Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 364: Talking at Cross Purposes

Over at the Lotus Courtyard.

Liu Ji and Second Lang delivered the pickled radish just in time for Gongliang Liao and Qi Xian, the teacher and student duo, to have their meal.

Shi Tou personally brought the radishes sliced by the kitchen to the table.

Gongliang Liao had been unable to go out for wheelchair rides due to the cold weather in recent days, lacking exercise, and naturally had little appetite. As he looked at the table full of farm-style dishes, pondering when to go to Qin Yao’s home and get a meal cooked by Ah Wang, an enticing sour aroma reached his nose.

It was a fragrant sour smell, a blend of various spices. Just sniffing it reminded him of the little store in the Capital City that sold pickled goods.

The dishes there were beyond the reach of the top chefs at the mansion, and even if they could replicate them, it wouldn’t be the same flavor.

In the summer, when he had a poor appetite, he would command the kitchen to cook a pot of thick white porridge, accompanied by some pickles from that shop, and he could finish two big bowls.

"What’s that smell?"

As Shi Tou entered, the old man looked over, his eyes fixed on the porcelain dish in his hand, his expression becoming more lively.

Shi Tou placed the pickled radish down and replied, "Sir, this is pickled radish sent by Mr. Liu, knowing you might have a poor appetite today, he brought it specially to whet your appetite."

Qi Xian leaned forward to look, the white radishes adorned with fresh red Cornelian Cherries, making them very appetizing.

Gongliang Liao didn’t show his feelings but had to make a sarcastic comment about Liu Ji always bringing such non-serious gimmicks, yet his chopsticks extended quickly.

With a bite of radish, slightly chilled, but with the warmth indoors, this mild chill was just right, refreshing and crisp. Gongliang Liao didn’t say another word and kept eating, bite after bite.

Qi Xian waited and waited, just waiting for his teacher to speak before moving his chopsticks.

Who would have thought the old man would eat without stopping, after a long while, long enough for Qi Xian to barely hold back swallowing, the old man suddenly remembered him and hurriedly waved for him to taste it too.

Once the teacher spoke, the student dared to try, but unfortunately after tasting a couple of pieces, the porcelain dish was clean, not a single piece left.

Qi Xian smacked his lips, if not for the dark and slippery roads outside, he’d have walked over to Qin Yao’s house and stolen all the jars of pickled radish.

Shi Tou sympathetically looked at his young master, then at Gongliang Liao who looked satisfied, having finished a big bowl of white rice, and winked secretly at his young master, there’s more.

Qi Xian was secretly pleased, after dinner, accompanied the teacher, as soon as he left the hall, he had Shi Tou quickly take him for a snack.

"Young master, no need to hurry, it’s already sliced and placed in your room," Shi Tou said with a smile.

Qi Xian happily crossed into his bedroom, where the lamps were already lit, and two coal stoves warmed the room cozily.

A stack of white jade-like pickled radish quietly lay on a green porcelain dish, waiting for him to taste.

Qi Xian finished eating in satisfaction, looking up to find Shi Tou still standing in front, looking like he had something to say, suspiciously asked, "What’s the matter?"

Shi Tou: "Young master, recently a major incident happened in Kaiyang County, would you like to hear it?"

Qi Xian quickly thought about it, "Is it related to Liu Ji?"

Shi Tou reluctantly nodded, "Sort of, since he’s Miss Qin’s husband."

So it’s related to Qin Yao. Qi Xian was puzzled, isn’t she always managing the stationery factory in the village, how could a major incident in Kaiyang County be related to her?

"No one in the village talks about any major incidents," Qi Xian said puzzled.

Shi Tou looked away towards Qin Yao’s house direction, deeply sighed, "Young master, few people in the village go out, so no one talks about it, but in Kaiyang County city, it’s bustling."

Shi Tou told his young master about the Jin Chan Chu incident.

Once part of the three evils of Kaiyang County, due to a hundred-acre land dispute, in one night suffered retaliation and fell from power, with everyone calling for his head, you wouldn’t dare even write it in a play.

And the root of it all was Liu Ji and his wife. Word spread throughout Kaiyang County, never to provoke this couple, or it would be the same fate as the Jin Family.

Qi Xian was surprised, didn’t expect that within two or three days, the people around him did something so big.

But he objectively said: "This is to eliminate evil for the people, it’s a good thing, isn’t it?"

Shi Tou shared the same view, but the thought was terrifying, young master!

"You know what the remaining two evils secretly call Miss Qin now?"

Qi Xian shook his head, indicated for Shi Tou not to keep him in suspense, just say it all in one breath.

Shi Tou whispered: "The tyrants call her the Evil Ghost Lady."

Someone who usually seems cold outside but warm inside, secretly in places they can’t see, is someone who avenges immediately, kills without blinking, and uses ruthless means, doesn’t it feel terrifying?

Qi Xian was momentarily stunned, the evil ghost was by his side?

Glancing at Shi Tou’s horrified expression and goosebumps, Qi Xian thought he was overthinking.

The young man earnestly said: "The tyrants call her the Evil Ghost Lady precisely because she stands with the innocent people, in the eyes of those bullied by the tyrants, she is their hero!"

"Shi Tou, you should read fewer of those storybooks, they are all made up by impoverished scholars to deceive," Qi Xian said seriously, as the master warning his subordinate not to demonize heroes.

Shi Tou hurriedly knelt down, lowered his head with clenched fists and responded heavily: "Subordinate knows wrong, young master calm your anger!"

After a quiet moment in the room, Qi Xian gently said, "Stand up."

"Thank you, young master." Shi Tou then stood up and retreated behind the door.

Only an attendant student was left in the room to serve, Qi Xian came to the desk and picked up a book to read, but his thoughts were not on the book.

Qi Xian suddenly felt that his usually shameless Junior Brother Ji was overly normal this time, appearing distant.

Such a big thing happened, yet he didn’t come to inform, what if he had a better way?

Thinking about it, Qi Xian decided to learn from Qin Yao, never internally exhaust himself, put down the book, got ready for bed, and decided that first thing in the morning he would personally question Liu Ji, this Junior Brother, what he meant, was he ignoring his Senior Brother!

...

The next day, after Liu Ji finished washing clothes, sweeping the floor, practicing, and memorizing books at home, around mid-morning quickly ate some hot food and hurriedly carried his book box to the Lotus Courtyard.

Before entering, he was blocked at the door by the little senior brother in dark cloak.

The cold wind blew loudly, Liu Ji felt his spine tense, shivered from the chill, "Why is senior brother standing in the doorway freezing? Quickly come inside to warm yourself by the fire, it’s freezing me."

As he said, he was about to reach out as usual to hug his little senior brother, ready to be chummy.

"Snap!" Liu Ji was unexpectedly hit on the back of the hand by a small hand.

Compared to the slap from the vixen at home, this was a mere trifle, felt nothing.

But!

His dignity was struck!

Liu Ji instinctively raised his hand wanting to flick him on the forehead, Qi Xian slightly squinted at him and shouted: "Liu Ji, you dare!"

The young man’s raised hand lightly fell on the boy’s forehead, "Hey hey hey, senior brother look at you, your hairstyle is all messed up by the wind, let your junior brother fix it for you..."

Qi Xian let out a cold hum, but inside he breathed a sigh of relief, fortunately, Liu Ji dared not flick his senior brother’s forehead.

Then, the senior brother questioned the junior brother: "Why didn’t you tell me about your troubles? Do you think I can’t help you because I’m young?"

Qi Xian leaned close to Liu Ji, added softly, "My uncle is your Lord here!"

Liu Ji was delighted: "Then at next year’s exam, can Lord give me a pass directly?"

Qi Xian stared: "What are you talking about?!"

Liu Ji surprised, retorted: "What are you talking about, senior brother?"

Speeches mismatched, a moment of silence looking at each other.

Until a vigorous shout from Gongliang Liao in the courtyard: "Is this lesson starting or not?"

The embarrassed pair of senior and junior brothers, finally got moving.