Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 239 - 238: Guessing Lantern Riddles

The women in the street were all drawn over, eager to see if anyone would buy this luxurious lantern and if they could solve the lantern riddles.

Even if they couldn’t guess it right, just getting the huge dragon boat lantern stuffed with zongzi wouldn’t be a loss.

Da Lang and his siblings, who have always lived in the countryside, had never seen such colorful and sparkling lanterns.

Just having eaten to their heart’s content, their energy was replenished, and they eagerly looked at Qin Yao, "Mother, can we go and have a look too?!"

Qin Yao nodded, and the four siblings joyfully let out a "Woo!" and lifted their legs, ready to run.

But the two older ones didn’t forget to hold the hands of the two younger ones.

The adults followed closely behind, not worried about them getting lost.

There weren’t many people just a moment ago, but now with the six of them gathering, even more onlookers joined in.

Being short, they couldn’t really see anything, so Sanlang and Si Niang were anxiously turning everywhere, trying to find a wooden stump or stone block to stand on.

It was only when Qin Yao picked up each of the twins that they got to see the super luxurious dragon boat lantern stuffed with zongzi at the front.

Da Lang and Second Lang also wanted to be picked up, but seeing their father’s downcast look, they shook their heads and chose to squeeze their way to the forefront of the crowd.

Qin Yao helped a bit, and the family of six smoothly made it to the front and saw the full view of the dragon boat lantern stuffed with zongzi.

The lantern was based on a dragon boat, almost life-sized, with the boat piled high with various types of zongzi—square-shaped, pillow-shaped, triangular, lozenge-shaped... almost every style of zongzi you could see was there.

The lanterns came in various shapes and colors, interspersed with delicate lanterns like osmanthus, lotus, and beauty palace lanterns—when all lit, it looked beautiful.

"So big!" Sanlang was amazed, looking up at the over three-meter-high dragon boat lantern, feeling he could even sit on it.

Si Niang blinked her big eyes, already stunned.

Liu Ji and his three sons momentarily forgot the unpleasantness in the dark alley earlier, immersing themselves in this unique classical romance.

The luxurious big lantern was just for show, but the small ones could be played with.

Seeing the four siblings’ longing faces, Liu Ji coughed lightly twice to successfully attract his wife’s attention, fearlessly stretching out his hand, "Well, it’s not too much for the kids to each guess one lantern, right?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Qin Yao’s mouth slightly curled up, seeing Liu Ji’s forehead perspire, quickly explaining, "It’s not like I don’t have money. Otherwise, I’d definitely pay for the kids to have some fun."

As he spoke, he also flashed a smile at the four siblings, posing the look of a dad who would be more generous than mom if he had the money.

Qin Yao looked at him, smiling without saying a word.

Liu Ji suspiciously furrowed his brows, what did she mean? Not buying four lanterns, then?

"Father!" Second Lang tugged at his father’s sleeve, accidentally using a bit too much force, causing Liu Ji to feel a sting on his arm, immediately sucking in a cold breath and gritting his teeth, "What! Is! It!"

Then he saw Second Lang pat his own chest, whispering, "Mother already gave us money."

They all received pocket money each month, fifty coins per person, and always had some leftover. Now, each had saved up nearly a hundred coins.

Thus, under Liu Ji’s envious and jealous gaze, the four siblings held hands, surrounding Qin Yao as they went to a shop with fewer people nearby. Each bought a lantern and prepared to guess the lantern riddles.

Si Niang generously said, "Second Brother, use my money to buy a plum blossom one for Mother too; it’ll look especially good when she carries it."

Liu Ji meekly approached, "Little Fourth Sister, can you buy one for Dad too? Just that one with the monthly season."

Si Niang agreed without hesitation, "Sure."

Liu Ji: Wuwuwu, Little Cotton Jacket is heartwarming.

Si Niang asked the shopkeeper how much the monthly season lantern cost, the shopkeeper said, "Thirty coins."

Si Niang, startled, quickly waved her hand, "No no no, not that one, just a ten coin one."

The little girl pained, looked at the expectant Liu Ji, "Father, you, you pick another one."

Preferably the cheapest. Young girl’s big eyes flickered as she eagerly looked at him.

Liu Ji thought to himself, well, having something is better than nothing, then said, "Then I’ll have a plum blossom one like Mother’s."

The shopkeeper chuckled and was about to take it, Second Lang hurriedly asked, "How much is the plum blossom one?"

"Twenty coins," the shopkeeper said with a smile, "It’s not expensive, and if you guess the riddle, you can pick rouge and wooden hairpins."

Si Niang worriedly said, "Shopkeeper Uncle, please get the cheapest one for my dad, just a plum blossom one."

She still wanted to save more money to buy rouge and accessories for Mother; Father spending ten coins was already a lot!

The shopkeeper found her so adorable that he didn’t fuss about her change of mind, happily picking out two lanterns and handing them to her.

One was a plum blossom, quite delicately made.

One was a crescent moon, not exactly crude, but very perfunctory.

Si Niang was happy, asking Second Brother to help deduct fifty coins.

She had the same plum blossom lantern as her mother and handed Father a moon lantern that didn’t make him smile.

"Father, you guess first." Si Niang said expectantly.

Liu Ji helplessly rubbed his daughter’s little head, "Okay, Father will guess first."

Your own little cotton-padded jacket, even if it makes you break out into heat rashes, still must be worn!

The five of them watched, and Liu Ji took out the riddle from the bamboo tube.

"Two hairs on the head, wearing a colorful robe, dancing among flowers, joyful and carefree..." Liu Ji thought for a moment, uncertainly looking at the shopkeeper, "Is it a bee?"

Si Niang saw the shopkeeper shaking his head, and she hastily said, "Father, silly, it’s a butterfly!"

"Pfft~" Qin Yao couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Liu Ji defiantly looked at Qin Yao, "Dear, don’t just laugh at me, look at your lantern riddle."

Under the curious eyes of the father and three sons, Qin Yao drew out the riddle, murmuring it’s over, "Guessing a word."

[Neither rice, oil, nor salt]

Seeing this riddle surface, the six of them were confused.

Qin Yao randomly guessed one, the shopkeeper shook his head, telling her the correct answer was ’crime’.

"Haha, dummy, couldn’t even guess this one!" Liu Ji laughed heartily... uh! It’s dangerous, better stop.

Qin Yao withdrew her piercing glare, gently looking at Da Lang and his siblings, "Your turn."

The more expensive the lantern, the more costly the prize, and the harder the riddle.

In contrast, the ten cent lantern riddles were simpler, mostly involving objects.

Da Lang and Second Lang had ten cent lanterns and guessed right consecutively, Sanlang chose a twenty cent lantern, and unfortunately came across a word puzzle, failing.

Si Niang eagerly unfolded her riddle, immediately sighing, alas, another word puzzle.

[Remember half, forget half]

Liu Ji was excited, he knew the answer—that’s ’taboo.’

Unfortunately, father and daughter had no telepathy, her small eyes almost twitching, little Si Niang scratched her head, managing to come up with: "Chicken?"

The shopkeeper laughed heartily, "No, it’s taboo."

Si Niang and Father exchanged glances, both letting out a sigh.

However, Da Lang and Second Lang guessed right, each could choose a prize, so it wasn’t a total loss.