Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 287 - 286: Teaching You How to Escape for Your Life

Chapter 287: Chapter 286: Teaching You How to Escape for Your Life

The sun was high in the sky when Qin Yao finally finished her work.

She sold all the grain at five cents lower than yesterday’s price, and only now had time to find Ding Xiang.

Seeing Qin Yao approaching, Ding Xiang immediately put down the stones in her hand and stood up to greet her with a smile.

But unexpectedly, she got a knock on the head!

The young girl thought Qin Yao would be gentle with her, and one moment she was indifferent, the next moment she saw stars, and uncontrollable tears flowed out.

It hurt her so much!

"You’re so mean!"

Ding Xiang was angry and aggrieved; she just wanted to come to see her and help out a bit, but this is what she got? She quickly covered her head and jumped five meters away, afraid Qin Yao might hit her again.

"Remember the pain, and don’t sneak out alone again!"

Qin Yao said sternly: "Given the current situation outside, it’s dangerous everywhere. Have you considered the consequences of walking out here, you fair-skinned girl?"

Seeing Ding Xiang’s tears streaming down, Qin Yao’s tone did not soften one bit, becoming even more severe, fearing she hadn’t understood.

"Even during peaceful times, you can’t be so careless with your life. The world is much more dangerous than you think. A wise person avoids standing under a dangerous wall. If you knowingly act rashly in danger and something happens, you’ll only regret it endlessly!"

Ding Xiang sobbed and said, "I knew you were here." She came out because she knew it was safe.

Qin Yao retorted, "What if Ah Wang is a liar?"

"How could...?" Ding Xiang was visibly startled; she hadn’t even considered that possibility!

Still, she took a couple of steps forward, cautiously covering her head and explained, "Someone knew I came out. I told Dou’er."

After speaking, she glanced at Qin Yao, seeing her expression still seriously scary, the young girl finally couldn’t resist and hung her head, "I was wrong. I won’t do it again..."

She also took out a small dagger hidden on her, "I brought a self-defense weapon."

But as soon as she finished speaking, under Qin Yao’s instruction, Ah Wang quickly snatched it away and turned it against her neck.

In that moment, Ding Xiang’s blood seemed to reverse, goosebumps rising all over. She froze, not daring to move, staring at Qin Yao with wide eyes in shock.

"With your meager skills, you wouldn’t even scratch the surface." Qin Yao extended her hand, and Ah Wang immediately handed the dagger to her.

Qin Yao unsheathed the dagger from Ding Xiang’s hand, put it away, and tucked it into her belt.

After doing this, she noticed the girl was still frozen, looking dumbfounded. She waved her hand in front of her eyes, "Hey, hey, hey! Stop spacing out, come here, I’ll teach you a couple of new moves."

"What moves?" Ding Xiang instantly regained her vigor, wiping the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes, excitedly following her.

Qin Yao gave a mischievous smile, "I’ll teach you how to escape."

Ding Xiang: "..."

Qin Yao enthusiastically beckoned, walking towards the shelters built by the refugees.

"Where are we going?" Ding Xiang murmured in confusion, "Isn’t escaping instinctual? Do you need to learn that too?"

Qin Yao crossed her arms, "Is your instinct to escape standing frozen in place waiting to be killed?"

Alright, Ding Xiang chose to remain silent, realizing how embarrassing she had just been.

Qin Yao brought Ding Xiang to the vagrant’s lair—a group of thieving bandits who had lost all sense of morality.

No amount of talking would be as impactful as real-world experience. Today she wanted to let this naive young girl see the hardships of the world.

By the way, she’d sort out these repugnant people and do some good for the community.

Ding Xiang couldn’t believe it, looking up at the excited woman behind her, sincerely asking, "Qin Yao, do you love me? You’re not really going to do this to me, are you?"

Qin Yao curled her lips and pushed her forward, "Less babbling, run little girl!"

Ah Wang, after the drivers packed up the carriages, was about to go find Qin Yao to tell her they could go home.

Before they moved, he perked up his ears, distant cries of anguish were heard alongside a girl’s frantic yelling.

Ah Wang decisively told the drivers, "Sit down and rest for a while."

The driver asked in confusion, "What about Manager Qin..."

Ah Wang gave him a look, and his dull eyes were intimidating, "Rest for a while."

The driver immediately sat down, swallowing nervously, not understanding where Manager Qin found this assistant, who despite appearing simple-minded, made them a little uneasy when serious.

Everyone rested for about fifteen minutes before Qin Yao returned, sweating all over, hair sticking to her forehead, but looking spirited.

Ding Xiang was panting like a fish out of water beside her, her once clean face now covered in dirt, oblivious to the mud even at her lip lines.

When walking downhill, her legs shook like leaves, and when slightly stable, the pant legs vibrated strongly.

"Ah Wang, give me the water bottle."

Qin Yao nodded at the drivers, indicating they could head out, opened the water bottle Ah Wang handed over, took two big gulps herself, and passed it to Ding Xiang, who had already been eyeing it eagerly.

The young girl clutched the bottle and drank deeply, almost running out of breath, and Qin Yao amusingly patted her back, intending to help her breathe, but unexpectedly, the weak girl almost fell forward.

Luckily, Qin Yao caught her in time, otherwise she would have face-planted into the ground.

Ding Xiang gave Qin Yao an aggrieved look, drained the bottle, handed the empty bottle back to her, and sincerely said, "I truly know I was wrong, and I won’t dare go out alone to find you again."

"Finding someone else is not allowed either," Qin Yao reminded.

Ding Xiang weakly nodded, there was no need to say more, she understood!

The drivers climbed into the carriage, and Qin Yao tossed the bottle inside, turned to look at Ding Xiang, who immediately stretched out her hand.

She couldn’t climb, really couldn’t! Any more exertion and she felt she might faint immediately.

Qin Yao smiled helplessly, pulled her onto the carriage, and handed her a portion of ginger money.

Ding Xiang was momentarily stunned, then happily pocketed the money, thinking as long as she didn’t tell the manager, it could be her secret stash~

Qin Yao directed Ah Wang to first stop the carriage at the back door of the Ding Mansion, sending Ding Xiang and her pot home, and separately advised the exhausted girl trembling against the wall:

"Remember to have Dou’er and the others help you with a massage, and in your free time, have the mansion people accompany you to practice like today. After a few more sessions, next time I come, if you can dodge half a move from me, I’ll teach you a new trick."

Ding Xiang, who was already dully despairing, perked up instantly at the mention of "I’ll teach you a new trick," and shouted energetically, "Okay!"

It’s just an upgraded version of the eagle chasing the chick, brave Ding Xiang, you can do it!

Qin Yao couldn’t help but laugh, telling Ah Wang, "Young people’s stamina really recovers quickly."

Ah Wang acknowledged with an "oh," continued to remain silent, turned the carriage, and with the master-servant pair carrying three large baskets of coins, they arrived home by mid-afternoon.

By evening, Qin Yao’s yard was bustling; villagers came to collect money from selling the grain, with some receiving hundreds of coins, others a dozen or so, all amidst joyous laughter.