Ch 62: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

When Shen Qing returned to the Miao household, he immediately noticed that something felt off. His second aunt was being particularly attentive to his mother, while his youngest uncle sat slumped in the corner, looking utterly dejected.

His two little cousins were dressed in identical green jackets made from curtain fabric, sweet-talking Old Lady Miao as they begged for snacks. Their flattery had the old woman grinning from ear to ear. In the courtyard, Miao Ren was chopping firewood, while the younger ones, Miao Yu and Miao Shan, were playing nearby, swinging thick wooden sticks at each other in mock combat. As soon as Miao Yu spotted Shen Qing, he eagerly ran over.

Neither of them knew that they had narrowly avoided being forced into an arranged marriage just moments ago.

“Cousin, can you tell me again how you hunted that wild boar? Can you teach me? I want to be as skilled as you!” To Miao Yu, killing a wild boar and gaining wealth was great, but that wasn’t even the most important part—it was about how impressive it was! At his age, what boy didn’t admire strength and skill? Unlike those who envied Shen Qing and talked behind his back because they couldn’t beat him, Miao Yu genuinely looked up to him.

Miao Shan also tilted his small face up, looking at Shen Qing with wide, eager eyes. He was still young, but he could help his brother! And when he grew up, he, too, would hunt wild boars!

Miao Wang glanced up and grew even more depressed. These kids got along so well, and yet not a single person supported his idea. His sister had even scolded him mercilessly!

Li Yanzi heard the conversation too, but her feelings were completely different from Miao Wang’s. Before, she had been anxious whenever she saw Miao Yu talking to Shen Qing, afraid that the two of them might actually develop feelings for each other. But now? She was quite happy to see the cousins getting along. A ger as capable as Qing Ge’er—her family could only benefit from being close to him.

She scoffed, “You think you’re all that? Want to learn how to hunt wild boars like your cousin? Not just anyone can take down a wild boar!”

She knew what kind of life Shen Qing had lived growing up. Her own son, while not exactly spoiled, had been raised as the family’s only boy—he had never gone through the hardships that Shen Qing had. Li Yanzi didn’t believe just anyone could easily kill a wild boar.

However, she continued, “If Qing Ge’er has a knack for catching rabbits or pheasants, he could teach you boys a thing or two. I don’t expect you to bring in extra income for the family, but if you could manage to catch something for the dinner table now and then, that’d be good enough.”

She had no interest in the boys’ desire to prove themselves. All she cared about was practical benefits—food on the table! Lately, the wild boar meat had been so deliciously rich and fatty that she practically drooled just thinking about it. If her boys could develop even half of Shen Qing’s skills, allowing her to enjoy meals like this more often, wouldn’t that be wonderful?

At this, even Miao Ren put down his axe and looked toward Shen Qing.

Shen Qing was still preoccupied with thoughts about learning to read but chuckled at their reactions. “Catching a rabbit is nothing special. In fact, I’ve got a profitable business idea I was just about to discuss with Uncle and Aunt. If it works out, we can all make money together—enough to afford pork every day!”

Li Yanzi’s eyes widened. “What kind of business?”

Shen Qing was talking about making tofu! He had already learned the process in detail from Mother Tang and even had saved videos to reference. He had even practiced several times over there, making sure he had mastered it before bringing the idea to the Miao family.

If they wanted to start a tofu business, they needed to act fast. The New Year was just ten days away—if they could start before then, people in the nearby villages wouldn’t need to go all the way to town to buy tofu for their holiday preparations. They could make a solid profit. Besides, tofu was hard to store in the summer, so they had to sell as much as possible in the winter before halting production during the farming season.

“What? You got your hands on a tofu recipe?” Li Yanzi was shocked. Even Liu Yue’e, who had been busy cooking in the kitchen, stopped what she was doing, told her daughter to watch the fire, and rushed to the door. “This craft can feed an entire family! Most people guard their recipes tightly—how did you manage to get one?”

“I ran into a gambler in town. His family had a small business, but he was addicted to gambling and lost everything—he even pawned his clothes. In desperation, he put up his family’s tofu recipe for sale, hoping to win back his losses at the gambling house. I seized the opportunity and bought it.” Shen Qing had gotten much better at lying—mixing truth with fiction. There really was such a gambler, the original owner of the silk garment he had purchased. Attaching the tofu recipe to him didn’t seem out of place.

“What kind of luck is that?!” Liu Yue’e exclaimed. “Imagine throwing away a perfectly good livelihood just to gamble! Ruined his whole family’s future.” But she had to admit, Shen Qing got a great deal. “You must have spent a lot on that recipe.”

Shen Qing held up two fingers. “He was desperate, so he sold it to me cheap—ten taels of silver.”

“My goodness! You really dared to buy it? What if he scammed you?” Miao Wang finally dragged himself out of the corner and sighed in amazement. Ten taels of silver—was it a lot? Maybe not an outrageous sum, but still significant! Was it worth it for a tofu recipe? Absolutely! With so many family members pitching in, they could earn back the investment within a year, maybe even more.

“My mother and I have already tested it—it works. But there are only two of us at home, and we can’t manage everything alone. That’s why I wanted to collaborate with Uncle’s family. I’ll provide the recipe and the initial investment, while you provide the space and labor. We’ll split the profits—I’ll take thirty percent. Does that sound fair?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t it?” They didn’t have to put in any money, just labor—this was practically a risk-free deal! Farmers never counted their hard work as a loss. “But seventy percent is too much for us. We’re getting all the profit while you’re covering the costs—it doesn’t feel right. How about we split it fifty-fifty, or you take seventy and we take thirty?”

“Uncle, no need to be so polite with me. Look, Eldest Cousin is about to get married, Second Cousin is arranging his engagement, and the family needs to build a house. Money is tight everywhere.” Though the Miao family technically hadn’t split their household, it was clear that Miao Xing and Miao Wang would go their separate ways sooner or later. Old Lady Miao wasn’t the type to cling to power—she enjoyed a life of leisure and didn’t interfere in household affairs. Miao Xing and Miao Wang already managed their own finances separately, so in reality, they were two households. If they divided the profits evenly, each branch of the family would get thirty percent, and the extra ten percent could go toward Old Lady Miao as a form of respect. “Making tofu is hard work. It takes a lot of effort, and you have to wake up early and stay up late. You should get a bigger share. If you take too little, you might feel resentful later, and that could strain our family ties.”

Hearing that, Miao Xing and Miao Wang quickly assured him, “That’s impossible! We’re blood siblings—our bond is unbreakable. We wouldn’t let money come between us!” But they ultimately didn’t insist on taking more. They knew they wouldn’t have an issue with it, but what about their wives? Their children? Unlike themselves and Miao Shi, who were born to the same mother, their household dynamics were different. Just look at how much trouble the marriage proposal between Shen Qing and Miao Yu had already caused—money disputes could be even worse. If things went wrong, no amount of money could repair a broken family bond. It was better to settle things clearly now, just as Shen Qing suggested.

At the same time, they silently vowed to treat Miao Shi and Shen Qing even better in the future. From now on, whatever happened to the mother and son was their responsibility too.

Seeing that they had come to an understanding, Shen Qing smiled. “Then it’s settled. Since I’m covering the costs and the recipe, I won’t be getting my hands dirty. Once I’ve taught everyone how to make tofu, don’t expect me to do any of the work!”

“Of course! We’ve got plenty of strong men in this household—why would we need you two to work? You and your mother just sit back and wait for your share of the profits,” Miao Wang quickly reassured him. “You’ve got bigger things to focus on. If we can’t even handle this, we might as well throw away our brains!”

Everyone laughed.

“So when do we start?” Liu Yue’e was already rubbing her apron, eager to get to work. The sooner they started, the sooner they could make money! She had personally witnessed how the tofu sellers from Xiahe Village had moved to town and changed their fates. She wasn’t expecting to turn into a city dweller, but becoming a wealthy farmer wasn’t out of reach, was it?

Shen Qing thought for a moment. “The day after tomorrow. Uncle and Aunt, you’ll need to clear out a room first. Tomorrow, I’ll head to town—there are still a lot of supplies I need to buy. Once I have everything, I’ll teach you all how to make tofu.”

“Got it!” The two sisters-in-law whispered among themselves, then Li Yanzi turned to Miao Yu and said, “You’ll need to clear out your room later and move into the east wing with your brothers.”

Miao Yu looked utterly dejected. He hadn’t expected things to take this turn. Not only did his cousin completely ignore his request to learn how to hunt wild boars, but he also ended up losing his room! Three boys crammed into one space—how crowded was that going to be?

But Shen Qing wasn’t just heading to town to buy tofu-making supplies. He also planned to purchase the house and storefront he had previously set his sights on. The last time Miao Shi bought rice husks and millet from town, it had already stirred up gossip in the village. Many people were secretly calculating how much food his family had left, including Aunt Lian and Aunt Guixiang. Though they likely meant no harm, they had already started asking questions.

At that time, he could use the wild boar hunting excuse to brush them off. But what about in the future? Once he owned a house, he could use it as a storage site for grain. When he transported food from town, he could take a detour into the mountains to avoid scrutiny.

That evening, after returning home, Shen Qing pulled out a long veiled hat. “Mother, take out our household registration. Tomorrow, come to town with me.”

Shen Qing, as a young ger, wasn’t technically forbidden from owning property, as it wasn’t uncommon for dowries to include estates and farmland. However, if the deeds were in his name, his household registration would reveal his status as a ger during the transfer process.

“So, the house and shop will be in your name. Tomorrow, I’ll dress as a wealthy young master again and say that you’re my aunt. I’ll pretend I came from out of town to visit you and, seeing that you’re struggling, decided to buy you a house and store as a gift. Simple as that.” The veil on the hat was long enough to cover Miao Shi’s legs, making her appear like a refined lady from a well-off family, preventing anyone from recognizing her in town.

Miao Shi had no objections and praised Shen Qing, “How does your mind work so fast? I could rack my brain all day and never come up with such a plan!”

The more he had seen and experienced, the sharper his thinking had become. Shen Qing ran his fingers over the books Tongsheng Miao had given him. Once he learned to read and absorb more knowledge—even from Mother Tang’s saved videos—he would only get smarter.

Miao Shi retrieved their household registration booklet. It was all thanks to Village Chief Zhao’s efforts that she and Shen Qing were registered as an independent female household. This made handling affairs much easier now.

This was also one of the reasons Shen Qing had chosen to settle in Lantang Village rather than follow the Miao brothers back to Shiqu Village. Obtaining a female household registration was not easy—each village had a limited number of slots, and the village chief had to put in some effort, even flatter the officials at the yamen. If every woman and young ger could easily establish their own household, wouldn’t society fall into chaos?

Shen Qing had no desire to live under someone else’s roof or constantly have to watch his words and actions. If they had followed the Miao brothers to Shiqu Village, their household registration would undoubtedly have been merged with the Miao family, and the village chief there wouldn’t have bothered to get them a female household registration. In contrast, Zhao Youdang, despite protecting Shen Zhigao at the time, still felt guilty towards Miao Shi. Only he would have been willing to go through the trouble of setting it up for them.

Now, the benefits of that decision were becoming clear.

---

The next day, Shen Qing once again borrowed the village chief’s mule cart. Madam Guixiang brought it over without hesitation, not even mentioning money. “Heading to town again? Are you stopping by your uncle’s place too? No worries, take it as you please. If you end up staying overnight in Shiqu Village, just feed the mule some hay.”

The village chief’s eldest daughter-in-law, seeing the wide grin on her mother-in-law’s face, finally couldn’t hold back her curiosity. “Mother, do you fancy Qing Ge’er? Are you planning to match him with our youngest? When are we going to propose?”

She had long suspected that Madam Guixiang had her eye on Qing Ge’er as a future son-in-law. But after all this time—even after that Wang family from Xiaoji Village had already made a visit—why hadn’t her mother-in-law made a move? She was dying to know when her mother-in-law planned to bring up the proposal.

Madam Guixiang’s smile disappeared instantly. “What proposal? What do you mean fancy? Don’t go spreading nonsense! Thanks to that damn Wang family, Qing Ge’er has already been gossiped about enough lately!”

The eldest daughter-in-law was dumbfounded. Why had her mother-in-law suddenly turned so stern? Had she guessed wrong?

Then she saw Madam Guixiang glance toward the youngest son’s room and start scolding, “He should take a good look at himself—lazy as a lump, won’t move unless he’s prodded, completely useless. He thinks he deserves Qing Ge’er? Even mentioning them together is an insult to Qing Ge’er!” Madam Guixiang ranted for a long time, full of regret that she had no capable son to match with such an outstanding ger.

Inside the house, Zhao Shuan shrank in shame as his mother scolded him. At the same time, his resentment toward Shen Qing grew. But more than anything, he was relieved—at least his mother had finally abandoned that terrifying idea!

If he were forced to marry Shen Qing, he’d either be beaten to death or crippled!

---

Shen Qing and his mother set off for town in the mule cart. As usual, they stopped at the small grove on the way, where Shen Qing changed into his disguise. He also carefully concealed his pregnancy mark with concealer. Ever since Mother Tang had explained skincare to him, he had learned a little about makeup. First, he applied concealer, then a layer of foundation, followed by setting powder to prevent it from rubbing off.

Meanwhile, Miao Shi wore her best clothes and put on her veiled hat.

“If only this cart had a canopy. Then we could change inside instead of coming to this grove,” Shen Qing remarked.

“In the countryside, carts are for hauling goods and people. Who would put a canopy on one? That would be too flashy.” Borrowing someone else’s cart, and now he was complaining? Miao Shi glanced around. “Come on, there’s no one around. This is the last time. Once we buy that house, we can change inside it instead.”

That was true. Shen Qing added, “We should buy a cart of our own too. If nothing else, we need a mule to grind soybeans. We can’t expect my uncles to do it by hand every day. If we own the cart, we can put a canopy on it as well.”

“Let’s wait until the tofu business starts making money openly.” Miao Shi waved a hand dismissively. “Think about how much you’ve already spent. Ten taels on the tofu recipe, plus several more for the equipment. Your uncles know exactly how much that wild boar sold for. Do you think you have enough left to buy a mule and a cart?”

Shen Qing did some mental calculations and sighed. “It’s so hard to move money through legitimate channels.”

---

Upon arriving in town, they first visited several shops to place orders for the large pots, wooden frames, water tanks, and cloth needed for tofu-making. Some of the items had to be custom-made, so they arranged a pickup date before heading to the real estate broker.

Their visit stirred quite a bit of curiosity among the shopkeepers. No one knew where this wealthy young master came from, but today, he had brought along a woman, making everyone extremely curious about her identity. However, the veiled hat covered her so thoroughly that they couldn’t even determine her age or figure—she truly had the air of a noble lady.

Yet, if she were really from a prestigious family, why didn’t she have a single maidservant attending her? The townsfolk puzzled over it endlessly, exchanging theories in whispers.

Meanwhile, the broker had thought the deal had fallen through since Shen Qing hadn’t returned in a long time. But now that he had shown up with a relative, it was clear that he was serious about buying the property. Overjoyed, the broker eagerly took them to inspect the house again.

It was Miao Shi’s first time seeing it, and the more she looked, the more excited she became. The front consisted of four spacious shopfronts—large enough to be divided into four separate stores! Above was a two-story building where they could live and entertain guests. Behind the storefronts was a three-section courtyard, each section larger than their current little hillside home. There were about twenty to thirty rooms in total, along with a garden filled with flowers and greenery. Though it had become somewhat overgrown from neglect, Miao Shi still loved it.

Never in her life had she imagined she could live in such a grand house! The only reason it was affordable—at 180 taels—was because the location was slightly remote. Otherwise, a property this size would have been far more expensive.

After touring the property, Shen Qing asked, “Aunt, what do you think of this house?”

Miao Shi almost blurted out, “It’s perfect!” but she swallowed the words and instead nodded reservedly, not revealing her excitement. Shen Qing handed the broker her household registration booklet. “We’ll take it. Register it under my aunt’s name.”

The broker hesitated. “Not under your name?”

Shen Qing shot him a sharp glance, his expression mimicking the powerful leaders he had observed in the apocalypse. His gaze carried a natural authority, with a hint of impatience. “What? Is the seller picky about buyers? Won’t sell to a woman?”

“No, no, that’s not it.” The broker had spoken out of curiosity, but Shen Qing’s tone immediately shut him down. He hurriedly took the booklet without asking further. He had heard about this young master’s temper—ask too many questions, and he’d walk away from the deal without hesitation.

The broker discreetly glanced at the registration booklet. It was indeed a female household, listing only a widow and a young ger. The address belonged to a village outside the county. Without needing an explanation, the broker naturally filled in the story—a wealthy nephew supporting his struggling aunt.

Having worked in this business for years, the broker had connections in the yamen and quickly handled the paperwork. He even helpfully asked, “Would you like to transfer your aunt and cousin’s household registration to town as well?”

Shen Qing hadn’t thought of that. He paused and asked, “My cousin isn’t here. Can his registration be transferred too?”

“Normally, no. But…” The broker gave him a knowing smile. Officially, it required the village chief’s presence, but with the right connections, a few strokes of the brush in the county’s records would do the trick.

Shen Qing understood and tossed him a silver ingot worth two to three taels. “Then go ahead and transfer it.”

This was a backup plan. Though he currently had no issues living in the village, if the secret of the cave ever got out, he didn’t want to be tied down there. Having a registered address in town would give him more freedom—though he had no idea at the time just how much trouble this small decision would save him in the future.

“Ah! Ah!” The broker hadn’t expected Shen Qing to be so generous. He weighed the silver ingot in his hand, grinning from ear to ear, and was just about to rush off to handle the matter when Shen Qing suddenly called him back. “Since you have connections, why not help me find out if the small mountain to the east of Lantang Village can be privately purchased?”

He paused before adding, “My aunt has lived in Lantang Village for many years and is very fond of that mountain. Now that she’s moving away, if she could turn that mountain into an estate and visit from time to time, it would be ideal.”

Shen Qing glanced at the broker and casually tossed him another small piece of silver. “If you can make it happen, there will be plenty of benefits for you.”

The broker clutched the two pieces of silver, feeling as though a fortune was about to fall into his lap. “What’s the problem? Rest assured, even if it’s difficult, with this kind of incentive, I’ll definitely get it done for you!”

Shen Qing smiled slightly. “Then I’ll trouble you with it.”

After confirming Miao Shi’s identity and appearance, the original female household registration document issued by the Lantang Village chief was destroyed right before her eyes. The county office then issued a new one, listing the address of the newly purchased residence and stamping it with the official county seal. With the payment settled, the house was now officially in Miao Shi’s name.

Miao Shi carefully ran her fingers over the documents, then tucked them securely into her chest pocket.

For such a large property, it was customary to hire servants, which presented another lucrative opportunity for the broker. He eagerly recommended, “Does your aunt’s household already have servants? If not, I’d suggest hiring a few for a house this big. Even if they’re just young boys and girls, it’s good to have some life in the place. Otherwise, such a large, empty house might feel eerie for a woman and a young ger alone. I just happen to have a few good candidates. If you’re interested, I can give you a discounted rate.”

Shen Qing wasn’t afraid of living in an empty house. However, he had already planned to buy some servants, so he agreed. “Pick a few younger ones with honest temperaments. My aunt is still observing mourning and will remain in the village for another year or two before moving in. Just a few caretakers for the house will suffice.”

He added, “But my aunt is kind-hearted and soft-natured. She would rather choose the slow-witted than the overly clever and mischievous ones, lest…” He trailed off, momentarily struggling for a convincing excuse, inwardly frustrated by his lack of eloquence. But before he could come up with something, the broker immediately interjected, “I understand! Say no more—I completely understand!”

Shen Qing couldn’t help but marvel. If one had enough money, did it even matter if they weren’t articulate? There were plenty of people eager to decipher your intentions and smooth things over for you.

Before long, the broker returned with over a dozen young children, clearly afraid of disappointing Shen Qing. He had chosen them exactly as requested—all were young, with not a single older child among them.

The eldest was only around eleven or twelve, while the youngest was even smaller than Lian Rong. There were boys, gers, and girls among them. These children had been in the broker’s custody for some time, already trained in proper etiquette. Each of them stood with their heads bowed, looking perfectly disciplined.

Miao Shi felt a pang of guilt at the sight of them, unable to bring herself to pick. So, Shen Qing made the selections himself, choosing two eleven or twelve-year-old boys, two younger gers, and two girls—all under the age of ten. Among them, two knew how to cook, while the other two could do basic sewing.

After carefully questioning them, Shen Qing confirmed that none of them were from the local area, nor did they have relatives nearby. They had been purchased from famine-stricken regions and sold to wealthier places—a trade that yielded significant profits.

These six children had only recently arrived in Anping County and were completely unfamiliar with the surroundings. There was no risk of them conspiring with local relatives to betray their household.

Shen Qing assigned the children to different parts of the house, with two boys stationed in the front courtyard to guard the entrance. He deliberately avoided choosing those with darting eyes and restless hands, instead selecting the ones who looked the most anxious, even trembling slightly.

His reason for choosing children in the first place was that they were easier to control and intimidate. With so many secrets surrounding him, he preferred them to fear him rather than be overly curious. He had no need for servants who would fawn over him, ready to pour tea or knead his shoulders at the slightest glance. So why pick the clever ones?

Even the broker was surprised. Shen Qing had said he wanted obedient servants, but he actually chose the most docile of the lot—whereas most wealthy buyers claimed to want honest ones but still preferred the sharp-witted and attractive ones.

These were not top-tier goods. They were young and not particularly useful yet, so they were relatively inexpensive. Six or seven taels of silver per child was enough. If they had been older, better-looking gers or girls, the price would have been much higher.

After signing the contracts, the children’s household registrations were transferred under Miao Shi’s name. This step didn’t require official approval. In terms of contracts, there were two types: white contracts (private agreements) and red contracts (officially notarized by the government).

For real estate and land, red contracts were more secure. White contracts could save on taxes, but in legal disputes, they were not always upheld in court, leaving room for loopholes. Thus, it was worth paying extra to have those formally processed.

For servant contracts, however, things were different. Once a red contract was issued, the individual’s status was permanently recorded as a slave, with no chance of ever regaining their free status. Meanwhile, white contracts for servants were still widely recognized—unlike with property, the government rarely disputed them.

With everything settled, the broker excused himself, eager to look into the matter of purchasing East Mountain for Shen Qing. Meanwhile, Shen Qing took the time to give the newly acquired children some simple instructions.

“We won’t be living here most of the time, but we’ll visit every few days. Your job is to guard the house, keep the doors locked, and not wander outside. Just clean the rooms when you have time—there’s no rush. Other than that, there’s nothing else you need to do. I’ll have food and fabric sent over later.”

If a family wasn’t struggling, who would sell their children? These children were all incredibly thin, looking even smaller than the ages listed on their contracts. Shen Qing had grown up in poverty and knew what it was like to suffer. He wouldn’t immediately push them to work hard—he planned to feed them well first, at least until they didn’t look skinnier than the refugees he had seen in the apocalypse.

He pointed at the two girls who knew basic sewing. “You two don’t need to do anything else for now. Just focus on making two sets of clothes for each of you. The others shouldn’t disturb or order them around.”

Then, he turned to the two gers. “You two will be responsible for cooking. Eat as much as you need—there’s no need to go hungry.”

The two boys were assigned to watch the doors and take turns standing guard at night.

This was Shen Qing’s first time buying servants, his first time being a master. It was different from forming a survival team in the apocalypse. Despite their nervousness, Shen Qing was just as uncertain—worried he might overlook something and create future problems. Sure, they were his legally purchased servants, and if they caused trouble, he could simply punish them, even kill them if necessary. But he wasn’t the kind of person to treat human lives so lightly.

So as he spoke, he carefully observed their expressions.

Fortunately, these children were truly obedient. They exchanged glances before quickly nodding in agreement.

Though it was strange that their master wasn’t asking them to serve him directly but only to guard the house, they felt relieved. None of them were particularly clever or ambitious. Had they ended up in a wealthy household, they might have been bullied by older servants. Here, they only needed to mind their own business and live peacefully.

“Master, don’t worry. We will guard the house well. If you don’t come, we won’t open the doors, and we won’t step outside!” They hurriedly pledged their loyalty.

Shen Qing sighed in relief. If they remained obedient, everything would go smoothly. After a few years, he would grant them their freedom and help them find a decent future. By then, he would have mastered what it meant to be a “master” and could buy more useful and competent servants.

“Now, tell me your names, one by one.”

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