As soon as the Mo Family left, Liu Ji grabbed a broom and stormed back into his study, angrily starting to clean.

As he passed by Qin Yao, he cast her a resentful look.

It was her who kept the Mo Family here to deliberately torment him!

Qin Yao snorted, knowing exactly what kind of person he was, letting him experience the consequences of being arrogant in advance this time.

"Why do you still send them grains, eggs, and meat? I’d rather feed them to the cows than give them away!"

Liu Ji carefully swept away the food scraps in his study as he grumbled.

Qin Yao had no intention of helping with the cleaning, standing by the door with her mouth and nose covered against the dust, her voice sounding muffled.

She replied, "I’m not like you; we are people with principles. If they come with an empty cart and leave with it empty, how do you think the villagers will talk about us tomorrow?"

Liu Ji snorted, "Do we even have any good reputation left?"

"You don’t, but I can," Qin Yao said darkly.

Liu Ji immediately didn’t dare to speak further. The cleaning was driving him crazy!

Looking around, leaning on the broom, he saw a pile of items waiting for him to wipe and organize, reigniting his suppressed anger.

"Ah——" he was about to call out for Ah Wang, but saw him entering the main hall with Qin Yao, as if they had something important to discuss.

Liu Ji, as head of the household, had never dared to intervene in such matters, so he closed his mouth begrudgingly and continued tidying the study.

Inside the main hall.

Sensing that the master’s gaze was gone, Ah Wang immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew the master would never miss an opportunity to make him work, so he cleverly told Madam he had something important to report.

"Speak, what’s the matter?" Qin Yao asked as she sat on the Taishi chair, reaching for some dried fruit to eat.

But she grabbed nothing; the snacks and fruits on the table had just been packed with sugar and all by Liu Ji and given to Mo Baobao.

Qin Yao awkwardly withdrew her hand, making a mental note against Liu Ji.

Ah Wang returned the remaining 40 taels of silver to Qin Yao. "Madam, no opportunity arose to spend any silver during this exam trip."

Four small silver ingots were clearly visible; Qin Yao remembered giving him fifty taels and asked in confusion:

"If there was no chance to spend the money, why is there ten taels missing?"

Ah Wang pulled out a set of Jade Rabbit carvings and offered them, "Purchased this."

He initially wanted to say it was a gift from him, but recalling the master’s intimidating stare earlier, he changed his wording, "It was from the master... and me together, a gift to you, Madam."

Qin Yao took the set of Jade Rabbits. The carving was well-done, and the jade quality was decent too, but, "Are you telling me this thing cost ten taels?"

Ah Wang nodded, "The vendor said it was ten taels."

Qin Yao opened her mouth, hesitant to speak, finally saying nothing and smiling, "It’s beautiful, I like it, thank you both." Using her own money to buy herself a souvenir!

Ah Wang sheepishly smiled and said, "As long as Madam likes it."

"By the way," he remembered checking the vegetable plot just now and had something to ask Madam.

Qin Yao sensed what he wanted to ask, picked up the money and the Jade Rabbits, and immediately looked out the door, "The children should be back from school by now, why aren’t they here yet?"

Just as she spoke, Ah Wang’s ears twitched, and he heard the familiar sound of a cart’s wheels approaching quickly.

"Master, we’re back!" Yin Le shouted loudly at the main gate.

Soon after, Da Lang and his siblings dragged their respective book boxes, crossed the gate, and excitedly hollered upon seeing Ah Wang.

"Uncle Ah Wang!"

The four siblings dropped their boxes and rushed to hug Ah Wang, their enthusiastic energy startled him, causing him to quickly take a big step back.

Unfortunately, it was too late; he was surrounded by the four siblings who climbed all over him like he was a post.

With four human ornaments hanging on him, Ah Wang focused on keeping them from falling, completely forgetting to question Qin Yao about the vegetable plot.

At this moment, warmed by the children’s genuine affection, Ah Wang, who usually showed little emotion, burst out laughing.

After giving Uncle Ah Wang the warmest of welcomes, the four siblings suddenly remembered something was missing.

In unison, they asked, "Uncle Ah Wang, where’s our dad?"

An obscure glint flashed in Ah Wang’s eyes as he pointed towards the study in the backyard.

The four kids immediately raced off towards the backyard.

"Dad!!!"

A second later, their excited calls turned into wails.

Liu Ji thought: Why not recruit the free labor that’s delivered to my door?

"Come on, Da Lang, since you’re tall, put these cleaned books on the shelf."

"Second Lang, don’t even think about running, fetch a basin of clean water to wipe down tables and benches!"

"Good Sanlang, come, massage dad’s shoulders; it’s killing me, this cleaning is truly not meant for people."

Just as his little daughter was about to sneak away, Liu Ji reached out with his long arms, grabbed her by the back of her collar, and pulled her onto his lap, affectionately squeezing her cheeks, "Si Niang has grown taller, huh? After all this time away from dad, did you miss me?"

Si Niang pushed away her dad’s mischievous hand, protecting her face, and cheerfully replied, "Sure, I mostly missed dad working!"

Liu Ji confidently shook his head, "Dad doesn’t believe it. How could Si Niang just want dad back for work? You must also want me back to buy you candied haws, right?"

Si Niang sighed helplessly, "If you say so, then it is."

Liu Ji frowned slightly, why did this sound so familiar? Hasn’t his fierce wife said this before?

Looking again at his daughter’s exquisite little face that was a miniature version of his own, paired with the disdainful look identical to Qin Yao’s, Liu Ji shivered as if seeing Qin Yao in front of him, and quickly let her down.

With a wave, he said, "Go see when Mrs. Li will have dinner ready. Your dad is starving."

Si Niang obediently responded with an "Alright," and ran to the kitchen door, tilting her head with a smile, "Aunt Li, is the food ready yet?"

Mrs. Li nodded, "You can set the table now."

Si Niang immediately returned to the study to announce, "Dad, the table can be set."

Liu Ji, seeing the study now cleaned by Da Lang and Second Lang, indicated for the twins to go ahead first, then got up and draped an arm over his two older sons, boasting as they walked to the main hall:

"So, how does it feel to be a scholar’s son?"

Da Lang felt a twitch in his mouth, stating honestly, "Our teacher at the clan school only knows that Mom is the village head."

Liu Ji tutted, "That’s because they don’t know yet that your dad is a scholar."

Curiously, Second Lang asked, "Dad, how did you become a scholar? Can you teach me?"

Second Lang was genuinely seeking knowledge.

But in Liu Ji’s eyes: My good son, are you doubting your dad’s skills?

"Dad?" Second Lang urged again after not getting an answer.

As the father and sons entered the main hall, Qin Yao also heard Second Lang’s inquiry and asked again on behalf of the family, "Tell us, we all want to know."

With the meal served, Liu Ji sat down at his seat, picked up his chopsticks, "Let’s eat first, I’ll talk after we eat."

After all, it wasn’t a particularly honest method; he needed to come up with a more tactful way to explain it.