Ch 171: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Even though Shen Qing followed Lin Ning’s suggestion and had Miao Shi and Miao Hexiang subtly hint around the village that he had gotten married while traveling for trade—if one were to consider the post-apocalyptic world as “trade,” then it wasn’t exactly a lie.

But forget about the villagers—even Miao Hexiang and Wu Guixiang didn’t truly believe it in their hearts. However, since it was Qing Ge’er, even if they doubted it, they would still defend him unconditionally. If Qing Ge’er said so, then it must be true!

The other villagers didn’t dare say anything in front of them, but behind their backs, gossip was spreading in secret.

“I never thought about it before, but most traders are sturdy men—why would they take a little ger? Even if that Shen Qing is strong, he’s still inconvenient. Who knows, maybe he was just taken along to satisfy someone’s needs on the road…”

“I heard from the people at the docks that this is common on ships. Those with money even bring two courtesans aboard… And you know what? In brothels, the delicate beauties are popular, but for trade routes, someone like Shen Qing is ideal. Otherwise, if they fall sick or die along the way, it’s too costly. If not for that, why would anyone pick him? With his looks, he’d never get a real man’s attention in his lifetime!”

“Tsk tsk tsk, and that child in his belly—he might not even know who the father is. Saying he got married out there? With his appearance, which respectable family would actually take him as a proper spouse?”

“No wonder they say someone important values him—so this is the kind of ‘value’ they meant! Hahahaha…”

Wang Liuzi and a few others who had always been at odds with Shen Qing had been having an increasingly difficult time in the village over the past half year. Wu Guixiang, as expected of the village chief’s wife, knew every little conflict happening in people’s courtyards. She made sure to select workers for the workshop from the families that had grudges against them.

Take Wang Liuzi’s family, for example. The one chosen was his little aunt, who had never gotten along with his mother since marrying into the family and always looked at Wang Liuzi with disdain. Ever since she started earning money at the workshop, Wang Liuzi’s entire household had been overshadowed. Yet she still wasn’t satisfied—recently, under Old Lian’s influence, she had been making a fuss about splitting the family and leaving them behind to seek wealth on her own!

The others were in similar situations.

With old grudges piling onto new ones, Wang Liuzi and his gang seethed with resentment whenever Shen Qing was mentioned, grinding their teeth in anger. Still, as they talked, they had someone keeping watch. The moment they spotted Ou Ge’er leading Lian Rong and two aunts heading their way, they immediately shut up and pretended to be gathering firewood.

The atmosphere in the village these days! Even gossiping about Shen Qing had to be done in secret, as if it were some heinous crime! The women and gers in the village were all trying to curry favor with Shen Qing—who knew which one of them might be his informant?

Back when people first suspected that Shen Qing was pregnant, they had merely “questioned” it a little, and Wu Guixiang immediately had Zhao Shitou come over and slap each of them across the face. Their ears were still aching from it! Zhao Shuanzi was useless too—his mother had him so tightly controlled that he didn’t even dare step out of the courtyard anymore, spending all day working at home!

Wang Liuzi was fuming internally but didn’t dare lift his head, afraid of drawing even the slightest suspicion from Lian Ou and the others.

As Ou Ge’er and Lian Rong walked past them, they cast a few suspicious glances their way. When they had walked farther, Lian Rong murmured, “I have a feeling they were talking bad about Qing Ge.”

Lian Ou frowned. He had the same feeling, but without catching them in the act, there wasn’t much he could do. He knew about Qing Ge’er’s pregnancy, and there was no way to stop the villagers from gossiping. After all, Qing Ge’er’s man had never once set foot in Lantang Village. Not holding a wedding in the village was one thing, but for the man to never even show up—of course those loose-tongued villagers would let their imaginations run wild.

Lian Ou mulled it over. Maybe he should suggest to Qing Ge’er to hire a respectable man from the county to pose as his husband and stay in the village for a while? Qing Ge’er knew the county magistrate’s ger and had connections with big bosses at the trading house—hiring someone shouldn’t be too difficult.

As they walked farther away, Wang Liuzi and his gang finally dared to raise their heads. Watching Lian Ou’s departing figure, they swallowed their resentment before spitting in his direction, trying to cover up their bitterness. “Tch! He’s just another cheap whore who’s been touched by men! Birds of a feather—filthy whores only flock together!”

Unlike Shen Qing, Lian Ou was one of the most good-looking gers in the village, fitting the current standards of male aesthetics. Some of them had even tried to propose marriage to Lian Ou before, but Miao Hexiang would never have considered them. Now, seeing Lian Ou’s reputation ruined, those rejected suitors felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. The one they couldn’t attain had now fallen into the mud. If they hadn’t already married, surely… hmph! Now, Lian Ou wasn’t even fit to carry their shoes!

“How does he still have the face to walk around? If he doesn’t just hang himself with a rope, he should at least be too ashamed to step outside!”

“He keeps running off to Miaoqian Village every other day, saying he’s selling goods. I bet he’s just like Shen Qing—getting a taste for being touched by men and heading there to ‘do business’…”

They spat out all sorts of vulgar remarks at Lian Ou’s back and spread obscene rumors about Shen Qing. But as soon as their lookout signaled that Miao Hexiang and Wu Guixiang were passing by with a few women from the workshop, they immediately shut their mouths. There was nowhere safe in this village—nowhere to even gossip freely! Wang Liuzi sneered, “Let’s go hang out at Uncle Youwei’s place!”

As Shen Qing’s belly grew bigger by the day, both Miao Shi and Shen Qing grew increasingly anxious. For Shen Qing, this was his first time giving birth, and his lack of experience naturally bred fear of the unknown. Miao Shi, on the other hand, had suffered losses when it came to childbirth, so she prepared thoroughly—clearing out several rooms in the neighboring workshop, planning to hire multiple midwives and even a doctor. As the due date approached, they intended to have them stay in the village, ready at any moment.

“Qing Ge’er, look at this little outfit—do you like it?” Miao Hexiang held up a tiny goose-yellow baby garment made from fine cotton for Shen Qing to see. Since Shen Qing was expected to give birth in late autumn, they had to prepare warm clothing and thick swaddling blankets for the child. “I washed it three times and softened it. Rong Jie’er personally picked out the fabric and used her own savings to buy it—one for you and one for Yu Ge’er.”

Normally, newborns were best dressed in old clothes because they were softer. However, all of Lian Rong’s childhood clothes had been taken by Wang Shi for Lian Bao to wear, and Miao Hexiang’s family didn’t have any left. So, they washed the new clothes several times until they felt like well-worn fabric.

Lian Rong, usually loud and unrestrained, was now acting shy, half-hiding behind Miao Hexiang. Ever since Qing Ge suggested they sell defective goods in Miaoqian Village, Lian Rong had saved up quite a bit of money. This time, she had gone to the market there and picked out the finest, most expensive piece of fabric she could find for Qing Ge. She remembered how good Qing Ge had been to her, but her family’s circumstances were far worse than his—this was the only way she could show her appreciation.

Shen Qing, of course, had nothing but praise. The garment was soft to the touch, with dense and even stitches that wouldn’t scratch the skin—it was clearly made with care.

They all praised Lian Rong, making her even more embarrassed, her face turning as red as a hawthorn berry. Speaking of which, Lian Rong suddenly said, “Qing Ge likes sour things! My grandmother dried a lot of hawthorn fruit—I’ll go get some to make tea for Qing Ge!” With that, she ran off in a hurry.

“She’s grown up now, even knows how to get shy—not as thick-skinned as before,” Miao Hexiang laughed. Then, she started talking about the comfort of life after splitting from the family. “My mother-in-law is much better now. Yu Ge’er has finally started showing morning sickness, so she dried a bunch of hawthorn fruit. Now that she’s living with us, she hasn’t mentioned the main house at all. I was worried that my in-laws might secretly support them, but surprisingly, they’ve completely let go.”

Lian’s new house had been completed before the autumn harvest, and they had moved in half a month ago. Wang Shi had brought Lian Bao and Lian Ye over to cry a few times, but Old Madam Lian refused to see her. Miao Hexiang, feeling sorry for Lian Ye, was torn—she wanted to help, but Wang Shi’s presence made it difficult. “Maybe when Ye Ge’er gets married, if it’s close by, Ou Ge’er can keep in touch with him.”

As they chatted, Wu Guixiang lowered her voice mysteriously, “Wang Liuzi’s family is about to split up too—probably in the next couple of days. His little aunt already told me that the old couple finally agreed. And Old Chen’s family from the east side of the village said that if Wang Liuzi’s family splits cleanly, they’ll do it too.”

In truth, these weren’t the only families considering separation. Once the precedent was set, others would follow. And sure enough, a few days later, Wang Liuzi’s family quarreled from morning till sunset before finally splitting up. However, unlike Miao Hexiang, Wang Liuzi’s little aunt wasn’t so lucky—the old couple chose to stay with the eldest son, leaving her and her husband with barely anything, practically throwing them out penniless. Still, she wasn’t discouraged and took her husband and children back to her maiden home, already discussing buying land with Wu Guixiang to build a new house.

Before long, the Chen family split as well, followed by the Liu family, then the Sun family… Wu Guixiang hardly had time to visit Shen Qing anymore, busy helping families divide their households.

With the village divided, some were happy, while others were resentful. Those who benefited naturally grew closer to Shen Qing and Wu Guixiang, while those who suffered began to harbor grudges. In a way, Zhao Youdang’s concerns weren’t wrong—the balance of the village had been disrupted. Parents who had spent years raising children, expecting to wield authority over them, suddenly found their power halved. How could they not be furious?

But by now, Zhao Youdang was powerless to stop it. Beneath the seemingly peaceful surface of Lantang Village, dark undercurrents surged.

“Ge, what do you think Qing Ge will have?” Lian Rong started rambling, “I feel like I should hope for Qing Ge to have a son, but what’s so good about a son? Ah, but whatever Qing Ge has, it’s not up to me anyway, hoping is just a waste of time.”

Lian Ou was also extremely nervous and didn’t bother responding to Lian Rong’s nonsense. However, before long, the siblings both felt like they were getting too tense—so much so that they seemed to be hallucinating. Was someone softly calling their names?

Having listened to too many old folks’ ghost stories, Lian Rong shuddered, immediately feeling like this was an ominous sign. She resisted the urge to look back, tucked her neck in, and prepared to just run forward.

It was still broad daylight! Why was this happening? Where was the demon, the ghost, the evil spirit coming from—?!

Just then, Lian Ou gave her a shove, forcing her to turn around. Fixing her gaze, she saw a woman hiding behind a large tree, calling them in a hushed but urgent voice.

It was Li Jiaofeng!

In Lian Rong’s mind, she was no different from an evil spirit. She frowned, pulling at Lian Ou, determined to leave. “Come on, Ge, ignore her, she’s a bad woman!”

Hearing Lian Rong say this, Li Jiaofeng grew anxious. Her voice rose slightly before she quickly lowered it again, as if afraid of being discovered. “I really have urgent news! It’s about Shen Qing!”

Lian Ou hesitated, glancing around. The place was mostly empty, and aside from that large tree, there wasn’t anywhere to hide. It didn’t seem dangerous. Listening wouldn’t cost him anything, so he still chose to walk over.

Li Jiaofeng also looked around quickly. Seeing that Lian Ou finally came near, she wasted no time and spilled everything in a rush: “Qing Ge’er is in danger! Zhao Youwei and Shen Zhigao have joined forces—they’re planning to drown Qing Ge’er in the pond and seize his property! You must hurry to Shiqu Village and find Sister Miao’s maternal family—if you’re late, it’ll be too late!”

After saying that, Li Jiaofeng didn’t even wait to see if Lian Ou fully understood before turning and running away. She had snuck out to deliver this warning—if she were caught, she’d be doomed!

Lian Ou stood frozen as if struck by lightning, unable to react for a long moment. By the time he came to his senses, Li Jiaofeng had already run quite a distance. He couldn’t help but shout after her, “Why are you—”

Li Jiaofeng didn’t answer, nor did she stop running. She didn’t even know why she did it herself. By all logic, she and Shen Qing were natural enemies. Even after briefly working together, Shen Qing never accepted her. But… but… maybe this was her way of atonement, of accumulating virtue for her child, of repaying the silver Shen Qing had once given her, which had helped her child recover.

Just this once. After that, it would all depend on Shen Qing’s fate.

Li Jiaofeng ran even faster.

After Shen Zhiwei’s death, Shen Lingzhi moved away from Anping County, leaving the Shen family in even worse straits. They had already sold several acres of land, leaving them with just two, barely enough to feed the family. But Shen Zhuang refused to work properly, and Shen Zhigao wasn’t much better, so the harvest was meager.

Shen Zhigao had once told Old Lady Shen that they should just consider Miao Shi and Shen Qing as dead and never trouble them again. Back then, he still had some fatherly pride, feeling that asking Shen Qing for money would be beneath him.

But the harshness of life had eroded his last bit of dignity. He was consumed with jealousy toward Shen Qing and Miao Shi. Seeing Miao Shi now dressed up and walking around the village looking well-off, he raged at home, cursing wildly, as if a divorced wife should live like a withered tree, suffering instead of having a good life.

Even his love for Shen Qiang had wavered. Sometimes he cradled the child and laughed and cried at the same time; other times, he became so violent that he nearly threw him down at the first wail, though in the end, he still couldn’t bear to.

Why?! Why could that ger and that wretched woman live in luxury while he, the father, couldn’t even eat his fill?! Shen Zhigao was on the verge of madness!

That was when Zhao Youwei came knocking.

The two of them, along with Old Lady Shen and the paralyzed but still lucid Old Man Shen, sat together conspiring. Li Jiaofeng, listening from the side, was scared out of her wits. Meanwhile, Shen Zhigao’s eyes gleamed like a wolf’s as he clung to Zhao Youwei’s every word.

“Yes, you’re right… A ger who got pregnant out of wedlock—he’s disgraced our Shen family’s name, corrupted the morals of Lantang Village! He must be drowned according to village rules. Once he’s dead, as his father, everything he has belongs to me… and that wretched woman, too…”

Li Jiaofeng, horrified, clutched Shen Qiang tightly.

At the mention of Miao Shi, Shen Zhigao hesitated, showing a sliver of rationality. He turned to Zhao Youwei and said, “But if her brothers come back, you can’t be like that coward Zhao Youdang, letting them run rampant in the village!”

“Of course not,” Zhao Youwei sneered. “This is Lantang Village—when did outsiders ever get to call the shots? My useless brother let them walk all over him, but I’m not him. Once I become village chief, our village will return to how it was. Fathers will have authority, and those meant to be underfoot will stay underfoot. Women and gers—men let them play their little games, and now they actually think they matter?” His eyes were dark and full of malice.

Old Lady Shen’s eyes shone with greed. She had grown gaunt, her cheeks sunken, looking like a walking corpse. Old Man Shen, paralyzed on the kang, demanded constant care and had become irritable and cruel, making her life unbearable.

She longed for the past. Sometimes, she saw Miao Shi in the village, dressed finely, wearing jewelry—better than she had ever lived, even at the family’s peak. Once Shen Qing and Miao Shi were dead, all of that would be hers!

Li Jiaofeng looked at these people, mad with greed and hatred, and felt like the whole situation was unreal. Did they not realize how insane this was?

Mustering her courage, she said, “Shen Qing has a powerful backer… He knows the magistrate’s ger and wealthy merchants in the city. The workshop isn’t even his—it belongs to his benefactors!”

“Shut up!” Shen Zhigao turned and slapped her hard across the face, leaving her stunned. The slap was vicious, instantly swelling her cheek two fingers high.

Ever since Shen Zhiwei’s death, Li Jiaofeng had stopped pretending in front of Shen Zhigao. She was indifferent to him, and their past affection had long faded. Shen Zhigao had never hit her before, only cursed her occasionally, and she treated his insults like a barking dog. But this time, the slap was real—she was stunned.

Zhao Youwei barely glanced at her. To him, she wasn’t worth looking at directly. He despised men who let women interrupt their conversations. “The land deeds and property documents all bear Shen Qing’s name. If his benefactors say it’s his, then it’s his?”

Did they not understand that a mighty dragon couldn’t suppress a local snake? The workshop was in their village—an outsider couldn’t just take it away. Once they killed Shen Qing and seized his assets, everything would be theirs. And as for the magistrate’s ger—he was just a ger. What could he do?

Zhao Youwei didn’t believe the magistrate would go to great lengths for a ger’s friend. The key point was that Shen Qing’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy violated village rules. Drowning was a legitimate punishment under their customs. With Shen Zhigao, his biological father, agreeing to it, even the magistrate would have no grounds to interfere!

And so, a house full of people gleefully plotted how to divide Shen Qing’s wealth, how Zhao Youwei would take over as village chief… They were all insane.

Terrified, Li Jiaofeng hesitated for days before finally running out when she heard Shen Qing was going into labor.

She was too afraid to go to Shen Qing’s house directly, so she waited until she found Lian Ou and Lian Rong in a quiet place.

Lian Ou was still processing the shock, but Lian Rong had already shoved him. “Ge, hurry home and tell eldest brother to go to Shiqu Village for help! Then go find Aunt Chunlei! I’ll go find someone!”

She took off running.

“Where are you going?!” Lian Ou shouted after her, but Lian Rong didn’t answer. Clenching his teeth, Lian Ou did as she said, rushing back to tell Lian Shi to send for help before running to find Miao Shi and relay everything Li Jiaofeng had told them.

“What?!” Miao Shi was utterly stunned. Shen Zhigao and Zhao Youwei were planning to drown Shen Qing? And it was Li Jiaofeng who brought the warning? She understood every word on its own, but strung together, they made no sense at all.

Had they gone mad?

She was still in shock when she suddenly heard Shen Qing calling from inside the house, “Mother!”

Snapping out of it, Miao Shi hurried into the room, only to see Shen Qing half-sitting up, gripping Matchmaker Wei’s hand tightly. Matchmaker Wei was in a panic, struggling desperately but unable to break free. The other four midwives stood at a distance, their faces filled with horror.

Miao Shi instantly exploded, “Are you all dead?! Haitang!”

Haitang rushed out from the kitchen, and upon seeing the situation, swiftly twisted Matchmaker Wei’s arms behind her back and pinned her down. Only then did the other four midwives snap out of their daze and hurried forward to check on Shen Qing.

The labor had just begun, and he was still in the early stages of contractions—pain coming and going in waves. He had happened to grab hold of Matchmaker Wei during a moment without pain, so he hadn’t felt anything unusual. But now that she had been caught, Wei Matchmaker turned ashen with despair. Seeing Miao Shi and the quick-handed Haitang, she was so terrified that she dropped to her knees with a heavy thud.

“I was wrong, Qing Ge’er, Sister Chunlei, I’m not human… but I had no choice! Zhao Youwei forced me to do it!”

The mention of Zhao Youwei overlapped with what Lian Ou had just told her, and Miao Shi had no choice but to believe—it was real!

It didn’t matter if they were insane or not. They were actually planning to take advantage of Qing Ge’er’s childbirth—to strike when he was at his weakest and take his life!

At that very moment, noises could already be heard from outside the courtyard gate.

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