Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 383: The Taste of Power

In order not to disturb Qin Yao’s morning nap, Liu Ji took his book to the inn’s main hall early in the morning, warming himself by the hearth while having breakfast and reciting the book.

The shopkeeper saw he was quite diligent and looked handsome, so he gave him an extra bowl of piping hot mutton soup.

The soup was simmered over a low flame all night using sheep bones, infusing it with the most essence, making it fresh and fragrant, so flavorful that Liu Ji felt like he was floating.

Just as he was enjoying this fragrant bowl of mutton soup in the winter, a commotion came from outside the inn.

His curiosity piqued, Liu Ji held his soup bowl and walked to the inn’s entrance, where he saw a group of market women gathered, excitedly talking about last night’s murder case in the city’s south.

A murder case? How thrilling!

Liu Ji was instantly interested, joining the crowd curiously, asking, "Ladies, who was killed?"

The women turned to see a handsome young scholar with a sweet mouth, calling them sisters, and they immediately welcomed him into their circle.

The chubby-faced woman among them, the most informed, had first brought up the topic, and after being interrupted by Liu Ji, she continued:

"The one who died was Guo Lin of Jingyun Trading Company, the one known for spending lavishly to buy the top courtesan of Yihong House without batting an eye, that Guo Dafu!"

With Guo Dafu’s name mentioned, everyone else turned to look, nodding in agreement, expressing disbelief that he was dead, and shocked that he was killed in the street.

Liu Ji loved hearing about the tragic deaths of wealthy merchants, as it gave him, a poor, unscrupulous person, a moment of mental victory.

So he quickly asked, "Good sister, how did he die? Don’t these wealthy merchants have many guards with them? How could he be killed in the street?"

Called a good sister, the chubby-faced woman felt her heart melt, and regretfully said:

"There were guards, of course, but the girls of Yihong House said the assassin was too skilled. In less than a moment, he flew past the guards, caught up with the fleeing Guo Dafu from behind, grabbed his head with both hands, twisted it hard, and just like that, he was gone. His head snapped off instantly. Isn’t that terrifying...."

The onlookers shrank their necks, instinctively touching their own necks, feeling fearful.

"My God, what a vicious technique this assassin has. It’s terrifying to act like that. Could it be that Guo Dafu had a vendetta, and someone hired an assassin to kill him?"

In an ordinary family, who would kill like that?

Even if someone wanted to twist that person’s neck, it is impossible for an ordinary person to do it so quickly and decisively, with such strength to break the neck action.

The chubby-faced woman shook her head and sighed, "Who knows, life is really mysterious. Nowadays, disaster strikes from nowhere, and no matter how much wealth, once a person dies, everything is gone...."

The focus of the discussion gradually shifted to Guo Dafu’s large inheritance issue, and Liu Ji, holding his empty bowl, returned to the inn, where the shopkeeper called out to him, looking a bit dazed.

"Mr. Liu, are you alright?" the shopkeeper asked with concern.

Liu Ji shook his head, put down the empty bowl, packed up his books, politely thanked the shopkeeper, and prepared to go back to his room.

After taking two steps out the door, he retraced his steps and asked the shopkeeper for a bowl of mutton soup and five large buns, and returned to the room holding them.

Qin Yao was already up, washing in the room.

The door pushed open, and seeing Liu Ji bringing breakfast, she gave him a sunny smile in a good mood.

Unexpectedly, Liu Ji’s face changed, and he even took a sharp breath.

"What’s wrong?" Qin Yao asked suspiciously.

Liu Ji quickly shook his head, came in to set down the breakfast for her, then took a stool and sat in the corner, tentatively speaking in a low voice:

"Just now, I heard people say there was a murder case in the city last night..."

As he spoke, he didn’t forget to secretly observe Qin Yao’s reaction, seeing her nod and say oh, then sit down to start eating the breakfast, suspiciously furrowing her brows.

Was he overthinking it?

However, he seemed to have vaguely heard the sound of the door opening and closing last night... so it was just a coincidence?

"Darling, aren’t you curious?" Liu Ji suddenly asked.

Qin Yao was enjoying her meal, but Liu Ji’s topic was about murder, which she found quite unpleasant, so she put down the soup bowl with a "bang" and raised her eyebrows to retort:

"Curious about what? What’s so strange about someone getting their neck twisted off!"

Liu Ji’s breath stuck, eyes instantly widening, "It was you after all!"

He hadn’t mentioned how the person died, but she said it herself!

"Darling, how could you again...." committed murder.

"Again what?" Qin Yao grinned, kindly inquiring.

Liu Ji hesitated only for half a second, then awkwardly replied, "Nothing, darling, you keep eating, eat more."

Qin Yao nodded lightly, instructing him, "Tomorrow we will return, I’ll go out later to handle some matters, once done, we’ll go buy New Year’s goods together in the afternoon, you see if you want to say goodbye to Gongliang Liao this morning."

Liu Ji nodded, "That’s certainly necessary, I’ll go as soon as you finish eating and head out."

Qin Yao responded, finished the last bite of the meat bun, not very satisfied, reminded him, "The soup is good, but the buns aren’t as good as the meat porridge you make."

So, you understand her meaning, right?

Liu Ji certainly understood, he’d personally cook in the evening!

This wicked woman’s tastes were becoming pickier. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Wiping her mouth clean with a handkerchief, Qin Yao got up and left.

Although she didn’t admit to killing Guo Lin, Liu Ji was already sure she was the murderer.

Because he was too familiar with that method!

The couple parted at the inn’s entrance, one going to the He Family to bid farewell to the teacher and senior brothers, the other going to the Fulong Trading Company’s branch, continuing the unsigned order for five thousand book boxes from yesterday.

Qin Yao had just walked into the trading company, where Jiang Wen and another shrewd man, who Qin Yao had never met but guessed was Jiang Wen’s boss, Qiu Yan, were already waiting enthusiastically.

Jiang Wen introduced, "Miss Qin, this is our boss, Qiu Yan."

Qin Yao nodded slightly to Qiu Yan, "Hello!"

Qiu Yan quickly bowed in return, "Hello, hello, Miss Qin, please come in!"

The two led Qin Yao to the back hall, where a table was already set with a feast, porcelain warmers keeping the dishes hot, steaming and aromatic.

Qin Yao had just eaten breakfast, yet seeing such a sumptuous feast, her appetite was piqued again.

Jiang Wen politely helped her to the seat of honor, with Qiu Yan and Jiang Wen seated to her left and right.

Qiu Yan poured wine, but Qin Yao raised her hand, "Today, I’d like tea instead."

Qiu Yan was momentarily stunned, then immediately instructed for the wine to be removed and replaced with tea, brewed from the high-quality red tea that had just been unloaded from the cargo ship this morning.

Jiang Wen added from the side, "Red tea is most nourishing for ladies."

The boss and second shopkeeper of the Big Business were being so attentive and careful, Qin Yao sipping her red tea, reflected that the taste of power indeed easily went to people’s heads.

However, she wasn’t an ignorant fool new to the taste of power, this bit of flattery didn’t stir her inner emotions at all.