Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 309 - 308: So You All Eat This Well

There was surprise, but not in the direction he expected.

"Oh, he’s that useless husband of Mrs. Qin?"

The woman who had just been full of admiration suddenly felt as if her heart had died.

Others also showed expressions of disbelief; this Liu Ji seemed so elegant, not like the unreliable hooligan Liu Dafu talked about.

The mute felt complicated; both father and daughter regarded Qin Yao as a benefactor. Learning that she’d married a husband with a bad reputation was quite unsettling.

Yet here he was standing in front of them. Although he appeared overly confident, his handsome face seemed to justify his self-assurance.

Liu Ji’s heart was beating fast; these reactions weren’t what he anticipated.

Also, who said he was useless? Who was spreading these rumors!

The atmosphere was awkward; Liu Ji wanted to say something, but these people immediately gave him an awkward smile, which killed his enthusiasm, and so he shut up and quickened his pace.

A few steps forward, Liu Ji noticed the road into the village had widened and was easier to walk on.

Further up, he saw workers from the stationery factory going home, all carrying half or two or three slices of bright red cool melon.

The sweet fragrance wafted into his nostrils, and Liu Ji couldn’t help but swallow hard.

The autumn harvest break was still a few days away, but he couldn’t stand Liu Li flaunting a sweet slice of melon in front of him daily.

"I heard the melons in your fields are ripe; hasn’t Miss Qin sent any to you?"

"Third Brother, don’t be discouraged, maybe she’s busy these days. You’ll have melons to eat in a couple of days."

Then two days passed, and the town was filled with cries selling cool melons, exceptionally popular.

Liu Ji joyfully rushed out wanting to buy one to taste. Upon asking the price, a pound for fifty cents, half a tael of silver per piece, he immediately took a big step back, terrified. Were the melons stuffed with gold?

Seeing the seller was the old fox Bai Shan, Liu Ji knew all these melons had been picked from his own field.

He belatedly realized he’d possibly been overlooked by someone; could Liu Ji tolerate such an injustice?

Today he decisively took leave and came home early, determined to taste this cool melon!

But on this walk, he saw almost every worker holding a slice, and Liu Ji grew anxious.

At home, there were only two acres of melon fields; Bai Shan had hauled away three large carts for selling, so there couldn’t be much left at home.

And still they were selling them to workers—would there be any left for him when he got home?

Liu Ji was burning with anxiety, immediately leaving the mute and the others behind, briskly striding to Liu Family Village and charging into his home.

The door to the courtyard, left ajar, was pushed open heavily, with a bang.

Inside, four siblings kneeling on straw mats, writing homework while munching on neatly sliced watermelon, raised their heads simultaneously.

Standing at the entrance to the main room with a ledger, Qin Yao lifted her gaze lightly, appearing unmoved as if the sky was falling.

Ah Wang swiftly turned around at the vegetable jar, clutching his hoe, ready to smack the intruder on the head at the sign of danger.

But upon seeing the familiar face outside the door, the murderous intent in his eyes instantly faded, replaced by clear stupidity filling these plain and nonchalant eyes, neither big nor small.

"Master’s back." Ah Wang sincerely expressed his welcome.

Witnessing this relaxing and peaceful scene, Liu Ji’s agitated mood suddenly calmed, and he smiled broadly, "Dear wife, I took leave with the teacher early, afraid you’d be tired, to see if I can help with anything."

"Do you think I believe that?" Qin Yao retorted with a half-smile.

Liu Ji didn’t care whether she believed him or not; he strode into the courtyard, tossed his baggage to Ah Wang, and sat cross-legged on the straw mat.

"Da Lang, Second Lang, Sanlang, Si Niang, haven’t seen you guys for half a month, missed your old man, right!"

Liu Ji reached out to pat the heads of the four children one by one, drawing their joyful yet disdainful complaints, then finally let go, picking up the entire plate of watermelon, eating piece after piece.

Only then did Qin Yao suddenly remember that she seemed to have forgotten to send a watermelon to this man who is like a starving ghost reincarnate.

But does it matter? If he wants to eat, he’ll come back on his own.

"You suddenly came back early, not just for the watermelon, right?" Qin Yao asked, lowering her head back to the ledger with an assured tone.

Liu Ji neither refuted nor admitted, anyway, having consumed the entire plate of watermelon and still not satisfied, he asked:

"Ah Wang, are there more watermelons? Bring the master another half!"

He’d heard from Qin Yao, on summer evenings, after a busy day, if one could hold half a watermelon by the door while eating, it felt as blissful as being a deity.

Ah Wang put away his bundle, washed his hands, and went into the kitchen to slice watermelon.

Liu Ji glanced at the small yet clean and cozy courtyard, then at the four children kneeling on the mats doing homework, recalling his stifling little dorm room, waking up before the rooster to memorize books every day, almost shedding tears of envy.

Ah Wang brought the watermelon over, thoughtfully inserting a long-handled wooden spoon.

Liu Ji, eating while expressing, "Turns out while I’m not home, you all eat so well."

Qin Yao’s lips curved up, silently chuckling.

Liu Ji stared in a daze, mumbling unintelligibly, distractedly floating away, not knowing where his thoughts drifted.

Si Niang, writing homework, angrily tossed her brush aside and glared at her father, "Ah Dad, you’re disturbing my homework!"

Only then did Liu Ji come to, with some irritation, tapping his daughter’s nose gently, "This little girl is as fierce as your mother, not cute at all!"

But seeing Si Niang’s puffed-up cheeks, he immediately left the mat and walked towards the kitchen.

While walking he cast a gaze at the person standing at the main room’s entrance, "Dear wife, haven’t cooked for you all in a long while, tonight I’ll cook, let you taste my skills."

Qin Yao was indifferent, Da Lang and Second Lang focused on completing their homework, barely listening, fortunately the Dragon and Phoenix Twins’ eyes shone with surprise and expectation, otherwise Liu Ji’s smile would’ve faltered.

Entering the kitchen, he waved in front of Ah Wang at the chopping board, "Go light the fire, today I’ll let you taste the master’s exquisite cooking skills."

Ah Wang immediately put down the knife, ceding space, happily relieved.

Liu Ji placed the remaining watermelon aside, shook his hands, donned an apron, picked up the knife, and began cooking in earnest.

Throughout, he intentionally showed off his knife skills twice, even asked Qin Yao several times what flavor she wanted, mild or strong.

Successfully attracting her attention, he worked harder, even flipping the wok.

The burning fire leapt from the stone stove with a "whom," nearly singeing his robes, still feigning calmness as he stepped back.

A soft laugh came from the main room entrance, but Liu Ji felt no shame; his lips curved, grinning, immersed in this attention uniquely his own.

The dishes served on the table, four dishes and one soup, both meat and vegetables, beautifully plated.

The mother and children brightened at the sight, eagerly reaching for the chopsticks.

Then, after picking up the chopsticks, they put them down again.

Qin Yao furrowed her brow, "Not tasty."

Liu Ji: Worked for nothing!