Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 438: If Only She Were a Man

Liu Qi stood in the courtyard, sensing the eerie silence in the main room, and purposely glanced at Qin Yao.

Seeing that her expression was clearly different from the gentle warmth just moments ago, he already guessed that the girl his father brought back was definitely a big trouble.

"Wait for me a moment."

Qin Yao turned around, went inside to change her clothes, and pinned her dry long hair up with the silver snake hairpin.

She picked a package of pastries she bought back from the county town today, then scooped about ten pounds of millet from the kitchen’s rice jar, signaling Ah Wang to inform Liu Ji and his family, before leaving the house with Liu Qi.

Liu Qi walked in front with a lantern, Qin Yao followed behind, asking with concern, "How is the Clan Leader’s health now?"

Liu Qi sighed, "Ever since the last cold, Grandpa’s health hasn’t improved. A few days ago, it suddenly worsened, and he coughed up blood. My father and uncle rushed him to the town’s clinic for treatment, brought him back today, and he seems much better now."

"But he’s old, and after such a toss, the illness consumed his strength. The doctor warned us that he shouldn’t worry or work hard anymore. He needs to be nourished with fine rice, saying that after drinking medicine for so long, rice can nurture the stomach."

Qin Yao had left the village four days ago and didn’t expect that the Clan Leader would need to visit the clinic.

The minor cold earlier had turned so severe.

Indeed, as people age, their resistance becomes much weaker.

Qin Yao sighed a bit, "Last year when selling wolves, he could still arm wrestle with people."

"Who wouldn’t say so?" Liu Qi said gloomily, "Now it suddenly feels like Grandpa has aged ten years, even his voice isn’t as loud as before."

Qin Yao didn’t know how to comfort him, silently following behind. Soon, they arrived at the Clan Leader’s house.

As they entered the courtyard, a scorching gaze immediately fell upon Qin Yao.

Qin Yao looked up and saw Yin Le, with her hair half down and covering her face, sitting on a low stool in the Clan Leader’s main room.

Seeing her arrival, Yin Le immediately put down the bowl of rice soup in her hand and stood up, possibly feeling guilty, she didn’t dare to look directly at her, just kept her head low.

Liu Qi had just mentioned that his father rescued Yin Le from two scoundrels in Lower River Village.

Qin Yao stepped forward, examining her up and down, finding no injuries, just slightly disheveled hair.

"Are you alright?" Qin Yao asked.

Yin Le hurriedly shook her head, stealing a glance at her with fiery eyes, feeling hopeful about becoming an apprentice.

She just knew that her benefactor was not as cold as she appeared; her heart was softly warm.

Seeing that she was fine, Qin Yao didn’t bother her anymore, picking up the pastries and millet she brought, she went inside to see the Clan Leader.

The family had just returned home not long ago, and the Clan Leader, having been bedridden for days, had slept enough and was now full of spirit.

Qin Yao followed Liu Qi’s father into the inner room, where the Clan Leader was sitting at the bedside drinking rice porridge.

Seeing Qin Yao, he beamed, "You’ve come!"

Qin Yao nodded, raised up the millet and pastries to show him, "I heard from Liu Qi that you’ve suffered a bit this time, so I brought something sweet to chase away the bitterness."

Liu Qi’s mother quickly came forward to take it, saying Qin Yao was too courteous, and asked if she would like some tea.

"No need, big sister-in-law. I just came to see the Clan Leader, say a few words, and I’ll be on my way." Qin Yao politely refused with a smile.

"Alright, then sit down and chat. I’ll go out to attend to that poor girl."

Reaching the doorway, Liu Qi’s mother curiously asked, "Sister-in-law, that girl says she’s your apprentice, is it true?"

Qin Yao neither confirmed nor denied it, asking Liu Qi’s mother to help take care of her and thanked them for rescuing her.

Liu Qi’s father chuckled, "No need to thank, since you know her, it gave us even more reason to rescue her."

Remembering the two scoundrels from Lower River Village, he was still angry, and huffed:

"Two able-bodied young men, doing nothing proper. Next time I go to Lower River Village, I’ll have a good word with their parents, not disciplining their kids well and letting them harass good girls!"

He felt fortunate they were acquaintances, all bark and no bite.

If they had encountered real troublemakers, who knows what might have happened to that girl.

"But that girl is quite feisty..." Liu Qi’s father had already accepted that she was Qin Yao’s apprentice, as she hadn’t denied it, and gave a thumbs-up to Qin Yao:

"Actually, it wasn’t really us who rescued her. When we arrived, this girl was holding a stone she picked from a roadside nook, smashing it against those two big-mouthed lads until they cried for their parents..."

Recalling the scary scar on the girl’s face, Liu Qi’s father knew she wasn’t a simple character.

Those two troublemakers probably couldn’t see clearly due to the dim light, which gave them the guts to mess with her.

Qin Yao raised an eyebrow slightly, not expecting such an incident.

That’s why she felt something was odd when she heard Liu Qi say Yin Le was entangled by two scoundrels.

"Yao Niang." The Clan Leader suddenly called Qin Yao.

Bursting with conversation, Qin Yao and Liu Qi’s father paused and looked towards the elder.

The Clan Leader revealed a helpless smile and said, "I feel like my bones really aren’t working well anymore. In the future, the village affairs will need you young folks to pay more attention."

Qin Yao didn’t think much of the elder saying this, as after a serious illness, a person’s heart tends to be fragile, and thoughts more pessimistic.

She smiled and comforted, "There’s no big issue in the village now; all the folks are doing well, nothing for you to worry about."

"Don’t overthink, just rest well for a few days. Once you’re better, join the Clan Leader to tell stories to the kids and have some fun."

The Clan Leader breathed out a long sigh, hearing her words, his mood indeed improved a lot.

Though a thought already settled in his mind that it’s time to relinquish his position as Clan Leader.

Eventually, he would have to seek Yao Niang’s opinion. She was excellent at discerning people.

Qin Yao stood up, "Clan Leader, you rest now. I’ll go to the front and check on that silly girl, and when you’re well, we’ll drink wine together."

"Alright, go ahead." The Clan Leader looked at her with a satisfied smile, yet felt regret.

If Yao Niang were a man, wouldn’t that be great?

He would choose her for the Clan Leader position without hesitation!

Qin Yao sensed the elder’s gaze was a bit complicated but was preoccupied with the troublemaker Yin Le, nodded at the Clan Leader, and then went out.

Yin Le had finished eating; in usual times, the Clan Leader’s family wouldn’t indulge in porridge made of fine rice, but thanks to the Clan Leader’s good fortune, today the entire family, including Yin Le, the outsider, got to indulge once.

As soon as Qin Yao appeared, Yin Le immediately stood up, sneakily moving to stand behind her.

Anyone who saw would assume she was Qin Yao’s newly accepted apprentice.

Qin Yao thanked Liu Qi’s parents for their hospitality. Not wanting to trouble them further, she led Yin Le with a lantern to leave.

"Benefactor." Yin Le hurriedly sped up, catching up with Qin Yao’s swift pace.

Qin Yao glanced back at her, harshly scolding, "Why are you following me? I said I wouldn’t accept you as an apprentice and I mean it!"

"I want to be your apprentice, learn martial arts." Yin Le said stubbornly.

Qin Yao was annoyed, deliberately shouting at her, "If you follow me again, do you believe I’ll beat you to death!"

Yin Le’s eyes were full of trust, she shook her head, enunciating clearly, "I, don’t, believe."

Fine, so you don’t believe?

Qin Yao swiftly threw a punch, the force of the blow distorted Yin Le’s face.

Little did she know, Yin Le neither dodged nor flinched.

Even though she clearly understood that this punch could crack her skull.

In that fleeting moment, Qin Yao even saw through her obstinate eyes, the terrifying thought of "being beaten to death wouldn’t be so bad"!