Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 423: All Lunatics

"Such a fine spring day, perfect for me to test you and see how you’ve done with your studies over the past few months." Gongliang Liao suddenly said.

Under the blazing sun, Liu Ji suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He looked up to see dark clouds rolling in, vaguely hearing the sound of thunder from within them.

"...Alright." Liu Ji pretended to be calm, giving the teacher a confident smile.

Gongliang Liao’s eyes lowered slightly, a playful gleam flashing past.

This day, for Liu Ji, was destined to be a torturous one.

Qin Yao leaned against the back door, holding the sunflower seeds sent by Liu the carpenter’s family. As she ate, she watched Liu Ji answer cautiously, sweating profusely, and found the seeds in her hand even more delicious.

Little did he know whether it was his good luck or if the three days and nights of hard work hadn’t been in vain, but he actually managed to pass this suddenly initiated examination smoothly.

Even Gongliang Liao couldn’t help but open his eyes wide to reevaluate him; was this still the same Liu San who only knew how to joke around?

"What have you been eating lately?" Gongliang Liao curiously asked.

Liu Ji turned his back to take a deep breath, wiped the sweat from his forehead, then turned around, recalling as he answered:

"Pork, fish, wolf meat, and these common farming vegetables... Teacher, why do you ask?"

Gongliang Liao didn’t answer, pondering which of these foods could possibly be brain-boosting.

He concluded that none were brain-enhancing meals.

Which made it even stranger.

"San, why do I feel like your mind has improved?" Gongliang Liao inquired suspiciously.

Liu Ji exclaimed "Ah?" and then laughed heartily, "Hahaha, Teacher, what a joke, my mind has always been sharp!"

Gongliang Liao felt a lump in his throat, alright, so be it.

Gongliang Liao leisurely said, "I used to think your mind was not as sharp as your senior’s, so the assignments I prepared for you weren’t difficult. Now that your mind seems to have improved..."

Before Gongliang Liao could finish, Liu Ji suddenly clutched his stomach and squatted down, "Oh no, it must be something bad I ate this morning!"

"Ah Wang!" Liu Ji shouted loudly.

Ah Wang slipped in front of the two, holding a long-handled ladle used for fertilizing, seriously asking, "Master, what are your orders?"

The smell of manure hit Liu Ji, compounded by three days and nights without rest, he almost threw up.

He forced himself to endure the nausea, instructing Ah Wang to look after Gongliang Liao, and made a quick exit.

Left alone were Ah Wang with his manure ladle and Gongliang Liao, angrily glaring at each other.

Qin Yao glanced towards the latrine, seeing no sign of Liu Ji; he had already slipped back to his room.

Having passed the examination, Liu Ji’s nerves relaxed, and he fell onto his bed, sleeping deeply.

Qin Yao chuckled, raising the corner of her mouth, discarded the sunflower seed shells, and walked towards Ah Wang and Gongliang Liao.

"Sir, are you feeling tired? Would you like to go back to your room for a nap?"

Gongliang Liao waved his hand; he felt energized and not tired.

Not hearing any sound from Liu Ji for a while, he asked, "What’s wrong with San?"

Qin Yao teased, "Yesterday, knowing the teacher would return, he was so thrilled he couldn’t sleep all night. Now he’s eaten something bad and probably went back to his room to catch up on sleep."

"Well, would you like me to push you to stroll by the fields?" Qin Yao tentatively asked.

Gongliang Liao first sighed for Liu Ji, then nodded at Qin Yao; coincidentally, he also wanted to see the village spring scenery.

Qin Yao signaled to Ah Wang to continue feeding the seedlings, taking charge of Gongliang Liao herself.

Ah Wang gratefully glanced at Qin Yao and slipped back into the vegetable patch, busy fertilizing his newly planted peas.

Qin Yao took Gongliang Liao for a stroll around the field, then to the Lotus Courtyard, casually mentioning the adjacent abandoned land foundation had been purchased.

Gongliang Liao asked, "Who bought it?"

"Song Zhang," Qin Yao clarified, "the Lord County Magistrate of Kaiyang County."

Gongliang Liao snorted, not asking further; the reason for choosing this location was obvious.

In the past, he might have felt displeased.

But now, he’s come to terms, and believes everything in the world has its fate, so let it be.

"I don’t meet with guests." Gongliang Liao instructed.

Qin Yao nodded, understanding fully, using the scholars as a pretext was one thing, but if the other wanted to meet the scholars, it had nothing to do with her.

Gongliang Liao was the one in charge of himself; he decided whom to meet or not. She would help him block those he didn’t want to see.

However, Gongliang Liao paused, unable to resist worrying a bit, tentatively asking, "Does he seek anything from you?"

Qin Yao smiled gently, "You could say so."

Gongliang Liao paused again, then asked, "Did you meet anyone in the prefecture earlier this year?"

Qin Yao was stunned, almost forgetting about General Mu Ling.

But since the old man asked, he must already know about Mu Ling extending an olive branch to her.

Ah Wang had said Gongliang Liao’s leg issues were due to the Princess.

But Gongliang Liao’s tone of inquiry didn’t resemble that towards an enemy.

Qin Yao wasn’t sure of his intent, but answered truthfully, "Indeed, I met General Mu Ling, who wanted to recruit me into the Princess Guard, but I refused."

Hearing this, Gongliang Liao immediately turned to look at her, his cloudy eyes serious, voice cooling down:

"You and San are just ordinary citizens; it’s best to walk your own path steadily. Even if these temptations look enticing, it’s best not to touch them."

"I know you’re clever and capable, but now is not the time to use your talents." Gongliang Liao earnestly reminded.

He never mentioned his legs in front of outsiders, yet now, pointedly warning Qin Yao with his injured legs:

"These legs are a bloody lesson; I don’t want you and San to tread my old path!"

"The Princess Guard sounds prestigious now."

"But on the court and within the Baili Family, outsiders meddling, no matter whom they pledge allegiance to, will not meet a good end as long as the one sitting on the throne remains Baili!"

Thinking of this, Gongliang Liao sneered, "The He Family rushed too far ahead; don’t let them influence you. When San becomes an Advanced Scholar, you can enjoy wealth and prosperity."

Qin Yao was surprised by Gongliang Liao’s heartfelt speech.

The old man opened his heart, and naturally, she responded in kind, smartly expressing gratitude.

However, she disagreed with the latter statement.

Qin Yao scoffed lightly, "Sir, if not for society denying women a path upward, women themselves can attain status and wealth without relying on anyone."

Gongliang Liao was jolted, turning back to study the woman pushing his cart, her contemptuous smile as if the entire world was beneath her, bold and uninhibited.

That unsettling familiarity struck him again, prompting Gongliang Liao to mutter irritably, "They’re all mad!"