《The Lucky Star Blessing the Whole Village》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1 – Chapter 1: Double Betrayal Chapter 1 ¨C Chapter 1: Double Betrayal Due to the harsh changes in the environment of the Living Planet, it changed the human pursuit of life, making the development of human careers gradually shift towards medicine, technology, and martial arts, the three most sought-after professions. By the 25th century, anyone who makes significant achievements in these three fields is worshipped by millions of people. During this time, there is a genius among geniuses, who achieved great success in all three fields, and she became a goddess in the eyes of millions of people. Her name is Xiao Wushuang! ¡­ Xiao Wushuang received news that her sister was hurt. She hurriedly rushed to the hotel from the Global Alliance Technology Outstanding Contribution Award ceremony. She found the room number, and when she was about to press the doorbell, she heard an unusual sound from inside the room. ¡°Brother Hao!¡± Soon after, a man¡¯s voice followed. Then there were bursts of sounds transmitted intermittently. Even though she had never eaten pork, she had seen pigs run. Xiao Wushuang widened her eyes in shock and disbelief. She just stood there in a daze at the door, not knocking. It was unknown how long it had been, but the sounds of movement inside gradually stopped. ¡°Brother-in-law, today is my sister¡¯s Global Alliance Outstanding Contribution Award ceremony, is it okay if you don¡¯t attend? You know, on such an extremely joyful day, she must want you to be with her to share and celebrate.¡± ¡°Baby, call me Brother Hao. I don¡¯t like it when you call me brother-in-law! This name makes me sick!¡± The man¡¯s voice was incredibly familiar. Because the owner of that voice had been with her for ten years. ¡°Hehe¡­ sister¡­ Brother Hao, do you know that my sister planned to give you a surprise at today¡¯s award ceremony? She personally designed an Ice Snow Diamond Ring and was going to propose to you today.¡± Xiao Sese showed a slightly smug expression, then quickly revealed a sad face and said, ¡°Brother Hao, after today, you will really become my brother-in-law.¡± ¡°Silly girl, even if I become your brother-in-law, we can still be together, right?¡± Cui Tianhao tapped her delicate nose and said with a smile, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree on that already?¡± Xiao Sese looked a bit unhappy and wronged, ¡°Oh, so you just treat me as a secret mistress, right? Hmph, I get it. I¡¯m not as capable as Xiao Wushuang, nor am I as pretty as her, so you despise me. I met you first, but how come I became the third wheel?¡± ¡°Aiya, baby, where did you get that idea?¡± Cui Tianhao immediately coaxed, ¡°We still need to deceive her, right? Once we have all her property in our hands, she can disappear from this world, and we can be together openly then.¡± Saying this, he paused for a brief moment, hesitating, ¡°Baby girl, Xiao Wushuang is your sister, you won¡¯t be heartless, right?¡± Xiao Sese sneered coldly, hatred and mockery filled her eyes, ¡°Sister? She¡¯s not my sister, she¡¯s my sworn enemy. It¡¯s an enmity for my mother¡¯s death! I¡¯ve endured it for twenty years, just waiting for the day when I can take revenge on her.¡± In fact, what angered and made her most jealous was that Xiao Wushuang was always better than her, more capable, more beautiful, and even because of this great sister, she was able to enjoy the good life. Jealousy twisted her heart, causing her to fall further into darkness, as though a prison held her, leaving her suffocating, suffering, and feeling despair. She believed that only when Xiao Wushuang was gone from this world would she be saved. Outside, Xiao Wushuang was incredibly shocked for a moment, but soon calmed down after that. She never would have thought that her boyfriend was already in a relationship with her best friend. Oh, maybe they were together even before she met him. Even her acquaintance with Cui Tianhao was probably designed by her so-called best friend. They were together, just wanting her dead. Thinking of this, a cold smile and self-mockery appeared on Xiao Wushuang¡¯s beautiful face. She never imagined that her best friend, whom she treated with all her heart, would want her dead. She thought she had never wronged this sister. Whatever her sister requested, she would satisfy it. Even if her sister asked for stars in the sky, she would work hard to create a spaceship. Now, well, well¡­, it seems she has indeed raised a white-eyed wolf. Xiao Wushuang didn¡¯t knock, she continued to listen to the movements inside. Xiao Sese said, ¡°Brother Hao, my sister is skilled in medicine and martial arts. She is always surrounded by bodyguards, we can¡¯t get to her at all.¡± But Cui Tianhao confidently laughed and said, ¡°I found an Old Divine Doctor and got a divine medicine from him at a high price.¡± ¡°You¡¯re planning to drug her?¡± Xiao Sese was slightly surprised, ¡°But Brother Hao, Xiao Wushuang is a genius in the medical field; she is a recognized Divine Doctor. If you directly drug her, she would undoubtedly discover it.¡± ¡°Baby girl, this is why I told you I need to marry her,¡± Cui Tianhao said with some smugness, ¡°This medicine is colorless and tasteless; it¡¯s only effective for women, not for men. As long as I bury it in her body during our intimate moments, even a healer cannot heal herself, and she won¡¯t discover any issues. This medicine can make her die suddenly without anyone noticing. Everyone will believe that she died from overworking.¡± Upon hearing Cui Tian¡¯s explanation, Xiao Sese¡¯s eyes lit up, and the excitement and joy in her eyes could no longer be hidden. Then Cui Tianhao continued, ¡°After her death, as her spouse and her sister, we are the legal heirs to her inheritance; all her assets will fall into our hands.¡± Having heard this, Xiao Sese¡¯s delight and excitement could no longer be concealed. You must know that Xiao Wushuang¡¯s personal fortune reached hundreds of billions. With so much money, they wouldn¡¯t be able to spend it all in ten generations. ¡°Bang!¡± Chapter 2 - Chapter 2 – Chapter 2: Tear Off Their Ugly Faces Chapter 2 ¨C Chapter 2: Tear Off Their Ugly Faces ¡°Clang!¡± A door being kicked open reverberated throughout the room. Xiao Sese and Cui Tianhao were wondering who would be audacious enough to disturb guests this way in a seven-star hotel. Determined to reprimand them, they froze as soon as they saw the person at the door. Unbelief filled their eyes. Why¡­why would she be here? Shouldn¡¯t she be at the global alliance awards ceremony right now? Before they could react, they heard a cold voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it seems you won¡¯t be getting all of my inheritance after all.¡± ¡°Even if I have to feed chickens or dogs, I won¡¯t waste another morsel on you two, you unworthy man and woman, you ungrateful wolves!¡± The color drained from the guilty couple¡¯s faces, leaving a deathly pallor! What did this mean? It means, Xiao Wushuang had overheard their conversation. At this moment, the adulterous couple was still naked, cuddling together, and failed to react to Xiao Wushuang¡¯s sudden appearance. Xiao Wushuang looked at their faces and sneered, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, surprised to see me here?¡± ¡°If I weren¡¯t here, I might never have known how I was going to die. So it turns out, my sister whom I¡¯ve treated wholeheartedly, and my considerate boyfriend, are both fervently wishing for my death?¡± The expressions on Xiao Sese and Cui Tianhao¡¯s faces became even more shocked. A look of guilt and fear emerged in their eyes, making their hearts tremble. Everyone in the world knew that Xiao Wushuang was unparalleled in beauty, her medical skills were outstanding, and her martial arts extraordinary. Moreover, she was a ruthless and merciless woman. Once, someone tried to assassinate her, but she killed them instead, and then had their body sliced into thousands of pieces to feed dogs as a warning to those who wanted to kill her. Simply showing she could kill with ease. Xiao Sese tried to suppress her fear, nervously and guiltily asking, ¡°Sis, why¡­why are you here? Shouldn¡¯t you be¡­receiving an award right now?¡± An award of such importance to anyone, how could she just leave? ¡°Oh, well, I was on my way to the award ceremony. But then I heard that my dear sister had twisted her ankle and couldn¡¯t attend my award ceremony. As her caring sister, I rushed over to see how she was doing without even waiting to receive the award. What was not expected was to see a pair of adulterers in an affair.¡± Xiao Sese¡¯s face alternated between red and white. Cui Tianhao, however, yelled angrily, ¡°Xiao Wushuang, we are not adulterous dogs. Sese and I are in love. It was you who stepped in and stole me from her. Fine, now that you know, let¡¯s break up. But the compensation for my lost youth spent with you is 5 billion, pay me!¡± He had a thick face. Since Xiao Wushuang had overheard his conversation with Xiao Sese, given her intolerance for any shortcomings, a breakup with him was inevitable. But how could he stand to just break up like this? ¡°Stole you away? Huh, wasn¡¯t it you who pursued me? 5 billion, Cui Tianhao, are you joking with me? Is your shabby self worth 5 billion?¡± Xiao Wushuang mocked, ¡°Not to mention 5 billion, even 50 Yuan, I would be reluctant to give you.¡± Having said that, she stepped forward, sharply gripped his chin and taunted, ¡°Cui Tianhao, you betrayed me, Xiao Wushuang, and you still want to profit from me. You must be daydreaming in broad daylight!¡± After that, as if touching Cui Tianhao had soiled her hand, she quickly let go. Listening to Xiao Wushuang¡¯s ridicule, a furious Cui Tianhao vented all his resentment, ¡°Xiao Wushuang, you bitch, who are you to look down on me? On paper, I¡¯m your boyfriend, but in reality, I¡¯m your nanny, taking care of your daily needs. Only under your stingy charity can I live in a mansion, drive luxury cars, and enjoy a rich life. Do you know how many people mock me behind my back? They call me a cowered man depending on a woman for a living. Do you have any idea, how this label is a naked insult to me? I am a man, why should I be insulted like this!¡± Xiao Wushuang hearing his resentment, laughed instead of getting mad and said, ¡°Oh, a nanny, a man who depends on a woman for a living? If you think this is humiliating for you, then you totally can break up with me, couldn¡¯t you? Nobody is tying you up here, or holding a knife to your throat forcing you! Move aside, go and fly off with your true love. There are plenty of men more than willing to take your position, serve me wholeheartedly, and be my dedicated nanny. Oh, and here you are, enjoying the affluence I have given you on the one hand, while brimming with resentment and wishing me dead on the other. I have never seen someone as despicable as you, playing the whore while wanting to establish a monument to chastity, aren¡¯t you dreaming nicely!¡± Her heart sank, she had thought she had found a man who didn¡¯t care about status and wealth and was attentive. Who would have thought, this man¡¯s heart could be so dark, being her boyfriend was an insult to him. The insult from Xiao Wushuang made Cui Tianhao¡¯s face turn ashen, but he didn¡¯t know how to retaliate. Indeed, as she said, there are so many people eager to be her boyfriend. If he moves the slightest, hungry wolves would immediately leap at the opportunity, pushing him off this position. To ask him to give up this position, he simply wouldn¡¯t do it. Because his talent in medicine, technology, and martial arts is average. With his own efforts, he could probably only afford a toilet in the imperial capital in his lifetime. He wanted to enjoy the life of luxury, to live in mansions, drive luxury cars, and have servants and bodyguards at his beck and call. Xiao Wushuang could exactly provide him with this life. Yet, a man serving a woman in exchange for such a life was a blow to his masculine pride. Under such a conflicting mentality, his resentment deepened every day. ¡°And you, my dear sister.¡± Xiao Wushuang turned her head again, staring coldly at Xiao Sese lying on the bed, ¡°Since you and this unworthy man are in love, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? If you had, I would have directly given him to you. Why make you two go through all the trouble of secret trysts under my nose? You are my sister whom I¡¯ve cherished for so long, not to mention a smelly man, even if you wanted hundreds, thousands of men, I, your sister, would go out and find them for you, wouldn¡¯t I?¡± While Cui Tianhao¡¯s face turned green, Xiao Sese trembled all over in fear. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 – Chapter 3: Ruthlessly Revenge on Jerk Men and Cheap Women Chapter 3 ¨C Chapter 3: Ruthlessly Revenge on Jerk Men and Cheap Women She had never seen such a terrifying side of Xiao Wushuang before. In the past, Xiao Wushuang had always been gentle and soft-spoken with her, giving her money and anything else she wanted, even promising to get stars from the sky if needed. So, she took advantage of Xiao Wushuang¡¯s affection to gain countless benefits while suppressing her jealousy and resentment towards her all the time. Xiao Wushuang ignored the shock on her face and continued, ¡°Oh, right, I¡¯m the maternal murderer you hate, and your hatred for me is irreconcilable. So, you used a man to strike at me, wanting to see me in pain, right? Thinking that the man I found doesn¡¯t love me, but is devoted to you, satisfies your vanity, doesn¡¯t it? Then, you two despicable people, one bearing a grudge against me and the other hating me irreconcilably, joined forces to want me dead and take over my property? Well, I have to say, your plan is pretty perfect. But unfortunately, you made one crucial mistake.¡± As she spoke, her face was filled with sarcasm and mockery. ¡°You really underestimated how much I care about you. I bet you never thought that because of your lame excuse of a sprained ankle, not wanting to attend my award ceremony, I would come over to check on you.¡± Xiao Sese¡¯s pupils couldn¡¯t help but contract, her frightened face opening and closing her mouth, as if wanting to argue something, but all her reasons seemed feeble. Yes, she hated seeing Xiao Wushuang in the spotlight during the award ceremony. So, she found an excuse to avoid attending. But she never imagined that a small injury like a sprained ankle could make Xiao Wushuang abandon her moment of glory to check on her. She regretted it deep down in her heart, knowing now¡­ if only she had known¡­ But unfortunately, even a fortune cannot buy that kind of hindsight. Xiao Wushuang chuckled coldly, ¡°Heh, Xiao Sese, you think I killed your mom? How long have you been brainwashing yourself? Your mom was actually killed by you!¡± Xiao Sese¡¯s pupils shrank again, disbelief etched in her eyes. ¡°What, surprised?¡± Xiao Wushuang saw her expression and continued, ¡°When you were six years old, your mother was pregnant with your younger brother. You were afraid that your unborn brother would steal away all your mother¡¯s love, so while your mother was going downstairs, you stood behind her, and with a push, sent her tumbling. Sadly, your mother fell and bled all over, eventually leaving this world with your brother. And you, completely lost your mother!¡± With Xiao Wushuang¡¯s narration, the buried deep memory was quickly brought back to life. Scenes flashed through her mind. She was wearing a pink princess dress, watching her mother caressing her belly every day and calling her unborn brother, she felt scared. Her father had abandoned her, she was afraid her mother would abandon her too once she had a brother. She didn¡¯t want to be abandoned by her mother, so her chosen solution was to get rid of her brother. As long as her brother was gone, her mother would still love her. So she stood at the stairway, and seeing her mother descending, a thought flashed through her mind, and she reached out a hand. Then, not only did she get rid of her brother, she also got rid of her mother. Downstairs, all was covered in blood. Xiao Sese clutched her head, crying out in pain, ¡°No, no, it was you who killed my mom and brother, not me, it was you, Xiao Wushuang, not me, not me!¡± Her eyes, full of anger and resentment like a madwoman, stared fiercely at Xiao Wushuang. Xiao Wushuang held two silver needles in her hand, quickly inserted them into the acupuncture points on her head. Xiao Sese soon calmed down. Xiao Wushuang continued coldly, ¡°When the incident with your mother happened, my father sent me to medical school to study. Xiao Sese, did you really think you could frame me for pushing your mother and change the fact that you were the one who pushed her down the stairs?¡± Hehe, my dear little sister, it¡¯s not that I look down on you, but even if you were to bury your memories and hypnotize yourself into making me the maternal murderer, you still wouldn¡¯t have the power to take revenge, would you?¡± Since these scumbag men and cheap women are ungrateful white-eyed wolves, and they want to kill her, there¡¯s no need for her to show them any mercy. From a young age, her education had been: if you don¡¯t offend me, I won¡¯t offend you. If you attack me, I¡¯ll pay you back a hundredfold! No matter if it¡¯s a younger sister or a boyfriend. Moreover, Xiao Sese isn¡¯t her blood-related sister, but only a stepsister brought in by her stepmother. Since she¡¯s repaying kindness with ingratitude, it¡¯s only natural that she¡¯ll retaliate with an eye for an eye. Xiao Wushuang crossed her arms, her disdainful gaze sweeping lightly over the naked scumbag man and his cheap woman, and coldly called, ¡°Come, arrest them, and lock them up in Lao Mountain Prison!¡± As her voice fell, four men in blue uniforms immediately appeared in the room. Upon hearing the words ¡°Lao Mountain Prison,¡± Cui Tianhao and Xiao Sese¡¯s expressions changed, and they quickly reacted. ¡°On what grounds are you arresting us to Lao Mountain Prison?¡± Cui Tianhao demanded. ¡°On the grounds that you two conspired to murder Dr. Xiao Wushuang!¡± Xiao Wushuang said coldly. ¡°That alone is enough to keep you in Lao Mountain Prison for a lifetime!¡± ¡°No, you have no evidence; you can¡¯t do that!¡± Cui Tianhao struggled in desperation. ¡°Hehe, it seems you won¡¯t give up until the very end.¡± Xiao Wushuang then pressed on the smart brain-item in her hand, and the clear sound of their conspiracy to kill Xiao Wushuang came from within. ¡°This is the evidence!¡± Xiao Wushuang stated coldly. The scumbag man¡¯s entire body went limp, and he slumped down, powerless as a pile of rotten mud! Xiao Sese¡¯s face turned deathly pale, fear and terror showing in her eyes. Suddenly, she knelt before Xiao Wushuang and cried out in pleading sobs, ¡°Sister, sister, I was wrong, I was wrong. Please forgive me, okay? I was wrong, boo-hoo¡­ I don¡¯t want to go to Lao Mountain Prison!¡± Xiao Wushuang expressionlessly said, ¡°If you had only taken my boyfriend, I might have forgiven you. But you had such malicious intentions as to try to put me to death and seize my property. Xiao Sese, how can I forgive you? Did you think just because I spoiled and loved you, I would still let you kill me? Why should I? I, Xiao Wushuang, don¡¯t owe you anything. And don¡¯t call me sister. You¡¯re just a bastard brought into the Xiao family by your mother. You¡¯re unworthy of being my sister, and calling you my sister makes me sick! Take them away!¡± The four men in uniforms quickly dragged the two out of the bed. They didn¡¯t even cover them with a sheet, and just took them away naked. Seeing Xiao Wushuang¡¯s cold and merciless nature, the pair immediately began cursing her. ¡°Xiao Wushuang, you heartless woman! I curse you to never find true love and to die with no place to bury your body!¡± ¡°Xiao Wushuang, you malicious woman! I curse you to be lonely and old, with eternal solitude as your companion!¡± ¡°Xiao Wushuang, I curse you to go to the eighteen levels of hell and suffer in eternal pain and torment!¡± ¡­ Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 – Chapter 4: Crossing Over Chapter 4 ¨C Chapter 4: Crossing Over Ever since Xiao Wushuang sent those scumbags to Lao Mountain Prison, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to her career and work. As a result, in just three years, there have been tremendous breakthroughs in both medical technology and space technology. ¡°We did it, we did it, Dr. Xiao, we finally did it!¡± ¡°As long as you take this Gene Agent, the genes in the human body can undergo natural selection, and after recombination and rearrangement, not only can human lifespan be extended to two thousand years, but also human quality will be comprehensively improved. There will be no illnesses like colds and cancer, and when humans migrate, they will not suffer from distance-related ailments.¡± ¡°Dr. Xiao, the technology of Spaceship- travel has been greatly improved, and its safety performance has also been greatly enhanced, especially the Invisible Laser Shield, which greatly reduces the risk of harm to humans during space migration.¡± ¡°Wow, Dr. Xiao is truly a genius among geniuses. Achieving great success in a single industry is something that billions of people admire, let alone Dr. Xiao, who has achieved great success in medicine, technology, and martial arts. She¡¯s simply a god in the hearts of the people.¡± ¡°Three years ago, Dr. Xiao won the Global Alliance Technology Outstanding Contribution Award. I didn¡¯t expect that three years later, Dr. Xiao would achieve even greater accomplishments, something ordinary people could not achieve in several lifetimes.¡± ¡°Haha, fortunately, Dr. Xiao is from Longzhou Land. Her achievements and massive contributions are the pride and glory of our Longzhou Land.¡± ¡°Dr. Xiao is simply inhuman. I don¡¯t know what would happen if we lost her one day.¡± ¡°Pah, pah! Don¡¯t jinx it. Since Dr. Xiao has already developed human genetic modification and natural selection technology, she can live for two thousand years.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, pah, I don¡¯t want to jinx it. I hope Dr. Xiao lives for two thousand years and leads us to new planets to expand our territory.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± ¡­ When it¡¯s late at night and quiet, Xiao Wushuang, who is lying in bed resting, suddenly opens her eyes, and a vicious light flashes through the depths of her pupils. At this moment, the alarm suddenly rings in the villa. All the bodyguards quickly went into action. Some went to check the situation, while others rushed to Xiao Wushuang¡¯s side to protect her. Xiao Wushuang wears a red silk sleepwear, her long hair draped, looking stunning. ¡°Dr. Xiao!¡± ¡°Who broke into the villa?¡± ¡°Team Three is checking.¡± After a while, the members of Team Three hurriedly came running, ¡°Dr. Xiao, it¡¯s a meteorite from outer space heading towards the villa.¡± The bodyguards¡¯ expressions changed immediately, and they said to Xiao Wushuang, ¡°Dr. Xiao, please move to the basement.¡± Meteorites from the sky, even if the villa has the highest level of protection, could still possibly penetrate the protective layer, causing the collapse of the building and injuries to people. No matter how strong one¡¯s martial arts skills are, it¡¯s difficult to fight against unexpected disasters. Xiao Wushuang said, ¡°I¡¯ll take a look!¡± According to her recent calculations, there was no possibility of meteorite falls. Why would a meteorite suddenly come crashing directly towards her villa? Xiao Wushuang quickly went outside, and the bodyguards immediately followed her. At this time, the entire villa activated its highest level of defense function. As soon as Xiao Wushuang walked out of the villa, she saw thirty or forty men dressed in black invisible armor in mid-air, each holding her latest developed laser gun, the AK-12. The bodyguards quickly formed a protective circle around Xiao Wushuang. It turned out that it was not a meteorite at all, but these people who had created a simulated meteorite falling scene. Everyone in the world knows that with Xiao Wushuang¡¯s ability to calculate, it is impossible to make a mistake. They created such a scene to draw out Xiao Wushuang. Of course, the bodyguards accompanying Xiao Wushuang are top-notch, world-class protectors, capable of distinguishing the authenticity of meteorite falls. But what if¡­ Xiao Wushuang sneered at this sight. ¡°People from Country R?¡± Her eyes were very sharp, and she immediately recognized their identity! It turns out that traitors have already emerged among her subordinates, and the one who reported the situation just now is one of them. Xiao Wushuang activated her smart brain-item, and after a moment, her red dress quickly transformed into a silver battle armor, and in her hand appeared a small and exquisite silver laser gun, emitting a silver chill. With an awe-inspiring and magnificent aura. Before anyone could react, she quickly jumped out of the bodyguards¡¯ protection circle and flew into mid-air at the other end. Since it was confirmed that there were traitors among the bodyguards, they could no longer be trusted followers. She wouldn¡¯t put her back in their hands! The leading black-clothed man hesitated slightly but soon burst into laughter. ¡°Haha, Dr. Xiao is truly Dr. Xiao, her eyesight is really good. However, it¡¯s a pity that today is the day you die! Attack!¡± Originally, the villa¡¯s protective shield wouldn¡¯t let these laser guns penetrate. But, today they could shoot in. A bodyguard¡¯s face changed, ¡°Someone on the inside sabotaged the protective device? Who exactly is it?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, several people in the team pointed their guns at their former comrades. In a moment, more than ten bodyguards had fallen. A cold smile appeared on Xiao Wushuang¡¯s beautiful face, ¡°It seems that you guys put in a lot of effort and resources to assassinate me.¡± Her bodyguards wouldn¡¯t betray her easily. If they were to betray her, it must be because the other party offered them enormous temptations and benefits. The leader sneered, ¡°Hmph, as long as you disappear from this world, no matter how big the cost, it¡¯s worth it.¡± With that said, he made a move. After a while, in mid-air, silver light flickering and vanishing like a meteor. Xiao Wushuang moved swiftly through the whirlpool of silver cold light, her afterimages flickering past the naked eye. At the same time, wearing a silver armor, Xiao Wushuang dodged attacks while holding her personally crafted laser gun ¨C unique and most exquisite in the world ¨C and shot at the enemies with agility and precision. Below, the bodyguards worked together to take down all the traitors. The number of enemies was also decreasing rapidly. The more they fought, the more terrified the enemy became. They thought to themselves, ¡°No wonder she is the highest-rated genius in global martial arts. The people behind them went to great lengths to deal with Xiao Wushuang. But in the end, they were no match for her when they faced her. Fortunately, they were well-prepared for the last resort.¡± Before long, Xiao Wushuang and her subordinates killed all the traitors and enemies. The entire villa was drenched in blood. However, when she killed the last enemy leader, he laughed excitedly, ¡°Ha ha, Xiao Wushuang, despite being known as the smartest person in the world, you don¡¯t even know you¡¯re going to die. Ha ha, with the famous Dr. Xiao dying with me, I, Cui Tianhao, have no regrets in death. Xiao Wushuang, I will be waiting for you in hell!¡± The remaining bodyguards changed their expressions and became extremely vigilant, looking around. Xiao Wushuang was very surprised by Cui Tianhao¡¯s appearance; shouldn¡¯t he be staying in Lao Mountain Prison? What made her even more alert was what he said. What did he mean? However, before she could react, the blood on the ground began to boil and suddenly turned into bubbles flying up. Then, with a loud ¡°bang,¡± the entire villa exploded in an instant. Even if Xiao Wushuang was skilled, she couldn¡¯t escape at this moment. Just before she died, Xiao Wushuang cursed, ¡°Damn, these madmen actually turned Cui Tianhao¡¯s blood into a nuclear explosive using high-end nanotechnology. Now, there¡¯s nothing left of us.¡± Damn unjust! Cui Tianhao, I won¡¯t let you go, not in this life or any other! ¡­ When Xiao Wushuang woke up again, she was utterly dazed. Where was she? Didn¡¯t she die in the explosion? Could it be that Xiao Sese¡¯s curse worked, and she went to hell? However, when she tried to observe her surroundings, she found that she couldn¡¯t move at all. Damn it, what¡¯s going on? She¡­ seemed to have gotten smaller. Xiao Wushuang, ¡°¡­¡± She was beyond herself. Damn, what is going on here? After a while, a young couple walked in and went to check on the baby first. Seeing the baby opening her eyes at this moment, the woman immediately smiled and said, ¡°Shan-ge, look how adorable our little darling is! She¡¯s so young, but she¡¯s already opened her eyes, with her pupils moving around. She must be a very smart child.¡± With that, she wanted to hold the baby. Xiao Wanshan immediately took the baby and said, ¡°Wife, you just gave birth and can¡¯t hold the baby yet. Let me do it. You lie down first!¡± He then placed the baby in the crib, helped his wife to lie back down, and then picked up the baby again. The couple looked at the baby with happiness in their eyes. Suddenly, Xiao Wanshan saw his older son sleeping on the edge of the bed. He frowned and said, ¡°This little stinker, I told him to watch over his little sister, but he fell asleep. With his pig-like sleeping habits, the baby could be stolen away without anyone knowing!¡± Chapter 5 - Chapter 5 – Chapter 5: Lucky Star and Space Chapter 5 ¨C Chapter 5: Lucky Star and Space A small village called Xiao Family Village, was located a hundred miles from Qing County in Jianggan City. The village had not seen rain for half a year, and the continuous drought had caused the crops in the fields to wither. What was strange was that while Xiao Family Village hadn¡¯t seen a drop of rain in half a year, other villages occasionally experienced heavy rain to relieve their drought situations. Even though dark clouds hovered above Xiao Family Village, as if to pour rain at any moment, a gust of wind would soon blow the clouds away to the neighboring villages. As a result, the villagers from other villages speculated that Xiao Family Village must have committed some sort of sin, causing even the heavens to be displeased and punish them with drought. The village head looked at the clear blue sky above and couldn¡¯t help but frown. A villager beside him lamented, ¡°Our crops are withering in the fields. If it doesn¡¯t rain, we won¡¯t harvest anything for half a year. Is it true that our village has committed some sin that even the heavens are punishing us?¡± The village head replied solemnly, ¡°Nonsense!¡± Suddenly, he saw Xiao Wanshan and his family returning to the village with their child. To the village head¡¯s surprise, as soon as their feet stepped into the village, the previously clear blue sky became engulfed in dark clouds, followed by thunder and lightning. In fact, the villagers were no longer surprised by such a situation. Many times before, the rain had just ended up falling in neighboring villages. Xiao Wanshan looked up at the sky and said, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry home, or Little Bao will get caught in the rain.¡± A villager smiled and reassured him, ¡°Wanshan, don¡¯t worry. It won¡¯t rain. This has happened so many times before.¡± Before Xiao Wanshan could react, Xiao Junxuan, who was carrying things beside him, said, ¡°Auntie Chun, but the raindrops are already hitting my face.¡± ¡°What?¡± The villager immediately looked up and indeed felt heavy raindrops like beans hitting their faces. Excited and agitated, the villagers exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s raining! It¡¯s raining!¡± The village head was also shocked; it was really raining this time. He was overjoyed. Seeing Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family just at the village entrance, he shouted, ¡°Wanshan, hurry up and run home with the child! Anyone close to them, bring a big umbrella quickly!¡± Upon hearing the village head¡¯s shout, other villagers reacted. ¡°It¡¯s too late to grab an umbrella. Quick, quick, my house is the closest. Hurry to my house for shelter.¡± ¡°Aunt, I¡¯m still in confinement period, I can¡¯t go to your house.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you? Come on, hurry up. The rain is getting heavier, and if you don¡¯t go now, you¡¯ll get soaked. You¡¯re in confinement, you can¡¯t get caught in the rain!¡± Soon after, whether it was Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family or other villagers farther away, they all ran to Xiao Chunming¡¯s house, which was the closest to the village entrance. Not long after they entered, they heard the sound of heavy rain pouring outside. ¡°Haha, it¡¯s really raining!¡± ¡°This is great.¡± Then, some of the women surrounded the newborn baby and spoke. ¡°This child is truly blessed. She just returned to the village, and it started raining heavily. She is like a lucky star for our village.¡± ¡°Indeed, I saw Wanshan carrying the child entering the village, and the sky immediately darkened, followed by rain. Haha, this child is like our village¡¯s savior. It hasn¡¯t rained for half a year, and if it didn¡¯t rain, our crops would die.¡± ¡°Wanshan, have you named the child yet?¡± A villager asked. Xiao Wanshan shook his head, ¡°Not yet, we want the elders in the village to help choose a suitable name.¡± At this moment, the village head suggested, ¡°The child returned to the village and brought rain, which shows she is blessed and brings good fortune. Carp is a traditional symbol of good luck and auspiciousness. Why not name her Jinli, and hope that blessings and good luck will accompany her throughout her life!¡± ¡°Jinli, I think it¡¯s a good name.¡± A villager agreed. ¡°Since the child is blessed, we should choose a name with a good meaning.¡± Everyone voiced their agreement with the name Jinli. After pondering for a moment, Xiao Wanshan and his wife nodded, ¡°Alright, her name is Xiao Jinli!¡± ¡­ Just as Xiao Wanshan and his wife brought Xiao Jinli back to the village, coincidentally, rain finally fell. As a result, Xiao Jinli quickly became a favorite among the villagers. Even before her first month ended, groups of villagers visited Little Jinli every day. Throughout that month, the now smaller Xiao Wushuang remained silent and pensive. Over the course of that month, Xiao Wushuang learned through overheard conversations that she had somehow been reborn 400 years earlier on the Blue Star. That is, 21st-century Earth, in the year 2001. ¡­ When Xiao Wushuang looked at her right wrist when adults were not around and saw the small green leaf birthmark there that was identical to her previous life, she was once again shocked. How could this be? Could it be that this space had traveled with her soul through time? It had to be. In her previous life, she had a space. At the age of three, she accidentally scratched her hand while playing, and her blood dripped onto the family heirloom, an imperial-green jade bracelet. The blood was absorbed, and then green mist filled the entire room. After a while, the mist shrank and condensed into a green droplet, hovering in mid-air for a moment. The green light flashed, entering her wrist and turned into a green leaf, becoming a birthmark. At that time, she was only three years old, but her innate intelligence allowed her to have a complete memory of the event. Instead of being afraid, she was amazed by what had just happened. Later, her father saw the birthmark on her hand and took her to the hospital for a checkup, worried that it would hurt her body. Only after the results showed no harm did he feel relieved. The birthmark accompanied Xiao Wushuang as she grew up, until she was fifteen when an accident took her to another space. That space was a completely different world with beautiful scenery, flowers, trees, and water that enhanced the quality of a person¡¯s body when consumed. Furthermore, the vegetables and fruits grown in the space tasted incredibly delicious. In other words, Xiao Wushuang, in her youthful age, had a colossal prideful achievement, and space played a significant role in it. Of course, she didn¡¯t rely entirely on the space; all her achievements were also the results of her hard work. Xiao Wushuang felt regretful, wondering why she didn¡¯t hide in the space at the moment of the explosion. Maybe she wouldn¡¯t have died. Perhaps her reluctance to rely too heavily on the space caused her to forget about its existence in times of danger. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She was given a chance to be reborn four hundred years ago. And in this life, her family members were all quite good, with a beautiful mother, a handsome yet honest father, and a stable and handsome younger brother. Most importantly, they all loved her. This warm and happy atmosphere was bubbling with sweetness. Not to mention the surrounding neighbors and villagers, who were all caring and adorable, friendly, and united, rarely arguing with one another. This kind of peaceful and harmonious life didn¡¯t exist in her previous life. Due to overpopulation on Blue Star, humans were eager to migrate to another planet. Survival of the fittest! Only the most outstanding people would have the power to choose better living conditions. People competed with each other for their interests and gains. They engaged in intrigues, resorting to deception, hardship, and drama all the time. She was born into the Xiao Family on Longzhou Land. The Xiao Family was a great clan with a lineage of over three to four hundred years. She was the only heir, but her life was on the line at all times. At that time, her father was the only one who tried to protect her, but she was exposed to danger at any moment. Being in such a high position and always at risk of losing her life, she became vigilant, ruthless, and brutal. Especially after her loving father passed away, she became even more unfeeling and heartless. She cared for Xiao Sese because of her father¡¯s instructions. After all, her mother married her father and raised her for many years, so there was a deep emotional bond. At the same time, Xiao Sese was adept at acting and concealing her true nature, which prevented her from discovering Sese¡¯s true intentions. In her previous life of twenty-eight years, her days were spent either studying and researching or fighting assassinations, never having a day of peace. In reality, she had felt tired and exhausted during those twenty-plus years, but she couldn¡¯t stop for a moment. Because if she showed even a hint of relaxation, she might face the repercussions. Now in this time, as soon as she opened her eyes, she could hear her family¡¯s laughter, friendly conversations with the neighbors and villagers, and the lively discussions with her relatives and friends. She had never experienced such a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere before. But she was now experiencing it. To be honest, she enjoyed this kind of life. Well, the past was the past, and now was now. Since fate had given her a chance to live again, she would thoroughly enjoy this peaceful, harmonious, warm, and happy life. From now on, she would no longer be Xiao Wushuang; she would be Xiao Jinli, the lucky star of her family and even the entire village, with high hopes and good fortune accompanying her throughout her life. However, she was still a baby in her mother¡¯s arms. ¡­ Xiao Jinli raised her right hand, stared intently at the small green leaf on her wrist with her bright eyes. A moment later, she slightly frowned. Why couldn¡¯t she enter the space now? It didn¡¯t matter. If she couldn¡¯t enter, so be it. After all, the space wouldn¡¯t disappear. She would eventually enter it in the future. Chapter 6 - Chapter 6 – Chapter 6: Female cow’s difficult birth, space fluctuation Chapter 6 ¨C Chapter 6: Female cow¡¯s difficult birth, space fluctuation Time unknowingly lied flat and passed by three months. At three months, Jinli had already proficiently started to turn over. At this time, she looks so good, white and plump and tender, with a pair of black grape-like eyes that turn round and round, laughing like a crescent moon. She¡¯s so cute that you can¡¯t help but take a big bite. What made the villagers more amused and fond of her was that she even recognized people at such a young age. If someone is unhygienic and dirty, she would wrinkle her little face and show her dislike, and she wouldn¡¯t let them hold her. For those who are hygienic and clean, she would show a little smile, and it¡¯s okay if they want to hug her. Over time, everyone in the village knew that Jinli was a clean and hygienic baby. ¡°Haha, I¡¯ve never seen such a smart and clean little baby.¡± ¡°In her first month, she could already recognize people. Now at three months, she actually chooses her favorites. Xiaofang, your daughter is so smart.¡± After lunch, a group of villagers came to Xiao Wanshan¡¯s yard to see Jinli, praise her, and tease her. Adorable and cute like a doll, Jinli has become a must-praise for the villagers when they visit. ¡°When I came, Xiao Changsheng¡¯s female cow was about to give birth. I wonder if it has been born by now?¡± said a villager. ¡°I heard it started in the morning, and by now it should have given birth.¡± ¡°That cow in his family gives birth to a calf every year, haha, it¡¯s quite a good income.¡± At this moment, there are a bunch of people crowded around Xiao Changsheng¡¯s cattle pen. A robust female cow keeps pacing back and forth, constantly kicking and throwing dirt with her front hooves, and mooing loudly, clearly in pain. An experienced villager looks at the situation, and his eyebrows furrow a little, expressing a slightly bad feeling, ¡°Changsheng, it¡¯s been so long and it still hasn¡¯t given birth, could it be a difficult birth?¡± As soon as Xiao Xianchun¡¯s words fell, Xiao Changsheng¡¯s eyebrows were tightly twisted together. A villager immediately said, ¡°It seems like a difficult birth. Changsheng, why don¡¯t you quickly go to town to find a veterinarian?¡± Xiao Changsheng¡¯s wife, seeing the cow¡¯s suffering and its inability to give birth, also worriedly said, ¡°Old man, hurry up and go to town to find a veterinarian.¡± Xiao Changsheng didn¡¯t hesitate, got on his motorcycle, and left. After he left, the villagers still talked. ¡°Changsheng¡¯s cow has given birth before. It¡¯s been a while, and it¡¯s probably a difficult birth.¡± Women can have B-ultrasound scans at the hospital before giving birth. If the fetal position is abnormal, a cesarean section can be performed. But the female cow doesn¡¯t have these options when giving birth to a calf. If it really is a difficult birth, people can only rely on their own strength to pull the calf out of the cow¡¯s stomach, which is cruel and somewhat painful, but it¡¯s the only way and relatively safe. However, this also requires professionals, otherwise, both the mother cow and calf are at great risk. Xiao Changsheng¡¯s wife watched the cow pacing back and forth restlessly, showing a worried and anxious expression on her face. Their family has been raising this old cow for almost ten years, and it has given birth to six calves without any trouble before. However, this time¡­ Xiao Changsheng rode by Xiao Wanshan¡¯s house on his motorcycle, leaving the villagers somewhat puzzled. ¡°Why is Changsheng in such a hurry? Has the calf in his house been born?¡± ¡°When I came, I went to have a look and they said the cow seemed to be having difficulty giving birth. Has it still not given birth after all this time, so Changsheng is going to town to find a veterinarian?¡± ¡°That¡¯s very likely!¡± ¡°They¡¯ve been raising that cow for over ten years; they¡¯ve formed a bond with it. This difficult birth must be making them anxious.¡± ¡°Let me go take a look!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go too!¡± ¡°Jinli, Auntie will come to see you again soon!¡± After saying that, she pinched Jinli¡¯s pink cheeks. Jinli waved her small arms in protest, rejecting the pinching of her little cheeks. Her cheeks were pink and tender, but being pinched often was painful. After most of the villagers left, Xiao Jinli and Xiao¡¯s mother were left in the yard. Watching a female cow giving birth is not suitable for Jinli. So Xiao¡¯s mother wouldn¡¯t bring her along. In addition, there would be some flies and mosquitoes there, and getting bitten by them wouldn¡¯t be good. Soon after the villagers left, Xiao¡¯s mother put Jinli on the small bed to lie down for a while, so she could tidy up the yard. Who would have thought that the usually obedient and quiet Jinli seemed a little reluctant this time. A person lay on the small bed, kicking their little feet in the air as they cried, ¡°Ah, ah, oh, oh,¡± clearly not wanting to lie there. Xiao¡¯s mother had no choice but to put down her work, wash her hands, and pick up Jinli from the bed. ¡°Little Bao, what¡¯s wrong? Are you unhappy?¡± Jinli babbled and waved her little hands towards the door. Xiao¡¯s mother frowned slightly and asked, ¡°Do you want to go and watch the cows giving birth too?¡± Jinli uttered a few yelps, seemingly agreeing with her mother¡¯s words. However, Xiao¡¯s mother shook her head in disagreement, ¡°Little Li, be good. Let¡¯s not go, okay? There are flies and mosquitoes there, and they¡¯ll bite you.¡± As soon as Xiao¡¯s mother finished speaking, Jinli suddenly blurted out a sentence. ¡°Mother, I want to go!¡± After all, she wasn¡¯t a real baby. In the three months she had been here, she had already learned the local language. But she was too young to speak casually. She now demanded to go and watch the cows giving birth because she sensed fluctuations in the space. She felt that to unlock the space, perhaps this was an opportunity. Xiao¡¯s mother was shocked by Jinli¡¯s sudden sentence. Her expression first froze, then she was overwhelmed with joy. ¡°Little Bao, is that you calling mommy? You can call mom? You can talk? Can you call mommy again, please?¡± She knew that her daughter was very smart, but she never expected her daughter to be so smart that she could already speak at three months old. It was both surprising and delightful. ¡°Mother!¡± Jinli called again, clearly and fluently. Jinli secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was so suffocating. She could speak but had to pretend she couldn¡¯t. She had pretended to be gentle and well-behaved for more than a month during her confinement period. Then, every day, Xiao Father would hold her in his arms, and his beard would poke her tender little face, causing her great pain. Helpless, she could only wave her limbs and cry out loud in protest. As soon as Jinli cried, Xiao¡¯s mother and older brother would start condemning Xiao Father, and then she would enjoy watching the drama unfold on the side. The family atmosphere was really good. For the next two months, she followed the normal development of a baby. Well, her development was even better than most children. She could laugh, recognize people, and express her likes and dislikes through facial expressions and actions. So she felt happy performing, but also very tired. Now, with this shout, it felt like opening a floodgate, allowing her to relax at once. Xiao¡¯s mother, holding Jinli with red eyes and an expression that was surprised, excited, and delighted, said, ¡°Hehe, our Little Bao is really a smart child. She can talk at three months old and does so fluently. Little Bao, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Generally, infants would start talking at eight or nine months old, and even then, they might only say a few simple sentences. Jinli¡¯s little hands wiped away Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s tears, and she smiled innocently, saying, ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t you say I¡¯m smart? So it¡¯s not strange that I can talk.¡± Hearing Jinli¡¯s words, Xiao¡¯s mother said with mixed laughter and tears, ¡°You little girl, it¡¯s not strange? A three-month-old baby that can talk is so shocking, okay?¡± Jinli tilted her little head, her expression slightly urgent, and said, ¡°Mother, let¡¯s go see the cows giving birth to calves?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao¡¯s mother frowned and said, ¡°Little Bao, the cow¡¯s birthplace has flies and mosquitoes, and the scene is bloody. It¡¯s not suitable for you. Let¡¯s not go, okay?¡± But the usually obedient child became stubborn on this matter. Jinli shook her head firmly and said, ¡°I want to go!¡± Left with no choice, Xiao¡¯s mother had to clean up Jinli and take her to see the cow giving birth. When they arrived at Xiao Changsheng¡¯s cowshed, the villagers were somewhat surprised. ¡°Xiaofang, why did you bring the child here? This place is dirty, and there are many flies and mosquitoes.¡± ¡°Yeah, Xiaofang, hurry up and take the child back.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother smiled helplessly and said, ¡°Little Bao wanted to come. I couldn¡¯t resist, so I brought her.¡± ¡°Oh, Jinli wanted to come?¡± The villagers asked in astonishment, ¡°Why would a child want to be here?¡± ¡°Jinli is really smart. She can express her wishes at such a young age. But Xiaofang, how did Jinli express that she wanted to come here?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 7 - Chapter 7 – Chapter 7: Female Cows Express Gratitude, Space Unlocked Chapter 7 ¨C Chapter 7: Female Cows Express Gratitude, Space Unlocked Xiao Mother was considering how to answer these people when Xiao Jinli turned her head and suddenly said, ¡°It was me who asked Mom to bring me here.¡± Words that shock people! When Xiao Jinli spoke, she simply astonished the villagers present. ¡°My goodness, are my ears playing tricks on me? How did I hear Jinli speaking?¡± ¡°If there¡¯s a problem with your ears, there¡¯s a problem with mine too, I also seem to have heard Jinli speak. And when she does speak, she is clear and fluent.¡± ¡°Oh, it really was Jinli speaking. She¡¯s so young, only three months, right? A three-month-old baby talking already surprised me. What¡¯s even more shocking is her clear pronunciation and fluency. My goodness, Jinli is a genius!¡± ¡°Yes, a genius, a language genius!¡± ¡°A three-month-old infant speaking better than a three-year-old child. This child is really rare.¡± Just as everyone was praising Jinli, suddenly a villager excitedly shouted, ¡°The calf is about to be born, it¡¯s coming!¡± As soon as someone shouted, everyone¡¯s attention quickly turned to the birthing cow. They saw the calf, who had been unable to be born for a whole day, being born more than halfway out with a ¡°moo¡± from the mother cow. The most difficult part of the delivery was over, and the rest was relatively easy. A villager immediately called out, ¡°Xiao Changsheng¡¯s family, hurry up and bring some dry hay and water for the mother cow to regain some strength.¡± ¡°The dry hay and water have been prepared!¡± Xiao Changsheng¡¯s wife immediately brought dry hay and water. After the mother cow ate a few mouthfuls of hay and water, she let out another ¡°moo¡± cry, and the whole calf fell out. ¡°Haha, it¡¯s born, it¡¯s born, the calf is born!¡± The villagers were filled with excitement and joy. As the newborn calf was still wrapped in its membrane, the mother cow went up and licked it off, and after a while, the calf wobbled to its feet. ¡°Haha, the calf stood up!¡± After the calf stood up, it nuzzled its little head against its mother¡¯s neck, as if in celebration and also acting spoiled at the same time. The mother cow licked her calf¡¯s fur again, ¡°mooed,¡± and ran to Xiao Mother, kneeling down in front of her with her two front hooves bent. The villagers gasped in surprise. ¡°What is this cow doing?¡± ¡°What else could it be doing, it¡¯s kneeling down to Xiaofang.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s kneeling. But why is it kneeling to Xiaofang?¡± Someone suddenly thought of something and looked at Jinli in Xiaofang¡¯s arms, her big eyes blinking. So a villager shouted, ¡°Could it be that the cow was able to give birth smoothly thanks to Jinli? So, it¡¯s thanking Jinli?¡± Others also reacted. ¡°Now that you mention it, it really might be the case.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not might be, it¡¯s definitely the case.¡± ¡°Haha, Jinli really is a lucky star. When she returned to the village three months ago, Xiao Family Village, which hadn¡¯t had rain for nearly half a year, immediately had heavy rain. Today, this cow has been in difficult labor for a day, but who would have thought that as soon as Jinli came, it would give birth to a calf.¡± ¡°Hehe, this mother cow is also grateful. Knowing that it could give birth to a calf smoothly, it knelt down in front of Jinli to thank her for the grace of childbirth.¡± ¡°Haha, Jinli is a lucky star. I need to get closer to her in the future, maybe my son can find a wife earlier.¡± ¡­ Listening to the adults¡¯ simplistic and good-hearted jokes, Jinli¡¯s mouth corners lifted slightly, somewhat speechless. In fact, the villagers hadn¡¯t said anything wrong; the mother cow had indeed given birth to the calf smoothly because of her. When her mother held her close to the cow, she felt the spatial fluctuations becoming more intense, and when the mother cow ¡°mooed,¡± her space ¡°poofed¡± and fully unlocked. Then, a childish voice sounded in her mind. ¡°Master, I can see you again, so glad, sob sob¡­¡± Xiao Jinli communicated with it in her mind, saying, ¡°Xiao Zhi, wait a moment for me to reminisce. I¡¯ll save this mother cow first.¡± Then, she raised her little index finger, and a drop of Lingquan water flew out, flying directly to the cow¡¯s womb angle. At that time, Jinli was held upright, her hand resting on her mother¡¯s back, and since everyone¡¯s attention was on the mother cow and her face, no one noticed the sudden appearance of a crystalline liquid on her finger. During broad daylight, no one would notice the transparent Lingquan water flying out. So, the mother cow, which was having difficulty giving birth, gave birth to the calf smoothly. This mother cow had been raised by humans for several years and had developed its own spirituality. Maybe in a hazy moment, it knew who had helped it through this ordeal, so it bowed down to thank Jinli. As such, it only further confirmed Jinli¡¯s title as a lucky star. ¡­ After returning home and lying on her baby bed, Jinli once again experienced being surrounded by villagers. Mr. and Mrs. Xiao Changsheng even brought gifts to express their gratitude. They felt it was Jinli who brought good luck to them, and that was why their cow gave birth to a calf so smoothly. Naturally, they wanted to express their gratitude. ¡°Tsk, tsk, I have to get some more of Jinli¡¯s luck in the future. Maybe my family¡¯s stinky boy can get a wife earlier.¡± ¡°Haha, Qiu Ping, when your son marries a wife, you have to bring a big gift to express your gratitude.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Oh, I want to join in too, so my elder daughter-in-law will have a chubby, rosy-cheeked grandson!¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯re just favoring boys over girls.¡± ¡°Who says so? Grandsons and granddaughters are all called grandsons. Haha, if I have a granddaughter who is half as pretty and cute as Jinli, I¡¯ll laugh myself awake in my sleep.¡± ¡­ Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­¡± She really didn¡¯t know whether her luck was good or it was just a coincidence. For now, the rain incident when she was just brought back to Village Beijing was a complete coincidence for her. As for the successful birth of the calf by the female cows, of course it was not a coincidence; she had helped. Of course, for other people, this was certainly a blessing brought by Jinli. On a late night, when the moonlight was like a flower, and the insects outside were making noise. In the baby¡¯s crib, Xiao Jinli started communicating with Xiao Zhi. Xiao Zhi was the intelligent system created by Xiao Wushuang in her previous life, storing all the global network data inside. It can be said that as long as there is a network, this system can break through all firewalls, completely copy the data inside, silently, without leaving any traces. This was Xiao Wushuang¡¯s personal secret, and she didn¡¯t let anyone know about it. Otherwise, she would be hunted down globally. After all, no one wants their secrets exposed. Xiao Wushuang spent a lot of effort transforming the intelligent system into her own Q-version character, which was very cute. In order to prevent the intelligent system from being discovered, Xiao Wushuang had to throw it into her Space. She would never use this intelligent system unless absolutely necessary. Unexpectedly, after the intelligent system was placed in the space, it could communicate with her consciousness in her mind. The space had traveled with her, and the Xiao Zhi in the space naturally came along as well. ¡°Master, what¡¯s going on? How did I suddenly lose contact with you?¡± Xiao Zhi asked doubtfully. ¡°Sigh!¡± Xiao Jinli sighed lightly and explained how she was assassinated and then crossed over to Xiao Zhi. Finally, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I don¡¯t know why I crossed over 400 years ago?¡± After a while, Xiao Zhi said, ¡°Master, you probably don¡¯t know, the power of the space seems to have weakened. Now in this space, except for a shallow Lingquan, it¡¯s basically just barren land.¡± Xiao Jinli was almost shocked when she heard this and tried to sit up. But the three-month-old her couldn¡¯t sit up at all. A moment later, Xiao Jinli reacted. She murmured, ¡°So, my ability to cross over was because of the space power?¡± Xiao Zhi leaped in mid-air in the space, looked at it filled with yellow sand, and said somewhat dejectedly, ¡°Probably. Why did everything in the space turn into dust?¡± After a while, Xiao Zhi said again, ¡°But Master, don¡¯t be discouraged. Before Mini Space lost most of its energy, it passed a message to Xiao Zhi. Its space power can be restored. It said that as long as the Master becomes stronger and continuously plants in the space, it will slowly return to its previous state.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes brightened after hearing this, and tears brimmed in the corners of her eyes as she nodded, ¡°Okay, I got it. Xiao Zhi, thank you and Mini Space.¡± Xiao Zhi held his cheeks, looking a little embarrassed, ¡°Master, as long as you¡¯re okay.¡± ¡­ Later, the elder daughter-in-law of the Western house successfully gave birth to a chubby granddaughter. At the end of the year, the son of the Eastern house married his wife smoothly. After that, if someone lost a chicken or their cow ran off, they needed to see Jinli. Then, the chicken would come back, and the cow would also return on its own. All those who had made small wishes in front of Jinli and had their luck rubbed off by her would have their wishes fulfilled within the year. The Xiao Village villagers practically wanted to worship Xiao Jinli after this series of events. Of course, these villagers were simple and honest, and they wouldn¡¯t make extravagant wishes. For example, winning the lottery or getting rich overnight. When the village encountered some troubles, the Village Head or village cadres would go to Xiao¡¯s house, and then things would be resolved quickly. As a result, Xiao Jinli¡¯s title as the village¡¯s Lucky Star became even more established. Then, the villagers started calling Jinli ¡°village treasure.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­¡± No, it¡¯s not me, it¡¯s obviously a coincidence. Xiao Jinli also fell into deep thought. Could it be that she really had the Koi constitution? Seeing Xiao Jinli¡¯s Koi constitution, Xiao Zhi was also stunned. He exclaimed, ¡°Master, could it be that you are the incarnation of Koi in this life?¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 8 - Chapter 8 – Chapter 8: Little Koi, Something Big Happened! (Please Comment!) Chapter 8 ¨C Chapter 8: Little Koi, Something Big Happened! (Please Comment!) Ten years later Miles of lush paddy fields waved gently in the breeze, the stridulation of insects rose and fell, and a small river flowed slowly. On both banks of the river, willow branches hung low, green grass swayed, and in the river, a few ducklings flapped their wings while swimming, occasionally pulling out a little fish, shrimp, or snail from the water. On a river bank, standing in a pasture, five or six cows were grazing, occasionally letting out a ¡°moo¡± sound. A short distance away, under a big tree, seven or eight children about ten-year-old were engaged in herding cows. During this task, they were playing cards and games, thoroughly enjoying themselves. While they were being cheerful and playing around, they dared not yell or scream. They would occasionally glance, with respectful little expressions, towards a girl lying on a haystack nearby, her arms folded into a pillow, with a dog¡¯s tail grass in her mouth, resting with her eyes closed. The girl had fair skin and extraordinary temperament, unlike a typical village girl. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Jinli join us every time we play? We have more people playing together. It would be so lively and great.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because Jinli finds Goudan too dumb every time. She doesn¡¯t like playing with dumb people!¡± Goudan immediately flared up. He retorted, ¡°Calling me dumb, you are no better!¡± The children sighed like adults and said, ¡°Indeed, we¡¯re all just too dumb. Jinli is really too clever. There are so many things in the village that the adults can¡¯t solve, but as long as she gets involved, they can be solved!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why my parents told me that Jinli is the Lucky Star of Xiao Family Village, our village treasure. We must take good care of Jinli, and then our village will get better and better!¡± ¡°Yes, my parents also told me the same!¡± ¡­ Xiao Jinlu, the village treasure, was lying on the haystack, hearing the chirping voices of the children. Her mouth twitched involuntarily. These children¡­are indeed adorable! ¡°Jinli, Jinli,¡± Suddenly, a urgent voice of a young man echoed from afar. The man appeared to be in his twenties. He was of average build, had dark skin, and was wearing a plain shirt and shorts. His expression was anxious. A child quickly pointed towards the haystack and said, ¡°Qing Shan brother, Jinli is resting over there.¡± ¡°Brother Qing Shan, what happened again that requires Jinli¡¯s intervention?¡± ¡°Yeah, Brother Qing Shan, can¡¯t you adults handle it?¡± The man, who was being called Brother Qing Shan, didn¡¯t pay attention to these children. He ran straight to the haystack where Xiao Jinlu was resting. He stopped, placed both his hands on his knees, and gasping for breath, he said, ¡°Lit¡­ Jinli, something¡­ significant¡­ has happened!¡± Xiao Jinlu opened her eyes at this time. What kind of eyes were those? Her pupils seemed to contain the sea, shining like stars! Xiao Jinlu¡¯s gaze swept across, she stood up from the haystack, brushed the grass off her backside with her small hands, and asked with a hint of immaturity, ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s happened this time?¡± The children who were playing under the tree ran over, and they all curiously asked, ¡°Brother Qing Shan, what big event has occurred that needs Jinli¡¯s intervention to solve?¡± In the children¡¯s understanding, a problem in the village that could not be resolved, only then would Jinli be called for help. It seemed that in Xiao Family Village, no one thought there was a problem in letting a ten-year-old child solve village affairs. ¡°Brother Qing Shan, is the issue very serious?¡± ¡°Goudan, isn¡¯t that obvious? If it wasn¡¯t serious, why would they need Jinli¡¯s intervention? Wouldn¡¯t the adults have solved it?¡± ¡°Exactly, only issues the adults can¡¯t resolve would require Jinli¡¯s involvement.¡± Brother Qing Shan, ¡°¡­¡± Children, can you not speak the absolute truth. Xiao Qingshan wiped the sweat from his forehead. His breathing had begun to slow down. He said, ¡°Sister Chunhua, the daughter of Uncle Dafu from our village who married off, was carried back by her husband¡¯s family, having bled a lot.¡± Xiao Jinlu frowned slightly and asked, ¡°Was Sister Chunhua carried back? Was she hit by someone?¡± Xiao Qingshan nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very serious. Sister Chunhua¡¯s husband, Liu Daqiang, hit her, causing her to miscarry. They didn¡¯t take her to the hospital but brought her straight back. They claim that Sister Chunhua stole and is carrying a bastard. They¡¯re here not just to return her but also to demand the return of the betrothal gifts.¡± As he said this, Xiao Qingshan frowned, a look of anger crossing his face, ¡°There¡¯s no way Sister Chunhua could have cheated.¡± Upon hearing how serious the situation was, Xiao Jinlu asked earnestly, ¡°Has she been taken to the hospital now?¡± ¡°No. Liu¡¯s family won¡¯t let us move her. They¡¯ve said they won¡¯t allow for her to be taken to the hospital until the betrothal gifts are returned,¡± Xiao Qingshan said, ¡°Liu Family brought a large group of people over. My father, along with others, are currently confronting Liu¡¯s family. Sister Chunhua¡¯s condition is deteriorating.¡± ¡°Have you called the police?¡± Xiao Jinlu asked with a solemn face, ¡°This is a matter of life and death. If they obstruct us, we can call the police directly. If Sister Chunhua doesn¡¯t have an accident it¡¯s okay, but if something happens, let the people of Liu Family wait for their punishment!¡± Xiao Qing Shan was shocked by the cold radiance in Xiao Jinlu¡¯s eyes, but he quickly responded, ¡°Someone has already called the police, but the Liu¡¯s seem to not be afraid at all.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± They couldn¡¯t delay this matter. If Sister Chunhua bled to death, it would be a great injustice. As Xiao Jinlu walked, she listened to Xiao Qingshan describe the situation. Seeing the event unfolding in the village, the children decided to let the cows graze. They all ran towards their homes. Anyway, with Cow King there, these cows would not run off. They would return to their homes by themselves when it got dark. Xiao Jinlu quickly arrived at Xiao Youfu¡¯s house. A large group of people surrounded the main gate of Xiao Youfu¡¯s home. From afar, they could hear the loud quarrelling emanating from inside. ¡°Xiao Youfu, I¡¯m telling you, your daughter is involved in an affair. We caught her in the act,¡± Liu Bald, Daqiang¡¯s father, exclaimed loudly, ¡°Your daughter, I¡¯m sending her back to you, but the betrothal gift of 98,000 we gave you, you must return back!¡± ¡°Liu Bald, don¡¯t wrong my daughter. Chunhua is an honest and sincere girl from my family. She would never do such a thing,¡± Xiao Youfu naturally stood by his daughter. ¡°You still want to quibble? Today, our family and several villagers caught her in the act. She was lying with Laizi of our village,¡± Liu Bald said furiously, ¡°Ever since my son Daqiang brought your daughter Chunhua back, he has been spoiling her and treating her like a treasure. But she, having such a good husband, actually sought other men outside. Hmph, we, Liu¡¯s family, won¡¯t tolerate such a capricious woman.¡± At this moment, someone shouted, ¡°Jinli is here, let¡¯s quickly let Jinli in!¡± Chapter 9 - Chapter 9 – Chapter 9: Decisively and Domineeringly Saving People! (Requesting Reviews) Chapter 9 ¨C Chapter 9: Decisively and Domineeringly Saving People! (Requesting Reviews) Two groups of people were in a standoff in the yard of Xiao Youfu¡¯s house. One group were the village head, local elders and middle-aged villagers, and the other was naturally the Liu family. Wow, a lot of Liu family members had come over, mostly young adults, and they bore tools in their hands¡ªhoes, iron shovels, bamboo poles, and such. It was clear they came prepared. Xiao Chunhua had been laid by her family in the main room of the house, lying on a bamboo bed, looking pale and feeble due to blood loss. It seemed she was exhaling more than she was inhaling, which greatly worried Madame Xiao. Hearing that Jinli was going in, a villager expressed his worries, ¡°It¡¯s really bloody inside, can we let Jinli go in?¡± Someone¡¯s reminder made many villagers snap back to reality. ¡°Yeah, this isn¡¯t an ordinary conflict. Xiao Chunhua just lost her baby, letting a child go in is not a good omen.¡± ¡°So what do we do now? Do we not let Jinli go in?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too late to stop her from going inside. Jinli has already entered.¡± Seeing Xiao Jinli walking in, Xiao Youfu¡¯s family brightened up. The village head¡¯s pupils involuntarily shrank, and then he sternly said, ¡°This matter concerns adults. You, a child, should stay out of it.¡± The main concern was that the heavy smell of blood here might scare Jinli. Jinli is the lucky star of the whole village, the village¡¯s treasure, no harm could befall her. Having said that, he cast a harsh gaze at his own son Xiao Qingshan. Facing his father¡¯s terrifying stare, Xiao Qingshan shivered and immediately hid behind Jinli. He felt somewhat wronged. His father and the people from the Liu family had been arguing for such a long time without reaching any results, while Xiao Chunhua¡¯s condition was getting more and more dangerous. He had no choice but to seek Jinli¡¯s help. Although he felt a little guilty for relying on Jinli. As soon as Xiao Jinli entered, her beautiful, sharp eyes darted towards the main room. Then, without saying a word, she ran straight towards the main room. Everyone was stunned by Xiao Jinli¡¯s actions. Especially the Liu family, they were somewhat dumbfounded, not understanding why the argument suddenly stopped and why everyone was staring blankly at a child. As soon as she entered the room, she was hit with a stench of blood, quite intense and nauseating. Xiao Jinli slightly frowned, but she wasn¡¯t disgusted. She saw Xiao Chunhua, who was lying on a bamboo bed, more accurately, unconscious. Madame Xiao covered her with a thin blanket, but couldn¡¯t hide her increasingly pale face. And the sound of blood dribbling ¡°drip drip¡± onto the floor. Seeing Xiao Jinli appear, Madame Xiao immediately pleaded, ¡°Jinli, I beg you, you must save my daughter. Please, Jinli, I beg you.¡± Xiao Jinli swiftly approached the bamboo bed and placed two fingers on Chunhua¡¯s nostrils. Then, she put her entire palm on Chunhua¡¯s chest. After a while, she sternly said, ¡°Sister Chunhua is in critical condition and must be rushed to the hospital immediately. Has anyone called 120?¡± When she mentioned calling 120, everyone looked slightly stunned. They had thought about taking Xiao Chunhua to the hospital, but it never occurred to them to call 120.¡± Xiao Jinli took one look at them and knew, no one had called 120. She frowned and said, ¡°It¡¯s too late to call 120 now. Uncle Village Chief, please arrange for village vehicles and get her to the hospital immediately!¡± Before the village head could respond, Xiao Qingshan immediately said, ¡°I¡¯ll go bring the car around now.¡± Having said that, Xiao Qingshan ran out. The Liu family finally recovered at this moment. They wanted to send Xiao Chunhua to the hospital? How is that possible? They hadn¡¯t even received their betrothal gifts back yet. If Xiao Chunhua really got sent to the hospital, and the Xiao family spent all their money, what could they use to return the betrothal gifts? Led by Liu Bald, the people from Liujiacun forcefully blocked the door to the main room. Liu Bald, holding an iron shovel in his hand, placed it directly in front of the door and said menacingly, ¡°You can send her to the hospital, but you have to return the betrothal gifts first! Otherwise, haha¡­, don¡¯t even think about leaving this place!¡± Then he added, ¡°We paid 98,000 to marry a woman who would become our wife, but she turned out to be a promiscuous woman, causing our Liu family lose face. This account, should also include compensation for mental damage. Just returning the betrothal gifts would be letting you all off easy.¡± Liu Daqiang didn¡¯t speak, shooting Xiao Chunhua a hard look full of anger. The rest of the villagers who had accompanied the Liu family echoed, ¡°That¡¯s right. The woman we Liu Family married with a betrothal gift is for having children and carrying on the family line, not a promiscuous woman who cheats on her husband and carries an illegitimate child. Today, if you don¡¯t return the betrothal gifts, don¡¯t even think about going to the hospital!¡± Xiao Youfu was so angry that his face turned pale. He sternly pointed at Liu Bald and Liu Daqiang and yelled, ¡°The betrothal gifts, the damn 98,000! When we agreed to the betrothal gifts of 98,000, you reduced it to 66,000. But I allowed Chunhua to bring this 66,000 to you guys. On the night of the wedding, you took the betrothal gifts right from her hands. Now, you¡¯re still demanding betrothal gifts. Have you no shame?¡± Liu Bald, however, argued defiantly, ¡°Xiao Chunhua brought the betrothal gift back and gave it to us, who saw it? Don¡¯t think you can deny giving us the gifts with such an excuse.¡± Just then, Xiao Qingshan and a few young men ran over. Xiao Qingshan declared, ¡°The car is ready.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Hurry up and carry her to the car, be gentle and be quick. Qingshan, when driving, try to be as smooth as possible. Also, it¡¯s best if you could call 120, they will meet us on the way.¡± Xiao Qingshan and the others nodded their heads, then made their way straight to the main room. Liu Bald became very angry, saying, ¡°If you want to save¡­¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t save her now, Sister Chunhua will die. And when she dies, will you pay with your lives?¡± Before he could finish, Xiao Jinli cut him off coldly. Her piercing eyes swept over the Liu family members and the villagers from Liujiacun who had followed the Lius. ¡°Whether or not Sister Chunhua cheated on her husband, we won¡¯t discuss that for now. But, right now Sister Chunhua¡¯s life is hanging by a thread. If she¡¯s not taken to the hospital for treatment immediately, she will die. You all are standing here blocking the way, preventing her from being sent to the hospital, do you know what that is called?¡± Some villagers from Liujiacun frowned, ¡°What is it called?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called deliberate homicide!¡± Xiao Jinli said coldly, ¡°If anything happens to Sister Chunhua, whether it¡¯s Liu Bald or Liu Daqiang, even if they don¡¯t pay with their lives, they¡¯ll definitely spend half of their lives or the rest of their lives in prison.¡± ¡°As for you accomplices, although you won¡¯t be imprisoned for life or half of your life, you won¡¯t be able to evade spending three to five years in prison.¡± Now that we¡¯re talking about this, I¡¯m really curious. Did the Liu family give you any benefits to make you willing to risk going to jail, just to help them murder someone?¡± ¡°Clang.¡± A sound. The tools in the hands of the villagers from Liujiacun fell to the ground, their faces slightly pale. Chapter 11 - Chapter 11 – Chapter 11: Running by Crawling and Rolling Chapter 11 ¨C Chapter 11: Running by Crawling and Rolling Liu Bald wanted to snatch the iron shovel, but he couldn¡¯t move it again. He was secretly shocked in his heart. After glaring at Xiao Jinli, he raised his head and scolded Xiao Youfu, ¡°We all caught Xiao Chunhua on the spot, and you still want to argue. I tell you, the marriage between my son and your daughter is over, and the 98,000 betrothal gifts, you must return them to me.¡± Without returning the money, how could Liu Daqiang marry again? Xiao Youfu also stubbornly said, ¡°I¡¯d have ended this marriage even if you hadn¡¯t brought it up. My precious daughter married into your Liu Family and returned covered in bruises. How could I let her stay in the Liu Family? If there¡¯s a next time, my daughter and I might not even see each other alive because you would have killed us.¡± Xiao Jinli picked up the iron shovel and stabbed it directly towards Liu Bald¡¯s face. Liu Bald¡¯s face changed, and he instinctively dodged backward. One foot stepped on a rock, and he fell to the ground again, supporting himself with both hands, his face full of terror! He asked fearfully, stuttering, ¡°Wha¡­ What do you want to do?¡± The sharp iron shovel stopped less than a centimeter away from his nose. Xiao Jinli coldly said, ¡°If you keep talking nonsense here, I¡¯ll beat you up, break your legs, and leave you bedridden for months.¡± Of course, she wasn¡¯t just scaring them. When pushed too far, she really could beat them badly enough to leave them bedridden for months. Baldy Liu and Liu Daqiang, the father and son, were almost scared to tears by Xiao Jinli¡¯s fierce and intimidating aura. Is this even a child? It¡¯s more like a devil! ¡°Get lost!¡± Xiao Jinli spat out another word coldly. Regaining their senses, Liu Bald and his son shamelessly scurried away, crawling and rolling. They even left behind the iron shovel and hoe. Upon seeing the two retreating figures, the villagers of Xiao Family Village finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere lightened up a bit. But when they thought of Xiao Chunhua¡¯s situation, a worried look appeared on the villagers¡¯ faces. ¡°Jinli, will Chunhua be okay?¡± They instinctively asked Xiao Jinli. Because Xiao Jinli was the Lucky Star of their village, as long as she said it was alright, it would definitely be alright. Unconsciously, the not yet ten-year-old Jinli had become the backbone of the Xiao Family Village, even surpassing Village Head Xiao Changgui. Xiao Jinli shook her head. The villagers¡¯ faces immediately changed, thinking that Xiao Jinli meant no. Xiao Jinli said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°I mean, Sister Chunhua should be okay.¡± Xiao Youfu and the villagers let out a big sigh of relief. At this moment, the Village Chief¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Qing Shan, what, okay, okay, I got it!¡± After hanging up the phone, the Village Chief told Xiao Youfu, ¡°Afu, you should hurry to the hospital. Qing Shan called, they met the ambulance halfway. After Chunhua was put onboard, the doctor gave her emergency treatment and then rushed her to the emergency room.¡± Xiao Youfu panicked and said, ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll go now!¡± The Village Chief worried that Xiao Youfu might get into an accident if he rode his motorbike there, so he arranged for a young man to give him a ride. Seeing Xiao Youfu¡¯s anxious and hurried figure, the villagers¡¯ faces showed some concern. Involuntarily, everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Xiao Jinli again. Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­¡± She is a person, not a god, she can¡¯t predict the outcome. Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, I¡¯m worried that the Liu Family will still cause trouble. Before Sister Chunhua wakes up, it¡¯s best to send someone to Liujiacun now to check what¡¯s going on, so we can vindicate Sister Chunhua after the investigation is clear.¡± The Village Head nodded in agreement, ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯ll arrange it now!¡± Then, the Village Head asked doubtfully, ¡°Jinli, do you really think there¡¯s a problem with the Liu family? Chunhua¡­¡± Xiao Jinli somewhat speechless said, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, what kind of person Sister Chunhua is, even if others don¡¯t know, don¡¯t the people in our village know? Sister Chunhua must have been wronged. As for why the Liu Family suddenly wronged Sister Chunhua and started to beat her, there must be something going on.¡± The Village Head nodded immediately, ¡°Alright, I understand. Jinli, you can leave this to me, you¡¯ve worked hard, now go rest!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll head home!¡± ¡°Jinli, my family is cooking a braised fish, come have dinner at my house tonight!¡± ¡°Jinli, my family is cooking your favorite braised pork, come have dinner at my house.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and laughed, ¡°No need, my mom made braised beef brisket with radish at home, I¡¯ll be eating there!¡± After a while, Xiao Jinli went home. The rest of the matter could be left to the Village Head to arrange. Soon after, Xiao Jinli arrived in front of a small western-style villa, the faint scent of beef wafting out. Xiao Jinli took a deep breath and had an innocent, happy smile that only children possess. ¡°It smells so good!¡± Pushing the courtyard door open, Xiao Jinli shouted, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m back!¡± Then, a young and beautiful woman in her thirties, wearing an apron, ran out. This was Xiao¡¯s mother, and in fact, she was already over forty. Xiao¡¯s mother smiled gently, ¡°Jinli, you must be hungry, your mom is stewing beef brisket, it¡¯ll be ready soon. Go watch TV in your room and have some fruit to fill your stomach!¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back to my room and read for a while, I¡¯ll come out when mom finishes cooking.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother replied, ¡°Alright. Oh, by the way, make a call to your dad and brother, and tell them to come home for dinner.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Xiao Jinli answered cheerfully. Then, she jumped and ran back to her room, picked up her cell phone, and made a call to her working father. As soon as the call was answered, a gentle voice from the other side happily asked, ¡°My baby girl, what¡¯s up?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Dad, mom made beef and radish stew today, you and my brother hurry back for dinner.¡± ¡°Alright, your brother and I will be right back. Baby girl, wait for your dad, okay? Mom and Dad!¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­¡±Daddy is so immature.¡± After hanging up the phone from her father, Xiao Jinli spread out on the bed with her arms and legs wide open, closed her eyes and said, ¡°Xiao Zhi, track Liu Bald and Liu Daqiang¡¯s cellphones, and give me feedback on the information about them beating Xiao Chunhua!¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± A childish voice rang in Xiao Jinli¡¯s mind. A moment later¡­ ¡°Ding Ding, Master, Xiao Zhi has detected that Liu Daqiang is currently on a call with someone, do you want to eavesdrop?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Liu Daqiang¡¯s voice then entered Xiao Jinli¡¯s ears. ¡°Lanlan, don¡¯t worry, I will definitely make them send the money over, and then go to your house to propose marriage. Oh dear, baby, don¡¯t cry, it breaks my heart.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s little face darkened! Chapter 12 - Chapter 12 – Chapter 12: Investigating the Truth Chapter 12 ¨C Chapter 12: Investigating the Truth The next morning, the Village Head and Xiao Youfu¡¯s two brothers came to Xiao Jinli¡¯s house. Xiao Mother was cleaning the yard and watering the flowers and plants. Seeing them, she immediately put down her work and greeted them with a smile, ¡°Village Head, why are you guys here so early? Are you here to see my daughter, Jinli? She went for a run and will be back later. Is there something urgent? If it is, I can give her a call, and she can come back earlier.¡± Although Xiao Jinli was young, she was strict with herself. She would go for a run every day no matter the weather, and wake up at 5 o¡¯clock in the morning! The three men directly sat on the stone benches in the yard and waved their hands, saying, ¡°No need, we can wait. She should be back soon.¡± As the Village Head spoke, he took out his cellphone to check the time. Xiao Mother poured them each a glass of water. She also took a seat, looking serious, and asked, ¡°Village Head, is this about Chunhua¡¯s situation?¡± The Village Head nodded, ¡°Yes. I have made some phone calls and asked some relatives and friends from Liujiacun. They told us that before Chunhua got caught cheating, there was no rumor in the village about her being unfaithful or flirting with men. She was suddenly caught cheating, and it was Liu Bald and his son who brought a large group of people and found Chunhua in bed with a leper from their village.¡± Xiao Mother sighed lightly, ¡°Chunhua, everyone in our village knows she is an honest person. How could she cheat on her husband, and with a leper? Who would believe that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the strange part. But there are rumors in the village that Liu Daqiang is having an affair with a young widow. Some people have seen Liu Daqiang coming out of the widow¡¯s house in the early morning.¡± Xiao Mother was shocked, and said apprehensively, ¡°So it wasn¡¯t Chunhua who cheated, it was Liu Daqiang. But why did he frame and wrong Chunhua?¡± ¡°Why? It must have been for the betrothal gift!¡±, said Xiao Youlu, Chunhua¡¯s uncle, with anger. ¡°Only by tarnishing our Chunhua¡¯s reputation could they take back the betrothal gifts.¡± Xiao YouShou frowned, ¡°But Chunhua¡¯s parents said that when she married into the Liu Family, she already brought sixty thousand yuan of betrothal gifts. On the night of the wedding, the Liu Family took it away. Now they want to get another hundred thousand yuan from her parents. They are shameless.¡± Xiao Mother was also angry, ¡°Since they took the betrothal gifts that Chunhua brought, how can they ask for more? It¡¯s too much.¡± ¡°They¡¯re taking advantage of the fact that we have no evidence when they took the betrothal gifts on the wedding night. So whatever they say goes,¡± said Xiao Youlu resentfully, looking as if he wanted to stab the Liu family members. How hateful! ¡°How is Chunhua? Is she alright?¡±, asked Xiao Mother. Xiao Youlu said, ¡°Chunhua was taken to the hospital yesterday, and she was in the rescue room for seventeen or eighteen hours. The doctor said the surgery was successful, but she¡¯s not out of danger yet. If she wakes up within twenty-four hours, she should be fine. If not¡­ Sigh¡­¡± ¡°Poor girl!¡±, sighed Xiao Mother, ¡°I hope Chunhua recovers soon.¡± After talking for a while, Xiao Jinli came back from her run. Seeing the three men in her home, she raised her eyebrows. As soon as the three men saw Xiao Jinli, they looked excited. ¡°Jinli, just as you suspected, there¡¯s something fishy about Chunhua¡¯s affair,¡± said Xiao Youlu angrily, ¡°Liu Bald and his son are so despicable and shameless. It was Liu Daqiang who was having an affair, but they blamed Chunhua.¡± Xiao Jinli took a seat, and her mother poured her a glass of water. Xiao Jinli took the water from her mother and drank it all at once, feeling much better. She nodded, then asked sharply, ¡°So are the claims that Chunhua and a leper from their village were caught in bed together true?¡± Xiao YouShou nodded, ¡°Yesterday, Liu Bald and his son brought a group of villagers to catch Chunhua and the leper in bed. Many people saw them lying on the same bed.¡± Xiao Jinli tapped the stone table lightly with her fingers, and said, ¡°Now, we have three things to do! First, we need to find out why Chunhua was in bed with the leper and got caught cheating. In our Xiao Family Village, everyone knows that Chunhua was framed and wronged. What we need to do now is to find out the truth and gather concrete evidence. But we have to wait for Chunhua to wake up before we can ask her.¡± ¡°Second, since there are rumors about Liu Daqiang having an affair with a widow in Liujiacun¡¯s, what we need to do is find evidence or witnesses.¡± ¡°Third, report the case to the police! Accuse Liu Bald and Liu Daqiang of domestic violence and intentional injury, or even attempted murder.¡± Xiao Youlu hesitated, ¡°I heard that the Liu Family has connections in the Yamen. I¡¯m afraid it might not work if we report the case directly?¡± Xiao Jinli responded, ¡°Uncle Lu, don¡¯t worry for now. Let¡¯s report it first and see how it goes. If it doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯ll figure out another way!¡± Xiao Youlu sighed and looked worried, ¡°What will happen to Chunhua after all this? ¡± Xiao Mother comforted him, ¡°Chunhua is a good girl, and she has good fortune. She will marry into a good family in the future.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope so,¡±, Xiao Youlu was not optimistic. Xiao Mother glanced at her daughter and smiled, ¡°Didn¡¯t you all say that my daughter is a lucky star? In the future, let Chunhua share some of Jinli¡¯s good fortune, and she will surely be happy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. With Jinli here, Chunhua will definitely get better.¡±, said Xiao YouShou, laughing in agreement. Xiao Jinli,¡±¡­¡± Fine, if her mother wanted her to be the shield, she would be one. The Village Head nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll arrange for it right away. It¡¯s just¡­¡± The Village Head was worried and doubtful, ¡°Between villages, people are always keen to protect their village¡¯s reputation. I don¡¯t know how many people would be willing to testify in this case. If there aren¡¯t any, then¡­¡± Being a witness could easily get on people¡¯s bad side. No one wanted to bring trouble on themselves for no reason! Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, leave it to me to deal with this!¡± ¡°No!¡±, the Village Head immediately refused, ¡°How can you handle it? We will take care of it. I think not everyone in Liujiacun is united. We can find some people who don¡¯t get along with Liu Bald¡¯s family and see if they can help!¡± ¡°I also think this could work better! We can give it a try!¡± Chapter 13 - Chapter 13 – Chapter 13: Looking for Liu Laizi Chapter 13 ¨C Chapter 13: Looking for Liu Laizi A strange girl arrived at Liujiacun. This child had dark skin, wore a pair of small sunglasses, and had her hair tied up in a high ponytail, looking quite gallant and giving off a little female bandit vibe. The people of Liujiacun didn¡¯t recognize this child, but they didn¡¯t think much of it. With so many villages around, it was common for naughty children to run around from village to village, and adults not recognizing them was normal. Xiao Jinli stood not far from Widow Niu¡¯s house and saw the snot-nosed, dark-skinned brat in front of the door. She said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°Xiao Zhi, this is the child of the widow Liu Daqiang has been flirting with. She¡¯s even older than Sister Chunhua, and not as pretty. What does he see in her, treating Sister Chunhua that way?¡± Xiao Zhi replied, ¡°People¡¯s hearts are unpredictable. Master will have to experience this for themselves! Xiao Zhi is not human!¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­¡± After a while, Xiao Jinli looked around and saw no one else, so she shouted at the child, ¡°Kid, come here!¡± Liu Xiaoming heard the shout and looked up. Two thick white streams of snot were about to flow into his mouth. He wiped them with his hand, smearing his face and hand with snot. Xiao Jinli was disgusted beyond words. She thought to herself, ¡°How can there be such an unhygienic child? The children of Xiao Family Village are all so clean.¡± The children of Xiao Family Village were clean because the unclean ones would be despised by Xiao Jinli. Therefore, to avoid Xiao Jinli¡¯s disdain, the parents of the children would make sure they were neat and tidy. Yes, Xiao Jinli was the guiding star of their village. After wiping his nose, Liu Xiaoming bounced over and asked doubtfully, ¡°Sister, are you calling me?¡± Xiao Jinli took out a small bag of Little White Rabbit Candy and said to Liu Xiaoming, ¡°You¡¯re Liu Xiaoming, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Liu Xiaoming replied. ¡°Do you like these candies?¡± Xiao Jinli waved the candies in front of him. Liu Xiaoming gulped and his eyes filled with desire. He said, ¡°I like them! Sister, are these candies for me to eat?¡± As he spoke, he reached out to grab them. Xiao Jinli quickly stepped back and said, ¡°These candies are for you. But you have to promise to do something for me, and I¡¯ll give you this bag of candies.¡± Liu Xiaoming¡¯s eyes brightened, and he said, ¡°All right, sister, just say it!¡± Xiao Jinli handed Liu Xiaoming an object and said, ¡°Put this somewhere in your mom¡¯s room where she can¡¯t see it. Then, tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll come find you, and you can give it back to me. I¡¯ll bring you more candy tomorrow morning.¡± Liu Xiaoming was overjoyed at the thought of more candy the next day. Xiao Jinli instructed, ¡°But you have to promise me, when you put this thing in your mom¡¯s room, she absolutely cannot find out. Also, if someone asks where you got this candy, just say you found it on the ground, all right? Otherwise, if your family finds out someone gave it to you, they¡¯ll definitely confiscate it, and you won¡¯t have any candy to eat.¡± Liu Xiaoming didn¡¯t want to go a day without candy and immediately replied, ¡°Mm-hmm, I understand.¡± Afterward, Xiao Jinli walked around Liujiacun and heard one piece of gossip after another. ¡°Have you heard?¡± ¡°Heard what?¡± ¡°Yesterday, after Liu Laizi got drunk, he said Liu Daqiang approached him and asked him to sleep with his wife.¡± ¡°What?¡± The villagers listening were shocked. ¡°Has Liu Daqiang gone crazy, looking for someone to put a green hat on him?¡± ¡°Humph, he¡¯s been having an affair with Widow Niu Xiaolan from the village entrance, so he wants his betrothal gifts back. Wearing a green hat is nothing to him. It¡¯s just a pity for his wife, Xiao Chunhua. She¡¯s been hardworking and diligent since marrying him, and she¡¯s still looked down upon by her in-laws.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, that¡¯s just fate!¡± ¡­ Xiao Jinli went directly to Liu Laizi¡¯s house. Liu Laizi¡¯s house was easy to find, as it was the only earthen brick and tile house in the village, dark and gloomy. However, most rural houses have walled yards. Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t plan to take the courtyard door, she looked around, sprinted from a distance, jumped onto the wall, and leaped into the yard. Xiao Jinli directly found Liu Laizi¡¯s room. At this moment, he was sprawled on the bed. After a while, he turned over, switched to a blackened pillow, and muttered, ¡°Mmm, so fragrant! Xiao Chunhua is really fragrant!¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s face darkened. She stepped forward, raised her little hand, and gave him two hard slaps. ¡°Who, who, who hit me?¡± Liu Laizi jerked up from the bed. ¡°It¡¯s your Auntie here!¡± Xiao Jinli stood at the head of the bed, her aura cold and fierce. When Liu Laizi saw a young girl suddenly appear in his room, he was first startled, and then asked, ¡°You this child, how did you come to my room? Whose child are you?¡± As he finished speaking, a joyful and lewd smile appeared on his face, he opened his arms and lunged at Xiao Jinli, excitedly saying, ¡°No matter whose child you are, since you¡¯re here, play with me first!¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s little face became solemn, a fierce light flashing in her eyes. She coldly said, ¡°Fine, today, this Auntie will play with you first!¡± As Liu Laizi lunged at Xiao Jinli, she lifted her foot and swiftly kicked him in his lower body. ¡°Ah!¡± Liu Laizi let out a miserable scream, covering the kicked area with both hands, cold sweat on his forehead. He still glared at Xiao Jinli and yelled, ¡°You little bitch, I¡¯ll kill you! No, I¡¯ll rape and then kill you!¡± Having said that, completely disregarding the pain, he stretched out one hand toward Xiao Jinli¡¯s hair and the other to slap her face. Xiao Jinli¡¯s head tilted slightly, and Liu Laizi¡¯s hand brushed past her ear. Then, this arm was quickly grabbed by a small hand. Liu Laizi tried to shake her off, but the hand gripping his arm was like a pair of pliers, tightly clamping his arm. Liu Laizi¡¯s expression turned fearful. Before he could react, a slap slammed across his face, and half of his face swelled and turned red. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, his throat was then grabbed by someone. He couldn¡¯t breathe for an instant! His entire face turned red and purple. Liu Laizi appeared scared and uneasy. For the first time, he felt the taste of death. This child, shorter than his shoulder, possessed incredible strength, and emanated evil energy that made him shiver. ¡°De¡­demon!¡± With his throat being clamped, he finally squeezed out a few words. ¡°Demon? Hehe¡­¡± A cold laughter and imposing aura that didn¡¯t belong to her age emerged on Xiao Jinli¡¯s face. She coldly said, ¡°Liu Laizi, those who do evil things will suffer retribution. Now, it¡¯s your retribution! Speak, why did you conspire with Liu Daqiang to frame and wrong Xiao Chunhua?¡± Liu Laizi came to his senses. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re here to avenge Xiao¡­ Chunhua? You¡­ who are you to Xiao¡­ Chunhua¡­?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he felt his throat clamped even tighter, making it impossible to catch his breath. Then he heard a devilish voice. After a while, Xiao Jinli clapped her hands and walked out of Liu Laizi¡¯s house. Of course, she still went over the wall to leave the courtyard. Chapter 14 - Chapter 14 – Chapter 14: The Liu Family Causes Trouble Again Chapter 14 ¨C Chapter 14: The Liu Family Causes Trouble Again Xiao Family Village was a very united and cohesive village. Following Xiao Jinli¡¯s instructions, the Village Head quickly arranged for people to take action. The Village Head and Xiao Youfu arrived at Xiao Jinli¡¯s house. In these two days, Xiao Youfu had been taking care of Xiao Chunhua at the hospital, and he was very worried about her. His whole person seemed haggard and pale, with more than half of his hair turned white. It¡¯s true; the children indeed are the debt of their parents. The ones who always worry about their children are their parents. Xiao Youfu angrily said, ¡°Chunhua said that day, somehow, she just drank a cup of tea handed by Daqiang and fell asleep. When she woke up, she saw a large group of people standing in the room, all pointing to her saying she had stolen a man.¡± Afterwards, Liu Laizi, who was lying next to her, said that she had seduced him into the house. He even said that they had been together for a long time, and the child in Chunhua¡¯s stomach might be his.¡± Then Liu Daqiang, out of anger, beat Chunhua and caused her to lose the child. These bastards were all bullying my Chunhua.¡± ¡°There was clearly something wrong with the tea. Otherwise, with such a commotion, she would have woken up already.¡± Xiao Jinli just comforted him, ¡°Uncle Fu, calm down! We¡¯ll definitely help her seek justice and clear Sister Chunhua¡¯s name.¡± Who would have thought that just as she finished speaking, a child ran over, ¡°Uncle Three, Uncle Three, those bad guys are at your house again!¡± ¡°What?¡± Xiao Fu was so surprised that he jumped up, ¡°Well, they dare to come here? If they don¡¯t come, I¡¯ll go to Liujiacun.¡± With that said, he stood up and ran out quickly. Xiao Jinli and the Village Head immediately followed. Xiao Youfu has a son and a daughter ¨C Xiao Chunhua is the eldest, Xiao Chunming is the second, but he was already of age and had gone out to work. The elderly couple was still able to take care of themselves at home, so they lived alone in a separate house. Madame Xiao was taking care of Xiao Chunhua in the hospital, so there was only Xiao Youfu at home. However, Xiao Youfu had a large family. As soon as they heard that the Liu Family was coming again, the villagers of the Xiao Family Village immediately dropped their work, picked up an iron shovel or hoe from their homes, and hurried to Xiao Youfu¡¯s house. ¡°Well, Liu Bald, I didn¡¯t even come looking for you, and you already came knocking on my door.¡± As the saying goes, enemies meeting each other would see red! As soon as Xiao Youfu saw Liu Bald, he couldn¡¯t wait to tear them apart. This family almost killed his daughter! At this time, a short, slightly plump middle-aged woman, hands on her hips, and in a shrew-like image, scolded, ¡°Xiao Youfu, your family is full of cheap people, and you treat our Liu Family as if we were dead? Doing such shameless things in broad daylight, you people are shameless women that get around. You should be put into a pig cage and spare us the shame on our Liu Family.¡± Listening to Old Lady Liu¡¯s words, Xiao Youfu¡¯s face turned pale with anger, but he, as a big man, didn¡¯t know how to retort. Xiao Chunhua¡¯s aunt stepped forward, put her hands on her hips, and immediately viciously cursed back, ¡°Chen Erying, you crazy woman, you¡¯re the cheap one, and your whole family is cheap! It¡¯s obviously your son, Liu Daqiang, who stole a man, don¡¯t try to pin that crime on my Chunhua. Your precious son, Liu Daqiang, should be the one in the pig cage!¡± Upon hearing Auntie Xiao¡¯s words, the three members of the Liu Family were suddenly scared, and a flash of panic crossed their eyes. Liu Daqiang exclaimed loudly, ¡°Great Aunt, don¡¯t wrongly accuse me, I didn¡¯t steal anyone at all!¡± Auntie Xiao sneered, ¡°You didn¡¯t steal anyone? Then do you dare to swear? You swear that if you have stolen someone, you, Liu Daqiang, will be struck by lightning and your whole family will be childless. Do you dare?¡± Liu Daqiang certainly didn¡¯t dare! In modern society, people believe in scientism. However, he grew up in the countryside after all, where many superstitious old customs deeply influenced them. Asking him to swear that he would be struck by lightning and cut off from his descendants, what if it came true? Liu Daqiang adamantly spoke louder, ¡°I, Liu Daqiang, didn¡¯t steal anyone¡¯s wife, so why should I swear? Humph, as for Xiao Chunhua, it¡¯s a shame that after marrying her, I treated her like a treasure, and she just went out to cheat on me, giving me a green hat. We caught her cheating red-handed, that¡¯s a fact!¡± The louder he spoke, the more guilty he seemed! ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Xiao Youfu angrily shouted, ¡°My daughter did not cheat on you! It¡¯s clear that your whole family framed her. I found out that after Xiao Chunhua drank the cup of tea you gave her, she fell asleep. When she woke up, you and your so-called friends caught her cheating. Why would Chunhua fall into a deep sleep after drinking the water you gave her? Why did you catch her with such a large group of people? Did you know in advance that my daughter Chunhua would be in bed with someone in broad daylight, in front of everyone? So, do you think that even though you knew you were cuckolded, you would still make a big scene so that everyone knows? This is obviously a disgraceful matter, shouldn¡¯t it be hidden instead?¡± ¡°I¡­I¡­¡± Liu Daqiang was caught off guard and didn¡¯t know how to respond! He did not expect the Xiao family to find the truth so quickly. But they came to cause trouble, did they want the betrothal gifts back? Liu¡¯s wife immediately stood in front of her son and pointed at Xiao Youfu, angrily cursing, ¡°Your shameless daughter cheated and isn¡¯t afraid of it being exposed, so why should my family be afraid? On the contrary, if we help keep the truth hidden on this disgusting woman, she may think we¡¯re afraid of her? Humph, since that¡¯s the case, let her lose face thoroughly and make sure everyone knows about it. Xiao Youfu, don¡¯t try to push the responsibility onto our Liu family for the cheap daughter you raised. I tell you, today we came for the betrothal gifts. If you don¡¯t give them back, I¡¯ll go to town and let the whole town and villagers know that Xiao Family Village has produced a shameless and disgraceful woman.¡± ¡°You¡­you¡­¡± Xiao Youfu trembled with anger, ¡°You¡¯re just making things up!¡± Jinli, who was in the crowd, saw that Liu family¡¯s combat power was so strong, while the Xiao family was obviously at a disadvantage, she slightly frowned. She thought for a moment and then approached Aunt Xiao Chunhua. Aunt Xiao looked at Jinli with bright eyes, but then asked worriedly, ¡°Jinli, the Liu family is just making things up. What should we do now?¡± Jinli took out something that looked like a black pen and handed it to Aunt Xiao, saying, ¡°Aunt Xiao, this is evidence of Liu Daqiang¡¯s affair with the widow Niu Xiaolan from their village. I¡¯m giving it to you now, and you can play it directly. However, you must protect this evidence well. I¡¯ve called the police, and as long as you can stall until the officials from the Yamen arrive, it will be fine.¡± After listening, Aunt Xiao took the item very carefully and promised, ¡°Okay, I will definitely protect this evidence!¡± Next, Jinli taught Auntie Xiao how to use it. After a while, Aunt Xiao rushed out with the item, and she slapped Liu Daqiang twice and cursed, ¡°Damn you, I want to kill you! How can you be so evil? What has Chunhua done to hurt you? You cheat on her and then frame her, even causing her to miscarriage and almost lose her life. You heartless thing, she was carrying your son! How could you be so cruel and wicked?¡± Aunt Xiao¡¯s sudden fury caught everyone by surprise, including the villagers of Liujiacun! ¡°What? You said that shameless woman was carrying a son in her stomach? How could that be?¡± Old Lady Liu¡¯s shrill voice rang out, clearly not believing any of it! Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Truth Revealed 1 Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Truth Revealed 1 Translator: 549690339 The Liu Family didn¡¯t believe that Xiao Chunhua was carrying a son at all. Old Lady Liu exclaimed in disbelief, ¡°A son? How is that possible? We had Granny Yuan from Ten Li Village come over to have a look, and she clearly said that the child in that wretched woman¡¯s stomach was a bad deal!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Auntie Xiao seemed to understand everything in an instant. ¡°Well, now I get it.¡± She pointed at the Liu Family and shouted, ¡°You think Chunhua is carrying a girl, so you don¡¯t want this child, and neither does the child¡¯s mother. But if you divorce Chunhua for no reason, it would be unreasonable and you would have no excuse to ask for the betrothal gifts back. So, you set up Chunhua to have an affair, is that right?¡± Liu Daqiang and his family were taken aback, their pupils involuntarily shrinking! The truth was indeed just like this. But could they admit it? Definitely not! Just as Liu Daqiang was about to refute, Auntie Xiao took out a recording pen and said coldly, ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t be so quick to deny it. I have evidence in my hands, I¡¯m not just making things up!¡± ¡°What is this thing?¡± Most of the villagers were not highly educated and had never seen a recording pen before. ¡°This is a recording pen!¡± Xiao Qingshan explained with some surprise. ¡°Haha, this is a recording pen?¡± Many people were curious, ¡°Is it the same thing as a tape recorder? It sounds similar from the name!¡± Xiao Qingshan explained, ¡°Yes, it has the same function as a tape recorder.¡± Liu Daqiang looked at the so-called recording pen in Auntie Xiao¡¯s hand with confusion. Liu Bald had a bad feeling about it and said, ¡°What is this thing you¡¯ve taken out, and you even claim it¡¯s evidence! Don¡¯t slander us!¡± Auntie Xiao sneered, ¡°Hmph, whether I have wronged you or not, you¡¯ll know when you hear it!¡± After she finished speaking, she immediately played the recording pen. Then, they heard a familiar voice. ¡°Baby, I missed you so much!¡± This voice was Liu Daqiang¡¯s, which both the villagers of Liujiacun and those of Xiao¡¯s Village were familiar with. ¡°Why is this voice so disgusting . It¡¯s Daqiang¡¯s voice, right? Haha¡­¡± Who would have thought that the next voice would leave everyone speechless. A woman¡¯s voice with a coquettish tone said, ¡°You dead ghost, we see each other every day, how can you miss me?¡± Then, everyone heard a ¡°pop¡± sound of a kiss, followed by a man¡¯s hoarse and passionate voice, ¡°I miss you so much, especially down there, I can¡¯t get enough of you. Do you want to touch it?¡± ¡°You dead ghost, what you mean by missing me is actually missing that part of me. Hmph, I think all men are just lower body creatures.¡± Hearing the voices coming from the recording pen, both the villagers of Liujiacun and those of Xiao¡¯s Village were shocked. If these two voices were a couple¡¯s bedroom talk, then others would praise them for being affectionate. But if they were¡­ The villagers of Xiao¡¯s Village were not familiar with the woman¡¯s voice in the recording pen, but they knew the man¡¯s voice. It was Liu Daqiang¡¯s voice. So who was the woman talking with him? The villagers of Liujiacun were extremely familiar with the woman¡¯s voice. A villager exclaimed in disbelief, ¡°This voice sounds so much like Niu Xiaolan!¡± A villager who knew the truth sneered and said, ¡°Not just ¡®sounds like¡¯, it¡¯s definitely Niu Xiaolan! I¡¯ve heard long ago that they were fooling around together, and it turns out it¡¯s true!¡± As his voice fell, more shocking words emerged from the recording pen. It sounded like Liu Daqiang was eager to do something with Niu Xiaolan but was stopped by her. Niu Xiaolan asked, ¡°When are you going to get the betrothal gifts back? When are you divorcing?¡± Liu Daqiang replied anxiously, ¡°Soon, soon.¡± Niu Xiaolan seemed somewhat annoyed and said, ¡°What do you mean ¡®soon¡¯? How long has it been? At first, when you were supposed to divorce Xiao Chunhua, you said you had to plan it out and see if you could get some money from the Xiao Family. I¡¯ve been waiting for several months, and my stomach is already three months along. If I wait any longer, someone will find out. I went to the shaman woman and asked, this child is a son, not like the bad merchandise in your wife¡¯s belly. Luckily, you kicked out that bad merchandise, or else even if you divorced her, there would still be a child, and that would disgust me! Hurry up, or I¡¯ll have the child in my womb aborted.¡± Hearing Niu Xiaolan¡¯s threat to abort the child, Liu Daqiang was instantly anxious. He pleaded, ¡°Baby, baby, don¡¯t rush. Please don¡¯t let anything happen to my son. I¡­ I¡¯ll go to Xiao¡¯s Village tomorrow, yes, tomorrow. I¡¯ll get a hundred thousand yuan back and then give the money to you as betrothal gifts. Will that be enough?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait a few more days with your promise. But you have to know, after the first three months, the baby will grow rapidly. If we wait another three months, experienced women will definitely be able to tell that there¡¯s a problem with my belly.¡± Liu Daqiang promised, ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll go and get the money tomorrow, just wait. Now, baby, can we go to bed? Your husband can¡¯t wait any longer.¡± Niu Xiaolan giggled and said, ¡°You dead ghost!¡± Immediately afterward, the sounds of their lovemaking were heard. Everyone present blushed and their hearts raced as they listened to those sounds. Now, not only the Xiao Family but also the villagers of Liujiacun were at a loss for words. Niu Xiaolan and Liu Daqiang not only had an affair but also had a three-month-old child. This news was too shocking. ¡°Well, Liu Daqiang, you have an affair and even fathered a bastard child, yet you frame my daughter Chunhua. You vile and ungrateful thing! 1¡­1¡¯11 fight you to the end!¡± Xiao Youfu¡¯s face turned livid with anger. At first, Liu Daqiang was stunned by the conversation that came out of the recording pen. But when he came to his senses, the other side had already finished playing the recording. Liu Daqiang refused to admit it, shouting, ¡°No, no! I didn¡¯t do it.¡± Then, he tried to grab the recording pen. In fact, trying to snatch the recording pen now was meaningless. Whatever was going to be played had already been played. ¡°If it¡¯s not you, then whose voice is it in there?¡± Xiao Youfu demanded, ¡°If you really did not have an affair, then swear in front of us that the child in the woman¡¯s womb is a bastard and will be dragged away by dogs and cats when born, do you dare?¡± Before Liu Daqiang could respond, Old Lady Liu began shouting in anger and frustration, ¡°Xiao Youfu, you curse my grandson! I¡¯m not finished with you!¡± Everyone, Well, there¡¯s no need to question Liu Daqiang anymore, as one of them had already confessed without any prompting. After saying that, Old Lady Liu took a hoe and swung it at Xiao Youfu! At this moment, a stern and authoritative voice rang out, ¡°Stop! Stop it! If you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯ll arrest you all!¡± Arrest? Old Lady Liu¡¯s face suddenly revealed a cold smile. She sneered to herself, ¡°Hmph, we have someone behind us in the Liu Family. Let¡¯s see who¡¯s going to capture us!¡± However, as soon as she turned around, her face changed on the spot! Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Truth Revealed 2 Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Truth Revealed 2 Translator: 549690339 Wearing uniforms, the Yamen staff escorted Liu Laizi with handcuffs on his hands. Only those suspected of illegal crimes would be handcuffed. A very bad premonition suddenly rose in the hearts of the Liu family members. The villagers of Liujiacun had a slightly puzzled expression on their faces. ¡°Why is Liu Laizi handcuffed?¡± A villager from Liujiacun asked in confusion. ¡°Yeah, even though Liu Laizi is a bit lazy and loves to drink, he hasn¡¯t done anything terrible.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, why would people from the Yamen come, and with Liu Laizi too?¡± Liu Bald saw the people from the Yamen, handed the hoe to his wife, and immediately ran over. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took out two, and planned to hand one to each of them. He asked with a flattering smile, ¡°Comrades, you¡¯ve worked hard. Have a cigarette! ¡± But he was sternly rejected. The Yamen staff solemnly said, ¡°During work hours, we strictly prohibit casually making connections!¡± Liu Bald¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment, but he still bowed and asked, ¡°Actually, I just wanted to ask if Deputy Director Liu is busy today?¡± The meaning was very clear ¨C I know your Director Liu. Of the two Yamen staff who had come, one was surnamed Guan and the other Li. The two frowned slightly, ¡°Deputy Director Liu, Liu Yang?¡± Liu Bald immediately excitedly said, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, it¡¯s Liu Yang. He¡¯s my good brother! ¡± He thought that by revealing this relationship, he¡¯d be able to ingratiate himself with the two staff members. But Officer Li¡¯s words felt like pouring a bucket of cold water directly on top of his head. He said, ¡°Oh, Liu Yang was taken away by the Disciplinary Inspection Department this morning for alleged corruption and bribery!¡± Liu¡¯s wife was shocked and couldn¡¯t accept it. She couldn¡¯t believe it and said, ¡°How can this be! He just came to our house for dinner yesterday!¡± Liu Yang was their biggest supporter in Liu Family Village. In the past, their domestic violence against Xiao Chunhua had been fearless, all because of Liu Yang¡¯s backing. But now, Liu Yang was arrested in the blink of an eye. Officer Guan didn¡¯t want to explain to them. He said sternly, ¡°Now is our working time, not the time for chatting!¡± After that, he swept his fierce gaze over the crowd and asked sharply, ¡°Which one of you is Liu Daqiang?¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes fell on Liu Daqiang. Liu Daqiang¡¯s heart instantly became flustered. He stuttered in response, ¡°I¡­ I am Liu Daqiang. May I ask¡­ what¡¯s the matter?¡± Officer Guan said solemnly, ¡°We¡¯ve received a report accusing you of domestic violence, assault, and slander. Please come with us to assist in our investigation!¡± Liu Daqiang¡¯s face immediately turned pale, and he stuttered nervously, ¡°Officer, you must have gotten it wrong. I¡­ I was framed. Don¡¯t just believe others.¡± Xiao Dafu charged over and said loudly, ¡°You were framed? That¡¯s a joke. My girl Chunhua was beaten by you until she miscarried and was left with only half her life. She was in the hospital for a day, barely escaping the gates of hell. Having said that, Xiao Youfu turned to the two Yamen staff and said, ¡°Comrades, Liu Daqiang and his family are well-known for beating my daughter Chunhua until she miscarried and couldn¡¯t get out of bed, and she was in the hospital for a day and a night. Everyone here is a witness! Please arrest all of them! The three of them were all the assailants!¡± Officer Guan immediately reassured him, ¡°Old fellow, don¡¯t worry. We know about this! Rest assured, we will not let any criminals go.¡± Officer Guan then turned to Liu Daqiang and said, ¡°Liu Daqiang, Liu Bald, you two are suspected of setting up and brutally assaulting others. The evidence is conclusive. Please come with us to the Yamen.¡± Liu Bald¡¯s face instantly turned pale, and he stuttered, ¡°Officer¡­ is there a mistake?¡± Officer Li sneered, ¡°No mistake. This Liu Laizi came to surrender early this morning and said that, thinking that his daughter-in-law Xiao Chunhua was pregnant with a girl, Liu Daqiang hooked up with a widow in the village who also became pregnant. They consulted a shaman woman and confirmed the child in the widow¡¯s belly was a boy. Afterward, they planned to kill the baby in their daughter-in-law¡¯s womb and drive her out. They asked Liu Laizi for help, paid him 500 yuan, drugged Xiao Chunhua, and had Liu Laizi raped her. Then they staged a scene of catching adultery and beat Xiao Chunhua with their fists and feet.¡± As Officer Li¡¯s words fell, anger showed up on the faces of everyone in Xiao Family Village. Even the villagers from Liujiacun, who had come with the Liu family, were amazed and began to feel angry and scared. ¡°It turns out they were so ruthless to Xiao Chunhua just because they wanted a son or grandson. These people are simply animals!¡± ¡°Calling them animals is an overstatement. They are not even comparable to animals! What¡¯s wrong with having a daughter? Is she not their own child? Besides, how could they know whether the child in Chunhua¡¯s stomach was a boy or a girl before it was born?¡± ¡°Haha, they believed the words of a shaman woman, thinking that the widow¡¯s child was a boy. This is absurd. In this day and age, who would still be this superstitious? Besides, isn¡¯t doing a B-ultrasound the most accurate way to determine the baby¡¯s gender?¡± ¡°In this day and age, what¡¯s wrong with having a girl? Can¡¯t a girl be filial to her parents?¡± The villagers of Liujiacun also found the actions of the Liu family incomprehensible. ¡°Are Liu Bald and his wife insane? Even if the child in Xiao Chunhua¡¯s belly is a girl, they can just have another one after she¡¯s born.¡± Rural people generally have a more conservative mindset, valuing sons over daughters. However, most families would still give birth to the girl and then have another child afterward. Don¡¯t they see that in most rural families nowadays, there are more than two children? ¡°I think they must have gone crazy thinking about having a son or grandson, that¡¯s why they resorted to such outrageous acts. Otherwise, the Yamen staff wouldn¡¯t have come to arrest them today.¡± At this point, a villager realized something and his face immediately changed. He said, ¡°Since we came with them today, the Yamen staff won¡¯t think we¡¯re accomplices, will they?¡± Other villagers caught on, and their expressions turned ugly. ¡°They shouldn¡¯t. We¡­ we came here and didn¡¯t do anything.¡± The faces of Liu Bald and his family members turned bloodless in an instant. Liu Daqiang stared at Liu Laizi furiously and yelled, ¡°Liu Laizi, you son of a bitch, how dare you betray us!¡± With that, he swung a fist at Liu Laizi¡¯s face. Officer Guan sternly shouted, ¡°What are you doing, still trying to hit people? If you have the energy to hit someone, then come with us.¡± With that, he handcuffed both Daqiang and Liu Bald. Liu¡¯s wife tried desperately to stop them but to no avail. She wept and cried, ¡°We are innocent, we have been framed¡­¡± But no one listened to her.. Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Leaving them with nothing, that’s the ultimate revenge! Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Leaving them with nothing, that¡¯s the ultimate revenge! Translator: 549690339 After Liu Bald and Liu Daqiang father and son were taken away by the yamen officials, the Xiao family members were still in a state of shock. But very soon, everyone became happy. ¡°That¡¯s great, finally, Chunhua¡¯s name is cleared.¡± ¡°The Liu family is so hateful! They tried to frame Chunhua just for the sake of their son and grandson.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a family treat their own daughter-in-law like this, spending money to set her up and then turning the tables. They¡¯re animals!¡± ¡°Hmph, now Liu Bald and his son are arrested, this is retribution!¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange that Liu Laizi suddenly ran to the yamen to report the crime.¡± ¡°Not only that, but the Liu family¡¯s connections were also arrested this morning. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to resolve Chunhua¡¯s situation. Haha¡­ they deserved it.¡± As they talked about Liu Laizi¡¯s arrest, everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Xiao Jinli. Everyone thought that it must be Jinli who brought good fortune to them. That¡¯s because, ever since Jinli was born, it has always been like this. Whenever there were troubles in the village, after seeking help from Jinli, things would become much smoother. Xiao Youfu¡¯s eyes were red with emotion, extremely touched and grateful, ¡°Jinli, thank you so much! If it weren¡¯t for you, what kind of slanderous allegations would my Chunhua bear? And she might still be blackmailed by the Liu family.¡± ¡°Haha, Jinli is truly the lucky star of our Xiao Family Village!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, the lucky star!¡± The villagers from Liujiacun looked at the scene, feeling a bit uneasy in their hearts. For them, things indeed seemed a bit strange. How did Liu Laizi suddenly decide to turn himself in? Even the deputy director, who was on good terms with Liu Bald, was arrested this morning. It seemed that the Liu family¡¯s good luck had run out all at once. As for those who followed the Liu family members to make trouble, they did so to save face and because of their connection to Liu Bald¡¯s powerful friend. After all, it¡¯s good to have someone to turn to for help when there¡¯s trouble in the countryside. But now¡­ The villagers from Liujiacun looked at each other, feeling slightly uneasy. Xiao Village Chief laughed and asked them, ¡°So, would you like to stay and help the Liu family demand justice or stay and have a meal with us?¡± The villagers from Liujiacun had their faces changing, forcing a slightly stiff smile and said, ¡°No¡­ no need, we have something to do at home, we need to leave quickly!¡± What a joke! Liu Bald and his son were taken away, what reason did they have to stay? ¡°Wait, take this crazy woman with you!¡± Xiao Jinli stopped the villagers who were about to leave, pointing to Liu¡¯s wife, who was still crying and shouting on the ground, ¡°If she stays, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to control ourselves and end up beating her!¡± What could the villagers of Liujiacun do? They had no choice but to carry her away. After all, if the Liu family really got beaten up, their village would lose all face. Liu¡¯s wife shouted, ¡°I won¡¯t leave! Xiao Youfu, listen to me, hurry up and go to the yamen to get my husband and Daqiang released. Otherwise, your Chunhua¡¯s marriage to Daqiang will be finalized. Let¡¯s see who will marry a divorced woman and she will have to stay home as a spinster for the rest of her life!¡± Everyone fell silent after hearing this. What¡¯s wrong with this old lady Liu¡¯s brain? What era is this, divorced women still don¡¯t get married? Humph, doesn¡¯t she know how sought-after divorced women are? I bet Xia Chunhua divorces Liu Daqiang and then a bunch of matchmakers will come knocking on her door. She¡¯s just full of herself. Xiao Youfu snorted and said, ¡°Humph, even if you didn¡¯t divorce with that animal Liu Daqiang, we would still want to be separated from your family! You should be worried about who dares to marry into your family in the future.¡± It was at this time that Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Uncle Fu, you don¡¯t have to worry about that. Hasn¡¯t her son hooked up with a widow in the village? That widow is pregnant, and I don¡¯t think she minds that Liu Daqiang¡¯s been arrested and put in prison.¡± As soon as Xiao Jinli finished speaking, Xiao Youfu realized it and laughed, ¡°Yes, they are a loving family.¡± Bullshit! They¡¯d be at each other¡¯s throats if they didn¡¯t fight. When Mother Liu heard their reminder, she sobered up and quickly said, ¡°Let me down! I have to hurry back!¡± She was afraid that if she went back too late, Niu Xiaolan might give Chunhua a dose of abortifacient and cause her to lose the child. Anyone who could hook up with Liu Daqiang couldn¡¯t possibly be a good person. That was the offspring of the Liu family, so she had to go back to guard it. After the people from Liujiacun had left, the villagers of Xiao Family Village began to talk to Xiao Youfu, ¡°Youfu, now that Liu Bald and his son have been caught, your family can finally have some peace!¡± Someone was still a little worried and said, ¡°I¡¯m just afraid that Mother Liu will make a scene every three days!¡± It wasn¡¯t a good idea to use force against an old lady. Someone scoffed, ¡°I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t have the time to come and make a fuss. Baldy Liu and his son have been arrested, and they won¡¯t be able to get out anytime soon. Isn¡¯t it said that the widow who hooked up with Liu Daqiang is pregnant with a boy? Their family values boys, so Mother Liu has to keep an eye on that widow every day, in case she gets rid of the child.¡± ¡°Oh, that makes sense now. I was wondering why Mother Liu suddenly jumped up and ran off by herself. She must have gone back to guard that widow.¡± ¡°Hmph, anyone who could hook up with Liu Daqiang can¡¯t be a good person. Besides, it was her instigation when Liu Daqiang schemed to frame Chunhua. Now, let them bite each other like dogs.¡± ¡°Haha, the Liu family is really making a mess. They believed a shaman woman¡¯s words, assuming Chunhua¡¯s child in her belly is a girl, and as a result, they aborted a boy. I wonder if they regret it or not! Poor Chunhua¡¯s child.¡± ¡°They must have regretted it. Didn¡¯t you hear Mother Liu¡¯s expression when she said that the child in Chunhua¡¯s womb was a boy, it was terrifying. Alas, it¡¯s just too late to regret.¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually a good thing that Chunhua didn¡¯t give birth to that child, she won¡¯t be tied to the Liu family, and can be more at ease when she remarries.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that Chunhua had to suffer a lot.¡± Xiao Youfu was still a little uneasy, and asked Xiao Jinli, ¡°Jinli, will the people of Liu family be released?¡± Xiao Jinli first nodded, and Xiao Youfu¡¯s heart sank, then she shook her head. ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Youfu asked in confusion, ¡°Jinli, what do you mean?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°They can be released, but only if they pay to make up for their mistake!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Still not clear. Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°Uncle Fu, Sister Chunhua is the victim, the one who has suffered. The Liu family can only beg you to forgive them in order to escape the disaster of prison. At that time, you don¡¯t need to be polite, make them pay as much money as they have, even if it means they lose everything and become destitute. This is how you can take revenge on them.¡± Upon hearing this, the Village Chief Xiao laughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, Jinli is right. Youfu, you should focus on taking care of Chunhua, and then wait for the Liu family to come begging with humble expressions.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­.¡± Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Red Peak Mountain Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Red Peak Mountain Translator: 549690339 Not only is Red Peak Mountain the highest peak around Xiao Family Village, it¡¯s also a notorious primordial forest in Qing County, fraught with dangers for those who don¡¯t take precautions before entering. ¡°Jinli, where are you off to?¡± At the foot of Red Peak Mountain, villagers seeing Xiao Jinli on the road asked. With a smile, Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°I¡¯m going to the mountain to see if I can find any wild chickens or rabbits. I fancy some game meat today.¡± Upon hearing this, the villagers burst out laughing, ¡°Haha, your luck is always so good. While others may search the mountain high and low without finding a single chicken, Jinli can always find wild chickens and rabbits rushing towards her. If they don¡¯t run into a tree, they¡¯re already injured by other animals.¡± One of the villagers chimed in, ¡°I envy your luck. Jinli, if you find any spare wild chickens or rabbits could you sell one to us? My naughty boy is also craving for them, and I don¡¯t know what else to feed him.¡± Once one person spoke up, the other villagers began to say, ¡°Jinli, if you have extras, do sell one to my family too.¡± Listening to their requests, Xiao Jinli tilted her head slightly and held up two fingers, ¡°Today, I can probably only find two wild chickens at most.¡± So, she could only spare one wild chicken to be distributed. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to wait for the next time. Jinli, I¡¯m pre-ordering for the next time!¡± Even though they live at the foothill, wild game is not an everyday occurrence. Now that life has improved, people are less focused on hunting in the mountains to obtain basic necessities for life. Now, those who hunt on the mountain do so purely for the taste of game meat. But there are strict laws by the government. Hunting many wild animals is illegal and the punishment is imprisonment. Rural people do not know which wild animals may be hunted and which are not. If they inadvertently break the law, it would be too late for regrets. The most famous case happened when a college student caught a few birds in the mountains, only to be reported for capturing endangered species protected by law. One year of imprisonment for each bird, he was sentenced to eleven years in total. After this case occurred, the village head held a village-wide meeting to sternly warn everyone, not to hunt arbitrarily in the mountains, as the consequences could be severe. Of course, they could hunt wild chickens and rabbits, but these animals were not always available. Only Xiao Jinli had such luck; every time she went to the mountain, she ended up finding something. Yes, literally coming across. She could easily find things that others couldn¡¯t hunt. Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t know what the villagers thought of her, but she suddenly felt like taking a trip to the mountain today. Also, she really did crave some wild game today. However, whenever she went to the mountain, she was always alone. She did not like others following her, especially those mischievous children. Apart from the initial period when Xiao family members and villagers went up the mountain with her out of concern, they gradually started feeling reassured after several times finding Xiao Jinli returned from the mountain safe and sounu. Because, they had seen a ferocious wild boar run away at the sight of Xiao Jinli. A creature can only run away out of fear and terror, right? But how did they prove that? Ha, because several villagers went up the mountain to pick mushrooms, they encountered a wild boar. As the boar charged at those villagers, they immediately ran away. Later somehow, Xiao Jinli appeared, and while the panicked villagers were simultaneously trying to flee and protect Xiao Jinli, the boar turned and ran away at the sight of her. At first, the villagers were confused, then they reacted, uttering incredulously, ¡°Has that wild boar really run away?¡± ¡°Did it really?¡± One villager sighed in relief and said with a laugh, ¡°I guess it must have run away after seeing Jinli. After all, she¡¯s the lucky star, protected by the God of Fortune. Even ferocious beasts run away when they see her. Haha, we probably don¡¯t need to worry about Jinli¡¯s safety in the future.¡± But another villager fretted again, ¡°But what if she encounters more dangerous animals, like tigers?¡± Xiao Jinli confidently declared, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Second Uncle. I¡¯m someone protected by the God of Fortune. All wild beasts will hide when they see me.¡± The villagers, ¡® Despite their concerns, they had been living in the village for so long without ever seeing ferocious wild beasts like tigers and lions, so they should be fine. However, Xiao Jinli went up to the mountain a few more times, and each time she returned safely, the villagers finally felt relieved. What surprised them even more was that each time Xiao Jinli went to the mountain, there was always some game animal to be found. Sometimes she would give some to the villagers, but after repeated instances, the villagers felt embarrassed receiving for free, so they gave her money instead. Xiao Jinli did not refuse the offers. After all, gratitude is shown by bags of rice, enmities by measures of rice! Like usual, Xiao Jinli went into the mountain. There were narrow mountain paths around the boundary of the deep mountain, made by villagers, but further in, the paths disappeared. Thorns or spiky grasses were everywhere, occassionally bugs and snakes would jump out of the grass, frightening any passerby. There were also some pointed pebbles, or small pits. Anyway, it was very difficult to move forward. But Xiao Jinli was able to walk through effortlessly. She arrived at the mountain top quickly. At the top, there stood a giant pine tree, towering into the sky. Below was a clear ground covered with gravel and a few scattered weeds. Looking up, one could see a huge rock standing tall, like a proud lion, magnificent and dominating, roaring towards the sky. The air here is fresh, the scenery like a painting, and it¡¯s all quiet with no one around to disturb. This is Xiao Jinli favorite spot to relax. Upon reaching the mountaintop, she looked up at the giant pine tree reverently, her eyes glittering. After a moment, her right ring finger dripped a few drops of a clear liquid. She poured it over the tree roots with a smile. After that, she patted the giant trunk of the pine tree and said, ¡°Old friend, I¡¯ve brought you more food. Enjoy!¡± The giant pine tree swayed, thousands of branches making a rustling sound, as if responding to her. Then, the needle-like leaves of the tree began to grow more robustly at a speed visible to the naked eye, becoming greener. A moment later, Xiao Jinli rolled up her sleeves and jumped directly to the tree trunk. She climbed up to a fork in the branches in just a few moments. The fork was spotlessly clean, and no insects could be seen on the whole tree. At first, Xiao Jinli sat on the tree fork, looking far into the distance where not just the Xiao Family Village, but the entire Qing County was within her sight. Overlapping hills, lush trees, and visible houses. What a magnificent view, making other mountains seem insignificant! After a while, she laid down on the tree fork, closing her eyes. With her long eyelashes resting on her young and innocent face, she looked so innocent and beautiful. After an unknown period, Xiao Jinli¡¯s ears twitched and her eyes snapped open. Something was moving! Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Murder Scene Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Murder Scene Translator: 549690339 ¡°Chase, hurry and chase him! He went that way! With wounds so severe, he won¡¯t get far!¡± A man¡¯s vicious voice reached Xiao Jinli¡¯s ears. Immediately after, two sets of hurried footsteps came from the direction of the summit. One set was urgent and panicked, while the other was just as urgent but orderly. Su Yichen was holding onto his shoulder wound, and fresh blood continued to seep out from it. His face and white shirt were covered in bloodstains. The swelling and bruising on his face made it hard to recognize him. He didn¡¯t know how long he had been running, and now had no strength left to keep running. When he reached the summit, there was a giant pine tree. nothing else but a steep cliff in front of him. There was nowhere left to run. Standing on the edge of the cliff, he saw the figures coming closer and closer, and his eyes couldn¡¯t help but show despair. Was he really going to die here? He couldn¡¯t accept it! He was only 18 years old. He still had a long life ahead of him, but because of those despicable villains, his life would end here. The people chasing him caught up quickly. They were four ferocious men, filled with murderous intent. Each of them held a gun in their hand, their clothes were somewhat disheveled, but not as miserable as the young man in front. ¡°Haha, Young Master Su, you run, you run. Why don¡¯t you run anymore?¡± The man with the roughest appearance, a square face, and a beard, had a knife scar on his face, and was a one-eyed dragon. He had a ring in his nose, looking like a bull demon king, extremely vicious, and frightening to look at. He was the leader among the four men. ¡°Young Master Su, I suggest you give up and surrender. You can suffer less if you do, otherwise, Young Master Su, your delicate body might not be able to bear our treatment.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± In the face of these four vicious men, Su Yichen did not choose to beg for mercy. The pale look on his face was replaced with a calm expression. Then he asked, ¡°I just want to know, who wants me dead so badly?¡± The one-eyed dragon kidnapper laughed aloud, ¡°Young Master Su, you¡¯ve always been smart, outstanding among your peers. Don¡¯t you already know who wants you dead so desperately?¡± Su Yichen let out a miserable laugh, his eyes becoming red, ¡°Why? Why is he doing this to me?¡± The one-eyed kidnapper showed sympathy on his face, and laughingly said, ¡°Young Master Su, your existence is blocking his path, don¡¯t you know that?¡± On hearing this, hatred and fury filled Young Master Su¡¯s eyes. He suddenly roared, ¡°So what if I¡¯m dead? Does he really think he¡¯ll get everything from the Su Family just like that? He¡¯s dreaming! Hahaha¡­¡± The kidnapper frowned and said coldly, ¡°Young Master Su, we don¡¯t care about your family¡¯s affairs. We only take money and do our job. You should give up and surrender. Our employer prefers to send you to Africa as a slave¡­ Tsk tsk, some people really hate you, enough to want you dead.¡± The kidnapper pointed his weapon at Su Yichen. At this point, Su Yichen was desperate. He showed a hint of refusal in his eyes, ¡°Surrender? Haha¡­ I would rather die. Take my body back and explain to that beast.¡± As he finished speaking, he turned around and jumped off the cliff. But as soon as he turned around, he passed out. The four kidnappers¡¯ pupils contracted sharply, and their faces revealed a high level of alertness as they looked around. Su Yichen didn¡¯t pass out on his own. Instead, he was knocked out by a tree branch that suddenly flew over and hit his back. Having been fugitives for a long time, they quickly realized that it wasn¡¯t an accident, but someone had deliberately done it. Then, there was an eerie laughter that echoed in all directions in the open summit. The one-eyed dragon¡¯s face changed drastically and shouted, ¡°Who is it? Come out! Stop playing tricks!¡± The four kidnappers looked around but couldn¡¯t locate the source of the laughter. Panic began to seep into their faces. These four vicious men had committed countless murders over the years and even enjoyed torturing their victims. They didn¡¯t believe in the existence of ghosts. If there really were ghosts, all the people they had tortured and killed would have come back to haunt them as vengeful spirits. But in this desolate wilderness¡­ A tall, thin man shouted in panic, ¡°Ghosts, there must be ghosts! They¡¯ve come for revenge! They¡¯ve come to take vengeance on us!¡± The other three were suspicious of ghosts but didn¡¯t truly believe in their existence. Another one admonished him, ¡°Fourth Brother, calm down. There are no ghosts in this world, only people trying to scare us, right?¡± Fourth Brother was still panicking. ¡°Second Brother, tell me, we¡¯re standing here on the summit in the middle of the wilderness. Where did that laughter come from? Even if someone is here, how did they time our arrival? The people we killed in the past must have followed us here; they¡¯ve come to take revenge on us!¡± As the saying goes, a guilty conscience needs no accuser. They had killed too many people over the years, and now they couldn¡¯t help but feel guilt haunting them. The one-eyed dragon shouted at him, ¡°What are you afraid of, Fourth Brother? If I can kill them while they¡¯re human, I can kill them while they¡¯re ghosts too. There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of! ¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the eerie laughter rang out again, and even delivered a message. The voice was ethereal, like a whisper from the void. ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s right, you¡¯re not afraid of killing people, so why be afraid of ghosts? That¡¯s why we¡¯ve come back as vengeful spirits to take revenge on you!¡± The laughter finished, and a cold wind blew over the summit and the surrounding trees, making them creak and groan. Although it was summer, the one-eyed dragon and the others felt cold to their bones. The men couldn¡¯t stay calm. Was it a real ghost? If someone was pretending, how could the wind be so chilling? Their faces turned pale, and their lips trembled. Fifth Brother suddenly held his head and abruptly shouted, ¡°I need to leave, I need to leave!¡± He then tried to run down the mountain. But before he could even take a few steps, he turned back, his face stricken with terror. His legs shook uncontrollably, unable to take a step as if something was holding him in place. ¡°Tigers ! ¡± The one-eyed dragon was shocked to see the tigers in front of them. Not just one tiger, but two ¨C one yellow and one white. ¡°What the hell kind of place is this? Why is it so strange?¡± Second Brother shouted, looking around, his eyes fixated on the tigers. ¡°Whether you are ghosts or humans, we are not afraid of you! If we can kill people, we can kill ghosts too!¡± Suddenly, there was a series of clapping sounds.. Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Begging for Mercy on their Knees from Fear! Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Begging for Mercy on their Knees from Fear! Translator: 549690339 ¡°Right, you guys aren¡¯t afraid of killing people, so why would you be afraid of ghosts?¡± The pleasant yet deadly voice rang out. ¡°Hehe, since that¡¯s the case, let me give you a gift. Little White, Little Yellow, please entertain these guests who have traveled from afar!¡± As the voice stopped, two tigers roared in apparent response to their master¡¯s command. One-eyed Dragon and the others trembled in fear as they faced the two tigers, their hearts pounding as well. Glancing at the weapon in his hand, a vicious glint flashed through One-eyed Dragon¡¯s eyes as he roared, ¡°Hmph, just two tigers. Don¡¯t you see the guns in our hands?¡± After being reminded by their boss, the other three regained their composure. That¡¯s right, they still had guns in their hands. They raised their guns, aiming at the two big tigers. However, just as they were about to pull the triggers, their wrists suddenly hurt, and the guns in all four of their hands fell to the ground. The previous darts which had knocked away their weapons were none other than the small tree branches. Those small branches were precisely embedded in their wrists, as if they had taken root long ago! The branches were tiny, with the thickest ones only being the size of a baby¡¯s little finger. The four were astonished, staring at the tiny branches embedded in their wrists. As they finally realized what had happened, their expressions and eyes filled with fear and dread. They may not be afraid of ghosts, but they certainly feared these bizarre and unknown things. ¡°Who¡¯s there? Show yourself!¡± One-eyed Dragon covered his wound, surveying the area cautiously. He signalled the others to pick up their fallen weapons. But before they could bend down, the two tigers leaped in front of them, roaring fiercely, which frightened them so much that they retreated several steps. Their faces turned pale, their eyes wide open in terror as they stared at the tigers. With their weapons still on the ground, the two tigers eyeing them menacingly, and a cliff behind them, they had nowhere to run. They had committed countless crimes for ten to twenty years, but they had never experienced such a terrifying and frightening situation like today. ¡°Whether it¡¯s a human or a ghost, show yourself! What¡¯s the big deal about hiding and playing tricks?¡± One-eyed Dragon yelled again, suppressing his fear. ¡°Fine. since you all want to see me so much. I¡¯ll let you see me!¡± Once the voice faded, they heard movement behind them. And then, they witnessed an unbelievable sight, causing their pupils to shrink involuntarily. A little girl jumped down from the big pine tree. So, the one playing tricks on them all this time was this little girl? The girl looked young, about ten years old or so. She had fair skin and a chubby, rounded face, featuring big, round eyes with sharp gazes. She wore simple clothing, similar to the attire of rural children. How could there be a little girl like her in these deep mountains and forests? Regardless of her being a little girl, the four of them did not lower their guard. They hadn¡¯t forgotten that Su Yichen was knocked out by a single tree branch, and the weapons in their hands had been knocked away by four small branches, which were still in their wrists. This kind of ruthlessness and power was not something an ordinary person could possess, let alone a child. Old Four, who had been scared out of his wits, pointed at her in disbelief and asked, ¡°So the one who¡¯s been messing with us all along is you, this stinky brat?¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged and laughed, ¡°Hehe, sorry, I wasn¡¯t the one playing tricks. You guys scared yourselves.¡± Hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, anger surged on the faces of the four kidnappers. Second Brother shouted, ¡°You damn brat, talking nonsense! See if I don¡¯t teach you a lesson!¡± As he said this, he rushed towards Xiao Jinli, raising his uninjured hand, wanting to slap her hard. Unexpectedly, before he could get close, Xiao Jinli gently lifted her foot and kicked him straight in the stomach. He was sent flying two meters away. Clink! Kidnapper Second Brother was kicked to the edge of the cliff, with his upper body almost falling off. If he moved at all, his entire body would plummet down. Fearing that he would fall, he clung tightly to the edge of the cliff and shouted in a panic, ¡°Save me! Big Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, come and help me!¡± Seeing this, the other three revealed looks of terror and panic. They stared at Xiao Jinli with incredulity and disbelief. They determined once again that this little girl was by no means an ordinary child. Which child could kick a grown man several meters away with one foot? Xiao Jinli clapped her hands together, ignoring the terrified expressions of the three men, and laughed, ¡°Do you still want to teach me a lesson?¡± Seeing the innocent smile on the little girl¡¯s face, all three of them were so scared that they were trembling all over. They deeply realized how terrified those people they had kidnapped and tortured in the past must have been. Old Four suddenly knelt down with a thud and pleaded, ¡°Little Fairy, I beg you, please let me go. Please, I won¡¯t kill anyone again. I¡¯ll be a good person from now on!¡± One-eyed Dragon kicked Old Four angrily and shouted, ¡°Old Four, get up! A little girl has made you lose your nerve.¡± Old Four cried, ¡°Big Brother, we can¡¯t beat her! She kicked Second Brother so far away with just one foot. And there are two tigers behind us, which obviously listen to her orders. We can¡¯t even get our weapons. What should we do if we don¡¯t beg for mercy?¡± Before One-eyed Dragon could say anything, Xiao Jinli interrupted, nodding, ¡°Yes, exactly, what should you do if you don¡¯t beg? Should I let Little White and Little Yellow eat you, or should I throw you down this cliff?¡± One-eyed Dragon and the others, Whose child is this? How could her character be so bad and her thoughts so evil? One-eyed Dragon gritted his teeth and asked, ¡°You damn girl, what do you really want?¡± Old Three quickly offered, ¡°Just let us go, and I¡¯ll give you any amount of money you want. How about that?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed, ¡°Deliver it? Deliver it for revenge and silencing us?¡± At this point, her expression changed, and she became serious, ¡°You all have killed countless people and reek of blood. Haven¡¯t you ever spared anyone who knelt and begged for mercy?¡± One-eyed Dragon and the others turned ashen-faced and had a hard time responding. ¡°Heaven is just, and retribution is inevitable! You have lousy luck, messing with me on my territory and trying to kill people right under my nose. I am your retribution!¡± Xiao Jinli declared resolutely. One-eyed Dragon instantly turned from ash-gray to pale. They realized that the innocent-looking girl in front of them might, in fact, be a merciless demon. They could feel the strong and cold murderous intent from her.. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Encountering me is your retribution. Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Encountering me is your retribution. Translator: 549690339 One-eyed Dragon and his gang were well-known ruthless criminals a decade ago, kidnapping countless people and killing many. Throughout their kidnappings, they would outsmart and outfight government officials, even making them run in circles for their amusement. Therefore, they had never been afraid in all these years. But at this moment, they were truly experiencing fear for the first time. This fear was clearly visible on their faces! And the person who made them scared and terrified was just a young girl. Looking at the young girl with a carefree expression and calm demeanor, her words struck them with great fear. ¡°Are you a human or a ghost?¡± One-eyed Dragon said through gritted teeth and trembling, ¡°No, you must not be human! If you were, how could you have such extraordinary skills and martial arts?¡± These four grown men were facing a teenage girl, and they had no power to resist. They were disarmed by her without even having the chance to fight, and the tree branches she used were now piercing their hands. Such ability was not something an ordinary person could possess. Old Three stuttered, ¡°Girl, we four brothers have no grudges with you. Can you please let us go? In the future, we will definitely mend our ways, be good people, and do good deeds!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Xiao Jinli sneered coldly, ¡°Dear big brother, do you think you¡¯re too smart or that I¡¯m too easy to fool? How much do you believe in your own words? Originally, I am not a busybody, but you guys have intruded into my territory and wanted to kill people on my turf. So, sorry, but I have to stand up for those innocent people and seek justice for them. Therefore, if you want to blame someone, blame your bad luck for meeting me! ¡± Upon hearing this, One-eyed Dragon and the others¡¯ faces changed abruptly. They angrily roared at Xiao Jinli, ¡°Stupid girl, you really think you can do whatever you want just because you have some skills?¡± Then, the three of them exchanged glances and charged towards Xiao Jinli. This kind of situation seemed to be a life-or-death battle. Little White and Little Yellow, seeing these oblivious humans charging towards their master, leaped onto one person each without the need for a command from their master. They quickly pinned down Fourth Brother and Old Three under their tiger paws and roared at them to express their anger. These two insignificant humans dared to harm their master right under their watch ¨C they had to see if these tigers would allow it. However, without the command from their master, they didn¡¯t bite them. This was their master¡¯s territory, and they didn¡¯t want to dirty the place. Only One-eyed Dragon managed to rush in front of Xiao Jinli, but he soon ended up like Second Brother ¨C being kicked to the edge of the cliff and meeting the same fate as his comrade. Xiao Jinli clapped her hands and looked at the four defeated men, sneering, ¡°Hehe, overconfident fools. I am your nemesis, and your good days are over. However, it seems your fate has run out. Well, at least I can make use of you as food for my little darlings.¡± The four of them lost all color from their faces, showing expressions of terror and unease. They had committed countless murders and evil deeds, so their final destiny was to be eaten by these tigers? This was their retribution. ¡°No, no, I don¡¯t want to be eaten!¡± These people were terrified. ¡°Wu wu, please just kill me directly, I don¡¯t want to be eaten by animals!¡± Seeing these scared men, Xiao Jinli recalled the hostages who had been fed to hunting animals by them. She became even more determined not to show mercy. ¡°Humph, like I said, meeting me is your retribution. You¡¯ve committed too many evil deeds, and this is the outcome you deserve! Little White, Little Yellow, don¡¯t dirty my territory!¡± Little White and Little Yellow roared at Xiao Jinli, seemingly in response to her words. Then, with one swipe of their paws, they knocked out the two men beneath them. Little White stretched its neck and roared loudly towards the distance. After a while, four young tigers came running over. The two adult tigers growled a few times at the young tigers, who also growled back in reply. Tasks were quickly assigned. Two young tigers dragged one person each, and one adult tiger dragged another. Soon, all four men were dragged away. As for their fate¡­ At this time, Xiao Jinli slowly walked over to the unconscious young man she had treated earlier. After examining him for a moment, her little eyebrows were slightly furrowed. Then, she grabbed his wrist and took his pulse. A moment later, her eyebrows furrowed even more. She muttered to herself, ¡°How much can this kid endure? His external injuries look pitiful, and his internal injuries are no better. He was able to endure and come all the way here. This time, you¡¯re lucky to have met me. Otherwise, with the severity of your internal bleeding, even the greatest immortal would have trouble saving you.¡± After saying that, a medicine box appeared out of thin air beside her. Opening the medicine box, besides the exquisite bottles and jars, there was a row of thin silver needles. She pulled out several Silver Needles and held them between her fingers. Then, with a burst of strength, five or six Silver Needles quickly flew into the young man¡¯s various acupoints. A moment later, Su Yichen¡¯s body was filled with dense silver needles, including his head. Xiao Jinli looked up at the sun and, not long after, her cell phone rang in her pocket. A call at this time was obviously from home, urging her to come back for dinner. When she answered the phone, a gentle voice came through, ¡°Xiao Bao, come home to eat. Mom made your favorite steak today.¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Alright, mom, I¡¯ll be back soon!¡± After hanging up the phone, she looked at the young man lying on the ground with silver needles all over him and her eyebrows furrowed again.. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Picked Up a Person Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Picked Up a Person Translator: 549690339 ¡°Aiyo, Jinli, you¡­ carried a person on your back?¡± Upon saying that, the villager immediately stepped forward and helped take the bloodied person off Xiao Jinli¡¯s back. That¡¯s right, Xiao Jinli had carried Su Yichen down the mountain. She couldn¡¯t just leave him on the mountain top. Although there wouldn¡¯t be any vicious beasts eating him or anything, his internal injuries wouldn¡¯t heal in a day or two. So, she had to bring him back. ¡°Jinli, what¡¯s going on with this person, why is he covered in blood?,¡± asked the villager Xiao Deming, full of doubts. Xiao Jinli shrugged and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I found him in the mountain!¡± Xiao Deming asked doubtfully, ¡°Could he have been bitten by a wild beast in the mountain?¡± After that, he checked the boy¡¯s injuries and after a while said, ¡°Looking at his wounds, it doesn¡¯t seem like he was bitten by a wild beast. How did he end up in the mountain?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Xiao Deming said, ¡°His injuries look very serious, we should hurry and take him to the hospital!¡± After saying that, he carried the person on his back, with Xiao Jinli following behind. When they met other villagers on the way, they were immediately alarmed upon hearing that Xiao Jinli had found an injured boy in the mountain. ¡°Usually, Jinli picks up some wild chicken and rabbits in the mountain, but today, she found a person!¡± ¡°Looking at the child¡¯s injuries, they¡¯re severe. I wonder how he got hurt? Did he get injured while being chased by wild beasts in the mountain?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know. Xiao Deming is sending the person to the hospital, so let¡¯s go and see.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± When the Village Head heard that Xiao Jinli found a person in the mountains and that person¡¯s injuries were quite serious, needing to go to the hospital, he immediately asked his youngest son, Xiao Qingshan, to drive the car and quickly take the person to the hospital, while also alerting the police. The Village Head said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Jinli, the mountains are really dangerous, so try to go there less often, okay?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Okay, Uncle Village Chief, I know!¡± But she would still go there when she wanted to. Seeing Xiao Jinli being so obedient, the Village Head was very pleased and said, ¡°Alright, hurry back home to eat. You¡¯re still growing, so you can¡¯t be hungry, otherwise you won¡¯t grow tall! As for the child¡¯s matter, don¡¯t worry about it, we¡¯ll take care of everything! ¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Alright, Uncle Village Chief, I¡¯m going home now!¡± After Xiao Jinli returned home, she immediately took a shower, changed her clothes, otherwise the smell of blood would be too unbearable. Then, she wolfed down the steak stewed by her mother. Dealing with those four people in the mountain had consumed a lot of energy. Xiao Mother immediately stopped her, ¡°Little Li, eat slowly, eat slowly, don¡¯t choke, nobody¡¯s fighting you for the food.¡± Xiao Father and Older Brother Xiao looked at Xiao Jinli¡¯s wolfing down the food, full of doubt and turned to Xiao Mother. Older Brother Xiao asked doubtfully, ¡°Mom, when did you starve my sister?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Dad slapped him hard on the back of his head, scolding, ¡°You stinky boy, what are you talking about? How can you suspect my wife? How could Mom ever starve Little Sister?!¡± Older Brother Xiao touched the slapped head and defended himself, ¡°But looking at sister¡¯s eating, it¡¯s like she hasn¡¯t eaten for eight hundred years!¡± Xiao Father, Xiao Mother, ¡® As she ate, Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°Brother, today I picked up a person in the mountain and carried him all the way back, so I might have consumed too much energy and ended up being extremely hungry.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Father¡¯s face immediately changed, and he asked anxiously, ¡°You picked up a person? Little Li, what kind of person did you pick Having eaten halfway, Xiao Jinli slowed down her eating and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know who it was. He¡¯s probably seventeen or eighteen years old. When I found him, he was lying injured under a tree on the mountain. Leaving such a person in the mountain, I was afraid that he would be eaten by wild animals, so I decided to save a life which is better than building a seven-storey pagoda! So I brought him down the mountain. Uncle Village Chief and the others have taken him to the hospital now!¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Dad, hearing that she had picked up a seventeen or eighteen-year-old child, immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Picking up a person is not a big deal, but it¡¯s scary to bring a bad person home. A seventeen or eighteen-year-old kid, even if they were a bad person, couldn¡¯t be that terrible! Older Brother Xiao asked doubtfully, ¡°Where does this child come from? Is he from one of the surrounding villages? Otherwise, why would he go into the mountains? Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t recognize him.¡± Just when Older Brother Xiao was about to ask more questions, Xiao¡¯s mother interrupted, ¡°Brother, let our sister eat first.¡± So Older Brother Xiao didn¡¯t ask any more questions. After Xiao Jinli had finished eating, she stretched lazily and said, ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m so sleepy, I¡¯m going to my room to rest.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother immediately said, ¡°Little Li, you just ate and should go for a walk to help digest the food. If you go to bed now, you may suffer from indigestion!¡± Xiao Jinli waved her hand and said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m really too tired, I¡¯m going to sleep now!¡± Get some sleep, replenish energy as soon as possible! When Su Yichen woke up groggily, his mind was still fuzzy. The first thing he saw was a white wall. He thought to himself, ¡°Where am I? Am I dead?¡± Suddenly there was an exclamation. ¡°Oh my! You¡¯re awake! Do you feel unwell anywhere? I¡¯ll go call a doctor now!¡± He turned his head and saw a person dressed as a nurse talking. Suddenly, his mind jolted into reality. Nurse? Why is there a nurse? Is this a hospital? Wanting to confirm his current situation, he struggled to sit up. As he struggled, there was the sound of clinking. He then noticed the tubes and IV drip on his body. The nurse immediately stepped forward to stop him, ¡°Don¡¯t move! You have tubes all over your body and are on medication now. Do you need to use the restroom? I can help you!¡± After saying that, she grabbed a urinal from under the bed and prepared to assist him. Su Yichen twitched the corners of his mouth and quickly stopped her, ¡°No, no, I don¡¯t need to pee now!¡± Upon hearing this, the nurse immediately put down the urinal. At this moment, Su Yichen was completely awake. He glanced at the ordinary hospital ward. He asked, ¡°Nurse, which hospital am I in? And who brought me here?¡± He hadn¡¯t even thought that he could actually survive. The nurse said, ¡°This is the Qing County People¡¯s Hospital! Oh, a man called Xiao Qingshan brought you here.¡± As she was saying this, she paused and said to Su Yichen, ¡°Oh, now that you¡¯re awake, I¡¯ll notify the police officer.¡± ¡°Huh, notify the police officer?¡± Su Yichen was a little confused. The nurse explained, ¡°The man who brought you here said he found you in the mountains and didn¡¯t know you. After he paid the hospital fee for you, he reported it to the police. The officer has come a few times, but you were always unconscious. Now that you¡¯re awake, it¡¯s a good time to notify the officer or perhaps any family members you may have. If not, I can inform your family first. Upon hearing this, Su Yichen¡¯s expression quickly froze, ¡°Do I have family? I¡­ 1 don¡¯t remember! ¡± The nurse was at a loss for words, Was this memory loss? Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Little Koi has been strong since childhood Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Little Koi has been strong since childhood Translator: 549690339 ¡°Jinli, Jinli, the hospital called, and the boy you found has woken up. Do you want to go see him?¡± Before they even reached the Xiao Family house, Xiao Qingshan began shouting from the doorway. The Village Head followed behind Xiao Qingshan and rolled his eyes at his son¡¯s immature behavior, speaking irritably, ¡°He¡¯s over twenty years old, and still acting so noisy, it¡¯s quite disgraceful.¡± Xiao Jinli was lying in a lounge chair in the yard when she saw the Village Head and his son enter, so she stood up. Xiao¡¯s mother laughed as she brought some tea, saying, ¡°Village Head, Qingshan has always been lively and bubbly, which is quite cute.¡± When a twenty-something young man is called cute, even thick-skinned Xiao Qingshan¡¯s face reddens involuntarily. He said, ¡°Auntie, don¡¯t praise me like that; it¡¯s embarrassing.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother covered her mouth, giggling, ¡°Qingshan, I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± Xiao Qingshan didn¡¯t bother to argue with her further. He turned to Xiao Jinli and said, ¡°Jinli, the hospital called and said that the boy you found has woken up, and the police officers have gone over too. However, he seems to have amnesia and doesn¡¯t know his name or where he¡¯s from. He doesn¡¯t have anything on him to identify himself either, so his identity is still unknown for now.¡± ¡°Oh, he has amnesia?¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes twinkled, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, revealing an intrigued expression, ¡°Does he really not remember anything?¡± She had already checked his pulse, and he hadn¡¯t suffered any major head injuries. His most serious injuries were to his internal organs, especially his lungs, which showed signs of severe bleeding. However, after her treatment and hospitalization, it shouldn¡¯t be much of a problem. So, how did he get amnesia? Xiao Qingshan nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, he doesn¡¯t remember anything. Jinli, my dad and I are planning to visit him. Do you want to go too? The hospital also said that his hospitalization costs aren¡¯t enough, so we need to bring some money.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go see him together,¡± Xiao Jinli immediately became interested in the boy. When Xiao Qingshan and the others arrived at the hospital and entered the ward, they saw a police officer stand up and prepare to leave. Upon seeing them enter, one of the officers smiled at Xiao Qingshan, ¡°Mr. Xiao, I was just about to find you, and you¡¯re already here.¡± Xiao Qingshan smiled and asked, ¡°Officer Chen, what did you need from me?¡± Officer Chen put away his smile, asked seriously, ¡°Mr. Xiao, where exactly did you find this boy in the mountains?¡± Xiao Qingshan looked at Xiao Jinli, who replied, ¡°On top of Red Peak Mountain! When I found him, he was lying unconscious on the ground, bleeding all over.¡± Hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, Su Yichen was taken aback and looked at her with surprise in his eyes, asking, ¡°Little Sister, you were the one who found and carried me down the mountain?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m the one who carried you down the mountain. Is there a problem?¡± Su Yichen was astonished when he looked at Xiao Jinli¡¯s small frame. The two officers were also doubtful, staring at Xiao Jinli with suspicious eyes. Xiao Qingshan quickly explained, ¡°Jinli has been stronger than most people since she was little, so she can carry you down the mountain.¡± Officer Chen immediately asked with interest, ¡°Stronger than most people since she was little? How strong?¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Well, carrying a load, like carrying around a hundred pounds, is no problem! Carrying a person is, of course, a piece of cake.¡± Officer Chen and the others were instantly stunned. Good heavens, that¡¯s quite strong! No wonder she could carry a young man weighing over a hundred pounds down the mountain. Officer Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°Little girl, can you take us to the place where you found him?¡± From Su Yichen¡¯s wounds, in addition to bruises and contusions, his body had marks from being beaten up and gunshot injuries. These injuries indicated that the child¡¯s identity was not simple, and it was very likely that he had been kidnapped and then had escaped. Now that he had amnesia, there was no clue about his identity. It seemed worth visiting the scene to see if they could find any clues. Xiao Jinli naturally agreed without hesitation. After all, she had already arranged for her little helpers to clean up the scene, so nothing suspicious would be found even if these people went up the mountain. Xiao Jinli looked at Su Yichen and showed a naive smile, asking curiously, ¡°Big Brother, I heard you have amnesia, is that true? Do you really not remember who you are at all?¡± Su Yichen shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s little face immediately showed a worried expression, ¡°What should we do? You don¡¯t even remember who you are, so where will you go after you¡¯re discharged? Should we send you to an orphanage or an aid station?¡± Su Yichen¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, and he said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be necessary. I¡¯m a grown man now and should be able to support myself. ¡± Officer Chen also smiled and chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right, the hospital did a bone age test on him, and he¡¯s already 18 years old. A young man can easily find work and support himself. Oh, and we¡¯ll get him a temporary ID card when the time comes!¡± Su Yichen¡¯s eyes lit up showing gratitude, and he said, ¡°Thank you, Officer Uncle. ¡± Officer Chen laughed, ¡°You¡¯re welcome. It¡¯s our duty. It¡¯s just that we need to find your family as soon as possible, or your loved ones might worry.¡± Su Yichen lowered his eyes, and a dark light flickered in them. Worry, huh? They¡¯d rather he didn¡¯t appear in this world again; how could they possibly worry? But thinking that he did have loved ones who cared for him, his eyes darkened again. He clenched his fists and muttered to himself, ¡°I¡¯m surrounded by wolves and tigers, and if I go back now, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll be eaten alive!¡± So pretending to have amnesia for now was the best strategy. When the right opportunity came, he would strike back at those people. Xiao Jinli had been watching Su Yichen¡¯s expressions and movements all along, naturally noticing the subtle changes in his expression. She hooked her lips, thinking to herself, ¡°Interesting! Pretending to have amnesia!¡± Of course, she wouldn¡¯t expose him now. She was curious to see what he would do next. The identity of someone pursued by fierce and ruthless men must be extraordinary. Thinking of this, Xiao Jinli showed a sweet smile on her face and offered, ¡°How about this, Big Brother, when you¡¯re discharged, come stay at my house. We have plenty of spare rooms.¡± Being close to him would allow her to watch the show. Su Yichen hesitated for a moment, ¡°Is that okay? Little Sister, can I really stay at your house? Should we ask your family first?¡± After saying that, he looked toward Xiao Qingshan. He assumed that Xiao Qingshan was Xiao Jinli¡¯s parent. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Xiao Qingshan said, ¡°Since Jinli is inviting you to stay, just go and stay. She can make the decision for her house, right?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Su Yichen was full of doubt. A stranger staying in their home- could a child really make that decision? What kind of family was this? And they were supposed to be a rural family. Weren¡¯t rural families usually poor? Having one more person living in their house wasn¡¯t as simple as having one more set of chopsticks and a bowl! Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Repay the kindness of a drop of water with a gushing spring. Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Repay the kindness of a drop of water with a gushing spring. Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli led the two police officers up the mountain, followed by Xiao Qingshan and the village head, as well as five or six other young villagers. After all, the mountain was very dangerous, and wild beasts might appear. For safety¡¯s sake. Of course, to their surprise, they arrived at the top of the mountain without any issues. The only unexpected thing was that the two officers were unfamiliar with the mountain road and tripped a couple of times. Officer Chen raised an eyebrow in surprise and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say there were many wild animals in this mountain? How come we didn¡¯t encounter Xiao Qingshan replied matter-of-factly, ¡°That¡¯s because Jinli is leading the way. Wherever Jinli goes, things tend to go smoothly.¡± Officer Chen looked at Xiao Jinli in surprise, ¡°Oh, is that really the case?¡± Xiao Qingshan said proudly, ¡°Of course it is. Jinli has been incredibly lucky ever since she was a child. Wherever she goes, things go smoothly. She¡¯s our village¡¯s lucky star. When we brought her home from the hospital as a baby, our long drought-stricken village was instantly relieved with rain. The village believed that it was Jinli¡¯s good fortune that had come to us. So, our respected elders in the village, along with her parents, decided to name her Jinli, Xiao Jinli.¡± Officer Chen was intrigued and was about to ask more questions when the village head interjected, ¡°Ahem¡­ Officers Chen and Xiao, we¡¯ve arrived!¡± At his announcement, Officer Chen immediately turned around. What he saw was the towering Giant Pine Tree reaching into the clouds. Officer Xiao blinked in amazement and exclaimed, ¡°What a huge tree! It¡¯s so lush, magnificent, strong, and beautiful!¡± The village head and other villagers had also never seen this big pine tree on the mountaintop before. Normally, no one dared to come up here. Xiao Qingshan was also slightly surprised. He looked at Xiao Jinli and asked, ¡°Jinli, do you usually come to this spot when you come up the mountain?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes. This place has a wide view, good air, and is very quiet. That¡¯s why I like coming here.¡± Xiao Qingshan immediately asked sycophantically, ¡°Jinli, can you take me here next time? I want to rest and play here as well!¡± Xiao Jinli refused without hesitation, ¡°No, this is my territory. If it weren¡¯t for today¡¯s special circumstances, I wouldn¡¯t bring you guys here.¡± She walked over to a spot and pointed out, ¡°This is where I found the man lying unconscious, face towards the cliff, a few days ago.¡± Officer Chen went to the spot, squatted down, and examined it carefully, asking, ¡°Did you see anyone else when you came here?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and then thought of something, ¡°When I arrived, I saw a big tiger near him, but the big tiger ran away as soon as it saw me. I don¡¯t know if the tiger wanted to eat him or if it saved him. But I didn¡¯t see anyone else.¡± Officer Xiao was shocked. He couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°A big tiger? Is there really a tiger? Why would a tiger run away when it saw you? Could it be¡­¡±¡® Xiao Qingshan rolled his eyes at the question and explained, ¡°Officer Xiao, like I said, Jinli has been incredibly lucky since she was a child. Even the fiercest beasts will run away when they see her. So isn¡¯t it normal for the big tiger to run away when it sees Jinli? Jinli has the protection of the God of Fortune, so nothing can harm her.¡± Officer Xiao shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not normal, not normal. It doesn¡¯t make sense. Even if she has good luck, it can¡¯t make vicious animals that would eat people run away when seeing food.¡± Officer Xiao felt something was wrong but couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was. Worried that rumors might harm Xiao Jinli, the village head decided to address Officer Xiao¡¯s confusion carefully, ¡°Officer Xiao, Jinli has always had such luck in our village, and we¡¯re used to it. But luck is something we can¡¯t understand, right? Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be such a thing as good luck and bad luck. Some people have such bad luck that even drinking water gets stuck in their teeth, can that be explained? Does that make any sense? No, it doesn¡¯t. So, maybe it¡¯s Jinli¡¯s good fortune that somehow makes the animals instinctively feel that they shouldn¡¯t mess with her. After all, every animal has an instinct to seek benefits and avoid harm.¡¯ Listening to the village head¡¯s explanation, Officer Xiao pondered for a moment and nodded, ¡°Indeed, there¡¯s some truth to that. Just like buying lottery tickets, some people never win anything big in their lifetime, while others win a huge prize the first time they buy. Luck really is something you can¡¯t put your finger on.¡± Officer Chen squatted down and examined the surroundings carefully. He then asked, ¡°Did you find anything belonging to him when you found him, like an ID for example?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°No! When I came here, he was lying here full of blood. I called out a few times and got no response, so I immediately carried him down the mountain. Then I met Uncle Deming from the village, who took him over. After that, Qingshan took him to the hospital.¡± Officer Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°We want to look around!¡± The village head responded, ¡°Of course.¡± Xiao Jinli joined them, ¡°I¡¯ll go too.¡± Officer Chen didn¡¯t refuse. Technically, it was very dangerous for a young girl to move around in the mountain. However, according to the villagers in Xiao Family Village, this girl had incredibly good luck, and the wild beasts would flee when they saw her. And indeed, that was the case. The whole journey up, they didn¡¯t encounter any danger, most likely because of the girl. Soon, everyone began searching for clues in the mountain. But they found nothing whatsoever! Officers Chen and Xiao had no choice but to return empty-handed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, we couldn¡¯t find anything about your identity,¡± Officer Chen told Su Yichen. Shaking his head, Su Yichen replied, ¡°Officer, you don¡¯t need to apologize. It¡¯s me who has lost my memory and can¡¯t remember who I am. If I could, you wouldn¡¯t have to work so hard trying to find my things.¡± Officer Chen smiled and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so polite, kid. It¡¯s our duty as police officers to help. We can issue you a temporary ID after you leave the hospital, but what should we put down as your name?¡± Yichen frowned for a moment and then brightened up, ¡°Officer, I was saved by a little girl from Xiao Family Village, she¡¯s my savior. Can I take her last name? As for my first name, I¡¯ll go with Siqian (a name derived from a Chinese saying that means one must repay a favor as soon as possible).¡± Officer Chen thought for a bit and said, ¡°You¡¯re a grateful child. Alright, I¡¯ll use the name Xiao Siqian to issue you a temporary ID.¡± Yichen thanked him happily, ¡°Thank you, Officer!¡± Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Memory Loss Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Memory Loss Translator: 549690339 Xiao¡¯s mother looked at the boy in front of her, dressed in a white T-shirt and blue jeans. What caught her eye the most was Su Yichen¡¯s handsome face, with sharp eyebrows and piercing eyes, well-proportioned and elegant. Xiao¡¯s mother smiled and said, ¡°What a handsome young man. But young man, what¡¯s the matter with you?¡± Xiao Qingshan brought Su Yichen along to explain, ¡°Sister-in-law, he¡¯s the person Jinli saved. He has lost his memory now, and the Yamen can¡¯t find any proof of his identity or his family. He has nowhere to go. Jinli said before that after he¡¯s discharged, he would come to your house to stay. Now that he¡¯s out of the hospital, I brought him over.¡± After Xiao Qingshan¡¯s explanation, Xiao¡¯s mother smiled and said, ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s you. Xiao Bao told me before to let you stay at our house after you get discharged. I¡¯ve already cleaned up the room for you and prepared your toiletries. Let me take you to see the room first and see if there¡¯s anything else you need. Oh, right, what should I call you?¡± Not Su Yichen anymore, but now Xiao Siqian, said, ¡°Auntie, I don¡¯t remember my old name. I¡¯ve temporarily taken a new name, Xiao Siqian.¡± ¡°Xiao Siqian,¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°Can I call you Xiao Quan then?¡± ¡°Yes, auntie!¡± Xiao Siqian replied. Xiao¡¯s mother took Xiao Siqian to see the prepared room. Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°Your room is on the second floor, oh, it¡¯s this one!¡± After opening the door, the room had a 1.8-meter bed covered with black and white checkered sheets, black and white pillowcases as well, a big wardrobe, a table with two books on it. In short, the room was clean and tidy. Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°You see if there¡¯s anything else you need, just feel free to tell me. Since you¡¯re here with us, treat our family as your own.¡± Xiao Siqian looked around and with satisfaction said, ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s great! I like it.¡± But after a while, he looked somewhat embarrassed and said, ¡°Auntie, 1¡­1 don¡¯t have any clothes to change into.¡± He was a person who was picked up and didn¡¯t have money to buy any clothes. Hearing him say that, Xiao¡¯s mother immediately realized and said with a smile, ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t think about that. Let me find two sets of clothes from Xiao Bao¡¯s brother for you to wear first, and tomorrow we¡¯ll go to the county town to buy you two new sets.¡± It¡¯s estimated that there¡¯s no suitable clothing for Xiao Siqian in the town. Xiao Siqian gratefully said, ¡°Auntie, can I just wear her brother¡¯s clothes instead of buying new ones?¡± He was eating and living here, and also spending money, he felt embarrassed. Xiao¡¯s mother shook her head and said, ¡°Xiao Bao¡¯s brother does have old clothes, but since you¡¯re here with us, you can¡¯t always wear old clothes. You should have at least two sets of new clothes. She looked at Xiao Siqian and said, ¡°Judging by your age, you should be going to school, right? High school age.¡± Hearing that, Xiao Siqian shook involuntarily, and shook his head saying, ¡°Auntie, according to the doctor, I should be 18 years old now. I don¡¯t remember if I¡¯m in high school or not, but I should have graduated from junior high school at least, and I can find a job now.¡± In his heart, he thought, ¡°Not only did he go to high school, but he was also a Harvard University finance master¡¯s graduate.¡± Of course, since he pretended to lose his memory and hide his identity, he certainly wouldn¡¯t tell them about it. Xiao¡¯s mother sincerely advised, ¡°Xiao Quan, you¡¯re still a teenager, the age to go to school. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve forgotten the knowledge of school, or if it¡¯s appropriate to send you to junior high, high school, or university?¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s smile on his face slightly froze for a moment. Go to junior high school? How could that be possible? At such an age, wouldn¡¯t that be embarrassing? Xiao Siqian immediately said, ¡°Auntie, can we skip this? I¡¯m just suffering from amnesia for the time being, and I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll remember in the future. Auntie, now I just want to go out and work to earn money to repay my debt. I owe everyone so much money for my hospitalization, and if I don¡¯t hurry to pay it off, I won¡¯t feel at ease!¡± Xiao Qingshan tried to persuade him, ¡°Xiao Quan, don¡¯t worry about the money. We won¡¯t rush you. I think you going to school is more appropriate!¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± He, a Harvard finance master¡¯s graduate, still needed to go to school? He thought for a moment and said, ¡°Auntie, how about this? You help me buy some materials for graduated junior high, high school, or university so I can have a look and test myself to see if I need to go to school. I may have lost my memory, but I¡¯m not stupid. Maybe all the knowledge is still hidden in my brain.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao¡¯s mother nodded and said, ¡°You do make a point. Let¡¯s do it tomorrow then. Tomorrow, when we buy your clothes, we¡¯ll also buy these materials. However, Xiao Quan, just in case you did forget these things, I think it¡¯s better for you to go to school. After all, knowledge is the most important thing, and without it, you can only do hard labor out there. Most importantly, no one knows when you¡¯ll recover your memory, right?¡± Xiao Siqian immediately agreed, ¡°Alright, Auntie, I¡¯ll leave it up to you!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother nodded with satisfaction, ¡°You¡¯re such a sensible child!¡± After leaving the room, Xiao Siqian finally took a closer look at the house. A three-story small western-style building villa with white tiles and red glazed tiles, which showed that the living conditions of this family were quite good, especially in the countryside. There were yards in front of and behind the house. In the backyard, some vegetables were planted. In the front yard, some flowers and plants were arranged. On the walls, some cacti were planted, along with a few Scindapsus and Chinese roses. A small resting area was also built in the yard, with a stone table in the center. The yard was arranged to be warm and elegant. At the same time, one could see that this was a warm and happy family. Xiao Siqian¡¯s eyes showed a hint of envy. He thought of something and asked, ¡°Auntie, where¡¯s Sister Jinli?¡± Xiao Qingshan smiled and said, ¡°Of course, Jinli went to school!¡± ¡°Haha, to school?¡± Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t react for a moment. Mainly because, Xiao Jinli gave him the impression of being quite grown-up, so much so that he had forgotten she was still a child, a school-aged child. Xiao Qingshan said, ¡°Jinli is only ten years old, so at this age, she¡¯s supposed to go to school. There are no vacations now. She found you a few days ago because she was coincidentally on vacation.¡± Xiao Siqian curiously asked, ¡°So, what grade is Sister Jinli in right now?¡± ¡°Hm, I think it¡¯s fourth grade, right, sister-in-law?¡± Xiao Qingshan asked uncertainly. Xiao¡¯s mother nodded and said, ¡°Yes, she¡¯s in fourth grade. But when this child goes to school, it¡¯s really just a place to sleep.¡± Xiao Siqian was dumbfounded. Sending a child to school to sleep, and the parents are so permissive, what kind of enlightened parents are they? Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26: How He Survived Chapter 26: Chapter 26: How He Survived Translator: 549690339 Xiao Siqian settled down at the Xiao Family¡¯s residence. ¡°Little Quan, don¡¯t feel restrained,¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°Consider this place home from now on! If you want to eat or buy anything, just tell me.¡± nodded, ¡°Thank you Auntie, I understand.¡± ¡°Anything particular you¡¯d like to eat today?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother asked, ¡°I¡¯ll make it for you. You just got discharged from the hospital. Your health hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet, so you need to take care of your nutrition. And make sure to rest well, don¡¯t worry too much for now. Health comes first, understand?¡± His mother said these words because she was worried that the kid wouldn¡¯t feel comfortable living in the house. Xiao Siqian nodded, ¡°Yes, I understood Auntie, I¡¯ll treat this place as home.¡± This home seemed so warm and blissful. He also wanted to fit in and feel it too. Xiao¡¯s mother patted him on the shoulder, laughing, ¡°Haha, that¡¯s the right attitude. Alright, you should rest. I¡¯m going to cook now. Little Bao will eat at school, so it¡¯ll just be the two of us for lunch.¡± Speaking about Jinli, Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°Auntie, won¡¯t Jinli come home for lunch?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother shook her head, ¡°No, she¡¯ll eat lunch at school. There¡¯s not enough time. Either her father or brother will pick her up after school in the afternoon.¡¯ Xiao Siqian thought and then suggested, ¡°Auntie, how about I pick her up this afternoon? If Uncle and Brother are busy with work, it¡¯ll be less urgent if I go.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother, with a smile, said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, let them pick her up today. You should rest and recover first, then you can pick her up.¡± But suddenly, she recalled something, and asked doubtfully, ¡°It¡¯s a dozen miles distance from here to the school, can you ride an electric scooter or drive a car?¡± Then she realized something was not right, ¡°Wait, but you¡¯ve lost your memory. Even though you might remember how to ride a scooter or drive, you don¡¯t have a driver license. How are you going to pick up Little Li?¡± Xiao Siqian, That¡¯s indeed a problem. He knows how to drive. But he doesn¡¯t know how to ride an electric scooter. He was born in a wealthy family, where he had chauffeurs wherever he went, so there was no need for him to ride bikes or scooters. After Xiao¡¯s mother left for cooking, he laid on the bed, arms and legs spread out, staring at the white ceiling above, sinking into deep thought. Since waking up in the hospital to now, he had been thinking about one issue. How did he survive? He remembered, he was chased by the kidnappers to the edge of a cliff. Just when he was about to commit suicide by jumping off the cliff out of despair, he felt a sharp pain in his back and then he passed out. When he woke up again, he was already in the hospital. According to what Xiao Qingshan and the others said, it was Jinli who carried him down the mountain. Here comes the question. Firstly, who knocked him out? It¡¯s certain that it wasn¡¯t the kidnappers. The kidnappers might have wanted to capture him alive, but under that situation, without firearms or any weapons, they didn¡¯t have the ability to knock him out. If they were capable, they would¡¯ve caught him alive long ago instead of chasing him a thousand miles to the point where he was about to end his life by jumping off the cliff. Secondly, what happened when he was unconscious? How did he survive? The four ominous kidnappers were at the same location as him. As he survived, what happened to the four kidnappers? They wouldn¡¯t have just run off, right? What made them panic and run away? What did they come across that made them run so hurriedly? No, if they chose to run off at that time, what about after? As long as they heard he didn¡¯t die, they definitely would¡¯ve come after him again. But during his hospitalization, nobody came to protect him. Those people didn¡¯t appear at the hospital either. It seemed¡­ It seemed as if the four kidnappers disappeared into thin air. Suddenly, Xiao Siqian sat up from the bed, looking excited. He mumbled to himself, ¡°Disappearing? Did the one-eyed dragon and his gang really disappear? Why did they disappear?¡± In short, his stomach was full of questions. No matter how many questions he had, there was no one to answer them. It was like a riddle. And no one knew the answer. Of course, it didn¡¯t occur to him that the disappearance of the four kidnappers was related to Jinli. Given Jinli¡¯s age, a ten-year-old girl causing kidnappers to disappear was ridiculous, right? Secondly, Jinli was just a child with a little more strength and luck, how could she have walked away unharmed when up against the four ruthless thugs? It was impossible. Thus, either of these conjectures was complete nonsense to him. After thinking for a while, not figuring anything out, Xiao Siqian ruffled his hair, saying, ¡°Forget it, no point in thinking about it. I was lucky enough to survive. Next, I need to think about how to take revenge. Hmm, those people must be celebrating with champagne now. Ha¡­ They really think that if I¡¯m dead, they can inherit all my mother¡¯s property? They¡¯re dreaming! ¡± In a renowned law firm in the Capital City. A middle-aged man in glasses and a suit, looking at the documents in his hand, spoke apologetically, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Su, in accordance with our industry regulations, we cannot transfer all the property from Xia Zhi Meng into your name before seeing Su Yichen!¡± Upon hearing the lawyer¡¯s words, Su Xiangdong¡¯s face darkened. Before he could answer, a woman dressed as an upper-class lady protested in a shrill voice, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? We have Su Yichen¡¯s agreement to give up his inheritance rights and commission contract, so why can¡¯t we transfer the ownership? It must be you who¡¯s making it difficult for us! I¡¯ve heard that you were close to that cheap woman Xia Zhi Meng. Are you trying to take over her inheritance? Let me tell you, Liu Qing Ming, all the property under Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s name belongs to the Su Family, you can¡¯t get a single cent from it!¡± Liu Qing Ming frowned, suppressing his anger, he warned firmly, ¡°Lady Su, watch your words! I have been handling matters according to Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s will and industry regulations, and neither is related to our personal relationship. Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s will: All her property shall be inherited by Mr. Su Yichen when he turns eighteen. If he gives up his inheritance rights, it should be confirmed by him in person and the commission will be invalid. Otherwise, all inheritance shall be donated to a charity foundation within five years. Mr. Su wants to inherit Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s property, okay, but that¡¯s on the condition that Mr. Su Yichen appears in person and confirms that he is giving up his inheritance rights. Otherwise, no one can touch a single penny of Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s property!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lady Su was on the verge of going mad, her delicate make-up looking distorted and glaring fiercely. They had been plotting this for fifteen years, just waiting for Su Yichen to turn eighteen and take all the inheritance. Before, they only knew that Su Yichen had to be eighteen years old to inherit. They used all sorts of tricks to forge and deceive Su Yichen, obtaining a voluntary inheritance resignation agreement and transfer letter of attorney. But in the end, they were told that all these procedures had to be done with that little lowlife in person. All their planning turned out to be in vain. They were practically driven mad.. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27: All the schemes turned out to be in vain. Chapter 27: Chapter 27: All the schemes turned out to be in vain. Translator: 549690339 Su Xiangdong and his wife returned to their luxury villa, their faces darkened with anger. As soon as they entered the house, Lady Su threw her limited edition handbag forcefully onto the sofa, clearly furious. Her face turned green as she sat on the sofa, her eyes filled with venomous anger, her chest heaving with rage. She resentfully said, ¡°That bastard Liu Qing Ming must have done it on purpose. Why didn¡¯t he tell us beforehand that the bastard¡¯s presence was required to inherit that bitch¡¯s inheritance?¡± At this point, she continued angrily, ¡°He was so close to that bitch when she was alive, even rumored to be in love with her. So, he must be doing this on purpose now. That little bastard is neither dead nor alive, where are we supposed to find him?¡± Su Xiangdong sat on the sofa with a gloomy face, his expression clearly showing his anger. He suddenly shouted at his wife, ¡°Shut up!¡± Lady Su, still in a fit of anger, was stunned by his outburst. After a moment, she screamed like a shrew, ¡°Su Xiangdong, how dare you yell at me?! What gives you the right?!¡± Su Xiangdong had no interest in acknowledging her tantrum, and instead walked straight to his study. After locking the door, he took a black cellphone out of the safe. He dialed a number, and an icy voice came from the cellphone: ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is currently powered off!¡± Undeterred, he dialed another number, only to receive the same message: ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is currently powered off!¡± Hearing the two messages, his dark eyes couldn¡¯t help but reveal a hint of anxiety. He muttered to himself, ¡°It must be out of battery, it must be out of battery!¡± That was the only way to console himself. He took a deep breath and blankly stared at the cold cellphone for a moment. After a while, he put the phone back into the safe. When he went out, he saw his eldest son, Su Hanyang, clenching his fists and angrily saying, ¡°Weren¡¯t you the ones who said that after that little bastard turns 18, I would inherit all of his mother¡¯s property? Why can¡¯t I now? That¡¯s several billion worth of property! Are we just going to let that bastard take it all Su Xiangdong walked over with a dark expression on his face, and sternly said, ¡°Little bastard, little bastard, Su Hanyang, is that how you refer to your brother? You share the same father but different mothers; if he¡¯s a little bastard, then what am I?¡± Su Hanyang¡¯s angry expression turned into disbelief as he said, ¡°Dad, I¡­¡± Su Xiangdong waved his hand and said, ¡°Enough, don¡¯t say it. Right now, we need to find Su Yichen as soon as possible and trick him into giving up his inheritance rights!¡± At this point, his sharp, piercing eyes scanned his wife and son, warning, ¡°When he comes back, you must treat him like before, acting as a virtuous wife and obedient siblings, and completely gain his trust!¡± After hearing this, Su Hanyang was clearly unwilling, and he angrily said, ¡°Why should I? He robbed me of everything I had, and now I¡¯m just taking it back. I won¡¯t let him take advantage of me now, don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Su Xiangdong¡¯s face darkened, and he said coldly, ¡°Then you don¡¯t have to think about his mother¡¯s inheritance! ¡± Su Hanyang, Both hands clenched, his face ashen. Lady Su immediately took Su Hanyang¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Yangyang, we¡¯ve endured more than ten years, we don¡¯t mind bearing it a bit longer. Just think about his mother¡¯s inheritance.¡± After that, Lady Su looked at Su Xiangdong and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, husband. When Su Yichen comes back, we will treat him as we did before, ensuring that he will gladly give up his inheritance rights.¡± Upon hearing this, Su Xiangdong¡¯s face slightly relaxed. But he continued to warn, ¡°For the sake of the inheritance rights in his hands, no matter how wronged or aggrieved you are, you must swallow it and bear it. Once we have the inheritance rights, you can do whatever you want with him!¡± Upon hearing this, Su Hanyang¡¯s eyes lit up, and his face showed excitement, he said, ¡°Dad, are you serious? He¡¯ll be at my mercy later?¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Su Xiangdong nodded and said, ¡°So, Yangyang, you must be patient before obtaining the inheritance rights.¡± Su Hanyang nodded and said, ¡°Alright, dad, I understand!¡± However, he secretly thought to himself, ¡°Humph, Su Yichen, just let you be smug for now. Once you fall into my hands, you¡¯ll be nothing more than a dog beneath my feet.¡± He had already begun to imagine how he would torture this dog. Suddenly, he thought of a question and asked, ¡°Dad, Su Yichen hasn¡¯t been home for several days, where is he now?¡± Lady Su also asked with confusion, ¡°That¡¯s right, he hasn¡¯t been home for a long time. In the past, he would at least call us if he was going somewhere. Now, he hasn¡¯t called once in so long. Yangyang, call him!¡± Su Hanyang nodded and said, ¡°Okay, mom, I¡¯ll call him now!¡± After dialing the number, the response he got was: ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is currently powered off!¡± Lady Su¡¯s expression briefly faltered before saying, ¡°Powered off? How could it be powered off? Yangyang, did you dial the wrong number?¡± Su Hanyang shook his head and said, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. Maybe it¡¯s out of battery.¡± Lady Su said, ¡°We¡¯ll try again later then. It¡¯s strange, why would he disappear for so long without contacting us? Did he hear something?¡± Su Hanyang¡¯s face changed, ¡°Could it be? Did he really find out we¡¯re trying to deceive him and take over his mother¡¯s inheritance? If that¡¯s the case, he might not come back to this home, right? Then we wouldn¡¯t get the inheritance rights! Mom, what should we do?¡± After hearing Su Hanyang¡¯s words, Su Xiangdong clenched his fists, and a hint of regret flashed in his eyes. He was now afraid of that rebellious child¡­ Lady Su consoled her son, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, son. As long as he comes back to this home, I have the ability to deceive him into continuing to trust us!¡± She then looked at Su Xiangdong and asked, ¡°Husband, do you know where he is now?¡± Su Xiangdong said coldly, ¡°He rarely communicates with me, his father. How would I know where he is?¡± Lady Su furrowed her brow and asked, ¡°Then what should we do now? How can we find him?¡± Su Xiangdong pondered for a moment and said, ¡°First, try contacting his friends or his mother¡¯s relatives.¡¯ ¡°Alright, we can only do that for now,¡± Lady Su nodded and agreed.. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Ordinary Life of Common People Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Ordinary Life of Common People Translator: 549690339 At this moment, Su Yichen was unaware that the people in Capital City were scheming against him. Even if he knew, he would just sneer and laugh it off. Of course, he couldn¡¯t see their anxious state either when they couldn¡¯t get in touch with him. He was currently pretending to have amnesia and had no plans to return to Capital City immediately. ¡°Ha, you want to learn how to ride a motorcycle?¡± Xiao Mother said with some difficulty, ¡°But Xiao Quan, you don¡¯t have an ID card even if you learn how to ride a motorcycle and get your license, right?¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Aunt, I checked. Even if I have a fake name and temporary identity, it is still issued through the official channels of government agencies, and it is a form of ID proof that can be used to get a driver¡¯s license. If I remember in the future, I can just change it back to my original identity, and the driver¡¯s license can also be changed.¡± After listening, Xiao Mother said, ¡°Oh, so it can be done like this. Well, if you want to learn, go learn. But I¡¯m not very good at riding a motorcycle either. When Little Li¡¯s brother comes home, he can teach you. Once your riding skills are proficient, you can go take the driver¡¯s license test!¡± Xiao Sigian said, ¡°Alright, thank you Aunt.¡± The main reason he wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle was to make it easier to pick up Xiao Jinli in town. He really liked the young girl, but of course, for now, he only thought of her as a sister. Xiao Mother said, ¡°Xiao Quan, come and have breakfast quickly. Then clean up and we¡¯ll go to the county town to buy you two sets of clothes and buy some books for you to test.¡± When he thought about how his friends in Capital City would laugh at the fact that he, an international brand-name university graduate, had to do elementary and junior high school tests, he couldn¡¯t help but scoff. When he thought of those friends in Capital City, Xiao Siqian¡¯s eyes darkened slightly. The Xiao family had a pretty good life. In addition to a small western-style building, they had two motorcycles, a tricycle, and a small sedan worth over a hundred thousand RMB. When Xiao¡¯s Mother said she was going to take Xiao Siqian to the county town to buy clothes, Xiao Junxuan, Jinli¡¯s older brother, drove them to the county town without any hesitation. Xiao Siqian looked at Xiao Junxuan driving with admiration and said, ¡°Brother Xuan, your driving skills are awesome, very steady. When did you learn to drive, Brother Xuan?¡± Xiao Junxuan raised an eyebrow and smiled, ¡°I started learning to drive at 16 and got my driver¡¯s license at 18. Before I got my driver¡¯s license, I drove without one.¡± Xiao Siqian, So he should be able to drive without a license, right? However, he was already 18 years old and should be able to take the driver¡¯s license test. But in order to take the test, he had to pay a fee, which¡­ Xiao Siqian glanced at Xiao Junxuan secretly, and then his expression became resolute, thinking, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll have to pay off my debts. I¡¯ll owe a million whether I like it or not, so I might as well owe ten million. In the future, I¡¯ll pay it back.¡± Xiao Mother laughed and said, ¡°Little Xuan, Xiao Quan said he wants to take the driver¡¯s license test. You can take him to the driving school to register in a few days.¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°Alright, Mom! Mom, when you go shopping, don¡¯t tire yourself out. If you get tired, find a cool place to rest. When it¡¯s time to go home, give me a call and I¡¯ll come to pick you up.¡± Xiao Mother smiled and said, ¡°Alright.¡± Xiao Siqian saw the gentle expression on Xiao Mother¡¯s face and the concern on Older Brother Xiao¡¯s face, and his eyes couldn¡¯t help but show a touch of sadness and envy. So this is what genuine care and love look like? A simple word of concern can make a person feel warm. He suddenly thought of how his family used to care for him and couldn¡¯t help but sneer. It was ridiculous that he, the so-called genius of Capital City, never noticed his family¡¯s fake care and love. An hour later, they arrived at the county town. Older Brother Xiao dropped them off at the entrance of a large supermarket and told them, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s hot today, so drink more water and rest in a cool place.¡± He then instructed Xiao Siqian, ¡°Xiao Quan, take good care of my mom.¡± Xiao Siqian smiled and replied, ¡°Alright, Brother Xuan, I will!¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m leaving now. Call me when you¡¯re done shopping.¡± Xiao Mother waved her hand and laughed, ¡°Alright, go to work.¡± Xiao Junxuan left. Xiao Siqian followed behind Xiao Mother, beginning to take in the bustling area of this small county town. Perhaps it was because it was daytime and time for work, so there weren¡¯t many pedestrians coming and going. Surrounded by some old residential buildings, the shops on both sides of the street all had the same format ¨C white walls and red lacquered pillars, with grey signs and yellow characters, giving a somewhat solemn atmosphere. The highest floor of the residential building was only six or seven stories, and some of the exterior walls were even peeling off. Old residential areas are old residential areas, but the largest supermarket in the whole county is located here. Therefore, on holidays, the place is bustling with people and very lively. At the entrance of the supermarket, on both sides of the street, various items are sold. When there were no patrols, there were fruit sellers, toy sellers, pickled radish sellers, specialty sellers¡­ all kinds of things. Xiao Siqian grew up in Capital City, where the bustling metropolis was full of high-rise buildings and a crisscross network of streets. Cars shuttled through the streets, and at night, it was a dazzling world of red lights and wine. He took three steps and had a private jet to pick him up. He wore high-end custom clothes, and ate food prepared by either five-star chefs at home or high-end restaurants outside. Overall, he never had to worry about life. He was just a high and mighty young master from Capital City and never experienced the colorful lives of ordinary people. Now, suddenly, from a phoenix to a land chicken, he felt very complicated about this change. However, for now, he quite enjoyed this peaceful and warm ordinary life. Living an ordinary life and experiencing a variety of human emotions. Sometimes, money can indeed provide a luxurious life. But money can also cause one to lose their way, become more greedy and even lead to loss of humanity. Money¡­ ¡°Xiao Quan, what are you daydreaming about? Follow Aunt!¡± Xiao Mother went into the shopping mall and was about to take the elevator, but she looked back and saw that Xiao Siqian hadn¡¯t followed. Xiao Siqian snapped back to reality and quickly replied, ¡°Oh, coming, Aunt!¡± Xiao Siqian was handsome and tall, so when they entered the mall, the eyes of the female staff inside brightened up. ¡°Oh wow, a handsome man has come. He¡¯s so handsome. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen such a handsome man.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also my first time seeing such a handsome man. His features are sharp and well-defined, and when combined, he¡¯s just a perfect-looking man. However, he still looks like a boy by his age.¡± ¡°With such a handsome boy, there must be a lot of girls chasing after him!¡± ¡°What, you want to chase him?¡± ¡°Haha, if I chase him, it would be like an old cow eating young grass.¡± ¡°Hehe, the question is, can you catch up with him?¡± Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Being Hit On Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Being Hit On Translator: 549690339 Xiao Siqian had been to shopping malls before, but those were large ones encompassing a few thousand square meters or even tens of thousands of square meters. Visiting a supermarket less than a thousand square meters was a first for him. He had to admit that, though petite, the supermarket was nicely compact and complete. The items were affordable and worthwhile. Xiao¡¯s mother directly led Xiao Siqian to the clothing department. ¡°Xiao Quan, try this white T-shirt. You¡¯re over one point eight meters tall, with a model-like build. Whatever you wear looks good,¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said with a smile. Under Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s teasing, Xiao Siqian blushed, took the clothes his mother picked, and went to the fitting room. The waitress outside said to Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡°Your son is really handsome. Not only good-looking, but he also has a great figure. I¡¯ve been selling clothes for many years and this is the first time I¡¯ve seen someone so well-proportioned in both appearance and physique. Usually, those with good looks don¡¯t have good bodies, and those with good bodies are not good-looking.¡± Then, the waitress sweetly complimented Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡°Madam, you¡¯re so beautiful and elegant, your son¡¯s handsomeness must be inherited from you!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother just laughed and didn¡¯t respond. After a while, when Xiao Siqian came out of the fitting room, he immediately caught the eyes of everyone around him. ¡°Wow, this guy is so handsome.¡± A few girls were beside looking at clothes, the moment they saw Xiao Siqian, they held their cheeks, revealing a starstruck expression. ¡°He is really handsome, even more so than the captain of our school¡¯s basketball team, and his figure is great.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, how can there be such a handsome guy? He¡¯s just like the school prince in a television drama.¡± ¡°In my opinion, this guy is more handsome than the male lead in a drama. Ah, I feel like having a nosebleed.¡± ¡°How can he be so handsome, it¡¯s simply infuriating. Who knows if this handsome guy has a girlfriend, should we ask him for his contact?¡± one girl with starry eyes wondered aloud. ¡°Why don¡¯t we try it?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡® Are all the girls so bold nowadays? Xiao¡¯s mother covered her mouth and joked, ¡°Xiao Quan, you¡¯ve won over a bunch of girls. Hehe¡­¡± Xiao Siqian remained composed. In Capital City, socialite daughters also surrounded him from time to time, which he found quite annoying. Xiao¡¯s mother looked at the clothes he tried on and said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Quan, you¡¯re so handsome, you look great in anything you wear.¡± The waitress on the side immediately echoed, ¡°The Little Mister is beyond handsome. He looks great and fits perfectly in any clothes. Little Mister, why don¡¯t you try on a few more sets?¡± She thought to herself, ¡°these two don¡¯t seem to be short of money, if he tries on more sets, maybe they¡¯ll buy more, then my commission bonus this month would be higher.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother also agreed, ¡°Xiao Quan, come, try a few more sets. I just love seeing you in new clothes. You have a model¡¯s body and make a perfect clothes hanger. Let me see more of my handsome little son.¡± In the end, Xiao Siqian reluctantly tried on a few more sets to satisfy his new mother¡¯s interest. Encountering such a good-looking and well-built male customer, the waitress served them with a full smile. The onlooking girls nearby, with their cheeks flushed, watched every set of clothes Xiao Siqian tried and offered their opinions enthusiastically. ¡°I think, he looks most handsome in that black one.¡± ¡°No, he looks best in that blue one.¡± ¡°He looks so good and bright in the white one.¡± They argued incessantly for their own opinions. After trying on over a dozen sets of clothes, Xiao¡¯s mother wanted to buy them all. After all, Xiao Siqian looked like a model in every set of clothes, which was truly a feast for the eyes. Xiao Siqian declined, ¡°Auntie, buying two sets is enough. Brother Xuan still has old clothes that I can wear.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother sternly refused, ¡°That won¡¯t do. Now that you¡¯ve come to my home, you¡¯re my son. How can I let you wear your Brother Xuan¡¯s secondhand clothes? Besides, you can¡¯t compare to your Brother Xuan¡¯s physique; he¡¯s really just a stick with no meat on his tall body.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Auntie, Brother Xuan¡¯s physique is also excellent, and he looks very handsome.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother replied, ¡°Regardless of whether he¡¯s good or not, you shouldn¡¯t wear his old clothes. It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t afford to buy you new clothes!¡± ¡°Alright, listen to Auntie. I am eager to buy you new clothes and dress my new son in style. Isn¡¯t that great?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother spoke firmly. Xiao Siqian, He is left with no choice, but to agree for Xiao¡¯s mother to buy those five suits of clothes. As they were about to leave, a girl in a pink dress with the floating long hair and pretty face, blushed and shyly walked up to Xiao Siqian, asking, ¡°Handsome man, hello, I am Lai Siyi, a student from the first class in County Middle School. Which school are you from? Can we be friends?¡± It is a well-known fact that Qing County Middle School is the best high school in the county, where all the top students from different towns are concentrated. The first class of County Middle School, in particular, is the cream of the crop among all top-notch students. Lai Siyi introduced herself this way for two reasons; she is proud of her top-student status, and naturally, she wanted to catch Xiao Siqian¡¯s attention. However, her flirtatious gaze was completely wasted. Leaving aside the fact Xiao Siqian doesn¡¯t come from this county and is unfamiliar with its local customs, he is also pretending to have amnesia in front of Xiao¡¯s mother. How could he possibly understand what being in the first class of County Middle School represents? Xiao Siqian responded with a flat expression, ¡°No!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother, The onlookers, Such a beautiful girl who studies well, most boys should be eager to know her. However, this sunny and handsome boy appeared to be intellectually dense. Lai Siyi, Her face turned red immediately when she realized she had been rejected. Her beautiful face exuded awkwardness, embarrassment, a hint of grievance, and even some annoyance! She never thought there would come a day when she was rejected by somebody after she took the initiative to befriend him. This was really embarrassing. She bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears, holding back her tears, she said, ¡°Tha-that doesn¡¯t matter, we can¡­ we can be friends next time whenever possible!¡± After hearing these words, Xiao Siqian answered with evident impatience, ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time!¡± Lai Siyi looked momentarily stunned, then, no longer able to hold back her tears, she ran off crying. Girls are generally sensitive about face-saving, let alone a pampered girl like her who is everyone¡¯s favorite. She had already let go of her reserved demeanor and pride to befriend a boy, but was rejected and witnessed by so many people. How could she hold it together? Lai Siyi¡¯s three or four companions exchanged glances for a moment before chasing after Lai Siyi. As they chased her, they said, ¡°Siyi has never been rejected by a boy, this is the first time. ¡°This boy is too unfeeling. Siyi is good-looking, smart, and more than qualified to be his friend. Their voices gradually faded into the distance. Those onlookers stared somewhat speechlessly at Xiao Siqian. Xiao Siqian disregarded their looks. Feeling somewhat sorry for the girl, Xiao¡¯s mother quickly bought several sets of clothes for Xiao Siqian and then left. Though staying here wouldn¡¯t bring shame, she didn¡¯t want to be made a spectacle of.. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30: The Little Jinli Standing Up Against Injustice Chapter 30: Chapter 30: The Little Jinli Standing Up Against Injustice Translator: 549690339 Xiao¡¯s mother took Xiao Siqian shopping for clothes, bought daily necessities at the supermarket, and then took him to a bookstore to buy test papers from elementary school to high school. Xiao Siqian stood by, watching his mother carefully selecting elementary and junior high school test papers, his mouth twitching constantly. He, a prestigious foreign university graduate, had to do these junior test papers. Xiao Siqian endured and said, ¡°Aunt, I¡¯ve looked through these elementary and junior high school test papers, and I can definitely do them without any problem. How about we just buy two sets of high school test papers to see?¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s eyes lit up, and she exclaimed excitedly, ¡°Xiao Quan, you can understand and do these elementary and junior high school test papers?¡± Xiao Siqian nodded. Xiao¡¯s mother pointed to several questions on the third and fifth-grade test papers, and Xiao Siqian answered each one. The sales clerk standing nearby looked puzzled. At first, she thought they were buying for the children in the family, but now it seems like they were buying for this young man. Looking at the young man¡¯s age, he must have at least graduated from junior high school, if not high school. After all, nine-year compulsory education is implemented nationwide. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Ma¡¯am, are you buying test papers for the children in your family? What grade are the children in? Would you like me to recommend some materials?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother smiled and said, ¡°No need, we¡¯ve already made our selections. Thank you, we¡¯ll go check out now.¡± The bookstore clerk, Xiao¡¯s mother had already determined that Xiao Siqian had no problem with elementary and junior high school knowledge, but she still needed to confirm his high school knowledge. By the time the two of them left the bookstore, it was already three-thirty. Just as Xiao¡¯s mother was about to call her son, he called her. ¡°Son, I was just about to call you. Yes, we¡¯ve bought everything, and we¡¯re waiting for you at the bookstore entrance.¡± After hanging up, Xiao¡¯s mother said to Xiao Siqian, ¡°Let¡¯s wait here for a while. Your brother will come to pick us up by car soon.¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Aunt, let¡¯s wait inside the store. There¡¯s air conditioning.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother nodded, ¡°Alright!¡± About ten minutes later, Xiao Junxuan arrived in his car to pick them up. Xiao Siqian was slightly puzzled, wondering where the Xiao family¡¯s father and son worked. Were their work hours so flexible? Of course, Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t ask, knowing that he would find out eventually. Xiao Junxuan took them to the Central Primary School in town. After waiting for a few minutes, Xiao Jinli got off school. Xiao Siqian and the others stood among the crowd of parents waiting to pick up their children outside the school. The small and old school in his eyes was incomparable to the prestigious school he had attended, yet it had a different kind of vitality and joy. That¡¯s because the parents here were simple and active, without the intention of flattering or comparison. Outside, Xiao¡¯s mother and the others waited for Xiao Jinli to finish school. Inside the school, Xiao Jinli carried her little school bag and walked towards the school gate. At that moment, two little girls stopped her. Xiao Jinli glanced over and noticed that one of the little girl¡¯s eyes were red and swollen. Xiao Jinli frowned slightly and asked, ¡°Hu Hongmei, what happened to you? Your eyes are red, you¡¯ve been crying.¡± By Hu Hongmei¡¯s side, another girl puffed up her cheeks, clenched her little fists, and angrily said, ¡°Hu Hongmei was bullied by Xiao Jianming. During seating, Hu Hongmei accidentally crossed the three-eighth line on the table, and then Xiao Jianming tore up Hu Hongmei¡¯s homework book. Xiao Jianming is really too much.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell Teacher Xiao?¡± Xiao Jinli asked. Teacher Xiao was their class headteacher. Hu Hongmei had red eyes and shook her head. Xiao Jinli was a little puzzled. Dong Qiufang explained, ¡°Xiao Jianming has bullied Hu Hongmei more than once or twice. But every time we tell Teacher Xiao, she just says a few words to Xiao Jianming without even scolding him, just telling him not to bully Hu Hongmei next time. As a result, Xiao Jianming thinks Hu Hongmei went to the teacher and got him scolded, and then, he played tricks on Hu Hongmei again by putting cockroaches and insects in her drawer, which scared her to death. Now Hu Hongmei doesn¡¯t dare to tell Teacher Xiao.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to Teacher Xiao now.¡± Hu Hongmei and Dong Qiufang looked a little puzzled. Dong Qiufang asked, ¡°Why go to Teacher Xiao? If we go to tell on Xiao Jianming, he will definitely take revenge on Hu Hongmei.¡± Perhaps thinking of Xiao Jianming¡¯s revenge, Hu Hongmei¡¯s face turned pale. Seeing Hu Hongmei¡¯s expression, Xiao Jinli said domineeringly, ¡°What are you afraid of? I¡¯m here.¡¯ Dong Qiufang looked around, lowered her head slightly, and whispered, ¡°I heard that Teacher Xiao is Xiao Jianming¡¯s aunt, she really loves him and couldn¡¯t bear to say a word against him.¡± Hearing what little Dong Qiufang said, Xiao Jinli instantly understood why Xiao Jianming was so arrogant in class. Xiao Jinli patted little Hu Hongmei on her shoulder and said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Let¡¯s go to Teacher Xiao directly. Don¡¯t worry, I guarantee that Teacher Xiao won¡¯t dare to favor Xiao Jianming, the little villain, and let him get a lesson.¡± With that, she went to find Teacher Xiao. Little Hu Hongmei hesitated and looked scared, but little Dong Qiufang held her hand and followed behind, saying, ¡°Hu Hongmei, we should believe in Xiao Jinli. If she says she will teach Xiao Jianming a lesson, she will. We have been classmates for so many years, and she always keeps her word.¡± After hearing this, little Hu Hongmei hesitated no more and immediately followed Xiao Jinli. Xiao Jinli and the others found Teacher Xiao in the office. There were four other teachers in the office preparing for lessons. When Teacher Xiao saw Xiao Jinli and the others appear, her brow furrowed. She didn¡¯t like Xiao Jinli, let alone Hu Hongmei and Dong Qiufang. Mainly because Xiao Jinli liked to sleep in class too much. Moreover, her test scores were average, and she often talked back to Teacher Xiao, making her a real headache. ¡°Xiao Jinli, do you need something from the teacher?¡± Teacher Xiao asked. Xiao Jinli said straightforwardly, ¡°Teacher Xiao, just now, Xiao Jianming tore up Hu Hongmei¡¯s notebook because she crossed the three-eighth line on the table. Hu Hongmei lost the notebook to do her homework and also the assignments she had done. Teacher Xiao, Xiao Jianming¡¯s behavior is too bad, he must be severely punished.¡± Teacher Xiao looked at Hu Hongmei and asked disdainfully, ¡°Is that true, Hu Hongmei?¡± Faced with the teacher, Hu Hongmei and Dong Qiufang were still a little timid. Little Hu Hongmei stuttered, ¡°Yes¡­ That¡¯s true, Teacher Xiao!¡± However, Teacher Xiao looked indifferent and perfunctory. ¡°Okay, I got it. I will scold Xiao Jianming. It¡¯s time to go home, hurry up. Going home late is not safe!¡± Xiao Jinli was clearly dissatisfied and said, ¡°Teacher Xiao, just scolding Xiao Jianming is not enough. Besides, every time you say you will criticize him, but you never even say a harsh word to him. This leads to Xiao Jianming bullying Hu Hongmei even worse in revenge. So, Teacher Xiao, we must demand a severe punishment for Xiao Jianming to teach him a profound lesson, so he will not repeat his mistakes and bully others.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s words were very direct and sharp, which made Teacher Xiao very unhappy. Teacher Xiao asked with hidden anger, ¡°So, what do you think should be the punishment for Xiao Jianming?¡± Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Scoring Control Genius Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Scoring Control Genius Translator: 549690339 Hearing Teacher Xiao¡¯s question, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Of course, he should be punished by sweeping the toilet.¡± What Xiao Jianming feared most was working, especially cleaning toilets. In the school playground and water channel, each class took turns to clean, and the toilets were cleaned by the whole class one by one. As the class bully, when Xiao Jianming was on duty, he either slacked off or instructed his minions to do the work, and no one dared to complain. Teacher Xiao just turned a blind eye to all of this. Now that Xiao Jinli suggested that Xiao Jianming clean the toilet, this made Teacher Xiao very displeased. You should know that her nephew was her parents¡¯ only grandson, her brother and sister-in-law¡¯s only son, and her only nephew. The whole family cherished him, afraid of breaking him or melting him in their mouths. At home, he didn¡¯t even have to buy a bottle of soy sauce, let alone do any cleaning, because they were afraid it would tire the child. Therefore, Teacher Xiao said unhappily, ¡°Student Xiao Jinli, I have a plan for criticizing and punishing Student Xiao Jianming. I know what you have said, now go home early and don¡¯t worry your parents.¡± Xiao Jinli knew from Teacher Xiao¡¯s words that she was simply perfunctory towards them, and by tomorrow, she would have completely forgotten about this matter. Xiao Jinli slightly swept her eyes around the office at the other teachers before adopting a serious and strict tone, ¡°Teacher Xiao, every time Xiao Jianming makes a mistake, you say you know, but then you just give him a few light words. Then, next time, he continues to make mistakes without changing, even escalating his bullying of other students. Teacher Xiao, I think you must let Xiao Jianming apologize to Hu Hongmei in front of us and accept severe punishment, so he can learn his lesson deeply. Next time, he won¡¯t be able to continue bullying other students.¡± After listening to Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, the teachers in the office looked at Teacher Xiao with strange eyes. Teacher Xiao originally planned to appease the three students, but she didn¡¯t expect Xiao Jinli to leave her with no face, making her complexion turn red and white. Unable to hold back her anger, she shouted, ¡°Xiao Jinli, Teacher Xiao doesn¡¯t need you to teach me what to do. Instead of criticizing others, why don¡¯t you look at yourself? You can¡¯t even keep up with your grades and sleep in class all the time, dragging our class down. What right do you have to criticize others?¡± At this, Teacher Xiao took a deep breath and said, ¡°Student Xiao Jinli, I¡¯m officially telling you, you¡¯re contradicting the teacher, and I¡¯m going to punish you. Tomorrow in class, you¡¯ll have to stand outside the classroom and bring your parents as well. You sleep in class every day and don¡¯t participate in any class activities or even respect the teacher. I want to ask now, how were you raised to be so wayward and disrespectful to authority?¡± Another teacher by the name of Yang, after hearing Teacher Xiao¡¯s words, frowned slightly, feeling that Teacher Xiao¡¯s approach was somewhat excessive. This student was merely standing up for a classmate, and Student Xiao made a reasonable argument without contradicting the teacher or disrespecting authority. Teacher Yang looked at Xiao Jinli, his eyes narrowed, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He had heard about this student, Xiao Jinli, before. Oh no, it should be said that Xiao Jinli had become famous throughout the school and even had a place in the principal¡¯s mind. Besides sleeping all day in class, what was most surprising about her was her academic performance. No matter how many students there were in her grade, her score was always right in the middle. For example, in first grade with 220 students, her score would definitely be at 110. There was no variation whether it was a unit test, a month exam, or a mid-term or final exam; she always ranks 110th. And, for example, when there were 187 students in the second grade, her score would definitely be locked in at 99th place. The same occurred in the third and fourth grades, with her results consistent each and every time. This was quite miraculous. As a result, many teachers and the principal have analyzed her performance and test papers. They believe that not only can Xiao Jinli manipulate her scores but also has a strong logical thinking ability. Not only can she judge the difficulty of the test, but she can also determine the performance of other students, which is as good as installing CCTV cameras beside each student. Even the teachers themselves couldn¡¯t control the performance of each student. Xiao Jinli could be said to be a genius. It¡¯s just that this genius didn¡¯t seem to care much about her ranking in academic performance, only maintaining her place in the middle. Before, the class headteacher had talked to her a few times, and even the principal stepped in to encourage her to fully realize her abilities and bring honor to the class or the school. But for some reason, the persuasions stopped after Xiao Jinli talked to the headteacher and the principal. Teacher Xiao, who had just been transferred this semester, was not familiar with Xiao Jinli¡¯s situation. Consequently, she loathed Xiao Jinli¡¯s lazy study habits and was unable to control her, whether it was through difficult classroom questions or difficulties outside the classroom. Being unable to manage a student was a disgrace to her teaching career. Seeing Xiao Jinli¡¯s fair and pretty face seemingly expressionless, Teacher Xiao¡¯s anger grew. She shouted sternly, ¡°Xiao Jinli, did you hear what the teacher said? Are you made of wood? Don¡¯t you know how to make a sound?¡± Teacher Xiao¡¯s state was clearly like that of a shrew. Hu Hongmei and Dong Qiufang, both looking a little scared and timid, turned pale when they saw the teacher¡¯s anger. They didn¡¯t expect the class headteacher to scold Xiao Jinli like this and even ask Xiao Jinli¡¯s parents to come. They carefully tugged at Xiao Jinli¡¯s clothes, unsure of what to do. Xiao Jinli, however, was not afraid of Teacher Xiao. She patted Hu Hongmei on the back and followed with a calm statement, ¡°Teacher Xiao, I am speaking only to the matter at hand and not disrespecting you or the teacher¡¯s authority. All I want is for you to stand up for Hu Hongmei and have Xiao Jianming apologize to her directly. Then, give Xiao Jianming a punishment to prevent him from bullying others in the future. What¡¯s wrong with that? There are so many teachers here, Teacher Xiao. Why don¡¯t you let the other teachers judge who is in the wrong? If I¡¯m wrong, I¡¯ll apologize to you, but if you¡¯re using this as an excuse to vent your anger and ask for my parents, I have nothing to say!¡± Hu Hongmei and Dong Qiufang looked at Xiao Jinli with admiration in their eyes. Xiao Jinli was so brave and dared to confront the class headteacher¡¯s anger. Teacher Xiao¡¯s face turned red and blue with anger as she was rebuked by Xiao Jinli. She pointed at Xiao Jinli furiously, ¡°You¡­You¡­you are so reckless! How dare you talk to a teacher like this? Believe it or not, I will expel you and prevent you from going to school..¡± Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Confronting the Teacher Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Confronting the Teacher Translator: 549690339 In Teacher Xiao¡¯s eyes, Xiao Jinli was just a bad student who slept during class, had poor grades, liked to meddle in other people¡¯s business, and loved to talk back to teachers. She had also proposed to the school several times to transfer this student to another class or expel her, but somehow the school did not agree. At first, she thought Xiao Jinli had connections in the school, but upon inquiring, she found out she was from an ordinary family. Later, the School Guidance Director, who happened to be her uncle, reminded her that Xiao Jinli was a genius, so the school turned a blind eye to her sleeping during class. Hearing her uncle¡¯s words, she disdained in her heart. She simply didn¡¯t believe that a student who loved to sleep in class could be a genius. Frankly, she had long wanted to teach this student a tough lesson. Now, she finally had an excuse. The anger emitted by Teacher Xiao could be seen as a threat to Xiao Jinli. Teacher Yang, who was beside her, thought for a moment and couldn¡¯t bother about possibly offending Teacher Xiao. He interrupted, ¡°Teacher Xiao, you¡¯re going too far with your words. I don¡¯t think Xiao Jinli was wrong in the first place. She¡¯s just enthusiastic and stands up for her classmates. That student Xiao Jianming in your class is always bullying others. Besides apologizing to the students he bullied, he really needs to be punished severely to learn his lesson!¡± After hearing Teacher Yang¡¯s words, Teacher Xiao¡¯s face turned green. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Teacher Yang, this is my class, and I can handle it. ¡± Meaning: Mind your own business! However, Teacher Yang solemnly said, ¡°Teacher Xiao, as a teacher, we should first of all strive to be fair and impartial to every student and not show favoritism to anyone. I¡¯ve heard of that Xiao Jianming, who bullies classmates every day, especially girls. He either puts snakes or insects in girls¡¯ drawers, or tears their books apart. He doesn¡¯t listen carefully during class and disturbs the surrounding students. He cheats on exams and doesn¡¯t do work when it¡¯s his turn to be on duty. Is it enough to just mildly criticize such a bad student? Isn¡¯t this favoritism too excessive?¡± It¡¯s no secret that Xiao Jianming is Xiao Hongmei¡¯s nephew. Xiao Jianming had openly boasted about it in class. Normally, Xiao Hongmei would take care of him, sending him delicious food after class. As Teacher Yang spoke, Xiao Hongmei¡¯s face turned red and blue with anger, humiliation, and rage. She unconsciously snapped, ¡°Teacher Yang, how I treat my students is none of your business! Do I need you to be nosy and point fingers at me? My nephew is just a bit mischievous in class and nowhere near as bad as you claim. He¡¯s an obedient and sensible child at home, but now you¡¯re painting him as so unbearable. Teacher Yang, do you think it¡¯s too much to harp on a little mistake made by an elementary student?¡± Teacher Yang and others, Xiao Jinli, ¡® This¡­ was truly self-deceiving. Xiao Hongmei was obviously dissatisfied with Teacher Yang. She continued, ¡°In that case, I must have a good talk with Director Guo about whether you, as a role model, are doing the right thing.¡± Director Guo was the Teaching Director, her uncle. With Xiao Hongmei saying this, it was like the offender accusing the victim first. As Teacher Yang was about to speak, Xiao Jinli¡¯s little face turned cold. She said coldly, ¡°So, if Teacher Xiao clearly favors her nephew, is that being a good role model? If such an elementary school student commits such a serious offense like not participating in labor, playing pranks on classmates, and bullying classmates, are those all minor errors? So, may I ask Teacher Xiao, what counts as a major mistake made by an elementary school student? Is it robbery or arson?¡± Pausing for a moment, she continued, ¡°Or is it that this school, or you, Teacher Xiao, own this place, and you do whatever you want?¡± Teacher Xiao was instantly rendered speechless with anger. She angrily pointed at Xiao Jinli and shouted, ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far! This is a total disregard for me as your teacher. Fine, I don¡¯t want you as my student anymore. Oh, no, I¡¯m expelling you. You don¡¯t have to study here anymore. Hurry up and get your parents over here and have them withdraw you from school!¡± Xiao Jinli stared very seriously at Xiao Hongmei, saying, ¡°About transferring to another class, I will consider it. But transferring schools, that¡¯s impossible!¡± Hu Hongmei and Dong Qiufang, the two little classmates, were completely stunned. They had clearly come to resolve the issue of Xiao Jianming bullying people, but how did it escalate to expelling Xiao Jinli? The two little classmates were a little frightened and felt that Teacher Xiao was so unreasonable and terrifying. After a while, Hu Hongmei¡¯s face turned a little pale, and she timidly said to Teacher Xiao, ¡°Teacher Xiao, I¡­ I don¡¯t want Xiao Jianming to apologize to me anymore. It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s my fault. You¡­ can you please not expel Xiao Jinli, okay?¡± Hu Hongmei felt it was all her fault. If she hadn¡¯t been bullied by Xiao Jianming and sought help from Xiao Jinli, Xiao Jinli wouldn¡¯t have confronted Teacher Xiao, talked back to her, made her angry, and wanted to expel Xiao Jinli. It¡¯s just that she doesn¡¯t know, at this point, it¡¯s not something that can be solved by not asking Xiao Jianming to apologize. Xiao Jinli patted her shoulder to comfort her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will be fine.¡± With this, she said firmly, ¡°I just can¡¯t believe there isn¡¯t a single place in this whole school that¡¯s reasonable.¡± Teacher Yang and others, ¡® This child, saying this, wasn¡¯t it just adding fuel to the fire? She truly has no fear of heaven or earth in her character. Teacher Xiao, ¡® . This little bastard, she really doesn¡¯t take her seriously at all. Teacher Xiao looked at the eloquent Xiao Jinli, not angry but laughing coldly, ¡°Hehe, do you think this school is owned by your family? Let me tell you, just the matter of you sleeping in class will be enough reason for the school to expel you.¡± However, Xiao Jinli simply shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± She really didn¡¯t care. Even if she was expelled, she would just be sleeping somewhere else. Naturally, if possible, she didn¡¯t really want to go to school either. It¡¯s too childish. However, if she didn¡¯t go to school, her family would definitely make her come. After all, no matter how intelligent or gifted she was, her age required her to complete her nine-year compulsory education. Teacher Yang and others, This child has such a strong control over her SAT score, that she might really not care about going to school. After Xiao Jinli finished her words, the atmosphere became deadlocked against Teacher Xiao. Teacher Xiao felt that Xiao Jinli, this bad student, was simply here to oppose her. ¡°Alright, you don¡¯t care, huh? Fine, call your parents over right now. I want to hear how they educate their child, who is so rude, disrespectful, and talks back to the teacher!¡± Teacher Xiao looked at Xiao Jinli with contempt and said coldly.. Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33: I Can’t Teach Your Child at Home Chapter 33: Chapter 33: I Can¡¯t Teach Your Child at Home Translator: 549690339 Teacher Xiao¡¯s attitude towards Xiao Jinli really angered Teacher Yang and the others. However, before they could speak, Xiao Jinli also said, ¡°Teacher Xiao, my parents are waiting outside for me to go home. But, if you really want to expel me, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to call Teaching Director Guo and Principal Chen together. To be honest, my biggest offense is sleeping in class, and I haven¡¯t disturbed other students. Likewise, my grades are not the worst.¡± At this point, Xiao Jinli paused for a moment and asked, ¡°Teacher Xiao, do you need me to help you call both Director Guo and Principal Chen?¡± Teacher Yang and the others, Teacher Xiao, ¡® . Teacher Yang and the others couldn¡¯t help but snicker, causing Teacher Xiao¡¯s face to turn green and purple, her expression becoming more twisted. After laughing, Teacher Yang may have felt that she was not being very kind. ¡°Hmm, hmm¡­¡± Teacher Yang said, ¡°Teacher Xiao, calm down. I think concerning the matter of expelling Student Xiao Jinli, we should wait until tomorrow when we report to the Principal. ¡® After saying that, she turned her head to look at Xiao Jinli, and said seriously, ¡°Xiao Jinli, how can you talk to a teacher in such a tone? Teacher Xiao is just angry now. As for the punishment of Xiao Jianming, I¡¯m sure Teacher Xiao will give you an explanation tomorrow. You three students, go home now. It¡¯s not safe to go home late on the road!¡± Nowadays, children go home by themselves after school without parents picking them up. Those who do have parent pick-ups are probably a bit further away and their families have better financial conditions. Teacher Yang said this, actually, to give Teacher Xiao a way out. After all, as a teacher, it wouldn¡¯t sound good if she was arguing with her own student. However, Teacher Xiao didn¡¯t appreciate Teacher Yang¡¯s kindness. She just thought that Teacher Yang and the others were laughing at her, and her frustrations grew as her authority as a teacher was being challenged by a student. Her face became even uglier. Teacher Xiao didn¡¯t give face to Teacher Yang and said loudly, ¡°Teacher Yang, this is a matter for my class and my student, and I don¡¯t need you to meddle. If you have so much free time to interfere, you might as well spend it on grading more lesson plans. I will discipline my students myself!¡± With this remark, Teacher Yang was left speechless and ashamed. Even someone as good-natured as Teacher Yang couldn¡¯t help but get angry. He shouted, ¡°Teacher Xiao, how am I meddling? It¡¯s clear that you, as a teacher, are being unfair and favoritism to your nephew while letting your own students suffer injustice. As a fellow teacher, I can¡¯t stand it and I am entitled to say something. Fine, since you say I¡¯m meddling, let¡¯s call Director Guo and Principal Chen together and ask them if I¡¯m meddling!¡± Others might be afraid of Xiao Hongmei, but he wasn¡¯t. He had been teaching here for many years, receiving bonuses every year, and as long as he didn¡¯t make any mistakes in principle, no one could easily dismiss him. Upon hearing this, Teacher Xiao¡¯s face became even uglier. Her face had already changed many times. Never before had she been so angry and frustrated in her teaching career. Her own student challenged her so much that she was almost speechless, and now even other teachers were stepping on her. If she didn¡¯t vent her anger, how would she establish prestige among her students, and how would she manage students in the future? Teacher Xiao agreed and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s call both Director Guo and Principal Chen over.¡± This was no longer just a conflict between a teacher and a student, it was now a confrontation between teachers. Xiao Jinli, ¡® She whispered to Hu Hongmei and Dong Qiufang, her classmates, ¡°You two can go home first!¡± They didn¡¯t want to be around when the Teaching Director and Principal came, fearing their legs would give out. However, Hu Hongmei, determined, shook her head and said, ¡°No, this issue was caused by me, I should be present!¡± Moreover, she had to be the one to testify as the bullied person. She couldn¡¯t be a deserter. Little student Dong Qiufang also hadn¡¯t expected the situation to escalate like this, and she was completely dumbfounded. However, she didn¡¯t desert either and decided to stay. While waiting outside, Xiao¡¯s mother and the other two noticed that almost all the students had left school, but their precious daughter (precious sister) had not appeared, their brows slightly furrowed. Xiao¡¯s mother worriedly asked, ¡°Older Brother, is today your sister¡¯s day to be on duty?¡± Xiao Junxuan took out a duty schedule for Xiao Jinli¡¯s class and said, ¡°No, my sister is on duty on Wednesday.¡± ¡°She¡¯s on duty on Wednesday, today is only Monday, why hasn¡¯t she come out yet?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother asked. Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Aunt, shall we go inside the school to look for her?¡± He noticed that the school¡¯s security measures were not good, and parents could enter and leave freely. He didn¡¯t know if it was because the school was in the countryside, or if it was just this school. But in any case, it was too unsafe. He was increasingly worried about Xiao Jinli¡¯s safety. After all, Xiao Jinli was so smart and beautiful, what if she were targeted by a bad person? After some thought, Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go inside the school and look for her. Our baby normally comes out as soon as school is over. There are rarely cases where she comes out late. She might have something going on now.¡± So, Xiao¡¯s mother and the others went to the school. When they entered the school gate, they just happened to see Xiao Jinli and the others going in the direction of the Principal¡¯s Office. Xiao Siqien immediately spotted Xiao Jinli following the teachers. He shouted loudly, ¡°Little Sister Jinli!¡± As soon as Xiao Siqien called out, Teacher Xiao naturally noticed them. Teacher Xiao and the others naturally noticed Xiao¡¯s mother and the other two. Although Xiao¡¯s mother was middle-aged, she had fair skin, a tall figure, and an elegant demeanor, not at all like an ordinary countryside housewife. Xiao Jinli had been in school for several years, and her father and brother were the ones who picked her up most of the time, so the teachers hardly knew Xiao¡¯s mother. When Xiao Jinli saw her mother appear, she was slightly surprised and called out, ¡°Mom, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°Mom?!¡± Teacher Yang and the others were slightly surprised. Surprised that Xiao Jinli¡¯s mother was so beautiful, elegant, and charming. It made sense, with such a beautiful mother, she could give birth to a beautiful daughter like Xiao Jinli. Xiao¡¯s mother smiled and said, ¡°We brought your Brother Siqian to buy some things today, and then came here to pick you up together. Jinli, what is going on here?¡± As she said this, she looked puzzled at the teachers and students. Before Xiao Jinli could answer, Teacher Xiao said with a bad face, ¡°So, you¡¯re Xiao Jinli¡¯s mother, huh? That¡¯s good.¡± Having said that, she began to scold Xiao¡¯s mother, saying sternly, ¡°You parents, look at how you¡¯ve educated your children. Xiao Jinli doesn¡¯t pay attention in class, sleeps instead and refuses to accept her teacher¡¯s scolding. She doesn¡¯t respect her teacher at all. I¡¯m telling you, I can¡¯t teach your child. I¡¯m going to see the Principal now and have her expelled.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡® Older Brother Xiao, . Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Slandered Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Slandered Translator: 549690339 For Xiao¡¯s mother and older brother, their precious child is the brightest, most obedient, and sensible one. Otherwise, their child wouldn¡¯t have been called Fortune by the villagers. Now the child is not obeying the teacher and arguing with the teacher. The only reason is that this teacher is too outrageous, so their little treasure can¡¯t stand it anymore. Thinking of this, Xiao¡¯s mother didn¡¯t scold Xiao Jinli right away, but asked anxiously and gently, ¡°Xiao Bao, what¡¯s going on?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Mom, don¡¯t worry!¡± Upon hearing this, Teacher Xiao¡¯s face turned pale. She pointed at Xiao Jinli and angrily said to Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡°Listen, what do you mean by ¡®it¡¯s nothing¡¯? A student talking back to a teacher is simply disrespectful. Our class cannot tolerate such a student. We must go to the principal today. You parents should come with us.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother, who looked very gentle, responded indifferently to Teacher Xiao¡¯s anger, ¡°Since Teacher Xiao insists, let¡¯s go. I believe my child wouldn¡¯t talk back to the teacher without a reason.¡± Implicitly, she meant that Teacher Xiao was being too much. Hearing this, Teacher Xiao¡¯s face darkened even more. She said coldly, ¡°I wondered why this child dared to argue with the teacher. It turns out that the parents aren¡¯t setting a good example. Since you trust your child so much, I have nothing to say. However, I¡¯m telling you this: I can¡¯t tutor your child anymore.¡± Having said this, Teacher Xiao left regardless of how others reacted. Xiao¡¯s mother looked at Xiao Jinli, Xiao Jinli just shrugged her shoulders at her mother, then followed. The others also followed, including Teacher Yang. In the Principal¡¯s Office, besides Principal Chen, there are two other school leaders, Teacher Xiao¡¯s uncle ¨C Director Guo, and Vice-principal Lin. As soon as Guo Chungui saw Xiao Hongmei coming, he asked, ¡°Teacher Xiao, what¡¯s the matter?¡± When Teacher Xiao saw Guo Chungui, a smile appeared on her angry face. She said, ¡°Uncle¡­ Director Guo, I can¡¯t handle Xiao Jinli anymore.¡± Principal Chen glanced at the calm Xiao Jinli and the parents following behind her, frowned slightly, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± He was asking Xiao Jinli, but Teacher Xiao rattled Ott a bunch ot stutt, and finally said: ¡°Principal Chen, like Xiao Jinli, who slacks off, sleeps in class, and believes she is right when she rudely talks back to the teacher without any respect, I can¡¯t teach such a bad student. I request that Xiao Jinli be expelled, as an example to the others. Otherwise, other students will follow her example and misbehave. If this continues, it will be unbearable. Vice-principal Lin twitched his mouth when he heard Teacher Xiao¡¯s all-out accusation against Xiao Jinli. Xiao Jinli is a student whose name is attached to every school leader. Although she loves to sleep in class, her scores always remain around the average. She is a talent indeed. Vice-principal Lin said, ¡°Teacher Xiao, isn¡¯t the situation as serious as you said? If Xiao Jinli talks back to the teacher, you can criticize and discipline her. You don¡¯t need to go as far as expulsion.¡± Teacher Xiao, who felt her authority as a teacher was challenged, was, of course, relentless. She said, ¡°Vice Principal Lin, you don¡¯t understand. This student is too lazy and disobedient. She not only sleeps in class and ignores lessons, but also sets a bad example for other students. When Xiao Jianming accidentally bumped into a classmate, she led the accusation that Xiao Jianming was bullying others. Look, have you ever seen such a domineering student? Principal Chen, Vice Principal Lin, considering the bad track record of student Xiao Jinli, I recommend expulsion.¡± Xiao Junxuan listened with a very bad look on his face. He said directly, ¡°Teacher Xiao, please refrain from tarnishing my sister¡¯s reputation. My sister has always been a polite and well-behaved girl since she was young. She is definitely not a bad student as you have described.¡± Teacher Xiao asked angrily, ¡°Do you mean to say that I lied and slandered your sister?¡± Xiao Junxuan said loudly, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. However, even if my sister did those things, I believe there¡¯s a reason.¡± TTeacher Xiao, having heard that, pointed at Xiao Junxuan, her face ashen, and she yelled, ¡°You¡­you¡¯re simply twisting words to win an argument.¡± Xiao Junxuan ignored Teacher Xiao and looked at Xiao Jinli. He asked softly, ¡°Sister, can you tell us what happened?¡± Principal Chen also asked, ¡°Yes, Xiao Jinli, could you tell us what happened?¡± TTeacher Xiao¡¯s face froze for a moment. Xiao Jinli then explained what had happened. Under the watchful eyes of the school leaders, Hu Hongmei and Dong Qiufang, the two classmates, timidly said what had happened. In the end, Hu Hongmei looked at Principal Chen nervously and said cautiously, ¡°Principal Chen, it was Xiao Jianming who bullied me. As his desk mate, every time I accidentally crossed the so-called three-eighth line on the table, he secretly kicked me, hit me and tore my books. I have reported this to Teacher Xiao many times, but each time Teacher Xiao just said a few words lightly, without taking any effective action. This time too, because I accidentally crossed the three-eighth line, Xiao Jianming tore off my homework book. 1¡­1 told Xiao Jinli, and then Xiao Jinli went to see Teacher Xiao directly, requesting that Teacher Xiao should severely punish Xiao Jianming. And then, it angered Teacher Xiao!¡± For Hu Hongmei to say this, it took a lot of courage. After all, this was equivalent to accusing Teacher Xiao in front of all the school leaders. She surely offended Teacher Xiao and made her angry, for she didn¡¯t know if Teacher Xiao would make her life difficult afterward. But Xiao Jinli was going to get expelled by Teacher Xiao for her sake, which made her even more frightened and guilty, and she felt sorry for Xiao Jinli. After hearing what Xiao Jinli and Hu Hongmei had said, Principal Chen looked at Teacher Xiao and asked calmly, ¡°Teacher Xiao, is what these two students just said true?¡± Teacher Xiao¡¯s face turned pale, and her expression became somewhat awkward. She really wanted to deny it, but what happened just now in the office and with other teachers being present, they could testify to it. If she didn¡¯t deny it, did that mean she was unfair, twisting the truth, and lying about students? No, any of these accusations would be a stain on her teaching career. Afterward, how could she gain the trust of parents and continue to be a teacher? ¡°Teacher Xiao, does answering Principal Chen¡¯s question require such a long time?¡± Xiao Junxuan asked out loud.. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Being Expelled (Happy New Year) Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Being Expelled (Happy New Year) Translator: 549690339 Teacher Xiao couldn¡¯t understand at the moment, why would these school leaders defend a student who just slept in class and had poor academic results so much? Moreover, her uncle was the School Guidance Director; wouldn¡¯t the two principals give him some face? She knew that her credibility as a teacher might be severely damaged this time, yet they chose to not defend her but to put more pressure on her. Teacher Xiao felt that this was the most humiliating experience she had had since becoming a teacher. Xiao Junxuan saw that Teacher Xiao didn¡¯t answer Principal Chen¡¯s question for a long time, and knew that her problem was huge. He asked coldly, ¡°Teacher Xiao, is it so difficult to just respond whether what the two little classmates said is true or not?¡± Teacher Xiao¡¯s face was extremely ugly, and she looked at her uncle with a pleading look. Guo Chungui received this pleading look from his niece and his face turned black immediately. He didn¡¯t deny the facts stated by the two little classmates at all. As a relative of the Xiao Family, he knew very well that Xiao Jianming was the darling of the entire Xiao Family. They wouldn¡¯t even dare to use harsh words, let alone criticize or beat him. They spoiled him without any principles. But he didn¡¯t expect that his niece would also spoil that child so unprincipledly at school. Bullying classmates was just brushed off so lightly. This niece even made a bigger fool of herself by reporting the matter directly to the Principal. It was obvious that she, as a teacher, didn¡¯t fulfill her responsibilities, but she pushed the blame onto her students. Is this what a role model should do? She was obviously too biased! Director Guo took a deep breath and said with a solemn face, ¡°Teacher Xiao, as a teacher, the first thing you should do is to be fair and impartial to every student without any bias. With so many mistakes made by Xiao Jianming, have you ever seriously criticized or educated him? Now, you just push the blame onto your students, causing many of them to have strong resentment towards you. Teacher Xiao Hongmei, honestly, I am very disappointed in you!¡± Xiao Hongmei felt like she had been heavily struck, and looked at her uncle in disbelief. She never thought that her uncle, whom she had hoped would side with her, would end up criticizing her in public. With her strong self-esteem, she couldn¡¯t accept this. With red eyes and a look of great grievance, she tried to defend herself, ¡°Uncle, you know what kind of child Jianming is. He is just naughtier and more mischievous than other children, and he hasn¡¯t caused any substantial harm to other students. It¡¯s just that these children are overreacting and making a big deal out of it. Tearing apart a textbook is not a big deal, and I can just replace it. Why do I have to give them justice? Isn¡¯t this a blatant provocation of my authority as a teacher?¡± Tearing apart a textbook¡­ Upon hearing her words, Principal Chen, Vice-principal Lin, and Guo Chungui were all shocked. Xiao Jinli¡¯s worldview was also shattered by a teacher. What does she mean by naughtier and more mischievous? Bullying, beating, and taunting classmates, tearing apart their textbooks, not participating in collective labor ¨C aren¡¯t these mistakes serious enough? For an elementary school student, these are already very serious and solemn issues. Principal Chen and Vice-principal Lin exchanged glances. After a while, Principal Chen said to Guo Chungui, ¡°Director Guo, I think Teacher Xiao Hongmei is not suitable for the position of a teacher.¡± Vice-principal Lin also nodded and chimed in, ¡°I agree with what Principal Chen said. Teacher Xiao Hongmei¡¯s behavior, attitude, and moral character are all unsuitable for the position of a teacher. A teacher is supposed to educate and nurture students, guiding, leading, and organizing their mental and physical development. The quality of a teacher¡¯s work is related to the level of mental and physical development of our younger generation and the improvement of national quality, which in turn affects the rise and fall of the country. How can a teacher with a skewed worldview properly educate students?¡± Teacher Xiao listened to the criticism from the two principals and felt as if she had been struck by lightning. How did things escalate to this point? Her original intention was to expel Xiao Jinli, or at worst, have her transfer classes. In any case, she did not want to deal with this thorn in her side. Unexpectedly, the troublemaker in her class was not expelled, but she, the teacher, was dismissed instead. This was truly absurd! Xiao Hongmei stared wide-eyed at Principal Chen and Vice-principal Lin, then looked at her uncle in amazement. She stammered, ¡°Exp¡­ expel me? Why? What did I do wrong?¡± Guo Chungui frowned again. Xiao Hongmei still didn¡¯t understand where she went wrong. Does she think she can do whatever she wants with her students just because she is a teacher? With such heavy bias, how can she educate and nurture students in the future? Guo Chungui sighed and said, ¡°Hongmei, do you still not know where you went wrong? If that¡¯s the case, you should reflect on yourself and think about what your original intention was as a teacher.¡± At this time, Principal Chen said, ¡°Regarding Teacher Xiao Hongmei¡¯s qualifications to stay at school and continue teaching, we need to discuss further in a meeting.¡± After saying that, he looked at Xiao Jinli and Xiao¡¯s mother with a smile and said, ¡°Xiao Jinli, you and the other two kids go out first, and I¡¯ll have a chat with your mom. Is that alright?¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes flashed and he nodded slightly, ¡°Okay!¡± After saying that, he went out with Hu Hongmei and Dong Qiufang, standing directly outside the principal¡¯s office. As soon as they went out, Hu Hongmei nervously asked, ¡°Xiao Jinli, will Teacher Xiao really be fired and not be a teacher anymore?¡± She was extremely worried in her heart. They reported Teacher Xiao, and they were genuinely terrified. Teacher Xiao was a teacher after all, their class headteacher. They were afraid she would target the three of them in the future. Teacher Xiao wanted to expel Xiao Jinli and didn¡¯t want her as a student, which made them feel very uneasy and scared, especially Hu Hongmei, who felt even more guilty. Because Xiao Jinli was disliked and targeted by Teacher Xiao just for defending her. Who would have thought that Xiao Jinli wasn¡¯t expelled, but Teacher Xiao was instead? Xiao Jinli shook his head and said, ¡°Even if Teacher Xiao isn¡¯t fired, her position as the class headteacher will be revoked, and she may even receive a severe warning as punishment!¡± After all, Teacher Xiao had some problems with her worldview and she was biased. Students brought up by her could easily go astray. Hu Hongmei looked at the door and whispered to Xiao Jinli, ¡°I don¡¯t want Teacher Xiao to continue teaching us. If she continues to teach us, then we three definitely won¡¯t have good days.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Jinli patted her on the back of her hand and comforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it, the school will arrange everything properly!¡± Even if Xiao Hongmei was to continue teaching, it would be impossible for her to teach their class again. After all, the school had to take her character issues into consideration. Dong Qiufang also cautiously said, ¡°Jinli, I feel that Teacher Xiao is really terrifying. Do you think so too?¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Cow King (Happy New Year!) Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Cow King (Happy New Year!) Translator: 549690339 As the car approached the village entrance, villagers stopped the vehicle. Seeing Xiao Jinli, their expressions were somewhat anxious. ¡°Little Jinli, the Cow King has gone missing?¡± Xiao Junxuan immediately asked, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, what do you mean by Cow King has gone missing? Usually, doesn¡¯t the Cow King go out by himself and return by himself? It¡¯s not even dark yet and if the Cow King is not back, isn¡¯t that pretty normal?¡± Xiao Chunfu explained, ¡°That¡¯s not it. Someone saw the Cow King heading towards the rear mountain, then some strangers followed suit covertly. We searched for the Cow King at the rear mountain but found nothing, and those strangers have also vanished. We suspect they might have stolen the Cow King! ¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°The Cow King is so intelligent, it won¡¯t be easily caught, would it?¡± Xiao Chunfu replied, ¡°That may be true, but we¡¯ve called for Cow King several times and even used a loudspeaker, yet there¡¯s been no sight of it.¡± Having said that, Xiao Chunfu presented his suspicions, ¡°There¡¯s a small path on the rear mountain that leads to other villages. We suspect those four strangers might have stolen Cow King using that path.¡± Listening to their conversation, Xiao Siqian was extremely curious about this so-called Cow King. He had heard of and seen cows before. But he had never heard of a breed referred to as the ¡°Cow King.¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, I¡¯ll go and take a look at the rear mountain now.¡± With that, she got off the car. Out of curiosity, Xiao Siqian also got off the car, intending to join her. Xiao Chunfu noticed Xiao Siqian and smilingly asked, ¡°Is this child the one Little Jinli carried down from the mountain?¡± Xiao Siqian was speechless. He found out on his first day that Xiao Jinli had carried him down the mountain. Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°Yes, this is Xiao Quan.¡± Xiao Chunfu said, ¡°Well, this boy is really handsome. Xiaofang, we¡¯re going now!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother nodded and said, ¡°Alright, be careful on the mountain and come back early! ¡± Walking alongside Xiao Jinli, Xiao Siqian couldn¡¯t help but ask out of curiosity, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, what¡¯s the deal with this Cow King?¡± He only knew about the Tiger King, Lion King, and Monkey King in the mountains, but he had never heard of the Cow King. He didn¡¯t know how the Cow King was chosen in this mountain village. Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t mention Sun Island, so Xiao Chunfu began to recount the tale. He said, ¡°Well, young man, you wouldn¡¯t know this but our Cow King has quite the story and it¡¯s related to Little Jinli.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Siqian¡¯s eyes lit up immediately and he asked curiously, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, could you tell me more?¡± His curiosity about Xiao Jinli was growing stronger and stronger. As he walked, Xiao Chunfu began to recount, ¡°This story traces back to ten years ago. Back then, the mother of this Cow King was in difficult labor, and Jinli, who was only three months old at the time was insistent that her mother take her to see the cow give birth.¡± ¡°Ha ha, you wouldn¡¯t believe it, but Jinli was so eager to see the birth that she started speaking coherently at only three months old. Her articulate words shocked everyone. But Jinli has always been a lucky charm, extremely smart. Although her speaking at three months was surprising for most, it was quite the norm for her!¡± Xiao Siqian, Is that normal? Don¡¯t most children start speaking around six or seven months old? And even then, it¡¯s hardly coherent sentences. No child speaks fluently at three months old. Xiao Chunfu continued, ¡°You won¡¯t believe it, but the mother cow struggled for a whole day to give birth. However, in less than ten minutes of Jinli¡¯s arrival, the calf was born. The most astonishing thing was, the mother cow knelt down in gratitude to Jinli after she gave birth.¡± Everyone thought that it was Jinli¡¯s good fortune that helped the cow give birth successfully. Thus, the cow was also grateful to Xiao Jinli. Even the newborn calf ran up to Little Jinli¡¯s mom, her eyes moist as she looked at Jinli in her arms.¡± Xiao Siqian was secretly amazed. A cow expressing gratitude, a calf showing affection ¨C these were truly rare in this world. ¡°Later, the calf followed Jinli home,¡± Xiao Chunfu said with a chuckle as he remembered the scene, ¡°After the calf was born, Xiaofang was worried about the environment and decided to take the child home. Who would have thought that the calf would follow them back home directly. Everyone said that the calf and Jinli were predestined. Seeing this, the calf¡¯s owner, Xiao Changsheng, gave the calf to Jinli on the spot.¡± Xiao Siqian replied, ¡°So, the calf has been following Jinli ever since, eventually becoming the Cow King!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple!¡± Xiao Chunfu said, ¡°Xiao Quan, let me tell you, after the calf followed Jinli, it gradually became smarter. Not only did it understand human speech slowly, but when it went out to graze, it led the village¡¯s cows without trampling on the crops. If any cow tried to eat the crops, the calf would roar at it. It¡¯s strange, all the village¡¯s cows, big and small, listened to it. Thus, we started calling it the Cow King. Since the Cow King arrived, the children herding cows could finally rest easy. They didn¡¯t have to worry about their cows eating the crops as long as the Cow King was around. The cows would be let out and led back home on time, and during this time, the children could carefreely play.¡± Xiao Siqian found this story quite interesting. ¡°Now that I think about it, Cow King is about the same age as Jinli. It shouldn¡¯t be called Little Cow King anymore, it should be called Big Cow King, ¡± Xiao Chunfu sighed, ¡°Time flies!¡± He went on, ¡°You know, for miles around, everyone knows our village has a Cow King that¡¯s very spiritually aware. Now that the Cow King has suddenly disappeared, I¡¯m worried that someone might have been eyeing it. What if some cattle trafficker manages to kidnap it, what will we do then?¡± Xiao Siqian reassured, ¡°If the Cow King really gets kidnapped, we¡¯ll just call the police!¡± Xiao Jinli also consoled, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, the Cow King is very spiritually aware and sensible. It wouldn¡¯t allow itself to get kidnapped easily.¡± But Xiao Chunfu retorted, ¡°I know, but it¡¯s the ¡®what if¡¯ that worries me. I¡¯ve heard that these dog and cattle thieves employ all sorts of lowly measures. For instance, they use anesthetics ¨C one shot from an anesthetic gun from a dozen meters away could knock out a dog or a cow.¡± People in the village had become accustomed to the presence of the Cow King. Especially when Cow King was around, the kids herding cows were a lot more relaxed, and the crops were no longer damaged. Most importantly, the Cow King brought everyone a lot of joy. Laughing, Xiao Jinli reassured, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, isn¡¯t it believed that I¡¯m a lucky star? Since I¡¯m Cow King¡¯s owner, it¡¯ll definitely be safe and sound.¡± Xiao Chunfu nodded in agreement after hearing her, ¡°That¡¯s true. Jinli is indeed a lucky star. Whoever dares to take Jinli¡¯s Cow King is just asking for trouble.¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± He was becoming more and more curious.. Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Cow King Brought a Group Back Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Cow King Brought a Group Back Translator: 549690339 Soon, the three of them arrived at the rear mountain while chatting and walking. the rear mountain, called Niu Xinshan, is opposite the Red Peak Mountain in the dense and wild forest. Niu Xinshan consists of several hills, although it is also overgrown with vegetation. Usually, people in the village would go there to cut firewood, mow grass, or release their cattle. As a result, children feel safe visiting Niu Xinshan, and it would be entirely normal for Cow King to go there as well. Niu Xinshan also connects with several nearby villages, and there are small paths leading to various villages. Before the arrival of Cow King, village children had to constantly watch and keep hold of their cattle when grazing, for fear that a cow might run off to another village. Back then, cattle were very valuable livestock, and if they were lost, they would hardly be recovered. Since the appearance of Cow King, as the leader, the Cow King supervised the herd, not allowing them to leave Xiao Family Village. ¡°The Cow King occasionally disappears but always returns home on its own,¡± said Xiao Chunfu. ¡°Today, being away for the whole day is really unusual.¡± Xiao Chunfu was somewhat worried and said, ¡°Jinli, some people in the village went along this path to search, but no one has reported any information yet. Was Cow King really stolen?¡± Halfway through, Xiao Jinli¡¯s sharp eyes scanned the surroundings. The mountain was not high, but the dense trees and shrubs blocked the view in all directions. If the cattle thieves used anesthesia, Cow King might not be able to escape and could be in real danger. After contemplating for a moment, Xiao Jinli said to Xiao Chunfu and Xiao Siqian, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, I¡¯ll go look over there, you guys wait here for me.¡± The direction Xiao Jinli pointed to was where the trees in the mountain were the densest. The tall and densely gathered trees looked somewhat gloomy. Such places often hid great dangers. Xiao Siqian said, ¡°It looks dangerous there-I¡¯ll go with you!¡± Xiao Jinli, having a secret task to accomplish, didn¡¯t want Siqian to follow her. With an eye-roll and a slightly speechless tone, she said, ¡°Brother Siquan, I¡¯m going over there to answer the call of nature. Do you want to come with me?¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s face flushed red immediately. ¡°Pfft!¡± Xiao Chunfu, being a countryside man, didn¡¯t find this remark rude. He laughed and said, ¡°Alright, Jinli, you go. Little Quan and I will wait for you here!¡± After Xiao Jinli left, Xiao Siqian worriedly asked, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, that place looks dangerous. What if Little Li encounters snakes or insects while¡­when she goes to that place to answer the call of nature? She is just a child and a little girl, after all.¡± Xiao Chunfu laughed and said, ¡°Little Quan, don¡¯t worry about that! Jinli has a lucky star protecting her since she was young. No matter how fierce the beasts are in the mountains, they will avoid her! So even the most dangerous places in the mountains pose no threat to Jinli!¡± Xiao Siqian was amazed. He had never heard of someone with such constitution. She was not just protected by a lucky star; she was a lucky star herself! No wonder Xiao Chunfu wasn¡¯t worried about Xiao Jinli going up the mountain. Once Xiao Jinli entered the woods, she quickly dripped Lingquan water from her fingertips onto a blade of grass, turning it into crystal clear water droplets. After a while, a group of little friends appeared, including snakes, wild rabbits, and ants. As soon as the snake and the wild rabbit appeared, they seemed to be at odds. The snake¡¯s sharp eyes stared at the wild rabbit, ready to swallow it at any moment. The wild rabbit, instinctively fearful, had its fur raised and its eyes flickered with fear and anxiety. It wanted to back away and escape, but the temptation of the transparent liquid droplets on the shrub was too irresistible, urging it to risk its life for the food. Xiao Jinli looked at the wild rabbit, then narrowed her eyes to appraise the snake. She asked directly, ¡°Which of you knows if a cow passed by here and where it went? Whoever can answer the question will get more Lingquan water in return. ¡± Immediately after, Xiao Jinli put a finger on the snake¡¯s head and connected with its consciousness through physical contact to get the information she needed. Then, she did the same with the wild rabbit. After a while, Xiao Jinli rewarded them. She extended one finger and said, ¡°Open your mouths, I¡¯ll give you your reward.¡± The snake and wild rabbit understood and immediately opened their mouths to receive their rewards. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I need someone to lead the way. Little rabbit, you¡¯ll do.¡± It would be strange to have a snake guide them, and this white-furred rabbit was quite cute. The snake was unwilling but knew the girl in front of it was not to be trifled with, so it could only leave. Xiao Chunfu and Xiao Siqian were waiting on the small path for Xiao Jinli, who was off to answer the call of nature. After a while, Xiao Jinli came out. However, they immediately noticed the rabbit cradled in her arms. ¡°Ah, Jinli, you went to the bathroom and picked up a rabbit!¡± Xiao Chunfu was surprised and laughed. ¡°Jinli, you really are a lucky star. Just casually going up a mountain gets us some game.¡± Xiao Siqian took a glance at the rabbit in Xiao Jinli¡¯s arms. The rabbit was energetic, not injured or sick. So the question was, how did Xiao Jinli catch this rabbit, and how come the rabbit was so docile? Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, I found a little rabbit daydreaming under a tree. It didn¡¯t run away when it saw me, so I just caught it. Uncle Chunfu, let¡¯s keep going.¡± Xiao Chunfu nodded and was about to leave, but hesitated when looking at the three forks in the small path. He asked, ¡°Jinli, which way should we go?¡± ¡°Straight ahead!¡± Xiao Jinli decisively said, ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s go straight ahead. This small path leads directly to the top of Niu Xinshan. Going down the other side leads to the mountain-back village.¡± Xiao Chunfu looked at the mountain top and continued, ¡°Could it be that Cow King was captured and taken away through this path by those people? Mountain-back village has some conflict with our Xiao Family Village, and even if they saw someone stealing our cattle, they probably wouldn¡¯t say anything. ¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, let¡¯s go check it out.¡± So, the three of them, with Xiao Jinli holding the rabbit, moved on. On the way, Xiao Chunfu received several phone calls, exchanging information about not finding Cow King in other places. The lack of good news made Xiao Chunfu increasingly worried. Now, their only hope was Xiao Jinli. Twenty minutes later, they reached the top of the mountain. They looked down from the top of the mountain. Then Xiao Siqian pointed to a spot and asked, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, isn¡¯t that the Cow King you are looking for? But, it seems like there is a group of cattle following it?¡± Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Both Sides Confront Each Other Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Both Sides Confront Each Other Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian leisurely descended the mountain. Xiao Chunfu was more anxious and ran faster. However, looking down from the mountain at the cattle thieves running, he grew angrier and angrier. He cursed, ¡°These thieves, they¡¯re getting too bold. They steal the cows in broad daylight, and even when the cows escape, they can chase them right to our doorstep. Just wait until the Yamen officials come, they¡¯ll pay for this.¡± Xiao Jinli was worried that Xiao Chunfu would trip if he walked too fast, so she said, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, no need to hurry, Cow King has already come back. Those thieves only have two legs, they won¡¯t be able to catch up. We¡¯ll just meet up with Cow King later.¡± But Xiao Chunfu still anxiously said, ¡°But look at those cattle thieves, they¡¯re almost catching up.¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged, ¡°Let them come. We¡¯ll catch them red-handed. They won¡¯t be able to escape now.¡± Xiao Chunfu stopped in his tracks, raised his hand, and slapped his forehead, laughing, ¡°Haha, you¡¯re right, Jinli.¡± Afterward, he slowed down his pace. What¡¯s the rush? Cow King and the others have already started running back. On the other side, Li Yuanming and his group were gasping for breath. Zhang San leaned on his knees, panting heavily, and said, ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore¡ªI¡¯m too exhausted. These cows run too fast. How are we supposed to catch up? By the time we catch them, we¡¯ll be directly at Xiao Family Village.¡± Li Yuanming also gasped heavily, frowned tightly, and said, ¡°Little Wang and the others haven¡¯t arrived yet, it seems like we can only take a gamble.¡± He looked around; it was evening and the people working in the fields were almost all gone. The weather was dark, making it hard to see clearly. Li Yuanming said, ¡°Take out the anesthetic gun, aim it at the cows, and shoot. Hit one, and that¡¯s one less!¡± In broad daylight, they didn¡¯t dare take out the anesthetic gun and shoot from a distance, lest they be mistaken for terrorists. Zhang San, Li Si, and the others immediately took out the anesthetic guns. Although the distance was far, and they didn¡¯t know if they could hit the target, it was the only way to catch those cows. If they let these cows run up to the mountain or to Xiao Family Village, they¡¯d be in big trouble. Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes were sharp, and the moment they took out the anesthetic guns, she noticed and a cold light flashed in her eyes. Immediately, she put her thumb to her lips and blew a loud whistle. Cow King heard the whistle, ¡°mooed¡± twice, and the cows that were following it immediately dispersed and ran. Li Yuanming and the other cattle thieves were stunned. How were they supposed to shoot under this chaos? What¡¯s going on? Li Si furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°Why did I hear a whistle sound?¡± Zhang San agreed, ¡°I think I also heard a whistle, and after the cow in front heard the whistle, it called out twice, and the cows dispersed.¡± ¡°Damn it, why is that cow in front so weird? How can it understand commands like that?¡± Zhang San complained again. Li Yuanming heard his subordinate¡¯s complaints, his eyes bursting with a burning glare. Excitedly, he said, ¡°This cow is so smart. If we catch it, we can sell it for a high price to those who like to keep pets. It should be able to sell for at least 100,000 to 200,000!¡± When Zhang San and Li Si heard this, their expressions immediately brightened, and they asked incredulously, ¡°Brother Ming, are you serious?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m serious. A smart cow like this is sure to be liked by those wealthy pet enthusiasts. 100,000 to 200,000 is just a conservative estimate¡ªwe might be able to sell it for even more! So, we can ignore the other cows, but we have to catch this one!¡± Hearing this, Zhang San, Li Si, and the others seemed to be injected with energy and immediately lifted their spirits. There were hundreds of thousands of dollars waving at them in the front. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up and chase after them.¡± Cow King quickly gathered with Xiao Jinli and the others. They had only just arrived at the halfway point of the hillside. When Cow King saw Xiao Jinli, its big, round eyes lit up with excitement. It rubbed its big head against Xiao Jinli¡¯s palm and ¡°mooed¡± twice, expressing its grievances yet also pride. Xiao Jinli stretched out her hand and patted its head, laughing, ¡°Alright, I know. You were caught and wronged by someone. But you also rescued your fellow cows from the cattle traffickers. Well done!¡± Xiao Siqian examined Cow King as it approached. Although it was dark, Xiao Siqian¡¯s eyesight was still good. This was a large, well, water buffalo. Compared to the other dirty ones, this large water buffalo was very clean. Its fur was sleek and shiny, thick black hairs clinging to its body. Most distinctive were its large, black eyes, full of childlike innocence and naivety. What a tall and handsome Cow King! As the thieves approached even closer, they noticed Xiao Jinli and the others, and their faces changed drastically. Just now, in their hurry to chase the cows and with the darkening sky, they hadn¡¯t noticed Xiao Jinli and the others. But as the group stopped running, drawing closer to the thieves, they finally noticed them. ¡°Who¡­ who are you?¡± gasped Li Si, stuttering. Xiao Chunfu¡¯s face turned extremely sour, asking, ¡°That¡¯s what I should be asking you! Who are you? Why are you chasing these cows?¡± Li Yuanming¡¯s sharp, vigilant eyes met Xiao Chunfu¡¯s. He squinted his eyes and said, ¡°We¡¯re from the Cow Market. The cows sneaked out of the Cow Market when no one was looking, and we chased after them. Thank you for stopping these cows. Otherwise, it would be so hard for just the few of us to round them up by ourselves.¡± What a shameless liar! Xiao Chunfu was seething. Suppressing his anger, he asked loudly, ¡°Which Cow Market do you belong to? How did your cows escape to this area? I know everyone from the three nearby Cow Markets, so how come I don¡¯t know which one you belong to?¡± Li Yuanming hesitated, then said, ¡°We¡¯re not exactly from one of these three markets, but we have a partnership with them. Today we bought over a dozen cows from one market and were about to transport them to the east city when the truck¡¯s door wasn¡¯t closed properly. The cows jumped out and ran away, so we chased after them.¡¯ Xiao Chunfu obviously didn¡¯t believe him, and sarcastically said, ¡°Oh, which cow market are you cooperating with? I know all three bosses and have their phone numbers. I¡¯ll have to call and ask them about these cows. What if these cows aren¡¯t from their market, but were stolen by you?¡± Li Yuanming and the others. Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Conflict Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Conflict Translator: 549690339 Li Yuanming certainly couldn¡¯t name a cow market. About half of these dozen or so cows were bought from a cow market, but the other half were stolen from nearby villages. Seeing that they weren¡¯t talking, Xiao Chunfu became more aggressive. He continued, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is it that hard to name one of your cooperative cow markets? Or do you need to think for so long? Or,¡± His sharp gaze swept over these people, and with a change of tone, he said sharply, ¡°Are these cows really stolen by you?¡± At this, Li Yuanming and the others¡¯ expressions changed in the cover of darkness. Li Si sharply retorted, ¡°Bullshit, don¡¯t slander us. We are legitimate cattle traders.¡± ¡°If you are legitimate cattle traders, what are you doing chasing our family¡¯s cows?¡± Xiao Chunfu sharply countered, ¡°How come our Cow King from Xiao Family Village has become one of your transactions, and we don¡¯t even know about it?¡± Upon hearing this, Li Yuanming and the others suddenly realized. These three people came for the lost cow. The missing cow was most likely the cunning and intelligent one among this group, the one that could open doors and untie ropes by itself. No wonder they came looking for it. Li Yuanming looked at the cow, which was now standing quietly beside a little girl. In its gaze at them, there was an inexplicable disdain and contempt. Li Yuanming, ¡°¡­ l¡¯ Was he crazy, or seeing things, to see such a look in a cow¡¯s eyes? Li Yuanming sized up the three people in front of him, exchanged glances with his comrades, and they all nodded slightly in tacit agreement. Then they simultaneously reached out for their anesthetic guns and shot them at the three people, as well as the cow. They couldn¡¯t take the other cows away for now, but this clever and cunning one had to be taken. No matter if these people were looking for it or not, they couldn¡¯t see their faces clearly under the cover of darkness. Even if they knew they had stolen the cows, once they were all knocked out by the anesthesia, they would take the cow and run away. They had beautiful thoughts. They thought they could easily take out the three of them with anesthetic guns In nana. Little did they know that their every move was under Xiao Jinli¡¯s watch. As they raised their anesthetic guns and aimed them at the three of them, five thin silver needles flew out of nowhere, piercing their wrists directly. Their wrists felt like they had been sliced by a sharp knife, causing them to instinctively throw away their anesthetic guns in pain, shouting, ¡°Ah, it hurts!¡± The other hand instinctively covered the painful area. The simultaneous actions of the five people made Xiao Chunfu and Xiao Siqian somewhat baffled. What were these people doing all of a sudden? Xiao Chunfu looked at them suspiciously and asked doubtfully, ¡°What tricks are you playing? No, what did you just throw away?¡± Having said that, his gaze searched the ground. It was already very dark, and it was hard to see clearly. Xiao Chunfu took out his cellphone, turned on the light, and dimly illuminated the ground. When he saw the things on the ground, Xiao Chunfu was greatly surprised, and his voice stuttered, ¡°Gun¡­ gun¡­ you guys¡­ ¡® Xiao Jinli just laughed softly, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, it¡¯s not a real gun, just an imitation. It¡¯s an anesthetic gun. It¡¯s just a tool they use to steal cows.¡± ¡°An¡­ anesthetic gun?¡± Xiao Chunfu stammered. Even if it was just an anesthetic gun, it still surprised him. As rural people, besides working the fields, they had very little contact with other things. The five silver needles in their wrists caused intense pain whenever they moved, distorting their expressions grotesquely. Li Yuanming, covering his wrist, glared at Xiao Chunfu viciously, saying angrily, ¡°I tell you, these cows were all bought from a cow market by us. Don¡¯t you meddle in our business.¡± Having said that, he glanced at the anesthetic guns discarded on the ground, wanting to squat down and pick them up despite the pain. Xiao Siqian was faster. He took two quick steps forward, squatted down, and quickly picked up the guns before backing away two more steps. Xiao Jinli, ¡® That was a swift move. Li Yuanming¡¯s eyes were full of anger as he cursed at Xiao Siqian, ¡°Bastard, you little brat! Give me back that thing!¡± After playing with the gun for a moment, Xiao Siqian showed a light smile. ¡°This thing is fake, isn¡¯t it? What¡¯s the rush? Oh, right. This thing isn¡¯t fake for you guys. It¡¯s your tool for making a living.¡± Li Yuanming became even angrier. His sharp gaze swept over the three of them, followed by a cold sneer. ¡°I advise you to be sensible. Do you really think you¡¯re capable, with an old man, a young man and a little girl?¡± Xiao Chunfu couldn¡¯t help but get angry when he heard that. He thought for a moment and said, ¡°Who said there are only three of us? I called the village when I found you. They¡¯ll be here soon. I see you guys have strange faces, you must not be from the villages around here. I think you should be sensible. Don¡¯t think we¡¯re easy to bully.¡± Fortunately, he didn¡¯t impulsively tell them that he had already called the police. Otherwise¡­ Upon hearing this, the expressions of Li Yuanming¡¯s five men changed once again. Li Si looked at them and saw that the old man was the only tricky one. The other man looked young, so he wouldn¡¯t have much strength. As for the little girl, she could be completely ignored. Li Si gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Brother Ming, what are you hesitating for? Let¡¯s do it before their people arrive.¡± The others also had this idea. Xiao Siqian and Xiao Chunfu immediately protected Xiao Jinli behind them, looking extremely vigilant and on guard, and prepared for the others to pounce on them. Li Yuanming and his men raised their fists and smashed them towards the heads of Xiao Siqian and Xiao Chunfu. Having trained since childhood in Sanda, Taekwondo, and even a few moves from his family bodyguard, Xiao Siqian was more than capable of protecting himself. Faced with a powerful enemy, he didn¡¯t care about hiding his abilities due to amnesia. He raised his long leg and swept it forcefully, swiftly and sharply kicking Zhang Si and Lai Wu to the ground. Immediately, he raised his fist and fiercely punched at the other three, then raised his long leg again and knocked them all down with one kick each. A series of wails echoed on the ground. Covering their stomachs, faces, or hands¡­ Xiao Jinli, ¡® His skills were quite good. Xiao Chunfu was amazed, his mouth agape. He didn¡¯t expect the young man to be so capable. He had even gotten into a fighting stance, but in the end¡­ Xiao Siqian¡¯s sharp eyes coldly stared at the thieves he had taken down in just a few moves. He thought to himself, ¡°Humph, when dealing with vicious kidnappers, he¡¯d run away like a lost dog. But when dealing with ordinary thieves like you, his skills are more than enough..¡± Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Taking Her as a Hostage Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Taking Her as a Hostage Translator: 549690339 Li Yuanming and the others were dumbfounded by being knocked down. They initially thought that the most difficult person to deal with would be the older man. However, the king turned out to be this young man. In just a few moves, he knocked down all five of their robust men. And he beat them so hard that they were crying out in pain. They had never felt so humiliated in their lives. Lai Wu angrily cursed, ¡°You son of a turtle.¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s face darkened, he stepped forward, and delivered another kick to Lai Wu¡¯s stomach. With this kick, Lai Wu felt as if his internal organs were about to be kicked out of his body. This young man was not to be underestimated; he was really ruthless. Xiao Siqian looked at Xiao Chunfu and asked, ¡°Uncle Chunfu, should we find something to tie them up? After all, they are cattle thieves. If they run away, it will be difficult to find them in this darkness. Upon being reminded by Xiao Siqian, Xiao Chunfu immediately regained his senses and nodded. He said, ¡°Yes, yes, we need to tie them up.¡± He then looked at Li Yuanming and the others coldly and said, ¡°Hmph, you dared to steal our cows from Xiao Family Village. Not only did you manage to steal, but you even stole the Cow King. Now, you not only failed to steal chickens but also lost your rice. Worse, you will end up in prison. Ha, did you think you could steal the Cow King so easily? Don¡¯t you know that the Cow King is our precious treasure in Xiao Family Village? Now you are paying the price.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­ l¡¯ Watching Uncle Chunfu¡¯s proud appearance, he looked like a proud rooster. However, it was quite adorable. Xiao Jinli lowered her head slightly, holding back her laughter. Xiao Siqian watched Xiao Chunfu¡¯s behavior, and the corner of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a trace of a smile. The people here were really simple and cute. On the other hand, the emotions of Li Yuanming and the others were the exact opposite. They had been stealing for several years, but this was the first time they had stumbled so miserably. After listening to Xiao Chunfu¡¯s words, they were both angry and annoyed. At the same time, they regretted not having investigated Xiao Family Village thoroughly beforehand. Now that they had failed to steal chickens and lost rice, they might face prison disaster. They couldn¡¯t afford to sit idly by at this point. They had to seize the opportunity to escape quickly. As for the lost cattle, there would be plenty of opportunities to recoup their losses later. Li Yuanming held his stomach, shooting an angry and sharp gaze towards Xiao Jinli behind Xiao Siqian. Now, their only breakthrough point for escape was this little girl. As long as they grabbed the little girl, they would have a hostage and could escape easily. Compared to Zhang San and Li Si, Li Yuanming was closest to Xiao Jinli. He struggled to get up, his face twisted with pain, and forced out a seemingly sincere smile. He said to Xiao Chunfu, ¡°Big brother, we were wrong, and we apologize. We will never steal again. Please forgive us and let us go. Can you?¡± As he said this, his body tilted slightly, but his feet moved closer to Xiao Jinli¡¯s direction. Xiao Chunfu sneered and said, ¡°Hmph, if everyone could easily get away with their wrongdoings by apologizing, then what would be the point of having government officials? What would you do?¡± He glared with wide eyes and shouted. At this very moment, Zhang San and Li Si, who were lying on the ground, suddenly pounced forward in sync, each grabbing one of Xiao Siqian¡¯s legs. At the same time, Li Yuanming reached out his hand and immediately grabbed Xiao Jinli, his other hand quickly gripping her neck. In fact, Xiao Siqian had been protecting Xiao Jinli the whole time, and he was also on guard against Li Yuanming. However, there were too many opponents, and they were highly coordinated. By the time he broke free from the two men grabbing his legs, Xiao Jinli was caught unprepared and seized by Li Yuanming. Xiao Chunfu was furious to see Xiao Jinli being seized. He pointed at Li Yuanming and shouted, ¡°What are you trying to do? Let her go; she¡¯s just a child. If you hurt even a hair on her head, the entire Xiao Family Village will not let you off.¡± Xiao Jinli was the darling of the whole village, and no one was allowed to hurt her. Having suffered so much humiliation before, Li Yuanming and the others were now very smug, with a hostage in hand. Li Yuanming said triumphantly, ¡°As long as you agree to our terms, I won¡¯t hurt this child. Otherwise, if we don¡¯t end up well, this child will accompany us.¡± Hearing this, Xiao Chunfu immediately replied, ¡°Okay, okay, just tell us what your terms are.¡± Xiao Siqian, however, stared at Li Yuanming intensely. His sharp eyes flashed with a hint of murderous intent as he coldly said, ¡°She¡¯s just a child! If you want a hostage, take me instead. Let her go!¡± Li Yuanming sneered and said, ¡°Hmph, do you think I¡¯m an idiot? If I let her go, you¡¯ll have nothing to fear. Don¡¯t try to trick me with such nonsense. As I said, as long as you promise my conditions, I will release her as soon as we¡¯re safe.¡± With that, he tightened his grip on Xiao Jinli¡¯s neck, causing her to utter a soft groan. Xiao Chunfu immediately waved his hand and said, ¡°Alright, alright, just tell us your conditions. Just be gentle.¡± Li Yuanming said, ¡°First, bring back the cattle that escaped, including the Cow King you spoke of. Second, we will take these cattle and leave together. Once we are safely away, we will naturally let the child go. Now, will you agree to these conditions or not?¡± However, before Xiao Chunfu could answer, the Cow King was already provoked. It raised its head and let out a loud ¡°moo¡± twice towards the sky. Then, with its head aimed at Li Yuanming¡¯s direction, it thrust its sharp horns from behind. Li Yuanming had no defense against the cow, let alone the fact that the Cow King attacked from behind. He was caught off guard, and the whole person was pushed forward. The grip on Xiao Jinli¡¯s neck eventually lost its strength. However, just as Xiao Jinli was about to be crushed under Li Yuanming, Xiao Siqian and Xiao Chunfu had no time to save her. At that moment, Xiao Jinli unexpectedly executed a shoulder throw and threw Li Yuanming out.¡¯ These actions happened too quickly, leaving Xiao Siqian dumbfounded. After throwing Li Yuanming to the ground, Xiao Jinli rubbed her hands and coldly said, ¡°Did you not know that I¡¯m very strong? Even without the Cow King¡¯s help, I could have easily thrown you down with a shoulder throw. How does it feel?¡± In fact, Xiao Jinli allowed herself to be caught on purpose. She wanted to buy some time, wait for these accomplices to arrive, and then capture them all in one fell swoop. However, she never expected that the Cow King would come to her rescue so eagerly, creating such a scene.. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Cattle Thief is Captured Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Cattle Thief is Captured Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli, a child, performs an over-the-shoulder throw on a grown man, not only surprising Xiao Siqian but also shocking everyone else, like Zhang San and Li Si. They never expected that among them, the child they believed was least threatening, could actually throw over a grown man. Xiao Siqian was equally astonished. He had already heard that Xiao Jinli was strong, but he had never expected that Jinli¡¯s strength would be this great. The strength required for an over-the-shoulder throw was surely much greater than carrying someone on one¡¯s back. However, Xiao Siqian, after a moment of surprise, quickly returned to his senses. He approached Xiao Jinli, checking her condition, and asked with great concern, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, are you okay? Did you twist your arm or hurt your hand?¡± The strength of an over-the-shoulder throw primarily comes from one¡¯s arms. Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. The priority now is to tie up these five guys so they won¡¯t try to play any tricks.¡± Xiao Chunfu promptly grasped the situation and instructed Xiao Siqian, ¡°Xiao Quan, you keep an eye on them, I¡¯ll go find some rattan.¡± With Xiao Siqian¡¯s martial ability, it would be very difficult for these people to run away. Li Yuanming had never expected that he would not only be humiliated but also face the risk of imprisonment. His heart was filled with both anger and frustration, along with a deep sense of humiliation. What made him even more anxious was how he and his men were going to escape this predicament. Li Yuanming, lying on the ground, was continuously turning his eyes, thinking of a way out. Just then, the cell phone in Zhang San¡¯s pocket rang. The sound seemed to offer them some hope, and their eyes lit up. Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes sparkled. Xiao Siqian was about to stop the cell phone, but Xiao Jinli immediately held him back, gently shaking her head. Xiao Siqian slightly frowned but refrained from making any move. Ignoring his own pain, Zhang San immediately shouted, ¡°Little Wang, we¡¯ve been stopped. You guys bring weapons and come here quickly. Okay, hurry up!¡± After saying this, he took a deep breath. As long as they could hold out until their comrades arrived, they would have the upper hand. But just as he was catching his breath, Xiao Jinli sneered and said, ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve got reinforcements. But have you forgotten that our Xiao Family Village¡¯s people are also on the way? Aren¡¯t you afraid that your comrades will be caught as soon as they arrive?¡± The moment her words fell, the expressions on Li Yuanming and his men¡¯s faces froze. That¡¯s right, they¡¯d called for backup, but according to the trio, the Xiao Family Village was also getting reinforcements. Now it depended on whether their comrades or the villagers of Xiao Family Village would arrive first. Feeling anxious, they regretted underestimating the trio earlier. If from the beginning, they had not wasted words and had directly used the anesthetic gun on the trio, they might not only have taken down the three, but also effortlessly stolen the Cow King. But it¡¯s too late for that now. While Xiao Siqian was protecting Xiao Jinli, so she wouldn¡¯t be captured again, his sharp eyes were vigilantly sweeping over the five men, tightly observing their every move. About ten minutes later, occasional voices could be heard from the top of the mountain. ¡°This should be the place, right? Around Niu Xinshan in Shibei Village. Xiao Chunfu, where are you?¡± A villager suddenly shouted, while the lights from over a dozen flashlights swept around. Upon hearing the villager¡¯s shouts, Xiao Chunfu promptly responded, ¡°We are at the foot of the mountain, hurry over. We¡¯ve caught five cattle thieves. They are now tied up.¡± With the help of martial arts expert Xiao Siqian, Xiao Chunfu and his comrades effortlessly tied up the five men. Upon hearing that Xiao Chunfu and his two companions had captured five cattle thieves, some of the younger and stronger villagers immediately quickened their pace to come down and check the situation, especially since Xiao Jinli was part of the group that came to catch the Cow King with Xiao Chunfu. They hoped that nothing would happen to her. After all, there were five adversaries against their three. Even if Xiao Jinli was strong, whether she could fight or not was still uncertain. After a short while, the group of younger villagers arrived at the scene. They first used their flashlights to scan the surroundings before looking at Xiao Jinli. Xiao Qingshan asked with concern, ¡°Jinli, are you okay?¡± Xiao Jinli, with a smile, shook her head and replied, ¡°Brother Qing Shan, I¡¯m fine. don¡¯t worry!¡± Xiao Qingshan grinningly remarked, ¡°Hehe, as long as you¡¯re okay.¡± He then turned his fierce gaze onto Li Yuanming and his men, asking, ¡°Are these the cattle thieves?¡± Xiao Chunfu nodded and said, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s them. They even had anesthetic guns. If Xiao Quan wasn¡¯t so skilled and quickly took them down, it would probably have been difficult to capture them.¡± Having said this, he took out the anesthetic gun to show everyone, saying, ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d have thought it was a real gun.¡± All the villagers were eager to have a look, but Xiao Jinli, with a serious little face, said, ¡°This is not something to play with. We need to hand it over to the policing officer when they arrive.¡± Xiao Jinli said this to prevent the villagers from accidentally firing the anesthetic needle out of curiosity. Hearing what Xiao Jinli said, everyone immediately curbed their curiosity and didn¡¯t insist on seeing it anymore. Xiao Siqian, He had a feeling that Xiao Jinli had a high reputation in Xiao Family Village. Was it just his imagination? Xiao Jinli went on to say, ¡°These cattle thieves have accomplices, we don¡¯t know how many there are. They¡¯ll be here soon. But since they¡¯re a group, let¡¯s capture all of them at once. Have the policing officers arrived?¡± ¡°Not yet, it will probably be awhile longer,¡± someone answered. ¡°They¡¯re not here yet?¡± Xiao Jinli slightly frowned and said, ¡°We don¡¯t know how many accomplices they have, and they probably will be armed. If they get here first, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll have to fight!¡± If the policing officers arrive, it will be difficult to start a fight. If the policing officers don¡¯t arrive, their gang will surely try to take their comrades away first, otherwise, they would face imprisonment. Hearing what Xiao Jinli had said, Xiao Qingshan immediately said, ¡°No matter how many of them there are, I¡¯m going to call over all the young and able-bodied men from Xiao Family Village, and bring weapons. Hmph, this is our territory, whether dragon or tiger, they¡¯ll have to cower.¡± After stating that, Xiao Qingshan made a phone call, ¡°Dad, you need to gather all the young and robust men in the village to the foot of Niuxin Mountain in Shibei Village. Xiao Jinli and her group have caught some cattle thieves who have accomplices; we don¡¯t know how many there are. So, the more people we have on our side, the better. Okay, understood. Of course, we¡¯ll always prioritize protecting Xiao Jinli. We can get hurt, but Xiao Jinli must remain unharmed, you can rest assured.¡± Xiao Siqian, Every person in the village was particularly concerned about Xiao Jinli. The attitude of the village toward Xiao Jinli made him increasingly curious.. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Bringing the Accomplice Over Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Bringing the Accomplice Over Translator: 549690339 Li Yuanming and the others looked at the villagers from Xiao Family Village who had arrived earlier, their expressions extremely ugly. They had never stumbled so bad in all these years. As thieves who stole dogs and cattle, their actions were quite dangerous, and if caught, they could be beaten half to death. Over the years, they had made mistakes but managed to escape safely because they acted as a group and ran fast. But now¡­ Suddenly, Zhang San¡¯s cellphone rang. With his hands and feet tied, he couldn¡¯t answer the phone, of course. Xiao Jinli directly took the phone from his pocket, looked at the caller ID, and it was Wang Gouzi. Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes flickered, and then, to everyone¡¯s surprise, she anxiously said, ¡°Little Wang, have you arrived? Where are you? Oh, you¡¯ve reached the entrance of Shibei Village. How many people did you call? Did you bring weapons? Ten people have arrived? Alright, alright, I got it. Hurry up and intercept those people from our village who have also called others to come over. If you don¡¯t hurry up, when they have more people, we¡¯ll be at a disadvantage. Right now, there are only three of them, including an old man and a child, and just one young man with good skills, which is why we were caught. Hurry up, they¡¯re in Shibei Village, at the foot of the mountain called Niuxin Mountain.¡± After saying that, she hung up the phone. Li Yuanming and the others were dumbfounded. This child, her voice sounded exactly like Zhang San¡¯s. How did she imitate it? Her childlike, tender voice could actually imitate that rough, mature voice. However, the seemingly plain words she said shocked all five of them. She was really trying to lure their accomplices into a trap and catch them all in one swoop. At this moment, they desperately hoped that their accomplices would come to rescue them, but they also feared that their accomplices would step right into the same trap. Xiao Siqian¡¯s expression initially froze when he saw Xiao Jinli¡¯s move, but then his eyes shone with the brilliance of finding a treasure. The more he got to know this child, the more surprises he found. However, looking at the villagers¡¯ unconcerned expressions, he felt like he was overreacting. After hanging up the phone, Xiao Jinli began to talk to the villagers, ¡°Considering the distance from Shibei Village to here, their accomplices will arrive in at least fifteen minutes. Before they arrive, we absolutely can¡¯t let them discover anything suspicious or make them want to escape.¡± Xiao Qingshan nodded and asked, ¡°So, Jinli, what should we do?¡± Xiao Siqian, Why was everyone treating Xiao Jinli¡¯s words as the main idea? Xiao Jinli continued, ¡°First, you can only keep three flashlights in your hands, and the rest will be replaced by the light from five cellphones.¡± Xiao Qingshan¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, and he said excitedly, ¡°You mean, these eight lights will be equivalent to the eight people on both sides.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°As locals, we are very familiar with this terrain. As for the remaining people, they will be hiding on the side and will only reveal themselves after their accomplices have arrived.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Xiao Qingshan agreed. Then, Xiao Qingshan discussed with the villagers, leaving five people to act as the thieves and hiding the rest. Of course, the people left behind were the strong young men. After making the arrangements, Xiao Qingshan looked at Xiao Jinli with some hesitation and asked, ¡°Jinli, why don¡¯t you hide too? Just in case the people who come have very dangerous weapons and might hurt you.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°No need, Brother Little Quan will protect me, right, Brother Little Quan?¡± Xiao Siqian was slightly startled, then smiled and replied, ¡°Yes, I will protect you.¡± Xiao Qingshan, who had not seen Xiao Siqian¡¯s strength, looked doubtful. Xiao Chunfu then said, ¡°Qingshan, don¡¯t worry. Little Quan is very powerful. He knocked down these five people in just a few moves.¡± Xiao Qingshan nodded, ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s proceed.¡± After a while, everyone concealed their figures, waiting for the arrival of the other party. About ten minutes later, sounds came from the other side. ¡°There¡¯s light over there, it should be there.¡± In two or three minutes, a group of people arrived. There were quite a few of them, about twenty people, more than ten were from Shibei Village and seemed to have come to watch the excitement. It was now around seven or eight o¡¯clock, and most people had already had dinner and were resting while watching television. However, some people heard the commotion outside and felt that something might happen, so they followed these people. After all, when outsiders suddenly came to Shibei Village with so many people, what if they were here to steal children or do something bad? They just didn¡¯t expect that following them would lead to the foot of Niuxin Mountain, which bordered the Xiao Family Village. The people from Shibei Village asked doubtfully, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who are these people, and why are they here?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s stay farther away. These people don¡¯t look like good guys. They¡¯re carrying iron rods and sharp knives.¡± ¡°This looks like the gang fights you see on television.¡± ¡°Should we call the police?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not call the police yet, and let¡¯s not cause trouble. Let¡¯s see the situation first.¡¯ ¡°Brother Wang, where are Brother Ming and Brother San?¡± asked one of Wang Gouzi¡¯s people. Wang Gouzi replied, ¡°Third brother said they are at the foot of Niuxin Mountain in Shibei Village. I asked around, and they should be just up ahead.¡± Soon, they arrived at the place Zhang San had mentioned. They shone their flashlights towards the front and immediately noticed five people tied on the ground, their mouths stuffed with cloth. And the five people using their cellphones as lights hid nearby when Wang Gouzi and the others approached them. Then they noticed three people standing beside them: a middle-aged man in his forties, a young man of eighteen or nineteen, and another young man. At this moment, the three of them seemed very relaxed and waiting calmly for their arrival. Wang Gouzi¡¯s pupils couldn¡¯t help but contract. Wang Gouzi and the people he brought with him couldn¡¯t help but shout, ¡°Brother Ming! Brother San!¡± Immediately after, they rushed forward. One of them angrily asked, ¡°So it¡¯s you three who tied up Brother Ming and the others.¡± Xiao Chunfu glared and shouted, ¡°So you are their accomplices who were called?¡± ¡°So what if we are? If you know what¡¯s good for you, let those five go immediately, or else don¡¯t blame us for being rude.¡± ¡°Yes, we don¡¯t know what tricks you used to capture Brother Ming and the others, but there are so many of us and we all have weapons. Are we still afraid of you? If you know what¡¯s good for you, release them now.¡± Xiao Chunfu sneered, ¡°Haha, I¡¯d like to see just how rude you¡¯re going to be!¡± Wang Gouzi¡¯s face showed a ferocious expression, and he said viciously, ¡°Old man, since you¡¯re not taking our warning seriously, don¡¯t blame us for being rude.. Brothers, let¡¯s go!¡± Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The Situation Repeats (Seeking Votes and Reviews!) Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The Situation Repeats (Seeking Votes and Reviews!) Translator: 549690339 Just as Wang Gouzi and his men were about to break through, the cloth in Lai Wu¡¯s mouth somehow came loose. He shouted, ¡°Wang Gouzi, there are still many people ambushed here¡­¡± Before he could finish, Xiao Siqian quickly covered his mouth and stuffed the cloth back in. Wang Gouzi and his men were shocked by his words. ¡°There are many people ambushed here?¡± Liu Ba incredulously replied, ¡°Brother Wang, what¡­¡± Wang Gouzi spat and said with a murderous look on his face, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? We¡¯re not afraid. With that, he pulled out an anesthetic gun and yelled to his companions, ¡°Those of you with a weapon like this, take it out now.¡± Then he shot towards Xiao Chunfu¡¯s direction. In his mind, with the dark sky providing cover, no matter how many people his opponents had, they would all be brought down. However, most of the weapons had been taken by Li Yuanming when he went after the escaping cattle. So, among their group of more than ten, they had only three weapons. Normally, these three weapons would be enough to knock down their opponents. However, when he pulled out his weapon, Li Yuanming and the others had a look of hope in their eyes. Just now, they didn¡¯t know why their weapons simultaneously had failed, but they were putting their hope in Wang Gouzi. After all, having that weapon was much more advantageous than fighting with real knives and iron rods. They could eliminate their opponents without touching them and do so effortlessly and ruthlessly. However¡­ More screams! Then the three holding the anesthetic guns covered the hand holding the gun with the other hand, and due to the pain, they reflexively threw the guns away. The others heard their screams and were perplexed, but they also noticed the anesthetic guns thrown away. ¡°Brother Wang, what happened to you guys?¡± ¡°Brother Wang, what¡¯s wrong with your hands? Were they bitten by insects?¡± Wang Gouzi, enduring the pain, picked up his own weapon with gritted teeth and told the others, ¡°Hurry up and pick up the weapons on the ground.¡± At his command, two of them quickly picked up the anesthetic guns on the ground. They were afraid if they were any slower, their opponents would pick them up first. But they were still puzzled, as it was strange for all three people to cry out in pain at the same time. Even if bugs bit them, they couldn¡¯t all be bitten at the same time. In fact, not only were Wang Gouzi¡¯s group of cattle thieves puzzled, but even Xiao Siqian was full of doubt. This was really strange. Why did all these people have such an incident at the same time? Their screams were all the same, and they all held their wrists. If it was an insect bite, how could they be bitten at the same time? The odds of that happening were far too low. However, the situation was very favorable for their side. As their opponents were picking up the anesthetic guns, noises came from the mountain top. ¡°Xiao Qingshan, where are you? We¡¯re here.¡± The yelling suddenly broke the strange atmosphere. The one who picked up the anesthetic gun was so scared that he almost threw it away again. Upon hearing the shouting, Xiao Qingshan could only run out from his hiding place and respond to the voices above, ¡°Dad, we¡¯re here. There are more than ten people here with weapons. Did you bring weapons too?¡± Wang Gouzi and the others were speechless. They didn¡¯t expect that suddenly emerging from the darkness would be another person. Oh, no, many more people emerged. Because as Xiao Qingshan came out, the others also received a signal and left the darkness one after another. There were also about twenty people. Wang Gouzi and the others¡¯ pupils suddenly shrank. Then, Wang Gouzi reacted and roared towards Xiao Qingshan, ¡°You were hiding here?¡± But why were they hiding? Xiao Qingshan shrugged and replied, ¡°Yeah, we were hiding here.¡± At this point, he paused and sincerely advised, ¡°I suggest you surrender. Be lenient if you confess, and be strict if you resist! The five accomplices you wanted to rescue were already tied up by us long ago.¡± ¡°Already tied up?¡± Wang Gouzi¡¯s pupils shrank again, and he quickly realized what happened. He asked, ¡°So the phone call earlier wasn¡¯t answered by Third Brother, but by you guys? You wanted us to come over, right?¡± Xiao Qingshan nodded and praised miserly, ¡°You¡¯re quite clever. It¡¯s just a pity you didn¡¯t walk the right path.¡± Wang Gouzi, He said viciously, ¡°Hmph, so what if you have more people? We have quite a few people here too. Who will win is still unknown.¡± Immediately, he looked at his companions and said, ¡°Brothers, grab your weapons. Before their people come down, let¡¯s save Brother Ming first, then catch some of them. The more we can catch, the better!¡± His companions responded. Li Yuanming and the others hummed in response, but their eyes couldn¡¯t help but reveal a glimmer of hope. After all, if they could be saved and escape, they wouldn¡¯t have to go to prison in the future. Xiao Qingshan¡¯s side did not show weakness either, he asked the villagers, ¡°We should also be careful. They have knives and iron rods in their hands. If you can¡¯t defeat them, run. Don¡¯t fight them hard.¡± The villagers also responded. Just as the fight was about to erupt, voices came from the mountain top again. ¡°The government officials are here!¡± Then, a stern angry shout followed, ¡°What are you doing? Stop!¡± Wang Gouzi and the others turned pale when they heard the shouting. One of his companions in panic said, ¡°Brother Wang, the government officials are here, we can¡¯t save Brother Ming now, let¡¯s run away quickly. If we¡¯re caught, we¡¯ll definitely be sentenced with the crimes we¡¯ve committed.¡± The others had the same mindset. They could show their loyalty and disregard their lives to save their fellows. But they couldn¡¯t be captured and sent to the Yamen. Because once they were caught and sent to the Yamen, they would face the possibility of a sentence, and going to prison would implicate their families. Wang Gouzi, after hearing his companion¡¯s persuasions, decided to retreat. His face was gloomy, and he said coldly, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± But as they tried to retreat, they found that they were surrounded by a group of people. Unbeknownst to them, another group of people had appeared, blocking their escape route. Wang Gouzi and his group pointed their knives and iron rods at the people blocking them and ferociously said, ¡°Get out of the way, or don¡¯t blame us for being rude.¡± Facing these sharp weapons, some people¡¯s faces showed tension as they stepped back a few steps in fear. At this time, Xiao Siqian and Xiao Jinli quickly ran over. Xiao Siqian looked at them and sneered, ¡°In order to catch all of you, we set up this act. If we just let you go now, wouldn¡¯t all our efforts have been in vain? Hmph, if you want to leave, dream on!¡± Wang Gouzi and the others¡¯ faces instantly turned extremely ugly.. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46: All Caught in the Net! (Please vote and leave a message) Chapter 46: Chapter 46: All Caught in the Net! (Please vote and leave a message) Translator: 549690339 Although Wang Gouzi and his gang were not the most vicious outlaws, they were not patient when facing threats either. He glared at the young Xiao Siqian, his eyes flashing maliciously, and said viciously, ¡°You little rabbit, get out of my way, or don¡¯t blame me for being impolite.¡± With that said, he waved the sharp knife in his hand. Xiao Siqian completely ignored his threat and continued, ¡°Do you know why your five accomplices were caught? I¡¯ll tell you, it¡¯s because they met me. They¡¯re unlucky to have met me.¡± Wang Gouzi and the others simply didn¡¯t believe his words. Wang Gouzi, with a dark, iron-like expression, sneered, ¡°I, Wang Gouzi, have traveled far and wide, encountering all kinds of situations and all kinds of people. But you¡¯re the first one to brag in front of me.¡± He turned his head slightly, eyes glinting maliciously, his heart filled with urgency as he noticed the approaching crowd. Then, he gritted his teeth, brandished the knife, and charged towards Xiao Jinli. That¡¯s right, it was Xiao Jinli. Among the people here, only this child was the weakest. Only by capturing her would these people hesitate and perhaps let them all go. Unfortunately, what he thought was the weakest child¡­ Just as the sharp knife swung towards her, someone worriedly shouted, ¡°Jinli, watch out!¡± Immediately, they saw that as the knife approached Xiao Jinli, she skillfully squatted down, dodging the blade. Then, while squatting, she launched a series of kicks towards Wang Gouzi¡¯s lower leg, delivering a fierce kick. Xiao Jinli had enough strength, and with such a kick, Wang Gouzi was sent toppling forward by the force, falling face-first into the mud according to the laws of physics. As for the sharp knife in his hand, it clattered to the ground a short distance away. At the moment he fell to the ground, Xiao Jinli¡¯s footsteps swiftly followed, stepping directly onto his back. The other accomplices shuddered when they saw this scene. This child, this child was so ruthless and so strong. Was she just a child? A girl? Xiao Jinli firmly stepped on Wang Gouzi¡¯s back, her young face looking at the other accomplices, and then coldly said, ¡°I advise you to lay down your weapons and surrender. You will not be able to escape. Even if you escape, as soon as your accomplices are caught, it¡¯s only a matter of time before you¡¯re caught too. So, put down your weapons and report to the government officials now. The punishment will certainly be lighter. Otherwise, well, just wait for the heavier punishment. The nets of heaven are vast, but they spare no one! You decide for yourselves.¡± The little girl¡¯s immature and clear voice was decisive and deafening. Miraculously, the thieves who were running around trying to escape seemed to calm down at this moment. The villagers of Shibei Village were dumbfounded. They were close to Xiao Family Village, so they had naturally heard of this child. But they never thought that this child from Xiao Family Village would be so bold and reckless. A child, facing a person wielding a sharp knife, showed no fear. Even they, as adults, did not have such courage. With the atmosphere getting increasingly bizarre, the Village Head of Xiao Family Village finally arrived with the policing officers. Noticing the situation at hand, they too were somewhat stunned. A policing officer asked doubtfully, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Five were tied up, one adult was pinned down by a child, and the people at the scene seemed to have hit the pause button. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± One of the policing officers recognized someone from Xiao Family Village. Not long ago, they had also come to Xiao Family Village to arrest Liu Bald and his son. The Village Head first spotted Xiao Jinli and immediately asked, ¡°Jinli, how are you, are you all right?¡± Xiao Junxuan and his father Xiao Wanshan also looked very concerned and asked, ¡°Xiao Bao, are you alright? Are you injured anywhere?¡± Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, Dad, older brother, I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Xiao Siqian, So, whoever came here, the first thing they would do was show concern for Jinli. It didn¡¯t matter if it was between family members, but others also seemed concerned. This made Xiao Jinli¡¯s importance in the village even more apparent. She¡¯s¡­ just a kid, right? After a thorough examination, Junxuan was relieved to find that his sister was unharmed. He then directed his anger towards the thief under Jinli¡¯s feet. He angrily asked, ¡°Sister, what did this guy do to you? Let me handle this, my strength is greater, and I¡¯ll make sure he won¡¯t be able to catch his breath.¡± Villagers, ¡°¡­¡± Are you sure your strength is greater than your sister¡¯s? Xiao Siqian, Everyone didn¡¯t seem to think it was strange that Jinli had the thief pinned down under her feet. Could it be¡­ due to her impressive strength? Jinli lifted her foot off the man and shook her head, ¡°No need. He tried to escape, and I stopped him. Even if I let him go now, he won¡¯t be able to get away.¡± The man lying on the ground with the name Wang Gouzi, felt like crying but had no tears. He just wanted to run away, but how could it be so difficult? Being stepped on by a little girl, it was utterly humiliating. With this dark history, how would he face the villagers in the future? Regardless of his unwillingness and humiliation, he had to be handcuffed by the police when they arrived. Because there were too many of them, the number of handcuffs brought by the police were limited. The previously tied-up thieves would continue to be tied but with their mouths and feet freed of cloth and rattan. Officer Xiao Li sympathetically told them, ¡°You guys have good health and strength, but instead of doing something meaningful, you committed disgusting acts like theft. Look at the situation now, tied up like this. I hope you learn your lesson and cooperate with us to get lenient treatment.¡± People like Li Yuanming were too ashamed to respond, and their expressions showed a mix of anger, annoyance, and regret. Those without handcuffs had their hands tied with a few strips of rattan as well. Officer Liu looked at the dozen or so cattle thieves and then looked around, before asking, ¡°Village Chief, where are the stolen cattle?¡± He had heard that these cattle thieves had stolen more than ten cattle, but he hadn¡¯t seen a single one yet. The cattle couldn¡¯t have run away, right? Xiao Chunfu laughed and said, ¡°The cattle are hidden now.¡± Jinli looked at Officer Liu and immediately blew a whistle. As soon as her whistle sounded, a cow responded with a moo. ¡°Moo! The sound came from the left side of the mountain. In no time, the majestic Cow King led a group of yellow and water cattle in a grand procession toward them. Officer Liu and others were astonished to see this. Had those cattle gained spiritual wisdom or something? Officer Liu curiously asked with a smile, ¡°How did you train these cattle? They seem so intelligent.¡± At this, Xiao Qingshan became excited, ¡°This is our Xiao Family Village¡¯s Cow King. He¡¯s really smart and sensible..¡± Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Cow King Seeking Praise and Compliments Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Cow King Seeking Praise and Compliments Translator: 549690339 After arriving in the crowd, Cow King walked directly towards Xiao Jinli, nuzzling her palm with its fluffy head, its bright eyes seemingly seeking praise and compliments. These movements straight-up melted some people. ¡°This cow is so intelligent, it¡¯s really adorable!¡± Although it was an impressive water buffalo. ¡°Look at it, its eyes¡­ it¡¯s like a child seeking praise.¡± The villagers of Xiao Family Village, chuckling in agreement, said, ¡°Haha, it is indeed seeking praise right now.¡± As his words fell, Xiao Jinli raised her hand, showing a slightly helpless face, and praised with a smile, ¡°Yes, yes, Cow King really did an excellent job, you¡¯ve saved so many of your kind, a great deed indeed!¡± Upon hearing its young master¡¯s praise, Cow King immediately got excited. It raised its head high towards the sky and let out a series of moo¡¯s. It was simply earth-shattering! Officer Liu and his colleagues, watching this scene, were both intrigued and extremely curious. ¡°Cow King?¡± This was the first time Officer Liu and the other government officials had heard of him. An animal referred to as a king by humans must certainly possess extraordinary qualities compared to other animals of the same species. Xiao Qingshan said smugly, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s the Cow King. Speaking of Cow King, there¡¯s actually a legendary story to it.¡± Officer Liu and his colleagues became instantly interested. Officer Xiao Li asked curiously, ¡°Tell us, this sounds legendary!¡± Xiao Qingshan explained, ¡°About ten years ago, when Cow King was still in its mother¡¯s womb, a difficult birth took place. It couldn¡¯t be delivered after a whole day and night. Jinli, out of curiosity, went to see what was happening. Unexpectedly, as Jinli arrived, Cow King was born. Its mother, after the delivery, knelt directly towards Jinli in gratitude. The little calf that had just been born could hardly stand, but it still wobbled towards Jinli, tears pooling in its eyes. It was indeed very adorable. Later, when Jinli was going home, Cow King followed directly behind her. Jinli took it in, and since then, Cow King has been well-behaved and sensible, leading other cows not to trample on the vegetables and crops in the village. But Cow King has always listened to Jinli the most.¡± By this point, Xiao Qingshan seemed to think of a question and asked, ¡°Officer Liu, will Cow King be brought into custody this time?¡± Upon hearing this, Officer Liu burst into laughter and said, ¡°Young man, what are you thinking? No matter how smart and sensible Cow King is, it¡¯s still a cow, a cow from your village. How could we possibly bring it back to Yamen? Rest assured, we will only take the relevant personnel back to the Yamen office.¡¯ At this point, Officer Liu asked with curious skepticism, ¡°You guys aren¡¯t going to tell me that these men were captured largely due to Cow King, are you? And how did these cows escape? Can you explain?¡± Originally, when their Yamen office received the alarm from the people of Xiao Family Village, it was mentioned that their village cows had been stolen, but they had also caught the thieves. The rest, they only found out upon arrival at the scene. Xiao Jinli smiled at Officer Liu and said, ¡°Officer Uncle, I suppose I¡¯ll have to be the one to explain this. Because only I can communicate with Cow King. Cow King told me that it was drugged and secretly transported from Niu Xinshan to some place. When it woke up from the anesthesia, it found that many of its kind were locked up and tied up around it. After communicating with these related cattle, it learnt that they all were stolen in the same way. After hearing this, Cow King took advantage of the lack of attention from those people, gently opened the cowpen gate with its hooves, then bit the rope that was tied around trees and pillars, unlocking it, and then led its liberated kind towards Xiao Family Village. When those people discovered this, they quickly chased after them, and then we ran into them.¡± Officer Liu and his colleagues, ¡°¡­¡± Did they enter a fairy tale world or a fantasy world? Why do these words seem so unbelievable? Are there really people who can communicate with animals? And are the communications so smooth? ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Officer Liu turned a straight face, and asked Li Yuanming¡¯s group, ¡°Was it Cow King that opened the cowpen gate and untied the ropes?¡± Li Yuanming said with despair, ¡°Yes, we didn¡¯t expect this cow to be so cunning. After we caught it, we made sure several times that it hadn¡¯t roused from the anesthesia, and then straightaway locked it in the cowpen. To our surprise, as soon as we turned our backs, it opened the door, released the rope, and ran away with all our cows.¡± Officer Liu and his colleagues, . Cow King really is intelligent. No wonder it is called the Cow King by the villagers of Xiao Family Village. Zhang San said, ¡°What¡¯s even more infuriating is the direction in which it led the cows to escape ¨C was exactly where we caught it from.¡± Anyway, they have been captured, and sooner or later they will have to confess. Officer Liu and his colleagues, ¡® Then, Officer Liu started laughing, ¡°Hehe, it looks like Cow King has really performed a great deed. Without it, who knows when you guys would have been caught? Recently, we received several reports stating that their cows had gone missing. Was it you guys who did it?¡± Li Yuanming and his cohorts were scared into silence immediately- Their group had stolen so many cows that they had no idea if it was their doing or not. Since they were silent- Officer Liu immediately shouted, ¡°Alright, come back with us to the Yamen office. Once there, you will have to confess cleanly. Leniency for those who confess, severity against those who resist. Seek lenient treatment, understand?¡± Li Yuanming and his people weakly responded, ¡°We understand!¡± Over a dozen people, never captured by humans, were brought down by a single cow. It would be a joke if this got out- But since it was a joke, they were also captured- Therefore, Officer Liu and his colleagues escorted Li Yuanming¡¯s group to the Yamen office. But there weren¡¯t many people from their office who arrived here, so to prevent accidents, Officer Liu asked a dozen strong young men from Xiao Family Village to accompany and escort them. Xiao Jinli, Xiao Siqian, and Xiao Chunfu, as the parties involved in this incident, had to go along to make a record as well. However, Xiao Jinli and the others hadn¡¯t eaten dinner yet, so Officer Liu let them eat their dinner first and then come over- the sooner this matter was handled, the better. As for the herd of cows, well, they could only be kept temporarily with Cow King in Xiao Family Village. Once the owners were found, they would be returned one by one. Xiao Siqian was clearly extremely excited. Living in the countryside was indeed quite interesting. Even coming across such a bizarre event as a cow rescuing cows was so flavorful. However, the entire incident made him increasingly curious about Xiao Jinli. Xiao Jinli was like a treasure, the more you dig, the more surprises she brings.. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Competing to Thank the Cow King Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Competing to Thank the Cow King Translator: 549690339 News of the people from Xiao Family Village helping other villages find their stolen cattle spread as quickly as the wind, reaching the surrounding ten miles and eight villages. They cursed the cattle thieves with all sorts of disgusting words, accusing them of having no conscience, black hearts, and wishing for festering sores on their feet. At the same time, they were surprised to find that their domestic cattle had been retrieved thanks to a cow from Xiao Family Village that had also been stolen. Listening to the story of a cow saving another cow, everyone found it astonishing. ¡°Is that cow from Xiao Family Village really that smart?¡± someone questioned doubtfully. ¡°I heard that the cow has been smart since it was young. It can understand human speech.¡± ¡°I would like to go and see for myself if this cow is really that extraordinary.¡± So, people from other villages would occasionally come to Xiao Family Village these days to visit the Cow King. Of course, those whose cattle had been lost and then found again were sensible enough to bring gifts to the rescuer¡¯s house to express their gratitude. After all, they helped them find their lost cattle, which saved them a loss of several thousand yuan. Ha, those gifts were naturally sent to Xiao Jinli¡¯s home. It¡¯s not like they could send a bundle of straw as a gift to the cow that saved the day ¨C that would only make them a laughing stock. Though people brought gifts to the master¡¯s house, they still wanted to see the cow. ¡°This is the Cow King, it really looks majestic,¡± a villager from West Cow Village said while watching the Cow King running in the field, quite impressed, ¡°How did you raise such a smart cow? Is it like training a dog?¡± Xiao Chunfu smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s not the case. If the Cow King could be trained, our Xiao Family Village would have more than just one. This Cow King is quite special in that it¡¯s very smart from birth. Such exceptional cases are rare, just like among humans, as most are ordinary, and absolute geniuses are very few. Maybe only one or two in several million. The birth of this cow might be similar.¡± ¡°Haha, what you said makes some sense,¡± the villager from West Cow Village laughed, ¡°I wonder what the mother cow had eaten while pregnant with it, otherwise, why would its brain be so special?¡± Xiao Chunfu shook his head, ¡°Who knows? Besides eating grass, they are left to find their own food. No one knows what the mother cow ate back then. As for the Cow King, ever since villagers from the surrounding areas came to visit it, it had been excited all the time. It often ran to an open area and performed for the people. Like a loveable and mischievous child who loves to show off, the Cow King was either bellowing loudly or training the other cows in the village, creating a chaotic dance scene. It was hilarious. ¡°Haha, this Cow King is so adorable! It looks majestic and domineering too.¡± ¡°Haha, look at it training the other cows to behave so obediently. If we had such a group of well-behaved cows, taking care of them would be so much easier!¡± ¡°I wish our village had a Cow King like this. If we had one, we¡¯d all be worshipping it. It saves us so much trouble.¡± Xiao Jinli certainly knew about the Cow King being adored and admired by the villagers from the surrounding areas. She just smiled. If the Cow King wanted to show off, so be it. As for those who wanted to steal the Cow King, just see if they had the ability to do so. The Cow King had been nourished by her Lingquan water since its birth, making its body strong and resistant to all toxins. Anesthetics would only work on it for a short while. Unless they wanted to end up like the previous cattle thieves who not only suffered a complete failure but also faced severe punishment. It was said that the thieves were sentenced to a minimum of three years to a maximum of seven years in prison and were also fined heavily. All these able-bodied people, why did they have to do such chicken-stealing and dog-touching things? Now they¡¯re trapped in a big pit and can¡¯t climb out. Xiao Jinli arrived at school, and the new class headteacher, Teacher Yang, came to find her. ¡°Student Xiao Jinli, come with me to the Principal¡¯s Office!¡± Teacher Yang called to her as she was about to slip away after class. As a result, Teacher Yang had come to catch her at just the right time. Xiao Jinli, who was packing her schoolbag, paused and showed a slightly helpless expression in her eyes. She muttered in response, ¡°Okay, I know, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± After packing her schoolbag, she carried it on her back and followed Teacher Yang. She said, ¡°Teacher Yang, you guys don¡¯t need to keep such a close eye on me. I said I would participate in this Math Olympiad, and I won¡¯t go back on my word.¡± Faced with such a student who often wants to sleep in and slip away, Teacher Yang helplessly said, ¡°Student Xiao Jinli, it¡¯s not that we¡¯re keeping such a close eye on you, but if we don¡¯t, who knows when you¡¯ll be willing to turn over a new leaf. The competition in the county town is tomorrow, and Principal Chen just wants you to go over and ask about the situation.¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged and said, ¡°What¡¯s there to ask? You guys catch me and do this every day.¡± Teacher Yang helplessly said, ¡°We have no choice. The principal and the school have placed all their hopes on you. We hope you can bring glory to our whole school.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® She¡¯s stuck on this boat and can¡¯t get off now. Glancing at Xiao Jinli¡¯s expression, Teacher Yang smiled and said, ¡°Of course, Student Xiao Jinli, you don¡¯t need to be too nervous either. Just do your best and see how fate plays out. No one will blame you.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® What if she comes back with a zero? After a while, the two arrived at the Principal¡¯s Office. Seeing Xiao Jinli appear, Principal Chen smiled like a fox. He said, ¡°Student Xiao Jinli is here, take a seat.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at the enthusiastic Principal and got straight to the point, ¡°Principal, just tell me directly, what do you want me to do this time?¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Principal Chen said with a slightly serious expression, ¡°Well, Student Xiao Jinli, I have a set of test questions here, could you give them a try?¡± Xiao Jinli stared at Principal Chen with a strange look in her eyes. These test questions wouldn¡¯t be for tomorrow¡¯s competition, would they? Principal Chen immediately explained, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. These test questions are from last year¡¯s competition, which I got through connections.¡± ¡°Oh, I see!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Then, Xiao Jinli took the test questions and pen from Principal Chen, glanced at the entire exam paper, and began writing quickly. After a moment, she looked up at Principal Chen and said, ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°Ah, so soon? Finished in just twenty minutes?¡± Teacher Yang, who had been watching the time, was very surprised. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m done!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. It took her twenty minutes, but in her eyes, these questions were no more complicated than 1+1. They didn¡¯t need twenty minutes, at most five. These five minutes were just for her to write. Principal Chen was shocked by the answers she came up with.. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50: The Strange Uncle Who Deceived the Little Girl Chapter 50: Chapter 50: The Strange Uncle Who Deceived the Little Girl Translator: 549690339 After sending the three children to the examination room, Principal Chen waited nervously. The exam time was 2.5 hours, from 9 am to 11:30 am. However, he didn¡¯t wait outside the examination room all the time, instead, he went to a friend¡¯s tea shop for some tea. Seeing his arrival, Principal Chen¡¯s close friend, Zhou Cheng, teased, ¡°You¡¯re a busy man, what brings you here today? This is a rare occasion!¡± Principal Chen laughed and replied, ¡°I brought a few students here for an exam today!¡± Zhou Cheng curiously asked, ¡°Exam? What kind of exam would require the principal himself to lead the team? Aren¡¯t other teachers responsible for those previous exams and competitions?¡± Of course, Principal Chen couldn¡¯t tell him the truth, so he said, ¡°Well, all the other teachers are occupied, so I¡¯m the one who brought the kids to take the test.¡± Zhou Cheng nodded and said, ¡°Enough talking, let¡¯s have some tea. How long will the kids take for the exam?¡± ¡°2.5 hours!¡± Principal Chen replied, ¡°From 9 am to 11:30 am. I have to pick them up at 11 am. After all, these kids are young and might be scared in this unfamiliar place.¡± Actually, what he was more afraid of was Xiao Jinli running around with the other two students. So, it¡¯s better to go to the exam room early to catch them. Suddenly, he thought of something and immediately put down his teacup. ¡°Ah Cheng, I¡¯m sorry, I just remembered something important I need to do. I¡¯ll be back later!¡± Then, without waiting for Zhou Cheng¡¯s reaction, he hurriedly left. When he left, he deliberately checked the time. The exam started at 9 am, and it was now 9:15 am. He hoped the girl hadn¡¯t left the examination room yet. Otherwise, it would be difficult for him to find her as a young girl running around in this county town without a cellphone. Principal Chen hurried to County First Primary School, and as soon as he arrived at the school gate, he bumped into Xiao Jinli, who was just about to leave. He knew it would be like this! Just as he suspected! Principal Chen¡¯s face was full of black lines. After a moment, he put on a friendly smile and asked, ¡°Xiao Jinli, have you finished the exam so quickly?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, after finishing those questions, sitting there was somewhat boring. If I fell asleep in the exam room, the invigilating teacher would keep casting glances at me, which would be quite uncomfortable. So, I just handed in my paper and left.¡± Upon hearing this, Principal Chen urgently asked, ¡°Do you think the questions were difficult?¡± Xiao Jinli really wanted to roll her eyes at him. She said, ¡°Principal Chen, what kind of question is that? If the questions were difficult, would I have handed in the paper without finishing them? Since I promised to do this for you, I¡¯ll do it well. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have agreed.¡± Having heard Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, Principal Chen was so excited that he didn¡¯t know how to express his emotions. He nodded and said, ¡°Good, good, that¡¯s great! Although I don¡¯t want to put pressure on you, I still hope you can win the big prize for me!¡± Thinking about the exam paper he gave her the day before yesterday, she finished it in twenty minutes and got all the questions right. He already knew that Xiao Jinli was hiding her talent, but he didn¡¯t expect her to give him such a big surprise. In the past, he hoped Xiao Jinli could bring back a prize. Now, he further hoped that Xiao Jinli could bring back a big prize. Once Principal Chen had calmed down, he asked, ¡°Where do you plan to go now? It¡¯s only been half an hour since the exam started, and Li Xiaohua and Lan Dahai won¡¯t be out until 11:30 am. If we¡¯re going to the amusement park, we might have to wait until the afternoon.¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°I want to go to the National Bookstore to look at some books!¡± ¡°Ah, the bookstore?¡± Principal Chen asked with a slightly surprised expression, ¡°Do you still like reading? I thought you only liked sleeping? Otherwise, why would you always sleep in class?¡± Xiao Jinli chuckled and said, ¡°Principal Chen, I don¡¯t actually like sleeping, it¡¯s just that I understand everything the teachers teach in class, so I don¡¯t need to spend that time listening to them.¡± Of course, she also didn¡¯t deny that she liked sleeping. Hearing this explanation, Principal Chen suddenly understood. He also found it rather amusing and said, ¡°So, that¡¯s what it is. But since your grades have always been average, you¡¯ve been misunderstood by the teachers. Actually, it¡¯s your fault, not your classmates¡¯ or teachers¡¯. If you¡¯re capable of getting good grades, why would you purposely make them average? Isn¡¯t it better to be top-notch? Every day, you could be praised by the school and envied by your classmates. Others want to get top grades and work hard for it, but you, on the other hand, take it easy. You¡¯re not like a primary school student at all.¡± Xiao Jinli bluntly said, ¡°Getting good grades is annoying and troublesome! I also don¡¯t like being constantly watched like a monkey!¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t hold back her feelings in front of Principal Chen. After listening, Principal Chen looked somewhat stunned. It turned out that Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t want to get good grades for this reason. She actually found getting good grades to be troublesome. Once Principal Chen had recovered, he found it both funny and helpless. It¡¯s like discovering a treasure but not being able to dig it up, for fear that the treasure would be destroyed once you started digging. That¡¯s how he felt right now. Principal Chen thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how it is!¡± Hearing Principal Chen¡¯s calm tone, Xiao Jinli was slightly surprised. She raised her eyebrows, smiled, and asked, ¡°Principal Chen, aren¡¯t you going to persuade me to get better grades?¡± Principal Chen laughed and said, ¡°I do want to persuade you. But are you the type to listen? If you were, we would have talked to you earlier, but you never took it seriously. Instead of wasting our breath, it¡¯s better to let you be free.¡± At this point, he asked curiously, ¡°You¡¯re in fourth grade now. When it¡¯s time for high school, there will be good schools, and the average ones too; they¡¯re all based on grades. What¡¯s your plan for this?¡± Xiao Jinli tilted her little head and said without hesitation, ¡°For me, it doesn¡¯t matter which school I go to. As long as it¡¯s close to home, it¡¯s fine!¡± According to her family¡¯s expectations, she would definitely be able to attend high school. There are high schools in only the county town. By the time she¡¯s in high school, her family will definitely buy a house there. She added, ¡°Haha, I¡¯m still in elementary school now, and there are three more years until junior high. As for high school, there¡¯s still plenty of time. We¡¯ll talk about it later.¡± Principal Chen¡¯s eyes darted around, and he said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Jinli, let¡¯s make a deal, shall we?¡± Seeing Principal Chen¡¯s fox-like smile, Xiao Jinli¡¯s hackles rose, and her expression became guarded. She said, ¡°Principal Chen, just say what you need to say. This creepy uncle deceiving little girl¡¯s attitude is scaring me.¡± ¡® Principal Chen went straight to the point: ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s cut to the chase. Can you directly crush everyone in the primary-to-junior high transition and win glory for the school just once more?¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® Indeed, he¡¯s a creepy uncle who deceives little girls.. Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Rewards for the Grand Prize Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Rewards for the Grand Prize Translator: 549690339 As Li Xiaohua and Lan Xiaohai excitedly ran out of the exam room, their eyes locked onto Principal Chen intently. In the afternoon, Principal Chen decisively took them to the largest amusement park in the county to fulfill his promise. He didn¡¯t know whether Xiao Jinli liked to play or not, but the other two children were very enthusiastic. This could be considered their reward. This amusement park had carousels, trampolines, and slides¡­ These attractions didn¡¯t interest Xiao Jinli in the slightest. So, when the three of them went to the amusement park, she found a leisurely spot, sat down, and, yes, went to sleep! Anyway, she would sleep wherever she went. As for Li Xiaohua and Lan Dahai, they had already immersed themselves in the fun, bouncing, jumping, and running around¡ªabsolutely overjoyed. The amusement park was an enclosed space, with only one entrance and exit, and nowhere else to go. Outside, parents with children were waiting. As for Principal Chen, who brought them there, he left after buying water for the three of them. Of course, before leaving, he instructed Xiao Jinli to watch over the other two, and in case of any situation, have the reception call him. He had already left his phone number at the reception desk. When Li Xiaohua and Lan Dahai noticed that Xiao Jinli hadn¡¯t joined in the fun activities, they were puzzled. The two leaned their heads together and whispered, ¡°Strange, didn¡¯t Xiao Jinli come in with us? Where¡¯s she now? Should we go look for her? After all, she¡¯s a girl; what if something happens?¡± These little friends were really thoughtful and loving, huh. ¡°Well¡­Let¡¯s go find her! Once we found her, we can ask her if she wants to play with us!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, let¡¯s go find her!¡± Then, the two little friends went to find Xiao Jinli. However, they couldn¡¯t find her even after searching the entire park. Finally, they found her sleeping on a corner on a soft toy cushion. Li Xiaohua and Lan Dahai, How could Xiao Jinli be so fond of sleeping? She would sleep anywhere, during class and at amusement parks too. ¡°Should we wake her up?¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do it!¡± Sleeping with a book covering her face, Xiao Jinli suddenly spoke up, ¡°You guys go and play. I won¡¯t join you. I¡¯ll wait for you here. When it¡¯s 5:30, Principal Chen will come to pick us up!¡± Hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s voice, the two little friends nodded blankly, ¡°Okay, okay. We¡¯re going to play now. You¡­ just keep sleeping here.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® When the three of them returned from the county, Li Xiaohua and Lan Dahai excitedly recounted their adventures at the amusement park to their relatives, friends, and classmates. Unexpectedly, this triggered great expectations among many of their peers. As a result, at the school-wide meeting, Principal Chen solemnly promised that the top ten students every semester would be taken to the amusement park for a visit. If anyone ranked in any county-wide competition, they could go three times. Principal Chen¡¯s commitment greatly encouraged the whole school. Children of this age were curious and fond of playing. They too wanted to visit the county amusement park; after all, not everyone¡¯s family had the means to go there. The Math Olympiad results were out in a week. When the whole school heard that Xiao Jinli had won the county¡¯s special prize, everyone was in disbelief. However, it brought tremendous honor and prestige to the school. Many people were puzzled and doubtful. Weren¡¯t Xiao Jinli¡¯s grades just average? When did her mathematical skills become so good that she won a special prize in her first competition in the county? Perhaps the teachers knew that Xiao Jinli had been concealing her talents, but the children didn¡¯t know. They simply couldn¡¯t believe that Xiao Jinli¡¯s grades were that good. However, whether they believed or not, it was a fact. Principal Chen finally had something to gloat over. This competition wasn¡¯t a total failure for their school. Not only did they not come in last, they jumped straight to the top. He certainly hadn¡¯t misjudged Xiao Jinli. In fact, when the results came out, his heart had been hanging, fearing that Xiao Jinli, just like at school, wouldn¡¯t want to achieve good results due to her dislike of trouble. Now that the results were out, he realized he had been worrying too much. Xiao Jinli kept her word. She promised him she¡¯d get good results, and she did just that. Haha, Principal Chen was walking on air these days. Having such a talented student in the school, he attended meetings in the county with a beaming smile instead of his usual serious demeanor. He also received praise from higher-ups and was instructed to cultivate this promising talent well. He agreed verbally but pulled a long face afterward. That child only agreed to participate in the competition and get good results because he had invited her parents and persuaded her with reason and emotion. And she had only agreed to do it once. When Principal Chen called Xiao Jinli to his office, he said with a beaming face, ¡°Ah, Xiao Jinli, I really didn¡¯t misjudge you. Getting such good results brought so much honor and prestige to our school. This is the cash reward given by our higher-ups, 500 yuan.¡± Having said that, he handed Xiao Jinli the 500 yuan in cash. Seeing the cash, Xiao Jinli¡¯s beautiful eyes shone. As she took the money, she asked, ¡°You get cash for winning the special prize? Principal, why didn¡¯t you ever mention the reward was this?¡± Principal Chen choked and replied irritably, ¡°But you never asked either, did you?¡± After saying that, he continued, ¡°Not only does the county offer prizes, but our school does too.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°The school has prizes too? How much, another 500?¡± Principal Chen said, ¡°Two hundred, plus a few notebooks!¡± Xiao Jinli immediately lost interest and lazily replied, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s all.¡± Principal Chen got irritated and said, ¡°That¡¯s all? How much more do you want? Two hundred yuan is already quite a lot. The usual rewards for top students from the school are just a few notebooks or certificates.¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t add anything, only calmly asked, ¡°So, Principal, do you have any more questions? If not, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Principal Chen, His heart more stuffed. What did she mean by not bothering her in the future? Was she the principal, or was he the principal? How could a student talk to their principal like that? Of course, at this point, Principal Chen could only grin and bear it.. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52: A Big Slap in the Face (Seeking Comments and Votes) Chapter 52: Chapter 52: A Big Slap in the Face (Seeking Comments and Votes) Translator: 549690339 When Xiao Jinli left the Principal¡¯s Office with 500 yuan in his pocket, he didn¡¯t go far before running into Teacher Xiao Hongmei. Upon seeing Xiao Jinli, Xiao Hongmei¡¯s face darkened instantly, and she secretly fumed with resentment. Ever since she had reported Xiao Jinli to the Principal¡¯s Office, she had received a severe warning from the school and had been demoted from a regular teacher to a temporary one. This outcome was already the best her uncle, the Teaching Director, had managed to get for her. If she could realize her mistake and correct her thoughts, focusing on teaching her students well, there would still be a chance to become a permanent teacher in the future. Xiao Hongmei had not expected that a seemingly ordinary elementary school student could cause her to fall into such a big pit. Even more unexpectedly, the student she once looked down on turned out to be a genius hiding their true abilities. Now, Xiao Jinli¡¯s winning of the county¡¯s special prize in the Math Olympiad had greatly slapped her in the face. As Xiao Jinli brought honor to the school, the entire school erupted with joy and congratulations, except for Xiao Hongmei, who was very unhappy. The more Xiao Jinli succeeded, the more it showed that she lacked vision. Back then, after Xiao Jinli¡¯s grades came out, quite a few teachers openly ridiculed her. ¡°Teacher Xiao, didn¡¯t you know Xiao Jinli is so good at math? After all, you were her headteacher for such a long time.¡± ¡°Teacher Xiao, Xiao Jinli has won such a big prize. If you were still her headteacher, imagine how prestigious it would be for you. Alas, what a pity¡­ ¡°Haha, don¡¯t feel too sorry. I heard that Xiao Jinli decided to participate in the competition because Teacher Xiao scolded him for being a bad student and leading his classmates astray, demanding that the school expel him. Well, now he¡¯s come back with a big slap in her face.¡± ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve heard rumors among the school¡¯s top brass that Xiao Jinli is a ¡®score control genius.¡¯ Do you know what that means? The top students in our school are just ordinary geniuses, but a ¡®score control genius,¡¯ that¡¯s a genius among geniuses.¡± ¡°Ah, Xiao Jinli is truly remarkable. We thought he was just an average student who slept in class and had mediocre grades. Who would have thought he was the real genius? I must say, the real pity is on Teacher Xiao.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Mingming this genius belonged to Teacher Xiao, but now that he has gained such great honor, Teacher Xiao gets none of the credit. Instead, Teacher Yang enjoys the limelight. I¡¯ve seen her smiling at everyone and even walking with a breeze.¡± ¡°Hehe, if I had a student like that too, I¡¯d be excited and overjoyed. You know, our school ranks last in both regular grades and various competitions in the whole county.¡± ¡°But why would Xiao Jinli hide his abilities? Why would he pretend to be an ordinary student? Isn¡¯t it better to have good grades and be a top student?¡± ¡°Who knows? I¡¯ve heard that geniuses often have their inexplicable thoughts.¡± Listening to all this, Xiao Hongmei felt increasingly uncomfortable. Deep down, she had started to regret her actions. Her uncle had warned her that Xiao Jinli was likely a genius since the school leaders had taken notice of him. But she didn¡¯t pay any attention at the time. Now, the student she looked down on had come back with a resounding slap in her face, so she couldn¡¯t help but feel humiliated. Seeing Xiao Hongmei, Xiao Jinli immediately acted like a respectful student and greeted her with a smile, ¡°Hello, Teacher Xiao!¡± Xiao Hongmei, however, turned her face away with an unhappy expression and coldly said, ¡°As long as I don¡¯t see you, I¡¯m fine!¡± With that, she strode away. Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t mind her expression and went straight back to the classroom. As soon as he entered, several of his friends immediately came up to ask, ¡°Xiao Jinli, what did the principal want from you again?¡± Xiao Jinli took out fifty yuan from his pocket and said with a smile, ¡°The principal gave me a little reward. I plan to buy some things for everyone. What do you guys want?¡± Hu Hongmei¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she enthusiastically asked, ¡°Are you serious? So, you¡¯re going to treat the whole class?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yeah, my treat. So, just let me know what you want.¡± ¡°Yay! Xiao Jinli, you¡¯re so awesome. I want spicy gluten strips, is that okay? You know, the ones that cost 50 cents a pack.¡± ¡°Sure, as long as you can eat it,¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and continued, ¡°It¡¯s not my responsibility if you eat something you can¡¯t handle and hurt your health. So, think clearly about what you want to eat.¡± ¡°I want spicy gluten strips too.¡± ¡°I want milk candy!¡± ¡°I want to buy two pens!¡± Xiao Jinli handed the money to the class monitor and asked him to tally up the needs of the classmates. With that out of the way, he returned to his seat to sleep. The whole class was excited, and the students from other classes looked on with envy. How come their class didn¡¯t have such a generous classmate? The class monitor and several class committee members went to the convenience store outside the school to buy the items. When the items were brought back, everyone sat excitedly at their desks, waiting for the distribution. After everything was handed out, the class monitor approached Xiao Jinli with the remaining twenty yuan, saying, ¡°Xiao Jinli, here¡¯s twenty yuan left, I¡¯ll give it back to you.¡± Although the money was in his hands, the monitor¡¯s eyes were filled with reluctance. After all, this was twenty yuan, and for a kid, it meant a lot of snacks and entertainment for quite a while. Seeing the money in the class monitor¡¯s hand, Xiao Jinli directly said, ¡°Keep this money as the class fee.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The monitor immediately replied, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give the money to the teacher!¡± Class fees were typically handed to the teacher. After all, the self-control of kids this age was poor, and they might spend it without restraint? If they needed to reimburse the money from home, they might get beaten to death by their parents. When Teacher Yang heard the class monitor¡¯s report, she too was delighted. This money was Xiao Jinli¡¯s reward but he chose to use it as the class fee. She said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be in charge of the class fee. If you need anything for the class later, just tell the teacher. So, Xiao Jinli really treated the whole class?¡± She asked curiously. ¡°Yes.¡± The class monitor didn¡¯t withhold any information and said, ¡°However, many people chose spicy gluten strips and milk candy.¡± Teacher Yang said, ¡°It¡¯s fine to eat these occasionally, but not too much or every day. Also, these snacks are the students¡¯ own choice, so if they get sick from it, they can¡¯t blame others.¡± The class monitor also said, ¡°Right, I¡¯ve already made this clear to everyone!¡± Teacher Yang nodded, ¡°As long as it¡¯s made clear.¡± However, she was feeling a bit pessimistic. Some parents might be unreasonable and might make a fuss if their kids got sick from the snacks. Of course, coincidences like this shouldn¡¯t happen. Soon, Teacher Yang became optimistic again.. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Follow-up to the Xiao Chunhua Incident 1 Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Follow-up to the Xiao Chunhua Incident 1 Translator: 549690339 Since Xiao Siqian got his motorcycle driver¡¯s license, as long as the weather was clear and it wasn¡¯t raining, he would usually pick up and drop off Xiao Jinli for school. First, Xiao Wanshan and his son had to go to work in the county town, and second, Xiao¡¯s mother had to prepare meals for the whole family and manage the family¡¯s fields. So, Xiao Siqian took up the task of shuttling around. In the afternoon, when Xiao Siqian came to pick up Xiao Jinli, he heard from the chattering of her classmates that she had been awarded 500 yuan by the principal for winning a special prize in the county competition. But Xiao Jinli took out fifty yuan to treat her entire class. This matter was being discussed by all the students in the school. Xiao Siqian, who was waiting by the roadside, listened with one ear and raised his eyebrows again. He knew that Xiao Jinli had won first place in the County Mathematics Olympiad. Back when he went to the Principal¡¯s Office, he knew from the conversation between Principal Chen and Xiao¡¯s mother that Xiao Jinli was a genius. However, this genius was too lazy to show off, and always performed very mediocre at school, with average grades. This time, Chen Principal invited Xiao Jinli to participate in the competition, actually gambling on her. However, Xiao Jinli¡¯s performance really surprised everyone. They thought she would just bring back an award, but she took home a big prize instead. Of course, for Xiao Siqian, who had received an elite education since childhood, such a small-scale competition was not even worth his attention. However, he also knew that different regional economies and education levels varied. Xiao Jinli winning such a big prize was really a great talent. The more he interacted with Xiao Jinli, the more he could not understand her. This child brought more and more surprises to people. After waiting for a while, Xiao Jinli came leisurely with three female classmates. When Hu Hongmei and the others saw Xiao Siqian, they immediately greeted him politely, ¡°Brother Little Quan!¡± Everyone followed Xiao Jinli and called him the same way. Although the classmates were curious about why Xiao Jinli called her brother this way. Xiao Siqian also kindly said, ¡°Hello, classmates! Do you want Brother Little Quan to take you home?¡± ¡°No need, no need. It¡¯s still early, and we can just walk back!¡± Hu Hongmei and the others immediately shook their heads. Sometimes, when they are off from school late or on rainy days, Xiao Jinli¡¯s two older brothers would give them a ride home, which was already a trouble for them. So on normal days when they could avoid bothering them, they tried their best not to. Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t insist, but just nodded, then gave Xiao Jinli the little helmet, and said, ¡°Sister, get in the car!¡± Xiao Jinli said goodbye to her classmates and got on the motorcycle. After getting in the car, as they walked, Xiao Siqian said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Sister, you¡¯re really amazing. I just stood at the school gate for a while, and I heard everyone saying that you won a big prize in the county competition, and the principal gave you a cash prize. You even took out some part of the money to treat all your classmates. It made the other classmates so envious.¡± Xiao Siqian knew that Xiao Jinli had absolute control over her own money. No matter if it was New Year¡¯s money or the pocket money given to her by her parents, Xiao Father and Xiao Mother rarely interfered. A reward of 500 yuan, not to mention for a child, but even for an adult, is a lot of money. Generally, parents would confiscate it. At the same time, using fifty yuan to treat her classmates was really generous. For this countryside area. Xiao Jinli won a big prize and instantly became the talk of the school. Her every move at school was watched and noticed by everyone. Just like now, Xiao Jinli generously treats her classmates, which makes everyone envious. Xiao Siqian teased, ¡°Little sister, if you win more prizes like this with cash rewards, would you become a little rich lady?¡± Xiao Jinli slightly frowned and seriously replied, ¡°That would be troublesome!¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s expression froze for a moment, then he nodded with sympathy, ¡°Yeah, troublesome!¡± In the past, after he received any awards or honors, he would either be interviewed by reporters or asked by the school to give a speech. Xiao Jinli then earnestly said, ¡°I think it¡¯s better for me to be a salted fish at school! ¡± ¡°Okay, be a salted fish!¡± Xiao Siqian said with a smile, ¡°The kind that never turns over! Hahaha¡­ Soon the two of them arrived at the entrance of the village. ¡°Huh, there are a bunch of people gathered up ahead, looks like they¡¯re arguing about something,¡± Xiao Siqian asked with a hint of curiosity, ¡°When I went out to pick you up just now, there was nothing happening here.¡± Xiao Jinli squinted her eyes and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go check it out!¡± She would always get involved in the village affairs. Xiao Siqian rode his motorcycle and quickly reached the scene, where he could see the situation more clearly. An old lady was holding onto Xiao Chunhua, talking very excitedly while sniffling and wiping her tears. Xiao Siqian had been in the village for a while now. During this time, he would walk around and take a look at the village, so he had come to know most of the villagers. He knew Xiao Chunhua and that she had almost lost her life due to an unhappy marriage until Xiao Jinli saved her. As for the other old lady, Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t recognize her and she didn¡¯t seem to be from Xiao Family Village. There were several villagers from Xiao Family Village, as well as some other unfamiliar villagers. These unfamiliar villagers also didn¡¯t appear to be from Xiao Family Village. ¡°Chunhua, Chunhua, we know we were wrong, and we won¡¯t get divorced. Please come back with me and remarry Daqiang,¡± said the old lady who turned out to be Liu Daqiang¡¯s mother, Old Lady Liu. Old Lady Liu held onto Xiao Chunhua¡¯s hand, crying, ¡°Daqiang knows he was wrong too. He was bewitched and deceived by that vicious Widow Niu. Please forgive him and let¡¯s remarry; we¡¯ll live a good life from now on.¡± Xiao Chunhua shook off Old Lady Liu¡¯s hand and said coldly, ¡°Aunt Liu, it¡¯s not your fault; it¡¯s mine. It¡¯s because I served your Liu Family so diligently, taking care of everybody, that you all became so arrogant and thought I couldn¡¯t live without you. Also, remember that I, Xiao Chunhua, have already divorced from Liu Daqiang. Since he conspired with others to hurt me, causing my miscarriage and almost taking my life, I have nothing to do with him. So, whether he knows he¡¯s wrong or not has nothing to do with me. You¡¯re begging the wrong person.¡± Hearing Xiao Chunhua¡¯s icy words, Old Lady Liu looked slightly incredulous. She widened her eyes and said angrily, ¡°Xiao Chunhua, how dare you talk to me like this?¡± In the past, this girl had always shown the utmost respect for her. Well, her true nature has been exposed! The onlookers felt amused. Old Lady Liu still didn¡¯t understand the situation, thinking that Xiao Chunhua was still under her control like in the old days! However, the villagers didn¡¯t refute her, they just wanted to see how Xiao Chunhua would handle it. Xiao Chunhua sneered, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I dare to talk to you like this? How big of a face do you have? Did you really think that when I used to give you face, your face became invincible in the world?¡± The villagers, ¡® ¡± Well countered! Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54: The Aftermath of the Xiao Chunhua Incident 2 Chapter 54: Chapter 54: The Aftermath of the Xiao Chunhua Incident 2 Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli got off the motorcycle and also stood by to watch the excitement. Old Lady Liu¡¯s face turned green, red, and white from Xiao Chunhua¡¯s stare, and she said angrily, ¡°I am your mother-in-law. It¡¯s unfilial not to obey your mother-in-law.¡± Xiao Chunhua coldly answered, ¡°Mother-in-law? Oh, yeah, my ex-mother-in-law. I¡¯ve never heard of a divorced woman being obliged to obey her ex-mother-in-law. Your face is so big, have you ever seen it? Your skin is thick and hard.¡± ¡°How shameful on you calling yourself as a mother-in-law! I feel embarrassed for you. After all, who else but your selfish and heartless family would find a replacement wife for their son while the daughter-in-law is still pregnant, uncertain if it¡¯s a boy or a girl? You¡¯re even worse than animals! Killing your own grandchild, it¡¯s your retribution!¡± Thinking of the aborted child, Xiao Chunhua¡¯s heart ached. Did Xiao Chunhua hate it? Of course she did. It was her child after all. Her own flesh and blood that she was filled with anticipation for. She had already prepared little clothes and shoes for the child. However, the Liu family treated the unborn child like an animal, and it was aborted just because they thought it was a girl. When she learned the truth from the hospital, she wanted to cut the Liu family members into pieces. However, she reported the crime, and Liu Bald and his son were arrested. As the evidence was solid, they were charged with the intentional injury, Liu Bald was sentenced to five years in prison, and Liu Daqiang was sentenced to seven years. They also had to compensate her for medical expenses, mental damage compensation, and various other fees, totaling fifty thousand yuan. As Old Lady Liu listened to Xiao Chunhua¡¯s disrespectful words, she was both angry and furious. She didn¡¯t hold back, and sarcastically said, ¡°Xiao Chunhua, do you think you can get married after divorcing my son? With you being played by my son, who among the ten miles and eight villages would want you, and who would marry you? ¡® Now, I¡¯m humbly asking you to return to my family, giving you face. When Daqiang comes out, you guys will still be husband and wife, and a family. Now, if you don¡¯t return home with me, when you aren¡¯t wanted by anyone, even if you kneel and beg, I will not let you into my Liu family.¡± Old Lady Liu was still acting superior to Xiao Chunhua. This irritated Xiao Chunhua, and she pointed at Old Lady Liu with her shaking hand and said angrily, ¡°Even if I don¡¯t get married for the rest of my life, I¡¯ll never set foot in your house again.¡± At this moment, a villager from Xiao¡¯s family village sneered and said, ¡°Old Lady Liu, don¡¯t you have a pregnant daughter-in-law? Isn¡¯t the child she¡¯s carrying your family¡¯s precious grandson? How come you¡¯re pleading to Chunhua now?¡± As they mentioned the widow, Old Lady Liu¡¯s eyes flashed with cruelty, and she snarled, ¡°That bitch, she¡¯s carrying nothing but a little bastard.¡± People in Xiao village looked puzzled at the Liu villagers nearby. A Liu villager whispered, ¡°After Liu Bald and his son were arrested, Old Lady Liu kept an eye on Niu Xiaolan every day. Then, the day before, Niu Xiaolan took advantage of the old woman¡¯s momentary distraction and went out to have an abortion. It¡¯s said that the aborted child was a girl!¡± Originally, Aunt Niu was going crazy when she knew Niu Xiaolan went for the abortion, but when she found out it was a girl, she fainted from anger. When she woke up, she lay on the ground, crying miserably.¡± The villagers of Xiao Village, One villager sneered, ¡°How ironic! They schemed and aborted Chunhua¡¯s baby boy. The girl they took as their precious one is carrying a girl after all. Such retribution! ¡± Another villager mocked, ¡°Hehe, this is retribution. Their whole family is desperate for a grandson, but in the end, all they got was empty hands.¡± Not to mention that the villagers in Xiao Village have no sympathy for Liu Family, even the people in Liu Jia Cun don¡¯t have any sympathy for Liu Family either. The misfortunes of the Liu family were brought on by their actions, and they are not deserving of pity or sympathy! Xiao Chunhua had obviously heard about the Liu Family¡¯s affairs. She mocked Old Lady Liu, ¡°That widow is carrying your Liu Family blood. If she¡¯s considered a lowly breed, then what are you, the Liu Family, a bunch of even lower breeds? Haha, you don¡¯t want a perfectly good grandson, but you treasure a lowly child as if it¡¯s a precious gem. It¡¯s karma, it¡¯s truly karma.¡± Xiao Chunhua laughed as she cried. She cried for the injustice her lost child suffered. Now that karma was at work so quickly, she couldn¡¯t help but feel ecstatic. Old Lady Liu¡¯s face was twisted and fierce with hate. ¡°It¡¯s all because our Liu Family married you, a star of misfortune, that we ended up like this! Xiao Chunhua, let me tell you, it doesn¡¯t matter whether or not you and Daqiang divorce, you will live as part of the Liu Family and die as a ghost of the Liu Family. Even if you die, you have to die in the Liu household.¡± Having said that, she lunged to grab Xiao Chunhua again. However, the villagers of Xiao Family Village stepped in to block her, sarcastically saying, ¡°Old Lady Liu, do you still think you¡¯re living in the old days? Xiao Chunhua is already divorced from Liu Daqiang, so she has nothing to do with your Liu Family. You¡¯d better scram now, or else don¡¯t blame us for being rude.¡± Old Lady Liu immediately sat on the ground, slapping her thigh, and wailing like her whole world was crashing down. ¡°Aiyoh, I¡¯m being bullied. The entire village is bullying me, a poor old lady! Is there no justice in this world?! If this is how you treat me, I might as well just die!¡± Everyone present wore a dark expression on their faces. Xiao Siqian had heard before that the women in rural areas tended to be shrewish and unreasonable. Now he finally saw that for himself. He quietly asked a nearby villager, ¡°Will she be okay crying and making a fuss like this?¡± Looking at Xiao Siqian with a smile, the villager replied, ¡°Hehe, what could possibly happen to her? We just let her off easy because she¡¯s an old lady. If she were younger, we would have thrown her out of the village already.¡± Xiao Siqian asked again, ¡°Are we really going to let her continue like this?¡± ¡°Continue? Hehe, it depends if she has the stamina for it.¡± The villager mockingly said, ¡°Now that Liu Bald and his son have been arrested, and the widow wants nothing to do with her, she¡¯s just trying to get Chunhua to come back and take care of their family. Humph, what does she consider Chunhua? Their family¡¯s slave? She wants to hit and scold Chunhua as she pleases, and after the divorce, she still wants someone to serve her? She is really living in a world of fantasy, daydreaming! ¡± Xiao Siqian, Xiao Jinli watched the commotion for a while and felt that Xiao Chunhua could handle it herself, so she decided not to watch any further. She asked Xiao Siqian, ¡°Little Quan brother, I¡¯m going home. Are you coming back with me?¡± After thinking for a moment, Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Sister, you go home first; I¡¯ll stay here a little longer.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® she hadn¡¯t expected that a young man would enjoy watching such a spectacle. Well, if he liked to watch, he could just watch. With that thought, Xiao Jinli carried her school bag and walked home by herself. Upon reaching home, Xiao¡¯s mother looked at her returning alone and asked with confusion, ¡°Where¡¯s Little Quan?¡± Placing her school bag down and picking up an apple from the table, Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°He¡¯s still at the village entrance, watching the commotion.¡± ¡°A commotion?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother asked with surprise, ¡°What commotion is happening at the village entrance?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Sister Chunhua¡¯s ex-mother-in-law coming to find her,¡± Xiao Jinli explained. Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡® Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Catching Loach 1 (Second Update) (Happy New Year’ s Eve!) Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Catching Loach 1 (Second Update) (Happy New Year¡¯ s Eve!) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Siqian looked at the group of children surrounding the pond, feeling eager to join them. He said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Little sister, let¡¯s go take a look!¡± Xiao Jinli raised her eyebrows and nodded slightly, ¡°Alright then.¡± It was summer, so it wasn¡¯t cold anyway. When they reached the pond, Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°How big is this pond?¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°It seems to be one and a half mu, which is quite large.¡± Is it really? Xiao Siqian thought that this pond didn¡¯t seem as big as the one in his home. The pond at his house was half the size of this one and also had fish, but they were all very precious ornamental fish. This pond was surrounded by weeds, and there was a frame built at one end, covered in pumpkin and melon vines, wrapping tightly around it. From a distance, it looked like a small house. Water bamboo and lotuses were also planted in the pond. However, Xiao Siqian recognized the lotus but not the water bamboo. He asked directly, ¡°What are those clumps that look like reeds? They look like reeds but their leaves are bigger and greener.¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°That¡¯s water bamboo!¡± ¡°Water bamboo? What is that?¡± Xiao Siqian asked curiously, ¡°Can it be eaten?¡± ¡°Yes, water bamboo can be eaten.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°It can be eaten raw or cooked! When eaten raw, it¡¯s tender and crisp; when cooked and stir-fried, especially with beef, it¡¯s very delicious.¡± When Xiao Siqian heard her explanation, his mouth watered, wanting to try it. Xiao Jinli glanced at him and said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s actually the perfect season to eat water bamboo. I can ask Uncle Da Chun to pick some for us later if you want.¡± Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t refuse. The children were initially excited to see Xiao Jinli, but when they noticed the mud and dirt on their clothes, they dared not come closer. Everyone in the village, young and old, knew that Xiao Jinli was especially fond of cleanliness. She didn¡¯t like those who were unhygienic. Everyone wanted to be liked by Xiao Jinli, so if anyone wanted to see or play with her, they had to be clean from head to toe. ¡°Jinli!¡± ¡°Sister Jin Li!¡± Older children called her Jinli, while younger ones called her Sister Jin Li. ¡°Sister Jin Li, what are you doing here? Are you here to catch fish too?¡± A seven or eight-year-old child asked. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here to catch loaches today. I want to eat Loach Tofu. ¡°Jinli wants to eat loaches? I¡¯ll catch some for you later.¡± ¡°Sister Jin Li, I¡¯ll catch loaches for you too!¡± The children, big and small, competed with each other to catch loaches for Xiao Jinli. Xiao Jinli raised her hand and said loudly, ¡°Alright, once you catch them, I¡¯ll buy them from you.¡± After all, live loaches could be kept and eaten later. ¡°No need for money. We¡¯ll catch them for you. If our parents find out we took your money, they¡¯ll scold us when we go home.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, besides, we don¡¯t even know if it¡¯s easy to catch these loaches, or how many we can catch.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about being scolded by your parents, just say it was me, Xiao Jinli, who said it.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah!¡± The children were overjoyed. Xiao Jinli would buy their loaches, so they would have some pocket money in their hands. With this little pocket money, they can buy spicy strips or other small snacks. A group of adults, hearing the laughter of the children, suddenly found it amusing. One adult said with amusement, ¡°Haha, Jinli buying your loaches is just a disguised way of giving you some pocket money. But how much money you get depends on your ability and how many loaches you can catch.¡± ¡°Hehe, the atmosphere becomes so much more joyful when Jinli is here.¡± At this moment, Xiao Da Chun said, ¡°Jinli, you love eating fish. Just tell me how many and what kind of fish you want, and I¡¯ll give them to you!¡± Before Xiao Jinli could speak, Xiao Wanshan, who was helping to pour water, smiled and said, ¡°No need to give them for free. Your fish are all grass-fed, just tell me how many you can sell to me. Of course, I don¡¯t want to buy all the fish for myself, other people might want to buy some too, so make sure there¡¯s enough!¡± Xiao Da Chun said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. The restaurant has reserved 200 grass carps weighing around three jin each, and carps over half a jin each, there¡¯s still plenty left in the pond. I¡¯ve raised more than a thousand fish in this pond.¡± Xiao Wanshan laughed, ¡°But those over a thousand fish were also pre-ordered by others. Fine, just give me ten grass carps, ten carps, and three bighead carps.¡± These three types were all Xiao Jinli¡¯s favorites. Xiao Jinli liked to have grass carp fried in oil and then stir-fried with black bean chili sauce, braised carp, and bighead carp fish head soup. Xiao Da Chun smiled and said, ¡°Alright, you can catch them later.¡± Xiao Wanshan didn¡¯t refuse. Once the water in the pond was drained enough to expose the muddy bottom, they could start catching fish. However, since Xiao Jinli wanted to eat Loach Tofu, they needed to drain the water a bit more so the loaches would be easier to find and catch. After draining the water for a moment, the pond was left with a few small muddy pits with water, and they stopped draining. At this point, Xiao Da Chun waved his hand and shouted, ¡°Children, you can now come down and catch loaches. How much pocket money you get depends on how many loaches you catch. Remember, opportunities like this are rare!¡± Upon hearing Xiao Da Chun¡¯s words, the children were all excited, rolling up their pant legs and going into the pond one after another. Some didn¡¯t even bother to roll up their pant legs and stepped directly into the mud. Seeing this, the adults at home scolded with laughter, ¡°You little rascals, you got your clothes so dirty, go and wash them yourself when you get home.¡± Xiao Siqian saw the children go down to the pond and rolled up his pant legs to join them. Xiao Jinli looked at him doubtfully and asked, ¡°Little Quan Brother, do you know how to find loaches?¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± He really didn¡¯t know. He just wanted to have some fun now. Xiao Siqian watched the children in the pond excitedly groping for loaches, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll see how they catch them first, then learn from them.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± In fact, um, she didn¡¯t know how to catch loaches either. However, she had seen others catch them before. Before long, a child excitedly said, ¡°I heard it, I caught one.¡± ¡°I caught one too.¡± Everyone searched for loaches more enthusiastically. ¡°Ah, this loach is so slippery. I caught it and it slipped away.¡± ¡°I¡­ I found a turtle! It¡¯s such a big turtle.¡± ¡°Really? Let me see!¡± So a group of children ran to see the turtle. ¡°This turtle is so big, is it over a jin?¡± ¡°It should be.¡± ¡°Little Qiang, you hit the jackpot. This turtle is so expensive, can you sell it for over a hundred yuan?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ll go home and ask my dad.¡± ¡°Well, make sure to secure the turtle first, don¡¯t let it get away. Otherwise, you¡¯ll lose your money..¡± Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Catching Loach 2 (Third Update) Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Catching Loach 2 (Third Update) (Happy New Year¡¯ s Eve!) Translator: 549690339 In the pond, children catch loaches and soft-shelled turtles, while adults catch fish directly. A child caught a soft-shelled turtle, instantly igniting the excitement of the other children. They excitedly dug in the pond and scraped for catches, prompting adults to shout, ¡°Children, watch out for the fish in the pond; don¡¯t tread them into the mud!¡± Xiao Siqian, who had never played in the mud, quickly joined in and enjoyed the fun. He couldn¡¯t catch loaches, but he helped the adults catch fish. He watched as the adults caught fish as big as three jins and put them into a bucket. He also grabbed a similarly sized fish and put it in the bucket. Many times, the fish were slippery, and after he caught them, they escaped from his hand. The muddy water splashed on Xiao Siqian, covering his entire body, even his face, with mud. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± This laughter from some of the children ensued. ¡°Little Brother Xiao Quan, you can¡¯t even catch a single fish. Look at your face and body covered in mud, hahaha, it¡¯s hilarious.¡± ¡°Ah, ah, I see an eel!¡± ¡°Ha, Little Ding, did you get it wrong? Is it an eel or a snake? Don¡¯t confuse eels with snakes.¡± Eels don¡¯t bite, but snakes can. If bitten by a non-venomous snake, it¡¯s no big deal, but if bitten by a venomous snake, it can be serious. However, the snakes in the pond are generally non-venomous water snakes. Little Ding is a big kid, around thirteen or fourteen years old. He shouted loudly, ¡°It¡¯s an eel, not a snake, I saw it again. I¡¯ll catch it!¡± Xiao Siqian immediately went over, wanting to see what an eel looked like and how it was different from a snake. Eels are good at burrowing into mud, and perhaps because of the people¡¯s disturbance, it quickly burrowed into the mud. However, it was clear that Little Ding was good at catching eels. He dug out the mud according to where the eel had burrowed and saw its shadow. Then, he reached out and caught the eel. He held the eel and shouted, ¡°Look, I caught it, it¡¯s an eel, right?¡± Xiao Siqian stared at the eel in Little Ding¡¯s hand. This is an eel? It looks just like a snake. Apart from having slightly yellow skin, it doesn¡¯t seem to have much of a difference from a snake. Little Ding looked at Xiao Siqian, who was still staring at the eel in his hand, and asked doubtfully, ¡°Little Brother Xiao Quan, do you want this eel? Otherwise, I¡¯ll give it to you?¡± Xiao Siqian hesitated and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you need the eel? Can¡¯t the eel be sold for money?¡± Children in the countryside value money but are also happy with or without it. Little Ding said, ¡°If Little Brother Xiao Quan wants this eel, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± After all, the things found in the mud pond are not very precious. Even if their parents found out that he had given the eel to Xiao Siqian, they would approve. Xiao Siqian had initially gone to catch loaches, but he didn¡¯t catch any. He helped catch fish, but the fish escaped from his hands. He really wanted this eel. Not only this eel but also that soft-shelled turtle, he also wanted them. However, he was too embarrassed to say it out loud. Xiao Siqian reached out to take the eel. Just as Little Ding was about to hand it over, he remembered something and said to the shore, ¡°I¡¯d better put it into the bucket. When you go home, just take it with you.¡± Xiao Siqian, . Xiao Jinli, who was watching by the pond, tried to suppress her laughter. Everyone had a deep impression of Xiao Siqian¡¯s ineptitude at catching. After the adults had been busy in the pond for half a day and caught enough fish, Xiao Da Chun began to shout, ¡°Children, did you catch any loaches? Have you gotten any pocket money? I¡¯m going to release the water back.¡± There were still thousands of fish in the pond. They couldn¡¯t be kept in the water for too long, or they would lack oxygen and struggle to survive. Adults also shouted, ¡°Children, we¡¯re going to put the water back; come ashore now.¡± Hearing the adults¡¯ shouts, the children reluctantly came ashore one by one. However, the children¡¯s trip yielded quite a lot. Most of them caught loaches, ranging from three or four to more than a dozen. Then, crabs, small river snails, eels, soft-shelled turtles, and so on, were all caught by someone. Xiao Jinli bought these loaches for five mao a piece, which was actually a bit expensive. But she was willing to give the children pocket money, and the adults also enjoyed the bustling scene. Little Qiang came over and asked, ¡°Jinli, do you want this soft-shelled turtle?¡± Xiao Jinli looked at the soft-shelled turtle that weighed more than one jin and said, ¡°Does your family want it?¡± Little Qiang shook his head, ¡°I want to give it to you!¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t refuse and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll accept it. When we go home, I¡¯ll weigh it and pay you according to the market price in the open market town.¡± Little Qiang didn¡¯t refuse either. He nodded and said, ¡°Alright. Then I¡¯ll put this soft-shelled turtle directly into your bucket.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at Little Ding and said, ¡°Little Brother Ding, I¡¯ll also weigh this eel when we get back and pay you accordingly.¡± Little Ding¡¯s eyes lit up and said, ¡°Okay, thank you, Jinli!¡± Children were eager for their pocket money. Little Ding was no exception. Though he initially wanted to give the eel to Xiao Siqian, he wouldn¡¯t refuse if Xiao Jinli was willing to pay for it. At worst, he will just accept a little less money when the time comes. Xiao Siqian carried a big bucket full of assorted wild catches back home directly. However, his eyes kept glancing at the things in the bucket. He hadn¡¯t expected that opening the pond in the countryside would be so fun. After returning home, there was a small concrete pool in the yard. This small pool was built because Xiao Jinli loved to eat fish. Xiao Junxuan saw Xiao Siqian carrying a bucket back and asked with a smile, ¡°Is there fish in this bucket?¡± Xiao Siqian replied, ¡°It¡¯s loaches, eels, and soft-shelled turtles!¡± ¡°Ha, you have all of these things!¡± Xiao Junxuan was slightly puzzled. Xiao Siqian explained, ¡°These things were all bought by my sister from the children. ¡± ¡°Bought?¡± Xiao Junxuan was a bit surprised, ¡°All these things!¡± ¡°Yes. My sister wanted to eat Loach Tofu, so she bought the loaches from the children for five mao each. When Xiao Siqian mentioned this, Xiao Junxuan suddenly understood. He laughed and said, ¡°Oh, so my sister just wanted to give the children some pocket money.¡± Xiao Siqian, who never lacked money, asked with some curiosity, ¡°Is it really so difficult for children to get pocket money?¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right. Every penny earned by rural parents is not easy, and they are very careful about spending. In general, they don¡¯t give children pocket money. If children need money, they have to figure it out themselves. For example, picking herbs or collecting garbage, as long as there is no stealing, no robbing, and no danger to life, most parents are at ease.¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± It turns out that getting pocket money is really so difficult for children. He used to have a shallow understanding, thinking that every family had a specific plan for their finances, and that children¡¯s pocket money was planned the same way. Now he knows that many places are not what he thought they were.. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Buying a Combine Harvester (Part 1) (Happy New Year!) Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Buying a Combine Harvester (Part 1) (Happy New Year!) Translator: 549690339 The unthreshed rice was directly carried to the grain drying field. The grain drying field was a large flat area, paved with cement, and was where the villagers of Xiao Family Village usually dried their things. However, the drying field was only so big, with a capacity of 20,000 to 30,000 pounds at a time, and there would be no space for any more. Thus, families who wanted to dry their grain here had to make arrangements in advance, agreeing on when to harvest and ensuring enough time to allocate space on the drying field. Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family had five acres of land and 16 dan of unthreshed rice. After removing the rice spikelets and leaves and drying the water content, there would be around 12 or 13 dan of rice, which was considered a good yield. Xiao Junxuan and Xiao Siqian were waiting at the drying field, sitting on a pile of straw in the shade of a tree, chatting. Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°Brother Xuan, is the rice harvesting done all by human labor? Aren¡¯t there combine harvesters available now?¡± He didn¡¯t know much about agriculture or crop harvesting, but he had watched the news and had some knowledge of it. The news reported daily on combine harvesters being used to harvest rice, wheat, and various other crops, with very high efficiency, capable of harvesting tens or even hundreds of acres of land in a single day. Xiao Junxuan replied, ¡°In the countryside, each household doesn¡¯t have much land, and combine harvesters are very expensive, costing tens of thousands of yuan. Rural people¡¯s money is hard to come by, and no one is willing to spend such a huge amount to buy a combine harvester.¡± The general thought of rural people was that they were reluctant to spend money. Furthermore, rural people tended to be more conservative, feeling safer with money in their hands. Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Hasn¡¯t anyone thought about buying a combine harvester and using it not just for their own rice but also for harvesting other people¡¯s rice and charging a fee for it? I¡¯ve heard that a combine harvester can harvest dozens of acres of land in a single day, saving a lot of manpower and time.¡± After hearing Xiao Siqian¡¯s words, Xiao Junxuan was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Quan, I didn¡¯t expect that you actually have a business mindset.¡± Xiao Siqian was also slightly stunned, a little confused. Was this what having a business mindset meant? Had he, the inheritor of a business conglomerate, not have this kind of mindset? Xiao Junxuan didn¡¯t care about what Xiao Siqian thought. He laughed and said, ¡°Of course people have thought about it. But many people would be reluctant to spend a large amount of money on a combine harvester that costs tens of thousands, or even over a hundred thousand yuan. There¡¯s also the uncertainty of when they¡¯ll make their money back. What if it takes several years to make their investment back, and by then the harvester has broken down? So, there are many factors that make farmers hesitate when it comes to combine harvesters.¡± Xiao Siqian couldn¡¯t understand rural people¡¯s thinking. To him, this seemed like a huge business opportunity. Of course, in the business world, every opportunity comes with risks alongside its potential rewards. But to make money, one needs courage and determination. Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°Brother Xuan, why don¡¯t our family buy a combine harvester?¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°We had thought about buying a combine harvester before, but my dad and I both have regular jobs and don¡¯t have time to maintain it.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you hire someone to operate it? Why do you have to do it yourself?¡± Xiao Siqian asked in confusion. ¡°You can just pay them a daily wage.¡± Listening to Xiao Siqian¡¯s words, Xiao Junxuan looked at him with a stunned expression. Xiao Siqian, feeling strange under Xiao Junxuan¡¯s gaze, asked, ¡°Brother Xuan, what¡¯s wrong? Is there something on my face?¡± Xiao Junxuan came to his senses and said with slight excitement, ¡°Xiao Quan, how did you think of this idea? When my dad and I were considering buying a combine harvester, we thought about operating it ourselves for others¡¯ harvest, but we never thought about hiring someone else to do the work!¡± Xiao Siqian thought, ¡°Why do you have to do everything yourself?¡± In fact, this had something to do with Xiao Junxuan¡¯s mindset of growing up in the countryside. After all, in their minds, buying a combine harvester was like buying a car, which they would naturally want to drive themselves to feel more secure. As if inspired by Xiao Siqian¡¯s ideas, Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Now that you mention it, I think my dad and I should have a good discussion about whether or not to really buy a combine harvester. We don¡¯t have time to operate it ourselves, but we can hire someone. There are many relatives and friends who would be willing to work. Xiao Quan, according to you, should we buy a large combine harvester or a small one?¡± The family now had enough money to buy either a large or a small one. Xiao Siqian thought for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ve seen news reports before, small combine harvesters can harvest a maximum of about 20 to 30 acres of land per day, especially if it¡¯s connected to a flat plain. Large combine harvesters can harvest hundreds of acres of land in a single day. Brother Xuan, the combine harvester we buy can not only be used for harvesting in our village, but also in other villages. Do other villages have combine harvesters?¡± Xiao Junxuan thought for a moment and said, ¡°As far as I know, there are no combine harvesters in the surrounding ten miles and eight villages.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I mean.¡± Xiao Siqian smiled and said, ¡°These ten miles and eight villages don¡¯t have any combine harvesters. We can charge a certain fee for harvesting for others, and many people would be willing to use machines for rice harvesting, as long as the fee is within their affordability. In these ten miles and eight villages, and even more villages, there must be tens of thousands, or at least three to four thousand acres of rice fields. As long as one-fifth of the people are willing to use the machines for harvesting, there will be eight or nine hundred acres of land, and charging a hundred yuan per acre, that would bring in eight or nine thousand vuan of income. Plus, two seasons of rice planting can double that! Of course, these conditions are assuming there are no competitors. However, in my opinion, any business opportunity requires taking the initiative.¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s words left Xiao Junxuan stunned once again. Xiao Siqian looked at his dumbfounded expression, and asked hesitantly, ¡°Brother Xuan, what¡¯s wrong? Did I say something wrong?¡± Xiao Junxuan came to his senses and shook his head, saying, ¡°No, Xiao Quan, you¡¯re absolutely right! Your words have really broadened my thinking.¡± As they spoke, he suddenly asked in astonishment, ¡°Xiao Quan, have you regained your memory?¡± Xiao Siqian was taken aback, ¡°What?¡± ¡°If you haven¡¯t regained your memory, how did you know about the news reports on combine harvesters?¡± Xiao Junxuan asked suspiciously. ¡°Or have you seen any recent news reports on combine harvesters?¡± During the busy farming season, there would be many news reports on rural matters. Xiao Siqian quickly composed himself and said, ¡°Yes, it was a recent news report I saw.¡± Xiao Junxuan didn¡¯t doubt him any further. After all, who would think that an 18-year-old would lie to others with the excuse of amnesia? The two of them continued discussing the combine harvester issue for a while, and then the rice was carried back by the others. After that, the two of them started working.. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Sun-drying the Grains (Second update) Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Sun-drying the Grains (Second update) Translator: 549690339 Due to the slightly elevated location of the drying yard, rice was brought over by a tricycle driven by Xiao Wanshan. Well, in this era, only two or three families in the village own a tricycle. There are not many people in the village who can ride a tricycle, so Xiao Wanshan brought it over personally. The villagers don¡¯t know how much money the Xiao Wanshan family has, but they have all the convenient transportation tools. Cars, motorcycles, tricycles; other families, having a motorcycle alone means their living conditions are considered good. After the tricycle was parked, the three of them took down the bags of rice one by one. When Xiao Siqian offered to help, Xiao Wanshan asked, ¡°Xiao Quan, can you handle it? Each bag of rice weighs at least seventy to eighty jin.¡± The main reason was that Xiao Wanshan thought Xiao Siqian was too thin, not like a strong child. Xiao Siqian nodded, ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry, I can handle it!¡± It¡¯s a joke, as someone who exercises every day and can single-handedly knock down a dozen thugs, he wouldn¡¯t struggle to carry a small bag of rice. Having said that, Xiao Siqian picked up a bag of rice, pulled it a bit, and it barely moved. He slightly knitted his eyebrows, exerted some strength, finally moved it, then reached out, pushed with his thigh, held the bag of rice in his arms, and staggered a few steps. Xiao Junxuan laughed, ¡°Haha, Xiao Quan, if you can¡¯t do it just say so. My dad and I will take care of it. You can just open these bags and pour the rice out.¡± Having said that, he took the bag of rice from Xiao Siqian¡¯s hands and placed it steadily on an open space. Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± He underestimated these farm tasks. At first glance, they seemed simple tasks that only required physical strength, but it wasn¡¯t that straightforward. It was indeed a misjudgment. In order not to embarrass himself, Xiao Siqian followed Xiao Junxuan¡¯s instructions to untie the bags. The mouths of these snake skin bags were all tied with thin ropes. During his time in Xiao Family Village, he could handle some simple farm work. For example, untie these small ropes and pour the rice onto the ground. When the rice was poured out, it was all golden, very dazzling and beautiful. However, the rice had just been taken from the field and had not been sorted properly, so there were some rice straw leaves and green granules mixed in. The rice straw leaves could be slowly swept out while turning and sunning the rice. As for the green granules, they would be very light after drying, and could be shaken out using a grain windmill, leaving behind the golden full grains. Of course, the green granules could also be crushed by machines and turned into bran to feed chickens, ducks, pigs, and so on. More than a dozen bags of rice were quickly placed by the father and son duo. Xiao Wanshan drove the tricycle away as there was still some rice left in the field that had not been brought up yet. Xiao Junxuan and Xiao Siqian were left to sun the rice. Xiao Siqian, following the principle of asking if he didn¡¯t know, asked, ¡°Brother Xuan, how do we do this?¡± Xiao Junxuan pointed to two tools used for sunning rice in his hand and said, ¡°These are bamboo rakes and push scrapers, both used for sunning rice. Now that the rice is in small piles, we use these two tools to spread and thin them. Which one would you like to use?¡± Xiao Siqian smiled and said, ¡°I can use either.¡± Xiao Junxuan handed him the bamboo rake and then they started working. After taking the tools, Xiao Siqian watched Xiao Junxuan¡¯s method for a moment and then started working in the same way. At the beginning, it was a bit clumsy, but soon, he got the hang of it. He quickly realized that sunning rice was not that difficult. Sunning rice was physical work, but the two grown men had the strength for it, and soon after, they had spread out ten bags of rice to dry. However, when Xiao Junxuan turned to look at the rice that Xiao Siqian had sunned, he almost burst into laughter. He saw the rice Xiao Siqian sunned was too thin, only drying to a single layer of grains. No wonder it took so long to spread out just one bag. Xiao Junxuan laughed, ¡°Xiao Quan, this is too thin, it won¡¯t work.¡± Xiao Siqian asked, puzzled, ¡°Why not? Isn¡¯t sunning it thin enough?¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°If it¡¯s too thin, it takes up too much space, and the small drying yard can¡¯t accommodate so much rice. Don¡¯t worry, we can add more later.¡± Just as the two of them took a break, Xiao Wanshan returned with the tricycle. Seeing the full truck of rice, Xiao Junxuan asked, ¡°Dad, how many bags have we cut today?¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°We had sixteen bags just now, and there are another fifteen here! That¡¯s a total of thirty-one bags.¡± Xiao Junxuan¡¯s eyes lit up, and he happily said, ¡°This year¡¯s harvest is not bad, we have as many as thirty-one bags. Last year, I remember, we only had twenty-six or twenty-seven bags.¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°What¡¯s the point of comparing these? Each time we bag the rice, the size and weight are different, so the number of bags we have each year is different too. However, this year¡¯s rice is more mature than in previous years, and there are fewer green granules.¡± The father and son quickly moved the bags from the back of the tricycle. Afterward, Xiao Wanshan parked the tricycle aside and busied himself sunning the rice. Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t have any rice tools to use, so he just stood on the side and watched the father and son work. Both father and son had great strength and were very good at their work. They soon finished sunning the rice. After placing the nearby tools, Xiao Wanshan looked at the sky and said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s a good day. With this kind of weather, we¡¯ll only need to sun the rice for two days and then it can be stored.¡± Xiao Junxuan also laughed, ¡°This day is indeed good. However, the weather nowadays is unpredictable. One moment it¡¯s a clear sky, and the next moment it¡¯s covered with dark clouds. As they say, June weather, like a child¡¯s face, changes without warning.¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°Rural people depend on the weather to work. When we have stuff drying at home, we don¡¯t go far away. As soon as the weather changes, we must immediately start packing up.¡± Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°What if the rice gets rained on?¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°What can we do? If it rains for a while, then stops, we¡¯ll have to continue to spread the rice out to dry. There won¡¯t be much loss this way. If it keeps raining and continues into the second day, the rice will get moldy and sprout.¡± ¡°So fast!¡± Xiao Siqian was a bit surprised. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why, during the rice drying time, we have to stay at home. If it rains, we¡¯ll lose half a year¡¯s harvest, and our efforts will be in vain,¡± Xiao Wanshan sighed, ¡°People who farm have to rely on the weather to eat.¡± Xiao Siqian fell silent. He knew that rural people had a hard life, but he didn¡¯t quite understand how hard it was. After all, his previous life was completely different from life in the countryside.. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Xiao’s Mother’s Amazing Cooking Skills (Third Update) Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Xiao¡¯s Mother¡¯s Amazing Cooking Skills (Third Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Wow, it smells so good!¡± ¡°Xiaofang¡¯s cooking skills are so impressive. We haven¡¯t even entered the yard, and the aroma has already greeted us.¡± ¡°I think I smelled radish stewed beef.¡¯ ¡°I smelled braised pork.¡± ¡°And also chicken, must be old hen soup.¡± When everyone arrived, Xiao Jinli was in the yard, cleaning the bowls and chopsticks to be used. Seeing everyone came over, Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°My uncles and aunts, your noses are really sensitive. All those dishes are made, my mom also made beef offal, spicy blood dishes, stuffed tofu, braised pork feet¡­¡± ¡°Ha Ha, with so many delicious dishes today, we are surely blessed.¡± Everyone laughed, ¡°I am drooling just from the aroma.¡± ¡°Every time I pass by your house and smell the meals, I always want to come and mooch a meal, but I feel too embarrassed.¡¯ Visiting Xiao Wanshan¡¯s home for a meal once or twice is fine, but doing so too often is definitely not acceptable. Given Xiao Wanshan¡¯s affection for his wife, he would certainly send those who come for free meals away. Jokes aside, having an additional person for a meal would just add to the burden of his wife. Xiao Jinli naturally understands her father¡¯s nature and laughed, ¡°We will invite everyone to dine with us when the opportunity arises.¡± However, we can¡¯t tire mom out and instead, it¡¯s okay to push brother a bit. After all, he inherited the cooking talents from mom, and he can prepare meals almost as well as mom. But, mom loves to cook for the family, hence, brother doesn¡¯t really get a chance to do so often. Once everyone arrived, they took their seats. It was a big round table that can accommodate eleven or twelve people easily. With seven or eight people who worked and the five members of the Xiao family, it¡¯s just enough to fill a big table. Of course, there were also adults who brought their children along. However, the children didn¡¯t sit at the table. The children were served some rice and dishes and they would eat at a smaller table. Xiao Jinli, well, she did sit at the table. Because the people of Xiao Village never treated her as an ordinary child. Xiao Junxuan brought the dishes out from the kitchen one by one. Braised pork with dried bean curd, radish stewed beef, beef offal, spicy blood dishes, stuffed tofu, braised pork feet, eggy-stewed needle mushroom, eggplant claypot, vinegar-yuhe stewed pig intestine, and a steamed bass, seaweed beer duck, hand-torn cabbage, sausage fried garlic sprouts, assorted vegetables, and an old hen soup. A full table of dishes, all looking and smelling great, tempting enough to make people drool. ¡°Wow, Xiaofang¡¯s dishes are not only beautiful but also appetizing.¡± ¡°Indeed, look at this braised pork and braised pork feet, the color is so vibrant, it¡¯s so beautiful, and it smells incredibly good too. The braised pork feet I cook ends up either white or black, my children at home always ask me to learn how to cook this dish from Xiaofang.¡± Chen Qiuhua spoke with a slight trace of helplessness, ¡°I¡¯ve watched Xiaofang quite a few times and tried to cook it myself at home as well, but it¡¯s never as flavorful.¡± Her kids at home love this dish, so she also wanted to learn how to make it, but no matter how she tried, there was always something missing. Xiao Changchun laughed and said, ¡°Ha ha, that just proves that you don¡¯t have a knack for cooking! ¡± ¡°Ha ha, that¡¯s true. Not everyone has Xiaofang¡¯s talent for cooking. It¡¯s just a shame that Xiaofang doesn¡¯t open a restaurant, otherwise, it would be quite a prosperous business.¡± ¡°Heh, Wanshan won¡¯t even let Xiaofang cook for their family, even less so start a restaurant. It would be even more exhausting.¡± ¡°In my opinion, Wanshan, with Xiaofang¡¯s cooking skills, your restaurant would surely be profitable. Why not just open one?¡± Xiao Changchun laughed and said, ¡°Running a restaurant is always better than farming.¡± Someone immediately chimed in, ¡°Wanshan doesn¡¯t rely solely on farming for a living. Both he and Junxuan have formal jobs in the county town. Farming for them is just to avoid having to buy rice. Plus, Xiaofang doesn¡¯t like to stay idle throughout the year, so she helps out a bit with the farming. Unlike us, who have to rely on farming to make a living.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, running a restaurant really is exhausting. The preparation of ingredients alone is cumbersome, not to mention the strenuous task of stir-frying.¡¯ ¡°Oh, if only I had those cooking skills, I¡¯d open a restaurant no matter how tiring or tough it might be. It is far better than farming.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a pity you don¡¯t have those skills.¡± Everyone began to sit down, exchanging quips and comments with each other. Jinli even scooped a pot of rice wine from the room. Seeing this, Xiao Changchun immediately asked, ¡°Jinli, did your mother brew this wine? What flavor is it? It smells so good!¡± Jinli said, ¡°This is osmanthus wine. It¡¯s very fragrant. Uncles, you must drink it well. ¡± ¡°Osmanthus wine, great, great, I must have a good few bowls later. Xiaofang¡¯s brewed wine is also unique.¡± ¡°Is it true that anyone who can cook can also brew wine?¡± someone asked. ¡°Xiaofang is excellent at cooking and brewing wine. Wanshan, let me tell you, we don¡¯t get to taste your wife¡¯s meals often, but this wine, anyhow, you have to sell me some. I don¡¯t have many hobbies, but I do enjoy sipping on a glass or two.¡± ¡°Yes, Xiaofang, how much wine did you brew this time? Can you spare some for me? I usually like to drink a little wine before going to sleep at night, it helps me to sleep better.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother wiped her hands and laughed, ¡°This time I brewed two Sho (unit of volume) of rice. It¡¯s quite a bit of alcohol, so you can take some with you when you leave.¡± Those who are fond of wine would not refuse. ¡°That¡¯s great, Xiaofang, thank you for that.¡± However, Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°There¡¯s no more of our wine to sell, just like Xiaofang said, you can take some home. This little bit of wine is not enough for me to drink.¡± Xiao Wanshan is not a big drinker. but his wife¡¯s brewed wine. no matter how you drink it, always tastes good. He only likes to drink the wine brewed by his wife. Upon hearing this, Xiao Changchun and the others laughed and scolded, ¡°I say, Wanshan, you can always have your wife brew more wine when yours runs out. It¡¯s just a little bit of wine, and you can¡¯t bear to sell it.¡± ¡°Xiaofang, we won¡¯t listen to Wanshan. You tell us, can you sell us some of this wine?¡± someone laughed and asked. Before Xiao¡¯s mother could answer, Xiao Wanshan immediately shook his head and said, ¡°No way, brewing wine is also a tiring job, I can¡¯t bear to have Xiaofang brewing wine every day. Alright, it¡¯s already nice that you can take some wine with you. Don¡¯t ask for too much. Otherwise, I won¡¯t even let you take this small amount of wine.¡¯ ¡°Ha ha, Wanshan, you miser. Who else is as stingy as you?¡± Xiao Changchun and the others laughed and jeered, ¡°It¡¯s just a little wine, why all the fuss?¡± Xiao Wanshan justified his stand, ¡°But this little bit of wine is also tiring for my wife. Xiao Changchun and the others, All right. There¡¯s no reasoning with a¡­wife doting¡­maniac. They worry about their wives getting tired all day long. Their wives aren¡¯t porcelain dolls, who would get tired from doing a little work.. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Good Son Xiao Junxuan – First Update (Happy New Year!) Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Good Son Xiao Junxuan ¨C First Update (Happy New Year!) Translator: 549690339 At this lunch at the Xiao family¡¯s, everyone ate to their heart¡¯s content. More than a dozen dishes, all of them were eaten clean, even the soup was all gone. If someone didn¡¯t know, they¡¯d think that the host did not make enough food. It was the first time Xiao Siqian saw rural people so happy at the dining table, drinking and chatting, talking about everything, and not having to worry about their image at all. Even if they got drunk and collapsed on the table, they would be sent home in a while. There were none of those strict and old-fashioned rules like ¡°not speaking while eating or sleeping¡± at his old house, and when it came to eating, they had to follow various dining etiquette, mainly focused on nutritional balance, avoiding overly spicy or oily food, and taking care of the digestive system. Now Xiao Siqian understood that it¡¯s not about the so-called nutritional balance, but rather about mixing meat and vegetables, eating well, and regular exercise for good health. Is there any data to show that the physical quality of people who eat scientifically and are wealthy is better than that of rural people? Centenarians are common in the countryside. But those who are over ninety years old and wealthy actually hang onto life with money. There was a gambling tycoon who spent several hundred million just to live one more year. However, centenarians in rural areas can still run swiftly with heavy burdens on their shoulders. Xiao Siqian thought about this and felt that the rich people¡¯s scientific health regimen was like a joke. Although rural people don¡¯t have much money, they live happily and eat with peace of mind. After the villagers left one by one, Xiao Jinli suddenly asked Xiao Siqian, ¡°Brother Little Quan, did you get enough to eat?¡± Every time people came to eat at their house, no matter how much food they prepared, all the dishes would be cleaned up. Because if you eat at his house, you have to act fast, otherwise, it will end up in someone else¡¯s mouth. Xiao Siqian¡¯s table manners were excellent, he was well-cultured and polite, and his family never fought over food. But when people came over, it was different. With Xiao Siqian¡¯s previous dining etiquette, it would have been a wonder if he could even grab a bite to eat. Xiao Siqian was slightly startled, then smiled, ¡°Sister, I¡¯m full.¡± It¡¯s not like he¡¯s inflexible and can¡¯t adapt. Seeing everyone grabbing food, he definitely wouldn¡¯t be slow to join in. Nothing is more important than filling one¡¯s own stomach. If you don¡¯t eat enough, how can you work in the afternoon? Xiao Siqian had already deeply understood this truth in these past days. Xiao Jinli nodded without asking anything more. She just helped clean up the bowls on the dining table. Except for Xiao Jinli who was too young to drink, everyone else had had some drinks, especially Xiao Wanshan, whose voice grew louder and he kept hugging Xiao¡¯s mother and shouting, ¡°Wife, I love you, wife, I love you.¡± In front of their children, Xiao¡¯s mother blushed beet red in embarrassment. As for Xiao Jinli and Xiao Junxuan, they were used to such scenes. Anyway, their father, when drunk, would always grab their mother and confess his love, followed by passionate kissing. Xiao Siqian¡¯s expression was quite amusing, with his eyes wide open and round, looking very surprised. He never expected that Xiao Father, who seemed so honest and reserved, would become so enthusiastic and unrestrained after getting drunk. Being tightly embraced and passionately kissed by Xiao Father, Xiao Mother blushed and said angrily, ¡°Xiao Wanshan, you stubborn old man! Wait till you sober up, and see how I¡¯ll punish you!¡± Xiao Jinli and Xiao Junxuan, They had heard this at least a hundred times, if not a thousand. As soon as their father wakes up, he would completely forget his previous actions, and their mother would be appeased within no time. Not wanting Xiao Siqian, who had just arrived, to witness their bickering, Xiao Mother said to Xiao Junxuan and Xiao Jinli who were clearing the dining table, ¡°Brother, Little Bao, hurry up and help your father back to his room to sleep!¡± The drunk Xiao Father, although talkative, would fall asleep quickly once he was in bed! The brother and sister had no choice but to obey their mother¡¯s order. Then, with great expertise, they quickly removed the hand that was holding onto Xiao Mother ¨C one hand each from the two siblings. Xiao Jinli grabbed their father¡¯s wandering hand, while Xiao Junxuan supported him on the other side and helped him back to the room. After the siblings sent Xiao Father to his room, Xiao Mother, blushing, said to Xiao Siqian, ¡°Little Quan, let Aunt take care of the bowls and chopsticks. You¡¯ve been working all morning and had some drinks too. You should go back to your room and rest.¡± Xiao Siqian smiled and said, ¡°Aunt, I can help with the dishes.¡± Xiao Mother said, ¡°No need, no need. You should go back to your room and rest. I¡¯ll finish these bowls and chopsticks quickly. Besides, there aren¡¯t many dishes left in the kitchen.¡± After hearing Xiao Mother¡¯s last sentence, Xiao Siqian¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but turn red. Because the reason there weren¡¯t many dishes in the kitchen was that every time Xiao Siqian offered to help, he accidentally broke some. Xiao Siqian nodded, ¡°Alright, Aunt, I¡¯ll go back to my room and rest.¡± When he was about to go upstairs, he turned back and said, ¡°Aunt, Brother Xuan said we have to harvest the rice this afternoon. When it¡¯s time to harvest, remember to call me. I want to help!¡± Xiao Mother smiled and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll definitely call you. Since you¡¯re part of the family, you can¡¯t be left out of the family work!¡± Since he was really considered a family member, there was no need to make distinctions. Only when the family worked together would they truly feel like a family. Hearing this, Xiao Siqian happily went upstairs to rest. Xiao Mother tied on her apron and began to clean up the bowls and chopsticks on the dining table, putting them in a plastic basin. Before long, Xiao Junxuan came out. He said, ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve worked all morning too. You should rest. I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± Xiao Mother smiled, ¡°You¡¯ve been busy all morning too.¡± She felt happy having a thoughtful and considerate son. However, like his father, he always worried about tiring her out. This made her feel both gratified and a little helpless at the same time. Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°I¡¯m young and strong. Doing this little work won¡¯t tire me out. Mom, you¡¯ve cooked this entire feast all morning; you must be tired. Go and rest.¡¯ Xiao Mother said, ¡°It¡¯s not like I did it all by myself; your sister helped too.¡± Xiao Junxuan smiled and said, ¡°She might be able to help wash the vegetables, but if you ask her to cut them, she¡¯ll cut her hand too. She can¡¯t help much.¡± ¡°Alright, I can¡¯t win against you!¡± Xiao Mother laughed and said helplessly, ¡°I¡¯ll go rest for a while. Also, keep an eye on the weather. As soon as it turns cloudy, you must wake us up right away.¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± As Xiao Mother went to rest, Xiao Junxuan quickly put all the bowls and chopsticks in a basin, carried them to the yard, then washed and wiped the table clean with a cloth and detergent. When Xiao Jinli came out, she saw her brother washing the dishes. She rolled up her sleeves, wanting to help. Xiao Junxuan immediately stopped her, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Sis. You¡¯re not the material for this kind of work. There¡¯s not much work here; I can do it. You should go back to your room and rest.¡± Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Harvesting Grains (Second Update) Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Harvesting Grains (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 By three or four o¡¯clock, Xiao Junxuan went to the grain drying field. He grabbed a broom, circled around the rice, swept in the middle, and then the rice stalks flew together. After sweeping these rice stalks into a pile, Xiao Junxuan picked up a sieve and filtered them out. Soon after, the rice at the drying field became even more golden and full. However, Xiao Junxuan looked at the sky, and thought it was about time to pile up the rice. After some thought, he took out his cellphone and called home. The phone was answered by Xiao Jinli. Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Sis, it¡¯s time to harvest the rice, you can wake up mom and dad.¡± After hanging up, he used the broom to sweep the rice grains together. Before long, Xiao Mother, Xiao Jinli, and Xiao Siqian arrived. As for Xiao Father, he got drunk at noon and was difficult to wake up, so Xiao Mother didn¡¯t bother calling him. Anyway, since it¡¯s not raining and there¡¯s no rush to harvest the rice, it¡¯s no big deal. Xiao Mother came and picked up a broom and started sweeping. Xiao Jinli also did the same, sweeping with a broom as well. Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± what should he do? He looked around and didn¡¯t see any brooms. There were only three brooms in the house. Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°What should I do then?¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°You can take the push scraper board and collect the rice.¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± but how do you collect it? Xiao Junxuan put down his broom, picked up the push scraper board, walked toward the center, and scraped the rice together from all sides, bit by bit. Then he said, ¡°Xiao Quan, this is how you use it. There¡¯s another push scraper board over there.¡± Xiao Siqian picked up the other push scraper board and started gathering the rice. The two male students were strong, and Xiao Jinli was also strong, so sweeping the rice repeatedly wasn¡¯t very tiring. Xiao Mother had done this kind of work countless times, so sweeping the rice was not much of a challenge. Soon, the rice was piled into small hills. Xiao Siqian wondered, ¡°Do we have to pack the rice?¡± Xiao Mother said, ¡°No need. If we pack it now, we¡¯ll have to unpack it tomorrow, which is troublesome. Just pile the rice up, cover it with waterproof plastic film, and that¡¯s fine. Tomorrow morning, simply open the plastic wax film and spread out the rice to dry.¡± Xiao Junxuan also said, ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t rain at night, the rice won¡¯t get wet. Many people don¡¯t bother to collect the rice and just let it dry in the moonlight. However, during summer, rain is unstable, so most people collect the rice. Don¡¯t get lazy and end up getting the rice wet, or it will be too late to regret. ¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± couldn¡¯t help but sigh in his heart, it¡¯s not easy for these rural people, who always have to watch the sky, fearing a sudden rainstorm. Soon, the family finished covering the rice piles. Xiao Siqian asked again, ¡°Do we need to keep watch overnight?¡± Xiao Junxuan waved his hand and said, ¡°No need.¡± Xiao Siqian was puzzled again, ¡°If no one is watching, won¡¯t someone steal it at night?¡± Xiao Junxuan replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know about other villages, but in our village, there has never been such a thing as stealing. Every household leaves their rice out like this, and nobody steals it.¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡® Rural people are so simple and honest. No, for now, it¡¯s just that the people in Xiao Family Village are simple and pure. By the time they finished cleaning up, it was already five or six in the evening. Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± How did time pass so quickly? It seemed like they had just come out a while ago! When the family returned home, Xiao Father was still asleep. People who get drunk can sleep for a particularly long time. For dinner, Xiao Mother simply cooked tomato and egg noodles. After waking up Xiao Father to eat dinner, he took a bath and went back to sleep. The next day, after breakfast, the whole family went to dry the rice again. Xiao Siqian¡¯s work today was much more skilled than yesterday¡¯s. But the price he paid was a layer of calluses on his palms, and some skin irritation. But he didn¡¯t make a fuss about it. As a man, enduring such hardship is nothing. After the rice is harvested, they also have to plant second season rice in the field. To plant the second season, they need to plow the land first. Nowadays, they don¡¯t use cattle to plow the land but machines instead. It costs 150 yuan per mu. There are people in Xiao Family Village who have it, and Xiao Wanshan had already made arrangements with them earlier. There are many households that need their land plowed now, so Xiao Wanshan has to wait his turn. Of course, since many families raised cattle, some chose to use cattle to plow the land. Xiao Wanshan and Xiao Junxuan didn¡¯t go anywhere these days. They didn¡¯t even go to work, at least until the rice was dried and stored. To the people of Xiao Family Village, the work of Xiao Wanshan and his son seemed somewhat mysterious. That¡¯s because only a few people knew what kind of work they were doing. Some people said they worked for a company, while others said that both father and son were employed by the government. Xiao Wanshan and his son neither confirmed nor denied. In fact, even Xiao Siqian was curious about what jobs they had in the county town. Their salaries were high but work was flexible, which sounded like iron rice bowls but didn¡¯t quite fit the description. Iron rice bowls had low salaries but good welfare. However, the money that the father and son handed over to Xiao Mother every month was several times that of ordinary civil servants. Once Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°Brother Xuan, what kind of job do you have in the county town? High pay and flexibility.¡± Xiao Junxuan smiled and said, ¡°If you¡¯re curious, why not come with me and see for yourself!¡± Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t refuse. It was fine in the morning, but during lunch, the sky suddenly darkened, and clouds gathered. The whole family immediately put down their bowls and hurried to the grain drying field. At this moment, the drying field quickly became busy, with someone shouting as they collected rice, ¡°It¡¯s going to rain! By the looks of it, it¡¯s going to be heavy. We have to get the rice in quickly.¡± Those nearby who weren¡¯t drying rice dropped what they were doing to help. In no time, the whole drying field was even busier with many people. Some people helped Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family. With the help of many hands, the rice was quickly piled up and covered with plastic film, which was then secured with bricks. After finishing their own rice, Xiao Wanshan and the others immediately went to help others. After all, Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family didn¡¯t have much land and their rice wasn¡¯t much either. And since there were many people, the work was done quickly. But most people in the village had more than 3-4 mu of land, so they had even more rice. The five members of Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family helped others collect rice separately. Soon, the rain began to fall drop by drop. ¡°Hurry up, hurry up, the heavy rain is coming.¡± All the people moved even faster. By the time the heavy rain arrived, the rice of many families had been packed up, but a few families¡¯ rice was soaked. However, there were only 3-4 loads of soaked rice, which was enough to break people¡¯s hearts.. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Pulling Seedlings from the Ground (Third Update) Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Pulling Seedlings from the Ground (Third Update) Translator: 549690339 After harvesting the rice, they began preparing for the planting of the second season rice. After plowing the field, Xiao Wanshan spread the fertilizer and manure in the field and let it ferment for several days. However, when Xiao Siqian saw the manure being spread in the field, he found it hard to accept. Xiao Jinli saw his slightly disgusted expression, rolled her eyes, and said with a hint of speechlessness, ¡°Do you know what this manure is called scientifically? It¡¯s called organic fertilizer, the cleanest fertilizer. Let me tell you, to grow green food, this manure is indispensable. Those merchants claiming to sell green food, who knows how they actually grow their crops behind closed doors? Maybe they¡¯re just chemically synthesized.¡± Although Xiao Siqian knew about it, hearing it from Xiao Jinli was another matter. Seeing his expression, Xiao Jinli continued, ¡°Besides, if you don¡¯t use this manure, can you expect pure soil and a bit of water to produce green food? If it were that simple, there wouldn¡¯t have been so many people starving to death in ancient times.¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s expression gradually softened, and he blushed slightly, saying, He didn¡¯t know how to explain his feelings. He wanted to say that he never knew green rice was grown this way before. But then he thought about his amnesia, and how could someone with amnesia know about the past? Xiao Jinli waved her hand and said, ¡°Brother Little Quan, you don¡¯t need to explain to me. If you can¡¯t get over this, then you might as well stop eating and live on air for a long and healthy life.¡± Xiao Siqian, As for working in the fields to transplant rice seedlings, Xiao Father didn¡¯t require Xiao Jinli to participate, and even refused to let the women join in because he didn¡¯t want his wife and daughter to be tired from working in the fields. But Xiao Junxuan was different. Since childhood, under his father¡¯s strict requirements, he was the best at working both inside and outside the home. Some villagers joked, ¡°Such a capable and well-rounded young man like Little Xuan, who can handle both official duties and kitchen work, will surely be sought after by the girls.¡± Xiao Father said with a smile, ¡°As a man, one must bear the responsibilities of a man. We must not spoil our sons. If a son is overly indulged, the ones to suffer and toil later will be my daughter-in-law and grandsons and granddaughters.¡± After hearing Xiao Father¡¯s words, everyone found it amusing and looked at Xiao Junxuan with a mix of pity and sympathy. Poor child, having such a strict and demanding father, it really is pitiful. Of course, the villagers, seeing Xiao Junxuan being so sensible and capable, loving his mother and sister, and having a harmonious and happy family with the days getting better and better, were also inspired and began to educate their own children. In this day and age, although boys and girls are treated equally, the perception in rural areas is still different between sons and daughters. A daughter, once grown up, must get married and leave her parents, not staying by their side. But a son, whether good or bad, will stay by his parents¡¯ side. Deep down, parents tend to be biased towards their sons. It may not be obvious on a daily basis, but when related interests are involved, this bias quickly becomes apparent. For example, a family with one son and one daughter, when the daughter gets married, they always want to raise the betrothal gifts higher. This way, there will be more money in the family to marry a daughter-in-law and buy a house for the son. Of course, a true heartache for their daughter, even if they take betrothal gifts, they will let their daughter take the betrothal gifts back to her small family. Ah, I digress. Although Xiao Father does not ask Xiao Jinli to work in the fields, Xiao Jinli, as a member of the home, wants to work with the family. Although they hired someone to do the transplanting of rice seedlings, the whole family still worked on it. Xiao Jinli and Xiao Mother went to the field to pull the seedlings. From the time she was five years old, Xiao Jinli could do this work. She skillfully pulled up her pant legs, stepped on the seedling bed, and looked at the lush green seedlings, her eyes shining. Xiao Mother looked at her and said with a bit of helplessness, ¡°Little Bao, every time I ask you to go to the field, don¡¯t pull up your pant legs. There are leeches in the field. Your skin is so tender, which is very attractive to leeches.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not afraid of leeches. If these leeches bite me, I¡¯ll dry them out on the ground.¡± Xiao Mother laughed and said, ¡°You, if I didn¡¯t know better, I would think that I gave birth to a boy, not even afraid of blood-sucking leeches. I don¡¯t know who you take after.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Of course, I take after my dad. When my dad was young, he was famous for not fearing anything. As his daughter, I must have inherited it.¡± Xiao Mother shook her head and said, ¡°Speaking of which, your dad was indeed fearless, but he was also a notorious little gangster in the ten miles and eight villages. He was lazy and troublesome, which almost made your grandfather spit blood with anger.¡± Xiao Jinli immediately said, ¡°Well, it¡¯s all thanks to you, Mom, for teaching my dad well. Look, my dad has turned into a completely different person after marrying you, hardworking and strong.¡± As Xiao Jinli spoke, she reached out and skillfully pulled a few seedlings out of the ground. Then she placed them in one hand and continued pulling until her hand couldn¡¯t hold any more. She then washed the mud off the seedlings in the slightly higher water ditch nearby, and finally tied them together with a straw in the middle. Once a bundle of seedlings was done, she set it aside. Then, she continued the work in her hands. In addition to Xiao Mother and Xiao Jinli, there were two other people involved in pulling seedlings: Chen Qiujie and Hu Liujiao. When Chen Qiujie heard the mother and daughter talking about Xiao Father¡¯s youth, she also laughed and said, ¡°Yeah, at that time, Wanshan was a complete gangster, always idle all day long. When he reached marriageable age, his parents were very worried. They sighed every day, saying that no girl would marry such a gangster, even if they did, they would certainly have to suffer. Any family that doted on their daughter would never let their precious girl marry someone like that.¡± At this point, she laughed and looked at Xiao Mother, continuing, ¡°But who would have thought that this gangster actually set his eyes on your mom. Your mom was a well-known beauty in the ten miles and eight villages. Her parents doted on her, and it was impossible for them to think highly of your dad, the gangster, even if your dad was handsome and tall. But, good looks can¡¯t be eaten as food. At that time, your dad was anxious and made a promise to your maternal grandparents. He swore that he would mend his ways and give your mom a good life. He would love her well and not let her suffer or struggle in life.¡± However, these words were nice to listen to, but no one knew what would happen in the future. In case he was just saying it and would change back to his old ways after marriage, it would be too late for their regrets. So, no matter how nice your dad spoke, your maternal grandparents did not agree. But, it was your mom who had a soft heart and believed your dad¡¯s words. Despite her parents¡¯ opposition, she insisted on marrying your dad. This really made your maternal grandparents angry. But, as it turned out, your mom really had an eye for people.¡± In fact, Xiao Jinli had heard many stories about her parents growing up, but the villagers just loved to talk about it. After all, Xiao Wanshan was a classic example of a prodigal son who made a comeback.. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Fear of Leeches (One update) Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Fear of Leeches (One update) Translator: 549690339 After participating in the drying of rice, Xiao Siqian took part in transplanting rice seedlings in the field. He knew that there was manure in the field, but by this point in time, he had adjusted his mindset and didn¡¯t feel too burdened about it anymore. Xiao Wanshan instructed Xiao Siqian saying, ¡°Little Quan, since you don¡¯t know how to transplant seedlings, you can handle the process of extracting seedlings. ¡± The so-called ¡°extracting seedlings¡± refers to the process during transplanting wherein one or two threads are drawn from one end of the field to the other, straightly. After that, the transplanting begins one by one, along the thread. This method creates straighter and more visually pleasing seedlings, making future weeding and fertilizing easier. Rural children are not very proficient in planting seedlings. Once the adults have drawn the lines, they instruct the children to transplant along these lines. Xiao Wanshan demonstrated as he explained, ¡°All you have to do is transplant along this line. The distance between two seedlings should be around twelve centimeters. Also, don¡¯t plant the seedlings too deeply. About half the depth of our thumb is fine.¡¯ While saying these words, he purposefully glanced at Xiao Siqian¡¯s fingers. They were slender and long, much like a girl¡¯s. He added, ¡°Your fingers are a bit longer, so you wouldn¡¯t need to use half of your finger.¡± Xiao Siqian watched attentively and after a while, he nodded, ¡°Okay, Uncle, I understand.¡± Xiao Wanshan smiled heartily, ¡°Ha ha, Little Quan is indeed a smart kid. Alright, I will entrust this task to you then. Our family doesn¡¯t have much land. With six people in the field, we can finish all the work in a morning.¡± If it was just his family doing the work, it would take them more than a day. But Xiao Wanshan always believed in finishing work early and thus, he would hire help every year. In fact, the work in the field was just his part-time job. He needed to finish it quickly so he could return to his main work. After Xiao Siqian got to the field, he took a bundle of seedlings. After undoing the straw, he bent over along the line and began planting one by one. In the beginning, he was rather clumsy. The heights of the seedlings he transplanted were uneven, but the distance between each seedling was like it was measured, all of the same length. Xiao Wanshan praised him, ¡°Little Quan, you¡¯re doing well.¡± Hearing Xiao Wanshan¡¯s praise, Xiao Siqian had a bashful smile. He felt embarrassed for being praised just for doing this amount of work, but at the same time, he felt rather warm inside. This family is wonderful. They lived in harmony and happiness. It was a blessed family. If possible, he wanted to stay in this family, taking on the persona of son, younger brother, and older brother permanently. But alas¡­ A flicker of complex emotion flashed across Xiao Siqian¡¯s eyes. After a moment, Xiao Jinli came over with her hands full of extracted seedlings. She looked at Xiao Siqian doing work and laughed, ¡°Brother Little Quan, you¡¯re doing a great job for your first time doing this kind of work. You¡¯re really amazing. ¡± Xiao Siqian, It was one thing to be praised by an adult, but it felt more embarrassing to be praised by a child. He laughed and said, ¡°Little sister, listen to what you¡¯re saying. Who knew whether I did this kind of work before or not. Your words are making me feel embarrassed.¡± After hearing his words, Xiao Jinli thought to herself, ¡°You must not have done this before. You were being chased by thugs, and your background must not be simple. How could a child with such a background know how to farm?¡± After speaking with Xiao Siqian for a while, Xiao Jinli took bundles of seedlings and threw them into the field. Xiao Jinli was strong, and she was accurate with her throws. Each bundle of seedlings was equally spaced out. As Xiao Siqian was seriously transplanting seedlings, he felt an itch on his calf. He couldn¡¯t help but reach out to scratch it, but when he scratched, he felt something cool and soft. He involuntarily lifted his leg to check and saw a black thing clinging to his leg. Seeing his actions, Xiao Jinli walked over. After seeing the thing on his leg, she said, ¡°It¡¯s a leech! You should not scratch it with your hand, otherwise, it will bite deeper.¡± Hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, Xiao Siqian¡¯s face instantly turned pale, fear and nervousness appearing in his eyes. He stuttered, ¡°Le¡­ leech!¡± This cool and soft thing, much like a snake, terrifies him. Before he entered the field, he didn¡¯t think that a leech would bite him. Seeing his unusual expression, Xiao Jinli immediately comforted him, ¡°Brother Little Quan, don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s alright. We¡¯ll just get rid of this leech.¡± She then used a small seedling, held the head and tail end with both hands, and gently scraped off the leech from Xiao Siqian¡¯s leg. The leech was easily removed. Once the leech let go, the wound on Xiao Siqian¡¯s leg began to bleed. For rural people, being bitten by a leech wasn¡¯t a big deal. They would just remove the leech and continue working. As for whether the wound needed to be disinfected or not, well, they had no such concept. Xiao Siqian looked at the leech Xiao Jinli had tossed onto the levee and then at his bleeding leg. His face turned even more pale, and his fear heightened. Seeing his appearance, Xiao Jinli showed concern and asked, ¡°Brother Little Quan, are you alright? I¡¯ve already removed the leech, so it¡¯s fine.¡± Xiao Jinli was somewhat confused. How could a grown man be so afraid of a small creature like a leech? Xiao Wanshan also noticed the commotion over here. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Xiao Bao?¡± Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°Brother Little Quan was bitten by a leech, but he doesn¡¯t look good! ¡± Being bitten by a leech, eh? Hearing that Xiao Siqian was not in good shape, Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°Little Quan, why don¡¯t you take a break?.¡± He glanced at Xiao Siqian¡¯s pale leg and added, ¡°Go back and apply some disinfectant to the wound. You don¡¯t need to worry, leeches suck blood but they are not poisonous. Xiao Bao, you go back with Little Brother Quan.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Okay! Brother Little Quan, let¡¯s go back.¡± Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t want anyone to see his weaknesses, but he couldn¡¯t hide them in front of Xiao Jinli. He shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He felt embarrassed for showing such fear and nervousness in front of a child. However, this fear came from deep within his heart. Xiao Jinli, however, was quite stern. She said, ¡°You say you¡¯re alright, but you look as white as a sheet. Let¡¯s go!¡± After saying that, Xiao Jinli rather rudely pulled Xiao Siqian up from the ground. Once she checked his leg and saw nothing left on it, not even an ant, she secretly nodded and said, ¡°Come on, Brother Quan, let¡¯s go home. The mud on your leg can be washed off at home, too!¡± Atter that, she dragged him away. Xiao Siqian could only instinctively follow her. Looking at Xiao Jinli¡¯s small figure with her assertive strength, he felt a warmth. He laughed and said, ¡°Jinli, I¡¯m glad to have met you and your family!¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, but then she laughed and said, ¡°Of course our family is great!¡± She absolutely adored and loved her family. Therefore, as long as she was there, she would not let anyone harm her family.. Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Mung Bean Soup in the Heat (Second Update) Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Mung Bean Soup in the Heat (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 After the busy period of harvesting rice and transplanting seedlings, peanuts and sweet potatoes at home began to be harvested. Xiao Siqian knew that farming was busy during the farming season, but when he truly experienced it, he realized how busy farming could be. Harvesting peanuts and digging sweet potatoes are not heavy work, but they do tire people out, especially when all the work has to be done manually. Xiao Wanshan and his son could not bear to see their wife and daughters (mother and sister) get tired, so they began to take care of the peanut harvesting and sweet potato harvesting. To harvest peanuts means pulling them out of the ground, the upper part is the plant, and the roots are all peanuts. When harvesting peanuts, if someone needs the land to cultivate rice, they would pluck the peanuts and pick them up to be picked at home. Once picked and brought home, there was no hurry to remove the peanuts. If there was time, they would pick them. If they did not have time, they would leave them as they won¡¯t get spoiled right away, so, first, they would get busy with the rice seedling transplanting. The Xiao family only grew one acre and five of rice. By comparison, there was no urgency for this peanut harvesting job. Aside from Xiao¡¯s mother doing household chores like washing clothes and cooking at home, the other four were all in the field pulling peanuts. After pulling out one peanut plant at a time, they neatly put them aside. When there were enough, they would tie them into large bundles and directly transport them home on a tricycle. However, the small paths in the field were too narrow for a tricycle to enter. This was when Cow King played its part. The bundled peanuts were placed on Cow King¡¯s back, and then Cow King would transport them to a broader place where the tricycle was parked and put the peanuts on the tricycle. The peanuts from five points of land were not much. With Cow King transporting some, and Xiao Father and Xiao Junxuan carrying one or two loads, it was more or less done. Xiao Jinli patted Cow King¡¯s head and said with a smile, ¡°Cow King, you¡¯ve worked hard. I¡¯ll give you a reward later.¡± As soon as Cow King heard the word ¡®reward¡¯, its eyes bulged round and gleamed brightly, it was clear that it liked the idea of the reward. Given that Xiao Siqian was delicate, Xiao Wanshan did not let him carry the peanuts, after all, this was arduous work; nor did he let Xiao Jinli carry. Fearing that the weight might hurt Xiao Jinli¡¯s little waist and impede her growth in future, what should they do? Xiao Bao was quite strong, but her strength lied in her arms. Her small waist would not be able to bear the heavy load. Not long after Xiao Wanshan and others left, elderly villagers came with small baskets to pick up peanuts from the field. Some even used hoes to turn the soil in the field, plowing out the peanuts buried deep in the ground. This phenomenon was common. Just like when people finished harvesting rice in their fields, others would go and pick up the fallen rice stalks and thresh them at home. No one would say anything, nor would anyone find it strange. After Cow King returned to its shed, it waited for its owner to reward it. As expected, after a while, its young master came to it. Xiao Jinli patted its little head and said with a smile, ¡°Well, Cow King, you¡¯ve worked hard. Here is your reward!¡± After saying this, Lingquan water flowed out of his fingertips directly into Cow King¡¯s mouth. After drinking the Lingquan water given by Xiao Jinli, it was very pleased and rubbed its head against Xiao Jinli¡¯s palm, evidently satisfied. Xiao Jinli stroked its fur and said, laughing, ¡°All right, it¡¯s ticklish. You rest now. I¡¯m going home!¡± Cow King was loath to see Xiao Jinli leave, but after drinking the pure Lingquan water, it felt very satisfied, it was in high spirits now, and it could even flirt with some cows! However, other cows were still kept in the cattle shed and were not accessible for flirting. Well, it might as well rest for a while. Next, Cow King laid down on the clean and dry floor, and quickly fell into a state of dormancy. After having lunch, the family began to pick peanuts under the shade of the trees. Since it was not cool enough, they even brought out the fan from the house. Nevertheless, the weather was hot and dry. Even with a fan under the tree, they still felt a bit irritable. Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°I¡¯ll go make some mung bean soup.¡± ¡°Hmm, go ahead!¡± Xiao¡¯s father nodded and said, ¡°In this kind of weather, drinking some mung bean soup can relieve the heat and make you feel better!¡± Xiao Junxuan looked at the tender peanuts they had picked and said, ¡°Mom, cook some young peanuts, I want them spicy and fragrant.¡± Xiao¡¯s father immediately gave him a glance and said, ¡°You have hands and feet, can¡¯t you do it by yourself, and yet you started giving orders to your mother!¡± Xiao Junxuan, ¡°¡­¡± He confirmed once again that he was adopted. Xiao Junxuan chuckled and said, ¡°Dad, Mom¡¯s cooking is more delicious, right, sister!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, the peanuts cooked by mom are more fragrant.¡± Not because she favored her brother, but because her mom¡¯s really tasted better. Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°Alright, if my children like to eat, what¡¯s wrong with making some? Xiao Quan, which flavor do you prefer for the peanuts?¡± Every time, Xiao¡¯s mother would ask Xiao Siqian¡¯s preference. Xiao Siqian said, ¡°I¡¯ll just have the same as Brother Xuan¡¯s.¡± Previously, he preferred light tastes, but since he arrived at the Xiao home, his taste has gotten heavier, and it was hard to eat light-tasting food anymore. Xiao¡¯s mother went to scoop the green beans first. After cleaning the green beans and draining the water, she roasted them in a clay pot for a while. The roasted green beans would be easier to soften when cooked later, otherwise, it would take a long time to cook unsoaked green beans until they¡¯re tender. She used a pressure cooker to cook the mung bean soup. While cooking the mung beans, Xiao¡¯s mother began to wash the fresh peanuts from the winnowing pan in the sink. After washing, she cooked them directly in an aluminium pot with salt, edible oil, and five-spice powder. After Xiao¡¯s mother had done all this, she went back to picking peanuts. In a short while, there was a ¡°hissing¡± sound from the pressure cooker. In no time, the scent of mung beans wafted out of the kitchen. Xiao Siqian inhaled the scent, ¡°It smells wonderful.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother grinned, ¡°It still needs more time.¡± About fifteen minutes later, Xiao¡¯s mother went to the kitchen to turn off the gas of the pressure cooker. She then checked the peanuts in the aluminum pot, tasted them and found they were not fully cooked and flavored yet, so she decided to cook a bit more. After a while, Xiao¡¯s mother walked out of the kitchen, smiling, and asked, ¡°The mung bean soup is ready, do you want it hot or cold?¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°In this hot weather, it is certainly more comfortable to eat cold.¡± Everyone else also expressed their wish for cold mung bean soup. Xiao¡¯s mother then poured out the mung bean soup from the pressure cooker and put it in cool water to cool down. After it cooled down, she put the mung bean soup in the freezer of the refrigerator. In the freezer, it didn¡¯t take long, at most twenty minutes, for the mung bean soup to cool down. After taking the mung bean soup out of the freezer, Xiao¡¯s mother served everyone a bowl, put it on the dining table, and shouted loudly, ¡°Come home and have a bowl of mung bean soup, it¡¯s ice cold and refreshing!¡± Xiao Junxuan did not hesitate to put down his work, washed his hands, rushed into the house, grabbed a bowl, and started drinking the mung bean soup. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Drinking this mung bean soup is really refreshing!¡± Everyone else felt the same way. In this kind of weather, drinking a cold bowl of mung bean soup is indeed very refreshing! Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Treat it as Travel! (Third Update) Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Treat it as Travel! (Third Update) Translator: 549690339 After the busy farming season ended at home, Xiao Father and big brother returned to their nine to five work schedules, and Xiao Jinli also finally had some free time. As others in the village were still working, even if Xiao Jinli wanted to help, no one would dare to bother her with any work. For the villagers, it was good enough that Xiao Jinli finished her family¡¯s work. When she wasn¡¯t busy, all she needed to do was be happy. So Xiao Jinli resumed her carefree days of grazing cows. Though, with Cow King at home, she didn¡¯t need to worry about them at all. Cow King could go out and come back on its own, even helping to manage the other cows. ¡°Ah, Jinli has fallen asleep again beside the haystack.¡± A few little friends were playing card games under the big tree and glanced at the unsociable Xiao Jinli, feeling somewhat disappointed. ¡°Jinli doesn¡¯t like noise and doesn¡¯t like playing with us. She prefers sleeping by the haystack. What can we do about it?¡± As the farming work of the Xiao Family had come to an end, Xiao Siqian also found himself with some free time. When Xiao Jinli went to graze Cow King, he followed along. However, while she was napping by the haystack, he sat under the big tree, watching the children playing. Listening to the children talking about Xiao Jinli, he immediately found it interesting. He asked with a smile, ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Jinli like playing with you all?¡± At this age, children usually enjoy having fun with their friends. Little puppy said, ¡°Jinli always thinks that we¡¯re stupid and doesn¡¯t like playing with us!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°Has Jinli always been this smart?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, Jinli has been smart since she was little. The adults told us that Jinli could talk when she was three months old, and she could chat with adults. At four months, she started learning to read. By the time she was eight months old, she could recognize every character in the dictionary. Then, Brother Junxuan happily showed Jinli ancient poems, and she could memorize them after reading them once. She also easily learned the math formulas that always give us headaches, like addition and subtraction, multiplication tables. It¡¯s as easy as eating a meal to her.¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± This is truly a genius among geniuses. ¡°When we used to try to play with Jinli, she would complain about how dirty we were and say that we were too stupid to play with her.¡± ¡°Jinli has always been handling big matters with the adults since she was young.¡± ¡°So, Jinli is different from us. She¡¯s someone who¡¯s meant to do great things.¡± Xiao Siqian, . He discovered that in Xiao Family Village, whether they were adults or children, they all blindly worshipped Xiao Jinli. While Xiao Siqian was inquiring about Xiao Jinli¡¯s situation, the perceptive Xiao Jinli heard everything clearly. Xiao Jinli looked up at the blue sky with her eyes wide open and thought, ¡°Although life is leisurely now, it might be a bit too boring. I should go to the city and explore. Maybe, I¡¯ll find something interesting there.¡± At dinner, Xiao Jinli told her family, ¡°Dad, mom, I¡¯m planning to go to Jianggan City tomorrow!¡± ¡°Ah, going to Jianggan City?¡± Xiao Mother sounded a bit worried, ¡°Xiao Bao, do you have any business there? If you¡¯re bored at home, you can go to the county town to play.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t know how many times I¡¯ve been to the county town. It¡¯s no fun. I just want to see what a big city is like.¡± ¡°But Jianggan City is quite far away. If we drive there ourselves, it will take more than two hours.¡± Xiao Mother sounded slightly concerned, ¡°How about this, if you really want to go to Jianggan City, I can go with you tomorrow.¡± Upon hearing his mother¡¯s words, Xiao Junxuan¡¯s eyes flickered, and he said, ¡°Mom, my little sister is already on vacation. Why don¡¯t we all go on a family Xiao Mother¡¯s eyes lit up immediately, ¡°Right, we can all go together. We can treat it as a family vacation. But can your father and brother make time for it?¡± Xiao Father laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. We wouldn¡¯t be able to relax if Xiao Bao goes alone. Let¡¯s all go together and treat it as a vacation.¡± Xiao Siqian had wanted to say that he would go with Xiao Jinli initially, but when the whole family decided to go, he kept quiet. The second day early in the morning, the whole family packed up and set off by car. They met villagers on the way, and if they were asked, they would smile and say that the whole family was going to Jianggan City for fun. The villagers would then smile back at them and tell them to have fun. As for Qing County, Xiao Siqian might not have heard of it before, but he must have heard of Jianggan City, a third or fourth-tier city. Xiao¡¯s mother prepared some snacks to prevent Jinli from getting hungry on the road. ¡°Xiao Bao, are you hungry? Do you want to eat some homemade mung bean cake?¡± Xiao Mother asked. This mung bean cake is made by Xiao¡¯s mother. Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not hungry.¡± As they passed a small shop, Xiao Jinli immediately got out of the car and bought an ice cream cone. Such cold and refreshing treats are delicious in this weather. The car was getting closer to Jianggan City, and more and more tall buildings appeared, gradually revealing the atmosphere of a big city. In Qing County, there were not many high-rise buildings at all. Except for a landmark 18 -story building, the highest floors of other buildings were only eight stories. But the closer they got to the city, the more stifling hot it felt. Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°The countryside is much cooler. Once we¡¯re here, besides the heat, no breeze can be felt at all.¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°In this big city, reinforced concrete buildings are everywhere, blocking the wind and making it even hotter.¡± Xiao Father asked Xiao Jinli, ¡°Little Bao, where do you want to go and explore when we get here?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Dad, I want to go to the library.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Xiao Father asked, ¡°To the library? Little Bao, don¡¯t you want to go shopping in the supermarket or the mall and buy some beautiful clothes and skirts? Or go to an amusement park?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Mom will buy me clothes and skirts, I don¡¯t need to worry about that! And there¡¯s not much fun in amusement parks.¡± Xiao Father, ¡°¡­¡± A child who is too sensible and well-behaved can also be worrisome sometimes. Other children would go to zoos or amusement parks or shopping for clothes and toys when they arrived at a new place, but his child wanted to go to the library as soon as they arrived. Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t know about her father¡¯s concerns, she said, ¡°Dad, drop me off at the library, then you can have a good time shopping with Mom.¡± As for her brother, she didn¡¯t need to arrange for him; he would find his own friends. Xiao Mother worriedly asked again, ¡°Little Bao, can you be alone in the library? How about sending your brother with you?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Mom, I won¡¯t run around in the library, don¡¯t worry. As for my brother, he wants to find his friends.¡± Xiao Siqian then said, ¡°Aunt, I will accompany my sister.¡± Xiao Mother asked, ¡°Xiao Quan, do you want to go shopping with us?¡± Xiao Siqian immediately shook his head, ¡°No, no. I also want to go to the library and read some books.¡± He didn¡¯t want to be a third wheel. Xiao Mother laughed and said, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll leave Little Bao in your care.¡± ¡°Aunt, it¡¯s my duty..¡± Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69: A Small Incident in the Library 1 (First Update) Chapter 69: Chapter 69: A Small Incident in the Library 1 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After sending Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian to the library, the family left. Xiao¡¯s mother repeatedly urged, ¡°Xiao Bao, don¡¯t run around here, wait for mom and dad to pick you up! Xiao Quan, please look after Xiao Bao.¡± Xiao Siqian assured, ¡°Aunt, don¡¯t worry, I promise to watch my sister and not let her run around.¡± Xiao Jinli glanced at him and muttered, ¡°If I wanted to run, you couldn¡¯t stop me.¡± Of course, she came to the library to read books, not to run around. After Xiao¡¯s father left with two others, Xiao Siqian led Xiao Jinli into the library. Since it was summer vacation, there were quite a few people coming to read and borrow books. In this unfamiliar place, Xiao Siqian felt more at ease holding his sister¡¯s hand. As they walked, he asked, ¡°Sis, what kind of book do you want to read?¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Science fiction!¡± In fact, it was not really science fiction; she just wanted to read about quantum cosmology and such. As a person from the future, she knew best about the development of the future. Because she was so clear about it, she wanted to try to slow down the deterioration of the Earth and give humanity more time to live in peace and stability. Xiao Siqian was a bit surprised that Xiao Jinli liked to read science fiction. After all, during the time he had spent with Xiao Jinli, he knew that she was lively when with her family, but otherwise seemed laid-back and didn¡¯t seem to have any hobbies. Xiao Siqian chuckled softly, ¡°Oh, so my sister likes to read science fiction novels. Alright, I¡¯ll take you to find some.¡± The library was quite large, and Xiao Siqian found the science fiction section, where many children were already sitting, crouching, or standing and reading books. Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°Which book do you want to read? I¡¯ll get it for you!¡± Xiao Jinli scanned the area and said, ¡°Get me that ¡®Galaxy Heroes¡¯.¡± Xiao Siqian took the book off the shelf, flipped through it, and handed it to Xiao Jinli, saying, ¡°This is a good book for you.¡± Xiao Jinli took the book, found a place to sit down, and began to read. After watching for a while, Xiao Siqian left. He was there to read books too, but he wanted to read about economics and finance, and he didn¡¯t want Xiao Jinli to know for the time being. After all, he was still in a state of amnesia. After Xiao Siqian left, Xiao Jinli sat quietly and read her book. As she read, she found it more and more interesting. She never thought that people of this era would have such rich imaginations, and many of the things described were very close to the future. However, Xiao Jinli also wondered whether it was the modern people¡¯s rich imagination and wild ideas, or if the forms of the things in the later generations were based on the descriptions of their predecessors. It¡¯s like the debate about whether the chicken or the egg came first! As Xiao Jinli was lost in thought, suddenly a hand reached over and snatched the book from her hands. Xiao Jinli snapped back to reality, only to see a fat man holding the book, smugly telling the people behind him, ¡°Look, I found the ¡®Galaxy Heroes¡¯.¡± Xiao Jinli stood up, her voice cold, ¡°I got this book first, give it back to me. If you want to read it, come and get it when I¡¯m not reading it!¡± Upon hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, the fat man who snatched the book became unhappy. He said, ¡°I want to read this book now, so you should find another book.¡± Xiao Jinli repeated, ¡°I said this book was mine first, so I should read it first. If you want to read it, wait until I put it back and then come and get it.¡± Someone behind the fat man immediately began to egg him on, ¡°Luo Zhiqiang, hey, someone is not giving you face. Isn¡¯t your family powerful and influential? Someone is not afraid of you?¡± The fat man listened to his buddies¡¯ instigation, his face becoming more and more unhappy. He angrily glared at Xiao Jinli, who had made him lose face. He shouted loudly, ¡°You stinky woman, do you know who I am? I¡¯ll tell you, my dad is the Yayi Bureau Chief Luo Sanbiao. If you don¡¯t behave, I¡¯ll let my dad arrest you and detain you at the Yamen!¡± Ordinary people, whether adults or children, would feel fear and horror when they heard about the Yamen. The fat man had used this tactic to scare countless people. So, he was the school bully. Xiao Jinli¡¯s expression changed, and she sarcastically said, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re the son of the Yayi Bureau Chief. I¡¯m so scared. I¡¯m afraid your dad will arrest me.¡± Seeing Xiao Jinli¡¯s expression, the fat man proudly said, ¡°So, if you know what¡¯s good for you, don¡¯t argue with me over this book. Humph!¡± Then Xiao Jinli became serious, ¡°Humph, I haven¡¯t done anything wrong or committed any crime, so why should I be afraid of being arrested by your dad? Can it be that your dad is an official who can¡¯t tell right from wrong and doesn¡¯t distinguish between public and private?¡± Hearing Xiao Jinli insult his dad, the fat man became furious in his shame and said, ¡°Stinky bitch, how dare you insult my dad! Watch me teach you a lesson and make you lose your teeth!¡± With that, he swung his fist and aimed it at Xiao Jinli¡¯s head. The surrounding adults and children were all frightened and stared wide-eyed. The fat man was tall and strong, and he seemed to have a lot of strength. Not to mention the girl¡¯s height and weight difference with him, even their gender differences put her at a disadvantage. So, with this punch, the girl¡¯s head would surely be cracked open. Knowing the fat man¡¯s background, no one dared to come forward to rescue the girl, and everyone could only watch as he violently hit the little girl. Before his fist could land, there was already chaos around, and those with smaller hearts were scared and closed their eyes to hide, while those with bigger hearts yelled in panic, ¡°He¡¯s hitting someone! He¡¯s hitting someone!¡± But no one expected that just as the fat man¡¯s fist was about to hit the girl¡¯s head, the girl suddenly stretched out a hand, directly catching the fat man¡¯s fist. Then with a gentle push, the fat man was forced to step back a few steps, stumbling twice and falling on his butt when she let go. The change happened so suddenly! Everyone thought it would be the little girl who would get hit, but it was the fat man who fell instead. The expressions of many children around were stunned and did not react for a while. After a quiet moment, someone began to shout, ¡°Well done!¡± Then, someone started clapping. Hearing the applause, the fat man, who didn¡¯t feel any pain from the fall, felt humiliated. His face showed a mix of shame and anger, and his complexion turned ashen. The fat man¡¯s followers quickly helped him up and pretended to care, asking, ¡°Brother Luo, are you hurt?¡± The fat man gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± One of the followers stepped forward and menacingly said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°You stinky bitch, do you know who Brother Luo is, and dare to fight back? Brother Luo is the son of the Yayi Bureau Chief! Aren¡¯t you afraid of being arrested?¡± Xiao Jinli rolled her eyes rudely and cooly said, ¡°I have done nothing wrong or illegal, so I am not afraid of anything. You don¡¯t have to repeat it to me! Everyone present has bright eyes..¡± Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70: A Small Incident in the Library 2 (Second Update) Chapter 70: Chapter 70: A Small Incident in the Library 2 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli, though small in stature, had a strong presence. She glared coldly at Luo Pangzi and the others, speaking with conviction, ¡°All I wanted was to read a book, yet you want to take it from me and arrest me. I have to ask, does this library belong to your family? Or do you people possess such power and influence that you can control the entire Jianggan City and even arrest ordinary people just for reading?¡± The children didn¡¯t quite understand what Xiao Jinli was saying and their expressions were calm. But the adults were different, especially those who accompanied their children to the library to read, most of them were intellectuals. After hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, they were quite surprised, and secretly praised in their hearts, ¡°This child has guts, daring to say anything! However, if she really encounters revenge from a narrow-minded, powerful family, it¡¯s unimaginable.¡± Xiao Jinli wasn¡¯t a real child, so she knew what could be said and what couldn¡¯t. But at this moment, she treated herself as an ignorant child. Luo Pangzi and the others were about fourteen or fifteen years old, at the age of junior high school. Many children at this age were rebellious, having a sense of understanding yet still rebellious. So when they heard Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, they didn¡¯t take them to heart. Luo Pangzi pointed at Xiao Jinli angrily, ¡°You stinkin¡¯ bit¡­¡± Before he could finish, Xiao Jinli stepped forward and pinched his outstretched finger. ¡°Ouch, ouch¡­¡± Luo Pangzi¡¯s expression twisted in pain as he shouted, ¡°Let me go, let go of me¡­ wu wu¡­¡± Xiao Jinli ignored his pain, speaking coldly, ¡°Stinking bitch, stinking bitch, that¡¯s all you say? Is that the quality of a Yamen Bureau Chief¡¯s son? Does your family have no women or girls? Or do you also call your mom and sister ¡®stinking bitches¡¯? Such discrimination against women.¡± As soon as Xiao Jinli¡¯s words fell, an adult echoed, ¡°Yeah, cursing this little girl with that filthy word over and over again. Is that something a child should say? Some people whispered, ¡°I heard that Director Luo is a fair and impartial person, but how is his child raised like this?¡± ¡°Looking at Luo¡¯s son, he shouldn¡¯t have taken advantage of his power to bully others regularly, right?¡± ¡°So, does Director Luo know?¡± After all the discussion, everyone began to doubt whether Director Luo was really a just and unselfish person. After all, even his own child could bully others with his power outside. The followers behind Luo Pangzi turned pale and nervous as they listened to the surrounding gossip. Did they¡­ did they cause negative consequences for Director Luo? Enduring the pain, Luo Pangzi yelled, ¡°Stink¡­you stinky girl, let me go right now, or else¡­ I won¡¯t let you off! If you dare, tell me your name!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not stupid. Why should I tell you my name?¡± Xiao Jinli said confidently, ¡°After I tell you my name, am I going to stupidly wait for your revenge?¡± The onlookers, ¡® This child is really¡­ surprising. Luo Pangzi and the others were also a little dumbfounded. This stinky girl didn¡¯t play by the rules. In the past, when he asked like this, either the person would be scared and shivering like a quail or be scared and foolishly reveal their own name. ¡°If you want to take revenge on me, do it now while I¡¯m still here,¡± Xiao Jinli said generously, ¡°Otherwise, once I leave, you won¡¯t be able to find me.¡± Adults, Luo Pangzi, ¡® This girl really doesn¡¯t play by the rules. So how should they proceed? ¡°Mmm, mmm¡­¡± A series of voices broke the somewhat quiet atmosphere. ¡°There is no noise allowed in the library!¡± The library administrator said sternly, ¡°If anyone makes noise again, please leave immediately!¡± One of Luo Pangzi¡¯s followers caught on and immediately pointed at Xiao Jinli, shouting, ¡°It¡¯s her¡­ she¡¯s the one fighting here. Look, she¡¯s still holding Luo¡¯s hand right now. She¡¯s causing trouble, kick her out!¡± The evil person complains first! Having said that, the expression when looking at Xiao Jinli was somewhat smug. Thinking to himself, stinky girl, you¡¯re no match for us. The librarian glanced at Xiao Jinli with furrowed brows. Xiao Jinli immediately let go of Luo Pangzi, her expression innocent, ¡°Auntie, I was just looking at a book quietly, he wanted to take it, I didn¡¯t give it, and he just raised his fist to hit me. I was just defending myself. So, this is legitimate self-defense. The implication was that if one is to be kicked out, they should both be kicked out! ¡°Wow, this little girl actually knows about legitimate self-defense.¡± ¡°Yeah, at this age, she should know.¡± ¡°But, this is indeed legitimate self-defense. If this girl had been strong enough to fend off Luo¡¯s¡­ Luo¡¯s punch, she probably would have been beaten bloody.¡± The librarian, of course, recognized Luo Pangzi and knew his identity. Luo Zhiqiang had relied on his status to bully many people in the library and had taken their books. She had long been displeased with him. However, most people couldn¡¯t provoke him and chose to endure, so she chose to turn a blind eye. While other families might fear the Luo family, she didn¡¯t. Anyone who could work in the library must have some connections at home. Now this brat had finally met a tough opponent and needed a lesson. The librarian said seriously, ¡°It¡¯s forbidden to fight and make noise in the library while reading. Book readers must follow the principle of first-come, first-served. Luo Zhiqiang, it was you who took someone else¡¯s book first, right?¡± Being suddenly questioned, Luo Zhiqiang¡¯s face turned red and green, justifying himself, ¡°It¡¯s my right to read what I want, so I took her book. What¡¯s it to you? She should have let me read it. Me, a Yamen Bureau Chief¡¯s son, asking her for the book, is looking up to her. It¡¯s her own fault she didn¡¯t seize the opportunity! ¡± Everyone had black lines on their faces! What powerful reasoning! What brash arrogance. The administrator¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re insisting, I¡¯ll call your father and ask him if whatever you set your eyes on should be given to you by Upon hearing that, Luo Pangzi¡¯s face turned pale. If his father knew about his behavior, he wouldn¡¯t let him go unpunished. Luo Pangzi, frightened and stuttering, ¡°Auntie, don¡¯t call my dad, call my mom, or my grandparents!¡± Usually, he relied on his family¡¯s spoiling and indulgence to act recklessly. The librarian said earnestly, ¡°Sorry, I only have your father¡¯s phone number!¡± Upon hearing the administrator had Director Luo¡¯s phone number, the surrounding adults¡¯ eyes lit up. What does this represent? It means that this person is not simple either. Otherwise, an ordinary librarian would not have the Yamen Bureau Chief¡¯s phone number.. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Persuading him to Wake up (First update) Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Persuading him to Wake up (First update) Translator: 549690339 The Administrator really did make a phone call. At that time, Luo Sanbiao was in a meeting. Upon hearing the Administrator¡¯s words, his face turned purple with anger. After the meeting ended, he rushed to the Library. As soon as he arrived, without saying a word, he slapped his son¡¯s face and loudly scolded, ¡°You good-for-nothing!¡± Being obese, Luo Pangzi¡¯s face quickly swelled up after the slap. ¡°Wah wah . Perhaps he had never been hit like this before, so his father¡¯s slap made him cry out loud. Luo Sanbiao scolded, ¡°You have the nerve to cry? You have thrown your father¡¯s face away today, and you still have the face to cry! I didn¡¯t even know that you were flaunting your father¡¯s power outside. How old are you that you already know how to bully others with your power?¡± After scolding his son, Luo Sanbiao turned his head to apologize to Xiao Jinli. Xiao Siqian worried that this fatty¡¯s father would vent his anger on Xiao Jinli, so he immediately protected her behind him and guarded vigilantly, asking, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± When he was reading in another area earlier, he learned that a girl in the Science Fiction Area was being bullied. He suddenly realized something and quickly rushed over. As expected, it was Xiao Jinli who was being bullied. He came forward to check and immediately let out a sigh of relief when he found that she was not bullied. However, when he found out the identity of the other party, he was suddenly enraged. But he temporarily suppressed his anger after hearing that the Administrator called his father to come over. Luo Sanbiao glanced at Xiao Jinli behind Xiao Siqian, then looked into Xiao Siqian¡¯s eyes, showing a friendly expression. He barely managed to smile and said, ¡°Young man, don¡¯t be afraid. I am here to apologize to the girl behind you.¡± Xiao Siqian was suspicious and asked, ¡°Apologize?¡± ¡°Yes, apologize!¡± Luo Sanbiao said, ¡°Young girl, I am sorry. It is my fault for not disciplining my son properly, letting him cause trouble outside, and forcefully bullying you.¡± Xiao Jinli stood up from behind Xiao Siqian and asked with a serious expression, ¡°Can I ask you a question?¡± Luo Sanbiao was slightly stunned, then nodded and said, ¡°Yes, you can!¡± Xiao Jinli boldly asked, ¡°Do you know about your son¡¯s actions?¡± Luo Sanbiao¡¯s pupils shrank abruptly, and his aura was briefly horrified. When his gaze met Xiao Jinli¡¯s, it was sharp and authoritative. However, Xiao Jinli ignored the frightening sharp aura of him and fearlessly looked him in the eye. Suddenly, Luo Sanbiao laughed out loud. His expression seemed a bit ashamed and he honestly said, ¡°Young girl, I won¡¯t lie to you. If I said I had no idea what my son was doing, that would be a lie. But every time I learn that my son was causing trouble and try to teach him a lesson, my family would stop me. Helplessly, every time I had to pick up something heavy, I would put it down lightly without causing any real pain. He never truly learned a lesson!¡± Every time he tried to discipline this brat, his wife and mother would try to stop him. If they couldn¡¯t stop him, they would cry, make a fuss and even threaten with suicide, making it impossible for him to discipline the child. Moreover, there was his father, who would swing a stick to chase him down and teach him a lesson every time. He would also confidently say, ¡°You discipline your son, and I will discipline mine!¡± As a result, every attempt at disciplining never amounted to anything. After hearing his words, Xiao Jinli immediately understood his position within the family and with his children. She nodded and said, ¡°I also hope that you will be a good father. Each child is the hope of the next generation of the family and the hope of the nation¡¯s future. If you have the ability, please educate him to become a pillar of the nation, rather than a bully who takes advantage of the weak and the helpless!¡± Of course, the details about Luo Sanbiao were told to her by Xiao Zhi. Therefore, Xiao Jinli also didn¡¯t particularly mean to cause trouble for him. Upon hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, the adults were very surprised, especially Luo Sanbiao, who was even more shocked. A girl of such a young age had an upright demeanor, a broad mind, and a love for her country. Each child is the future of the family and the country. Luo Sanbiao suddenly understood. He said seriously to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Fine, I will make sure to discipline him when we go back. Young girl, thank you!¡± Xiao Jinli waved her hand and said, ¡°At this age, if the child is not born with a bad heart, they can be corrected.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand, thank you, young girl!¡± Luo Sanbiao sincerely thanked her and then invited her to a meal at noon. ¡°Uncle Luo, please take us out to lunch!¡± he said, inviting both Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian. Xiao Jinli declined and said, ¡°My name is Xiao Jinli. It¡¯s not necessary, we are here to read books. At noon, my parents will come to pick us up for lunch. You must be very busy, please go ahead with your work!¡± At least first go and discipline your son. Luo Sanbiao had someone bring paper and pen, wrote down his phone number, and handed it to Xiao Jinli, saying, ¡°Miss Jinli, this is my phone number. If you need anything from Uncle Luo, just call this number. I will ask you out for a meal another day.¡± Xiao Jinli did not refuse his friendly gesture and accepted the paper saying, ¡°Alright, thank you in advance, Uncle Luo!¡± With that, they became acquainted as seniors and juniors. It wasn¡¯t long before Luo Sanbiao took his son away. Luo Zhiqiang¡¯s followers also left, their faces pale with fear. They didn¡¯t expect that the girl not only didn¡¯t get punished but also got his phone number, which was a great opportunity to connect with him. With Luo Sanbiao and company gone, many adults looked at Xiao Jinli with envious eyes. This young girl had turned her misfortune into a blessing. An adult asked her jokingly, ¡°Young girl, aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± Xiao Jinli asked, puzzled, ¡°Why should I be afraid of him? Does he have an extra eye or ear that makes him a monster? Should I be afraid?¡± The adults, ¡°¡­ l¡¯ Alright, this young girl¡¯s thinking is indeed different from others. From then on, Xiao Siqian dared not leave. He also casually picked up a science fiction novel to read nearby. Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­.¡± How can I go tind other books to read it you don¡¯t leave! Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Minor Shopping Mall Incident (Second Update) Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Minor Shopping Mall Incident (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 On the other side, Father Xiao took Mother Xiao to the largest shopping mall in Jianggan City. They were not strangers to this city since they had visited Jianggan City before. Father Xiao just wanted to stroll around with his wife and buy her any beautiful clothes, skirts, or jewelry that caught his eye. Looking at his wife¡¯s smooth forehead, Father Xiao suddenly said earnestly, ¡°Wife, I feel like you¡¯re missing something!¡± Mother Xiao was perplexed and asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Beautiful jewelry!¡± Father Xiao said seriously, ¡°Aren¡¯t all women fond of gold and silver jewelry?¡± Mother Xiao was taken aback. When had she ever said she liked these things? Feeling somewhat helpless, Mother Xiao replied, ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. The jewelry box you bought is already full of gold and silver jewelry.¡± ¡°Is it full?¡± Father Xiao said matter-of-factly, ¡°Then, let¡¯s buy another jewelry box. ¡± ¡°¡­¡± Mother Xiao replied, ¡°No need, it¡¯s too extravagant.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only natural for a man to earn money and for a woman to spend it,¡± Father Xiao declared boldly. ¡°Rest assured, wife, I may not be very capable, but I can certainly afford to buy you gold and silver jewelry. Come, let¡¯s go take a look.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a snicker could be heard from behind. Then, someone mocked, ¡°Bro, listen to this guy bragging about things he can¡¯t afford. Hee hee¡­ Dressed like a pauper and still dreaming of buying gold and silver jewelry. Doesn¡¯t he know how expensive gold is these days?¡± Xiao Wanshan and Mother Xiao turned around and saw an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl in a pink skirt, clinging to a man in his mid-twenties, jeering at them. Hearing this, Xiao Wanshan became infuriated. Just as he was about to lash out, Mother Xiao quickly pulled him back and placated him. ¡°Husband, let it go, she¡¯s just a young girl. You shouldn¡¯t hold a grudge against her. Didn¡¯t you say you were going to buy me gold and silver jewelry? Let¡¯s go now!¡± After all, she was just a child, and they shouldn¡¯t stoop to her level. Only Mother Xiao could tame Father Xiao¡¯s temper. Mother Xiao quickly took Father Xiao to a jewelry store in the shopping mall. Seeing them actually heading to a jewelry store, Shi Zhu¡¯er, the girl who had mocked them, stomped her foot in anger and said to her brother, ¡°Brother, come, accompany me to buy jewelry!¡± At his sister¡¯s words, Shi Xia was momentarily speechless, ¡°Sister, why do you care about their business? Whether they have money or not has nothing to do with you. There¡¯s no need for you to get angry over it.¡± Shi Zhu¡¯er said petulantly, ¡°But I can¡¯t stand people who pretend to be richer than they are. They obviously don¡¯t have much money, yet they spend it lavishly.¡± Shi Xia frowned and advised, ¡°Sister, it¡¯s their money, not yours, why should you care?¡± ¡°Come, follow me to see!¡± Shi Zhu pulled her brother along to the same jewelry store. Shi Xia, Upon entering the jewelry store, Father Xiao and Mother Xiao went straight to the gold section. Well, when men choose jewelry, the bigger and heavier, the better. Father Xiao picked out a thick necklace and said, ¡°Wife, this necklace is good, let¡¯s buy this one.¡± Mother Xiao rolled her eyes, retorting disgruntledly, ¡°It¡¯s ugly. You¡¯re the only one who thinks this necklace looks good.¡± With such a thick chain, it¡¯s as if we¡¯re second-rate gangsters on the street, or more like those overnight millionaires mentioned on TV, who only flaunt their wealth without having any taste! But Xiao¡¯s father defended, ¡°But this necklace is thick.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother chided with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re buying it to leash a dog, and you¡¯re concerned about its thickness. When we women buy necklaces, we look for what¡¯s appropriate and beautiful, not how thick it is.¡± Xiao¡¯s father appeasingly responded, ¡°Alright, wife, I¡¯ll buy for you, you choose. choose. No matter which one you pick, I¡¯ll buy it for you. Oh, right, when buying a necklace, we must also buy a pendant, otherwise what¡¯s so attractive about just a chain?¡± The waitress had come up earlier and began to promote their products to them, patiently introducing each necklace and pendant. After a while, Xiao¡¯s mother selected a necklace and a pendant. Xiao¡¯s father immediately called out, ¡°Come on, tell us how much these are!¡± The waitress immediately took the calculator and said, ¡°The gold price is 285 per gram, this necklace is fifteen grams, the processing fee is 15 per gram, which adds up to 4500 yuan. The pendant is 5-53 grams, the processing fee is 22 per gram, which adds up to 1697-7 yuan. So the total cost is 6197-7 yuan. Today our store is having a promotion, offering a 95% discount, so the discounted price is 5972.7 yuan. Sir, are you paying in cash or by card?¡± Just when Xiao¡¯s father was about to say by card, Shi Zhu¡¯er who had just ridiculed them suddenly appeared behind them again and loudly said, ¡°I want a necklace and pendant like these too, are there any more?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother frowned slightly. The waitress said somewhat awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, madam, we only carry one of each design in our store. Why don¡¯t you take a look at our other styles? We have many other beautiful designs that are more suitable for young ladies like you.¡± But Shi Zhu¡¯er replied, ¡°Who said I¡¯m buying it for myself? I¡¯m buying it for my mother. I just happened to like these two designs.¡± She definitely doesn¡¯t want something so old-fashioned. She then suddenly raised her voice, ¡°How about this, I will offer double the price for the necklace and pendant in their hands!¡± Shi ? Xia? , Little sister, that¡¯s not how to spend money either. Xiao Wanshan¡¯s face darkened, a brewing rage flashed across his face. He pointed at Shi Zhu¡¯er and bellowed, ¡°Little girl, you¡¯re doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you? Out of all the jewelry here, you just had to want the ones we picked?¡± Ignoring his angry outburst, Shi Zhu¡¯er wore a triumphant smile and laughingly said, ¡°Yes, uncle, I did it on purpose. If you can, why don¡¯t you pay double the price too? If you do, I won¡¯t compete with you.¡± Instead of getting angry, Xiao Wanshan laughed upon hearing her words and said, ¡°Oh, double? Why would I pay double for something I can get cheaper? My money didn¡¯t just fall out of the sky.¡± After a moment¡¯s pause, he skeptically turned to the waitress and Shi Zhu¡¯er, ¡°Oh, I see. Is this your store? You want to dupe customers this way, is that it? If you can sell at double the price, of course, you¡¯d make more than double the profit. So, you want to scam as many customers as you can, isn¡¯t that right?¡± The waitress¡¯s face changed instantly, she hastily replied, ¡°Sir, you misunderstood. We don¡¯t know this lady at all, she has nothing to do with our store.¡± This was a question of the store¡¯s credibility and reputation, a clarification was necessary. Then, she turned to Shi Zhu¡¯er and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, madam, since these two customers were interested in them first, no matter how much you offer, if they want to buy, we have to sell to them.¡± Upon hearing the waitress¡¯s explanation, in order to avoid further trouble, Xiao¡¯s mother swiftly pulled Xiao Wanshan and said ¡°Husband, let¡¯s pay. After we pay, we¡¯ll leave.¡± Xiao Wanshan didn¡¯t want to engage in a meaningless dispute with a young girl. He took out his card, swiped it, took the items and left. Shi Zhu¡¯er was left behind, fuming and staring at their receding figures. Xiao Wanshan glanced at her from the corner of his eye and said to Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡°That girl is really inexplicable. Is her brain not working properly?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother shook her head and said, ¡°Who knows?¡± Shi Zhu¡¯er and Shi Xia, ¡°¡­¡± Who¡¯s the one that¡¯s not normal? They are the ones who are not normal.. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Luo Fatty Gets Taught a Lesson 1 (One More) Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Luo Fatty Gets Taught a Lesson 1 (One More) Translator: 549690339 As it approached noon, Xiao Junxuan and his wife, Xiao Wanshan, arrived at the library to pick up Xiao Jinli. However, as they arrived at the entrance, they overheard someone discussing how Director Luo¡¯s son had bullied a girl, only to be taught a lesson by her in return. All three agreed that the girl must be their own Xiao Bao (sister). Because, ever since she was a child, their sister Xiao Bao has always been strong and would never lose a fight. But this made them even more anxious. This was Director Luo¡¯s son after all. If he is the chief government officer in Jianggan City, his family must certainly hold considerable power. They were worried about Xiao Bao (sister) getting into trouble. Even though they were worried, they couldn¡¯t immediately enter and had to wait at the door. After a while, Xiao Siqian and Xiao Jinli came out. Seeing them come out, Xiao¡¯s mother immediately looked nervous and asked anxiously, ¡°Xiao Bao, they said that inside the library a chubby kid tried to snatch a book from a girl and wanted to beat her up when he failed. But instead, she beat him up. Was that girl you?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and responded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother was shocked and asked urgently, ¡°Are you okay then? They say the chubby kid¡¯s family is powerful and influential, and that his parents came later. Child, if something happened, why didn¡¯t you call us?¡± Xiao Jinli immediately reassured her, ¡°Mother, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. The chubby kid¡¯s parents did come, but they were really nice and reasonable. After they arrived, they punished their kid and they even apologised to me.¡± Xiao Junxuan looked around subtly and asked, ¡°But I heard that they are powerful and influential, couldn¡¯t their apology be just for public show, and then they take revenge later in private?¡± Xiao Siqian responded, ¡°The parent is Director Luo from the Yayi Bureau, he seemed very honest and upright, he probably wouldn¡¯t.¡± Xiao Jinli then added, ¡°Yes, he probably wouldn¡¯t. After Director Luo apologized to us, he invited us for a meal, but I declined. Then he left his phone number, saying he could be contacted if needed.¡± After hearing this, Xiao¡¯s father paused for a moment and asked, ¡°Director Luo? Do you mean Luo Sanbiao?¡± ¡°It seems that¡¯s his name!¡± Xiao Jinli added. Xiao¡¯s father continued, ¡°If it is him, then he wouldn¡¯t be the kind to seek revenge after a conflict. His character is actually quite good.¡± Still worried, Xiao¡¯s mother asked, ¡°If he is truly an upright person, then why would his child behave in such a bully manner?¡± ¡°¡­¡± After thinking about it for a moment, Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Maybe he¡¯s often busy with work and thus, negligent in disciplining his child. But, he also said that he would properly educate his child after this incident.¡± After hearing this, Xiao¡¯s father nodded and said, ¡°Wife, dont worry too much. Let¡¯s wait and see. To him, we¡¯re just nobodies. Perhaps he wouldn¡¯t condescend to take revenge.¡± Upon hearing her husband¡¯s words, Xiao¡¯s mother temporarily put aside her worries. She suggested, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s find a place to eat.¡± Meanwhile, after Luo Sanbiao brought back his son Luo Zhiqiang home, the family was both heartbroken and angry at the sight of the boy¡¯s beaten face. ¡°Oh my, my precious child, who beat you to the point where your face is bright red from swelling? I¡¯m going to find them and demand an explanation.¡± Both of the women, one calling him precious and the other darling, were moved to tears by their distress. Although Grandpa Luo didn¡¯t express his feelings obviously, his facial expression showed that he was distressed too. Madam Luo immediately found some anti-swelling medication in the house to apply to Luo Zhiqiang. As the medication was being applied, Luo Zhiqiang grimaced in pain, causing the two women in the house to ache for him even more. Grandma Luo scolded angrily, ¡°Just who was the heartless person that beat up my grandson? Don¡¯t they know the status of my precious grandson?¡± Only then did Luo Sanbiao understand why his son, at such a young age, was already acting high and mighty, bullying others with his authority. Luo Zhiqiang cried loudly in a wronged manner, and sobbed, ¡°Grandma¡­it was dad who beat me up. He hit me because of a stranger!¡± ¡°Ha, it was your dad?¡± Upon hearing Luo Zhiqiang¡¯s words, both Madam Luo and the others were shocked, as they all then gazed at Luo Sanbiao. Luo Sanbiao wore a frustrated expression and yelled, ¡°Yes, it was me! I¡¯ll tell you, this stinking kid deserves to be beaten up!¡± ¡°Okay Luo Sanbiao, so it was you who beat up our precious son¡­you¡­ I¡¯ll fight you to the death!¡± Madam Luo charged at Luo Sanbiao and started to hit him all over his body. She cried as she scolded, ¡°You jerk, have you lost all your humanity ¨C to even beat your own son, and to beat him so badly. Oh¡­l feel so much pain.¡± Grandma Luo also turned around and started berating Luo Sanbiao, ¡°You useless boy, what has my precious grandson ever done to you for you to be so cruel and heartless. My poor grandson, his face is swollen red, he must be in terrible pain.¡± At that point, Grandpa Luo picked up a stick from the corner and started hitting Luo Sanbiao. As he was hitting him, he sternly said, ¡°Since you can hit your son, then I can hit my own son too!¡± Dodging his father¡¯s stick, Luo Sanbiao shouted loudly, ¡°Dad, Dad, listen to me!¡± However, his father ignored him. Looking at his family, who were overly indulgent to his child, Luo Sanbiao thought about what Xiao Jinli had said and made a decision. He grabbed the stick from his father and said sternly, ¡°Enough! Have you all had enough of your fussing?¡± Upon seeing the sudden stern expression on his husband¡¯s (son¡¯s) face, everyone was shocked and stopped in their tracks, their faces showed surprise. Throwing away the stick in his hand, Luo Sanbiao shouted, ¡°Is this the way you pamper this child of yours? You are unconditionally protecting and spoiling him without investigating right from wrong, without asking about the truth of the issue. Do you know the consequences of pampering him in this way? It¡¯s overindulgence! It¡¯s because of your overindulgences that he dares to act like a tyrant out there, causing troubles! How is this, do you wish to ruin him in the name of expressing your love for him?¡± Upon hearing Luo Sanbiao¡¯s words, their expressions changed. Watching their changing faces, Luo Sanbiao continues, ¡°And do you know what he did today? Fine, I¡¯ll tell you. He went to the library and tried to snatch a book from a little girl to read. The little girl, who¡¯s just over ten years old, didn¡¯t want to give the book to him, so he wanted to beat her up. ¡°But that girl fights back, and he still boasts shamelessly that his dad is me, Luo Sanbiao, the director of the Yayi Bureau. He threatened that if the girl didn¡¯t let him read the book, he¡¯d have her locked up! Do you see what kind of things he¡¯s been doing?¡± However, Grandma Luo said in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s just a book. If our boy wants to read it, shouldn¡¯t the girl give it to him?¡± Upon hearing Grandma Luo¡¯s comment, Luo Sanbiao was furious. He shouted angrily, ¡°Mom, will you only be satisfied if I¡¯m ruined?¡± Upon hearing this, Grandma Luo was taken aback and stuttered, ¡°What? How could that possibly happen?¡± Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Luo Fatty Gets Taught a Lesson 2 (Two More) Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Luo Fatty Gets Taught a Lesson 2 (Two More) Translator: 549690339 Grandma Luo hesitated and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a small matter, how could it ruin you? Son, you¡¯re making a big fuss out of a small issue.¡± Luo Sanbiao thought his mother¡¯s way of thinking was simply unbelievable. His family members, relying on his position, not only show off and bully people outside but also find trouble, yet they still think it won¡¯t ruin him. Luo Sanbiao suddenly felt exhausted by this. Is this what everyone in his family also thinks? His gaze swept over his wife and grumpy old man, and as expected, their expressions were also silent, and silence meant acquiescence. Luo Sanbiao suddenly felt as if all the strength in his body was gone, and he collapsed onto the sofa. This action immediately scared everyone. ¡°Husband (Son), what¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t scare us.¡± The two women immediately asked with concern. Luo Sanbiao looked at the two women. His expression suddenly became very serious and said, ¡°I¡¯m thinking about whether I should quit my current job and find an ordinary one!¡± ¡°What?¡± The three were even more shocked by Luo Sanbiao¡¯s words. ¡°Why?¡± Madam Luo asked with a puzzled look. Luo Sanbiao gave her a cold glance and said, ¡°Why? What else could it be? I don¡¯t want my son to be ruined by my high position as the Yamen Bureau Chief. Luo Zhiqiang, at a young age, relies on my position as Luo Benbiao¡¯s son, the son of Yamen Bureau Chief, and causes trouble everywhere, bullying the weak. So, while he hasn¡¯t caused any major trouble, I should give up my position and let him have no power to rely on. In the future, he will only become an ordinary child. ¡± After hearing her husband¡¯s (son¡¯s) words, the three of them were silent. Luo Sanbiao¡¯s words were clearly meant to be a wake-up call for them. Because their son (grandson) bullied people because of his power, it was their teaching. Every time they would say, ¡°Son (Grandson), let me tell you, no one can bully you in Jianggan City. Whoever bullies you, you should bully them back. You have us and your dad to back you up. Your dad is the Yaman Bureau Chief, everyone is afraid of him.¡± Perhaps it was under such teaching that Luo Zhiqiang repeatedly caused trouble outside. However, every time he caused trouble, they, as parents, took advantage of their position to settle the matter. They didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with this. But who would have thought that this situation would force their son to resign? How could this happen? Luo Sanbiao said seriously again, ¡°I, as the Yamen Bureau Chief, am a public servant of the people and is responsible for doing real things for the people. It¡¯s not for you to show off and bully others based on my position. If this position, on the contrary, makes you bully ordinary people, then what¡¯s the point of me being the Yamen Bureau Chief? Luo Zhiqiang is still young and doesn¡¯t know what he can and cannot do. But what about you? You are adults who can tell right from wrong and separate black and white. Why do you teach your child to bully others with his power? Are you dissatisfied with my position as Yamen Bureau Chief? Do you want to bring me down, aren¡¯t you?¡± Madam Luo began to sob. She first realized her mistake and said, ¡°Husband, I was wrong, I was wrong. From now on, I¡¯ll let you discipline Zhiqiang. I¡­ I won¡¯t protect him anymore.¡± Without Luo Sanbiao¡¯s position as Yamen Bureau Chief, she wouldn¡¯t have the status of the Director¡¯s Wife. In the end, she was also afraid of losing such a lofty position. Grandma Luo was silent for a moment and said, ¡°Son, I know I was wrong too. From now on, I won¡¯t teach Zhiqiang to show off his position outside. From now on, when you discipline him, I¡­ I won¡¯t protect him either.¡± Now she knows, the child, as a child, can¡¯t cause too much trouble even if he does. But what if he causes big trouble? If it really ruins their son, it would be too late to regret it. As the two most difficult women in the family relented, Luo Sanbiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and then turned his gaze towards his grumpy old man. Grandpa Luo pursed his lips, his expression serious, as he said, ¡°Son, you¡¯re right. We can love children, but we shouldn¡¯t spoil them. Spoiling them will ruin the child and the family. In the future, I won¡¯t interfere either when you discipline our child.¡± After hearing this, Luo Sanbiao felt completely relieved, thinking, ¡°It seems that tough measures are necessary.¡± Of course, if his family still couldn¡¯t clearly realize their mistakes, he was really planning to resign and quit. If the family wasn¡¯t harmonious, how could they talk about serving the country and the people? Luo Sanbiao¡¯s expression was serious as he said, ¡°Dad, Mom, Wife, will you keep your word?¡± The three nodded in unison, ¡°Yes, we promise!¡± ¡°All right!¡± Luo Sanbiao nodded, ¡°Luo Zhiqiang, go face the wall and ponder over your mistakes for two hours, you can¡¯t eat lunch, and give me a written review of three thousand words for me to check later. I want him to be clear about his mistakes!¡± ¡°What? Facing the wall and thinking for two hours?¡± ¡°Not having lunch?¡± ¡°Three thousand-word review?¡± ¡°Luo Sanbiao, you¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Luo Sanbiao immediately reminded the three people. Then the three immediately shut their mouths. Luo Sanbiao asked seriously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with facing the wall and thinking for two hours? What¡¯s wrong with skipping lunch? What¡¯s wrong with writing a three thousand-word review? Do you have any objections?¡± ¡°No, no!¡± The three had somewhat embarrassed expressions. ¡°Well, since there are no objections, Luo Zhiqiang, did you hear your punishment today?¡± Luo Sanbiao said to Luo Zhiqiang, ¡°None of these three punishments can be skipped. Today, I will take a leave and supervise you personally. If you still can¡¯t clearly realize your mistakes, we will continue to punish you!¡± ¡°What, is it that serious?¡± The three began to worry again. But when they met Luo Sanbiao¡¯s stern expression, they shut up again. So, under Luo Zhiqiang¡¯s wailing, he accepted the first punishment supervised by his father. Luo Zhiqiang cried his eyes out and sobbed, he sincerely knew he was wrong. This could be said to be Luo Sanbiao¡¯s first genuine attempt at disciplining his son. In the past, every time he tried, other family members would start to make a fuss and the discipline would be abandoned halfway. As a result, Luo Zhiqiang developed such a terrible character. That child was right. At this age, he still has time to correct himself. If he doesn¡¯t correct him in time, when he really causes big trouble, it will be too late. At this moment, Luo Sanbiao felt truly grateful to that little girl for her reminder deep down in his heart. He secretly thought, ¡°Next time I see that little girl, I must remember to thank her!¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t know that Luo Sanbiao had taken her advice as a great favor. At this moment, after eating lunch at the restaurant, they found a nearby hotel and rented an hourly rental room to rest. In the afternoon, they planned to go to the amusement park to swim. Such a hot day, swimming and having fun was really interesting.. Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Seed Station (Part 1) Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Seed Station (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 When they arrived at the amusement park around 3-4 0¡¯clock in the afternoon, Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian frowned when they saw the crowd in the pool, resembling dropped dumplings. Both of them were clean freaks who didn¡¯t like so many people swimming together. Xiao Jinli said directly, ¡°Dad, Mom, there are too many people here. I don¡¯t want to swim anymore.¡± If she wanted to swim, she would have preferred the creek in the village, which seemed cleaner than this place. Xiao Siqian also stated, ¡°Uncle, Aunt, I don¡¯t want to swim either!¡± Xiao Junxuan took a look and said, ¡°So many people swimming together, it¡¯s better to swim in our village¡¯s creek. More fun.¡± Xiao Father and Xiao Mother didn¡¯t feel comfortable seeing so many people swimming together either. They thought the kids would like it and came here with them. Since the kids didn¡¯t like it, everyone naturally left. After leaving the amusement park, Xiao Jinli said again that she wanted to go to the library, and Xiao Siqian agreed to accompany her. Fearing the incidents from the morning would happen again, Xiao Junxuan also wanted to go with them. Xiao Jinli, ¡® She directly refused, ¡°Brother, if you¡¯re busy, don¡¯t worry about us. Things like bullying don¡¯t happen all the time. Besides, I haven¡¯t suffered any losses since I was a kid. With the strength in my body, even the most aggressive person can¡¯t mess with me. You can rest assured.¡± Xiao Junxuan thought about it and said, ¡°Alright, just be careful.¡± His visit to Jianggan City wasn¡¯t just for fun. Besides meeting old friends, he also had work and business to discuss. He knew his sister¡¯s abilities. Not only was she strong, but she also had great luck. Usually, those who bullied her would end up unlucky first. That¡¯s why the title ¡°Lucky Star¡± had stuck with her for more than ten years. Xiao Junxuan told Xiao Siqian, ¡°Xiao Quan, please take care of my sister.¡± Xiao Siqian said with slight embarrassment, ¡°Brother Xuan, Jinli is my sister now too. Protecting my sister is my natural duty.¡± Moreover, it seemed that Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t need his protection. She could handle many things by herself. Sometimes Xiao Siqian wondered if Jinli had the mind of an adult in the body of a child. Xiao Father still accompanied Xiao Mother to the shopping mall. For women, other than jewelry, there are also clothes and bags. Xiao Father was happy to accompany his wife to buy these things, paying with his card and carrying the bags behind her. After Xiao Father and the others left, Xiao Jinli turned to Xiao Siqian and said, ¡°Brother Little Quan, I don¡¯t want to go to the library now.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xiao Siqian looked puzzled. ¡°Then where do you want to go?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I¡¯m not as familiar with this place as the county town. I want to go out and look around!¡± Although they had a car at home, they didn¡¯t come to Jianggan City very often. In the past ten years, Xiao Jinli hadn¡¯t visited much. She was still curious about the outside world. Xiao Siqian knew that Xiao Jinli was a decisive and opinionated child. She seldom changed her mind with her decisions. He nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go wherever you want to go.¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t refuse. Then she took a map of Jianggan City out of her bag. After looking at it, she pointed to a place and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the pedestrian street. I heard it¡¯s also a gourmet food street. I want to check it out! ¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xiao Siqian nodded. The two of them figured out the route and then went to the bus stop to wait for the bus. Soon the bus arrived. Xiao Jinli put in the already-prepared coins, and they found seats to sit down. Seeing the prepared coins, Xiao Siqian guessed that Xiao Jinli had made enough preparations. Not long after they got on the bus, Xiao Jinli suddenly saw something and her eyes lit up. She said to Xiao Siqian, ¡°Brother Little Quan, we¡¯re getting off the bus soon!¡± ¡°Huh? Getting off?¡± Xiao Siqian looked at the bus route map and said puzzled, ¡°But we still have five or six stops to go.¡± Xiao Jinli pulled him up and led him to the back door, saying, ¡°I saw a place I want to check out.¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± Alright, he would accompany his sister to the bitter end. When they arrived at the station, Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian got off the bus. Then Xiao Jinli led Xiao Siqian in the direction the bus had come from. ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Siqian looked puzzled. ¡°Sister, what did you see? We¡¯re going back now.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Seed station!¡± ¡°Ah, seed station?¡± Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What seed station?¡± Forgive this child from the big city. He truly didn¡¯t know what a seed station was. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°The seed station is where they sell seeds. I want to see what kind of seeds they have.¡± ¡°Ah, I see!¡± Xiao Siqian nodded in understanding, ¡°Well, let¡¯s go take a look.¡± He was also curious about what seeds were sold at the seed station. After walking for about seven or eight minutes, they arrived at the seed station Xiao Jinli had seen. At the entrance of the seed station, there was a green sign that read ¡°Jianggan City Agricultural Technology Seed Management Station.¡± Inside, there were two or three plainly dressed people looking like farmers choosing red melon seeds. A staff member was explaining the pros and cons of the red melon seeds to them. The staff member said, ¡°This is a new variety, high yield, large grains, good taste, and it¡¯s already sold hundreds of portions. There are only about fifty or sixty pounds left. If you need a large order, we¡¯ll have to call the breeding company to reserve.¡± A tall and thin farmer was doubtful, ¡°The seeds look good, but we don¡¯t know if it¡¯s easy to plant.¡± The staff member said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we provide seeds, technical consultations, and professional technical guidance. We can help you grow these red melons successfully.¡± The two farmers discussed and then decided to buy the remaining red melon seeds. They asked for the phone numbers of the seed station and the technicians and left with their purchases. Seeing the two children come in, the staff member laughed and asked, ¡°What are you two here for? Are you here to buy flower seeds?¡± He didn¡¯t think the two kids would need agricultural seeds. Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Big Brother, we don¡¯t need flower seeds, but we do want to see what kind of seeds there are. The staff member saw the beautiful and lovely Xiao Jinli and felt a liking for her. He smiled and said, ¡°You are just a child. What do you know about seeds? Why don¡¯t you tell Big Brother what seeds you need, and I¡¯ll get them for you to see. How about that?¡± Xiao Jinli politely shook her head and said, ¡°Big Brother, I haven¡¯t decided what seeds I need yet. I just want to take a look first. If I need any seeds, I¡¯ll ask for your help getting them out, okay?¡± Polite and lovely children are well-liked by everyone. The staff member nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be here sitting. If you need anything, just call me directly, okay?¡± The staff member pointed to where they could get water and said, ¡°Do you want to drink some water?¡± ¡°No, thank you, Big Brother.. We¡¯re not thirsty!¡± Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Picking Seeds and Buying Seeds (Second Update) Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Picking Seeds and Buying Seeds (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 There were indeed many seeds at the seed station, not a thousand kinds, but there were several hundred. Xiao Siqian found out for the first time that there were so many varieties of seeds. All kinds of seeds were displayed on colorful walls and in transparent cabinets, as well as in the snake skin sack in the center of the room. These seeds included some common ones, such as rice seeds, watermelon seeds, sorghum seeds, peanut seeds, rapeseed, and various vegetable seeds, among others. There were also some seeds that were not commonly grown by farmers, such as strawberry seeds, potted gourd seeds, and colorful chili seeds. Xiao Siqian saw these diverse seeds for the first time and was somewhat interested. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t grow them; he was just looking. After looking around, Xiao Jinli went to the staff member who was drinking tea and asked, ¡°Big brother, are all the seeds here?¡± The staff member smiled and said, ¡°Yes, almost all the seeds in the seed station are here. Little sister, what seeds do you need? Just tell big brother, and I¡¯ll help you find them.¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Well, I want the latest varieties developed by the Agricultural Research Institute, those that are highly valuable and rare.¡± The staff member was taken aback, then laughed out loud, ¡°Little sister, those newly developed varieties have very high technical requirements and are difficult to grow. Are you sure you need them? And, those new varieties tend to be more expensive!¡± He didn¡¯t think a child would have so much money from her parents to buy those seeds. Xiao Jinli looked serious and nodded, ¡°Big brother, can you show them to me?¡± Seeing her sincere attitude, the staff member nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get them for you to see. But I¡¯m warning you in advance, these seeds are quite precious, so please just look without rubbing or pinching them, as that could easily damage them.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I know, big brother!¡± Xiao Jinli chimed in. Then, the staff member took a bunch of keys from the drawer of his workbench and walked to a wooden table. He unlocked one of the drawers, took out a delicate wooden box containing seeds, and showed them to Xiao Jinli. As he introduced the seeds, he said, ¡°This is the latest seven-color tea flower variety developed by the Agricultural Research Institute, which is a kind of flower seed. This colorful tea flower seed has been cultivated, but it is very difficult to grow the plant, as the technical requirements are quite demanding. However, once the flower is successfully grown, its value is almost impossible to estimate. This seed is rare, and our station only got a little bit through the relationship with the Agricultural Research Institute. Originally, a friend of the station master wanted to buy it, so the station master got it. However, the station master¡¯s friend had an accident and no longer needed the seeds, so they have been left here. No one asked about them, so no one bought them. But since you suddenly asked, I¡¯ll show them to you.¡± He didn¡¯t think that Xiao Jinli could afford them. When Xiao Jinli heard the staff¡¯s introduction, her head slightly lowered and her eyes flashed. She looked at the staff member and said innocently, ¡°Big brother, I want to buy these seeds, how much are they?¡± The staff member was a bit surprised, ¡°You want to buy these seeds, but you should know they are expensive, and they might not even survive when you buy them. If they don¡¯t survive, it would be a huge loss. Little sister, why don¡¯t you think it over? Besides, are your parents willing to give you that much money?¡± Xiao Jinli asked again, ¡°Big brother, I want to buy them, can you tell me how much they cost?¡± Unable to persuade Xiao Jinli, he looked at Xiao Siqian and said, ¡°Young man, these seeds are too expensive, why don¡¯t you all pick some other seeds to buy?¡± Xiao Siqian glanced at the serious Xiao Jinli and looked back at the staff member, ¡°Big brother, my little sister likes them, can you just tell us the price?¡± Unable to persuade them, the staff member sighed slightly, ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do it this way. These seeds are sold by the piece, with one seed costing 1200 yuan. Considering your young age, I¡¯ll give them to you for 1000 yuan each. There are five seeds in one kind, and I¡¯ll sell you two seeds.¡± ¡°One thousand yuan per seed is indeed quite expensive.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at the seeds in the box without surprise, then said, ¡°I want all the seeds.¡± ¡°What, all of them?¡± The staff member was amazed, ¡°Little sister, you¡¯re going to spend 5000 yuan on seeds?¡± ¡°Yes, all!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded definitively. ¡°No, little sister, are you sure you don¡¯t want to think about it again?¡± The staff member tried to dissuade her again, ¡°Why don¡¯t you call your parents over and ask for their opinion, alright?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°Big brother, this is my own matter, and I can handle At this point, she paused and then said with a smile, ¡°Big brother, are you afraid that I won¡¯t have enough money to pay for these seeds? It should be better to sell more products. But you keep trying to dissuade me.¡± The staff member laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s just that you are all still children. What if you spend money recklessly and get scolded by your parents when you get home?¡± In actuality, he was worried that selling such expensive seeds to two children might cause trouble if their parents found out and came to the store angrily. He couldn¡¯t cheat a child just for some money. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, big brother, since I want to buy these seeds, I¡¯ll definitely have enough money for them. My parents won¡¯t make a fuss about it.¡¯ The staff member, hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, could only laugh and say, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pack them for you.¡± Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°Big brother, can I use a card here?¡± The staff member nodded, ¡°Yes, you can!¡± Then, Xiao Jinli picked out three or four dozen more varieties of seeds, and when it was time to pay, she took out a UnionPay card. The staff member took the card and swiped it, only to be a bit surprised. There was actually money in the card. Still not quite feeling reassured, the staff member asked, ¡°Little sister, whose card is this¡­¡± Xiao Jinli immediately explained, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, big brother, this card is mine. The money in it is the pocket money and New Year¡¯s money my parents gave me.¡± The staff member thought to himself, ¡°It seems that this child¡¯s family life is quite good.¡± They had spent over 5,600 yuan on seeds. Apart from the tea flower seeds, the other seeds were not very expensive. Xiao Siqian asked curiously, ¡°Sister, why did you buy so many seeds?¡± Xiao Jinli blinked and said, ¡°I bought them to study. Brother Little Quan, don¡¯t tell my parents about the seeds I bought.¡± Xiao Siqian was speechless. Buying seeds for research. Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°Sister, are you interested in agriculture?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m interested!¡± Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Xiao’s Dad Takes Xiao’s Mom to the Beauty Salon (First Update) Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Xiao¡¯s Dad Takes Xiao¡¯s Mom to the Beauty Salon (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Junxuan went to a friend¡¯s house. When Shi Xia saw him, he gave him a happy hug, ¡°Ah Xuan, long time no see. You little bastard, hiding in the small county town, not coming to hang out with us.¡± Xiao Junxuan punched his shoulder and laughed, ¡°Here I am to hang out with you guys.¡± ¡°Brother Junxuan!¡± Shi Zhu¡¯er¡¯s face flushed with excitement when she saw Xiao Junxuan. She was visibly shy. Xiao Junxuan nodded at her, his voice a little cold, ¡°Miss Shi is getting more and more beautiful!¡± Obviously, he was just being polite. But Shi Zhu¡¯er took it as sincere. She looked at Xiao Junxuan with shining eyes, boldly and somewhat shyly saying, ¡°Really? Brother Junxuan really thinks I¡¯m getting more beautiful.¡± Shi Xia frowned slightly and said to Xiao Junxuan, ¡°Ah Xuan, we haven¡¯t seen each other for so long, we have to have a good gathering. I¡¯ll treat you to dinner at noon today. Where do you want to eat? At the hotel or the restaurant?¡± Xiao Junxuan shook his head, ¡°I came out with my family this time. We will eat together at noon, and then my whole family will go back.¡± ¡°Ah, so soon?¡± Shi Xia asked, ¡°Can¡¯t you stay longer? You should call Ah Jun and have a gathering with everyone. Everyone else is in Jianggan City, you are the only one who has to stay in Qing County. Your family company is not small in scale, it could be located in a larger city. Why nest in a small city? You are completely blocking the development of your company.¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be too far from home. Besides, as long as the money is enough to spend, it¡¯s fine.¡± For the current situation, Xiao Junxuan was satisfied. He could go home every day to eat dinner and chat with his family. It was very warm. Furthermore, if something happened at home, he could be there to help immediately. But Shi Zhu¡¯er suggested, ¡°But, Brother Junxuan, you could bring your family over to live together. That way, your company can develop, and you can be with your family.¡± Xiao Junxuan shook his head, ¡°No, my mom likes to stay in the countryside and doesn¡¯t like to live in the city!¡± On this issue, he had discussed it with his father and asked Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s opinion. But Xiao¡¯s mother felt that her relatives and friends were in the countryside, and she was used to living there, so she didn¡¯t want to go to an unfamiliar big city with no relatives or friends. Xiao¡¯s father agreed as well. What was the point of the father and son making money if not to make a better life for Xiao¡¯s mother? If Xiao¡¯s mother didn¡¯t want to, it didn¡¯t matter how much money they made. After hearing Xiao Junxuan¡¯s words, Shi Zhu¡¯er, who had never met Xiao¡¯s mother, began to feel resentful of her in her heart. She thought Xiao¡¯s mother was too selfish, stopping her son¡¯s development for her own preferences. If Xiao Junxuan knew what she was thinking, he would definitely sneer, ¡°Nonsense! ¡± Shi Xia stopped urging after hearing Xiao Junxuan¡¯s words. He said, ¡°In that case, let me treat your Uncle and Aunt to a meal. It¡¯s only right that I show my hospitality a bit. Besides, I¡¯ve known you for so long, you¡¯ve met my parents, and I still don¡¯t know yours. Isn¡¯t that a bit unfair?¡± Xiao Junxuan grinned, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll call my dad and ask if he¡¯s willing to come over for the meal. ¡°Okay, go call him now!¡± Shi Xia said with a smile. Xiao¡¯s father listened to the phone call and laughed to Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡°Jun¡¯er said his friend wanted to meet us and invited us to dinner. What do you think?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother smiled, ¡°That¡¯s fine. We should go since our child¡¯s friend has this intention.¡± Xiao¡¯s father replied to his son, ¡°Your mother says it¡¯s okay. You and your friend can gather first, and your mother and I will go shopping a bit more. When it¡¯s time for dinner, just come pick us up.¡± After hanging up the phone, Xiao¡¯s mother laughed, ¡°I didn¡¯t even know our son had friends here. Xiao¡¯s father said, ¡°Actually, Jun¡¯er has many friends from all over the place, mostly from his university days. Having a few friends here is not surprising.¡± As he said this, he paused and added, ¡°In fact, our son¡¯s popularity is very good.¡± He also had some friends he met through the business. Xiao¡¯s mother nodded, ¡°Our child has really grown up.¡± She felt satisfied in her heart. Xiao¡¯s father asked, ¡°Wife, where else do you want to go? Or shall we go to the mall and buy some clothes or jewelry?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother glared at him and said unhappily, ¡°Can¡¯t you think of any other place to take me besides shopping malls to buy clothes and jewelry?¡± Xiao¡¯s father was a little confused and asked, ¡°Wife, do you want to go somewhere else? But don¡¯t women love shopping malls and such places?¡± At this point, Xiao¡¯s father suddenly thought of a place and mysteriously said to Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡°Come on, wife, I¡¯ll take you to a place.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother was very curious about where Xiao¡¯s father was taking her. Then, half an hour later. Xiao¡¯s mother stood in the beauty salon lobby with black lines on her face as the staff introduced various beauty treatments with a smile. So she pulled Xiao¡¯s father aside, clenched her teeth and asked, ¡°So, the good place you were talking about is taking me to a beauty salon for beauty treatments?¡± Xiao¡¯s father still didn¡¯t realize his wife¡¯s discomfort and laughed, ¡°Yes, yes, wife. I heard that besides shopping, women like to come to beauty salons even more. I heard that there¡¯s something called SPA that women enjoy very much, so I brought you here to enjoy it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao¡¯s mother clenched her teeth and asked, ¡°So, you¡¯re disgusted with me for being old now and want me to come to the beauty salon for beauty treatments? And, where did you, a man, hear so much about women loving to go shopping and beauty salons?¡± Xiao¡¯s father finally realized his wife¡¯s discomfort and immediately tried to please her, ¡°Wife, wife, don¡¯t misunderstand. I¡¯m not disgusted with you for being old. Look at you, fair and beautiful, the mother of a forty-something-year-old child, looking like a thirty-something-year-old woman, gorgeous. If anyone is old, it¡¯s me. When we walk together, people who don¡¯t know us might think we¡¯re father and daughter.¡± Seeing his wife¡¯s face eased, Xiao¡¯s father let out a quiet sigh of relief and continued, ¡°As for who told me, well, actually, I heard it from some female subordinates and female clients. Wife, I really had no other intentions. I just wanted to bring you here to enjoy.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother listened and laughed, ¡°Alright, I know, I won¡¯t blame you. However, I don¡¯t like places like this, so let¡¯s leave.¡± Despite many women enjoying places like this, she didn¡¯t. She didn¡¯t like other people touching her body, even if they were women. After Xiao¡¯s father and mother left, the salespeople who had overheard their conversation began to discuss. ¡°Taking his wife to the beauty salon, he must be an excellent husband.¡± ¡°He is a great husband, but they don¡¯t look like rich people judging from their clothes and appearance. I wonder if he knows that coming to our salon once would cost at least three to four thousand yuan.¡± Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Encountering Someone With an Abnormal Mind (Second Update) Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Encountering Someone With an Abnormal Mind (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Junxuan went to the zoo to pick up his parents, and then went to the library to pick up his sister and the others. Xiao Junxuan looked at his dad and asked suspiciously, ¡°Dad, you took mom to the zoological park?¡± Xiao Father said loudly with some guilt, ¡°You little brat, what¡¯s wrong with me taking your mom to the zoo? We can¡¯t go to the zoo?¡± After taking his wife away from the beauty salon and walking halfway, he didn¡¯t know where to go. He looked up and saw the big, shiny words ¡°Jianggan City Zoo¡± on the opposite side, so he went to the zoo with his wife. Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°I¡¯m not saying you guys can¡¯t go to the zoo. I¡¯m just wondering why you didn¡¯t take my sister with you. It seems like she hasn¡¯t been to the zoo before!¡± Xiao Mother also realized and said, ¡°Yeah, how come we didn¡¯t bring Xiao Bao with us to the zoo?¡± Xiao Father, ¡°¡­¡± At that time, he just wanted to go around with his wife alone, not thinking about bringing an extra, oh, two light bulbs along. ¡°Ahem,¡± Xiao Father said, ¡°Ask Xiao Bao later if she wants to go to the zoo in the afternoon. But I think Xiao Bao doesn¡¯t want to go. If she wants to, she¡¯ll say it herself.¡± Xiao Mother followed up, ¡°Whether Xiao Bao wants to go or not, let¡¯s ask her later.¡± On the other side, after buying seeds at the seed station, Xiao Jinli went to the pedestrian street according to plan. But after tasting a few so-called gourmet food items on the pedestrian street, her brows furrowed. She said, ¡°Gourmet food? The taste isn¡¯t even half as good as what my mom makes.¡¯ Xiao Siqian said with a smile, ¡°Auntie¡¯s cooking skills are very high. Ordinary people can¡¯t compare with the food she makes. Sister, I guess you¡¯re used to eating the dishes auntie makes, so when you eat outside, you become more picky about the taste.+¡± With that, he looked at the crowded crowd ahead and asked, ¡°So do we keep trying gourmet food?¡± Xiao Jinli raised her hand to check the time, then shook her head and said, ¡°No, we have to hurry back to the library. My brother and them are coming to pick us up for dinner.¡± Xiao Siqian looked at her stomach and asked with a smile, ¡°You just ate a lot. Can you still eat more?¡± Don¡¯t be exposed! Xiao Jinli waved her hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my appetite is quite good. The little bit I ate just now only filled my stomach.¡± Xiao Siqian nodded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. We still have to catch the bus, in case we wait too long and they¡­¡± It would be interesting to get caught. Xiao Jinli shivered, took Xiao Siqian¡¯s hand, and walked quickly back, ¡°Let¡¯s go, hurry, we can¡¯t miss the bus.¡± Xiao Siqian walked behind Xiao Jinli, looking at their tightly clasped hands, a little hand holding a big hand, with a doting and gentle gaze in his eyes. The two hurriedly caught up, and when they reached the entrance of the library, Xiao Junxuan arrived in his car. Seeing the two of them waiting at the entrance, Xiao Junxuan asked with a smile, ¡°Oh, why are you guys out so early today?¡± Xiao Jinli calmly said, ¡°We watched the time and came out. We just came out, and you guys were here.¡± After the two of them got in the car¡­ ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Xiao Father suddenly asked, ¡°Xiao Bao, do you want to go to the zoo? Do you want Dad to take you to the zoo in the afternoon?¡± Xiao Jinli refused without thinking, ¡°No!¡± It¡¯s a joke. If she wanted to see animals, she might as well go to Red Peak Mountain. What kind of animals weren¡¯t there? Well, she hadn¡¯t seen many fierce animals besides tigers and wolves. ¡°Why not?¡± Xiao Father immediately said, ¡°Let me tell you, that zoo has all kinds of animals, tigers, lions, peacocks, ostriches, elephants, camels, and the adorable national treasure giant pandas. Don¡¯t you want to see them? You don¡¯t know how beautiful a peacock¡¯s tail display is when you see it with your own eyes, and the white crane¡¯s flight¡­ ¡® After hearing Xiao Father¡¯s introduction, Xiao Jinli had an idea and thought, ¡°Indeed, there are many animals I haven¡¯t seen. Not now, even in her previous life, she hadn¡¯t seen these animals. She had only heard about them in museums.¡± After all, in the harsh environmental changes on Blue Star, many animals had gone extinct. Those paleontological experts could only see the appearance of animals after examining and restoring them. Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go to the zoo this afternoon.¡¯ Once Xiao Jinli agreed, Xiao Junxuan laughed out loud. Xiao Jinli looked puzzled and asked, ¡°Brother, what are you laughing at?¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Xiao Junxuan couldn¡¯t help but laugh and said, ¡°You don¡¯t know. Mom and Dad went to the zoo this morning and left you behind.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® Xiao Father glared at Xiao Junxuan with a black face and scolded, ¡°If you don¡¯t talk, no one will treat you like a mute!¡± Xiao Mother covered her mouth and laughed, ¡°Hahaha, since Xiao Bao wants to go, it¡¯s not a big deal to go again. After all, we didn¡¯t finish the tour in the morning. The zoo is quite big.¡± Xiao Father nodded, ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go again.¡± Anyway, he was a hen-pecked husband. Whatever his wife said went. When Xiao Junxuan brought the group of people to the entrance of the Friendship Restaurant, he went to park the car. But he didn¡¯t know that as soon as he left, Shi Xia and Shi Zhu¡¯er walked out of the restaurant. As soon as Shi Zhu¡¯er came out, she saw Xiao Father and Xiao Mother standing at the door, frowning. She walked over and asked directly, ¡°Hey, what are you doing here?¡± She sounded impolite. Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian looked at each other confusedly. Facing this girl with an abnormal mind, Xiao Father¡¯s face was also not looking good as he said, ¡°This is a restaurant, of course, we came here to eat. How is it any of your business where we eat?¡± Xiao Jinli frowned and asked, ¡°Dad, do you know each other?¡± Xiao Father shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± At this point, Shi Zhu¡¯er said, ¡°Don¡¯t think just because you can afford gold ornaments, you can spend money lavishly. You don¡¯t look like rich people at all. Don¡¯t you know how much it costs to eat here? Let me tell you, if it¡¯s a little worse, it¡¯s several hundred yuan, if it¡¯s a little better, it¡¯s thousands. I advise you not to show off, go to the fast-food spot outside, and eat some fast food. The most expensive fast food is only twenty-five yuan per serving.¡± Xiao Father and Xiao Mother, ¡® ¡­ This girl really has a problem with her brain. Xiao Jinli, ¡® She looked up at Shi Zhu¡¯er and asked with a smile, ¡°Miss, do you live by the sea?¡± ¡°What sea?¡± Shi Zhu¡¯er didn¡¯t react, ¡°My home is in Jianggan City, in the Rich District.¡± Xiao Jinli narrowed her eyes slightly and said coldly, ¡°Since your home is not by the sea, why are you being so nosy? Whether my family has money or not to eat has nothing to do with you. I don¡¯t need you to worry about it.¡± Shi Zhu¡¯er, . Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 79: The Friendship is Completely Over! (First Update) Chapter 79: Chapter 79: The Friendship is Completely Over! (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After being scolded by Xiao Jinli, Shi Zhu¡¯er¡¯s face turned red with anger. She pointed at Xiao Jinli and said angrily, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? How could you be so ill-mannered?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother disagreed with these words, saying, ¡°Young lady, I don¡¯t agree with you saying that my Xiao Bao has no manners. Regarding manners, may I ask, young lady, is it courteous to mock and ridicule elders you don¡¯t know, snatch the jewelry we liked, and now worry about us not having money for a meal? Is this your upbringing? Does your family¡¯s education teach you to look down on and ridicule people at will?¡± On her own, Shi Zhu¡¯er couldn¡¯t out-argue Xia¡¯s mother and daughter. She stomped her foot and snorted, ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m worried that you¡¯ll come to eat and not have money to pay for the meal, don¡¯t lose face then!¡± ¡°Really, thank you for your kindness, young lady!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother sharply replied, ¡°Even if we don¡¯t have money and have to wash dishes or beg outside, we would never ask you for a penny. So, worry less about us.¡± Then, Xiao¡¯s mother looked at Shi Xia, her tone not very pleasant, ¡°Young man, who is this person to you? Why don¡¯t you control her and let her bite people indiscriminately outside?¡± Shi Xia¡¯s expression immediately worsened. As he was about to speak, Xiao Junxuan walked over after parking the car. Seeing Shi Xia and his siblings with their parents, he smiled and said, ¡°What a coincidence, you all met here.¡± Then, he introduced them to his parents, ¡°Mom and Dad, let me introduce you, this is Shi Xia, my friend, and this is his sister. They were the ones who invited you to have dinner. Shi Xia, these are my parents, sister, and younger brother.¡± However, after introducing them, he noticed that the atmosphere on the scene was a bit odd, especially the expressions of his parents. They looked uncomfortable, and Shi Xia¡¯s siblings¡¯ faces were flushed. Xiao Junxuan asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± At this moment, Xiao Jinli smirked and said, ¡°Brother, did you say they invited our family to have dinner?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Xiao Junxuan was puzzled, ¡°Sis, did something happen?¡± Could something have happened while he had gone to the parking lot? ¡°Oh!¡± Xiao Jinli revealed a sarcastic expression on her face and said lightly, ¡°This young lady said we¡¯re dressed poorly and can¡¯t afford to eat in this restaurant. She suggested we go eat fast food outside.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Junxuan¡¯s handsome face immediately darkened. In just a short while, his family had been insulted by Shi Zhu¡¯er. Shi Zhu¡¯er was both embarrassed and ashamed, her face flushed. She was about to explain when Xiao¡¯s father spoke up. Xiao¡¯s father said, ¡°That¡¯s not all. When I took your mom to the shopping mall to buy jewelry, she came up and mocked us for our shabby appearance, thinking we could afford gold and silver jewelry. Didn¡¯t they know how expensive gold is now? Also, when we were in the jewelry store, we liked a necklace and were about to pay for it when she came over and wanted to pay double the price to buy it from the salesperson.¡± The more Xiao Junxuan listened, the darker his face became. He hadn¡¯t imagined that his parents would be insulted by Shi Zhu¡¯er before they even formally met Shi Xia. Xiao Junxuan stared at Shi Zhu¡¯er with a gloomy face and gritted his teeth, ¡°Miss Shi, do you have a grudge against my parents? Why do you keep targeting them ¡°Brother Junxuan, I¡­ I¡­¡± Shi Zhu¡¯er defended herself in shame, ¡°Listen to me, Xiao Junxuan waved his hand and said, ¡°Miss Shi, you don¡¯t need to explain anything to me.¡± Then he looked at Shi Xia and said, ¡°Mr. Shi, it seems we won¡¯t be able to enjoy this meal.¡± The change in address, from Ah Xia to Mr. Shi, marked the end of their friendship. Shi Xia¡¯s face changed, and he immediately explained, ¡°Ah Xuan, Zhu¡¯er is just reckless, she¡¯s not bad at heart.¡± At this moment, Shi Zhu¡¯er hurriedly explained, ¡°Brother Junxuan, don¡¯t blame my brother. It¡¯s my fault. 1¡­1 didn¡¯t know that uncle and auntie were your parents. I would never have said those things if I had known.¡± Xiao Junxuan sneered, ¡°You don¡¯t know they¡¯re my parents? Hehe, Miss Shi, do you mean to say that anyone who looks poor can be insulted by you?¡± ¡°No, no, I¡­ I didn¡¯t!¡± Shi Zhu¡¯er bit her lip, her eyes reddening as she tried to explain, ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t know either¡­¡± Xiao Jinli was also quite angry, ¡°You don¡¯t know? Sister, I think you¡¯re not just being nosy, but you¡¯re out of your mind. Two strangers, why did you insult them for no reason? Did they owe you eight million dollars or do something bad under your family¡¯s name that you have to insult them like this?¡± Xiao Junxuan also looked at Shi Xia and asked, ¡°Yes, is your sister crazy? What business is she meddling in, concerning herself with other people¡¯s spending? Did my family ever borrow a dime from her?¡± ¡°Brother Junxuan¡­¡± Shi Zhu¡¯er blushed with shame. ¡°No, Miss Shi, please call me Mr. Xiao.¡± Xiao Junxuan said coldly, ¡°I can¡¯t afford you calling me Brother Junxuan, because we¡¯re not close!¡± His family was his bottom line. No matter if Shi Zhu¡¯er intentionally or unintentionally insulted his parents, she had already touched his bottom line. Before, he had tolerated her calling him Brother Junxuan for Shi Xia¡¯s sake, but now he couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. For Shi Xia, they might have been friends in the past, but when he couldn¡¯t control his sister¡¯s mouth and let her insult his parents, the friendship was over. Shi Xia also secretly regretted it. How could he have known that things would turn out like this? His sister randomly talked about some people, and it just happened to be Xiao Junxuan¡¯s parents. Their true friendship with Xiao Junxuan was based on the purest four years of university. After graduating, they went their separate ways and rarely kept in touch. Once out of school and into society, people tend to become more calculating, mostly considering their interests first. The Shi family opened a small company with over 10 million in worth in Jiang Ganzhou City, and he is the only heir. Thus, most of the friends he had relationships with were carefully selected. His choice to become friends with Xiao Junxuan was not only because he recognized Xiao Junxuan¡¯s abilities, and that given the opportunity, he would soar high, but also because his sister fell in love with him at first sight. As a result, he often created opportunities for his sister. Who could have imagined that this carefully planned friendship would sink so quickly and with such disgrace? ¡°Mr. Shi, we won¡¯t be able to eat this meal.¡± Xiao Junxuan said coldly, ¡°I¡¯ll take my parents and siblings to a restaurant.¡± Then Xiao Junxuan led his parents and siblings into the restaurant. Shi Zhu¡¯er, watching Xiao Junxuan¡¯s heartless back, cried in great sorrow, ¡°Brother, brother, what should I do? Brother Junxuan is ignoring me, wuwu¡­¡± Shi Xia was also angry, ¡°Just let him be. A person from the countryside like him is not worthy of you!¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how you¡¯ve always seen me!¡± Xiao Junxuan suddenly stood behind him, sneering derisively. He had forgotten his cellphone in the car and went back to get it, but he didn¡¯t expect to hear Shi Xia talking about him like that. Shi Xia, The friendship was completely broken! Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Lucky Star is the Animal King (Second Update) Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Lucky Star is the Animal King (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°What, you want a piece of land?¡± After returning from Jianggan City, Xiao Jinli brought up the request for a piece of land to her parents. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I want a piece of land. This land should be able to accommodate at least thirty or forty types of seeds.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother looked at her daughter¡¯s serious expression and slightly furrowed her brow before asking earnestly, ¡°Jinli, are you sure you want to plant things on the land?¡± ¡°Yes. Mom, I bought some seeds from a seed shop in Jianggan City,¡± Xiao Jinli replied honestly. ¡°I want to plant these things myself.¡± Xiao¡¯s father laughed and said, ¡°Wife, if our child wants a piece of land, let¡¯s give her one. After all, we have land in the family. If not, we can always ask other people in the village if they have some.¡± He has always been very indulgent with his daughter since, unlike other children, Xiao Jinli has always been quite sensible. After hearing her husband¡¯s words, Xiao¡¯s mother said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°Is this a question of whether we have land or not? Why would Jinli want a piece of land to plant things at such a young age? Besides, does a child know how to plant things?¡± Although she usually participates in labor, she rarely lets the two children take part in activities like planting vegetables. However, Xiao Jinli said very seriously, ¡°Mom, let me tell you, I have thought deeply about wanting to plant things on land. I want to focus on studying agriculture.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao¡¯s father burst into laughter and said, ¡°Good, Jinli has aspirations at such a young age. Well done, daughter, I support you!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed helplessly. ¡°Since you have such aspirations and interests, Mom will support you too. But Jinli, have you set your sights on a particular piece of land?¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Not yet. I¡¯ll look around tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright, you can go have a look. If you like one of our lands, that¡¯s the best. If you like someone else¡¯s in the village, Dad will talk to them and ask them to sell or rent it,¡± Xiao¡¯s father immediately decided. Xiao Jinli happily said, ¡°Thank you, Mom and Dad!¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s dark eyes flashed and he looked at Xiao Jinli somewhat strangely. Did this child buy so many seeds just to plant them herself? With her parents¡¯ permission, Xiao Jinli went to find Cow King. ¡°Cow King, let¡¯s go work,¡± said Xiao Jinli. Afterwards, Xiao Siqian, who was following behind, saw Cow King crouching down, Xiao Jinli leaping onto him, and sitting on him firmly. Xiao Siqian, So that¡¯s how Cow King was used? Xiao Jinli directed Cow King, ¡°Let¡¯s make a round of the whole village.¡± Whenever Xiao Jinli was feeling lazy and didn¡¯t want to walk, she would ride Cow King around. Cow King was obedient, carrying his young master steadily, and they started walking towards the farmland in the village. As they walked out, the villagers saw Xiao Jinli riding Cow King and greeted her with smiles. ¡°Jinli, where are you going with Cow King?¡± ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m going to the field.¡± ¡°Going to the field? What¡¯s there to see now?¡± ¡°Nothing, I just want to go for a walk. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve ridden Cow King, and I want to ride him.¡± The villagers, ¡°¡­¡± Alright then. In Xiao Family Village, only Xiao Jinli would say she wanted to ride Cow King, and only she could actually ride him. Others couldn¡¯t even touch Cow King if they wanted to. Since the last time Cow King rescued more than a dozen cows and helped the authorities catch more than a dozen cattle thieves, his fame didn¡¯t only ring out in the ten miles and eight villages but also within the county town. For a while, in addition to some people who were curious about Cow King, there were also people who came to ask if the cow was for sale, with offers of no less than one hundred thousand yuan. One hundred thousand yuan! In the countryside, that¡¯s an astronomical price. Ordinary cows could only sell for at most five or six thousand yuan. Of course, Xiao Jinli refused. Now, Cow King was already part of their family. How could they sell him for such a small sum of money? Of course, the sky-high price of over one hundred thousand yuan also made some people restless. So, from time to time, people would come to inquire about the situation, but the villagers of Xiao Family Village were not so foolish that an outsider could easily find out about Cow King¡¯s bottom line. As for those who wanted to sneak in at night, they were either chased by dogs or bitten by them before they even got close. That¡¯s right, ever since they found out that Cow King was too eye-catching and that there were many people who wanted a piece of him, Xiao Family Village started to have more dogs. Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t raise dogs, but every dog was very affectionate towards her. Perhaps because of Xiao Jinli¡¯s blessing, the dogs became smarter and smarter, ignoring unfamiliar food. Those thieves who wanted to drug the dogs all returned empty-handed. In the eyes of everyone, Cow King became even more majestic. Xiao Jinli rode Cow King in front, the dogs of Xiao Family Village unknowingly gathered behind and followed, this spectacular team had a demeanor of a king¡¯s patrol, apparently, Xiao Jinli was that king. Xiao Siqian, If you didn¡¯t know better, you might think Xiao Jinli was an animal king. The villagers watched this procession, and after an initial pause, they burst into laughter. ¡°Haha, Jinli is not only popular among us humans, but also in the animal kingdom.¡± ¡°Jinli, where is your majestic procession headed for inspections? Haha¡­¡± ¡°My dog usually ignores me but when it comes to Jinli, it¡¯s like plaster, always sticking close. Haha, what a difference.¡± ¡°Jinli has such great charm.¡± All the way, the villagers teased Xiao Jinli, who sat leisurely on Cow King¡¯s back without a care in the world. Seeing Xiao Siqian following behind her, she raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Little Brother Xiao Quan, do you want to sit up here?¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s eyes brightened, and he asked with slight excitement, ¡°Can I? I heard that Cow King doesn¡¯t like to carry anyone else.¡± Cow King also let out a ¡°moo¡± as if to protest, but Xiao Jinli patted its horns and said, ¡°If I say you can, then you can.¡± Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t refuse and responded, ¡°Okay!¡± Xiao Jinli patted Cow King¡¯s head, and it reluctantly bent down its hind legs, allowing Xiao Siqian to get on. It didn¡¯t really want to carry anyone else, but it couldn¡¯t resist its young master¡¯s orders. Cow King was tall and sturdy, so when Xiao Siqian sat down, there was still plenty of space. However, since it was his first time sitting on it, and he didn¡¯t have reins like when riding a horse to help him balance, Xiao Siqian nervously grabbed onto Xiao Jinli¡¯s clothes. Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Little Brother Xiao Quan, don¡¯t be so nervous. Cow King walks very steady and won¡¯t throw you off. You can just put your hands on his back.¡± ¡°Oh, okay!¡± Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81: I Just Want to Lie Down in This Life (First Update) Chapter 81: Chapter 81: I Just Want to Lie Down in This Life (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Siqian enjoyed a ride on Cow King¡¯s back, basking in Xiao Jinli¡¯s good fortune. Indeed, riding a cow felt different from riding a horse. Xiao Jinli rode Cow King around the entire village and decided on a spot for farming. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Mom, after looking around, our backyard seems to be the most suitable spot!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother nodded and agreed, ¡°Alright, the backyard is yours! Let me know if you need any help.¡± ¡°Okay, Mom!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. When it was late at night and quiet, Xiao Jinli locked the doors and windows, then entered the Space by pressing the birthmark on her wrist. The Space was no longer as desolate as it was when Xiao Jinli first arrived, with yellow sand and stones flying everywhere. On the once bare hills, there were now lush trees and glistening green grass. At the foot of the hills, there was plot after plot of land. Some plots had already been planted, while others were overgrown with weeds. Little Q-like Xiao Zhi flew over, spun around, and asked, ¡°Master, you have already planted a lot of fruits and vegetables here. Are they all to be kept in the Space?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m trying to find a way to bring these things out of the Space.¡± Xiao Jinli walked to the apple tree, picked an apple, and bit into it with a ¡°crunch. ¡± It was crispy and delicious, with the fragrance of the apple filling her mouth instantly. It tasted several times better than the apples bought outside. Xiao Jinli would occasionally bring out fruits like apples, pears, tangerines, and grapes when they were in season for her family to taste. Her excuse was always that someone else had gifted them to her. Xiao Zhi looked at Xiao Jinli¡¯s young face, sighed lightly, and said, ¡°Master, you are just too young now, making many things inconvenient.¡± Xiao Jinli glanced at him and said, ¡°How is it inconvenient? Don¡¯t you see that I am the village¡¯s Lucky Star now, with Fortune God¡¯s protection in everything I do? It¡¯s all reasonable!¡± Speaking of this, Xiao Zhi giggled as he flew around the Space, ¡°Hehe¡­ Master, before you traveled through time, I didn¡¯t know you had a koi constitution. The Village Head named you Jinli, and you truly have the luck of a koi! The Village Head chose such a great name; your luck is ceaseless!¡± Over the past decade, he had witnessed Xiao Jinli¡¯s smooth sailing in everything she did. Even when someone tried to sabotage her, it was the ill-intentioned people who ended up suffering. Xiao Jinli ate her apple, feeling content with her constitution. Xiao Zhi held his little face and sighed, ¡°Master, this era is simply too peaceful. Even when people are bad, they just have evil thoughts and aren¡¯t vicious enough to take lives easily.¡± He looked at Xiao Jinli, and his expression shimmered with excitement, ¡°You can just relax! As you grow older, you can have whatever you want and be as free as a bird in the sky. Think about the past, how hard you worked, staying up day and night researching, and as a result, you were so outstanding that you attracted countless assassination attempts from various forces. Remembering Xiao Jinli, ¡® She raised her small hand and lightly tapped Xiao Zhi¡¯s little head, ¡°Are you feeling nostalgic? I think you¡¯re just bored and always want to see me make a fool of myself.¡± Xiao Zhi slapped Xiao Jinli¡¯s hand and defended himself, ¡°Master, you¡¯re wronging me. When did I ever want to see you make a fool of yourself? I was genuinely worried about you every time you faced an assassination attempt.¡± ¡°Oh, worried? You are a smart brain-item, do you have a heart?¡± Xiao Jinli said, somewhat speechless, ¡°You can only calculate but are unable to calculate a heart for yourself!¡± Xiao Zhi argued, ¡°Although I don¡¯t have a heart like humans, I can think like one! I have all five human senses. You underestimate me. Xiao Jinli rubbed his little head and laughed, ¡°Yes, I underestimated you.¡± Xiao Zhi asked, ¡°Little Master, what do you want to do when you grow up? ¡°Now that I have you, the most advanced smart brain-item, what else do I need to do? I can just relax,¡± Xiao Jinli said with a light laugh, ¡°It¡¯s great just to be a carefree child with my dad doting on me, my mom loving me, and my older brother indulging me.¡± Xiao Zhi rolled his eyes at Xiao Jinli¡¯s lack of ambition, waving his little hands, ¡°No, no! Don¡¯t you want to be a famous person in this world during this era? A celebrity, a name remembered throughout history! Someone who will be revered by our descendants 400 years later.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to, I just want to be an ordinary person,¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°Being famous is too tiring.¡± In her previous life, she had borne the reputation of being a genius, shouldering the hopes of several billion people worldwide. She was as busy as a spinning top, constantly working while fending off assassination attempts from various forces. Xiao Zhi said loudly, ¡°Being an ordinary person is too unambitious!¡± Xiao Jinli rolled her eyes and said speechless, ¡°What¡¯s the use of having ambition? It¡¯s not like I can eat or drink it.¡¯ ¡°Who says ambition can¡¯t be eaten or drunk?¡± Xiao Zhi argued, ¡°When you have ambition, you have motivation. With motivation, you can achieve success. After success, fame and wealth will come ¨C can¡¯t you eat and drink those?¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I don¡¯t lack food or drink now, so I don¡¯t need ambition or motivation!¡± Xiao Zhi became frustrated and turned away, ignoring his master. Wuu¡­ Did his master lose all her ambition and fighting spirit when she died once? Xiao Jinli looked amused at Xiao Zhi and said, ¡°Xiao Zhi, isn¡¯t life good like this? This is the ancient time of 400 years ago when technology was still in its infancy. The people of this era need to explore, develop, and research in order to drive the overall development of humanity. However,¡± Her brows furrowed Sligntly as sne continued, ¡°Wnat we need to do IS prevent the worsening of the global environment.¡± Xiao Zhi immediately turned around and nodded at Xiao Jinli, ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s what we¡¯re doing now ¡ª preventing the worsening of the global environment, or at least slowing down its rapid decline!¡± The development of human history has a certain trend. It can¡¯t be stopped; it can only be delayed! Xiao Jinli¡¯s beautiful eyes narrowed, ¡°Well, it seems like we can only rely on Little Space.¡± Xiao Zhi, What did she mean by that? Just as Xiao Zhi was about to ask, Xiao Jinli had already laid down on the grass and fallen asleep. Xiao Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Not only was she a koi, but she was also a sleeping deity! Following suit, Xiao Zhi lay down beside Xiao Jinli.. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Building the Greenhouse (Second Update) Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Building the Greenhouse (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Our backyard is about four or five parts large. Knowing that her daughter wanted to use it, Xiao Mother cleared everything out of the field for her daughter to use. According to Xiao Jinli¡¯s request, a fence was built around it and a greenhouse had to be set up. ¡°Why do we need to set up a greenhouse, Jinli?¡± Xiao Father asked with a puzzled expression, ¡°With a greenhouse, rainwater and sunlight will be an issue.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Well, I¡¯ve looked through the books, the ones on agriculture. Planting crops in a greenhouse is better for research. Because the greenhouse has controllable factors, and without a greenhouse, it is difficult to control things like rainwater and sunlight.¡± In fact, the greenhouse was set up to prevent some uninvited guests from entering, such as rats and snakes. Hearing this, Xiao Father nodded and said, ¡°Okay, as long as Jinli has her own considerations!¡± For the fence, Xiao Father and Xiao Junxuan went into the bamboo grove and cut down more than a dozen yellow bamboo, along with some fir branches. Adding fir branches was meant to make the fence more secure. After cutting down the yellow bamboo, it was sawed into sections with a length of about 1.2 to 1.5 meters each. The sawed short yellow bamboos were then split in half with a machete. However, for the fence, bamboo strips were needed. Bamboo strips are the green skin layer of yellow bamboo. When peeled off and soaked in hot water, they become more flexible and stronger. It took a family less than a day to set up a fence. Afterwards, Xiao Father found someone to set up a greenhouse according to Xiao Jinli¡¯s requirements. When the person who built the greenhouse found out that it was for a child, they thought it was ridiculous. Not only did they doubt that a ten-year-old child could cultivate anything, but they also thought that the effort to set up a greenhouse was just a waste of money. When the villagers heard that the greenhouse was for Xiao Jinli¡¯s research, all of them were curious and came to take a look. Hearing the people who built the greenhouse talking, some unhappy villagers said, ¡°Why do you care if Xiao Wanshan wants to let their child play with it?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just five parts of land, it can¡¯t grow that much.¡± The person who set up the greenhouse, ¡°¡­¡± Not only did the employer find it ridiculous, but the people in the village were also confused. Is five parts of land a small amount? If five parts of land were used to grow rice, at least several hundred kilograms of grain could be harvested. If used to grow other vegetables, it could feed a family for a year. And, what does a ten-year-old child know about planting? Of course, the person who set up the greenhouse simply muttered under his breath and didn¡¯t bother to argue with them. Everyone here thinks it¡¯s nothing, so why should we worry about it? The cost of the greenhouse is calculated based on its size, and at five parts, it is more than 300 square meters. Also, the construction uses a glass greenhouse framework, costing 32 yuan per square meter. Thus, the total cost is sixteen or seventeen thousand. However, because the person Xiao hired to build the greenhouse was familiar with them, the change was removed and it was charged for ten thousand. The boss of the greenhouse business always wondered why they spent so much money just to cater to a child¡¯s whims; it was simply a waste of money. Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family really has money, spending such a large amount on a child¡¯s whim and not finding it heartbreaking, instead, they are happily cheering. After the greenhouse was set up, many villagers came to visit. In this era, greenhouses were still a rare sight for rural people. Generally, only those large-scale vegetable growers would choose to build greenhouses, and the people of Xiao Family Village did not engage in commercial activities, so they had little chance to see them. ¡°This greenhouse is really nice. It¡¯s made of glass. Wanshan, what kind of research does Jinli want to do that requires such a large setup?¡± Xiao Changchun asked with confusion. Xiao Wanshan shook his head and said, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not quite sure either. Xiao Bao said she wants to explore agricultural research and use a piece of land at home for her studies.¡¯ ¡°Ah, Jinli wants to focus on agricultural research.¡± The villagers, hearing Xiao Wanshan¡¯s response, were somewhat puzzled. ¡°Jinli is really ambitious. At such a young age, she has already set goals for herself. ¡°Exactly. Having aspirations, goals, and dreams makes a child more motivated.¡± ¡°At such a young age, Jinli has ambitions. She is bound to be successful in the future and become an agricultural expert.¡± ¡°Right, maybe Jinli can become the second Father of Rice in the future.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re wrong, it should be the Mother of Rice.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ ¡± Xiao Wanshan, however, humbly said, ¡°The child is still young; how can we tell what she has in mind? I don¡¯t expect her to have great ambitions or achievements. I just hope that she can live peacefully until she grows old.¡± ¡°Jinli is our Lucky Star, with God of Fortune¡¯s protection, she will definitely live a safe and peaceful life. Wanshan, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± ¡°Yeah, Wanshan, Jinli is a Lucky Star, you are unnecessarily worrying.¡± Hearing everyone¡¯s words, Xiao Wanshan just shook his head. As a parent, how could one not worry about their children? It¡¯s just that his daughter, Jinli, has been luckier than others since birth. But does that mean parents should stop worrying? After the greenhouse was set up, the family loosened the soil, and then let Xiao Jinli do whatever she wanted. Xiao¡¯s mother said that for these seeds, besides pumpkins, wax gourds, sponge gourds and other large vine plants, which could be planted directly into small pits, things like cabbage and Chinese cabbage should be grown from seedlings first, and then transplanted once they reached a certain height. Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinli asked her mom to prepare several seedling beds. She took out a plastic bag, which was filled with ordinary seeds. Xiao¡¯s mother looked at the pile of seeds and asked, ¡°Xiao Bao, how many seeds did you buy? Do you want to plant all these seeds? But Xiao Bao, some seeds are not in season right now. It is July, and some plants may not survive if planted now.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at the seeds in her hand and said, ¡°Then Mom, let¡¯s just plant the in-season seeds.¡± As for the out-of-season ones, she would first sow them in the space, and when they grew to a certain size in the space, she would transplant them out. Later, with the help of her mother, Xiao Jinli started by planting some ordinary seeds, like cabbage, Chinese cabbage, and radishes. After a while, as if Xiao Jinli¡¯s mom remembered something, she laughed and said, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m wrong, Xiao Bao. We have built a greenhouse. Many off-season vegetables and fruits can be grown inside the greenhouse. Otherwise, where would we get so many off-season vegetables and fruits? Hehe, I didn¡¯t think of that just now.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® She just wanted an excuse to plant these seeds and didn¡¯t think too much about the rest. But now that her mother mentioned it, having different unexpected things growing in her greenhouse would seem natural. Xiao Jinli was instantly relieved. If she hadn¡¯t asked her parents to build the greenhouse, she wouldn¡¯t have a good excuse. Xiao Jinli thought and said, ¡°Then Mom, can I plant some watermelons?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°That¡¯s something you¡¯ll have to figure out through trial and error. I have never grown anything in a greenhouse.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Did You Really Lose Your Memory? (Second Update) Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Did You Really Lose Your Memory? (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Great, great! That¡¯s a really great speech!¡± Xiao Wanshan applauded after hearing Xiao Siqian¡¯s opinion. At this moment, Xiao Junxuan came in and asked with confusion, ¡°Dad, I heard your laughter from far away. What are you talking about that¡¯s so great?¡± Xiao Wanshan told his son, ¡°I just said that Xiao Quan¡¯s opinion is great. Little Xuan, Xiao Quan was just telling me that the future price of houses will rise and there¡¯s a huge potential for growth. His analysis is spot on and I think it¡¯s really great!¡± ¡°Foreign houses¡¯ prices will skyrocket, and there¡¯s a huge potential for growth?¡± Xiao Junxuan frowned, his eyes half-closed, and asked again, ¡°Xiao Quan, can you repeat what you just said?¡± Then, Xiao Siqian repeated his words, and Xiao Junxuan¡¯s eyes grew brighter and brighter. Like his father, his expression was somewhat excited. But soon, Xiao Junxuan¡¯s eyes towards Xiao Siqian changed a bit. He stared intently at Xiao Siqian. Xiao Siqian felt inexplicably unsettled by the stare, making his scalp tingle, as he asked, ¡°Brother Xuan, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xiao Junxuan said very seriously, ¡°I¡¯m just trying to figure out how your brain works.¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°How can you be so clever and business-minded?¡± Xiao Junxuan continued, ¡°Last time you inspired me with the combine harvester. My dad and I decided to buy the combine harvester. Although the purpose of buying the harvester wasn¡¯t to make money, but for everyone¡¯s convenience, it still has a certain commercial value to it. Now, you say that house prices will rise, and you analyze it so logically. I¡¯m starting to doubt, are you really only 18 years old? Or maybe you¡¯re an old demon wearing an 18-year-old disguise?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Xiao Wanshan couldn¡¯t help laughing at his son¡¯s words. With Xiao Siqian, who was being stared at, feeling uneasy, listening to Xiao Junxuan¡¯s last sentence made his face go dark. He said somewhat dissatisfied, ¡°Brother Xuan, how could I be an old demon?¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded and chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right, how could Xiao Quan be an old demon? Xuan¡¯er, don¡¯t doubt someone else¡¯s intelligence just because you think your brain is not as clever and nimble as Xiao Quan¡¯s.¡± Xiao Junxuan, ¡°¡­¡± His brain was not less clever and nimble than this kid¡¯s. Then, Xiao Wanshan asked puzzledly, ¡°Xiao Quan, where did you learn all these things?¡± When Xiao Siqian first came to the Xiao family, his wife and other family members had taken him to a bookstore to buy textbooks, wondering if they should send him to school. But, the kid turned out to be really smart. Xiao Siqian suddenly got a jolt in his heart. That¡¯s right, he was still playing the role of an amnesiac child. The things he was saying now were truly suspicious. Xiao Siqian explained, ¡°Mmm, I analyzed it from newspapers and news on television. ¡± Having heard that, Xiao Wanshan didn¡¯t doubt it and nodded, ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Then, his tone changed to praise, ¡°This shows that you really have a great business mind. Xiao Quan, do you really not remember anything about your past?¡± He stared sharply at Xiao Siqian with his piercing eyes, and then continued, ¡°I don¡¯t know how you ended up on Red Peak Mountain, and how Xiao Bao carried you back. However, when you were saved, the clothes on you were of very high quality, clearly something ordinary people like us can¡¯t afford. Could it be that you have an unusual identity?¡± After hearing Xiao Wanshan¡¯s words, Xiao Siqian¡¯s heart tightened. He was afraid that Xiao Wanshan would kick him out because of his identity. He felt comfortable and warm in this home, and he didn¡¯t want to leave for the time being. He pleaded, ¡°Uncle, I really have amnesia and can¡¯t remember anything about my previous identity. Please, don¡¯t kick me out, okay?¡± The last sentence had a hint of pleading in it. Xiao Wanshan was startled, and then said seriously, ¡°Xiao Quan, who said I would kick you out? Since the day you entered our home, you¡¯ve been a part of us, our family. We will always welcome you here and will never kick you out unless you want to leave yourself. Xiao Quan, it¡¯s my fault for bringing up such a thing and making you overthink it. I apologize.¡± He never expected Xiao Siqian to be so sensitive. Just because he casually mentioned the identity issue, Xiao Siqian already worried about being kicked out. Sigh, what kind of experiences did this child have in his past? Xiao Wanshan looked at Xiao Siqian with a mixture of pity and sympathy in his eyes. Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± Why is my uncle looking at me with such eyes? As a result, Xiao Junxuan turned his head and looked at him with the same eyes. Xiao Siqian, ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Xiao Wanshan laughed, ¡°Xiao Quan, do you want your brother Xuan to take you on a tour around the place?¡± Xiao Siqian immediately refused, ¡°No need, uncle. I¡¯ll just take a walk around by myself. Brother Xuan must be very busy.¡± Would a deputy general manager of a company not be busy? Xiao Wanshan didn¡¯t force it, and just nodded, ¡°Okay, go ahead and explore on your own. If you need anything, just come to us.¡± Xiao Siqian nodded, and then went out. After Xiao Siqian left, Xiao Junxuan immediately became excited, ¡°Dad, Dad, we can buy a house!¡± Xiao Wanshan glanced at him and said irritably, ¡°Calm down, why are you so excited? You¡¯re an adult and you still can¡¯t control your emotions. How will you handle big things in the future?¡± Xiao Junxuan¡¯s face turned red as he defended himself, ¡°I just get so excited when I think about the future rise in house prices.¡± With the size of the company they ran, their father and son must have earned quite a bit of money. After that, Xiao Junxuan said calmly, ¡°Dad, where should we buy the house if we want to buy one?¡± Xiao Wanshan squinted his eyes and replied, ¡°We need to think carefully about that and do some investigations. However, for the time being, we still need to manage the current company well. The houses won¡¯t run away for a while.¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°Dad, you¡¯re right.¡± But then, he asked doubtfully, ¡°Dad, do you really think Xiao Quan has lost his memory?¡± ¡°What are you doubting?¡± Xiao Wanshan¡¯s sharp gaze focused on his son, ¡°Even if he lost his memory or not, does it affect our relationship with him?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Junxuan replied, ¡°There¡¯s no effect!¡± ¡°Well, there you have it!¡± Xiao Wanshan said seriously, ¡°No matter if he has lost his memory or not, as long as he¡¯s part of our family, he¡¯s Xiao Siqian, your younger brother. In the future, don¡¯t doubt so much. Haven¡¯t you noticed how well your sister gets along with him? If he had any ill intentions, your sister would have already stopped caring about him.¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°Oh, I understand now!¡± But then again, apart from his family, there wasn¡¯t anyone else his sister got along with. Now there¡¯s Xiao Siqian added to the list.. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Disturbance in the Factory (First Update) Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Disturbance in the Factory (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After coming out of the General Manager¡¯s Office, Xiao Junxuan went directly to tour the Factory. Because of Xiao Junxuan¡¯s tall height, good figure, handsome appearance and extraordinary temperament, he looked like a beautiful scenery wherever he walked. Most of the people working in this factory are young, especially many who are only two years out of junior high school and have followed acquaintances into the factory. The girls and women working in the workshop inadvertently looked up and saw Xiao Junxuan outside the factory, their eyes instantly brightening as they said to their colleagues, ¡°Look, that young man outside is so handsome, is he the new guy? I¡¯ve never seen him before.¡± The colleague looked up and said, ¡°He must be the new guy. If he had come before, such a handsome young man would have been recognized by everyone sooner. ¡± ¡°New guy, huh? He doesn¡¯t look very old and is so handsome. I wonder if he already has a girlfriend?¡± a girl with a blushing face muttered. A married woman nearby teased, ¡°Interested, huh? Why don¡¯t you go ask him and find out!¡± The girl with a red face replied, ¡°We don¡¯t know each other at all, what am I supposed to ask him about?¡± The woman laughed and said, ¡°You may not know each other now, but maybe you will be familiar in a few days. You can ask him then.¡± She also glanced over and sighed softly, ¡°To be honest, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen such a handsome young man in person. In the past, we only watched handsome guys on TV. It¡¯s a pity that Time doesn¡¯t spare anyone. My children are all grown up now.¡± Xiao Junxuan was the subject of discussions not just here, but everywhere he went. As long as someone caught a glimpse of his face, they couldn¡¯t help but talk about him. After all, they rarely saw someone with such a stunning appearance. Some of the young men in the factory who didn¡¯t have girlfriends suddenly felt threatened. They grumbled, ¡°Who is this stinky kid? Why haven¡¯t we seen him before? Is he new here?¡± ¡°He must be new. If he had been here before, we would have seen him!¡± ¡°So is he here to work in the factory? Why isn¡¯t he with anyone?¡± ¡°Who knows! He probably wants to look around the factory on his first visit.¡± Deep down, they were worried that he would be assigned to their team. Because having a man who looks better than they do in the same team also puts a lot of pressure on them. ¡°Humph, his skin is so white, he must be a Little White Face. What kind of work can he do?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t see the looks in those girls¡¯ eyes when they saw him, they were all shining. He¡¯s just a little more handsome than us, what¡¯s the big deal? What¡¯s there to look at?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, what¡¯s the big deal about being handsome? Only if you can work hard and earn more than us is it impressive. Otherwise, if you can¡¯t work and have no money, how can you date girls? Do you expect girls to support you? That would be so embarrassing.¡± Well, the tone of these words was sour. However, since it was work hours, they couldn¡¯t cause any trouble even if they wanted to. After touring the factory, Xiao Junxuan went into the workshop. The Workshop Supervisor was slightly puzzled when he saw an unfamiliar young man wandering around the entrance. The Supervisor walked over and asked, ¡°Handsome guy, what can I do for you?¡± Xiao Junxuan shook his head and said, ¡°Just looking around!¡± ¡°Looking around? Are you new here? Which workshop are you in?¡± the supervisor asked again. Xiao Junxuan shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not here to work.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not here to work, then what are you here for? Are you here to play? This is factory territory, so you can¡¯t just mess around!¡± The Supervisor was slightly dissatisfied, saying, ¡°Whichever workshop put you in, even if you¡¯re not working right now, you should be looking around your assigned workshop instead of wandering around.¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded and said, ¡°Oh, I understand.¡± He then left the workshop. Supervisor, ¡® . Why did such a handsome young man come, and what was he up to? However, having such a handsome boy assigned to her workshop would probably motivate the other kids to work harder. Hearing Xiao Siquan¡¯s words, Xiao Sichuan felt hesitant to walk around the workshop, so he just toured the outside of the factory. The entire company wasn¡¯t that big, and after walking for a while, he had seen the entire factory. Xiao Siqian became bored in an instant. But since Xiao Wanshan and Xiao Junxuan were busy, he couldn¡¯t disturb them. Just as he was thinking, a man in his thirties called out to him. The man was pulling a cart of goods. ¡°Hey, which workshop are you in?¡± Xiao Siqian was about to answer when the man handed him the handle of the cart and said, ¡°I¡¯m in a bit of a hurry right now. Can you help me deliver these goods to the Third Workshop?¡± Without waiting for Xiao Siqian¡¯s response, the man hurriedly ran toward the Toilet. Xiao Siqian looked at the cart and muttered, ¡°Where is the Third Workshop?¡± There are two workshops here. As for the layout structure of the workshops, he really had no idea. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll just ask,¡± Xiao Siqian said to himself. After asking the Cleaning Auntie, he found out that the Third Workshop was in the back building and pulled the goods there. However, he was not familiar with using a handcart and couldn¡¯t control the cart. As he pulled it, the cart swerved to one side. While pushing it, the cart swerved to the other side. He had been pulling for more than ten minutes but had only covered a distance of ten meters or so. By the time the man who had asked him to pull the goods came out of the Toilet, it was already half an hour later. When he saw that the cartload of goods had not yet been delivered to the workshop, his face immediately darkened. He swiftly walked up to Xiao Siqian, scolding him in an angry tone, ¡°What on earth are you doing? It¡¯s been more than ten minutes, and you¡¯re still here! You can¡¯t even do this simple task. If you can¡¯t, you better not come here to work.¡± Xiao Siqian received the goods without knowing why, and was scolded without knowing why. His face turned unhappy, as he replied, ¡°I have never pulled anything like this before. How can I deliver it to the workshop? And who are you to judge me? This is your job; you handed it to me and I¡¯m doing you a favor by helping you. You went into the Toilet for half an hour before coming out. Did you fill up the whole Toilet or something?¡± The man, hearing Xiao Siqian¡¯s words, was furious. He angrily pointed at Xiao Siqian and yelled, ¡°You¡¯re new here, and I let you do some work because I respect you. Do you know who I am? I¡¯ll have you believe that I could have you kicked out with a single word!¡± Xiao Siqian replied with a dark expression, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. All I know is, this is your job. You handed your work to me without my consent, and whether I completed it or not, you have no right to criticize me. And, are you trying to be lazy and get me to do your work? Why did it take you half an hour to go to the Toilet? Why didn¡¯t you deliver the goods to the workshop first and then go?¡± Perhaps it was because Xiao Siqian had hit the nail on the head, the man was pointing at him with his face green.. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Xiao Siqian’s Trouble (Second Update) Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Xiao Siqian¡¯s Trouble (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Siqian and Li Dayong¡¯s argument quickly attracted some onlookers. However, it was now work hours, and most ordinary employees were working in the workshop. Those who came over were either security guards or company management. ¡°Li Dayong, what¡¯s going on? It took you more than half a day just to deliver some goods!¡± The person who came was a woman in her forties, who seemed like a department leader. With a pale face, Li Dayong said to the woman, ¡°Director Xin, my stomach was not feeling well just now, so I asked him to help deliver the goods to the workshop. But I didn¡¯t expect that after coming out of the toilet, he would still be here. I criticized him, and he said it wasn¡¯t his job.¡± Director Xin raised her head to look at Xiao Siqian. As she saw his appearance clearly, her eyes lit up, but she instantly asked seriously, ¡°Which workshop do you belong to? I haven¡¯t seen you before.¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°I don¡¯t belong to any workshop.¡± Director Xin asked with confusion, ¡°Not to any workshop? Are you from an office? Which office do you belong to? I haven¡¯t heard of any department hiring new people.¡± Except for the production workshops. Xiao Siqian shook his head, ¡°No, I¡¯m not!¡± Upon hearing this, Li Dayong immediately said, ¡°You¡¯re not from a workshop, nor from an office? What are you doing here then? This is not a tourist attraction; you can¡¯t be here just for fun.¡± Xiao Siqian nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right; I came here for fun.¡± Then he explained to Director Xin, ¡°I was just passing by when this guy suddenly handed me a cart full of goods he pulled. Without asking whether I accepted or not, he just went straight to the toilet. At first, I was going to help, but I didn¡¯t know how to pull this kind of cart. I tried for half an hour, and by the time he came out from the toilet, I had only managed to pull it a dozen meters or so. So, it¡¯s not my fault that I didn¡¯t help to deliver the goods to the workshop, right? Instead, this guy comes out and scolds me without considering the actual situation. Excuse me, is it my fault that the goods didn¡¯t make it to the workshop?¡± Director Xm? , ¡°¡­¡± It¡¯s not your fault. These small carts may look easy to pull, but for someone who¡¯s never operated one before, it¡¯s not easy to get the hang of it. Director Xin looked at Li Dayong with narrowed eyes and asked coldly, ¡°Li Dayong, what do you have to say for yourself? You were supposed to deliver the goods first, but you went to the toilet instead and stayed there for half an hour! Are you constipated or something? And now you¡¯re blaming him? How thick is your skin?¡± Li Dayong¡¯s face turned red, and he stammered, ¡°Director Xin, this¡­ I can¡¯t be blamed. I thought he was here to work, and I was in a hurry, so I asked him to help. Who knew he wouldn¡¯t help!¡± He turned the fact that someone was helping him into not helping, just to shirk responsibility. Director Xin said coldly, ¡°Enough, don¡¯t say anything more. Hurry up and deliver these goods; they¡¯re waiting for you inside.¡± Li Dayong still wanted to argue, but meeting Director Xin¡¯s cold gaze, he could only pull the goods away with an awkward face. After Li Dayongleft, Director Xin asked Xiao Siqian again, ¡°If you¡¯re not from a workshop nor an office, are you here for an interview?¡± Xiao Siqian shook his head, ¡°No.¡± Director Xin frowned, puzzled, and asked, ¡°If you¡¯re neither, then how did you get in? Who brought you in?¡± Xiao Siqian looked up at Director Xin and said, ¡°Naturally, someone brought me in. As for who, it¡¯s none of your business.¡± Having said that, Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t want to deal with this woman any further. Seeing Xiao Siqian¡¯s attitude, Director Xin was irritated. She immediately stopped him and said, ¡°Stop, I¡¯ll call security to kick you out if you don¡¯t explain yourself!¡± Xiao Siqian slightly raised his eyebrows, somewhat puzzled, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your position? What is your qualification to kick me out?¡± A smart person wouldn¡¯t get involved in other people¡¯s affairs. Director Xin said with pride, ¡°I am the Production Department Director. Do you think I have no right to kick you out?¡± Xiao Siqian nodded and said, ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re the Production Department Director. No wonder you¡¯re so domineering. But I¡¯m sorry; you really don¡¯t have the right to kick me out. If you don¡¯t believe me, call security over and see.¡± The security guards at the security office had seen him get out of President Xiao¡¯s car. Upon hearing this, Director Xin¡¯s eyebrows furrowed even more. Just who was this person to be so confident and fearless? Xiao Siqian ignored her thoughts and left directly. What a bothersome affair. Director Xin¡¯s gaze followed Xiao Siqian¡¯s retreating figure, then noticed him heading towards the office building. She suddenly thought to herself, ¡°Could he really be brought here by someone from the office just for fun?¡± After a while qhp followed him As the Production Department Director, she also had an office in the office building. There was nothing strange about her going to the office building. She went to the Human Resources Department and asked, ¡°Did you hire anyone today?¡± ¡°No, Sister Xin, is something wrong?¡± the HR Department replied. ¡°Today, I saw a stranger coming into the factory. Just now, I clearly saw him walking into the office building. What¡¯s going on?¡± asked Director Xin, puzzled. The HR Department confidently claimed, ¡°There was no new hiring today. But, Sister Xin, did you need him for something?¡± Director Xin shook her head, ¡°No!¡± She simply thought the young man looked good and wondered if they could talk more in the future. Human Resources, ¡® She still chased after him even though she had no business with him. At this moment, a clerk spoke up, ¡°Oh, Director Xin, are you talking about that handsome young man with a tall stature and good looks?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him!¡± agreed Director Xin. The clerk said excitedly, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re talking about that handsome guy! He came in with President Xiao. Right now, he should be in President Xiao¡¯s office. If you need to see him, just go inside.¡± Director Xin, ¡°¡­¡± It turned out that President Xiao brought him in. No wonder the young man acted so confident and fearless. He really was just visiting the factory. At noon, Xiao Junxuan took Xiao Siqian to the cafeteria for lunch. Just as they were about to walk in, Xiao Junxuan¡¯s face turned red, and he said, ¡°Xiao Quan, you go ahead and wait for me at the table in the cafeteria. I need to use the restroom.¡± Then he hurriedly ran off. Xiao Siqian walked into the cafeteria alone. The cafeteria was spacious, and everyone was lining up to get their meals. Xiao Siqian went straight to a table and sat down. As soon as he sat down, Li Dayong came over with two young men, stood in front of him, and threatened, ¡°So, you¡¯re here, pretty boy! Damn it, I asked you to help me earlier, and that was already showing you respect!¡± After saying that, Li Dayong slapped at Xiao Siqian, intending to teach him a lesson. It was often the case that employees would have private quarrels. Fighting in the cafeteria was also quite normal. Xiao Siqian turned his head and stretched out his hand to grab Li Dayong¡¯s slap. He then countered with a slap of his own, shouting fiercely, ¡°Get lost!¡± Li Dayong¡¯s eyes were full of sparks from the blow! Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Teaching a Lesson to the Worm (First Update) Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Teaching a Lesson to the Worm (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Employees who were watching the drama in the cafeteria were somewhat shocked. This handsome young man was so powerful and his moves were so cool. Just now, they thought about sympathizing with Xiao Siqian and pitying him. After all, as a newcomer, how could he fight Li Dayong? Li Dayong was beaten by Xiao Siqian so hard that his eyes were seeing stars. After being hit, he subconsciously covered the slapped side of his face. After steadying himself, he reacted and pointed at Xiao Siqian with one hand, ¡°You little white face, how dare you hit me! Do you know who I am? I think you don¡¯t want to stay here anymore, huh?¡± Xiao Siqian stared at him coldly and asked, ¡°I don¡¯t need to know who you are! I warn you, you better not mess with me!¡± Hearing his words, Li Dayong laughed in anger, and said, ¡°You better listen, I am President Xiao¡¯s relative. Do you know who President Xiao is? He is the general manager of our Xiao Li Company.¡± Xiao Siqian frowned and asked, ¡°You are President Xiao¡¯s relative. What kind of relative are you?¡± Uncle and Brother Xuan opened such a big company in the county town, but no one in the Xiao Family Village was working here. If Uncle¡¯s relatives knew about it, the villagers would know about it too. Li Dayong boasted proudly, ¡°Hmm, one of my friends is President Xiao¡¯s classmate.¡± In fact, he was a friend of that friend. ¡°So, with my relationship with President Xiao, it will only take minutes to fire you. Hmm, if you admit your mistake and apologize to me, I will be generous and let you go!¡± But Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°Your friend and President Xiao are classmates, so you and President Xiao are also classmates, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Li Dayong hesitated for a moment and then admitted, ¡°Of course. Xiaojun and I are classmates, so you better be sensible.¡± Xiao Siqian nodded and asked, ¡°So, how should I be sensible?¡± ¡°Of course you should let me hit you back, huh?¡± Li Dayong said matter-of-factly, ¡°I just can¡¯t take a slap for nothing, right? And you have to apologize to me. But I don¡¯t need you to do anything, just handle my clothes every day, and also, get my meals in the cafeteria.¡± Someone nearby advised, ¡°Handsome guy, you should apologize to him. If you want to stay and work in this factory!¡± ¡°Yes, yes. I also heard that President Xiao and he are friends. This factory has good welfare treatment. If not, you just suffer a little loss and apologize to him.¡± After listening to these words, Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°Does he often bully new employees?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that he often bullies new employees, he just occasionally asks them to help him with washing clothes and getting meals for him.¡± By the way, he also takes half of their first month¡¯s salary. The latter part was not mentioned, so as not to provoke Li Dayong too much. Xiao Siqian¡¯s calm face was filled with a trace of anger, and he shouted, ¡°Isn¡¯t this frequently bullying new employees?¡± This is my uncle¡¯s company. It would have been fine if I didn¡¯t find out earlier. Now that I¡¯ve found this bug, I¡¯m going to help clean it up. Just then, Xiao Junxuan came back and saw a group of people gathered together and heard Xiao Siqian¡¯s words. He asked puzzledly, ¡°What happened?¡± Before anyone else could say anything, Li Dayong said, ¡°Little President Xiao, you¡¯re here, and that¡¯s great. This newcomer suddenly slapped me just now, saying that I made him work this morning!¡± Xiao Junxuan looked at Xiao Siqian and Li Dayong, and asked, ¡°In the morning, he was working?¡± Li Dayong then stuttered about how he delivered goods to the workshop in the morning, and he had a stomachache and urgently needed to use the toilet, so he asked the new guy to deliver the goods. ¡°Little President Xiao, it took him half an hour to send it there,¡± Li Dayong said loudly, ¡°I just said a few words to him, and then he started to talk back to me, saying that it was not his job, and I had no right to blame him. You listen, as an employee, what¡¯s wrong with asking him for help? Hmm, how can such a person who doesn¡¯t take the company as his home possibly work here wholeheartedly in the future?¡± Xiao Junxuan¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he looked at Li Dayong and asked again, ¡°So, it took you more than half an hour to use the bathroom?¡± The company didn¡¯t set a time limit for employees to use the bathroom; however, taking half an hour seems like treating people like fools. Li Dayong¡¯s expression was slightly stiff. He said so much, but Little President Xiao only listened to this one sentence. After a long time, Li Dayong forced a sentence out, ¡°Little President Xiao, I¡­ I¡¯m constipated! So, I took more time.¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, then looked at Xiao Siqian and asked, ¡°Little Quan, someone bullied you in the morning, why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°Brother?!¡± ¡°Brother, I¡¯m fine!¡± Xiao Siqian said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m not a three-year-old child who¡¯s suffered a little bullying and then tells parents!¡± The employees present were extremely surprised. They were just saying who this handsome boy could be, whether he was a new employee or not, but it turned out to be Little President Xiao¡¯s younger brother. Wait, he is Little President Xiao¡¯s younger brother, which means he is President Xiao¡¯s son. Thinking of this, many people looked at Li Dayong sympathetically and with strange expressions, while many others wore a look of schadenfreude. This guy picked the wrong person to bully, picking on President Xiao¡¯s son. Even if you have a close relationship with President Xiao, it¡¯s useless when you bully his children. Li Dayong¡¯s face turned pale when he heard the word ¡°brother.¡± He never expected that Little President Xiao¡¯s younger brother would be President Xiao¡¯s son. So his move to complain about it first turned into a big joke. Then, Xiao Junxuan asked another question that almost made Li Dayong¡¯s legs go weak. He asked, ¡°What happened now?¡± Xiao Siqian, who hadn¡¯t said anything about it, told the truth, ¡°Well, I was sitting here nicely when this guy suddenly came over with two people aggressively, trying to hit me. Then I hit him back. After that, he threatened me, saying he was friends with my uncle and told me to be sensible. Besides letting him hit me back obediently and apologizing to him, I had to wash his clothes and line up for his meals! I just heard from some people that he often bullies new employees! Brother, is he really friends with Uncle? Oh, no, he said that one of his friends is Uncle¡¯s classmate, implying that he is friends with Uncle too. So, is he using this relationship to be domineering in the factory?¡± This time, Li Dayong¡¯s legs went weak on the spot. Xiao Junxuan¡¯s face darkened and he said coldly, ¡°Li Dayong, I and my father didn¡¯t even know that you were using my father¡¯s relationship to work in my father¡¯s factory, but bullied the employees in my father¡¯s factory! You¡¯re really something! Who gave you the right to bully these new employees?¡± He wondered why some new employees left after just a few days. However, since he didn¡¯t handle personnel issues, he didn¡¯t ask too much about it. As a result, the problem was here.. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Eliminating Woodworm (Second Update) Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Eliminating Woodworm (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Little¡­ Little President Xiao, 1¡­1 was wrong!¡± Seeing Xiao Junxuan¡¯s serious face, Li Dayong stuttered an apology. Xiao Junxuan snorted coldly, ¡°Humph, I don¡¯t care if you know you¡¯re wrong or not, but Xiao Li Company can¡¯t keep you anymore. You¡¯d better go to the Human Resources Department in the afternoon to resign. If you resign voluntarily, I can still give you this month¡¯s salary. But if the company fires you, you won¡¯t get a cent!¡± Such a parasite definitely can¡¯t stay. Li Dayong¡¯s face turned pale, and he struggled to say, ¡°Little¡­Little President Xiao, I was wrong. How about letting me go this time for the sake of my friendship with President Xiao? I won¡¯t do this again in the future.¡± ¡°Not doing this anymore? Which things are you referring to?¡± Xiao Junxuan sneered, ¡°Humph, you¡¯re admitting you¡¯re wrong because we caught you in the act. If it weren¡¯t for my younger brother suddenly having a whimsy and wanting to come and see, I wouldn¡¯t have known that you as an ordinary employee could use your power to bully new employees. When could I have caught this behavior if not for my brother? Should I just wait until you drive every employee away and then notice?¡± Li Dayong¡¯s mouth opened wide, not knowing how to argue. ¡°Alright, my place here is small and can¡¯t fit your big Buddha, so please don¡¯t seek a higher position.¡± After saying that, Xiao ignored him and walked up to Xiao Siqian. He reached out and playfully tousled Siqian¡¯s hair, smiling, ¡°Little Quan, I really have to thank you for helping me catch a little bug.¡± Xiao Siqian pushed away his hand that was tousling his hair and said, ¡°Brother Xuan, I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s eat.¡± Xiao Junxuan amiably replied, ¡°Okay, have a seat. I¡¯ll get you a meal, it will be ready in a moment.¡± Knowing that Little President Xiao was going to get food, the employees all made room. Xiao Junxuan was not polite, and directly got in line to get the meals. When he brought two plates of food over, Xiao Siqian took one and looked at the food on the plate. The color was fine, but he didn¡¯t know about the taste yet. Xiao Junxuan laughed and said, ¡°The Head Chef of the Canteen has good cooking skills. Of course, he can¡¯t compare to my mom. Just make do with this meal. We¡¯ll go home and eat tonight!¡± When they are not very busy, they would go home early to eat dinner. If they were too busy, they wouldn¡¯t go back at noon, but they would definitely go back at night. Xiao Siqian nodded, looked at the food on the plate, and started eating. There¡¯s nothing to be picky about here. If you knew what he went through during the days he was being hunted, the kidnappers only gave him a steamed bun and half a bottle of water per day to keep him from starving but not having the energy to run away. After taking two bites, Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°Brother Xuan, isn¡¯t Uncle coming down for lunch yet?¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°He should be soon.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Wanshan appeared at the doorway. However, before Xiao Wanshan could step in, Li Dayong cried out to him, ¡°President Xiao, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. President Xiao, for the sake of my friendship with you, please don¡¯t let Little President Xiao fire me?¡± Xiao Wanshan stared at Li Dayong for a moment, slightly confused, and asked, ¡°You are?¡± Li Dayong was slightly stunned and then said, ¡°President Xiao, I am Li Dashan¡¯s friend Li Dayong.¡± That¡¯s when Xiao Wanshan recalled such a person, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you. What exactly happened? Why does Little President Xiao want to fire you?¡± His son was not a reckless person who would casually fire someone. Xiao Junxuan, who was eating, saw Li Dayong blocking his father¡¯s way and begging for mercy, so he immediately went over and said, ¡°Dad, here¡¯s what happened! ¡± Then he explained the whole story. Xiao Wanshan¡¯s face instantly darkened, and he fixed his sharp gaze on Li Dayong, saying, ¡°Since Little President Xiao has fired you, you can pack your things and leave later.¡± Li Dayong was unwilling. Working for this company had great salary and benefits, and his job in the factory was very easy. He didn¡¯t want to leave. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°President Xiao, Li Dashan and I are good friends!¡± Meaning not looking at the monk¡¯s face, but the Buddha¡¯s face. It would be difficult for Xiao Wanshan to explain if he fired him with such disregard. However, Xiao Wanshan casually said, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Li Dashan about this.¡± Back when Li Dashan introduced his friend to work in the factory, and considering their friendship, he agreed. Then he arranged for the HR Department to put him in the receiving and sending position. The position was easy, with good salary, so it could be considered a favor to his friend. But he didn¡¯t expect that with such a small favor, Li Dayong could cause trouble in his company, harming the company and bullying new employees. What is this? Eating mother¡¯s cooking while cursing her. No matter how good their relationship was, he couldn¡¯t keep someone who continued to harm his company. After saying that, Xiao Wanshan took out his phone and called his friend Li Dashan, saying, ¡°Great Mountain, your introduced friend used his connections to bully my company¡¯s new employees and harm my company, so I fired him today. Yes, alright¡­¡± After that, he hung up the phone, strode away, and walked to Xiao Siqian, saying with some concern, ¡°Little Quan, when you were bullied, why didn¡¯t you tell Uncle? No matter what, you can¡¯t let people bully you in your own company, right?¡± Xiao Siqian smiled and said, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a small matter. Uncle, let¡¯s eat. I¡¯ll get you some food since I¡¯m already done.¡± Xiao Wanshan stopped him, ¡°You don¡¯t need to go. Your brother Xuan will get me food. Xiao Junxuan, who hadn¡¯t finished eating yet, had to put down his chopsticks and went to get food from the window. After finishing lunch, Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°Little Quan, why don¡¯t you go to Little Xuan¡¯s office and rest?¡± Xiao Siqian nodded and said, ¡°Okay!¡± In the afternoon, Xiao Wanshan and Xiao Junxuan were still busy, and Xiao Siqian went to the workshop. He didn¡¯t go into the workshop in the morning. After the cafeteria incident, everyone knew that this handsome young man was a relative of the Xiao family. So, when he entered the workshop, the young girls in the workshop blushed and peeked at him, thinking in their hearts, ¡°The Xiao family¡¯s genes are really good. President Xiao is handsome, Little President Xiao is handsome, and this man is even more handsome.¡± Many of the young girls, whether unintentionally or intentionally, dropped things in front of Xiao Siqian while he passed by. ¡°Sorry, sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± The girl¡¯s face flushed red with embarrassment. Xiao Siqian paid no attention and walked away directly. The workshop employees, ¡® . ¡® This man is so rude. But then again, he¡¯s a high-and-mighty young master. How could he be interested in ordinary factory workers? Xiao Siqian went around the workshop, and that Director Xin, who had approached him in the morning, immediately followed him with a flattering smile, ¡°Young Master Xiao, is there anything I can do for you?¡± She was a completely different person than she had been in the morning. Xiao Siqian glanced at her with a cold gaze and said coolly, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll just take a look..¡± Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Playing with Earthworms, Do You Want to Play? (First Update) Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Playing with Earthworms, Do You Want to Play? (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After returning home, Xiao Wanshan and his son never mentioned their work. As they said themselves, work is work, and home is home. At home, they only talked about trivial daily matters and the family would chat together. Xiao Siqian was very puzzled, didn¡¯t the villagers of Xiao Family Village know that the father and son had started such a big company, and did Aunt and Jinli know? Uncle didn¡¯t talk about work, and Aunt didn¡¯t seem to ask about it either. So, he really couldn¡¯t be sure whether the mother and daughter knew or not. In fact, he wanted to test Jinli someday to see if she knew. But, Jinli seemed to have become really fascinated with farming recently. Well, she was in the greenhouse every day, tinkering around. At first, Xiao¡¯s mother would go to the field to help, but after a few days, seeing her daughter doing this and that, she began to doubt whether she could grow vegetables at all, so she just stopped going. Let her daughter do what she liked, after all, that piece of land was just for her to play with. This was exactly what Xiao Jinli wanted. Without Xiao¡¯s mother around, she could be a little more unrestricted. To make watering more convenient, Xiao¡¯s father had specially arranged a pipe connected to the well water at home, so they wouldn¡¯t have to carry water. Five points of land, divided into ten long plots, each with its own boundary and different seeds sown. Some seeds had been sown for quite a few days, and now one or two tiny tender buds could be seen. Xiao Siqian walked into the greenhouse and saw Xiao Jinli squatting, seemingly busy with something. As he approached, he was suddenly speechless. She was playing with earthworms. He saw an earthworm trying to escape into the ground, only to be dug out by Xiao Jinli again. Then she twisted it like a twisty doughnut. Xiao Siqian, who had always been afraid of soft and cold animals, felt his scalp tingle from the sight of it. He thought to himself, ¡°What a cute little girl, how could she have such a wicked taste? Fortunately, having been here for some time, he had gradually adapted to the occasional sight of birds, frogs, snakes, and insects. Otherwise, given his previous life, he would probably have been startled by the sight of a frog. ¡°Oh, Little Sister Jinli, what are you doing?¡± Xiao Siqian asked, ¡°Playing with earthworms?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, playing with earthworms.¡± Then, she pinched an earthworm from the soil and handed it to him, asking, ¡°Do you want to play? It¡¯s quite fun.¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s face changed immediately, and he shook his head, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to play.¡± Seeing the earthworms dug out by Xiao Jinli, he asked doubtfully, ¡°Are these earthworms larger than those in other places?¡± Since he had come here, the largest earthworms he had seen were only as thick as chopsticks. But the earthworms dug out by Xiao Jinli were as thick as an adult man¡¯s thumb and long, at least twenty or thirty centimeters. Such earthworms, from a distance, would look like snakes if you didn¡¯t know better. Xiao Siqian looked at these earthworms, feeling an urge to turn and run. However, as a grown man, it would be a big joke if he was scared and ran away from a few earthworms. Xiao Siqian gritted his teeth and stared at the earthworms for a while, then forced himself to shift his attention. He asked with a mixture of confusion and curiosity, ¡°Were the earthworms in this land also bigger than those in other places before?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then how did these earthworms become so big and so long?¡± Xiao Siqian asked. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s because I fed them with special fertilizer,¡± Xiao Jinli said with a smile, ¡°These earthworms are good friends for turning the soil and loosening the ground. Where there are earthworms, there is enough manure and fertilizer, which makes it easier to grow vegetables and fruits.¡± ¡°What kind of fertilizer did you feed them that it made them grow as big as a snake?¡± Xiao Siqian asked with intense curiosity. Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Well, it¡¯s a mix of chicken and duck manure and rotting root systems.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Siqian asked hesitantly, ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t the number of earthworms keep increasing? I heard that one earthworm can become two and they reproduce.¡± Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he asked incredulously, ¡°You¡¯re not trying to breed these earthworms, are you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Since earthworms are a good thing, I can breed more of them, which is beneficial for planting. In the future, when I have enough, I can sell them for money.¡± ¡°Sell?¡± Xiao Siqian couldn¡¯t keep up with Xiao Jinli¡¯s train of thought. ¡°Yes. I heard that earthworms are edible. They are rich in protein, fat, and carbohydrates, with a crude protein content of up to 72%, and contain essential amino acids, vitamins, and trace elements needed by the human body. They can be used as animal feed, and for producing medicine and cosmetics, as well as food for human consumption. I heard that rich people in foreign countries like to eat this kind of stuff.¡± Xiao Jinli continued, ¡°Earthworms can also be used as medicine, which is highly valuable and has the effects of clearing heat and calming panic, promoting blood circulation, relieving asthma, and promoting urination. So, breeding earthworms is also a way to make money.¡± After finishing this speech, Xiao Siqian looked at Xiao Jinli with a somewhat surprised expression, and then asked, ¡°How do you, at such a young age, know so much about this?¡± Xiao Jinli spread her hands and said, ¡°Of course, by reading books. Don¡¯t think I only know how to sleep in class. That¡¯s because the knowledge in the textbooks doesn¡¯t require me to use my brain.¡± Xiao Siqian nodded knowingly, ¡°You¡¯re so smart and have the ability to remember things at a glance. The knowledge in class is as simple as 1 plus 1 equals 2 for you. Why don¡¯t you skip grades?¡± Like him, he jumped from the first grade to the third grade in elementary school, then to the sixth grade, from junior year to senior year, and then directly entered world-renowned universities, obtaining a dual master¡¯s degree in economics and finance at the youngest age of 18. From a young age, he was considered a genius by everyone. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°My parents hope that I can have a complete childhood. They don¡¯t want me to be outstanding or excellent, putting pressure on myself, but want me to be happy and enjoy life! Besides, I think taking it step by step is quite good!¡± How wonderful it would be to enjoy a happy childhood she hadn¡¯t experienced before in this era. She didn¡¯t want her childhood to pass by once again in endless hard work and study. After hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, Xiao Siqian¡¯s expression slightly changed. A happy childhood? Did he have one? It seemed that from the time he could remember, people kept telling him that he was the heir of the Su family, so he had to be better than others. In order to be better than others, he sacrificed all his playtime, either reading or learning other things. He suddenly felt envious of Xiao Jinli, envious of such a warm and loving family. What they wanted was not wealth or power, but a healthy and happy family together.. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Should We Start Raising Earthworms to Get Rich? (Second Update) Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Should We Start Raising Earthworms to Get Rich? (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 In the Space, Xiao Jinli sat on the swing he built himself, which was entwined with grapevines and fresh flowers. Little Zhi landed on a petal, asking puzzledly, ¡°Master, are you really going to raise earthworms?¡± Xiao Jinli pondered for a moment, murmured, ¡°Or maybe, we start our path to prosperity by raising earthworms?¡± ¡°But Master, isn¡¯t your goal to grow vegetables?¡± Little Zhi said excitedly, ¡°Your goal is clearly to grow vegetables, so why did you suddenly think of raising earthworms, these soft and squishy creatures?¡± Having said that, he paused for a moment and asked with skepticism, ¡°Master, are you really going to raise earthworms?¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged his shoulders and laughed, ¡°Who knows? Let¡¯s try it out!¡±. He paused for a moment, then added, ¡°Actually, raising earthworms is really a lucrative business. Seriously!¡± ¡°What lucrative prospects!¡± Little Zhi exclaimed, ¡°It doesn¡¯t come close to the profits you¡¯d get from growing vegetables. As long as you plant vegetables and sell them, money will come.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t you think solely planting vegetables is too mainstream?¡± Xin Jinli commented casually. ¡°Mainstream? How is it mainstream?¡± Little Zhi objected, ¡°The vegetables we grow can strengthen the body, prolong lifespan, and even cure diseases. They couldn¡¯t be any better!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, they are indeed very good. So, do you think these things can be sold?¡± Little Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± was suddenly speechless. Indeed, he had a point. Little Zhi slumped in disappointment and said, ¡°What can we do then? It¡¯s so heart-wrenching. There¡¯s a clear path to wealth in front of us, but we can¡¯t make use of it.¡¯ Xiao Jinli cast him a glance and retorted irritably, ¡°Alright, enough with the act. You¡¯re an Al, can you actually feel heartbroken?¡± ¡°I now possess emotions and desires, so why can¡¯t I feel heartbroken?¡± Little Zhi defended, ¡°Also, if you don¡¯t grow more fruits and vegetables, Little Space will also feel heartbroken. ¡°Little Space?¡± Xiao Jinli seemed puzzled, ¡°Isn¡¯t he still in hibernation?¡± Little Zhi told the truth, ¡°After recovering for over ten years, he occasionally wakes up now. However, his power is not strong enough and his body is still weak.¡± Xiao Jinli sighed softly, ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll grow more vegetables.¡± As for raising earthworms, it appears a plan still needs to be formulated. Xiao Jinli had grown a variety of vegetables in the greenhouse, but he also raised a lot of earthworms, which got the attention of the villagers. When they were free, they would come to watch the commotion. ¡°Wow, how did Jinli raise such big earthworms?¡± ¡°Yes, they are huge. I thought it was a snake when I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Haha, if it were really a snake, the sight of so many would give you goosebumps.¡± After all, most people are afraid of snakes. ¡°Look, these seedlings are also growing very well, they look stout.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not just one type of seedling that grows well, it seems like every type grows well.¡± ¡°Jinli, could you sell me some chili seedlings. The chili seedlings you have definitely bear a lot of peppers once they mature,¡± Chen Qiulan asked smilingly, ¡°What type of pepper is this?¡± Xiao Jinli took out a bag from the corner, looked at the label, and then said, ¡°Auntie, this is Black Goat Horn Pepper.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Chen Qiulan asked confusedly, ¡°What kind of pepper is that? I¡¯ve never heard of it before. They only plant a few types of chilis usually. Xiao Jinli handed her the packaging bag and said, ¡°Auntie, there is a picture of the pepper here, have a look!¡± She bought it because she thought the pepper was distinctive. Auntie Chen couldn¡¯t read, but there was a picture on the packaging bag. She asked, ¡°Is this pepper very spicy?¡± Xiao Jinli tilted his head slightly and responded, ¡°The vendor who sold me the seeds said it was spicy. This type of pepper is rich in anthocyanin and can balance capsaicin. So even if you eat a lot, you won¡¯t get pimples, and you can continuously harvest for about a year after planting one.¡± Aunt Chen didn¡¯t understand what anthocyanin and capsaicin were, but she did understand that the peppers were spicy. Her eyes lit up and she said, ¡°Can one plant be harvested for a year? Is it really that good? If so, I¡¯ll try to plant a few.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Okay, Auntie, how many plants do you want? You can dig them up yourself.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll start with ten. If they grow well, I¡¯ll plant more¡±, Auntie Chen replied. Another aunt said, ¡°Jinli, your cabbage seedlings are growing well, can I take a few home to plant?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Okay, Auntie, how many plants do you want? You can dig them up yourself.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll start with ten. If they grow well, I¡¯ll plant more¡±, Auntie Chen replied. ¡°Thank you so much, Jinli¡±, Everyone was very grateful. ¡°Jinli, is this the first time you¡¯re cultivating these seedlings?¡± Auntie Chen asked with a hint of curiosity, ¡°You are doing a much better job than us who have been planting for decades. Dear, Jinli, do you have a talent for growing vegetables?¡± Laughing, Xiao Jinli said modestly, ¡°Hehe, I am talented in everything I do, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Haha, true. Despite his young age, Jinli does everything meticulously, even better than us adults.¡± ¡°Jinli, could you tell us how you managed to grow these crops so well?¡± Everyone was understandably curious. With an adult-like voice, Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°Um, the greenhouse I built is for researching various crops. After some study, I had a sudden idea to mix all the fertilizer, manure, and water in certain proportions. I then spread this mixture on the soil and stirred it well. After that, I introduced earthworms into the soil. Besides loosening the soil, the earthworms can also break down organic matter, creating favourable conditions for soil organisms to grow and multiply, thereby improving the soil. This makes it easier for seeds and seedlings to better absorb nutrients from their root systems!¡± Of course, the real factor was the Lingquan water she used. However, it¡¯s better not to mention this as it¡¯s a secret. The womenfolk seemed to understand yet also didn¡¯t, ¡°Oh, I see. So, the earthworms play a significant role here?¡± They never realized before that earthworms played such a big role in crop growth. Or was it that they hadn¡¯t paid attention before? Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes, basically that¡¯s it. The interaction between soil organisms and the earthworms in the soil greatly aids plant growth and absorption.¡± ¡®Oh, that¡¯s how it is!¡± Everyone nodded their heads. In fact, they didn¡¯t really understand. Of course, it might be difficult for Xiao Jinli to fool those who are educated, like her brother. As for her brother, he certainly wouldn¡¯t undermine his own sister.. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Raising and Raising, Then Someone Comes to Buy (Part One) Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Raising and Raising, Then Someone Comes to Buy (Part One) Translator: 549690339 For rural people, the seedlings cultivated by Xiao Jinli were relatively rare. For example, Purple-Black Sheep Horn Pepper, Purple Cabbage, Spore Kale, Pagoda Cauliflower, Gold Warty Melon, Square Beans, Artichoke, and so on. Therefore, although there were many people who wanted seedlings, they only took a few to plant. As long as they could survive and prove valuable, they could be planted again next year. If they couldn¡¯t survive, it would be a waste of Jinli¡¯s energy to cultivate them. Of course, it¡¯s not just a matter of grabbing one type of seedling; everyone agrees on what types she plants, so as not to take away all of Xiao Jinli¡¯s seedlings. After the villagers took some, Xiao Jinli planted the rest herself. There weren¡¯t many seedlings left, so this five points of land was just about right with a few different types planted. If there wasn¡¯t enough land, they could always plant on other lands. Xiao Jinli looked at the earthworms constantly churning in the ditches, and her little eyebrows began to furrow. Were there too many earthworms now? In each row of land, there were already thousands of earthworms, and each one was so robust. Xiao Jinli muttered, ¡°It seems that these earthworms need to be diverted to other lands. Otherwise, if this continues, the whole land will be filled with earthworms, and there will be no meaning to planting.¡± As she was pondering, the Village Chief suddenly came in. Seeing the dense earthworms churning in the ditches, he felt a slight tingling in his scalp. Well, he felt a bit claustrophobic. The Village Chief looked around and asked, ¡°Jinli, why are there so many earthworms? Will this affect the planting?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, I am just thinking about what to do with these earthworms.¡± Upon hearing this, the Village Chief¡¯s eyes lit up. He said, ¡°Jinli, my wife told me that these earthworms not only turn the soil and loosen it, but they also improve the soil, making the crops grow better, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°So I started by raising some earthworms. I didn¡¯t expect them to multiply so much.¡± ¡°Is that a lot?¡± The Village Chief asked with a smile, ¡°Jinli, if you think there are too many earthworms, why don¡¯t you sell some to me? I¡¯ll release them into the fields to improve the soil.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes brightened and she said excitedly, ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll get a bucket and take some home for you!¡± With that, she turned and walked back to the yard, found a small bucket, and took a pair of fire tongs. She asked the Village Chief, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, how many do you want?¡± The Village Chief scratched his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how many.¡± ¡°Well, how much land do you plan to cover?¡± The Village Chief thought for a moment and said, ¡°I have about three acres for growing vegetables. Jinli, let¡¯s start with three acres. You can decide how many earthworms are needed.¡± Xiao Jinli squatted down, picked up the fire tongs, and caught the earthworms one by one into the bucket. She said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how many earthworms are appropriate for three acres since my earthworms are so big and long. How about I give you one thousand first?¡± The Village Chief agreed, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do one thousand. Do you have any more fire tongs?¡± ¡°There¡¯s another one in the corner at the entrance,¡± said Xiao Jinli. The Village Chief went to find the fire tongs. Then the two of them caught earthworms together in the ditches, counting as they went. Half an hour later, the bucket was almost full of earthworms. It was fortunate that the earthworms were so large; otherwise, a thousand earthworms might not even fill a third of the bucket. Carrying the full bucket of earthworms, the Village Chief asked, ¡°How do you plan to sell these worms? By weight or by quantity?¡± ¡°By quantity,¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I¡¯m selling earthworms for the first time, and you¡¯re my first customer, so I¡¯ll give you a discount. Let¡¯s say one dime per worm. Uncle Village Chief, just give me one hundred yuan.¡± ¡°Ha, one dime per worm, isn¡¯t that too cheap?¡± The Village Chief thought he was getting too good a deal. ¡°Why don¡¯t you raise the price a bit, to three dimes?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, didn¡¯t I tell you? This is my first time selling earthworms, so I gave you the biggest discount. When I sell them next time, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to raise the price.¡± When the Village Chief heard this, he realized, ¡°Are you going to raise and sell earthworms in the future?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I have this plan. However, it depends on how effective these earthworms are. I¡¯ll have to trouble Uncle Village Chief to help me with the experiment. If they work well, I will definitely continue to sell earthworms. If not, these earthworms will just roll around and turn soil in this piece of land.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Alright, let Uncle Village Chief take them back and test their effects,¡± said the Village Chief happily. As the Village Chief happily carried a bucket of earthworms from the greenhouse, people along the way asked him about it. He smiled and said, ¡°I bought these from Jinli. She asked me to try their effects. If they work well, she will raise more earthworms to sell.¡± ¡°Hehe, if these earthworms can really improve the land and promote the growth of crops, I will definitely buy some too in the future.¡± That¡¯s what the villagers said. After the Village Chief left, Xiao Zhi was frantically shouting in Xiao Jinli¡¯s mental sea, ¡°Ah, Master, are you really selling earthworms? Do you really want to get rich by selling these earthworms?¡± Xiao Jinli looked very calm. She said, ¡°Why worry, this is just the beginning. What if the villagers don¡¯t buy the earthworms later?¡± Xiao Zhi angrily retorted, ¡°How is that possible? You should know that those earthworms have been raised with Lingquan water. Now 80% of the water stored in their bodies is Lingquan water. Once the earthworms roll around in the fields a few more times and squeeze out the Lingquan water, how could the soil and land not improve? Ah! Can the things planted in this land with Lingquan water not be good?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this better! The more earthworms I sell, the more the villagers¡¯ soil improves. In a way, it means I¡¯ve helped the villagers secretly, right?¡± Xiao Zhi suddenly realized and said, ¡°So, it¡¯s all about raising earthworms to help these villagers?¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s lips curled up, ¡°Yes! The villagers here are very simple and kind-hearted. In the village for over 10 years, everyone has called me the Lucky Star and the village treasure, but I haven¡¯t really been able to help them effectively.¡± ¡°How can you say you haven¡¯t helped?¡± disagreed Xiao Zhi. ¡°You¡¯ve been dealing with all kinds of things for the villagers since you were a child!¡± ¡°Yes, because I¡¯ve handled village affairs, the villagers respect me,¡± nodded Xiao Jinli. ¡°But what I want to do is to truly help the villagers out of poverty and lead them to a moderately prosperous life!¡± Xiao Zhi, Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Selling Earthworms! (Second Update) Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Selling Earthworms! (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao¡¯s mother and father didn¡¯t understand; their Jinli was obviously planting vegetables in the greenhouse, but somehow, he ended up raising earthworms instead? Not only had he raised a large number of earthworms, but the crops he had grown were also big, strong, and verdant ¨C better than what experienced farmers could grow. Xiao¡¯s mother looked at Xiao¡¯s father doubtfully and said, ¡°Honey, does Jinli have a natural gift for farming? Who did he inherit this from?¡± Xiao¡¯s father, Farming doesn¡¯t have anything to do with natural talent; it¡¯s all about being diligent and good at management. Xiao Junxuan chimed in, ¡°He must have inherited it from dad. Grandma told me that before dad became a little gangster, he followed granddad into the field and could grow anything with his carefree poking.¡± Xiao¡¯s father, ¡°¡­¡± What do you mean by carefree poking? He was serious about it, alright? Xiao Jinli then agreed from the side, ¡°Mm-hmm, Jinli must have inherited dad¡¯s farming talent!¡± She then added, ¡°My brother inherited mom¡¯s cooking talent, and I inherited dad¡¯s farming talent. Yes, it¡¯s fair!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother and others, ¡°¡­¡± Can the inheritance be really considered fair? ¡°Pfft!¡± Xiao Siqian burst into laughter, ¡°Little Sister Jinli is so cute!¡± Xiao Junxuan immediately replied proudly, ¡°My sister, Xiao Jinli, is of course cute and pretty.¡± ¡°Right, your sister¡¯s cuteness and prettiness are obviously inherited from your mom.¡± Xiao¡¯s father suddenly added, ¡°You have no idea how pretty and lively your mom was when she was young!¡± Xiao siblings and Xiao Siqian, ¡°Oh, another show of love.¡± ¡°Jinli, is that greenhouse for growing crops or raising earthworms?¡± Xiao¡¯s father asked, ¡°Do you need dad¡¯s help for anything?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Farming and breeding shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother stated, ¡°Mm, I see that the things grown in the greenhouse are all looking good. Raising earthworms and farming at the same time shouldn¡¯t be an issue as long as it¡¯s well managed.¡± Xiao Junxuan suddenly asked, ¡°Sister, do you sell these earthworms to other places besides the village?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ll sell them to the village for now. I¡¯ll consider selling them to other places later!¡± Her real purpose was to help the villagers through these earthworms, not to make a business out of them. Of course, if the earthworm business has a market, it should be feasible to continue. When the villagers heard that the Village Head had bought earthworms from Xiao Jinli and put them in the field, many people would go to check it out every once in a while, observing the earthworms¡¯ activities. ¡°At first glance, these earthworms seem soft and big, which is a bit scary. But now that I see them turning the soil and constantly burrowing, they seem quite cute.¡± ¡°Haha, this one is so big that if you didn¡¯t know better, you¡¯d think it was a snake and get a big scare.¡± ¡°How many days have these earthworms been in the ground?¡± ¡°Mmm, it should be a week now.¡± ¡°The soil was already turned, and the ridges were made, so it should be ready for planting vegetables.¡± ¡°Yeah, Chen Qiulan said they¡¯ll plant things in a couple of days.¡± ¡°Once it¡¯s planted, we can see the growth of the things in the field.¡± Five days later, the villagers went to the Village Head¡¯s fields again. The Village Head¡¯s wife had planted cabbage, pepper, eggplant, and other vegetables in the field. ¡°Look, these vegetables were just planted and haven¡¯t wilted. After just a few days, they¡¯re already so green?¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re growing really well.¡± Generally speaking, newly transplanted crops, due to unstable root systems and poor absorption, will experience wilting before recovering after three or five days. ¡°These newly planted crops haven¡¯t wilted, which means they are absorbing well. Haha, it seems that these earthworms really are useful. No, I have to go and buy some from Jinli and put them in my field.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll also buy some.¡± Seeing the growth of the crops, the villagers¡¯ hearts were itching to try. ¡°If everyone squeezes to buy, will Jinli have that many earthworms?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Anyway, let¡¯s go and ask first. Let¡¯s see if Jinli can spare some.¡± Still outside the door, the villagers shouted, ¡°Jinli, Jinli.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother came out of the house and asked with a smile, ¡°Sister-in-law, what can I help you with?¡± ¡°Mm, we want to buy some earthworms. Jinli isn¡¯t out, is she?¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s in the greenhouse right now. Ever since the greenhouse was built, she¡¯s been tinkering around in there most of the time.¡± ¡°Alright, Xiaofang, let¡¯s go find Jinli.¡± ¡°I¡¯m coming with you!¡± When the villagers arrived at the greenhouse, Jinli was holding fire tongs, picking earthworms from the gutter and putting them into the plastic bucket. Seeing the dense earthworms on the ground, their scalps felt a bit numb. But thinking of the purpose of these earthworms, they became excited again. ¡°There are so many earthworms.¡± A villager exclaimed, ¡°How did Jinli raise them, I wonder?¡± ¡°People have their own secrets and techniques; let¡¯s not ask.¡± Another villager reminded. After all, if earthworms prove useful, they could make money in the future, and that would be a business opportunity. ¡°Jinli, what are you doing with so many earthworms?¡± ¡°There are too many of them. I wanted to move them to other places. Auntie, do you need anything?¡± Jinli stopped what she was doing and asked. ¡°Hehe, Jinli, we came to find you to buy some earthworms. Are you still selling these earthworms?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Jinli nodded, ¡°I sold some to Uncle Village Chief last time and was wondering when someone would buy them again. And here you are.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s great.¡± The villagers were delighted, ¡°Then sell some to us. How much can you sell? Let¡¯s see if it¡¯s enough for all of us here.¡± There were seven or eight of them in the group. Jinli nodded, ¡°It should be enough. One thousand per person is no problem. How many do you want?¡± ¡°One thousand per person? Then just give me one thousand.¡± Someone suggested, ¡°How about giving us one thousand per person first? If there are more, we can share again.¡± Of course, the others had no objections, and Jinli agreed even more. Jinli said, ¡°Mm, but we don¡¯t have that many buckets and fire tongs at home, so you¡¯ll have to bring your own.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Then, the villagers hurried back to get their own buckets and fire tongs. Xiao¡¯s mother came over and asked, ¡°Jinli, everyone wants to buy these earthworms, how are you going to sell them?¡± ¡°One point five cents per worm,¡± Jinli said, ¡°I offered a discount last time when I sold them to Uncle Village Chief for one cent per worm. Now I¡¯m back to the original price..¡± Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 93: The Lifespan of Earthworms (Part 1) Chapter 93: Chapter 93: The Lifespan of Earthworms (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli¡¯s earthworm business was selling like hotcakes in the village. After several experiments, Xiao Jinli found out that one thousand earthworms were enough for five points of land. The whole village¡¯s consumption, hmm, would require at least twenty thousand. Luckily, since they have the ¡°cheat device¡±, the Golden Finger, it wasn¡¯t much of a problem to cultivate these earthworms in a short time. Because the villagers had all bought earthworms, the crops in their fields, visible to the naked eye, were growing better and everyone was happy. ¡°Haha, these earthworms that Jinli came up with are real treasures. We used to know that earthworms could improve the soil, but we had no idea their effect could be this huge.¡± Now, the villagers are treating these earthworms as precious commodities. ¡°In the past, the effect of earthworms on improving the soil wasn¡¯t this noticeable. It must be because the earthworms cultivated by Jinli are bigger, and Jinli said that these bigger earthworms store more nutrients, so they are able to improve the soil effectively.¡± ¡°That makes sense. If the earthworms had such a huge impact before, people would have discovered it and put them in the fields. It wouldn¡¯t have waited until Jinli cultivated them.¡± ¡°Alas, Jinli also mentioned that these earthworms do not have a long lifespan, only between three and five months. However, the dead earthworms can be used to feed chickens and ducks, which can increase their nutrition. It¡¯s not wasted after all.¡¯ When it came to the lifespan of these earthworms, Xiao Jinli initially considered making it longer, but it wasn¡¯t really feasible. Because, these earthworms depleted the Lingquan water in their bodies within three to five months. After three to five months, all the Lingquan water inside them would be lost. They could not metamorphose back into ordinary earthworms since their bodily structure had changed. In order to survive, they needed to be irrigated with Lingquan water again. This was not a problem at all for Xiao Jinli. All she had to do was walk around the fields once, and these earthworms would regain vitality. However, this created another problem. The originally sluggish earthworms suddenly became active again. This was troublesome to explain. So, Xiao Jinli simply told everyone that earthworms lived for only three to five months and anyone willing to buy needed to consider it carefully. After all, there would be no returns or exchanges once sold. Nevertheless, everyone had seen with their own eyes the effect of these earthworms, and the villagers also trusted Xiao Jinli. Naturally, those with land would buy some, more or less. The results proved that they did not disappoint. ¡°Hey, have you noticed? I found that the vegetables in my field are growing better than before, so fresh. ¡°Exactly, and there are fewer pests, have you noticed?¡± ¡°Now that there are no pests, we don¡¯t need to use pesticides anymore.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother walked into the greenhouse and saw the lush and tender vegetables in the field, her eyes lighting up. ¡°These vegetables are growing really well, even better than those I used to grow!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother complimented, ¡°Little Bao, you are really capable!¡± Xiao Jinli replied with a smile, ¡°Both mom and dad are so capable, I guess it¡¯s heredity.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°You are such a smooth talker!¡± Looking at the wriggling earthworms in the field, Xiao¡¯s mother still found it visually shocking and couldn¡¯t quite get over it, feeling a bit of scalp tingling. She said, ¡°Little Bao, your maternal grandparents and aunt are coming over.¡± Upon hearing that her maternal grandparents were coming, Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. She said joyfully, ¡°Are they coming? Mom, let¡¯s cut some chives to take back. We can stir-fry it with eggs, and also pick some small cabbage to go with it.¡± She had been eyeing these vegetables for a long time now, and she wasn¡¯t going to let an excuse slip past her. However, Xiao¡¯s mother hesitated a bit, ¡°But these vegetables are still too tender, should we wait for them to grow a bit more?¡± ¡°No, no, I want to eat them.¡± Xiao Jinli said, acting like a spoiled child. Xiao¡¯s mother gave in, ¡°Alright! I know you¡¯ve been wanting to eat the vegetables you planted yourself for a long time. Today I will fulfill your wish. You go pick some big small cabbages, and I¡¯ll go find some tools to cut the chives!¡± Xiao Jinli happily picked some cabbages. Xiao¡¯s mother went outside and quickly came back with a small knife. The mother and daughter quickly got everything ready. Xiao¡¯s mother, looking at the tender chives in her hand, hesitated a bit, ¡°These chives are too tender, it¡¯s a bit of a pity to eat them now.¡± ¡°Chives can grow back after being cut. I want to taste the vegetables I grew myself now. Hehe¡­.¡± Xiao Jinli happily said. The mother and daughter took the vegetables back to the yard and cleaned them. These chives had no yellow or rotten leaves, so there was no need to pick them one by one, they just needed to be washed to clean off the dirt. While Xiao¡¯s mother was cleaning, she could smell the refreshing scent of the chives, ¡°These chives smell so good. They will definitely smell even better when cooked!¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Xiao Jinli said proudly, ¡°Mom, see who grew them.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡°¡­¡± This daughter of mine has a not so humble personality, unlike herself and her husband. Knowing that her maternal grandparents were coming, Xiao Jinli immediately went upstairs to get Xiao Siqian and said, ¡°Come, take me to the town. My maternal grandparents are coming, let¡¯s go to town to pick them up.¡± Xiao Siqian was reading a book in the house. Just as he came out after hearing Xiao Jinli calling him, she dragged him away. ¡°Maternal Grandpa and Grandma?¡± Xiao Siqian was a bit confused. They had been there for so long and they hadn¡¯t seen any relatives from Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s side, which made him think that Xiao¡¯s mother didn¡¯t have much relatives on her side. Nevertheless, he knew from the conversation with Xiao family members that the relationship between the Xiao family and Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s maiden family was very good. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s been a long time since I last saw my grandparents. I miss them.¡± Xiao Siqian asked, confounded, ¡°It is vacation time, if you miss them you can just go to see them, right?¡± Xiao Jinli replied with a smile, ¡°Well, I¡¯d love to. The problem is, my grandparents are not at home.¡± ¡°Huh, not at home, what does that mean?¡± Xiao Siqian asked confused. ¡°After the New Year, they went to my maternal aunt¡¯s house. My two uncles have bought houses in other places.¡± Xiao Jinli explained with a smile, ¡°Today, my maternal aunt is bringing my grandparents over.¡± When Xiao¡¯s mother saw Xiao Jinli pulling Xiao Siqian out, she asked puzzled, ¡°XiaoBao, where are you guys going?¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to the town to pick up Grandma!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I want to see my grandparents and maternal aunt as soon as possible!¡± ¡°You child!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed, ¡°Your maternal aunt and family are driving back, and your dad and your brother have gone to pick them up. They should be here soon. It¡¯s better to wait at home. Or, you can directly call and ask where they are now.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go make the call right now!¡± With that, Xiao Jinli ran off. Xiao Siqian, After a while, Xiao Jinli came running out and shouted, ¡°Mom, dad said they have already reached the village entrance!¡± Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Lively 1 (First Update) Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Lively 1 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Wow, sis, what kind of cosmetics have you been using, or did you eat some beauty-enhancing pills? You¡¯re getting more and more beautiful.¡± Ji Yuzhu exclaimed as soon as she saw Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡°You¡¯re like aging in reverse. Come on, sis, introduce me to your secret so your younger sister can look younger too.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m just a countryside woman, what kind of cosmetics or beauty-enhancing pills would I use?¡± ¡°Ah, my sister is indeed a natural beauty!¡± Ji Yuzhu laughed, ¡°You¡¯re getting younger and more lovely. No wonder you¡¯ve enchanted your husband! Haha¡­¡± Xiao¡¯s mother glared at her, ¡°Nonsense!¡± ¡°No, really,¡± Ji Yuzhu looked at Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s fair face and asked seriously, ¡°Sis, you¡¯re getting more and more beautiful, a true beauty, nationally stunning. How do you maintain your skin? Tell me.¡± ¡°I work every day, there¡¯s no time for skincare,¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed, ¡°I don¡¯t even know why my skin is getting better and better, everyone says so.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Yes, yes, one wouldn¡¯t think you¡¯re a countryside woman at all!¡± Ji Yuzhu nodded, ¡°With your looks in wealthy upper-class circles, you¡¯d outshine all the noble ladies and daughters. Honestly, is it because the water and soil here are good for people? Look at our Little Jinli, so young yet her skin is white and tender, a true beauty in the making. When she grows up, she¡¯ll be unstoppable. And I¡¯ve noticed that your husband and Little Xuan¡¯s skin has also improved a lot. It really seems like the water and soil here are good for people. I must stay here for a while. Xiao¡¯s mother laughed, ¡°Stay for a while, don¡¯t you have to go to work?¡± Ji Yuzhu spread her hands, ¡°Sis, did you forget that I¡¯m a teacher? I don¡¯t have to work during summer vacation.¡± She is a junior high school teacher, teaching at Licheng Key Experimental Middle School. ¡°Oh, right. Then stay here for a while longer!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said with a smile, ¡°Maybe we can make you whiter and rosier.¡± ¡°Wow, it smells so good!¡± Ji Yuzhu exclaimed as she smelled the freshly cooked stir-fried leek with eggs, ¡°Not only are you getting more beautiful, but your cooking skills are also getting better and better, sis. The smell of this dish alone outshines a five-star hotel chef. I must try it!¡± As she said, Ji Yuzhu picked up her chopsticks and took a mouthful of the stir-fried leek with eggs. ¡°Wow, wow, it¡¯s so delicious!¡± Ji Yuzhu shouted, ¡°It¡¯s tender and fragrant! I¡¯m in love with this dish.¡± Having said that, she went for another chopstick-full. As Gao Yanxin ran in, attracted by the aroma, he exclaimed, ¡°Auntie, what dish did you make? It smells so good. I just smelled the scent of chive and egg.¡± As he said this, he saw his mother eating it and immediately exclaimed, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re eating before the meal is even served. Uh, you¡¯ve eaten half the plate already. How are we going to eat during dinner?¡± After her son¡¯s exclamation, she realized that she had unknowingly eaten half a plate of vegetables. Her face turned red, but she felt humiliated by her son¡¯s words and said, ¡°How¡¯s that? I only had a few bites, and I ate half of it.¡± Gao Yanxin was speechless, ¡°Mom, when did you become such a big eater? When you¡¯re at home, you always eat so little to maintain your figure.¡± Ji Yuzhu, ¡°¡­This stinky kid, he just had to say it. It¡¯s infuriating.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother covered her mouth and laughed, ¡°It¡¯s okay, if you like it, eat more. The chives are grown in the backyard. If we run out, we can just cut some more and cook them. Little Xuan, Little Xuan¡­ Xiao Junxuan asked, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s up? ¡°Go to the backyard, cut some more chives and bring them back, we¡¯ll cook another plate!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother ordered. Xiao Junxuan nodded and left. Later on, Gao Yanxin followed and said, ¡°Cousin, let me go with you!¡± If he stayed any longer, he would probably finish off half of the plate, which would be too embarrassing. ¡°Are these chives from the backyard?¡± Ji Yuzhu reluctantly put down her chopsticks. ¡°Yes, both the chives and the small cabbage were planted by Xiao Bao.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said. ¡°Huh, they were planted by Jinli?¡± Ji Yuzhu was somewhat surprised, ¡°Can she plant them at such a young age?¡± ¡°She can, and she does a pretty good job at it!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother didn¡¯t hesitate to praise her daughter. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go and take a look now!¡± After that, Ji Yuzhu followed them to the backyard. Meanwhile, the maternal grandpa, grandma, and uncle, who were chatting with Xiao Wanshan and Xiao Siqian, heard a scream from the backyard. The three of them were stunned and asked in confusion, ¡°What happened? Why does that sound like Yuzhu¡¯s scream?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Yuzhu¡¯s.¡± Gao Jianjun quickly stood up and ran to the backyard. Then, he saw his somewhat pale wife standing outside the greenhouse. He asked with concern and urgency, ¡°Wife, what happened?¡± Ji Yuzhu pointed in the direction of the greenhouse, but before she could speak, Gao Yanxin ran out laughing, then said, ¡°Mom, they¡¯re just earthworms, what are you afraid of?¡± ¡°What, you¡¯re saying those are earthworms, not snakes?¡± Ji Yuzhu¡¯s frightened expression hadn¡¯t eased yet, ¡°If they really are earthworms, how can they be so At this time, Xiao Junxuan also ran out and explained, ¡°Little aunt, they are indeed earthworms, just that they¡¯ve been raised by my sister and grown a bit bigger. If you don¡¯t look closely, you could really mistake them for snakes.¡± He knew that she used to be a tomboy who feared nothing except snakes. ¡°Haha, Xuan¡¯er, you¡¯re saying these earthworms are raised by Jinli?¡± Ji Yuzhu asked in surprise, ¡°Why would Jinli raise such things? And they¡¯ve grown so big, like snakes. Isn¡¯t she afraid as a girl?¡± Gao Jianjun entered the greenhouse, and after a while, he came out laughing and said, ¡°Haha, wife, they really are earthworms, just a bit bigger.¡± ¡°They really are earthworms!¡± Ji Yuzhu recovered and grabbed Gao Jianjun¡¯s hand as they carefully walked into the greenhouse. As soon as she entered, she saw a large number of earthworms in the trenches in the soil. With her husband¡¯s company, she wasn¡¯t that scared anymore, and said, ¡°There are so many earthworms. It¡¯s creepy to look at them all clustered together. Xuan¡¯er, why does Jinli keep so many earthworms?¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°At first, my sister raised them for fertilizing the soil, but as their numbers increased, she sold some of them to the villagers. Many villagers have placed orders.¡± ¡°Haha, they¡¯re for sale? How do you sell them?¡± Ji Yuzhu asked, somewhat surprised. ¡°Yes, one point five cents per worm!¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°According to my sister, she has already sold twenty thousand of them, and some others want to buy them to release in the peach and tangerine orchards in the mountains..¡± Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Lively 2 (Second Update) Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Lively 2 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Huh, one point five cents per worm, and sold twenty thousand of them.¡± Ji Yuzhu was surprised, ¡°Jinli is so young and already knows how to make money, not bad!¡± Gao Jianjun was also quite surprised. These earthworms were actually raised by Jinli, how on earth did she raise them? Gao Jianjun thought so and asked as well. Xiao Junxuan shook his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly how my sister raised them. Let¡¯s ask her later.¡± He had heard of this earthworm-raising technique when he was in university, but he had never seen it. But he knew that the earthworms raised by those farms would definitely not be as big as the ones his sister raised. ¡°Bamboo, what happened? I just heard you scream.¡± The maternal grandmother asked as soon as she came over. Scream¡­ Ji Yuzhu¡¯s face was a bit confused, she looked at her husband and asked with her eyes, ¡°Husband, did I really scream that badly?¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Gao Jianjun was also a little embarrassed to say, ¡°Wife, your scream just now was indeed quite frightening.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Unable to hold back his laughter, Gao Yanxin burst out laughing, looking at his mother¡¯s awkwardness. Ji Yuzhu immediately had black lines on her face and scolded her son angrily, ¡°Stinky boy, what¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°Hehe, Bamboo, what happened to you just now?¡± The maternal grandmother asked with a slightly amused expression. Ji Yuzhu explained, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s just that I mistook the earthworms inside the greenhouse for snakes.¡± If she was going to be embarrassed, she might as well go all the way. ¡°Oh, oh, I see!¡± The maternal grandmother said with understanding, ¡°That makes sense. You¡¯ve been afraid of snakes since you were little!¡± ¡°What earthworms in the greenhouse would make you think they were snakes?¡± The maternal grandfather was very curious as he walked into the greenhouse. After all, there¡¯s a big difference between snakes and earthworms. As soon as the maternal grandfather walked into the greenhouse, he shouted, ¡°Wife, wife, come and have a look.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The maternal grandmother also got up and walked over, seeing the insides of the greenhouse, she exclaimed, ¡°These are all earthworms? They¡¯re so big. No wonder Bamboo mistook them for snakes.¡± The grandfather asked doubtfully, ¡°Where did all these large earthworms come from?¡± The grandmother said, ¡°Let¡¯s ask the children, and then we¡¯ll know.¡± Grandma came out and asked, ¡°How come there are so many earthworms in the greenhouse?¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Grandma, these are raised by Little Sister Jinli.¡± ¡°Yes, Mom, these were all raised by Jinli.¡± Ji Yuzhu had completely calmed down, even looking happy, ¡°Xuan¡¯er just said that these earthworms were sold for one point five cents each. They¡¯ve already sold twenty thousand, and there are still people booking twenty to thirty thousand more. Hehe, Jinli is really capable, knowing how to make money at such a young age.¡± When the grandmother heard that they were raised by Xiao Jinli, she was also happy and said, ¡°Yes, yes, Jinli is really capable. Knowing how to make money at such a young age. Twenty thousand worms, that¡¯s three to four thousand Yuan. It¡¯s equivalent to our income from farming for a year. Sometimes, we don¡¯t even make that much in a year from farming.¡± As soon as Xiao Jinli saw that her maternal grandparents had come to the backyard, she went to help in the kitchen. ¡°Xiao Bao, go and check on your brother, has he finished cutting the chives? Hurry up and bring them back to wash and cook. Just now, when we cooked a plate of chives, your aunt finished half of it with two chopsticks. There¡¯s not enough for everyone. Go and check now, cut some more, everyone likes it, so cook more.¡± Xiao Mother said. When Xiao Jinli arrived in the backyard, seeing everyone discussing her earthworm raising, she first said to her brother, ¡°Brother, have the chives been cut? Mom said to cut more and cook more!¡± Xiao Junxuan looked at the handful of chives in his hand and handed them to Xiao Siqian, saying, ¡°Xiao Quan, you first take these back to clean, I will go cut some more, this is probably not enough.¡¯ If his little aunt could eat half a plate of this dish, the taste must be good. It¡¯s better to stir-fry more so everyone can eat more. ¡°OK!¡± Xiao Siqian took the chives and left. His grandmother looked at Xiao Jinli with bright eyes and asked, ¡°Jinli, how do you raise these earthworms? They are so big, they scared your little aunt into screaming. ¡± Little aunt, ¡°¡­I admit, they are big¡­¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I raised these by utilizing the scientific method of soil and earthworm ecological structure.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± The grandmother didn¡¯t understand. Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°Earthworms are decomposers. They feed on decaying plants or other organic matter, swallowing soil and sand particles to obtain their organic substances. Earthworms contribute to the material cycle and energy transfer of the soil by feeding, digesting, excreting, secreting, and burrowing. That¡¯s why they are also called Earth Dragons. To breed earthworms, I just need to mix their food, which is feces, according to their preferences. Of course, I strictly followed the proportionate method while mixing the food, which I have figured out through numerous experiments.¡± This was actually her secret formula for raising earthworms. The grandparents didn¡¯t quite understand, but the others did. Xiao Junxuan smiled and said, ¡°I wondered how you raised these earthworms. So that¡¯s how you did it. My sister is really clever.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at the chives in his hand and said, ¡°Brother, take these chives, mom¡¯s going to hurry us.¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯ll take them over right now!¡± With that, Xiao Junxuan ran off. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Grandma, let¡¯s go home, there¡¯s only one dish left for mom to cook.¡± ¡°OK, OK, let¡¯s go home quickly. I haven¡¯t had food cooked by Fangfang in a long time, and I miss it.¡± The grandmother smiled. Then, the group of people went home. Gao Jianjun glimpsed the greenhouse, and a glint flashed in his eyes. When they returned home, the dining table was already filled with dishes. Xiao Siqian brought out the bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen, smiling, ¡°Aunt is cooking the last dish.¡± Xiao Wanshan took out the Osmanthus Wine from the house and said to Gao Jianjun, ¡°This is the newly brewed wine your sister made, it¡¯s very fragrant, and you must drink a few more cups.¡± Gao Jianjun nodded, ¡°Alright!¡± Ji Yuzhu smiled and said, ¡°Brother-in-law, Jianjun doesn¡¯t drink much, don¡¯t get him drunk.¡± ¡°What does it matter if he gets drunk? He doesn¡¯t have to drive, there¡¯s no problem!¡± Xiao Wanshan said while opening the wine bottle, and the fragrance of the wine instantly spread. ¡°This wine smells delicious. Uncle, I want to drink too!¡± Gao Yanxin shouted loudly. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to drink! Are you 18 years old yet?¡± Ji Yuzhu scolded, ¡°No drinking!¡± Gao Yanxin shouted, ¡°Mom, I am already 18 years old. I even got my driver¡¯s license. ¡± ¡°Hmm, are you 18 yet?¡± Ji Yuzhu looked at her husband. Gao Jianjun nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, he turned 18 last month. At that time, you were busy with your students¡¯ college entrance examination sprint!¡± Ji Yuzhu, ¡® Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Lively 3 (First Update) Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Lively 3 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Since you¡¯re already 18 years old, let Cousin Xin have a taste.¡± Xiao Junxuan said. Gao Jianjun nodded, ¡°Alright, give it a try. But remember, Xiao Xin, not to be greedy for more! ¡± ¡°Great, thanks Dad!¡± Gao Yanxin happily said, ¡°I just thought the smell of the wine was really good, and I wanted to try it, I definitely won¡¯t be greedy.¡± ¡°Dad, come on, have a drink too!¡± Xiao Wanshan first poured a glass of wine for his father-in-law. His father-in-law had been able to drink since he was young, and his alcohol tolerance was not small. Now that he¡¯s old, although the family didn¡¯t forbid him to drink, they would only let him have a little. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have a glass too. My dear wife, it¡¯s not that I want to drink, it¡¯s your son-in-law who¡¯s pouring it for me.¡± The grandfather looked at his grandmother and laughed. Grandmother laughed and said, ¡°Alright, today I¡¯ll let you drink a glass for the sake of your two sons-in-law. But remember, old man, you can only drink one glass, no more allowed.¡± Not only did Jinli, who was young and strictly forbidden from drinking, but also Xiao¡¯s mother and Ji Yuzhu each poured a glass. ¡°Come on, try these dishes!¡± Xiao Mother beckoned, ¡°These two dishes are picked from Little Bao¡¯s greenhouse.¡± She pointed to the scrambled eggs with chives and a plate of stir-fried baby bok Choy, and continued, ¡°They both taste really good, you should all try them!¡± ¡°Haha, I definitely have to try the vegetables Jinli grows.¡± The grandfather first picked up a pair of chopsticks and tasted the chives. As soon as he tasted them, his eyes lit up, and he said while eating, ¡°These chives are so fragrant, with a rich chives aroma and a hint of egg flavor, they¡¯re so delicious.¡± ¡°Yes, this dish is really delicious!¡± Ji Yuzhu, who had tasted the dish, spoke up, ¡°When I was in the kitchen, I said I¡¯d try some, but after one bite, I ate half of the plate.¡± Everyone heard the grandfather and the little aunt talking like that, and their chopsticks immediately reached for the plate of chives. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s so delicious, how can it be so delicious?¡± Gao Yanxin kept muttering to himself while eating, ¡°It¡¯s really too delicious! I see that my mom, who usually eats so little, ate half a plate of vegetables all at once. It turns out it¡¯s so delicious!¡± Others nodded in agreement, ¡°Yeah! It¡¯s really delicious. The aroma of the chives is so rich, as soon as it touches your tongue, it¡¯s all fragrant.¡± Because the dish was so delicious, even though everyone was praising it while eating, they finished it in two or three bites. Even Xiao¡¯s mother grabbed a few more chopsticks, usually, she chewed her food thoroughly and ate slowly. Seeing that the big plate of chives was finished, everyone¡¯s eyes then focused on the stir-fried baby bok Choy. Again, it was the grandfather¡¯s chopsticks that went in first, followed by everyone else¡¯s chopsticks. ¡°Wow, this green vegetable is also so delicious.¡± Gao Yanxin said while eating, ¡°I¡¯ve never tasted such delicious green vegetables from childhood to now.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? From childhood till now, you¡¯ve been the pickiest eater, except for fish and seafood, you don¡¯t eat ordinary vegetables at all.¡± Ji Yuzhu said while eating, ¡°The only green vegetable you like is scrambled eggs with chives!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, you were so picky when you were young.¡± Grandmother also nodded in agreement, ¡°No, even now, you¡¯re still picky ¨C if you can avoid eating green vegetables, you will!¡± Gao Yanxin argued, ¡°If the green vegetables I ate in the past tasted as good as these, I wouldn¡¯t have been picky at all. It would be foolish to be picky when it comes to such delicious green vegetables!¡± In two or three bites, everyone finished the plate of green vegetables as well. Everyone looked at the two empty plates and smiled at the wine in their glasses. ¡°Haha, I never thought that, one day, eating two green vegetable dishes could be so enjoyable,¡± said Xiao Wanshan. ¡°Xiao Bao, how did you make these dishes? They are so fragrant and tempting.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Well, this is how I grow them. I think it might be because of the earthworms. No, it¡¯s also my mom¡¯s excellent cooking skills that make these two dishes so delicious.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother smiled and said, ¡°I dare not take credit for that. These dishes taste good mainly because of the high-quality ingredients. You know, I¡¯ve made the same two dishes before, and they didn¡¯t taste as good.¡± Xiao Junxuan chimed in, ¡°Yes, yes, I also think it¡¯s a matter of the ingredients. As for why my sister can grow such delicious vegetables, it might be just as she guessed: the contribution of the earthworms is significant.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s the earthworms!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. ¡°Elder aunt, we should make these two dishes again tonight,¡± Gao Yanxin said. ¡°All right,¡± Xiao¡¯s mother nodded, ¡°There are not only these two kinds of vegetables in the greenhouse. Tonight, let¡¯s have a vegetarian meal and stir-fry a few more greenhouse vegetables.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, after we finish eating, cousin, I¡¯m going to your field to pick some vegetables. I saw many kinds of vegetables in the greenhouse, and some are not common ones. I want to try them all,¡± Gao Yanxin said without any politeness. Xiao Jinli also generously said, ¡°Fine, you can pick whatever you want. If you want to have stir-fried earthworms, I can catch them for you too.¡± ¡°Earthworms? I¡¯ll pass on that,¡± Gao Yanxin shook his head when he heard about using earthworms as a dish. ¡°I can¡¯t eat that.¡± ¡°Why not? Just think of them as snakes,¡± Xiao Jinli said with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t you like to eat snake meat?¡± ¡°Snakes? You look at those earthworms, which part of them looks like a snake?¡± Gao Yanxin said. ¡°Snakes have meat, but where is the meat in earthworms? They¡¯re just a layer of skin, their bodies are filled with mud.¡± ¡°Haha, you said that these earthworms don¡¯t look like snakes, but a snake-like creature scared your mom badly, ¡± said the maternal grandmother with a laugh. ¡°Mom, what are you talking about?¡± Ji Yuzhu said helplessly, ¡°It seems that my dark past will be mentioned for a long time.¡± The atmosphere during the meal was harmonious, joyful, and warm. Xiao Siqian, looking at his lively family, had some bitterness and loneliness in his lowered eyes. However, he quickly regained his composure and collected his emotions. At least in this home, he had experienced warmth and happiness. Everyone enjoyed the noon meal. Although everyone finished the first two dishes, they didn¡¯t neglect the other dishes. By the time everyone had eaten their fill, the ten or so plates of dishes on the dining table had been practically wiped clean. ¡°Ah, elder aunt¡¯s cooking is so good,¡± Gao Yanxin said as he slouched on the stool, rubbing his full stomach, ¡°I am so stuffed. Mom, I am puzzled. You and elder aunt were born to the same parents, but how come elder aunt¡¯s cooking is so good, and yours is so bad?¡± ¡°You little brat, now you¡¯re complaining about my bad cooking, huh?¡± Ji Yuzhu laughed and scolded. ¡°Didn¡¯t you eat a lot of it before?¡± ¡°I had no choice back then,¡± Gao Yanxin seriously exposed her. ¡°Dad was not home. If I didn¡¯t eat the meals you cooked, I would have starved to death.¡± ¡°You little brat, you¡¯re just begging for a beating!¡± Ji Yuzhu said as she slapped her son on the head. ¡°I raised you, and now you¡¯re complaining..¡± Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Becoming Brothers with Cow King (Second Update) Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Becoming Brothers with Cow King (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 At noon, everyone had a bit of alcohol and, with the stuffy weather, they were all feeling sleepy. So, after Xiao Junxuan and Gao Yanxin finished clearing up the bowls and chopsticks, everyone cooled off under the trees and then went back to rest. There were plenty of rooms available in the Xiao Family house, even though Xiao Siqian occupied one of them, there were still three or four rooms left. When Ji Yuzhu called earlier, saying she would stay at the Xiao Family home for a while, Xiao Mother had already prepared the rooms. At around 3-4 0¡¯clock in the afternoon, Gao Yanxin came knocking on Xiao Jinli¡¯s door. Xiao Jinli opened the door and asked, ¡°Cousin Xin, what¡¯s up? Are you going to pick vegetables?¡± Gao Yanxin said, ¡°No, little sister, I just remembered I haven¡¯t done something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Xiao Jinli asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Cow King for half a year. I don¡¯t know if it forgot about me!¡± Gao Yanxin said. Xiao Jinli, ¡® Same story every year. However, he probably didn¡¯t know that Cow King didn¡¯t want to remember him at all. If Gao Yanxin wanted to see Cow King, he had to go with Xiao Jinli; otherwise, Cow King wouldn¡¯t even bother with him. But Gao Yanxin liked Cow King very much and wanted to interact with him. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Alright then, wait for me. I¡¯ll get ready and then take you there.¡± She had just woken up from a rest. Her hair was uncombed, and she hadn¡¯t brushed her teeth yet. When Xiao Jinli came out, she saw Xiao Siqian standing at the door as well. Before Xiao Jinli could say anything, Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, let me go with you!¡± ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go together.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded her head. Of course, Gao Yanxin wouldn¡¯t object. The three of them soon arrived at the cowshed. From a distance, Gao Yanxin¡¯s loud voice started calling out. ¡°Brother Cow King, it¡¯s Gao Yanxin! I¡¯ve come to see you!¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± This was his first time seeing someone being so chummy with a cow. Then, from afar, he saw Cow King roll its eyes helplessly. Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± What kind of look was that? Disdain, helplessness? Gao Yanxin seemed not to notice Cow King¡¯s disdainful eye roll. He ran over and stood in front of Cow King, raising his hand like he wanted to greet or touch its fur. He said, ¡°Brother Cow King, it¡¯s been half a year since we last met. Did you miss Cow King rolled its eyes at Gao Yanxin again, then mooed twice at Xiao Jinli, seemingly asking, ¡°Why is this idiot here?¡± But in Gao Yanxin¡¯s eyes, Cow King was responding to him. He danced with joy, exclaiming loudly, ¡°Hahaha, Brother Cow King, I knew you would miss me too! Let me tell you, this time I¡¯ve brought gifts for everyone.¡± With that, he slammed the bag he was carrying onto the ground and took out the contents one by one, saying, ¡°These are all sorts of canned meats I bought, except for beef, there¡¯s pork, fish, etc. Which one do you want to eat, and I¡¯ll open it for you.¡± After hearing this, Cow King mooed twice at Xiao Jinli, seemingly saying, ¡°Master, get this idiot out of here quickly. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll do if this continues. This idiot, who told him I like to eat these cans? I obviously like the water and green fodder you give me the most.¡± However, Xiao Jinli seemed not to understand Cow King¡¯s meaning. She touched Cow King¡¯s head and said with a smile, ¡°Cousin Xin, Cow King says it really likes these canned foods. Open a can of pork for it first.¡¯ ¡°Alright!¡± Gao Yanxin excitedly opened the canned pork and said, ¡°I knew Cow King would like the gifts I brought. Haha, Brother Cow King, I brought a lot! If you want more after you finish, I¡¯ll go buy it.¡± Cow King, The day it was betrayed by its master, it wanted to cry, but no tears came! It really wanted to headbutt this idiot to death! But it didn¡¯t dare to¡­ So, they could only reluctantly eat these disgusting canned foods with tears in their eyes. However, Gao Yanxin was deeply moved. He reached out his hand, tentatively stroked Cow King¡¯s head, and said with great enthusiasm, ¡°Brother Cow King, don¡¯t be too moved, you know, I really like you. From now on, I¡¯ll buy it for you every day!¡± Cow King paused in the midst of eating the canned food. Ah, buy it every day? Every day, that means eating it every day. Who would just find a block of tofu to bump into and die for him, so he doesn¡¯t have to be tormented by this idiot every day. After Cow King ate the third can, it couldn¡¯t eat any more of these disgusting things and had to ask Xiao Jinli for help. ¡°Um, um, Cousin Xin, don¡¯t feed it anymore.¡± Xiao Tieling said with a suppressed laugh, ¡°Cow King can¡¯t eat too much canned food. If it eats too much, it¡¯ll have diarrhea. Two or three cans are enough.¡± It has to stop Cousin from feeding it any longer, or Cow King might go against its master¡¯s wishes and attack him. Cow King¡¯s temper is not to be trifled with. After hearing what Xiao Jinli said, Gao Yanxin had no choice but to stop feeding it, and said regretfully, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll feed it again tomorrow.¡± Then, he put away the cans and put them back into a bag. Cow King, who had just put down its heart, could see the despair in its eyes when it heard Gao Yanxin¡¯s words. Does it have to eat this tomorrow? Please spare it. It¡¯s just a cow, after all. It only loves to eat tender green grass and drink water from its master¡¯s hand. It doesn¡¯t like and even hates eating meat. Every time this idiot came here, he would bring all sorts of messy things for it to eat, and it couldn¡¯t refuse. Whimper¡­ Master, you really favor others too much. In order to please your cousin, you wouldn¡¯t even stop your idiot cousin¡¯s foolish behavior. However, arms can¡¯t win against thighs. As the small Cow King, it could only submit. Xiao Jinli seemed to be able to hear Cow King¡¯s grief, she gently stroked its head and said with a smile, ¡°Alright, you can¡¯t refuse Cousin¡¯s good intentions, you know?¡± Facing such a biased master, what could Cow King do but compromise? Anyway, it¡¯s not like it¡¯s too hard to get over it after compromising. Afterward, the master will give it a major compensation. Gao Yanxin really wanted to ride Cow King, but Cow King was willing to let him feed it, but not let him ride it, not even if his cousin asked for it. Therefore, he had to give up time and time again. ¡°Cow King, may I ride you once?¡± Gao Yanxin asked again with hopeful eyes. Unexpectedly, Cow King rolled its eyes once again, turned around, and presented its buttocks to him. It was clearly a blatant refusal. Gao Yanxin, ¡® . Refused again. Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± He wondered how many times Cow King had rolled its eyes now. Seeing Cow King despise Gao Yanxin but not refusing his feedings, what kind of play was this? ¡°Whimper¡­ Brother Cow King, did you reject me again?¡± Gao Yanxin pretended to cry, ¡°How many times have you rejected me since we were little? I just want to ride you once, why is it so difficult?¡± As he spoke, he pretended to wipe away tears, then said spiritedly, ¡°It¡¯s okay to reject me again. I believe that one day, you will let me ride.¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± How persistent he is. Fortunately, he had ridden it once. Well, why does this feel like a case of a well-fed man not knowing a hungry man¡¯s hunger? Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Chapter 99: A variety of vegetables (Part One) Chapter 99: Chapter 99: A variety of vegetables (Part One) Translator: 549690339 After Cow King tearfully finished eating the canned meat that Brother Gao Yanxin gave him, Gao Yanxin reluctantly said goodbye and said, ¡°Brother Cow King, I will come and see you again tomorrow. Also, I will take these cans back and bring them again tomorrow.¡± Cow King mooed twice and said, ¡°You idiot, don¡¯t come back, every time I see you, I suffer!¡± But to Gao Yanxin¡¯s ears, it was Cow King warmly welcoming him. So, he happily left. Xiao Siqian glanced at Cow King and then at Gao Yanxin¡¯s back, always feeling that Cow King was scolding Gao Yanxin, but he was unaware of it. After the three of them left, they arrived inside the greenhouse. As soon as they arrived in the greenhouse, Gao Yanxin¡¯s excited voice came. ¡°Wow, these vegetables are so beautiful, just like flowers!¡± Gao Yanxin said loudly, ¡°They could be planted in pots. It would be a pity to eat them.¡± Those rare varieties indeed looked like flowers. Ji Yuzhu and Gao Jianjun also came to the greenhouse. Once Ji Yuzhu knew that the soft worms in the greenhouse were earthworms, she was no longer afraid. After all, she had dug up countless earthworms when she was a child. Ji Yuzhu laughed and said, ¡°If you think it¡¯s a pity, don¡¯t eat them when they are cooked.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right!¡± Gao Yanxin refused, ¡°Although they look like flowers, they are not flowers but vegetables. Vegetables are for eating.¡± Based on this morning¡¯s taste of chives and small cabbage, the taste of other vegetables will not be bad. Ji Yuzhu smiled and said, ¡°You have a lot of reasons.¡± She looked around at the vegetables in the greenhouse and said, ¡°There are so many varieties, which dishes should we eat tonight?¡± It is impossible to cook all thirty or forty kinds of vegetables. Gao Yanxin said, ¡°I want to eat chives and small cabbage again and a cold mixed tomatoes. Cousin, what kind of vegetable is this?¡± ¡°This is Spore Kale.¡± ¡°What about the one that looks like an egg?¡± ¡°Egg Eggplant!¡± ¡°Wow, this vegetable is so beautiful, green and jade-like, resembling a jade pagoda. What kind of vegetable is this?¡± ¡°Well, this is Pagoda Vegetable!¡± After Gao Yanxin asked about all the unfamiliar vegetables, he picked seven or eight kinds of vegetables and said, ¡°Let¡¯s cook these dishes tonight. I will eat the rest of the vegetables tomorrow and the day after. Anyway, I must taste them all over these days.¡± Ji Yuzhu laughed and said, ¡°Son, weren¡¯t you a meat-eater? When did you become a vegetarian? If you taste all the vegetables in your cousin¡¯s greenhouse, do you have to taste them all before you are willing to leave?¡± ¡°That¡¯s actually possible!¡± Gao Jianjun echoed his wife¡¯s words, ¡°This disaster, he won¡¯t leave without causing all the disaster!¡± Especially after tasting the two dishes in the morning, the taste was really extraordinary. Not only that, he didn¡¯t know whether it was because of the drinking or the vegetables, but after sleeping they felt particularly comfortable. That made him want to stay for a few more days. Gao Yanxin also argued, ¡°Dad, I am not a disaster. There are so many vegetables in this greenhouse, why should I taste them all? If I finish tasting them all, it must be because everyone is together.¡± Then, everyone picked vegetables together. It took some time to clean the seven or eight vegetarian dishes. However, many hands make light work. Xiao Wanshan had tea with his father-in-law and Gao Jianjun in the house, and the others joined in the work. ¡°Xuan¡¯er, Xiao Quan, Xin¡¯er, and good baby, you go to the house to talk to your grandpa. We can handle this work.¡± The maternal grandmother laughed, ¡°Your grandpa likes to have more people and talk to them.¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Okay, Grandma, we will go in and accompany Grandpa for a chat.¡± ¡°Okay, grandma, we will go in and accompany grandpa for a chat,¡± Gao Yanxin said. Ji Yuzhu rolled her eyes a bit and said, ¡°Hurry up and go. After all, you don¡¯t do much of this work at home, it¡¯s better to talk to grandpa more.¡± Gao Yanxin spread his hands and said, ¡°Alright.¡± Ji Yuzhu looked at Xiao Siqian and said, ¡°Xiao Quan, you and Jinli go ahead too. Jinli, listen, your grandpa is calling you.¡± While washing the vegetables, Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Here I come, Grandpa. Brother Little Quan, let¡¯s go.¡± A group of children went to accompany their grandpa, leaving Ji Yuzhu and the maternal grandmother to quickly clean the freshly picked vegetables. Ji Yuzhu looked at the lovely green vegetables and laughed as she said to her grandmother, ¡°I don¡¯t know how Jinli planted these vegetables, but they are really beautiful and delicious.¡± The grandmother laughed and said, ¡°Our good baby has been called a fortune since she was a child, so whatever she does is extraordinary.¡± Everyone loved this granddaughter very much. Grandma had four children, two boys and two girls. But besides Xiao Jinli, the others were all sons. In a sense, Xiao Jinli was the precious daughter of her maiden family. Ji Yuzhu nodded, ¡°Yes, Jinli has always been different from other children since she was a child. She is a sensible and intelligent child. At a young age, no problem was a problem in her hands.¡± On the other side, when Xiao Jinli walked over, the maternal grandfather asked, ¡°Good baby, are those earthworms you raised in the greenhouse going to be sold?¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°These earthworms are mainly for our family and the village.¡± Grandfather nodded, ¡°So, you have no intention of selling them outside for now.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I am just on vacation now. When school starts, I won¡¯t have much time to deal with these things. So, I don¡¯t know if there will be any surplus to sell to other villages in the future. However, if relatives and friends want them, they can tell me in advance, and I will prepare them.¡± The Xiao Family and Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s families have many relatives and friends, and many of them have good relationships. If those people came asking, they would definitely have to sell some to them. Otherwise, there would be no family or friend¡¯s affection left. Listening to Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, the grandfather was very happy and nodded, ¡°Yes, our family¡¯s good baby is a sensible and intelligent child.¡± She naturally understood some worldliness and human relationships without being taught by adults. Gao Jianguo also nodded in agreement, ¡°Yes, it is rare to see such a smart and sensible child as Jinli.¡± At least he had not seen many. Xiao Wanshan laughed and said, ¡°Dad, brother-in-law, don¡¯t praise her anymore. If you keep praising her, her tail will stick up to the sky.¡± Xiao Jinli immediately said with slight dissatisfaction, ¡°Dad, you are not a rooster, so you don¡¯t have a tail.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, you are not a rooster, you don¡¯t have a tail, Dad is wrong. Hahaha¡­¡± Xiao Wanshan laughed cheerfully.. Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Blissfully Happy (Second Update) Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Blissfully Happy (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Dinner turned out to be an actual vegetarian feast. Apart from a plate of chives and eggs that added a touch of meatiness, all dishes were either fresh stir-fry, water stir-fry, or spicy stir-fry. But no matter how they were cooked, they couldn¡¯t mask the natural flavor of the vegetables. ¡°Wow, these vegetables are so delicious!¡± Gao Yanxin stood by the table, looking at the vibrant dishes while being hit by the array of different aromas from the greens. He was utterly enthralled. ¡°I have never imagined that there would be a day when dishes full of greens could turn into such amazing delicacies.¡± Ji Yuzhu laughed, ¡°Your elder aunt says that it¡¯s not even the prime timing for harvesting these vegetables, but seeing how you are drooling over them, we¡¯d satisfy your craving first.¡± ¡°Mom, you and dad¡¯s cravings were satisfied too!¡± Gao Yanxin retorted, ¡°Didn¡¯t you all enjoy the meal as well?¡± Ji Yuzhu, ¡® This unmanageable son, always making things difficult. He only knows how to dismantle things. ¡°Although tonight¡¯s a vegetarian banquet, I feel like it could use some wine to bring out the joy!¡± Xiao Wanshan carried a jug of osmanthus wine out from the house and chuckled, ¡°The fragrance of the wine mixed with dishes, makes up another delicacy.¡± ¡°Ha-ha, sure we can have wine, just don¡¯t pretty up your words.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed, ¡°Fine, go ahead and drink, but do not drink too much!¡± The grandfather stared hopefully at the grandmother, who waved her hand approvingly, ¡°Alright, if my two sons-in-law want some wine, go ahead. Wanshan, Jianjun, do not let your dad drink too much. Shis body can¡¯t handle too much alcohol now.¡± ¡°Sure mom, don¡¯t you worry, we¡¯ll just let dad have a glass!¡± Xiao Wanshan instantly responded, ¡°This osmanthus wine is rather beneficial for your health. Come on dad, let me pour you a glass.¡± After pouring a glass for his grandfather, Xiao Wanshan poured one for Gao Jianjun as well, ¡°Jianjun, tonight, we drink to our heart¡¯s content!¡± Gao Jianjun immediately agreed, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll join my brother-in-law!¡± Ji Yuzhu, feeling a bit exasperated, commented, ¡°Heh, one second you say don¡¯t overdo the drinking, the next it¡¯s to drink until satisfied. Your determination should be ¡®no stopping until drunk,¡¯ huh?¡± ¡°Yeah, you can have a good sleep after getting drunk!¡± Gao Jianjun nodded. ¡°Well, don¡¯t complain about a headache tomorrow,¡± Ji Yuzhu did not object. After all, it¡¯s a rare gathering for the two families, as long as everyone is happy, it¡¯s fine. Generally, Gao Jianjun does not overdrink. Even if he is forced to at work, he always knows his limit. So, it¡¯s okay to lose that control slightly among family. Just the people after drinking¡­ Thinking about drunken men, Ji Yuzhu involuntarily blushed. ¡°Mom, why is your face so red? Are you feeling hot?¡± Gao Yanxin asked in a care-free tone, ¡°The weather is indeed quite hot. Ah Xuan, why didn¡¯t you have an air conditioner installed in the living room? It must be unbearable to endure this heat.¡± His elder aunt¡¯s family wasn¡¯t lacking financially, installing an air conditioner wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Xiao Junxuan responded, ¡°The fan usually gives us enough comfort. But I¡¯ll get an air conditioner tomorrow.¡± Although the fan is usually enough, on particularly hot days, it can become unbearably warm. ¡°Alright, cousin, I¡¯ll accompany you tomorrow,¡± Gao Yanxin volunteered. Ji Yuzhu smiled, ¡°Okay, you just have to be part of everything.¡± Afterward, everyone enjoyed their meal and engaged in lively conversations. The atmosphere was both lively and warm. Even though they were just vegetarian dishes, they were much more appreciated than the usual meat dishes. The men, who generally didn¡¯t embrace vegetarian food, relished these dishes, picking up bites non-stop. As they enjoyed their drinks and savored the vegetarian dishes, they truly revelled in the unique flavor and indulged themselves. Xiao Siqian just turned 18, and he could partake in some drinking. So, he too had two glasses of wine. With two glasses of wine in his stomach, he felt a bit intoxicated, unsure if it was the wine or the happy atmosphere. That evening was filled with enjoyment for the entire family! The next day, bright and early, Xiao¡¯s Mother and her grandmother made breakfast for everyone. Steamed buns, rice porridge and noodles were available, and they could choose whichever they wanted to have. After breakfast, Xiao Junxuan planned to go to the county town to buy some air conditioners. Since he had decided to install it, he planned to have one fitted in each room, so as not to be bothered later. There were hardly any appliances in the stores in the town, so they could only go to the county town. Gao Yanxin wanted to go ¨C so did Xiao Jinli. The grandmother said, ¡°Alright, you kids go to the county town and take a look, if you can¡¯t get back by noon, just go to a restaurant, order some good dishes and have a meal, then go and have some fun in the afternoon!¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°Okay!¡± But Gao Yanxin said, ¡°Grandma, going out to play in this weather, we might get sunburned. Even if we don¡¯t get sunburned, we¡¯ll still get tan, and frankly, there¡¯s nothing interesting to do in the county town that we haven¡¯t already done. I think we should come right back after we¡¯ve finished buying the air conditioners. The county town is not as fun as staying at home.¡± As for the afternoon, he can just play with that group of kids chasing after calves. ¡°¡­¡± The grandmother said, ¡°Fine, you guys go ahead early, and while it¡¯s still not too hot, if you can get back after you¡¯ve finished shopping, just call home and have lunch. If you can¡¯t make it, go to a restaurant, eat and come back. Don¡¯t go hungry. You guys, as young men, can bear being hungry, but my little darling Jinli can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Grandma, listen to you. Out of all of us, no one can go hungry except for our cousin.¡± Gao Yanxin assured. ¡°Alright, you guys go ahead and come back early!¡± Grandma urged them. Xiao Junxuan took his younger brothers and sisters to the appliance store in the county town. The largest appliance store in the county town was located on the Old Square, called ¡°Bafang Electric Appliance,¡± owned by a friend of Xiao Junxuan¡¯s. Before they left, Xiao Junxuan had already called his friend. By the time Xiao Junxuan arrived, his friend was already waiting at the door. ¡°Hey Ah Xuan, you¡¯re here early!¡± Yuan Kai greeted Xiao Junxuan, took a look at the people following him and smiled, ¡°Are these three your younger brothers and sister?¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°This is my cousin Gao Yanxin, my younger brother Xiao Siqian and my younger sister Xiao Jinli.¡± Among the group, only Xiao Jinli was underage. After Yuan Kai had greeted them, he led them to the reception room and even got some candies for Xiao Jinli. He thought that kids always love candies. Xiao Junxuan chatted with him for a while then moved on to check out the air conditioners. ¡°Ah Kai, I want to buy one Central Air Conditioner and six Wall-Mounted Air Conditioners.¡± Xiao Junxuan said directly. One for the living room and the rest six were to be installed in the rooms. ¡°Ah Xuan, you¡¯re buying so many air conditioners, you could totally set up a wholesale market. Haha¡­ Alright, I¡¯ll sell them to you at wholesale prices. I¡¯ll have them delivered to you in the afternoon.¡± Yuan Kai said, ¡°And then, I¡¯ll have the master install them for you.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s settle the bill then.¡± Xiao Junxuan said with a smile. Because they were friends, and also because Xiao Junxuan bought in bulk, when the bill came for the seven air conditioners, it was twenty-three thousand in total. Yuan Kai directly rounded it down to twenty thousand. Xiao Jinli twitched at the corner of her mouth when she heard the discount. But this friend was really something ¨C he didn¡¯t take advantage of them. Otherwise, a discount of several hundred would¡¯ve been generous enough.. Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Sold to Foreign Countries (First Update) Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Sold to Foreign Countries (First Update) After spending three or four days at Xiao Family, Gao Jianjun returned home. He still had work to do, and the visit to his wife¡¯s maiden family was only for a short break. Due to the allure of the vegetables in Xiao Family, he really didn¡¯t want to leave. After returning home, with his wife and children gone, he couldn¡¯t cook for himself and had to order from the cafeteria or takeaway. However, after getting used to the exquisite delicacies of Xiao Family, going back to eating pig-like food was truly painful. Before leaving, he approached Xiao Jinli. ¡°Jinli, have you ever thought about expanding this earthworm business?¡± Gao Jianjun asked tentatively. Gao Jianjun observed the earthworms in the greenhouse for several days and found that they were slightly different from ordinary earthworms. In addition to being large, they were of superior quality. You should know that earthworms contain a rich array of nutrients and are considered high-end ingredients in foreign countries. Of course, only carefully cultivated earthworms could become high-end ingredients. He was engaged in foreign trade business, with rich experience, keen judgment, and discerning abilities. Upon hearing Gao Jianjun¡¯s words, Xiao Jinli¡¯s expression froze for a moment before she reacted and asked, ¡°Uncle, what do you mean? What do you mean by expanding the business?¡± In her heart, she thought, ¡°It finally arrived.¡± Gao Jianjun explained seriously, ¡°I mean, besides selling them to the villagers for farming, we could also sell them abroad?¡± ¡°What? Sell them abroad?¡± Xiao Jinli asked with an incredulous expression, ¡°Can these earthworms really be sold abroad?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Gao Jianjun nodded, ¡°Your Uncle is in the foreign trade business, so I know what I¡¯m talking about. However, if we want to do big business and sell them to foreign countries, the earthworms in your greenhouse are far from enough. We need to expand the breeding scale, but you are still a child and studying in school, so what about that?¡± The key issue was that only Xiao Jinli knew the techniques of raising earthworms. If possible, he hoped Xiao Jinli could teach it to someone else. Of course, that person had to be someone trustworthy. Therefore, this was the difficult part. Xiao Jinli understood Gao Jianjun¡¯s meaning. She lowered her eyes and seemed to be pondering. After a while, she said seriously, ¡°Uncle, I will think carefully about this matter. How about this? You can take most of the earthworms from my greenhouse to test the waters first, how about that?¡± ¡°Great!¡± Gao Jianjun laughed, ¡°It¡¯s good to be cautious. You, at such a young age, are just as calculating as an adult.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t sell well, so we must give it a try first. Since Uncle has connections, he can take the lead.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± Gao Jianjun laughed, ¡°You should trust your uncle¡¯s judgment. The earthworms you¡¯ve cultivated will definitely sell well. Alright, then I¡¯ll take some back first to explore the market.¡± ¡°Okay, if there really is a market for it, expanding the breeding grounds shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Xiao Jinli promised. Immediately, Gao Jianjun took twenty thousand earthworms with him! When Gao Jianjun took the earthworms away, it scared Xiao¡¯s mother and the others. However, when they heard he wanted to sell them to foreign countries, they found it even more unbelievable. They had never thought that earthworms could end up on the tables of foreigners. After Gao Jianjun left, Ji Yuzhu and Gao Yanxin continued to stay at the Xiao Family. In previous summer vacations, they would usually stay for about a month, but this year, with the temptation of greenhouse vegetables, they didn¡¯t want to leave at all. Knowing that the vegetables in the greenhouse were all grown by Xiao Jinli, Ji Yuzhu also wanted to follow suit, learn some planting techniques and see if she could grow such vegetables in a plot of land behind the villa when they returned home. However, she saw that Xiao Jinli¡¯s planting techniques were the same as those of normal people, but why did the vegetables grown by Xiao Jinli taste so different? ¡°Haha, you mean the taste of these vegetables is because of these cultivated earthworms?¡± Ji Yuzhu asked somewhat blankly, ¡°But what¡¯s so special about these earthworms?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. In the past, I only knew that these earthworms would turn the soil, but no one ever used them to grow crops. However, the villagers who bought earthworms and put them in the fields grew vegetables that were almost as good as those in this greenhouse. Hmm, maybe the difference is due to the number of earthworms.¡± After hearing this, Ji Yuzhu became doubtful. Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go to the village entrance to compare fields with and without earthworms? You can also pick some vegetables from other people¡¯s homes and cook them.¡± Ji Yuzhu¡¯s eyes lit up, and she laughed, ¡°Sister, that¡¯s really a good idea. Haha, if it¡¯s really because of these earthworms, I will definitely take some back when I return.¡± ¡°Haha, what would you take back for? You don¡¯t have land over there,¡± Xiao¡¯s mother asked with confusion. ¡°There is no land, but we can open up a piece,¡± Ji Yuzhu shrugged and said, ¡°My villa has a garden in front and behind it. We can pull out the flowers and use the land to grow vegetables.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°Pulling out the flowers, that¡¯s too much of a pity. They are not easy to grow.¡± ¡°Haha, who let them be just for show and not for eating? I want to eat these vegetables all the time,¡± Ji Yuzhu laughed, ¡°So, I can only bear the pain and pull them out.¡± After all, these vegetables are so delicious that even the most expensive green vegetables in the supermarket can¡¯t compare in taste. Moreover, these vegetables are not only delicious but also make the body feel good after eating them. Before coming here, Gao Jianjun had some insomnia, but after these few days, he slept so well that it was hard to bear waking him up. Therefore, even for her husband¡¯s health, she wanted to follow Xiao Jinli and learn to grow vegetables properly. If the source was really in these earthworms, she would definitely take more back with her. Ji Yuzhu listened to Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s words, went to the fields for a stroll, and found that if there were earthworms in the ground, the plants that grew would be sturdier and greener. She also greeted several villagers and picked some vegetables to take back. ¡°Sister, this is spinach I picked from the Village Chief¡¯s house, and this is Chinese cabbage from Xiao Changchun¡¯s house. Tonight, we¡¯ll cook them for dinner,¡± Ji Yuzhu said, pointing to the piles of vegetables in the vegetable basket. ¡°Mom, are you robbing?¡± Gao Yanxin asked doubtfully, looking at the basket of vegetables, ¡°These are not greenhouse vegetables. Mom, where did you pick them from?¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense,¡± Ji Yuzhu said irritably, ¡°I picked these from other people¡¯s fields after getting their permission.¡± Gao Yanxin sneered, ¡°Picking from other people¡¯s fields, isn¡¯t that robbery?¡± Ji Yuzhu, ¡® This son definitely can¡¯t be kept. At dinner, everyone ate a few vegetarian dishes and commented, ¡°The taste of these vegetables is not bad either, just slightly worse than those in our greenhouse. But they are much better than the ones grown before.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s really because of the earthworms?¡± Xiao Jinli, who was eating dinner, curled her lips into a smile.. Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Villagers Selling Vegetables (Second Update) Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Villagers Selling Vegetables (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Chen Qiulan woke up before dawn, took her flashlight, and picked two large baskets of vegetables from the field. She then washed them in the water channel and carried them straight to town to sell. Quite a few other villagers were also picking vegetables in the fields just like her. ¡°Ha, Qiulan, are you selling vegetables in town today as well?¡± Li Qiuxiang asked with a smile, ¡°How much did you pick today?¡± ¡°I picked two baskets.¡± Chen Qiulan said with a smile, ¡°Now that everyone has vegetables to sell, there are more sellers than buyers at the market.¡± Li Qiuxiang sighed lightly, ¡°With so many vegetables, we have to sell them even if they don¡¯t sell well. Otherwise, they would rot in the ground.¡± At this point, she spoke excitedly, ¡°Qiulan, haven¡¯t you noticed that the vegetables grown from the soil turned by earthworms taste so good? My grandson used to hate eating green vegetables; it was like he was eating poison. But after trying the vegetables from this field a couple of times, he finished a whole plate of them all by himself. We adults only got a few leaves, and now he is even picky about meat, always asking for more vegetables. It¡¯s funny, I used to worry about him not eating enough vegetables, and now I worry about him not eating enough meat.¡± ¡°Haha, so your child is like that too. I thought it was only my family. My two grandsons and granddaughters are the same. Now, we must cook extra vegetables from this field for every meal, otherwise, they won¡¯t eat.¡± Chen Qiulan chuckled, ¡°I was wondering when they started to love these vegetables so much? They used to want big fish and meat every day, and now they don¡¯t even like them.¡± Li Qiuxiang said with a smile, ¡°Hehe, I¡¯ve asked several families, and they all have the same situation. The children are all competing to eat vegetables, and they can eat more rice now. You see, what¡¯s going on in Jinli¡¯s head? He¡¯s so smart to think of using earthworms to till the soil for planting vegetables. Look at these vegetables, they taste so good. I think that as long as our village¡¯s vegetables sell once, those who have tasted them will definitely come back for more.¡± If she were to buy vegetables herself, she would definitely think that way. ¡°Qiulan, have you finished picking? It¡¯s getting bright, and I have to hurry to town to grab a good spot, so we can sell faster and go home.¡± ¡°Yeah, almost done. I¡¯ll have Qingshan drive us over,¡± Chen Qiulan said. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take your car.¡± Li Qiuxiang didn¡¯t refuse. Many people asked their family members with motorcycles to take them to town, but her family hadn¡¯t bought one yet. She planned to buy a motorcycle when her younger son gets married at the end of the year since most of the young people are living outside the village. Xiao Qingshan soon arrived with the car. As he carried the vegetables to the trunk, he said, ¡°Mom, now that everyone at home loves vegetables so much, don¡¯t sell all of them, or the children will cry to death.¡± Chen Qiulan laughed and said, ¡°I know. I just saw that there were too many vegetables in the field that we couldn¡¯t eat them all, so I had to sell some. Otherwise, they would rot away in the field.¡± Xiao Qingshan said with a smile, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m just reminding you. After all, we have to take care of our family first.¡± ¡°Alright, you talk too much; I know how to handle it,¡± Chen Qiulan said, ¡°Hurry up and take us to the fair. Today is fair day, so there will be many people selling vegetables. Aunt Qiuxiang and I need to get a good spot.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our four wheels will definitely be faster than your two legs,¡± Xiao Qingshan said with a smile, ¡°It will take us about ten minutes to get to the fair, and it probably won¡¯t even be bright by then.¡± About ten minutes later, Chen Qiulan and Li Qiuxiang found a good spot at an intersection with a lot of traffic. Usually, such spots would have been taken by others, but they arrived early today. As the day grew brighter, more and more people came to the market to buy vegetables. Many shoppers noticed the vegetables from the two families at a glance; they looked fresh and tender. A refined woman approached them and asked, ¡°How much are the pak choi and onions?¡± ¡°The pak choi is one yuan for two bundles, and the onions are one yuan for three bundles!¡± Chen Qiulan said. Rural people usually tie their vegetables with straw into bundles for convenience when selling them. ¡°How about this, the pak choi is 80 cents for two bundles, and the onions are one yuan for four bundles, and I¡¯ll take them all,¡± said the refined woman. She was a restaurant owner, so she needed a larger quantity. After hearing this, Chen Qiulan didn¡¯t hesitate and nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll sell them all to you. There are twelve bundles of pak Choi, which is 4.8 yuan, and twenty bundles of onions, which is exactly 5 yuan. In total, that would be 9.8 yuan.¡± The boss lady bargained, ¡°I bought so much, so let¡¯s forget about the 80 cents.¡± Chen Qiulan, being straightforward, said, ¡°Okay, since it¡¯s all homegrown. Let¡¯s make it nine yuan.¡± After paying, the boss lady looked at the chives in Li Qiuxiang¡¯s basket and asked, ¡°How much are these chives?¡± Li Qiuxiang replied, ¡°One yuan for three bundles.¡± ¡°One yuan for four bundles, and I¡¯ll take them all,¡± the boss lady bargained. ¡°Okay, four bundles it is. There are thirty bundles in total, so it¡¯s seven and a half yuan for all,¡± Li Qiuxiang calculated. ¡°Seven yuan for all,¡± the boss lady countered. ¡°Alright, seven it is.¡± Li Qiuxiang didn¡¯t want to argue any further. After the boss lady left, the vegetables of both families were gradually sold out. Although they were sold at a lower price, the income was still a small bonus for the rural people who grew extra vegetables at home. Around eight o¡¯clock, the two packed their things and left them at the door of a familiar shop. Li Qiuxiang said with a smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect our vegetables to sell out so early. Usually, I don¡¯t even know if I can sell them all by ten o¡¯clock.¡± Chen Qiulan said, ¡°Our vegetables look fresher.¡± ¡°Yes, they do.¡± Li Qiuxiang agreed, ¡°Qiulan, let¡¯s go have breakfast.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Chen Qiulan replied, ¡°What do you want to eat? Sweet potato vermicelli or rice noodles?¡± Having sold all their vegetables, they now had time to stroll around, so they needed a full stomach. ¡°Let¡¯s have sweet potato vermicelli.¡± Then, the two went to the sweet potato vermicelli stall and ordered two servings of vermicelli. While eating their vermicelli, two more villagers who had sold vegetables came over, also here for breakfast. ¡°Where did you set up, that you sold out so quickly?¡± ¡°You look like you sold out too. Hehe, today¡¯s vegetables really sell well.¡± ¡°Yes, when we came, I was worried that I wouldn¡¯t be able to sell such a large load. I didn¡¯t expect to sell out so quickly.¡± ¡°Our spot was very good, so we sold out very quickly. Where did you set up? ¡°We were stopped by a few people at the entrance of the market, and by the time we went inside to find a location, everywhere was full. We could only set up in a remote corner. However, people still came over to buy from us, so we sold out quickly..¡± Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Chapter 104: The Furious Cow King (Second Update) No. 11 Chapter 104: Chapter 104: The Furious Cow King (Second Update) No. 11 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Brother Cow King, I¡¯m back again,¡± said Gao Yanxin, bringing more canned food for Cow King. However, Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t accompany him this time. Gao Yanxin came to visit Cow King every day, and it was impossible for Xiao Jinli to accompany him every time. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve bought some more canned food for you,¡± Gao Yanxin said happily, ¡°I know you¡¯re tired of eating meat canned food, so I¡¯ve changed the taste for you. Ta-da, they¡¯re all fruit-flavored now. There¡¯s apple, orange, mango, oh, and coconut, I don¡¯t know which one you prefer.¡± Gao Yanxin laid out the cans one by one, saying, ¡°Brother Cow King, you pick the flavor you like, and I¡¯ll open it for you.¡± Now Cow King would barely even bother rolling its eyes at Gao Yanxin, let alone mock or disdain him. This idiotic fool would never notice any of its expressions anyway. So it simply couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste its energy dealing with him. After all, its master wasn¡¯t here. With that, Cow King lifted its leg and walked into the cowshed, lying on its comfortable dry hay with its back(side) facing Gao Yanxin, paying no attention to him. Gao Yanxin shouted loudly, ¡°Hey, Brother Cow King, you can¡¯t be serious. You don¡¯t like these fruit canned foods? Alright, if you don¡¯t like them, I¡¯ll eat them myself. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll buy some meat canned food with Cousin Junxuan in the county town.¡± Hearing this, Cow King immediately got up and walked back, its big dark eyes filled with anger as it ¡°mooed¡± twice at Gao Yanxin. ¡°You fool, are you not satisfied unless you try to kill me? Do you know that eating these things will give me a stomachache?¡± Of course, it would never actually get a stomachache after its master gave it Lingquan water. But it simply didn¡¯t like those things. Unfortunately, Gao Yanxin couldn¡¯t understand cow language at all, and he excitedly said, ¡°Haha, Brother Cow King, I knew you liked meat canned food. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t come over so excitedly when you heard I was going to buy meat canned food. Don¡¯t worry, Brother Cow King, I¡¯ll buy more meat canned food for you so you can eat it every day.¡± This idiot couldn¡¯t understand cow language, so just keep quiet! After hearing this, Cow King snorted angrily through its nostrils, wishing it could kick Gao Yanxin with one hoof. But it had to hold back, hold back, hold back! Otherwise, if it really kicked this idiot, its master wouldn¡¯t let it off the hook. Well, it could at least dodge, right? Immediately, Cow King opened the door with its mouth, unbolted the lock, and slowly pushed the door open with its hooves. Before Gao Yanxin could stop it, Cow King let out a ¡°whoosh¡± and ran off at top speed, its figure soon disappearing. Gao Yanxin stared at Cow King¡¯s fading figure, completely dumbfounded. What happened to Brother Cow King this time? He ran so fast, as if there were dogs chasing him from behind. When he finally realized, Gao Yanxin immediately followed, shouting while running, ¡°Brother Cow King, wait for me. Don¡¯t run so fast. Wait for me¡­¡± The villagers laughed at the sight, saying, ¡°Haha, Cow King has thrown Gao Yanxin off again. What on earth did this kid do to offend Cow King, making it hide from him every time it sees him?¡± ¡°Haha, who knows? This kid¡¯s energy is really good too. Whenever Cow King hides, he¡¯s chasing right behind it. If you didn¡¯t know any better, you¡¯d think he¡¯s chasing after a lover.¡± ¡°Gao Yanxin is like that. Cow King clearly doesn¡¯t want to play with him, yet he insists on sticking around. Isn¡¯t he just asking for trouble?¡± At night, after dinner, the Village Head and Xiao Chunfu and a few other villagers came to see Xiao Jinli. ¡°Uncle Village Chief, what brings you here?¡± Xiao Junxuan asked as he made tea. The Village Head laughed and said, ¡°We don¡¯t visit the Three Treasure Hall without a reason. We came to see Jinli.¡± ¡°My sister is in the room. I¡¯ll call her down,¡± said Xiao Junxuan. He then stood in the yard and shouted upstairs, ¡°Sister, Uncle Village Chief and others are here to see you.¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m coming down right now!¡± After a moment, she came downstairs. She asked directly, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, what do you need me for?¡± The Village Head explained to Xiao Jinli about selling vegetables from their homes and their plans for the future. Xiao¡¯s mother and others listened, finding it interesting. Xiao¡¯s mother chuckled, ¡°Hehe, so our village¡¯s vegetables are all being snatched up.¡± Ji Yuzhu added, ¡°Haha, if I bought good quality and cheap goods for the first time, I would also be eager to buy them the next day. Besides, the vegetables and fruits we¡¯re growing now are very unusual. Not to mention us adults, even those kids who don¡¯t eat green vegetables, I¡¯m sure they will come to love them. My son is the best proof of that. Before, eating vegetables at home was like eating poison, but now he brings vegetables back from the field every day. He seems determined to eat all the vegetables in the field.¡± The Village Head agreed, ¡°Indeed, my own kids used to not like green vegetables much either, but now that they¡¯ve eaten our homegrown ones, they can¡¯t get enough of them. They can do without meat, but absolutely can¡¯t do without our homegrown vegetables. Haha, children these days can be so difficult! Back in our days, we were happy if we had something to eat.¡± ¡°Now that living conditions have improved, there¡¯s no shortage of food and drink at home. So the children have become picky. Just like my grandson; his grandmother always tells him how hard life used to be, and that they had nothing to eat. Now the children have it good, and there¡¯s food everywhere. In the end, he said that she had it so hard because she was born too early. That silenced her.¡± Xiao Chunfu laughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it; the children are really picky and clever these days. However, because life is too good, they¡¯ve all become lazy. Back then, we used to fetch water for the family when we were seven or eight, but now they¡¯re in their teens, and they don¡¯t even want to do dishes.¡± ¡°Sigh, these children nowadays are just so hard to discipline. You say one thing and they come back with ten.¡± As they talked, the conversation drifted. As for Xiao Jinli, who was also a child among them, ¡® How can I join such a conversation? Most importantly, the children in the village are all well-behaved in front of her. After talking for a while, the Village Head redirected the conversation. He asked, ¡°Jinli, your aunt wants to plant more land and sell more vegetables to increase her income. So she wants to buy more earthworms.¡± Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°How much do you want to plant?¡± The Village Head said, ¡°The dry land at home is only about four or five mu now. That¡¯s what we¡¯re planning to plant this year. That is, next year, we want to plant some vegetables from three to five acres.¡± Once the Village Head finished talking, Xiao Chunfu also said, ¡°Jinli, my family has the same plan, actually.¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, I have an idea, why don¡¯t you listen to it and see if it works?¡± Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Establishing a Cooperative (First Update) Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Establishing a Cooperative (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After Xiao Jinli shared her idea, the Village Head excitedly slapped his thigh and said, ¡°Establishing a cooperative is a great idea. I think it¡¯s feasible. Chunfu, what do you think?¡± In rural areas, the best way to achieve the common prosperity ot the whole village is through cooperation. The state also encourages this by providing policy support such as loan subsidies, technical assistance and promotion of services, and continuously develops various forms of moderate-scale operations. Cooperative model mostly focuses on family units, mainly using resources of each family for production cooperation, driving and enjoying policy support, and expanding the production scale of a certain field to achieve the same scale. Xiao Family Village has been seeking a way to get rich for a long time but after years of discussion, nothing ideal has been found. Now that Xiao Jinli has come up with a solution, the Village Head naturally would not want to give up. Xiao Chunfu nodded and said, ¡°I also think it¡¯s possible.¡± The Village Head asked others, and their opinions were similar. The Village Head said, ¡°Jinli, since this involves the big issues of the whole village, I¡¯ll let the whole village hold a meeting. If everyone has no objections, then there should be no problem.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Of course.¡± After the Village Head and others left happily, Xiao Wanshan looked at his daughter seriously and said, ¡°Girl, letting the whole village grow vegetables for sale, engaging in agricultural operations on a large scale, and establishing a cooperative has obvious advantages. But, Little Bao, will it be too difficult?¡± By difficulty, Xiao¡¯s father meant whether Xiao Jinli could raise that many earthworms. With 123 households in the village, each with at least three to five acres of land, it adds up to several hundred acres. How many earthworms would need to be raised to meet the demand? He was a little worried. Gao Yanxin¡¯s eyes widened, surprised, ¡°Cousin, you¡¯re really smart! How did you think about letting the entire village grow vegetables and establishing a cooperative?¡± His cousin was only ten years old! Where would a ten-year-old child know about these things? Xiao Siqian¡¯s eyes were also closely watching Xiao Jinli, thinking that this child¡¯s mind was not something ordinary children could compare to. At first, he thought she bought seeds just for fun. At the end, the real plan was here. Her ultimate goal was for the entire village? Ji Yuzhu told her son, ¡°Jinli has always been smart since she was a child. For small matters in the village, she usually doesn¡¯t interfere, but for big issues, Jinli is the one who usually takes charge. Can¡¯t you adapt to it by now? Now, Jinli is doing this because she wants the whole village to live a better life.¡± Xiao Siqian, After living in the village for so long. he knew more or less about Xiao Tinli¡¯s special status in the village. Whenever there was a problem in the village that was difficult to solve, they would turn to Xiao Jinli. As long as Xiao Jinli took charge, even the most difficult issues would be solved easily. Xiao Siqian seemed to have something to say, but after thinking about it, he decided to talk to Xiao Jinli privately. Now, he doesn¡¯t see her as an ordinary child. Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Now the biggest issue is that if we let everyone in the village grow vegetables next year, we naturally will need a large number of earthworms. Sister, you have to solve the earthworm problem first. You had initially promised Uncle that you would cooperate with him to sell earthworms abroad.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Brother, actually the earthworm problem is easy to solve, as long as we expand breeding areas. The current Five Points of Land in the greenhouse simply does not meet the demand.¡± Xiao Wanshan asked, ¡°Little Bao, how much do you plan to expand?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I still need to plan and calculate, but roughly estimate, that will be at least five acres.¡¯ ¡°Then we need to build more greenhouses?¡± asked Xiao Wanshan. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, we need to!¡± Xiao Wanshan thought about it and said, ¡°I think the village will support this in establishing a cooperative. I think the main concern should be the market. Several hundred acres of vegetables can¡¯t be consumed by just a small town.¡± ¡°Dad, I think we don¡¯t need to worry about that temporarily. When we get to the bridge, it will straighten itself. Maybe at that time, those merchants will come to us on their own? Think about it, with the quality and taste of our vegetables, wouldn¡¯t any bosses come looking for us?¡± Xiao Jinli confidently said. Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Dad, I think my sister has a point.¡± Besides, they had opened such a big company, with some connections, they would certainly find a market for their products. Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Okay, Little Bao, whatever you want to do, Dad will support you!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°No, our whole family supports you, Little Bao! Keep it up!¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± Where does this unwavering support and confidence for their daughter come from? The maternal grandmother intervened at this point, ¡°If our good baby really wants to do this, then your grandparents will stay and help.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Okay, thank you, maternal grandmother and grandfather. ¡± Gao Yanxin scratched his head and said, ¡°Or I¡¯ll stay and help too.¡± Ji Yuzhu immediately said angrily, ¡°What help can you provide? If you stay, you¡¯ll just cause trouble. Do you know that? As your mother, how could I not know what kind of person you are?¡± Gao Yanxin said dissatisfied, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re always putting me down. Why can¡¯t I help?¡± ¡°Oh, help?¡± Ji Yuzhu coldly said, ¡°Did you forget that you still have to go to school? You¡¯re 18 years old. Do you think you don¡¯t have to go to school once you¡¯re 18? If you could learn from your cousin Junxuan, work hard to get your credits and certificates in advance, and then graduate early!¡± Gao Yanxin instantly lost confidence and said, ¡°I never liked studying in the first place, and I don¡¯t have the ability to graduate early.¡± ¡°Well, at least you know that!¡± Ji Yuzhu nodded. Gao Yanxin, ¡± ¡­¡± His mother couldn¡¯t go a day without attacking him. Everyone shared their opinions on the matter, then went back to their rooms to rest. Xiao Siqian followed Xiao Jinli and said, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, I think it¡¯s better to establish a company rather than a cooperative.¡± Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°Brother Little Quan, what do you mean?¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Establishing a cooperative can reduce the operational risk of farmers, avoid blind management, expand influence, and withstand the impact of market competition, while also enhancing the enthusiasm of villager¡¯s wealth management and accelerating the industrial and scaled development of projects in the area. However, there are significant drawbacks. Cooperatives are voluntary, based on the principle of cooperation on the basis of interest. This can lead to a situation where partnerships are formed when profitable, but dissolved when unprofitable. Also, driven by self-interest, many farmers may bypass the unified cooperative model and operate independently. Finally, cooperatives have a simple organizational structure, and there is a lack of clear division of rights, responsibilities, and interests. There are no perfect interest distribution systems or loss degree systems, so the enthusiasm of cooperative members may be low, among other issues.¡± After listening to Xiao Siqian¡¯s analysis, Xiao Jinli stared at him with her beautiful eyes and then asked with a seemingly sarcastic tone, ¡°What about establishing a company?¡± Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: Chapter 106: You Aren ‘t Amnesiac At All (Second Update) Chapter 106: Chapter 106: You Aren ¡®t Amnesiac At All (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Siqian paused slightly, reining in his slightly annoyed expression, and continued, ¡°As for establishing a company, this collaborative model certainly has its advantages and disadvantages.¡± ¡°The company¡¯s collaborative model is mainly based on farmers¡¯ land or capital investment to establish a shareholding system or limited liability company.¡± ¡°Under the company model, farmers¡¯ capital investment or land capitalization will become company assets, which will be managed by the company as a whole, thus solving the production disparities in the cooperative process due to the individual lack of capabilities.¡± ¡°The company operates independently, with shareholders sharing benefits and risks.¡± ¡°So the advantages of establishing a company are: firstly, the company is established according to a relatively advanced modern property rights system, with a clear and reasonable rights and responsibilities system, which better protects the interests of farmers who participate in the cooperation.¡± ¡°Secondly, farmers can directly participate in production, and the market sales price of the products will be unified, eliminating the problem of interest loss caused by competition among cooperatives in a unified market.¡± ¡°Thirdly, the company operates independently and is managed uniformly, which effectively prevents farmers from breaching contracts. Talented and knowledgeable farmers can participate in the management and conduct market demand surveys and market forecasts, determine production projects and production plans, which is beneficial for the cultivation of local management talents and the growth and development of the company, realizing agricultural industrial scale operation.¡± Xiao Siqian looked at Xiao Jinli¡¯s bright eyes and continued, ¡°Of course, the company model also has its shortcomings.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Well, Brother Xiao Quan, you go ahead and tell me.¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°First, the establishment of a company is more complicated than that of a cooperative, and the requirement for the registered and paid-in capital of a company is higher than that of a cooperative. For example, what standard should farmers¡¯ land be used to participate in the shareholding, and so on.¡± ¡°Second, the company¡¯s registration and operation must follow the modern corporate management system, independent accounting, independent profit and loss payment, which puts higher requirements on the management personnel participating in the company¡¯s operation and management. However, there is a general lack of talent reserve in this area in rural areas. If external personnel are hired to participate in the management, combined with the unfamiliarity of farmers with the company¡¯s operation, the professional managers do not get full trust and authorization, which affects the management decisions.¡± ¡°These two cooperative models have their own advantages and disadvantages, so, after all, this is a big matter, and it¡¯s better for the village to consider it carefully!¡± The last sentence was Xiao Siqian¡¯s sincere advice. However, he was now being stared at closely by Xiao Jinli, his expression serious and solemn. Xiao Siqian felt his scalp tingling and uneasy, and he was about to break out in cold sweat. He asked, ¡°What¡­ what¡¯s wrong? Sister Jinli, why are you staring at me like Xiao Jinli suddenly blurted out, ¡°Brother Little Quan, you never lost your memory, did you?¡± Her beautiful eyes stared closely at Xiao Siqian¡¯s dark pupils. Xiao Siqian¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly and then relaxed into a smile. He nodded and said, ¡°I knew it, Sister Jinli is so smart, I couldn¡¯t deceive you. That¡¯s right, I never lost my memory. I never had memory loss from the very beginning.¡± Xiao Jinli frowned and asked in confusion, ¡°If you never lost your memory from the start, why did you pretend to have amnesia and hide it from me and my family? Is it fun?¡± Xiao Siqian shook his head and said, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. I¡­ when I woke up in the hospital, I was very excited and thrilled, I finally survived. However, this excitement and joy were instantly gone, because I no longer had a home.¡± Because I no longer had a home! ¡°I was born in a wealthy family. My maternal grandfather was rich, and my mom brought a sky-high dowry when she married my dad. I had a happy life for a while. But when I was four or five years old, my mom died. She killed herself by jumping off a building due to depression. After my mom¡¯s death, my dad brought home a woman and a child, saying they were to be my new mom and older brother. At first, I disliked my stepmother and brother, and the sight of them filled me with great resistance. But my stepmother and brother were genuinely good people. No matter how I made a fuss or cursed them, they just shrugged it off and even advised my dad, saying that I was just a child and needed time. Later, their kindness really touched me. I started to call her mom and him older brother, and our family lived happily ever after, appearing to be a happy and joyful family.¡± Faced with such a happy and joyful family, I didn¡¯t care whether I was rich or not. So they coaxed me into signing away my inheritance rights to my mom¡¯s estate, and I foolishly gave them up.¡± But just before I turned eighteen and became an adult, I was kidnapped on my way to the company.¡± At that time, I didn¡¯t know where I was, but when I woke up, I found myself in an abandoned warehouse. And then, I learned from the kidnappers that they were hired by someone very close to me. They were paid to take my life. Following the employer¡¯s instructions, they kidnapped me and were about to kill me. But those kidnappers got too greedy; after accepting the employer¡¯s money, they also called my grandfather for a ransom of two hundred million. To make sure I didn¡¯t starve to death, they gave me half a steamed bun and half a bottle of water every day to ensure that I would have the strength to escape when they weren¡¯t paying attention.¡± But even so, I escaped. They chased me for a long time, and I didn¡¯t know how far or where I had run. But when I reached the edge of a mountain peak cliff, there was nowhere left to go. At that moment, I was filled with despair, rage, and resentment. I couldn¡¯t accept dying so senselessly while the culprits remained at large.¡± Unexpectedly, I passed out. When I woke up, I was in the hospital. At that time, my first thought was how great it was to be alive! As long as I was alive, I could avenge myself! But my second thought was that I couldn¡¯t go back right away and I couldn¡¯t contact anyone.¡± If they knew I was still alive, I would surely face kidnapping and assassination again. I didn¡¯t want to involve anyone. While I was in the hospital, I was afraid that the kidnappers would come for me. But after more than ten days of hospitalization, there was no sign of them. I wondered where those kidnappers had gone. But no matter where they went, I felt safe for now. I wanted to stay here for the time being; the most dangerous place is the safest.¡¯ ¡°The real reason I pretended to have amnesia was that I didn¡¯t want the people at the Yamen to contact my so-called relatives. I want to go back and take revenge, and I want to give them an unexpected heavy blow.¡± At this point, he looked at Xiao Jinli with great seriousness and said, ¡°Sister Jinli, I want to thank you for carrying me down the mountain and allowing me to survive. Also, I chose to live at your house because I needed a shelter. But later, I gradually felt warmth and happiness in this family. The feeling was completely different from the harmonious and happy family that I had experienced before. Here, I experienced the most sincere and simple affection. So, I am more and more reluctant to leave this home.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at him and said seriously, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who you were before. As long as you don¡¯t threaten the safety of my family, you will always be Xiao Siqian of our family and my Brother Little Quan.¡± Xiao Siqian, with misty eyes, also said solemnly, ¡°Sister Jinli, rest assured, I swear that I will never harm this family, nor will I allow anyone to harm it..¡± Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: Chapter 107: It’s More Suitable to Start a Company (Part 1) Chapter 107: Chapter 107: It¡¯s More Suitable to Start a Company (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 The second day, early in the morning, Xiao Jinli took advantage of the time when Xiao Father and her older brother hadn¡¯t gone to work yet and discussed the pros and cons of establishing a cooperative or company in the village. Xiao Father started his company from scratch and had been running it for several years, so he was quite familiar with the operation procedures of running a company. He thought for a moment and said, ¡°I also think it¡¯s more appropriate for the village to start a company. Sharing the benefits and risks can ensure that the village¡¯s development path is smoother. As for the company¡¯s procedures, your Dad and your brother can handle them. After all, your Dad is running a company now. This way, it would help the village¡¯s company to avoid some detours.¡± Xiao Siqian was a bit surprised. From Xiao Father¡¯s words, it seemed that their family was aware of Xiao Father running a company. It made sense; how could he possibly keep it a secret after running a company for so many years? He just wondered if the villagers knew about it or not. After hearing her father¡¯s words, Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°After breakfast, I¡¯ll go talk to the Village Head and listen to the opinions of the other villagers.¡± At this time, Xiao Junxuan also said, ¡°I also think that establishing a company is more appropriate. Many young people from our village are working outside. After the villagers start planting vegetables and the company is established, these young people might consider staying at home. In this case, children wouldn¡¯t have to be left-behind, and the elderly would have someone to take care of them.¡¯ Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s also my idea. Our Xiao Family Village seems united and harmonious, but compared to other villages, we¡¯re not that wealthy. We¡¯re trying to see if this path of growing vegetables can lead to development.¡± Xiao Junxuan confidently said, ¡°This path was brought out by my sister. My sister is a Lucky Star, and our village will definitely succeed.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® After breakfast, Xiao Jinli went to the Village Chief¡¯s house. However, the Village Chief had also gone to work in the fields. There were two children at home, a ten-year-old boy named Gouwa, and a four-year-old girl named Nini, who were the Village Chief¡¯s grandsons and granddaughters, and the children of his eldest son, Xiao Qinglin. Xiao Qinglin and his wife went out for work, while Xiao Qingshan stayed at home to transport goods and help his father take care of the village. ¡°Jinli, why are you here?¡± Gouwa, who was playing with his sister, was very happy to see Xiao Jinli. When Nini saw Xiao Jinli, she stopped playing with the sand and happily ran over, ¡°Jinli older sister, hug!¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and hugged Nini, weighing her in her arms, and said, ¡°Nini, you¡¯ve gained some weight!¡± Then, Xiao Jinli said to Gouwa, ¡°Gouwa, go and call your grandfather back, tell him I have something to discuss with him.¡± Gouwa, slightly dissatisfied, said, ¡°Jinli, my name is Mingliang, Mingliang. Don¡¯t call me Gouwa anymore. I¡¯m the same age as you. I¡¯ll go call my grandfather back now. ¡± Gouwa knew that whenever Xiao Jinli came to see his grandfather, there must be something important to talk about. Xiao Siqian looked at the little Nini with two goat horn braids, two red hair strands, and a clean, white face, and said with a smile, ¡°This child is so beautiful and cute!¡± He noticed that the children of Xiao Family Village, regardless of their age, were all clean and tidy. Being praised, Little Nini raised her lovely smile and said, ¡°Thank you, Little Uncle!¡± Little Uncle? Xiao Siqian felt as if he had been hit by ten thousand points of damage! How did he look like the age of a Little Uncle? Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t want to be called Little Uncle; he said, ¡°Nini, not Little Uncle, call me Little Brother!¡± Little Nini raised her head, looked at him, and asked somewhat puzzled, ¡°But you¡¯re taller than my uncle!¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± He was indeed taller than Xiao Qingshan. So, do children call people based on height? Seeing Xiao Siqian¡¯s injured expression, Xiao Jinli covered her mouth and laughed, saying, ¡°Nini, this is Little Brother, not Little Uncle. He may be tall, but he¡¯s not old.¡± Nini nodded and said, ¡°Oh, Little Brother!¡± Little Nini still politely called out again. Xiao Siqian immediately touched her little head happily and said with a smile, ¡°Nini is such a good girl!¡± Nini looked at Xiao Jinli and said, ¡°Sister Jinli, can you play with the sand with me? Just now my brother and I were building a sandcastle.¡± Xiao Jinli glanced at the sandpit, which had one hole here and another there, with several tree branches sticking out. So, this is a castle? Don¡¯t blame her; whether in her past life or this one, she had never played with sand. When she was a child in her past life, she had no time to play; all she did was study and study more. In this life, though she has a young body with an adult heart, she still has no interest in playing with sand. Now that a child is asking her to play with the sand, should she play or not? Her eyes shifted, and she saw Xiao Siqian nearby and immediately said, ¡°Let the little brother play in the sand with you, and sister will watch you play. Is that okay?¡± Little Nini looked at Xiao Jinli, then tilted her little head to look at Xiao Siqian, and reluctantly agreed, ¡°Alright, little brother, come play with me!¡± After saying that, she came out of Xiao Jinli¡¯s arms, ran to a corner, found a small shovel, handed it to Xiao Siqian, and said, ¡°Little brother, here, this little shovel is for you!¡± Xiao Siqian took the shovel and was momentarily stunned. From birth to now, he had never played in the sand, nor had he ever played with a small shovel. So now, is he going back to childhood to enjoy the fun of childhood? Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t refuse. Holding the small shovel, he asked, ¡°Nini, how do you play with this?¡± Subsequently, he received a scornful look from Nini, who said condescendingly, ¡°Little brother, this shovel is for shoveling sand, what else can you do with it?¡± After saying that, she took the shovel and demonstrated what to do. Xiao Siqian, Afterwards, he began to learn it too. Well, he¡¯ll take it as making up for his childhood. Little Nini took the shovel, dug out some sand, piled it up, and repeated the process, all the while saying, ¡°I want to build a castle, just shovel the sand into piles. Little brother, do as I do!¡± Xiao Siqian, Xiao Jinli watched one teach seriously and the other learn seriously and couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth with a laugh. These two children, both big and small, were really cute. It didn¡¯t take long for Gouwa to return first. Before entering the house, he shouted loudly, ¡°Jinli, my grandfather said he¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Okay!¡± As soon as Gouwa entered the house, he headed for the sandpile too. But instead of using a shovel, he took a bottle and poured the sand into it, then poured it out again. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Gouwa, stop pouring it out. The sand is scattering everywhere, and it might get into your eyes.¡± After listening to Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, Gouwa had no choice but to put down the bottle. Then he found another small shovel in the corner and started shoveling the sand, not building a castle but digging a ditch. Xiao Jinli, ¡® Xiao Siqian, So, playing with sand is still fun, right? Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Earthworm Growth Environment (2nd Update) Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Earthworm Growth Environment (2nd Update) Translator: 549690339 The Village Head returned quickly and saw Xiao Siqian playing with the two children, nothing strange about it. When taking care of children, it¡¯s just about playing with them. As soon as the Village Head entered, he asked, ¡°Jinli, what did you want to talk to me about?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Uncle Village Head, it¡¯s about the establishment of the cooperative in the village. Last night, we discussed another plan and thought it would be better to set up a company.¡± ¡°Set up a company?¡± The Village Head looked a bit startled. For the Village Head, who had spent a lifetime working in the countryside, the company was quite distant to them. In their impression, a company symbolized wealth. Now that Xiao Jinli suddenly told him about setting up a company in the village, he was genuinely surprised. He asked hesitantly, ¡°Can the village establish¡­ a company? Is it possible?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, it is. I have looked up some information, and in a few days, I will write up the proposals for the establishment of the cooperative and the company. At that time, we can let the villagers see them, vote on which proposal to choose, Uncle Village Chief, is that alright?¡± After listening, the Village Head thought for a moment and said, ¡°It is possible. However, Jinli, you need to know that whether it is the establishment of a cooperative or a company, the premise is that there are enough earthworms to allow everyone to grow vegetables. Otherwise, without earthworms, we wouldn¡¯t know if the ordinary vegetables that grow would sell well.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Uncle Village Head, since I have planned to establish a cooperative or a company in the village, I have naturally taken this issue into account. Rest assured, I will be able to cultivate enough earthworms before the start of next spring.¡± The Village Head smiled and said, ¡°Good, Jinli, for this matter, I will discuss it with the village cadres at a meeting later on. After you have completed the two proposals, we can hold a village-wide meeting. However, should we wait for the young people who have gone out for work to return?¡± The younger generation is now the decision-makers in many families. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Let¡¯s hold a village-wide meeting first to see the villagers¡¯ reactions. When the young people return to the village at the end of the year, we can hold another meeting. However, whether it is the establishment of a cooperative or a company, a decision must be made before the start of spring.¡± The Village Head nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I understand. We will discuss it together later.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Alright, in these few days, I will look up some relevant information and draft several proposals first. You can also give a heads-up to everyone in advance.¡± The Village Head nodded, ¡°Sure, no problem!¡± After discussing with the Village Head, Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian left the Village Chief¡¯s house. The Village Head looked at Xiao Jinli¡¯s small figure, sighed towards the sky, ¡°She is clearly a child but has been worrying about the village affairs since childhood. ¡± He hoped that this time, Xiao Jinli could truly lead the entire village onto a road of prosperity. Little did the Village Head know, not far away, Xiao Jinli said to Xiao Siqian as a matter of course, ¡°Brother Little Quan, I will leave this matter of writing the proposals to you.¡± Xiao Siqian, . ¡® So he was drafted into this. She patted Xiao Siqian¡¯s arm and said earnestly, ¡°Brother Little Quan, it¡¯s an honorable and great task. The future development of Xiao Family Village is all in your hands. Brother Little Quan, keep it up!¡± While speaking, she beamed happily, winked at Xiao Siqian, looking very adorable. Xiao Siqian reached out and arranged her bangs, laughing, ¡°Alright, I accept this honorable and great task.¡± A simple proposal couldn¡¯t stump a world-famous finance master like him. Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Alright, if you need any information later on, I will accompany you to find it.¡± Xiao Siqian said helplessly, ¡°Haha, I shall thank my Princess Jinli in advance.¡± Xiao Jinli waved her hand and said, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re welcome!¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± He even praised the snake for adding legs. Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Then, Princess Jinli, can you accompany me to walk around the fields in the village? After all, when writing the proposal, I need to conduct a field investigation.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± Xiao Jinli waved her hand with a swagger. Subsequently, in the next three to four days, Xiao Jinli accompanied Xiao Siqian, touring from the head of the village to the tail, and leaving no stone unturned in each area at the foot of the hills and other places. As for what Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian were doing, Xiao¡¯s mother and others never asked. In the end, it was Gao Yanxin who curiously asked, ¡°Cousin, what have you and Xiao Quan been doing these few days?¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t hide it, ¡°We¡¯re conducting field investigations!¡± ¡°What field investigation?¡± Gao Yanxin asked, puzzled. Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t hide it and said, ¡°If the village really wants to establish a cooperative or a company, the planting area is essential. These days, we¡¯ve been looking at which areas in the village are suitable and which ones need to be eliminated.¡± Xiao Wanshan asked with some confusion, ¡°Aren¡¯t there earthworms? Can¡¯t any piece of land work?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°The most suitable living temperature for earthworms is about 20 degrees Celsius. Below 5 degrees and below o degrees, they will die. At 15 degrees, they can reproduce normally, but if it exceeds 33 degrees, they will either crawl away or die. Additionally, their living environment must maintain a certain amount of moisture. If it¡¯s too dry, they¡¯ll die. If it¡¯s too wet, it¡¯s difficult to survive. Therefore, worms are unable to survive in environments that are too dry or too wet and have excessive moisture accumulation. For example, mountain flatlands are too dry and filled with sand and stones, making it hard for worms to survive. Areas with excessive moisture and poor drainage, such as water dan, are also unsuitable for worm habitation. So when we enclose the land, we must take all these factors into consideration instead of blindly putting worms in. Doing so would only result in waste and have no benefits. Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Oh, I see. As long as you have an idea, that¡¯s good. Xiao Quan, I¡¯m sorry to have troubled you to accompany Xiao Bao these days.¡± Xiao Siqian smiled and said, ¡°Uncle, it¡¯s not a matter of trouble or not. Didn¡¯t you say that we are a family?¡± Gao Yanxin looked at his cousin and then glanced at Xiao Siqian, whose smile hadn¡¯t faded yet, and immediately said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll also accompany you guys on your trips.¡± Xiao Jinli asked doubtfully, ¡°Brother Gao Yanxin, aren¡¯t you following my brother anymore?¡± Gao Yanxin waved his hand and said, ¡°No, I won¡¯t. Going to the county town every day, there¡¯s nothing fun besides buying canned food for Cow King. It¡¯s better to stay in the village. But it¡¯s strange that Cow King doesn¡¯t eat canned food these days, whether it¡¯s meat canned food or fruit canned food. Cousin, what on earth does Cow King like to eat?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°It likes the Green Barley Grass. Even though it¡¯s Cow King, its nature is still that of a cow. Don¡¯t cows eat grass?¡± Gao Yanxin, ¡°¡­¡± He felt like he had been played by his cousin.. Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Argument (First Update) Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Argument (First Update) Translator: 549690339 The news that the village might be establishing a cooperative or company soon was quickly known to everyone, including the young people who work outside the village. Those who stayed in the village unanimously felt that it was more reliable to set up a company. However, those who worked outside thought the idea was groundless. They questioned the idea of using earthworms for farming vegetables. If everyone in the village was to farm vegetables on their land, which was at least five to six hundred mu in total, wouldn¡¯t there be a significant loss if they were unable to sell the produce? Moreover, their wages from working outside were stable, so they didn¡¯t have to worry about things like incurring losses. However, the idea for the cooperative or the company was proposed by Xiao Jinli. The people of Xiao Family Village highly respect Xiao Jinli and seldom oppose her decisions. Of course, the new daughters-in-law who had married into Xiao Family Village didn¡¯t understand the prestige and influence Xiao Jinli had in the village, and found it absurd that such a major decision was proposed and decided by a child. Thus, arguments broke out. ¡°Let me tell you, I disagree with this. If every household is to farm vegetables on their three to five mu of land, and then we are unable to sell the vegetables, who¡¯s going to cover the loss? Xiao Jinli?¡± ¡°Xiao Jinli, Xiao Jinli, you folks speak highly of her all day long. I¡¯ve been part of this family for years but have never seen Xiao Jinli, the so-called ¡®Lucky Star¡¯ you mention, share even a cent. Oh, and now just by her saying so, the entire village has to switch from rice farming to vegetable farming. If we do suffer losses, is she going to compensate us?¡± ¡°Xiao Jinli, she¡¯s only ten, an age when other children are at school. What business does she have meddling in the affairs of the village? Oh, she just raises earthworms so now the entire village should switch to vegetable farming. She¡¯s probably scheming to have the entire village buy her earthworms. Her family gets to sell their earthworms, but can you guarantee that all the vegetables grown will be sold?¡± ¡°In short, I do not agree with this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you not to underestimate Xiao Jinli. Over the years, she has helped resolve countless tricky issues. Take, for example, the incident with Xiao Chunhua, do you think she could have survived, let alone sought revenge on those people, without Jinli¡¯s help?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, you can disrespect your parents, but you absolutely cannot defame Xiao Jinli. You have no idea how much effort Jinli has put in for our village.¡± ¡°Hmph, Xiao Jinli has been a smart girl since she was young, speaking at three months old and able to read a dictionary at six months old, plus she¡¯s never made a wrong decision for the village. She is our village¡¯s Luckv Star. and if she says vegetable farming is the way to wealth for our village, then it surely is.¡± The daughters-in-law were infuriated by their husband¡¯s and mother-in-law¡¯s blind trust in Xiao Jinli. They angrily pointed fingers at their husbands or in-laws and said, ¡°You listen to me, if you want to farm vegetables next year, then I¡­ I will divorce you. I also want to take the children, I do not want them to fall into debt before they have a chance to enjoy a good life.¡± ¡°Hmph, we get a divorce, you and your family can go follow Xiao Jinli.¡± Such arguments were constantly unfolding. The Village Chief, filled with sighs, reached out to Xiao Jinli and said, ¡°Jinli, what do we do about this? We old chaps trust you, but those young folks, especially the new daughters-in-law who just joined us a few years back, have no faith in us. They quarrel non-stop at home, even threatening to divorce and take the children with them.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinli stayed silent for a moment. She hadn¡¯t expected such a strong reaction from those working outside the village. Since the idea was for the whole village to get rich, naturally she didn¡¯t want any household to be left behind. Therefore, she certainly couldn¡¯t let them divorce and take their children away because of farming vegetables. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, let me think about this first.¡¯ The Village Chief nodded and said, ¡°Alright, Jinli, we are counting on you for this matter.¡± Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, it¡¯s my duty. I should thank the villagers for their trust in me.¡± The Village Chief laughed heartily and said, ¡°Haha, I think we¡¯re all going to eat well by following you.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­¡± It felt like the burden was getting heavier and heavier. After several days of field research and constant finding of information, Xiao Siqian wrote out two plans. Xiao Jinli shared with Xiao Siqian the Village Chief¡¯s concern. She, clutching both of her cheeks, said somewhat distressedly, ¡°Little Brother Xiao Quan, what can we do about this? We can¡¯t let a family break up just because we¡¯re asking everyone to farm some vegetables, right?¡± Xiao Siqian chuckled, ¡°For now, let¡¯s allow those who are willing join first. As for those who are unwilling, let¡¯s just let the first batch earn some money first. If they manage to make money, who would be opposed?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I¡¯ve thought about that too. But if those who join later get in with their original shares, wouldn¡¯t that be unfair to the initial members?¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Then let¡¯s evaluate the shares based on their value at that time. The original intention was to invest twenty thousand in capital at the beginning, but six months later, the company is making money and the value of the shares would naturally rise. They would need forty thousand by then to calculate the shares. If anyone is unsatisfied, they can only blame their own bad decisions.¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°For now, that seems to be the only way. If they regret later, then it would only be because they didn¡¯t join from the start.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xiao Siqian gently patted her soft hair and laughed, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, remember you¡¯re still a kid. Don¡¯t shoulder all the responsibilities yourself, sometimes you should share some of them with others.¡± Xiao Jinli was slightly taken aback, then nodded, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡¯ Since crossing over to this world, she had spent over ten years in Xiao Family Village, constantly feeling the warmth of family and the trust from the villagers. That¡¯s why she subconsciously carried the determination to make Xiao Family Village better and better. But she didn¡¯t realize that despite having an adult¡¯s mind, she was still just a child in her tens. Children don¡¯t need to bear responsibilities they shouldn¡¯t bear. Afterward, the two had a detailed discussion on plans for both the cooperative and the company. Xiao Jinli, holding the plans in her hand, said, ¡°I¡¯ll take these two plans to Uncle Village Chief first, let everyone discuss them in a meeting. I¡¯ll also bring up the matter of those willing to join and those not willing to join. The opportunity is right before their eyes, whether they can seize it depends on their discussion results. Like you said, I¡¯m just a child and I can¡¯t possibly take everything upon myself.¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°That¡¯s right. Little Sister Jinli, remember you can help villagers, but the entire village is not your responsibility, nor is it your task. You just need to do your best..¡± Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Xiaojia Vegetables Are Sold Out (Second Update) Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Xiaojia Vegetables Are Sold Out (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli went to the Village Chief¡¯s house and handed over both proposals. She said, ¡°Mr. Village Head, please have your village committee examine these two proposals first, then call a village-wide meeting to discuss. Regardless of which proposal you choose, I will support it. Regarding the issue of whether or not some people want to join, it should be voluntary. However, let it be known that if they decide to join after we start making money, the dividend system may be a bit different compared to those who joined from the start. If they want to cause trouble at that time, we can just kick them out.¡± Even though she wanted to help the villagers become wealthy, she couldn¡¯t overcome people¡¯s inherent selfishness. It was not wrong for them to consider potential future losses. However, once the first group started making money, it would not be a reason for them to cause a commotion. The Village Head took the proposals and said, ¡°Hmm, I will bring this up during our meeting. Let me take these two proposals to the village committee so everyone can study and discuss them. When we call the meeting, I will notify you!¡± Even though Xiao Jinli was young, she¡¯d already become the backbone of Xiao Family Village. She was usually invited to major village meetings. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Alright. Uncle Village Chief, if you have any questions, you can directly ask me, or you can ask Little Brother Xiao Quan.¡± ¡°Little Quan?¡± The Village Chief looked a bit puzzled at Xiao Siqian, standing off to the side. Xiao Jinli laughed, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, don¡¯t worry, Little Brother Xiao Quan knows at least as much as I do. These two proposals in your hands were written by him. Therefore, if you have questions, he is most capable of answering.¡± Only then did the Village Chief understand. He nodded and said, ¡°Alright then. Little Quan, we will be counting on you.¡± Xiao Siqian smiled and said, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, you¡¯re too kind. It¡¯s just a small effort.¡¯ ¡°Haha¡­.. you are a good lad!¡± The Village Chief praised with a laugh, ¡°Indeed, one family will not walk under two roofs!¡± When Xiao Siqian heard these words, his heart was filled with unspoken joy. After Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian left, the Village Chief, not wasting any time, called Xiao Qingshan to study the two proposals. After they finished reading, the Village Chief asked, ¡°Qingshan, which of these two cooperation methods do you think is more suitable?¡± Without hesitation, Xiao Qingshan said, ¡°My opinion is the same as Jinli¡¯s, that cooperating in the form of a company is more suitable. The cooperative¡¯s way of cooperation, bluntly speaking, is sharing benefits when there are profits to be made, and dissolving when there are none. Such an obvious drawback won¡¯t last. Companies are different, they have a strict management system, and their core method is to share benefits and share risks, clearly strengthening collaboration between people.¡± At this point, he paused as if remembering something, and then said, ¡°Besides, the process of setting up a company may be cumbersome, but Jinli mentioned that the creation of the company can be left entirely to her father and her brother.¡± After listening to his younger son¡¯s words, the Village Chief pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯m actually more inclined toward starting a company too. However, it¡¯s yet to be decided whether we will form a cooperative or start a company. Our village committee needs to research and discuss this multiple times. We also need to have a village-wide meeting with everyone else to discuss this.¡± Xiao Qingshan nodded, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s how it should be. After all, this is a big decision and we need to get everyone¡¯s opinion.¡± It was already the end of August and Xiao Jinli¡¯s holiday was just about over. Taking advantage of the tail end of her holiday, Xiao Jinli planned on fencing in the land and taking the first step toward expanding production. Ji Yuzhu and Gao Yanxin had been staying in Xiao Family Village for almost a month. But due to their job responsibilities, they had to leave despite their reluctance. When they left, Ji Yuzhu took two thousand earthworms with him. The village¡¯s vegetables were increasingly in demand. Any vegetables grown in earthworm soil that made it to the open market town were immediately sold out. However, no matter how popular a product, it would eventually run out if the demand was too high. Initially, the villagers of Xiao Family Village planted vegetables with earthworms for their own consumption, but now, they had sold so much that they were almost out of vegetables for themselves. While the adults could manage, families with children would be in trouble without these vegetables. Therefore, no matter how marketable these items were, they couldn¡¯t keep selling them off, at least not at the expense of their children. As a result, fewer and fewer people were going into town to sell vegetables. Those who had bought veggies from the Xiao Family in town found that if they missed out on securing any, their children made quite a fuss at home, giving them headaches. ¡°Whine¡­ There aren¡¯t any tasty green vegetables today, I¡¯m not eating, I¡¯m not eating.¡± ¡°Sweetie, be good. Grandma went late today and didn¡¯t manage to buy. I¡¯ll go earlier tomorrow and buy more. We¡¯ll store them at home, alright? For now, let¡¯s eat and fill our bellies, then we can go outside and play, okay?¡± ¡°No, no, these vegetables aren¡¯t fragrant. They¡¯re not tasty!¡± A child, about thirteen or fourteen, came to the dining table, sniffed, and then frowned. ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t we have the greens we ate yesterday?¡± A middle-aged woman came out from the kitchen, seeming somewhat helpless. ¡°No one came to sell them today. I went to wait at the usual spot early in the morning, but not a single vendor showed up. Dabao, I made your favorite braised fish and prawns today, give them a try.¡± But Dabao shook his head. ¡°Both of these dishes aren¡¯t as tasty as your stir-fried leek with eggs from yesterday.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there a dish of stir-fried leek with eggs right here? Try some!¡± ¡°No, this dish of stir-fried leek with eggs tastes weird. It¡¯s nowhere near as tasty as yesterday¡¯s.¡± Afterwards, Dabao ate a few mouthfuls of rice and then barely touched his plate. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± his mother asked with a furrowed brow. ¡°I don¡¯t have an appetite. Mom, I¡¯m not eating anymore, I¡¯m going out to play.¡± With that, the child laid down his bowl and chopsticks and went outside. The mother, looking at the half-eaten bowl of rice left by the child, knitted her brows. The child had always been picky about food and didn¡¯t enjoy meals. He was small and thin compared to his peers, resembling a malnourished sprout. No matter how many methods she came up with or how much effort she put into preparing meals, there was never any improvement. Until some time ago, when she bought vegetables from a family in Xiao Family Village, three bunches of small chives, and two bunches of small cabbage. She stir-fried the chives with eggs and stir-fried the small cabbage. Who could¡¯ve guessed that once she cooked these two dishes, their fragrant aroma filled the house. At the dining table, her typically finicky child suddenly had a large appetite. With the aid of these two dishes, he ate two bowls of rice. ¡°Mom, these two dishes are so fragrant, and they feel so good to eat. Where did you buy these vegetables?¡± ¡°I bought them from a villager.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s buy from them again tomorrow. It¡¯s really tasty.¡± The next day, she went out to buy again. When she arrived, most of the vegetables were about to sell out, with only some spinach remaining. She feathered her way through the crowds to snatch it up. If a slightly higher price could encourage her kid to eat more, it was a small price to pay. However, she realized this person¡¯s veggies sold really well, so if she wanted to buy some the next day, she¡¯d have to wake up early and wait on the route the vendor took to the market. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have a chance. After buying this way for several days, her child¡¯s appetite kept getting better. In just a few days, her child¡¯s cheeks started to look more rosy. Who knew that after a few days, the sellers from Xiao Family Village would all disappear. She became worried, unsure of what to do next.. Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Someone Comes to the Door Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Someone Comes to the Door (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Lan Xiaoyu rode her motorcycle and arrived at Xiao Family Village. As soon as she entered Xiao Family Village, she asked a villager, ¡°Hello, Auntie, can I ask, is this Xiao Family Village?¡± ¡°Yes, this is Xiao Family Village,¡± the auntie replied. ¡°Young lady, who are you looking for?¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Lan Xiaoyu seemed very happy. ¡°Auntie, how many people in your village sell vegetables? I¡¯m here to buy some.¡± Li Guixiang looked at her doubtfully and said, ¡°No one in our village grows vegetables to sell. We all grow them for our own consumption, and only sell them at Xuzhen market when we have too much. Young lady, who are you really trying to buy vegetables from?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lan Xiaoyu smiled and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know who to look for. I bought vegetables from several people a while ago. However, these days, no one has been selling them at the market. My child doesn¡¯t want to eat meals these recent days, so I thought I¡¯d come here to buy some vegetables to take back. My child has been picky about food since they were little, and they don¡¯t like to eat. It¡¯s hard to find vegetables they like, so I came to look for them here.¡¯ Hearing this, Li Guixiang¡¯s expression changed slightly. She said, ¡°I see. Sigh, parents really worry about their children. In that case, young lady, I have some vegetables in my field too, let me take you to pick some.¡± Lan Xiaoyu, ¡°This¡­¡± She didn¡¯t know how to refuse the kind offer from the auntie. But what if the vegetables from this auntie¡¯s family can¡¯t be compared to those of the others who sell them? Perhaps understanding her doubts, Li Guixiang smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The taste of the vegetables in our village is all the same. I used to sell vegetables at the market every day, too, but mine were all sold out on the way, so you just didn¡¯t see me.¡± Hearing this, Lan Xiaoyu felt relieved and expressed her gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Auntie. ¡± Then, Li Guixiang took her to her own field and pointed to the vegetables, saying, ¡°Here are the vegetables, just go ahead and pick whatever you want.¡± Lan Xiaoyu looked at the dozen or so different types of vegetables in the field, her eyes shining with excitement. These vegetables are growing really well. They¡¯re moist, green, and tender. ¡°Auntie, your vegetables are growing so well, you¡¯re really good at farming, ¡± Lan Xiaoyu sincerely praised. Li Guixiang waved her hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t praise me. Look at the vegetables in the fields around me, none of them are worse than mine.¡¯ Lan Xiaoyu looked up and realized it was true. ¡°Auntie, is it because of the soil in your village that everyone can grow such good vegetables? And I¡¯ve bought vegetables from several families, the taste is equally great,¡± Lan Xiaoyu asked. Li Guixiang laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s not that. The soil in our village is just ordinary. The vegetables we used to grow in Xiao Family Village didn¡¯t have a special taste.¡± Lan Xiaoyu asked curiously, ¡°Then what¡¯s the reason?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Li Guixiang laughed and said, ¡°Now that we use a lot of earthworms to cultivate the soil, I heard that the nutrients inside the earthworms will come out while they turn the soil, which in turn nourishes the vegetables.¡± She didn¡¯t really understand the actual principle, but she had heard it from Xiao Jinli. ¡°Ha, earthworms?¡± Lan Xiaoyu¡¯s eyes were full of doubts as she looked at the field. Suddenly, her pupils widened in fear as she pointed at an emerging earthworm and shouted, ¡°Auntie, there¡¯s a snake here!¡± She was scared of snakes, and her face turned pale. Li Guixiang glanced at it and calmly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, young lady, this is just an earthworm!¡± ¡°Ha, an earthworm? Earthworms are this big?¡± Lan Xiaoyu found it hard to believe. She was also a child who grew up in the countryside, and had seen, dug, and played with earthworms many times, but she had never seen such a large one. Li Guixiang nodded and said, ¡°Yes, these earthworms were specially bred by someone, so they are bigger. Let me tell you, our vegetables now rely on these earthworms. So to us, these earthworms are treasures.¡± Lan Xiaoyu¡¯s fear and uneasiness gradually subsided. She asked again, ¡°Auntie, where did you buy these earthworms?¡± Generally speaking, this question might involve trade secrets or something like that. In case Xiao Family Village¡¯s road to wealth depends on growing vegetables, then these earthworms would obviously be the core and the village¡¯s secret. However, Li Guixiang didn¡¯t have such awareness. She said, ¡°These earthworms were bred by Jinli from our village. We all buy them from her. However, these earthworms can only survive for three to five months, and after that, we have to buy the next batch. Young lady, just pick the vegetables you want. Now that we have these vegetables, we should feed our families with them. If the children don¡¯t eat, it will be troublesome. After listening, Lan Xiaoyu began to pick the vegetables. Seeing so many different types of vegetables, she wanted to pick a little of each and take them home to eat for a few days. Fortunately, she had a sense of proportion when picking vegetables. She didn¡¯t pick too much of each kind. However, when all the vegetables were put together, they filled a big plastic bag. Lan Xiaoyu asked, ¡°Auntie, how much is it?¡± Li Guixiang waved her hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the money, these are for your child to eat.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do,¡± Lan Xiaoyu insisted. ¡°I picked so many vegetables from you, how can I not pay? I know that the vegetables from Xiao Family Village are more expensive than others when you sell them at the market. I¡¯ve seen it when I bought them regularly.¡± As she spoke, she looked down at the vegetables in the plastic bag and made a rough calculation, saying, ¡°How about I give you twenty yuan for this bag of vegetables?¡± After she finished speaking, she took out twenty yuan and handed it to Li Guixiang. Seeing that Lan Xiaoyu insisted on paying, Li Guixiang couldn¡¯t refuse. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t give twenty, just give me ten yuan.¡± ¡°Ten is too little, how about fifteen? Auntie, please don¡¯t argue with me. Picking vegetables from your field has really helped me a lot, and I¡¯m truly grateful. If it¡¯s too cheap, I won¡¯t feel right about it,¡± Lan Xiaoyu said very earnestly. Li Guixiang didn¡¯t refuse and accepted the fifteen yuan. After Lan Xiaoyu left, someone asked, ¡°Guixiang, is she your relative?¡± Li Guixiang shook her head and said, ¡°No, she¡¯s the person who¡¯s been buying our Xiao Family Village vegetables for some time. I heard her child wouldn¡¯t eat without our village¡¯s vegetables. So she was in a hurry and came straight to our village. She happened to meet me, so I let her pick some vegetables in my field. I wanted to let her pick for free, but she insisted on paying, so I took it.¡± Hearing Li Guixiang¡¯s explanation, someone laughed and said, ¡°There are really people coming to the door. It seems like our Xiao Family Village¡¯s vegetables are going to be famous in the market.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Haha¡­.¡± Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: Chapter 112: The Insatiable Old Lady (Second Update) Chapter 112: Chapter 112: The Insatiable Old Lady (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Li Guixiang and the other villagers thought that Lan Xiaoyu would be the only one coming in person to buy vegetables. But to their surprise, more people started knocking on their doors, asking to buy vegetables from the Xiao Family. This left the villagers in Xiao Family Village completely bewildered. The vegetables left in their fields were barely enough for their own consumption, let alone having surplus to sell. They could sell a few vegetables to a few people once or twice, but not to this many people. ¡°Sister, I am really desperate. My children refuse to eat meals without Xiao Family¡¯s vegetables. They even throw tantrums and roll on the ground. I barely got them to promise that I would bring some vegetables home today,¡± said a woman in her sixties or seventies. ¡°Since I¡¯ve come all the way here, please sell me some.¡± Chen Qiulan was also a bit troubled. This wasn¡¯t the first time someone had come to her door to buy vegetables. And this old woman was not here for the first time either. She had come a few days ago, and Chen Qiulan, seeing the woman¡¯s concern for her children, let her pick some vegetables from the field. But who would have thought that she would come again and repeat the same story? With all the vegetables being picked these days, there wasn¡¯t much left in the field. She needed to save some for her own children as well. Before the next crop could be harvested, she couldn¡¯t risk running out of vegetables for her children. Chen Qiulan frowned slightly and said reluctantly, ¡°Elder sister, I don¡¯t mind selling the vegetables to you, but I hardly have any left in my field. I need to save some for my children.¡± However, the old lady became upset. She argued, ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve grown so many vegetables; giving me a few more isn¡¯t a big deal. If I pick some, my child will cry and make a fuss if there are no Xiao Family¡¯s vegetables at mealtime. I¡­ I have no other choice, sister.¡± As she spoke, her eyes reddened. Chen Qiulan, What else could she do? Under the old woman¡¯s persistent pleading, soft-hearted Chen Qiulan had no choice but to let her pick some vegetables to take home. But the old woman was ruthless. Perhaps she knew that once she picked this time, she might not be allowed to pick them again, so she picked a huge amount, making Chen Qiulan¡¯s face turn red with anger. ¡°Elder sister, you can¡¯t pick like this. If you keep picking, there will be nothing left in my field in a few days!¡± Chen Qiulan immediately tried to stop her. But the old lady still wasn¡¯t satisfied. She said, ¡°Sister, since you let me pick, I will pick more to save myself the trouble of coming again in a few days.¡± Chen Qiulan, She¡¯s really infuriating. In the end, the old woman picked two large plastic bags full of vegetables. So many vegetables would last a family of six or seven people for five to six days. Chen Qiulan was furious too and said directly, ¡°Elder sister, our vegetables are not cheap. For these two large bags of vegetables, I won¡¯t charge you extra. Just give me 100 yuan.¡± When the old lady heard this, she widened her eyes and said angrily, ¡°100 yuan? Are you robbing me? These vegetables in the Open Market Town would cost at most twenty yuan.¡± Chen Qiulan laughed instead of getting angry and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to pay. Just return the vegetables to me. And then you can go to the Open Market Town to buy those two bags of vegetables for twenty yuan.¡± Hearing Chen Qiulan¡¯s words, the old lady was afraid the vegetables in her hands would be snatched away. She immediately grabbed the two bags of vegetables and disappeared in a flash, her mouth still muttering, ¡°You are taking advantage of the situation. No way, 100 yuan is too much. Lower the price.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go any lower. 100 yuan is 100 yuan, not a cent less,¡± Chen Qiulan firmly refused to compromise. If she didn¡¯t charge more this time, the old lady would still act like this the next time, now that she had tasted the sweetness. ¡°Elder sister, either you pay or give the vegetables back to me,¡± Chen Qiulan said bluntly. Having no choice, the old lady grudgingly handed over the money, muttering, ¡°Such a black heart, a robber!¡± before she left. ¡°Tsk tsk, this old lady is really ruthless. Look, she has picked your vegetables bare in the field, leaving them in a mess,¡± a villager said as they looked at the vegetables in the field. ¡°Look at what she picked, only the tenderest parts, leaving the old leaves, all crooked and askew. Qiulan, taking 100 yuan from her is not even worth it for these vegetables, ¡± another villager said. Chen Qiulan looked at the vegetables in the field and felt heartbroken. ¡°Seeing her make herself out to be so pitiful and considering her love for her grandson, I let her pick some vegetables to take home. But who would have thought she would be so greedy and even trample on the vegetables in the field? I regretted letting her into the field to pick vegetables. Charging her extra is the least I could do to make up for the damage she¡¯s done to my vegetables.¡± ¡°Now that she has picked so many, I don¡¯t know if she will come to pick more next time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. If her child really makes a fuss, she might still come.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, it¡¯s highly possible. Next time she comes, let¡¯s just ignore her and avoid making trouble for ourselves. We don¡¯t want her to wreak havoc on the vegetables in our fields.¡± ¡°Our vegetables have become real treasures now. We can hardly bring ourselves to eat them, as we save most of them for the children.¡¯ ¡°Sigh, more and more people are coming from the Open Market Town lately, all because of our vegetables. What are we going to do?¡± ¡°Yes, they don¡¯t want to leave empty-handed when they come. But we don¡¯t have much excess in our fields. ¡°After this old lady¡¯s behavior, if more people come in the future, I won¡¯t dare to bring them directly to the field. I¡¯ll just send them away.¡± ¡°I have the same idea. But what if those people, having failed to buy any, secretly steal vegetables when we¡¯re not paying attention? All of us in the village have planted vegetables; they could steal from any house without us even knowing it.¡± ¡°You have a point. Should we discuss whether to get one or two dogs to guard the village entrance?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s necessary.¡± ¡°If we really want dogs to guard, then we can only rely on Jinli.¡± Because only Xiao Jinli could make the dogs in the village obey, even their masters couldn¡¯t manage it.. Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Someone Really Comes to Steal Vegetables (First Update) Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Someone Really Comes to Steal Vegetables (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli listened to the strange stories the villagers were telling about stealing vegetables, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel speechless. Then, she said, ¡°Okay, aunts, I¡¯ll have the dogs guard the village entrance, and if they see any strangers coming to steal vegetables, they¡¯ll catch them.¡± Xiao Jinli had anticipated that the vegetables in the villagers¡¯ fields would be popular when sold in the open market town. She didn¡¯t expect them to be so sought after that sellers wouldn¡¯t want to sell, and buyers would rather come and steal them. Chen Qiulan smiled and said, ¡°Jinli, it¡¯s not that we don¡¯t want to sell our vegetables, but we only have enough for our families to eat. We need time to grow more. Nowadays, the vegetables in the fields have become the spiritual food for our children. If they can¡¯t get them, they¡¯ll make a fuss and refuse to eat. But, on the other hand, during this time, my two children have become more and more rosy and probably eat better because of it.¡± ¡°The same goes for my family. During this time, Goudan loves to eat, and he seems to have grown taller. Before, he was a picky eater and unwilling to eat. Now he eats well and sleeps soundly. So, for the sake of our children, no matter how expensive these vegetables are, I¡¯m unwilling to sell them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. No matter how expensive these things are, they cannot compare to the importance of our children¡¯s health. Seeing our children getting healthier, I must prioritize them first. However, when the next batch comes, I want to plant more. Jinli, can you sell me more earthworms?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Of course. I don¡¯t have tens of thousands of earthworms, but I can give a few hundred or a thousand to each family.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ll go and check the fields later to see where¡¯s the best place to put this batch of earthworms.¡± ¡°I also need to go back and check. Jinli, I¡¯ll see how much land I have left, and buy some earthworms in a few days, can I?¡± Chen Qiulan asked. ¡°Of course,¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°As long as the aunties in our village need them, our family¡¯s earthworms can be provided to you at any time.¡± ¡°Haha, Jinli, thank you so much. You really are a lucky star.¡± Everyone left happily. After the aunts left, Xiao Jinli immediately blew a whistle. After a while, the dogs wandering around the village gathered in front of Xiao Jinli¡¯s house. These dogs were just ordinary mutts. However, perhaps because of Xiao Jinli¡¯s cleanliness, these dogs also kept themselves very clean, with not a single stain visible on their fur. ¡°Woof woof¡­ As soon as they saw Xiao Jinli, the dogs started barking. Hearing their overlapping barks, Xiao Jinli¡¯s head started to ache. She immediately shouted, ¡°Quiet! Line up!¡± The dogs obediently lined up in two neat rows. Xiao Jinli counted; there were 14 of them ¨C quite a coincidence. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Today, I have a task for you.¡± ¡°Woof woof¡­¡± What task? ¡°Our village¡¯s crops might be stolen by outsiders. So we need you to guard the village entrance. If you see any strangers stealing vegetables, report it immediately, understand?¡± ¡°Woof woof¡­ Is that the task? Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Although it¡¯s only one task, it¡¯s very important. You must not take it lightly. There are 14 of you. Schedule two dogs to be on duty every day, so that by the end of the week, everyone will have taken their turn. Don¡¯t worry, after your shift, you can come to me for rewards.¡± When they heard there would be rewards, the dogs became very excited. ¡°Alright, now I¡¯ll assign your partners and the dates for your duty. Remember them.¡± Xiao Jinli went down the line, assigning duties one by one. ¡°Alright!¡± Xiao Jinli clapped her hands, ¡°Your assignment starts today. Follow the partners I assigned and obey my orders. Alright, meeting dismissed!¡± Hearing the meeting was over, the dogs left one after another, reluctant to part. From that day on, there were two dogs guarding the village entrance. The villagers felt at ease seeing this scene. Well, it turns out that after just a few days, someone really came to steal vegetables. During these days, there were still many people coming from the town to buy vegetables, but without exception, none of them could buy any. This made some people unwilling to give up. After all, if they couldn¡¯t buy vegetables, the children at home would be upset, which would break the hearts of those who cared for them. But what could they do if they couldn¡¯t buy them? What else could they do? If they couldn¡¯t buy, they could only steal. In the evening, the villagers returned home one after another. As darkness fell, two motorcycles entered the village. For the past few days, the dogs on duty had been diligently observing every stranger entering the village. Now, when they saw these two unfamiliar motorcycles and four unfamiliar people, their eyes immediately filled with caution. However, they didn¡¯t make a sound. They silently followed behind. The people in front didn¡¯t notice that they had two little tails behind them at all. They parked their motorcycles in a relatively open area and took out two snake skin bags after they got off. ¡°Where should we pick?¡± In the darkness, without a trace of moonlight, everything was blurred. One of them took out a flashlight and swept it around, saying, ¡°I heard that the vegetables in Xiao Family Village all taste the same. Let¡¯s just find a nearby field, pick enough, and leave.¡± ¡°The vegetables in Xiao Family Village have gone up in price in the open market town, but they still won¡¯t sell. I don¡¯t know why they don¡¯t want to sell such expensive and popular homegrown vegetables.¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s precisely because they don¡¯t want to sell that we can get a better deal. We four need to leave one person on the lookout while the other three hurry.¡± After that, the four men arranged their tasks. They found the closest field and had just started picking when the dogs¡¯ barks scared them to jump. ¡°Woof woof¡­¡± Someone¡¯s stealing vegetables! ¡°Woof woof¡­¡± Someone¡¯s stealing vegetables! ¡°Why is there a dog here? Why didn¡¯t we notice it earlier?¡± ¡°What should we do? Will these dogs attract others?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have a stick in your hand? Drive them away. If you can¡¯t, kill them. In any case, dog meat is also expensive. We can still make a profit from these two dogs.¡± ¡°Big brother is right. Alright, leave it to me.¡± With that, the man took a stick and started chasing the dogs. Little did he know, the moment the dogs started barking, the villagers of Xiao Family Village had been alerted. Soon, the villagers arrived at that spot. More than a dozen villagers holding flashlights swept the area and shouted, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Thinking About the Dogs (Second Update) Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Thinking About the Dogs (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Four vegetable thieves couldn¡¯t have imagined their plan would go so wrong. On their first attempt to steal vegetables from Xiao Family Village, they were discovered by the villagers due to the barking of two local dogs. When they realized something was off and tried to flee on their motorcycles, they discovered that more than ten dogs had surrounded their motorcycles. The pack of dogs barked furiously at them. ¡°Damn, when did so many dogs get here? How did we not notice them?¡± ¡°These dogs are strange. How did they manage to be so quiet?¡± ¡°Big brother, what should we do now? With so many dogs, we can¡¯t scare them away, and we might get surrounded.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just rush over, mount our motorcycles, and ride away. Once we¡¯re on our motorcycles, the dogs won¡¯t be able to do anything to us. On the contrary, maybe we can even take a few of them with us as we leave.¡± ¡°But big brother, these dogs look vicious and they will bite. How can we get to our motorcycles with them guarding it?¡± ¡°How? Don¡¯t you have a stick in your hand? Just hit them with it. I don¡¯t believe they won¡¯t move out of the way in fear when they see the stick coming down!¡± As soon as the big brother finished speaking, the younger brother swung the wooden stick at the dogs. However, what they didn¡¯t expect was that these dogs were smart. When they saw the stick coming, they wouldn¡¯t run away but instead moved around the motorcycles in a way that still kept these men from getting close. ¡°Strange, these dogs seem like they¡¯ve been trained. We can¡¯t hit them with the stick, and they won¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°The people are getting closer. If we don¡¯t run away now¡­ we¡¯ll be caught.¡± But abandoning their valuable motorcycles was out of the question. ¡°Big brother, what do we do?¡± The leading big brother gritted his teeth, looked at the dogs, and said, ¡°What else can we do? We just have to rush forward and ride away on the motorcycle. Do we just leave it behind otherwise?¡± That would be like losing a watermelon while picking up sesame seeds, a massive loss. ¡°If we get bitten by a dog, we¡¯ll just get a few vaccine shots.¡± So, they decided to risk being bitten by the dogs and ride away on their motorcycles. Unfortunately, the villagers of Xiao Family Village arrived quickly and surrounded them before they could flee. ¡°What are you doing? Who are you?¡± Xiao Chunfu shined a flashlight on the four men. Li San Gou, the leader of the four, smiled and said, ¡°Uncle, we¡¯re just tourists who happened to ride our motorcycles here.¡± Catch the thieves with the stolen goods! Anyway, they hadn¡¯t stolen anything, and these people couldn¡¯t do anything to them. ¡°It¡¯s so dark out, what could you be doing here for fun?¡± ¡°Uncle, the four of us just like riding our motorcycles around. We haven¡¯t done anything wrong. Why are all of you surrounding us?¡± Li San Gou was very good at arguing. Xiao Chunfu and the others, ¡°¡­¡± It seemed that these four hadn¡¯t stolen any vegetables yet, so they had a strong argument. Just then, the two guard dogs barked twice, and one of them came out with a snake skin bag in its mouth, placing it in front of the villagers. The meaning was very clear¡ª the snake skin bag belonged to these four men, and they were here to steal vegetables. Xiao Chunfu directly asked, ¡°Are you four here to steal vegetables?¡± Li San Gou¡¯s expression changed slightly before he smiled and said, ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t joke around. Like I said, we just rode our motorcycles here for fun. How did that turn into us stealing vegetables in your eyes? Uncle, being accused of stealing is not a light matter. Catch the adulterers in pairs, catch the thieves with the stolen goods. If you say we¡¯re here to steal vegetables, where¡¯s the evidence? Without evidence, I can actually turn around and accuse you of slander.¡± Xiao Chunfu and the others¡¯ faces changed. These men were really brazen. These four must have been here to steal vegetables, but since they hadn¡¯t started stealing yet and were discovered by the dogs, it brought them good fortune. Xiao Chunfu consulted with the other villagers and then said, ¡°Young men, be more careful when riding your motorcycles. Don¡¯t ride recklessly and hit someone. Alright, there¡¯s nothing else. You can leave now.¡± After hearing this, Li San Gou showed a smug expression to the villagers and then left on their motorcycles. As they watched the men leave easily, Xiao Xianming was annoyed and said, ¡°Are we just letting them go like that?¡± Xiao Chunfu said, ¡°What else can we do? We only found the two empty snake skin bags and didn¡¯t catch them stealing vegetables. We¡¯re not government officials who can detain them indefinitely.¡± Someone said with a chuckle, ¡°It seems the dogs alerted us too early. We should have let them take some vegetables from the field, then we could¡¯ve caught them red-handed.¡± ¡°Let it go. Our dogs guard the village entrance to prevent people from stealing. These guys didn¡¯t succeed this time. Maybe they won¡¯t dare to come back later.¡± As they walked, everyone talked, ¡°I never thought that the vegetables of our village would one day be targeted by thieves.¡± ¡°You can say that again. My relatives in the open market town told me that the vegetables from our village are famous and many people can¡¯t even buy them. My relatives asked me if I had any vegetables to sell to them. So, I sent some over as a favor.¡± ¡°I heard that some people who bought vegetables from our village sold them for high prices in town. Small cabbages usually sell by the bundle, but now they sell for eight yuan per jin. The price is even comparable to pork.¡± ¡°They¡¯re selling for so much? I didn¡¯t even know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing to think that they¡¯re selling so high, but there¡¯s still a shortage. No wonder our village has attracted thieves.¡± ¡°Wife¡¯s been nagging me every day to plant more vegetables.¡± ¡°Ha, my wife¡¯s the same. They must be addicted to selling vegetables. But then again, even if we plant more now, it won¡¯t be ready for a while.¡± A few days ago, the village head said that our village plans to get rich by growing vegetables. Next year, he wants to establish a company. At first, I thought it was impossible. But looking at the vegetables in our fields now, it¡¯s likely to happen.¡± ¡°I heard from Wangshan that when everybody in our village starts growing vegetables, they won¡¯t just be sold in the market town, county town, but even in Jianggan City.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, next year my family will use all our land to plant vegetables. Yes, leave a portion of the field to plant rice so we don¡¯t have to buy in the future.¡± ¡°My family is planning the same thing.¡± After Li San Gou and his men took their motorcycles and left, Lai Xiaosi said, ¡°Big brother, there are so many dogs in this village. Why don¡¯t we get some later? These dogs have a higher value than the vegetables.¡± After hearing this, Li San Gou furrowed his brow, saying, ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s see..¡± Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Dogs Pretending to be Unconscious (Part 1) Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Dogs Pretending to be Unconscious (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 After that, Xiao Family Village didn¡¯t calm down much, and there were still people who continued to steal vegetables. However, those who stole the vegetables didn¡¯t even have the chance to pick them before the guarding dogs barked and called their companions to chase them away. Of course, most of the people who tried to steal vegetables were those who couldn¡¯t buy them in Xiao Family Village, so they had no choice but to risk it. They were really driven to desperation by their children at home. Since the villagers of Xiao Family Village were able to drive away those who tried to steal vegetables, they just turned a blind eye to it. However, the people of Xiao Family Village never expected that the dogs in their village would be targeted. Li San Gou and his group came over again as soon as it got dark. Lai Xiaosi said, ¡°Big brother, I¡¯ve found out that there are two dogs guarding the entrance of the village every day. Let¡¯s catch those two first. Two dogs can be sold for two to three hundred, which is enough for us to spend for a while.¡± Li San Gou frowned and said, ¡°There should be quite a few dogs in the village, right?¡± That night there were at least a dozen dogs surrounding them. Lai Xiaosi said, ¡°There should be quite a few. It¡¯s just strange that, apart from the two dogs at the entrance of the village, the other dogs rarely show themselves. They say they are guarding inside their homes and don¡¯t come out. ¡± ¡°Then how did they come out that night?¡± Wang Wu Liu asked, puzzled. ¡°How else could they come out?¡± Lai Xiaosi said, ¡°When those two dogs guarding the village barked, all the dogs in the village must have come out.¡± ¡°So, big brother, should we catch the two first, or what?¡± Wang Wu Liu asked. Li San Gou thought for a moment and said, ¡°First, catch these two. After that, we¡¯ll find a way to lure the other dogs out.¡± ¡°But if we catch the dogs at the entrance first, how can we lure the other dogs out?¡± Lai Xiaosi said, ¡°Normally, only when the two dogs at the entrance bark will the other dogs come out. Besides, if we catch these two dogs first, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll lure the people of this village out before the other dogs.¡± Li San Gou, a little annoyed, looked at Lai Xiaosi and said, ¡°If this won¡¯t work and that won¡¯t work, what should we do first? A dozen dogs can be sold for two to three thousand.¡± Lai Xiaosi said, ¡°Big brother, don¡¯t be angry first. These village dogs seem to be trained. I¡¯ve heard that recently quite a few people have tried to steal these vegetables. These dogs are used to monitor strangers stealing vegetables.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is! Damn, no wonder those dogs suddenly appeared behind us that night, like ghosts. It seems these dogs really are trained,¡± Li San Gou cursed. ¡°Big brother, what should we do now?¡± Wang Wu Liu asked. ¡°What can we do? Just steal the two dogs at the entrance directly. Now we can steal one is better than none, and as for the other dogs, we¡¯ll find a way later.¡± Li San Gou said, ¡°Damn it, I don¡¯t believe it, we can¡¯t even steal dogs if we can¡¯t steal vegetables?¡± Hehe, the reality soon slapped them in the face. From a distance, they threw the canned meat they bought over. Of course, the canned meat was drugged. As long as the dogs ate it, they would immediately fall down. Li San Gou and the others watched the two dogs cautiously from a distance, and their hearts relaxed as they licked the meat. ¡°They ate it. Let¡¯s go over in a while.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± After waiting for about five minutes, they saw the two dogs fall to the ground. ¡°It¡¯s time, let¡¯s go and have a look.¡± They immediately walked over cautiously. Seeing the two dogs down, Lai Xiaosi deliberately kicked them with his foot, then said, ¡°They¡¯ve really been drugged.¡¯ As he spoke, he bent down and reached out to grab the dog¡¯s paw. Just then, the seemingly drugged dog suddenly jumped up and fiercely bit his face. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Lai Xiaosi covered his bitten face. The other dog also jumped up at the same time and bit Li San Gou¡¯s hand. ¡°Damn, these two dogs were actually pretending.¡± After biting these two people, the two dogs suddenly lunged at the other two. The two unbitten ones were startled at first, but quickly regained their composure and ran off, cursing as they went, ¡°Damn, are these dogs crazy, or have they turned into spirits? They¡¯re so good at pretending!¡± The two dogs chased them while barking loudly. Xiao Jinli was having dinner when she suddenly put down her bowls and chopsticks. Xiao Mother asked in confusion, ¡°Xiao Bao, what¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you like the meal?¡± Xiao Jinli replied seriously, ¡°No, someone is stealing dogs at the village entrance! ¡± ¡°What? At this time, someone is stealing dogs in our village?¡± Xiao Junxuan was very surprised, then also put down his bowls and chopsticks, saying, ¡°No, I have to go and check it out!¡± With that, he ran off. Xiao Siqian followed, saying, ¡°Brother Xuan, I¡¯ll come with you.¡± Xiao Jinli also followed, and Xiao Wanshan immediately put down his bowls and chopsticks and went after them. A villager asked, ¡°Why are you guys running so fast?¡± ¡°Someone is stealing dogs at the village entrance!¡± ¡°What? Stealing dogs!¡± Hearing that someone was stealing dogs, everyone stopped eating and rushed to the village entrance. When they arrived, they saw a scene that left them dumbfounded. More than a dozen dogs from the village were chasing the four dog thieves around frantically! They shined their flashlights and someone said, ¡°Aren¡¯t these four guys somewhat familiar?¡± Someone took a closer look and immediately shouted, ¡°Oh, aren¡¯t they the ones who stole vegetables a few days ago?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s them. I didn¡¯t expect that just a few days after they stole vegetables, they¡¯d be targeting dogs.¡± ¡°I remember they had motorcycles. Hurry up and find their motorcycles, and seize them. This time we can¡¯t let them get away.¡± With the dogs chasing them and biting fiercely, the four thieves couldn¡¯t even get on their motorcycles. Perhaps the dogs knew that once the thieves got on their motorcycles, they would escape easily, so they continued to chase them, not letting them get on the motorcycles. Li San Gou and the others felt increasingly anxious as the villagers approached. They had to leave as soon as possible, or they would be caught and have to eat free meals at the detention center for a few days. But most importantly, they had been bitten by dogs and needed to get rabies vaccines. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we have to get on the motorcycles.¡± With tears in their eyes, Lai Xiaosi and the others said, ¡°Big brother, I¡¯ve already been bitten by dogs several times. These dogs won¡¯t even let us get close to the motorcycles. They¡¯re too cunning!¡± Xiao Junxuan and a few other young people seized the opportunity to take the motorcycles while the dogs were chasing the thieves. With the motorcycles under their control, the thieves would have to either give up their rides or stay behind. Xiao Jinli blew a whistle, and the dogs immediately stopped chasing but still surrounded the thieves. Xiao Chunfu walked up to them, sneered, and said, ¡°It¡¯s you four again! What, did you come to our village for another joyride?¡± Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Solving the Vegetable Theft Problem (First Update) Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Solving the Vegetable Theft Problem (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After Li San Gou and others were arrested by the Yamen, the villagers began discussing. ¡°Damn, we thought about our vegetables being stolen, but we didn¡¯t expect our dogs to be targeted too!¡± ¡°Luckily, these dogs are clever and didn¡¯t eat the food given by strangers, otherwise they would¡¯ve been stolen too.¡± ¡°Those four people are probably habitual thieves. They failed to steal vegetables last time and also failed to steal dogs this time. I don¡¯t know if they will come back to steal again after they are released.¡± ¡°Hehe, if they come to steal again, it would be foolish. People say that you can¡¯t be caught three times. They didn¡¯t learn a deep lesson the first two times; next time they come to steal, will they be able to escape being caught?¡± Village Head and the villagers spoke to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Jinli, now our village is often visited by thieves, even our dogs are being targeted. We can¡¯t carry on like this.¡± The villagers said, ¡°Mainly because our vegetables in the field are too attractive now. If we could sell them, we would prefer to sell them all, but the problem is the children in our families.¡± ¡°Those who steal vegetables are mainly for their children, right?¡± ¡°So, this problem needs to be solved. Now it¡¯s stealing vegetables and dogs, but what if it attracts human traffickers to steal children? That would be troublesome.¡± ¡°I think the only solution now is to pull out all the vegetables in the fields. Without these vegetables, the thieves would have nothing to steal.¡± ¡°The problem is, can you bear to pull out all the vegetables in the field? It doesn¡¯t matter if we adults eat or not, but the children will make a fuss.¡± Everyone was discussing these issues. Xiao Jinli frowned slightly and said to the villagers, ¡°Let me go back and think about a solution.¡± At this time, Xiao Junxuan furrowed his brows and said, ¡°Actually, I do have an idea.¡± Everyone immediately asked, ¡°Little Xuan, what¡¯s your idea? Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°There are not many vegetables left in everyone¡¯s field now. The vegetables left are mostly for the children, right? So, I think everyone should move the remaining vegetables to one place. When those who want to steal vegetables come, they won¡¯t know where to steal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an idea. But where do we move the vegetables to? Everyone¡¯s fields are already planted, so we can¡¯t pull out the things in the field.¡± A villager said, ¡°Moreover, everyone¡¯s vegetables, when moved to one place, would occupy quite a large area.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s hard to find a place now.¡± Hearing the villagers¡¯ discussions, Xiao Jinli¡¯s frown deepened. Xiao Wanshan said at this time, ¡°We just need to concentrate the vegetables in the fields of several families, not all of them, planting in one place.¡± When Xiao Wanshan said this, the villagers were slow to react. Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°What my dad means is that we can select a few fields that are close together, make rules and regulations, and then transfer other people¡¯s vegetables. The vegetables in everyone¡¯s field are not much now, after they are put together, isn¡¯t that just one place?¡± After hearing Xiao Junxuan¡¯s explanation, someone immediately slapped his head and laughed, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. It can be like that. It doesn¡¯t have to be one piece of land, it can be a few families¡¯ lands close together. Haha, I was confused.¡± ¡°Haha, in this case, the problem isn¡¯t that big. In order to avoid delay, those who have time tomorrow can go to the field to see which families¡¯ vegetable plots are close together and have a larger area. After we finalize it, let¡¯s transfer the vegetables as soon as possible.¡± Everyone went back after discussing the matter for a while. After all, many people hadn¡¯t finished their dinner and followed out. Xiao Jinli returned home and continued eating her unfinished meal. ¡°Good baby, what are you thinking?¡± Her maternal grandmother, who had been paying attention to her, asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been quiet since you came back.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just thinking about how to prevent those who steal vegetables from time to time.¡± At this point, she put down her bowl and laughed with some helplessness, ¡°Now stealing vegetables has become stealing dogs. It¡¯s just the beginning. Before all the villagers start farming in our company, the trouble will only increase.¡± Her grandmother was quite optimistic, laughing and saying, ¡°At such a young age, don¡¯t have too many thoughts. There must be a way when the car gets to the mountain and the boat gets to the pier. Take your time to solve the problem, there will always be a solution.¡± At this point, her grandmother thought about it and continued, ¡°Many people steal vegetables for the sake of their children¡¯s good food, and everyone works so hard for their children.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded her head. At first, when she sold earthworms to the villagers to grow vegetables, she never thought that a handful of ordinary vegetables could cause so many problems. She did consider the sales of these Lingquan water vegetables, but she didn¡¯t expect that the biggest problem would occur with the children. At night, after everyone went back to their rooms to rest, Xiao Siqian came over to knock on Xiao Jinli¡¯s door. Seeing Xiao Jinli¡¯s worried face, he smiled and asked, ¡°Are you still worried about tonight¡¯s incident?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded her head, ¡°Yes.¡± She looked at Xiao Siqian and asked, ¡°Brother Little Quan, do you have any solutions?¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Actually, I came to you for this matter.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. She asked, ¡°So, do you have a solution?¡± Xiao Siqian smiled and said, ¡°What I¡¯m suggesting is not really a solution.¡± ¡°Tell me then.¡± ¡°My idea is to open a vegetable shop in the Open Market Town.¡± ¡°Open a shop?¡± Xiao Jinli suddenly felt deflated, ¡°We don¡¯t have any vegetables. What¡¯s the use of opening a shop?¡± ¡°Just hear me out.¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°The purpose of opening this store is to sell Xiaojia Vegetables on a limited basis, to address the urgent need. We can deliver some vegetables to the town from time to time. As for whether those people can buy them, it¡¯s not our concern. Maybe they didn¡¯t get them today, but they can get them tomorrow, right?¡± After listening to Xiao Siqian¡¯s explanation, Xiao Jinli frowned again and fell into deep thought. After a while, she said, ¡°Maybe what you said is a solution, we don¡¯t need to send too many vegetables there, just a little bit from time to time. This tells them that there will be Xiaojia Vegetables for sale from time to time, so those people will not think about stealing.¡± However, with this small supply, the vegetables in our family greenhouses can still solve some problems. Then, we can call on the aunts and uncles to gather some more vegetables, and when the new vegetables are ready, we can supply more. So altogether, the current problem is the stealing. With this arrangement, the stealing problem will also be solved.¡± ¡°Yes, you are right,¡± Xiao Siqian nodded, ¡°Little Sister Jinli is really smart..¡± Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Planning to Open a Store (Second Update) Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Planning to Open a Store (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 At night, after Xiao Jinli secured the doors and windows, she entered the space. Actually, the suggestion from Xiao Siqian is a good one. As for the lack of resources she mentioned, it wasn¡¯t an issue at all. Her space was filled with plenty of crops. As long as she occasionally transplants them to the fields, no one would notice. Xiao Jinli looked at the vast amount of fruits and vegetables in her space. Little Zhi jumped out and said, ¡°Master, isn¡¯t the idea proposed by Xiao Siqian to open a shop exactly what you wanted? Why are you still looking worried? Is there a problem?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°That¡¯s not the problem. The vegetables in the space can fill the gap and be sold. However, the vegetables in the space are, after all, a bit different from the outside ones, I don¡¯t want to invite more trouble.¡± In this life, she just wanted to be an ordinary person, not wanting too much attention. But Little Zhi said, ¡°Master, with your ability, you can solve even the biggest troubles.¡± ¡°I can solve them, but I don¡¯t want to be too different,¡± Xiao Jinli said. ¡°The villagers in Xiao Family Village are very simple and don¡¯t have various bad intentions. But people outside are not the same. Human nature is hard to guess, let alone when it is tested by huge benefits.¡± Little Zhi, hovering in mid-air, tilted its little head and said with slight worry, ¡°Then what should we do? You want to be an ordinary person, but you want to help the Xiao Family Village villagers become rich. You don¡¯t want to attract too much attention, but you have to step out. You¡¯re clearly looking for trouble.¡± Xiao Jinli, Little Zhi continued excitedly, ¡°But master, no matter what you want to do, Little Zhi will support you. If you find someone annoying, I can hack their cell phones or even their bank accounts and transfer all their money!¡± Xiao Jinli, She raised her hand and flicked Little Zhi¡¯s little head, laughing, ¡°Alright, it seems I should thank you for your support.¡± Then she looked at the vegetables in the space and said, ¡°Well, just sell them. Anyway, if we don¡¯t sell much, they will just think it is delicious and won¡¯t think too much. Plus, with the excuse of earthworms, if others want to learn vegetable farming techniques, they have to learn how to raise earthworms from me first.¡± The next day, Xiao Jinli mentioned to Xiao Wanshan about setting up a small shop in Open Market Town. Xiao Wanshan frowned slightly and asked, ¡°Little Bao, do we need a shop just to sell some vegetables? Wouldn¡¯t a stall do?¡± It¡¯s not that he was reluctant to spend money, but he genuinely thought there was no need. Vegetables could be sold even better on a small stall. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Dad, we need to take a long-term view. I set up a shop now for the future. There aren¡¯t many vegetables to sell now, so getting a shop is just for show. But in one or two months, when everyone¡¯s second wave of vegetables come in, this shop will be necessary, don¡¯t you think?¡± Xiao Father laughed and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get one. I¡¯ll ask around my friends to see if there¡¯s a shop for rent.¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a while and said with a smile, ¡°Dad, it would be better if we could buy the shop.¡± If it was rented, and someone became jealous and suddenly raised the rent, that would be a headache. Xiao Father laughed heartily and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll buy the shop and give it to you. How about that?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said immediately, ¡°Thank you, Dad!¡± Elsewhere, the Village Head and a few villagers decided on where to fence off after taking a walk in the field. The village head pointed to the land of several families and said, ¡°Mine, Chuntu¡¯s, Changchun¡¯s, and Xiantu¡¯s, these tour plots add up to about two mu. This space should be big enough for everyone to transplant the remaining vegetables. Of course, if you are willing to plant, then plant. If not, then forget it. ¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t many vegetables left in my family, my wife plans to plant here and start a new batch.¡± ¡°So is my family!¡± ¡°However, taking up these people¡¯s land, there should be some compensation. Otherwise, occupying people¡¯s land for free, and delaying their farming, isn¡¯t right.¡± ¡°I think the same.¡± The villagers tacitly agreed to compensate those whose land was taken. The villagers acted quickly, and in less than an afternoon, the vegetables in the field were transplanted, and they had even watered them. The village head observed and said, ¡°These plots are close to our houses, and at a glance, you can see if there are people in the field. If it¡¯s at night, as long as the dogs bark, we can rush over immediately. Now, the dogs don¡¯t need to guard the village entrance, they just need to stroll around nearby and they can notice if there are strangers. This way, it will be difficult for the dog thieves to make a move on our dogs.¡± The villagers agreed, ¡°That¡¯s true. This place is close, and we¡¯re more at ease.¡± The Village Head still looked slightly worried and said, ¡°Everyone¡¯s fields are now empty, but I don¡¯t know how long the earthworms in these fields will live? Should we buy more from Xiao Jinli?¡± ¡°Dad, didn¡¯t Xiao Jinli say that the lifespan of these earthworms is basically between three to five months? The earthworms we released have not been out for three months, and they still have a certain lifespan, so planting another batch should not be a big problem.¡± Xiao Qingshan said, ¡°If these earthworms die in the middle, we can buy from Xiao Jinli again. Xiao Jinli said that she can provide them to anyone in our village at any time.¡± The Village Head gave him a glance and said snappily, ¡°Hmph, you think I don¡¯t know what you just said. I was just expressing my feelings. Xiao Jinli is now going to school and doesn¡¯t have much time to raise earthworms, so we should save as much as we can.¡± Xiao Qingshan pouted and said, ¡°Considering Xiao Jinli¡¯s intelligence, there isn¡¯t much difference whether she¡¯s at school or not.¡± The Village Head slapped Xiao Qingshan on the back of the head and said in dissatisfaction, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? No matter how clever Xiao Jinli is, she is still a child. At this age, she should go to school. No matter how big the matter is, it¡¯s not as important as school. From now on, do not say this in front of Xiao Jinli.¡± Xiao Qingshan rubbed the back of his head and said with a smile, ¡°Okay, I got ¡± The Village Head looked at the things in the field and said, ¡°Alright, help gather these old vegetables and leaves to feed the chickens and ducks. The chickens, ducks, pigs, and cattle at home all love eating these vegetables, so don¡¯t waste them.¡± ¡°Oh, understood.¡± Xiao Qingshan got to work collecting the old leaves from the field. The others also took the old leaves and went home to feed the chickens and ducks. Who knew, the chickens and ducks fed with these vegetable leaves laid particularly tasty eggs. Perhaps, when there were no green vegetables, these eggs could tide them over for a while.. Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Buying the Entire House (Part One) Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Buying the Entire House (Part One) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Wanshan, through a friend¡¯s introduction, took Xiao Jinli to see the store. ¡°Jinli, how do you like this store?¡± Xiao Wanshan looked around the store and asked. It must be said that Xiao Wanshan¡¯s connections were quite strong. The store he found was in the center of the Open Market Town, in a four-story building with white tiles on the exterior. The living quarters were upstairs, and the store was downstairs, covering an area of about seventy or eighty square meters. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Dad, this store is quite good. Are people really willing to sell such a prime location? Even the rent wouldn¡¯t be cheap. Would they let it go?¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°He bought a house in the county town, and plans to move his whole family there, so he wants to sell this house for convenience. The rent wouldn¡¯t even amount to 1,000 yuan a year, so he plans to sell it to pay off the bank loan for the house in the county town.¡± Xiao Jinli understood and nodded, ¡°Then Dad, you should buy this house and find someone to renovate it. Dad, how much would this house sell for?¡± Xiao Wanshan spoke without hesitation, ¡°He says 120,000 yuan! Mainly because this house is in the town center, good for business, so it¡¯s a bit more expensive.¡± It was worth noting that similar houses next to it were priced at most 80,000-90,000 yuan, making this house about 30,000-40,000 yuan more expensive. Xiao Jinli took another look at the house and store and nodded, ¡°Being in the central area, it¡¯s reasonable for it to be a bit more expensive.¡± The most important thing was that the value of this house would definitely appreciate after a few years. Seeing that Jinli agreed and liked the house, Xiao Wanshan contacted the middleman to get in touch with the seller right away. ¡°Wanshan, are you sure you want to buy this house?¡± Xiao Wanshan¡¯s friend asked, ¡°Do you still want to think it over?¡± Xiao Wanshan shook his head, ¡°No need, Ah Yong, please get in touch with your friend. The sooner, the better!¡± Li Yong nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll call him right now.¡± After Li Yong made the call, he told Xiao Wanshan, ¡°He¡¯s on his way right now. Let¡¯s find a place to rest. Jinli, are you hungry? Do you want to go to a restaurant and have a few dishes?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°Uncle Li, I¡¯m not hungry.¡± The group found a restaurant to sit down, and about half an hour later, Li Yong¡¯s friend arrived. ¡°Ah Yong, I¡¯ve brought everything.¡± Li Yong¡¯s friend, Li Jiang, said, ¡°It¡¯s just this money¡­ ¡® Li Yong laughed, ¡°Da Jiang, don¡¯t worry. The money is absolutely guaranteed.¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you want cash or a transfer? If you want cash, over one hundred thousand needs to be reserved three days in advance.¡± Li Jiang said, ¡°Just transfer it directly.¡± In this day and age, very few people use cash. Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°No problem, I brought my card.¡± Li Yong laughed, ¡°Haha, that¡¯s great. Let¡¯s have a meal, and after the meal, we¡¯ll transfer ownership.¡± Xiao Wanshan, of course, had no objections, and Li Jiang had no objections either. He was in urgent need of cash to pay the full price for the house in the county town. In less than half a day, Xiao Wanshan bought the entire building, with the owner being Xiao Wanshan. Xiao Wanshan initially wanted to put Xiao Jinli¡¯s name on it, but Jinli was still young, which was a bit inconvenient. Xiao Wanshan saw Jinli touching the little notebook with a crescent moon in her smile and laughed, ¡°Jinli, you¡¯re so happy, aren¡¯t you?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m happy. Dad, find someone to renovate the store as soon as possible. Hmm, let¡¯s renovate the upstairs as well, add some furniture, so we can occasionally rest in town.¡± ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll do as you wish, you little smart aleck,¡± said Xiao Wanshan. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the store. We can bring vegetables and fruits from home anytime to sell. Speaking of which, should we make a sign for the store? After all, it¡¯s a store, and it would be easier for people to find it if there¡¯s a sign.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Let¡¯s make a sign,¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. ¡°Just call it ¡®Xiaojia Vegetables¡¯. ¡± ¡°Xiaojia Vegetables?¡± Xiao Wanshan laughed. ¡°Why does that sound like a restaurant sign? Let¡¯s think of another name. Jinli, think it over.¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Xiao Family Village Fresh Green Vegetables! Hmm, let¡¯s use this name for this little store for now. We¡¯ll pick another one once the company is established.¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have someone make a sign like that.¡± After returning home, Xiao Wanshan contacted a friend and had the store simply renovated. Xiao¡¯s mother was not surprised that Xiao Wanshan had spent over a hundred thousand yuan to buy a house. ¡°Where is it located?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother asked curiously. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s right next to the place selling dumpling wrappers, in the town center,¡± Xiao Jinli pointed out. ¡°The house looks quite new. Dad, how many years has that house been built?¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°I heard it¡¯s only been five or six years. Li Jiang¡¯s family didn¡¯t live there for too long and had been renting it out for business. Now that they have a house in the county town and urgently need money, they plan to sell this place to raise the funds.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother nodded, ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s good to have bought the house. Jinli needs to open a store, so having this store can be operated at any time.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother spoke as if buying the store in town was just for Jinli to play with. Xiao Siqian had already witnessed how much his uncle and aunt doted on their daughter. Fortunately, he knew the Xiao family had established a company, and they were not short of money, so it was okay to spoil their only daughter a bit. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Right, after Dad fixes up the store and puts up the sign, we¡¯ll transport some vegetables over.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother suddenly thought of a problem and asked, ¡°Jinli, who¡¯s going to watch the store when the vegetables arrive?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°We probably don¡¯t need anyone, do we?¡± ¡°No, we still need someone,¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed. ¡°Why don¡¯t we ask someone who¡¯s familiar with selling vegetables to do it? How about asking your Aunt Chen? She¡¯s sold vegetables in the market several times and is a familiar face. As long as she¡¯s standing there, everyone should know it¡¯s our Xiao Family¡¯s vegetables.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go talk to Aunt Chen at the village chief¡¯s house.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed. ¡°You finish your meal and go upstairs to do your homework.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® It suddenly dawned on her that she had started school, and had homework to do. Although these assignments were not difficult, she still had to do them. Xiao¡¯s mother went to the village chief¡¯s house and told Chen Qiulan about the store. ¡°Opening a store?¡± Chen Qiulan was somewhat surprised when she heard that Xiao Jinli wanted to open a store. Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°Yes, this store will specialize in selling our Xiao family¡¯s vegetables and fruits. The store will be operating now, and we will be sending vegetables to the store from time to time. By the time everyone¡¯s second batch of vegetables can be harvested in one or two months, there will be few people stealing vegetables from the village.¡± Chen Qiulan laughed, ¡°Alright.. Just let me know when the vegetables are shipped to the store!¡± Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Store Sells Vegetables (Second Update) Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Store Sells Vegetables (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Several days later, the shop was open for business. Upon learning the location of the shop, Chen Qiulan picked some vegetables from Xiao Jinli¡¯s greenhouse and immediately set off for the Open Market Town. As she picked the vegetables in the greenhouse, Chen Qiulan laughed and said, ¡°These greenhouse vegetables look more vibrant than the ones we grow in the fields.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother chuckled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s probably because there are more earthworms in these fields than yours.¡± Chen Qiulan thought about it and agreed, ¡°That should be the reason. Xiaofang, I have already picked a basket full, is that enough?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother looked and said, ¡°That should be enough. Jinli said we only need to provide a little each day, we don¡¯t need too much.¡± Looking at the basketful of vegetables, Chen Qiulan smiled and said, ¡°These vegetables will probably be snatched up before they even reach the shop, why do we even need a shop?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother thought for a bit and replied, ¡°Hmm, we should cover them before reaching the shop.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Chen Qiulan asked in confusion, ¡°Why do we need to cover them?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°Our current goal is to direct attention to our shop. If we sell on the way, then people won¡¯t know about our store.¡± Chen Qiulan laughed and said, ¡°Even if we cover them, it¡¯s not going to help that much. A few sales in, people will know what¡¯s in these baskets: vegetables, and they¡¯ll still snatch them up.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother gave a little shake of her head and said, ¡°Well, let¡¯s keep it hidden for as long as we can.¡± Chen Qiulan nodded, agreeing, ¡°Alright then.¡± Having picked a basketful of vegetables, which she divided into two baskets, she covered them with cloth and asked Xiao Qingshan to take them to the shop. Xiao Qingshan looked at the baskets, and said somewhat resignedly, ¡°Mother, isn¡¯t this unnecessary? I¡¯m driving, I can directly deliver it to the shop without anyone stopping me on the way.¡± ¡°Upon being reminded of this by Xiao Qingshan, she slapped her forehead and laughed, ¡°That¡¯s true. Initially, I hadn¡¯t planned to have you deliver them. I was going to do it myself. But now that you offered to help, it has indeed saved me some trouble.¡± Xiao Qingshan quickly took his mother to the shop. After parking, he looked at the sign hanging above the store that read ¡°Xiao Family Village Fresh Green Vegetables,¡± and asked, ¡°Mother, this is the place, right?¡± Chen Qiulan nodded and said, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s here. Here is the key, let¡¯s open the shop first.¡± Xiao Qingshan took the key, opened the door, and saw that the shop was quite clean with some shelves inside. Chen Qiulan took the baskets out of the trunk and walked into the shop. She said, ¡°This shop is pretty big. I heard that it used to be rented to a clothing store owner. The house owner needed money so he sold it to Xiao Wanshan. Honestly, using such a shop to sell vegetables seems a bit of a waste.¡± Xiao Qingshan laughed and said, ¡°Wanshan and Jinli probably have their plans. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have spent so much to buy a shop. Once all the vegetables from our village arrive, this shop will have its use, it won¡¯t be wasted.¡± Now every household in Xiao Family Village has expanded their vegetable cultivation area, hoping to sell some vegetables, make some money and buy new clothes for their children to celebrate the New Year. Previously, they never thought about making money by selling vegetables, but now they have unexpectedly triggered this making-money mode. No one can resist money, right? Just as Xiao Qingshan was carrying the other basket of vegetables into the shop, a woman who was buying vegetables recognized Chen Qiulan. ¡°Oh, sister! It¡¯s you!¡± exclaimed a middle-aged woman. Seeing Chen Qiulan, her eyes lit up. She walked into the shop, saw the vegetables in the baskets and immediately broke into a smile, ¡°Do we have vegetables today?¡± She then selected a large pile of them to buy. Chen Qiulan immediately intervened, saying, ¡°Sorry sister, we don¡¯t sell many vegetables and have to limit quantities. At most, you can only buy two handfuls of vegetables.¡± The woman looked surprised and said, ¡°What? Limited quantities? I¡¯ve never heard that before. Why would you limit the quantity of vegetables you sell? Sister, aren¡¯t you selling vegetables anyway? Whether you sell them or not, why would you limit quantities?¡± Chen Qiulan explained, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this, sister. We have a lot of customers looking for our vegetables, so many that they are going straight to our village. In order to allow more people to buy them, we have to resort to this measure. There aren¡¯t many vegetables in our village to start with and we only have so much each day. I hope you can understand.¡± The woman looked at the vegetables in the baskets and seemed to struggle to part with them. She said, ¡°How about this, let me buy a bit more today. I will buy less from tomorrow on. Anyway, whether I buy a lot or a little, I have to pay, don¡¯t I?¡± Chen Qiulan quickly shook her head and said, ¡°Sister, we can¡¯t do that. In a while, many more people will be here. We are limiting sales so more children can have these. I know you are buying and saving these vegetables for your kids too. Here¡¯s what, since you¡¯re the first customer today, from now on, I¡¯ll keep your share of vegetables aside for you. No matter how early or late you come, you will always get fresh vegetables, alright?¡± The woman brightened up immediately and said, ¡°Okay, going forward, you just keep my portion of vegetables aside and I will come and pick it up.¡± She paused before smiling and saying, ¡°Actually you¡¯re right, sister. We buy these vegetables all for our children. Ever since they tasted the green vegetables bought from your place, they have enjoyed their meals a lot more. But without your vegetables, they kick up a fuss. It gave me a headache. Now I am hoping I can have one or two of your vegetables every day so that the kids can eat them and be content with their meals.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Qiulan smiled and said, ¡°Well, we¡¯re all doing this for the kids, I understand. We don¡¯t grow many vegetables ourselves, and what we have reserved now is also for children to eat every day. Otherwise, we would have brought our vegetables over to sell.¡± ¡°Then sister, how are you growing these vegetables?¡± The woman asked with curiosity. ¡°I haven¡¯t tasted a more fresh, crisp and delicious cabbage than these. At first, some people were skeptical that the vegetables were injected with something they shouldn¡¯t be. But those who ate the vegetables found that they felt noticeably more energetic. The news in the Open Market Town travels fast. Chen Qiulan laughed and said, ¡°Ah, sister, I¡¯m sorry but I can¡¯t tell you yet. But you can rest assured, we grow our vegetables with technology. Every household in Xiao¡¯s Village knows how to do it.¡± The woman said, ¡°Well, I must visit your village one of these days to see the special kind of land that can produce such vegetables.¡± ¡°You are very welcome,¡± Chen Qiulan readily agreed.. Chapter 121 - Chapter 121: Chapter 121: More Famous (First Update) Chapter 121: Chapter 121: More Famous (First Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Vegetable¡± shop, after only a few days of selling vegetables in town, became even more famous. Originally, Xiao Family¡¯s vegetables were only known by those who had bought them. But since the establishment of the shop, almost half of the people in the street and the town knew about Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Vegetables, which sold well, sold quickly, and sold for high prices, and everyone rushed to buy them. For example, ordinary bundles of small cabbage are one yuan each, but a bunch of small cabbage from this shop is two yuan each, and there is a limit to the quantity that can be purchased: one customer can only buy one bunch and no more than two different kinds of vegetables in total. The vegetables in this shop are twice as expensive as other vegetables. Logically, there should be fewer people buying such expensive vegetables. But the reality is the opposite. The good-selling vegetables are sold out as soon as the shop opens every day. ¡°Does this vegetable shop sell gold and silver, or are they not asking for money?¡± someone wondered, ¡°Why is everyone rushing to buy it?¡± Someone in the know said, ¡°I heard the vegetables in this shop are especially delicious, so even though they are expensive, people are still buying them.¡± Someone scorned, ¡°It¡¯s just some greens. How good can it taste? Do we need to be so desperate to buy it? It¡¯s like there are no greens sold in the entire town.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know. It¡¯s said that people who come here to buy vegetables do it for their children. The children like the vegetables from this shop, so they feel like eating meals.¡± ¡°Strange, what¡¯s so special about the vegetables in this shop that makes the children like it so much?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, I haven¡¯t tasted it. I want to try it, but it¡¯s too expensive, and I can¡¯t snatch the vegetables. This shop only sells one or two boxes of vegetables a day, which is about 10-20 jin (about 11-221b).¡± ¡°I had never heard that Xiao Family Village was good at growing vegetables before. Recently, wherever I go, I hear that the vegetables grown in Xiao Family Village taste really great.¡± ¡°Now I hear that every household in Xiao Family Village is growing vegetables, but they say they keep them for their own family to eat. There are very few households that can sell them. I heard that a while ago, people used to steal vegetables from Xiao Family Village.¡± ¡°What? Stealing vegetables? Are you serious or not? In this age, when everyone has enough to eat, drink, and money, are there still people stealing vegetables?¡± ¡°Yeah, I can believe that, in the sixties and seventies, when there was not enough to eat, people would go to the fields to steal vegetables. But in this age, even if your family doesn¡¯t grow anything, wouldn¡¯t it be cheaper to buy vegetables?¡± ¡°Well, you should know that when I first heard about it, I was very surprised. But after listening to it many times, I believe it.¡± ¡°Why do you believe it?¡± someone asked puzzledly, ¡°If it¡¯s just taking someone else¡¯s vegetables to cook, I might believe it. But stealing? I find it hard to believe.¡± ¡°Not only that, but most of the people who steal vegetables do it at night. Xiao Family Village has dogs, and those who stole vegetables were chased away by the dogs.¡± Everyone¡¯s discussion about Xiao Family Village¡¯s vegetables made them seem more and more outrageous. No one really believed that people would steal vegetables from Xiao Family Village. They were just puzzled as to why the vegetables sold by Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Vegetable Shop were so expensive. But it¡¯s infuriating to compare oneself to others. Their vegetables sell for so much and everyone is rushing to buy them. Nearby shops and small stalls also sell watery, tender vegetables. The prices of these vegetables don¡¯t rise, and there are very few people coming to buy them. Chen Qiulan came to the Xiao Family, her face excited and full of enthusiasm, and said, ¡°Oh, Xiaofang, our shop is really famous now. Every day before dawn, there is a big crowd of people waiting outside the shop to open. These vegetables are all priced at twice the price of others¡¯, but it still can¡¯t stop people from being enthusiastic about buying them.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed, ¡°Scarcity makes things valuable, right? Our vegetables are delicious, and most importantly, there aren¡¯t many of them. It gives buyers the feeling that if they miss this village, there won¡¯t be this shop, so even if they are more expensive, they are willing to buy.¡± If it¡¯s for their children to eat, she is also willing to spend more money. She continued, ¡°Moreover, our shop currently sells in limited quantities. On average, each person spends about two to three yuan a day. Even if they really want to save money, they can save money by cutting back on other things. There¡¯s no need to skimp on food for the children.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother nodded in agreement. Chen Qiulan looked at the vegetables in the greenhouse and frowned, ¡°Xiaofang, we can¡¯t pick these vegetables in the greenhouse for long, can we?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother looked around the empty patches of land, nodding, ¡°It seems that we can¡¯t pick them for long. However, there are seedlings planted over there, and Jinli said they will be supplemented in time. The land is rich in nutrients, so they will grow faster.¡± Chen Qiulan glanced at the various seedlings in the corner and smiled, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help fill them in now. If you didn¡¯t say it, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed at first that the vegetables in the greenhouse are indeed growing faster. Like this Chinese cabbage, yesterday it hadn¡¯t formed a head yet, but today half of it has formed, and in a couple of days, it can be cut down and sold. The other vegetables are the same. So, it turns out that Jinli is really a talented vegetable planting expert. We have been farming for decades, but we are still defeated by a half-grown child.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed modestly, ¡°She just plays around with planting, who would have thought that she could actually come up with some new tricks.¡± The whole family has infinite love and admiration for Xiao Jinli. She said she wanted to grow vegetables, so they immediately allocated some land for her. She said she wanted a greenhouse, so they built one for her. She wanted to open a shop, and without a word, Xiao Wanshan spent more than 100,000 yuan to buy a house for her to run her vegetable shop. Ordinary families would never spoil their children like this. Xiao¡¯s mother added, ¡°The other day, Little Bao said he wanted to enclose a few mu of land for greenhouse construction and make it an earthworm breeding ground. ¡± ¡°Has the land been chosen?¡± Chen Qiulan asked. Xiao¡¯s mother nodded, ¡°Yes, it will be built next to this greenhouse, covering several acres of land around it. It¡¯s close to home and only a few steps away, making it convenient for Jinli to work. Since raising earthworms, she spends almost every day in the greenhouse doing various things. By next spring, she will have to raise enough earthworms to meet the demands of our village. That¡¯s over one hundred thousand earthworms.¡± Chen Qiulan showed a sympathetic expression, ¡°It¡¯s really hard on Jinli. For the sake of our village, a child like her has put in so much effort. Other children are having fun, and she thinks every day about how to solve the difficulties of the village.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother smiled, ¡°She is doing what she likes to do..¡± Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Combine Harvester (Part 2) Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Combine Harvester (Part 2) Translator: 549690339 After several meetings and discussions, the Village Head and village cadres all agreed that it was more appropriate for the village to establish a company. After all, with shared interests and risks, it would better reflect the cohesion and unity of a village, rather than fostering selfish individuals who only want to enjoy the benefits without taking on any risk. After the village cadres¡¯ meeting, a village-wide meeting took place. However, it was difficult to reach a consensus at the village-wide meeting. Especially for those women who had married into Xiao Family Village within the past few years. They believed that using land as capital to join the company was too risky, and if the company didn¡¯t make any money after joining, they would suffer a great loss if they couldn¡¯t get the land back. Having some land at home, the older family members could rely on farming, growing rice and vegetables, so as to reduce the burden on the younger generation. After the land shares, if the company didn¡¯t make any money and the elderly could do nothing but farm and take care of the children, wouldn¡¯t that increase the burden on the younger people? Moreover, they don¡¯t think planting vegetables can actually make everyone money. If planting vegetables could make money, people would have started doing it already. Instead, the whole village has to follow a child¡¯s proposal to grow vegetables and become busy, and everyone¡¯s land has to be invested in as well. Are they playing house? The people of Xiao Family Village are not so childish, are they? The new daughters-in-law of Xiao Family Village have many opinions. However, they don¡¯t know that their opinions are not important anymore. ¡°Fine, since my opinion doesn¡¯t matter, let¡¯s get a divorce. I¡¯ll take the children and leave. After that, you can listen to whatever Xiao Jinli says; I won¡¯t interfere.¡± ¡°Divorce, divorce! I can¡¯t make decisions on such a big matter at home. I¡¯ve been married into your family for so many years, and you still treat me as an outsider. If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s just be outsiders completely. Also, I gave birth to the child, and I have to take them with me.¡± Such quarrels started one after another since the decision of establishing the company and using household land as capital input. If they use their land as shares, the young wives want a divorce. But if they don¡¯t join the company, they might miss out on any profits if the company starts making money in the future. Finally, many families followed the Village Head and Village Committee¡¯s advice, dividing their land in half, with one part as capital and the other part left for personal cultivation. Out of the more than 100 households in Xiao Family Village, at least 30 of them made such a choice. Xiao Jinli had anticipated this outcome. With the information handed over by the Village Head, Xiao Jinli began preparing to establish a company. Of course, all the related procedures and paperwork for setting up the company were handed over to his father and elder brother. After all, they are the ones who have experience running a company and are very familiar with the process. Of course, establishing a company isn¡¯t something that happens overnight. A single falling leaf heralds the arrival of autumn! As deep autumn arrives, the crops are gradually being harvested! Late rice has already started to be harvested urgently. Compared to summer, autumn weather is more stable, with longer periods of sunshine replacing the constant switching between clouds and blue sky. Before harvesting the late rice, Xiao Wanshan bought a combine harvester, which cost over 30,000 yuan. In addition to harvesting his own rice, it would also be used to harvest others¡¯ rice, charging 60 yuan per mu. Xiao Wanshan bought the harvester not to make money but to make things more convenient for everyone, so he didn¡¯t charge a high price. They checked and found that in places with harvesters, the cost of harvesting one mu of land is 100 yuan. Of course, for rural people, 100 yuan per mu is considered expensive. Hiring someone to work for a day would only cost 30 yuan. Xiao Wanshan set the price after careful calculation, considering the salary of the person operating the harvester and the cost of the machine itself. He didn¡¯t intend to make a huge profit, but he also didn¡¯t want to suffer a loss. Though the people of Xiao Family Village are simple and united, they couldn¡¯t just rely on charity to help the villagers, right? As the saying goes, ¡°A rise in rice brings gratitude, while a peck of rice breeds enmity!¡± Xiao Wanshan knew how to strike a balance. Otherwise, with such a big company in the county town, if the people of Xiao Family Village had developed a greedy nature, they would have taken advantage of him long ago. When Xiao Wanshan first brought the harvester back, the villagers were curious to see it. ¡°Wanshan, what kind of machine is this? It¡¯s so big!¡± one villager asked, reaching out to touch the red paint. Xiao Wanshan smiled and said, ¡°Uncle, this is a combine harvester, a machine for harvesting rice!¡± ¡°This is a rice harvesting machine? How do you use it with the machine being so big?¡± Xiao Junxuan replied, ¡°Great Grandfather, the combine harvester just goes into the field, makes a couple of noises, and the rice is harvested very conveniently. In a few days, when our rice is ready to be harvested, I¡¯ll show you how it¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Haha, good, good, I¡¯d like to see something new at my age.¡± Five days later, when the villagers saw Xiao Wanshan using the harvester to harvest his own rice, they were completely astonished by the efficiency. In less than an hour, five acres of rice were harvested. This efficiency is just too high. For one acre and five of rice, if they were to hire three people to work for a day, it would cost at least 100 yuan or more, and it would also be tiring. However, the biggest drawback of the harvester is that it cannot obtain complete straw; rice is harvested halfway, and after the grains are threshed, the straw is scattered all over the ground in a disorganised manner. Many families in the village now have cows, and not having dry straw for the winter is a problem. Families with cows were hesitant about using the harvester. The Village Head doesn¡¯t have cows, so when he saw Xiao Wanshan¡¯s harvester, he was both intrigued and excited. He had his five acres of land harvested by the machine in less than two hours, and as soon as it was done, he rushed to the grain field to dry the rice. ¡°The efficiency of this harvester is just too amazing. Five acres of land harvested in under two hours.¡± ¡°It saves time and effort but it does cost money. Five acres of land requires 300 yuan. Now that rice is selling for 80 yuan for 100 jin, it costs several hundred jin of rice. Suddenly, I feel a bit reluctant to pay.¡± Normally, the income from farming isn¡¯t much, and spending money on this would make villagers somewhat reluctant. ¡°Yeah, five acres of land, 300 yuan, it¡¯s a bit much. Usually, when we harvest rice, we exchange labor with one another, only spending time and effort without too much money.¡± ¡°Now it saves time and effort but not money. Saving money doesn¡¯t save time and effort so we have to choose one.¡± ¡°But really, harvesting five acres of land in less than two hours saves so much trouble. After the rice harvest, the remaining time can be used to find other work or do odd jobs.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. The time spent exchanging labor for harvesting can be used for odd jobs, and the money won¡¯t be less.. Haha.. Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Combine Harvester Efficiency (First Update) Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Combine Harvester Efficiency (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Everyone saw the efficiency of the Xiao Family¡¯s combine harvester when harvesting rice, and aside from a few families with cattle who needed straw, many people chose to use the combine harvester for harvesting. However, since this harvester was quite large, it would always damage some crops when passing through fields. For this, Xiao Wanshan would always offer some compensation. Although villagers would refuse, Xiao Wanshan insisted on giving, so they accepted it. Xiao Wanshan went to the fields and saw that several villagers had nearly ripened rice, he discussed with them, ¡°Uncle, all your rice is almost ripe, so let¡¯s cut it all together when it¡¯s time. This way, it¡¯ll be more convenient for the machine to move and for everyone. Otherwise, it would be difficult to deal with one family at a time!¡± Seeing such a large harvester, of course, everyone considered this issue and said, ¡°Um, no problem. When the time comes, let¡¯s harvest together.¡± Xiao Wanshan reminded them, ¡°You all need to prepare more snake skin bags for storing the grain. For one mu, you¡¯ll need at least fifteen bags. When loading the grain, if there are more people helping, it¡¯ll be faster.¡± The villagers laughed, ¡°Haha, Wanshan, we¡¯ve all seen how your combine harvester harvests rice. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll prepare more bags. If we don¡¯t, the grains might end up in someone else¡¯s house.¡± For the first joint rice harvest, there were more than ten households, totaling forty mu of land. That day, when the harvest started, people from these families and others in the village all came to see the rare sight, making it even busier than when Xiao Wanshan harvested his own rice. ¡°This machine is convenient for harvesting rice, but it¡¯s not so easy to get it into the fields. The narrow ridges make it difficult for the machine to move. It can only pass through people¡¯s fields, which can cause damage.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way around it. If the machine was like a thresher, we could lift it and take it there with some extra effort. But for such a large machine, even with twenty or thirty people, we don¡¯t know if we could lift it. Also, people would still need to go down and damage the crops anyway.¡± ¡°Everything has its pros and cons. Today, we¡¯re harvesting for ten families, forty or fifty mu of land. I don¡¯t know if we can finish in one day.¡± ¡°We should be able to. Xiao Wanshan said that this combine harvester could harvest over a hundred mu in a day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. But that¡¯s only possible if all the land is connected. Look at our land, your piece is here, and mine is over there. The combine harvester needs time to move between them.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a point. But even if it can harvest forty or fifty mu in a day, it¡¯s already quite impressive. If we were to harvest all this land manually, it would take who knows how long. Now with the combine harvester, once it starts cutting the rice, it can be immediately taken to the grain drying field to dry. It¡¯s so much more convenient.¡± The combine harvester went down to the field early in the morning, and the villagers got up before dawn. In autumn, the weather wasn¡¯t hot, so everyone wasn¡¯t in a hurry to finish the work early. Those who wanted to harvest rice had already prepared snake skin bags and ropes for tyingoff the mouths of the bags. Since not all fields were close to each other, the harvester started with the closest house, which happened to be the Village Chief¡¯s land. This field was 1.5 mu. As soon as the combine harvester entered the field, it circled the area in just a few minutes, moved to the ridge, and then poured out the rice grains from the funnel. The Village Chief and others immediately opened the snake skin bags and filled them with the grains, bag after bag. In less than half an hour, the entire 1.5 mu was harvested, with the Village Chief filling more than twenty bags. Then, several young and strong men carried them to the tricycle, which transported the bags to the grain drying field. Then the combine harvester moved on to the next house. ¡°Earlier, when Wanshan was harvesting his own rice, it didn¡¯t seem this fast. Now it¡¯s much faster.¡± ¡°Hehe, at that time, Wanshan¡¯s harvest was a trial and he was not so experienced. Now that Xiao Wanlin has gotten the hang of it, of course, it¡¯s faster.¡± Xiao Wanlin was the person Xiao Wanshan asked to be a driver. He was also a cousin of Xiao Wanshan¡¯s. Initially, when Xiao Wanshan decided to buy the combine harvester, he considered that neither he nor his son had the time to operate it, so he asked his cousin to be the driver. Xiao Wanlin agreed without any hesitation. Xiao Wanshan planned to pay for him to learn, but Xiao Wanlin refused and paid for his own training. After all, it was a skill, and once learned, it would belong to him. It was unreasonable for Wanshan to both pay him a salary and pay for his learning expenses. That day, the forty to fifty mu of land from ten families was successfully harvested by 3-4 pm. Seeing this, the villagers exclaimed in amazement, ¡°The speed of this harvester is really fast. It¡¯s worth spending some money to harvest the rice quickly.¡± After all, in the eyes of the villagers, rice harvesting was a time-consuming and laborious task. Now that it was done in one go, many people couldn¡¯t help but feel tempted. Spending some money to save time and effort, while avoiding too much hardship, is definitely worth it. As a result, everyone gathered together to inspect their own rice for ripeness, and they discussed and planned to harvest together. Firstly, it was convenient for the harvester to operate, and secondly, when everyone harvested together, there were more people to help with tasks like loading and transporting the rice. ¡°My rice can be harvested around September 22. Are your grains ripe?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been to the field and it looks like mine will be ready by then.¡± ¡°It seems mine will also be ready around that time.¡± ¡°Mine may take a few more days; it¡¯s still a bit green.¡± ¡°Then, let¡¯s harvest together for our few families. For the rest, we¡¯ll see if they want to harvest together.¡± ¡°Yeah, these days, I¡¯ve found a part-time job at Dashi Aqueduct Construction, which pays 35 yuan a day. I estimate it¡¯ll last about a month, so when it¡¯s time to harvest, I can take a day off.¡± ¡°Ah, really? That¡¯s great! A month¡¯s worth of work would earn you over a thousand yuan.¡± ¡°In the past, harvesting rice took a lot of time, and we didn¡¯t have much time to do part-time jobs. Now with this harvester, things are much more convenient.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Although we can¡¯t keep the straw, it¡¯s not an issue since we don¡¯t raise cattle. In the past, we would use it as fertilizer, but now, after cutting, it¡¯s left in the field to decompose directly. It¡¯s more convenient.¡± ¡°However, a few families who raise cattle still need straw. They either exchange harvesting services among themselves or hire people to do the work. Sigh, I heard they don¡¯t really want to raise cattle anymore.¡± ¡°In the past, people raised cattle because they needed them for plowing the fields. Now there are plowing machines, so there¡¯s no need for cattle.¡± ¡°Hehe, nowadays, farming is so convenient. There are plowing machines for plowing the fields, combine harvesters for harvesting rice, and rice transplanters for transplanting rice seedlings. Everything has become mechanized..¡± Chapter 124 - Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Turmoil Over Harvesting in Other Villages 1 (Part 2) Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Turmoil Over Harvesting in Other Villages 1 (Part 2) Translator: 549690339 News of having a combine harvester in Xiao Family Village soon spread to other villages. After all, in this information age, any developments or changes in a village can be instantly known. ¡°I heard there is a harvester in the Xiao Family Village that can harvest forty or fifty mu of land in a single day!¡± ¡°Heavens, forty or fifty mu of land a day, is that for real?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s real. Now, many people in the Xiao Family Village are using the harvester to harvest their lands. It can finish harvesting four or five mu of land in just over an hour.¡± ¡°Who bought the harvester? I heard that harvesters are very expensive, costing several thousand yuan each. Who has that much money to buy one? How much land do you need to harvest to cover the cost?¡± ¡°I heard it was bought by Xiao Wanshan.¡± ¡°Oh, Xiao Wanshan, I heard his family is quite wealthy.¡± ¡°Heh heh, no matter how wealthy they are, this seems like a waste. These machines cost several thousand yuan. How many years and how much land would we have to cultivate to save that much money?¡± ¡°People who have ways to make money don¡¯t need our concern. Besides, after he bought the harvester, it costs sixty yuan per mu to have him harvest for you. If it¡¯s forty or fifty mu per day, that¡¯s an income of two to three thousand yuan. Wow, you don¡¯t realize how much it is until you do the math. A daily income of two or three thousand, and thirty thousand yuan can be earned in just about ten days. See, the cost is recovered quickly.¡± ¡°Ah, now that you mention it, it does seem that way. This machine costing several thousand yuan can cover its cost within just ten days of harvesting rice, and then it will be all profit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you would think. But this machine needs maintenance and gasoline, both of which cost money. Plus, there probably aren¡¯t many people who are willing to buy such an expensive machine. Moreover, where would you find so much land to harvest forty or fifty mu every day?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°However, what I heard is that many people in the village want to have the harvester from Xiao Family Village come to harvest their rice. I wonder if they can get it.¡± ¡°I asked the Village Head, and he talked to the Xiao Family Village. If our village has at least twenty mu of land to be harvested per day, they would be willing to come. However, if it¡¯s just a small plot of a few mu, Xiao Wanshan wouldn¡¯t be willing to come. It costs too much both in time and money to go back and forth for just a small piece of land.¡± ¡°The village head also said that if you want the harvester, go to his office to collect some data, then set a time for the combine harvester from the Xiao Family Village to come.¡± ¡°Sixty yuan per mu, my family has three mu of land, which would cost almost two hundred yuan. To be honest, I¡¯m a bit hesitant. It¡¯s better for my whole family to harvest these three mu ourselves, finishing it in two days.¡± ¡°I have the same idea. My family doesn¡¯t have that much money to spend inviting a harvester. With that money, I could buy more meat for several meals, which is more practical.¡± ¡°Yeah, no matter how fast the harvester is, it still costs money. I don¡¯t know how many people in our village are willing to use the harvester for rice harvesting.¡± ¡°I heard from Xiuxiu that her husband saw the harvester in action in Xiao Family Village. It finished such a large plot of land with just one round. They have seven or eight mu of land and are thinking of getting the harvester!¡± ¡°Their family has a lot of land, so when it comes to exchanging harvest, other families might not be willing. After all, most people have at most four or five mu, and many more only have two or three mu. Who would be willing to exchange like that?¡± ¡°Right, so every year they invite people to harvest their rice; they invite more than a dozen people. But even from early morning to night, it¡¯s still not enough to harvest all.¡± ¡°With so much land, it¡¯s more cost-effective for their family to have the harvester come to harvest than inviting people.¡± ¡°Indeed. I heard from Xiuxiu that their family has already signed up with the village head. There are also several other families with plots of land registered, so the harvester should come.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t know when the village head will set the harvest time, so we can go and have a look.¡± ¡°Xiuxiu said their harvest time was set for September 26th. With so much rice in their family, plus two or three more households, it can be harvested together. ¡± ¡°My family¡¯s rice is also scheduled for harvest around that time.¡± On September 26th, Xiao Wanlin drove the harvester to Li Village. Village Head Li saw Xiao Wanlin and was very happy, ¡°Wanlin, have you had breakfast yet?¡± Xiao Wanlin replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten. Village Head, where is the rice that needs to be harvested? Please show me the way!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The Village Head led him to the field where the rice was to be harvested. But when they arrived there, a problem arose. The harvester had to pass through some land on its way to the rice fields, inevitably damaging some things. This led to the villagers preventing the harvester from passing through. ¡°No way, you can¡¯t go through my land. If your machine passes by, it will damage the stuff in my field.¡± Xiao Wanlin said, ¡°I can compensate for the damaged things.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not enough.¡± Li Dayou seemed somewhat overbearing, ¡°How much can you compensate? At least fifty yuan.¡± Upon hearing this, the Village Head¡¯s face immediately darkened, and he shouted angrily, ¡°Li Dayou, you¡¯re really stretching it. Your several plants of wilted vegetables in the field are worth fifty yuan? Why don¡¯t you just go rob people? It¡¯s more than enough to compensate you with ten yuan.¡± However, Li Dayou insisted, ¡°Ten yuan is not enough. If it¡¯s not fifty, you can¡¯t go through my land.¡± Hearing Li Dayou¡¯s words, Xiuxiu was anxious and angry. With anger, she said, ¡°Li Dayou, don¡¯t be too excessive. How much can these few wilted vegetables of yours be worth? Ten yuan at most. I think you¡¯re not trying to block the harvester. You just don¡¯t like my family. Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯re trying to prevent our rice from being harvested?¡± Li Dayou raised his head stubbornly and said, ¡°I¡¯m dealing with the issue, not the person. Zhou Xiuxiu, you either let the harvester pass through other places or give me fifty yuan if you want to pass through my land.¡± Xiao Wanlin looked around and asked the Village Head, ¡°Village Head, whose land is next to this one? Can the machine pass through there?¡± The Village Head looked at one person in the crowd and asked, ¡°Da Shan, can the machine pass through your field!¡± Li Dashan stepped forward, frowning, ¡°Village Head, my field is planted with rice. If such a big machine passes through, it¡¯s hard to say how much rice will be damaged. This won¡¯t do.¡± Xiao Wanlin said, ¡°I can compensate for this. Also, although the machine is big, it doesn¡¯t cause too much damage when passing through. Plus?¡± He looked at the rice in the field and continued, ¡°Your rice is also quite ripe. How about this, when I pass through, I¡¯ll also harvest this section of your field, and give you additional compensation. What do you think?¡± When the villagers heard this, they immediately laughed and said, ¡°Ha ha, that¡¯s not bad. Da Shan, your rice was going to be harvested in a few days anyway. Now the harvester will do it for free, and you¡¯ll even get some compensation. This is a win for you.¡± After listening, Li Dashan frowned for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.. Chapter 125 - Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Turmoil in Harvesting from Other Villages 2 (Part 1) Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Turmoil in Harvesting from Other Villages 2 (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 Li Dashan thought about it briefly and agreed. After all, his rice was almost ripe, and it would only be harvested three or four days later. Now that the combine harvester will go through their field with some compensation, it¡¯s quite a good deal. However, he never expected the problem to arise from Li Dashan¡¯s wife. ¡°No, I don¡¯t agree! Our rice is still green, cutting it now would be a waste,¡± Li Dashan¡¯s wife said. Xiao Wanlin frowned slightly and said, ¡°Sister-in-law, I¡¯ll give you some compensation.¡± Li Dashan¡¯s wife rolled her eyes and asked, ¡°Oh, how much can you compensate?¡± ¡°Five yuan!¡± Xiao Wanshan estimated. ¡°Five yuan?¡± Li Dashan¡¯s wife¡¯s voice suddenly became louder, ¡°Are you kidding? Five yuan can only buy a few pounds of food.¡± Xiao Wanlin said, ¡°Sister-in-law, this five yuan compensation is enough for your unripe rice.¡± ¡°No, five is too little,¡± Li Dashan¡¯s wife disagreed, ¡°At least fifteen¡­ Fifteen yuan, yes, fifteen yuan.¡± It was apparent that she was trying to take advantage. However, Xiao Wanlin shook his head and said, ¡°No, ten yuan. I can¡¯t do more than that.¡± Although he was helping his cousin with the work, 60 yuan per mu for the service was already very low, and he had to pay his cousin a salary ¨C his cousin was hardly making any money. If there was a high compensation for each place he passed, the loss would be too great. ¡°No, fifteen yuan.¡± Li Dashan¡¯s wife was persistent, ¡°I won¡¯t let you pass without fifteen yuan.¡± Li Dayou wanted fifty yuan as a compensation for crossing the field. Now she wants another fifteen yuan. Was it necessary to compensate every time they went through a field? How much would that cost him in a day? Xiao Wanlin¡¯s attitude became more assertive, and he directly said, ¡°It¡¯s not possible. If you all don¡¯t want to make way and I have to pay a high compensation for every place I pass, I might as well not take this job. Sister-in-law, your family¡¯s rice is already almost ripe. After harvesting, you get the rice back and still demand such high compensation. This fifteen yuan could buy all of these rice. Since your village invited me to harvest, but none of you are willing to make way, then I won¡¯t accept the work in your village.¡± Upon hearing Xiao Wanlin¡¯s words, Zhou Xiuxiu¡¯s face changed. She said anxiously, ¡°No, we have already asked you to come. You must get the work done.¡± Xiao Wanlin spread his hands and said, ¡°I accepted your village¡¯s work, but the people in your village don¡¯t make way. I have no choice. With such a big machine, it can¡¯t fly, and I can¡¯t carry the harvester over.¡± Zhou Xiuxiu looked at Li Dashan¡¯s wife and said, ¡°Sister-in-law Lan, just let the machine pass. They will help you harvest the rice and save you some work, plus a bit of compensation. We plan to harvest all seven mu of our land with the combine harvester.¡± However, Li Dashan¡¯s wife still insisted, ¡°As I said, if you want to pass, you need to compensate fifteen yuan. Without this money, I won¡¯t let it pass.¡± Li Dashan¡¯s wife¡¯s insistence on fifteen yuan was because she saw an opportunity to take advantage. The property was still theirs, and they could get extra money effortlessly. Such good fortune doesn¡¯t come by every day. All the paths to Zhou Xiu¡¯s rice field required high-priced compensation from both families. Someone suggested, ¡°I think we should do this: let Master Xiao pay half and Zhou Xiu¡¯s family pay half. If we keep this stalemate, the sun will be at its highest.¡± This proposal was immediately echoed by some people. ¡°I think this is feasible.¡± But Zhou Xiu disagreed. She said, ¡°No, why should I pay this money? I invited people to come for the harvest and already paid.¡± The meaning behind her words, was that this money had to come from Xiao Wanlin. Xiao Wanlin looked around, feeling the irony. People in Li Village were somewhat selfish and greedy, unlike Xiao Family Village, where unity and harmony prevailed. He smiled and said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t take your business.¡± Li Village¡¯s land was like Xiao Family Village¡¯s, where each family¡¯s land was scattered. Having finished harvesting this field, they had to move on to the next. If they were successfully imposed upon this time, would they have to pay a high price every time they passed a field? Would there be any profit for his cousin? His cousin Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family did have some money, but they bought the harvester to make things more convenient for the people of Xiao Family Village, not to allow people from other villages to take advantage. After finishing speaking, Xiao Wanlin turned around, intending to leave. Zhou Xiu¡¯s husband¡¯s face changed, and he immediately shouted, ¡°Xiao Wanlin, you can¡¯t leave! How will we harvest our rice if you leave?¡± Xiao Wanlin laughed and said, ¡°How else can you harvest? You can still do it the way you used to ¨C before, didn¡¯t you always hire people to work? You can do that now. When I accepted your village¡¯s job, I didn¡¯t expect the road toll to be so high. My cousin runs a small business and can¡¯t afford to make a loss.¡± Everyone understood what he meant by saying this: he was mocking the villagers for being greedy. ¡°Ah, Wanlin, it¡¯s just a misunderstanding,¡± the Village Head said with a smile, ¡°Both Dayou and Dashan just feel bad about the things being wasted in their fields.¡± Xiao Wanlin nodded and said, ¡°You¡¯re right, so I choose not to waste any more. That way, they won¡¯t have to feel bad. Village Head, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Zhou Xiu¡¯s face immediately became ugly. She walked over and grabbed his clothes, shouting, ¡°No, you can¡¯t go now. You¡¯ve come here, and you must harvest the rice in my field.¡± Xiao Wanlin¡¯s face darkened immediately, ¡°Zhou Xiu, you have to understand, it¡¯s not that I won¡¯t harvest, but the road fees to your field are too high; I can¡¯t afford them.¡± Zhou Xiu turned her head and yelled at Li Dashan¡¯s wife, ¡°Zhou Lan, your land is not made of gold or silver. What¡¯s the big deal about letting the machine pass? You don¡¯t lose much. Don¡¯t be so overbearing.¡± Li Dashan¡¯s wife angrily replied, ¡°Zhou Xiu, of course you don¡¯t care because it¡¯s not your field that¡¯s being wasted. I told you fifteen yuan is fine, but now, no matter how much you pay, I won¡¯t let the machine pass.¡± Zhou Xiu¡¯s husband pursed his lips and looked at Li Dashan, shouting loudly, ¡°Li Dashan, are you going to let your wife make a scene? Our families have no ill will towards each other, right? Can¡¯t we make it easier for our rice harvest today?¡± Li Dashan just wanted to take advantage, so he let his wife make a fuss. But now that people were questioning him face to face, he just couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. He yelled at his own wife, ¡°Stop it! Let the machine pass.¡± He then looked at Xiao Wanlin and said, ¡°You said five yuan for compensation, is that a deal?¡± Xiao Wanlin nodded, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Alright, then let it pass..¡± Chapter 126 - Chapter 126: Chapter 126: The Harvest Storm in the Outside Village 3 (Second More) Chapter 126: Chapter 126: The Harvest Storm in the Outside Village 3 (Second More) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli was in the field, planting vegetables, when she suddenly heard someone shout, ¡°No good, Uncle Wanlin has been beaten up in Li Village.¡± ¡°What?¡± Xiao Jinli immediately stopped what she was doing, stepped out of the greenhouse and saw the village head and other villagers rushing out of the village. Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, I just heard someone say Uncle Wanlin was beaten in Li Village. What happened?¡± Xiao Wanlin, who worked for her family and was her uncle, was a close relative. The village head frowned slightly and said, ¡°I¡¯m not too clear on it either, I¡¯m rushing to check it out.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Then I¡¯m coming too!¡± The village head shook his head and said, ¡°Jinli, we will go and check it out first. You don¡¯t need to get involved.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°No, I¡¯m worried about my uncle. I want to go and The village head sighed lightly and said, ¡°All right.¡± Everyone got in the car, and Xiao Qingshan drove straight to Li Village. Upon arriving at Li Village, they rushed to the scene of the incident after asking for the location. Upon arrival, they saw a large crowd gathered, and from a distance, they could hear the argument going on there. ¡°Li Dayou, don¡¯t you go too far! On what grounds do you resort to violence?¡± the village chief scolded loudly, ¡°The combine harvester did not pass through your field nor damaged anything of yours, what are you raging about now?¡± ¡°Indeed. Li Dayou, you¡¯ve been blocking the machine from passing through your field. It passed through Li Dashan¡¯s field instead, so why are you so angry?¡± One of the villagers tried to mediate, ¡°Not to mention, you attacked someone out of the blue, which is wrong.¡± Li Dayou spat out defiantly, ¡°They initially said they would pass through my field and promised to give me fifty yuan. But now they passed through other routes, causing me a loss of fifty yuan. This is their fault.¡± The villagers, ¡® . The village chief¡¯s face turned pale with anger, he pointed at Li Dayou and yelled, ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re stirring up trouble! They never agreed to give you the fifty yuan from the start. What kind of loss are you talking about?¡± Li Dayou insisted, ¡°Hmph, if I say I lost fifty, then it¡¯s fifty. Now if they don¡¯t compensate me, Xiao Wanlin isn¡¯t going to leave Li Village.¡± The villagers from Xiao Family Village listened to Li Dayou¡¯s words, their anger instantly boiling over. The village head of Xiao Family Village strode forward, and said sternly, ¡°I¡¯d like to see how you plan to keep Wanlin from leaving Li Village.¡± Xiao Jinli immediately spotted Xiao Wanlin, who had been beaten to the point of swelling and bruising. Anger surged in her eyes, and she walked over to Xiao Wanlin and asked, ¡°Little Uncle, how are you? Are there injuries other than your face?¡± Upon seeing Xiao Jinli, Xiao Wanlin asked, ¡°Jinli, why are you here? Don¡¯t worry about me, I just took a couple of unexpected hits to the face.¡± Xiao Qingshan, suppressing his anger, asked, ¡°Uncle Wanlin, why did he hit you?¡± pointing at Li Dayou. Xiao Wanlin did not hide anything, ¡°Initially the machine had to pass through his field. He requested for a compensation of fifty yuan before he would let the machine pass. I did not agree. Then, it passed through someone else¡¯s field. After I finished harvesting today¡¯s land, I was planning to go back after a short rest. Suddenly this man rushed at me and threw me a couple of punches. He said I owed him fifty yuan and refused to let me leave.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind!¡± Xiao Qingshan roared at Li Dayou in rage, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a better way to profit? If you¡¯re so desperate for money, why don¡¯t you go rob a bank?¡± Xiao Jinli looked at Li Dayou, her eyes cold, ¡°Qingshan, call the police!¡± Xiao Qingshan nodded and replied, ¡°Okay!¡± Then he took out his cellphone to call the police. The village head of Li Village instantly tried to intervene, ¡°Let¡¯s talk this through, it¡¯s not good to call the police over such a small matter.¡± Xiao Jinli coldly retorted, ¡°Being attacked and injured unprovoked, ending up with a swollen and bruised face, is that a small incident?¡± The village head of Li Village immediately tried to defuse the situation with a sheepish smile, ¡°Li Dayou is a bit impulsive, but he isn¡¯t a bad person. What if I make him apologize to Master Xiao, how about that?¡± If they reported this to the police, it would tarnish not only Li Dayou¡¯s reputation but also the reputation of the entire Li Village. As the village chief, he had to consider the bigger picture. However, just as the words of the Li Village¡¯s village chief fell, Li Dayou roared angrily at Xiao Jinli, ¡°Shut your trap, you little brat! Believe it or not, say another word and I¡¯ll beat you so hard your buttocks will bloom.¡± Li Dayou couldn¡¯t understand why he felt such anger boiling up within him, wanting to vent by hitting and cursing someone. Upon hearing his words, the people from Xiao Family Village began glaring fiercely at him. To the people of Xiao Family Village, you could curse at them but you absolutely could not insult Xiao Jinli. Xiao Qingshan said furiously, ¡°You dare.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at Li Dayou¡¯s expression, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. She felt that Li Dayou¡¯s demeanor was very abnormal, yes, he indeed seemed like a lunatic. Oh, not only a lunatic, but also showing signs of mania. She turned to the village chief of Li Village, ¡°Does he usually beat his wife and children, even when he¡¯s sober?¡± Before the village chief could respond, a villager piped in, ¡°Yes, he does. Any little thing that doesn¡¯t go his way, he starts beating his wife and children.¡± Li Dayou assaulting his wife and children wasn¡¯t surprising. As long as something didn¡¯t go his way, he would start throwing things around and abuse his wife and children. At first, everyone tried to dissuade him. But after their advice, he became even more severe in his treatment towards his wife and children. Over time, they stopped intervening. Xiao Jinli frowned tightly as she asked again, ¡°So his wife just tolerates this and doesn¡¯t ask for a divorce?¡± In this day and age, isn¡¯t divorce a common thing? Any woman who was long term victim to domestic violence, who could bear it? Wouldn¡¯t she want a divorce? As soon as Li Dayou heard Xiao Jinli¡¯s question, his anger flared again. With a reddened face, he charged at Xiao Jinli without a word, raising his fist aiming for her head. He also shouted angrily, ¡°Shut up, you little brat!¡± Seeing Li Dayou¡¯s violent act, everyone was taken aback and didn¡¯t have time to stop him. Xiao Qingshan roared, ¡°You dare!¡± Just as Li Dayou launched himself forward, Xiao Siqian quickly shielded Xiao Jinli behind himself, raised his long leg, and aimed a fierce kick at Li Dayou¡¯s stomach, coldly saying, ¡°You¡¯re just a mad dog, ready to bite anyone!¡± Li Dayou was instantly kicked two to three meters away. ¡°Thump!¡± He fell flat on his butt. The kick to his stomach caused him to convulse in pain, combined with the severe pain from the fall, his face contorted in agony, he couldn¡¯t help but yell, ¡°Ouch!¡± Everyone watched this scene, their expressions slightly dumbstruck.. Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Mental Illness (First Update) Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Mental Illness (First Update) Translator: 549690339 As Li Dayou fell on his buttocks two or three meters away, the villagers started chattering in surprise after watching him. ¡°This young man has such great strength.¡± ¡°Yeah, being able to kick someone so far away, how strong must he be?¡± ¡°Has Li Dayou gone crazy? He starts fights with everyone and now he even wants to hit a child.¡± ¡°Yeah, have you noticed that something¡¯s off with Li Dayou¡¯s mental state?¡± ¡°Yes, I also think there¡¯s something wrong with Li Dayou¡¯s mental health. When he used to beat his wife and children, we thought it was just a violent temper. But now, he beats people all the time, even strangers. That¡¯s not normal, is it?¡± ¡°Yeah, which normal person swears and beats people so easily? Perhaps Li Dayou really has a mental illness.¡± ¡°If he has mental illness, that would be terrifying. It seems his illness makes him prone to violence, always hitting people. What if, by chance, he beats someone to death? How could we deal with that?¡± ¡°Yeah, the child is so young, and he wanted to hit him without hesitation. Look at his eyes, obviously red, and he¡¯s so impulsive and violent. If he didn¡¯t control his strength, the child wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it.¡± Everyone was suspecting that Li Dayou had a mental illness. Oh, it¡¯s not just suspicion, they were certain of it. Li Dayou was lying on the ground, howling in pain. Some children, out of curiosity, wanted to join in the commotion but were held back by the adults, not allowing them to come close. This Li Dayou was a mentally ill person who could become violent. What if he hurt the children? What would they do? Xiao Village Chief frowned and asked Chief Li, ¡°Is this man mentally ill?¡± Chief Li shook his head, ¡°We don¡¯t know?¡± Xiao Village Chief said, ¡°I don¡¯t care if he¡¯s mentally ill or not, but he beat Xiao Wanlin for no reason, and he must compensate for it!¡± At this moment, Xiao Jinli whispered a few words into the ear of Xiao Village Chief. Xiao Village Chief¡¯s frown deepened. He asked again, ¡°Have you seen his wife and child lately?¡± The villagers were slightly stunned, not understanding why Xiao Village Chief suddenly wanted to ask about Li Dayou¡¯s wife and child. They looked at each other. Xiao Village Chief didn¡¯t hear the villagers¡¯ answer, so he became more anxious and asked again, ¡°Have you or not?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Hongxiu and Xiaoliang for nearly a month.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I saw them too. Li Davou said that he beat Honzxiu and the child, so they went back to their maiden family a month ago.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right. In the past, when he beat Hongxiu and the child, they would go back to their maiden family, but Li Dayou would come to fetch them after two or three days. In general, Hongxiu¡¯s time at her maiden family wouldn¡¯t last more than one week.¡± ¡°Sigh, Hongxiu is really unlucky. After being beaten by Li Dayou, she went back to her maiden family and tried to get a divorce, but her family wouldn¡¯t let her. They said it would embarrass them and lose face, and they wouldn¡¯t recognize her as their daughter. They also said that it¡¯s not a big deal for a woman to be beaten, just lie down for a few days and she would be fine.¡± ¡°Ever since marrying Li Dayou, Hongxiu would be beaten every few days. It¡¯s said that the most severe beating left her with three broken ribs, and she wasn¡¯t even allowed to go to the hospital. She just rested in bed for ten days to half a month and went back to work.¡± ¡°Thinking about it now, Li Dayou is simply not human.¡± ¡°Right, now that Hongxiu has been missing for a month, you see that Li Dayou doesn¡¯t seem to be in a hurry. Before, as soon as Hongxiu went back to her maiden family, he would be anxious, buy some gifts, and go to Hongxiu¡¯s family in a respectful manner to bring her back.¡± ¡°Yes, something is clearly not normal.¡± The more everyone talked, the more uncertain they felt, and a bad premonition began to creep into their hearts. Chief Li listened to everyone¡¯s discussion, and his heart sank, feeling a little uneasy. But he still asked, ¡°Changgui, why are you asking this?¡± Xiao Village Chief said straightforwardly, ¡°As you have said, this man often beats his wife and children, and now his wife and child have been missing for over a month. He doesn¡¯t seem to be worried, which is clearly not normal. I suggest you go to his house and check it out.¡± Chief Li and some of the villagers¡¯ faces changed at once. Li Dayou, who was lying on the ground, heard them talking about going to his house and immediately disregarded the pain. With red eyes, he became extremely agitated and said, ¡°No, you can¡¯t go!¡± Then, he wanted to rush up and hit Xiao Village Chief again. But this time, he was held back by several strong men from Li Village. Now, even the most foolish person could tell that there must be something going on at his house. If Hongxiu and her child had really been¡­ The villagers didn¡¯t dare to think further. Chief Li, looking at Li Dayou who was trying to pounce on Xiao Village Chief, slightly lowered his face and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go and have a look. Li Chunliang, you guys keep him under control.¡± If things were as they suspected, Li Dayou would not only be dangerous, but potentially a murderer. They couldn¡¯t let him escape easily, or else he would pose a great threat to the villagers. Then Chief Li led everyone to Li Dayou¡¯s house. Li Dayou¡¯s house was a two-story, reinforced concrete building with a large front yard and an iron gate. Looking at it, their living conditions seemed okay. The iron gate of the yard was locked, and Chief Li searched Li Dayou¡¯s body for the key, ignoring his violent struggle. As they opened the gate, they saw the messy yard. There was a chicken coop on the left side, with chicken droppings all over the ground and no space to step on. On the right side was a bathroom with two urine buckets. Rural people used them as fertilizer for their vegetables. ¡°It smells so bad!¡± Someone stepped into the yard and caught a whiff of a nauseating odor. ¡°Why is it so smelly?¡± ¡°There¡¯s chicken poop all over the ground, of course it stinks.¡± ¡°No, this doesn¡¯t smell like chicken poop, it¡¯s more like¡­ it¡¯s more like a dead rat.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I also think it smells like the odor of dead rats. But how many rats must have died to create such a stench?¡± At this time, someone suddenly understood the situation and whispered, ¡°What if it¡¯s not the smell of dead rats, but¡­?¡± The person next to him shivered, his back hairs standing on end, unable to believe it. He stammered, ¡°No¡­ No way, right?¡± In fact, the villagers present had a vague guess in their hearts, but they still couldn¡¯t quite believe it. Chief Li¡¯s brow furrowed tightly. He then noticed the young girl from Xiao Family Village, whose facial expression remained unchanged, but her deep black eyes flickered with a hint of ruthlessness. She pulled Qing Shan¡¯s sleeve and gestured with her eyes for him to head straight to the backyard. However, not only was the iron gate of Li Dayou¡¯s yard locked, but the front door of the house was also locked. If they wanted to go to the backyard, they had to pass through the front door. Qing Shan asked Chief Li, ¡°Chief, please open the door.¡±Chief Li took out the key to the front door and was about to open it. Just at this moment, something unexpected happened! Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Murder Case 1 (Second Update) Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Murder Case 1 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Li Dayou broke free from the grasp of a few people, dashed toward Chief Li, snatched the key from his hand, and then in two or three steps, reached the well and threw the key right into it. Everyone, ¡® . Well, the cat¡¯s out of the bag now. Obviously, something was not right at Li Dayou¡¯s house. Chief Li regained his composure with a blue face of anger, and shouted at Li Dayue, ¡°Li Dayou, what are you doing?¡± At this moment, a hint of smugness appeared in Li Dayou¡¯s eyes. He said, ¡°This is the key to my house. I can do whatever I want with it. But what about you people? Did you ask for my permission to come to my house?¡± Chief Li didn¡¯t want to argue with him anymore. He said bluntly, ¡°Li Dayou, whether you agree or not, we are definitely going into your house today.¡± Immediately after, he ordered, ¡°Li Chunliang, you and some others, hold him down. We are breaking down the door!¡± Li Dayou then roared, ¡°You dare!¡± Chief Li declared, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t we dare? Li Dayou, if you weren¡¯t guilty and afraid, why wouldn¡¯t you open the door? Why throw away the key? I¡¯m telling you, if you don¡¯t confess where Zhou Hongxiu and Xiaoliang have gone, we will search your entire house inside and out!¡± Li Dayou¡¯s strength was extraordinary. Li Chunliang and three or four others failed to hold him down. Li Dayou, while running, yelled loudly, ¡°I already said, my wife took the children back to her maiden home.¡± Then, he found an iron rod leaning against the chicken coop and swung it wildly at everyone. The timid, especially women, turned pale with fear when they saw Li Dayou¡¯s abnormal mental state, and they screamed in horror. This iron rod could kill someone if it struck them. ¡°Li Dayou, what are you doing? Put down the iron rod immediately,¡± Chief Li urgently ordered. ¡°You all get out of my house right now, or don¡¯t blame me for being impolite!¡± Li Dayou¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and his expression was extremely agitated, as he swung the iron rod wildly, keeping everyone at a distance. The villagers of Li Village were now one hundred percent certain that Li Dayou was mentally ill and severely so. In the past, when he had episodes, he would only beat his wife and children, and no one thought it was abnormal. Now, with his wife and children gone, he starts attacking others when triggered. With bloodshot eyes, Li Dayou suddenly stared at Xiao Jinli, who was standing next to Chief Xiao, and raised the iron rod to strike her, shouting, ¡°I¡¯ll kill you! If it weren¡¯t for your big mouth, no one would have paid attention to the whereabouts of my damn wife. Yes, only by killing you, nobody would know about my wife¡¯s whereabouts.¡± As everyone watched Li Dayou¡¯s actions and listened to his words, their pupils contracted violently. They all tensed up, with some even closing their eyes, not daring to watch the next moment. Xiao Siqian immediately pulled Xiao Jinli behind him, his whole body tense and his face extremely serious and alert. He could handle a dozen ordinary people. But the man facing him was clearly an unreasonable madman. As Li Dayou approached with the iron rod, Xiao Siqian rushed forward. With a swift movement, he dashed past Li Dayou¡¯s shoulder, raised his arm, and chopped with his palm at Li Dayou¡¯s wrist. ¡°Clang!¡± The iron rod in Li Dayou¡¯s hand was instantly knocked down. Xiao Jinli swiftly picked it up and quickly retreated a few steps, both of them working in perfect harmony. Seeing that Li Dayou no longer held the iron rod, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Without the iron rod, Li Dayou¡¯s danger and threat were greatly reduced. With so many people, they could suppress even the most frenzied Li Dayou. However, people also looked at Xiao Siqian with strange eyes. The young man was really brave. Moreover, his skills were good; otherwise, he couldn¡¯t have knocked the iron rod out of Li Dayou¡¯s hand so easily. After having the iron rod taken away by that cursed girl, and having lost his sanity, Li Dayou¡¯s only thought now was to kill her. If she died, no one would pursue Zhou Hongxiu¡¯s whereabouts any further. His expression was chaotic and he struggled constantly, trying to break free of Xiao Siqian¡¯s hold. But the other man¡¯s strength was clearly greater. Xiao Jinli held the iron rod, weighed it, and then solemnly said to Chief Li, ¡°Kick down the door.¡± Chief Li¡¯s expression hesitated for a moment, but before he could react, Xiao Jinli raised her leg and kicked the door hard. Everyone heard a ¡°crack¡± sound. Obviously, the door was broken. The villagers of Li Village were shocked by Xiao Jinli¡¯s foot strength. ¡°This child is so strong. Her kick broke the door!¡± ¡°Even adults would have trouble doing that! Li Dayou¡¯s door, although a wooden one, is still very sturdy. For us adults, it would take three or four of us to kick it down.¡± After Xiao Jinli broke the door with a ¡°crack,¡± she immediately kicked it again with her second kick. With a thud, half of the wooden door was cracked open. Then, a nauseating smell wafted out from inside the house. This stench completely masked the smell in the courtyard. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Many people couldn¡¯t stand the stench, and immediately vomited. ¡°It¡¯s so stinky!¡± ¡°How can it smell so bad?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too stinky.¡± Everyone covered their noses and exclaimed incredulously. Xiao Jinli also covered her nose as the stench overwhelmed her. She then walked toward the back room with the smell guiding her. Chief Li and others followed closely. The house¡¯s back room was a low building. Usually, this room was used to store fertilizer, and it looked like a small septic tank. That strong nauseating smell came from this septic tank. Xiao Jinli pointed at the septic tank and said, ¡°Chief Li, let someone search in there!¡± Startled, Chief Li asked in disbelief, ¡°Child, are you serious? Search in here?¡± At this time, Chief Xiao spoke with a serious expression, ¡°Li Fu, let someone take something and search.¡± No one mentioned what they were looking for, but everyone knew what it was. Chief Li¡¯s face turned pale, he wanted to deny the truth but had to face the terrifying reality. Chief Li tried to find someone to take something and search, but everyone he asked refused, their faces pale. No one had the courage! They were all scared too. Unable to call anyone, Chief Li had no choice but to take an iron shovel from the corner, and with a village guard, proceeded together. As the iron shovel and the village guard¡¯s wooden stick went down, the stench became even more intense. After a while, someone shouted in horror, ¡°Look, what¡¯s floating up?¡± ¡°Why does it look like hair?¡± Everyone felt terror rising in their hearts! Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Murder Case 2 (Part 1) Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Murder Case 2 (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 With the siren wailing from the Yamen, two of their cars drove toward Li Village. Li Village, as a whole, was plunged into panic. ¡°Who could have guessed that Zhou Hongxiu and her child didn¡¯t go back to her maiden family and were killed by Li Dayou instead?¡± ¡°Yeah, not only did they kill them, but he also dismembered them. Didn¡¯t even leave their bodies intact.¡± ¡°Li Dayou is so ruthless. Before, we just thought he liked beating his wife and children. Who could have thought he would actually kill his wife and children too? He¡¯s not even human.¡¯ ¡°Li Dayou must really have a mental illness. Before, when he had an episode, he would just beat his wife and children. No one noticed or realized it. After all, before he got married, he was polite to everyone. But after getting married, his temper changed drastically. Who knew his violent temper was due to mental illness? So terrifying.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s terrifying. Zhou Hongxiu and her child are so pitiable, being killed by their husband and father in the middle of the night.¡± Li Dayou had already been subdued. Xiao Village Chief and the others never expected that the incident of Xiao Wanlin being beaten would lead to such a major case. At this moment, the faces of Xiao Village Chief, Xiao Qingshan, and the others were pale, and their expressions revealed fear and horror. Just thinking about the things they had found back then made them nauseous and scared. Xiao Qingshan whispered, ¡°Jinli, how did you find out that Li Dayou had mental illness? And how could you guess that his wife and child were killed by him?¡± None of the people in Li Village noticed it, but Jinli, a child, could see it. Jinli said, ¡°When Li Dayou was beating someone, his eyes were clearly red, his emotions were agitated, and his temper was explosive. His expression was clearly not normal, so I guessed he might have a mental illness. As for him killing his wife and child, it was because I learned from the villagers that he often beat his wife and children, so I asked a question, and who thought that it would lead to such a case.¡± From the villagers¡¯ mouths, he knew that Li Dayou often beat his wife and children, but he didn¡¯t have any conflicts or disagreements with other villagers. But today, he suddenly acted unreasonably and bullied Xiao Wanlin, starting with beating, and even going after a child like Jinli. It was clear that he had a violent tendency, and his condition was abnormal, like a long-term lack of venting, desperately seeking an outlet. Xiao Qingshan patted his chest and said, ¡°Li Dayou¡¯s mental illness is too scary. He can kill and still deal with it calmly. He dismembered the bodies and put them in the septic tank and told the outside world that his wife and children had gone back to their maiden home. For more than a month, no one discovered anything. Even though the strong pungent smell was spreading outside, no one thought about it.¡± Xiao Village Chief said with a heavy face, ¡°We¡¯ve always heard that Li Dayou loved to beat people, but who could have thought he could kill too.¡± For rural people, killing is simply terrifying. Just as they were about to walk towards the village entrance, Officer Li came over, glanced at Jinli, who seemed as calm as ever, and saw a flash of surprise in his eyes. Then his expression turned serious, and he looked at Xiao Village Chief and said, ¡°Xiao Village Chief, this case was discovered by you guys, so we might need you to go to the police station to give a statement.¡± Xiao Village Chief nodded, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll be there when needed.¡± Officer Li looked at Jinli again, his expression a bit puzzled, and asked, ¡°I heard from the others that it was this child who discovered that Li Dayou was mentally abnormal and guessed that his wife and child were killed.¡± Xiao Village Chief nodded, ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Fearing that Officer Li would think too much, he quickly added, ¡°Officer Li, this child is smart, but it¡¯s just a guess.¡± Officer Li smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Village Chief, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m just asking. Even if you didn¡¯t tell me, I already knew that this child is very smart. I heard that last semester in Taohua Town Central Primary School, there was a kid who participated in the Math Olympiad and won the county¡¯s special prize. Was that you, little friend, Xiao Jinli?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, it was me!¡± ¡°Haha, I guessed it right away. There¡¯s only one person named Xiao Jinli in all of Taohua Town!¡± Officer Li laughed, and then his expression changed, becoming more serious, and he asked, ¡°Kid, I heard you went to the septic tank too. Were you scared?¡± Xiao Jinli shook his head, ¡°I wasn¡¯t. I¡¯m brave and not afraid!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Officer Li nodded, ¡°Alright, will you go with us later to give a statement at the station?¡± He heard that many adults were scared by this incident, not to mention the child. Especially those villagers who went to find it with them, when they saw the hair and head floating up in the septic tank, several of them fainted on the spot. For them, it was a truly horrifying nightmare. He thought that Jinli was also scared and was considering whether to let him go to the Yamen to give a statement. Who would have thought that this child would be more calm and bold than anyone else? ¡°You guys find a place to rest well first, and we¡¯ll go to the station together later to give a statement. I still have some work to do now, so I¡¯ll go take care of it first.¡± Officer Li said. Xiao Village Chief nodded and then thought of a question, and asked, ¡°Officer Li, will Li Dayou be arrested? I¡¯ve heard that people with mental illness don¡¯t get arrested.¡± Officer Li said seriously, ¡°This kind of case of mentally ill killing others is a special kind of criminal. When they commit a crime, they have absolutely no sense of reason and cannot judge the severity of the matter. For such criminals, we can only first send them to the mental hospital for treatment, and then decide whether they need to be imprisoned.¡± Having said that, he paused for a moment and then reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worrv, either way, he won¡¯t be able to get out and harm others. He is the type of dangerous person who must always be supervised and managed.¡± Xiao Village Chief breathed a sigh of relief and said, ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good. As long as he doesn¡¯t appear again, I¡¯m relieved. You have no idea how when Li Dayou¡¯s mental illness flared up, he was always staring at Jinli. I¡¯m really afraid that because mentally ill people aren¡¯t arrested, what if he runs to our village and hurts Jinli again?¡±. Officer Li smiled and said, ¡°Since he killed two people, there¡¯s no chance for him to come out again, so you guys can relax. In fact, because you guys discovered this case, our organization could possibly give you a reward. If it weren¡¯t for you noticing something was amiss, Li Dayou might have killed again, with dire consequences!¡± Xiao Village Chief immediately waved his hand and said, ¡°Forget about the reward. Our discovery of this incident was purely a coincidence. As long as you don¡¯t let this person out who harms others, we¡¯re already grateful.¡± Xiao Village Chief meant every word.. Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Two Old Women Fight (Second Update) Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Two Old Women Fight (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Li Dayou¡¯s case was quickly solved. The police didn¡¯t disclose the process of him killing his wife and child, as it was too horrifying. The reason he killed his wife and child was that the child suddenly developed a high fever at night and Zhou Hongxiu woke him up to take the child to the hospital immediately. Who would have thought that Dayou, being woken up in the middle of the night, would become furious and throw a punch at her head, striking a critical area, knocking her unconscious on the spot. Seeing Zhou Hongxiu passed out, his anger still hadn¡¯t subsided, and he felt very irritated, wanting to vent his violent outburst, so he got out of bed, found an axe in the woodshed, and aimed it at Zhou Hongxiu¡¯s neck¡­ While killing Zhou Hongxiu, his son woke up from unconsciousness. Li Dayou decided to just kill his son too, once and for all. Subsequently, after the murder, he regained his senses. Seeing blood all over the bed and the room, he felt a moment of panic and fear, but somehow, a sense of excitement and thrill surged in his heart. Afterward, he calmly handled the bodies of the mother and son, and then threw them into the septic tank. The next day, he told others that his wife and child had returned to their maiden home. Because Zhou Hongxiu often returned to her maiden home after being beaten, no one went to her maiden home to verify her whereabouts. Although the police didn¡¯t release the details of Li Dayou¡¯s murder, the villagers could still vaguely guess what had happened. It was so shocking and terrifying to them. Having a mentally ill murderer nearby who appeared normal made everyone¡¯s hair stand on end. If he were to lash out at them because of a slight unhappiness, they wouldn¡¯t even know how they¡¯d die. In front of Li Dayou¡¯s door, officials from the Yamen and the mental hospital were about to take him away, but his parents blocked their way. Granny Li even lay on the ground, crying and shouting, ¡°No, you can¡¯t take my son away. If you want to take him away, you have to step over my body!¡± Rural people, being poorly educated, believed that a killer should pay with his life! Moreover, her son had killed two lives. She was afraid that once her son was taken away, he would lose his life. While crying out loud, she also cursed, ¡°That Zhou Hongxiu¡¯s a wicked woman, a curse, a harbinger of doom! My good son changed after marrying her. She ruined my son, who¡¯s taking revenge for himself. What¡¯s wrong with that? You can¡¯t arrest my son; he¡¯s a well-behaved child. Oh, why is my life so miserable? My son married a disaster, and now even in death, she won¡¯t leave my son alone. Oh, my poor son!¡± At this time, Zhou Hongxiu¡¯s maiden family received the news and hurriedly rushed over, their eyes red from crying. Many people couldn¡¯t help but look down upon them with contempt. Now, it¡¯s too late to cry and regret. When Zhou Hongxiu wanted to divorce in the past, her family didn¡¯t allow it, telling her to endure the abuse and the situation would pass, even threatening to disown her if she insisted on divorcing. Now it¡¯s over, their daughter and grandson are gone from this world, forever. Zhou Hongxiu¡¯s mother got furious when she heard Li¡¯s mother¡¯s words. She rushed over in three steps, grabbed her by the hair, and yanked her backward, shouting loudly, ¡°Your son¡¯s the real curse! My daughter was fine until she married into your family, then she got beaten up every now and then. Now she¡¯s even lost her life! I want your son to pay with his life for my daughter.¡± With that, she raised her hand and slapped her across the face. There was a loud smack. Granny Li, forced to bear the violence from Zhou¡¯s mother with her hair being pulled and her head tilted back, cursed, ¡°Your daughter deserved to die! She was a short-lived ghost. Why the hell should my son pay with his life for her?!¡± Zhou Hongxiu¡¯s mother, losing all reason in her anger, shouted, ¡°You rotten woman! No wonder your son is mentally ill; he must¡¯ve inherited it from you! Your son deserves to die! No, the one who deserves to die the most is you! Why don¡¯t you die and pay with your life for my daughter?!¡± The two old women fought at the door, while the government officials looked at each other, wanting to break up the fight but not knowing how to intervene. Zhou Hongxiu¡¯s father saw Li Dayou¡¯s father¡¯s pale face and immediately commanded his three sons, ¡°You guys go beat him up!¡± The officials immediately scolded, ¡°What do you mean, beat him up? Do you really think hitting people is not against the law? If you guys lay a hand on him, do you want to come with us to the station?¡± Hearing that they¡¯d be taken to the station for hitting someone, Zhou¡¯s three brothers dared not act. Seeing that the Zhou family members didn¡¯t dare to lay a hand on him, Li Dayou¡¯s father became emotional, pointing at them and cursing, ¡°Come on, come on, if you have the guts, come and beat me up! If you beat me, will you pay with your life too? Zhou Wuzai, my son marrying your daughter was a mistake. If I had known that marrying your daughter would cause my son to become mentally ill, I would have made them divorce early. Poor Dayou, he was a healthy young man, and because of the wrong choice of wife, disaster had struck him for his whole life. And my poor grandson, if it weren¡¯t for Zhou Hongxiu being his mother, he wouldn¡¯t have died. Oh, my poor son and my poor grandson!¡± Xiao Siqian stood outside the crowd, watching the drama inside, and his eyes widened once again. Wow, there really are all kinds of people in this world. A son who killed his wife and child can still be pitied? If pity was warranted, he shouldn¡¯t have married in the first place. Given the situation in Li¡¯s family, whoever Dayou married would probably trigger his mental illness, and it would be a disaster no matter what. Xiao Qingshan murmured softly, ¡°Uncle Wanlin, was it worth getting beaten Xiao Jinli, As it stands, Xiao Wanlin should at least ask Li Dayou for medical expenses and compensation for mental damage. But who would expect the other party to be a mentally ill patient who killed two people? Based on the current situation, not only would the Li family not be compensating, they would probably vent their anger on Xiao Wanlin and others. As two old women fought, no one stepped in. The two old men were arguing at the door, and no one tried to stop them either. Since no one¡¯s life was in danger and Li Dayou was mentally ill, who would know who he inherited his illness from? What if someone tried to intervene and suddenly encountered another mentally ill person, what would they do? Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Setting Fire at Midnight (Second Update) Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Setting Fire at Midnight (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 As expected, after Li Dayou¡¯s parents had been forcibly taken to the mental hospital, the old couple cried their hearts out for several days before resenting the meddlesome Xiao Jinli. Old Mrs. Li¡¯s eyes were filled with intense hatred, like a poisonous venom. She gritted her teeth and said venomously, ¡°It¡¯s all that little bitch¡¯s fault. If it weren¡¯t for her cold and cruel heart, sticking her nose where it doesn¡¯t belong, how could our son have been discovered to have a mental illness, or having killed that despicable couple, and then been captured by the government officials?¡± Old Man Li¡¯s expression was filled with raging hatred as well. ¡°Right, it¡¯s all her fault. If it weren¡¯t for her, our son would still be fine, not captured.¡± ¡°Old man, I¡¯m filled with hatred. I just can¡¯t stand it. I want to kill that little bitch.¡± Old Mrs. Li paused for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Yes, kill that little bitch, and let her pay with her life for our son. Humph, if our child won¡¯t come back, then she doesn¡¯t need to live either. Come on, old man, let¡¯s find something to finish her off.¡± As she spoke, her mind was empty, with the only thought being to kill the little bitch. Looking at her expression, it was somewhat similar to Li Dayou¡¯s when he had a mental breakdown. Although Old Man Li was immersed in pain, he had not lost his reason. As his wife raved, he shuddered. Then he said, ¡°Old woman, don¡¯t be impulsive, calm down! Listen to me, we mustn¡¯t let that little bitch go, but not like this. We have to do it secretly, absolutely not letting anyone discover it. Otherwise, we will lose our lives for nothing, and it¡¯s not worth it!¡± Old Mrs. Li nodded. ¡°Right, it¡¯s not worth it! She has to pay for our son¡¯s life, but we won¡¯t give her ours. She doesn¡¯t deserve it.¡± It was late into the night! The pitch-black darkness offered not a single ray of light. Only the occasional insect noises by the roadside and the barking of dogs in the village broke the black silence. In this darkness, a hidden couple held flashlights in one hand and an oil drum in the other, heading in the direction of Xiao Family Village. The two walked on foot to a house in the village. An old voice asked, ¡°Old man, are you sure it¡¯s this house? Are we not mistaken?¡± The other old man replied, ¡°I¡¯ve checked, it¡¯s this house.¡± ¡°Good, it¡¯s this house.¡± The person spoke viciously. ¡°I want their whole family to pay for our son¡¯s life.¡± With that, she unscrewed the oil drum¡¯s lid and was about to pour the oil in the corner. Just then, a dog rushed over and pounced on her, biting her on the leg. ¡°Ah!¡± The pain from the dog bite made her cry out involuntarily. Another person was knocked down by the dog. The unopened oil lid fell to one side. After a while, more than ten dogs surrounded the old couple, barking at them. The barking awakened the people inside the house. With the lights turned on inside, Xiao Junxuan rushed out and opened the courtyard lights and the gate, puzzled at the sight of the strangers surrounded by more than ten dogs. ¡°Who are you? What are you doing in front of my house so late?¡± He swept his flashlight and spotted the oil drums. He sniffed the air, and his face suddenly changed. He picked up the open oil drum, and its smell made him furiously ask, ¡°Are you pouring gasoline in front of my house?¡± As soon as Xiao Junxuan finished, Xiao Wanshan came out wearing his coat. Hearing his son¡¯s words, his face changed drastically. He hurried over, smelled the gasoline, and immediately shouted, ¡°Who are you, and what are you doing pouring gasoline in front of my house? Are you trying to set a fire?¡± The house doused in gasoline could catch fire in an instant, especially during this dry season. Not only would the house burn, but it was uncertain if his family could escape the flames. Xiao Wanshan shuddered at this thought. If it weren¡¯t for the dogs discovering these two ill-intentioned old people, the consequences would have been unimaginable. ¡°Dad, I recognize them. They¡¯re the parents of Li Dayou from Li Village!¡± Xiao Jinli came out wearing a coat, her expression slightly serious. ¡°Li Dayou?¡± Xiao Wanshan was slightly taken aback, then reacted, ¡°The mentally ill murderer?¡± Old Mrs. Li was infuriated by the reference to her son¡¯s mental illness and murder, her eyes red with anger. ¡°You are the mentally ill ones. Your entire family is mentally ill! My son is a good boy, you are the mentally ill ones, you are the murderers!¡± She yelled. As she spoke, she tried to push away the dog, stand up, and pounce at Xiao Wanshan, as if she wanted to tear him to pieces. Xiao Wanshan furrowed his brow and said to Xiao Junxuan, ¡°Xuan¡¯er, call the police! Also, inform the Village Head to call someone from Li Village!¡± ¡°Alright, Dad!¡± Xiao Junxuan replied, running to get his phone from the house. He called the police and went to find the Village Head. Someone trying to set fire to their house was no small matter. However, before Xiao Junxuan could bring people back, villagers wearing coats started arriving, following the sounds of the barking dogs. After all, everyone in the village knew that the dogs generally wouldn¡¯t bark if nothing was amiss. The dogs were well-behaved and wouldn¡¯t disrupt the villagers¡¯ sleep under normal circumstances. Xiao Junxuan told the Village Head about the situation on the way, making him furious. He went back to his house and called a relative from Li Village. By the time they arrived at the Xiao Family, quite a few villagers had already gathered. ¡°So they are the parents of the mentally ill murderer from Li Village? I can¡¯t believe mental illness runs in their family. Late into the night, they come to someone¡¯s house to set a fire. Luckily, the dogs discovered them, or the consequences would¡¯ve been unimaginable.¡± ¡°Yeah, when Li Dayou was taken away, many people were speculating who he inherited his mental illness from. Well, it looks like it came from his parents.¡± ¡°I think they want to take revenge on Jinli.¡± ¡°I think they want to take revenge on Jinli, too. Humph, they only have themselves to blame since their own son has a mental illness and killed people. It¡¯s unreasonable to take it out on others.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t reason with a family of madmen!¡± The mention of her son as a mentally ill murderer over and over had driven Old Mrs. Li to the brink of insanity, her eyes blazing red with vengeance. She stared hatefully at Xiao Jinli and angrily said, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for her, my son wouldn¡¯t have been found out about his mental illness, and he wouldn¡¯t have been found to have killed someone. He would still be fine. It¡¯s all her fault; it¡¯s all her fault.. You little bitch, why don¡¯t you go die!¡± Chapter 133 - Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Crazy Woman (First Update) Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Crazy Woman (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Li Dayou¡¯s parents even wanted to set fire to Xiao Wanshan¡¯s house. When the people of Xiao Family Village received this news, they couldn¡¯t help but panic! ¡°Madman, he¡¯s definitely a madman! No wonder Li Dayou is mentally ill, it must be inherited from his parents.¡± ¡°Their son killed someone, and they blamed Jinli for being gossipy, which is completely unreasonable. They even wanted to take revenge on Jinli and make her pay with her life for their son Li Dayou. It¡¯s really¡­ really¡­ terrifying.¡± ¡°This mental illness is indeed terrifying. In the future, even if my son can¡¯t find a wife, I won¡¯t let him marry someone with a mental illness.¡± ¡°And for our daughters, even if they can¡¯t get married, we won¡¯t marry them off to a madman. It¡¯s too scary, not to mention the domestic violence they might endure, and no knowing when their life could be in danger.¡± ¡°Fortunately, the dogs discovered these two old folks, otherwise, once the gasoline was poured and the fire lit, the consequences would be unimaginable.¡± ¡°These two old madmen, their whole family are lunatics and murderers!¡± the villagers angrily scolded. Old Man Li and Old Mrs. Li were surrounded by dogs and villagers in the middle, unable to escape. With pale faces and hatred in their eyes, Old Mrs. Li said resentfully, ¡°You¡¯re the madmen, all of you are madmen. If it weren¡¯t for that damn girl, my son wouldn¡¯t have been caught. I wish I could cut her to pieces.¡± As Old Mrs. Li spoke, she angrily pointed at Xiao Jinli, continuing her resentful tirade, ¡°What grudge did my son have against this damn girl? She gossiped and harmed my son, and she¡¯s a wicked person with bad intentions. I wish she would die now.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Xiao Wanshan couldn¡¯t bear to hear someone curse his precious daughter so viciously, and he angrily said, ¡°It was your own son who went crazy and became a murderer. Who else can you blame? Even if my Little Bao did talk too much, do you think your son¡¯s act of murdering his wife and child wouldn¡¯t be discovered? It¡¯s useless to blame anyone else since you didn¡¯t raise your child well and let him become a killer.¡± ¡°Exactly, now they still have the nerve to come here and set fires. That must be an inherited problem. They really have the audacity to blame others.¡± ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t take it anymore, I¡¯m going to die from being bullied, boo hoo¡­ Why am I so unfortunate? My only son has been killed, and I can¡¯t take revenge¡­¡± Old Mrs. Li cried out loud. However, no one paid attention to them, showing indifference and coldly watching from the side. As long as they didn¡¯t let them escape under their watch, it didn¡¯t matter how much they cursed or cried. Besides, with so many people, there was no need to fear them. Xiao¡¯s Mother came out, saw the gasoline on the ground that hadn¡¯t been poured, and trembled in fear and shock. How could these two people be so evil, coming here to set fire in the late night? Fortunately, they were discovered. Otherwise, if the house had caught fire, they wouldn¡¯t even know if their family could escape. Xiao Jinli looked at her mother¡¯s pale face, held her cold hand, and immediately comforted her, ¡°Mom, we¡¯re fine now. Don¡¯t worry! Weren¡¯t these two arsonists discovered by the dogs? They will face severe punishment.¡± Xiao¡¯s Mother¡¯s teeth chattered, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the dogs, would they have succeeded? I¡¯m scared when I think about the consequences. Jinli, how can they be so evil? How can they be so evil?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Mom, they¡¯re mentally ill in the first place. A mentally ill person does things without reason or logic. Mom, don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve caught them this time, and they¡¯ll never have a chance to hurt anyone again in the future.¡± With Xiao Jinli¡¯s continuous comfort, Xiao¡¯s Mother¡¯s mood gradually calmed down. But her heart was still filled with some lingering fear and terror. It wasn¡¯t long before the government officials arrived. At the same time, the Village Head of Li Village and a few young men also arrived. Chief Li jumped out of bed in shock when he received the news, almost falling off the bed. ¡°What did you say? Li Wuqian and his wife went to Xiao Family Village to set fire?¡± The relative who delivered the information nodded, ¡°Yes. My Uncle just called and said so.¡± Chief Li anxiously asked, ¡°Is everything okay now?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. Fortunately, several dogs discovered them, and they were caught red-handed before they could take action,¡± the relative hesitated before continuing, ¡°My Uncle also said they¡¯ve called the police and asked you to bring some people and hurry to Xiao Family Village.¡± After all, it was people from Li Village who came to set the fire, so the people of Li Village must go and deal with it somehow. Everyone in the village had relatives and connections, and although Li Wuqian¡¯s family only had one son, they still had a large extended family. Upon hearing this, Chief Li quickly put on his clothes, took his flashlight, and went to knock on the doors of several households. Soon after, a group of people rode their motorcycles toward Xiao Family Village. When the people from Li Village arrived, so did the government officials. When they saw Li Wuqian and his wife surrounded by Xiao Family Village people, they all frowned, especially Old Mrs. Li who was cursing viciously. Chief Li, seeing the two, angrily said, ¡°Li Wuqian, have you two gone mad as well? In the middle of the night, you came to someone else¡¯s house to set a fire.¡± Li Wuqian yelled, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a madman! Since my son was arrested, my wife and I have gone crazy. I want their whole family to pay with their lives. Unfortunately, their family has such great luck!¡± Hearing his words, Chief Li was trembling with anger and shouted, ¡°Your son was already a murderer and deserved to be arrested. Why is everyone else to blame?¡± ¡°My son killed people, but if it weren¡¯t for that bitch talking too much, no one would have found out about the murders. If it hadn¡¯t been discovered, my son wouldn¡¯t have been arrested,¡± Li Wuqian said resentfully, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I seek revenge on her?¡± Chief Li¡¯s face turned green with anger at his words, he retorted, ¡°So now that your son killed his wife and child, is he the victim? Oh, you¡¯re mad about your son being arrested and want to set fire to kill others, but what about the family of Zhou Hongxiu who your son killed? Don¡¯t they want revenge too? So your son is a human and other people¡¯s daughters are not? Only you care about your son, but others don¡¯t care about their daughters?¡± At this point, he took a deep breath and continued, ¡°Besides, isn¡¯t Li Dayou¡¯s situation now because you failed to educate him properly? In my opinion, blaming others is useless when you didn¡¯t raise your child well.. If you had educated him well, how could he frequently beat his wife and child?¡± Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Earthworm Larvae (First update) Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Earthworm Larvae (First update) Translator: 549690339 When asked about earthworm larvae, Xiao Jinli raised an eyebrow and replied smilingly, ¡°The earthworm larvae I originally found were actually ordinary earthworms I dug up from the ground. I cut them in half, and one earthworm became two. Through cultivation, they grew into these big earthworms!¡± Having heard Xiao Jinli¡¯s explanation, Xiao Wanshan laughed and said, ¡°So that¡¯s how it was. I wondered why so many earthworms suddenly appeared in your greenhouse. It turns out you dug them all up from the ground.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes. I even got the kids to help dig them up.¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded and said, ¡°Hmm, the kids in the village do listen to you. We could have them dig up the earthworm larvae for the five acres of land then.¡± Ordinary earthworms can¡¯t do much besides loosening the soil. Only Xiao Jinli¡¯s cultivated earthworms could increase soil nutrients and improve crop growth. Xiao Junxuan, listening to the father-daughter conversation, gave a slight frown and asked, ¡°How many earthworm larvae would we need for over five acres of land?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve estimated that we would need about twenty thousand larvae per acre of land.¡± ¡°Twenty thousand? That would mean almost a hundred thousand for over five acres of land, right?¡± Xiao Junxuan said with a furrowed brow, ¡°Where could we possibly find so many? Even if we turned the whole Xiao Family Village upside down, we couldn¡¯t find that many!¡± But no sooner had he spoken, than his father smacked him on the head. Xiao Father retorted grumpily, ¡°You dolt! Do we absolutely have to find them in Xiao Family Village? Once we are ready to pay, someone will find the earthworms for us!¡± At his father¡¯s words, Xiao Junxuan finally understood. He chuckled and slapped his forehead exclaiming, ¡°Haha, that¡¯s true indeed.¡± Then he turned to Xiao Jinli and said, ¡°Sister, I¡¯ll go find people and discuss this with them. Oh, by the way, sister, how do you plan to purchase the earthworms? By count or by weight?¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°By weight!¡± By count would be too troublesome. ¡°By weight, the price is a bit high.¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°How about one hundred yuan per jin?¡± ¡°Haha, one hundred yuan per jin? Isn¡¯t that a bit too much?¡± Xiao Junxuan replied, ¡°How many jins do we need for these hundred thousand earthworms?¡± Xiao Jinli responded, ¡°We can first see how many earthworms there are in a jin, and then give an approximate estimation.¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I got it. I¡¯m going to spread the word right now.¡± Communication was quite advanced nowadays. One phone call and many people would immediately get the news. Therefore, everyone in this ten miles and eight villages radius knew that someone from Xiao Family Village was purchasing earthworms. ¡°Xiao Family Village is buying earthworms at one hundred yuan per jin, which is a pretty good price. Since we have nothing to do, let¡¯s go find some earthworms,¡± said one villager. ¡°Haha, I¡¯m also going to find earthworms. If I can dig up one jin, that¡¯s one hundred yuan. But I heard that they only want live earthworms, dead ones don¡¯t count.¡± said another. ¡°Dead earthworms mixed in with the live ones? Who would know which is dead or alive without picking through them one by one? Moreover, it¡¯s not easy to find dead earthworms at all. It would be easier to find live ones though.¡± another villager piped in. ¡°That¡¯s true. Most of the ones you dig up from the ground are alive.¡± ¡°But I heard someone in Xiao Family Village raises earthworms. Why are they still buying from the outside?¡± a villager chimed in. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about that. The person raising earthworms plans to expand the cultivation area and needs a lot of earthworm larvae. And these larvae are supposed to be directly dug up from the ground.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange? They raise earthworms, but they are also required from various places. I thought they had specific technology to breed earthworm larvae. I¡¯ve heard that the earthworms this person is raising are as thick as our pinky fingers, as long as chopsticks, like small snakes. I thought they had some special way to breed them.¡± another villager discussed. ¡°The person raising earthworms in Xiao Family Village buys the larvae, raises them, and then sells them on to other farmers for use in their fields. The crops grown on land with these earthworms, be they vegetables or fruits, are excellent.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I heard that the entire Xiao Family Village plans to start farming fruits and vegetables next year.¡± ¡°Ha, the entire village farming fruits and vegetables? Are they not going to grow rice anymore?¡± ¡°Whether or not they¡¯ll grow rice, I¡¯m not sure. But I heard from a relative in Xiao Family Village that next year, they even plan to set up a company. Every household in the village will have shares in the company.¡± ¡°One village setting up a company where every family has a stake, is that even possible? I¡¯ve never heard of a company like that. Usually, whoever invests money owns the company. Could a company really have so many shareholders? Does that mean every family has invested some money?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not about investing money, they would use their own land as stock. The number of shares each family would get in the company would depend on the amount of land they put in. Sigh, I don¡¯t understand the details.¡± ¡°Using their land as stock, how does that work? And does that mean the land will no longer belong to them afterward? If a family no longer owns any land, what will happen to the elderly in the village? Also, if the younger generation no longer works and the family has no land or income, what will happen then?¡± For the older generation, land was what they relied on for survival. Without this foundation, what would they do in the future? ¡°I heard it¡¯s not that simple.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that, then what is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. But I heard that they decided to set up a company and have the entire village farm fruits and vegetables because of a kid¡¯s suggestion. The new daughters-in-law who married into the village thought it was a bit outrageous. Therefore, many people disagreed with becoming shareholders in this way and even threatened to divorce.¡± ¡°Ha, are you serious? Forming a company just based on the words of a child? Isn¡¯t that a bit ridiculous? Forming a company requires money, you know? And if the entire village starts farming fruits and vegetables instead of rice, where would they go to farm rice then? Would they go buy it? If so, wouldn¡¯t that be a major expense? Moreover, if the entire village farms vegetables and they produce too much, where would they sell all that? What if they can¡¯t sell them and the village suffers a great loss? Who will be responsible for that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. But, everyone in Xiao Family Village, old or young, all listen to that kid. The new daughters-in-law who married into the family still can¡¯t believe it. Therefore, they do not agree to gamble with their own lands and some even threatened to divorce.¡± ¡°Even I find it absurd. Relying on a child¡¯s word, the entire village would farm vegetables and set up a company? Is this some kind of child¡¯s play? If they make a loss, who is going to compensate for that loss? The kid?¡± ¡°Well, whatever they do in their village, we just need to watch. Haha, if they end up producing too much and can¡¯t sell their vegetables, it would be a big joke across all the villages in this ten miles and eight villages radius. However, that they¡¯re buying earthworms benefits us.¡± ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re right..¡± Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Acquisition (Second Update) Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Acquisition (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t care about the gossip from ten miles and eight villages that was caused by her buying earthworms. Her brother spread the news, and the next day, many people came with earthworms for sale. Xiao Jinli looked at the buckets and plastic bags filled with wriggling earthworms, raising her eyebrows slightly. It seemed that taking the initiative was indeed a good move. In just one day, people had dug up several jin of earthworms. Were earthworms really that easy to dig up? Xiao Jinli wondered. The people bringing the earthworms were from the neighboring village. An old man in his fifties or sixties with dark and honest features was accompanied by a scrawny child about four or five years old. He carried a bucket filled with wriggling earthworms, his expression cautious as he asked Xiao Wanshan, ¡°Are you the ones buying earthworms?¡± Xiao Wanshan recognized this man. He was from Shigang Village next door, a poor family. This man had a leg disability and had lost his wife early. He had raised his son with great difficulty, and even got him a daughter-in-law. But then, both the son and daughter-in-law passed away, leaving behind a helpless child. With the burden of the child and his disability, he could only farm at home and didn¡¯t have any other options. As a result, his family lived in poverty. Xiao Wanshan looked at the man¡¯s bucket of earthworms and said with a smile, ¡°Yes, we buy earthworms here. Let me check your earthworms first.¡± Although feeling pity and sympathy, quality still mattered. Shi Dajiang lifted the bucket and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, these earthworms were all caught by me today. They¡¯re all alive. I was worried that they would suffocate, so I came as soon as it started getting dark. Well, have a look.¡± Xiao Wanshan squatted down and reached into the bucket. All he felt apart from the cold was the sensation of wriggling earthworms. He nodded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s weigh them quickly.¡± When weighed, there were three jin and three liang. Xiao Wanshan asked curiously, ¡°How did you catch so many earthworms in just one day?¡± Shi Dajiang smiled and said, ¡°I have experience in finding earthworms. As soon as I heard you were buying them, I took my grandson and spent the whole day searching. ¡± Since the man didn¡¯t want to say more, Xiao Wanshan didn¡¯t pry further. He nodded and said, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll be buying earthworms for a while. Bring them here whenever you catch some.¡± With that, he took out some money and paid the man. After receiving the money, Shi Dajiang nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I will.¡± If he could catch two or three jin every day, he¡¯d have over a thousand yuan in just a few days. This would cover living expenses for half a year and he wouldn¡¯t have to worry as much. Thinking of this, he looked down at his skinny grandson, and his eyes turned red. Due to their poverty, the child had rarely eaten well since his parents died. At four or five years old, he was much shorter than his peers. Now, with a little money, he planned to buy some eggs and ribs to nourish his grandson. After Shi Dajiang left, Xiao Jinli looked at his retreating figure and asked somewhat puzzled, ¡°Dad, do you know him?¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Yes, I know him. He¡¯s from the neighboring village. He lost his wife early in life, and later lost his son and daughter-in-law. Only a child was left. With his leg disability and the burden of the child, no one wanted him for work. He could only rely on his three acres of land to support himself and the child, barely eating well. Look at him and the child, all bones.¡± Listening to what her father said, the light in Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes flickered, and she asked, ¡°Dad, how¡¯s his character?¡± ¡°Character?¡± Xiao Wanshan looked surprised, ¡°His character should be alright. He doesn¡¯t steal or rob, and doesn¡¯t bear grudges against others. Xiao Bao, why are you asking this?¡± Xiao Jinli explained her plan, ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll definitely need people to work in such a large earthworm farm. I need someone to watch over the greenhouse every day.¡± Xiao Wanshan immediately understood, ¡°So, Xiao Bao, you pity and sympathize with him and want to give him a job?¡± Xiao Jinli tilted her head slightly and cunningly said, ¡°Well, you can say that. But as long as his character is good, and he¡¯s willing to give up his family¡¯s land. I don¡¯t need someone who runs home to farm every few days.¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask around some more. If his character is good, I¡¯ll talk to him about it.¡± If Shi Dajiang wasn¡¯t a fool, he would surely accept such a good opportunity. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Thanks, Dad!¡± That day, besides Shi Dajiang, three or four other people brought earthworms as well. However, their amounts weren¡¯t as much as Shi Dajiang¡¯s, just over a jin. But it was still a substantial income for a day. On top of that, there was a villager from Daxing Village who brought a water bucket filled with what looked like three or four jin of earthworms. Xiao Jinli took the bucket and started checking it. Her gloved hand stirred inside, and Wen Changsheng¡¯s face involuntarily showed signs of guilt. He let out an awkward chuckle and explained, ¡°Miss, these earthworms are all alive. They were dug up by my family today. You can rest assured.¡± Who would have thought that as soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Jinli¡¯s hand caught a few something alive and his face changed. Xiao Jinli asked, her expression slightly serious, ¡°Uncle, can you tell me what these things are?¡± ¡°This¡­This¡­¡± Wen Changsheng hastily and guiltily explained, ¡°It¡¯s probably some leeches the children accidentally caught and put in the bucket. I didn¡¯t notice. You can just pick them out.¡± Xiao Siqian looked at the leeches in Xiao Jinli¡¯s hand, his face turning pale. He remembered the day when they were transplanting rice seedlings, and a leech had attached itself to his leg to suck blood. He asked in a puzzled voice, ¡°The children in your family went to the fields to catch leeches and put them in this bucket? Uncle, how old are your children? Aren¡¯t they afraid of leeches?¡± Wen Changsheng replied loudly, ¡°Boys shouldn¡¯t be afraid of leeches.¡± Xiao Jinli said coldly, ¡°So, Uncle, your boys aren¡¯t afraid of leeches, so they went to catch them and mixed them with the earthworms to sell to me?¡± Although it was the truth, Wen Changsheng didn¡¯t want to admit it. He retorted, ¡°You misunderstood. My children didn¡¯t do it on purpose. It must have been a prank. Yes, just a prank. Don¡¯t worry, there shouldn¡¯t be many leeches in the bucket.¡± Xiao Jinli sneered, and put the leeches aside. Then she reached into the bucket again. Xiao Siqian watched, feeling goosebumps all over. He thought, ¡°Not to mention those cold and wriggling little creatures that make one¡¯s heart tremble just by touching them, but leeches are obviously bloodsuckers. They¡¯re terrifying. Yet Jinli treats them like toys.¡± After a moment, Xiao Jinli had several more leeches in her hand. Wen Changsheng¡­ Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Kill a Chicken to Scare the Monkeys (Part 1) Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Kill a Chicken to Scare the Monkeys (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 After doing this twice, Xiao Jinli poured everything from the bucket into a large basin. Then, the leeches and other soft worms mixed in with the earthworms became obvious. Xiao Jinli¡¯s face darkened. Seeing the various soft worms in the basin, Xiao Siqian¡¯s scalp tingled as if ten million ants were crawling and biting. Xiao Jinli looked at Wen Changsheng with a cold tone and said, ¡°Uncle, take a look at what¡¯s mixed in here. Are you sure it¡¯s not intentional? The stuff you brought seems to weigh at least four jin, but there¡¯s at least two jin of mixed in stuff. Are you treating our house as fools who will take anything? I¡¯m sorry, but I won¡¯t be buying your earthworms today.¡± Wen Changsheng¡¯s expression changed subtly, and he asked with a smile, ¡°Is your family here?¡± Implying, can you make the decision? Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°They¡¯re not home. Uncle, you¡¯re being dishonest, so I won¡¯t accept your earthworms. Even if my family was here, I wouldn¡¯t let them buy it.¡± If she bought them now, others might follow suit, and she would have to carefully screen each batch, increasing her workload. If she didn¡¯t check, the extraneous things would be mixed in, costing her money and affecting the survival rate of the earthworms. After hearing this, Wen Changsheng¡¯s face changed again, becoming somewhat unsightly. He said, ¡°Little girl, I can pick out the mixed stuff.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, still firmly rejecting, ¡°Even if you pick out the leeches and water leeches, I won¡¯t buy them. You can take back what you brought and feed it to the chickens and ducks or put it back in the field.¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Changsheng¡¯s expression changed to anger. He raised his voice in dissatisfaction, ¡°Little girl, since I said I will pick out the mixed stuff, why won¡¯t you buy them? Are your parents okay with you doing Xiao Jinli coldly replied, ¡°The matter of buying earthworms doesn¡¯t require my parents¡¯ permission. I can make that decision. Besides, with so many different things mixed in, why should I buy it? Today, I carefully checked and found that at least one to two jin of it is mixed in, which is worth 100 to 200 RMB. If I hadn¡¯t checked carefully, I would have suffered a small loss. But the real problem is the huge impact on the earthworms¡¯ survival rate. Who will I complain to about the consequences and losses?¡± After hearing this, Wen Changsheng still argued, ¡°Little girl, I said that I will pick out the stuff, can¡¯t you just stop being so persistent? And besides, didn¡¯t you find them? I won¡¯t let the children do such tricks again.¡± He paused for a moment, his tone becoming somewhat pleading, ¡°Pick out these things, and there are still more than two jin of earthworms left. Will you please buy them?¡± Before they came, they had weighed more than four jin at home, which could be sold for more than 400 RMB. Of course, this was the result of wishful thinking. Even if they were discovered, there would still be more than two jin left, which could be sold for more than 200 RMB. Whether it was more than 400 RMB or more than 200 RMB, for rural people, it was a significant income. But they never expected the other party to refuse directly after finding the mixed stuff. How could this be? If she didn¡¯t accept their stuff, wouldn¡¯t their family have wasted a whole day for nothing? With suppressed anger, Wen Changsheng said, ¡°Little girl, call your parents out. I¡¯ll pick out the stuff first.¡± Xiao Siqian was disgusted by his tactics and said, ¡°Stop talking about calling the adults. We both know whether this was a prank by the children or not. Don¡¯t think you can deceive us or hope to get more money. You should know that our family¡¯s money doesn¡¯t come easily. If we buy your stuff this time, will other people also follow suit by mixing things in? Not to mention the loss of money, but it would only increase our workload.¡± At this point, Xiao Siqian paused for a moment and said coldly, ¡°We¡¯re all villagers here, who are you trying to deceive?¡± The last sentence practically tore off the other party¡¯s face. Being scolded by two children, Wen Changsheng had no face to stay any longer. He angrily packed up his things and left. Not long after he left, Xiao Wanshan and Xiao Junxuan came back. Seeing the two children in the yard, they laughingly asked, ¡°Xiao Bao, what¡¯s going on? Are you two acting as rocks in the yard?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Dad, just now someone from the neighboring village came with earthworms, and there were a lot of leeches and other stuff mixed in. I refused to buy it, and he angrily left.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s this dishonest person?¡± Xiao Wanshan was also a bit angry, ¡°We¡¯re only buying earthworms, not other bugs.¡± At this point, he paused and said to his daughter with a smile, ¡°Xiao Bao, you did the right thing. If you had set a precedent, others would follow suit, and it would be unbearable.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Right. I refuse their stuff now as a warning to others so that people who come later won¡¯t try to cheat. They all want more income, but our money doesn¡¯t come easily either.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s right!¡± Xiao Wanshan agreed, ¡°Xiao Bao, how many earthworms did you buy today?¡± ¡°Not much, just over ten jin! More than ten people came in total.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only the first day, and there are already more than ten jin. That¡¯s not bad,¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°We¡¯ll have 100 ,ooo earthworms soon.¡± One jin of earthworms has about one thousand, and 100,000 earthworms weigh around a hundred jin. Xiao Jinli picked up the bucket of earthworms and said to Xiao Wanshan, ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll take them to the greenhouse.¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Alright, go ahead!¡± Xiao Siqian picked up the water bucket and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Carrying the water bucket, the two quickly arrived at the greenhouse. The five acres of land in the greenhouse had been plowed and the weeds removed, but the rows hadn¡¯t yet been made, which wasn¡¯t urgent. This piece of land was intended for raising earthworms. During the breeding process, Xiao Jinli was planning to grow some crops and covertly transplant some vegetables and fruit from the space. Xiao Jinli took the water bucket from Xiao Siqian and secretly added some Lingquan water to it. The earthworms in the bucket immediately became active after being exposed to the aura of the Lingquan water. Then, Xiao Jinli picked spots to pour the earthworms on the ground, and the active earthworms quickly burrowed into the soil. Xiao Siqian worriedly asked, ¡°With no one watching, will people steal them?¡± Xiao Jinli confidently replied, ¡°No, the dogs are watching.¡± Xiao Siqian¡­ Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Inviting Shi Dajiang (Second Update) Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Inviting Shi Dajiang (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 The power of ten miles and eight villages is really great. When people found out that Wen Changsheng from Daxing Village was mixing other stuff when selling earthworms, the Xiao Family refused to buy them directly. This immediately made everyone alert. Those who had originally thought about asking for more money, immediately dropped the idea. It¡¯s not worth it in case they get caught; the loss will outweigh the gain. So, in the following days, most of the earthworms that were brought were clean. More than 100,000 earthworms were collected in just a few days. ¡°I thought it would be difficult to gather more than 100,000 earthworms, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be this fast,¡± said Xiao Siqian with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve tried digging earthworms in the field. I only found a few after half a day¡¯s work. How did they find them? They can find several jin (Chinese weight unit) in a day. There are more than 1,000 earthworms in a jin, that¡¯s several thousand of them. How many fields would they have to turn over for that? Haha, originally it was the earthworms that turned the fields, but now it¡¯s for finding earthworms that the fields are turned.¡¯ Xiao Jinli also couldn¡¯t help but smile at this situation. She said with a smile, ¡°Indeed!¡± Xiao Jinli came to the greenhouse, and all the more than 100,000 earthworms had been poured into the soil. All these earthworms burrowed into the ground, and very few crawled out to the surface. Xiao Wanshan looked at the empty ground and frowned, ¡°Now that the earthworms are all in the ground, do you still plan to grow vegetables? If you turn the soil now, wouldn¡¯t that turn over the earthworms too?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. As long as the environment is suitable for them and they haven¡¯t reached their lifespan, these earthworms should multiply. Of course, turning the soil directly will definitely result in some loss.¡± Xiao Wanshan and Xiao Junxuan have been busy with the establishment of the company in the village recently. Several meetings were held with the villagers to discuss this matter. The autumn harvest is now complete, and what needs to be done is land consolidation, the signing of contracts, and other tedious tasks. Because some new daughters-in -law in the village were unwilling to contribute their land as shares, the village head and village cadres had to compromise and let these families contribute only half of their land. Even so, some new daughters-in-law were still unwilling. However, the village head said, ¡°You only see that the old people have no land to farm, but if we succeed in growing vegetables and make money, you, the new daughters-in-law, will be blamed by your families. The old people have already conceded a step, so you, the new daughters-in-law, should also take a step back.¡± With a serious expression, he said, ¡°Once the company is established and everyone starts making big money, it won¡¯t be so easy for those who didn¡¯t join from the start to become shareholders. The value of the company will increase, and your share will definitely decrease. So, it¡¯s better for you to think carefully. After all, this is not only a path to wealth for the village in the future but also an opportunity for you. Whether you can seize it or not depends on yourself.¡± After hearing the village head¡¯s words, even the unwilling new daughters-in-law had to consider the interests of their families and their future prospects. If it turns out as the village head said, would they, without shares, just watch everyone else make money from growing vegetables? ¡°Dad, how is the progress of the company¡¯s establishment?¡± asked Xiao Jinli. Xiao Father said, ¡°The process is ongoing. In about half a month, it should be settled. By the way, Jinli, I¡¯ve found out about Shi Dajiang from Shigang Village. His character is decent, and I¡¯ve talked to him. He said that as long as we let him work here with his grandson and rent out his land, he¡¯s willing to do so. I agreed on your behalf. As for the salary, I¡¯ve already negotiated with him. For the first three months, it¡¯s 800 yuan per month, including food and accommodation. After three months, it will be increased to 1000 yuan. If his performance is good, the salary will continue to increase.¡± This salary is already quite good for rural people. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Okay, Dad, whatever you decide is fine. However, it seems that we¡¯ll need to build a small house for him and his grandson to live in.¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll talk to Xiao Jiansheng tomorrow and ask him to free up some time to help us build a small house as soon as possible.¡± Xiao Jiansheng is a mason in Xiao Family Village. When people in the village want to build a house, they would first look for him, and if he¡¯s not available, they would look for others. The very next day, Xiao Jiansheng came with his apprentice to measure the size of the house. The house was built outside the greenhouse, with two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Two bedrooms were designed considering that more people might be hired in the future. Xiao Jiansheng laughed and said, ¡°Wanshan, after the house is built, I want to come and live here too. The conditions are too good.¡± Xiao Wanshan laughed and said, ¡°Haha, you live in a two-story house and still envy this small house? But my daughter said, since there are so many earthworms raised in the greenhouse, someone must always be watching over them. That¡¯s why we¡¯re hiring Shi Dajiang from Shigang Village.¡± ¡°Shi Dajiang?¡± Xiao Jiansheng asked somewhat puzzled, ¡°The Shi Dajiang who lives with his grandson?¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him. Jinli said to find him for the job.¡± Xiao Jiansheng immediately understood Xiao Jinli¡¯s intentions and praised, ¡°Jinli is really a kind-hearted child. Shi Dajiang is very fortunate to have met our Jinli.¡± In fact, when Xiao Wanshan mentioned hiring someone to guard the greenhouse, many people in the village were eyeing the position, but they did not expect that Xiao Jinli would look for someone from another village. However, Xiao Jinli has always been purposeful and measured in her actions. Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°Jinli feels sorry for them and wants to help them out.¡± A disabled man and a child have a hard life. ¡°But she also said that they must be of good character.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s right. Jinli chooses her friends based on their character,¡± Xiao Jiansheng laughed, ¡°With Jinli¡¯s help, Shi Dajiang and his grandson¡¯s lives will definitely get better and better.¡± The house was soon completed. The house covers an area of about 40 square meters, which is not small. After Xiao Wanshan left, Shi Dajiang still found it hard to believe. ¡°Grandpa, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± His five-year-old grandson looked worriedly at his dazed grandfather. Shi Dajiang came to his senses, holding his grandson with tears in his eyes, and said with a choke, ¡°Little Bao, we¡¯ve met our benefactor. I will be able to make money now, and I can buy you meat to eat and have money to send you to school¡­¡± He was both touched and grateful. He never thought that by just selling a few earthworms, he would attract the attention of the other party and be offered a job. His grandson, Little Bao, wiped the tears for him and said sensibly, ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t cry. In the future, I will help you with the work.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, good!¡± Shi Dajiang nodded in agreement.. Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Entering Red Peak Mountain Again (First Update) Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Entering Red Peak Mountain Again (First Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Little Sister Jinli, where are you going?¡± Xiao Jinli planned to go to Red Peak Mountain and was stopped by Xiao Siqian. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I want to go to Red Peak Mountain. Are you coming?¡± ¡°Red Peak Mountain?¡± Xiao Siqian was a little puzzled, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with you.¡± He had heard from the villagers that he was brought down from Red Peak Mountain by Xiao Jinli. Red Peak Mountain is the highest peak in the area, with various ferocious beasts in the forests, even wild boars and tigers are considered common here. It is said that hunters dare not venture deep into Red Peak Mountain, only hunting other wild animals in the perimeter. Of course, at this time and age, hunting is prohibited. However, it is said that Xiao Jinli goes in and out of Red Peak Mountain as if it were uninhabited. Except for herself, nobody knows why it is so. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s heart itched to explore Red Peak Mountain, and he really wanted to know what kind of great mountain was it after all? At first, how did he escape there? Were those four fierce kidnappers disappeared there? Moreover, how did he manage to survive? All these questions almost made him run to Red Peak Mountain to investigate. But considering how difficult it was for him to survive, he couldn¡¯t risk it. What¡¯s more, he still has to save his life to take revenge, right? He also needed to save his life to investigate the cause of his mother Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s death. In the past, he was young and fooled by those so-called relatives, believing that his mother had depression and jumped to her death. In the past, he was immersed in the lies concocted by the trio and never thought about the cause of his mother¡¯s death. But after being kidnapped, his head was suddenly awakened. For example, why would his mother have depression? That big brother of his, one look and he¡¯s 70% to 80% similar to his father, obviously his father¡¯s seed, yet he never doubted it. However, he¡¯s even more curious now, how did he manage to survive after all? Maybe only by going to Red Peak Mountain can he find the answers. Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian greeted people along the way, and when Xiao Jinli said they were going to Red Peak Mountain, people immediately reserved wild game. ¡°Jinli, if you can find a wild rabbit this time, save one for me.¡± ¡°Jinli, if you find a wild chicken, save one for me.¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡® Picking up wild game, can one predict the future? However, when Xiao Siqian followed Xiao Jinli into Red Peak Mountain, a scene that left him dumbfounded emerged. As soon as Xiao Jinli entered the mountain, the animals, even the snakes on the ground and the insects lying on the leaves, were panic-stricken and fled helter-skelter. But Xiao Jinli isn¡¯t the king of animals, right? He had witnessed how welcome she was by dogs and even poultry in the village. Why would it be the opposite here? Xiao Siqian didn¡¯t know that at this moment, Xiao Jinli had slightly exerted her pressure, making those little things feel immediate stress and flee in an instant. On the contrary, if she wanted the animals to be close, all she had to do was to withdraw this pressure and release a little Spiritual Spring Aura. After a while, the entire mountain forest became extremely quiet, even the sound of insects chirping disappeared at this moment. However, while walking on the quiet forest path, they would occasionally encounter villagers¡¯ common wild game, such as wild chickens and rabbits stunned by collisions. Xiao Siqian, He finally understood why the villagers had rushed to preorder these wild games from Jinli. So Xiao Jinli, this little lucky star, really was a Lucky Star. She could find all kinds of wild game just by going up a mountain. Xiao Siqian was holding a fainted wild rabbit and a struggling wild chicken and said with a smile, ¡°Little sister Jinli, is this considered guarding a tree to wait for rabbits? Oh, no, guarding a tree to wait for rabbits requires actually waiting by a stump. We¡¯re just picking up ready-made ones. Hehe, now we have wild chicken and wild rabbit to eat. But how do we eat this wild rabbit?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°What kind of cooking do you want? Braised wild rabbit? Dry pot wild rabbit? Or spicy wild rabbit?¡± After hearing this, Xiao Siqian swallowed his saliva and said, ¡°Hmm, actually, all of them are fine. I think with aunt¡¯s cooking skills, this wild rabbit should taste great no matter how it¡¯s cooked.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, my mom¡¯s culinary skills are unmatched even by Michelin Chefs. A simple home-cooked dish can become incredibly delicious in her hands.¡± Speaking of which, she turned her head to look at Xiao Siqian and said with a smile, ¡°If you want to try all the different ways to cook a wild rabbit, you can catch a few more wild rabbits and raise them first. ¡°Catch wild rabbits?¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, and he looked slightly excited, ¡°Can I?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Of course! Come on, follow me!¡± Xiao Siqian followed her and saw her skillfully finding several rabbit holes and then found three or four wild rabbits. When these wild rabbits suddenly saw a person, they were frightened and wanted to escape, but Xiao Jinli caught them with quick and agile movements. Xiao Siqian held four lively jumping wild rabbits in his hands, and curiously asked, ¡°How did you know about these rabbit burrows?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I am very familiar with this area, so naturally I know.¡± Of course, the source of her knowledge could not be revealed to Xiao Siqian. Xiao Siqian asked in amazement, ¡°I heard that Red Peak Mountain is full of dangers. How come for you it¡¯s like your backyard garden?¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged her shoulders and said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t I have the God of Fortune to protect me? So, there¡¯s nothing in this mountain forest that can harm me.¡± Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± As someone who grew up with a scientific modern education, could he believe this? Maybe it could only deceive three-year-old children. However, it must be that Xiao Jinli¡¯s numerous miracles convinced the villagers of Xiao Family Village that she was indeed a Lucky Star. He didn¡¯t need to figure everything out. Thinking of this, Xiao Siqian couldn¡¯t help but show a helpless smile. The more he interacted with Xiao Jinli, the more he felt her exceptional mystery. But he couldn¡¯t explore further. After the two of them caught a few wild rabbits, Xiao Jinli found some delicious wild fruits along the way, and they walked towards the mountain top while eating wild fruits. Xiao Siqian, ¡°¡­¡± He suddenly felt that this kind of life was so comfortable and enviable. If Xiao Jinli¡¯s age were ignored, nobody would treat her like a child. Soon, Xiao Siqian followed Xiao Jinli to the mountain top. Upon reaching the mountain top, the first thing that caught his eye was a towering pine tree with dense branches and leaves of lush greenery. It was a magnificent sight to behold. Xiao Siqian couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°This pine tree is so beautiful! Haven¡¯t the people from the tourism bureau discovered such a beautiful pine tree?¡± This pine tree held great ornamental value. If it were discovered by the Tourism Bureau, it would surely be developed. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°This is my secret base, and those people can¡¯t find it even if they wanted to.¡± Xiao Siqian. Chapter 140 - Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Xiao Siqian’s Shock (Second Update) Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Xiao Siqian¡¯s Shock (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli told Xiao Siqian to set the wild rabbits and wild chickens aside, tied with rattan, so they couldn¡¯t escape. After examining for a moment, Xiao Siqian finally couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, where did you find me in the first place?¡± After that, he walked to the edge of the cliff and continued, ¡°I remember I was standing here, confronting a group of people in a life-and-death situation. Later, I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder and passed out. When I woke up again, I was in the hospital.¡¯ At this point, he asked with a slightly serious expression, ¡°Jinli, how did you pick me up that day? Did you see anyone else?¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s deep and sharp gaze stared straight at Xiao Siqian. Xiao Siqian was shocked by Xiao Jinli¡¯s gaze, which seemed to be able to penetrate his heart. After a while, Xiao Jinli showed a sharp smile and questioned, ¡°So, Little Brother Xiao Quan, what are you doubting? Are you doubting that I killed those people?¡± Before Xiao Siqian could react, her face showed a bloodthirsty smile. She didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°That¡¯s right. I saved you and those four kidnappers became food for my little darlings.¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s pupils contracted involuntarily, and disbelief filled his eyes. Xiao Jinli pointed to the location and continued, ¡°At that time, when I saw your despair and unwillingness to jump off the cliff, and the anger and hatred on your face, I had a moment of softness in my heart. Just that moment of softness made me decide to save you.¡± Xiao Siqian struggled to hide the shock on his face. He had thought of countless truths, but he never thought that the child who picked him up the mountain was the one who saved him first. Xiao Jinli then pointed to the big pine tree, laughing and saying, ¡°At that time, I was lying and resting on that branch when you and several outsiders broke in. I didn¡¯t want to get involved, but I also didn¡¯t want your group to pollute my territory. However, those four kidnappers were so arrogant, and the bloodthirsty aura on their bodies was heavy, indicating that they had taken many lives. Moreover, your expression at that time intrigued me, so I saved you when you tried to jump off the cliff to commit suicide.¡± Xiao Siqian had no doubt about Xiao Jinli¡¯s words. Because the situation was exactly like that at the time. His shocked and dazed look made him want to ask, ¡°How exactly did you save me at that time?¡± As if she knew his doubts, Xiao Jinli casually picked up a weed leaf from the side, and after a moment, it turned into a sharp dagger, which she threw out. ¡°Bang!¡± A soft weed leaf instantly penetrated the nearby mountain wall. Xiao Siqian¡¯s pupils shrank violently again! If he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, it would be hard for him to believe that he had seen a martial arts expert in the legendary world, and it was a ten-year-old child. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but it seemed that nothing needed to be said. Xiao Jinli laughed and described the process of saving him, ¡°At that time, I knocked you out with a tree branch and then dealt with those kidnappers. So you can put your mind at ease now. Those four kidnappers will never appear in this world again. No one knows how they disappeared, except for you.¡± Afterward, she whistled. It didn¡¯t take long before Xiao Siqian heard a roar of tigers coming from the woods. Xiao Siqian¡¯s face immediately showed fright and caution. He looked at Xiao Jinli and stuttered, ¡°Ti¡­tigers?¡± Immediately, regardless of his own fear and panic, he unconsciously protected Xiao Jinli behind him, his eyes highly alert and cautious. Xiao Jinli, who was protected behind him, flashed her eyes. Xiao Jinli patted his shoulder from behind and said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, these tigers were called by me.¡± Having heard that, Xiao Siqian turned around, dumbfounded. He stuttered, ¡°You¡­you called them?¡± He knew that Xiao Jinli was liked by the village dogs, but he didn¡¯t know that even the king of the forest could listen to her. As he was shocked and surprised, the tigers that were called appeared before them. Xiao Siqian¡¯s pupils contracted, and his heart tightened again. ¡°Six¡­six tigers?¡± Xiao Siqian exclaimed. Isn¡¯t there a saying that a mountain cannot accommodate two tigers? How could six tigers appear here all at once? This was incredible. Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°Oh, these six tigers are a couple and four tiger cubs.¡± After hearing her explanation, Xiao Siqian understood and asked curiously, ¡°So, these are the little darlings you mentioned?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t you think they¡¯re fluffy and cute?¡± Xiao Siqian, . Cute? How could such fierce beasts be considered cute in Xiao Jinli¡¯s words? But Xiao Siqian still nodded reluctantly, ¡°Uh, cute!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes. The kidnappers who chased you back then were divided among this family of six!¡± After that, she called out to her little darlings, ¡°Little White, Little Yellow, come here, let me introduce you to a new friend.¡± Xiao Siqian felt his scalp tighten, and then heard two tiger roars. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Master, this human looks delicious. Xiao Jinli immediately sternly said, ¡°This new friend is not to be eaten. Moreover, remember, you can¡¯t eat humans casually. If I find out, hehe¡­¡± The six little darlings shrank their necks immediately, widened their eyes, breathed heavily, and obediently submitted. They let out low roars again, as if to say, ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare to eat humans casually.¡± If they wanted to eat humans, they would definitely go down the mountain to find food, like before. However, ever since Xiao Jinli became the boss of a piece of mountain forest, no fierce beasts dared to go down the mountain to hunt, and they all stayed honestly in their one-acre, three-point forest. Xiao Jinli reached out and touched their fluffy heads, smiling innocently, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s more like it. Little White and Little Yellow, you¡¯ve all grown fatter since before.¡¯ Little White and Little Yellow were the four tiger cubs, two white and two yellow. Xiao Jinli named them these simple names. Little White and Little Yellow immediately stretched out their little heads, rubbed Xiao Jinli¡¯s palm, looking very pleasing. Xiao Siqian watched nervously from the side, fearing that these tigers would suddenly become aggressive and bite Xiao Jinli. Fortunately, what he worried about never happened. Then, he secretly let out a sigh of relief. However, soon his breath tightened again, and he became extremely nervous. Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°Do you know why I let you know the truth about how you were saved, Little Brother Xiao Quan?¡± Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: Chapter 141: The Truth Behind the Victim (First Update) Chapter 141: Chapter 141: The Truth Behind the Victim (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s question, Xiao Siqian¡¯s expression was momentarily stunned. He¡­ really didn¡¯t know why Xiao Jinli was letting him know the truth. In fact, with Xiao Jinli¡¯s intelligence, deceiving him would have been a fairly simple matter. As long as she said that she just picked him up here, that would be it. Because no one would suspect that his coma was caused by her, and the sudden disappearance of the four kidnappers was her doing as well. Not to mention her young age was deceptive, who would think that a child could save him from the clutches of four vicious criminals? Xiao Siqian took a deep breath and sincerely said, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, have you noticed that I¡¯ve been going out more frequently lately?¡± Now that he had seen Xiao Jinli¡¯s ability, he naturally could easily notice his own change in activity. Xiao Jinli smiled. She looked at Xiao Siqian and nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right. I remember I once told you that I don¡¯t care what your identity was before, as long as it doesn¡¯t threaten my family and the people of Xiao Family Village, I would turn a blind eye to it.¡± Xiao Siqian nodded, ¡°I always remember your words! Moreover, I¡¯ve always treated Uncle and Aunt, Brother Xuan, and you like family, and I absolutely won¡¯t allow anyone to hurt you all. Also, the whole Xiao Family Village has brought me great joy and warmth, and I won¡¯t let anyone harm them either. Jinli, please believe me. For me, I would rather hurt myself than hurt anyone in Xiao Family Village.¡± Having said that, he took another deep breath, ¡°Also, I¡¯ve been going out frequently lately because my maternal grandfather¡¯s people have found Ganjiang City, and to avoid them bringing their attention here, I can only take the initiative.¡± He accidentally discovered this in Ganjiang City. Xiao Jinli raised her eyebrows, ¡°Your maternal grandfather?¡± Xiao Siqian said, ¡°Yes, my maternal grandfather. At that time, I was immersed in the beautiful lies of happiness woven by my father and stepmother, and I was too young to inquire about the real cause of my mother¡¯s death. My maternal grandfather came to see me a few times, but he was alienated by the instigation of my father and stepmother, and our relationship gradually became distant.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at Xiao Siqian like he was an idiot, and asked faintly, ¡°How old were you then?¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s face turned red, ¡°Well, probably five or six years old.¡± ¡°Oh, five or six years old,¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°You were indeed too young at that time, and being brainwashed and deceived is understandable. But after you grew up, didn¡¯t you notice anything abnormal?¡± Xiao Siqian thought for a moment and then said, ¡°I did. Especially when I saw my half-brother, who looked six or seven points similar to my father, I once suspected that they were father and son. But, just like you said, I was blinded by the superficial affection, immersed in happiness, and didn¡¯t want to delve deeper.¡± After all, he was too young and needed the companionship of his parents and affections. ¡°Tsk tsk¡­¡± Xiao Jinli mocked, ¡°You are really unfilial! After your mother died, your father brought a stepmother and a brother who looked so similar to your father into the house, yet you indulged in superficial happiness without suspicion.¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s face turned even redder. ¡°However, if you were so happy, why were you kidnapped and hunted?¡± As Xiao Jinli said this, she suddenly thought of something, ¡°Ah, I remember when I saved you, I heard the kidnappers say that you had blocked someone¡¯s path. So, who did you block?¡± Xiao Siqian showed a bitter smile and said, ¡°My half-brother from the same father. When my mother married my father, she brought a sky-high dowry. My father, relying on my mother¡¯s dowry, expanded the company more and more. At that time, perhaps to secure my mother¡¯s heart, he gave her 40% of the shares. Before my mother passed away, she left a will stating that when I turn 18 years old, I can inherit all her properties. When I turned 18, my family deceived me and transferred all my mother¡¯s inheritance, including her company shares, to my half-brother.¡± After hearing Xiao Siqian¡¯s words, Xiao Jinli looked at him like the biggest fool in the world and asked incredulously, ¡°How did they deceive you and transfer the property your mom left to you to someone who has no blood relation to her and might even be an enemy?¡± Xiao Siqian mocked, ¡°Yes, I still feel like the biggest fool in the world. It only took a few words from that family of three to deceive me into giving up my own mother¡¯s inheritance.¡± But why didn¡¯t he give the inheritance to his scumbag father instead? Because that¡¯s their true love! ¡°However, since you¡¯ve handed over all your mother¡¯s inheritance to them, why would they want to kill you?¡± Xiao Jinli asked. ¡°Perhaps they wanted to eliminate all possible threats, ¡± Xiao Siqian replied with a deep hatred in his eyes. ¡°They believed that only with me dead can they truly inherit my mother¡¯s properties in peace.¡± As he spoke, he paused and then continued, ¡°Not long ago, I got in touch with my maternal grandfather. He told me something ¨C that family of three is now frantically searching for me.¡± ¡°Searching for you?¡± Xiao Jinli frowned, ¡°Why? The kidnappers they hired to abduct and kill you, at least in theory, should have been clear that you might have already been killed. Aren¡¯t they afraid of bringing disaster to themselves with all the commotion?¡± Xiao Siqian explained, ¡°According to my grandfather, it has something to do with my mother¡¯s will. Her will stated that all her properties must be inherited by me after I turn 18 years old. If I were to forfeit the inheritance rights, I would have to be present in person, making a verbal promise that the entrusted inheritance is invalid. Otherwise, within five years, all the properties will be donated to a charity foundation.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® After a while, she raised her thumb to Xiao Siqian with a smile, saying, ¡°Your mother was really clever and had great foresight!¡± With a sigh, she continued, ¡°Such a great motherly heart, so thorough in her considerations. If she hadn¡¯t set up such a will, even if you were alive, you wouldn¡¯t be able to get a single cent of your mother¡¯s inheritance!¡± Xiao Siqian fell silent for a moment. A while later, he continued, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m grateful that my mother set up such a will. Otherwise, even if I were to go back, I fear I would lose all her properties!¡± At that time, when they tricked him into signing the inheritance transfer agreement, he hadn¡¯t realized that his 18th birthday would also be the day of his death. Fortunately, he met a benefactor who helped him survive. Now that he¡¯s alive, that family better be prepared to face his fierce revenge. Xiao Siqian continued, ¡°Since they can¡¯t get the inheritance rights, they naturally want to find me and resort to the same trick. But I won¡¯t let them succeed this time.¡± He must take his revenge! Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Right, revenge must be taken, and grievances must be repaid. Since they didn¡¯t leave you any way to live, there¡¯s no need to leave them any room to survive, either!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Siqian nodded and said, ¡°Yes, once the veil of kinship is lifted, I will no longer regard them as family members, but as enemies.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Xiao Jinli then asked, ¡°So, you¡¯re planning to go back and take your revenge?¡± Xiao Siqian hesitated for a moment.. Chapter 142 - Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Time to Take Revenge (Part Two) Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Time to Take Revenge (Part Two) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Siqian was taken aback, his face was full of inexplicable longing and reluctance. After a while, he nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I plan to go back for revenge. Since they¡¯re looking for me, almost to the point of madness, then I¡¯ll appear before them as they wish. I want to see what kind of lies they can concoct in my presence!¡± But as he said this, he added emotionally, ¡°But I cannot bear to leave this village, leave Uncle and Auntie, Brother Xuan, and you. Living in the Xiao Family Village, I¡¯ve truly experienced warmth and kinship free of ulterior motives. I immersed myself in this atmosphere every day, and the longer I stayed, the harder it was to leave.¡± He sighed slightly and said, ¡°The people my grandfather sent came looking for me again two days ago.¡± He didn¡¯t want to leave, so he delayed one day after another. However, Xiao Jinli said indifferently, ¡°Everyone will part ways eventually! Brother Xiao Quan, why agonize over this? After you leave, won¡¯t you ever return to Xiao Family Village?¡± Upon saying this, she looked at Xiao Siqian with a very serious expression and said, ¡°As long as you or anyone around you won¡¯t harm anyone or anything in Xiao Family Village, we welcome you to come back anytime!¡± Xiao Siqian was stunned again, then choked with emotion, ¡°Rest assured, I stick to my words. I will never, and will never allow anyone to harm anyone or anything in Xiao Family Village, including myself! If I break this pledge, you can do whatever you want to me!¡± Xiao Jinli suddenly revealed the truth about his rescue to him just to tell him that she was able to save him but similarly, had the capacity to kill him too. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Okay, I trust you.¡± Then, she asked, ¡°When are you planning to leave?¡± Xiao Siqian thought for a moment and said, ¡°In three days.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Then these few days, say your goodbyes properly to everyone. Especially my parents, they¡¯ve really spoiled you like their own son.¡± ¡°Hmm, I know!¡± Xiao Siqian nodded, his voice nasal. Afterwards, the two remained silent. The atmosphere was extraordinarily quiet. At that moment, Xiao Zhi said in Xiao Jinli¡¯s mindscape, ¡°Master, the seven-colored tea flower!¡± Xiao Jinli immediately remembered another purpose for coming here. She said, ¡°Brother Xiao Quan, do you remember the seven-colored tea flower seeds we bought?¡± Xiao Siqian nodded and said, ¡°Of course I remember. Speaking of which, sister Jinli, how are you going to plant that seed?¡± Xiao Jinli blinked her eyes and then with a mysterious smile said, ¡°Come, follow me.¡± Then, she led Xiao Siqian to¡­ the edge of the cliff. Standing on the edge of the cliff, she pointed to a spot inside the cliff and said, ¡°There, that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xiao Siqian was astonished. ¡°Plant it on the cliff? Sister Jinli, how did you manage to plant the seed on a cliff?¡± ¡°Hehe, it was an accident!¡± Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°When I originally came here, I brought the seeds with me. However, the seeds accidentally fell off. To my surprise, they sprouted not long afterwards.¡± In fact, they all sprouted from the seeds planted in her space and then transplanted out. ¡°It seems that this cliff is suitable for growing tea flowers!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Look how it¡¯s growing vibrant and hardy yet cute. It shouldn¡¯t take long before it blooms.¡± But Xiao Siqian asked confusedly, ¡°But how did you manage to transplant it? It¡¯s so dangerous to go down such a steep cliff!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°For me, that¡¯s a small challenge.¡± Xiao Siqian, Then, he saw Xiao Jinli fetch a thick rope from a corner, tie one end to a big pine tree and the other end around her waist. Holding a small iron shovel in her hand, she jumped directly off the cliff. That¡¯s right, she just jumped down. Xiao Siqian¡¯s face instantly became pale with fright. He yelled, ¡°Sister Jinli!¡± Then, he rushed to the edge of the cliff in two or three steps, looked down and suddenly burst into laughter. Xiao Jinli was standing on a rock perfectly fine. Xiao Siqian heaved a sigh of relief and laughed, ¡°Hehe, you really scared me!¡± Then he became solemn and said, ¡°Sister Jinli, do you know how dangerous it is to do what you did. What if the rope didn¡¯t hold? Or what if you hit your head while jumping? These things could lead to serious accidents.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°I told you this is my territory, nothing will happen to me.¡± ¡°No matter what, it¡¯s always better to be careful!¡± Xiao Siqian expressed his concern sincerely. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ve got it.¡± Then, she carefully walked towards the tea flower tree, stepping on the edge of the rock. Once she reached the tea flower tree, she carefully dug it up. Before long, the entire seedling was dug up. She yelled to Xiao Siqian, ¡°Brother Xiao Quan, I am done digging. Pull me back up.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m pulling now. Just be careful!¡± Xiao Siqian grabbed the rope and pulled. Before long, Xiao Jinli was pulled up. She held a small iron shovel in one hand and a small tea tree in the other. Xiao Siqian thoroughly checked Xiao Jinli and breathed a sigh of relief, saying, ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good. There were no injuries!¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°since I was able to go down, I would never allow myself to get hurt.¡± She looked at the small tea tree and said, ¡°This small sapling has been transplanted. Now we need to go home and plant it in a flower pot.¡± Xiao Siqian nodded in agreement, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s hurry back home!¡± Mainly because, staying here, what Xiao Jinli was doing was too thrilling and if he stay here any longer, he¡¯d be scared half to death. Then, Xiao Siqian packed up the equipment, picked up the wild rabbits and chickens on the ground, and left. Xiao Jinli held the small tea tree sapling in her hand. As for Little White and Little Cutie, after meeting with Xiao Siqian, they left. On the way back for Xiao Siqian, his heart was pounding non-stop. Xiao Jinli had given him too many surprises. At the same time, he vowed silently to make himself stronger. Only by becoming stronger can he break through any barrier, and protect the people he wants to protect. He didn¡¯t know how powerful Xiao Jinli was, but he couldn¡¯t fall too far behind her. Otherwise, instead of providing protection, he might become the one who needed to be protected. When Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian arrived home and saw what they were carrying, Xiao¡¯s mother was quite surprised. Xiao¡¯s mother asked with a smile, ¡°You caught so many rabbits today?¡± Xiao Jinli responded directly, ¡°Brother Xiao Quan wanted to taste various dishes made with wild rabbits, so I found two rabbit nests and caught a few rabbits.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡°¡­¡± So they had found a rabbit nest. She also noticed the small tree in Xiao Jinli¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°What kind of sapling is this?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°This is a tea flower sapling! It¡¯s something I found on the mountain. The buds aren¡¯t open yet, so I don¡¯t know what kind it is!¡± Xiao Siqian, Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Farewell 1 (First Update) Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Farewell 1 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli found a flower pot and planted the small tea tree seedling in it. While no one was paying attention, she dripped a few drops of Lingquan water on it. She had looked up the information, and although this Seven Color Tea Tree was a new variety from the Agricultural Research Institute, it had already been cultivated in Cray Country. Last year, at the International Horticultural Flower Auction, a pot of Seven Color Tea Flowers attracted everyone¡¯s attention and became the highlight of the auction, This flower was named the Rainbow Angel. Seven Color Tea Flower: Beautifully blooming, charming and enchanting, colorful, and elegant! At that auction, a pot of Seven Color Tea Flowers was sold to a mysterious person for 38 million. Although Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t know if the Seven Color Tea Flower seeds she bought were genuine, she still wanted to take good care of them. If they turned out to be genuine, they could be worth over 10 million! Because there were only three days left, Xiao Siqian cherished every moment he spent with the Xiao family. ¡°Xiao Quan, what¡¯s wrong with you these days?¡± At dinner time, Xiao Mother finally couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°You seem to have become very silent. Are you feeling unwell, or have you encountered any problems?¡± Xiao Siqian¡¯s hand holding chopsticks paused, then his eyes reddened, shaking his head, ¡°Auntie, I¡¯m fine.¡¯ But Xiao Mother didn¡¯t believe him at all. She rarely showed a stern face and said, ¡°Look at your expression, and you still say nothing¡¯s wrong, who would believe it?¡± After a moment¡¯s pause, she continued, ¡°Xiao Quan, we¡¯re a family now. Since we¡¯re a family, we¡¯re relatives. No matter what kind of problems you encounter, you can share them. If we can solve them ourselves, we¡¯ll do it together. If we can¡¯t, we¡¯ll all try to find a solution as a family. Your silence really worries us.¡± As soon as Xiao Mother finished speaking, Xiao Siqian¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. Mother Xiao and others looked worried the moment they saw his tears. Xiao Father hurriedly asked, ¡°Xiao Quan, if you have any problems, just tell us. Uncle will do his best to help you solve them.¡± A boy must have encountered some difficulties, otherwise, why would he cry? Xiao Junxuan also patted his chest and said, ¡°Xiao Quan, Brother Xuan always treats you like a real younger brother. Your problems are my problems too. So, whatever difficulties you encounter, just tell me, and I¡¯ll do everything in my power to help you solve them.¡± Hearing their heartfelt words, Xiao Siqian was deeply moved, and he couldn¡¯t help but cry. He shook his head and then said with determination, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, Brother Xuan, I¡¯ve actually recovered my memories!¡± Mother Xiao and others were momentarily stunned. Xiao Junxuan reacted first, smiling and saying, ¡°Haha, regaining your memory is a good thing. Little brother Xiao Quan, congratulations!¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® Sometimes, she thought her big brother was very smart, but other times, she felt he was a bit foolish. He didn¡¯t even ask whether the return of Xiao Quan¡¯s memories was a good or bad thing, and just started congratulating him. What if those memories were something he didn¡¯t want in the first place? Of course, Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t expose her big brother¡¯s words. It was Xiao Mother who seemed to have thought of something, her face changing colors and slightly worriedly asking, ¡°Xiao¡­ Xiao Chen, are you planning to leave after regaining your memory?¡± Xiao Siqian nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I plan to leave in two days. I have some important things to do. Uncle and Auntie, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Xiao Wanshan shook his head and said, ¡°Xiao Quan, what are you apologizing for? You have nothing to be sorry about. Since you have important things to do, Uncle won¡¯t interfere. But Uncle hopes that you can ensure your own safety! ¡± He remembered that when Xiao Bao carried him down Red Peak Mountain, he was covered in blood and wounds all over his body, suffering both internal and external injuries. Moreover, according to the Yamen officials, he had some gunshot wounds on his body. All these signs indicated that this child had a not-so-simple background. Xiao Siqian nodded, ¡°Well, Xiao Quan, oh¡­ Yichen will always remember Uncle¡¯s words.¡± ¡°Yichen?¡± ¡°Yes, my name is Su Yichen. I come from the Capital City!¡± Xiao Siqian, or rather Su Yichen, introduced himself, ¡°My family is quite well-off. I was kidnapped and brought here. After escaping, I fainted on Red Peak Mountain, and then was saved by Little Sister Jinli.¡± He was telling the truth, but not in detail. He continued, ¡°A couple of days ago, I accidentally recovered my memory and contacted my family. They were very anxious and wanted to take me back.¡± Xiao Mother smiled and said, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s good to recover your memory and find your family. Xiao Quan, no, Xiao Chen, you¡¯ve been missing for so long, your family must be very worried. It¡¯s only right for you to go back.¡± Xiao Jinli thought to herself, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re wrong. He¡¯s not going back because his family is worried, but to take revenge.¡± Xiao Junxuan also laughed, ¡°Hey, little¡­ brother Chen, it¡¯s a good thing that you found your relatives. I thought you ran into some difficulties that were hard to solve. Why did you cry and worry us?¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® Su Yichen, With Xiao Junxuan¡¯s words, the sentimental atmosphere was gone. Su Yichen smiled and said, ¡°Brother Xuan, it¡¯s my fault for making you all worry!¡± Xiao Junxuan smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, we¡¯re happy for you that you found your relatives.¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°Xiao Chen, we¡¯re all happy that you found your own relatives. Our home¡¯s door will always be open for you, and we¡¯ll still be family! Remember to tell Uncle and Brother Xuan about any difficulties you encounter in the future. If we can help, we definitely will!¡± Su Yichen nodded and said, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ll remember.¡± Xiao Mother hesitated a bit before asking, ¡°Little¡­ Xiao Chen, when do you plan to leave? Auntie wants to prepare some things for you to take back.¡± ¡°The day after tomorrow!¡± Su Yichen said, ¡°Auntie, when I leave, please make me two dishes, spicy and sour taro and sweet and sour carp. I particularly like these dishes you make.¡± Xiao Mother smiled and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have them ready for you when you leave!¡± Although they were happy for Xiao¡­ Su Yichen for finding his family, they were also reluctant to see him go. Xiao Mother said, ¡°Xiao Chen, no matter what your identity is, in Auntie¡¯s heart, you¡¯ll always be our Xiao Quan, a part of our family, and our loved one! Auntie also hopes that no matter what difficulties and setbacks you face in the future, you¡¯ll always remember us.¡± Su Yichen nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ll remember, Auntie! From the first day I entered this home, I¡¯ve considered Uncle, Auntie, Brother Xuan, and Sister Jinli as my family. The warmth, happiness, and joy you¡¯ve given me will forever remain in my heart.. You are my family forever!¡± Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Farewell 2 (Second Update) Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Farewell 2 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Hearing that Su Yichen was going to leave and go home, the family was happy for him but also worried at the same time! This kid doesn¡¯t seem to be in a hurry to go home. Is it because his home is not good to him or is there another reason? Generally speaking, family members are the people that everyone most wants to see. Since he regained his memory two days ago, why would he only go back after a few days? Xiao¡¯s Mother wanted to ask but didn¡¯t dare, afraid of touching on the child¡¯s sad past. Xiao Wanshan and his wife spend the night somewhat sleepless. Xiao¡¯s Mother said, ¡°Xiao Quan is from the Capital City, how was he kidnapped thousands of miles away to Red Peak Mountain?¡± ¡°Since those kidnappers have kidnapped Xiao Quan for money, his family must be quite wealthy. So, did they look for someone when Xiao Quan was missing for so long?¡± ¡°I see on Television, those wealthy families, for their own interests, they compete for power, and even hurt each other¡¯s lives. Husband, do you think Xiao Quan¡¯s situation is like this?¡± Xiao¡¯s Mother became more and more worried as she spoke. Xiao Wanshan patted the back of her hand, comforting, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that¡¯s all your guess. Xiao Quan survived from a group of kidnappers, which means he has great luck and fortune. Besides, Xiao Quan, being such a smart person, will definitely protect himself. Just stop worrying, have a good sleep, and prepare something for Xiao Quan tomorrow!¡± Although Xiao¡¯s Mother was still worried about Su Yichen, she gradually fell asleep under Xiao Father¡¯s comfort. Xiao Junxuan couldn¡¯t fall asleep tonight, tossing and turning in bed. He got up, took a card from the drawer, went to Su Yichen¡¯s room next door, knocked on the door, and entered after Xiao Siqian opened it. Xiao Junxuan directly handed the card in his hand to Su Yichen, saying, ¡°Xiao Quan, younger brother, there¡¯s one million in this card of mine, saved up over the past two years, I¡¯m giving it to you now, I hope it can help you!¡± Seeing the bank card in his hand, Su Yichen felt touched and moved in an instant. The family members who he once treated wholeheartedly ended up harboring evil intentions behind his back, trying to take away the inheritance left to him by his birth mother, and even tried to harm his life. But the people he only met a few months ago could give their life savings to him without hesitation. So, is it genuine affection or money that is more important? It just depends on whether a person is willing to give their true heart. Su Yichen pushed the bank card back, sincerely saying, ¡°Brother Xuan, I really appreciate it, but I can¡¯t take your money! My family is very wealthy, and I don¡¯t lack money when I go home!¡± What he lacked was just genuine affection. Hearing Su Yichen¡¯s words like this, Xiao Junxuan felt a little embarrassed to take back the card. After all, he didn¡¯t really know about Su Yichen¡¯s family, but he believed that Su Yichen would need more money when he went back home. Xiao Junxuan gave an embarrassed smile, ¡°So, you¡¯re actually a young master of a wealthy family. Then my money is really offensive.¡± Su Yichen frowned disapprovingly, ¡°Brother Xuan, what are you talking about? Regardless of how much your money is, I¡¯m still grateful and moved. It¡¯s just that I think you need this money more. I heard your uncle say that you intend to buy several houses. Why don¡¯t you take this money to buy a house, and then become a rental lord?¡± ¡°Haha, a rental lord?¡± Xiao Junxuan laughed, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll buy a few more houses and become a rental lord!¡± Su Yichen seriously suggested, ¡°Brother Xuan, the future space for real estate appreciation is huge, have you considered moving in the direction of the real estate market?¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°Yeah, my dad and I thought about changing careers and doing real estate after listening to you last time.¡± At this point, he asked curiously, ¡°Xiao Quan, you have such a sharp business sense, is your family in the business?¡± Su Yichen nodded, ¡°Yes, my family is in business! Well, we are involved in various industries, such as electronic science and technology, jewelry, and real estate.¡± ¡°Oh, your family¡¯s business is so big.¡± Xiao Junxuan¡¯s eyes shone brightly, and he asked excitedly, ¡°Your family is also in the real estate business? Can you tell me about it?¡± Su Yichen smiled, ¡°Of course. Afterwards, the two discussed the real estate field. Actually, it was Su Yichen unilaterally imparting his experience, and Xiao Junxuan was humbly asking for advice. Xiao Jinli listened from the next room as the brothers talked about business and couldn¡¯t help but smile. She said to Xiao Zhi, ¡°It seems my brother really wants to develop in the real estate industry.¡± Xiao Zhi said, ¡°Actually, your brother is pretty smart in business. Comparing to Su Yichen, he is a little bit behind. However, Su Yichen¡¯s family has a wide range of businesses, but not all of them are industry leaders. But if your brother focuses on real estate, he may become a real estate tycoon. By then, Master, with a brother who can make money at home, you can truly relax.¡± Xiao Jinli curled her lips and laughed, ¡°Yes, life was not fair in the past, but I want to lie flat in this life!¡± Xiao Zhi thought of something and asked, ¡°Master, after Su Yichen goes back, should we help him?¡± ¡°Not for now!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°It¡¯s his business, let him solve it by himself. If he can¡¯t even avenge himself after surviving death once, even if we help, he is just a useless person.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Zhi pressed his lips and said, ¡°Master, your heart is really hard. Anyway, you¡¯ve been with him for so long, he protects you and treats you like a real sister. But you just want to treat him like a passer-by.¡± Xiao Jinli was silent for a moment and said, ¡°In this world, whoever truly treats me well, I will treat them well in return. Su Yichen is good now, but people can change. Who knows, once back in the Capital City, with power and money in hand, he might think that his days spent in the countryside were a disgrace?¡± ¡°No¡­ it can¡¯t be, can it?¡± Xiao Zhi was very dubious and surprised, ¡°He shouldn¡¯t be¡­ that kind of person, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell what kind of person he is right now.¡± Xiao Jinli said very seriously, ¡°Just like my ex-boyfriend and sister from my past life, for the sake of money and power, they deceived me for so many years. So, human hearts are really hard to test and wear down.¡± Xiao Zhi fell silent, deep in thought. It is just a high-end intelligent network, it can infiltrate any corner of the internet, but it cannot penetrate the human heart. ¡°Sigh!¡± Xiao Zhi sighed lightly and said earnestly, ¡°You humans are really complex. Much more complicated than our network data by millions of times!¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® This kid doesn¡¯t want to be a human being now.. Chapter 145 - Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Farewell 3 (Part 1) Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Farewell 3 (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Mother prepared Xiao Siqian¡¯s favorite Spicy and sour taro, chili, sweet and sour fish, glutinous rice cake, and other local specialties that can only be found in the countryside. Oh, right, Xiao Mother and the others still prefer to call him Xiao Siqian. Because, the one who entered their home was Xiao Siqian, not Su Yichen. Knowing that Xiao Siqian also likes Osmanthus Wine, Xiao Father gave him the last two jars without hesitation. Carrying the jars, Su Yichen declined, ¡°Uncle, you only have these two jars of wine. I can take one jar back, but you should keep the other one for yourself.¡± Xiao Father waved his hand and said, ¡°I can have your Aunt make more wine if I run out. But it would be hard for you to get a drink thousands of miles away. Little Quan, don¡¯t be too polite to your Uncle, just take it.¡± After hearing Xiao Father¡¯s words, Su Yichen no longer declined and nodded his head, ¡°Alright, Uncle, I¡¯ll accept it.¡± Xiao Father patted his shoulder and smiled, ¡°That¡¯s right. But remember, although the wine is delicious, don¡¯t overdo it. One small cup a day can help you stay strong and healthy!¡± This was his advice based on experience. Xiao Siqian nodded and said, ¡°Mm, Uncle, I¡¯ll remember that.¡± Xiao Mother packed various things in glass jars and sealed them while instructing, ¡°Little Quan, you need to eat the glutinous rice cake and the steamed rice cake as soon as possible, otherwise they will go bad easily. As for this spicy and sour taro, you also need to eat it quickly. This chopped chili can last longer as long as it is stored properly. But you have to remember, once these items turn white or go bad, you can¡¯t eat them anymore, alright?¡± Xiao Siqian listened and nodded, ¡°Aunt, I got it!¡± Xiao Mother, with her eyes turning red, said reluctantly, ¡°We don¡¯t know when we¡¯ll be able to see you again once you leave. But no matter what, Aunt hopes that you¡¯ll always be well.¡± Xiao Siqian suddenly hugged Xiao Mother¡¯s shoulder, his voice choking up, ¡°Aunt, I¡¯ll remember your words, I promise I¡¯ll be well!¡± He would definitely be well, and then return to this home. Xiao Mother patted his shoulder and said, ¡°Yes, as long as you want to, our door will always be open to you! Even though we¡¯ve only been together for not even half a year, you¡¯re like another son to your Uncle and me in our hearts.¡± ¡°Mhm, I know!¡± Xiao Siqian replied, his eyes brimming with tears. On usual days, no one of the opposite sex could even touch his wife¡¯s clothes. However, at this moment of parting, Xiao Father resisted the urge to pull them apart and instead patted Siqian¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Little Quan, remember Aunt¡¯s words. You are like another son to her and me. Our door will always be open for you. You can always come back whenever you want.¡± Xiao Siqian truly enjoyed the unadulterated love, warmth, and happiness in this family and had already considered it his own home. If possible, he would really love to give up his billions in the Capital City and stay in this cozy little home. However, he must avenge his mother¡¯s death and protect his own life, so he has to return. Besides, if those people learn that he is hiding in this remote small village, they will definitely target the people around him to force him to give up his inheritance rights. Therefore, to eliminate the hidden dangers, he must go back. Xiao Siqian hugged Xiao Mother for a while before letting go. He knew that Xiao Father was very jealous. Xiao Junxuan patted his shoulder and said, ¡°Little Brother Quan, I don¡¯t know what gift to give you right now. Just remember, you will always be my brother, Xiao Junxuan. As long as you need help from your older brother, whether it¡¯s climbing up knife ladders or diving into seas of fire, I will always rush out for you. So remember, wherever you are, you won¡¯t be alone. You have Brother Xuan and our whole family.¡± ¡°Alright, Brother Xuan, I¡¯ll remember that,¡± Xiao Siqian replied. Xiao Jinli held a pot of Seven-color Camellia seedling, which was transplanted a few days ago, and handed it to Siqian, ¡°Big Brother Quan, this tea flower tree is for you.¡± Xiao Siqian looked at the tea flower tree with faint buds and was slightly surprised. He declined, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, this is the Seven-color Camellia, very precious, I can¡¯t accept it!¡± Other people may not be aware of the value of the Seven-color Camellia, but he knew. Even though it wasn¡¯t the one from the international horticultural flower auction, it was still worth at least a million yuan. This was already a very high value for people in the countryside. Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Precisely because it¡¯s precious, I want to give it to you. Since we can¡¯t be with you, let this tea flower be with you in our place. Don¡¯t worry, this flower is easy to grow, and with the nutrients I¡¯ve prepared, you can add a few drops later, and it won¡¯t wither or die.¡± As for those so-called ¡°nutrients¡±, they were of course Lingquan water. Hearing this, Siqian held the flower pot tightly and stopped declining. With a bit of hesitation, he said, ¡°But¡­But¡­ Xiao Jinli shook her head and laughed, ¡°There are no buts. Have you forgotten? I have five seeds. Since I can grow one, I can grow a second tree too.¡± Siqian nodded, ¡°Alright, Little Sister Jinli, I¡¯ll accept it.¡± He would definitely take good care of this tea flower. Even if he didn¡¯t know how to grow it, he would hire the best botanists in the world to help him. As the saying goes, even the longest journey must come to an end! Even though Su Yichen and the Xiao family were reluctant to part ways and had countless words of advice for each other, time waits for no one. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, you should go back. The people who came to pick you up have been waiting outside for a day,¡± Xiao Mother said, as she looked at the sky and checked the time. In the morning, the cars that had come to pick up Su Yichen had been waiting since the sun was high in the sky. His family in the Capital City must be missing him too. No matter how reluctant they were to part ways, they couldn¡¯t be too hard on the child who didn¡¯t want to leave either. ¡°Yeah, go back. Your family in the Capital City must be waiting for you,¡± Xiao Father said, glancing at the two black cars parked outside. ¡°Nowadays, transportation and communication are very developed. You can come back and visit us whenever you have time.¡± Xiao Junxuan also said, ¡°That¡¯s right. As long as you don¡¯t forget about us and disdain our poor life, just let us know when you¡¯re safely back in the Capital City. As long as there¡¯s a chance, we can still stay in touch.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at her parents and older brother and sighed softly, thinking, ¡°With Su Yichen¡¯s complicated family background, it would be really difficult for them to stay in touch. Let¡¯s just temporarily offer them some comfort.¡± In the end, Su Yichen reluctantly got into the black car at the door, waving goodbye to this family he had spent such a short time with. As they parted, they couldn¡¯t be sure when they would meet again! Chapter 146 - Chapter 146: Chapter 146: A Summer’s Dream 1 (Second update) Chapter 146: Chapter 146: A Summer¡¯s Dream 1 (Second update) Translator: 549690339 Capital City Su Family Lady Su sat on the high-end sofa seat with a pale face, looking at Su Xiangdong across from her, she said anxiously, ¡°Husband, I heard from the Xia family people that Su Yichen was found by Old Man Xia, and they have sent someone to pick him up.¡± Then she scolded, ¡°This damn kid, I don¡¯t know where he hid for the past half year, making us search for him for so long.¡± Upon hearing that Su Yichen was coming back, Su Xiangdong was immediately frightened, his voice raised slightly, ¡°Impossible! How did that old man find that bastard?¡± Hearing the news of Su Yichen being found, Su Xiangdong¡¯s first reaction was panic and fear. For the past six months, the cellphone in the drawer had been taken out from time to time, trying to contact that person. But that person¡¯s cellphone was initially busy and then turned off, and ultimately became unreachable. He couldn¡¯t contact that person, nor could he find his missing son. Everything seemed to have sunk into the sea. However, to get all of Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance, he had to find Su Yichen. Normally, a missing person could be reported. But the family of three had a guilty conscience and didn¡¯t dare to report it, so they had to send more people to search in private. Who would have thought that it would take six months. But after half a year, Old Man Xia found him. Lady Su cursed Su Yichen for a moment, then suddenly realized something. She asked with a puzzled look, ¡°Wait, how did that old man from the Xia family find Su Yichen? Didn¡¯t he break Old Man Xia¡¯s heart? Why would Old Man Xia go looking for that kid? Does Old Man Xia know about the will?¡± This was what concerned her the most. If Old Man Xia knew about the will, was he looking for that kid for the sake of the will? The Xia family had been on a decline in recent years, far from its past glory. It was said that Xia Zhiming, the treacherous elder brother, had invested in a new project which was now stuck and in urgent need of funds. Therefore, they might be eyeing Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance. ¡°Husband, we must not let Su Yichen restore his relationship with the Xia family,¡± Lan Yingying said anxiously, ¡°What if Su Yichen is fooled by them and gives away all his mother¡¯s inheritance to the Xia family? Then our decades of work would have been in vain, right?¡± Most importantly, she already considered everything about Su Yichen as her son¡¯s. Su Xiangdong¡¯s face turned ugly when she mentioned this, and his panicked thoughts were interrupted. He scolded in a low voice, ¡°Keep your voice down, the walls have ears, don¡¯t you know?¡± Then, he tried to comfort her, ¡°If that bastard was so easy to coax, his relationship with the Xia family wouldn¡¯t have been so tense. So, even if the Xia family has found him, the brat might not necessarily be willing to accept their affection.¡¯ With her husband saying this, Lady Su suddenly felt somewhat relieved and said, ¡°That¡¯s true. If that damn kid was so easy to coax, we wouldn¡¯t have spent more than a decade creating a warm family atmosphere for him, just to get him to willingly give up his mother¡¯s inheritance rights. Humph, the Xia family¡¯s wishful thinking is wrong.¡± Upon saying this, she asked again, ¡°Husband, now that the Xia family has gotten him back, what should we do to get that smelly kid back home and then have him give up his mother¡¯s inheritance in person?¡± Su Xiangdong¡¯s dark eyes flickered with an ambiguous intent, and he said, ¡°How did we do it before? After he returns, I¡¯ll continue doing the same. Also, you need to remind Yangyang to keep up the act and not reveal any flaws. This concerns whether or not he can inherit Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance.¡± Lady Su nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I will remind him.¡± In the past six months, due to Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance, Su Hanyang had become more and more exposed to his true nature. So, she had to remind her son to control his nature, and after he had obtained all of Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance, he could do whatever he wanted. The Xia family was once one of the top four wealthy families in Capital City, but that was twenty years ago. Now, the Xia family had not produced anyone with business talent who could lead the Xia family to greater heights. Xia Weiguo, the head of the Xia family and Su Yichen¡¯s maternal grandfather, had three sons and one daughter. The eldest son was Xia Zhiming, the second son was Xia Zhiliang, the third son was Xia Zhibin, and the daughter was Xia Zhi Meng. The three sons were mediocre, while Xia Zhi Meng was very talented in business. Twenty years ago, Xia Weiguo wanted to capitalize on his daughter¡¯s business talent to open a new field for the Xia Corporation and lead the entire Xia family to new heights. Then he would hand over the Xia family to the next heir and let Xia Zhi Meng marry into another family. But things didn¡¯t go as planned. Xia Zhi Meng fell in love with a phoenix man from the countryside and broke with her family to marry him. The so-called sky-high dowry was all earned by Xia Zhi Meng herself. Even though he had severed ties with his daughter, Xia Weiguo maintained his dignity by claiming that Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s dowry was given by the Xia family. Xia Zhi Meng didn¡¯t want to make things too difficult for her father, so she agreed to the arrangement. However, Xia Zhi Meng married the wrong person. After marrying Su Xiangdong, Xia Zhi Meng gave him funds to start the Su Corporation. Later, using her connections and resources, she helped her husband expand the company¡¯s scale and industry. Su Xiangdong was deeply moved. To show his sincerity, he directly gave Xia Zhi Meng a 40% share of the company, making her the second-largest shareholder. After Xia Zhi Meng got pregnant and gave birth to a child, she gradually gave up her control over the company for the sake of the child, and finally stopped managing the company altogether. However, she would give advice when her husband encountered difficulties. As the company grew rapidly, the Su Corporation soon became the Su Group, and its fame spread in Capital City. In just three or four years, it became one of the top wealthy families in Capital City. As the Su Group¡¯s position in Capital City became more and more stable, Su Xiangdong began to reveal his true nature. Especially after Xia Zhi Meng gave birth to their child, her health declined, and he began to frequently go out and not return home. Or when he returned home in the middle of the night, he would have lipstick marks on his neck or shirt, or the scent of other women on his body. His only excuse was that he was attending social engagements and got smudged accidentally. Later on, he even stopped bothering to explain. Xia Zhi Meng suspected that he had someone else outside. Su Xiangdong accused her of being paranoid and neurotic. The quarrels between the two increased, Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s health worsened, and her mental state was very bad. The once sharp and capable Xia Zhi Meng in the business world was now like a resentful wife trapped in a palace, repressed, sighing, and washing her face with tears every day. What completely crushed her was a single photograph! Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Dream of Summer 2 (First Update) Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Dream of Summer 2 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Su Yichen¡¯s eyes reddened when he heard Liu Qing Ming tell the story of his mother¡¯s past. Choking with emotion, he asked, ¡°Uncle Liu, what about the photo?¡± Liu Qing Ming said, ¡°It¡¯s a bed photo of your father cheating. After she received this photo, she kept receiving more photos of your father, his first love, and their child. The child looked very much like your father, and it was obvious that he was your father¡¯s biological child. And that child was three years older than you!¡± Su Yichen¡¯s hands clenched into fists, the veins on his back bulging, as if he was about to explode at any moment. Rage and hatred seethed in his eyes, and he gritted his teeth, saying, ¡°So, my mom¡¯s spirit was completely crushed, and that¡¯s why she jumped off the building to commit suicide!¡± Therefore, his mother¡¯s death was caused by Su Xiangdong¡¯s family. They were the culprits. Yet foolishly, he had considered his enemy as his family, and had almost handed over everything his mother left for him to his enemy. At this moment, he really wanted to smash his own head. He was so incredibly stupid! He was considered a genius by everyone, but compared to those who manipulated others, he was practically mediocre. Perhaps sensing Su Yichen¡¯s guilt, Liu Qing Ming patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself too much. After all, you were too young back then, and Su Xiangdong was always good at controlling people¡¯s hearts. It¡¯s only natural that you would believe them and fall for their tricks.¡± With a sigh, he continued, ¡°Before your mom jumped off the building, she had a severe depression. Under their provocation, she experienced a mental breakdown. But there was a period when she was lucid, and she came to me and left that will for you, leaving you a way out.¡± Crying, Su Yichen said, ¡°But I, being her son, almost gave away everything she left for me!¡± ¡°You almost did, but you didn¡¯t, right?¡± Liu Qing Ming consoled, ¡°Now that you see their true colors and are no longer deceived by them, it¡¯s not too late.¡± Upon hearing this, Su Yichen fell silent. After a while, Liu Qing Ming asked, ¡°Xiao Chen, what do you plan to do next? Will you return to the Xia Family or the Su Family?¡± Su Yichen clenched his fists, a determined look in his eyes. He said, ¡°Uncle Liu, I want to avenge my mom!¡± Liu Qing Ming was startled by his words and asked, ¡°So, you still want to return to the Su Family?¡± ¡°Yes, return to the Su Family!¡± Su Yichen said bitterly, ¡°If I don¡¯t go back, how can I make them taste the feeling of falling from a high place? I want them to live in pain and despair like my mom! But for now, I will return to the Xia Family.¡± From Uncle Liu¡¯s mouth, he learned that his mother was a brilliant and capable woman. She had given up everything to be a devoted wife and mother at home, only to be betrayed by her husband. The truth was cruel beyond measure. His father, a worthless man, had never loved her and had used her from the very beginning. In the end, he stepped on her to enjoy a life of wealth and luxury with his first love and child. Worry crept into Liu Qing Ming¡¯s eyes as he looked at Su Yichen. He said, ¡°Yichen, your business talent is inherited from your mother, and you have surpassed her. Su Xiangdong¡¯s business aptitude is not as good as yours, but after all, he has been fighting in the business world for over 20 years and has become a cunning veteran in the field. You are no match for his ruthless tactics and extensive connections. However, if you are truly determined to defeat him in the world of business, Uncle Liu will do everything to help you.¡± Su Yichen gratefully said, ¡°Uncle Liu, thank you!¡± Uncle Liu shook his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s my duty to take care of you since I was friends with your mother.¡± He then asked, ¡°When you return to the Su Family, what will you do about the Xia Family? Your maternal grandfather may have treated your mother harshly, but he is still your grandfather. These years, the only reason that family hasn¡¯t dared to mistreat you is because your grandfather has been watching.¡± Su Yichen shook his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to deal with the Xia Family right now, but I plan to return to the Xia Family first, and then gradually return to the Su Family.¡± When he returned to the Capital City, he immediately contacted his maternal grandfather, Xia Weiguo. Upon his return to the Capital City, he didn¡¯t go to the Xia Family first, but he went to the lawyer¡¯s office to meet with Liu Qing Ming, the lawyer his mother had met before. He wanted to learn about his mother¡¯s will. In the past, Liu Qing Ming had tried to talk to him about his mother¡¯s will as a friend of hers, but had been interrupted by Su Xiangdong multiple times. He hadn¡¯t wanted to investigate further at that point because Su Xiangdong had told him that Liu Qing Ming had pursued his mother, who chose Su Xiangdong over him. So, Su Yichen believed that Liu Qing Ming must have been seeking revenge because his mother hadn¡¯t chosen him. As a result, he didn¡¯t have a good impression of Liu Qing Ming. But he hadn¡¯t expected that his mother would have entrusted Liu Qing Ming with her will if she hadn¡¯t trusted him. Regardless of whether Liu Qing Ming had once had feelings for his mother, the fact was that she had trusted him. The facts proved that his mother¡¯s trust had not been misplaced. If Liu Qing Ming hadn¡¯t repeatedly refused Su Xiangdong¡¯s requests to see his mother¡¯s will, it might have been tampered with or even forged. As a son, he would have been deemed useless by then, or perhaps considered a thorn in their side and removed secretly. When a child had an accident or died from illness within a family, outsiders wouldn¡¯t inquire too deeply. Thinking about how he had been safe thus far due to his mother¡¯s protection, and Liu Qing Ming¡¯s help, he was deeply grateful. In the past, he had been deceived by others and had poor judgment. But that would change. The bodyguards waiting outside the lawyer¡¯s office received a call and entered, saying to Su Yichen, ¡°Young Master Su, the old master is waiting for you at home.¡± It seemed that the old master was dissatisfied because he had spent too much time at the lawyer¡¯s office. Su Yichen furrowed his brows and nodded, ¡°Fine. He then said goodbye to Liu Qing Ming, ¡°Uncle Liu, I¡¯ll be going now. I¡¯ll contact you next time.¡± Liu Qing Ming nodded and said, ¡°Yes, after you go back, have a good talk with your grandfather. After all, he is your family!¡± Su Yichen nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± Liu Qing Ming watched Su Yichen leave, worry etched on his face. Although Su Yichen hadn¡¯t told him how he had disappeared or where he had been for the past half year, he knew that it wasn¡¯t that simple. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have come to ask him about his mother and her will as soon as he returned, and he wouldn¡¯t have had a change of heart about trusting Su Xiangdong and his family. Su Xiangdong¡¯s family was plotting against Su Yichen, and the Xia Family wasn¡¯t much better. It was just that the Xia Family hadn¡¯t shown their true colors yet. ¡°Ai, Zhi Meng, I hope you can protect your son from up there!¡± Liu Qing Ming looked up at the sky and sighed heavily.. Chapter 148 - Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Xia Family (Second Update) Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Xia Family (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Upon Su Yichen¡¯s return to the Xia family home, Xia Weiguo was already waiting at the door, assisted by an old housekeeper. His three uncles, their wives, and his cousins had also come out to greet him. In fact, it seemed as if they were welcoming an important person. ¡°Really, he is just a cousin we haven¡¯t been in touch with for more than 10 years. Why did grandfather insist we all come out to welcome him? It made me turn down a date with a pretty girl,¡± Xia Xinbei, a man decked out in gold jewellery, grumbled. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s nothing special, why do we all have to come and greet him?¡± A trendy woman, Xia Danni, expressed her displeasure. ¡°We haven¡¯t heard anything about him for more than 10 years, so why the sudden fuss?¡± Xia Xinnan raised doubts. ¡°Does this mean the cousin will live with us in the Xia Family from now on?¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s impossible!¡± Xia Xinbei protested passionately. ¡°He is a member of the Su Family; why should he stay in the Xia Family? Is it because he wants to¡­¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he was suggesting straight away. He might take away the Xia Family¡¯s property. Despite the size of the Xia Family, there were many people. The share of the property distributed amongst everyone was not much to start with. If another person were to be added, it would mean everyone would get even less. Upon this realization, the faces of Xia¡¯s younger generations turned sour. ¡°Humph, I am not waiting any longer. Whether or not he comes is none of my concern,¡± grumbled Xia Xinbei impatiently before heading towards the garage. Seeing him leave, Xia Zhiming demanded, ¡°Xia Xinbei, where are you going?¡± ¡°I have something to do, ¡± responded Xia Xinbei, ignoring his father¡¯s calling and leaving straight away. Xia Zhiming¡¯s face turned pale with frustration, and he shouted, ¡°You ungrateful son, come back!¡± Xia Zhiming¡¯s wife, Yu Zhen, quickly tried to smooth things over, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Xinbei just had something to do and had to leave, there¡¯s no need to get angry. Besides, for our whole family, his elders, to wait for your nephew, we¡¯ve already given him so much face. Don¡¯t be harsh on these young people.¡± After Xia Xinbei left, the other discontented youngsters also left and didn¡¯t look back. However, Xia Xindong, the eldest son and grandson of the Xia Family, didn¡¯t leave. The car delivering Su Yichen home met Xia Xinbei just as he was driving out of the villa. Seeing three bodyguard cars following behind Su Yichen, his complexion went sour instantly. As he hit the steering wheel, he cursed under his breath, ¡°Bastard! ¡± The sharp gaze from inside the black car immediately landed on him. Xia Xinbei blinked in surprise, wondering, ¡°Could that bastard have heard me?¡± Nevertheless, he quickly put it aside, sneering to himself, ¡°Hmph, even if he heard, so what? That motherless bastard can¡¯t do anything to me.¡± With this consoled, he left without further ado. Turns out, as Xia Xinbei had guessed, Su Yichen heard everything clear and bright. Due to half a year of living in the Xiao home and consuming Lingquan water, not only had his physical fitness improved, every one of his senses had also become sharper. Despite the distance, he could hear even the slightest sound clearly. With the tea tree seedling cradled carefully in his arms, Su Yichen kept his gaze down, his face revealing no emotion, and no one could tell what he was thinking. After a while, a bodyguard knocked on the car door and respectfully told him, ¡°Young Master Su, we have arrived!¡± With the pot of tea tree seedling in his arms, Su Yichen stepped out of the car without a hint of expression. Upon Su Yichen¡¯s arrival, an old man in his seventies or eighties, whose hair may have greyed but eyes were still sharp, came towards him with visible excitement. He tentatively called, ¡°Xiao Chen!¡± The fervour in his eyes was hard to miss. Compared to this, Su Yichen looked unperturbed, and calmly responded, ¡°Grandfather!¡± Even so, his voice was enough to bring tears to the old man¡¯s eyes. Nodding, he said, ¡°Yes, Xiao Chen, you have been through a lot out there.¡± Shaking his head, Su Yichen responded, ¡°Grandfather, sorry to have made you worry!¡± Hearing Su Yichen¡¯s words, Xia Weiguo nodded and said, ¡°Good, good, you have grown up and become so understanding.¡± ¡°Of course, I have grown up! I should understand these things,¡± said Su Yichen. ¡°Having worried you for so long, I would like to apologize to you, grandfather!¡± ¡°Good, good, good child!¡± Xia Weiguo kept nodding, visibly moved and gratified. Watching the interaction between the grandfather and grandson, a gleam flashed in Xia Zhiming¡¯s eye. Then he stepped forward and said, ¡°Xiao Chen, you have grown up and understand things even better. Your eldest uncle is really gratified.¡± Even though Su Yichen¡¯s relation with the Xia family wasn¡¯t that great due some ideas implanted into his mind by Su Xiangdong. All the people he was supposed to know, he knew. But not now! With a puzzled look, Su Yichen asked, ¡°Grandfather, who are they?¡± Xia Zhiming and the others, ¡® . His grandfather immediately introduced, ¡°They are your uncles. This is your eldest uncle¡­¡± One by one, he introduced. Immediately, Su Yichen said respectfully, ¡°Sorry, uncles, I have lost my memory. However, it was my fault in the past and I apologize for making you all worry.¡± ¡°Ha Ha, you were young in the past and not understanding things could be excused.¡± Xia Zhiming laughed happily, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside the house to talk. Now that you are home, you should feel at ease. Your father wouldn¡¯t dare set foot here.¡± Su Yichen fell silent and didn¡¯t respond. He walked into the living room of the Xia family, still carrying the flower pot in his arms. Seeing the plant pot in his hands, his eldest aunt looked puzzled and asked, ¡°Xiao Chen, why are you carrying a pot of flowers? It seems inconvenient. Why don¡¯t you give it to me so I can have it placed in the garden? I will ask the gardener to look after it for you!¡± As she spoke, she reached out to take the pot of flowers. Su Yichen swiftly moved aside and gently declined, ¡°No need, eldest aunt, it¡¯s not inconvenient for me.¡¯ His eldest aunt looked surprised, and a tinge of dissatisfaction crossed her heart. She felt that Su Yichen was ungrateful. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s just a pot of flowers, let Xiao Chen hold it however he wishes,¡± said Xia Weiguo. Then he curiously asked, ¡°Xiao Chen, tell me about this pot of flowers?¡± Su Yichen replied, ¡°It was given to me by a friend.¡± He offered no further explanation. ¡°Good, good ¡­¡± Xia Weiguo didn¡¯t ask further. But his inquiry took a different turn, ¡°Xiao Chen, how did you end up in that small mountain village during these six months? Did something happen to you? Do you know that, in the six months when you went missing, your grandfather couldn¡¯t eat or sleep well out of worry. I was even afraid that you were being mistreated out there, and even suspected at one point that that bastard Su Xiangdong might have done something to you.¡± ¡°Grandfather, nothing happened. It¡¯s just that I was feeling a bit down about a half year ago. So I went out for a walk, and ended up in that small mountain village. Seeing the hospitable and simple villagers, I decided to stay there for a while.¡± Su Yichen shook his head and explained. ¡°Young man, why didn¡¯t you let us know when you went to the mountain village?¡± the eldest aunt asked, her tone filled with blame. ¡°We thought you went missing and even almost reported it to police. It made us all worry.¡± She was blaming Su Yichen for his lack of consideration.. Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Don ‘t Argue with Something That Isn ‘t Human (First Update) Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Don ¡®t Argue with Something That Isn ¡®t Human (First Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Sigh, I don¡¯t know if Xiaoquan has gone back yet?¡± Xiao Mother looked at the empty chair and sighed softly, with a worried look on her face. Xiao Father was silent. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. Didn¡¯t you see the three cars that came to pick up Brother Little Quan? They were all bodyguards. With bodyguards to protect him, Brother Little Quan will definitely be able to get to the Capital City safely.¡± After Su Yichen returned to the Capital City, she found out. However, Xiao Mother was even more worried, ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m even more concerned. You know, he¡¯s from the Capital City, so how did he end up in our remote little village? He was brought down from the mountain covered in blood by Xiao Bao, wasn¡¯t he? He must have enemies, so the people who came to pick him up were so cautious.¡± Xiao Jinli couldn¡¯t reveal Su Yichen¡¯s situation, so she continued to reassure her, ¡°Mom, Little Quan had a narrow escape from death, so he¡¯s bound to have good fortune. Little Quan is clever, he will definitely protect himself. Don¡¯t worry. Maybe soon, he will contact us and let us know he¡¯s safe.¡± Xiao Mother let go of her worries and nodded, ¡°Yes, Little Quan is a lucky child, and he is so smart, he can definitely protect himself.¡± Xiao Father also agreed, ¡°Yes, this kid Xiaoquan is smart, he can definitely protect himself.¡± After dinner, Xiao Jinli went back to her room and lay down on her soft bed, lost in deep thought. From the information Xiao Zhi had given her, the people surrounding Su Yichen all had their own motives and thoughts, like ghosts, gods, snakes, and horses. Even his maternal grandfather, who he contacted and sent someone to pick him up, had ulterior motives for him. Xiao Jinli mumbled, ¡°Su Yichen, it seems your days are anything but peaceful.¡± After a while, she flashed into the space again. In the space, besides the planted vegetables and fruits, there were four small buds. That¡¯s right, these four small buds were the remaining Seven Color Tea Flower seedlings. Xiao Zhi flew around in mid-air for a few laps before stopping on her hair and curiously asked, ¡°Master, these four Seven Color Tea Flowers all survived. What do you plan to do with them? When they bloom, will you sell them? Hmm, based on the value of these Seven Color Tea Flowers, you could sell them for at least ten million. Ah, Master, you¡¯ve made a fortune, aren¡¯t you happy?¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® Then, she rolled her eyes and said with annoyance, ¡°Don¡¯t you know what it means to be valuable due to rarity? If these four tea flowers are sold together, their value will definitely be much lower.¡± Xiao Zhi got excited and said, ¡°So, Master, do you plan to sell them one by one? Then where will you sell them?¡± ¡°For such valuable tea flowers, a small county town won¡¯t be able to handle it. So if we want to sell it, we have to go to a big city.¡± As Xiao Jinli said this, a somewhat frustrated expression appeared on her face, ¡°But to go to a big city, with my age, bringing this pot of flowers, my parents will definitely not agree.¡± She had to lie low, and her age was both her strength and her weakness! Xiao Zhi tilted his little head, held his little cheeks with both hands, and curiously asked, ¡°So, Master, what are you going to do?¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes flickered, and suddenly she looked excited, ¡°I just thought of it, I can¡¯t go, but I can find someone to go. In terms of strength and connections, he is the most suitable person to represent me.¡± Xiao Zhi was puzzled and asked, ¡°Who is this person after all?¡± Xiao Jinli looked at him, blinked mischievously, and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you very smart? Why don¡¯t you guess?¡± Xiao Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± He always ended up on the losing end when sparring with his master. However, the one trick that always worked on his master after two lifetimes of fighting wit and strength¡­ ¡°Master, please, just tell me!¡± Xiao Zhi coaxed. Xiao Jinli touched her forehead with her fingertips and said somewhat helplessly, ¡°Xiao Zhi, you¡¯re the most advanced smart brain in the world after all. Can you not always resort to this?¡± Xiao Zhi said innocently, ¡°What set are you talking about, Master? I don¡¯t understand!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Forget it, you win. However, you¡¯ll know who this person is later.¡± Xiao Zhi? , ¡°¡­¡± It seemed that acting coquettish was not working this time. Xiao Jinli glanced at the vast expanse of fruits and vegetables in the space and said, ¡°It seems we need to transplant these crops out as soon as possible.¡± Previously, the empty space in the five points of land she planted was too obvious, so she could only transplant some out when everyone else wasn¡¯t paying attention. Otherwise, with no vegetables available in the village, the shops in town would be unable to maintain daily operations. Xiao Zhi immediately flew up in mid-air and nodded in agreement, seeing the vast array of vegetable and fruit, ¡°That¡¯s true. Otherwise, these things cannot be transplanted out, and we won¡¯t be able to continue planting. Fortunately, it¡¯s almost the end of the year and the company is going through the final process. After the year, the company will be established. After spring, the whole village will be planting vegetable and fruit, and then it will be much easier to move these things out.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded in agreement, ¡°Indeed.¡± However, Xiao Zhi suddenly gave her a side-eye, reminding her, ¡°So, Master, you need to hurry up and feed your more than 100,000 earthworms well and full. Otherwise, when everyone starts planting, if you don¡¯t have enough earthworms, it will be troublesome.¡± Xiao Jinli said irritably, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to remind me, I know! You¡¯ve never seen me do anything without a bit of measurement or certainty. It¡¯s just a mere one hundred thousand earthworms. Back in the day, I had to support one billion people.¡± ¡°A hero never speaks of his past glories!¡± Xiao Zhi retorted. Xiao Jinli, ¡® Forget it, don¡¯t argue with something that isn¡¯t human. The next day, Xiao Jinli went to the greenhouse. The five-acre greenhouse was separated from the original five points of land greenhouse, but the land was close together. Because Xiao Family Vegetables sold so well, everyone in the town knew that the earthworms of Xiao Family Village were the key to growing good vegetables. Therefore, Xiao Jinli¡¯s earthworms attracted much attention and interest and might also bring ill-intentioned people. As soon as Xiao Jinli entered the greenhouse, Shi Dajiang was leading his grandson to check if the earthworms in the field had grown or died. Dead earthworms were to be picked up and fed to chickens. Seeing Xiao Jinli come in, Shi Dajiang immediately shouted respectfully, ¡°Little Householder.¡± The obedient grandson beside him also called out, ¡°Little Householder!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Grandpa Shi, you don¡¯t have to come and watch during the day, and you can rest freely.¡± It was the night that needed to be watched when everyone else was resting. Shi Dajiang said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, it doesn¡¯t matter, I have nothing to do during the day anyway, so I just came over to have a look!¡± Since he was given a job, he had to take it seriously. Xiao Jinli looked at the child next to him and said, ¡°Grandpa Shi, you may not need to rest, but Xiao Bao needs to rest well. He is growing and developing, and you should let him sleep well.¡± Shi Dajiang laughed and said, ¡°This child sleeps soundly in the house at night.¡± There was a house right next to them where he could watch the greenhouse while sitting in the house, simply observing the surroundings for any movement, without affecting his grandson¡¯s sleep. Xiao Jinli, ¡® Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Hustle and Bustle in a Rush (Second Update) Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Hustle and Bustle in a Rush (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Once the greenhouse was constructed, Xiao Jinli bought some earthworms and released them into the field. After that, they had to be careful while leveling the soil, not to take any earthworms out with them. To everyone in the village, the earthworms that Xiao Jinli was cultivating were precious. Because of these earthworms, the village¡¯s vegetables were so unique and sold so well. By the spring of next year, everyone in the village was depending on these earthworms to make their fortune. Although Xiao Jinli insisted everyone could freely till the soil, the household help from the village were still very careful. After turning the soil, they scattered various vegetable seeds, prepared seedlings, and by spring of next year, these seedlings would be distributed to everyone for planting. Yes, Xiao Jinli used most of the five acres used for rearing earthworms to cultivate seedlings. These seeds had all been soaked in Lingquan water. The several hundred mu of land in the whole village wouldn¡¯t just plant one type of vegetable. Before Xiao Siqian left, he accompanied Xiao Jinli on another trip to the seed station and nearly emptied out all the seeds there. The land meant for rearing earthworms was used for cultivating seedlings, which made the villagers worry if it would affect the growth of the earthworms. Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°Uncles, and aunties, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m using recursive knowledge to farm. Just like before, when I grew vegetables, it definitely won¡¯t affect the growth of earthworms.¡± Although the villagers didn¡¯t understand the knowledge and techniques of earthworm farming, Xiao Jinli was the only one who did. Plus, Xiao Jinli had indeed been growing crops and breeding earthworms concurrently before. The result was, not only were the crops growing well, but the earthworms were also thriving So, the villagers didn¡¯t voice out their concerns anymore. It would be quite amusing for outsiders to worry about a professional. After all, Xiao Jinli was not one to shirk her responsibilities. She had promised that next year, everyone would be able to receive earthworms for farming, and she would definitely keep that promise. After all, she was the village¡¯s lucky star. After scattering the seeds, Xiao Jinli let the people smooth the soil and then left it alone. The seasoned farmers began to worry a lot. ¡°Jinli just scattered the seeds and left them be. Will the seedlings that sprout out grow well?¡± ¡°Yeah, some seeds need a layer of straw-covering to keep warm so they can grow well. But Jinli¡¯s field is bare, how can it grow well?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see. However, the reason that there¡¯s no straw-covering might be the greenhouse. The greenhouse does provide thermal insulation.¡± ¡°Haha, hearing you say that, I realised that the seeds were scattered inside the greenhouse. The greenhouse does maintain the warmth, so it really doesn¡¯t need straw-covering.¡± ¡°It seems that we were overthinking. As you said, we should just wait and see. Some seeds will sprout within three to five days. By then, we¡¯ll check the germination rate and see if these seedlings are good or not.¡± These experienced farmers could easily assess a seed¡¯s germination situation. However, these villagers didn¡¯t know that these seeds were soaked in Lingquan water. As long as the seeds have a bit of life left, soaking them in Lingquan water can revive them, and once placed in the soil, they will root and sprout. Unless the seed is completely dead. After all, nothing in the world can be reversed once it¡¯s totally dead. As time quietly passed, winter entered its severe phase. The cold wind was biting, everything withered, dry hay and barren branches, and the villagers wore thick cotton clothes wandering around the village corners. For the farmers, apart from growing some seasonal fruits and vegetables, it¡¯s a time of idleness and laziness. If they were not at home, warming themselves over the brazier, they would be sitting on stools in the sun, chatting with others about this and that. As the New Year was approaching, everyone began preparing the New Year¡¯s supplies. The standard of living had improved and they started drying cured sausages and curing meat in the frosty days. They filled all corners of the yard with things they usually wouldn¡¯t eat. By the end of the year, everything was brought out in a joyous mood. Because, when the end of the year approached, the young people who worked in other places began to return home for the New Year and reunite with their They had struggled outside for a year. Just for life¡¯s sake. But home is still the haven that everyone looks forward to returning to, it¡¯s where warmth lies. Xiao¡¯s mother, in her black down jacket and sleeve covers, was in the yard making sausage, curing meat, pickling chicken, and so on. The sausage here was made by mincing marbled meat, marinating it with white wine and various preferred seasonings for two hours, and then stuffing it into a prepared pig intestine casing, then tie them into sections with a thin rope. However, stuffing the meat into the pig intestine casing was a meticulous task. A funnel was tied to one end of the casing, then the meat was funneled into it. While filling, they would press the meat so that it would be compacted. After the sausages were filled, they could be hung out in the sunlight to dry. The best days to sun-dry the sausages were frosty, consecutive sunny days. This is when the sausages would taste the best. As for the other cured meats, some needed to be marinated overnight, and others only for two to three hours. After that, they were hung out in the sun to dry. These cured meats were dishes paired with alcohol when friends and relatives visited during the end of the year. In previous years, Xiao Jinli would help Xiao¡¯s mother make sausages, but this year, she became unusually busy. Firstly, she was still a student and hadn¡¯t yet had her vacation. She had a pile of homework during her school period. Secondly, she had raised more than 100,000 earthworms and grown seedlings for various crops on over five acres of land. Every day, she would go to the greenhouse to check on the earthworms¡¯ growth and development of the seedlings. Of course, with Lingquan water, everything would definitely grow well. But Xiao Jinli certainly had to keep up appearances. ¡°Jinli, are you going to the greenhouse again?¡± ¡°Yeah, Aunt,¡± replied Xiao Jinli, ¡°I have to check it every day.¡± ¡°Jinli, are the earthworms big now? When it¡¯s time to plant in the spring, there won¡¯t be any problems with them, right?¡± Many people were concerned about this issue. Due to the reputation of Xiao Family vegetables sold in the town, all people in the village now had a lot of enthusiasm and anticipation for planting vegetables next year. Plus, with the founding of a village company, everyone hoped that Xiao Family Village could really become rich from growing vegetables. They hoped that in the future, young people would no longer need to work outside, and families could be together. Xiao Jinli smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, aunt. If I say these earthworms will be ready for distribution next year, they will be. It won¡¯t hold anyone back.¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯m just asking..¡± Chapter 151 - Chapter 151: Chapter 151: I Lost My Memory (First Update) Chapter 151: Chapter 151: I Lost My Memory (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Capital City The cold wind was blowing fiercely, and heavy snow was falling, covering the entire Capital City in a silvery-white blanket. In a 56-story building, a tall figure stood by the window in a spacious office, gazing down at the cars below cautiously moving through the snowstorm and the pedestrians wrapped up, revealing only their eyes, hurrying along carefully. After a while, he looked at the green tea tree seedling on his office table, a sense of longing flashing in his eyes. ¡°Uncle, Aunt, Brother Xuan, and Jinli, is it snowing over there? It¡¯s already the second snowfall in the Capital City.¡± He cast his glance outside again, ¡°I miss you all so much!¡± Capital City was where he grew up, and all his relatives and friends were here. But he felt extremely lonely! From the moment he returned to Capital City, he had hidden all his emotions. Once a gentle, modest and polite sunny boy among all the ladies, after experiencing betrayal from his family and going through death, he had become a handsome, indifferent, and deep man. Ironically, he was only nineteen years old! Su Yichen looked up at the falling snow in the sky and muttered, ¡°It¡¯s almost New Year! I wish I could spend it with you all!¡± But this simple wish was quite lavish for him now, given his current fragile state. Everyone around him was eyeing the huge inheritance his biological mother left behind. Now everyone was hypocritically trying to please him. Having enjoyed warmth and true feelings in Xiao Family Village, he was not someone who could be deceived by those superficial pretenses. Even his maternal grandfather, who now doted on him, was the same! ¡°Bang bang!¡± Someone knocked on the door outside. ¡°Come in!¡± Su Yichen¡¯s cold and deep voice rang out. A moment later, a tall woman in a professional outfit entered to report, ¡°Mr. Su, CEO Su is looking for you!¡± Su Yichen now held the position of deputy general manager in the Xia Corporation, directly replacing Xia Xinnan¡¯s previous position. Of course, the members of the Xia Family, apart from Xia Weiguo and Xia Changming, unanimously opposed the decision. However, the two strong-willed individuals appointed Su Yichen directly. Su Yichen did not refuse. After he started working at Xia Corporation, Su Xiangdong and Lady Su, who learned the news, suddenly felt a sense of anxiety. Therefore, Su Xiangdong visited Su Yichen as soon as possible. However, perhaps due to Xia Weiguo¡¯s instructions, he was driven out by security guards and bodyguards. Later, he tried calling Su Yichen but was informed that he had changed his number and the old one was deactivated. Suddenly losing all contact with Su Yichen made Su Xiangdong even more frantic. He was more worried that Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance would be taken away by Xia Weiguo, which would render all his calculations useless. So, he continued to visit Su Yichen at Xia Corporation, claiming to be his father. ¡°Alright, let him in!¡± Su Yichen said calmly. It was time to face him. Immediately, he walked to his office table. With an air of rage, Su Xiangdong stormed in and as soon as he opened his mouth, he scolded, ¡°Su Yichen, you unfilial son, is this how you treat your biological father?¡± Su Yichen furrowed his eyebrows and asked in confusion, ¡°You said you¡¯re my biological father?¡± Su Xiangdong, ¡°¡­¡± What was going on? This unfilial son seemed not to recognize him. No, he must be pretending. With that thought in mind, Su Xiangdong¡¯s anger flared up, and he pointed at Su Yichen and scolded, ¡°Fine, you unfilial son, to climb up the Xia Family, even I, your biological father, am not recognized by you? Has your conscience been eaten by a dog? You should know that since your disappearance, your mother and I have been so worried that we couldn¡¯t eat or sleep, and your mother has lost several pounds due to worrying about you. You didn¡¯t return to the Su Family, but even worse, you don¡¯t recognize us. You¡­ you¡¯ve really angered me to death.¡± After hearing Su Xiangdong¡¯s words, Su Yichen sneered in his heart but put on a clueless face and said, ¡°You said you¡¯re my father and that there¡¯s a mother as well, but I have no memory of them. I¡¯ve lost my memory.¡± ¡°Lost¡­lost your memory?¡± Su Xiangdong was stunned. He asked in disbelief, ¡°How could you lose your memory?¡± Su Yichen shook his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how I lost my memory either. About half a year ago, someone saved me from the deep mountain forest. covered in blood. When I woke up, I had lost all my memories!¡± Back then, when he woke up in the hospital, he was indeed amnesiac. Of course, he was pretending, but who would know? He had been staying in Xiao Family Village as an amnesiac for half a year. His condition had been verified by the local Yamen. Even if anyone investigated, the result would still be that he was an amnesiac. Su Xiangdong had thought of hundreds of consequences for finding Su Yichen but never expected this. Amnesia? Upon learning the answer, he didn¡¯t know whether to cry or laugh. During these six months, he had been in constant fear because he couldn¡¯t make contact with Su Yichen. He had thought that those people might have killed Su Yichen, which would not be good news for him. That was because he hadn¡¯t obtained Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance yet. But suddenly, half a year later, Su Yichen returned. However, the first thing he did when he returned was not to go back to the Su Family, but to the Xia Family, which he had been resisting all along. His first reaction was that Su Yichen must have learned the truth and was planning to join forces with the Xia Family to take revenge on the Su Family. With such entangled and uneasy feelings, Su Xiangdong had to confront Su Yichen face to face. He never expected Su Yichen to have lost his memory. Su Xiangdong¡¯s sharp eyes stared intently at Su Yichen and asked skeptically, ¡°Have you really lost your memory?¡± Su Yichen shrugged and spread his hands, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t want to have lost my memory either. But the fact is, I did lose my memory.¡± Su Xiangdong asked doubtfully, ¡°Since you lost your memory, you shouldn¡¯t remember anyone, right? But how did you get in touch with the Xia Family and start living with them?¡± Su Yichen explained, ¡°I don¡¯t know how I got in touch with the Xia Family either. Half a year ago, after I was saved by someone in the mountains and woods, I suffered severe internal and external injuries and stayed in the hospital for a long time. After I recovered, I stayed with a local farmer. But some time ago, a phone number suddenly popped up in my head, and when I called it, I found out it was my grandfather¡¯s. Then, my grandfather told me that I had been missing for more than half a year and everyone had been frantically looking for me.¡± Su Xiangdong asked incredulously, ¡°How could you think of your grandfather¡¯s phone number? Why not mine? You know, you didn¡¯t have a good relationship with your grandfather before, even treating him as an enemy?¡± Immediately, he thought of something, and he yelled, ¡°Su Yichen, you must be lying to me! If you have really lost your memory, how come you went to see Liu Qingming the moment you returned to the Capital City?¡± Ever since Su Yichen came back to the Capital City and stayed with the Xia Family, he had been investigating him. Su Yichen, Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Sharp Questioning, Serious Doubts (Second Update) Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Sharp Questioning, Serious Doubts (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Since Su Yichen used amnesia as an excuse, he naturally wouldn¡¯t let them find any flaws. An insinuating smile appeared on his cold face. He said, ¡°Of course, I learned from my maternal grandfather that my biological mother left me a huge inheritance which I need to claim when I turn eighteen. So, as soon as I returned to Capital City, I couldn¡¯t wait to find a lawyer to inquire about it. Is there any problem with that?¡± He had it all planned before he returned to Capital City. He then looked at Su Xiangdong with an expression of irony and bitterness, his face showing a sense of disappointment and frustration. He continued, ¡°But what I didn¡¯t expect was that when I found Lawyer Liu, he told me that during my disappearance, Mr. Su Xiangdong and his family of three were holding the Inheritance Rights Transfer Agreement I had signed before I turned eighteen and were demanding, and even forcing him, to transfer all the inheritance my biological mother Xia Zhi Meng left me, to Su Xiangdong¡¯s eldest son, Su Hanyang. So¡­¡± At this point, his cold voice full of doubt and heartache, he sharply questioned, ¡°If you claim to be my biological father, Su Xiangdong, why would the inheritance my mother left me be transferred to my half-brother from the same father but different mother? Why did I sign that so-called Inheritance Rights Transfer Agreement? Why didn¡¯t my family, who claim to love me, report my disappearance to the police for more than half a year?¡± ¡°Mr. Su, I may have amnesia now, but I¡¯m not stupid. So, I¡¯ve always been puzzled about these questions. Can you help me clear them up?¡± Su Xiangdong was questioned and immediately backed away a few steps, his face turning pale and blue. He never expected that his youngest son, who had been missing for more than half a year, would return with such keen suspicion and doubt about his own family. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Su Xiangdong opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but quickly realized that he had lost his composure in front of the hateful child, which made his anger rise even more. He shouted, ¡°You¡­ are you doubting your own father?¡± Su Yichen spread his hands and said, ¡°Well, Father, please clear up my doubts then!¡± Su Xiangdong raised his voice even more, ¡°Hasn¡¯t our family been taking good care of you for the past ten years? Doesn¡¯t everyone in the whole Capital City know how much Su Xiangdong and your stepmother love you? Especially your stepmother, who treats you as her own, even better than your older brother. What, now that you¡¯re living in the Xia family home, you want to wipe out the good things we¡¯ve done for you with a single stroke?¡± Full of doubt, Su Yichen asked, ¡°No, I just want to know why you want me to transfer my biological mother¡¯s inheritance to Su Hanyang. And yet, you¡¯re telling me that I¡¯ve forgotten all the good things you¡¯ve done for me? Father, I don¡¯t understand. Is there any connection? Besides, I¡¯ve lost my memory anyway. I¡¯ve really forgotten all the so-called good things you¡¯ve done for me!¡± At this point, he even more suspiciously asked, ¡°Or is it that your kindness to me is based on me transferring all of my biological mother¡¯s inheritance to Su Hanyang?¡± Su Xiangdong¡¯s face expression stiffened instantly, his face turning red and pale, pointing at Su Yichen, and seemingly wounded, he said, ¡°Su Yichen, is this what you think of me and your mother?¡± Su Yichen¡¯s silence told Su Xiangdong that he was indeed suspicious of them. Su Xiangdong¡¯s face turned red and blue with anger, and he shouted, ¡°Fine, Su Yichen, you¡¯ve become a heartless and ungrateful thing after your amnesia. I don¡¯t recognize you as my son.¡± With that, he stormed out, seemingly enraged. In reality, his movements were not fast. He knew Su Yichen too well, having always admired and respected him as a father since childhood. So, he was waiting for Su Yichen to call him back. But Su Yichen didn¡¯t call him back, and his heart was filled with anger and anxiety, but he couldn¡¯t let go of his pride and stay. So he really left in a fury. Su Yichen didn¡¯t even look at his retreating figure, he just looked at the tea flower tree on the table, his eyes deep and dark, drifting out the window, the corner of his mouth slightly raised, coldly laughing, ¡°Father, mother? Huh, huh¡­¡± After angrily leaving the Xia Corporation, Su Xiangdong returned home with a belly full of anger. As soon as Lady Su saw him, she immediately greeted him, her voice anxious, ¡°Husband, how did it go? Did you see Su Yichen?¡± Su Xiangdong irritably pulled at his tie, his face angry, ¡°Don¡¯t mention that unfilial son to me!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lady Su asked. ¡°Hmph, do you know what that unfilial son did?¡± Su Xiangdong shouted angrily, ¡°He said he lost his memory.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lady Su¡¯s voice suddenly rose, ¡°Amnesia? How could he have amnesia?¡± ¡°How would I know how he lost his memory?¡± Su Xiangdong said angrily, ¡°He only said he was saved by someone in a deep mountain forest, and when he woke up, he didn¡¯t know who he was.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Lady Su obviously didn¡¯t believe it, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t know who he is, what¡¯s the deal with him and the Xia family? Could it be that the Xia family found him first? How did the Xia family find him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the Xia family who found him, but him who contacted the Xia family first!¡± At this point, Su Xiangdong became even angrier, ¡°That unfilial son, after losing his memory, only remembered the phone number of that old man from the Xia family, so the Xia family went to pick him up.¡± Lady Su asked the question she cared about the most, ¡°Did you talk to him about the inheritance? Did he agree to come forward and go with us to the lawyer¡¯s office? As long as he goes with us to the lawyer¡¯s office and says in front of Liu Qingming that he¡¯s willing to give up all his inheritance rights, our Yang¡¯er can have all of the inheritance left by that b*tch.¡± Su Xiangdong gave her a white-eye and said coldly, ¡°The first thing he did when he came back was going to the lawyer¡¯s office to find Liu Qingming. After learning about his biological mother¡¯s entire inheritance, he questioned me, asking why his biological mother¡¯s inheritance should be transferred to his half-brother from the same father but different mother? And why did he sign that so-called Inheritance Rights Transfer Agreement?¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Lady Su reacted instantly, and asked incredulously, ¡°Is he doubting us? How is that possible?¡± Su Xiangdong didn¡¯t know which nerve had been touched, but he suddenly got angry, and said, ¡°How is it not possible? Do you know when he questioned me about these things, his eyes were so sharp, and his expression was full of doubt? That ungrateful thing, we¡¯ve been so good to him, and after one amnesia, he¡¯s forgotten everything. He¡¯s doubting us, doubting that we have ulterior motives and are plotting against him? How can he possibly be willing to go to the lawyer¡¯s office with us now, to say that he¡¯s willing to give up inheriting his biological mother¡¯s inheritance and transfer it to Su Hanyang? Although this was the truth, he absolutely could not admit it. After listening to Su Xiangdong¡¯s words, Lady Su¡¯s face turned pale. She didn¡¯t expect that the little bastard would come back rebellious after being missing for half a year. She clenched her hands tightly, unwillingness flashing in her eyes. All those things belonged to her son Yang¡¯er. That wild child had to give it, whether he wanted to or not.. Chapter 153 - Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Racing Drama 1 (First Update) Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Racing Drama 1 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Lady Su walked into Xia Corporation with a thermos box and approached the receptionist. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m looking for Su Yichen. I¡¯m his mom. Is he in his office?¡± The receptionist looked at Lady Su dressed exquisitely and asked, ¡°Mother Su?¡± ¡°Yes, I am his mom. Which floor is he on?¡± Lady Su¡¯s exterior image was gentle and virtuous, even though she disdained and looked down upon the receptionist. Nonetheless, she maintained her noble and gentle demeanor under watchful eyes. The receptionist quickly recognized her identity and asked, ¡°Are you¡­ Lady Su? ¡°Yes!¡± Lady Su nodded and said, ¡°I want to bring some chicken soup that I personally made to my little son. Which floor is he on? Can I go directly to find him?¡± The news that Su Yichen was the son of Su Corporation¡¯s chairman had long been circulating in the Xia Corporation. It was common knowledge that the Xia Corporation and Su Corporation were at odds. Yet now, the son of Chairman Su worked for Xia Corporation, and Chairman Su had come to find Mr. Su the other day. No one knew what the resolution was. Everyone was curious about the affairs between superiors but dared not gossip about it. The receptionist smiled and asked, ¡°Lady Su, did you make an appointment with our Mr. Su in advance?¡± Upon hearing the receptionist¡¯s questions, Lady Su couldn¡¯t believe it and asked, ¡°What are you talking about? I need an appointment to see my own son? How does that work? Just tell me which floor my son is on, what¡¯s with all the questions?¡± The receptionist maintained her smile and calmly said, ¡°Sorry, Lady Su, but company policy states that anyone who wants to see our company leaders needs to make an appointment in advance. If I were to recklessly disclose a leader¡¯s information, I would also be punished. Please understand!¡± People in the receptionist position need to have a keen eye, recognize many people while also possibly offending others. A single misstep could potentially offend an influential character. However, since Xia Corporation had been at odds with Su Corporation for many years, the receptionist didn¡¯t need to worry too much about offending Lady Su. After hearing the receptionist¡¯s words, Lady Su¡¯s well-maintained image nearly cracked, her expression twisted momentarily. Clenching the handle of the thermos box, she suppressed her anger and questioned loudly, ¡°How could someone like you be so insensitive? I said Su Yichen is my son, do I need an appointment to see him? Just tell me which floor he¡¯s on!¡± The receptionist maintained her polite smile but still didn¡¯t answer the question. Seeing this, Lady Su grew more impatient. She directly said, ¡°Well, just give Su Yichen a call. Tell him I brought him some chicken soup!¡± The receptionist slightly nodded and said, ¡°Lady Su, please wait a moment while I call Secretary Zhao!¡± The receptionist could only contact the secretary, not the leader directly. After putting down the phone, the receptionist smiled politely and said, ¡°Lady Su, Mr. Su invites you to go up, he¡¯s on the fifty-second floor.¡± Lady Su raised her head proudly, disdainfully glanced at the receptionist, snorted, and left with the thermos box, heels clicking on the floor. Su Yichen looked down at the cars and people coming and going below from his high office window. After hearing the secretary¡¯s report, a touch of coldness appeared at the corner of his mouth, and a flicker of malice flashed through his eyes. Not long after, there was a knock on his office door. After he called for them to enter, Lady Su rushed through the door without waiting. As she entered, she saw Su Yichen standing by the window, noticing he¡¯d grown much taller since half a year ago, and looking more handsome and energetic. Seeing Su Yichen like this, Lady Su¡¯s eyes flicked with a gleam of cunning, cursing in her heart, ¡°This little bastard, who knows where he hid for the past half year, returned more energetic than ever, even overshadowing my own son. Just wait, I¡¯ll make him as desperate as his real mom was.¡± After a moment of thought, she saw Su Yichen and immediately showed a gentle smile, complaining as she walked in, ¡°Xiao Chen, you¡¯re such a busy man now. Even I need to make an appointment to see you. Hehe¡­¡± According to the attention and affection that Su Yichen had shown her in the past, he would have certainly tried to please her. Who would have thought, Su Yichen¡¯s deep eyes swept over her coldly and he asked sharply, ¡°Who are you?¡± Lady Su, The color of her face changed instantaneously, and her expression seemed both stiff and incredulous. She raised her head and asked in disbelief, ¡°You¡­ are asking who I am?¡± Su Yichen frowned and said doubtfully, ¡°Am I supposed to know you? I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve lost my memory and don¡¯t have any impressions of you.¡± Lady Su, ¡® She had been warned by her husband about Su Yichen¡¯s memory loss and had been mentally prepared for it. However, seeing it firsthand, she was still somewhat shocked and mostly furious. Su Yichen, this little bastard, chose to lose his memory at such a critical time. If he continued to lose his memory and refused to give up his real mom¡¯s inheritance, refusing to transfer it to her own son, what could she do? Therefore, before obtaining all of his real mom¡¯s inheritance, she had to make sure to firmly hold onto him. ¡°Lady Su should have heard from Mr. Su about my memory loss, right?¡± Su Yichen said indifferently, ¡°So, no matter what your goal is, I can only tell you that playing the emotional card with me now is useless.¡± Lady Su, ¡® Listening to Su Yichen¡¯s blunt words, she failed to hide her emotions for a moment, and her lips trembled with anger. She opened her mouth wanting to curse him but hadn¡¯t entirely lost her senses. She took a deep breath, and her face, covered by exquisite makeup, showed a kind smile. She gently explained, ¡°Chen¡¯er, you misunderstand us. We¡¯re a family, and we don¡¯t have any ulterior motives. I just heard about your memory loss and wanted to see you, to care for you. Look, I personally made this chicken soup for you to help nourish your body!¡± Of course, she wouldn¡¯t make it herself. To play the family card, one must be sincere and do their part. Su Yichen glanced at the thermos box in her hand and rejected it indifferently, ¡°Lady Su, you can take it back. Since I¡¯ve lost my memory, you¡¯re like a stranger to me. I won¡¯t eat anything from a stranger.¡± Lady Su, ¡°¡­¡± Now she was really angry, annoyed, and wanted to curse him for being ungrateful. Fortunately, Lady Su had been performing in front of Su Yichen for more than a decade and had long developed a thick skin. She suppressed her resentment and anger again. Lady Su maintained her good manners, and her face showed sadness. She said, ¡°Chen¡¯er, you broke my heart with that statement. Nevertheless, I can understand your memory loss. One day, when you remember everything, you¡¯ll accept me..¡± Chapter 154 - Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Racing Drama 2 (Second Update) Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Racing Drama 2 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Oh, Xiao Chen is back.¡± As soon as he returned to Xia Family, Xia Weiguo smilingly called out to Su Yichen and then asked with concern, ¡°Xiao Chen, is your work hard? Are you tired? Should I reduce your workload for you?¡± Su Yichen shook his head, laughed, and replied, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m not tired.¡± ¡°Good, pay attention to your own body,¡± Xia Weiguo instructed, ¡°If you feel tired, take more rest. A healthy body is essential to success.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I know, Grandfather!¡± Su Yichen respectfully replied. At this moment, Xia Weiguo asked, ¡°Hmm, Chen¡¯er, I heard that your stepmother went to see you today?¡± Su Yichen nodded, ¡°Yes, Su Xiangdong came to find me the day before yesterday, and his wife came to find me today.¡± ¡°So, did they say anything?¡± Xia Weiguo probed, ¡°For example, asking you to return to the Su Family?¡± Su Yichen shook his head, ¡°They only came to see me in my office. They just told me that they are my parents, but since I have amnesia, I have no way ofrecognizing them. Naturally, they didn¡¯t have much to say.¡± Xia Weiguo, ¡® Xia Weiguo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and then said, ¡°Sigh, you can¡¯t believe what they say. They are the culprits responsible for your mother¡¯s death. Your real mother committed suicide by jumping off a building because of depression caused by learning about their affair and that they had a three-year-old child before you. Your mother couldn¡¯t stand the blow and jumped.¡± Saying this, he looked into the distance, sighed lightly, and continued, ¡°Fortunately, your mother was sane enough before jumping to leave a will at the lawyer¡¯s office. All of her property can only be inherited by you when you turn 18 years old. It¡¯s because of this inheritance that your mother left behind that you have not been harmed in the Su Family for the past decade. Your mother saved your path.¡± Upon saying this, his eyes turned red, and he said with great sorrow, ¡°I let Meng¡¯er down. If only I had been more persistent back then, investigated Su Xiangdong more thoroughly before she married that scum, then maybe your mother would not have married him and would not have died so young.¡± He knew that his daughter had always been clever, and he never expected that she could leave a way out for her son before dying. This daughter of Xia Zhi Meng, he used to genuinely care for and love her ¨C his only daughter. After she grew up, she increasingly disobeyed him, challenged his fatherly authority, and he angrily abandoned this gifted daughter. After hearing Xia Weiguo¡¯s words, Su Yichen¡¯s deep eyes flashed a dark light behind his lowered eyelids. He then comforted Xia Weiguo with teary eyes, ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t blame yourself. If we¡¯re going to blame someone, we should blame Su Xiangdong for being too good at deception. He deceived both you and my mother, causing her to lose her life at such a young age.¡± Then he seemed to make a promise to Xia Weiguo, ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve grown up and won¡¯t be easily deceived by them anymore. On the contrary, since they killed my mother, I must seek revenge.¡± Xia Weiguo nodded, ¡°Chen¡¯er, you have indeed grown up. I originally wanted to personally take revenge for your mother¡¯s vengeance. But in recent years, the Su Family¡¯s business has been thriving, while the Xia Family¡¯s has declined. There¡¯s no way the Xia Family can retaliate against the Su Family now. It¡¯s me, I let your mother down. I, as a father, couldn¡¯t avenge her.¡± There was a flash of brilliance in Su Yichen¡¯s deep eyes. He then held his grandfather¡¯s hands with both of his and said very sincerely, ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t worry about avenging my mother. I¡¯m here, aren¡¯t I? I¡¯ve grown up, and in a few years, I¡¯ll definitely bring them down.¡± Upon hearing this, Xia Weiguo was filled with surging emotions and thought to himself, ¡°This child has indeed been raised to be naive by the Su Family. Hooked by just a few words of mine. Su Yichen¡¯s business talents are even more exceptional than his mother¡¯s. I must make good use of him.¡± Xia Weiguo patted his grandson¡¯s hand and looked very gratified, ¡°Yes, Chen¡¯er has indeed grown up and become sensible. In the past, when I came to see you, you always kept a distance from me, and I couldn¡¯t tell you many things.¡± After hearing this, Su Yichen showed a guilty expression and said, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m sorry. Although I don¡¯t remember the past, I still feel very ashamed. I was ignorant and hurt you.¡± Xia Weiguo shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t blame you. You were young and ignorant, and it was easy for them to brainwash you. Now that you¡¯ve lost your memory, and can¡¯t remember the past, but at least you know right from wrong. This makes me very comforted. Child, remember, I am your grandfather, and I will never harm you. I will always be on your side. In the future, when you live in Xia Family, if anyone treats you poorly, tell me, and I will teach them a lesson.¡± Upon hearing this, Su Yichen could not help but laugh and say, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m not a three-year-old child who wants to tattle all the time. How can I get along with the rest of the Xia Family in the future like that?¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Xia Weiguo laughed heartily and said, ¡°Your uncles and cousins are all good to get along with. You all share the same blood, and you are relatives. You should love each other in the future.¡¯ Su Yichen nodded, ¡°Yes, grandfather, I will definitely love them in the future.¡± As soon as Xia Xinbei, who had just entered the house, heard grandfather¡¯s hearty laughter, his face, which was just pleased from hooking up with a big star, instantly darkened. He muttered under his breath, ¡°This bastard is really good at pleasing the old master. Humph, don¡¯t think that by pleasing the old master, you can get a share of Xia Family¡¯s property. You¡¯re dreaming!¡± Then, he entered the living room, called out to his grandfather, ignored Su Yichen¡¯s call of ¡®Fourth Cousin,¡¯ and went straight upstairs. Xia Weiguo was so angry that he wanted to beat him with his crutch. He shouted, ¡°Xia Xinbei, stop! Didn¡¯t you hear your cousin calling you? What kind of attitude is that, not even responding? What did you learn from home?!¡± Xia Xinbei glanced at Su Yichen with a mocking expression on his face, ¡°A cousin who hasn¡¯t been recognized for more than ten years and now suddenly wants to acknowledge me? Who knows what he¡¯s up to?¡± With that, he ignored the old master¡¯s anger and went straight upstairs to rest. Xia Weiguo, furious, leaned back, and Su Yichen immediately supported him, soothing him, ¡°Grandfather, it¡¯s okay. Fourth Cousin is telling the truth. We haven¡¯t had any contact for more than ten years. Now that I suddenly moved into Xia Family, it¡¯s only natural that he would have his doubts. Don¡¯t worry, grandfather, I¡¯m fine.¡± Xia Weiguo looked at Su Yichen with guilt, ¡°Chen¡¯er, I¡¯m sorry to have wronged you.¡± Su Yichen shook his head, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m not wronged.¡± When Su Yichen returned to his room, his whole tense body immediately relaxed. He walked to the table, gently touched the leaves of the little camellia, and muttered softly, ¡°It¡¯s really tiring to act and deal with them. Luckily, I have you to accompany me..¡± Chapter 155 - Chapter 155: Chapter 155: End of the Year 1 (First Update) Chapter 155: Chapter 155: End of the Year 1 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Family members did not know that Su Yichen would continue to interact and act with his so-called relatives in a state of amnesia. Since Xiao Mother received a phone call from Su Yichen saying that he was doing well, their hearts were at ease. After all, there were his relatives in the Capital City, even if someone had ulterior motives, there were still family members to protect him. As the New Year approached, young people who had gone out to work gradually returned to the village. The once quiet village became more lively with each passing day. Especially the children, running and laughing in the village, showing off and comparing with each other. ¡°My mom bought me a beautiful dress.¡± ¡°My dad bought me a set of toys.¡± ¡°My mom bought me a pair of beautiful shoes!¡± ¡°My mom bought me a lot of food!¡± At the end of the year, families reunited, and everyone seemed very happy. ¡°Oh, my daughter-in-law bought me a red coat. It¡¯s so expensive, costing three to four hundred yuan. But at my age, I¡¯m too embarrassed to wear red.¡± ¡°Haha, what¡¯s there to be embarrassed about? At our age, we should wear more red, which is more festive. My daughter-in-law bought me a pair of warm leather shoes, which are very comfortable.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t make money easily when they go out to work, so we should let them save some money. But at the end of the year, they buy things for everyone. This hard-earned money is spent just like that.¡± ¡°Now young people have their own ideas. The money they earn is meant to be spent. I don¡¯t mean to be nosy, but when young people show their kindness and buy us something, we should accept it graciously and not complain that they are spending too much, or say that we don¡¯t need it. If we say too much, they will feel bad.¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s true. Young people are willing to buy things for us as a way to show their filial piety. We used to have a hard time, so we naturally feel bad about spending money. But young people were born in a better era, not worrying about food and clothing, and now they can make money, so their life is even better. Naturally, they don¡¯t save as much as we do, especially when spending on us old folks and children. ¡°Yes, they can buy things for us, which shows their filial piety, and we should accept it. If we hurt their feelings, it may be difficult to make up for it later.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± But as they talked, someone thought of another problem. ¡°Sigh, my daughter-in-law asked me about planting vegetables on all the land next year as soon as she returned. She didn¡¯t want all the land to be part of the company.¡± ¡°My daughter-in-law was the same. But on the day they came back, I went to the field to pick some fresh vegetables, cooked a nice meal, and let them eat. Later on, they were very happy, saying that the vegetables were so delicious. They asked if there were more at home, if we bought or grew them, and asked me to cook more.¡± I told them directly that these vegetables were grown at home, and next year, we would grow them for sale. My daughter-in-law said that such delicious vegetables would definitely sell well.¡± ¡°So, what did you say?¡± ¡°I said I don¡¯t know if they will sell well now. But next year, everyone in the village will grow vegetables, and our family will only grow half of them. Even if we grow only half, we still have two or three mu of land. If we can grow them well and sell them, the income should be quite substantial.¡± ¡°This vegetable issue has caused problems for several new daughters-in-law in the village. The land in their families is divided into half joining the company and half being planted by themselves. This proposal was actually made by the Village Head and others. Just in case the vegetables really make money and they don¡¯t make any, people might feel uncomfortable and might cause trouble in the future. ¡°Speaking of this, I sold quite a few winter vegetables, and the income from several mu of land reached three to four thousand yuan. If I only planted rice, the harvest would only be a few hundred jin, and converted into cash, it would only be five to six hundred yuan.¡± ¡°My family is the same. We grew vegetables on five points of land, and the income is several thousand yuan. I never expected that vegetables could sell for so much money.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because our Xiao Family Village vegetables are now famous throughout the town. Our vegetables are expensive, but there are still many people who rush to buy them. As soon as our village vegetables enter the market, they are surrounded by people. Once they arrive in the store, people are scrambling for them, as if they are free. I have never seen anything like this in my life, people fighting over vegetables like this.¡± ¡°However, next year our whole village will plant vegetables on several hundred mu of land, where will we sell them?¡± someone said worriedly, ¡°Our small town definitely cannot consume so much.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ve heard Wanshan say that since the village has established a company, the sales channels will naturally have the company to find a solution. We just need to focus on growing vegetables well. I remember him saying that before our village¡¯s vegetables go on sale next year, a store will be found in the county town, just like in the open market town, specializing in selling vegetables from our Xiao Family Village. Think about it, with the whole county being so big, there must be many people coming to buy. So, we should grow vegetables with confidence and boldness.¡± ¡°Now, Jinli has raised more than 100,000 earthworms, which will be distributed next spring. Yesterday, I went to see the earthworms in the greenhouse, and they have grown a lot.¡± ¡°Those earthworms were ordinary earthworms in the field, what exactly did they eat, what did they grow?¡± ¡°Besides Jinli, who knows? When we raise them, they die, but when Jinli raises them, they grow better and better.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really not easy for Jinli. At such a young age, she has to worry about going to school and working for the village¡¯s livelihood. Now, besides going to school, she spends all her time in the greenhouse.¡± ¡°If growing vegetables really is a path to prosperity for us, we must be grateful to this child when we make money.¡± ¡°Indeed, despite her young age, she bears adult responsibilities.¡± ¡°Ah, I won¡¯t talk anymore. I have to go back and cook dinner. It¡¯s the end of the year, and my family is looking forward to mealtime. We don¡¯t need fancy dishes, just a few vegetarian ones. But with these meals, the children have grown stronger, healthier, and more energetic than before.¡± ¡°Haha, my daughter Little Jade used to catch a cold, cough, and have a runny nose every winter, even getting feverish and developing pneumonia. But this year, there was no sign of pneumonia or even a cough. She ran outside every day in the cold weather and was fine.¡± ¡°Indeed, this winter in our village, not a single child caught a cold. They are all healthy and running around..¡± Chapter 156 - Chapter 156: Chapter 156: End of the Year 2 (Second Update) Chapter 156: Chapter 156: End of the Year 2 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 By the end of the year, most of those who went out to work would come back home and visit the Xiao Family or send gifts. In their hearts, Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family was the richest in the village, so they came to connect with them and because of Xiao Jinli¡¯s reputation and status in the village. ¡°Ah, Xiao Hua, Xiao Ming, and Xiaoliang, you guys are back.¡± ¡°Yes, Auntie, we¡¯re back. We came to see you, Uncle, and Jinli as soon as we returned. This is the local specialty I bought!¡± ¡°You came, that¡¯s enough, why buy anything? Come in, come in, sit down for a while.¡± Xiao Mother welcomed these young people into the house with a happy smile, ¡°I¡¯ll make tea!¡± ¡°Auntie, don¡¯t bother.¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯m not busy. I¡¯m just making some tea. I remember you all love drinking our family¡¯s tea.¡± Because Xiao Jinli added more Lingquan water to brew the tea, the tea was very fragrant and sweet. Both the older and younger people loved it. Hearing Xiao Mother saying this, these young people politely stayed. You need to know that the things in Xiao Wanshan¡¯s house were amazing, whether it was meals, drinks, tea, or snacks, all were top-notch. They usually didn¡¯t have the chance to eat them. They didn¡¯t want to miss this opportunity. ¡°Thank you, Auntie. We will just drink some tea and go back. By the way, Auntie, I also brought some small gifts for Jinli.¡± Little girls¡¯ gifts are usually clothes, hair clips, toys, etc. Jinli had been blessed with luck since childhood, and the close people around her always had good luck. Over the years, although they went out to work and didn¡¯t earn much money, they were all safe and sound. Xiao Mother looked at the gifts they took out and laughed, ¡°You guys are really too polite. Our Little Bao has received so many gifts from you guys since she was little. The gifts you gave her are almost filling up the entire house. I remember your kindness, but please, don¡¯t buy her any more gifts in the future.¡¯ ¡°Auntie, we love Jinli, and when we come home, we think of buying her some little gifts.¡± Someone laughed and said, ¡°Oh, right, Auntie, where is Jinli?¡± Xiao Mother pointed to a greenhouse not far away, smiled, and said, ¡°She goes there every day to check on the earthworms and the seedlings¡¯ growth.¡± ¡°Jinli is really smart and capable.¡± Someone sighed, ¡°She is only in her early teens, yet she is doing adult work.¡± ¡°Jinli is different from us ordinary people from a young age.¡± Someone laughed and agreed, ¡°From a young age, she was meant for big things. While we were playing in the mud in the fields, Jinli would help the village handle matters. When we were able to help our families with work, Jinli was already helping the village with important affairs.¡± ¡°Yeah, comparing ourselves with her is frustrating. Fortunately, there¡¯s only one Jinli.¡± Someone joked, ¡°If there was another one, it would make us seem even more foolish.¡¯ While the others chatted casually, Xiao Mother quickly brewed the tea and brought it over. ¡°It smells so good.¡± Someone moved their nose and exclaimed, ¡°Auntie, how did you make this tea? It¡¯s getting more and more fragrant. Just smelling it from far away makes me want to pick up the teapot and drink it all in one gulp.¡¯ ¡°Haha, if you grab it, you won¡¯t be able to drink it anymore. And you might get scalded.¡± ¡°Drinking tea should be done slowly, only then can you taste the increasingly rich flavor.¡¯ Xiao Mother took out the cups, poured a cup for each of them, and laughed, ¡°We have enough tea at your Auntie¡¯s house. You can drink it slowly!¡± ¡°Then, Auntie, I¡¯ll be ready to drink a whole stomach of tea. Seriously, how did you brew your family¡¯s tea? Why is it so fragrant?¡± Xiao Mother laughed, ¡°I just brewed it like this. As for why it¡¯s so fragrant, I don¡¯t know.¡± Anyway, anything that passes through her hands always tastes exceptionally good. ¡°Haha, maybe it¡¯s Auntie¡¯s natural talent. Auntie, not only do you cook delicious meals and snacks, but you also make fragrant alcohol and tea. If you open a tea house, tavern, or restaurant with your skills, the business would be booming.¡± Someone immediately interjected, ¡°That¡¯s right. But Uncle Wanshan doesn¡¯t want Auntie to get tired. I heard that he used to not let her cook, fearing she¡¯d get tired, so Uncle Wanshan cooked himself. But the dishes he made were so bad that even the dog wouldn¡¯t eat them, and Auntie was particularly picky, so she had to cook despite Uncle Wanshan¡¯s opposition.¡± ¡°Haha¡­Uncle Wanshan really dotes on Auntie. No wonder Auntie has such great cooking skills and never thought of opening a restaurant.¡± Regarding the past of Xiao Wanshan and Xiao Mother when they were young, it was no secret in the village. From time to time, people would bring it up to discuss it or use it for comparison during arguments between husband and wife. Xiao Mother laughed, ¡°You guys are teasing me again.¡± ¡°But we are stating the truth.¡± Someone laughed, ¡°Auntie, Uncle Wanshan really dotes on you. Everyone can see it.¡± Even though her past with her husband was brought up and discussed by a group of young people, Xiao Mother¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but flush a little. Xiao Mother immediately changed the subject, ¡°I made some snacks. I¡¯ll bring them out for you to try.¡± With that, she went into the room to get the snacks. A group of young people looked forward to them with anticipation in their eyes. They came to the Xiao Family to give gifts and also genuinely wanted to eat something at their home. After Xiao Mother brought out some snacks, she sat down and chatted with them, asking about some of the things that happened while they were working. After a while, Xiao Mother said, ¡°Our Xiao Family Village has established a company, and starting next year, the whole village will plant vegetable and fruit. I hope that you young people can stay and help manage the village together. In this way, the elderly and children at home can be taken care of. If the vegetables and fruits sell well, staying at home might make more money than working outside.¡± When it came to this, the young people present became somewhat silent. They were actually very conflicted in their hearts. They, of course, wanted to stay home for next year¡¯s village-wide vegetable and fruit planting. But what if the produce can¡¯t be sold next year? They¡¯ll have no money, and how will their families survive next year? So, their current thinking was to go out and work first, observe, and if planting vegetables really made money, they would come back not just the following year but also the next half year. In the end, they were just uncertain about planting and selling in the next year. Xiao Mother laughed and said, ¡°However, earning money through working outside is more stable. After our village¡¯s vegetables sell, you can come back later. From then on, the whole family can make money together..¡± Chapter 157 - Chapter 157: Chapter 157: High-end Ingredients (First Update) Chapter 157: Chapter 157: High-end Ingredients (First Update) Translator: 549690339 At 12 0¡¯clock on December 24, during the Xiao Nian Festival, Xiao Jinli received a phone call from her maternal uncle. Even through the phone, her uncle¡¯s voice sounded very excited. He said, ¡°Jinli, do you know that the earthworms you brought back have been sold overseas and have become high-end ingredients? Haha, I didn¡¯t expect things to go so smoothly.¡± It had been six months since Gao Jianjun updated Xiao Jinli on the sales of the earthworms to foreign countries. It seemed to have taken quite a long time. After all, the earthworms that Xiao Jinli had cultivated had only lived for about three to five months, so it was impossible for them to survive until now. Xiao Jinli still seemed very surprised and said, ¡°Oh, really, Uncle, that¡¯s great!¡± Gao Jianjun said, ¡°To be categorized as high-end ingredients in the international market, products must undergo strict inspections, complicated processes, and be examined by industry insiders. Only then can they be labeled as high-end ingredients.¡± Speaking of which, he lamented, ¡°Ah, I just didn¡¯t send enough earthworms abroad. Now, lots of famous hotels overseas are sending orders our way, but I don¡¯t dare to accept them. It¡¯s like watching a huge pile of money fly away right before my eyes.¡± Xiao Jinli, Gao Jianjun continued, ¡°Jinli, I heard from your dad that you¡¯ve contracted over five acres of land and raised more than 100,000 earthworms. Can you spare some of them? You should know that the price offered by those overseas orders has reached 88,000 yuan per jin.¡± Xiao Jinli raised her eyebrows in surprise, ¡°That high?¡± She bought them for 100 yuan per jin, and after only three to four months, the price per jin had skyrocketed to 88,000 yuan. This was a huge profit. If it were someone else, they would definitely be tempted. But her purpose in raising earthworms was not to sell them directly but to help enrich the entire Xiao Family Village. ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s how high it is.¡± Gao Jianjun nodded and said, ¡°So, Jinli, can you raise more earthworms and sell them through foreign channels? With a price of 88,000 yuan, it would be heartbreaking to miss out.¡± Xiao Jinli slightly raised her eyelids, covering her mouth and chuckling, ¡°Uncle, we¡¯re planting vegetables and fruits in our village next year, and my five acres of land and over 100,000 earthworms are already part of my plan.¡± Gao Jianjun, ¡® Does this child realize that she¡¯s missing out on a money-making opportunity? ¡°However, I plan to expand production and sell them as part of foreign trade deals,¡± Xiao Jinli said with a smile. ¡°Also, we¡¯ll be exporting the vegetables and fruits grown in Xiao Family Village along with the earthworms. Uncle, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to ask for your help when the time comes.¡± ¡® Gao Jianjun was suddenly anxious, and he asked, ¡°Jinli, what do you mean by that? Are you planning to export the Xiao Family vegetables as well?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes, Uncle, that¡¯s my plan. Uncle, you¡¯ve tasted the vegetables from my family during summer vacation. How do you think they would fare if sold overseas?¡± Gao Jianjun¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°They¡¯ll definitely become high-end ingredients. Haha, if the taste of the vegetables from your village is as good as what we¡¯ve tasted before, then we have nothing to worry about regarding overseas sales.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°I have no worries at all. I have great confidence in our Xiao Family vegetables and don¡¯t need to worry about them not selling. Next year, our entire village will be planting on just a few hundred acres. If we sell overseas, it will only be a small portion.¡± Gao Jianjun¡¯s expression was slightly complicated as he paused for a moment and then asked, ¡°Jinli, do you have a bias against foreign markets?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Not at all. I just think that it¡¯s better to prioritize the domestic market. After all, good things should be sold domestically.¡± Moreover, crops grown with Lingquan water improve the consumer¡¯s health, enhance their physical fitness and prevent diseases. Regardless of whether it¡¯s the education she received in her past life or this life, she has always been patriotic. So, she¡¯s a good girl who listens to her teacher. Gao Jianjun sighed lightly and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you. I¡¯ll wait for your news.¡± ¡°Uncle, my three uncles are coming to my house for the New Year. You should come too with my maternal aunt and cousin. And when you come, I have a favor to ask you,¡± Xiao Jinli said mysteriously. Gao Jianjun asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s the favor? Can you tell me now?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell you now. I¡¯ll let you know when you come,¡± Xiao Jinli said with a smile. ¡°Haha¡­.¡± Gao Jianjun looked very happy and said, ¡°You cunning little girl. Okay, since my brothers-in-law are all going to your house for the New Year, my wife and I will definitely join you. As a family, we should be united and inclusive. Otherwise, it would seem like we don¡¯t fit in. Jinli, have your uncles mentioned when they¡¯ll be coming over?¡± ¡°Yes, they said they¡¯ll only start their vacation at 3 pm on New Year¡¯s Eve. Driving here would take at least four to five hours,¡± Xiao Jinli said. After listening, Gao Jianjun laughed and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll call your uncles and ask. On New Year¡¯s Eve, we¡¯ll all come over together.¡± ¡°Great, I¡¯ll prepare a big meal with mom and make sure to treat you all well,¡± Xiao Jinli said with a smile. ¡°We¡¯ll have good food and drinks.¡± ¡°Haha, of course, with you around, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll have a great time,¡± Gao Jianjun laughed and said, ¡°See you for the New Year.¡± ¡°Yes, see you for the New Year!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. After hanging up the phone, Xiao Jinli immediately heard Xiao Zhi¡¯s voice in her sea of consciousness. ¡°Oh, Master, I understand now. The person you¡¯re looking for is your uncle, right?¡± Xiao Zhi seemed very excited and said, ¡°Your uncle knows a lot of people and has connections. It¡¯s most appropriate to ask him to sell the Seven Color Tea Flower.¡± Speaking of this, it sighed again and said, ¡°Ah, I always thought the person you were looking for was Xiao Siqian, oops, I mean Su Yichen. After all, with his status, selling the Seven Color Tea Flower would be a breeze. However, just like ¡®Xiao He helped him succeed and also caused his downfall,¡¯ his status is also a problem. If we turn to him for help, we¡¯ll definitely run into some trouble.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, you¡¯re not as dumb as I thought. Turning to Su Yichen for help would be asking for trouble, given the wolves surrounding him due to his mother¡¯s inheritance. You know, in my current life, I hate trouble the most.¡± Xiao Zhi rolled its eyes and said unhappily, ¡°I know, in this life, you just want to be a salted fish, the kind that¡¯s too lazy to turn over. Look at your ambition.¡± Xiao Jinli, Chapter 159 - Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Festivities of the New Year 1 (First Update) Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Festivities of the New Year 1 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 On Lunar New Year¡¯s Eve, every household was bustling with excitement, as they got up bright and early to paste couplets and hang lanterns. Busy throughout the year, only on this day, they could eat and play well. Things they usually didn¡¯t eat would be taken out on this day. The chickens and ducks they raised would also be caught on this day. Xiao Family members got up early in the morning to get busy. Xiao Junxuan went to the market town even before dawn to buy fresh meat. Preparing four tables of meals was quite a lot of work. ¡°Mom, what dishes are we going to make today?¡± Jinli asked Master Chef Xiao Mother. Xiao Mother thought for a moment and said, ¡°Just make the usual home-cooked dishes. Beer duck, Hakka braised meat with preserved mustard, braised pork feet, stuffed tofu, fried small fish, braised beef brisket with radish, and oil-braised prawns. Cook the old hens, make five or six vegetarian dishes, such as eggplant claypot, scrambled eggs with leeks, stir-fried cabbage, cold mixed tomatoes, and when your uncles come over, we will let them order some more dishes.¡± Jinli nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go pick the vegetables from the greenhouse now. Big brother went to buy groceries early in the morning.¡± Jinli planned to pick the vegetables herself, intending to move the vegetables in her space out. ¡°Alright, you go pick them,¡± Xiao Mother said with a smile. ¡°You have a keen eye. The vegetables you pick always turn out better tasting than the ones we pick!¡± Jinli thought, ¡°Of course. The vegetables she picked were mostly space vegetables after all.¡± ¡°Alright, Mom, I¡¯m going to pick the vegetables now,¡± Jinli replied, and then picked up her basket and walked toward the greenhouse. The vegetables in the greenhouse spread over five points of land had already been sold in one crop, and these were the second crop. Previously, the vegetables in the village had gradually been harvested, and Jinli had slowly turned the plot of land with vegetables and fruit into their own food, no longer selling them outside. As a result, more vegetables and fruits were transferred out of her space. Walking into the greenhouse, Jinli looked at the lush and lovely vegetables in the field and smiled at the corners of her mouth. Xiao Zhi said, ¡°Master, what are you so proud of? You only moved a small portion of vegetables out of your space. Your family, no matter how much they eat, cannot finish all the vegetables in your space. I think you should find a way to sell the space vegetables as soon as possible.¡± Jinli rolled her eyes speechlessly and said irritably, ¡°I know what to do, and it doesn¡¯t need your reminder.¡± Xiao Zhi said, ¡°I¡¯m just reminding you out of kindness.¡± Ignoring Xiao Zhi¡¯s nagging, Jinli picked the vegetables carefully. In fact, they all grew at a similar pace, whether she picked or not. It didn¡¯t take long for her to fill a big basket. Except for leeks, which were not easy to clean, other vegetables were easy to wash. When Jinli returned with the vegetables, she saw her dad killing two big ducks and two old hens. The ducks and old hens were raised at home, fed on vegetable leaves and earthworms. The meat was tender and delicious. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re killing ducks,¡± said Jinli, looking at the chubby ducks, ¡°Do you need help?¡± Xiao Father said, ¡°You come and hold the two legs of the duck!¡± Killing ducks was a skillful task. If not careful, blood and feathers could be everywhere, making it hard to clean up. It also required patience to pluck the ducks¡¯ downy feathers. Jinli walked over, grabbed the two duck legs, and lifted them up. Xiao Father plucked the feathers from the ducks¡¯ necks, holding their heads down. A bowl was placed on the ground containing a bit of saltwater and starch, which was prepared to collect the duck blood. Xiao Father said, ¡°Hold on tight, I¡¯m going to start.¡± Xiao Jinli, with her strength, held the ducks tightly. After a while, two ducks were killed, and a large bowl of duck blood was collected. Xiao Jinli looked at the duck blood and laughed, ¡°We can make spicy blood dishes with this.¡± Xiao Mother came out with hot water and heard Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, laughing, ¡°Little Bao wants to eat spicy blood dishes, alright, I¡¯ll make it for you at noon.¡± Spicy blood dishes are best made with duck blood. As they were plucking the ducks, Xiao Junxuan went to town to buy beef and prawns. Afterwards, father and son started to pluck duck and chicken feathers together. Plucking chicken feathers is easier, as long as the hot water is effective, it can be removed cleanly with a single pull. Plucking duck feathers, however, takes much more effort, especially with the large amount of down feathers, as it requires more patience to clean them thoroughly. The father and son duo took nearly an hour to pluck the feathers off two ducks. After plucking the duck feathers, they started cleaning the innards, and used the duck offal to make stir-fried peppers, which also tastes quite good. At around 9:ooam, Grandpa Xiao and Grandma Xiao also came to help. After all, there were many people coming to eat at Second Brother¡¯s house. Xiao Jinli and her maternal grandmother were washing vegetables, especially chives, which didn¡¯t have many yellow or rotten leaves, but had quite a bit of dirt in the roots, requiring them to be washed one by one. Grandma Xiao immediately came forward to help. Grandma Xiao looked at the green chives and laughed, ¡°Good baby, how on earth did you grow these vegetables? Not only do they look better than the others, but they taste better too.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and explained, ¡°It might be because these vegetables are the first batch to get nutrition from earthworms, so the results are better.¡± Whether others believe it or not, this is her explanation. The maternal grandmother looked at the basket of chives and other vegetables and said, ¡°This basket of vegetables may not be enough. In a while, we¡¯ll pick another basket. Oh, and cut more chives, because after dinner, we¡¯re going to make some dumplings for tomorrow morning.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°For dumplings, besides chive filling, do we need to prepare other fillings? Should we have more filling options?¡± The maternal grandmother considered for a moment and said, ¡°On the morning of New Year, we should eat vegetarian meals. So let¡¯s have a few more vegetarian fillings. Besides chives, let¡¯s also have radish and scallion, and cabbage fillings. Anyway, the homegrown vegetables are fresh and taste good, so everyone will like any kind of filling.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. Then, she took two big baskets to the vegetable field. She first cut two big handfuls of chives, then pulled out three or four white radishes as thick as an adult¡¯s calf. Although these radishes were big, they were tender, crispy, sweet, and slightly spicy, which made them perfect to eat just like a fruit. Then, she took a vegetable knife and picked three or four firm cabbages and cut them off. Finally, she pulled a large handful of scallions. When she was putting these vegetables in the basket, she seemed to hear Gao Yanxin¡¯s loud voice. ¡°Maternal Grandpa, Maternal Grandma, eldest aunt, eldest uncle, Cousin Junxuan, and Jinli, I, Hu Hansan, have returned!¡± Xiao Jinli, Immediately after, she heard her maternal aunt¡¯s scolding, ¡°You little rabbit, what do you mean by Hu Hansan has returned? Do you know who Hu Hansan is? Hu Hansan is a tyrant, and at this age, you¡¯re still talking nonsense. You don¡¯t want to be a good person but want to be a tyrant.¡± Then, the sound of a slap followed, obviously the maternal aunt¡¯s slap on someone.. Chapter 160 - Chapter 160: Chapter 160: The Bustle of New Year 2 (Second Update) Chapter 160: Chapter 160: The Bustle of New Year 2 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli walked out with two baskets of green vegetables, upon seeing Ji Yuzhu and her other two companions, she was very surprised. She immediately called out, ¡°Auntie, uncle, you¡¯ve arrived so early? I thought you would come over for dinner in the afternoon.¡± Ji Yuzhu looked at the two baskets of vegetables Xiao Jinli was carrying, walked over to her, took one basket, and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been off work for a while now, and your uncle also started his holiday early. So, we decided to come early and help out if needed.¡± She carried the basket, took a look at the vegetables inside, and asked, ¡°You picked so many vegetables?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Hmm, my grandmother said, after dinner, when it¡¯s time to keep vigil for the New Year (a Chinese tradition), we will make dumplings.¡± ¡°That sounds good.¡± Ji Yuzhu said happily, ¡°These vegetable dumplings with no meat will certainly taste great. Adding meat might dilute the flavour of the greens. ¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s aunt dumped an entire basket of vegetables into the sink, where their grandmother was still washing chives. Seeing almost a sinkful of chives, her aunt asked with a small gasp of surprise, ¡°So much chives was harvested?¡± Her grandmother said, ¡°We need to stir-fry some dishes with chives, and also use chives to make dumplings, so natural we harvested a little more.¡± Her aunt nodded, ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s it.¡± Then, she went to the kitchen to find an apron. After putting it on, she began helping to clean the vegetables. While washing the vegetables, she said, ¡°I miss eating green vegetables from here so much. At home, we also used earthworms to grow some fruits and vegetables, but the Taste is just not the same. Now that I¡¯m here, I must eat my fill. Gao Yanxin, standing by her side, said, ¡°Tonight, when the uncles return, there will be many people, and they will definitely want to eat these vegetables. Mom, the only way you can eat your fill is to sneak some in the kitchen!¡± Upon hearing this, Ji Yuzhu instantly retorted, ¡°You naughty boy, who needs to sneak food in the kitchen?¡± ¡°Mom, haven¡¯t you sneaked food in the kitchen before?¡± Gao Yanxin said loudly, ¡°I remember you ate almost half the plate.¡± ¡°Alright, stop bringing up the past!¡± Ji Yuzhu retorted in exasperation, ¡°I wasn¡¯t sneaking food, I ate it openly. What, do you have a problem with that? Even if you do, keep it to yourself. Enough, stop talking so much and get to work.¡± Gao Yanxin looked around at the busy scene and asked, ¡°What work should I ¡°I will go ask your Brother Xuan!¡± Ji Yuzhu shouted, ¡°Everyone else is working, but you¡¯re standing there doing nothing, aren¡¯t you embarrassed?¡± Gao Yanxin pouted and said, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to work, it¡¯s that I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± At this point, Xiao Wanshan smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Xin, you don¡¯t have to work, go keep your grandfather company and have some tea.¡± Their grandfather, however, waved at him and said, ¡°Xiao Xin, let¡¯s hang couplets. The couplets and lanterns haven¡¯t been put up yet.¡± Having said that, he went to his room and took out the couplets and lanterns. Gao Yanxin asked, ¡°Where is the ladder?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in the firewood room.¡± The grandmother said, ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°Got it, grandmother!¡± Gao Yanxin excitedly rushed to the firewood room. After he brought out the ladder, the grandfather held the couplet, pointed to a place, and said to Gao Yanxin, ¡°This couplet, just stick it there.¡± The grandfather pointed to a position, ¡°Hmm, apply some double-sided tape first.¡± Before long, the couplets were hung up. After that, they started hanging lanterns. Gao Jianjun went to the greenhouse to look at the earthworms. When Gao Jianjun wanted to enter the greenhouse, Shi Dajiang didn¡¯t know who he was and stopped him. ¡°May I know who you are?¡± Shi Dajiang asked. ¡°I¡¯m Gao Jianjun, Xiao Jinli¡¯s uncle. I¡¯m here to take a look at the earthworms.¡± Gao Jianjun directly stated his identity. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re the uncle of the little householder?¡± Shi Dajiang rather responsibly replied, ¡°I have to confirm this with the little householder!¡± ¡® Gao Jianjun nodded and said, ¡°Alright!¡± Immediately after, Shi Dajiang took out a small cellphone. After a moment, the call was connected, he hastily asked, ¡°Little householder, there¡¯s a person named Gao Jianjun here who claims to be your uncle. He wants to go into the greenhouse to take a look. Ok, ok, I got it!¡± Afterwards, Shi Dajiang said to Gao Jianjun, ¡°Mr. Gao, I¡¯ve confirmed your identity, you may go in.¡± Gao Jianjun nodded, ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re very dedicated!¡± Shi Dajiang said with a smile, ¡°Since I¡¯m taking the householder¡¯s money, I should pay due respect to my job.¡¯ He was very happy now. He had already received two months¡¯ salary and had some money on hand. He could afford to buy two new sets of clothes for his grandson and buy some meat to supplement his grandson¡¯s nutrition. During these two months, his grandson had grown much taller, his complexion had become much rosier, and he no longer had that malnourished look. More importantly, the child had become much happier. When Gao Jianjun walked into the greenhouse, what caught his eyes was a field of tender green and yellow seedlings. However, at first glance, it looked quite spectacular, appealing to human vision. Gao Jianjun could not help but exclaim, ¡°It¡¯s really beautiful. From afar, it looks like a large grassland.¡± Shi Dajiang stood by him while his grandson had run off to play with the village kids. Shi Dajiang said, nodding, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s really beautiful. These are all the seedlings that the whole village needs to grow for next year. These seeds were all bought by the little householder. There are hundreds of types of seedlings here.¡± Gao Jianjun, who had heard Xiao Jinli talk about this before, nodded and said, ¡°These seedlings can be transplanted after next spring, right?¡± ¡°Yes, they can be.¡± Shi Dajiang nodded and said, ¡°The plan was to plant them in the spring of next year.¡± ¡°Oh, where are the earthworms?¡± Gao Jianjun looked at the seedlings and started looking for the earthworms, but he found that the earthworms were not showing themselves. Shi Dajiang explained with a smile, ¡°The weather is too cold now, and even in the insulated greenhouse, the earthworms can¡¯t adapt to this temperature, so they all burrowed into the ground to hibernate. However, as soon as the weather warms up, they will come out to bask in the sun or breathe.¡± After taking care of the greenhouse for two to three months, he had observed the habits of these earthworms. Gao Jianjun nodded, ¡°Oh, I see!¡± Then, he asked, ¡°Is there a shovel? I want to dig some out to see.¡± Upon hearing this, Shi Dajiang looked somewhat surprised, ¡°You want to dig them out?¡± Then he shook his head, ¡°No, no, what if the earthworms get hurt when you dig? The earthworms in this greenhouse are very valuable. The whole village of Xiao Family Village is counting on these earthworms, so not one of them can be lost.¡± Gao Jianjun, ¡± ¡­¡± He knew that the earthworms here were valuable, they cost up to 88,000 per kilogram overseas. But he was just a little curious now, wondering how big these earthworms had grown.. Chapter 161 - Chapter 161: Chapter 161: The Bustle of New Year 3 (First Update) Chapter 161: Chapter 161: The Bustle of New Year 3 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 When Xiao Jinli arrived at the greenhouse, she saw Gao Jianjun with a shovel, shoveling the soil, and Shi Dajiang with a look of difficulty on his face. As soon as he saw Xiao Jinli, he stepped forward and said, ¡°Little Householder!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and then asked, ¡°Uncle Shi, didn¡¯t I give you a holiday? Didn¡¯t you and your children go back for the New Year?¡± Shi Dajiang shook his head and said, ¡°For the New Year, it is just Xiao Bao and me. Here, it is also just Xiao Bao and me, so I simply didn¡¯t go back. For me and my child, it doesn¡¯t matter where we celebrate the New Year. I don¡¯t have many relatives and friends, and if they want to come to find me, they can come directly here.¡± Anyway, the two villages are not far apart. When people are poor, no one looks up to them. Usually, his family has few relatives and friends throughout the year. Even if he went to someone else¡¯s house, he would be ridiculed in the face or secretly, saying that they were simply visiting. So he simply didn¡¯t go. Xiao Jinli nodded and then said, ¡°Then come to my house to celebrate the New Year tonight. My family has many people today, you and Xiao Bao come, and we will celebrate together.¡± Shi Dajiang¡¯s expression froze, and the next moment, his eyes became red, feeling very moved and grateful, ¡°Thank you, Little Householder. Xiao Bao and I will celebrate the New Year in this house tonight.¡± Since his son and daughter-in-law passed away, he has rarely received kindness from others. In the past, even if someone suggested going to his house for the New Year, their eyes revealed disdain and contempt. Obviously, they were just saying it, not really wanting them to go for the New Year. But this little householder, time and time again, showed kindness to him, and even gave him a warm and fulfilling job. He didn¡¯t know how to repay this kindness in his life. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Uncle Shi, it¡¯s just a meal. After dinner, you can come back, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Gao Jianjun persuaded on the side, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just a meal. You can take the child with you and join in the fun.¡± After hesitating for a moment, Shi Dajiang said, ¡°Alright, Little Householder, then I will not be polite.¡± But in his heart, he was thinking, ¡°In the future, he will have to work even harder.¡¯ Xiao Jinli looked at Gao Jianjun and asked, ¡°Uncle, did you find the earthworms?¡± ¡® Gao Jianjun shook his head, ¡°No, it seems they are all hiding.¡± ¡°The weather is too cold now, and the earthworms can¡¯t adapt, so they hide in the ground and won¡¯t come out. In a few days, when the sun comes out and it¡¯s warmer, they will come out, and you can see them too.¡± Gao Jianjun nodded regretfully, ¡°Alright, it will be in a couple of days.¡± Anyway, he has a seven or eight-day vacation. When Xiao Jinli and Gao Jianjun were about to leave, Xiao Bao, wearing nice clothes and holding his new toys, rushed in excitedly. He ran and shouted, ¡°Grandpa, look, my good friend gave me two new toys.¡± Then, he noticed Xiao Jinli and immediately greeted her politely, ¡°Sister Jinli!¡± Xiao Jinli patted his little head and asked with a smile, ¡°Xiao Bao, did you have fun today?¡± Xiao Bao nodded, ¡°Yes, so much fun! There were so many kids playing with me, they shared their new toys with me, and they also gave me some candy and snacks!¡± Unlike before when he was at home, the children in the village used to bully and beat him, saying he had no parents to support him, cursing him as a disabled grandson. In short, no one wanted to play with him. But it was different here. The children here not only didn¡¯t curse him, but they also played with him, playing hide and seek, hopping, sharing toys with him, and giving him lots of things to eat. He wanted to stay here and never wanted to go back to that old home. He¡¯s very happy here, very joyful! Shi Dajiang was happy to see his grandson stay here because he knew his grandson was even happier here, so there was no need or desire to take him back to the village. Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°As long as you are happy. Remember tonight to come to my house with grandpa for a New Year¡¯s dinner!¡± ¡°Go to sister¡¯s house for dinner?¡± Xiao Bao¡¯s eyes lit up immediately, and he seemed very happy, ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± After leaving the greenhouse, Gao Jianjun smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Jinli, you¡¯re really nice to them!¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Both the grandson and grandfather are pitiful people, I¡¯m just lending them a helping hand.¡± ¡°Haha, our Xiao Jinli is indeed a kind-hearted child,¡± Gao Jianjun laughed, ¡°Kind-hearted people are always blessed.¡± Then, the two went home. After arriving home, everyone was still busy. Even for the noon meal, with so many people, they needed to cook more, let alone three or four tables for dinner. Ji Yuzhu and her maternal grandmother had already cleaned all the vegetables. Xiao Junxuan was holding a kitchen knife, chopping chicken and duck meat, while Xiao¡¯s father was cleaning the chicken and duck innards. Some people didn¡¯t like these innards, but Xiao Wanshan and his son did, so they never threw them away casually. Maternal grandmother picked up another small kitchen knife, found a chopping board, and began cutting the vegetables. In the kitchen, Xiao¡¯s mother was steaming pork with preserved vegetables. They had fried the pork belly yesterday, and today they started steaming it. When frying pork belly, they first boiled it with cooking wine, ginger, green onions, star anise, and other spices. Once chopsticks could easily pierce the skin, they would fish it out. After that, they would poke holes in it with a toothpick, drain the water, and then start frying. When frying, they would put it in the wok when it was about half heated, cover it, turn the heat down, and continue frying. When the pork skin turned golden brown, they could turn off the heat and get it out of the pot. The fried pork belly could be soaked in the soup used for cooking it, so it would be easier to slice later. After slicing the pork belly, they would place it upside down in a bowl. Then, they would start preparing the preserved vegetables. Some people would put the preserved vegetables in the wok with chili, soy sauce, salt, and sugar, stir-fry it briefly, then put it in a bowl and cover the meat directly. After that, they would put it in the pot to steam. This dish must be steamed until the meat is tender, melts in your mouth, and not greasy, with the flavors of preserved vegetables infused into it. The taste of this dish is simply unparalleled. Yesterday, Xiao¡¯s mother had fried twelve pieces of pork belly, but today she would steam only six bowls. In the countryside, every household would build a stove with a large pot for steaming dishes. While steaming the pork, Xiao¡¯s mother also washed some sweet potatoes and put them in the pot. Steamed sweet potatoes were also delicious, fragrant, sweet, and soft. Everyone in the family loved them. When the pork started steaming in the pot, Xiao¡¯s mother began preparing the pig¡¯s feet. The pig¡¯s feet needed to be blanched first. While blanching, she added cooking wine, and ginger and green onions, using her home-brewed rice wine. After blanching, the pig¡¯s feet were set aside to drain the water, waiting to be cooked. Gao Yanxin walked into the kitchen and asked, ¡°Auntie, what dishes are you cooking for lunch today?¡± Glancing at the items in the kitchen, he swallowed and said, ¡°I miss your cooking so much. You have no idea how terrible my mom¡¯s cooking is. Sometimes I wonder if you and my mom are really sisters? The difference in your cooking skills is too great.¡± Just as Ji Yuzhu entered the kitchen, she heard his words and shouted angrily, ¡°Gao Yanxin, I think you¡¯re itching for a beating, aren¡¯t you? Badmouthing your own mother behind her back!¡± Chapter 162 - Chapter 162: Chapter 162: The Bustle of New Year 4 (Second Update) Chapter 162: Chapter 162: The Bustle of New Year 4 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 At noon, the arrival of Little Aunt¡¯s family of three made the meal even more lively. Since they had to work in the afternoon, no one drank alcohol. Gao Yanxin muttered while eating, ¡°This is what real food should taste like. No matter how good the ingredients are, when they¡¯re in my mom¡¯s hands, they turn into a pile of mud.¡± Everyone at the table found his mumbling amusing. Ji Yuzhu said angrily, ¡°You little brat, don¡¯t think we can¡¯t hear your mumbling. If you think my cooking is so bad, why don¡¯t you cook for yourself instead of relying on your mom.¡± Gao Jianjun, sitting next to him, also became serious, ¡°Gao Yanxin, since you dislike your mom¡¯s cooking, from today on, you should learn to cook with your eldest aunt and Brother Xuan. Once you¡¯ve learned, you can be in charge of our meals.¡± Gao Yanxin, ¡® He inherited his mother¡¯s lack of culinary talent, so no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t cook well. He immediately protested, ¡°Dad, I am my mom¡¯s biological son. I didn¡¯t inherit any of eldest aunt¡¯s culinary talents, but I inherited my mom¡¯s inability to cook fully. No matter how hard I try, I can¡¯t learn.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. You better learn well these next few days,¡± Gao Jianjun ordered. Gao Yanxin felt utterly desperate. At this point, Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Cousin Xin, cooking is actually not that difficult. With my mom and me teaching you, I believe you¡¯ll become an excellent chef.¡± He had tasted his little aunt¡¯s cooking before. Honestly, the appearance alone was either burnt or undercooked, not to mention the taste was indescribable. Fortunately, his own mom was a good cook, so he didn¡¯t have to suffer from childhood till now. Thinking about it, he actually felt a little sorry for his cousin. Gao Yanxin, who was initially discouraged, became full of energy and confidence, saying, ¡°Yes, I will definitely master culinary skills and cook delicious meals. Dad, Mom, just wait for my success.¡± Ji Yuzhu laughed and said, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll wait for Chef Gao to make us delicious meals.¡± Because Little Aunt¡¯s family preferred vegetarian dishes, there wasn¡¯t much meat for lunch, just a braised pork dish and braised beef brisket with radish. The rest were vegetarian dishes. However, everyone enjoyed their meal happily. After lunch, Xiao¡¯s father began preparing incense sticks, while Xiao Junxuan and Gao Jianjun carried out the cleaned tables and set them up. Around two or three in the afternoon, they heard the sound of firecrackers going off. Gao Yanxin curiously asked, ¡°Why is someone setting off firecrackers so early?¡± Xiao Junxuan replied, ¡°Once people have prepared everything, they set off firecrackers to start the ritual of honoring the gods.¡± Xiao¡¯s father caught a rooster and started to slaughter it. Rural people¡¯s customs dictate that sacrificing a rooster is needed on Lunar New Year¡¯s Eve and the second day of the lunar new year. After plucking the feathers and gutting the rooster, it was cleaned and then boiled in a pot. The plate was arranged in a squatting position with the rooster¡¯s head facing upwards. Looking at the cooked rooster, Gao Yanxin asked, ¡°How did you arrange the rooster like this? Why does it have to be like this?¡± Xiao Junxuan glanced at him and said indifferently, ¡°This is how us country folks do it.¡± By 3-4 0¡¯clock in the afternoon, the village was filled with the sounds of firecrackers going off. Accompanying the noise were the joyful voices of children who had taken a bath, put on new clothes, and were running around playing with toys and picking up firecracker debris. The festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year was ignited by the sounds of firecrackers, making everything extremely lively! The Xiao family had also set up a table for worshiping and prepared nine bowls ¨C three filled with alcohol, one with tea, one with small fish, three pieces of fried square tofu, as well as tangerines and candies, and a large rooster in the center! After setting off firecrackers, they carried the basket and offered offerings to the gods in all directions. By 5-6 0¡¯clock, all three of Xiao Jinli¡¯s uncles had arrived. Each family came in a car. Xiao Iinli¡¯s three uncles. eldest uncle Ti Deliang. second uncle Ti Derong. and third uncle Ji Deming, were all named according to their generation. Each uncle had two sons. The eldest son of the eldest uncle, Ji Mingxing, was 28 years old, married and had a son named Ji Bohan, who was three years old this year. The second son, Ji Mingchen, was 23 years old, unmarried but in a relationship. The eldest son of the second uncle, Ji Kaijun, was 24 years old, unmarried, with a girlfriend. The second son, Ji Haitao, was 20 years old, unmarried. The eldest son of the third uncle, Ji Haiyang, was 16 years old and in high school. The second son, Ji Haifan, was 12 years old, in junior high school. The eldest daughter of the maternal grandparents, Xiao¡¯s mother Ji Fangqin, had a son named Xiao Junxuan and a daughter named Xiao Jinli. The second daughter, Ji Yuzhu, had a son named Gao Yanxin. Well, the Ji family¡¯s third generation was predominantly male, with Xiao Jinli being the only girl. As a result, Xiao Jinli was treated like a little princess in the Ji family, receiving love and affection from everyone. The grandparents had a keen eye for choosing their daughters-in-law, all of whom were kind, generous, and virtuous. Women who married into the Ji family never had any mother-in-law issues, sister-in-law issues, or aunt-niece issues; the family was harmonious. ¡°Ah, the uncles are back!¡± Seeing the car, Xiao Jinli called out loudly. Then, Ji Yuzhu¡¯s family, Xiao¡¯s mother, and others all came out to greet them. As soon as the car stopped, those inside immediately got out. ¡°Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Third Uncle, Third Aunt!¡± Xiao Jinli and other younger family members all greeted the arrival of the uncles and aunts. ¡°Eldest cousin, eldest cousin¡¯s wife, second cousin,¡­¡± The eldest uncle and others responded right away, and they also greeted their elders first. Then, they turned to Xiao Jinli, and happily said, ¡°Wow, Jinli has grown so much taller, and she¡¯s getting prettier.¡± ¡°Haha, our Jinli has always been better looking than other kids. Come on, Jinli, your eldest aunt has brought you a gift!¡± The eldest aunt pulled Xiao Jinli and laughed. Being the only girl in the family, they naturally doted on her and brought her gifts every time they came back from other places. Even though the gifts were always the same ¨C either clothes or toys ¨C as the girl grew older, her figure and taste changed, so buying her beautiful clothes was inevitable. As for the boys in the family, well, except for Little Bo Han, who occasionally got some handsome clothes, no one really bought things for them anymore. As the boys grew up, their tastes were different from adults, so they received money to buy things themselves. As long as they liked it, they could buy ten holey pants and no one would complain. Xiao Jinli accepted the gifts from her third aunt and eldest cousin¡¯s wife and thanked them with a smile, ¡°Thank you to my three aunts and eldest cousin¡¯s wife..¡± Chapter 163 - Chapter 163: Chapter 163: The Bustle of New Year 5 (First Update) Chapter 163: Chapter 163: The Bustle of New Year 5 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Uncle, weren¡¯t you supposed to get off work at around three or four o¡¯clock? How come you¡¯re back so early?¡± Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t arrive until seven or eight o¡¯clock.¡± Her eldest uncle answered with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s true, but it¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve, so everyone rushes back after finishing their work. After all, some people have a long way to go. Since we planned to come to your house for the New Year, we needed to come early.¡± Her eldest uncle worked in a public position and was assigned to work in other places. Second uncle was a professor at a prestigious university, so he was very busy too. Third uncle had a business in another city; in short, all three uncles were leading a decent life. In the past, maternal grandpa and grandma lived with their eldest son, but when they visited Xiao Family, they stayed with their youngest daughter. Xiao Wanshan welcomed his brothers-in-law into the house, where the table had already been set. ¡°Brother, sister-in-law, let me tell you, the vegetables we¡¯re eating tonight are all grown by Jinli. After you¡¯ve tried them, I guarantee you won¡¯t want to eat any meat,¡± Ji Yuzhu said with a smile, ¡°Tonight, my sister has prepared five or six vegetarian dishes. I suggest that you eat meat dishes first, and then try the vegetarian ones. Otherwise, once you¡¯ve tasted the vegetarian dishes, you¡¯ll only want to eat them and won¡¯t touch any meat.¡± Eldest uncle laughed and asked, ¡°Is it really that delicious? In that case, we must give it a try. And Jinli, being so young, already knows how to farm?¡± Ji Yuzhu replied with a smile, ¡°Not only does Jinli know how to farm, she also knows how to raise earthworms. She currently has several hundred thousand of them.¡± ¡°Wow, several hundred thousand earthworms? That many?¡± asked Second Uncle in surprise, ¡°What are they for? Selling?¡± Xiao Wanshan explained, ¡°While they are sold, it¡¯s mainly to the people in the village. There¡¯s a company established in the village now, and the whole village will grow vegetables next year. These earthworms are sold to everyone for cultivating their vegetables.¡± The three uncles were curious about this. ¡°Wanshan, what do you mean by that? Next year, your whole village will grow vegetables, and all the earthworms Jinli raised will be used for it? What¡¯s the rationale behind this?¡± Third Uncle asked in confusion, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of using earthworms for feeding chickens and fishing, but I never heard that they can be used for growing vegetables.¡± Ji Yuzhu replied excitedly, ¡°Third Brother, you have no idea; the vegetables we¡¯re eating later were grown by Jinli using earthworms. The taste of these vegetables is simply amazing ¨C even better than those high-priced organic vegetables sold in big supermarkets. I can say that the so-called organic vegetables simply cannot compete with what Jinli has grown.¡± Eldest Aunt said with a smile, ¡°After listening to what my younger sister said, I¡¯m even more looking forward to the dishes at dinner later.¡± After chatting and laughing for a while, they suddenly smelled a delicious aroma of stir-fried vegetables. Ji Mingxing¡¯s eyes lit up, and he wrinkled his nose before asking with a smile, ¡°Aunt, what kind of dish are you making? It smells so good!¡± Gao Yanxin immediately laughed, ¡°It¡¯s Stir-fried Baby Bok Choy, haha, smells good, doesn¡¯t it? Second cousin, let¡¯s go to the kitchen and help out!¡± With that, he playfully winked at his second cousin. Second cousin hurriedly carried Little Bo Han and followed Gao Yanxin into the kitchen. The aroma of the dishes from the kitchen was just too tempting. They always knew their aunt¡¯s cooking skills were the best in the Ji family ¨C no matter the ingredients, she could turn them into delicious dishes. When they were younger and hadn¡¯t moved to other cities yet, they would always stay at their aunt¡¯s house during holidays, reluctant to leave, just for a chance to eat her meals and homemade snacks ¨C those were all precious memories. Upon entering the kitchen, Ji Kaijun held Little Bo Han in his arms, sniffed, and asked, ¡°Aunt, what dish are you making? It smells so good!¡± Little Bo Han wrinkled his little nose, his round and shiny eyes looking up, he said in a babyish voice, ¡°Great Aunt, it smells so good.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°If it smells so good, Little Han Han will have to eat two more bowls of rice later!¡± ¡°Okay, I will!¡± Little Bo Han nodded in agreement. Then he looked around and asked his second cousin, ¡°Uncle, put me down, I want to go find Jinli Auntie! Where is Jinli Auntie now?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re looking for Jinli Auntie, she might have gone to sort out the gifts. Why don¡¯t you go to her room and look for her?¡± Not only did these relatives and friends bring gifts for Xiao Jinli, but also some people from Xiao Family Village who returned from work brought her many gifts. As a result, her gifts filled the whole house. She went to the room to sort out the gifts now, wanting to see if there was anything suitable for Little Bo Han to play with. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to find Jinli Auntie now.¡± With that, he ran off with his little steps. ¡°Hehe, Little Bo Han is getting cuter and cuter!¡± Xiao Junxuan laughed and said. With so many dishes to prepare tonight and as one of the two best cooks, Xiao Junxuan, of course, had to help in the kitchen. Some of the dishes he made tasted almost the same as his mother¡¯s, such as Braised Pork Feet, Beer Duck, etc. These dishes required effort in turning the wok, so he was the one to cook them. Xiao Junxuan laughed and said, ¡°The meat dishes are done, just have to prepare a few vegetarian dishes. Xiao Xin, bring the cooked dishes to the table first, so the uncles can have a drink first.¡± Gao Yanxin nodded and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll bring the dishes now.¡± Second cousin Ji Kaijun also said, ¡°I¡¯ll help too.¡± ¡°The braised pork is still in the big pot, you two take it out using a plate first, be careful when flipping it, it¡¯s hot, and don¡¯t burn your hands,¡± Xiao¡¯s mother instructed. ¡°Also, the pork feet are in the pressure cooker, the beer duck is in the small pot, and the Radish Braised Beef Brisket is in the pot outside. All of these are very hot, be careful, and don¡¯t burn yourself.¡± ¡°Okay, Auntie (Great Aunt)!¡± Gao Yanxin and Ji Kaijun replied at the same time. Immediately, Gao Yanxin opened the cabinet where the plates were stored familiarly and took out more than a dozen plates from inside. Afterward, he opened the lid of the large pot. He took out a bowl by bowl of braised pork and placed it on a long wooden board on the side. Ji Kaijun held a plate against the bowl, and with a flip of his hand, a beautiful plate of braised pork appeared before their eyes. ¡°What a beautiful plate of braised pork!¡± Ji Kaijun praised, ¡°Great Auntie¡¯s cooking skill is still so good!¡± Gao Yanxin nodded and said, ¡°My aunt¡¯s cooking will only get better and better. Ah, every time I come to my aunt¡¯s house, I don¡¯t want to go home. As soon as I go back, I can¡¯t eat cooking that rivals a five-star hotel, and I feel listless. Auntie, if you could give some of your cooking talent to my mom, it would be so great. Then, I wouldn¡¯t have been eating my mom¡¯s dark cuisine every day since I was a child. Fortunately, I grew up healthy.¡± Showing a sympathetic look, Ji Kaijun said, ¡°Yeah, even though they are siblings, my little aunt¡¯s cooking is really, ah, it¡¯s really tough for you, Xin-Cousin. I think the worst cook in our Ji family should be my little aunt.¡± Chapter 164 - Chapter 164: Chapter 164: The Bustle of New Year 6 (Second Update) Chapter 164: Chapter 164: The Bustle of New Year 6 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Once the meat dishes were served one after another, Xiao Father had already brought out the Yangmei wine. Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°This is the Yangmei wine Xiaofang brewed a year ago. It¡¯s been sealed for a year, and the aroma is particularly strong. Big brother, you and I need to appreciate it.¡± Gao Jianjun also added, ¡°I was the first to taste this wine. It was never hidden back then, and it tasted great. Now that it¡¯s been stored for a year, it must be even more extraordinary.¡± Eldest Uncle nodded, ¡°Eldest sister¡¯s cooking and wine-making abilities have never disappointed.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, I haven¡¯t had a meal cooked by my eldest sister for a year, and I really miss it.¡± Third Uncle said with a smile, ¡°Tonight, I must eat my fill.¡± Maternal grandfather laughed and said, ¡°How can you eat enough in one night? I guess you guys will be eating here for the next few days.¡± He and his wife heard that Xiao Jinli was cultivating earthworms and said they would stay and help, but they were actually craving the food. They were too old to be of much help. The work in the fields was done by hired hands. The chores at home were done by their eldest daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. The elderly couple only did light tasks. Everyone was more excited about tonight¡¯s meal after hearing what their old father said. Honestly, there were no rules when it came to celebrating the New Year in their family. They spent New Year¡¯s Eve here, stayed up for the occasion, and probably would still be here on the first day of the new lunar year. Starting from the second day, they would probably visit relatives and friends. Xiao Wanshan unsealed the jar, and the aroma of wine filled the whole house. ¡°It smells so good!¡± The people in the room sniffed the aroma of wine, ¡°This wine is really mellow. It seems that we must drink more tonight.¡± Eldest Uncle and the others laughed. Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°The alcohol content of this wine is low, it smells good, and it doesn¡¯t get you drunk when you drink it, so you can drink a few more cups. Moreover, this wine doesn¡¯t cause vomiting after drinking, and it helps you sleep well. If you guys get drunk, just stay here. We can squeeze in.¡± Every room was already cleaned. The three uncles had strong self-control and seldom got drunk unless it was necessary for social occasions. Today was a rare occasion for everyone to gather, so it was lively and happy. The tempting aroma of wine and dinner couldn¡¯t hurt to get drunk for a while. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll drink more tonight. Wanshan, Jianjun, you must accompany us in drinking.¡± The eldest uncle said very seriously, ¡°You can¡¯t just focus on getting us three brothers drunk.¡± Xiao Wanshan and Gao Jianjun nodded in unison, ¡°Of course, we will definitely accompany you in drinking.¡± Then, Xiao Wanshan poured a full cup for each person who could drink wine. For those who didn¡¯t drink, tea was served. ¡°Actually, this tea is so delicious that it can get you drunk.¡± Second Aunt took a small sip of tea from the teacup, ¡°The taste lingers on the lips and palate, and the aftertaste is long-lasting. Who made this tea? The tea brewing skills are getting better and better.¡± ¡°I think it was my cousin who made it.¡± Fourth cousin said, ¡°I saw her making the tea.¡± ¡°Oh, was it Jinli who made it?¡± Second Aunt was slightly surprised, ¡°Jinli¡¯s tea brewing skills can be considered master level. How did she make the tea so delicious?¡± Xiao Wanshan laughed, ¡°It¡¯s not little Bao¡¯s tea brewing skills, but the water quality. Our family well water is sweet and refreshing, and the tea brewed is really extraordinary. Any of us could make it.¡± Third Aunt was slightly surprised and asked, ¡°Oh, really? Why don¡¯t I remember the tea being so fragrant in the past?¡± Ji Yuzhu said, ¡°Third sister-in-law, the water in the well wasn¡¯t as good before. In the past year, for some unknown reason, the water has become more and more delicious, especially in summer when the weather is hot, drinking a sip of water from the well is really comfortable.¡± ¡°Oh, is it because of the water?¡± Second aunt sounded a little disappointed. ¡°I thought it was Jinli¡¯s superb tea brewing skills. Frankly speaking, with these tea brewing skills, she could participate in a competition.¡± ¡°Haha, Little Bao is too lazy to make any effort. She would rather sleep in than participate in any competition.¡± Xiao Wanshan bragged, ¡°In the first half of this year, the Elementary School Principal persuaded Jinli to participate in the Olympic Math Competition, and Xiaofang has done a lot of ideological work. However, Xiaofang only says that the child should do what she wants. Later, something happened, and Xiaofang agreed to let Little Bao participate in the competition.¡± ¡°What happened that made Xiaofang let Jinli participate in the competition?¡± Eldest aunt asked curiously. Everyone knew Xiao Jinli¡¯s temperament. Although she was usually sensible and well-behaved, she could be very stubborn and wouldn¡¯t easily agree to anything. Xiao Wanshan said with a smile, ¡°It was her former class headteacher who let her nephew bully his classmates. Little Bao couldn¡¯t stand it and stood up for her classmates. But that class headteacher turned the tables and accused Little Bao of having average grades, sleeping in class, and defying the teacher, demanding that she be expelled from school.¡± As soon as they heard that Little Bao was to be expelled, the faces of the eldest uncle and the others turned sour. Their well-behaved niece might have average grades but generally didn¡¯t cause trouble. Hmph, expulsion, that class headteacher was too full of himself. Before the eldest uncle and the others could get angry, Xiao Wanshan continued, ¡°Fortunately, the school leaders were sensible and knew that Little Bao might be hiding her true abilities. After verifying the facts, the class headteacher was promptly removed from his position and given a severe punishment.¡± Later, the principal used this incident to persuade Xiaofang to let Little Bao participate in the competition to slap the faces of those who said she had poor grades. Sure enough, Xiaofang was convinced by the principal, and Little Bao went on to participate in the whole county competition, winning a special prize and earning several hundred yuan.¡± ¡°Haha, I knew my niece was something special. Indeed, she doesn¡¯t speak up until she has something amazing to say!¡± The eldest uncle said happily, ¡°See, who would dare say Little Jinli has poor grades now? This competition result is a slap in the face for them.¡± ¡°Haha, Little Jinli has been incredibly clever since she was little. She just doesn¡¯t like to strain herself. Otherwise, she would get first place every year, and being a three-good student would be effortless.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that Little Jinli doesn¡¯t want to stand out. Sigh, that child is clever and has a heart like a mirror.¡± As they spoke, Gao Yanxin and Ji Kaijun brought two more dishes to the table. One was an Eggplant Claypot, and the other was stir-fried leek with eggs! ¡°It smells so good!¡± ¡°It¡¯s so fragrant. Just smelling it makes my mouth water.¡± Gao Yanxin pointed at the plate of chive and egg, and said to his eldest uncle, ¡°Eldest uncle, when my elder aunt first made this chive and egg dish in the kitchen, half of it was eaten by my mom!¡± ¡°Gao Yanxin!¡± Ji Yuzhu blushed slightly and yelled angrily.. Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Keeping the New Year’s Eve Vigil (First Update) Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Keeping the New Year¡¯s Eve Vigil (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Just as Gao Jianxin and his wife had said, the Xiao Family¡¯s vegetarian dishes were more popular than the meat dishes. As soon as their uncles tasted them, they couldn¡¯t stop eating. Even the usually well-mannered people didn¡¯t bother to be polite, picking up their chopsticks and grabbing food straight from the plates. ¡°Why are these vegetables so delicious? They¡¯re so fragrant, and each dish has its own unique flavor.¡± ¡°Yes, when the dishes enter your mouth, you can immediately feel how extraordinary they are. The taste is simply unparalleled.¡± ¡°Are these really homegrown vegetables? In the past, the delicious taste of the food relied on the Auntie¡¯s cooking skills. Now the taste is not only due to her cooking skills but mainly the original taste of the vegetables themselves.¡± Gao Yanxin kept raving while eating, ¡°You guys don¡¯t know, but these vegetables are all grown by Cousin herself. During the summer vacation, she planted five points of land, and I stayed for one month, eating these vegetables every day and never getting tired of them. Now, when I eat them again, ah, it¡¯s truly unforgettable.¡± Everyone, ¡® . The other cousins listened enviously, ¡°Ah, you get to eat them every day.¡± Then they complained, ¡°The vegetables at the Auntie¡¯s house are so delicious. Why didn¡¯t you tell us cousins and let us try them too? Had I known this, I would have come over during summer vacation.¡± Gao Yanxin looked puzzled, ¡°Ah, didn¡¯t I call to tell you guys?¡± Ji Haiyang looked slightly resentful, ¡°No, you didn¡¯t. I doubt you wanted to keep it all to yourself.¡± He then turned to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Cousin, how come you didn¡¯t call to tell us about your homegrown vegetables? We would have come to show our support. Now Yan Xin is the one benefiting.¡± Xiao Jinli looked a bit innocent, ¡°I¡­ how was I supposed to tell you? By saying ¡®I¡¯ve grown vegetables myself, dear cousins come and have a taste, and support me?¡±¡¯ At this point, the maternal grandmother spoke, ¡°I remember telling you all. I said that your cousin built a greenhouse to grow many vegetables. I also bragged that the vegetables she grew were very tasty. But you all thought I was exaggerating, so none of you believed me.¡± The cousins, ¡® . It was true that their Grandma had said that, but they thought she was biased and overly praising their cousin¡¯s vegetable farming. The maternal grandfather couldn¡¯t help but chide, ¡°Hehe, you don¡¯t even trust your own grandmother, how can you be so reasonable?¡± The cousins, ¡® . Fine, they were wrong. When they leave this time, they will definitely bring back more vegetables with them. Hmph. ¡°Come, let¡¯s toast!¡± Xiao Wanshan stood up and said, ¡°On this New Year¡¯s Eve, let¡¯s wish our parents good health and safety!¡± ¡°Come, let¡¯s toast to our grandparents (parents) (maternal grandpa and grandma) good health, safety, and a happy New Year¡¯s Eve! Cheers!¡± Those who could drink alcohol poured a glass, and those who couldn¡¯t drink substituted with soft drinks. Afterward, everyone enjoyed the meal. After dinner, the adults collaborated to clean up the dining table, bowls, and chopsticks, and then started watching the annual Spring Festival Gala. But on the first day of the new lunar year, you eat dumplings. The dumpling fillings had already been prepared in the afternoon ¨C chives, scallions, radish, and cabbage fillings, all vegetarian. So, while watching the program, they rolled dumpling wrappers and made dumplings. ¡°Ah, this year¡¯s performances have improved a lot and are even more exciting.¡± ¡°Yes, look at this comedy sketch, haha, it¡¯s funny and thought-provoking.¡± ¡°This song almost expresses the feelings of everyone who¡¯s away from home. Always go home and visit your family!¡± Everyone discussed the program. However, they also set up a mahjong table and two card tables. Everyone stayed up late to welcome the arrival of the New Year. But Xiao Jinli and Ji Bohan, being the youngest, were urged to go to bed by the adults at 9:oopm. Ji Bohan was staying with his Great Aunt for the first time, and being together with everyone was lively and fun. He also wanted to stay up with them, but his energy couldn¡¯t keep up. Too excited during the daytime, by eight o¡¯clock, he was already getting sleepy. The eldest cousin¡¯s wife found it amusing, so she put him to bed. Rarely having everyone together, Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t want to rest so soon. Despite trying several times to indicate that she wanted to stay, she was not allowed to. After all, she was still growing, and staying up late wasn¡¯t good for her. Xiao Jinli finally gave in, ¡°When it¡¯s time for the New Year countdown, make sure to call me. I want to spend it with everyone.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, we¡¯ll definitely call you. Now go and rest.¡± So, while the adults were having fun in the living room, Xiao Jinli had no choice but to go back to her room and rest. Once the two youngest children left, the adults enjoyed themselves even more, with louder voices playing mahjong and cards. Previously, they had been considerate of the children and played cautiously. When Xiao Jinli returned to her room, she was mocked by Xiao Zhi. ¡°Haha, Master, you¡¯re isolated from the adults. Everyone is playing, but you can only come back to your room and rest. That¡¯s so funny.¡± Xiao Jinli rolled her eyes, ¡°What¡¯s so funny about that? In their eyes, I am just a child, a growing child. So naturally, they won¡¯t let me stay up late. Humph, everyone is just being affectionate.¡± Xiao Zhi nodded in agreement, ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re still a child and a growing child at that. So while everyone has fun in the living room, you have to be alone in your room.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­¡± What¡¯s there to say about that? Isn¡¯t that normal? Xiao Jinli then glanced at the bed and said, ¡°Xiao Zhi, help me check what Su Yichen is doing now.¡± ¡°Ha, Master, why are you suddenly interested in Su Yichen?¡± Xiao Zhi wondered. His eyes widened in surprise as he asked, ¡°Master, are you really interested in Su Yichen and are developing worldly desires?¡± Then he kept chattering, ¡°This won¡¯t do, Master. Have you forgotten that you were deceived by a jerk for several years? Men are no good, and this Su Yichen is no exception. You saved him, and he pretended to have amnesia to deceive you¡­ ¡°Shut up!¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s face darkened, and she retorted, ¡°I¡¯m just curious about Su Yichen¡¯s current situation and want to watch the show. Also, don¡¯t forget that my dad, my brother, and my uncles are men, too. They are all responsible men who love their wives and families.¡± Xiao Zhi, It¡¯s over. The master has been completely assimilated by these ordinary people. The Master can¡¯t be deceived and hurt by others again. Hearing his mutterings, Xiao Jinli¡¯s face became even more frustrated.. Chapter 166 - Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Gossip in the Upper-class Circle (Second Update) Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Gossip in the Upper-class Circle (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Chen¡¯er, today is New Year¡¯s Eve, come back to the Su Family, please,¡± Lady Su Lan Yingying gently persuaded in Su Yichen¡¯s office. ¡°After all, we are a family. It¡¯s great to gather together to celebrate the New Year and have a warm reunion meal together. You should know that since you went missing, our family hasn¡¯t been together. Your brother would be so happy to know that you¡¯re coming back for New Year.¡± This was not the first time Lady Su had tried to persuade Su Yichen to come home for the New Year. Since Su Yichen returned from the outside, he not only worked at the Xia Corporation but also lived at the Xia Family¡¯s home. In just a few days, gossip began to spread among the upper circles. ¡°I heard that Su Yichen disappeared for half a year and lost his memory when he came back. After losing his memory, he only recognizes the people of the Xia Family and not the Su Family.¡± ¡°I heard that when Su Xiangdong tried to take him home, Su Yichen said he didn¡¯t know him.¡± ¡°Yeah, when Lady Su went to see him, he also said he didn¡¯t recognize her.¡± ¡°Hmm, what on earth happened to Su Yichen during these six months? Before, their family was harmonious and happy. Lady Su, although a stepmother, is very good to Su Yichen, even better than a birth mother. And Su Yichen is very respectful to his stepmother.¡± ¡°Lady Su also brags to us all the time about how good she is to her stepson and how he treats her as his real mother. Wherever they go, he always thinks of her.¡± ¡°Well, maybe not. Su Yichen disappeared for six months, and Lan Yingying didn¡¯t seem worried at all, didn¡¯t report it or look for him. Besides,¡± someone whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve heard gossip that Lady Su treats her stepson well because she wants his mother¡¯s inheritance.¡± ¡°Haha, really? Su Yichen¡¯s mother¡¯s inheritance? But I haven¡¯t heard of Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance.¡± ¡°Hehe, who says there isn¡¯t? You should know that Xia Zhi Meng used to be a prominent figure in the business world. After becoming pregnant, she gradually withdrew from the field and returned to the family. She certainly had a lot of assets before she quit the business world. Also, Su Xiangdong founded the Su Corporation with Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s help, providing a lot of financial and human resources. Otherwise, Su Xiangdong, who was only a phoenix man at the time, wouldn¡¯t have been able to build up the Su Corporation so quickly.¡± ¡°Speaking of that, I also heard that Su Xiangdong showed his deep love and gratitude by directly giving Xia Zhi Meng 40% of the shares in the company, making her the second-largest shareholder. It is said that before she committed suicide by jumping, she transferred all these shares to her son Su Yichen. ¡± ¡°Ah, are you telling the truth or a lie? Did Xia Zhi Meng really transfer all the company shares to Su Yichen before committing suicide?¡± ¡°Mm, I heard it¡¯s true. It was accidentally revealed by Lady Su and overheard by my friend. Not only the company shares but also the stock funds, real estate shops worth billions, and other properties that Xia Zhi Meng had invested in before committing suicide, all had a will leaving it to Su Yichen to inherit. However, Su Yichen must be 18 years old to inherit these assets. If not inherited within five years after turning 18, it will be considered a waiver of these assets, which will then be donated to the country in Su Yichen¡¯s name.¡± ¡°Haha, really?¡± Someone was shocked, ¡°Not to mention the real estate stocks and funds worth billions, but the 40% shares of Su Corporation alone are worth several billion. Who would donate all these?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s will said.¡± ¡°Strange, why would Xia Zhi Meng set up such a will? I heard she had a great relationship with Su Xiangdong, right? Why would her inheritance not include Su Xiangdong?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Someone sneered immediately and then looked around, whispering and laughing, ¡°Only you¡¯re foolish enough to believe that Xia Zhi Meng had a good relationship with Su Xiangdong. If their relationship was good, why would Xia Zhi Meng suffer from depression and commit suicide by jumping off a building when she had a son?¡± ¡°Also, didn¡¯t you notice that Su Xiangdong¡¯s stepson looks very similar to him? If they weren¡¯t related by blood, why would they look so much alike, and become a family?¡± As someone mentioned it, others nodded in agreement, ¡°So, you mean, Su Hanyang might be Su Xiangdong¡¯s biological son?¡± ¡°Not might, must be. I heard that Su Xiangdong had a first love before marrying Xia Zhi Meng, and that first love turned out to be Lady Su now. You taste, you savor.¡± ¡°Haha, so before Xia Zhi Meng jumped, Su Xiangdong already had an older son, and when Xia Zhi Meng found out, she couldn¡¯t take the blow and committed suicide?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the most likely truth. Otherwise, why would Xia Zhi Meng, who was always strong, suddenly develop depression? Especially when she¡¯s betrayed by the man she deeply loved? Her body and mind couldn¡¯t handle such stimulation.¡± ¡°So, Xia Zhi Meng was so pitiful.¡± ¡°After Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s suicide, Su Xiangdong hastily brought his first love and eldest son into the family. But Lady Su has her own tricks, somehow finding out about the will Xia Zhi Meng left her son and the huge inheritance. So she treated the young boy extremely well when she entered. Su Yichen was only three or four years old back then, having just lost his mother. He couldn¡¯t resist Lady Su¡¯s affection and soon treated her like his birth mother.¡± ¡°I also heard that Lady Su coaxed Su Yichen into giving up all his mother¡¯s inheritance on his 18th birthday, and transferred all the inheritance rights to her biological son Su Hanyang.¡± ¡°Haha, really? I can¡¯t believe it! Is Su Yichen a fool? That¡¯s his mother¡¯s fortune worth several billion, how could he refuse?¡± ¡°Yeah, who knows how Lady Su coaxed him? She must have been very persuasive. But I also heard that Su Yichen disappeared on his way to the lawyer¡¯s office.¡± ¡°Haha, he disappeared? How did it happen? Is it related to the Xia Family?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. It might be, or it might not. The Xia Family probably doesn¡¯t want Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance to fall into Su Hanyang¡¯s hands either. But I heard they didn¡¯t know about Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance.¡± ¡°So, what really happened to Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance? I heard that he¡¯s amnesic now, and he doesn¡¯t even know how he went missing.¡± ¡°Some suspect that Lady Su had something to do with it.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°When Su Yichen turned 18, didn¡¯t he sign his abandonment of all of Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance, and instead transferred all the inheritance rights to Su Hanyang? Once the agreement was signed, Su Yichen no longer had any utilitarian value, and Lady Su, afraid that he might change his mind, made a preemptive strike.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really possible..¡± Chapter 167 - Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Lady Su Being Squeezed (Part One) Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Lady Su Being Squeezed (Part One) Translator: 549690339 In Capital City¡¯s upper-class circles, rumors were swirling about Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance and Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance. Everyone suspected that after Lady Su had taken the inheritance from her stepson Su Yichen, she had begun plotting against him. After all, his existence posed a significant threat to her and her son. However, somehow her son hadn¡¯t received Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance, and Su Yichen had gone missing. After hearing these rumors, Lady Su¡¯s face turned red and green with anger. Especially at the high society gatherings, she was subjected to strange looks from other ladies and open mockery. ¡°Lady Su, I heard that your eldest son inherited all of your husband¡¯s ex-wife¡¯s assets. Congratulations! I heard that it¡¯s worth more than several hundred million. Your son won¡¯t be able to spend all that money in his lifetime. Ah, it¡¯s not like our children who work so hard at their companies all year round and still can¡¯t make much money. It¡¯s truly a hard life.¡± ¡°Lady Su, you¡¯re really lucky. Not only does your husband treat you like a treasure, even your stepson obeys your every command and willingly handed over his mother¡¯s inheritance. Wow, you¡¯re such a good stepmother.¡± ¡°Lady Su, I heard that your stepson, who has been missing for half a year, has returned and went straight to the Xia family. Wasn¡¯t it said that his relationship with the Xia family was really bad? Oh, wait, I heard that your stepson has amnesia and doesn¡¯t remember you anymore. Alas, it¡¯s truly a tragedy. How could someone just suddenly lose their memory like that? Who knows what happened to him before his memory loss? He must have injured his head, poor thing. Lady Su, don¡¯t you think so?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really quite a coincidence. Just after your stepson signed the inheritance transfer agreement, he went missing. Lady Su, many people suspect that his disappearance is closely related to you. But how could that be possible? You were known to treat this stepson even better than your own son. How could you possibly harm him?¡± ¡°Lady Su, once my son and your son Hanyang got drunk and he told my son that he won¡¯t have to bother with his stupid younger brother since he inherited his mother¡¯s assets. He also said that the inheritance belongs to him and he could spend it however he wants. Furthermore, he wished that his foolish younger brother would disappear forever. When I heard this, I couldn¡¯t believe it. After all, your two sons were known for their harmonious brotherly relationship.¡± Lady Su listened to these ladies and was furious, but also felt deeply anxious. How had these rumors spread? She hadn¡¯t done anything yet ¨C oh, she hadn¡¯t even had the chance to because Su Yichen had disappeared before she could act. Her son Hanyang hadn¡¯t received Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance, so how could she possibly harm Su Yichen? So now, everyone in their circle suspected her of causing Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance? Lady Su was truly at her wit¡¯s end. However, the only way to dispel these rumors was to reconcile with Su Yichen. If Su Yichen still treated her as his mother and showed her respect and reverence, and if he restored his previous relationship with his older brother Su Hanyang, everything would be fine. Thus, every day Lady Su took her nutritious soup to Xia Corporation to see Su Yichen. Knowing which floor he was on, she didn¡¯t bother asking for permission and went up directly with her thermos. As soon as she entered the office, she spoke kindly to Su Yichen and even brought up the hardships and efforts she went through raising him, hoping to awaken his lost memories. She believed that Su Yichen¡¯s current indifference toward her was because of his amnesia. Without the shared memories between them, she was naturally treated as a stranger by him. But day after day, she had been unceremoniously driven away by Su Yichen, causing Lady Su to grow increasingly anxious. New Year¡¯s Eve was approaching fast. Lady Su wanted to take advantage of the holiday to persuade Su Yichen to come home. If the family could be reunited and harmonious during the New Year, it would dispel the circulating rumors. However, Su Yichen¡¯s attitude remained the same. He looked coldly at Lady Su and said, ¡°Lady Su, I¡¯ve told you, I don¡¯t remember anything that happened before. Therefore, no matter who you are to me, I can only treat you as a stranger. It¡¯s impossible for me to go to a stranger¡¯s house for the New Year. I¡¯m sorry, Lady Su, but I¡¯m very busy now. Please don¡¯t disturb my work and ask you to leave!¡± Seeing Su Yichen¡¯s cold attitude, Lady Su¡¯s face twisted for a moment, and she couldn¡¯t help but think of him as a heartless and ungrateful person, a cursed wretch, and a despicable man. However, Lady Su quickly regained her composure, forcing a smile and saying, ¡°Yichen, after all, your father, your brother, and I all used to be your closest relatives before you lost your memory. Now that you¡¯ve lost your memory and don¡¯t remember us, we don¡¯t blame you. It¡¯s just that now it¡¯s the New Year, a time for family reunions. We should all gather together for a New Year¡¯s Eve dinner, right? Yichen, your room is still the same as before, and once you go back and see everything there, you¡¯ll surely remember everything.¡± Su Yichen shook his head and said, ¡°Lady Su, I¡¯m not used to being around strangers, let alone eating a meal with them. Please don¡¯t bother, I won¡¯t be going back with you for the New Year. And again, please leave!¡± Lady Su was a proud person, and being rejected and humiliated by Su Yichen again and again made her very angry. But she was also very good at enduring, and in the end, she took a deep breath and left. After all, she couldn¡¯t give up! Looking at her receding figure as she angrily got into her car, Su Yichen¡¯s mouth curled into a smile, finding the situation highly amusing. Then, his gaze turned to the sky, his eyes holding a hint of melancholy and loneliness. He thought to himself, ¡°Yes, today is New Year¡¯s Eve, a time for family reunions, but where is my family? Uncle, Aunt, Brother Xuan, and Jinli, are you all happily preparing for the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner at home? Do you still remember me?¡± As the clock struck midnight on New Year¡¯s Eve and the brand new year began, fireworks lit up the sky, filling the air with a lively and festive atmosphere. ¡°Happy New Year! ¡± ¡°Happy New Year! ¡± Subsequently, the TV show hosts began offering their New Year wishes. During the New Year¡¯s celebration, Xiao Jinli was woken up. The whole family gathered together to welcome the New Year, a blessing for a harmonious and united family. This year¡¯s New Year was even more lively than before. Everyone was there. In previous years, it was lively, but due to adults¡¯ work schedules, some simply couldn¡¯t make it home to celebrate, and either he or she was missing. A new year, a new beginning! Chapter 171 - Chapter 171: Chapter 171: No Title (First Update) Chapter 171: Chapter 171: No Title (First Update) Translator: 549690339 The hustle and bustle of the New Year lasted for several days. During these days, family visits were everywhere, and every corner was filled with laughter and conversation. This lively atmosphere lasted until the eighth day of the first lunar month. Many factories and companies chose to start work on auspicious days like the eighth or ninth day of the first lunar month. As a result, those who went out for work generally left their families on the sixth and seventh days of the first lunar month. For Xiao Family Village, this New Year seemed a bit different. Because this lively year was accompanied by disputes. The reason, of course, was still related to the family¡¯s land and vegetable cultivation. Upon returning home, they were surprised by the taste of the vegetables grown in their own backyard. ¡°Mom, are these green vegetables grown by ourselves?¡± ¡°Yes, they are. How¡¯s the taste?¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s great. I¡¯ve never tasted such delicious green vegetables in my entire life. Even the carrots that I hated the most tasted crispy, sweet, and juicy, like fruit, and I started to like them.¡¯ ¡°And this cabbage, how can it be so delicious!¡± Upon hearing their son and daughter-in-law¡¯s praises, the father-in-law and mother-in-law smiled, ¡°Hehe, do these taste good? Now our vegetables are so popular in town that people fight over them, and the prices are much higher than others.¡± ¡°Also, we have to cook two or three dishes with our own vegetables for every meal at home, or the children won¡¯t eat. Didn¡¯t you notice that the children have grown taller and stronger in the past six months, and have become more energetic? In the past, children would easily catch colds and coughs when the weather changed. However, last winter, they were all lively and jumping around without catching a cold. Our family is not the only one; no children in the entire village caught a cold.¡± ¡°Haha, is it true that not a single child in the whole village caught a cold?¡± ¡°Of course, if you don¡¯t believe it, just ask anyone else. During the whole winter, the children ate well, had strong bodies, and their immunity improved, so they naturally did not catch colds.¡± The son and daughter-in-law exchanged a glance. The father-in-law continued, ¡°Son, daughter-in-law, after eating these vegetables, do you think our vegetables can be sold?¡± The son replied excitedly, ¡°Yes, definitely. If anyone tries our family¡¯s vegetables, they will never forget the taste and will definitely come back for more.¡± The father-in-law nodded, ¡°Yes. You guys don¡¯t know that in July and August, several families in our village were selling vegetables in the Open Market Town every day. Every day, people would stop us on the road to buy our vegetables. In the past, we had to guard our stall for an entire morning and noon and still couldn¡¯t sell them all. But now, we can sell everything in less than half an hour, and the prices are good too. However, we didn¡¯t sell for too long since everyone ran out of vegetables to sell and had to save some for our own children. Can you guess what happened?¡± The son asked curiously, ¡°What happened, Dad?¡± ¡°A lot of people came to steal vegetables! Haha¡­¡± ¡°Haha, stealing vegetables? Life isn¡¯t like the past anymore, now that we live better, who would steal vegetables when they¡¯re not worth much?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, these vegetables are not valuable. But many people still came here to steal them. Because of this, Jinli arranged for the village dogs to guard the vegetables. The village¡¯s fourteen dogs took turns guarding in pairs, and they actually caught quite a few people trying to steal vegetables.¡± The son and daughter-in-law, ¡® The daughter-in-law was amazed and asked, ¡°Guard dogs? Are dogs really that obedient?¡± The mother-in-law laughed and said, ¡°You probably don¡¯t know this. No matter whose dog it is, they may not listen to their owner, but they do listen to Xiao Jinli. Only Xiao Jinli can communicate with them. Because of these dogs, no outsiders can steal anything from the village.¡± Speaking of which, the mother-in-law recalled another incident, ¡°There¡¯s another thing; the dogs played a significant role in it.¡± The son and daughter-in-law curiously asked, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t keep us in suspense. Hurry up and tell us.¡± The daughter-in-law was especially curious about this matter. The mother-in-law said, ¡°During the autumn harvest, didn¡¯t Xiao Wanshan buy a combine harvester? This harvester not only harvested crops in our village but also went to other villages. It went to Li Village, and when Xiao Wanlin was about to return to our village after harvesting in Li Village, he was suddenly attacked. Later, it was discovered that the attacker was not only mentally ill, but he also killed his wife and children.¡± The people who had gone out to work had also heard about this incident. After all, this kind of murder case was not only big news in the ten miles and eight villages, but also in the whole town. ¡°Later, the parents of the mentally ill person blamed Xiao Jinli for their son¡¯s arrest and the murder of his wife and children. So, in the middle of the night, with gasoline, they tried to burn down Xiao Wanshan¡¯s house. However, the dogs discovered them before they even started pouring the gasoline,¡± the mother-in-law said, still feeling the lingering fear. ¡°Fortunately, the dogs found them, otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.¡± ¡°Not only could Xiao Wanshan¡¯s house have been burned down, but it¡¯s also hard to say whether the people inside could have escaped.¡± The daughter-in-law asked in surprise, ¡°Why did the parents of the mentally ill person want to burn down Uncle Xiao¡¯s house?¡± The father-in-law said, ¡°Initially, when Xiao Wanlin was beaten in Li Village, the village head and Xiao Jinli went there. Unexpectedly, Xiao Jinli discovered that the attacker might be mentally ill. It was also said that he used to beat his wife and children every day, but his wife and children hadn¡¯t appeared in the village for over a month. Xiao Jinli suspected that he had killed his wife and children, so he went to the mentally ill person¡¯s house to have a look. Who would have thought that he really found something in the septic tank of the person¡¯s backyard? It was horrendous; the bodies were cut into pieces, and apart from the head, they were mostly decomposed down to just bones.¡± Upon hearing this, the son and daughter-in-law could not help but shudder, feeling chills down their spines. Before, they had only seen such gruesome murder cases on TV, but now it was happening close by, making it even more terrifying. ¡°It¡¯s too horrible, too terrifying.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? Some people who were at the scene at that time were so frightened that they vomited on the spot, and some had nightmares for several days. Even those of us who heard the story were very afraid, let alone those who saw it firsthand.¡¯ ¡°This mentally ill person is really terrifying.¡± From now on, they would definitely stay away from mentally ill people. ¡°That¡¯s right. After the murderer was arrested, his parents went crazy too. In the middle of the night, they came to our village to set fire to houses. Luckily, they were discovered in time, and after they were reported to the police, they were caught.¡± ¡°Oh my, mental illness is indeed hereditary.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? Before, the mentally ill person used to beat his wife and children every two or three days, and everyone simply thought he had a bad temper. Who would have thought he was actually having a mental breakdown?¡± ¡°The dogs in the village are really smart,¡± the daughter-in-law admired. ¡°Mom, do all the dogs in the village listen to Xiao Jinli?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The daughter-in-law asked again doubtfully, ¡°Why do the dogs listen to Xiao Jinli The father-in-law laughed and said, ¡°Xiao Jinli is a Lucky Star. Animals are very spiritual and surely like people who bring good luck.¡± The daughter-in-law was speechless, ¡® Chapter 172 - Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Untitled (Second Update) Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Untitled (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 At this moment, the parents-in-law looked at each other, and the father-in-law said with a smile, ¡°Son, our village has already established a company at the end of the year. Our family has contributed half of our land as shares. When spring comes, we will plant vegetables on our 1.5 Mu of land along with everyone else. As for the other half, we plan to plant rice.¡± At this point, the daughter-in-law hesitated and asked, ¡°Mom, last year, we planted vegetables on Five Points of Land. How much money did we make?¡± The mother-in-law thought for a moment and said, ¡°Planting vegetables on Five Points of Land is not much at all, because we grow them for ourselves to eat, so we grow a wide variety of crops. We eat one kind today and another kind tomorrow, so there is not much left to sell. However, in the second half of the year, the price of our village¡¯s vegetables rose, and although we didn¡¯t sell much, we still made three to four thousand yuan.¡± ¡°What, Five Points of Land sold for three to four thousand yuan?¡± The daughter-in-law was slightly surprised, ¡°So much?¡± ¡°Almost.¡± The mother-in-law said, ¡°We estimate that the vegetables we sold only account for about one-fifth.¡± ¡°One-fifth sold for three to four thousand.¡± The son calculated, ¡°If we sold them all, that would be more than ten thousand, right?¡± ¡°Yes. And, we feed these old leaves to our chickens and ducks. The eggs they lay don¡¯t taste fishy at all, and the meat is even more tender. So, our village¡¯s chickens, ducks, pigs, and eggs all sell at a higher price than others. For example, the chickens raised by this family sell for twenty-five yuan per jin, while other villages sell for twenty yuan per jin. Our village¡¯s eggs cost eighty cents each, while other villages charge fifty cents each.¡± ¡°But if they¡¯re so expensive, do people buy them?¡± The daughter-in-law asked in doubt. ¡°Of course, and it¡¯s not enough to sell. Just like our village¡¯s vegetables, they sell at high prices, and people still scramble to buy them. Nowadays, money is not a problem for people; as long as the quality is good, no matter how expensive, someone is willing to buy it. Nowadays, many people in our village raise chickens and ducks, which is another source of income. In the second half of last year, our family raised thirty chickens and twenty ducks. Besides keeping some for ourselves and giving some to relatives and friends, we made three to four thousand yuan from selling eggs.¡± As the mother-in-law was talking, she remembered something else, ¡°However, besides each family raising some chickens, ducks, and pigs, the company also plans to establish large-scale chicken, duck, pig, cattle, and fish farms. ¡°Ah, so many?¡± The son and daughter-in-law were both surprised, ¡°Who will raise them?¡± The father-in-law gave his son and daughter-in-law a look as if to say they were idiots. The father-in-law said, ¡°Who will raise them? Like I said, the company will.¡± ¡°Ha, the company will raise them?¡± The son and daughter-in-law were confused, ¡°The company just started, does it have money?¡± The father-in-law said, ¡°If the company doesn¡¯t have money, don¡¯t you know about loans?¡± ¡°Ah, loans?¡± The daughter-in-law asked incredulously, ¡°How can this be done with loans?¡± They really didn¡¯t know that companies could take out loans. The father-in-law explained, ¡°It¡¯s an agricultural loan. As for how to get the loan, we don¡¯t know. Those things are handled by Xiao Wanshan and his son. We don¡¯t really understand when they explain it to us!¡± However, the daughter-in-law was still suspicious, ¡°Dad, won¡¯t they cheat people? They won¡¯t just take out a loan and use it for themselves, right? Then everyone in our village will be in debt!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± The father-in-law scolded gently, ¡°Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family is very wealthy. They don¡¯t need to cheat the entire village.¡± ¡°Ha, their family is rich?¡± The daughter-in-law was puzzled. ¡°You may not know, but they have a clothing company in the county town, with assets reputedly worth at least five to six million, even up to ten million yuan,¡± the father-in-law explained. Surprised to learn that there was a millionaire in the village, the daughter-in-law asked, ¡°How come I¡¯ve never heard of their wealth before? Also, since their family has a clothing company, why doesn¡¯t anyone in the village work there instead of going to outside jobs? Do they not hire people from the village? They must really look down on the people in the village.¡± The father-in-law explained, ¡°Shut your mouth, what do you know? All the older generation in our village knows about Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family and their company. At the beginning, Xiao Wanshan told us that his company would hire people, and people from our village could work there. However, we old folks believed that if the young people from our village all went to work in his company, it would definitely cause some trouble. We thought that the young people would be better off going out and making something of themselves.¡± Daughter-in-law, ¡°¡­¡± What kind of reason is that? She felt that the attitude of the people in Xiao Family Village towards Xiao Jinli¡¯s family was simply unbelievable. By her logic, if there was a company owner in the village and his company was in the county town, it would be better for the village¡¯s young people to work for him. It would be close to home, allowing them to take care of their families. Yet no one in the village is allowed to work in his company? Actually, the older generation in the village thought more long-term. How could they not want their young people to work close to home? However, the root cause was that they didn¡¯t want to have any entanglements with Xiao Wanshan over interests. Young people working for an acquaintance¡¯s company may become relaxed in their attitude, acting as they please. As the boss, it would be difficult to manage them, but also not good to ignore them. This would offend people. Once they returned to the village, there might be endless gossip, making the relationship difficult. So, no one from Xiao Family Village should go to work for them. Well, in summary, the older generation pays more attention to feelings. ¡°No one from our village works in Xiao Wanshan¡¯s company,¡± the father-in-law said, ¡°but Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family does everything they can to help the villagers. So, don¡¯t accuse them of being stingy or not treating people well. ¡± Daughter-in-law, ¡°¡­¡± Had the old folks in Xiao Family Village been brainwashed by Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family? It seemed that everyone put them first, always considered their interests and followed their advice. Of course, she didn¡¯t dare to say these words out loud, for fear of being scolded. She asked again, ¡°Dad, how many chickens, ducks, and pigs will the company raise?¡± Father-in-law said, ¡°At the end of the year, the village held a meeting. After the crops are planted and can be harvested, we will start raising them. Xiao Quan said that we should breed pure green food and create our village¡¯s own specialty breeding base.¡± ¡°What does that mean? Who is Xiao Quan?¡± the son and daughter-in-law asked in confusion. ¡°It means that the food we feed our chickens and ducks must be free of any pesticides, purely green food. Only then will the chickens and ducks we raise have tender and delicious meat,¡± explained the father-in-law. ¡°Xiao Quan, well, he¡¯s a young man who was once saved by Xiao Jinli. I heard that the company¡¯s establishment plan, management scope, management concept, and so on, all came from him.¡¯ As he said this, he sighed softly, ¡°That young man is really capable, but he was found by his family and went back home before the New Year.¡± Son and daughter-in-law, ¡® . Chapter 173 - Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Xiao Yucheng and His Wife (First Update) Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Xiao Yucheng and His Wife (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Most of the young people who returned home for the New Year learned about the special vegetables from Xiao Family Village, as well as the scope and business philosophy of the newly established company. Initially, the new daughters-in-law who opposed contributing land as shares gradually changed their minds. According to last year¡¯s calculations, the income of one mu of land could reach at least twenty to thirty-four thousand, not including additional income from raising chickens and ducks, for example. However, the actual results of this plan would have to wait until March or April to be seen. Since the establishment of the company was to follow the company¡¯s plan, the earnings of the village would naturally be distributed in the form of dividends. For example, if the profit from the vegetables in the first half of the year was 100,000, the company would distribute dividends based on each household¡¯s share ratio. If their land accounted for 3% of the company¡¯s shares, their dividend would be three thousand. However, if they joined in the middle or later stages, their share ratio might be 2% or more, meaning they would receive significantly fewer dividends. Thinking about this, the new daughters-in-law who were unwilling to contribute land as shares were feeling uneasy. If the company really makes money in the future, those who join later will receive much less money. Of course, it was still early days, and various crops had not yet been planted, so it was not certain that they would make money. The vegetables now being grown were good, but they also needed to be sold and marketed well. There was also some discord in the families of Eldest Uncle Xiao and Little Uncle Xiao before the eighth day of the first lunar month. It was mainly because Jinli¡¯s two cousins wanted to work in the family company, but their wives were unwilling to give up their high-paying jobs outside, leading to disagreements. ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind; I¡¯ll stay and help the family company,¡± Xiao Yucheng said firmly to his wife, Zhou Yingxiu. Zhou Yingxiu¡¯s face darkened slightly. ¡°The company in the village has just been established and hasn¡¯t even started operating yet. How can you help? We¡¯re making thirty to forty thousand a month at our current jobs. You¡¯re just going to give that up? Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a good job these days? Do we still want to buy a house in the big city or not?¡± Although the couple had been married for three or four years, they didn¡¯t want to have children too soon because they were still in the career growth stage. So their plan was to struggle for a few more years, save some money, buy a house in a big city, and then have children. Once their child was born, he or she would receive a good education in a big city. As for whether or not to have children, the older family members were open-minded and followed the young people¡¯s wishes. Young people could decide when to have children. When they were ready to have children, the older family members would either help take care of them or give them some financial assistance to take care of the children themselves. Zhou Yingxiu felt very fortunate to have such open-minded parents-in-law. Everything was going well according to their plan, and they even had savings of over a million. Although having one million in savings was considered a lot in the countryside, they were working in a first-tier city where houses were very expensive. Buying a three-bedroom house would require a down payment of at least a million, followed by monthly mortgage payments. Yingxiu and her husband planned to work another year, buy a house, and then start preparing for a baby. But they never expected that they would have a conflict over work today. Yingxiu was very angry. ¡°Yucheng, don¡¯t you want to have children anymore? We¡¯ve got our plan in place; work for another year, and then we can buy a house in Shenzhen and have children. What are you doing now? The company hasn¡¯t even started operating yet, and even if it has, we don¡¯t know if it will make a profit, and we don¡¯t know how much your salary will be. Don¡¯t you want to buy a house in Shenzhen? Don¡¯t you want our future child to receive a good education?¡± Zhou Yingxiu cried as she spoke, feeling particularly wronged. She did all this for the future of their family, but nobody supported her. After listening to her, Xiao Yucheng was silent for a moment before saying, ¡°Yingxiu, the village company has just been established, and it is in need of people. I want to do my part to contribute to the development of the company. The future development of this company is related to the wealth of the whole village.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re giving up your high-paying job and our future?¡± Yingxiu cried with a sense of grievance. At this point, Uncle Xiao Wanshui spoke seriously, ¡°Daughter-in-law, do you really underestimate our village¡¯s company so much? Do you think the salary offered by the company will definitely be lower than what you are earning now?¡± Yingxiu looked at her father-in-law¡¯s serious and solemn face, and her expression stiffened instantly. She shook her head and said, ¡°Dad, that¡¯s not what I mean. I¡­ I just want to buy a house in a big city so that our future child can receive a good education.¡± ¡°If you really want to buy a house in a big city, how much more do you need? Will five hundred thousand be enough? You can use my pension savings to buy a house first, and we¡¯ll talk about the child¡¯s situation after they¡¯re born.¡± Xiao Wanshui spoke seriously, ¡°However, since Yucheng wants to stay at home, I still hope you can support him. People in our Xiao Family Village always have a strong sense of solidarity, and no one will refuse when there¡¯s a need in the village.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Yucheng disagreed. ¡°Dad, if we want to buy a house, we have our own money. We don¡¯t need your and mom¡¯s money. That¡¯s your pension money. We¡¯re young, and we shouldn¡¯t be using it!¡± Listening to her father-in-law¡¯s words, Zhou Yingxiu realized that Xiao Yucheng was determined to stay in the village, and there was no room for negotiation. He was apparently just humoring her by listening to her protests. However, Yingxiu still felt very wronged. They had planned everything for the future, and now¡­ Aunt sighed softly and said, ¡°Yingxiu, your mother-in-law knows that it¡¯s not easy for young people to find a job, especially a good job with high pay. But sometimes, you have to let go when it¡¯s time to let go, and maybe there will be even bigger surprises waiting for you.¡± Zhou Yingxiu was speechless. What could she say when the whole family was supporting Xiao Yucheng and even the elderly couple offered up their savings? Zhou Yingxiu wiped her tears and reluctantly said, ¡°Alright, if he stays at home, then I will stay at home too.¡± Xiao Yucheng immediately took her hand and said, ¡°Wife, thank you!¡± Zhou Yingxiu replied with a smile, ¡°We are husband and wife. Since you¡¯ve made a decision, as your wife, all I can do is support you.¡± Xiao Wanshui said, ¡°Daughter-in-law, if you can stay, that would be even better. I¡¯ll go tell your second uncle now that you¡¯re both staying..¡± Chapter 174 - Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Quarrel 1 (Second Update) Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Quarrel 1 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Second cousin Xiao Mingchen had a similar quarrel with his wife. Lan Qingqing angrily yelled at Xiao Mingchen, ¡°Xiao Mingchen, you only care about your cousin Xiao Jinli. Just because this company was started by your cousin, you want to stay and work here, are you out of your mind? Leaving behind a high-paying job outside to work in a newly-established company at home?¡± The family¡¯s faces darkened as they heard Lan Qingqing bring Xiao Jinli into the matter. Xiao Mingchen coldly said, ¡°Don¡¯t drag my cousin into this. It¡¯s my own decision, and it has nothing to do with her. Moreover, since the company has just been established, it needs us even more.¡± Lan Qingqing was so angry that her face turned pale red, she pointed at Xiao Mingchen and said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give you two choices. Either go back to work with me, or stay at the home¡¯s company, and we¡¯ll get a divorce.¡± Xiao Wantian and his wife were startled by Lan Qingqing¡¯s words. Little Aunt tried to mediate, ¡°Qingqing, let¡¯s discuss things calmly, there¡¯s no need to escalate it to divorce, right?¡± Xiao Wantian¡¯s face darkened, and he said sternly, ¡°Daughter-in-law, let¡¯s discuss things calmly, and don¡¯t mention divorce!¡± But at this point, Lan Qingqing disregarded everyone and said, ¡°Am I the one who doesn¡¯t want to discuss things? You don¡¯t give me any choice. Our outside jobs were so good, with a salary of several thousand a month. But what about the company at home? How much can we make in a month? If we don¡¯t have money, will our whole family go hungry? We¡¯re also considering having children. If we have no money, how can we raise children?¡± Xiao Mingchen said, ¡°Money, money, money, is that all you see? Haven¡¯t we saved some money from working these two years?¡± ¡°Is that little amount of money enough to buy a house?¡± Lan Qingqing said angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how expensive the houses in Haicheng City are?¡± ¡°Do we have to buy our house in Haicheng City?¡± Xiao Mingchen also replied loudly, ¡°Can¡¯t we buy it somewhere else?¡± Lan Qingqing was so angry that she stomped her feet and yelled, ¡°We both work in Haicheng City, and if we don¡¯t buy a house there, where should we buy? Should we buy it in some remote corner of a mountain village?¡± ¡°Now I don¡¯t want to go to Haicheng City for work, is that not allowed?¡± Xiao Mingchen was also stubborn. Although he usually pampered and indulged his wife, he insisted on his decision now, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about the house later!¡± Hearing her husband¡¯s words, Lan Qingqing was extremely disappointed, and said coldly, ¡°So, you still choose to divorce me, right?¡± Little Aunt frowned and immediately persuaded, ¡°Qingqing, it¡¯s not that serious, why bring up divorce? You¡¯re both acting impulsively now, just calm down.¡± Then, she gave her son a stern glance and said, ¡°Xiao Mingchen, watch your tone, and don¡¯t lose your temper. You have such a fiery temper, who do you take after? Also, you and your wife should communicate better.¡± Although the old couple supported their son¡¯s decision to stay, they didn¡¯t want the young couple to part. Xiao Mingchen pursed his lips and remained silent for a moment. After a while, he turned around and left, saying, ¡°I¡¯m going to visit Second Uncle¡¯s house.¡± Lan Qingqing watched her husband¡¯s departing figure, her face extremely terrible. After their son left, Little Aunt said, ¡°Qingging, once my Chenchen makes up his mind, even eight horses can¡¯t pull him back. Please discuss things with him, don¡¯t mention divorce. It will hurt your relationship.¡± Hearing her mother-in-law¡¯s words, Lan Qingqing immediately got angry and shouted, ¡°Stop pretending to be kind in front of me. Xiao Mingchen always obeys you. If you didn¡¯t agree with his decision, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have said he wanted to stay. Do you think we¡¯re making too much money outside and don¡¯t like it? Why would you let us give up so much money to stay at home and make so little?¡± Xiao Wantian and his wife¡¯s faces turned sour upon hearing their daughter-in-law¡¯s words. They had thought their daughter-in-law was kind-hearted and sensible, but they never expected her to lash out at her in-laws over money matters. Just as Xiao Wantian was about to scold her, Little Aunt immediately held back her husband and shook her head. Then, Little Aunt looked seriously at Lan Qingqing and said, ¡°Daughter-in-law, don¡¯t you feel guilty for saying that we¡¯re being hypocritical? I believe I¡¯ve treated you like my biological daughter ever since you married into our family. You and my Chenchen had a love marriage. When we married you, your family demanded a higher betrothal gift than the local custom. Your local custom¡¯s highest betrothal gift is 66,000, but your parents demanded 266,000, arguing that you had been sent to college and could earn money, but you were married far away and couldn¡¯t help your family. Without a second thought, we gave all the betrothal gifts to your family. Apart from the three cotton quilts that they brought as dowry, they didn¡¯t provide anything else. For your sake, we spent more money to buy you some dowry. As far as we¡¯re concerned, as long as you and Chen¡¯er live a harmonious life, we won¡¯t care about money, betrothal gifts or dowry.¡± Lan Qingqing¡¯s face turned green as her mother-in-law spoke, and she opened her mouth to say something, but Little Aunt continued, ¡°After you got married, you and Chen¡¯er had a monthly income of more than twenty thousand. But you send at least ten thousand a month back to your maiden family. Last year, you said your younger brother was getting married and your father asked you to pay for the betrothal gifts. You sent eighteen thousand back without discussing it with Chen¡¯er. You could say that all the money you¡¯ve earned since marrying into our family, you¡¯ve sent back to your maiden family. My Chenchen is the one who bears the daily expenses. If it weren¡¯t for Chenchen knowing that you care so much about your maiden family that he doesn¡¯t want to give you his salary card, I¡¯m afraid you would send even his money back to your maiden family. Daughter-in-law, have your father and I ever said a bad word about any of this? After marriage, you said you didn¡¯t want children for a few years because of your career. Your father and I agreed, and we never complained. Now, Chen¡¯er just wants to stay at home, and you¡¯re venting your anger on us. What¡¯s the reason? Is it because you think the money you earn at home is too little, or because you think you¡¯ll have less money to send back to your maiden family?¡± Lan Qingqing¡¯s face went from red to white, not knowing whether to be angry or ashamed. She shouted, ¡°Mother-in-law, what do you mean by this? Can¡¯t a married daughter care about her maiden family, her parents? I send money to my parents because they¡¯ve raised me and suffered a lot. Now that they¡¯re old, can¡¯t I give something back? And my younger brother¡¯s wedding, can¡¯t I, as his sister, help out a bit? I¡¯m married far away and can¡¯t take care of my parents personally, so am I not allowed to compensate them financially?¡± Xiao Wantian and his wife, Chapter 175 - Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Argument 2 (First Update) Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Argument 2 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Lan Qingqing looked at her speechless parents-in-law, a blink of delight in her eyes. She continued to speak, ¡°My parents raised me to this age, and even helped me go to university, suffering and working hard. If I have the means to earn money, I should repay my parents for their nurturing. Otherwise, what kind of person am I really? You guys are just plain hypocritical. If you do not want me to subsidize my family, why did you not talk about it upfront? Oh, now you¡¯re looking into my accounts? What is the meaning of this? Are you trying to stop me from taking care of my parents?¡± On an ordinary basis, Lan Qingqing does not have any major complaints about her parents-in-law. After all, they have been good to her and do not meddle in her affairs. However, the words spoken by her mother-in-law today touched on her thorny issue. That¡¯s right ¡ª her own family is her sensitive spot. For her, her high-paying job and current lifestyle are all credits to her parents. Therefore, if she is capable, she must reward her parents well. She believes that no amount of money can repay her parents¡¯ kindness, so the least she can do is to continue supporting them economically, allowing them to relax and enjoy their twilight years. But now, her mother-in-law is trying to track how much she gives to her family. This angers Lan Qingqing, making her upset with the in-laws, especially her husband. Xiao Wantian and his wife, were taken aback and turned ghostly pale by their daughter-in-law¡¯s words. They could hardly believe that the seemingly good-natured Lan Qingqing could be so unreasonable and pompous, let alone disrespectful to her parents-in-law. It¡¯s not that they took an air of superiority as parents-in-law, they never did anything excessive to their daughter-in-law. What causes these grievances? Seeing her parents-in-law speechless, Lan Qingqing¡¯s face displayed even more arrogance and satisfaction. She sneered and said, ¡°Oh, I get it now. You kept my husband in the village, didn¡¯t you? So that we can earn less, and I would send less for my parents. Quite a scheme you got there. I tell you though, I won¡¯t let you get what you want.¡± ¡°Lan Qingqing, do you really talk to my parents this way? A voice roared from behind Lan Qingqing. Upon hearing the voice, Lan Qingqing shuddered, and a look of panic flashed across her face. She turned around to see an angry Xiao Mingchen, and asked guiltily, ¡°Hu¡­ Husband? When did you come back?¡± With fury in his eyes, Xiao Mingchen bit out, ¡°If I didn¡¯t come back, who would know that behind my back, you¡¯d be so disrespectful to my parents? Lan Qingqing, what have my parents done to you to deserve this? I thought you were kind-heartened, gentle, dutiful, but you turned out to be so arrogant and rude behind our backs. What a two-faced person you are.¡± Lan Qingqing immediately tried to explain, ¡°Husband, it¡¯s not like that, let me explain! I was just¡­¡± she added, ¡°caught up in the heat of the moment.¡± ¡°No need for explanations!¡± Xiao Mingchen dejectedly cut her off, ¡°You wanted to get divorced, right? Let¡¯s do it! After the divorce, you can work wherever you want. You want to send money back to your family, then send it. You want to subsidize your family, then do it. I won¡¯t interfere.¡± Lan Qingqing¡¯s face suddenly turned pale as she said incredulously, ¡°You¡­ you want a divorce? How can you say that?¡± Xiao Mingchen said coldly, ¡°Well, didn¡¯t you bring up the divorce? I¡¯m just granting your wish. ¡± The divorce was just a threat from Lan Qingqing. She wanted Xiao Mingchen to return to his previous job instead of idling his time in the remote mountains, where there¡¯s no money to be made. Without money, how could she continue to send ten thousand yuan each month to her parents? Besides, ever since she started dating Xiao Mingchen in university and married into the Xiao family, she didn¡¯t suffer the slightest grievance from the Xiao¡¯s, not to mention Xiao Mingchen himself. Therefore, she never intended to divorce him in the first place. Upon hearing the mentioning of divorce, Little Aunt immediately scolded, ¡°Stop it! Do you think divorce is a trivial matter?¡± But Xiao Mingchen shook his head, ¡°Mom, I am unfilial for letting you and dad suffer undue grievances.¡± His parents are such understanding and savvy people. His wife has always favored her own family, and even has become the spoiled little brother. Yet his parents have constantly been comforting him behind the scenes, allowing him to be more understanding of his wife, after all, she was raised by her parents and they indeed have spent a lot on her. Furthermore, it¡¯s fine for the elder sister to help out with the younger brother¡¯s marriage expenses. For the sake of the relationship, regarding his wife using the money on her family, he has turned a blind eye. Over the past two years, they never blamed Lan Qingqing for the spending, nor uttered a single word of discontent. But now in Lan Qingqing¡¯s eyes, it turned out to be her parents-in-law acting like hypocrites. How could Xiao Mingchen tolerate this. Little Aunt, with red eyes, was still trying to persuade, ¡°We¡¯ve not been wronged at all. Normally, Qingqing treats us well. During holidays, she would also buy clothes and gifts for your dad and me. Right now, she¡¯s just mad. Let¡¯s stop talking about divorce.¡± After what Little Aunt said, Lan Qingqing opened her mouth, seeming to want to say something. However, she couldn¡¯t utter a word, a touch of guilt in her eyes. What she had said was not merely out of anger, but a venting of her dissatisfaction with her parents-in-law. It is just that her parents-in-law are magnanimous and didn¡¯t care much about it. She turned her gaze to Xiao Mingchen, hope gleaming in her eyes. Yet, Xiao Mingchen still couldn¡¯t accept Lan Qingqing¡¯s double-faced attitude. He shook his head and said, ¡°Dad, Mom, I still want the divorce.¡± ¡°Xiao Mingchen, what did I do to deserve this, that you want a divorce so easily?¡± Lan Qingqing shouted desperately at Xiao Mingchen. ¡°I only said it because you refused to go back to your previous company for work. I was just furious, and said something regrettable. Why would you take it so seriously? You have such a small tolerance! I really misjudged you!¡± Xiao Mingchen looked at her angry face, and a hint of scorn crossed his face. He retorted coldly, ¡°I have a small tolerance? Huh! If I did, wouldn¡¯t I have dumped you after your family asked for astronomic betrothal gifts? If I did, wouldn¡¯t I argue with you over the huge amount of money you sent home every month? If I did, would I allow you to give all that money to your brother for betrothal gifts and buying a house? Lan Qingqing, have you ever calculated how much money have you spent on this family since we got married? And how much on your family? From betrothal gifts to monthly money and the money for your younger brother, you¡¯ve spent almost one million in total. But what about on my parents? That¡¯s the three thousand yuan I gave you each year for holidays and festivals to buy them gifts. And even then, you skimmed off two thousand, giving my parents gifts that are worth less than a thousand yuan.. Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Argument 3 (Second Update) Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Argument 3 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Upon hearing their son¡¯s words, the faces of Xiao Wanshan and his wife changed involuntarily. Little Aunt had just mentioned that every New Year and holiday, their daughter-in-law would buy them clothes and gifts. They hadn¡¯t expected that all of this was actually their son¡¯s face-saving gesture. Their son gave her money, but would mostly hold back a significant amount. ¡°All the expenses of your life are paid with my salary, you haven¡¯t spent a cent on my parents or me. I said nothing as long as they were happy. But now look at you! You¡¯re wielding your filial piety towards your parents like a sharp knife stabbing my parents¡¯ hearts. So Lan Qingqing, are your parents the only parents? What about mine? Why should they, in their old age, pay for you fulfilling your duties to your own parents?¡± Lan Qingqing, upon hearing this, turned pale and then flushed in disbelief. She couldn¡¯t believe that her beloved husband, whom she thought was genuinely tolerant and accommodating, would be so petty with her. ¡°So, if you want to fully respect and provide for your parents, then you should do it. As for me, I will stay at home and do the same for my parents. Lan Qingqing, let¡¯s divorce.¡± Xiao Mingchen proposed the divorce once again. He was truly disappointed in Lan Qingqing. He had no objection to her respecting and providing for her parents, helping her maiden family. But, there had to be limits. This act of using his family¡¯s resources to fulfill her filial obligations, showing no filial piety to his parents in return, was unacceptable to him. When Xiao Mingchen proposed divorce again, Little Aunt didn¡¯t know how to dissuade him. Earlier, she had pointed out that their daughter-in-law was usually respectful and filial towards them, buying them gifts and clothes. But their son then told them the money she spent was indeed given to her by him. Taunted again by the word ¡°divorce¡±, Lan Qingqing roared, ¡°Xiao Mingchen, you need to understand this. We are a married couple, and within this relationship, who can separate your money from mine? Isn¡¯t yours also mine? Since your money is also mine, it¡¯s me who¡¯s showing filial respect to your parents. Besides, aren¡¯t your parents also my parents? As a son-in-law, shouldn¡¯t you respect my parents with me? Plus, in the two years since we got married, how many times have I visited my childhood home? Since I, as a married daughter, can¡¯t take care of my parents, and it all falls on my younger brother, can¡¯t I provide them more financial support? So now if you¡¯re still haggling over this with me, are you even human?¡± Anyway, she wouldn¡¯t admit she was wrong. Where was the error in her filial duties towards her parents or in supporting her brother? Why should Xiao Mingchen and his parents be so nitpicky about it? Hearing her words, the disappointment in Xiao Mingchen¡¯s eyes deepened. He nodded without expression and said, ¡°Hmm, right, it¡¯s appropriate for you to respect and provide for your parents. Ignoring your own small family and neglecting my parents is also appropriate, I should be generous, and not so petty.¡± Lan Qingqing, ¡°But, Lan Qingqing, now I¡¯m precisely so petty.¡± Xiao Mingchen reversed the tone, ¡°Since you don¡¯t regard our small family as your home and don¡¯t have my parents in your heart, why should I live with you? To others, it¡¯ll appear as if I only married a wife as a bed warmer.¡± Upon hearing this, Lan Qingqing¡¯s face changed color instantly. Her lips trembling, Lan Qingqing blurted out, ¡°Xiao Mingchen, what you¡¯re saying is too harsh, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯re too excessive, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t what I say the truth?¡± Xiao Mingchen retorted calmy. Lan Qingqing, ¡°Your parents are your parents, and you should respect them. Are not my parents, who raised me, actually my parents? Shouldn¡¯t I respect and provide for them?¡± Xiao Mingchen shot back sharply, ¡°So, from now on, we should each respect our own parents. Lan Qingqing, just because I want to stay home and work, you blame my parents and complain about them, I see your true nature now. Therefore, this marriage is over whether you like it or not!¡± Heartbroken and enraged, Lan Qingqing shouted, ¡°Fine, Xiao Mingchen, let¡¯s divorce! But don¡¯t regret it!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t regret it! We don¡¯t have children anyway, it would be much cleaner to split!¡± Xiao Mingchen retorted coldly. Having said that, he went into the house to get their paperwork. While Xiao Wantian and his wife did resent their daughter-in-law¡¯s domineering and selfish behavior,they were not entirely dissatisfied. Still, divorce was a serious matter, not something to be done hastily. Little Aunt wanted to interject, but Xiao Wantian promptly pulled her aside and shook his head, ¡°If their beliefs and values don¡¯t align, forcing them to stay together will only lead to splitting up eventually. It is better to let them go now when they have no children.¡± This daughter-in-law didn¡¯t see the bigger picture. In the past, when she was their daughter, it might have been overlooked, but after getting married and setting up her own small family, she still solely took care of her maiden family. All the money she earned was sent back to her childhood home without a single penny spared. It¡¯s not that they didn¡¯t want her to respect and provide for her parents or help her maiden family, but there should be limits. This boundless respect, provision and assistance were like an endless pit, the more she contributed, the more the pit demanded. Now that the couple could earn money and they, the elderly couple, could also earn some money and had some savings, they didn¡¯t mind. But what would happen when they had children, or when they, the old couple, got sick or couldn¡¯t work and needed more money? What then? Though generous, they wanted to be selfish for their children. After hearing her husband¡¯s words, Little Aunt opened her mouth to speak, but said nothing. Lan Qingqing expected her parents-in-law to persuade Xiao Mingchen, but saw only their cold faces, standing unmoved, and her anger surged again. She sneered at them, ¡°I am going to divorce your son, are you satisfied? Huh, seems that all the good treatment I received from you before, considering me as your own daughter was merely superficial. As I said, you¡¯re mere hypocrites.¡± Her words enraged Xiao Wantian and his wife. In the past, their good treatment towards her, considering her their daughter, was like they fed the dog. They really hadn¡¯t seen how narrow-minded, selfish and unreasonable she was before. Xiao Wantian, face livid with anger, said sharply, ¡°Since you think we¡¯re superficial, and hypocritical, then after your divorce with my son, you won¡¯t have to face our superficiality and hypocrisy anymore.¡± Lan Qingqing¡¯s face turned pale and then white. Xiao Mingchen took out their marriage certificate and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s divorce now. From now on, you won¡¯t have to face my parents¡¯ hypocrisy, you can completely face your parents who are sincere to you.¡± At this moment, Lan Qingqing felt fear; she shook her head and said, ¡°No, I won¡¯t divorce! Xiao Mingchen, if you want a divorce, it is fine, but after being married to you for two years, you can¡¯t make me leave without anything, can you?¡± Xiao Mingchen stopped immediately, his cold eyes stared at her and asked, ¡°We don¡¯t have children, we don¡¯t have properties, what do you want?¡± Lan Qingqing said, ¡°I want all your savings! Give me all your money and I will divorce you!¡± Chapter 177 - Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Divorce (First Update) Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Divorce (First Update) ¡°Huh, Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law are getting divorced?¡± Xiao Jinli was still somewhat surprised when she heard the news. Because, in the eyes of outsiders, the marital relationship between her second cousin and his wife seemed quite good. The two started dating from university, and after graduating, they both worked at the same company. They got married two years later, and now that it had been two years since their marriage, there had been no news of them arguing or anything like that. ¡°Why would they get divorced?¡± Xiao Jinli asked in confusion. ¡°Just these past days, their relationship seemed fine!¡± Although she had a Golden Finger, she wouldn¡¯t pry into everyone¡¯s personal affairs. Grandma Xiao sighed softly and said, ¡°It was all started by work issues. Your Second Brother wanted to stay working at the company in the village, and your Second Sister-in-law firmly opposed it. They¡¯d been arguing over it these days. Unexpectedly, today Lan Qingqing suddenly vented all her anger saved for your Second Brother on your Little Uncle and Little Aunt, and Xiao Er heard it and got really angry.¡± Xiao Jinli asked with incomprehension, ¡°But that wouldn¡¯t be enough to cause a divorce, would it?¡± Grandma Xiao continued, ¡°Such a thing, of course, wouldn¡¯t be enough for a divorce. Your Little Uncle and Little Aunt really treated Lan Qingqing like their own daughter. As long as she was at home, she didn¡¯t have to lift a finger, and all her meals were prepared according to her tastes; your Little Aunt even did her laundry for her. Even if the couple had differing opinions on their work situation, Lan Qingqing acted all aggressive towards her in-laws, and your Little Uncle and Little Aunt wouldn¡¯t make a big deal of it. However, Lan Qingqing had crossed the line. If it weren¡¯t for your Second Brother speaking up, I wouldn¡¯t have known that she was¡­sigh¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Jinli was really curious, and she asked, ¡°Grandma, how did Second Sister-in-law cross the line?¡± In order for her usually mild-mannered Little Uncle and Little Aunt to not try to stop them from divorcing, it must be that Second Sister-in-law had done something too much. However, just like Grandma Xiao said, they really didn¡¯t know what Second Sister-in-law had done before Second Brother revealed it. Grandma Xiao said, ¡°Well, Lan Qingqing is really filial to her parents. It would have been understandable had she only done that before their wedding, but after Second Sister-in-law married your Second Brother, she sent every single penny she earned to her family in the countryside. She remitted ten thousand yuan of living expenses per month and, without discussing it with your Second Brother, transferred 180,000 for her younger brother¡¯s betrothal gifts and 100,000 as a house deposit.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡± ¡­¡± Was this the legendary spoiled little brother?¡± ¡°If it were just that, your Little Uncle and Aunt wouldn¡¯t be too upset, but what¡¯s too much is that every holiday and New Year, the money Second Sister-in-law gives to your Little Uncle and Aunt for clothes and gifts is still given by your Second Brother. He said that every time he gives three thousand, she would keep two thousand and buy only one thousand yuan¡¯s worth of things. ¡± Grandma Xiao said discontentedly, ¡°What she¡¯s doing is really too much. She has a job and money, not asking her to spend her own money on gifts for her parents-in-law, but even the money her husband gave her she¡¯d pocket. This simply isn¡¯t justifiable, no matter where you look.¡± Xiao Jinli agreed with these words. She also didn¡¯t expect that Second Sister-in-law, who usually appeared gentle and demure, would turn out to be such a person of two faces. ¡°This time, your Second Brother insisted on staying home to work, and your Second Sister-in-law vented her anger on your Little Uncle and Aunt, which was heard by Second Brother, so they decided to get a divorce because of the old grievances and new accounts.¡± Grandma Xiao said, a hint of anger flashing in her face. She continued, ¡°When Second Brother wanted to divorce her, she refused. But later when she agreed, she demanded all of Second Brother¡¯s savings.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® So, Second Brother ended up penniless? ¡°It¡¯s a pity for your Little Uncle¡¯s family.¡± Grandma Xiao felt sorry for her youngest son¡¯s family. She said, ¡°More than a million yuan, all gone just to marry a wife.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡® She really hadn¡¯t expected that Second Sister-in-law would turn out to be so heartless and selfish. No, Second Sister-in-law was affectionate and righteous to her parents and younger brother, but towards her husband¡¯s family, she was truly heartless and selfish. Xiao Jinli comforted, ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s just money. Consider it as paying for getting rid of a huge burden. In the future, Second Brother will definitely marry an even better wife. If they hadn¡¯t divorced, who knows if that million would be enough to satisfy Second Sister-in-law in the future?¡± Grandma Xiao nodded and said, ¡°It indeed is just like that. With an uncaring daughter-in-law like that, even if she doesn¡¯t completely empty her husband¡¯s family of all their assets right now, she inevitably will in the end. It¡¯s better to get rid of her sooner rather than later.¡± At this point, Grandma Xiao said with a trace of uncertainty, ¡°Weren¡¯t Xiao Er and Lan Qingqing in a love relationship? Didn¡¯t she show any bottomless kindness to her parents and younger brother during their love affair?¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­ l¡¯ How was she, a girl who had never dated anyone, supposed to answer that? Xiao Jinli said with a smile, ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s pointless to dwell on the past. Second Brother is so handsome and capable; I¡¯m sure there will be plenty of girls fighting to marry him.¡± ¡°Haha¡­, that¡¯s true.¡± Grandma Xiao laughed, ¡°Even if our Xiao family members get divorced, they¡¯re still tall, handsome, and capable. There are so many girls fighting to marry them.¡± At this point, she paused for a moment, her eyes narrowed with a hint of gleaming light as she continued with a smile, ¡°However, we must be careful of choosing the next time. This family can afford to lose once, but not twice.¡± All one million of their family¡¯s savings had been wiped out, but as a family with hands and feet and ability, Xiao Jinli believed they would soon earn it back. Xiao Mingchen¡¯s divorce was big news in Xiao Family Village. As a result, no matter which corner of the village they were in, they could hear the villagers gossiping and discussing the matter. ¡°Tsk, tsk, I never thought Xiao Mingchen¡¯s wife would be such a person. She only cares about her own family and doesn¡¯t want to spend a penny on her husband¡¯s family. Now that they¡¯re divorcing, she¡¯s even snatched all of Xiao Mingchen¡¯s savings.¡± ¡°You tell me, what was the point of getting married? No children were born, and they even lost money.¡± ¡°They say that educated people are more sensible and understanding, but I think Lan Qingqing has become more calculating after reading so many books. She¡¯s completely calculated and emptied her husband¡¯s family.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s said that the total amount is over a million. Over a million, for us in the countryside, would be enough to marry quite a few wives. She¡¯s swindled all of it by herself. Xiao Wantian¡¯s family too, she asked for all of it, didn¡¯t they save some for themselves? Now, all the money¡¯s gone; where will they get the betrothal gifts if Xiao Mingchen gets another girlfriend?¡± ¡°As for the money, Xiao Mingchen can solve that problem himself since he has the ability. It just feels like they¡¯re being taken advantage of by having such a daughter-in-law. She¡¯s practically a money-wasting genius.¡± ¡°Right, it¡¯s just Xiao Wantian¡¯s family had that much money for her to waste. Unlike us, we don¡¯t have much in savings, there¡¯s nothing for her to waste..¡± Chapter 178 - Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Company Deployment (2nd Update) Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Company Deployment (2nd Update) Translator: 549690339 After the news of Xiao Mingchen¡¯s divorce had been discussed in the village for a while, everyone started getting busy. Contrary to Xiao Jinli¡¯s expectations, many young people chose to stay at home. She thought that many young people would still choose to go out and work. After all, working outside seemed to guarantee more money, while staying in the village to grow vegetables had uncertain earninzs. The village company was named Xiao Family Village Lu Xian Ltd. At the end of the year, Xiao Wanshan posted job advertisements online to recruit several senior professional managers. Three college students from the Xiao family ¨C Xiao Yucheng, Xiao Mingchen, and Xiao Junxuan, along with Xiao Yucheng¡¯s wife Zhou Yingxiu, joined the company. Their education, qualifications, and work experience qualified them for managerial positions. Now Xiao Yucheng was appointed general manager, with the responsibility of planning the company¡¯s future development direction, Zhou Yingxiu as deputy general manager responsible for personnel, administration, and finance, Xiao Mingchen as executive deputy general manager and part-time marketing manager, and Xiao Junxuan as production and sales manager. Well, the company seemed like a family business, with all the Xiao family members holding positions. From an outsider¡¯s perspective, it seemed like an apparent family control. But there was really no other choice. There were only a few college students in the village, all from the Xiao family, and they were capable of handling the positions. For now, hiring them to manage the company was better than hiring unknown outsiders. If one day the unknown outsiders decided to quit and leave a mess, it would be even more troublesome. Although the company had just been established, Xiao Wanshan and his son had experience in managing companies, and Xiao Yucheng and others were elites in the workplace. Therefore, the company quickly entered the operational process. Before the New Year, the company came up with a rough strategic plan. In addition to managing the villagers¡¯ vegetable planting, the company will also establish several large-scale breeding farms. Chicken farm, duck farm, pig farm, fish farm, goose farm, and a cattle farm. The cattle farm was proposed by Xiao Jinli. Because with the vegetables fed by Xiao Family Village, the beef would definitely be popular among customers. The locations for these farms had been decided, except for the cattle farm. Xiao Jinli insisted that the cattle must be raised in a free-range system. But a free-range system required a large area, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be considered free-range at all. Where would there be excess land in Xiao Family Village for raising cattle after allocating land for raising chickens and ducks and planting crops? After multiple inspections and discussions by Xiao Yucheng, Xiao Jinli and others, the cattle farm location was finally determined to be at the foot of Niu Xinshan. With multiple breeding farms established, they naturally needed to hire people for breeding and management. Large-scale breeding is not as simple as raising a few animals at home, it requires professional skills. After many discussions, the company and the village committee decided to send young people with aspirations to professional training institutions for skills learning and training. Most of the villagers were surprised after hearing this. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard that there is a specialized training institution for raising chickens and ducks.¡± ¡°Yeah, me neither. My eldest and second sons are both interested in this, I wonder if they can make the cut?¡± The company would pay for the training, but with the majority of young people in the village interested, the competition for spots was intense. The company and the village committee had to evaluate from multiple aspects and choose the best and most suitable people through competition. After the people who went to learn the skills returned, the company would also set up a study group to teach the villagers the basic breeding techniques. The villagers marveled at the news. ¡°Haha, I never thought things could be like this after establishing a company.¡± ¡°Yes, even if we can¡¯t participate in raising chickens and ducks, there will always be a turn for our family. Learning something always comes in handy.¡± ¡°I heard from the village head that the company plans to raise 12,000 chickens, 8,000 ducks, 5,000 geese, 30,000 fish, and 3,000 pigs. Only the cattle will start with 300 initially. It sounds like a big project.¡± ¡°Now, in addition to managing the planting of our own crops, the company will also ask us to work. There are short-term and long-term jobs. Short-term jobs are settled on a daily basis, while long-term jobs are for company employees and require a labor contract. The minimum wage is based on regional wage standards, and there are various benefits. Both short-term and long-term workers are prioritized from our village.¡± When they said this, many villagers had hopeful expectations in their eyes. Someone worried, ¡°The company has just been established, and nothing has been planted in the fields yet; there is no profit at all. Every project and every step taken requires a large investment. Will the company still have money to continue like this?¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard that the company borrowed from the bank.¡± ¡°Everything is difficult at the beginning,¡± someone said optimistically. ¡°If our village continues to work like this, we may earn more and more money.¡± Not only would they receive dividends, but they would also have a salary. This was indeed double income. There was more and more hope! ¡°Yeah, I used to think that setting up a company in the village was just for planting and selling vegetables. I didn¡¯t expect that the company could also engage in other businesses,¡± someone said with a smile. ¡°Like raising so many chickens and ducks, we never even thought about it before.¡± ¡°Xiao Yucheng said that this is for the principle of recycling. We grow vegetables and feed the animals with these old leaves. Their feces can not only be used as fertilizer but also feed, which can be used for feeding fish. And pig feces can also be used as feed for chickens and ducks. Anyway, I don¡¯t understand it very well.¡± ¡°In the past, we only knew that these feces were used as fertilizers, but we never thought that they could be used as feed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true that educated people understand more. These things are well thought out. No wonder before the company was established, Xiao Wanshan and his son told us that they would hire professional managers to manage the company.¡± Xiao Junxuan was temporarily busy with the company in the village, so he left the management of his company in the county town to Xiao Wanshan. Xiao Wanshan and his son were planning to enter the real estate industry this year. Every member of the Xiao family seemed very busy. Including Xiao Jinli. The New Year atmosphere had long since faded, and everyone soon started working in the fields. Unlike in previous years, where they could plant whatever they wanted around Qingming Festival, this year, the land invested in the company had to be allocated according to the company¡¯s planning. What to plant in the fields and how to plant it must be done according to the company¡¯s requirements. In addition to vegetable and fruit planting, rice planting would not be left out either.. Chapter 179 - Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Villagers’ Busy Work (First Update) Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Villagers¡¯ Busy Work (First Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°There are a total of 786 mu of land in the village, and the land invested in the company amounts to 660 mu,¡± Xiao Yucheng and other company leaders and the Village Committee reported to the villagers. ¡°Of this, the land used for building chicken, duck, and goose farms is 12 mu each, the pond is 5 mu, and as for the pig farm, it is located on the rear mountain of the village, while the cattle farm is at the foot of Cow Heart Half Mountain¡­ ¡°Through election voting, the entire village selected 12 young people to go to East Province to learn technology. Here are the names of these individuals: Xiao Guanghua, Xiao Chunliang¡­¡± The villagers listened to Xiao Yucheng and others¡¯ speeches, looking very excited. For those who went to learn technology in East Province, the company reimbursed all their living and transportation expenses, which was equivalent to a free trip there. Of course, the company would not reimburse any private purchases such as local specialties. Even so, for the villagers, this was a great opportunity. The meeting lasted over an hour, introducing the development progress of various projects within the company and also announcing job openings. Positions such as cleaners, chefs, warehouse administrators, etc., were available, but each job had specific requirements. As this was a company, everything would follow company regulations. For the villagers, this was a great opportunity to work while still taking care of their families. This village-wide company meeting not only reported on the progress of various projects but also announced the start of planting for the entire village. Before the new year, the seedlings in Xiao Jinli¡¯s five acres of greenhouses already started to grow, ready for transplanting when the time comes. Of course, the land must be properly prepared before transplanting the seedlings. Each family¡¯s land was allocated accordingly to the specific needs of different vegetables, such as moisture, dryness, or sufficient sunlight. Now the company had purchased a large plow machine, which could till 50 to 70 mu of land in a day. As the plow machine travelled and tilled the land, the villagers followed behind, gathering the soil into neat rows. With the exception of elderly people and children who could not work, everyone who could work was out in the fields with hoes and iron shovels. Many hands make light work! Five to six+acres of land could be prepared in a day. ¡°These are cabbage and cabbage seedlings, be careful.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t let so many people come into the greenhouse, be careful not to step on these earthworms.¡± While transplanting seedlings, people were very careful of the earthworms in the ditches, but with so many people working, it was inevitable that some earthworms would be trampled on. To the villagers, earthworms were precious, and each one held significant value. Thus, seeing an earthworm being trampled on would make them feel distressed. ¡°We women will handle the seedlings. You men should wait outside for a while. You men are all rough and careless; don¡¯t trample on the earthworms!¡± Chen Qiulan said to the men carrying the seedlings. The men nodded and said, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll wait outside for a while. You go and bring out the seedlings.¡± These men were not as careful and meticulous as the women and might accidentally step on an earthworm. Although they wouldn¡¯t stomp them to death, it would still be distressing. Chen Qiulan, Li Guixiang, and five or six other women began to carefully shovel out the seedlings one by one and place them in baskets. ¡°These seedlings have grown so strong.¡± ¡°Indeed. We¡¯ve been farming for decades, but no child has ever done better than this.¡± ¡°I heard from Xiaofang that Jinli wants to study agriculture. I didn¡¯t expect her to have such a high talent in this area. With just a casual effort, she¡¯s already better than us.¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s true. How come we¡¯ve never discovered her talent before?¡± ¡°I hope that with more than 600 acres of land, we can sell all these vegetables and get a high price.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a problem,¡± Chen Qiulan confidently said. ¡°You should know, our vegetables sold in Xuzhen are more expensive than those from ordinary households. No matter how much we have, it¡¯s never enough. If we sell them in the city, they are sure to sell better. After all, people in the city have more money than us country folks. If even rural people are willing to spend money on this, then city dwellers will surely be even more willing. The people in the city are rich and more willing to buy good things.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. People who¡¯ve tasted our village¡¯s vegetables say they¡¯re delicious. The children especially love them. So, even just for the children, people are willing to buy them. Just like here, when our village has no vegetables for sale, people would even steal some from our village.¡± Everyone found this amusing. In this day and age, people still steal vegetables. But it was indeed a fact. As people continued working, they also chatted about the future. Chen Qiulan added, ¡°I heard from my husband that, with more than 600 acres of land, there are many varieties of vegetables to grow. After calculating, the quantity of each variety is not much. If we really want to sell, I¡¯m afraid it will only be enough to supply the entire county.¡± ¡°Ah, really?¡± cried a woman in surprise. ¡°The problem is, who will we sell all these vegetables to?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it mentioned in the meeting the day before? The company has already leased a large store in the county town. When the vegetables are ready, they will be sold directly in the store. However, if our company wants to grow bigger, we need to expand our sales channels and reach further places, such as big cities and even exports!¡± ¡°Ah, exports, selling to foreign countries! Just thinking about it excites me!¡± someone said with a beaming smile. ¡°I really hope that one day our vegetables can be sold abroad.¡± It wasn¡¯t about how good it would be to sell overseas, but the sense of accomplishment it would bring. ¡°Our company¡¯s plan is to grow bigger and stronger, and that includes selling our vegetables and fruits abroad.¡± ¡°In the eyes of our elders, we only care about our own small plots of land, but those young people have much broader perspectives.¡± With the whole village working together, the vegetables that needed to be planted were all completed within a few days. Now, they were waiting for the rice seeds to take root. ¡°Jinli, do these watermelon seedlings need grafting?¡± the Village Head asked as he looked at the robust watermelon seedlings. In rural areas, people graft watermelon seedlings with gourd roots while they are still young because watermelon stems are thin and susceptible to wilting, while the gourd roots are thicker and easier to grow. Thus, grafting is a major task while cultivating watermelon seedlings. However, the watermelon seedlings in the greenhouse were stronger than the ones without grafting, and those with experience in watermelon planting, like the Village Head, were uncertain whether grafting was necessary. Growing up in the countryside, Xiao Jinli knew about this. However¡­ Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°No need. These watermelon seedlings are strong and won¡¯t wilt easily.¡± The seeds had soaked in Lingquan water, and Xiao Jinli watered the growing seedlings with Lingquan water as well. As long as they were not damaged by humans, these watermelon seedlings would grow robustly.. Chapter 181 - Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Watching the Excitement from Other Villages (First Update) Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Watching the Excitement from Other Villages (First Update) Translator: 549690339 The voices discussing the child grew louder and louder. ¡°I heard that this child is the Lucky Star of Xiao Family Village.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Do you guys still remember that drought in Xiao Family Village more than a decade ago?¡± ¡°Haha, of course I remember that. At that time, it rained in other villages but not in Xiao Family Village. If other villages didn¡¯t get rain, it was just a drought for a month or two. But it was strange when it came to Xiao Family Village. Even though there were dark clouds and thunderstorms, it looked like rain was about to fall, but then a gust of wind blew it away, and the rain went to the next village. As a result, Xiao Family Village had no rain for half a year, and almost no harvest.¡± ¡°Yeah, that year, Xiao Family Village faced ridicule from surrounding villages, saying it must have done something wrong, and even the heavens couldn¡¯t bear it, so they punished the entire village.¡± ¡°The situation in Xiao Family Village was really quite tragic that year. With no rain for half a year, the crops in the fields were about to wither. It was only because there was a bit of rain in the upstream village, and a little water in the river, that the crops barely managed to hold on for half a year. However, since the river water was scarce, they had to block it, and it was impossible for the downstream village to get any water. So, the downstream village started making a fuss, and Xiao Family Village could only use the river water briefly, just enough to irrigate the surface of the crops.¡± ¡°Luckily, it was only Xiao Family Village that had no rain for half a year. The surrounding villages, although also experiencing some drought, would at least occasionally have rain, so the crops could still grow. When there was rain, the river had water, and this was how Xiao Family Village managed to survive for half a year. But if there was no rain soon, even if the crops didn¡¯t die, the harvest would be significantly reduced, or there might be no harvest at all. Just when the villagers of Xiao Family Village were becoming desperate, a torrential rain suddenly arrived.¡± ¡°Haha, I heard about that. It is said that the rain was brought by the child.¡± ¡°Yes. People in Xiao Family Village really make a big deal out of it. They say that before the child entered the village, there wasn¡¯t a single cloud in the sky, but when the child was carried into the village, the weather changed instantly, with large dark clouds. Once the child was completely inside the village, the heavy rain began.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s such a coincidence. Is this true or just a story, it¡¯s so mysterious?¡± ¡°I know, right? It was just that coincidental. That rain quickly eased the drought in Xiao Family Village. Everyone in the village believed that the child was the village¡¯s Lucky Star. Otherwise, why would it rain so heavily when the child arrived after no rain for half a year?¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t believe it,¡± said a villager with suspicion. ¡°Is it really that mysterious?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it much either. But everyone in Xiao Family Village firmly believes that the child is the Lucky Star of the entire village. They all like and trust the child. Now the child is only in their teens, but when the child says to grow vegetables, everyone in the village follows along. They say to start a company in the village, and now there¡¯s a company.¡± ¡°¡­¡± A villager from another village said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this too childish? The whole village listens to a child?¡± ¡°Exactly. My daughter married into this village two years ago, and she strongly opposed the idea of growing vegetables for sale and having the whole village invest in a company. It¡¯s just too incredible that the entire village actually listens to a child¡¯s words without a single person doubting it. Because of this, my daughter quarreled with her husband and her in-laws. I also thought my in-laws were being ridiculous and didn¡¯t agree to invest all their five acres of land in the company.¡± ¡°But my in-laws, young and old, were like lunatics and didn¡¯t listen to us at all. In the end, my daughter threatened to divorce and take the child away. Only then did my in-laws agree to invest half of their land and keep the other half for their own farming.¡± ¡°I heard that only a few newlywed wives in Xiao Family Village disagreed with investing their family¡¯s land.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only the first year that Xiao Family Village is doing this, and we don¡¯t know if they can make money. If they can¡¯t, the new daughter-in-law has a say in her mother-in-law¡¯s home, but if they do make money, it will cause problems.¡± ¡°What problems? No one knows for sure about the risks. The new daughter-in-law is just considering the family¡¯s situation. Why should they join the company and give up their own land? What if the company loses money later and the land can¡¯t be reclaimed?¡± ¡°Sigh, the risk is indeed great. But the people in Xiao Family Village are quite bold.¡± ¡°Definitely. If it were our village, no one would be willing to do this. After all, investing the land in a company means it won¡¯t be yours anymore. You can¡¯t decide what to grow on it or do anything with it.¡± ¡°But what if they can make money? Then the new daughter-in-law who opposed the idea will become the target of complaints from the whole family, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s true. It¡¯s really a dilemma.¡± ¡°Though, no matter what, I still can¡¯t help but be amazed by the people in Xiao Family Village, as they directly believe a child¡¯s words.¡± ¡°But although they listen to them, you have to admit the child¡¯s achievements. Xiao Family Village¡¯s vegetables sell so well in The Town, and that¡¯s due to the child. Since they can make the whole village trust and obey, it proves that the child really has the ability.¡± ¡°But no matter how capable a child is, they¡¯re still a child. In my opinion, the people in Xiao Family Village are just confused. Ten years ago, they thought the child was the Lucky Star because of that rain, but is the child still the Lucky Star ten years later?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of our business what happens in their village, we¡¯re just watching and listening.¡± The people of Xiao Family Village naturally knew that people from other villages were watching them, thinking they were crazy. However, the idle talk of the people from other villages didn¡¯t bother the villagers of Xiao Family Village. All the villagers were working together on more than 600 acres of land, plowing the fields, transplanting seedlings, and it was a bustling scene. After the land was plowed, it didn¡¯t take long for everyone to plant the seedlings. ¡°Here are three thousand earthworms, here are five thousand earthworms¡­ After transplanting the seedlings, the greenhouse only had a few seedlings waiting to be planted and a large area of bare land. Now everyone was using special tools to turn the soil, digging out the earthworms, and then putting them into the planting area. Turning the soil and counting the worms was more complicated than planting seedlings. ¡°Ah, you men, always so careless. We¡¯ve told you to be careful, but look how many earthworms were cut in half when you dug them up! You men should just go count worms, and let us women do this work.¡± ¡°Yeah. You men, don¡¯t try to do something you can¡¯t. Look how many earthworms you¡¯ve broken. Just go do what you can, and if you have nothing to do, go smoke a cigarette outside, so you won¡¯t get in our way!¡± The men,.. Chapter 182 - Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Earthworms Second Generation (Part 2) Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Earthworms Second Generation (Part 2) Translator: 549690339 Initially, over 100,000 earthworm larvae were collected, but earthworms have a small characteristic: they can survive even after being cut in half. Earthworms are a special type of segmented animal. They have a head and a tail and specific organs. However, their entire body is like two tubes wrapped together, with an outer layer containing the muscle system inside. Running through its body is the digestive tract, which contains many body cavity fluids. When an earthworm is cut into two parts, its muscle tissue begins to contract, allowing some cells to automatically dissolve and form new cell clusters. As a result, the cut surface is blocked, ensuring that not too much blood is lost from the wound on its body. Once the wound heals, muscle cells begin to migrate, forming regenerative buds and growing new parts. Of course, not all earthworms can regenerate after being severed. There is a luck factor involved. Earthworms are a relatively complex existence in the segmented world. They have a digestive system and a circulatory system, and a large number of blood vessels are distributed. If the cut position is incorrect, the muscles will not be able to block the wound during contraction, and the earthworm may die from excessive bleeding. Overall, it depends on whether the cut position is correct or not. If the position is correct, regeneration becomes relatively easier. Xiao Jinli carefully selected a group of robust and energetic earthworms, artificially severed them, and then placed them in nutrient-rich soil she had prepared. Even if the cutting position was not right, the abundant Lingquan water in the soil could help the earthworms recover quickly from their wounds. These severed earthworms quickly turned from one worm into two worms. So, the initial 100,000 earthworms have now doubled, plus the earthworms¡¯ own reproduction, totaling more than 200,000. Earthworms have strong reproductive abilities. They are hermaphrodites, laying eggs once every month, and each egg produces multiple earthworms. Due to the large number of earthworms, the total breeding volume is still quite large. Xiao Jinli considered the earthworms she initially bought as the first generation. The first-generation earthworms were raised and grown entirely by Xiao Jinli, using Lingquan water to irrigate them. When they reproduced and produced offspring, the resulting earthworms were nurtured inside the parents and had larger sizes and higher nutritional and survival rates than their parents. Xiao Jinli marked them as the second generation. However, the second generation of earthworms became a new batch of seedlings. As the parent body of the second-generation seedlings, Xiao Jinli carefully selected them. These parent bodies were then placed in another nutrient-rich soil plot. Mature earthworms can reproduce once a month, and within three to four months, one earthworm can produce twenty to thirty offspring. Xiao Jinli looked at the vast breeding ground of more than five acres and felt that it wouldn¡¯t be enough if things continued like this. Therefore, in the second year, she expanded the earthworm breeding area and built another greenhouse. After Xiao Yucheng became the general manager of Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company, he had special future plans for Xiao Jinli¡¯s earthworm breeding, which was a key project. After all, the whole village relies on these earthworms for the development and prosperity of crop cultivation. Therefore, a specific allotment of thirty mu of land was made to build greenhouses for future earthworm breeding. Apart from the initial five points of land used by Xiao Jinli for research as a private base, the following five acres of land also belonged to her research base. She bred earthworms and seedlings for the company, which received compensation. After thirty acres of land were set aside, Xiao Jinli divided the area into sections, each for cultivating the second and third generations of earthworms¡­ These earthworms, offspring of the parent earthworms, had stronger constitutions than the first generation from the beginning. Therefore, the value of these earthworms is actually higher than the first generation. They inherit all the advantages of the previous generation, eliminate all impurities, and are superior to the first generation. The crops grown with them are sure to be of better quality. Of course, Xiao Jinli hasn¡¯t told the villagers about this yet. Now, all working together, they are pouring the first-generation earthworms into the fields. Each earthworm is as thick as an adult finger and as long as chopsticks. People who are afraid of crawling, soft animals and those with a fear of dense clusters are terrified by them. It is now the second lunar month. The weather is still cold, but the villagers have planted all the seedlings they can in nearly 500 mu of land, including peppers, eggplants, cabbages, and watermelons. For the remaining hundred plus acres of land, apart from planning for rice cultivation, there are forty to fifty acres of land for flexible use. From plowing the land to planting earthworms, the whole village has been busy for more than twenty days. According to the company¡¯s requirements, pure green vegetables and fruits must be cultivated, so all the fertilizer used consists of earthworms and organic farm fertilizer, without using any chemical fertilizers or additives. ¡°Yucheng, what are pure green vegetables? And what is green food?¡± A villager asked. Xiao Yucheng explained, ¡°Green vegetables refer to those that follow the principles of sustainable development. They are produced under the prerequisite of good ecological environment in the place of origin, in accordance to specific quality standards, and approved by specialized agencies to be pollution-free, safe, high-quality, and nutritious vegetables bearing the green food logo. Green vegetables refer to those whose pesticide residues remain in the vegetables after pesticide use are lower than the national or international standards. We not only want to create green vegetables but also strive to produce green food, such as the chickens and ducks we raise. Green vegetables are just one type of green food. Green food must meet 5 standards: Standard 1: The product or its raw material location must comply with the green food ecological environment quality standards. Standard 2: Crop cultivation, livestock and poultry breeding, aquatic cultivation, and food processing must comply with the green food production operation specifications. Standard 3: The product must comply with green food and hygiene standards. Standard 4: The product packaging must comply with the national food label general standards. Standard 5: Meet the specific packaging, decoration, and label requirements for green food. Green food is graded into two categories: Grade A and Grade AA. Grade A green food In addition to meeting the above standards, limited use of designated chemical synthetic production materials is required, and biological methods must be actively adopted to ensure product quality requirements are met. Grade AA green food, in addition to meeting the above standards, uses organic fertilizers, green manures, crop rotation, biological or physical methods, and other technologies for production, improving soil fertility and controlling pests and diseases.¡± ¡°So, our goal is to make the products created in our village into Grade AA green food, sell them all over the country, and build our green brand!¡± Most villagers have little education and couldn¡¯t quite understand Xiao Yucheng¡¯s explanation, but they did understand the last sentence. Passionate and excited! Chapter 183 - Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Continuously Adding Condiments to the Pie (First Update) Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Continuously Adding Condiments to the Pie (First Update) Translator: 549690339 It can be said that Xiao Yucheng is truly a cultured person, and moreover, he has worked as an executive in a big company outside. Each progress report on company projects and every company and village meeting always managed to rouse high emotions in people. It¡¯s like there was a pie in front of everyone, which everyone could already see, yet he continued to add seasoning to it, making the pie look even more tempting and appetizing. The emotions of the whole village were driven by Xiao Yucheng as if they had already seen the vegetables and fruits of their village being sold all over the country, and then becoming famous. But while the whole village of Xiao Family Village was positive and looking forward to it, people from other villages were constantly pouring cold water on them, mocking the Xiao Family Village villagers for their wild imaginations. ¡°Haha, just growing vegetables and they can sell them all over the country? That¡¯s just wishful thinking.¡± ¡°Exactly. We haven¡¯t heard of any place that can sell its vegetables all over the country. In many places, the vegetables are grown locally and sold back to the locals. Otherwise, the transportation of the vegetables would be a problem, especially for long distances. After two or three days of transportation, by the time the vegetables have arrived, they will likely have rotted.¡± ¡°Well, isn¡¯t transportation now using some kind of preservative or refrigerated transport? It shouldn¡¯t be that easy to spoil, right?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t spoil easily, but I¡¯ve heard that the taste of frozen vegetables and fruits is far worse.¡¯ ¡°But the vegetables from Xiao Family Village haven¡¯t even been grown yet, so what are we worrying about for them?¡± ¡°Right. They have established a company in their village, and I heard they are also planning to raise a large number of chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, and cows. They have already built large-scale breeding farms.¡± ¡°Ha, so many animals; can they sell them all?¡± Indeed, people who haven¡¯t accomplished big things always have some groundless fears. They never believed that so many things could be sold; how can all of this be sold? ¡°Haha, who knows? Maybe they really have this ability. The company they established is not casually set up. The company has not started making money yet, but it already went to the bank to get a loan ¨C borrowing hundreds of thousands.¡± ¡°Ha, borrowing so much? Can the vegetables they grow sell for so much? They are already in debt before earning money. It seems like they are making money for the bank.¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s true. Vegetables are cheap, and there are only a few hundred acres, which can¡¯t sell for much. It seems that the people of Xiao Family Village are going down a dead-end road. We¡¯ll just wait and see.¡± ¡°The whole village is growing vegetables. I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re thinking.¡± Of course, the villagers of Xiao Family Village heard the whispers of the people outside. Many people¡¯s concerns were just like what the outsiders said ¨C how much can these vegetables sell for? The company hasn¡¯t made any profit yet, but they have already borrowed hundreds of thousands from the bank. They must repay the bank first, so how much money can they make? Privately, many villagers started discussing among themselves. ¡°The company borrowed so much money; can we pay it all back just by growing vegetables?¡± ¡°Moreover, since the establishment of the company, any action it has taken has cost money. Except for our voluntary efforts to grow vegetables in the whole village, it seems that everything else costs money. Even hiring a cleaner for the company costs money, as well as paying salaries to the company employees who go to work there. Besides, establishing such large breeding farms and buying seedlings also requires a lot of money. I don¡¯t know if the borrowed money from the bank is enough.¡¯ ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m also worried about this. However, Xiao Yucheng and others said that everything is hardest at the beginning. Our spending stage is in the early stage of establishment, and in the later stage, we can just wait to make money.¡± The whole village was growing vegetables, and with the company doing so many things, the villagers were unsure in their hearts. But soon, everyone regained confidence. Because many people in Open Market Town came to buy vegetables. Since the end of the year, the supply of vegetables to Open Market Town had already stopped. Once the supply of vegetables from Xiao Family Village stopped, those families whose children had become addicted to them were naturally dissatisfied. However, the end of the year was approaching, and every household was getting busier. After comforting their noisy children, the parents could finally feel relieved for the moment. But looking at their children growing taller and in better spirits, the parents knew that after the New Year, they would definitely continue to buy vegetables from Xiao Family Village. It was because of the vegetables from Xiao Family Village that the children were willing to eat, and with enough food and sleep, the children¡¯s spirit naturally grew taller. For the sake of their children¡¯s health, even the most frugal parents were willing to spend money. After all, the children were everything to their families. But after the Lantern Festival, the Xiao Family Village Vegetable Store still hadn¡¯t opened, and the parents started to wonder again. ¡°What¡¯s going on with this store? It¡¯s been past the Lantern Festival, but the store still hasn¡¯t opened. The children are going back to school soon, and I want to feed them well before they do, so they can be more energetic in class.¡± ¡°I am also waiting for my child to go back to school before buying more vegetables from Xiao Family Village for them to eat. But the store has been closed since the end of the year until now. What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Speaking of which, these vegetables from Xiao Family Village are truly amazing. They taste great, the children love to eat them, they can eat more rice, and their spirits are getting better and better, making it easier for them to pay attention in class. My child even advanced thirty spots in the class in the last exam, and even the teacher is amazed by his progress. Haha, my child used to always be one of the last ones in the class. I am so happy with how quickly he is improving.¡± ¡°I also asked my child, and he said that after eating enough, he feels energetic and can concentrate during class. His grades have naturally improved. Since the end of the year when the Xiao Family Village Vegetable Store closed, my child¡¯s appetite has significantly decreased. Now that school is starting, I just want to feed him well. But what¡¯s the deal with this store? It still hasn¡¯t opened for business. ¡°Who knows what¡¯s going on? Why don¡¯t we go to Xiao Family Village and see? I heard that every household there grows the same vegetables.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go take a look. It is not just the children, even the old bones like us want to eat the vegetables from Xiao Family Village.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go and see if we can buy some. If the mountain doesn¡¯t come to us, we have to go to the mountain.¡± So, a group of regular customers of the Xiao Family Village Vegetable Store went to Xiao Family Village in a lively pack. ¡°Big sister, we want to buy some vegetables, where can we buy them?¡± ¡°Buy vegetables? We don¡¯t have any to sell.¡± ¡°Ha, no vegetables for sale? With so many people here growing vegetables, is there really none to sell?¡± ¡°No, there isn¡¯t. Everyone does grow vegetables, but it¡¯s for their own consumption. At the end of the year, the young people come back, and the children don¡¯t have to go to school, so more people means more vegetables are needed. Now we don¡¯t even have enough to eat for ourselves, so how can we have extra vegetables to sell?¡± This is the conversation between the regular customers and the villagers ot Xiao Family Village.. Chapter 184 - Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Sending Some Vegetables (Second Update) Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Sending Some Vegetables (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Elder sister, our child has been fussing and demanding to eat your village¡¯s vegetables. Can you please see if any family here has some extra to sell to us? Even if the price is higher, that¡¯s fine.¡± Li Guixiang found their words amusing and said, ¡°It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t want to sell, it¡¯s that we really don¡¯t have any vegetables left. During the New Year, the young people who came back ate several plates every day, and when the New Year was over, they took a large bag of fresh vegetables to work and gave some away to relatives and friends. Now, there¡¯s only a little left in the fields for the children, so we have to save it.¡± Li Guixiang naturally knew how popular their vegetables were, and even at a high price, they were snapped up as soon as they arrived at the store. If they could sell them and make some money, who wouldn¡¯t want to sell their vegetables? But the problem is, there¡¯s none left to sell. ¡°Really? What should we do? Ever since your store closed, our child has been causing a ruckus. We thought that now that they¡¯re in school, we should let them eat well, be energetic, and pay attention in class.¡± ¡°Elder sister, so many people in your village are growing vegetables. Are they all meant to be eaten by your own families only? Can you spare some to sell to us? We just want to improve our children¡¯s meals.¡± After listening, Li Guixiang thought for a while and said, ¡°Alright, let me ask around to see if anyone has any vegetables for sale. I think it is unlikely, though. If anyone had any vegetables to sell, they would have sent them to the store long ago.¡± ¡°Well, please ask. Regardless of whether there are any or not, it¡¯s still worth asking.¡± Unable to do anything else, Li Guixiang led a group of seven or eight customers from the open market town to the village committee. ¡°Village Head, these people came to Xiao Family Village to buy vegetables,¡± Li Guixiang said, looking at the people behind her. The Village Head glanced at the crowd and slightly frowned. ¡°Here to buy vegetables? But we don¡¯t have anyone with extra vegetables for sale.¡± Li Guixiang helplessly said, ¡°That¡¯s what I told them, but they don¡¯t believe me. They insist I ask others.¡± The Village Head thought for a while and said, ¡°Alright, let me make an announcement through the loudspeakers.¡± The people in the village who were at home and working in the fields heard the announcement and their expressions turned strange as they began to discuss. ¡°People from the open market town are coming here to buy vegetables? Where can we find any to sell now? There are none left at my house. What about yours?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have any either. We ate most of them during the New Year, and the rest, we saved for our children. We don¡¯t have any extra to sell.¡± ¡°It seems these people have come here in vain.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing we can do about it. The new vegetables haven¡¯t grown yet, and the old ones will be gone once we pick them. Nobody wants to sell any.¡± The Village Head and the group of customers waited at the village committee for a long time, but no one came. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± The Village Head said, looking at them. ¡°It seems that no one has any vegetables to sell. I suggest you all go home.¡± Someone unwillingly said, ¡°But Village Head, we saw a large area of vegetables in your fields when we came. How could there be none to sell?¡± They had come all the way here and didn¡¯t buy anything. Wasn¡¯t it a wasted trip? Li Guixiang said, ¡°That large area of vegetables belongs to the whole village, not just one family. Although it may seem like a lot, there are many households in our village, so it¡¯s very limited.¡± ¡°What should we do then? We came here specifically to buy vegetables, but we didn¡¯t get any. How can we explain this to our children at home?¡± The Village Head and Li Guixiang, The Village Head looked at them, thought briefly, and said, ¡°You all wait here. Let me ask one more time.¡± Then he went out and directly to Xiao Jinli¡¯s house. Xiao Jinli was even busier now than before. Apart from going to school to pass the time, the rest of her time was spent in her greenhouses. ¡°Xiaofang, is Jinli at home?¡± The Village Head arrived at Xiao¡¯s house and asked Xiao¡¯s mother. Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°Xiao Bao is in the small greenhouse!¡± The small greenhouse refers to the one on the original five points of land. Now, Xiao Jinli had three greenhouses: one on the five points of land, one on the five acres of land, and another on the thirty acres of land. These three greenhouses were all under Xiao Jinli¡¯s management, so it was a private research base where no outsiders were allowed without permission. The Village Head found Xiao Jinli, who was tending to the vegetables in the field. Looking at these water-filled vegetables, the Village Head felt they were much better than anything grown by anyone else. ¡°Jinli!¡± ¡°Uncle Village Chief, what brings you here?¡± Xiao Jinli put down the small iron shovel in her hand and asked with a smile. The Village Head said, ¡°Seven or eight customers from the town have come to buy vegetables, but they haven¡¯t found any and don¡¯t want to leave. I came here to ask if you have any vegetables for sale.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I¡¯ve planted these five points of land, but there aren¡¯t many vegetables. After the New Year, I picked a large bag for each of my uncles and aunts when they went to work, so there¡¯s not much left.¡¯ The Village Head nodded. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the case. Well, if there are no vegetables, it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll go back and send them away. No one has extra vegetables now.¡± It¡¯s hard to believe that one day, vegetables would be sold out and people would worry about it. Xiao Jinli looked at the remaining vegetables in her field, smiled, and said, ¡°My family doesn¡¯t have extra vegetables to sell, but I can give some away. Uncle Village Chief, pick one Chinese cabbage or one cabbage for each person.¡± Upon hearing this, the Village Head smiled and nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pick them.¡± It was only a few cabbages, so he could carry them all by himself. Xiao Jinli continued, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, please make it clear to them later that these vegetables are not for sale. We¡¯re only giving them away this time. If they want to buy some in the future, they¡¯ll have to wait for the next crop in a month or two.¡± The Village Head nodded. ¡°Alright, of course, I will make it clear to them. Otherwise, they¡¯ll come here every day for nothing and we¡¯ll have to deal with them.¡± While talking, the Village Head quickly picked four Chinese cabbages and four cabbages, all similar in size and weight. The Village Head laughed heartily. ¡°I really don¡¯t know how you grow these vegetables. They all look the same, with no difference in size. Alright, I¡¯ll be going now.¡± After the Village Head left, Xiao Jinli looked at the empty pits in her field, her eyes shifted, blinked, and then another type of vegetable appeared in the pits: lettuce. Undoubtedly, these vegetables were transplanted from her space. This place was Xiao Jinli¡¯s private land, and no one knew what kind of vegetables or how many there were in the greenhouse except for Xiao Jinli herself. Even Xiao¡¯s mother didn¡¯t know.. Chapter 185 - Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Sister Doing Big Things (First Update) Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Sister Doing Big Things (First Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Eh, Village Head, where did these few vegetables come from?¡± Li Guixiang asked, looking at several vegetables in the Village Head¡¯s hands. The Village Head replied, ¡°They were picked from Jinli¡¯s place.¡± ¡°Huh, does Jinli have vegetables for sale?¡± Li Guixiang asked with some surprise. The Village Head shook his head, ¡°No. She just asked me to pick these few vegetables to give to these guests.¡± With that, he put down the few cabbages in his hand, still with roots and soil attached, and said to the few guests, ¡°These are given to you by a family in our village. One for each, free of charge.¡± These people¡¯s eyes lit up as soon as they saw the vegetables in the Village Head¡¯s hands. After hearing the Village Head¡¯s words, they quickly grabbed a cabbage each, frightened if they were a bit slower, someone else would grab it. The Village Head, watching their behavior, didn¡¯t say much. He just noted, ¡°These vegetables are gifts for you. Our village really has no more vegetables to sell. This is the first and the last time we give them out. The new vegetables in our village will be available for sale at least one month later. When the time comes, you can buy as much as you want.¡± ¡°Oh, not until more than a month later? That¡¯s so long?¡± ¡°Yeah, not until more than a month later. During this period, there will be no vegetables for sale in our store or in the village. We hope you guys wouldn¡¯t make the trip for nothing,¡± the village head advised. ¡°This year, the whole village is growing vegetables, so you don¡¯t have to worry about not having vegetables to sell. We hope you continue to support us!¡± Hearing this, the guests were a bit unhappy knowing that vegetables will only be available for sale more than a month later, but there was nothing they could do about it. They all said, ¡°Alright, we won¡¯t come again. We¡¯ll wait for your new batch of vegetables to be available.¡± ¡°But, can you ensure the new batch of vegetables will taste the same?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the Village Head guaranteed. ¡°The primary goal of our whole village¡¯s growing vegetables is to ensure the quality of the vegetables. This time, it¡¯s not just a small patch of field. Every household has planted several mu of land. If there is no quality guarantee, who would we sell the vegetables to?¡± After hearing what the Village Head said, these guests left with a cabbage each. Seeing these people leave, the villagers began to stir in excitement. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see? They used to buy vegetables from our shop regularly. Now that there¡¯s no sell in the shop, they are coming to our village to buy.¡± ¡°Haha, by the looks of it, we don¡¯t have to worry about not being able to sell these vegetables.¡± ¡°True. Which village is like ours when we run out of vegetables to sell, apart from coming to the village directly to buy, many people even steal. Stealing vegetables! It¡¯s like a joke in this day and age. Who would lack a few pieces of green vegetables at home? But the ones stealing green vegetables from our village are selling them.¡± ¡°Haha, with you mentioning it, wouldn¡¯t the remaining vegetables in our fields be stolen?¡± ¡°Haha, what are you thinking? Aren¡¯t there dogs guarding the vegetables in the field? Even those living nearby didn¡¯t steal any last year, even less chance anyone would steal now.¡± ¡°Our village¡¯s vegetables won¡¯t be on the market for at least another month. This period, we must not let thieves get the upper hand.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say.¡± Xiao Yucheng and other executives of the company have heard about people coming to the village to buy vegetables from the open market town. Zhou Yingxiu held documents, smiling and said to her husband, ¡°Hehe, husband, I¡¯m becoming more and more confident about the future development of our company. The vegetables in Xiao Family Village are indeed extraordinary. When we establish our sales channel, I guess these dealer bosses will come to us on their own.¡± Zhou Yingxiu originally opposed Xiao Yucheng¡¯s decision to stay, largely because she couldn¡¯t leave the high salary of the foreign enterprise. However, Xiao Yucheng insisted on staying, so she had no choice but to accompany her husband in starting a business. No one was deterred by the busy and challenging days of the company¡¯s inception. On the contrary, everyone was enthusiastic. Especially Zhou Yingxiu, she felt proud watching the company gradually formalize amidst the busyness. Xiao Yucheng said, ¡°Even the world-renowned organic green vegetables cannot compare with ours in terms of taste and quality. So, as long as we establish a sales channel, there will be a constant supply of orders. Also, wife, have you noticed that after eating our vegetables, we feel more energetic and healthier?¡± Zhou Yingxiu nodded, ¡°Indeed, you know, I used to have a chronic problem with painful periods. But after living at home for a while and eating these vegetables every day, I didn¡¯t feel pain during my period.¡± ¡°Haha, no more pain during your period, that¡¯s wonderful!¡± Xiao Yucheng said with a laugh. ¡°In the past, you would turn pale every time you had a painful period, I felt so bad for you. Now that you are free of this chronic problem, you won¡¯t have to suffer this pain in the future.¡± ¡°Oh, right!¡± Zhou Yingxiu, picking up a lab report, said, ¡°I sent some vegetables for testing, guess what the findings were?¡± Xiao Yucheng took the report and asked curiously, ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yingxiu leaned over, pointed to a spot on the report and said, ¡°There¡¯s a kind of active molecule in the structure of these vegetables, which is very beneficial to the human body. Regular consumption can lead to improved health!¡± It was only after she experienced no pain during her periods after eating the vegetables that she suddenly thought of getting them tested. Having this test report will make it easier to find a sales channel. ¡°Haha, that¡¯s great, with this test report, we can avoid many hassles,¡± Xiao Yucheng said excitedly. ¡°Wife, thank you so much.¡± ¡°However, there¡¯s a problem now,¡± Zhou Yingxiu said with a frown. ¡°Why do our vegetables contain this active molecule when others do not? This requires an explanation!¡± To her surprise, Xiao Yucheng said without hesitation, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to it. Of course, this belongs to our company¡¯s trade secret, a technical secret. If anyone asks, just say it this way.¡± Trade secrets are not to be disclosed casually. Next, Xiao Yucheng said seriously, ¡°Wife, this technology is currently only mastered by Jinli. So for Jinli¡¯s safety, it must not be disclosed.¡± Zhou Yingxiu nodded, ¡°Of course, I know that. But anyone would be curious, right?¡± ¡°Hehe, being curious is useless!¡± Xiao Yucheng laughed, ¡°It¡¯s a secret, a secret, our company¡¯s top-level secret.¡± Zhou Yingxiu thought for a moment and asked again, ¡°Husband, the most critical part of our vegetable growing technique is the earthworms. But, Jinli is just a child in her early teens, can she handle it alone? Should we let her pass on this technique to others?¡± Xiao Yucheng shook his head, his expression serious, ¡°You don¡¯t fully understand my sister. Despite her tender age, she has always been a strong problem solver since young. Many major issues in the village are solved by her. She considers problems more meticulously and comprehensively than us adults. If this technique could be passed on to others, she would have already done so, instead of doing it all herself!¡± Zhou Yingxiu, Chapter 187 - Chapter 187: Chapter 187: The Village Chief’s Wife is Mighty! (First Update) Chapter 187: Chapter 187: The Village Chief¡¯s Wife is Mighty! (First Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Elder sisters, we really don¡¯t have any vegetables for sale in our village, let alone giving them away to you!¡± The Village Head looked at the old ladies in front of him and said with great effort, ¡°All the few vegetables we had left are now gone. We don¡¯t have any spare to give to you!¡± After hearing this, Granny Li played dumb, ¡°I don¡¯t care. We came here, and we won¡¯t go back empty-handed.¡± The Village Head and others, ¡® . How could there be such shameless people? They don¡¯t even know them, so why should they give them anything? They¡¯re so infuriating. However, these old ladies are all over sixty or seventy years old, and you can¡¯t hit or scold them. You can only persuade them gently. Otherwise, if something happens to any of them, they would have to bear the consequences. ¡°Village Head, no matter how we persuade these old ladies, they just won¡¯t leave. What should we do?¡± A villager whispered, ¡°Should we really give them some vegetables?¡± The Village Head glared at him and said unhappily, ¡°No, we won¡¯t! Believe it or not, if we give them some now, they¡¯ll come every day for more. Even if we were familiar with them, we wouldn¡¯t do that!¡± ¡°But if we don¡¯t give them anything, they won¡¯t leave! What should we do?¡± The villager said anxiously, ¡°It¡¯s getting dark. What if something happens to them on their way home? They wouldn¡¯t blame us, would they?¡± ¡°What can we do? We can only compromise!¡± The Village Head said even more unhappily, ¡°If we really can¡¯t persuade them to leave, then we¡¯ll have to give them some.¡± ¡°Village Head, you¡¯re wrong about that. Our Xiao Family Village¡¯s vegetables are famous in the town. Now that our village has no vegetables to sell, even money can¡¯t buy them. These old ladies must be here because of our village¡¯s reputation, trying to take advantage.¡± The Village Head furrowed his brow, looked at the old ladies again, and tried to persuade them, ¡°My old sisters, we really don¡¯t have any free vegetables left in our village. Please hurry back before it gets dark. Otherwise, when it¡¯s dark, the road will be hard to navigate.¡± Granny Li sneered, ¡°How come others get free vegetables, but when we old ladies come, there¡¯s none for us? Who are you people looking down on? I¡¯m telling you, we won¡¯t leave today without getting vegetables. If we walk back after it gets dark and happen to fall on the way, we¡¯ll put the blame on you.¡± Upon hearing these words, Chen Qiulan¡¯s anger surged. She burst out, ¡°You people really shouldn¡¯t go too far! If you choose to walk back in the dark and fall, what does that have to do with us? Are we the ones stopping you from leaving? Obviously, you just don¡¯t want to go! I¡¯ve seen greedy and opportunistic people before, but you really take the cake.¡± Granny Li and her group were immediately dissatisfied, ¡°You, woman, who are you calling greedy and shameless?¡± Chen Qiulan didn¡¯t hesitate and said loudly, ¡°Whoever feels guilty, that¡¯s who I¡¯m talking about! Am I not telling the truth? We¡¯ve said it countless times: we have no vegetables to sell or give away! And yet, you¡¯re still here, acting shameless. Isn¡¯t that just being greedy and taking advantage? Are you all so impoverished that your children can¡¯t provide for you? If you really don¡¯t have children to take care of you, fine, we¡¯ll be generous and give you some old vegetables. How¡¯s that?¡± Chen Qiulan realized that reasoning with them was useless, and their thick skin had to be ripped off. Those who followed Granny Li felt very angry when they heard Chen Qiulan¡¯s words. ¡°No one takes care of you! I have three or four sons, and they are all very filial.¡± ¡°My children are also very filial!¡± If it were true that their children didn¡¯t care for them, their reputation would be tarnished, not only for themselves but also for their children. So, they became angry. As Chen Qiulan listened to their words, she placed her hands on her hips and sneered, ¡°Oh, so you all have filial children, huh? Since you all have such children, then what¡¯s the meaning of sticking to us like glue?¡± ¡°Is it your children¡¯s idea? If it is, that¡¯s fine. Just tell us your names, and we¡¯ll go door-to-door and deliver the vegetables while drumming and playing the trumpet. At the same time, we¡¯ll also help you promote how filial your children are, how about that?¡± The faces of these old ladies turned a dark shade of green, looking extremely unpleasant. They pointed at Chen Qiulan as if they wanted to curse but couldn¡¯t find the words. Seeing them all unable to speak, Chen Qiulan continued, ¡°Are you leaving or not? If you don¡¯t leave, we¡¯ll call the police and have the Yanmen officials find your children to take you back. After all, it¡¯s getting dark, and it¡¯s not easy for old ladies like you to move around. It¡¯s safer to have your children pick you up.¡± After saying that, Chen Qiulan turned to his younger son, Xiao Qing Shan, and said, ¡°Xiaoshan, go and call the Yamen officials.¡± Xiao Qingshan saw his mother in her moment of triumph and immediately replied, ¡°Got it, I¡¯m going now!¡± When Granny Li saw Xiao Qingshan taking out his cellphone as if he was really going to call the police, she panicked and shouted, ¡°Fine! We¡¯re leaving!¡± While Grousing, she said, ¡°We only came for the reputation of Xiao Family Village¡¯s vegetables. Who would have thought that you would be so stingy and even haggle over a few vegetables? Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re leaving!¡± The Village Head and others, ¡® . That¡¯s it? They¡¯d been trying to persuade these old ladies for a long time, but they remained unmoved. Yet, with just a few words from Chen Qiulan, they were sent running. Watching the backs of the old ladies as they retreated, the villagers gave Chen Qiulan a thumbs-up and teased her, ¡°Ha ha, it¡¯s no wonder you¡¯re the Village Chief¡¯s Wife. You¡¯re really impressive! Just a few words, and you¡¯ve scared these old ladies away.¡± ¡°Mom¡¯s mighty!¡± Xiao Qingshan also happily shouted, ¡°Ha ha, listening to my mother¡¯s words, I was really afraid that these old ladies would have a stroke and fall. I didn¡¯t expect them to run away instead.¡± ¡°Heh, we men have been speaking nicely to these old ladies for so long, yet they just wouldn¡¯t listen. We were about to give in and try sending them some vegetables. Now we didn¡¯t even think that the Village Chief¡¯s Wife would show her authority and send them running.¡± Chen Qiulan felt a little embarrassed hearing these words. She laughed and said, ¡°These shameless old ladies just won¡¯t listen to you when you¡¯re nice to them. They¡¯ll get all excited and think that we have no choice but to give them what they want. However, when it comes to their children¡¯s reputation, they get cautious. They may love taking advantage, but they can¡¯t let that affect their children. ¡°You¡¯re actually right. Why didn¡¯t we think of that just now?¡± ¡°Ha ha, next time someone tries to take advantage, we¡¯ll threaten them like this..¡± Chapter 188 - Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Jiang Chen’s Arrival (2nd Update) Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Jiang Chen¡¯s Arrival (2nd Update) Translator: 549690339 Soon, Xiao Jinli received news of the Village Chief¡¯s Wife¡¯s impressive display of authority. As expected, no matter how old they are, women understand women. Once a woman becomes a mother, she remains a mother for life! Even the most selfish mothers have selfless love for their children. No matter how old they are, their children are still their most beloved. Thus, when it comes to their children¡¯s reputation, their greed for taking advantage of others naturally takes a back seat. Xiao Jinli certainly wouldn¡¯t get involved in such minor matters. In the five acres of land, rice seedlings are now growing. Over 100 acres of seedlings require at least three acres of seedlings. Xiao Jinli cultivated four acres of seedlings, and the rest were other seedlings. The rice seedlings can be transplanted in about twenty days and should be planted in the fields in March. The rice seeds were still bought from the seed station, and they were the Northeast Fragrant Pure Rice. Jiang Chen thought Xiao Jinli was just playing around when they first did business. But later, he realized that her business had grown bigger and bigger, almost emptying their seed station of seeds. However, Xiao Jinli now gives advance notice to the seed station for any seeds she needs. After getting to know Xiao Jinli, Jiang Chen came over to check things out. Upon seeing a large area of tender green seedlings, he couldn¡¯t help but ask in surprise, ¡°Did you cultivate all these seedlings?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes!¡± Jiang Chen immediately gave her a thumbs up and praised, ¡°You are truly amazing. We usually need professional technicians to guide us in cultivating some rare seeds, but you did it all by yourself and even did better than the professionals.¡± Xiao Jinli grinned and said with a laugh, ¡°Maybe I have a talent for farming.¡± Jiang Chen agreed wholeheartedly, ¡°It must be a talent indeed. Everyone has special or outstanding talents in some areas. Otherwise, how could we have so many top-notch people in various fields?¡± At this point, he seemed to remember something and asked, ¡°I remember you bought those Colorful Camellia Seeds. Have you planted them? Have they germinated? With your talent for farming, maybe you can really make these Colorful Camellia Seeds take root and grow.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°I planted two seeds, and both of them have germinated, and they¡¯re growing well!¡± Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen¡¯s face showed extreme surprise. Then he said excitedly, ¡°Really? Can I take a look and see for myself? I¡¯ve only heard of Colorful Camellia, but I¡¯ve never seen a real one!¡± Xiao Jinli hesitated, her face full of difficulty. She shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve already given one away, and the other one is planted in a special location. It¡¯s not convenient to let people see it.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s expression fell, and he soon resumed his usual demeanor, understandingly saying, ¡°That¡¯s true, such expensive and special seeds would have been bought and all over the place if they could be easily cultivated.¡± It¡¯s because they are special that Colorful Camellias are so expensive. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Brother Jiang, when the Colorful Camellia blooms, I¡¯ll invite von over to see it.¡± Jiang Chen was excited again, ¡°Great, that¡¯s great! Please remember to let me come and see it. I¡¯m also curious about what a Colorful Camellia worth millions and tens of millions looks like. Oh, by the way, when will it bloom?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°There are already some flower buds now, and they should bloom around March or April.¡± Jiang Chen nodded and said, ¡°Colorful Camellia is very precious to people who love plants and flowers. Do you plan to keep this flower or sell it?¡± Without hesitation, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Of course I¡¯m going to sell it. No matter how precious, money is more practical!¡± Jiang Chen, She¡¯s so vulgar at such a young age. However, if he were in her shoes, he would also sell the flower. After all, to someone like him who doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate it, a flower is just a flower, with no value. It¡¯s more practical to sell it for money. Jiang Chen thought for a moment and offered, ¡°Do you need my help when you sell this Colorful Camellia? I may not be rich or powerful, but I have some connections and know quite a few noble elites.¡± Those who can afford to buy the flower are either rich or noble. Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, if I need your help, Brother Jiang, I¡¯ll definitely ask.¡¯ Jiang Chen nodded and reminded her once more, ¡°Jinli, remember to let me know when the Colorful Camellia blooms. I want to come and see!¡± Even if he can¡¯t afford to buy it, he would still like to see and appreciate its beauty. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Jiang, I¡¯ll remember,¡± Xiao Jinli looked at the time and said, ¡°It¡¯s time for dinner. Let¡¯s go eat. I¡¯ll tell you, the food my mom cooks is simply amazing. You won¡¯t be able to forget it once you¡¯ve tried it.¡± Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen was immediately interested and said, ¡°Oh, really? Then I¡¯ll enjoy it and maybe eat a little more.¡± Before Jiang Chen and Xiao Jinli had even entered the courtyard, they smelled the enticing fragrance of the dishes. Jiang Chen¡¯s spirits lifted, and he wrinkled his nose, exclaiming, ¡°It smells so good! What dish is this, it smells so delicious? It must taste even better.¡± With anticipation all over his face, they entered the house and saw the four elders sitting at the dining table. After hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s introduction that they were Xiao Jinli¡¯s maternal grandparents and paternal grandparents, Jiang Chen greeted them. ¡°Ha-ha, young man, don¡¯t be so formal when you come here. Sit down,¡± Grandpa Xiao said with a smile. After sitting down, Jiang Chen saw that the dishes were already on the table. Smelling the different aromas from the various dishes, Jiang Chen¡¯s mouth was watering, and he swallowed, then said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Just by looking and smelling these dishes, I can tell how delicious they are. I never thought that your mom¡¯s cooking would be this good! Even a five-star chef can¡¯t compare!¡± As he was speaking, Xiao Jinli¡¯s father brought a plate of green vegetables to the table and said with a smile, ¡°Well, young man, you¡¯d better eat a lot later.¡± Jiang Chen nodded, ¡°Definitely, definitely!¡± Xiao Jinli checked the time and asked, ¡°Dad, are my brothers coming home for dinner?¡± Dad replied, ¡°They are busy with work, so they won¡¯t be coming back for dinner. They¡¯ll eat at the company¡¯s cafeteria. The food there is also pretty good.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, then said with a smile, ¡°My brothers always complain about missing my mom¡¯s cooking, but when they¡¯re working, they forget about everything else and only come home once in a while.¡± Her maternal grandfather chuckled, ¡°Their work ethic is really admirable. Now that the company is doing better and better, the young people have contributed a lot.¡¯ Xiao Jinli agreed, ¡°That¡¯s for sure! My three brothers and sister-in-law are all outstanding. In the future, our company will undoubtedly develop better and better..¡± Chapter 189 - Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Did President Gao Get a Mistress? (Part One) Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Did President Gao Get a Mistress? (Part One) Translator: 549690339 Licheng Gao Sheng International Trade Company President Gao Jianjun just finished a meeting with his subordinates when he received a phone call. Seeing the incoming call, the secretary watched the usually serious and cold president quickly turn into a gentle and amiable person. The secretary marveled to herself, ¡°I wonder who the president is talking to, is it his wife?¡± Only in front of his wife would this aloof president become gentle and affectionate. As the saying goes, women at forty are like tofu residue, men at forty are like blooming flowers. A man at forty is at the peak of his career, mature and steady, exuding charm, which attracts many women, especially young girls. President Gao is no exception. Even though he is over forty, he does not have the bald, pot-bellied, and greasy uncle look like other bosses. Instead, he is handsome, tall, and cool, with a refined demeanor and a successful career, making him very attractive to women. However, within the industry, it is well known that President Gao only has eyes for his wife and treats any other woman indifferently. Even when dealing with female clients, he is always polite and tactful, never crossing the line. In his words, business is business, and it¡¯s not about trading power for sex. If he had to sacrifice his appearance for the sake of cooperation, he would rather give up on the collaboration. Haha! If a woman said such a thing, people would admire her for her straightforwardness and perseverance, like a female hero! However, when a man says this, many people find it funny and think that a man who rejects women is either not interested in women or pretends to be upright. Nobody would believe that a successful businessman could be so loyal to his aging wife. But that¡¯s how it is. For this reason, he has broken the hearts of many men. Just as Secretary Cui thought that their president was talking to his wife and was about to leave, she heard President Gao¡¯s gentle voice, ¡°Jinli, did you call me for anything?¡± Jinli? This name sounded like a girl¡¯s name. The president is surprisingly gentle to another girl, she must be special. Could it be that the president has found a mistress behind his wife¡¯s back? Secretary Cui felt uneasy. He was considered a good man in the business world, but now he found a mistress? ¡°Ah, is that true? You¡¯re coming over? Okay, when? Should I pick you up? Alright, I got it.¡± After hanging up the phone, President Gao made another call. As soon as the other party answered, he said, ¡°Bamboo, Jinli is coming over in a few days. Okay, okay, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure everything is arranged. Yes, yes, at that time, I¡¯ll have Gao Yanxin pick her up. Oh, no, I¡¯ll pick her up myself!¡± Secretary Cui, ¡°¡­¡± It seems she had overthought it. This Jinli might be a girl, but she should be related to President Gao¡¯s family. After the president hung up the phone, he noticed that his secretary was still standing at the door and asked doubtfully, ¡°Secretary Cui, do you need something?¡± Secretary Cui immediately shook her head and said, ¡°Nothing, nothing, Mr. President, I¡¯ll leave now.¡± As soon as Secretary Cui stepped out and leaned against the door, she patted her chest and gasped, ¡°Oh my, that was so scary. I really thought the president had found a mistress. Another secretary happened to pass by and heard her muttering. With an intrigued look, she asked, ¡°Secretary Cui, who has a mistress?¡± Upon hearing this, Secretary Cui immediately panicked and covered Secretary Li¡¯s mouth, casting a cautious look at the door of the president¡¯s office, ¡°Be quiet! Do you want to get me killed?¡± ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Secretary Li¡¯s face turned red with her mouth covered, her eyes motioning for Cui to let go. Secretary Cui released her, and Secretary Li asked, ¡°Secretary Cui, what are you afraid of? Who has a mistress?¡± Then she looked in the direction of the president¡¯s office and exclaimed, ¡°Could it be our president has found a mistress?¡± If that¡¯s true, it would be big news in the industry. Upon hearing Secretary Li¡¯s words, Secretary Cui reflexively covered her mouth again. Once again, Li¡¯s mouth was covered. Her big, expressive eyes blinked rapidly, filled with curiosity and confusion. Secretary Cui whispered, ¡°You really want to get me killed. If the president knew I was talking behind his back about him having a mistress, he would fire me in a minute.¡± At this point, she explained, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s not the president who has a mistress; it¡¯s that I almost misunderstood that he had one.¡± Secretary Li hooked her lips with curiosity and groaned, ¡°Let go of me first; it¡¯s uncomfortable for you to cover my mouth like this!¡± Secretary Cui finally let her go. Secretary Li took a few breaths and then asked with confusion, ¡°What¡¯s going on? How could you misunderstand that our president had a mistress?¡± Then Secretary Cui explained, ¡°It was the first time I saw our president talk on the phone with such a gentle tone towards a woman other than his wife. I thought it was a mistress.¡± Upon hearing this, Secretary Li rolled her eyes and said displeasedly, ¡°You¡¯re really something. Just because our president speaks gently to another woman, you suspect he has a mistress? You¡¯re not sick in the head? If our president really had a mistress, would he make this call in front of you, his secretary?¡± That would be damaging to his image and reputation, and he would definitely avoid doing it in front of anyone. ¡® Secretary Cui nodded, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I overthought it.¡± Then she made a pleading gesture and said, ¡°Please, don¡¯t tell the president about this, or I won¡¯t be able to get away with it. Please, Secretary Li, you¡¯re the best!¡± Secretary Li laughed, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Even if you didn¡¯t beg me, I wouldn¡¯t report such a petty thing.¡± ¡°Secretary Li, come in for a moment,¡± President Gao suddenly called. Guilty-conscious Secretary Cui jumped with fright and whispered, ¡°We were whispering just now. Are you sure the president didn¡¯t hear us? What does he want you to do now?¡± Secretary Li rolled her eyes and said irritably, ¡°Humph! Serves you right for doubting our president. Okay, I have to go in now.¡± With that said, she ignored Secretary Cui¡¯s nervousness and entered the president¡¯s office. After a while, she came out. Secretary Cui expectantly looked at her, and Secretary Li said with a smile, ¡°The president asked me to book a flight from Ganjiang City to Licheng in three days.¡± ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s it.¡± Secretary Cui felt relieved. Secretary Li mischievously added, ¡°Yes, the ticket is for that Xiao Jinli.¡± Secretary Cui, Chapter 190 - Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Airplane Delay (Part 2) Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Airplane Delay (Part 2) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Jinli, are you sure you don¡¯t want us to accompany you to Licheng?¡± Xiao Father was driving Xiao Mother and Xiao Jinli to Ganjiang City Airport. Xiao Jinli held a bunch of little camellias in her hand with a few flower buds still on the tree and carried a small black bag on her back. She shook her head and said, ¡°No need, Dad, I can manage on my own. You¡¯ve brought me here to take the plane, and when I arrive in Licheng, Cousin Xin and my Uncle will pick me up. Don¡¯t worry, I definitely won¡¯t get lost.¡± Xiao Father looked at his beautiful daughter and couldn¡¯t help but worry. He said, ¡°No, I should go with you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry. Your daughter is so smart and energetic; most ordinary people can¡¯t even beat me. I won¡¯t be easily deceived or abducted.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re still only eleven years old.¡± Xiao Father said, ¡°No matter how strong you are, can you be stronger than those grown men? No, I¡¯ll buy a plane ticket and stay with you in Licheng for a few days.¡± His daughter was smart and beautiful, making her an easy target for human traffickers. Xiao Jinli, ¡® That wouldn¡¯t work. Having her father around would make many things difficult to do. So, she had to dissuade him. Helplessly, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Dad, you should trust your own daughter. I was born as a Lucky Star, and bad people will only be unlucky when they meet me. Dad, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be careful and won¡¯t talk to strangers or go with them!¡± When mentioning the Lucky Star, Xiao Father agreed. After hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s repeated assurances, Xiao Father reluctantly agreed to let his daughter go to Licheng alone. Once Xiao Jinli boarded the airplane, he immediately called Gao Jianjun and said, ¡°Jianjun, Jinli is already on the plane and will arrive in two hours. Make sure you pick her up.¡± Gao Jianjun received the call from his brother-in-law and laughed, promising, ¡°Brother-in-law, don¡¯t worry. As long as Jinli gets on the plane, I¡¯ll definitely pick her up in advance. Brother-in-law, there¡¯s no need to worry. Jinli is so smart; nobody can deceive her. Okay, okay, once I pick her up, I¡¯ll call you right away.¡± After hanging up, Gao Jianjun said to his son beside him, ¡°Your cousin has already boarded the plane. Let¡¯s go pick her up together.¡± Gao Yanxin took the car keys and said, ¡°Dad, I can go alone.¡± Gao Jianjun nodded, ¡°Alright, you go to the airport. And when you pick her up, call your uncle to ease their worries.¡± Gao Yanxin nodded, ¡°Okay, I understand!¡± Afterwards, he took the car keys and was about to leave, but Gao Jianjun called him back a moment later. ¡°Dad, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Gao Yanxin asked. ¡°Let Secretary Li go with you to pick her up.¡± Gao Jianjun said, ¡°Secretary Li is more careful and knows what girls need. When your cousin gets off the plane, let Secretary Li take her shopping.¡± Gao Yanxin rolled his eyes and said speechlessly, ¡°Cousin just gets off the plane and you want her to go shopping? Won¡¯t that be tiring?¡± ¡°Just do what I say and go with Secretary Li!¡± Gao Jianjun said, A while later, Gao Yanxin and Secretary Li set off for the airport. Secretary Li asked curiously, ¡°Young Master, who are we picking up?¡± As for Xiao Jinli, she was really curious. She didn¡¯t expect that the usually aloof President would speak so gently to this girl. Gao Yanxin said, ¡°My cousin, um, my elder aunt¡¯s daughter. You know, Secretary Li, Xiao Jinli is so smart and beautiful. She¡­¡± Afterward, Secretary Li was forced to listen to the praises and growth experiences of this cousin throughout the journey. Secretary Li became extremely curious about the girl. However, when they arrived at the airport, they learned of the flight delay from Ganjiang City to Licheng. Upon hearing the news, Gao Yanxin¡¯s face turned pale with fear. He trembled and said, ¡°A delay? How can the plane be delayed? I clearly heard my uncle say that my cousin had boarded the plane!¡± If the plane had taken off, it would mean it was flying normally. If there¡¯s a delay, like encountering bad weather or mechanical failure, the passengers would be informed in advance and not allowed to board. But if the plane is delayed after boarding, what does that mean? It means that an emergency occurred during the flight. The probability of an airplane accident is low, but it doesn¡¯t mean it can¡¯t happen. Once an airplane accident occurs, the people inside have almost no chance of survival. Secretary Li also hadn¡¯t expected such a situation. She comforted Gao Yanxin, ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t worry. Right now, it¡¯s just a delay; it doesn¡¯t mean the plane has crashed. Calm down first.¡± At this time, many family members of the passengers on that flight were in the airport. Upon hearing the news, they became very emotional. ¡°What situation causes a flight delay? Doesn¡¯t the airport owe us an explanation?¡± ¡°I want to know the situation of the plane!¡± ¡°My parents and children are all on this flight. You don¡¯t give us any explanation and tell me to calm down? How am I supposed to calm down? If anything happens to them, I¡¯ll make sure the airport suffers too.¡± ¡°Give us an explanation!¡± ¡°The airport must give an explanation to the relatives of the passengers!¡± Gao Yanxin shivered as he pulled out his cellphone, then he couldn¡¯t even hold it anymore. He looked at Secretary Li and said, ¡°Secretary Li, call my Dad!¡± He couldn¡¯t get any information on that flight now, but his father had connections in the company, perhaps they could get the inside story as soon as possible. The cousin was the pearl in the palm of both Xia and Gao families. He didn¡¯t dare to imagine the impact it would have on them if anything happened to her, especially the elderly on both sides. They might not be able to bear the heavy blow of losing their granddaughter. Secretary Li supported Gao Yanxin and comforted him, ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll call the President right now.¡± After saying that, Secretary Li called Gao Jianjun. Gao Jianjun¡¯s face changed after receiving the call from Secretary Li, and he said, ¡°I know. I¡¯ll call the airline right away. Keep an eye on Xin er.¡± After hanging up with Secretary Li, he immediately called a familiar person at the airline. ¡°Director Li¡­¡± After hearing the other party¡¯s words, Gao Jianjun¡¯s face became more and more serious, ugly, and worried. ¡°Okay, I understand, Director Li. Thank you!¡± After hanging up, Gao Jianjun hurried out of his office. Secretary Cui saw his boss¡¯s face looking wrong and immediately asked, ¡°Mr. President, what¡¯s happened?¡± Gao Jianjun calmed himself down and ordered Secretary Cui, ¡°Secretary Cui, come with me to the airport. You drive!¡± He couldn¡¯t drive in that state. Secretary Cui didn¡¯t ask what had happened and went obediently to fetch the car from the underground parking lot.. Chapter 191 - Chapter 191: Chapter 191: There is a Bomb on the Airplane (Part 1) Chapter 191: Chapter 191: There is a Bomb on the Airplane (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli wasn¡¯t sure if she was unlucky or lucky. As soon as she boarded the plane, her ears picked up a distinct ¡°tick-tock¡± sound. This sound was all too familiar to her from her previous life. Her expression immediately changed, and she said to Little Zhi in her mind, ¡°Little Zhi, there¡¯s a bomb on the plane. Find out where it is and who brought it on board.¡± Even though she was human now and could escape into her space if the plane exploded, how would she explain this later? Moreover, there were so many innocent people on the plane that she had to save them no matter what. There was still time before the plane took off. Upon hearing about the bomb, Little Zhi was also startled and began searching for its location. After a moment, he said, ¡°Master, the bomb is in the cockpit, right by the captain¡¯s seat.¡± Xiao Jinli was astonished, ¡°How can this be?¡± If the bomb was in the cockpit and right by the captain¡¯s seat, then the answer was that the captain had brought the bomb on board. ¡°I am now certain and sure that the bomb was brought on by the captain. Furthermore, I noticed a hint of fanaticism and determination in his eyes.¡± Little Zhi reported to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Master, the captain intends to bury everyone on the plane in space. What should we do now?¡± If the bomb needed to be connected to the internet to explode, Little Zhi would definitely destroy the network without hesitation, preventing the explosion. Xiao Jinli quickly calmed down and said, ¡°Let me think first!¡± If she told the flight attendants directly that there was a bomb on the plane and that the captain had brought it, she would be called crazy and not be believed, especially since she was a child. ¡°Master, it would be best to resolve this before the plane takes off. Otherwise, even if the bomb is defused, having a captain with an unstable mentality could still be a major disaster.¡± Xiao Jinli checked the time, the plane would take off in ten minutes. She went to the galley and found the chief flight attendant. ¡°Elder sister, I¡¯m afraid to be alone on the plane. Can I stay with you?¡± Xiao Jinli said innocently, like a ten-year-old child. The chief flight attendant saw such a lovely and pretty little girl and couldn¡¯t help but like her. She said, ¡°Of course. But little friend, the plane is about to take off, and we must be seated in our seats. And I also need to serve other passengers. How about I escort you back to your seat?¡± Xiao Jinli waved to the chief flight attendant and said, ¡°Sister, I want to whisper something to you. It won¡¯t take long!¡± The chief flight attendant was curious about what the child wanted to say and leaned in with a smile, ¡°What do you want sister to say?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Sister, I¡¯ll tell you a secret. My ears are very sensitive, and when I boarded the plane, I heard a tick-tock sound, um, like it¡¯s coming from the front of the plane.¡± The chief flight attendant didn¡¯t take it seriously and laughed, ¡°What tick-tock sound? You must have heard it wrong.¡± Xiao Jinli appeared very anxious, grabbed the chief flight attendant¡¯s sleeve, and said fearfully and nervously, ¡°Sister, I didn¡¯t hear it wrong. I¡¯ve heard this tick-tock sound on TV before, um, it¡¯s like the sound of a bomb. Sister, you must believe me.¡± Seeing Xiao Jinli¡¯s expression, the chief flight attendant still couldn¡¯t believe the child¡¯s words. She comforted her, ¡°Little friend, you must have heard it wrong. It should be something else on the plane making that sound. How could there be a bomb on the plane? Little friend, the plane is about to take off, so I¡¯ll take you to your seat now.¡± However, Xiao Jinli could see that the chief flight attendant didn¡¯t believe her, and her face looked even more anxious. She said even more urgently, ¡°Sister, you must believe me! You have to believe me! No, I need to prove to you that I¡¯m not lying!¡± With that said, without waiting for the flight attendant and others to react, she immediately ran towards the cockpit. The chief flight attendant¡¯s face changed drastically, and she shouted, ¡°Little friend, stop! Stand still!¡± Xiao Jinli skillfully dodged all obstacles and quickly reached the cockpit. The captain and co-pilot, sitting in the cockpit, did not expect a child to run in. Before they could react or scold the child, she ran to the captain¡¯s seat, pushed his head forward, and rushed underneath the seat. The co-pilot looked dumbfounded at the child¡¯s move. However, as a co-pilot, they had been trained to handle emergencies calmly. But before he could scold the child, he saw her come out from under the seat with something in her hands, her face changed dramatically, and she stood up abruptly. How could he not recognize that item? The fact that he recognized it was what shocked him the most. Xiao Jinli held the bomb and asked with a puzzled and confused expression, ¡°Uncle, what is this? I heard this thing making a tick-tock sound earlier, which made me very scared and uneasy, so I went straight to look for it. Uncle, what is this?¡± As the chief flight attendant and the others rushed to the cockpit, they saw Xiao Jinli holding the bomb, her face full of confusion and innocence. When the chief flight attendant and others saw the bomb, their faces and expressions changed dramatically. Especially the chief flight attendant, she never thought that the child¡¯s words were all true. As Xiao Jinli held the bomb, wanting to take a closer look, Co-pilot Hua Shengyu¡¯s face became serious and said, ¡°Child, don¡¯t move, don¡¯t touch it.¡± Xiao Jinli immediately stopped moving! Just as she looked back at the captain and saw him rubbing his head and trying to stand up, she quickly and unintentionally stretched out her leg, pushing him down again and crashing him into the nearby control panel. ¡°Bang!¡± The captain¡¯s eyes flashed with anger. The co-pilot and chief flight attendant and others watched Xiao Jinli¡¯s movements with bated breath. The chief flight attendant then said worriedly, ¡°Captain!¡± Xiao Jinli looked terrified and nervously said, ¡°Sister, I¡¯m so scared of him, he¡­ he is a bad guy!¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Bi Shengyu asked in shock, ¡°Captain is a bad guy?¡± He just heard the child say that she heard the sound and felt very scared and uneasy, so she came running to find the object. Now she¡¯s saying the captain is a bad guy, this¡­ Bi Shengyu asked, ¡°Child, why do you say the captain is a bad guy? Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know, but this uncle gives me a very bad, disgusting feeling, and I don¡¯t like him!¡± Everyone, ¡°Uncle, what is this object in my hand?¡± Xiao Jinli looked at the bomb in her arms and asked, ¡°Why is it making a tick-tock sound that scares people? How was it brought on board?¡± Chapter 192 - Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Crisis (Part 2) Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Crisis (Part 2) Translator: 549690339 After hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, the co-pilot quickly reacted and asked the chief flight attendant, ¡°Have you alarmed anyone?¡± The chief flight attendant finally reacted and said, ¡°I¡¯ll do it now!¡± The co-pilot said, ¡°I¡¯ll contact the control tower. You and the others calm the passengers down; this flight will be delayed.¡± The co-pilot arranged this without consulting the captain at all. The chief flight attendant immediately assigned tasks to other flight attendants. When Bi Shengyu suspected something was wrong with the captain, he looked at Xiao Jinli and said, ¡°Kid, hold onto that thing and don¡¯t move it. Walk over here carefully, and be very careful, understand?¡± They must keep the child away from the captain; otherwise, what if the captain harms the child? Xiao Jinli nodded, holding the bomb steadily, and walked towards the co-pilot. For Xiao Jinli, it would take only a moment to dismantle the bomb, but she couldn¡¯t be too conspicuous. So she cleverly held the bomb, ensuring it didn¡¯t collide with anything while moving. When Xiao Jinli came over and Bi Shengyu saw the bomb in her hands, he finally sighed in relief. It was a timer bomb. Looking at the time, there were still fifteen minutes left. Suddenly, the co-pilot realized¡ªonly fifteen minutes left? Wasn¡¯t the plane just recently airborne? It had just taken off and hadn¡¯t even reached cruising altitude. If it exploded at that point, the entire plane would be reduced to ashes, and the flaming wreckage would undoubtedly fall somewhere. If it fell into the sea or a desolate mountain village, it would be just an airplane explosion. But if it fell into a densely populated city, it would be a devastating disaster. Thinking of this, Bi Shengyu was covered in cold sweat. Seeing the cold sweat on his face, Xiao Jinli innocently asked, ¡°Uncle, is this a bomb?¡± Bi Shengyu asked, ¡°Child, how did you know this was a bomb?¡± ¡°I saw it on television!¡± Xiao Jinli said matter-of-factly, ¡°Otherwise, why would I feel frightened and uneasy when I hear this sound?¡± Bi Shengyu, ¡°But, uncle, even if it¡¯s a bomb, we shouldn¡¯t be afraid.¡± Xiao Jinli comforted, ¡°I¡¯ve been incredibly lucky since I was young, and people in the village call me Lucky Star. So, with me here, even if there¡¯s a bomb, we¡¯ll be safe.¡± After hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, Bi Shengyu couldn¡¯t help but smile and cry. Bi Shengyu nodded and said, ¡°Alright, today we¡¯ll rely on our little Lucky Star to survive this ordeal.¡± These words, of course, were meant to reassure Xiao Jinli. As for luck, that was hard to say for him. The chief flight attendant ran in and said, ¡°I¡¯ve called and reported the situation. A bomb disposal expert will arrive shortly.¡± Bi Shengyu nodded and said, ¡°Mhm, have the passengers been appeased?¡± The chief flight attendant said, ¡°We told them the weather was causing issues and we couldn¡¯t fly, so they needed to change flights. Most of them obediently got off the plane, with only a few causing trouble. We forcibly dragged them off the plane. The company is now evacuating all passengers from the airport! ¡± After all, there was a bomb on the plane, and they might not have time to dismantle it¡­ The co-pilot nodded and then said, ¡°Chief flight attendant, you leave too, along with the other flight attendants. Evacuate immediately!¡± ¡°Brother Bi?¡± The chief flight attendant called out, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving. I¡¯ll stay with you!¡± ¡°No, get out of here right away!¡± Bi Shengyu insisted, ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous here. If the bomb¡­ think about your parents and all your loved ones?¡± The chief flight attendant cried and said, ¡°Wuu wuu, Brother Bi!¡± ¡°Go, leave now!¡± Bi Shengyu suddenly shouted. ¡°None of you will leave!¡± The captain suddenly got up, holding a remote controller in his hand. He turned around, revealing a bump on his forehead and blood at the corner of his mouth. He wiped the blood from the edge of his lips and, seeing the blood on his hand, revealed a hideous and terrible smile. He said, ¡°I thought the explosion would happen mid-air. I didn¡¯t expect that this stinky girl would ruin my plan. Hehe, that¡¯s even better. As long as I press this controller, the entire airport will be destroyed in an instant with me.¡± Suppressing his anger, Bi Shengyu sternly asked, ¡°Qian Li, why are you doing ¡°Hahaha, why?¡± Qian Li laughed maniacally, ¡°Hahaha¡­ Why? Because the company is being unfair to me!¡± Bi Shengyu furrowed his brows and asked with some confusion, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Qian Li roared, ¡°Do you know, this is my last flight as a captain? I¡¯ve been working diligently in the company for over twenty years, flown planes for more than ten years, and have been a captain for three years. Now, they just say I can¡¯t do it anymore.¡± ¡°Do you know how much I love this industry, and now they want to take away my beloved aviation profession? On what grounds? How is it different from killing my child or killing me? Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll drag everyone on this flight to accompany me in death!¡± ¡°But, my plan was ruined by a child.¡± Qian Li glared ferociously at Xiao Jinli, ¡°However, taking you all with me in death, I won¡¯t be at a loss. Haha, you stupid girl, you can only blame yourself for meddling.¡± With that, he shook the remote controller in his hand. Immediately, the ticking of the bomb became louder, indicating the time was running out faster. ¡°Qian Li, calm down!¡± Bi Shengyu shouted, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to quit this industry, we can talk it out!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Qian Li roared, ¡°Do you think I haven¡¯t talked it through with company leaders? Do you know what they said to me?¡± ¡°They said I¡¯ve been in the captain¡¯s seat for too long, and it¡¯s time to make room for others. Do you know who they want to give the position to?¡± ¡°Give it to you, Bi Shengyu? On what grounds? Why should I give you my captain¡¯s seat? I don¡¯t want to, so they won¡¯t let me work anymore. On what grounds, Bi Shengyu? Just because your father is a company director? Huh!¡± Bi Shengyu never expected Qian Li¡¯s extreme behavior to arise from such a hidden reason. ¡°Hahaha, now I¡¯m taking you, the future captain, with me. I¡¯ll make them all regret it!¡± With that, he shook the remote controller in his hand again, and the ticking became even louder, signaling that time was running out even faster. Bi Shengyu looked at the countdown ¨C only three minutes left. He had to get Qian Li to stop! ¡°Stop, Qian Li, don¡¯t be impulsive. Think about your wife, your children, your parents. Do you want to be known as a villain for all eternity?¡± Bi Shengyu continued to appease, ¡°If you really press it down, your parents will lose a son, your children will lose a father, your wife will lose a husband. Can you endure that along with your own pain, being pointed at by thousands of people?¡± Qian Li, think calmly for a moment. Your wife is beautiful, your child is in university, and your parents are old..¡± Chapter 193 - Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Cutting the Blue Wire, Crisis Averted (First Update) Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Cutting the Blue Wire, Crisis Averted (First Update) Translator: 549690339 They thought Bi Shengyu¡¯s words could persuade Qian Li, who had already gone mad. After all, in the eyes of outsiders, Qian Li was a good man who loved his wife, cherished his children, and respected his parents. Who would have thought that after hearing Bi Shengyu¡¯s words, Qian Li¡¯s expression became more and more agitated. He roared, ¡°What do you know? Just because the company doesn¡¯t want me anymore, my wife scolds me for being a loser, insists on divorcing me, and my son is ashamed of me. My parents dislike me because I¡¯m the least successful among my brothers.¡± Bi Shengyu, Xiao Jinli, The hit from family was indeed heavier than that from the outside world. No wonder people either go mad in silence or explode in silence. So, the co-pilot¡¯s persuasion seemed to pour oil on the fire. Xiao Jinli sighed lightly in her heart, it seemed that it was up to her to step in. Xiao Jinli showed a frightened, nervous, yet brave side, and said courageously, ¡°Uncle Pilot, we know that you are not a bad person, you just went astray. You have resentment in your heart, and you just want to vent. But Uncle Pilot, don¡¯t you think your previous happiness was an illusion, a dream? Or is your happiness really built only on your identity as a captain? Uncle Pilot, please think about it.¡± After hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, Qian Li was momentarily stunned. Yeah, was his previous happiness a lie? He began to recall the scenes of his wife cooking soup for him with her hands and taking care of him wholeheartedly, his child admiring him from childhood as the sky hero, and his parents giving him all the living expenses from his brothers. Xiao Jinli, taking advantage of Qian Li¡¯s stun, gave Bi Shengyu a glance, signaling him to snatch the remote controller in Qian Li¡¯s hand. Bi Shengyu understood and slowly approached Qian Li. However, Qian Li quickly came to his senses, with a wary expression, and shouted, ¡°Bi Shengyu, what do you want to do?¡± Sweating coldly, Bi Shengyu calmly said, ¡°Brother Qian, can you put down the remote controller in your hand? It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± Upon hearing his words, Xiao Jinli thought to herself, ¡°Oh no!¡± As expected, once Qian Li heard his words, he was instantly irritated again. He raised the remote controller and roared, ¡°Bi Shengyu, who the hell are you to tell me to let go of the remote controller? It¡¯s all your fault! If it weren¡¯t for you, the company wouldn¡¯t have thought about wanting me to give away the captain¡¯s position, or even let me leave the company. Bi Shengyu, today I¡¯ll drag you down to die with me!¡± Suddenly, the bomb in Xiao Jinli¡¯s hand started making a ¡°beeping¡± sound, and the numbers were dropping fast, even Xiao Jinli was startled. She shouted at Bi Shengyu, ¡°Don¡¯t bother with him anymore, it¡¯s too late! Is there a pair of scissors? We can only take the risk now!¡± Bi Shengyu reacted and said loudly, ¡°No, there are no scissors on the plane!¡± At this moment, the door of the cockpit opened, and three or four special police officers rushed in along with two bomb disposal experts. However, when they saw the countdown on the bomb, which showed only a few dozen seconds left, their faces changed dramatically. Xiao Jinli reacted quickly and shouted, ¡°Give me the scissors, and you all get out of here!¡± ¡°No!¡± Whether it was Bi Shengyu or the special police officers, they all refused adamantly. How could they possibly leave a child to face the bomb alone? At the same time, they were moved by this child. The bomb disposal expert immediately stepped forward, took out a specialized tool, and was about to cut a wire when Xiao Jinli¡¯s face changed, and she shouted urgently, ¡°Not this wire, it¡¯s the blue one! It has to be the blue one!¡± The bomb disposal expert looked at her and reassured her, ¡°Little friend, don¡¯t be afraid, we are professionals, and this bomb must be cut on the red wire!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s the blue wire, Uncle, you have to believe me!¡± Xiao Jinli said nervously, ¡°I have good luck, and I¡¯m always right when I say something.¡± Seeing that the bomb disposal expert wasn¡¯t listening to her, she became desperate, hugged the bomb, dodged the red wire, and cut the blue wire. Everyone saw the wrong wire being cut, and their expressions changed dramatically. In their hearts, they all thought, ¡°My life is over!¡± But they couldn¡¯t blame this child. The child found the bomb, hugged it, and told everyone to leave. She was already very brave. After cutting the blue wire, there were only a few seconds left on the countdown. Everyone closed their eyes and counted in their hearts, ¡°Five, four, three, two, one!¡± The ¡°beeping¡± sound from the bomb immediately stopped. Stopped¡­ It stopped! When everyone realized what had happened, they opened their eyes and looked at the bomb, only to find that the numbers had reached 00, but the bomb hadn¡¯t exploded. ¡°Haha, it stopped! It didn¡¯t explode!¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s great! It didn¡¯t explode!¡± ¡°It really was the blue wire. Little friend, you¡¯re amazing, smart and brave!¡± It was proven that the blue wire indeed should have been cut. If they had followed the bomb disposal expert¡¯s guess and cut the red wire, the consequences would have been¡­ Thinking about this, everyone felt cold sweat on their backs! Qian Li, holding the remote controller, cried out hysterically, ¡°How could it not have exploded?¡± At this moment, the special police officers reacted and restrained Qian Li without the worry of the bomb. Qian Li was quickly controlled. The chief flight attendant, with red eyes and tears streaming down her face, walked over to Xiao Jinli, hugged her, and cried out, ¡°Child, thank you so much, thank you.¡± If it weren¡¯t for her discovering the bomb and running to the cockpit with it, and insisting on cutting the blue wire, everyone present would have been reduced to ashes. Bi Shengyu, a grown man, also started crying after surviving this ordeal. They had been on this flight, carrying out numerous tasks, and with each flight, they had actually prepared to face death. But he never expected that the biggest danger would come from the person closest to him. Who could have imagined that a captain would bring a bomb onto the plane, intending to kill everyone on board? If it weren¡¯t for this child, the terrifying consequences would have been unimaginable. The special police captain gave Xiao Jinli a thumbs up and praised, ¡°Child, you are amazing! Holding the bomb and staying calm, you saved everyone!¡± The bomb disposal expert nodded and said, ¡°Child, you are truly amazing. How did you know that the blue wire had to be cut for this bomb?¡± He was puzzled. They were professionals, and never thought that their judgment could be wrong, but a child saved them. Xiao Jinli looked at them with innocent and ignorant eyes and said seriously, ¡°I didn¡¯t know whether to cut the red or blue wire. But I¡¯ve always had good luck since I was little. When I¡¯m in danger, I feel particularly anxious and uneasy. Then I follow my instincts to avoid these dangers.¡± As she said this, she laughed innocently, ¡°That¡¯s why, in the village, everyone calls me Lucky Star, saying I¡¯m a very lucky person, protected by the God of Fortune.¡± Everyone, How does this sound so mysterious and divine?¡¯ Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Father and Son Anxious (Second Update) Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Father and Son Anxious (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 When Gao Jianjun arrived at the airport, he saw his son looking pale and weak, slumped in a chair. As soon as he saw his dad, his tears instantly flowed down, looking very helpless, and said, ¡°Dad, cousin¡­cousin¡­ will she be in any trouble?¡± Gao Jianjun immediately reassured him, ¡°Son, don¡¯t worry. I just called Director Li of the airline company. He told me that the accident happened before the plane took off, not after it was in the air. So, Jinli is still safe.¡± Boarding the plane doesn¡¯t mean it has already taken off. Hearing his dad¡¯s words, Gao Yanxin¡¯s eyes brightened up, and he said, ¡°Dad, is everything you said true? Cousin won¡¯t be in any trouble, right?¡± Gao Jianjun nodded and said, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But why can¡¯t we get in touch with cousin?¡± Gao Yanxin still said worriedly, ¡°Not only can we not get in touch with cousin, but it seems that the family members of other passengers can¡¯t get in touch with their relatives either. Many people are now making a fuss.¡± Gao Jianjun said, ¡°Director Li told me that there was indeed a sudden accident before the plane took off, but everyone was safe. They just moved those people to a safe area, and they should be able to contact them soon.¡± Just as Gao Jianjun finished speaking, he suddenly heard someone shouting excitedly, ¡°Wife, wife, is that you? Are you and our daughter okay? That¡¯s great. Oh, it¡¯s really because of the weather delay, okay, I get it now. Oh, your next flight is four hours later, all right. All right, I got it. You and our daughter take care. Yeah¡­¡± Then, one after another, people received calls from their relatives. ¡°Dad, Dad, is that you guys? You¡¯re alright, that¡¯s really great. Yeah, all right, I got it, then you guys be careful!¡± ¡°Son, you¡¯re all right? Wuu¡­ that¡¯s great. We were so scared when we heard the flight was delayed. All right, I¡¯ll wait for you here, you be careful!¡± Hearing that all the relatives called to report their safety, many people were overjoyed and in tears! The two hours of waiting had been too torturous, and everyone had fallen into deep fear, fearing the news of the plane crash and the death of their family members. Now, they found out it was just a false alarm, and their mood felt like they were going from the ground to the sky in an instant. Father and son Gao Yanxin and Gao Jianjun looked at each other, and both took out their cellphones, then said in unison, ¡°I¡¯ll call!¡± Gao Jianjun put down the phone and said, ¡°All right, you can call!¡± Secretary Li and Secretary Cui exchanged glances, their eyes seemed to say, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect the young master to love that cousin so much.¡± Gao Yanxin took out his cellphone and called Xiao Jinli, but unexpectedly, there came a cold female voice from the other side, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you dialed has been switched off!¡± Thinking he had dialed the wrong number, Gao Yanxin found the correct number and called again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialed has been switched off.¡± Gao Yanxin, whose face had turned better, turned pale again, and anxiously said, ¡°Dad, you try calling cousin too! Why is cousin¡¯s phone off?¡± Secretary Li chimed in to comfort him, ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t be nervous! It¡¯s normal to turn off the phone before boarding a plane! Maybe cousin forgot to turn it on now!¡± Gao Yan Xin shook his head and said, ¡°No, you guys don¡¯t know my cousin. Even if she did turn off her phone, if nothing happened, she would definitely turn it on as soon as possible and call us to report her safety.¡± Secretary Cui said, ¡°Maybe her phone¡¯s out of battery!¡± ¡°Even if the phone is out of battery, she would borrow a phone to call us and report her safety!¡± Gao Yanxin said. Secretary Li and Secretary Cui, What on earth is going on? Gao Jianjun also didn¡¯t know what was happening. He thought for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll call Director Li again and ask him to help inquire about your cousin¡¯s situation.¡± Gao Jianjun picked up the phone and called Director Li again. ¡°Director Li, my niece is on this flight. Now, all the family members at the airport are able to contact their relatives, but I can¡¯t contact my niece. Can you please help me call and ask the staff on the other side about her situation? Yeah, her name is Xiao Jinli! All right, thank you so much, I really appreciate it!¡± After hanging up the phone, Gao Jianjun felt uneasy inside. It didn¡¯t make sense that others could contact their relatives, but his Jinli had her phone switched off. Everyone was waiting for Director Li¡¯s call. About ten minutes later, Gao Jianjun¡¯s phone rang. But these ten minutes seemed like a century-long wait to father and son Gao Jianjun. Hearing the phone ringing, Gao Jianjun¡¯s heart jumped, wanting to answer but was afraid to. Secretary Li said, ¡°President, do you want me to answer it?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll do it myself!¡± Gao Jianjun shook his head and said. He then picked up the phone, ¡°Director Li, um¡­¡± Next, no one knew what Director Li had said on the phone, but Gao Jianjun¡¯s eyes were getting brighter and brighter, he looked more excited and agitated. With red eyes and a choked voice, he said, ¡°All right, um, I got it!¡± After a while, he hung up the phone. Then, looking at his son who was all tensed up, he immediately hugged his shoulders, and excitedly said, ¡°Son, Jinli is all right. She¡¯s fine; she just has something to deal with at the airline company.¡± Hearing that his cousin was safe, Gao Yanxin immediately relaxed. ¡°Wuu¡­ It¡¯s so good that cousin is fine, wuu¡­ it¡¯s so good, I was so scared, so scared!¡± If he lost such a smart, beautiful, and cute cousin, he really didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°All right, it¡¯s fine now, don¡¯t cry!¡± Gao Jianjun comforted him, ¡°A big man crying doesn¡¯t look good!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, I didn¡¯t cry! I¡¯m just too happy!¡± Gao Yanxin said while wiping away his tears. Secretary Li and Secretary Cui, ¡°¡­¡± The young master is indeed still a child. But it also shows how good the relationship is between the young master and his cousin. Both secretaries were looking forward to the appearance of that cousin. Hearing that Xiao Jinli was safe and sound, both father and son relaxed. Once the mood had somewhat calmed down, Gao Yanxin asked, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s Jinli doing with the airline company?¡± Gao Jianjun shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. We¡¯ll ask when we see Jinli. Don¡¯t worry, your cousin is someone who can do big things. She¡¯s smart, resourceful, and capable; she won¡¯t have any problems.¡± Gao Yanxin nodded and asked, ¡°Then Dad, why did Cousin come this time?¡± Gao Jianjun said, ¡°It seems like she grew a Seven Color Tea Flower and came here to sell it!¡± ¡°Ha, Seven Color Tea Flower?!¡± Secretaries Li and Cui were surprised, ¡°President, is it really a Seven Color Tea Flower?¡± They knew the value of the Seven Color Tea Flower. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s indeed a Seven Color Tea Flower!¡± Gao Jianjun nodded. Chapter 195 - Chapter 195: Chapter 195: The Flower Was Stolen (First Update) Chapter 195: Chapter 195: The Flower Was Stolen (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After the bomb crisis was resolved and Captain Qian Li was apprehended, all the staff in the airport heaved a sigh of relief. If the bomb had exploded before the airplane took off, the entire airport might have been affected, and the resulting casualties and property damage would have been immeasurable. The general manager of Ganjiang City Southern Airlines, Yang Fei, led the company¡¯s leadership team onto the plane to personally thank Xiao Jinli. ¡°Little friend, we are deeply grateful to you!¡± As soon as Yang Fei boarded the plane, he shook hands with Xiao Jinli, his face full of excitement. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for you, the consequences don¡¯t bear thinking about.¡± Especially considering that Qian Li planned to detonate the bomb after the airplane had taken off, potentially causing damage in densely populated cities. ¡°Little friend, you¡¯re incredibly brave and clever!¡± ¡°Indeed, little friend, you are extremely brave.¡± As Xiao Jinli faced the leaders¡¯ expressions of gratitude, she responded calmly, ¡°I just did what needed to be done, you shouldn¡¯t thank me too much!¡± The leaders were speechless. What does she mean by saying she only did what she needed to do? She is only in her early teens, right? What does an average ten-year-old understand? The usual response to a bomb threat would be fear. But not her. Not only was she not afraid, but she also found the bomb and, due to sheer luck, cut the right wire. Xiao Jinli seemed slightly embarrassed by the praise. ¡°I¡­I need to get to Licheng, when is the next flight?¡± Yang Fei laughed, ¡°We are currently arranging it. The next flight should be in about three hours. Little friend, come and rest in our company. Once the flight is confirmed, I will personally escort you onto the airplane.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± Xiao Jinli expressed her gratitude. When she got to the cockpit and returned to her seat on the plane, she discovered that the plant she had left on her seat was gone. Xiao Jinli searched the entire plane but couldn¡¯t find it. Seeing Xiao Jinli¡¯s perplexed expression, Yang Fei asked in confusion, ¡°Child, what are you looking for? Did you lose your luggage?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Not my luggage, my pot of flowers is missing.¡± ¡°Flowers? What flowers?¡± Yang Fei asked, puzzled. ¡°You brought flowers on the plane?¡± ¡°A pot of tea flowers,¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. ¡°A Seven Color Tea Flower. I planned to sell this flower at the Licheng Flower Market.¡± ¡°Seven Color Tea Flower?¡± Someone asked, not really understanding. ¡°Is there such a flower?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°The Seven Color Tea Flower, also known as the Rainbow Angel, is famous for its luxurious and striking beauty, clearly defined color, and lush green leaves. It is prized by the world¡¯s horticulturists and is one of the world¡¯s most valuable plants.¡± The people who didn¡¯t understand about flowers were speechless. Someone swallowed hard and asked, ¡°So, little friend, how much is your pot of flowers worth?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°At the world horticultural auction market, the most expensive Rainbow Angel is priced at 38 million M coins. While my Rainbow Angel is not the most expensive one, its estimated value is also over two million. Although, the flower I was carrying only had a few buds, but if you know about flowers, you can tell the type of tea flower from the buds.¡± So, the person who took the flower pot, might be someone who knows a bit about flowers. Hearing about a flower worth over two million, everyone¡¯s faces changed. Yang Fei immediately said seriously, ¡°Little friend, rest assured, we will do our best to get your tea flower back.¡± He immediately directed his subordinates, ¡°Xiao Li, check the surveillance footage right away. Not too much time has passed, as long as we find out who took the flower, we should be able to find them quickly!¡± The person who took the flower pot must have been a passenger on this plane. A two-million-dollar flower. This child was openly carrying a flower worth two million dollars, she was too conspicuous. Wait a minute, was this child traveling alone on the plane? ¡°Little friend, are you traveling alone?¡± Yang Fei asked. ¡°Where are your parents?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, just me.¡± ¡°So, you, a child, carrying a flower worth two million dollars, are going to Licheng alone?¡± Yang Fei twitched his mouth, not sure what to say. ¡°Are your parents really okay with that?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°Not really. My dad and my brother wanted to accompany me, but I wouldn¡¯t let them.¡± ¡°So, just because you didn¡¯t want them to accompany you, they just let you go to Licheng alone?¡± Hearing this, Yang Fei didn¡¯t know what to say. The child¡¯s parents were really trusting. ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°My parents saw me off when I boarded the plane, and there will be someone to pick me up when I get off. So, there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± That might be true, but nobody was expecting this child to find a bomb on the plane, averting a major disaster. ¡°Ah, I almost forgot to let my uncle know I¡¯m safe,¡± Xiao Jinli suddenly remembered, then took out her cell phone to find it was dead. ¡°Could I borrow a cell phone from someone? The flight was delayed, and I¡¯m worried my cousin and uncle will worry. I want to let them know I am safe.¡± At this point, Yang Fei laughed and said, ¡°Haha, just now, Licheng called to inquire about a passenger named Xiao Jinli, and I told them that the guest was handling something with us. Don¡¯t worry, Director Li will definitely tell your uncle that you are safe.¡± Xiao Jinli immediately sighed with relief, saying, ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Child, if anyone should be thanking anyone, it¡¯s all of us at the company thanking you,¡± Yang Fei laughed. ¡°Later on, we will discuss within the company how to thank you and what reward to give you.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary!¡± ¡°It¡¯s necessary, it¡¯s necessary!¡± Yang Fei insisted, ¡°Child, if you hadn¡¯t noticed something was wrong, the consequences of this incident would have been unthinkable. You saved the lives of everyone on the plane and saved our company from a huge loss. This thank you and reward are absolutely necessary. If you weren¡¯t underage, we¡¯d also like to thank you in the newspapers and the media, while also apologizing to the broader passenger community! Qian Li, exploiting his job to carry a bomb onto the plane, was our negligence. This lesson must serve as a potent reminder.¡± After hearing those words from the leader, Xiao Jinli immediately felt a sense of admiration towards him. This leader is open-hearted and able to admit his mistakes and take responsibility. Usually, when a company experiences such a significant error, they would try to cover it up. Exposing it would be a great scandal for the company. Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyebrows danced, and she wore an innocent and adorable smile, declaring, ¡°Uncle, you are a good leader!¡± Yang Fei was startled for a moment, then burst into laughter, ¡°Haha, I should be the one grateful for your compliment, little friend.¡± Chapter 196 - Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Behind Qian Li’s Extremism (Second Update) Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Behind Qian Li¡¯s Extremism (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 The disappearance of the tea flower was quickly clarified. It turned out to be taken by a passenger on the plane. That passenger was sitting right behind Xiao Jinli. According to the surveillance cameras, the moment Xiao Jinli boarded the plane, he was clearly eyeing the flower she was holding with a keen interest. Soon after, when Xiao Jinli sneaked to the cockpit while the chief flight attendant wasn¡¯t paying attention, he first glanced around, then he fixed his gaze on the tea flower on Xiao Jinli¡¯s seat. Then the flight attendant announced that because of the weather condition, the plane could not take off and the passengers had to change flights. During the passengers¡¯ commotion, the man grabbed his luggage, walked past Xiao Jinli¡¯s seat, and took the opportunity to take the tea flower. ¡°General Manager Yang, the passenger¡¯s name is Wu Jun. After taking the tea flower, he didn¡¯t wait in our airport lounge for the next flight, but left the airport directly,¡± a subordinate reported to Yang Fei, ¡°It seems that he knew the value of the flower, and that¡¯s why he stole it. He has now left the airport, we may need to ask for the assistance of the local police to retrieve the flower.¡± Yang Fei decisively said, ¡°Then call the police!¡± In fact, the police had already been called when it was found there was a bomb on the plane. But the situation was serious, so what they sent was special police. Yang Fei immediately took out his cellphone and made a call. After the call was connected, he said directly, ¡°Director Luo, I need your help!¡± Then he briefly introduced the situation, ¡°Alright, thank you, Director Luo.¡± Director Luo? Xiao Jinli blinked, was it that Luo Sanbiao? After hanging up the phone, Yang Fei said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Child, why don¡¯t you rest in my office for a bit? I believe we should soon be able to find the person who took the tea flower. However, you were just startled. You should rest.¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t refuse and followed Yang Fei to his office. The flight attendants and co-pilots of this flight were both frightened. They were not suitable to continue the flight today, and they had to do a psychological evaluation to see if they had any psychological shadows. Bi Shengyu and the chief flight attendant went to the General Manager¡¯s Office with Xiao Jinli. The whole thing was truly thrilling. Now that Xiao Jinli¡¯s precious flower pot is lost because of their crisis, they all wanted to accompany her, until the flower is found. Upon arriving at the General Manager¡¯s Office, the chief flight attendant poured water for Xiao Jinli and herself. After taking a few sips of water to calm down, she couldn¡¯t hold back her curiosity and asked, ¡°Child, how is your hearing so exceptional? You could hear the sound of the bomb from such a distance? Is it a natural ability or did you train to acquire it?¡± ¡°We were trained too, but I didn¡¯t hear the abnormal sound of the bomb even from this close distance,¡± Bi Shengyu said anxiously, ¡°So, is it that your hearing is naturally exceptional?¡± He was sitting right next to the captain¡¯s seat, and the bomb was under the seat, but he still didn¡¯t hear any abnormal sounds. But this child was able to sense the unusual sound as soon as she got off the plane. Her hearing was astonishing, and not to mention it was in the midst of all the crowd¡¯s noise. Such a person with exceptional hearing is indeed a talented individual. Xiao Jinli responded, ¡°Yes, my hearing is exceptional. I can hear the buzz of a mosquito from several meters away!¡± ¡°Ha ha, no wonder.¡± the chief flight attendant laughed, and then asked in confusion, ¡°But, don¡¯t you find it annoying? With such exceptional hearing, any slight noise can disturb your brain, wouldn¡¯t it affect your rest?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Bi Shengyu also asked, ¡°Does it affect your sleep?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Not at all. As the saying goes, ¡®the mind is naturally cool when it¡¯s calm.¡¯ It applies to me too. As long as I am determined to block the external noise, those sounds naturally cannot be transmitted to my ears. So, it does not affect my rest.¡± ¡°Ha ha, you child, sometimes you don¡¯t sound like a child at all when you talk!¡± the chief flight attendant joked, ¡°Your words are full of wisdom.¡± ¡°You two, don¡¯t disturb the child¡¯s rest.¡± Yang Fei said with amusement, ¡°She was just startled. She needs to calm down and rest well.¡± ¡°Alright, we understand!¡± the chief flight attendant replied, ¡°Child, would you like to rest a bit and close your eyes? Don¡¯t worry, your sis will wake you up when your tea flower is back.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Although I was startled, I will quickly calm down. Well, I am not an ordinary child!¡± The chief flight attendant and others, ¡°¡­..¡± True, this child is indeed extraordinary. What child could remain composed while holding a bomb that could explode at any moment, and even manage to persuade the criminal? Keep in mind, that was a bomb, not a firecracker! The chief flight attendant sighed lightly and said, ¡°Who would have thought that as a captain, he would carry a bomb onto a plane, pulling everyone on board to their deaths. I didn¡¯t expect Captain Qian to have such an extreme personality.¡± Generally speaking, someone with an extreme personality cannot fly a plane. As the chief flight attendant finished speaking, Yang Fei and Bi Shengyu immediately frowned. Not to mention the chief flight attendant, no one had expected that Qian Li would take this step. Bi Shengyu asked in confusion, ¡°General Manager Yang, Qian Li said this flight was his last one. Did he lose his position as a captain and was no longer allowed to fly? What happened?¡± ¡°So, just because of this, he chose the extreme path?¡± Yang Fei asked with a furrowed brow. Bi Shengyu shook his head and said, ¡°No. he mentioned that his wife demeaned him for being cowardly. His son viewed him as an embarrassment, and his parents thought he was worthless. So, for a moment, he freaked out and went to the extreme!¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Yang Fei cursed, becoming agitated, ¡°What the hell is going on!¡± Bi Shengyu and others, ¡°¡­..¡± Yang is acting unusual. In a hurry, Bi Shengyu asked, ¡°General Manager Yang, what is going on?¡± After cursing a couple times, Yang Fei took a deep breath. Yet, he still looked grim. ¡°It wasn¡¯t the company¡¯s decision to stop him from flying; it was a request from his family!¡± Yang exclaimed. ¡°What, it was a request from his family?¡± Bi Shengyu and the chief flight attendant were surprised, ¡°What happened?¡± Yang Fei explained, ¡°A while ago, Qian Li¡¯s wife contacted the company and mentioned that her husband Qian Li was having some health issues. He needed to get checked out, but he kept making up excuses about being busy with work. As long as he has health issues, the company would definitely ask him to go for medical tests. Therefore, in frustration, his wife came to the company and asked them to keep Qian Li from flying.¡± Bi Shengyu and the chief flight attendant, They too wanted to curse. What the hell is this. Chapter 197 - Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Master, You Have Degenerated (Part 1) Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Master, You Have Degenerated (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 The chief flight attendant was confused, ¡°If his wife asked him not to fly the plane, why would she scold him at home for being useless? Even his son considers him a disgrace, and his parents look down on him for being a failure? This doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± ¡°Yeah, this doesn¡¯t make any sense at all.¡± Bi Shengyu was puzzled, ¡°Even if his wife and children wanted to persuade him not to fly, they shouldn¡¯t have insulted him like that, right? Any husband or father subjected to such verbal abuse by their wife and children wouldn¡¯t be able to take it, right?¡± Yang Fei shook his head and said, ¡°So what the hell is going on? It was clearly his family who asked not to let him fly the plane. Insulting Old Qian like this, it¡¯s no wonder he couldn¡¯t take it anymore.¡± Bi Shengyu took a deep breath, his face looking angry, and said, ¡°Hmph, Old Qian¡¯s family should bear a lot of responsibility for this accident!¡± Yang Fei said with a somber face, ¡°We must investigate this thoroughly! If it was the insults from Old Qian¡¯s family that drove him to the extreme, then his family must be held responsible!¡± Even if they can¡¯t be legally held responsible, they will definitely be held morally accountable. ¡°Hmph, in the future, if we encounter such things again, it¡¯s better to be open and honest to avoid misunderstandings! Our company ended up being blamed on all sides, leading to a huge misunderstanding.¡± Yang Fei slammed his fist on his office table, ¡°This time we were lucky to have Jinli help us solve this serious crisis. But we cannot always be so lucky.¡± The chief flight attendant and Bi Shengyu, After Yang Fei finished speaking, someone came to report, ¡°General Manager Yang, Qian Li¡¯s family is causing a commotion.¡± The reporter used the word ¡°cause a commotion,¡± meaning that they were being unreasonable in handling the situation. ¡°Hmph, causing a commotion? It¡¯s already good enough that I haven¡¯t gone after them, and now they dare to make trouble!¡± Even Yang Fei, with his good temper, got angry at this point, ¡°Hmph, I want to see what qualifications they have to cause a scene as Old Qian¡¯s family members.¡± Then he turned to Xiao Jinli with a smile, ¡°Little one, take a rest in my office. I¡¯ll go out and see what¡¯s going on.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. Bi Shengyu and the chief flight attendant also followed him out. After all, they were both witnesses on site when the incident happened. After they left, Xiao Jinli hooked the corner of her mouth and asked, ¡°Xiao Zhi, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s getting more and more interesting?¡± Xiao Zhi rolled his eyes in mid-air, looking somewhat speechless, ¡°Master, I think you are regressing. You find such a small matter interesting? If you are really bored, you can do something earth-shattering, it¡¯s not like you can¡¯t handle it.¡± Xiao Jinli was also speechless, ¡°I managed to take down the bomb, saved so many people, and prevented huge property losses. Isn¡¯t that a big deal? What qualifies as earth-shattering then?¡± ¡°Heh, you are now content with staying safe and being a salted fish. You dare to call such small and opportunistic actions a big thing?¡± Xiao Zhi mocked, ¡°Master, what am I to say about you?¡± Xiao Jinli listened to Xiao Zhi¡¯s words, constantly rolling her eyes, then coldly snorted, ¡°Humph, I just want to be a salted fish. What¡¯s wrong with that? I¡¯ve had enough of that kind of life in my previous life. In this life, all I want to do is protect those who need protecting. As for changing the world or history, I don¡¯t feel like doing it, and I don¡¯t have the ambition for it now!¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhi simply said, ¡°Alright, if you want to be a salted fish, then I¡¯ll be one too. As long as you don¡¯t regret it, I¡¯ll always be by your side!¡± Then he asked again, ¡°Master, shall we go and watch the commotion now?¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged her shoulders and said, ¡°What¡¯s so exciting about this kind of commotion? It¡¯s just a bunch of troublemakers. Now I¡¯ll just lean back on the sofa and have a good rest. Wait for my pot of tea flowers to return!¡± Xiao Zhi said, ¡°You mean the guy who stole the tea flowers? Of all the people to steal from, he chose you. Hmph, he¡¯s destined to fail!¡± Even if the Yamen officials didn¡¯t step in to track them down, as long as the tea flower thief used a phone or computer to connect to the internet, Xiao Zhi would be able to track them down. That pot of tea flowers was carefully cultivated by her master for several months, just waiting to be sold at a high price. Of course, it won¡¯t be cheap for someone else to take it. Xiao Zhi said again, ¡°I¡¯ll mourn for the tea flower thief for three seconds!¡± If caught, he would definitely be severely punished! It was something worth two million, not twenty thousand. ¡°By the way, Master, do you want to give your uncle a call and personally report that you¡¯re safe?¡± Xiao Zhi reminded her, ¡°Even though they heard that you are safe, they won¡¯t be at ease until you report it personally!¡± Xiao Jinli looked at her charging phone and nodded, ¡°Okay, now that my phone has power, let¡¯s call them to let them know I¡¯m safe.¡± Then, Xiao Jinli unplugged her phone and made the call. ¡°Jinli, is that you?¡± As soon as Gao Jianjun saw the caller ID, he hadn¡¯t even had a chance to speak, when his wife snatched the phone from him and asked anxiously. ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s me. I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Just now my phone ran out of power, so I couldn¡¯t report to you in time. I¡¯m very sorry!¡± ¡°Wuuu¡­ As long as you¡¯re safe, everything¡¯s fine. You really scared us. Do you know when we got the news, our whole bodies went soft, fearing something might have happened to you. Wuuu¡­ You¡¯re so terrifying.¡± Ji Yuzhu cried like a child. At the time, she was in class at school. When she finished, she called her son to ask if he had received Xiao Jinli, who said there was a plane delay. Plane delays were a normal occurrence, so she didn¡¯t think much of it. But who would have thought when she called her brother-in-law to inform him of the plane delay, he told them that they had seen Xiao Jinli board the plane with their own eyes, so how could it be a plane delay at this time? A plane delay would definitely be announced in advance, not after passengers board the plane. So, this kind of plane delay must have been due to something they didn¡¯t know happening on the plane. After that, she called her husband Gao Jianjun to find out the situation while hailing a taxi, going straight for the airport. ¡°Okay, Auntie, I¡¯m okay now, don¡¯t cry.¡± Xiao Jinli consoled, ¡°It¡¯s just an accident. Isn¡¯t it normal for a plane to be delayed due to weather conditions?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s normal!¡± Ji Yuzhu cried while wiping away her tears, ¡°A plane delay would have been announced beforehand. There¡¯s no such thing as notifying passengers after they¡¯ve boarded the plane. But as long as you¡¯re safe, that¡¯s all that matters. Jinli, quickly call your parents and let them know you¡¯re safe. They¡¯re all rushing to the airport now.¡± ¡°Alright, Auntie, I know. I¡¯ll call my mom and dad now, and hang up first.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s face became serious as she hung up the phone. Chapter 198 - Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Unlucky Flower Thief (Second Update) Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Unlucky Flower Thief (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 On his way home, Xiao Wanshan learned about the flight delay of the flight Xiao Jinli was on from his sister-in-law and immediately sensed that something was wrong. He quickly called Xiao Jinli, but her cellphone was switched off. ¡°Husband, what happened? Why do you look so upset?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother asked in confusion. Xiao Wanshan did not hide the truth from his wife, saying, ¡°My wife, please be prepared. Something might have happened to Jinli.¡± ¡°What?¡± Hearing the news, Xiao¡¯s mother was almost fainting, anxiously asking, ¡°Husband, what happened? Did something happen to the airplane?¡± Both of them personally saw Xiao Jinli get on the plane. There was no problem before boarding, which means the problem occurred after boarding. If there¡¯s no accident on the plane, that¡¯s fine; but if there is, it¡¯s a big deal. Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°My sister called me, telling me that Jinli¡¯s plane is delayed! But how could that be possible? We personally sent Little Jinli on the plane, how could it be delayed in such a short time?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go! We need to go to the airport right now!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother couldn¡¯t wait any longer, wanting to know the situation at the airport. ¡°Alright, sit tight, and we¡¯ll head back to the airport now!¡± Xiao Wanshan tried to stay calm, ¡°Wife, a flight delay doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that something will happen to Jinli. Don¡¯t you remember that she¡¯s been very lucky since she was a child, and bad things rarely happen to her? She¡¯s our Lucky Star, protected by the God of Fortune, so she¡¯ll be fine.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother didn¡¯t know what to think, she just wanted her daughter to be safe. She nodded and said, ¡°Right, our Jinli is a Lucky Star, blessed by the God of Fortune. She¡¯ll be fine. Even if something happens, she¡¯ll still be safe.¡± ¡°Yes, so we need to stay calm right now, okay?¡± Xiao Wanshan kept comforting his wife and himself, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the airport first.¡± As Xiao Wanshan¡¯s couple was nearing the airport, they received a call from Xiao Jinli. Seeing the caller ID, Xiao Wanshan couldn¡¯t contain his excitement, telling his wife, ¡°Wife, it¡¯s a call from Jinli!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother grabbed the phone and asked anxiously, ¡°Jinli?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s me. I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry!¡± ¡°Great, as long as you¡¯re fine!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother nodded in both tears and relief: ¡°Wu wu, as long as you¡¯re fine! Just now, your mom was really scared. But I know my daughter is a Lucky Star, and nothing bad will happen to her.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, I am a Lucky Star, and I have the God of Fortune¡¯s protection. Mom, don¡¯t worry about Dad and me, I¡¯m doing well.¡± Xiao Wanshan asked from the side, ¡°Jinli, where are you now? Your mom and I are coming to find you!¡± Xiao Jinli said helplessly, ¡°I¡¯m in General Manager Yang¡¯s office at the airline company. Mom and Dad, please come here directly later.¡± ¡°Okay, your mom and I will be there soon. Don¡¯t go anywhere,¡± Xiao¡¯s father instructed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. After hanging up the call from her parents, Xiao Jinli took a deep breath. Xiao Zhi immediately mocked her from the side, ¡°Hehe¡­ Master, I don¡¯t know if your luck is good or bad. The first time you take a flight, you encounter such a dangerous situation. When your parents come, I¡¯m afraid they won¡¯t let you fly alone anymore.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°That just means that the people on the plane are lucky to have me.¡± Because she was on the plane, the disaster was avoided. If she hadn¡¯t come on the flight, the safety of the passengers onboard would be uncertain. Xiao Zhi laughed, ¡°Hehe, you do have a point. So, you are your own Lucky Star, but their savior!¡± But the incident of the captain carrying a bomb onto the plane would definitely be kept confidential by the airline, as it would affect the company¡¯s credibility. Thankfully, the only people present at the time besides Xiao Jinli were the Co-pilot, four special police officers, and two bomb disposal experts. Actually, since even the special police and bomb disposal experts were there, everyone would definitely speculate. But of course, that was none of her business. ¡°Ah, Master, the tea flowers were recovered so quickly.¡± Xiao Zhi instantly knew the whereabouts of the tea flowers through the internet data. Xiao Jinli was slightly surprised, ¡°So fast? How long has it been?¡± Xiao Zhi said, ¡°Hmm, they stole the tea flowers more than an hour ago, and we found out about it half an hour later. So, right now, it¡¯s just been an hour.¡± ¡°So, after more than an hour, the person who stole the tea flowers hasn¡¯t left the city yet?¡± Xiao Jinli asked. If he had left the city, it would definitely have taken more effort to recover them. Xiao Zhi said, ¡°Because when persuading the passengers on board the plane, the flower thief quickly disembarked and left the airport, hastily calling for a taxi to the suburbs. But he seems to be unlucky. He got on the first taxi, but his car broke down. When it started working again, the taxi broke down once more. Then he took a second taxi, which only traveled a short distance before breaking down again.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°Well, continue!¡± ¡°When he took a third taxi, it collided with someone else¡¯s car. Then, he gave up on taking a taxi and boarded a bus heading to the suburbs. But not long after he got on the bus, there was a pervert on the bus harassing a woman. The bus suddenly became chaotic, and it had to be stopped. The passengers handed the pervert over to the Yamen officials.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­¡± This guy is really unfortunate. ¡°In and out of all those cars, more than an hour has been wasted. By the time the government officials found him, the bus had already arrived at the Yamen office, and he was still clueless.¡± Xiao Zhi laughed, ¡°Haha, this unlucky guy! The car arrived at the Yamen office, and he didn¡¯t even know it.¡± Xiao Jinli was curious, ¡°So the bus went directly to the Yamen office? What happened?¡± ¡°Well, after we reported the case and the police started investigating, they found him on that particular bus. To prevent him from escaping midway, the Yamen officials contacted the bus driver and had the bus taken directly to the Yamen office. Then, that unlucky guy just walked right into the trap. Oh, no, he fell into the net on his own.¡± Xiao Jinli sighed softly, ¡°Sigh, he wasn¡¯t supposed to be so unlucky. But who told him to steal my things? Were my things so easy to take? Now, he¡¯s brought all the bad luck on himself. Hehe¡­¡± After she finished sighing, there was a knock on the door. She looked around and saw no one, so she called out, ¡°Come in!¡± When she saw the visitor, Xiao Jinli raised her eyebrows in surprise. Oh, it turned out to be a familiar face. ¡°Ah, Director Luo?¡± Xiao Jinli pretended to be surprised, ¡°What brings you here?¡± Chapter 199 - Chapter 199: Chapter 199: See You Again, Director Luo (One More) Chapter 199: Chapter 199: See You Again, Director Luo (One More) Translator: 549690339 Luo Sanbiao was holding a pot of flowers and looked surprised to see Xiao Jinli here. He asked, ¡°Xiao Jinli, what are you doing here?¡± Yang Fei, who followed behind, walked in, looked at Luo Sanbiao, then at Xiao Jinli, and smiled, ¡°Director Luo, do you kids know each other?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°We had a brief encounter before!¡± Luo Sanbiao also laughed and said, ¡°Indeed, we had a brief meeting before! I didn¡¯t expect to meet you again after half a year. Student Xiao, what are you doing with General Manager Yang?¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± Yang Fei laughed loudly, ¡°This little friend is the owner of the flower in your hand!¡± ¡°Oh, Student Xiao, this flower is yours?¡± Luo Sanbiao received the report, but did not know that the owner of the pot of flowers was a child. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s mine!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. ¡°Where are your parents?¡± Luo Sanbiao frowned slightly and asked seriously, ¡°Aren¡¯t your parents with you?¡± He remembered last time it was also a conflict between his child and Jinli¡¯s friends. Afterward, no adults showed up to deal with it. A child now holding a pot of flowers worth two million? It might not be too reassuring for the child¡¯s parents. Xiao Jinli immediately knew what he was thinking and said a bit helplessly, ¡°My parents will be here soon!¡± If the trip to Licheng went smoothly, her parents would not have worried at all. However, after this accident, her parents would definitely accompany her to Licheng, no matter what, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse. Hearing that Xiao Jinli¡¯s parents would arrive soon, Luo Sanbiao handed her the pot of tea flowers and then asked curiously, ¡°Where are you taking this flower?¡± ¡°To Licheng to sell!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°That place is a gathering spot for the world¡¯s flower markets, and you can get a better price!¡± Luo Sanbiao and Yang Fei, Hearing a child going so far just for money, they felt the child was somewhat worldly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did I say something wrong?¡± Xiao Jinli looked at their expressions and asked innocently. Luo Sanbiao shook his head and said, ¡°No. I just wonder how you, a child, would know that you can get a good price there?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°I asked my uncle.¡± She looked at the pot of flowers in her hand, showed a sincere smile, and said, ¡°Director Luo, thank you for helping me find this pot of flowers.¡± ¡°Oh, speaking of gratitude, I should be the one thanking Director Luo.¡± Yang Fei laughed loudly, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for you, child, trying to help us, this pot of flowers wouldn¡¯t have been taken away by someone so easily.¡± As the head of the Yamen, Director Luo knew what happened on the plane. However, to protect the safety of the minor, the information reported was simply that a child saved everyone on the plane. He didn¡¯t expect the child to be Xiao Jinli. From their first meeting, he knew that Xiao Jinli was not an ordinary child. At first, she didn¡¯t fear power and taught his son a lesson, later even reminded him to educate his child properly. She was mature and calm, different from other children. Now, she has used her calmness and wisdom to save everyone on the plane and prevent a disaster at the airport. Director Luo smiled and said, ¡°Student Xiao, actually, I should thank you. If it wasn¡¯t for your reminder, my son would have committed a serious crime. Now, after more than half a year of training, my son is much more obedient than before and no longer does those domineering things.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°The Young Master is not bad by nature, he¡¯s just been spoiled by others. Now that he can correct his mistakes, that¡¯s a happy and fortunate thing. Director Luo, congratulations!¡± Listen to the child¡¯s words, she sounds like an adult. Director Luo laughed, ¡°Ha ha, you talk like a little adult. But, my mischievous son being able to mend his ways is also thanks to you.¡± As he said that, he paused for a moment and smiled, ¡°Since we¡¯re old acquaintances, don¡¯t call me Director Luo, call me Uncle Luo. Uncle Luo still owes you a meal. Let me know when you have time so I can treat you.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯ll have to wait until I return from Licheng.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you. Do you still have Uncle Luo¡¯s phone number? If not, you can write it down now,¡± Director Luo asked. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°I remember it!¡± She had a good memory and never forgot what she saw. Yang Fei, standing next to them and watching the two talking happily, smiled and interrupted, ¡°Oh, child, if Director Luo owes you a meal, then I owe you one too. No, not just one meal, I owe you a lifetime of meals.¡± As he said that, he thought and asked, ¡°Child, you said your parents will be here soon, right?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. ¡°Then, let¡¯s wait for your parents to come and I¡¯ll treat you all to a meal at the Friendship Hotel. Director Luo, you can join us too,¡± Yang Fei smiled and said. Friendship Hotel was the best hotel in Ganjiang City, a five-star hotel. Director Luo was very curious about the parents that could raise such a brilliant and insightful child, so he nodded and said, ¡°That would be my honor!¡± ¡°Ha ha, Director Luo, it¡¯s my pleasure!¡± Yang Fei laughed loudly. ¡°Excuse me, is this the¡­ Xiao Bao!¡± When Xiao Wanshan came to ask about the general manager¡¯s office, he saw Xiao Jinli at a glance. As soon as Xiao Wanshan and Xiao Mother saw Xiao Jinli, they rushed into the office without caring about the other people present, hugged Xiao Jinli and cried, ¡°You child, you really scared us.¡± From the moment they received Ji Yuzhu¡¯s call until they saw Xiao Jinli, their hearts were in their throats. Later, they felt relieved when they heard she was safe, but they were still not completely at ease without seeing her personally. Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°You child, after you went through such a big incident, why didn¡¯t you notify your mom and me right away? Do you know how worried and scared we were when we found out about the flight delay from your aunt? Even after you called to say you were safe, we still couldn¡¯t rest easy.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at her parents¡¯ red-rimmed eyes and said immediately, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dad, Mom, my¡­ my cellphone suddenly ran out of power. I forgot to call and report my safety when I had power to report to my uncle.¡± Xiao Father, It seems like she didn¡¯t forget but did it on purpose, right? The child was afraid that they would worry. If it weren¡¯t for the aunt¡¯s call, they wouldn¡¯t have known about the incident. Just as Xiao Wanshan was about to scold Xiao Jinli, Yang Fei smiled and said, ¡°So, you two are the parents of Student Xiao. I¡¯m the general manager, Yang Fei. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you!¡± Chapter 200 - Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Qian Li’s Family Makes Trouble (Second Update) Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Qian Li¡¯s Family Makes Trouble (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Wanshan, however, was not enthusiastic. He just reached out a hand and said indifferently, ¡°General Manager Yang, nice to meet you!¡± His daughter almost had an accident on this plane, so it would be strange for him to have a good expression. Yang Fei didn¡¯t mind, and his attitude was still very enthusiastic, even attentive, as he said, ¡°Mr. Xiao, you really raised a good daughter. She¡¯s not only smart and beautiful, but also so excellent. At a young age, she faced a sudden accident and responded so calmly. I was wondering earlier, what kind of parents could raise such an outstanding child? Now I see, with a handsome and wise father and a young and beautiful mother, it¡¯s no wonder their child is both beautiful and intelligent.¡± Everyone likes to hear and is willing to listen to compliments. Especially when others praise their children, how can the parents be indifferent? Xiao Father¡¯s attitude was not as cold as before, but he still said with some coldness, ¡°General Manager Yang, you¡¯re too kind. We¡¯re just average. Not like you, at such a young age, already the general manager of the company.¡± Yang Fei, Director Luo, This child¡¯s parents are a bit hard to deal with. Actually, it makes sense that raising such an outstanding child would not be simple. Yang Fei smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°I¡¯m flattered, flattered.¡± Then he showed a sincere attitude to apologize to Xiao Wanshan and his wife, ¡°Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, the incident on the plane scared your child, which is our company¡¯s mistake and responsibility. On behalf of the entire company, I apologize to Miss Xiao Jinli and her family, and sincerely express my gratitude!¡± After saying this, he bowed to apologize to Xiao Wanshan and his wife. Xiao Wanshan¡¯s cold and hard expression softened somewhat. He sighed softly and said, ¡°General Manager Yang, no one wants to see such accidents happen to your company. My child just happened to be on that plane. Fortunately, she has always been lucky, making many things turn from dangerous to safe, and this time the incident was luckily averted without any harm. There¡¯s no need for you to apologize.¡± Speaking of being lucky, Director Luo on the side laughed and said, ¡°Student Xiao does have very good luck. We tracked down the tea flower quickly, which is really the thief¡¯s bad luck.¡± ¡°Oh, bad luck, what kind of bad luck?¡± Xiao Jinli asked curiously. In fact, she wanted to divert her father¡¯s attention. Director Luo then shared the story of the flower thief¡¯s three taxi crashes and haplessly catching himself in the trap on the bus. ¡± Ha ha, I¡¯ve been solving cases for more than twenty years, and I¡¯ve never seen such an unlucky thief.¡± Director Luo said. Yang Fei agreed, thinking that the flower thief was indeed very unlucky. Yang Fei lamented, ¡°Such an unlucky thief, no wonder he couldn¡¯t get away with a two-million-dollar flower.¡± Unexpectedly, Xiao Father¡¯s proud and indifferent voice said, ¡°Humph, he deserves to be unlucky. Why did he steal my Xiao Bao¡¯s things?¡± Yang Fei immediately chimed in, ¡°Exactly, with Jinli¡¯s good luck, any bad person who encounters her can only be unlucky themselves.¡± After he finished speaking, his expression became a little stunned. Indeed. Qian Li had carried explosives and intended to detonate them on the plane mid-air, but as soon as his plan began, he encountered Jinli. She discovered the bomb and then, by sheer good luck and a series of mistakes, cut the right wire, completely avoiding a major man-made disaster. As for the flower thief, after he stole the flower, he tried to change his route to escape but he encountered car accidents again and again. There¡¯s no such coincidence. It could only be said that he became so unlucky after stealing Jinli¡¯s flower. Thinking of this, a different look flashed across Yang Fei¡¯s face. A person with such extraordinary luck must be befriended; otherwise, the unlucky one would only be himself. Although she is still a child. Yang Fei looked at the time and said, ¡°It¡¯s 11:00 am now, and the company¡¯s next flight to Licheng is at 2:40 pm. Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, Director Luo, I have booked a private room at the Friendship Hotel. Let¡¯s go have lunch first.¡± Xiao Father did not refuse. Director Luo also did not refuse. After a while, everyone left the general manager¡¯s office. Unexpectedly, a disheveled woman came running over, knelt down in front of Yang Fei, and cried while begging, ¡°General Manager Yang, please, let Qian Li go. Qian Li is the pillar of our family. If he is gone, how can the rest of us survive?¡± This woman is Qian Li¡¯s wife, Yang Ping. General Manager Yang frowned, coldly saying, ¡°Sister-in-Law, Qian Li has committed a crime now; it¡¯s not up to me whether I can release him. Your pleading now is useless. Even if I could spare him, could the law spare him? Sister-in-law, you should go home.¡± ¡°No, no, I won¡¯t go!¡± Yang Ping said emotionally, ¡°If you don¡¯t release Qian Li, I will kneel here forever!¡± Yang Fei said coldly, ¡°Do as you please!¡± Yang Ping cursed, ¡°Yang Fei, how can your heart be so black and hard? Qian Li has been working in the company for twenty years. Even if he doesn¡¯t have any merits, he still worked hard. Now that he¡¯s old and can¡¯t work anymore, are you just giving up on him? Do we have to be forced to the edge of despair?¡± Everyone, Who¡¯s forcing who?! Even if Qian Li had no merits or hard work over the past twenty years, the moment he brought a bomb onto the plane, any merit he had could not offset his crime. Hearing Yang Ping¡¯s words, the chief flight attendant and Bi Shengyu were both angry¡­ Yang Fei took two steps forward, his eyes filled with anger. He said coldly, ¡°Is it me and the company who gave up on Qian Li? It¡¯s you, his family, who said Qian Li¡¯s health isn¡¯t good, requested that we don¡¯t let him fly the plane, and had him retire early. As requested by the family, we stopped Qian Li from flying. Today is his last flight as a captain. Now, what are you doing as family members? You abuse him and look down on him when you learn the company is giving up on him and that he can¡¯t fly anymore? So, is this how you comfort him? Let me tell you, you, as family members, have played an indispensable role in his journey on the path of crime.¡± Yang Ping¡¯s face changed after hearing this, but she defended herself, ¡°Don¡¯t slander us by distorting the truth; none of this happened!¡± ¡°Hmph, none of this happened? We have evidence. Do you want to see it?¡± Bi Shengyu interrupted, ¡°Qian Li told us himself that after knowing the company didn¡¯t want him to fly anymore, his wife called him a loser, his son felt ashamed of him, and his parents looked down on him for having no achievements. You guys don¡¯t want him to fly on one hand, and you scold and despise him on the other. Are you guys sick?¡± If it wasn¡¯t for the family acting like this, Qian Li might not have gone to the extreme. Chapter 201 - Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Mother-Son Shenanigans (1st Update) Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Mother-Son Shenanigans (1st Update) Translator: 549690339 Yang Fei and the others didn¡¯t want to deal with Yang Ping¡¯s moral kidnapping. He directly said to her, ¡°I also have the video evidence of you family members asking Qian Li not to fly the plane. Should we confront each other about it? So, why did you suddenly turn against Qian Li when our company made the decision?¡± At this point, he said angrily, ¡°You should know that you are family. Hurtful words from family members are the most hurtful. Old Qian has been working diligently in the company for twenty years. In two more years, he could retire safely and truly enjoy his old age. But you family members, under the pretext of his poor health, asked the company not to let him fly the plane.¡± Yang Ping¡¯s son Qian Weimin angrily said, ¡°We asked my dad not to fly the plane anymore, but we didn¡¯t ask you to directly stop him from working, did we? And you made him give up his captain position to someone else?¡± Yang Fei was amused by his words and said, ¡°So, is this company your family¡¯s? You ask him not to fly the plane on one side and then ask our company to keep him in the captain¡¯s position on the other side?¡± Bi Shengyu said angrily, ¡°So, are your family members out of their minds? Is what you¡¯re doing really for Old Qian¡¯s good, or are you harming him? No, you¡¯ve already harmed Old Qian. Old Qian was driven to extremes by you. Hmph, Old Qian is now a criminal, and no matter who you beg, it¡¯s no use.¡± Yang Ping and her son¡¯s faces changed instantly, looking very angry but a hint of guilt flickered in their eyes. Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. There was something off about this mother and son. Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said to Luo Sanbiao beside her, ¡°Uncle Luo, lower your head, I want to whisper something to you!¡± Luo Sanbiao raised his eyebrows and lowered his head while slightly laughing, ¡°Alright, what do you want to tell your uncle?¡± After Xiao Jinli whispered a few words to him, Director Luo¡¯s expression changed slightly, his dark, sharp eyes narrowed and swept across the mother and son with a serious look. Yang Ping and her son, who were angrily glaring at Yang Fei, naturally did not notice the two whispering to each other. ¡°Mmm, mmm¡­¡± Luo Sanbiao stood up and praised Xiao Jinli, ¡°You, this little girl, are so observant at such a young age! I will arrange for someone to investigate immediately.¡± In fact, without Xiao Jinli¡¯s reminder, he had already noticed that there was something wrong with Yang Ping and her son. It wasn¡¯t just their guilty expressions and gazes, but their actions towards Qian Li that made him feel puzzled. If it was puzzling, there must be a reason behind it. Luo Sanbiao said to Yang Fei, ¡°General Manager Yang, I have some important matters to attend to, so I will not accompany you to dinner.¡± Yang Fei immediately said, ¡°Director Luo, you have things to do, go ahead and take care of them first. We¡¯ll have dinner another day!¡± Luo Sanbiao then said to Xiao Wanshan and his wife, ¡°Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, I¡¯m sorry to leave you!¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Director Luo, go ahead with your work!¡± After that, Luo Sanbiao hurriedly left, and before leaving, his sharp eyes swept over Yang Ping and her son. Seeing this, Yang Fei¡¯s brows slightly furrowed, and he said, ¡°Mrs. Qian, you should go back. It won¡¯t do any good for you to keep making a fuss like this.¡± Then he said to Xiao¡¯s father, ¡°Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, let¡¯s go, Shengyu and Xinyi are with us, let¡¯s go together.¡± Xinyi is the chief flight attendant, Tian Xinyi. Ignoring Yang Ping and her son, the group left directly. The mother and son kneeling on the ground couldn¡¯t bear the pointing and whispering of the surrounding people and left in anger and shame. Yang Fei took Xiao Wanshan and the others to the Friendship Hotel and entered a private room led by the waitress. Yang Fei asked with a smile, ¡°Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, Student Xiao, do you have any dietary restrictions?¡± Xiao Wanshan shook his head, ¡°We don¡¯t have any dietary restrictions.¡± Yang Fei nodded, then ordered two signature dishes and Buddha Jumps over the Wall, abalone, and several other expensive dishes. Afterward, he handed the menu to Xiao Wanshan and his wife and laughed, ¡°Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, and Student Xiao, order whatever dishes you like, don¡¯t be shy!¡± Xiao Wanshan smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mr. Yang, whatever you¡¯ve ordered is good.¡± No matter how good the dishes are, they can¡¯t compare to home-cooked meals. After ordering, Yang Fei glanced at the well-behaved Xiao Jinli and then looked at Xiao Wanshan and said, ¡°Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, how do you educate your children? She¡¯s not only smart and clever but also obedient, sensible, calm, and resourceful. If I had a daughter like this, I would wake up laughing in my sleep.¡± As Xiao¡¯s father, he was very happy when others praised his daughter. He proudly said, ¡°I didn¡¯t really teach her much, my daughter has always been sensible and obedient since she was a child. In the village, everyone praises my Xiao Bao, and everyone likes her. I¡¯m very proud and happy to have a daughter like her.¡± Yang Fei, He thought Xiao¡¯s father would be more modest. To be honest, having such a daughter would make any father proud, and he wouldn¡¯t be modest, he would be proud. But quickly, Xiao¡¯s father directly asked, ¡°Mr. Yang, can you tell me what exactly happened on the plane? Why is everyone praising my daughter?¡± Xiao¡¯s father and mother received Ji Yuzhu¡¯s call and only knew that the plane was delayed, and their daughter just reported her safety. But they didn¡¯t know what happened on the plane. Xiao¡¯s mother also asked anxiously, ¡°Xiao Bao, what on earth happened to you on the plane? Your dad and I saw you board the plane with our own eyes, right? Then we received your aunt¡¯s call saying your plane was delayed. That almost scared the soul out of me. Thankfully, you are safe.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Dad, Mom, there were some minor incidents on the plane. But fortunately, it was more fear than danger.¡± Xiao¡¯s father asked seriously, ¡°So, Xiaobao, what exactly happened?¡± Just as Xiao Jinli was about to say something, Xiao¡¯s father waved his hand and said, ¡°Before coming here, that mother and son came to make trouble. Is it related to the accident on the plane? So don¡¯t even think about hiding it from your mom and me!¡± Xiao Jinli, It seemed that it couldn¡¯t be hidden. Yang Fei, These parents are quite strict. To be honest, he didn¡¯t know the details of the accident on the plane. Bi Shengyu and the chief flight attendant, ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Tian Xinyi unconcernedly looked at Xiao Wanshan and his wife and said, ¡°Mr. Xiao, it¡¯s like this. When Student Xiao got on the plane, she told us¡­¡± Then, she recounted the details of what happened on the plane without any omissions. There was no way for her to avoid it since she couldn¡¯t fool Mr. Xiao with his intelligence. Listening to her, Xiao¡¯s father and mother¡¯s faces turned pale and fearful, their expressions astonished and tense, their hearts pounding with fear! Xiao¡¯s mother, scared, tightly held her daughter. Chapter 202 - Chapter 202: Chapter 202: (Second Update) Chapter 202: Chapter 202: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Mother¡¯s face turned pale, and she asked, ¡°You kid, how could you¡­ how could you be holding a bomb? Is your courage too big? It¡¯s a bomb, one careless moment, and it could explode, could explode, you know? Boo hoo¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t imagine what it was like for a child to carefully hold a bomb. Not to mention a child, even an adult couldn¡¯t calmly hold an explosive bomb while remaining composed. Yet her child did just that. This made them proud, but at the same time, even more worried! The child¡¯s first time away from home and encountered such a dangerous and thrilling situation, yet the parents weren¡¯t there with her. What if, something happened to her, they would live the rest of their lives in guilt, regret, and heartache. Xiao Jinli smiled and comforted, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine now. You all know, your daughter has always had incredible luck and was called a Lucky Star. Any misfortune would disappear in front of me. See, I turned this big crisis into safety, right?¡± At this point, she rolled her eyes and laughed, ¡°Actually, Mom and Dad, you should be proud of me. Just because I was on that flight, I saved everyone, right?¡± Yang Fei listened and was stunned. Was that the real reason? Yang Fei was really excited and said, ¡°Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, it¡¯s really thanks to your child being on the plane, as soon as she got on, she heard the ticking sound of the bomb. With her calm and smart demeanor, she managed to prevent this major crisis. I can¡¯t even imagine what would have happened if the child hadn¡¯t been on this flight. More than 200 passengers and staff aboard the plane would have been wiped out, and if the plane exploded mid-air in the Big city, the falling wreckage would have caused a massive disaster.¡± At this point, he stood up and expressed his sincere gratitude earnestly, ¡°Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, I truly thank you for raising such an outstanding child who saved everyone in our company and avoided a huge disaster and countless losses! Honestly, I don¡¯t know what words could express my gratitude to you and your child.¡± After listening to this, Xiao Wanshan was silent for a moment. Mrs. Xiao still held Xiao Jinli, her eyes red, in silence. At this moment, they didn¡¯t know whether to feel relieved that their child was on this flight or wish she hadn¡¯t been on it. However, the fact that their child could save so many people was a testament to her good deeds. Perhaps it was because of her incredible luck that the heavens allowed her to board this flight and save so many lives. After a while, Xiao Wanshan sighed and said, ¡°It¡¯s good that everyone is safe! Everything is fate, I guess.¡± Maybe it was destined that all the people on the plane wouldn¡¯t perish, so their daughter was sent as an angel. Xiao Wanshan then looked at Xiao Jinli seriously and said, ¡°Xiao Bao, no matter what happens, you must let us know immediately, okay? Otherwise, we will really worry!¡± Especially since they had learned about Xiao Jinli¡¯s near-accident from someone else¡¯s mouth. Xiao Jinli realized her mistake and promised earnestly, ¡°All right. From now on, no matter what happens, I will tell you both as soon as possible. Dad, Mom, I¡¯m sorry for making you worry!¡± She shouldn¡¯t have kept it from her parents because she was afraid of worrying them. Looking at their child¡¯s innocent and serious expression, Xiao Father said helplessly, ¡°All right, let¡¯s move on from this.¡± At this point, Yang Fei said, ¡°Mr. Xiao, our company will reward the child.¡± Xiao Father said seriously, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether she gets a reward or not. We only care about our child¡¯s safety. Also, General Manager Yang, she is still a child, and I don¡¯t want her identity to be exposed and put her in danger!¡± General Manager Yang nodded, ¡°Of course. We will definitely protect the child¡¯s identity.¡± Xiao Jinli, being so beautiful, wise, and calm, attracted attention from people with ill intentions, causing real danger. Xiao Wanshan said to Xiao Jinli again, ¡°After dinner, your Mom and I will accompany you to Licheng.¡± Xiao Jinli, She knew they would say that. But this time, she couldn¡¯t refuse. Still, she struggled a bit, ¡°But Dad, what about the house and the company?¡± Xiao Wanshan said seriously, ¡°Your brother and your maternal grandmother are at home, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about. As for the company, your brother will handle it, so I don¡¯t need to worry about it!¡± Xiao Jinli could only nod helplessly, ¡°Okay.¡± Xiao Wanshan turned to Yang Fei and said, ¡°General Manager Yang, since this happened, we really can¡¯t rest assured and want to accompany her to Licheng. Could you please arrange two plane tickets for us?¡± Yang Fei smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. I¡¯ll make a call right away and arrange it for you!¡± Then, Yang Fei called his subordinate and booked two plane tickets to Licheng. Tian Xinyi was very interested in Xiao Jinli¡¯s tea flower pot. She asked, ¡°Student Xiao, do you keep flowers?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t really keep flowers.¡± ¡°Ha, you don¡¯t keep flowers, so what¡¯s this tea flower pot?¡± Tian Xinyi was very curious about the Seven Color Tea Flower pot, and said, ¡°The Seven Color Tea Flower is difficult to cultivate, but look at this pot, the leaves and blossoms are flourishing, and you managed to keep it so well?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°Hehe, this pot of flowers grows in the Great Mountain, not in the house. It was brought back some time ago.¡± ¡°Grown in the Great Mountain?¡± Tian Xinyi was puzzled. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, I bought a few seeds from the Seed Station, didn¡¯t know how to plant them, so I threw a couple into a pit in the mountain, and then they grew.¡± Tian Xinyi and others, So, this precious Seven Color Tea Flower was just casually thrown in and grew wild? But is it that easy? If it were that easy, the value of the Seven Color Tea Flower wouldn¡¯t be so precious. Xiao¡¯s mother asked doubtfully, ¡°Is this flower really that precious?¡± Yang Fei and others, The child was carrying a flower worth over two million, walking around, and the parents still don¡¯t know? But the child knew it. Yang Fe arrayWithlacenames.PreDbTypeProcedureThe names= ¡°|array|_right|string|¡± and saidFilename.ReadAllText(contents, Encoding.UTF8;vara mightFilename.ReadAllText(contents, Encoding.UTF8;vara.¡±}, Chapter 203 - Chapter 203: Chapter 203: (First Update) Chapter 203: Chapter 203: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After everyone had lunch, they waited for the scheduled flight. As the general manager, Yang Fei had many things to deal with due to this incident. So, he asked Bi Shengyu and Tian Xinyi to accompany Xiao Wanshan¡¯s family of three until they were respectfully sent onto the plane. Seeing the plane safely flying in the sky, Tian Xinyi patted her chest with lingering fear, saying, ¡°I¡¯m still scared to death today, my mood hasn¡¯t calmed down yet.¡± Bi Shengyu said, ¡°With this state of mind, it seems you won¡¯t be able to catch up with work for a while.¡± Tian Xinyi said, ¡°I will adjust as soon as possible. I¡¯ve been working for over a decade and encountered various emergencies, such as turbulence in mid-air and changes in wind direction, which were thrilling experiences. But this time, the bomb incident was caused by someone we knew well, and the impact was too great.¡± Bi Shengyu¡¯s face was also serious, saying, ¡°Yeah, who could have thought that Old Qian, who always worked diligently, would go to such extremes.¡± He clenched his fists, with anger in his heart. ¡°At that time, I was sitting next to him but didn¡¯t notice any abnormalities about him, not even hearing the sound of the bomb. If it were not for that child, we¡­¡± Tian Xinyi nodded, ¡°Yes, if it were not for that child, perhaps we would all be buried in a mid-air explosion by now.¡± ¡°At that time, the child got on the plane and said she heard a ¡®tick-tock¡¯ sound, which she said sounded like a bomb on Television. I didn¡¯t believe it at first and thought she heard it wrong.¡± ¡°Who would have thought that she would dash into the cockpit in a blink of an eye and get the bomb from under the captain¡¯s seat. You know, when I saw the bomb in the child¡¯s hand, my whole body almost collapsed.¡± Bi Shengyu also said, ¡°Yes, when she pulled the bomb out from under the captain¡¯s seat, I was completely dumbfounded. Fortunately, that child was calm and didn¡¯t fiddle with it.¡± Tian Xinyi looked at the blue sky, somewhat distracted, and said, ¡°That child was braver and calmer than us adults!¡± Bi Shengyu nodded, ¡°Yes. You go back and rest well. In the next few days, the company will have a psychological expert assess our mental quality. We need to be prepared! From now on, don¡¯t think too much, just rest well.¡± Tian Xinyi nodded her head. Then, the two of them went their separate ways, each to their own mothers. Licheng Airport After receiving Xiao Wanshan¡¯s phone call, Gao Jianjun said to his wife and son, ¡°Sister and brother-in-law are coming with Jinli this time.¡± Ji Yuzhu finally regained a bit of calm and nodded, ¡°Well, with my sister and brother-in-law accompanying Jinli, I feel much more at ease.¡± Speaking of this, she paused and said, ¡°Who could have imagined that Jinli would encounter such a thing the first time she went on a long trip. Fortunately, she is a fortunate child with a great destiny and good luck, and she safely survived this disaster.¡± Gao Jianjun held his wife¡¯s hand and said with a smile, ¡°Jinli is a very lucky child, and she has had good luck since she was young. In the face of any danger, it will all retreat and turn into safety.¡± Ji Yuzhu nodded, ¡°Yes, Jinli has been a little lucky star since she was young.¡± Gao Yanxin gradually calmed down and then nodded, ¡°Yes, my cousin is a lucky star.¡± Gao Jianjun then said to the two secretaries, ¡°Secretary Li, Secretary Cui, you can go back first!¡± The emotions of the two secretaries also fluctuated and finally, they breathed a sigh of relief. The two secretaries nodded and said, ¡°Alright, Mr. President, Madam, and Young Master, we¡¯ll go back first.¡± Gao Jianjun¡¯s family of three found a cafe nearby to rest and wait. When it was more than two o¡¯clock, the family of three went to the airport again to pick up their relatives. ¡°Elder Aunt, elder uncle, Cousin, we are here!¡± At the exit, Gao Yanxin saw the three people from a distance and called out. As soon as they came out, Gao Yanxin tightly hugged Xiao Jinli and finally put down his heart, saying, ¡°Cousin, you really scared me to death. You almost scared my soul away. Fortunately, you are lucky and safe.¡± Xiao Jinli was always breathless when hugged by this cousin, but this time she didn¡¯t say anything. Holding a pot of flowers in her arms, she felt squeezed, so she apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cousin, I made you worry!¡± Ji Yuzhu saw Xiao Jinli¡¯s face turn red from her son¡¯s hug, so she slapped him on the back and said, ¡°Stinky boy, hurry up and let go of your cousin. Don¡¯t you know how strong you are? Look how red your cousin¡¯s face turned.¡± Gao Yanxin immediately let go of Xiao Jinli, scratched his head embarrassedly, and laughed, ¡°Cousin, I¡¯m sorry, I forgot that I¡¯m strong.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay!¡± Ji Yuzhu hugged Xiao Jinli again, her eyes red, her voice choked, ¡°You child really scared me to death. Fortunately, you are lucky, and you are safe.¡± Xiao Jinli could only apologize again, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aunt, I made you worry!¡± Gao Jianjun said, ¡°Alright, as long as we are safe, let¡¯s go home.¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°Jianjun, we came in a hurry and didn¡¯t prepare anything. Now, we need to buy some toiletries and clothes.¡± Ji Yuzhu laughed and said, ¡°No need to buy toiletries, we have new ones at home. Just buy a few sets of clothes. The shopping mall is not far from here. Let¡¯s have a look. Husband, why don¡¯t you take brother-in-law home first, and I¡¯ll go with my sister.¡± Xiao Wanshan shook his head, ¡°Let¡¯s all go together. Just buy two sets of clothes for a change.¡± Gao Yanxin said, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go together. I¡¯ll carry the bags behind you.¡± Then, they all went to the shopping mall. Licheng is even more economically developed than Ganjiang City, and the shopping malls are more luxurious and prosperous. Ji Yuzhu took everyone to the shopping mall and went directly to the brand clothing counter. Xiao¡¯s mother hesitated a little when she saw the prices of these clothes, ¡°Bamboo, are these clothes too expensive?¡± A skirt was priced at twenty-eight thousand, and a set of sleepwear was eight thousand eight hundred¡­ Ji Yuzhu laughed and said, ¡°Not expensive, not expensive at all! Sister, for a woman as naturally beautiful and outstanding as you, ordinary clothes can¡¯t match you. This time you come to Licheng, have a good time, and of course, you have to buy some good clothes.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°Just you and your sweet talk.¡± Xiao Jinli also nodded on the side, ¡°Mom, this skirt is really beautiful. If you wear it, you will definitely be nationally stunning.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said with a smile, ¡°Am I really that beautiful?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Xiao Jinli smiled, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, just ask Dad!¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Your mother is the most beautiful, even without this skirt, she is nationally stunning.¡± Everyone, Chapter 204 - Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Got Noticed (Second Update) Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Got Noticed (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Ji Yuzhu was a teacher. When she was at work, her attire was usually simple. Xiao Wanshan and his wife cared even less about clothing. Gao Yanxin was dressed in casual clothes, which although branded, were popular brands. The only one who dressed meticulously was Gao Jianjun. After all, he was the president of a company, it was important for him to pay attention to his image at work and during business negotiations. He was always dressed in bespoke suits from top brands. Those who had knowledge of these brands could tell at a glance that these suits were not cheap, costing tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands for a set. Thus, Gao Jianjun, dressed in his high-end custom clothing, seemed somewhat out of place among these people; akin to the sensation of a phoenix falling into a chicken coop. Luckily, what these people lacked in attire, they made up for with their beauty. Handsome men and beautiful women, especially Mother Xiao with her appearance and figure, no matter how simple her dress, it was hard to conceal her exceptional beauty, revealing her unique charm and transcendent grace. As a result, as soon as they entered the mall, they had attracted a lot of attention and gazes. Mother Xiao was accustomed to being watched by others, but after all she was a countrywoman. She was usually well protected by her family members and rarely went to big cities, let alone high-end shopping malls. Her expression was noticeably awkward and shy. She held Xiao Jinli¡¯s hand and spoke in a seemingly natural manner, ¡°Xiao Bao, the mall here is big and crowded, make sure you keep up with the adults.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at her hand that was tightly holding hers, nodded, and said, ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Ji Yuzhu brought the group to the brand counters on the sixth floor. Unbeknownst to them, as soon as they entered the mall, the men upstairs who were accompanying their wives and girlfriends had noticed them. Their gaze was fixed on Mother Xiao, Ji Yuzhu, and Xiao Jinli. Mother Xiao has a fair and beautiful face, looking mature yet still charming and elegant, radiating a unique charm from her very bones. Ji Yuzhu, although not as beautiful as her sister, is also quite stunning. Being a teacher, she possessed an aura of scholarly grace and cultivated temperament. As for Xiao Jinli, despite her young age, she had the makings of a beauty, while at the same time exuding innocence and loveliness. ¡°Hey, when did such stunning women appear in Licheng?¡± asked a man on the sixth floor, wearing a black t-shirt and a thick gold necklace around his neck. He was in his thirties or forties, with a face full of coarse features and a balding head. The man next to him immediately sycophantically said, ¡°Boss, are you interested in that woman? Should I go and ask around?¡± Zhu Lao Liu gave him a glance, took a deep puff of his cigarette, and kept his eyes fixed on Mother Xiao. His subordinate immediately understood. As soon as his subordinate left, a flamboyantly dressed woman came out and asked in a spoiled tone, ¡°Honey, what do you think of this dress? Is it pretty?¡± As she spoke, she kept winking at Zhu Lao Liu. However, Zhu Lao Liu didn¡¯t even bat an eye at her. Zeng Yanmei was instantly annoyed inside, but she dared not show it. Just as she was about to throw a tantrum, she followed Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s gaze and saw Mother Xiao¡¯s charming smile. A flicker of jealousy and resentment crossed her eyes in an instant. ¡°Has Zhu Lao Liu laid his eyes on another target? This can¡¯t happen, I haven¡¯t gotten enough money out of him yet,¡± Zeng Yanmei thought to herself, ¡°Where did this bitch come from? I must find a way to ruin her beauty!¡± ¡°Darling,¡± Zeng Yanmei whined as she clung to Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s arm, ¡°I called you, why aren¡¯t you paying attention to me?¡± Zhu Lao Liu turned to look at her heavily made-up face and lost interest instantly. He took a card out of his wallet, handed it to Zeng Yanmei, and said coldly, ¡°There are two million in this card. You don¡¯t need to follow me anymore.¡± Zeng Yanmei¡¯s face immediately changed, looking heartbroken and teary-eyed. She asked, ¡°Brother Liu, did I do something wrong? Why are you giving up on me?¡± It¡¯s not that she particularly enjoyed being around Zhu Lao Liu, but Zhu Lao Liu was more generous than her previous sugar daddies. Whatever she wanted, name-brand clothes and bags, expensive jewelry, he would purchase it all for her without batting an eyelash. He even gifted her a house worth five million yuan. The longer she stayed by his side, the more she acquired, so of course, she was in no rush to be cast aside. Having been with Zhu Lao Liu for so long, she had grown to understand him well. He did not like women who were clingy and nagging. She carefully studied Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s expression, sure enough, he showed signs of impatience and disdain. Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly grabbed the card he was offering and immediately said, ¡°Brother Liu, you¡¯re a good man, and I don¡¯t want to leave you, but if you really don¡¯t need me anymore then, well¡­ I¡¯ll just leave.¡± What Zhu Lao Liu valued about Zeng Yanmei was her ability to read the room and behave appropriately. Among all the women he knew, she was the one who lasted the longest by his side. Had he not found a new target, he would have wanted to keep her around a bit longer. Zhu Lao Liu nodded and promised her, ¡°After you leave me, don¡¯t hesitate to come and find me if you need any help.¡± Zeng Yanmei¡¯s eyes lit up and she responded excitedly, ¡°Really? Thank you, Brother Liu. Since you¡¯re busy, I won¡¯t disturb you anymore!¡± With that said, she quickly left with the card and her bag. As she was walking away, she cast a malicious glance towards Mother Xiao and her group. As long as that woman was out of the picture, and Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t on her, Zeng Yanmei would be able to return to Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s side. It¡¯s not that she truly fell in love with Zhu Lao Liu and could not bear to leave him. It¡¯s that she feared it would be hard to find another sugar daddy as generous as him in the future. So, of course, she wanted to hold onto this opportunity. After Zeng Yanmei left, Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s heated gaze remained focused on Mother Xiao. Xiao Jinli, who was busy choosing clothes with her mother and her aunt, felt two burning and domineering gazes pierce her, causing her to furrow her brows slightly. She quickly scanned the surroundings and soon identified the source. Xiao Jinli glanced at the burly man leaning on the corridor on the 6th floor narrowing her eyes. Was this man eying her mother? Soon, she noticed a man dressed in a suit and leather shoes approaching. Upon seeing Gao Jianjun, he immediately greeted him, ¡°President Gao, I thought I had mistaken you for someone else just now!¡± Gao Jianjun immediately recognized the man as a manager from one of his partner companies, and he nodded in acknowledgement, ¡°Manager Li.¡± Manager Li smiled and took a brief but careful look at the people around Gao Jianjun, then he asked cautiously, ¡°President Gao, you¡¯re out shopping with your family. Is this your wife?¡± He pointed at Ji Yuzhu. Gao Jianjun said with a smile, ¡°Yes, this is my wife.¡± Then he didn¡¯t introduce anyone else. There was no need to do that for someone he wasn¡¯t close to. Manager Li immediately greeted Ji Yuzhu, ¡°Madam, hello! Lady Gao, you¡¯re really beautiful, no wonder President Gao doesn¡¯t pay attention to other women.¡± Ji Yuzhu replied politely, ¡°Manager Li, you flatter me!¡± Manager Li showered Ji Yuzhu with compliments before turning to Mother Xiao and the others and asking, ¡°Lady Gao, are these your relatives? The women are so gorgeous, the men so handsome ¨C it¡¯s truly a case of like attracts like!¡± Chapter 205 - Chapter 205: Chapter 206: Being Looked Down Upon Chapter 205: Chapter 206: Being Looked Down Upon Translator: 549690339 Ji Yuzhu was really angry. Usually, she would dress up when going to the shopping mall. Today, she came directly from school to the airport, and then to the shopping mall, wearing only light makeup and ordinary clothes. She didn¡¯t expect to be looked down upon by others. The waitress glanced contemptuously at the group and rolled her eyes. She casually said, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, you can afford it. But it would take you, ordinary workers, a year¡¯s salary to buy this dress. I¡¯m thinking about you. It¡¯s not worth your hard work for a year just to buy a single dress.¡± Hearing the sarcastic words of the waitress, Ji Yuzhu¡¯s face turned pale with anger. Seeing this, Gao Jianjun immediately tried to calm her down, saying, ¡°Wife, calm down, calm down. We won¡¯t stoop to her level.¡± Ji Yuzhu took a deep breath and said angrily, ¡°Are you blind, you waitress? Didn¡¯t you see the big and small bags in our hands, each one costing tens of thousands of yuan? My stuff, totaling hundreds of thousands of yuan¡ªI can absolutely afford one measly dress from your store. Go get your store manager. I¡¯d like to ask them if, when doing business, they treat their customers with contempt and push them away.¡± The waitress¡¯s face changed instantly, and she looked very upset. She said, ¡°Our manager isn¡¯t here!¡± Ji Yuzhu nodded angrily and said, ¡°Fine, the manager isn¡¯t here? Gao Jianjun, call their brand¡¯s regional manager and ask them if they treat their customers with contempt too.¡± When the waitress heard Ji Yuzhu¡¯s words, her face showed even more disdain. You bunch of bumpkins, can¡¯t even afford a dress, yet you think you can actually contact the regional manager? Stop bluffing. The waitress said coldly, ¡°Go ahead and make the call.¡± Ji Yuzhu was simply infuriated by the waitress¡¯s attitude. If it were just her alone, it would pass. But now, she¡¯s brought her sister¡¯s family along. She took her sister¡¯s family out to buy clothes just to receive such contemptuous treatment. How could she not be angry? Gao Jianjun¡¯s sharp eyes flashed a cold light, and he was about to dial the phone when Manager Li ran over. He smiled and said to Gao Jianjun, ¡°President Gao, I finally found you.¡± Hearing the shopping mall¡¯s Manager Li call him President, the waitress¡¯s face changed again, and she thought to herself that perhaps he really was a rich man. Only people from big companies would be called President. Gao Jianjun nodded. Manager Li saw that something was wrong and immediately asked, ¡°Lady Gao, what happened?¡± Ji Yuzhu said, ¡°We wanted to look at this cheongsam, but this waitress not only had an attitude, but also mocked us for being unable to afford it. Humph, I was just about to have my husband call their brand¡¯s regional manager to file a complaint.¡± Seeing the situation, the waitress immediately apologized softly, ¡°President Gao, Lady Gao, I¡¯m sorry. It was my mistake. Please don¡¯t call the regional manager.¡± Ji Yuzhu snorted and said, ¡°Hmph, you think you can just apologize after looking down on us? Husband, keep calling!¡± If it was just her receiving such contemptuous treatment today, it would be one thing, but she absolutely could not allow her sister¡¯s family to be treated with such discrimination. Usually, she wouldn¡¯t use her status to bully others, but today, she wanted to do just that. The waitress¡¯s face turned pale. She said with sincere apology, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lady Gao. It¡¯s all my fault. It was I who looked down on you. I apologize to you. Please don¡¯t call the manager, or I will lose my job.¡± Working here, not only were commissions high, but she could also meet people from high-class circles. Maybe one day, some rich man would notice her and elevate her to the status of a wealthy wife. So, she couldn¡¯t afford to lose this job. Ji Yuzhu had no intention of being soft-hearted. She said loudly, ¡°Oh, now that you know our status, you finally admit your mistake. If we were really poor, wouldn¡¯t we be insulted to death by you?¡± Seeing that Ji Yuzhu was still being relentless, the waitress looked at Manager Li for help, then bit her lip and asked, ¡°Lady Gao, what do you want me to do? Should I kneel down and beg you?¡± With that, she was about to kneel down toward Ji Yuzhu. Xiao Jinli noticed that people with cameras and cellphones were not far away, taking pictures and videos in their direction. She knew that her uncle was quite a prominent figure in Licheng, and any negative news about him could become a disaster. For example, if a rich woman was reported to the media as bullying people and forcing a waitress to kneel down¡­ She immediately pulled Ji Yuzhu to the side and innocently said to the waitress, ¡°Sister, why do you want to kneel down? If you kneel down, people who don¡¯t know will think that my aunt is bullying you. But it was clearly you who looked down on us and mistreated us. All my aunt wants is a sincere apology, not for you to kneel down!¡± Then, she pointed to the people taking pictures and videos not far from the counter and said, ¡°Although we¡¯re not afraid of being photographed, kneeling would still have a bad impact, right?¡± Upon being reminded by Xiao Jinli, Ji Yuzhu and the others instantly turned and looked in the direction of the photographers, their faces changing. Xiao Jinli pointed to the CCTV camera above and said, ¡°Of course, if we¡¯re really misunderstood, this place can vindicate us.¡± Gao Jianjun immediately said to Manager Li, ¡°Manager Li, I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ll have to get a copy of the surveillance footage.¡± Manager Li said solemnly, ¡°President Gao, Lady Gao, rest assured, the mall will definitely not spread any unfavorable rumors. I¡¯ll make a copy of the surveillance video for you later!¡± Then, he turned to the waitress and scolded her sternly, ¡°What is the matter with your store? Don¡¯t you know that customers are god? You dare to be arrogant to customers and consumers. Do you still want to do business? Where is Li Hong?¡± Another waitress immediately said, ¡°Our manager went out on an errand.¡± Manager Li said, ¡°When she comes back, tell her to visit me in my office!¡± ¡°Yes, Manager Li!¡± Then, Manager Li accompanied with a smile, ¡°Lady Gao, what would you like to buy? Whatever you fancy, I¡¯ll pay for it today!¡± As he said this, his heart bled. He was a shopping mall manager, and although looking successful, his monthly salary was only several thousand yuan. The cheapest clothes in this store cost twenty or thirty thousand yuan. Ji Yuzhu refused directly, ¡°There¡¯s no need for Manager Li to pay. Although our family isn¡¯t particularly wealthy, we can still afford a few small pieces of clothing here.¡± With that, she pointed to another waitress and said, ¡°You serve us, and bring me that cheongsam!¡± Chapter 206 - Chapter 206: Chapter 205: Changing Women Like Changing Clothes Chapter 206: Chapter 205: Changing Women Like Changing Clothes Translator: 549690339 Manager Li returned to his office. In his office, a man of medium height, clad in a black short sleeve shirt, was sitting on the sofa. This man was none other than Huang Mao, the guy who was with Zhu Lao Liu earlier. ¡°How¡¯s the investigation?¡± Huang Mao asked nonchalantly. Manager Li said, ¡°That woman is Gao Jianjun¡¯s relative. Although Gao Jianjun did not introduce her, I noticed some resemblance between her and Madam Gao, so she must be a blood-related relative of Madam Gao.¡± Having said this, Manager Li carefully asked, ¡°Third Brother, why are you investigating this woman?¡± Huang Mao shot him a glance, slapped him on the back of his head, and said scornfully, ¡°You dimwit, didn¡¯t you notice the stunning beauty of that woman? Obviously, our Boss Zhu has taken a liking to her.¡± Upon hearing this, Manager Li¡¯s expression froze momentarily, he instinctively said, ¡°Ah, Boss Zhu has taken a liking to her, but doesn¡¯t he already have a woman by his side?¡± ¡°Does having a woman mean Boss Zhu can¡¯t switch women?¡± Huang Mao said dismissively. ¡°With his wealth and power, switching women is as easy as changing clothes. Is there anything wrong with wanting to change into a beautiful new set of clothes when the worn ones are old?¡± Manager Li understood then. Still doubtful, he said, ¡°But Third Brother, that woman is Gao Jianjun¡¯s relative, isn¡¯t it difficult to make a move on her? You know, if we really harm her, considering Gao Jianjun¡¯s status in the business world of Licheng, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for us to clean up the mess.¡± ¡°Who told you to do it forcefully?¡± Huang Mao was nearly angered to death. ¡°If we can¡¯t use force, can¡¯t we use a softer approach? Boss Zhu has plenty of money. I don¡¯t believe that woman wouldn¡¯t be moved if enough money was thrown at her.¡± Manager Li was bleak, ¡°But Third Brother, Gao Jianjun is also wealthy. If that woman really likes money, wouldn¡¯t Gao Jianjun give it to her?¡± Hearing this, Huang Mao was on the verge of exploding. He said, ¡°Yes, Gao Jianjun is wealthy, but why would he give it to those so-called relatives? Even though that woman is related to his wife, and he is quite famously devoted to his wife in the business circle, he can¡¯t possibly be squandering money on the relatives from his wife¡¯s side. Didn¡¯t you see just now how those so-called relatives were dressed so poorly? The clothes on them probably cost a few dozen yuan from a street stall. That woman didn¡¯t even have decent jewelry on her. Clearly, they¡¯re poor relatives. If Gao Jianjun was really generous with his relatives, would they be dressed so shabbily? Furthermore, in this society, who dislikes having too much money? Gao Jianjun is rich, but if she could hitch herself to Boss Zhu, it would be a boon to her. Would he dare to offend Boss Zhu for those so-called relatives?¡± When Manager Li heard this, it suddenly started to make sense. He then asked, ¡°But Third Brother, how should we play it soft? Just now when I was investigating, it seemed like that woman¡¯s husband and child were also there. It wouldn¡¯t be easy to make a move.¡± Hearing this, Huang Mao fell into deep thought. He said, ¡°Given the incredibly attractive beauty of that woman, it¡¯s likely that she isn¡¯t from Licheng. If such a woman were to appear in Licheng, it would have caused quite a stir by now.¡± She might even have been kept by some noteworthy person. He knows how many eyes were on that group of people the moment they set foot in the mall. In this large mall, most of the people who usually come to shop are people with money and power, like those upper-class ladies, socialites, or men accompanying their ladies shopping. If they play hardball, it would be to secretly kidnap her and then try to win over her heart with wealth. If they play soft, well, it would be to talk directly to the woman, in reality, still trying to win her over with wealth. Soft or hard, both are just about the strength of the approach. While the two were lost in their thoughts, Zhu Lao Liu burst into the office and saw the two of them. Smilingly, he asked, ¡°What are you two pondering over?¡± ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Boss!¡± The two of them yelled simultaneously. Zhu Lao Liu went directly to the chair in front of the office table and sat down. He directly asked,¡± Third Brother, what¡¯s the identity of that woman?¡± Huang Mao replied, ¡°Boss, that woman is Gao Jianjun¡¯s relative. And, Boss, the man and child accompanying her are her husband and child!¡± Zhu Lao Liu had never been with a married woman before. Upon hearing the news, Zhu Lao Liu squinted his small eyes and his brows knitted together. A troubled look flashed in his eyes. He muttered, ¡°Married, huh?¡± Manager Li and Huang Mao exchanged glances. Isn¡¯t that obvious? Despite her remarkable beauty, her age was apparent. She was clearly over thirty. Of course, neither of them dared to say this out loud for fear of being beaten! Zhu Lao Liu lightly tapped on the table. The ¡°pom pom¡± sound made both men¡¯s hearts jump, fearing that if he got angry, their skulls might be cracked open. After a while, Zhu Lao Liu said to Manager Li, ¡°Xiao Li, you go and tell Gao Jianjun, Zhu Lao Liu invites them to dinner!¡± Manager Li was startled. Hesitantly, he asked, ¡°Boss, this¡­?¡± ¡°Just go when I ask you to, stop being so slow!¡± Zhu Lao Liu ordered harshly. ¡°Yes, Boss!¡± Manager Li immediately replied. When Manager Li left, Huang Mao carefully asked, ¡°Boss, what are you¡­¡± ¡°Testing the waters!¡± Zhu Lao Liu replied coolly. Huang Mao, What¡¯s going on? He didn¡¯t understand at all. Seeing him look so bewildered, Zhu Lao Liu said irritably, ¡°Enough, you wouldn¡¯t understand even if I explained it.¡± Xiao Jinli and her group had reached the sixth floor. Ji Yuzhu was excitedly choosing clothes for Xiao¡¯s mother. ¡°Sister, this, this purple cheongsam is very beautiful. You will look amazing in it.¡± Xiao Jinli also brightened up when she saw the purple cheongsam and added, ¡°Wow, this cheongsam is really beautiful, Mom, go try it on!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother looked at the slit of the cheongsam and said a little shyly, ¡°Let¡¯s forget about it. This cheongsam is too revealing.¡± Ji Yuzhu laughed, ¡°Hehe, Sister, you¡¯re just too conservative. The slit on the cheongsam is to highlight the figure and show off the beautiful lines of the legs. It¡¯s very fashionable. For a woman as beautiful as you, you¡¯ll definitely stun everyone wearing a cheongsam. Let¡¯s try it on.¡± As she finished, she reached to grab the cheongsam. But she was intercepted by a waitress, who also gave them a disdainful look. The waitress looked at them and sneered, ¡°If you¡¯re not buying, don¡¯t try it on. This cheongsam is very expensive, 58,000 yuan a piece. Can you afford it?¡± The waitress¡¯s limited experience only allowed her to notice their unassuming outfits and fail to recognize the high-quality dress Gao Jianjun was wearing. Ji Yuzhu¡¯s temper flared upon hearing this. She retorted loudly, ¡°Aren¡¯t the clothes displayed here for sale? Does it matter whether they are sold to rich or poor people? And besides, which eye of yours saw that we couldn¡¯t afford these clothes?¡± Chapter 207 - Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Invited to a Meal (First Update) Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Invited to a Meal (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Ji Yuzhu bought seven or eight qipaos in one go, worth more than two hundred thousand, and specifically asked for a new waitress to serve them. So naturally, the sales performance belonged to her. The offended waitress looked on, showing a very annoyed expression, and she felt a lot of regret in her heart. For these more than two hundred thousand, just taking a commission would give her tens of thousands of pieces. It was supposed to be her performance, but now it all flew away and took advantage of Zhou Mo, the cheap person. Mother Xiao looked at the four qipaos in her hand and said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°It¡¯s enough to buy one qipao. Why buy so many?¡± Ji Yuzhu smiled and said, ¡°Sister, you look so good in a qipao, you look beautiful and elegant. You should wear more of them, of course you need to buy a few more, we can afford it!¡± She deliberately bit the last sentence and glanced at the waitress with a hint of contempt. Mother Xiao and others, Mother Xiao knew her sister was doing this out of anger, so it was not easy for her to refuse, ¡°Well, we¡¯ll buy them.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Mom, you really look beautiful in a qipao. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask Dad, right, Dad?¡± Xiao Wanshan immediately nodded his head, ¡°Yes, wife, you are really beautiful in a qipao. But no matter what clothes you wear, you¡¯re always beautiful!¡± His wife is always beautiful at any time. After buying the qipaos, Ji Yuzhu said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the children¡¯s area and buy some clothes for Jinli!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Auntie, I don¡¯t need to buy it. I brought clothes from home.¡± At this moment, Gao Yanxin said, ¡°Cousin, since everyone else is buying, you should definitely buy two just to be fair.¡± Ji Yuzhu pinched Xiao Jinli¡¯s little cheeks and laughed, ¡°Our Jinli is so pretty and cute that no matter how many clothes we buy for her, it¡¯s not enough. Let¡¯s go to the children¡¯s area!¡± The men carried the bags, while the three women walked in front. Seeing that they were about to leave, Manager Li promptly came forward and said, ¡°President Gao, Boss Zhu would like to invite you all for a meal. What do you think?¡± ¡°Boss Zhu?¡± President Gao frowned and asked with an uncertain expression, ¡°He wants to invite us for a meal?¡± Manager Li nodded, ¡°Yes! Boss Zhu said he wants to invite you and your family for dinner!¡± Ji Yuzhu frowned, ¡°Boss Zhu, Zhu Lao Liu?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Manager Li nodded. ¡°No!¡± Ji Yuzhu directly refused. Although she was a teacher, Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s reputation was well known and impressive. As for why, she often heard some students at school mention it. It was said that Zhu Lao Liu had risen from being an insignificant little gangster to a fearsome character nowadays. It was said that he was ruthless and cruel. It was said that he was loyal and valued brotherhood, treating his brothers like hands and feet, and women like clothes. And so on¡­ Anyway, for Ji Yuzhu, the reputation was not good. Hearing Lady Gao¡¯s direct refusal, Manager Li was slightly surprised, but quickly looked at Gao Jianjun. As a man in the shopping mall, Gao Jianjun had, of course, heard of Zhu Lao Da¡¯s reputation and methods. However, he was puzzled as to why Zhu Lao Da invited them to dinner for no reason? They had no previous relationship with each other. But Zhu Lao Da was someone who, if you didn¡¯t have to offend him, it was better not to offend. If you did offend him, you wouldn¡¯t even know if someone tripped you in the shopping mall. Gao Jianjun thought for a moment and said, ¡°Since Boss Zhu invited us to dinner, it would be rude not to go.¡± Ji Yuzhu somewhat disagreed, but when she met Gao Jianjun¡¯s eyes, she immediately understood that they couldn¡¯t refuse this person. Gao Jianjun immediately instructed Gao Yanxin, ¡°Xin er, take your elder aunt, uncle, and cousin home first. Your mom and I will attend a dinner!¡± Gao Yanxin immediately responded, ¡°Yes, Dad!¡± When Manager Li heard that Mother Xiao and her family were going to leave first, his face became a little anxious. He immediately said, ¡°President Gao, Boss Zhu said he wants to invite all of you, including your relatives, to dinner.¡± The target of Boss Zhu was Mother Xiao. If Mother Xiao didn¡¯t go, it would mean his mission had failed. Gao Jianjun heard this and his brow immediately furrowed. What did Boss Zhu mean? His gaze turned to his brother-in-law, and then to his sister, whose smile was calm and beautiful. His pupils shrank involuntarily, and a bad premonition enveloped his heart. Then, Gao Jianjun said, ¡°Manager Li, my brother-in-law and his family have just got off the plane, and they have come a long way. They¡¯re tired and need to go back and rest. They¡¯re not suitable to have dinner with us.¡± Gao Jianjun¡¯s heart was raised, hoping that his guess was wrong. Upon hearing this, Manager Li frowned, looked somewhat puzzled and said, ¡°Is that so? Well, let me ask Boss Zhu!¡± As he said this, his gaze unintentionally swept over Mother Xiao and then he took out his phone. Gao Jianjun, who had been staring at Manager Li¡¯s expression, saw that Manager Li¡¯s gaze had touched on Mother Xiao. His heart immediately sank. As expected, Sister Bamboo had caught Zhu Lao Da¡¯s eye. The invitation to dinner may have been nominally for all of them, but in reality, it was not about the wine. After a while, Manager Li said to Gao Jianjun, ¡°Boss Zhu said that since the guests have come a long way and are tired and need to rest, we¡¯ll have dinner another time!¡± Hearing this, Gao Jianjun felt even more certain that Boss Zhu¡¯s goal was probably his wife¡¯s sister, and his heart became even heavier. Gao Jianjun could only agree, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll do it some other time!¡± After Manager Li left, Ji Yuzhu asked inexplicably, ¡°Husband, what does he mean by this?¡± Gao Jianjun said solemnly, ¡°Wife, let¡¯s go home and talk about it. Let¡¯s go home now!¡± He emphasized the word ¡°now!¡± Having been married to Gao Jianjun for many years, the two of them had long been in harmony. Immediately, the whole group didn¡¯t buy anything in the mall and hurried back home. Once they arrived home, Ji Yuzhu asked with a slight unease, ¡°Husband, what did that Manager Li in the mall mean? Why did that Boss Zhu invite us all to dinner for no reason?¡± They even had to bring her sister and their family. Xiao Wanshan and his wife, as well as Jinli, also looked at him unanimously. Gao Jianjun rubbed his eyebrows, and without concealing anything, he said, ¡°I guess that Boss Zhu might have taken a fancy to my sister!¡± ¡°What?¡± Ji Yuzhu and Gao Yanxin exclaimed. Ji Yuzhu jumped up and shouted, ¡°That son of a bitch, who does he think he is, an ancient emperor?¡± Gao Yanxin¡¯s face showed a hint of panic, and he looked at Gao Jianjun nervously and asked, ¡°Dad, what should we do?¡± Gao Jianjun looked at Xiao Wanshan and his wife and said, ¡°Sister, brother-in-law, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to leave Licheng immediately, otherwise¡­¡± Otherwise, it would be very difficult to leave. Looking at the nervous expressions of her uncle and cousin, Xiao Jinli asked in confusion, ¡°Uncle, cousin, who is this Boss Zhu? Why do we have to leave if he fancies my mom?¡± Chapter 208 - Chapter 208: Chapter 208: This Person Zhu Lao Liu Chapter 208: Chapter 208: This Person Zhu Lao Liu Translator: 549690339 Xiao Wanshan asked with a serious face, ¡°Jianjun, who exactly is this Zhu Lao Da that you¡¯re all so nervous about?¡± Gao Jianjun said, ¡°Zhu Lao Da, known as Zhu Lao Liu on the streets. He can be considered the hegemon of Licheng!¡± Xiao Wanshan furrowed his brows, puzzled, ¡°Licheng Hegemon?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Gao Jianjun nodded, ¡°Zhu Lao Liu used to be the boss on the streets a couple of years back, but he¡¯s gone legit in recent years, becoming a security company. However, he¡¯s still the most influential in the underworld, and those from both paths dare not offend him easily. Rumor has it that Zhu Lao Liu worked his way up from a low-level little gangster to his current position. Not only is he resourceful and ruthless, but he¡¯s also known for his loyalty and friendship. He has friends among all the powers and is considered a hero by those on both paths. Even the richest and most powerful people in Licheng have to give him some respect and pay attention to his expressions.¡± Xiao Jinli summed it up, ¡°So, we can¡¯t afford to offend such a person, and we don¡¯t dare to, right?¡± Gao Jianjun nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right. Zhu Lao Liu may seem magnanimous and generous at times, but he¡¯s also known to be vengeful. So, such a person is the one you absolutely can¡¯t provoke!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and then continued to ask, ¡°So, Uncle, you also said that he has his eyes on my mom. What does that mean?¡± Gao Jianjun said, ¡°Zhu Lao Liu is fond of women, especially beautiful women. It is rumored that as long as he fancies a woman, whether married or single, he will use any means necessary to get her. However, he¡¯s also generous towards women. As long as they follow him, he will basically meet any demands they have.¡± At this point, he looked worriedly at Xiao Wanshan and his wife, continuing, ¡°He invited us to dinner for no reason and insisted that you come with us. Based on my guess, he might have set his sights on my sister! I¡¯m sorry, sister, brother-in-law, I may not be able to protect you. So, it¡¯s best for you to leave Licheng as soon as possible! As long as you leave Licheng, he can¡¯t do anything to you. Otherwise¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Ji Yuzhu became furious, ¡°Has this Zhu Lao Liu become lawless, wanting to forcefully take a married woman? Can he really cover the sky in Licheng?¡± Gao Jianjun sighed lightly, ¡°He is called the Licheng Hegemon, so it¡¯s not that different from covering the sky with one hand!¡± Ji Yuzhu, Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes flickered as she said, ¡°Dad, Mom, they say that a local snake is no match for a strong outsider. Let¡¯s not forget, Zhu Lao Liu is a dragon in Licheng holding sway. To avoid trouble, you should just go back. Don¡¯t worry, now that I¡¯ve arrived in Licheng, with maternal aunt and uncle here, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Xiao Wanshan pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll leave Licheng.¡± Gao Jianjun nodded, ¡°Good, I¡¯ll book the earliest flight to Ganjiang City for you and my sister now!¡± Xiao Mother heard this and felt a little uneasy. She wanted to go back, but she didn¡¯t want to leave her daughter alone. Xiao Jinli saw her mother¡¯s hesitation and comforted her, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. Wherever I go, Cousin will be with me. If you¡¯re still worried, Uncle can arrange for a couple of bodyguards to follow me!¡± Gao Yanxin immediately promised, ¡°Elder aunt, uncle, don¡¯t worry, I will definitely protect my cousin. Wherever my cousin goes, I will follow her every step of the way, 24 hours a day!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Xiao Mother laughed, ¡°Twenty-four hours a day is not necessary. It¡¯s enough to just have you follow Xiao Bao when she goes out.¡± Does her Xiao Bao need privacy for twenty-four hours a day? Since the decision to return had been made, the sooner they left the better. Gao Jianjun said, ¡°Brother-in-law, the fastest flight from Licheng to Ganjiang City is at 1:30 am.¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s take that flight.¡± After dinner and a two-hour rest, they left for the airport at 11:30 pm. Who would have thought that as soon as they walked out of the villa, they were stopped by a group of men. Gao Jianjun stared at the men blocking their way, asking with a dark face, ¡°Who are you? Why are you stopping us outside my house?¡± Huang Mao chuckled, ¡°President Gao, you misunderstand; my brothers and I are not here to stop you. This morning, our Zhu Lao Da invited you all to have a meal, and he was afraid that you might forget. We are just here to remind you. Oh, and by the way, President Gao, where are you going so late? How about we give you a lift?¡± He thought secretly, ¡°As expected, Zhu Lao Da is a visionary; he guessed that Gao Jianjun would send this woman away overnight. Luckily, his men have been watching Gao Jianjun!¡± As Gao Jianjun was about to respond, Xiao Jinli giggled and said, ¡°Hehe, Big Brother, are you serious? We¡¯re going to the airport. If you don¡¯t mind, please give us a ride!¡± The faces of Xiao Wanshan and the others changed, and they exclaimed, ¡°Xiao Bao!¡± Huang Mao¡¯s expression paused, and his eyes swept over Xiao Wanshan and the others one by one. Then he looked back at Xiao Jinli, his expression slightly odd, ¡°To the airport?¡± He thought Xiao Jinli was just an ordinary child with no ulterior motives. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s a man-eating demon here in Licheng, and it especially likes eating beautiful women. My mom is so beautiful, and that demon will definitely not let her go. Naturally, it¡¯s better to leave this place. Big Brother, don¡¯t you think so?¡± ¡°A man-eating demon?¡± Huang Mao¡¯s expression cracked slightly, ¡°This¡­this can¡¯t be, right?¡± This child just described Zhu Lao Da as a man-eating demon, she¡¯s quite a character. Xiao Jinli nodded her head, ¡°Why not! Big Brother, you have no idea. Since we came here, we¡¯ve been feeling two powerful and scorching stares, as if trying to trap us in a prison to await slaughter. If this isn¡¯t a demon, what is it? So, it¡¯s best for us to leave here as soon as possible. Big Brother, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d give us a ride? It¡¯s late into the night, the perfect time for demons to come out. We¡¯re afraid we might even encounter one on the way. Now that you, Big Brother, are escorting us, we don¡¯t have to worry too much.¡± Xiao Wanshan and others, What on earth is this child talking about? ¡°Alright!¡± Huang Mao subconsciously nodded, but then reacted and shook his head vigorously, ¡°No, you can¡¯t leave!¡± If they left, how would he explain it to Zhu Lao Da? He didn¡¯t want to lose himself either. ¡°Why?¡± Xiao Jinli asked with a puzzled look, then seemed to have a sudden realization and said in surprise, ¡°Big Brother, you¡¯re not part of that man-eating demon¡¯s gang, are you?¡± Xiao Wanshan and others, Caught off guard, Huang Mao and the others, Was this girl doing this on purpose? Huang Mao lost his patience and shouted, ¡°Gao Jianjun, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re pretending not to understand or if you really don¡¯t understand. But let me tell you, none of you are allowed to leave tonight, or don¡¯t blame us for being impolite!¡± Chapter 209 - Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Xiao Jinli gets angry, the consequences are severe Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Xiao Jinli gets angry, the consequences are severe Translator: 549690339 After saying that, Huang Mao¡¯s expression was very smug, and his gaze deliberately lingered on Xiao Mother¡¯s face for a moment before swallowing. This woman is so damn beautiful! He had followed Zhu Lao Liu and seen all kinds of enchanting women, but none of them were as beautiful and graceful as Xiao Mother. Xiao Wanshan immediately stood in front of Xiao Mother, suppressing the anger in his eyes. He stared coldly at Huang Mao and said coldly, ¡°So, you want to abduct and force our women?¡± Huang Mao¡¯s disdainful gaze on Xiao Wanshan and coldly sneered, ¡°Hmph, it seems you already know Zhu Lao Da¡¯s intentions. Gao Jianjun, are you sure you want to offend Zhu Lao Da? In Licheng, do you dare to offend Zhu Lao Da?¡± At this point, he paused and showed an even more disdainful expression, continuing, ¡°So, I advise you to be a little more sensible! Don¡¯t let your so-called relatives, because of a woman, cause your family¡¯s company to disappear in Licheng!¡± Threats, naked threats! He was convinced that Gao Jianjun would not dare to offend Zhu Lao Liu! Indeed, in Licheng, there were very few people who dared to offend him. Moreover, Gao Jianjun¡¯s business in Licheng was not very influential. Anyone with a bit of common sense would know how to choose! Gao Jianjun¡¯s eyes were filled with rage, but before he could speak, Ji Yuzhu loudly scolded, ¡°You¡¯re farting!¡± Ji Yuzhu was very angry and said, ¡°Do you really think that Zhu Lao Liu can cover the sky in Licheng, and there is no law left? My sister has a husband and children, why should we surrender just because he fancies her? You go tell Zhu Lao Liu, we will not submit!¡± Huang Mao said coldly, ¡°Lady Gao, don¡¯t be naive. You can ask your husband if our Zhu Lao Da is someone you can afford to offend? Gao Jianjun, knowing reality is the mark of a wise man! You¡¯re a smart man, you know how to choose, right?¡± Gao Jianjun¡¯s face was ashen, and he shouted angrily, ¡°Fine, let Zhu Lao Da kill me if he has the guts, and let my company disappear in Licheng!¡± Hearing that, Huang Mao laughed instead of getting angry! He looked mockingly at Xiao Wanshan and his wife with a sneer, ¡°So, you two, what will it be? Do you really want Gao Jianjun and his wife to offend Zhu Lao Liu for your sake and let Gao¡¯s Group disappear from Licheng?¡± Xiao Wanshan¡¯s face was full of anger, and he was really furious! Xiao Mother had always been well protected and had never experienced such a thing. Her beautiful face turned slightly pale, and she looked scared and nervous! Seeing Xiao Mother¡¯s appearance, Xiao Jinli was really angry! Provoking her family meant touching her reverse scale! Since her rebirth, she had never been so angry! Very well, Zhu Lao Liu, you and I are completely at odds now. Xiao Jinli¡¯s delicate, childish face showed a coldness unlike her age, and she sneered, ¡°Hehe, we want to see how your Zhu Lao Da makes Gao¡¯s Group disappear in Licheng.¡± Upon hearing this, Huang Mao immediately became angry. He pointed his finger at Xiao Jinli and shouted, ¡°You little brat, how dare you be so arrogant!¡± As he said that, his eyes swept menacingly across Gao Jianjun, ¡°Gao Jianjun, since you refuse the toast and insist on punishment, you just wait for it!¡± As long as Gao Jianjun¡¯s company was still in Licheng, it wouldn¡¯t matter where his relatives hid. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Huang Mao called for his subordinates. ¡°Stop!¡± Xiao Jinli coldly said, ¡°Did I let you go?¡± Gao Yanxin was frightened and pulled Xiao Jinli¡¯s sleeve, whispering softly, ¡°Cousin!¡± His face was full of worry. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Huang Mao found it funny that a young girl could stop him. ¡°Little girl, do you have any more orders?¡± he sneered in warning, ¡°However, little girl, it¡¯s not your place as a child to interfere in adult matters. Otherwise, don¡¯t blame my brothers for not sparing even a child!¡± Xiao Jinli crossed her arms, and her childish face showed an uncharacteristic cold smile. She said coldly, ¡°Oh, I want to see how you, Zhu Lao Da¡¯s subordinates, can go so far as to not spare even me, a child!¡± Huang Mao frowned, his eyes slightly dissatisfied as he looked at Gao Jianjun, saying, ¡°Gao Jianjun, you adults actually let a child stick her neck out for you, haha, it¡¯s really showing us what kind of coward Gao¡¯s Group¡¯s president is!¡± Snap, snap! He had barely finished speaking when his face was hit with two slaps. Huang Mao¡¯s face instantly swelled up. Gao Yanxin and his family opened their mouths wide in disbelief and exclaimed, ¡°Cousin!¡± Xiao Wanshan and his wife¡¯s expressions were actually quite calm. Because they were already used to it! Xiao Jinli clapped her hands, her eyes sharp and coldly said, ¡°If you can¡¯t speak properly, shut up!¡± Huang Mao¡¯s subordinates also looked at Xiao Jinli incredulously. Huang Mao was Zhu Lao Da¡¯s henchman and very trusted. Most people in Licheng didn¡¯t dare to mess with him. On the contrary, many people tried their best to please him. But now, he had been beaten by a child. When Huang Mao came to his senses, he covered his swollen face with one hand, and shouted furiously, ¡°You little brat, how dare you hit me! See if I don¡¯t teach you a lesson!¡± Having said that, he reached out a hand towards Xiao Jinli¡¯s face. Xiao Jinli sidestepped and grabbed Huang Mao¡¯s arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. ¡°Ah!¡± A mournful scream rang out in the deep night, startling the neighbors in the nearby villas. The people who lived in this area were either rich or noble! ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Send someone to check it out!¡± ¡°Where is that sound coming from?¡± ¡°It seems to be coming from the Gao¡¯s. The Gao family? Is there something wrong with the Gao family? How does this sound so creepy?¡± Soon after, some people gathered here. ¡°Mr. Gao, what happened here?¡± ¡°President Gao, your home¡­¡± As they walked in, their mouths dropped open in surprise. They saw five or six men lying on the ground, either holding their chests or arms, or hugging their heads, screaming in pain. Then there was a teenager standing in the middle. By the looks of it, these men were beaten by the teenager. ¡°Jianjun, what happened here?¡± Licheng Group¡¯s Chairman Li Ming, seeing their good relationship, asked in confusion. Gao Jianjun was also quite shocked and couldn¡¯t react for a long time. Hearing someone ask, he couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly and said, ¡°Zhu Lao Liu took a fancy to my sister-in-law and wanted to abduct her by force. This child is her child. She was very angry, very furious. So, in her fury, she taught these guys a lesson.¡± After hearing Gao Jianjun¡¯s words, some people immediately understood and asked, ¡°Are these people Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s men?¡± Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: Chapter 210: The Boldness of Gao Jianjun (Second Release) Chapter 210: Chapter 210: The Boldness of Gao Jianjun (Second Release) Translator: 549690339 Upon hearing Gao Jianjun¡¯s words, the surrounding area fell silent. Someone then exclaimed in surprise, ¡°What? They are Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s subordinates?¡± As for Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s reputation, anyone of a certain status would know. Besides, those living in this area, either rich or noble people, would undoubtedly know Zhu Lao Liu. But everyone preferred not to provoke Zhu Lao Liu. It was said that anyone crossed him would not end well. If offended to a lesser extent, mere physical harm could be caused; in severe cases, families would be ruined, and lives lost! Zhu Lao Liu was so domineering; it was no surprise he would stoop to forcefully abducting women. It was said that Zhu Lao Liu was fond of women, but he was also surprisingly generous to them. A lot of women who were initially reluctant to depart eventually left with heavy hearts. Zhu Lao Liu was indeed exceptionally generous when caring for women. Aside from being unable to pluck stars and moon from the sky for them, he could satisfy pretty much any of their desires. However, when he had no feelings for a woman, he could be utterly ruthless. Once he broke up and if the woman continued to cling, her ending was likely to be bleak. But it was also said that Zhu Lao Liu had certain expectations for women he took a liking to, they must be unmarried. Someone exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t Zhu Lao Liu always refraining from laying his hands on married women?¡± In astonishment, some then looked at Gao Jianjun¡¯s elder aunt. At one sight, they were all utterly amazed. They all knew Ji Yuzhu was very pretty, but they didn¡¯t expect her sister to be even more beautiful, even more remarkable. Even under the dim light, her fair and smooth skin shone, her facial features were exquisite, her big eyes were clear and enticing, and brimming with innocence. Even though she was simply dressed, her perfect figure was still apparent. She was even more beautiful than many big celebrities on television. Although she seemed aged, she was still full of charm, a kind of allure that many men find irresistible. ¡°Gosh, is this Ji Yuzhu¡¯s sister? She she¡¯s absolutely stunning, no wonder Zhu Lao Liu actually broke his own rule and abducted a married woman.¡± ¡°Indeed, Zhu Lao Liu adheres strictly to his principles in his dealings with women. It¡¯s unexpected that he would break them for a woman as beautiful as her.¡± ¡°Alas, now that Zhu Lao Liu has taken a fancy to her, I wonder if it¡¯s fortunate or unfortunate for Gao Jianjun?¡± If this woman was willing to be with Zhu Lao Liu, with Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s support, Gao¡¯s Group might even further improve. But on the flip side, if he offended Zhu Lao Liu ¡­ Gao Jianjun and his party could, of course, hear everyone¡¯s whispers. In anger, Ji Yuzhu ran to Huang Mao, threw aside her usual dignity and elegance from the upper-class circles, raised her leg, and kicked at Huang Mao. While kicking, she shouted loudly, ¡°I¡¯m kicking you to death. You really think Zhu Lao Liu is some emperor? If he takes a fancy to my sister, we have to obediently follow suit and let my sister become his woman? Huh, wishful thinking!¡± ¡°You colluding scumbag, deserve to die! Do you really think Ji Yuzhu can be pushed around? Go and tell Zhu Lao Liu, he wants my sister? He can dream on!¡± Huang Mao started shouting as Ji Yuzhu kicked him. Gao Jianjun was afraid Ji Yuzhu would genuinely kick Huang Mao to death, so he stepped up to stop his wife, saying, ¡°Bamboo, a couple of kicks should suffice. If you continue, you might actually kick him to death!¡± He glanced around and said, ¡°Let¡¯s just get my sister and brother-in-law on the plane! If we don¡¯t, we might miss the flight.¡± Ji Yuzhu regaining composure, quickly nodded and said, ¡°Right, let¡¯s quickly get them on the plane!¡± Hearing this, some in the crowd blinked, a glint flashing in their eyes. Xiao Jinli scanned the expressions of the people around her, a glimmer of a dark light in her eyes. Without a word, Xiao Jinli went up to Xiao Mother, took her hand, and said very earnestly, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be scared, your daughter will protect you.¡± Next, she turned to Xiao Wanshan and said, ¡°Dad, you should leave Licheng with Mom first. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. You have to believe in your daughter.¡± But Gao Jianjun sternly said, ¡°Jinli, you should leave with Mom and Dad!¡± Since she hit Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s man, she would certainly be not let off easily. He was already struggling to protect himself, it would be difficult for him to still protect Xiao Jinli. Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Uncle, let¡¯s hurry to the car. If we don¡¯t leave now, we¡¯ll miss the flight.¡± But Xiao Wanshan and his wife were very worried about Xiao Jinli and Gao Jianjun¡¯s family. However, they felt it was inappropriate to speak in front of so many people. After getting into the car, Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s face was still somewhat pale, with fear in her expression. Xiao Wanshan held her close, then looked at Gao Jianjun and his wife, with a serious face he said, ¡°After we leave, will Zhu Lao Liu take revenge on you?¡± In response, Gao Jianjun forced a bitter smile, ¡°Brother-in-law, there¡¯s no hiding it from you, Zhu Lao Liu holds a lot of power. Now that we¡¯ve crossed him, my company will probably declare bankruptcy in no more than three days.¡± Xiao Wanshan and his wife¡¯s faces instantly changed, they asked incredulously, ¡°Is it that serious?¡± Gao Jianjun¡¯s company in Licheng was not very big, but it was a medium-sized enterprise with assets exceeding 200 million. ¡°But you don¡¯t have to worry. This company was started by Bamboo and me from scratch. Even if the company goes bankrupt, we can still make a fresh start somewhere else,¡± Gao Jianjun reassured. Xiao¡¯s mother guiltily said, ¡°Jianjun, I¡¯m sorry for causing you such a big problem.¡± Ji Yuzhu said, ¡°Sister, you mustn¡¯t say that! If we are to blame, it¡¯s only Zhu Lao Liu, who¡¯s lawless.¡± Xiao Jinli highly admired her uncle¡¯s courage. In a choice between family and wealth, he decisively chose family. For many successful men, this is a truly rare quality. Xiao Jinli then smiled and said, ¡°Mom, aunt, uncle, you guys shouldn¡¯t be too pessimistic. Maybe it¡¯s a blessing in disguise. Zhu Lao Liu might be powerful, but he¡¯s not above the law. I don¡¯t believe that his current power and position are fair and square.¡± ¡°Jinli, I know what you mean,¡± Gao Jianjun shook his head, ¡°Everyone knows that Zhu Lao Liu attained his current power and position through numerous illegal means. But the problem is, no one can get a handle on him. Otherwise, his arch-rivals would have taken him down a long time ago.¡± Does Zhu Lao Liu have any enemies and arch-rivals? Of course, and probably quite a few. It¡¯s just that his enemies and arch-rivals lack his ferocious tactics, or more likely, Zhu Lao Liu has covered his tracks so thoroughly that no trace of evidence can be found. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Uncle, just because no one could catch him before doesn¡¯t mean no one can catch him now!¡± Gao Jianjun and the others, But they did not take Xiao Jinli¡¯s words seriously. Gao Jianjun still said seriously, ¡°Jinli, you should go back with your elder sister and brother-in-law, I¡¯ll handle the situations here. There¡¯s no need for someone your age to worry about these things.¡± Xiao Jinli, Chapter 211 - Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Unlucky to the Core (First Update) Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Unlucky to the Core (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Wanshan and his wife felt guilty, but they also knew that by staying at this time, they would only cause more trouble. So, the couple got on the plane without any problems. ¡°Damn it, why is there no signal at such a critical moment?¡± A middle-aged man complained angrily, tossing his cellphone away inside a villa in Gao Jianjun¡¯s territory. The woman beside him asked doubtfully, ¡°Husband, who are you trying to call so late at night?¡± Zhu Jianshan, obviously irritated, said, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. Let me see your cell phone.¡± Mrs. Zhu¡¯s facial expression stiffened for a moment, but she still handed her phone over. Zhu Jianshan took a look and found that this phone also had no signal. With an annoyed expression, he said, ¡°What the hell is going on? Fine, let me try the landline.¡± After saying that, he tried to make a call using the landline, but the phone just made a ¡°beep¡± sound. Without a doubt, there was no signal as well. Neither mobile phone nor landline could make a call. What on earth was going on? Zhu Jianshan thought for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go out for a while.¡± Mrs. Zhu said, ¡°Going out so late? Is there something that you need to handle in person at this time? Can¡¯t you just send someone else?¡± Zhu Jianshan thought for a moment and said, ¡°No, I have to do it myself!¡± Mainly, he wanted to use this opportunity to approach someone and send a subordinate would seem insincere. Zhu Jianshan went to the garage and drove the car out. However, halfway through, the car¡¯s tire blew out. He got out of the car, extremely annoyed, and cursed, ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m really unlucky today!¡± His driver quickly replaced it with the spare tire, but it also took some time. After driving for a while, another tire blew out. Zhu Jianshan¡¯s face darkened as if a storm was about to hit. The driver reported, ¡°Boss, there are no more spare tires in the car. We can only call someone to deliver one.¡± Zhu Jianshan said gloomily, ¡°Just take a taxi!¡± The driver nodded and then stopped a taxi. However, before they could even get in the taxi, it was rear-ended by someone else. That meant yet another delay. The driver saw this scene and thought, ¡°This is really weird.¡± Zhu Jianshan, staring at the driver with his sharp eyes, couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit worried. Yes, something was strange tonight. Then, he saw the taxi driver making a call, and a flash of light appeared in his eyes. He said to his driver, ¡°You go and borrow the taxi driver¡¯s cellphone!¡± Since their own phones couldn¡¯t make calls, maybe it would be different with someone else¡¯s. As his boss ordered, the driver had to obey. He borrowed the phone from the taxi driver and directly handed it over to his boss. However, when Zhu Jianshan picked up the phone to dial, he discovered that the screen had gone black. Zhu Jianshan, Driver, This situation was indeed quite bizarre. The driver carefully suggested, ¡°Boss, shall I check the phone? Maybe it¡¯s out of power, and I can charge it in the car for a while?¡± Zhu Jianshan handed the phone to the driver with a dark expression. The driver returned the phone to the taxi driver, who laughed and said, ¡°I guess it must be out of power. I¡¯ll charge it for a while.¡± Then he took the phone to charge it, and as soon as the phone lit up, Zhu Jianshan and his driver breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it was just the phone running out of power. However, the driver was still cautious and asked, ¡°Boss, are we taking a taxi or¡­¡± are we making a phone call? If they took the taxi, they would undoubtedly have to wait for a while. Zhu Jianshan frowned, wondering if he would be able to get through on the phone. After all, it would be tough to find Zhu Lao Liu without making contact by phone. The taxi driver took the money from Zhu Jianshan¡¯s driver, seeing that they still wanted to use his phone, he unplugged it from the charger after charging it for a while, handed it back to the driver, who then handed it to his boss. As the driver handed it to Zhu Jianshan, he said, ¡°Boss, the phone has power now, and I¡¯ve checked, it also has a signal!¡± So there should be no more issues, right? Zhu Jianshan thought the same. But as he took the phone to dial, it slipped from his hand and crashed onto the ground. Zhu Jianshan and the driver, Accident after accident. The driver immediately picked up the phone and found that it had gone black again, its screen shattered. Well then, the phone was broken! Driver, This is like seeing a ghost. He wondered who his boss was trying to call and who he was looking for since this situation was so strange. The driver cautiously said, ¡°Boss, the phone is broken!¡± Zhu Jianshan, With a dark face and a pair of sharp eyes, he stared intently at his driver. The terrifying expression made the driver even more nervous. Zhu Jianshan thought for a moment, then said, ¡°You borrow another phone, make the call, and once it connects, I¡¯ll talk!¡± He didn¡¯t believe that he couldn¡¯t make any calls tonight. The driver could only agree, ¡°Alright.¡± Then he hailed another taxi, and after a while, the taxi driver gave him another phone. However, when the driver checked the borrowed phone, everything seemed normal. He then approached Zhu Jianshan and asked, ¡°Boss, what¡¯s the number you want to dial?¡± Zhu Jianshan told him a number and the driver dialed it smoothly. Then, a voice came from the other end, ¡°Hello!¡± The driver immediately handed the phone to Zhu Jianshan, who picked it up and was just about to speak when he heard a loud ¡°bang¡± from the other end of the line, followed by the ¡°beep-beep¡± sound. ¡°Hello? Hello¡­?¡± Zhu Jianshan called a few times, but there was no response from the other side. Zhu Jianshan handed the phone back to the driver and said, ¡°Dial it again!¡± The driver redialed, and a cold, emotionless voice came from the phone, ¡°Sorry, but the number you dialed has been turned off!¡± Driver, Zhu Jianshan, This was truly bizarre and eerie! The driver looked at Zhu Jianshan and carefully asked, ¡°Boss?¡± Manager Zhu took a deep breath and said, ¡°Let¡¯s just go there directly by car!¡± Then, the two of them were about to board another taxi. But the taxi hadn¡¯t driven ten meters before it rear-ended another car. Driver and Zhu Jianshan, The driver didn¡¯t know what business his boss was handling, but tonight was definitely not a good omen with so many mishaps happening one after another. He wanted to persuade his boss, but seeing his boss¡¯s dark and stern face, he swallowed his words and carefully asked, ¡°Boss, do we still need to go?¡± Zhu Jianshan took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and coldly said, ¡°No need, let¡¯s turn back!¡± Since it seemed that fate didn¡¯t want them to proceed, going further might lead to even worse luck. Then, Zhu Jianshan hurried back to his villa, feeling frustrated, and went to sleep in his room. However, when he woke up, he received some shocking news. Chapter 212 - Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Xiao Zhi, Working (Second Update) Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Xiao Zhi, Working (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Licheng overnight, the weather had changed! Just a moment ago, the sky was filled with twinkling stars, and the moonlight was serene like a painting. But in the next moment, thunder rumbled, and heavy rain seemed about to arrive instantly! ¡°Trash, trash! You¡¯re all a bunch of trash!¡± Inside the Zhu family¡¯s villa, a group of people knelt in the living room. Zhu Lao Liu held a silver whip in his hand and paced back and forth in front of them, with a fierce and gloomy expression on his face. Then, the whip was lashed on one of the men, and blood instantly seeped from his body. Still, he didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. ¡°Trash! You can¡¯t even beat a child, and you have the nerve to tell me they got away!¡± Zhu Lao Liu shouted angrily. Zhu Lao Liu was furious. With his current status, no one in Licheng would dare disrespect him. But this Gao Jianjun was not only ungrateful, he went head-to-head against him. A subordinate next to Zhu Lao Liu cautiously advised, ¡°Boss, just calm down. As long as Gao Jianjun is still in Licheng, even if that woman flies to the ends of the earth, she can be brought back. Now, our priority is to teach Gao Jianjun a lesson and let him know that he can¡¯t afford to offend you.¡± After hearing this, Zhu Lao Liu turned around, put the silver whip on the table, sat on the chair, and revealed a vicious glint in his eyes. He sternly said, ¡°Hmph, since Gao Jianjun refuses to back down, don¡¯t blame me for being rude. Second Brother, call the Tax Bureau and the Bureau of Industry and Commerce tomorrow!¡± Zhou Lao Er immediately responded, ¡°Yes, Boss!¡± Zhu Lao Liu looked at the group of subordinates kneeling in front of him like ghosts, and once again felt agitated. ¡°Get out of my sight, all of you!¡± Yellow-haired and the others quickly retreated, feeling as if they had been pardoned. But before they left, Zhu Lao Liu called out to the yellow-haired one. ¡°Old Three, you stay!¡± In fact, among the group, Yellow-haired was the most seriously injured. When Xiao Jinli made her move, he was the leader, taking the most hits. Then Ji Yuzhu ruthlessly kicked him without any hesitation. Upon returning, he also received two lashes from Zhu Lao Liu. It was worth mentioning that Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s silver whip was custom-made and had barbs. One lash was enough to scrape the flesh off a person¡¯s body, and it was extremely painful. Usually, Zhu Lao Liu used it to discipline rebellious traitors within the company, but rarely on his own people. Today, he used it to punish his subordinates simply because he was too furious. His authority in Licheng for many years was being challenged. Hmph, how dare Gao Jianjun! Even if that woman followed him in the future, he would never let him off. Make an example of him! Has everyone forgotten about Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s methods from the past since he hadn¡¯t used them for so long? Yellow-haired, covered in bruises and swelling, hobbled toward Zhu Lao Liu with one hand covering his stomach and blood dripping down his back. Seeing Yellow-haired¡¯s wretched state, Zhu Lao Liu furrowed his brows and asked with concern, ¡°Old Three, are you all right?¡± Yellow-haired shook his head. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m fine. These are just superficial wounds.¡± Zhu Lao Liu nodded, and then he said, ¡°Tomorrow, you¡¯ll bring some people to Gao¡¯s Group.¡± Upon hearing this, Yellow-haired immediately understood and replied, ¡°Understood, Boss.¡± They had caused trouble at companies numerous times before. Zhu Lao Liu took another look at the injuries on Yellow-haired¡¯s body, and frowned while saying, ¡°You should go to the room later and apply some ointment to those wounds.¡± Yellow-haired¡¯s eyes lit up with gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Boss!¡± After Xiao Jinli escorted her parents safely onto the airplane with her aunt and her family, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Xiao Mother was not there, Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s power couldn¡¯t reach the missionaries outside Licheng. But Gao Jianjun¡¯s mood was extremely heavy. He knew that starting tomorrow, he would have to face a storm. Xiao Jinli comforted him, ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ve always been upright and honest. You haven¡¯t evaded taxes or engaged in any illegal activities. No one can do anything to you.¡± Upon hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s consolation, Gao Jianjun smiled and nodded. ¡°Jinli, you¡¯re right!¡± Immediately, he looked worried again. ¡°Jinli, it¡¯s really dangerous here now. You¡¯re just a child¡­¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°Uncle, I will protect myself. You don¡¯t need to worry!¡± Yet Gao Yanxin confidently said, ¡°Dad, I will protect my cousin.¡± After hearing his son¡¯s words, Gao Jianjun revealed a bitter smile, nodding. ¡°That¡¯s right. My son Yanxin will protect his cousin.¡± However, he still couldn¡¯t help but regret not booking flight tickets for his wife and children as well. Who knew what methods Zhu Lao Liu would use against him? Actually, it wasn¡¯t Gao Jianjun¡¯s fault for not booking the flight tickets for his wife and children. He just didn¡¯t expect that Zhu Lao Liu would be so obsessed with Xiao¡¯s mother, even going as far as to intercept her at the door and cause a conflict. This completely offended Zhu Lao Liu. Now, his wife and children might be implicated. With this thought, Gao Jianjun took a deep breath and said, ¡°Yanxin, turn the car around, let¡¯s go back to the airport!¡± He wanted to send his wife and children away! Ji Yuzhu immediately understood Gao Jianjun¡¯s plan, and her face changed. She said, ¡°Husband, no, I won¡¯t leave. No matter what difficulties we face, I will always be by your side!¡± Yanxin also firmly declared, ¡°Dad, I won¡¯t leave either. I want to stay with you all and protect you!¡± Gao Jianjun¡¯s expression was serious. ¡°Do you know how dangerous it is for you to stay?¡± ¡°No matter how dangerous it is, I just want our family to be together!¡± Ji Yuzhu shouted, ¡°I am your wife, and we must stick together through thick and thin!¡± Yanxin also said loudly, ¡°I won¡¯t leave either!¡± Xiao Jinli, At that moment, she interjected, ¡°Aunt, Uncle, why don¡¯t we see how things turn out tomorrow? How about that?¡± Gao Jianjun looked at Xiao Jinli doubtfully. He had never treated Xiao Jinli like an ordinary child, and often consulted her like an adult. However, at this moment, Xiao Jinli seemed too calm. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin Yanxin, what you all need to do now is go home and get a good night¡¯s sleep! Maybe when you wake up the next day, it will be a beautiful sunny day.¡± Gao Jianjun and his family were silent. From then on, they all returned home in silence. Xiao Jinli went back to the room her aunt had prepared for her, closed the door and windows, and her expression changed. ¡°Xiao Zhi, it¡¯s time for us to get to work!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Xiao Zhi excitedly and eagerly replied. Chapter 213 - Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Licheng Changes (First Update) Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Licheng Changes (First Update) Translator: 549690339 7:30 a.m. Inside Licheng Judicial Bureau, an employee from the Public Security Department just turned on his computer when the screen went black and a page quickly popped up. At first, Xiao Li thought the computer had a virus. Just as he was about to call technical support, his face turned to shock upon seeing the content of the page. ¡°Oh my God, what¡¯s going on?¡± A moment later, Xiao Li picked up his phone to call his supervisor. ¡°Section Chief Zheng, something¡¯s wrong, our computer Our computer¡¯s been hacked.¡± It wasn¡¯t yet time for work, and Section Chief Zheng was still in bed, asleep. Upon hearing about the computer being hacked, he was furious, ¡°What the hell are you doing? If the computer got hacked, go talk to the technicians. Don¡¯t bother me!¡± With that, he hung up the phone and went back to sleep. He spent last night working late on a case. However, just as he went back to bed, the phone rang again. He answered the phone with his eyes closed, then suddenly opened them wide, his mind clear. He almost jumped out of bed, and said excitedly, ¡°What did you say? Say it again? Evidence of Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s crimes? Okay, okay, I got it, I¡¯m coming right away!¡± Within ten minutes, the whole Judicial Bureau was buzzing. As soon as a computer was turned on, the hacker¡¯s page would definitely pop up, and it couldn¡¯t be deleted. And then, all employees of the Judicial Bureau, who were not away on business trips, arrived at the bureau within half an hour. ¡°My God, Zhu Lao Liu is so lawless, he¡¯s done everything from arson to murder. Is there anything he hasn¡¯t done?¡± ¡°So this is how the Licheng Hegemon comes to power, huh?¡± ¡°Not to mention, this Licheng Hegemon is really capable!¡± ¡°This Zhu Lao Liu, from an insignificant little gangster to the hegemon, must have some tricks up his sleeve. Without them, he couldn¡¯t have covered the sky with one hand and become the hegemon of Licheng!¡± As everyone discussed Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s criminal tactics, suddenly someone asked, ¡°Who is this hacker who sent all of Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s criminal facts and evidence to our computers?¡± As soon as the question came up, the atmosphere became quieter. ¡°Yeah, which hacker is this? Does he have some grudge against Zhu Lao Liu?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be someone with a grudge against Zhu Lao Liu. It could just as well be a righteous person, angered by Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s tyrannical reign, and decided to take matters into their own hands.¡± ¡°That¡¯s actually quite possible!¡± ¡°Zhu Lao Liu has been covering the sky with one hand for so long, finally, someone is fed up.¡± Just then, Section Chief Zheng arrived at the office in a hurry. When he saw the list of Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s criminal evidence on the computer screen, he laughed excitedly, ¡°Hahaha This is just great¡± A moment later, a subordinate came over and said, ¡°Section Chief Zheng, Director Liu is calling an emergency meeting for everyone!¡± Section Chief Zheng nodded, ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± He immediately told his subordinates, ¡°Comrades, we¡¯re holding an emergency meeting!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Meanwhile, in an office Ma Weiguo was sitting in front of his computer. Of course, he also saw the so-called evidence of Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s crimes. His face was dark, but there was a trace of panic in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t help but worry, thinking, ¡°This Zhu Lao Liu, having done so many illegal things, didn¡¯t even clean up after himself! What now, will I get implicated?¡± The events and evidence listed here didn¡¯t specify or emphasize Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s backers, but as long as Zhu Lao Liu was arrested, sooner or later, he would be implicated, unless he found a scapegoat. ¡°No, I can¡¯t just sit here and wait for death!¡± With that thought, he snubbed out his cigarette, and just as he was about to leave, someone came to report, ¡°Director Ma, there will be an emergency meeting in the conference room in five minutes!¡± Ma Weiguo hesitated for a moment, then said, ¡°Got it!¡± At the same time, all companies and institutions in Licheng, whether they were involved with Zhu Lao Liu or his company, whether they were partners or enemies, all had this information and evidence on their computers. As a result, some were anxious, while others were excited to the point of tears! ¡°Hahaha, Zhu Lao Liu, I may not be able to avenge my big brother personally, but there will always be people standing up for justice. Now, let¡¯s see how you, the Licheng Hegemon, can continue to rule!¡± ¡°Mom and Dad, the enemy who took over our company is finally getting their comeuppance. Wuuwuu You can finally rest in peace!¡± Zhu Lao Liu was still asleep when he suddenly received a phone call. The voice on the phone urgently said, ¡°Zhu Lao Da, it¡¯s bad, some hacker sent all the things you¡¯ve done over the years to everyone¡¯s computers.¡± Shrouded in sleep, Zhu Lao Liu didn¡¯t seem to care much as he casually asked, ¡°What illegal things have I done?¡± ¡°The evidence of the illegal things like murder, arson, and so on, all of it has been sent out by a hacker. Everyone¡¯s computers have been hacked, everyone¡¯s got it.¡± Zhu Lao Liu frowned in confusion, ¡°Weren¡¯t those things taken care of? How could they be dug up again? Wait¡± At that moment, Zhu Lao Liu jolted awake and climbed out of bed, then asked again, ¡°What did you say just now? Evidence of murder and arson? How is that possible?¡± All the things he had done were cleaned up afterward, so how could they be dug up again now? The person on the other end of the phone anxiously and excitedly said, ¡°It¡¯s true, it¡¯s popping up on every computer. Not just our office, it¡¯s happening in many units. Zhu Lao Da, you better deal with this using any method or means you have, or we¡¯re all finished!¡± Zhu Lao Liu immediately said, ¡°Director Zhang, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± As he walked away, he didn¡¯t even have time to put on his clothes, wearing only a pair of shorts. As he left the room, Second Brother rushed over with a laptop, looking anxious and hurried. He said, ¡°Lao Da, it¡¯s bad, something big has happened.¡± With that, he showed Zhu Lao Liu the computer screen. As soon as Zhu Lao Liu saw the content on the computer, his expression was furious, and he shouted, ¡°Who the hell is messing with me? And why the hell hasn¡¯t this been dealt with yet, are these people eating shit?¡± Second Brother reported solemnly, ¡°We haven¡¯t found the person yet. But, a technician said that it might be a hacker.¡± ¡°A top hacker?¡± Zhu Lao Liu yelled, ¡°What the fuck are those technicians we hired doing? Can¡¯t they even handle one hacker?¡± Second Brother said, ¡°This is a top hacker! Their skills are limited, there¡¯s simply no way they can handle it!¡± Zhu Lao Liu was about to yell at him when another subordinate ran over and shouted, ¡°Lao Da, it¡¯s bad, the Judicial Bureau people went to our company to search, and I saw them coming this way!¡± ¡°What?¡± Chapter 214 - Chapter 214: Chapter 214: The Plot Thickens (Second Update) Chapter 214: Chapter 214: The Plot Thickens (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Gao Jianjun and Ji Yuzhu didn¡¯t sleep all night. They didn¡¯t know what they would face the next day? Would it be an inspection by various departments, or a deliberate difficulty by Zhu Lao Liu? But no matter which it was, they had to cheer up and face it. No matter when the company would go bankrupt, the company was like their child. Ever since its establishment, they had managed to secure a foothold in Licheng. So, they pledged themselves to hold on as long as they could. They didn¡¯t want to give up until the last moment. Gao Jianjun cuddled Ji Yuzhu and asked, ¡°Wife, would you still like me if I really became a pauper with nothing?¡± Ji Yuzhu leaned on his chest and retorted mischievously, ¡°You make it sound like you were a big boss before we got married. When we got married, you were a poor boy with nothing.¡± As she spoke, she was fiddling with Gao Jianjun¡¯s fingers and said, ¡°Husband, we went from having nothing to our current company. Even if we lose it again, we can rise again.¡± Gao Jianjun nodded and said, ¡°Yes, we can rise again. But wife, you have to follow me and suffer hardship again!¡± Ji Yuzhu replied with a smile, ¡°No matter how difficult the days are, as long as I¡¯m with you, it¡¯s sweet.¡± At this point, Ji Yuzhu said very seriously, ¡°Husband, thank you!¡± Thank you for not betraying my sister, even after losing all our property! Thank you for giving me endless love! Gao Jianjun laughed and touched her delicate nose saying, ¡°What are you thanking me for? Your sister is my sister! If I, Gao Jianjun, were a person who betrayed my family for profit, a person like that, you wouldn¡¯t marry, would you? Now let¡¯s go to sleep, rest well, and gather energy to face tomorrow¡¯s challenges!¡± After that, the couple went to bed. Whether or not they actually fell asleep, only they themselves knew. The next day, they got up early, dressed and ready to go to the company! ¡°¡®Xin er¡¯, your cousin and you stay at home! Your mom and I are going to the company first.¡± But Gao Yanxin replied, ¡°Dad, let me go to the company with you guys.¡± He knew what challenges his parents would face at the company today, and he wanted the family to face it together. Ji Yuzhu shook her head and said, ¡°No, you stay at home and protect your cousin! As for the company, your father and I will handle it. Don¡¯t worry. As little Jinli said, we act with integrity, do things upright, and we haven¡¯t evaded any taxes. Those who want to cause trouble will find it difficult to find an excuse!¡± After Xiao Jinli finished washing up, she came over smiling, ¡°maternal aunt, uncle, today will certainly be a lucky day. Well, my cousin and I will stay at home waiting for your good news!¡± ¡°Alright, you two stay at home. Don¡¯t run around, Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s people are all over the city, it¡¯s very dangerous.¡± Gao Jianjun said seriously. ¡°Okay, my cousin and I will stay at home obediently!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded dutifully. After Gao Jianjun and his wife left, Gao Yanxin wore a look of nervousness. Xiao Jinli winked at him and mischievously asked, ¡°Cousin, do you want to go watch a drama?¡± ¡°A drama?¡± Gao Yanxin asked in confusion, ¡°Where do we watch a drama? Do you mean to go watch a movie?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Not a movie, a drama! Come on, cousin, follow me, it¡¯s going to be an amazing drama!¡± As Gao Yanxin stood up, he immediately shook his head and said, ¡°No, our parents said that we should stay at home today as it¡¯s very dangerous outside!¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Cousin, trust me, it won¡¯t be dangerous!¡± Gao Yanxin remained unmoved! Xiao Jinli turned her eyes and then said earnestly, ¡°Cousin, if you don¡¯t go, then I¡¯ll sneak out! I tell you, I don¡¯t want to miss this drama. If I miss it, I will regret it!¡± Gao Yanxin asked, ¡°Cousin, what kind of drama is it, that it¡¯s so interesting? Are there DVDs or is it available online? Why don¡¯t we buy the DVD home or watch it online.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°That won¡¯t work. This drama, we must see it live! Cousin, are you coming or not? If not, then I am going. I tell you, you can¡¯t stop me.¡± Threatened by his cousin, Gao Yanxin, who is controlling sister, nodded and said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go with you. But let¡¯s make it clear before we go, we¡¯ll come back home immediately after watching the drama, and we must not let our parents know.¡± ¡°Hmm, hmm, I got it!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. Then, they carefully left the villa, and once they saw no one around, they quickly hailed a taxi. After telling the taxi driver a location, Gao Yanxin reacted in hindsight, ¡°Wait, cousin, you¡¯ve never been to our Licheng before, how do you know this place?¡± Gao Jianjun and his wife arrived at the company at six thirty. In the company, no one was on duty except for the security guard. The security guard was quite surprised to see the president and his wife arrive so early, but they didn¡¯t ask. They just greeted them. Standing in front of the company, their emotions were quite complicated, sorrow, reluctance, and many other feelings intermixed. They entered the company and took a look at everything. After a while, Gao Jianjun holding Ji Yuzhu¡¯s hand, sighed lightly and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. No matter what happens in a while, let¡¯s first sort out the files and documents in our hands. If the company really goes bankrupt, these things might be our valuable assets for a comeback.¡± Ji Yuzhu nodded and said, ¡°Hmm.¡± When they arrived at the president¡¯s office, they looked around the office. Although the office was not large, with only twenty or thirty square meters of space, it had a bookcase, an office table, two pot plants, a sofa seat, etc. They couldn¡¯t be sentimental for too long. Soon, they began to sort out the documents because the time left for them wouldn¡¯t be much. By seven thirty, people began to arrive for work. When someone turned on the computer, there was a sudden outcry. ¡°Ah, what¡¯s wrong with this computer? Has it been hacked?¡± ¡°Thisthis is Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s criminal evidence? My God, Zhu Lao Liu is really ruthless, he has done so much evil!¡± ¡°Beast, no, he¡¯s even worse than a beast!¡± High Jianjun and his wife, who were sorting out the documents, had no idea about the commotion outside. When the phone rang, Gao Jianjun answered it, and once he heard what the other party said, he immediately stood up, looking excited and said, ¡°Really? Okay, okay, I got it!¡± After he hung up the phone, he immediately fumbled to turn on the computer. Ji Yuzhu asked puzzledly, ¡°Husband, who was it? What did they say on the phone?¡± High Jianjun, looking very excited and thrilled, said, ¡°Bamboo, I don¡¯t know who the top hacker is. They¡¯ve exposed all the evil deeds Zhu Lao Liu has done.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s really great. Haha¡± Chapter 215 - Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Escape (Part 1) Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Escape (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 When Xiao Jinli brought Gao Yanxin near the Quancheng Palace, Gao Yanxin was shocked. Quancheng Palace, look at this name, it¡¯s as if the owner considered himself an emperor, it¡¯s so arrogant. He asked, ¡°Cousin, do you know what this place is?¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°This is Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s villa.¡± ¡°Ha, cousin, you know?¡± Gao Yanxin asked curiously, ¡°How did you know?¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Well, I looked it up online!¡± Gao Yanxin wanted to ask more, but Xiao Jinli pointed to a row of special police cars and asked curiously, ¡°Cousin, look, so many police cars. Where are they going?¡± Gao Yanxin hesitated for a moment, then excitedly said, ¡°They might be going to the Quancheng Palace?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s very possible. Cousin, let¡¯s watch from here for a while.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Gao Yanxin agreed without hesitation. After a while, the special police cars stopped at the entrance of the Quancheng Palace, and then thirty or forty fully armed special police officers quickly surrounded all the exits, obviously encircling the Palace. An imposing special police officer with a loudspeaker shouted, ¡°People inside, listen up! You are surrounded, put down your weapons and come out!¡± Gao Yanxin¡¯s mouth opened wide in shock. These special police officers were really going after Zhu Lao Liu ¨C it felt like a dream. Last night, they faced Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s subordinates¡¯ threats trembling with fear, but when they woke up, Zhu Lao Liu had been surrounded by the special police. The Yamen¡¯s deployment of special police meant that the crimes committed by Zhu Lao Liu and others were extremely serious. Gao Yanxin stuttered excitedly, ¡°Cousin am I dreaming?¡± Xiao Jinli pinched her cousin¡¯s hand. ¡°Ouch, pain, pain¡± Gao Yanxin grimaced and shouted in pain, then looked resentful, ¡°Cousin, you were too heavy-handed, weren¡¯t you?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°This is to prove you¡¯re not dreaming.¡± Gao Yanxin gnashed his teeth and said, ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯m not dreaming!¡± Immediately after, he excitedly said, ¡°With Zhu Lao Liu and his gang being arrested, does this mean the crisis at our home is over?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes.¡± Since she took action, she would definitely crush all the forces in Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s hands at once, and the crisis in the Gao family would naturally be lifted! After the police commander had shouted three or four times through the loudspeaker, people began to come out with their hands up, weapons lowered. But these people were all minor thugs. Xiao Jinli frowned slightly. ¡°Zhu Liulong, you are surrounded, put down your weapons and surrender!¡± The commander called out directly by name. The special police captain furrowed his brow and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go in now with my men! Team one and two, follow me. Teams three and four, secure each exit!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Not long after the special police captain entered, they heard ¡°bang bang¡± sounds inside. Gao Yanxin listened to the sounds and his face turned pale. He pulled on his cousin¡¯s sleeve and said, ¡°Cousin, let¡¯s leave. I feel this place is very dangerous. If someone escapes from inside and takes us hostage, it will be troublesome.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Alright!¡± As they were walking back, after a certain distance, Xiao Jinli suddenly clutched her stomach and said, ¡°Cousin Xin, I can¡¯t take it anymore, my stomach hurts, I need to lighten the load immediately.¡± Gao Yanxin looked around and found no public toilet nearby. He asked, ¡°What should we do? There seems to be no public toilet here.¡± Xiao Jinli looked around and then pointed to a place, saying, ¡°There¡¯s a hotel over there. Let¡¯s go there!¡± Gao Yanxin nodded. Two minutes later, they arrived at the hotel. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Cousin Xin, you wait for me in the lobby.¡± Zhu Lao Liu never expected that his empire would collapse overnight. ¡°Boss, what should we do?¡± Second Brother asked nervously and fearfully as he listened to the shouting outside. Zhu Lao Liu glanced at him coldly and said, ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? We¡¯ve been through many storms. We¡¯ve been raided by Yamen officials before. In the end, they had to leave obediently!¡± Second Brother nearly cried, ¡°But this time is different. These are the special police. Let¡¯s let¡¯s surrender!¡± Surrender might offer a chance at survival. If they resist and run, then it could be a dead end. As soon as he finished speaking, he received a scolding, ¡°We can¡¯t surrender. I, Zhu Lao Liu, have come so far to achieve my current status and position, becoming the hegemon of Licheng, and having almost unchecked power in Licheng. How could I admit defeat? If I do, everything will be ruined.¡± He paced back and forth in the hall, talking as he walked, ¡°We can¡¯t surrender. If we do, I¡¯ll lose everything I¡¯ve gained, and maybe even my life. I must escape. That¡¯s right, escape. As long as I escape, I can start from scratch and become a hegemon again somewhere else.¡± Upon hearing Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s words, cold sweat dripped down from the corner of Second Brother¡¯s forehead. He wiped it away but couldn¡¯t help reminding, ¡°But we are surrounded, how can we escape?¡± As soon as Zhu Lao Liu heard this, he stopped in his tracks, glaring coldly at Second Brother, and said viciously, ¡°We¡¯ll fight our way out!¡± As his words fell, they heard a noise in the courtyard. Second Brother turned pale with fear, ¡°Boss the special police are in. What what should we do?¡± Zhu Lao Liu said coldly, ¡°We¡¯ll go!¡± With that, he headed toward the backyard, went to a big tree in the backyard garden, and stomped on a patch of lawn. Then, he quickly removed that piece of turf and placed it aside, revealing wires connected to it, which also ran through a well cover. Second Brother¡¯s eyes widened in amazement. He stuttered, ¡°This this¡± ¡°Never mind that, help me remove the well cover!¡± Second Brother obediently removed the well cover. Zhu Lao Liu quickly jumped down and found something. He then said, ¡°Jump down and close the well cover.¡± Once Second Brother jumped down, they closed the well cover. Zhu Lao Liu pressed the remote controller in his hand, and the lawn on the ground automatically returned to its original state. No one would notice the secret here if they weren¡¯t paying attention. Chapter 216 - Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Xiao Jinli Waiting (Second Update) Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Xiao Jinli Waiting (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Zhu Lao Liu and Second Brother followed the secret passage and successfully escaped Quan Cheng Gong under the encirclement of the special police. Looking at the bright passage, Second Brother asked doubtfully and excitedly, ¡°Boss, where does this secret passage lead to? Does it lead out of the city? If it leads out of the city, then we can leave Licheng directly!¡± Zhu Lao Liu pursed his lips and ignored him, instead looking ahead. He estimated that they should be reaching the end soon. When building the house, he had considered leaving himself an escape route. At that time, he had asked a distant relative of a subordinate to build it for him. Those people had no idea who they were working for. Upon reaching the end, Zhu Lao Liu called out to Second Brother, ¡°We¡¯re at the end.¡± He then pressed a remote controller, and the exit opened instantly, with the light shining in. Zhu Lao Liu squinted his eyes and said, ¡°Second Brother, you go first! See if there¡¯s anyone around!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Second Brother replied. He then climbed up the ladder and looked around. It was under a big tree, surrounded by a lawn. Crouching down, he said to Zhu Lao Liu, ¡°Boss, there¡¯s no one. Come up.¡± When Zhu Lao Liu came up, both of them took a deep breath, resealed the secret tunnel, and stood up, ready to leave quickly. However, they were startled when they turned around and took a few steps back with a terrible look on their faces. ¡°Hello!¡± Xiao Jinli was propping her chin with one hand and waving with the other, greeting them. If you didn¡¯t know any better, you¡¯d think they were close friends. ¡°Who are you?¡± Second Brother asked in alarm, ¡°Where did you come from, girl?¡± He hadn¡¯t seen anyone there earlier. Yet in just a short amount of time, she appeared behind them, which was too strange. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Zhu Lao Liu recognized Xiao Jinli, looking very surprised, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Xiao Jinli had an expression that didn¡¯t match her age, and she ambiguously smiled and said, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m waiting for you!¡± ¡°What? Wait for me?¡± Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he was extremely surprised, ¡°Did Gao Jianjun send you? But how is that possible?¡± This secret passage was carefully designed. Except for the original construction crew, only he, the master of the house knew about it. How did Gao Jianjun find out? Xiao Jinli shook her head, waved her finger, and said, ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not Gao Jianjun, then how did you get here? This is impossible,¡± Zhu Lao Liu said in confusion. Second Brother reminded, ¡°Boss, we don¡¯t have much time. We shouldn¡¯t waste so much time talking to her. Let¡¯s make a decisive move¡± He made a throat-slitting gesture. A vicious look flashed in Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s eyes, and he said ferociously, ¡°You little girl shouldn¡¯t have appeared here. It¡¯s your fault for knowing too much.¡± With that, he took out his gun and aimed directly at Xiao Jinli. But Xiao Jinli calmly smiled and asked, ¡°Zhu Lao Liu, don¡¯t you want to know who the top hacker is who left the criminal evidence on your computer today?¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Zhu Lao Liu asked excitedly. Of course, he wanted to know. He wanted to tear that person into pieces! If it weren¡¯t for that top hacker, he wouldn¡¯t be hiding like a bereaved dog now. He would still be the high and mighty Licheng Hegemon! ¡°Hehe¡± Xiao Jinli giggled and said, ¡°It it¡¯s me!¡± ¡°What?¡± Both Second Brother and Zhu Lao Liu widened their eyes in astonishment. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Second Brother didn¡¯t believe it, ¡°How old are you? There¡¯s no way your computer skills have reached the level of a top hacker! It¡¯s impossible!¡± Even if someone were a genius or exceptionally gifted, they couldn¡¯t have possibly achieved such an astonishing level at such a young age. Zhu Lao Liu seemed to have come to his senses, and anger flashed across his face. Coldly, he said, ¡°You little brat, are you trying to stall for time? Let me tell you, whether you¡¯re that top hacker or not, you¡¯re dead today.¡± With that, he fired two shots at Xiao Jinli. However, incredibly, the little girl dodged the bullets. ¡°This is impossible!¡± How could anyone be fast enough to dodge bullets? But just now, they had seen a figure flash past them. What shocked them even more was that when the child opened her hand, the bullet laid quietly in her palm. She caught the bullet with her bare hand! ¡°No, I don¡¯t believe it!¡± Zhu Lao Liu shook his head, and then with a panicked expression and frightened eyes, he picked up his gun and started firing continuously at Xiao Jinli. After that, they saw white afterimages flashing non-stop. But after ten bullets had been fired, Xiao Jinli wasn¡¯t even grazed! Zhu Lao Liu and Second Brother became more and more terrified, thinking that the girl was too strange. Dodging one bullet would be luck, but dodging ten in a row would be true ability! Both of them stopped, and their expressions turned into shock and astonishment! When Xiao Jinli opened her palms, ten bullets were lying in her hands! Xiao Jinli hooked her lips and asked half-jokingly, ¡°Any more?¡± But for Zhu Lao Liu and Second Brother, it was like facing a demon. Second Brother was the first to react, ¡°Boss, time is ticking. We have to leave quickly, otherwise, we¡¯ll attract attention.¡± Zhu Lao Liu also came to his senses, he glared viciously at Xiao Jinli and growled, ¡°You little girl, I¡¯ll remember this grudge. In the future, I¡¯ll have you suffer a thousand cuts, make you unable to live or die!¡± With that, the two of them looked around and prepared to leave. Xiao Jinli quickly blocked their way, her eyes cold and voice emotionless, ¡°I don¡¯t know what will happen to me in the future, but I do know what will happen to you! If you want to leave, did you ask my permission?¡± Since she had taken action, she had to finish them off to prevent future troubles. With that, she pinched three or four silver needles in her hand. With a wave of her hand, the silver needles flew towards them. In an instant, they fell to the ground, paralyzed except for their eyes. Xiao Jinli walked up to Zhu Lao Liu, her face scornful and her eyes icy. She said indifferently, ¡°Since childhood, you¡¯re the first person to annoy me. Zhu Lao Liu, I must say, your ability is quite impressive. You could have continued being the Licheng Hegemon, and I could have remained an ordinary country girl. But you just had to set your sights on my mother. My mother, a pure and kind woman, how can someone as sinful as you possibly humiliate her? Not to mention, you threatened my uncle too? You wanted my uncle¡¯s company to disappear from Licheng? I thought that instead of letting his company disappear, why not get rid of you, the Licheng Hegemon, as a public service to everyone.¡± Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s eyes darted around, as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn¡¯t. Xiao Jinli¡¯s ears twitched, and she smiled and said, ¡°Someone¡¯s coming, huh? Is it your men or the special police? Let¡¯s see how lucky you are.¡± Fear filled Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s eyes. Chapter 217 - Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Translator: 549690339 When Xiao Jinli came out of the bathroom, Gao Yanxin immediately asked, ¡°Cousin, you finally came out. If you didn¡¯t come out soon, I would have thought you fell into the toilet and was going to find someone to check on you.¡± Of course, he was joking. In fact, he was very worried. The hotel was not far from Quancheng Palace, and he feared that Xiao Jinli would run into Zhu Lao Liu and his gang of bad guys. Xiao Jinli¡¯s face turned slightly red as she quietly said, ¡°I ate some greasy food yesterday and got a bit constipated today!¡± Gao Yanxin understood immediately, knowing that girls are often shy about such matters, so he didn¡¯t ask further. He asked, ¡°Cousin, are we going home now?¡± Zhu Lao Liu might not have been caught yet, and it was still dangerous outside, especially with such a pretty cousin. It¡¯s all in the family genes. Wasn¡¯t it because Zhu Lao Liu was attracted to her elder aunt¡¯s beauty that he became such a danger to the Gao family? Xiao Jinli said with a smile, ¡°Cousin Yanxin, since I came out, I want to go out and have a look around, is that okay?¡± Gao Yanxin hesitated, ¡°But our parents asked us to stay home, it¡¯s too dangerous outside right.¡± He was a well-behaved child. Xiao Jinli said with a smile, ¡°Zhu Lao Liu and his gang of bad guys have been caught, so what do we have to be afraid of? Cousin Yanxin, I want to go to the flower market. You know, the purpose of my trip to Licheng is to sell the flower I brought. So now I need to scope out the market early, right?¡± Gao Yanxin replied directly, ¡°Cousin, if you want to sell flowers, you can just give them to my dad. My dad will definitely get you a good price. I heard my dad say that your flower is a Seven Color Tea Flower, right?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, the Seven Color Tea Flower.¡± Gao Yanxin frowned, thought for a moment, and said, ¡°Cousin, the Seven Color Tea Flower is a very valuable flower. It would be best to sell it at a flower auction to get a better price. Otherwise, your flower might just be a little more expensive than ordinary flowers.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I know that. But I still want to go to the flower market to have a look and see if I can find some flowers I like and buy some back.¡± At this point, Xiao Jinli tugged at Gao Yanxin¡¯s sleeve and coquettishly said, ¡°Cousin Yanxin, please accompany me to have a look. How about this, we go back early and arrive home before my maternal aunt and uncle get back, okay?¡± Gao Yanxin couldn¡¯t resist Xiao Jinli¡¯s charm. When she acted cute, he would definitely surrender. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Okay, cousin, when we get to the market, you must not run around and walk around at will. You must stick close to me, understand? And we must go home early.¡± After saying this, he laughed at himself somewhat helplessly, ¡°Really, if my parents knew that I secretly took you out, they would definitely scold me.¡± Xiao Jinli patted her little chest and promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Cousin Yanxin, you have me. When my uncle scolds you, I¡¯ll say a few good words for you. He loves me so much, he¡¯ll definitely listen to me.¡± Gao Yanxin, Although his words stabbed his heart a bit, they also warmed it. As they were about to leave the hotel, they heard police sirens, ¡°Dee woo dee woo dee woo ¡°. After a while, more than ten special police officers with weapons stormed in, and the entire hotel lobby became a bit startled and chaotic. One of the special police officers immediately said to the hotel staff, ¡°Please evacuate the crowd in the lobby immediately.¡± The staff immediately cooperated in evacuating the customers in the lobby. The special police went straight to the back of the hotel. There was a lawn park behind the hotel, and in order to save time and prevent the suspects from escaping, they took the shortest route. Going through this hotel was the nearest way. When they got to the back, they encircled the area with a fence, and the special police officers swiftly climbed over it. At first glance, they saw two people lying under a big tree, unable to move. They immediately noticed that these two people were Zhu Lao Liu and Second Brother, who had been on the run. ¡°Captain, these two seem to have had a stroke and paralyzed?¡± They reported after checking the two¡¯s condition. The special police captain frowned, ¡°Both of them had a stroke and are paralyzed?¡± ¡°Judging from their current condition, it seems that way! But it seems even more severe. They can move their eyeballs a little, but they can¡¯t move anything else.¡± ¡°What happened? How did they end up here?¡± After a moment, someone reported, ¡°Captain, there¡¯s a sewer here. It looks like they escaped through the sewer.¡± ¡°Go down and check!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After handcuffing Zhu Lao Liu and Second Brother and waiting for a while, the person who went down to check came back up and reported, ¡°Captain, this sewer seems to be a specially constructed secret passage. It is equipped with water and electricity and can directly connect to the backyard garden of Quancheng Palace.¡± ¡°Damn it, no wonder we couldn¡¯t find their whereabouts. So they escaped through the secret passage.¡± ¡°You two guard this passage, and the rest of you take them away!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± As they were escorting Zhu Lao Liu and Second Brother past Xiao Jinli, their expressions changed obviously, and they became very excited. They ¡°whimpered¡± in their mouths, but no one knew what they were saying. In a place where no one noticed, Xiao Jinli also gave them a mocking expression, her lips curling up! Gao Yanxin, who was standing beside her, looked at Zhu Lao Liu being taken away, surprised at first, then became excited and elated! ¡°HahaCousin, that¡¯s Zhu Lao Liu, they actually caught him! Hahathis is great!¡± Gao Yanxin excitedly grabbed Xiao Jinli¡¯s hand, leaving two red marks on her wrist. Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t say anything! ¡°HahaI¡¯m going to call my dad and tell him and my mom the good news!¡± He was talking while taking out his cellphone. Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t want to spoil her cousin¡¯s enthusiasm, so she didn¡¯t remind him! ¡°Dad, I have some good news to tell you. Zhu Lao Liu has been captured. Haha how do I know? Of course, I saw it myself, dad, you don¡¯t know, a group of special police surrounded Quancheng Palace, and Zhu Lao Liu and Second Brother were captured behind the Star River Hotel.¡± As soon as Gao Yanxin finished speaking, a roar came from the other end of the phone! ¡°Gao Yanxin, did you just ignore what I said to you?¡± Gao Jianjun roared, ¡°I told you to stay with your cousin at home, but you actually took her out and went directly to Quancheng Palace, are you looking for death? Humph, just wait till I get home to deal with you!¡± Gao Yanxin held the phone with a stunned expression! He had forgotten that he had sneakily taken his cousin out. After hanging up the phone, Gao Yanxin said to Xiao Jinli with a bitter face, ¡°Well, cousin, we don¡¯t need to go back early either. I couldn¡¯t help but tell my dad that I brought you out. My dad and your uncle said, when I get back, they¡¯ll settle the score with me.¡± Xiao Jinli, Chapter 218 - Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Translator: 549690339 After Zhu Lao Liu¡¯s threat had passed, Gao Jianjun reported the safety to Xiao Wanshan and his wife and began to inquire about the flower market. ¡°Jinli, it¡¯s quite a coincidence, but half a month later, the exhibition centre in the Tianhe Building will be hosting a valuable flower exhibition. They¡¯re inviting flower lovers from all over the world,¡± Gao Jianjun said. ¡°How about trying to get a booth to exhibit your Seven Color Tea Flowers? The booth costs one hundred and eighty thousand!¡± After contemplating a moment, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Alright, uncle, please get me a booth.¡± As long as this flower is sold, the booth fee will be nothing. Gao Jianjun nodded, ¡°Alright, later, I¡¯ll have someone arrange it!¡± Speaking of this, Gao Jianjun thought of another problem and said, ¡°Jinli, the flower seems to be in bud all the time. When will it bloom? The exhibition organizer might want to come and take a promotional photo. If the buds could all bloom, it would be very beautiful, and the promotional effect would be even better, and it could be sold at a higher price!¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°It should be in the next couple of days.¡± When she wanted these flower buds to bloom, they would bloom. Since they¡¯re needed now, they must bloom immediately. Gao Jianjun nodded, ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s good! In the flower industry, this Seven Color Tea Flower is very popular, especially among the rich and noble flower lovers, who favor it even more.¡± At night, after locking the doors and windows, Xiao Jinli brought the tea flower into the space. For the first time in over 10 years, little Zhi had done some work, so the entire smart brain-item felt excited. This proved that in the past 10 years, it hadn¡¯t allowed itself to become useless. ¡°Master, you¡¯re here. Do you have any more work?¡± Xiao Jinli wanted to roll her eyes and said sullenly, ¡°There isn¡¯t that much work to do!¡± Little Zhi looked a bit downcast and said, ¡°Oh!¡± Xiao Jinli looked at its appearance, rolled her eyes, and said, ¡°There¡¯s no work now, but there might be some in a few days. Don¡¯t be so disheartened, okay?¡± Hearing her words, Little Zhi immediately cheered up. It asked, ¡°Master, are you telling the truth? There will be work in a few days? What kind of work will it be then?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll know in a couple of days.¡± Little Zhi looked at the tea flowers in the master¡¯s hand and asked doubtfully, ¡°Why did you bring the tea flowers in again? Aren¡¯t these for sale?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°They are for sale. I brought them in to make them bloom so that they can be sold at a good price.¡± Upon hearing this, Little Zhi quickly said, ¡°Oh¡± with disappointment! Making the tea flowers bloom isn¡¯t its job! The speed in the space is faster than outside. After applying Lingquan water, the Seven Color Tea Flower¡¯s buds all bloomed at the same time, bewitching and beautiful. Little Zhi tilted his head and said, ¡°This flower looks pretty beautiful. It should be able to fetch a good price!¡± ¡°Of course it can fetch a good price. Otherwise, why would I bother bringing it from Ganjiang City to Licheng for sale!¡± Xiao Jinli rolled her eyes and said! Little Zhi retorted, ¡°Humph, even if it sells at the highest price, it¡¯s not much money, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re so happy about.¡± Xiao Jinli said solemnly, ¡°I¡¯m happy because I want to be.¡± Little Zhi, Fine, you be happy! It¡¯s hard to predict anything, for a person who used to have several hundred billion in assets could be so delighted by something worth just millions. After the Seven Color tea flowers bloomed, Xiao Jinli left the space. The next day, Gao Yanxin accidentally discovered that the tea flowers had bloomed in seven colors. He was astonished. He immediately went to knock on Xiao Jinli¡¯s door, unable to control his excitement, and shouted, ¡°Cousin, wake up quickly! Your Seven Color tea flowers have all bloomed, which is so beautiful.¡± Xiao Jinli opened the door, rubbed her eyes, yawned, and called out, ¡°Yan Xin, my cousin.¡± Gao Yanxin said again, ¡°Cousin, your tea flowers have bloomed, and they are so beautiful.¡± Xiao Jinli was startled, and then seemed very happy, ¡°Really? Then I¡¯ll go take a look!¡± When Xiao Jinli ran to the glass room, her maternal aunt and uncle were already there, and they were appreciating the tea flowers in bloom. Her aunt saw Xiao Jinli appear, waved to her, and smiled, ¡°Jinli, come and see your flowers. The buds have all bloomed overnight, and they are really beautiful. These seven colors are as gorgeous and enchanting as a rainbow.¡± Xiao Jinli walked over and calmly nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s beautiful indeed!¡± Gao Jianjun said, ¡°Yesterday I was wondering when they would bloom, but I never thought that when I woke up, all seven colors of flowers would be open.¡± At this point, he paused, thinking of something, and immediately took out his cellphone, ¡°I¡¯ll call the exhibition people right now, and ask them to send someone over to take a picture! The sooner this flower is promoted, the more people will know about it.¡± An hour later, the exhibition staff came with a photographer. The staff member was an expert and had bright eyes when he saw the gorgeous and enchanting Seven Color tea flowers. He immediately instructed the photographer to take photos from multiple angles. Afterwards, he laughed with Gao Jianjun, ¡°President Gao, according to my many years of experience, this pot of Seven Color tea flowers can be sold for at least 6,000,000, and this is my most conservative estimate. If it sells well, it could be worth 10,000,000.¡± ¡°Director Li, thank you for your help at that time,¡± Gao Jianjun said happily. Before, they had estimated the price at around two million. They never expected that this flower could reach over 10 million. Never underestimate it. After Li left with the photographer, Ji Yuzhu gave Xiao Jinli a thumbs-up, ¡°Jinli, this flower could sell for 10 million. You¡¯re rich now.¡± Xiao Jinli, It felt a bit subtle for someone worth several hundred million to congratulate a person worth just millions. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Yes, when the time comes, I¡¯ll treat you and my aunt to a meal at a five-star hotel.¡± Ji Yuzhu readily agreed, ¡°Deal!¡± Her gaze fixed on the tea flower, she marveled, ¡°I never thought a small pot of tea flowers could sell for millions. It¡¯s really remarkable. If you had ten pots of flowers like this, Jinli, you¡¯d be in the ranks of billionaires.¡± After listening, Gao Jianjun laughed, ¡°It¡¯s the scarcity that makes it valuable! If Jinli really had ten pots of Seven Color Tea Flowers, then one pot wouldn¡¯t sell for ten million at all. Even ten pots combined might only be worth the value of one pot, or even less!¡± Ji Yuzhu, Gao Jianjun stared at Xiao Jinli curiously. He grinned, ¡°I heard from your villagers before that you were blessed by the God of Fortune. In my opinion, not only are you protected by the God of Fortune, but also favoured by the God of Wealth, giving you a pair of money-making hands. Look at the earthworms you raised, and now this pot of high-priced tea flowers, it seems that your wealth is unstoppable.¡± Chapter 219 - Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Prestigious Flower Exhibition (First Update) Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Prestigious Flower Exhibition (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Precious flowers, precious flowers, the reason they are considered valuable is because they are rare, and have unique properties and beautiful appearance. Seven Color Tea Flower is also one of the top ten precious flowers in the world. Therefore, the dazzlingly colorful and enchanting Seven Color Tea Flower in Xiao Jinli¡¯s hand, once it was publicized, attracted the attention and love of many flower enthusiasts. Many people called the exhibition committee to inquire about the origin of this pot of flowers. Soon, the day of the exhibition arrived. Xiao Jinli wore a sea blue princess dress prepared for her by Ji Yuzhu, but she couldn¡¯t help but be forced to put it on by her maternal aunt, even though she loved the dress. Initially, the princess dress was pink, but Xiao Jinli strongly resisted that color. After her protest proved ineffective, the dress was changed to sea blue. Ji Yuzhu¡¯s family of three also dressed very properly and dignified, with the father and son wearing suits and leather shoes, and Ji Yuzhu wearing a yellow-green dress that perfectly complemented the vibrant spring atmosphere at the flower show. The exhibition hall was on the first floor of the Tianhe Building and in the backyard garden. In the backyard garden, a smart glass house was built. Some flowers prefer shade, while others prefer sunshine. Shade-loving flowers were indoors, while sun-loving flowers were in the backyard garden. These flowers were all delivered the day before the exhibition. As these flowers were all precious and worth several thousand, hundreds of thousands, or even millions, the committee was very cautious when handling each pot of flowers. In addition to hiring professional staff to take care of them, they also employed fifty to sixty bodyguards to ensure the best security measures in place. Xiao Jinli¡¯s pot of tea flower, a sun-loving plant, was naturally placed in the glass house in the backyard. After receiving the invitation, Gao Jianjun¡¯s group was led to the exhibition room by the staff. The indoor flowers were each covered with a glass cover, which had many small holes on it for the flowers to breathe. Everyone could only admire and evaluate the flowers through the glass. However, there weren¡¯t many indoor flowers, just about a dozen pots. Gao Yanxin asked in a low voice, ¡°Cousin, your flower isn¡¯t in here?¡± Gao Jianjun glanced at him and said, ¡°Jinli¡¯s flower is in the glass house. Let¡¯s go and take a look.¡± He wasn¡¯t a flower enthusiast himself, and the indoor flowers didn¡¯t interest him very much. He came to the exhibition purely because Xiao Jinli¡¯s flower was there. The group then entered the glass house. They saw an array of exotic flowers and plants, many of which were rare and valuable and not commonly seen in the market. For example, a pot of North American Holly was placed at the entrance, with its red bright berries making it very festive and beautiful. On the left side was a pot of European Spindle, with its small flowers with elegant lines, appearing pink from a distance and looking like little bells up close, cute and lovely. There were also the Bird of Paradise, resembling a bird about to take flight, The Pouch Peony, with its clusters of flowers hanging upside down, looking like little pouches, And Madagascar Dragon Tree, White Jade Narcissus, Porcelain Rose, and so on. So many flowers that even ten pairs of eyes might not be enough for a flower enthusiast to see them all. Unlike the indoor flowers covered with glass, the flowers in the glass house were neatly arranged in rows, with enough space left between each pot for people to appreciate them. Each pot of flowers had relevant introductions and the minimum sale value. The so-called lowest selling price, this means silent bidding. Silent Bidding: If a flower lover fancies this pot of flowers, they take a card from the staff, write down the serial number, write down their own bid, and then put it into a hidden box on the counter. The highest bidder wins! However, there are ten pots of flowers without marked prices, which are isolated in a glass room and can only be observed from a distance. The flowers without marked prices are for open bidding and direct auction. These ten pots of flowers are: Peony Yao Huang, the top flower among flowers; Handsome Banner, a rare chrysanthemum; Lotus Petal Orchid; Dance Queen Lotus; Spring Water Rose; White Jade Narcissus; Night Queen Tulip; Golden Osmanthus; Rhododendron Yingshanhong, and Seven Color Tea Flower. The reason why these ten pots of flowers are up for open bidding auction is that they have undergone professional appraisal, and their values have all reached over 2 million. Gao Yanxin was dazzled and exclaimed, ¡°I didn¡¯t know until I saw it, but it¡¯s quite shocking. A pot of flowers is worth several million, which really broadened my horizon. However, speaking of it, what do those who buy these flowers worth several million do with them? Just specifically for display, but can¡¯t one get tired of admiring them every day, no matter how beautiful they are?¡± Xiao Jinli, Those flower lovers who heard Gao Yanxin¡¯s words glared at him with unhappy expressions, but their quality was excellent, so they didn¡¯t argue with a child. Gao Yanxin had a confused expression. Gao Jianjun also glared at him and said unhappily, ¡°Inviting you to appreciate the flowers is like giving a cow peony to chew! If you don¡¯t understand, shut up!¡± Although he also couldn¡¯t appreciate flowers, seeing so many beautiful flowers was still pleasing to the eye. The flower exhibition lasted six days. During the first five days, in addition to letting flower lovers appreciate the flowers, the most important thing was to sell all the flowers. The last day was the grand finale. The auction of the ten pots of flowers. As they entered the auction venue, they heard discussions from time to time. ¡°The several pots of flowers this year are not bad.¡± ¡°Yes, at first, I had my eyes on the Dance Queen Lotus, but now I want that Seven Color Tea Flower even more.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how that Seven Color Tea Flower was cultivated. The flowers are bright and the fragrance is delicate. When I smell the fragrance, I feel particularly comfortable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange, there have been Seven Color Tea Flowers before, but the fragrance was not so strong, and it just smelled good without making people feel particularly comfortable!¡± ¡°At first, I thought it was just a coincidence. The first time I approached the tea flower, my irritated mood instantly became cheerful, and my somewhat dizzy head became instantly clear. But on the second day, the third day, and for the past several days, this effect has been the same, which means it must be because of that pot of flowers.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know who the master of this pot of flowers is. Can we ask him to introduce the flower and see if it really has such an effect?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to the organizing committee and inquire about it.¡± Gao Yanxin secretly asked, ¡°Cousin, does that flower really make people¡¯s ears and eyes clear and comfortable?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes!¡± The flowers grown with Lingquan water emit a fragrance that is mainly composed of spiritual energy. Of course, it can make people feel comfortable, and long-term absorption of this kind of spiritual energy can nourish the body and contribute to health and longevity. It was then that Gao Yanxin suddenly realized, ¡°No wonder I felt so comfortable when I was holding the pot of flowers!¡± Gao Jianjun, who had put down the phone, said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Jinli, the organizing committee called and said that a few distinguished guests wanted to meet the owner of that pot of tea flowers. These guests are all very distinguished. Will you meet them?¡± Xiao Jinli hooked her lips and nodded in agreement, ¡°Of course, I will meet them.¡± Chapter 220 - Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Sky-high Priced Tea Flower Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Sky-high Priced Tea Flower Translator: 549690339 Gao Jianjun brought Xiao Jinli to the chairman¡¯s office of the organizing committee. In the chairman¡¯s office, four elderly men sat with an imposing aura. Their faces looked old and experienced, but their spirits were lively. Standing by their side were several young people who didn¡¯t seem like bodyguards but rather like caregivers. Upon seeing Gao Jianjun, Chairman Zhou immediately greeted him warmly, ¡°President Gao, hello there! I¡¯ve long heard of your great reputation! I am Zhou Jianhua!¡± Gao Jianjun extended his hand and laughed, ¡°Hello, Chairman Zhou!¡± Zhou Jianhua quickly got to the point, ¡°President Gao, I won¡¯t waste your time. Many people are interested in your tea flower. They say that when they get close to it and smell its scent, they feel incredibly relaxed. Is this true?¡± As the chairman of the exhibition, he had to figure out the reason so many people were attracted to that flower. He couldn¡¯t let people smell the flower and then develop side effects later. ¡°Cough, cough¡± Gao Jianjun laughed and said, ¡°Chairman Zhou, the flower is not mine but belongs to my niece. This is her.¡± ¡°Ha¡± Zhou Jianhua and everyone present were taken aback by this revelation. Zhou Jianhua asked in surprise, ¡°President Gao, you mean to say your niece cultivated that tea flower herself?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± President Gao proudly introduced, ¡°My niece has been bright since she was little and has had her share of unique experiences. She can do things that others can¡¯t. She bought the seeds for the Seven Color Tea Flower herself and nurtured it with her talents, resulting in its present dazzling appearance. So, if there¡¯s anything unusual about this flower, my niece would know best!¡± At this time, the oldest person in the room waved at Xiao Jinli and said, ¡°Kid, you come here.¡± Zhou Jianhua immediately introduced him, ¡°This is Old Chen!¡± Xiao Jinli walked up to Old Chen with proper etiquette and greeted him, ¡°Old Chen, hello!¡± Old Chen had an imposing aura that usually intimidated people, but this child was calm and collected¡ªa brave child indeed. Old Chen smiled and said, ¡°Child, don¡¯t be afraid. You¡¯ve done a great job cultivating that flower; it¡¯s beautiful and has a rich and pleasant fragrance. It seems you have a natural talent for nurturing flowers.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and thanked him, ¡°Thank you, Old Chen, for your praise!¡± Old Chen then asked, ¡°I¡¯ve gone to admire your tea flower several times, and its scent makes me feel very comfortable¡ªas if I¡¯m transported back to my youth. Child, I¡¯d like to ask you, what¡¯s the secret behind the fragrance of this flower?¡± For a person whose one foot is practically in the grave, their health is their top priority. High-end health supplements have been consumed in large quantities, but their effects were minimal, and various chronic illnesses still plagued them. They felt as though they were burdened with heavy weights, unable to sleep well at night. But strangely, ever since they smelled the Seven Color Tea Flower, not only did they feel more relaxed, but they also had the best sleep they¡¯d had in over a decade! At first, Old Chen didn¡¯t think much of it and attributed it to coincidence. But he loved the scent of the Seven Color Tea Flower, so the second day he went back there. This time, when he smelled the scent, he felt even more comfortable. That night, he slept wonderfully again. This time, he no longer thought it was a coincidence. He vaguely believed that it was the tea flower¡¯s doing. To confirm his thoughts, he went to admire the flower again! On the third night, his sleep continued to improve! As a result, he became determined to buy that tea flower! His original goal was to acquire the Handsome Banner flower. He loved flowers, but he especially loved chrysanthemums! Handsome Banner is the king of chrysanthemums! Upon hearing Old Chen¡¯s question, everyone, including the remaining three elderly people, stared at Xiao Jinli with curiosity in their eyes! Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Old Chen, when I bought the seeds, people at the Seed Station told me that this was a new variety researched by the Agricultural Research Institute. Whether it would survive or not was uncertain! I was curious about these seeds, so I bought them! By accident, one of the seeds fell on a cliff, and later it took root and grew into a sapling. When it started to form flower buds, I found it and brought it home.¡± After a brief pause, she continued, ¡°There¡¯s a saying that home flowers don¡¯t smell as sweet as wild flowers. Maybe it¡¯s because the tea flower grew on a cliff, drank dewwater, and breathed fresh air, making its fragrance all the more potent. As for any special effects of its aroma, I¡¯m not entirely sure. When I brought it here, it was tightly closed with flower buds and had not bloomed. The flower only opened two days before the exhibition.¡± Upon hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s answer, especially the part about ¡°home flowers don¡¯t smell as sweet as wild flowers,¡± several young people couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly. ¡°This child is really adorable,¡± Old Yuan laughed. ¡°Home flowers don¡¯t smell as sweet as wild flowers!¡± Old Li also laughed, ¡°This seems to be true! Of all the flowers at the exhibition today, including those prestigious ones that we bought before, all were artificially cultivated. In contrast, this child¡¯s Seven Color Tea Flower was accidentally planted on a cliff in the mountains and grew wildly. It¡¯s bound to be different from home flowers.¡± Old Chen then asked, ¡°Child, did you know that the fragrance of this flower smells good, makes people comfortable, and can even aid sleep?¡± ¡°I know!¡± Surprisingly, Xiao Jinli answered seriously. Everyone expected her to say she didn¡¯t know. ¡°You actually know about this?¡± Old Chen asked curiously. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that the flower grew in the mountains, and you only picked it after it had grown flower buds? It has only been blooming for two days, how could you know?¡± Xiao Jinli said solemnly, ¡°After I brought the tea flower home, I prepared a nutrient package for it. Not only does it make the flower more enchanting and fragrant, but it also makes the scent rejuvenate and help people sleep.¡± ¡°So, you created this nutrient package that has such effects?¡± The elderly people were astonished. ¡°Yes,¡± Xiao Jinli said. Old Yuan asked, ¡°Child, can you show me the nutrient package you prepared?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head first, ¡°The ingredients of this nutrient package are difficult to find, and I found them in the mountains. I gave some to the exhibition staff, so if you need it, you can ask them for it!¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Jianhua quickly called a subordinate on the phone, ¡°Who¡¯s in charge of booth number nine? Alright, make a call for them to come to the chairman¡¯s office immediately and bring along booth nine¡¯s nutrient package.¡± While waiting, Old Li amiably asked, ¡°Child, how old are you this year?¡± ¡°I¡¯m eleven!¡± Xiao Jinli replied! ¡°Eleven years old, so you¡¯re still in elementary school! Wait, school isn¡¯t on holiday yet. Did you take time off?¡± Gao Jianjun, Chapter 221 - Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Brewing Tea with Seven Color Tea Flower (Part 1) Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Brewing Tea with Seven Color Tea Flower (Part 1) Translator: 549690339 Soon the person in charge of the nine Seven Color Tea Flowers arrived with nutrient packages. Old Chen immediately had them sent for testing. They wanted to ensure that these nutrient packages did not contain anything they shouldn¡¯t and that the value of the flowers was worth their investment. As Old Chen held an important position, the things he had sent for testing would surely be prioritized by the testing agency. About an hour later, someone brought the test report. Accompanying it was the director of the testing institute. ¡°Old Chen, look!¡± Director Zhu of the Testing Institute respectfully said, ¡°The test shows that an active molecule has been detected in the nutrient package. This molecule is beneficial to the body.¡± Upon hearing this, Old Chen¡¯s eyes lit up. He asked, ¡°What is this active molecule, do you know?¡± Director Zhu said, ¡°This active molecule is a new type of substance. However, the staff said that the structure of this molecule is beneficial to humans, animals, and plants.¡± Old Chen looked at Xiao Jinli with some doubts, ¡°Child, have you discovered a new species?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°I was raised in the mountains, and I collected these things in the mountains. I don¡¯t know about any new species.¡± Everyone, Not to mention children, even adults cannot recognize everything they encounter. There are all kinds of things in the world, and there may even be species that humans have not discovered yet. After hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, Old Chen was somewhat disappointed. Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes turned, and she said, ¡°My pot of Seven Color Tea Flowers has a fragrance that helps with sleep. The flowers used to make tea are also beneficial to health.¡± ¡°Child, how do you know that using it as tea is more beneficial to health?¡± Old Li asked curiously. Xiao Jinli laughed confidently, ¡°Because I just know. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can cut a flower now and make tea.¡± Drinking the tea is equivalent to drinking Lingquan water directly, which is definitely more effective than the fragrance alone. ¡°Ha, cut one now to make tea?¡± Old Yuan asked with slight surprise, ¡°Child, if you cut one now, the ornamental value of your pot of flowers will be greatly reduced. Are you sure you want to do this?¡± ¡°No, Grandpa, you¡¯re wrong.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°On the contrary, if a cut flower is used to prove its value, it will become more valuable, right?¡± Upon hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, everyone reacted. ¡°Ha ha How can you be so clever and quick-witted, you little ghost?¡± Old Yuan laughed, ¡°You¡¯re right, if a flower is used to prove its value, it becomes even more valuable.¡± Especially for these elderly people, the value is even greater. Old Chen nodded and then ordered his subordinates, ¡°Go, cut one and bring it.¡± Although they were somewhat reluctant to part with the flower, if its medicinal value was higher than its ornamental value, they would surely choose the medicinal value. Not long after, a freshly cut Seven Color Tea Flower was brought over. ¡°How to brew it?¡± The old masters used to brew flower tea with certain techniques. They have brewed tea flowers for the old masters before, but they used dried tea flowers. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Give it to me.¡± Having said that, she took the flower, washed it thoroughly, and threw the whole flower directly into the teacup. Then, she poured hot water at 80 degrees Celsius over it. Instantly, a strong fragrance of tea flowers filled the room, refreshing everyone¡¯s senses. ¡°It smells so nice!¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s so fragrant. Inhaling this aroma, I feel instantly awake and refreshed, very comfortable!¡± ¡°Yeah, me too.¡± ¡°It smells so good, just don¡¯t know what it tastes like when we drink it.¡± After about five minutes, Xiao Jinli poured everyone a cup of tea. When she poured it out, the tea was clear, and if it weren¡¯t for the fragrance coming from the cup, one would have thought it was pure water. ¡°Child, do we not need to add rock candy?¡± Usually, when brewing other flower teas, they would add some rock candy to mask the bitterness and astringency of the tea. Xiao Jinli hadn¡¯t answered yet. Grandpa Jiang, who had been silent, suddenly picked up his teacup and took a sip, exclaiming, ¡°What a fragrant tea! The aroma is rich but not greasy, refreshing to the heart and soul. The taste is warm and smooth, moistening the heart!¡± After that, he took another sip. His expression showed great enjoyment! Everyone, Grandpa Jiang realized everyone was staring at him and said, ¡°What are you three old guys staring at me for? Don¡¯t you have a cup in your hands? Taste it yourselves and you¡¯ll know.¡± As soon as Grandpa Jiang¡¯s words fell, Old Chen, Old Li, and Old Yuan drank it quickly as well. ¡°What a fragrant tea!¡± ¡°After drinking it, I really feel incredibly relaxed, very comfortable!¡± ¡°This tea doesn¡¯t have any rock candy, but you can taste a faint sweetness.¡± The four old masters drank their tea without much regard for manners, finishing their cups in one gulp. After finishing the first cup, they handed their empty cups to Xiao Jinli and directly requested, ¡°Child, pour me another cup!¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Grandfather Li, you can only drink one cup for the first time, don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Old Li asked doubtfully, ¡°Why?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and replied, ¡°Because this Camellia Tea is a weight-loss tea for the first-time drinkers. Soon after drinking it, well, you¡¯ll have to go to the toilet. Don¡¯t worry, this weight-loss tea just removes some impurities in your body. After that, your physical fitness will get better and better.¡± Old Chen asked more curiously and skeptically, ¡°Child, how do you know?¡± Xiao Jinli blinked her eyes and said, ¡°Because the nutrient package I made has this characteristic.¡± Everyone, So, what exactly is your nutrient package made of? With such a significant effect, it not only makes flowers grow well, aids in sleep but also helps with weight loss. Seeing the puzzled looks on everyone¡¯s faces, Xiao Jinli suddenly slapped her forehead as if she had just realized something, ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you, I learned Traditional Chinese Medicine from an old traditional Chinese doctor. The nutrient package is made according to a prescription for improving physical fitness.¡± Everyone, Old Chen reacted and said, ¡°So, you¡¯ve been irrigating this flower with a nutrient package made according to a human prescription, and then the effect is reflected on this Camellia flower, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. After Xiao Jinli finished speaking, the four old masters fell into deep thought. Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes flashed, ¡°In fact, my nutrient package is not only used for irrigating tea flowers but also for growing vegetables. In our village, the entire village uses this nutrient package for farming.¡± Upon hearing that, Gao Jianjun¡¯s eyelids jumped. He clearly remembered that the vegetable planting in Xiao Family Village depended entirely on earthworm breeding. How come there¡¯s a nutrient package now? The four old masters held powerful positions and were not to be deceived by lies. Chapter 222 - Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Taking Pulse for the Grumpy Old Men (Second Update) Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Taking Pulse for the Grumpy Old Men (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Gentlemen, how about I take your pulse for you?¡± Xiao Jinli said with a smile, ¡°See if what I say is consistent with what your main doctors say, how about that?¡± She wanted to prove to them that she wasn¡¯t lying. The people present were full of doubt. Usually, if a teenager said they wanted to take their pulse, they would just laugh it away. But today, this so-called nutrient package was too astonishing that they found it hard to doubt. ¡°Jinli!¡± Ji Yuzhu exclaimed as she looked at Xiao Jinli, she pulled her aside and whispered, ¡°Do you really know medical skills? Why haven¡¯t you ever told me?¡± Although Ji Yuzhu asked in a low voice, everyone could hear her in the quietness. Gao Jianjun and his son looked at her with suspicion. They had known Xiao Jinli not for one or two days, but since she was born. Who could have thought that the child they had been pampering would have medical skills without them knowing? Xiao Jinli pretended to whisper back, ¡°Auntie, don¡¯t I usually go to the deep mountain? There, I saved an old traditional Chinese doctor. The old doctor saw that I had talent and taught me medical skills. Now I have already graduated!¡± ¡°Ha, is that so?¡± Ji Yuzhu was still a little skeptical. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the case.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. Everyone, ¡°Ha ha ¡± Old Chen looked at Xiao Jinli¡¯s face and said happily, ¡°Alright, child, let this old fellow take your pulse.¡± It was just taking the pulse, there was nothing to lose. Xiao Jinli went over and started to take Old Chen¡¯s pulse. There was an old saying, ¡°not afraid of doctors laughing, but afraid of doctors looking serious.¡± Everyone stared at Xiao Jinli¡¯s face, trying to see something from her expression. But Xiao Jinli, from taking the pulse to the end, was serious and solemn; no one could read anything from her face. Xiao Jinli said solemnly, ¡°Old master, you have been to the battlefield in your early years, and you have many chronic diseases from old injuries, such as rheumatism, high blood pressure, and other geriatric diseases. However, these geriatric diseases can be controlled. The real difficulty lies in dealing with those old injuries. Many times at night, the pain is unbearable, and you can¡¯t sleep well, right?¡± Old Chen smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re right, it seems that you really do have some skills, child. Not bad, not bad! Who is your master? He has such a good disciple.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°It should be said that I have such a good teacher that I can be such a good disciple.¡± ¡°Haha, not bad, not bad, you are a grateful child!¡± Old Chen was really happy today, not only because his body was better and he had slept well, but also because he met such an interesting child. Xiao Jinli put down her hand and said, ¡°Old master, if you trust me, I can treat your old injuries!¡± ¡°What?¡± Old Chen¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Child, you said my old injuries can be treated?¡± ¡°Yes, if treated, you can live a healthy life for a hundred years.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. The young man behind Old Chen frowned and scolded, ¡°Presumptuous! Old Chen¡¯s body has always been taken care of by the best exclusive doctors. Considering your young age, how dare you to say that you can treat him? Do you think you are playing house with other children?¡± Then he turned his head to Old Chen and said, ¡°Old Chen, you can let her take your pulse, but you can¡¯t let her treat you. She is just a child. Even if she has some medical skills, can she be as adept as the medical giants?¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged and said seriously, ¡°Medical skills are not about age, but ability and competence. And, my age is not a reason for you to scold me. I said I could treat Old Chen¡¯s illness, but whether I want to treat it or not depends on you!¡± She had been here for eleven years and had hardly ever shown her hand. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that these old gentlemen had made huge contributions to the country, and she didn¡¯t want them to suffer so much pain and torture in their twilight years, she would have ignored them altogether. Old Chen said with a stern face, ¡°Xiao Liu, you have overstepped!¡± Immediately, he smiled and said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Child, don¡¯t take Xiao Liu¡¯s words to heart, I will teach him a lesson later.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Old Chen, this comrade is just worried about you, there is no impropriety!¡± ¡°Haha, you are a child with such a broad mind at such a young age, you are bound to be a great achiever in the future.¡± Old Chen praised. Afterward, he asked, ¡°You said my illness can be treated, do I need surgery?¡± He was old and didn¡¯t want to lie on an operating table. Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need surgery for these diseases, you just need to take some medication.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s good, I¡¯ll have you prescribe some medicine for me later.¡± Old Chen didn¡¯t want to refuse the child¡¯s kindness. ¡°Alright!¡± Xiao Jinli replied and then looked at Grandpa Jiang, asking, ¡°Grandpa, may I take your pulse?¡± Grandpa Jiang¡¯s usually serious face showed a kind and friendly expression when he looked at Xiao Jinli, and he smiled, ¡°Yes, child, and my name is Jiang, call me Grandpa Jiang!¡± ¡°Alright, Grandpa Jiang!¡± Xiao Jinli stepped forward and took Elder Zeng¡¯s pulse. While taking Grandpa Jiang¡¯s pulse, everyone could clearly see Xiao Jinli¡¯s expression change, her small eyebrows frowning deeper and deeper. Seeing this situation, those who didn¡¯t know what was going on were worried. After a while, Xiao Jinli let go of her hand. Grandpa Jiang asked curiously, ¡°Child, what did you find?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, only to hear the young man behind Grandpa Jiang sneer, obviously mocking. Xiao Jinli ignored him and said seriously, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, you don¡¯t have many geriatric diseases, just slightly high blood pressure. That can be managed with medication and controlling your diet. You also have many old injuries on your body, but ¡± She said solemnly, ¡°The most serious thing is the object left near your heart!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, the young man behind Grandpa Jiang jumped up and asked, ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Of course, I found it through taking your pulse.¡± Xiao Jinli continued, ¡°This object, according to Western medicine, can be removed through surgery. But due to the location of the object, which is just one or two millimeters away from the heart, the difficulty of removing it during surgery is extremely high. If there is a slight mishap during the surgery, there may be a huge accident, even never leaving the operating table. So Grandpa Jiang, you usually have conservative treatment, right?¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s words deeply shocked the old gentlemen. What shocked them was not the bullet left inside Grandpa Jiang¡¯s body, but the fact that a child had discovered the bullet inside his body, even pinpointing the exact location, merely by taking his pulse. Even the most prestigious and best old doctor in the country did not have such medical skills. Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Acupuncture for Grandpa Jiang (First Update) Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Acupuncture for Grandpa Jiang (First Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°How how did you know?¡± Xiao Li, who was following behind Elder Jiang, looked unbelievably at Xiao Jinli. ¡°Did you investigate in advance?¡± Hearing his question, Xiao Jinli almost rolled her eyes, responding coldly, ¡°Investigation? If anyone could probe into Grandpa Jiang¡¯s health condition, it only shows the incompetence of you, the so-called ¡®protectors¡¯.¡± Old Jiang nodded and said, ¡°You¡¯re right. Xiao Li, it seems you haven¡¯t been doing your job well.¡± Xiao Li¡¯s face turned beet red under the sharp remarks. Xiao Jinli continued, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, I can move the bullet inside you slightly so that it can be operated on subsequently. If the surgeon isn¡¯t too incompetent, the success rate of the operation is 100%. As for other geriatric diseases and old wounds, a few courses of medicine will do the trick!¡± ¡°What?¡± Xiao Li seemed quite agitated. ¡°Are you serious? Are you confident in what you¡¯re saying?¡± As someone who has been taking care of Elder Jiang up close, he knew all too well how much pain the bullet had caused him. Xiao Jinli replied impatiently, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t joke about this kind of thing. Physicians must have a heart of mercy. I respect these old revolutionaries, and I absolutely wouldn¡¯t joke about this.¡± Old Li asked excitedly, ¡°Child, how confident are you?¡± ¡°One hundred percent!¡± Xiao Jinli answered without hesitation. To her, this was merely a small injury. Naturally, the success rate was 100%. No one dared to accuse this child of boasting. Xiao Jinli thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, I can perform acupuncture on you now. I¡¯ll put one needle in and see how it goes.¡± ¡°Acupuncture?¡± Elder Jiang was even more curious. ¡°Do you know how to perform acupuncture?¡± Knowing medicine and practicing acupuncture are two different things. Knowing medicine doesn¡¯t mean you know how to perform acupuncture, but those who can perform acupuncture must have some medical knowledge. Xiao Li looked conflicted again. This child knew medicine, and know to perform acupuncture too? Not just anyone can do this. Acupuncture requires experience. One false move and the consequences could be unimaginable. Xiao Jinli confidently declared, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, as long as you trust me, I can guarantee your disease will be cured when you take the medicine!¡± Xiao Li muttered, ¡°But what are you basing your guarantee on? Elder Jiang is a national treasure, we can¡¯t afford any mistakes!¡± Even though he was muttering, everyone still heard him. Ji Yuzhu walked over looking anxious, pulling Xiao Jinli aside and saying, ¡°Jinli, have you have you ever performed acupuncture? You¡¯re still young, without much experience I think we should just forget about it.¡± These national treasures were not to be trifled with. If Xiao Jinli could really save someone, that would be excellent, but if something were to go wrong, they wouldn¡¯t be able to shoulder the responsibility. However, Xiao Jinli just kept her eyes fixed on Elder Jiang, waiting for his answer. After hearing her aunt¡¯s words, Xiao Jinli felt a little helpless. She wanted to save these old heroes, but whether these individuals could seize the opportunity laid out before them was up to them. If they didn¡¯t trust her and didn¡¯t want her to treat them, there was nothing she could do. She was just an ordinary child from an ordinary family, after all. All eyes turned to Elder Jiang. Elder Jiang¡¯s sharp eyes squinted slightly, and then he said cheerfully, ¡°Child, I¡¯ll leave the care of my body up to you.¡± Xiao Li looked incredulous, he blurted out, ¡°Elder Jiang, this is ¡± Elder Jiang turned his icy gaze towards him, and then said, ¡°I alone have the final say on my own body. Moreover, no matter how the subsequent treatment progresses, I don¡¯t allow you to make things difficult for this child!¡± This was his assurance to Xiao Jinli. She could proceed with her treatment without concerns. Old Yuan, looking slightly hesitant, said, ¡°Old Jiang, wouldn¡¯t you like to consider it for a while longer?¡± After all, she was just a child, and they were quite uneasy about it. Elder Jiang just shook his head and said, ¡°This thing has been torturing me inside my body for forty years. When I was young, I could just grit my teeth and bear the pain. But now that I¡¯m old, I feel especially uncomfortable with even the slightest pain, and can¡¯t rest well either day or night. I¡¯ve been causing everyone else worry too. Now, this child is saying there¡¯s hope for my recovery, and I hope to give the treatment a try.¡± The older you get, the harder this kind of torturous pain is to bear. At times, it¡¯s as though death is preferable to living. Thus, he was willing to give it a try. ¡°Anyway, I am already very old, and I can say I¡¯ve lived a full life.¡± Elder Jiang sighed softly. Xiao Jinli¡¯s voice took on a melancholic tone, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, rest assured, you can live for another ten to twenty years.¡± ¡°Haha, good, child, I¡¯ll take your word for it,¡± Elder Jiang replied with a chuckle. Xiao Jinli put down her small backpack and took out a set of silver needles. This child, keeping the silver needles for acupuncture so casually in her bag, seemed indifferent, can we really trust her? In reality, the set of silver needles was stored in her spatial storage. She took the needles out from her bag as a simple camouflage. After taking out the silver needles, Xiao Jinli glanced around, a frown knitting her petite brows. Gao Jianjun asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Grandpa Jiang will need to lie down for the acupuncture procedure, but here ¡± Hearing this, Zhou Jianhua smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s move to my resting room then. It¡¯s just next door!¡± With that, he took a key from the drawer of his office desk, and opened the room next door. The whole group followed him next door. Thankfully, although the room next door was a resting room with a bed, the space was large enough to accommodate everyone. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, just lie down.¡± Xiao Li asked with a puzzled expression, ¡°Don¡¯t we need to take off clothes?¡± He had watched those old traditional Chinese doctors perform acupuncture, and it usually required stripping clothes. ¡°No!¡± Xiao Jinli replied. ¡°Just lie down and rest your hands flat.¡± Elder Jiang put his walking stick aside and laid down as instructed. ¡°Is there any other preparation to be done?¡± Xiao Li asked anxiously. ¡°No need!¡± With that, Xiao Jinli held four silver needles in her hand, gave them a flick, and the four silver needles flew out. They pierced right into the acupuncture points around the heart. Everyone watched in awe as Xiao Jinli proceeded with the acupuncture. The way she pricked up the needles with swift precision left them dumbstruck. Unable to hold back his curiosity, Old Chen asked, ¡°Child, this ?¡± Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°It¡¯s to protect the heart! So during the shift, there won¡¯t be any harm to the heart.¡± Next, she took out three more silver needles and sent them flying into the body. In an instant, seven needles were inserted. Xiao Li asked, ¡°Old master, does it hurt? If it does, please tell us!¡± He was sweating profusely. If the old man had an accident here, he would be to blame. ¡°I don¡¯t feel any pain at all,¡± Elder Jiang replied truthfully. He really didn¡¯t feel any pain. For Xiao Jinli¡¯s first round of acupuncture, it was either four or three needles. By the end, his stomach was full of silver needles. ¡°This ¡± Xiao Jinli explained again, ¡°It¡¯s to protect the internal organs!¡± Then, she took out three more silver needles and also sent them flying out. The place where they headed was around where the bullet was. As Xiao Li had been staying by Elder Jiang¡¯s side, he knew the bullet¡¯s location very well. Seeing the silver needles, his eyes nearly popped out. Chapter 224 - Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Shocking (Second Update) Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Shocking (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 As the silver needle pierced around the bullet, Xiao Jinli flicked the needle immediately. With the silver needle in hand, Xiao Jinli stretched out her right index finger and pressed it directly on the bullet¡¯s position. Xiao Li almost cried out in shock. Everyone saw Xiao Jinli¡¯s index finger moving slowly, avoiding other organs and moving to the side. Then, she pressed it still. When the three silver needles stopped swaying, she let go. ¡°Grandpa Jiang, the bullet is now in this position, and it can be operated on at any time now, and the safety is guaranteed,¡± Xiao Jinli said. Everyone couldn¡¯t believe it. Old Chen incredulously asked, ¡°Child, you said the bullet has moved away from the heart?¡± ¡°Yes, the bullet has not only moved away from the heart but also far away from other organs. Grandpa Jiang, after I withdraw the needles, you can have a check-up at the hospital to confirm,¡± she said. As she was speaking, she withdrew the silver needles. ¡°Yes, yes, Old Jiang, you should go to the hospital for a check-up,¡± Old Chen said. ¡°If the bullet has really moved, surgery is still needed.¡± Xiao Li hesitated, ¡°Old Jiang, how about we go back to Capital City for a check-up!¡± The Capital City had Old Jiang¡¯s attending doctor, and the hospital equipment was more advanced. If there was any problem found during the check-up, they could follow up with treatment right away. Old Jiang waved his hand, ¡°Let¡¯s check here. You go and arrange it.¡± Xiao Li replied, ¡°Yes, grumpy old man.¡± Then, wearing a worried expression, he left. What if the old master was treated for other problems by this little girl, how would that end? Old Li asked directly, ¡°Old Jiang, do you feel any discomfort in your body?¡± Old Jiang had already stood up, shaking his head, ¡°I feel very comfortable, and my body feels much lighter.¡± He looked at Xiao Jinli with doubt and asked, ¡°Child, why do I feel so relaxed now?¡± Old Yuan was amazed, ¡°Old Jiang, do you really feel your body relaxed?¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Old Jiang didn¡¯t conceal it. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°During the acupuncture process, I also treated some of your body¡¯s old injuries. However, to completely heal, you still need three acupuncture treatments and medication. Within half a month, you can be cured and your body will fully recover to health!¡± As Xiao Jinli finished speaking, Xiao Li came over and said, ¡°Old Jiang, the arrangement is ready!¡± Old Jiang nodded, ¡°Alright, I will go for a check-up first. You old guys, stay here.¡± After Old Jiang left, the three old masters showed no abnormalities on their faces, but their hearts were full of hope. These old guys had been through bullets on the battlefield, and as a result, many chronic injuries had accumulated in their bodies. It didn¡¯t bother them when they were young, but as they got older, they found these chronic injuries caused them great pain and torment. If Old Jiang¡¯s most significant problem could be solved, their problems were not issues hinged upon, right? ¡°Child, how long have you been learning medicine?¡± Old Yuan asked curiously. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°For eight years.¡± ¡°Eight years?¡± Yan Xin was surprised, ¡°Cousin, didn¡¯t you start learning medicine at just over two years old?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Yes, I started learning medicine when I was just over two years old.¡± Old Chen and the others found it incredible. ¡°A two-year-old child can¡¯t even speak clearly, let alone read words. How did you learn medicine?¡± Old Li asked in astonishment. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I could speak at three months, recognize words at six months, and recite the Three Character Classics fluently by three years old.¡± Anyone could check this information. Everyone, Is this child boasting? They had heard of babies speaking at three months old, but they had never seen it. Seeing everyone¡¯s disbelief, Gao Jianjun said, ¡°Ahem, this child can indeed speak fluently at three months old and recognize words at six months. By the time she was three years old, she could recite the Three Character Classics, Tang poems, and Song lyrics fluently. My little niece is very smart and has a photographic memory.¡± He was very proud of his smart niece. ¡°Ah, genius, really genius!¡± Old Chen praised and returned to Zhou Jianhua¡¯s office. He took out a copy of ¡°Zizhi Tongjian¡± and said, ¡°Child, Grandpa Chen is curious about your photographic memory. Come on, let me take a good look, how about it?¡± Xiao Jinli understood that the old master wanted to test her. She smiled and said, ¡°Grandpa Chen, I could recite this book at three years old. How about you change the book? Hmm, preferably one I haven¡¯t read!¡± Old Chen shook his head, ¡°No need, just this book!¡± Then, Old Chen randomly selected a passage, a sentence, or even just a couple of words, and Xiao Jinli recited it without looking. ¡°Good, not bad!¡± Old Li couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°I have flipped through this book countless times, but cannot memorize it, while you can recite it effortlessly.¡± Old Li still had the heart to test her once more, so he picked another book from the bookcase. It was ¡°Detailed History of the Zhou Group.¡± This book was an internal company book, which Xiao Jinli definitely had not read. After flipping the book once, Xiao Jinli handed it back to Old Li and said, ¡°Old Li, I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°Huh, so fast?¡± Everyone was doubtful. They just flipped through the book once, did they really remember the content? But soon it was proven that this child had really read the book. For any passage, sentence, or even two or three words that Old Li chose, Xiao Jinli was fluent in her responses. ¡°Haha¡­ Genius, true genius, I have seen it now!¡± ¡°Such a smart and clever child, who has studied medicine for so many years, it makes sense that her medical skills are exquisite.¡± After everyone finished praising Xiao Jinli, Old Jiang called. ¡°Old Chen, the examination is done, and the bullet in my body has indeed been moved. It¡¯s now attached to the skin on the right side of my waist. The doctor said that now I just need a minimally invasive surgery to remove the bullet directly. Haha¡­ It¡¯s great! The problem that has plagued me for decades has finally been solved! No wonder the child said that once the bullet was moved, the surgery would be safe. If this kind of surgery fails, the surgeon should go home and eat shit.¡± Old Chen was shocked as he stood up from his seat, looking incredulously at Xiao Jinli, and said excitedly, ¡°Old Jiang, is what you said true? Aren¡¯t you lying to us?¡± Old Jiang¡¯s hearty laughter immediately reached everyone¡¯s ears, and he said, ¡°Can I lie to you about this? Haha¡­ It¡¯s true. I originally planned to have the surgery here, but those below insisted on taking me to the Capital City hospital for it. I will come back in a while.¡± After Old Chen hung up the phone, the expressions of the three old masters were visibly excited and thrilled. This was their hope! Chapter 225 - Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Old Yuan Gets Brain Cancer (First Update) Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Old Yuan Gets Brain Cancer (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After knowing about Grandpa Jiang¡¯s improved condition, Old Chen immediately asked, ¡°Child, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯re going to prescribe me some medicine? Do it now.¡± Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°Grandpa Chen, are you sure you want me to prescribe the medicine now?¡± Old Chen said decisively, ¡°Yes, child, please prescribe it for me now.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, she took out paper and pen from her bag and wrote down the prescription with vigorous strokes. After finishing, she handed the prescription to Old Chen and instructed, ¡°Old master, this prescription is only suitable for your constitution. Boil three bowls of water down to one, take it three meals a day. After seven days, I need to examine your body again and adjust the prescription.¡± Old Chen took the prescription, and Xiao Jinli took out the processed dry hay from her bag and handed it to Old Chen, saying, ¡°Put one in each time you decoct the medicine. Remember, this is the main medicine!¡± These dry hay are from the space, rich in spiritual qi, which is to speed up the body¡¯s adjustment. Old Chen took it and said with a smile, ¡°Okay!¡± Old Li and Old Yuan stepped forward and said, ¡°Child, come and take our pulse.¡± Xiao Jinli took Old Li¡¯s pulse first. Though he had many problems, none of them were significant. According to other doctors, he just needed medication control and routine care. For Xiao Jinli, curing these things is not a problem. However, when she took Old Yuan¡¯s pulse, her brows deepened. Seeing this, everyone¡¯s hearts were lifted, and they really wanted to ask, but they were afraid of being disturbed. Xiao Zhang, who was following Old Yuan, was so nervous that his heart almost jumped out. Xiao Jinli asked seriously, ¡°Old Yuan have you been getting regular check-ups for your body?¡± Xiao Zhang quickly replied, ¡°Yes, the old master¡¯s body is checked every three months.¡± ¡°What problems did they check?¡± Xiao Jinli asked again. Xiao Zhang said, ¡°Well, there are high blood pressure, rheumatism, coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, and some old injuries.¡± Old Yuan laughed and said indifferently, ¡°People have to submit to old age. When you get older, all kinds of diseases come.¡± Xiao Jinli asked seriously, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Xiao Zhang asked with confusion. Old Chen reacted at this moment and asked, ¡°Child, do you mean Old Yuan has other diseases?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes. And this disease is quite severe!¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°What disease?¡± The first question was by Xiao Zhang, and the second was by Old Chen. The reason Xiao Zhang spoke like this was that the recent examination was on the 26th of last month. The data on the examination report were all good, and no other diseases or conditions were discovered. Now it¡¯s only been a few days, and there¡¯s a new disease. No matter what, Xiao Zhang couldn¡¯t believe it. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Old Yuan, during this period, you occasionally have headaches, blurred vision, and sometimes tinnitus when you get up in the morning.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhang immediately looked at Old Yuan and asked, ¡°Old master, do you have these symptoms?¡± Old Yuan nodded, ¡°I do occasionally.¡± ¡°Old master, why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± Xiao Zhang asked anxiously. ¡°If you have these symptoms, we can ask the doctor to come check on you.¡± Old Yuan shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯ve had headaches and tinnitus for a long time. But when I went for a check-up, they said it was caused by excessive internal heat. The doctor prescribed medication for me to control and adjust my condition. As for the occasional blurred vision, I just thought it was due to aging and my eyes weren¡¯t working well.¡± Old Chen immediately asked impatiently, ¡°Child, aren¡¯t Old Yuan¡¯s symptoms caused by excessive internal heat?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°No. It¡¯s ¡± She hesitated to look at Old Yuan. Old Yuan said, ¡°Child, whatever illness I have, just say it. No matter the result, I can bear it.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°It¡¯s brain cancer!¡± ¡°What brain cancer?¡± Everyone was shocked again, hardly believing it. ¡°Impossible!¡± Xiao Zhang refused to believe, ¡°If the old master really has brain cancer, why didn¡¯t they find it in the last check-up?¡± ¡°Xiao Zhang!¡± Old Yuan scolded in a calm tone. It¡¯s a taboo for patients to question a doctor¡¯s medical skills. Any doctor would be unhappy to hear it. ¡°Child, keep talking!¡± Old Yuan noticed that Xiao Jinli had more to say. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Old Yuan. You are still in the early stages of brain cancer, and it is treatable.¡± After saying this, Xiao Jinli advised, ¡°Grandpa Yuan, you can go to a big hospital for another diagnosis.¡± Old Yuan did not refuse, ¡°Okay.¡± Xiao Zhang immediately said anxiously, ¡°Old master, let¡¯s return to Capital City for a check-up now!¡± Old Chen also urged, ¡°Yes, Old Yuan, you should hurry back to Capital City for a check-up. Don¡¯t delay treatment for this disease. Even if it¡¯s in the early stages, get treatment as soon as possible.¡± Any disease related to ¡°cancer¡± is a very severe condition. Most cancers cannot be cured, only controlled to prolong life. Alas, how much suffering Old Yuan is going to have to endure! The treatment process for cancer is very painful, especially western medicine treatment. However, Old Yuan looked at Xiao Jinli and sincerely asked, ¡°Child, can you cure my disease?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°I can cure it!¡± Old Yuan didn¡¯t hesitate and decided, ¡°Fine, child, you will treat me!¡± Everyone, Xiao Zhang became anxious and said, ¡°Old Yuan, let¡¯s go back and get checked first, see what the doctor¡¯s treatment plan is, okay?¡± How could the old master¡¯s body be casually left to a child? Of course, he didn¡¯t dare to say it casually. Anyway, he was still doubting Xiao Jinli¡¯s medical skills. After all, her age was too deceptive. In general, the older a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, the more skillful they become. For example, the doctor who regularly checked on the several old gentlemen was Master Jin Shanlin of Apricot Grove. He was 80 years old, and his medical skills were among the best in the country. He was hailed as a divine doctor who could rejuvenate. But even Doctor Jin Shanlin didn¡¯t find brain cancer in the old master. How could a little girl have such great ability? So for now, the priority is to get the old master back for a thorough check-up and ask Doctor Jin to take his pulse again. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Grandpa Yuan, you should go back for a check-up first. After the doctors confirm the diagnosis, see their treatment plan. If you really need it, give me a call, and I will go to Capital City to treat you!¡± Old Li said at this time, ¡°Old Yuan, I think the child is right. You should go back and get a comprehensive check-up, confirm it, and see what the doctor says. Don¡¯t have a child treat you now. Even if you are willing, your superiors won¡¯t agree. Don¡¯t make it difficult for the child.¡± Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Old Yuan Gets Brain Cancer (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After knowing about Grandpa Jiang¡¯s improved condition, Old Chen immediately asked, ¡°Child, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯re going to prescribe me some medicine? Do it now.¡± Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°Grandpa Chen, are you sure you want me to prescribe the medicine now?¡± Old Chen said decisively, ¡°Yes, child, please prescribe it for me now.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, she took out paper and pen from her bag and wrote down the prescription with vigorous strokes. After finishing, she handed the prescription to Old Chen and instructed, ¡°Old master, this prescription is only suitable for your constitution. Boil three bowls of water down to one, take it three meals a day. After seven days, I need to examine your body again and adjust the prescription.¡± Old Chen took the prescription, and Xiao Jinli took out the processed dry hay from her bag and handed it to Old Chen, saying, ¡°Put one in each time you decoct the medicine. Remember, this is the main medicine!¡± These dry hay are from the space, rich in spiritual qi, which is to speed up the body¡¯s adjustment. Old Chen took it and said with a smile, ¡°Okay!¡± Old Li and Old Yuan stepped forward and said, ¡°Child, come and take our pulse.¡± Xiao Jinli took Old Li¡¯s pulse first. Though he had many problems, none of them were significant. According to other doctors, he just needed medication control and routine care. For Xiao Jinli, curing these things is not a problem. However, when she took Old Yuan¡¯s pulse, her brows deepened. Seeing this, everyone¡¯s hearts were lifted, and they really wanted to ask, but they were afraid of being disturbed. Xiao Zhang, who was following Old Yuan, was so nervous that his heart almost jumped out. Xiao Jinli asked seriously, ¡°Old Yuan have you been getting regular check-ups for your body?¡± Xiao Zhang quickly replied, ¡°Yes, the old master¡¯s body is checked every three months.¡± ¡°What problems did they check?¡± Xiao Jinli asked again. Xiao Zhang said, ¡°Well, there are high blood pressure, rheumatism, coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, and some old injuries.¡± Old Yuan laughed and said indifferently, ¡°People have to submit to old age. When you get older, all kinds of diseases come.¡± Xiao Jinli asked seriously, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Xiao Zhang asked with confusion. Old Chen reacted at this moment and asked, ¡°Child, do you mean Old Yuan has other diseases?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes. And this disease is quite severe!¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°What disease?¡± The first question was by Xiao Zhang, and the second was by Old Chen. The reason Xiao Zhang spoke like this was that the recent examination was on the 26th of last month. The data on the examination report were all good, and no other diseases or conditions were discovered. Now it¡¯s only been a few days, and there¡¯s a new disease. No matter what, Xiao Zhang couldn¡¯t believe it. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Old Yuan, during this period, you occasionally have headaches, blurred vision, and sometimes tinnitus when you get up in the morning.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhang immediately looked at Old Yuan and asked, ¡°Old master, do you have these symptoms?¡± Old Yuan nodded, ¡°I do occasionally.¡± ¡°Old master, why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± Xiao Zhang asked anxiously. ¡°If you have these symptoms, we can ask the doctor to come check on you.¡± Old Yuan shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯ve had headaches and tinnitus for a long time. But when I went for a check-up, they said it was caused by excessive internal heat. The doctor prescribed medication for me to control and adjust my condition. As for the occasional blurred vision, I just thought it was due to aging and my eyes weren¡¯t working well.¡± Old Chen immediately asked impatiently, ¡°Child, aren¡¯t Old Yuan¡¯s symptoms caused by excessive internal heat?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°No. It¡¯s ¡± She hesitated to look at Old Yuan. Old Yuan said, ¡°Child, whatever illness I have, just say it. No matter the result, I can bear it.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°It¡¯s brain cancer!¡± ¡°What brain cancer?¡± Everyone was shocked again, hardly believing it. ¡°Impossible!¡± Xiao Zhang refused to believe, ¡°If the old master really has brain cancer, why didn¡¯t they find it in the last check-up?¡± ¡°Xiao Zhang!¡± Old Yuan scolded in a calm tone. It¡¯s a taboo for patients to question a doctor¡¯s medical skills. Any doctor would be unhappy to hear it. ¡°Child, keep talking!¡± Old Yuan noticed that Xiao Jinli had more to say. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Old Yuan. You are still in the early stages of brain cancer, and it is treatable.¡± After saying this, Xiao Jinli advised, ¡°Grandpa Yuan, you can go to a big hospital for another diagnosis.¡± Old Yuan did not refuse, ¡°Okay.¡± Xiao Zhang immediately said anxiously, ¡°Old master, let¡¯s return to Capital City for a check-up now!¡± Old Chen also urged, ¡°Yes, Old Yuan, you should hurry back to Capital City for a check-up. Don¡¯t delay treatment for this disease. Even if it¡¯s in the early stages, get treatment as soon as possible.¡± Any disease related to ¡°cancer¡± is a very severe condition. Most cancers cannot be cured, only controlled to prolong life. Alas, how much suffering Old Yuan is going to have to endure! The treatment process for cancer is very painful, especially western medicine treatment. However, Old Yuan looked at Xiao Jinli and sincerely asked, ¡°Child, can you cure my disease?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°I can cure it!¡± Old Yuan didn¡¯t hesitate and decided, ¡°Fine, child, you will treat me!¡± Everyone, Xiao Zhang became anxious and said, ¡°Old Yuan, let¡¯s go back and get checked first, see what the doctor¡¯s treatment plan is, okay?¡± How could the old master¡¯s body be casually left to a child? Of course, he didn¡¯t dare to say it casually. Anyway, he was still doubting Xiao Jinli¡¯s medical skills. After all, her age was too deceptive. In general, the older a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, the more skillful they become. For example, the doctor who regularly checked on the several old gentlemen was Master Jin Shanlin of Apricot Grove. He was 80 years old, and his medical skills were among the best in the country. He was hailed as a divine doctor who could rejuvenate. But even Doctor Jin Shanlin didn¡¯t find brain cancer in the old master. How could a little girl have such great ability? So for now, the priority is to get the old master back for a thorough check-up and ask Doctor Jin to take his pulse again. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Grandpa Yuan, you should go back for a check-up first. After the doctors confirm the diagnosis, see their treatment plan. If you really need it, give me a call, and I will go to Capital City to treat you!¡± Old Li said at this time, ¡°Old Yuan, I think the child is right. You should go back and get a comprehensive check-up, confirm it, and see what the doctor says. Don¡¯t have a child treat you now. Even if you are willing, your superiors won¡¯t agree. Don¡¯t make it difficult for the child.¡± Chapter 226 - Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Giving Away the Seven Color Tea Flower (second update) Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Giving Away the Seven Color Tea Flower (second update) Translator: 549690339 Old Chen had so decisively let Xiao Jinli treat him because his illness didn¡¯t involve his brain. Old Yuan¡¯s disease was in the brain, which is far more severe than other parts. Of course, the primary reason was that Xiao Jinli had diagnosed a brain tumor just from taking his pulse, but they still needed further medical tests to confirm it. However, before Old Yuan returned to the Capital City ¡°Grandpa Yuan, I would like to give you my Seven Color Tea Flower.¡± Xiao Jinli said seriously, ¡°Keep the flower in your room which will assist your sleep. Moreover, you can make tea with its flowers. One flower a day, this tea can regulate your body balance and contribute to your health.¡± Everyone was astonished when Xiao Jinli directly offered the tea flowers to Old Yuan. The estimated minimum value of that flower is two million yuan. Now it was discovered that the flower had medicinal value, its worth could be even higher than two million yuan. Old Yuan asked in surprise, ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re saying, child? That is a flower worth over two million. Are you simply giving it to me?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Certainly, the thing has value when it¡¯s useful. However, the truly valuable things should be given to those who need them the most, that is their real value! And now it¡¯s the time when you need it the most!¡± Old Chen and Old Li looked at each other, then Old Chen laughed, saying ¡°Old Yuan, the child makes sense. The flowers help sleep and also benefit your health, you definitely need them more than us. So, Old Li and I, and I think Old Jiang as well, won¡¯t argue with you on this. The kids here have the right intentions, accept them!¡± Their diseases are all old and not a big deal. But Old Yuan¡¯s illness was potentially like a bomb. After some rumination, Old Yuan nodded his agreement, ¡°In that case, I will accept the tea. Kid, now I owe you a favor. If you need anything in the future, do not hesitate to ask. As long as it is within my power, Grandpa Yuan will help you.¡± Xiao Zhang, standing behind him, turned pale but couldn¡¯t stop Old Yuan¡¯s promise. The promises from these old national treasures weighed more than Mount Tai. This is simply not comparable to a tea flower valued at just two million. If someone with ulterior motives used his relationship to do something wrong, it would be disgraceful. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°All right, Grandpa Yuan. However, the most important thing for you now is to have a medical check and start taking care of your body. When necessary, you can contact me via phone call, whether you come to find me, or I come to the Capital City, both are feasible.¡± At this point, she paused, her eyes flicked, and then she continued, ¡°My hometown is a beautiful mountain village, with clear mountains and water, beautiful landscapes, and honest people. If you live there, it would be even better for your health.¡± Gao Jianjun¡¯s face changed slightly, he said quietly, ¡°Jinli!¡± How could one casually invite a high-profile figure to Xiao Family Village? Yet Old Yuan did not feel out of place at all. He exclaimed, ¡°That sounds great. If I have the chance, I will go there. I want to see what kind of Feng Shui treasure land has nurtured such intelligent and clear-minded person.¡± Old Chen laughed and said, ¡°When I get the chance, I will join as well!¡± Old Li laughed and said, ¡°We initially came for the seven-color tea flower. Meanwhile, the master of the tea flowers has brought us such a pleasant surprise.¡± The bullet in Old Jiang can be removed, and Old Yuan was found to have brain cancer, fortunately, it is in the early stage, but if it¡¯s in the later stage, then Old Chen, Old Li, and Old Yuan asked for Xiao Jinli¡¯s contact information. They planned to accompany Old Yuan on his return journey and await the results. If the real diagnosis of brain cancer is confirmed, having their fellow old friends around can be comforting. Only after the four elderly gentlemen had left, did Gao Jianjun and Zhou Jianhua simultaneously wipe the cold sweat off their foreheads. These elders, although much milder, still intimidated them with their aura. Zhou Jianhua turned to look at Xiao Jinli, who was calm by his side, and said to Gao Jianjun, ¡°President Gao, your niece is truly remarkable. When we face these elders, we are a bit nervous, but she is calm and composed. Truly, youth knows no fear.¡± Gao Jianjun said, ¡°This child has been brave and intelligent since she was little.¡± Saying this, he laughed bitterly, ¡°I had not expected that she could be this brave.¡± Zhou Jianhua said, ¡°A young girl who knows traditional Chinese medicine, is already remarkable. But to also perform a brilliant operation and bravely take the pulse readings of four old gentlemen, I have to admire this young girl.¡± Gao Jianjun, He was also surprised. Zhou Jianhua wished to establish a good relationship with Gao Jianjun. The two exchanged business cards and discussed a potential partnership. Zhou¡¯s Group, owned by Zhou Jianhua, is one of the top companies in Licheng, much larger than Gao¡¯s company. Of course, Gao Jianjun wouldn¡¯t refuse to collaborate with Zhou¡¯s Group. On the way home, everyone in Gao Jianjun¡¯s group was excited and thrilled. ¡°Cousin, you are too awesome.¡± Gao Yanxin, who had been holding his breath, was finally able to loudly praise his cousin, ¡°You know traditional Chinese medicine and your medical skills are so good. Right now, I really want to see what kind of brain you have. How come you¡¯re so intelligent and versatile! It¡¯s so enviable. No wonder, in front of my father, I am always criticized as a dummy. With you as an example, anyone would become a dummy!¡± Ji Yuzhu also felt proud. She said excitedly, ¡°Those prominent people that often appear in the news, I never thought that I would have the chance to meet them, all thanks to Jinli. How exciting. ¡± ¡°Jinli, you¡¯re incredible!¡± Ji Yuzhu praised, ¡°You not only know traditional Chinese medicine, but your skills are so advanced. If it weren¡¯t for your display today, we wouldn¡¯t know that you are a doctor?¡± At this point, she looked like she thought of something and seemed a bit skeptical. She asked, ¡°Jinli, do your parents know about your medical knowledge?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°No, they don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Ah, even my sister and brother-in-law don¡¯t know you¡¯re a doctor.¡± Ji Yuzhu was amazed, ¡°You¡¯ve done a great job keeping it a secret. Wait a minute, you said that you started learning medicine at the age of two, does that mean you started going to the mountain by yourself at that age?¡± She knew that Jinli likes to go to the mountains for peace and quiet, but she never thought that Jinli would start going into the mountains at the age of two! How dangerous! Xiao Jinli thought of her first time going to the mountain, she smiled and said, ¡°Yes, I went into the mountains by myself when I was just over two years old. Then I met an old traditional Chinese doctor who was gathering herbs. He noticed my potential and started teaching me medicine. This was a secret between me and my master.¡± The first time she went to the top of Red Peak Mountain when she was just over two years old, because she overslept there, she didn¡¯t return home on time. This caused the whole village to miss lunch and go looking for her. Since then, she would notify her parents whenever she went anywhere. Chapter 227 - Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Xiao Family Village Needs Protection (First Update) Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Xiao Family Village Needs Protection (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Upon returning home, Gao Jianjun called Xiao Jinli into the study. He went straight to the point and asked, ¡°Jinli, why did you suddenly reveal that you have medical skills? And even daringly diagnosing several big shots?¡± Xiao Jinli said solemnly, ¡°Uncle, Xiao Family Village needs protection.¡± Hearing this, Gao Jianjun frowned and asked with some confusion, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Uncle, when you eat the vegetables from our family, don¡¯t you find anything special about them?¡± ¡°Special?¡± Gao Jianjun said, ¡°Aren¡¯t they just delicious?¡± ¡°No, in addition to being delicious, there is another special effect,¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°that is, it can make people¡¯s bodies healthier and healthier. Relying solely on this effect, once our Xiao Family Village¡¯s crops are sold, it will definitely attract the attention of some big capitalists. If we don¡¯t have absolute protection, Xiao Family Village will be like an ant, easily crushed by others.¡± At this point, she said somewhat helplessly, ¡°The villagers of Xiao Family Village trust me and think that I am very capable. They support any suggestions and decisions I make for Xiao Family Village unconditionally, and they will also support me in action. So, I can¡¯t let everyone in Xiao Family Village down. At the same time, I also need to protect everyone in Xiao Family Village. I can¡¯t let them become prosperous while bringing disaster to them.¡± The trust that the villagers of Xiao Family Village had in her was as blind as people¡¯s idol worship on television. After listening, Gao Jianjun fell silent for a moment. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Although I may have the ability to protect Xiao Family Village, after all, I am a child now. Many things are limited by my age and there are limitations to my actions. Besides, I can¡¯t always stay in Xiao Family Village, and I will need to go out at some point. If Xiao Family Village has the protection of powerful people, those capitalists will think twice.¡± After pondering for a moment, Gao Jianjun said, ¡°But these old gentlemen won¡¯t say whether they¡¯re willing or not, and even if they are, they¡¯re old, how many years can they protect us?¡± ¡°By that time, I¡¯ll have grown up.¡± Xiao Jinli confidently said, ¡°When I grow up, I¡¯ll definitely have the ability to protect Xiao Family Village.¡± Gao Jianjun looked at Xiao Jinli seriously and sighed, ¡°You¡¯re so young, yet you¡¯re already so farsighted. Your uncle admits defeat.¡± Then, he touched Xiao Jinli¡¯s head and said, ¡°Jinli, you¡¯re still young, don¡¯t put too much pressure and burden on yourself. Xiao Family Village is not your responsibility and obligation. Just do what you can do. Moreover, learn to protect yourself more and don¡¯t worry us, your family, okay?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I know. Uncle, I will take care of myself.¡± Gao Jianjun patted Xiao Jinli¡¯s shoulder again and praised, ¡°Jinli, although you¡¯re young, everything that happens to you seems like a natural miracle. You are destined for great things, and your uncle supports you. If you need your uncle¡¯s help, just say it.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Yes, thank you, Uncle. If I need your help, I won¡¯t hesitate to ask.¡± Xiao Jinli came to Licheng to sell her tea flowers. Although the tea flowers were not sold, and were given away instead, meeting those old gentlemen was not a wasted trip. Xiao Jinli planned to return home. Unexpectedly, as she was about to leave, she received a phone call from Old Chen in Capital City. ¡°Child, can you come to Capital City?¡± Old Chen said, ¡°On that day, Old Yuan returned to Capital City and was immediately arranged to have an examination at Capital First Hospital. As you diagnosed, Old Yuan has brain cancer, in the early stage. However,¡± He changed the subject and sighed, ¡°although it is in the early stage, Western medicine can treat it, but surgery is required. Old Yuan is too old and he does not want to go through surgery. Doctor Jin prescribed some medication to control his condition. However, the Divine Doctor of the National Medical Field, Doctor Jin, can only control Old Yuan¡¯s disease but cannot cure it.¡± At this point, he became more excited and said, ¡°Girl, I remember you said during the flower exhibition that you can cure Old Yuan¡¯s disease, right?¡± Xiao Jinli raised her eyebrows and said, ¡°Yes, I can treat him and cure Grandpa Yuan¡¯s condition.¡± Old Chen asked again, ¡°Can you tell Grandpa Chen how you plan to treat Grandpa Yuan¡¯s disease?¡± Xiao Jinli honestly said, ¡°Acupuncture combined with medication will suffice.¡± ¡°Just acupuncture and medication?¡± Old Chen asked suspiciously, ¡°No surgery is needed?¡± ¡°No!¡± Xiao Jinli confidently said again, ¡°And with my treatment, in at most one month, Grandpa Yuan will be restored to health! If the treatment goes well, it might only take twenty days!¡± ¡°What?¡± Old Chen was very surprised, ¡°Really? How sure are you?¡± ¡°One hundred percent!¡± Xiao Jinli firmly said. No doctor would dare to guarantee a 100% cure for any patient. But this child could Old Chen asked seriously, ¡°Xiao Jinli, this is not child¡¯s play, is it?¡± Xiao Jinli also seriously replied, ¡°I never treat medical matters as child¡¯s play! Although I rarely take action, I never do anything without absolute certainty.¡± After thinking for a moment, Old Chen said, ¡°All right. Where are you now? I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I¡¯m still in Licheng.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have someone pick you up!¡± Old Chen nodded. After hanging up the phone, Old Chen went to Old Yuan¡¯s ward, where Old Jiang and Old Li were also visiting Old Yuan. The four of them never expected that the seemingly healthiest Old Yuan would be the one with the most serious health issue among them. Cancer tumors are often difficult to detect in the early stages, but once discovered, they are usually late-stage. Terminal cancer is basically a death sentence. They never expected that just by going to Licheng to see a flower exhibition, they would meet Xiao Jinli. She solved Old Jiang¡¯s most serious hidden problem and also discovered Old Yuan¡¯s early-stage cancer. ¡°Old Chen, what did the child say?¡± The three of them knew that he had called Xiao Jinli. Old Chen didn¡¯t hide anything and said, ¡°The child said she can cure Old Yuan¡¯s disease with 100% certainty.¡± ¡°What? Really?¡± Old Jiang and Old Li were surprised and excited, ¡°That¡¯s great! Old Yuan, hear that? Your illness can be cured.¡± Old Yuan¡¯s expression was indifferent, and he said, ¡°Western medicine can also treat it, but it requires surgery. I don¡¯t want to go through surgery.¡± Old Chen said, ¡°The child said that she just needs acupuncture and medication to treat you, and in at most one month, you will recover. No surgery is needed.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Chapter 228 - Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Start the Treatment (2nd Update) Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Start the Treatment (2nd Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Family Village After Xiao¡¯s father and mother hurried back to the village, they were constantly worried about their sister¡¯s family and Xiao Jinli. However, who would have thought that the second day they woke up, they received a phone call from Gao Jianjun saying that Zhu Lao Liu, who had been eyeing Xiao¡¯s mother, had been caught. The couple were pleasantly surprised. Xiao¡¯s father said, ¡°Haha, wife, are you relieved now? I told you that anyone with malicious intentions will only end up bad if they mess with our Xiao Bao. Now the bad guys and their accomplices have been caught, we don¡¯t have to worry anymore! Just take it easy!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother nodded in agreement, ¡°Yeah, our Xiao Bao is a blessed child!¡± Xiao Jinli had to go to Capital City, and Gao Jianjun wanted to accompany her, but he had a lot of work to do at the company, and Ji Yuzhu had to go to school as well. So, Gao Jianjun instructed Gao Yanxin to accompany her. Even if he couldn¡¯t offer any help, going along with her would at least give her a hand. Xiao Jinli did not refuse Gao Yanxin¡¯s company. The person she was going to see this time was not ordinary, and taking Gao Yanxin with her was not only to let him gain experience but also to use this opportunity to expand his network. Of course, this was an opportunity for Gao Yanxin. Whether he could seize it was up to him. Grandpa Chen had sent a helicopter to pick them up, which landed directly in Gao¡¯s backyard. Gao Yanxin was a little startled when he saw the attire of those who came to pick them up but soon became excited. His dream used to be to become a soldier. At the time, he was not old enough, and when he turned 18, he missed the military physical examination due to an accident and did not become a soldier. ¡°Miss Xiao, hello, we are ordered to take you to the Capital City!¡± The man walked upright, his face serious. Xiao Jinli got on the plane with her small bag on her back. Behind her, someone took Gao Yanxin¡¯s suitcase. It normally doesn¡¯t take half an hour on high-speed trains to travel between Licheng and Capital City, and it¡¯s even faster by helicopter. If driving, it would only take two to three hours. They sent a helicopter not only for its speed but also because the few old gentlemen wanted Xiao Jinli to come early. They could see that Old Yuan¡¯s spirit seemed to be faltering ever since he found out he had brain cancer. While he said that he¡¯s lived a long life already, his spirit had clearly wilted. In just three or four days, Old Yuan seemed to have aged several years. For a patient, the most important thing is their mood. Now, they just wanted Xiao Jinli to come as soon as possible to soothe the patient¡¯s emotions. When they arrived at the Old Cadre Courtyard, the guard let them in immediately. As soon as they saw Xiao Jinli, the moods of the few old gentlemen were slightly excited. ¡°Girl, you¡¯ve become even more beautiful in just a few days,¡± Old Li said. ¡°Girl, these past few days, I¡¯ve been drinking the medicine you prescribed, and my spirit has been getting more and more energetic,¡± Old Chen said. Grandpa Jiang also seemed to be unwilling to show weakness, ¡°Girl, the bullet in my body has been taken out, and it was a minimally invasive surgery. The doctor said that the wound is like a small knife that just cut a little bit of skin. Now that I¡¯m taking your medicine, my body doesn¡¯t hurt anymore, and I sleep well at night. My spirit is getting better and better. Haha, girl, this old man hasn¡¯t even thanked you yet.¡± Initially, Grandpa Jiang was in the worst condition, but now his body has recovered the fastest. Old Yuan was in the best condition initially, but now his health is the worst. It seems one can¡¯t judge a book by its cover. Xiao Jinli checked their pulses and after a while, she smiled and said, ¡°Hm, you old gentlemen have all recovered well. Grandpa Chen and Grandpa Li need to change their medicine to a more gentle remedy. Grandpa Jiang also has a good recovery, and after taking the current medicine for three more days, you will need to switch to a more gentle remedy as well.¡± Old Yuan looked at his old friends, their bodies all moving towards better health, and anxiously asked, ¡°Girl, you said that my disease can be cured just by acupuncture and medication, is that true?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then you take my pulse.¡± Old Yuan said discontentedly, ¡°Those Western doctors keep saying that my disease is still in its early stage and needs surgery to treat it, with a cure rate of 80%. Hmph, with only an 80% success rate for surgery, what if I¡¯m part of that 20% of failures? Besides, having surgery on my head is like having my head bloom. I don¡¯t want my head to bloom.¡± At this point, he wanted to ask for confirmation once again, ¡°Girl, do I really not need surgery?¡± Xiao Jinli answered, ¡°Old Yuan, let me check your pulse first!¡± For people of this age, their condition can change very quickly. Old Yuan immediately stretched out his hand and let Xiao Jinli take his pulse. After a moment, Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Old Yuan, your condition has been controlled very well. The tumor hasn¡¯t spread, so your disease can be cured with acupuncture and medication alone. If you recover well, it should take about 20 days to be healthy, or at most 30 days.¡± ¡°Of course, during my treatment, I need complete cooperation from patients and their families.¡± Xiao Jinli said very seriously, ¡°At the same time, I don¡¯t want anyone pointing fingers at me in front of me. What I need is total cooperation!¡± During her treatment, there must be people who would criticize and even obstruct her because of her age. She hated those troubles, so before her treatment, these troubles needed to be stopped. Old Yuan immediately said with a sense of authority and dignity, ¡°I am responsible for my own illness, and no one has the right to point fingers. I can let whoever I want to treat me. If someone dares to nag in front of me, they have to get through my old weapon first.¡± By ¡°old weapon¡±, he was referring to the weapons he had used on the battlefield. After hearing this, Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Old Yuan, during your treatment, I¡¯ll also need an assistant. This person must understand pharmacology, the handling of medicinal materials, and know a bit about Traditional Chinese Medicine.¡± Grandpa Jiang asked, ¡°Are there any other restrictions, like age?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°No, just someone who knows pharmacology, the handling of medicinal materials, and has some knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine.¡± Grandpa Jiang said, ¡°Doctor Jin had asked me earlier if he could meet the expert who treated us. I¡¯ll ask if he¡¯s willing to be your assistant?¡± As he spoke, he hesitated for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s just that Doctor Jin is quite old, about our age, I wonder if you¡¯ll mind?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed, ¡°Doctor Jin is highly skilled in medicine and has a miraculous ability to heal. How dare I be picky? As long as Doctor Jin is willing, I won¡¯t have any objections!¡± Having a skilled doctor is even better, as she won¡¯t have to do everything herself. She only needs to give some guidance from the side, which saves a lot of trouble. Grandpa Jiang said, ¡°Well, then, I¡¯ll go ask Doctor Jin.¡± Old Yuan asked, ¡°Girl, when will you start treating me?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I can start anytime. Old Yuan, I¡¯ll apply acupuncture to you today, and you¡¯ll need to take the medicine. Tomorrow, you¡¯ll have to take a medicinal bath.¡± Chapter 229 - Chapter 229: Chapter 229: (First Update) Chapter 229: Chapter 229: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Since Old Master Yuan was unwilling to go to the hospital and resistant to Western medical treatment, he returned to the Retirement Home for Cadres in Licheng after the trip. Doctor Jin usually treated him to manage his condition. However, Yuan¡¯s family worried about his health. Controlling the disease wasn¡¯t enough. The main reason was that Doctor Jin was too old. If one day he leaves this world, who would manage Old Master Yuan¡¯s condition? But ordinary traditional Chinese doctors weren¡¯t as skilled as Doctor Jin. Western medical treatment, including surgery, aims to remove the physical cause of the disease. However, Old Master Yuan was very resistant to surgery, especially when it involved cutting into his head. Although the success rate was high, there was still a chance he might not survive the cold operating table. Therefore, no matter who tried to persuade him, he firmly refused Western medical treatment. After Xiao Jinli¡¯s diagnosis and treatment, the health of Old Chen and the others improved, something Doctor Jin couldn¡¯t achieve before. Doctor Jin, the National Doctor, was renowned for his medical skills. He was even hailed as a Divine Doctor. Despite this, Doctor Jin could only manage the health of the four of them but couldn¡¯t cure them. However, with Xiao Jinli¡¯s intervention, their bodies gradually moved towards recovery. Therefore, they privately believed that Xiao Jinli¡¯s medical skills were superior to Doctor Jin¡¯s. However, because they had a good relationship with Doctor Jin, and he managed their health, they couldn¡¯t just cross the river and demolish the bridge by directly inviting Xiao Jinli to come over. Instead, they talked to Doctor Jin in private. Fortunately, Doctor Jin was an open-minded person. After hearing their suggestions, he agreed without hesitation, even saying that if Xiao Jinli could indeed treat Old Master Yuan, he wanted to learn from her. Doctor Jin laughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t think of me as a petty person. As a doctor, I know that learning is endless and there are always people better than oneself. Some things are gained by talent, combined with effort, which may allow one to achieve an enviable level. One cannot rely on age to assess their ability. The child you¡¯re talking about must be very talented, intelligent, and hard-working. She might be young, but with eight years of medical experience, she can be considered an old traditional Chinese doctor.¡± After listening, Old Chen laughed and said, ¡°Old Jin, she is a good child, and you will like her when you meet her.¡± Later on, Old Chen called Xiao Jinli, who immediately came to the Retirement Home for Cadres. Grandpa Jiang called Doctor Jin, and soon he arrived with a medicine box. As soon as he entered, he hurriedly asked, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, where is the child?¡± While speaking, he glanced at everyone present, then his gaze quickly focused on Xiao Jinli. ¡°It¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it, child?¡± Doctor Jin kindly asked, ¡°You¡¯re the one treating these old gentlemen, right?¡± Xiao Jinli was a little confused, this Doctor Jin was very direct. She smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s me, Doctor Jin! Divine Doctor Jin, I¡¯ve long admired your reputation!¡± Doctor Jin laughed and said, ¡°Haha, I¡¯m just overrated. Judging by your diagnosis and treatment of these old men, you¡¯re the real Divine Doctor. I¡¯m happy to admit my inferiority!¡± The young man who followed Doctor Jin disapproved, looking at Xiao Jinli¡¯s age. He said, ¡°Grandpa, why do you undermine yourself? Your medical skills are well-known in the national medical field. This child ¡± He looked at Xiao Jinli with disbelief and continued, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just a lucky break ¨C blind luck. How can someone her age compare to your decades of experience in medical practice!¡± He was Jin Xiangxue, the third grandson of Jin Shanlin. Due to his talent, he studied traditional Chinese medicine under his grandfather since childhood. He was somewhat arrogant due to his reputation in the medicine field. ¡°Silence!¡± Jin Shanlin scolded coldly, ¡°Age does not determine one¡¯s medical abilities. So what if she¡¯s a child? Who stipulated that her medical skills couldn¡¯t surpass mine? Should we rely on age to deny a child¡¯s ability? Jin Xiangxue, when did I teach you to be complacent?¡± Jin Xiangxue was unconvinced and argued, ¡°But Grandpa, even if someone is really talented, time still limits their growth. If she were an adult with two or three decades of medical experience, I would believe it. But look at her, is she even fifteen years old?¡± Xiao Jinli grinned and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not even fifteen, I¡¯m only eleven years old.¡± Jin Xiangxue¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, and he stammered, ¡°E eleven years old?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°I¡¯ve always grown up faster than others.¡± Jin Xiangxue, Was that what he meant? Ignoring his silly grandson, Doctor Jin sincerely apologized to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Child, I¡¯m sorry. My grandson is spoiled and speaks bluntly. I apologize to you for his rudeness.¡± Xiao Jinli grinned and replied, ¡°Doctor Jin, you¡¯re too kind. My age is indeed deceiving, so it¡¯s not surprising that your grandson has prejudices against me. However, actions speak louder than words. Seeing is believing.¡± ¡°Haha, you¡¯re right!¡± Doctor Jin suddenly exclaimed happily. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Doctor Jin, I¡¯m going to perform the first acupuncture on Grandpa Yuan now.¡± ¡°Acupuncture?¡± Jin Xiangxue was skeptical, ¡°Do you even know how to perform acupuncture?¡± Xiao Jinli raised her eyebrows and asked, ¡°Is it difficult to perform acupuncture?¡± Jin Xiangxue, Isn¡¯t it? Acupuncture may not be difficult to learn, but performing it quickly, accurately, and ruthlessly elevates the difficulty level. At this time, Grandpa Jiang stepped forward on behalf of the other elders. ¡°Speaking of acupuncture, I believe I¡¯m the most qualified to talk about it,¡± Grandpa Jiang said, ¡°Because the bullet near my heart was removed by Xiao Jinli¡¯s acupuncture.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we were all there,¡± Old Chen added, ¡°At that time, her acupuncture was incredibly fast, accurate, and ruthless.¡± ¡°Do you know how fast she was?¡± Elder Li excitedly recalled, ¡°At that time, she held four silver needles in her hand. With a flick of her wrist, all four needles were sent flying. Grandpa Jiang, did you feel any pain?¡± ¡°No, not at all.¡± Grandpa Jiang shook his head, ¡°I only felt a slight pain when she pressed her finger on my stomach, but it quickly disappeared, and then I heard her say that it moved.¡± Old Chen seriously advised, ¡°Little Jin, you can¡¯t judge people by their age. Never underestimate a child¡¯s medical skills.¡± Although they all doubted her at the time, the fact proved her superb medical skills. Jin Xiangxue, Chapter 230 - Chapter 230: Chapter 230: (Second Update) Chapter 230: Chapter 230: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 As Xiao Jinli started administering the acupuncture treatment on Old Master Yuan, the usually proud Jin Xiangxue couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. He could scarcely believe what he was seeing. During the needle insertion process, Jinli¡¯s movements were swift and accurate, much like those martial arts experts on television who unveil secret weapons with a mere wave of their hands. With a single wave, at least three silver needles were dispatched. At most, she let nine silver needles fly. Of course, the bystanders could not determine if this was her limit. Even ¡®divine doctor¡¯ Doctor Jin, who had spent seventy years in medicine, could hardly believe what he had seen, let alone Jin Xiangxue. Doctor Jin himself also used acupuncture therapy on patients. His method was accurate and swift. However, he would place each needle separately onto the appropriate points of a patient, rather than flicking his wrist to allow the needles to find their target. This is not a typical doctor¡¯s behaviour, this is clearly the mastery of a martial arts expert. Jin Xiangxue¡¯s eyes widened at the sight. Suddenly, Doctor Jin¡¯s eyes became brighter with each needle that Xiao Jinli inserted, even the color of his ecstasy was clear. He had an epiphany, ¡°So that¡¯s how it¡¯s done. I knew I was missing something. That¡¯s why I could only control Yuan¡¯s condition, but I never realized it was because of this acupuncture point.¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Yes, these two acupuncture points share the same name, but their relative distances from certain organs are different. The results produced by acupuncture in these two points can greatly vary. Doctor Jin, have you never tried this before?¡± Doctor Jin shook his head and smiled bitterly, ¡°I¡¯ve considered trying it, but once cancer strikes, it quickly progresses to the late stage. Even if we use acupuncture then, it won¡¯t significantly help. Yuan¡¯s disease was detected early, but he¡¯s old. I dare not experiment with him carelessly.¡± Jin Xiangxue, who was a bit confused by their conversation, asked, ¡°Grandpa, what is this acupuncture technique? Also, which are the two acupuncture points that have the same name?¡± Even Jin Xiangxue, who is well versed in medicine, didn¡¯t understand. Thus, outsiders like Old Chen understood even less. However, they knew that Xiao Jinli¡¯s method was superior to Doctor Jin¡¯s. Rather than answering his grandson directly, Doctor Jin asked humbly, ¡°Is this the Nine Yang Thirteen Acupuncture technique?¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes lit up and she nodded, ¡°Yes, this is the Nine Yang Thirteen Acupuncture technique! Doctor Jin, did you know?¡± Doctor Jin expressed astonishment. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it mentioned in an ancient medical book, ¡®Discussion on Complicated Medical Cases¡¯. This technique is said to be capable of bringing people back from the brink of death. I¡¯ve researched this kind of acupuncture before, but I¡¯ve never grasped its true essence and didn¡¯t dare to practice it. Now, witnessing you perform this technique, I finally understand its principles. The so-called ¡®reviving the dead¡¯ refers to treating difficult diseases instead of literally bringing the dead back from hell.¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°If Doctor Jin wants to learn, I can teach you.¡± Doctor Jin looked surprised, then shook his head and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t it unacceptable? This technique was passed down by your master. I can¡¯t just casually learn it from you.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and replied, ¡°The duty of a medical professional is to save lives and aid the injured. My master taught me medical skills so I can save lives. If more patients can benefit from it, he would also rest in peace.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case,¡± Doctor Jin respectfully bowed to Xiao Jinli. ¡°Doctor Xiao, please enlighten me!¡± Jin Xiangxue and the others, Xiao Jinli turned to Old Yuan, ¡°Grandpa Yuan, you can rest with your eyes closed. The effect of the acupuncture will take an hour. Call me immediately if you feel uncomfortable.¡± Although the technique was under control, there was always a chance of something unexpected occurring. During acupuncture, the appearance of sequelae could be possible. Old Master Yuan chuckled contentedly, ¡°Okay, I haven¡¯t slept well for the past few days. Now I can take a good rest. Go enjoy some tea.¡± With that, he seemed to remember something and asked, ¡°Oh, by the way, I¡¯ve been drinking that seven-color tea flower you gave me for a few days now. Should I go on drinking it?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes. Except for the first time, where consuming tea flowers detoxifies the body and leads to frequent toilet visits, drinking it at other times can nourish the body.¡± Old Master Yuan nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have a cup of tea flower tea then!¡± Old Zhang, who was at Old Master Yuan¡¯s side, then went to brew the tea. Meanwhile, Old Chen and the others went to the living room for some tea and a chat. They were lauding Jinli¡¯s medical skills. After hearing Doctor Jin speak of the ¡°Nine Yang Thirteen Acupuncture,¡± a lost art that Jinli was using, they found it utterly astonishing. ¡°Girl, who exactly is your master? Has there been such a figure in the field of national medicine?¡± Old Chen asked out of curiosity. Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know who he is. He only told me that his surname is Bian, and he¡¯s a barefoot doctor.¡± In her past life, Xiao Jinli¡¯s national medicine master surnamed Bian was indeed a barefoot doctor. A barefoot doctor who had chosen to remain anonymous. ¡°A barefoot doctor!¡± Grandpa Jiang exclaimed, ¡°The truly skilled are indeed among the common folk.¡± Doctor Jin pondered and then asked, ¡°Does he carry the surname Bian, like the descendants of Bian Que? I remember the classical medical book ¡®Discussion on Complicated Medical Cases¡¯ that I read was compiled by the descendants of Bian Que based on their ancestors¡¯ experience. Currently, there are no doctors with the surname Bian in the field of national medicine. Have they all decided to obscure their identities?¡± Jin Xiangxue looked at his grandfather, then at Xiao Jinli. He opened his mouth but didn¡¯t utter a word. He found the whole scenario baffling. Jinli¡¯s acupuncture technique, her way of driving the needles into the acupuncture points with a flick, was something he, and even his grandfather, had never seen before. Moreover, the user of this technique was an eleven-year-old child. If he had doubts before, he was still skeptical now. However, he was beginning to wonder if he was dreaming. Upon hearing her master¡¯s surname was Bian, he felt it made sense. Even though there are not many doctors surnamed Bian in the field of national medicine, each one of them is a legend. It¡¯s just that in recent years, the art was lost. Xiao Jinli and Doctor Jin, sharing a similar passion, immediately started discussing various complex problems of national medicine. Others could not join the conversation. Even Jin Xiangxue, a national medicine student himself, couldn¡¯t contribute to the conversation. Although they were discussing national medicine, he couldn¡¯t understand the topics they were discussing. Just like a toddler trying to learn a foreign language. ¡°Ah, so the treatment for this disease substitutes a yang type drug with a cold type herb. These are clearly two medicines with conflicting properties, so why are they being used together?¡± Doctor Jin asked with confusion. Xiao Jinli began to explain, ¡°Because this medicine appears to ¡± ¡°Ahh, I see!¡± An enlightened Doctor Jin exclaimed before she could finish explaining. Chapter 231 - Chapter 231: Chapter 231: (First Update) Chapter 231: Chapter 231: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli and Doctor Jin communicated effortlessly with each other, young and old, while the others looked at them with puzzled expressions. Unconsciously, an hour had passed. Little Zhang came over and said, ¡°Doctor Xiao, an hour has passed!¡± Now, Little Zhang admires Xiao Jinli very much. He used to judge her by her age and thought she was just lucky, but now it¡¯s different. Didn¡¯t you see Doctor Jin, who is praised as a ¡°Divine Doctor,¡± humbly asking her for advice? Therefore, he firmly believes that Xiao Jinli can cure the Old Master¡¯s illness. Xiao Jinli and her party entered the room, and Old Master Yuan was sound asleep, ¡°huhu.¡± He didn¡¯t even notice their arrival. Old Chen said, ¡°Old Yuan hasn¡¯t slept well since he found out he had a brain disease.¡± ¡°Yes, he couldn¡¯t sleep well before because of his old injuries. Now he can¡¯t sleep well simply because he¡¯s uneasy,¡± sighed Old Li. ¡°No matter how much we try to comfort him, it¡¯s useless!¡± Although they are getting old and holding an optimistic attitude to live one more day, who doesn¡¯t want to live another day and live well? ¡°Girl, should we wake him up?¡± Grandpa Jiang asked. ¡°No need!¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Let Grandpa Yuan continue to sleep. Just remove the needles.¡± Having said that, Xiao Jinli quickly removed the needles. In this process, Old Master Yuan did not wake up. After the needles were removed, Xiao Jinli instructed Little Zhang, ¡°When Grandpa Yuan wakes up, make him a pot of Camellia Tea. After drinking the tea, he will probably need to use the toilet a few more times.¡± Little Zhang nodded and said, ¡°Okay, I got it. Thank you, Doctor Xiao!¡± Old Chen asked, not understanding, ¡°Girl, why let Old Yuan drink the tea again and go to the toilet more? Didn¡¯t you say that only the first time drinking would cause this reaction?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°I just applied acupuncture to Grandpa Yuan, which consumed the toxins in his body. The camellia tea can detoxify.¡± Old Chen and a few others already knew that the tea could detoxify, so they didn¡¯t ask further. Afterward, Old Chen looked at the snoring Old Yuan and laughed, ¡°Haha, Old Yuan will be able to sleep well from now on.¡± Whose patient, like him, gets treated in their sleep? Doctor Jin¡¯s conservative treatment may not be very painful, but Old Yuan couldn¡¯t bear the emotional burden. As a result, the Seven Color Tea Flower in his room was of little use, and he couldn¡¯t sleep tossing and turning. ¡°Little Li,¡± Doctor Jin, who had become close friends with Xiao Jinli, asked, ¡°How many acupuncture sessions does Old Yuan need for this disease?¡± ¡°Three!¡± said Xiao Jinli. ¡°The second one is in three days, and the third one is in seven days.¡± ¡°Only three?¡± Jin Xiangxue found it incredible. ¡°Such a big illness can be cured with just three acupuncture sessions?¡± Xiao Jinli glanced at him indifferently, ¡°Grandpa Yuan¡¯s condition is in its early stages, and three sessions of acupuncture are enough! Starting tomorrow, he will need to take a medicinal bath for three consecutive days! If his body recovers well, in twenty days, Grandpa Yuan¡¯s body will be healthy again!¡± ¡°Huh, so soon?¡± Jin Xiangxue asked in surprise, ¡°Will it relapse later?¡± For Western medicine treatments, surgeries are prone to relapse! Xiao Jinli almost gave him a burst of chestnut, but held back, considering that it was because of their new friendship. However, Doctor Jin directly knocked on his head and scolded him, ¡°Where did your National Medical Arts go? Do you think, like Western medicine, surgery will cure it? Hmph, Western medicine treats symptoms but not the root cause! But our Traditional Chinese Medicine treats both symptoms and root causes! Xiao Xiaoyou said it will be cured, which means that the cancer cells in Old Yuan¡¯s body will be eradicated and uprooted. There won¡¯t be any recurrence!¡± At this point, Doctor Jin sighed, ¡°Western Medical Arts rely on various instruments to diagnose and prescribe medication based on the symptoms, but many diseases only show surface symptoms and do not find the root cause. Nowadays, people prefer the fast-acting treatment of Western medicine. As for Traditional Chinese Medicine, reading a medical book is so profound and difficult to understand, and learning to take the pulse and diagnose the symptoms and conditions requires patience, which is hard for many people to continue learning. Most importantly, the diagnosis and treatment method of Traditional Chinese Medicine is to find the root cause of the condition and then adjust the medication accordingly afterward, which makes the recovery slower, and many patients don¡¯t have the patience for it. In fact, people¡¯s preference for Western medicine is because Chinese medicine is questioned, and many people don¡¯t believe in Chinese medicine.¡± When he said this, his eyes were dim, and he looked lonely as if he saw the decline of national medical arts. Hearing Doctor Jin¡¯s words, Xiao Jinli felt the same way. Especially since her soul has traveled from 400 years later, she has a deep understanding of it. At that time, the art of Traditional Chinese Medicine was almost at a dead end. The inheritance of Traditional Chinese Medical Arts was extremely rare and hard to come by. However, the development of technology at that time created various machines to treat human illnesses and invented various medicines. At the same time, human beings¡¯ physical quality became very strong, even catching a cold was very rare, almost non-existent. Most of the diseases, caused by weapons¡¯ external injuries, could be cured by taking a few recovery pills. Therefore, the art of Traditional Chinese Medicine seemed to have no place to showcase its abilities. Her inheritance of Traditional Chinese Medical Arts came from an accidental encounter. Her master was a descendant of a thousand-year-old Chinese medicine family. Even in that era when no one needed Chinese medicine, he didn¡¯t want to lose the heritage passed down from his ancestors. However, his descendants were unwilling to inherit it. In his loneliness, he traveled around and accidentally saved Xiao Wushuang, who was being hunted down. At that time, her internal organs seemed to have been misplaced, causing excruciating pain. She was vomiting blood and had no medicine on hand. She laid there in a dark alley with no strength at all, waiting for death. Her master, with his Traditional Chinese Medical Arts, gave her a pill to stop the bleeding and applied his superb acupuncture skills, putting a few needles into her body. The pain in her body subsided, her mouth stopped bleeding, and her strength gradually returned. At that moment, she realized the magic of Chinese medicine and wanted to learn it. Seeing her talent, her master taught her everything without reservation. After learning Traditional Chinese Medicine, she also treated several important patients. However, there were few patients who needed Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment, so Xiao Wushuang didn¡¯t use it in ordinary situations. Xiao Jinli thought about it and suddenly had an idea in her mind. However, the implementation of this idea was somewhat difficult. First, she was too young. Second, she had no connections. Even if she had met Old Chen and the other old gentlemen, it was not enough to support her idea. Third, she lacked adequate funds. Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and believed she could talk to the old gentlemen about it. Chapter 232 - Chapter 232: Chapter 232: (Second Update) Chapter 232: Chapter 232: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Family Village. ¡°Wanshan, where has Jinli gone? I haven¡¯t seen her for so many days,¡± the Village Head asked Xiao Wanshan. Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°She went to Licheng, to her maternal aunt¡¯s house. Is there something wrong?¡± The Village Head said, ¡°She¡¯s been gone for so long. I¡¯m worried there might be some problems with the earthworms in the greenhouse.¡± The Village Head was asking on behalf of everyone else. After all, the earthworms raised by Xiao Jinli are now considered treasures by the villagers. Xiao Wanshan smiled and said, ¡°You can rest assured. Jinli prepared the earthworm¡¯s feed before leaving.¡± The Village Head nodded and shared the real purpose of his visit. He said, ¡°Wanshan, now people from ten miles and eight villages around us know that our Xiao Family Village makes a living by growing vegetables with earthworms. Many relatives and friends have come to ask if they could buy some earthworms from us. They don¡¯t want to use earthworms to grow vegetables to sell. They just want to grow them for their own consumption.¡± Relatives and friends who visited Xiao Family Village naturally tasted the vegetables grown by the villagers. Now, the vegetables grown at home are the ones everyone in the town are eager to buy. Seeing their children enjoying the vegetables, relatives and friends naturally had some ideas. Especially after hearing that the health of the children in Xiao Family Village improved significantly after eating the vegetables grown with earthworms, without even catching a cold. If they asked for vegetables from their relatives every day, it would be fine for a while, but they couldn¡¯t ask for it every day. So they wanted to buy earthworms to grow their own vegetables. Of course, the villagers of Xiao Family Village have refused before, because this is their means to wealth, and without permission from Xiao Jinli or the company, they cannot sell the earthworms to relatives and friends at will. Therefore, after many requests from relatives and friends, the villagers were afraid of offending them, and reluctantly asked the Village Head to come and talk to them. Upon hearing the Village Head¡¯s words, Xiao Wanshan asked, ¡°What do Xiao Yucheng and Xiao Mingchen think?¡± The company in the village is now managed by them, so it should be up to them to decide. The Village Head said with a smile, ¡°The two of them think that the company can sell some earthworms to the relatives and friends. However, it¡¯s not the relatives and friends buying from the company, but our Xiao Family Village buying them first. After that, whether we give or sell the earthworms to others is up to us.¡± Xiao Wanshan laughed, ¡°Then there¡¯s no problem. Why ask my daughter about it? She¡¯s handed over full authority for the company to her two cousins.¡± The Village Head explained, ¡°Everyone thinks that Jinli is the one who raised the earthworms, so they feel it¡¯s necessary to ask her first.¡± At this point, he asked doubtfully, ¡°Jinli has been in Licheng for so long, doesn¡¯t she need to go to school?¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°She took a one-month leave from school.¡± She had asked the Principal directly for the leave. ¡°One month? That¡¯s so long?¡± The Village Head was slightly surprised, ¡°Won¡¯t it affect her studies?¡± Xiao Wanshan seemed very open-minded and said, ¡°She sleeps in class anyway. If she wants to go out, let her.¡± The Village Head laughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s true. Jinli is very smart. Even if she sleeps in class, she can still win first place in the whole county when she competes.¡± Xiao Wanshan just smiled. After the Village Head left, Xiao Wanshan frowned. Just then, Xiao¡¯s mother came over and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°Jianjun called and said that Jinli knew Traditional Chinese Medicine, took the pulses of several important people, and now has even gone directly to the Capital City.¡± Xiao Mother was surprised and asked doubtfully, ¡°What? Jinli knows medicine? Since when has our Jinli studied medicine?¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°Jianjun told me that she saved a TCM Grumpy Old Man in the deep mountain and has been learning from him since she was two years old.¡± ¡°She started learning at two years old?¡± Xiao Mother was amazed again, ¡°So, the reason Jinli liked going to the mountains alone after she was two years old was to study medicine?¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded and said, ¡°It should be like that!¡± They were such failed parents, not even knowing what their own child had been doing. Unknowingly, their little daughter grew up to be so extraordinary. Xiao Mother worriedly said, ¡°This child is too reckless. She¡¯s only been learning medicine for a few years, what if there¡¯s a problem?¡± ¡°On the contrary,¡± said Xiao Wanshan, ¡°Our Jinli has diagnosed new problems for them, used acupuncture, and prescribed medicine for them. The health of several old gentlemen is getting better and better, and they really like her now!¡± Xiao Mother asked doubtfully, ¡°We have never seen Jinli treat patients before. How could she go to Licheng and brazenly diagnose and treat those old gentlemen? And how could they trust a child for treatment? Isn¡¯t their heart too big?¡± Xiao Wanshan shook his head and said, ¡°Those old gentlemen have good hearts. When Jinli said she wanted to take their pulse, they thought she was just playing. Who would have thought that she would find all the problems in their bodies with one diagnosis? Most importantly, one of the old gentlemen, Grandpa Jiang, had a hidden bullet in his body, which was very close to his heart. It was too dangerous to have surgery, so he could only control the problem conservatively. But as soon as Jinli took action, she moved the bullet away from Grandpa Jiang¡¯s heart. Afterwards, he had a minimally invasive surgery and ate the medicine prescribed by Jinli. His health has been improving day by day!¡± Xiao Mother, She must have given birth to a genius! As Xiao Wanshan said this, he looked somewhat guilty, ¡°Jianjun asked her why she did that. Do you know what Jinli answered? She said that our Xiao Family Village needs a powerful backer!¡± ¡°So,¡± said Xiao Mother, deeply moved, ¡°Jinli suddenly exposed her extraordinary medical skills just for our Xiao Family Village?¡± Xiao Wanshan nodded, ¡°Yes!¡± As he said this, he sighed softly, his eyes full of heartache, ¡°Jinli is very far-sighted and always thinks ten steps ahead when she does things! The vegetables and other products from our Xiao Family Village have special properties and powerful effects. If we don¡¯t find a powerful backer, once our vegetables become famous outside, they will definitely attract the attention of capitalists. Then, when they want our commercial secret planting technology, crushing us would be as simple as crushing an ant!¡± Xiao Mother, This child has been working too hard! Chapter 233 - Chapter 233: Chapter 233: (First Update) Chapter 233: Chapter 233: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli¡¯s treatment of Old Master Yuan became known. Old Master Yuan¡¯s descendants initially did not believe that a child could possess such outstanding medical skills, and they were not entirely at ease. They still leaned heavily toward Western medicine treatments. However, Old Master Yuan was adamant about receiving treatment from a child, and they had no choice. Now that even Doctor Jin was assisting the child, they had nothing more to say. After three days of treatment, the anxious Yuan family members took Old Master Yuan to the hospital for an examination. The examination result shocked the chief attending physician. ¡°This this is incredible. The tumor in Old Master¡¯s head has noticeably shrunk, and the activity of the cancer cells has significantly decreased. How did Doctor Jin treat it? If this treatment method were applied to other patients, it could definitely alleviate a lot of suffering.¡± Doctor Guo said excitedly, ¡°Is this the wonder of Traditional Chinese Medical Arts? No surgery or chemotherapy, yet the cancer cells disappear. It¡¯s truly amazing.¡± ¡°Doctor Guo, do you mean that the tumor in my grandfather¡¯s head is shrinking and moving in a positive direction?¡± Yuan Tianlin asked incredulously, ¡°Is there any mistake in the examination?¡± Doctor Guo replied earnestly, ¡°No. Let me tell you, this is already the third examination result. I also doubted the previous two. What surprised me was not that Old Master¡¯s head tumor had shrunk, or that the activity of the cancer cells had decreased, but that this effect occurred in just three days. Three days ago, Old Master¡¯s tumor was only under control, not spreading. But three days later, the tumor had shrunk. This is truly a medical miracle.¡± Upon hearing Doctor Guo¡¯s words, Yuan Tianlin was shocked. Previously, he had been the most opposed to entrusting Old Master Yuan¡¯s condition to a child for treatment. Doctor Jin is the top National Doctor in the country, known as the number one in the National Medical Field, and was brought in by the country for the Old Master. They trusted him. However, even Doctor Jin could only conservatively treat Old Master Yuan¡¯s condition, preventing it from worsening. Therefore, the best treatment plan was for Western medicine to perform surgery and remove the tumor. The family members leaned towards a combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine. But who could believe a child who unashamedly claimed that she could treat the condition? Even with Doctor Jin¡¯s guarantee, the Yuan Family members still felt uneasy. No wonder they brought Old Master Yuan to the hospital for an examination, fearing that he would develop other problems due to the treatment. As a result, even the doctor was shocked by the examination results. After composing himself, Yuan Tianlin asked anxiously, ¡°Doctor Guo, with the tumor shrinking and the activity of the cancer cells decreasing, does it mean that if we continue this treatment, it might completely eradicate the cancer cells?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Doctor Guo replied, ¡°It has only been three days of treatment, and there is already such an effect. If the treatment continues, Old Master¡¯s condition can be completely cured.¡± At this point, Doctor Guo asked curiously, ¡°Young Master Yuan, didn¡¯t Doctor Jin say that he could only provide conservative treatment for Old Master and control the condition? Has he changed to another treatment plan now?¡± ¡°No, no ¡± Yuan Tianlin said excitedly and happily, ¡°Someone else is treating him, not Doctor Jin. Doctor Jin is assisting that person.¡± Upon hearing this, Doctor Guo¡¯s face showed utter astonishment and disbelief. After a moment, he asked, ¡°If it¡¯s not Doctor Jin treating Old Master, then who is treating him? Who in the National Medical Field has more advanced Traditional Chinese Medical Arts than Doctor Jin?¡± Yuan Tianlin calmed down and shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Doctor Guo, I cannot tell you without her permission.¡± Doctor Guo said with a smile, ¡°Could Young Master Yuan possibly put in a recommendation for me? I would like to visit the Divine Doctor. After all, her treatment method might be suitable for all cancer patients.¡± Yuan Tianlin nodded and said, ¡°Doctor Guo, let me ask for you first, and if she agrees.¡± ¡°Thank you, Young Master Yuan!¡± said Doctor Guo with a smile. When Yuan Tianlin returned to the ward, Old Master Yuan was lying in bed, insisting on going back home. ¡°I want to go back. I don¡¯t feel comfortable here.¡± Xiao Zhang helplessly said, ¡°Old Master, please bear with it. When Young Master returns from the doctor¡¯s, we will go back.¡± Old Master Yuan complained, ¡°I have already told them, I feel fine now. I have been eating well and sleeping soundly these days, and there is nothing wrong with me at all. They are simply worrying for nothing. Hmph, I think they don¡¯t want me to get better, so they brought me to the hospital.¡± Upon entering the ward and hearing the Old Master¡¯s words, Yuan Tianlin said wearily, ¡°Grandfather, we all want you to be healthy and live a long life. How could we not want your health to improve? You saying that is really hurtful for your grandson.¡± ¡°Hmph, you brat,¡± Old Master Yuan said coldly, ¡°I feel uncomfortable as soon as I come to this hospital, and when I feel uncomfortable, I feel as if I am going to fall sick. Doesn¡¯t that mean that you all don¡¯t want me to get better?¡± Yuan Tianlin had no choice but to apologize and coax him, ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s our fault. Old Master, we can return home now. Once back home, you can relax in any way you like, not come to the hospital again, how about that?¡± Hearing this, Xiao Zhang¡¯s eyes lit up. This meant Old Master Yuan¡¯s condition was improving, and there might even be a possibility of complete recovery. Otherwise, the usually protective Yuan Tianlin would not have said such words. ¡°Really?¡± Old Master Yuan asked skeptically, ¡°After this, I will never have to come to this stinky hospital again?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true.¡± Yuan Tianlin assured, ¡°As true as gold! Old Master, let¡¯s go back to the Nursing Home now. After we return, you can enjoy tea and chat with Grandpa Chen and the others, and have a good time.¡± Just about to step out, Old Master Yuan suddenly raised his hand and said, ¡°Wait, what did you mean by that? Your words sound very inappropriate. Are you implying that I don¡¯t have much time left? So, you want me to enjoy the last days?¡± Yuan Tianlin¡¯s face changed instantly, and he quickly explained, ¡°Grandfather, you misunderstood. Doctor Guo said that your body is gradually recovering, and your illness can be completely cured and healed. So, in the future, you will be a healthy elderly person.¡± Xiao Zhang, He was startled. What Yuan Tianlin just said had sounded like what doctors would tell patients who didn¡¯t have much time left. He had thought Old Master¡¯s condition was deteriorating. Old Master Yuan¡¯s expression softened, and he scolded, ¡°My days, of course, I can enjoy them however I want. Who are you to teach me? Hmph, I want to go home, I still want to drink my camellia tea.¡± ¡°Old Master, please!¡± Yuan Tianlin dutifully attended to his needs. Chapter 234 - Chapter 234: Chapter 234: (Second Update) Chapter 234: Chapter 234: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Old Yuan went to Licheng for a trip and came back diagnosed with brain cancer. Such news could not be hidden from the other residents of the nursing home. At first, many people felt sympathy and pity for Old Yuan, who was so old and had such a serious disease. But fortunately, it was an early stage, and Western medicine could treat it, and Doctor Jin could control the condition. As long as one takes good care of themselves, there is still some hope for a good outcome. However, no one can really say when it comes to illness. Maybe, without being careful, the condition could develop in an uncontrollable direction. This was really more unpredictable than when they were fighting on the battlefield against enemies. Two years ago, there was an old cadre in the nursing home who was diagnosed with gastric cancer. Western and traditional Chinese medicine, both were treated by Doctor Jin, and the condition was well controlled. Who would have thought that in less than half a year, the condition would rapidly worsen? The disease suddenly entered its late stage. At that stage, the illness was very painful, and everyone at the nursing home could hear it. At that time, everyone could only comfort him, but there was no solution. In the end, the old man couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and shot himself to death. This ending made the whole courtyard feel silent and bleak. Who would have thought that someone who had made great achievements on the battlefield when they were young would end up being tormented and suffering from such a vicious disease? It¡¯s really a sigh. Therefore, the old cadres in the nursing home paid special attention to their health. They consumed various high-end health supplements in piles. If anything felt uncomfortable, they would let the doctor check it, and any problems were treated early. After hearing that Old Yuan had a brain disease, one wave after another of visitors came to see him. Although they said it was a good thing that the illness was discovered early and that current technology was so advanced that such early-stage diseases could be treated well, their eyes still revealed sympathy and pity. Old Master Yuan couldn¡¯t stand the expression of these people, so he closed the door and did not accept any guests. Everyone just assumed that Old Master Yuan was in a bad mood and didn¡¯t take it to heart. However, everyone knew that Old Master Yuan refused Western medicine and surgery, only accepting Doctor Jin¡¯s traditional Chinese medicine conservative treatment. Of course, when it came to letting Xiao Jinli, a young child, treat his illness, other than his close friends Old Chen, Old Li, and Grandpa Jiang, only the Yuan family knew. Yuan Tianlin sent his grandfather back to the nursing home with an excited and restless heart, then rushed home to tell the good news to his family. As for why he didn¡¯t notify them by phone, well, it just didn¡¯t have the same atmosphere. Yuan Family ¡°Tianlin, you said that the tumor in the old man¡¯s brain has gotten smaller, and the activity level of the cancer cells has also decreased?¡± Yuan Jianguo, the eldest son of the Yuan family and Old Master Yuan¡¯s eldest son, looked very surprised after listening to his youngest son¡¯s words. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what Doctor Guo said. He meant that as long as this treatment effect is maintained, Grandfather¡¯s illness can be completely cured.¡± Yuan Tianlin explained truthfully, ¡°Uncle, Doctor Guo thought it was Doctor Jin who treated Grandfather. When I told him it wasn¡¯t, he asked me to introduce the doctor who treated Grandfather. I didn¡¯t agree to it for now.¡± Yuan Jianguo calmed down his excitement and nodded, saying, ¡°It¡¯s good that you didn¡¯t agree.¡± At this point, he sighed and said, ¡°It really is true that one mountain is higher than the other. Who would have thought that a child of such a young age would have a medical skill higher than that of Doctor Jin, the number one expert in the national medical field? I heard that Elder Chen, Elder Li, and Elder Jiang¡¯s health has been improving under the care of that child. Especially Grandpa Jiang, since the bullet in his body was removed, he walks as if he¡¯s flying, full of energy and flushed with health.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s clear to anyone that the health of the three elders is much better than before.¡± Yuan Jianming, the second uncle of the Yuan family, chimed in. ¡°I heard that they met the child at the flower show held in Licheng some time ago. Speaking of which, I admire Grandpa Jiang¡¯s courage the most. He let the child operate on him as soon as he learned he could move the bullet inside his body. Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t dare to do that. What if something unexpected happened? The consequences would be unthinkable.¡± Yuan Jianshe, the third of the Yuan family, and Yuan Tianlin¡¯s father, said, ¡°The main thing is that the child¡¯s age is very deceptive. At her age, she should be in elementary school. Who could have thought that a child in their teens would have such amazing medical skills?¡± Yuan Jianguo laughed, ¡°We don¡¯t need to worry about whether she is a child or not. As long as she can treat our family¡¯s old master, she is our benefactor. However,¡± At this point, he warned the family members present with a serious expression, ¡°Without that child¡¯s permission, we absolutely must not leak any information. Otherwise, if it causes trouble for the child, don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡± ¡°Yes, we all know that.¡± ¡°We absolutely cannot be ungrateful.¡± A good doctor is very important to any family. Who can guarantee that they will never get sick? Minor illnesses and pains are not a big deal, but what if one day a serious illness develops? Just like their old master, the doctors of both Western and traditional Chinese medicine failed to detect his brain disease in a timely manner. But a child could just feel his pulse and discover the problem. The earlier the illness is discovered, the greater the hope for a cure. More than ten days later, Xiao Jinli performed the second acupuncture session for Old Yuan. After withdrawing the needles, Old Master Yuan got up from the bed and laughed, ¡°This time the acupuncture, I feel very relaxed and comfortable!¡± Old Chen laughed from the side and said, ¡°All the impurities, toxins, and cancer cells in your body have been expelled. Of course, you feel relaxed.¡± Grandpa Jiang said, ¡°Old Yuan, I can see you¡¯re getting younger and younger now. Before Little Li came, your state was very worrying. Now, we are completely at ease.¡± Old Li said, ¡°Old Yuan, do you still need that Seven Color Tea Flower at night? I¡¯ll borrow it and put it in my room for a few days.¡± As he said this, he also looked at Xiao Jinli. As long as she said it was not needed, he would move it away. Xia Jinli said, ¡°Well, that flower helps with sleep. Does Grandpa Yuan sleep well now?¡± She threw the question back to Grandpa Yuan. Old Master Yuan, with an excited expression, said, ¡°No, I still need that flower. I still don¡¯t sleep well at night!¡± Everyone, At night, even with a distance of ten miles, one could hear your snoring. And you still say you don¡¯t sleep well? The other people in the nursing home saw that Old Master Yuan¡¯s spirit and condition were getting better and better, looking less like a patient, and they began to feel doubtful. Could it be that Old Yuan was experiencing a brief recovery before death? But looking at the people around Old Yuan, especially his family members, there was no sign of sadness. On the contrary, everyone seemed very happy. What¡¯s going on? Chapter 235 - Chapter 235: Chapter 235: (First Update) Chapter 235: Chapter 235: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 People in the nursing home began to probe Old Yuan. ¡°Old Yuan, I see that your health is getting better and better. Look at your energetic spirit and flush with health; you don¡¯t look like a patient at all.¡± Elder Zeng said with a smile, ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s good that you¡¯ve come to terms with it. With medical technology so advanced now, your disease is in its early stage. Even if it is cancer, it is discovered early, and the cure rate is quite high.¡± After hearing this, Old Yuan said unhappily, ¡°Just say what you want to say directly, don¡¯t beat around the bush. We aren¡¯t that close.¡± Elder Zeng laughed and said directly, ¡°Alright then, I can¡¯t keep anything from you, you old fox.¡± ¡°You¡¯re also an old fox,¡± Old Yuan retorted without showing weakness. ¡°A smiling tiger.¡± Elder Zeng said, ¡°Old Yuan, is your illness almost cured? Was it treated by Doctor Jin?¡± Usually, people in the courtyard only saw Doctor Jin coming and going. Doctor Jin was getting old, so after considering this issue, he wasn¡¯t assigned too many patients. However, when the other patients in the nursing home had undiagnosed conditions, they would ask Doctor Jin for help. Old Yuan said, ¡°No, Elder Zeng, what does it matter to you whether my illness was treated by Doctor Jin or not? If you have any headaches or fevers, you can ask Doctor Jin too. Don¡¯t come to me with your sour grapes and probing tricks.¡± Having his true intentions uncovered, Elder Zeng sighed lightly and said, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll just say it directly. You know, we old fellows have many lingering ailments left from our time on the battlefield. At night, we can¡¯t sleep, and we don¡¯t have much appetite. Doctor Jin prescribed us a lot of medicines, but they didn¡¯t work very well. They only controlled the pain a little. I could bear those, but recently I found that Doctor Jin¡¯s medicines are not working well for me anymore.¡± At this point, he looked at Old Yuan¡¯s expression and continued, ¡°I recently noticed that Old Chen, Old Li, and Old Jiang are getting better and better, just like you, all flush with health. I was just wondering if they took some health supplements?¡± Old Yuan glared at him and unhappily said, ¡°What health supplements? If those things worked, we wouldn¡¯t have to wait until now to recover. Besides, any health supplements we have, you have a share too. Don¡¯t you know if they are good or not?¡± At this point, Old Yuan also sighed lightly, and said with some helplessness, ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t hide it from you anymore. Our bodies have been conditioned by the doctor, and our lingering ailments are now recovering.¡± Elder Zeng¡¯s eyes lit up, and he asked excitedly, ¡°Is it Doctor Jin? Then I¡¯ll ask him to take a look at me too.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Old Yuan looked at Elder Zeng as if he was an idiot. Elder Zeng asked suspiciously, ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± Old Yuan said indifferently, ¡°If it were Doctor Jin, everyone¡¯s body wouldn¡¯t recover just now!¡± Elder Zeng asked, ¡°What do you mean by that? It¡¯s not Doctor Jin? But lately, only Doctor Jin has been coming and going at the nursing home, right?¡± If it were another famous doctor, everyone should know. Of course, no one would have thought that the child who was only a little over ten years old would be a highly skilled doctor. ¡°Oh, you all noticed Doctor Jin coming and going, did you?¡± Old Yuan nodded, ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice other people coming and going in the courtyard, especially in my side room?¡± Elder Zeng pondered for a moment, ¡± , have I?¡± Old Yuan said speechlessly, ¡°Hasn¡¯t there? Have you guys eaten those children following Doctor Jin?¡± ¡°Children?¡± Elder Zeng asked in confusion, ¡°There are indeed three children with Doctor Jin, one is his own grandson, whom we all know. The other two are a young girl in her teens and a young man.¡± At this point, Elder Zeng suddenly realized, and asked incredulously, ¡°Are you saying that the other people are the young man and the girl? Aren¡¯t they Doctor Jin¡¯s apprentice and grand-apprentice?¡± ¡°No!¡± Old Yuan nodded, ¡°To be precise, only one of them is a doctor, and they are brother and sister!¡± Elder Zeng furrowed his brows, and asked skeptically, ¡°So, you mean, your illness, as well as Old Chen and the others¡¯ health, were all treated by those two young people?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Old Yuan didn¡¯t hide it, ¡°It was the little girl who did it.¡± Elder Zeng was so surprised that he stood up from his chair and said, ¡°That young girl? How is that possible? She looks only a few years old, not even fifteen?¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s only eleven years old.¡± Old Yuan¡¯s expression was slightly smug, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s incredible? Well, let me tell you, the bullet inside Old Jiang was also moved by that child, so, the decades-long painful problem that troubled Old Jiang was easily solved.¡± Old Jiang went to Licheng and met a highly skilled traditional Chinese medicine doctor who removed the bullet from his body. This news was already well-known. However, no one knew which doctor had the ability to solve the problem that made all the doctors frown, and Old Jiang and the others kept silent about it. Now, Elder Zeng knew that the doctor was right under their noses. They had always thought it was Doctor Jin, but now At this point, Elder Zeng frowned and stared deeply into Old Yuan¡¯s eyes, full of suspicion, saying, ¡°That¡¯s not right, Old Yuan, why did you reveal it so readily this time? Before, when many people asked you about it, you guys refused to talk.¡± Old Yuan sighed lightly and said truthfully, ¡°We all came from battlefields. We understand the pain and torment you all have endured. Earlier, many people consulted me about my condition, and they must have noticed the changes in our bodies. Many people must have thought about getting Doctor Jin to condition their bodies. Doctor Jin didn¡¯t dare to take on such a responsibility, so he mentioned it to the child. Besides, we all hope that everyone in the courtyard is healthy, because there are fewer and fewer of us old fellows in this courtyard. We tried asking the child if she was willing to help. She is a kind-hearted and righteous child who likes us old fellows who have come through the battlefields. She agreed to take a look at everyone, but she had a condition: she needs obedient patients, and she doesn¡¯t like it when people talk nonsense and point fingers during her treatment.¡± At this point, he paused, looked at Elder Zeng and said, ¡°Old Zeng, the girl¡¯s medical skills are definitely better than Doctor Jin¡¯s. If you want her to help you, I¡¯ll talk to her and let her take a look at you when she comes tomorrow to treat me.¡± Elder Zeng nodded, ¡°Alright.¡± Chapter 236 - Chapter 236: Chapter 236: (Second Update) Chapter 236: Chapter 236: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli arrived and, after taking Grandpa Yuan¡¯s pulse, smiled and said, ¡°Not bad, his recovery is better than I expected. Maybe Grandpa Yuan doesn¡¯t even need twenty days.¡± She forgot that the physical quality of people in this era is not as strong as in future generations, and the cancer cells are not as stubborn either. Another prescription, naturally, yielded even better treatment results. Upon hearing this, Old Yuan was very excited and said, ¡°Really, girl? Then I don¡¯t have to take medicine anymore, right?¡± This traditional Chinese medicine treatment method, which does not require surgery, can be quite bitter. Old Chen laughed at him, ¡°Haha, you¡¯re not afraid of gunfire on the battlefield, but you¡¯re afraid of taking medicine? Old Yuan, you¡¯re really getting more and more backward.¡± Old Yuan snorted, ¡°So what if I¡¯m afraid of taking medicine? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know that when you take medicine, your granddaughter has to coax you with sugar!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Gao Yanxin couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. When he came to his senses, he looked at Old Chen with curious and embarrassed eyes and tried very hard not to laugh. Old Chen, with a dark face. He just wanted to enjoy the fun of being pampered by his granddaughter and let her coax him, but Old Yuan happened to see it, and so the rumor spread that he was afraid of taking medicine. Old Chen explained irritably, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of taking bitter medicine; I just want my granddaughter to accompany me. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± At this point, he realized and laughed, ¡°Oh, I see, you¡¯re jealous that I have a granddaughter, and you don¡¯t, right?¡± Old Yuan, He has three sons and five grandsons but indeed no granddaughter. Old Yuan retorted, ¡°I have a great-granddaughter!¡± ¡°Hehe, you do have a great-granddaughter, but how old is she?¡± Old Chen scoffed, ¡°She¡¯s not even one year old. Can she coax you to take medicine?¡± Old Yuan said unwillingly, ¡°Won¡¯t my great-granddaughter grow up? Humph, now that I have a great-granddaughter, I don¡¯t envy you having a granddaughter. Your granddaughter is not as cute as my great-granddaughter now.¡± ¡°How is my Nannan not as cute as your great-granddaughter?¡± Old Chen said unconvinced, ¡°My Nannan can chat with me and buy me gifts now. Can your great-granddaughter do that?¡± ¡°You ¡± Old Yuan wanted to refute, but Old Jiang interrupted him. Old Jiang waved his hand and said, ¡°Alright, you two old guys, what¡¯s the point of arguing here? Is it childish or not? What¡¯s the point of comparing granddaughters and great-granddaughters? If you want to compare, compare grandchildren ¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Old Yuan and Old Chen said in unison, ¡°You¡¯re just jealous that our families have granddaughters and great-granddaughters. You have nine grandsons but not a single granddaughter, and you¡¯re always envious of my Nannan!¡± Old Jiang looked at the two old guys united in a common hatred and caught Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes as she watched the drama unfold. Suddenly an idea came to him, and he quickly pulled Xiao Jinli to his side, loudly defending himself, ¡°Who says I don¡¯t have a granddaughter? Little Li here is my granddaughter!¡± Old Chen, Old Yuan, and Old Li, Gao Yanxin, When did his cousin become Elder Jiang¡¯s granddaughter? Xiao Jinli, She didn¡¯t expect that she, watching the play, would become the protagonist. Old Li reacted first, pulling Xiao Jinli to his side and shouting, ¡°No way, Xiao Jinli is my granddaughter.¡± Old Jiang snorted coldly, ¡°Old Li, you already have two granddaughters. Why are you fighting with me over a granddaughter? If you want a granddaughter, ask Xiao Jing to bring her two daughters over to accompany you.¡± As he said this, he pulled Xiao Jinli back and said, ¡°All of you with granddaughters, great-granddaughters, and granddaughters-in-law, don¡¯t fight with me. I just want Little Li to be my granddaughter.¡± At this point, Gao Yanxin looked at Xiao Jinli, then carefully glanced at Elder Jiang, and mustered the courage to say, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, my cousin already has her own grandparents. They love her very much.¡± He didn¡¯t want to come to the capital and turn Xiao Jinli into someone else¡¯s granddaughter. If that happened, when he returned to Xiao Family Village, Grandma Xiao and Grandpa Xiao would definitely beat him. Upon hearing Gao Yanxin¡¯s words, Elder Jiang frowned and then said with a smile, ¡°Girl, I want to recognize you as my adoptive granddaughter; do you agree?¡± ¡°Adoptive granddaughter?¡± Gao Yanxin was a bit stunned and asked, ¡°Is that allowed?¡± He looked at Xiao Jinli. ¡°Adoptive granddaughter, why not?¡± Old Chen said with a smile, ¡°Girl, Old Jiang doesn¡¯t have any granddaughters, granddaughters-in-law, or the like. He has five sons and nine grandsons. What he wants most now is a granddaughter to love.¡± Before, he had long coveted Chen¡¯s granddaughter. Once, Old Jiang took advantage of Chen¡¯s inattention and took his granddaughter to his house. You don¡¯t know how anxious Chen was that time; he almost developed a heart attack.¡± Knowing that his granddaughter had been taken away by Old Jiang, he took a weapon and stormed to Jiang¡¯s house, almost starting a life-and-death fight with Old Jiang. Old Jiang was very dissatisfied and said, ¡°I only took Yuanyuan away once, and you almost killed me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know that Nannan is my life?¡± Old Chen had no qualms about refuting. Old Yuan, afraid that Old Jiang would steal his only great-granddaughter, said immediately, ¡°Girl, just satisfy Old Jiang¡¯s desire for a granddaughter. You can rest assured that your Grandpa Jiang will definitely spoil you as if you were his biological granddaughter. His family has five sons and nine grandsons, and they will all treat you as their own daughter and sister.¡± Everyone was trying to persuade Xiao Jinli to agree. Xiao Jinli, They didn¡¯t even let her speak. How would they know if she agrees or not? After everyone had their say, Old Li came back to his senses first. ¡°Ahem ¡± Old Li said, ¡°Let¡¯s hear what the girl has to say. Girl, what¡¯s your opinion? Will you agree to be Old Jiang¡¯s adoptive granddaughter?¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a while and said, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, is it appropriate for me to be your adoptive granddaughter? I¡¯m just a girl from the countryside.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being a country girl?¡± Old Jiang immediately said, ¡°You¡¯re beautiful and cute, smart and clever. Which part of you is worse than a city girl? Besides, just by the skill of your medical skills, you can beat everyone else. Humph, I¡¯ll see who dares to look down on you!¡± At this point, he asked again, ¡°Girl, do you still have any concerns? Are you worried that your parents won¡¯t agree, or that your grandparents won¡¯t agree? Should I talk to your family?¡± After all, he was trying to steal someone¡¯s granddaughter, so he was a bit guilty. Xiao Jinli shook her head and said with a smile, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, as long as I¡¯m willing, my family won¡¯t disagree.¡± ¡°Oh, then do you have any other concerns?¡± Old Jiang asked doubtfully, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely treat you as my own granddaughter from now on. Whatever other people¡¯s granddaughters have, you¡¯ll definitely have.¡± Chapter 237 - Chapter 237: Chapter 237: (First Update) Chapter 237: Chapter 237: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Jiang¡¯s old man had adopted a granddaughter, and this news spread quickly in the nursing home. The Jiang family also received the news quickly. Hearing that the old master had adopted a granddaughter, all the sons and grandsons of Elder Jiang who could spare the time rushed to the nursing home. ¡°Dad, where¡¯s my adoptive daughter?¡± Jiang Zhenlong asked excitedly. He is Elder Jiang¡¯s second son. ¡°Dad, where¡¯s my adoptive daughter?¡± Jiang Zhenzhou also asked the same question. He is Elder Jiang¡¯s fifth son. ¡°Fifth brother, why are you trying to compete with me?¡± Jiang Zhenlong was very dissatisfied, ¡°I am her adoptive father!¡± Jiang Zhenzhou was unhappy and said, ¡°Dad didn¡¯t say which one of us should be the adoptive father; why can¡¯t I compete for it?¡± As the two brothers bickered, they looked around the room. In the whole house, there was only one girl. ¡°Sister, I¡¯m your third brother, Jiang Xiping! You¡¯ve become so pretty, sister.¡± ¡°Sister, I¡¯m your sixth brother, Jiang Xi¡¯an! How is our sister this cute!¡± ¡°Sister, I¡¯m your eighth brother, Jiang Xixi! Sister, you¡¯re so beautiful and adorable!¡± ¡°Sister, I¡¯m your ninth brother, Jiang Xile! Haha, we finally have a sister, and she¡¯s both beautiful and cute; we no longer have to be envious of other people¡¯s sisters.¡± Xiao Jinli, Gao Yanxin, ¡± .¡± He, the real older brother, had been pushed to the back! Today, two of Elder Jiang¡¯s sons and four grandsons came. The others were too busy with work and had no time to spare. Elder Jiang looked at the group of people, who charged in like hungry wolves, and his face turned black. He immediately scolded, ¡°Enough! You grown men are crowding around the child, rude and barbaric; you¡¯ll frighten this little girl!¡± The two sons and four grandsons immediately fell silent. ¡°This child¡¯s name is Xiao Jinli, and she¡¯s eleven years old this year!¡± Elder Jiang said with a smile, ¡°Girl, this is your Second Uncle and Fifth Uncle, and you have a Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle as well. As for the eldest, let him be your adoptive father.¡± As the eldest son and grandson, the adopted granddaughter naturally belonged to him, her status was higher. ¡°Also, these are your four brothers who came today. Don¡¯t be fooled by their rough appearances; they will surely spoil you in the future!¡± Elder Jiang introduced the four grandsons. As soon as Elder Jiang finished speaking, Jiang Zhenlong and Jiang Zhenzhou immediately voiced their displeasure, ¡°Dad, I want to be her adoptive father too!¡± Being an adoptive father means being a daughter, and being an uncle means being a niece; there¡¯s a difference in status. ¡°The eldest will be the adoptive father, and from then on, she will belong to the eldest grandson¡¯s line!¡± Elder Jiang made the decision. Jiang Zhenlong and the others immediately fell silent. If they genuinely wanted a girl, placing her under the name of the eldest would be the best expression, showing Elder Jiang and the Jiang family¡¯s greatest love for her. Elder Jiang then asked, ¡°When you came to meet your niece/sister, did you bring any gifts?¡± Gifts? The Jiang family members looked at each other. Upon receiving Elder Jiang¡¯s phone call, their hearts were too excited, and they all wanted to see their adoptive daughter (sister) at the first opportunity, so they hadn¡¯t thought about bringing a gift for their first meeting. Jiang Zhenlong was the first to react, and he said with a smile, ¡°Little Li, I was too excited when Second Uncle came, so I forgot to prepare a gift. Don¡¯t worry, Second Uncle will definitely not forget your gift!¡± Then, everyone else promised to send Xiao Jinli gifts another day. After all, Elder Jiang had suddenly accepted an adoptive granddaughter, and none of his descendants had been prepared. They would have to choose a good gift to send to the newly-appointed niece (sister) another day. ¡°Um, Old Jiang, you should choose a more formal day for the adoption ceremony. Today, this girl still needs to treat me. My treatment hasn¡¯t even started yet!¡± Old Master Yuan looked at the Jiang family¡¯s posture and knew that if he didn¡¯t stop them, he wouldn¡¯t be treated today. Old Chen also laughed and said, ¡°Yes, Old Jiang, adopting a granddaughter is a good thing. Let¡¯s choose an auspicious date and be more formal. At that time, it would be best to invite the girl¡¯s relatives as well.¡± Since Xiao Jinli had been adopted as a granddaughter, naturally her family members would also be considered as relatives and should not be ignored. From what this girl¡¯s cousin said, the girl¡¯s relatives all cherished her very much. Elder Zeng also laughed, ¡°Old Jiang, congratulations!¡± Since yesterday, when Old Master Yuan told him that Xiao Jinli could treat him, he had come over very early today. Unexpectedly, before the treatment even began, Old Jiang had already claimed her as his adoptive granddaughter. After feeling Old Master Yuan¡¯s pulse, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Grandpa Yuan, you don¡¯t need acupuncture, you just need to take medication for three more days.¡± Old Yuan became excited, ¡°Just three more days of medication, my girl, does that mean I¡¯m completely cured of my illness?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, in three days, you can go to the hospital for another check.¡± Old Yuan immediately declined, ¡°What¡¯s the point of a check-up? Can¡¯t I just trust you? That ghostly hospital can¡¯t detect anything. Otherwise, they would have detected this condition of mine.¡± On one hand, he really disliked going to the hospital, on the other hand, he had complete trust in Xiao Jinli¡¯s medical skills. Since she said his illness was cured, then it must be cured. The so-called cure not only included his brain disease, but also some of the geriatric diseases and chronic ailments that were healed. He was now a completely healthy old man. ¡°Congratulations, Old Yuan, your health is about to recover,¡± Old Chen said with a grin. Old Li and Grandpa Jiang also laughed, ¡°From now on, we old fellows will be able to get out and about.¡± Under Xiao Jinli¡¯s care during this period, their health had also recovered. Now they slept well, ate well, and what made them happiest was that they no longer needed to watch what they ate. If they wanted to eat braised pork, they could without worrying about high blood pressure. If they wanted to eat sugar, they could without worrying about diabetes. In short, they could eat whatever they wanted. Xiao Jinli had also prepared some specific pills for them, such as those for indigestion caused by overeating, and they only needed to take one without any side effects. Hearing that Old Yuan was really cured, Elder Zeng still found it unbelievable. ¡°It¡¯s almost cured? So soon?¡± Elder Zeng asked, ¡°Old Yuan, how long have you been treated?¡± ¡°Fifteen days, or was it eighteen days?¡± Old Master Yuan furrowed his brows. Xiao Zhang said, ¡°Old Master, it¡¯s fifteen days!¡± The original estimate was that the treatment would take twenty to thirty days, but who would have thought that in just fifteen days, oh, plus the three days of taking medication afterward, in eighteen days, the old master¡¯s body would be cured of even geriatric and chronic diseases. Xiao Zhang really admired Xiao Jinli. ¡°So fast!¡± Elder Zeng was very surprised. The treatment was so fast that he was quite skeptical. Chapter 238 - Chapter 238: Chapter 238: (Second Update) Chapter 238: Chapter 238: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Elder Zeng was in doubt, but he came here today to seek medical treatment from Xiao Jinli. ¡°Elder Zeng, please extend your hand!¡± Xiao Jinli whispered, looking at the absent-minded Elder Zeng. Elder Zeng came to his senses and asked, ¡°Which hand?¡± ¡°Either hand is fine!¡± Xiao Jinli replied. Elder Zeng stretched out his right hand. Xiao Jinli took Elder Zeng¡¯s pulse, but after a while, her frown deepened. Seeing Xiao Jinli¡¯s expression, experienced people like Old Chen became worried. Could it be that Elder Zeng also has a serious illness? After a moment, Xiao Jinli asked Elder Zeng to switch hands. Similarly, Xiao Jinli¡¯s frown remained deep. As soon as Xiao Jinli let go, Old Chen couldn¡¯t wait to ask, ¡°Girl, is there a problem with Elder Zeng?¡± Elder Zeng looked at Old Chen and the others with confusion, and seeing their serious expressions, he realized that something might be wrong with his health. Elder Zeng said, ¡°Child, just tell me, no matter what the result is, I can bear it!¡± Xiao Jinli glanced at everyone in the room, sighed softly, and told the truth, ¡°Elder Zeng, you have pancreatic cancer, and it has reached the late stage!¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Little Zhou, who had been taking care of Elder Zeng, said in disbelief, ¡°The old master has a check-up every three months. It¡¯s impossible! The last check-up was with Old Yuan, and it hasn¡¯t been that long, just over a month. How could it be possible that in just over a month, his cancer has reached the late stage?¡± Not to mention Little Zhou, everyone present found it hard to believe that Elder Zeng had contracted late-stage cancer. This illness was even more severe than Old Yuan¡¯s. Old Yuan asked, ¡°Old Zeng, have you recently had any new symptoms that you have ignored?¡± Elder Zeng sighed lightly and said, ¡°Recently, I¡¯ve been feeling nauseous in my upper abdomen, but I thought it was just an upset stomach.¡± Little Zhou asked in surprise, ¡°Old Master, why didn¡¯t you say anything when you were feeling unwell?¡± His expression was similar to that of Xiao Zhang. Xiao Zhang had been taking care of Old Master Yuan, and he was responsible for taking care of Elder Zeng. Therefore, they should be the most aware of any abnormalities in their health. However, regrettably, the old masters had hidden it from them. After some thought, Old Chen said, ¡°Old Zeng, since the girl diagnosed you with pancreatic cancer, you should go to the hospital for a check-up first.¡± Little Zhou immediately reacted and supported Elder Zeng, saying, ¡°Yes, yes, Old Master, let¡¯s go to the hospital for a check-up, shall we?¡± He still couldn¡¯t believe that Elder Zeng had contracted cancer, let alone reached the late stage. He knew that Xiao Jinli was a skilled doctor; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have discovered Old Master Yuan¡¯s brain disease. However, since Old Master Yuan¡¯s brain cancer was in its early stage and the hospital and Doctor Jin hadn¡¯t discovered it in time, it was understandable. But now, their own Old Master had late-stage cancer. The development of cancer from early to late stage takes time. During this process, they would have regular check-ups for the old masters. How could such a big hospital and highly skilled doctors fail to detect the Old Master¡¯s illness? Little Zhou did not believe that Elder Zeng had late-stage cancer, and just to be safe, he insisted on taking him to the hospital for a check-up. Elder Zeng stared at Xiao Jinli for a moment and asked, ¡°Girl, can you cure this disease?¡± ¡°Old Zeng!¡± Elder Jiang said with some dissatisfaction, ¡°You should go to the hospital for a check-up first. If you really have this disease, see what treatment plan the hospital¡¯s doctors can offer. My granddaughter is not a god, and it¡¯s not possible for her to cure every disease!¡± Late-stage cancer is like a death sentence. Although Xiao Jinli has excellent medical skills, she cannot possibly cure late-stage cancer. Therefore, Elder Jiang rejected the hope on behalf of Xiao Jinli in advance. After hearing Elder Jiang¡¯s words, Elder Zeng sighed lightly and said pessimistically, ¡°Forget it, life and death are predetermined!¡± If he were to go to the hospital and be diagnosed with late-stage cancer, he would be prepared to end his life early. He didn¡¯t want to suffer like Old Fang did at the end of his life. As people age, they become more afraid of death, but if death is too painful, it¡¯s better to end it early. Little Zhou left with the slightly dispirited Elder Zeng. The faces of Old Chen and the others showed pity. ¡°Ah, Old Zeng usually looks healthier than all of us, so how could he get such a disease?¡± Old Li sighed softly, ¡°I don¡¯t know how much longer he can hang on with late-stage cancer?¡± Old Chen said, ¡°I¡¯m worried that Old Zeng will follow in Old Fang¡¯s footsteps.¡± His eyes showed some sorrow when he said this. ¡°Old Fang was in too much pain in the later stages, so that¡¯s why he committed suicide.¡± Elder Jiang said, looking sad. Old Yuan said, ¡°I hope the result is wrong.¡± After saying this, he realized he was doubting Xiao Jinli and looked at her. Xiao Jinli spread her hands and said, ¡°I hope my diagnosis is wrong too. But based on his pulse, it¡¯s highly likely that I¡¯m right.¡± Old Chen and the others, Expressions of pity and sympathy appeared on their faces. ¡°Let¡¯s just wait for his test results.¡± Elder Jiang said. ¡°Um ¡± Xiao Jinli weakly spoke up, ¡°Old Masters, have I ever said that this disease cannot be cured?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Can you cure this disease?¡± ¡°This is late-stage cancer, you know? And it¡¯s late-stage pancreatic cancer. I¡¯ve heard that this disease progresses very rapidly.¡± ¡°Yeah, girl, can you really cure this disease?¡± All four old masters were visibly excited. Others in the room, including members of the Jiang family, were shocked. Late-stage cancer can be cured? Xiao Jinli nodded and said very seriously, ¡°Yes, I can cure this disease.¡± ¡°To what extent can you cure this disease?¡± Old Master Yuan asked urgently, ¡°Even if it can¡¯t be cured completely, it¡¯s good if the condition can be controlled and no longer progress!¡± ¡°Yes, girl, as long as you can control Old Zeng¡¯s disease and not let him suffer so much in the late stage, that¡¯s enough.¡± The others echoed. Xiao Jinli shrugged her shoulders and said, ¡°To what extent? Well, I guess complete recovery!¡± ¡°Haha, complete recovery?¡± Everyone was shocked. ¡°Girl, what do you mean by complete recovery? Does it mean regaining health? Isn¡¯t it just controlling the spread of cancer cells?¡± Elder Jiang asked excitedly. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, regaining health!¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s great. Then we don¡¯t have to worry about Elder Zeng wanting to commit suicide after the test results come out.¡± ¡°Oh, right, call Elder Zeng quickly and tell him the good news. Let him come over after he finishes his examination and gets the results.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, call him quickly!¡± So, the task of making the phone call was given to Elder Jiang. Who would have thought that he is now Xiao Jinli¡¯s adoptive grandfather? Chapter 239 - Chapter 239: Chapter 239: (First Update) Chapter 239: Chapter 239: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 The Zeng family could hardly believe the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. ¡°Impossible. The old master has a check-up every three months; the most recent was just over a month ago.¡± A look of shock and anger crossed the face of the eldest Zeng daughter-in-law, ¡°Moreover, every month we invite Dr. Jin to take the old master¡¯s pulse. The old master has such a serious illness, it is impossible for both the hospital and Doctor Jin to fail to detect it. Who said that the old master has this serious illness?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk too much, let¡¯s hurry to the hospital. Xiao Zhou said he took the old master to the hospital for a check-up!¡± said Eldest Zeng. The Zeng household¡¯s glory now stands thanks to the old master. As long as the old master is alive, like a stabilizing sea anchor, he shields the entire Zeng family. Most of the time, the old master stays in the nursing home and only returns home for New Year¡¯s or other major family events. With professional caregivers looking after the old master¡¯s health, the family members don¡¯t have to worry much. But now, who could have expected that the old master¡¯s condition, like a bomb, would explode without warning. The couple rushed to the hospital where the old master had already been taken by the doctors and nurses for examination in various departments. ¡°Xiao Zhou, how is the old master now?¡± Zeng Limin asked Xiao Zhou. Xiao Zhou shook his head, ¡°The old master has been sent for a check-up, but the results have not yet come out.¡± Tian Xiuli quickly asked, ¡°Xiao Zhou, who diagnosed that the old master had late-stage pancreatic cancer? Was it Dr. Jin?¡± ¡°No.¡± Xiao Zhou shook his head, ¡°It was Doctor Xiao who was treating Old Master Yuan¡¯s disease.¡± ¡°Doctor Xiao?¡± Tian Xiuli asked in confusion, ¡°Which Doctor Xiao? Why have I never heard of him? Isn¡¯t it Doctor Jin? Oh, yes, what did Doctor Jin say?¡± Xiao Zhou said, ¡°Doctor Xiao is treating Old Master Yuan. Old Master Yuan had early-stage brain cancer, and now he is recovering.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Doctor Jin treating Old Master Yuan?¡± Elder Zeng asked with a puzzled wrinkle in his brow. ¡°Yes. It is said that Old Master Yuan was unwilling to go to the hospital, so Doctor Jin treated him.¡± Tian Xiuli asked in confusion, ¡°How come they changed the doctor?¡± Living in the nursing home, Xiao Zhou naturally knew more about the situation. He said, ¡°Doctor Jin can only provide conservative treatment for Old Master Yuan¡¯s disease. But Dr. Xiao is able to cure it. During the treatment of Old Master Yuan, Doctor Jin acted as his assistant.¡± ¡°Is there a better doctor than Dr. Jin in the national medical field?¡± Tian Xiuli asked in confusion, ¡°Even Doctor Jin is his assistant, how old is this person? Eighty to ninety years old? However,normally, a doctor of such age would be quite famous, right? But we have never heard of this Doctor Xiao, who is supposedly eighty or ninety years old?¡± She believed that those who practice traditional Chinese medicine must be better when they are older. Xiao Zhou twitched the corner of his mouth, with a slightly complicated expression, he said, ¡°Madam, you are wrong. Doctor Xiao is not eighty or ninety years old, on the contrary, she is a child of more than ten years old.¡± ¡°What?¡± Tian Xiuli was shocked, ¡°A child of over ten years old? Xiao Zhou, what kind of joke are you making here? A child of over ten years old, better than Doctor Jin? Who would believe that?¡± Xiao Zhou said, ¡°Madam, I am not joking. This is true. The person who is treating Old Master Yuan is indeed a child of over ten years old.¡± ¡°Is it possible that she is Doctor Jin¡¯s disciple?¡± Zeng Limin frowned slightly and said, ¡°To promote his apprentice¡¯s reputation, does Doctor Jin falsely claim that he is the assistant?¡± Xiao Zhou shook his head, ¡°Young Master, I am not so sure about that!¡± He was just someone who served beside Elder Zeng. Tian Xiuli said discontentedly, ¡°What do you know! What are you doing following the old master around all day?¡± Xiao Zhou, ¡°Enough!¡± Elder Zeng had just finished the examination and had been pushed out, hearing the words of his Eldest Daughter-in-law, his face immediately looked displeased, ¡°Xiao Zhou is just here to care for me, he is not a spy, why are you getting upset here?¡± Xiao Zhou immediately came forward to push the chair, showing concern, ¡°Old Master, are you feeling unwell anywhere?¡± ¡°Dad!¡± ¡°Dad!¡± The couple called out at the same time. Zeng Limin said, ¡°Dad, you look unwell, why don¡¯t you rest?¡± Then, he looked at the nurse in the back and asked, ¡°Do we need to run any more tests on the old master?¡± The nurse shook her head and said, ¡°All necessary tests have been done.¡± Tian Xiuli impatiently asked, ¡°Were there any abnormalities in the old master¡¯s test results?¡± The nurse shook her head, not waiting for her to reply. Tian Xiuli breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, ¡°See, I told you, the old master always in good health, how could he get such a serious illness? Dad, you can relax.¡± However, the nurse said, ¡°Madam, it¡¯s not that the results of the old master¡¯s check-up will only be known after an hour!¡± Even if it was an emergency, it would still take time. Xiao Zhou took Elder Zeng back to the ward to rest. Zeng Limin and his wife hurried off to find the doctor. After finding the chief doctor, Doctor Guo looked seriously at the couple with some of the test results, ¡°Mr. Zeng, Mrs. Zeng, you need to be prepared. From the current data, I¡¯m afraid the patient¡¯s condition is not very optimistic.¡± ¡°Doctor Guo, what do you mean by this?¡± Tian Xiuli asked anxiously, ¡°What illness does the old master have after all?¡± Doctor Guo said, ¡°Although the results of two tests have not yet come out, it can be judged that the old master has pancreatic cancer, and I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s in the late stage!¡± ¡°No, impossible!¡± Tian Xiuli couldn¡¯t accept this result, ¡°The old master is usually so healthy, how could he have cancer, especially pancreatic cancer? Doctor Guo, could you have made a mistake?¡± Doctor Guo furrowed his brow and spoke honestly, ¡°Mr. Zeng, Mrs. Zeng, as soon as the old master arrived at the hospital, he explicitly told us to carry out the examinations with the possibility of pancreatic cancer in mind and he was insistent. Later, I heard from Xiao Zhou that the old master was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer after having his pulse taken elsewhere, only then did we proceed with examining him. Initially, I was skeptical, but now the results are .¡± Zeng Limin calmly asked, ¡°Doctor Guo, can the old master¡¯s disease be treated?¡± Doctor Guo carefully said, ¡°Pancreatic cancer progresses very rapidly. Typically, it only takes about six months from early to late stages. The old master is already in the late stages of cancer, and he is also elderly. Even if treatment is possible, he may not be able to bear the tremendous pain brought on by repeated sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore, my suggestion is to take the old master home for recuperation, let Doctor Jin adjust his physical condition, perhaps he won¡¯t suffer too much when the time comes!¡± Zeng Limin stumbled backward a couple of steps. Chapter 240 - Chapter 240: Chapter 240: (Second Update) Chapter 240: Chapter 240: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Zeng Limin¡¯s face was ashen, but after calming down slightly, he asked directly, ¡°If we were to undergo treatment, how much longer could my father live?¡± The old man must survive, even if he¡¯s barely hanging on, he represents the foundation of the Zeng family. No one can trample over it. Madam Zeng also chimed in, ¡°Yes, Dr. Guo, if we try to treat him, we want him to live for as long as he can.¡± Dr. Guo looked shocked, ¡°Mr. Zeng, Mrs. Zeng, the treatment process will be very painful. Furthermore, given your father¡¯s age, it is uncertain whether he can withstand it or not. Shouldn¡¯t we discuss it with him first?¡± They are truly disregarding the old man¡¯s suffering by insisting on treatment. Enraged, Zeng Limin barked, ¡°I just want my father to be alive!¡± As Dr. Guo was about to continue persuading, the door swung open. Xiao Zhou rolled in Elder Zeng in a wheelchair. Xiao Zhou gave Zeng Limin and his wife a complex look, before bowing his head and maintaining a blank expression. ¡°Dad, why why are you here?¡± Zeng Limin stuttered, ¡°Weren¡¯t you resting in the ward?¡± Elder Zeng snorted coldly, ¡°Humph, if I hadn¡¯t come, I wouldn¡¯t have known that my good son wanted to push me into a blazing pit.¡± ¡°Dad,¡± Tian Xiuli was visibly unhappy, ¡°Why would you say that? We just want you to live, what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± ¡°True, you did nothing wrong. You just want me to live a life worse than death.¡± Elder Zeng rebuked sarcastically, ¡°Should I be thanking you?¡± Zeng Limin and his wife were left speechless. Elder Zeng didn¡¯t spare his son and daughter-in-law another glance. Instead, he looked at Dr. Guo and calmly asked, ¡°So, Dr. Guo, can you confirm that I have terminal pancreatic cancer?¡± Just as Dr. Guo was about to speak, a nurse brought over a report. After reviewing the final two items in the report, Dr. Guo¡¯s eyebrows furrowed deeply. His gaze lingered on Elder Zeng, uncertain. Elder Zeng roared, ¡°Dr. Guo, I want the truth!¡± He sighed then declared, ¡°Elder, the final test results came out. All the data confirms that you indeed have pancreatic cancer, and it¡¯s already at an advanced stage. Any treatment would be fruitless.¡± Zeng Limin¡¯s face turned pale immediately, looking ghastly. ¡°This This can¡¯t be!¡± Zeng Limin shouted in disbelief, ¡°You must have diagnosed incorrectly.¡± He lunged forward, grabbing Dr. Guo by the collar, yelling, ¡°You must have made a mistake. How can my father have such a serious illness? Every time he comes in for medical examination, how do you even check? How did you miss such a serious issue?¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Elder Zeng raised his voice, ¡°Zeng Limin, stop your foolishness!¡± Afterward, he instructed Xiao Zhou, ¡°Xiao Zhou, let¡¯s leave. Back to the nursing home!¡± His expression slightly melancholy. However, before they got the chance to leave, Xiao Zhou¡¯s phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, Xiao Zhou said, ¡°Elder, it¡¯s Elder Jiang!¡± ¡°Pick it up!¡± Elder Zeng let out a sigh, ¡°Tell him straight up about my late-stage pancreatic cancer!¡± As Xiao Zhou responded to the call, ¡°Elder Jiang, yes, what? Alright, I¡¯ll hand the phone to Elder.¡± Following that, he handed the phone to Elder Zeng and exclaimed, ¡°Elder, Elder Jiang said that your disease can be cured!¡± ¡°What?¡± Everyone present was taken aback. Zeng Limin and his wife, in particular, were visibly agitated. Calmly, Elder Zeng took the phone. After a brief conversation, he abruptly stood up, excitement apparent on his face. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll head back now!¡± After ending the call, Elder Zeng handed the phone back to Xiao Zhou, instructing him, ¡°Xiao Zhou, take me back to the nursing home.¡± Before leaving, he shot an intense look at his son and daughter-in-law, stating assertively, ¡°Let me tell you two. I am not going to treat my disease. Even if I were to, I will not opt for western medicine.¡± ¡°Dad¡­.¡± It was painful for Zeng Limin to watch his father leave. Elder Zeng waved him off, ¡°Enough.¡± Xiao Zhou escorted Elder Zeng back to the nursing home. After a moment, Zeng Limin and his wife, both shaken, followed suit. Upon arriving at the nursing home, Elder Zeng went directly to Master Yuan¡¯s yard. Zeng Limin and his wife were puzzled. ¡°Why isn¡¯t the Old Master going into his own yard? Why go to Old Master Yuan¡¯s?¡± Tian Xiuli was full of doubts. Zeng Limin squinted his eyes and speculated, ¡°I heard that Master Yuan¡¯s illness was cured by a certain doctor, probably he is going to find that doctor?¡± Tian Xiuli, full of skepticism, asked, ¡°Master Yuan¡¯s illness wasn¡¯t cured by Dr. Jin? But Dr. Jin is currently hailed as the top figure in the National Medical Field. If even he couldn¡¯t cure it, who could? Did Dr. Jin just credit the success to his pupil? No matter what, she would never believe that a child in his teens was more competent than Dr. Jin. Zeng Limin pondered over it and replied, ¡°That seems unlikely. Master Yuan is no ordinary person, he knows best who cured him. Given his forthright character, he won¡¯t go along with Dr. Jin¡¯s plot.¡± ¡°So, my dear, you¡¯re suggesting that the person who cured Master Yuan truly is a genius? And that genius is a child in his teens?¡± There was still disbelief on Tian Xiuli¡¯s face. ¡°We can find out once we get inside.¡± Zeng Limin suggested. Once they entered Old Master Yuan¡¯s yard, they found it filled with people, especially Jiang¡¯s family, they were in great numbers. ¡°What happened here?¡± ¡°Why are there so many people here?¡± In this crowd, there was only one child, and it was a girl. Xiao Zhou said that Master Yuan¡¯s illness was cured by a child in his early teens, could he be referring to this girl? How is that possible? When Elder Jiang saw Elder Zeng¡¯s arrival, he immediately waved him over, ¡°Old Zeng, come, let the girl take your pulse another time?¡± Elder Zeng, unlike his calm demeanor at the hospital, was filled with excitement as he asked, ¡°Girl, can my illness genuinely be cured? The hospital confirmed that I have late-stage pancreatic cancer. It¡¯s so late-stage that there is no necessity for treatment anymore, right?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Elder Zeng, please sit down, let me take your pulse again!¡± Elder Zeng obediently sat down on a chair and extended his arm. Xiao Jinli sat beside him, taking his pulse. Zeng Limin watched, his mouth opening as if he wanted to say something. However, as his eyes roved around, he remained silent. In contrast, Tian Xiuli wore a look of disbelief. A moment later, Xiao Jinli let go of his wrist. Old Master Yuan impatiently asked, ¡°Girl, how is Old Zeng¡¯s sickness?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Old Master Yuan, Elder Zeng¡¯s illness can be cured, it¡¯s just¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Tian Xiuli gasped in shock. ¡°You can cure him? How is that possible? You are just a kid,¡± Tian Xiuli questioned skeptically, ¡°and you have the audacity to say you can cure our Sir? The hospital has already told us to give up on treatment, and live through the remaining days in peace.¡± Chapter 241 - Chapter 241: Chapter 241: (First Update) Chapter 241: Chapter 241: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Tian Xiuli said with suspicion, ¡°You¡¯re not trying to use my old master for an experiment, are you?¡± Tian Xiuli¡¯s words were quite unpleasant. She was entirely questioning Xiao Jinli. Well, anyone in her position would probably have doubts. ¡°Enough, you don¡¯t know anything, so just keep quiet!¡± Elder Zeng coldly scolded. ¡°Otherwise, you can go back home.¡± He was quite disappointed and sad about the couple¡¯s attitude. When they were at the hospital earlier, he had heard everything clearly from outside the door. Doctor Guo said his cancer was in the late stage and could not be treated. Even with treatment, the process would be painful, and it would be better to let him live peacefully for the last days. But this couple, for the sake of their status and honor, let the doctor treat him to prolong his life. Zeng Limin opened his mouth, his expression somewhat complex, and called out, ¡°Dad!¡± Elder Zeng waved his hand and said, ¡°You two want me to live longer, don¡¯t you? So why are you doubting when there¡¯s hope? So, do you really want me to live or to die?¡± His words were quite severe. Zeng Limin and his wife¡¯s faces changed, and they both shook their heads, ¡°Dad, it¡¯s not like that. We we just want you to live well.¡± Tian Xiuli added, ¡°Dad, it¡¯s not that we doubt her, but this child is really too young. Her medical skills make me very suspicious, and Doctor Guo said that your disease has no cure. I I just can¡¯t believe her, Dad!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe, but I do!¡± Elder Zeng said firmly, ¡°I tell you, even if it can be cured, I won¡¯t choose Western medicine.¡± At this point, he paused, his sharp eyes shooting toward them, and continued, ¡°You go home. Whether my disease can be cured or not, and who will treat it, is none of your business.¡± ¡°Dad, how can it not be our business?¡± Zeng Limin disagreed. ¡°You are my father, and we are your son and daughter-in-law. Of course, we should care about your health.¡± ¡°Enough, don¡¯t say any more.¡± Elder Zeng seemed quite impatient. ¡°If you really cared about me, you wouldn¡¯t have stayed away for so long. Now that I¡¯m about to die, you suddenly care and want me to live in agony.¡± Everyone, Except for Xiao Jinli and Gao Yanxin, the others knew some of Elder Zeng¡¯s family matters. Zeng Limin knew he couldn¡¯t persuade Elder Zeng, so he turned to look at Xiao Jinli, his eyes sharp and full of suspicion. Jiang Zhenlong stood in front of Xiao Jinli, slightly displeased, ¡°Zeng Big Brother, what kind of look is that? This is my niece.¡± ¡°Your niece?¡± Zeng Limin asked doubtfully, ¡°When did the Jiang family have a girl?¡± ¡°It has now. What¡¯s the matter, do you have an opinion?¡± Grandpa Jiang¡¯s spirits were high. ¡°This is my granddaughter, and no one can bully her.¡± He had finally gotten a granddaughter with abilities, and he couldn¡¯t let her be underestimated. Zeng Limin, Although he didn¡¯t know the exact relationship between this girl and the Jiang family, he couldn¡¯t look down on her. To be valued by the Jiang family and acknowledged by Grandpa Jiang as his granddaughter, this little girl must have some abilities. Zeng Limin smiled and said, ¡°Uncle Jiang, I won¡¯t do anything to her or bully her. I just have some doubts and want to ask her. I won¡¯t eat her.¡± Then he turned to Xiao Jinli and asked, ¡°You¡¯re Doctor Xiao Jinli that Xiao Zhou mentioned, right?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. Zeng Limin continued, ¡°Doctor Xiao, just now you said that my father¡¯s illness can be cured. I want to know clearly, how will you treat it and to what extent?¡± Xiao Jinli replied with a faint smile, ¡°Mr. Zeng, whatever extent you want me to treat, I¡¯ll treat.¡± Tian Xiuli immediately protested, ¡°What kind of talk is that? Aren¡¯t you doctors supposed to save lives? Shouldn¡¯t you try your best to save those who can be saved? Why are you asking us to what extent?¡± Xiao Jinli spread her hands and laughed lightly, ¡°Madam, I just said that I could cure Elder Zeng¡¯s illness. My ¡®cure¡¯ obviously means to cure it completely. But you keep doubting and questioning me. I understand, given my age. However, treating patients depends on my mood. If my mood is bad, I won¡¯t treat. On the other hand, if my mood is good, I¡¯ll treat.¡± Everyone, It really is a child¡¯s mentality. ¡°So, since you¡¯ve been doubting me, my mood has been quite bad,¡± Xiao Jinli spoke honestly. ¡°Since you doubt me, I¡¯ll just ask what condition you want the old master¡¯s body to recover to?¡± Zeng Limin and his wife, Of course, they wanted Elder Zeng¡¯s body to be completely restored to health. Tian Xiuli said, ¡°We obviously want the old master¡¯s body to be restored to health.¡± ¡°In that case,¡± Xiao Jinli said solemnly, ¡°if you choose me to treat Elder Zeng, no one can talk or interfere in my presence. Otherwise, I won¡¯t take this patient! So, you¡¯d better think it through now. I¡¯ll give you three days to consider.¡± After that, she turned to Elder Zeng and said, ¡°Elder Zeng, you should discuss with your family whether you want me to treat you or not. Let me be clear, once I accept a patient, unless something happens to me, only I can treat them, and I will arrange everything. I won¡¯t accept any doubts from anyone.¡± Everyone, This was like a tyrannical clause. Also, how confident and capable must this child be to say such words? Most people wouldn¡¯t accept Xiao Jinli¡¯s conditions. Everyone looked at Elder Zeng. Elder Zeng was very decisive, ¡°Girl, no need to discuss. I accept your treatment.¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Zeng Limin and his wife strongly disagreed. Tian Xiuli exclaimed, ¡°Dad, do you really believe her? She¡¯s just a child; what if she kills you halfway through treatment?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my fate!¡± Elder Zeng said firmly, ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left anyway. If I die during treatment, so be it. I won¡¯t blame Doctor Xiao or anyone else. And, you¡¯re not allowed to cause trouble for Doctor Xiao either, or else, I won¡¯t recognize you!¡± Everyone, Zeng Limin and his wife, Everyone was surprised and admired Elder Zeng¡¯s decisiveness. As for Zeng Limin and his wife, they felt that the old master was being too childish in choosing a child to treat him. They wanted to persuade him further, but the old master was too stubborn, and they couldn¡¯t convince him. Chapter 242 - Chapter 242: Chapter 242: (Second Update) Chapter 242: Chapter 242: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 In Xiao Family Village, after hanging up the phone, Xiao Wanshan showed a somewhat helpless expression. Xiao Mother anxiously asked, ¡°What happened? What did Xiao Bao say?¡± Xiao Wanshan said with a slightly complicated expression, ¡°Xiao Bao told me that she was supposed to be back in a month, but something came up and now she has to wait a while longer before she can return.¡± ¡°Ah, what happened to Xiao Bao? Is she in danger?¡± Xiao Mother asked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our Xiao Bao is very safe!¡± Xiao Wanshan said. ¡°Xiao Bao took in a new patient with a serious illness, it requires a longer treatment time. So she won¡¯t have time to come back home yet. She asked me to apply for another two months of leave from her school.¡± In two months, the school will start summer vacation. At this point, he shared another surprising piece of information with Xiao Mother. He said, ¡°Xiao Bao also told me that she adopted a grandpa in the big courtyard. When they have time, they¡¯ll meet us.¡± Xiao Mother exclaimed in surprise, ¡°An adoptive grandfather?¡± ¡°Yes, an adoptive grandfather.¡± Xiao Wanshan said. ¡°He¡¯s from the big courtyard. Xiao Bao told me that he has five sons, nine grandsons, three great-grandsons, and no granddaughters. He likes Xiao Bao, so he adopted her as his adoptive granddaughter.¡± Xiao Mother, Xiao Bao managed to bring home a new relative after going out this time. Xiao Wanshan continued, ¡°The adoptive grandfather said that we should arrange a time for our entire family to visit the capital city or for them to visit Xiao Family Village, so both families can meet as relatives.¡± Xiao Mother asked in amazement, ¡°Is is such a fanfare necessary?¡± ¡°Our Xiao Bao is very much loved by that old gentleman. He said that from now on, the two families will treat each other as relatives, so it¡¯s necessary to get acquainted.¡± Xiao Wanshan said. His mood was complicated and emotional. The old gentleman in the big courtyard well, he was certainly an important person. But such an important person liked his Xiao Bao. Indeed, Xiao Bao was a child loved by everyone. When Xiao Jinli started the formal treatment for Elder Zeng, she gave him a treatment consent form. This consent form, as she said, seemed like a tyrannical clause. Elder Zeng agreed and signed without a second word. However, Elder Jiang notified Zeng family¡¯s offspring to come over to avoid them causing trouble for various reasons. No matter how much the Zeng family objected, Elder Zeng still signed it himself. Zeng family members wanted to cause trouble for Xiao Jinli, but there were people from Jiang family and several old gentlemen protecting her. Elder Jiang said with arrogance and a strong aura, ¡°You all are obstructing here ceaselessly, are you afraid that my granddaughter will cure your old man? If she really cures your old man, do you need to kowtow and apologize with death?¡± Elder Zeng also warned with a dark face, ¡°Letting Doctor Xiao treat me is my own choice. If you bother Doctor Xiao again, don¡¯t blame me for being rude. Anyone who says more, I will drive them out of Zeng family and not let them share Zeng family¡¯s property!¡± Well, once these words were spoken, all Zeng family members kept quiet. It¡¯s unknown whether they were afraid of being expelled from the Zeng family or not getting a share of the property. All Zeng family members were driven out of the nursing home by Elder Zeng. He ordered that no one was allowed to come to the nursing home before his permission. He also told the security guards not to let Zeng family members pass. The expressions on Zeng family members were angry and helpless. Since the old man spoke, they dared not disobey. However, if Xiao Jinli could cure the old man¡¯s illness, that would be fine. But if anything went wrong halfway, regardless of what consent form was signed and who was protecting her, they would definitely make her pay the price. ¡°Elder Zeng, your condition is quite serious, so the treatment time may be quite long. In a shorter time frame, it would take at least a month and a half, and if longer, I¡¯m afraid it will take three months.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°During the treatment process, acupuncture, herbal baths, and medications will be used.¡± Elder Zeng said, ¡°Girl, I¡¯ll leave my body entirely in your hands. Whatever treatment you say, I¡¯ll cooperate! Even if it¡¯s not cured in the end, I have no complaints. After all, I don¡¯t have much time left.¡± Since being diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer, he felt more and more pain throughout his body, sometimes unbearable. So he could imagine that it would become more and more painful, too painful to control. No wonder Old Fang chose suicide. Old Master Yuan immediately countered and said loudly, ¡°Old Zeng, it¡¯s your mistake. How could you not have faith in the girl? If the child said your illness can be cured, it definitely can be. From now on, don¡¯t say those discouraging words like ¡®not being cured,¡¯ it¡¯s demoralizing.¡± Elder Zeng said with a smile, ¡°Yes, I should trust Doctor Xiao, and from now on, I won¡¯t say those discouraging words.¡± Xiao Jinli went to prepare the medicine, and after a while, she came out with a bowl of dark medicine in her hand. She said to Elder Zeng, ¡°Elder Zeng, since your condition is serious, I¡¯ll give you a strong medicine for the first dose. This medicine is very bitter, but you must drink it all without leaving a drop. Five minutes after drinking it, you may need to use the toilet, and you might have diarrhea. So, be prepared. After drinking this medicine and having diarrhea, you will sleep.¡± ¡°Tomorrow, I will decide whether you need to drink this medicine again based on your physical condition. If not necessary, you can start taking herbal baths, and after the baths, acupuncture will begin!¡± She told him this so that he could make arrangements in advance. Hearing this, Xiao Zhou quickly made the arrangements. The old man will have diarrhea in five minutes. So, the bathroom must be arranged first. Others may be able to endure it, but the old man definitely couldn¡¯t. Otherwise, Doctor Xiao wouldn¡¯t have said so. There are two bathrooms in Old Master Yuan¡¯s yard. One is a public bathroom, and the other is in the old man¡¯s bedroom. Xiao Zhou prepared the public one. Those present wouldn¡¯t use the bathroom at this time either. Elder Zeng held the medicine, took a sip, and found it very bitter, even more bitter than any Chinese medicine he had drunk before. However, it is said that good medicine tastes bitter. Elder Zeng didn¡¯t even change his facial expression and drank it all in one gulp. After giving the bowl to Xiao Jinli, he went to the bathroom with Xiao Zhou¡¯s assistance. During Elder Zeng¡¯s time in the bathroom, Old Master Yuan asked curiously, ¡°Girl, what kind of medicine is this? Why does Elder Zeng need to drink it?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°This is a detoxifying medicine. In fact, no matter it¡¯s taking medicine, acupuncture, or herbal baths, their functions are to expel toxins. In the eyes of traditional Chinese medicine, cancer is caused by stagnation of qi, blood stasis, phlegm condensation, evil, poison, and deficiency. The general principle of treatment includes replenishing the positive energy, expelling the negative energy, using both attack and supplement. Differentiate the syndrome and treat according to the symptoms. Pay attention to the actual situation when treating the deficiency and don¡¯t forget the reality in the beginning.¡± The methods used for replenishing positive energy mainly depend on the deficiency and focus on different aspects, combining with the main affected organs and using the treatment methods of replenishing qi, blood, yin, and yang. To get rid of the negative energy is mainly targeted at the lesions, using the methods of regulating qi, transforming phlegm, activating blood and removing blood stasis, clearing heat and detoxifying, etc.¡± Old Master Yuan and others, It makes sense, but they just can¡¯t understand it! Indeed, different professions are like different mountains! Chapter 243 - Chapter 243: Chapter 243: (First Update) Chapter 243: Chapter 243: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Actually, what Xiao Jinli gave Elder Zeng to drink was Lingquan water mixed with Coptis, and as for the black color, well, she added black ink. If Elder Zeng¡¯s illness were to be cured, he would only need to drink Lingquan water for three days, and go to the toilet several times each day. His body would recover quickly. Of course, when treating people, she couldn¡¯t be too special, so she had to proceed step by step. Besides, she really knew how to treat with traditional Chinese medicine. She used her real medical skills to treat patients, not relying solely on Lingquan water. After Elder Zeng went once, he felt much more relaxed. He laughed and said, ¡°I feel much more relaxed.¡± Old Master Yuan laughed and said, ¡°Just now when you went, it removed the toxins and impurities from your body, so of course you feel much more relaxed.¡± Elder Zeng¡¯s expression looked much better, and he laughed happily, ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how it is. I was wondering why the medicine was so bitter, but as the saying goes, ¡®Good medicine tastes bitter and benefits the sick¡¯. After just one dose, my body feels much more relaxed.¡± It¡¯s just that the medicine was too bitter. At this point, Elder Zeng asked, ¡°Doctor Xiao, do I need to fast? Is there anything I should avoid eating?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°No need, unless it¡¯s poison.¡± Xiao Zhou¡¯s mouth twitched. Elder Zeng¡¯s mouth also twitched, and he laughed, ¡°I¡¯m not so desperate as to want to eat poison. Today, I have a particularly good appetite, and I especially want to eat something. Since there¡¯s nothing to avoid, Xiao Zhou, ask Mama Zhou to make me a plate of big chunks of braised pork. I want to eat enough today!¡± Before, even if he wasn¡¯t diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the geriatric diseases would make him fast and avoid certain foods. His favorite braised pork was forbidden, and he had to eat a light diet. However, because his body was not in good condition, even if a plate of braised pork was made, he didn¡¯t have much appetite for it. Today, he suddenly wanted to eat braised pork. Xiao Zhou asked Xiao Jinli, ¡°Doctor Xiao, can the old master eat that much braised pork?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to avoid it. The old master can eat whatever he wants and as much as he wants. If you¡¯re worried about indigestion, I have medicine here. You can take a pill after the meal.¡± After saying so, Xiao Jinli took out a box containing snack-like granules from her bag, and a box of black pills. She took them out and looked around. ¡°Girl, what are you looking for?¡± Old Master Yuan asked in confusion. ¡°A plastic bag!¡± ¡°What do you need a plastic bag for?¡± ¡°To hold these pills! Otherwise, there¡¯s nothing to hold them in.¡± Everyone, using a plastic bag to hold these pills? Xiao Zhou reacted and said, ¡°Doctor Xiao, wait a moment. I¡¯ll ask someone to bring a jar from home.¡± After saying so, he made a phone call. A few minutes later, someone brought over a yellow wooden box. Xiao Jinli took the yellow wooden box and poured half of the pills into it directly. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°These pills, take one every day. However, if you eat too much indigestible food, you can take another one. Remember, you can only have two a day at the most.¡± Xiao Zhou gratefully took the glass jar and replied, ¡°I got it.¡± He would be monitoring the old master¡¯s medicine intake every day. Now that the old master doesn¡¯t need to fast or avoid certain foods, it¡¯s best to eat one or two pills every day. Treatment for today ends here. Starting tomorrow, Xiao Jinli will treat Elder Zeng in his yard. After Elder Zeng left, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Grandfather, Grandpa Yuan, I want to go out for a walk and buy some medicinal materials at the pharmacy.¡± Old Master Jiang asked, ¡°What medicinal materials do you need? I can send someone to buy them; there¡¯s no need for you to go personally.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°There are some medicinal materials that I must pick out myself; otherwise, their medicinal properties won¡¯t be strong enough.¡± ¡°Alright, where are you going? I¡¯ll send someone to protect you,¡± said Old Master Jiang. Xiao Jinli laughed and shook her head, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯ve been in the Capital City for so long and haven¡¯t gone out sightseeing. I just want to go out for a stroll now. If I have so many people following me, it would be too conspicuous.¡± Old Master Jiang still looked worried, ¡°But I¡¯m not at ease with you going alone, as you¡¯re just a girl!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have my cousin accompany me!¡± said Xiao Jinli. ¡°Besides, as they say, there¡¯s no real distinction between medicine and poison. I¡¯ll let anyone who dares to bully me taste the feeling of being poisoned.¡± Old Master Jiang twitched the corner of his mouth, ¡°Girl, is it wise to say this in front of your grandfather? We live in a society with the rule of law, so don¡¯t go too far.¡± He believed that she would know her limits. ¡°Well, I know,¡± said Xiao Jinli, nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll just make those who try to bully me itch all over and temporarily be unable to move ¨C nothing too serious.¡± Old Master Jiang was still concerned, ¡°No, I¡¯ll call your Ninth Brother to go with you.¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Alright then.¡± She couldn¡¯t refuse Old Master Jiang¡¯s kindness. It wasn¡¯t long before Jiang Xile arrived in a black sedan to pick them up. ¡°Sister, let¡¯s go. Today, Ninth Brother will take you around the city. I¡¯m familiar with the streets and alleys in the Capital City, so just tell me where you want to go, and I¡¯ll take you there,¡± said Jiang Xile with a smile. Xiao Jinli replied with a smile, ¡°Right now, I want to buy some medicinal materials. Ninth Brother, just take me to the largest pharmacy.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Gao Yanxin, who had been completely ignored, felt left out. These days, he increasingly felt as if his sister had been snatched away by someone else. During Xiao Jinli¡¯s stay at the Nursing Home, Jiang¡¯s nine grandsons would visit her daily, taking turns to do so. Each time they came, they brought gifts. And they were all gifts that a young girl would like. Jiang Xile drove a low-profile, luxurious black sedan from the Retirement Home for Cadres, heading directly towards Tongrentang Pharmacy. Seeing the crowded pharmacy, There were people who came for treatment and those who came to buy medicine, all waiting in line in the lobby. Jiang Xile furrowed his brows and said, ¡°There are too many people here. You wait a moment; I¡¯ll give Jin Xiangxue a call.¡± ¡°Does this pharmacy have anything to do with Jin Xiangxue?¡± Gao Yanxin asked curiously. Jiang Xile explained, ¡°The Jin family has shares in this Tongrentang.¡± After Jiang Xile called, he said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Today, Doctor Jin is seeing patients at Baorentang, and Jin Xiangxue is there, too. Let¡¯s go find him directly.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded. She knew that Doctor Jin had an appointment today. Jiang Xile took Xiao Jinli and her brother through the back door, going straight to the clinic to find Jin Xiangxue. Perhaps many people knew that Doctor Jin Shanlin was seeing patients today, so there were many patients lining up outside, most of them registered under Dr. Jin¡¯s name. Doctor Jin was seeing patients and had not noticed Xiao Jinli¡¯s arrival. Jin Xiangxue welcomed Xiao Jinli into the break room. Looking at Xiao Jinli, he asked directly, ¡°Doctor Xiao, Ah Le told me you¡¯re here to buy medicinal materials. What do you need? Just tell me, and I¡¯ll find them for you.¡± Before he could finish speaking, there was suddenly a commotion outside, as if someone was shouting, ¡°Help! Doctor, someone¡¯s fainted and bleeding!¡± Chapter 244 - Chapter 244: Chapter 244: (Second Update) Chapter 244: Chapter 244: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Upon hearing the terrified cry from outside, Jin Xiangxue quickly left the break room, running towards the lobby where the yelling took place. Xiao Jinli and the others followed behind. Seeing the patient¡¯s face turn purple and bleeding from all orifices, Jin Xiangxue¡¯s face turned pale and immediately ordered the nurse, ¡°Bring me my Silver Needle.¡± Doctor Jin had also arrived by then. Seeing the symptoms, his face changed slightly as well. Everyone made way for Doctor Jin when he approached. The patient¡¯s family members cried and begged, ¡°Doctor Jin, please save my Grandfather.¡± Doctor Jin said, ¡°You need to lay him flat first; he cannot be moved right now.¡± The family members carefully set the patient down as instructed. The nurse quickly brought the Silver Needle. Doctor Jin took the needle and aimed it in one direction. Xiao Jinli¡¯s face changed, and she immediately ran to his side, whispering something in his ear. Doctor Jin¡¯s face changed again, and when he applied the needle again, he had already changed the direction and acupoints. Soon, after he skillfully inserted several needles, he checked the patient¡¯s pulse and said to the family, ¡°Your grandfather needs to be hospitalized immediately. Let the nurse arrange an emergency room for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Doctor Jin!¡± The patient¡¯s family expressed their gratitude. Doctor Jin immediately ordered Jin Xiangxue, ¡°The acupuncture can¡¯t be removed yet. Come find me after the patient¡¯s room is arranged. There can be no mistakes in the whole process; you must keep a close watch.¡± ¡°Yes, Grandfather!¡± Jin Xiangxue replied. After the patient was settled, Doctor Jin went to the break room. Applying the needles just now had drained his energy, and he needed to rest. As soon as he entered the break room, he bowed to Xiao Jinli and said gratefully, ¡°Girl, I really can¡¯t thank you enough. If it weren¡¯t for you, my needle would have killed the patient. I might have caused a medical accident.¡± If the patient¡¯s family made a fuss, his reputation as a divine doctor would be ruined, and he might become a quack. Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Doctor Jin, you are too polite. Saving a life is worth more than building a seven-story pagoda. Since I encountered this situation, I couldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing!¡± It was also Doctor Jin¡¯s luck that she came to Baorentang today and encountered an emergency patient. This emergency patient had a particularly rare condition. If the patient hadn¡¯t had an attack, Doctor Jin¡¯s initial acupuncture direction would have been correct. However, once the patient had an attack, the condition worsened, and the treatment had to be adjusted urgently. Xiao Jinli whispered the emergency acupuncture method for this condition to Doctor Jin. If the patient¡¯s attack hadn¡¯t happened at Baorentang but at home or another place, and if emergency treatment hadn¡¯t been implemented within three minutes of the attack, the patient would have lost vital signs. In the past, there had been patients with such conditions, but Doctor Jin hadn¡¯t been able to administer emergency treatment in time, and the patient might have died. However, nowadays, more and more patients prefer to choose Western medicine for treatment. After hearing this, Doctor Jin said regretfully, ¡°I¡¯ve encountered patients with such conditions before, and I thought it was because we didn¡¯t rescue them in time that they passed away. It turns out that my emergency treatment method was wrong.¡± Xiao Jinli comforted him, ¡°Doctor Jin, don¡¯t feel too much regret. Maybe it was just their fate.¡± Doctor Jin heaved a heavy sigh, ¡°Maybe so!¡± If the patient hadn¡¯t had the attack at Baorentang today, and if he hadn¡¯t been on duty today, or if Xiao Jinli hadn¡¯t been there, he would never have known that this disease could actually be cured during an attack. So, it¡¯s unclear whether it was the patient¡¯s luck or his own luck. Jiang Xile also comforted him, ¡°Doctor Jin, it¡¯s not your fault. You don¡¯t need to be too upset! People can make mistakes, and even horses can trip. Besides, you¡¯ve already done a great job. You¡¯ve saved countless patients, and many people are grateful to you.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, Doctor Jin, you¡¯ve saved countless patients. Many people are grateful to you and consider you a divine doctor in their hearts. You don¡¯t need to be too bothered.¡± Doctor Jin said, ¡°I¡¯m not bothered, just slightly regretful. Compared to Doctor Xiao, I need to further improve my medical skills.¡± Xiao Jinli couldn¡¯t tell him that she was an exception, not of this era, and had a Golden Finger. Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Doctor Jin, you can write a book about your life¡¯s experience in treating illnesses so that others can better understand the greatness of Traditional Chinese Medicine.¡± Doctor Jin replied with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m already organizing it. I want to write about the most classic cases for future generations to learn from.¡± At this point, Doctor Jin remembered to ask, ¡°Girl, why did you come here today? Do you have something going on?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to find some herbs to treat Elder Zeng¡¯s illness.¡± ¡°What kind of herbs do you need? I can ask someone to find them,¡± Doctor Jin said, ¡°Girl, can Old Zeng¡¯s illness really be cured?¡± Even with his medical skills, it was difficult to do conservative treatment, let alone a cure. Xiao Jinli laughed, ¡°It can be cured. However, the herbs are hard to find, so I came here first. If I can¡¯t find them here, I¡¯ll have to look elsewhere!¡± ¡°Oh, what herbs do you need?¡± Doctor Jin asked, ¡°Let¡¯s see if we have them.¡± Xiao Jinli mentioned several precious and rare herbs. Doctor Jin frowned and said, ¡°The herbs you need are hard to find in ordinary pharmacies. Tong Ren Tang, Zijin, Magnolia Bark, Yellow Bark, Tian Dong, and Cordyceps are available here, but the aged Reishi Ginseng and Snow Lotus Flowers are very rare and valuable, and are likely only found in private collections. I have a century-old Reishi. I don¡¯t have the other two herbs.¡± He had a treasured Ginseng, but its age wasn¡¯t enough. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Thank you, Doctor Jin. I¡¯ll figure out a way to get the other herbs.¡± Doctor Jin sighed quietly, ¡°Even if late-stage cancer patients can be cured, the herbs required are too precious and scarce to be used for widespread treatment.¡± Perhaps only the wealthy and nobles could afford the treatment. Although Doctor Jin had a compassionate heart for the poor, he was helpless to save more patients. This was the sadness and helplessness of being a doctor. After selecting the herbs, Xiao Jinli left Baorentang. ¡°Sis, where do you want to go now?¡± Jiang Xile asked. Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°Ninth Brother, do you have any recommendations?¡± Jiang Xile said, ¡°It¡¯s almost noon, let¡¯s go eat first. After lunch, I¡¯ll take you to visit some attractions in the Capital City.¡± The Capital City had been the capital for a long time, and there were many places to visit. One or two days wouldn¡¯t be enough to visit them all. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s follow Ninth Brother¡¯s plan!¡± Chapter 245 - Chapter 245: Chapter 245: (First Update) Chapter 245: Chapter 245: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Jiang Xile took Xiao Jinli and Gao Yanxin to Old Huang¡¯s Private Kitchen ¡ª a famous gourmet food in the Capital City¡¯s upper-class circle. Jiang Xile looked at the restaurant¡¯s sign and explained, ¡°The owner of this restaurant has the last name Huang, and it is said that his ancestors were royal chefs. The founder, Huang Tianyou, was once captured to cook for the enemy army during the troubled years. Later, he utilized the principles of mutual promotion and restraint among foods to defeat the enemy leader. Under the headless situation, he helped our army reach the heart of the enemy and achieved a dramatic victory, earning Huang Tianyou a great merit. After the establishment of the new country, he founded Old Huang¡¯s Private Kitchen.¡± He introduced the place while walking into the restaurant. The waitress saw Jiang Xile and greeted him immediately, ¡°Ninth Young Master, you¡¯re here?¡± Jiang Family¡¯s Ninth, known as the Ninth Young Master in the Capital City¡¯s upper-class circle. Jiang Xile replied, ¡°I brought my sister and brother to have a meal.¡± The waitress asked, ¡°Do you want a private room or to eat in the lobby?¡± ¡°A private room!¡± Jiang Xile said. The waitress led them to a private room. As they were about to go up the stairs, a surprised voice called out, ¡°Ninth Brother, are you also eating here?¡± Before Jiang Xile could react, a girl in a pink princess dress, holding a white limited-edition handbag, rushed towards him. As she was about to embrace him, Jiang Xile immediately jumped a step back, dodging the girl¡¯s hug. The inertia almost made the girl fall, but the waitress quickly pulled her back. Lan Mingyue complained with a wronged face, ¡°Ninth Brother, how could you do this? You almost made me fall!¡± Jiang Xile immediately waved his hand, ¡°Stop, I¡¯m not your Ninth Brother, and we¡¯re not that close. Miss Lan, please call me Ninth Young Master, OK?¡± Lan Mingyue disagreed, ¡°How could we not be close? Your Third Sister-in-law is my second sister, and we¡¯re a family now. I¡¯m right to call you Ninth Brother, right?¡± Actually, she knew that the Jiang Family wanted a daughter. Since her family didn¡¯t have one, they thought of adopting one. She pretended to be well-behaved and clever in front of the Jiang Family, hoping to get their approval. However, the Jiang Family only praised her for being clever and adorable on the surface, but never mentioned letting her be their daughter. Xiao Jinli raised her eyebrows, somewhat speechless. This relative could be considered as such. However, it indeed could be. After all, Jiang Xile was her Little Uncle, and the girl opposite was his Third Sister-in-law¡¯s sister. Jiang Xile said with a dark face, ¡°I told you I¡¯m not close with you. Your second sister is my Third Sister-in-law, but it doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re my sister. So, please, Miss Lan, don¡¯t recklessly claim relations.¡± This made Lan Mingyue even more wronged. She bit her lip, the corners of her eyes shining like pearls about to fall. With a tearful expression like a pear flower, she really made people feel pity and love. But she seemed to have encountered Jiang Xile, who didn¡¯t pity the jade and treasure it. However, before Jiang Xile could speak, two men, or rather, two boys who followed Lan Mingyue walked in. They looked underage. Oh, Lan Mingyue was about fifteen or sixteen years old. ¡°How can you be like this, bullying a girl?¡± Wang Yunfei said angrily. Jiang Xile frowned, his eyes sharp as he asked, ¡°Who are you? How did I bully a girl? I just asked her not to call me Ninth Brother, what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± ¡°I I am from the Wang Family,¡± Wang Yunfei introduced, ¡°Do you know the Wang Family? They are a great family in Capital City. Do you know Wang Jingfei? He is my cousin!¡± Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Lan Mingyue¡¯s face changed, and she cursed in her heart, ¡°This fool, he came up and compared his family background to others. He, a collateral of a rich family, can¡¯t even compare to a single one of their toes.¡± Of course, Lan Mingyue didn¡¯t say anything. Jiang Xile listened to the other party¡¯s self-announcement and instantly laughed. ¡°Oh, so you are from the Wang Family. I apologize for my rudeness!¡± Jiang Xile said with a smile, ¡°Then may I ask Young Master Wang, can I go now?¡± Wang Yunfei was very proud and arrogant, ¡°Hmph, as long as you know that I am the Young Master Wang, kneel and apologize to Miss Lan, and I will forgive you!¡± Jiang Xile, Waitress, Did he make a mistake? Where did this Young Master Wang come from like a soil pimp? He didn¡¯t even recognize the Ninth Young Master of the Jiang Family, and dared to brazenly ask the Ninth Young Master to kneel and apologize! Really admire his courage, digging a foot on the God of Wealth¡¯s head. Lan Mingyue¡¯s face changed instantly, and she shook her head, ¡°No no need for Ninth Brother to apologize!¡± Seeing Lan Mingyue¡¯s expression, Wang Yunfei thought she was afraid, and immediately comforted her, ¡°Mingyue, you don¡¯t have to be afraid, he wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to you.¡± Jiang Xile looked at the self-righteous Wang Yunfei and laughed even more. He chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s right, I wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to her. However,¡± His expression changed, and he kicked Wang Yunfei with one leg, shouting loudly, ¡°Who do you think you are, showing off your status in front of me?¡± Then, he ordered the waitress, ¡°Get these three out of here. They¡¯re upsetting the guests¡¯ appetite!¡± ¡°Yes, Ninth Young Master!¡± The waitress responded respectfully. Wang Yunfei was kicked to the ground by Jiang Xile, his face twisted. Rage filled his eyes and he shouted in anger, ¡°Dog ¡± Before the swearing was out, another young man named Chen Binbin immediately stepped forward to cover his mouth and said, ¡°Fool, do you want to get beaten and even drag me down? Can¡¯t you see that the waitress and the guests here are very respectful to this man?¡± Hearing that even she was going to be driven out, Lan Mingyue¡¯s face changed again. Her eyes turned red, making her look even more wronged. She defended herself, ¡°Ninth Ninth Young Master, Young Master Wang just made a thoughtless remark. It¡¯s said, ignorance is innocence. You are a generous person, please forgive him this time.¡± Her words were clever, only blaming Wang Yunfei. Jiang Xile was disgusted with this pretentious woman. He waved his hand and said, ¡°Lan Mingyue, in consideration of my Third Sister-in-law, your second sister, I will forgive you this time. But if there¡¯s a next time, don¡¯t blame me for not being polite. Sister, Brother Gao, let¡¯s go and don¡¯t let these unrelated people affect our appetite.¡± As soon as Lan Mingyue heard the word ¡°sister,¡± she became sensitive and immediately noticed that there was a girl standing beside him. But this girl was half-covered by another boy, so she didn¡¯t notice her from the beginning. But this girl was called ¡°sister¡± affectionately by Jiang Xile, which made her feel extraordinary. Although she didn¡¯t have much contact with the Jiang Family, she knew from her second sister that the Jiang Family, although fond of daughters, would not be close to a girl, just superficially passing it. Seeing that Jiang Xile was about to leave with the others, Lan Mingyue immediately thickened her face and said, ¡°Ninth Young Master, can I eat with you?¡± Jiang Xile did not wear his heart on his face, and coldly replied, ¡°I¡¯m not willing!¡± Chapter 246 - Chapter 246: Chapter 246: (Second Update) Chapter 246: Chapter 246: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Chapter 246: (Second Update) Jiang Xile, Xiao Jinli, and Gao Yanxin entered the private room together. Xiao Jinli curiously asked, ¡°Ninth Brother, who is that girl? Someone pursuing you?¡± Jiang Xile shook his head, ¡°No, she is Third Sister-in-law¡¯s younger sister.¡± Gao Yanxin said with puzzlement, ¡°She¡¯s a relative then, but your attitude towards her ¡± It was as if she was an enemy. Jiang Xile explained with a smile, ¡°If she wants to be part of the Jiang family as a relative, we will certainly treat her as one. However, you don¡¯t know this girl; she has many schemes.¡± ¡°Oh, what do you mean?¡± Gao Yanxin asked with confusion. Jiang Xile said with annoyance, ¡°She wants to be a girl from our Jiang Family.¡± This remark was clearly directed at Lan Mingyue. ¡°She used to visit our Jiang family daily, pretending to be well-behaved and clever in front of us. But behind our backs, she would be very arrogant and bossy towards the servants in the house, acting as if she were the Miss of the Jiang family.¡± ¡°Ha, wearing two faces, huh?¡± Gao Yanxin said with slight surprise, ¡°From how gracefully she carries herself, who would have thought she had such cunning and would be able to put on such an act.¡± ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s a pity for such a young girl, who can act so well, not to become an actress.¡± Jiang Xile agreed, ¡°Oh, wait, I heard from Third sister-in-law that she actually wants to break into the entertainment industry.¡± ¡°Entering the entertainment circle,¡± Gao Yanxin nodded, ¡°No wonder she can act so well. It would be a real waste if she didn¡¯t pursue a career in the entertainment industry.¡± Jiang Xile agreed, ¡°Absolutely. You know, our entire family was almost deceived by her. Fortunately, our grumpy old man has a keen eye for people and saw through her pretense. Otherwise, who knows how she would use the Jiang family¡¯s influence for her own benefit.¡± ¡°Indeed, the old man has fiery eyes and a golden gaze!¡± Gao Yanxin agreed. Xiao Jinli, Just now, when the Ninth Brother called Lan Mingyue his sister, Xiao Jinli saw the girl¡¯s face change, as if she had taken away everything that belonged to Lan Mingyue. Her eyes were filled with hatred. After a while, Jiang Xile began to tell Gao Yanxin about Lan Mingyue¡¯s achievements in the Jiang family. Jiang Xile said, ¡°She was so eloquent, gentle, and considerate in front of us. She was able to observe each of our likes and dislikes, especially that of my uncles and aunts. It¡¯s hard not to like such a beautiful and clever girl, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± Gao Yanxin agreed, ¡°Just like my cousin, since she was little, she was beautiful, smart, and well-behaved. All of us loved her so much. However, my cousin is not an actress and wouldn¡¯t know how to act.¡± ¡°No kidding,¡± Jiang Xile happily added, ¡°The old man passed over so many girls in the capital but chose Little Sister Jinli. When our family heard that he adopted a granddaughter, everyone was overjoyed. We all trust the old man¡¯s judgment, and we believe that the girl he chose must be a good girl, so everyone wanted to meet her at once. Everyone who could go meet her did so. Haha ¡± Gao Yanxin said with a hint of resentment, ¡°Why did your entire family try to take my sister from me when I brought her to the Capital City?¡± Especially since every time they visited Xiao Jinli, they brought all kinds of gifts, making him jealous. ¡°What taking away?¡± Jiang Xile disagreed, ¡°We are joining in, understand?¡± Gao Yanxin realized, ¡°Right, joining in.¡± Her sister originally had a bunch of older brothers, and now a whole new bunch of brothers had joined. As they were chatting animatedly, a somewhat familiar voice came from the corridor outside. ¡°Brother Su, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen you. Have you been particularly busy recently?¡± Was this Lan Mingyue¡¯s voice? Gao Yanxin asked with suspicion, ¡°Does this woman have that many older brothers?¡± However, before Jiang Xile could reply, an even more familiar voice came from inside the room. ¡°Miss Lan, please have some self-respect. I don¡¯t know you well!¡± ¡°Xiao Siqian?¡± Gao Yanxin was surprised. He looked at Xiao Jinli and asked again, ¡°Cousin, doesn¡¯t this voice sound just like Xiao Siqian? Is he in the Capital City?¡± Jiang Xile asked puzzledly, ¡°Young Master Gao, who is Xiao Siqian?¡± ¡°He is one of my brothers,¡± Gao Yanxin said as he opened the private room¡¯s door, and then saw the man entering another room. He murmured, ¡°Even the back view looks so much like him. Could it be Xiao Siqian?¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes flashed. Gao Yanxin asked her, ¡°Cousin, this person not only sounds like Xiao Siqian but also resembles him from behind. Could it be him? We should go and confirm it. Should we greet him?¡± About Xiao Siqian leaving the Xiao Family, Xiao Wanshan had not kept secrets from everyone. Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go and confirm it.¡± With that, the two of them left the private room and knocked on the door of another private room. Jiang Xile went along with them out of curiosity. ¡°Who is it?¡± A stranger¡¯s voice came from inside the room. Gao Yanxin said, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m looking for Xiao Siqian.¡± Gao Yanxin didn¡¯t know Xiao Siqian¡¯s real name and only mentioned Xiao Siqian. Su Yichen, who was sitting inside the private room, was slightly shocked. This voice It was like his brother Gao Yanxin. He wanted to go and open the door to confirm, but upon thinking of something, he suppressed his excitement and remained expressionless as usual. Lan Mingyue, who was sitting beside him, noticed and said with a smile, ¡°Brother Su, I¡¯ll open the door and tell him he found the wrong person.¡± However, as soon as she finished speaking, another person¡¯s voice came in. ¡°Brother Siqian, it¡¯s me!¡± As soon as the voice outside fell, Su Yichen¡¯s face turned excited as he ran to open the door. As soon as the door opened, he saw Xiao Jinli standing outside and exclaimed excitedly, ¡°Little Sister Jinli!¡± After saying that, he immediately hugged Xiao Jinli. Gao Yanxin did not expect it to really be Xiao Siqian. He spoke discontentedly to Su Yichen, who was hugging Xiao Jinli, ¡°Well, Xiao Siqian, I called you for half a day, and you didn¡¯t respond. But when my sister spoke up, you immediately opened the door. Are you looking down on me as a brother?¡± Jiang Xile also recognized Su Yichen and asked curiously, ¡°Isn¡¯t this Mr. Su? Why are you all calling him Xiao Siqian?¡± Then, with a dark expression, he stepped forward to pull Su Yichen away, loudly saying, ¡°Mr. Su, let go of my sister!¡± He hadn¡¯t even hugged his sister yet, but Su Yichen had already done so. However, Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t resist or show discontent, so it seemed their relationship might be quite close. Hearing the two men¡¯s voices, Su Yichen only then realized that they were in a public place, and his expression changed slightly. He felt a little annoyed that he had been so excited to see Xiao Jinli just now. Chapter 247 - Chapter 247: Chapter 247: (First Update) Chapter 247: Chapter 247: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After letting go of Xiao Jinli, Su Yichen realized what had happened. He first greeted Gao Yanxin, ¡°Brother Gao, I¡¯m so happy to see you again. How are my maternal aunt and uncle? Are they in good health?¡± Jiang Xile raised her eyebrows. Su Yichen actually had such a close relationship with the Gao family. ¡°They are all well!¡± Gao Yanxin nodded and said, ¡°As for you, I thought I had misheard your voice just now, but when I saw your silhouette and resemblance to Xiao Siqian, I guessed it was you. So, I came to find you and say hello. Siqian, are you from the Capital City?¡± Su Yichen nodded, ¡°Yes, I am from the Capital City.¡± Jiang Xile curiously asked, ¡°Brother Gao, why did you call Mr. Su ¡®Xiao Siqian¡¯?¡± Gao Yanxin was stunned, and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t his name Xiao Siqian?¡± At this moment, Lan Mingyue, who refused to be ignored, said, ¡°Brother Su is now the deputy general manager of Xia Corporation and also the heir of Su Corporation. His name is not Xiao Siqian.¡± ¡°The heir of Su Corporation?¡± Gao Yanxin asked curiously, ¡°Siqian, are you the heir of Su Corporation?¡± Having been in the Capital City for some time, he had heard of Su Corporation. ¡°Yes, Brother Su is the heir of Su Corporation. You know the Su Corporation, right? It is one of the top wealthy families in the Capital City!¡± Lan Mingyue said proudly. ¡°My aunt is Brother Su¡¯s mom.¡± Although a stepmother, there was no difference from a birth mother. ¡°The heir of a wealthy family in the Capital City?¡± Gao Yanxin congratulated with a smile, ¡°You have such a distinguished identity. Congratulations on finding your family!¡± Su Yichen smiled and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°So you guys really don¡¯t even know that Brother Su is the heir of Su Corporation, where did you come from? Countrysides?¡± Lan Mingyue scanned Xiao Jinli and her brother with a look of disdain, ¡°Dressed so shabbily, you must be some poor relatives.¡± At this moment, Lan Mingyue was no longer pretending to be a kind and cute girl. From the moment Jiang Xile called Xiao Jinli ¡®little sister¡¯ and Su Yichen hugged Xiao Jinli, her hostility towards Xiao Jinli erupted, and she even forgot to hide it in front of them. ¡°Lan Mingyue, shut up!¡± Su Yichen snapped angrily, ¡°You are the poor relative, get lost!¡± Xiao Family Village and all the people of Xiao Family were the softest spots in his heart, and no one could insult them. Lan Mingyue looked at Su Yichen in disbelief, her beautiful eyes wide, ¡°Brother Su, are you telling me to get lost? Have you forgotten how good you used to be to me? You even said I was your real sister. But now, for the sake of two outsiders, you¡¯re yelling at me?¡± As she said this, she looked hurt. ¡°Sorry, Lan Xiaoming, as I said, I have amnesia.¡± Su Yichen said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything about the past. In the future, please don¡¯t call yourself my sister, and don¡¯t shamelessly follow me around. It¡¯s not just you who loses face, I lose face too. So, please leave now.¡± Jiang Xile raised her eyebrows. Su Yichen had quite a sharp tongue. Originally, Su Yichen was ignoring Lan Mingyue, but she kept pestering and following him. The reason he let Lan Mingyue enter the private room was to see if he could get any information about his stepmother from her. Who would have thought that as soon as they sat down, Gao Yanxin and the others came looking for them? Being driven away, Lan Mingyue¡¯s face turned pale and then red, looking very ugly. Immediately, she glared at Xiao Jinli with resentful eyes and said angrily. ¡°Brother Su, are you driving me away because of this vixen?¡± As she spoke, she looked at Jiang Xile with a pitiful gaze and asked, ¡°Ninth Ninth Young Master, what¡¯s so good about this woman that she has you all so bewitched?¡± Jiang Xile and Su Yichen¡¯s expressions changed instantly, and they both angrily shouted, ¡°Lan Mingyue, shut up!¡± Afterward, the two men exchanged glances, seeing vigilance and alertness in each other¡¯s faces. Jiang Xile said coldly, ¡°Lan Mingyue, I warn you, watch your mouth! This is my sister, a member of my Jiang family. If you call her a vixen again, believe it or not, I¡¯ll sew your mouth shut!¡± Su Yichen also seemed unwilling to concede, ¡°Lan Mingyue, this is also my sister. If you call her a vixen again, believe it or not, I¡¯ll sew your mouth shut! And, apologize to my sister!¡± Gao Yanxin and Xiao Jinli siblings, Lan Mingyue¡¯s face suddenly turned pale. She never expected that these two men who were related to her would defend the vixen like this. Unable to bear the humiliation, Lan Mingyue bit her lip, tears filling her eyes as she ran away in grievance. As she ran, she silently vowed that she would get back all the humiliation she had suffered today from that woman a hundredfold, even a thousandfold. The annoying person had left. Jiang Xile looked at the three of them, raised his eyebrows, and asked with a puzzled and curious tone, ¡°It seems you guys have known each other for a long time? And why do you call Mr. Su as Xiao Siqian?¡± He didn¡¯t have much interaction with Su Yichen, but he was a influential figure in Capital City. Su Yichen was the pride of the wealthy families of the Capital City, and Jiang Xile was the third generation of the renowned Jiang Family in Capital City. Although they had no interaction, they had both heard of each other. ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the box first.¡± However, once they entered the box, Xiao Jinli realized, ¡°Brother Siquan, did you invite guests?¡± Su Yichen smiled and said, ¡°Indeed, I invited General Manager Zhang of Licheng Group.¡± ¡°Then shall we get together some other day?¡± Gao Yanxin suggested. Businessmen value credibility above all else. Since he had invited someone, as the host, he couldn¡¯t break his promise to the guest, could he? Xiao Jinli also agreed, ¡°Brother Siquan, I¡¯ll be in Capital City for a while. Let¡¯s make a date another time. Also, our private room is next door.¡± Su Yichen was delighted to meet Xiao Jinli and Gao Yanxin. If he had known in advance that he would meet them here, he wouldn¡¯t have made an appointment with General Manager Zhang no matter what. But Su Yichen also knew he couldn¡¯t break his promise to others, so he reluctantly agreed, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s make another appointment.¡± Gao Yanxin said, ¡°Siquan, my phone number hasn¡¯t changed. You can just call me when you¡¯re free. My sister is sometimes very busy and may not have time to answer the phone.¡± ¡°Alright, I got it,¡± Su Yichen nodded and replied. When Xiao Jinli came out of the box, she happened to meet General Manager Zhang and two other people who had come to attend the appointment. As a member of the upper class, he immediately noticed Jiang Xile and his face was filled with surprise and joy. ¡°You Are you the Ninth Young Master?¡± General Manager Zhang asked respectfully. Jiang Xile just gave him a slight nod, then turned to Su Yichen and said, ¡°Brother Su, we¡¯ll be leaving first. Let¡¯s meet up some another time when we have a chance.¡± After that, the three of them left. Watching their departing figures, General Manager Zhang curiously asked, ¡°Mr. Su, are you very close with the Ninth Young Master?¡± Su Yichen shook his head, ¡°Not very!¡± He was telling the truth. Today was their first contact. ¡°Haha ¡± General Manager Zhang laughed and said, ¡°Mr. Su, you are too modest. If you guys aren¡¯t close, would the Ninth Young Master address you as Brother Su? Who in the Capital City doesn¡¯t know that very few people can make those princes address them as brothers?¡± Su Yichen, They really were not close. However, he knew that Jiang Xile had taken a liking to him. Chapter 248 - Chapter 248: Chapter 248: (Second Update) Chapter 248: Chapter 248: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°Little sister, what is your relationship with Su Yichen?¡± Jiang Xile asked with a curious mind, ¡°Why do you all call him Xiao Siqian?¡± ¡°Su Yichen?¡± Gao Yanxin said with a hint of joy, ¡°So his real name is Su Yichen, and he is the heir of the Su Corporation. That¡¯s quite an impressive identity.¡± Jiang Xile became more confused, ¡°You didn¡¯t know his name is Su Yichen? Or his status?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t know.¡± Gao Yanxin shook his head. ¡°The name Xiao Siqian was given to him temporarily.¡± ¡°Temporary name?¡± Can names be given temporarily? Gao Yanxin then narrated the story of how Xiao Siqian was rescued by his cousin Xiao Jinli from the foot of the mountain, and how he spent half a year living with his elder aunt in Xiao Family Village after losing his memory. ¡°Later, I heard from my elder aunt that he found his relatives and left. I didn¡¯t expect Xiao Siqian¡¯s family to be in the Capital City. It¡¯s quite a surprise,¡± Gao Yanxin sighed, ¡°And he has such an amazing status.¡± After listening, Jiang Xile said, ¡°There were rumors in the upper-class circles that Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance had something to do with the Su Family. Moreover, during the half-year of his disappearance, the Su Family only sent people to search for him in secret and did not report to the police. When Su Yichen returned to the Capital City, he did not go back to the Su Family immediately but instead went to the Xia Family and even took on the role of a deputy general manager. There were also rumors saying that Su Yichen suffered from amnesia. Su Yichen, with memory loss, treated his biological father and his stepmother as strangers. Su Xiangdong, the head of the Su Corporation, was very upset that his son went to work for the Xia Family. He visited the Xia Family several times to persuade Su Yichen to return to the Su Family but was driven away every time, which had become a joke in the Capital City.¡± Gao Yanxin asked in confusion, ¡°Is Su¡­ I mean, is Su Yichen¡¯s relationship with his family really bad?¡± Jiang Xile shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. They say that Su Yichen¡¯s father is his biological father and his mother is his stepmother. Before Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance, their family was loving and warm, especially this stepmother who treated him better than her own son, with respectful brothers. However, after his disappearance and subsequent return as the amnesic Su Yichen, he grew close to his maternal family and seemed to reject his previous family members, even treating them worse than strangers.¡± Telling this, he said jokingly, ¡°Hehe, I even heard a rumor.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Xiao Jinli asked. Jiang Xile said, ¡°There¡¯s a rumor that Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance was orchestrated by Lady Su, his stepmother, to secure the inheritance left by Yichen¡¯s biological mother for her own son!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gao Yanxin doubted, ¡°An inheritance left for the biological son, claimed by her son? How much inheritance was left that she has to fall out with her adopted son, who she treats as her own?¡± ¡°One billion!¡± Jiang Xile replied. Gao Yanxin gaped in disbelief, ¡°One billion? That much? Su Su Yichen¡¯s family is really that rich? One billion, no wonder his stepmother wants to become his enemy.¡± One billion, wealth stirs up greed, especially such a vast fortune. ¡°But this raises a question.¡± Gao Yanxin reacted, ¡°How can the inheritance left by someone¡¯s biological mother be inherited by someone¡¯s stepson?¡± Jiang Xile shook his head, ¡°It should be impossible. However, it was said that Su Yichen¡¯s biological mother left a will. The will stipulates that all her inheritance could only be claimed after her biological son turns 18. However, when Su Yichen came of age, he gave up his biological mother¡¯s inheritance and transferred all his mother¡¯s wealth to his stepbrother, Su Hanyang.¡± ¡°Did Xiao I mean, did Su Yichen¡¯s brain get waterlogged?¡± Gao Yanxin asked incredulously, ¡°Why would he transfer the inheritance his mother left for him to his stepbrother? Such a vast fortune, wouldn¡¯t he want to inherit it himself?¡± Jiang Xile nodded, ¡°Exactly. If the rumors are true, then Su Yichen must have been out of his mind.¡± ¡°So he gave all his wealth to his stepmother and stepbrother. Then what does he live on, the wind? Or does he just live on the scraps given to him by his stepmother and stepbrother? What was Su Yichen thinking? Does he really trust his stepmother and stepbrother that much?¡± Gao Yanxin complained indignantly. Jiang Xile shook his head, ¡°Only he knows the answers to those questions!¡± Gao Yanxin nodded, ¡°Alright, the next time we meet, I will ask him if his brain was waterlogged.¡± Jiang Xile, This brother¡¯s character is really straightforward! Xiao Jinli, This is a boy who has lost his way and been brainwashed by his stepmother. No, that¡¯s wrong. He has been brainwashed by his so-called biological father and his family! Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I did hear him mention it! He lost his mother at a young age, and his stepmother, stepbrother, no, and his biological father, the three of them, gave him a particularly warm and happy home! For that happy family, he felt that he was willing to give up anything, even if it was just his mother¡¯s inheritance! But what he never ever expected was that he signed the inheritance transfer agreement in the morning, and in the afternoon he was kidnapped by the kidnappers!¡± Xiao Jinli did not look at Gao Yanxin and Jiang Xile, she said with a sigh, ¡°He just wanted a home.¡± Jiang Xile and Gao Yanxin fell silent at once! A home, for many people, is simply made up of parents, brothers, and sisters. It¡¯s a simple possession. Some people even take their homes for granted, or want to escape from it. But for many others, a home is a longing that¡¯s insatiably desired. They want the love of parents, the laughter among siblings, a happy and warm home. Su Yichen lost his mother at a young age and soon after his stepmother came into his life, showing him warmth and empathy. His stepbrother has been protecting him since childhood, never fighting or grabbing anything from him, even leaving all the good things for his little brother. His biological father loved him. No matter whether these scenarios were contrived or not, to Su Yichen, they represent the warmth and happiness of a home. For the warmth and happiness of home, he was willing to make sacrifices. But Su Yichen never ever expected that whilst he wanted to give up everything to maintain the surface level of peace and tranquillity, the others wanted his life. Once this illusion was shattered, it¡¯s like developing countless cracks! The damage has been done, any attempts at fixing it are in vain. Gao Yanxin sighed, ¡°He really has it tough.¡± Being born into a wealthy family, was unexpectedly brainwashed and calculated from a young age. ¡°After seeing him again, I won¡¯t scold him for having a waterlogged brain.¡± Gao Yanxin added, ¡°It¡¯s actually not easy for him. After surviving the disaster, he stepped into the vortex.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°He wants revenge. Revenge for his mother and for himself, he has to do it this way.¡± Jiang Xile nodded, ¡°Su Yichen is talented. Otherwise, being young and only 18, he wouldn¡¯t be able to survive in the business world filled with smoke and fire.¡± Speaking of this, he exclaimed, ¡°By the way, I really admire his mother¡¯s foresight.¡± Even though her son was brainwashed in the hands of the enemy, she still left a way out for him. ¡°Indeed, his mother is truly great!¡± Gao Yanxin nodded. Chapter 249 - Chapter 249: Chapter 249: (First Update) Chapter 249: Chapter 249: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After suffering a great humiliation at the restaurant, Lan Mingyue ran back home. Upon seeing her daughter¡¯s red eyes, Lady Lan asked with a heartache, ¡°Mingyue, what¡¯s happened to you? Who¡¯s hurt you? I¡¯ll fight back for you!¡± Seeing her mother, Lan Mingyue began to cry bitterly and said, ¡°Mom, Su Yichen and Jiang Xile have been seduced by a vixen. They scolded me just for that vixen. Boo-hoo ¡± Hearing this, Lady Lan furrowed her brow and asked, ¡°Mingyue, what vixen? Could you explain more clearly?¡± Lady Lan did genuinely love her daughter, but Lan Mingyue also held great value for their family¡¯s purpose. The Lan Family planned to use Lan Mingyue to make the Jiang Family recognize her as their granddaughter. The Lan Family¡¯s rise to become a high-class family would be effortless then. Why would the Lan Family want to send their daughter to the Jiang Family to be their daughter, after they had already married one of their daughters into the Jiang Family? The daughter who had married into the Jiang Family didn¡¯t get along well with the Lan Family, even threatening to stir trouble if the Lan Family tried to manipulate the Jiang Family for their benefit. Furthermore, the Jiang Family had not offered any help to the Lan Family, leaving them feeling slighted. However, Lan Mingyue and Lan Mingxing have a good relationship. The Lan Family capitalized on this relationship, allowing Lan Mingyue to frequently visit the Jiang Family in hopes that they would accept her as their granddaughter. It was a pity that the Jiang Family had not shown any reaction yet. Hearing that Jiang Xile had bullied her daughter for another girl, Lady Lan had a bad feeling. Through her tears, Lan Mingyue said, ¡°She is a vixen. Jiang Xile even calls her ¡®sister¡¯. To please that vixen, he wouldn¡¯t let me call him ¡®Ninth Brother¡¯ and cursed at me. And that man, Su Yichen, he embraced that vixen the moment he saw her. He was affectionate towards her and treated me rudely. I hate him now. Boo-hoo Mom, that vixen has stolen Brother Yichen from me!¡± Before marrying her daughter into a high-end family, the Lan Family was relying on Lan Yingying to marry Lan Mingyue off to Su Yichen, thus gaining control over him. Until Su Yichen turned 18, he had treated Lan Mingyue quite well out of respect for his stepmother. Lan Mingyue was also good at reading people¡¯s emotions. At the Su Family, she sweetly called him ¡®Brother Yichen¡¯, and he seemed to accept it. Yet, once Su Yichen returned to the Capital City, even his own family avoided him. Needless to say, he had no pleasant expressions for Lan Mingyue, who was only related by his stepmother¡¯s side. But Lan Mingyue was thick-skinned and ignored Su Yichen¡¯s rejection. Whenever she saw Su Yichen, she would still act coquettishly, even though Su Yichen frowned, he did not curse at her directly. However, who would have thought ¡­ Upon hearing her daughter¡¯s rich description of her grievances, Lady Lan felt a surge of anger. ¡°Where did this cunning vixen pop up from?¡± Lady Lan asked with a grim face. ¡°Mingyue, are you sure Jiang Xile called her ¡®sister¡¯?¡± ¡°Yes, I heard it clearly!¡± Lan Mingyue said, ¡°Oh, I just remembered. Su Yichen seems to call her Little Sister Jinli. That vixen also had another man calling Su Yichen by the name ¡®Si Quan¡¯.¡± Si Quan?¡± Lady Lan frowned tightly. ¡°Your Aunt has never mentioned him having such a name before.¡± ¡°Also, how could Jiang Xile call her ¡®sister¡¯? Could it be that the Jiang Family has acknowledged a new daughter?¡± Lady Lan speculated, ¡°Or is she a girl that Jiang Xile met outside?¡± Upon hearing this, Lan Mingyue stopped crying and questioned, ¡°Mom, could she be Jiang Xile¡¯s sweetheart?¡± Lady Lan shook her head and said, ¡°That¡¯s hard to say.¡± At this point, her expression became serious. ¡°Mingyue, you must go to the Jiang Family immediately and try to understand the situation. See if the Jiang Family is aware of this ¡®sister¡¯ Jiang Xile was talking about.¡± She had an unease deep in her heart, as if something she had under control was slipping away from her. The only person who could enter the Jiang Family¡¯s mansion now was Lan Mingyue. Lan Mingyue came to her senses too, with a serious expression she said, ¡°Alright, Mom, I¡¯ll call Second Sister right now.¡± Having said that, she called Lan Mingxing. After hanging up the phone, her expression was somewhat unpleasant. She said, ¡°Mom, Second Sister said she¡¯s not at home now.¡± If Lan Mingxing wasn¡¯t at the Jiang¡¯s, Lan Mingyue had no excuse to go to the Jiang¡¯s. Lady Lan¡¯s face darkened and she said with a hint of suspicion, ¡°Is she lying to you?¡± Lan Mingyue was a bit confounded, and suspicious as well, ¡°Could she?¡± ¡°Why couldn¡¯t she?¡± Lady Lan said angrily, ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed that she¡¯s been finding all sorts of excuses to avoid going to the Jiang¡¯s lately?¡± Lan Mingyue¡¯s face turned a bit more sour at that remark. Lady Lan said, ¡°Mingyue, just head over to the Big Courtyard directly, I don¡¯t believe that they would stop you from entering.¡± Lan Mingyue nodded and said, ¡°Alright, Mom, I¡¯ll head to the Jiang¡¯s right now!¡± Jiang Xile still didn¡¯t know that Lan Mingyue went to the Jiang¡¯s. After having lunch, they took Xiao Jinli and Gao Yanxin to several famous places in Capital City. At night, after sending the two back to the nursing home, Jiang Xile returned to the Jiang¡¯s. Upon returning, he noticed that the atmosphere at home was a bit peculiar, the looks everyone gave him were even more so. Jiang Xile touched the back of his head and asked, ¡°Third brother, why are you staring at me like that? It¡¯s a bit creepy?¡± Jiang Xiping asked with a grin, ¡°Eldest Brother, what were you up to today?¡± Jiang Xile responded, ¡°What was I up to? I went out to have fun.¡± ¡°Did you take a sister out with you and treat her to a meal at Old Huang¡¯s Restaurant?¡± Jiang Xiping asked again. Jiang Xile nodded and said, ¡°Yes, how did you know, Third Brother? Did you see me somewhere?¡± ¡°Eldest Brother, are you being serious?¡± Jiang Xi¡¯an asked curiously. Jiang Xile looked a bit confused and said, ¡°Of course I am, I took Xiao Jinli to lunch. What¡¯s up, Third Brother, Sixth Brother, why are you suddenly asking me about all this? Something feels off.¡± The eldest, Jiang Xiwen, said sternly, ¡°Eldest Brother, if you¡¯re dating, you need to have the intention of getting married and take it seriously. If I find out you¡¯re just playing tricks, I¡¯ll break your legs.¡± ¡°Wait, Big Brother, who am I dating?¡± Jiang Xile asked in confusion, ¡°I¡¯m not dating anyone.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not dating, why did you take a girl out to a restaurant and out to have fun?¡± Jiang Xiwen scolded harshly, ¡°Jiang Xile, have you become involved with some questionable girls outside?¡± ¡°What does that even mean?¡± Jiang Xile asked, puzzled, ¡°Big Brother, I was just out with our sister Xiao Jinli buying medical herbs and sightseeing a bit. How did this turn into me dating someone? And what questionable girl?¡± ¡°What did you say? You took Xiao Jinli out today?¡± Jiang Xi¡¯an asked, surprised. Jiang Xile nodded, ¡°Yes. After Xiao Jinli treated Grandpa Zeng, she wanted to go out to buy medical herbs, so Grandfather told me to go with her.¡± Jiang Xiwen and the others were left speechless, Chapter 250 - Chapter 250: Chapter 250: (Second Update) Chapter 250: Chapter 250: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°This Lan Mingyue,¡± Jiang Xile said angrily after hearing what his older brothers had told him, ¡°What did our sister do to offend her that she would come to our door and slander her, even adding fuel to the fire?¡± Just a moment ago, the Jiang family members had informed him. ¡°Today, Lan Mingyue came over and said she saw you with a girl. That girl is very indecent and hooked up with three men at the same time, besides you, there were two other men. She even saw them hugging and embracing each other.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± Jiang Xile was furious, ¡°One is Gao Yanxin, our sister¡¯s own cousin, and another is Su Yichen, who is also like a sibling to Xiao Jinli and has a good relationship with the Xiao family. How dare she have the guts to slander an innocent girl like this?¡± Jiang Xiwen and the others listened with a dark expression on their faces. They never expected Lan Mingyue to deceive them in such a way. Where did she get the courage? Didn¡¯t she know that as soon as Jiang Xile returned, her lies would be exposed? Or was it that the Jiang family really liked her and didn¡¯t dare do anything to her? Jiang Laoda said with a black face, ¡°This Lan Mingyue is not allowed to step into our Jiang family again!¡± He said this while looking at Jiang Laosan. Jiang Xiping felt his older brother¡¯s gaze and shrugged his shoulders, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Xingxing about it.¡± Anyway, his wife had a bad relationship with the Lan family. As for Lan Mingyue, their cousin, maybe their relationship used to be good, but now he believed that his wife knew better. Jiang Xile was filled with anger, ¡°What kind of malicious intentions does this Lan Mingyue have? When she called our sister Jinli a vixen, I taught her a lesson. Who would have thought that she would come to our house and twist the facts around? I really underestimated her!¡± Jiang Xi¡¯an was also very angry, ¡°An outwardly decent girl with such malicious and scheming intentions, slandering and sowing discord so skillfully!¡± He sighed softly, ¡°It¡¯s really our old master who has sharp eyes. He saw through this girl¡¯s intentions and warned us not to judge her by her appearance. If it weren¡¯t for seeing it with our own eyes and hearing it with our own ears, it would be hard to see that such a young girl has two faces.¡± Jiang Xiping added, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth? When she came to the Jiang family, she was such a well-behaved and sensible girl, but it turned out to be all fake! I wonder how far she could pretend, as she almost deceived all of us!¡± After hearing Third Brother¡¯s words, Jiang Xile questioned, ¡°Third Brother, what is the current relationship between Third Sister-in-law and her?¡± Jiang Xiping said, ¡°Ever since the old master said that Lan Mingyue¡¯s intentions were impure, Xingxing has gradually distanced herself from her! Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have refused Lan Mingyue every time she wanted to come over.¡± Jiang Xile asked with doubt, ¡°Then who let her in today? Isn¡¯t it Third Sister-in-law?¡± ¡°No!¡± Jiang Xiping shook his head, ¡°She went straight to Big Brother, saying she saw you playing with a girl, and that girl was indecent and had relationships with two other men at the same time. She was a ¡®Queen of the Sea.¡¯ She tried to persuade you, but when you didn¡¯t listen, she went directly to our family.¡± Jiang Xile, ¡°Is it that she¡¯s stupid or not? She dared to say such clumsy lies, and she wasn¡¯t afraid to be exposed, causing our family to dislike her even more?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the case.¡± Jiang Xi¡¯an was also somewhat puzzled, ¡°Usually, she seems to be a very intelligent girl, not likely to do something so foolish, right?¡± Jiang Family¡¯s second brother thought for a moment and said, ¡°Perhaps she didn¡¯t expect that sister Jinli was indeed our sister, not just Old Nine¡¯s sister. She told us all this, and then, no matter how Old Nine tried to defend, our impression of that girl would be greatly discounted. Maybe we thought that girl had given Old Nine a love potion, enchanting him to the point where he couldn¡¯t tell right from wrong, otherwise, how could he tolerate a woman who played with three men? Or maybe we thought Old Nine was just fooling around and didn¡¯t take it too seriously, so she didn¡¯t care that much.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Jiang Xile was close to cursing, ¡°I thought such clumsy lies were so simple, but it turns out they are so insidious. I really underestimated her.¡± ¡°From now on, Lan Mingyue is absolutely forbidden to step foot in the Jiang family.¡± Jiang Xile gritted his teeth, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for sister Jinli today, my sister and I would never be able to clear our names even if we jumped into the Yellow River.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± The others echoed, ¡°Such clumsy lies, yet they hid such malicious intentions.¡± ¡°Oh, by the way, you just said that our sister knows Su Yichen, what¡¯s the story with that?¡± Jiang Xiwen asked with puzzlement, ¡°I thought our sister never came to the capital city? How did they meet?¡± Jiang Xile shook his head, ¡°To be exact, our sister doesn¡¯t know Su Yichen, but Xiao Siqian instead.¡± ¡°Who is Xiao Siqian?¡± Jiang Xi¡¯an asked curiously, ¡°He has the same last name as Xiao, is he related to our sister?¡± ¡°Actually, Su Yichen is Xiao Siqian, and Xiao Siqian is Su Yichen!¡± Jiang Xile said. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of the young master of the Su family having an alias,¡± Jiang Xiping said with a hint of confusion, ¡°Old Nine, tell us quickly what¡¯s going on. Don¡¯t keep us guessing.¡± ¡°No, Xiao Siqian is a temporary name,¡± Jiang Xile explained. ¡°A few months ago, we all heard about Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance, right? Our sister is the one who saved him in the mountains. They say that when he was rescued, he was injured all over and had to stay in the hospital for ten to twenty days, and had amnesia on top of that. He knew that he was saved by our sister, so he took the Xiao family¡¯s surname Siqian, which means gratitude for a drop of water and repaying it with a fountain. He stayed with sister Jinli¡¯s family for the half-year he was missing. The Xiao family treated him like one of their own. However, later Su Yichen accidentally contacted Old Master Xia and returned to the capital city.¡± ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what happened!¡± The members of the Jiang family nodded in understanding. ¡°I heard that Su Yichen is also a rising star in the business world,¡± Jiang Xiping said. ¡°After returning to the Xia family, he worked for the Xia Corporation for just a few months and brought in several major projects that increased the overall revenue of the Xia Corporation by 30%. He is a business prodigy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of him too,¡± Jiang Xi¡¯an said with a smile, ¡°Now he¡¯s the heir to the Su Corporation. But the fact that he works for the Xia Corporation has made the Chairman of the Su Corporation lose face. He has been rejected by Su Yichen several times, using amnesia as an excuse.¡± Jiang Xile said, ¡°There¡¯s a rumor in the business world that Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance was actually orchestrated by his father, who hired people to kidnap and even kill him. That¡¯s why Su Yichen cannot return.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The members of the Jiang family were somewhat surprised by this news. ¡°Why would Su Xiangdong do such a thing?¡± ¡°Rumor has it that Su Yichen¡¯s mother left him a huge inheritance, and it was all for that inheritance,¡± Chapter 251 - Chapter 251: Chapter 251: (First Update) Chapter 251: Chapter 251: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 After two to three months of development, Xiao Family Village Lu Xian Ltd has gotten on the right track. The crops in the fields are lush and green, and the chickens, ducks, and other poultry in the farms are plump and thriving. The technicians who were sent for training take their responsibilities seriously, especially in raising ducks and training other people in the village. The Village Head approached Xiao Yucheng and asked, ¡°Yucheng, our crops will be ready for harvest soon, and the chickens, ducks, and pigs are already 120 days old, which means they can be sold. Have you found buyers for all of them?¡± Xiao Yucheng reassured the Village Head, ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry. Xiao Junxuan has already contacted many bosses. When the time comes, we¡¯ll just deliver the goods directly.¡± Despite Xiao Yucheng¡¯s reassurance, the Village Head was still worried, ¡°Yucheng, can we really sell so many vegetables and chickens and ducks?¡± Not only was the Village Head worried, but so were the other villagers. People appeared confident, but deep down, many were anxious, especially when they saw the vegetables growing better and the chickens and ducks growing bigger. Many people even had trouble sleeping at night, worrying if these things could be sold. Xiao Yucheng nodded confidently, ¡°Village Head, you have to trust our village¡¯s products. Our village grows vegetables on several hundred acres of land, which may seem like a lot, but considering the large population in Dragonzhou Country, if we can make our products famous, we might even find several hundred thousand acres too few.¡± The Village Head laughed, ¡°This is the first time our village has ever grown vegetables for sale, and we¡¯ve never sold them outside before.¡± Xiao Yucheng said, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, please tell everyone not to worry. Our village¡¯s vegetables, chickens, ducks, and the like will definitely be sold. Then, everyone can look forward to the first dividend.¡± The Village Head agreed, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell everyone.¡± After the Village Head left, Xiao Yucheng called together the company management and the sales department staff for a meeting. Xiao Yucheng said, ¡°The crops in the fields and the chickens and ducks in the farms will be on the market soon. We have two stores in the county town, three stores in Ganjiang City, and a small store in the town. These stores will need an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 jin of products every day.¡± ¡°Junxuan, how many orders do you have in your department?¡± Xiao Yucheng asked. Xiao Junxuan reported, ¡°We have orders from the largest hotel and restaurant in the county town, a five-star hotel and three four-star hotels in Ganjiang City, as well as five restaurants, and the fresh market¡­¡± Xiao Junxuan reported all the orders they had received! ¡°The total amount of vegetables from these orders is 8,000 jin per day, fresh market supply of chickens, ducks, and geese is 6,000 jin per day, and pork is 4,000 jin per day.¡± Xiao Yucheng nodded, ¡°Good! As long as we maintain this volume every day, our company¡¯s crops and poultry will be sold out quickly!¡± Xiao Junxuan laughed, ¡°I estimate that when the time comes, we¡¯ll worry about not having enough to sell!¡± Xiao Yucheng suddenly became serious, ¡°This could be a problem! If we don¡¯t have enough to sell, we¡¯ll have to implement purchase limits!¡± ¡°Yes, Mingchen, didn¡¯t our village¡¯s vegetables go for green level evaluation? Has the result come out?¡± Xiao Yucheng asked. Indeed, the sales route for Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company is non-polluting green food. They applied for qualification level assessment from relevant departments two months ago. However, before the assessment¡¯s results were released, Xiao Junxuan had managed to secure a number of orders for his department, which showcased his ability. Xiao Mingchen frowned slightly and said, ¡°I contacted the relevant person in charge, and they said they¡¯re still going through procedures?¡± ¡°Still going through procedures?¡± Xiao Yucheng also frowned, ¡°It¡¯s been two months already, and in another ten or twenty days, we¡¯ll start selling our vegetables.¡± After thinking for a while, he said, ¡°Mingchen, keep following up and make phone calls.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it!¡± Xiao Yucheng nodded, ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll hold a village-wide meeting and inform the villagers of this news. The Village Head said everyone is very anxious. Everyone has been working hard these days.¡± After the meeting, Xiao Yucheng chatted leisurely with Xiao Junxuan. ¡°Junxuan, Jinli has been away for a long time. When will she be back?¡± Xiao Yucheng rubbed his forehead, ¡°Initially, she planned to be away for a month, and the worm feed she left behind was just enough for a month. Our crops will soon be harvested, and we¡¯ll have to plant another round in the fields, so we¡¯ll need to increase the number of earthworms. Also, chickens, ducks, and geese eat earthworms, so we have to consider expanding earthworm breeding. Only my sister can master this technology.¡± No one implicitly mentioned that they should ask Xiao Jinli to hand over this technology. Because the villagers had watched Xiao Jinli grow up and understood her nature. If she could hand this technology over to others, Xiao Jinli would certainly do so without hesitation. Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°She is now in the Capital City, treating an old master. She estimates that she¡¯ll need two months.¡± Xiao Yucheng laughed, ¡°Considering Jinli¡¯s personality, can she really stay in the Capital City for two months?¡± Xiao Junxuan shook his head, ¡°Hehe, sometimes my sister seems calm, but at other times, she¡¯s very lively.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, Jinli is really good at hiding her abilities,¡± Xiao Yucheng laughed, ¡°Silent and unnoticed, she turned out to be a national doctor.¡± ¡°Yes, we really were surprised. Who would have thought that growing up under everyone¡¯s watch, she would learn a set of medical skills without anyone knowing?¡± Xiao Junxuan laughed, ¡°In fact, many things my sister does surprise us, but they seem to be within expectation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Xiao Yucheng nodded, ¡°At a very young age, my sister could help everyone manage village affairs, while other children were still running around with snotty noses.¡± ¡°Big brother, I¡¯ll talk to my sister about the earthworms,¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Let¡¯s see what she thinks. I heard her mention that some elderly people will come to our village for recuperation in the future, so we might build a nursing home in the village.¡± ¡°Build a nursing home?¡± Xiao Yucheng was slightly puzzled. Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°Jinli didn¡¯t mention the specifics, but I think the construction of a nursing home might be postponed.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand,¡± Xiao Yucheng nodded, ¡°Building a nursing home is a good idea too, as it can attract more tourists to our village. In the future, we can set up a rural tourism and farmstay, which will generate extra income for everyone.¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°When the company was first established, Xiao Siqian wrote a plan that included this idea. However, to develop rural tourism and farmstays, we need to proceed step by step. Once our Xiao Family Village products become famous and establish our own brand, tourism and farmstays will basically be established.¡± Xiao Yucheng said, ¡°Xiao Siqian is really far-sighted.¡± ¡°He is indeed very talented and capable!¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded in agreement. Chapter 252 - Chapter 252: Chapter 252: (Second Update) Chapter 252: Chapter 252: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Ever since Su Yichen found out that Xiao Jinli had come to the Capital City, he couldn¡¯t suppress his excitement. Before leaving Xiao Family Village, Xiao Jinli had revealed her abilities to him, so when she arrived in the capital city and sought him out, he wondered if she had accepted him. Su Yichen held his cellphone, his hand hesitating over the buttons. At the moment, he was deep in trouble and could not carelessly act or he would be unable to recover. He was currently a rising star in the business world, an elite upstart in the field. However, he was in a precarious situation, with wolves in the front and tigers in the back. The huge inheritance his mother had left to him drew the attention of both the Grumpy Old Man of the Xia Family, who treated him like a beloved grandson, and his biological father, who cursed him as a white-eyed wolf. Both of them were watching his fortune closely. Although he had become the darling of the business world based on his abilities, he was also a thorn in the eyes of many. So, he couldn¡¯t reveal his weaknesses to the public. What if Xiao Jinli could protect herself, but there was a mistake? Su Yichen put down his cellphone, sighed softly, and looked through the window into the distance with his deep eyes. On the other side, Gao Yanxin was holding his cellphone, muttering to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Cousin, what does this Su Yichen mean? Does he look down on us? It¡¯s been several days, and he hasn¡¯t called us to catch up on old times.¡± Xiao Jinli glanced at him and shook her head. ¡°Cousin Yanxin, you might be overthinking it. He may not be calling us because he has some concerns.¡± Gao Yanxin thought about it and said, ¡°That¡¯s possible. I heard that Su Yichen¡¯s stepmother is not easy to deal with. Ninth Brother also mentioned the rumor that Su Yiyi¡¯s disappearance is due to her stepmother¡¯s scheming. You found him covered in blood and in a critical condition. It seems that his stepmother is a dangerous person.¡± As he said this, he realized, ¡°Does he not contact us because he¡¯s afraid his stepmother will target us? And then use us to threaten him?¡± Xiao Jinli, It was quite rare for Gao Yanxin to come up with this notion. Gao Yanxin had a straightforward and cheerful personality, but sometimes his mind worked in a single track. Xiao Jinli shrugged and said, ¡°Maybe.¡± Gao Yanxin pondered for a moment, then asked, ¡°So, sister, should we take the initiative to contact him? Will that bring him any trouble?¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a while and said, ¡°Let¡¯s just contact him and tell him that we want to catch up.¡± In reality, she was just curious to know how Su Yichen would retaliate when faced with the whirlwind of wolves in front and tigers behind. Gao Yanxin¡¯s eyes lit up, and he immediately called Su Yichen. Su Yichen, who was in a meeting, saw the familiar phone number and was so excited that he almost jumped up. However, he calmly looked at the management staff below and said coldly, ¡°The meeting is over. Dismiss!¡± Everyone broke up immediately, curious about who had called and why it was so important, causing the meeting to end early. ¡°Yan Xin, okay, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Su Yichen said. After hanging up the phone, he walked out the door and told his secretary, ¡°I have a few things to do outside, if you need anything, just call me.¡± ¡°Alright, Vice President Su!¡± ¡°Alright, Vice President Su!¡± As soon as Su Yichen left, the two secretaries began to chat. ¡°Vice President Su is really getting more handsome.¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s not only handsome but also aloof, which has attracted a large number of women.¡± ¡°Ah, if I weren¡¯t married, I¡¯d be bowing down at the hem of his suit pants.¡± ¡°I would too if I didn¡¯t have children.¡± Soon after, the two secretaries exchanged glances and sighed softly, ¡°Ah, married too young!¡± Su Yichen drove away from the Xia Corporation. Xia Xinbei drove into the company and saw Su Yichen leaving, narrowing his eyes. Then, turning the steering wheel, he followed him. Although Su Yichen had moved out of the Xia family residence and into his own apartment, he was still a vice president in the Xia Corporation. As long as he was still a part of the Xia Family or the Xia Corporation, he was the eye of many who wanted to challenge him. With a sense of urgency, Su Yichen was not as cautious as usual, and naturally did not notice the tail that had followed him. Su Yichen¡¯s car pulled up directly to Old Man Huang¡¯s private restaurant. Xia Xinbei saw this and was displeased, thinking, ¡°Isn¡¯t this bastard hungry enough? It¡¯s afternoon and you¡¯ve come here to eat?¡± Upon rethinking, he thought, ¡°No, this restaurant doesn¡¯t serve customers in the middle of the afternoon. What is he doing here?¡± ¡°And this restaurant only serves top-tier patrons; it won¡¯t entertain guests in the afternoon. So, there must be something fishy about this bastard showing up here. Did he plan a secret meeting to plot against the Xia Family¡¯s property?¡± When he thought about this, Xia Xinbei felt frustrated. Ever since Su Yichen had joined the Xia Family, he had been like a comparison with everyone else. The old master would often sigh in front of them, saying that if his descendants had even half the business talent of Su Yichen, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry so much about them. As a result, Xia Xinbei¡¯s dislike for Su Yichen grew deeper every day. ¡°Humph, Su Yichen, I¡¯ve finally found your Achilles heel!¡± Xia Xinbei¡¯s mouth curled up into a satisfied expression. ¡°You¡¯re plotting with others to seize the Xia family¡¯s property. I¡¯ll tell the old master and see if he¡¯s still so close to you, you little bastard.¡± Seeing Su Yichen park the car, Xia Xinbei disguised himself and followed. However, when he got to the door, he was stopped by the waitress. The waitress smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, but the restaurant is currently closed for business, and we are not serving customers right now.¡± Xia Xinbei¡¯s expression darkened, and he asked directly, ¡°Clearly, I saw someone go in. Why aren¡¯t you serving customers?¡± The waitress said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that gentleman is a friend of our boss.¡± That¡¯s why he could go in. Xia Xinbei was annoyed. ¡°You¡¯re treating customers differently and discriminating against them. I want to file a complaint against your restaurant!¡± The waitress tugged at the corner of her mouth, maintaining a smile but with a cold tone, ¡°Suit yourself!¡± Anyway, it wasn¡¯t the first time their restaurant had received a complaint. However, it was the restaurant¡¯s prerogative to choose which customers to serve. Humph! Xia Xinbei, Su Yichen hurried to Xiao Jinli¡¯s private room, straightened his clothes and emotions, and knocked on the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± It was Gao Yanxin¡¯s voice. ¡°Yanxin, it¡¯s me!¡± Su Yichen replied. The door then opened. Gao Yanxin looked at him and said happily, ¡°That was fast, Su Yichen!¡± Chapter 253 - Chapter 253: Chapter 253: (First Update) Chapter 253: Chapter 253: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 When Gao Yanxin and Xiao Jinli came back from outside, they brought with them two large boxes. Two security guards each carried a big box and returned to Grandpa Jiang¡¯s yard. Grandpa Jiang and the others were playing chess in the yard, feeling slightly curious when they saw the two large boxes. ¡°What¡¯s this, girl?¡± Old Master Yuan asked. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°These are vegetables and fruits sent from my home for you grandfathers to taste today!¡± She spoke while unpacking the boxes. ¡°Oh, did you grow these yourself?¡± Elder Chen came over and immediately his eyes lit up at the sight of the fresh vegetables exposed inside the box. He exclaimed in amazement, ¡°These vegetables are so fresh!¡± ¡°Cousin Xin, go to the kitchen and get a basket to wash some tomatoes and cucumbers for the old masters,¡± Xiao Jinli said. ¡°The vegetables from our village taste exceptionally good. Our village vegetables are almost ready to be sold, so I asked my family to pick some and send them.¡± The other three old gentlemen also came over, saw the fresh vegetables in the box, shining green, bright red, and radiant green, making them drool at the sight. There were Chinese cabbages, chives, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and other common vegetables. ¡°These vegetables are really fresh. Girl, are all these grown by your family?¡± Grandpa Jiang asked, ¡°How many are you growing?¡± Xiao Jinli answered, ¡°I have planted five points of private land, and the village has planted more than 600 acres.¡± ¡°Ah, girl, what do you mean by that?¡± Elder Li asked with a puzzled face, ¡°Does your entire village plant vegetables? And what does your private land mean?¡± ¡°Our whole village grows vegetables. We even established a company,¡± Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°My private five points of land are for experimentation.¡± Grandpa Jiang and the others were confused, ¡°Wait a minute, girl, what exactly do you mean by that?¡± Grandpa Jiang inquired with confusion, ¡°Is your private land a testing ground? So these five points of land are for experimenting with growing vegetables? Is that what you mean?¡± Gao Yanxin laughed and said, ¡°Yes, Grandpa Jiang, that¡¯s what it means. Those five points of land are for my cousin¡¯s research on vegetable growing techniques. The whole Xiao Family Village plants vegetables relying on my cousin. You don¡¯t know how delicious these vegetables are.¡± After Gao Yanxin finished speaking, he took the basket of tomatoes and cucumbers to wash. After listening to Gao Yanxin¡¯s words, the old gentlemen exchanged glances, looking at Xiao Jinli in disbelief. Is this a child? Isn¡¯t this a monster? Such a young age, yet seems to know everything. ¡°Haha, so these vegetables were grown by our girl. We must have a good taste at noon,¡± Elder Chen said happily. ¡°Right, Xiao Li, we¡¯ll have lunch here at Old Jiang¡¯s today. Take the vegetables to the kitchen,¡± Old Master Yuan said with delight. Xiao Li responded, ¡°Alright!¡± After that, he carried a box into the kitchen. A moment later, Gao Yanxin brought out the washed tomatoes and cucumbers, giving them to the old masters, and laughed, ¡°These tomatoes are sweet and sour, you¡¯ll taste them, and they¡¯ll be delicious.¡± ¡°These tomatoes smell so good,¡± Elder Chen took a tomato and put it in his mouth, and said, ¡°Hmm, delicious, really delicious.¡± The others also took a bite, and their expressions were similar to that of Elder Chen. ¡°This tomato is really delicious, not only sweet and slightly sour but also fragrant. This pleasant smell is amazing,¡± Old Master Yuan said, ¡°I usually don¡¯t like tomatoes, and when eating them, I like dipping them in sugar. But eating them in this original way is surprisingly delicious.¡± ¡°Little Xin, give me a cucumber to taste,¡± After eating the tomato, Grandpa Jiang asked for a cucumber. Although Grandpa Jiang was old, he still had good teeth. ¡°Crunch!¡± He bit into the cucumber. The cucumber juice and its fragrance filled his entire mouth. ¡°Hmm, this cucumber is crispy and sweet, juicy, and has a faint fragrance. It¡¯s even more delicious than fruit,¡± Grandpa Jiang commented. ¡°Girl, how did you grow these vegetables? They taste so delicious!¡± ¡°Do all the other vegetables taste this good?¡± Elder Chen asked curiously. Gao Yanxin nodded, ¡°The other vegetables are also very delicious. My sister¡¯s vegetables, whether eaten raw or cooked, are great. You¡¯ll all know when you eat them at noon.¡± ¡°We must have a good taste at lunchtime!¡± They all thought that these vegetables were just ordinary farm-grown green vegetables, but they didn¡¯t expect them to taste so different. Gao Yanxin continued, ¡°These vegetable growing techniques were researched by my cousin. Now the whole village has begun planting vegetables, hoping to find a way to get rich.¡± ¡°If the vegetables in the village all taste this good, they must sell well!¡± Elder Li said with excitement. ¡°Girl, can I pre-order from you first?¡± ¡°Right, right, I want to pre-order too,¡± Old Master Yuan also said. Xiao Jinli was somewhat speechless, ¡°Old Masters, let¡¯s wait until you have lunch, then place your orders.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s wait until after we¡¯ve tasted them at noon, then we¡¯ll place our orders!¡± They all made up their minds that no matter how the vegetables were, they wanted to order some. However, during lunchtime, they became excited and expectant when they smelled the strong aroma of the food coming from the kitchen. Usually, the kitchen had an exhaust fan, so the smell should have been sucked out. But this aroma floated into the yard. ¡°This food smells so good!¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s so fragrant!¡± ¡°Just by smelling this, the vegetables taste better than meat.¡± Since their bodies had been conditioned by Xiao Jinli, they no longer needed to worry about restrictions, and they enjoyed big fish and meat like they used to in their younger years. Now, with a meal after meal of fish and meat, they would just take a digestion pill if they ate too much, and soon their stomachs would feel comfortable. At noon, it was time for the meal. The old masters were waiting at the dining table early. ¡°Xiao Li, hurry up, serve the dishes quickly,¡± Elder Chen urged. After a while, all the dishes were served. There were ten dishes on the dining table. Apart from the fried fish, braised pork, lamb chops, salt-baked chicken, and seafood that the old masters usually liked, there were stir-fried Chinese cabbage, scrambled eggs with chives, eggplant claypot, cold cucumber salad, and celery stir-fried with shredded pork. As soon as the old gentlemen saw these dishes, they ignored the meat they loved to eat, picked up their chopsticks, and started snacking on the vegetarian dishes. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s really so delicious. I¡¯ve been alive for so many decades, and this is the first time I¡¯ve tasted such delicious vegetables.¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s really so delicious.¡± Chapter 254 - Chapter 254: Chapter 254: (Second Update) Chapter 254: Chapter 254: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 A table full of food, and everyone rushed for the vegetables. As they looked at the empty plates with their chopsticks, they couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are there no more vegetables?¡± Gao Yanxin couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Old man, aren¡¯t there still a few plates of other dishes on the table?¡± These other dishes were previously the old men¡¯s favorite meat dishes, but now, not a single chopstick had touched them. Elder Jiang said, ¡°We¡¯ve eaten these dishes so often, they¡¯ve become somewhat tiresome.¡± Gao Yanxin, He didn¡¯t know if Elder Jiang was really tired of them, but whenever they ate together, any dish they ordered themselves was usually finished completely. ¡°That¡¯s right, eating too much meat isn¡¯t good for our health. From now on, let¡¯s eat less meat and more vegetables and fruits,¡± Old Master Chen said. Gao Yanxin, Ever since they stopped needing to be on a strict diet, the once meat-loving old masters were now advocating eating less meat and more vegetables. If he hadn¡¯t heard it for himself, he would have thought they had become different people. Old Master Yuan, Old Master Li, and now Old Master Zeng, who had come to mooch off a meal, nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, at our age, we should eat less meat and more vegetables and fruits.¡± Gao Yanxin, After just one meal at his cousin¡¯s home, their taste for food had changed. However, this was indeed expected. After all, he himself was an example. In the past, he didn¡¯t even like green vegetables, but now, as long as it was from Xiao Family Village, he loved it all. With the vegetables on the table gone, the old men were still craving more, so Elder Jiang immediately had people cook a few more plates of vegetables. Soon, the kitchen served up five more vegetarian dishes. After they finished these plates, they finally felt full. However, seeing the untouched meat dishes on the table, the always frugal old men frowned. They couldn¡¯t eat any more meat dishes. Elder Jiang said, ¡°Xiao Li, Xiao Zhang, take these dishes and eat them.¡± Xiao Li and Xiao Zhang didn¡¯t eat with the old men. Mainly because their tastes were different. The old men preferred lighter tastes, while the younger people preferred heavier tastes. Most of the time, these young people ate in the cafeteria. However, since the old men no longer needed to be on a strict diet, the taste of the dishes had become slightly heavier. After they had eaten their fill, the old men took a walk in the yard to help with digestion. Old Master Yuan smiled and asked, ¡°Girl, are the vegetables in your village all like this?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes. This year is the first time our Xiao Family Village has grown vegetables and established a company. The company¡¯s mission is to create pollution-free green food. However, the company¡¯s products haven¡¯t hit the market yet, and we don¡¯t have our own brand.¡± ¡°I see!¡± Old Master Yuan nodded, ¡°I remember you mentioning that your village is beautiful and picturesque, and a great place for recuperation, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°I¡¯m currently having the company plan to build a nursing home for guests.¡± Old Master Chen and the others thought about it seriously. After a while, Old Master Chen said, ¡°Girl, once Old Zeng¡¯s illness improves, I¡¯ll go visit your village.¡± A village that could raise such a crystal-clear child must be very beautiful. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯ll be more than welcome! Our village has not only beautiful scenery and fresh air, but also very good-hearted and simple people who are easy to get along with.¡± ¡°Ha ha, you¡¯re such a darling,¡± Old Master Yuan laughed, ¡°It¡¯s obvious that you love your hometown very much.¡± ¡°Yes, I love my hometown!¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t deny it. Gao Yanxin also chimed in, ¡°Grandpa Yuan, you don¡¯t know, in Xiao Family Village, from old to young, everyone loves my cousin. Even the dogs in the village only listen to my cousin. And on top of that, the whole village growing vegetables and establishing a company this year were all suggested by my cousin. The villagers invested land as shares and all supported her.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Old Master Li asked curiously, ¡°The whole village listens to a child?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gao Yanxin nodded, ¡°The villagers, old and young, all trust my cousin very much. Her prestige in the village surpasses that of the village head. Since she was young, she has helped handle village affairs, and the villagers often consult her on major issues.¡± The old masters were amazed. An entire village listening to a child, all growing vegetables and establishing a company wasn¡¯t child¡¯s play. Yet, everyone was so united and cohesive, following a child¡¯s lead. ¡°Girl, you¡¯re really something else.¡± Old Master Yuan praised, ¡°I¡¯m curious about how your brain works. You¡¯re smart and capable. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think you were a mature and steady adult.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Old Master Li nodded, ¡°She looks like an ordinary girl, but the things she does are extraordinary.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Grandpa Li, I just do what I can. My hometown has nurtured me, and the villagers love and trust me. I just wanted to help them find a way to get rich. At the same time, I¡¯m grateful to the people of my hometown for supporting and trusting me.¡± ¡°Kind villagers raise kind children.¡± Elder Jiang said, ¡°Girl, when Old Zeng fully recovers from his illness, I¡¯ll go visit your hometown.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°The villagers will definitely welcome the arrival of the old masters.¡± ¡°Ha ha ¡± Due to the delicious aroma from Elder Jiang¡¯s cooking at noon, even the dogs in the yard were attracted by the scent. Others in the courtyard thought that the aroma would only last for lunch, but when evening came, the aroma once again filled the entire nursing home, making many people restless. ¡°This seems to be coming from Elder Jiang¡¯s yard, what are they cooking? It was so fragrant at noon, and now it¡¯s even more so in the evening.¡± Old Master Ji said while walking, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a look.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go too.¡± Old Master An got up and said, ¡°Elder Jiang and the others are really inconsiderate. I heard that they¡¯ve been eating and drinking lavishly without any dietary restrictions.¡± ¡°Their bodies have been adjusted by a doctor, so they don¡¯t need to be on a strict diet anymore.¡± Old Master Ji said. Old Master An said, ¡°Previously, Old Yuan had brain cancer, and it was cured in just over a month. Now Old Zeng has pancreatic cancer, and the doctor who treated Old Yuan is treating him too. I heard his condition has improved significantly. The day before yesterday, I visited Old Zeng, and he had gone to the hospital to have another check-up. The doctor said that the activity of cancer cells in his body has significantly decreased, and after a period of treatment, he should be cured.¡± ¡°I heard that the doctor, not only has better medical skills than Doctor Jin, but is also a child.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go see the true face of this legendary doctor today.¡± Most importantly, they wanted the same doctor to adjust their bodies as well. Chapter 255 - Chapter 255: Chapter 255: (First Update) Chapter 255: Chapter 255: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Soon, in Elder Jiang¡¯s courtyard, seven or eight old fellows in their seventies and eighties arrived. Elder Jiang¡¯s face darkened, and he said unhappily, ¡°You guys, don¡¯t you have food in your own homes? You all ran to my house. We don¡¯t even have enough food for ourselves, let alone extra for you.¡± Old Master An said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s alright. If your food is not enough, I can have food sent from my house too. Just share a bit of your meals with us.¡± The food in Old Jiang¡¯s place was so fragrant that it wafted throughout the whole courtyard, and when walking into Old Jiang¡¯s small yard, the aroma was even more mouth-watering and refreshing, making them feel very comfortable. Old Master Ji nodded in agreement, ¡°What Old An said is correct, you are not prepared, but we are. Come on, let¡¯s join tables.¡± Elder Jiang was speechless. Of course, Elder Jiang wouldn¡¯t really let them bring food from their homes, so he had the kitchen prepare another table. It didn¡¯t matter if the meal was a little late. Gao Yanxin was really eye-opening this time. He had never imagined that these old heroes would be so thick-skinned just for a bite to eat. After more than half an hour, another table of dishes was ready. Since it was late, the kitchen didn¡¯t have time to prepare any meat dishes, and only vegetables were left. However, after enjoying the vegetables in the morning, the old masters specifically instructed them not to prepare any more meat dishes and just cook a few more vegetarian dishes. Usually, lighter meals are eaten in the evening, and many times they don¡¯t even cook any meat dishes. But recently, having indulged their appetites, they even cooked meat dishes in the evening. But tonight, they wanted to eat light vegetarian dishes. Old Masters Ji, An, Zhou, and several other old men who were attracted to Elder Jiang¡¯s courtyard by the fragrance, saw the colorful and delicious dishes on the dining table and couldn¡¯t help salivating. Old Master An asked, ¡°Old Jiang, did your family change chefs? Why do the dishes smell so good?¡± ¡°Yes, the aroma can be smelled from far away.¡± ¡°Let me taste it first!¡± ¡°Mmm, it¡¯s delicious.¡± Seeing this, the others immediately began eating, not even bothering to speak anymore. As soon as they talked, the dishes on the plate would be snatched away by others. Gao Yanxin, These old masters, one by one, had no image. They wolfed down the food, and in no time, the dishes on the two tables were all devoured. After finishing the dishes on the table, they all still seemed unsatisfied. Old Master Ji said with a smile, ¡°Old Jiang, do you have any more of these dishes? We are still not full. Can you cook some more?¡± Elder Jiang, These thick-skinned old fellows, don¡¯t they know that they are guests when they come to someone else¡¯s house? And they are still demanding food directly from the host, what a disgrace. However, Elder Jiang still smiled and said, ¡°Why do you need to eat so much at night? It¡¯s healthier to be just half-full.¡± Old Master An said, ¡°Old Jiang, did your family really change the chef? I remember Master Zhang¡¯s cooking skills were not bad. Which better chef did you change to?¡± Elder Jiang said, ¡°You¡¯re wrong, I didn¡¯t change the chef!¡± ¡°Haha, you didn¡¯t change the chef?¡± Old Master An said with slight surprise, ¡°Then Master Zhang¡¯s cooking skills have really improved. Old Jiang, can you lend Master Zhang to me to cook for me, so I can satisfy my cravings?¡± ¡°Old An, you¡¯re wrong again.¡± Old Master Yuan smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s not that Master Zhang¡¯s cooking skills have improved, but the ingredients are better.¡± Old Master Ji asked in confusion, ¡°Old Yuan, what do you mean?¡± Old Master Yuan smiled without answering and instructed Gao Yanxin, ¡°Xiao Gao, go wash some tomatoes and cucumbers.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Gao Yanxin immediately agreed. After dinner, everyone gathered in the yard, chatting. After a while, Gao Yanxin brought out two fruit platters, one with tomatoes and the other with cucumbers, looking fresh and juicy. Elder Jiang laughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t say I have good things and don¡¯t share them with you old fellows. Old Ji, you guys try these tomatoes and cucumbers.¡± Old Master Ji and Old Master An, both with skeptical looks, took a tomato each, sniffed it, and smiled, ¡°It smells delicious!¡± Although both of them didn¡¯t like raw tomatoes, they smelled so good that they wanted to try them. They took a bite. They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with amazement and disbelief. This tomato tasted so different from the ones they had eaten before, with a strong, fragrant, sweet, and sour flavor. One bite and they knew it was unforgettable. And then, without minding their image, they quickly finished eating a tomato each. Next, their gazes turned to the other fruit plate filled with cucumbers. They each took a cucumber. ¡°Crunch,¡± they each took a bite. Crispy, sweet, and juicy. ¡°It¡¯s delicious! It¡¯s even better than fruit!¡± ¡°Tell me, Old Jiang, where did your family get these?¡± asked Old Master Ji curiously. Old Jiang, looking pleased, said with a smile, ¡°Hehe¡­, they were given to us by my granddaughter.¡± By ¡°us,¡± of course, he meant the old masters who usually gathered together. He said this to show Xiao Jinli¡¯s respect and filial piety toward them. ¡°Your granddaughter?¡± Old Master Ji and Old Master An turned their eyes to Xiao Jinli. In this courtyard, Xiao Jinli was the only girl. Old Jiang laughed and said, ¡°Little Li, come and greet the old masters!¡± Xiao Jinli respectfully replied, ¡°Little Li greets Grandfather An, Grandfather Ji ¡­¡± She greeted each of the seven or eight unfamiliar old masters in the courtyard one by one. ¡°Old Jiang, congratulations! You got a granddaughter and fulfilled your wishes.¡± All the old masters came forward one by one to congratulate him. ¡°Your granddaughter is really beautiful and well-behaved. You are truly blessed.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that right? Being her grandfather is my good fortune.¡± ¡°Old Jiang, I heard that your granddaughter is a doctor, a very skilled one at that. She cured Old Yuan¡¯s illness, and now she is treating Old Zeng¡¯s illness. I¡¯ve observed Old Zeng¡¯s condition getting better every day.¡± Old Master Ji said. That was also the reason he had the nerve to come to Elder Jiang¡¯s courtyard today. He wanted someone to have a look at his body. Seeing the daily improvement in Old Jiang and the others¡¯ health, and hearing that they no longer needed to control their diet, he was envious. Old Jiang smiled and said, ¡°My granddaughter is outstanding. Her medical skills are indeed excellent. Our health has all been improved by her care.¡± He didn¡¯t mention letting Xiao Jinli check them out. Old Master Ji looked at Xiao Jinli and said with a smile, ¡°Girl, can I ask you to take my pulse and see how I should adjust my body?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes! Please stretch out your hand!¡± For each of the old heroes in the nursing home, Xiao Jinli held them in high regard. In fact, she had been staying at Elder Jiang¡¯s courtyard these past few days, just waiting for these people to visit. Chapter 256 - Chapter 256: Chapter 256: (Second Update) Chapter 256: Chapter 256: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 After taking Old Master Ji¡¯s pulse, Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Elder Ji, your body is not in bad shape, just some common geriatric illnesses like high blood pressure and a mild case of gastroenteritis. Your body is quite good.¡± Upon hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, Old Master Ji secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was Xiao Jinli who diagnosed Old Master Yuan¡¯s brain cancer and Elder Zeng¡¯s late-stage pancreatic cancer, not the hospital or Doctor Jin. As a result, the elderly cadres in the nursing home were all panicking. Whenever someone coughed or felt dizzy, they would doubt whether they had contracted a serious illness. However, going to the hospital for a check-up would require a lot of hassle, and even if there were no problems, the trouble itself might cause illness. Now, everyone wanted to go to Elder Jiang¡¯s courtyard and let his granddaughter take their pulse. But there wasn¡¯t a proper reason to go, and not every person in the big courtyard had a good relationship with Old Jiang¡¯s family, and some of them belonged to rival families. In the past few days, Old Master Ji had been feeling a bit dizzy and uncomfortable in his abdomen, so he thought about coming over to have a look. Now that he had heard Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, he was a little relieved but still asked, ¡°Doctor Xiao, I¡¯ve had some dizziness and abdominal pain these two days, especially nausea in the morning when I wake up.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Elder Ji, have you been worrying too much these past few days?¡± Upon hearing this, Old Master Ji immediately understood and asked, ¡°So you mean, my symptoms were caused by anxiety and worry?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Haven¡¯t you been having trouble sleeping and eating during these days?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Old Master Ji did not hide the truth. These past few days, he had been worried about his health, and the more he worried, the more sleep seemed to evade him. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Grandfather Ji, you can rest assured that your body is quite good. I will prescribe you two herbal formulas to regulate your body.¡± Old Master Ji asked somewhat anxiously, ¡°What about my high blood pressure and gastroenteritis?¡± ¡°They will be cured together!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Your body is quite good, and your geriatric diseases are not severe. You only need to take the medicine for seven days, and you don¡¯t need acupuncture or herbal baths to cure some of the old illnesses in your body.¡± Upon hearing this, Old Master Ji felt relieved. He nodded and said, ¡°Alright, thank you so much.¡± Afterwards, Xiao Jinli took the pulses of the other elderly men one by one. The symptoms that Xiao Jinli diagnosed after taking their pulses were basically the same as the diagnoses made by the hospital and Doctor Jin. Apart from some geriatric diseases and chronic old illnesses, no one had any serious illnesses, just varying degrees of severity. Some people had slightly more severe illnesses and needed acupuncture and herbal baths, while others had milder illnesses and only needed to take a few prescriptions. After Xiao Jinli¡¯s round of pulse-taking, the old men who came were all relieved. The elderly men who came here didn¡¯t doubt Xiao Jinli¡¯s medical skills. By the time they sent all the elderly men away, it was already 10 o¡¯clock at night. Looking at his somewhat haggard granddaughter, Old Master Jiang said with concern, ¡°Little Li, you¡¯ve really worked hard. If you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll drive them away if they ever come knocking again.¡± His granddaughter¡¯s excellent medical skills and recognition from others made him very happy and proud. However, seeing his granddaughter so tired, he couldn¡¯t help but feel heartbroken. Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m fine. In the future, if someone comes to visit, let¡¯s make appointments in advance.¡± Elder Jiang immediately agreed, ¡°Yes, make appointments first!¡± There are several hundred elderly cadres in the entire nursing home. If they all heard the news and came knocking one after another, Xiao Jinli would certainly be overwhelmed with work. Moreover, she didn¡¯t plan to stay in the capital for a long time, and she certainly couldn¡¯t stay in Elder Jiang¡¯s yard for the long term. She planned to go home after Elder Zeng no longer needed acupuncture and herbal baths. The village¡¯s crops were about to hit the market, and she needed to go back and oversee things. No matter how far she went, her family and hometown would always be her greatest concerns. The next day, Old Master Ji and Old Master An came. They brought their gratitude gifts with them. Old Master Ji said with great pleasure, ¡°Girl, it¡¯s been so long since I slept as well as I did last night. Your medical skills are really amazing!¡± He gave a thumbs up and praised, ¡°Truly a miraculous medical skill.¡± Last night, after Xiao Jinli took his pulse, she gave him a pill, saying that it would help him sleep. That night, he slept soundly and didn¡¯t even wake up in the middle of the night. In the past, he would get up at least once a night. Old Master An also said, ¡°I slept very well last night too. Young girl, your superb medical skills at such a young age are truly admirable.¡± He had been a battlefield hero all his life and had only admired a few people, but now he sincerely admired Xiao Jinli. He had said that Doctor Jin had good medical skills, but he never said he admired him. He thought that a good doctor¡¯s medical skills were simply part of his job and responsibility. Doctor Jin¡¯s medical skills were good, but they were also built up over time. But Xiao Jinli¡¯s medical skills were truly a combination of talent and hard work. After all, she was only a teenager, just a child. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°I am a doctor, and it is my duty to heal patients.¡± Old Master Ji took out a property certificate and said, ¡°Girl, I don¡¯t have anything valuable on me. I have a house in the capital, and I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± With that, he handed the property certificate to Xiao Jinli. Xiao Jinli took the property certificate and opened it to take a look. It was a 150-square-meter house in the Second Ring Business Center of the capital city. Gao Yanxin¡¯s mouth hung open in surprise. In the land-scarce capital city, you had to have considerable wealth to buy a house, which was like climbing to the sky. Ordinary houses in the fifth and sixth rings cost several million each, let alone the commercial center in the second ring where the housing prices reached over a hundred thousand per square meter. Old Master Ji¡¯s house covered a large area, so the value was at least 15 million yuan. He didn¡¯t even blink before giving it away, and Gao Yanxin couldn¡¯t help but admire. From what Gao Yanxin knew, he thought that Xiao Jinli would refuse the offer. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Grandfather Ji, I will accept it then.¡± Seeing Xiao Jinli accepting the house, Old Master Ji finally put his heart at ease. He said, ¡°I¡¯m glad you can accept it.¡± Wealth is something that doesn¡¯t come with birth or death. He would rather live a few more good years. As long as Xiao Jinli accepted his things, she would naturally treat his body with care. Of course, his previous work environment had instilled a certain amount of suspicion in him, and he was unable to change even after retiring for ten to twenty years. Old Master An gave Xiao Jinli a high-grade glass jadeite bracelet, worth two or three million yuan. Xiao Jinli still accepted it. With curiosity in his heart, Gao Yanxin wondered why his cousin would accept such valuable thank you gifts from them. After that, other elderly men came one after another, each bringing their own thank you gifts. Most of the thank you gifts were worth over a million yuan. Gao Yanxin¡¯s mouth hung open, thinking to himself, ¡°My cousin suddenly became a multi-millionaire.¡± Chapter 257 - Chapter 257: Chapter 257: (First Update) Chapter 257: Chapter 257: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Half a month later, Elder Zeng¡¯s condition had greatly improved, and he no longer needed acupuncture and herbal baths. Xiao Jinli planned to go home. When Elder Jiang and others heard that Xiao Jinli was going home, they unanimously expressed their wish to visit her hometown. As for whether they would convalesce in the village, they would decide later. Before Xiao Jinli went home, she met with Su Yichen alone. Gao Yanxin suspiciously asked, ¡°Cousin, are you sure you don¡¯t want me to accompany you to see Su Yichen?¡± Since their last meeting, due to Su Yichen¡¯s situation, they hadn¡¯t seen each other and had only communicated via phone. Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go alone.¡± Gao Yanxin nodded, ¡°Alright then.¡± Xiao Jinli went straight to Xia Corporation. Dressed simply, Xiao Jinli arrived at the reception and said, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m here to see Mr. Su.¡± ¡°May I ask Miss, do you have an appointment with Mr. Su?¡± the receptionist asked with a smile. Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Yes.¡± The receptionist said, ¡°Please wait a moment!¡± Then, she made a phone call. After hanging up, she said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Mr. Su is in his office. Please follow me.¡± The receptionist led her to the elevator. Just as she entered the elevator, Lan Mingyue approached the receptionist, her face slightly unpleasant, and asked, ¡°Was that woman just now here to see Brother Su?¡± The receptionist replied with a grin, ¡°Miss Lan, I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t divulge that.¡± Lan Mingyue glared at her, about to lose her temper, but then she solemnly took a deep breath and said, ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll go find Brother Su myself.¡± With that, she walked towards the elevator. The receptionist quickly stepped forward to stop her and said politely and courteously, ¡°Miss Lan, do you have an appointment with Mr. Su?¡± Lan Mingyue was instantly enraged. She bellowed, ¡°Look at me clearly, who am I? I am Mr. Su¡¯s girlfriend. Do I need an appointment to see my boyfriend? Move aside!¡± The receptionist still politely said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Miss Lan, but we have orders from above. Anyone who wants to see Mr. Su must make an appointment first!¡± She deliberately emphasized the words ¡°anyone¡±. Pointing towards the elevator, Lan Mingyue loudly asked, ¡°What about the woman who just went in? Why didn¡¯t you stop her?¡± The receptionist explained, ¡°The lady has an appointment with Mr. Su!¡± Lan Mingyue¡¯s complexion changed instantly. She didn¡¯t expect Xiao Jinli had made an appointment with Su Yichen in advance. They must be getting together while she wasn¡¯t around. Hmph, that vixen Xiao Jinli thought she could seduce Su Yichen, how delusional. Lan Mingyue said coldly, ¡°I¡¯ll call my boyfriend!¡± As Lan Mingyue mentioned the word ¡°boyfriend¡± repeatedly, the receptionist¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of sarcasm. This woman always termed herself as Mr. Su¡¯s girlfriend, but the fact was that Mr. Su had never acknowledged her. On the contrary, he was quite annoyed by her and shooed her away every time. But she was thick-skinned, each time as she was chased away, she acted as if it wasn¡¯t her. Even after being kicked out this time, she¡¯d return next time. As expected, Lan Mingyue couldn¡¯t get through to Su Yichen¡¯s phone, which pissed her off. She glanced at the elevator, and when the receptionist wasn¡¯t looking, she ran towards it. As soon as the elevator opened, she planned to rush inside. To her surprise, it was occupied by Su Yichen and Xiao Jinli. The color on Lan Mingyue¡¯s face changed once again, she looked at Xiao Jinli with resentment in her eyes. Feeling wronged, she called out, ¡°Brother Su, I came to see you, but your receptionist stopped me.¡± Su Yichen couldn¡¯t be bothered to answer her. He said to Xiao Jinli instead, ¡°Little sister, beware of the dog that bites!¡± Lan Mingyue¡¯s face turned pale instantly. She never expected Su Yichen to call her a dog, she was seething with resentment. With gritted teeth, Lan Mingyue asked, ¡°Brother Su, how could you say such a thing about me?¡± Su Yichen retorted coldly, ¡°What did I call you?¡± ¡°You said I I am¡­¡± Lan Mingyue was unable to say the word ¡®dog¡¯. ¡°Did I call you a dog, didn¡¯t I?¡± Xiao Jinli replied with a smirk, ¡°You¡¯re the one who took it personally and admitted to being a dog that bites people. Who are you blaming? ¡± Fuming, Lan Mingyue launched into a tirade, ¡°I am talking to Brother Su, what business is it of yours, you lowlife? If it weren¡¯t for you, Brother Su would still treat me like his own sister. It¡¯s all because of you ¨C you vixen! You seduced my Ninth Brother and now you¡¯re trying to seduce Brother Su, you wench!¡± ¡°Slap!¡± Xiao Jinli raised her hand and slapped Lan Mingyue across the face, her little face expressing cold anger, she said coldly: ¡°I have a bad temper. If I hear something I don¡¯t like, I don¡¯t hesitate to take action.¡± The first time Lan Mingyue called her a vixen, Su Yichen and Jiang Xile defended her. She remained silent. But this time, even with Su Yichen present, she had to teach Lan Mingyue a lesson. ¡°Brother Su, she she hit me!¡± Lan Mingyue, covering her bruised face, said to Su Yichen with a wronged expression, ¡°Whimpering I¡¯ve never been touched by my parents and she she hit me?¡± Lan Mingyue was genuinely aggrieved this time. It was indeed the first time she had been slapped by someone. However, Su Yichen simply despised her. How could he possibly act tenderly towards her? He said coldly, ¡°Miss Lan, you should be taught how to speak properly. Little Sister Jinli, let¡¯s go!¡± The two of them walked away, leaving Lan Mingyue behind. The receptionists watched this spectacle, their eyes wide. Such a drama was not a common occurrence. Lan Mingyue watched their retreating figures, to be precise, she was staring at the back of Xiao Jinli, her eyes filled with malice. She vowed to make this woman pay a thousand-fold. Su Yichen and Xiao Jinli arrived at a private dining room in a restaurant. Xiao Jinli glanced at the CCTV camera, and Xiao Zhi promptly turned it off. After ordering the food, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Brother Siquan, I have to go back tomorrow.¡± Su Yichen¡¯s eyes immediately revealed reluctance, he restrained his feelings and said, ¡°All right. Then, I¡¯ll order some delicious dishes for this meal; you should eat well.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Alright, I will eat well! Brother Siquan, how far along are you with your revenge?¡± Xiao Jinli asked very straightforwardly. Su Yichen was taken aback by the directness of her question. He opened his mouth but then glanced at where the CCTV camera would be. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the CCTV camera is turned off right now.¡± Su Yichen, When was it turned off? He wasn¡¯t aware. However, Su Yichen knew that when Xiao Jinli said the CCTV was off, then it was indeed off. He let out a bitter smile and said, ¡°I originally wanted to use the Xia Corporation to show my capabilities so that Su Xiangdong would beg me to come back. However, it seems like the Xia Family is also coveting the inheritance in my hands. At the same time, I feel that my maternal grandfather is exploiting me to gain my trust and to let me see the development of the company. Then, he wants to use the inheritance in my hands to inject funds into the company for operational and investment purposes.¡± Many times, he was left wondering, is he destined not to have any kinship in his life? Chapter 258 - Chapter 258: Chapter 258: (Second Update) Chapter 258: Chapter 258: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Since setting foot in the Xia Family, he truly felt the dilemma of being caught between a rock and a hard place. In just a few words, he learned from his eldest uncle that the Xia Family was also eyeing his biological mother¡¯s inheritance. He calmly dealt with them, using his current amnesia as an excuse not to touch his biological mother¡¯s inheritance. However, in the Xia Family, Old Master Xia wanted him to willingly hand over his mother¡¯s inheritance, so he directly allowed Su Yichen to work in his own company and gave him a deputy general manager position with real power, showing his sincerity. In fact, Old Master Xia¡¯s strategy was simple: conquer the heart! Just like with Su Xiangdong¡¯s family, as long as he had conquered their sincerity, they would faithfully offer up his mother¡¯s inheritance. But Su Yichen had already been fooled once and would not be fooled again. After experiencing a life-and-death ordeal, he could now distinguish who was sincere and who was deceitful. Xiao Jinli looked at him with a sympathetic expression, and then comforted him, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just be yourself now! Your mother¡¯s revenge and your hatred are not things that can be resolved overnight. As long as you can keep yourself safe, take it slow, it¡¯s not a problem.¡± Su Yichen nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, I will.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°My parents, knowing I came to the Capital City, asked me to check on your situation, and they¡¯re really worried about you!¡± Su Yichen hardly called Father and Mother Xiao for fear of implicating Xiao Family Village. He was afraid that if someone took his cell phone to the telecommunications company to check his records, it would cause trouble. Su Yichen¡¯s eyes reddened, and he choked, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for worrying Uncle and Auntie. When you go back, tell them I¡¯m doing well and ask them not to worry!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll let them know.¡± Then, Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°Brother Siquan, do you need my help?¡± Su Yichen¡¯s expression faltered, and he said, ¡°No, I want to take my revenge personally.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Okay!¡± Next, Xiao Jinli took out a USB drive and said to him, ¡°Brother Siquan, I have some data from Su Corporation and Xia Corporation here. You can take it. How to deal with the things in here and how to use them is up to you.¡± These data were, of course, copied from their company¡¯s computer by Xiao Zhi. Surprised, Su Yichen didn¡¯t ask any questions but just took it and said, ¡°Okay!¡± Xiao Family After arranging five or six rooms, Mother Xiao said, ¡°Husband, are six rooms enough? Should I ask Little Husband¡¯s Younger Brother to help out and make two more rooms available? Little Bao said that there are four old masters and several people taking care of them, totaling more than ten people.¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°Little Bao said six rooms should be about right. We can arrange things after they arrive.¡± Mother Xiao nodded and said, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll have Xuan¡¯er prepare more meat.¡± Xiao Wanshan said, ¡°For the meat, just buy it from the company. Chickens, ducks, fish, geese, pigs, and cows are already available for sale. No need to buy from outside.¡± As he spoke, Xiao Wanshan paused and said, ¡°Little Bao said those several old gentlemen love our vegetables here. So, just prepare more vegetables to serve when it¡¯s time.¡± Mother Xiao nodded her head and said, ¡°Alright.¡± Now most people in the village don¡¯t need to go out to buy pork and beef. They raise chickens and ducks at home. The company now kills a pig every day to sell to the people in the village or surrounding villages. One pig a day, weighing over 200 jin (Chinese weight unit), is actually not enough to sell. The pigs raised by the company have tender meat because they are fed the old vegetables from the fields. The meat has no gamey taste and is deliciously fragrant and irresistible when cooked. The people in the village have come to love such pork. Especially for those who used to be frugal, they used to eat meat only a few times a year at home. But after tasting the pork raised by the company, they can¡¯t get enough. Even the most frugal people will buy some meat to cook at home and satisfy their appetite. The company kills only one pig a day, so there isn¡¯t enough meat to sell. Therefore, everyone goes early to the company¡¯s slaughterhouse to wait. People from nearby villages also come early to buy a taste of the pork here. Luckily, the company kills one pig every day. If they don¡¯t get it today, they can come back tomorrow to buy. However, it¡¯s hard for families with children. They can¡¯t be happy without meat in every meal. If there¡¯s no meat, they won¡¯t eat. As a result, in order for their children to eat, people from other villages try very hard. They start lining up as early as 4 or 5 o¡¯clock in the morning. Of course, there¡¯s one thing: the company kills a pig every day and sells it at a fair price, which is a benefit to the villagers. Each day there is a limit to purchasing. As for people from other villages, they are treated separately. Naturally, many people from other villages will ask relatives from Xiao Family Village to buy on their behalf. Besides, people from other villages also have their eyes on the chickens, ducks, and fish raised by the company. They heard that the company was willing to sell them individually. Therefore, people came from time to time to buy. So, the company sells at least 30 to 40 chickens and ducks every day. The fish is caught by angling and sells 200 to 300 jin (Chinese weight unit) every day. However, you must book in advance to buy the fish. But when it comes to weddings and funerals, sales will be even higher. As for the sale of geese, it¡¯s even less. Firstly, because the price is more expensive, and the weight is heavy. Ordinary villagers can¡¯t afford to buy geese unless they have family functions or invite relatives and friends over. Buying a goose can cost several hundred yuan. Who wouldn¡¯t feel the pinch of money? As for the vegetables in Xiao Family Village, the villagers have their plots of land for their daily consumption and don¡¯t need to buy from the company. People from outside can buy them, but the price is slightly more expensive than ordinary vegetables. But when they reach The Town, the price of these vegetables is different. However, although all the company¡¯s products have reached their marketable period, external sales have not yet begun. Because they are waiting for Xiao Jinli. Everyone hopes that when these products start selling, Xiao Jinli can witness the scene with her own eyes. At the same time, only when Xiao Jinli is there, their mood seems to be more stable. Xiao Jinli is the heart-stabilizing pill for them all. When Grandpa Jiang and the other old men arrived at Xiao Family Village and saw the endless green crops as soon as they entered the village, they were slightly surprised. They already knew from Xiao Jinli that the whole village of Xiao Family Village was growing vegetables. But seeing it with their own eyes, they were still very astonished. Because the vegetables here are just so beautiful ¨C clusters of watery, green, and adorable plants made people want to take a bite of them right there in the field. Among the people who delivered the several old men to the village were not only caretakers but also security personnel. So, when a row of cars entered Xiao Family Village, it was quite spectacular. ¡°Why are so many cars coming to the village? Is it a boss coming to buy something?¡± a villager wondered. ¡°I heard that Jinli is coming back to the village today, and she brought a lot of guests with her. Could this be Jinli and her guests?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go and have a look!¡± Chapter 259 - Chapter 259: Chapter 259: (First Update) Chapter 259: Chapter 259: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Several old gentlemen finally saw with their own eyes the extent to which Xiao Jinli was liked in Xiao Family Village. Before they arrived home, the villagers had heard that Xiao Jinli was returning, and all of them came to greet her with snacks that she liked. ¡°Jinli, you¡¯re back. Auntie knew you were coming back today, so I made your favorite Tang Ciba this morning. Here, eat some while it¡¯s still fresh.¡± As she spoke, she handed Xiao Jinli a bag filled with the glutinous rice cakes. ¡°Jinli, these are the beef meatballs Auntie made this morning with our own cattle. They are delicious.¡± ¡°Jinli ¡± All of them were gathered around Jinli. ¡°Jinli, you¡¯ve grown taller and prettier in these two months.¡± ¡°Yes, our Jinli is getting prettier. They say girls change a lot when they become eighteen, and they just get prettier.¡± ¡°Jinli, our village¡¯s vegetables are about to go on sale, and everyone was waiting for your return.¡± The guards who came to look after the four old gentlemen couldn¡¯t hide their surprise at the situation. They knew some children were well-liked by village people. However, they had never seen a child being liked to this extent, being pampered and cared about by everyone, even the big event of the whole village¡¯s sale of vegetables had to wait for the child to return before starting to sell. Now they finally understood why Doctor Xiao had been longing to return home while living in Capital City. Among the guests who came today were people from the Jiang family, one of whom was Jiang Zhenping, the third son of Grandpa Jiang, and another was Jiang Xile. Others from the Jiang family also wanted to come, but they were too busy with their jobs and couldn¡¯t spare the time. Well, all of the men and women in the Jiang family have their own work, and none of them stayed at home as a dutiful wife and a good mother. Jiang Xile exclaimed in astonishment, ¡°My goodness, our little sister is really popular.¡± Gao Yanxin said beside him, ¡°Yes, my cousin is the treasure of the village, and everyone loves her.¡± Jiang Zhenping curiously asked, ¡°Our niece really has charm. But why does she receive the love and affection of all the villagers?¡± For the first time they saw Jinli, the adoptive granddaughter that the old master had recognized, they also liked her. She was beautiful, smart, and had a high level of medical skills, which made her a perfect girl. None of the Jiang family objected to the old master¡¯s choice of adoptive granddaughter. Although Xiao Jinli hadn¡¯t visited the Jiang family and formally met with the Jiang family members, each of them had sent her a gift. After hearing Jiang Zhenping¡¯s question, a child nearby said, ¡°Sister Jin Li is really smart. She can solve so many problems for everyone.¡± Jiang Zhenping¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed, feeling confused. It was not surprising that Xiao Jinli could solve many problems for the villagers and be well-liked by the adults. However, the children who surrounded Xiao Jinli were holding her hands and feet and crying pitifully, ¡°Sister Jin Li, where have you been? I hic haven¡¯t seen you in such a long time. Boo-hoo ¡± ¡°Sister Jin Li, when you¡¯re not in the village, Little Flower is so listless. She misses you, and so do I.¡± ¡°Boo-hoo, Sister Jin Li, I clean myself up every day, hoping you will come back soon. Where have you been? Why has it been so long?¡± Seeing the almost uncontrollable scene, the guests from Capital City were speechless. Had they all been overlooked by everyone? Xiao Jinli coaxed and comforted the crying children with a gentle voice, then said to the villagers, ¡°Dear uncles, aunts, I, Xiao Jinli, am back. Thank you for your thoughts. We have guests at our house today, so please feel free to sit in our yard.¡± ¡°Haha, Jinli, you have guests at your house today, you guys should focus on entertaining them, and we won¡¯t join in the fun. Wanshan, Xiaofang, if you need any help, just let us know!¡± Xiao Wanshan, who had been pushed outside by the kids, replied, ¡°Okay, thank you everyone!¡± Once everyone had seen Xiao Jinli and made sure she was safe and sound, they disbanded and went back to work. Now it was harvest season, everyone was taking extra care of their crops in the fields. As the adults dispersed, the children followed Xiao Jinli closely, forming her little entourage. Xiao Jinli took out the snacks and toys she had bought from Capital City from her car and distributed them one by one to the children, saying, ¡°Niuniu, Nini, Gouwa, Third Child ¡± The children, who had received their snacks and toys, immediately turned around and went to share them with their friends. Xiao Jinli wiped the sweat off her forehead and muttered to herself, ¡°These kids are really hard to please.¡± Afterward, she walked over to her family and said with a smile, ¡°Grandfather, Grandma, maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, Mom, Dad, I¡¯m back now.¡± ¡°Good, good, it¡¯s good to be back!¡± The four elderly people said excitedly. But Grandma Xiao and Xiao Jinli¡¯s maternal grandmother hugged her, their eyes red, and cried out, ¡°My good baby, it¡¯s good to have you back!¡± It¡¯s important to note that when Xiao Wanshan and his wife first told them that Xiao Jinli had almost been in an accident on the airplane, the four elderly people, who didn¡¯t have any heart problems, almost developed heart problems from the shock. Xiao Jinli felt guilty and said, ¡°Grandma, maternal grandmother, I¡¯m sorry that I made you worry.¡± In the hearts of the elderly, Xiao Jinli has never traveled alone before. But when she did for the first time, she almost had an accident, and afterwards, she was alone in Capital City thousands of miles away. Well, Gao Yanxin was left out. ¡°It¡¯s okay, as long as you¡¯re safe.¡± Xiao Jinli hugged Grandpa Xiao and her maternal grandfather, saying, ¡°Grandfather, maternal grandfather, I made you both worry.¡± ¡°Good, good, as long as you come back safely.¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t forget that several important guests had also come to their home. She quickly introduced them to her family, ¡°This is Grandpa Chen, this is Grandfather Li, this is Grandpa Yuan, and this is Grandpa Jiang.¡± Everyone greeted the other three old gentlemen and then immediately focused their gaze on Elder Jiang. Undoubtedly, everyone was aware of the fact that Xiao Jinli had found herself an adoptive grandfather in Capital City. ¡°Sweetheart, is this the adoptive grandfather you found in Capital City?¡± Grandpa Xiao asked. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, Grandfather, Grandpa Jiang has been very kind to me.¡± After speaking, she introduced Jiang Zhenping and Jiang Xile, saying, ¡°This is Uncle Jiang San and this is Brother Jiang Jiu.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s introduction was meant to help everyone better understand their identities. In front of all these people, Jiang Xile was the youngest in terms of generation. He immediately greeted everyone politely, ¡°Grandpa Xiao, Grandma Xiao, maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, Uncle, Aunt, I am Jiang Xile, now I¡¯m the Ninth Brother of my sister. I have eight older brothers, but due to work, they couldn¡¯t make it here. I¡¯m taking the place of my eight older brothers to greet all the elders here.¡± ¡°Good, good, he¡¯s a good child.¡± Chapter 260 - Chapter 260: Chapter 260: (Second Update) Chapter 260: Chapter 260: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao Family has plenty of rooms in their home, so when the four old gentlemen from the capital arrived, they moved straight in. Each of the four old gentlemen had his own room, but an extra, slightly smaller bed was set up in each room for those who might need to take care of them during the night. Even though their health had been restored by Xiao Jinli, they were old, and unexpected things might happen. All of them are treasures and must be taken care of carefully. Old Chen looked around at the clean and tidy Xiao Family home, his eyes revealing his satisfaction as he said, ¡°Girl, your house is really nice!¡± The house of Xiao Family is beautiful and clean, and it has many rooms. What made them most delighted was the food cooked by Xiao¡¯s mother, which was flavorful, aromatic, and even better than the food made by a five-star chef. Good ingredients were one reason, but a chef with good culinary skills could bring out more surprising flavors in the food. So, during their first meal at the Xiao Family, the four old gentlemen fought for food. ¡°The meat here is really good, tender, and without a hint of a gamey taste, and it¡¯s so flavorful, it¡¯s delicious,¡± said one. After tasting the vegetables sent by Xiao Family, Old Chen and the others had practically become vegetarians. In the past, they were not satisfied unless they had meat. Now, they are not satisfied unless they have vegetables. It doesn¡¯t matter after eating, Xiao Jinli can send more from home. Letting them eat ordinary vegetables now feels like feeding them pig food. ¡°Girl, are you saying that this chicken and pork are also raised in your village?¡± Chen¡¯s old master asked with mild surprise. ¡°Yes. To be precise, they are raised by our company. Our company has set up breeding farms for chickens, ducks, fish, geese, pigs, and cattle,¡± Jinli nodded, ¡°We will consider expanding production and adding more breeds in the future. But the Green Fresh Company is just starting up, so we have to take it slow.¡± ¡°Indeed, you can¡¯t get fat with just one bite,¡± Elder Li nodded in agreement. ¡°Given the quality of the company¡¯s products, people will fight for them. What are the prices like?¡± Jinli replied, ¡°Good things naturally cost more. Like the vegetables in the field; they sell for more in town than others.¡± Turning her head, Jinli asked, ¡°Brother, how much do we supply to the town every day now?¡± Previously, they only supplied a few dozen jin every day. Junxuan said, ¡°For the shops in town, the company supplies 600 jin every day. But the demand is still not enough. As soon as the vegetables arrive in the shop, they are snapped up in an hour. Even many people come to our village in groups to buy.¡± Of course, many people smell business opportunities in it and started trafficking vegetables from Xiao Family Village. This company won¡¯t care. All the crops in the field are sold at a uniform price, take it or leave it. Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Brother, supply more to the shops in town. After all, there are many types of vegetables. On average, there are not many jin per type.¡± Without any hesitation, Junxuan agreed, ¡°Alright!¡± The town should have this consumption capacity. Many people for the sake of their children, would buy fewer clothes, or fewer other snacks, and save this money. Children are able to eat well, sleep well, grow up and enhance their resistance, get sick less, not to mention saving money, but also less suffering. Jinli now has a love for her hometown. She naturally hopes that her hometown will become better and better. Jinli then asked about a few other company matters, such as the most concerned about the product sales channel, the company¡¯s other operating processes and so on. Except for the Xiao Family, everyone present was amazed by Jinli¡¯s familiarity with the company¡¯s operational processes, even feeling that Jinli seemed to be pointing out the way for the company. But the Xiao Family seemed to have no problem with all of this, and they seemed to think it was right. Jiang Xile asked curiously, ¡°Sister, what is your position in the company?¡± Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°None.¡± Junxuan immediately said, ¡°Although my sister does not have an official position in the company, everyone defaults to her as the Chairman of the entire company! It¡¯s just that my sister is not old enough.¡± Jiang Xile and the others, They were curious. Isn¡¯t this company said to belong to all the villagers? Why would a child occupy the position of the chairman, direct the operation of the company, and the villagers don¡¯t have any objections? But then, when they thought of the scene of the whole village welcoming Jinli back home, this doubt was immediately dismissed. What they were even more curious about was, how did a child become the mainstay of the whole village? How did she gain the trust of all villagers and gain such prestige in the village? If they hadn¡¯t seen it with their own eyes, they would have thought that the whole village was playing house with the child? This was really surprising. Junxuan said, ¡°The crops in the field were supposed to be harvested and marketed a few days ago, but the villagers wanted you to see with your own eyes the first time our village¡¯s vegetables were harvested and sold, so they delayed it by two days. Now that you¡¯re back, we can start harvesting tomorrow. We can first transport them to our own few stores, as for the orders from the restaurants, we can also transport them all together.¡± Jiang Xile, who had never farmed before, asked curiously, ¡°If we start picking tomorrow, then I want to go and see, oh, how many jin are we going to pick?¡± Junxuan said, ¡°Around 30,000 jin.¡± ¡°30,000 jin, that¡¯s a lot, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jiang Xile was somewhat surprised. Junxuan said, ¡°We have four of our own stores, one in the county town, three in Ganjiang City, and five or six hotels and restaurants.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Gao Yanxin said on the side, ¡°Ninth Brother, we have to start picking very early tomorrow, can you get up?¡± ¡°What time?¡± asked Jiang Xile. ¡°00:30!¡± Junxuan replied. ¡°That early?¡± Jiang Xile was surprised. ¡°It¡¯s not early,¡± Junxuan explained. ¡°Picking doesn¡¯t take much time. Most of the time is spent on transportation, especially to Ganjiang City, which takes at least two hours. The hotels and restaurants must get the vegetables before 04:30.¡± Jiang Xile asked, ¡°Why can¡¯t we pick it the day before?¡± Junxuan shook his head and said, ¡°It must be picked on the same day, and it¡¯s best to pick it when there is some dew. This ensures the freshness of the vegetables when they reach the customer¡¯s hands!¡± Jiang Xile immediately became excited and said, ¡°Then I will not sleep tonight. I want to go to the field and see the vegetable picking.¡± Anyway, when he was in the capital, staying up all night was a common occurrence. Although Jiang Xile could stay up, Junxuan needed sleep. He had to supervise the whole process the next day and couldn¡¯t allow any mistakes. This is the first time that the village¡¯s vegetables are going on the market on a large scale, and it also determines the future development of the company. After dinner, he rested for a while, then went to his room to rest. The four old gentlemen also wanted to witness the grand scene of vegetable picking in the field, but they had travelled all day, and even though they were in good health now, they couldn¡¯t stand the strain of old age. How could they get up in the middle of the night? But Jinli also said that there will be plenty of such harvests in the future, you can see them at any time, and they must have a good rest today. The old gentlemen still listened to Jinli¡¯s advice. Chapter 261 - Chapter 261: Chapter 261: (Happy May 1st!) Chapter 261: Chapter 261: (Happy May 1st!) Translator: 549690339 The vegetables in the field were about to be harvested, and everyone in the village was excited and eager. The harvest would begin at 00:30, and apart from the children and some very elderly people, hardly anyone was able to fall asleep. Everyone had their baskets, containers, and other harvesting tools at the ready, standing by the field, waiting for the time to come. The village committee had also bought a string of firecrackers, just waiting for the right time to light them up during the official start of the harvest. Jiang Xile had said that he wouldn¡¯t sleep, and he really didn¡¯t. Except for the four grumpy old men, no one else slept either, hmm, except for Xiao Junxuan. Because he needed to supervise the whole process the next day, he probably wouldn¡¯t have time to rest during the day. ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, what are you using all these things for?¡± Jiang Xile was puzzled by the Xiao Family gathering ropes, containers, sickles, and other items. Grandma Xiao explained with a smile, ¡°These are harvesting tools.¡± Jiang Xile¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Is there more? I want to participate in the harvest too!¡± It must be fun. Gao Yanxin looked at him and asked with slight doubt, ¡°Ninth Brother, do you know how to harvest vegetables?¡± ¡°Harvesting vegetables? Of course, I do.¡± Jiang Xile confidently replied. Gao Yanxin questioned, ¡°Ninth Brother, are you sure you really know how?¡± ¡°I should know, right?¡± Jiang Xile suddenly became less confident. Gao Yanxin patted him on the shoulder and said, ¡°Actually, all we need to do is to watch from the side. If we were to do it ourselves, we might not even know whether we would damage the crops. Wasting things is disgraceful, and besides, these vegetables are meant to be sold for money.¡± Grandpa Xiao smiled and asked, ¡°We¡¯re heading to the field now, are you coming?¡± Looking at the time, Jiang Xile asked, puzzled, ¡°Grandpa, isn¡¯t it only ten o¡¯clock?¡± Grandpa Xiao laughed, ¡°It¡¯s still early, but everyone is so excited that they want to go over ahead of time, so when the time comes, they can start working right away. Finishing the work early means they can rest during the day.¡± Turning his head, he looked at Xiao Jinli and said, ¡°Good baby, you can rest at home for a while and wait for someone to call you when it¡¯s time.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m too excited right now to sleep, let me come with you.¡± Just as Grandpa Xiao was about to say something, Xiao Wanshan interjected, ¡°Dad, it¡¯s okay for Xiao Bao to stay up late once in a while. The village¡¯s first harvest ceremony is waiting for Xiao Bao¡¯s return, and she will witness it for the first time, so it won¡¯t that be great?¡± Elder Jiang, after hearing this, asked curiously, ¡°There¡¯s a harvest ceremony?¡± Grandpa Xiao laughed, ¡°The villagers all hope that the produce from the field can be sold, so they place great importance on the first harvest.¡± ¡°Then we want to go and see it too!¡± Elder Jiang declared. ¡°Yes, yes, we want to go and see for ourselves,¡± the other three chimed in. ¡°But, old masters, it¡¯s very late, you should be resting!¡± Xiao Li tried to stop them. ¡°Just like what Little Xiao said, what¡¯s wrong with us staying up late occasionally?¡± Old Chen declared. ¡°We just want to witness the harvest ceremony, and when we get tired, we¡¯ll naturally return home to rest.¡± ¡°Besides, Brother Xiao and Brother Ji are about the same age as us, not much difference, and they¡¯re all going over there with high spirits, so how can we lag behind?¡± Everyone, Is there even any comparison? Grandpa Xiao, Xiao Jinli¡¯s maternal grandfather, and the others usually work in the fields. They also only look to be around 60 or 70 years old, much younger than the four old masters. Chapter 262 - Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Translator: 549690339 A month ago, all the vegetable fields in Xiao Family Village were installed with street lights. Usually, when checking the vegetables, only two lights would be turned on, but now all the street lights were on, making the dark night very bright. At 00:00, all the villagers, including children and even those with limited mobility, gathered in the fields, standing on the edge of the first piece of land to be harvested. The light from the streetlights cast long shadows of them, making them seem excited and agitated. Some people held firecrackers in their hands, some held fireworks, and even the elders had gongs and drums, just short of having a suona horn. When Jiang Xile arrived with the Xiao Family, he was slightly surprised to see what everyone was holding. So, the so-called harvest ceremony was all about setting off firecrackers, banging gongs, and playing drums? The villagers all knew that Jiang Xile was a guest of the Xiao Wanshan family, so they greeted him with curiosity and enthusiasm. ¡°Young man, you¡¯re here too?¡± ¡°You came too, lad?¡± ¡°Young one, are you from the Capital City?¡± Everyone was friendly, and Jiang Xile responded to each of them, thinking to himself, ¡°The people in this village are indeed simple and enthusiastic.¡± Jiang Xile was an outgoing and articulate person, so he quickly struck up a conversation with the young people in the village. He had a sweet tongue, which made him popular with the elders as well. Through their conversations, he learned various legendary stories about Xiao Jinli in the village. ¡°Jinli, she could speak fluently when she was just three months old.¡± ¡°At six months old, she could read, and by three, she could recite the dictionary and hundreds of Tang and Song Dynasty poems.¡± ¡°When she was four years old¡­¡± ¡°Moreover, last year, it was because of Jinli¡¯s intelligence and decisiveness that Xiao Chunhua¡¯s life was saved and she escaped her miserable fate.¡± ¡°The vegetables planted in our village now also benefit greatly from the earthworms bred by Jinli.¡± Jiang Xile was shocked by all the various things Xiao Jinli had done in Xiao Family Village. No wonder everyone in the village loved and trusted her so much. As the villagers said, Xiao Jinli was like the treasure of fortune for the whole village; it seemed that as long as she was there, the biggest troubles could be easily solved. So, as long as Xiao Jinli was in the village, everyone would be more at ease, as if she were a calming pill for them. This time, the first harvest and sale of the village¡¯s vegetables was a big event for the villagers, and they naturally wanted Xiao Jinli to be present to feel more at ease. Therefore, even though everyone was anxious, they still waited for Xiao Jinli to arrive. However, Jiang Xile also knew that the villagers were unaware of Xiao Jinli¡¯s medical skills. ¡°We didn¡¯t know Jinli could practice medicine. Usually, she doesn¡¯t like to show off, so if we have a headache or fever, we just go to the clinic or hospital, take some medicine, and get an injection.¡± ¡°It¡¯s great that Jinli can practice medicine. She must be a highly skilled doctor, especially since she¡¯s learning from the National Doctor!¡± ¡°As expected, Jinli always learns the best!¡± Each villager who knew about Xiao Jinli¡¯s medical skills was genuinely happy for her, and none was upset because she had kept it a secret! Jiang Xile truly felt that the villagers were kind-hearted and genuinely happy for Xiao Jinli. Before they knew it, 00:30 arrived! The Village Head shouted through a loudspeaker, ¡°Time¡¯s up!¡± Chapter 263 - Chapter 263: Chapter 263: Chapter 263: Chapter 263: Translator: 549690339 With a burst of firecrackers and the sound of gongs and drums, the fireworks were released, dazzling and colorful, incredibly beautiful! Everyone was almost captivated by this beautiful firework display! They never knew that fireworks could be so beautiful even under dim lights. Then the Village Head grabbed the loudspeaker and announced loudly, ¡°Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company¡¯s first batch of vegetable picking officially begins now! We wish our company¡¯s products sell well, and every person in Xiao Family Village gets better and better. Now, let Xiao Jinli pick the first cabbage for us. Xiao Jinli is our village¡¯s Lucky Star.¡± As soon as the Village Head finished speaking, the villagers applauded and even started cheering, ¡°Lucky Star picks cabbage, Lucky Star picks cabbage¡­¡± Xiao Jinli carried a colorful basket with a kitchen knife inside! Cabbages need to be cut with a knife! After cutting a cabbage, Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Fellow villagers, our company¡¯s products will definitely sell well, don¡¯t worry. As long as we work hard, our days will definitely get better and better. We will walk the path to prosperity, or even get rich.¡± ¡°Yes, we believe our days will get better and better.¡± Servant Jiang Xile witnessed Xiao Jinli¡¯s prestige and rallying power for himself this time. The villagers of Xiao Family Village truly trusted Xiao Jinli, even to the point of blind worship. Jiang Xile said to Gao Yanxin, ¡°Your sister is just incredible! When she stands there, it¡¯s like a queen inspecting her kingdom, encouraging her people to work hard!¡± Gao Yanxin snapped out of it and slapped his own forehead in surprise, ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s exactly that kind of feeling. Our sister is like a queen. I used to say that my sister was like some kind of leader, but I couldn¡¯t put my finger on what kind of leader. Now I know that my cousin is like a queen.¡± Jiang Xile happily said, ¡°With that aura and prestige, doesn¡¯t she look like a queen?¡± They muttered among themselves, making sure the villagers didn¡¯t hear them, lest it made them uncomfortable or resentful towards Xiao Jinli. After Xiao Jinli picked the first cabbage, the second group of people led by Xiao Yucheng and the Village Committee members with the Village Head picked their vegetables, each carrying a basket, and each person picking a different kind of vegetable in the field. After the opening ceremony, everyone carried their baskets and headed to the field, carefully and diligently treating each vegetable as hope. They very much hoped it would become their true path to wealth. Seeing the hope for this path to wealth, they were visibly excited and happy. In the future, Xiao Family Village would no longer be one of the poorest villages in the township due to its geographical environment. Before the official picking, the Village Head had already assigned who would pick which type of vegetables. So everyone just had to do their own job, cooperate, and soon, in less than two hours, 30,000 jin of vegetables were all picked, and the task was completed perfectly. For vegetable transportation, the company used small trucks! Each small truck delivered to one location, the furthest distance being the first to be transported. They tried their best to arrive within the agreed-upon time. Picking, washing, weighing, loading, every process was carried out with the utmost care, with no one being lazy or cutting corners. They would not sacrifice long-term benefits for petty gain. At three-thirty, the person in charge of weighing shouted, ¡°We¡¯ve reached the quota! The pickers can rest now.¡± Although they could rest, everyone helped with washing, weighing, and loading! It wasn¡¯t until the last small truck left that everyone finally went home to rest. Chapter 264 - Chapter 264: Chapter 264: Chapter 264: Chapter 264: Translator: 549690339 Qing County opened two stores, one in City East and one in City South. Each shop wasn¡¯t very big, around sixty-square meters in size, but every corner was made use of. At the same time, each shop carried three thousand jin of stock, a full range of varieties. On average, the amount of each variety wasn¡¯t very much. In addition to vegetables, there were also chicken eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs, processed chickens, ducks, and geese, as well as pork and beef. Before the store opening, Xiao Yucheng sent people from the Marketing Department to promote and distribute posters for the event. Many people thought they were just ordinary green vegetables. However, the county town isn¡¯t like a big city. Many nearby towns and villages had villagers bringing their own vegetables to sell in the county town. Eating their homegrown vegetables, they would naturally use less or no pesticides. Therefore, in the eyes of city folks, many countryside people¡¯s vegetables were actually green vegetables. Xiao Family Village Fresh Green Vegetable Shop didn¡¯t attract much attention, especially since the vegetable prices on the posters were outrageously expensive. Xiao Yucheng and his team firmly believed in the philosophy that fine wine is not afraid of deep alleyways, so they did not compromise on the price. For example, a Chinese cabbage from an ordinary market would cost between five to eight yuan per jin, but Xiao Family Village¡¯s Chinese cabbage, even in Taoyuan Town, was double that price. In the county town shop, considering the higher costs and the fact that the county town had greater purchasing power, the price of Chinese cabbage was set at 1.5 times that of ordinary cabbage. Although the company¡¯s promotion efforts were strong, many people stepped back when they saw the prices on the posters. Especially for those who were thrifty by nature, even though the poster promoted an 80% discount on all agriculture products in the shop for the first three days after opening, it was still very expensive. On the first day of the opening, Xiao Yucheng and others, taking into account that there weren¡¯t many consumers, only put on sale half of the originally planned fifteen hundred jin. Each shop had three employees, all from Xiao Family Village. ¡°What kind of Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Vegetable is this? Are they grown with gold? The price is so high, a jin of Chinese cabbage is priced at one yuan and fifty cents, while the market only asks for fifty or sixty cents.¡± ¡°Exactly. Look at these chicken eggs. We go to the supermarket and buy a pack of thirty eggs for just fifteen yuan, which averages to five cents each. Here, however, one egg costs one yuan and fifty cents. Even this chicken, which normally costs twelve yuan per jin, here sells for twenty-five yuan per jin. What kind of store is this? I think it¡¯s more of a robbery.¡± ¡°Tch, I can¡¯t afford such expensive vegetables. They say it¡¯s green vegetables, but eating green vegetables won¡¯t let me fly into the sky. Should I spend so much unjustified money? If we want green vegetables, it¡¯s better to buy from the countryside people. They are all homegrown and even greener.¡± ¡°There are so many people selling vegetables. Supermarkets also have a lot of vegetables. I wonder when this shop will go out of business.¡± The two shops opened simultaneously, starting business at six-thirty in the morning. Xiao Chunhua waited in the shop until eight o¡¯clock and had only sold a few jin of vegetables, so she couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. ¡°Xiaofang, it¡¯s eight o¡¯clock, and we¡¯ve only sold ten jin of our vegetables. Will it be difficult to sell?¡± ¡°Everyone finds it expensive. The people who come here to buy vegetables are the ones who don¡¯t have time to go to the market.¡± ¡°Should we lower the price? With so many vegetables, if we can¡¯t sell them, they will rot.¡± Xiao Chunhua said, ¡°Second Aunt, Third Mother, please don¡¯t worry. Let¡¯s just keep an eye on it first, and we must believe in the quality of our products. As long as they have tried them, they will definitely come back next time. It¡¯s just that the beginning is always the hardest.¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m just worried.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m worried too.¡± Xiao Chunhua nodded and said, ¡°Actually, we are worried too. However, before the shop opening, Xiao Yucheng had already anticipated this situation, so all we have to do is wait patiently. Gold will always shine.¡± As they chatted, a woman wearing an apron walked in, looking a bit rushed and asked, ¡°Do you have chives and eggs here?¡± Xiao Chunhua smiled and said, ¡°Yes, please come this way. How much do you need? I¡¯ll pack it for you.¡± Qiu Lianying looked at the price and hesitated for a moment, ¡°These chives are six yuan per jin, isn¡¯t that too expensive? The market only charges three yuan per jin, and these eggs, a jin costs four yuan, but here you charge one yuan and fifty cents each.¡± Xiao Chunhua smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re the boss lady of the restaurant next door, right?¡± Qiu Lianying nodded and said, ¡°Yes!¡± Next door was a restaurant, but the boss lady¡¯s cooking skills were lacking, so the business wasn¡¯t doing very well, and there were very few customers throughout the day. Finally, a few guests arrived, wanting to eat chives and eggs, braised chicken chunks, and a few other dishes. However, she wasn¡¯t prepared very well, as she didn¡¯t have chives, eggs, or chicken, so it was too late to go to the market; that¡¯s why she thought about going to the nearby vegetable shop. She knew the shop was expensive, but she didn¡¯t expect it to be so expensive. Xiao Chunhua smiled and said, ¡°Boss lady, our shop¡¯s vegetables may be a bit more expensive, but you have to believe that our price is worth it. If you don¡¯t believe me, taste this tomato!¡± Xiao Chunhua took a tomato, cut it into small pieces, and let Qiu Lianying taste it. As soon as the tomato was cut open, Qiu Lianying¡¯s nose twitched as the smell was too good to resist. Then she took a bite and her eyes lit up, nodding her head and saying, ¡°Not bad, this tomato is delicious.¡± Xiao Chunhua explained, ¡°The tomatoes in the market are two yuan per jin, while ours are five yuan per jin. Boss lady, do you think it¡¯s worth the price?¡± Qiu Lianying became addicted after one bite of the tomato and stared at the remaining tomato in Xiao Chunhua¡¯s hand, impulsively responding, ¡°Of course it is worth it.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, her expression became somewhat awkward. Just as she was about to say something else, her husband called out to her, ¡°Hurry up, what are you doing dawdling there? The guests are waiting for their food.¡± She immediately replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m coming.¡± Afterward, she weighed one jin of chives, took three eggs, and half a chicken. She thought about it and said, ¡°Give me two jin of tomatoes!¡± These tomatoes were so delicious that she wanted to buy them as fruit to eat herself. Qiu Lianying brought the purchased items back to her restaurant, cleaned them, and started cooking immediately. ¡°It smells so good!¡± The guest sniffed and smiled, saying, ¡°This scrambled egg with chives is really fragrant. Boss, is this your specialty dish? The few dishes you cooked just now didn¡¯t smell this good.¡± ¡°This smell is so good, it¡¯s invigorating!¡± The restaurant owner laughed and said, ¡°Haha, to tell you the truth, this is the first time I¡¯ve cooked such a fragrant dish. Just wait, you all can enjoy it in a moment.¡± As soon as the scrambled eggs with chives were served, the five guests couldn¡¯t wait to pick up their chopsticks and taste it. ¡°Wow, this dish is so fragrant and delicious.¡± In no time, the plate of scrambled eggs with chives was emptied. Chapter 265 - Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Translator: 549690339 As the second dish of braised chicken chunks was made, its aroma could be detected from thirty to forty meters away. ¡°What kind of chicken is being cooked here? It smells so good.¡± ¡°So fragrant. Just a while ago, I smelled the aroma of stir-fried leek with eggs, and now the scent of chicken. It¡¯s especially pleasant. Who might be cooking this?¡± ¡°This aroma seems to be drifting from the Taste Fresh Restaurant.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Everyone around here knows that the boss of Taste Fresh isn¡¯t the best cook, and his dishes are usually not tasty. But now, smelling this aroma, how can it not be delicious?¡± ¡°Perhaps they¡¯ve hired someone else to cook. After all, neither Qiu Lianying nor her husband are good cooks.¡± ¡°It¡¯s bizarre. Why would two people who can¡¯t cook think of opening a restaurant?¡± ¡°Who knows what went through their minds?¡± Qiu Lianying smelled this aroma of the chicken and stood up in surprise. Even her husband was amazed at his cooking skills that day. How did it become so good? But the dishes cooked just a while ago were merely passable. At that moment, some acquaintances came over, laughing, and asked, ¡°Boss Yang, the dishes you cooked today smell great. At first, I thought someone else was cooking. I didn¡¯t expect it to be you. Your culinary skills seem to have improved today, the dishes you¡¯ve made are so fragrant! Just now, I smelled the scent of stir-fried leek with eggs, and now I smell the scent of the cooked chicken. Boss Yang, you seem to be good at cooking chicken dishes?¡± Boss Yang replied with a smile, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m quite surprised that the two dishes I cooked today smell particularly nice.¡± At that moment, another customer, drawn by the aroma, walked over and said, ¡°Boss, your dishes smell great. Fry two dishes for me.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Boss Yang cheerfully asked, ¡°What dishes would you like?¡± The customer glanced at the menu on the wall, and then noticed the tomato that the boss¡¯s wife was holding. He laughed and said, ¡°First, give me cold mixed tomatoes. Then stir-fried leek with eggs. I smelled the aroma of stir-fried leek with eggs just now, it was especially pleasant. I¡¯d like to try it, and also add some braised chicken chunks.¡± Boss Yang looked at him and asked, ¡°Are you by yourself?¡± ¡°Yes, just me!¡± The customer laughed and replied. Boss Yang said, ¡°If you¡¯re alone, three dishes, wouldn¡¯t that be too much?¡± ¡°No problem, if I can¡¯t finish it, I¡¯ll take it to go!¡± The customer said. Boss Yang thought to himself, ¡°I¡¯ll just prepare whatever the customer orders.¡± After Qiu Lianying cut the tomatoes and served them, she laughed and said, ¡°The tomatoes are indeed good. You can start eating. I¡¯m going next door to buy some vegetables.¡± As soon as her voice fell, the customer at the front table sniffed and said, ¡°This tomato also smells good. Boss lady, give me a cold mixed tomato too!¡± Qiu Lianying laughed and replied, ¡°All right, please wait a moment!¡± Originally, the two pounds of tomatoes were intended for her own consumption. However, after she ate one, she sold the rest. After serving the tomatoes to the guests at the table, Qiu Lianying quickly went to the neighboring vegetable shop again, and told Xiao Chunhua, ¡°Boss lady, please give me two pounds of leeks and a chicken!¡± Now she understood why the products in this shop were so expensive. People here, indeed, offer high-quality goods. Regarding her husband¡¯s cooking skills, she knew he wasn¡¯t extraordinarily skillful. The difference was in the ingredients. That¡¯s why she wasn¡¯t concerned about the price when buying them again. Xiao Chunhua chuckled and said, ¡°Boss lady, the dishes you cook with the products from our shop taste good, don¡¯t they?¡± Qiu Lianying couldn¡¯t disagree. She smiled and said, ¡°Yes, they are very fragrant. When being cooked, the aroma can be smelled within dozens of meters. Look, customers are coming here following the scent.¡± While Xiao Chunhua was weighing the vegetables and chicken, she said, ¡°Boss lady, as long as you use my goods, your business will certainly improve.¡± Qiu Lianying was somewhat tempted, but she was still hesitant and said, ¡°But the vegetables from your shop are too expensive. My costs will increase.¡± Xiao Chunhua suggested, ¡°Then you can raise your prices. Let me tell you, once you have a good product, it deserves a high price.¡± Carrying the Fresh vegetables and meat she just bought, Qiu Lianying rushed back to the restaurant. Once she arrived at the restaurant, she was surprised to find that all three empty tables were filled with customers. But these customers had not yet ordered any dishes. Qiu Lianying promptly washed the vegetables she had just bought, while the guests also placed their orders for food. One table of customers ordered braised eggplant, green fried cabbage, loofah and shredded pork soup, and red-braised pork ribs. Another table ordered cold mixed tomatoes, tofu fish head soup, beer duck, and oil-poured baby bok choy. Qiu Lianying looked at the vegetables in the refrigerator and the half-processed meat, thought for a moment, and immediately went next door again. Boss Yang asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To buy vegetables!¡± Qiu Lianying replied. Boss Yang looked at the vegetables and meat in the refrigerator and asked, full of doubt, ¡°Aren¡¯t there still vegetables here? What else do you need to buy?¡± ¡°Not enough!¡± Qiu Lianying replied. She then turned to the customers and said, ¡°Please wait a little longer, everyone. The vegetables we prepared earlier are not enough, I¡¯m going to buy some.¡± ¡°Go ahead, boss¡¯s wife. As long as we can have a delicious meal, we¡¯re willing to wait.¡± Boss Yang watched as his wife went to the neighboring shop to buy vegetables again. When he saw the freshly-bought vegetables and meat in his wife¡¯s hand, he was even more puzzled and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t these vegetables already in the cabinet? Why did you buy them again?¡± Qiu Lianying glared at him and said loudly, ¡°The vegetables in the cabinet are not fresh. I bought the new ones!¡± Boss Yang,But the vegetables were clearly prepared this morning. Qiu Lianying didn¡¯t bother about him. After quickly preparing the newly bought vegetables, she started to work on the duck. Boss Yang was even more puzzled by his wife¡¯s behavior. They already had prepared half-processed duck meat in the morning, why did they buy half a duck again? Could it be possible to cook it immediately? Could they finish it on time? Although Boss Yang¡¯s culinary skills weren¡¯t great, he was strong and could cook some dishes with continuous stir-frying actions. The dishes were quickly served. While Boss Yang was cooking the pork ribs, Qiu Lianying had already seasoned the duck meat, poured beer on it, and put it directly into the pressure cooker. More and more customers were attracted by the aroma from the restaurant. Seeing the filled tables, they recognized that the dishes from this restaurant must be really delicious. Consequently, they started to line up outside voluntarily. Boss Yang, Ever since they opened the restaurant, they had never experienced such good business. They didn¡¯t know what happened today as wave after wave of customers just kept coming. ¡°So fragrant. This eggplant is so soft and flavorful, it¡¯s really delicious¡±. That was what the customers who ordered dishes said. ¡°This cabbage is also delicious. I didn¡¯t expect the cook from this restaurant to be this good.¡± ¡°Is this the aroma of red-braised pork ribs?¡± ¡°There¡¯s also duck meat being cooked in the pressure cooker? This aroma is too captivating.¡± Chapter 266 - Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Translator: 549690339 The sudden surge in business at Taste Fresh Restaurant has left the surrounding neighbors feeling intrigued and curious. However, they also noticed a phenomenon where every time a customer placed an order, Qiu Lianying would definitely go to the neighboring vegetable shop to buy vegetables. Boss Yang finally realized that it was not his extraordinary cooking skill today, but the exceptionally high-quality ingredients that allowed him to create various delicious dishes. Just like the tomatoes, raw and uncooked, they won endless praises from the guests. Almost every guest that came in would order a plate of cold mixed tomatoes or stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, because as soon as they entered the store, they could smell the aroma of tomatoes, and their bright red color was very tempting. The neighbors, seeing Qiu Lianying patronizing the newly opened vegetable shop time and time again, also curiously followed suit and went in to have a look. Previously, they had seen the store¡¯s promotional materials and posters, but when they saw the prices for various products, they lost interest. They were not the kind to blindly spend money on more expensive vegetables. But when they walked into the store now, they could smell the fragrance of various vegetables, each emitting its own unique aroma, which was very different from the chaos and odor found in other vegetable shops. ¡°These¡­ greens haven¡¯t been cooked yet, but they already smell so good?¡± The customers who came into the store were slightly surprised. ¡°These things are really expensive.¡± ¡°Yes, they are several times more expensive than those in the market.¡± Xiao Chunhua saw so many customers, and she quickly sliced two tomatoes, smiling as she said, ¡°Auntie, Grandma, Uncle, our vegetables here are all pollution-free, organic green food grown by our own village. Although the price is a bit higher, the taste is absolutely good. Here, have a try of our tomatoes.¡± The customers in the store wrinkled their noses and laughingly said, ¡°These tomatoes smell really good too.¡± After saying that, they took a small bite, and their eyes lit up immediately, exclaiming with surprise, ¡°These tomatoes are really delicious! They are sweet, and have a kind of refreshing sweetness to them.¡± ¡°Are these tomatoes really that delicious?¡± Everyone else also gave it a try, ¡°Indeed, these tomatoes are really tasty. I¡¯ve lived for over sixty years and have never tasted such delicious tomatoes.¡± ¡°These tomatoes are a bit expensive, but they are so delicious. My grandson will definitely like them. I¡¯ll buy two kilograms.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take two kilograms as well, to eat like fruit.¡± Qiu Lianying originally planned to buy only two or three kilograms, but seeing so many people buying, she immediately said, ¡°Give me ten kilograms.¡± There were so many customers in the store, and many of them would order cold mixed tomatoes or stir-fried tomatoes and eggs as soon as they arrived. There were only about forty to fifty kilograms of tomatoes in the store, most of which had been bought by Qiu Lianying in installments. Now, all of a sudden, she bought another ten or so kilograms, leaving only about twenty in the store. It seemed like there were still quite a few, but with this wave of customers, two kilograms here, three kilograms there, the twenty kilograms were gone in no time. Many people who tasted the tomatoes immediately took a bite after purchasing them, savoring the juicy and aromatic flavor that filled their mouths. After buying the tomatoes, these neighbors started to think about the other vegetable smells they had noticed in Qiu Lianying¡¯s restaurant. They wanted to taste the flavors of the other dishes as well. They thought it would be okay to buy something a bit more expensive just for once. As a result, the crowded store attracted even more passers-by with their curiosity. They went in to take a look, and seeing everyone excitedly purchasing vegetables, they became curious as well, buying some items to take home. By evening, the vegetables in the store had basically sold out. Xiao Chunhua and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. Third Mother smiled and said, ¡°My heart, which was tight all day long, has finally relaxed. These vegetables have finally been sold.¡± Second Aunt also chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right, I was worried all along that the items in our store wouldn¡¯t sell out today. Eggs can be stored for a few days, but meat and vegetables, if not sold by tomorrow, won¡¯t be fresh anymore.¡± Xiao Chunhua laughed and said, ¡°It seems that we have to thank the lady boss next door at the Taste Fresh Restaurant. She bought a lot of vegetables from us today, and the delicious smell of the dishes she cooked attracted many customers.¡± Third Mother became worried again, saying, ¡°Today¡¯s vegetables are sold out, but I don¡¯t know what will happen tomorrow.¡± Xiao Chunhua reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Now that our vegetables have sold out today, we just have to wait for the returning customers tomorrow. These returning customers will definitely bring new customers with them. But according to the company¡¯s plan, during the first three days of opening, the store will only sell 1,500 jin. So, selling out tomorrow shouldn¡¯t be a big problem.¡± Second Aunt said, ¡°That¡¯s right, we should have confidence in our vegetables. Anyone who has tasted our vegetables would want to eat them again. Let¡¯s just wait and see tomorrow.¡± The three of them tidied up the store and closed for the day. The company had rented a house for them as a dormitory, which was fully furnished with home appliances and furniture, and had a water heater and gas stove, making it very convenient. After taking a shower and having dinner, the three of them went to bed early. They had to go to the store at 5 o¡¯clock tomorrow morning to receive the goods. The next day at 5 o¡¯clock, they received the goods, moved them to the store, and began organizing the shelves and categorizing the vegetables. They started the business at 6:30 am. However, customers arrived as early as 6:00 am. ¡°Do you have tomatoes today?¡± An old grandma asked. Xiao Chunhua recognized her as a customer from yesterday who had bought the last two tomatoes, and was surprised to see her coming so early today. Xiao Chunhua smiled and said, ¡°Yes, Grandma, how much do you need?¡± ¡°Give me two kilograms, no, five kilograms. My daughter¡¯s grandson will be visiting today, so I¡¯m buying more. Also, I saw that you sell duck meat here yesterday, right?¡± ¡°Yes, we sell duck meat. Grandma, how much do you want to buy?¡± Xiao Chunhua asked with a smile. ¡°How much is it per jin?¡± The old grandma asked. ¡°Our original price is 30 yuan per jin, but we have a 20% discount on everything in the store for the first three days of opening.¡± The old grandma hesitated, ¡°That¡¯s so expensive? Even with a 20% discount, it¡¯s still 24 yuan, which is quite high, compared to the market price of 16 yuan per jin.¡± Xiao Chunhua smiled and said, ¡°Grandma, all of the items in the store are grown and raised by ourselves, so their quality and taste are worth the price! Like these tomatoes, with this size, this taste, don¡¯t you think they deserve the price? Grandma, why don¡¯t you try some and see?¡± The old grandma thought for a moment and said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll buy half a duck for now! But if I find that it¡¯s not worth the price, I¡¯ll definitely come back! I¡¯m not that easy-going!¡± Xiao Chunhua laughed and said, ¡°Of course, my store is right here. If you have any dissatisfaction, feel free to come back and let me know, and we will deal with it accordingly if there¡¯s an issue with our items.¡± The old grandma laughed and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll buy it just because of your attitude! Hehe¡­¡± Chapter 267 - Chapter 267: Chapter 267: Chapter 267: Chapter 267: Translator: 549690339 Sun Xiaoping takes her husband and son back to her maiden home today. As soon as they arrive, Sun Xiaoping notices the tomatoes on the tea table and asks with some confusion, ¡°Mom, why did you put the tomatoes here today? Aren¡¯t you going to use them for cooking?¡± Grandma Sun laughs and says, ¡°I saved three for cooking, and the rest are to be eaten as fruit. Try them, they¡¯re especially delicious.¡± With that, she turns to her listless grandson, holding a tomato, saying, ¡°Come, Xiao Bao, this tomato is really delicious, want to try?¡± Sun Xiaoping looks at her spiritless son and says with concern, ¡°Ever since the child caught a cold recently, he has been listless and not interested in eating. In just a few days, his whole body has become so thin that his eyes sunk in. We took him to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor said that his cold was cured, but he needs to adjust and recover his spirit on his own.¡± Grandma Sun feels heartache upon hearing this and immediately hugs her grandson and says, ¡°My poor, good grandson.¡± Thinking about something, she immediately tells her daughter, ¡°Go, cut the tomato and bring it over for Xiao Bao to eat.¡± Sun Xiaoping says, ¡°Mom, Xiao Bao doesn¡¯t even eat his favorite strawberries anymore, let alone, he doesn¡¯t like tomatoes.¡± Grandma Sun says impatiently, ¡°I told you to cut it, just cut it, don¡¯t talk so much.¡± Sun Xiaoping, With no choice, she gets up and cuts a tomato. Soon, a surprised voice comes from the kitchen, ¡°Mom, this tomato is too delicious.¡± Grandma Sun says, ¡°If you¡¯ve cut it, then bring it out for my baby grandson to eat.¡± Sun Xiaoping brings the cut tomato over, and then Xiao Bao wrinkles his nose and says, ¡°It smells so good.¡± Grandma Sun¡¯s eyes light up, and she says happily, ¡°Does it smell good? Xiao Bao, try it and see if it¡¯s good or not, okay?¡± Xiao Bao nods and says, ¡°Okay!¡± After that, he takes a bite of the tomato, his eyes suddenly light up, and he says while eating, ¡°Grandma, this tomato is so delicious!¡± ¡°Hehe, if it¡¯s delicious, then eat more!¡± Grandma Sun laughs and says. Sun Xiaoping¡¯s husband raises his eyebrows in curiosity and asks, ¡°Is a tomato really that delicious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s delicious, Dad!¡± Xiao Bao says. ¡°Dad, you try it too!¡± With a curious heart, he tries a piece, and then can¡¯t help but praise, ¡°It¡¯s really delicious. Mom, where did you buy these tomatoes? When we go back, I¡¯ll go buy some too.¡± Mainly because his son is finally willing to eat. In recent days, the whole family has been worried about getting him to eat. Grandma Sun laughs and says, ¡°It¡¯s from the Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Vegetable Shop just outside the neighborhood. I bought all of today¡¯s vegetables from there. I bought duck meat, cabbage, eggplant, and a grass carp!¡± Sun Xiaoping says, ¡°Okay, Mom, I¡¯ll go cook.¡± When Sun Xiaoping saw the fresh vegetables and fish that her mother brought back, she didn¡¯t pay much attention. But when these dishes were cooked, even with the use of a range hood, the whole house was filled with fragrance. Her husband can¡¯t help but say, ¡°It smells so good. And sniffing this aroma makes me feel especially comfortable, and my mind is much clearer.¡± Xiao Bao wrinkles his nose, his eyes filled with anticipation, and he says, ¡°Grandma, it smells so good. I want to eat.¡± Grandma Sun says happily, ¡°Good, wait for your mom to finish cooking, and then Xiao Bao can eat well.¡± When the dishes were served, Sun Xiaoping takes off her apron and asks in surprise, ¡°Mom, where did you buy the vegetables? They¡¯re especially fragrant when cooked. Especially this duck meat, it¡¯s tender and very fragrant. I¡¯ve never tasted such delicious duck meat before.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all bought from that store.¡± Grandma Sun looks at her grandson eating with relish and says happily, ¡°It¡¯s just that the stuff from that store is more expensive than the market, and a lot more expensive. Today is only their second day of opening.¡± Sun Xiaoping¡¯s husband laughs and says, ¡°Mom, people sell things at a high price for a reason. Look at these vegetables, they smell good and they must taste good too.¡± Grandma Sun laughs and says, ¡°I know Xiao Ping¡¯s cooking skills, they¡¯re just average. Now these dishes smell so good and taste good too, it must be because of the good ingredients.¡± Sun Xiaoping watches her son enjoying the meal and says with a laugh, ¡°Xiao Bao hasn¡¯t eaten so deliciously for a long time. Husband, let¡¯s go to that store when we go back and buy some vegetables too!¡± Xiao Bao immediately says, ¡°I want to eat tomatoes and duck meat too!¡± ¡°Okay, whatever you want to eat, we¡¯ll buy it!¡± Sun Xiaoping laughs and says. Sun Xiaoping¡¯s family of three stayed at her mother¡¯s house until three or four in the afternoon. Sun Xiaoping says, ¡°Mom, Xiao Bao has to go to school tomorrow, so we¡¯re leaving. We¡¯ll come back next week!¡± Grandma Sun tidies up and says, ¡°I¡¯m going to the store with you!¡± When they arrive at the store, they find it completely empty! Grandma Sun asks, ¡°Where are the vegetables in your store?¡± Xiao Chunhua laughs and says, ¡°All sold out. We sold out at around 10 o¡¯clock this morning.¡± Grandma Sun is slightly surprised and asks, ¡°So early today?¡± Xiao Chunhua nods and says, ¡°Yes, there were a lot of returning customers today. They brought more customers, and suddenly many people came to buy. We sold out early today!¡± Grandma Sun asks anxiously, ¡°Will new vegetables arrive this afternoon?¡± Xiao Chunhua shakes her head and says, ¡°Aunt, they won¡¯t be here until tomorrow morning!¡± Grandma Sun is slightly disappointed and says, ¡°Not until tomorrow morning!¡± She then turns to her daughter and says, ¡°I¡¯ll take the vegetables from home back and buy more in the morning to send them to you!¡± Sun Xiaoping refuses and says, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t bother!¡± Grandma Sun gets a little angry and says, ¡°What do you mean don¡¯t bother? Those vegetables are for my good grandson. The child has been sick for a while, and it¡¯s not easy for him to have an appetite. Of course, he needs to be well nourished! You wait here, and I¡¯ll go get them!¡± Within three days of opening, all the goods in the store sell out in less than an hour on the third day! In just a few days, the name of Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Vegetable Shop spread throughout the county town! Two stores, 6,000 pounds of goods, are simply not enough to sell! Many customers who couldn¡¯t buy even complained to the Bureau of Industry and Commerce that they sold too little, and many people couldn¡¯t buy! Facing the inquiries from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, Xiao Chunhua and others, They¡¯ve seen complaints about underweight and cheating consumers, but never thought they¡¯d be complained about for selling too well! Strange things happen every year, but there are especially many this year! Chapter 268 - Chapter 268: Chapter 268: (First update) Chapter 268: Chapter 268: (First update) Translator: 549690339 Marriott Hotel, a five-star hotel in Ganjiang City Guests are gradually coming to the restaurant for breakfast. Even before entering the restaurant, they can smell a variety of delicious food aromas. ¡°What kind of breakfast has the hotel made today? It smells so good. We can smell it from such a distance?¡± a smartly dressed and efficient-looking lady asked the person next to her. Ordinarily, she would have her breakfast sent to her room. Coming to the restaurant was simply a waste of time. But today, for some unexplainable reason, she decided to go to the restaurant. The assistant next to her shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± When they entered the restaurant, they were both somewhat stunned by the sight before them. The restaurant was full of people. This hotel¡¯s breakfast was normally a self-service buffet. Guests could eat whatever they liked and leave whenever they wanted. But today, there were restrictions. ¡°I want two¡­ no, I want six eggs!¡± The eggs in question were boiled. The waiter smiled and said, ¡°Sorry, Guest. Today we have a limit on eggs. Each person can only take two.¡± ¡°Really?¡± a dissatisfied guest retorted, ¡°Usually, guests can take as many as they want. Now, there¡¯s a limit?¡± The waitress explained with an apology, ¡°We¡¯re sorry, but since we don¡¯t have many boiled eggs today, we¡¯ve decided to limit each guest to two.¡± The hotel had not anticipated that this morning¡¯s eggs, beef noodles, among other dishes provided by a different supplier, would be so popular. Like the boiled eggs. If there wasn¡¯t a limit, some guests might eat as many as they could and then take all the remaining eggs away. Then, what about the guests who came later? For example, they offered sixty eggs in the first batch, which smelled so good that they were irresistible to the many guests who have a habit of eating eggs for breakfast. These eggs disappeared in less than two minutes after being served. Each guest took at least six eggs. For their breakfast, instead of other dishes, they only ate eggs. The restaurant manager had no choice but to boil another batch of eggs and impose a limit. There were several hundred guests in the hotel. They didn¡¯t have enough eggs for everyone. They only ordered six hundred eggs per day. Besides breakfast, they also needed to supply eggs for lunch and dinner. The assistant queued up for eggs. Since each guest could only have two, she took four and divided them into two plates. Serving the eggs, she said, ¡°President, these eggs smell so good. To limit the quantity and we managed to take the last four.¡± Lai Shanlin, smelling the eggs, said, ¡°These eggs do smell good.¡± Then she peeled one off, revealing its translucent, fair, soft egg white with a tempting smell. After a slight bite, she couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°This egg is just too delicious.¡± Out of patience, the assistant began eating too and nodded, ¡°This egg is so delicious. No wonder there¡¯s a limit. Otherwise, everyone would undoubtedly grab more.¡± While eating, she looked towards the serving area again, noticing several places where long queues were forming, especially for beef noodles. Normally, there¡¯s no need to queue up here. The assistant asked, ¡°President, do you want me to get you a bowl of beef noodles?¡± Lai Shanlin nodded, ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± The assistant quickly finished two eggs, left them on the table, fearing that the president might eat them, and then went to queue for noodles. After about twenty minutes, the assistant came back with two bowls of beef noodles, saying, ¡°President, the beef noodles also smell great. Did the hotel change chefs today? Every dish is more delicious than the last. It¡¯s so tasty that I could swallow my tongue.¡± Lai Shanlin took a sip of the soup and her eyes lit up, ¡°This soup is delicious, better than any beef soup I¡¯ve ever had.¡± Surprised, the assistant said, ¡°Really? Let me try it!¡± After taking a sip, she said with astonishment, ¡°The soup is really awesome. It¡¯s filled with the delicious taste of beef.¡± She then grabbed a slice of beef and tasted it, ¡°This beef is so tender and juicy. It¡¯s delicious. And even the vegetables taste good. President, did the hotel really change its chief cook? These breakfast dishes are really delicious.¡± She looked longingly towards the serving area, ¡°The other breakfast dishes must be tasty as well. President, shall we try them?¡± Lai Shanlin replied with a touch of speechlessness, ¡°After you¡¯ve had two eggs and a bowl of beef noodles, do you still have room in your stomach?¡± She knew her assistant too well. Normally, her appetite was so small. After eating two eggs and a bowl of beef noodles, she would probably be full. Instantly, the assistant regretted, ¡°Ah, if I¡¯d known the breakfast here was so delicious, I would have come earlier. I¡¯ll try the other dishes after I rest awhile.¡± Lai Shanlin looked at her with a slightly surprised expression and stated, ¡°I never knew you were such a foodie. But there¡¯s no foodie with such a small appetite like you. We¡¯re going to stay here for three or four more days. We can try out every breakfast dish during this period.¡± However, after the next four days, she was reluctant to leave after finishing her own business. Not only were the breakfasts tempting, but the hotel¡¯s lunches and dinners were also incredibly enticing. Furthermore, there were more and more people coming to the hotel for meals. For the next three days after the first day, the restaurant was packed daily. More and more people were booking meals at the hotel. In the end, they had to turn away some customers. For the guests who stayed in the hotel, aside from those staying in the VIP deluxe rooms that had an advanced booking service, other guests had to go to the restaurant to get breakfast themselves. This way, they wouldn¡¯t offend any of the guests. As a result, guests had to get up early or send their subordinates to the restaurant early to queue for breakfast. Otherwise, breakfast might be sold out before seven o¡¯ clock. The hotel never expected that although it was mainly an accommodation service, when did it turn into a restaurant? Every day, groups of customers came to dine, whether it was for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even midnight snacks. However, with the influx of guests, the problem troubling the hotel¡¯s general manager was the insufficient supply of ingredients for the meals. General Manager Wan Yuan looked anxiously at the purchasing manager and asked, ¡°Manager Wang, can¡¯t we purchase more ingredients? We simply can¡¯t suffice with daily supplies of three thousand jin, and the variety is extensive.¡± Manager Wang replied with a bitter smile, ¡°Boss Wan, when we initially signed the contract, we agreed on a daily supply of two thousand jin. Now that it has increased to three thousand jin, it¡¯s only because the manager of the supplier is a friend of mine from school. Any more would be impossible. The other hotels absolutely cannot increase their supply. Isn¡¯t this what we¡¯ve been trying to solve all day?¡± Boss Wan, Manager Wang was also troubled. He never expected the hotel to turn into a restaurant. When they had decided to switch suppliers, many higher-ups disagreed. It was only after Boss Wan tasted the food that he made the decision to switch. However, who could¡¯ve expected that such a decision would make the business of the hotel so booming? Chapter 269 - Chapter 269: Chapter 269: (Second Update) Chapter 269: Chapter 269: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 To become a supplier for a five-star hotel, one must be a strong and well-connected company. Initially, it was Manager Wang¡¯s classmate who introduced Xiao Junxuan. Xiao Junxuan didn¡¯t say much, and directly offered the things he brought. Those that could be eaten raw were tasted by the procurement manager, while the others were cooked by the kitchen. At that time, Manager Wang was shocked by the taste of the food and wanted to sign a contract with Xiao Junxuan on the spot. Unfortunately, he had a superior to report to. Moreover, they had suppliers they were happy to work with, and they couldn¡¯t just cut ties, as it would breach the contract. Manager Wang said, ¡°Mr. Xiao, although I¡¯m just a procurement manager, our hotel already has suppliers, and we can¡¯t just change suppliers at will. Secondly, such a big decision doesn¡¯t fall on me. Can I contact you after reporting to my superior?¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Sure, Manager Wang. However,¡± He shifted the topic, ¡°There are three four-star hotels in Ganjiang City, and all of them have signed a supply contract with me. Wanhao is the only five-star hotel in the city, so I think it should have the best accommodation and catering services, right? To be honest, our company is in its first year of farming, and the production area is not large, just over 600 acres. When all the crops are on the market, we can only produce about twenty thousand pounds per day. We have five or six shops ourselves, and if we seek cooperation with a few hotels and restaurants, our daily sales would be about right.¡± Meaning, if they missed this village, there wouldn¡¯t be another shop. Manager Wang immediately understood Xiao Junxuan¡¯s meaning. After contemplating a bit, he said, ¡°Mr. Xiao, could you wait a moment while I report to our superior?¡± Then he left. When he returned, he brought Manager Wan with him. Manager Wan was not in favor of changing suppliers for food procurement.> After all, their hotel was quite happy with their current supplier, and changing suppliers would be considered a breach of contract. However, since Manager Wang, the procurement manager, agreed to change suppliers, Manager Wan came to take a look. After tasting everything Xiao Junxuan brought, he asked seriously, ¡°Mr. Xiao, can you guarantee that the food you supply will always be of this quality?¡± Xiao Junxuan immediately replied seriously, ¡°Definitely. Doing business is all about integrity. If the food we supply doesn¡¯t have this quality, we would be committing fraud, and the contract could be canceled anytime. Plus, we would pay three times the contract penalty.¡± Manager Wan nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I will make the decision. Manager Wang, this matter will be your responsibility. I will be responsible for the board of directors.¡± Manager Wan was very grateful that he made that decision back then. Otherwise, he would probably have to watch helplessly as his customers all ran to the other three hotels. Just now, his biggest worry was that catering couldn¡¯t keep up with the daily influx of customers. Before, he was worried about how to attract customers. Now he worried about having too many customers. Manager Wan thought for a moment and said, ¡°Manager Wang, prepare for a trip. I want to visit that company!¡± Try to buy more supplies. Manager Wang¡¯s eyes lit up, and he immediately responded, ¡°Alright, Manager Wan!¡± Manager Wan¡¯s phone rang again. Manager Wan looked at the incoming call display with a helpless expression. Seeing this, Manager Wang asked, ¡°Manager Wan, is it another reservation for a table?¡± Manager Wan nodded and said, ¡°Yes.¡± Manager Wang shook his head with a smile, ¡°But our reservations are already booked up for the next five days.¡± The same thing happened to the other three four-star hotel businesses, which were also booming. Many people with status couldn¡¯t reserve a table at the five-star hotel, so they tried the other three hotels. But the demand was just as high there too. Many people were wondering why these four hotels were doing so well at the same time. It wasn¡¯t because they changed chefs; it must be an issue with the food quality. At the same time, there were three vegetable stores in Ganjiang City called ¡°Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Vegetable Shop¡± that were also becoming popular. The vegetables and meats bought from these shops tasted just like those served in the hotels. Of course, the taste was slightly different because of the chefs¡¯ skills. The dishes prepared by the chefs were even more delicious. Therefore, in just a few days, the entire Ganjiang City was caught in a frenzy of buying and eating. Recently, the villagers in Xiao Family Village were all in high spirits, smiling from ear to ear. ¡°Ah, we didn¡¯t expect our vegetables to sell so well,¡± ¡°Indeed. Didn¡¯t you see, many big bosses have come and expressed their intention to increase supplies, or those who haven¡¯t cooperated yet want to work with our company.¡± ¡°Sigh, it¡¯s a pity that we only have this many fields, and we can¡¯t supply too many people.¡± ¡°Haha, before we used to worry about how to sell our stuff. Now we worry about too many people buying.¡± ¡°Yes, and our produce is sold at a high price. Even though we sell so much, the price is not low. It really caught us by surprise.¡± ¡°Xiao Yucheng said that after the first batch of agricultural products are sold, we could get our first dividend.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how much the dividend will be. Our family has invested three acres of land.¡± ¡°My family has invested five acres of land. And my Little Qing is now working at the store, earning a monthly salary of over two thousand yuan.¡± ¡°Xiao Yucheng said that as the company expands in the future and we open more shops, when the company recruits employees, priority will be given to the people of Xiao Family Village.¡± After the four elders moved into Xiao Family Village, they found it more and more comfortable. Just as Jinli said, the villagers of Xiao Family Village were pure, kind-hearted, and sincere. Other villages might have some underhanded dealings, but not Xiao Family Village. All the villagers of Xiao Family Village were very united and friendly. Even if there were some arguments, they would persuade each other with reason. The one who lost the argument would apologize to the other. The four elders had seen many people and encountered various situations in their time, but they had never seen a village as united and friendly as Xiao Family Village. Since moving to Xiao Family Village, the four elders also helped out in the fields like the villagers and sat under the trees in the village, chatting and enjoying themselves. Old Chen said, ¡°Jinli was right. This village is really nice. No wonder she loves the village so much.¡± Elder Li nodded and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see? Jinli acted like an adult in the capital, but in the village, she¡¯s an obedient child. However, when it comes to important matters, the villagers still like to ask Jinli for advice.¡± Elder Jiang said, ¡°My granddaughter is a truly lovable child, indeed.¡± Chapter 270 - Chapter 270: Chapter 270: The Cunning and Cute Child 1 (First Update) Chapter 270: Chapter 270: The Cunning and Cute Child 1 (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Eight years later A girl with a ponytail, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, looking tall and graceful, was sitting in the economy class of an airplane, wearing headphones and closing her eyes to rest, leaning on the seatback. Suddenly, a flight attendant tapped her shoulder. Xiao Jinli opened her eyes, which were as splendid as bright stars, beautiful and profound. Xiao Jinli looked at the flight attendant and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The flight attendant politely said, ¡°Miss Xiao, I apologize for the interruption. The thing is, this child is looking for his mother, and he says you are her. So, I brought him to find you!¡± The flight attendant pointed to a three- or four-year-old boy beside her. The little boy had fair skin, chubby cheeks, and a pair of big round eyes. He was very cute, especially with his slightly curly black hair, which made him even more adorable. Before Xiao Jinli could react, the little boy let go of the flight attendant¡¯s hand and threw himself on her lap. ¡°Wuuu, Mommy, I finally found you.¡± The little boy cried, rubbing his tears on Xiao Jinli¡¯s white clothes. Xiao Jinli¡¯s face was a mix of confusion, and she felt somewhat unwell. When did she have such a big son? She took off her headphones and said solemnly, ¡°Little friend, you¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else. I am not your mother.¡± But the little boy was very determined and said, ¡°Wuuu¡­ you are my mommy, I won¡¯t be mistaken. Are you not wanting me because I¡¯m disobedient? I promise I will be obedient from now on, please don¡¯t abandon me! Wuuu¡­ please don¡¯t leave me behind, can you take me away from my abusive father? I don¡¯t want to be beaten by my dad!¡± The passengers around them and the flight attendant, No one expected that such a beautiful girl would turn out to be a selfish mother who abandoned her child. Knowing that her husband is abusive, she only thinks of escaping by herself, without taking her child. Does she intend to leave the child to face his father¡¯s violence alone? Thus, everyone looked at Xiao Jinli with strange eyes. Xiao Jinli listened to the boy¡¯s blabbering and became more annoyed. Xiao Jinli took a deep breath and spoke patiently, forcing a smile, ¡°Little friend, you got it wrong. I haven¡¯t even gotten married yet, so where could I have a child? How about this, let the flight attendant sister take you to report to the police, and let the policing officer uncle help you find your mother, is that okay?¡± Upon hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, the little boy cried even harder. From the perspective of the people around, it seemed like he was heartbroken and desperate because he was abandoned by his mother. The little boy cried loudly and sadly, ¡°Wuuu¡­ Mommy, are you afraid that I will affect you finding a boyfriend? Mom, don¡¯t worry, I will be obedient and well-behaved, as long as you give me a meal, I will do all the work at home, so you can go on dates with your boyfriend, is that okay?¡± Xiao Jinli, Was this little boy truly looking for his mother, or did he come specifically to mess with her and discredit her reputation? Did she have a grudge against him? So now he¡¯s come to take revenge? She glanced at the little boy, who was white and chubby like a radish, full of doubt and thought to herself, ¡°Looking like this, what sort of tasks can he do, and how could he handle all the housework?¡± Before Xiao Jinli could say anything, a passenger couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°What kind of mother are you? If your husband doesn¡¯t treat you well, it¡¯s one thing to desert him, but to abandon your child as well? How can your conscience bear that?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it, such a lovely child, she could actually bear to abandon him? Is this even a mother?¡± ¡°A mother like you is so selfish, only thinking of escaping unhappiness yourself, but leaving unhappiness to your son.¡± Xiao Jinli took a deep breath and said to the flight attendant, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t know this child. Since he was able to board the plane, there must be some information. You can check it, then send him back to his parents.¡± The flight attendant listened, and her gaze towards Xiao was slightly contemptuous, but she still politely said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Xiao, we¡¯ve checked the child¡¯s information and couldn¡¯t find anything. According to him, he came with you, and we¡¯ve also reviewed the surveillance footage, and the child indeed entered the plane with you.¡± Xiao Jinli listened and said somewhat angrily, ¡°Is your security check so careless? A child without any information can actually board a plane? If his family discovered he was missing, how anxious would they be? Also, I¡¯ll say it again, I don¡¯t know this child, and I¡¯m not his mommy.¡± ¡°Waaa¡­¡± After hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, the little boy cried more sadly and said, ¡°Waaa, mommy doesn¡¯t want me anymore, now I have a violent father, and from now on, I will be an unwanted orphan. Waaa¡­ I¡¯m so young, why is my life so bitter?¡± Xiao Jinli, The surrounding passengers, What a pitiful child, having such a selfish and cold-hearted mother. An auntie stood up and said, ¡°Little friend, don¡¯t be sad. It¡¯s okay not to have such an irresponsible mother. Grandma will take you back and take good care of you.¡± Having said that, she wanted to take the little boy¡¯s hand. Xiao Jinli frowned slightly. As soon as the little boy heard this, he immediately shook off her hand, his eyes filled with fear, ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re a bad person, I don¡¯t want to go with you.¡± The auntie was very unhappy and said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Your mother doesn¡¯t want you, and when I say I¡¯ll take you in, you call me a bad person. It¡¯s so ungrateful.¡± Xiao Jinli said lightly, ¡°Auntie, who just steps up and takes a child back like that?¡± The auntie said angrily, ¡°If you don¡¯t take care of him, is it not allowed for someone else to? Do you think everyone is as selfish as you?¡± Xiao Jinli chuckled, not angry but amused, ¡°Let¡¯s put aside whether I¡¯m selfish or not. But Auntie, if someone else doesn¡¯t take care of the child, you¡¯ll take him in? There are so many children in the orphanage, why don¡¯t you raise them? Also, if the child doesn¡¯t want to go with you, and you start cursing him, what kind of person are you?¡± The little boy pointed at the auntie and suddenly said, ¡°Mommy, I know this person. Before, she followed a mother with a child. While the child¡¯s mother was bowing her head to tie her shoelaces, she tried to carry away the child in the stroller. Fortunately, that mother was alert and immediately snatched the child back, and she escaped. I didn¡¯t expect to meet her here.¡± The auntie¡¯s face darkened, and a flash of panic appeared on her face. She said nervously and guiltily to the little boy, ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense. I¡¯ll sew your mouth shut!¡± ¡°Waaa, mommy, this bad person is so terrifying!¡± The little boy¡¯s face showed a scared expression as he cried, ¡°She¡¯s a child abductor! She must be trying to take me away and sell me to some faraway place. Wuuu¡­ I don¡¯t want that!¡± After hearing this, the auntie became angry and anxious, as if she couldn¡¯t wait to tear the child¡¯s mouth apart. ¡°You¡­¡± She reached out to grab the child. Xiao Jinli immediately protected him, warning loudly, ¡°I advise you not to touch him!¡± Chapter 271 - Chapter 271: Chapter 271: The Cunning and Cute Child 2 (Second Update) Chapter 271: Chapter 271: The Cunning and Cute Child 2 (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 While getting off the airplane, Xiao Jinli helplessly brought along the child. Xiao Jinli¡¯s original intention was to have the flight attendant send the child to the Yamen. However, the child was smart and clever, and was determined to follow Xiao Jinli, insisting on sticking with her. After the flight attendant reported the case, the policing officer took down Xiao Jinli¡¯s information and let her take the child away. First, let the child stay with Xiao Jinli, while they try their best to find the parents as soon as possible. At the same time, the Auntie on the plane indeed turned out to be a human trafficker. After the flight attendant reported the case, the officers investigated the information, found the person, and confirmed that there was suspicion of child trafficking, so they were taken to the Yamen upon deplaning. Xiao Jinli carried a small bag and held Jiang Yifan¡¯s hand. Yes, the little boy is named Jiang Yifan, three and a half years old, and currently a runaway. He met Xiao Jinli on the road and, seeing her beautiful appearance, decided to follow her all the way onto the airplane, where his lack of accompanying information was discovered by the flight attendant checking tickets. Upon questioning, he said, ¡°I followed my mommy on board, her name is Xiao Jinli.¡± As for how he knew her name was Xiao Jinli, hehe, that was no match for the smart and invincible little friend Jiang Yifan, of course. He obviously saw it on Xiao Jinli¡¯s plane ticket. Xiao Jinli, of course, had no defenses against this child and naturally did not notice the little tail following her behind. Xiao Jinli sarcastically said, ¡°You little rascal, following me and clinging to me, aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll sell you?¡± Jiang Yifan laughed confidently, ¡°I know Mommy is a very kind person because she is so beautiful.¡± ¡°Call me sister!¡± Xiao Jinli corrected him. ¡°Mommy!¡± ¡°Sister!¡± ¡°Mommy!¡± Finally, Xiao Jinli could only compromise helplessly. She laughed and said, ¡°I don¡¯t even have a boyfriend, but I¡¯ve become a mommy. If I take you home, will everyone think you¡¯re my illegitimate child?¡± Jiang Yifan said, ¡°Then hurry up and find a boyfriend, then give me a household registration, and I won¡¯t be an illegitimate child.¡± Xiao Jinli said unhappily, ¡°Little friend Jiang Yifan, are you getting addicted to playing my child that you¡¯re even thinking about joining my family¡¯s household registration? If your parents find out, don¡¯t let them accuse me of being a child trafficker.¡± Jiang Yifan shrugged his shoulders and said in an adult-like tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t,¡± Xiao Jinli said with a suspicious look on her face, ¡°Are your parents really that irresponsible?¡± Jiang Yifan nodded, ¡°Yes, they are just like that, very irresponsible.¡± Xiao Jinli, Xiao Jinli took the child back to Xiao Family Village, and the child still called Xiao Jinli ¡°Mommy¡±, instantly becoming big news in the village. Xiao Wanshan asked seriously, ¡°Xiao Jinli, tell me, why did you bring a child back after going out once, and he even calls you ¡®Mom¡¯?¡± Xiao¡¯s Mother looked at the child¡¯s appearance and said happily, ¡°This child is so plump and cute, just like Xiao Bao when he was little.¡± Jiang Yifan immediately put on an innocent smile and asked, ¡°Grandma, do I really look exactly like Mommy when she was little?¡± Xiao¡¯s Mother, full of motherly love, pinched his chubby face and laughed, ¡°Isn¡¯t that right? All similarly white and chubby, just adorable.¡± Xiao Jinli immediately complained, ¡°Mom, he slandered me on the airplane and ruined my reputation.¡± Xiao Mother curiously asked, ¡°How can a child slander you and ruin your reputation?¡± From a young age, Xiao Bao had been sensible and well-behaved, like a little adult, never causing any trouble. Now, it was the first time they saw Xiao Bao¡¯s helplessness, and he even complained. Xiao Mother couldn¡¯t help but look at Jiang Yifan affectionately, as it was her cheap grandson who made it possible. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°She said I was domestically abused by my husband and then abandoned him and ran away on my own. You don¡¯t know, the way people on the plane looked at me was strange, as if I were some rotten, selfish mother.¡± It was rare for something to cause Xiao Jinli to be so emotional. After hearing this, Xiao Mother not only wasn¡¯t angry, she covered her mouth and laughed, ¡°Ha ha, Xiao Bao, you have your helpless moments too.¡± Xiao Jinli, Is this her real mother? Xiao Wanshan looked at his daughter, whose expression changed, and also wanted to laugh like his wife. However, Xiao Wanshan still asked, ¡°Xiao Jinli, what on earth is going on?¡± Xiao Jinli helplessly said, ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on either. I was sitting on the plane when the flight attendant brought him to me and said he was my child. He was even better, just threw himself onto me and called me Mom. Jiang Yifan, can you explain to Grandpa and Grandma what¡¯s going on?¡± Jiang Yifan, looking at the fierce Xiao Jinli, immediately started crying in grievance. As he cried, he explained, ¡°Wah wah¡­ Daddy told me that my mommy is the most beautiful woman in the world. Mommy is so beautiful, she must be my mommy! She¡¯s my mommy!¡± Xiao Jinli, Couldn¡¯t even explain herself now. ¡°Jiang Yifan!¡± Xiao Jinli said sternly. Who would have thought that Jiang Yifan seemed to be frightened by this and immediately shrank into Xiao Mother¡¯s embrace, showing a look of fear on his face. ¡°Grandma, Mommy is so fierce, I¡¯m scared!¡± Jiang Yifan said weakly. Xiao Mother immediately scolded, ¡°Xiao Jinli, why are you being so fierce? He¡¯s just a child, what does he know?¡± Xiao Mother then comforted, ¡°Baby, don¡¯t be afraid. Your mommy is usually very gentle, she¡¯s not fierce, she¡¯s just talking louder now.¡± Xiao Jinli, Great, her family status is plummeting. All because of some little brat who popped up out of nowhere. Xiao Mother then looked at Xiao Jinli again and said, ¡°Let him call you mommy if he wants, it¡¯s not like you¡¯ll lose a piece of meat.¡± Xiao Jinli, Is this the gentle mother she¡¯s had for decades? Could it be that she¡¯s been replaced by someone else? Otherwise, why would she suddenly be so fierce to her own daughter? Xiao Jinli pointed at Jiang Yifan and then at herself and said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not even twenty years old yet. I don¡¯t even have a boyfriend, let alone a husband, and I¡¯m already being called ¡®Mom¡¯? Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s ridiculous?¡± Xiao Mother said, ¡°What¡¯s ridiculous? It¡¯s just a child calling you ¡®Mom,¡¯ it doesn¡¯t affect you.¡± Jiang Yifan wiped his tears and said, ¡°Grandma, Mommy doesn¡¯t like me. Why don¡¯t you send me to the orphanage? Anyway, I can¡¯t find my parents either. I¡¯ll just stay in the orphanage and wait for my dad to find me.¡± As he said this, he paused and tears streamed down his face again. As he cried, he said, ¡°But I heard that children in orphanages have no parents, are always hungry, and get bullied. Whoo-whoo, but I¡¯m strong, I¡¯m sure I can beat the others.¡± Xiao Jinli, Where is this child from? Some kind of drama king who knows how to act so well? Chapter 272 - Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Changes in the Xiao Family Village Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Changes in the Xiao Family Village Translator: 549690339 Xiao Family Village has changed a lot over the years. Previously, villagers lived in simple houses and mud huts, but now they all live in villas with large courtyards in front of them. White walls and red tiles, arranged neatly and looking very beautiful. Nowadays, nobody goes out to work for a living anymore. Nonsense, they each receive at least one million in dividends every year, so who would still want to go out and work for a meager monthly salary of just a few thousand yuan? Staying at home with parents and children, and still having money, isn¡¯t that just perfect? Xiao Family Village is now the most affluent village not only in Ganjiang City but also in the entire Jiangzhou Province. Back then, the villagers of Xiao Family Village turned their land into shares and established the Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company, oh, now renamed Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Group, which has become a large company and a big enterprise, not only in Qing County but even in the whole Ganjiang City. The company¡¯s assets are now as high as one hundred billion yuan. In addition to the land of Xiao Family Village, the company has also leased hundreds of thousands of acres of land in Qing County, hiring thousands of employees. However, the company headquarters is still located in Xiao Family Village. Xiao Family Village has now become a place worth its weight in gold. It is the ideal place for many people to cultivate their health and nurture themselves. Because all the products of Xiao Family Village are pollution-free green products. Moreover, everyone knows that Xiao Family Village¡¯s products can make your body healthier. Look at those elderly people in their eighties and nineties in Xiao Family Village who are still energetic, working in the fields, free from illness and disaster, and very healthy. Almost no one gets sick, not even a cold, whether they are young or old. Originally, children were most likely to get sick, but the children of Xiao Family Village are an exception, almost all of them are healthy and strong from birth to adulthood. When people learned of this phenomenon, they were willing to pay some money for their children¡¯s sake and buy some Xiao Family Village products from time to time. Can¡¯t you see, it almost caused the Taoyuan Township Health Center to go bankrupt! The reason why it did not go bankrupt was because there were people who saved their money to treat illnesses or accidents. The healthy and long-lived phenomenon of Xiao Family Village has already caught people¡¯s attention. As a result, Xiao Family Village has become a treasure trove in everyone¡¯s eyes. Many rich and noble people have been vying to settle down in Xiao Family Village. Especially, after some of the country¡¯s retired heroes settled in Xiao Family Village, their health improved, even those with cancer gradually recovered after spending some time in Xiao Family Village. Therefore, Xiao Family Village, which was once poor and backward, has now become the idealized Taoyuan Village that everyone yearns for. However, it has become very difficult for many people to settle down in Xiao Family Village. It is not enough to have power and money. In order to settle down in Xiao Family Village, one must meet the requirements of Xiao Family Village and get past the gatekeeper, Jinli Xiao, the Fortune of Xiao Family Village. That¡¯s right. No matter who wants to settle down in Xiao Family Village, they must get the consent of Jinli Xiao. Outsiders find this unbelievable and think that the villagers of Xiao Family Village are being too absurd. If Jinli Xiao were an elder with high moral standing, it would be understandable, but Jinli Xiao is clearly a child, and they need a child¡¯s consent to settle down in Xiao Family Village. However, this is a prerequisite for settling down in Xiao Family Village, and there is nothing to discuss. When the villagers, including the old men working in the fields, heard that Jinli Xiao had brought a child back who called her ¡°Mommy,¡± they all ran to Xiao Family¡¯s home to watch the excitement, oh no, to find out the situation. Chapter 273 - Chapter 273: Chapter 273: Chapter 273: Chapter 273: Translator: 549690339 Working in the field, or not working, when they heard that Xiao Jinli had become a mother, they were very surprised, so they all ran to the Xiao family. Old Master Jiang, who was 86 years old, looked at the fair, tender, chubby-faced, round-eyed, curly-haired little boy in front of him, and his eyes showed amazement. He asked, ¡°Is it this child? So cute! Come on, child, call me Elderly Grandfather!¡± Jiang Yifan cleverly called out, ¡°Hello, Elderly Grandfather!¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Old Master Jiang said happily, ¡°Good, this child looks smart. Girl, where did you snatch this child from?¡± Xiao Jinli was somewhat speechless, ¡°Great Grandfather, I didn¡¯t snatch him! He¡¯s the one who pestered me. I¡¯m a single lady with no husband or boyfriend, and he calls me mom. I¡¯m disadvantageous, alright?¡± After adopting Xiao Jinli as his adoptive granddaughter, the two families had gathered for a meal, but there was a confusion in the address. Xiao Jinli had a biological grandfather, and although Grandpa Jiang was an adoptive grandfather, calling Grandpa Jiang seemed unfamiliar. So they called him by his age. Old Master Jiang was older, so he was called Great Grandfather. Jiang Yifan agreed with a smile, ¡°Yes, Elderly Grandfather, I pestered Mommy. Mommy is so beautiful that I recognized her as my Mommy at first sight.¡± Xiao Jinli and everyone, So the child recognized his mommy based on looks. Old Master Jiang asked with a smile, ¡°Child, what¡¯s your name and where do you live?¡± ¡°My name is Jiang Yifan!¡± Jiang Yifan held his chin, his eyes rolled around, ¡°As for where I live, I don¡¯t remember.¡± Xiao Jinli added, ¡°Great Grandfather, he followed me onto the plane in Capital City by sneaking in without a ticket. He must be from Capital City. He said he ran away from home. Great Grandfather, you can ask Ninth Brother and the others to check which family in Capital City lost a child, whose surname is Jiang, and whose family life should be quite good.¡± He was wearing designer clothes. After hearing this, Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes rolled again, not knowing what idea he was thinking of. Suddenly, he hugged Old Master Jiang¡¯s arm and started crying, ¡°Elderly Grandfather, actually, Yifan is an orphan and doesn¡¯t know who his parents are. Maybe my parents are gone, so there¡¯s no need to investigate, right?¡± Xiao Jinli sneered, ¡°An orphan? Then we need to check even more. On Television, there are daily broadcasts of those parents looking for their children; maybe we can help you find your biological parents.¡± Jiang Yifan, Did he go too far and upset this halfway mommy? Everyone, They have never seen Xiao Jinli¡¯s angry side. Even though the villagers in Xiao Family Village watched her grow up since childhood, Xiao Jinli had always been sensible, well-behaved, and mature. Jiang Yifan immediately laughed awkwardly and said, ¡°Well¡­ let¡¯s not, right? That would be a waste of public resources.¡± Xiao Jinli snorted coldly, ¡°Hmm, you know it¡¯s a waste of public resources, it seems you¡¯re quite sensible. But why did you pester me? Do I look like I really want to be your mom?¡± Even with the combined age of nearly fifty, she didn¡¯t like to be someone else¡¯s mom, let alone a child who came out of nowhere. Xiao Jinli angrily forgot to shield her mind. Now little Zhi looked at the master¡¯s helplessness towards a child and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Hahaha¡­ It¡¯s so funny.¡± ¡°Master, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen your emotions change. Xiao Jinli with a black face, Everyone looked at the clever child and then at Xiao Jinli. A villager laughed, ¡°Jinli, I think this child is very cute, you can temporarily be his mom.¡± ¡°Yes, this child is fair, tender, and chubby. He¡¯s so adorable and lovable. Since he recognizes you, just be his mom. He may call you mom, but everyone knows you¡¯re still an unmarried woman, isn¡¯t it?¡± Unmarried woman Xiao Jinli, Why is everyone so keen on having her, a girl without a boyfriend or husband and not even twenty years old, to be a mother? After everyone took a look at the child and enjoyed the excitement, their mood relaxed, and they went back to work in the fields. Actually, everyone was very busy, watching the excitement was just taking a break during the free time. Of course, everyone was more interested in watching the excitement of Xiao Jinli. After the villagers dispersed, the remaining Xiao family members and several old gentlemen, gathered around the child, very curious. ¡°This child is smart, clever, and so cute. Being Xiao Bao¡¯s child is not impossible.¡± ¡°Little friend Jiang Yifan, why did you recognize Little Bao, ahem¡­my daughter as your mom?¡± Xiao Wanshan asked doubtfully. Jiang Yifan took it for granted and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Mommy beautiful?¡± Xiao Wanshan smiled and asked, ¡°So because she¡¯s beautiful, she¡¯s your mommy, is that what you mean?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Jiang Yifan nodded and said, ¡°My dad said that the most beautiful woman is my mommy.¡± ¡°So who exactly is your dad?¡± Xiao Jinli asked with her hands on her hips, ¡°Don¡¯t try to fool me, since you remember your dad, you must not have amnesia!¡± Jiang Yifan, The Xiao family, Did this mother and son hit it off? Jiang Yifan slapped himself on the forehead, and exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s not good, I¡¯m amnesic again! I don¡¯t remember anything. Grandpa, who am I, and what¡¯s my name? Where is this place?¡± The Xiao family, This child is really a drama king. The next day, Jiang Yifan held Old Master Jiang¡¯s hand and walked towards the field, greeting the villagers along the way. ¡°Hello, Grandpa and Grandma!¡± ¡°Little friend, are you Jinli¡¯s new son?¡± New son Jiang Yifan nodded and replied, ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°How old are you today?¡± Jiang Yifan held up three little fingers and laughed, ¡°Three and a half years old.¡± ¡°Hehe, three and a half years old. So cute!¡± ¡°Is this Jinli¡¯s son? He looks so cute, fair and chubby, well raised!¡± ¡°So how did this child recognize Jinli as his mom? It¡¯s good that we know Jinli doesn¡¯t have a boyfriend.¡± ¡°Haha, Jinli was so cute when she was young too.¡± ¡°This child really looks like Jinli when she was young. If we didn¡¯t know, we would think they are mother and son.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that Jinli would bring a child back to the village after a trip to the Capital City.¡± As Jiang Yifan followed Old Master Jiang, the villagers were all talking about it. Jiang Yifan curiously asked, ¡°Elderly Grandfather, this place is so beautiful, even more beautiful than my home!¡± Old Master Jiang laughed and said, ¡°So you didn¡¯t lose your memory?¡± Jiang Yifan, Can¡¯t they just keep pretending? Chapter 274 - Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Translator: 549690339 ¡°Wow, what is this? Mommy, is this a snake?¡± As Jiang Yifan entered the greenhouse, she saw earthworms tumbling everywhere on the ground, and she couldn¡¯t help exclaiming. ¡°But if it¡¯s a snake, it¡¯s a bit small!¡± Jiang Yifan asked doubtfully, ¡°Mommy, what are these things?¡± ¡°They are earthworms!¡± Xiao Jinli said. Jiang Yifan, still puzzled, asked, ¡°Earthworms? What are earthworms?¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment before explaining, ¡°Earthworms, also known as earth dragons, are terrestrial invertebrates belonging to the phylum Annelida and class Oligochaeta.¡± Jiang Yifan nodded, pretending to understand. Jiang Yifan looked at the earthworms wiggling all over the ground and felt a bit creeped out. There were so many of them. ¡°So Mommy, why are you raising so many earthworms?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°To sell them, of course!¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s earthworm farm had expanded from thirty mu at first to over three hundred mu now. Out of these, three hundred mu of land were used for earthworm breeding for the company¡¯s farming needs. The remaining thirty-six mu of land were used to breed earthworms for exportation. Back then, Gao Jianjun sold a few hundred earthworms as high-end ingredients in foreign countries. The price had once reached 88,000, but no matter how high the price, Xiao Jinli prioritized using the money for the development of Xiao Family Village. In just half a year, the green agricultural products of Xiao Family Village had become a household brand. Though expensive for ordinary people, the products were still within their affordable range. Many people who had tasted the products from Xiao Family Village could hardly forget them. Moreover, the more one consumed them, the healthier they became. This was also the slogan of the company¡¯s brand. After inviting several old gentlemen to stay in Xiao Family Village, the company suddenly became high-profile. Besides requesting strict product standards, they particularly emphasized the products¡¯ special effects and benefits. Therefore, Xiao Family Village¡¯s agricultural products were always in great demand whenever they hit the market. As Xiao Jinli had predicted, the products from Xiao Family Village would definitely draw the attention of various forces once they were launched. Many big capital players wanted to take a bite of this big piece of fat, but these forces were warned before they even started! Later, after a series of inquiries, they found out that several important figures were present in Xiao Family Village, and even one child from the village was the adoptive granddaughter of one of them! Hearing such information, even the most powerful and wealthy capital players had no choice but to give up their intentions. Of course, besides supplying ordinary consumers, the Xiao Family Village also opened another channel for the high-end market. The agricultural products in the high-end market were personally supervised and managed by Xiao Jinli. Furthermore, the plants grown in the field had better growth and better taste, and they were even more effective for health! However, the selling price of the products in the high-end market was several times, even more than ten times higher than those in the ordinary market. For example, in the same place, a cabbage sold for one yuan per jin in the market, while there were two kinds of prices in Xiao Family Village¡¯s store: one for two or three yuan per jin, and the other for thirty yuan per jin. High-end consumers could even choose to have the goods delivered to their door! Despite the high prices, consumers still scrambled to buy the products from Xiao Family Village¡¯s store! In one year, Xiao Family Village¡¯s store expanded nationwide. Every county and above would have at least one store! As for partnering hotels and restaurants, they would carefully select the ones with the best reputation! However, only one or at most two could partner with them at the county level and above. That being said, the competition in the catering industry was fierce! Xiao Family Village¡¯s Green Fresh Company in Xiao Family Village was thriving and growing rapidly! Chapter 275 - Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Translator: 549690339 In the first year, Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company made a name for all its products, while also distinguishing between the ordinary and high-end market directions. Apart from crops, vegetables, and rice grown in the fields, there were also farmed meats: chicken, duck, fish, goose, pig, and cattle, later adding sheep, turkey, rabbit, etc., renowned for their tender and aromatic meat. And agricultural by-products, including peanut oil, corn oil, rapeseed oil, and tea oil, etc. In the second year, the company considerably increased its output value. This was a big problem. If the company wanted to increase its output value, it had to continually add more land and hills. Hills were not the issue; the main concern was the land. In the countryside, land is valuable, and at the same time, land is the lifeblood of the older generation, who believe that land is their assurance of survival, without it, they feel insecure. Xiao Family Village had a strong sense of cohesion and unity because of Xiao Jinli, so everyone rallied to the cause. But other villages did not have the unity of Xiao Family Village, and moreover, the company leased the land from these other villages, rather than using a stakeholder model, making things even more challenging. The people who stayed at home were not willing to lease out their land; they would rather farm it themselves. Moreover, seeing how well Xiao Family Village was developing, they also felt a certain amount of envy. Just like among people, apart from parents who sincerely wish you well, many people wish you well but not better than themselves, otherwise, they would feel out of balance. Once, Xiao Family Village was known as a poverty-stricken village in Taoyuan Town, mainly due to geographical issues and being greatly affected by the weather. There were not many really good days without either droughts or floods, causing significant impact on the harvest. If it were not for the country becoming more and more developed, with more and more people choosing to work outside of the village, many young people from Xiao Family Village go out for work. Thus, reduced harvests have not led to starvation, but they have increased the burden on the younger generation. However, since Xiao Jinli¡¯s birth, the situation in Xiao Family Village has gradually improved, at least without frequent droughts and floods, so the villagers¡¯ admiration for Xiao Jinli as a village treasure and Fortune is justified. Even so, the gap between Xiao Family Village and other villages is still quite significant. Every year, the Village Chief was criticized in the Town meetings. Xiao Village Chief could only face the ridicule and jeering of others with resignation. It wasn¡¯t until Xiao Family Village started growing and selling vegetables that the situation was completely changed. If a few families in Xiao Family Village were doing well, that¡¯s one thing, but the reality is every family is doing well. Their village used land shares. It is said that the first dividend was twenty thousand per acre. Families with 3-4 acres got dividends of seventy to eighty thousand in the first time. This is equivalent to the savings of rural people for a lifetime. The first dividend was for the first half of the year, and the second dividend was for the latter half of the year. So, the first year of dividends, as long as they had land shares, it was several ten thousand or more. In addition to dividends, many people in the village were arranged to work in the company, with additional salaries. Even the Cleaner of the company was from their own village, with wages paid accordingly. As long as they work diligently and do not slack off, the annual income of a family can make others particularly envious. It¡¯s rumored that Xiao Family Village¡¯s company wants to lease their village¡¯s land, the majority of people disagreed. Many people refused not only because the rents were too low, but also because they wanted to follow the way of Xiao Family Village, with land shares, getting dividends on top of working in the company. However, with such conditions of land shares, both the company and the people of Xiao Family Village would not possibly agree. They could offer to pay rent and consider hiring people as needed. Chapter 276 - Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Translator: 549690339 It can be said that in the second year, company expansion, or more precisely, land expansion issues, became a significant problem. People from surrounding villages wanted to follow Xiao Family Village¡¯s example, contributing their land as shares and then waiting for dividends. But this was simply impossible. If it couldn¡¯t be done, then they wouldn¡¯t lease the land. Those villagers believed that because their lands were adjacent to Xiao Family Village, the company had no choice but to use their lands, giving them leverage. Xiao Yucheng and others were almost amused to laughter by this assumption. However, it was somewhat reasonable for these people to have such thoughts. The land of surrounding villages was indeed close to Xiao Family Village, making it more convenient for management after leasing, which was its biggest advantage. But an advantage was just an advantage, and it didn¡¯t mean that their land was absolutely indispensable. Fortunately, Xiao Family Village had already built a reputation. In just a year, it had become the hallmark of Qing County. The county government attached great importance to this and was determined to maintain it. The company¡¯s expansion was taken seriously by the county government, and they were extremely supportive, offering as much help as possible. It was just that they encountered the biggest obstacle from surrounding villages when it came to leasing land. Xiao Yucheng held a meeting with staff from the county government. One of the county government leaders contemplated the matter and suggested, ¡°General Zhou, those villagers want to make money, and your company¡¯s shareholders are all villagers who contributed their land as shares. So why not let other villages put in their land as shares too? You can let these villagers participate in a subsidiary company in their village under the guise of opening a branch. In this way, there won¡¯t be any conflict with your Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company, right?¡± As a high-ranking leader, it was natural to hope that as many villages as possible could overcome poverty and embark on the path to prosperity. Now that there was an opportunity in front of them, they certainly didn¡¯t want to miss it. However, since Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company was indeed a company and Xiao Yucheng was a businessman, his main concern was his own interests. Xiao Yucheng smiled and said, ¡°Director Chen, our company¡¯s expansion is not limited to the surrounding villages. In the future, we may extend to other counties. The land we lease is not limited to a few hundred mu, and the farmers are not just three or four hundred households. In the future, the land we lease may reach tens of thousands of mu, and there may be more than ten thousand tenant households. If our company has to agree to let everyone who leases land become shareholders and then wait for dividends, not only will the workload increase and the number of shareholders grow, but it will also become a mixed bag. In this case, if there is even a slight issue, our company¡¯s reputation may be damaged, directly tarnishing the company¡¯s image. Therefore, we cannot agree to this demand from a long-term development perspective. After all, letting thousands of tenant households become shareholders is quite unrealistic, isn¡¯t it?¡± If they had to accept shares from every tenant they leased land from, After Xiao Yucheng finished speaking, everyone else pondered the matter further. Destroying the company¡¯s image was definitely unacceptable. Although the Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company currently seemed small, it had a significant reputation. The reason it appeared small was that it had only been developing for a year. Yet, in just a year, the company had gained nationwide recognition and had become the hallmark of Qing County, indicating its bright future prospects. Any leader with vision and ambition would certainly do their utmost to protect this valuable asset for the sake of their political achievements. Director Chen frowned slightly and said, ¡°Another option is to allow the entire village to invest as a whole. Your company could treat the village as a single shareholder and distribute dividends accordingly. In this way, the problem of having thousands of shareholders would be solved.¡± Xiao Yucheng¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, and a glint flashed in his eyes. Chapter 277 - Chapter 277: Chapter 277: Chapter 277: Chapter 277: Translator: 549690339 Director Chen was thinking about his political achievements, hoping that everyone could invest in the Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company, and every household could receive dividends like the Xiao Family Village and have good days. It would be his political achievement if the whole town lived a good life. Xiao Yucheng couldn¡¯t help but feel furious inside. There wasn¡¯t much difference between collective investment and individual investment. If there were any problems, those who would make trouble would still do so. He reiterated that their company was not a charity. Xiao Yucheng, smiling, said, ¡°Director Chen, so your idea is that if I want to lease the land of all the twenty-two villages in the town, I have to let the twenty-two villages invest in the company. If I lease the land of hundreds of villages in the whole county, I need to let those villages invest, right?¡± Director Chen remained silent. The silence was an answer. Xiao Yucheng was almost bursting into laughter out of anger. But then he shook his head and said, ¡°Director Chen, isn¡¯t that unrealistic? Our company just wants to lease land to expand the company¡¯s output value. It doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯re a charity, tying our company and our village¡¯s interests to allow hundreds or thousands of shareholders to invest. It¡¯s not only impractical, but even if it were possible, with so many shareholders, the company would be difficult to manage and chaos might ensue, making it hard for the company to develop. So, we don¡¯t agree to let other villages collectively invest.¡± Without waiting for Director Chen¡¯s response, he continued, ¡°If any village is willing to lease their land to us, we can provide jobs for them. If the occupation is the same, the salary would be the same. If they insist on investing, we might as well consider leasing land in other counties.¡± Upon hearing that, the faces of the staff in the county government office changed slightly. Director Chen laughed, ¡°President Xiao, you¡¯re joking. If you don¡¯t lease in our county and instead lease in other counties, wouldn¡¯t that increase your company¡¯s costs? Alright, let us handle the land leasing matter and communicate with the villages.¡± Xiao Yucheng nodded, ¡°Thank you all.¡± Communicating through the county government office was much easier than the company going to the villagers directly. After all, the county government office was an authority that the villagers were afraid of. Most villagers were willing to lease their land, as the most attractive offer was the job opportunities ¨C at least one position per family, plus temporary positions available occasionally. Farming didn¡¯t yield much profit throughout the year. A single position, even the lowest-paying cleaner, would earn 1,500 yuan a month. That would be 20,000 to 30,000 yuan a year, which was much more than farming. Rumor has it that the Green Fresh Company of Xiao Family Village was unwilling to let the villagers invest. If people insisted on investing, the company would prefer not to rent the land. Upon hearing this, most people gave up on the idea. Of course, some lazy people wanted to invest in the land like the Xiao Family Village, and collect dividends later on. That is, they could do nothing and still earn money. Therefore, of course, they were reluctant to rent and would rather invest. Xiao Yucheng sneered after hearing this, ¡°So they want to invest, huh?¡± So, the result was that they were unwilling to rent? Then they simply wouldn¡¯t rent. As for those who insisted on not renting, their land would be left out. As for their own land, they could plant if they wished, or forget about it if they didn¡¯t want to. It was their decision whether to leave it fallow or cultivate it. Thus, those who were unwilling to rent were left dumbfounded. With the previous experience, the following villages became much easier to deal with. Chapter 278 - Chapter 278: Chapter 278: (First Update) Chapter 278: Chapter 278: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 The rapid development of Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company over the past few years has not gone unnoticed. Especially the agricultural tycoons, who seem extremely anxious. Many companies they have collaborated with, particularly in the catering industry, have chosen to terminate their contracts and cooperate with Green Fresh Company instead. However, Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company is selective in choosing their partners. At the same time, due to limited product resources, they only choose two or three partners in one place in addition to supplying their own stores, resulting in fierce competition. Despite this, to the agricultural tycoons, Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company doesn¡¯t seem to have a large market share. But a small market doesn¡¯t mean it won¡¯t grow. The market is small only because their company is small, with limited products, unable to supply more people. That¡¯s why the agricultural tycoons are even more worried. If Xiao¡¯s Green Fresh Company grows and can continuously supply products, how much market share could they maintain? Thus, the best course of action would be to either acquire the company before it grows, or eradicate it while it¡¯s still vulnerable; otherwise, future troubles will be endless. Haidu City Vegetable Group, Qingling City Green Garden Group, and Jingjing Green Health Group are the three major players in the national agricultural product industry. Together, they occupy nearly 70% of the national market. All major hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, corporate cafeterias, and government agencies within the country collaborate with these groups. Moreover, they have opened chain stores across the nation. From the beginning, they have been highly vigilant and wary of the emerging Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company. Why? Jingjing Green Health Group has seized Jiangzhou Province and its surrounding market with a dozen provincial capital markets. Naturally, the market of Ganjiang City is under its control. The ingredient supply for Ganjiang City¡¯s three-star and higher hotels and large restaurants is covered by Jingjing Green Health Group. Xiao Junxuan effortlessly took over an order for a five-star hotel and two four-star hotels initially. After this, the hotels directly ended their contracts with Jingjing Green Health Group, not giving the branch manager any time to react. But by the time they reacted, Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company¡¯s goods had already been supplied, and they quickly gained popularity at lightning speed. These three hotels and large restaurants are full of customers daily. At this time, it is practically impossible for the manager of Jingjing Green Health Company¡¯s Ganjiang City branch to even discuss cooperation. At that time, Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company didn¡¯t continue to poach other clients. However, this emerging company cannot be underestimated, so the branch manager immediately reported the situation. Upon learning this, the group directly sent people to the hotel for a meal. After eating, even the group¡¯s employees almost wanted to quit their jobs and go work directly for the Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company so they could enjoy such food daily. Jingjing Green Health Group¡¯s Chairman and President, Zhang Jingjing, felt a strong sense of threat based on her years of experience in the commercial field. She immediately convened an executive meeting and issued the strongest instruction to maintain all existing clients and remain highly vigilant against Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company. The executives were to investigate the details of the company and, if necessary, use extreme measures to either have the company join Jingjing Green Health Group or eradicate it before it grows further and becomes a crisis. After giving the order, Zhang Jingjing personally went to Xiao Family Village. She disguised herself as a customer. Upon arriving, she couldn¡¯t help but narrow her eyes when she saw the lush and pleasing crops in the field. As an industry professional, she could tell at a glance how good the crops were, and having tasted their flavor, she couldn¡¯t deny that the quality of vegetables from Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company was significantly better than that of Jingjing Green Health Group. Jingjing Green Fresh Group couldn¡¯t even compare. This frustrated her. So, after pondering for a while, she decided to seize this company before it could grow further. Once it became part of the Jingjing Group, with its quality and taste, it would certainly be the industry leader nationwide, and possibly even expand to foreign markets and become the world¡¯s top player. The more Zhang Jingjing thought about it, the more excited she became. Zhang Jingjing went directly to see General Manager Xiao Yucheng of the company. Zhang Jingjing said frankly, ¡°President Xiao, I¡¯m Zhang Jingjing from Jingjing Green Health Group. My purpose here is to hope that your company can join our Jingjing Group. I will use all the resources of our group to promote Xiao Family Village¡¯s agricultural products nationwide, even worldwide.¡± For an ordinary company, this is a very tempting offer. Being part of a large company or group means having the best resources and promotional channels, providing the best opportunities for a small, unknown company. Joining a large company or group has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are rapid development with the help of a large company. The disadvantage is that once you join a large company, you will be heavily restrained and have no say in the matter. Before becoming the general manager, Xiao Yucheng had of course learned about the industry and was naturally aware that Jingjing Green Fresh Group is one of the top three players in the national industry. Xiao Yucheng smiled and directly refused, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chairman Zhang, our company will not join any large company or group.¡± That¡¯s a joke. While it sounds nice, once actually merged into a large company, their small company would not have any say in decision-making and lose the collective interests of their entire organization. Furthermore, they never intended to join any company. The original purpose of their company¡¯s establishment was to lead the whole village into prosperity. Joining a large company would severely infringe on the interests of the village, and it would be contrary to the original intention of establishing the company. Hearing such a straightforward refusal, Zhang Jingjing¡¯s face turned very unpleasant. Speaking in a slightly heavier tone, she said, ¡°President Xiao, I hope your company will reconsider. Your company has only taken a few clients from us, which we don¡¯t really care about. But your company is still in its infancy and can easily be nipped in the bud, or even uprooted and destroyed.¡± Although it seemed like advice, it was actually a blatant threat. At present, Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company is like an egg compared to the huge rock that is Jingjing Group. It would be as easy as crushing an egg for the huge rock to smash it. Xiao Yucheng remained calm, smiling faintly, ¡°Chairman Zhang doesn¡¯t need to worry. Our company has modest ambitions and only wants to be self-reliant in our small plot of land. Chairman Zhang, take care. Goodbye.¡± Zhang Jingjing left with her face turning blue from anger. However, before leaving, she said, ¡°I still hope you will reconsider carefully and not regret your decision in the future.¡± Chapter 279 - Chapter 279: Chapter 279: (Second Update) Chapter 279: Chapter 279: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Hearing the refusal of Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company, Zhang Jingjing was of course very annoyed. So she personally took charge of the branch company in Ganjiang City. Seeing the three stores that Xiao Family Village had opened in Ganjiang City, every time the goods arrived, they were immediately snatched up. Only after the goods in the Xiao Family Village¡¯s store were sold out, would the customers go to Jingjing¡¯s Green Health Store, which led to a significant decline in the traffic of their store. Previously, they used to sell out daily, but now they were often left with a lot of unsold goods. If this continued, they would have to close the store in Ganjiang City. Zhang Jingjing looked at the situation, her eyebrows tightly knit. Clenching her fists, a fierce look appeared in her eyes as she said, ¡°We can¡¯t go on like this. Jingjing Group can give up on the Ganjiang City market, but if we retreat, will we also have to retreat when Xiao Family Village Company enters other markets in the future? That¡¯s not acceptable. Since the Xiao Family Village Company refuses to comply, don¡¯t blame me, it¡¯s their fault for not knowing better.¡± Zhang Jingjing¡¯s ability to develop from a small vegetable store to her current position today definitely required certain capabilities and means. Her good looks also helped her win many connections. She thought for a moment and thought of her usual tactics. She picked up the phone and dialed a number. ¡°Boss Li, it¡¯s me. I need your help now, and the reward is 200,000.¡± North Ganjiang City¡¯s Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Store. As usual, even before daylight, many customers were already lining up at the door waiting. It couldn¡¯t be helped; the things in this store were too popular. If they came a little later, not even a single leaf would be left for sale. ¡°Make way, make way for me!¡± At this moment, a man with a wicked-looking face, bare arms, and tattoos on his arms appeared, leading a group of henchmen. ¡°Get out of the way right now, and don¡¯t blame us if you get hurt by not watching out.¡± The people who came to buy vegetables were ordinary people, and even the wealthy sent their nannies and servants. So, seeing this group of fierce-looking men, who were clearly here to cause trouble, everyone scattered and stood by to watch the fun. Xiao Qingshan and the four others working at the store, seeing this group of troublemakers, immediately gathered together. Xiao Qingshan asked sternly, ¡°Who are you, and what do you want to do?¡± The man leading the group, Lai Lao Liu, sneered and said, ¡°What do we want to do? Are you blind? We are obviously here to¡­smash the store. Brothers, smash it!¡± Upon saying this, the men behind him immediately picked up iron rods and other tools and began smashing the store. Xiao Qingshan was so angry he wanted to fight them, but the others held him back. ¡°Qingshan, calm down! They have tools in their hands, and if you go forward, you¡¯ll just be asking to get smashed.¡± The other four were older than Xiao Qingshan, and every time someone from Xiao Family Village went to work in the store, Xiao Jinli would specifically instruct them, ¡°Remember, if something happens to the store, you must put your own safety first! Even if all the goods in the store are lost, it¡¯s just some money, but your lives are priceless. You have to think about your family and friends, so protect yourself first!¡± After they had finished smashing the store, Lai Lao Liu threatened Xiao Qingshan and the others, saying loudly, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, we¡¯ll be here every day from now on; you better be on guard!¡± Xiao Qingshan roared, ¡°Who are you, and what do you want? Don¡¯t you have any respect for the laws of the land?¡± Hearing this, Lai Lao Liu laughed as if he had heard a funny joke. He chuckled, ¡°Haha, the laws of the land? Young man, you haven¡¯t even bothered to find out who we are. Laws, pfft, I¡¯m not afraid of you.¡± With that, the group swaggered in and swaggered out. The reason they were so bold and confident was that they had someone backing them. Once they left, both Xiao Qingshan and the others, as well as the customers who had seen the smashed store, were heartbroken. An old lady said, ¡°Young man, I think these vegetables aren¡¯t too smashed up. Why not sell them to us?¡± Xiao Qinglin, Xiao Qingshan¡¯s older brother, looked at the mess on the ground with a heartbroken expression. He took a deep breath and said, ¡°Auntie, we won¡¯t sell them today. If you don¡¯t mind, you can take these home.¡± Their store never sold subpar looking goods. After hearing Xiao Qinglin¡¯s words, many people¡¯s eyes lit up and some asked hesitantly, ¡°Boss, do you really want us to take them for free? You¡¯re not selling?¡± Xiao Qinglin said, ¡°You can take them yourselves. But you must be careful!¡± He was afraid that if these people started grabbing, things could get chaotic and out of control. Fortunately, the people who came to buy vegetables were all well-mannered. Although they were all scrambling to pick up the goods, they were competing with their hands and feet. They didn¡¯t try to grab from others once someone got hold of an item. After the customers had taken everything from the store, someone said to Xiao Qingshan, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s still early, let me help you clean up the store.¡± Xiao Qingshan didn¡¯t refuse; he said, ¡°Thank you!¡± Subsequently, many customers volunteered to help them tidy up the store. However, the store was already in such a mess that no matter how much they cleaned up, it all turned into a pile of waste. Xiao Qingshan clenched his fists in anger and gritted his teeth, ¡°Who are these people? I must teach them a lesson once I find out.¡± A customer said, ¡°The leader is called Lai Lao Liu, a local thug in the northern part of the city who usually collects protection fees from businesses without a background. Did you guys offend him somehow? He smashed your store right away.¡± Xiao Qinglin thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Won¡¯t the Yamen do anything about these people?¡± Someone immediately scoffed and said, ¡°Hehe, I heard these people have connections with the Yamen and even the city bureau. Usually, when people call the police, they just symbolically arrest them and take them to the Yamen, either giving them a warning or holding them for a few days before letting them go. Then these people continue to roam around freely.¡± Xiao Qinglin and the others, Xiao Qinglin said to the others, ¡°We can¡¯t open the store for now, so let¡¯s go back to the dormitory.¡± Xiao Qingshan called Xiao Yucheng and reported the incident. Originally, they didn¡¯t plan to disturb Xiao Jinli and the old gentlemen, but the villagers were anxious, and eventually, they found out. Grandpa Jiang and the others were furious, saying, ¡°Who are these people, such bullies? Girl, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll teach them a lesson and show them why the flowers are so red.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and comforted the old gentlemen, ¡°My elders, I can handle this little matter myself, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Then, she added, ¡°I know the Ganjiang City Official Department Chief, if they want to compete for connections, let¡¯s compete.¡± After hearing her words, Elder Jiang and the others immediately laughed and said, ¡°Haha, great! Girl, you handle it first.¡± Then, Xiao Jinli made a call, ¡°Uncle Luo, it¡¯s me!¡± Chapter 280 - Chapter 280: Chapter 280: Chapter 280: Chapter 280: Translator: 549690339 The second day, Lai Lao Liu and his gang arrived early in front of the store, without any pretense, displaying their arrogance. They thought that after making such a scene yesterday, this store would not dare to open for business, at least for the short term. Who would have thought that when they arrived here, they found the store unloading goods, as if nothing had happened at all. This displeased Lai Lao Liu and made him very dissatisfied. They felt that the store was provoking them, not taking them seriously at all. ¡°What are you doing, what are you doing?¡± Lai Lao Liu, holding an iron rod, led his gang menacingly. Standing in front of Xiao Qinglin and the others, he said with fierce dissatisfaction, ¡°You still want to open for business today? It seems the lesson we taught you hasn¡¯t been harsh enough.¡± Xiao Qinglin angrily questioned, ¡°Who are you? How did we offend you?¡± Lai Lao Liu revealed a mocking and triumphantly smile, ¡°You didn¡¯t offend me, but you offended someone you shouldn¡¯t have!¡± As he spoke, his sharp gaze swept through the store and immediately noticed the presence of Xiao Jinli, but he did not care ¨C she was just a little girl after all. ¡°We offended someone we shouldn¡¯t have?¡± Xiao Qinglin asked in surprise and anger, ¡°Who exactly did we offend?¡± They were merely people who ran a store selling vegetables ¨C who could they possibly have offended? Xiao Jinli, hearing this, suddenly understood. She smiled and said, ¡°Oh, so we¡¯ve gotten in the way of certain people.¡± Lai Lao Liu¡¯s expression briefly stiffened. Looking at Xiao Jinli, he said maliciously, ¡°You stinking girl, what nonsense are you talking about?¡± Xiao Jinli looked at them with a nonchalant smile and said meaningfully, ¡°Am I talking nonsense? Oh, I suppose if you say so. However, let me tell you, if you dare to smash our store, you¡¯ll have to bear the consequences. Are you sure you want to do it?¡± After hearing this, Lai Lao Liu narrowed his eyes. He had a feeling there was a hidden meaning behind the girl¡¯s words. But after thinking about it, he believed he was overthinking it ¨C after all, it was just a child¡¯s words. Children are usually brave and fearless, like newborn calves facing a tiger. Lai Lao Liu sneered and cursed, ¡°You stinking girl, I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson today by smashing your store! I want to see the consequences you¡¯re talking about. Even if you call the police, I¡¯m not afraid. We have powerful people behind us. At worst, I¡¯ll spend a few days in jail but let me tell you this: after getting out, I¡¯ll continue smashing your store!¡± Xiao Qingshan and the others wanted to fight him, and Xiao Qinglin quietly said to his younger brother, ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive. Jinli has already taken action; don¡¯t mess up her plans.¡± Before they arrived, Xiao Jinli had instructed them not to confront the gang no matter what happened. She would handle them. Upon hearing his big brother¡¯s words, Xiao Qingshan finally calmed down. Xiao Jinli, hearing this, laughed even more. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re not afraid of the consequences, go ahead and smash our store. Do as you please.¡± With that, she even made way for them. Xiao Jinli spoke to Xiao Qinglin and the others, ¡°All of you, step aside and let them smash.¡± Xiao Qinglin and the others obediently stepped aside to make way. Seeing this, Lai Lao Liu hesitated, but then thought that perhaps they were just bluffing. After a moment, he waved his hand and ordered, ¡°Smash it, my brothers!¡± Lai Lao Liu and the others immediately began smashing everything they saw. A short, skinny man with monkey-like features eyed Xiao Jinli¡¯s group, then swung the iron rod in his hand and smashed it toward Xiao Jinli and the others. Xiao Qinglin and the others widened their eyes, unable to react in time. Xiao Jinli saw the man¡¯s movements, and a fierce light flashed in her eyes for a moment. These thugs not only smashed the store but also tried to hurt people. Xiao Jinli reached out and grabbed the man¡¯s iron stick, her cold eyes fixed on his face, and said icily, ¡°Bastard, what are you trying to do? Do you still want to hit someone?¡± At first, Cheng Gouzi didn¡¯t take this group of people seriously. He swung the iron stick without fear of being caught, knowing that his gang members had his back. Unexpectedly, when he swung the stick, it was caught by a little girl. He didn¡¯t care and tried to make another move, but after several attempts, he couldn¡¯t pull the stick out of her hand. Before he could react, Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes flashed coldly, and she snatched the iron stick from his hand, raised it and smashed it against his leg, saying coldly, ¡°So you like smashing, huh? Well, I like smashing too!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± A miserable scream filled the entire street. The other men who were smashing the shop immediately stopped what they were doing, their faces filled with shock, and their eyes showed a hint of fear as they nervously swallowed. They never expected that a young girl could not only overpower them physically but also have the courage to hit them. Right after he got over his shock, Lai Lao Liu pointed at Xiao Jinli and cursed, ¡°You stinky girl, how dare you hit my brother! Just wait until I teach you a lesson!¡± With that, he swung his iron stick at Xiao Jinli¡¯s head. When Xiao Qinglin and the others saw this, their pupils shrank and they roared, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± However, Xiao Jinli effortlessly blocked Lai Lao Liu¡¯s iron stick with her own, then pushed it back with a bit more force, making him stumble backward before he also let out a terrible scream. ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Xiao Jinli broke his hand. Xiao Jinli¡¯s consecutive successes of breaking the hands and legs of the brothers have frightened the gang led by Lai Lao Liu. Bearing the severe pain, Lai Lao Liu told his brothers, ¡°Let¡¯s go together and teach this stinky girl a lesson! If she dies, it¡¯s on me.¡± They knew by then that Xiao Jinli was not to be messed with. However, after injuring their two brothers, they couldn¡¯t let her go. The remaining brothers exchanged glances, then shouted, ¡°Let¡¯s go together! I don¡¯t believe we can¡¯t take down this stinky girl!¡± Just as they were about to attack Xiao Jinli with their weapons, a stern voice shouted, ¡°Stop! Yamen police!¡± Luo Sanbiao led five or six police officers to rush over quickly, each holding a weapon and pointing at the would-be assailants. Those who wanted to hurt Xiao Jinli immediately froze when they saw the government officials appear with weapons in their hands. When facing ordinary citizens, they were arrogant and domineering, but in the face of the Yamen officers, they were like rats seeing a cat. Although they had people backing them, since the policing officers appeared, they no longer dared to challenge the authority of the Yamen officers. Luo Sanbiao walked up to Xiao Jinli, looked her up and down, and asked very concerned, ¡°Little Li, are you okay? I¡¯m sorry, Uncle Luo is late.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Uncle Luo, it¡¯s okay. You¡¯re not late; you came at the perfect time!¡± Someone recognized Luo Sanbiao and said in surprise, ¡°It¡¯s Director Luo from the Ganjiang City Yamen!¡± As soon as the words fell, Lai Lao Liu and his men felt a sudden sense of impending doom. Chapter 281 - Chapter 281: Chapter 281: (First Update) Chapter 281: Chapter 281: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Regarding Ganjiang City Official Department Chief Luo Sanbiao, Lai Lao Liu and his gang had never met the man in person, but they¡¯d heard of his name and his legend. Lai Lao Liu and his gang relied on having connections and being paid a large sum of money to come and vandalize the store. According to their expectations, even if the store called the police, it should have been the Chengbei Xinjiang District Government Office that came to deal with the matter within their jurisdiction. But they never expected that the person who showed up would be the Prefecture Official Department Chief. Moreover, seeing how familiar Director Luo was with the little girl, they suddenly felt a dark cloud hanging over them. Lai Lao Liu¡¯s broken arms hung limply, and he tried to preemptively file a complaint with Luo Sanbiao, ¡°Director Luo, this stinky brat broke my arms and one of my brother¡¯s legs. You should arrest her and make them pay for compensation.¡± Luo Sanbiao¡¯s sharp gaze swept over him and then turned to Xiao Jinli, asking, ¡°Little Li, what¡¯s the resolution?¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged her shoulders and spread her hands, saying, ¡°I did break their arms and legs, but it was in self-defense!¡± Lai Lao Liu roared with a guilty conscience, ¡°You¡¯re full of shit!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Whether or not it was self-defense, I have evidence. You guys, on the other hand, came to my store and caused a scene, causing our store to lose more than two hundred thousand dollars, and you still want to hurt people. Uncle Luo, I have surveillance here.¡± Xiao Jinli pointed at a corner of the room and continued, ¡°It¡¯s them who hurt people first, I was acting in self-defense!¡± Luo Sanbiao nodded, ¡°Okay, Uncle Luo knows.¡± Then, he scolded Lai Lao Liu and his gang, ¡°You vandalize people¡¯s stores and try to hurt them, do you think that¡¯s reasonable? Take all these people away, thoroughly interrogate them, and find out who gave them the courage to act so lawlessly in broad daylight!¡± Luo Sanbiao and his men took Lai Lao Liu and his gang away. However, Lai Lao Liu and Cheng Gouzi both had their arms broken, and one of them had a leg broken, so they were taken to the hospital first. Lai Lao Liu and Cheng Gouzi were still loudly shouting, ¡°Director Luo, my arms (legs) were broken by her, you must make her pay for compensation!¡± Luo Sanbiao coldly snorted, ¡°Compensate what? I¡¯ll tell you, the girl was acting in self-defense, and you guys brought it all on yourselves! You¡¯d better start saving money to treat your own broken arms and legs. You deserve it for causing trouble!¡± When Lai Lao Liu and Cheng Gouzi heard that, they panicked. ¡°No, Director Luo, we were ordered by someone to cause trouble at that store. I know I was wrong, please make sure we get the best doctors, I don¡¯t want to be disabled.¡± How could they continue their lives with broken arms and legs? Luo Sanbiao sneered, ¡°Do you not want to be disabled, huh? Then you better confess why you went to that store and caused trouble? You guys have any idea how much damage you caused to the store with just a casual swing? It¡¯s two or three hundred thousand dollars. You¡¯ll not only have to pay for the damages, but you¡¯ll also go to jail.¡± After hearing this, Lai Lao Liu and the others¡¯ eyes were filled with darkness. ¡°No, we were ordered by someone else to cause trouble¡­¡± Before even reaching the Official Department Office, Lai Lao Liu had confessed everything. They did have backers, but their backers weren¡¯t as powerful as Director Luo. If they didn¡¯t confess and try to reduce their guilt, they might face severe compensation and imprisonment. As for being accomplices, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about compensating as the main culprit would. Xiao Qinglin and the surrounding guests watched as the arrogant Lai Lao Liu and his gang were taken away by the unexpected government officials. After regaining his composure, Xiao Qinglin asked happily, ¡°Jinli, do you know Director Luo?¡± In fact, Xiao Qinglin, as an ordinary citizen, didn¡¯t know Ganjiang City Director Luo, but he just heard everyone calling him that a while ago. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Hmm, I have some connections with Director Luo!¡± Xiao Qinglin nodded, ¡°So you were the one who told us not to be impulsive, to just stand by and watch them vandalize the store, you wanted to catch them in the act.¡± A guest laughed, ¡°That Lai Lao Liu relied on his connections and acted recklessly. Now he¡¯s screwed, capsized his boat in the gutter.¡± ¡°Definitely,¡± another guest chimed in, ¡°Now his hand is broken,¡± At this point, the guests finally realized and exclaimed, ¡°Girl, did you learn any martial arts? Those were two grown men with iron rods in their hands. I never thought you would be able to strike them back like that, you¡¯re amazing.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s an iron rod. If it hit you on the head, your brain would be splattered everywhere. Lai Lao Liu and his gang are just too lawless, not only did they vandalize the store, they even tried to hurt people in broad daylight, it¡¯s outrageous. That¡¯s a clear case of intentional murder, oh, attempted murder.¡± ¡°Damn, who gave them this kind of courage? Fortunately, the girl knows martial arts, otherwise, a beautiful girl like her would have been ruined by them.¡± ¡°Girl, you are amazing. Where did you learn this? I also want to send my girl to learn.¡± A middle-aged woman asked, ¡°Having some martial arts would help protect themselves! My girl is about your age and she¡¯s beautiful.¡± Those with beautiful young girls at home would be both happy and worried about their girls being targeted by people with bad intentions. An old lady looked at her with bright eyes, ¡°Yes, my granddaughter is also about your age, very cute. I also want to send her to learn some martial arts, so that she can protect herself like you do.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s amazing performance earlier not only shocked Lai Lao Liu and his gang but also the surrounding guests and passers-by. Xiao Jinli smiled helplessly, ¡°Auntie, Grandma, I was born strong, I didn¡¯t learn any martial arts.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The guests could not believe such words as their puzzled gazes turned to Xiao Qinglin and the others. ¡°Cough¡­¡± Xiao Qinglin explained, ¡°This child¡¯s strength is indeed innate, she has never learned martial arts or anything like that.¡± ¡°So, some people really are born with divine strength. When I watched the television before, I thought it was all made up. Now I know that these are all based on reality.¡± ¡°Born with strength, and so beautiful and cute, she should be able to protect herself.¡± ¡°Yes, she can even counter-attack an adult with an iron rod, that¡¯s really amazing.¡± ¡°Boss, do you still sell the products in your store?¡± ¡°Those gangsters have been arrested, they shouldn¡¯t come back to cause any more trouble, right?¡± ¡°They shouldn¡¯t. Didn¡¯t you see that even Director Luo himself came to arrest them? No, how did Director Luo happen to come here?¡± ¡°Ha ha, didn¡¯t you see that Director Luo and the little girl are so familiar with each other? They must have communicated in advance.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. From now on, the Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Shop has someone to back it, let¡¯s see who dares to cause trouble here again.¡± Chapter 282 - Chapter 282: Chapter 282: (Second Update) Chapter 282: Chapter 282: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 ¡°People sent by Jingjing Green Health Group¡¯s branch company in Ganjiang City?¡± Xiao Jinli received the results of Luo Sanbiao¡¯s investigation on the group of people smashing their store. ¡°Jingjing Green Health Group?¡± Hearing that it was the Jingjing Green Health Group, the anger appeared on Xiao Yucheng¡¯s face immediately. ¡°Turns out it¡¯s this woman.¡± Xiao Yucheng said angrily. Xiao Jinli looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked, ¡°Big brother, who is it?¡± ¡°Zhang Jingjing!¡± Xiao Yucheng explained, ¡°This Zhang Jingjing is the founder and also the chairman and president of Jingjing Green Health Group.¡± ¡°Jingjing Green Health Group?¡± ¡°Yes, Jingjing Green Health Group is one of the national giants in the agricultural industry. Its business operations cover Jiangzhou Province and more than ten surrounding provinces, with its headquarters in Jiangnan Province,¡± Xiao Yucheng continued, ¡°A while ago, this woman disguised herself as a boss and came to me, directly stating her intention to have our company merge with her Jingjing Green Health Group. I refused.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Hmm, maybe she sensed the threat from our company, so she wanted to strike first and ruin our company.¡± She tapped the table lightly with her hand and said sternly, ¡°She smashed our store, perhaps as a warning. To let us feel the sensation of an egg crashing against a rock.¡± At this, she sneered, ¡°What she didn¡¯t expect was that she¡¯d lift a rock only to drop it on her own foot.¡± Letting a bunch of thugs smash the store was a clever idea she came up with. If a company could steal her business, it obviously should not be messed with. Xiao Yucheng was quite angry, ¡°This woman is really unreasonable.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°What Uncle Luo investigated, the person behind it is indeed Zhang Jingjing. But this woman is cunning, and she does things without leaving a trace. There is no evidence to prove that she was the one who ordered it. Now, she has pushed the person in charge of the Ganjiang City branch to take the blame. She has slunk off to her headquarters herself. Uncle Luo has no way to arrest her at the moment.¡± A cunning hare has three burrows. Zhang Jingjing was able to start from being an ordinary person to her current position. She must have used countless tactics in the business world, yet no one has caught her doing something wrong. This shows that she is extremely cunning. Xiao Yucheng pondered and said, ¡°This woman shouldn¡¯t reach out to us for a while, right?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°Not necessarily. Previously, she sent people to smash our store as a warning. If she persists in the idea that it must be destroyed if she can¡¯t have it, she will definitely resort to even more sinister methods.¡± Xiao Mingchen, who was nearby, nodded in agreement and said, ¡°That is indeed possible. Zhang Jingjing is quite a powerful woman in the business world. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to turn a small, unknown vegetable shop into a large conglomerate. There must be many shady tactics she used in the process.¡± It is said that this woman has a very keen sense of smell and a strong sixth sense. Perhaps that was how she sensed the threat from our company. So, she decided to have our company merge with hers before taking further action. If not, she would strangle our company in its cradle.¡± ¡°Her first move was to send people to smash our store as a warning and a show of power, hoping that we would compromise. But now that the warning has failed, she must be thinking of ways to destroy our company.¡± Xiao Junxuan was very indignant, ¡°What a malicious woman!¡± Xiao Yucheng said, ¡°We absolutely cannot sit back and wait for death.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we absolutely cannot sit back and wait for death, we must take the initiative!¡± Xiao Mingchen chimed in. Xiao Jinli agreed with them. ¡°Yes, we must take the initiative,¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°The main thing is to kill the chicken to scare the monkey!¡± Xiao Junxuan thought for a moment and said, ¡°But how are we going to take the initiative now? Are we going to use tactics like that woman to damage their group¡¯s reputation?¡± ¡°Yeah, our company is currently small and severely understaffed. Most importantly, how can we use tactics to bring her down?¡± Xiao Mingchen asked with a glint in his eyes. Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°My dear brothers, just focus on managing the company well, and leave this matter to me.¡± ¡°No!¡± The three of them looked at her unanimously and disagreed. ¡°Jinli, do you plan to fly to Jiangnan Province alone?¡± ¡°Yeah, this matter is also somewhat dangerous, and we can¡¯t leave it to you.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°My brothers, rest assured, I won¡¯t go to Jiangnan Province, and there won¡¯t be any danger. Just wait and see.¡± The others still looked at her doubtfully. Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me? When have I ever lied to you, my brothers? Just relax and wait.¡± Xiao Yucheng asked, ¡°Jinli, do you plan to use the influence of those old gentlemen?¡± The other two looked at Xiao Jinli. Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Never use a sledgehammer to crack a nut!¡± The three brothers, Why did such a big matter become so relaxed when it was mentioned by their sister? Xiao Yucheng compromised and said, ¡°Alright, Jinli, I trust you. But remember, never do anything dangerous, okay?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled brightly and said, ¡°When they encounter me, they¡¯re the ones in danger.¡± Xiao Yucheng and the others, Three days later, the major online news media were widely reporting on the tax evasion of Jingjing Green Health Group, one of the three major agricultural giants. Attached was a picture of the group¡¯s chairman, Zhang Jingjing, being handcuffed. Xiao Yucheng and the others saw the news report on the office table and were momentarily speechless. At the same time, they were very excited. ¡°So this is what you meant by what you said, Jinli?¡± Xiao Yucheng pointed to the report in the newspaper. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Junxuan said excitedly, ¡°My dear sister, tell your beloved brother, how did you do it?¡± The three of them looked at Xiao Jinli with shining eyes. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I found a hacker to infiltrate their company¡¯s computers.¡± ¡°A hacker?¡± Xiao Yucheng and the others were surprised. ¡°No, sister, where did you find a hacker?¡± Xiao Mingchen asked in confusion, ¡°How did you find one?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I asked Brother Siqian to help me find one.¡± ¡°Xiao Siqian?¡± Xiao Junxuan was slightly puzzled. Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°Yes, Siqian is rich and influential in the Capital City. It¡¯s easy for him to ask a hacker for help.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Xiao Yucheng said happily, ¡°I thought you would find some people to cause trouble in their stores, but I didn¡¯t expect that a simple tax evasion case could bring that woman down.¡± ¡°Zhang Jingjing brought it upon herself,¡± Xiao Mingchen said disdainfully, ¡°It would have been good for her to run her own company quietly, but she had to provoke us instead. She even said that we were like an egg crashing against a rock. Hmph, our egg hasn¡¯t even cracked yet, but her big rock has already hit her feet, possibly crippling her.¡± Chapter 283 - Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Translator: 549690339 Jingjing Green Health Group was exposed for tax evasion, and its legal representative and group chairman, Zhang Jingjing, was taken away in handcuffs by government officials. The company¡¯s stock plummeted quickly, and as the group was in chaos, many companies took the opportunity to capitalize on their misfortune. Thus, the once vast group was on the brink of collapse within just a few days. Of course, Xiao Jinli had no interest in Jingjing Green Health Group, so naturally, he did not make a move on the company. Jingjing Green Health Group went bankrupt in no time, naturally giving the other two corporate giants a wake-up call. If it was just ordinary tax evasion, as long as it was made up for in time, the company would not collapse so quickly. Thus, these two giants began to investigate the real reason for the bankruptcy of Jingjing Green Health Group! Upon investigating, some warning signs appeared ¨C how come all clues pointed towards a small company ¨C Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company? What¡¯s so special about this small company? After further investigation, what they found was shocking! This small company was established in that very remote village! This was not surprising, after all, it was a company selling vegetables and fruit, so having the company set up at the base was quite normal! But what was not normal was that there were several old heroes living in this small village! Who would dare to provoke this small company? So, it was no injustice for Jingjing Green Health Group to go bankrupt ¨C they had the audacity to provoke them? Thus, the other two giants, while envious of the thriving business of this small company, didn¡¯t dare to use any underhanded tactics. Even if they were to snatch business, it would only be through fair competition! However, no matter how they tried, they couldn¡¯t compete with Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company and could only watch them make money in frustration! As for the other companies, there was simply no possibility of competition. Therefore, the Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Group, growing at a rapid speed, became a giant company worth tens of billions in just a few years. Jiang Yifan sat at the village entrance, listening as the elders narrated the development history of the Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company, and he was quite curious. He asked, ¡°Is Mommy the boss of the company?¡± The elder chuckled, ¡°Of course your Mommy is the boss of the company.¡± Then he explained, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your Mommy¡¯s suggestion, if it weren¡¯t for the earthworms that your Mommy raises, we wouldn¡¯t have the good life we have now. Little Fanfan, you probably don¡¯t know, but our Xiao Family Village used to be the poorest village within ten miles and eight villages. But now, our village is the richest village in the whole Quanzhou Province. All the credit goes to your Mommy.¡± Jiang Yifan seemed to understand but didn¡¯t quite fully get it, yet he looked quite proud as he puffed out his chest. He nodded, ¡°Hmm, Mommy is very beautiful, she smells so good.¡± The elder didn¡¯t echo Jiang Yifan¡¯s words, but continued to speak, ¡°Your Mommy has been our village¡¯s fortune, our village treasure since she was young. Apart from her own abilities, there¡¯s another thing ¨C her luck is incredibly good. Not only is her luck good, but it also seems to rub off on anyone associated with her. Isn¡¯t this surprising and incredible?¡± Jiang Yifan nodded, ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s indeed incredible!¡± The elder continued, ¡°When the company was first established, we decided your Mommy should be the boss. However, because she was only about ten years old then and couldn¡¯t hold any real rights, this position was held off until she turned 18 and became an adult.¡± Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes rolled around and he chuckled, ¡°Elderly Grandfather, are you saying that such a big company now entirely belongs to my Mommy?¡± The elder grinned and said, ¡°Hmm, you can say that!¡± ¡°Ha ha, my Mommy is so rich!¡± Jiang Yifan laughed excitedly. Chapter 284 - Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Translator: 549690339 In eight years, not only has Xiao¡¯s Green Fresh Company grown into a large company, but Xiao Family Village has also become a nationally iconic farmhouse and a popular tourist destination. The number of tourists visiting the village increases year by year, especially during holidays. Someone commented online: Xiao Family Village seems like a fairyland on earth, with the whole village being harmonious and joyous. Amid the hustle and bustle of city life and monotonous work, suddenly stepping into a pure land refreshes one¡¯s soul, making it feel so lively and happy. When you encounter insurmountable difficulties or setbacks, please do not give up. Save some money, pin your last hope on Xiao Family Village, and once you get there, your body and mind may undergo a rebirth. In fact, there is no difficulty in the world that cannot be overcome and no setbacks that cannot be surmounted. Regroup and start anew, your tomorrow will be even better! Although there are no words to describe how beautiful Xiao Family Village is, its beauty is praised in every sentence. Every visitor to Xiao Family Village, apart from appreciating its beautiful scenery and fresh air, is most impressed by the simplicity and kindness of the villagers. Regardless of age or gender, they treat out-of-town guests with the sincerest smiles. The elders are kind and approachable, children are innocent and romantic, while the young people are sincere and responsible. Here, you will feel like it is truly a paradise that everyone yearns for. The daily traffic to the village always remains high, with at least tens of thousands of visitors, especially during holidays when people flock in large numbers. With so many visitors, everything sold here is priced fairly. In other tourist areas, a bottle of mineral water costs more than 2 yuan, but here it sells at the same price as in normal shops. Restaurant and accommodation prices are also affordable, but due to the booming business, they must be booked in advance. Those who do not make reservations can only book hotels or dine outside the village. As a result, the Xiao Family Village Farmhouse has driven the hotel, restaurant, transportation, and other industries in the entire county. Real estate in Xiao Family Village has become extremely valuable. Therefore, those who wish to enjoy a leisurely life in the village have to settle for buying houses in the surrounding villages, towns, or even counties, which has in turn boosted the economic development of the whole county. Xiao Jinli cannot control the prices of consumption outside Xiao Family Village. However, anyone doing business in Xiao Family Village, including outsiders, must sell their goods at fair prices and are strictly prohibited from overcharging customers. Once discovered, violators will be expelled from doing business in the village and an announcement will be made at the entrance. This concerns the reputation of the entire Xiao Family Village. Xiao Jinli and all the villagers firmly forbid anyone from tarnishing or even destroying their reputation, which is no different than breaking the village¡¯s rice bowl. The company and the village committee have held several meetings with all the villagers, emphasizing that they should treat tourists as warmly as family members and make them feel at home. They must not raise product prices, manipulate dual price lists, or deceive and overcharge customers for short-term petty gain. Otherwise, no matter how good the products of Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company are, once their reputation is ruined, the products will not sell, and the good days of everyone will be gone. Of course, the most important thing is that when Xiao Jinli speaks up, it means that she attaches great importance to this aspect, and everyone in Xiao Family Village will surely follow her guidance. Even new daughters-in-law who have married into the village will be disciplined by their husbands¡¯ families. Chapter 285 - Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Translator: 549690339 ¡°Wow, is this the legendary Xiao Village Farmhouse?¡± One day, a girl in a pink skirt exclaimed excitingly, taking in the beautiful scenery in front of her. She joyfully exclaimed, ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so beautiful, so beautiful. It¡¯s like the legendary Garden of Eden, the picturesque scenery of green mountains and clear water is so captivating.¡± A middle-aged man standing aside, Xu Guochang, corrected her with a smile, ¡°Mengmeng, this is Dragon State, not a foreign country. Dragon State¡¯s paradise is called the Taoyuan Village. Oh, and this place is also called Taoyuan Town. Xiao Family Village belongs to Taoyuan Town.¡± Xu Mengmeng excitedly asked,¡±Taoyuan Town, oh, is it the Utopia that we have learned about in cultural classes in Dragon State?¡± ¡°Yes, Utopia!¡± Xu Guochang chuckled, ¡°It seems like Mengmeng knows a bit about the culture of Dragon State.¡± Xu Mengmeng laughed and said, ¡°Although I grew up in Plum Firm Country, my parents are from Dragon State. So, it¡¯s natural that I would know about my Dragon State¡¯s knowledge.¡± ¡°Hmm, our Mengmeng has really grown up,¡± Mother Xu, a middle-aged woman standing beside them, smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go and look around. I have booked a table and a room at the Xiao Family Village Hotel. We can enjoy some delicious food and rest when we get tired, and then continue our tour.¡± Getting restaurant reservations and rooms at the Xiao Family Village Hotel is quite difficult. She had asked her friends from home to help with the reservations three months before their arrival. Xu Guochang chuckled, ¡°All right, you mother and daughter go ahead, I¡¯ll be carrying our bags and taking some beautiful pictures for you.¡± ¡°Oh yeah!¡± Mengmeng said happily, ¡°Then thanks to dad for his hard work. Mom, let¡¯s go. Before coming here, I heard that the greatest pleasure here is to pick fruits on our own in the fields.¡± Mother Xu nodded, ¡°It seems, you¡¯ve done quite a bit of research before coming.¡± Mengmeng stuck out her tongue, blushing bashfully, ¡°A lot of my friends have told me that the Xiao Family Farmhouse is a real fairyland on earth¡­Since it¡¯s not easy to come here, of course, I had to learn more about it.¡± Mother Xu nodded, ¡°From what I heard from my friends, the DIY fruit picking here also has a limit. There are only thirty places available every day, and the quantity picked is limited to five kilograms.¡± ¡°Only thirty places every day?¡± Mengmeng asked with some confusion, ¡°Why limit the slots? Isn¡¯t it better if more people go to pick?¡± Xu Guochang laughed and explained, ¡°It might be better if there were more people, but there are so many tourists visiting Xiao Family Village every day. Without a limit, the several hundred thousand acres would be picked clean within days. Let¡¯s go and watch the animal performance, and then stop by the picking on our way back. We can take back whatever we pick.¡± ¡°Animal performance?¡± Mengmeng¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°What kind of performance? Is it like the television where tigers jump through the rings of fire?¡± ¡°Where did you see a tiger jump through a ring of fire on TV?¡± Xu Guochang laughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s all fake. In Dragon State, tigers are protected animals. Besides zoological parks, private individuals could not keep them. I¡¯m not sure about tigers jumping through fire rings but I know that here, puppies can dance, chicks can dance, ducklings can dance, and even piglets can dance!¡± Mengmeng, So they all just dance? Isn¡¯t there any other performance? However, the curious family of three still went to the animal performance viewing area. Chapter 286 - Chapter 286: Chapter 286: Chapter 286: Chapter 286: Translator: 549690339 Many tourists visit the Xiao Village Farmhouse for the first time, and the first thing they see is the dancing of the domestic animals. Yes. Dancing. Chickens dance, there are solo dances, double chicken dances, and group dances. Ducks dance, there are solo dances, double duck dances, and group dances. Dogs, pigs, geese¡­ Xu Mengmeng follows her parents to the chicken dance arena. At the arena, the host announces: ¡°The first dance is the Double Chicken Dance.¡± Then, as the music starts, a majestic and beautiful rooster enters the stage with high spirits, and starts the performance by crowing, earning a round of applause from the audience. Next, a hen enters the stage with pure white feathers, looking very beautiful. As soon as it enters, it performs a 360-degree spin on one leg, attracting another round of applause from the tourists. This is Xu Mengmeng¡¯s first time watching chickens dance. She exclaims twice, ¡°These chickens are so smart. There¡¯s no one directing them on site, they¡¯re performing all by themselves.¡± After the male and female chicken greet each other on stage, they start dancing. As the music plays, the two chickens spread their wings and use them like hands to perform a human couple¡¯s social dance, and it looks so graceful. ¡°Wow, what a beautiful dance!¡± ¡°Great!¡± ¡°Ah, ah!¡± There¡¯s a round of cheers on site. Xu Mengmeng is full of excitement, ¡°These two chickens dance so well, using their wings as hands, and each movement is so graceful. How did the Xiao Village train them like this?¡± ¡°These two chickens are really smart.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve never seen such spiritual and smart chickens before.¡± ¡°I wonder if the chickens here are for sale.¡± ¡°No way. These chickens are professionally selected and trained. They won¡¯t be for sale.¡± ¡°Oh, I wanted to buy a couple to take home and show off to my family and friends.¡± Not everyone can find the time and opportunity to visit the Xiao Village Farmhouse. ¡°Here at the farmhouse, not only do chickens dance, but all the animals can dance. They even raised swans, and there¡¯s a program for swan dancing as well.¡± ¡°Swans? Real swans?¡± ¡°Yes, real swans with pure white feathers, they¡¯re very beautiful. However, the swan dance is not performed every day, it¡¯s only on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights.¡± ¡°The swan dance is only at night?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, the lighting is easier to control at night.¡± ¡°So where are the swans now? After watching the chicken dance, I want to see real swans!¡± ¡°The swans are in the Swan Lake!¡± A guest, holding a map of the farmhouse, locates Swan Lake and says, ¡°Later, I will visit the swans.¡± Someone else suggests, ¡°Go see the swans when there¡¯s a swan dance program. Let¡¯s watch the other programs for now. After the chicken dance, we can go watch the dog performance.¡± ¡°Do the dogs dance as well?¡± ¡°Not dancing. The dogs perform a military posture!¡± ¡°Military posture performance?¡± Someone asks in confusion, ¡°How do dogs perform a military posture?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. We¡¯ll find out when we go watch it later.¡± While watching the double chicken dance, Xu Mengmeng hears the tourists¡¯ conversation, her eyes light up. Holding Xu Guochang¡¯s hand, she excitedly says, ¡°Dad, Dad, everyone says there¡¯s a dog military posture performance. Let¡¯s go watch it later.¡± Xu Guochang nods, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go watch it later. Mengmeng, we¡¯re going to be here for a few days, so we can watch the performances slowly. Don¡¯t rush from one to another, we won¡¯t enjoy it that way.¡± Mother Xu nodded and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that right? Mengmeng, after the Double Chicken Dance, there¡¯s a Group Chicken Dance. After we watch the Group Chicken Dance, let¡¯s go see some other shows.¡± Xu Mengmeng nodded and said, ¡°Okay. Mom, everyone says that on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights, there¡¯s a swan dancing performance. Today is Tuesday, so tomorrow night, we can watch the swans dance.¡± In the past, ballet performances were called swan dances. Now, they could watch a real swan dance. ¡°I wonder if real swans are as beautiful as the ones described in the books?¡± Xu Mengmeng said with some expectations. ¡°Definitely.¡± The Double Chicken Dance finished quickly, and everyone enjoyed it. However, everyone was even more excited for the next dance. The host immediately announced, ¡°The next program is the Group Chicken Dance, please enjoy.¡± As soon as the host finished speaking, the music started, and then white hens and colorful roosters with shiny feathers like phoenixes took to the stage. ¡°Wow, these chickens are so beautiful.¡± ¡°This manor is really good at selecting them. How can every chicken be so beautiful?¡± ¡°I want to take them home with me.¡± ¡°Haha, I also thought about taking them home. Unfortunately, they don¡¯t sell them here.¡± ¡°Wow, this dance is so good. They can even pull red ropes.¡± ¡°Hehe, pulling ropes is nothing. Didn¡¯t you see them using fans?¡± ¡°Wow, these chickens are so smart. How did they train them?¡± ¡°Exactly, being able to train one chicken to cooperate perfectly is already incredible; training a group of three or four dozen chickens to cooperate without human guidance, just dancing to the rhythm of the music, is even more amazing.¡± Xu Mengmeng excitedly cheered along with the others, constantly exclaiming, ¡°Ah ah, wow wow.¡± The performance, lasting more than ten minutes, ended quickly. The tourists were left wanting more. However, hearing that the next show was even more exciting, everyone quickly rushed to see the other performances. Dogs perform military posture. Xu Mengmeng and her family also followed the crowd to the dog performance venue. Due to the large crowd, Xu Mengmeng and the others were at the back, but there were large screens on all four sides. The screens displayed the performances happening on stage. However, the venue was still empty for the time being. After a while, the host¡¯s voice rang out. As the host spoke, dogs walked out one by one. These dogs were just ordinary mongrels, like the kind kept in the countryside. However, unlike common country dogs, these dogs looked very intelligent at first sight. They were dressed in green uniforms and green army caps, looking like children from a distance. As they entered the venue, they stood on two legs, greeted the audience with their other two paws, and barked twice. ¡°Haha, these dogs are so cute.¡± ¡°They can even greet us; they really are adorable.¡± ¡°These dogs look so smart.¡± The host said, ¡°Dear cute dogs, line up now, we¡¯re starting the performance.¡± The host¡¯s tone was gentle and soft, like talking to children. Upon hearing the host¡¯s words, the dogs quickly stood in formation. The audience, Chapter 287 - Chapter 287: Chapter 287: (First Update) Chapter 287: Chapter 287: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Dogs perform military-style. In total, there are 108 dogs, divided into twelve teams, with a team leader at the front of each group. However, the commander is a real soldier. After all, no matter how smart the dogs are, they cannot talk. When the commander enters the field, the dogs have already formed their formations. The commander holds a whistle in his hand, standing tall and looking serious. He walks in front of each team, takes a look, and then says, ¡°Attention!¡± The dogs straighten their front and back legs slightly and stand upright. ¡°At ease!¡± ¡°Right face!¡± ¡°Left face!¡± The dogs¡¯ heads turn together to the right and left. Some dogs immediately adjust their posture if they see that they are not standing straight! ¡°Wow, these dogs are so adorable. They¡¯re like little kids, so cute!¡± ¡°These dogs are really smarter than people. Look at their straight lines, and they can understand the commander¡¯s orders and even adjust their formation themselves. They¡¯re so intelligent.¡± ¡°Why are all the animals here so spirited?¡± After standing in attention, the commander immediately orders the dogs to run. ¡°As usual, the first three finishers will be rewarded with three big bones!¡± Of course, others may not know, but the dogs know that there is pure Lingquan water from Xiao Jinli in these three big bones. As a result, these dogs are running their hardest for the reward. ¡°Get ready to run!¡± Each dog has a number, and the tourists will cheer for the dog they like based on its number. ¡°Go number five!¡± ¡°Go number twelve!¡± However, since gambling is prohibited in this farmhouse, some people would definitely want to bet on which dog would win. ¡°Dad, all the dogs are running so fast, chasing each other. Which one do you think will win?¡± Xu Guochang shook his head, ¡°I really can¡¯t tell.¡± These dogs are all raised and trained together, so their physical fitness should be similar. 108 dogs running on the track are very brave. After running three kilometers, number 3, number 48, and number 99 win the top three spots. After the race, the commander holds six big bones. He says, ¡°First place, number 48, rewarded with three big bones!¡± As soon as his words fall, not only do the audience applaud, but the dogs also clap in congratulations. ¡°Ah, ah, it¡¯s so cute. These dogs can actually clap. They¡¯re so adorable.¡± ¡°These dogs are so smart, they can even congratulate their companions.¡± ¡°Haha, I really want to take one home.¡± ¡°With more than a hundred dogs, why don¡¯t they deliver?¡± The dogs¡¯ performance ends quickly. Afterward, some people want to take a group photo with the dogs. So, the dogs line up again, just like humans, arranging a group photo formation. Standing in the middle are the top three dogs, holding their big bones with pride, just like humans would. In the front row center, there¡¯s a chair, prepared for the guests who want to take a photo. Xu Mengmeng¡¯s family of three also went to take pictures with the dogs. Actually, most people wanted to take pictures, but there were too many people who wanted to take pictures, so the line was very long. Xu Mengmeng was very excited to pull her parents to take pictures with the dogs. Time flew by, and they only watched two shows, more than half a day had passed. Mother Xu said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time to eat.¡± Then, the family of three went to the Xiao Family Village Hotel. Xiao Family Village Hotel was built by the people of Xiao Family Village, with an investment of two hundred million, and it was even bigger and grander than a company. The hotel did not seek a star rating, but the guests who had stayed there had always given the hotel one consistent evaluation: heartwarming. That¡¯s right, the hotel¡¯s service was very warm-hearted. From the cleaning staff to the general manager, they all greeted the guests with sincere smiles, asking for their needs and trying their best to meet the guests¡¯ needs. What impressed people the most when they entered the hotel was that there were many green plants inside, the air was good, and it felt very comfortable. Guests who were strolling outside might feel tired and even dizzy. But as soon as they entered the hotel, their heads felt clear and their whole body relaxed. Unlike other places, even though the environment in the hotel looked good, the air was not as fresh as outside, and the head was not much more comfortable. Xu Mengmeng exclaimed, ¡°The air in this hotel is so good, it smells so comfortable!¡± Mother Xu looked at the green plants in the hotel and said, ¡°These plants purify the air. Let¡¯s go to the restaurant and eat something!¡± Xu Mengmeng thought for a moment and said, ¡°Mom, I heard there is a cafeteria here. Why don¡¯t we go to the cafeteria for a meal! I heard there are hundreds of dishes to choose from in the cafeteria. I want to taste the gourmet food here.¡± Mother Xu nodded and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go to the cafeteria!¡± Although the hotel had a restaurant, the Xiao Family Village also set up a separate cafeteria. The cafeteria was designed for the vast number of tourists. Xu Mengmeng¡¯s family of three found the cafeteria using the map. Xu Mengmeng stood in front of the cafeteria, looking at the sign, ¡°Delicious Cafeteria!¡± The Delicious Cafeteria was built not far from the hotel, only about fifty to sixty meters apart. The layout of the cafeteria was similar to that of a university, with a variety of food options. The cafeteria was large, with two floors, and could accommodate 4,000 to 5,000 people at a time, serving fifty to sixty thousand guests a day. However, unlike ordinary cafeterias, every dish at the Delicious Cafeteria was very tasty, and they did not try to simply get by because there were so many guests. In addition to the top-quality ingredients, the cafeteria also employed well-known chefs. Each chef was an expert in making a specific dish. Over a hundred dishes were made by over a hundred chefs. Of course, the prices in the Delicious Cafeteria were higher than those in other cafeterias. For example, a beef steamed bun that was sold for two yuan elsewhere was sold for two yuan and fifty cents here. A serving of beef noodles that was sold for eight yuan elsewhere was sold for ten yuan here¡­ Most tourists could accept these prices, especially in a tourist area where prices were generally higher. And, as is well-known, the ingredients in Xiao Family Village were much better than those in other places, so to sell at ordinary prices was already a significant discount. ¡°Ah, I want egg-filled pancakes, pumpkin pies, ¡­¡± Xu Mengmeng ordered more than ten kinds of gourmet food. Mother Xu stopped her and said, ¡°That¡¯s enough, Mengmeng, we can¡¯t finish all of this. Let¡¯s try these first, and if it¡¯s not enough, we¡¯ll order more!¡± Xu Mengmeng nodded and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat first!¡± She looked around at the full seats, and everyone¡¯s faces showed satisfied expressions, with many people even praising the food repeatedly. ¡°The food here is so delicious.¡± ¡°Yeah, I thought the cafeteria would just have ordinary taste, but I didn¡¯t expect the food to be so good, and it¡¯s not expensive. If only I could take some to go, I would definitely pack more to take home.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, they don¡¯t allow takeout here.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a pity!¡± Chapter 288 - Chapter 288: Chapter 288: (Second Update) Chapter 288: Chapter 288: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xu Mengmeng¡¯s family of three were eating heartily in the cafeteria, very satisfied. Xu Guochang patted his stomach, looked at the guests outside, and smiled, ¡°After we finish eating, let¡¯s leave. There are still many guests waiting for seats outside.¡± Mother Xu nodded, ¡°After we are full, let¡¯s take a walk and go back to the hotel to rest. In the afternoon, we¡¯ll go out again.¡± In fact, the Xiao Village Farmhouse is not that big. If you want to take a look, you can actually finish in one day. But alas, there are many activities and lots of gourmet food. Even for the gourmet food, many people don¡¯t want to stay for just one day and then leave. Xu Mengmeng¡¯s family of three strolled around near the hotel. Xu Mengmeng suddenly pointed to a girl and exclaimed, ¡°Mom, look, that girl is so beautiful! And, the child she is leading is so cute!¡± Xu Guochang looked in the direction his daughter pointed, and when he saw the person, his face changed slightly. Mother Xu nodded, ¡°Indeed, that girl is really beautiful. I have never seen a girl as beautiful as her.¡± ¡°Ah, someone is rushing towards that girl!¡± Xu Mengmeng widened her eyes, worriedly said, ¡°Will they knock her down? If she falls, she might get hurt.¡± Xu Guochang glanced and quickly ran over to try to stop it. Xu Mengmeng stared dumbfounded at his father¡¯s actions. Mother Xu hesitated for a while, then told her daughter, ¡°Mengmeng, let¡¯s follow them!¡± The girl Xu Mengmeng pointed to was Xiao Jinli, and the child she led naturally was her ¡°stepson¡± Jiang Yifan. Xiao Jinli took her child out, naturally just to look around. It¡¯s just that she is too beautiful, and often encounters men with lustful desires wanting a romantic encounter. Just like this, as she¡¯s walking along, a man wants rush over to her. His purpose in doing so is, after knocking Xiao Jinli down, he would help her up, apologize, ask for her contact information, etc. This way, he has a legitimate way to strike up a conversation. Xiao Jinli, holding Jiang Yifan, saw a man rushing towards them, quickly pulled Jiang Yifan away. The man, due to inertia, continued to move forward and collided with another man. Jiang Yifan rolled his eyes and said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°Mommy, another man is trying to collide with you.¡± Xiao Jinli looked at the man who had fallen down, shrugged, and said modestly, ¡°There¡¯s no way. Your mommy is just too beautiful.¡± Surrounding tourists saw this and covered their mouths, finding it somewhat amusing. However, they were surprised to see that Xiao Jinli actually had such a big son. ¡°Girl, are you married?¡± someone curiously asked. Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Not married.¡± ¡°Ha, not married, yet you have such a big son?¡± A tourist doubted this. But they quickly figured it out. They guessed that this girl was so beautiful that she was deceived by a man, which led to her becoming pregnant and having a child out of wedlock. At once, people looked at Xiao Jinli with different expressions. Some showed pity and sympathy, while others showed disdain and contempt, looking at such a beautiful girl who didn¡¯t love herself enough. Xiao Jinli was already used to these strange looks. Who made her have a ¡°stepson¡±? However, since this ¡°stepson¡± appeared, some troubles have indeed decreased. Jiang Xiaoping, the man who was knocked down by inertia, turned green when he saw that he had bumped into another man. The man who was bumped into also had a bad attitude. He clutched his shoulder and yelled, ¡°Are you blind? You¡¯re running around like crazy!¡± If Jiang Xiaoping just apologized, it would have been okay. But he happened to look at Xiao Jinli and asked loudly, ¡°Why did you dodge?¡± Xiao Jinli, The surrounding tourists, Is this person crazy? If you can clearly see someone is about to run into you, shouldn¡¯t you avoid them? Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t speak up, but Little Jiang Yifan curiously asked, ¡°Uncle, your question is so strange! If you see something coming toward you, shouldn¡¯t you move out of the way? You just stand there and let it hit you, hurting yourself in the process?¡± Little Jiang Yifan¡¯s words were agreed upon by everyone. ¡°Exactly, if we saw someone about to run into us, we would definitely move. We aren¡¯t idiots.¡± ¡°This man is really strange, trying to bump into a girl for no reason and still insisting he¡¯s right?¡± ¡°Hehe, he probably thought the girl was pretty and wanted a reason to touch her.¡± While everyone was discussing, Xu Guochang hurried over and immediately acted respectfully upon seeing Xiao Jinli. ¡°Xiao¡­ Miss Xiao!¡± He originally wanted to call her Chairman Xiao. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Xu.¡± Xu Guochang said, ¡°Miss Xiao, I have something to discuss with you, do you have a moment?¡± After hearing the honorifics he used, the expression on the faces of the surrounding people immediately looked strange. Then someone recognized Xu Guochang and gasped, ¡°The President of Divine Wind Technology Group, Xu Guochang!¡± Divine Wind Technology Group was established three years ago out of nowhere, and in just three years, it has become a leader in the industry and ranked among the top three wealthiest people in the country. The most advanced cellphones were developed by the Divine Wind Technology Group. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s really President Xu!¡± Xu Guochang occasionally appeared on television and in the media; naturally, many people recognized him. ¡°President Xu, hello, I am¡­¡± ¡°President Xu, hello, I am¡­¡± Everyone gathered around Xu Guochang, introducing themselves and asking for autographs, making it impossible for him to leave. Mother Xu and her daughter came over to see everyone surrounding her husband (father). What happened in such a short time? Xu Guochang finally escaped from the crowd and looked around, but he couldn¡¯t find Xiao Jinli. Xu Mengmeng asked doubtfully, ¡°Dad, who are you looking for?¡± ¡°Xiao Miss, the pretty girl you just mentioned.¡± Xu Guochang replied. Xu Mengmeng asked doubtfully, ¡°Dad, why are you looking for her?¡± At this point, recalling something, she said solemnly, ¡°Dad, you can¡¯t abandon my mom just because you¡¯re rich now. If you do, I¡¯ll never recognize you.¡± Xu Guochang¡¯s face darkened, and he scolded, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about, kid? Do I look like that kind of person to you? Even if your mom wants to leave me, I¡¯ll still cling to her.¡± Mother Xu¡¯s face turned red. Xu Mengmeng asked doubtfully, ¡°Then, dad, why are you looking for that pretty girl?¡± Just as Xu Guochang was about to speak, a teenager came over and asked, ¡°Are you Mr. Xu Guochang?¡± ¡°Yes, I am. And you are¡­?¡± Xu Guochang asked doubtfully. Xiao Xiaoming smiled and said, ¡°My name is Xiao Xiaoming. Sister Jinli asked me to take you to her.¡± Xu Guochang instantly understood and nodded, ¡°Okay, thank you!¡± Chapter 289 - Chapter 289: Chapter 289: (First Update) Chapter 289: Chapter 289: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Xu Guochang¡¯s family of three followed Xiao Xiaoming to Xiao Jinli¡¯s house. There was no change to the Xiao family¡¯s house. ¡°Sister Jin Li, I brought the guests here.¡± Before entering the yard, Xiao Xiaoming started yelling. In the yard, a cute child was playing with water in a pool, Xiao Jinli was sitting at a stone table, brewing a pot of hot tea, obviously preparing to greet the guests. Seeing this quiet, tidy and beautiful yard, Xu Mengmeng¡¯s eyes lit up, showing her admiration. As soon as Xu Guochang stepped inside, he respectfully greeted, ¡°Miss Xiao!¡± Xiao Jinli put down the purple clay teapot and smiled, nodding, ¡°President Xu, you¡¯re here.¡± It puzzled both Mother Xu and her daughter why their husband (father) was so respectful to Miss Xiao. To be sure, ever since he became president of the Shenfeng Group, it was always others who showed respect to him. Xu Guochang introduced to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Miss Xiao, this is my wife, and this is my daughter. Wife, Mengmeng, this is Miss Xiao.¡± Mother Xu and her daughter also showed their respect, calling out, ¡°Miss Xiao!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Hmm, please have a seat, all of you!¡± Xu Guochang nodded and then said to his wife and daughter, ¡°Let¡¯s sit.¡± Xiao Jinli poured them a cup of tea and said, ¡°Try this tea, everyone!¡± Xu Guochang¡¯s family of three had already noticed the fragrant tea, and they wanted to try it. Therefore, without any hesitation, they picked up the teacups and took a sip. Xu Mengmeng, surprised, exclaimed, ¡°This tea smells so good! I¡¯ve never had such fragrant tea.¡± Mother Xu couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°It¡¯s so fragrant.¡± Xu Guochang was equally amazed, ¡°It really is fragrant. Miss Xiao, your tea-making skills are unparalleled.¡± Xiao Jinli chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s not that my tea-making skills are great, but that the water here is good. No matter who makes the tea, it¡¯s never bad!¡± Xu Mengmeng¡¯s eyes lit up, and she asked in astonishment, ¡°Really?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Let Miss Xu try our well water. Jiang Yifan, go to the kitchen and bring some cold water.¡± Xiao Jinli asked Jiang Yifan, who was playing with water in the pool, to fetch water. Xu Mengmeng felt a little reluctant to trouble such a young child and said, ¡°Let me do it myself.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°No need. He¡¯s just idling around. It¡¯s good for him to attend to guests.¡± Xu Guochang and the others, . Aren¡¯t children of three or four years old supposed to be idle? Jiang Yifan stood up from the pool and complained, ¡°Mom, do you call me just because I¡¯m the youngest? Are you bullying me for my age?¡± Xu Guochang was shocked when he heard the child call Xiao Jinli ¡°Mommy¡±. He stuttered, ¡°Miss Xiao, is this¡­ this your son?¡± If he remembered correctly, Miss Xiao was only nineteen years old. Does she already have such a big son at the age of nineteen? Xiao Jinli responded, ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re the youngest in the family and the easiest to order around. Now, stop complaining, and if I ask you to fetch water, go fetch water.¡± Jiang Yifan grimaced, ¡°You¡¯re the only mother who treats a kid like this.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled at him, ¡°You¡¯re not my son!¡± Jiang Yifan, Xu Guochang, Jiang Yifan reluctantly went to the kitchen to get water. Soon, he brought a teapot of cold water. He came over, handed the water to Xiao Jinli, and muttered quietly, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone treat guests to cold water.¡± Xiao Jinli took the water, glared at him, and said irritably, ¡°No one talks more than you do.¡± Jiang Yifan sighed softly, ¡°I¡¯m just a poor little boy who has a cold-blooded and heartless mother like you.¡± Xiao Jinli said indifferently, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be my son.¡± No way.¡± Jiang Yifan firmly refused, ¡°If I don¡¯t be your son, you won¡¯t have a son at all, so it¡¯s better for me to be your son.¡± Xiao Jinli, . How does she know she won¡¯t have a son in the future since she¡¯s not even married yet? Xu Guochang¡¯s family of three, Can a mother and child get along like this? Xiao Xiaoming laughed and said, ¡°Xiao Fan, Brother Xiaoming will take you out to play.¡± Everyone had grown accustomed to the strange relationship between Xiao Jinli and Jiang Yifan. One refusing to acknowledge her son, the other desperately trying to be her son. Jiang Yifan nodded and said, ¡°Alright, Brother Xiaoming, take me out for a while. If I stay here, I¡¯ll just be disliked by someone.¡± Xiao Jinli, As Xiao Xiaoming took Jiang Yifan away, Xu Guochang and his family still looked somewhat stunned. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s expression changed slightly and she said, ¡°President Xu, what brings you here today?¡± Xu Guochang came to his senses, ¡°Miss Xiao, is this your family home?¡± ¡°Yes, I grew up here!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°This is my home.¡± Ever since Xu Guochang had known Xiao Jinli, he had always found her mysterious. He didn¡¯t expect that, after coming on a trip, he would unexpectedly discover where Xiao Jinli lived. Xu Mengmeng said enviously, ¡°It must be so nice to grow up here, with such beautiful scenery.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Indeed, the scenery has always been beautiful here. How many days are you planning to spend here for your visit?¡± Xu Mengmeng laughed and said, ¡°Five days. The scenery here is beautiful, the performances are entertaining, and most importantly, there are so many delicious foods. I don¡¯t want to leave. However, my parents have work to do and can¡¯t stay here for long.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Miss Xu, you¡¯re so adorable. You¡¯re on vacation now, right?¡± Xu Mengmeng nodded, ¡°Hmm.¡± It is now summer vacation. He has also returned to the country three years ago. Three years ago, when he came back, he was let go from a Plum Firm Country technology company. That company even boycotted him in the entire industry, forcing him to return home to find a job. However, it¡¯s not easy to find a job in a domestic company. Many people initially admired his resume, only to find that he had worked in Plum Firm Country. However, as soon as they learned through some channels the cause of his dismissal ¨C stealing company secrets ¨C they rejected him. Meanwhile, his wife and daughter in Plum Firm Country were faced with expulsion. Reluctantly, he brought his wife and daughter back to the country. However, in his home country, he hadn¡¯t found a job yet, and all his previous savings ran out. He borrowed money from relatives and friends. But when the borrowed money was spent and there was no money to pay the rent, the three of them were evicted from their rented house. Just when the family of three was about to be homeless, a man in black said to him, ¡°Mr. Xu, our boss wants to see you.¡± Xu Guochang looked puzzled and asked, ¡°Who is your boss?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you meet him.¡± The man in black looked at his wife and daughter, then said, ¡°Our boss only wants to see you. We¡¯ve already booked hotel rooms for your wife and daughter, and they can stay there temporarily.¡± Chapter 290 - Chapter 290: Chapter 290: (Second Update) Chapter 290: Chapter 290: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Later, Xu Guochang was brought before Xiao Jinli by the men in black. Seeing the girl in front of him, Xu Guochang asked incredulously, ¡°Miss, are you the one looking for me?¡± At that time, Xiao Jinli was only sixteen years old. Listening to the men in black addressing the boss, Xu Guochang subconsciously thought that the boss was a fat middle-aged man. After all, it is mostly men of this age group who have achieved success in their careers. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m looking for you.¡± She had a dossier in her hand and recited, ¡°Xu Guochang, an ancestor from Fulin Province, twenty years ago¡­¡± With every detail read by Xiao Jinli, Xu Guochang¡¯s face became paler. He felt as if, in front of this girl, even the color of his underpants was no secret. After a while, Xu Guochang pretended to be calm and asked, ¡°May I know why you are looking for me, miss?¡± Xiao Jinli closed the dossier and said indifferently, ¡°I know Mr. Xu is a talented and capable person. I have a question right now. When you had the ability and talent, why did you choose to stay in Meijian Country and not return home? But when you encountered career setbacks abroad, you returned to your home country. Do you think your home country should accept those who are rejected by Meijian Country?¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Guochang¡¯s face became even more unsightly. Xu Guochang took a few deep breaths and said, ¡°When I was studying years ago, our country¡¯s technology was quite backward and was constantly suppressed by developed countries. At that time, I was determined to change our country¡¯s technological status and make technology flourish. Therefore, when I was selected for a study abroad opportunity, I resolutely chose to go abroad. But during my years of studying abroad, I found that I couldn¡¯t learn the real core technology. All I learned were the outdated technologies that others had discarded. I knew that even if I mastered these technologies and returned to my home country, I would not be able to truly change the country¡¯s technological status. To change that and learn their country¡¯s real core technology, I would have to join their research team. But to join their team, I would have to become a citizen of their country.¡± As he spoke, Xu Guochang showed a face full of helplessness and heartache. He continued, ¡°So, I joined Meijian Country and became a traitor to my homeland.¡± Xiao Jinli listened expressionlessly, tapping the table with one hand and saying coldly, ¡°Continue.¡± Xu Guochang said, ¡°Even after becoming a citizen of Meijian Country and joining the research team, I was not trusted by the company because I came from Dragon State, a country with backward technology. At first, I could only engage in external research work. I worked tirelessly day and night, and after ten years, I finally made it to the core circle. During this time, I met my lover Tao Tao, an overseas Chinese. We fell in love, got married, and had a daughter in Meijian Country. Everything seemed peaceful and happy. But my determination to master core technology and serve my country never wavered. Once I entered the core team and confirmed that I had mastered the real core technology, I began to prepare for my return home, a preparation that took five years. However, just a year ago, someone discovered my secret. The company then took a series of actions against me, first accusing me of leaking secrets and trying to imprison me. After my lover and her family¡¯s mediation, I was released, but the company fired me on the grounds of leaking secrets and my career was ruined worldwide. They also blocked my way back home.¡± Through the efforts of my lover¡¯s family, I still managed to return to my homeland. Back home, my passion for serving my country slowly died out amid struggles to find a job. Now, my family of three is on the verge of being homeless. It¡¯s a pity that I have all this talent but no place to showcase it.¡± He showed a bitter smile on his face. In twenty years, the dream of serving his country and revitalizing its technology had never wavered, no matter how hard or tired life in Meijian Country was. However, just one year after returning to his homeland, he felt a sense of nowhere to stretch his legs, the ridicule and mockery from people in the industry, and the pressure from life made it almost impossible for him to breathe. Sometimes, he wondered if he was doing the right thing? For the so-called serving of the country and the revitalization of national technology, so as not to be looked down upon by foreigners, he had ended up in such a miserable state. His predicament at home was even worse than in Meijian Country. Since Xiao Jinli was able to investigate everything about Xu Guochang, she naturally knew his thoughts. Xiao Jinli tapped the table with one hand and propped her chin with the other, expressionlessly sizing up Xu Guochang, making him feel uneasy. Although the other party was just a young girl, her imposing manner was stronger than anyone he had met before. He swallowed his saliva and took a deep breath before asking, ¡°Miss, may I know what your intentions are in finding me?¡± Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°If given a chance, would you still be willing to uphold your previous intentions, serve your country, and promote the development of national technology?¡± Xu Guochang¡¯s eyes lit up and, without hesitation, he said excitedly, ¡°Of course I am willing!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Well, not bad. Then, you can sign this agreement.¡± Saying that, Xiao Jinli handed Xu Guochang an agreement to sign. Xu Guochang took the agreement with curiosity and looked at it more and more excitedly. Then, he picked up the pen on the table, signed his name, and even stamped his fingerprint. Xiao Jinli raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Mr. Xu, won¡¯t you consider it? You should know that this agreement is like a contract of sale for you. Once you breach any terms, the consequences will be your ruin.¡± Xu Guochang shook his head and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to consider! My passion for serving my country for over twenty years can finally be put into action. I don¡¯t want to miss this opportunity.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°In that case, please sign another contract, Mr. Xu.¡± With that, she took out another contract. Xu Guochang took a look and found out it was an employment contract. Xu Guochang was very surprised and asked in astonishment, ¡°Miss, what is this?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°I plan to establish a technology company, but I need someone to represent the company externally, and you are the person I have chosen. Sign this contract, and you will be employed by me. As my spokesperson, you have the authority to make decisions on everything except for major issues that need to be reported to me. Also, my identity must remain confidential; unless I allow it, you cannot disclose it!¡± It meant being an invisible boss! Xu Guochang was shocked and, after a while, he asked, ¡°Miss, aren¡¯t you afraid that I might take your company for myself in the future?¡± ¡°Hehe,¡± Xiao Jinli chuckled, ¡°I don¡¯t doubt those whom I choose to use, and I don¡¯t use those I doubt! Besides, the fact that you can ask this question means you don¡¯t have such intentions! Moreover,¡± Xiao Jinli immediately turned serious and said, ¡°I have the ability to investigate everything about you, so naturally, I am not afraid that you would take my company, am I right?¡± Xu Guochang stared blankly at Xiao Jinli. Chapter 291 - Chapter 291: Chapter 291: Chapter 291: Chapter 291: Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli established the Divine Wind Technology Group and handed over several advanced technologies to Xu Guochang before letting him take care of the rest. To the outside world, no one knew that there was a hidden boss behind the Divine Wind Technology Group. In these three years, Xu Guochang had seen Xiao Jinli no more than the number of fingers on one hand. However, Xu Guochang dared not harbor any ulterior motives. Xu Guochang held the technologies given by Xiao Jinli, led the team, and devoted himself to research and development. In just three years, the newly developed technologies emerged one after another, with many projects being developed alongside the country. With the backing of the country, those outside, even if envious of the development of the Divine Wind Technology Group, dared not take any action. The outsiders only knew that the Divine Wind Technology Group belonged to Xu Guochang. Meanwhile, Xu Guochang¡¯s experience abroad changed from being criticized for his immorality and spying in the industry to becoming a loyal and high-end figure who loved his country. People believed that he stole secrets abroad solely to serve his motherland. And now, it can be seen that the technology development in our country has made rapid progress these past three years. This technological development not only refers to the commonly seen items in daily life such as the internet, cellphones, and computers, but also to the development of national defense technologies, including airplanes, rockets, aircraft carriers, and more. Of course, ordinary people did not know about these developments. The current Divine Wind Technology Group has become a symbol of technological progress. The founder, Xu Guochang, has become the idol of billions of people in Dragonzhou Country. They believe that if given a few more years, our country¡¯s technological development will definitely surpass the most advanced country abroad ¡ª Plum Firm Country. Everyone credited Xu Guochang for the achievements. But only Xu Guochang knew clearly in his heart that actually, it was all because of his mysterious boss. What he didn¡¯t expect was that taking a vacation and accompanying his wife and daughter on a trip, he would discover the identity of the mysterious boss. Xu Guochang looked at the girl in front of him, as beautiful as a fairy, elegant and graceful, with a compelling aura, and stayed calm on the surface, but he was very excited inside. Miss Xiao had become even more beautiful than she was three years ago, graceful and elegant, like a fairy who was untouched by the mundane world. Xu Guochang took a few sips of water and smiled, ¡°Miss Xiao, I didn¡¯t know you were from Xiao Family Village. No wonder you¡¯re so beautiful and have such good temperament. This must be nourishment from the local mountains and waters.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. Our village has beautiful mountains and waters, picturesque scenery, and pleasant air. It¡¯s indeed very nourishing. So, many people want to come here to cultivate themselves.¡± Mother Xu and her daughter, Xu Guochang continued with a smile, ¡°Indeed. However, I heard that now Xiao Family Village is very valuable, and even the rich and powerful find it difficult to buy residence rights here.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Xiao Family Village is only so big. If everyone were to settle here, there wouldn¡¯t be enough space, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± Xu Guochang nodded, ¡°There are so many rich and powerful people in our country, and even some foreign billionaires who want to move in. How could they all fit?¡± Xiao Jinli added, ¡°We only allow domestic residents in our village, not foreigners. If a foreigner wants to settle here, they can only hold our nation¡¯s citizenship. However, very few of them meet the criteria for living here. So far, not a single person has.¡± Non-natives may have different intentions! She didn¡¯t deny that some foreigners claimed to be from their nation and loved Dragon Stateless country on the internet. However, they also couldn¡¯t deny that they definitely loved their own countries as well. Xiao Jinli glanced at them and asked, ¡°Mr. Xu, Mrs. Xu, would you like to live in Xiao Family Village?¡± Mother Xu¡¯s eyes brightened, and she excitedly asked, ¡°Really? We can settle in Xiao Family Village?¡± Xu Guochang and his daughter were equally excited. Nowadays, who wouldn¡¯t dream of living in Xiao Family Village? Those who settled in Xiao Family Village could choose to work or not to work. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°If you¡¯re willing, you can!¡± ¡°We are definitely willing!¡± The three of them excitedly agreed in unison. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I can introduce you to our Village Head later.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± All three of them expressed their gratitude at the same time. Xu Mengmeng asked with curiosity, ¡°Miss Xiao, why are you willing to help us?¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t answer her but subtly glanced at Xu Guochang. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Xu Guochang said, ¡°Mengmeng, Miss Xiao and I are friends!¡± Xu Mengmeng, Are they friends? She felt like it wasn¡¯t that simple. She just didn¡¯t know how to ask. Upon hearing that Xiao Jinli had friends coming over, Xiao¡¯s mother, who had been busy in the cafeteria, immediately rushed back. ¡°Xiao Bao, I heard from Fanfan that you have friends coming over?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother began asking questions even before entering the house. When she entered the yard, Xu Guochang¡¯s family of three were amazed by her appearance. Miss Xiao¡¯s mother was really beautiful. Although she looked older, it only added to her charm and allure. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Mom, aren¡¯t you busy in the cafeteria?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s rare that you have friends coming over. Of course, I have to come back and entertain your friends.¡± She looked at the stone table, which only had tea on it, and laughed, ¡°This child, you only serve tea to your guests. You didn¡¯t even bring out any snacks!¡± As she spoke, she headed inside. Xu Guochang immediately said respectfully, ¡°Mrs. Xiao, we just had a meal. Our stomachs are still full. There¡¯s no need to bother.¡± Xiao Mother smiled and said, ¡°Eating a meal is one thing, and having snacks is another.¡± After a while, she brought out some snacks from the house. Most of these snacks were made by Xiao¡¯s mother herself. When Xu Mengmeng saw these snacks, her eyes twinkled, and she peeled a roasted peanut. ¡°Wow, it smells so good. Mom, you should try it. This peanut is really fragrant.¡± Mother Xu also tasted one and exclaimed, ¡°It really is fragrant!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°These snacks are all homemade; please help yourselves.¡± Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°Mom, has Jiang Yifan come to look for you?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother replied, ¡°No, he was playing with Xiao Ming and happened to meet me. He told me that we had a guest at our house.¡± In fact, Jiang Yifan came to complain to Xiao¡¯s mom and told her that he was fed up with being exploited by mommy and had run away from home. Xiao Mother sat down. Xiao Jinli introduced her mother, ¡°Mom, this is Mr. Xu Guochang, Mrs. Xu, and Miss Xu!¡± Xu Guochang immediately said, ¡°Mrs. Xiao, you can call me Little Xu or Guochang. My wife¡¯s name is Taotao, you can call her Little Tao, and my daughter is named Mengmeng!¡± No matter Xiao Mother¡¯s age, since she was his boss¡¯s mother, he had to show full respect to her. Xiao Mother nodded and said, ¡°Alright, if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll call you Little Xu, Little Tao, and Mengmeng. Additionally, if you don¡¯t mind, please call me sister-in-law.¡± Chapter 292 - Chapter 292: Chapter 292: (Second Update) Chapter 292: Chapter 292: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Xiao¡¯s mother did not entertain Xu Guochang¡¯s family of three for very long, as there were many things to attend to in the cafeteria. When Xiao¡¯s mother left, Xu Mengmeng expressed her admiration, ¡°Miss Xiao,¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°If Mengmeng doesn¡¯t mind, you can call me sister. Always calling me Miss Xiao feels a bit awkward. And Mr. Xu and Madam Xu, you can call me Little Xiao or Jinli.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Mother Xu laughed, ¡°Well then, Jinli, don¡¯t call us Mr. Xu and Madam Xu either, call him Uncle Xu and me Auntie.¡± They spent quite some time discussing their appellations. Although she didn¡¯t know the nature of her husband¡¯s relationship with Xiao Jinli, she could see that her husband treated Xiao Jinli with great respect, which made it clear that her status was not simple. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Then I won¡¯t be polite. Uncle Xu, Aunt Xu.¡± ¡°Bad news, bad news, Mommy!¡± Jiang Yifan rushed in hastily. Xiao Jinli spoke exasperatedly, ¡°Jiang Yifan, I¡¯m fine. What¡¯s the rush?¡± Jiang Yifan anxiously said, ¡°Mommy, that woman is back.¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t immediately understand and asked, ¡°Which woman?¡± ¡°The one who claims to be Second Uncle¡¯s wife!¡± Jiang Yifan said. ¡°Where is she now?¡± Xiao Jinli asked with a slightly serious expression. Jiang Yifan said, ¡°She is harassing Second Uncle and Second Aunt at the company! But that woman is too difficult to deal with, they can¡¯t escape from her!¡± Xiao Jinli stood up and said to Xu Guochang¡¯s family of three, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Uncle Xu and Aunt Xu, I have to go take care of some business.¡± Xu Guochang also stood up and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Jinli. You can go handle your business first. Coincidentally, we also need to go back to the hotel to rest for a while.¡± These days, he was always around and could find Xiao Jinli anytime. Xiao Jinli left hurriedly for the company with Jiang Yifan. Lan Qingqing was blocking Xiao Mingchen, crying and saying, ¡°Husband, I still love you. Let¡¯s remarry, okay?¡± Xiao Mingchen shook off Lan Qingqing, his face dark and his expression stern. ¡°Lan Qingqing, I am not your husband now. Don¡¯t call me that. No matter how many times you ask, I will never remarry you.¡± Although Lan Qingqing was wearing all branded clothes, they were all old, and even with her makeup, she looked haggard. Seeing Xiao Mingchen¡¯s oily face, her anger immediately shifted to his current wife, Guan Yunrou. She pointed at Guan Yunrou and shouted, ¡°You shameless woman! You won¡¯t divorce him and steal my husband. Let me tell you, my husband and I were in love, and you, the mistress, should get lost!¡± Xiao Mingchen¡¯s face turned pale with anger. Just as he was about to defend his wife, Guan Yunrou pulled him aside and yelled at Lan Qingqing, ¡°Lan Qingqing, by the time I married my husband, you had already been divorced from Xiao Mingchen for three years. Xiao Mingchen is hardly your husband, he is, at best, your ex-husband. You call me a mistress, but now, you are the one trying to intrude upon our relationship.¡± Lan Qingqing¡¯s face was flushed with anger, ¡°I¡¯ve only been divorced for three years. If you hadn¡¯t interfered, we would definitely be able to remarry.¡± Guan Yunrou couldn¡¯t help but laugh. She sneered and said sarcastically, ¡°Lan Qingqing, have some shame. When Xiao Mingchen loved you, you worked hard for your maiden family and gave all the money you earned as a couple to them. You were unfilial to your parents-in-law, and during the divorce, you even cleaned out your ex-husband¡¯s entire savings. You took every last cent. Now, what face do you have to talk about remarrying?¡± Glancing disdainfully at Lan Qingqing, she continued, ¡°I heard that within a year of your divorce from Xiao Mingchen, you got remarried. What, did your new husband not let you help out your maiden family so you divorced? Or is it that your two marriages after Xiao Mingchen didn¡¯t have a sucker like him willing to support your maiden family, so you want to find him again to be that sucker? Especially since you heard that Xiao Mingchen earns millions of dollars in dividends each year, not to mention the salaries of his family members, which would amount to more than what they earned working several years before. So, you regretted it?¡± Lan Qingqing¡¯s face turned red and white as Guan Yunrou rubbed her face in it. What Guan Yunrou said was true. Three months after her divorce from Xiao Mingchen, she was persuaded by her maiden family to marry a wealthy man in their county town. That family didn¡¯t mind her being divorced since they valued her high level of education and good job. They believed their children would also love learning in the future. But they never expected that the woman they married would turn out to be a bottomless pit of financial support for her maiden family. At their wedding, they gave Lan Qingqing 300,000 in betrothal gifts. Not a cent of those gifts was brought back, and all of Lan Qingqing¡¯s salary was given to her maiden family. The husband¡¯s family had to bear the entire burden of living expenses, as well as the cost of their younger brother¡¯s wedding and buying a house and car. This wasn¡¯t a wife they married, it was a bottomless pit. The husband¡¯s side couldn¡¯t take it anymore. So they divorced Lan Qingqing. This time, not only did they want Lan Qingqing to return the betrothal gifts, but they also demanded that she bear the cost of various expenses, such as the wedding banquet and taking wedding photos. Otherwise, they would ruin her reputation, making it impossible for her to remarry in the future. Lan Qingqing¡¯s family, who hoped that she would remarry into a good family and support her younger brother, wouldn¡¯t let her reputation be ruined. So, with the excuse of incompatible personalities, they divorced, returned the betrothal gifts, and covered the other expenses. Lan Qingqing¡¯s third marriage was to a small leader at her company. Back when Lan Qingqing was with Xiao Mingchen, she was spoiled and lenient with herself, and willing to dress up. This made her look youthful and beautiful, attracting many male colleagues at her company. When Lan Qingqing returned to work at her company, she told everyone that Xiao Mingchen had another woman and that they were divorced. The male colleagues who had a crush on her naturally took action. Lan Qingqing chose a leader who was considered excellent. Although he wasn¡¯t as good-looking as Xiao Mingchen, his high position and salary were undeniable advantages! So, Lan Qingqing hid her second marriage and began her third one! But the leopard cannot change its spots! After getting married, Lan Qingqing sent her entire salary to her maiden family and asked her husband for living expenses! At first, her husband really loved his wife and didn¡¯t care whether she contributed to their finances since his own salary was enough to support the family. But as she kept asking for living expenses, the amounts kept getting higher and higher ¨C from the first time¡¯s 5,000 to 10,000 and 80,000 a time. He became suspicious! His annual salary was only a little over a million, so this would quickly drain his millions!- When he asked her where the money was spent, she stammered and didn¡¯t answer! Chapter 293 - Chapter 293: Chapter 293: (First Update) Chapter 293: Chapter 293: (First Update) Translator: 549690339 Lan Qingqing¡¯s third husband couldn¡¯t figure out where the money he gave her went, so he thought about it and called Xiao Mingchen. As for Xiao Mingchen¡¯s personality, he didn¡¯t believe Xiao Mingchen really had other women and divorced Lan Qingqing for that reason. After all, before the end of the year, Xiao Mingchen was still pampering Lan Qingqing and happily returned to their hometown. It made no sense for him to find another woman so soon after going home. Of course, Xiao Mingchen was not the type to speak ill of Lan Qingqing. Since she married his former superior leader, he naturally had nothing to say. So, he didn¡¯t tell his former colleagues and leaders the real reason for their divorce. But when his superior leader called him and asked about Lan Qingqing¡¯s previous expenses, he thought about it and said, ¡°I spent 266,000 on betrothal gifts to marry Lan Qingqing. Then, during the two years of our marriage, she sent her salary back to her maiden family, and I was responsible for all living expenses and other various costs. The main reason I divorced her was that she disrespected my parents in order to help her own family and even planned to involve my parents. My parents treated her like their biological daughter, but she took them so lightly and was so unfilial to them. This was something I could not tolerate.¡± At this point, he paused and continued, ¡°When I divorced her, I left with nothing and even compensated her with my parents¡¯ lifelong savings.¡± The leader was very surprised when he heard this. ¡°You left with nothing, and even your parents¡¯ savings were lost. Xiao Mingchen, you suffered a lot in this. How much money was that?¡± ¡°Over a million,¡± Xiao Mingchen said. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to argue with her for too long. Money is an external possession. Giving her the money made the divorce go smoothly.¡± The leader, Such a generous ex-husband and mother-in-law¡¯s family made him speechless. Sometimes, he had to wonder if Xiao Mingchen¡¯s head had been caught in a door or if he still had lingering feelings for his ex-wife and didn¡¯t want to wrong her, so he gave all the money to Lan Qingqing. The leader sighed lightly and asked, ¡°Was it worth it?¡± Over a million is not a small sum, especially for rural people, it¡¯s a huge amount. Xiao Mingchen¡¯s magnanimity was truly impressive, even the leader couldn¡¯t help admiring him. Xiao Mingchen laughed and said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing worth or not worth it. As for her, I did my best to be fair. It was just that my parents were treated unfairly. However, our family situation is much better now. Our village has established a company through land shares, and the annual dividends are not small.¡± After hanging up the call with Xiao Mingchen, the leader thought about it and decided to give Lan Qingqing another chance. He asked Lan Qingqing, ¡°Qingqing, why did you and Xiao Mingchen divorce in the first place? Was it really because Xiao Mingchen had another woman?¡± Seeing her husband¡¯s doubtful attitude, Lan Qingqing¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment and then said, ¡°Of course. Otherwise, why would I divorce him? He left the marriage so cleanly, isn¡¯t it because he felt guilty for having an affair first?¡± The leader narrowed his eyes, seriously examining his wife. He never thought that his beautiful wife could lie so easily, her face not turning red, and her heart not skipping a beat. But didn¡¯t she ever think that since they were both working in the same company when they were husband and wife, Xiao Mingchen had good relationships with his colleagues, as well as his superiors. Finding out about Xiao Mingchen¡¯s affairs was easy? How could she deceive herself like that? The leader nodded, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is!¡± After thinking for a while, he suddenly said, ¡°Wife, let¡¯s change the house. This house is too small. When we have a child in the future and have our parents live with us, there won¡¯t be enough rooms. Let¡¯s change to a four or five-bedroom house.¡± Lan Qingqing¡¯s eyes sparkled, and she said happily, ¡°That¡¯s great. I think we should change to a bigger house too. So, husband, let¡¯s go house hunting tomorrow?¡± The leader frowned slightly and said, ¡°But the prices of big houses are very high, and the down payment will have to be at least three or four million. I only have a little over two million in savings, so I¡¯m still short.¡± As he said this, he stared very seriously at Lan Qingqing. He knew that Lan Qingqing had more than a million in her hands. If she was truly committed to being with him, and the house was their property acquired after marriage and was shared property, she should be willing to contribute the money. Lan Qingqing frowned and then said, ¡°Husband, why don¡¯t you try borrowing the money? With your annual salary of over a million, borrowing a million or so should be easy.¡± After hearing her, the leader was slightly disappointed. He nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s not difficult for me to borrow that million or so. But after borrowing it to buy a house, we will have to repay the mortgage and the million, as well as raising children and taking care of the elderly¡¯s medical expenses in the future. These all need money, and we will have a lot of pressure in the future.¡± Lan Qingqing thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Husband, how about you borrow some from your parents first?¡± ¡°My parents are from the countryside, where would they have so much money to lend me?¡± The leader¡¯s face darkened slightly, and hearing the idea of borrowing money from his parents made a bit of anger rise in him. He continued, ¡°Besides, that is my parents¡¯ retirement money. I absolutely cannot touch it.¡± After hearing this, Lan Qingqing complained, ¡°What retirement money? I think it¡¯s saved to subsidize your sister, right? Hmph, they only favor your sister.¡± ¡°Favoring my sister?¡± The leader suppressed a tinge of anger, and he raised his voice, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for my sister giving me the opportunity to study? If it wasn¡¯t for my sister going out to work and giving me the money she earned to pay for my education, there would be no me today. My parents feel guilty towards my sister, and they occasionally help my sister. In your eyes, that turns into favoring my sister and leaving all the money to her? Lan Qingqing, I didn¡¯t know you actually thought this way about my parents?¡± Xiao Mingchen said that Lan Qingqing only knew how to respect her own parents, and she had no heart for her husband¡¯s parents. In the past, he always heard her send so much money to her parents and buy them so many things to send back, thinking that she was a filial girl. But it¡¯s true, she was filial, just only to her own parents. Lan Qingqing was silenced by his words, and her face turned from white to pale. Then she defended herself, ¡°Husband, it¡¯s not like that. When I went back to your hometown with you those few times, I saw you give money to your parents. But in the blink of an eye, they gave it to your sister. And there were two times when they called and asked us for money. Once, they said your sister¡¯s home needed to build a house and was short on money. Another time, they said your brother-in-law got sick and needed some money. So every time your sister asked you for money, I thought your parents were favoring your sister?¡± ¡°Your parents, your parents?¡± The leader said with a dark face, ¡°Are my parents in my mouth just my parents and not your parents?¡± Lan Qingqing, What¡¯s wrong with this man today? He keeps picking on her mistakes. Chapter 294 - Chapter 294: Chapter 294: (Second Update) Chapter 294: Chapter 294: (Second Update) Translator: 549690339 Guan Yunrou sneered at Lan Qingqing and said, ¡°Well well, your third husband only tested you with the idea of buying a house, asking you to take out your money for the down payment. Yet, you eyed the money of his parents and accused them of favoritism.¡± Lan Qingqing widened her eyes, incredulous as she asked, ¡°How do you know about that?¡± ¡°Humph, let me tell you, I am the little sister-in-law of your third husband¡¯s sister.¡± Guan Yunrou scoffed, ¡°So, how could I not know? Not only that, I also know about your secret of being twice divorced before marrying my little nephew-uncle! So, Lan Qingqing, have some shame. Each time you¡¯ve gotten married, you¡¯ve tricked people out of their hefty betrothal gifts. Yet, in the end, your wages and those of your husbands all go to subsidising your maiden family. Whoever marries you, ends up in an endless pit of expenditure.¡± If Lan Qingqing wanted to hassle Xiao Mingchen relentlessly, Guan Yunrou was prepared to ruthlessly shred her dignity into pieces. If Lan Qingqing had no respect for herself, who would respect her then? With a shocked expression, Lan Qingqing stepped back a few paces, her face visibly upset. She truly hadn¡¯t expected this Guan Yunrou to have any connection with her third husband, Fang Jianbei. ¡°How is it, quite the surprise, isn¡¯t it?¡± Guan Yunrou sneered, ¡°When you made a fuss here a few days ago, I gave you face and didn¡¯t tear you down completely. But now you¡¯ve gone too far to call me a mistress, so I just need to set you straight. What, being married three times but still unable to marry off, so you¡¯re desperately trying to latch onto your ex-husband, right? Haven¡¯t you just failed to find another man like Xiao Mingchen who could tolerate you and leave you his property after all these years? Or is it that you¡¯ve heard that Xiao Mingchen¡¯s family now has a dividend of 100 to 200 million, and he himself has an annual salary of one million, so you¡¯re trying to take advantage of him again, right?¡± ¡°Well, let me tell you this, as long as I¡¯m Xiao Mingchen¡¯s wife, you might as well keep dreaming. And I will always be Xiao Mingchen¡¯s wife, so you might as well keep dreaming forever.¡± Lan Qingqing¡¯s face turned green. She hadn¡¯t expected that Xiao Mingchen¡¯s new wife would be so articulate and so difficult to deal with. At this moment, Xiao Mingchen firmly said, ¡°Yes, Rou¡¯er and I will always be together. You can get lost, I never want to see you again.¡± Upon hearing Xiao Mingchen¡¯s words, Lan Qingqing immediately played the victim, ¡°Mingchen, you have never treated me like this before, right? You also said that you loved me and wanted to always be with me. Have you forgotten? How can you treat me like this now, uh uh¡­¡± Lan Qingqing was genuinely heartbroken. Of the three men she had married, Xiao Mingchen had treated her the best, fulfilling her every demand and handling the majority of the housework. During her second marriage, she had received a high-priced betrothal gift but ended up being treated as a nanny in the man¡¯s household, immediately asked to produce offspring after the marriage. As a college graduate with a decent job, and having been spoiled by others, how could she reconcile with being a housekeeping wife and breeding machine? She felt extremely wronged. However, before she had a chance to rebel, her in-laws discovered her nature of playing favorites with her family home. Taking advantage of the fact that they hadn¡¯t had children yet, they quickly divorced and even demanded the full return of the betrothal gift, causing her to lose face in the county town. Luckily, she later married a man with an annual salary of one million, earning her and her maiden home a lot of face. Fang Jianbei also liked her a lot and pampered her, but compared with Xiao Mingchen, there was a vast difference. When Fang Jianbei came home, he acted like a lord, either lying on the sofa playing games or going straight into the study to work, refusing to lift a finger for household chores. Each time Lan Qingqing complained, Fang Jianbei would say to her, ¡°What would a man do with these chores? Aren¡¯t they all supposed to be done by women?¡± Over time, Lan Qingqing stopped complaining, but her resentment grew deeper and deeper, and she felt wronged with each passing day. Especially during holidays when they returned to her in-law¡¯s home, she had to prepare meals for a big family and put up with her in-laws¡¯ criticisms. Every time they spoke, they made snide remarks and hinted that their son, a college graduate with a high salary, was far better than a twice-divorced woman like her. As a result, every time she returned to her in-laws¡¯ home, she was filled with resentment. Comparisons are often painful. Having been married before, but to in-laws who treated her as their own daughter and spoke to her kindly without ever finding fault, she was always praised no matter what she did. But now¡­ Fortunately, Fang Jianbei really liked her back then. Seeing that his parents were disrupting her, just for the sake of appeasing her, when they returned to the city, he would cheer her up and give her money, allowing her to swipe her card and buy whatever she wanted. Even for all that money, Lan Qingqing wouldn¡¯t think about divorcing. She just held herself back whenever she was about to ask Fang Jianbei for money, sometimes just a few thousand, sometimes over a 100,000. For her, Fang Jianbei was rich, and she was his wife. So, all his money was meant to be spent by her. Who would have thought that it would lead to a divorce over the purchase of a house? At the time, when Fang Jianbei mentioned buying a bigger house, she was delighted. After buying a larger house, she could bring her parents and younger brother to live with them. But they ended up clashing over the money. In her opinion, Fang Jianbei was definitely expected to pay for the house. After all, he was the man and providing for the family was a man¡¯s fundamental responsibility. But he had his eye on her money, saying it was marital joint property and asking her to contribute a small portion so that they didn¡¯t need to take out a loan. How could that be possible? She had already given her money to her parents as a token of respect, and there was no way she could ask for it back. As such, she was of course unwilling, and persuaded him to borrow from his parents. Who knew that this suggestion would provoke a hornet¡¯s nest and lead to a fierce quarrel between the couple? Eventually, their arguing caused their mutual affection to dissolve away. The pair ended up getting a divorce. Fang Jianbei didn¡¯t ask for the return of the betrothal gift of 500,000 he had given, but she didn¡¯t get a single cent of his assets. Having married and divorced three times, taking hefty betrothal gifts each time, and being a natural manipulator, her situation somehow became widely known. In the following three or four years, she went on countless blind dates, where either she didn¡¯t like the man or the man liked her looks and was willing to offer a high betrothal fee but on the condition of severing all ties with her maiden family, essentially buying out the rest of her life. Even if she was willing, her maiden family wasn¡¯t. After all, they knew the value of Lan Qingqing after marriage was much greater than before marriage. Just as she was unsure whether to continue going on blind dates, she incidentally heard from a former colleague about Xiao Mingchen¡¯s situation. Her colleague mentioned that Xiao Mingchen¡¯s family was now making a dividend of 100 to 200 million each year, and his salary had gone from 4,000 at a small company to an annual salary of two million. Upon hearing this, she decided to reach out to him. She believed that Xiao Mingchen must still have feelings for her, and as long as she could say a few nice things and promise to respect his parents in the future, he would be willing to reconcile. It was only after she arrived in Xiao Family Village that she found out Xiao Mingchen had gotten married a few years ago. Chapter 295 - Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Translator: 549690339 ¡°Slap, slap¡±! Everyone turned to look, and it was Xiao Jinli who was clapping. Previously, when Lan Qingqing had come to make a fuss, Xiao Jinli had not shown her face. Lan Qingqing had never seen the real grown-up appearance of Xiao Jinli. ¡°Who are you?¡± Lan Qingqing asked with an ashen face. But the more she looked at Xiao Jinli, the more familiar she seemed. Suddenly, she exclaimed incredulously, ¡°You are¡­ you are Xiao Jinli?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Oh, Second Sister-in-law, or rather, ex-Second Sister-in-law, it¡¯s quite an honor to be remembered by you.¡± Lan Qingqing was momentarily embarrassed, but then she had an idea and said with a hint of bitterness and grievance, ¡°Jinli, I think about you every day.¡± During the two years she had been married to Xiao Mingchen, she had deeply understood Xiao Jinli¡¯s status in the Xiao Family and Xiao Family Village whenever they returned for the New Year. It could be said that Xiao Jinli¡¯s status in Xiao Family Village was exceptional. Therefore, as long as she asked Xiao Jinli to let her remarry Xiao Mingchen, he would certainly agree. ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve grown more and more beautiful after all these years,¡± Lan Qingqing said with a warm smile, ¡°Girls really do change, always becoming more beautiful!¡± Xiao Jinli gave a faint smile, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to be called sister. Just call me Xiao Jinli, Ms. Lan!¡± Upon hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s address, Lan Qingqing¡¯s face changed again, and she said with a sad expression, ¡°Sis¡­ Little Sister Jinli, how can you call me Ms. Lan? I¡¯m your Second Sister-in-law.¡± Xiao Jinli said flatly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but my second sister-in-law is Ms. Guan Yunrou. You¡¯re just a stranger to us now.¡± Lan Qingqing,How could this be? Lan Qingqing said, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, have you forgotten? Your Second Sister-in-law used to really care for you. Every time I came home, I would bring gifts for you, remember?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, you used to bring gifts, using my Second Brother¡¯s money to buy them for us. My current Second Sister-in-law buys gifts for me every day, using her own hard-earned money.¡± Everyone, That was quite a slap in the face. Without comparison, there would be no harm, right? Boasting about buying gifts in the past, hmm, someone else did it better than you. Moreover, it was not even her own hard-earned money that she had used to buy those gifts. Lan Qingqing¡¯s expression suddenly became awkward. In the past, she had disliked Xiao Jinli. She believed that Xiao Jinli had stolen everyone¡¯s love and was even more unhappy that her husband talked about his cousin Xiao Jinli all day long. He was unwilling to spend money on gifts for her biological sister, which made her very upset with her sister-in-law Xiao Jinli. But what made her even more upset was that everyone liked Xiao Jinli. Even her parents-in-law, who claimed to treat her like a biological daughter, were polite to her but showed deep love for Xiao Jinli in their eyes. This made her even more dissatisfied. However, despite her dissatisfaction, she dared not vent it out. In the Xiao Family, she could be dissatisfied with anyone, but not with Xiao Jinli. So, this dissatisfaction could only be hidden in her heart. It wasn¡¯t until the divorce that it all erupted. Little did she expect that after all these years, she would have to beg Xiao Jinli for help. If she had known this would happen, she would have treated Xiao Jinli like a princess. Thinking of this, Lan Qingqing took a deep breath and then said with a smile, ¡°Jinli, I really considered you as a close sister in the past, don¡¯t you remember?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, you treated me like a sister, but you also complained that your parents-in-law¡¯s family shouldn¡¯t spoil me so much. You even said that I shouldn¡¯t have the best things. Isn¡¯t that right, ex-second sister-in-law?¡± Lan Qingqing¡¯s face turned green again. She didn¡¯t expect that Xiao Jinli would know about her grumbling behind her back. Unable to accept it, Lan Qingqing said, ¡°I was only talking, after all. Did I still not care for you properly? Little Sister Jinli, I know you¡¯re a magnanimous person. You shouldn¡¯t mind such trifles, right?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°Yes, since it¡¯s such a trivial matter, you shouldn¡¯t even mention caring for me.¡± What a disgrace. Lan Qingqing, Onlookers burst into laughter. The slap was so loud, everyone couldn¡¯t help but revel in Lan Qingqing¡¯s misfortune. ¡°Lan Qingqing, have you no shame? Since you divorced Deputy General Xiao, and he¡¯s remarried, you should stay far away instead of causing endless trouble.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I heard that when you divorced Deputy General Xiao, not only did he leave with nothing, but he also gave you all his savings. You took the over a million from him and left without looking back. Now you have the nerve to come back and ask for a reconciliation; this is truly bizarre.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even mention that Deputy General Xiao has remarried. Even if he hadn¡¯t, anyone with a brain wouldn¡¯t consider remarrying you. What if your relationship doesn¡¯t work out again, and you divorce? Would he have to pay everything he owns as compensation again?¡± ¡°Marrying three times, receiving high betrothal gifts each time ¨C besides the second husband, who was from their County town and heard about her spoiled little brother, so he divorced her and returned the gifts ¨C but she didn¡¯t return the gifts from the other two marriages. Deputy General Xiao even compensated her with over a million. The third husband didn¡¯t compensate her as such, but a lot of his earnings were moved back to her maiden family. In total, they also had over a million.¡± ¡°My God, the money from both husbands adds up to three or four million. That family owes their fortune to their daughter. Ha, it¡¯s good to have a daughter. Marrying once makes a small fortune, while marrying twice brings a big fortune.¡± ¡°Haha, indeed.¡± Lan Qingqing¡¯s three marriages and divorces had long ruined her reputation in their county town. Her workplace, as well as Xiao Family Village, had heard of her notoriety. At first, Lan Qingqing might have felt embarrassed when people talked about her. However, over the years, she had become shameless to the point of no return. No matter what others said about her, now she only wanted to remarry Xiao Mingchen. Going through all the twists and turns, marrying Xiao Mingchen had been the happiest time of her life. Her husband had doted on her, her in-laws had loved her, and they didn¡¯t care about her expenses. After wasting several years, she wanted a stable life. With tears in her eyes, Lan Qingqing pleaded, ¡°Mingchen, Jinli, I know you resent me for helping my maiden family. I promise I won¡¯t interfere with my family or bother my younger brother anymore. I know I was wrong. Please forgive me. I¡¯ll bring all my earnings into our small family, and we can live our own life, okay?¡± Xiao Mingchen¡¯s face turned so black that it could drip ink. He angrily said, ¡°Lan Qingqing, let me say it one more time, it¡¯s been eight hundred years since we divorced, and I¡¯m already remarried. So whether or not you care about your family or brother, it has nothing to do with me. It¡¯s absolutely impossible for us to remarry. If you still have some shame, stop bothering me in the future.¡± Chapter 296 - Chapter 296: Chapter 296: Chapter 296: Chapter 296: Translator: 549690339 Lan Qingqing seemed to have a relentlessness about achieving her goal. After hearing Xiao Mingchen¡¯s words, she was greatly hurt. Through her tearful eyes, she looked at Xiao Mingchen and asked sadly, ¡°Mingchen, why are you so cruel to me? Didn¡¯t you like me and spoil me a lot before? I already know my mistake, so why can¡¯t you forgive me? Wuu¡­ Xiao Mingchen, you can¡¯t treat me like this!¡± Onlookers, Is this woman really shameless and unable to understand human language? Divorced for eight years, people have already married and explicitly rejected her, and they will not remarry. Moreover, asking him to divorce his current wife and marry her again is ridiculous. Xiao Jinli glanced at her Second Brother, whose face was now livid and seething with anger. She coldly shouted at Lan Qingqing, ¡°Lan Qingqing, do you really have no shame? Even after peeling off your thick skin, you¡¯re still being relentless here. Do we have to call the police and have you arrested to get rid of you?¡± Lan Qingqing was taken aback and then said with a wronged and sorrowful expression, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, you can¡¯t treat me like this.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing acceptable or unacceptable.¡± Xiao Jinli coldly said, ¡°You¡¯ve already caused serious trouble for my Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law. Please leave, and in the future, never set foot in Xiao Family Village again. Otherwise, I¡¯ll call the police!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Lan Qingqing hadn¡¯t expected Xiao Jinli to be even more ruthless. She said, ¡°I¡­ I just want to fight for my own happiness. Is that wrong?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with you fighting for your own happiness!¡± Xiao Jinli coldly responded, ¡°But the happiness you want to fight for is to break up my Second Brother¡¯s marriage and destroy his happiness. That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong!¡± ¡°Xiao Jinli, when your Second Brother was with me, I can make him happy. I am the person your Second Brother loves the most!¡± Lan Qingqing yelled without confidence, ¡°Don¡¯t you want your Second Brother to be happy? Xiao Jinli, you can¡¯t be so selfish.¡± Xiao Mingchen furiously shouted, ¡°Lan Qingqing, who exactly is being selfish? I admit that when you were my wife, I loved you and spoiled you. But now that we are divorced, I don¡¯t love you at all. Let me tell you, stop causing trouble here. Leave immediately, and don¡¯t ever set foot in Xiao Family Village again.¡± ¡°No, I won¡¯t leave!¡± Lan Qingqing stubbornly said, ¡°Xiao Mingchen, don¡¯t deceive yourself anymore. Is it so hard for you to admit that you still love me? I swear I won¡¯t support my maiden family anymore and will be filial to your parents. Can we remarry?¡± Everyone, Who exactly is deceiving themselves? Slap! Guan Yunrou couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and slapped Lan Qingqing¡¯s face hard. She furiously yelled, ¡°Lan Qingqing, have you no shame? When will you stop deceiving yourself and others? Let me tell you, Xiao Mingchen loved and spoiled you before because you were his wife. Now, I am his wife, and I am the one he loves and spoils. You¡¯re just a third party trying to destroy other people¡¯s marriages, you¡¯re a mistress. Let me tell you, I¡¯ve tolerated you for too long. I¡¯ve only held back until now to slap you. If you come near my husband again, I¡¯ll see if I won¡¯t beat you to a pulp.¡± Lan Qingqing covered her face which was slapped by Guan Yunrou, showing a very angry expression. Then her expression turned pitiful again as she looked at Xiao Mingchen, ¡°Xiao Mingchen, she hit me. Wuu, she hit me, and it hurts so much. Can you hit her back for me?¡± Everyone, This person must really not understand human language. Xiao Jinli immediately called the security guards over, pointed at Lan Qingqing, and said, ¡°Throw this woman out, and don¡¯t allow her to set foot in Xiao Family Village ever again.¡± Lan Qingqing¡¯s face changed and she shouted, ¡°Xiao Jinli, you can¡¯t do this to me. I am¡­¡± ¡°Seal her mouth shut!¡± Xiao Jinli coldly ordered, ¡°Lan Qingqing, it¡¯s you who has no shame. So don¡¯t blame others for treating you without respect. In the future, if you ever bother my Second Brother again, I¡¯ll make a poster to publicize your attempt at being a mistress at the community where your parents, relatives, and friends live. You know, once I say something, I¡¯ll do it!¡± Hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, many people gasped. That move was ruthless. Lan Qingqing¡¯s name has already been tarnished after receiving three high betrothal gifts from marrying three times. If people find out she¡¯s trying to be a mistress, her reputation in the county town will be completely ruined. She may not care about her face, but her relatives and friends do. On the other hand, she may not care about the face of her relatives and friends. But those relatives and friends will care about their own face. Moreover, Lan Qingqing had been brainwashed by her parents since childhood and highly valued being filial to her parents. Lan Qingqing¡¯s face showed an expression of fear. She screamed, ¡°Xiao Jinli, you can¡¯t do this.¡± Xiao Jinli spoke coldly, ¡°You should know that I can do this. So, Lan Qingqing, don¡¯t provoke my Second Brother and our Xiao Family again. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have to bear the consequences. As someone who was a daughter-in-law of Xiao Family Village for two years, you know that when I, Xiao Jinli, do something, I deal with it thoroughly and leave no trace. Lan Qingqing, just take care of yourself.¡± After listening to Xiao Jinli, Lan Qingqing¡¯s face turned pale. She could pester Xiao Mingchen, but she couldn¡¯t ignore Xiao Jinli¡¯s words. Eight years ago, when Xiao Jinli was still a child, her status in Xiao Family Village was like that of a deity. Eight years later, Xiao Jinli¡¯s status in Xiao Family Village was even more transcendent. Eight years ago, when Xiao Jinli was a child, she was already a ruthless and resourceful person. Eight years later, Xiao Jinli was still the same. As the security guards dragged Lan Qingqing out of Xiao Family Village, Xiao Jinli frowned slightly and said to Xiao Mingchen, ¡°Second Brother, you were too soft on Lan Qingqing, and it made Second Sister-in-law suffer.¡± Xiao Mingchen smiled bitterly and said, ¡°After all, she was my wife, and I wanted to leave her some face. Who would¡¯ve thought that she would be so shameless? Had I known, I would¡¯ve thrown her out the first time she came to pester me.¡± At this point, he said to Guan Yunrou, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, wife, for making you suffer.¡± Guan Yunrou shook her head and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m not suffering. You¡¯re a man with affection and loyalty, and that¡¯s what attracted me to you in the first place. As you said, you¡¯ve been married to Lan Qingqing, and you don¡¯t want to go to extremes. I understand.¡± ¡­ Xiao Jinli sighed softly, ¡°All right, Second Brother, you and Second Sister-in-law can handle the communication by yourselves.¡± Jiang Yifan, who was standing beside her, also heaved a sigh, ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s most suitable for you to be the villain!¡± Everyone, Xiao Jinli lightly patted his little head, annoyed, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Am I a villain? I¡¯m clearly a good person. I¡¯m helping my Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law to protect their relationship from being destroyed.¡± Jiang Yifan nodded in agreement and said, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re a good person, you¡¯re a good person!¡± Everyone, Why does it sound so weird? Chapter 297 - Chapter 297: Chapter 297: Chapter 297: Chapter 297: Translator: 549690339 Though the headquarters of Lu Xian Group is located in Xiao Family Village,¡­ tourists are not allowed inside the company. But when Lan Qingqing was escorted out of the village entrance by the security guard, numerous tourists gawked at her. ¡°What¡¯s going on? How can they just throw a tourist out like that? So rude!¡± A tourist, unaware of Lan Qingqing¡¯s identity, naturally assumed she was a fellow tourist. ¡°This woman seems to have been thrown out from the company¡¯s headquarters. Is it because a tourist sneaked in, and they found her?¡± ¡°No, even if a tourist had sneaked in, they would just ask them not to come in anymore, not throw them out of the village in such an impolite manner.¡± At this moment, someone from Xiao Family Village spoke up. ¡°Lan Qingqing is back, it seems like Xiao Mingchen must be really angry this time.¡± ¡°It probably wasn¡¯t Xiao Mingchen who told the security guard to throw her out, right? I saw Jinli go in, so it must¡¯ve been Jinli who did it.¡± ¡°It should be. Xiao Mingchen has a soft heart and values relationships.¡± ¡°As if Lan Qingqing isn¡¯t bad enough, she has been divorced for so many years and has married twice since then, yet she still dares to come back asking for a remarriage with Xiao Mingchen. How could Xiao Mingchen even consider it when his relationship with Little Guan is so good?¡± ¡°Exactly, she¡¯s shameless. When she married Xiao Mingchen, she demanded high betrothal gifts. During the divorce, she forced Xiao Mingchen to leave penniless, taking over a million from the family. Now that she¡¯s having a hard time and hears Xiao Mingchen has money, she shamelessly comes back, wanting to remarry. Does she really think Xiao Mingchen can¡¯t live without her?¡± ¡°Absolutely. She has cheated Xiao Mingchen out of so much money over the years, and in the end, taken the money and left without looking back after the divorce. Now, she wants to remarry? She¡¯s dreaming. Anyone with a sane mind would never remarry her. How could she even bring up the matter of remarriage?¡± Curious tourists asked, ¡°Auntie, so you¡¯re saying the woman who was just carried out by security isn¡¯t a tourist but named Lan Qingqing? She used to be from your Xiao Family Village?¡± ¡°Indeed. But eight years ago, after divorcing Xiao Mingchen and taking all their money, even her parents-in-law¡¯s savings were all snatched up¡ªover a million back then! She left without ever looking back.¡± ¡°Ah, why did they divorce?¡± I heard that many people now want to enter Xiao Family Village, finding it hard to get in. News reports say that the land prices in Xiao Family Village are now comparable to those in the Capital City. Having divorced eight years ago, that woman must now be dying of regret. ¡°Humph, what could be the reason? Back then, when the company in Xiao Family Village was just established, Xiao Mingchen wanted to stay, but she didn¡¯t. Even though they had differences of opinion, Lan Qingqing ended up blaming her in-laws. But that¡¯s not the main point. She¡¯s someone who only cares about her maiden family. Not only did she give all her own earnings to her family, but she also demanded her husband¡¯s money to buy a house when her younger brother got married. As a result, due to various reasons, Xiao Mingchen couldn¡¯t take it anymore and divorced her. Sigh, our Xiao Mingchen is such a good kid and husband, only to have been stuck with such a daughter-in-law and family.¡± ¡°A wife who only focuses on her maiden family, and a younger brother-loving marriage wrecker, are the types to bring ruin. Marrying her could empty out the whole family¡¯s wealth.¡± ¡°Exactly. Our Xiao Mingchen, just from getting married¡ªand except for the old house¡ªthe majority of the money was drained away. But fortunately, he has now found a good wife.¡± Chapter 298 - Chapter 298: Chapter 298: Chapter 298: Chapter 298: Translator: 549690339 Lan Qingqing¡¯s troublemaking was just a small episode. Xiao Family Village has now become a tourist manor, with many tourists coming and going every day. With more people, naturally, some things will happen, such as conflicts between tourists, dissatisfaction with certain services provided by the people of Xiao Family Village, and so on. Most of the issues had professionals intervening, or at most, it escalated to the company¡¯s senior management. There were very few cases in which Xiao Jinli had to step in to handle them. Xiao Jinli was very protective of Xiao Family Village¡¯s interest and that of the villagers. Of course, all the villagers were quite self-conscious. They have money now, but they won¡¯t forget where their wealth came from. Before, calling Xiao Jinli the village treasure and lucky star was indeed not wrong, seeing as how she led the whole Xiao Family Village on the path to prosperity. With the affluence of Xiao Family Village, even the surrounding villages, the entire town, and the county were growing prosperous as well. To be aware, for many local economies, traffic flow is the economy. Only where there is traffic can there be economic consumption, which then drives development. Ever since Xu Guochang found out that Xiao Jinli came from Xiao Family Village, he couldn¡¯t help but inquire about Jinli from the villagers. Then he discovered that Xiao Family Village¡¯s prosperity and development today were indeed inseparable from Jinli. Because it was Xiao Jinli who suggested growing vegetables and starting a company in Xiao Family Village. Later, the whole village transformed into a manor, and it was Jinli along with talented individuals who developed it. The villagers enjoyed talking about Jinli, but they would only share her stories with familiar people. If it¡¯s someone unfamiliar, they would remain vigilant and cautious. These days, Jinli has grown into a graceful and stunning beauty, and she must not be targeted by some ill-intentioned individuals. ¡°Who are you?¡± Xiao Chunmin asked cautiously. Xu Guochang smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m Miss Xiao¡¯s friend.¡± Xiao Chunmin didn¡¯t buy it and replied, ¡°If you¡¯re Jinli¡¯s friend, why are you asking us about her? Why don¡¯t you ask Jinli herself?¡± Having said that, he realized something and added, ¡°You don¡¯t have some ulterior motive, do you? I¡¯m warning you, our Jinli is highly capable, and you wouldn¡¯t want to suffer the consequences.¡± Xu Guochang, Did he look like a bad guy? Xu Guochang smiled and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m not a bad guy. I do know Miss Xiao, but I didn¡¯t know she was from Xiao Family Village. I just want to know more about her.¡± Xiao Chunmin waved his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t try to make it sound better. That¡¯s what every bad guy says.¡± Xu Guochang, If he couldn¡¯t get information from the adults, he would turn his attention to the children. He genuinely wasn¡¯t up to no good, he was just really curious about Xiao Jinli. Unexpectedly, perhaps due to the instructions from the adults, he couldn¡¯t get information from the kids either. ¡°Why do you want to know about Sister Jin Li? Are you truly her friend?¡± ¡°Our parents told us not to talk about Sister Jin Li¡¯s business to outsiders. Even if you offer candy and toys, it won¡¯t work. Our family lacks none of these; we have heaps of them at home.¡± Xu Guochang, He couldn¡¯t help but admire how well-behaved and sensible the children were. At that moment, his phone rang, and he looked a little embarrassed when he saw the caller ID. Because, the caller was Xiao Jinli herself. As soon as the call connected, Xiao Jinli teased with a laugh, ¡°Uncle Xu, I heard you¡¯ve been inquiring about me everywhere?¡± Chapter 299 - Chapter 299: Chapter 299: Chapter 299: Chapter 299: Translator: 549690339 Xu Guochang came to Xiao Family Village and saw Xiao Jinli sitting in the yard, looking a bit embarrassed. Xiao Jinli asked with a half-smiling expression, ¡°Uncle Xu, you seem to be very interested in my affairs?¡± Xu Guochang awkwardly smiled and said, ¡°Jinli, I¡¯m just too curious about you.¡± He had dared not ask about Xiao Jinli¡¯s mysterious identity before. Now that he suddenly knew who she was, he was truly curious. What kind of village, what kind of family could raise such a powerful child? Although he didn¡¯t learn more about Xiao Jinli from the villagers, he could see from their attitudes and the children that Xiao Jinli had an unusual status in Xiao Family Village. When they mentioned her, their eyes were full of respect and admiration. They said that Xiao Family Village¡¯s current prosperity was due to Xiao Jinli. Eight years ago, Xiao Jinli proposed to grow vegetables. When the vegetables were graded and returned as AA-level Green Food, they immediately became in high demand upon entering the market. The villagers couldn¡¯t keep up with the production. Eight years ago, it was also Xiao Jinli who proposed to set up a company, with the whole village contributing land shares, so that everyone could get dividends. At that time, there were daughters-in-law who didn¡¯t want to contribute their land and demanded a divorce. Later, they regretted their decision because their families had to compromise and only contribute half of their land as shares. As a result, while others could get one million in dividends, their families only got five hundred thousand. Even if they contributed the other half of their land later, the dividends are much less than if they contributed initially. They could have had one million in dividends, but they only got seven to eight hundred thousand in the end, losing more than two hundred thousand. Later, these new daughters-in-law finally understood why the villagers trusted Xiao Jinli so much. Because in Xiao Family Village, following Xiao Jinli would never lead them astray. Xu Guochang told Xiao Jinli what he had learned from the villagers and then laughed, ¡°Jinli, I didn¡¯t expect you to be like a god in everyone¡¯s eyes.¡± At this point, he paused and said seriously, ¡°Actually, in my eyes, you are also a godlike existence.¡± When the Divine Wind Technology Group was founded, she provided the funds, the key technology, and made connections with important resources. At that time, he was very curious. This was still a child. Even the Wealthiest Person¡¯s daughter wouldn¡¯t have such great capabilities. A Wealthiest Person¡¯s daughter might have money and connections, but they definitely couldn¡¯t have technology. If a Wealthiest Person¡¯s daughter had such technology, the Wealthiest Person would invest in such a technology company themselves and possibly become a world-leading technology giant. Moreover, Dragon State¡¯s Wealthiest Person was a young man, so he couldn¡¯t possibly have such an accomplished older daughter. In short, Xiao Jinli brought with her a great sense of mystery. But upon arriving at Xiao Family Village, he realized that this girl named Xiao Jinli was an even greater child. She led Xiao Family Village towards prosperity and protected every villager. Xu Guochang looked at her and exclaimed, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have imagined that a child of your age could achieve such amazing feats. If the outside world knew that the person behind Divine Wind Technology Group is a young girl not even twenty years old, I don¡¯t know how shocked they would be!¡± Chapter 300 - Chapter 300: Chapter 300: Happy Children’s Day on June 1 Chapter 300: Chapter 300: Happy Children¡¯s Day on June 1 Translator: 549690339 After teasing Xiao Jinli a bit, Xu Guochang immediately got to the point. Xu Guochang said, ¡°Some time ago, Plum Firm Country told the world media that the core technology of the Shenfeng Group was stolen by me. They are preparing to collect evidence and plan to sue me for theft of secrets in the International Court!¡± Everyone knew the real situation well. It was just an excuse for the Plum Firm Country to covet Shenfeng Group¡¯s technology. Xiao Jinli asked indifferently, ¡°What will you do?¡± Xu Guochang said, ¡°I have applied for protection from the National Public Relations Department!¡± Shenfeng Group has a deep cooperation with the National Institute of Science and Technology. Therefore, as the person in charge of Shenfeng Group, he has the right to apply for personal protection from the National Public Relations Department. Xiao Jinli frowned slightly, ¡°So you¡¯re just applying for personal protection?¡± Xu Guochang nodded, ¡°Yes, people in Plum Firm Country believe that these key core technologies are on me, and they haven¡¯t developed them yet. So, while they are saying they will sue me in the International Court, they will definitely send people to secretly kidnap me. The usual company bodyguards won¡¯t be enough, I can only apply for protection from the National Public Relations Department!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, thought for a while, tapped her fingers on the table lightly, and then said, ¡°Since Plum Firm Country wants to sue, let them sue. Uncle Xu, maybe this time it¡¯s an opportunity for you to clear your grievances and restore your innocence.¡± Xu Guochang frowned slightly, with some doubts, ¡°But back then, Plum Firm Country made up a lot of evidence to frame me for theft. This time, they must be well-prepared in suing me.¡± The purpose of Plum Firm Country was simple: as long as they succeeded in suing him, they could take him to Plum Firm Country for trial and imprisonment, and then they could use methods to get advanced technology from his mouth. Dragon State definitely couldn¡¯t let Plum Firm Country take him away, but it was clear that the International Court was biased towards Plum Firm Country, and they were well prepared. So, the International Court would definitely let Plum Firm Country win. Therefore, it would cost Dragon State a lot to protect him. After all, the key technologies he held involved the entire country¡¯s technological development level. Xiao Jinli slightly frowned and then said, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this matter. As for you, just do what you need to do. But, before the International Court opens, you must ensure your personal safety is protected. I don¡¯t want you to be kidnapped before the lawsuit even begins.¡± After hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, Xu Guochang¡¯s spirit was lifted, and he became very excited. He eagerly asked, ¡°Jinli, do you have a way?¡± Could Xiao Jinli really have a solution? It¡¯s worth noting that even the National Security Department is currently clueless about this matter. After all, he did stay in Plum Firm Country for more than a decade, did think about learning their advanced technology, and did want to bring that technology back to his motherland to serve the nation. If put that way, his approach indeed had suspicions of theft, and Plum Firm Country¡¯s evidence was indeed solid. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°I have my own channels. But before I speak out, everything will be kept confidential for now. Uncle Xu, you have to focus on protecting yourself, and no matter how big an issue is, it¡¯s not as important as your safety, do you understand?¡± Xu Guochang nodded, ¡°Yes, I understand. But what about my family?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Your wife and children can live in Xiao Family Village. If there are any other close relatives or friends who might threaten you, they can also temporarily stay in Xiao Family Village. As long as they are in Xiao Family Village, I will ensure their safety, so you won¡¯t have any worries!¡± Xu Guochang replied seriously, ¡°Okay, I understand!¡± Chapter 301 - Chapter 301: Chapter 301: Chapter 301: Chapter 301: Translator: 549690339 After Xu Guochang left, Xiao Jinli immediately returned to her room. After closing the doors and windows, she immediately entered the Space. ¡°Xiao Zhi!¡± Xiao Jinli shouted, ¡°Is what Xu Guochang said true?¡± Xiao Zhi nodded, ¡°Yes!¡± Xiao Jinli said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Since the establishment of Divine Wind Technology Group, Xiao Jinli had let Xiao Zhi monitor the Internet worldwide. For such a big matter as Xu Guochang, Xiao Zhi should have told her immediately. Xiao Zhi flew in mid-air and said, ¡°Master, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve been monitoring the situation in Plum Firm Country. I thought it wasn¡¯t necessary to inform you for now. Also, I wanted to test Xu Guochang and see what kind of choice he would make under the huge temptation of interests. Although he has a patriotic heart. But I don¡¯t know if his patriotic heart can withstand the huge temptation. After all, he has been living in Plum Firm Country for ten to twenty years, and many of his friends are there.¡± Xiao Jinli, Xiao Zhi flew a few more circles in the air and said, ¡°However, his patriotic heart is quite firm. Master, let me tell you, before Plum Firm Country sued him, someone had already contacted him for going to Plum Firm Country, giving him the largest technology company there, several castles, manors, and several billion Mei Currency. Haha, all these things can make him the wealthiest person in Dragonzhou Country.¡± Xiao Jinli raised her eyebrows and asked, ¡°Then what?¡± Xiao Zhi excitedly said, ¡°Then what? Of course, he refused. Haha, I couldn¡¯t tell that when you first found him, he was poor and almost swayed his patriotic heart, wanting to return to Plum Firm Country. But now, he firmly refuses the huge temptation from Plum Firm Country. I really don¡¯t understand!¡± Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°Patriots should love their families before their country. At that time, he almost ended up on the streets with his wife and daughter. He felt guilty for them, so he prioritized their normal life. Now that his family is safe and they live happily together, Xu Guochang naturally devotes his heart to patriotism and wants to serve his country.¡± Xiao Zhi said somewhat doubtfully, ¡°But, is his patriotic heart too wavering? No money, no patriotism; money, and patriotism.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Xiao Jinli laughed, ¡°People just love their families first, then their country.¡± ¡°But if Plum Firm Country threatens him with his wife and daughter, will he betray his country?¡± Xiao Zhi seriously said, ¡°Master, what do you think?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s very likely!¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°But, if Plum Firm Country could threaten him effectively with his wife and daughter, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to return to his country, and he would be forced to stay in Plum Firm Country.¡± Xiao Zhi, He sighed lightly, ¡°Forget it, human feelings are the most complicated. I can¡¯t understand!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Xiao Zhi, you must closely monitor the situation in Plum Firm Country. Also, send me a copy of the so-called evidence and, if possible, the evidence of their fabrication of evidence.¡± ¡°¡­Ah¡­¡± Xiao Zhi sighed lightly, ¡°Master, I suspect you¡¯ve always treated me as a tool, oh, no, I¡¯m not a person, I¡¯m a smart brain. Anyway, you use me as a tool!¡± Xiao Jinli touched his little head and smiled, ¡°No, I treat you as a family.¡± ¡°Wuu, I¡¯m so touched, my master treats me as a family.¡± Xiao Zhi said sarcastically, ¡°Alright, master, I know that you use me and then discard me, I¡¯ve gotten used to it.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°By the way, master, what do you intend to do with Jiang Yifan?¡± Xiao Zhi remembered something and his eyes rolled around. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Since this stinky boy wants me to be his mom, I¡¯ll continue to do so. If his parents come, I¡¯ll let him go back with them.¡± Xiao Zhi covered his mouth and giggled, ¡°But if his parents don¡¯t come, will you have to be that stinky boy¡¯s real mom forever?¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t hesitate and said, ¡°How could that be possible? If his parents really don¡¯t come, I¡¯ll send him to the orphanage.¡± Xiao Zhi sighed softly, ¡°Poor Jiang Yifan. He¡¯s already an orphan, and he finally met a mom halfway, but this mom just wants to send him to an orphanage.¡± Xiao Jinli, She looked at Xiao Zhi suspiciously. Xiao Zhi immediately said somewhat guiltily, ¡°Master, why are you looking at me?¡± Xiao Jinli seriously asked, ¡°Who is Jiang Yifan? You seem to know his identity? You¡¯re right, as the most advanced smart brain, you can penetrate almost every hole in the network. You must have figured out his identity a long time ago. Tell me, what is his true identity?¡± Xiao Zhi sighed and said, ¡°Let him tell you himself. When the time comes, he will tell you naturally.¡± Xiao Jinli, Chapter 302 - Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Translator: 549690339 ¡°Jiang Yifan,¡± Xiao Jinli saw Jiang Yifan covered in mud and angrily asked, ¡°How many times have I told you, don¡¯t go catch fish in the Mud Gully. You¡¯re still too young, what if you step in and can¡¯t get out?¡± Jiang Yifan immediately sold out Xiao Xiaoming, saying, ¡°Mommy, it was Bro Xiaoming who took me.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiaoming quickly defended himself, ¡°Sister Jin Li, I was watching from the side. Besides, that Mud Gully has a lot of tourists playing in it, and many tourists were also watching, so it won¡¯t be dangerous. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Jiang Yifan nodded in agreement, ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. There were even many kids younger than me playing there, so what¡¯s there to fear? Even tourists from far away places are not afraid, why should we be, when it¡¯s our own land?¡± Xiao Jinli coldly said, ¡°Oh, well, it really makes sense.¡± Jiang Yifan, Why does it sound sarcastic, and moreover, it feels like Mom is about to unleash something big. As expected, right after¡­ ¡°Well then, you go to the Mud Gully and catch one hundred loaches for me,¡± Xiao Jinli said calmly, ¡°Whenever you catch one hundred loaches, you can have your meal. Of course, if you want to eat the loaches instead, I don¡¯t mind.¡± Jiang Yifan was stunned, ¡°What? There are not that many loaches in the Mud Gully!¡± The Mud Gully was specifically set up for tourists to play in, so if there were any loaches, they would have been dug up by people long ago, not waiting for him to dig. Xiao Xiaoming nodded, ¡°Yeah, yeah, Sister Jin Li, there can¡¯t be that many loaches in the Mud Gully. Aren¡¯t you making it hard for Little Fanfan?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t even gotten to you yet. Xiao Xiaoming,¡± Xiao Jinli immediately aimed her anger at Xiao Xiaoming, ¡°Jiang Yifan needs to catch one hundred loaches, and you, well, you need to catch two hundred since you are three to four times older than him. Two hundred loaches shouldn¡¯t be too hard for you, right?¡± Xiao Xiaoming immediately felt incredulous, ¡°Sister Jinli, why should I be punished too?¡± Two hundred loaches, that place, it¡¯s hard to find even one. Xiao Jinli raised her eyebrows, ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t a punishment, but sharing your fortune and difficulties together.¡± Xiao Xiaoming and Jiang Yifan, Shouldn¡¯t the two of them be catching one hundred loaches together? Why separate? Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Alright, get to work now. When you¡¯ve caught all the loaches, come back to change clothes and eat.¡± Those two, trying to compete with me, still too green. Xiao Xiaoming and Jiang Yifan looked at each other. After a while, Xiao Xiaoming asked, ¡°Little Fanfan, are you hungry?¡± Jiang Yifan nodded, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m hungry.¡± It was precisely because he was hungry that he had come back. Who would have thought, this cheap Mommy Xiao Jinli, would come up with such a punishment. ¡°Bro Xiaoming, are you hungry?¡± Jiang Yifan was still concerned about his brother who was sharing the same hardship. Xiao Xiaoming nodded, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m hungry.¡± Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes turned and he said, ¡°Bro Xiaoming, how about we go to the cafeteria to eat first, then catch the loaches?¡± Xiao Xiaoming shook his head, ¡°The problem right now is not about eating, but where can we find these three hundred loaches? There¡¯s not even a single small fish in that Mud Gully.¡± Jiang Yifan nodded his little head and sighed softly, ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s not a single loach in the Mud Gully, where do we find three hundred? Isn¡¯t Mom making it difficult for us? What should we do now?¡± ¡°Yeah, what should we do?¡± Xiao Xiaoming fell into deep thought. Suddenly, Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes turned and he said, ¡°How about we borrow some from the cafeteria first?¡± Xiao Xiaoming, Chapter 303 - Chapter 303: Chapter 303: Chapter 303: Chapter 303: Translator: 549690339 Xiao Ming and Jiang Yifan ran to the cafeteria, and Jiang Yifan found Xiao¡¯s mother, pulling on her apron and saying, ¡°Grandma, can you give me and Bro Xiaoming three hundred loaches?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother asked with curiosity, ¡°Little Fanfan, what do you guys need so many loaches for?¡± Jiang Yifan rubbed his little hands together and replied, ¡°I was punished by Mommy. Mommy said I have to dig out three hundred loaches in Small Mud Gully with Bro Xiaoming.¡± Only then did Xiao¡¯s mother notice that the children were covered in mud. Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°Little Fanfan, did you go play in Mud Gully again and got punished by your mommy?¡± Admitting without denying, Jiang Yifan said, ¡°Yeah, I got punished. I was supposed to catch one hundred loaches in Mud Gully, and Xiaoming was supposed to catch two hundred. But there were no loaches in the Mud Gully at all, so Xiaoming and I came to find you.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother wiped her hands on her apron and smiled, ¡°There are no loaches in Mud Gully, so you came to cheat with me?¡± Jiang Yifan rolled his eyes and said, ¡°Grandma, I know you love me the most and should be willing to help us, right?¡± He showed a flattering smile on his face. Xiao Ming also looked at Xiao¡¯s mother with anticipation. Unexpectedly, Xiao¡¯s mother shook her head with a smile, ¡°That won¡¯t do! Little Fanfan, although I do love you, we still have to obey your mommy¡¯s orders. I don¡¯t dare to help you.¡± Jiang Yifan¡¯s expression stiffened, and disbelief showed on his little face. Why would this happen? Usually, his grandma cared for him the most, and every time his mommy scolded him, he would complain to her and be sure to succeed. But why did it not work this time? Jiang Yifan asked with a hint of sadness, ¡°Grandma, why? I¡¯m still so young, and if I¡¯m hungry, I won¡¯t grow tall.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother patted his little head and smiled, ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t bear it.¡± Jiang Yifan¡¯s expression stiffened again. Why would it be like this? Even though Grandma usually cared the most about him, whenever Mommy threatened him, he would complain, getting her on his side every single time. But why did it not work this time? Jiang Yifan appeared rather sad, asking, ¡°Grandma, why? I¡¯m so young, and if I go hungry, I won¡¯t grow tall.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed, ¡°Oh, you child. Your mommy said you can¡¯t have rice, but she never said you can¡¯t have vegetables.¡± Upon hearing this, Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes lit up, and he immediately understood. Jiang Yifan exclaimed happily, ¡°Right, Grandma always has a solution! Grandma, can you help me find a way to get those three hundred loaches?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother shook her head, ¡°Little Fanfan, you¡¯ll have to figure this out yourself. Grandma already helped you once; if I help you again, I¡¯m afraid your mom might punish me, too.¡± Xiao Ming and Jiang Yifan, Xiao Ming and Jiang Yifan only ate their favorite foods and snacks in the cafeteria besides their main meal of rice. However, after the two of them had eaten their fill, they began to rack their brains to figure out how to get loaches. ¡°Ah!¡± both sighed at the same time, ¡°Where can we get so many loaches? Grandma refuses to help us.¡± In Xiao Family Village, everyone treated Xiao Jinli¡¯s words as if they were holy. So, apart from Xiao¡¯s mother, no one else would help them. However, in terms of education, Xiao¡¯s mother couldn¡¯t always defy Xiao Jinli as it was not good for the children¡¯s upbringing. After sighing for a while, Jiang Yifan suddenly brightened up and said to Xiao Ming, ¡°Bro Xiaoming, I know what to do!¡± Xiao Ming, ¡°¡­ Huh?¡± Chapter 304 - Chapter 304: Chapter 304: Chapter 304: Chapter 304: Translator: 549690339 Xiao Jinli and Jiang Yifan, each carrying a small bucket, arrived at the pond. Standing by the edge, looking at the lotuses blooming under the sun in the pond, Xiao Xiaoming asked with some uncertainty, ¡°Little Fanfan, are we really going to catch loaches here? Aren¡¯t loaches found in mud?¡± Jiang Yifan held some bait in his hand, well, actually they were earthworms. Jiang Yifan also shook his head uncertainly, ¡°I don¡¯t know if we can catch any, either. Maybe we should ask Grandpa Changmin.¡± Xiao Changmin was one of the people in charge of managing the pond. In the Xiao Family Village, there were three large ponds. Each pond was about ten mu (Chinese unit of area), and one of them was dedicated for tourists who wished to fish. Of course, there would be some fees charged, and the fish caught could be bought at market prices if necessary. Otherwise, the cafeteria was able to take them back. However, most tourists preferred to buy their own catches. Once bought, tourists could ask locals to cook for them, for a small processing fee. Seeing Xiao Xiaoming and Jiang Yifan carrying two large buckets, Xiao Changmin walked over, full of curiosity, and asked, ¡°Xiaoming, Little Fanfan, what are you doing with those buckets?¡± Xiao Xiaoming honestly said, ¡°Uncle, Sister Jin Li told me and Little Fanfan to dig up three hundred loaches from Mud Gully. There are no loaches in that gully, though, so we came here to fish for loaches.¡± Hearing this, Xiao Changmin realized Xiao Jinli was punishing them. He glanced at the children¡¯s equipment, raised an eyebrow and laughed, ¡°You can indeed fish for loaches, but getting three hundred isn¡¯t an easy task. Are you sure you want to fish? Even if you fish all day, I¡¯m not sure if you can get three hundred.¡± Pausing slightly, he asked, a bit confused, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask your grandma for loaches in the cafeteria?¡± Jiang Yifan hung his head, dejectedly replying, ¡°We did, we did. But Grandma said that since Mommy gave the order, she couldn¡¯t refuse. So, she told us to figure it out ourselves.¡± Xiao Xiaoming nodded, ¡°Exactly, so Little Fanfan thought of fishing in the pond.¡± Xiao Changmin understood that Xiao Jinli¡¯s punishment for them was probably not about making them dig up three hundred loaches from the Mud Gully, where there were no loaches at all. Her real intention was probably to make them find their own solution during the punishment. Xiao Changmin nodded and said, ¡°Alright then. Since you want to fish, just do it. Let me check your equipment.¡± Xiao Changmin checked and said, ¡°Your equipment won¡¯t work. Fishing for loaches is different from regular fishing. You don¡¯t use a float, but bottom fishing.¡± Jian Yifan¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he asked, ¡°Grandpa Changmin, why is that?¡± Xiao Changmin explained, ¡°Loaches live on the bottom, so you definitely need to bottom-fish. Use a small lead sinker for bottom fishing, and this hook, use a sleeve hook. Sleeve hooks are smaller and easier for loaches to bite. This bait, hmm, the earthworms from our village still work, but they¡¯re too big and definitely need to be crushed.¡± Hearing Xiao Changmin¡¯s explanations, Xiao Xiaoming immediately said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back now and find my grandfather¡¯s fishing gear and these hooks.¡± With that, Xiao Xiaoming ran off. Jiang Yifan asked, ¡°Grandpa Changmin, are there many loaches in this pond?¡± Xiao Changmin laughed, ¡°There are definitely a lot. When the water in the pond is drained, not to mention three hundred, even three thousand can be caught. However, we can¡¯t drain all the water from the pond just for your loaches.¡± No matter how much they spoiled these children, they wouldn¡¯t spoil them ridiculously. Chapter 305 - Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Translator: 549690339 After preparing their fishing gear and bait, the two kids sat by the pond¡¯s edge and began fishing intently. However, the float remained still, as if there were no loaches at all. Jiang Yifan, lacking patience, lowered his head and whispered, ¡°Bro Xiaoming, are there really any loaches in here? Why has it been so long and our hooks still haven¡¯t moved?¡± Xiao Xiaoming quietly replied, ¡°Little Fanfan, we¡¯ve only been sitting here for less than five minutes. Let¡¯s wait a little longer. Uncle Changmin said there are loaches in this pond, so there must be plenty here.¡± Jiang Yifan has a restless disposition, and sitting still for five minutes was already his limit. He felt like he wanted to jump into the pond. He said, ¡°But it¡¯s been so long and not a single one has been caught. We need to catch three hundred, how long will this take?¡± Xiao Xiaoming said, ¡°Little Fanfan, if we don¡¯t fish here, where else can we get loaches? Your grandma won¡¯t let us have any from the cafeteria. Uncle Changmin is already kind enough to let us fish here. Be patient, as long as there are loaches, we¡¯ll catch them soon enough.¡± ¡°But seriously, how much longer do we have to fish?¡± Jiang Yifan still couldn¡¯t let it go. Getting him to settle down was truly difficult. Maybe Xiao Jinli knew about his restless temperament, and that¡¯s why she chose such a punishment to hone his patience. Xiao Xiaoming could only patiently persuade him, ¡°It¡¯ll be very soon, Little Fanfan. We need to be patient. Shh, let¡¯s stop talking now, or the loaches really won¡¯t bite.¡± Jiang Yifan, Alright, he would wait and see. After about ten minutes, the float finally moved. ¡°It moved, it moved,¡± Jiang Yifan suddenly exclaimed excitedly, ¡°Bro Xiaoming, the float moved, did a loach take the bait?¡± Xiao Xiaoming nodded, ¡°It should be. But, Little Fanfan, maybe there is only one loach on the hook. Let¡¯s wait a bit longer, and when the hook is full, we¡¯ll reel it in.¡± Starting is always the hardest part. Perhaps having caught the first loach, Jiang Yifan found new motivation. He nodded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s wait!¡± Jiang Yifan might have developed an interest in fishing, as this time he waited for another twenty minutes while suppressing his impatience. At that moment, Xiao Changmin came over to check on the two kids and how they were doing with their loach fishing. ¡°Oh, the float is moving quite a lot. We can reel it in now,¡± Xiao Changmin said, ¡°There should be at least ten or twenty loaches on this hook.¡± Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he excitedly said, ¡°Really? There are so many loaches on just one hook?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m pretty sure. You guys can reel in the hook and see for yourselves,¡± Xiao Changmin thought for a moment and added, ¡°Or should I do it? You might be too small to lift it.¡± ¡°No, I can do it.¡± Jiang Yifan eagerly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me just because I¡¯m young. I¡¯m quite strong.¡± With that, he pulled the fishing rod, successfully bringing up the hook. Twenty hooks, all filled with loaches. Jiang Yifan exclaimed, ¡°They¡¯re all full, all full! There are actually twenty loaches, this is amazing!¡± If they could fill their hooks like this every time, they should be able to complete the task of catching three hundred loaches very quickly. Xiao Xiaoming¡¯s hooks were also full of loaches. Xiao Xiaoming said, ¡°Uncle Changmin didn¡¯t lie to us, there really are a lot of loaches here. Little Fanfan, we should be able to catch three hundred loaches in no time.¡± Jiang Yifan agreed, nodding his head, ¡°Yes, very soon.¡± Chapter 306 - Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Translator: 549690339 Xiao Xiaoming and Jiang Yifan spent the afternoon catching loaches by the pond, finally managing to catch three hundred by evening. Jiang Yifan looked at the loaches in the bucket and said with a slightly worried expression, ¡°Bro Xiaoming, it¡¯s getting dark. My mom said we have to catch three hundred loaches from Mud Gully, but how are we supposed to do that now that it¡¯s dark?¡± With so many loaches, they might all disappear if they just pour them into the Mud Gully, and catching them again would be difficult. Xiao Xiaoming also felt troubled as he looked at the many loaches. He turned to Jiang Yifan and said, ¡°Little Fanfan, you¡¯re as smart as Sister Jin Li. Why don¡¯t you try to come up with a solution?¡± Trying to cheat was definitely not an option. Older Sister Jinli had great powers, and she would definitely know that these loaches were not caught from Mud Gully. So, they could only catch the loaches from Mud Gully. Jiang Yifan tilted his little head, deep in thought. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he said, ¡°I got it! Bro Xiaoming, before we dump the loaches in, let¡¯s dig a pit in the mud gully first and put some crushed earthworms in it. That way, the loaches would be caught from Mud Gully and we don¡¯t have to search for them, right?¡± Xiao Xiaoming¡¯s eyes also brightened, and he nodded, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s a good idea. Let¡¯s go dig a pit first.¡± Immediately, the big and small figures went to dig a pit in the Mud Gully with their buckets. The sky was getting darker, and there weren¡¯t many tourists left playing in the Mud Gully. But there were still some tourists. Most of the visitors playing in Mud Gully were children or tourists accompanying children. They noticed the loaches in the buckets. ¡°Hey, what are these?¡± Many of the children didn¡¯t recognize loaches. The adults remarked, ¡°These look like loaches.¡± ¡°Loaches?¡± ¡°What are they doing with the loaches here?¡± Some children even tried to catch them from the bucket. Jiang Yifan¡¯s serious little face warned, ¡°Little brother, you can¡¯t play with the loaches now.¡± ¡°Ha, why not?¡± A slightly older boy questioned, puzzled. Jiang Yifan explained, ¡°These loaches, I¡¯m going to dump them in the Mud Gully, then catch them again.¡± The small tourists, Jiang Yifan rolled his eyes, saying, ¡°Well, before we dump the loaches, we¡¯ll dig a pit first, and then catch them back.¡± Upon hearing this, the children became excited and said, ¡°Dig a pit? How are we going to do that? Let¡¯s do it together.¡± Jiang Yifan nodded, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go dig a pit first!¡± Xiao Xiaoming stared blankly as Jiang Yifan rallied a group of children to dig the pit. He had originally planned to do it just with Jiang Yifan. How were they going to dig the pit? Xiao Xiaoming thought about it and said, ¡°We¡¯ll just pile up this mud, make a circle, and that¡¯ll make a small pit.¡± And so, a group of children began to play with mud. Soon, a pit with a diameter of two meters was dug. Then, all three hundred loaches were swiftly poured into the pit from the buckets. Jiang Yifan waved his little hand and shouted, ¡°Soldiers, let¡¯s start the operation, catch the loaches!¡± As a result, a group of children began to battle in the small pit. Although the loaches were all in a small pit, they were slippery and hard to catch, slipping away as soon as they were caught. Jiang Yifan, ealized that, despite the good conditions for catching loaches, they were difficult to actually capture. However, there¡¯s strength in numbers, and although the loaches weren¡¯t easy to catch, in just over an hour, all three hundred of them were captured without a single one missing. But many children were still gazing longingly at the loaches in the bucket, wanting to play with them. Chapter 307 - Chapter 307: Chapter 307: Chapter 307: Chapter 307: Translator: 549690339 Jiang Yifan and Xiao Xiaoming went home, carrying two buckets filled with three hundred loaches, to complete their task. Many young tourists, who wanted to play with the loaches, followed them. Jiang Yifan said, ¡°These loaches are not ready for you to play with yet, we¡¯ll have to finish our task first. But once we¡¯re done, you can have fun with them in any way you like, okay?¡± Upon hearing this, the young tourists immediately cheered. ¡°Okay, okay!¡± Then, they followed Jiang Yi Fan and Xiao Xiaoming to the Xiao Family¡¯s house. At this moment, several old gentlemen and Xiao Jinli were enjoying the shady courtyard. Seeing Jiang Yifan and Xiao Xiaoming covered in mud and carrying a bucket, Elder Jiang, who was in his eighties or nineties, asked immediately, ¡°Little Fanfan, Xiao Ming, where have you been? Why are you covered in mud? Go and take a bath, change your clothes, and who are these children following you?¡± Jiang Yifan laughed, ¡°Grandpa, we went to Mud Gully to catch loaches.¡± Elder Chen looked puzzled and asked, ¡°There are loaches in Mud Gully? Why would you go catching loaches there?¡± Jiang Yifan glanced at Xiao Jinli and whispered, ¡°We played in Mud Gully, so Mommy punished us by making us catch three hundred loaches there.¡± Grumpy Old Man Jiang asked Xiao Jinli, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Isn¡¯t Mud Gully for everyone to play in? Little Fanfan didn¡¯t do anything wrong by playing there. Why did you punish him?¡± Well, this must be a typical case of grandparents being more lenient than parents. Ever since Jiang Yifan appeared, Xiao Jinli, who used to be the favourite amongst the old gentlemen, has fallen behind. Xiao Jinli shot Jiang Yifan a look. This child was too good at tattling; he was practically the king of snitching. She laughed and said, ¡°Grandfather, the child was playing in Mud Gully alright, but they missed the mealtime, and that was wrong. And when you¡¯re wrong, you have to accept the consequences.¡± Elder Jiang, who doted on Jiang Yifan, said, ¡°Kids being naughty and playing a little late before returning for a meal doesn¡¯t seem like a big deal. We used to climb trees in the mountains and catch fish in the river. We would play until dark every single day.¡± Others also nodded their heads and agreed, ¡°Exactly, we used to be like that too. We would play all day and forget about meal times.¡± ¡°Kids are a bit naughty; when they are playing, they don¡¯t feel hungry, so they don¡¯t think about coming home to eat.¡± ¡°Xiao Jinli, I heard that when you were a child, you used to disappear at mealtimes every day. This naughty child is just like you.¡± Xiao Jinli, She felt deeply that she had indeed fallen out of favour. Although she used to be the favourite of the group. A slightly helpless Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Old gentlemen, don¡¯t you know that this child can¡¯t go hungry? When he is hungry, he causes trouble. Some people lose strength when they are hungry, but he becomes full of energy and is very destructive. Therefore, he needs proper guidance. Besides, a child needs regular meals when he is growing.¡± Elder Chen laughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s true. Little Fanfan, this kid, is very destructive when he is hungry, and not eating on time is indeed harmful to his growth.¡± The other old men also agreed, ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± Jiang Yifan, ¡°¡­¡± Who is the real favourite here? The grandfathers turned sides too quickly. Jiang Yifan let out a sigh, making himself look like a poor abandoned child. Then he asked, ¡°Mommy, these little brothers and sisters want to play with the loaches. Can they?¡± Xiao Jinli looked at the loaches in their bucket and nodded, ¡°Okay. Pour these loaches into this pool for now and let them play. Tomorrow, we will pour them all back into Mud Gully as a small project.¡± ¡°Oh wow, Mommy is awesome!¡± Jiang Yifan said cheerfully. Jiang Yifan and Xiao Xiaoming emptied all the loaches from their buckets into the pool. Then they turned to the children behind them and said, ¡°Little brothers and sisters, you can try scooping up the loaches from this pool.¡± The pool was not very large, around 200cm in length and 80cm in width. With three hundred loaches placed inside, it became quite crowded. Seven or eight children gathered around the pool, reaching out their hands to try and catch the loachsenies while having a great time. Because they now had company, even Jiang Yifan forgot about taking a bath and changing his clothes. Xiao Jinli brought out a dozen small stools for the parents of these children to sit on and also brewed two pots of tea. Like all guests, when they smelled the tea, many people couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°This tea smells so good.¡± Even though they weren¡¯t tea connoisseurs, they could tell that this tea was likely brewed well. ¡°What kind of tea leaves are these? Why does the tea brewed from them smell so good?¡± A male tourist asked with excitement, ¡°I¡¯ve been tasting tea for twenty years, and this is the first time I¡¯ve smelled such fragrant tea.¡± ¡°Yes, I feel so comfortable after smelling this tea. What kind of tea leaves are these?¡± When the tea is good, many people instinctively believe it¡¯s because of the quality of the tea leaves. After all, good tea comes from good tea leaves, right? Otherwise, there must be a difference between cheap tea leaves and those worth several hundreds of thousands of yuan. Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°This is just ordinary Da Hong Pao. In fact, the reason our brewed tea smells so good is because of the water we use. Our well water is sweet and refreshing, and the tea brewed from it is full of clear fragrance.¡± Those who know about tea, after looking at the tea leaves that were brewed, knew what quality they were ¨C indeed, they were the common kind of Da Hong Pao, the kind that costs 300-400 yuan per jin. After sipping a bit, they exclaimed, ¡°What a fragrant tea!¡± The others also began to taste the tea. After a while, a person said, ¡°Miss Xiao, may I take a couple of bottles of your water back home?¡± For tea lovers, such water quality for brewing tea is very appealing. Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Sure. This isn¡¯t our well water. So, feel free to take as much as you like.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you very much, Miss Xiao.¡± Inside, he was thinking, ¡®When I get back, I¡¯ll come back with a couple of big buckets and take more water.¡¯ The children were having a great time playing by the pool, and their parents were also enjoying their time, drinking tea in the courtyard. Elder Jiang and the other old men went to rest around seven or eight in the evening. They were old. Even though they were healthy, they got tired in the evening. Basically, they would go to bed at eight. Xiao¡¯s mother was busy managing the cafeteria and also needed to finish work around eight or nine. Xiao¡¯s father had his own business and was busy most of the times. He only came home on Saturdays and Sundays. Xiao Junxuan, too, was busy with company matters and would finish work around eight or nine. So, the only one who seemed idle all day in the family was Xiao Jinli. She would stroll around here and there with her beloved son, tease each other, or engage in battles of wit and courage. Now, she was left to chat with the unexpected tourists. Chapter 308 - Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Translator: 549690339 After receiving permission for Xiao Jinli to stay in Xiao Family Village, Xu Guochang immediately arranged for his wife and daughter to settle down without stopping. After all, he was now targeted by foreign forces, and the situation was very dangerous. Xiao Jinli promised him that she would ensure the safety of his wife and daughter. As for the safety of his so-called domestic relatives and friends, it was not necessary. Back then, when they were destitute and forced to sleep on the streets, no one was willing to lend them a hand. Although his parents were still alive, their favoritism towards his elder brother¡¯s family made him feel chilled. In fact, what chilled him even more was that after he gained fame and fortune with the Divine Wind Technology Group, his elder brother¡¯s family and parents were plotting to send him forcibly to a mental hospital under the pretext of his mental illness. Then, they would monopolize his property and drive away his wife and daughter. He never thought that when he achieved success, his family would not be happy for him but would only think of seizing his property. If it weren¡¯t for accidentally discovering their conspiracy, they would¡¯ve succeeded. From then on, he never visited his parents¡¯ home again. He only fulfilled his duty of providing for them. Therefore, even if those people threatened him with his family, it would be useless. As for his close friends, most of them were abroad, and influential figures in Plum Firm Country. Plum Firm Country would not shoot itself in the foot by kidnapping them; once the news leaked out, no one would dare to work for Plum Firm Country in the future. So, what he needed to protect most was his wife and daughter. He had thought about letting his wife and daughter settle in Xiao Family Village before, but the conditions for settling in the village were strict, and not just anyone with power and influence could get in. However, he didn¡¯t want to give up and planned to take advantage of the holiday to bring his wife and daughter to Xiao Family Village and look for opportunities. Unexpectedly, the opportunity seemed to fall from the sky. His mysterious boss turned out to be right in Xiao Family Village. Now, he was completely reassured. Xiao Family Village today is not just a simple village but has become a place for national retired cadres to recuperate, almost gathering the highest power and influence. Who would dare to cause trouble in Xiao Family Village? Three days later, Xu Guochang arranged for his wife and daughter to come over. Thanks to Xiao Jinli¡¯s connections, their family was assigned an independent courtyard that was quiet and spacious. Moreover, Xiao Jinli promised him that she could arrange for relatives and friends to visit. However, for these relatives and friends to settle in, they must obtain her consent. Only now did Xu Guochang realize that anyone coming to Xiao Family Village to settle down required Xiao Jinli¡¯s consent, which showed how high her status was in the village. Well, this secret was also an accidental discovery. ¡°Little Li, I have arranged for my wife and children. I will go back to the company now. Please take care of my wife and children.¡± Xu Guochang said sincerely. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°You can work with peace of mind. I will take care of everything behind you. Mei Jian would not dare to come here to cause trouble. The only thing I want from you now is to protect yourself well. Be careful with your food, and your bodyguards must accompany you twenty-four hours a day. The people sent by the National Public Relations Department are top-notch.¡± As she said this, Xiao Jinli seemed to think of something. She took out a porcelain bottle and handed it to him, saying, ¡°Take this with you. In case you get poisoned or hurt, drink it at the first opportunity. It will save your life!¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Guochang took it very seriously and sincerely thanked her, ¡°Thank you, boss!¡± Chapter 309 - Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Translator: 549690339 ¡°Yichen, I¡¯m sorry. Can you forgive Dad?¡± Outside a high-rise apartment complex in Capital City, a man with a scruffy beard tried to stop a limited-edition Rolls-Royce from leaving. The person sitting in the car was Su Yichen, who had become the richest man in the country in just a few years. Su Yichen took three years to exact revenge for his mother and himself. He used his inheritance left by his mother to register a new company and then used this new company to continuously devour the Su Corporation. By the time Su Xiangdong realized what was happening, Su Yichen had already gained control of the corporation, kicked Su Xiangdong out of the board of directors and stripped him of his position as president, leaving him with just a nominal title and no power. It was like brutally dragging Su Xiangdong from a high position down to the ground. And this was just the beginning of the revenge. As for Lady Su Lan Yingying, who once took pride in her title as the chairman¡¯s wife in the Wealthy Ladies Circle, she enjoyed unlimited glory. But when the Su Corporation was taken over by her stepson and her husband Su Xiangdong was left with just an empty title, she immediately faced ridicule from the other Madams, forcing her to stay at home all day. Without money, she couldn¡¯t buy whatever she wanted; she couldn¡¯t even afford a high-end custom-made dress now. If she wanted to buy new items, she had to sell her previous jewelry and clothes to cover the expenses. Lady Su¡¯s spending habits became the subject of mockery once again. The more glorious she was in the past, the more miserable she appeared now. However, Su Yichen¡¯s revenge couldn¡¯t possibly just be about lowering the living standards of their family. He wanted a ruthless revenge. How to take revenge? Naturally, it was to start with their most beloved son, Su Hanyang. Initially, Su Hanyang loved gambling and drugs. Su Yichen set a trap to lure him into gambling. Gambling was addictive. Before, Su Hanyang had his parents and the Su Corporation to underwrite the losses. No matter how much he lost, Su Xiangdong and his wife only saw it as a small amount of money. But now, Su Yichen had cut off their source of money, leaving them with just enough to cover their living expenses each month. Yet Su Hanyang¡¯s gambling escalated from hundreds of thousands to millions, then to over 10 million, and even billions. At first, Lady Su was heartbroken for her son and used her previous savings to help him repay his gambling debts. But the more he gambled, the less she had in savings. Not only that, she continuously sold her expensive jewelry to repay her son¡¯s debts, otherwise, her son might end up missing his arms or legs. However, the couple¡¯s debts only grew more and more. They had paid back 10,000,000 but still owed a billion. Their assets dwindled until the only thing left was the villa they currently lived in. If they sold this villa, where would they live? So they went to beg Su Yichen, hoping he would help Su Hanyang pay off his debts out of past affection. Su Yichen coldly laughed, ¡°Even if I donated all my money, I wouldn¡¯t give you a penny to help Su Hanyang repay his debts. You¡¯re the ones who took my mother¡¯s life and nearly killed me too. So why do you think I would help Su Hanyang fill this money pit and pay off his bottomless gambling debts out of past affection?¡± Then, he looked at the haggard and disheveled Su Xiangdong and his wife and sarcastically said, ¡°If you ask me, you should break Su Hanyang¡¯s hands and feet, so he can¡¯t gamble anymore.¡± Lady Su Lan Yingying glared at him, resentfully saying, ¡°How could you be so cruel?¡± Su Yichen shrugged his shoulders mockingly, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to take my advice, then just continue repaying his gambling debts.¡± Chapter 310 - Chapter 310: Chapter 310: Chapter 310: Chapter 310: Translator: 549690339 In order to repay Su Hanyang¡¯s debts, Su Xiangdong and his wife became more and more impoverished. Without any help from Su Yichen, they had no choice but to sell their villa to pay off the debts and rent a house in an old residential area. From a spacious and bright luxury villa, they suddenly found themselves cramped in an old house of just over a hundred square meters. The house was old and dimly lit, making it uncomfortable for the family of three who were used to living luxuriously. Thus, the family began to blame one another. Lan Yingying blamed Su Xiangdong for being too soft-hearted and keeping that ¡°wolf cub¡± in the first place, only to be bitterly bitten back by him now. Su Xiangdong, on the other hand, cursed Su Hanyang for being useless, not being able to measure up to Su Yichen, and for gambling, blaming their current plight entirely on Su Hanyang. If he hadn¡¯t gambled, the money they had saved before would have been enough for them to live a good life, and they might even have been able to use that money to rise again and bring down Su Yichen. Now, he was filled with regret. At the beginning, he should have listened to Su Yichen¡¯s advice, break Su Hanyang¡¯s hands and legs, so that he couldn¡¯t continue gambling. Anyway, even with Su Hanyang being useless, he still had another son. Now, because he had chosen the eldest son, the younger one ignored and neglected him. Su Hanyang, on the other hand, blamed them for keeping Su Yichen in the first place, saying that if it weren¡¯t for him, there would have been no room for Su Yichen in the Su Corporation. As long as Su Yichen was dead, no matter whether it was the Su Corporation or his real mother¡¯s inheritance, everything would go to Su Hanyang. With that money, losing one or two hundred million wouldn¡¯t be a problem, let alone ten or even a hundred billion. But now, what should have belonged to him had become Su Yichen¡¯s. Su Yichen, that ungrateful wolf, didn¡¯t appreciate their kindness at all. Subsequently, Su Hanyang began to curse and threaten Su Xiangdong and his wife, saying that they were incompetent and had brought calamity upon themselves. He threatened them that if they didn¡¯t help him repay his debts, he wouldn¡¯t support them in their old age and so on. This made Su Xiangdong want to send him back to the womb. Over the past five years, Su Hanyang continued to gamble. But people in the gambling world knew that Su Hanyang no longer had any family fortune, no money, so no one was willing to gamble with him. However, Su Hanyang¡¯s gambling addiction remained unchanged. When the larger gambling establishments wouldn¡¯t take him, he went to smaller ones. Despite the difficulty of making ends meet, Su Hanyang still managed to lose tens or even hundreds of thousands in small gambling establishments, leaving Su Xiangdong and his wife penniless. Now, Su Yichen only gave Su Xiangdong a monthly retirement fee of six hundred. As for his stepmother, Lan Yingying, and Su Hanyang, he had no obligation or responsibility to support them. After being kicked out of the Su Corporation, Su Xiangdong went to find a job and went to work. However, his reputation in the business world and his relationship with Su Yichen were well-known. Everyone now knew that Su Xiangdong had a lover and a son before marrying Su Yichen¡¯s real mother. Not only did he deceive her into marriage, but he also drove Su Yichen¡¯s real mother, Xia Zhi Meng, to death. At the same time, Su Xiangdong had a lot to do with Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance for half a year. With such a deep-seated hatred for killing his own mother, Su Yichen must want revenge. Thus, people didn¡¯t dare to offend the current head of the household, Su Yichen, and naturally wouldn¡¯t offer Su Xiangdong a job either. Su Xiangdong could only work as an ordinary employee in a small company, with a monthly salary of two to three thousand. With the salary and the living expenses provided by Su Yichen, it was barely enough for the family to live an ordinary life. But even so, Su Hanyang still gambled, which infuriated Su Xiangdong to the point where he really picked up an iron rod and chased after Su Hanyang to beat him. Chapter 311 - Chapter 311: Chapter 311: Chapter 311: Chapter 311: Translator: 549690339 Ever since Su Yichen took power and the company away from Su Xiangdong, Su Xiangdong initially cursed at Su Yichen, calling him ungrateful and expressing his resentment and hatred towards him. However, as time went by, Su Yichen¡¯s prestige in the business world grew, and he increasingly displayed a commanding presence, able to rally support and exert control with ease. Su Xiangdong became more and more panicked, especially as his money began to dwindle, the fear and dread in his heart grew more intense. Moreover, due to his lack of money and influence, the woman he claimed to love most would argue with him over money every few days. The arguments would be even more frequent due to their beloved son, Su Hanyang. Life¡¯s changes turned Su Yichen from an initial source of resentment into a cause of strife within the family, with the husband, wife, and son blaming each other for their lack of power and the loss of the Su Corporation. Su Hanyang¡¯s gambling addiction only made matters worse, turning the once happy family of three into bitter enemies filled with resentment. It wasn¡¯t until Su Hanyang¡¯s unrestrained gambling that Su Xiangdong decided to cripple him. However, Su Xiangdong was not prepared for what would happen next. As he chased after Su Hanyang to strike him, his dear wife held him back, allowing Su Hanyang to take the iron rod and strike Su Xiangdong in the waist. ¡°Ahh!¡± Su Xiangdong screamed in agony. ¡°Clang!¡± With the iron rod falling from Su Hanyang¡¯s hand, his face turned deathly pale as he cried out, ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t mean to do it, I¡­I didn¡¯t mean to!¡± After saying that, he ran away, with Lan Yingying unable to stop him. With no other choice, Lan Yingying called an ambulance. ¡°What do you mean, my husband Su injured his tailbone and is paralyzed from the waist down?!¡± Lan Yingying exclaimed with wide eyes, shaking her head in disbelief, ¡°Doctor, did you get it wrong? How can my husband be paralyzed? What am I supposed to do if he¡¯s paralyzed?¡± The doctor looked grim and said, ¡°Mrs. Su, we¡¯ve conducted several tests and confirmed that Mr. Su is likely paralyzed from the waist down. Please prepare yourselves mentally.¡± ¡°No, no, my husband can¡¯t be paralyzed!¡± Lan Yingying shook her head, grabbing the doctor¡¯s hand, her eyes filled with pleading, ¡°Doctor, use the best medicine, get the best doctor, please, you must heal my husband.¡± The doctor shook his head and said, ¡°Even if we were to invite the best orthopedic specialist, there¡¯s not much they can do for a damaged tailbone. Mrs. Su, this isn¡¯t about money.¡± When Su Xiangdong heard from the doctor that he might be paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, he was shocked, angry, but more than anything, he was overcome with fear and panic. He said to the doctor, ¡°Doctor, please, invite the best doctor to heal my injury. I can¡¯t spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. Don¡¯t worry about the money. I have money, or rather, my son Su Yichen has money. Money is not a problem.¡± The doctor shook his head and said, ¡°Mr. Su, Mrs. Su has already mentioned this issue. However, your injury is not something that can be simply healed with money. With the current state of medical technology, there is no cure for your injury. But Mr. Su, don¡¯t lose hope. Perhaps after the surgery, there may be a chance for your injury to heal, as long as you cooperate with our treatment.¡± Upon hearing that there was hope, Su Xiangdong nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll cooperate! I¡¯ll cooperate!¡± Then, the doctor hesitated for a moment and asked, ¡°Mr. Su, can you have your family members pay for the treatment?¡± Su Xiangdong, Chapter 312 - Chapter 312: Chapter 312: Chapter 312: Chapter 312: Translator: 549690339 Lan Yingying demanded money from Su Yichen under the pretext of Su Xiangdong¡¯s treatment. However, Su Yichen had already found out the cause of Su Xiangdong¡¯s injury, so he clearly refused, saying, ¡°Lady Su, it was your precious son who injured Su Xiangdong, so naturally, your precious son should bear the responsibility.¡± At this point, Su Yichen thought of something else, and said, ¡°Oh, right, Su Hanyang ran away after beating his father, and now there¡¯s no trace of him. How about I show mercy and find him to get the money and take care of Su Xiangdong?¡± Upon hearing this, Lan Yingying¡¯s whole face turned green. She twisted her expression, and her eyes filled with resentment as she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°No need.¡± After repeatedly asking Su Yichen for money and being constantly urged by the hospital to pay the fees, Su Xiangdong¡¯s temper had become even more irritable since his injury. He would curse at Lan Yingying whenever he saw her and demanded her to find his rebellious son Su Hanyang, saying he must cripple him to be worthy of his injury this time. Lan Yingying couldn¡¯t stand the violent and oppressive life anymore. After another quarrel with Su Xiangdong, she stopped going to the hospital. She even took the last bit of money from home and ran away, not even caring about her son Su Hanyang. On the tenth attempt to contact Lan Yingying and Su Hanyang, the hospital had no choice but to call Su Yichen. After Su Yichen arrived at the hospital, he directly said to Su Xiangdong, ¡°Su Xiangdong, I can pay for your treatment, but you need to report to the police that Su Hanyang injured you!¡± With an ugly expression on his face, Su Xiangdong said, ¡°Report to the police? Wouldn¡¯t Su Hanyang be arrested then?¡± With his injuries, he would be sentenced to at least a few years. After all, Su Hanyang was the son he had loved dearly, so even though he was resentful of Su Hanyang¡¯s misbehavior and gambling, he still couldn¡¯t bear to let his beloved eldest son go to prison. Su Yichen raised the corner of his mouth and said mockingly, ¡°Those are my conditions. If you can accept them, let the doctor call me.¡± Having said that, he didn¡¯t care about Su Xiangdong¡¯s unhappy expression. Watching his retreating figure, Su Xiangdong gritted his teeth and said, ¡°He¡¯s your brother, your own brother, connected by blood. Must you be so ruthless?¡± Su Yichen paused and said indifferently, ¡°It depends on your choice as a father!¡± What he wanted was not brothers killing each other but father and son shedding blood! He believed that Su Xiangdong¡¯s choice wouldn¡¯t disappoint him! Because they were all selfish people! As expected, Su Yichen received a call from the hospital in less than half a day! Su Yichen¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile. Ha, how close and loving the family used to be! Now, one of them took the money and ran, one injured someone and hid, and one was seriously injured and hospitalized! Ha, how interesting! Su Xiangdong immediately received the best treatment! However, what he didn¡¯t expect was that during his treatment, his once most beloved eldest son had been crippled with one hand, one leg, and blinded in one eye due to gambling debts, turning into a complete waste. Even so, it was a fact that he had injured Su Xiangdong, and the case had already been filed, so the government officials had to arrest him. Therefore, after hiding for more than half a month, Su Hanyang was arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison since the victim did not want to mediate. After learning that Su Xiangdong had reported him, Su Hanyang started cursing again. If he had not been caught, he probably would have gone to the hospital and fought Su Xiangdong to death. When Su Xiangdong learned that Su Hanyang had lost one hand, one leg, and one eye, his eyes filled with hatred and resentment. He looked at Su Yichen and said bitterly, ¡°Su Yichen, how can your heart be so cruel that you don¡¯t even spare your own siblings?¡± Chapter 313 - Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Translator: 549690339 After Lan Yingying married Xia Zhi Meng, who had been driven to death by Su Yichen, she then married Su Xiangdong and lived a life of a rich woman, waited on by servants and bodyguards. The twenty plus years of luxury and privilege robbed her of the ability to be self-sufficient. After she took Su Xiangdong¡¯s last bit of money, she planned to dress herself up in an attempt to be involved with rich people again, especially those rich men who were single. However, beauty fades with age. Years ago, when the Su family was wealthy, she maintained herself so well that although she was in her fifties, she looked like she was in her early thirties. But in recent years, without money to splurge, she inevitably began to show her age of over fifty. Her temples were graying, her face was full of wrinkles, and her body was hunched. What rich, powerful man would take notice of an old hag like her? In the end, she had to live in a small alley, selling herself to men who were ugly, smelly, poor, and had long separated from their wives. Su Yichen fulfilled his promise. He paid for Su Xiangdong¡¯s treatment and even invited top experts for a consultation. However, Su Xiangdong¡¯s injury could only be relieved, not healed, and he was destined to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Su Xiangdong had a hard time accepting this. He roared at Su Yichen, ¡°You unfilial son! Didn¡¯t you hire the best experts to treat me? Otherwise, why isn¡¯t this minor injury getting better? You must not be paying enough. Get me the best expert now, or else you won¡¯t hear the end of it!¡± Su Yichen looked at his frantic and pitiable father, a mocking expression on his face. He said coldly, ¡°I¡¯ve paid for your treatment, hired experts for you, and even employed two nurses to take care of you. But your injuries went too deep. You¡¯re doomed to be in the wheelchair for the rest of your life.¡± He paused briefly before continuing, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, you are indeed my biological father. Even though twenty years ago, you cheated and betrayed my mother, causing her to jump off the building and die, and even leading to my six-month disappearance, our blood relation doesn¡¯t change. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re taken care of. ¡°I bought back that villa of yours so you can spend your remaining days there. After all, that place witnessed your love with my mother, and also the love with Lan Yingying that drove my mother to her death.¡± Su Xiangdong¡¯s face changed from red to green. He spat out angrily between his teeth, ¡°So, you¡¯re taking revenge on me, aren¡¯t you? Su Yichen, no matter what, I am your real father. The blood running in your veins is mine. So, you want revenge? Just kill me then, avenge your mother!¡± Su Yichen¡¯s fists clenched tight, his sharp gaze fixed on Su Xiangdong. He said coldly, ¡°Kill you? Ha, I would have to sacrifice my life for you then. Do you think you¡¯re worth it? Su Xiangdong, don¡¯t you know that the best revenge is to make the enemy wish they were dead? So, enjoy the rest of your days.¡± Then, he leaned closer to Su Xiangdong¡¯s ear and said in a cold voice, ¡°Su Xiangdong, aren¡¯t you curious how I¡¯m still alive despite you hiring the best killer? And where are those kidnappers, why can¡¯t you contact them?¡± Su Xiangdong¡¯s pupils contracted in surprise. Su Yichen continued, ¡°The four kidnappers are dead, so I survived. So, for the upcoming days, live well. How could I avenge you if you didn¡¯t live, right?¡± Su Xiangdong¡¯s eyes were full of shock, fear, and terror. Chapter 314 - Chapter 314: Chapter 314: Chapter 314: Chapter 314: Translator: 549690339 Su Yichen spent two years to seize Su Xiangdong¡¯s Su Corporation, pulling Su Xiangdong down from his high position. It took him a year to turn Su Xiangdong¡¯s loving family into bitter enemies of each other. Some were imprisoned, some were handicapped, and some were sold. Su Yichen¡¯s revenge was not to let them die. Death would be too easy for them. He would make them live a life worse than death. After Su Xiangdong became handicapped, he was confined to a wheelchair every day. He moved back to his old villa, where, well, two nannies took good care of him. When he defecated on his pants or the bed, he was severely beaten. When he was hungry, he got spoiled rice, and when he was thirsty, he drank dishwashing water. He complained to Su Yichen, but when Su Yichen visited two hours later, he saw a clean Su Xiangdong. Su Yichen sneered, ¡°Su Xiangdong, aren¡¯t you well taken care of? Look at your clean clothes, and your meals ¨C seafood, big fish and meat, all your favorite flavors.¡± Su Xiangdong¡¯s face turned red with anger, and he shouted, ¡°They¡­ they are just putting on a show for you. Su Yichen, get rid of them and replace them. I don¡¯t want them to serve me anymore, I don¡¯t want them to serve me anymore.¡± Su Xiangdong thought Su Yichen wouldn¡¯t agree, but he agreed surprisingly quickly. He nodded and said, ¡°Fine, you want to change them, then I¡¯ll change them for you.¡± Su Xiangdong did not expect Su Yichen to agree, and his prepared curses were stuck in his throat, leaving him choking and turning purple. Still not believing, he asked, ¡°Did you say you would change them?¡± Su Yichen nodded, ¡°Yes, since you¡¯re not satisfied with them, I¡¯ll change them for you. Who let you be my dear dad? I¡¯ll find two other people to come over until you¡¯re satisfied, okay?¡± Su Xiangdong, opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but not knowing how to say it. As Su Yichen left the villa, the corners of his mouth curled. Did he not know Su Xiangdong¡¯s situation right now? Of course, he knew. The 360-degree surveillance CCTV cameras in the villa were not for show. He enjoyed watching Su Xiangdong¡¯s good days every day. Receiving Su Xiangdong¡¯s complaint, why did he deliberately arrive two hours late? Of course, it was to give those two time to clean Su Xiangdong up. ¡°Su Xiangdong, from now on, your days are only getting better, so just enjoy it.¡± In the following days, the nannies who served Su Xiangdong were changed batch by batch, but the ones who served him were getting more and more powerful. In the end, Su Xiangdong called Su Yichen and begged, ¡°Xiao Chen, I don¡¯t want these people to serve me anymore. You¡­ you just bring back the ones who served me at the beginning.¡± Those two only beat him when he defecated, but the others took out their anger on him 24 hours a day if something displeased them. Having to eat maggot-infested meat and drink stinking water, these days were not fit for humans, and he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Su Yichen granted his wish and brought the first two nannies back to serve him. However, Su Yichen said, ¡°Su Xiangdong, since it¡¯s your request, I¡¯ll fulfill it. These two people are the ones you requested to be changed back, and if you¡¯re not satisfied with them in the future, I won¡¯t change them for you again. From now on, you can enjoy their service.¡± Su Xiangdong¡¯s face turned pale instantly. A look of regret appeared on Su Xiangdong¡¯s haggard face, and he said, ¡°Xiao Chen, I regret it, can you forgive me?¡± Chapter 315 - Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Translator: 549690339 After taking revenge on Su Xiangdong¡¯s family of three, Su Yichen spent three years transforming Su Corporation from a major enterprise in Capital City to a top-tier large-scale enterprise in the country, ultimately becoming the youngest and richest person nationwide. In the CEO¡¯s office of Su Corporation, the secretary was reporting to Su Yichen, ¡°Chairman, Old Master Xia has come to see you again. What should we do?¡± The ¡°old master¡± the secretary was referring to was Su Yichen¡¯s maternal grandfather, Xia Weiguo. Recently, the Xia Corporation invested in a new project and it failed, causing a break in their capital chain. Now, they desperately need an influx of funds to keep Xia Corporation running and to avoid bankruptcy. However, many capable enterprises do not hold a favorable view of Xia Corporation. After risk assessments, no company is willing to inject funds. However, some companies seized the opportunity to attempt to acquire Xia Corporation, though the Xia Family was unwilling to do so. Therefore, they wanted Su Yichen to inject funds into Xia Corporation. However, this was not the first time Xia Corporation faced investment failures. Over the past few years, they failed in several major projects, resulting in broken capital chains. Each time, it was Su Yichen injecting funds and saving Xia Corporation. It was precisely because Su Yichen was underwriting the losses that any time Xia Corporation saw a significant project, regardless of the size of the assessed risk, they would directly invest in it. Su Yichen leaned his head against the backrest of his chair, stroked his forehead with his hand, and closed his eyes. Then, he opened them sharply and glanced around the room indifferently, tapping his luxury pen on the desk with one hand. After a moment, he said calmly, ¡°Please show Old Master Xia in.¡± The secretary replied respectfully, ¡°Understood.¡± After a while, Old Master Xia, leaning on his cane and assisted by his grandson, Xia Xinnan, came to Su Yichen¡¯s office. As soon as he entered the office, Old Master Xia¡¯s face darkened and he angrily scolded, ¡°Su Yichen, have you grown too proud? Even wanting to see you is being refused outside the door. Have you forgotten that it was with the help of me and the Xia Family that you became the chairman of Su Corporation? But you, after seizing Su Corporation and becoming the chairman, have committed such ungrateful acts. Su Yichen, do you have no conscience?¡± Upon hearing this, Su Yichen¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°I¡¯m ungrateful?¡± he said emotionlessly. ¡°If I were truly ungrateful, I wouldn¡¯t have injected funds during your investment failures in the last two years to help revive Xia Corporation.¡± ¡°First time, 200 million, second time 500 million, the third time, 1.2 billion¡­ What is this, the eighth or ninth time that I need to inject tens of billions of funds to save your investment failures?¡± ¡°Grandfather, I believe that I have completely repaid the Xia Family¡¯s kindness, and I owe you nothing. So what is the meaning of trying to hold onto the past now?¡± ¡°At the beginning, Xia Corporation had a total of just over a hundred billion, and the funds I¡¯ve invested in saving Xia Corporation have already reached more than 150 billion. Grandfather, even with excessive gratitude, I should have repaid you by now.¡± Hearing Su Yichen¡¯s words, Xia Weiguo¡¯s face turned ugly instantly, and Xia Xinnan¡¯s face became even more embarrassed, with an awkward expression. After a moment, Xia Weiguo snorted coldly and said, ¡°Su Yichen, we are relatives after all, and we are a family. Shouldn¡¯t you help your family when they are in trouble? Or do you really want to watch Xia Corporation disappear in Capital City with your own eyes?¡± Su Yichen, This maternal grandfather has no shame left. Chapter 316 - Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Translator: 549690339 Initially, Xia Weiguo exploited his daughter, showing that natural affection became insignificant in the face of profit; it turned into an accessory, a tool that can be used. Years ago, when Xia Zhi Meng failed to serve as his tool for strengthening the Xia Corporation, he developed a deep resentment towards his daughter. Later, Xia Zhi Meng committed suicide, leaving all her inheritance to her only son, leaving nothing for her elderly father. Her actions triggered his outrage. He was furious not because Xia Zhi Meng had taken her own life, creating a one-way solution by jumping off a building, leaving a child behind to suffer in a world void of an affectionate mother. Instead, he was livid because Xia Zhi Meng had failed to give any regard to him, her old father. As a result, he directed his resentment towards the only son of his daughter. He had no interest in caring for his three-year-old grandson, Su Yichen, who was then helpless and alone. After neglecting the child for a period, he began devising ways to obtain Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance. While others might not know, he was well aware that his daughter must have left behind a significant amount of inheritance. However, according to what he heard, all these assets were left to Su Yichen, to be inherited only when he turned eighteen. So, taking advantage of his young age, he thought of bringing him to the Xia Family. For the wealthy Xia Family, raising another child was just like having an extra pair of chopsticks; it was nothing. And when the child grew up, he planned to coax him into willingly giving up the inheritance. In fact, that¡¯s precisely what the family trio of Su Xiangdong had done. It was just that Su Xiangdong¡¯s family managed to snatch the child away a step ahead of Xia Weiguo. After all, since Su Yichen was born, he had only met Xia Weiguo once or twice. His impression of the Xia Family was extremely negative, especially because he was bullied by his so-called cousins. Yet his maternal grandfather only criticized his mother and him. Besides, regardless of whether Su Xiangdong had betrayed anyone before, at least before his betrayal of Xia Zhi Meng, he provided Su Yichen with a happy and stable home; he had experienced his father¡¯s love. Therefore, when Xia Weiguo came to the Su Family to take Su Yichen away, he didn¡¯t have any emotional ties, the Su Family had the money. Why would Su Yichen leave with him? Besides, his intention of taking Su Yichen was not pure, and together with Su Xiangdong¡¯s brainwashing, Xia Weiguo gave up on Su Yichen. Of course, they might have given up on Su Yichen, but that didn¡¯t mean they were giving up on his mother¡¯s inheritance. The Xia Family went through various tactics, trying to seize Xia Zhi Meng¡¯s inheritance without going through Su Yichen. However, the lawyer appointed by Xia Zhipan was her good friend and a man who secretly loved her. No one could make him betray his promise. Because of him, he managed to preserve all his mother¡¯s inheritance until Su Yichen turned eighteen. The only familial affection Xia Weiguo showed towards Su Yichen was returning him to the Xia Family after he went missing and let him stay there before offering him a role in the Xia Corporation. This move then acted as a springboard for him to take over the Su corporation successfully. With that favor, when Xia Corporation first encountered significant project failure, Su Yichen injected funds to maintain the corporation¡¯s normal operations confidently. However, human desire is insatiable. Because of Su Yichen¡¯s act of covering the losses, the Xia Corporation¡¯s appetite became much more significant. Looking at his indifferent grandson, Xia Weiguo said emotionlessly, ¡°Su Yichen, let me tell you, with the help that the Xia family has given you in the past, you will never be able to repay us in this lifetime! Therefore, with this current situation, whether you are willing or not, you have to help us. If you refuse, then don¡¯t acknowledge me as your grandfather, and don¡¯t acknowledge your relation to the Xia family!¡± Chapter 317 - Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Translator: 549690339 Xia Weiguo¡¯s domineering and cold words left Su Yichen greatly disappointed, especially when he kept mentioning the help he had given Su Yichen in the past, trying to morally kidnap him and make him help the Xia Family again and again. Su Yichen stared at his maternal grandfather for a moment, Xia Weiguo¡¯s furious expression clearly visible on his face. Suddenly, Su Yichen burst into laughter. His laughter was filled with disappointment, helplessness, and self-mockery. On his usually calm face, a mocking smile appeared, and he sharply retorted, ¡°Help me? Grandfather, ask yourselves, did you sincerely help me? Or, like Su Xiangdong, were you just after the huge inheritance my mom left for me?¡± Since they were all shameless and greedy, he didn¡¯t need to hold back. He decided to call them out on it. By now, he had grown so strong that nobody could bring him down. Did Xia Weiguo say those words because he was sure that Su Yichen¡¯s only relatives left were the Xia Family? And hadn¡¯t the Xia Family genuinely helped Su Yichen before? Hearing Su Yichen¡¯s words, Xia Weiguo and Xia Xinnan¡¯s pupils involuntarily contracted. They didn¡¯t expect Su Yichen to bring this matter out in the open. Su Yichen continued, ¡°The truth is, you all know very well that I¡¯m aware of your true motives for getting close to me. But you want to deceive yourselves and kidnap me morally with this family love, making it seem like you genuinely care about me. Grandfather, the fact that I can still call you my grandfather is solely because you are my mother¡¯s biological father. Once, I sincerely wanted to see you as my grandfather, my family.¡± Xia Weiguo¡¯s pupils contracted again. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xia Weiguo sneered, ¡°So, you¡¯re not planning to treat me as your grandfather now? Su Yichen, whether you consider me your grandfather or not, your mom Xia Zhi Meng is Xia Weiguo¡¯s only daughter, and you are her only son. By blood, by reason, and by law, I, Xia Weiguo, am your grandfather. Since Xia Zhi Meng is my daughter and I am her father, isn¡¯t it only natural for me to inherit her property? But your mom, that ungrateful wolf, after I painstakingly raised her to become someone capable, she married someone else and took a huge fortune with her. Even after her death, she didn¡¯t leave me a penny. Did she even treat me as her father?¡± Thinking about this, Xia Weiguo became filled with resentment. At the time, he wanted Xia Zhi Meng to create value for the Xia Family, but she resisted, found a man to marry, and left with a huge fortune. ¡°Moreover, when you fell into Su Xiangdong¡¯s trap and disappeared, it was me who sent people to bring you back, let you live and eat in the Xia Family home, and allowed you to work at Xia Corporation, giving you the ability to seize control of Su Corporation. This kindness alone is enough for you to owe the Xia Family for a lifetime. If it weren¡¯t for me, where would you be today? Hmph! White-eyed wolves give birth to Little White-eyed wolves after all.¡± Since things had been brought to light, Xia Weiguo didn¡¯t bother to beat around the bush anymore. Upon hearing Xia Weiguo¡¯s cold words, Su Yichen¡¯s hands clenched into fists, veins bulging as he wanted to punch him in the face. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t lose his reason. ¡°Bam!¡± Xia Xinnan got punched heavily in the face. That¡¯s right. Su Yichen couldn¡¯t punch Xia Weiguo in the face, but he could hit Xia Xinnan¡¯s. Who could blame him since Xia Xinnan was Xia Weiguo¡¯s grandson, his cousin, and technically his peer? There was no mistake in punching him. Seeing his most beloved grandson being hit, Xia Weiguo was first taken aback, then he roared, ¡°Su Yichen, you damn brat, how dare you hit your cousin!?¡± Su Yichen stretched his muscles and sneered, ¡°Why not?¡± Chapter 318 - Chapter 318: Chapter 318: Chapter 318: Chapter 318: Translator: 549690339 Su Yichen continued, ¡°What do I owe you? What do I owe you? Even if you didn¡¯t send someone to pick me up, I could still come back!¡± ¡°You claim that you let me stay in the Xia Family, but do you not know how your descendants have treated me back then at the Xia¡¯s?¡± ¡°You kept saying that you care for me, but you turned a blind eye when your descendants bullied me, even insulting me for having a mother who didn¡¯t teach me well. Can the grievances I¡¯ve suffered in the Xia family cover all the injustices I¡¯ve suffered in the past eighteen years?¡± ¡°When I went to work at the Xia Corporation, wasn¡¯t it because you wanted to exploit my business talent, just like you used my mother, in order to find another way for the Xia Family and bring the Xia Corporation to the next level?¡± ¡°The Xia Family didn¡¯t give birth to me, didn¡¯t raise me, so what do I owe the Xia family?¡± Hearing Su Yichen¡¯s words, Xia Weiguo was so angry that he pointed at Su Yichen, his face pale with rage, and he shouted, ¡°Well, look who¡¯s grown wings now, daring to settle accounts with me one by one. Let me tell you, Su Yichen, what you owe me is the grace of continuation. Without me, there would be no your mother, and without your mother, there would be no you. You were born owing the Xia Family, so as long as I¡¯m alive, you¡¯ll never fully repay the debt!¡± Su Yichen¡¯s face turned ugly from Weiguo¡¯s twisted logic, but instead of being angry, he laughed, ¡°So, you mean to say that your own birth is also owed to my great-grandfather, right? But I heard that you haven¡¯t fulfilled your obligation to support your parents, and you let them freeze and starve to death in winter without doing anything. So, is this how you repay the grace of continuation?¡± At this point, a mocking look appeared on his face as he said coldly, ¡°Maybe this kind of cold-blooded selfishness is also inherited. Look, am I not learning from you now?¡± Xia Weiguo¡¯s face turned pale with anger, his body trembling. He never expected that the ugly affairs he had tried to cover up would be exposed by this grandson he once exploited. He shouted angrily, ¡°Unfilial, unfilial! Are you trying to kill me with anger? This is utterly unfilial! Su Yichen, so, you really want to see the Xia Family fall into bankruptcy and remain indifferent, right?¡± Su Yichen shrugged and sneered, ¡°Or what, do you want me to waste more money? Your multiple investment failures have drained my money. I am rich, but my money didn¡¯t come from the wind or picked up from the ground. As long as your investments fail, I have to underwrite the losses. If the Xia Family can¡¯t run their business properly and their investment projects keep failing, it would be better to let others take over instead of going bankrupt.¡± Xia Xinnan, who was punched by Su Yichen, was already furious. After hearing Su Yichen¡¯s words, he roared, ¡°Su Yichen, this is your true intention, isn¡¯t it? You can¡¯t bear to see the Xia Family thrive, and you want to take over the Xia Corporation, right? You don¡¯t want to help, waiting for the Xia Corporation to go bankrupt, so you can take over, right? So, you are such a cruel and cold-hearted person.¡± Su Yichen snorted coldly, ¡°Humph, if I wanted to take over your Xia Corporation, I would have done it a long time ago. Why would I wait till now? I have no interest in your Xia Corporation, but I can¡¯t inject funds into it now either.¡± Xia Xinnan¡¯s face changed, and he pleaded, ¡°Ah Chen, if you really don¡¯t help, the Xia Corporation will face bankruptcy if the capital chain is broken for too long. Can you bear to see your grandfather running around at his age?¡± Su Yichen raised his hand and said, ¡°If your grandfather has to run around at his age, that¡¯s because you, his descendants, are unfilial. What does this have to do with me?¡± Xia Xinnan, Chapter 319 - Chapter 319: Chapter 319: Chapter 319: Chapter 319: Translator: 549690339 Su Yichen refused to invest in Xia Corporation, which angered the other members of the Xia family so much that they wanted to confront him. ¡°What the hell does Su Yichen think he is, a person neither loved by his mother nor father, who has no right to put on airs in front of us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Just because he¡¯s rich doesn¡¯t mean he can disregard family ties. Our grandfather is at least his maternal grandfather, and he can actually piss him off so much that he stays in bed.¡± ¡°No, we must find Su Yichen again and make it clear to him that now only our Xia family is his kin, and he cannot stand idly by.¡± ¡°Forget it. Even if our grandfather asks him for help, he can make him angry enough to fall into bed, and big brother has already been punched by him. If you go, I expect you¡¯ll be considered merciful if only half mutilated.¡± ¡°How dare he. What the hell does he count as? He used to eat and live in our house, and now he¡¯s made a fortune and is enjoying a life of luxury, but wants to abandon us relatives? Don¡¯t even think about it. I¡¯m going to find him right now and tell him that if he wants to leave us behind and live a good life, he must be dreaming!¡± Who would have thought that a group of people would go to find Su Yichen in such a furious state, only to be stopped from entering the company¡¯s door? Then, they found Su Yichen¡¯s residence, but they were intercepted by his bodyguards. ¡°The boss has ordered that no one from the Xia family is allowed to approach him.¡± Publicly intercepted, the members of the Xia family has a bad look on their faces. Xia Xinbei shouted at the inside, ¡°Su Yichen, you coward, ungrateful thing, come out! If you don¡¯t come out, you¡¯re a cowardly turtle, letting it spread out there, how will people look at you? Oh, the famous business prodigy, the national richest person, who doesn¡¯t even care about his relatives, is that it?¡± From the first day Su Yichen moved into the Xia family, Xia Xinbei disliked him. Especially after his grandfather arranged for Su Yichen to become deputy general manager of the company, he was even angrier. Later, even knowing that Xia Corporation was getting better day by day under Su Yichen¡¯s decision-making, he still couldn¡¯t help believing this person came to rob the Xia family property. In his opinion, as a person living under another¡¯s roof, Su Yichen should learn to read faces and be grateful. Without the Xia family, there would be no Su Yichen today. Well, that¡¯s what everyone in the Xia family thinks. They demand Su Yichen¡¯s gratitude, so he is obligated to save Xia Corporation. Xia Xinbei continued to curse inside, ¡°Su Yichen, you motherless hybrid, we let you help us because we think highly of you. Don¡¯t take yourself too seriously. Without our Xia family, you are nothing.¡± Meanwhile, Su Yichen was in the study of his villa, looking at the flourishing Seven Color Tea Flower. From eight years ago, as soon as he left the Xiao family, Xiao Jinli gave it to him. Until now, no matter where he goes, he must keep it with him, whether it¡¯s in the villa, at work, or on business trips. Because with this tea flower, it always felt like the Xiao family was by his side. One could say, this tea flower is even more precious than his life. Now, the tea flower was blooming again. It had been blooming for eight years, and this Seven Color Tea Flower was getting more and more beautiful every year. Once, a foreign businessman wanted this tea flower and offered three billion for it, but he refused. This tea flower is no longer just about the flower, but his closest companion. He had always been waiting for the day when he would be strong enough to take it with him and return to that warm and happy big family. Chapter 320 - Chapter 320: Chapter 320: Chapter 320: Chapter 320: Translator: 549690339 No matter how much fuss the Xia Family made, Su Yichen never compromised and did not inject any more funds into the Xia Family. The Xia Family¡¯s failure to invest in large projects led to the breaking of their capital chain, with a funding gap reaching two hundred billion. The Xia Family begged their grandparents and looked for banks, but to no avail. They could not save the Xia Family from its day-to-day decline. Eventually, the Xia Family declared bankruptcy two months later. The Xia Family¡¯s bankruptcy directly led to their hatred for Su Yichen reaching the highest level. For them, it was merely a matter of two hundred billion. Just for this money, Su Yichen actually watched them die without doing anything. So they blamed Su Yichen for the Xia Family¡¯s bankruptcy. However, they don¡¯t have the ability to retaliate against Su Yichen now. But as soon as they have a chance, they will do everything they can to bring him down from his throne. They are no longer relatives to Su Yichen, but sworn enemies! One day, Su Yichen receives a phone call from Xiao Jinli. As soon as he saw the caller ID, his whole demeanor became excited. He answered the phone with a tender voice, ¡°Jinli.¡± Xiao Jinli directly said, ¡°Su big brother, I have a favor to ask of you!¡± Su Yichen immediately became serious and asked earnestly, ¡°What kind of favor? If I can help, I will definitely do my best!¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°It¡¯s not convenient to explain on the phone. I¡¯ll come to the Capital City to find you.¡± Su Yichen immediately replied, ¡°I¡¯ll come to you instead.¡± Xiao Jinli, ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Su Yichen said solemnly, ¡°I have invested in a large project in Ganjiang City, and I originally planned to fly there tomorrow. Now I will just go there a day early.¡± Xiao Jinli agreed without suspicion, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll wait for you at home.¡± With tears held back, Su Yichen whispered, ¡°Mmm.¡± Now he can openly go to Xiao Family Village. He used to fear that his identity would bring trouble to Xiao Family Village. So, he always used his busy work as an excuse not to return. But he knew there were many changes in the Xiao Family Village. He arranged for someone to film the changes in every corner of the village and show him. One could say he had been watching the Xiao Family Village transform. However, he never returned to the Xiao Family. Occasionally, in photos and videos, there would be appearances of Xiao Father, Xiao Mother, Xiao Junyi, or others from the village, all of which were so familiar and intimate. After hanging up the phone, Xiao Jinli went to the cafeteria to find Xiao¡¯s mother, smiling and saying, ¡°Mom, Su¡­ oh Xiao Siqian is coming back tomorrow.¡± Xiao Mother asked unbelievingly, ¡°Who did you say?¡± ¡°Xiao Siqian,¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Your former youngest son.¡± Xiao Mother said emotionally, ¡°Is Xiao Quan coming back? After so many years, he¡¯s finally coming back.¡± It¡¯s been eight years. At that time, they knew that Su Yichen¡¯s identity was not simple, but they never thought that he had ended up in Xiao Family Village because his biological father wanted to kill him, just to get his mother¡¯s inheritance. Upon hearing this news, they could hardly believe that there could be such cruel parents in the world. Even a tiger does not eat its young, yet Su Yichen¡¯s real father wanted his life. Instantly, they felt both pity and heartache for this child, Su Yichen. Over the years, they knew that Su Yichen had been in contact with Xiao Jinli. Although they missed him too, they also knew that if he did not contact them, there must be a reason. But, they had been waiting for Su¡­ Xiao Siqian to return home one day. Chapter 321 - Chapter 321: Chapter 321: Chapter 321: Chapter 321: Translator: 549690339 After Su Yichen hangs up on Xiao Jinli¡¯s call, he makes a call to his subordinate, saying, ¡°Book me the earliest flight to Ganjiang City.¡± The secretary sounded a bit surprised, ¡°President, from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm this afternoon, you have an important meeting. At 5:30 pm, you¡¯re discussing cooperation with Li Da Group¡¯s Chairman Shen, which is related to a tens of billions order.¡± Su Yichen didn¡¯t even think before saying, ¡°Cancel all of it! I have something even more important to do.¡± ¡°Hah, cancel all of it?¡± the secretary exclaimed in amazement, ¡°But Mr. Chairman, it might be difficult to schedule another appointment with Chairman Shen of Li Da Group next time, right?¡± Su Yichen pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Then notify Vice President Lin and have him go!¡± The secretary¡¯s expression was slightly surprised, and after a while, he nodded and replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll arrange it right away.¡± Ten minutes later, the secretary called back, ¡°Chairman, the ticket has been booked for 1:30 pm this afternoon.¡± Su Yichen nodded and said, ¡°Okay, I got it!¡± Su Yichen couldn¡¯t suppress his excitement after hanging up the phone! It¡¯s been eight years since he and his family could finally meet! That¡¯s right! In his heart, the only true family members were the Xiao Family in Xiao Family Village! On the other side, when the Xiao Family learned that Xiao Siqian was coming back, they were all very happy. The maternal grandmother said, ¡°It¡¯s been eight years since we last saw this child, I wonder if he has grown taller or gained some weight.¡± Grandma Xiao said, ¡°This child is so honest, I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s been bullied by others. Oh, when he was in Xiao Family Village, he was so well-behaved!¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°At last, we¡¯re going to meet this business tycoon! We usually see him on television news, and now I don¡¯t even know whether he still remembers us poor folks.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°This kid Xiaoquan used to love my Spicy and Sour Taro Lotus, I wonder if he still likes it now? I¡¯d better prepare some.¡± Xiao Father said, ¡°This kid Xiaoquan finally found it in his heart to come see us.¡± Eight years ago, Xiao Father sold the garment factory business and switched to real estate! Just as Xiao Siqian had said, the real estate industry had a great market prospect. In just his first year of real estate, Xiao Father earned more than his profits from running the garment factory for five to six years. However, he has always been cautious in doing things. He didn¡¯t blindly invest due to his initial success but instead became more careful in choosing investment projects and even consulted Xiao Jinli¡¯s opinion! And sure enough, the projects Xiao Jinli recommended were all profitable! The more investment projects, the bigger the company! In just three years, Xiao Group became a well-known enterprise in Ganjiang City, and Xiao Father became an entrepreneur! However, Xiao Father didn¡¯t have much ambition. He was already satisfied with the current situation and didn¡¯t want to expand outwards. So he hired professional senior managers to run the company, and he retired to spend time with his wife and children, taking care of the Xiao Family Village¡¯s business together! Therefore, he was very grateful to Xiao Siqian for his initial suggestion! As the boss of a large consortium, he must have known about Xiao Siqian being Su Yichen, the National Richest Person! However, he still wondered if Xiao Siqian had forgotten them. Now that Xiao Siqian could come back, it meant that he hadn¡¯t forgotten the Xiao Family and Xiao Family Village! All those who received the news were excitedly waiting for Xiao Siqian¡¯s return and Su Yichen¡¯s arrival! Chapter 322 - Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Translator: 549690339 Upon getting off the airplane, Su Yichen let his subordinates go and decided to handle some matters by himself. The bodyguard captain frowned and said, ¡°Boss, is it okay for you to go alone? Your identity is too conspicuous. It would be dangerous if someone finds out!¡± Su Yichen nodded and calmly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t run into any trouble that easily.¡± Over the years, although he had not returned to Xiao Family Village or been in touch with Father Xiao and Mother Xiao, he had been keeping contact with Xiao Jinli. Throughout these years, he had witnessed Xiao Jinli¡¯s incredible skills, such as hacking, divine medicine, and makeup. Xiao Jinli had personally taught him makeup for his safety. Calling it makeup, in his case, was actually more like disguise. He could turn from a man into a woman, or from a young person into an old one. If he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, even he wouldn¡¯t believe that they were the same person and no traces of makeup could be found. Once, Xiao Jinli had transformed him into a seventy or eighty-year-old man and then he had blatantly left under the watch of his heavily guarded bodyguards. Of course, Su Yichen didn¡¯t want to share this with his subordinates. He told the bodyguard captain, ¡°You guys rest assured, I¡¯ll take care of my own safety. All you have to do is create the illusion that I¡¯m still with you.¡± He just needed to leave now and find a hidden place to put on makeup! After the transformation, who would know that he was the youngest richest man? The kidnappers would never think of that! In Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, ¡°If someone could recognize her makeup, then it meant she had failed as a master.¡± Su Yichen quickly left under the watchful eyes of the bodyguards and headed through the crowd to the public restroom to start with his makeup transformation! A young man entered the restroom, but an old man came out. No one who was unfamiliar with him would pay attention, right? After coming out, Su Yichen directly rented one or two taxis. ¡°Master, please take me to Xiao Family Village!¡± Su Yichen said. Everyone knew about Xiao Family Village now, especially the long-term taxi drivers. The driver asked, ¡°Boss, the fare to Xiao Family Village from here is about 300 yuan. Are you sure? If you take a bus, it¡¯s only 50 to 60 yuan.¡± Going from Ganjiang City to Xiao Family Village in Taoyuan Town cost 56 yuan by bus. However, due to the large number of passengers, people lined up daily. Some people were willing to rent a car to go there! For the taxi drivers, this was a big order. They could earn more than 200 yuan just from one trip, which was higher than their daily earnings. Moreover, they could also pick up passengers along the way. If they were lucky, they could earn at least 600 to 700 yuan in one trip! Su Yichen said, ¡°I¡¯ll pay you a thousand. You can¡¯t pick up any more passengers along the way, I like quiet.¡± Before, he didn¡¯t know that taxis could have ride-sharing. Actually, it wasn¡¯t exactly ride-sharing. Ride-sharing meant sharing the fare. His method of ride-sharing involved the driver picking up passengers along the way without lowering the fare! Initially, passengers were annoyed and helpless about the driver¡¯s rogue behavior, because they couldn¡¯t get off the car halfway through the journey. They had no choice but to tolerate it! Su Yichen had seen it all when he was in Xiao Family Village for those few months, accompanying Xiao Junxuan on his trips outside the village. Su Yichen added, ¡°If you break your word, I will get off the car halfway and not pay you a single cent!¡± The driver cheerfully agreed, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t pick up any more passengers. Please put on your seatbelt, and we¡¯ll set off!¡± Chapter 323 - Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Translator: 549690339 Su Yichen received a call from Xiao Jinli midway through. ¡°Mhm, I¡¯m already on my way and I should arrive at Xiao Family Village in about half an hour,¡± he said. After saying that, Su Yichen took a photo with his cellphone and sent it over. He had transformed into a man in his sixties or seventies. He would probably take on this appearance in front of outsiders when he arrived at Xiao Family Village, but he might revert back to his original appearance when he was inside the house. After all, his face as the Wealthiest Person is well-known to people across the country thanks to constant media coverage. He didn¡¯t want to cause a massive commotion and crowded gathering just for returning to Xiao Family Village. After sending the photo, Xiao Jinli nearly choked with laughter when she saw the ordinary old man in the photo. Su Yichen really seemed to be addicted to playing the role of an old man. He would always disguise himself as one when going out. She would joke that one day some well-meaning person would mistake him for an elderly person in need of help and send him back home. After checking Su Yichen¡¯s cellphone location, Xiao Jinli told the Xiao Family who were waiting for Jinli to come home, ¡°Brother Siquan is about half an hour away. I¡¯ll go to the village entrance to wait for him. Our village has changed a lot, so I¡¯m worried he won¡¯t be able to find our house.¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s coming soon! That was fast! Hurry up, Jinlin, and go get him. He should be at the village entrance in a little while,¡± Xiao¡¯s mother urged. Although Xiao Siqian only lived in Xiao Family Village for half a year, everyone treated him as a member of their family during that time. Although they hadn¡¯t seen each other for eight years, they could still hear news about him and knew that he was doing well. At such a young age, he had become the National Richest Person, which made them feel relieved. Xiao¡¯s maternal grandmother wondered, ¡°This kid Xiaoquan, so young, how exactly did he become the Richest Person?¡± Xiao Father laughed, ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t know. This kid Xiaoquan has a talent for business. At first, it was his suggestion that we buy the combine harvester for the village. He also gave me advice to enter the real estate industry, which allowed me to make a name for myself in the business world. With his talent, who else could become the Richest Person if he doesn¡¯t?¡± Ever since he found out that Xiao Siqian was returning to Xiao Family Village, Xiao Junxuan cleared his schedule to wait for him at home. Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Grandma, the establishment plan for our Green Fresh Company was written entirely by Xiaoquan. He even included suggestions for managing the company and such. Our company was able to start off smoothly thanks to him.¡± Xiao Jinli also said, ¡°That¡¯s right. The plan for setting up the company in the village was written by Brother Little Quan, and then submitted to the Village Head and the Village Committee for discussion.¡± Grandma Xiao was slightly taken aback, ¡°It was all written by this kid Xiaoquan? Back then, he was only 18 years old, right?¡± ¡°Indeed, he was 18,¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded. ¡°18, and so capable,¡± Grandma Xiao sighed, ¡°What were most people doing at 18? If they weren¡¯t studying in high school, they were working. Who else would be doing things like this?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± the maternal grandmother chimed in, ¡°Little Quan has really come a long way.¡± People are not born smart and capable of doing anything with ease. One needs extensive knowledge and rich experience. No one called Xiao Siqian ungrateful or anything like that for not contacting them for eight years and not even making a phone call. All they felt was heartache. They knew he was from Capital City, but how did he end up bloodied and injured in Xiao Family Village thousands of miles away all those years ago? Something must have happened during that process, and it must have been a bloody ordeal. Chapter 324 - Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Translator: 549690339 Half an hour later, Xiao Jinli picked up Su Yichen, who was disguised as an average old man. Upon seeing Su Yichen¡¯s appearance, Xiao Jinli broke out into laughter once again. ¡°Haha, Brother Little Quan, you can¡¯t possibly be thinking of going home looking like this, can you?¡± Xiao Jinli said between laughter, ¡°With this look, I¡¯m not sure if our parents will be able to recognize you.¡± The wrinkles on Su Yichen¡¯s face formed an expression of helplessness. He laughed and said, ¡°To outsiders, I can only present myself with this disguise. However, at home, I am Xiao Siqian, a member of the Xiao family.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Hmm. Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± On the way home, they ran into other people from Xiao Family Village. Everyone greeted Xiao Jinli, but curious looks fell on Su Yichen. Though they were curious, they did not pry too much. After all, Xiao Jinli occasionally brought some important guests over. These guests were mostly either rich or noble. They didn¡¯t want to offend these esteemed guests by asking too many questions. Seeing the smiling faces of the Xiao Village residents, who were always so warm-hearted, Su Yichen, who had lived in Xiao Family Village for half a year, felt very happy. Eight years had passed, yet the villagers¡¯ cheerful and sincere disposition remained unchanged. Eight years ago, Xiao Family Village was poor and impoverished, but the villagers were always smiling ¨C they were optimistic, proactive, and in great spirits. Eight years later, every family in the village had become wealthy, yet their demeanor remained the same. Even disguised as an old man, Su Yichen greeted them courteously in return. In a short while, Xiao Jinli had brought Su Yichen back to the Xiao Family home. Everyone knew that Xiao Jinli had gone to fetch Xiao Siqian, but they saw her return with an old man, which left everyone puzzled. However, before anyone could voice their questions¡­ Jiang Yifan¡¯s round eyes were glued to Su Yichen. He asked Xiao Jinli, full of doubt, ¡°Mommy, who is this big brother?¡± Big brother? Everyone was puzzled. This old man, in no way, looked like a ¡®big brother¡¯. Su Yichen, on hearing Jiang Yifan refer to Xiao Jinli, was surprised. When did sister Jinli get married? And her child is already so big, how did he not know? However, before he could voice his question¡­ Upon hearing what Jiang Yifan said, Xiao Junxuan responded quickly. He pulled Jiang Yifan over and pointed at Su Yichen, asking, ¡°Little Fanfan, you¡¯re saying that this man is big brother?¡± Jiang Yifan nodded, ¡°Yes, Uncle. This man is big brother. He may have disguised himself as an old man, but who am I? I am Jiang Yifan, smart and discerning. He can¡¯t fool me.¡± After hearing Jiang Yifan¡¯s words, Su Yichen realized that his disguise had been seen through by a child. On hearing what Jiang Yifan had said, Xiao Junxuan exclaimed in disbelief, ¡°Xiao Siqian?¡± As soon as Xiao Junxuan said this, everyone was astonished. ¡°What, this old man is Little Quan? How is that possible?¡± ¡°Little Quan is a young man; when did he turn into an old man?¡± ¡°What are you saying? Didn¡¯t you hear what Fanfan just said? Little Quan is disguised!¡± ¡°Little Quan?¡± Xiao¡¯s mother also chimed in. Su Yichen, ah no, before the Xiao family, he was Xiao Siqian. Xiao Siqian nodded, ¡°Aunt, it¡¯s me!¡± ¡°Haha, it really is Little Quan.¡± ¡°Little Quan, you sure gave us a shock when you showed up in this old man getup.¡± ¡°Little Quan, did you really disguise yourself like this?¡± ¡°Who did your makeup? It¡¯s simply masterful.¡± Chapter 325 - Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Translator: 549690339 Everyone was quite shocked once they established that the old man following Xiao Jinli was indeed Xiao Siqian. The crowd gave curious looks at Su Yichen¡¯s disguise. ¡°Wow, what makeup technique is this? It¡¯s truly amazing!¡± ¡°To my mind, it¡¯s Little Fanfan who has the keen eye to detect the fake old man, Xiao Quan.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, Little Fanfan indeed has a keen eye. His eyes are comparable to Sun Wukong¡¯s Fiery Eyes, Golden Gaze. Faced with such a realistic makeup job that had us seeing a completely different person, Little Fanfan saw right through it.¡± ¡°Little Fanfan, how in the world did you figure out it was Big Brother?¡± Jiang Yifan tipped his Little Head saying, ¡°That¡¯s exactly how I worked it out.¡± Everyone, With his old man makeover, Su Yichen suppressed his internal sorrow and loss, feigning curiosity as he asked, ¡°Jinli, is this child yours?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and explained, ¡°No. He claimed me as his since our flight back from Capital City.¡± Here, she paused slightly, then continued, ¡°This child is quite the actor. He latched onto me on the plane, calling me a home-wrecker.¡± Su Yichen, Looking at the fine, beautiful girl of around eighteen or nineteen, and imagining the scene on the plane where the child was labeling her a home-wrecker, he found it absurdly funny. Suppressing his laughter, Su Yichen questioned with curiosity, ¡°Is the child from Capital City? Who are his parents? Do they know he is here?¡± Before Xiao Jinli could respond, Jiang Yifan quickly answered, ¡°No! I¡¯m not from Capital City.¡± ¡°If not from Capital City, then where are you from?¡± Xiao Jinli asked doubtfully, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say at the beginning that you were from Capital City?¡± Su Yichen questioned with perplexity, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, you mean to say you didn¡¯t look into his parents?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t. However, we did report to the police once we got off the plane. The Yamen officials said they would contact us once they found his parents. However, it¡¯s been three to four months now and there¡¯s been no word.¡± Su Yichen declared right away, ¡°How about I have someone look into it?¡± He then asked, ¡°Little friend, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Hmph,¡± Jiang Yifan turned his Head away, ¡°I¡¯m not telling you!¡± Xiao¡¯s mother at this point mentioned, ¡°His name is Jiang Yifan. Xiao Quan, if you have contacts in Capital City, then please help him locate his parents.¡± Hearing this, Jiang Yifan got a bit agitated, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want him searching for my parents. My¡­ my parents abandoned me. I don¡¯t want to find them.¡± Everyone, This child, why does he get so worked up at the mention of finding his parents? Su Yichen said, ¡°Auntie, as long as the child is from Capital City and has a name, I can arrange for someone to find his parents!¡± Upon hearing this, Jiang Yifan became even more outraged. He shouted at Su Yichen, ¡°I don¡¯t want to find my parents, I don¡¯t want you meddling in my affairs. I don¡¯t want to find my parents, I don¡¯t want to find my parents!¡± Seeing Jiang Yifan so wrought, everyone looked at him with mixed feelings of confusion and empathy. Xiao¡¯s mother picked up the child and said, ¡°Alright, alright, we won¡¯t look for them anymore, don¡¯t be angry.¡± Jiang Yifan nestled in Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s arms, grumbling, ¡°Grandma, I don¡¯t like my parents. They often beat me, scold me, and they don¡¯t feed me. They¡¯re terribly nasty.¡± Looking at Jiang Yifan who was well-fed and cared for, Xiao Jinli expressed her doubts. Chapter 326 - Chapter 326: Chapter 326: Chapter 326: Chapter 326: Translator: 549690339 Because Jiang Yifan wasn¡¯t happy, Mother Xiao and others stopped discussing the matter of finding his parents. Su Yichen¡¯s heart was filled with happiness, but he didn¡¯t know exactly why he was so happy. Xiao Jinli glanced at his aged appearance and laughed, saying, ¡°Brother Little Quan, go remove your makeup! Let everyone see your real face. Mom and Dad are so curious about your look after becoming the wealthiest person.¡± Su Yichen nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to do it now.¡± Mother Xiao took out her cellphone and laughed, ¡°Let me take a picture of you first. Haha, I wonder if this is how Little Quan will look when he gets old.¡± After laughing, she said, ¡°Little Quan, your old room has always been reserved for you. Yesterday, when Xiao Bao said you were coming back, I cleaned up the room and changed the quilt.¡± Upon hearing Mother Xiao¡¯s words, Su Yichen¡¯s eyes reddened again. He was touched and his heart was warmed. Is this the feeling of coming home? Is this true affection? No matter how far the children go or how long it takes, when they come back home, they always have their own room with clean, sun-dried quilts waiting for them¡ªwarm and happy. Xiao Junxuan carried Su Yichen¡¯s suitcase and brought him back to their old room. In eight years, other families in Xiao Family Village had built new houses and beautiful small western-style buildings, but the Xiao Family¡¯s house remained the same, and so did its people. It¡¯s so good that his uncles, aunts, and grandparents were all still here. After arriving in his room, Su Yichen immediately removed his makeup. Xiao Junxuan was very excited by Su Yichen¡¯s side. ¡°Little Quan, I always thought you weren¡¯t an ordinary person. There¡¯s no ordinary person with so many business ideas like you. I never expected that in just a few years, you would become the National Richest Person. Haha¡­ I never dreamed that one day, I, Xiao Junxuan, would be a sworn brother of the richest man in a country.¡± Su Yichen laughed, ¡°Brother Xuan, stop teasing me.¡± ¡°No, Little Quan, I¡¯m not making fun of you.¡± Xiao Junxuan immediately waved his hand. ¡°I am really excited, happy, and proud. The National Richest Person! Everyone is estimating how much assets you have. Some say you have 150 billion, some say 200 billion, and even some say 400 billion. Little Quan, I am also very curious, how much money does this National Richest Person have?¡± Su Yichen laughed, ¡°Actually, everyone is exaggerating. How much personal wealth can I have? I consider that money belonged to the whole company¡¯s employees, and those billions are all total assets. There is not much cash flow, though.¡± Xiao Junxuan wasn¡¯t convinced, ¡°Little Quan, just tell me, how much are your total assets?¡± Su Yichen smiled and said, ¡°Actually, my company¡¯s total assets are now around 680 billion, I guess.¡± ¡°What?¡± Xiao Junxuan was shocked. ¡°680 billion, how can it be so much? You know, our Lu Xian Group only has more than 100 billion and is already a large company in Ganjiang City. Gosh, comparing people really kills one¡¯s spirit. It turns out that talent is needed for everything, including business. In the past, my dad and I thought you had a great business mind, and it turns out it¡¯s true. Brother, you really are getting rich! 6800 billion is a number I can¡¯t even dare to think about, but it¡¯s my brother¡¯s wealth!¡± Chapter 327 - Chapter 327: Chapter 327: Chapter 327: Chapter 327: During the conversation with Xiao Junxuan, Su Yichen had already removed his makeup. Xiao Junxuan looked at the completely transformed Su Yichen, truly astonished. ¡°Wow, Xiao Quan, your real appearance is so much more handsome than on television.¡± Xiao Junxuan exclaimed, ¡°Look at you, what a good-looking person. Xiao Quan, how old are you now, 26 right?¡± Su Yichen nodded and said, ¡°Yes, 26.¡± ¡°Time goes by so fast.¡± Xiao Junxuan sighed lightly, ¡°In the blink of an eye, eight years have passed. I remember when I first met you, you were still a naive teenager. At that time, you were someone who had lost their memory, and everything about the countryside was new to you. However, at that time, none of us could have imagined that in just a few short years, you would become the wealthiest person. Haha, you know, many people in our village were so excited when they recognized you on television.¡± Who wouldn¡¯t be excited to have a big shot around them? ¡°So you¡¯re 26 now, do you have a girlfriend or any girl you fancy?¡± Xiao Junxuan suddenly asked. Su Yichen¡¯s expression slightly froze. Girlfriend? A girl he fancied? The first face that flashed through his mind was that of Xiao Jinli. Then he shook his head and smiled, ¡°Not yet. Brother Xuan, what about you? Do you have a girlfriend?¡± Xiao Junxuan was not married. If he was married, Xiao Jinli would have definitely told him. By this calculation, Xiao Junxuan should be approaching 30. Xiao Junxuan smiled and said, ¡°Not yet, I¡¯ve been busy with the company¡¯s affairs all these years and haven¡¯t had the time to look for a girlfriend.¡± With his looks and his status, there have always been girls pursuing him. However, he never felt moved by them. Although love takes time to develop, it still has to start with a feeling of attraction. Just like how his Dad felt about his Mom, love at first sight, and then immediately put it into action, and now they have been happily married for over 30 years. As for his marriage, his parents only asked about it and didn¡¯t pressure him. His Dad once said, ¡°Marriage is a lifelong event, you can¡¯t rush it, so you shouldn¡¯t get married just for the sake of it. You must find someone who touches your heart and is mutually in love.¡± Su Yichen laughed and said, ¡°Brother Xuan, you shouldn¡¯t always be busy with work either, you need to find us a sister-in-law.¡± Xiao Junxuan almost rolled his eyes and said, ¡°You should be talking about yourself. You shouldn¡¯t always be busy with work either, you need to find a girlfriend soon. As the saying goes, establish a career and a family. You already have a career, so it¡¯s time to start a family.¡± Su Yichen laughed and said, ¡°Bro, I¡¯m in no hurry, I¡¯m only 26. I¡¯ll wait for you to marry a sister-in-law first, then I¡¯ll find a girl.¡± Xiao Junxuan shook his head and laughed, ¡°We really shouldn¡¯t laugh at each other. I¡¯m sure once we go downstairs, the elders will definitely urge us to find girlfriends. Haha¡­¡± Su Yichen, Just as he was about to say something, Xiao Jinli¡¯s voice came from outside the door. Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Bro, Brother Little Quan, do you have any secrets to talk about here? The elders are urging you guys to go downstairs quickly. Everyone wants to meet Brother Little Quan as soon as possible and get a glimpse of his true appearance.¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°We¡¯re coming down now.¡± Chapter 328 - Chapter 328: Chapter 328: Chapter 328: Chapter 328: Su Yichen and Xiao Junxuan went downstairs together, and the Xiao family members, including several old gentlemen, were sitting in the living room waiting for them. The old gentlemen had known about the connection between Su Yichen and the Xiao family for a few years. They also knew that the Xiao family had already treated Su Yichen as another one of their children. However, they didn¡¯t quite agree with Su Yichen not coming to visit the Xiao family for eight years. Perhaps at first, you went back for revenge and were afraid of getting the Xiao family and Xiao Family Village involved, so not staying in touch with them could be excused. But in the following years, you became the wealthiest person with money and power, and were already very strong. So why didn¡¯t you contact them? Moreover, as someone who could become the wealthiest person, there was no way they wouldn¡¯t know about the few old men in Xiao Family Village. Who would dare to harm them? Of course, since the Xiao family members didn¡¯t seem to mind, the old gentlemen wouldn¡¯t interfere too much. But privately, they felt some admonition was necessary. As soon as the makeup-free Su Yichen went downstairs, he saw a room full of people. When his gaze fell on the stern-looking elderly men, his expression paused for a moment, and he appeared a bit nervous. If they were just sitting there as old cadres, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to make him nervous. But the fact that these old gentlemen were sitting there as Xiao family members made him feel somewhat restrained. After he came downstairs, the ladies¡¯ expressions were excited, their eyes slightly red as they looked at Su Yichen. Xiao¡¯s mother looked at Su Yichen and with tears in her eyes, she smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Quan, it¡¯s been years since we last met. You¡¯ve grown even more handsome and stronger.¡± The maternal grandmother laughed and said, ¡°Yeah, back then, you were tall but not very meaty. Now, it¡¯s obvious that you¡¯ve gained some muscle. You look even more mature than before.¡± Su Yichen, who usually appeared cold and unsmiling in front of others, now showed a gentle smile and said, ¡°Auntie, maternal grandmother, I am older now, so I must be more mature than before.¡± Back then, he was only 18 years old, and had just reached adulthood. Now, he was 26 years old and already a grown man. Next, Su Yichen faced the room full of people and said one by one, ¡°Grandfather, Grandma, maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, Uncle Auntie, I¡¯m sorry for making you worry about me all these years.¡± ¡°Hmm, as long as you¡¯re doing well, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Grandma Xiao smiled and said, ¡°In just a few years, Xiao Quan, you¡¯ve become a famous figure. We are proud of you.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve become the National Richest Person, and we are all proud of you.¡± The others echoed their agreement. ¡°We always thought your background was not simple, but who would have thought it would be this extraordinary, directly becoming the richest man in the country. To see you, we¡¯d have to watch television, read newspapers, and watch videos.¡± Xiao Father exclaimed, ¡°I really don¡¯t know how your mind works, to be such a brilliant businessman.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s really amazing.¡± The grandfather nodded and said, ¡°You¡¯re only 26 now, and when did you become the wealthiest person, at 22 or 23 years old?¡± ¡°Grandfather, it was at 22 years old.¡± Xiao Junxuan reminded him. ¡°Twenty-two years old.¡± Grandpa Xiao exclaimed, ¡°Many young people of this age are still college students. Xiao Quan has achieved a miracle.¡± Becoming the wealthiest person at twenty-two, no one could ever imagine this. Xiao Junxuan nodded in agreement, ¡°That¡¯s right, in today¡¯s universities, if a student can make a million, they are already considered very business savvy. But Xiao Quan has made several hundred billion. It¡¯s like using money as paper.¡± ¡°Haha, indeed!¡± Chapter 329 - Chapter 329: Chapter 329: Chapter 329: Chapter 329: As the National Richest Person, even if Su Yichen tried to be low-key, he was still a figure of attention nationwide and even worldwide. It was natural for his photos and videos to appear in news reports. Wherever he went, he was surrounded by a group of bodyguards for protection. It was the ultimate honor for any businessman to have a photo taken with Su Yichen. One could say that Su Yichen, the twenty-something richest person, was the most envied man in the world. Many men, even if they were successful in their careers, could hardly boast about their age. The young ones might be in their thirties or forties, while the older ones were in their eighties, nineties, or even over a hundred years old. Su Yichen was unprecedented and unparalleled. At the age of twenty-two, he became the world¡¯s youngest richest person through his own abilities. After catching up with the Xiao Family, Su Yichen nervously and apprehensively greeted the four elderly gentlemen. ¡°Grandpa Jiang, Elder Chen, Old Li, Elder Zeng, hello, I¡¯m Su Yichen!¡± The four old men¡¯s expressions were indifferent, neither happy nor angry, nor surprised nor curious. They just gave a slight nod. Su Yichen, grew even more uneasy in his heart. What was the meaning of the four elderly gentlemen¡¯s actions? Were they dissatisfied with him? What¡­what should he do about it? He looked to Xiao Jinli with pleading eyes. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Brother Little Quan, it¡¯s okay. These old gentlemen have always been like this, not talkative or smiling.¡± As soon as Xiao Jinli finished speaking, a ¡°hmm, hmm¡± sound came as if clearing their throats. Without guessing, it was the voices of the old men. Grandpa Jiang laughed and said, ¡°You girl, we haven¡¯t even said anything, and you¡¯re already protecting him.¡± Were they not talkative and serious old men? All four of them were amiable old men, obviously. They didn¡¯t smile at Su Yichen just because they were dissatisfied with him¡­. Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Grandfather, what am I protecting? You haven¡¯t done anything wrong. It¡¯s just that Little Quan isn¡¯t too familiar with you guys, so he¡¯s a little nervous.¡± Su Yichen, Grandpa Jiang and the others, Had Su Yichen ever been nervous when meetingimportant people? They simply didn¡¯t believe him. Old Chen smiled and said, ¡°Young man, don¡¯t be nervous. Actually, we¡¯re very approachable.¡± Su Yichen respectfully replied, ¡°Yes, the four old masters are very kind and amiable.¡± /div> ¡°Haha, that¡¯s right, we¡¯re all kind and amiable old men, so you don¡¯t have to be nervous.¡± Elder Li said with a playful expression, ¡°Girl, are you satisfied now?¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged and said, ¡°Grandfather Li, I didn¡¯t actually say anything!¡± The four old masters, At this time, Xiao¡¯s mother said with a smile, ¡°Little Quan, I knew you¡¯d be coming today, so I prepared your favorite dish, Spicy and Sour Taro Lotus. I just don¡¯t know if you still like it now? After all, you¡¯re now a big shot used to exotic delicacies.¡± ¡°I like it!¡± Su Yichen nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve always liked this dish from the first time I ate it until now!¡± Of course, he only liked the Spicy and Sour Taro Lotus made by Xiao¡¯s mother. Others, even if made by a Michelin Master, were not to his liking. Xiao¡¯s mother was very pleased and said, ¡°Great! If you like it, eat more tonight. I¡¯ve also pickled a lot, so you can take some with you when you leave.¡± Su Yichen was an important person, and he couldn¡¯t stay in Xiao Family Village forever. Su Yichen nodded and said, ¡°Thank you, Auntie!¡± ¡°You¡¯re being too polite,we¡¯re all a family here. What¡¯s the need to be so formal with Auntie?¡± Chapter 330 - Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Chapter 330: On the other hand, the general manager of Su Corporation¡¯s branch company in Ganjiang City was so anxious that his forehead was covered in sweat. He asked the bodyguard captain anxiously, ¡°The boss disappeared right after he got off the airplane. Didn¡¯t you know? How did you guys protect him? In case something happens to the boss, none of you will be able to bear the consequences.¡± The bodyguard captain furrowed his brows, looking at the fuming general manager, and calmly said, ¡°General Zhou, the boss said he had private matters to handle and didn¡¯t want us to follow him.¡± ¡°The boss said not to follow him, so you don¡¯t follow him?¡± General Manager Zhou said angrily, ¡°Do you know who our boss is? He is the richest person in the country, and there are countless eyes watching him. If anything happens to him, not only will the stability of the Su Corporation be affected, but the entire national economy might also tremble or even be shaken.¡± The bodyguard captain also helplessly said, ¡°But as subordinates, we have to listen to our boss.¡± No bosses like subordinates that are obedient on the surface but do the opposite behind their backs. They are merely Su Yichen¡¯s subordinates and his bodyguards. They, of course, have to obey his orders. Zhou Jingming knew this reasoning, but they didn¡¯t know where the boss was, which naturally made them feel agitated, uneasy, and afraid. After pondering for a moment, Zhou Jingming asked again, ¡°Did the boss really not tell you where he was going?¡± The bodyguard captain shook his head and said, ¡°The boss only instructed us to pretend he¡¯s in the hotel.¡± Zhou Jingming, He muttered to himself, ¡°What on earth is the boss trying to do by being so mysterious?¡± Then, he said, ¡°Alright, we can¡¯t disobey the boss. Just make sure to protect the boss at the hotel.¡± What puzzled him even more was how the boss had left. He had instructed the bodyguards not to follow him as soon as he got off the plane. Given the boss¡¯s well-known identity, his presence anywhere would definitely cause a sensation. The bodyguard said the boss left at the airport. The airport is also a crowded place, and it gathers many wealthy and influential people. But, the boss managed to avoid everyone and left the airport without causing any disturbance. How did he do that? Zhou Jingming left the hotel, while the bodyguards continued to stay and protect the boss. Meanwhile, in Capital City, at the CEO¡¯s office of a certain large company. ¡°Are you sure? Su Yichen wasn¡¯t at the hotel? And he left under everyone¡¯s watch?¡± ¡°Do you know where he went?¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I got it. I¡¯ll have someone investigate his whereabouts immediately!¡± /div> After hanging up the phone, his sharp and clever eyes looked forward, and one hand tapped the desk lightly while muttering, ¡°Su Yichen left without any bodyguards. Is it real or a setup? Regardless, it¡¯s an opportunity for us as long as Su Yichen has left.¡± After contemplating for a moment, he made a phone call, ¡°I need to know where Su Yichen is now as soon as possible. For now, we know he took a flight from Capital City to Ganjiang City, and many people saw him get on the plane. But when he arrived at Ganjiang City, he vanished without a trace. You go to the Marriott Hotel Room 8088 in Ganjiang City and check it out. Alright, I need to know the information as soon as possible.¡± After hanging up the phone, the corners of his mouth raised slightly, and he sneered, ¡°Su Yichen, no matter where you are, I will find you and trample you under my feet.¡± Chapter 331 - Chapter 331: Chapter 331: (First Update) Chapter 331: Chapter 331: (First Update) ¡°Dad, you called for me?¡± At the house of Lin, the Chairman of the Kyoto Lin Corporation, Lin Xiaoxiao asked her father as soon as she returned home. Chairman Lin looked at his daughter¡¯s heavy makeup, dressed like a punk, and said with dissatisfaction, ¡°How many times have I told you not to dress like this? No wonder Su Yichen doesn¡¯t like you.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao pursed her lips and said, ¡°I don¡¯t like him either. Dad, what¡¯s the matter that you called me back for?¡± Chairman Lin was so angry that he was about to have a heart attack, he clutched his chest and pointed at her angrily, ¡°Can¡¯t I call you back if there¡¯s no problem? How many days have you been away from home? You¡¯re a girl, always out and about, what does that look like? How will you get married in the future?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao sneered, ¡°If I can¡¯t get married, then I¡¯ll just stay at home and mooch off you for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°You¡­you¡­¡± Chairman Lin was too angry to speak, his pointing hand shaking. After a while, he shouted, ¡°Unfilial daughter, unfilial daughter!¡± ¡°Old man, don¡¯t you have a filial daughter by your side?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao mocked, ¡°You¡¯re still short of one filial daughter.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the same!¡± Chairman Lin shouted angrily. ¡°How is it not the same?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao mocked, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not the same, one is an adopted daughter, the other is a biological daughter. So, old man, you want both the biological and the adopted daughter to be filial to you, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m saying, aren¡¯t you being too optimistic?¡± At this, she changed her tone and said coldly, ¡°Old man, I¡¯ve told you before, in this home, it¡¯s either her or me. Since you want your adopted daughter by your side to be filial, then I, as your biological daughter, will step aside and let you enjoy the father-daughter happiness.¡± With that, she turned to leave, walking and saying, ¡°Don¡¯t call me back if it¡¯s not necessary. It would only make you angry and have a heart attack. Also, you have no idea how happy I am alone outside.¡± Upon hearing her words, Chairman Lin was so angry that he wanted to stomp his feet. He yelled, ¡°Lin Xiaoxiao, you stop right there, you come back!¡± But all that was left for him was Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s carefree back. At this point, a girl in a white dress ran over from the stairway of the house and held onto Chairman Lin, asking with concern, ¡°Dad, are you all right?¡± Then, she looked outside with a puzzled expression, ¡°I think I saw my sister, is she back?¡± In fact, she heard their father-daughter conversation clearly at the upstairs staircase. Upon hearing that Lin Chengdong called Lin Xiaoxiao to come back to marry Su Yichen, the girl clutched the Huali wood armrailing harder, leaving a few marks. Lin Wanqing¡¯s eyes were filled with resentment under her drooping eyelids. She raged, ¡°Lin Chengdong, I¡¯ve always treated you as my biological father, but whenever there¡¯s something good, you want to save it for your biological daughter. You clearly know that I like Su Yichen, yet you still want to take him away from me, for your biological daughter. If that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t blame me for not showing mercy.¡± Once their father-daughter argument was over and Lin Xiaoxiao left, she came out. Lin Chengdong gripped his chest, looking at his daughter¡¯s retreating figure, scowling, ¡°Don¡¯t mention that rebellious girl to me, she just makes me angry when she comes back.¡± As he said this, he sighed heavily, ¡°If only Xiaoxiao was as obedient and sensible as you, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her.¡± Lin Wanqing shook her head and then asked with some suspicion, ¡°Dad, has Xiaoxiao misunderstood me? I can feel her hostility towards me.¡± Telling this, she hesitated a moment and said, ¡°Shall I move out? Maybe with me here, Xiaoxiao doesn¡¯t want to come home. If my leaving could make her feel better, then let me go.¡± ¡°Leave? What do you mean leave!¡± Lin Chengdong said loudly, ¡°No one is allowed to leave!¡± At this, he sighed lightly and said, ¡°Qingqing, both you and Xiaoxiao are my children, this is your home. If either of you leaves, I will be unhappy.¡± ¡°But Xiaoxiao also said that in this home, it¡¯s either her or me!¡± Lin Wanqing said with a pained expression, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s better if I leave and let Xiaoxiao accompany you. After all, she is your biological daughter, and I am just an adopted daughter.¡± ¡°Qingqing, it hurts my heart when you say that,¡± Lin Chengdong said with a sad expression on his face, ¡°Although you are an adopted daughter, I have always raised you as my own.¡± At this, he paused and said, ¡°Qingqing, don¡¯t think too much. Xiaoxiao just misunderstands you. As long as the misunderstanding is cleared up, everything will be fine.¡± Lin Wanqing nodded and said, ¡°Well, Dad, I¡¯m going to have a good talk with Xiaoxiao one of these days.¡± ¡°That would be best,¡± Lin Chengdong nodded. ¡°But, Dad, why did Xiaoxiao come back this time and leave again?¡± Lin Wanqing asked. Lin Chengdong frowned and said, ¡°I originally wanted to have a good talk with her about Su Yichen. But that girl didn¡¯t listen to me at all, and we started arguing after just a few words.¡± ¡°Su Yichen?¡± Lin Wanqing¡¯s eyes flickered, and she asked with a puzzled look, ¡°Didn¡¯t Xiaoxiao say she doesn¡¯t like Su Yichen?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao had already made a loud fuss about not liking Su Yichen before, so her question wouldn¡¯t raise any suspicions. ¡°Hmph, she doesn¡¯t know her own blessings,¡± Lin Chengdong said indignantly, ¡°Su Yichen is such a talented and rich young man. He has money, status, and good looks, plus he¡¯s young. He¡¯d be a perfect match for Xiaoxiao. Hmph, only that child Xiaoxiao would be so unappreciative¡­it¡¯s better not to talk about it. Qingqing, when you have the time, talk to Xiaoxiao about Su Yichen. He¡¯s really a rare best husband candidate.¡± Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t notice that as he spoke, Lin Wanqing¡¯s expression grew darker. She seethed, ¡°He said he raised me as his daughter, but why does only Lin Xiaoxiao deserve a man like Su Yichen, who is rich, powerful and perfect? Am I, Lin Wanqing, not worthy of him? Hmph, in the end, I, this adopted daughter, am just an outsider. That¡¯s why Lin Chengdong wants to save all the best things in the world for Lin Xiaoxiao. It¡¯s a pity that Lin Xiaoxiao, that idiot, doesn¡¯t know his good intentions and always goes against him.¡± Lin Wanqing forced a smile and said, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry. With a man like Su Yichen, no girl would not want to marry him. Xiaoxiao is just being contrary to you now. Once she comes to her senses, she¡¯ll naturally listen to you.¡± Lin Chengdong nodded when he heard this and said, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I have to wait a while longer to talk to her about Su Yichen.¡± Chapter 332 - Chapter 332: Chapter 332: Chapter 332: Chapter 332: Lin Xiaoxiao, dolled-up in her rebel garb, was walking down a small alley, when suddenly a man, hidden behind a black-brimmed hat and a black mask, took out a white cloth and lunged at Lin Xiaoxiao in front of him. Before Lin Xiaoxiao could react, she passed out. The man then helped the unconscious Lin Xiaoxiao leave. At home, Lin Chengdong called Lin Xiaoxiao, but upon hearing the voicemail on the other end, his brow furrowed. ¡°What¡¯s this girl up to? She¡¯s not answering my calls and hasn¡¯t been home for days.¡± He then spoke to Lin Wanqing, who was eating with him across the table, ¡°Qingqing, can you try calling Xiaoxiao? This headstrong girl is so angry with me she won¡¯t even take my calls.¡± Although Lin Xiaoxiao had her own apartment and often wouldn¡¯t come home, it was rare for her to not answer her father¡¯s calls, even when they argued. Lin Wanqing paused for a moment as she was picking up food with her chopsticks. She then set down her chopsticks, took out her cell phone, and dutifully replied, ¡°Okay!¡± She then dialed the number. She allowed Lin Chengdong to see the outgoing call display marked ¡°sister¡±. After a while, the call went through. ¡°Sister, where are you? Dad misses you!¡± Lin Wanqing gently asked. Angrily, the voice on the other end retorted, ¡°This damn old man, didn¡¯t he say to never come back once I had left him? Now, I am miles away from him, and he should stop looking for me.¡± With that, the call was abruptly ended. Lin Chengdong¡¯s face darkened, gritting his teeth he said, ¡°Lin Xiaoxiao, you ungrateful girl, can¡¯t I even say a few words to you?¡± Lin Wanqing, looking at the ended call, said, ¡°Dad, she hung up.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Lin Chengdong slammed down his chopsticks and angrily said, ¡°This damn girl, can¡¯t I even criticize her without her threatening to sever ties with me? She wants to run away from home? Fine, I hope she runs far far away, and never comes back!¡± With that, he stomped out of the room. ¡°Dad, where are you going? You haven¡¯t finished your meal yet!¡± Xiaoxiao called after him. ¡°Who wants to eat? I¡¯m full of anger.¡± Lin Chengdong shouted back, ¡°This damn girl, she¡¯s driving me crazy!¡± Watching Lin Chengdong storm out, a cryptic smirk tugged at the corner of Lin Wanqing¡¯s mouth. She glanced back at the number she had dialed earlier. Beneath the contact name ¡°sister,¡± the number differed by a single digit from the one under ¡°ungrateful girl,¡± a label Lin Chengdong had saved for Lin Xiaoxiao. It was a difference easy to miss for an unobservant eye. Xiao Junxuan had a business trip. After completing his task, he planned to visit an old classmate in the countryside. His classmate lived in a secluded mountain village, so he rented a car intending to drive himself there. But still a fair distance from the village¡­ A ¡°screeching¡± sound. The sound of an emergency braking. After Xiao Junxuan parked his car, an angry man emerged, looking at the person lying on the ground, he shouted, ¡°I tell you, there¡¯s a driving recorder in my car, don¡¯t even think about staging a crash to swindle me.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao laid on the ground, gingerly raising her head. Her face was covered in cuts and bruises, she gasped, ¡°Help¡­ save me!¡± Just as Xiao Junxuan was about to respond, chatter arose in the distance. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry, she won¡¯t run far with a broken leg and injuries.¡± ¡°This bitch, I paid twelve thousand for her, and she runs before even giving me a child. I stand to lose a lot.¡± ¡°Pi Zi, that woman is so soft and pretty-looking, the child she¡¯d give birth to would definitely be pretty.¡± A man laughed. ¡°Exactly, I¡¯ve lived more than half of my life, and aside from the female celebrities on TV, I¡¯ve never seen a woman as beautiful as her. Pi Zi, your purchase of twelve thousand was indeed worth it.¡± With that, his eyes shifted, ¡°Pi Zi, after the woman has given birth to your son, can you lend her to me to bear a child? I also want a beautiful and handsome son.¡± Before Pi Zi could refuse, he continued, ¡°You just relax, as long as the woman gives me a child, for a girl I¡¯ll give three thousand, for a boy I¡¯ll give you five thousand, how does that sound? Furthermore, you don¡¯t have to pay for her nutritional supplements during her pregnancy.¡± Immediately, people chimed in, ¡°Pi Zi, I think this proposal isn¡¯t bad. That woman is so young, after having your son, she can definitely continue to give birth. If you let her bear children for the other men in the village without wives, a year for one, you wouldn¡¯t have to work and still make money, how beneficial. Five thousand a year, fifty thousand in ten years. You¡¯ve lived almost all your life, even borrowing money from relatives and friends to buy a wife. With this income, you could quickly pay back the money borrowed from your relatives and friends¡­¡± The more Xiao Junxuan listed in the colder his face turned. Due to the long-term effects of Lingquan water, Xiao Junxuan¡¯s hearing was exceptionally sensitive. Despite their talking, he was unable to see these people, being obstructed by the trees and hills, there was a considerable distance between them. Lin Xiaoxiao, laying on the ground, endured her body¡¯s pain. With blurred eyesight, she looked at the man in front of her and mustered all her strength to produce a mosquito-like sound, ¡°Save me.¡± Following that, she passed out. Now, Xiao Junxuan wouldn¡¯t think that this girl was trying to stage a fake accident. He bent down and picked up the young girl. But as soon as he lifted her, one of her legs hung limply. That leg must be the one that had been broken, as those men had been discussing. A surge of anger rose within Xiao Junxuan. How dare these people? He then looked at the severely bruised girl with a solemn gaze. How did such a tender and fragile girl, with a broken leg and a body full of injuries, manage to escape? Hearing the footsteps getting closer, Xiao Junxuan quickly carried the girl into the car. By the time those men arrived, his car was long gone. Of course, those men were unaware that the person they were looking for had been taken away. On his way back, Xiao Junxuan received a call from his old classmate. His classmate told him that an incident had occurred in the village and they were not welcoming outsiders at the moment, so it would be best for him not to visit. The classmate also said he would visit him in the future instead. Upon hearing his classmate¡¯s words, Xiao Junxuan felt a mix of emotions welling up. From his classmate¡¯s words, he immediately understood that his classmate was aware of the women being bought in the village, but had chosen to turn a blind eye. What a waste, such a highly educated person from a key university, yet still clinging to the backward customs of the village. This old classmate, he couldn¡¯t associate with him anymore. Xiao Junxuan sighed softly, ¡°:In the future, let¡¯s not visit each other.¡± His old classmate was left completely bewildered, Chapter 333 - Chapter 333: Chapter 333: Chapter 333: Chapter 333: ¡°Sister Jin Li, hurry, Brother Xuan wants you to go to the hospital now!¡± Xiao Xiaoming called out to Xiao Jinli from afar, ¡°It¡¯s a matter of life and death!¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s face changed, and she quickly asked, ¡°What happened to my brother?¡± Xiao Xiaoming had run over and was panting, ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s not Brother Xuan. He¡¯s holding a woman with wounds all over her body.¡± ¡°A woman?¡± the grandmother immediately asked with concern, ¡°What does she look like?¡± ¡°Go on, old lady, what does a child like Xiao Ming know about what a woman looks like?¡± the grandfather said. Grandma Xiao hurriedly urged Xiao Jinli, ¡°Good baby, hurry up and go see.¡± ¡°Fellow villager, shall we go and have a look too?¡± the grandmother asked with a smile. Xiao Junxuan was in his thirties and had never found a partner before. Now, it was said that he was carrying an injured woman, which aroused everyone¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go and have a look.¡± Xiao Family Village now has its own hospital and has hired some highly skilled doctors. Usually, Xiao Jinli doesn¡¯t take action, but in the case of critically ill patients who can¡¯t be helped by other doctors, she will step in to save them. Now that Xiao Junxuan didn¡¯t ask anyone else but went straight to Xiao Jinli, it seemed that the girl was somehow special to him. Su Yichen went to the hospital with Xiao Jinli. Lin Xiaoxiao was lying on the hospital bed, unconscious or asleep. When the group of people entered, she did not wake up. Her face was bruised, making people feel pain just by looking at it. The two old ladies looked at her and said, ¡°This poor child, was she beaten by someone?¡± ¡°Xuan¡¯er, who beat this girl?¡± Xiao Junxuan shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He only heard people talking but didn¡¯t really see who hit her. Su Yichen looked at Lin Xiaoxiao with surprise, ¡°Lin Xiaoxiao!¡± ¡°Xiao Quan, do you know this girl?¡± the grandmother asked curiously. Su Yichen said with some confusion, ¡°She looks like a girl I know, but that girl is from the Capital City. If it¡¯s her, how did she end up here?¡± ¡°From the Capital City?¡± Xiao Junxuan was surprised, ¡°When I met her, she was in Qingzhai Village, Licheng County. That village is more backward and further away from the Capital City than our village. Moreover, she was lying on the ground. I thought she was a scammer, but it turned out she had escaped from that village, and a group of people were chasing her. Someone in that group said that the girl¡¯s leg had been broken and that she couldn¡¯t get far.¡± The grandmothers¡¯ faces changed, and they looked at Lin Xiaoxiao with astonishment. The grandmother asked, ¡°Xuan¡¯er, do you mean that she was kidnapped and sold there, and then escaped?¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°I suspect so. At that time, one of the men in the group said he had bought her for twelve thousand and she had run away before giving birth.¡± ¡°In all likelihood, she was trafficked,¡± said Grandma Xiao, ¡°what a beast! Xuan¡¯er, have you called the police?¡± Xiao Junxuan shook his head, ¡°At that time, I was stopped by this girl, and since she was severely injured and followed by a group of people chasing her, I left in a hurry.¡± ¡°Xuan¡¯er did the right thing, the priority is to protect our own safety first,¡± Grandma Xiao said, ¡°wait until the girl wakes up and see if she wants to call the police.¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°We have to call the police. This girl was lucky to meet me while escaping from the wolf¡¯s den with severe injuries, but what if there are other girls who are kidnapped and taken to that village? Can they be as lucky as she was?¡± ¡°Xuan¡¯er is right. We still need to call the police,¡± the grandmother agreed, ¡°we can¡¯t let other girls be persecuted.¡± As Xiao Jinli was checking Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s injuries and examining her leg, Lin Xiaoxiao might have been woken up by the pain. When she opened her eyes, they were immediately filled with vigilance and wariness. The grandmother quickly smiled and said, ¡°Girl, don¡¯t be afraid, you¡¯re safe in the hospital now.¡± Seeing the kind-eyed old lady, Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes were somewhat confused, and then she looked around and quickly relaxed, her heart settling down. Thank goodness, she had finally escaped that ghastly place. Lin Xiaoxiao quickly looked over the strangers standing by her bed. Well, she didn¡¯t recognize Su Yichen. He had put on makeup and was still disguised as an old man. After examining everyone, Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s gaze fell on Xiao Junxuan. During her last escape, she seemed to have encountered a man driving a car. With her vision blurred at the time, all she knew was that the man was tall. She had used her last ounce of strength to beg him to take her away. Although she didn¡¯t see the man¡¯s face clearly, she had a strong sense of smell since childhood and could distinguish different scents on people. She smelled the man¡¯s scent on her. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Xiao Junxuan and said, ¡°It was you, sir, who saved me, wasn¡¯t it? Thank you!¡± Xiao Junxuan frowned and shook his head, ¡°You saved yourself, I just happened to pick you up on the road.¡± At this point, he looked at Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s broken leg, which had already been treated by other doctors, and asked with puzzlement, ¡°One of your legs was broken by someone, and the bones are shattered. How did you manage to escape?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s face changed, and she looked around with vigilance and wariness once again. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is Xiao Family Village, and we don¡¯t engage in the despicable act of trafficking women and children.¡± ¡°Xiao Family Village?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao looked astonished. She came to her senses and asked in amazement, ¡°Is it the Xiao Family Village I¡¯m thinking of? The one that¡¯s famous nationwide for selling vegetables?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s this Xiao Family Village,¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°It¡¯s very safe here, so just put your mind at ease.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Xiao Junxuan, puzzled, ¡°Is Xiao Family Village very close to Qingzhai Village?¡± She had only begged the man to save her, so how did she end up in Xiao Family Village when she woke up? Xiao Jinli shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s far. It should be about three to four hundred kilometers by road, right?¡± ¡°That far?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned again. She had thought it was nearby, so the person who saved her had brought her directly to Xiao Family Village. Unexpectedly, the journey was so long, yet he had brought her all the way to Xiao Family Village. Being here in Xiao Family Village, her mood had finally settled down. That was because many people online said that Xiao Family Village was the safest place in the country. Here, no bad person could enter, and even if they did and did something bad, they would be quickly discovered and unable to leave. That¡¯s what made Xiao Family Village so magical. People outside had no idea what was going on. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Xiao Junxuan once again and sincerely thanked him, ¡°Sir, thank you!¡± Xiao Junxuan asked directly, ¡°Is your home in the Capital City?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was surprised, ¡°How did you know?¡± Everyone, Chapter 334 - Chapter 334: Chapter 334: (First Update) Chapter 334: Chapter 334: (First Update) Lin Xiaoxiao was truly surprised that he knew she was from the Capital City. After all, she was not familiar with him or these people. However, she looked at Xiao Jinli, who was examining her leg, squinted her eyes, and asked with a hint of confusion, ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve seen this sister somewhere before. Where was it?¡± After thinking for a moment, her eyes suddenly widened, and she covered her mouth, pointing at Xiao Jinli and said with astonishment, ¡°You¡¯re Doctor Xiao, aren¡¯t you?¡± Her tone was very respectful, and admiration could be seen in her eyes. Xiao Jinli raised her eyebrows, and asked with a half-smile, ¡°You¡¯ve seen me before?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao nodded happily, ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ve seen you in the Retirement Home for Cadres. I saw you taking the pulse and diagnosing diseases for a group of old heroes. Doctor Xiao, you¡¯re really amazing. You¡¯re so young, and you have such great medical skills. My maternal grandfather has told me about you, saying that when you were eleven or twelve, your medical skills surpassed those of the so-called Divine and National Doctor, Doctor Xu. You¡¯ve diagnosed Old Chen and resolved the major hidden danger of the bullet in his body, discovered Elder Zeng¡¯s early brain tumor, and cured it¡­¡± Then, Lin Xiaoxiao seemed to forget her own injuries and spoke non-stop about Xiao Jinli¡¯s past, revealing admiration in her eyes. Yes, it¡¯s the admiration and respect for her idol. Xiao Jinli and others were, They didn¡¯t expect Xiao Junxuan¡¯s rescue to bring about a fan of Xiao Jinli. Xiao Jinli interrupted her endless words and directly asked, ¡°Sister, you¡­¡± ¡°Doctor Xiao, my name is Lin Xiaoxiao!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said excitedly, ¡°When my parents named me, they hoped that I would be happy and laugh more, and that one smile could dispel a thousand worries.¡± ¡°So Lin, since you¡¯re from the Capital City, how did you end up in Qingzhai Village?¡± Xiao Jinli asked with curiosity. She was afraid of touching on Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s difficulties and didn¡¯t directly mention being sold to Qingzhai Village. Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. That day, I was shopping and about to go home, when someone covered my mouth as I passed an alley, and then I passed out. When I woke up, I was in Qingzhai Village. Someone had sold me to the village to become a bachelor¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°Seeing the injuries on your body, how did you cope in that village?¡± Xiao Jinli asked further. Upon mentioning this, Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s face became angry and emotional, ¡°That man wanted me to have children with him. I wouldn¡¯t want that, so I resisted fiercely, and then I was beaten by his family. The old witch even told her son to break my legs. If my legs were broken, I couldn¡¯t fight back no matter what, and once I gave birth to a child, I would willingly stay in their house.¡± ¡°When I heard that and saw the five or six people in their family, I was terrified and anxious. But before I could think of a way to deal with them, the man picked up a thick stick and broke one of my legs. I immediately cried out that I would obey and begged them not to hit me anymore. They thought they had beaten me into submission and that I wouldn¡¯t dare to think of running away, so they let their guard down.¡± That night, while they were fast asleep, I escaped. Dragging my broken leg and enduring the excruciating pain, I crawled out, step by step. Sobbing¡­ I don¡¯t know how long I crawled, but I couldn¡¯t move anymore. But I was so scared and terrified of going back to that place. If it weren¡¯t for you, sir, I¡­ I don¡¯t know what would have happened to me if I had been caught again. Sobbing, I was so afraid, I longed for someone to help me. Sobbing¡­¡± Grandma Xiao had red-rimmed eyes, and she hugged Lin Xiaoxiao, comforting her, ¡°Good child, you¡¯ve been rescued, and you¡¯re safe now. You can rest assured. Don¡¯t worry, this is Xiao Family Village; no bad person can enter, and no one will hurt you again.¡± ¡°Mmm, thank you, Grandma!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao cried. ¡°How can these bad people be so evil?¡± The maternal grandmother said angrily, ¡°What kind of society is it now, and they still do such heinous deeds as kidnapping and trafficking women? Aren¡¯t they afraid of getting shot?¡± I looked at Su Yichen while Xiao Jinli whispered, ¡°This Lin Xiaoxiao is the younger daughter of Lin Chengdong, the chairman of Kyoto Qianli Group. I heard that this younger daughter is disobedient and often does some unconventional things, which makes Lin Chengdong have heart attacks every day. However, it is said that Lin Chengdong¡¯s elder daughter is an adopted one. This adopted daughter has been raised very well. She is a gentle, dignified, and virtuous woman, and a very capable person.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Well, I know.¡± If nothing unexpected happens, Lin Xiaoxiao would likely become her sister-in-law in the future. Therefore, she would certainly need to investigate this person thoroughly. Also, she didn¡¯t believe that Lin Xiaoxiao was kidnapped accidentally. It was more likely that someone had planned to kidnap her. As for who planned it, an investigation is needed. After a while, Xiao Jinli looked at Lin Xiaoxiao and asked very seriously, ¡°Sister Lin, do you plan to call the police?¡± For a girl who has been kidnapped, calling the police might lead to criticism. Society can sometimes be too harsh on women. Even though she is a victim, she seems like an unforgivable criminal, bearing all sorts of abuse and pointing fingers. So, calling the police takes great courage and is a result of the girl and her family¡¯s struggle. Lin Xiaoxiao, however, said without hesitation, ¡°Calling the police, of course! If I don¡¯t report it and expose the human trafficking village, more girls might get hurt in the future.¡± Upon hearing this, Grandma Xiao and the maternal grandmother looked at each other and said, ¡°Xiaoxiao, you are a kind girl.¡± Liking for Lin Xiaoxiao immediately rose in Xiao Jinli¡¯s heart. She nodded in agreement, ¡°Yes, we should call the police, otherwise more and more girls will be kidnapped and hurt. But Sister Lin, the person who kidnapped you must be found.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao frowned, ¡°But, someone covered my mouth and made me unconscious at that time. I didn¡¯t see the person clearly. I don¡¯t know if I can find them, or if there is any monitoring there to find the person through.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Sister Lin, tell me, when were you made unconscious and where? I will have someone check it out!¡± After listening to Xiao Jinli¡¯s question, Lin Xiaoxiao was very surprised, but after thinking about it, many people in the Retirement Home for Cadres had a good relationship with Doctor Xiao. Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°I remember it was on July 3rd, in the evening. I went shopping with my friends at that time. I was planning to leave and checked the time specially. It was 7:23 PM, on Liu Xiang Street.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± At this moment, Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly thought of something and asked anxiously, ¡°Doctor Xiao, my leg was broken by them, can it be cured? Will I become disabled?¡± Chapter 335 - Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Upon hearing Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s question, everyone was momentarily speechless. How big was this girl¡¯s heart? She had been awake for so long, and she only just remembered to ask if her leg could be treated? Xiao Junxuan looked at Lin Xiaoxiao, his eyebrows and eyes all smiling. How could this girl be so adorable? And she¡¯s a little cutie who admires her sister? Xiao Jinli subconsciously glanced at her brother¡¯s face, and sure enough, she found a different expression than before. It seemed that this Lin Xiaoxiao might become her future sister-in-law. Of course, Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t think at all that her brother wouldn¡¯t be able to chase Lin Xiaoxiao. Not to mention anything else, just the life-saving favor should be reciprocated with her body, right? Before Xiao Jinli could speak, Xiao Junxuan reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Lin, since you called my sister a Divine Doctor, your injury will be treated and your leg will return to normal.¡± Hearing Xiao Junxuan¡¯s words, Lin Xiaoxiao was full of confidence in Xiao Jinli. ¡°Then, Doctor Xiao, please help me with my leg.¡± The more Grandma Xiao and the maternal grandmother watched Lin Xiaoxiao, the more adorable she seemed. Her earlier sadness had completely vanished. Grandma Xiao smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my good baby¡¯s medical skills are excellent, she will definitely cure your leg!¡± ¡°Yes, I know. Doctor Xiao is the best doctor in the country.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao really, really, really had confidence in Xiao Jinli. Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­¡± It seemed that if she didn¡¯t cure the girl¡¯s leg, she would be unworthy of the title ¡°Divine Doctor.¡± Xiao Jinli promised, ¡°Well, for me, your leg injury is just a minor issue. Although the broken spot is a bit shattered, as long as you have a minimally invasive surgery and use the Bone-healing ointment, you will recover within one month.¡± ¡°Huh, a month?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked anxiously, ¡°Doctor Xiao, do you mean I have to lie in bed for a month and need someone to take care of me?¡± Xiao Jinli asked with a smile, ¡°Sister Lin, do you think the time of being taken care of is too short, would you like to make it two months?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want anyone to take care of me.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head vigorously. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lie in bed for a single day, a month is too long. Doctor Xiao, please, can you shorten the time, please?¡± The last sentence was obviously filled with a spoiled tone. ¡°The old saying goes, ¡®a hundred days of broken muscles and bones.¡¯ Letting you lie down for a month is already a short time.¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°One month of recovery time is already very short.¡± A desperate expression immediately appeared on Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s face. ¡°Pfft!¡± Xiao Junxuan laughed and explained, ¡°What my sister meant was that you won¡¯t need to lie in bed for the entire month. In the initial treatment, you¡¯ll need to lie in bed, but during the later recovery period, you won¡¯t.¡± Although he was not a doctor himself, he had learned a bit about medicine from having a Divine Doctor sister. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how it is!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good; I thought I would be in bed for the whole month. A whole month in bed would cause mold.¡± Xiao Jinli explained, ¡°During the treatment phase, you need to lie in bed and not move. After the surgery and applying the Bone-healing ointment, it will take about seven days. After seven days, you can sit in a wheelchair and go outside, and after fifteen days, you can slowly stand up.¡± ¡°Oh, so I still need to be bedridden for fifteen days.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao seemed disappointed. The maternal grandmother said with a smile, ¡°A hundred days of broken muscles and bones, this time is already very short, child, just bear with it. In just seven days, you can sit in a wheelchair and visit our Xiao Family Village. Our Xiao Family Village is very beautiful.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard of Xiao Family Village as a beautiful rural area.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao smiled and said, ¡°Since I¡¯m here, I have to take a good look at it.¡± Grandma Xiao smiled and said, ¡°Yes, you should take a good look. Maybe you¡¯ll fall in love with our Xiao Family Village.¡± She glanced subtly at her silly-smiling grandson. It seemed that the young man had taken a fancy to the girl. At that moment, Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°Sister Lin, you are from Capital City. Do you want to notify your family about your injury?¡± When the subject of family was brought up, Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes darkened and her brows furrowed. After a while, she shook her head, ¡°No need. Even if the old man knew, he would only scold me, and I don¡¯t want him to. He won¡¯t worry about me anyway. Besides, he has another obedient daughter beside him, so I don¡¯t want to disturb his favored daughter¡¯s filial piety.¡± Listening to Lin Xiaoxiao lightly and breezily talk about family, everyone didn¡¯t bring it up any further. It seemed that this child didn¡¯t get along well with her family. Maternal grandmother said, ¡°Alright, we won¡¯t let them know.¡± Soon after, Xiao Jinli entered the treatment phase, and several skilled orthopedic doctors from the hospital followed and studied by her side. On the other side, Grandma Xiao, the maternal grandmother, Xiao Junxuan and Su Yichen went to the lounge. Xiao Junxuan couldn¡¯t wait to ask, ¡°Xiao Quan, is Lin Xiaoxiao the one you know?¡± Since Xiao Junxuan had fallen for Lin Xiaoxiao, he naturally cared more about her affairs. This love came so unexpectedly. It wasn¡¯t exactly love at first sight, and it wasn¡¯t deep affection from a long time together¡ªthey had only been together for a short day or two, and most of that time, the other party was unconscious. What he liked was her kind, cheerful and objective heart. So, he wanted to know more about Lin Xiaoxiao. Su Yichen nodded, ¡°Yes. This Lin Xiaoxiao is the younger daughter of Lin Chengdong, from Kyoto¡¯s Qianli Group.¡± ¡°Qianli Group?¡± Xiao Junxuan furrowed his brows, ¡°The one that is ranked among the top 30 national enterprises?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Su Yichen nodded. ¡°But it seems that Lin Xiaoxiao doesn¡¯t get along well with her family?¡± Xiao Junxuan asked doubtfully, ¡°Xiao Quan, do you know what¡¯s going on?¡± Su Yichen shook his head, ¡°This is their family matter, and I don¡¯t know much about it. However, according to rumors, it is because Lin Chengdong is too biased towards his older daughter, causing dissatisfaction and even running away from home in his younger daughter, who is unwilling to return.¡± ¡°So, Lin Xiaoxiao doesn¡¯t get along well with her sister?¡± Xiao Junxuan asked. ¡°It¡¯s said that Lin Chengdong¡¯s older daughter is adopted. She is actually the daughter of Lin Chengdong¡¯s former comrade. In his early years as a soldier, that comrade saved him but sacrificed himself. That man¡¯s wife ran away, leaving a daughter with her grandparents in the village. After Lin Chengdong retired, he adopted her.¡± ¡°In that case, Lin Chengdong is not wrong, and it¡¯s understandable for him to be biased.¡± The maternal grandmother was puzzled, ¡°But Xiaoxiao seems to be a sensible child, how could she make a fuss about this?¡± Su Yichen shook his head, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be that simple.¡± Chapter 336 - Chapter 336: Chapter 336: Chapter 336: Chapter 336: ¡°I heard that Lin Chengdong¡¯s younger daughter, Lin Xiaoxiao, has an arrogant and domineering personality. She bullies her adopted sister every day in front of the servants and maids,¡± Su Yichen shares what he knows. ¡°Lin Chengdong is also constantly being irritated by his biological daughter, causing his heart disease to flare up every three days.¡± Grandma Xiao frowned and asked in confusion, ¡°Why would Xiaoxiao bully her adopted sister? Since her adopted sister¡¯s father saved her father¡¯s life, Xiaoxiao should treat her adopted sister kindly, right?¡± Su Yichen shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know about that either.¡± As it was someone else¡¯s family matter, he wouldn¡¯t investigate it. What he knew was from stories within their circle. The reason it reached his ears was that Lin Chengdong wanted to match Lin Xiaoxiao with him, so some people intentionally told him about it. Maternal grandmother said, ¡°Xiaoxiao seems to be a sensible and kind child. You¡¯ve only heard about it, not seen it with your own eyes, right? Perhaps there¡¯s some hidden truth behind this.¡± ¡°I agree with that,¡± Grandma Xiao nodded. ¡°This child has been kidnapped, but she didn¡¯t hesitate to report it to the police to prevent more girls from being hurt. I don¡¯t believe such a kind person would treat the daughter of her father¡¯s lifesaver so harshly. There must be some inside story that we don¡¯t know.¡± At this point, she suddenly realized something and asked, ¡°Xiao Quan, does Lin Chengdong have a son?¡± Su Yichen shook his head and said, ¡°No, just a biological daughter and an adopted daughter.¡± Grandma Xiao immediately understood the crux of the matter. She said, ¡°Lin Chengdong has two daughters, one adopted and one biological. For ordinary people, such a large family business would definitely go to their biological daughter. Has Lin Chengdong ever said who he¡¯s going to leave his family business to?¡± Su Yichen shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. However, I heard that Lin Chengdong initially intended to leave the family business to Lin Xiaoxiao. But Lin Xiaoxiao didn¡¯t seem to be interested in his company and treated her adopted sister poorly, frequently aggravating his heart condition. It¡¯s unclear whether Lin Chengdong wanted to provoke her or was truly fed up with his daughter. He has said that he wanted to leave the family business to his adopted daughter instead.¡± After hearing this, Grandma Xiao and the maternal grandmother exchanged glances, having a slightly better understanding of the situation. Su Yichen thought for a moment and said, ¡°Maternal grandmother, Grandma, should I go investigate this?¡± Just now in the sickroom, he noticed that Xiao Junxuan might have had some special feelings towards Lin Xiaoxiao. If Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s character is good, she would probably become a part of the Xiao Family in the future. After considering for a moment, the maternal grandmother said, ¡°Never mind. If Xiaoxiao can become a part of the Xiao Family, she will definitely tell us about her family situation in the future.¡± At this point, she paused and thought for a moment, ¡°I¡¯m just curious how Xiaoxiao was kidnapped from the Capital City and ended up thousands of miles away in Qingzhai Village. Logically, her family is wealthy, and there should be bodyguards to protect her all the time. I can¡¯t believe that Zhu Chengdong would let his biological daughter go out alone without protection. There must be bodyguards protecting her secretly. So, there might be a scheme behind this.¡± Two daughters, one adopted and one biological. If there is no biological daughter, wouldn¡¯t the vast fortune of the Zhu Family go entirely to the adopted daughter? Su Yichen nodded, ¡°Alright, I get it.¡± Maternal grandmother thought for a moment and said, ¡°Xiao Quan, you should send someone to secretly remind Zhu Chengdong and see if he has realized that his biological daughter has been kidnapped.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it, maternal grandmother!¡± Su Yichen nodded. In the past, he didn¡¯t care about the Lin Family¡¯s affairs, but if Lin Xiaoxiao has the potential to become a part of the Xiao Family, he should be more concerned. Lin Xiaoxiao has a bad reputation in the Capital Circle. Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s personality is straightforward, daring to love and hate. She also despises the hypocritical socialite circle and has little interaction with the socialite daughters of the circle. In contrast, her adopted sister has an excellent reputation in the Capital Circle. In the upper-class circle, Lin Wanqing, her adopted sister, is praised for her gentle and virtuous demeanor and excellent business acumen. She is considered the perfect daughter-in-law by many wealthy families. Additionally, Lin Wanqing has a good reputation among noble ladies and daughters and is friends with many of them. Of course, the main reason he knew about Lin Xiaoxiao was that he had business dealings with Lin Chengdong, who had tried to set him up with Lin Xiaoxiao. However, unlike other socialite daughters who tried to get his attention, Lin Xiaoxiao avoided him like the plague. Not that he had any interest in her, though. Xiao Junxuan suddenly asked, ¡°Xiao Quan, does Xiaoxiao have friends in the Capital City?¡± Su Yichen shook his head and said, ¡°Brother Xuan, I don¡¯t know either. I¡­ actually I don¡¯t know Lin Xiaoxiao well.¡± He also felt embarrassed to tell Xiao Junxuan that they had once been potential blind dates. ¡°I can have someone investigate it!¡± Su Yichen said again, ¡°But, Brother Xuan, I think it¡¯s better to ask Lin Xiaoxiao directly.¡± Rumors are really harmful. Lin Xiaoxiao, such a lovely and kind-hearted girl, was said to be a bad girl who was arrogant and domineering in the circle. Of course, no matter what kind of girl Lin Xiaoxiao was, she was not Su Yichen¡¯s type. Xiao Junxuan thought about it and nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll ask Xiaoxiao first. If she has friends, she should make a phone call to let them know she¡¯s safe. I¡¯m just worried that her friends may be worried.¡± In fact, he wanted to know Lin Chengdong¡¯s attitude through Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s friends. Lin Xiaoxiao said that the old man didn¡¯t care about her, and she didn¡¯t need him to care about her, but in fact, she still missed her family¡¯s old man. Since he had thoughts about Lin Xiaoxiao, he naturally considered everything for her. On the other side, Lin Xiaoxiao opened her mouth in surprise. She really didn¡¯t expect that the minimally invasive surgery mentioned by Doctor Xiao was really just that, without anesthesia, only a few silver needles were inserted into her body, and then when the scalpel opened the skin, there was no pain and no blood flowed. This surgery was also personally performed by Xiao Jinli. Of course, it is Lin Xiaoxiao who has this treatment now, with the chance to become Xiao Family, that Xiao Jinli personally does the surgery for her. Xiao Jinli cut open the broken part, then rearranged the shattered bone, sutured the wound, and finally put on a bone-healing ointment. After a moment of surprise, Lin Xiaoxiao looked at the bone-healing ointment on her leg and asked in amazement, ¡°Doctor Xiao, is the surgery finished?¡± It only took a few minutes. She had heard that such surgery usually takes several hours. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s done. Didn¡¯t I just tell you, it¡¯s just a small surgery after all. Sister Lin, this bone-healing ointment needs to be applied for twenty-four hours, then replaced with another one. Your leg has just had surgery, so you can¡¯t move around. You need to lie in bed for two days.¡± ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao responded blankly, ¡°Is there anything I should pay attention to?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°That is, today and tomorrow, you need to avoid spicy, fishy food and alcohol. After two days, you don¡¯t need to be on a strict diet, you can eat whatever you want. Sister Lin, our Xiao¡¯s dishes are very delicious.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao, who was single-minded, didn¡¯t understand the meaning of Xiao Jinli¡¯s words. She said with a shy smile, ¡°Doctor Xiao, you¡¯ve already helped me a lot. How can I bother you and your family? I¡¯ve heard that Xiao Family Village Cafeteria¡¯s meals are delicious. I¡¯ll just ask the nursing staff to help me get some meals from there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no problem.¡± Xiao Jinli smiled ambiguously, ¡°Sister Lin, I tell you, my dishes are really hard for ordinary people to eat. Once there was someone who offered a million just for a meal at my house. But my family refused, as we don¡¯t lack money.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned again. ¡°A million for a meal?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao seemed to be listening to fairy tales, ¡°How could this be possible?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s true.¡± Xiao Jinli continued to tempt her with a smile, ¡°Sister Lin, if you refuse, you will definitely regret it.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was already a foodie. Hearing that someone offered a million just for a meal, it must be really delicious. Her eyes sparkled, and she nodded subconsciously, ¡°Yeah, yeah. I¡¯ll have dinner at your house.¡± When she realized it, her face turned red, and she said shyly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the liberty to bother you.¡± Xiao Jinli revealed an aunt¡¯s smile, taking a sister-in-law back home is not a bother. Chapter 337 - Chapter 337: Chapter 337: Chapter 337: Chapter 337: Capital City Lin Chengdong glanced at the calendar and realized that it had already been more than ten days since his younger daughter contacted him. His eyebrows immediately furrowed, and his heart became somewhat worried. He took out his cellphone, flipped through it several times, and found no call records from his younger daughter. A worried expression appeared on his face. He muttered to himself, ¡°This child, she wouldn¡¯t really want to sever ties with me, would she?¡± At this moment, he saw Lin Wanqing coming down the stairs, a clear expression of joy on her face. He stopped Lin Wanqing, ¡°Qingqing, has Xiaoxiao contacted you recently?¡± Lin Wanqing¡¯s joyful expression froze, then she shook her head, ¡°No.¡± ¡°No?¡± said Lin Chengdong, very worried, ¡°This child hasn¡¯t contacted me in more than ten days. Could something have happened? Qingqing, do you know where Xiaoxiao is?¡± Lin Wanqing shook her head again, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Dad, you know that Xiaoxiao has a big misunderstanding of me, and she never takes the initiative to contact me.¡± Lin Chengdong sighed lightly, ¡°Xiaoxiao is still immature. Wanqing, you should be more tolerant.¡± He noticed Lin Wanqing¡¯s more radiant and dazzling attire than usual, and subconsciously asked, ¡°Qingqing, are you dressed so beautifully tonight for a date with your boyfriend?¡± Lin Wanqing¡¯s face turned slightly red as she replied with a hint of shyness, ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t have a boyfriend yet. I have an appointment with a company client!¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s a company client,¡± Lin Chengdong said with a slight disappointment. ¡°I thought you¡¯d found a boyfriend. Which client is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Manager Liu from the Marketing Department of the Su Corporation,¡± said Lin Wanqing. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s almost time. I¡¯ll check with Xiaoxiao later. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Lin Chengdong was preoccupied and waved his hand, ¡°You go ahead.¡± After Lin Wanqing left, Lin Chengdong muttered, ¡°This child hasn¡¯t contacted me for so long; nothing bad could have happened, right?¡± After some thought, he made a phone call, ¡°Hello, Xiao Zhang, where is the second young miss now?¡± Xiao Zhang was the bodyguard he had assigned to secretly protect Lin Xiaoxiao. Xiao Zhang was puzzled, ¡°Boss, didn¡¯t you call and tell me not to protect the second young miss anymore?¡± ¡°What?¡± his heart suddenly dropped, ¡°When did I call you and tell you not to protect the second young miss?¡± Xiao Zhang expressed doubt, ¡°It was sixteen days ago.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s voice suddenly rose, ¡°I never made such a phone call!¡± Now, Xiao Zhang was shocked. He said, ¡°But boss, I¡¯m sure that sixteen days ago, I received a call from you, and it was your voice. I couldn¡¯t have gotten it wrong.¡± What was going on? Lin Chengdong was silent for a moment. He remembered. His cellphone had been missing for an hour. Perhaps, during that hour, someone had impersonated him and called Xiao Zhang. ¡°No, something¡¯s not right,¡± Lin Chengdong immediately realized, ¡°Xiaoxiao must be in trouble. Otherwise, no one would have impersonated me, calling you and telling you not to protect the second young miss. Xiao Zhang, immediately organize everyone to find the second young miss! As soon as possible!¡± Xiao Zhang also understood the significance of the matter. He nodded solemnly, ¡°Alright, boss, I¡¯ll get on it right away!¡± After hanging up the phone, Lin Chengdong sat in his study, lost in thought. Seventeen days ago was when he and his younger daughter, Lin Xiaoxiao, had had a heated argument. Then, the next day, he went to work and found out that he forgot his cellphone. He called the housekeeper and asked them to bring his phone to the company. However, the housekeeper told him that they couldn¡¯t find his cellphone. Later, the housekeeper called again saying that his phone wasn¡¯t in the study or bedroom, but in the second young miss¡¯s room¡¯s drawer. How did his phone end up in Xiaoxiao¡¯s drawer? At that time, he was slightly puzzled. Then, he thought that maybe he had missed his younger daughter and left his phone in her room absentmindedly. With this explanation, he didn¡¯t give much attention to the phone being lost. Little did he know that his carelessness and presumption had led to such a huge oversight. Lin Chengdong, nervous, frightened, and uneasy, tightly gripped the chair, muttering, ¡°Xiaoxiao, you must not let anything happen to you.¡± He was already in his fifties, and she was his only biological child. Chapter 338 - Chapter 338: Chapter 337:_2 Chapter 338: Chapter 337:_2 It could be said that this child was his life. Although he loved his adopted daughter, Lin Wanqing, she was the daughter of a benefactor. ¡°So who put my cellphone in Xiaoxiao¡¯s room that day?¡± Lin Chengdong thought about it and immediately called the housekeeper to check the surveillance for that day. But soon, the housekeeper came to report, ¡°Master, the surveillance was broken for a while that day, and there was no footage from that time.¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s face darkened instantly, and he angrily said, ¡°What are the security personnel doing? They didn¡¯t even notice that the surveillance was broken?¡± The housekeeper explained, ¡°It took less than ten minutes for the security personnel to find out that the surveillance was broken and get it fixed.¡± Lin Chengdong tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his eyes deep and moody. It was all a conspiracy¡ªa well-planned conspiracy targeting his biological daughter, Lin Xiaoxiao. His entire enterprise, yet his true heir, was always his own daughter. After all, he had an old-fashioned mindset that the family business could only be passed on to his biological offspring. As for his adopted daughter, Lin Wanqing, she was capable and talented, able to help Lin Xiaoxiao grow the Qianli Group. Even if not expanding, they could at least maintain the current state. So, if something were to happen to his biological daughter, who would benefit the most? First, the Lin Family¡ªthose nephews and nieces of his. Second, his adopted daughter, Lin Wanqing. Those relatives of Lin Family, especially his father, believed that his daughter would eventually marry and leave the family, so the Lin Family business must be inherited by Lin Family members. But Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t think so. The Qianli Group was created by him alone, built from nothing to its current success with his blood, sweat, and tears. It was his family business, not the Lin Family¡¯s. Those Lin Family relatives had a luxurious life only because he¡¯s supporting them. They didn¡¯t have the right to inherit his family business. But what if Lin Xiaoxiao disappeared? Would Lin Chengdong have to choose one of his nephews to inherit the family business? So, those Lin Family relatives were quite suspicious. And Lin Wanqing as well. Each time he quarreled with Lin Xiaoxiao, he would threaten her like this: ¡°If you don¡¯t want to inherit the Lin Family business, let your sister Lin Wanqing take over!¡± At that time, Lin Xiaoxiao would retort, ¡°Whoever you want to inherit it can inherit it. It¡¯s none of my business.¡± So maybe after hearing this so many times, Lin Wanqing took it to heart and became even more ambitious. If Lin Xiaoxiao disappeared, would she, Lin Wanqing, as Lin Chengdong¡¯s daughter in name, inherit everything from Lin Chengdong? At this thought, Lin Chengdong¡¯s hands clutched tightly. He said, ¡°It can¡¯t be. Qingqing is gentle and kind. She couldn¡¯t have done such a thing.¡± After an unknown period of time, Xiao Zhang called and anxiously reported to Lin Chengdong, ¡°Boss, the brothers have searched all the places Second Young Miss used to go¡ªbars, hotels, apartments¡ªand contacted all her friends, but nobody has seen her. The bar owner said she hasn¡¯t been there in over ten days.¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s heart tightened as he anxiously and loudly said, ¡°Keep searching! Even if I have to dig three feet into the Capital City, I will find the Second Young Miss!¡± Xiao Zhang fell silent for a moment, ¡°Boss, is it possible that the Second Young Miss left Capital City and went somewhere else?¡± ¡°No way!¡± Lin Chengdong denied immediately, ¡°She has no identification with her; where could she go?¡± Originally, Lin Chengdong was afraid that Lin Xiaoxiao would leave the Capital City without a word, so he had taken away all her identification documents early on. Without any identification, she could only come home obediently. After hearing this, Xiao Zhang said, ¡°Alright, boss, I¡¯ll have the brothers turn the Capital City upside down to find the Second Young Miss.¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s voice was heavy, ¡°Xiao Zhang, I¡¯m counting on you.¡± After hanging up Xiao Zhang¡¯s call, Lin Chengdong¡¯s heart was weighed down with worry and fear. He worried and feared that something unexpected had happened to Lin Xiaoxiao. He thought of something else and immediately made another call. Su Yichen was having dinner with the Xiao Family when the phone rang. He originally planned to ignore it and hang up. But when he caught a glimpse of the caller ID, Su Yichen looked at Xiao Jinli and glanced at Xiao Junxuan. Chapter 339 - Chapter 339: Chapter 337:_3 Chapter 339: Chapter 337:_3 Xiao Junxuan was baffled by their gazes. He asked, ¡°Xiao Quan, your phone is ringing. Answer it. Why are you looking at me?¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Su Yichen said, ¡°Brother Xuan, it is Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s biological father calling.¡± To everyone¡¯s surprise, as soon as he finished speaking, Grandma Xiao immediately became emotional and asked, ¡°Xiaoxiao¡¯s biological father? How did he call here?¡± Maternal grandmother said, ¡°Xiao Quan, you answer it first and see what he wants.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother knew that her son had taken a fancy to Lin Xiaoxiao and was aware of the strained relationship between the girl and her family. She also said, ¡°Xiao Quan, you answer the phone first and see if he is looking for Xiaoxiao.¡± What a caring father he must be, as his daughter has been missing for more than ten days, and he hasn¡¯t called once. Of course, if he is calling Su Yichen¡¯s cell phone now to find Lin Xiaoxiao, it means there might still be hope for the biological father. Under everyone¡¯s watch, Su Yichen answered the phone. Once he did, his demeanor instantly shifted. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± ¡°Su Dong, this is Lin Chengdong.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Lin Dong. What can I do for you?¡± Lin Chengdong directly asked, ¡°Su Dong, has my daughter contacted you?¡± Su Yichen asked, puzzled, ¡°Which daughter of yours? What does she want with me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my youngest daughter, Lin Xiaoxiao.¡± Lin Chengdong did not hide the fact, saying, ¡°It seems my daughter Lin Xiaoxiao has disappeared. She hasn¡¯t contacted me for more than half a month. When I call her, it¡¯s either busy, turned off, or I¡¯m hung up on directly. I originally thought she was protected by bodyguards in secret, and I didn¡¯t worry about losing contact with her.¡± But not long ago, the Bodyguard Captain told me that I ordered them to withdraw more than ten days ago and not protect Xiaoxiao anymore. But I never gave that command!¡± Su Yichen frowned, full of doubt, and said, ¡°So what, Lin Dong? Do you need my help with something?¡± Lin Chengdong said, ¡°Before Xiaoxiao disappeared, we had a fight. I told her to meet you!¡± ¡°What?¡± Su Yichen was so surprised that he almost stood up from his chair. Not only was he surprised, but everyone else was as well. No one expected that Su Yichen and Lin Xiaoxiao would have such a connection. Hoping to prevent Xiao Junxuan from misunderstanding, Su Yichen immediately interrupted him, ¡°Lin Dong, how many times have I told you that I don¡¯t like your daughter, and she doesn¡¯t seem to like me either? Don¡¯t waste your efforts on this.¡± Lin Dong¡¯s expression was somewhat stiff, but in order to ask for Su Yichen¡¯s help, he had to plow ahead, ¡°I understand, Su Dong. From now on, I definitely won¡¯t. Just, after that argument, Xiaoxiao said she didn¡¯t like you either and told me not to waste my energy. Then, she stormed off angrily. And since then, she hasn¡¯t given me a single phone call for more than half a month. Before, I thought she was safe, and I didn¡¯t care that she hadn¡¯t called me for more than ten days. Now that I know someone has been secretly manipulating the bodyguards protecting her, I realize that my daughter is in danger.¡± At this point, his voice choked. Now, he was just a pitiful old father. In the past, no matter how much he argued with Lin Xiaoxiao, even telling her to get lost and the farther away, the better, it was because he knew she was protected. But now, with his daughter in unknown danger, how could he not worry? Su Yichen remained silent, waiting for Lin Chengdong to continue. Lin Chengdong went on, ¡°Su Dong, I wanted to ask if Xiaoxiao came to see you sixteen days ago?¡± ¡°No!¡± Su Yichen gave him an answer. After hearing that, Lin Chengdong said with a bitter smile, ¡°I thought Xiaoxiao had come to see you, so I wanted to ask if you know where she is.¡± If Su Yichen wanted to arrange for Lin Xiaoxiao to leave, it would be an effortless matter. He was actually holding on to a glimmer of hope, hoping to learn Xiaoxiao¡¯s whereabouts from Su Yichen. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve disturbed you.¡± Lin Chengdong said, his voice tense and heavy. ¡°Lin Dong, don¡¯t hang up just yet!¡± Su Yichen immediately said, ¡°Although I don¡¯t have romantic feelings for your daughter, Lin Xiaoxiao is a kind-hearted girl. I want to treat her like a sister, and since she is missing, I¡¯ll do my best to find her.¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s eyes lit up, and he immediately expressed his gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Su Dong!¡± With Su Yichen¡¯s help, the hope of finding Lin Xiaoxiao increased. At this point, Su Yichen suggested, ¡°Lin Dong, although we haven¡¯t confirmed that your daughter is missing, I recommend reporting it to the police. Perhaps using the power of the Yamen would be more promising, don¡¯t you think?¡± Lin Chengdong hesitated slightly, ¡°But Su Dong, what if Xiaoxiao was kidnapped and reporting it to the police alerts the kidnappers? Could they retaliate against her?¡± Chapter 340 - Chapter 340: Chapter 338: Chapter 340: Chapter 338: Inside Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s hospital room. Grandma Xiao and the maternal grandmother were talking to Lin Xiaoxiao. ¡°Child, I have to tell you, your dad called. He was very worried during the time you were missing,¡± the maternal grandmother said, ¡°Also, your bodyguard, who was secretly protecting you, was used by someone and withdrawn, allowing the bad guys to success.¡± ¡°Yeah, he said you hadn¡¯t called him for more than ten days, and he was very worried about you. At first, he thought your bodyguard was protecting you and didn¡¯t worry too much about not getting through to your phone,¡± Grandma Xiao also said, ¡°But later, during the days you were missing, the bodyguards didn¡¯t protect you in secret. So, your dad immediately sent people to look for you and called Su Yichen for help.¡± ¡°Hmm, Su Yichen suggested your dad report directly to the police and used the force of Yamen to find your whereabouts. But do you know what your dad said?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°He feared that you were kidnapped and didn¡¯t want to alert the kidnappers by calling the police. But, considering your dad¡¯s worry, he does have a point. Weren¡¯t you kidnapped during these days you were missing? But the people who kidnapped you just sold you and didn¡¯t ask for a ransom from your dad.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao listened, full of doubts. She looked at the two old ladies and asked, ¡°Grandmothers, do you know my dad?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t!¡± The two old ladies were puzzled. Lin Xiaoxiao asked incredulously, ¡°If you don¡¯t know my dad, how do you know about my situation, and how do you know it so clearly?¡± Grandma Xiao said, ¡°But your dad knows Xiao Quan! He even called Xiao Quan¡¯s cell phone, and then we found out.¡± ¡°But who is Xiao Quan?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked again in confusion, ¡°How does my dad know Xiao Quan?¡± Xiao Junxuan covered his mouth and snickered on the side. Family members always called Su Yichen ¡°Xiao Quan,¡± and they never told Lin Xiaoxiao about it. Grandma Xiao and the maternal grandmother exchanged a glance, immediately realizing something was wrong. At this moment, Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°The Xiao Quan that grandma and the maternal grandmother are talking about is Su Yichen.¡± ¡°Su Yichen?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao widened her beautiful eyes in surprise, and asked incredulously, ¡°Is it the Su Yichen I¡¯m thinking of?¡± Xiao Junxuan laughed and said, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the Su Yichen you¡¯re thinking of, the National Richest Person.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly swore excitedly, ¡°God, what kind of shit fate do I have with Su Yichen? I escaped from him in the Capital City, but couldn¡¯t escape him in Xiao Family Village.¡± Grandma Xiao wondered, ¡°Xiaoxiao, why were you hiding from Xiao Quan in the Capital City? Did he bully you? But this kid Xiaoquan is honest and not likely to bully girls.¡± ¡°Su Yichen honest?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao seemed to have heard a big joke, ¡°Grandma, are you talking about Su Yichen as Xiao Quan? There aren¡¯t two people, are there? How can Su Yichen be honest?¡± Xiao Junxuan¡¯s face darkened and he said, ¡°So, did Su Yichen really bully you?¡± Why else would she be so surprised? Lin Xiaoxiao realized that her words might have caused misunderstandings; she shook her head and said, ¡°No, no, Su Yichen didn¡¯t bully me. I just heard people say that Su Yichen is decisive and merciless in the shopping mall and is called Cold-hearted Yama. I didn¡¯t expect that such a cold-blooded person in the shopping mall would be so honest in front of my grandmothers. I¡­I really can¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°Hehe, so that¡¯s it,¡± the maternal grandmother laughed, ¡°Child, I¡¯ll tell you, no matter what kind of person Xiao Quan is outside, in front of us, he¡¯s a good kid, an honest one.¡± Grandma Xiao brought up the previous topic again; she asked, ¡°Xiaoxiao, what did you mean earlier when you talked about the connection with Xiao Quan?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was very curious about the relationship between Su Yichen and the Xiao Family; her eyes rolled and she said honestly, ¡°It¡¯s my dad. I¡¯ve told him I don¡¯t like him, but my dad insists on setting up a blind date for us. To avoid him, I¡¯ve hidden from him several times. But I never expected to bump into Su Yichen even in Xiao Family Village.¡± She wondered to herself, How did Su Yichen know she was here? She had been here for so long, and she hadn¡¯t seen Su Yichen. Chapter 341 - Chapter 341: Chapter 338: _2 Chapter 341: Chapter 338: _2 So, had Su Yichen actually seen her before? Oh right, the day she woke up, someone asked her if she was from the Capital City, right? So, did they recognize her back then? If not, how did these people know she was from the Capital City? But among these people, she hadn¡¯t seen anyone who was Su Yichen, right? ¡°Haha¡­¡± Both grandmas laughed, ¡°Actually, when your dad called Xiao Quan, they mentioned the blind date thing on the phone. However, Xiao Quan made it clear to your dad that he doesn¡¯t like you, um, like the feelings between a man and a woman. But he wants to take you as his sister, would you like that?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was dumbfounded when she heard this. Just because she was trafficked once, the national richest person wanted to take her as his sister. Her luck must have really struck the jackpot. Lin Xiaoxiao laughed, ¡°Two grandmas, I am honored to be the sister of the wealthiest person in the country. I am definitely willing, but I don¡¯t know if he would look down on me?¡± ¡°He definitely won¡¯t.¡± Maternal grandmother laughed, ¡°If he despised you, he wouldn¡¯t have mentioned taking you as his sister.¡± ¡°Child, your dad really cares about you.¡± maternal grandmother began again, ¡°When he found out you were missing, he was really worried and mobilized everyone to look for you. Xiao Quan suggested calling the police, but he was worried about the kidnappers making things worse.¡± At this point, the maternal grandmother asked with some confusion, ¡°Xiaoxiao, what kind of misunderstanding do you and your dad have? It¡¯s best to be open about anything between a father and daughter. Otherwise, the misunderstanding will deepen.¡± Xiao Junxuan also wondered, ¡°Xiaoxiao, because of your disappearance, your dad even called Su Yichen. He wanted to use Su Yichen¡¯s power to find you as soon as possible. Your dad is really concerned and worried about you. So, there must be some misunderstanding between you.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, ¡°You said my dad called Su Yichen on his cell phone, does that mean my dad knows I¡¯m in Xiao Family Village now?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Xiao Junxuan thought Lin Xiaoxiao was getting cuter and cuter, he laughed and asked, ¡°You¡¯re just realizing this now?¡± She¡¯s such a ditz. Lin Xiaoxiao, Why did Xiao Junxuan¡¯s smile seem more and more creepy to her? Both old people watched their grandson (maternal grandson) and Lin Xiaoxiao interact and covered their mouths to laugh secretly. It seemed that their own grandson (maternal grandson) really had his eye on Lin Xiaoxiao, and there was no way this future daughter-in-law (maternal grandson¡¯s wife) was getting away. Grandma Xiao laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t tell your father your whereabouts without your consent.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaoxiao immediately breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good!¡± Maternal grandmother asked, ¡°Xiaoxiao, do you really not want to tell your dad that you¡¯re in Xiao Family Village? Do you want to watch your dad worry and be anxious?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head, ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s not like that. I don¡¯t know how to talk to my dad.¡± Grandma Xiao still asked, ¡°What kind of misunderstanding did you and your dad have, Xiaoxiao?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao remained silent for a moment, then said, ¡°I have a foster sister, and my dad adores her more than me. He wants me to give everything to my foster sister. At first, she wanted to wear my clothes, but she clearly couldn¡¯t fit into them. Then, in front of me, my foster sister took a pair of scissors and cut my clothes. She turned around and told my dad that I would rather destroy my clothes than let her wear them. My dad believed it right away. After that, it was about the jewelry. She wanted every piece of jewelry I had. Once, she took my mom¡¯s legacy for me, a sapphire necklace. I didn¡¯t want to give it to her, so she forcibly ripped it off. I was so furious that I cried and pushed her. My dad saw it and immediately slapped me without saying anything¡­¡± Lin Xiaoxiao recounted all the grievances she had suffered. Xiao Junxuan and the others listened and understood that straightforward Lin Xiaoxiao had encountered a fake, innocent girl who liked to create drama. But Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s real dad was also really confused. How could he not know what his own biological daughter, whom he had cherished for more than a decade, was like? And yet he believed in a fake, innocent girl? ¡°The most recent big fight I had with my dad was because he wanted me to have a blind date with Su Yichen. My foster sister found out and secretly told me that no matter if it was Su Yichen, my dad or the entire Lin Family business, she would take it all. I angrily told her to get lost. Then she went crying to my dad, saying I told her to leave and that she¡¯s not part of the Lin Family, doesn¡¯t deserve to live in the Lin Family, and doesn¡¯t deserve to use any assets of the Lin Family.¡± Chapter 342 - Chapter 342: Chapter 338: _3 Chapter 342: Chapter 338: _3 ¡°Then, my dad turned around to scold me as well, saying ¡°Lin Family Business¡± and that I shouldn¡¯t ostracize my adopted sister. Later, for the ¡°Lin Family Business¡±, my adopted sister had inheritance rights. Upset, I left home and stayed at my own apartment. But during that time, my adopted sister would occasionally call me and say things to anger me.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao felt really wronged. Despite such obvious evidence, her father chose to turn a blind eye and relied solely on Lin Wanqing¡¯s one-sided words to blame and accuse her. Over time, her grievances exploded all at once. Unexpectedly, leaving home had provided an opportunity for some people to cause her to end up in a remote small village, thousands of miles away. Xiao Junxuan clenched his fist in anger and said, ¡°Is your dad blind or deaf? Why does he trust an outsider more than his own daughter? No wonder you don¡¯t want to go home. If I had such a confused father, I wouldn¡¯t want to go home either.¡± Grandma Xiao and her maternal grandmother exchanged looks, this child had really been wronged. No wonder she seemed strange whenever she mentioned her dad. Grandma Xiao said, ¡°Your adopted sister seems quite complicated, huh?¡± Her maternal grandmother asked, ¡°Why does your dad trust your adopted sister so much?¡± Grandma Xiao asked curiously, ¡°Is your adopted sister someone your dad adopted because he and your mom couldn¡¯t have children for many years?¡± If that was the case, one should indeed treat the adopted sister well. Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head and said, ¡°No. My adopted sister is the daughter of one of my dad¡¯s comrades. That comrade sacrificed himself to save my dad. So, my dad, wanting to repay his life-saving grace, found his family. Then he found out that the comrade¡¯s wife had already run away, leaving a daughter to live with her grandparents. But the grandparents¡¯ health was poor so they couldn¡¯t do any heavy work, so the burden of the family fell on my adopted sister who was only ten years old. My dad felt guilty, consulted with her grandparents, and then took my adopted sister away with him. He left some money for them to retire and took her back every year during the Qingming Festival. My dad often told me that if it weren¡¯t for my adopted sister¡¯s dad, he wouldn¡¯t have existed, and neither would I, so he asked me to treat my adopted sister kindly. But the problem is my adopted sister¡­¡± Lin Xiaoxiao felt herself at a loss for words. Initially, she listened to her parents, carried the mentality of repaying kindness, and attempted to treat her pitiful adopted sister well. But her adopted sister had regarded her as an enemy from the moment she first met her. In the days that followed, whenever there were people around, she would shed pitiful tears, silently telling everyone that Lin Xiaoxiao had bullied her. Actually, she did nothing at all. At that time, she was still young ¨C only about five or six years old. Completely innocent, she faced reprimands from everyone. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not your fault that your adopted sister had malicious intent!¡± Both her maternal grandmother and Grandma Xiao sighed lightly and comforted her, ¡°Your dad perhaps feels guilty for the hardships she experienced in the past. So under the influence of this guilt, he¡¯s become somewhat indifferent to you. Combined with your scheming and deep-thinking adopted sister who can put on a good show, it¡¯s only natural for him to think you¡¯ve done such a thing.¡± How could a naive, straightforward child, let alone one with an age gap, compete with such a schematically acting, pitiful looking adopted sister? Xiao Junxuan grew up in a loving, happy family. He had never experienced the bitterness of family members scheming against him. But after falling for Lin Xiaoxiao, he developed sympathy for her, feeling anger towards her adopted sister as well as resentment towards her foolish father. In anger, he grabbed Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Xiaoxiao, from now on, I will be your family. I will never let anyone bully you again, even your own father can¡¯t do it.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was caught off guard when a man clasped her hands and said these words that sounded like a confession, it left her in a daze. What¡­ what did his words mean? She was so stunned she couldn¡¯t react. Looking at this silly girl, Grandma Xiao took the advantage and said with a smile, ¡°Haha, you silly girl, my grandson has fallen for you. He started liking you from the moment he rescued you. Perhaps, that¡¯s what people call love at first sight.¡± ¡°Ha, he likes me?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was in disbelief. She had not expected that the hero who saved her would like her. Her heart couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of joy. Lin Xiaoxiao blushed red and with her head slightly lowered, she whispered quietly, ¡°Actually, I like you too!¡± Chapter 343 - Chapter 343: Chapter 339: Chapter 343: Chapter 339: The most beautiful love is when you like me, I like you, and we both delight in each other. That¡¯s simply sublime. Xiao Junxuan couldn¡¯t believe it that the girl he liked also liked him in return. He was brimming with excitement, elation, and joy. A look of surprise flickered in his eyes. He tightly clutched Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s hand, and asked in high spirits, ¡°Xiaoxiao, is that true? You like me too?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was rather dumbfounded. What kind of ears does he have to hear her soft-spoken words? However, she, Lin Xiaoxiao, is a person who dares to love and hates openly. If she likes someone, she may as well acknowledge it openly. Lin Xiaoxiao nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I like you!¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s fantastic,¡± Xiao Junxuan could not hold himself back and embraced her, ¡°Xiaoxiao, I like you too. It¡¯s wonderful that you like me. I¡¯m not lovesick after all. Haha¡­¡± The pair of grandmothers were delighted to see their grandsons (maternal grandson) discovering the girls they liked. Grandma Xiao held Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s hand and said,¡± Listen here, child. This grandson of mine may not have many redeeming qualities, but he inherits good traditions from the Xiao family, that is, he knows how to cherish his wife. All men in the Xiao family are wife slaves. Once you marry my grandson, he will definitely pamper you.¡± Upon hearing her, Lin Xiaoxiao blushed, ¡°Grandma, we just¡­ just spoke about marriage. It¡¯s rather embarrassing.¡± ¡°Haha, what¡¯s embarrassing about it,¡± Grandma Xiao laughed and said,¡± Look, one of the unique traits of men in the Xiao family is that they will pursue the girls they fancy at all costs. Your grandmother, for instance, took a long time to be courted by your grandfather. Back then, your grandfather was a notorious petty ruffian from ten miles and eight villages away, wasting his time idling around from village to village, but once he had his sights on your grandmother, he turned a new leaf. Not only did he completely change his bad habits, but he also became a shameless wife slave.¡± A curious look flashed in Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes,¡±Really, Grandma Xiao?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. The love story of your grandfather¡¯s pursuit of your grandmother is known to everyone within the vicinity of ten miles and eight villages.¡± Her own grandmother also interjected with a smile,¡±You should know, Xiao¡¯er¡¯s dad was indeed a local ruffian and a scoundrel back then. When he was courting your grandma, I strongly objected to it. Considering my daughter, she is pretty and capable, why would she possibly marry a petty gangster? But, this ruffian totally transformed himself in pursuit of his wife, and even swore to treat my daughter well all his life. But what¡¯s more, he didn¡¯t just make empty promises. He put his words into action and that eventually won me and her father¡¯s consent. Moreover, the most important thing is, his mother was fond of him.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao chuckled and said, ¡°Listening to such stories feels so sweet and adorable.¡± ¡°Haha, isn¡¯t it just,¡± Grandma Xiao burst into laughter and said,¡±Come to think of it, I¡¯m truly grateful to my daughter-in-law. It was her life-changing influence on my son that made him successful. Hats off to you, for raising such a good daughter.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother was indeed beautiful, but she never took it for granted that it was only natural for men to treat her well because of her beauty. She was beautiful, but at the same time, she was virtuous and considerate. She knew how to take care of her man. They, as a couple, have been married for over 30 years, but never once had a fight and always showed mutual concern, tolerance, and respect for each other. Love is indeed mutual. Xiao Junxuan straight away confessed,¡±Xiaoxiao, I also love and cherish you, just like how my dad cherishes my mom. I will make you happy in the future.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao nodded and said, ¡°Hmm, I believe you!¡± Thousands of miles away from the Capital City, Lin Chengdong had no idea that his worrisome younger daughter had found herself a boyfriend. He was currently fraught with worry and anxiety. He was contemplating Su Yichen¡¯s words whether he should call the police. After notifying the police, using the power of the Yamen, they would definitely be able to find Lin Xiaoxiao faster. But, what if Lin Xiaoxiao had been kidnapped? If the kidnappers got wind of their actions, would they then tear up the ticket? He did not dare to wager! However, if he did not notify the police, even if they had manpower available or had Su Yichen assist them, they still wouldn¡¯t be able to compare to the Yamen. Furthermore, when it comes to missing persons, time is of the essence. While he was deep in thought, Lin Wanqing rushed in, her face anxious. The moment she saw Lin Chengdong, she asked in urgency,¡± Dad, I heard that Xiaoxiao is missing, is it true?¡± At first, Lin Chengdong had suspected that Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s disappearance was somehow linked to his adopted daughter, Lin Wanqing. When he heard Lin Wanqing¡¯s question, he carefully observed her expression, then nodded and said,¡±Yes, Xiaoxiao has gone missing.¡± At this point, Lin Chengdong studied Lin Wanqing closely with his sharp gaze and asked sternly,¡± Qingqing, tell me the truth, have you been in contact with Xiaoxiao over these past few days?¡± He never suspected anything before, nor did he ever imagine that Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s disappearance would be because every two days, he would learn from Lin Wanqing that she had been in contact with Xiaoxiao and she would tell him that Xiaoxiao was doing very well on the outside and he needn¡¯t worry. On hearing his question, Lin Wanqing¡¯s pupils shrank involuntarily and a look of guilt flashed across her face. Then, she nodded and said,¡±Yes, I have been.¡± She then took out her cell phone and showed him their call logs. Lin Chengdong saw clearly that it was indeed Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s phone number. However, these call logs do not necessarily mean that Lin Xiaoxiao was the one who called Lin Wanqing. Lin Chengdong then asked,¡± Qingqing, since you¡¯ve been in touch with Xiaoxiao, do you know where she¡¯s been staying these days?¡± Lin Wanqing shook her head and said,¡±I don¡¯t know. I asked Xiaoxiao several times, but she wouldn¡¯t tell me. And she was particularly harsh to me and asked me to stay out of her business.¡± When she said this, Lin Wanqing showed a guilty look and said,¡±I¡¯m sorry, Dad. If I had known that Xiaoxiao would get into trouble, I should have asked for her address even if she was harsh with me. If I had, we wouldn¡¯t be clueless about where to look now.¡± Lin Chengdong continued to study her face, not missing any manifestations of her emotions. Lin Chengdong shook his head and said,¡±This is not your fault. Xiaoxiao has always misunderstood you, so it¡¯s understandable that she didn¡¯t disclose her whereabouts.¡± However, internally, he was puzzled. Given how contentious her relationship with Qingqing was, he knew for a fact that she wouldn¡¯t call Qingqing and even if Qingqing called her, she¡¯d most likely ignore it. So, what was the story behind Qingqing¡¯s call logs on her cellphone? Essentially, she called every two days, and the calls lasted for about two or three minutes. He had a gut feeling that there might be some issues with this situation. No, maybe the problem had always been with Lin Wanqing, it was just that it had been overlooked before. Every question he asked, Lin Wanqing answered without hesitation, but there were flaws everywhere. Lin Chengdong rubbed his forehead and asked while keeping his composure, ¡°Qingqing, I¡¯m considering a question, do you think we should call the police?¡± Chapter 344 - Chapter 344: Chapter 340: (Second Update) Chapter 344: Chapter 340: (Second Update) ¡°Call the police?¡± Lin Wanqing¡¯s face changed slightly, and her voice became a bit higher, showing great surprise. ¡°Yes, call the police?¡± Lin Chengdong nodded and said, ¡°Qingqing, do you think we should call the police?¡± ¡°No!¡± Lin Wanqing said urgently. Lin Chengdong asked with doubt, ¡°Why not? Your sister has been missing for more than ten days.¡± Lin Wanqing said, ¡°We can¡¯t call the police. Dad, I know you are anxious about my sister¡¯s disappearance. But dad, what if she was kidnapped by kidnappers? What if they heard something and decided to kill her? That would put my sister in great danger, so, dad, we cannot call the police!¡± Lin Chengdong nodded, ¡°Yes, when I was considering whether to call the police before, I also thought about this problem. However, Qingqing, have you thought about it? Xiaoxiao has been missing for more than ten days, and for us, time is life. It¡¯s best to find Xiaoxiao as soon as possible. But with our own strength, it is difficult to find her in the shortest possible time. So, we have to call the police and use the power of the Yamen, to quickly find your sister Xiaoxiao.¡± Lin Wanqing hesitated for a moment, then said comfortingly, ¡°Dad, I know that for us now, time is life. However, we fear the worst. What if Xiaoxiao was indeed kidnapped by kidnappers? If they find out we called the police, Xiaoxiao¡¯s situation will be even more dangerous. So, dad, we can¡¯t call the police for now!¡± To stabilize Lin Chengdong, she said it was temporary. Lin Chengdong asked, ¡°Then Qingqing, what do you suggest we do?¡± When he asked this, Lin Chengdong was almost crying. After all, Lin Xiaoxiao is his life. He is worried and scared every day she¡¯s not found. Lin Wanqing thought for a moment and said, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry. How about this, my close friend is the daughter of the deputy director of the Yamen. Maybe I can ask her to secretly help us without filing an official case and get the help of the Yamen.¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s eyes lit up, and he nodded, ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Then Qingqing, go and contact your close friend now.¡± Lin Wanqing hesitated slightly, then excused herself, ¡°Dad, my close friend went to Plum Firm Country today, and I think her cellphone is off because she is on the plane now.¡± She glanced at the clock, then continued, ¡°When she gets off the plane, I will call her.¡± ¡°Alright, Qingqing, please take care of Xiaoxiao.¡± Lin Chengdong said sincerely. Lin Wanqing shook her head and said, ¡°Dad, Xiaoxiao is my sister too. No matter how much she has misunderstood me in the past and doesn¡¯t like me, I will not hold a grudge against her in matters of life and death. Rest assured, dad, I will persuade my close friend.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Lin Chengdong rubbed his forehead and said, ¡°As long as Xiaoxiao is not found, my heart is uneasy every day.¡± ¡°Dad, I will go now to find people and mobilize all my connections to find Xiaoxiao.¡± Lin Wanqing said sincerely, ¡°Dad, you rest at home first, and I will arrange things now.¡± ¡°Alright, you go.¡± Lin Chengdong nodded. After Lin Wanqing left, Lin Chengdong¡¯s face darkened. Now he was very sure that Lin Wanqing was related to Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s disappearance. Even if she wasn¡¯t the mastermind, she must be involved somehow. Once he was sure Lin Wanqing had left the house, Lin Chengdong immediately made a phone call, ¡°You go to the Telephone Office and get me the call records and locations of the phone number 139 ¡­ 018.¡± Chapter 345 - Chapter 345: Chapter 341: Chapter 345: Chapter 341: After leaving the Lin family villa, Lin Wanqing immediately made a call. As soon as the other party¡¯s ringtone sounded, Lin Wanqing said, ¡°My dad has sent someone to look for Lin Xiaoxiao, why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Fortunately, she had made thorough preparations beforehand; otherwise, Lin Chengdong would definitely suspect her. Lin Wanqing said, ¡°My dad wants to call the police, but I stopped him for now. We must come up with a plan to make him let go of that idea.¡± If the investigation continued, something would surely be discovered. Although she had made thorough preparations, there was no guarantee that there weren¡¯t any traces or clues that could lead back to her. Then, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s the situation with Lin Xiaoxiao now? What, she ran away?¡± Lin Wanqing was shocked and asked angrily, ¡°How did she run away? How did you watch her? How could you not tell me about such a big thing? Go and find her now. You have to find her before Lin Chengdong¡¯s people do, or we¡¯ll all be dead!¡± After hanging up the phone, Lin Wanqing¡¯s face was ashen, but her expression was tense and uneasy. She rubbed her hands together and muttered, ¡°How did that bitch Lin Xiaoxiao escape? I carefully chose a buyer for her, how could she have run away?¡± Where did that bitch escape to? She had to find her before Lin Chengdong¡¯s people or before Lin Chengdong called the police, otherwise the consequences would be severe. Suddenly, she thought of something, ¡°That mobile phone, yes, that mobile phone, I have to destroy it now!¡± That mobile phone had been used to trick Lin Chengdong before. Now that Lin Chengdong already knew about Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s disappearance, the mobile phone was no longer useful. If someone found it, it would be terrible. Not to mention other things, Lin Chengdong would suspect her first. Half an hour later, Lin Chengdong received a phone call. ¡°Boss, this phone shows that it¡¯s in a house in an old residential area near Capital Sixth Ring. The people in the residential area say that no one has been living in the house, but about twenty days ago, a man in his thirties started occasionally coming and going.¡± Lin Chengdong frowned and said, ¡°So, is Xiaoxiao there or not? Xiao Liu, take someone and go check right away.¡± He suspected that Lin Xiaoxiao had been kidnapped and taken to that place. After hanging up the phone, Lin Chengdong walked around the room with an uneasy expression. After an unknown amount of time, Lin Chengdong¡¯s phone rang again. He picked it up immediately and asked anxiously, ¡°Xiao Liu, did you find Xiaoxiao?¡± Xiao Liu said, ¡°Boss, we didn¡¯t find the young lady, but there¡¯s a mobile phone in the house.¡± Lin Chengdong couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°How¡­how could that be? Where¡¯s my Xiaoxiao? Where did she go?¡± Xiao Liu paused for a moment and then said, ¡°Sorry, boss, we haven¡¯t found Second Young Miss yet!¡± Lin Chengdong lost his composure for a moment, but then quickly calmed down! He said, ¡°Xiao Liu, have someone stand guard over there. Someone will definitely go there. Catch the person when they do, he must know where Xiaoxiao is! But remember, be careful and don¡¯t startle the snake!¡± ¡°Alright, boss, I understand!¡± After hanging up the phone, Lin Chengdong thought for a moment before calling the police! He needed to use the police¡¯s help to find Xiaoxiao¡¯s whereabouts as quickly as possible! Although he already suspected Lin Wanqing, it was only a suspicion without any substantial evidence! With sharp eyes, Lin Chengdong looked towards the door and said with a slightly cold tone, ¡°Lin Wanqing, I hope you haven¡¯t done anything harmful to Xiaoxiao, or else¡­¡± Chapter 346 - Chapter 346: Chapter 342: Chapter 346: Chapter 342: Xiao Family Village Xiao Jinli heard Lin Chengdong finally called the police, and the corners of her mouth raised, saying, ¡°This confused dad is not completely confused at the critical moment!¡± If he was blindly deceived by his adopted daughter, he might really lose his biological daughter. Xiao Zhi asked, ¡°Master, should we tell Lin Xiaoxiao? After all, Lin Xiaoxiao will be your sister-in-law in the future!¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°No need for me to tell her.¡± At dinner, Su Yichen told everyone, ¡°Lin Dong has called the police.¡± The Xiao Family was first stupefied and then they ¡°Oh¡± and said, ¡°This confused dad finally called the police!¡± If they didn¡¯t call the police, then they would do it first on this side. Xiao Father said, ¡°Since the future in-laws have called the police, let¡¯s stick to the plan and let Lin Xiaoxiao report it.¡± Although Lin Xiaoxiao and Xiao Junxuan are currently only in the early stage of love, if nothing unexpected happens, Lin Xiaoxiao will only be part of the Xiao Family in the future. So, Xiao Father called the future in-laws in advance. ¡°Xiaoxiao will be very happy to hear this news.¡± Grandma Xiao said. Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes turned and she smiled, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ll tell my brother the news right now.¡± Since they confirmed the relationship yesterday, Xiao Junxuan would stay in the ward with Lin Xiaoxiao when he had nothing to do, talking to her about some interesting things from his childhood and the matters of Xiao Family Village. ¡°Xiaoxiao, my mom made you a braised bone soup today, and the soup is so delicious and fresh.¡± Xiao Junxuan opened the thermos and poured the soup from the bucket into a bowl. The fragrance of the soup immediately floated out. Lin Xiaoxiao wrinkled her nose and laughed lightly, ¡°This soup is really fragrant, the creamy soup is so rich and beautiful. Aunt¡¯s cooking must be admired even by Michelin chefs.¡± Xiao Junxuan laughed, ¡°You¡¯re right, there was a Michelin chef who wanted to learn cooking from my mom, but my mom refused. My mom said that her cooking is just casual, not good enough for the big stage.¡± ¡°Haha, if Aunt¡¯s cooking isn¡¯t good enough for the stage, then there¡¯s no dish that is.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao took the warm soup while saying, ¡°Aunt is too modest. Actually, the stuff in Michelin is just more of a good reputation, the taste is nothing special.¡± Personally, she didn¡¯t like the taste of Michelin. It pays too much attention to the surface, but the final product lacks the emotion. So when you eat the food, it¡¯s just a taste in your mouth, nothing resonates with it. Xiao Junxuan smiled and said, ¡°You like my mom¡¯s cooking, huh? After marrying me, you can eat it every day.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s expression faltered slightly, her face a mix of anticipation and fear and nervousness. After all, those who have married know that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship is the most difficult to handle in the world. Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°I will be very lucky in the future.¡± Xiao Junxuan, being a smart guy, saw the slight nervousness on Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s face. He held her hand and comforted her, ¡°Xiaoxiao, don¡¯t worry about the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship or the sister-in-law relationship after you marry me. I¡¯ll take care of everything. Besides, my mom is really nice and so is my sister. When you get to know them better, you¡¯ll see. In our Xiao Family, there is no mother-in-law conflict. If there is, it means that I failed as a husband and son.¡± It is indeed true. On the Xiao Family¡¯s side, except for the matter between Lan Qingqing and Xiao Mingchen, which was a bit too much, there were no mother-in-law conflicts for anyone else. Chapter 347 - Chapter 347: Chapter 343: Chapter 347: Chapter 343: Capital City Lin Chengdong received a phone call from the Yamen. ¡°Hello, is this Mr. Lin Chengdong? I¡¯m Xiao Li from the Yamen.¡± Lin Chengdong immediately replied, ¡°Comrade Xiao Li, hello, is there any news about my daughter Xiaoxiao?¡± Xiao Li said, ¡°Mr. Lin, can you please come to the Yamen? There is some information you need to know.¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s heart suddenly thumped, and he became anxious. He asked urgently, ¡°What news? Has something happened to my daughter Xiaoxiao?¡± Xiao Li said, ¡°It¡¯s not clear on the phone. Please come to the Yamen, Mr. Lin. It¡¯s about your second daughter, Lin Xiaoxiao.¡± Lin Chengdong immediately replied, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll come right away.¡± As Lin Chengdong put down the phone and was about to leave, he encountered Lin Wanqing rushing back from outside the door. ¡°Dad, where are you going?¡± Lin Wanqing asked. ¡°I have news about Xiaoxiao.¡± Lin Chengdong hesitated and asked suspiciously, ¡°Qingqing, what did you say? You said you have news about Xiaoxiao?¡± Lin Wanqing nodded, her expression excited. ¡°Dad, Xiaoxiao went to Changbai Mountain with her friends.¡± ¡°Changbai Mountain?¡± Lin Chengdong asked suspiciously. ¡°Qingqing, how did you know she went to Changbai Mountain to play? Did you contact her?¡± Lin Wanqing shook her head, ¡°No. I called Xiaoxiao, but she didn¡¯t answer. I contacted two of Xiaoxiao¡¯s friends, and they told me she went to Changbai Mountain with her boyfriend.¡± At this, she smiled, ¡°Dad, Xiaoxiao has a boyfriend, and she hid it from us. She even went to Changbai Mountain with him without telling us. I heard that her boyfriend is an adventure sports enthusiast, and they went to Changbai Mountain to look for something. Xiaoxiao accompanied him. Dad, you can relax now.¡± Lin Chengdong shook his head, ¡°No, if I don¡¯t personally contact Xiaoxiao, I still won¡¯t feel at ease.¡± After hearing this, Lin Wanqing frowned and then said, ¡°What can we do now, Dad? Xiaoxiao is in Changbai Mountain, and there¡¯s no signal there. We can¡¯t contact her.¡± She continued, ¡°Dad, how about this? I¡¯ll give you her friend¡¯s phone number, and you can talk to them, okay?¡± Lin Chengdong said, ¡°Alright, give me her friend¡¯s phone number.¡± Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t refuse. Then, Lin Wanqing gave Lin Chengdong the phone number of the so-called friend of Lin Xiaoxiao. After giving him the number, Lin Wanqing looked at the car prepared by the driver and asked curiously, ¡°Dad, where are you going?¡± Lin Chengdong said, ¡°Going to meet a friend.¡± Lin Wanqing didn¡¯t doubt him, and she nodded, ¡°Then, Dad, take care.¡± After Lin Chengdong left, a hint of smugness appeared in Lin Wanqing¡¯s eyes. She believed she had successfully deceived Lin Chengdong. After all, Lin Chengdong had always trusted her in the past. Once he got in the car, Lin Chengdong¡¯s face darkened. Then, he made a phone call, ¡°Xiao Liu, check this phone number!¡± Lin Chengdong had Xiao Liu check the number Lin Wanqing gave him. Lin Wanqing really put a lot of effort into it. It was rare for her to find this excuse. In the past, he would have completely trusted her and not doubted her at all. But now, Xiao Liu found Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s phone number in the morning, and Lin Wanqing told him in the evening that Lin Xiaoxiao had gone to the deep mountain forest with no signal, and even made up a boyfriend. So, he didn¡¯t believe Lin Wanqing¡¯s words at all now. Ten minutes later, Lin Chengdong arrived at the Yamen. The department was indeed paying close attention to Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s disappearance case. ¡°Mr. Lin, please follow me.¡± Lin Chengdong found Xiao Li, who had called him, and Xiao Li led him to the case investigation department, where the director¡¯s surname was Shen. As soon as Lin Chengdong saw Director Shen, he asked anxiously, ¡°Director Shen, did you find my daughter Xiaoxiao?¡± ¡°Mr. Lin, don¡¯t worry.¡± Director Shen said solemnly, ¡°Mr. Lin, our department received a report from the Taoyuan Town Yamen that a girl named Lin Xiaoxiao reported a case to them. She was abducted from Capital City and sold to Qingzhai Village in Li City County.¡± ¡°What did you say!¡± Lin Chengdong was shocked and said, ¡°Abducted? Is it my daughter Lin Xiaoxiao?¡± He had considered the possibility of Lin Xiaoxiao being kidnapped, but he hadn¡¯t expected that she would be trafficked. Director Shen shook his head, ¡°As for whether this Lin Xiaoxiao is your daughter, the other side did not report it clearly.¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s mother asked suspiciously, ¡°Why didn¡¯t they report it clearly? Is that girl my daughter or not?¡± Director Shen said, ¡°That girl was frightened by being abducted and didn¡¯t reveal much of her personal information. But she¡¯s very kind, and she wants to report the case despite her own reputation. She just doesn¡¯t want other girls to suffer. According to her, there are many trafficked women in Qingzhai Village. This issue is taken very seriously, and the relevant departments are organizing personnel to go to Qingzhai Village to rescue the women.¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s heart tightened. He asked anxiously, ¡°Director Shen, can you confirm if the girl who reported the case is my daughter Lin Xiaoxiao?¡± Otherwise, it really seemed too coincidental. His daughter Lin Xiaoxiao was missing on this side, and on the other side, there was an abducted girl named Lin Xiaoxiao. He was very worried. If it was really his daughter Lin Xiaoxiao, how did she get abducted? Capital City is not a small place, and it is covered with surveillance cameras. Director Shen thought for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, wait a moment, and I¡¯ll make another call to ask.¡± Lin Chengdong nodded, ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± Lin Chengdong waited anxiously by the side. He didn¡¯t know how long he had been waiting when Director Shen came over, his expression still serious. He approached Lin Chengdong with a slightly complicated look on his face. After a while, he said, ¡°Mr. Lin, that girl is not willing to disclose who her parents are. But she said she is from Capital City, and she was covered in a small alley in the city, and she fainted. When she woke up, she had already been trafficked to the remote Qingzhai Village.¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s emotions were fluctuating wildly at this moment, and he was extremely nervous. ¡°However, we checked with the household registration department,¡± Director Shen continued, ¡°and there are a total of sixteen people named Lin Xiaoxiao in our city. Of those, there are three who are close in age to your daughter Xiaoxiao. One is in the suburbs and working in a supermarket; another is teaching at Municipal Primary School and is working normally; the remaining one is your daughter Lin Xiaoxiao, who is missing.¡± The answer was obvious. When Lin Chengdong heard this, his face turned pale, and he retreated a few steps in panic. Lin Chengdong still wanted to confirm further, and he said, ¡°So, Director Shen, is the girl who was abducted my daughter Lin Xiaoxiao?¡± Chapter 348 - Chapter 348: Chapter 344: Chapter 348: Chapter 344: He confirmed that the girl who reported the alarm, Lin Xiaoxiao, was indeed his daughter, Lin Xiaoxiao. Lin Chengdong suddenly sat down in the chair in a panic, unable to believe what he had just heard. ¡°Xiaoxiao, how could Xiaoxiao be kidnapped? She clearly¡­¡± She clearly had bodyguards protecting her. But he stopped before he finished his sentence. He thought of the incident more than ten days ago, when someone had used his cellphone to send false retreat orders to the bodyguards who were guarding Lin Xiaoxiao. So, right from the beginning, there had been a plot against Lin Xiaoxiao. But the most suspicious person was Lin Wanqing! In the Lin family, the person with the best opportunity to get hold of his cellphone was Lin Wanqing. The person with the best opportunity to tamper with the monitoring in the Lin family was also Lin Wanqing. Moreover, it was Lin Wanqing who had been telling him for the past ten days that Xiaoxiao was in contact with her. But he never thought that Lin Wanqing had been deceiving him all along. Lin Chengdong clenched his fists, his heart full of hatred. Lin Wanqing, a white-eyed wolf, had used his trust to hurt Lin Xiaoxiao. What had Xiaoxiao done to deserve this? Why did she have to hurt Xiaoxiao like this? Lin Chengdong recalled how Lin Wanqing had always complained to him that Xiaoxiao bullied her, that she wanted to wear Xiaoxiao¡¯s old clothes, but Xiaoxiao would rather cut her clothes up than give them to her, and the same was true for her jewelry, bags, etc. Xiaoxiao would rather destroy them than give them away. Xiaoxiao defended herself, saying she hadn¡¯t done any of that. But he had never believed Xiaoxiao¡¯s defense, always thinking that she was just being evasive. Lin Wanqing, a poor child from the countryside, would not have the courage to frame her. Besides, from start to finish, it was always Xiaoxiao who seemed angry and fierce toward Lin Wanqing. ¡°Mr. Lin, Mr. Lin?¡± Director Shen saw his shocked and devastated expression and couldn¡¯t help but call out to him in concern. After calling him several times, he finally brought Lin Chengdong back to his senses. ¡°Mr. Lin, are you alright?¡± Director Shen asked with concern. Lin Chengdong shook his head and replied, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡± At that moment, he suddenly thought of something and anxiously asked, ¡°Director Shen, is my Xiaoxiao okay?¡± But he knew that girls who were kidnapped and trafficked usually had terrible fate in the households of men, where they were not only treated as baby-making machines but were also often beaten and scolded, and it was very difficult for them to escape. Director Shen smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Lin, you don¡¯t need to worry. Miss Lin Xiaoxiao is doing well now. However¡­¡± At this point, he hesitated for a moment. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Lin Chengdong asked anxiously. Director Shen said, ¡°In the family where Lin Xiaoxiao was trafficked into, someone broke one of her legs. She¡¯s currently being treated at the hospital.¡± ¡°What? Someone broke one of her legs?¡± Lin Chengdong jumped up in shock. ¡°Xiaoxiao is terrified of pain; even if she catches a cold and has to get an injection, she would cry for half a day. Now that she¡¯s had her leg broken, she must be in so much pain. Xiaoxiao, my poor child.¡± Seeing Lin Chengdong¡¯s expression, Director Shen couldn¡¯t help but sympathize. ¡°Mr. Lin, Miss Lin managed to escape from the traffickers even with a broken leg, and she was rescued by someone halfway.¡± Dragging a broken leg and running away? Lin Chengdong stared wide-eyed, hardly able to believe his ears. Dragging a broken leg and running away, he couldn¡¯t imagine how painful it must have been. Xiaoxiao, my child, you¡¯ve suffered so much this time. Director Shen consoled him, ¡°But you can rest assured that Miss Lin has been sent to a divine doctor, and her leg is being treated. If the recovery goes well, her leg will return to normal.¡± Of course, he was aware of this information, and all that he had said, because it had been explained to him by his superiors. ¡°Good, good,¡± Lin Chengdong, his eyes red-rimmed and teary, nodded. ¡°As long as she can recover, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± His daughter, who had never suffered a moment¡¯s hardship in her life, had gone through such a terrible ordeal. But soon after regaining his composure, he asked, ¡°Director Shen, which hospital is my daughter in right now? I want to see her.¡± Director Shen shook his head and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure which hospital Miss Lin is in. However, we received the report from Taoyuan Town Yamen.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Chengdong nodded and said, ¡°Thank you, Director Shen.¡± Director Shen shook his head and said, ¡°Serving the people is our duty. However, if Mr. Lin has any leads on Miss Lin¡¯s abduction case, you can share them with us.¡± Chapter 349 - Chapter 349: Chapter 344: _2 Chapter 349: Chapter 344: _2 Lin Chengdong¡¯s expression faltered slightly before nodding, ¡°Alright, I will.¡± After Lin Chengdong left the Yamen, his entire mental state seemed to have suffered a significant blow. He never would have imagined that during his daughter¡¯s disappearance, she was actually being trafficked. And the fact that she was trafficked, it was highly likely that¡­ The driver saw Lin Chengdong¡¯s dejected state as he walked out of the Yamen and was very concerned. He stepped forward to support Lin Chengdong and asked worriedly, ¡°Boss, are you alright?¡± Lin Chengdong suddenly asked, ¡°Old Chen, did I make a mistake by taking in Lin Wanqing to raise her?¡± Old Chen was taken aback, not understanding the question. He shook his head, ¡°Boss, everyone knows you took in the young lady to repay a debt of gratitude, you didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± ¡°Is that so? No mistake?¡± Lin Chengdong murmured, ¡°If there was no mistake, then why has it turned out like this?¡± He was initially driven by the motive of gratitude to adopt and raise his comrade¡¯s child. Because she was his comrade and benefactor¡¯s child, he was overly attached to her, even to the point of favoring her more than his own biological children. However, he never would¡¯ve thought that his repayment of gratitude would hatch a poisonous snake. After getting in the car, Lin Chengdong fell deep into thought. Was it his education that failed her, or was her nature always like this? But she was his comrade¡¯s child. If it was hereditary, she should have inherited her father¡¯s traits. ¡°Boss, where do you want to go now?¡± The driver asked. Lin Chengdong said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss!¡± When Lin Chengdong returned home, he saw Lin Wanqing wearing bright makeup and in a good mood, coming out of the house. Perhaps it was because she had resolved Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s troubles. Lin Chengdong watched her drive away before calling someone on the phone, ¡°Follow Lin Wanqing, see where she¡¯s going.¡± Xiao Family Village Hospital Xiao Jinli was observing the recovery of Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s leg. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s recovering nicely.¡± Xiao Jinli said with a smile, ¡°Sister Xiaoxiao, you can get out of bed and move around in the future. However, you still cannot stand up with the bone-healing ointment on, so you can only sit in a wheelchair and go outside to take a look.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes curved into happy crescents, and she gave Xiao Jinli a thumbs-up, smiling, ¡°You really live up to the title of Divine Doctor! If this broken leg were treated in one of the Capital¡¯s top three hospitals, I¡¯d have to lie down for at least a month. But now, it¡¯s only been three days, and I can already start moving. Haha, it¡¯s fantastic! It¡¯s suffocating lying on this bed all day. I feel like if I lie down any longer, I¡¯ll start growing mold.¡± Xiao Jinli teased her, ¡°These days, with my brother chatting with you, how could you be bored enough to grow mold? Besides, my brother moved his work into your ward just so he could chat with you.¡± Xiao Family Village Hospital wards were all private rooms. Being teased by her future sister-in-law, Lin Xiaoxiao felt a little embarrassed, her face flushing slightly, ¡°That¡¯s not the same. Just because I chat with your brother doesn¡¯t mean I want to keep lying in bed.¡± She was originally a lively and active person, and her perseverance gained through regular exercise was just as well, or else she wouldn¡¯t have been able to drag her broken leg out of that den of thieves. Xiao Jinli nodded, understanding, ¡°Sister Xiaoxiao, once you can move around, you can come to our house. Actually, my parents really want to see you, but they¡¯re afraid you might be shy and don¡¯t dare to come. Also, there¡¯s a whole bunch of people in our family besides me, Grandma, and my maternal grandmother who want to meet you.¡± Upon hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s heart started to tense up. Was this the rhythm of meeting the parents? In her current state, how could she meet them? How could someone as handsome, talented, and accomplished as Xiao Junxuan choose her? She felt unworthy of him. Xiao Family Village was no ordinary village. Countless wealthy and influential people from around the world wanted to live there, but none could enter. The more Lin Xiaoxiao thought about it, the more anxious she became. Xiao Jinli squinted her eyes and saw Lin Xiaoxiao slightly flustered. She immediately took Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s hand and gently reassured her, ¡°Sister Xiaoxiao, don¡¯t be nervous. Everyone in our family is very kind and friendly. They all like you a lot, and I like you a lot too!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao didn¡¯t know that in Xiao Family Village, it was truly not easy for Xiao Jinli to like someone. As long as Xiao Jinli liked them, their status in the entire Xiao Family Village would be different. Gently holding Xiao Jinli¡¯s fair and delicate hand, Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s heart suddenly calmed down. She nodded, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, I like all of you, too.¡± Chapter 350 - Chapter 350: Chapter 344: _3 Chapter 350: Chapter 344: _3 The atmosphere here is really great. Everyone I¡¯ve met here has a smile on their face, very gentle and simple. Even the doctors and nurses are very patient, gentle, and considerate. Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Sister Xiaoxiao, that¡¯s right. Our family is not a violent beast, you don¡¯t need to be nervous and afraid. All of us in our family are looking forward to you joining our big family.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaoxiao was deeply moved and said, ¡°Hmm.¡± Xiao Jinli continued, ¡°My brother has been single for over thirty years, and our whole family has been hoping he¡¯ll bring home a daughter-in-law. But our family is very open-minded and won¡¯t rush things. We believe that if there¡¯s destiny, a marriage will come naturally. And see, he went out on a trip and brought back a daughter-in-law. Our whole family is very happy.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Xiao Jinli with a puzzled expression. Xiao Jinli asked curiously, ¡°Sister Xiaoxiao, why are you staring at me like that? If my brother sees this, he¡¯ll get jealous.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head and jokingly said, ¡°No. When I was living in the Old Cadre Courtyard, I used to hear stories about you. I thought you were a fairy who had descended from the heavens to save these old heroes of our country. At the same time, for us, you really seemed out of reach. I used to think that if I could meet Doctor Xiao and get her autograph, I would be so excited that I wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep all night. But I didn¡¯t have many chances to enter the Courtyard, and even when I did, I rarely saw you. And even if I did see you, you were treating people and I couldn¡¯t get close.¡± But I never thought that one day, I would not only see my fairy in person but also possibly become her family member. So does that make me a fairy too in the future? Hehe¡­¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t expect Lin Xiaoxiao to actually worship her so much and consider her a fairy. Xiao Jinli nodded and replied, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, in the future, Sister Xiaoxiao will be our family¡¯s fairy. My mom is the Big Fairy, you are the Little Fairy, and you, you¡¯ll be the Middle Fairy.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s lips twitched, and she laughed, asking, ¡°What exactly is a Middle Fairy, it doesn¡¯t sound good.¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Let¡¯s change it then, how about Xiaoxiao Fairy?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao, Just as Xiao Jinli and Lin Xiaoxiao were chatting happily, Xiao Junxuan and Su Yichen entered the room. She now knew that the old man in disguise was Su Yichen. At that time, when she learned of this truth, she was so surprised that her mouth was wide open, big enough to shove an egg in it. She would have never thought Su Yichen would show up in Xiao Family Village in such attire and a laid-back manner. Yes, who could have imagined that a 26-year-old genius and the wealthiest person would appear in Xiao Family Village in the disguise of a 60-year-old man, and nobody would know? As soon as Xiao Junxuan entered, he saw his sister and his girlfriend chatting happily, which also made him happy. He asked, ¡°What are you talking about that¡¯s making you so happy?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°We¡¯re talking about adding a Xiaoxiao Fairy to our fairy family.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Xiao Junxuan also found it funny, and then he said seriously, ¡°Xiaoxiao, your dad already knows you¡¯re in Taoyuan Town, but we didn¡¯t tell him you¡¯re at Xiao Family Village Hospital.¡± It¡¯s true, who would think that someone would be in Xiao Family Village? ¡°However, once he arrives in Taoyuan Town, he will definitely find his way to Xiao Family Village.¡± At this point, Xiao Junxuan stopped and looked at Lin Xiaoxiao and asked, ¡°Xiaoxiao, your dad may have been confused before, but he really loves you dearly. Don¡¯t you want to see him?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly fell silent. It would be a lie to say that she wasn¡¯t wronged by what happened in the past. She also resented her dad for always favoring an adopted daughter and not giving her any trust, even just once. She felt so wronged. Su Yichen thought for a moment and said, ¡°Your dad started suspecting Lin Wanqing after he found out you disappeared.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes lit up immediately, ¡°Really?¡± Su Yichen nodded, ¡°Yes. Lin Wanqing used your phone number to deceive your dad at first. But your dad became suspicious and asked someone to investigate, finding your phone in an empty house. Meanwhile, Lin Wanqing kept lying to your dad, saying you found a boyfriend and went with him to Changbai Mountain.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes filled with anger, ¡°Are you saying that I was abducted and sold because of Lin Wanqing?¡± Su Yichen nodded, ¡°From the current clues, it is very likely that she was involved, if not the mastermind, at least an accomplice.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao couldn¡¯t believe it and felt angry, ¡°Why? Why would she do that? Whatever she wanted, I gave her ¨C clothes, my room, even my dad. What more does she want from me? Why did she have to treat me like this?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s emotions seemed to be on the verge of collapsing. Lin Wanqing was really too malicious. Chapter 351 - Chapter 351: Chapter 345: Chapter 351: Chapter 345: Capital City At two in the morning, Lin Wanqing, slightly intoxicated, got out of the car, supported by an unfamiliar man. But when they entered the house, they saw Lin Chengdong sitting on the sofa chair in the living room, waiting. The man looked momentarily startled before turning to Lin Wanqing and whispered, ¡°Miss Lin, your dad is still in the living room.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Wanqing, who had appeared somewhat tipsy, immediately sobered up. She looked at Lin Chengdong, who was sitting on the sofa with a stern expression, and exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Dad!¡± Lin Chengdong stood up, glanced at the man, and then looked at his daughter, his face dark with anger as he asked, ¡°Is he your boyfriend?¡± ¡°No, no, he¡¯s not,¡± Lin Wanqing shook her head and replied, ¡°He¡¯s just an ordinary friend.¡± A mere gigolo, thinking of him as a normal friend was already overestimating him. Lin Wanqing then asked, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s going on? It¡¯s so late, and you¡¯re still up. Is something wrong?¡± It was rare for Lin Chengdong to wait up for her at night. Because in Lin Chengdong¡¯s eyes, she had always been a well-behaved girl. She never came home later than 11:00 pm. Lin Chengdong¡¯s eyes were fixed intently on her, making Lin Wanqing shudder involuntarily. She called out again, ¡°Dad?¡±, her voice filled with confusion and surprise. Lin Chengdong came back to his senses and sighed softly, ¡°I¡¯m worried about your sister. She¡¯s been out of touch with me for so long, and I¡¯m really uneasy. Qingqing, are you sure Xiaoxiao really went to Changbai Mountain? Why do I feel so uneasy?¡± Lin Wanqing breathed a quiet sigh of relief and then smiled, ¡°Dad, you¡¯re worrying too much. My sister is fine, she just doesn¡¯t want to contact you. Besides, she didn¡¯t go to Changbai Mountain alone; she went with her boyfriend.¡± ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Lin Chengdong asked meaningfully, ¡°Qingqing, do you know where Xiaoxiao¡¯s boyfriend is from and what he does for a living?¡± Lin Wanqing laughed and said, ¡°Dad, how would I know that? You know my sister has always misunderstood me and we don¡¯t get along, so why would she tell me any of this?¡± ¡°Really? If you don¡¯t get along, then why has she called you every two days for the past several days, instead of calling me, her father?¡± Lin Chengdong suddenly asked, ¡°And what a coincidence, I wasn¡¯t present every time she called? Qingqing, can you explain this to me?¡± It was Lin Wanqing who had a poor relationship with Lin Xiaoxiao. Lin Wanqing was the cause of the rift between Lin Chengdong and Lin Xiaoxiao. So why would Lin Xiaoxiao only call Lin Wanqing while she¡¯s missing, and that too every two days? It was obviously not possible. So, peeling away the veil of mystery, everything became crystal clear. He had just been blind to it all before. Lin Wanqing opened her mouth to explain, but her expression changed drastically at Lin Chengdong¡¯s next words. Lin Chengdong said, ¡°And isn¡¯t it strange? The people I sent to look for Xiaoxiao found her cellphone in an abandoned house in an old residential area. That house hasn¡¯t been lived in for a long time, but more than twenty days ago, a man rented it. Yet no one has seen Xiaoxiao¡¯s whereabouts.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Wanqing¡¯s expression first turned dumbstruck, and then she cried out in horror, ¡°Dad, are you saying that my sister¡¯s phone was stolen? Then who has been contacting me these days?¡± Lin Chengdong, Chapter 352 - Chapter 352: Chapter 346: Chapter 352: Chapter 346: Watching the stubborn Lin Wanqing making excuses for herself, disappointment flickered in Lin Chengdong¡¯s eyes. Lin Chengdong sharply asked, ¡°You keep saying your sister contacted you. Can¡¯t you tell her voice apart? Is the person who stole the cellphone stupid? They stole the phone and then called you?¡± ¡°No, you misunderstand, Dad!¡± Lin Wanqing kept defending herself. ¡°I¡¯m sure it was my sister who contacted me before. Maybe her phone got lost or stolen in the past couple of days? I haven¡¯t been able to reach Xiaoxiao these days, how am I supposed to know her phone got lost?¡± Lin Chengdong nodded slightly without denying, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s say you¡¯re right. Then tell me, if your sister¡¯s phone got lost or stolen, how do you, oh, I meant, her friends know she went to Changbai Mountain?¡± Lin Wanqing said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°Dad, if the phone is lost, you can get a new one, right? You can just reactivate the SIM card.¡± Lin Chengdong was speechless. He never knew his adopted daughter could be so eloquent and quick-witted. No wonder Xiaoxiao used to be at such a disadvantage around her, even he was deceived by her. Lin Chengdong nodded again, ¡°Alright, in that case, let¡¯s see who picked up Xiaoxiao¡¯s phone. Give me your phone!¡± Lin Wanqing¡¯s face suddenly changed. She thought Lin Chengdong would use the home landline or his cellphone to call Lin Xiaoxiao, but instead, he wanted to use her phone directly. Lin Wanqing hesitated, ¡°Dad, my phone is broken, it can¡¯t make calls.¡± She stretched her hand into her bag, trying to secretly turn off her phone. Looking at her fumbling movements, Lin Chengdong eyed her suspiciously, ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Thinking she had successfully deceived him, Lin Wanqing was about to breathe a sigh of relief when her phone, which she hadn¡¯t yet managed to turn off, rang. Lin Wanqing¡¯s expression changed again, and her hand in the bag was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to answer the phone or not. Lin Chengdong looked at her ambiguously, his voice tinged with doubt, ¡°The phone is ringing, why don¡¯t you answer it?¡± Regaining her composure, Lin Wanqing smiled and said, ¡°Okay Dad, I¡¯ll answer it.¡± She attempted to walk away. ¡°Answer it here. I want to hear what¡¯s so important that they have to call you in the middle of the night,¡± Lin Chengdong said coldly. Lin Wanqing¡¯s expression froze. She had lied to Lin Chengdong just now, saying her phone was broken. Now, by coincidence, the phone rang, exposing her lie. If she didn¡¯t answer it, she would appear guilty. Although she was guilty in the first place. Lin Chengdong stared straight at her. Lin Wanqing had no choice but to answer the phone. ¡°Turn on speakerphone!¡± Lin Chengdong added another sentence. Lin Wanqing, ¡°Hello!¡± As soon as Lin Wanqing said ¡°hello,¡± the other side anxiously said, ¡°Miss Lin, Lin Xiaoxiao has escaped and called the police. Now the entire Qingzhai Village is being searched, and soon they will trace it back to us. What should we do now?¡± Lin Wanqing had no chance to stop the other party from saying all this! Because her phone had been stolen! As soon as the other party said the first sentence, Lin Chengdong snatched the phone from her hand. Lin Wanqing¡¯s face turned deathly pale, her expression full of terror and unease. She couldn¡¯t believe she was so defenseless and exposed right under Lin Chengdong¡¯s watch. ¡°Hello, hello,¡± the other party called out a few times without hearing Lin Wanqing¡¯s voice. Sensing something was wrong, they immediately hung up. Chapter 353 - Chapter 353: Chapter 347: Chapter 353: Chapter 347: Lin Chengdong listened to the other party¡¯s words, and his anger instantly flared up. He stared at Lin Wanqing with rage, ¡°Lin Xiaoxiao escaped? Lin Wanqing, you tell me, what is going on? Why would Xiaoxiao want to run away all of a sudden? And where is Qingzhai Village? What does that have to do with you?¡± Panic in Lin Wanqing¡¯s heart continued to grow. She moved her mouth, wanting to defend herself, but when she met Lin Chengdong¡¯s sharp gaze, her words got stuck in her throat, making her face turn red and blue. After a moment, with tears streaming down her face, she shook her head, and sobbed, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. Someone wants to harm me on purpose. Dad, do you believe me?¡± After hearing this, deep disappointment could be seen in Lin Chengdong¡¯s eyes. He sharply said, ¡°Lin Wanqing, why would someone want to harm you all of a sudden?¡± ¡°It¡­ It¡¯s Xiaoxiao,¡± Lin Wanqing suddenly had an idea and spoke with certainty, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s Xiaoxiao. From the first day she entered this house, she has always been dissatisfied with me. Now, she deliberately staged her disappearance, and had someone make a late-night phone call, just to frame me. Dad, you have to believe me.¡± At this moment, Lin Chengdong couldn¡¯t describe how he felt. He never expected that the girl he had raised, would have such a cunning and venomous heart. Previously, he had been thinking about whether to give Lin Wanqing a chance, as long as she was willing to admit her mistakes, then maybe he could forgive her once and for all. After all, he truly treated Lin Wanqing as his own flesh and blood. Lin Chengdong shook his head, his spirit broken, and said lightly, ¡°You can explain yourself to the Yamen officials later. As for whether you are being framed, I believe the Yamen will give you justice.¡± When Lin Wanqing heard this, her face turned completely pale. With an incredulous expression, she asked, ¡°You¡­ you called the police?¡± She had managed to calm him down before, so what went wrong, causing Lin Chengdong to choose to report her? Lin Chengdong nodded, ¡°Yes, I called the police.¡± Lin Wanqing retreated a few steps in despair, she asked in disbelief, ¡°Dad, why did you call the police? Have you never trusted me?¡± Lin Chengdong stared at her with a sharp gaze, and said sternly, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve always wanted to believe you. Before, when Xiaoxiao disappeared, I never suspected you. But then, you told me that Xiaoxiao had always been in contact with you and that I could rest assured. However, it¡¯s obvious that Xiaoxiao despised you so much, how could she not contact me and only contact you instead? So, I sent someone to the Telecommunications Bureau Chief to check Xiaoxiao¡¯s phone, and it turned out that her phone had always been in Capital City, and kept in a separate house. Yet you told me that Xiaoxiao went to Changbai Mountain, and you gave me a phone number belonging to one of her friends. When I checked the number, it was obviously newly registered. Lin Wanqing, if you weren¡¯t always aware of Xiaoxiao¡¯s whereabouts, why did you make these moves behind my back?¡± Lin Wanqing¡¯s face turned pale, she opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Lin Chengdong sharply asked another question, ¡°Why did you keep trying to harm Xiaoxiao? Before, I always thought you were a sensible and well-behaved child. Every time I saw you with Xiaoxiao, you always looked like you were being bullied. I assumed that Xiaoxiao was the one bullying you, so I naturally protected you, which led to me arguing with Xiaoxiao several times a day.¡± Yes, he didn¡¯t understand why Lin Wanqing would do this. He believed that he never treated the two children differently and even treated her better than Xiaoxiao! Chapter 354 - Chapter 354: Chapter 348: Chapter 354: Chapter 348: ¡°Your dad has sent Lin Wanqing to the Yamen!¡± Su Yichen stormed into Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s hospital room, dropping this bombshell which shocked Lin Xiaoxiao. Lin Xiaoxiao opened her mouth wide, unable to believe what she heard, ¡°Su Yichen, what are you talking about? Who did my dad send to the Yamen?¡± ¡°Lin Wanqing!¡± Su Yichen reiterated, ¡°Your foster sister.¡± ¡°Huh, why?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked puzzled, ¡°My father has always been very biased towards her, why would he send her to the Yamen?¡± After hearing this, Su Yichen slightly frustratedly said, ¡°Lin Xiaoxiao, do you genuinely not know, or are you pretending to be oblivious?¡± Xiao Junxuan was unhappy. He said, ¡°Xiao Quan, Xiaoxiao would never pretend. She¡¯s just having trouble understanding.¡± Then, Xiao Junxuan explained, ¡°The abduction of you was arranged by Lin Wanqing. Now that your father is aware, he¡¯s very angry and sent her to the Yamen. He has also gathered some clues and evidence, which he handed over to the Yamen.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao listened, greatly astounded. Still in disbelief, she said, ¡°But didn¡¯t my dad always pamper Lin Wanqing? And after all, Lin Wanqing is the daughter of his lifesaver. Could he really bear to send her to the Yamen?¡± Yet, Su Yichen was very impartial, ¡°Your father may be a bit confused when dealing with you and your foster sister, but he still has a sense of right and wrong. Lin Wanqing made a mistake. Not any ordinary mistake, but a crime of trafficking women. This is a crime, your father would absolutely not let it slide.¡± He added, ¡°Furthermore, Lin Wanqing is the daughter of his lifesaver, an upstanding comrade. He would certainly not want his daughter to continuously make mistakes and offend the law. Since she committed a crime, she has to bear the consequences.¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded in agreement, ¡°Xiaoxiao, Xiao Quan is right. Your father might be confused handling matters between you and Lin Wanqing, but as a former soldier, he has a strong sense of justice. Even to repay a favor, he cannot excuse any crime.¡± Besides, he brought her out of the countryside and gave her a wealthy life. If she weren¡¯t so selfish and greedy, always trying to usurp you, your dad would definitely have found her a suitable husband, assuring her a worry-free life. People really should not be too greedy. Even though Lin Wanqing was already living a luxurious life as the Lin Family¡¯s young miss, she was too greedy, wanting to seize all of the Lin Family¡¯s business.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao finally responded, she asked, ¡°So, Lin Wanqing wanted to harm me, because of the Lin Family¡¯s business?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°She confessed herself. She said your dad only superficially favored her. If he truly cared for her, why didn¡¯t he include her in the inheritance? He even wanted to use her as a tool to assist you in the future when you take over the company.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao, was at a loss for words. She, in fact, didn¡¯t want to inherit the family business at all. So, every time her dad threatened her with forbidding her from inheriting the company, she took it lightly. However, she never expected that someone could go to such lengths to harm her because of this. ¡°Xiaoxiao, are you alright?¡± Xiao Junxuan looked at Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s silent expression and called out to her worriedly. Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± While holding her hand Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Lin Wanqing has already admitted to her crime explicitly, she most likely will be sentenced to prison. From now on, you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± Chapter 355 - Chapter 355: Chapter 349: Chapter 355: Chapter 349: Lin Chengdong was devastated when he found out that Lin Wanqing had arranged for Lin Xiaoxiao to be kidnapped and sold. He had never thought that his education could fail so thoroughly. Maybe it was just Lin Wanqing¡¯s nature. After all, when they first took her in, she was already ten years old, an age where she should know better. And back in the countryside, her paternal grandparents despised her for being a girl, and thought she was a bad omen since she had supposedly brought the death of her parents. Naturally, they didn¡¯t put much effort into her education and treated her quite harshly, even bordering on abusive. She had to do all the housework, washing clothes, cooking, cleaning, and feeding the pigs, chickens, and ducks. The food for these pigs, chickens, and ducks could not come from the family¡¯s own grain, so she had to go out and pick pigweeds and collect old vegetable leaves. During the busy farming season, she was working in the fields from the crack of dawn until night, with just a steamed bun or cornbread and salted vegetables for her noon meal. When he learned of her situation, his heart ached with guilt. If it hadn¡¯t been for saving him, which caused her to lose her father, and then her mother dying later in despair by drowning in the river, she wouldn¡¯t have had to suffer so much. Therefore, his original plan was to give money to her relatives to raise her and the other kids properly, but seeing her situation, he gave some money to his comrade¡¯s parents and took the girl as his adopted daughter. It just so happened that the comrade¡¯s family also had the last name Lin, so there was no need to change her name. He had always pitied her, so he treated her with the utmost love and tolerance, allowing her to enjoy life and not suffer anymore. But at some point, she had become unrecognizable to him. Or perhaps she had never changed, and was just good at acting in front of him. From the very first day she entered their home, his own biological daughter warmly called her sister and took her to her room, wanting to give her something. But as he turned around, he saw tears in her eyes and a look of aggrievement on her face. Because she was holding tattered clothes in her hands, while his daughter Xiaoxiao held scissors, and she said with grievance, ¡°Sister, I don¡¯t want your clothes anymore, please don¡¯t cut them, it¡¯s such a pity to ruin such beautiful clothes. I¡­ I have never worn new clothes in my life, let alone such beautiful ones.¡± Hearing these words, his heart ached at that moment. For the first time, he scolded his precious biological daughter. He would never forget the look on his daughter Xiaoxiao¡¯s face at that time, she was stunned and cried out when she heard his scolding, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it, I didn¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t do it, are you saying your sister is framing you!¡± Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t believe his daughter. Thus, it started with the first time, then there was the second, third, and countless times afterward. Thinking about it, Lin Chengdong¡¯s eyes turned red. ¡°It turns out that my Xiaoxiao never wronged or harmed Lin Wanqing. So why didn¡¯t I believe her? I know my own daughter¡¯s character better than anyone else, right? My Xiaoxiao has always been a happy, innocent, and kind-hearted girl. At that time, she was only six years old, innocent and naive. How would she know to frame another girl she had just met? In contrast, in the case of Lin Wanqing, he only saw her superficial side, which was very pitiful and sympathetic. However, a girl without parents or anyone¡¯s love has to be cunning to survive. But why did she want to frame Xiaoxiao the first time they met?¡± Chapter 356 - Chapter 356: Chapter 350: Chapter 356: Chapter 350: ¡°Xiaoxiao, your dad is looking for you,¡± Xiao Junxuan said to Lin Xiaoxiao. ¡°However, he hasn¡¯t found Xiao Family Village yet, he just appeared in Taoyuan Town asking about your situation at various hospitals.¡± As Xiao Junxuan spoke, his hand continued to peel the apple. Lin Xiaoxiao paused mid-bite of her banana, ¡°He¡¯s here?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°He couldn¡¯t find any information about you in the town, so he¡¯ll probably come to Xiao Family Village soon.¡± There are a total of four hospitals in Taoyuan Town: Taoyuan Town First People¡¯s Hospital, Taoyuan Town Second People¡¯s Hospital, Taoyuan Town Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and Xiao Family Village Hospital, with no private hospitals. Due to the rapid development of Xiao Family Village in recent years, it has driven the economic development of the entire county town. Taoyuan Town, being the nearest, has the best development, and many wealthy and powerful families have settled in the area. Everyone is afraid of getting sick and even more worried about delaying treatment at the hospital, making a treatable illness turn fatal by just a short delay. So many wealthy people have begun to invest in Taoyuan Town¡¯s hospitals. These three hospitals in Taoyuan Village are now all Level 3 Hospitals. With Xiao Jinli in charge of Xiao Family Village Hospital and recruiting top medical doctors from all over the country, the hospital naturally has the biggest reputation. Not only in the whole town but throughout the country. It¡¯s considered one of the best hospitals in terms of medical skills in the country. Lin Chengdong doesn¡¯t know which hospital Lin Xiaoxiao is in, so he has to ask about her in each one. Xiao Junxuan looked at the silent Lin Xiaoxiao and said, ¡°Xiaoxiao, if you don¡¯t want to see him, he won¡¯t find you even if he comes here.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao stared at Xiao Junxuan, her expression somewhat hesitant. She wanted to see him, but the thought of being sold off by Lin Wanqing made her feel resentful towards him. If he hadn¡¯t been so trusting of Lin Wanqing, she wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to harm him. But she couldn¡¯t blame him. He owed a debt of gratitude. Without his comrade¡¯s sacrifice, there wouldn¡¯t be the man he is now, and there wouldn¡¯t be the person she is now. Lin Wanqing is the daughter of his comrade, so it¡¯s only natural that he shows her pity, love, and favoritism. It¡¯s just that human hearts are unpredictable. Who could have thought that such a young child would plot against her the first time they met? Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and said, ¡°When he finds this place, I¡¯ll see him.¡± Xiao Junxuan handed the peeled apple to Lin Xiaoxiao, took the banana from her hand, threw it into the bucket, and nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll arrange it.¡± Then he said seriously, ¡°Xiaoxiao, I didn¡¯t participate in your life before, and I didn¡¯t know you suffered so many grievances. In the future, I will never let you be wronged, by anyone, not even my own parents or your father. They can¡¯t cause you any grievances.¡± When Lin Xiaoxiao heard this, tears welled up in her eyes, and she was moved. She nodded and said, ¡°Thank you, Brother Xuan!¡± Before she turned six, her mother was still alive, and her parents were loving. They cherished her, their only child, more than anything, and she never suffered any grievances. But ever since her mother¡¯s accidental death at the age of six and after her father brought back a sister, she had been mistreated every day. From then on, her beloved father never believed her again. Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll see him.¡± Xiao Junxuan smiled and nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll arrange it. You just focus on recovering. Your leg is healing, and although you can get out of bed and move around, my sister said you still need to rest more to heal faster and recover sooner.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao smiled and nodded, ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°Xiaoxiao,¡± Xiao Junxuan held her hand that wasn¡¯t holding the fruit, and said seriously, ¡°In these thirty years, I never had feelings for any girl before, and you are the first and will be the last. In the future, we will be together for the rest of our lives. I hope that we can face and solve problems together, alright?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was taken aback but then put down the apple in her hand and gripped his hand back, nodding solemnly, ¡°Yes, Brother Xuan, I will.¡± In the first twenty-four years, she also never had a boyfriend or been in love. Xiao Junxuan was the first man she was ever attracted to. In college, many girls were busy dating and had crushes on boys, and many boys wrote her love letters, even the most popular guy in college confessed to her, but she never felt any affection for them. Her expression was cold, and her heart was unmoved. Those who confessed to her were either after her looks or background. Some people privately accused her of pretending to be aloof, but in reality, she was like a black lotus. Some had seen her dancing with other men at the bar. That¡¯s right. Ever since high school and especially with Lin Wanqing playing tricks on her from time to time, her father¡¯s distrust led her to feel oppressed. So, she needed to vent those suppressed emotions by going to the bar. The bar owner was a friend of her dad¡¯s and knew her, so when she was at the bar, he looked out for her and never allowed any scoundrels to get close. From time to time, the owner would come over and urge her to go home, saying her dad would worry. Of course, all she did at the bar was dance and occasionally drink. The waitresses and bartenders were specially instructed to take good care of her and not let her get bullied. Her drinks were never drugged, and even when she got drunk, someone would take her home, either someone from the bar or her bodyguard. So, she had always been a virtuous girl. She never would have thought getting sold off once would lead her to meet her true love. Should she thank Lin Wanqing? If it hadn¡¯t been for her scheme, perhaps she never would have met such a great man like Xiao Junxuan. Xiao Jinli and Su Yichen stood outside the door, not daring to look at the pink bubble floating in the room. Seeing her brother finally in a romantic relationship and possibly getting married soon, she was truly happy for him. Her brother, this man in his thirties, had finally found his true love. Xiao Jinli poked Su Yichen¡¯s arm with her finger and whispered, ¡°My brother, this old log, has finally bloomed. Before, when he kept all those girls at arm¡¯s length, I thought he was afraid of women. Who would have thought that when he falls in love, the sweet talk just keeps coming up? Did he inherit this from my dad?¡± Xiao Jinli rubbed her chin, deep in thought. Su Yichen¡¯s gaze fell on the beautiful, cute, and lively girl in front of him, and his heart began to flutter and pound. He didn¡¯t know why he felt this way, but he knew that the girl before him was the one he, Su Yichen, would strive to protect for the rest of his life. Chapter 357 - Chapter 357: Chapter 351: Chapter 357: Chapter 351: As Xiao Junxuan had said, Lin Chengdong quickly came to the Xiao Family Village Hospital to find someone. At the hospital reception, Lin Chengdong asked the nurse, ¡°Excuse me, is there a patient here named Lin Xiaoxiao?¡± The nurse at the reception looked at him suspiciously and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± Lin Chengdong introduced himself, ¡°My name is Lin Chengdong, I¡¯m looking for a patient named Lin Xiaoxiao, I¡¯m her dad!¡± The nurse thought for a moment and said, ¡°Mr. Lin, please wait a moment, let me make a phone call to confirm.¡± Many patients at the Xiao Family Village Hospital have special identities, so they must be careful. After making a phone call, the nurse said, ¡°Alright.¡± After hanging up the phone, she said, ¡°Mr. Lin, Miss Lin Xiaoxiao is located in Room 901 on the ninth floor of the Surgical Department.¡± Lin Chengdong was very happy when he heard this news. ¡°Thank you!¡± he said. With that, he headed towards the Surgical Department, and his bodyguard followed immediately. The hospital didn¡¯t allow too many bodyguards, only two at most. Lin Chengdong quickly found the ninth floor of the Surgical Department. However, when he reached the door of the ward, he hesitated, pacing back and forth, but not daring to enter. Before he arrived, he had been so eager, but now he had become timid. He felt guilty for his daughter, so he was ashamed to face her. At this moment, a handsome young man passed by him, striding directly into the ward. The man was wearing a suit and dress shoes, clearly not a doctor. Lin Chengdong immediately raised his guard, looking sharply at Xiao Junxuan with suspicion in his eyes. Just as he was about to step into the ward, Lin Chengdong stopped him. ¡°Hey, young man, wait a minute!¡± Xiao Junxuan looked at Lin Chengdong, sizing up his future father-in-law with an indiscernible gaze. ¡°Uncle, are you calling me?¡± Xiao Junxuan stopped and asked with a seemingly confused look. Lin Chengdong nodded, and then he asked, ¡°Are you going into this ward?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded his head and said, ¡°Uncle, do you have any questions?¡± With a cold face, Lin Chengdong asked, ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with the patient in this ward?¡± ¡°Boyfriend and Girlfriend!¡± Xiao Junxuan directly tossed a bomb at Lin Chengdong. ¡°What did you say?¡± Lin Chengdong was so surprised that his volume didn¡¯t decrease. Lin Xiaoxiao in the ward was talking with Xiao Jinli when she heard the sound, slightly furrowing her brows and wondering, ¡°Why does it sound like my dad¡¯s voice?¡± Xiao Jinli asked in cooperation, ¡°Your dad? Didn¡¯t you say he was in the Capital City and couldn¡¯t come here? Maybe you heard it wrong.¡± As soon as Lin Chengdong heard this, he stepped into the ward without bothering with Xiao Junxuan, ¡°Didn¡¯t¡­¡± But when he saw his daughter¡¯s appearance, he was stunned. His daughter had bruises on her face, one purple and one green, and her leg was wrapped in gypsum. He was immediately heartbroken. He had learned from the government officials that his Xiaoxiao had been kidnapped and sold to a remote mountain village. She had been beaten and had a leg broken by the villagers because she had fiercely resisted. Even so, she had managed to escape. Hearing it was one thing, but seeing it with his own eyes was another. Lin Chengdong¡¯s eyes reddened in an instant, and he called out with heartache, ¡°Xiaoxiao?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao looked at her father who had suddenly burst into the ward, her expression first astonished, then aggrieved, she turned her face to the other side and humphed, clearly still holding a grudge for what had happened before. Seeing her like this, Lin Chengdong felt even more distressed. But before he could say anything, Xiao Junxuan walked in, an astonished look on his face, asking, ¡°Xiaoxiao, is this uncle your dad?¡± Chapter 358 - Chapter 358: Chapter 352: Chapter 358: Chapter 352: Xiao Junxuan, of course, knew that Lin Chengdong was Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s dad but pretended not to know. Lin Xiaoxiao nodded slightly and said, ¡°Yes, this is my dad!¡± Xiao Junxuan immediately went forward and enthusiastically introduced himself, ¡°Uncle, hello, my name is Xiao Junxuan, I am Xiaoxiao¡¯s boyfriend!¡± ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Lin Chengdong only noticed the word ¡°boyfriend,¡± which sounded particularly harsh to his ears, and he looked at Xiao Junxuan sharply. Xiao Junxuan, undaunted by his gaze, sincerely said, ¡°Yes, I am Xiaoxiao¡¯s boyfriend Xiao Junxuan, and I am from Xiao Family Village.¡± Lin Chengdong looked at his smile, which was very irritating, and he didn¡¯t want to look anymore, so he turned to Lin Xiaoxiao and walked up to her, asking with concern, ¡°Xiaoxiao, I heard from the Yamen people that your leg was broken by someone. How is it now, does it still hurt?¡± However, when he looked at Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s leg, it seemed to have several patches of ointment on it, not to mention plaster, there wasn¡¯t even a piece of gauze, which made Lin Chengdong very puzzled. According to the Yamen, his daughter Xiaoxiao was rescued by someone five days ago, and her leg was severely injured. For such a serious injury, wouldn¡¯t you need surgery and a plaster cast? Also, looking at his daughter¡¯s leg, it seemed that it could bend now. Could it be that the so-called broken leg was just an external injury? Lin Xiaoxiao noticed Lin Chengdong¡¯s puzzled gaze, and she said indifferently, ¡°My leg was broken by that beast, and several pieces of bone inside were shattered. My leg has recovered to its current state all because of a Divine Doctor¡¯s intervention. In a few more days, I¡¯ll be able to stand up again.¡± Lin Chengdong asked with suspicion, ¡°Which Divine Doctor is so powerful? The bones are shattered, and in just a few days, the recovery is so good? You don¡¯t need to have surgery?¡± For such a serious injury, even after surgery, at least half a month of hospitalization would be required. Lin Xiaoxiao had a smile on her face when she mentioned this. She had stars in her eyes, and there was a sense of showing off in her excitement as she said, ¡°Doctor Xiao, the Divine Doctor from the Retirement Home for Cadres in the Capital City. Her skill heals even the most serious injuries like child¡¯s play.¡± ¡°Doctor Xiao?!¡± Lin Chengdong was astonished, ¡°Xiaoxiao, is it really Doctor Xiao who treated you?¡± He had never seen the so-called Doctor Xiao, but in the Capital City, as long as you were in the upper circle, you would have heard of her. Doctor Xiao was rarely seen by anyone outside the Big Courtyard, and even those who were either rich or noble couldn¡¯t afford her services with heavy money. Lin Xiaoxiao raised her head proudly and said, ¡°Of course. When Doctor Xiao takes action, you can tell the difference. Hmph, my severe leg injury was treated by Doctor Xiao with a minimally invasive surgery to reset the shattered bones. Then, she applied bone-healing ointment to me. In just five or six days, my leg has recovered more than half. Many people say that a broken limb takes a hundred days to heal, but Doctor Xiao says my leg will be fully recovered in at most a month.¡± Lin Chengdong exclaimed, ¡°Doctor Xiao¡¯s medical skills are indeed superb, perfectly accomplished, and rejuvenating. Xiaoxiao, I don¡¯t know where Doctor Xiao is, but I should go and thank her in person.¡± That Doctor Xiao, who was difficult to invite with heavy money, actually treated his daughter¡¯s leg injury personally. He had to thank her both emotionally and rationally as her father. Lin Xiaoxiao glanced at Xiao Junxuan and said with an unusual expression, ¡°No need, Doctor Xiao doesn¡¯t need your thanks!¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± Lin Chengdong shook his head and said, ¡°Xiaoxiao, I still have to thank Doctor Xiao in person, and how much is the consultation fee? I have to pay it.¡± Before Lin Xiaoxiao could speak, Xiao Junxuan laughed and said, ¡°Uncle, we will be family in the future, so no need to be so polite.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao, Her face turned red with shyness. Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t quite catch on, and after hearing Xiao Junxuan¡¯s words, he was displeased and said, ¡°Who is your family? The marriage is not even settled yet.¡± Xiao Junxuan laughed and said, ¡°Uncle, our marriage has already been decided. Xiaoxiao and I love each other and are boyfriend and girlfriend. We just need to meet both our parents, and when Xiaoxiao¡¯s leg recovers, we can get married.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Chengdong felt like his ears were playing tricks on him, ¡°Meet the parents, get married?¡± Immediately, he realized and said angrily, ¡°Who agreed to this?¡± He hadn¡¯t seen his daughter for only a few days, and now she not only has a boyfriend but also talks about meeting parents and getting married. Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s face turned black right away. She said coldly, ¡°I agreed. What, you don¡¯t want to meet him? Fine, then you don¡¯t have to meet Brother Xuan¡¯s parents either. Brother Xuan and I will just get married.¡± Lin Chengdong felt a lump in his chest, immediately filled with sadness. His daughter was living in vain. He clearly didn¡¯t want her to get married, but she snubbed him and wanted to marry someone else. Lin Chengdong¡¯s face turned awkward, his mouth sour as he said, ¡°Xiaoxiao, Dad didn¡¯t mean that. Dad just feels you guys are moving too fast. You¡¯ve only known each other for a short time, do you really understand each other? If you rush into marriage and find out later that your personalities clash and you fight all the time, what will you do? Dad is not against you, he just wants you to date and understand each other more. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± After hearing this, Lin Xiaoxiao scoffed and said, ¡°Heh, how long did you know Lin Wanqing? You met her for just a few days, and you believed and trusted everything she said and did, yet you came to criticize your own daughter.¡± When Lin Chengdong was called out like this, his face turned embarrassed and somewhat awkward, as he defended himself, saying, ¡°How could I have known that a child of such a young age would have such a deep mind?¡± ¡°Heh, you raised Lin Wanqing for more than ten years. The time was long enough, but how much did you really know about her? And later, did you ever believe me once?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao questioned aggressively. Upon hearing this, Lin Chengdong¡¯s face was full of shame, and he fell silent. Lin Xiaoxiao continued, ¡°So, getting to know someone doesn¡¯t mean that a long time together will help you understand them. When someone is acting in front of you on purpose, even if it takes a long time, all you understand is what the person wants you to understand, commonly known as a hypocrite!¡± Lin Chengdong, Why did it feel like Xiaoxiao had become so quick-witted after this ordeal? After a while, Lin Chengdong waved his hand and said with some helplessness and sadness, ¡°Forget it, forget it, since you like it, then Dad will support you!¡± He turned his head to look at Xiao Junxuan and asked, ¡°Young man, is your family from Xiao Village?¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded and said, ¡°Yes! I was born and raised in Xiao Family Village!¡± The land value of Xiao Family Village now outweighed even that of the Capital City. People joked that the land of Xiao Family Village was now worth its weight in gold. Getting a residence in Xiao Family Village had the strictest requirements! Even if you had money and power, without meeting the qualifications, you couldn¡¯t settle in! Xiao Family Village people are good, Xiao Family Village people are wonderful! Lin Chengdong nodded in agreement in his heart! Chapter 359 - Chapter 359: Chapter 353: Chapter 359: Chapter 353: Lin Chengdong took another look at Xiao Junxuan, tall and handsome, majestic, mature and steady, exuding the charm and temptation of a successful adult man. Lin Chengdong kept nodding to himself inwardly, thinking, ¡°Not bad, not bad at all.¡± Surely, such a man is well-suited for his pampered daughter. However, when he thought about having only one biological daughter and her marrying into the Xiao Family Village, he worried about who would inherit his vast family business. Lin Chengdong quickly recalled his earlier plan when he wanted to introduce his daughter to Su Yichen. His plan was for the two of them to get married, and after that, each of them could manage their own family business. After all, although Su Yichen could be considered the wealthiest person, his own family business was not weak either. As for this man, he didn¡¯t know how many brothers he had at home. If he could become his son-in-law, that would be perfect. Of course, he couldn¡¯t let him give up his status as a member of the Xiao Family Village. In the future, they could have more children, and each one could bear a different surname, which would be ideal. Feeling excited at this idea, Lin Chengdong still looked at Xiao Junxuan with a serious expression and asked, ¡°Young man¡­¡± ¡°Dad, his name is Xiao Junxuan. Don¡¯t keep calling him ¡®young man,¡¯¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said discontentedly. Lin Chengdong felt a pang in his heart. In the past, he thought his daughter wasn¡¯t serious about any man. Even an outstanding and dazzling man like Su Yichen didn¡¯t seem to attract her, making him wonder if she had a cold temperament. He worried that one day, on a whim, she would decide to become a nun. Now he knew that his daughter wasn¡¯t cold, it was just she hadn¡¯t met a man who moved her heart. Look, after just a few days since they met, she¡¯s already talking about meeting the parents and getting married. Moreover, she¡¯s even defending him in front of her own father. Seeing his daughter¡¯s attitude, he felt a little apprehensive, worrying that his plan just now might anger her. Let it be; let her marry him if she wants to. Afterward, they could have more children together. Lin Chengdong continued to ask, ¡°Xiao¡­ Junxuan, how many people are in your family? Do you have any siblings?¡± His daughter is already talking about marrying him, so he must thoroughly understand his family situation. Xiao Junxuan introduced, ¡°There are just two of us siblings in my family, along with our parents. Also, we have our paternal grandparents and maternal grandparents¡­¡± Xiao Junxuan explained his family situation, especially the members of the large family, in great detail. ¡°So, just you and your sister?¡± Lin Chengdong still wanted to confirm, but he was slightly disappointed. With just the two siblings, Xiao Junxuan would most likely not be willing to become his son-in-law. Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°Yes, I have a younger sister. Although the cousins are not siblings by blood, there really isn¡¯t much difference.¡± ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Lin Chengdong sighed with some regret. No matter how many cousins there are, they don¡¯t matter if they are not blood siblings. Seeing his unhappy expression, Lin Xiaoxiao discontentedly said, ¡°Old man, what does your disappointed look mean? Do you regret that Brother Xuan cannot be your son-in-law?¡± Like father, like daughter. Before Lin Chengdong could react, Lin Xiaoxiao huffed, ¡°Hmph, let me tell you, Brother Xuan will never become your son-in-law, so just give up on that idea.¡± In some large aristocratic families, if the woman is an only daughter, it is definitely more reassuring to have a son-in-law join the family. Of course, when they choose a son-in-law, it¡¯s usually someone whose family is not as well off as theirs. This way, they can maintain control when he marries in. Upon hearing his daughter¡¯s words, Lin Chengdong felt another pang of heartache. In the past, although they quarreled, at least his daughter was still on his side as her father. Chapter 360 - Chapter 360: Chapter 354: Chapter 360: Chapter 354: Lin Chengdong said with a bit of heartache, ¡°I didn¡¯t plan on having him as my son-in-law.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao quickly agreed, nodding, ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s good that you didn¡¯t.¡± Lin Chengdong, Parents will always compromise in front of their children. He didn¡¯t want to discuss this issue with his daughter right now. If he can¡¯t be a son-in-law, then the child can at least take the surname of Lin, right? Lin Chengdong brought the topic back around, he said, ¡°Darling, Doctor Xiao took good care of your leg, regardless, I must personally come to thank him. What kind of gift should I buy?¡± Doctor Xiao, who is rich and influential, would consider any gift to not be particularly expensive. But he really wanted to express his gratitude. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at her father with a slightly complex look. At this moment, Xiao Junxuan laughed lightly and said, ¡°Uncle, there¡¯s no need¡­¡± But before he could finish his sentence, Lin Chengdong was a little annoyed, ¡°Xiao Junxuan, I¡¯m going to thank Doctor Xiao, what do you mean by interrupting and saying it¡¯s not needed? Are you looking down on me?¡± ¡°Dad, can¡¯t you let people finish speaking,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was also very angry, ¡°If Brother Xuan says it¡¯s not necessary, it¡¯s not necessary. Because Doctor Xiao is Brother Xuan¡¯s biological sister.¡± Lin Chengdong was stunned by this, ¡°What?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao repeated, ¡°Doctor Xiao is Brother Xuan¡¯s biological sister. That¡¯s why I was able to receive treatment directly from Dr. Xiao.¡± At this point, Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t know what to say. He had not expected that his daughter¡¯s boyfriend would be the biological brother of Doctor Xiao. At this point, he didn¡¯t know whether to feel upset or happy. After all, having an in-law relationship with Doctor Xiao is a matter of pride for any family. It¡¯s not just about the medical skills of Doctor Xiao herself, more so because of the power after her. Then, Lin Xiaoxiao dropped another bombshell on Lin Chengdong. ¡°And, Su Yichen is also Brother Xuan¡¯s younger brother, a member of the Xiao family, and Doctor Xiao¡¯s brother!¡± Lin Chengdong was truly surprised. In Capital City, he had also heard that Doctor Xiao and Su Yichen seemed to have a close relationship, but no one could find out exactly what their relationship was. As it turned out, Su Yichen and Doctor Xiao were closely related in this way. However, after all these twists and turns, Lin Xiaoxiao did not marry Su Yichen, but married a man who was very close to Su Yichen. After a while, Lin Chengdong shook his head and laughed, ¡°Xiaoxiao, it seems that your destiny was to be with Su Yichen as a family.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao turned pale, and said irritably, ¡°Old man, why are you bringing up what you shouldn¡¯t.¡± Lin Chengdong immediately came to his senses, looked at Xiao Junxuan, patted Xiao Junxuan¡¯s shoulder, and laughed, ¡°Ah Xuan, don¡¯t misunderstand. In Capital City, I tried my best to bring Su Yichen and Xiaoxiao together, but they didn¡¯t like each other. The last time I brought it up, Xiaoxiao disappeared and then met you.¡± He sighed softly and said, ¡°Ah, maybe this is destiny. Though Su Yichen and Xiaoxiao have known each other for several years, they are still like strangers to each other. But you are good, in just a few days after meeting my Xiaoxiao, you have taken her away.¡± Xiao Junxuan laughed and said, ¡°Uncle, as the saying goes, ¡®A destined love will meet even if they are a thousand miles apart; an undestined love won¡¯t even meet despite being across from each other.¡¯ It is fate between Xiaoxiao and me. Otherwise, Xiaoxiao was in Capital City, how could she have met me.¡± Lin Chengdong could not help but sigh at the wonder of fate. He nodded and said, ¡°Yes. One was in Capital City, the other in Xiao Family Village thousands of miles away. Yet, they met each other unexpectedly. Maybe this is destiny. However, you guys have known each other for a short time, have not understood each other completely. What about meeting the parents first, getting engaged, and delaying the marriage?¡± Xiao Junxuan quickly responded, ¡°Uncle, understanding each other after marriage is the same. And, in our Xiao family, marriage is for a lifetime. The men of the Xiao family, all know how to love their wives.¡± Lin Chengdong, There are divorces in marriage too, how can this be guaranteed? Of course, he couldn¡¯t say that, or else his daughter would roll her eyes at him again. However, he still has to find out about Xiao Junxuan¡¯s character a bit. He can¡¯t just marry his daughter off halphazardly because the groom is Doctor Xiao¡¯s brother. What he cares about now is his daughter¡¯s happiness. After a while, Lin Chengdong waved his hand and said, ¡°Forget it, forget it. I have only one biological daughter. I just hope she marries a good man, and more importantly, she is happy forever.¡± Chapter 361 - Chapter 361: Chapter 354: _2 Chapter 361: Chapter 354: _2 Happiness is not just about a man treating her well, it¡¯s also about having a good relationship with the in-laws. ¡°Uncle, rest assured.¡± Xiao Junxuan said with a smile, ¡°I will definitely make Xiaoxiao happy. My parents and my sister are all very easy-going. They also like Xiaoxiao. Everyone in our family likes Xiaoxiao.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao nodded, ¡°Old man, the Xiao family really is easy to get along with. Do you know? The Doctor Xiao in Capital City, whom we could never approach, turns out to be a beautiful and lovely girl, who¡¯s also gentle and kind.¡± When it came to Xiao Jinli, Lin Xiaoxiao always regarded her as an idol. Even in the future, when she would be her sister-in-law, Jinli would still be her idol, the person she admires the most. Speaking of Doctor Xiao, Lin Chengdong thought for a while and said, ¡°Xiaoxiao, I still think I should formally thank Doctor Xiao, we can¡¯t lack the courtesy.¡± You see, asking Doctor Xiao for help in the Capital City is something money can¡¯t buy. Now that Lin Xiaoxiao was fortunate enough to meet Xiao Junxuan, who facilitated this help, they should show even more gratitude. If they become a family in the future, then it¡¯s a family matter. But now, they must show proper etiquette. Xiao Junxuan laughed, ¡°Uncle, there¡¯s no need for such formality.¡± He paused slightly, glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao, and continued, ¡°If you really want to thank my sister, please invite her to a meal.¡± ¡°Ha, just a meal, that¡¯s not genuine at all,¡± Lin Chengdong disagreed, ¡°I should still go back to Capital City and see if I have anything valuable to give to Doctor Xiao.¡± ¡± Xiao Junxuan immediately stopped him, ¡°Uncle, it¡¯s too formal to do this, my sister will not be happy about it. You see, my sister helped Xiaoxiao because she likes Xiaoxiao. My sister said, it¡¯s because they have a predestined relationship. If you send those valuable gifts, wouldn¡¯t that tear the relationship between them? In the future, they will be sisters-in-law, a family.¡± Lin Chengdong, After thinking for a bit, Lin Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement, ¡°Dad, Brother Xuan is right. It would be really inappropriate of you to give gifts. Look at my relationship with Brother Xuan, would Doctor Xiao accept the gift or not?¡± After pondering, Lin Chengdong eventually nodded, ¡°Alright. I will not send any gifts. I will invite Doctor Xiao to have a meal instead.¡± Just don¡¯t know which hotel here has the best food. The food at the Xiao Family Village Hotel and the Xiao Family Village Cafeteria is said to be really good. But if you invite someone out for a meal, and go to their own restaurant, it is¡­ Before he could fret any further, Lin Xiaoxiao immediately decided, laughing, she said, ¡°Old man, just book a table at the Xiao Family Village Hotel. Doctor Xiao won¡¯t be used to eating anywhere else.¡± Having tasted the culinary skills of her future mother-in-law, the food was simply too delicious. If she had to eat anywhere else, she felt it would be hard to swallow. Xiao Jinli grew up eating food prepared by her future mother-in-law, she certainly would be picky about the food from other restaurants. However, she probably wouldn¡¯t be picky about the local restaurants, would she? After hearing his daughter say this, Lin Chengdong decisively decided, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll book at the Xiao Family Village Hotel.¡± Xiao Junxuan¡¯s eyes flickered, and then he asked, ¡°Uncle, where is your group staying?¡± Lin Chengdong replied, ¡°The few hotels in Taoyuan Town were fully booked, so we¡¯re staying at the Jinshan Hotel in the county town.¡± ¡°The county town is quite far from Xiao Family Village.¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Uncle, starting from today, you can stay at our place.¡± In addition to their original house, they had built another big house at the back, specifically for housing Xiao family guests. People like Elder Chen stayed at the Xiao family¡¯s house all the time. Because they loved eating meals cooked by Xiao¡¯s mother. Because of their status, they couldn¡¯t register their residence in Xiao Village, but the government still funded a veterans¡¯ nursing home to be built in Xiao Village for these old people who had made contributions to the country, so they could enjoy their old age. Xiao Village is an excellent place for retirement, moreover, Doctor Xiao is a villager, always there to ensure their safety. As soon as Xiao Junxuan suggested going to his house, Lin Chengdong¡¯s face darkened. In annoyance, he said, ¡°My daughter hasn¡¯t married yet, and now I as her father should move in already, what¡¯s that gonna look like, it¡¯ll just bring unwanted gossip. No, I¡¯d rather stay at the county town hotel. At least we have a car, and commuting is convenient.¡± Although sometimes there is a bit of a traffic jam. He couldn¡¯t book the Xiao Family Village Hotel. The hotel needed to be booked half a month in advance. ¡°Alright,¡± Xiao Junxuan smiled somewhat helplessly, ¡°But, Uncle, you also don¡¯t need to stay in the county town hotel, just stay directly at our Xiao Family Village Hotel.¡± Lin Chengdong asked with some hesitation, ¡°But isn¡¯t the Xiao Family Village Hotel fully booked?¡± ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Xiao Junxuan asked, ¡°Uncle, how many people are there in your group?¡± He knew that Lin Chengdong must have brought secretaries and bodyguards along. Lin Chengdong said, ¡°Eight people, all men.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Xiao Junxuan nodded, ¡°Uncle, you and Xiaoxiao have a good chat, I¡¯ll go and check on the hotel.¡± In fact, he was making space for the father and daughter to have a good chat. After all, Lin Xiaoxiao still had some unresolved issues. These issues needed to be resolved. He who tied the bell, must untie it himself. Lin Chengdong must apologize for the past misunderstandings. So it¡¯s best for everyone else to avoid them during this time. Especially him, the future son-in-law. Otherwise, the future father-in-law would feel like he¡¯s lost face. After Xiao Junxuan left, the atmosphere in the ward suddenly quieted down again. Chapter 362 - Chapter 362: Chapter 355: Chapter 362: Chapter 355: After Xiao Junxuan left, Lin Chengdong faced his biological daughter, and all he felt was remorse. Before coming to find her, he was thinking that after finding his daughter, in addition to apologizing, he would also compensate her. After a while, Lin Chengdong sighed lightly and said to Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°Xiaoxiao, it¡¯s your dad¡¯s fault. I¡¯m sorry for letting you suffer so much for so many years.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao turned her face away, not immediately accepting his apology, and then said with a belly full of grievance, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the help I received while fleeing this time, you probably would¡¯ve never seen me again in your life.¡± Saying this, she paused for a moment, before continuing, ¡°That¡¯s right, you already have such a filial adopted daughter, so you don¡¯t even care about your own biological daughter, don¡¯t you? After all, haven¡¯t you been like this for the past dozen or so years?¡± Her words pierced his heart! Upon hearing Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s words, Lin Chengdong¡¯s expression was full of remorse and heartache. He apologized again, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my daughter, your dad was confused, misjudged people, not only letting you suffer so much humiliation, but also causing you to bear so much suffering.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao remained silent. Lin Chengdong continued, ¡°I never imagined that a ten-year-old child could be so calculating, with such a deep scheming mind, that she would try to frame you the first time she met you.¡± No one would have expected that, right? A child who was bullied and beaten casually in the countryside, a skinny little kid, could be so cunning and malicious. The first time the two children met, when the clothes were cut, anyone else would probably think that it was their own child who was spoiled, looking down on children from the countryside, and hence becoming arrogant and aggressive. At that time, Lin Xiaoxiao was already six years old. Although her memory of growing up was sparse, that first encounter was deeply ingrained in her mind. Her eyes filled with tears, she asked him angrily, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you believe me then? I¡¯m the child you raised yourself, don¡¯t you know what kind of person I am? Do you think I could do something like that? But you chose to believe what you saw with your own eyes and didn¡¯t believe what I said. After that, every time you saw me bullying her, didn¡¯t you ever wonder why it was always me bullying her that you saw? Wouldn¡¯t I know to bully people in secret? Why would I be so stupid as to let you see me do it? If only you had thought about it a little, would you have seen the flaws? But, from childhood to adulthood, I¡¯ve bullied Lin Wanqing countless times in front of you, have you ever believed that I really didn¡¯t bully her once? Wah wah¡­¡± Lin Xiaoxiao recounted all the bullying she had suffered over the past dozen years. ¡°It¡¯s because of your prejudice, your trust, that this time someone directly kidnapped me and sold me to that remote small village. In that village, nine out of ten men were bachelors. Those who had a daughter-in-law would sell their daughter-in-law to other families to have children, do you know that? When I was first kidnapped to that family, what kind of life did I live, do you know? As soon as I arrived, I was tied to a bed and the entire family took turns abusing me. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that I had learned some self-defense skills and fought back with all my strength, maybe I would be locked in a room now, waiting to give birth to a child. I even overheard the family discussing that after I had a son for their family, they would sell me to other bachelors in the village to have more boys. They could earn ten thousand for each boy, and with so many bachelors in the village, as long as I could still have children, they could take their turns. I was scared, terrified, and wanted to escape, but the first time I tried, my leg was broken by someone, I¡­¡± Hearing this, Lin Chengdong¡¯s expression was filled with gloom, anger, pain, and remorse. He walked up to Lin Xiaoxiao, hugged her, and cried, ¡°My daughter, your dad is sorry, wah wah, your dad is sorry for you.¡± Chapter 363 - Chapter 363: Chapter 356: Chapter 363: Chapter 356: Outside the hospital room, Xiao Junxuan clenched his fists tightly, hearing the painful wounds and scars that Lin Xiaoxiao kept bringing up. Lin Xiaoxiao had never told them about this before. All she said was that her leg was broken in the midst of a violent struggle. But he had not expected the process to be so brutal and violent. He only regretted not having met Lin Xiaoxiao sooner. He would never have allowed Lin Xiaoxiao to suffer such hardships. In the hospital room, listening to Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s words, Lin Chengdong deeply regretted everything. When he was angry that his daughter had not called him at home, she was actually being kidnapped. When he believed Lin Wanqing¡¯s claim that she was in constant contact with Lin Xiaoxiao, she was actually being trafficked to a remote small village. So, how much mistrust did he have towards his daughter over these years, and how much trust did he have in Lin Wanqing, which led to this outcome? Lin Chengdong held onto his daughter crying uncontrollably, continuously apologizing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my daughter, it¡¯s my fault. If I had trusted you a bit more, you wouldn¡¯t have suffered like this.¡± But there¡¯s no antidote for regret in this world. No matter how much he apologizes or regrets now, he can¡¯t undo the damage and pain his daughter has suffered. Crying bitterly, Lin Xiaoxiao angrily said, ¡°What on earth have I ever done to Lin Wanqing? She has been framing me since the day we met, and now she heartlessly sold me into a remote village. How much does that woman hate me? She wanted me to suffer so much, is she happy now? Why did she treat me like this?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao felt she had never done anything to hurt Lin Wanqing, yet Lin Wanqing retaliated out of spite. Lin Chengdong cried out, ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself. This is my fault, and hers too. I was too biased in favor of her which caused her ambition to inflate. She believed that as long as you disappeared, there would only be her as a daughter in my eyes, and the entire Lin family business would be inherited by her alone. But from beginning to end, I intended to leave all of our family business to my biological daughter. For Lin Wanqing, I just wanted to find her a good husband, a good mother-in-law¡¯s home, and then give her a generous dowry. Who would have thought that the man she wanted to marry was Su Yichen, and she also wanted to inherit everything on her own.¡± Crying out loudly, Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°If she wants something, she should strive for it herself, instead of trying to harm me all the time.¡± In fact, Lin Xiaoxiao was too kind-hearted. She had once sympathized with Lin Wanqing¡¯s circumstances, and also remembered the life-saving kindness her dad had shown to her father. Even though Lin Wanqing had framed her, causing her father to favor Lin Wanqing, she never really thought of taking revenge. Experiencing first-hand her father¡¯s trust issues and bias, Lin Xiaoxiao felt aggrieved and heartbroken. Consequently, when facing the accusations of her father, she felt a surge of anger and immediately confronted her father. From the moment Lin Wanqing arrived at the Lin family, Lin Chengdong and Lin Xiaoxiao, the father-daughter duo, have never had a peaceful moment. After Lin Chengdong¡¯s continuous apologies and Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s sobbing, the resentment in her heart gradually subsided. She wiped her tears, and asked directly, ¡°I heard that Lin Wanqing has been arrested. How was she arrested?¡± Lin Chengdong honestly replied, ¡°I called the police.¡± ¡°You called the police?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was very surprised to hear this from Lin Chengdong, ¡°Didn¡¯t you trust her a lot and treat her like your own daughter? You treated her better than you treated me. How could you bear to call the police?¡± ¡°Hmph, she harmed my daughter. How could I still trust her? Previously, I thought she was pitiful for losing her parents and being bullied by her grandparents. Plus her father saved my life. I felt guilty and sympathetic towards her, so I wanted to give her the best life. How could I have known that such a young child could be so calculating? Now, no matter how pitiful she is, I can¡¯t let her harm my daughter. What angers me the most is, I gave her a chance. If she was willing to confess and admit her mistakes, in return for her father¡¯s kindness to me, I would have let her off. But even when I confronted her with evidence, she showed no sign of remorse. Since she didn¡¯t cherish the opportunity I gave her, naturally I can¡¯t show any mercy to her. I called the police and had her arrested.¡± Lin Chengdong expressed his anger, ¡°She is too selfish, too greedy, too ambitious, and as well as ruthless. If I hand everything of the Lin family to her, I don¡¯t know if the Lin Corporation can continue to grow, not to mention how many people she will oppress once she gains power. So, it is only right to have her arrested and teach her a lesson.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao, She looked at Lin Chengdong skeptically, saying disbelief, ¡°Is this your opinion about Lin Wanqing now? I remember you used to say that she is a gentle and generous woman. How did this nice woman turn into a selfish, greedy, ambitious, and ruthless person in such a short time?¡± Lin Chengdong paused for a moment, sighed lightly, ¡°I admit that when it comes to Lin Wanqing, I misjudged her character, mistaking a fish¡¯s eyes for a pearl. She is too calculating and her acting is too good, she tricked me.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement, ¡°That¡¯s right, Lin Wanqing is a great actress. If she had entered showbiz back then, she would have undoubtedly won the Oscar for Best Actress.¡± As a witness to Lin Wanqing¡¯s acting skills, she knew well how good Lin Wanqing¡¯s acting was, otherwise, how could she possibly deceive Lin Chengdong, a sharp business tycoon? Lin Xiaoxiao sighed again, continuing, ¡°It would have been so good if she had entered show business back then. She would definitely be a shining star now.¡± Lin Chengdong, ¡°But then again, she really is ambitious, and she¡¯s good in the business world. Her goal is not to be a small star, but to be the head of the Lin family. If Lin Wanqing was your biological daughter, would you have trained her to be your heir?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked, feigning surprise. Lin Chengdong, That would have been likely. Lin Wanqing indeed possessed business talent, and was quite capable in the business world, known as a famous female elite in the business circle. It¡¯s just a shame that she used her skills wrongly, which ruined her life. Just as the father and daughter fell into a moment of silence, Xiao Jinli arrived. As soon as Lin Xiaoxiao saw Xiao Jinli walk into the hospital room, she immediately perked up. She smiled, her eyes forming a crescent, and called out, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, why are you here so early today?¡± After that, she glanced strangely at Su Yichen, standing next to Xiao Jinli, then glanced at her father, muttering to herself, ¡°Looking like a ghost, my dad will definitely not recognize Su Yichen.¡± Chapter 364 - Chapter 364: Chapter 357: Chapter 364: Chapter 357: After Xiao Jinli and Su Yichen entered the ward, Su Yichen saw Lin Chengdong in the ward, raised his eyebrows, and said with a smile, ¡°Director Lin is here, Director Lin, when did you arrive?¡± Lin Chengdong looked at Su Yichen with doubts and replied, ¡°I just arrived! Who are you?¡± Su Yichen, disguised as an old man, looked older than Lin Chengdong! Lin Chengdong had no impression of this old man. But from the tone of this old man, it seemed that he was quite familiar with him. ¡°Pfft!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao couldn¡¯t help laughing out loud! ¡°Haha¡­¡± She laughed so hard that she brought up saline solution! Xiao Jinli also covered her mouth and started to laugh! Su Yichen¡¯s face was full of black lines! Lin Chengdong was perplexed by the two girls¡¯ laughter! Lin Chengdong asked with a puzzled face, ¡°Xiaoxiao, what¡¯s going on? Is there something wrong with my question? Why is it so funny?¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Lin Xiaoxiao laughed while holding her stomach, ¡°I can¡¯t stand it, my stomach hurts from laughing so hard!¡± Lin Chengdong, ¡°¡­¡± This child is silly, what¡¯s so funny about this? Xiao Jinli helplessly introduced, ¡°Director Lin, this is Su Yichen!¡± ¡°Su Yichen?¡± Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t react at first, but after he did, his eyes widened, and he asked in disbelief, ¡°Su Yichen, is it the Su Yichen I¡¯m thinking of?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao wiped away a tear, still laughing, ¡°It¡¯s the Su Yichen you¡¯re thinking of! Didn¡¯t I tell you that Su Yichen and Brother Xuan are brothers? Also, this girl next to me is Xiao Jinli, Brother Xuan¡¯s sister, blood sister!¡± Emphasizing the words ¡°blood sister.¡± As her daughter explained, Lin Chengdong was really astonished, ¡°Director Su, how did you become like this? No, blood sister,¡± Suddenly, he widened his eyes again, staring at Xiao Jinli in disbelief, ¡°You are the Divine Doctor Xiao?¡± They had just talked about it, and Divine Doctor Xiao was Xiao Junxuan¡¯s blood sister. He had thought that the Divine Doctor Xiao was a very young girl since everyone in the Capital City circle knew that she was a little goddess-doctor who treated the Old Heroes at the Retirement Home for Cadres! He thought that ¡°young¡± would be at least 20 or 30 years old! But he never expected that this goddess-doctor would be so young, was she even 20? She looked like a girl in her teens! Lin Chengdong was dumbfounded and asked, ¡°Is this really the Divine Doctor Xiao? Isn¡¯t she too young?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao immediately said with a stern face, ¡°Dad, are you doubting Doctor Xiao? Don¡¯t you know that Doctor Xiao is so young? You should know that when she treated the Old Heroes at the Nursing Home, she was only in her teens. Isn¡¯t it normal for her to be young now?¡± It wasn¡¯t strange for Lin Chengdong to not know Xiao Jinli¡¯s age. After all, the title of Divine Doctor Xiao was only known by the big shots in the business world like them. But Lin Xiaoxiao was different! When her maternal grandfather was alive, she often went to the Nursing Home for Cadres, and even saw Xiao Jinli¡¯s back from afar! When her grandfather had a car accident, he also had the chance to be treated by Xiao Jinli, but Xiao Jinli wasn¡¯t in the Capital City at the time. The time window to treat a massive heart hemorrhage is very short. By the time Xiao Jinli arrived, her grandfather had already passed away! Lin Xiaoxiao heard that Xiao Jinli had arrived, and wanted to ask for her help! However, no matter how skilled Xiao Jinli¡¯s medical skills were, she was still a mortal after all! If the patient was still alive, even barely, Xiao Jinli could definitely save him! But the patient had already died! How could he be saved? So, Lin Xiaoxiao was held back, not allowed to disturb Xiao Jinli! However, Lin Xiaoxiao had always been grateful that Xiao Jinli had rushed back to save her grandfather, even though she hadn¡¯t made it in time! In her heart, Xiao Jinli was the most admired idol and benefactor! Now hearing her father doubting Xiao Jinli, she was naturally unhappy! Chapter 365 - Chapter 365: Chapter 358: Chapter 365: Chapter 358: Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°Doctor Xiao is only nineteen years old now. How about it, do you have any objections?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s tone was a bit aggressive. After being questioned by Lin Xiaoxiao, Lin Chengdong suddenly felt that his reaction was too strong. He grinned awkwardly and said, ¡°No, no, I don¡¯t dare to have any objections. I just didn¡¯t expect that the famous Doctor Xiao would be so young. I thought that being young would mean at least twenty-eight or nine years old. After all, national medicine is not western medicine, and learning it takes a long time.¡± ¡°Humph, Doctor Xiao is very talented,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said. ¡°She has been learning medical skills under a hidden expert since she was a child, so she is naturally different from ordinary people.¡± In her eyes, Xiao Jinli was like a fairy who had descended to earth. Lin Chengdong, He had always known that his daughter admired Doctor Xiao. In the past, she had said that if she had the chance, she would definitely want to take a picture with Doctor Xiao. But who would have thought that destiny would be so wonderful and make them become a family. ¡°Ahem,¡± Lin Chengdong apologized to Xiao Jinli, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Doctor Xiao, for offending you just now.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Lin Dong. I¡¯m used to it.¡± No one who had not seen her in person would believe that she was a divine doctor at her age. Lin Chengdong¡¯s doubt was not the first, and it would not be the last. Lin Chengdong smiled and said, ¡°Doctor Xiao, if you don¡¯t mind, you can call me Uncle Lin.¡± In the future, they would be relatives, so calling each other Lin Dong would feel a bit strange. ¡°Okay, Uncle Lin!¡± Xiao Jinli readily agreed. Then Lin Chengdong looked at Su Yichen with puzzled eyes. No matter how he looked, he couldn¡¯t see any trace of a business emperor in him. He just looked like an ordinary old man. But that¡¯s not right. Even with makeup, one¡¯s appearance may change, but the voice does not. Su Yichen¡¯s voice was clearly aged and matched his appearance. Lin Chengdong hesitated again and asked, ¡°Are you really Su Yichen?¡± ¡°Yes, I am Su Yichen,¡± Su Yichen replied in his original voice. As soon as he spoke, Lin Chengdong was certain that he was Su Yichen. Lin Chengdong looked him up and down, full of doubt, and asked, ¡°Su Dong, why do you look like this?¡± Su Yichen shrugged and said, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because it is more convenient to walk around outside like this.¡± Otherwise, being such a big shot, wherever he went, the news media would swarm after him, causing trouble. Lin Chengdong nodded and asked mysteriously, ¡°Su Dong,¡± ¡°Lin Dong, please call me Little Su or Little Chen,¡± Su Yichen said. ¡°Or even call me Xiao Quan if you like.¡± After all, Lin Xiaoxiao would become Brother Xuan¡¯s daughter-in-law and Su Yichen¡¯s sister-in-law. Their relationship with Lin Chengdong would naturally become much closer. Lin Chengdong was perplexed, ¡°Xiao Quan?¡± Su Yichen explained, ¡°Uncle Lin, do you remember the time I disappeared for half a year in Capital City eight years ago?¡± Su Yichen also spoke naturally. Lin Chengdong nodded and said, ¡°Of course I remember.¡± Before Su Yichen had risen to prominence, perhaps no one paid much attention to his disappearance. But once he became the well-known business tycoon, coupled with his grievances with the Su Family, his disappearance would naturally be exposed. It turned out that Su Yichen¡¯s disappearance was due to his biological father, Su Xiangdong, hiring a hitman on him. He was lucky to be saved by someone else. Su Yichen explained, ¡°I was chased by someone to the rear mountain of Xiao Family Village and was later saved. At that time, I had amnesia and gave myself a name, Xiao Siqian, which means that one should repay a drop of water with a gushing spring, let alone a life-saving grace. I have kept this name to remind myself not to forget that huge favor.¡± Lin Chengdong immediately understood that Su Yichen might have been saved by the Xiao Family back then and had been treated as a family member by them, so Su Yichen also regarded them as his family. ¡°So, Uncle Lin, you can call me Xiao Quan as well!¡± Su Yichen said. After all, they would be a family in the future. Lin Chengdong agreed, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll call you Xiao Quan.¡± Just as Lin Chengdong was about to say something, a man in a black uniform suddenly rushed in. He anxiously said, ¡°Boss, your whereabouts in Xiao Family Village have been leaked. It has attracted a lot of media reporters, and they even found out that Miss Lin had been kidnapped.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s face changed. ¡°How did Xiaoxiao¡¯s incident get leaked?¡± Subordinate reported, ¡°Before, the boss had been making a big fuss about finding Miss Lin, which attracted the attention of various forces. Many of the forces had news sources with connections. As long as someone took a little effort to investigate, they could still find out about Miss Lin.¡± At that moment, another person rushed in. He held a cell phone in his hand and handed it to Lin Chengdong, reporting, ¡°Boss, things are not good. The news of Miss Lin being kidnapped has been posted on the internet. Everyone is attacking her with their words, saying that Miss Lin has lost her innocence and has become slutty, lewd¡­ ¡± It was difficult for him, a bodyguard, to continue repeating the harsh words that were on the internet. It was simply too unpleasant to hear. It was a strange world. Clearly, Miss Lin was a victim, but those keyboard warriors did not hate the criminals who harmed others. Instead, they pointed their fingers at the victim and cursed her endlessly. In their words, they seemed to wish for Miss Lin to hang herself in order to prove her innocence. Without even looking at the news, Lin Chengdong let Xiao Jinli take his phone. As she looked at the posts online about Lin Xiaoxiao being kidnapped and the netizens¡¯ fierce criticism and verbal abuse, her eyebrows furrowed and there seemed to be anger on her face. These keyboard warriors must have eaten too much and had nothing better to do. Or perhaps this era was just too good, with people having too much food and too much time on their hands. At this moment, Lin Chengdong¡¯s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, ¡°General Chen, thank you for your concern. It¡¯s all right, my daughter Xiaoxiao is doing well now.¡± After hanging up the phone with General Chen, the phone rang again. Seeing the number, his face darkened, but he had to answer the call. ¡°General Dong, oh, my daughter Xiaoxiao is doing well. Kidnapping? Not at all, my daughter Xiaoxiao just went on a trip with her boyfriend.¡± Throughout the hospital room, Lin Chengdong could be heard answering the phone. When the phone rang again, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Uncle Lin, I will handle the matter on the internet.¡± She then turned to Lin Xiaoxiao and comforted her, ¡°Sister Xiaoxiao, don¡¯t worry about the online news, just focus on recovering. I will take care of this matter.¡± ¡°Uncle Lin, give me five minutes, I¡¯ll have Xiaoxiao¡¯s news taken down immediately,¡± Xiao Jinli said to Lin Chengdong. Actually, with Lin Chengdong¡¯s public relations department, it should be possible to handle the situation, but it would just take longer. With Xiao Jinli¡¯s help, it would be much faster. Xiao Jinli left the hospital room. Lin Chengdong was slightly surprised, but Su Yichen reassured him, ¡°You can trust Jinli¡¯s computer skills.¡± Chapter 366 - Chapter 366: Chapter 359: Chapter 366: Chapter 359: In less than five minutes, the bodyguard took out his cellphone, checked the news again and was amazed. ¡°Boss, there really isn¡¯t any news about the young lady being kidnapped anymore.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Chengdong immediately snatched the cellphone from the bodyguard¡¯s hand and scrolled through it. Indeed, the news about the businessman¡¯s daughter, Lin Xiaoxiao, being kidnapped was gone. Xiao Jinli had said that it would take her five minutes, but it didn¡¯t even take that long. It might have taken even less than two. Lin Chengdong looked at Su Yichen in astonishment, ¡°Doctor Xiao¡¯s computer skills are that high?¡± The news disappeared without a trace before his public relations department even had a chance to take action. And any comments about Xiaoxiao being kidnapped could not be found either. This was too fast! With such efficiency, it would take the efforts and time of a top hacker or his company¡¯s public relations department to handle it. Su Yichen had witnessed Xiao Jinli¡¯s hacking skills with his own eyes, and he smiled and said, ¡°This is just child¡¯s play for Little Sister Jinli.¡± Su Yichen had seen Xiao Jinli¡¯s slender fingertips dance across the keyboard as she invaded the world-renowned, strongest firewall of Plum Firm Country¡¯s national security system within moments. She had also implanted a Trojan virus that destroyed their supposedly most secure and solid firewall. Of course, he couldn¡¯t tell anyone about this. ¡°Really?¡± Lin Chengdong was truly astonished. At her young age, Xiao Jinli had devoted most of her time and energy to studying medicine. Where did she find the time and energy to learn hacking skills as well? Could this be the legendary genius talent? Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s sad mood was instantly healed. She seemed very excited, saying, ¡°Little Sister Jinli is so amazing. Not only are her medical skills superb, her computer and networking skills are incredible too. I really admire her so much.¡± Su Yichen watched her excitement without showing any sadness or anger, which was a little amusing. He said, ¡°So, Xiaoxiao, you don¡¯t need to worry. Sister Jinli said that from now on, news about you will never appear on the internet again. Even if those news media want to grab attention or increase their traffic, it will never appear on paper either.¡± ¡°Wow, Little Sister Jinli is really amazing!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes were full of sparkles, ¡°She managed to control all the media with one move.¡± Su Yichen nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Lin Chengdong scrolled through several pages and found no news about Lin Xiaoxiao being kidnapped anymore, which finally put his heart at ease. At that moment, his phone rang again. He answered it, ¡°Manager Guan!¡± Manager Guan was the manager of his company¡¯s public relations department. Manager Guan reported to him, ¡°Chairman, just five minutes ago, news about Miss Xiaoxiao was all over the place. But before our PR department could even start investigating the matter, all the news disappeared without a trace, as if it had never appeared on the internet.¡± At this point, she continued with concern, ¡°Chairman, something doesn¡¯t seem right. I¡¯m worried that our opponents might be plotting something big and using this kind of feigned retreat to attack us.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Lin Chengdong said in a good mood, ¡°Manager Guan, don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s all taken care of. Just do your job, and you don¡¯t need to worry about this for now.¡± Upon hearing this, Manager Guan immediately understood that there must be something going on. She cautiously asked, ¡°Chairman, did you ask someone else to handle this situation?¡± Lin Chengdong admitted without hesitation, ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry. The technician I hired is very skilled.¡± After hearing this, Manager Guan let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Alright, that¡¯s good.¡± After hanging up the phone with the chairman, Manager Guan turned to her subordinates and said, ¡°This issue has been taken care of by the chairman. We don¡¯t have to deal with it.¡± Her subordinate was confused, ¡°Huh, the chairman took care of it?¡± It happened too quickly. Their PR department hadn¡¯t even started to take action before the issue was resolved. It made them seem incompetent. Manager Guan nodded, ¡°Yes. The chairman hired an expert to handle all the news on the internet.¡± After processing the information, the subordinate asked with a frown, ¡°Well, Manager, how should we deal with the reporters gathered upstairs?¡± Chapter 367 - Chapter 367: Chapter 359: _2 Chapter 367: Chapter 359: _2 Manager Guan¡¯s beautiful and smart eyes sparkled slightly, and she hooked her lips, saying, ¡°Hehe, of course they wouldn¡¯t admit it. Unless they come up with evidence.¡± Xiao Junxuan also came across the news about Lin Xiaoxiao being kidnapped and sold and rushed to the hospital ward with concern. He worries that Lin Xiaoxiao would see those bad comments on the Internet, get angry, indignant, and even break down. After all, she¡¯s still an innocent girl, yet she¡¯s being pointed and cursed by a thousand people online. If her mental state is slightly fragile, she might crumble. When he arrived at the ward and saw all the people inside, he was surprised by their expressions. ¡°Grandma, maternal grandmother, Mom, how come you are all here?¡± That¡¯s right, Grandma Xiao, maternal grandmother, and Xiao¡¯s mother also came. While they were working, they heard the tourists discussing the news about Lin Xiaoxiao being kidnapped and sold, and they immediately thought of Xiao Junxuan¡¯s girlfriend, Lin Xiaoxiao. There are many people named Lin Xiaoxiao in the country, but currently, only one named Lin Xiaoxiao has been kidnapped and sold. They worried that Lin Xiaoxiao would be upset by the news, so they immediately put down their work to come and comfort her. However, Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s mental state is good, very optimistic, and not affected by the news at all. Of course, it¡¯s also because the news is quickly deleted and there hasn¡¯t been a widespread impact. Grandma Xiao glanced at him, not in a good mood and said, ¡°Are you the only one allowed to visit Xiaoxiao and not us?¡± Xiao Junxuan immediately defended, ¡°Grandma, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Maternal grandmother said, ¡°Hehe, Little Xuan, we all miss Xiaoxiao, so we came to visit!¡± Xiao Junxuan, ¡°¡­¡± They clearly come to visit every day. Xiao¡¯s mother smiled and said, ¡°Seeing Xiaoxiao¡¯s rosy complexion and good spirits, we can rest assured!¡± Lin Chengdong looked at the three women who had suddenly rushed into the ward, ignoring him, and was full of surprise. Who are these three people? Before he could react, Xiao Junxuan returned and then greeted them. Upon hearing Xiao Junxuan¡¯s greeting, Lin Chengdong¡¯s entire demeanor changed. Grandma, maternal grandmother, and Mom? Are they blood-related or related by marriage? These weren¡¯t too young to be sure. The ages of these two old ladies seemed to be around fifty or sixty, similar in age to him. And they are Xiao Junxuan¡¯s grandma and maternal grandmother?. Moreover, this Nationally Stunning woman in her early thirties is Xiao Junxuan¡¯s mother? Isn¡¯t she his biological sister? Xiao¡¯s mother saw that Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s condition was good and put down her worries. Then she noticed that there were other people in the ward besides Su Yichen and Xiao Junxuan, and she was slightly surprised. Then, she glanced at Lin Chengdong and asked, ¡°Little Xuan, who is this guest?¡± Xiao Junxuan immediately introduced, ¡°Mom, this is Uncle Lin, Xiaoxiao¡¯s dad.¡± Before Xiao¡¯s mother could greet him, the maternal grandmother began to exclaim. ¡°What, this is Xiaoxiao¡¯s confused dad?¡± Lin Chengdong, Confused dad, is that the evaluation of him by the Xiao family? Lin Xiaoxiao chuckled and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, maternal grandmother, this is my silly father.¡± Lin Chengdong glared at his crooked-arm daughter. Grandma Xiao stepped up to shield her and frowned doubtfully, ¡°I heard that you are a very shrewd businessman in the shopping mall, so how could you be so confused in dealing with your two daughters¡¯ affairs?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Chengdong revealed a bitter smile on his face, and he explained, ¡°I¡¯m not confused, Old lady. I always trust my own judgment, and I never saw anyone in the wrong. Who would have thought that I couldn¡¯t even understand a ten-year-old child? A ten-year-old child framed my biological daughter and used her superb acting skills to fool me. This deception lasted for seventeen or eighteen years, and I never doubted her. If it weren¡¯t for Xiaoxiao¡¯s disappearance, which led me to start doubting, I might have been believing her the whole time.¡± After hearing his explanation, the maternal grandmother didn¡¯t understand at all, and she directly and sharply said, ¡°I don¡¯t know whether your judgment is wrong or not. If it were me, I would definitely trust the child I had raised for several years more than the child I met for the first time. So, it¡¯s not a matter of judgment, but favoritism. This kind of favoritism is accompanied by guilt and a compensatory mentality, and this mentality naturally shifts to the biological daughter, thinking that it¡¯s okay if her biological daughter suffers a little, as long as the good woman¡¯s daughter doesn¡¯t suffer any grievance. As a result, you subconsciously ignore the unreasonable aspects. This neglect has caused your biological daughter to suffer for more than a decade. Is this confusion? I think you¡¯re not confused at all, but rather, you¡¯re sacrificing your daughter for the sake of compensating that child.¡± After hearing the maternal grandmother¡¯s words, Lin Chengdong¡¯s face turned pale, and he frowned subconsciously. He now vaguely realizes that it was perhaps that mentality back then that created the ambitious, greedy, and selfish Lin Wanqing that exists today. If he had chosen to trust his biological daughter and educate Lin Wanqing properly, perhaps Lin Wanqing would be a different person today. He was wrong, completely wrong. Lin Chengdong¡¯s face was very ugly, filled with remorse and guilt. He looked at Lin Xiaoxiao and admitted his mistake for the first time, saying, ¡°Xiaoxiao, the old lady is right. If I had chosen to trust you the first time and properly educated Lin Wanqing when she made a mistake, perhaps, you and Lin Wanqing wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this life-and-death situation. It¡¯s my fault for not trusting the child I raised with my own hands.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes turned red. At this point, Xiao¡¯s mother stepped in and said, ¡°Mr. Lin, what¡¯s done is done, and we can only choose to have a more open mindset. Those who harm others will ultimately be punished. It¡¯s already the greatest lucky that Xiaoxiao is safely back now, and we as a family still have to live well in the future.¡± Chapter 368 - Chapter 368: Chapter 360: Chapter 368: Chapter 360: Xiao Jinli led Jiang Yifan to the sickroom and saw a room full of people. With his big, round, bright eyes, he went over to Xiao¡¯s mother, hugged her thigh, and looked up, shouting, ¡°Grandma, Fanfan has been looking for you for a long time.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother picked up Little Fanfan and laughed, ¡°Little Fanfan, what do you need Grandma for?¡± Jiang Yifan put his fingers together and whispered, ¡°Grandma, I want to eat crayfish today¡­ the crayfish you make.¡± Xiao Jinli immediately scolded with her hands on her hips, ¡°Jiang Yifan, how old are you? Eating crayfish every day, aren¡¯t you tired of it?¡± Fortunately, the crayfish were raised in their own pond and were clean. She didn¡¯t dare to let Jiang Yifan eat it every day. Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°Okay, Grandma will make it for you when we go back.¡± Lin Chengdong, standing nearby, was stunned for a moment before asking, ¡°Is this Xiao Junxuan¡¯s son?¡± If it really was Xiao Junxuan¡¯s son, then his daughter Lin Xiaoxiao would have to become a stepmother after marrying him. But being a stepmother isn¡¯t easy. So, no matter how excellent Xiao Junxuan was, he wouldn¡¯t want to marry his daughter off to him. Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and shook her head, ¡°No.¡± Just as she was about to explain, Jiang Yifan yelled to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Mommy, Grandma has agreed to make crayfish for me. You won¡¯t object anymore, right?¡± Xiao Jinli laughed, ¡°As long as Grandma is willing to make it for you, I won¡¯t object. You little cunning ghost.¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s expression was shocked again. ¡°This child is¡­ is¡­¡± The fact that this child was Xiao Jinli¡¯s was just too surprising. Xiao Jinli was only nineteen years old, but this child looked about three or four years old, which meant she must have given birth when she was sixteen. Jiang Yifan showed a naive and cute smile and said to Lin Chengdong, ¡°Elderly Grandfather, I am Xiao Jinli¡¯s son.¡± Xiao Jinli, Was this child deliberately trying to be misunderstood? Everyone, Elderly Grandfather, isn¡¯t that making people feel old? Lin Chengdong couldn¡¯t believe it as he asked, ¡°Elderly¡­ Elderly Grandfather? Am I that old?¡± To be called an elderly grandfather usually meant at least around seventy years old, and that¡¯s assuming the children married early. He wasn¡¯t even fifty yet. Jiang Yifan¡¯s little fair face wrinkled as he asked innocently, ¡°If it¡¯s not Elderly Grandfather, then what is it? But your age looks like it¡¯s the same as my Elderly Grandfather¡¯s.¡± ¡°The¡­ same?¡± Lin Chengdong asked as if he¡¯d been hit. He usually took good care of himself and looked very young. When he went out, his peers often said that he was well-maintained and asked if there was any secret to his youth. But now, in the eyes of the child, he was an elderly grandfather? ¡°Uh, uh,¡± Xiao¡¯s mother said a little embarrassedly to Jiang Yifan, ¡°Little Fanfan, this is Sister Xiaoxiao¡¯s father. You can just call him Grandfather Lin.¡± ¡°Grandfather Lin?¡± Jiang Yifan said in confusion, ¡°but he looks like my Elderly Grandfather.¡± Lin Chengdong was hit by ten thousand wounds. Xiao Jinli looked at Lin Chengdong¡¯s slightly displeased face and immediately scolded sternly, ¡°Jiang Yifan, where are your manners? Who taught you that addressing people is based on age?¡± After being scolded by Xiao Jinli, Jiang Yifan¡¯s little face was full of grievances. He looked at Lin Chengdong and softly called out, ¡°Grandfather Lin!¡± Seeing such a cute and pitiful look, Lin Chengdong¡¯s heart instantly softened with sympathy. He waved his hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, don¡¯t scold the child, it¡¯s just a form of address. Let the child call whoever he wants!¡± After saying that, he opened his arms toward Jiang Yifan and said, ¡°Your name is Little Fanfan, right? Can Grandfather Lin give you a hug?¡± This child was so cute and adorable that it made his heart melt, so he especially wanted to give him a hug. Jiang Yifan thought for a moment and then stretched his arms out to him. Lin Chengdong was pleasantly surprised to hug him, ¡°Wow, this little guy is so cute.¡± Lin Chengdong said, ¡°Today, Grandpa didn¡¯t prepare any gifts. What does Little Fanfan like? I¡¯ll have someone prepare it for you right away.¡± Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes lit up, and he asked happily, ¡°Can you give me money?¡± ¡°Haha, give you money?¡± Lin Chengdong was slightly stunned, and then he laughed and said, ¡°It turns out you¡¯re a little money-lover. Of course, I can give you money.¡± Jiang Yifan said very seriously, ¡°Of course money would be better. Because with money, I can buy food and toys. But if I get other gifts, I can¡¯t refuse the ones I don¡¯t like, and the ones I like might not last long before I don¡¯t like them anymore. So, money is the best.¡± ¡°Haha, so that¡¯s how it is.¡± Lin Chengdong laughed heartily, ¡°You¡¯re so tiny but so smart, you must have inherited your mother¡¯s genes.¡± As soon as his words fell, he heard a burst of laughter. ¡°Xiaoxiao, what are you laughing at?¡± Lin Chengdong asked. Lin Xiaoxiao asked, ¡°Dad, do you know who Jiang Yifan¡¯s real mother is? How do you know his cleverness was inherited from his biological mother?¡± ¡°Little Fanfan¡¯s biological mother isn¡¯t Doctor Xiao?¡± Lin Chengdong asked in confusion. ¡°Haha, Dad, stop teasing me, alright?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao laughed, ¡°How old is Sister Jinli? Sure, at her age, she might be able to give birth to a child this age, but do you think that¡¯s possible?¡± Nowadays, any self-respecting and decent girl wouldn¡¯t have a child at such a young age without being forced by her parents. ¡°So, Dad, you misunderstood.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao explained, ¡°Although Little Fanfan calls Sister Jinli his ¡®Mommy¡¯, she¡¯s not his biological mother. Do you understand now?¡± Lin Chengdong¡¯s expression was slightly awkward, and he apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I misunderstood. Doctor Xiao, please don¡¯t take offense.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Uncle Lin, how could I take offense? Anyone would think that way.¡± Then, Xiao Jinli seriously said to Jiang Yifan, ¡°Jiang Yifan, from now on, call me sister. I don¡¯t want to be your mommy anymore. Don¡¯t call me old, and stop making people misunderstand that I¡¯m not a pure girl.¡± Jiang Yifan was unwilling, he said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being my Mommy? Anyway, you¡¯ll get married and have children sooner or later. Letting you get used to the feeling of being a mother in advance, isn¡¯t that good?¡± Everyone, This kid¡¯s logic is really different from ordinary people. Can motherhood be practiced in advance? Xiao Jinli¡¯s face was full of black lines, and she resisted again, saying, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to be a mom at such a young age. After that, when I find a boyfriend, how am I going to fall in love with him?¡± That¡¯s a problem. All of a sudden, the elders felt the same way. Jiang Yifan suddenly burst into tears and said, ¡°Waah, I don¡¯t have a mother anymore, mom doesn¡¯t want me, grandma, you guys just send me to the orphanage, anyway, Mommy doesn¡¯t want me, and I don¡¯t have any blood relationship with you all, so let Little Fanfan go to the Orphanage. Waah, Little Fanfan is so pitiful.¡± Everyone, Chapter 369 - Chapter 369: Chapter 361: Chapter 369: Chapter 361: After being teased by the little drama king Jiang Yifan, everyone¡¯s mood was suddenly much happier. Xiao¡¯s mother looked at Lin Chengdong and said, ¡°Mr. Lin, since you¡¯re already here, why don¡¯t you stay in Xiao Family Village for a few days? Also, let¡¯s talk about the relationship between Xuan¡¯er and Xiaoxiao.¡± Lin Chengdong hesitated a bit, ¡°Mrs. Xiao, isn¡¯t it a bit too quick? Xiaoxiao and Xiao Junxuan haven¡¯t known each other for a few days, and they don¡¯t understand each other yet.¡± Xiao¡¯s mother smiled, ¡°Some people don¡¯t understand someone in a lifetime, while others only need a few days to understand. For Xuan¡¯er and Xiaoxiao, now both of their hearts are united, their feelings are mutual, so if they need to understand each other, they can continue to do so after they¡¯re married.¡± Grandma Xiao said, ¡°Little Lin, my Junxuan may not be the handsomest man or the richest, but he inherited Xiao Family¡¯s genes for being good to his wife. He will definitely love and care for Xiaoxiao. If he dares to treat Xiaoxiao badly, I can break his legs and kick him out of the Xiao Family without your saying.¡± The maternal grandmother laughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s right. Actually, my Junxuan isn¡¯t ugly either, and he¡¯s had girls chasing after him before, but he¡¯s never been interested. Now, he¡¯s really fond of Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao is a good child, we all know that, and we won¡¯t let her be bullied. You can entrust your daughter to us.¡± After contemplating for a moment, Lin Chengdong said, ¡°Let me think about it.¡± All these people were Xiao Junxuan¡¯s relatives, so it was only natural for them to speak highly of him. During this time, he would stay in Xiao Family Village and properly inquire about Xiao Junxuan and the Xiao Family¡¯s characters. Of course, a family that could raise a divine doctor like Xiao would have good characters. But even in the best family education, some scum could still appear. Xiao¡¯s mother smiled, ¡°Alright, you can stay at our house for these days, let our family take good care of you.¡± Just then, Jiang Yifan interrupted, ¡°Grandpa Lin, my grandma¡¯s cooking is so delicious, you¡¯ll definitely regret it if you don¡¯t try it.¡± Lin Chengdong happily said while holding the little cute kid, ¡°Oh, really? Then I must give it a try.¡± Jiang Yifan nodded, ¡°The food my grandma makes is really, really good. The elderly grandfathers in my family always say that after getting used to my grandma¡¯s cooking, even the food made by Michelin chefs would taste like pig food.¡± Of course, Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t know that the elderly grandfathers Jiang Yifan was talking about were the old heroes rumored to be living in Xiao Family Village. So, when Lin Chengdong first went to the Xiao Family and saw the old heroes sitting at the dining table, he was dumbstruck. ¡°Old Jiang¡­Elder Zeng, Old Chen, Old Li!¡± Lin Chengdong immediately greeted them respectfully. He really hadn¡¯t expected that all the old heroes would be living at the Xiao Family. They were already eighty to ninety years old, but they looked like they were only in their sixties or seventies. No wonder Little Fanfan said that their ages were similar to these old grandpas. This was pretty much it. Lin Chengdong happily said, ¡°You old gentlemen all look strong and vigorous, full of vitality, flush with health, and appear twenty to thirty years younger than you actually are.¡± Elder Jiang looked at Lin Chengdong and said with a smile, ¡°Little Linzi, you have raised a good daughter. We all like Xiaoxiao. She has a bright personality and a kind heart. But such a good child has been misunderstood by you, her father, and accused of harming her sister, haven¡¯t you?¡± Several old gentlemen also knew about Xiao Junxuan¡¯s fondness for Lin Xiaoxiao, so they naturally treated Lin Xiaoxiao as if she were their own child, especially since Lin Xiaoxiao was obviously favored by Xiao Jinli. They all knew that girls who could win the favor of Jinli must have good characters. Therefore, they were now trying to uphold justice for Lin Xiaoxiao against the unfair treatment she had received from her biological father. Having been reminded of this, Lin Chengdong¡¯s expression paused for a moment, then he said apologetically, ¡°Ah, it was my mistake, I didn¡¯t know people well, and took fish eyes for pearls, hurting my own biological daughter.¡± Old Chen snorted coldly, ¡°You really are a confused dad. Which parent doesn¡¯t trust their own child, yet chooses to believe a child they met for the first time? Little Linzi, you¡¯re a big shot in the business world, but you can¡¯t even understand this simple logic. I don¡¯t know how you recruit talent in your company without making mistakes.¡± Lin Chengdong was speechless. Old Li also laughed and said, ¡°Fortunately, Xiaoxiao has a good character. She hasn¡¯t gone astray in these ten years. Otherwise, sigh¡­¡± Listening to the words of these old gentlemen, Lin Chengdong¡¯s expression was even more ashamed. But he didn¡¯t know how to defend himself, so he could only listen to their accusations one by one. With a bitter smile, Lin Chengdong said, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my fault.¡± Seeing that it was almost enough, Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Uncle Lin has admitted his mistake and put the bad guy behind bars, so can you please let him off the hook, grandpas?¡± After all, Lin Chengdong is Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s biological father. When they see him, the Xiao family never misses an opportunity to scold him, making it hard to save face. At this time, Grandpa Jiang said, ¡°Girl, have you called your dad back? Since Xiaoxiao¡¯s confused dad has shown up, shouldn¡¯t we settle your brother¡¯s and Xiaoxiao¡¯s marriage?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve already informed my dad. He¡¯ll be back this afternoon.¡± Though her dad manages a big company and is very busy, he still has to come back for his son¡¯s marriage. Lin Chengdong was speechless again. But he hadn¡¯t agreed yet. Of course, it seemed that his opinion wasn¡¯t important anymore. It was at lunchtime that Lin Chengdong discovered that there were a lot of people having meals together inside the house. In addition to the four old gentlemen, there were also Xiao Junxuan¡¯s paternal grandparents and maternal grandparents, totaling eight people. Now, with the addition of himself, Xiao Junxuan pushing Lin Xiaoxiao, Xiao Jinli, and Xiao¡¯s mother, that made more than ten people sitting around a large round table. Looking at the delicious food on the table, Lin Chengdong found it hard to believe that it was all prepared by a beautiful and stunning woman. It wasn¡¯t until Grandpa Jiang, who was the eldest at the table, picked up his chopsticks that everyone else began to eat at a rapid pace. Lin Chengdong was dumbfounded. Wasn¡¯t eating supposed to be elegant and unhurried? Why did it feel like they hadn¡¯t eaten for days and were now fighting for food? Even the imposing manners of the old gentlemen seemed bizarre when it came to grabbing food. Before he could even pick up some food, more than half of the dishes in the dozen plates had already disappeared. He didn¡¯t even know whether to put his chopsticks down or not. Fortunately, Xiao Junxuan still had to please his future father-in-law. So, using the public chopsticks, he quickly snatched a few bites of food for Lin Chengdong and placed them on the plate in front of him. He said, ¡°Uncle Lin, you¡¯ll get used to it eventually!¡± Lin Chengdong was speechless, ¡°What does that even mean?¡± Chapter 370 - Chapter 370: Chapter 362: Chapter 370: Chapter 362: After Lin Chengdong finished his meal, he felt that it was still not enough. Now he understood why these respectable older people fought for the food. The dishes were simply delicious. Someone who had tasted gourmet food all over the world, came to realize that all those so-called delicacies he had before were nothing in front of these dishes. Lin Chengdong sincerely praised, ¡°Mrs. Xiao¡­¡± Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°Mr. Lin, my name is Ji Fangqin, everyone calls me Xiaofang. How old are you? I am fifty-three today.¡± Fifty-three? Lin Chengdong opened his mouth wide, utterly incredulous. At first glance, he thought she was a woman in her early thirties, but knowing that she was the mother of Xiao Junxuan, she must be much older than that, even if someone has children late, they should be in their forties, right? Who would have thought, Xiao Junxuan¡¯s mother was actually fifty-three. If it weren¡¯t for the noticeable resemblance between Xiao Junxuan and his mother, he might have mistaken her for Xiao Junxuan¡¯s stepmother. What mattered most was, such a beautiful and charming woman was so diligent and capable. What a wonder she was. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at her father¡¯s stunned face, her cheeks turning a little red. She gently tugged at her father¡¯s sleeve, then smiled and said to Xiao¡¯s mother, ¡°Auntie, my dad is fifty-six this year!¡± No wonder her father was dumbstruck by his future mother-in-law. The main reason was that the future mother-in-law was so beautiful, no wonder she gave birth to a little fairy like Xiao Jinli. Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°Then I seem older, let¡¯s call each other brothers. Brother, if you don¡¯t mind, you can call me sister.¡± The two kids weren¡¯t married yet, nor were their engagement settled, so calling each other in-laws wasn¡¯t appropriate yet. Lin Chengdong laughed and said, ¡°I¡¯ll just call you sister.¡± Then he praised, ¡°Sister, your cooking skills are so good that you could outshine those so-called five-star chefs in a five-star hotel.¡± As he said this, he gave a thumbs-up. Xiao¡¯s mother laughed and said, ¡°I only know how to make some ordinary home-cooked dishes, how can I compare to those chefs? If big brother likes my cooking, you¡¯re welcome to come over anytime.¡± Lin Chengdong found it hard to refuse. He nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± Now he finally understood why these dignified old gentlemen were fighting for the food for lunch like they were in a battle. At this moment, Xiao¡¯s mother said, ¡°Brother, the children¡¯s father will be back in the afternoon. Let¡¯s sit down and chat together in the evening.¡± Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t refuse, he nodded and replied, ¡°Okay!¡± He was very curious to see what kind of man could marry such a beautiful, virtuous, and capable woman, and raise such outstanding children. As for his daughter Lin Xiaoxiao getting married to the Xiao family, he had no objections now. Before, he thought Su Yichen was the first choice, not just because he was the wealthiest young man, but also because his family had no messy relatives. Well, there were, but he could keep them in check and protect his wife well. But having seen the people of the Xiao family and the warmth and happiness they have, he thought to himself, ¡°It must be happiness for my daughter to marry into such a family.¡± If she married Su Yichen, although there would be no in-laws or siblings to interfere, Su Yichen would be busy at work, leaving her alone at home, which would be cold and devoid of any happiness. After having his lunch, Lin Chengdong returned to the hotel to rest. He had rushed here from the Capital City and was looking for Xiaoxiao non-stop. Before he was certain about his daughter¡¯s condition, he couldn¡¯t rest well. Now seeing his daughter safe, except for some leg injuries and some minor cuts and abrasions, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. After taking a nap in the afternoon, he decided to tour the village to learn more about Xiao Junxuan¡¯s character. While the Xiao Family may seem pleasant and warm on the outside, he had no way of knowing what they were like behind closed doors. Therefore, he would be fully at ease only when he investigated personally. He instructed his bodyguards to wake him up at the designated time, and then went to sleep in his room. At the Xiao Family¡¯s house, after Lin Chengdong had left, several of the elder men also went to take a rest. Xiao Junxuan turned to Xiao Jinli and said, ¡°Sister, please stay with Xiaoxiao.¡± He intended to clear away the dishes used for the meal. The meal for so many people had kept Xiao¡¯s mother busy all morning. Naturally, she couldn¡¯t be expected to wash the dishes as well. Although the Xiao Family had an improved lifestyle, they hadn¡¯t hired any housekeepers. All the chores were done by family members. Washing dishes was usually the young people in the family¡¯s job. Grandma Xiao, with a big smile on her face, said, ¡°Xuan¡¯er, you stay with Xiaoxiao. Your grandmother and I will handle the dishes.¡± Xiao Junxuan replied, ¡°No, Grandma, you and grandmother have been busy all morning, and deserve a break. I¡¯ll be able to clean up these dishes quickly.¡± To save time, they had bought a dishwasher for the house. They just had to put the dishes into the dishwasher, leave it to do its job, and wipe down the table. The cleanup would be done in no time. Of course, there was an unspoken rule in the house that Xiao Jinli was not to do these chores. Jinli did occasionally take part in tasks like doing the dishes. After all, family chores, when done together as a family, made the home feel even cozier. Now that she was a doctor who sometimes had to perform surgeries, she needed to take great care of her hands. Although Lin Xiaoxiao was not very familiar with the Xiao Family, she found it easy to interact with them. She smiled and said, ¡°Grandma, Granny, you both go rest. It¡¯s good enough to have Sister Jinli chat with me.¡± Grandma Xiao chuckled and replied, ¡°Alright, alright, we¡¯ll rest. You talk with our sweetheart. After Xuan¡¯er is done with the cleanup, he will take you back to your room for a well-deserved rest. Tonight, when Xuan¡¯er¡¯s father returns, we must have a proper meeting between the parents of both families.¡± At the mention of a meet-up between both families¡¯ parents, Lin Xiaoxiao blushed and agreed shyly, ¡°Alright, Granny!¡± After bidding them farewell, Xiao Junxuan started to clean up the bowls and chopsticks. Su Yichen had also returned to his hotel to handle work issues. After all, he was not an ordinary person anymore; he couldn¡¯t possibly delegate all his tasks to others. After returning to the hotel, he would take off his disguise, returning to his actual appearance, leaving no room for speculation! He started a video conference. The assistant promptly reported to him, ¡°Boss, where are you now? The billion-dollar contract with Ailin Group is about to be signed.¡± Su Yichen frowned slightly, ¡°Let General Gu go!¡± The assistant immediately replied, ¡°General Gu already has three 10 billion dollar orders. If we let him sign this contract too¡­¡± The assistant didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but it was clear what he was implying; he was worried about General Gu becoming overly ambitious since he was holding several big orders. Su Yiyi waved his hand as he said, ¡°Trust the people you employ, and if you don¡¯t trust them, don¡¯t employ them!¡± The assistant¡¯s expression changed slightly and then he responded, ¡°Okay, I understand boss. I will get in touch with General Gu.¡± Afterward, Su Yichen received reports from other subordinates. However, one person¡¯s report made him frown. That person said, ¡°Boss, Mei Jian¡¯s top-tech company is planning an investment of 30 billion to set up a tech company with us!¡± Chapter 371 - Chapter 371: Chapter 363: Chapter 371: Chapter 363: Su Yichen went to Xiao Jinli¡¯s office. Xiao Jinli¡¯s office was at Xiao Family Village Hospital However, Xiao Jinli rarely saw patients, she only went in when the hospital called about a critical patient. She generally didn¡¯t stray too far from the hospital, so she could quickly respond when a patient came in. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Brother Little Quan?¡± Xiao Jinli asked with confusion. It was unusual for him to come looking for her at the hospital, knowing she was busy when she was there. Su Yichen said, ¡°One of my subordinates reported to me, Plum Firm Country¡¯s top technology company wants to cooperate with my company, investing 30 billion to establish a technology company in our country.¡± ¡°This is certainly impossible.¡± Xiao Jinli frowned, ¡°A technology company is not like some ordinary company, you can¡¯t just cooperate with foreign countries, and furthermore with Plum Firm Country¡¯s top technology company. What does Plum Firm Country want to do?¡± Technology concerns the country¡¯s development. Usually, although there are technological exchanges and cooperation, the real technological core of any country would not be casually disclosed. Therefore, in joint venture technology companies, unless they are low or mid-level companies, the technological core of top-end technology companies only resides in the hands of a few people or countries. Su Yichen nodded, ¡°The proposal of cooperation from Plum Firm Country¡¯s top technology company is blatantly unreasonable. I think, they must be planning something.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded in agreement, ¡°I agree. Otherwise, how can Plum Firm Country, which is reputed to have the most advanced technology in the world, suddenly come to our country seeking cooperation, and moreover, directly approach you?¡± Even if Su Yichen agreed, the country would hardly agree. Plum Firm Country is not a fool either, how can they propose such a cooperation, it¡¯s obviously an investment bound to lose. Su Yichen thought for a moment and said, ¡°They are probably scared.¡± ¡°Hmm, how do you mean?¡± Xiao Jinli asked with a smile. Su Yichen said, ¡°Divine Wind Technology Group, appearing out of nowhere, has introduced several high-tech projects in a few short years, making our country¡¯s technological level leap a great step forward. Give Divine Wind some more time, and our country¡¯s technology will certainly surpass them. So, they want to destroy it before Divine Wind monopolizes the top spot.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Your reasoning makes sense. However, they¡¯ve made so many roundabout maneuvers, what exactly do they want to do to take down the Divine Wind Group?¡± Su Yichen thought for a moment and said, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I can¡¯t figure out.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Some time ago, Xu Guochang reported to me that Plum Firm Country told the world media that the core technology of the Divine Wind Group was stolen from them. They are preparing to gather evidence and intend to sue them for theft of secrets in the International Court.¡± Su Yichen¡¯s demeanour changed, ¡°There¡¯s such a thing.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Yes. Just that there¡¯s been no movement for more than a month after this incident. I was wondering why they were silent. It turns out they want to start from here.¡± On hearing this, Su Yichen¡¯s eyes instantly lit up, he said, ¡°I understand now. What they actually need isn¡¯t an investment partner, they need an assailant to challenge the Divine Wind Group.¡± Xiao Jinli nodded, ¡°Exactly. With the investment amount of 30 billion, they are not trying to attract your Su Corporation, but other companies. There are so many companies nationwide, not all companies are as large and wealthy as the Su Corporation. Plum Firm Country doesn¡¯t really want to cooperate with Su Corporation, but put out the news under the guise of investment cooperation with Su Corporation. If Su Corporation agrees to the cooperation, that¡¯s great. If not, other companies will swarm in.¡± Su Yichen tapped the table lightly with one hand, frowning and wondering, ¡°But wouldn¡¯t Plum Firm Country be miscalculating? If they agree to cooperate, what about our superiors? Would they really allow that top Plum Firm Country technology company to enter?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°I think I know what Plum Firm Country means. They are coercing!¡± ¡°Coercing? What do you mean by that?¡± Then he suddenly realized and said, ¡°Damn it, Plum Firm Country is too cunning. Jinli, what do you want to do?¡± He knew that the Divine Wind Technology Group belongs to Xiao Jinli. Chapter 372 - Chapter 372: Chapter 364: Chapter 372: Chapter 364: After Lin Chengdong¡¯s afternoon nap, he began to wander around the village. Since becoming a tourist destination, Xiao Family Village has attracted many tourists from all over the world, especially during holidays. During holidays, it really feels crowded with people everywhere. For safety reasons, once a certain number of people are reached, there will be restrictions on visitors. As a tourist like Lin Chengdong, he¡¯s just an ordinary person in the crowd, and no one pays attention to him. Lin Chengdong initially wanted to inquire about Xiao Junxuan¡¯s character, but as an outsider, he couldn¡¯t distinguish between villagers and out-of-towners. He heard that the people of Xiao Family Village were very united, so if he were to ask about Xiao Junxuan casually, it would surely arouse suspicion. This would openly inform everyone that someone was looking for information about Xiao Junxuan, and within five minutes, the information would surely reach Xiao Junxuan or other members of the Xiao Family. After arriving, Lin Chengdong struggled to find a way to approach the situation. The two bodyguards who followed him exchanged glances. One of them respectfully asked, ¡°Boss, do you need our help?¡± Lin Chengdong looked at the two bodyguards, and his eyes lit up. He immediately said, ¡°You guys go and inquire about Xiao Junxuan¡¯s character.¡± Hearing this, a bodyguard frowned and said, ¡°Well boss, asking about the character of your¡­ Xiao Junxuan only here in Xiao Family Village is somewhat unreliable.¡± One of the bodyguards pointed out, ¡°Although the Xiao Family didn¡¯t say it, we could tell at a glance that their status in Xiao Family Village is special. Even if Xiao Junxuan¡¯s character is bad, who would dare to take the risk of offending the Xiao Family and say Xiao Junxuan has a bad character? Moreover, I don¡¯t even need to ask. Considering Xiao Junxuan is the biological brother of Doctor Xiao and a brother to Su Yichen, we can assume that his character is decent. After all, Su Yichen, the big shot in the business world, is well-known by many people. He has a talent for business and a sharp eye for talent. In the Capital City, he doesn¡¯t pay much attention to his relatives and friends, but here, he gets along so well with the Xiao Family members and calls Xiao Junxuan his brother.¡± Yes, they have been following Lin Chengdong closely, always protecting him, so they naturally know everything. However, they are also very tight-lipped and would not disclose any information to the outside world. Lin Chengdong listened to the bodyguards¡¯ words, frowned and said, ¡°What you¡¯re saying is actually reasonable. But I still don¡¯t feel at ease without inquiring about Xiao Junxuan.¡± At this point, he sighed lightly and said, ¡°Xiaoxiao is my only biological daughter. This concerns her happiness for the rest of her life.¡± One bodyguard thought for a moment and said, ¡°Boss, we don¡¯t need to deliberately inquire about him. We can just walk around the whole village and see if we can find any people who may not have a good relationship with the Xiao Family.¡± Lin Chengdong shook his head, ¡°Investigating the Xiao Family is even more out of the question.¡± Inquiring about the Xiao Family is a much more serious matter than inquiring about Xiao Junxuan. The Xiao Family has cultivated a genius like Xiao Jinli, so they must be extraordinary. The two bodyguards listened to their boss¡¯s words and were somewhat at a loss as to what to do. Lin Chengdong shook his head and said, ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s just wander around the village.¡± Then, he looked around in surprise and asked, ¡°Is today a holiday or something? Why are there so many people?¡± Tourism business is mostly during holidays. The bodyguard laughed, ¡°Xiao Village Farmhouse has now become a must-visit tourist attraction for tourists nationwide. In addition to the beautiful scenery, the main reason people come here is to eat the local gourmet food. It has been said online that the food in Xiao Family Village is at a level that surpasses even Michelin three-star restaurants. The food in Michelin-starred restaurants is not affordable for everyone, and one has to queue to eat. Here, not only can you enjoy the beautiful scenery, but you can also taste delicious food. The most important thing is that Xiao Village Farmhouse is very famous now, so there is a saying that goes, ¡®A true hero does not visit the Great Wall, and a true tourist does not visit Xiao Village.¡¯ Lin Chengdong was silent for a moment and then said, ¡°You guys seem to know a lot, huh?¡± He knew that Xiao Family Village was famous because of its agricultural products, which were known for their pure and green nature without any pollution. The taste and quality were guaranteed, and the vegetables were said to cure diseases, prevent cancer, and even bring in people seeking medical treatment. Many cancer patients came here with a glimmer of hope for treatment. Many patients came here for the divine doctor. Those who came here for treatment, unless they were too old or in the late stages of terminal cancer, were basically able to return in good health. Lin Chengdong sighed softly and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, take a walk around.¡± Lin Chengdong took a few steps and then thought for a moment, saying, ¡°Forget it, don¡¯t follow me anymore.¡± The expressions of the two bodyguards changed slightly, and they called out worriedly, ¡°Boss?¡± Lin Chengdong said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s very safe here. Even if people recognize my identity, nothing will happen. ¡°Many people have said that Xiao Family Village Farmhouse is the safest tourist destination. Even if a child gets lost, they can be found quickly. If someone tries to abduct a child, they won¡¯t be able to leave the village. Most importantly, because there are many rich and powerful people here, security measures are in place. Alright, don¡¯t worry, I just want to walk by myself.¡± Who can understand the feelings of an old father like him, who just found his daughter and now has to face her getting married? Lin Chengdong, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, strolled around. Well, tourists in suits and leather shoes are not uncommon here, so it doesn¡¯t look out of place. Lin Chengdong looked around the village. The village was beautiful, and since the transformation into a tourist area, the villagers¡¯ houses were all villa-style, with front and rear yards, unified white walls, and red glazed tiles, arranged in rows, clean and comfortable. However, many of the houses had signs advertising homestays, restaurants, and even a Taoyuan Town Snack Street, etc. There were both original inhabitants and newcomers living in Xiao Family Village. Due to limited land available, even wealthy newcomers had to follow a certain layout and architectural style, with no more than 160 square meters allowed. They could build additional floors, but it had to conform to the same style as the rest of the village. Like the original inhabitants, they could build a small western-style building, with yards for growing vegetables and flowers. In short, both the houses of original inhabitants and those of newcomers were beautiful. However, the state-built Retirement Home for Cadres was a different, more classical style with slightly larger buildings, located at a distance from the open manor. This building was not open to tourists and was guarded at all times to ensure the safety of the elderly inside. In general, Xiao Family Village was divided into three areas: the residences of the original inhabitants, the residences of the newcomers, and the buildings of the Nursing Home for Cadres. Each area was distinct, easily identifiable, and offered a different beauty when viewed from a high vantage point. Chapter 373 - Chapter 373: Chapter 365: Chapter 373: Chapter 365: Xiao Family Village and Xiao Village Farmhouse are separate. The Xiao Family Village is the place where the villagers and outsiders live, and the manor is the former land of the Xiao Family Village. Now, in addition to farming vegetables and other agricultural products, some recreational and viewing spots have been built. These venues, when planned, were made to occupy as little arable land as possible, and most of them were built at the foot of the hills or in barren areas where it is difficult to cultivate. The entire Xiao Family Village and the Farmhouse, with the land formerly belonging to the Xiao Family Village and the rented land from other villages, cover an enormous area of about 2.7 million square meters, which is about 4500 mu. It¡¯s said that the Kyoto Botanical Garden occupies just over 900 mu of land, so one can see how big the Xiao Village Farmhouse is. Not to mention the mountains, it would take at least three days to visit the entire Xiao Family Village Estate. Only then did Lin Chengdong discover that the entire Xiao Family Village was so vast. When strolling around Lin Family Village, he also came across several familiar faces who often appeared in financial magazines. Of course, as celebrities in the business world and well-known domestic entrepreneurs, those people were also familiar with Lin Chengdong. ¡°Haha, Lin Dong, what a coincidence to meet you here! Do you also live in Xiao Family Village now?¡± ¡°CEO Li, what a coincidence.¡± Lin Chengdong smiled and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m just here for a few days of sightseeing.¡± ¡°Oh, even the busy Chairman Lin has time to travel!¡± Boss Zhang asked with a smile. ¡°Work-life balance!¡± Chairman Lin joked, ¡°Do you gentlemen also live in Xiao Family Village?¡± CEO Li and others nodded and said, ¡°Yes. I obtained my residence permit three years ago. Now, whenever I have time, I come here.¡± ¡°I got mine one year ago.¡± ¡°I got mine three months ago.¡± Lin Chengdong curiously asked, ¡°Is it easy to get a residence permit?¡± Boss Zhang shook his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s not easy nor hard. It¡¯s not just about having money and power to get to live in Xiao Family Village. Those who come to live here must meet the requirements of Xiao Family Village. The most important point is that anyone who wants to live here must pass the approval of a girl from Xiao Family Village named Xiao Jinli.¡± Lin Chengdong was instantly dumbfounded and confirmed incredulously, ¡°You mean Xiao Jinli?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s Xiao Jinli,¡± Chairman Li complained, ¡°Other conditions are negotiable, but this condition is simply baffling. I don¡¯t know why the villagers of Xiao Family Village have such a condition. It¡¯s too hasty to let a child decide such a big matter, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Chengdong tentatively asked, ¡°Do you know Xiao Jinli¡¯s status in Xiao Family Village?¡± ¡°Of course, it must be very high and significant,¡± Boss Zhang affirmed. ¡°Otherwise, the condition for living in Xiao Family Village would not have to be approved by Xiao Jinli, and even the Village Head or the respected elders¡¯ agreement would be useless.¡± Chairman Li nodded and said, ¡°Indeed.¡± Lin Chengdong asked in confusion, ¡°Then how did you make Xiao Jinli agree?¡± He was truly very curious. ¡°Nothing special,¡± Boss Zhang said puzzledly, ¡°We just sat in the village committee meeting room for a while, and then several village cadres brought a bunch of agreements and contracts for us to sign, smiling. We didn¡¯t even meet Xiao Jinli.¡± Lin Chengdong, Then he asked tentatively, ¡°Do you know that Xiao Jinli is skilled in medicine?¡± ¡°Of course we do,¡± said Chairman Li, ¡°Not only is Xiao Jinli skilled in medicine, but she is also a divine doctor; this is no secret in Xiao Family Village. Just look at the huge Buddha statues at her house.¡± There have been rumors in the Capital City that several old heroes from The Retirement Home for Cadres followed the Divine Doctor on a trip to her hometown for recuperation, and the rumor was that the Divine Doctor was a teenage girl back then. Although we didn¡¯t see the true face of the Divine Doctor at the time, we now know who Dr. Xiao is after coming here.¡± Lin Chengdong asked, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because of Xiao Jinli the Divine Doctor¡¯s identity that living here requires her approval?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for that reason!¡± Chairman Li shook his head and said, ¡°I have been living here for three years and know very well that the people of Xiao Family Village, young and old, up and down, respect and trust Xiao Jinli very much. Even the animals in Xiao Family Village only listen to Xiao Jinli. Before that, the people in the village didn¡¯t know that Xiao Jinli could heal.¡± Lin Chengdong, Is it that magical? Was it not only the people, but even the animals in the village who listened to Xiao Jinli? ¡°Lin Dong, you may not know that Xiao Jinli is a legendary story in Xiao Family Village! I heard that the entire Xiao Family Village¡¯s vegetable marketing was proposed by Xiao Jinli, and the establishment of the company was also her idea. And there¡¯s more¡­¡± Chairman Li went on and on about Xiao Jinli¡¯s legendary story. Having been there the longest, he knew the most about the people and events of Xiao Family Village! Lin Chengdong listened, dumbfounded! Is this a child? Is this an ordinary child? Xiao Jinli is simply a freak, a monster! No wonder she¡¯s gained the support of the entire village; following Xiao Jinli means having meat to eat, right? Look, the whole village has now led an affluent life. Lin Chengdong opened his mouth and asked, ¡°I heard Jinli has an older brother. What kind of person is he?¡± ¡°Haha, Lin Dong, what makes you suddenly ask about Xiao Junxuan?¡± Chairman Li laughed and said, ¡°Xiao Junxuan is a very talented and mature young man. I heard that the men in their family are good at pampering women. If I had a daughter, I would choose him! Wait, I have a niece! I can introduce my niece to Xiao Junxuan!¡± Lin Chengdong, Chapter 374 - Chapter 374: Chapter 366: Chapter 374: Chapter 366: Boss Zhang, Chairman Li, and the ever silent Manager Zhu watched the retreating figure of a scowling Lin Chengdong and were utterly perplexed. Chairman Li said, ¡°What¡¯s with him? Was anything I said wrong? He seemed very angry.¡± Manager Zhu turned his eyes and said with a smile, ¡°I noticed that as soon as Old Li mentioned that he has a niece wanting to be introduced to Xiao Junxuan, Lin¡¯s face darkened.¡± ¡°Ha,¡± Chairman Li exclaimed in even more confusion. ¡°I introduced my niece to Xiao Junxuan, what does that have to do with him? Could it be that Xiao Junxuan is his son-in-law¡­..¡± Having said this, Chairman Li snapped back to realization, his face full of surprise. ¡°No way? Did he set his sights on Xiao Junxuan too, intending to make him his son-in-law?¡± Boss Zhang replied, beaming, ¡°I think it¡¯s probably like that. Otherwise, there would be no reason why his face suddenly turned black and he left when we were chatting.¡± For people of their status, expressions of joy, anger or other emotions rarely surface on their faces for others to see. But Lin Chengdong¡¯s anger was obviously uncommon ¨C they all had no idea what they had done to offend him. Chairman Li, still puzzled, asked, ¡°Does Zhu Chengdong know Xiao Junxuan? Before, wasn¡¯t he constantly trying to pair his biological daughter with Su Yichen? Why would he suddenly shift his sights to Xiao Junxuan after just one trip to Xiao Family Village?¡± ¡°How does Lin Chengdong know about Xiao Junxuan?¡± Boss Zhang responded after realizing, ¡°Just now, wasn¡¯t it him who raised the question? He was also the one who mentioned Xiao Junxuan. I thought he was here as a tourist. Could it be that his true intent was to find a match for his daughter?¡± ¡°But wasn¡¯t he making a big fuss to find his daughter not long ago?¡± ¡°It seems that he has found her. His biological daughter was harmed by his adopted daughter who arranged for someone to abduct her and sell her in a remote small village. Later, she managed to escape and Lin Chengdong, really angered by this, reported the incident to the police and had his adopted daughter arrested.¡± ¡°Ah, tell me, what has Lin Chengdong done? He raised an adopted daughter only to turn her into an enemy.¡± ¡°Exactly. Everyone in the Capital City knows how much he spoiled his adopted daughter. Whenever the girl cried, he was always quick to assume that the biological daughter had bullied the adopted one and would immediately scold her. You would think that the adopted daughter is the biological one and vice versa. After all, not many parents would spoil an outsider over their own.¡± Manager Zhu turned his eyes and said with a smile, ¡°I heard that when Lin Chengdong¡¯s biological daughter escaped from the small mountain village, she was rescued and is now being treated at the Xiao Family Village Hospital.¡± ¡°Ha, really?¡± Boss Zhang and Chairman Li exclaimed in unison, their eyes twinkling with juicy gossip. Unlike these businessmen, Manager Zhu had a background in intelligence, so he knew all kinds of information about the Capital City like the back of his hand. Manager Zhu said with a grin, ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s true. But I heard that after Lin Chengdong¡¯s daughter went missing, he reported the case to the Yamen. At the same time, the Yamen received a report that a girl from Capital City had escaped from a small mountain village after being abducted, and was rescued. The information about the girl matched that of Lin Chengdong¡¯s daughter. The hero who rescued her was from the Xiao Family Village, and he was Xiao Junxuan. After rescuing her, he took her to the Xiao Family Village Hospital and had Doctor Xiao personally treat her. As we all know, unless a patient is terminally ill or has a disease that can¡¯t be treated in a hospital, Doctor Xiao will only personally intervene.¡± Boss Zhang laughed heartily, ¡°I also heard the same news. Moreover, I heard that the savior and the saved have now become lovers.¡± Staying in Xiao Family Village for the past few days and getting familiar with the villagers, they naturally learned some information from their conversations. After listening to the two men¡¯s conversation, Chairman Li slapped his head and laughed out loud, ¡°Ha-ha, so that Xiao Junxuan is likely to be Lin Chengdong¡¯s future son-in-law.¡± ¡°Haha, so when you tried to steal his future son-in-law, he naturally got angry,¡± Boss Zhang laughed, finally understanding. Chairman Li could have rolled his eyes. Slightly tongue-tied, he said, ¡°This Lin Chengdong, really now. He said he was here for tourism, how would I know that Xiao Junxuan was his prospective son-in-law? If I had known, ahem, if I had known, I would have at least mentioned it. Such a promising young man, who would want to miss the opportunity to introduce him to their family? My niece is as precious to me as my own daughter. Being able to marry into the Xiao Family Village, being able to marry Doctor Xiao¡¯s brother, would certainly be a joyous occasion.¡± ¡°Stop complaining,¡± said Manager Zhu, ¡°If Xiao Junxuan were to become your son-in-law, and old Lin tried to steal him away in front of you, I bet you would be angry too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, Manager Zhu does have a point.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go for a walk. It¡¯s really strange though, with so many people around here all day, the air still remains so fresh. Each breathe, and I feel like my whole body is at ease.¡± ¡°Indeed. No wonder the country decides to place the retired officials here for them to spend the latter part of their lives.¡± Chapter 375 - Chapter 375: Chapter 367: Chapter 375: Chapter 367: Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t need to investigate Xiao Junxuan¡¯s character specifically; he knew how good the young man was. After all, young people who can gain the approval of Li Minxing, Zhang Liyou, and Zhu Hongguang are truly rare. Zhu Chengdong returned to the hotel with an attitude. The two bodyguards looked at each other, not quite understanding. The boss just went out and came back with a livid face, could it be that Xiao Junxuan¡¯s character is not good? Otherwise, there should be no reason for the boss to be so angry. A curious bodyguard asked, ¡°Boss, what¡¯s wrong with you? Is Xiao Junxuan¡¯s character not good?¡± Zhu Chengdong said angrily, ¡°It pisses me off. That Li Minxing actually wanted to introduce his niece to Xiao Junxuan right in front of me, saying he didn¡¯t want to miss such an outstanding young man.¡± The two bodyguards let out a sigh of relief when they heard this. It turned out that Xiao Junxuan¡¯s character was not bad, but rather too good, and people were fighting to matchmaking him. They thought, how could the family that cultivated Doctor Xiao, such an outstanding person, possibly cultivate another child with poor character? The two bodyguards held back their laughter and appeased the angry Lin Chengdong. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s good that someone is digging at the corners, it proves that Miss has good taste. In the past, you introduced so many talented young men, even Chairman Su, but she didn¡¯t like any of them.¡± ¡°Yeah, boss. Such an outstanding young man would be the future husband of the Miss and your future son-in-law. You should be happy. Imagine, when the Miss and her nephew have their wedding, you can introduce the nephew to all the guests, and the expression of Chairman Li and the others would be priceless.¡± Listening to the bodyguards, the still angry Lin Chengdong suddenly felt relieved and laughed heartily, ¡°Right, you¡¯re right. When Xiaoxiao and Xiao Junxuan have their wedding, they will be in for a big surprise. Haha, let them undermine my family.¡± Lin Chengdong was happy, but he didn¡¯t know that Li Minxing had actually guessed the truth. In the President¡¯s office of the top-tier technology company in Mei Jian country, Williams listened to his subordinate¡¯s report. ¡°What did you say, Dragon State¡¯s Su Corporation agreed to cooperate with us?¡± Williams asked in surprise, wanting to confirm the unbelievable news. ¡°Yes, boss,¡± Lai En reported, ¡°Chairman Su Yichen of Su Corporation personally called.¡± Williams still couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°It¡¯s impossible. How can those foolish people from Dragon State agree to such cooperation? You should know that according to Dragon State law, Su Corporation¡¯s cooperation with our Mei Jian¡¯s top-tier technology company could be considered as treason.¡± Lai En asked with a slightly serious look, ¡°Boss, what should we do now? According to the plan, Su Corporation of Dragon State will refuse to cooperate with us, and then we will find smaller companies to cooperate with. But we didn¡¯t expect Su Corporation to agree and have Su Yichen personally call.¡± Williams frowned and said, ¡°I¡¯ll hold an emergency meeting with the shareholders and the board of directors!¡± Lai En nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± They hadn¡¯t anticipated Su Corporation¡¯s agreement. Their agreement had completely disrupted their plans. While those in the country of Mei Jian were worried, Su Yichen and Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t put the matter on their hearts and just went about their business as usual. With a smile, Su Yichen said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°I guess those people from Mei Jian must be stunned and troubled right now.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Xiao Jinli laughed, ¡°Haha, they deserve it. Now, I want to see what they will do. I bet they are trying every way to find out why you agreed to cooperate with them, and even called them personally.¡± With a grin, Su Yichen said, ¡°Hehe, we¡¯re going to let them know what it means to lose their wife and their army. Hmph, they think they can take advantage of Dragonzhou Country? As long as they stick their hands in, we¡¯ll break their hands and legs and send them back.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that anymore,¡± said Xiao Jinli. ¡°My dad is coming back tonight and he will probably discuss Xiaoxiao and my brother¡¯s matters. I need to prepare some gifts to give to Xiaoxiao¡¯s muddled father as a token of respect.¡± Su Yichen chuckled, ¡°It seems you really like Lin Xiaoxiao. I¡¯ve known you for such a long time, and I¡¯ve never seen you like anyone so much other than people from the Xiao Family Village and a few old masters.¡± Xiao Jinli replied, ¡°Xiaoxiao is cute, straightforward, and kind-hearted. I¡¯m worried that my brother, a cunning fox, might take advantage of her.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Su Yichen laughed heartily, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you describe your own brother like this. Your brother, Xiao Junxuan, is such an outstanding and handsome young talent, yet in your mouth, he¡¯s somehow become a fox. I wonder how your brother would feel if he heard this.¡± Shrugging her shoulders, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°What could his feelings be? He¡¯s been in the business world for more than a decade and has long become an old fox.¡± ¡°Little sister, I heard what you said,¡± Xiao Junxuan¡¯s voice came. ¡°I loved and pampered you since you were young, and you actually said behind my back that I¡¯m an old fox? That really hurts my heart,¡± he continued. ¡°Pfft!¡± Su Yichen laughed and said, ¡°Brother Xuan, I also think you¡¯re like an old fox in the business world.¡± Xiao Junxuan rolled his eyes and said with annoyance, ¡°You¡¯re the real old fox, becoming a top business leader and the richest person in the country at such a young age. Comparing myself to you is like a small witch meeting a big one.¡± Su Yichen, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Brother, Little Quan became the richest person because he has the talent for business and is known as the Fiery Eyes, Golden Gaze. Any project he invests in will surely make a fortune. So, there¡¯s no need for you to be sour about grapes.¡± Xiao Junxuan said unhappily, ¡°Little sister, in the end, who¡¯s your real brother? You¡¯re actually starting to bury me for your Little Quan brother.¡± Shrugging her shoulders, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Brother, Brother Little Quan is also my brother.¡± With a smile, Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Alright, enough with this banter. Sister, Dad will be back tonight, and Uncle Lin will come over for dinner, too. They will probably talk about the matter between Xiaoxiao and me. What kind of gift should I give Uncle Lin for our first meeting of both families¡¯ parents?¡± Xiao Jinli teasingly said, ¡°To give a gift to your future father-in-law, it must be something close to his heart.¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Sister, Xiaoxiao said her dad always has high blood pressure and difficulty sleeping at night. What do you think?¡± With a smile, Xiao Jinli waved her hand and said, ¡°Alright, I got it. I will prepare a medicine according to his physique and also give a pot of Seven Color Tea Flower. How¡¯s that?¡± The value of the Seven Color Tea Flower, especially those produced in Xiao Family Village, is immeasurable. Not only for its ornamental value but also for its health value. Xiao Junxuan smiled sincerely and said, ¡°Thank you, sister!¡± Technically, he should have been the one to prepare the gift, but the gifts he would give were too ordinary. He could only turn to his sister for help. In their family, only the gifts from his sister were the most precious and valuable gifts. Chapter 376 - Chapter 376: Chapter 368: Chapter 376: Chapter 368: In the evening, before going to the Xiao family¡¯s home, Lin Chengdong carefully dressed himself. Two bodyguards looked at their boss constantly adjusting his clothes in front of the mirror, their faces slightly puzzled. After a while, a bodyguard said, ¡°Boss, with this outfit, you look several years younger than usual.¡± Usually, Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t pay much attention to his attire, except when conducting business, he would wear a suit and shoes; most of the time, he wore whatever was comfortable. Another bodyguard also said, ¡°Yeah, Boss, you¡¯re really looking handsome today.¡± However, Lin Chengdong was a bit uneasy and said, ¡°Little Fanfan mentioned that my age is the same as his wife¡¯s. At lunchtime, I saw those old gentlemen, and they didn¡¯t look much different from me.¡± He was putting so much effort into dressing now just because he didn¡¯t want to look much older than Xiao Junxuan¡¯s unseen father. As for Xiao Junxuan¡¯s appearance, he only resembled his mother by just two or three points. The remaining points should be similar to his father¡¯s. He must be a handsome man; otherwise, it would be difficult to match Xiao¡¯s mother who is such a beauty. Xiao¡¯s mother has such a stunning appearance that, even in the capital city, or the whole country, she would be considered a great beauty. However, for such a gorgeous woman to be protected so well, Xiao Junxuan¡¯s father must have some ability and means. He was somewhat looking forward to meeting his future in-laws, but he didn¡¯t want to lose out too much in terms of age. He dared not hope that Xiao Junxuan¡¯s father would look about the same age as him. Of course, the bodyguards didn¡¯t know about his inner thoughts. After helping Lin Chengdong adjust his clothes, they went to the Xiao family¡¯s house on time. Xiao Wanshan came back at around three or four o¡¯clock in the afternoon. As soon as he received his son¡¯s call, he drove back. It took only a little over two hours to drive from Ganjiang City to Xiao Family Village. When Lin Chengdong arrived at the Xiao family¡¯s house, including several old men, everyone was already inside. However, since it was the first meeting between the two families, other than Xiao Junxuan and Xiao Jinli, the younger members of the Xiao family didn¡¯t join in the gathering. That night, they all went to the cafeteria for dinner, including Su Yichen. When Lin Chengdong saw Xiao Wanshan, he was somewhat surprised. He knew that Xiao Wanshan would be very young, but he didn¡¯t expect him to be this young. He heard that Xiao Wanshan was fifty-six years old this year, the same age as him. However, when Xiao Wanshan stood with Xiao Junxuan, they looked like similar-looking brothers, without any father-son resemblance. It was just that Xiao Wanshan appeared more mature and stable, with more masculine charm. Lin Chengdong felt a bit disheartened. He muttered to himself, ¡°Do all the people in the Xiao family have hidden anti-aging genes? Why do they all look so young? No, those old heroes are not from the Xiao family, but they also look younger than their peers, at least ten years younger.¡± Xiao Wanshan warmly welcomed Lin Chengdong. He smiled and said, ¡°Hello future in-law, I¡¯m Xiao Junxuan¡¯s dad, Xiao Wanshan; you can call me Old Xiao. My troublesome son will be your son in the future; if he does anything wrong or treats Xiaoxiao poorly, feel free to scold and punish him.¡± Lin Chengdong, ¡°¡­ Is Xiao Junxuan¡¯s dad really so direct?¡± Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t let anyone see his emotions, only smiling and saying, ¡°Mr. Xiao, isn¡¯t it a bit early to call each other in-laws?¡± Xiao Wanshan laughed heartily and said, ¡°Not early at all! After tonight, my brat and your daughter will be fianc¨¦s.¡± Lin Chengdong really wanted to turn around and leave, but he couldn¡¯t be willful. If he really turned away and ruined his daughter¡¯s marriage, she would definitely resent him for the rest of her life. At this point, Xiao Junxuan came over and said, ¡°Dad, Uncle Lin, it¡¯s time for dinner. Let¡¯s take our seats.¡± Xiao Wanshan immediately invited Lin Chengdong to the main seat, but Lin Chengdong refused right away. With so many old gentlemen present, Lin Chengdong] did not dare to occupy the main seat. There was a dining room in the Xiao Family that had a large round table that could seat 10-20 people. Now, everyone took their seats. Xiao Junxuan and Lin Xiaoxiao, Xiao Jinli and Su Yichen sat at the lower seats. When the two sets of parents met, Xiao Wanshan and his wife gave Lin Xiaoxiao a big red envelope. Grandpa Xiao, Grandma Xiao, maternal grandpa, maternal grandma, and several old gentlemen also gave Lin Xiaoxiao big red envelopes, which surprised and flattered Lin Xiaoxiao. She had never thought that she would receive so many red envelopes on the first meeting of the two families. _lin Chengdong was also surprised that even the old heroes had given his daughter red envelopes._ Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes curved into crescent moons as she received the red envelopes, looking very happy. From today on, she and Xiao Junxuan would no longer be boyfriend and girlfriend but fianc¨¦s recognized by both families. Making her happier was the fact that even her future sister-in-law had given her a gift, the Whitening and Beautifying Pill. ¡°Sister Xiaoxiao, this Whitening and Beautifying Pill is specially made for your constitution. Take one pill a day for a total of thirty days. This is the first session. After finishing these beauty pills, I will adjust another pill formula based on your constitution and continue taking them. Don¡¯t worry, I will make sure you are fair and smooth-skinned when you marry my brother,¡± said Xiao Jinli. Lin Xiaoxiao immediately gave Xiao Jinli a big hug, saying happily, ¡°Thank you, my sister!¡± To women, beauty is most important. Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Sister, stop calling her Sister Xiaoxiao. You should call her sister-in-law now.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed, ¡°Humph, I think calling her Sister Xiaoxiao is more intimate.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao covered her mouth and laughed, ¡°I also like Jinli calling me sister. I think calling my sister is more intimate.¡± Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Fine, you guys can call each other whatever you like. Anyway, you are all family now.¡± Xiao Jinli then looked at Lin Chengdong and said, ¡°Uncle Lin, I heard from Sister Xiaoxiao that you have high blood pressure. After dinner, let me check your body.¡± Lin Chengdong was very excited and nodded, ¡°Thank you, Divine Doctor Xiao.¡± Xiao Jinli said with a smile, ¡°Uncle Lin, don¡¯t call me Divine Doctor Xiao anymore. Everyone at home calls me Jinli, so you should do the same.¡± Lin Chengdong nodded, ¡°Alright, thank you, Jinli.¡± After that, Xiao Wanshan and his wife, along with the elders, discussed Xiao Junxuan and Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s matters with Lin Chengdong at the dining table. Lin Chengdong said, ¡°Let them get engaged first. Waiting until the end of the year to get married isn¡¯t too late!¡± Xiao Wanshan agreed, ¡°Alright, let them get engaged first, and then get married at the end of the year.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s choose a date for the engagement. Which location should we choose, Capital City or Xiao Family Village?¡± Xiao Wanshan asked. Most of Lin¡¯s family¡¯s relatives and friends were in Capital City, while most of Xiao¡¯s family¡¯s relatives and friends were in Xiao Family Village. Lin Chengdong thought for a moment and said, ¡°Let¡¯s choose Xiao Family Village for both the engagement and the wedding!¡± Xiao Wanshan asked, ¡°Is that okay? Both the engagement and the wedding are chosen to be in Xiao Family Village? Don¡¯t the relatives and friends on Lin¡¯s side have any objections?¡± Lin Chengdong said, ¡°If I say it¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay!¡± Chapter 377 - Chapter 377: Chapter 369: Chapter 377: Chapter 369: Lin Chengdong, holding a pot of Seven Color Tea Flower, felt as if he were floating all the way back to the hotel. He could never have imagined that the Xiao Family, no, Doctor Xiao, would be so generous as to gift him a pot of Seven Color Tea Flower. Who didn¡¯t know and understand the value of the Seven Color Tea Flower now? It¡¯s a treasure that money can¡¯t buy. In pursuit of this flower, countless people, either rich or noble, have fought bitterly. But the best part is that only three pots of these flowers are sold every year, and the rest are given to those who are destined to receive them. So Lin Chengdong was lucky enough to be one of the chosen ones. Lin Chengdong didn¡¯t know whether he should consider himself lucky. No, it¡¯s his biological daughter who is truly lucky. People always say that a blessing may become a curse, and vice versa. Throughout her life, Xiaoxiao has been framed by Lin Wanqing countless times. Although he doesn¡¯t trust his own daughter, she¡¯s managed to escape harm every time due to her good luck. The two bodyguards with Lin Chengdong, both seasoned and experienced men, were naturally aware of the value of the Seven Color Tea Flower bottle held by their boss. They were surprised by the generous gift, and then understanding dawned upon them. This type of Seven Color Tea Flower, which is beneficial to health and also of ornamental value, can only be cultivated in Xiao Family Village in the whole world. ¡°Boss, congratulations! Your daughter has found herself a good husband!¡± Both bodyguards sincerely said, ¡°And congratulations on receiving a pot of invaluable Seven Color Tea Flower.¡± One of the bodyguards said, ¡°Xiao Family Village is truly magical. It might look like a small village, but it¡¯s teeming with talent. And a simple pot of tea flowers, no one dares to rob.¡± Not only the tea flowers, no one dares to rob anything here! The other bodyguard said, ¡°It is said that a nobleman in Luo Country wanted to take on this tea flower business, but was rejected. He tried to forcefully buy in, but overnight, he was covered in painful boils. Even more horrifying, the boils turned into faces and just couldn¡¯t be cured! Later it was discovered that his body was reacting badly to the Seven Color Tea Flower. Just thinking of the idea would cause these boils, it was hilarious!¡± Who can¡¯t hear that this is a clearly a fabricated excuse? But Xiao Family Village has this capability, and the nobleman had no choice but to give up his idea, becoming a laughing stock in the international arena. Ever since, anyone who considered the idea, would think thrice before acting! Someone who didn¡¯t believe, attempted to take it by force. The instigator, however, was covered in boils all over. Even top experts from around the world could do nothing to cure him. In the end, he had to give up the idea, personally apologize, and only then did the disease dissipate. The small Xiao Family Village has become the safest tourist destination in the world, undoubtedly shielded by its own mysterious power. Otherwise, Xiao Family Village, a Feng Shui treasure land, might have been taken over by capitalists long ago! Lin Chengdong laughed and said, ¡°I¡¯m quite surprised myself. I didn¡¯t expect such a big gift from the Xiao Family. I don¡¯t even know how to reciprocate! This afternoon at the hotel, I asked a waitress and learned that Xiao Junxuan¡¯s father runs a real estate company, the top one in Ganjiang City. They¡¯ve got no shortage of wealth. Xiao Zhang, Xiao Li, can you help me think about what kind of gift to return? Bodyguards Xiao Zhang and Xiao Li glanced at each other, their brows furrowed, deep in thought. ¡°Boss, why not ask your daughter? She has been here for a while and knows the Xiao Family better. She might know what the Xiao Family needs, and then we can prepare accordingly?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Chengdong agreed. He nodded with a smile, ¡°Yes, I should ask Xiaoxiao.¡± Chapter 378 - Chapter 378: Chapter 370: Chapter 378: Chapter 370: Lin Chengdong understood the principle of not showing off one¡¯s wealth, so he would definitely protect this tea flower. Otherwise, if those wolves and tigers found out, it would be unknown whether he could keep this Seven Color Tea Flower safe. Lin Chengdong wanted to give a return gift, but he didn¡¯t know what would be a good one. Lin Xiaoxiao tilted her head and thought, ¡°I spent about the same time in the hospital, but I know the basics of the Xiao Family. They don¡¯t lack money or influence. Whatever they want, they can get easily. I don¡¯t know what kind of gift to give to my little sister. But I¡¯ve heard Brother Xuan say that every year, the gifts their relatives and friends give to Little Sister Jinli are all those dolls, panda dolls, rabbit dolls, anyway, those fluffy dolls.¡± ¡°Haha, give dolls?¡± Lin Chengdong was slightly puzzled. ¡°Does the Divine Doctor like dolls?¡± In his heart, Xiao Jinli was like a divine figure that people worshiped. Immortals don¡¯t eat mortal food, so they naturally wouldn¡¯t care for these unbearable things in the world. Lin Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at her father and said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with liking dolls? Even though Little Sister Jinli is a famous Divine Doctor, she¡¯s still just a girl in her teens. Girls like cute things. I heard that there¡¯s a special room at home for those dolls.¡± Lin Chengdong understood instantly, ¡°Okay, I got it. I¡¯ll have someone buy a big and cute doll right away, no, I¡¯ll have one customized.¡± He instantly understood. That¡¯s right, most girls like dolls, especially those cute and fluffy dolls. Three days later, Xiao Jinli received a two-three-meter-tall white fluffy rabbit doll at home. The rabbit had long and big ears, and round eyes. Jiang Xiaofan looked up at the big doll and exclaimed, ¡°Mommy, this doll is so big! It¡¯s bigger than any doll in your room. Who gave it?¡± Xiao Junxuan pushed Lin Xiaoxiao back and saw the doll, his expression slightly startled, then laughed and said, ¡°This doll is so big. It looks like my father-in-law put a lot of thought into it.¡± But such a big fluffy doll, although it looked cute, was hard to hold. Jiang Yifan reacted and immediately asked, ¡°Uncle, are you saying that Grandfather Lin gave this big doll? Why would he send such a big doll? How can you hold it?¡± Buying dolls was originally for holding and stroking the fluff. Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Isn¡¯t bigger better?¡± No matter whether the gift from the father-in-law is good or not, it must be the best. Jiang Yifan spoke the truth, ¡°But uncle, this doll is really too big and not good to hold. My mommy said this.¡± Xiao Junxuan looked at Xiao Jinli immediately. Xiao Jinli¡¯s mouth twitched, and she immediately denied it, ¡°Big dolls are not good to hold, but they can be used for viewing and stroking the fluff. They¡¯re much better than small dolls. I like this big doll.¡± Under the threatening gaze of her older brother, even if she didn¡¯t like it, she had to pretend to like it. She found that since her brother started dating, her position as a younger sister seemed to have moved a bit back. Xiao Junxuan immediately said, ¡°Jiang Yifan, did you hear that? Your mommy likes this doll.¡± Jiang Yifan, He was young, but not foolish. It was obvious that Mommy was forced to accept it due to her uncle¡¯s intimidation. It was only just a while ago that someone wanted to buy Mommy a very big doll, but she rejected the idea. She said that too big of a doll is really not good to hold and doesn¡¯t have that cute feeling. Many people were attracted by such a big doll. ¡°Wow, such a big doll, so fluffy and cute. Who gave this doll?¡± Xiao Junxuan immediately said, ¡°It¡¯s from my father-in-law.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Lin Xiaoxiao. Lin Xiaoxiao blushed and said, ¡°We are not married yet. You can¡¯t call him your father-in-law now.¡± Even if they really got married in the future, that would be a future matter. Now, they were just boyfriend and girlfriend, and they hadn¡¯t even gotten engaged yet. Being called a father-in-law by her boyfriend now, even Lin Xiaoxiao with a thick face would be embarrassed. Xiao Junxuan said, ¡°Not now, but in the future. I¡¯m just getting used to the idea of having an extra dad.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Everyone laughed at Xiao Junxuan¡¯s shamelessness. Chapter 379 - Chapter 379: Chapter 370: _2 Chapter 379: Chapter 370: _2 ¡°Xiao Junxuan, I never thought that you, who never talked about love, would be this shameless when you finally did.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We used to think that such a spirited young man in his thirties without a girlfriend was planning to become a monk. It turns out you just hadn¡¯t met the girl who made you want to fall in love.¡± ¡°Haha, if it weren¡¯t for Xiaoxiao¡¯s leg injury now, he¡¯d probably want to get married right away. You haven¡¯t seen Xiao Junxuan running to the hospital the minute he gets off work these days. Oh, no, even at work, he¡¯s constantly sneaking off to the hospital.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, when this man starts dating, he really gets energetic. Working while taking care of his girlfriend at the same time.¡± Everyone teased Xiao Junxuan one after another. Although they were talking about Xiao Junxuan, Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s face was red the whole time, as if she wanted to hide in the cracks of the ground. ¡°Hm, Sister Xiaoxiao¡¯s face is so red,¡± Xiao Jinli said with a seemingly unintentional expression as she deliberately teased, ¡°Sister Xiaoxiao, are you sick? Come, let me check.¡± As soon as she said it, she deliberately moved forward to touch Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s head. Everyone looked over and an auntie said with laughter, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s not sickness, the girl is just shy.¡± Xiao Jinli pretended to be puzzled and asked, ¡°Shy? Why would Sister Xiaoxiao be shy? Everyone is talking about my brother. Shouldn¡¯t my brother be the one who¡¯s shy?¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s true, but your brother has thick skin,¡± everyone laughed and said, ¡°We never noticed your brother¡¯s thick skin before, but now he¡¯s dating, and it¡¯s exposed his true nature.¡± Xiao Junxuan said seriously, ¡°If I didn¡¯t have thick skin, I wouldn¡¯t find a wife. This is my experience.¡± ¡°Oh, you just started dating and already consider yourself a love expert, huh?¡± someone teased with a smile, ¡°Sure enough, a top student learns everything fast. According to you, you can totally teach others how to fall in love, right?¡± But Xiao Junxuan said solemnly, ¡°Let¡¯s leave teaching others aside. I can only be my own love expert.¡± Jiang Yifan listened to the adults talking, his face full of confusion. Didn¡¯t they say they were going to have a baby? How come it turned out to be dating? Jiang Yifan asked uncertainly, ¡°Uncle, what is dating?¡± Xiao Junxuan patted his little head and said with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re too young to understand. When you grow up, you¡¯ll know.¡± ¡°Why do I have to be grown up?¡± Jiang Yifan asked, not quite understanding, ¡°Is there something about dating that adults do that children can¡¯t see?¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± ¡°Little Fanfan is so cute!¡± ¡°Little Fanfan is adorable.¡± ¡°Little Fanfan, do you really want to know what dating is?¡± someone laughingly asked out of curiosity. Jiang Yifan frowned, then nodded seriously, ¡°Yes, I want to know.¡± Someone said chuckling, ¡°Dating is when a boy and a girl want to be together all the time.¡± This explanation was just right ¨C not too abstruse, easy to understand, and also wouldn¡¯t lead the child astray. ¡°So that¡¯s dating?¡± Jiang Yifan blinked his eyes and asked, ¡°Like Grandpa and Grandma, and Uncle Xiao and Aunt Xiaoxiao?¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s right, Little Fanfan, you¡¯re so smart!¡± Jiang Yifan thought for a moment, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he exclaimed, ¡°Oh, I see. So Uncle Little Quan and my mom are dating because they¡¯re also together all the time, right?¡± As soon as Jiang Yifan¡¯s words fell, the lively atmosphere suddenly quieted down. Then, everyone in the yard turned their eyes back and forth between Su Yichen and Xiao Jinli. ¡°Jinli, are you really dating Little Quan?¡± someone immediately questioned. ¡°Speaking of which, Little Quan and Jinli have always had a good relationship. Back when Little Quan lived in Xiao Family Village, they were always seen together.¡± ¡°Nonsense! Jinli was so young back then, isn¡¯t it normal for siblings to be together?¡± ¡°But they¡¯re not biological siblings, right?¡± ¡°Whether or not they¡¯re biological siblings, they are considered siblings in name. Jinli was so young back then. You stinking boy, if you say they were dating back then, see if I don¡¯t beat you!¡± This was spoken by a mother and her son. ¡°No, no, Mom, you misunderstood me. I meant they were close, but I didn¡¯t say they were dating,¡± the son hurriedly explained. ¡°You know, I think Jinli and Little Quan are quite compatible. Little Quan has top-notch looks and figure, while Jinli is also pretty. They look terrific together, like a perfect golden boy and girl.¡± ¡°They do look compatible, and Little Quan has a good personality. It¡¯s just that the age difference between Little Quan and Jinli is a bit too much, isn¡¯t it?¡± They were seven or eight years apart. ¡°In this day and age, height is not an obstacle, and age is not a problem. What¡¯s wrong with a man being a little older?¡± The villagers, ignoring the two embarrassed parties, continued to discuss whether they were a good match. Xiao Jinli, who¡¯d always been good at concealing her feelings, couldn¡¯t help but blush at this point. In the past, everyone spoke of her with praise. Now, they were talking about her love life in front of her. What she hadn¡¯t expected was the high public opinion about her and Su Yichen, even though there was nothing going on between them yet. God knows, she really, truly regarded Su Yichen as a friend and brother, but never thought of him as a lover. ¡°Mm-Hmm,¡± Xiao Jinli finally spoke up, saying, ¡°Everyone misunderstood. I just treat Brother Little Quan as a brother, and I have no other thoughts. Besides, I¡¯m still young and not thinking about dating.¡± Chapter 380 - Chapter 380: Chapter 371: Chapter 380: Chapter 371: Ever since Su Yichen and Xiao Jinli¡¯s inseparability had been pointed out, Xiao Jinli felt a slight awkwardness when interacting with Su Yichen. Since they had met, they had indeed spent all their available time together. Xiao Jinli rubbed her forehead, thinking that it was mainly due to their initial acquaintance with Xiao Siqian, perhaps it was a nestling complex. From the moment she saved Su Yichen, he had become unusually attached to her due to his nestling complex. However, from the beginning, they had always interacted as siblings, right? Xiao Jinli muttered to herself, ¡°From now on, how do I interact with Brother Little Quan?¡± At this moment, Su Yichen entered the room, hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words, and his expression stiffened for a moment. Then, he took a deep breath, walked over, and grabbed Xiao Jinli¡¯s hand, looking serious as he said, ¡°Jinli, I ¡­ actually, I ¡­ I like you. I want¡­ I want to be in a relationship with you. Are you willing?¡± As the emperor of the business world, who was decisive and cold-hearted, he was incredibly nervous during the confession, his heartbeat rising, filled with fear and panic. He was truly afraid of Xiao Jinli¡¯s rejection. However, he managed to gather his courage. Even if she rejects him, so what? After the rejection, he can pursue Xiao Jinli as an ordinary man, rather than maintaining a sibling relationship with her. Xiao Jinli was taken aback by Su Yichen¡¯s sudden confession. She didn¡¯t know that Su Yichen had feelings for her, and she had always thought that Su Yichen regarded her as his sister as well. Staring with wide eyes in disbelief, she looked at Su Yichen and said, ¡°Brother Little Quan, you?¡± Su Yichen took another deep breath and bravely confessed, ¡°When you were little, I really saw you as my sister and never had any other intentions. However, as you grew older and we spent more time together, my heart couldn¡¯t help but sink. But during this sinking, I had to suppress my racing heart and try to maintain our usual interaction. When you were young, I could hold your hand without any reservations, running as we pleased through the fields and mountains, and releasing our happiness with abandon. But I don¡¯t know when it changed; I didn¡¯t dare to touch you casually, didn¡¯t dare to look into your clear eyes, didn¡¯t dare to hold your hand, and even more so, didn¡¯t dare to hug you. I was afraid that my true thoughts would be revealed, and then we wouldn¡¯t even be able to maintain our sibling relationship, let alone become lovers. So, I tried hard to restrain myself. But now, I don¡¯t want to restrain myself any longer; I want to confess to you. I like you, no, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, growing old together.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s pupils contracted involuntarily. No matter how mature and steady she seemed in the eyes of others, at this moment, her expression was a little flustered. Xiao Jinli couldn¡¯t help but call out, ¡°Brother Little Quan?¡± Before Xiao Jinli could speak, Su Yichen gently covered her mouth, looking very nervous as he said, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, if you reject me, please don¡¯t refuse to continue interacting with me as siblings, okay? Oh, no, if you reject me, I will pursue you as a man, but please don¡¯t refuse my pursuit in the future, okay?¡± Xiao Jinli opened her mouth, not knowing how to respond. If it weren¡¯t for this sudden turn of events, she might have forgotten that she was a time-traveler. She was not a real teenage girl. When she first arrived, she swore never to fall in love again, focusing on protecting the Xiao family and Xiao Family Village instead. When she was younger, her family had never considered her personal affairs. But now, she was almost twenty years old. Others might be of the age to go to college and fall in love, but she was already a powerful figure, and attending college was merely a formality. She had never considered falling in love throughout her life. Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Brother Little Quan, don¡¯t be in a hurry, this is too sudden. Let me think about it, okay?¡± Hearing this, a delighted expression appeared on Su Yichen¡¯s face, and he nodded, ¡°Alright, you take your time to think about it.¡± At this point, Su Yichen thought of something and said, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, if you¡¯re worried about me betraying you, I can transfer all of my property under your name. If I truly betray you, I will leave with nothing. Besides,¡± his eyes seemed to imply something, ¡°can I really betray you?¡± In this world, only Su Yichen knew the extent of Xiao Jinli¡¯s power. He understood very well the consequences of betraying Xiao Jinli; not only would he be ruined, but he could also be completely wiped out, like those four kidnappers who were unknowingly fed to the tigers. Xiao Jinli¡¯s expression changed slightly as she heard this, but she still said, ¡°Alright, let me think about it.¡± She knew that in this world, no one could betray her and get away with it. But she just didn¡¯t want any trouble. She would prefer a one-time solution. What she had the least faith in was love. Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t flatly refuse, but promised to think about it. This gave Su Yichen his biggest surprise yet. In the following days, he wanted to win Xiao Jinli¡¯s heart step by step. They already had a solid foundation in their feelings, and as long as Xiao Jinli wasn¡¯t made of stone, he would be able to win her over. Su Yichen nodded and said, ¡°Alright, take your time.¡± With that, Su Yichen left the room. But as soon as he opened the door, he saw a group of elders gathered outside. Xiao Jinli walked over and asked, ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, and all of you, what¡¯s the matter? Why are you standing outside my door?¡± Grandma Xiao happily said, ¡°Well, we were worried that you might hit this kid Little Quan, so we¡¯re here to keep an eye on things and break up any fights.¡± Xiao Jinli, Su Yichen, These old ladies and old men just wanted to enjoy the drama, but they ended up involving themselves. Xiao Jinli forced a smile and asked, ¡°Do I look like such a violent person?¡± ¡°No, no¡­¡± The old men and old ladies unanimously shook their heads. At this point, her maternal grandmother spoke earnestly, ¡°Our good baby, we all think that you¡¯ve grown up into a young lady. In the past, we¡¯ve always wondered which boy would be a good match for a girl like you who is both intelligent and capable, beautiful and competent. We have always been picky, thinking that no one was good enough, until we saw Little Quan and our eyes lit up. Little Quan, well, we all know him inside and out. Not only is he handsome, but he also has enormous wealth. If you marry him, you can squander it as you please. The most important thing is that Little Quan has a great character, and will love and cherish you, looking at you with shining eyes. If you fall in love with him, we will all be at ease.¡± Xiao Jinli took a deep breath, her expression slightly complicated as she asked, ¡°Grandma, how old am I for you to be matchmaking me? I¡¯m only nineteen, not twenty-nine or thirty-nine, an old maid that can¡¯t be married off. Why are you so worried?¡± Her maternal grandmother smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°Good men should be pursued early. Once you turned eighteen, we let you start dating.¡± Xiao Jinli, Chapter 381 - Chapter 381: Chapter 372: Chapter 381: Chapter 372: From that day on, Xiao Jinli fell into a state of annoyance. Whenever she went out, people would ask her, ¡°Jinli, where is Little Quan? Isn¡¯t he with you today?¡± ¡°Jinli, how come we didn¡¯t see Little Quan? Where did Little Quan go?¡± ¡°Jinli¡­¡± Xiao Jinli, Everyone was asking about Su Yichen¡¯s whereabouts. They weren¡¯t conjoined twins. How would she know where he went? At this moment, Xiao Xiaoming ran over, panting, and shouted loudly, ¡°Sister Jin Li, hurry, come with me.¡± Xiao Jinli asked curiously, ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask, just follow us.¡± Then, a group of children pulled and pushed Xiao Jinli forward. Some adults were also puzzled as they watched the children lead Xiao Jinli away. Xiao Jinli asked somewhat helplessly, ¡°Where on earth are you taking me?¡± Xiao Xiaoming mysteriously smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there. Hurry up, we¡¯re almost there.¡± After a while, they arrived at a shaded path lined with rose bushes and balloons hanging from them. Xiao Jinli asked curiously, ¡°When did this place get so many roses planted? And so many balloons hung?¡± Xiao Xiaoming¡¯s eyes darted and said, ¡°Sister Jinli, you¡¯ll know when you go over there, won¡¯t you?¡± Xiao Jinli suspiciously said, ¡°Could it be Little Brother Xiao Quan?¡± Xiao Xiaoming spoke a little guiltily, ¡°You¡¯ll know who it is when you get there.¡± Sister Jinli is just too smart, guessing right away. But, Sister Jinli is originally the smartest person in the village. Xiao Jinli,A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Forget it, let¡¯s see what Su Yichen is up to. Hmmm, Xiao Jinli has all kinds of cells, just not romantic ones. Wouldn¡¯t most women think of romance at first sight when they see so many roses and balloons? But she didn¡¯t think in that direction. Surrounded by the children, Xiao Jinli arrived at the destination. Before Xiao Jinli could even react, the children shouted first. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so beautiful.¡± ¡°Little Brother Xiao Quan is so handsome.¡± ¡°Little Brother Xiao Quan looks so cool sitting on Cow King¡¯s back.¡± At the same time, many tourists gathered around and kept taking photos with their cameras and cellphones. ¡°Is someone confessing their love? This is so romantic!¡± ¡°Bright red roses, and the most expensive Juliet ones, each one being three to five hundred. To plant them all over an entire field, who is this big shot? That¡¯s so much money.¡± ¡°It must be a rich person. So many roses, at least tens of thousands of them, that¡¯s three to five million for sure. It¡¯s so frustrating to compare with others. Some people spend hundreds of thousands just to confess their love, while my entire net worth is less than a hundred thousand.¡± ¡°No, is it just me who¡¯s focused on that cow? Why does he have to ride a cow to confess his love?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know? This is the famous Cow King of Xiao Family Village! I heard that this Cow King is nearly twenty years old. It¡¯s very smart, with the intelligence of a child in their teens.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve heard that this Cow King is a treasure of Xiao Family Village, and it has accomplished many glorious deeds. It is said that it rescued a group of cows stolen by a cattle trafficker, saved a child from a flood, and even commanded the entire village¡¯s cows. But, I also heard that it only allows its owner to ride it. Could this man be the owner?¡± ¡°Did any of you notice that the man riding the cow looks familiar?¡± ¡°Ah, you didn¡¯t mention it, but now that you say it, I really think this man looks very familiar.¡± Then, someone flips through their cellphone, and suddenly someone exclaims, ¡°Oh, I know! He¡­ he¡¯s Su Yichen, the richest man in Dragonzhou Country!¡± This is so thrilling. ¡°What? It¡¯s Su Yichen?¡± Then, a group of people start to flip through their cellphones. ¡°Oh my god, he really is Su Yichen.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s Su Yichen.¡± ¡°Why is Su Yichen here? It seems like he¡¯s confessing his love to a girl.¡± ¡°Ah, Su Yichen, the richest person in the country. No wonder he spends several million on a confession.¡± ¡°Ahh, rich people can be so romantic. If a man confessed to me with a whole field of roses, even if they were just ordinary roses and not Juliets, I would be moved.¡± Beyond the money spent, there¡¯s also thoughtfulness and romance. ¡°Wait, who is Su Yichen confessing his love to? He chose to confess in Xiao Family Village? This place is a Feng Shui treasure land, so he should be able to succeed.¡± ¡°Hehe, he must be able to succeed. Just think, who is Su Yichen? He¡¯s rich, powerful, young, and handsome, with a physique that outmatches even fashion models. What woman wouldn¡¯t like such a man? Unless she¡¯s blind?¡± Xiao Jinli, with her exceptionally sharp ears, But she couldn¡¯t pretend to be blind even if she wanted to. ¡°Sister Jinli, we¡¯re here.¡± Xiao Jinli was led by a few children to the entrance of the flower field. Xiao Xiaoming laughed with his hand over his mouth, ¡°Sister Jinli, Brother Little Quan is waiting for you inside, good luck!¡± Xiao Jinli,¡± What ¡°good luck¡± should she have? Su Yichen should be the one to have good luck. Just as Xiao Jinli was about to enter, a girl suddenly rushed in and shouted, ¡°Su Yichen, I like you.¡± When there¡¯s one, there¡¯s another, and another¡­ Then, Su Yichen hadn¡¯t even confessed his love yet but was already confessed to by a group of girls. Xiao Jinli, Standing with her arms folded, she watched the chaotic scene where Su Yichen was surrounded by a group of girls.¡± Xiao Xiaoming saw this and became anxious, saying, ¡°Sister Jinli, hurry up and go over there. If you don¡¯t go now, Brother Little Quan will be taken away by other girls.¡± Xiao Jinli said indifferently, ¡°Why are you in such a hurry? If your Brother Little Quan is so easily snatched away by others, then I should be lucky. Anything that can be taken away is garbage.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiaoming thought for a moment and said, ¡°Sister Jinli, you¡¯re right.¡± Meanwhile, Su Yichen never thought that he would encounter such trouble while confessing his love to Xiao Jinli in the fields with his true appearance. He rejected the girls coldly, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not Su Yichen, I¡¯m called Xiao Siqian. You all made a mistake. I just look like Su Yichen. Also, I¡¯m about to confess my love to a girl I like. Please leave, or don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡± But to these girls, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so how could they give up so easily? ¡°No, you are Su Yichen. Su Yichen, I like you. Every time you appear on the news or in financial magazines, I follow closely. I know you well. I like you; can I be your girlfriend?¡± ¡°Yes, you are Su Yichen. There¡¯s no such thing as two completely identical people in this world. Even identical twins are not exactly the same, but aren¡¯t you an only child? Su Yichen, I like you; accept me.¡± Chapter 382 - Chapter 382: Chapter 373: Chapter 382: Chapter 373: Su Yichen was surrounded by a group of women, and Xiao Jinli was not far away at the intersection, watching the drama with her arms folded across her chest, feeling both anxious and helpless. Suddenly, he shouted at the girls, ¡°I don¡¯t like you guys, I have a girl I like. Xiao Jinli, I like you, I like you!¡± The latter sentence was suddenly yelled at Xiao Jinli. His cry directly scared the girls who had surrounded him. The last confession made everyone even more surprised. So, did Su Yichen have a girl he liked? ¡°Sister Jin Li, Little Brother Xiao Quan confessed his love for you.¡± Xiao Xiaoming said excitedly, ¡°Sister Jin Li, hurry up and go over.¡± Xiao Xiaoming is now fourteen or fifteen years old and has already learned a little about love matters. ¡°Big brother Xiao Ming, what does ¡®confession¡¯ mean?¡± Little Niuniu beside him asked. ¡°Yeah, big brother Xiao Ming, what does ¡®confession¡¯ mean? Why do you say that Little Brother Xiao Quan confessed to Sister Jin Li?¡± ¡°Big brother Xiao Ming¡­¡± Xiao Xiaoming raised his hand to stop them from asking further and said like an adult, ¡°You¡¯re still young, don¡¯t you know what ¡®confession¡¯ means? When you grow up, you¡¯ll know what ¡®confession¡¯ means.¡± Niuniu and the other little cabbages, Although they were young, they weren¡¯t completely ignorant. After all, these children, having grown up eating Xiaojia Vegetables, not only had better physical fitness than others, but were also smarter. ¡°Sister Jin Li, Little Brother Xiao Quan confessed his love to you. Let¡¯s just go over.¡± ¡°Yeah, hurry up. Little Brother Xiao Quan is about to be taken away by other women.¡± Xiao Jinli, Do these little brats really know what confession means? However, considering that the children loved Xiao Siqian so much, she decided to save him this time. Xiao Jinli walked over, then smilingly looked at the girls and said lightly, ¡°There¡¯s no chance for you all, he likes me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Xiao Jinli?¡± The girls asked with a hint of doubt. Xiao Jinli laughed and asked, ¡°Do you have any doubts? Didn¡¯t you just hear him call out Xiao Jinli? I am Xiao Jinli, right, Little Brother Little Quan?¡± When the girls looked at the smiling girl, their expressions immediately become ashamed and inferior. Because this girl was really too beautiful. Her skin was as white as snow, her features exquisite, her face without makeup, but even more charming and lovely than girls who had applied makeup. She was like a fairy descending to earth. Compared to her, they were simply ordinary, like mere mortals. Oh wait, they were indeed mere mortals. ¡°This girl is so beautiful.¡± ¡°This girl is even more beautiful than the most beautiful actresses on television.¡± ¡°Who is this girl?¡± ¡°Just now, someone called her Xiao Jinli, she is surnamed Xiao, could she be from Xiao Family Village?¡± ¡°That must be the case, she¡¯s from Xiao Family Village. Didn¡¯t you see? Those children around her, they¡¯re all children of Xiao Family Village.¡± ¡°No, if this girl is from Xiao Family Village and she¡¯s so beautiful, why hasn¡¯t any talent scout come and signed her up to join the entertainment industry?¡± ¡°Yeah, such a beautiful girl, with just her natural beauty, would become popular across the entire entertainment industry.¡± ¡°Pfft, the entertainment industry? That place is like a dye vat, even the most beautiful colors will vanish without support from powerful backers. No one could stay in the limelight there.¡± ¡°But if this girl is from Xiao Family Village, surely she¡¯ll have plenty of powerful capitalists to back her up. You know, there are countless wealthy and influential people who want to get into Xiao Family Village, but the conditions are so strict, and many can¡¯t find a way in no matter what they try. However, if they were to support a girl from Xiao Family Village as a celebrity, it would be as good as having a pass to enter the village. That¡¯s why people from Xiao Family Village are so sought-after, so how can they not become popular?¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange, with all the talents in Xiao Family Village and their favorable conditions, how come none of them has entered the entertainment circle?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s really strange.¡± ¡°I heard that there¡¯s a rule in Xiao Family Village. No one is allowed to enter the entertainment industry. If you want to go, you must first leave Xiao Family Village.¡± ¡°Ha, why would they do that?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± The more people talk, the more they speculate, feeling that the Xiao Family Village is becoming more mysterious. For example, why has there never been any accident within the Xiao Family Village? How did Xiao Family Village, which was the poorest village in the county ten years ago, suddenly produce such amazing vegetables, establish a company, and in just a few years become a leading force in the industry? And the Xiao Family Village¡­ Xiao Jinli has no intention to pay attention to these speculations and discussions. She looks at the girls with a faint smile on her face, ¡°Sorry girls, this gentleman¡¯s name is Xiao Siqian right now. He is from my Xiao Family Village, not the national richest person Su Yichen you are talking about!¡± She says that it¡¯s ¡°now¡±. Just a specific time. Upon hearing that, the girls look at Su Yichen and then lower their heads to look at their cellphones, asking uncertainly, ¡°He¡¯s not really the national richest person Su Yichen? They seriously look so alike.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, they are identical.¡± ¡°Could they be twins? After all, there are many twins who look alike.¡± ¡°But we¡¯ve never heard of Su Yichen having a twin brother, have we?¡± ¡°Humph, whether he has brothers or not, how would we ordinary people know?¡± Seeing the opportunity, Su Yichen quickly took Xiao Jinli¡¯s hand and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, my name is Xiao Siqian now, and this girl is the one I like.¡± He shook the hand they held together and continued, ¡°I have no brothers. All my family members are in Xiao Family Village. So, ladies, just leave.¡± Even though the girls were still doubtful, they couldn¡¯t understand how there could be two people in this world who looked so similar without any blood relation. Still, if he wasn¡¯t Su Yichen, there was no need to keep bothering him. After all, they liked Su Yichen¡¯s appearance, but they liked his money even more. If he wasn¡¯t Su Yichen, there was no need to keep holding on. Besides, the girl he confessed to was so pretty. They couldn¡¯t compare to her. Soon, the girls surrounding Su Yichen dispersed. But the tourists nearby didn¡¯t leave. Many tourists thought it was a new event launched in the manor, a romantic love confession between a man and a woman. After all, the man was handsome, and the girl was beautiful. Confessing their love amidst the beautiful garden filled with red roses was both eye-catching and pleasing to the heart. ¡°When did Xiao Family Village launch this new event?¡± ¡°No, this isn¡¯t an event. This is a real confession scene.¡± ¡°What, really? Gosh, I thought it was a new event. After all, seeing such a handsome man and beautiful woman is really enjoyable to watch.¡± ¡°Haha, isn¡¯t it? I heard that they are both from Xiao Family Village. They should be childhood sweethearts, and now they are officially confessing their love.¡± ¡°Childhood sweethearts, huh? That¡¯s really pure and romantic. Back in the day, my wife and I were also childhood sweethearts¡­¡± Chapter 383 - Chapter 383: Chapter 374: Chapter 383: Chapter 374: Many people recorded videos of the confession scene between the handsome man and the beautiful woman, intending to share it in their Friends Circle. However, the network in Xiao Family Village seemed to be different from the outside world. It appeared that the network here had an automatic recognition function; some things could be sent out, but others couldn¡¯t. Like now, they couldn¡¯t send out the confession video. It felt like winning the Big Prize but being unable to share it with others. ¡°Damn, I wanted to show off to my friends the romantic and beautiful confession scene here, but I can¡¯t send it out. Is it my phone¡¯s problem or the network traffic issue?¡± ¡°Sis, I can¡¯t send it either.¡± ¡°Same here, I wanted to show off to my friends, but I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Damn, none of us can send it. Why is that?¡± ¡°Obviously, it¡¯s not our phones¡¯ problem but the network here. I heard from a friend that once we enter Xiao Family Village, our cellphones will automatically connect to the village¡¯s network. This network allows phone calls but has an automatic recognition feature. When a call connects, it identifies whether the information we¡¯re sharing is confidential. If it¡¯s confidential, the other party can¡¯t hear it.¡± ¡°Wow! Is the network here that advanced?¡± ¡°And also, our photos and videos, if they¡¯re not supposed to be sent, will automatically disappear from our phones once we leave Xiao Family Village.¡± ¡°No way! Is that true?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. My friend experienced it firsthand. At that time, he recorded a video of a beautiful girl in the village and wanted to share it with friends. But as soon as he left Xiao Family Village, all the videos and photos related to that girl disappeared from his phone. At that time, he was scared out of his wits. One second he was looking at the video, and the next, it was gone. At first, he thought he accidentally deleted it and wanted to find it in the backup, but there was nothing there. Not just the video, but even the photos were gone. He thought his phone had a virus. But when checked, his phone was fine, with no signs of being infected. He wasn¡¯t satisfied, so he tried to find someone to recover those things, someone who was highly skilled in network technology. But after tinkering around, there was no trace of deletion, as if it had never existed. My friend even jokingly asked him if the girl he took a photo of was a ghost.¡± In reality, he took a picture of Xiao Jinli. Photos of Xiao Jinli would not be exposed to the outside world. ¡°Yeah, was the girl your friend took a photo of really a ghost? Otherwise, why would those photos just disappear without a trace?¡± Several tourists who had never been to Xiao Family Village before were listening and felt a bit scared, as if they were hearing a horror story. The man laughed and said, ¡°Hey, what are you guys talking about? Do you think you could take a picture of a ghost in Xiao Family Village? Okay, let¡¯s say you took a picture of a ghost, but shouldn¡¯t it be the ghost in the photo that disappeared, not the entire photo?¡± ¡°Haha, no, I later learned from my friend who visited Xiao Family Village that the network here is different from the outside. It¡¯s said that the network in Xiao Family Village is the highest technology, researched and designed by the Shenfeng Group. This kind of network has already been applied to the National Information Defense Department, the Ministry of National Defense, and other places. The network can automatically identify what is allowed to be sent and cuts off any restricted content to ensure information security.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. Such high technology can indeed be frightening.¡± Chapter 384 - Chapter 384: Chapter 375: Chapter 384: Chapter 375: In Xiao Family Village, Xiao Jinli¡¯s photos cannot be sent out. Not only that, for the Xiao Family, old cadres, and heroes, as well as foreigners staying in Xiao Family Village, any information about them cannot be sent to the outside world without their consent. This is also another mysterious feature of Xiao Family Village¡¯s internet. As some people say, the network in Xiao Family Village is the world¡¯s top technology. This top technology is only used by the country and Xiao Family Village. At present, this automatic identification network technology will not be widely used until Dragonzhou Country¡¯s overall technological capabilities reach a certain level. Those who have come to visit Xiao Family Village know that there are two beautiful women in the village. One is the cafeteria lady, although she has aged, her face has no wrinkles, her skin is delicate, her features are exquisite, and her figure is tall and perfect. With the charm and grace of her age, she is a nationally stunning beauty. Men who see her are instantly attracted and cannot move away. If it were not for the fact that Xiao Family Village could not cause trouble, this boss lady would probably be surrounded by men for her looks. The other beauty is a young girl, about twenty years old, with long black hair, smooth white skin, very beautiful features, and a tall and perfect figure. Even in ordinary clothes, she looks like a fairy who has fallen into the mortal world. Such two beautiful people must have been captured in many people¡¯s cameras. However, once they leave Xiao Family Village, there is no trace of them in the cameras. Therefore, the beautiful women of Xiao Family Village are just a legend in the mouths of tourists. To see them with their own eyes, one can only go to Xiao Family Village. ¡°Wow, Xiao Jinli is really beautiful. She¡¯s even more beautiful than the TV stars.¡± ¡°Yes, she is so beautiful. The so-called first beauty in the entertainment circle is like the difference between the mud and the bright moon compared to her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity that such a beautiful girl doesn¡¯t become a celebrity.¡± ¡°This love confession of the handsome man and beautiful woman is really pleasing to the eye. By the way, is this man really not Su Yichen? He looks exactly like Su Yichen.¡± ¡°I just heard the children of Xiao Family Village say that this man is called Little Brother Xiao Quan and is from Xiao Family Village. So, the two of them just look alike, they should not be the same person.¡± ¡°No, Su Yichen is so rich that he must have the qualification to live in Xiao Family Village. Living in Xiao Family Village can also be considered a villager. As for the other name, it¡¯s just a change of name, not a big deal.¡± ¡°Ah, now that you mention it, I also think that¡¯s the case. Su Yichen is called Su Yichen outside, but Xiao something Quan in Xiao Family Village. It¡¯s very possible. However, this Xiao Jinli should be a native of Xiao Family Village.¡± ¡°I guess so. My friend came here before, saw her, and even took her picture, but when he left Xiao Family Village, her photo was gone.¡± ¡°Sigh, this Xiao Family Village is so mysterious and secure.¡± ¡°Of course, it feels safe. You should know that Xiao Family Village Farmhouse Tourist Spot has been rated as the safest tourist spot nationwide. It is said that for many years, not a single child has been lost. Even if the children accidentally get separated from their parents while touring the manor, they will quickly be sent to Xiao Family Village Security Office by the security guards, waiting for their parents to find them. Also, there have been no incidents of fighting or violence in Xiao Family Village.¡± ¡°Sigh, how does Xiao Family Village do this? Every day there is such a large flow of people, especially during holidays, the flow is unbelievably large, and yet they can achieve no accidents, it¡¯s really a miracle.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 385 - Chapter 385: Chapter 376: Chapter 385: Chapter 376: Xiao Jinli ignored the discussions outside and looked at Su Yichen who had just jumped off Cow King and wiped the sweat from his forehead. She couldn¡¯t help but laugh and say, ¡°Little Brother Xiao Quan, you¡¯re overreacting. You¡¯re just being surrounded and fussed over by a few girls who like you. Did that scare you so much that you¡¯re covered in sweat?¡± Before Su Yichen could respond, Xiao Jinli continued with a somewhat skeptical look, ¡°With your status, there must be countless beauties around you. Don¡¯t you have a single one that makes your heart race? It is said that the First Beauty in the entertainment industry wants to marry you. With her looks and figure, don¡¯t you have any thoughts about her?¡± Hearing this, Su Yichen¡¯s face changed slightly, and he soon showed a bitter smile, saying, ¡°Jinli, to me, no woman can compare to even a single finger of yours. So, what does it matter how beautiful those women are? It has nothing to do with me. To avoid any misunderstandings, even my secretary is either a man or a married woman with a happy family. I try to maintain a distance from female bosses of partner companies as well. Now, the entire Dragonzhou Country knows that I, Su Yichen, avoid women. Women have to keep a three-foot distance when talking to me.¡± Xiao Jinli raised her eyebrows as if asking why he didn¡¯t refuse just now. As if understanding Xiao Jinli¡¯s question, he continued to say, ¡°I was planning to confess my feelings for you just now, but I was caught off guard when those girls rushed over and quickly surrounded me. I was worried about causing trouble with my identity and about you misunderstanding me, so I had to deny that I was Su Yichen. Those women were really scary, surrounding me so tightly that I had difficulty breathing. That¡¯s why I¡¯m so sweaty. Jinli,¡± After calling her name, he showed a pitiful and helpless expression on his face, and said, ¡°I was surrounded by so many women, weren¡¯t you afraid they would tear me apart?¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s mouth twitched, and she stiffly replied, ¡°Not scared.¡± Su Yichen continued with a pitiful and pathetic look, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, but I¡¯m worried. Those girls were really terrifying. I was waiting for you to pull me out, but instead, you were enjoying the show.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°Hehe, I think the show was quite enjoyable. I¡¯m considering whether our manor should add some romantic confession programs like this in the future.¡± That¡¯s right, Xiao Jinli was inspired by those people and thought that adding such a project would be fun. Su Yichen¡¯s face twitched, and he said, ¡°So, while I was confessing my feelings to you, you were thinking about how to add projects to make money?¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged and said, ¡°Yeah.¡± When she came to her senses, she saw that Su Yichen¡¯s expression of being wronged had intensified, and she immediately shook her head violently and denied it, saying, ¡°No, no, Little Brother Xiao Quan, you misunderstood. I just¡­ I just think that it¡¯s a waste not to make use of so many roses.¡± So, in the end, she was still thinking about new projects. Xiao Xiaoming and the others in the distance didn¡¯t know what they were talking about. The surrounding tourists had also been cleared by security personnel. It was a joke that they didn¡¯t react earlier, which gave those girls a chance. But now they had to maintain the on-site order, oh no, maintain the innocence of Xiao Siqian, their future son-in-law. The entire Xiao Family and Xiao Family Village held high hopes for Xiao Jinli and Xiao Siqian. Those security personnel also needed to follow the same general idea. ¡°Elder Brother Xiaoming, what are Brother Little Quan and Sister Jin Li really doing?¡± ¡°Elder Brother Xiaoming, is this what you call a confession? Just Brother Little Quan and Sister Jinli standing together and talking?¡± Xiao Xiaoming, He scratched his head, not quite understanding either, and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Although he somewhat understood the matters between men and women, he was still quite clueless. He was also kept in the dark about the so-called confession between Little Brother Xiao Quan and Sister Jinli. Just then, Jiang Yifan bounced over and, upon seeing Xiao Xiaoming, asked with a confused look on his face, ¡°Elder Brother Xiaoming, what are Mommy and Uncle Xiao Quan doing?¡± Xiao Xiaoming, He didn¡¯t know either, and he had already been asked this question by several people. Not waiting for Xiao Xiaoming to answer, Jiang Yifan ran over to Su Yichen, hugged his leg, and curiously asked, ¡°Uncle Xiao Quan, what are you and Mommy doing?¡± Seeing Jiang Yifan, a glint appeared in Su Yichen¡¯s eyes. He bent down to pick up Jiang Yifan and asked with a smile, ¡°Little Fanfan, what do you think of me becoming your dad? Then you¡¯d have both a mom and a dad, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Jiang Yifan nodded excitedly, clapped his little hands, and said loudly, ¡°Great, great! After that, I¡¯ll have both a mom and a dad. We¡¯ll be a happy family.¡± Then, he looked at Xiao Jinli and asked, ¡°Mom, is Uncle Xiao Quan really going to be my dad?¡± Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinli almost wanted to curse out loud. She couldn¡¯t tell at ordinary times, but at this critical moment, Su Yichen turned out to be so cunning, even taking advantage of the child. After thinking for a moment, Xiao Jinli said, ¡°If you want him to be your dad, let him be your dad.¡± After all, she wasn¡¯t Jiang Yifan¡¯s real mother, so whoever he wanted to be his dad could be his dad. Su Yichen was immediately overjoyed, and he said excitedly, ¡°Jinli, you agreed?¡± Xiao Jinli asked suspiciously, ¡°Little Brother Xiao Quan, what did I agree to?¡± Su Yichen, She had refused. Suddenly, his face showed a somewhat disheartened expression, but he soon regained his confidence and said, ¡°No matter. This time my confession failed, but I¡¯ll try again next time. Anyway, Jinli, just don¡¯t reject my pursuit.¡± Just then, Old Cow King, who had been acting as the background, suddenly let out a loud ¡°moo,¡± its voice resounding throughout the entire Xiao Family Village. Then, it rubbed its head against Xiao Jinli¡¯s palm and let out another two ¡°moos,¡± but these were softer, more like chatting with a person. Upon seeing this, Xiao Jinli¡¯s face changed slightly, and she gently caressed its fluffy head and sighed softly, ¡°Alright, I know, I¡¯ll consider it.¡± Su Yichen curiously asked, ¡°Jinli, what did Cow King say?¡± Before Xiao Jinli could respond, Jiang Yifan answered for her, saying, ¡°Grandpa Cow said that Mom has grown up and can fall in love and start a family. You¡¯re a good man and the best choice, so let Mom consider it.¡± Su Yichen, Xiao Jinli, Everyone was supporting her to be with Su Yichen, even Cow King had stepped in. It seemed that she needed to give this matter some more thought. People say, once bitten by a snake¡­ But when she was bitten by a snake, it was because she, a snake breeder, had been focused on raising snakes, and the snake¡¯s nature was hard to change. Chapter 386 - Chapter 386: Chapter 377: Chapter 386: Chapter 377: Xiao Yucheng received instructions from Xiao Jinli to add an interesting confession game project. There are already on-site confession scenes, with more than two mu of tens of thousands of roses arranged in a heart shape. Now, they need to find actors. There are two requirements for the actors: the girl must be pure and beautiful, while the man must be handsome and good-looking, and of course, good character is required. When it comes to character, no one is more accurate in judging people than Xiao Jinli. So, Xiao Jinli must be the one to approve the chosen personnel. Xiao Yucheng immediately called a meeting of senior officials, and the focus of the meeting was, of course, finding actors. Beautiful women and handsome men are most abundant in the entertainment circle. Xiao Yucheng didn¡¯t care where the marketing department found actors, as long as they met the requirements. During the meeting, someone looked at Xiao Junxuan and joked, ¡°Junxuan, I think you and your girlfriend fit the requirements best. Why don¡¯t you two become the actors for this project?¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t joke. Junxuan is already so busy with work and has to find time to accompany his girlfriend. If he has the time for this project, he would certainly use it.¡± Xiao Yucheng¡¯s expression was serious as he said, ¡°I don¡¯t care where you find people, whether it¡¯s in the entertainment circle or on the street; just make sure you find actors who meet the requirements.¡± ¡°The entertainment circle has the most handsome men and beautiful women; we can try looking there.¡± ¡°Hehe, the handsome men and beautiful women in the entertainment circle usually pursue money, fame, and status. Once they become famous, their fees for acting in dramas can easily be tens of millions or even billions. But coming to act here would just be an ordinary job with an ordinary salary, so who would come? In my opinion, it¡¯s best if we go to a small mountain village or look for ordinary people on the streets to act.¡± ¡°I agree. We should find ordinary people to be the actors for this project. Those handsome men and beautiful women in the entertainment circle are all after fame, so we might as well save ourselves the trouble.¡± Xiao Yucheng nodded and said, ¡°This is a matter for the marketing department. I will only give you half a month. In half a month, I must see results. Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to explain.¡± Xiao Yucheng is already the highest official in the company. So, the only person he could answer to is Xiao Jinli. Xiao Mingchen took charge of the marketing department, while Xiao Junxuan took charge of the sales department. Xiao Mingchen sized up Xiao Junxuan with a shrewd look in his eyes before smiling and saying, ¡°Ah Xuan, have you considered letting you and your girlfriend do a live confession performance? I think that with your looks and your girlfriend¡¯s, you could easily become internet celebrities.¡± Xiao Junxuan almost rolled his eyes. He said with a cold smile, ¡°Second Brother, to be honest, the ideal actors would actually be Xiao Jinli and Su Yichen. Why don¡¯t you go and ask them directly?¡± Xiao Mingchen immediately waved his hands and said, ¡°No, no, my sister never appears in public. Su Yichen being a rich man is not a problem, but does he have the time for it? I don¡¯t think so. And even if he does have the time, the object of his confession can only be our Little Sister Jinli, so they are not suitable for this project.¡± Xiao Junxuan laughed, ¡°Second Brother, I don¡¯t have the time either. I¡¯m busy working all day.¡± Xiao Mingchen said, ¡°This project won¡¯t take much of your time, and it could still be considered within the scope of your work. The company will certainly take it into consideration.¡± Xiao Junxuan waved his hand and said, ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m not getting involved. Second Brother, you should find someone else. In fact, there are several girls and boys in our village who are quite good. If they¡¯re willing to become famous, it would be best to find them.¡± Even if they¡¯re from the same village, it wouldn¡¯t lead to any emotional attachment as long as they acted professionally. If the actors are two strangers, the outcome might be hard to predict. Especially since Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t say that they would block the actors involved in this project. That is to say, the actors of this project could potentially become well known and face the impact of fame and fortune in the future. However, for the people of Xiao Family Village, they don¡¯t need this. Xiao Mingchen and Xiao Junxuan chatted for a while and then returned to their own tasks. Although Xiao Jinli was considering it, there was almost no suspense that she would agree. Nothing changed between her and Su Yichen after that; they continued to go in and out together, and people who saw them couldn¡¯t help but giggle behind their hands. ¡°Jinli and Xiao Quan really do make a perfect match. Look, the man is handsome, and the woman is beautiful; they¡¯re truly a golden couple and pleasing to the eye.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth? Our Jinli is the most beautiful girl in the village. Xiao Quan is also a handsome young man, good enough for our Jinli.¡± ¡°But I heard that Jinli hasn¡¯t agreed to date Xiao Quan yet, and they¡¯re still interacting on a brother-sister basis. However, I heard that Xiao Siqian has started pursuing Jinli.¡± ¡°He should be pursuing her. What girl wouldn¡¯t want someone to pursue them? It represents a kind of attitude. There wouldn¡¯t be a lack of suitors as long as Jinli is willing.¡± ¡°Xiao Quan put a lot of effort into pursuing Jinli on the first day. He had thousands of roses air-freighted over. Tourists talked about the roses being named Juliet, the most expensive rose in the world. Each rose is worth several hundred yuan. Wow, just how much money does Xiao Siqian have? He spent several million just trying to pursue Jinli. Those thousands of roses were planted in the fields overnight.¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t they know that those roses made the place even more beautiful?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? That¡¯s why Jinli thought of adding amusement projects to the manor. Now Xiao Yucheng and his team are looking for actors.¡± ¡°Speaking of actors, my Yanzi just graduated from university today. I wonder if she¡¯s interested in taking on this job. I¡¯ll call and ask later.¡± ¡°My Linzi also just graduated from university today, but he wants to go to graduate school. He probably doesn¡¯t want to stay and work at home; he wants to do research.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s better to find actors from our own village.¡± ¡°In my opinion, whether it¡¯s actors from our village or from outside, it¡¯s all good as long as they do the job well. According to Jinli¡¯s intention, the actors for this project can develop further outside. My Yanzi is from the village, and I don¡¯t want to let her blend into the entertainment circle or become an internet celebrity.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave this matter to Xiao Yucheng and his team to discuss. I believe they will give everyone a satisfactory result, and of course, Jinli¡¯s satisfaction is most important. Da Chun, I think you should ask Yanzi about her intentions. If Yanzi is interested, you should ask Jinli if it¡¯s okay. As long as Jinli says it¡¯s okay, she¡¯s sure to protect Yanzi.¡± ¡°You make a good point. I¡¯ll ask her later. What the children want is important.¡± Chapter 387 - Chapter 387: Chapter 378: Chapter 387: Chapter 378: Word of Xiao Family Village¡¯s actor recruitment spread quickly, garnering attention from across the country. Most people know that while this acting job wouldn¡¯t get them into the entertainment industry like appearing on television or in movies, it could potentially make them famous. Besides, working in Xiao Family Village is a dream job for many. Not only is the salary and benefits good, but they can also enjoy endless gourmet food there. Many people want to apply for the actor position just to try the delicious food in Xiao Family Village. As a result, handsome men and beautiful women from all over the country flooded into Xiao Family Village. The daily traffic was several thousand times higher, forcing the village to impose restrictions. As the head of the marketing department, Xiao Mingchen was a bit overwhelmed by the influx of male and female applicants from all over the country. He had only tried looking for people outside the entertainment industry by posting recruitment information online. He never expected so many people to come. Xiao Mingchen¡¯s subordinates, seeing the boss¡¯s difficult expression, cautiously asked, ¡°Boss, with so many people, how do we screen them out?¡± They had expected at most, 5 or 6 thousand people would come. Turns out, it was in more than 5 or 6 hundred thousand people. Why did so many people come just for two new actor positions? Xiao Mingchen thought for a moment and said, ¡°First, divide them into three groups. The first group will be screened based on appearance. We need male and female actors with good looks and charisma. The second group will be tested for character, and the third group will be tested for acting skills. We don¡¯t care about their background or education when recruiting actors. As long as they meet our requirements, we will contact them first. Divide each group into ten small teams and arrange the people.¡± Although they were ordinary actors, the final decision would still have to be approved by Xiao Jinli. It was because these actors would be exposed to the public, and their image would have a significant impact on the image of Xiao Family Village. Su Yichen and Xiao Jinli stood on the top floor of the Xiao Family Village Hotel, looking down at the surging crowd below. Su Yichen couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Jinli, your command has made the entire Xiao Family Village quite lively. Even though there are many people here usually, and even more during holidays, the crowd now seems like it¡¯s holiday levels.¡± Xiao Jinli hooked her lips and said, ¡°These two actors represent the image of my Xiao Family Village. Of course, we must pay close attention!¡± Su Yichen raised an eyebrow and smiled, ¡°Why not choose from within Xiao Family Village?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Those who are interested in Xiao Family Village can come and apply to me first. I must evaluate them before I can know if they are suitable or not.¡± Su Yichen chuckled, ¡°Jinli, I feel like you¡¯re effortlessly good at everything. Sometimes I wonder if you¡¯re not human at all, but a fairy. We mere mortals can only look up to you.¡± Perhaps the only person in the world who knew about Xiao Jinli¡¯s strength and abilities was Su Yichen. That¡¯s why he constantly tried to become stronger and match Xiao Jinli as much as possible. Unless Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t want to get married, if she wanted to get married, he would try to become the best man for her. With that thought, Su Yichen suddenly asked, ¡°Jinli, how are you considering our situation?¡± Xiao Jinli, remained silent. Su Yichen sighed a little and said, ¡°Never mind, take your time to think it over.¡± At that moment, there was a knock on the office door. ¡°Come in!¡± said Xiao Jinli. Xiao Yucheng stepped in. Seeing Su Yichen there, his eyes gleamed with gossip. He raised an eyebrow and smiled, ¡°Little Quan, you¡¯re here.¡± Su Yichen smiled and said, ¡°Brother Yu.¡± Xiao Yucheng grinned, ¡°You know you¡¯re famous now, right? Even though you denied that you were Dragon State¡¯s richest, many people still believe you¡¯re Su Yichen. Many reporters from the news media have come to Xiao Family Village. Although we¡¯re not afraid of these journalists, your identity will eventually be revealed.¡± After a moment of silence, Su Yichen seriously said, ¡°Brother Yu, I understand. Don¡¯t worry, I will handle it well and definitely won¡¯t cause any trouble for Xiao Family Village.¡± Xiao Yucheng waved dismissively, ¡°Actually, we¡¯re not afraid of these troubles either, right Little Jinli?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Right. If you don¡¯t want to expose yourself, it won¡¯t matter how many journalists there are; it won¡¯t work.¡± Xiao Yucheng, It was clear that his words were meant to tell Su Yichen not to deny his identity and use his real identity to confess his feelings to the reporters. It would be best if the whole country knew that Dragon State¡¯s richest, Su Yichen, only loved Xiao Jinli. However, he also realized something. His seemingly all-capable cousin was incredibly dense when it came to love affairs. No wonder when it came to Xiao Siqian¡¯s confession, she seemed unimpressed. Su Yichen was the same; even though he appeared bold, he seemed cautious. Xiao Yucheng rubbed his forehead and said to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Sister, I think Little Quan is not bad. He has good looks, money, and power. He¡¯s just barely good enough for you. Just consider him, will you?¡± Xiao Jinli, Another advocate. It seemed she really had to consider Su Yichen now. Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Big brother, what did you want us for?¡± Returning to business, Xiao Yucheng immediately became serious. He handed the file in his hand to her and said, ¡°Take a look at the planning scheme for this confession project.¡± Xiao Jinli took a look and said, ¡°It¡¯s not bad. Have you found any actors yet?¡± ¡°The preparations are in full swing, and we should have results by the day after tomorrow at the latest,¡± reported Xiao Yucheng. ¡°However, the situation with the applicants is quite unexpected. We thought that only a few thousand people would come at most, but there are hundreds of thousands. We need time to screen the actors from these 5 or 6 hundred thousand people.¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment and said, ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. Have ??the applicants line up and I¡¯ll go over.¡± Xiao Yucheng¡¯s eyes lit up, and he said happily, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll arrange it right away. With Sister Jinli¡¯s help, we¡¯ll complete the screening in no time, even if it¡¯s 5 or 6 million people.¡± ¡°Big brother, don¡¯t praise me too much,¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and said, ¡°Even without me, you guys would do it quickly.¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t chat with you guys anymore. I¡¯m going to arrange the work,¡± said Xiao Yucheng, still smiling. Before leaving the room and closing the door, he raised his fist at Su Yichen and encouraged him, ¡°Little Quan, keep it up! I¡¯m looking forward to you becoming my brother-in-law!¡± Xiao Jinli, Was she so desperate to get married? Everyone kept trying to pair her with Su Yichen. Su Yichen leaned his fist against his lips and smiled, ¡°Little Sister Jinli, it seems your family really likes me. It¡¯s just up to you now.¡± Xiao Jinli said irritably, ¡°They¡¯ve always treated you like family.¡± Chapter 388 - Chapter 388: Chapter 379: Chapter 388: Chapter 379: No one expected that the Xiao Village Farmhouse, which was just hiring a few ordinary actors, would attract nationwide attention and be widely reported by major media outlets. At the same time, someone posted on the Internet that there was a man in Xiao Village who looked almost identical to the Wealthiest Person. If it were not for the unanimous statement of the people of Xiao Village that this man was not Su Yichen, it could be easily mistaken for Su Yichen. However, ordinary people would just be mistaken. For the top figures in the circle, they finally knew where Su Yichen was staying. Previously, Su Yichen said he was going to negotiate a big project and then disappeared in the public eye. Even his personal bodyguard did not know where he had gone. If Su Yichen had not made arrangements before leaving, people would have thought he had been kidnapped. Capital City, a certain luxurious mansion. A young woman in her early twenties, with exquisite makeup, had just returned from shopping, still holding a limited edition bag in her hand. She sat on a high-end sofa, spread her fingers, and looked at her expensive manicure impatiently, ¡°Dad, I was just shopping with my friends. Why did you call me back?¡± Liang Haohan said in disappointment, ¡°All you do is shop all day long, don¡¯t you know that Su Yichen is about to be snatched away by someone?¡± Upon hearing this, anger immediately appeared on Liang Shanshan¡¯s face, ¡°Who dares to snatch Su Yichen away? I¡¯ll skin them alive. It was bad enough that Lin Xiaoxiao tried it before, but now the whole Capital City knows that Su Yichen is the man I, Liang Shanshan, have set my sights on. Which blind woman would dare to compete with me? I¡¯ll make her suffer.¡± ¡°Hmph, no one in the Capital City. But what about outside the Capital City?¡± Liang Haohan sneered. Liang Shanshan was taken aback and asked, ¡°Dad, what do you mean?¡± ¡°What do I mean?¡± Liang Haohan said coldly, ¡°Someone in Xiao Village saw a man who looks exactly like Su Yichen, but he denied being Su Yichen and claimed to be a local.¡± Upon hearing this, Liang Shanshan breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Dad, that¡¯s just two similar-looking people. Everyone knows that Su Yichen is from Capital City, and he grew up here. How could he possibly be from Xiao Village?¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Liang Haohan scolded, ¡°That is Su Yichen himself.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Liang Shanshan asked in surprise, ¡°If it is really him, why would he deny it?¡± Liang Haohan¡¯s face turned livid with anger, he pointed at Liang Shanshan and shouted, ¡°What is your brain for? All day long, all you know is shopping, buying this limited edition, that limited edition; you don¡¯t even know your man is about to be taken away.¡± Liang Shanshan¡¯s expression changed, and she said seriously, ¡°So, Dad, is the man in Xiao Village really Su Yichen? How is that possible? He is usually in Capital City, and I have never heard of him buying a house or living in Xiao Village.¡± The Liang Family had also applied for residence in Xiao Village but were rejected. This caused Liang Haohan to lose face. If it wasn¡¯t for the presence of several Old Heroes in Xiao Village and the national Retirement Home for Cadres built in Xiao Village, he would have made the people of Xiao Village suffer. Why wasn¡¯t his Liang Family qualified for residence? His Liang Family had billions in assets, power, and influence. Of course, he didn¡¯t dare to take action now. He knew that if he touched Xiao Village, the country would not let him off. So, he had to endure this resentment. He would wait until the country no longer sheltered Xiao Village and then settle the score. Hmph! Now, which woman from Xiao Village has caught Su Yichen¡¯s eye? This is unacceptable! Su Yichen was the son-in-law he had in mind. Last time, people thought he was not in the Capital City and had disappeared, and maybe even been kidnapped. He wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to mess with the Su Corporation. Who would have thought that Su Yichen had prepared various precautions? Instead of biting a piece of meat off the Su Corporation as planned, not only did they not pluck a single hair, but the Su Corporation also bit a piece of meat off them. It truly enraged him. He must get a piece of the Su Corporation¡¯s huge wealth. Since he couldn¡¯t defeat Su Yichen in business, he would bring him to his side. After all, Su Yichen was all alone. He had almost destroyed his despicable relatives, leaving even his own father to live alone in that villa, living a life worse than death. So, they would try to take over the Su Corporation through marriage. But who would have thought that when Su Yichen appeared, he would be professing his love to someone in Xiao Village? This was absolutely unacceptable. Liang Haohan said to his daughter, ¡°Hurry up and get yourself ready, go to Xiao Village immediately, find Su Yichen, and I don¡¯t care what methods or means you use, make Su Yichen agree to be your boyfriend. If you can get pregnant, it would be even better; by then, we can force him to marry you and when the child is born, we can use the child to control everything. You can be the wife of a multi-billionaire, with any kind of man you want. Even if you have a harem of three thousand, no one can say anything about you; they will only envy you!¡± He blatantly outlined his conspiracy to his daughter, Liang Shanshan. He knew his daughter very well. Although she liked Su Yichen now, it was not a case of him or nothing. What she wanted was money. Hearing her father¡¯s words, Liang Shanshan¡¯s eyes lit up, and she immediately laughed, ¡°Alright, Dad, I¡¯ll go right away. Just wait for my good news. Su Yichen will not escape from my clutches.¡± With that, she went into her room. When she came out again, she seemed like a completely different person, with an innocent, pure, lotus-like appearance. Her skin was fair, her features might not be the most delicate, but they blended together to create a gentle and beautiful look, the kind of demure beauty of a traditional girl next door. She had long, straight, black hair and wore a white dress. Liang Haohan was somewhat confused and asked, ¡°My dear, what¡¯s with this outfit?¡± Liang Shanshan smiled and said, ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve done my homework. Su Yichen likes this kind of outfit and a women with an innocent, lotus-like appearance. Since I¡¯ve targeted Su Yichen, of course, I need to know his preferences, so I can strategize accordingly.¡± ¡°Good, good,¡± Liang Haohan laughed happily, ¡°Hahaha, you are truly my daughter. Shanshan, your father will wait for your good news at home. In the future, the entire business world will belong to us.¡± Liang Shanshan confidently said, ¡°Dad, do you know how many young talents in the upper class have fallen for me? Su Yichen will be no exception.¡± ¡°Right, right, my daughter is the best,¡± Liang Haohan echoed and then added, ¡°Shanshan, you must get pregnant with Su Yichen¡¯s child.¡± Chapter 389 - Chapter 389: Chapter 380: Chapter 389: Chapter 380: With five or six hundred thousand applicants, it¡¯s impossible to review them in a single day. So, they allotted two days for the interviews. The county town could only accommodate around one to two hundred thousand people, so those who received a notification dressed up and rushed to Xiao Family Village immediately. However, before they could reach the village entrance, they were arranged in lines based on the order they arrived; men and women each had their own line. Xiao Family Village had already issued a notice saying that they would temporarily not be accepting any tourists. As the applicants held their resumes, they looked at the two long lines filled with confusion, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are there suddenly two lines going in and two lines coming out?¡± Those who had already entered and exited the queue were also left clueless. ¡°We just lined up to go in and came back out without doing anything, not even an interview.¡± ¡°Huh, no interview?¡± someone asked strangely, ¡°Then what was the point of calling us for an interview? Is this just a queue to walk in a circle and call it an interview?¡± ¡°It might actually be true. This is strange, I¡¯ve never seen an interview like this before.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing strange about it. We¡¯re applying for roles as actors, and the company¡¯s requirement is that we be good-looking and have good disposition. I think that as we walk through this line, most of the people who don¡¯t meet the requirements will be eliminated.¡± ¡°That does make some sense. When we went in, there was a table set up at the entrance of the company, and there were a few people who looked like company employees.¡± ¡°See? That must have been the first round of interviews. Speaking of which, there are just too many people here.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth? The whole county is bursting at the seams, and everywhere you look there are people applying for jobs.¡± ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t know if I can get this job or not. But I¡¯m just giving it a try anyway. Even if I don¡¯t get the job, the experience is like a tourist trip, and I get to enjoy the gourmet food of Xiao Family Village.¡± ¡°I know, right? Who would have thought that a public cafeteria could make such amazing food? Even a plain scallion pancake tastes better here than anywhere else.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it, even if I can¡¯t make it as an actor, I can still try to find another job here. It would be best to find one in Xiao Family Village, but if I can¡¯t, then I¡¯ll look in the nearby area. I don¡¯t mind if the salary is lower, as long as I can enjoy the good food close by.¡± ¡°Actually, the salaries for jobs in and around Xiao Family Village aren¡¯t low at all; they might even be higher than those in big cities. Do you have any idea how much a cleaner in Xiao Family Village earns in a month? I heard it¡¯s 6,000 yuan, while in the most economically developed Magic City, a cleaner only makes 4,000 to 5,000 yuan.¡± ¡°My God, the salary for cleaners is so high, then what about the salaries for other jobs?¡± ¡°Of course they¡¯re also high. My cousin, she has a distant relative who is a villager near Xiao Family Village. He got a job there as a warehouse packer, and you know how much he makes? 10,000 yuan! And do you know how much the staff who work on the amusement projects earn? It¡¯s also over 10,000 yuan with food and accommodation included.¡± ¡°Oh my God, the salaries are so high. No wonder there are so many applicants for each position.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Otherwise, the recruitment requirements wouldn¡¯t be so strict. The pay is high and the welfare is good. Every holiday there is something given or money paid, each time no less than three thousand yuan.¡± ¡°Damn, the jobs here are so good, I really want to work here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that they prioritize hiring people from the village first, and only recruit from outside when there are leftover positions. I heard there are several thousand employees in such a large Xiao Family Village.¡± At the entrance of Xiao Family Village Green Fresh Company, a table was placed in the middle with three people sitting behind it: Xiao Yucheng, Xiao Jinli, and Xiao Mingchen. The others were either sitting or standing nearby. Since there were no tourists today, many staff members were idle, and so they gathered around for some excitement. Two lines of candidates passed by them in an orderly fashion. Xiao Yucheng whispered to Xiao Jinli, ¡°Jinli, is this really okay?¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°Big brother, why don¡¯t you trust me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you,¡± Xiao Yucheng said, ¡°But after so many people have filed past, is there really not a single one you like?¡± In the first round, all the applicants were screened out, which felt a bit odd. Xiao Jinli said indifferently, ¡°Better to lack than to have too many! Among the five or six hundred thousand people, we will select just ten or so candidates. This ratio is extremely small. We¡¯ve only seen a few people so far, and you¡¯re already anxious.¡± Xiao Yucheng took a deep breath and said, ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± The applicants noticed Xiao Jinli and the men around her, and their eyes lit up, but they also whispered among themselves: ¡°Who are these people? They look like perfect examples of handsome men and beautiful women. Especially that girl, she¡¯s breathtakingly beautiful, and she seems to be wearing no makeup.¡± ¡°She might be one of the actresses.¡± ¡°No, I heard that she¡¯s the famous little beauty mentioned on the Internet who¡¯s from Xiao Family Village. They say her mother is another legendary beauty.¡± ¡°If she is this beautiful, how gorgeous must her mother be?¡± ¡°I heard that her mother is extremely beautiful and works as a manager in the cafeteria.¡± ¡°Is that so? I have to see that for myself.¡± Thinking they were already quite beautiful compared to TV actresses, these women couldn¡¯t help but feel ashamed when faced with the stunning beauty of Xiao Jinli. ¡°Those men beside her seem to be high-level executives from the Lu Xian Group. The one on the left is Xiao Yucheng, the President of the Lu Xian Group, and the one on the right is the Deputy General Manager Xiao Mingchen. And the few standing there are Deputy General Managers or General Managers.¡± ¡°Oh my god, then what position does this girl hold in the Green Fresh Group? She¡¯s got all the company presidents accompanying her. Oh, wait, what is she doing now? Is she interviewing us?¡± ¡°It seems so?¡± ¡°So the main interviewer for the Green Fresh Group is actually this beauty? That¡¯s really not fair to us.¡± If they¡¯re judged by the standards of this interviewer, how many people could match up? From the beginning, Lu Xian Group¡¯s requirements were for beautiful women with good dispositions and handsome and dashing men. So, those who thought of themselves as handsome and beautiful came to see if they could push their luck. But when they faced the extraordinarily beautiful woman, they felt suffocated. One by one, the handsome men and beautiful women passed by Xiao Jinli. Suddenly, Xiao Jinli stood up from the table, walked up to a girl wearing a green skirt in the queue, and pointed at her, saying, ¡°You, come out.¡± Lu Xiangxiang looked left and right, then at Xiao Jinli, pointed to herself, and asked with some confusion, ¡°Are you talking about me?¡± Xiao Jinli nodded her head and said, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s you. Come out for now.¡± Lu Xiangxiang looked forward and backward before stepping out of the line. Chapter 390 - Chapter 390: Chapter 381: Chapter 390: Chapter 381: As soon as Lu Xiangxiang was singled out, it caused an uproar. Someone couldn¡¯t help but ask loudly, ¡°What does this mean? Did she pass the interview? Or was she selected directly?¡± The person they were asking, of course, was Xiao Jinli. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°Yes, she is selected.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s confirmation stirred discontent among everyone. ¡°Why should she pass? This woman, she¡¯s neither attractive nor has a good figure, why was she chosen? We can¡¯t accept this!¡± The ones shouting their discontent were those who had been previously interviewed. There were tens of thousands of people who had queued up for the interview, but none of them passed. Yet this woman, with a casual gesture, was deemed successful in her interview. Looking at the woman who was picked out, her looks were not particularly stunning. Compared to the many girls who were far more beautiful than her, she could only be considered pretty. Moreover, her body, is she 165cm tall? How did such a petite figure pass the selection? Therefore, those who failed the interview, of course, could not accept this. Upon hearing their questions, Xiao Jinli straightened her lips, smiled, and then casually asked, ¡°Do you disagree?¡±. ¡°Yes, we do. This woman can¡¯t even compare to us, why could she be selected?¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s cold snort silenced them, ¡°Then swallow your discontent.¡± She didn¡¯t own them any explanations. Xiao Yucheng and everyone else, Jinli, wouldn¡¯t this offend people too much? You should at least provide a convincing reason. But all she said was, ¡°Swallow your disbelief!¡± Those who asked questions had faces that were alternately turning blue and white. They were very angry and said, ¡°What kind of company is this? What kind of interview is this? This is too outrageous. I quit the interview. Forget about becoming an actor in your company.¡± Xiao Jinli simply responded, ¡°You weren¡¯t chosen by the company anyway. Even if you wanted to join, we wouldn¡¯t have you.¡± Everyone, This hit them hard. They had come all the way here, naturally attracted by the company¡¯s reputation and the acting job, but now¡­ ¡°Hey, what kind of language is that?¡± Someone was very angry, ¡°Is it a mistake for us to come for the job interview? President Xiao, who is this woman and what qualifications does she have for the interview? Is it just because she is pretty?¡± The one asking the question was a girl. She was fashionably dressed, tall, and quite beautiful. She was a major internet celebrity often called Little Zhou Bingbing. Yes, Zhou Bingbing was the acclaimed First Beauty among celebrities. Therefore, Little Zhou Bingbing believed that with her qualifications, she could easily land a job as an extra in any film. Of course, as a major internet celebrity, her aim was not actually to become an actress but to document the interview process and upload it online, especially as she was confident that she would be selected. According to her plan, she would definitely be selected. Then, she would find an excuse to decline the company¡¯s offer. This way, she believed she would gain a lot of attention online. ¡°Oh my God, isn¡¯t she the famous internet celebrity, Little Zhou Bingbing?¡± Someone quickly recognized Zhou Xiaohong. ¡°Ah, so it is Zhou Bingbing. So, she also came to apply to be an actress.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she already a big internet celebrity? I heard her monthly income is hundreds of thousands, even millions. Could she really be interested in this salary job as an actor?¡± ¡°Look at her group. She must have already passed. If she did pass, it means she failed the interview. But she is more dissatisfied because a woman who doesn¡¯t even compare to her was chosen.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she already a successful internet celebrity? Why is she here to vie with others for jobs? Even if she got the job, would she still be an internet celebrity?¡± Some people showed disdain and complaint. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Being an internet celebrity pays much more than this smallly paid actor¡¯s job. According to my guess, she does not want to be an actor, but she also does not want to miss the opportunity to get in with the Lu Xian Group. Just imagine, she is a big internet celebrity, if she has the opportunity to be endorsed by the Lu Xian Group, doing live-selling on her broadcasts, the money she will make, would probably surpass what she makes at any given time.¡± ¡°Are you joking? Do the products of the Lu Xian Group need live selling to be sold?¡± ¡°Haha, you¡¯re right. The Lu Xian Group never advertises or promotes, and their products are always in short supply. There¡¯s no need for live-selling.¡± ¡°However, live-selling aside, this Zhou Xiaohong is likely taking this opportunity to climb up the Lu Xian Group. Even if she doesn¡¯t want to be an actress, having the backing of the Lu Xian Group will certainly aid her success as an Internet celebrity.¡± ¡°Is she thinking too much? Just because she¡¯s auditioning for a role, she¡¯s already thinking about getting into the Lu Xian Group? Is the Lu Xian Group so easily accessible? Doesn¡¯t she know how many either rich or noble people have failed to get in? All she is really just a small internet celebrity.¡± ¡°She may be an internet celebrity. But she is a beautiful internet celebrity, known as Little Zhou Bingbing. Don¡¯t you know that a woman¡¯s beauty is an asset?¡± ¡°Hehe, there are plenty of women out there more beautiful and attractive than her. Just because she is known as Little Zhou Bingbing, does it mean she really is the First Beauty in the world? Is she dreaming too much?¡± These people didn¡¯t hesitate to ridicule Little Zhou Bingbing. Upon hearing these discussions, her face turned from green to black, back and forth. Then, she yelled, ¡°Shut up, you all shut up! What I do is none of your damn business, you shouldn¡¯t be sticking your noses into it.¡± The queue was halted due to Zhou Xiaohong¡¯s outcry and protest. Xiao Jinli slightly frowned, she pointed to Zhou Xiaohong and casually said, ¡°You, come here! The rest, keep going!¡± Zhou Xiaohong, who was initially furious, straightened herself up like a proud peacock upon hearing Xiao Jinli¡¯s words. She quickly tidied her slightly messy hair and adjusted the clothing on her body. With an expression of contempt, she sneered at those whispering about her and the others in the queue, ¡°Humph!¡± She thought she was singled out because she was selected. Everyone else also thought the same. Then, Xiao Jinli clapped her hands and two security guards immediately came over. They were very respectful and called out, ¡°Miss Xiao!¡± The attitude of the security guards, and the executives of Lu Xian Group indicated that the status of this Miss Xiao in the Lu Xian Group was very high. Xiao Jinli lightly nodded her head and then pointed her chin indicating, ¡°Please see her out.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Xiao!¡± This completely stunned Zhou Xiaohong and the people in the queue. Then a wave of laughter broke out. Chapter 391 - Chapter 391: Chapter 382: Chapter 391: Chapter 382: Everyone heard and had the security guard go out, and they burst into laughter. Someone mocked loudly, ¡°Hahaha, I thought she was chosen, but it turns out she wasn¡¯t chosen, or rather, she was chosen to be kicked out.¡± ¡°Hahaha, this result is quite unexpected.¡± ¡°She is a well-known internet celebrity, and she is driven away like this, I don¡¯t know how humiliating this is.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? So many people calmly lined up to go out, but this famous internet celebrity was directly chased out. It¡¯s a huge humiliation, I don¡¯t know what her fans will think of her.¡± ¡°By the way, Little Zhou Bingbing is quite beautiful, why wasn¡¯t she chosen?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so strange about that? There are countless beautiful people among these hundreds of thousands. Little Zhou Bingbing is said to be beautiful, but actually, she has had plastic surgery to look like Zhou Bingbing ¨C all for the sake of fame.¡± ¡°As a famous internet celebrity, how could she be willing to come here and be a salaried actress? Therefore, her applying for an acting role here may be for hype.¡± ¡°That could be possible.¡± ¡°Miss Xiao really is bold, kicking people out without leaving any face. By the way, what is Miss Xiao¡¯s position in the company? It seems that all the big shots are following her lead.¡± ¡°The green-dressed girl she picked is just fresh-faced, not exactly beautiful, but it¡¯s clear that no one has any objections to Miss Xiao¡¯s choices.¡± ¡°No, what do you mean? There will still be initial screenings, right? They will definitely choose few people?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell. We all received notifications and came for the interview suddenly. With so many people coming at once, you have to narrow it down and pick more people for the next screening, right? How could they just pick people at random and have this be the final list?¡± ¡°By the way, why did Little Zhou Bingbing suddenly get asked to leave?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you see it? Little Zhou Bingbing was unwilling to accept that she wasn¡¯t chosen and that the green-dressed girl with worse qualifications was chosen instead. She wanted to cause trouble, but she didn¡¯t get a chance to.¡± ¡°Right. Just as Little Zhou Bingbing was about to start trouble, the line stopped. There are so many people, and a little delay can hold up so many people.¡± After Lu Xiangxiang was picked, she felt like she was dreaming. She was actually just here to accompany her boyfriend and close friend for the interview, but out of the three of them, she was the one who got chosen. She looked quite ordinary, and was much less good-looking than her close friend, but it was she who was chosen. ¡°Ma¡¯am, please give me your resume and have a seat here,¡± a staff member from the Human Resources department politely said to her. Lu Xiangxiang handed over her resume blankly and asked with doubt, ¡°Excuse me, was I chosen? Have I been chosen?¡± The staff member smiled and responded, ¡°You passed the preliminary round.¡± Lu Xiangxiang looked at Xiao Jinli and whispered, ¡°I want to ask who the beautiful girl is. She¡¯s so beautiful and has such a temperament, like a little fairy.¡± The staff member laughed and said, ¡°This is our Miss Xiao, the company¡¯s chairman!¡± ¡°Chair¡­ Chairman?¡± Lu Xiangxiang was shocked, ¡°So young?¡± The public structure and executive introductions of the Lu Xian Group only introduced the president and other executives, but no information about the chairman. Everyone knew that the Lu Xian Group had a chairman, but who the chairman was remained a mystery. However, Lu Xiangxiang never expected that the famous Lu Xian Group and Xiao Village Farmhouse chairman would be a young girl. Before Lu Xiangxiang could digest the information she had received, she was taken to the company¡¯s reception room by the staff to wait quietly. The line continued, and Xiao Jinli did not take the interviewer¡¯s seat, but stood between the two lines. Communication is now very advanced. Soon, everyone knew that the interviewer this time was a very beautiful girl. And this beautiful girl could casually select you with just a finger. So, those who had not yet lined up immediately fixed their hair and clothes, or touched up their makeup. ¡°I heard that there is a very beautiful girl in Xiao Family Village, could it be her?¡± Someone speculated. ¡°Now that you mention it, it¡¯s very likely. But the strange thing is that no one can take her picture, and even if they can, the picture will unknowingly disappear in the phone¡¯s camera. If you didn¡¯t know better, you¡¯d think it was a picture of a female ghost.¡± ¡°This beauty exists only in the mouths of travelers, but no matter whether it¡¯s online or in reports, this beauty never appears.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, I must take a good look at this beauty. How beautiful must she be.¡± The information spread quickly, Everyone went from being nervous about the interview to being curious and suspicious about the interviewer. ¡°She¡¯s really so beautiful. How can there be such a beautiful girl? It¡¯s not an exaggeration to say she¡¯s nationally stunning.¡± ¡°Yes, Zhou Bingbing, who is known as the number one beauty in the entertainment industry, is no match for this girl¡¯s beauty.¡± ¡°By the way, why is the interviewer this time a beautiful girl and not those presidents? But on a side note, why is the Lu Xian Group¡¯s recruitment of acting talent being treated as a big deal? Even the presidents are coming out?¡± ¡°Yes, aren¡¯t they just ordinary actors? The Lu Xian Group seems to be very focused.¡± ¡°Maybe the Lu Xian Group wants to develop in the entertainment industry and promote a few star actors?¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite possible. Otherwise, there¡¯s no reason for the entire executive team to pay so much attention to the recruitment of just a few ordinary actors.¡± ¡°So, the Lu Xian Group is recruiting real actors who will later film TV shows and movies? If that¡¯s really the case, as long as they sign with the Lu Xian Group, they will definitely become very popular.¡± ¡°Ahh,¡± someone said excitedly, ¡°Even if I don¡¯t get chosen as an actor, I¡¯ll stay here and do odd jobs to see if I can watch someone rise from an ordinary person to fame.¡± Of course, these discussions all fell into Xiao Jinli¡¯s ears! Xiao Mingchen laughed and said, ¡°This group of applicants is quite lively!¡± Xiao Yucheng chimed in, ¡°And creative!¡± The line continued to move forward, with Xiao Jinli¡¯s hands folded in front of her, her expression cold. Then she spoke loudly, ¡°Speed up the line!¡± ¡°Haha, speed up? How can we go faster, are we supposed to run?¡± ¡°How do they choose people here? What do they see just by us walking a circle?¡± ¡°Who knows!¡± After a while, Xiao Jinli picked another person. This time, it was a boy! The chosen boy was very excited! Chapter 392 - Chapter 392: Chapter 383: Chapter 392: Chapter 383: Throughout the day, Xiao Jinli chose four people, two men and two women. Among those she chose, one was extremely beautiful, and the other had a delicate and pretty face. As for the men, they were all tall, muscular, and had sharp facial features that made them look like soldiers. Xiao Yucheng looked at the four chosen ones and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Mingchen patted his chest in consolation and said, ¡°Thank goodness, I thought Jinli would only choose delicate-looking actors.¡± Yet their recruitment criteria were dignified, beautiful, and graceful. Xiao Jinli said to Xiao Yucheng, ¡°Today we have chosen two pairs. Tomorrow, we must continue.¡± Xiao Mingchen asked, ¡°Will the people who were chosen today come back tomorrow?¡± ¡°Of course, they will.¡± Xiao Yucheng said with certainty, ¡°There are so many of them, and none of them have been screened out.¡± ¡°So there will be even more to choose from tomorrow?¡± Xiao Mingchen asked worryingly, ¡°Jinli, won¡¯t you be really tired?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and smiled, ¡°No, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Alright, as long as you don¡¯t feel tired,¡± Xiao Yucheng sighed lightly. ¡°The recruitment this time is just too massive. Next time, let¡¯s do an online screening first and then proceed with the interviews.¡± Xiao Mingchen shrugged and said, ¡°But Jinli insisted on not screening online and wanted to conduct face-to-face interviews herself.¡± With a puzzled tone, Xiao Mingchen asked, ¡°Jinli, why are you so concerned about auditioning ordinary actors?¡± Xiao Jinli smiled and replied, ¡°Because I want to cultivate real actors!¡± ¡°Are we really going to establish an entertainment company?¡± Xiao Mingchen exclaimed in amazement. There was a lot of room for growth in the entertainment industry. Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°No, the entertainment industry is too deep for us to get involved. We just want to build a theater in Xiao Family Village and start a drama company. In the future, this will be one of our manor¡¯s projects.¡± Xiao Yucheng frowned and said, ¡°Jinli, if we set up a theater, do we need to invite actors from the national theater? These ordinary people have no foundation in acting. Also, actors must be cultivated from a young age. Isn¡¯t it too late to train them now?¡± Xiao Jinli shook her head and said, ¡°Big brother, you misunderstand me. What I meant by theater was that we would perform a script live on stage. The script must be a short play. As long as the actor has acting skills, it¡¯s fine.¡± Xiao Yucheng immediately understood and laughed, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get the people below to draft a proposal right away.¡± As for the script, whether it was written or bought, it would be handled by the people below in the company. Xiao Jinli would not interfere. In the conference room, Lu Xiangxiang, Fang Jingjing, Tang Renjie, and Ren Feiyang sat at the conference table, all feeling a bit awkward as they didn¡¯t know each other well. Lu Xiangxiang had a delicate appearance but was not very eloquent. She seemed rather clumsy in front of her friends and classmates. In contrast, Fang Jingjing, judging by her name, seemed like a quiet girl, However, she was a cheerful and lively girl who was not only exceptionally beautiful but also articulate and sociable. She was a very talented girl, and singing and dancing seemed effortless to her. At school, she was a popular figure and a beauty with both looks and talent. Of course, considering her looks and talent, it was natural that talent scouts would seek her out to sign her into the entertainment industry. However, Fang Jingjing didn¡¯t like the entertainment industry, and her family didn¡¯t allow her to enter it either. She was very aware of her limits. Although she was considered very beautiful by others, she would be nothing special in the entertainment industry, which was full of beautiful women. Whether or not one could maintain their innocence in the entertainment industry was hard to say. After all, the industry was too dark. One careless move could potentially lead to becoming the target of someone¡¯s scheme, making it difficult to escape. Nevertheless, she enjoyed acting. Whenever there were public performances at school, she would participate. She applied for the position of an actor here due to the reputation of Xiao Family Village, which could ensure her safety. Unexpectedly, she was lucky enough to be chosen. Fang Jingjing confidently introduced herself to the others, ¡°Hello everyone, my name is Fang Jingjing, I¡¯m twenty-one years old, from the south, and a student of S University. If there are no mishaps, we will be colleagues in the future.¡± After Fang Jingjing took the lead in introducing herself, the other three followed suit. ¡°My name is Tang Renjie. I¡¯m twenty-three years old and from Guang Province. I just finished my military service.¡± ¡°My name is Ren Feiyang. I¡¯m twenty-two years old and from Gui Province. I just finished my military service.¡± ¡°My name is Lu Xiangxiang. I¡¯m twenty years old, from the Capital City, and a sophomore at Jing University.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re actually from the Capital City and a student at Jing University. That¡¯s amazing!¡± Fang Jingjing exclaimed. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re a talented woman. Please teach me more in the future.¡± Lu Xiangxiang immediately blushed and said modestly, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not smart. My friends and people around me always say that. I just hope you all won¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Not smart? Where are you not smart? Can someone who¡¯s not smart get into Jing University? Even though you¡¯re a local and the entry requirements might be lower, you still got in based on your own abilities,¡± Fang Jingjing argued angrily. ¡°I think those who call you stupid are just jealous of you.¡± It wasn¡¯t easy for the two men who had just met to console Lu Xiangxiang. But they said, ¡°Anyone who can get into Jing University is very intelligent and hardworking. You¡¯re not stupid at all.¡± Having been soldiers, they were trained to recognize that this girl had probably been brainwashed for a long time, causing her self-doubt. At that moment, Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s phone rang. As soon as Lu Xiangxiang saw the caller ID, her face lit up with a sweet smile. She answered the phone and said, ¡°Brother Hao.¡± Unexpectedly, the other party was clearly very angry. ¡°Hao what? Lu Xiangxiang, you better come out now. You want to starve Yingying and me to death?¡± Chen Hao scolded loudly. Lu Xiangxiang glanced at the conference room and the other three people with her phone in hand, hesitatingly saying, ¡°But I was chosen, and they asked me to wait in the conference room for the chairman.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Hao became even angrier, ¡°You were chosen? How could that be? Yingying¡¯s much smarter and prettier than you, and she didn¡¯t get chosen! You¡¯re stupid and ugly, how could you possibly get chosen? They¡¯re just lying to you! We¡¯re at the Delicious Cafeteria, so hurry up! We¡¯re waiting for you to eat, and we didn¡¯t bring money.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a whiny voice tried to convince her, ¡°Xiangxiang, it¡¯s not just me, even that famous internet celebrity Zhou Bingbing wasn¡¯t chosen. You know how pretty she is. Xiangxiang, with your qualifications, there¡¯s no way you could have been chosen. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself. Just come back.¡± Chapter 393 - Chapter 393: Chapter 384: Chapter 393: Chapter 384: Fang Jingjing had heard enough. She grabbed Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s cellphone and spoke loudly, ¡°Are you her friends? How can friends not be happy for her success? Instead, you are constantly attempting to manipulate and trick her.¡± As soon as Fang Jingjing finished speaking, Ren Yingying responded angrily, ¡°Who are you to interfere? This is between us and Lu Xiangxiang, just give the phone back to her.¡± Chen Hao, standing nearby, yelled, ¡°Lu Xiangxiang, do you still want Yingying as a friend or not? Apologize right now. Otherwise, I won¡¯t forgive you.¡± With the cellphone in hand, Fang Jingjing nearly rolled her eyes in disbelief. She muttered into the phone, ¡°You are such pests, all you do is nag.¡± With that, she hung up the call. As she handed the cellphone back to Lu Xiangxiang, she asked in disbelief, ¡°Who are they to treat you like this?¡± Lu Xiangxiang looked hesitant and said, ¡°One of them is my boyfriend and the other is my close friend.¡± ¡°What?¡± Fang Jingjing responded, astonished, ¡°Are they not your enemies? How could your boyfriend and close friend be like this? You were chosen, they weren¡¯t. Yet they still belittle you. If this is how friends behave, they must be enemies for sure.¡± Lu Xiangxiang was a bit crestfallen as she responded, ¡°I don¡¯t know why they behave like this. They often call me stupid and ugly, saying no one would want to be friends with me. Yet, they want to be my friends. At school, no one wants to be my friend, or even talk to me. Everyone looks at me with disgust. But Brother Hao likes me, and Ren Yingying is my friend.¡± Fang Jingjing frowned, puzzled, and asked, ¡°Is that how they speak to you?¡± Lu Xiangxiang nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°They must be your enemies,¡± Fang Jingjing commented, still shocked. ¡°Who said you are ugly? If a cute and refined girl like you is considered ugly, there would be no beautiful girls in this world. And where are you stupid? If you were truly stupid, could you have been admitted to Jing University?¡± After thinking for a moment, Fang Jingjing suggested, ¡°Xiangxiang, don¡¯t think I am trying to drive a wedge in your relationships, but I feel like they are manipulating you. They constantly make you doubt yourself, so that you can only rely on them. You said no one at school wants to be your friend, but have you ever tried communicating with other classmates?¡± Lu Xiangxiang thought for a moment, nodded, then shook her head. She bit her lip and timidly responded, ¡°I¡­I actually want to communicate with my classmates. But every time I thought about approaching them, Yingying would stop me. She says that they already dislike me. If I continued to approach them without realizing my place, they would be more disgusted.¡± Her voice breaking, Lu Xiangxiang expressed, ¡°In reality¡­I¡­I really don¡¯t know why they find me so annoying. I want to interact and be friends with others.¡± Fang Jingjing, ¡°¡­¡± This girl was too na?ve and gullible, easily manipulated. And those manipulating her were her boyfriend and so-called close friend. Listened to the phone call just now, she thought the one called Brother Hao and Ren Yingying were the actual couple. Meanwhile, Lu Xiangxiang was just paying for their dates. For instance, they would have her pay for their meals. Fang Jingjing thought for a moment, then asked tentatively, ¡°Xiangxiang, when you go on dates with your boyfriend, are there usually two or three people?¡± ¡°Three of us.¡± Lu Xiangxiang responded, ¡°Yingying said she would supervise to ensure my boyfriend would not look at other girls.¡± ¡°Then who pays for these dates? Do you split the bill amongst the three of you?¡± she further asked. Lu Xiangxiang shook her head, ¡°I pay for everything. Both Brother Hao and Yingying come from poor families in the countryside and have to spend every penny with care.¡± Fang Jingjing, ¡°¡­¡± she didn¡¯t know what to say at this point. What she was sure now was that the two individuals had sought out Lu Xiangxiang with the intention of finding a scapegoat to pay for their dates and living expenses. Fang Jingjing¡¯s eyes moved as she jokingly asked, ¡°Xiangxiang, have you ever suspected that your boyfriend and your friend might be a secret couple?¡± Lu Xiangxiang reacted with surprise, ¡°No way?¡± Just as Fang Jingjing was about to say something, Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s phone rang again. The screen displayed ¡°Brother Hao¡±. After hesitating for a moment, Lu Xiangxiang answered the call. The caller instantly berated her, ¡°Lu Xiangxiang, what were you doing throughout half the day that you couldn¡¯t answer the phone?¡± Before Lu Xiangxiang could explain, the caller yelled again, ¡°Yingying and I are waiting in the cafeteria for you to pay the bill. What are you doing there? Don¡¯t think that just because you pretend to be a phoenix soaring high, the executives of Lu Xian Group will be impressed.¡± ¡°Look at yourself, you¡¯re ugly and stupid, who would like you? Be real and come to the cafeteria. Oh, and Yingying wants to rest in the hotel. Go book a room. Yingying has another interview tomorrow, she has to rest well to give her best performance. Once Yingying has this job; she becomes an actress and becomes famous, she won¡¯t forget you. So, you should be grateful, understand?¡± Fang Jingjing couldn¡¯t bear to listen any more. Just as she was about to speak, someone came in. Xiao Jinli, followed by a few executives. Lu Xiangxiang saw Xiao Jinli and without a second thought, she hung up instantly, appearing flustered and anxious. Xiao Jinli took notice of her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Xiangxiang shook her head, ¡°No¡­nothing!¡± Fang Jingjing, unable to hold back, interjected, ¡°Her boyfriend just called her, asked her to go to the cafeteria to pay for him and his friend.¡± Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s face immediately reddened in embarrassment. Xiao Jinli took Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s resume from his assistant, looked at it, then said, ¡°Lu Xiangxiang, 20 years old, from the capital city, your father is Lu Yiming, and your mother is Dai Jin¡­¡± Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s mouth fell open as she stared at Xiao Jinli in disbelief. The information that Xiao Jinli had just read was not just from her resume, but also included her achievements, awards, and even events that she had almost forgotten herself. In the end, Xiao Jinli asked, ¡°Lu Xiangxiang, you are excellent, a smart and hardworking individual. We need such talents in our company. Would you like to join us and become one of us?¡± Lu Xiangxiang, still stunned and in disbelief, couldn¡¯t respond for a while. What did the Chairman just say? He said that she is excellent, smart, and hardworking. Is that true? Is that really about her? Fang Jingjing, standing next to the dazed Lu Xiangxiang, gently pushed her and whispered, ¡°Xiangxiang, what are you spacing out for? He¡¯s asking you a question.¡± Awoken by Fang Jingjing, Lu Xiangxiang, brimming with happiness, nodded violently and responded, ¡°Yes, I am willing, I am willing, Chairman!¡± ¡°Ha, Chairman?¡± Chapter 394 - Chapter 394: Chapter 385: Chapter 394: Chapter 385: Fang Jingjing and the others never expected that the young and extremely beautiful girl standing before them would actually be the chairman of the Lu Xian Group. ¡°Oh my god, you¡¯re the chairman?¡± Fang Jingjing asked incredulously, ¡°It¡¯s rare to see such a young chairman. May I ask how old are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nineteen,¡± Xiao Jinli responded without hesitation. ¡°Haha, nineteen?! That¡¯s unbelievable!¡± Fang Jingjing couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°I knew about the presidents and vice presidents of Lu Xian Group, and other executives, but the introduction of the chairman has always been extremely mysterious. I never thought, haha, now I know why the chairman of Lu Xian Group is so mysterious; it¡¯s because he¡¯s so young. No wonder all the presidents and other executives have been accompanying you today during the interview.¡± As she spoke, Fang Jingjing seemed to think of something and asked, ¡°Chairman, I want to ask, why did you choose us?¡± Among the four of them, she noticed that Lu Xiangxiang was definitely not graceful or beautiful. The other two men were also far from handsome or stylish; they could only be described as tough guys with sharp features, every one of them former soldiers. As for herself, she might have been chosen for her beauty, but there were many more beautiful people in the hundreds of thousands of people. She dared not claim herself to be the most beautiful woman. So, she was genuinely curious about the reason they were chosen, and her personality made her ask. Xiao Jinli smiled and said mysteriously, ¡°You¡¯ll find out later. But you¡¯ve all been chosen by me for your extraordinary qualities. In fact, I¡¯m selecting you not only as actors, but also as talents to be cultivated by our company. Trust me, you are all individuals with immense potential, just waiting to be tapped, and I am here to help you unlock it.¡± With Xiao Jinli saying so, the four of them became completely puzzled. They are the company¡¯s reserve talents, and they have potential? But even they didn¡¯t know what kind of potential they had. Xiao Jinli took a look at them and said, ¡°Lu Xiangxiang, digital memory; Tang Renjie, maze strategy; Ren Feiyang, sharp vision; and you, Fang Jingjing, have good eloquence.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The four of them didn¡¯t expect that they would be chosen for these abilities. ¡°You are outstanding in these fields,¡± Xiao Jinli didn¡¯t hide it, ¡°Just stay true to yourselves, and I can make you famous all over the world.¡± Upon hearing what Xiao Jinli said, the four of them suddenly became more serious. They said excitedly, ¡°Is it true? Can we¡­ we really become famous all over the world?¡± What does it mean to be globally famous? It means that they will have great achievements in the future. They will have great success in their careers. Xiao Jinli nodded and said, ¡°As long as you believe in me, and stay true to yourself, it is definitely possible.¡± Although Xiao Jinli is young, she is the chairman of the Lu Xian group and has created such a large industry. How could she convince people just by talking a lot? But she has the strength and the courage to convince people. Among them, Lu Xiangxiang was the most excited. She asked with a lack of self-confidence, ¡°Chairman, can¡­ can I really do it?¡± Xiao Jinli patted her shoulder, encouraging her with a smile, ¡°Lu Xiangxiang, you should believe in yourself. Look at the numerous awards you¡¯ve won since childhood. Do you still need to doubt yourself? By doubting yourself, you¡¯ll be letting down all your past efforts and struggles. So, just keep going!¡± Chapter 395 - Chapter 395: Chapter 386: Chapter 395: Chapter 386: Lu Xiangxiang didn¡¯t call Chen Hao in advance and went straight to the cafeteria. Perhaps she was too familiar with Chen Hao and Ren Yingying, and she noticed them from a distance, sitting in a corner. But her gaze seemed utterly incredulous. She saw Chen Hao and Ren Yingying embracing each other like a real couple, feeding each other their food. Well, it is quite common to see couples displaying affection in this cafeteria. Lu Xiangxiang suddenly remembered what Fang Jingjing had said: ¡°Xiangxiang, are you sure you and that guy called Chen Hao are a couple, not him and that girl called Ren Yingying?¡± With red eyes and tearful corners, Lu Xiangxiang slowly walked behind them. Chen Hao and Ren Yingying, who were back-to-back with her, fed each other while chatting. Chen Hao spoke about his situation in a complainy manner. Listening to them, Lu Xiangxiang felt heartbroken. Chen Hao always spoke to her in a derogatory way. For instance, ¡°You¡¯re so ugly; I¡¯m the only one who can stand you. You¡¯re so stupid that only I would date you. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t even know if someone sold you off.¡± But now she heard Chen Hao saying, ¡°Yingying, I think about you every day and miss you terribly. Just the thought of being with that stupid girl makes every day feel like a year. Only looking at your photo can comfort my tainted soul. Come on, give me a kiss to compensate for my suffering.¡± Ren Yingying giggled and teased, ¡°Brother Hao, I¡¯m with you on all your dates with that stupid girl. We¡¯re basically together every day, so why would you miss me to death?¡± After hearing her words, Lu Xiangxiang recalled that since she started dating Chen Hao, she hardly had any alone time with him. Every time they talked or went on a date, Ren Yingying was following them. No, their dates were basically Chen Hao and Ren Yingying cozying up and chatting, while Lu Xiangxiang was running around fulfilling their every demand. She either bought them water, drinks, or snacks while following them, or paid for their purchases directly. Ren Yingying continued, ¡°Why isn¡¯t that stupid girl here yet? She couldn¡¯t have actually been chosen, could she?¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Chen Hao said confidently, ¡°That stupid girl is ugly and foolish. How could she be chosen?¡± Ren Yingying asked worriedly, ¡°But what if she does get chosen? What will we do then? If she stays here, we¡¯ll have to go back to the Capital City. We won¡¯t have anyone to pay for our purchases anymore. I¡¯ve got my eye on a Swarovski necklace that costs 6800. I was planning to find an excuse for her to pay for it when we go back.¡± ¡°How could she possibly be chosen?¡± Chen Hao said confidently. ¡°Even if she is, once I say a few words to crush her spirits, she¡¯ll doubt herself. After that, I¡¯ll make her refuse the job ¨C she¡¯ll definitely listen.¡± Ren Yingying¡¯s eyes lit up, and she said excitedly, ¡°Right! That stupid girl Lu Xiangxiang is so afraid you¡¯ll dump her, she¡¯s willing to be your slave, serve you, listen to you, and spend money on me.¡± Standing behind them, Lu Xiangxiang had red eyes and clenched fists, anger burning at the bottom of her eyes. She wanted to confront them right away, but it would be embarassing for her to do so in public. Then, she took a deep breath, rushed back to her hotel to pack up and checked out. As for their luggage, it was none of her business. The receptionist hesitated for a moment as she looked at Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s luggage and asked, ¡°Miss Lu, are you checking out your two friends¡¯ rooms too?¡± Indeed, since coming to Xiao Family Village, Lu Xiangxiang had been responsible for all the expenses, including the hotel fees. Lu Xiangxiang nodded and said, ¡°Yes, check them out as well. They¡¯ll come by themselves to pick up their luggage later.¡± As for how the hotel would deal with their luggage, she no longer cared. Those two scumbags used her money and looked down on her. It¡¯s like biting the hand that feeds them. She was indeed a fool being toyed with by two scumbags. She had a good family background, wealthy and powerful, and was top of her class, winning various awards. Relatives and friends used to praise her for being smart, obedient, and adorable. However, after going to university and meeting Chen Hao and her roommate Ren Yingying, her mind seemed clouded, and she was brainwashed by them, only ever listening to what they said. Well, now she¡¯s awake and won¡¯t serve them anymore. As Lu Xiangxiang dragged her suitcase away, she glanced at the two suitcases in the corner and smirked. She wanted to see what they would do without her, their ¡°fool,¡± spending money on them. Lu Xiangxiang pulled her suitcase onto the company-arranged car and headed to the company dormitory. The staff member accompanying her said, ¡°Our company¡¯s dormitory offers single rooms, double rooms or family rooms. Single rooms are for those without partners, 20 square meters with a bathroom and bedroom. Double rooms are for couples or childless married couples, slightly larger, with a kitchen, about 30 square meters. Family rooms are for families, with either two or three bedrooms.¡± Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°The company¡¯s treatment is so good!¡± The staff member said with pride, ¡°Isn¡¯t it? In other big companies, dormitories have three or four people squeezed together. But here, everyone has their own room. Most importantly, if they want, the whole family can live together. My partner and I live together, and we both work here. Employees have free meals and accommodation, so my partner and I save money. By the end of the year, when we get married, we¡¯ll buy a house in our hometown.¡± Together, their salaries added up to more than twenty thousand. Minus essential living expenses, they could save about twenty thousand each month. House prices in their hometown were cheap, and a down payment for a first home was just over 100,000. Although Lu Xiangxiang came from a wealthy family and lived in a big villa with a private plane to take her to school, she felt uneasy at home because of her parents. Now having this private space made her feel very happy. Lu Xiangxiang said, ¡°The benefits here are so great. I guess anyone who comes to work here wouldn¡¯t want to leave, right?¡± ¡°Absolutely. So everyone working here does their best to do their jobs well.¡± Li Xiaomei said, ¡°Every position here is full. Otherwise, I¡¯d want to introduce my relatives and friends to come here. However, to work here, one¡¯s character is the most important thing. No matter how capable they are, if their character isn¡¯t good, they¡¯ll be eliminated.¡± Lu Xiangxiang pondered on this. Curious, Lu Xiangxiang asked, ¡°How exactly does the company recruit people? And how do they determine whether someone has a good character?¡± After all, it¡¯s hard to know someone¡¯s character upon just meeting them for the first time. Li Xiaomei shook her head and said, ¡°Actually, we don¡¯t know either. We submitted our resumes, and after the interview, we received a notice to start work the next day.¡± Lu Xiangxiang, Chapter 396 - Chapter 396: Chapter 387: Chapter 396: Chapter 387: Although Lu Xiangxiang wasn¡¯t sure about the character screening in Lu Xian Group, she had been chosen, indicating that she must have had a good character besides her exceptional talent. Thus, she started tidying up the room in a good mood. The room was very clean and tidy, with new sheets and a new quilt, an air conditioner installed, and basically all household appliances and furniture were available. This made Lu Xiangxiang puzzled. How rich is the Lu Xian Group? She heard that there were 20,000 employees, are all treated like this? That¡¯s a huge sum of money. Li Xiaomei looked at it and said, ¡°Xiangxiang, if you¡¯re missing anything, just send me a message and I¡¯ll bring it to you, or you can use your work card to get it from the dormitory management department.¡± Lu Xiangxiang nodded and said, ¡°Okay, I got it, thank you, Sister Li!¡± Li Xiaomei smiled and said, ¡°Xiangxiang, you are a talent that the chairman has high hopes for, so keep going!¡± People outside didn¡¯t know that Xiao Jinli was the chairman, but most of the company¡¯s employees knew that Xiao Jinli was indeed the chairman. For ordinary employees, the Human Resources Department takes charge, unless there¡¯s a special person or situation where the chairman himself would personally intervene. She had been working for two years and just met the chairman intervening in recruitment for the first time. Lu Xiangxiang gladly agreed, ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll do my best!¡± After Li Xiaomei left, as Lu Xiangxiang was about to pack her luggage, the phone rang. She thought it was Chen Hao who found out she had vacated the room and called to make trouble. But when she looked, it turned out to be a call from home. She was silent for a moment before she answered the phone. ¡°Hello, Mom!¡± A gentle voice came in, ¡°Daughter, are you doing well?¡± Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s tears welled up, she nodded and replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m doing well. And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing well too,¡± the woman¡¯s voice said, ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re doing well. I heard you went to Xiao Family Village for an audition to be an actor?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been hired,¡± Lu Xiangxiang replied, ¡°Now I¡¯m officially in the company and about to start work.¡± The woman was silent for a while before asking, ¡°But what about your studies? You¡¯re still in college now!¡± Lu Xiangxiang said, ¡°There are six groups of us, and two of them perform on holidays, including myself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to work in your family¡¯s company?¡± the other side asked anxiously, ¡°Are you going to let that wretched couple take over all your family¡¯s property?¡± ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want to inherit the family business, so I don¡¯t want to join the company. I have things I like to do! Little Brother is doing great in the company, starting from the bottom, and has successfully completed several major projects at a young age.¡± As soon as Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s words fell, the other side yelled irrationally, ¡°Lu Xiangxiang, are you trying to kill me with anger? I don¡¯t care how well Lv Zhiqiang does, I only know that the entire Lv family¡¯s property should be yours, and if that wretched couple tries to grab it, you should drive them away.¡± Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s eyes were red, and she said loudly, ¡°That¡¯s not my family business, it¡¯s the Lu Family¡¯s, and Little Brother is part of the Lu Family, he is also entitled to inherit the family business.¡± The other side cursed angrily, ¡°Stupid girl, how did I give birth to such a stupid girl? Let me tell you, Lu Xiangxiang, this Lu Family business, whether you fight for it or not, you have to fight for it, otherwise, you are no longer my daughter, and I don¡¯t have such a stupid daughter.¡± Having said that, she hung up the phone directly. Lu Xiangxiang stared at the disconnected phone, her eyes were blank and she didn¡¯t speak for a long time. After a while, her phone rang again. Seeing the call, the softness in her eyes appeared, she answered, ¡°Little Brother?¡± He couldn¡¯t wait to say, ¡°Sister, I heard that you went to Xiao Family Village with Chen Hao and Ren Yingying for the auditions, did you?¡± Lu Xiangxiang nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Little Brother Lv anxiously said, ¡°But I heard that you were just accompanying them? Will they bully you? I heard that since you started dating Chen Hao, he has been complaining about you. That bastard, what qualifications does he have to complain about you? You¡¯re the golden girl of our Lv Family, the pearl in our palms, and my precious sister, Lu Zhiqiang. Besides his good looks, what else does that Chen Hao have? He¡¯s just a crow that flew out of a rural ravine.¡± As he said this, he reacted immediately, and then apologized, ¡°Sister, I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have spoken bad about him.¡± Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s tears flowed again, she shook her head and choked, ¡°No, you¡¯re right. Chen Hao is just a wild crow that flew out of the rural ravine, what qualifications does he have to complain about me, the precious daughter of the Lv Family.¡± On the other side, Lu Zhiqiang had his mouth wide open, his expression incredulous. In the past, when he spoke ill of Chen Hao and Ren Yingying, his sister would angrily defend the man. Now¡­ Lu Zhiqiang asked worriedly, ¡°Sister, what happened? Why did you¡­?¡± If something hadn¡¯t happened, her sister wouldn¡¯t have changed so suddenly. He thought of something and immediately said, ¡°Sister, did they bully you? You wait, I¡¯m coming to Xiao Family Village right now. If that bastard dares to bully you, I will teach him a lesson.¡± Lu Xiangxiang laughed and cried, ¡°No, Little Brother, it¡¯s not like that. I¡¯ve just come to my senses, so I don¡¯t put them in my heart anymore. Oh, and let me tell you, I got accepted by the Lu Xian Group, and I¡¯ll be working there from now on.¡± ¡°Sister, did you really get accepted by the Lu Xian Group?¡± Lu Zhiqiang was obviously more excited and happier than her, but then he thought of something, ¡°But sister, Dad wants you to work in the family¡¯s company? You are the heir of the Lv Family. How can you control those ambitious directors if you don¡¯t work in the future?¡± That¡¯s right, Lu Xiangxiang lied to her own mother. Actually, she didn¡¯t even have to fight for the Lv Family; it was hers by default. It¡¯s just that she was not interested in inheriting the family business and knowing her mother¡¯s nature, she lied to her mother. However, Lu Xiangxiang shook her head and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m not interested in inheriting the family business. Little Brother, the responsibility of the Lv Family will fall on you in the future.¡± Lu Zhiqiang shook his head repeatedly, refusing, ¡°That won¡¯t do. I¡¯m not interested in inheriting the Lv Family either. Sister, Dad said that you are the heir of the Lv Family, and that will never change. I am just here to assist you from the side! Sister, I plan to start my own business outside, I like the process of entrepreneurship and competition.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Lu Xiangxiang laughed and said, ¡°If Dad knew that both of his children didn¡¯t want to inherit the family business, I wonder if he¡¯d have a heart attack.¡± Lu Zhiqiang said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, the old man¡¯s in good health. If we, the two big ones, really don¡¯t want to inherit the family business, he can have a little one with my mom.¡± ¡°Hehe, if Dad hears you say that, he¡¯ll probably grab a stick and chase you around the yard.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Chapter 397 - Chapter 397: Chapter 388: Chapter 397: Chapter 388: ¡°What do you mean, our room has been cancelled?¡± Ren YingYing¡¯s eyes widened, full of surprise. When Chen Hao and Ren YingYing returned to the hotel, they were informed that their room had been cancelled. ¡°How is that possible? We clearly booked the room for five days, and we only stayed for two days!¡± Ren YingYing said angrily, ¡°Why didn¡¯t your hotel make a call to inform us when cancelling the room on behalf of the guest? This is unacceptable; I want to make a complaint!¡± The receptionist¡¯s face darkened, but she maintained a smile and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am. Your room was booked by another guest. So when she wanted to cancel the room, our hotel naturally agreed.¡± It was a joke ¨C they were not short of customers. As soon as they cancelled one room, another guest booked it immediately. Now hotel and homestay rooms are in high demand. Many tourists outside were unable to book rooms and were even considering being admitted to the hospital to have a place to stay. Chen Hao and Ren YingYing¡¯s faces turned black with anger and embarrassment. The receptionist looked at their expressions, full of doubt; was the girl who cancelled the room really their good friend? However, she still showed a courteous and polite smile and asked, ¡°Would you like to check in to the hotel again?¡± She glanced at the computer and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, all the rooms in the hotel are booked. Please look for another hotel.¡± Upon hearing this, Ren YingYing became even angrier and complained, ¡°No, your hotel cancelled our room without our consent, leaving us with nowhere to stay. You must find a solution for our accommodation problem; otherwise, I will complain to the relevant department.¡± The receptionist¡¯s expression twisted for a moment, almost rolling her eyes, and said, ¡°Your room was booked by your friend, so when she wanted to cancel the room, our hotel followed the normal procedure. Therefore, your room problem is your own business, and our hotel has no obligation.¡± Ren YingYing threw a tantrum, ¡°I don¡¯t care whether you have an obligation or not; since your hotel cancelled our room, you must solve our accommodation problem.¡± Receptionist, After a while, Chen Hao and Ren YingYing were escorted out of the hotel by the security guards, looking very embarrassed. The hotel receptionist said speechlessly, ¡°They have no money, yet they still want to stay at our hotel. They must think our hotel is easy to exploit.¡± The pair stood at the entrance of the hotel, looking wretched and extremely angry. In a furious voice, Ren YingYing said to Chen Hao, ¡°Brother Hao, call that stupid woman again. She secretly cancelled our room. We must teach her a lesson and make her remember that she will always be our slave. Whenever we want her to go east, she dares not go west. She thinks she is something because she has some money. Even if she has money, she is still a slave following us.¡± Chen Hao dialed the number, but the call was always busy. It was obvious that they had been blacklisted. Chen Hao said with a dark face, ¡°My phone number might have been blacklisted by her. Try yours.¡± Ren YingYing took out her phone, but the result was the same, being blacklisted as well. Ren YingYing hated it and said, ¡°This bitch dares to blacklist us.¡± But she couldn¡¯t help feeling a wave of panic in her heart. This was too unexpected. If they lose their cash cow Lu Xiangxiang, their quality of life will undoubtedly decline in the future. Moreover, once they return to school, many people they had bullied will retaliate. Ren YingYing reluctantly said, ¡°Brother Hao, we must find that bitch. After we make her suffer, we will continue to use her as our ATM and a slave who serves us.¡± Chen Hao, however, was worried, ¡°YingYing, will she escape our control?¡± Ren YingYing confidently replied, ¡°No, the hypnosis master I found is very powerful. He said that as long as we hypnotized her once and continuously brainwashed her, she would become an obedient puppet.¡± Speaking of this, she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°In order to hypnotize her, we paid a great price.¡± Besides a huge sum of money, she even sacrificed herself. It¡¯s not long since Lu Xiangxiang broke out of their cage ¨C how could she be willing to let go? She hasn¡¯t exploited her enough yet. Lu Xiangxiang was carefully selected by her. Chen Hao wondered, ¡°Why did she change after coming to Xiao Family Village?¡± Ren YingYing didn¡¯t want to think too much and said, ¡°That bitch must still be in Xiao Family Village. She got lucky and was chosen, thinking she could get rid of us. Dream on. Let¡¯s go, Brother Hao, let¡¯s find her directly.¡± On the other side, Lu Xiangxiang was obviously in a better mood, more lively, and soon became good friends with Fang Jingjing without talking much. When they arrived at the cafeteria, they saw the great beauty mentioned on the internet. ¡°Wow, she¡¯s so beautiful!¡± Lu Xiangxiang widened her eyes as she looked at the beautiful Xiao¡¯s mother, full of admiration. Fang Jingjing, who was always known as the campus belle, also gaped in awe, ¡°Wow, she¡¯s so stunning. She¡¯s the epitome of ¡®nationally stunning beauty¡¯.¡± This campus belle was nothing in front of the great beauty. As she said this, she took another look and said, ¡°Xiangxiang, don¡¯t you think this great beauty looks somewhat similar to our Chairman?¡± The auntie nearby who was collecting dishes heard this and laughed, ¡°Of course they look alike; they are mother and daughter.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lu Xiangxiang and Fang Jingjing were really surprised, ¡°So they are mother and daughter, no wonder they are both so beautiful.¡± The auntie smiled and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t it? Xiaofang and her daughter are both famous beauties mentioned online.¡± ¡°Haha, like mother, like daughter!¡± Fang Jingjing laughed, ¡°Auntie, I heard that the food in this cafeteria is delicious. Can you recommend some dishes for us to try first?¡± Fang Jingjing was a social butterfly; she had a sweet mouth wherever she went. The auntie said, ¡°Every dish here is made by the chef who specializes in it. You can eat anything you want. But there is one dish made by Xiaofang herself; you should try that first.¡± ¡°Oh, which dish is made by the great beauty?¡± Fang Jingjing asked. The auntie replied, ¡°Chive dumplings. The filling is prepared by Xiaofang herself, and the taste is quite unique. Let me tell you, whenever Xiaofang makes any dish, we in Xiao Family Village will finish it all, only leaving a little bit occasionally. There¡¯s just a little bit left now, which should be enough for both of you.¡± Fang Jingjing¡¯s eyes lit up, and she immediately said, ¡°Thank you, Auntie. We will try the delicious food made by the great beauty.¡± Chapter 398 - Chapter 398: Chapter 389: Chapter 398: Chapter 389: Xiao¡¯s mother¡¯s gourmet food, with the last portion left, twelve chive dumplings, was snatched by Fang Jingjing and Lu Xiangxiang. When the two of them ate the first dumpling, they couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°This is so delicious.¡± This kind of deliciousness is simply beyond description with any adjective, it can only be said that such dumplings should only exist in heaven. Before, the two of them, who had appetites as small as kittens, ate six dumplings each and tasted other delicacies as well. With every bite, they would say, ¡°This is so delicious!¡± Fang Jingjing made up her mind and said, ¡°With such delicious food, I will have to work hard for my three meals a day from now on.¡± Lu Xiangxiang nodded in agreement, ¡°Yes, yes.¡± But both of them completely forgot about keeping their figures. Just as Lu Xiangxiang and Fang Jingjing were enjoying various gourmet delights, Chen Hao and Ren Yingying, both carrying suitcases and looking embarrassed, appeared before Lu Xiangxiang. Seeing that Lu Xiangxiang had forgotten them, Ren Yingying felt flames erupting from her heart and cursed silently, ¡°Bitch, such a bitch.¡± However, on the surface, she appeared to be extremely wronged and pitiful, ¡°Xiangxiang, so you were here. Brother Hao and I have been looking for you for a long time. Why didn¡¯t you tell us when you checked out? The hotel kicked Brother Hao and me out. Brother Hao almost started a fight with them.¡± As she spoke, she began to cry again. If it had been before, her words would have upset Lu Xiangxiang immensely. However, at this moment, Lu Xiangxiang was holding a chicken leg in one hand while looking at their embarrassed expressions. Chen Hao stared at Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s indifferent expression, and his bottled-up anger finally erupted. He questioned angrily, ¡°Lu Xiangxiang, how could you be so cruel? Why did you check out? Don¡¯t you know that we were kicked out of the hotel because of you? Did you deliberately want to humiliate us?¡± Fang Jingjing was also eating a chicken leg, and she asked in a low voice loud enough for others to hear, ¡°So they¡¯re the boyfriend and close friend you were talking about?¡± Lu Xiangxiang nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Jingjing showed a look of contempt on her face, and said, ¡°What kind of taste do you have? These two people are obviously very artificial and vain. He claims to be your boyfriend, but he holds another woman in his arms and questions you on behalf of another girl. Tsk tsk, is he really your boyfriend and not someone else¡¯s?¡± Lu Xiangxiang took a bite of her chicken leg and then fell into thought. She shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Every time we went on a date, the three of us were together. Every time they wanted to eat or drink something, they would order me to buy it.¡± Fang Jingjing exclaimed, ¡°No way. Are you guys really boyfriend and girlfriend, and not their nanny-cum-paymaster ATM?¡± Lu Xiangxiang thought about it and nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°So how did you become boyfriend and girlfriend with him in the first place? He¡¯s not looking for a girlfriend, he¡¯s obviously looking for an ATM nanny for his real love life, right?¡± Fang Jingjing asked while chewing on her chicken leg. Lu Xiangxiang thought about it and shook her head, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know either. At that time, he confessed his love to me, and then I agreed in a daze. Even now, I don¡¯t understand why I agreed. And later, I willingly spent money on him.¡± Hearing Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s words, both Chen Hao and Ren Yingying¡¯s faces changed. Chen Hao, unable to contain his anger after hearing their conversation, said, ¡°Lu Xiangxiang, what do you mean? Now that you¡¯ve been admitted to the Lu Xian Group and climbed to a high position, do you want to abandon your poor boyfriend and close friend?¡± Was he trying to shift the blame? Fang Jingjing snorted coldly and said with a sneer, ¡°Oh dear, what are you trying to do? Do you want to label Xiangxiang as a gold-digger? But haven¡¯t you thought that when you two were dating, you were also spending Xiangxiang¡¯s money? Even going so far as to have your secret girlfriend, using the pretext of being close friends, make Xiangxiang pay for you? Now, are you pretending to be a poor little lamb?¡± Jealousy flashed in Ren Yingying¡¯s eyes as she looked at the beautiful and generous Fang Jingjing. She asked angrily, ¡°And who are you? This is between the three of us, what does it have to do with you? Why are you meddling?¡± She didn¡¯t expect that Lu Xiangxiang, whom she hadn¡¯t kept an eye on, had already made friends. This made her feel very unpleasant. Her control over the situation had slipped away and now it was even starting to backfire on her, making her feel both angry and panicked. Fang Jingjing looked at her with her beautiful eyes and said with a smile, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m Xiangxiang¡¯s new friend. We hit it off right away and are inseparable, so her business is my business. How can you say I¡¯m meddling? And as for you, I heard that when Xiangxiang goes on a date with her boyfriend, you always follow them. Don¡¯t you have any self-awareness? Why are you butting in as a third wheel?¡± At this point, she suddenly understood and continued, ¡°Oh, I see. You two are building a front while secretly violating trust. You¡¯ve taken advantage of Xiangxiang¡¯s innocent kindness to deceive and humiliate her. Hmph, you¡¯re really shameless.¡± Perhaps because Fang Jingjing had hit the nail on the head, Ren Yingying immediately became flustered and defensive. She pointed at Fang Jingjing and shouted, ¡°I just knew that Xiangxiang was acting like a different person because you were brainwashing her behind her back. Let me tell you, the bond between us close friends for two years cannot be broken by your few words, so your plan will not work.¡± She then said to Lu Xiangxiang, ¡°Xiangxiang, is there some misunderstanding between us? Would you rather believe others than trust me? Have you forgotten that when you had a fever in the dormitory, it was me who braved the rain to buy medicine for you and took care of you day and night? So Xiangxiang, you wouldn¡¯t be an ungrateful person, right?¡± Was she trying to play the moral kidnapping card? Just as Fang Jingjing was about to retort, Lu Xiangxiang pulled her sleeve. Ren Yingying¡¯s eyes brightened, thinking that perhaps Lu Xiangxiang had changed her mind again. Lu Xiangxiang said, ¡°Speaking of that, I remember that the reason I caught a cold and had a fever at that time was because you lost your meal card. It was raining heavily that night, and you said you were scared to be alone, so you insisted on dragging me along to find it. As a result, I got caught in the rain and caught a cold, while you were fine. You say you braved the rain to buy medicine for me, but you just borrowed a box of medicine from the next dormitory. As for taking care of me without sleeping, you just gave me a glass of water and went straight to bed. Ren Yingying, since my cold was caused by you, how come you¡¯re acting like my benefactor? Where do you get the nerve?¡± Ren Yingying¡¯s face changed dramatically. Chapter 399 - Chapter 399: Chapter 390: Chapter 399: Chapter 390: Ren YingYing and Chen Hao are now certain that Lu Xiangxiang, who had been hypnotized, is completely awake now. She is no longer the slave that they could command at their whimsy. Chen Hao did not understand, yet wanted to scold out loud, when Ren YingYing tugged at him. She then murmured in a red-eyed, aggrieved and doubtful voice, ¡°Xiangxiang, how could you say such things? When you helped me find my meal card, it was entirely voluntary. When you caught a cold, I did find medicine and fetched water for you. In the past, you remember me doing these things, right? But I didn¡¯t expect that after you came here, you would become such an ungrateful person. I¡­ I know you¡¯re not like that Xiangxiang, were you led astray by someone else?¡± She glanced at Fang Jingjing as if unintentionally, making it obvious that Fang Jingjing was the one who supposedly led Xiangxiang astray. Fang Jingjing could not help laughing at this ridiculous accusation. She calmly laughed and responded, ¡°Haha, so you¡¯re saying I corrupted Xiangxiang, right? You two are really hilarious. Xiangxiang not following your commands, no longer being your ATM anymore makes her bad? What kind of shameless logic is that? So you¡¯re saying Xiangxiang should be your slave, she should serve you? Please, who do you two think you are? Luckily, Xiangxiang came to her senses at the right time and stopped being exploited by you two.¡± Facing the truth stated by Fang Jingjing while firmly standing up for Lu Xiangxiang, Ren YingYing¡¯s face, flushed with anger, turned green. Still, she held back her anger from exploding and looked at Lu Xiangxiang pitifully, ¡°Xiangxiang, we¡¯ve been friends for two years. You know that back in school, Chen Hao and I were your only friends. Everyone else didn¡¯t like you because you were unattractive and dumb. It was just us, your roommate and Brother Hao, who accepted you, becoming your friend and saving you from loneliness. Oh, so now you have a new friend, you despise your old ones, huh?¡± She intentionally glanced at Chen Hao and whimpered, ¡°Xiangxiang, if you don¡¯t want me that¡¯s fine, but what about Brother Hao? He¡¯s your boyfriend! Have you forgotten how considerate he was towards you? On your birthday, he would buy you gifts. If anyone bullied you, he would stand up for you. Xiangxiang, you may not want me as your friend, but do you also not want him as your boyfriend?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Unexpectedly, Lu Xiangxiang who was the subject of the conversation, burst out laughing after hearing Ren YingYing¡¯s words. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Then it turned into a loud laughter, so much that she started tearing. ¡°This is the funniest joke I¡¯ve ever heard.¡± Lu Xiangxiang, while trying to control her laugher, spoke loudly, ¡°Take care of me? I think he was taking care of you under my name, right? Even shamelessly told me that because you were sick, I had to do the chores. So I was the one who washed your clothes, your socks. Whatever snacks or drinks you wanted, he would tell me to buy them for you. Usually, when we went out on dates, you two would flirt shamelessly in front of me, sometimes even pushing me away because I was in the way. At the movie theater, you two were seated together while my seat was far away, where I could clearly see you two. Do I even need to elaborate on what you two did in the cinema? Ren YingYing, you keep saying that Chen Hao is my boyfriend. But this boyfriend just carried the title without any of its significance for me. But for you, he didn¡¯t have the title, but he did everything a boyfriend should do, caring for you, looking after you, even going to bed with you. So who Chen Hao really is dating, you know it well.¡± So, please don¡¯t use him as my boyfriend to manipulate me. In the past, I, Lu Xiangxiang was like a pig with my mind muddled, letting you two use me. But now I¡¯m awake. I won¡¯t let you two use me anymore, I won¡¯t become your call and beck slave or your ATM again. My money, even if given to beggars or donated to the mountains, won¡¯t ever go to you two again. So, please don¡¯t blackmail me in the name of being my boyfriend or close friend. I, Lu Xiangxiang, won¡¯t fall for it anymore. And, I¡¯m breaking up with Chen Hao, *ahem*, no, I mean I am dumping him. So, if you want this trash, feel free to take him.¡± At the end of Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s speech, the faces of Ren YingYing and Chen Hao turned uglier. Especially Chen Hao, who was just called ¡®trash¡¯ by Lu Xiangxiang. This was a huge insult to him, especially in this public setting. ¡°Lu Xiangxiang!¡± Chen Hao was so angry that he shouted, ¡°You¡¯ve said so much, and it¡¯s all for an excuse for your snobbishness towards wealth! I really misread you. Well, breakup, huh. I would like to see which man would want you. You¡¯re just an ugly and dumb fool and you¡¯re a worn shoe that I don¡¯t want, which man would want a worn shoe.¡± Let me tell you, don¡¯t come crying back to me later. If you apologize to me now, kneel and beg for my forgiveness, I could consider leaving the past behind and still treat you as my girlfriend, as long as you take good care of me later.¡± Ren YingYing also added, ¡°Xiangxiang, if you apologize to Brother Hao, he¡¯ll definitely forgive you. He is a kind and soft-hearted man. Xiangxiang, I¡¯m not the one saying this, but Brother Hao is truly a good man. He is gentle, careful, and considerate. He will definitely treat you well in the future. If you find me annoying, I won¡¯t contact Brother Hao anymore in the future.¡± But in her heart she was thinking, ¡°As long as I can bring Lu Xiangxiang back, then hypnotize her again, she¡¯ll still be our slave.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Hao was quite moved. He continued, ¡°Lu Xiangxiang, do you see? Yingying is such a reasonable and generous girl. She¡¯s already telling me to forgive you. What more do you want? So, if you beg for my forgiveness and apologize to Yingying now, we can still be a couple, and you and Yingying can still be close friends. After we forgive you, you then go to the Xiao Family Village Hotel and book a room for us. We¡¯re both tired and hungry right now. After a good rest, we¡¯ll go back with you.¡± Everyone was dumbfounded upon hearing their outrageous words. Fang Jingjing couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She shouted in anger, ¡°Where did these two rabid dogs come from? Chattering nonsense and biting randomly. Damn, my eyes are opened wide now! Apparently, in this world, there¡¯s no such thing as the most shameless, only more shameless people. Lu Xiangxiang, how on earth did you endure these two?¡± Lu Xiangxiang shook her head, ¡°I really don¡¯t know.¡± Suddenly, a light voice came over, ¡°She may not know, but I do!¡± Chapter 400 - Chapter 400: Chapter 391: Chapter 400: Chapter 391: Everyone followed the sound. It turned out to be the beautiful interviewer. Xiao Jinli walked over gracefully, her whole demeanor cold and sharp. She stood in front of Lu Xiangxiang and asked with a slightly serious expression, ¡°I know why you¡¯re like this. Do you want to know the reason?¡± Lu Xiangxiang asked eagerly, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because I¡¯m ugly and stupid?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Fang Jingjing laughed and said, ¡°Xiangxiang, you silly girl. Miss Xiao just said earlier that you are a smart and hardworking kid. How did you suddenly become ugly and stupid? It seems like your brainwashing isn¡¯t working very well.¡± They were reminded that they could call Xiao Jinli Miss Xiao or directly call her by her name. Lu Xiangxiang thought about it and admitted, ¡°It is true. Actually, even now I can¡¯t remember how I became boyfriends and girlfriends with this scumbag, or how I became close friends with this woman? It felt like I had been cursed, willingly and selflessly devoted to them, and took their words as the gospel, which made me fall into self-doubt. Miss Xiao, you mentioned that you know the reason; please let me know!¡± Xiao Jinli turned around, her beautiful eyes and sharp gaze lightly swept over the two, and the corners of her mouth revealed a hint of mockery, ¡°Xiangxiang, although you haven¡¯t been cursed, it¡¯s almost the same. Because you were hypnotized by someone.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Upon hearing this, not only Lu Xiangxiang but also the others were shocked. ¡°Hypnotized by someone?¡± Someone exclaimed, ¡°What kind of hypnotism is so powerful that it can make people do whatever they say, as if they were cursed?¡± At this moment, Lu Xiangxiang also realized that she had been manipulated by them. Lu Xiangxiang asked sternly, ¡°Is that true?¡± When Ren YingYing was exposed by Xiao Jinli, her face turned white in an instant, and she was horrified. Facing Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s questioning, she shook her head violently, ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. Xiangxiang, don¡¯t believe them. I really wanted to be friends with you, and I didn¡¯t use hypnotism or anything. We¡¯ve been friends for two years! Do you trust me, or someone you¡¯ve only known for two to three days?¡± Lu Xiangxiang already had the answer in her heart. It turned out that she had been hypnotized, which was why she inexplicably became friends with Chen Hao, the scumbag, and Ren YingYing, the cheap woman. No wonder they used her as they pleased before, with no trace of friendship, treating her like private property, a servant, and an ATM. Still, even so, she didn¡¯t feel anything was wrong. But after coming to Xiao Family Village and being pointed out by Fang Jingjing and the others, even she felt it was unbelievable. She used to have a good personal relationship with friends, classmates, and teachers. But after getting to know them, it seemed like she was isolated by everyone else, and the only ones she could make friends with were them. She didn¡¯t even know the reason herself. Xiao Jinli continued to say to her, ¡°The reason you woke up in Xiao Family Village is that the fresh air of Xiao Family Village activated the hypnotism.¡± This explanation made Ren YingYing and Chen Hao understand the root cause immediately. So that¡¯s how it was. They wondered how Lu Xiangxiang managed to break free from their control after just one visit to Xiao Family Village. Ren YingYing deeply regretted it. If she had known, they would never have come to Xiao Family Village. They came to Xiao Family Village not only to test if their conditions could be hired as actors for this job. Their previous plan was that even if they were hired, they would find an excuse to refuse. But the reason they came was to take advantage of the reputation of the Lu Xian Group in Xiao Family Village. Who didn¡¯t know that the job positions in the Lu Xian Group were hard to come by, and the recruitment process was notoriously strict? But Once hired, the benefits were excellent. Their goal was one of the top enterprises in Kyoto, especially the Su Corporation, the number one enterprise. Ren YingYing¡¯s ultimate goal was Su Yichen. Su Yichen was a handsome young man, and most importantly, he was rich and powerful. Even if she couldn¡¯t become the main wife, being a mistress or a concubine, the wealth that Su Yichen let slip through his fingers would be enough for her to live a life of luxury and wealth. As for Chen Hao, his goal was, of course, the Lu Corporation. As long as he could marry Lu Xiangxiang, the Lu Corporation would be as good as his. He and Ren YingYing were merely harboring their ulterior motives. However, they enjoyed playing with Lu Xiangxiang. Once they were hired by the Lu Xian Group and then rejected by them, they would have a significant advantage when applying for jobs at other companies. They brought Lu Xiangxiang here for two reasons: one was to show off themselves, the other was to pay for their travel expenses. Things like staying in hotels, eating meals, and shopping all came out of Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s pocket. Another purpose for coming to Xiao Family Village was, of course, to enjoy the food and fun at the Xiao Village Farmhouse. The Xiao Village Farmhouse had a reputation worldwide, and missing out on the opportunity to visit Xiao Family Village would indeed be a great regret. Now that there was a generous fool to foot the bill, why not enjoy it? Little did they expect that a trip to Xiao Family Village would be so strange and cause everything to fall apart. Ren YingYing was extremely annoyed in her heart, her eyes filled with venomous light, staring straight at Xiao Jinli and resentfully saying, ¡°You, bitch, why do you meddle in other people¡¯s business? We don¡¯t bother each other. With you, we have no reason or hatred. Why do you have to frame us?¡± Hearing this, Xiao Jinli sneered, ¡°I¡¯ve lived so long, and this is the first time someone has called me a bitch. You guys were malicious, trying to control people for your use, and now you want to play the victim and push the blame onto me? I must say, you¡¯re quite bold.¡± Xiao Jinli was never someone to be bullied, especially on her own turf. Ren YingYing had her true face exposed and had nothing to hide. She yelled angrily, ¡°What right do you have to say that? I¡¯m just making plans for myself. What¡¯s wrong with that? People who don¡¯t act for themselves will be punished by heaven and earth! Lu Xiangxiang was born wealthy. What¡¯s the problem with her spending a little money on us? We didn¡¯t ask for her life.¡± Fang Jingjing and the others were dumbfounded. She had done such evil things and still had the nerve to be so arrogant. It was really rare to see such a person. Fang Jingjing was stunned for a moment and then said, ¡°My goodness, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen such a wicked person, and yet they¡¯re so self-righteous.¡± Someone else also had their eyes wide open, ¡°My goodness. She¡¯s not that old, but how can she be so calculating and evil-hearted?¡± ¡°Absolutely. She hypnotized someone, treated them like a slave, and spent their money. How did she come up with such an idea?¡± ¡°Wait a minute. Hypnosis? That¡¯s not something ordinary people can do, especially controlling people¡¯s hypnosis. Does she know hypnotism?¡± ¡°No way.¡± ¡­ Lu Xiangxiang listened to the murmurs of the crowd and had a guess in her heart. Chapter 401 - Chapter 401: Chapter 392: Chapter 401: Chapter 392: Ren Yingying and Chen Hao are just ordinary people who have just arrived in Xiao Family Village and have no idea what kind of reputation Xiao Jinli has. Calling Jinli a cheap person? ¡°Smack¡± Ren Yingying¡¯s face was slapped by someone. Well, it wasn¡¯t Jinli who did it. It was Xiao Chunjing, a villager from Xiao Family Village. He was working in the cafeteria. Seeing that there was a dispute here, he came over, fearing that a conflict might arise and it would be bad if someone got hurt. Later, Xiao Jinli appeared, indicating that this matter was not simple. Villagers working in the cafeteria gathered around to protect Jinli¡¯s safety. Well, even though Jinli was strong and didn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s protection, they would still instinctively protect her. Unexpectedly, Jinli was scolded by someone. How could this happen? Just like Jinli herself said, no one had ever called her a cheap person from childhood till now. How could they allow others to scold Jinli? Xiao Chunjing shouted angrily, ¡°Jinli is our Xiao Family Village¡¯s treasure. How dare you scold our Jinli on our Xiao Family Village¡¯s territory? Where did you get the courage from?¡± ¡°Exactly, our Jinli just exposed your true nature of harming others, and you still have the shamelessness to scold others.¡± ¡°Young lady, you look young and beautiful. How can you have such poisonous mouth and evil heart?¡± ¡°Hmph, hitting you is too light. Who told you to be so cheap-mouthed? At such a young age, not doing proper things and specializing in crooked ways, you¡¯re simply born evil.¡± ¡­ The people of Xiao Family Village are biased. Especially when their village treasure is bullied, they must protect her. Ren Yingying covered her slapped face, and saw that everyone was protecting Xiao Jinli, she was both angry and furious. At this moment, she foolishly said, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for her meddling, would I scold her? And you hit me; I¡¯m going to call the police?¡± Xiao Chunjing was not afraid at all. He nodded and said, ¡°You want to call the police, right? Then go ahead. I¡¯d like to see whether the government officials would arrest you, the cruel person who harmed others, or me, the person who slapped you lightly.¡± Reminded by him, Ren Yingying hesitated again. She couldn¡¯t fight these people, both angry and furious. She turned around and complained to Chen Hao with a grievance, ¡°Brother Hao, they are bullying us too much. Wuu¡­¡± Chen Hao was even more furious, but he didn¡¯t dare to mess with the people of Xiao Family Village, so he picked on the easy target and yelled at Lu Xiangxiang, ¡°Lu Xiangxiang, we have been boyfriend and girlfriend for so long, and you¡¯ve been close friends with Yingying for so long too. Are you really going to watch us being bullied by these people?¡± When he said this, Lu Xiangxiang almost burst into laughter. Chen Hao really thought she was still the Lu Xiangxiang who used to be at his beck and call. Lu Xiangxiang sneered, ¡°Hehe, so funny. Wasn¡¯t it you guys who bullied others first? You think you can scold Miss Xiao and not allow her to fight back? Who do you think you are, the Emperor? Chen Hao, Ren Yingying, I think it¡¯s time for you to wake up from your beautiful dream. If you know what¡¯s good for you, apologize to Miss Xiao and get the hell out of Xiao Family Village!¡± Chen Hao¡¯s face darkened, and he gritted his teeth, ¡°Fine, very ruthless, Lu Xiangxiang. In the future, even if you kneel down and beg me to get back together, I won¡¯t agree.¡± Fang Jingjing looked speechless and said loudly, ¡°How big of a face do you think you have? Your girlfriend was originally obtained by stealing and cheating, right? Tsk tsk, I¡¯ve really broadened my horizons today, witnessing such a shameless couple.¡± ¡°You¡­,¡± Chen Hao was at a loss for words to refute. ¡°What ¡®you¡¯?¡± Fang Jingjing said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not the easy-to-bully Lu Xiangxiang. If you know what¡¯s good for you, take your woman and get out.¡± Xiao Jinli said, ¡°They can¡¯t leave now. They scolded me, and how can they just roll out of Xiao Family Village? Isn¡¯t that making me lose face? Anyway, anyone who sees me has to call me Miss Xiao.¡± Ren Yingying¡¯s face changed and she asked, ¡°What¡­what do you want?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want anything. I just don¡¯t like being scolded by others,¡± Xiao Jinli said with an indifferent expression, but her aura could not be ignored, ¡°So when someone scolds me, I must take revenge a hundred times over. How about this: you slap yourself while saying, ¡®I am a cheap person.¡¯ Slap yourself a hundred times and say ¡®I am a cheap person¡¯ a hundred times, and I will let you go. How about it?¡± Ren Yingying¡¯s face turned pale, and she looked around at the unfamiliar faces, none of whom were willing to help her. But how could she willingly let others bully her? She said, ¡°You are illegally imprisoning and abusing me. This is against the law. I¡¯ll call the police. I want to leave here, Brother Hao, let¡¯s get out of here.¡± With that, the two of them tried to leave. But there were people all around, and no one would let them through, making it impossible for them to leave. Their faces grew uglier. Xiao Jinli laughed, ¡°Am I illegally imprisoning you? I haven¡¯t restricted your freedom, have I? I¡¯m abusing you, but isn¡¯t it you who hit yourself?¡± ¡°You¡­,¡± Ren Yingying¡¯s face turned blue and white with anger. In Xiao Family Village, surrounded by villagers, how could they leave? Chen Hao shouted angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t push people too far!¡± Xiao Jinli shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, ¡°So what if I push people too far? If you have the guts, bite me.¡± Chen Hao, ¡°¡­¡± This was the first time he had seen someone so confidently boastful about bullying others. The villagers and employees of Xiao Family Village said, ¡°Humph, it¡¯s you who bullied people too far in the first place. Our Jinli, who isn¡¯t treated like a treasure in everyone¡¯s hands, but you guys start off by cursing her. Are we dead?¡± ¡°Hurry up and slap yourself, and call yourself a cheap person. We will generously send you out of Xiao Family Village, and we won¡¯t welcome people like you back in the future.¡± Chen Hao and Ren Yingying were surrounded by everyone. Some people were taking videos, waiting to post them out later, thinking that it would bring in a lot of traffic. Xiao Family Village, with their majority, bullied foreign tourists. No, they bullied job applicants. Xiao Family Village, which everyone saw as a fairyland, had become a place of bullying. ¡­ In short, those eye-catching headlines had all been thought of, and they were just waiting for the material. It¡¯s just that they had forgotten that anything with Xiao Jinli in it would disappear without a trace when it got out. Moreover, they would not allow people to misunderstand Xiao Family Village by distorting the truth and tarnishing its reputation. Ren Yingying and Chen Hao were surrounded by everyone with ugly faces. However, they were still unwilling to admit their mistakes and compromise. So they pinned their hopes on Lu Xiangxiang once again. Ren Yingying pretended to be innocent and said, ¡°Xiangxiang, are you really going to be so heartless? Letting outsiders bully us, does that make you happy?¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Jingjing wanted to get angry and scold them but was stopped by Lu Xiangxiang. She said, ¡°I¡¯ll handle my own affairs.¡± Then Lu Xiangxiang said, ¡°Don¡¯t you know who bullied whom first? Hurry up and do what you should do, and then get lost.¡± In the end, Ren Yingying and Chen Hao could only slap themselves and call themselves cheap before they left in embarrassment. Chapter 402 - Chapter 402: Chapter 393: Chapter 402: Chapter 393: Lu Zhiqiang called Lu Xiangxiang, his voice full of anger, ¡°Sis, I have the results of the investigation you asked me to conduct. I¡¯ll send them to you later. Chen Hao and Ren Yingying are truly despicable. The truth is indeed as you speculated, they have hypnotized you.¡± After Ren Yingying and Chen Hao left Xiao Family Village, Lu Xiangxiang had called Lu Zhiqiang to investigate the two of them. Soon, the results of the investigation were sent to Lu Xiangxiang. Looking at these documents, Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s face turned red with anger. Both of them had come from the countryside, having been exposed to the prosperity of big cities and the luxury goods flaunted by their classmates, gradually eroding their innocence. They also desired such luxurious lifestyles, yearning for branded clothing, jewelry, and handbags. However, they had only come from the countryside, where their families had exhausted all their resources to support them. Other than basic living expenses, they simply did not have extra money to indulge in frivolities. Even when they worked part-time jobs, they hardly earned enough to afford upscale cosmetics. Consequently, they hatched a plan. By chance, they met a Hypnosis Master. The Hypnosis Master claimed he could allow them to live the good life. Even after using all their resources still wasn¡¯t enough, Ren YingYing offered herself up. The Hypnosis Master then gifted her with a special object and taught her hypnotism. At first, they targeted many individuals, people with wealth and status. Yet, the effects of their hypnotism were minimal. They had to consult the Hypnosis Master again, who advised them to seek out individuals with pure and simple personalities for better results. After careful selection, they gradually oriented their scheme towards Lu Xiangxiang, their dorm mate. Ren Yingying hadn¡¯t initially viewed Lu Xiangxiang as a target. She presumed Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s family was poor due to her simple clothes, her lack of makeup, and absence of any significant piece of jewelry. However, during a part-time job at a hotel, Ren Yingying unexpectedly ran into Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s family gathering. The grandiose event and the obsequious manager left her utterly stupefied. Only later did she hear that the Lu Family was extremely wealthy and influential in Capital City. Lu Xiangxiang was Miss Lv! Unsought, her search had ended in an unexpected place with unexpected ease! Taking advantage of their shared dormitory, Ren Yingying quickly hypnotized Lu Xiangxiang, and the results were remarkably effective. Subsequently, the unlikely pair, much to the surprise of their other classmates, became inseparable friends. Then, under Ren Yingying¡¯s introduction, Lu Xiangxiang met Chen Hao. Not long after, Chen Hao confessed his feelings to Lu Xiangxiang, who unwittingly accepted. Having frequently reinforced her hypnotism on Lu Xiangxiang, Ren Yingying concluded that the timing was right, and gradually revealed her true intentions. They began using various excuses to wheedle money and make purchases from Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s accounts. In fear of exposure, they isolated Lu Xiangxiang from her other acquaintances by convincing her that she was ugly and foolish, and unlikable to all. Then, they told the other classmates that Lu Xiangxiang looked down on them and was unwilling to interact with them. Therefore, besides her nominal boyfriend Chen Hao and Ren Yingying, Lu Xiangxiang had no one else. Even her good friends were estranged under Ren Yingying¡¯s urging. After starting university, in an attempt to encourage her independence, Lu Xiangxiang rarely returned home. Her contact with her family was limited to occasional phone calls, or when her family members came to visit her, or when she would occasionally return home. However, every time Lu Xiangxiang wanted to go home, Ren Yingying would come up with various pretexts to prevent her from leaving. As a result, Lu Xiangxiang¡¯s strange behavior did seem a little odd to her family members, but they didn¡¯t dwell on it. They would never have imagined that their beloved daughter had fallen under someone else¡¯s manipulative spell. When Father Lv found out the truth from his son, he was utterly furious. ¡°These two vile creatures, daring to victimize my daughter.¡± Father Lv said angrily, ¡°Alright, alright, this is very good. From now on, if they can still get by in Capital City, I¡¯ll take their last name.¡± Then, he gave the order to his son to transfer the results of the investigation to his daughter while preparing for his retaliation against the two culprits. To him, they were just two insignificant figures, and if he were to retaliate against them, he would not need to lift a finger personally. But since they had the audacity to bully his daughter, he would take matters into his own hands. His precious pearl, whom he held in the palm of his hands, had been manipulated into becoming their ATM. On top of that, they had been spreading rumors and slandering his daughter. If he didn¡¯t take revenge, he would dishonor his paternal duty. Thus, before Chen Hao and Ren Yingying could even return to school, their troubles had already begun. On their journey back, if they weren¡¯t robbed by thieves, they would be harassed by petty gangsters. When they finally returned to Capital City and arrived back at school in disarray, they were informed that they had been expelled. Ren Yingying and Chen Hao were completely dumbfounded. ¡°Why? Why have we been expelled?¡± Upon hearing of the expulsion, as panic set in, Ren Yingying demanded an explanation. The Teaching Director looked at them coldly and said, ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you know what you¡¯ve done? How audacious of you to plot against Miss Lv. Now that her father is livid, he¡¯s determined to avenge his beloved pearl. Alright then, since the two of you are no longer students of our school, hurry up and move out.¡± He then called over two student council members and pointed at Ren Yingying and Chen Hao, ¡°You two, go help them move out of the dormitory as quickly as possible.¡± Ren Yingying stopped him and pleaded, ¡°Director Wang, we were wrong. Please, don¡¯t expel us. We¡¯ve realized our mistake! Please, please¡­¡± Their future would be ruined once expelled. They would be unable to find good jobs in the future and would be limited to working menial tasks or labor in factories. This was not the life they¡¯d dreamed of. Director Wang, irritated, responded, ¡°The decision to expel you couldn¡¯t have been mine. You pleading with me is useless. People like you with malicious intent and corrupt morals ¨C allowing you to stay would tarnish the hundred-year reputation of our school. You two should think about what¡¯s next.¡± With that, he prepared to leave. Ren Yingying, unwilling to give up, tried again to stop him, pleading, ¡°Director Wang, please ask for mercy on my behalf. I know I made a mistake but could you not expel me? Please help me retain my student status. As long as you help me¡­¡± Here she bit her lower lip and with a little embarrassment continued, ¡°I¡¯ll do anything¡­¡± This naturally included compromising herself. On hearing this, Director Wang laughed coldly and said, ¡°Ha ha, Miss Ren, you¡¯re pleading with the wrong person. Let me tell you, the decision to expel came from the school¡¯s highest governing body. You¡¯re under harsh scrutiny, no one is going to save you now. As I said before, you two must face the consequences.¡± No one wants to deal with individuals who harbor ambitious aspirations, but are unwilling to work hard and instead resort to malicious tactics. Chapter 403 - Chapter 403: Chapter 394: Chapter 403: Chapter 394: The casting process took three days, and they selected six pairs, six men, six women. They arranged for these twelve people to work at different times. For instance, Fang Jingjing and Lu Xiangxiang were still college students, so they could only work during the holidays, making them part-time workers. The rest were full-time workers. There were two performances every day. Now that the cast was chosen, Xiao Jinli handed off the other tasks and didn¡¯t interfere. However, she had the intention to foster the first four that were picked, so she handed them over to professionals for special training. As the company chairman, she couldn¡¯t micromanage everything and needed to delegate tasks to others appropriately. If Xiao Yucheng knew her thoughts, he would probably roll his eyes. She was nothing like a micromanager, she was more like a hands-off executive. Of course, they knew that even though Xiao Jinli seemed free, she was actually quite busy, especially with her medical responsibilities, which sometimes kept her rushed off her feet. Since the hospital could have critically ill patients at any time, Xiao Jinli needed to be there promptly. However, what Xiao Jinli and Su Yichen were waiting for now was a move from the state of Plum Firm. At the office place, Xiao Jinli was musing with one hand on her chin and lightly tapping the table with the other, ¡°What¡¯s going on with Plum Firm? You extended an olive branch to them, why haven¡¯t they responded yet? I¡¯m getting a little impatient.¡± Especially after hearing from Xu Guochang that Plum Firm would take some action against him, she was expecting them to collaborate with some companies in Dragon State. But when she was waiting for their next move, there was no news. Xiao Jinli thought for a while and said, ¡°It seems I should take the initiative. Getting rid of the hazard of Plum Firm as early as possible is the best thing to do.¡± Su Yichen laughed and said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait again. Perhaps, my response might trigger them to hatch a bigger conspiracy, which would provide us in Dragon State a good opportunity to crush Plum Firm, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Xiao Jinli thought for a moment again and said, ¡°Alright, I will listen to you and wait a bit longer.¡± In the dark, she instructed Xiao Zhi to investigate what was Plum Firm up to. However, what Xiao Jinli had not anticipated was that ¨C before getting wind of the plot from Plum Firm, a love rival who was not a love rival had come into the picture. Liang Shanshan came to Xiao Family Village in a hurry, and therefore did not book a room at the Xiao Family Village Hotel in advance. But she was rich, of course. She paid ten times the normal rate to make an ordinary guest give up his room. A standard room cost three hundred yuan a day, ten times the price would be three thousand yuan. As she already had stayed at the Xiao Family Village Hotel for two nights and enjoyed the stay, there was no reason for her to refuse a high asking price equivalent to her monthly salary now. Three days left, yielding almost ten thousand yuan. Why wouldn¡¯t she? But she did not check out of the hotel; she just moved in. The transaction was between them, and they were adults. The hotel had no right to interfere. As long as they did not cause trouble in the hotel, the hotel turned a blind eye. Of course, the transaction duration could only be the time the first guest had booked. Once time was up, regardless of who was inside, they had to check out and let the next reserved guest move in. These were the rules of the Xiao Family Village Hotel. For booking the Xiao Family Village Hotel, every guest must reserve a room one month in advance. What Liang Shanshan wanted was to get into the hotel, and if there was a first person selling a room, there would be a second, so she was not worried. After all, she had money. She was willing to spend tens of thousands yuan to stay calmly. Of course, she wanted to live in a better room, but the best rooms in Xiao Family Village Hotel was occupied by the rich who had booked and would not likely sell their rooms as they were not short of money. Luckily, the standard rooms at Xiao Family Village were quite nice, and even though she looked down upon them, she reluctantly accepted it. Upon settling in, she began to inquire about Su Yichen¡¯s whereabouts. At first, she thought Su Yichen was staying at the Xiao Family Village Hotel, and given Su Yichen¡¯s status, she presumed that he would definitely be staying in the best room. So, she waited nearby, waiting for the opportunity to emerge. However, after a day passing by, she did not see the person she was looking for. Then she thought about asking the reception. However, customer information was confidential, and anyone who wanted to keep their job would not expose customer information. Liang Shanshan never imagined that while she was inquiring about Su Yichen, Xiao Yucheng would receive the news from the other side. ¡°You said a woman was inquiring about Su Yichen¡¯s information?¡± Xiao Yucheng listened to the hotel manager¡¯s report. Manager Li nodded, ¡°Yes. And judging by the woman¡¯s accent, she seems to be from the Capital City.¡± ¡°Do you know her name?¡± Xiao Yucheng asked. ¡°She goes by Liang Shanshan.¡± A woman from Capital City inquiring about Su Yichen is likely to have schemed something. Of course, considering Su Yichen¡¯s status, ordinary girls wouldn¡¯t dare to casually inquire about him. A young, pretty girl from Capital City came looking for Su Yichen. A cryptic smile appeared on Xiao Yucheng¡¯s face, ¡°It seems that our little Koi has a love rival!¡± Manager Li paused for a moment, ¡°Ha, Miss Xiao¡¯s love rival? Chairman, do you mean that this woman called Liang Shanshan could be Miss Xiao¡¯s love rival?¡± Xiao Yucheng nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s highly likely.¡± ¡°Ah, should we get this Miss Liang out of here then?¡± Manager Li asked anxiously, ¡°Miss Xiao has not accepted Mr. Su¡¯s confession yet. Will this woman¡¯s intervention cause Miss Xiao to misunderstand?¡± Xiao Yucheng laughed, ¡°A misunderstanding would be good, that¡¯s precisely what we want.¡± Everyone saw Xiao Jinli and Su Yichen as a perfect couple. It¡¯s just that for some reason, his sister is yet to accept Su Yichen¡¯s confession. In such a case, a catalyst could be of help. If Su Yichen can resist the temptation and stay true to his heart, then he is worthy of his sister. Also, it will help Xiao Jinli to realize her true feelings. Xiao Jinli was so mature, understanding, and obedient that everyone almost forgot that she was a girl. Girls need to fall in love, and they need to get married and have children in the future for a complete life. Xiao Yucheng said, ¡°Manager Li, come, tell Miss Liang this¡­.¡± Xiao Yucheng conveyed a few instructions to Manager Li, and finally reminded him, ¡°This matter must be kept confidential, especially from Miss Xiao.¡± After thinking for a bit, he added, ¡°No, the information should reach Miss Xiao.¡± Manager Li was slightly astonished, ¡°Chairman, is this¡­ alright?¡± Xiao Yucheng affirmed, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s perfectly alright. Go ahead and do as I said.¡± Manager Li had to comply, ¡°Yes, chairman!¡± Leaving the chairman¡¯s office, he murmured to himself, ¡°Is the chairman really hoping for the best for Miss Xiao?¡± Chapter 404 - Chapter 404: Chapter 395: Chapter 404: Chapter 395: Manager Li listened to Xiao Yucheng¡¯s instructions and told the receptionist to reveal Su Yichen¡¯s information. When Liang Shanshan came out in the lobby, the receptionist stopped her and said with a smile, ¡°Miss Liang, does your offer from this morning still stand?¡± Upon hearing this, Liang Shanshan raised an eyebrow and appeared disdainful. She calmly replied, ¡°Of course.¡± She knew this information could be bought with money. The receptionist looked around and whispered to Liang Shanshan, ¡°Miss Liang, let¡¯s talk over there.¡± The receptionist pulled Liang Shanshan to a corner, hesitated and nervously said, ¡°Miss Liang, if I tell you Mr. Su¡¯s information, will you really give me 20,000 yuan?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Liang Shanshan replied with a contemptuous look. With determination, the receptionist revealed, ¡°Actually, Mr. Su is not staying at the hotel!¡± ¡°Su Yichen isn¡¯t staying at the hotel?¡± Liang Shanshan asked with slight surprise, ¡°Then where is he staying?¡± ¡°Miss Liang,¡± the receptionist gestured, implying that Liang Shanshan should pay up first. Liang Shanshan said, ¡°Give me your account number, and I¡¯ll transfer the money to you immediately.¡± The receptionist provided the account number, and within two minutes, the receptionist received a bank deposit notification. Upon seeing the money deposited, the receptionist¡¯s face immediately displayed satisfaction. She said, ¡°Mr. Su is not staying at the hotel. He¡¯s staying at Miss Xiao¡¯s house.¡± ¡°Which Miss Xiao?¡± Liang Shanshan asked in confusion. ¡°Hmm, there are many people surnamed Xiao in Xiao Family Village, but in the entire village, there¡¯s only one person called Miss Xiao,¡± the receptionist said, ¡°Walk straight from the hotel entrance, take the second fork in the road, and continue¡­ ¡± The receptionist described Xiao Jinli¡¯s address. Liang Shanshan asked with confusion, ¡°Why is he staying at Miss Xiao¡¯s house?¡± The receptionist appeared surprised, ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Mr. Su is pursuing Miss Xiao.¡± ¡°So called getting the moon first by staying by the water, Mr. Su is living directly in Miss Xiao¡¯s house.¡± After saying this, the receptionist realized she had said too much, hastily covered her mouth, and said nervously, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Liang. I have to go back to work now.¡± With that, she hurriedly left. ¡°Miss Xiao?¡± Liang Shanshan recalled what her father had said before: Su Yichen had confessed his feelings to a girl from Xiao Family Village. Could that girl be Miss Xiao? And she was from Xiao Family Village? On Liang Shanshan¡¯s beautiful and delicate face, a confident and victorious smile appeared. Disdainfully she said, ¡°I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s Miss Xiao or Miss (»ñС) Huo, Su Yichen can only belong to me, Miss Liang. Hmph¡­ No one can steal the man I set my sights on.¡± From childhood till now, she had never been disappointed in obtaining what she wanted. Now it was the same for men. Upon learning Su Yichen¡¯s exact whereabouts, Liang Shanshan was in no hurry. Anyway, this man will be hers sooner or later. He can¡¯t escape. Liang Shanshan thought for a moment and took the elevator upstairs. After her figure disappeared, the receptionist¡¯s greedy face changed and she said worriedly to Manager Li beside her, ¡°Manager, is it really okay for me to sell Mr. Su and Miss Xiao¡¯s information like this? And who should I give these 20,000 yuan to? I don¡¯t want to lose my job by taking advantage of this.¡± Although she was a receptionist, her salary was not low. She earned tens of thousands of yuan per month. If she lost this job, it would be difficult to find another one like this. Manager Li patted her shoulder and said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re just following orders. The president said to give Miss Xiao a sense of crisis. You know, everyone in the whole Xiao Family Village wants Mr. Su and Miss Xiao to be together. All of them think that only the young and talented wealthiest person, Mr. Su, is barely good enough for Miss Xiao. Although Miss Xiao and Mr. Su have been close childhood friends, it seems that she hasn¡¯t accepted his confession yet.¡± The receptionist understood immediately. However, she still had some worries in her heart, ¡°This Miss Liang looks quite beautiful and innocent, can she successfully snatch Mr. Su away?¡± Manager Li said with amusement, ¡°If Mr. Su can be easily seduced and taken away by others, he¡¯s not worthy of a divine beauty like Miss Xiao.¡± The receptionist nodded thoughtfully, ¡°You¡¯re right. If one can¡¯t resist temptation before marriage, the marriage itself will just turn into a harem. The fairy-like Miss Xiao surely can¡¯t be with such a man. She must be with the best man in the world, just barely good enough for her.¡± After going upstairs, Liang Shanshan applied light makeup, put on a conservative white dress, let her long black hair fall loosely, and her pretty face made her look pure and stunning. Then, she dragged a suitcase and left her room. The receptionist asked her, ¡°Miss Liang, are you checking out?¡± Of course, it wasn¡¯t her who booked the room, so she was just staying there temporarily. However, since she was leaving, the receptionist had to ask. Liang Shanshan coldly replied, ¡°No!¡± She just wanted to act pitiful in front of Su Yichen. If he had a soft heart, he would surely arrange a room for her. But everyone in the Capital City knew that Su Yichen was a cold-hearted man who didn¡¯t have any interest in women. Although she had met him a few times, they weren¡¯t very familiar with each other. She knew him, but he didn¡¯t know her. Just in case Su Yichen didn¡¯t care about her, she still had a backup plan. The receptionist reminded her, ¡°Miss Liang, there¡¯s only one more night left for your room. It might cause some trouble for you afterwards¡­¡± To find another hotel. Liang Shanshan¡¯s face darkened, ¡°I know. I don¡¯t need your reminder.¡± In her heart, she planned to buy another night from whichever guest happens to be there the following night. Liang Shanshan approached a man in a cap with the Xiao Family Village Estate logo and asked, ¡°Excuse me, which way is Miss Xiao¡¯s house?¡± She was looking for Su Yichen. But directly asking for Su Yichen would raise too much suspicion, and she didn¡¯t know if others would tell her. ¡°You¡¯re looking for Miss Xiao?¡± Xiao Chunming looked at Liang Shanshan suspiciously, ¡°Who are you? What do you want with her?¡± Liang Shanshan replied arrogantly and indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m her friend.¡± Xiao Chunming could tell that she was lying just from her attitude. Jinli would never be friends with such an arrogant and seemingly insincere woman. Xiao Chunming coldly said, ¡°If you¡¯re her friend, call her. Don¡¯t ask me.¡± With that, he ignored Liang Shanshan and continued with his work. Liang Shanshan stamped her foot in anger. Subsequently, she asked several people, but whenever she claimed to be Miss Xiao¡¯s friend, no one would pay her any attention, which infuriated her. She realized that everyone here was very protective of Miss Xiao. She eventually wised up and stopped asking about Miss Xiao, but instead followed the receptionist¡¯s directions and found the Xiao family¡¯s house directly. Chapter 405 - Chapter 405: Chapter 396: Chapter 405: Chapter 396: Liang Shanshan pulled her suitcase and walked to a place not far from the entrance of the Xiao Family. The Xiao Family was not a tourist attraction, and there were barricades set up from a distance due to the sensitive identity of the grumpy old men. ¡°Hello, Miss, who are you looking for?¡± asked the security guard. Having failed to find Miss Xiao several times before, Liang Shanshan directly said, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Su Yichen. I¡¯m his friend.¡± She said ¡°friend¡±, just as a probe. At first, she wanted to say ¡°girlfriend¡±. The security guard frowned and then politely asked, ¡°Miss, if you are a friend of Mr. Su¡¯s, you can contact him directly on the phone. No one can enter the house without permission.¡± What he meant by ¡°inside¡± was, of course, the Xiao Family. Liang Shanshan¡¯s face darkened when she heard this. It happened again. She had Su Yichen¡¯s work phone number but not his personal one. It was said that only a few people had his personal phone number. Liang Shanshan thought about it and said, ¡°I came from Capital City, and my family has business dealings with Su Corporation. I¡¯m also acquainted with Su Yichen. I came to travel to Xiao Family Village and couldn¡¯t find accommodation. I heard he¡¯s in Xiao Family Village, so I wanted to see if he could help me.¡± That was the reason why she had brought her suitcase here. The security guard still said, ¡°Miss, please wait a moment, I¡¯ll make a phone call.¡± Of course, he didn¡¯t have Su Yichen¡¯s phone number. The phone call was to Xiao Jinli¡¯s office. Now, there was no one at the Xiao Family. Everyone was working, while the old men were restless, wandering outside, fishing, climbing mountains, or helping to entertain tourists. In short, they didn¡¯t like to stay at home. Xiao Family Village was very safe, so they didn¡¯t need to worry about their physical condition. Su Yichen was also not in Xiao Jinli¡¯s office, and Xiao Jinli was rescuing a patient in the hospital. The security guard had no choice but to call the reception at Lu Xian Group. As soon as the reception picked up the phone, they knew that Liang Shanshan had gone there, and they were not surprised at all. What was slightly unexpected was that there was no one at the Xiao Family. The receptionist followed the instructions and called the President¡¯s office. After receiving the secretary¡¯s report, Xiao Yucheng hooked the corner of his mouth and said, ¡°I see. I¡¯ll call Su Yichen right now.¡± Then, he called Su Yichen with a serious expression and asked, ¡°Su Yichen, someone from Capital City, claiming to be your girlfriend, has come to the Xiao Family. What¡¯s going on? Shouldn¡¯t you explain?¡± Su Yichen looked puzzled and said, ¡°Girlfriend? Where did I get a girlfriend? I don¡¯t even have female friends, let alone girlfriends. Big brother Xiao, it must be a scam, right?¡± Xiao Yucheng replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a scam, but I know she¡¯s from Capital City, her surname is Liang, and she¡¯s said to have business dealings with you. Su Yichen, if you have a girlfriend and still flirt with my younger sister, not to mention me, the entire Xiao Family Village won¡¯t let you off. You¡¯d better watch out.¡± Without waiting for Su Yichen to explain, he hung up the phone directly. Xiao Jinli was still rescuing the patient, so he would call later. No, he should send a message first. Xiao Yucheng¡¯s edited message read: There¡¯s a girl from Capital City who claims to be Su Yichen¡¯s girlfriend. She¡¯s innnocent and beautiful. Ask Su Yichen what¡¯s going on. When Xiao Jinli returned from the rescue room and saw the message on her cellphone, her eyebrows furrowed slightly. On the other side, Su Yichen, who was working in his office, was startled when he received Xiao Yucheng¡¯s call. He was very clear whether he had a girlfriend or not. Her surname was Liang, and she had business dealings with him. Su Yichen couldn¡¯t remember which boss surnamed Liang had business dealings with him. As a woman had already found her way to the entrance of the Xiao Family, Su Yichen immediately stopped working. He wanted to see who this woman was, so audacious and presumptuous to pretend to be his girlfriend. Su Yichen hurried to the entrance of the Xiao Family and saw Liang Shanshan, who was dressed innocently. Before Su Yichen could ask, Liang Shanshan¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw him. She trotted up and called him shyly and coyly, ¡°Brother Yichen, I finally arrived. I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time.¡± Upon seeing Liang Shanshan coming closer, ??Su Yichen immediately stopped her, ¡°Stop, who are you?¡± Liang Shanshan¡¯s expression instantly stiffened, and then a wronged expression appeared on her face. ¡°Brother Yichen, I¡¯m Liang Shanshan. My father is Liang Haohan. We¡¯ve met at several parties.¡± She thought that even if Su Yichen hadn¡¯t begun to like her yet, at least he should know who she was. After all, her beauty was well-known in Capital City¡¯s upper-class circles, and many talented young men and playboys wanted to try their luck with her. Little did she know, he didn¡¯t even know who she was. This made Liang Shanshan feel somewhat defeated, and at the same time, a desire to conquer him arose in her heart. The more difficult a man was to deal with, the more people would want to conquer him. Once she took down Su Yichen, she would treat him like a dog and train him. When Su Yichen heard that she was the daughter of Liang Haohan, CEO of the Liang Group, a flash of disgust appeared in his eyes. He also remembered Liang Shanshan. In Capital City¡¯s upper-class circles, it was rumored that Liang Shanshan, with her beauty, had won numerous projects for her father. She also flirted with multiple men, and even declared that she would pursue him, Su Yichen. He found it disgusting that such a rotten person would dare to say she wanted to pursue him. With a cold smile, Su Yichen said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Liang, we are not familiar. Please call me Director Su or Mr. Su. I feel sick when you call me Brother Yichen.¡± As soon as his words fell, the security guards nearby couldn¡¯t help but laugh.¡± They really thought that Liang Shanshan and Mr. Su were very close. They didn¡¯t expect that he didn¡¯t know her at all and was even disgusted by her. That¡¯s right. Mr. Su only had eyes for Miss Xiao, how could he have ambiguous relations with other women? Su Yichen then said to the security guards, ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with this Miss Liang, so do whatever you need to do!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Su.¡± The two security guards replied with a stifled smile. Liang Shanshan¡¯s face turned green with anger, and her expression was very ugly. She never expected Su Yichen to be so unkind to her. Liang Shanshan looked at him leaving, with a pitiful expression, and said, ¡°Su Yichen, I¡¯m a stranger here, and there are no rooms available in the hotel. Since you¡¯re familiar with this area, can you please help me arrange my accommodation?¡± Su Yichen laughed, ¡°Miss Liang, please get it straight, I¡¯m not familiar with you at all. Why would I want to arrange your accommodation?¡± After that, he stopped paying attention to this self-righteous woman and left. Liang Shanshan looked at Su Yichen¡¯s back, her eyes revealing a determined expression. The two security guards politely said, ¡°Miss Liang, this is private property. Please leave.¡± Chapter 406 - Chapter 406: Chapter 397: Chapter 406: Chapter 397: Liang Shanshan had anticipated Su Yichen¡¯s rejection. After all, Su Yichen¡¯s indifference to women was well-known in Capital City. Although she was beautiful, she had seen Su Yichen several times before, but his eyes never lingered on her. She was just trying her luck this time. But with Su Yichen, she acted weak and polite; towards the two security guards, especially the ones urging her to leave, her face was rather ugly. Liang Shanshan held back her anger and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to rush me, I¡¯ll leave on my own.¡± The key now was to find out who Su Yichen had confessed his feelings to. It was said that she was a girl from the Xiao Family Village, and the receptionist said that Su Yichen was pursuing Miss Xiao. There was only information about Su Yichen¡¯s confession on the internet, but no videos or pictures. Liang Shanshan pulled her suitcase and walked back. Upon arriving at the hotel, Liang Shanshan went to the front desk for more information. However, this time she couldn¡¯t get any information about Miss Xiao from the receptionist. But the receptionist told her, ¡°Speaking of Miss Xiao, she is the most beautiful girl in our Xiao Family Village, oh no, she should be the most beautiful girl in the world with a face like a fairy. Moreover, Miss Xiao is very gentle and kind to everyone. We all like Miss Xiao.¡± Liang Shanshan, ¡°¡­¡± So, the information she got was that Miss Xiao was a very beautiful girl. Humph, how beautiful could she be? Was she more beautiful than herself? She was known as the number one beauty in Capital City. Even Zhou Bingbing, the number one beauty in the entertainment circle, was only worth seventy percent of her beauty. Liang Shanshan asked patiently, ¡°Where can I find Miss Xiao?¡± The receptionist asked with a puzzled face, ¡°Miss Liang, why are you looking for Miss Xiao? Do you know Miss Xiao? Or do you have something to ask Miss Xiao? If you have something to ask, just tell me, and I¡¯ll make an appointment for you, okay?¡± Hearing this, Liang Shanshan became a little unhappy and said, ¡°Do I need an appointment to meet Miss Xiao?¡± The receptionist answered naturally, ¡°Of course. Our Miss Xiao is very busy every day, and she has a lot of things to do. We usually don¡¯t disturb Miss Xiao unless it¡¯s a very important matter.¡± Liang Shanshan asked angrily, ¡°May I ask what kind of important figure Miss Xiao is in your company?¡± ¡°The Chairman!¡± The receptionist replied without thinking. However, after realizing her mistake, she immediately covered her mouth, glanced around to make sure no one had noticed, and breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°¡­¡± Liang Shanshan exclaimed surprisingly, ¡°What? Miss Xiao is the Chairman of your hotel?¡± No, she was the Chairman of the Lu Xian Group. The Xiao Family Village Hotel was under the Lu Xian Group. The receptionist covered her mouth and didn¡¯t want to say more, ¡°Miss Liang, I¡¯m sorry. If you need to see Miss Xiao, please leave your phone number, and we¡¯ll pass it on for you! If you want to see Miss Xiao directly, it might be a bit inconvenient!¡± If it wasn¡¯t for the orders from above, she wouldn¡¯t divulge any information about Miss Xiao. Liang Shanshan, ¡°¡­¡± She thought about it and tried her trick again, ¡°I¡¯ll be very grateful if you tell me everything about Miss Xiao.¡± She seemed to unconsciously raise five fingers, and with the other hand, she unconsciously wrote the word ¡°ten-thousand¡± on the table. That meant that she could get fifty thousand yuan for telling her about Miss Xiao. However, the receptionist laughed and said, ¡°Miss Liang, if you really want to see Miss Xiao, please leave your phone number and we¡¯ll make an appointment for you.¡± What a joke, fifty thousand yuan for finding out about Miss Xiao? No, no matter how much money was offered, it wouldn¡¯t be possible to buy any information about Miss Xiao. Seeing the receptionist¡¯s reaction, Liang Shanshan thought she didn¡¯t offer enough, so she doubled the offer. But the receptionist pretended not to understand. When the price increased to three hundred thousand, the reaction of the receptionist remained the same. Liang Shanshan thought that the other party was too greedy. After thinking about it, she decided that she would still have to stay in Xiao Family Village for a while, so she had plenty of time. She could find out for herself. Now she knew a critical piece of information, that Miss Xiao was actually the Chairman of the Lu Xian Group. This surprised her a lot. The Chairman of the Lu Xian Group was always a mysterious figure to the outside world. In the leadership structure of the Lu Xian Group, the only thing missing was an introduction to the Chairman. Back in her room, Liang Shanshan wore a white silk sleeping robe, swinging the red wine in her hand, her face showing a playful smile, and she chuckled softly, ¡°How interesting! The Chairman of the Lu Xian Group is a woman named Miss Xiao. I want to see what Miss Xiao¡¯s true face looks like.¡± She now felt challenged. It was not only the desire to conquer Su Yichen but also the urge to snatch someone from the hands of the Chairman of the Lu Xian Group. After a while, there was a knock on the door. After opening the door, the room manager politely said, ¡°Miss Liang, your time in this room ends at 12 o¡¯clock tonight. The next guest is already waiting in the resting hall. There are still four hours till 12 o¡¯clock, so please cooperate when the time comes.¡± Many guests didn¡¯t want to check out when it came to the scheduled time and wanted to extend their stay, but the hotel¡¯s policy was no extensions, and changes were not possible, so some customers would create a fuss. Liang Shanshan¡¯s face darkened and she said coldly, ¡°Alright, I know.¡± Just as the room manager was about to leave, Liang Shanshan asked again, ¡°What¡¯s the next guest¡¯s name? Can you help me contact that guest?¡± The receptionist smiled and refused, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Liang. Our hotel has a policy to protect customer information. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you with that.¡± Liang Shanshan¡¯s face darkened again, and she said disdainfully, ¡°I won¡¯t let you help for nothing. How about I give you this amount? Just like before.¡± She held up two fingers, meaning twenty thousand yuan. The receptionist¡¯s heart trembled. It was such a test of self-control. Just now, the price was three hundred thousand, and now it was twenty thousand. Anyone slightly greedy would probably be tempted. Of course, she was a foodie, and no matter how greedy she was, she couldn¡¯t enjoy delicious food more. If she took the three to four hundred thousand, she wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy a bite of Xiao Family Village Cafeteria¡¯s delicious food ever again, especially the food made by Miss Xiao¡¯s mother. On the other hand, the money was quite a lot, but it was only worth one or two years of her salary. If she took the three hundred thousand, she would lose her job, and she might never find such a good job again, with high salary and good welfare. Most importantly, she wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy delicious food. The receptionist took a deep breath and politely refused, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Liang, our company policy is our policy.¡± Liang Shanshan frowned and said displeasedly, ¡°Some things, once they have passed, can¡¯t be taken back.¡± Her point was to tell the receptionist not to be too greedy. It was just giving some information to a customer, twenty thousand yuan was already top-notch. The receptionist couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes after hearing this. She firmly and politely shook her head and said, ¡°Miss Liang, the company¡¯s rules are the rules. I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t help you.¡± After saying that, she left. Chapter 407 - Chapter 407: Chapter 398: Chapter 407: Chapter 398: Liang Shanshan¡¯s room was occupied, and the next guest refused to vacate it. This guest was on vacation with his family. He had booked the room a month in advance through his secretary. So, he was not short of money at all. Hearing that Liang Shanshan was offering money for him to leave the room, his attitude was one of contempt and arrogance, making him laugh in anger. He sneered and said, ¡°I won¡¯t leave. I had a hard time booking this room, and when the time came, I took my family on vacation here. You think you can just make me leave? Who do you think you are?¡± Liang Shanshan¡¯s face darkened as she said, ¡°How much money do you want to leave the room? Is one hundred thousand enough? For an ordinary person like you, one hundred thousand yuan must be your annual salary, right?¡± The man waved his hand and said, ¡°I¡¯ve told you, I won¡¯t leave. No matter how much money you offer, I won¡¯t leave. Do you really think that having money makes you great?¡± Was he really short of money? No, he just needed a room. If the Xiao Family Village Hotel had enough rooms, he wouldn¡¯t have to book this ordinary standard room for his family of five. ¡°Also, please pack up your things as soon as possible and leave.¡± The man was clearly angry, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you still have the nerve to stay here without packing up. The hotel even said that the guest had already left, so why are you still here?¡± He seemed to be talking to himself, but in fact, he was speaking to Liang Shanshan. It was not really the hotel¡¯s fault. The hotel had already urged her to pack up and leave, and had even changed her sheets and other supplies. Who would have thought that Liang Shanshan would be so thick-skinned? When the waitress turned her back, she left something in the room and then followed the waitress out with her suitcase. When the next guest arrived, she used the excuse that she had left something behind to enter the room and then approached the guest. Hearing this guest¡¯s words that were deliberately intended for her to hear, anger flashed across her face. Liang Shanshan held back her anger and, with a pale face, left the room. She couldn¡¯t stay in this room any longer, so she had to find other willing guests to sell their rooms. However, she couldn¡¯t waste her time looking for rooms all day; she needed someone to help her. She thought for a moment and called her father. Upon hearing this, Liang Haohan became somewhat annoyed and said, ¡°So, you didn¡¯t book a hotel room and disturbed your father in the middle of the night?¡± Liang Shanshan was also holding back her anger, complaining, ¡°Dad, you don¡¯t know how hard it is to book a room in Xiao Family Village Hotel? After I arrived here, I found someone who was willing to sell their room, and I had to pay ten times the price just to stay for three days. Now I¡¯ve been kicked out and am stranded in the lobby. Do you know how crowded this lobby is? It¡¯s even more crowded than an airport waiting hall.¡± Liang Haohan frowned and said, ¡°If there are no rooms in Xiao Family Village Hotel, can¡¯t you find another hotel?¡± Liang Shanshan rolled her eyes in the lobby and said, ¡°Dad, haven¡¯t you been to Xiao Family Village? Whether it¡¯s Xiao Family Village Hotel or the surrounding hotels and guesthouses, they all require advance reservations. And the accommodation conditions around the village can¡¯t be compared to Xiao Family Village Hotel.¡± Even the ordinary rooms in Xiao Family Village Hotel were so comfortable that Liang Shanshan had to admit it. It¡¯s hard to transition from luxury to frugality. After staying so comfortably in Xiao Family Village Hotel, she would definitely be even more picky about other hotels. ¡°Dad, I want to stay at Xiao Family Village Hotel. You need to find a way for me,¡± Liang Shanshan said. Liang Haohan said irritably, ¡°What can I do for you? Xiao Family Village Hotel is not an ordinary hotel. Staying there, whether rich or poor, requires advance reservations. Whoever makes the reservation gets the room. This hotel requires reservations one month in advance. How can I get a room for you with such short notice?¡± Liang Shanshan¡¯s eyes shifted and she said immediately, ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t you call Su Yichen and ask him to arrange accommodations for me?¡± Liang Haohan said irritably, ¡°Can¡¯t you find him yourself? Didn¡¯t you say that Su Yichen would be your servant? Wouldn¡¯t he help with such a small favor?¡± Naturally, Liang Shanshan wouldn¡¯t tell her father about being rejected by Su Yichen. She sighed softly and said, ¡°Dad, I haven¡¯t found Su Yichen yet. How can I ask for his help?¡± Liang Haohan asked suspiciously, ¡°Haven¡¯t you found Su Yichen yet? Isn¡¯t Su Yichen in Xiao Family Village?¡± Liang Shanshan said, ¡°He should be in Xiao Family Village, but maybe he¡¯s not staying in Xiao Family Village Hotel. I was refused when I inquired about his whereabouts at the hotel. Even when I offered a high price, people still refused. I can only look for him slowly.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Xiao Family Village so small that you still need so many days to find him?¡± Liang Haohan asked suspiciously, ¡°You¡¯ve been there for three days, right?¡± ¡°Is Xiao Family Village small?¡± Liang Shanshan laughed lightly, ¡°But do you know how many tourists come here every day for vacations? Several thousands. How am I supposed to find him? When I tried asking the people who work in Xiao Family Village, they all claimed they don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve been waiting in the hotel for several days and haven¡¯t seen a trace of Su Yichen. Actually, Xiao Family Village is not small at all. It¡¯s several times larger than Kyoto Botanical Garden. The hotel is very secretive about customer information. When they asked around the village for Su Yichen, everyone said there was no Su Yichen.¡± After listening, Liang Haohan was puzzled, ¡°Has Su Yichen left?¡± ¡°No!¡± Liang Shanshan said confidently, ¡°When I asked the reception for information earlier, they inadvertently said that Mr. Su is pursuing Miss Xiao.¡± ¡°Miss Xiao?¡± Liang Haohan was confused. ¡°She¡¯s the girl who looks like the one Su Yichen confessed to on the internet. She¡¯s a local of Xiao Family Village. People here call her Miss Xiao,¡± Liang Shanshan said, ¡°She¡¯s the chairman of the Lu Xian Group.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying the chairman of the Lu Xian Group is a young girl?¡± Liang Haohan was surprised. To know that the chairman of Lu Xian Group is definitely not a puppet, but has real power. It¡¯s said that many of the group¡¯s orders were personally issued by the chairman. However, the outside world does not know what the chairman of the Lu Xian Group looks like. Now that they suddenly heard the chairman was a young girl, it felt somewhat unreal. He asked again, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not mistaken?¡± Liang Shanshan wanted to roll her eyes as she said, ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m mistaken. When I was inquiring about the news, everyone here was very respectful of the chairman and called her Miss Xiao!¡± After listening, Liang Haohan paused for a moment and then said, ¡°Shanshan, it seems you¡¯re facing a very powerful opponent.¡± However, Liang Shanshan was full of confidence as she said, ¡°Hmph, no matter how great she is, Su Yichen will eventually be mine.¡± Chapter 408 - Chapter 408: Chapter 399: Chapter 408: Chapter 399: In order to solve Liang Shanshan¡¯s accommodation issue, Liang Haohan used many connections and finally found Li Minxing, who lives in Xiao Family Village and has greeted Lin¡¯s father, Chairman Li. Liang Haohan called Liang Shanshan and said, ¡°Li Minxing¡¯s family is living in Xiao Family Village. I¡¯ve talked to him, and you can stay at his place for a while.¡± Liang Shanshan frowned and asked suspiciously, ¡°How can his family live in Xiao Family Village? Aren¡¯t the living conditions here very strict? It¡¯s even more difficult than living in the Capital City.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know about that,¡± Liang Haohan ordered. ¡°Li Minxing¡¯s entire family lives there, so you need to tone down your spoiled behavior. If you annoy them and get kicked out, you¡¯ll have nowhere to stay.¡± Liang Shanshan nonchalantly replied, ¡°What is there to be afraid of? In the future, I will be the wife of Su Corporation¡¯s chairman, and they won¡¯t dare to offend me.¡± Liang Haohan felt a headache coming on and warned her sternly, ¡°Liang Shanshan, watch yourself. Before anything happens, you need to be cautious.¡± After listening, Liang Shanshan reluctantly said, ¡°Fine, I understand.¡± After hanging up her father¡¯s call, Liang Shanshan felt irritated because she felt her father had little faith in her. Humph, from the moment Su Yichen became the wealthiest person, she vowed to become Lady Su. No one could stop her. Liang Shanshan took a deep breath and dragged her suitcase outside. At the hotel entrance, there was a simply dressed woman in her forties holding up a sign that read ¡°Liang Shanshan.¡± Liang Shanshan walked over and, after glancing at her attire, asked, ¡°Are you the servant from Uncle Li¡¯s family?¡± ¡°Are you Liang Shanshan?¡± Aunt Li asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Liang Shanshan answered and then arrogantly said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Aunt Li frowned but didn¡¯t say anything, simply saying, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Aunt Li took her to the residential area. Liang Shanshan looked at the house, a very ordinary residence with a small area, a small yard, and three stories high. Was Li Minxing¡¯s family short on money? Why was the house so small? How could such a small house accommodate her? Aunt Li took out the key and opened the yard door, then said casually, ¡°Miss Liang, please go in.¡± Liang Shanshan looked at her suitcase and said dissatisfied, ¡°Isn¡¯t someone supposed to help me with my suitcase?¡± Li Minxing¡¯s family was wealthy, and they must have a lot of servants. Before Aunt Li could respond, a young girl around fifteen or sixteen years old came bouncing out, loudly asking, ¡°Mom, did you pick up Sister Liang?¡± Sister Liang? Liang Shanshan was unhappy with this title. A servant¡¯s daughter was not qualified to address her as Sister Liang. She should be addressed with respect as Miss Liang. Li Jiatong immediately noticed the woman beside Aunt Li, and reacting quickly, she laughed and said, ¡°You must be Sister Liang. You¡¯re so beautiful. You¡¯re the second prettiest girl I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± ¡°Second prettiest girl?¡± Liang Shanshan was slightly displeased. ¡°Who is the first prettiest girl?¡± ¡°That would definitely be Sister Xiao.¡± Li Jiatong answered innocently. ¡°Sister Xiao?¡± Liang Shanshan was slightly puzzled. Without waiting for Li Jiatong to answer, Aunt Li said to Li Jiatong, ¡°Tongtong, get Miss Liang¡¯s luggage to the guest room.¡± ¡°Alright, Mom,¡± Li Jiatong immediately took over and said, ¡°Sister Liang, follow me.¡± ¡­ Xiao Jinli hadn¡¯t left the office yet when Su Yichen came rushing in. Xiao Jinli raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Little Brother Xiao Quan, why are you in such a hurry?¡± Su Yichen replied, ¡°To pick you up after work.¡± He was worried that Liang Shanshan had been talking nonsense in front of the security guard, and if her words about having a boyfriend reached Xiao Jinli, things would get worse. ¡°Picking me up after work?¡± Xiao Jinli chuckled and said, ¡°Is your conscience acting up after doing something wrong?¡± Su Yichen¡¯s face changed immediately, and he said anxiously, ¡°Jinli, did you hear something? You mustn¡¯t get angry. I don¡¯t have a girlfriend ¨C no, I don¡¯t even have female friends. How could I have a girlfriend come looking for me? Believe me, all these years, I¡¯ve only liked you.¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s eyes twinkled, and she decided to tease him. She asked suspiciously, ¡°A girlfriend? Little Brother Xiao Quan, what do you mean? Do you already have a girlfriend?¡± Su Yichen, ¡°¡­¡± This was getting more and more chaotic as he tried to explain. But he couldn¡¯t not explain. Su Yichen shook his head vigorously and said, ¡°No, I don¡¯t have a girlfriend. I mean, if a girl claims to be my girlfriend and comes looking for you, don¡¯t believe her. I don¡¯t have any impression of her at all.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t even met her yet. How did you know I would misunderstand?¡± Su Yichen smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a precaution. Just in case the girl starts talking nonsense in front of you, and you believe her, then I¡¯d be wronged.¡± Xiao Jinli laughed even harder. ¡°Little Brother Xiao Quan, how much don¡¯t you trust me? I¡¯ve known you for eight or nine years. Are you saying I should trust a stranger over someone I¡¯ve known for that long?¡± Xiao Jinli¡¯s words made Su Yichen realize how silly he was being and he started laughing too. ¡°Indeed. But a lot of these dramas are like that. Long-time lovers end up misunderstanding each other because of a sudden stranger, ultimately leading to a breakup. I just wanted to prevent that.¡± Xiao Jinli scoffed, ¡°Trust built through love and understanding getting easily disrupted by someone else shows that they¡¯re not a real couple. They deserve to break up. Those protagonists in TV dramas don¡¯t know how to explain misunderstandings and deserve to part ways.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Su Yichen chuckled and said, ¡°That¡¯s true. But if those idol dramas didn¡¯t play out like that, where would the plot come from? Idol dramas mainly rely on brainless romantic stories, and people are attracted to the on-and-off relationships between the male and female leads.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Xiao Jinli let out a few chuckles. ¡°So, I advise you to watch fewer brainless idol dramas.¡± Su Yichen, ¡°No, Jinli, you misunderstood. I never watch idol dramas. I¡¯m a big boss, and there are so many things in the company to deal with. I don¡¯t have time to watch dramas.¡± Xiao Jinli asked suspiciously, ¡°Then how do you know about the plot of those idol dramas?¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Su Yichen explained, ¡°Didn¡¯t I watch a few while our entertainment company was investing in film and television?¡± In fact, in order to pursue Xiao Jinli, he had been learning relationship strategies from idol dramas and novels. Xiao Jinli raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Oh, so as a big boss, you must personally take care of those things?¡± ¡°Ahem, sometimes, it¡¯s necessary to pay attention,¡± Su Yichen said earnestly. Xiao Jinli, ¡°¡­¡±