Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 414: When Shameless, One Becomes Invincible
Qin Yao nonchalantly said, "If you’re not afraid of what people might think, then suit yourself."
Song Zhang thought to himself, I’m afraid people won’t overthink it. I need them to, otherwise, how can an outsider like me compete with these local elites?
With Qin Yao’s consent, Song Zhang was overjoyed inside, but he tried to maintain a composed exterior, though the corners of his mouth betrayed his delight.
"Then that’s settled, Miss Qin, you must be home." Fearing he might miss her, before leaving, Song Zhang reminded her once more.
Liu Ji watched the green-clad official walk away, puzzled, he crossed his arms and asked, "What does he mean by this, my lady?"
Qin Yao thought Liu Ji would be excited by the County Magistrate’s visit to their home.
Unexpectedly, he was so calm.
It seems the past two years of teaching have begun to show results.
Qin Yao shrugged, "I’m not a worm in his belly, how would I know."
Liu Ji eyed her skeptically, "You definitely know."
Qin Yao insisted, "I don’t!"
Actually, she was just too lazy to think too much. Whatever comes, handles it accordingly. How could Song Zhang possibly eat her up?
Liu Ji speculated, "He must want to recruit you to work for him."
Qin Yao shot him a sideways glance, and he immediately sneered with disdain, saying, "But my lady, how could a grand statue like you fit into his tiny temple?!"
Even the Princess’s guard team couldn’t impress her, so how could a small seventh-rank county magistrate’s staff measure up?
Liu Ji smugly leaned against the cart, flattering, "Lady, when you hit it big in the future, don’t forget to lift me up. I’ll work tirelessly for you, willingly enduring hardship as if it were sweet!"
Qin Yao laughed and scolded, "Get lost!"
Liu Ji quickly moved away from the cart, reaching to help her onto it, "Mind your step, my lady."
Qin Yao was speechless. When someone is shameless, they become invincible; she couldn’t even be bothered to berate him.
It didn’t take long before Jinhua came running back joyfully, shouting as she ran:
"Third Aunt, I got picked! Third Uncle, I got in!"
The little girl’s voice was so loud that her joy echoed throughout Ding Family Manor.
Following behind her were Mrs. Qiu and Liu Zhong, urging her to slow down, unable to suppress their smiles.
Jinhua ran to the cart, reaching up for Liu Ji to lift her inside. The little girl clambered into the carriage, proudly showing Qin Yao the red slip in her hand:
"Third Aunt, look, a red slip! I can go to school with Si Niang and the others!"
As she spoke, she raised her chin proudly and boasted, "Fifty people, and only two girls got in. I’m one of them. Third Aunt, don’t you think I’m amazing?"
"Not bad, very lucky," Qin Yao affirmed with a nod.
Jinhua giggled, looking at the red slip in her hand, then sighed with regret, "If only Ah Ju could join me for the draw, we could go together."
Si Niang is in the first class, and the two of them can’t be in the same classroom.
The girl named Ah Ju in Jinhua’s mouth is Liu Ji’s uncle’s eldest granddaughter, the same age as Jinhua. When Si Niang went to school, Jinhua and Ah Ju played the best together.
But not all parents have the insight of Mrs. Qiu and Liu Zhong.
The uncle’s family couldn’t bear to lose a laborer at home, forbidding Ah Ju from enrolling, fearing that if she went to school, there’d be no one left to feed the chickens, cook, farm, or raise silkworms.
They even thought that if a girl learned to read, her heart would become wild, and she wouldn’t listen to them in the future.
Jinhua sighed again, realizing just how lucky she was with the red slip in her hand.
Qin Yao ruffled her little head, offering silent comfort.
She wouldn’t speak of things that hadn’t been realized yet.
However, in the new directive County Magistrate Song mentioned today, there was an encouragement for wealthy gentlemen in various places to build free schools.
Although Liu Family Village didn’t have any wealthy gentry, there was hope in building a school.
The wolves hunted by the village yielded a good amount of silver from their skins and meat. When she had the chance, she’d probe the village chief’s thoughts.
With Jinhua winning the red slip and entering school smoothly, the big stone in Liu Zhong and his wife’s hearts was lifted. They planned to buy two pounds of meat from the town to celebrate at home.
Liu Zhong and Liu Ji drove the cart to town, Qin Yao accompanied Mrs. Qiu to buy meat, and at Jinhua’s request, bought peanut candy for the children at home. Both families happily returned home.
On the way, Liu Zhong quietly asked about the County Magistrate’s visit.
Song Zhang’s green official robes became the focal point wherever they appeared.
Not only Liu Zhong saw him go out of his way to see Qin Yao and Liu Ji, but everyone outside Ding Family Ancestral Hall did as well.
The expressions on the elders of the Ding Family at the time were very subtle, a mix of resentment and apprehension.
But since there was no precedent for women joining officialdom, everyone could only assume the County Magistrate was merely curious about an outsider and wanted to make an acquaintance.
Even so, considering Qin Yao’s nearly supernatural combat skills, it still unsettled many.
Facing Liu Zhong’s inquiry, Liu Ji echoed Qin Yao’s earlier retort, saying, "I’m not a worm in the County Magistrate’s belly, how would I know what he’s up to."
"But he did say that when the wheat harvest is done, he’ll visit our home."
"What!" Liu Zhong exclaimed, his first reaction wasn’t joy but panic.
He’s the county official; how should they receive him?
The thought alone was overwhelming.
Liu Ji rolled his eyes, "Why the panic, second brother? It’s not your home he’s visiting."
Liu Zhong was taken aback by these words. Oh right, they had split. Relieved, he laughed and mildly admonished, "Well, make sure you don’t neglect him. Offend Lord County Magistrate, and our families will be doomed."
Liu Ji nodded dismissively, thinking, with Qin Yao around, who’s to say who’ll end up getting the short end of the stick?
Liu Zhong saw Liu Ji nodding, thinking he understood, so he said no more, though he was secretly thrilled.
The County Magistrate visiting, that’s a first for the village.
Since Liu Ji didn’t forbid him from spreading the news, as soon as they reached the old house, Liu Zhong eagerly shared the good news with the family.
Old Liu was so moved he almost cried, skipping dinner to rush to his cousins’ homes to ask if they knew how to receive Lord County Magistrate.
The next day, when Qin Yao left for the factory, the entire village turned respectful eyes her way.
If Song Zhang didn’t come, the whole situation would be left unresolved.
Liu Ji felt a bit smug, and the villagers greeted him with flattering words, greatly satisfying his vanity.
The weather was getting warmer, and the wheat fields were ready for harvest.
Without the Qi Family guard team this time, the village’s ten acres had to enlist short-term labor to assist with the harvest.
As for Liu Ji and Ah Wang, they had a more important task—collecting rent.
During busy farming periods, schools gave students three days off to help at home.
The day after the wheat in Ding Family Manor was harvested, the four Da Lang siblings excitedly headed to Ding Family Manor, armed with abacuses, weights, homemade notebooks, pens, and ink, riding in ox and horse carts driven by Ah Wang and Liu Ji.
