Chapter 89: Chapter 88: If He Won’t Eat, I Will

Qin Yao cleared everything off the table, pushed the heavy cloth bag to the center, and sternly said to the five men in front of her, “Copy the books!”

The five men, who looked like they were carved from the same mold, all looked at Qin Yao in confusion, copy what books?

Qin Yao opened the cloth bag, then the oil paper inside, revealing nine books in front of the men.

Liu Ji gasped, quickly went to close the main hall door, and looked at Qin Yao in shock, “You stole so many books from someone, aren’t you risking your life?”

That’s Landlord Ding, even the County Magistrate greets him with respect. If we’re found out, can our whole family’s heads still be safe?

Qin Yao gave Liu Ji a cold look, “Who are you calling a thief? I borrowed them; once we’re done copying, I’ll return them.”

Hearing this, Liu Ji’s pounding heart immediately settled, realizing he misunderstood, he awkwardly smiled, “Good, good, as long as it’s not stolen, it scared me to death.”

“Look at your lack of composure.” Qin Yao scoffed, wrapped the books back up, “First lunch, after eating we’ll have a family meeting in the afternoon, everyone must attend, no excuses.”

Da Lang and his siblings nodded, they had a hunch that the stepmother was going to discuss something big!

Liu Ji glanced at the rewrapped nine books; if he wasn’t mistaken, they were the essential classics needed for the imperial exams.

Could it be, this wicked woman wanted them to study for the imperial exam?

But as soon as this thought popped up, Liu Ji dismissed it in his mind, what a joke, could a family like theirs even consider the imperial exams?!

Thinking of Qin Yao’s wage, Liu Ji sent the kids off, telling Second Lang to fetch a bowl of wine brew from the old house, and asked Da Lang to bring a bucket of cold well water.

In this scorching weather, having a bowl of cold fermented rice sugar water was incredibly refreshing.

Qin Yao sat under the eaves with a chair, sipping the fermented rice sugar water by the spoonful, facing the door, catching the breeze, feeling all the heat dissipate.

It’s still most comfortable at home.

Liu Ji served stir-fried eggplant with pork and egg vegetable soup on the table, and as he passed by the door, he cautiously asked:

“Wife, how much was the wage Mr. Ding paid you?”

Qin Yao didn’t even lift her eyelids, “The wages were all spent.”

Liu Ji suddenly felt like he had a heart attack, spent again, just like the last lumber wage, didn’t she know she should save silver?

Qin Yao noticed his resentful glance and shouted coldly, “When’s dinner ready!”

Liu Ji’s heart tightened immediately, quickly restraining his resentment, and smiled, “Right away, I’ll serve the rice now.”

With that, he waved to the siblings in the courtyard to set the tableware, scoop up the cooked rice, filling a porcelain basin three times their usual family portion.

Remembering Qin Yao’s appetite, Liu Ji felt fortunate that this woman could earn silver herself, otherwise, he couldn’t afford to feed her.

When she wasn’t home, he felt like the rice in the jar was endless.

As soon as she returned, the rice jar reached the bottom.

Thankfully, she bought back three hundred catties of rice, making do, they could eat until the harvest.

While eating, Liu Ji occasionally sneaked glances at Qin Yao, calculating what Qin Yao brought back this time.

Forget about the pen, ink, and paper, they wouldn’t be anything less than five maces of silver.

The coarse cloth wasn’t cheap either; another five maces gone.

Three hundred catties of rice, mixed grains, she managed for one tael and five maces.

Adding it all up, it’s two taels and five maces, Ding Family paid two taels as wages, indeed spent it all.

Not only spent everything, but also exceeded the budget!

Liu Ji felt frustrated, this woman spent money even more lavishly than him, even his meal wasn’t tasty.

Qin Yao didn’t care whether he enjoyed his meal or not, she was full anyway.

After putting down her chopsticks, Da Lang and Second Lang automatically cleaned up the tableware and took it to the kitchen door to wash.

Sanlang and Si Niang clung to her, Si Niang chattered away, telling her all the fun things that happened recently, she could really talk.

Liu Ji took the cloth and meat, along with four pastries, to the Liu Family’s old house.

When Second Lang came over to ask for wine brew, the family knew that Qin Yao had returned, expecting that someone might come over later.

He and Mrs. Qiu glanced towards the main door now and then, sister-in-laws both tacitly anticipating.

The third sister-in-law was the most generous, bringing so many things back from town, surely some of it would be for them.

Sure enough, the third sister-in-law never disappointed them.

The pound of meat Liu Ji brought made the whole family smile, inquiring about Qin Yao’s situation, knowing she just got home and needed rest, they agreed to visit in a few days.

Mrs. He and Mrs. Qiu held onto the cloth, asking about the children’s sizes at Liu Ji’s house since kids grow every year, and last year’s winter clothes might not fit.

The pastries were only four; Jinbao and Jinhua each took one, leaving two for the elders, who saved one for Liu Fei.

“I’m already grown, these treats are for kids, let Jinhua and Jinbao have them,” Liu Fei said, embarrassed.

Liu Ji immediately reached out, “Dad, I love these, if he won’t eat them, I will. These mung bean pastries are refreshing and soft, made by Mr. Ding’s chef, you can’t buy these outside!”

Seeing him reach out, Liu Fei felt exasperated, “Aren’t you ashamed fighting kids for treats!”

Liu Ji laughed merrily, telling him, “In front of dad and mom, who isn’t still a child.”

Unfortunately, Old Liu didn’t give him the pastry, but had Liu Bai take it, letting the three brothers themselves divide and enjoy the taste of the fine things from the landlord’s house.

As for the two daughters-in-law, the kids were thinking of their moms, so they shared them early.

“It’s still thanks to Yao Niang being capable, otherwise we wouldn’t get to taste such good things,” Mrs. Zhang praised with a smile.

Liu Ji immediately gave himself credit, “Of course, and who brought her home?”

Old Liu looked over in surprise, “Why are you still here?”

Yao Niang just arrived home, shouldn’t you be going back to take care of her, standing here doing nothing but being in the way!

Mrs. Zhang told Liu Ji to wait for a moment, went inside, and brought out half a jar of wine brew, asking Liu Ji to take it back for Qin Yao.

Just now, she heard the third brother mention that Yao Niang especially liked drinking it.

This thing is simple to make, just consumes glutinous rice, perfect for quenching thirst in the summer. She had originally brewed some more intending to make liquor but hadn’t gotten to it, the adults and kids at home almost finished it.

So, she might as well just let everyone treat it as a snack.

Finally, she plucked a basket full of vegetables from the garden, asking Liu Ji to take them back as well.

Qin Yao looked at Liu Ji returning with hands full and suspiciously asked, “I asked you to deliver something, how did you end up bringing so much back?”

Liu Ji put down the heavy vegetable basket and the ceramic jar, replying as he disliked hearing this, “What do you mean by bringing back so much, it was the elders’ goodwill.”

Then he added, “Look at me bringing it back, the elders were beyond happy.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep