Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 325 - 324: Not Hard Work, Just a Hard Life

Chapter 325: Chapter 324: Not Hard Work, Just a Hard Life

Under Liu Ji’s optimistic vision for the house’s future, Qi Xian, who just thought of this old house as haunted, was now finding the rickety doors, mottled walls, and bare rooms and courtyard pleasing to the eye.

Excitedly, he inspected the house from top to bottom, memorized the layout, and planned to return to design a farmhouse specifically for himself and his teacher.

The guards and maids stayed behind, only Shi Tou went back with him, as he wouldn’t ever leave Qi Xian’s side.

Qin Yao stayed to arrange accommodations for the guards and maids, then, under the especially gentle pale moonlight of the night, she returned home alone.

Gongliang Liao stayed in Liu Ji’s room, the Attendant Student was making the bed, and Liu Ji served at his side, with a roll of straw mat on the floor and a bedding on top.

Sanlang and Si Niang vacated a bed for Qi Xian and Shi Tou, while Da Lang and Second Lang envied them to tears, because the younger ones got to share a room with Qin Yao.

Si Niang had happily taken her quilt and small pillow to Qin Yao’s room long ago, and didn’t forget to take her lantern, feeling secure with it lit at night.

This arrangement seemed a bit inadequate for a scholar like Gongliang Liao, but the old man surprisingly said nothing and accepted it gladly.

Perhaps because he just got here and found this quite interesting.

Qin Yao’s house was clean, and although the furniture wasn’t exactly exquisite, it was newly made, fitting the image of a farmhouse in Qi Xian’s imagination.

Upon seeing the bunk bed in the children’s room, he found it amusing for a while, finally choosing the top bunk, leaving the bottom for Shi Tou.

Qi Xian was accompanied by Da Lang and Second Lang, Gongliang Liao was attended by Liu Ji, and the busy Qin Yao finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Before bedtime, Ah Wang boiled several pots of hot water, and everyone washed up simply.

Such were the rural conditions; the host had prepared the best they could, and the guests were very polite, without complaints.

Qi Xian, having dried his hair, walked into Liu Ji’s room to find Gongliang Liao already lying in Liu Ji’s bed.

The window by the bed was open, showing a big, round moon in the sky, putting the old man in a great mood, even wanting to compose a poem.

Seeing Qi Xian come in, his gaze questioned: What is it?

Tonight was special, and it had already been explained to him that there was no need to review lessons.

Qi Xian, having just returned and busied himself with preparing the bed, then hurried to wash up. He hadn’t had a chance to discuss the old house renovation with his teacher yet, so he came to consult now.

Before Qi Xian entered, Liu Ji had already whispered to the teacher about it in advance, so when Qi Xian brought it up, Gongliang Liao immediately remarked, "I’m aware of it. Turning an abandoned house into a new residence is indeed interesting, and I have some ideas too."

Qi Xian immediately asked Shi Tou to bring the writing materials, and Gongliang Liao offered several design suggestions, which Qi Xian noted down one by one, excitedly sharing many of his own thoughts and asking for the teacher’s opinion.

Gongliang Liao waved his hand, "You two can handle it. Such a small matter doesn’t need repeated consultations with me."

"Wait a minute!" Liu Ji quickly queried, "You two?"

Gongliang Liao cast him a sidelong glance, then looked at Qi Xian, nodding, "You two have worked hard."

No way! Liu Ji wailed in his heart, I don’t want to do any work!

But seeing Qi Xian accept the task respectfully, Liu Ji refused to show weakness, stood up, cupped his fist, and said, "Teacher, you are too kind, Ji is not troubled."

He only suffers from a bitter fate!

Outside, the hoot of an owl was heard, the night was deep, and seeing Gongliang Liao yawning, Qi Xian respectfully took his leave.

Liu Ji escorted him to the door of the next room, politely reminding, "Senior Brother, if you need to use the toilet at night, there’s a chamber pot in the room. From now on, we’re like family. Don’t be too reserved; my home is your home. Feel free to ask if you need anything, Brother."

Qi Xian glared at him awkwardly, "It insults the literati!"

Liu Ji was flabbergasted. He was reminding him out of goodwill, how did it come to being scolded? He hadn’t even mentioned anything crude yet.

Even if Qi Xian found him disagreeable, he still maintained proper manners, refraining from uttering obscenities, and waved Liu Ji off.

Liu Ji found his serious expression quite amusing, couldn’t resist extending a finger to poke that slightly puffed, rosy cheek quickly, then turned and slipped back into the room, shutting the door swiftly.

Gongliang Liao, who had closed his eyes, opened one and peered over, "Did you go tease your Senior Brother again?"

Liu Ji shook his head in denial, lay beside the Attendant Student on the empty spot, covering his face with the quilt, "Goodnight teacher!" and fell asleep.

Outside, Qi Xian couldn’t believe he touched his own face, gritting his teeth and mumbled, "Rude country bumpkin!"

Releasing part of his frustration, he turned his head and saw Shi Tou also raising his hand, with an incredulous expression, suspiciously asking, "Did he poke your face too?"

Shi Tou shook his head, shock evident as he looked at his hand, then at the darkened window of the already extinguished lights next door, saying, "He moves so fast, I was just about to stop him from approaching young master, but he beat me to it."

Qi Xian was also startled by this, "You say that country bumpkin is faster than you, Shi Tou?"

Shi Tou hesitated, nodded, unsure if it was his recent slacking off in martial arts training, or if Liu Ji was indeed deeply skilled.

The master and servant were whispering in speculation when suddenly a black figure appeared in the courtyard, giving them both a fright.

Shi Tou immediately shielded his young master, his hand reaching for the sword hilt at his waist, ready to draw, but the young master behind him hesitantly called, "Ah Wang?"

Ah Wang lit the lantern he carried and gave a slight nod, turning to head towards the back yard with it. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He was always the last to sleep in the house, checking doors, windows, and the stove before bed. With no outsiders usually around, he’d gotten used to going about in the dark, accustomed to going unlit, briefly forgetting in the presence of guests today, causing a little confusion.

Watching Ah Wang’s silhouette disappear, Shi Tou finally let out a big breath he had been holding, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and grumbled, "Going around without a light at night, scares a person to death."

Cursing in his heart, Liu Ji’s family members were truly peculiar one after another.

In such a rural place, producing one Miss Qin was already rare enough; he didn’t expect another like Ah Wang, who walked without footfalls or breaths heard, truly like seeing a ghost!

The master and servant exchanged a glance, but all the information they found proved that Liu Ji’s family had no unusual traits.

The people were all born and raised here, their ancestors going back eighteen generations in this place.

"Forget it, let’s sleep." Qi Xian stepped into the room, quite looking forward to sleeping in the top bunk.

Da Lang and Second Lang had already fallen asleep, leaving a light for Qi Xian in the room.

Shi Tou shut the door, watching the young master climb onto the bed, blow out the candlelight, and lay down on the bottom bunk.

You have to admit, this kind of bed was quite handy for those like himself who needed to protect the master closely.

With just a lift of the head, he could see the master; any movement on the top bunk was known, and in case of danger, he could stop it immediately, yet he could still lay down to rest, truly wonderful!

Shi Tou thought secretly, maybe when the old house gets remodeled, he’d have the young master make such a bunk bed too.