Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 229 - 228: Protect All the Weak

Qin Yao and Liu Ji were covered in dried mud, looking filthy beyond description.

The horse and carriage weren’t much better, although they had been cleaned by the stream before entering the town, they still needed to be thoroughly wiped down now that they had settled.

Having money makes things easier; a hundred cents were given to the innkeeper, and the waiter assisted with cleaning the carriage and the horse.

This also included the hot water for Qin Yao’s family to bathe.

Like owner, like horse, Old Huang was now a horse that loved cleanliness. Normally, it was quite irritable when strangers approached. But knowing it was about to bathe, it obediently let the waiter tie it to the post outside the back door for a wash.

While Old Huang was enjoying itself, Qin Yao and her husband each took turns bathing their children.

Having been on the road for so many days, they’ve long been drenched in sweat. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Da Zhuang watched Qin Yao’s family bustling around with their washing, as if witnessing some extraordinary sight.

He was also dirty but settled for washing his feet with cold water.

The mud on his clothes, he rubbed with his hand, shook it out, and continued wearing them.

It’s not that he didn’t care about cleanliness; he simply had no spare clothes, and washing could ruin the fragile patched linen clothes he had.

Qin Yao and Si Niang, the mother and daughter washed first, then came out to let Liu Ji and the three boys go in.

The mother and daughter sat on the stone bench in the backyard, watching the waiter clean the carriage, waiting with dirty clothes for Liu Ji to come out and wash.

Da Zhuang was also cleaning the carriage, not willing to spend money for the waiter’s help, doing it himself by fetching water.

Si Niang’s curious big eyes wandered everywhere; it was her first time staying at an inn, and the experience was very novel to her.

Her big eyes glanced at the neighboring half-open room, where Liu Li had lit a lamp and was reading at a small table.

Then she looked at the waiter and Uncle Dazhuang washing the carriage, showing a puzzled expression.

Why isn’t Uncle Li helping Uncle Dazhuang?

Doesn’t Uncle Dazhuang feel tired? Why doesn’t he ask Uncle Li to help?

Uncle Dazhuang and Uncle Li aren’t brothers or relatives, so does Uncle Li give Uncle Dazhuang extra pay for washing the carriage?

Si Niang had many questions, but she knew it wasn’t good to ask them right now.

Thus, the little girl held back until Liu Ji and his sons finished bathing and came out, and Qin Yao led her back to rest. Left alone with her mother, she finally voiced her questions.

Qin Yao didn’t expect Si Niang to notice such details, thinking a six-year-old was just like Sanlang, only concerned about eating and sleeping, sleeping and playing.

"Why is it like this, Mother?" Si Niang asked, leaning on her hand.

Qin Yao thought for a moment, then said, "Because their statuses are unequal."

Si Niang’s expression was even more puzzled, "Why? Is it because Uncle Li has money and Uncle Dazhuang doesn’t?"

"Yes, but not entirely. Besides financial inequality, they have an imbalance of power too."

Now the conversation had come to this point, Qin Yao thought there was no harm in speaking openly. Learning about class disparities early isn’t a bad thing.

To adapt early and utilize the rules wisely is the way to progress better.

However, the equality and human rights rooted in Qin Yao would never be erased!

While informing Si Niang about the huge power gap between scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, and the supreme royal rule, she also warned her never to forget the essential equality and human rights, no matter where she stands in the future.

Moreover, in Sheng Country, there’s an even more neglectable point—below scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, and slaves, there are women who are even more disadvantaged.

Seeing the young girl listening attentively, Qin Yao couldn’t help but curiously ask, "Do you understand what I’m saying?"

Si Niang nodded heavily, her small fists clenched unknowingly, she said:

"Mother, I will study hard, grow up to be powerful like you, and protect the sisters who are weaker than us!"

"No!" Feeling it wasn’t enough, Si Niang solemnly added, "To protect all the weak!"

Qin Yao caressed her slender yet upright back, full of pride, "Our Si Niang has such lofty aspirations at such a young age, wonderful, Mother is proud of you."

Praised!

Si Niang immediately lifted her chin, she wanted to be mother’s proudest daughter!

Were it not for the growling stomach, the little girl would have recited two more Chapters proudly.

"Dear! Dear!"

Liu Ji’s hollering came from outside the door.

Qin Yao rubbed her forehead; he was truly a man who wouldn’t let anyone relax.

The sound came closer, footsteps chaotic and dense, father and sons finished washing clothes and rushed into the room from the front hall, all with identical expressions of annoyance.

Once inside, Liu Ji slapped the small table in the room with a "bang," complaining to Qin Yao in frustration, "This is a rip-off inn! This is a rip-off inn!"

Second Lang also displayed an indignant expression, saying, "Mother, guess how much the innkeeper charged for a bowl of plain noodles?"

"How much?" Qin Yao held the startled Si Niang from her father’s table slap, warningly glancing at the about-to-burst Liu Ji, "Calm down, we’re still guests here at the inn, calling it a rip-off inn so loudly, afraid others won’t hear? Want them to throw us out?"

"Of course not." Liu Ji glanced at the dark skies outside, who wanted to sleep on the streets.

But this inn was outrageous!

Liu Ji gave Second Lang a look, Second Lang exaggeratedly raised one hand, three fingers up, continued, "A bowl of plain noodles for thirty cents!"

He emphasized, "Plain noodles!"

Sanlang chimed in, "Plain noodles, without meat."

Liu Ji also said, "The plain noodles we ate at another town earlier today were only fifteen cents a bowl."

He knew grain prices were skyrocketing, fifteen cents a bowl of plain noodles was already three times normal prices, hard to accept but eating was necessary, with gritted teeth he endured.

After all, the family had recently added seven taels of silver income, they could afford it.

But after just over twenty-miles, a bowl of plain noodles had risen to thirty cents a bowl, what else but a rip-off inn?

Qin Yao, hearing the story, took a deep breath. The price was indeed exaggerated.

Sending Liu Ji to inquire, other guests today paid the same price for their noodles, Liu Li also expressed helplessness; he had just asked Da Zhuang to check other eateries in town, but they were all closed, only one was open, pricey but needed.

Not that the innkeeper was malicious, but grain prices here were over three times that of Kaiyang County.

Thinking further about bold, defying bandits who dared to rob even official post stations, it became clear how severe the grain shortage had become.

Liu Ji remained silent.

Da Lang suggested tentatively, "We still have dry rations, why not eat flatbreads? Boil some hot water and eat, they are quite delicious."

With Da Lang’s persuasive selling, Second Lang, Sanlang, and Si Niang all expressed excitement about eating dry rations.

Qin Yao waved her hand, "Save where necessary, spend where needed, thirty cents a bowl of noodles isn’t something we can’t afford."

Just treat it as dining at a super-luxurious five-star hotel.