Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 221 - 220: Great-Grand-aunt Passed Away

"All going?!"

Because they were so surprised and couldn’t believe it, the four siblings’ voices rose by eight octaves, nearly piercing Liu Ji’s eardrums.

He quickly covered his ears, took a moment to steady himself, and looked at Qin Yao, who was the decision-maker.

After all, he wasn’t paying for it, and since all the kids were going, maybe he could even get some pocket money from his four children.

"Everyone’s going, that’s the decision!" Qin Yao said.

Getting this confirmation, the Dragon and Phoenix Twins happily pounced into Mother’s arms, holding onto her arm, repeatedly asking, "Really? Is it really true? Mother, you can’t deceive us!"

Qin Yao said three times that it was true before the two little ones believed it, struck by happiness, running wildly in the main hall to vent their uncontrollable excitement.

They were about to go to bed since it was late at night, but now no one could sleep.

Da Lang and Second Lang asked, concerned, "What about school?"

Qin Yao said, "Just take a leave."

Second Lang and Da Lang exchanged glances. Could you really take a leave like this? Would the teacher allow it?

Qin Yao patted her chest and assured them it was absolutely fine. Who hasn’t lied to a teacher to travel with their parents when they were young?

"Won’t it cost a lot of silver?" Second Lang was a bit worried. With so many people going far, eating, drinking, and other expenses on the road are all money. When they arrive at the prefecture, they will need to stay in a hotel, which would cost even more.

When it came to spending money, Qin Yao always believed in spending when necessary and saving when able, signaling them not to worry and to pack their luggage well.

Besides the family’s stockpile of grain, she had more than sixty taels of silver on hand. It was just a trip to the prefecture and wouldn’t use up much at all!

As the saying goes, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.

Opportunities to visit places like the prefecture don’t come often, and since the decision was made, even if it was a bit impulsive, Qin Yao would not go back on her word.

After sending the four excited kids back to their rooms, Qin Yao and Liu Ji, the two adults, stayed behind, looking at each other.

The kids were happy, but the adults had more problems to solve.

Liu Ji asked, "Who’s going to feed the cow at home?"

Qin Yao said helplessly, "We’ll have to ask Old Liu’s place to help."

There was also the water mill, which had to be mentioned to Mrs. Zhang and Old Liu, to remind them not to forget to come and collect the money.

The money collected would go to the old house, which brought in about two hundred cents a month, enough to cover the cow’s feeding costs.

Liu Ji had some objections, "We’re all one family, why separate what’s yours and mine? Helping each other out among brothers shouldn’t cost money."

Qin Yao scoffed at him, "You may not have any shame, but I do."

Liu Ji lowered his eyelids and, while she was not paying attention, puckered his lips, sneakingly saying, "Why scold someone for no reason..."

Qin Yao ignored him and pointed at the few chickens in the courtyard, which had been raised for over a year and were quite large now.

Liu Ji recalled the delicious taste of chicken soup, licked the corner of his mouth, and tentatively said, "How about we kill them to eat? If they stay, we’ll have to find someone to feed them, which is a bother."

Qin Yao glanced at him and agreed straightforwardly, "Okay!"

"But Third Brother and Fourth Sister really cherish those few chickens. Should we tell them first?" Liu Ji suddenly asked.

He was genuinely afraid that the Dragon and Phoenix Twins would create an uproar at home.

Of course, that wasn’t the main point.

The main point was that he didn’t want to destroy the kindly father image he had painstakingly built in the children’s hearts.

Qin Yao thought he made sense. After all, the twins raised those chickens as pets, so it’s better to ask them.

She gave Liu Ji an appreciative look as if to say ’You’re quite thoughtful,’ then stood up, waved him off, and they each went back to their rooms to sleep.

Early the next morning, the couple called Sanlang and Si Niang to them, asking for their opinions on killing the chickens.

Si Niang’s eyes lit up, "Mother, Mother, I want to drink chicken soup, and I want a chicken leg!" The thought made her drool.

Sanlang pouted, showing a bit of reluctance, but did not object either.

The result was that when everyone gathered to eat chicken at dinner, the little ones gulped down two bowls of rich chicken soup and said through tears, "It’s so hot, but so tasty~"

All four chickens were killed, and the family couldn’t finish them. Qin Yao called everyone from the old house to eat together, mentioning that her family of six would go on a long trip.

Old Liu almost spat out a mouthful of chicken soup he was drinking, managing to swallow it while hot, and immediately asked:

"Da Lang, Second Lang, Third Brother, and Fourth Sister are all going to the prefecture? Are they going for an exam or just to have fun?"

Qin Yao smiled and signaled Old Liu to sit down first, "The main mission is of course for the exam; fun is just on the side."

"Is it already decided?" Old Liu asked.

The whole family of six nodded in unison.

Liu Ji said, "Tomorrow morning, we’ll go to the clan school and help the four of them request leave from the teacher."

"This is for a month, will the teacher agree?" Liu Bai was very curious about what reason Liu Ji would use.

Liu Ji smiled mysteriously, "I have it arranged with my wife." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

After dinner, seeing the happy Da Lang brothers and sisters, the people at Old Liu’s place still couldn’t quite understand what Liu Ji and Qin Yao were thinking.

Didn’t they care about the money at all?

It’s said that one should be frugal at home and lavish on the road, but even saving on the road might cost a couple of taels of silver? Not to mention in the prefecture, where staying one night costs two hundred coins, three to four taels would be gone.

Considering the food and drink for all six people, eight taels of silver would definitely be spent.

Eight taels! He and Mrs. Qiu thought of this and drew in a sharp breath visibly.

Originally, they thought Qin Yao was clear-headed and knew how to save money.

Now it seems they still did not understand her well enough.

Before leaving, Qin Yao and Liu Ji went with the children to the Ding Clan School. Qin Yao went to Sanlang and Si Niang’s side, while Liu Ji went to Da Lang and Second Lang’s side.

Mr. Ding asked, "Why request such a long leave?"

Liu Ji looked sorrowful, first he sighed deeply, then exchanged glances with Da Lang and Second Lang, who understood and immediately lowered their heads, putting on a sorrowful appearance.

Liu Ji wiped his eyes, "The children’s great-aunt has passed away. Since childhood, she has been exceptionally kind to us. So, this time, we must attend her funeral rites not only to pay our respects but to let these two children keep vigil for her for seven days to show their filial piety. We hope the teacher allows this leave so the kids can see her off on her final journey..."

Confucian scholars highly value filial piety. Hearing this, Mr. Ding not only granted the leave but also urged the brothers to keep vigil for a few more days for their great-aunt.

After sharing a couple of stories related to filial piety, Mr. Ding sent them off easily.

On Qin Yao’s side, Mr. Cheng asked the same question: "Has something significant happened at home?"

Mr. Cheng quite valued students like Si Niang and Sanlang. If not necessary, he wouldn’t want them to take leave and delay their studies.

Unexpectedly, Qin Yao handed over a letter from the prefecture, the contents of which were identical to what Liu Ji told Mr. Ding.

Mr. Cheng’s expression changed, from initially seeming somewhat reproachful to displaying some polite sympathy.

He returned the letter to Qin Yao and said to the Dragon and Phoenix Twins, "Go ahead, but even though you’re sad, don’t forget to review your lessons."

Told by their father not to smile and to keep a sorrowful face, the Dragon and Phoenix Twins nearly couldn’t hold back their joy when hearing Mr. Cheng’s words.

Luckily, Qin Yao quickly stepped forward to block them, giving Mr. Cheng a deep bow, "Sorry for the inconvenience!"

The corners of the Dragon and Phoenix Twins’ mouths couldn’t help but rise, but they didn’t show it.

Jinbao witnessed the entire scene and went home to spill the beans about what Third Uncle and Third Aunt did at the academy.

In doing so, he expressed great envy for Sanlang and Si Niang, having such understanding parents.

After Jinbao’s recount, the people at the old house fell into an eerie silence.