Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 176 - 175: Mutual Disdain

The meat of an entire sheep was completely devoured by the six members of the family, especially with Qin Yao, the big eater, around.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, red lanterns were hung up, and one by one, they lay down on chairs with their bellies full, digesting their food while staying up for the night.

The first half of the night was tolerable with various snacks to munch on.

In the latter half, Sanlang and Si Niang couldn’t take it anymore and went back to their rooms to sleep.

Da Lang was practicing the moves Qin Yao had just taught, while Second Lang and Liu Ji, each holding a book, were absorbed in their studies.

Qin Yao looked at herself, spacing out while nibbling on a plate of fried soybeans, seriously contemplating for three seconds whether to join them or not.

Three seconds later, she decided against it, thinking she finally had a moment of leisure after a busy year and resolutely chose to be lazy.

Around three in the morning, Second Lang couldn’t hold on any longer and retreated.

Leaving Da Lang, Qin Yao, and Liu Ji sitting at the table, staring at each other.

Liu Ji, his eyes sore from reading, stopped and yawned.

But he resolved to stay awake this year, fearing bad luck like the misadventures of the previous year.

Liu Ji was rarely superstitious. Pinching himself to stay awake, he barely managed to hold on until dawn appeared on the horizon, exclaiming excitedly, "This year will surely bring good fortune!"

Encouraging himself, yawning, he turned around, guessing Qin Yao and Da Lang were in a similar state.

Unexpectedly, young as he was, Da Lang, after a sleepless night, was still energetic enough to want to practice in the back yard at dawn.

Qin Yao stopped him, sending him back inside, and only then did the youngster reluctantly go back to sleep.

"I’m going to take a nap," Qin Yao waved her hand and went to her room to catch up on her sleep.

Liu Ji, having held on as long as he could, followed suit without a word, carefully locking the doors and windows, burying the coal fire in ash, checking the curing meat under the eaves, and then immediately rushing into his room to sleep.

The whole family slept till noon, waking to an eerily quiet village. After a busy year, it seemed that only now could everyone afford a lazy sleep. Every household stayed cozily indoors.

After New Year’s Day, the village gradually became lively again.

Qin Yao’s family had no relatives to visit, so they relaxed at home, eating and drinking their way through the New Year.

After the festivities, all six members of the family visibly put on a few pounds. How could they not gain weight in the winter, eating so much while doing nothing? 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

On the eighth day of the New Year, with the market day approaching, many people in the village planned a trip to the city.

Mrs. Qiu had just completed her postpartum month, and Liu Zhong came to ask Qin Yao if they wanted to go to the city market too, hoping to share a ride with them if they did.

Knowing Liu Ji wasn’t the decision-maker, Liu Zhong asked Qin Yao directly.

Qin Yao asked, "How many people are going?"

"Me, my elder sister-in-law, Jinbao, Jinhua, our dad—three adults and two little ones," he replied.

The baby was full month, and Mrs. Zhang and Old Liu discussed throwing a full-month banquet for the rare happy occasion, prompting Liu Zhong and He to go to the city for supplies.

Old Liu wanted to replace some of the farm tools; the city would have more varieties and better prices.

As for the two kids, their fussiness left no choice but to bring them along.

If Qin Yao wasn’t going, Liu Zhong wouldn’t plan to bring the two kids.

After contemplating, Qin Yao agreed, "We planned to add a small horse, so let’s go together."

Liu Zhong, delighted, immediately went home to prepare.

After sending off Liu Zhong, Qin Yao and Liu Ji turned around to see Da Lang and the other three standing eagerly at the hall doorway, watching them.

The couple exchanged a glance: why not bring them all?

Since the cart couldn’t fit everyone, taking the four little ones would allow the kids to ride while adults walked, ensuring they’d return before dark if they set out early.

The couple nodded in agreement, a rare moment of tacit understanding.

The sight of their parents’ reaction almost made Da Lang and the other kids cheer.

By the eighth day, before dawn, both families woke up early to prepare.

After a simple breakfast, Qin Yao and Liu Ji lit torches and led the horse cart to the old house to pick people up.

The four Da Lang siblings paired up by twos, sticking their heads out of the window, while Jinhua and Jinbao couldn’t wait to climb into the carriage. Among the noise, Qin Yao wished she had earplugs.

Thankfully, Old Liu was driving the cart instead of her. Otherwise, the close proximity to their clamoring would have driven her crazy.

Unlike Qin Yao, Old Liu, enjoying the lively atmosphere, inexpertly drove the cart, cheerfully asking Qin Yao and Liu Ji:

"Did Second Lang mention you wanted to look at another horse in the city? Isn’t Old Huang good enough? Why not a cow instead? A cow could both pull the cart and plow."

Liu Ji explained, "Dad, Da Lang and Second Lang will start attending the Ding Clan School in February. It’s a long journey, and my wife thought getting them a pony would make it easier."

"What?" The three adults in the old house were taken aback.

In just a few words, Liu Ji had shared quite an astonishing revelation.

Both attending the Ding Clan School and the kids riding horses left Old Liu momentarily stunned. Once he grasped it, he excitedly inquired, "The Ding Clan School is accepting Da Lang and Second Lang?"

Not until then did Liu Ji realize they hadn’t yet shared the news about the Dings with the old family. He nodded, saying, "Yes, my wife and I expended quite some effort to get the Ding family’s matriarch to agree."

Excited, He asked, "What did you do? Teach Big Brother and Sister-in-law so Jinbao won’t miss out, Little Third, don’t you forget your nephew!"

Liu Ji immediately spread his fingers, "Big Sister-in-law, give me this amount, and I’ll risk it all, trying to secure a spot for my nephew too!"

He was thrilled, tentatively guessing, "Five hundred cents?"

But before Liu Ji could voice his stingy five taels, Qin Yao interjected, earnestly stating, "Fifty taels per person."

Liu Ji’s pupils contracted, thinking, wow, she really dared to say it!

He and the others gasped, "Fifty taels per person?" She pointed at the carriage, "Adding up Da Lang and Second Lang, wouldn’t that be one hundred taels?"

Upon hearing the astronomical figure of one hundred taels, both Old Liu and Liu Zhong barely dared to breathe.

Qin Yao and her husband nodded in unison, "Exactly!"

They weren’t lying; the two deer and hares alone were worth quite a bit, not to mention a soap recipe.

The Ding family had acquired the recipe but showed no intention of producing it.

Large families typically liked to hold onto these recipes, reinforcing their value through rarity.

Upon reflecting, Liu Ji realized that Qin Yao’s mention of one hundred taels was an understatement.

However, mentioning an even larger sum would have been incomprehensible to He and the others, with one hundred taels serving its purpose perfectly, silencing He from asking the Qin Yao couple for help.

Had Mr. Ding been at home, Qin Yao wouldn’t have scared her sister-in-law like that.

But as luck would have it, the Ding family’s matriarch and she never got along, so she avoided the trouble.