Ch 143: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Shen Qing turned his head and saw a family of four entering through the doorway. Leading the way was a couple in their early thirties, followed by a teenage boy of sixteen or seventeen and a young ger around thirteen or fourteen.

All four were dressed in fine cloth garments, with not a single patch visible on their sleeves or wrists, clearly from a well-off family. Unlike Miao Xing, Miao Wang, and the others, who had only recently come into wealth and were still wearing their old clothes, these newcomers carried themselves with a certain ease of prosperity.

The woman in the couple looked somewhat familiar, bearing a resemblance to Miao Shi by about five or six parts. It was clear who she was without the need for introductions.

Miao Qiuduo stepped inside and, without waiting for an invitation, made herself comfortable on the kang. In contrast, her husband and children remained standing by her side, appearing somewhat uneasy.

“So, this must be Qing Ge’er. It’s been so many years…” As soon as Miao Qiuduo sat down, her eyes began scanning the room. Today, Miao Shi wasn’t here—only Shen Qing, Miao Xing, Miao Wang, their wives, and a few children. She quickly zeroed in on her target, but the moment her gaze landed on Shen Qing’s face, she was momentarily stunned.

Shen Qing was also sizing her up. He had seen Miao Qiuduo before, but that was when he was a child, at least ten years ago.

Grandma Miao had given birth to four children who survived to adulthood. Miao Xing was the eldest, Miao Shi was the second, Miao Wang was the third, and the youngest daughter was Miao Qiuduo.

Unlike Miao Shi, who had the misfortune of marrying during the family’s hard times and ended up in Lantang Village, Miao Qiuduo had been much luckier. By the time she was of marrying age, Miao Xing and Miao Wang were already grown and had stabilized the family’s livelihood. Coupled with her good looks, she had successfully married the youngest son of a general store owner in the county.

At first, they lived in Anping County. However, a few years later, her husband, Huang Wulang, lost both his parents. When the brothers divided the inheritance, Huang Wulang took his share and moved to the prefectural city to seek better opportunities. Since then, though she hadn’t cut ties with her natal family completely, she had not returned to Shiqu Village for many years, communicating only through letters.

Both Liu Yue’e and Li Yanzi wore unpleasant expressions, while Miao Xing and Miao Wang looked somewhat embarrassed. After all these years, Miao Qiuduo had been living comfortably in the prefectural city and had never once returned—until now, when the family was finally doing well. It was hard for her sisters-in-law not to be suspicious of her intentions.

Moreover, Miao Qiuduo had already been back for two days. However, with a family of four, there wasn’t enough space at home, so they had stayed with some relatives instead. Li Yanzi still vividly remembered what Miao Qiuduo had said to Old Lady Miao when she first arrived, words they were now too embarrassed to bring up in front of Shen Qing!

At this moment, Miao Qiuduo kept staring at Shen Qing’s face. She scrutinized him from head to toe, finally settling her gaze on the red ger mark between his brows—something he never bothered to conceal while in the village.

“You’re that Shen… Young Master Shen?” Miao Qiuduo blinked, quickly piecing everything together. “So you’ve been pretending to be a man to do business in the county?”

Miao Xing, Miao Wang, and the others turned to Shen Qing in surprise.

Shen Qing raised an eyebrow, idly twirling the teacup in his hands. “So this is my little aunt? I haven’t seen you in years.”

He did not acknowledge her comment, causing a flicker of awkwardness to pass over Miao Qiuduo’s face. She glanced at him again but remained convinced that he was indeed the well-known “Young Master Shen” from the county. Since Shen Qing was unwilling to engage with the topic, she didn’t press further. Instead, she forced a laugh and said, “It’s just that we live far away. Coming all the way from the prefectural city takes at least a day or two by carriage, and with our business there, we really couldn’t leave things unattended for long.”

Li Yanzi let out a cold snort. “So now you can take time off? Suddenly, it’s not an inconvenience anymore?”

Miao Wang quickly tugged at her.

Miao Qiuduo’s expression turned awkward. Shen Qing didn’t ask her how life had been in the prefectural city; he simply said, “I have matters to attend to. You sit, Aunt.” He gave Huang Wulang and the two children a slight nod, which counted as a greeting, then pulled Xue Niang and Qiao Niang out of the room.

“Hey, Qing Ge’er, I have something to—” Miao Qiuduo hurriedly stood up. She had wanted to tell Qing Ge’er that she wished to learn the craft as well. However, Liu Yue’e and Li Yanzi quickly stepped forward, blocking her path. Shen Qing picked up his pace, pushed his two sisters ahead, and swiftly entered the kitchen, bolting the door behind him.

Inside the kitchen, Shen Qing realized his heart was pounding. Apart from Xiao Miao the shopkeeper and Tieshan, whom he had told himself, this was the first time someone had exposed his identity. Although Miao Qiuduo was family, sharing the same blood ties as Miao Xing and Miao Wang, they had not seen each other in years. There was no bond, no trust built between them.

Qiao Niang peeked outside, glancing back cautiously before whispering, “Ge, is what Aunt said true? Are you really pretending to be a man in the county?” She looked him up and down, and it made sense—her brother was taller and more handsome than most men in the village.

If only her brother were truly a man, how wonderful would that be? Qiao Niang secretly thought. If he were, he’d surely be the most outstanding man for miles, and he wouldn’t have had to suffer so much.

She couldn’t quite grasp why the same person, with the same appearance and temperament, would face such a difference simply based on being a man or a ger.

Shen Qing’s mind was a mess too. He wasn’t sure whether he should admit it. But trusting his sisters, he finally nodded and warned them, “Don’t go telling anyone.”

Xue Niang panicked. “But what if Aunt spreads it around? If people find out… will Ge be in danger?”

If people found out—what would happen? Shen Qing clenched the hem of his clothes. At first, he, too, was filled with uncertainty and even fear. But as he stood there, lost in thought, he realized he couldn’t think of any serious consequences.

The houses and shops were all legally registered under Miao Shi’s name. She was a registered independent female household, with proper documentation that no one could seize. His uncles and their wives were trustworthy and valued family ties; they would stand up for them if needed. The servants he had purchased with his own money were also registered under Miao Shi’s name. He currently had four maidservants, six gers, and six young men. Aside from Mudan and the first batch of servants who were slightly older, the second batch he bought were at least fifteen or sixteen years old. When he stayed at the Northern Manor, he often taught them self-defense.

He had grown strong now. In a one-on-one fight, he wasn’t afraid. Even if it turned into a gang fight or an armed clash, with his many subordinates, he wouldn’t necessarily lose.

Gold-Tooth might have some thoughts about it, but he had already signed contracts for building the East Mountain estate and the road from Lantang Village to the county. Shen Qing had paid part of the money but hadn’t settled the final sum. Just for the sake of that money alone, Gold-Tooth wouldn’t turn against him. The county registrar and Clerk Yang had accepted his gifts but had never actually met him in person. Whether he was a ger or a man—was that more important than the bribes they had received?

And more than that… Shen Qing had bows, crossbows, guns, and grenades stored in his space.

A realization slowly dawned on him. He had spent so long masquerading as a man, relying on the borrowed safety that identity provided, that he never noticed—by now, even if his secret was exposed, it wouldn’t matter.

His success wasn’t tied to the illusion of being a man anymore. It was because he was truly powerful.

There might be some minor trouble, some gossip, but as long as he didn’t care, nothing could actually harm him.

Slowly, Shen Qing straightened his back, his wildly beating heart gradually calming. He patted his sisters’ heads and exhaled deeply. “No one can threaten me anymore.”

Back in the house, Miao Qiuduo glared at her two sisters-in-law before turning to Miao Xing and Miao Wang. “Ge, did you see that? What’s wrong with me talking to Qing Ge’er? Do the sisters-in-law have to treat me like a thief?”

But Miao Xing and Miao Wang didn’t defend her as she had expected. Instead, they chuckled and dodged the issue. “Qing Ge’er has important matters to attend to. You should go spend more time with Mother. It’s been years since you came back; she misses you a lot.”

Miao Xing turned to her two children. “Let Jinbao and Yu Ge’er spend more time with their grandmother. Since Yu Ge’er’s first birthday, I don’t think Mother has seen him, has she?”

With the tofu workshop running, Liu Yue’e and Li Yanzi were now in charge of the craft. The key steps were in their hands, and Miao Xing and Miao Wang didn’t dare offend them.

It wasn’t about favoritism. They valued family, and they should have treated both Miao Chunlei and Miao Qiuduo equally. But after so many years apart, Miao Qiuduo had returned only to pry into Qing Ge’er’s business. It made them uneasy.

When it came down to it, people had their biases. Compared to a sister they hadn’t seen in over ten years, they naturally sided with Qing Ge’er—the one who brought them prosperity, sent them meat, fabric, and even shared his business knowledge.

Miao Wang stood up. “Ge, I think the soaked beans are ready. We should start grinding.”

Miao Xing quickly agreed, and the two brothers left together, escaping their younger sister.

Liu Yue’e and Li Yanzi exchanged a glance with Miao Qiuduo, both sides clearly displeased with the other.

For Miao Xing and Miao Wang, the situation was merely uncomfortable. But for Liu Yue’e and Li Yanzi, it was personal. When Miao Qiuduo got married, because she was marrying into a county family, she had made a huge fuss, fearing her in-laws would look down on her. She cried and screamed until her family had scraped together a hefty dowry—nearly emptying their savings.

Miao Xing and Miao Wang, as her doting older brothers, were willing to give. But as sisters-in-law, Liu Yue’e and Li Yanzi weren’t happy about it. It was one thing to help out; it was another to be left with nothing.

The two of them didn’t waste words with Miao Qiuduo and left the room, Li Yanzi even slamming the door lightly behind her. Watching them go, Miao Qiuduo seethed.

“Your brothers aren’t as accommodating as you said they were,” Huang Wulang finally sat down on the kang. “We’ve been here two days, and every request has been turned down. Nothing’s going our way. And your nephew—my goodness, he looks exactly like a man, and he’s already grown. If we were to match him with our Jinbao…”

He smacked his lips, thinking about Shen Qing’s attire earlier. He couldn’t even bring himself to say that Jinbao was out of Shen Qing’s league. If Shen Qing was truly the famed Young Master Shen from the county, his wealth surely extended far beyond just these two village workshops. Even Miao Xing and Miao Wang might not know how rich he actually was or how many properties he owned. So, instead, he changed his wording: “Would it work?”

The mention of this topic made Miao Qiuduo even more frustrated. Two days ago, she had brought it up with her mother, fully expecting an easy agreement. Yet to her shock, her mother had outright rejected the idea, refusing even to discuss it.

So she had to settle for her second-best plan—learning a profitable craft. After all, she and Miao Chunlei were full sisters. If her sisters-in-law could learn the craft from her nephew, why couldn’t she? Was Qing Ge’er playing favorites?

“Why wouldn’t it work? His mother is my own sister. Marriage decisions are made by the parents—Mother doesn’t have the final say!” Miao Qiuduo insisted. But recalling how her brothers had treated her earlier, she began to waver.

She bit her lip, seething with resentment. Had ten years of separation really made them forget their bond?

Meanwhile, Shen Qing was in the kitchen teaching his sisters how to fry battered meat patties, while Li Yanzi sat on the doorstep, plucking vegetables and blocking Miao Qiuduo from coming in.

Perhaps not wanting to cause an outright fight upon her return, Miao Qiuduo lingered outside, her face dark as thunder, but she held back from picking a quarrel.

Before long, the rich aroma of fried batter filled the kitchen.

Shen Qing had used just one pound of chicken to make fifteen sheets of meat patties. Each piece weighed about three ounces, thin yet large enough to cover a face. Brushed with sauce and sprinkled with chili powder and pepper salt, it had a crispy golden crust on the outside and a tender, meaty texture on the inside. The flavor was intense—fragrant and savory, with a perfect balance of crispiness and juiciness.

“This is way too delicious!” Xue Niang and Qiao Niang had secretly snuck a piece in the kitchen. Only after making it themselves did they realize how miraculous it was! Just a small amount of meat could be stretched to make something that tasted just like a full chicken cutlet. The rest was plated up for lunch as an additional dish.

“Ge, the Blooming Sausage you make in Lantang Village—is it also like this? Hardly any real meat in it?”

“Smart thinking.” Shen Qing praised. “When the workshop opens, this chicken cutlet business will be your responsibility. The place will be divided into different sections, and each person will handle a specific part of the process. You two only need to supervise and make sure everything runs smoothly.”

This would actually involve some managerial work. The two young girls hesitated slightly. If it were just labor, they were among the most hardworking girls in Shiqu Village. But managing others? The workers would be the village’s aunts and older women, all relatives with the surname Miao. Could they really command them?

“Don’t be afraid,” Shen Qing reassured them. “Miao Ren will be coming to manage the workshop, and the village head’s son will also be there. You two only need to teach the craft. I’ll also ask Aunt Lian to come over for a few days to guide you. If there’s anything you don’t understand or feel unsure about, just ask Aunt Lian.”

Only then did the two sisters agree, still a little nervous but determined. As Xue Niang wiped the stove with a cloth, she suddenly looked up and asked, “Qing Ge, will you teach this skill to Aunt? Will she be working with us? Or do you need to ask Big Aunt first?”

“No need to ask,” Shen Qing said flatly. “I won’t be teaching her.”

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