Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: The Crime of Gender 74

”Survivors! That’s impossible, how could I not have heard of it? Besides, in such a situation, how could there be any survivors in that family?” The moment the person mentioned survivors, another man reacted in surprise.

”Oh, you weren’t there when Er Ni’s father talked about it, so naturally you wouldn’t know. I heard that Qin the Third’s wife, Mrs. Fang, got up at night to relieve herself and saw vagrants sneaking up to their house. She hid by herself and managed to escape the disaster. However, it seems that later Mrs. Fang went crazy from the shock and wandered off to who knows where!”

These people were unaware of Qin Shuangshuang’s relationship with the Qin Family and spoke about it in her presence, treating it as a novelty to tell her. When she heard about the family’s demise, Qin Shuangshuang felt nothing.

Joy? It seemed not. Sadness? Even less likely.

At this moment, Qin Shuangshuang felt mostly indifferent, as if hearing about something happening to strangers in a distant place, her heart remained calm without any emotion.

She left these men looking for work to help with some farm chores first. After the first batch of fast-growing vegetables matured, she would ask them to dry the vegetables.

After dealing with the laborers, Qin Shuangshuang still had many tasks to handle. Recently, everyone had already made great progress on the construction; the first to be built was the academy, followed by the all-important ancestral hall for the family.

Originally, in Qin Family Village, the ancestral hall was built in the center of the village. This time, everyone decided to use the same method, placing the hall in the middle. Of course, now they were city folks and couldn’t be called Qin Family Village anymore.

Once the ancestral hall was completed, the first house to be built was naturally the village chief’s, followed by Qin Shuangshuang’s family. Actually, by rights, Qin Shuangshuang’s influence in the village had long surpassed the village chief’s.

However, everyone knew that Qin Shuangshuang was particularly close to the village chief, so Qin Shuangshuang’s authority not only didn’t undermine the chief but actually gave the chief’s words more strength and authority.

When building Qin Shuangshuang’s house, Fang Zhongyi took the opportunity to announce his intention to marry Mrs. Bai and requested that his and Qin Shuangshuang’s houses be built together into one, though occupying space for two households.

Ever since receiving Qin Shuangshuang’s approval, Fang Zhongyi had been openly affectionate towards Mrs. Bai. The villagers noticed this, and with Mrs. Bai’s good rapport, there was no opposition, even in the border city where this wasn’t frowned upon. Everyone welcomed the union.

Now, Qin Shuangshuang’s house had been completed, and whether it was the design by Min Tiancheng or the work of the villagers, everyone put in their utmost effort. Qin Shuangshuang’s house was undoubtedly the most grandiose in the village.

It featured two courtyards front to back. The front courtyard had three main rooms, two wing rooms, with eastern and western side courtyards. The back had storage for grain, a vegetable cellar, and well-arranged areas for raising chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, and even mules.

Around the yard’s edges, Mrs. Bai had transplanted many beautiful wildflowers, making the courtyard lively and extremely beautiful. Of course, the task of digging for wildflowers was cheekily taken from Qin Shuangshuang by Fang Zhongyi.

The academy, the ancestral hall, the village chief’s house, and Qin Shuangshuang’s house were undoubtedly the most elaborate and painstaking to build in the village. The other homes did not have as many demands, so construction proceeded much faster.

In fact, having court-provided blue bricks for building was already quite satisfying for everyone. Back in Qin Family Village, they all lived in adobe houses. Even the wealthiest, like the village chief’s family, had only one blue-brick room, which everyone envied greatly.

While village folks were busy with work, Qin Shuangshuang had more urgent matters—leaving the safe border city to go to other farming villages to collect grain.

The main issue was the sudden influx of migrants, putting pressure on the border city’s grain reserves. A shortage had arisen, and food prices were soaring. Buying grain in the border city to pay tenant farmers was no longer economical.

This time, Qin Shuangshuang planned to buy a vehicle and two large blue mules for pulling it. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to buy horses, but they were unavailable due to strict governmental control since horses were strategic resources. Unless belonging to an official family or having special permits, such as those in horse bands or escort agencies, ordinary families could not own horses.

People typically traveled on foot or used ox carts; wealthier families rode donkeys, and affluent ones owned or rode mules and mule carts. Luckily, though smaller than horses, mules were just as strong.

The livestock markets in the border city were plentiful. Uncle He from the village was not only skilled in raising cattle but also expert at selecting mules. Qin Shuangshuang enlisted Uncle He to help pick two robust, handsome two-year-old blue mules, perfect for use.

Having bought the mules, she also purchased a cart frame. No need to say more, as Uncle He, who spent half his life pulling carts, was adept. He helped Qin Shuangshuang choose a well-crafted cart. Once harnessed, Uncle He sat at the cart’s front, teaching Qin Shuangshuang to drive, while following them was his clever big yellow ox pulling a cart on its own.

It’s unclear whether Qin Shuangshuang had a particular talent, but she managed to learn how to drive the cart on the way home, independently handling the later part of the journey.

Upon returning home, no one was more excited than Fang Yaoyao, who gleefully led the two mules around first. Then, Qin Shuangshuang’s mentor, Fang Zhongyi, excitedly circled the mules several times, eventually riding and helping feed and water them. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bai and Qin Miao were happy but not as exuberant as Fang Zhongyi and Fang Yaoyao.

With the mules and the cart ready, Qin Shuangshuang was eager to hit the road. Early the next morning, she hitched the cart, packed food, water, and two sets of clothes, and brought a bow and arrow for protection—a common necessity in the border city, where the weapon ban of the interior didn’t apply, so carrying arms was normal.

Before departing, Qin Shuangshuang repeatedly instructed her mentor to take good care of her mother, Qin Miao, and Fang Yao, finally leaving home amid Mrs. Bai’s reminders.

Though outwardly confident, Qin Shuangshuang felt a bit apprehensive inside. Having lived two lives, traveling wasn’t new, but being alone was a first.

Leaving with an empty cart pulled by the two mules, the journey was swift. Sitting at the front, Qin Shuangshuang scarcely needed to whip them as the cart sped along.

As she neared Feiying Pass, she encountered a group of horse riders approaching. The riders wore soft armor, looking like soldiers, led by a handsome young man in light armor with bronze skin! Instantly, Qin Shuangshuang found herself mesmerized by the young man!