Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 205 - 204: Nothing More Than Foils
With the retake exam approaching, many scholars flocked to Kaiyang County, and the hotel rooms were fully booked.
Liu Ji was able to return to the academy dormitory, while Qin Yao had to unload her book box in the hotel’s backyard corner and make do with a night in the carriage.
She could lie down anywhere in the mountains, and with a roof over her head here, Qin Yao had no complaints.
The hotel lobby was also fully occupied, and it took the couple a long time to get a hot meal.
The kitchen chef was well aware of Qin Yao’s appetite and served her a portion for five people.
Of course, the bill was much higher than for others.
Liu Ji watched Qin Yao pay without batting an eye and felt envious, touching his own empty money bag, ready to cry.
After Qin Yao paid the bill, she turned to him, noticing his forlorn expression, and coldly reminded:
"The retake exam is tomorrow; shouldn’t you head back to the dorm to study the syllabus?"
The ten taels of silver she previously spent all went down the drain because of one retake exam, and she was in a foul mood!
Liu Ji, being perceptive, naturally didn’t dare to provoke her at this time.
This wasn’t home; no one would collect his body if he died here.
"Wife, I’ll head back to the academy first. You should also rest early." Liu Ji looked concerned.
Qin Yao impatiently instructed, "I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow morning."
"Alright," Liu Ji replied with a smile. As he left the hotel, his smile vanished instantly, leaving only anxiety in his eyes.
He thought he would be sleepless all night.
To his surprise, as soon as he lay on the bed in the dormitory, he fell sound asleep.
When Liu Ji abruptly woke up, the dawn light was already visible.
Remembering Qin Yao’s promise to come and pick him up for the exam, he quickly got up, prepared everything needed for the exam, and carried the heavy book box out the academy gate.
Several classmates accompanied him; originally, they had all passed, only to receive the dreadful news of a retake within an hour, leading to collective anxiety and a sleepless night, leaving them all listless.
The books stated that one should ride the momentum once, experience decline on the second try, and face exhaustion on the third try. This was the true depiction of the academy students at that moment.
In contrast, Liu Ji had a good night’s sleep, appeared refreshed, and drew envious glances from his classmates, secretly admiring his calm demeanor.
Having returned from training at the border, he indeed had a steady mind.
When Qin Yao drove the carriage to the academy gate, Liu Ji happened to come out; the couple exchanged a glance, conveying mutual understanding without words.
Liu Ji sat on the vacant side of the carriage shaft, following his wife towards the exam location, amidst the envious gazes of his classmates.
Qin Yao had even brought him breakfast; the food from the hotel tasted a hundred times better than roadside stalls.
But as he ate, Liu Ji felt a chill down his spine. Could this be his last meal?
Oh well, last meal or not, he’d eat first; such deliciousness should not be missed!
Before entering the exam hall, Qin Yao offered rare gentle encouragement to Liu Ji, patting his shoulder, "Relax. Do your best."
Secretly thinking: I can’t let my investment go down the drain.
Liu Ji asked, "What if I don’t pass?" Would that mean he’d be left for dead?
Qin Yao softly replied, "No matter, try again next year. If not next year, the year after. Perseverance will eventually bring success."
It was an unexpected answer; he had thought she would threaten to kill him.
Touched, Liu Ji wiped nonexistent tears from his eyes, grasping Qin Yao’s hand firmly, "Wife, rest assured, I will give it my all!"
After speaking, he quickly released her hand before she could change her expression, picking up the book box resolutely, and entered the exam hall.
Qin Yao watched him enter, then turned around, took out the book boxes from the carriage, and set up shop opposite the exam hall – for sale!
The couple operated as a perfect team; one sold book boxes at the gate, happily counting money.
The other was inside retaking the exam, feeling apprehensive, with sweat dripping profusely due to nerves.
A strange occurrence was that Liu Ji found not only was his seat unchanged, but the students around him were exactly the same as in the initial exam.
They exchanged glances, all seeing the same confusion reflected in each other’s eyes.
Then, twice as many invigilators as in the first exam filed in, stationed at the four corners northeast-southwest, their hawk-like eyes scrutinizing every individual.
The younger ones were so nervous their hands trembled.
Liu Ji felt nothing; compared to Qin Yao’s death stare, this was nothing.
After the Chief Examiner declared the exam rules, the test papers were distributed.
Liu Ji took a deep breath, praying for easy questions.
When the Chief Examiner called ’Liu Ji,’ he promptly went up to collect his exam paper and blank answer sheets.
Back at his seat, unfolding the paper, Liu Ji was momentarily stunned.
Not only him, but those around him also had the same expression.
Because the questions on the paper were exactly the same as the initial exam.
Raising his head, Liu Ji coincidentally met the gaze of the student to his left, quickly exchanging a glance of realization; whether it was the initial or retake exam, it was all set up for someone.
They were merely extras.
But this supporting role was one Liu Ji was glad to take!
Everyone tacitly understood and quietly began answering, as the questions were the same, and they had exchanged answers after the initial exam, Liu Ji felt no pressure answering, it was even easy.
Soon, he filled up his answer sheet, but with plenty of time left, no one dared to hand in early.
Only after the first person stood up did others start to leave.
Liu Ji, seeing people leaving, unhurriedly stood, adjusted his clothing, and walked out of the exam hall composedly.
The nineteen book boxes Qin Yao brought sold out quickly, causing a buying frenzy, with each Attendant Student fearing they’d miss out, almost resulting in fights.
Those who couldn’t buy asked for the shop’s address, hoping to visit Qin Yao’s place next time.
Unfortunately, Qin Yao had no shop; she could only apologize.
"But I’ll be back at the next market."
The crowd asked her to bring more book boxes next time before leaving, as the examinees were coming out.
Qin Yao counted her money once more, then paid a commission tax to the market official, ending up with a total of ten taels.
When Liu Ji left the exam hall, Qin Yao was sitting at a pastry stall across the hall, drinking soup while enjoying pastries filled with meat and mushrooms, crispy outside and tender inside, bursting with freshness and flavor.
Seeing Liu Ji’s figure appear, Qin Yao immediately waved her hand.
Liu Ji, suppressing his secret excitement, came over, picked up the half bowl of soup in front of her, and gulped it down, calming his nerves.
"You thought..." before finishing the word ’die,’ Liu Ji plopped down opposite her, confidently shouted to the stall owner, "Another serving like hers, please!"
The stall owner smiled and obliged, serving three mushroom meat pastries and a bowl of bone broth in front of Liu Ji.
Seeing the book box beside him and knowing he came from the exam hall, the stall owner offered congratulations first.
Liu Ji smiled politely, "Thank you, thank you!"
Once the stall owner left, he started munching on the pastry, leaning forward to whisper to Qin Yao, "Wife, this time it’s secure!"
If he wasn’t listed, he’d report it, and they could all take it again together!
Qin Yao raised an eyebrow; her lifted palm was initially meant to slap Liu Ji hard, but hearing the word ’secure,’ she hastily withheld and barely skimmed past his handsome face.
Feeling the cool touch of her hand brushing his face, Liu Ji smiled with enjoyment while goosebumps rose on his skin.
Close call, he almost got hit.
The viewing stall owner felt his heart seize; was there no help for this poor widower?!
