Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 203 - 202: Pest Infestation

With ten taels and two maces of silver earned today, Qin Yao loaded the five schoolchildren from her family onto the cart and headed back to Liu Family Village.

Her ox cart was much faster than the coachman’s; by the time they reached the village, the sunset still hung on the horizon, and the fields were filled with busy villagers.

Qin Yao parked the cart at the factory gate, letting the five children go home first, intending to return later.

She needed to sort out today’s earnings with Liu the carpenter and discuss the modifications to the book box.

Da Lang and his siblings obediently agreed, each dragging their own book box home ahead.

Jinbao walked behind, carrying his book basket, eyeing the book boxes of the three ahead with envy.

Second Lang was self-satisfied, thinking that Qin Yao would definitely give him a commission for the sales, his mood quite delighted.

But Jinbao was different; he sincerely envied them, yet knew each book box was sold by Aunt Yao for over five hundred cents. His parents couldn’t afford one, so he could only dream about it.

Or perhaps, Aunt Yao could sell him one at cost?

Thinking this, Jinbao couldn’t contain himself and said to Second Lang, "I’m heading home first!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he ran off eagerly, leaving Second Lang curious, "Where is he going?"

Da Lang already saw through it, "Probably asking Uncle and Aunt to buy him a Divine Power Book Box."

Second Lang responded with a "Oh," slightly disappointed, "He should buy it from me."

That way, he could give him a discount and earn a commission for himself.

Da Lang scolded him for being obsessed with money and warned him to hold back.

"Don’t let water flow to outsiders’ fields," Second Lang weakly retorted, not thinking there was anything wrong with his idea.

Yet, since they were all cousins, family ties still mattered. Second Lang kept quiet, saying no more.

Da Lang glared at him before urging Sanlang and Si Niang, who were playing with grass by the roadside, to hurry up, as there were a few days’ worth of chores piled up that needed completing before the break ended.

Dirty clothes and socks had to be washed, the house and yard cleaned, and if there was time left, Old Huang could be taken to the river for a bath and some fresh grass.

Also, the chicken coop needed cleaning; otherwise, Aunt Yao would be exhausted doing it all herself.

Da Lang was full of tasks, but the younger ones didn’t think of all this; even though their brother urged them on, they couldn’t resist being intrigued by things along the way, dawdling until they finally reached home.

On Qin Yao’s side, she tied up the ox cart and called out Liu the carpenter to settle the accounts.

This time, she brought back ten taels and two hundred twenty-four coins; after deducting costs, the net profit was six taels and five hundred sixteen coins.

Qin Yao didn’t forget Second Lang’s commission, giving him six cents per box, totaling ninety coins for fifteen boxes.

After deducting the ninety coins, they split the remaining, each getting three taels and two hundred thirteen coins.

Additionally, Qin Yao gifted two book boxes to the Ding Family as a favor, so she only received three taels.

Liu the carpenter initially said not to count him in, but under Qin Yao’s insistence, he accepted.

Clear accounts facilitate long-term cooperation.

With the money in hand, both were pleased and continued discussing book box improvements.

Once everything was discussed, and Qin Yao and Liu the carpenter prepared to head home, Jinbao arrived pulling He along, eagerly saying, "Aunt, I want to buy a book box!"

He was exasperated behind him, "This boy covets your Da Lang’s Divine Power Book Box, throwing a fit at home, nearly drove me crazy!"

Seeing mother and son appear, Qin Yao wasn’t surprised, asking Liu the carpenter to go first, and leading the two to the storeroom to let Jinbao pick one.

Watching her son excitedly choose a book box, He sighed with resignation, then looked at Qin Yao with some anxiety.

Before she could speak, Qin Yao said, "Just give me two hundred coins; since it’s a partnership, I must recoup the costs, otherwise I can’t explain it."

He exclaimed in surprise, not expecting Qin Yao to voluntarily reduce the price so much, relieved and warmed inside.

"Then I’ll thank Aunt on behalf of Jinbao." He counted out two strings of copper coins from the money bag and handed them to Qin Yao, benefiting over three hundred coins, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Qin Yao accepted the money, smiling gently, "No need to thank me; we are family after all."

"Yes, yes, it’s good to be family," He praised.

Although the boxes all looked similar, Jinbao carefully picked what seemed special to him, carrying it all the way tightly.

At the old house’s gate, ready to part ways, He warmly invited Qin Yao to dinner, but Qin Yao declined; she needed to see how the wheat harvest was going.

Mentioning wheat brought a change in He’s expression, her smile fading and brows furrowing slightly, shaking her head:

"This year, so many wheat crops are infested, not growing well; I heard the fields near the mountain’s edge are almost all ruined, with no yield."

To prevent Qin Yao from worrying too much, she hastily added, "But Liu Dafu’s land by the river is fine, and the ten mu you have shouldn’t be affected either."

Qin Yao’s heart suddenly leapt, "Is the pest issue that serious?"

He sighed, "It doesn’t look promising, but this happens every few years; we still have grain stored from last year, so it’s not too bad."

But for those relatives who sold off surplus last year for taxes, making it to the autumn harvest would be uncertain.

Having been busy at the factory, Qin Yao hadn’t noticed this situation.

Returning home, passing the river, she saw heaps of discolored, pest-ridden wheat stalks, realizing He had understated things.

Most fields near the mountains in the village suffered infestations; once pests make contact, they spread rapidly. Scattered plots might retain some crops, but vast continuous fields faced severe losses.

Grasping a handful of wheat stalks, she found them flattened, with gray powder falling from her fingers, all the kernels eaten away.

Farmers were bundling these stalks and burning them, hoping the fire would eradicate pests without affecting spring plowing.

With the issue already transpired, farmers could only focus on safeguarding the next crop.

Thinking, Qin Yao reassured herself they’d make it until fall harvest.

Returning home with unease, in the courtyard, two helpers had stacked half of the harvested wheat.

Those two had collected half, needing another day to finish the harvest.

In the last rays of sunset, Qin Yao inspected her wheat; noticing black spots and seemingly full stalks, she found them half-empty upon touch, her heart sinking.

Si Niang called from the yard, "Mother, it’s time for dinner!"

Shaking off the emptiness, Qin Yao stood and replied, "Coming." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Concealing all worries, she smiled and entered the yard, washed her hands, and sat down for dinner.

After dinner, familiar footsteps suddenly sounded outside, catching Qin Yao’s ears, and she turned towards the gate.

Unexpectedly, Liu Ji, who was supposed to wait in town for the results, returned with a pack, weary from travel.