They did not know where Si Jin got all of his stories from, but somehow he could come up with a new story every day, telling the children fantastical tales of ghosts and gods.
The triplets were utterly engrossed.
They stuck to him like glue, demanding a new story every day.
As for Jiang Yeqian, he never took a step out of his room. He simply stayed inside, meditating and sorting out his breaths.
Li Qing sent servants over with their food every day, so it was convenient to say the least.
After Qi Qingyao returned from Heir Pei’s chambers, she ate lunch with the triplets. After that, the children bugged Si Jin for more stories, while Jiang Yeqian gave Qi Qingyao a complicated look.
“I have a question for you.”
Qi Qingyao looked at him and held out her hand.
“Why are you holding out your hand?” Jiang Yeqian was confused.
Qi Qingyao said nonchalantly, “I can tell from your expression that you don’t know if it’s appropriate for you to ask your question. That means it’s no ordinary question. That’s why you’re asking for my permission. In order to save us both some awkwardness, just pay me a tael and I’ll reluctantly answer your controversial question.”
“All you ever think about is money,” Jiang Yeqian snapped at her.
Qi Qingyao seemed unperturbed. “Don’t forget, mister, you still owe me a debt. You’ve been freeloading off of me, and now I’m so broke I don’t even have a roof over my head. I’m just trying to earn a living, yet you’re calling me money-minded? So what about you? You didn’t pay me even though I saved you, so are you a shameless lout? Besides, do I have a duty to answer your question? Do I look like a charity to you?”
“…”
He just said one thing about her, and she replied with eight hundred things!
…
The next day, Qi Qingyao went to Heir Pei’s chambers.
As his physician, she came to check if her valued customer was feeling any better, as per usual.
“You look much better, Lord Heir!” She lied with a straight face and an even pulse! It was his fault for looking so weak, as though he could not even lift a finger.
“Hmph.” Heir Pei snorted out of his nose just once.
“I saved you, but you’re turning up your nose at me! You little motherf*cker.” Qi Qingyao hated pompous people like him most of all, so she did not hold back with her insult.
Her attitude shocked Heir Pei into a near meltdown. “Y-You… You swore!”
Qi Qingyao shrugged lazily. “I’m a freaking physician, and I saved your life. Yet you won’t even look at me right. What’s wrong with a cuss word or two in the face of all that?”
“Are all female physicians as vulgar as you?” Heir Pei’s mouth twitched despite himself.
“Are all male patients as unreasonable as you?” Qi Qingyao spoke the truth without holding back. “With your personality, no one would bother to save you if it weren’t for your money. You could do whatever you like for all I care.”
“…”
Was it really just his money?
He was a good-looking guy, though!
Pei Fengtang was renowned in the capital for his handsome features.
This woman must have terrible taste.
In Linquan Village…
After Qi Qingyao left the village with her children that day, no one saw nor heard from her again.
Some villagers who did not understand what was going on started asking their neighbors.
“Why haven’t we seen Eleventh Daughter lately?”
“She owes us twenty taels now, so she’s probably trying to earn it back.” Those in the know who had lent her money responded seriously.
The second son of the Wu family rolled his eyes at that. “You idiots. Even if that girl isn’t a fool anymore, she’s just a regular girl. There’s no way she could earn twenty strings of coins!”
Old Man Yang’s wife defended Qi Qingyao. “Why not? She caught a wild bear and earned two whole strings just by selling us that pork. Twenty is just ten times that…”
Wu the Second asked, “If I gave you two strings of coins, can you multiply it by ten within a month?”
“…” Old Yang’s wife fell silent.
