After Transmigrating as a Disabled Villain - Chapter 10

The atmosphere inexplicably fell silent for a moment. County Magistrate Qiu had no need to hide his emotions from his daughter, and concern appeared on his face.

“Jinning, this isn’t like you. That Eldest Miss Qin didn’t do anything to you, did she? Although the Qin family are wealthy merchants, in Jiuqu County, Father is still the one who has the final say. You don’t need to worry about outsiders.”

When that girl Luyao had returned, she had been crying with snot and tears, looking as if his daughter had been kidnapped by bandits. He still could not feel at ease.

He was worried that his daughter had suffered grievances outside, yet he, as her father, knew nothing and could not stand up for her.

Qiu Jinning knew her father was worried, so she revealed a gentle smile. “Father, you’re overthinking it. By the way, does our residence have any hundred-year-old aged wine? The Qin family is in the wine business, and I plan to find a jar of strong liquor to give Qin Chu as a birthday gift. Daughter gets along very well with her.”

County Magistrate Qiu’s lips moved. He very much wanted to ask whether she knew what she was saying.

She got along well with that famously useless good-for-nothing?

Why did he find that a little hard to accept?

“We don’t. Hundred-year-old aged wine is difficult to find. Even though Father has been an official for many years, I’ve never seen any. Your birthday is coming soon, though. It’s time to let your mother make arrangements.”

He also loved wine. Why had he never seen his daughter look for hundred-year-old aged wine for him? Suddenly, his heart felt blocked.

Qiu Jinning had not held much hope in the first place, so she was not disappointed after hearing this. It was just that she definitely had to find that hundred-year-old aged wine, and she had to find it as soon as possible. She had only brought up this excuse for searching for wine in front of her father so she would not have to explain herself later.

And there was also the person who had not hesitated to spend eight thousand taels to plant a gu in her. That person was either rich or noble, so the scope had narrowed considerably.

The next day, at the county school.

After Qin Chu learned the original Eldest Miss Qin’s usual conduct in class, she did not deliberately try to change it. If she understood the lesson, she listened a little. If she did not understand, she slept. In any case, she did not plan to take the imperial examination route. Acting this way also meant no one would suspect she was not Eldest Miss Qin.

No, when it came to the policy essay class, she listened until she grew drowsy, then directly sprawled across the desk.

The teacher was already used to it and could not even be bothered to look at the back of her head.

Qin Chu was sleeping sweetly. In her dream, the beauty in ancient clothing wore a red dress and smiled with charming grace. She lay on a pure white bedsheet, her loose collar revealing glimpses of skin that seemed even whiter than the sheet.

The beauty on the bed looked at her and smiled, her tone slow and enticing. “Qin Chu—”

“Qin Chu, Qin Chu—”

The soft calls by her ear came one after another. Qin Chu raised her head in confusion and spoke dazedly. “Beauty, don’t be anxious. I’ll wash my hands first.”

Qiu Jinning, who had originally looked calm, instantly stiffened. The calm on her face almost failed to hold.

“Qin Chu, you were dreaming. I am Qiu Jinning.”

From the looks of it, she had even dreamed of her? And she needed to wash her hands? Qiu Jinning thought of something, her expression turning slightly cold. This lecher!

The beauty’s voice was cold, and the expression on her face was even colder. It was completely different from the soul-stealing, seductive appearance in the dream.

Qin Chu shivered violently and came back to her senses. “Miss Qiu? Um, I wasn’t dreaming that you and I were—no, I mean, I didn’t dream of you.”

Heavens above. Why had she had that kind of dream in broad daylight, and even dreamed of Qiu Jinning? This was deadly. Could it be because last time’s experience had been too good?

Qiu Jinning pursed her lips. For some reason, the roots of her ears warmed, but her voice remained cold. “I came to find you for something. May we speak somewhere else?”

Qin Chu obediently stood and followed her out of the classroom.

Everyone watched in confusion. Miss Qiu had come to find Qin Chu yesterday, and she had come again today. Was it really because of the account book matter and she had come to reprimand her?

The county magistrate was being too indecisive. If this good-for-nothing had made a mistake, then he should just punish her quickly. What was the meaning of always having Miss Qiu come to find her?

Although Beauty Qiu, who was famous throughout Jiuqu County, was indeed very beautiful, she had not come for them. Every single time, she came for that good-for-nothing Qin Chu. Everyone really could not feel good about that.

Faintly, there was even some envy…

When they came back to their senses, everyone hurriedly shook their heads. Envying that good-for-nothing Eldest Miss Qin? Forget it. But Eldest Miss Qin did possess immense family wealth, which truly gave people reason to envy her. It could only be said that she had a good father and was good at reincarnating.

Outside the classroom, Qiu Jinning kept walking until they were far from the classroom, where there were very few students on the road.

She stopped, turned around, and looked at Qin Chu. “The diagram you drew in the account book before—did you think of it yourself?”

Diagram? Qin Chu took a moment to react. A thought flashed through her mind. Could it be that the Baiyue Dynasty had no precedent for using tables in bookkeeping?

“Yes. I drew it that way to save trouble. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Father said this method is excellent, so he asked me to confirm it so it can be promoted for use.” Qiu Jinning’s gaze rested on Qin Chu’s face. She did not look as if she were lying. It should indeed have been this person’s idea.

To save trouble? That was reasonable too. Recording accounts that way did make things much easier.

Seeing that Qiu Jinning was asking about this, Qin Chu suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she was not asking about her dream, it was fine.

Once her heart relaxed, looking at Qiu Jinning inevitably made her remember another matter. “I also asked my father yesterday. The Qin residence doesn’t have any hundred-year-old aged wine. But County Magistrate Qiu is knowledgeable and experienced. Perhaps he can find some.”

“Mm. Did you dream of me just now?” Qiu Jinning responded faintly, then asked casually.

Qin Chu’s breathing hitched. “Um, do you have anything else? If not, I’ll go back first.”

Why ask about someone else’s dream? Did she not know how to respect someone’s privacy?

Even if she was the main character of the dream, she should still avoid suspicion. Qin Chu’s dream had only reached halfway, and the thing that should have happened had not happened yet before she was woken up. A trace of regret quietly passed through Qin Chu’s heart.

Seeing that she avoided answering, Qiu Jinning already knew the answer in her heart.

This lecher. Sure enough…

A touch of awkwardness rose between the two, and for a moment, neither spoke.

Just then, a shout came from not far away. “Sister Qiu, why are you here? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

The person who came was Third Miss Gu. Qin Chu did not get along with her, so she shrugged and turned to leave.

Qiu Jinning watched her back for a moment before looking at the approaching Third Miss Gu. “Why were you looking for me?”

Third Miss Gu glanced in Qin Chu’s direction and said unhappily, “Sister Qiu, why were you with that good-for-nothing Cripple Qin?”

“Gold is never pure, and a gentleman is kind without pointing out the flaws in jade. Sister Gu, you should call her Eldest Miss Qin.” Qiu Jinning kindly reminded her, instead of saying “Cripple Qin” every time.

Exposing another person’s physical defect whenever one met them was not the conduct of a gentleman.

Third Miss Gu glanced at Qiu Jinning’s cold brows and eyes, then muttered in dissatisfaction, “Cripple Qin always calls me Gu Laosan too. Forget her. I heard from Eldest Sister that your birthday is on the last day of this month. Sister Qiu, what are your plans? How about letting my eldest sister help arrange it?”

The eldest daughter of the Gu family had married Qiu Jinning’s elder brother. Her original intention was to have her younger sister ask what Qiu Jinning liked, so she could cater to her preferences and win over this sister-in-law who was deeply valued and treasured by the Qiu family, thereby consolidating her own position in the Qiu household.

But Third Miss Gu had misunderstood. She thought her eldest sister wanted to display her status by taking over this matter, so she came to sound out Qiu Jinning. After all, there were only a few days left before the end of the month.

Qiu Jinning frowned and said faintly, “Mother will arrange it for me. There is no need to trouble Eldest Sister-in-law.”

If Eldest Sister-in-law’s help were needed, Mother would arrange it herself. The relationship between Mother and Eldest Sister-in-law was somewhat subtle.

In the end, Madam Qiu was dissatisfied that the eldest daughter of the Gu family came from a minor merchant household. She had no talent and no virtue, only a bit of beauty, yet she had captured her son’s heart.

Qiu Jinning did not want to get involved in the conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Third Miss Gu curled her lips. She must have gone mad to think Qiu Jinning would help Eldest Sister on account of their recent interactions. She had not expected her to be completely cold and unapproachable.

What an annoying sister-in-law. Just as annoying as that good-for-nothing Cripple Qin.

Back then, Qin Chu had even said Third Miss Gu was not worthy of carrying shoes for the Qin family. Now that her eldest sister had married into the county magistrate’s residence, wasn’t the Gu family standing on equal footing with the Qin family? Thinking of the Qin family’s eldest young master, Qin Mo, Third Miss Gu’s eyes dimmed, and she grew unhappy.

Although Qin Mo did not have many merits, he was handsome and had immense family wealth. Wanting to marry into the Qin residence was also her family’s intention. Otherwise, just because Qin Chu was such a hateful sister-in-law, she might not even have been willing.

Time quickly reached the end of the month. Madam Qiu came to find her daughter with a stack of invitations.

“Jinning, take a look and see if there is anyone else we haven’t invited. This time, we’ll take advantage of your twentieth birthday and choose carefully. Mother is just waiting to drink a cup of wine offered by a son-in-law.”

Qiu Jinning took the invitations and flipped through them. After hesitating for a moment, she said, “There is no invitation for the Qin residence.”

Madam Qiu was puzzled. “Which Qin residence?”

Suddenly, she thought of something and cried out in surprise, “Don’t tell me you want to invite the Qin family’s eldest young master? No, no, absolutely not. How can someone who spends all day seeking pleasure become our Qiu family’s son-in-law?”

Qiu Jinning pursed her lips and said calmly, “It is not the Qin family’s eldest young master. It is the Qin family’s eldest young miss, Qin Chu.”

Author’s Note:

Qin Chu: Disturbing someone’s beautiful dream is immoral.

Qiu Jinning: Lecher—