Besides her peculiar habit of smelling her feet after washing them, Grandma Qin also enjoyed looking at handsome men and beautiful women.
Her extraordinary skill in judging beauty and ugliness by the shape of a skull and face was accumulated from years of observing people.
In Grandma Qin's eyes, superficial beauty was not true beauty. Only those who remained beautiful in their forties and fifties were truly beautiful.
It was precisely for this reason that Uncle Qin was taken in by Grandma Qin.
If this Zhao Chui Zi shaved his beard, his appearance would not be considered exceptional, but it certainly wouldn't be bad.
How could Zhao Liang Cai not notice Grandma Qin's intense gaze?
He thought the old lady would stop looking after a while, but unexpectedly, she looked him up and down, lingering for a longer time in certain sensitive areas.
"Does the elder have any questions?" Zhao Liang Cai asked Grandma Qin, actually wanting her to avert her gaze.
Grandma Qin nodded and said, "I have questions. Don't call me 'elder,' just call me Grandma Qin."
"Um, how old are you? Are you married? How many people are in your family? How much silver can you earn in a year of military service?"
"Mother, we're talking about important matters," Qin Mu nudged his mother with his elbow, reminding her that this was not the time for such questions.
"Don't push me, I know," Grandma Qin shot her eldest son a glance and continued, "Little Chui Zi, Grandma will believe your words for now, but how do we leave?"
"We can't go back, as entering the city requires paying an entrance tax."
"Do you have money?" Grandma Qin said, glancing at Suo Zi, her eyes implying, 'You certainly don't.'
Suo Zi was furious. How could there be such an annoying old lady in the world?
Zhao Liang Cai shook his head, "We won't enter the city. We'll go around through the mountains."
.
Hou Jing, after Qin Sen saw Zhao Liang Cai and Suo Zi off, began discussing with Grandma Qin and the others.
Whether to follow that person into the mountains.
Going into the mountains was never the first choice for the Qin and Hou families.
Firstly, they were unfamiliar with the terrain, and it was easy to get lost and not be able to find their way out of the mountains.
Secondly, the mountains were dangerous; they could encounter jackals, tigers, and leopards.
And most importantly, once they entered the mountains, they couldn't drive or even push carts, which posed a problem for how to transport the younger children.
Qin Junyao had not participated in the discussion from beginning to end, not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't understand.
What she could do now was to plant vegetables and grains in her space as much as possible, and hurry to exchange useful items with the refugees.
She also needed to learn how to use farming tools, at least so she wouldn't use scissors to cut crops anymore.
Zhao Liang Cai spent ten taels of silver and entered the city with Suo Zi.
Once in the city, Suo Zi started talking.
"Chui Zi, what are you thinking? Tell me, why did you call that old lady Grandma Qin just because she told you to?"
"And why do you want to get the axe out? It's so chaotic outside, and the mountains are dangerous. What if something happens to the axe again?"
"Chui Zi, I'm talking to you."
"Hey!"
Zhao Liang Cai dug into his ear with his finger. "Don't be noisy, I have a headache."
"You have a headache now, but I didn't see you having a headache when you were chatting with that old lady with triangular eyes."
"You even told her your age and how many people are in your family. Why didn't you just write down your birthdate?" Suo Zi said excitedly, slapping his right hand with his left.
Zhao Liang Cai looked at the refugees begging in the city, who were not treated kindly by the city dwellers, and suddenly turned to Suo Zi and asked, "How did you feel after eating that roasted corn?"
"What?"
"Did you eat the roasted and boiled corn that the Qin family's children prepared? How did you feel after eating it?"
Suo Zi pursed his lips, recalling the taste of the fresh corn, and after some thought, said, "Hmm~~ I wasn't full."
"What do you mean? Walk slower, I still have things to say, Chui Zi!"
At the entrance of the inn, Axe stood on the steps, looking out at the street.
He seemed to have heard his brother Suo Zi's loud voice.
Axe waited at the door, while Madam Qian and her daughters waited in the lobby.
"Mother, I want to go back to my room," Zhao Rui said impatiently. Zhao Liang Cai wasn't a big shot that they all had to wait to welcome.
"Rui'er, he is your brother. Your marriage still depends on his support," Madam Qian patted her daughter's hand. Regardless, until Axe grew up, her daughter would still rely on Zhao Liang Cai as a brother. Su Dan Novel Network
"Tch, if he doesn't help me, Mother, you can just cry holding Father's memorial tablet," Zhao Rui said dismissively.
In Qing Kingdom, filial piety was highly valued. Zhao Liang Cai was a martial officer, and even though his mother was a remarried wife, she had been properly married.
If Zhao Liang Cai didn't help her, she would have him reported to the authorities for being unfilial.
Qian Duo glanced at Madam Qian comforting Zhao Rui, then got up and walked outside.
Her cousin had become this way entirely due to her aunt's indulgence. It seemed they had to marry Zhao Rui off as soon as possible after arriving in the northwest, lest she cause trouble.
As soon as she reached the inn entrance, she saw Axe, like a little swallow, throw himself into Zhao Liang Cai's arms.
Qian Duo thought of Zhao Liang Cai's appearance beneath his beard in her previous life. Looking at Axe, who was sitting on Zhao Liang Cai's arm and gesticulating, she involuntarily replaced Axe with herself.
Her face instantly turned crimson.
"Brother, I met a very amazing older sister. She can do magic tricks, and she's so kind. Can you bring them into the city? Brother Suo Zi lied to me. He even tempted me with chicken soup."
"And..."
Zhao Liang Cai raised his hand and touched Axe's forehead, saying, "I know. I'll take you out of the city to meet them tomorrow."
"Then put me down. I want to buy steamed buns for my sister to eat," Axe said happily, knowing he would see Sister Qin tomorrow.
He felt that Sister Qin outside the city was his real sister, and the sister in the inn was fake.
"Liang Cai, that Youcai, Youcai found, found back!" Madam Qian came out of the inn, intending to greet him properly, as if nothing had happened before.
But when she saw her stepson's eyes, she couldn't help but remember his question about Zhao Rui's background. On this matter, she felt somewhat guilty, and her speech faltered.
"Axe's return is in the past. You all pack your things and follow Suo Zi tomorrow."
"Where are you going? And you?" Qian Duo was the first to sense something was wrong. Zhao Liang Cai was asking them to follow Suo Zi, not to go together.
Zhao Liang Cai finally looked properly at this cousin of Zhao Rui. She was frail and delicate, looking very much like Madam Qian from more than a decade ago. This made him have no good feelings towards Qian Duo.
His voice turned slightly cold as he said, "To the northwest. I have some matters to attend to." He then hugged Axe and walked into the inn.
Axe pursed his small lips, feeling that his brother was angry, and dared not mention buying steamed buns again.
When his brother got angry, he was quite scary.
"We'll set off at dawn tomorrow morning," Suo Zi followed Zhao Liang Cai's steps, informing Madam Qian and the others of the departure time.
What bad luck, having to escort these women. Compared to this, he would rather go outside the city and fight that old lady.
Following Axe's guidance, Zhao Liang Cai arrived at Axe's room. He put his younger brother down, and Axe curled up on the bed.
His temples felt like they were being pricked by needles, forcing him to clench his teeth.
Qian Duo reminded Zhao Liang Cai of his own childhood.
Being wronged, beaten, humiliated...
Madam Qian, what was your purpose in bringing these people to seek refuge?