Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 70 - 69: Please Move to the Back

Chapter 70: Chapter 69: Please Move to the Back
Before going to sleep at night, Liu Ji was still angry that his chance to go out had been snatched by Qin Yao.
In his mind, he fantasized about countless scenes of tormenting Qin Yao to soothe the unease in his heart.
However, in the next second, he was happily disproved.
At three in the morning, sounds of movement came from Qin Yao’s bedroom as she got up. Liu Ji was too sleepy to open his eyes, feeling like his body was held captive by the bed, only a vague consciousness celebrating the fact that he didn’t have to get up at this hour to rush on the road.
The courtyard door opened and was gently closed again.
There was no moon tonight, the darkness outside was so thick that you couldn’t see your fingers. Qin Yao lit a torch and hurried towards Lower River Village in the cool early summer morning breeze.
Shunzi estimated the time and got up at four-thirty, dressed and washed, and then cooked some dumpling soup to fill his stomach before blowing out the oil lamp and heading towards the village entrance by following a faint glimmer of light.
Before getting close, he saw someone holding a torch from afar, the silhouette wobbling in the torchlight, appearing a bit slender. Excitedly, he called out, "Third Brother!"
"I didn’t expect you so early, I thought you would be delayed again, that’s why I’m late by the time of burning half an incense stick. Third Brother, you haven’t been here for a while, have you?"
Qin Yao turned around.
"Oh... Heaven and earth!" Shunzi was so startled that he jumped back ten meters.
Seeing a woman holding a torch in the middle of the night, isn’t that frightening?
After reassuring himself for half a minute, making sure it was indeed a person, Shunzi asked in confusion, "Who are you? Where’s my Third Brother?"
"Are you asking about Liu Ji?"
Shunzi nodded vigorously, thinking that the voice sounded oddly pleasant.
Feeling relieved at the mention of his Third Brother’s name, it seemed she must know him.
"I’m his wife, Qin Yao. Liu Ji suddenly fell ill, so I’m going in his place to work as a laborer," Qin Yao said with a gentle smile.
Shunzi was taken aback, realizing that this was the fierce woman who Liu Ji spoke of, who supposedly ate raw beast blood?
But it didn’t seem so; she speaks gently and even smiles.
"Ah, so it’s Sister-in-law. You scared me to death," Shunzi stepped forward, suddenly feeling a much warmer connection with the woman in front of him. The talk of ghosts and fright had been a misunderstanding.
"But Landlord Ding’s household only hires male laborers. If you intend to go..."
Qin Yao replied, "I understand your meaning, but I don’t want to miss this opportunity. Whether it works out or not, I have to give it a try, don’t you think?"
"It’s getting late, let’s talk as we walk." Qin Yao gestured to lead the way.
Shunzi nodded, turning back to look at Qin Yao several times, and each time she smiled at him, her gaze gentle.
The young man scratched his head in confusion, wondering if his Third Brother was blind. His sister-in-law was clearly a good person!
Shunzi asked with concern, "Sister-in-law, how did Third Brother fall ill?"
Qin Yao: "It came on suddenly."
"...Oh." Shunzi suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness, not knowing what else to say.
However, walking in silence with another person felt odd, so Shunzi tried finding topics to talk about, but Qin Yao’s "Mm," "Oh," and "Mm" responses always left him speechless.
Eventually, he gave up and chose to remain silent.
After all, it’s better to keep a distance between men and women.
Yet, Shunzi was unexpectedly surprised by Qin Yao’s quick pace. Whenever he got distracted, she dashed ahead, as if she was about to take off.
Seeing him slow down, she rarely initiated conversation, saying, "Brother Shunzi, let’s hurry and be the first arrivals."
Shunzi nodded, they started catching up to each other’s speed and almost began running, arriving in Jinshi Town before six o’clock.
The town had no walls, built at the foot of a mountain, surrounded by vast fields and woodlands.
An ancient stone street ran through the middle of the town, with a few shops on both sides, usually closed when not bustling.
Only the rice shop, oil store, and meat stall in the town center were consistently open for business.
It was still too early, the street was empty, with only the sound of dogs barking and chickens clucking from the households.
Landlord Ding’s estate lay at the east end of town, surrounded by fertile fields, with a three-entry courtyard, white walls, blue tiles, and a grand red door adorned with two mythical beast rings and two stone lions in front.
Qin Yao and Shunzi arrived at the gate first, there was no one else around yet.
Shunzi softly told Qin Yao that Landlord Ding was a scholar lord, even the County Magistrate had to pay some respect, reminding her to be cautious with her manners not to offend Mr. Scholar.
"Do we need to kneel?" Qin Yao tentatively asked.
Shunzi shook his head, saying, "The scholar isn’t an official, it’s not necessary to kneel, depends on personal discretion."
Qin Yao responded with an "Oh." Shunzi wasn’t sure if she understood, but since they weren’t very familiar, he didn’t pursue the matter further.
They dared not knock on the door but stood at the entrance waiting for someone to open it.
During the wait, more people gradually arrived, curious and puzzled to see Qin Yao, a woman, standing there.
Yet, since no one knew each other, they refrained from asking, each silently standing according to their arrival order.
But this tacit understanding was bound to be broken by some.
Seeing three people arriving later intending to stand in front of him and Qin Yao, Shunzi shouted, "Hey!" and commanded, "Stand at the back! We arrived first! Can’t you see everyone else is lining up at the back too?"
The three turned around, surveyed Shunzi and Qin Yao beside him, surprised he had brought a woman along, sneered a little, and without responding, stood right in front of them.
Seeing this, those behind Shunzi were also silently frustrated, not daring to speak against the three burly men, afraid to cause trouble.
Anger flaring within him, Shunzi was debating whether or not to confront them when Qin Yao stepped forward, tapped the shoulder of one of the three.
"Please stand at the back."
Her tone was calm, but her gaze exuded an authoritative aura, making it hard to ignore.
The trio was taken aback but quickly glared at her, turned away without heed, completely disregarding her as a woman.
One of them murmured disdainfully, "In these times, you see all sorts of bizarre things, even women coming out to do labor work. I wonder what work she could possibly do with those skinny arms and legs."
As the words were said, the trio exchanged glances, intentionally chuckling between themselves.
This kind of unpleasant sound, truth be told, Qin Yao hadn’t heard such in a long time.
In the post-apocalyptic world, everyone relied on their capabilities, no one dared to bully even a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl arbitrarily.
For anyone who survived such a harsh environment, even an eighty-year-old lady had her means to make a living.
Medical skills, or knowledge of planting, there always comes a time when you’ll need them!
At this point, Shunzi truly didn’t want to endure it. Otherwise, how would he explain to Third Brother back home?
He wasn’t afraid of fighting, planning to take out the one who spoke offensively first.
Totally unexpected was the swift action of the person beside him.