Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 262 - 261: Silly Smiles

"Why do you think there’s always muffled laughter coming from the carriage? It’s because he met someone like me who can drink, play cards, and curse with him."

Liu Ji said with pride, as if drinking, gambling, and cursing were something to be proud of.

Qin Yao wrinkled her nose, it seemed Liu Ji did indeed have a light scent of alcohol on him.

It wasn’t strong, mixed with the smell of herbal medicine, which made her initially think it was some old man smell from Gongliang Liao that rubbed off on him.

On top of that, he had just finished cleaning the chamber pot, making it hard not to associate with unpleasant things, just indescribably odd.

Noticing Qin Yao’s hesitation, Liu Ji quickly explained, "My lady, rest assured, I only do these things to make the gentleman happy, but I am certainly not that kind of person. You must trust my character."

Qin Yao couldn’t help but laugh sarcastically, "Seems like you’re enjoying yourself."

"But let’s drop it this time, no next time. Go on, there’s not much time left until we part at the post station this evening."

Though Gongliang Liao had resigned, he was still once an official of the court, with many students and former colleagues in official positions. His status hadn’t diminished with his resignation, so he naturally could stay at the station.

But we, as commoners, don’t have that privilege, so once at the station, we still have to continue to the next town to find an inn.

The Qi Family’s ancestral home is in Wen County, next to Kaiyang County, north to south, not on the same route. Missing this chance, it’s almost impossible to have the same opportunity later.

Qi Xian had mentioned sending a thank-you gift to Liu Family Village, but what if they were just being polite?

Or perhaps a servant or steward will be sent, then chances of seeing Gongliang Liao again are next to none.

The Qi Family, being a noble family, and someone of Gongliang Liao’s standing, would hardly mingle with an unknown rural person again.

If it hadn’t been for the unexpected siege by refugees and Ding Shi providing information about Gongliang Liao possibly being in a Qi Family carriage, we would have simply passed by.

What Qin Yao thought of, Liu Ji was also acutely aware, which is why he didn’t mind exposing his strong motives.

What if he’s shameless, flattering, and delusional?

As long as the goal is achieved, everything turns into a wonderful serendipity.

As the evening approached, the Qi Family stopped at the post station, while the remaining three families continued to a nearby town to find lodging.

Unwillingly, Liu Ji stepped down from Gongliang Liao’s carriage, clasped his fists respectfully, though not quite cheerful as he returned to his own carriage, taking the whip from Qin Yao and resuming his driver’s seat.

Before parting, Qi Xian specially came over to say goodbye to Qin Yao, expressing thanks once more.

Turning around, visibly happy, he followed Gongliang Liao’s carriage into the post house.

Ding Shi personally saw them to the post house’s hall, warmly inviting Qi Xian and Gongliang Liao to visit his estate when free, then returned to their carriage as the journey continued.

Liu Li looked back at Liu Ji several times, seeing his displeased face, guessing he probably couldn’t apprentice successfully.

In fact, that was indeed the case.

But at the inn that night, with just the six of them left, Liu Ji suddenly kneeled up from his mat, leaned his head on Qin Yao’s bed, and excitedly whispered, "My lady, my lady!"

Qin Yao opened her eyes, the two were less than half a meter apart. Her cold eyes made Liu Ji’s heart skip a beat, but he didn’t back away, getting used to it, he simply swallowed his shock and continued excitedly in a whisper:

"A piece of good news and a piece of bad news, which do you want to hear first?"

Qin Yao casually picked, "The bad news then."

Liu Ji sighed, "Gongliang Liao, that old man, stood his ground. I nagged him all afternoon, and he still wouldn’t agree to take me as his disciple."

This was indeed very unlikely, and Qin Yao wasn’t surprised. After all, Liu Ji was not particularly outstanding, while Qi Xian had at least the name of a prodigy.

"Did he explicitly refuse you?" Qin Yao curiously probed.

Liu Ji scratched his head, "Not exactly, but he didn’t agree, isn’t that a refusal?"

Qin Yao raised an eyebrow, gently shook her head. She felt this non-rejection attitude needed further pondering.

"What’s the good news?"

Liu Ji covered his mouth and chuckled, speaking in a muffled voice, "The old man said since he quite took to my liking, he could arrange for me to work as a personal attendant student, with a two-tael monthly salary... "

He almost couldn’t help but agree.

"But I immediately said, no! I, Liu Ji, will never be someone’s servant! I attend to the gentleman out of respect, not for that mere two tael monthly salary!"

At this, Liu Ji covered his mouth, making muffled sobbing sounds, "My lady, two taels of silver is really a lot."

Qin Yao was amused, her mouth curled up, gestured for him to get on with it, stop pretending.

Liu Ji broke into a tearful smile, continued, "Seeing me refuse, the old man looked rather disappointed, so I took the chance to tell him how beautiful our village is and said he could bring Qi Xian and visit, enjoy the elegance of nature."

"It was just a casual mention, what I really wanted to say was if I encountered difficulties in studying, I could go to Wen County to find him at the Qi Family. But before I got that out, he already agreed to my earlier invite, had me so happy, I forgot to bring up going to the Qi Family..."

Liu Ji spoke rapidly, emotions high, his voice getting uncontrollable, waking all four children.

Moonlight glimmered, outlining the furniture in the room, amidst this dimness, four pairs of eyes glowed faintly, scaring Liu Ji, who was in the heat of his tale, into exclaiming, "Mother!"

Realizing it was the four children, he patted his chest, letting out a long breath.

"Dad, is the great scholar really coming to our village?" Da Lang eagerly asked, tumbling up from the floor mat, looking expectantly at his startled father.

The others, Second Lang, Sanlang, and Si Niang, also showed expressions of surprised delight.

Liu Ji haughtily lifted his chin, "Of course it’s true, and one must consider whose face it is!"

"Your face sure is big." Qin Yao remarked, fearing if she didn’t suppress it, someone’s tail might wag to the sky.

But at least Liu Ji accomplished one decent thing.

If someone of Gongliang Liao’s stature comes to Liu Family Village, whether Liu Ji becomes a disciple or not, just leveraging a great scholar’s reputation might attract many scholar imitators.

These upper-class gentry would need to eat and lodge at the village. Then they could open a restaurant, tea house, and some inns right by their doorstep, making money at home.

Thinking of this, Qin Yao couldn’t help but laugh.

Liu Ji savored his laughter, for if Gongliang Liao came to Liu Family Village, becoming a great scholar’s disciple would be just around the corner!

Da Lang and his siblings looked bewilderedly at their parents, not knowing what they were happy about, but thought family should stay together, following along with silly grins.