Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 125 - 124: Pink Clouds at Dusk

Chapter 125: Chapter 124: Pink Clouds at Dusk
"Kaiyang County has an ice storage?" Qin Yao asked curiously.
Thinking of all kinds of iced drinks before the apocalypse, Qin Yao couldn’t help but secretly swallow a mouthful of saliva.
A block of ice in midsummer would feel extremely comfortable.
Liu Ji nodded, "Yes, it’s outside the city at the Ice House. Every year after the snow falls and the river freezes, the government has people carve ice blocks and store them in the ice house. The ice stored last year can be used until this autumn."
Then continue storing in winter and reuse, repeating this cycle.
However, seeing Qin Yao’s enthusiastic look, Liu Ji had to pour a bucket of cold water on her enthusiasm.
"That’s the government’s ice storage, the ice blocks are exclusively for the noble people in the city to use. We ordinary folks shouldn’t even think about it. If you have spare money, treating me to a bowl at the sweet shop would be more realistic."
Saying this, he couldn’t help but swallow a mouthful of saliva himself.
Qin Yao scoffed at him, "Dream on!"
She had just passed by and saw those drink signs with the character for snow, starting at fifty cents a cup, which was enough to buy the three pounds of pork she was holding.
Liu Ji had anticipated this reaction from her, so he turned his back and clicked his tongue.
When he turned around, Qin Yao had already led Old Huang out.
The couple exchanged a glance, suddenly remembering a tricky problem.
Two people, one horse, how do they ride?
Thinking of a possibility unfavorable to him, Liu Ji stepped forward first to grab the reins, tentatively asked:
"Wife, you’re not going to make me run behind the horse, are you?"
Qin Yao didn’t bother to waste words with him, directly asked, "Can you ride?"
Liu Ji shook his head honestly.
He wished he could, but the family conditions didn’t allow for it.
Qin Yao shook her head, "Get on the horse, you sit in front."
"Huh?" Liu Ji instinctively gestured their heights, Qin Yao was a head shorter than him.
If he sat in front, would she still be able to see while sitting behind?
His raised hand was forcibly slapped away by Qin Yao, making Liu Ji wince in pain.
As it turns out, you can see!
Because... when they sped up, he was so scared that he clung to the horse’s neck, barely lifting his head.
The wind roared in his ears, and as he opened his mouth to speak, a mouthful of dust rushed in, his butt felt like it was getting split into four from the bumpy ride.
As he tried to shift his position, a warm body pressed down from behind, a scent of soap entered his nostrils—
Liu Ji immediately froze!
Later, later... he couldn’t remember how he got back to Liu Family Village.
All he remembered was a voice from behind: "We’re there, get off."
And then he was unceremoniously thrown off the horse, standing there dumbfounded, watching the sunset burn the sky in shades of red and pink, especially beautiful.
Horse and rider moved against the glow of the sunset, the woman’s back straight, her body swaying with the horse’s movements, her ponytail swinging gently side to side, so free-spirited as if nothing in the world could bind her.
Instinctively, he reached out, wanting to grab something, but he caught nothing, only watching that dashing figure go further and further away.
"Gurgle~"
Liu Ji unconsciously swallowed and then shook his head hard, looking up to see the person on the horse seeming to glow pink all over.
He lifted his hand and slapped himself lightly!
The pink glow was gone.
Qin Yao paused at the open area in the village, not seeing any of the kids at home.
Maybe the Yang Mei Soup business didn’t pan out, and they went home early.
Qin Yao smiled helplessly, turning back to shout, "Liu Ji, you hurry up!"
Liu Ji, panting, ran up, looking up to complain, "I have two human legs, you have four horse legs, can you not wait for me and still rush, are you urging death!"
Qin Yao furrowed her brows, how come this useless man’s tone today seemed a little whiny?
Forget it, never mind, she reached out to take the bundle off his body and put it on the horse, then rode home.
Without the baggage, Liu Ji’s pace didn’t quicken much, stopping to chat with each villager along the way.
Others complimented him, calling him Liu Cai Zi, and he shamelessly responded.
With such dawdling, by the time Qin Yao got home, removed the saddle, and fed the horse, he finally walked through the door.
He entered smiling, evidently having harvested quite a few compliments along the way. Once chased by everyone like a rascal, he was now a "Cai Zi" in their mouths, feeling smug.
"Huh?" Liu Ji scooped water to wash up, glanced into the kitchen and the rooms, but no one was there, "Where did Da Lang and the others go?"
Qin Yao threw the horse some good hay, clapped her hands, and came in through the back door, not finding anyone in the backyard either.
"Maybe they went out to play somewhere." She speculated.
When Liu Ji saw her approaching, he instinctively moved the basin of water toward her, "Wife, wash up."
After doing this, he regretted his impulsive action, scolding himself for being foolish!
Qin Yao observed his weak "struggle" and chuckled softly, wringing a cloth to wipe her face and neck.
Then she took off her outer garment, hung it on the clothesline in the yard, and stood in the hallway wearing only a thin hemp undergarment, facing the gate, enjoying the breeze.
Such boldness left Liu Ji utterly speechless.
Qin Yao glanced over, "What are you staring at me for? It’s nearly dark, go out and find the kids!"
The familiar sense of urgency resumed; he hadn’t even had a moment’s rest since stepping through the door.
Grumbling internally, he wore a compliant smile, "Alright, I’ll go have a look."
Just as he was about to step out, the excited chatter of four kids wafted up from below the mountain.
Soon, four familiar figures appeared at the doorstep.
Seeing their father and mother, the Dragon and Phoenix Twins hesitated at first, then rushed in, eager to share their day’s joy.
Sanlang said, "Dad, Second Brother sold a lot of bowls of Yangmei Soup!"
Si Niang said, "Mom, Mom, the Yangmei Soup we made sold out instantly. Big Brother and Second Brother went up the mountain to pick more wild Yangmei. We have to make more tonight to sell!"
Liu Ji was dumbfounded but responded tactfully, "Not bad, not bad, Da Lang, Second Lang, let Dad see if you’ve grown taller."
Second Lang rolled his eyes, "It’s only been ten days, how could we grow that fast? I’m not a scallion."
Da Lang gave some face to his father, carrying forward the heavy basket of sour wild Yangmei, letting Liu Ji measure.
Qin Yao hadn’t expected the kids’ Yangmei Soup had sold out, and so well that they needed to make a second batch.
Showing unabashed delight, she looked at Second Lang, "How much did you sell it for a bowl?"
"Two coins a bowl." Second Lang put down the basket he was carrying, it was full of Yangmei, quite heavy.
He enthusiastically continued, "Mom, you wouldn’t believe how much everyone loved our Yangmei Soup. With the autumn harvest, they were willing to spend money..."
In the morning, as soon as Qin Yao had left, Second Lang and Da Lang carried the pots of Yangmei, while Sanlang and Si Niang took bowls and spoons, setting off.
Da Lang suggested going to the village well, while Second Lang took the Yangmei Soup to the fields, selling it on the ridges.
As soon as he opened the pot, someone came up following the scent to ask.
Da Lang, a bit anxious, said two coins a bowl, unexpectedly the person immediately ordered two bowls.
Saying it was too hot, the autumn harvest was tough, and occasionally spending a little was okay.
Okay meant good business; the siblings walked through the rice fields, delivering directly to people’s hands, giving them the Yangmei Soup on credit first, then going to their homes to collect money later.
By the end of the morning, the pots in their carrying baskets got lighter and lighter, before they knew it, they were sold out.
Second Lang, pulling Qin Yao into the main room, looked at her expectantly, then pulled out a burlap pack from his chest.
"Splash!" He dumped it onto the dining table!
Dozens of copper coins scattered, ringing with a crisp, pleasing sound.
They sold thirty bowls of Yangmei Soup, totaling sixty coins.