Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 378: She Can’t Bear to Kill Him

Liu Ji followed behind Qin Yao, glancing back nervously while curiously asking:

"Miss, what did that female general say to you just now?"

Qin Yao, speaking seriously but nonsensically: "She asked me to kill you, go to the Capital City with her to become a female official, and promised to make me successful and reach the pinnacle of life."

Liu Ji suddenly felt a chill down his neck, instinctively pulling his coat tighter, and asked tentatively with a sly smile:

"So, did you agree, Miss?"

Qin Yao: "If I had agreed, do you think you would still be standing in front of me now?"

Liu Ji chuckled. He knew it! She couldn’t bear to kill him!

"But... why did you refuse, Miss?" Liu Ji eagerly opened his big eyes, waiting for her to say that she couldn’t bear to kill him.

Qin Yao stared at Liu Ji for three seconds, suppressing her amusement, and as he wished, lowered her eyelashes slightly and said seriously: "Of course, it’s because I can’t bear to leave you and the children. Can a mere seventh-rank soldier, Captain of the Guard of Her Highness the Princess, buy my dearest family? Absolutely impossible."

Liu Ji’s eyes lit up with a dazzling brilliance. He couldn’t believe it. She, she actually cared about him so much.

"Miss!" Liu Ji, on impulse, grabbed both of her hands unscrupulously, stood in place without caring about the curious and gossiping gazes around, and loudly declared:

"I, Liu Ji, swear that I will definitely achieve fame and glory, live up to your deep feelings for me, and let you live a life better than that of a seventh-rank soldier!"

Qin Yao secretly despised him, but her face showed no flaw, naturally withdrawing her hand and patting his shoulder, "Keep it up, next year we’ll first pass the county examination to reduce taxes and labor duties."

"Uh-huh!" Liu Ji nodded heavily, his eyes actually flashing with tears. He turned his back to quickly wipe the corner of his eye with the back of his hand, then when he turned back to face her, he smiled like a dog wagging its tail, full of loyalty.

But Qin Yao knew that this moment of self-moved emotion wouldn’t last long.

Sure enough, back at the inn, the next moment after Liu San, who earlier vowed not to let down such feelings, was slumped asleep over the copy of "Zhongyong" he just opened.

However, Liu Ji was never one to face self-embarrassment, so he got up early the next morning and earnestly continued to immerse himself in that nightmare-ridden copy of "Zhongyong".

When it was time for Qin Yao to get up, he immediately went to call for hot water for her wash, and then he went outside the shop to buy hot buns and soy milk, placing them on the table for her to eat after she finished washing her face.

"Aren’t you going back to reading after eating, why are you just sitting there looking at me?" Qin Yao asked with dissatisfaction.

Sitting across from her, with chin in hands, and eyes full of spring-like warmth, Liu Ji looked down and smiled shyly, then got up to go read.

As he read, he couldn’t help but glance back at her, which annoyed Qin Yao, who raised her fist threateningly, and only then did he obediently turn his head back.

After a breakfast, which felt as prickly as needles and thorns on his back, Qin Yao tidied up briefly and went out alone.

Her main task today was to settle debts. Yesterday, she already asked the inn staff to send a message to Fulong Trading Company, and if nothing went wrong, Jiang Wen would be waiting for her there.

Qin Yao carried a wooden box containing the documents. The last time, the trading company placed an order for two thousand book boxes, paid a deposit of thirty percent, and now there was still a balance of five hundred and sixty taels of silver.

As Qin Yao reviewed the account in her mind once more, she also looked at the bustling shops along the street, not forgetting to look for the little trinket Second Lang wanted.

Along the way, she noticed several shops selling a pinwheel-like gadget that was selling quite well, and she decided to check them out after collecting the payment.

Fulong Trading Company was reached.

The shop assistant who recognized Qin Yao quickly led her in, served her hot tea, and asked her to wait for a moment while he went to fetch the second shopkeeper.

It wasn’t long before Jiang Wen came in with a smiling face and said as he entered: "I didn’t expect Miss Qin to have such a deep connection with Prefect He!"

Qin Yao gave him a glance, "Second shopkeeper, don’t make random remarks. There’s nothing of the sort. How dare a village woman like me randomly associate with Lord Prefect."

Jiang Wen, with an understanding look, sat down and said: "Miss Qin is humble, but yesterday the Prefect’s daughter personally went to the inn to pick you and Mr. Liu up. Everyone saw it; that can’t be false, right?"

Qin Yao didn’t bother explaining further. Fulong Trading Company certainly had a lot of informants; let Jiang Wen think what he wanted. Skipping the small talk, she directly took out the signed contract documents and settled the balance.

Noticing her lack of explanation, Jiang Wen assumed she was admitting it, and adopted a more careful manner amidst his polite stance, promptly instructing the assistant to bring up the prepared silver.

His attitude suddenly improved so much that Qin Yao was a bit unaccustomed; she gave him a mocking glance, to which Jiang Wen responded with a compensating smile.

Power certainly has its benefits, making new orders come faster than expected.

"Miss Qin, here is the remaining balance from before, five hundred sixty taels of silver, for you we have packed it in the box, please accept it."

"By the way." He handed over a freshly inked new order contract, "This is next year’s order, five thousand ’Divine Power’ book boxes to be fully delivered by May, please see if there are any issues?"

"If there are no issues, we’ll adhere to the old rules, first pay fifty percent deposit." Then he produced two large silver notes of 500 taels each, totalling one thousand taels, placed them gently before Qin Yao.

Qin Yao glanced at the silver note, then looked at Jiang Wen: "Second shopkeeper, is our old rule fifty percent?"

Jiang Wen nodded with a cheerful smile: "Exactly."

Qin Yao shook her head, returning one of the silver notes, "You remembered incorrectly, it’s thirty percent six hundred taels, just get me one hundred taels more, kindly keep this silver note back safely."

Her eyes flashed with sharpness, reiterating that she had no ties with Prefect He, so if he wished for any favors, she didn’t have the capacity to help him out.

Jiang Wen, evidently not easily convinced, wanted to say a few more words, but Qin Yao gestured to stop him, handing back the reviewed new order contract, "Nothing else is amiss, just change the advance deposit to thirty percent."

After finishing, seeing Jiang Wen freeze in place, Qin Yao sighed helplessly, "When I saw the shopkeeper last time, he didn’t look well; has something difficult arisen that hasn’t been resolved yet?"

Jiang Wen cast a fixed gaze at her before lowering his eyes to amend the contract while saying:

"There was an issue with several cargo ships at the wharf, detained by the Cao Yun Bureau. The goods couldn’t be shipped, and customers were pushing, leaving the trading company unable to receive payments, causing a deadlock there."

That’s why, out of desperation, he hoped to see if Qin Yao might help deliver a word to Prefect He.

This order of five thousand book boxes was hastily requested from the boss last night, thinking Qin Yao might still offer a glimmer of hope, but unexpectedly, she simply refused to acknowledge any connection with the He family.

Qin Yao understood now; no wonder Jiang Wen looked so grim last time, it turns out the trading company was being held up by the Cao Yun Bureau, causing a break in the cash flow.

This could be serious; if it drags on, the entire Fulong Trading Company could be undermined.

"Do you know who did it?" Qin Yao probed.

For a trading company like Fulong, which had annual favors arranged, the canal transportation generally wouldn’t undergo deliberate inspections.

Unless someone, with ill intent, reported maliciously, stirring up trouble.

It seems a petty person has been offended.