Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 234 - 233: He Zhanghua and Qi Xian

Da Lang and Second Lang don’t need any urging; climbing trees is what they’re best at.

Liu Li hadn’t even gotten a clear look before, in just three maneuvers, the brothers were standing on a branch.

Worried that there wouldn’t be enough room, Da Lang and Second Lang climbed up another level, sitting right at the top of the tree.

The wind from the river blew, causing the branches to sway back and forth; Liu Li clutched his chest, feeling like his heart was about to jump out.

But in the next second, Qin Yao shouted, "Go for it!" and he just felt a weight on his shoulder, his feet lifted off the ground.

Tossed onto the tree, Liu Li tightly held onto Da Zhuang who was also tossed up, both master and servant shivering, not daring to make a sound.

Liu Ji gave him a contemptuous smile, then confidently stretched his hands toward Qin Yao on the tree: "Darling darling, pull me pull me!"

The distance was too high, so Qin Yao told him to jump up a bit.

Liu Ji let out a "Hiyo" and jumped up with all his strength; Qin Yao grabbed his palm and swung him up.

Suddenly standing on the narrow branch, Liu Ji looked down, and the height that didn’t seem much from the ground now made him dizzy looking down.

A strong wind blew, and with nothing to hold onto, Liu Ji swayed instinctively, looking for a support point.

Just then, Qin Yao stood up, and a black shadow lunged at her, hugging her tightly.

With a support point, Liu Ji sighed in relief, only to open his eyes and see Qin Yao’s sneering face right in front of him.

Her twinkling black eyes sent a chill down his spine, and he quickly let go.

But as soon as he released his grip, the dizziness returned, instinctively hugging the person in front of him again.

Qin Yao tilted her head back, took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to kick him into the river.

"There’s a branch on the upper right corner," she gritted her teeth reminding him.

Liu Ji replied "Oh oh" while reaching to grab the branch, not finding it after a long search. Qin Yao finally had to aid him, grabbing his flailing hand and placing it onto the branch.

"Get off!"

Liu Ji thought to himself that women are ruthless, sighing with slight regret, he slowly let go of her, stepped back, squatted, and sat on the tree, steady.

Seeing this, Qin Yao couldn’t help but suspect he did it on purpose, glaring at him for a long time.

Liu Ji dared not look back, afraid she’d notice something amiss, also fearing his flushed face might be seen.

"Dad, why is your face so red?" Da Lang hung upside down from a higher branch, his curious face suddenly appearing upside down before Liu Ji, scaring his father.

"Ho!" Liu Ji let out a strange cry of fear from his throat, quickly leaning backward, Qin Yao stood right behind him, arms crossed leaning between branches, her knee pushed him back.

Liu Ji hurriedly grabbed the branch, avoiding the double fright from mother and son sending him plunging head-first into the river.

"You little rascal, are you trying to kill me!" Liu Ji dared not scold the one behind, only gruffly chided the culprit.

Da Lang wasn’t afraid at all, pointing at his face saying, "Dad, your face is even redder, like a monkey’s butt."

Liu Ji instinctively covered his face with his free hand, "Is it? Don’t talk nonsense, kid, sit back."

Da Lang wanted to dig for answers, Qin Yao also reminded him, "Watch your safety." Only then did the young boy sweep his suspicious eyes over his dad, straighten his waist and belly, sat back upright. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Qin Yao left the best standing spot in the center of the branch for Liu Li and Da Zhuang, continued climbing another layer up, leaning against a smaller nearby branch, feet stepping on a sturdy thick one, also wedging Sanlang and Si Niang between her legs to prevent the two little ones from falling.

Da Lang and Second Lang also came over, perched on neighboring branches, curiously looking toward the West River side.

This river’s surface is about four meters wide, enough for four dragon boats to race side by side, circling the commercial street at the center of the Prefecture forming a ring-shaped inner city river.

Marked by a stone bridge, the west side is the starting point, the east side the endpoint, the big tree where Qin Yao’s family is right beside the stone bridge, allowing them to see both the start and the most exhilarating endpoint dash.

As noon approaches, the scorching summer sun can’t quench people’s enthusiasm to watch the race.

Everyone braved the blazing sun, gathered along the guardrails of the riverbanks, even though the race hadn’t started, just seeing the eight participating teams hoist their dragon boats to prepare in the water, cheers rose one after another.

Moments before the race began, almost the entire city gathered, amidst curious chatter from the townspeople, Lord Prefect appeared with his family.

The stands reserved earlier gradually filled up.

Liu Ji explained live: "Not much needs to be said about the one in the crimson official robe, that’s our He Prefect of Zijing Mansion, to his left is Mrs. Qi and Miss He Zhang Hua, oh dear, this young lady is indeed graceful and lovely, I heard she’s a prodigy too, could write poems at three, at five could..."

Qin Yao: "Skip!"

Just a simple explanation suffices, no need for verbose chattering.

"See that little boy? The child prodigy that left a huge psychological impact on the road, what’s his background, how’s he sitting with the Prefect’s Wife and Miss?"

Qin Yao pointed at the boy on the opposite stand, then playfully glanced at Liu Li and Liu Ji beneath her.

Liu Li was busy looking at the officials beside Lord Prefect, only when Qin Yao reminded him did he shift his focus to the family, realizing the prodigy was amongst them.

"Oh?" Liu Li was a bit startled.

Liu Ji exaggeratedly acted surprised, though he had already learned the boy’s identity while loafing around the tavern lobby last night.

Such a genius, no matter where they appear, will become the focus of conversation.

Firstly, he truly is a prodigy.

The Prefect’s daughter is nine this year, could write poems at three.

While this prodigy is ten, could write excellent essays of 800 words at three.

"That essay, I heard is still kept in the family shrine by the First Rank official Old Prime Minister Qi."

"And this prodigy’s name is Qi Xian, that’s right, exactly the Heavenly Palace Immortal Official you’re thinking of."

Liu Ji excitedly said, "Prefect’s Wife is Old Prime Minister’s granddaughter, also Qi Xian’s aunt."

At this, Liu Ji lowered his voice: "Qi Family is much more prominent than He Family, so everyone says Mrs. Qi married down, with Qi Family’s backing, Prefect He is probably getting transferred to the Capital soon."

After saying this, couldn’t help murmuring enviously, "Some men, why are some so lucky to be noticed by noble ladies, rising to fame easily?"

Qin Yao acted as if she was deaf, not hearing, curiously asked, "Qi Family is so powerful, why did Qi Xian come to our Zijing Mansion for the Prefecture Exam?"

"You wouldn’t know this!" Liu Ji smugly winked at her, smiling, said before her temper flared:

"Their ancestral home is right here, I heard Old Prime Minister worried this prodigy would be spoiled by the lavish lifestyle of the Capital, so despite the long grandson and granddaughter-in-law’s protests, sent him back to his ancestral roots, even arranged a master to accompany and instruct him."

Qin Yao softly said, "Old Prime Minister Qi’s educational methods are quite unique."

As long as Liu Ji hears Qin Yao praise other men, he feels a sense of pride, as if being praised himself, smugly flicked his front fringe in response:

"Of course! Old Prime Minister, back in the day, was a meritorious official accompanying the Emperor and Empress in building the nation. His vision, can ordinary people compare?"

Qin Yao speechlessly glanced at Liu Ji, feeling itchy again?

Second Lang shouted from the branch top: "Dad Mom, the race is starting!"

The adults immediately paused their conversation, the two families turned their heads toward the river surface.