Chapter 125. Iron ore

Chapter 125.  Iron ore

Su Qing's expression turned serious when she took it over. Xiaoying, watching her sister from the side, also became nervous.

"Sister, What is this?"

Su Qing studied the stone closely. The weathered surface was grayish-black, and iron oxide could be seen. The fresh surface was dark green, uneven like a human brain.

"Iron ore."

Su Qing wasn't sure, so she asked Xiao Qi to check it out and concluded that it was iron ore.

"Iron ore? What's that?"

It was Xiaoying's first time hearing this term, and she was very curious.

"Let me see."

Ji Shuisheng had just finished teaching Zhong Yong martial arts and walked over to ask Su Qing if there was enough firewood to use. When he heard their conversation, Ji Shuisheng was instantly interested.

"Here."

Su Qing passed the iron ore to him. Ji Shuisheng looked at it carefully and said to Su Qing,

"I'll go to Yongkang to take a look."

"Alright," she said.

Ji Xiaoying was the one who had found it, and Su Qing was not interested in it. The iron and gold mines discovered in ancient times belonged to the country, and no one could mine them.

Ji Shuisheng held the iron ore and pulled Qiu Yongkang to a place with no one else.

"Yongkang, take a look."

After walking into the depths of the forest, Ji Shuisheng ensured no one was around before handing the iron ore to Qiu Yongkang.

"What is this? This seems to be an iron ore. I've heard from my master that iron ore looks like this."

Qiu Yongkang looked at Ji Shuisheng in pleasant surprise. With iron ore, they could make weapons; this was a great success.

"Yeah, I think so too."

Ji Shuisheng nodded and took out his treasured knife to split the black stone in the middle. He looked at the iron in the middle and confirmed it was iron ore.

"That's great; where did you find it?"

Qiu Yongkang asked Ji Shuisheng excitedly. Ji Shuisheng shook his head,

"Xiaoying found it. I'll ask her to take me to see where after dinner."

"Alright, don't tell anyone about this, not even my grandfather."

Qiu Yongkang said to Ji Shuisheng with a severe expression. Ji Shuisheng nodded,

"I was just about to remind you about this, especially Li Daniu and Jiang Laoqi. They don't keep their mouths shut. And your sister, I think she has changed. She has become selfish. She will sell us out without hesitation if she is in danger."

Ji Shuisheng wasn't afraid that Qiu Yongkang would get angry and spoke his mind. He felt that Qiu Yue was an unstable factor.

"Sigh, I didn't expect Qiu Yue to become like this. But you don't have to worry; I won't tell her anything. I'll wait until Jingshi Dao, then find a suitable family and marry her off.

Qiu Yongkang was embarrassed. He used to think that his sister was very sensible, but she suddenly changed. Maybe it was because she couldn't get what she wanted, or perhaps it was because Qiu Yue was a selfish person, to begin with, and she was usually gentle and kind.

"Alright," he said.

Hearing Qiu Yongkang's promise, Ji Shuisheng nodded and stopped talking about her.

"Su Qing is very capable. Let's let her participate in this."

Qiu Yongkang suggested this to Ji Shuisheng. He truly felt that Su Qing was capable and could assist Shuisheng in his revenge.

"No, don't drag her in. We'll leave after we safely send them to Jingshi Dao."

Ji Shuisheng shook his head. He didn't want Su Qing to be in danger. This was a dangerous matter that could cost him his life.

"Alright," he said.

Qiu Yongkang respected Ji Shuisheng's wishes and asked,

"Do you have feelings for Su Qing?"

Ji Shuisheng shook his head.

"I'm not qualified to fall in love with anyone now, but if I get my revenge, I'll marry no one but her."

Qiu Yongkang laughed when he heard Ji Shuisheng's reply,

"Isn't this being moved?"

Su Qing had finished cooking. The woman and the child each had half a bowl of rice, half a spoon of vegetables, and two pieces of stewed fish. As usual, aunt Qiu filled Su Qing's bowl with rice according to a man's portion. Half of it was out of gratitude for Su Qing's protection and care, and the other half was out of guilt.

Su Qing looked at the food in her bowl and said nothing. She took her bowl and went to eat under the tree. The forest was very cool, and the leaves rustled in the wind. This was the happiest moment of the day. After eating and sleeping, the fatigue of the day would disappear.

"Big sister."

Xiaoying and the other children gathered around to eat with her.

"Don't tell anyone."

Su Qing thought of Ji Xiaoying's naivety and especially reminded her.

Ji Xiaoying nodded vigorously.

"I know, I won't say."

She had been taught a lesson by sister Su Qing last time, so she knew that some words should not be said even if they were to rot in her stomach.

Qiu Yue kept looking at them. She seemed to have seen Xiaoying holding a black stone in her hand, and then brother Shuisheng and big brother left with the stone. What was that?

Qiu Yongkang and Ji Shuisheng came out of the forest, and aunt Qiu quickly called for them to eat.

"Shuisheng, Yongkang, the food is getting cold. Hurry up and eat!"

"Alright," he said.

Qiu Yongkang and Ji Shuisheng walked over and picked up the two rice bowls on the stone. The two of them walked to a place with fewer people, and they still had some things to say behind their backs.

After dinner, the women washed the dishes, and the children played around. His sister called over Qiu Yongkang.

"Brother, I want to go to the toilet. Carry me there."

Qiu Yue couldn't walk yet, so Qiu Yongkang had to carry her to the toilet, and aunt Qiu had to help her.

Qiu Yongkang didn't overthink it and carried his sister on his back. When he passed by his mother, he was stopped by Qiu Yue.

"Big brother, I can do it myself. Let mother rest for a while."

Qiu Yongkang thought his sister was concerned about his mother, so he nodded and carried her deep into the forest. He found a small bush and put her down.

"I'll wait for you outside. Call me when you're done."

Qiu Yongkang was about to leave right after he finished talking to his sister. He usually stood a dozen meters away to make sure he couldn't even hear her pee to avoid embarrassment.

"Brother, I saw Xiaoying pick up a black stone. What is that stone?"

"It's just an ordinary stone. I thought it would be some treasure. In the end, Shuisheng cut it open and saw a dead calabash."

Qiu Yongkang answered his sister calmly.

"Then why did you guys enter the forest?"

Qiu Yue continued to probe, and Qiu Yongkang was shocked. His sister's constant monitoring of Shuisheng would ruin their plans.

"Your brother Shuisheng wanted to hunt some prey to improve everyone's condition, but in the end, he didn't manage to get anything."

Although Qiu Yongkang was shocked, he still replied to his sister calmly. He didn't look like he was lying.

"Ah, I see!"

Qiu Yue still didn't believe him, but she must have been overthinking since her brother had said so.

After they got back, Qiu Yongkang immediately went to discuss with his grandfather,

"Grandpa, don't wait until Jingshi Dao. When we reach Su province, find a family and marry Qiu Yue off!"

"I was just about to discuss this with you. Do you think Li Daniu is better or Jiang Laoqi is better? Both of their families know each other well. They have a good family background and a good upbringing. They won't mistreat Qiu Yue."

Qiu Yongkang furrowed his brow when he heard that his grandfather wanted to marry Qiu Yue to these two men. If she married Daniu or old seven, wouldn't Qiu Yue still have to go with them?