CHAPTER 402: CHAPTER 398: QIN XIAOWU: I, THE POOR GHOST JUNIOR MASTER!

Yu Mansion.

Mrs. Yu was tasting the preserves her husband brought back, her brows raised in delight and her eyes smiling, that is, until he revealed the news that Qin Liuxi was actually a girl, and not just any girl, but a Miss Qin.

"Cough cough cough, water." Mrs. Yu almost choked on the preserves.

Yu Qiucai hurriedly poured a glass of water and helped her drink it, saying, "Look how flustered you are, be careful not to choke our son."

Mrs. Yu slapped his hand away, "Always talking about your son, can’t it be a girl?"

"That’s not possible, the Saint has said that you are carrying a boy." Yu Qiucai spoke with wide eyes, "The Saint’s words are always accurate."

Mrs. Yu gave him a side-eye, straightening her expression, she asked, "Is she really of the female gender?"

Yu Qiucai nodded, "How could it be false? She said it herself, what man would voluntarily claim to be a girl? Besides, she has no reason to lie to me about this. Moreover, I know Qin Bohong’s wife. All of the Qin family males older than twelve were banished; they wouldn’t dare keep one hidden at home, right?"

"It never occurred to me," said Mrs. Yu. "What are you going to do about this?"

"What’s there to do? Just let it be."

"What if the Qin family comes to you, seeking a reprieve for the Qin family males?"

Yu Qiucai laughed scornfully, "I’m just a small City Guardian, where would I get the power to plead their case to the Saint? Use my family’s connections? My father would likely transfer me back to the capital immediately. Besides, the Qin family’s case is a difficult one. With serious offenses in worship rituals, how could the Saint not react?"

Mrs. Yu rubbed her belly and said, "You have been posted here for many years, isn’t it good to be called back to the capital?"

She had only given birth to one daughter, and there had been no news from her belly for many years; it was a lie that her mother-in-law had no concerns. It was Yu Qiucai who, in fear of her being aggrieved, intentionally sought an external posting, preferring to keep the family of three in a small city to avoid the vexing matters of returning to the mansion.

Yu Qiucai hugged her tightly, "What’s in the capital for me? Would I have this son here? Li City brings us prosperity."

He touched his wife’s protruding belly and continued, "Besides, you’re far along in your pregnancy now. We need to keep things as stable as possible. When we go back to the capital, our family of four will return in grand style."

Mrs. Yu spat at him playfully, "As you said, let’s not rely on our family connections; we aren’t capable of meddling in northwest affairs. But here in Li City, we should be able to offer them some protection. The Qin family returnees are all elderly, weak, women, and children. Based on what you said, having gone from the status of an official’s wife to putting themselves out there and doing business, they are obviously forced by their need for livelihood. Half of the small tradespeople end up in the hands of local ruffians and mobsters, even those bullies who abuse their borrowed authority."

She leaned back against the large pillow, her face full of disdain, "The Ding family has done plenty of such things."

"My dear wife is filled with righteous indignation."

Mrs. Yu hit him, saying, "I just feel that it’s not easy for women; falling from a noble official’s wife to competing with commoners over petty profits is a huge drop that many people cannot bear. Yet, she has the courage to put herself out there and do business. To be honest, I have great respect for Qin Bohong’s wife. I hear she comes from the noble Langya Wang Family. It’s no wonder she was born to a great clan; she has quite a decisive spirit."

"The horse dies and you continue on foot – it’s all because they have no other choice," said Yu Qiucai.

"That’s the way it is. So, have someone look out for them. It will be returning the favors of the Saint. As for the northwest," Mrs. Yu pondered, "I will write a letter to my cousin Lin Sheng, asking him to offer some discreet support. Not to escape their guilt, but finding some lighter work is feasible."

"My wife’s kindness is great."

Mrs. Yu stroked her belly, "This also counts as accumulating virtues for my son, as well as repaying the Saint’s favor. She has known you for a long time but has never spoken of her family’s matters, nor has she ever asked for this favor. It’s clear she knows her place. Otherwise, if she really asked, even if your father called you back, you’d need to find a way to repay it, right?"

Yu Qiucai was silent.

Truth be told, if Qin Liuxi truly asked to repay this favor, whether it was successful or not, he’d have to make some arrangements; after all, she had saved his daughter and supposedly brought fortune to him.

"What my wife says is true."

Mrs. Yu smiled lightly, "If she doesn’t mention it, let’s not either. Just help them discreetly. She’ll be grateful to us if she finds out."

Yu Qiucai nodded, "In a few days, after I take a bath and rest, I’ll take you and our daughter to visit her shop."

"Alright."

Qin Liuxi had no idea that Yu Qiucai and his wife had secretly hatched quite a few schemes. Taking her two apprentices back to the Qin Mansion’s side courtyard, she was greeted by the sight of Qin Mingchun, whom she hadn’t seen for many days.

As soon as Qin Mingchun saw her, he stood up, holding something in his hand. His dark eyes shone brightly, but upon seeing Teng Zhao and Wang Chuan, the light in his eyes dimmed.

Sister Bao’er wasn’t wrong; elder sister really did take in apprentices, and two at that. This means there are now two more people vying for what belongs to her elder sister.

Considering apprentices, who are around frequently, aren’t they even closer than a real younger brother?

The thought alone was enough to make Qin Mingchun so sad he wanted to cry.

"Aren’t you supposed to be at the academy? Why are you here?" Qin Liuxi asked.

"Tomorrow is a resting day, so I and third brother came back home," Qin Mingchun replied listlessly as he saluted her, then shot a somewhat hostile look towards Teng Zhao and the others.

"Oh, let me introduce you all. These are my two apprentices, Teng Zhao and Wang Chuan. Zhaozhao, this is your master’s younger brother. You two are about the same age, so based on your age you should call each other ’brother’ and ’sister,’" Qin Liuxi told the three young ones.

Teng Zhao frowned and said, "Master, your words are mistaken."

Qin Liuxi: "?"

"Since he is your younger brother, by rights, we should address him respectfully as Junior Master," Teng Zhao bowed to Qin Mingchun and gave a salutation: "Teng Zhao, Daoist name Xuan Yi, greets Junior Master."

Suddenly treated with extreme filial piety, Qin Mingchun: "???"

Wait, he just went off to study, how did he come back to become someone else’s Junior Master.

And one of younger age but higher status, at that!

His brain was a bit muddled, and he looked to his elder sister. Should he really respond to this title of Junior Master?

Qin Liuxi was also taken aback by this address of Junior Master and giggled upon realizing, "I did get the seniority wrong. Calling you Junior Master is indeed appropriate."

So it was acknowledged.

This was truly an unexpected twist. He thought he was going to be out of favor, but instead, he found himself acknowledged as a Junior Master of higher rank.

Hehe, this rise in status was rather nice.

Qin Mingchun tried hard to suppress the corners of his mouth from turning upwards, cleared his throat, and feigned an air of sophistication, "Well, since you have taken the oath of apprenticeship, you should dutifully learn from my sister."

"Yes, Junior Master."

Noticing that Qin Mingchun had something to discuss with Qin Liuxi, Teng Zhao tactfully took Wang Chuan to their own quarters.

Qin Mingchun found the two more agreeable by the minute. Just as he was about to praise them, a conversation between the apprentice siblings drifted over to him.

"Senior brother, how come our Junior Master didn’t give us a meeting gift?"

"Maybe because he’s poor!"

"I think so too!"

Qin Mingchun’s face flushed red: "..."

I’m not, I didn’t, it just... took me by surprise!