Chapter 10: A Harmonious Home Brings Prosperity to All!

Chapter 10

Li Feng suddenly remembered. If it hadn’t been for this person, his original self might have been reduced to nothing but bones.

“Cousin!” he greeted as well.

“Ah!” Li Qingyuan sighed. “Auntie has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She doesn’t mean to single you out—try to be more at ease.”

“If you have any difficulties, come find me or my father. We’re all family; don’t be so distant.”

“Thank you, cousin!” Li Feng nodded politely but didn’t take his words to heart.

His original self had tried before—nothing came of it.

Family affairs had always been difficult to resolve, since ancient times.

And with Li Wangshi being his mother, Li Feng couldn’t do much against her.

Even if it got out, people would only urge him to endure a little longer.

In time, the original self stopped seeking out the clan elders altogether.

“What are you all up to?” Li Qingyuan asked when he saw Big Dog and the others fully equipped.

Big Dog and the others looked at him in unison, a bit nervous.

“Heh heh!” Li Feng’s honest face broke into a small smile. “Uncle’s right—the true nature of a person reveals itself over time.”

“My mother suddenly changed yesterday. She not only freed up the rooms of my eldest brother and third brother for us but also let us stay without moving!”

“Cousin, I feel so guilty. Thinking about the injury my mother suffered yesterday, I was worried all through the night.”

“So early this morning, I planned to take them into the mountains to try our luck at hunting—to both help my mother recover and see if there’s anything extra to hire a doctor for her.”

“*Cough cough!*” Li Feng coughed twice as he spoke.

Li Qingyuan knew Li Feng’s injuries best.

When he was carried home, he was barely alive. Both old man Li and Li Wangshi seemed indifferent.

He had been planning to visit Li Feng yesterday, and if the injuries were serious, he would have found a doctor.

Unexpectedly, just one day later, uncle and aunt had changed their tune.

Seeing Li Feng lively and energetic, it seemed a doctor had indeed been called.

After all, they were his biological parents; no matter how harsh, they wouldn’t let their own son die.

“That’s good to hear,” Li Qingyuan said sincerely. “Your uncle and aunt aren’t heartless. Harmony at home brings prosperity. Since you’re busy, I won’t keep you!”

“Let’s get together when you have time?” he invited.

“Sure!” Li Feng accepted without hesitation.

Li Qingyuan was genuinely shocked.

Li Feng had once been taciturn and rarely gathered with their cousins.

Now he actually agreed to his invitation.

Seeing his cousin’s change, he believed Li Feng’s words.

He decided to go home and talk to his father, and together visit uncle and aunt’s house to ensure they wouldn’t mistreat the second family anymore.

Look at how filial the second family was—they were far better sons than he was.

After parting with Li Qingyuan, Er Niu felt uneasy all over.

After a while, he stopped and looked at Li Feng respectfully.

“Father, isn’t grandma usually not like this?”

“She didn’t get a doctor for you, Father!”

“You praise grandma so much now, but if cousin knows about this, it will spread. Then grandma will be known as a kind woman who treats her children well.”

If she earns that reputation, won’t grandma become even more ruthless in oppressing us?

Li Feng paused and looked at the children seriously for the first time.

The eldest, Big Ya, was simple and still a bit naïve—not the scheming type.

But Er Niu surprised him.

Under his father’s gaze, Er Niu felt uneasy. Had he said something he shouldn’t have?

Was Father angry?

He bowed his head, ready to apologize.

“Big Ya, Er Niu, and San Niu stay. Big Dog, take the rest of your siblings into the mountains and wait for me on the outskirts,” Li Feng suddenly said.

“Okay!” Big Dog scratched his head, not understanding what Father was planning but obediently led the others away.

The remaining Big Ya, Er Niu, and San Niu were silent and looked at Li Feng with concern.

Especially Er Niu, who was anxious.

Would Father reprimand him?

Sure enough, he still remembered lessons only through experience.

“Was what Father just said important?” Li Feng spoke seriously to them for the first time.

Big Ya, Er Niu, and San Niu were perceptive and intelligent; they understood things quickly.

They could be nurtured.

Si Niu and Wu Niu also seemed clever; they cooperated well when he worked, showing they were not foolish and could be trained despite their youth.

If he was to succeed, he had to bring them all into the plan.

So Li Feng decided to tell them his strategy.

Go with the flow?

Er Niu frowned, not understanding.

Big Ya suddenly spoke up, “Father thinks the villagers won’t side with grandma?”

San Niu looked up, watching his sister and second brother; his cloudy eyes suddenly gained clarity.

Li Feng patted Big Ya’s head, admiring her flushed cheeks.

“That’s right!”

“We’re all from the same village.”

“Everyone knows what your grandma is like; they won’t change their opinion of her just because of a few words from me.”

“I’m just saying it.”

“Others will just listen. As long as we don’t go too far, they won’t meddle in our family affairs—understand?”

“Besides, the house is just the first step. I plan to split the family property!”

“But Father...” Er Niu said, “Uncle and Third Uncle aren’t home, grandma can’t get out of bed, and grandpa doesn’t care—only then can we live in a better house. But once Third Uncle returns, grandpa and grandma will side with them. Won’t we have to go back to the south house?”

Er Niu poured cold water on the plan.

If the house was hard to secure, splitting the property was even more difficult.

If it were easy, they’d have done it already.

Grandpa and grandma were cunning and would never give up the labor force of the second family.

If they lost them, who would pay the household taxes?

Who would pay the land taxes?

Who would perform the corvée labor?

Would the first and third families do it?

Ha!

“So we have to find a way!” Li Feng taught them seriously for the first time. “Your grandma is injured and upset. If your grandpa—”

“There are many troubles at home, and people get irritable. When he gets angry, he acts irrationally. Then I’ll find a way to make splitting the property happen naturally—understand?”

“Your grandpa and grandma are harsh at home but unreasonable and stubborn with outsiders.”

“If we can find their weak points, things will be much easier for us!”

Big Ya and Er Niu listened intently.

They looked at Li Feng.

Already tall, Li Feng suddenly seemed like an untouchable figure to them.

Er Niu stared at Father intently.

For some reason, the seed planted in his childhood suddenly took root and sprouted.

It turned out what he had always longed for was to one day become like Father at this moment.

Eloquent and radiant.

Er Niu couldn’t help but admire him.

“Father, I want to start learning. I want to read!” Er Niu summoned his courage and said.

…