Chapter 107 My Weak and Incapable Husband
On the way to the county town.
Qin Yao had the thought several times about how much money she could get by selling the man beside her who was exuding charm like a peacock with its tail spread out.
Liu Ji, who was having an enthusiastic conversation with the women from the village in the same car, suddenly shuddered, sat up straight, and ignored their questions.
When the ox cart arrived at the intersection of Jinshi Town, Qin Yao paid four cents for the fare, and the couple got off the cart and walked towards Ding Yuanwai's home outside the town.
The sun was already high in the sky, and although it was still early in the afternoon, the temperature was already very high.
Liu Ji hurriedly put on the straw hat on his back, feeling fortunate that he was fully prepared.
Qin Yao motioned for him to wait by the roadside, took the nine packed books, and knocked on the back door of the Ding residence.
It was Zhang Ba who opened the door. Seeing her coming, he asked in surprise, "Madam Qin, long time no see!"
Qin Yao nodded and asked with a smile, "Can you please inform the young lady that I am here to return a few things to her?"
Only then did Zhang Ba notice that she was holding a lot of things in her hands.
In addition to a cloth bag that was wrapped so tightly that it was impossible to tell what was inside it, there were also two pickled fish and a bag of seasonal vegetables.
"Madam Qin, please go into the ear room and sit for a while first. I'll go and inform you right away." Zhang Ba glanced at the bright sun outside, opened the ear room, let Qin Yao sit down and enjoy the cool air, closed the door again, and then went to the inner courtyard to inform.
Soon, Dou'er and Zhang Ba hurried over and led Qin Yao over.
After not seeing Miss Ding for more than a month, she seemed to have changed. Her skin was no longer as fair and translucent as before, but a little darker in color. However, her complexion was rosy, and her eyes were bright and sparkling.
She excitedly took Qin Yao into the study. Qin Yao handed the fish and vegetables to Cao'er to take to the kitchen, then went into the study and returned the book to Miss Ding.
Miss Ding didn't check it carefully, but she just glanced at it and knew it was well preserved.
She was only anxious to show off the results of her one month's training to Qin Yao, so she took out her new bow, pointed to the small saddle on the stool, and pointed towards the backyard, saying that she now had a pony of her own.
"Qin Yao, I haven't slacked off for a day since you left. I got up early in the morning and practiced horse stance for half an hour, then practiced archery for half an hour, and rode ten laps on the road in front of the door. When my brother is free, I will take my little bow and arrow, ride my little horse, and go hunting in the woods."
Qin Yao listened with a faint smile until the girl wanted to drag her to the backyard to ride a horse, then she spoke:
"I'm afraid I can't see the young lady's horse today. I have to go to the county academy to register for my good-for-nothing husband and return to the academy to study."
"Ah? Who? Are you talking about your old husband who looks like a god?" Miss Ding asked in surprise.
Qin Yao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. These were such weird adjectives.
Miss Ding doesn't think her adjectives are strange, she thinks they are the most accurate.
Qin Yao is only nineteen this year, and her husband is already twenty-four. Compared to each other, they don't look old at all.
"Can he still read it again?" Miss Ding asked curiously, "So you borrowed these books from me for his school enrollment."
Qin Yao nodded and glanced at the sky. "Miss, I have to go. It will be too late if I am any later."
"Okay." Miss Ding was very disappointed, but she still wished them both could successfully return to the academy to study today.
Mr. Ding has already gone to Beijing, and only his brother is at home. He occasionally goes out to visit the garden and enjoy the autumn with his classmates. Today, Miss Ding is alone at home. She is very brave and rides her pony to accompany Qin Yao and his wife for a distance before turning back.
Qin Yao looked at her increasingly sophisticated riding skills, and the corners of her mouth rose unconsciously. She felt proud of this self-disciplined and hardworking girl.
In the future, she will thank herself for who she is now.
When we left Jinshi Town and set foot on the official road to the county town, the sun had almost risen to the center.
There are two hours left in the journey, and I should be able to catch it when the college starts in the afternoon.
However, this journey was not as smooth as the previous one.
Liu Ji followed Qin Yao closely. She walked and he jogged. Soon he lost his scholarly grace and the straw hat on his head tilted to one side.
He hoped that a horse-drawn carriage, or an ox-drawn or donkey-drawn cart would appear on the road, any vehicle that could carry people and had two empty seats for them.
Just as he was thinking, he heard the neighing of a horse in front of him. Liu Ji was excited, "Madam, there seems to be a carriage in front!"
He suddenly felt strong in his body, and without even looking carefully, he rushed forward in two steps, screamed "Ah", and turned back at lightning speed. He nervously grabbed her shoulders and hid himself, who was a head taller than her, behind her.
"Yes, there is blood. It looks like someone is dead."
Qin Yao rolled her eyes to the sky and stomped her heel, accurately stepping on the instep of the pendant behind her. He screamed in pain and quickly bounced off her back.
The couple's movement successfully attracted the attention of the caravan in front.
Fifteen minutes ago, their group of five carriages, eighteen people, and twenty boxes of goods were blocked by a pile of rocks that suddenly appeared in the middle of the road.
Soon, the horse bandits who were ambushing all around rushed out. In order to protect the carriage and cargo, the two sides fought bloody for more than ten minutes. Finally, seeing that they resisted too much, the horse bandits robbed a box of cargo and left.
However, three guards of the caravan were killed, and five carriages overturned on the side of the road. The horses were crushed by the heavy frames and cargo into the roadside ditch, dying.
"I didn't expect those horse bandits are not completely wiped out." Qin Yao frowned and murmured, handed all the luggage to Liu Ji, asked him to stay on the side of the road, and walked towards the caravan ahead.
Seeing that she was just a woman, the other party was not on guard and just reminded them in a heavy tone to walk faster because the bandits might turn back.
Qin Yao rolled up her sleeves without saying a word and lifted up the heavy frame that had fallen on the side of the road.
The frame that five or six of them found difficult to lift was easily lifted by her alone, and she rescued the neighing horse that was trapped underneath.
Everyone in the caravan was stunned for a moment, then they realized that they had met a master. They were cheered up and nodded gratefully to Qin Yao. They followed her to rescue all five horses, put the carriage back on, and put the cargo boxes back in place.
Most of the roadblocks in the middle of the road have been cleared by the caravan, and now Qin Yao has joined in. She can throw away hundreds of pounds of rocks with just her hands.
Soon, the road was cleared and the convoy was reorganized.
The leader ordered the guards to carry the bodies of their companions onto the car, walked up to Qin Yao, and bowed deeply three times, "Thank you for your help, young lady. May I know your name? Where do you live? When I finish escorting this batch of goods, I will bring a generous gift to thank you!"
"My last name is Qin, and I live in Liujia Village under Jinshi Town. You don't have to thank me next time, just this time."
Qin Yao called Liu Ji over under the other party's stunned gaze, "My husband is weak and can't take care of himself, can you give us a ride to the county town?"
Liu Ji: ???
He is too weak to take care of himself?
(End of this chapter)