Chapter 325: The Cultivators Return from the Beast Realm

Jiang Mo was not stingy, allowing Qin Han to bring along more valuable items.

Qin Han procured item by item, took the children to Qin Yan Marquis Fu, and suddenly brought many thick gifts to her natal home; Lady Lin's intuition sensed something amiss—could it be? She wouldn't dare covet He Shi's belongings.

Qin Bi gave them; what would it look like if others coveted them?

"Qin Han has arrived." Jiang Shi greeted with a smiling face, though her heart was full of speculation: "Why bring so many things upon returning?"

"Look what I brought." Qin Han smiled sweetly: "Premium soaps with floral scents, several varieties. I picked the ones you like; everyone gets a share."

The gifts laid out were numerous; Jiang Shi opened the soaps, finding indeed many colorful varieties, all the expensive kinds usually sold, which Qin Han had only given a few bars during the New Year.

There were also pastries from the shop made with the finest ingredients, several ginseng roots, and medicinal herbs for nourishing the body.

Additionally, several bolts of silk, clearly costing a great deal of silver.

Jiang Shi and Lady Lin exchanged a glance, fearing Qin Han sought something; this time she brought so much. Because of the abundance, Jiang Ren and her brother felt more confident visiting their maternal grandfather's house and appeared livelier.

Everyone entered the main hall, and Qin Han paid respects to He Shi.

"Why bring so many things?" He Shi asked.

"Not many." Qin Han smiled: "To honor Mother."

Though she said that, Qin Han's gifts were for everyone; the concubine-born daughters whispered happily. He Shi, seeing this, simply distributed the soaps and cloth in Qin Han's presence.

He Shi waited, but Qin Han showed no intention of sending a share to the Second House; now she was truly surprised.

Every time Qin Han returned, if the Fourth House had something, she invariably sent a separate share to the Second House; this time, she prepared nothing for the Second House? He Shi was surprised only briefly, then dismissed it.

Jiang Shi and Lady Lin, having received the soaps, discussed and slaughtered a spirit duck for lunch.

Many from the Fourth House could sit at the table; one spirit duck was insufficient, yet this was what Lady Lin had reluctantly produced. The concubine-born daughters, knowing it was a delicacy, took several extra bites, while Jiang Ren and her brother got only one piece of meat.

Qin Han glanced at her concubine-born sister; such unpresentable things—she should have known not to give them anything.

Qin Han pondered staying at her natal home; every time they ate spirit duck, it would be like this. She spent much silver yet ate only a few bites, which was not worthwhile. Thus, it would be better to ask for a few ducks to take home and stew herself.

After the meal, Qin Han sought He Shi and said, "Mother, could you give me a few spirit ducks?"

He Shi raised an eyebrow, sipping tea: "Go ask your elder brother."

Qin Tang and Qin Xun both had spirit ducks; He Shi did not believe Qin Han could covet her ten thousand spirit ducks.

Qin Bi and Qin Han had an average relationship; what Qin Bi gave to their couple, Qin Han had given nothing in return, so what right did she have to ask? This was inappropriate; He Shi would not do the foolish thing of taking a concubine-born daughter's gift and handing it to another concubine-born daughter.

A mistress of the household so irredeemably foolish must be deposed.

"Mother." Qin Han coquettishly pleaded: "How could I bear to ask for my elder brother's things?"

He Shi understood, playing dumb: "You mean..."

"Mother, give me a few spirit ducks." Qin Han pouted slightly, sighed: "My two children have no spiritual roots; the Spirit Condensing Elixir is too expensive, so I had to come to Mother."

He Shi's smile vanished: "I have none."

Qin Han looked puzzled: "Doesn't Mother have ten thousand spirit ducks?"

"Those belong to Qin Bi." He Shi said: "If you wish to get a few spirit ducks for your children, go ask Qin Bi."

Qin Han would not go; displeased, she called her children and left.

Qin Lang heard about it and ran to Rong Wang Fu.

"Sister, it's good that Fourth Auntie is sensible." Qin Lang brought pastries, opened them, gave Qin Bi a piece, and said: "Clearly knowing the spirit ducks were sent to Fourth Auntie by you, Qin Han didn't ask you; it serves her right for not getting any."

Qin Bi held Rong Chi, feeding him; the child took a bite, and Qin Bi sneered: "With our relationship, she can't get them."

"That's true." Qin Lang agreed: "Qin Han and Qin He are close."

Qin Bi fed the child Rong Chi, and Qin Lang ate too.

Moments later, Qin Lang said: "What does it mean that Qin Han asked Fourth Auntie for spirit ducks?"

"What does it mean?" Qin Bi actually knew, exposing Qin Han's little scheme: "Asking me, Qin Han couldn't get them; even if she had any shame, she wouldn't open her mouth. By going around me to ask Mother, she avoids owing me a favor. If Mother gives them, Qin Han brought gifts to the Marquis Fu, so it wouldn't be a free handout."

Qin Lang was not foolish; hearing this, he understood immediately: "Qin Han's schemes are quite deep."

Thinking of Qin Han's conduct, Qin Bi commented: "She waits until she sees the rabbit before releasing the hawk; Qin Han always knows what she wants. Qin He only succeeded smoothly due to luck; Qin Han relies entirely on calculation."

In terms of scheming, Qin He cannot compare to Qin Han; Qin Han seizes only tangible things.

Because Qin He is a transmigrator, she probably wanted to be the transcendent female protagonist of a cultivation novel, so her thoughts were somewhat unrealistic—things like "First Talented Lady of Great Yan" or "Marquis Fu Prodigy" were all empty.

Without the heavenly dao's cheat, Qin He would have long since gone off to cool her heels.

Is Qin Han very smart? Not really; she's just a bit of a little white flower, not obvious, but Qin Bi sees this tendency in Qin Han, perhaps due to prejudice, after all, Jiang Mo chose Qin Han.

With the assistance of two powerful ministers' heirs, Qin Han forcibly snatched this merchant marriage from Qin Bi's grasp.

Actually, Qin Bi wanted to snatch it back at the time; nothing else, marrying a merchant was best for her. As a concubine-born daughter, noble families wouldn't look at her, yet a good marriage was stolen by Qin Han.

Thinking about it, Jiang Mo preferred Qin Han more; Qin Bi couldn't compete.

This marriage created a rift between Qin Han and Qin Bi.

Though Qin Han snatched the marriage, she wasn't happy about it.

Over the next two days, cultivation teams returning from the small space of the Beast Realm came back one after another; everyone had their own gains, and some perished in the Beast Realm small space. Such was fate; everyone could only sigh.

Some great cultivation families brought back high-grade spirit fruits, spirit plants, and beast crystals.

Suddenly, Spirit Plant Street became lively.

Cultivators seeking spirit fruits and spirit plants heard the news and all went to Spirit Plant Street to look around.

Those needing to break through their cultivation base had to prepare several elixirs and find alchemists to refine them themselves. Every time a cultivation team returned from the Beast Realm small space, Spirit Plant Street was the liveliest.

Xue Wang Fu also learned that Qin He and others went to collect things.

"Did you catch any spirit ducks?" A guard from Xue Wang Fu stopped someone and asked.

"Spirit ducks??????" The man laughed: "The Beast Realm small space is vast; you might find some if you search, but it depends on how much luck your Xue Wang Fu Young Master's wife has."

Dreaming? People nearby couldn't help but laugh.

In the afternoon, Qin Yan and others returned, having gained nothing.

Hearing that Qin Bi caught spirit ducks, Qin Han exploded: "How is that possible?"