Chapter 14: Dark Night and Howling Winds—Let Father Take the Plunge!
Chapter 14
Stepping outside, Li Feng quietly calculated in his mind.
The old woman had already collapsed.
Once the old man falls, the time will be just right!
As he walked toward the town, each step stirred up a cloud of dust.
Li Feng looked up at the sky and frowned slightly—had the dry spell lasted too long?
In recent days, the water level in the rice paddies of every household had dropped significantly.
It was only mid-April, and the rice had been transplanted just half a month ago, yet the water had already halved—this was somewhat abnormal.
Li Family Village nestled against the Stone Mountain, with abundant water resources; water was not lacking.
However...
To ensure the rice paddies had sufficient irrigation, water had to be drawn from the mountain.
To avoid owing favors to others, the Li Wang family had him and his brothers take turns hauling water up the mountain, weeding the cornfields, and on top of that, paying for Li Qingyun’s examination fees—these burdens had nearly crushed him.
“Second brother, why are you here? How is your mother?”
Not far ahead, Old Li was walking toward him with his hands clasped behind his back.
Li Feng looked up; Old Li seemed quite carefree, able to stroll about even though his wife was bedridden.
Seeing Old Li, Li Feng resumed his honest expression, stepped forward, and glanced at the nearby field embankment.
There were many rice paddies, and to ensure sufficient water supply, someone had dug a storage pond about two meters deep beside the fields.
Li Feng looked it over and already had a plan. As he approached Old Li, he guided him toward the pond.
Just then, Old Li felt uneasy. At lunchtime, he had just stepped into the kitchen before lighting the fire when the grain cabinet suddenly caught fire.
Startled, by the time he managed to drag himself out, the locked grain cabinet was completely gone.
Though he extinguished the fire, the kitchen was already badly damaged.
That cabinet contained the family’s monthly food supply. Fearing nagging from his wife, he took off, planning to let the second brother’s family calm her down first.
Now, seeing the second brother come looking for him, Old Li had a sudden ominous feeling.
Could it be that he was here to cause trouble?
Old Li glanced at the second brother, who seemed fine—hadn’t the wife calmed down yet?
He stepped back without watching his footing.
“Father!”
Suddenly, Li Feng shouted loudly, causing Old Li to tremble.
“Plop!”
His whole body fell straight into the storage pond.
Bubbles rose to the surface.
“Help~”
Before the word was finished, Old Li’s head disappeared underwater.
“Father!!”
Li Feng paced anxiously by the edge.
It was dusk, and the road was crowded, but as soon as people saw it was Old Li’s family affair, no one dared to help.
No choice—the Li Wang family was too fierce.
Whoever crossed them would never find peace and would inevitably suffer losses.
Thus, even seeing Old Li drowning, no one lent a hand.
Li Feng desperately called for help, looking pitiful as a grown man.
“What's going on?”
At that moment, Li Qingyuan hurried over carrying a lotus leaf-wrapped bundle.
Before he could ask, he saw Old Li thrashing in the water.
Exhausted, Old Li looked toward Li Feng on the shore, unwilling to sink.
This frightened Li Qingyuan.
“Uncle!”
He dropped what he was holding and jumped in, struggling mightily before hauling Old Li out.
Placing him on the shore, Li Qingyuan’s face turned pale—what a mess!
Trying to save someone almost got him drowned.
“Thank you, cousin. You’ve saved our family again. I…”
“No problem. Take Uncle home quickly; he’s soaked through. Better change clothes right away!”
Li Qingyuan waved him off and left with his bundle.
Li Feng nearly cried behind him.
Goodness, his acting was too convincing—he’d fooled another person!
Composing himself, Li Feng’s honest face bore tear stains, his eyes red.
“Father, are you alright?”
“You scared me to death just now. I thought…”
“Thought what?” Old Li gave him a cold look. “You grew up in Li Family Village, surrounded by ponds. If I’m not mistaken, you know how to swim, don’t you?”
Li Feng... apparently wasn’t pitiful enough—still capable of reasoning.
Feigning ignorance, Li Feng stepped forward to support Old Li.
“Father, it’s getting dark. Let’s head back.”
“I went up the mountain today to gather some things, traded for a pound of pork and some supplements in town. It’s good for you and Mother to recuperate!”
Hearing this, Old Li abruptly pushed Li Feng away.
“You useless fool! What did I tell you before?”
“To split the mountain’s profits into two shares—one for your mother, one for me. Have you forgotten my words completely?”
“Do you think I’m greedy for your money?”
Old Li’s gaunt face burned with anger, as if Li Feng owed him a fortune.
That was his income.
Because of the second brother’s strength, he had lived a prosperous life these years and even visited bustling places no one else in the village had seen.
Since then, a small village like Li Family Village could no longer contain his restless heart.
The village women were all dark-skinned, sweating in bed with an unpleasant odor—nothing like the fragrant young ladies in town.
There, they would surround him, calling him “Master” warmly.
Such pleasures were impossible in Li Family Village.
He had told Li Feng to hand over what he gathered from the mountain, so he could sell it in town.
That way, he would know all the household earnings and keep the second brother supporting them in the village.
He understood now—the eldest and third brothers didn’t want to return because life in town was too good.
Even if he went, he wouldn’t want to come back.
The second brother was like an old ox; he must not know how beautiful the outside world was.
The best way was to trap him in the small village, never letting him leave.
Then, the second brother would remain ignorant and continue to support them.
The glory and prestige were for the eldest and third brothers to handle.
The second brother was useless anyway, better to keep him at home to care for his parents.
Now, hearing that the second brother had been to town and was missing his share of the profits...
Without money, how could he expect others to address him as “Master”?
Watching Old Li’s furious expression, Li Feng laughed.
What to do? He didn’t want to keep pretending!
He had planned to take it slow, at least wait for the third brother to return, but now the pace was too slow.
He glanced ahead along the dirt road.
The narrow dirt path was flanked by farmland; farmers would never allow a wider road.
Therefore, as long as it met the government’s requirements, every inch of land around was dug up.
Old Li, clearly drunk on some wine, staggered unsteadily.
Li Feng applied a little force, and Old Li stumbled onto the roadside embankment.
“Ah!!”
A piercing scream echoed.
Li Feng dragged and pulled him, not caring about the injuries or their location—just taking him home.
Afterward, he instructed the children at home and went out to call Doctor Li back.
Doctor Li entered, glanced at Old Li lying on the bed, and his eye twitched.
...