Chapter 627: Chapter 627: Ah Yao’s Hardships Remain

The veiled hat was clearly meant for a man, yet to Qin Yao’s surprise, it fit her perfectly and sat just right on her head.

The grayish-white veil was long enough to cover a person’s entire upper body, offering excellent sun protection.

The fabric was lightweight and allowed for a rough outline of shapes to be seen, but to make traveling easier, she lifted a bit and hung it on the brim, clearing her sight.

Curiously, Qin Yao raised her hand to touch the veiled hat on her head and found that a cross was made in the center with fabric strips to prevent the brim, which was too large, from falling and covering her eyes.

Qin Yao was terrible at sewing, but the stitches on these fabric strips supporting the top of the hat felt even worse than hers.

So, she had a bold idea — Could it be that Qin Feng altered this hat himself?

By evening, the group stopped near the official post station. Yu Zhou was a commercial hub, with many inns set up near the station.

The Qin Family caravan had sent someone early to book an entire inn.

However, the inexperienced Qin Yao family, unfamiliar with the route, found no vacancies at the three nearby inns when they arrived.

Just as they were about to pitch a tent outside for the night, Qin Feng came over with two room keys, handing them directly to Qin Yao, "There are only two rooms available, make do for the night, it’s windy at night, and having tiles over your head is better than sleeping on the grass."

As he spoke, he shot a cold glance at Liu Ji, who was busy setting up the tent. A dignified man unprepared for traveling, letting his family sleep under the sky and on the ground like this, was a disgrace to men!

Liu Ji, suddenly receiving dagger-like looks, was utterly confused. Had he not been working hard enough today?

Ever since arriving at the post station, he had been busy without slacking!

First, he parked the carriage, then immediately sought rooms, found out the inns were full, and without delay, negotiated with the people at the official post station for a wind-sheltered camping spot on the left side of the station gate.

His wife was satisfied, which showed he did a good job, so why was Qin Feng glaring at him?

Liu Ji was not one to yield, especially when he believed he was right.

Therefore, when Qin Feng shot another dagger look his way and tried to tarnish his name to Qin Yao, he defiantly put his hands on his hips and glared back.

"What are you looking at? Just because you have money, you’re great? Who in their first long trip doesn’t have moments of unpreparedness? Could you have arranged so well on your first trip?

He pointed to the open-air caravan camps nearby that didn’t have even a bit of a roof to shelter them and raised a brow triumphantly at Qin Feng.

Even this spot was arranged by the posthouse manager due to his scholarly title, unique for the night!

Qin Feng was shocked, never expecting such shamelessness, "With that lousy place, you’re still smug?"

Liu Ji nodded a little, "Why not be pleased? This is official land, money can’t buy it. It’s an exclusive honor for scholars. Just think, a rich man like the boss wouldn’t understand."

Qin Feng almost fainted in anger.

He looked at Qin Yao with confusion, "And you like such an arrogant person?"

Qin Yao rubbed her nose, "He’s good-looking."

Qin Feng’s eyes widened, "You, you..."

Qin Yao nodded honestly, "He’s good-looking."

She returned the keys to Qin Feng, "I cannot accept favors without merit, the boss should take the keys back. We’ll stay here just fine."

Qin Feng was stunned but quickly glanced at a few children, wanting to argue that even if adults were okay with it, the kids should be considered.

Unexpectedly, the four Da Lang siblings nodded emphatically, giving him a smile that said ’we’re okay.’

They were children who had endured hardships and could sleep on just a straw mat.

Not to mention, they had a tent and a spacious carriage back home, with bedding too, which was much better than before.

Yin Le and Ah Wang, even more so, could sleep in a tree for a night on Qin Yao’s command.

To be honest, the one who couldn’t endure hardships was actually Liu Ji.

But!

A seven-foot-tall man, how could he bend over just for the sake of two rooms?

Liu Ji: "If the boss insists on offering us the two rooms, then we’ll pay you the market rate."

Everyone: Didn’t you say you wouldn’t bend for two rooms?

Liu Ji "cough cough" cleared his throat, looking up at the sky.

After a pause, Qin Feng squeezed out a few cold words through his teeth, "Five taels of silver."

He wanted to see if this poor scholar could afford to stay!

Liu Ji did feel a bit of pain over the money, but only briefly. Almost as if expecting Qin Feng might suddenly hike the price to mess with him, he hesitated not at all, instantly pulling out five taels of silver from his money bag, handed it over, and deftly took back the two keys, presenting them to Qin Yao with both hands, "Please accept, my wife."

Qin Yao smiled. As long as the money didn’t come out of her pocket, even fifty taels wouldn’t matter to her.

She politely thanked a stunned Qin Feng, "Thank you."

Immediately, she waved her hand, calling everyone to pack up and head to the inn!

"Oh, oh, oh~" The children joyfully jumped up, packed their book boxes, and dragged them toward the brightly lit inn hall.

Yin Le and Ah Wang followed, driving the horses and carriage into the inn.

Qin Yao and Liu Ji, feeling light-hearted, jingled the keys as they discussed what dishes to order later, with Liu Ji listening carefully, secretly thrilled at the success of complimenting his wife tonight.

In fact, Liu Ji had long noticed Qin Yao’s subtle face change and knew she wanted to stay at the inn but didn’t want to owe Qin Feng a favor, which was why she initially refused.

As a husband, how could he not fulfill his wife’s wishes? He promptly offered his private savings and secured the rooms!

Certainly, it wasn’t because he also wanted to sleep in the inn!

Qin Feng, walking behind, looked at the couple ahead, wife following husband, suddenly realizing he might have misunderstood something all along.

Possibly calling them a married couple was more apt?

Looking down at the somewhat weighty five taels of silver in his palm, two rooms for five hundred coins each, snapped up for ten times the price without batting an eye — clearly, they had some wealth.

But Ah Yao dressed plainly, with only a Spiritual Snake Silver Hairpin adorning her head, while Liu Ji was dressed in silk, wore a silver crown, and had a Jade Ring at his waist... Ah Yao still lived humbly!

It was obvious, marrying again and raising four children was certainly tough.

Even if he was a scholar, they say scholars are of little practical use, likely earning little, and not considering the need for women to dress up, being generous to himself and stingy to his wife.

Watching the couple and children enter the hall and head to the guest rooms, Qin Feng finally withdrew his resentful gaze, found Uncle Qi and others, and sat for dinner.

After thinking it over, he also called over the innkeeper and instructed, "Serve the guests who just went upstairs with your most expensive and best dishes, quickly, they’re hungry."

Thus, the family of eight, freshly bathed and ready for dinner, looked at the lavish spread in front of them in shock, shaking their heads.

Liu Ji, frightened, "It wasn’t me."

Yin Le and Ah Wang, "We didn’t order it!"

The four kids couldn’t be considered; they simply didn’t have the financial means.

Having guessed who it was, Qin Yao sighed impatiently.

Inside the room, silence lasted three seconds before the kids’ stomachs let out a rumble.

Qin Yao sighed, "Let’s eat, let’s eat." One can’t waste good food; they’ll eat and talk later.

No longer holding back, everyone immediately sat down, grabbed bowls and chopsticks, and began devouring.