Chapter 83: Chapter 82: Father and Sons Come Visiting

The Duanwu Festival has arrived.

Grandma Ding sent someone over to ask Miss Ding to go to the old residence for the celebration.

Miss Ding refused, saying to the messenger: “It’s too hot; I’m feeling dizzy and uncomfortable. I’m not feeling well, so I won’t bother Grandma and the others.”

The person had no choice but to leave a basket of exquisitely wrapped zongzi using colorful threads and returned to the old residence to report back.

Seeing the person leave, the girl lying on the couch immediately jumped up and shouted towards the study: “Miss Qin, shall we go for a stroll at the farmstead?”

Qin Yao put down the book in her hand and came out. She must accompany Miss Ding as her personal guard, so she naturally had to go out together.

Aunt Qiao was still worried about her being unwell, but seeing her bouncing lively again, she knew she had lied, shaking her head helplessly, “If the old lady finds out, she’ll be upset with Miss.”

“Why would she be upset? I’m not her favorite granddaughter. She only sent someone over to ask me to avoid gossip. If I really went, they’d probably not be happy. I’d rather stay at home and be comfortable.”

Miss Ding complained while Dou’er assisted her in changing into light clothing for going out.

Qin Yao went back to her room to fetch her bow and arrow, already prepared to leave.

The group was getting ready to go out when Housekeeper Yu arrived, first greeting Miss Ding and then beckoning to Qin Yao outside, unexpectedly looking for her.

“Housekeeper, is there something?” Qin Yao asked, puzzled.

Miss Ding turned her curious gaze towards them.

Housekeeper Yu hesitated for a moment upon seeing their readiness to leave, but decided to speak anyway.

“Miss Qin, your husband is here with the children, waiting for you under the tree outside. Would you like to go and meet them?”

“They’re here?” Qin Yao was in disbelief, with a tinge of surprise in her heart.

It’s a festival after all, so I always think of my family. I was just wondering how they were celebrating, unexpectedly they’ve come to town to find me.

Seeing Housekeeper Yu nodding affirmatively, Qin Yao felt a bit nervous, hoping they were simply here to find her and not bringing some trouble for her to clean up.

After informing her, Housekeeper Yu left.

Qin Yao turned to look at Miss Ding, who should have heard what Housekeeper Yu said and seemed quite curious.

Qin Yao was about to speak, but Miss Ding asked first: “Your family has come to find you?”

Qin Yao nodded, “Miss, why don’t you and Aunt Qiao go first, take the guards, I will catch up with you later.”

“No need, I’ll go with you.” After all, she was idle anyway.

She heard from her brother that Miss Qin was remarried, so those coming to find her today would be her stepchildren. She couldn’t help but be curious about such a mother-child relationship.

With Qin Yao eager to go out, Miss Ding followed her, walking ahead and exiting the courtyard gate.

Sure enough, under the tree by the roadside, were five father-son figures standing neatly.

“Si Niang!” Qin Yao called out with a smile.

All five of them quickly turned around, their expressions all a bit excited.

“Mother!” Sanlang and Si Niang ran over immediately; Qin Yao caught them both in her arms, feeling happy yet unable to suppress her curiosity as she asked: “How come you guys are here? Aren’t you celebrating at home?”

Da Lang and Second Lang also stepped forward; Da Lang sheepishly said, “Sanlang and Si Niang insisted on seeing you, and father couldn’t resist. It also happened to be market day in town today, so we hitched a ride in the village head’s ox cart.”

“We spent five cents!” Second Lang added, “Originally we could have walked it and saved that money, but father insisted on taking the ox cart, saying he was afraid we’d be tired.”

Liu Ji grumbled, “What do you mean I insisted taking the ox cart because I feared you guys would be tired? Oh, so you didn’t want to ride it, right? Why didn’t you walk over then?”

Second Lang was suddenly at a loss, unable to argue back, looking angrily at his father.

Qin Yao found it amusing, put the Dragon and Phoenix twins down, and looked up at the man standing under the tree in a blue shirt, looking quite presentable but with a sheepish expression in his eyes.

“I still have work to do, and I can’t take leave here. You take them shopping in town.” Qin Yao advised regretfully.

Liu Ji seemed a bit lost, “During the festival, we’re not allowed to go home?”

Looking at his expression, Qin Yao raised an amused eyebrow, “Oh, you want me to accompany you shopping?”

“You, you overthink!” He snapped, rolling his eyes.

But you have to admit, being used to a daily thrashing, suddenly no one was there to discipline him, he felt listless at work and a bit out of sorts.

Liu Ji was startled by the thoughts emerging in his mind, shivering involuntarily in the summer heat, could it be he’s under a spell from that shrew Qin Yao?

Qin Yao patted the four siblings’ heads with a mysterious smile, “Wait for me here, I’ll go get something for you.”

The siblings’ eyes immediately brightened and nodded eagerly.

Qin Yao went back to the Ding Mansion, to her living space, and took out the “Enlightenment Atlas” along with two blank notebooks she had made from scrap paper.

Liu Ji’s eyes immediately widened, “Where did you get the book?” It looked like a printed version rather than a crude manuscript.

Qin Yao gave him a playful look, “Don’t worry about it, it’s just a book. I have the means to obtain it.”

Qin Yao handed the book to Da Lang, “This is a book for learning characters by seeing pictures. Keep it well, take it home, and have all four of you siblings study it. If you don’t understand something, ask your father.”

Under urging from his siblings, Da Lang cautiously flipped through the pages. The text and illustrations were very clear, and each character was accompanied by a corresponding picture, like an axe, weather phenomena, and other thumb-sized images, as well as many things he hadn’t seen before like persimmons, pears, and bananas.

“Aunt, isn’t this book expensive?” Second Lang asked nervously.

Qin Yao nodded. Liu Ji, seeing the contents, was equally surprised. It’s a great book for enlightenment, and at the bookstore, it would sell for more than one tael, and not even likely with such good paper.

Qin Yao handed the two blank notebooks made from scrap paper to Liu Ji for the children’s writing practice at home.

As she spoke, she pulled out three maces of silver from her pocket and handed it to him, advising: “Buy pens, ink, and inkstone. You should also pick up reading and practice writing regularly.”

Liu Ji, being the type likely to be dazzled by money, didn’t expect to come to town and leave with extra gains. He accepted the silver happily, perhaps not fully understanding her advice.

However, Da Lang and the four siblings listened intently.

The children were both surprised and amazed, not knowing why their stepmother suddenly was willing to spend so much money to prepare stationery for them.

Children from poor families never believed they could afford to read. Learning many characters already felt fortunate; more seemed impossible.

But today, seeing how their stepmother was ready to help them genuinely learn, Second Lang, sensitive to money, counted on his fingers but couldn’t figure out the cost, just feeling if they learn reading and writing, a lot of money would be spent.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep