by morning.

Throughout the process, Liu Qi stood behind Liu Ji as his little Daoist apprentice.

The young man, standing at six feet, did a double take—hold on, is he little?

Liu Qi watched Liu Ji’s full-blown nonsense... no, fortune-telling.

He had to admit, despite their scruffiness, his uncle never forgot to tidy himself up, which was the result of Third Aunt’s good upbringing.

Because they kept themselves looking somewhat presentable, Liu Ji’s self-proclamation as a wandering Taoist priest from some Daoist temple was actually believable to others.

Even more jaw-dropping for Liu Qi was that his uncle genuinely knew how to do fortune-telling.

Liu Ji casually chatted up an old merchant in front of him, reached back to lift Liu Qi’s chin to shut his mouth, touched his own scruffy stubble, and, squinting, pondered, then uttered, "Ohh~".

The old man immediately grew nervous, "Does the Taoist priest sense something amiss?"

He was asking about whether his business trip north to Xuanyue Pass would go smoothly.

Liu Ji shook his head and smiled lightly, "This poor Taoist divined a fortune; the reading suggests that on this northern trip, you’ll encounter an obstructive star, but as long as you avoid it, any calamities will turn to blessings, and the journey will be smooth."

The old man’s heart first tightened and then relaxed. He specifically asked his attendant to pour Liu Ji another cup of hot tea, asking for more guidance from the Taoist priest.

With a steady face, Liu Ji drew a route with his finger in the tea on the table, advising:

"Take the main road, avoid small paths, travel by day, rest by night..."

His advice was simple enough that even Liu Qi could understand; it felt like stating the obvious.

Yet, the old merchant’s cautious reaction baffled the young man—was this really some thrilling master plan worth getting excited about?

That night, the two crowded onto a tattered mat to sleep. Liu Qi couldn’t hold back any longer, and in a quiet voice asked the person beside him, "Third Uncle, when did you learn how to tell fortunes?"

Liu Ji lay with his eyes closed, appearing asleep but actually awake. After a long pause, just when Liu Qi was about to fall asleep, Liu Ji suddenly said, "These are heavenly secrets, not to be divulged."

Liu Qi mumbled an "Oh," hugged his third uncle to warm up, rested his head on Liu Ji’s back, and fell into a deep sleep.

Liu Ji sighed softly; there are no heavenly secrets in this world, only human hearts.

People desire reassurance, so he simply gives them what they seek for peace of mind.

He reached into his sleeve with cold, stiff fingers, producing a greasy chicken drumstick, which he ate slowly, savoring each bite.

The stingy old merchant; Liu Ji helped him with a fortune, and all he got was a drumstick from such a large trading company— not a single coin!

Liu Qi twitched his nose, groggily sitting up, "Third Uncle, do you smell chicken drumstick?"

"Huh? What? You’re dreaming, aren’t you? There’s no chicken drumstick." The person secretly munching on the drumstick snuggled up in his coat, reassuring him, "Go back to sleep, we continue our journey in the morning."

Half-asleep, Liu Qi sniffed again—was it an illusion? Was there really a scent of chicken drumsticks?

But the drowsiness overwhelmed him, and he slumped back to sleep.

Liu Ji waited a full three minutes to make sure the person behind him was asleep, then stealthily dug out the unfinished drumstick, gobbled it in a few bites, tossed the bone aside, wiped his hands clean on his clothes, and closed his eyes to sleep.

This fortune-telling scheme proved effective; throughout their journey, Liu Ji seized target customers and spun tales. His appearance struck people as slightly otherworldly and ethereal, and surprisingly, no one doubted his true identity as a Taoist priest.

At most, some thought he talked too much nonsense, showing a bit of annoyance.

But most still treated him to a meal, or offered half a jug of wine in gratitude.

Thus, the two of them ate quite well along the way, often having meat dishes.

When your stomach is full, your spirit lifts, making you appear more Taoist-like, speaking of divine mysteries and auspicious signs.

Amidst the continual respectful calls of "Taoist Priest," Liu Ji found himself in a bit of a daze, almost forgetting that he was just a small-time rascal from Liu Family Village.

With the two of them having over two strings of copper coins left to pay for rides, what should’ve taken more than half a month only took eleven days to complete.

Jumping off the carriage at a cart station, raising his head to see the familiar city walls of Kaiyang County, the uncle and nephew were overwhelmed with joy, hugging each other and crying, "Boo-hoo-hoo, we’re finally back!"