Ch 155: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Lian Ou carefully presented the little butterflies, goldfish, rabbits, and other pieces he had woven over this time to Shen Qing, watching his expression nervously, afraid that his work might not be good enough and would disappoint him.

However, Shen Qing only flipped through them casually without much scrutiny. Instead, he pulled out a stack of paper, a large bundle of thread, and a small box of needles with colorful beads attached at the ends, handing them all to Lian Ou. “These are different knotting techniques. Take them home and study them yourself.”

He had painstakingly traced these from the book’s tutorials, but even after drawing just over twenty pages, all still covering basic knots, he was already exhausted. It felt like reading an indecipherable script—many of the characters in the book were unfamiliar to him, and the sequence of instructions was unclear. When he asked Song Kaiji for help, he ended up getting teased and taken advantage of instead.

This was the best he could do. If Lian Ou couldn’t understand it, Shen Qing had no way of teaching him either—he didn’t know how to do it himself! Whether Lian Ou could grasp it would depend entirely on his own talent. The book contained hundreds of designs, and if Lian Ou could master even twenty or thirty of the more intricate ones, he’d never have to worry about making a living for the rest of his life.

Lian Ou stood frozen, holding the pile of materials in his arms. Why wasn’t Qing Ge’er even looking at what he made before giving him so much?

Shen Qing felt puzzled under Lian Ou’s persistent gaze. Seeing him glance back and forth between him and the small woven ornaments on the table, he hesitated, suddenly realizing—was Lian Ou waiting for praise?

Shen Qing had little experience in giving compliments and even less in interacting with peers like him. He struggled to figure out what exactly Lian Ou wanted, so he picked up the pieces again, turning them over in his hands and forcing himself to come up with a few words of praise. Only then did Lian Ou’s expression relax into a look of relief.

Shen Qing: So he really was looking for compliments? Assigning tasks and providing emotional support—this was too hard.

But for Lian Ou, it was simply a matter of insecurity. He was terrified that his work wasn’t good enough and that he would let Shen Qing down. Now that he had received some encouraging words, he finally felt at ease. Clutching the stack of paper tightly, he said earnestly, “I will study hard and live up to Qing Ge’er’s trust!”

Miao Shi emerged from the kitchen, and the two little puppies immediately sprang up from their nest, running to her feet and jumping around excitedly. She tossed them two pieces of boiled chicken offal before smiling at Lian Ou and Lian Rong. “Ou Ge’er, Rong Jie’er, you two are here. Stay for lunch—we’re making chicken today.”

Shen Qing had just taught her a new way to cook chicken, something called “chicken pot stew.” Miao Shi was eager to try it, so she had slaughtered a young rooster. Since she often stayed in Shiqu Village for a while, their chickens were only sporadically fed, and it was usually Second Aunt Lian who helped take care of them. Inviting Lian Ou and Lian Rong for a meal was only fair.

Lian Rong was tempted, but Lian Ou declined. “Aunt, I should head back early. I’ve been out for a while, and I feel uneasy leaving home alone for too long.”

Miao Shi understood the situation at the Lian household well. Seeing him insist, she didn’t push further. Lian Rong hesitated for a moment before sighing, “Then… then I’ll go back too.”

Miao Shi chuckled at her obvious reluctance. “Don’t worry, I’ll have Qing Ge’er bring you a bowl later when it’s ready.”

Despite being cautious, Lian Ou had only been out for a short while before hurrying back. Yet as he neared the Lian family’s yard, he caught sight of a shadow slipping out of his room.

His heart clenched, and he quickened his pace. Upon entering his room, he immediately noticed signs of someone rummaging through his belongings. He had been extremely frugal with the thread Shen Qing gave him—using each piece repeatedly, weaving and unraveling over and over again before discarding even the smallest scrap. Because of this, he had barely used any of the thread, and most of it remained.

But now, there was only a little left.

Who else in this household would do such a thing? There was no need to guess—it had to be Wang Shi. This wasn’t the first time she had done something like this. Previously, Miao Shi had gifted Second Aunt Lian a fashionable headscarf to wrap her hair, and though it had been left safely in their room overnight, it had mysteriously disappeared by morning. They later found it trampled and filthy in the pigsty.

Even though the family hadn’t formally split, the two brothers had already divided their living spaces, and it was considered inappropriate to enter someone else’s room uninvited. Yet Wang Shi frequently ignored such boundaries. If it was stealing, she would argue that they were still one family, but if accused, she would throw a fit, crying and denying everything, making such a commotion that no one could get a word in. Since Lian Ershen had never caught her in the act, she could only let it slide and take greater precautions to secure her belongings.

But now, Wang Shi had started sneaking into even her nephew’s room?

Lian Ou carefully checked his things. Apart from the missing thread, one of his practice butterflies was also gone. He quickly pieced things together—Wang Shi had been restless lately, anxious over Shen Qing’s favoritism toward the second branch of the family but unable to figure out exactly what kind of help they were receiving. Now, she must have discovered it. She had likely stolen the thread and the butterfly to secretly learn the craft herself.

Lian Rong was both anxious and regretful. “How could she do this! Ge, let’s go tell Qing Ge’er, let him stand up for us! Qing Ge’er is amazing!”

But Lian Ou shook his head.

He knew Shen Qing was powerful, but if even the things Shen Qing gave him could be stolen so easily, then he himself was at fault too. He didn’t want Shen Qing to think he was a useless fool who couldn’t even guard his own belongings. And more importantly, he couldn’t rely on Shen Qing’s power for his entire life.

Lian Ou clenched his teeth, imitating Shen Qing’s manner, and tucked a pair of scissors into his waistband. “I’m going to find Grandma.”

Lately, Old Lady Lian had been troubled, unable to figure out what was happening. The household’s income was growing steadily, meat and eggs appeared more frequently on the dinner table, and the men of the house had all gotten new clothes made from proper fabric—things they never would have dared to dream of in past years. Yet, despite these improvements, the tension in the household only seemed to grow worse!

Originally, it had just been minor clashes between the two daughters-in-law, subtle and indirect. But now, things had escalated into full-blown conflict, especially with Wang Shi, who had been acting like a madwoman, picking fights over everything.

An unstable household was never a good thing! Many once-prosperous families had fallen apart because of internal strife—how could their small, common family be any different?

Just as she was fretting over this, Lian Ou led Lian Rong inside. “Grandma, Aunt Wang stole the things Qing Ge’er gave me.”

Old Lady Lian nearly dropped her bowl in shock.

However, after hearing Lian Ou’s account, her expression steadied. “Ou Ge’er, you say your Aunt Wang took them—but did you see her do it? Did you catch her in the act? That thread was given to you by Qing ge’er for practice, wasn’t it? He won’t be asking for it back, and he probably wouldn’t even notice whether you have more or less. Maybe you just used more than you thought and forgot?”

She had assumed Wang Shi had stolen something serious, something that would provoke that “Living King of Hell” Shen Qing—now that would be a real problem. But hearing it was just some thread, she felt relieved. How could thread be counted so precisely? It wasn’t even a big deal—when people went to the city for work, they’d always pocket a bit of material to take home. Everyone did it! It was just how things were.

All she needed to do was make sure Lian Ou didn’t stir up trouble over this. In her eyes, Lian Ou had always been an obedient and understanding child, the kind who knew his place. When conflicts arose, those in power often expected the more reasonable party to back down—it wasn’t about fairness, just about avoiding trouble.

Zhao Youdang was like this, and so was Old Lady Lian. But this was wrong. This kind of thinking only emboldened bullies and further oppressed those who suffered. That was why Wu Guixiang despised Zhao Youdang’s way of smoothing things over. And now, Lian Ou felt the same burning frustration boiling inside him.

Yet, Old Lady Lian remained oblivious to Lian Ou’s shifting demeanor. She knew Wang Shi’s personality well enough—she was obsessed with outshining the second branch of the family in everything. If Lian Ou could work in the workshop, then Wang Shi wanted her own ger to be there too. If Lian Ou had a skill, then Wang Shi wanted her ger to have one too. And if, in the future, Lian Ye ended up marrying worse than Lian Ou, Wang Shi would be seething!

Old Lady Lian was deeply frustrated with Wang Shi’s competitive and entitled nature—it had caused more household conflicts than she could count.

But this time, she had her own selfish reasons as well. Both branches of the family were her blood, but she had always favored the eldest son more. If both Lian Ou and Lian Ye could learn this skill, wouldn’t that be better? If both branches thrived together, wouldn’t that be preferable?

Many parents didn’t believe in fairness as simply splitting things evenly. Instead, they saw fairness as redistributing wealth—if one child earned a hundred taels, they should give fifty to the one who had none so that both had equal amounts. They never stopped to consider that one child had worked hard for their money, while the other had done nothing.

Old Lady Lian was this kind of person.

So rather than standing up for Lian Ou, she instead tried to persuade him, “You’ve learned a valuable skill from Qing Ge’er. You should take the time to teach Ye Ge’er as well. He’s just as much a part of our family as you are. You two grew up together, and he’s always been a good boy—there’s no real conflict between you. Why not mention him to Qing Ge’er? He’s your cousin, after all.”

Lian Ou pressed his lips together. “Grandma, are you really not going to do anything?”

Old Lady Lian’s expression hardened. She had always commanded great authority over the grandchildren. She had spoken to Lian Ou so gently for so long, yet he still wouldn’t listen? Was he really going to challenge her?

Lian Ou took a deep breath, then turned on his heel and stormed toward Wang Shi’s room.

Wang Shi had been studying the woven butterfly Lian Ou had made for practice. When Lian Ou burst in, she flinched in guilt, her first instinct being to shove the stolen items under her seat. Only after she had secured them did she snap, “Do you have no manners? Barging into your elders’ room without a word—is this what your mother taught you?”

“Then what did your mother teach you? That it’s fine to steal from your nephew?” Lian Ou glared at her.

Wang Shi instantly exploded, rushing forward to slap him. “You little bastard, what nonsense are you spewing?!”

But as soon as she stood up, the thread and butterfly she had hidden fell into view.

Old Lady Lian, who had hurried after Lian Ou, immediately caught sight of them and felt an intense wave of frustration—stealing was bad enough, but she couldn’t even hide it properly!

Meanwhile, Wang Shi and Lian Ou had already started grappling with each other. Lian Ou might have been a ger, but he was still physically strong from years of doing household chores. Compared to Wang Shi, he easily overpowered her, knocking her to the ground before snatching back the thread and butterfly. He held them up for Old Lady Lian to see. “Grandma, I didn’t make a mistake—it was Aunt Wang who stole them!”

Wang Shi sprawled on the ground, wailing, “I can’t live like this! Getting beaten by my own nephew—where is the justice?!”

Old Lady Lian’s forehead throbbed with veins of frustration. “Enough! Both of you, shut up!”

Lian Ou stared her down, unrelenting. Wang Shi’s sobbing faltered for a moment but then resumed even louder. Grandmother Lian, exasperated, kicked her. “Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?”

Then she turned to Lian Ou. “What stealing? We’re all family! Just take your things back and don’t make a fuss about it!”

Wang Shi wiped her eyes and, emboldened by Old Lady Lian’s words, sneered, “That’s right! I ran out of thread while sewing—so what if I took some from your room? It’s all part of the Lian family’s household, so why can’t I use it?”

Lian Ou’s chest heaved with anger. He wanted nothing more than to stab her with his scissors. But while he had brought them for courage, he wasn’t like Qing Ge’er—he couldn’t actually draw a blade on someone. Instead, he gritted his teeth and growled, “I’m going to tell Qing Ge’er! This thread isn’t mine, it’s his!”

A voice suddenly cut through the air. “Tell me what?”

Old Lady Lian flinched, and Wang Shi instantly went silent.

Shen Qing stood at the entrance, holding a steaming bowl of chicken stew, peering into the room with curiosity. Seeing him, Lian Ou suddenly felt he had found his backbone and immediately ran over, pressing tightly against him.

Old Lady Lian forced a stiff smile, trying to smooth things over. “It’s nothing, just a small matter in the family. Who doesn’t have a few disagreements? Lian Ou is still young, thin-skinned, and easily upset.”

She shot Lian Ou a warning look, signaling him not to speak. A family could have a thief, but they couldn’t let people know about it—otherwise, their reputation would be ruined. Lian Ou and Lian Ye were both at marriageable age, and if word got out, it would only harm Lian Ou. Outsiders wouldn’t care about the distinction between the first and second branch of the family—if the Lian family had a scandal, they would all be judged together.

Lian Ou clenched his teeth, then suddenly turned and ran back to his room. Moments later, he came back carrying everything Shen Qing had given him. “Qing Ge’er, thank you, but I don’t want to learn anymore.” He hesitated, reluctant to part with it, and added in a small voice, “Can I start learning again after I get married?”

“You—you’re really something, aren’t you?!” Old Lady Lian was dumbfounded. How could he be so stubborn? Giving up money that was practically in his hands just out of spite? “Don’t be foolish! Qing Ge’er, he’s just talking nonsense!”

Shen Qing glanced at the anxious Old Lady Lian, then at Wang Shi, who was still sprawled on the floor. He chuckled. Old Lady Lian claimed that Lian Ou and Lian Ye were both Lian family gers, that they were the same. But how could that be true?

Shen Qing had no real ties to the Lian family. Back when he was in the Shen family, Old Lady Lian had disliked them all equally and had even forbidden Second Aunt Lian and Miao Shi from associating with each other. It was only after Miao Shi divorced that her attitude softened somewhat.

“Silly child.” Shen Qing was only a few years older than Lian Ou, yet at this moment, he spoke like an elder. “Do you think marriage will make life easy for you? If the family you marry into has a sister-in-law like yours, would you still be able to learn from me properly?” He flicked a glance at Wang Shi, who was still sitting on the ground. “On the other hand, if you learn now, gain skills and self-worth, you can marry into a better family and have more choices.”

Lian Ou looked at him with a mix of understanding and confusion.

But Shen Qing still accepted the things Lian Ou tried to return to him. “Still, if you just practice alone at home every day, you won’t get far. You need me to guide you and correct your mistakes. So from now on, come to my house every day to learn.” He turned to Old Lady Lian with a smile. “Grandmother Lian, what do you think?”

Old Lady Lian’s face stiffened. But what could she say? Who in the village still dared to go against Shen Qing? Offending him meant losing all opportunities for benefits. So she could only force a smile and agree, “Of course! The child is clumsy—he might manage some rope work, but for fine craftsmanship, he’ll need your guidance. You’re so talented, after all!”

Shen Qing nodded in satisfaction. It was now that he truly understood what Chen Jiaxi had meant when she talked about power.

Power meant that even though Old Lady Lian knew he was talking nonsense—who in the village didn’t know that Shen Qing was no expert at needlework?—she still had to play along. Everyone could see he was openly favoring Lian Ou and slapping the Lian family’s dignity in the face. But what could she do? She could only smile and nod.

Power was truly intoxicating.

“Then come with me now,” Shen Qing said, still holding the large bowl of chicken stew. After taking a stroll around the Lian household, he brought the food right back home. Old Lady Lian and Wang Shi were left seething in frustration.

Once back at the small courtyard at the foot of the mountain, Lian Ou finally broke down in tears. First, because it was his first time standing up to Old Lady Lian and Wang Shi—he had been brave in the moment, but now, after the fact, fear still lingered. Second, because he felt utterly wronged. He had suffered countless grievances before, yet none had ever made him cry. But today, someone had stood before him, protecting him completely, and that absolute sense of security only made him want to cry even more.

Even his own mother had never protected him like this. His mother had her own struggles, things she couldn’t change. But Qing Ge’er… Qing Ge’er was truly wonderful.

“Stop crying.” Shen Qing handed him a handkerchief, then coldly reprimanded him. “You were at fault too.”

Lian Ou sniffled and nodded, thinking, Yes, I didn’t guard my things properly…

“That’s not the issue.” Shen Qing frowned. “Do you think this is about some thread? How much can it even be worth? I’m angry because, whether out of spite or simply to prevent your aunt from taking advantage, you actually said you’d quit learning over something like this. Who is Wang Shi to you? Is she worth throwing away your future over?”

Lian Ou cried even harder—not because of the scolding, but because he could hear the genuine care beneath Shen Qing’s sharp words.

“But honestly, I don’t actually have much to teach you,” Shen Qing admitted, rubbing his nose. Everyone had their weaknesses—even someone as competent as he was. Fine handiwork was not his strength. He could manage basic patchwork, but when it came to sewing clothes or shoes, he needed Miao Shi’s guidance, and even then, his skills were mediocre. “These designs aren’t mine either—I got them from elsewhere. You’ll have to figure them out on your own. From now on, when I’m not home, you can practice in my room. If I’m here, use the main hall. You can store your materials in my house.”

At this point, neither Shen Qing’s nor Miao Shi’s rooms contained anything that needed to be hidden. Having the spatial jade pendant was incredibly convenient. Shen Qing had even stored a good amount of spiritual spring water at home—Miao Shi and Old Lady Miao had been drinking it for a while, and their health had visibly improved.

Still, the house was too small. Back when he was heartbroken over Song Kaiji being unable to come to this world, Shen Qing had abandoned his plans to expand the house. The bricks and tiles he had bought were given to Miao Ren for his wedding house instead. Now, he regretted it a little—it would have been nice to at least build an extra storage room or two.

But fortunately, the estate on East Mountain was almost finished. Shen Qing had decided not to keep up the pretense—once the estate was done, he would move in with Miao Shi. It would also make traveling between worlds much easier. Once spring came and the frozen ground thawed, the roads would be completed quickly. By then, Miao Shi could easily take a mule cart to the county or the village, making everything much more convenient.

If anyone asked, he’d simply say that a benefactor had rewarded him with the estate for his hard work. But with his current status in the village, no one would dare question it anyway. Keeping people guessing only made them more afraid—just look at how Wang Shi had already lost her mind.

“For lunch and dinner, stay here and eat with my mother. If she’s away in Shiqu Village, you can cook for yourselves—anything in the house is free for you two to use,” Shen Qing said.

Hearing the word “you two,” Lian Rong blinked in surprise and pointed to herself. “Me too?”

“Of course.” Shen Qing hadn’t brought Lian Ou over just to teach him a skill—it was about protecting him. And if he was protecting Lian Ou, why not Lian Rong as well? “You can even bring Qiao Ge’er with you. Yu Ge’er is working at the workshop while looking after a child, and some people are already gossiping about him slacking off. If you bring Qiao Ge’er here, he can keep my mother company.”

Miao Shi loved children. Lian Qiao was just as adorable as Lian Rong, and he wasn’t a troublemaker—he was the perfect little companion.

“Every month, I’ll have my mother give Lian Ou a hundred wen. You can hand it to your grandmother—this way, you’ll have a legitimate reason for staying at my house.”

Lian Ou immediately shook his head. “How could I accept that? I haven’t even earned a single coin for you yet! You’ve already provided all my materials—how could I take money from you for nothing?”

“You don’t understand. This is called an investment.” Shen Qing smugly showed off the new concept he had learned. “I’ll invest in you for a few months. Once your skills are refined, you’ll work for me for at least three… no, five years. During those five years, I’ll pay you per piece. After that, we’ll split the profits—materials are mine, craftsmanship is yours, and we’ll share the earnings equally.”

This was Shen Qing taking care of Lian Ou. In the first five years, Lian Ou would still be a novice, and his work wouldn’t sell for much. Most of his early pieces would likely have to be paired with jade accessories to add value. But with five years of practice, and with Lian Ou’s talent, he could very well become a renowned artisan—or as they called it in the modern world, an artist!

That’s when his work would truly be valuable.

It seemed like Shen Qing was taking advantage of Lian Ou at first, but in reality, he was giving him an irreplaceable opportunity.

Lian Ou nodded without hesitation. “I’ll do whatever you say!” He wasn’t a fool—Qing Ge’er was so good to him, he’d never mistreat him.

Yet, Shen Qing had underestimated just how quickly things would escalate. He had assumed the Lian family wouldn’t be able to split up, but Second Aunt Lian… she had finally reached her breaking point.

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