Chapter 575: Chapter 575: Black Cavalry in the Snow

"I’ll ask the teacher myself!"

Since his wife didn’t know, he would ask in person.

Thinking of the irresistible content on that letter and Zhen Yubai’s purposeful probing approach, Liu Ji couldn’t wait for another moment and immediately got up, intending to rush to the Lotus Courtyard.

Qin Yao gave a soft cough, and Ah Wang and Yin Le immediately moved, blocking the door from both sides.

Liu Ji got anxious and tried to pull them aside, but darn it, these two were like stones, deeply rooted in the bluestone floor, not even budging an inch!

Liu Ji withdrew his hand and turned around, irritated, "Wife, make them move aside!"

Qin Yao calmly pointed to an empty stool, "Come back and sit down."

Liu Ji paused for half a second, then immediately returned to his seat, placing his hands on his knees, looking obedient.

Qin Yao nodded in satisfaction and then said, "Even if you ask, it’s useless. If the teacher wants to leave, no one can keep him. If he doesn’t want to leave, no one can take him away from the Liu Family Village under my watch."

Liu Ji was stunned, "Wife, do you mean the teacher doesn’t actually want to go back, and it’s Zhen Yubai and his people trying to forcefully take him away?"

Qin Yao raised an eyebrow, not answering yes or no, but reminded him, "Instead of worrying about this, why not spend more time with the teacher while you still can."

The human heart is made of flesh, and the wholehearted teaching of Gongliang Liao to Liu Ji was seen by Qin Yao. No matter how cold she was, she felt compassion for those who gave their true hearts.

"It might snow tonight. After dinner, go to the Lotus Courtyard to accompany the teacher, and be mindful of the temperature at night to prevent the teacher from catching cold," Qin Yao instructed Liu Ji.

She also warned him, "Today’s letter matter must not be revealed. We, as commoners, cannot afford to offend the nobles in the Imperial City."

Liu Ji sighed lightly, unwillingly saying, "Just because we’re afraid of offending nobles, should we watch helplessly as the teacher is coerced by them?"

"What else then?" Qin Yao scoffed, glancing at him, "How much do you think you weigh?"

Liu Ji: "..." That hurt!

With unresolved issues in his heart, Liu Ji ate his dinner with a bit of difficulty. Looking at his family, who were all eating heartily, it was even more unsettling.

The four children were still okay, as they didn’t know what was happening. But the other three who knew the matter were still eating and drinking as if nothing happened, which made him feel even more uncomfortable.

They usually seemed respectful to the teacher, but when something happened, none of them were useful!

However, looking down at his distinctly jointed, slender yet unable to wield a knife hands, Liu Ji was even more frustrated and vented by fiercely stabbing his chopsticks into the bowl of rice.

Qin Yao noticed his actions and smirked, helpless rage.

But Liu Ji’s reaction this time was a bit unexpected for her. This man, who usually runs away when things happen, has somehow developed a bit of temper.

Although it’s just helpless rage, at least he got angry for a moment.

Qin Yao thought, this teacher-student bond must still hold some weight in Liu Ji’s heart.

It’s just unknown whether he’s reluctant to part with the teacher or the benefits the teacher brings.

The night fell, but unlike the usual calm darkness, a cold wind suddenly rose, howling for a little over an hour before the world returned to stillness.

Then, the sky brightened a degree as cotton-like white snow began drifting down.

"Mother, Father, it’s snowing!" the children exclaimed joyfully.

The adults, warming by the fire inside, curiously stepped out. In these moments, the snowfall had become heavier, and the world, once a connected expanse of black, now showed distinct boundaries.

The falling snowflakes softly landed in the quiet mountain village, making a gentle rustling sound.

Quickly, exclamations of joy from both adults and children echoed throughout the village.

This time, those with ample charcoal and solid houses no longer worried about the snow; instead, they saw the romance in the falling snow.

Qin Yao extended her hand, and soon a few snowflakes fell onto her fingertips, cold and melting quickly into drops of water.

Inside the main room, there was a clattering sound.

Qin Yao turned around to see Liu Ji taking out a backpack and putting assorted snacks from the table inside, along with boldly opening the cabinet, taking out two jars of good wine, various candies and meat slices, stuffing the backpack full.

He secured his raincoat, placed a bamboo hat over the backpack, snorted at her, and set off with the full load of good wine and food towards the Lotus Courtyard.

To an outsider, it might seem like he was staging a farewell, so solemn was he.

And that snort, Qin Yao found quite inexplicable.

Liu Ji moved quickly and soon was on the bridge, heading step by step in the direction of the Lotus Courtyard.

The world was a vast expanse of white, with only that one gray dot constantly moving.

The children played in the courtyard, refusing to come in, encouraging even Yin Le and Ah Wang, the two adults, to play enthusiastically.

It was unclear who sneezed first, alerting the group to their icy hands and feet, gradually clearing from the joy of snowfall, one closely following another, bringing all the chill with them as they squeezed back into the warm, cozy house. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The group sat around the fire, quietly listening to the sound of falling snow outside, their hearts filled with fullness and happiness.

"If only it could always be like this," Yin Le sighed wistfully.

Outside, white snow blanketed the ground; inside, it was warm as spring, with abundant food at hand and the closest of people beside.

Qin Yao smiled gently; it was indeed what she hoped for too.

But the heavens don’t always fulfill one’s desires.

The snow kept falling through the night, covering the ground with a thick layer.

Qin Yao got up early and, without even having breakfast, went around for house inspections.

Sharing the same concern were Liu Yang, Liu Dafu, and others, who got up at dawn. They met at the house where the village elders resided, exchanged a smile, and began organizing villagers to clear snow off the ground.

The snow wasn’t thick, a little over an inch high, but for fear that it would melt and turn the ground into muddy puddles, they cleared it by the ditches, keeping the road dry.

Every household was clearing snow in front of their doors, the children not needing to go to school, following closely behind the adults to play with handfuls of snow.

The small village presented a scene of harmonious joy.

Suddenly, dense hoofbeats sounded from the village entrance.

Zhen Yubai, standing in front of the school square and watching the villagers joyfully clearing snow, a smile at his lips, glanced from the corner of his eye at the village entrance, and his smile froze immediately.

At the same time, Yin Le and Ah Wang, throwing snowballs with the children, swiftly turned their heads towards the village entrance.

The villagers also heard the sound of iron hooves hitting the ground and turned to look.

Seeing a group of about a dozen, dressed in black soft armor, wearing black bamboo hats, riding fully armed black horses, marching in unison swiftly towards their village.

A chilling aura grew stronger as the team approached. They glanced downward, disdainfully looking at everyone from above.

The tall and robust black horses walked past the villagers without any intention of detouring.

The villagers hurriedly stepped back, yet some children, unable to react in time, were knocked down by the protruding horse bellies.