Chapter 342: Chapter 341: Naturally Stoic

Liu the carpenter gestured for Qin Yao to put the fittings down, folded the silver note carefully and tucked it into his chest, gave it a pat for security, then grinned at Qin Yao and said:

“Almost done. I’ve applied the final coat of varnish. Leave it to dry for two or three days, and once I attach these fittings you brought, you can take it home.”

As the two were speaking, an excited voice called out, “Darling!” interrupting their conversation.

Liu the carpenter smiled knowingly, “Oh, Sanlang is here.”

Qin Yao shrugged helplessly and stepped out of the house, just in time to see Liu Ji storming in like a whirlwind. When he spotted her, his eyes lit up like a dog seeing a bone.

Seeing him open his arms ready to pounce, Qin Yao swiftly stepped back, and Liu Ji, unable to stop in time, ended up hugging a pillar, looking at her wistfully,

“Darling, how heartless of you! It’s been days, didn’t you miss me?”

Qin Yao replied, “I did. I missed you to death.”

“…”

“Ha, ha, ha…” Liu Ji gave a few awkward laughs, pretending not to have heard what she just said. Coming off the pillar, he brushed off his clothes and asked with concern, “Was your journey smooth, my dear?”

“Not bad.” Seeing him back to normal, Qin Yao secretly sighed in relief and asked why he had come by.

Liu Ji pointed to the left towards the paintwork room and said, “The literacy class is about to start, and it’s almost time to finish work, so I’m here for the lesson. I’ve done everything you instructed, my dear.”

Taohua blinked expectantly at her.

Qin Yao smiled gently, “I’ll head home first, you go to your class.”

She glanced at the sky; the children should already be on their way home from school. She greatly anticipated seeing their faces when they received their gifts.

“Darling~” Liu Ji’s mournful voice called after her.

Qin Yao turned back reluctantly and instructed, “Come back early after class. I brought gifts for you all.”

Liu Ji’s face immediately broke into a broad smile; he had been waiting for those words.

He watched Qin Yao lead the horse away and then turned to enter the temporary classroom of the literacy class. With thoughts of returning home filling his mind, he gave little regard to whether these mature students could keep up, teaching two lessons back-to-back. As soon as the classes ended, he dashed off.

Someone wanted to ask a question, but when they looked up, the teacher was already gone.

Liu Ji sprinted all the way home, arriving just in time to see Qin Yao taking out all the gifts she brought from the Prefecture in the main hall.

He rushed forward, taking the most conspicuous spot in the hall.

Da Lang Brothers and Sisters stood in a line, subconsciously pushing their father behind them. The five of them jostled for a chance to receive the first gift, shoving one another.

But Qin Yao’s first gift bypassed them altogether, heading straight to Gongliang Liao, seated farthest inside.

Gongliang Liao looked up in surprise, not expecting to receive a gift himself.

Qin Yao smilingly unwrapped the oiled paper, revealing a pair of brown-gray rabbit fur ear warmers, palm-sized, which fit directly over the ears, very convenient.

Although the weather was mild now, there was morning frost. Young people might not feel it, but Gongliang Liao often had red, frost-nipped ears.

Qin Yao had noticed this during her morning exercises and immediately thought of the old man when she saw these ear warmers while shopping in the Prefecture.

Though not a valuable item, the thoughtfulness behind the gift warmed one’s heart.

Gongliang Liao’s attendant student took the gift with the intention of placing it inside, but Qin Yao stopped him, kindly encouraging, “Won’t you try them on, teacher? If they don’t fit, I’ll have Liu Ji adjust them for you.”

Gongliang Liao’s eyes flickered, the usually ’dignified and composed’ old man showing rare signs of fluster.

Qin Yao persisted, “Go on, try them.”

Gongliang Liao coughed lightly, grunting in a muffled tone.

They were just a pair of ear warmers, yet it felt like being asked to change clothes in front of everyone.

Qin Yao glanced at Liu Ji, who immediately understood, taking the ear warmers from the attendant student and fitting them over his teacher’s ears.

The once stern old man now had two furry ears, looking inexplicably adorable.

Qi Xian’s eyes widened. Perhaps seeing the teacher like this for the first time, he forgot his manners, boldly stepping up to take a closer look, filled with curiosity.

It wasn’t until Gongliang Liao, humiliated and angry, let out a heavy sigh through his nostrils that Qi Xian snapped out of his daze, hastily bowing before retreating to the side.

But his eyes couldn’t help glancing sideways at Gongliang Liao.

“Take them off, they’re too hot for this old man!” Gongliang Liao snapped impatiently, his old face suspiciously flushed.

Liu Ji stifled his laughter, responding, “Yes, sir.”

He removed the ear warmers and handed them back to the attendant student, instructing, “Remember to put these on the teacher in the mornings from now on.”

The attendant student nodded in agreement, taking the ear warmers and backing away.

Who’s next for a gift?

All eyes in the room turned to Qin Yao, instantly increasing her pressure. She decided to distribute all the gifts at once, letting everyone explore for themselves.

Qi Xian received a cotton scarf. The young lad was diligent in his studies, working hard from morning till night. The chill of early autumn mornings and nights weren’t yet cold enough to start a fire, so a scarf was just right.

Da Lang, Second Lang, and Sanlang all received boots. Having never worn such boots before, Sanlang was so thrilled that he immediately kicked off his cloth shoes to try them on.

Da Lang and Second Lang exchanged a smile, very satisfied with the gift.

Si Niang’s padded coat and skirt were revealed, prompting a collective “wow” from those present. The young girl happily held the skirt against her body, admiring and touching it over and over, mumbling with a hint of distress, “I wish it would snow soon.”

With snow, she would finally get to wear her new coat and skirt.

Ah Wang also received a full set of new clothes, his normally expressionless face lighting up with a fleeting hint of joy, which Qin Yao’s sharp eyes caught.

With gifts for everyone else but himself, Liu Ji looked over expectantly. Qin Yao smiled and handed him a stack of Xuan paper with the advice, “Study well; I’m counting on you!”

“Dad, why aren’t you smiling?” Si Niang, hugging her precious new coat and skirt, curiously observed her father’s bitter expression.

Liu Ji replied, “I’m not smiling because I inherently don’t, like, to smile!”

Si Niang nodded in understanding and then turned to cheekily stick out her tongue at her brothers, deliberately teasing.

Da Lang suppressed his laughter, casting a sympathetic glance at his father, and then called on his younger siblings to put their gifts away.

Ah Wang looked at Qin Yao and sincerely said, “Thank you, Madam.”

Qin Yao waved it off, clutching her stomach and asked, “Can we eat now? I’m starving.”

Ah Wang nodded and immediately dashed to put away his clothes in the attic, then returned to the kitchen to serve the dishes, signaling it was time to eat.

With everyone having received gifts, the atmosphere at the dining table was very jovial. The children chattered about amusing incidents at school, and Da Lang and Qi Xian discussed going bird hunting at the foot of the mountain on Qi Xian’s next day off.

Qi Xian was very excited, and they even proposed exchanging weapons to see who could hit more birds.

Ah Wang chimed in, “I can make stir-fried sparrow meat.”

Qin Yao cautiously reminded Da Lang, “Don’t go into the mountains. Winter is approaching, and animals are expanding their range to gather fat and might come down the mountain.”

Da Lang quickly assured her, “Aunt Yao, I know.” With a guest around, he wouldn’t dare venture too deep into the woods, especially if anything happened to Qi Xian.

Gongliang Liao watched the lively scene, the sternness of his face softened by the candlelight.

Only Liu Ji sulked, poking at his rice, grinding his teeth: I’m the only one without a gift; just me, and only me…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep