After Transmigrating as a Disabled Villain - Chapter 18

However, when the hour of You came the next day, her young lady… left early again, and once again came to wait at the back gate of the county yamen.

When Luyao once again saw the Qin residence’s carriage pass by and saw Qin Chu’s face, she was completely stunned. Deeply shaken, she came to understand one fact.

Boohoo. Her young lady must have been deceived by Eldest Miss Qin. How could that good-for-nothing possibly be the future son-in-law…

Luyao felt grief and indignation. She twisted the handkerchief in her hands until it was almost torn apart. She nearly could not resist going to tell Master and Madam. Someone, please come save her young lady!

As if seeing through her thoughts, Qiu Jinning looked faintly at the little maid. “Luyao, you are not to tell outsiders about this.”

Luyao tugged at the handkerchief in her hands and asked weakly, “Miss, do Master and Madam count as outsiders?”

Qiu Jinning gave her a meaningful glance and said nothing.

Luyao immediately understood.

They counted. In front of the future son-in-law, even her own father and mother counted as outsiders.

Boohoo. Her young lady was good in every way. In Luyao’s heart, she had always had no flaws at all. Now she finally had one. Her young lady’s judgment in people was terrible. She had actually taken a liking to Qin the Great Good-for-Nothing.

After Luyao recovered a little, her gaze toward her young lady became complicated.

Qiu Jinning remembered the way they had looked at each other just now, remembered the look in Qin Chu’s eyes when she smiled at her, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly before she quickly pressed them flat again.

She absolutely was not feeling happy because she had seen Qin Chu. It was all the love gu’s fault.

Qin Chu was also in a very good mood. This feeling of secretly meeting up was so strange—strange, yet exciting.

Who would have thought that once she returned to the Qin residence, her mood would be ruined?

Qin Mo was sitting boldly in the main hall, leisurely drinking tea.

Steward Qin looked troubled. “Eldest Miss, Young Master forced his way in. No one dared to stop him.”

At the end of the day, they were all servants of the Qin residence, and Qin Mo was their master. If he really barged through recklessly, everyone was afraid of hurting this little ancestor.

Fortunately, they had worked together and blocked the main gate. Only then had they stopped Qin Mo and prevented him from charging out.

“Qin Chu, I want to go out. I also want to help at the shops.” Qin Mo had thought things through. Little Sister was trying to seize power. She wanted to bypass him, her elder brother, and take over the Qin family. How could that be allowed? Everything in the Qin family belonged to him.

Qin Chu ignored him and looked directly at the little maid. “Guanzi, tie him up and throw him back. Pass down the order. If Eldest Young Master forces his way out again, tie him up directly. If he refuses to behave, knock him unconscious. The Qin family is under my authority now.”

For the sake of such a disastrous elder brother, she felt that even spending a little thought on dealing with him was a waste of time. Out of sight, out of mind. When Father returned, he would naturally deal with him.

“Got it.” Guanzi rubbed her hands together. Before Qin Mo could shout, she tied him up swiftly and thoroughly, even considerately gagging his mouth.

Practice made perfect. The little maid’s movements were even quicker this time. She moved as if there were wind beneath her feet, carrying Qin Mo away and tossing him back into his own courtyard without the slightest hesitation.

After dealing with Qin Mo, Qin Chu looked at the steward. “Steward Qin, prepare some invitations tomorrow. Send one to every merchant of some standing in Jiuqu County. Invite as many people as possible. At the end of this month, the new wine will leave the cellar. Invite them to the Qin residence to taste it.”

Beer took a very short time to brew—generally seven days at the fastest, and around a month at the slowest. These past few days, she had been so busy she barely had time to rest. If nothing unexpected happened, the first batch of beer was about to be completed. There were still more than twenty days before the end of the month, so there was enough time to make adjustments.

When the first batch of beer came out of the cellar, Qin Chu personally tasted a cup. Looking at the foam in the cup, she nearly burst into tears.

This was the effect. This was the taste. Having a cup of chilled beer on a hot summer day was simply wonderful.

“Guanzi, go withdraw a sum of silver from the accounts. This month’s wages will be doubled. Then invite the senior managers over to taste the new wine.”

Early the next morning, before Qin Chu could leave, she was stopped by her cousin Chen Xia.

“Cousin Qin, today is the day the county school posts the rankings. Don’t you want to see how you did? You burrow into the winery every day. You’re about to brew yourself into a wine barrel.”

Qin Chu thought about it and agreed. The beer had already been successfully brewed, so it was time for her to rest a little.

At the county school, a crowd had once again gathered in front of the red ranking list, just like last time.

“Qin Chu is first in arithmetic again.”

“Qin Chu actually got first place in arithmetic again.”

“This time, she took the exam together with Class A. Even Miss Qiu didn’t get full marks.”

On the red ranking list for arithmetic, Qiu Jinning was ranked below Qin Chu, in second place.

Everyone discussed it animatedly, both surprised by Qin Chu’s talent in arithmetic and sighing over the fact that Qiu Jinning, who had always monopolized first place in every subject, had been pushed to second place in arithmetic this time.

Qin Chu swept her gaze over the rankings. Seeing her name and Qiu Jinning’s name arranged one above the other, she found it exceptionally pleasing. Today’s red ranking list looked especially nice.

“Cousin Qin, you’re first again! You’re amazing.” Chen Xia’s face was full of surprise, her admiration obvious.

Qin Chu lightly lifted the corners of her lips. Her gaze paused beyond the crowd.

The person who arrived wore a scarlet ruqun. Her black hair was like ink, setting off her skin, which was fairer than snow. She was bright and moving, as if even the rising sun had been overshadowed by her.

Everyone turned their heads together and looked at the newcomer—at Qiu Jinning.

Qin Chu met Qiu Jinning’s eyes. She was just about to walk over and greet her, but after seeing Gu San chattering beside her, she abandoned the thought.

Because it was annoying.

Gu San also saw her and instantly remembered how Qin Chu had made her lose face at the birthday banquet. She immediately said to Qiu Jinning, “Sister Qiu, look. That Cripple Qin got full marks again. She definitely cheated. How could she possibly do better than you?”

“I also invigilated Class C’s arithmetic exam this time. I watched her take it.” Qiu Jinning’s expression was indifferent, and no emotion could be heard in her voice.

So, just like last time, Qin Chu had not cheated. Her talent in arithmetic truly was extraordinary.

The corner of Gu San’s mouth twitched. In her heart, she grumbled, Why are you always going to Class C to invigilate when you have nothing better to do? Could it be to see Cripple Qin?

The thought flashed through her mind and was immediately denied.

Unwilling to give up, she said, “Even if you were the one invigilating, if she had memorized the answers beforehand, you still wouldn’t be able to tell whether she cheated.”

Qiu Jinning’s expression turned slightly cold. “She achieved full marks through genuine ability.”

The exam paper had been jointly prepared by all the teachers. Could the county school’s teachers have been bribed? Would they sacrifice their own reputations over a small monthly exam? No one would be that foolish.

Genuine ability? Cripple Qin had genuine ability?

Gu San rolled her eyes. Come on. That good-for-nothing clearly only knew how to sleep in class. Many times after school had ended, Gu San had passed by Class C and seen the Qin residence’s little maid unable to wake Qin Chu from her deep sleep.

But with two consecutive full marks, both under Qiu Jinning’s supervision, it was difficult for her to find fault. She could only temporarily suppress the dissatisfaction in her heart.

“Sister Qiu, the Qin family brewed a new wine. Did your residence receive an invitation?”

“We did.”

Hearing this, Gu San quickly asked, “Will you go then? Will Uncle Qiu go?”

The Qin family brewing a new wine was a major matter. Although the Gu family did not believe Qin Chu could brew any decent new wine, they cared very much about whether County Magistrate Qiu would personally go to the Qin residence to taste it.

Because the Gu family had also received an invitation and still had not decided whom to send. But if someone from the Qiu residence went, then they would definitely have to send a few more people. If for no other reason, then to observe County Magistrate Qiu’s attitude and see whether he intended to interfere in business matters.

Although the eldest daughter of the Gu family had already married into the Qiu residence, the Gu family had been holding back and had not clearly expressed their desire to obtain County Magistrate Qiu’s support.

The method the Gu family adopted was to proceed slowly, first figuring out County Magistrate Qiu’s attitude before making the next move, lest they make the wrong calculation and incur the county magistrate’s displeasure.

Qiu Jinning recalled her father’s words. Because the higher authorities had given a reward for the table-style bookkeeping method, County Magistrate Qiu intended to personally go to the Qin residence to congratulate Qin Chu. A student under his governance had made a contribution to the court, and he, as the local official, would also be credited for it. He should acknowledge and encourage Qin Chu.

There was no need to hide this from Gu San, so she answered, “Father and I will go together.”

“I see. Then I’ll go take a look too.” Gu San obtained a clear answer and knew her elder brother would definitely go. Naturally, she would not be left behind either.

Perhaps she could even watch the Qin family make a joke of themselves then. She and her elder brother shared the same thought: neither believed Qin Chu could brew any decent new wine. With Master Qin absent, this newly appointed head of the Qin family, who had only been in charge for a few days, would most likely embarrass herself.

If she could watch Qin Chu make a fool of herself, she certainly could not miss it.

Qiu Jinning nodded noncommittally. Just as she was about to leave, she saw the little maid who always followed Qin Chu walking toward them.

Guanzi marched over with great confidence. First, she rolled her eyes at Gu San. Then she withdrew her arrogance, lowered her brows, and said obediently, “Miss Qiu, my Miss said she will come to the county school every day recently and asked me to inform you.”

Whenever she faced Qiu Jinning, her full momentum always unconsciously died down. This was too embarrassing for Miss. Boohoo.

“Thank you for informing me. Luyao, reward her.” Qiu Jinning slightly curved her lips, her tone light.

“Here.” With a complicated mood, Luyao picked out the smallest piece of broken silver from her purse. Seeing her young lady glance at her, she hardened her heart and changed it to a larger piece, worth a full seven or eight taels.

This was too much. Not only had that good-for-nothing from the Qin family deceived her young lady, but Luyao also had to reward this plump maid who had once argued her to tears. She really felt wronged.

Thinking of Qiu Jinning’s earlier words that she would get used to seeing her often, Luyao only felt her future was dark. Did that mean she would often have to reward this plump maid in the future?

Her own monthly wages weren’t even that much. Comparing people really could anger one to death.

Guanzi looked at the silver Luyao handed over and quickly accepted it. Miss had taught her that only fools refused advantages.

She was not a fool. If there was silver to take, of course she could not refuse.

Besides, it was Miss Qiu’s silver. For some reason, it made her feel as if she had regained a bit of confidence.

Luyao watched painfully as the plump maid put away the silver and said gloomily, “Miss, do you have anything you want to say to Miss Qin? This servant can pass the message along for you.”

Maybe Qin the Great Good-for-Nothing understood courtesy and reciprocity. Then Luyao could earn the silver back.

County Magistrate Qiu was an upright official with clean hands, and Qiu Jinning’s monthly allowance was not large. Giving that plump maid seven or eight taels all at once made Luyao’s heart ache for the silver.

Author’s Note:

Guanzi: Who are you calling a plump maid?

Luyao: You, plump maid, plump maid… ah, help—

Guanzi: Tch, couldn’t even take one hit. I could beat you until you couldn’t find north with one hand.