Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Feng Youcai Is Dumbfounded
Feng Youcai’s face turned beet red as he panted, "That’s exactly what I mean. Since Feng Xi and Feng Xuxu have asked to leave the clan on their own, they are no longer members of the Feng Family, and thus they cannot take Feng Family’s silver."
"Alright, then have Feng Xi and Feng Xuxu present the origins of their silver. If it’s left by Dahong, then return it to you. If not, Uncle Youcai, let’s put an end to this matter. How can Uncle Youcai object?" The village chief spoke emphatically. It seemed like a question, but it was, in fact, pressuring Feng Youcai to agree.
Feng Youcai glanced at his two sons, then turned his head to look at Feng Xi, pondering whether Feng Xi could produce evidence and also wondering whether Dahong could possibly have had that much silver.
"Dad, it’s your turn to speak," Santian, seeing his father remain silent, urged anxiously, fixated on the idea that silver in his dad’s hands was as good as in his own.
Feng Youcai gave Santian a sidelong glance and nodded at the village chief, "I agree. If it’s not Dahong’s, then we will cease to bother Feng Xi and Feng Xuxu. If they can’t produce it, then I have the right to take back the wasteland and also to have the village kick out Feng Xi and Feng Xuxu, forbidding them from ever stepping into Feng Family village again." Feng Youcai grimly stated his guarantee and his conditions.
The village chief turned to look at Feng Xi, who nodded at him, consenting to Feng Youcai’s unreasonable demands. Moments later, Feng Xi and Feng Xuxu appeared before everyone, holding a contract, which they handed to the village chief. He briefly reviewed the contract but did not pass it to Feng Youcai. Instead, he called over the village’s sole scholar, Feng Haohai, to read the contract aloud for all to hear, ensuring fairness.
"..., the party of the first part lends two thousand taels of silver to the party of the second part, with the repayment date fixed in the sixteenth year of Emperor Hongze’s reign, May. Signed, party of the first part Xiao Chen, party of the second part Feng Xuxu," the scholar read the contract with flourish.
After hearing this, Feng Youcai felt completely dumbfounded; the silver was borrowed, not left by Dahong. After making such a fuss and losing face, he hadn’t gained a thing and had only stirred up trouble for himself. He felt deep regret.
"Uncle Youcai, now you understand. The silver was not left by Dahong but was borrowed by Feng Xuxu in collaboration with a tavern in the town. Knowing this, shouldn’t we head back home? After all, it’s getting late," the village chief advised patiently.
Feng Youcai wiped the sweat from his face and gave an awkward chuckle, "It’s getting late. Let’s all head back." Without waiting for the village chief to say more, he hightailed it, tail between his legs.
"Dad, we’re just leaving like this? But that’s..." Santian’s wife, Feng Liu, continued to plead with her father-in-law.
"Shut your mouth. You’re ruining the family, Santian. Keep an eye on your wife. If she doesn’t obey, divorce her. She’s nothing but trouble," Feng Youcai scolded his youngest son, Feng Santian, in frustration and anger.
"Alright, the show’s over. Everyone go home," the village chief waved his hands dismissively at the villagers.
"Xuxu, take good care of the contract and keep it safe. If you ever need anything, feel free to come to me," the village chief patted Feng Xuxu’s frail shoulders.
"Thank you, Uncle Chief. I will inevitably need to trouble you again in the future," Feng Xuxu gratefully thought of the village chief’s intervention, which had been crucial to resolving the mess with her awful relatives.
"Stop with the ’Uncle Chief’. I’m older than your dad, so you should call me Uncle Tiemu from now on." He looked at Feng Xuxu benevolently, hands behind his back.
Upon hearing this, Feng Xuxu’s face lit up with delight, revealing her small tiger teeth and the dimples that adorned her cheeks, as she cheerfully agreed.
The spring night was soft, and the air was filled with a subtle yet intoxicating scent of the night.
Xiao Residence’s study room.
Xiao Chen looked at the report that had just been sent back, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, silent. After a long time, he lazily moved his attractive lips.
"High-yield rice? Who exactly is this Feng Xuxu," Xiao Chen spoke as though asking his attendant, yet it sounded as if he were talking to himself.
"Master, ever since Feng Xuxu was born, she has been in Feng Family Village. Whether there is someone skilled backing her, the Hidden Guard has yet to find out."
"Hmm, keep watching, and remember, ensure the safety of Feng Xuxu’s safety."
"Yes, I will make arrangements right away." Tian Yi looked at his master and then turned to leave.
The next day, at the crack of dawn, someone was knocking on the door. Zhang Hui put on a piece of clothing and went downstairs to open the door. Feng Xi and Zhang Yijiang were also woken up by the knocking, so they got up together to wash up and after they were busy, Feng Xi, under the village chief’s lead, took everyone straight to the wasteland to begin reclaiming it. Meanwhile, Feng Xuxu and Auntie Hui took Feng Santian’s ox cart straight to the "Haozailai Grain Store" in town to make arrangements with the shopkeeper to deliver rice, flour, oil, and other provisions to Feng Family Village daily. Seeing a big customer, the shopkeeper agreed to the deal with a beaming smile.
Time passed just like that, and ten days went by.
Feng Xuxu stood on the reclaimed wasteland and smiled sincerely. She was genuinely happy that she could finally start her own enterprise on this land. Thinking of the short two months since she had arrived in this place and all that had happened, she couldn’t help but sigh. Fortunately, her elder brother Feng Xi had withstood the pressure in the end, proving himself admirably and not letting her down. He had also established considerable authority for himself. It was a good beginning for everything.
"Little sister, still looking? This piece of wasteland won’t go away. You’ve been out here a while, go back now, don’t make Auntie Hui worry again," Feng Xi said, stroking his sister’s hair, which he found increasingly soft, black, and glossy, and which he was rather fond of.
"Big brother, we have also lived in Auntie Hui’s house for half a month now. The wasteland has already been turned into fertile fields, and in a few days, we are going to plant the first batch of vegetables. I think we should build our own house before we start farming. What do you think?" Feng Xuxu felt quite dejected for not yet having a home of her own to this day.
"Alright, then we’ll build a house of our own. But there are only a few days left before we must start farming. Can we build a house in such a short time?" Feng Xi was also looking forward to the new house and wanted to move into his own home as soon as possible. Although Uncle Hui and his wife treated him and his sister well, it was not their own home. There was a feeling of dependence there.
"Don’t worry, brother, I have a plan. Our home will be built in the Nameless Mountain, built against the mountain. Although we can’t complete everything at once, it shouldn’t be difficult to construct a few rooms first. We can continue building gradually later on."
"You mean to build in the mountain? How can that be safe? What if there are wild beasts that harm people?"
"I’ve surveyed the area. The mountain doesn’t have any traces of large wild beasts, like footprints or droppings, which indicates there are no large predators in Nameless Mountain. There are only creatures like pheasants and rabbits. If we build the walls high and strong, it should be fine." If there were wild beasts on Nameless Mountain, then she would let Xiaobai out to tame them and patrol her big mountain. It would be even better, she thought whimsically.
"Alright, I’ll go by your decision, and I will talk to Uncle Tiemu about building the house," Feng Xi agreed somewhat helplessly.
"Hehe, I knew big brother cared for me the most. I’ve drawn up the blueprints already; you go ask Uncle Tiemu to build a few rooms for us to live in first. I will go to town and find a professional house builder, so we don’t delay anything."
