Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 354 - 353: Mother, It Hurts So Much

In the courtyard, Qin Yao encountered Ah Wang, who had just returned from tending horses, and instructed, "In the future, make sure to call Da Lang for morning practice along with your master!"

Although Ah Wang didn’t understand why Qin Yao wanted Liu Ji, who had no martial arts talent, to engage in body refinement, he still acknowledged respectfully.

Liu Ji lifted the quilt and looked at his body. His limbs were long, not fat nor thin, with a narrow waist, round hips, and wide shoulders. When he wore the broad-sleeved white robe, he perfectly embodied the graceful style of the Wei and Jin dynasties, the tall and slender figure most favored by women of the time.

Coupled with his handsome face, just standing casually on the street, he could charm countless young maidens!

Does he really need to practice intentionally?

Ah Wang suddenly poked his head through the window, locking eyes with Liu Ji, and said:

"Master, Madam seems to like robust men. Your soft flesh is not to her liking."

Startled and unable to blink by the sudden appearance, the master angrily pulled down the pole and closed the window with a "bang."

He mercilessly spat out a single word, "Get out!"

Unfortunately, Ah Wang reacted quickly and didn’t get his head caught. He responded with an "oh" and went to the storeroom, carried a hoe, and went to the backyard to weed the vegetable garden.

By mid-afternoon, the weeds were all cleared, and he picked a basket of plump white radishes to place in the kitchen, contemplating a secret pickled radish recipe he overheard from village women to try himself.

Today, he didn’t need to pick up Da Lang and the others from school; Liu Fei had taken supplies to the county, promising to bring them back along the way in the afternoon.

However, to Ah Wang’s surprise, by the time the sun had completely set and it was dark, Liu Fei and the children were still not home. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

After pickling the radishes and closing the jar, Ah Wang came out of the kitchen, stood at the courtyard entrance, and observed for a while.

As it grew darker, workers from the factory had finished attending Liu Qi’s literacy class and left. Scholars hoping to encounter prominent figures also rode away, yet no carriage entered the village.

Qin Yao, after sending away the mute and others, went to the water jar to scoop water and wash her hands. She glanced towards the children’s room and the main hall, but the familiar figures of the four siblings were nowhere to be seen.

"Ah Wang, call them home for dinner!" Qin Yao thought the children had stayed to play at the old house and instructed Ah Wang at the door.

Unexpectedly, Ah Wang walked in with a stern face and said, "Madam, they are not back yet."

After reporting, he immediately headed to the backyard, "I’ll ride over to check on them."

Qin Yao’s brow twitched, and Liu Ji, lying inside, sensed something amiss. He sat up from bed and asked through the open window, "Wife, what happened?"

Qin Yao frowned, "Ah Wang says Da Lang and the others haven’t returned yet."

Liu Ji looked outside at the pitch-dark sky, his concern rising, "Should we borrow a couple of people from our senior apprentice-brother to help check?"

Qin Yao waved her hand, "I’ll borrow a horse and go check with Ah Wang."

Hoping the children were just playing and delayed on the way or mischievous in class and kept behind by the teacher.

The latter sentence was directed at Ah Wang, who had tethered the horse at the door and rushed to Lotus Courtyard to borrow a horse from the Qi Family guard.

Shi Tou saw him in a hurry and asked, "Has something happened?"

Ah Wang left him with a "nothing" and rode into the night.

By the time he reached the river, Qin Yao had also prepared her bow and arrow, lit a torch, and arrived on the bridge.

The two met up and rode one after another towards Jinshi Town.

From Liu Family Village to Lower River Village, they didn’t see a soul.

Heading further towards Jinshi Town from Lower River Village, halfway there, they suddenly heard the sound of wheels rolling. Qin Yao swiftly shouted into the darkness:

"Da Lang!"

After a brief pause, several voices immediately responded, "Mother!"

"Third Aunt!"

It was Jinbao’s joyfully tearful cry.

In just a few moments, Qin Yao and Ah Wang reached the carriage, the light from the torch illuminating four dust-covered little faces.

And Da Lang’s blood-splattered, tense face.

That small dagger Qin Yao had given him was clutched in his left hand, while his right hand held the reins, urgently stopping the unruly horse.

"Da Lang!" Qin Yao breathed sharply, quickly dismounting beside the carriage.

Second Lang, Sanlang, and Si Niang rushed to her, seeking the safety of her embrace, as Sanlang burst into tears.

Si Niang raised her small hand, quickly wiping the tears from her eyes, and immediately pulled Qin Yao to see Liu Fei, who had fainted from serious injuries on the carriage board.

Ah Wang gave a quick glance and informed Qin Yao that Liu Fei’s life was not in danger, likely having been hit on the head, causing temporary unconsciousness.

Da Lang seemed to just realize what had happened, releasing the reins, and knelt on the shaft, extending his hand to Qin Yao.

Qin Yao immediately grasped it. This small hand was tacky with blood. She quickly inspected and found only two or three shallow cuts and nothing serious. She embraced the obviously frightened little one.

At this moment, the boy clearly needed a reassuring embrace, and Qin Yao gestured with her eyes for Ah Wang to investigate what had occurred, speaking soothingly to the Da Lang in her arms:

"It’s okay now. You did well, protecting your siblings excellently. Leave the rest to us adults, don’t be afraid. I’m here with you."

The child in her arms nodded gently, breathing in the comforting scent she exuded. A moment later, he pulled away from her embrace, gritting his teeth and murmuring, "Mother, it hurts."

Qin Yao gazed at Da Lang in surprise. The young boy was breaking into a cold sweat from the pain, teeth clenched tight. That call of "Mother" was entirely unwitting.

She hurriedly tore her inner garment and asked Second Lang, "Where’s the water flask?"

Second Lang and Jinbao quickly handed over the bamboo tube slung over their shoulders, while Si Niang held up the torch for Qin Yao to clearly see her brother’s injuries.

Qin Yao looked at Da Lang, "Shout if it hurts. I need to clean the dirt from your wound before dressing it."

Da Lang acknowledged. He hadn’t even realized his own dagger had cut him. Now, under the torchlight, he saw his bloodied left hand.

Sanlang worriedly asked, "Mother, will big brother bleed to death, sobbing? I don’t want big brother to die..."

Qin Yao reassured, "No, losing this bit of blood won’t be fatal."

Discovering Da Lang could injure himself with his weapon, Qin Yao sighed helplessly, realizing training would need to be more rigorous in the future.

Pouring a flask of water, Da Lang could no longer contain the shout of pain. Qin Yao’s heart twinged twice as she listened, her expression growing colder, her hands moving swiftly to complete a simple bandage.

For now, this would stop the bleeding; the rest could be handled back home.

Finishing with Da Lang’s wound, Qin Yao then checked on Liu Fei.

He had no visible injuries, and Si Niang explained, "Uncle was knocked out by those bad guys in one hit."

"Later, they tried to grab me and third brother. I bit one of them and kicked another in the groin to escape, and big brother and second brother and Brother Jinbao went to rescue third brother, getting hit several times..."