Chapter 555: Not Asking Her

Qin Bi pondered that the Hou Fu of Marquis Qin Yan had bestowed very little fortune upon Qin He.

As soon as Qin Lang thought of the gains they had kept hidden this time, Qin He grew restless; he smiled and said, "How can this be? Isn't she at maximum luck value? We hid our gains, and Qin He is having a bad time."

Qin Tan, Qin Di, and the others also looked thoughtful. Fortune and luck are mysterious and intangible; without the appearance of the fortune group, no one could tell who possessed fortune or luck.

Through several summonings of snow and rain, the small fortune group appeared, proving that Qin Bi possessed fortune.

As for Qin He? She has maximum luck value.

Qin Tan chuckled. Speaking of Qin He, it was truly amusing. Others with luck possessed ordinary luck, but Qin He started with maximum luck value, showing she was extremely greedy and eager for quick success.

The Great Yan Emperor has maximum luck value, supported by civil and military officials in court, as well as scholars and strategists. What does Qin He have? Does the Hou Fu of Marquis Qin Yan revolve around her?

Thinking of this, Qin Tan's heart sank.

To be honest, before this, the Hou Fu had indeed revolved around Qin He.

"Are we really keeping it hidden?" Qin Xun asked.

Qin Xun referred to the gains from the small space in the Beast Realm. Since returning, they had kept it hidden; Qin He only knew their team had slain a Flame Beast, not the other gains.

For instance, the sweet radishes and spiritual energy sweet potatoes.

Qin Bi smiled: "We'll talk after we finish eating."

Once the spiritual food was finished, what face did Qin He have to claim it was her fortune? Besides, whatever she said was useless; it was all eaten. Qin Bi's point was to watch Qin He make a fool of herself.

Qin Xun, Qin Tang, and Qin Lang laughed; they were delighted by this.

"Guess what I brought?" Qin Bi said with a smile.

"What?" Qin Lang asked, his eyes shining.

Qin Bi walked outside and called to Qin Lang: "I brought river snails. Come, let's stir-fry them with chili peppers."

Hearing this, Qin Lang was overjoyed. River snails were a favorite among the younger generation. Unfortunately, upon returning from the small space in the Beast Realm, Qin Lang and the others had eaten the snails they caught; with shells and little meat, they didn't last long.

Qin Tang and Qin Xun immediately followed, as the courtyard of Qin Tan's study had a kitchen.

Qin Lang was very familiar with the kitchen. Qin Bi took out the river snails and chili peppers from her storage bag; she hadn't brought other seasonings. Qin Xun washed the snails with clear water, and Qin Lang went to fetch Zhu Shi to stir-fry them.

"Go call the children over too," Qin Tan instructed.

Qin Xun went to fetch them. The children of Qin Tang and Qin Xun were sensible; they wandered over quietly without making a fuss. Qin Bi and the others kept the spiritual food hidden not out of fear of Qin He, but mainly to worry she might steal some of their fortune.

Qin He's luck value was strange; everyone felt uncertain about it.

Qin Bi brought ten jin of river snails. Qin Tan added a spiritual duck, stewed with medicinal ginseng. Fortunately, they were eating in Qin Tan's study courtyard; otherwise, the scent would have spread, and everyone would have known they were enjoying a fine meal.

When the chili stir-fried snails came out of the wok, the children drooled with craving.

"It smells so good," said Qin Xun's child.

"The broth is also delicious when dipped with steamed buns," said Qin Tang's youngest son. "Spicy and tasty."

Jiang Shi brought steamed buns. Qin Bi broke one open, shared it with Qin Su, and dipped it in the broth to eat. Ten jin of chili stir-fried snails was a lot; they ladled a large basin and gathered around the table to eat.

There was also the stewed spiritual duck, spicy and fragrant enough to make one swallow their own tongue.

Lin Shi was craving it too and came along with Jiang Shi. They dipped steamed buns in the broth. There weren't enough stir-fried snails for everyone to have their fill; tasting was fine, but eating enough was impossible. Qin Bi, Qin Lang, and Qin Su all loved them.

They went to call He Shi, but she refused to come. Spiritual energy river snails were rare; the children barely had enough to eat, so she decided not to go.

Actually, Qin Tan, Qin Di, Qin Bi, and the others were merely testing the waters. By keeping the food hidden, the Third and Fourth Branches were thriving; let's see how Qin He would fare. Previously, the Second Branch had been wealthy, while the Third and Fourth Branches were merely average.

Qin Bi did not hesitate to eat. In the Hou Fu of Marquis Qin Yan, they were fighting for fortune; eating well was also a form of luck.

Qin Lang, Qin Tang, and Qin Xun did not stand on ceremony with the children; they all took some stir-fried snails. It was good that He Shi hadn't come; Qin Han was still determined to make Flame Beast clothes for her two children.

Qin Han arrived to visit He Shi and set down a small food box. "Mother, I brought you some cakes; they are still warm."

He Shi tasted a piece. "Not bad. You eat some too."

Qin Han was a concubine-born daughter raised by He Shi, so she was casual. Hearing this, she took a cake and ate. "Where are the eldest sister-in-law and the others?"

He Shi took a sip of tea. "They went to your Third Aunt's place."

Qin Han had only asked out of politeness; she did not truly miss Jiang Shi and Lin Shi or want to talk to them. It was good that Jiang Shi and Lin Shi were absent, sparing He Shi the trouble of refusing her request for Flame Beast skins.

"Mother," Qin Han said, seeing He Shi had nearly finished eating, then hesitated. "I want a few pieces of Flame Beast hide to make new clothes for the two children for the Red Flame Festival."

He Shi: "..."

He Shi knew Qin Han resented Qin Bi's previous engagement discussions with Jiang Mo. She reminded Qin Han, "You know that Qin Bi transported the Flame Beasts back. If you really want them, ask Qin Bi."

Qin Han lowered her head. "I won't ask her."

"Then don't ask for them," He Shi said.

Qin Han fell silent. After a moment, she said, "Mother, you don't have to let Sister Qin Bi know. Just give me a few pieces of Flame Beast hide."

He Shi: "..."

"Do you think this is appropriate?" He Shi asked.

Qin Han said, "As long as you don't tell her."

"Qin Han, although you are concubine-born, you were raised by me and are considered half a legitimate daughter." He Shi did not lose her temper or scold Qin Han; she only said, "Is this how I taught you to conduct yourself?"

Qin Han remained silent. After a moment, she said, "I can only rely on Mother."

He Shi did not take the bait. "You contribute nothing, not even a favor. Qin Han, I cannot treat Qin Bi too poorly to favor you and wrong her. I cannot do that."

Qin Han got nothing and hesitated before leaving.

Lin Shi came from the Third Branch. Seeing the situation, she pouted and returned to the Fourth Branch courtyard.

Upon arriving, Lin Shi told Zhu Shi and the others, "She went to ask my mother for Flame Beast hides."

"Didn't she ask once before and get nothing?" Zhu Shi said. "Why is she asking again?"

Qin Bi thought for a moment and guessed the reason. "In previous years, Qin He would give Qin Han some silk and satin. Since Qin Han had things from Qin He, Mother not giving her Flame Beast hides was acceptable. But it seems Qin He didn't give her anything."

Since Qin He hadn't given Qin Han fabric, Qin Han was now eyeing He Shi for Flame Beast hides again.

Jiang Shi and Lin Shi were disdainful. Zhu Shi also shook her head, unsure what to say about Qin Han. Worried that He Shi might secretly give Qin Han something, Lin Shi hurried back to the Fourth Branch courtyard.

He Shi could not bring herself to secretly give Qin Han Flame Beast hides, so she sent Qin Han away.