Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 303 - 302: Scaring Children

The watermelon was split open, and its fresh fragrance wafted into her nose.

Qin Yao couldn’t remember when she last had watermelon; it seemed like a very distant memory.

But the familiar sweet aroma instantly awakened the craving inside her.

Without bothering to answer Liu Dafu’s "Why is your watermelon so red?" Qin Yao took aim at the half in her hand and took a big bite.

The first bite was crisp and juicy, incredibly sweet, instantly dissipating the summer heat!

Qin Yao took two more big bites, feeling the dryness in her throat greatly relieved. Only then did she spit out the seeds and let out a content sigh, passing the other half to Liu Dafu.

"Try it! It’s sweet and crunchy, so delicious you’ll swallow your tongue!"

Qin Yao wasn’t exaggerating. She hadn’t expected the quality of this cool melon seed to be so good. She thought it would yield watermelons that weren’t red or sweet, but instead, the fruit was small, yet the color and taste were perfect.

Seeing Liu Dafu hesitated to take the watermelon, Qin Yao quickly reminded him, "Don’t swallow the black seeds; remember to spit them out."

Liu Dafu nodded to show he understood. As he held the watermelon, its unique sweet aroma filled his senses. He just knew this had to be a delicious fruit.

He took a small taste, his eyes widened in surprise, and he looked at Qin Yao with delight.

Qin Yao, eating watermelon, smiled and asked, "How is it? Isn’t it tasty?"

Liu Dafu nodded vigorously. He had come to discuss the road repair payment with Qin Yao under the scorching midday sun, arriving drenched in sweat. Now, a bite of the sweet, juicy watermelon was utterly refreshing.

Just then, a light breeze blew from the river, and the two retreated to the shade under the grass by the field, enjoying the breeze while eating watermelon — life was truly delightful.

Liu Dafu finished the half melon alone, and even saved the rind because he found it deliciously crisp and sweet too.

Qin Yao suggested he take it home, peel off the hard outer skin, slice it, and stir-fry it, "It’s also a delicacy."

"The rind can be eaten as a dish?" Liu Dafu was surprised and delighted, looking at the watermelon rind in his hand and then at the various watermelons in the field, wanting to ask Qin Yao for one to take home to cool off his family.

Qin Yao held up two fingers, "Two hundred cents each. The half you just had was a free sample, thanks to our friendship."

Hearing this, Liu Dafu almost cursed her for being a profiteer.

"Your melons aren’t that big, aren’t two hundred cents a bit steep?" Smiling, Liu Dafu tried to appeal to their friendship, "How about a discount, and I’ll take two home."

One would be shared among his family, and the other would be sent to town first thing in the morning.

The second child was diligently studying, and in this hot weather, he must be suffering, so the sweet melon would be perfect for cooling him down.

But Qin Yao shook her head, unwilling to drop even one cent.

"Two hundred cents each. It’s the first sale of the day, buy one get one free. Do you want it?"

With a buy one, get one free deal, it was acceptable!

Liu Dafu rolled up his sleeves with a smile, "I’ll pick them myself, choosing the largest two!"

Qin Yao laughed and reminded him, "The largest may not be the sweetest, but if you get an unsweet one, I’ll replace it for you."

Qin Yao thought to herself, there’s no merchant more honest than me.

Liu Dafu, hearing this, laughed heartily and ran to the melon field, selecting what he thought were the largest and sweetest, carrying one in each arm, and headed home happily.

Before leaving, he asked Qin Yao to send a child over to his home in the afternoon to collect the money and bring the advances for the repair payment.

Qin Yao agreed, then turned back to count all the watermelons in the field, selecting two good ones to take home.

"Jinhua!"

Spotting a group of children playing by the river, Qin Yao called out.

Jinhua jumped in surprise, quickly pulled her half-immersed foot out of the river, and looked toward the voice to see her third aunt smiling.

"Come here!" Qin Yao called again, leaving no room for refusal.

Jinhua, still a bit afraid, immediately abandoned her friends and ran over obediently.

Qin Yao then dispersed the village children from the riverside, signaling Jinhua, who was feeling guilty, to follow her.

"Third Aunt, I wasn’t secretly bathing in the river." Jinhua explained ’innocently.’

Qin Yao reminded her once more, "Don’t play in the river alone, remember?"

Jinhua nodded earnestly, the clever little girl catching a glimpse of the watermelon in Qin Yao’s hands and asking curiously, "Third Aunt, is this the watermelon you planted in the field?"

Si Niang had told her these watermelons were delicious but looked strange and wondered what they would taste like.

Qin Yao nodded, "I’ll cut one open for you to take home in a moment."

"Great!" The little girl licked her lips, eyes full of longing, and leaned closer to the watermelon, taking a sniff. Her brows furrowed, showing a look of distaste, "It doesn’t have any fruity smell at all."

Had Qin Yao not been busy, she would have pinched the little nose wrinkled in disdain.

With a mysterious smile, she said, "Once I open its rind, the aroma will make your mouth water."

Jinhua immediately showed an eager expression, following Qin Yao into the courtyard.

"Ah Wang, fetch a bucket of cool water and let the watermelon chill in it," Qin Yao instructed.

Ah Wang immediately set down his hoe, washed his hands, took the watermelon from Qin Yao, placed it in a wooden bucket, filled it with cool water, and set the bucket under the shade of the eaves.

Afterwards, he picked up his hoe again and busied himself with planting the green onion and garlic chives he got from Sister-in-law Zhou in the pot left in the yard.

Jinhua stood by the bucket, occasionally poking the watermelon floating there, playing with the water since she couldn’t play by the river, laughing to herself.

Qin Yao, having washed off with cool water inside and changed into a breezy linen dress, looked fresh and clean. The heat from the watermelon had also dissipated.

Signaling Jinhua to step aside, Qin Yao took out a watermelon, dried it, placed it on the cutting board, and with a washed knife, gently scored it.

The watermelon, perfectly ripe, split open on its own, revealing light red flesh.

It seemed not every melon was beautifully red, but after tasting the watermelon flesh on the knife, Qin Yao found it still very sweet.

The kitchen was filled with the sweet scent of watermelon, and impatiently Jinhua exclaimed, "Third Aunt, let me try, let me try."

"Alright, let you try!" Qin Yao sliced a piece and handed it to her, reminding her to spit out the seeds and not swallow them with the fruit.

"Swallowing the seeds will make them sprout and grow in your stomach," Qin Yao teased.

Jinhua’s eyes grew wide with horror as she had already taken a big bite and swallowed it entirely!

"Just teasing you," Qin Yao laughed heartily.

Jinhua’s face turned from fear to a look of child-like exasperation, "Third Aunt, you’re so naughty~"

With each bite of the watermelon, her fingers were stained with light red juice, and her face became a little messy.

Qin Yao was just about to remind her to watch her clothes, but before she could speak, she saw a patch already stained on the little floral dress.