Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 213 - 212: Beggars

"Learn more characters from Jinbao; you’re an adult now, can’t even write your own name, it’ll be a joke if word gets out." Liu Ji said, taking the chance to educate while blowing the ink dry on the letter.

Seeing Liu Fei stunned and deceived, the little person in his heart laughed hysterically, but outwardly he continued to speak seriously:

"Your third brother has already passed the preliminary exam. Although our two families are separate, who in the village doesn’t see us as one family? In the future, we can also be considered a literary family; not being able to write is a disgrace."

Liu Fei let out a slightly ashamed "oh," but felt his third brother’s words were somewhat strange.

Can they be considered a literary family?

Do they qualify?

Forget it, it’s best not to question the affairs of scholars to avoid exposing his own ignorance as a rustic.

A drizzle of spring rain fell.

Covering the entire Liu Family Village in a hazy veil.

In the fields, there were farmers, wearing bamboo hats, diligently working.

In the workshop, discussing the production capacity of the Divine Power Book Box with Liu the carpenter, Qin Yao suddenly heard, "Third Aunt! There’s a letter for you!"

A letter?

This is a rare thing in Liu Family Village.

Not many in the village could write, so Qin Yao guessed it might be from Liu Ji, the supplier.

Putting down her work to go out, she saw Liu Qi, who had just bought over 500 pounds of brown rice, standing under the archway, leading his ox cart.

Seeing Qin Yao, he immediately handed over the letter, saying, "I just encountered a driver from Lower River Village on the road. He said this letter was passed on by Third Uncle from a southern county town, and since he met me, he asked me to bring it back to the village."

Qin Yao thanked him and took the envelope.

Liu Qi, busy distributing the grain to the poorest families in the village, smiled and left first.

Qin Yao opened the envelope, quickly scanned the few lines, and revealed a speechless expression.

The letter was indeed from Liu Ji, lamenting his tough journey and how hard it was, but luckily, he managed to purchase over ten thousand pounds of low-cost wheat.

But now he’s out of money, and after seeking help, the best they could do was get him and the grain to the inn fifty miles outside of Kaiyang County, asking her to come and assist.

At the end, he even expressed how afraid he was of being robbed or assaulted during his solo trip without her, making Qin Yao frown deeply, at a loss for words. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Liu the carpenter, not hearing any sound from outside for a long time, curiously asked, "Miss Qin, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing, I need to go home." Qin Yao responded, indicating that he shouldn’t worry, and with the letter in hand, headed back to the village to gather people.

The villagers had already started tilling the fields.

This year, they had discussed leaving the best fields to cultivate and refine with Qin Yao, so they were hurrying to rough-till and roughly plant the distant and less fertile lands first.

Qin Yao wanted to borrow a cart, but everyone needed theirs, so she clearly couldn’t get one.

She had to go to the old house to call Liu Bai and Liu Zhong to go to town and rent a cart to meet at the inn outside the city.

Qin Yao arrived fifteen minutes early, and fifteen minutes later, Liu Ji appeared within the timeframe mentioned in the letter, which somewhat reduced Qin Yao’s anger at wanting to beat him up.

He left some loose ends in his tasks, and though Liu Ji felt guilty, he also felt justified and confident; with so many people around, he was certain that as long as he didn’t make too big of a mistake, Qin Yao wouldn’t take action.

Besides, for this trip, even if there was no merit, there was hardship, and he should be treated courteously.

The fare for the two trips cost a total of one tael and two maces of silver.

When paying, Qin Yao didn’t even want to look at Liu Ji’s face, fearing she wouldn’t be able to resist punching him.

"We’ll settle the accounts when we get home!" she said, pointing at Liu Ji’s nose before instructing the drivers to transfer the grain to the cart she brought.

Liu Ji sidled up, "Don’t worry, dear; I’ve noted all the accounts, Fourth was also watching, so there won’t be any mistakes."

Along the way, Liu Fei, who had been swayed by Liu Ji, sincerely told Qin Yao, "Third Sister-in-law, don’t worry, I’ll be watching Third Brother, he won’t be able to embezzle even one cent."

Qin Yao looked at the naive young man in front of her with sympathy, patted his shoulder, and continued moving the grain.

Liu Ji stood to the side, watching Qin Yao carry five or six bags of grain herself, and praised, "Dear, thank goodness for you; otherwise, I wouldn’t even dare to go back on the return trip."

"All along the journey, ever since entering the realm of Kaiyang County, the passersby had eyes glaring at our grain, like tigers watching their prey."

Qin Yao frowned slightly, not mocking his clumsy use of idioms, and asked suspiciously, "Aren’t you exaggerating?"

Liu Ji raised his hand as if swearing, "Not at all, I swear!"

And he pointed at Liu Fei, "If you don’t believe me, ask him."

This time Liu Fei didn’t oppose Liu Ji; he indeed felt the fiery gaze from everyone when they looked at the grain.

Most farmers barely had enough to eat, so any mishap would plunge them into hunger.

Every year during this spring sowing time, after enduring a winter, people would come out looking for short-term work for food, begging was not uncommon.

Qin Yao had seen a few beggars in Liu Family Village, mostly appearing after the spring sowing but before the autumn harvest. Families with surplus grain would often give them half a bowl of brown rice or a few sips of water.

The clansmen of Liu Family Village have always maintained high caution towards outsiders.

Because occasionally someone would disguise as beggars to inquire about the children and women of the village, and with one misstep, they would be abducted.

However, in the past two or three years, the country has been stable, and seeing beggars on the road has been rare.

But upon hearing what Liu Ji and Liu Fei said, on the way back, Qin Yao specifically paid attention and found that there were indeed more beggars.

They moved as family units, in groups of three to five.

Some groups were as large as twenty people, almost all from the same village.

Whenever they saw the grain cart, their previously dull eyes lit up, eager to come forward and beg.

Qin Yao cast a cold gaze, grasping the knife hilt in her hand; her imposing and terrifying aura enveloped the area, causing those begging to tremble in their hearts.

The footsteps they initially wanted to take were drawn back by the instinct to survive, and they only dared to retreat to the roadside edges, staring longingly at the bags of grain, not daring to approach.

After passing Lower River Village, such family-operated begging groups finally disappeared.

Liu Ji, twirling grass he picked from the roadside, glanced smugly at Qin Yao. See, how foresighted he was, if not, how could he have dealt with these groups of beggars?

Qin Yao gave him a glance, slightly lifting the corner of her mouth, as if acknowledging that the kid had some brains.

The eleven thousand pounds of grain, carried by ten carts, entered Liu Family Village, causing a minor stir.

No one expected Qin Yao to stockpile grain and do it on such a scale.

But thinking about her appetite, it was understandable.

However, upon seeing this much grain for the first time, the villagers of Liu Family Village couldn’t help feeling a little startled.

Those who initially intended to stockpile grain but hesitated were suddenly spurred into action, beginning to stockpile grain as well.

Seeing this, Qin Yao felt much reassured in her heart.

It’s good to follow suit; if every home has surplus grain, everyone will be safe.