Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 291 - 290: Leading the Team Departure

Ah Wang agreed one by one.

Liu Ji and his sons also assured Qin Yao not to worry about them.

Qin Yao stared at Liu Ji, whose eyes were already sparkling with excitement: "I’m not worried about them, I’m mainly worried about you. Don’t mess things up, or when I return, I’ll deal with you!"

This was no joke. They say distance creates beauty, but now they couldn’t enter the county town, and the academy wasn’t open. With Liu Ji bouncing around every day, Qin Yao’s patience had worn thin.

Liu Ji had a sheepish grin, "Wife, you’re overthinking it. With my limited skills, what trouble could I get into? I’m just teaching, that’s all."

It would have been better not to mention it. Bringing up the literacy class made Qin Yao a bit agitated.

The literacy class, which starts in the evening, now even has people from neighboring villages coming. It’s unclear if there’s been a misunderstanding, but all the attendees are half-grown kids coming in groups to listen, and leaving with torches afterwards.

Liu Ji, however, wanted to expand the class further, forcing Qin Yao to remind him:

"Originally, this was a literacy class for the factory, and it was okay for the village kids to join since we’re from the same village. It would be easy to explain if we canceled it."

"But now, just for those five cents, you’ve brought kids from other villages over. Anyone who doesn’t know might think the five cents covers a year’s worth of tuition."

This issue, if seen as trivial, is about five cents; if seen seriously, it might involve fraud.

Without needing Qin Yao to point it out, Liu Ji understood very well what he was doing and quickly assured:

"Wife, rest assured, by the time you come back, this matter will definitely be resolved. Really, I swear I won’t cause any trouble for your factory!"

Qin Yao stared into his ’sincere’ eyes for a full half-minute. Liu Ji didn’t blink, forcing tears out before she looked away and let it go.

Ah Wang, experienced in preparing for travel, packed a bundle for Qin Yao filled with things she might need and secretly handed it to her, avoiding Liu Ji’s notice.

Qin Yao pointed disbelievingly at the small bundle, no bigger than a purse, in his hand, "What good is this?"

Ah Wang, not much of a talker, only handed her the pack, saying it would be useful, before turning to feed the horse some night grass to fatten it up.

Since Ah Wang came, the old marks and scars on Old Huang had completely disappeared, and its mane was groomed to a smooth shine, making it a fine old horse when led out.

This time Qin Yao wouldn’t be driving the cart since it couldn’t carry wood. She planned to lead on horseback, making it easier if she needed to send a message or buy something.

Holding the small bundle from Ah Wang, Qin Yao returned to the room. Si Niang was already in bed wearing the small dudou and pants made by her second aunt, playing with her hair ribbon, waiting for her to sleep together.

Seeing Qin Yao come in with a small bundle, she quickly flipped up and crawled to the bedside curiously, asking, "Mother, what’s this?"

Qin Yao shook her head; she didn’t know either. She only heard the sound of porcelain clinking when she brought it back.

Si Niang’s eyes questioned: Shall we open it and see?

Qin Yao refused. Ah Wang had deliberately given it to her in private, so it probably wasn’t something to play with. It’s better for the child not to be curious.

Once Si Niang fell asleep, Qin Yao opened the bundle under the moonlight for a peek.

Inside were two small porcelain bottles. Shaking them slightly, one contained liquid and the other a powder.

Labels on the porcelain bottles read "Smiling Half-step Madness" for the liquid and "Deadly Seven-step Fall" for the powder.

Qin Yao frowned deeply, opening the bottle cap at an arm’s length, fanning it open to sniff the odor... One was an anesthetic, the other a laxative with enhanced potency. What a mess with those names!

But where did Ah Wang get these things from?

As if predicting her question, a small explanatory note fell out from the mini bundle.

[To the Madam, these past few days, I’ve been accompanying the young master and miss to play in the mountains, coincidentally finding some herbs. I’ve been processing and grinding them every night to make these two essential household travel remedies. Please accept them with a smile, Madam.]

He truly wanted to be part of this family.

Qin Yao folded the explanation note, took a deep breath, feeling a bit complex.

She was just going to transport some wood, not to plunder. Why did Ah Wang think she would need these items?

Qin Yao lay back with her arms under her head, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.

...

When the sound of reciting came from the next room, Qin Yao immediately got up from the bed.

She couldn’t sleep in today; it was time to set off.

At some unknown time in the night, Si Niang, who had rolled to the corner, sleepily opened her eyes, turned over, and softly called out, "Mother~"

"Mother is leaving now, Si Niang, sleep a little longer and let your brothers wake you later." Qin Yao said softly, dressed and came to the bedside.

Si Niang obediently nodded, crawled over to kiss her on the cheek, then fell back into bed, closing her eyes and quickly drifting back to a sweet sleep.

Not truly awake at all. Qin Yao smiled, poking her rosy cheek, got up, took the slingshot and bow and arrow, gently closed the door.

Blades were too conspicuous; based on experience from last time, a bow and slingshot were enough for defense.

Steam was already rising from the kitchen; Ah Wang had woken even earlier than Liu Ji, who was supposed to be studying.

Qin Yao went to the kitchen, where Ah Wang handed her the freshly steamed buns, their eyes meeting without words, yet as if they’d already had several conversations.

Ah Wang’s gaze fell on the mini bundle at Qin Yao’s waist, and a faint smile crossed his otherwise plain face, fleeting as he gently knocked on Liu Ji’s door with a bowl of millet porridge and a steamed bun.

Hearing movement in the yard, Liu Ji came out, sipping porridge and pretending to suggest, "Wife, leaving so early? Why not wait for me to finish eating so I can see you off?"

Qin Yao snorted coldly, quickly finished the food in her hand, and didn’t bother to respond to his pretense.

She went to the children’s room, telling the three boys inside that she was leaving, grabbed the raincoat and hat from the wall, went to the livestock pen to lead out the horse, packed her luggage, and rode towards the village entrance.

Everyone was ready, just waiting for her.

Seeing the horse approaching, Liu Baichong waved early to He, gave deputy Liu Fei a signal, and everyone set off immediately.

With ten carts following Qin Yao, they picked up three more at Lower River Village, and from there to Kaiyang County, another seven joined. In total, there were twenty carts, twenty-one people, riding empty to Prefecture City.

With the empty carts moving fast, and great weather, the road was easy, covering eighty miles a day, and the convoy reached Prefecture City by the fourth day.

Along the way, refugees had received government-distributed return-home grains and mostly left, reducing the risks on the return journey significantly.

The last stop at the bamboo forest post station now had a new posthouse manager, a tall middle-aged man named Gao Cheng.