Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 323 - 322: Was He Unworthy?

"Mother!"

On the roof, Qin Yao turned around to see Sanlang and Si Niang running all sweaty, standing in the old courtyard, and calling up to her.

Qin Yao asked curiously, "How did you two get here?"

Sanlang: "Father told you to come home for dinner!"

Si Niang said, "Father asked us to check how the guest house is coming along."

Sanlang looked at his sister in surprise; when did Father ever say that?

Si Niang proudly lifted her chin; it was her own understanding!

The courtyard was full of villagers helping out. With so many people, strength is multiplied; all the weeds have been completely cleared. They even used wooden hammers to pound the dirt, making it flat and solid.

Each room has also been cleaned out. Now, although there’s no furniture, it finally looks like a place where people could live.

The roof has also been covered with thatch with the villagers’ help, mostly finished, so there’s no worry about it being blown off at night when the wind picks up.

If we hurry up, we can finish covering the roof before nightfall.

The only thing left is the collapsed courtyard wall. Since we can’t source materials on the spot, it will remain empty for now.

A casual style can be a kind of aesthetic too.

Qin Yao handed her work to Liu Zhong and Old Liu, who had come to help. Without using the stairs, she jumped directly down from the roof.

Mrs. Qiu handed her a bowl of water. Qin Yao took it, drank it down in one go, and wiped her sweat roughly. She then led the Dragon and Phoenix Twins to a safe spot outside the courtyard to inquire about the situation at home.

Si Niang answered truthfully, and Sanlang added a few details. Soon, Qin Yao got a good grasp of the current situation at home and learned that Liu Ji had successfully summoned the teacher and senior brother, which made her smile slightly.

Right, Gongliang Liao also needs someone to carry him. She would go to Liu Dafu’s house to borrow a wheelchair later. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

For a while now, the old man can only stay at her place, and it’s impossible to have so many guards around to carry him back and forth, so a wheelchair would be more convenient.

"Mother, are you done with your work?" Si Niang asked with concern.

Sanlang saw the sweat on his mother’s cheeks and gently wiped it away with his little hand, using his sleeve to fan her, afraid she would get overheated.

Qin Yao turned to look at the courtyard that had begun to take shape and shook her head, "I still need to work a little longer. You two wait for me, I’ll finish a few things, and then we’ll go home together."

The Dragon and Phoenix Twins obediently agreed and waited in the open space.

Qin Yao returned to the courtyard and gathered everyone together.

The house had been cleaned, and all that was left was to lay a few wooden planks to make beds. Plus, since it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, Qin Yao felt it would be impolite to keep people working, so she thanked the villagers for their help and let them go home.

Soon, only the old family and a few others were left in the courtyard.

With family, there was no need to be too formal. Qin Yao said she would send Ah Wang to deliver food later and asked Old Liu, Liu Zhong, and the two sisters-in-law to help finish the cleanup.

Liu Zhong and his wife patted their chests in assurance, telling Qin Yao not to worry and to go entertain the esteemed guests. They would handle the rest.

Qin Yao already learned from the Dragon and Phoenix Twins that Qi Xian and his group brought their own bedding and toiletries, so she instructed Mrs. Qiu to buy a few bedsheets from the villagers to prepare beds for the guards and servants. Nothing else needed to be arranged.

"Right, make sure there’s a washbasin and a water bucket, and fill them up beforehand."

While Qin Yao gave instructions, the old family made notes and arranged everything properly. Qin Yao started a fire in the kitchen and cleared up the chimney before leaving.

"Wait a moment! There’s one more thing!"

Qin Yao signaled the Dragon and Phoenix Twins to stay put, saying she’d be back shortly.

She ran straight to Liu Huolang’s home and cleared out all the candles, lamp oil, oil, salt, soy sauce, and bowls and pots.

There were too many things for Qin Yao to carry alone, so she borrowed a door plank from Liu Huolang, piled the goods on it, easily lifted it, and sprinted back to the old house.

After arranging things for a while, she finally had time to take the Dragon and Phoenix Twins, who had been waiting by the roadside, to Liu Dafu’s house to borrow a wheelchair.

In reality, it wasn’t so much borrowing as it was giving. Once Liu Dafu heard it was for an important guest, he immediately pushed out all three of his household’s wheelchairs for Qin Yao to take.

"I don’t need so many." Qin Yao was so tired that she could hardly laugh, settling on one that was the right height and returning the rest to Liu Dafu.

"Get on." Qin Yao indicated for the Dragon and Phoenix Twins to sit on the wheelchair.

The two little ones exchanged an excited look, clearly tempted. But in the end, they both shook their heads and refused to sit.

"Mother, we’ll help you push it; you take a rest." Si Niang, with her big bright eyes, looked at Qin Yao sweetly, making anyone’s heart soften.

No matter how tired she was, Qin Yao couldn’t help but break into a bright smile, pat each of them on the head, and let them follow her carefully as they pushed the wheelchair back home together.

The aroma of food wafted through the courtyard just as Ah Wang finished serving the last dish, and the family returned just in time.

With so many people, they set up three tables.

One in the main house, and two in the courtyard.

Qin Yao carried the wheelchair into the courtyard, and the moment Liu Ji and the others in the main house noticed her, their eyes immediately turned to her.

"Aunt Yao!" Da Lang ran over joyfully to help move the heavy wooden wheelchair into the main house.

Qin Yao set the wheelchair down, planted one hand on her waist, and fanned herself with the other, taking a moment to glance over the two guests in the room before walking up to Gongliang Liao and giving a slight bow.

"Sir and young master, welcome on your long journey," Qin Yao said politely, standing up right after bowing.

Gongliang Liao remained composed, his eyes on the coarse teacup in his hand, without looking at her directly, responding with a minimal ’hmm’ that seemed quite reluctant.

Having been aware of the man’s background and temperament, Qin Yao had prepared herself mentally for this and didn’t mind, as long as he stayed.

The village needed to use his name to launch their first shot at tourism development!

Having taken the other’s generous offerings, it would be unreasonable and greedy to expect a good attitude in return.

Seeing Qin Yao’s composed demeanor and her friendly smile directed at him, Gongliang Liao sipped his tea, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Didn’t San say his wife was very domineering?

He had thought of helping to put pressure on her since San is now his disciple and he had to be partial to him.

But this reaction of hers seemed quite broad-minded!

Liu Ji gave his teacher a sly look. This woman harbors deep intentions and hasn’t shown her true colors yet, just wait and see.

You’ll suffer eventually. Liu Ji thought to himself with schadenfreude, finally finding someone to share the ’suffering’ with him.

Qi Xian’s reaction, however, was entirely different from Gongliang Liao’s. Upon seeing Qin Yao, he immediately flashed a warm smile, got up, and walked up to her, thanking her once more.

Then, turning around, he instructed a guard in the courtyard, "Shi Tou, bring the thank-you gift I prepared for Miss Qin!"

"A thank-you gift?" Liu Ji looked at Qi Xian in surprise. "Why didn’t you present it earlier, Senior Brother?" Was he not worthy?

Qi Xian shot him a glance that seemed to say, do you even realize whether you’re worthy or not, Liu San?