Author Archives: Thandar

After purchasing weapons on the black market, the two set a time with the vendor for their next transaction. Song Kaiji then returned to the villa at the Red City base, while Qu Weiwei parted ways with him at the city gate, disappearing into the refugee camp.

The villa at the Red City base was empty. The leather sofa and marble dining table that originally sat in the living room were nowhere to be seen, replaced only by a folding dining table and a few chairs. During the months Shen Qing had been in Lantang Village for prenatal care, two major events had taken place.

The first was that Song Kaiji and his group had finally decided to establish their own stronghold, or rather, a small personal base. The Red City base was located in the outskirts of Red City, and it had once been an amusement park. Twenty-five kilometers beyond this amusement park, in an even more remote area, was the Red City Airport. Between the airport and the amusement park lay villages and farmland.

Of course, Song Kaiji had no intention of occupying the airport. After the initial chaos of the apocalypse, humanity had gradually learned how to deal with zombies. Especially after the military discovered, improved, and spread their iron cage tactic, casualty rates had significantly decreased. If the zombies had not evolved, ending the apocalypse would have been only a matter of time.

Even though zombies were evolving now, their rate of evolution was still slower than that of ability users. The apocalypse might not come to an end soon, but humanity was slowly reclaiming lost territory, and some pre-apocalypse infrastructure was being restored, including communication systems. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the nation would reinstate partial transportation networks, making use of airports once more.

If he were forced to vacate the place then, it would be a real pain.

Just seven kilometers from Red City Airport, there were two hotels built to accommodate airport guests—one was a four-star hotel, and the other was an economy chain hotel, separated by only 900 meters. Both hotels had their own wrought iron fences, and the surrounding area was still farmland, making it a prime location.

If they established their base there, it would only be about twenty kilometers in a straight line from Shen Qing’s cave. Before the apocalypse, it would have been just a thirty-minute drive. Even now, accounting for zombie encounters, half a day would suffice. If Shen Qing returned to Lantang Village once a week, this location would still be quite convenient.

Many of the ability users they recruited from the outer city were willing to follow Song Kaiji and his group. Everyone knew what Feng Hao had done and was furious about it. While some regretted that Song Kaiji’s relationship with the military was no longer what it used to be, wealthy employers like him were rare in the Red City base. As long as they could survive, did it really matter where they lived? Besides, it wasn’t too far from the Red City base. They could still return from time to time to trade supplies, and even if they didn’t enter the base, the flea market and black market along the southern wall had everything they needed.

More importantly, as long as they were strong enough, they could take on missions outside instead of relying on trades. After following Song Kaiji’s team on several raids of wholesale markets, the recruits had already seen the benefits firsthand. The new stronghold had well-maintained hotel buildings, farmland nearby, and even a few ability users with plant-based powers—self-sufficiency wouldn’t be an issue.

Thus, the ability users who had decided to follow Song Kaiji trained even harder in preparation.

Song Kaiji led the team there several times, and with the cooperation of earth- and metal-based ability users, they rapidly constructed steel-reinforced walls. Though they couldn’t compare to the brick walls of the Red City base, they were sufficient for repelling small groups of zombies. Besides, to put it bluntly—there were fewer zombies in the outskirts and more in the city. If a zombie horde were to break out, it would come from the city, and Red City base would act as a shield in front of them.

After more than a month of effort, they finally completed the stronghold. The two hotels were enclosed by a three-meter-high wall, along with a section of farmland fenced off with dense metal bars. The only real downside compared to Red City base was the inconvenience of utilities like water, electricity, and gas. But they had a water-based ability user to handle the water supply, and they had bought solar panels from the black market for electricity. Recently, Qu Weiwei had been making frequent trips to the refugee camp to recruit technicians skilled in electrical work.

Gas, however, was beyond their means. They would have to wait until the electrical system was up and running, then rely on electric stoves for cooking and electric water heaters for bathing.

By now, most of their assets in Red City had been relocated to the new base. Ge Bingbing was stationed there with a few mid-to-high-tier ability users from the outer city. Zhang Sujuan, Mother Tang, Father Ge, Nannan, Yu Le, and the young hairpin artisans Shen Qing had “sponsored” were also moved there, along with the families of some ability users from the outer city. Those who lacked self-defense abilities had all been transferred, leaving only Song Kaiji, Qu Weiwei, and Tang Wenjie as the remaining permanent residents at the Red City base. One reason was to wait for Shen Qing, and the other was to continue scouting for potential recruits from the refugee camp.

Brickmakers, charcoal burners, coal ball makers, stove builders—anyone with useful skills to help build their small base. Even if they weren’t capable of fighting zombies, they wouldn’t just be freeloaders.

And the third reason… well, that led to the second major event.

Song Kaiji looked up as the door to a second-floor bedroom opened, and Qi Zhan poked his head out. “Finally back. What’s for dinner?”

Song Kaiji: “…”

That’s right—Tang Wenjie and Qi Zhan had gotten back together. Song Kaiji didn’t know the details, only that one day, while Tang Wenjie was absorbing mutated zombie crystals at home, he absorbed several at once and ended up with an energy backlash, causing his abilities to go haywire. Despite multiple healers at Red City Hospital attempting to fix it, none could help. Only after a long while did Qi Zhan show up, his expression dark.

Then, just like that, they reconciled. And whatever was said in private must have been intense—unlike before when they were vague and playful about their relationship, this time it was like thunder striking dry land, an explosive reconnection. The strongest proof? Qi Zhan finally agreed to leave Red City Hospital and join their team at the new base.

Song Kaiji seriously suspected that Tang Wenjie had absorbed multiple mutated zombie crystals on purpose.

But perhaps it had something to do with the day Tang Wenjie awakened his abilities—Qi Zhan had helped him regulate them back then, creating some kind of special bond. Qi Zhan’s ability refinement greatly benefited Tang Wenjie’s power growth. This time, after absorbing multiple mutated zombie crystals, he shot up two levels at once. While he might not be the number one metal-based ability user in Red City base, he was definitely in the top five now.

Song Kaiji retrieved a few meal boxes from his storage space and placed them on the folding table. “Just make do with this. No one’s here to cook anymore. If you want something better, you and Wenjie should move over there sooner.”

All he had in his space were pre-packed mission meals made by Mother Tang—basic and convenient.

Qi Zhan yawned, came downstairs, grabbed two meal boxes, and headed back up. “My mother-in-law doesn’t like me. If I go over there, I might eat even worse than this…” As if he didn’t know—the technicians Qu Weiwei had recruited from the refugee camp had all suffered from starvation and exposure, and many had lingering health issues. Song Kaiji was clearly trying to push him into going over sooner to start working.

But this wasn’t a life-or-death emergency. If it was just work, why rush? The longer he could delay it, the better…

---

Red City Research Institute.

Feng Hao was dead, and his lab had been vacant for a while before it was reassigned to another researcher. On the desk, scattered blood sample test strips, a pile of reports, and Shen Qing’s file lay abandoned. The new occupant, Lu Yanghui, had known Feng Hao and even worked with him. He had also personally heard some of Feng Hao’s “crazy talk” and was aware of the rumors that Feng Hao’s death had been caused by Shen Qing’s people.

Lu Yanghui picked up Shen Qing’s file and glanced over the reports before his eyes suddenly landed on one particular document.

He stared at it for a long time before slowly shifting his gaze to the scattered test strips on the table. A few days later, Lu Yanghui stared in disbelief at the results of a new lab test.

Feng Hao wasn’t talking nonsense. There really was someone who couldn’t be attacked by zombies…

His grip tightened around the report. Everyone at the research institute knew that Feng Hao had orchestrated the capture of Shen Qing. If what Feng Hao said was true, then why had Chen Jiaxi claimed she saw nothing in Shen Qing’s memories?

They were all intelligent people. Lu Yanghui quickly put the pieces together.

Chen Jiaxi… was a mole! Which meant that everything she had said about Shen Qing’s identity was most likely a lie!

---

Meanwhile, Shen Qing had privately told Miao Chunlei about the miraculous healing spring, only mentioning that his body was brimming with energy and he felt completely fine. Miao Chunlei, however, dismissed his concerns and insisted he rest for a full month.

“This isn’t about feeling strong! Plenty of people in the village are sturdy and go back to work three days after giving birth, but that doesn’t mean they should! Childbirth stretches your bones—if you let the cold seep in, you’ll regret it when you’re older!” Miao Chunlei had suffered long-term damage from childbirth herself and wasn’t about to let Shen Qing take any risks. “What’s the point of showing off? Getting up early won’t change anything! You’ve got people to take care of you, so stop complaining!”

Shen Qing was getting a headache from her nagging. Ever since that day, his mother’s personality had completely changed.

Right then, a series of broken sobs echoed from the courtyard. Miao Chunlei’s face darkened. She slammed her bowl onto the table, grabbed a feather duster, and stormed outside with two dogs in tow.

Lin Ning had come with soldiers earlier and arrested those who had broken into Shen Qing’s house, sending them to the county court. County Magistrate Lin was furious—angry at Lin Ning for acting without permission, but even more enraged at those scoundrels who had used village laws as an excuse to rob and kill.

So, to make an example, he sentenced them heavily, exiling them to the bitter cold of the far north for hard labor. Their untreated knee wounds from Shen Qing’s crossbow shots meant they might not even survive the journey.

At first, the families of those arrested were afraid to act. But then Shen Qing’s grandmother set an example—dragging the paralyzed Old Man Shen to Shen Qing’s doorstep, wailing and screaming as if she were about to die. Seeing this, others followed suit, thinking that since Shen Qing had just given birth, he might be softhearted enough to spare their men. They even sent their children to kneel at the doorstep, crying for mercy.

But the moment Miao Chunlei rushed out with a feather duster and two dogs, the children screamed in terror and ran off, leaving only Shen Qing’s grandmother wailing even louder.

She wasn’t afraid of Miao Chunlei anymore—or rather, she had nothing left to lose. With Shen Zhigao taken away by the authorities, her only support was gone, and she was left to care for a bedridden husband. If Miao Chunlei let the dogs tear her apart right now, she would only see it as relief.

Seeing her in such a miserable state, Miao Chunlei hesitated—she figured the old woman wouldn’t last much longer anyway. After a moment of silence, she finally said, “Back when I was in the Shen family, you encouraged Shen Zhigao to beat me—you know that well. Qing Ge’er and I won’t show you an ounce of mercy, and we absolutely won’t spare him. If you keep making trouble, I’ll go to the authorities and have Shen Zhigao flogged twenty times. Every time you come, I’ll add another twenty. I’ll have them whip him until he’s dead. The beatings I suffered back then—it’s about time he paid for them.”

Old Lady Shen opened her mouth wide but couldn’t utter a sound. She could still vividly recall how Miao Chunlei was beaten in the past. After a long pause, she finally dragged the stretcher carrying Old Man Shen and slowly made her way home. But before she could even reach the door, she collapsed at the entrance.

…

Watching her leave, Miao Chunlei let out a breath of relief. She turned to the children who had run away but lingered nearby, her face cold. “Go home and tell your families—if they come again, I’ll have the authorities whip them. If you don’t believe me, try it!” Then she raised her voice even louder, “If you really can’t bear to part with them, why not pack up your things and move to the new settlement? At least you’d be together as a family. On the road, you’d have people to look after each other—better than dying from infected wounds!”

She glanced into the distance. “Stay in the village, and what good days are left? Over there, at least you’d get free land.”

With that, she turned back into the courtyard. Da Huang and Er Hei barked fiercely at the children, scaring two of them into tears before they happily followed Miao Chunlei inside.

It was a long while before a few adults emerged from behind the trees, clutching their crying children and sobbing quietly themselves.

Because of all this, the atmosphere in the village had been tense, and Shen Qing’s daughter’s washing ceremony and one-month milestone weren’t celebrated with a grand gathering. Instead, they just invited close friends over for a meal to mark the occasion.

Miao Chunlei was a little regretful—such a joyful event for their family had been overshadowed by these unpleasant affairs. But Shen Qing didn’t mind. Having a large crowd wouldn’t necessarily make it better; he’d rather spend time with a few close families who truly wished them well.

Babies changed quickly. By the washing ceremony day, the wrinkled little “red monkey” had turned into a plump, fair-skinned, and beautiful little girl. Lin Ning stared in shock, doubting whether this was even the same child. And now that they looked at her, Shen Qing’s man didn’t seem so bad-looking anymore—though he still wasn’t blonde with blue eyes.

Lin Ning, Lin Zao, the Xie siblings, and Lian Ou and Lian Rong all crowded around the baby, unable to get enough of her. “Qing Ge’er, what’s the baby’s name?”

“Her nickname is Quan Jie.” Shen Qing replied. After all, both the baby and his own life had been saved by that miraculous spring. Ever since that day, the spring had shrunk to a tiny well, barely holding enough water for two scoops. Shen Qing didn’t dare to use it anymore. “As for her full name, I’ll let her father decide.”

Maybe, for her entire life, Quan Jie would never truly see her father… but at least having a name given by him could serve as some small comfort.

But then again… maybe not.

A month and a half later, as soon as Shen Qing finished his postpartum recovery, he couldn’t resist taking Miao Chunlei and Quan Jie up the mountain.

The cave was still there, but Miao Chunlei couldn’t see it—halfway up the path, a solid rock wall blocked her way. Shen Qing held Quan Jie carefully in his arms and stepped forward. He could still see the cave entrance, but it felt as if an invisible force was pushing against the child in his arms, preventing him from moving forward.

Quan Jie squirmed, her tiny head pressing against something hard. She whimpered, uncomfortable, and began to cry softly. Shen Qing quickly stepped back, rocking her gently to soothe her. Miao Chunlei watched the scene unfold, feeling sorrowful for Shen Qing and that Xiao Song—such a good family, yet forever separated.

Quan Jie was a gentle little girl; a little coaxing was enough to stop her tears. Shen Qing handed her to Miao Chunlei, then started a fire in the cave, spreading out some grass mats and blankets. “Mother, wait here with Quan Jie for a bit. I’ll go find Song ge.”

Even if they couldn’t see each other, he wanted Song Kaiji and their daughter to at least be a little closer. This was the only way their little family could ever be together.

It had been months since he last came to Red City Base. The place didn’t seem much different, but the line for entry at the gates had doubled in length. Curious, Shen Qing narrowed his eyes and observed carefully—something seemed off about the blood tests at the entrance. Now, after drawing blood, people had to queue in a separate line, making the entire process take much longer.

Feeling uneasy, he quietly asked someone nearby, “What’s happening at the city gates?”

A helpful person answered, “You just arrived? Did you save up enough for the entry fee? If not, there’s no point standing in line—you won’t get in. See that tent over there? People who can’t pay have to stay there.”

“I live in Red City Base,” Shen Qing replied smoothly. “I was out on a mission and got delayed for a few months. I don’t remember entry tests being like this before.”

“Oh, then you wouldn’t know. This rule started about two weeks ago,” the man explained. “They changed the blood test method. Said the old test strips were unreliable, so the research institute developed a new, more accurate testing method.”

The moment Shen Qing heard “research institute,” he instinctively recoiled. But what the man said next sent a chill down his spine.

“You know how Red City Base improved that iron cage tactic and rented it out to ability user teams? They even shared the strategy with other bases and got recognition from the capital. Well, the capital sent special agents here and brought a ton of good stuff with them. The best part? The internet is back! Red City Base can now connect with the capital’s network!”

Excited, the man pulled a phone from his pocket. “I thought I’d never use this thing again—thought it’d just be for watching old offline videos.”

“Now that we’re online, everyone entering the city has to register their ID number, fingerprints, and blood sample. They’re verifying people’s pre-apocalypse identities so families can find each other.”

“If your relatives are in the capital or another connected base, you can pay a fee to use the system and chat with them on WeChat!”

When this policy was announced, it caused an uproar. Some people—especially those who had committed crimes before or after the apocalypse—were panicked. But in the end, the desire to reunite with lost family outweighed the fear, and the rule was enforced.

Hearing “ID number” and “fingerprints,” Shen Qing knew this was bad. He quickly thanked the man and stepped out of line.

The man blinked in confusion. “Where are you going? You’re leaving? If you come back later, you’ll have to start from the end of the line!”

Shen Qing pulled his hood up and kept walking, head low. But before he could get far, several people burst out of the refugee camp and grabbed his arm.

“Come with us!”

Shen Qing nearly lashed out, but then he saw who it was—Song Kaiji, with Qu Weiwei, Tang Wenjie, and Qi Zhan behind him.

There was no need for explanations. Just from what he had heard, Shen Qing already knew—this was trouble. Anything involving the research institute had to be targeting him.

Now that Song Kaiji and the others had appeared openly, there was no point in hiding. The four of them turned and sprinted, while the guards at the gate suddenly sprang into action, as if they had just come to life, giving chase.

Without even turning her head, Qu Weiwei casually scattered a handful of seeds behind her. Almost instantly, each seed sprouted into massive vines, as thick as pythons and as large as trucks, writhing as if they could snap a person’s neck at any moment.

The plants blocked the pursuers, but only for a moment. A fire ability user among them unleashed a massive flame, reducing the vegetation to ashes in seconds.

By then, however, Shen Qing and the others had already gained a significant lead, putting distance between themselves, the city gate, and the refugee camp. The people at the gate stared in shock. Song Kaiji was no longer hesitant—aside from Qi Zhan and Shen Qing, who were slightly weaker, the rest of their team consisted of high-level ability users. They no longer had to worry about being taken hostage.

Turning to Tang Wenjie and Qu Weiwei, Song Kaiji instructed, “You two take Qi Zhan and go to our base first. Wait for me there.”

Tang Wenjie hesitated for a moment but, recalling that Song Kaiji could teleport with Shen Qing, he nodded. He hoisted Qi Zhan onto his shoulder and took off running at full speed. Qu Weiwei continued scattering seeds as she ran.

Rather than dealing with the troublesome Qu Weiwei, the pursuers naturally chose to focus on Song Kaiji and Shen Qing. Their main target was Shen Qing; capturing Qu Weiwei or Tang Wenjie would be pointless.

Song Kaiji retrieved a grenade from his storage space. Though he hadn’t expected this situation to unfold so soon, he had bought these grenades precisely for a moment like this. Clenching it between his teeth, he pulled the pin and hurled it at the pursuers.

At that exact moment, a golden flash streaked through the air, hurtling straight toward Shen Qing.

Without hesitation, Song Kaiji stepped in front of Shen Qing. A golden metal spike—an ability user’s signature weapon—pierced straight through his left shoulder, sending a spray of blood onto Shen Qing’s face and clothes. The spike vanished just as quickly as it appeared, returning to its owner, leaving only a gaping, blood-gushing wound in Song Kaiji’s shoulder.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Song Kaiji turned, wrapped his arms around Shen Qing, and teleported just as the grenade exploded.

The next second, they reappeared at the entrance of the cave.

Shen Qing stood in shock, his face still warm with Song Kaiji’s blood, unsure what to do. But Song Kaiji simply reached out and wiped his face. “It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt. We’ve got Qi Zhan, remember? You don’t know this yet, but Wenjie actually managed to bring him over to our side. He’s powerful—he’ll heal me in no time.”

His gaze dropped lower, resting on Shen Qing’s stomach. Though it had long since returned to its normal flatness, he still pressed his face against it. “How’s our child?”

“She’s fine, she’s doing great,” Shen Qing choked out, tears streaming down his face. “She’s a girl, beautiful and healthy. I listened to you—I recorded videos of her for you…”

Blood was still pouring from Song Kaiji’s shoulder, flowing even faster than Shen Qing’s tears. Shen Qing turned back toward the cave. He could see inside—Miao Chunlei was holding the baby, pacing back and forth. For some reason, the child was crying.

Shen Qing shoved the phone with the recorded videos into Song Kaiji’s hands. “She’s crying. Can you hear her?”

Song Kaiji couldn’t hear anything, but he still smiled and nodded. “You need to go back now. Lay low for a while. Don’t come here again for the time being. I have to teleport to find Qi Zhan right away—whatever you want to say, save it for later. In a few days, I’ll leave a letter here with instructions on how we can meet again.”

Voices echoed from below the rock formation—pursuers had tracked them here. Song Kaiji worried they might start searching the area and gently pushed Shen Qing away. “Go, now!”

Shen Qing hesitated, unwilling to part. “Then… then be careful.”

Song Kaiji watched as Shen Qing’s body slowly disappeared into the cave wall. He had lied to him. Teleporting an adult like Shen Qing once had already drained most of his energy. Now, injured and weakened, there was no way he had enough left to teleport back to their base. Whether he could evade the pursuers and survive depended entirely on luck.

But he couldn’t let Shen Qing stay and risk his life with him.

The blood loss was making his vision blur and darken, but he knew Shen Qing was watching him from the other side of the cave wall. He forced himself to stand firm, pretending he was fine.

Back inside the cave, Shen Qing, still covered in blood, stumbled forward, shocking Miao Chunlei. The baby in her arms wailed even louder. “What happened?!”

“I’m fine… this is Song ge’s blood.” Despite his words, Shen Qing felt his strength draining away. The exhaustion from their desperate sprint finally caught up to him. He wobbled slightly, his bloodstained hand pressing against the large blue-gray stone at the cave’s entrance.

In the next instant, the solid rock wall that had always blocked Song Kaiji’s path vanished, flooding the cave with daylight.

Dazed, Song Kaiji saw a woman holding a baby inside the cave, peering out at him. The baby let out a loud cry—like the sound of new life.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Thandar: ahhhhhhh finally the moment I’ve been waiting forrrrrr

So much pain…

Shen Qing always thought he had a high tolerance for pain, but at this moment, he felt like his entire body was being torn apart. The midwives’ hands kept pressing and kneading his belly, the dull pain so intense it nearly numbed him. Outside the window, the battle raged on, while inside, the midwives kept calling to him, urging him to inhale and exhale… But the chaotic noises around him seemed to be drifting further and further away. His consciousness wavered, and in the end, he could only see the midwife’s mouth opening and closing, yet he could no longer hear a single word…

His vision blurred as his mind slowly slipped into darkness.

No, something was wrong—he hadn’t lost consciousness.

Shen Qing bit down on the tip of his tongue, the taste of blood filling his mouth.

The world before him was both familiar and unfamiliar—it was the three-bedroom, two-living-room layout of his space pendant. But at this moment, the house was becoming transparent, revealing brown earth and a vast blue sky.

Had he… entered the space?

Shen Qing was jolted into alertness.

Neither he nor Zhang Sujuan had ever been able to physically enter the space before—they could only retrieve items from it. This was a completely new experience.

Instinctively, he rushed toward the spiritual spring, scooping up a handful of water to drink.

He didn’t notice that his movements were completely unrestricted. His pregnancy belly was gone.

This was just his consciousness, not his physical body.

However, just as he brought the spring water to his lips, the water seemed to take on a life of its own, transforming into a stream of white light that surged into his body. At the same time, the pool of spring water on the ground shrunk bit by bit, as if that white light was the concentrated essence of the entire spring.

By the time the white light had completely filled Shen Qing’s body, the once-sprawling spring had shrunk to the size of a well, with only a shallow layer of water remaining. The entire three-bedroom, two-living-room house also disappeared, revealing the true vastness of the barren land in the space.

In the next second, Shen Qing heard a distant cry of joy from one of the midwives:

“it’s in position! The baby’s head is out—it’s coming out!”

And with that, Shen Qing was forcefully ejected from the space.

When he opened his eyes again, he was still lying on the birthing bed.

The midwives around him gasped in excitement—he had woken up!

Just moments ago, Shen Qing had looked as though he had passed out, which was extremely dangerous. A mother who lost consciousness during labor couldn’t cooperate, making it a life-threatening situation for both the baby and the parent. But now, not only had the baby repositioned correctly, Shen Qing himself had also regained full awareness—this child was about to be born!

Sure enough, in less than fifteen minutes, a baby’s first cries filled the room.

Shen Qing felt completely different from before—there was no lingering pain at all. He felt as if he could get up and run two laps without a problem. He knew that the spiritual spring had saved him.

This spring, condensed from Li Aiguo’s dying wish, had once saved his beloved Zhang Sujuan. And now, it had saved Shen Qing and his child.

The midwives quickly wiped both Shen Qing and the baby clean, wrapping the newborn in a soft swaddle before carefully placing the child by his side. One of the midwives hesitated before softly saying, “congratulations, young master Shen… you’ve given birth to a daughter.”

She had been brought in from the city and was unfamiliar with Shen Qing’s temperament. After all the risks and suffering, the child turned out to be a girl, not a son. In most families, this would mean half the usual reward for the midwives—if they got rewarded at all.

She glanced at the window, still hearing the commotion outside, and regretted taking this job.

But Shen Qing didn’t care at all.

With great tenderness, he reached out and gently caressed his daughter’s tiny face.

Newborns were never particularly pretty—red, wrinkled, and resembling a little monkey. But Shen Qing’s eyes were filled with deep affection as he studied her, convinced that her face shape resembled Song Kaiji, her eyes resembled his own… and as for her nose… well, it was still too flat to tell.

But he only took a brief moment to admire her before composing himself and turning to the midwives.

“help me move to the bed near the window,” he instructed.

Even though he felt completely fine and could get up himself, tradition dictated that new mothers must rest properly after childbirth. Since he could afford to stay still, he would.

The bed near the window was where Haitang had been sleeping these past few nights.

The midwives exchanged glances—they understood that Shen Qing wanted to see the battle outside.

The weather was cold, and Shen Qing had just given birth, meaning he absolutely could not be exposed to the wind. However, Zhao Youwei’s forces consisted of able-bodied men, while Wu Guixiang’s side was made up of women and gers. Even though Miao Chunlei had armed them, they were still at a disadvantage.

Right now, the only reason blood hadn’t been spilled was because everyone was from the same village—and no matter how good or bad a person was, most people didn’t have the stomach for outright murder. But injuries were piling up fast.

If things continued like this, the fight would inevitably spill into the house.

After a brief hesitation, the midwives followed his orders, wrapping Shen Qing in thick blankets before carrying him over, still swaddled in his bedding. They bundled him up with extra quilts and thick robes, leaving only his eyes exposed.

“Young master, should we open the window?” one of them asked.

Shen Qing shook his head. “no need for that. There are some things under my bed—fetch them for me.”

One midwife hurried to retrieve the items, returning with several wooden components and a basket of arrows.

Shen Qing swiftly assembled the wooden pieces into a crossbow.

Instead of opening the window, he simply punched a small hole through the paper window screen, just large enough for him to aim through without letting in the cold wind.

Peering through the hole, he took in the battlefield outside.

Miao Chunlei was fighting like a madwoman, swinging her long sword wildly. The two dogs circled her, barking fiercely at anyone who dared approach. The blade was long and sharp, and no one was willing to risk charging in just yet.

But beyond the courtyard gate, things were looking grim.

Many of Wu Guixiang’s people didn’t have proper weapons—most of them were armed with farming tools, which were being easily snatched away before the wielders were pinned to the ground and beaten.

The situation was becoming more and more desperate.

Shen Qing took a few quick glances before locking onto the strongest fighters on Zhao Youwei’s side. He called out to Miao Chunlei, “Mother, move aside!”

Miao Chunlei was stunned for a moment, but her body instinctively followed the order, shifting to the side. The next second, an arrow flew past where she had just been standing and struck one of Zhao Youwei’s men directly in the knee.

The man let out a scream and dropped to one knee. The fulang he had been pinning down was stunned for a brief moment before grabbing a rolling pin from the ground and beating him senseless.

Then came a second arrow. A third…

One after another, bodies collapsed all over the courtyard, filling the air with wails of pain.

Miao Xing and Miao Wang, who had been desperately defending themselves, were momentarily at a loss—how had their enemies suddenly disappeared?

The final arrow was aimed at Zhao Youwei, who was limping away. Shen Qing fired, striking his good leg.

Wu Guixiang was the first to react, her face lighting up with joy. “Qing Ge’er is amazing! He just gave birth, and he still managed to take down a whole courtyard full of people!”

She quickly called out to the uninjured women and gers, “Get some rope! Tie these bastards up!”

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she peeked her head into the room. “Wait, did the baby come? What is it?”

Shen Qing had already looked away, instructing someone to cover up the hole in the window. “Send the doctor to check on the injured in the village. Get them medicine and bandages as needed. Put the cost on my tab.”

The elderly doctor, who had been hiding in the kitchen the entire time, had never even stepped into the birthing room. A midwife hurried off to relay the message. One fulang had dislocated his arm, one aunt had a gash on her forehead, but most of the injuries were just bruises and scrapes—painful but not life-threatening.

By now, Miao Chunlei had also snapped out of her daze. Forgetting about the courtyard, she rushed inside.

But as soon as she reached the main hall, she hesitated, afraid the cold air on her body would affect Qing Ge’er and the baby. So she quickly warmed herself in the kitchen before stepping into the room.

Inside, Shen Qing was holding his child, gazing at the baby with pure affection. He looked nothing like someone who had just crippled ten men—he was practically glowing with motherly love.

Seeing Shen Qing safe and sound, Miao Chunlei’s eyes welled up with tears again—this time, out of sheer relief.

She wiped her face and leaned in for a closer look at the baby. “What did you have?”

“A girl,” Shen Qing said, clearly delighted. “Mother, prepare the red envelopes for these midwives, as well as for the doctor. They worked hard today.”

This birth had been particularly difficult due to Matchmaker Wei’s interference. The midwives had been sweating profusely as they worked to help him deliver safely.

Miao Chunlei smiled sincerely. “Girls are wonderful. Daughters are warm and caring.” She immediately went to fetch the money.

She had already prepared red envelopes in advance, but now, right in front of the midwives, she grabbed a handful of silver and stuffed extra into each pouch. “You all worked so hard today. My ger was able to give birth safely thanks to you.”

The midwives hadn’t expected such generous rewards for delivering a girl. Overjoyed, they quickly accepted the money, showering the room with auspicious blessings.

Just as the room was filled with warmth and celebration, a sudden commotion erupted outside.

A commanding male voice shouted, “Nobody move! Get down! Stay where you are!”

Both Miao Chunlei and Shen Qing froze.

Then came Zhao Youwei’s desperate cries: “Great magistrate! Save me! They’re trying to kill us! Please, save us! My leg—my leg!”

Miao Chunlei ran outside and was shocked to see a squad of officers rounding up the women and gers who had been tying up their enemies. Others were checking on the wounded.

Shen Qing had only arranged for the doctor to treat their own side—he hadn’t bothered with Zhao Youwei’s men.

Now, Zhao Youwei, Shen Zhigao, Wang Liuzi, and the rest were groveling on the ground, sobbing and pleading for justice.

Lian Ou was also kneeling with his hands over his head, but he knew something was off. Gathering his courage, he peeked up and spotted Lin Ning riding a mule behind the officers.

Immediately, he waved frantically. “Ning Ge’er! We’re over here!”

Noticing that Lian Ou recognized Lin Ning, the officers ignored him.

Lian Ou rushed forward. “This is a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! The people you’ve arrested are on our side! The ones lying on the ground are the real criminals!”

Lin Ning blinked. “Huh? Huh??”

How were they this capable in a fight?

From a distance, he had seen bodies strewn all over the courtyard and had nearly lost his mind. He assumed the villains had overpowered them and that Qing Ge’er had already been captured.

That was unthinkable—Qing Ge’er had just given birth!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He had immediately ordered the officers to seize the criminals and had ridden ahead himself, with Lian Rong and the others still trailing behind in the carriage.

Lian Ou looked slightly embarrassed. “…We weren’t doing that well at first. They had us pinned down. But then Qing Ge’er started shooting arrows, hitting all their legs, and we managed to turn the tide.”

Lin Ning muttered, “Of course it was Qing Ge’er… giving birth and fighting at the same time…”

He quickly ordered the officers to release the captives and joined the others in tying up Zhao Youwei’s group.

Zhao Youwei was furious. “They’re the ones who tried to kill us! Why are you arresting us? Look at our legs!”

Even in the worst droughts, when villages fought over water and ended up in brawls, the magistrate would punish both sides equally. But now, this county magistrate’s ger was clearly showing favoritism!

Not only had Zhao Youwei failed to kill Shen Qing, failed to seize the village chief position, and failed to take over the workshop, but now even his last good leg was injured. His resentment boiled over.

He glared at Lin Ning and spat, “You’re abusing your power! Oppressing the people! Corrupt official! Corrupt official! I’ll report you—I’ll take this to the prefecture!”

Lin Ning’s expression darkened.

That insult was directed at his father.

He wanted to snap back that, of course, he was siding with Qing Ge’er—why would he take Zhao Youwei’s side? But he couldn’t say that outright. If he did, it would ruin his father’s reputation.

His father was out on inspection with Miao Yu and Tieshan. These officers were people he had secretly convinced his mother to send.

Their actions had to uphold his father’s reputation, not tarnish it.

Lin Ning sneered. “Abusing power? Let’s be clear—where are we? This is Shen Qing’s home. Who owns the land and house? Oh, that would be Miao Chunlei. So tell me, who are you, and what right did you have to break in? You stormed into a widow and her ger son’s home, and you dare claim we’re unjust for arresting you?”

Zhao Youwei was momentarily speechless before snapping back, “We were following Shen Zhigao! He’s Shen Qing’s father! If he brought us here, then we had the right to enter!”

That was precisely why he had bothered bringing the useless Shen family along—so they could claim legitimacy.

“And besides, Shen Qing is an unwed ger with a bastard pregnancy! No village would tolerate that! According to village rules, he should be drowned!”

“Qing Ge’er isn’t unwed! He’s married—you just haven’t seen his husband!” Lin Ning shot back.

He wasn’t sure of the exact details of the village, so he didn’t dare say more.

Miao Chunlei, however, stormed inside and rummaged around before coming back out with a document.

“Bullshit! Shen Zhigao and I divorced ages ago! The child is mine—our ties are severed! He has no right to bring anyone into my house! What, are you saying divorce papers are useless? That every divorced woman and ger should still be at the mercy of their ex-husbands? Keep dreaming!”

Zhao Youwei could read a few characters, and when he saw the household registry in Miao Chunlei’s hand, his eyes widened in disbelief, his face turning redder and redder. After a long pause, he suddenly snatched the document from Miao Chunlei’s hand and shoved it into his mouth.

“I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!!”

Miao Chunlei: “…”

Lin Ning: “…”

Everyone else: “…”

Miao Chunlei was completely stunned, filled with instant regret as she helplessly looked at Lin Ning. “H-he ate it! Does our household registry still count?”

Ahhh, she shouldn’t have held it so close to Zhao Youwei!

Lin Ning burst into laughter. “Let him eat it! The official red-sealed document is recorded in the government’s archives. If it’s lost, we just apply for a new one. At most, we have to deal with some grumpy clerks. What, does he think eating it makes it invalid?”

Only then did Miao Chunlei relax. Annoyed, she kicked Zhao Youwei. “Believe whatever you want. There are plenty of things in this world you don’t believe in.”

Lin Ning then exchanged a glance with the officer leading the soldiers. The man cleared his throat and stepped forward.

“You lot,” he declared, “attempted to rob a wealthy merchant of Anping County, broke into a private residence, and attempted murder. Master Shen has been personally commended by the county magistrate for benefiting the people and was even awarded an honorary arch. And yet, you lot completely disregarded that! Take them all to prison!”

Zhao Youwei, dumbfounded, fell silent, while the others began wailing and begging for mercy. They all claimed that they had been deceived by Zhao Youwei and hadn’t known that Shen Qing was no longer a villager.

The officer remained stern. “The village chief of any district is supposed to be appointed by the government. The only reason the county magistrate allowed you all to choose was because he doesn’t have time for such trivial matters and doesn’t know your village affairs well. But did you really think you could change the village chief whenever you wanted? That it was up to whoever you pleased?”

Zhao Youwei’s face turned even paler as he listened.

“Zhao Youdang has served as village chief for years without any major mistakes. Whether it was collecting grain taxes or organizing labor, he did his job well. And yet, you can’t even manage your own household—your own brother doesn’t respect you.” The officer frowned.

This man had come to the village before during labor collections, and Zhao Youdang had interacted with him several times. Now, hearing his words, Zhao Youdang was so ashamed he couldn’t lift his head.

“Fine then. Given your past good service, you’ll remain as village chief,” the officer continued, before glancing at Wu Guixiang and advising, “In the future, listen to the advice of those in your household.”

Zhao Youdang responded with a bitter smile, but Wu Guixiang was overjoyed.

Wasn’t this practically official recognition that she was the one calling the shots now?

Excited, she turned to Lin Ning, who discreetly winked at her.

Congratulations to Wu Guixiang, the first woman to achieve “behind-the-curtain rule” in Lantang Village!

Once the situation was mostly handled, Lin Ning let the officers finish up and rushed inside to check on Shen Qing.

Shen Qing was in excellent condition—not at all like someone who had just suffered through a difficult labor.

Lin Ning immediately started showering him with praise. “Qing Ge’er, you’re amazing! I feel like I didn’t even need to come! By the time I got here, the battle was already over!”

“Not at all. It’s good that you came,” Shen Qing sighed.

Zhao Youwei had been willing to drown him, but Shen Qing wasn’t willing to take a life. Though he had shot them in the legs, none of them had died. But what now? Were they supposed to just recover and go back to village life, constantly crossing paths?

Shen Qing wasn’t cruel enough to kill them, but he also wasn’t generous enough to let them stay. Even if Lin Ning hadn’t arrived, he had already planned to send them to the authorities.

“Could you speak to the magistrate?” Shen Qing asked. “Have them exiled somewhere far away to reclaim wasteland or something. Out of sight, out of mind.”

Before coming, Lin Ning had been worried about showing too much bias toward Shen Qing and getting in trouble with his father. He had only intended to protect Qing Ge’er, bring him to the county safely, and make sure he wasn’t harmed.

But now, he felt completely reassured.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I didn’t realize your household registry had already been changed. Since you’re no longer a villager, their attack on you counts as an assault and attempted robbery of a city merchant. My father will definitely convict them. Exile is already a light punishment.”

They chatted for a bit longer, then took turns praising Lian Rong for her bravery and quick thinking in going to the county for help.

Lian Rong hung her head shyly. Truthfully, she felt a little useless—she had run all that way, but Qing Ge’er had handled everything himself.

After that, they all gathered around the bed to look at the baby.

She was a quiet little girl, probably exhausted from the difficult birth. She had only cried when she was first born.

The family’s sheep had already given birth, so they had warm sheep’s milk ready in the kitchen. After drinking it, the baby fell into a peaceful sleep.

“What a considerate child,” Miao Hexiang said. “She knows her mother has important things to do and isn’t making trouble.”

Lin Ning and Lian Rong, however, both frowned, scrunching up their faces. Even Lian Ou looked slightly hesitant, as if he wanted to say something but held back.

None of them had experience with newborns. They all thought newborns were… not very good-looking.

Red, wrinkled, and monkey-like.

Qing Ge’er’s husband probably wasn’t very handsome, was he?

Sigh.

At Red City Base, Song Kaiji suddenly sneezed. He rubbed his nose and muttered to himself, “Qingqing must be thinking of me.”

He had been counting the days—Qingqing should be giving birth around now.

Song Kaiji tilted his head back and gazed at the sky, his expression full of worry.

Qu Weiwei glanced at him in exasperation. Shen Qing had been gone for months. She was starting to suspect Shen Qing had finally dumped Song Kaiji for good.

After thoroughly inspecting a crate, Qu Weiwei gestured to Song Kaiji. “Everything looks fine. Pay up.”

They were currently at the black market.

Inside the crate was a layer of grenades and landmines—over seventy in total. These were highly sought-after, expensive goods. The seller grinned when he saw Song Kaiji pay without hesitation.

“Another batch of good stuff is coming in soon,” the seller said. “Interested?”

Song Kaiji nodded. “Yes. However much you have, I’ll take it all.”

Last time had been a lesson.

The research facility had already developed shackles to suppress abilities. If they encountered that situation again, they would need firepower to fight back.

Lately, Song Kaiji had been interacting more with Chen Jiaxi. He didn’t fully agree with her methods, but she had a point—they were all still too young, too naïve, and not ruthless enough.

Maybe Chen Jiaxi didn’t fully approve of them either…

Next time they ran into trouble, he wouldn’t hesitate. No more taking chances. No more worrying about who was in the crossfire.

The next time, if they encountered a threat—whoever it was—he would throw grenades first and deal with the aftermath later.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Miao Shi didn’t have time to think about anything else. She quickly stepped forward and bolted the door, then dragged the wooden table from the main hall and braced it against the entrance before turning back to assess everyone present in the courtyard.

Because Qing Ge’er was giving birth, apart from the elderly doctor invited from the county, who was a man, the remaining five midwives consisted of only one fulang while the others were all women. Miao Hexiang and Lian Ou were at her side, along with the young maid Magpie and the little ger Haitang—both still children who hadn’t come of age yet.

However, when Shen Qing had lived in the county before, he had taught them some basic self-defense. Later, Miao Yu had helped find a martial artist to train the young boys in the household, and the gers and maids occasionally joined in as well. Now, Haitang had grown nearly a head taller than when Shen Qing first bought him, with a thin layer of muscle—strong and capable.

Without needing Miao Shi’s instruction, Haitang had already found a rope and tightly bound Matchmaker Wei, throwing her onto the ground before looking up at Miao Shi. “Madam, what are your orders?”

In this courtyard, Haitang was the only one truly useful—aside from the two guard dogs. Miao Shi’s mind was in a chaotic panic. Behind her, the door was already being forcefully pushed—when it didn’t budge, the person outside switched to kicking it instead. But this courtyard was built at the foot of the mountain. Back when Hunter Liu’s family lived here, they had feared wild beasts coming down from the hills, so the front gate was made from exceptionally sturdy wood. Now, with the table braced against it, the door trembled violently with each kick but remained shut.

The person outside cursed under their breath and then began pounding the door. “Open up!”

The voice was familiar—Miao Shi recognized it immediately. It was Shen Zhigao.

…Damn that Shen Zhigao!

Even if they had cut ties, Shen Qing still carried half his blood! Even tigers didn’t eat their own cubs! Even the person Miao Shi hated most, Shen Zhiwei, had only killed his nephew to protect his own son.

But Shen Zhigao—could he even be considered human?

Overwhelmed by fury and grief, Miao Shi instead became terrifyingly calm. Haitang and Miao Hexiang were both looking at her. Inside the house, Qing Ge’er let out a low groan—he was at death’s door, fighting his way back. She was the only one who could make decisions now. If she panicked and collapsed, Qing Ge’er would have no hope left!

Miao Shi clenched her teeth, her mind racing. She quickly issued orders: “Haitang, Xique, move all the heaviest objects in the house and pile them behind the door! Hexiang, go boil water and make Qing Ge’er a bowl of red sugar eggs—he needs strength to give birth! As for you—” She turned to the four trembling midwives and the elderly doctor, who kept glancing nervously at the door. “Get inside and watch over Qing Ge’er! I will handle what’s outside! If anything happens to Qing Ge’er, none of us will leave this courtyard alive!”

At those words, everyone shivered violently.

They didn’t even understand what was happening—why had their peaceful courtyard suddenly come under siege? Why had Matchmaker Wei turned traitor?

Who knew what kind of ruthless people were trying to break down the door? And what would they do once they got in?

Master Shen was a smart man—if he could hurry and give birth, they might have a chance to maneuver. But if anything happened to him, who knew what those people would do to them? Would they silence them all to eliminate witnesses?

The courtyard bustled into action as everyone rushed to carry out Miao Shi’s orders. The two dogs sensed the tension and stood stiffly in the courtyard, staring intently at the front gate. They didn’t bark—not yet. It was as if they were waiting for the moment the intruders forced their way in, ready to pounce and tear them apart!

Miao Shi took a deep breath, forcing herself to suppress her pounding heart. Then she pulled Lian Ou aside and whispered, “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t let an unmarried ger into the birthing room… but right now, we have no choice. Keep an eye on the midwives—make sure none of them turn traitor. If Qing Ge’er needs to say anything, pass his words to me.”

Lian Ou quickly nodded and ran into the birthing room.

Outside, Shen Zhigao continued pounding on the door. When no one responded, and he failed to break it down, he erupted into furious curses. “Miao Chunlei, you wretched woman! How dare you not open the door when I tell you to! Just wait—I’ll beat you to death later!”

Miao Shi—Miao Chunlei—couldn’t help but tremble slightly. Shen Zhigao used to beat her often, back when Shen Qing was still a child. Just hearing those words now made her body instinctively remember the pain, as if her arms and back were still sore from old wounds.

She bit down hard, tasting blood in her mouth. She refused to be afraid! She shouldn’t be afraid!

They had divorced—what right did Shen Zhigao have to beat her?

She was now the official head of a registered female household. She was the rightful owner of this property! If Shen Zhigao dared to break into her home, then she would make him pay for it!

She squatted beside Matchmaker Wei and slapped her hard across the face. It was the first time she had ever hit someone, and her hands were shaking. But she used all her strength—Matchmaker Wei’s teeth loosened, and blood dribbled from the corner of her mouth.

“Talk!” Miao Chunlei’s voice was ice-cold. “What are Shen Zhigao and Zhao Youwei planning? What were you supposed to do? What did you already do?!”

At this moment, Miao Chunlei’s expression was terrifying. A person who had always been meek and kind suddenly turning ruthless was even more frightening. They said that even a rabbit would bite when cornered—right now, Miao Chunlei looked like she could kill someone.

Matchmaker Wei was too scared to hide the truth anymore—she wasn’t the type who could handle this kind of pressure.

“I-I’ll talk, I’ll talk!” Matchmaker Wei sobbed, her face swelling rapidly like a pig’s head, her speech becoming slurred.

She hadn’t originally planned to harm Shen Qing! Even though, ever since the Lian family’s separation, her sons had started eyeing their own share, causing tension at home. Even though, after the trouble with the Wang family in Xiaoji village, she had felt a little awkward around Qing Ge’er… she was timid by nature. Even if she resented these things, she wouldn’t dare to actually harm someone!

But Zhao Youwei had found her and forced her to act during the delivery. At first, she refused, but Zhao Youwei sneered at her, “Do you really think my weak-willed brother, who lets his wife run wild, and that smug sister-in-law of mine can stand against me?”

Matchmaker Wei hesitated.

Zhao Youwei then rattled off several names—young, able-bodied men who had recently separated from their families and were struggling, like Wang Liuzi. He also mentioned some older village men who had long resented Wu Guixiang’s control over village affairs. And lastly, he said Shen Zhigao’s name.

“So many people support me becoming village chief,” Zhao Youwei continued smoothly. “Whether you help or not, Shen Qing has shamed our village with his bastard pregnancy. He must die. His own father will clean house, and it’ll all be justified! If you cooperate, you’ll earn merit—and the whole thing will be over quickly, with fewer injuries. But if you don’t… when I’m village chief, let’s see how long your family lasts!”

He hadn’t specified what she needed to do, yet Matchmaker Wei still felt a deep sense of unease. Growing up in the same village, she knew Zhao Youwei’s temperament well—he was nothing like his elder brother, Zhao Youdang! He was capable and cunning, but also ruthless and petty! If she refused, Zhao Youwei was the kind of person who would absolutely retaliate!

In the end, Matchmaker Wei was forced to agree. It wasn’t so much that she held any particular resentment toward Shen Qing, but rather that she was convinced that in this “coup” within Lantang Village, Zhao Youdang was bound to lose, and Zhao Youwei was certain to win. She was afraid that if Zhao Youwei became village chief, he would make life difficult for her family, so she could only swallow her conscience and obey.

As midwives, they all possessed some level of skill with their hands. The five midwives in this room all had small, soft hands, but they also needed strength! If a fetus was slightly malpositioned, an experienced midwife could correct it by massaging the belly or adjusting it manually inside the birth canal.

And just as they could correct a malpositioned fetus, they could also displace a properly positioned one.

Since she was a local, Matchmaker Wei originally held the most authority among the midwives, along with the husband midwife. She was a fellow villager of the employer, making her more trusted. Additionally, as a ger, the husband midwife had a better understanding of delivering gers. Because of this, Matchmaker Wei always had the best position to stay close to Shen Qing. While the others were chatting, she took advantage of their distraction and gave Shen Qing’s belly a subtle push.

Shen Qing didn’t understand much about childbirth, so he didn’t pay attention at first. He simply assumed this was a normal part of the process. Even though Matchmaker Wei’s push hurt him a little, childbirth was painful, wasn’t it? He just endured it.

But when the husband midwife turned back around, Matchmaker Wei suddenly jerked her hand away as if burned. That was when Shen Qing began to grow suspicious.

Seeing him staring at her, Matchmaker Wei became so frightened that she wanted to run. Her guilty reaction was so obvious that Shen Qing immediately grabbed her hand. Before he even had the chance to question her, she had already burst into tears.

Miao Chunlei’s face grew darker and darker. As Matchmaker Wei confessed, the sounds of Shen Qing’s agonized groans in the room grew louder, as if confirming every word she said.

A malpositioned fetus… Ha.

Miao Chunlei herself had once suffered a malpositioned fetus after falling. Even the midwife’s skills couldn’t save her child, who died in her womb. She had nearly died as well, and the injuries left her unable to conceive ever again!

“You’re a woman! You’ve given birth yourself! How could you do something like this?!”

Miao Chunlei lost control, lunging at Matchmaker Wei and striking her mercilessly. Matchmaker Wei’s heart was bitter, but she didn’t dare utter a single protest. She merely curled up and covered her head, enduring the blows.

But as she was being beaten, she suddenly recalled the conversation that had ultimately convinced her that Shen Qing and Zhao Youdang could never win. That day, Zhao Youwei had sat in her house and spoken coldly:

“A ger is still a ger. Even if he looks no different from a man, he still has those few ounces of flesh between his legs. So tell me, why are men noble while gers are even lower than women?”

The word lowly made Matchmaker Wei uncomfortable, but Zhao Youwei didn’t care at all about her feelings. In his mind, both women and gers were lesser beings.

“If Shen Qing truly wanted to accomplish something and lived his life without ever marrying or having children, I might respect him. I’d have no way to touch him. But he insists on giving birth and stirring up trouble in the village… Ha! Has he ever stopped to think about why, despite looking just like men, gers and women have never been village chiefs, officials, or emperors?”

Zhao Youwei touched his crippled leg. It was only after he became lame and lost his chance at becoming village chief that he reached this revelation.

From a small family to a village, from a county to a province, from a nation to an empire—those in power had to be strong and long-lived. Only then could the stability of their family and government be maintained.

Even the imperial court selected officials based on physical endurance. Many scholars complained that the imperial examination halls were in terrible condition—after spending days inside, many fell sick, some died before completing the exam, and some even perished before the results were announced. Why did the government subject them to such cruelty?

Because physical endurance was part of the test! What was the point of appointing someone as an official if they died before even taking office, or collapsed from illness as soon as they arrived? That would be a waste of imperial resources!

It was the same reason women and gers couldn’t be in power. What if they implemented new policies, laid out family plans, only to die suddenly in childbirth a few years later?

“Ha—just like Shen Qing now.”

Zhao Youwei had laughed so hard that tears rolled down his face. Stroking his crippled leg, his eyes gleamed as he asked, “So tell me, who should inherit this estate? A newborn baby? Who knows if the brat will even survive without a mother? Should we pass it to his sister? What if she, like him, gains power for a few years only to end up pregnant, give birth, and die—hahahahaha!”

“If there’s always a risk of a new leader dying, the power structure will never last. Gers and women should know their place—their only purpose is to give birth to strong, intelligent, and long-lived sons. And yet they dare dream of ruling?”

“The heavens do not stand on the side of women and gers!”

At the time, Matchmaker Wei had been stunned by his words. But hadn’t he made some sense?

Back then, Zhao Youwei had been smarter and more capable than Zhao Youdang. But because of a single crippled leg, he had lost his chance at becoming village chief…

And Shen Qing? He was a ger. Even if she didn’t intervene, he would still have to give birth. He would still be weakened in his postpartum period. By then, Zhao Youwei’s people would storm in and kill him, and he wouldn’t even have the strength to fight back.

If that was the case, wasn’t it better for her to act first? At least then, she could gain Zhao Youwei’s favor…

Now, as Miao Chunlei’s fists rained down on her, Matchmaker Wei’s heart was filled with bitterness. At the same time, she felt an overwhelming sense of inferiority as a woman.

Why did they have to give birth?

Why was fate so unfair to them, forcing them to walk through the gates of hell just to bring a child into the world…?

It wasn’t her fault. If anyone was to blame, it was Shen Qing for being a ger! If he had been born a man, he wouldn’t have suffered like this—he could have overthrown both Zhao Youwei and Zhao Youdang and become village chief himself!

She had no choice. She only wanted to survive a little more comfortably—why was that so difficult?!

But what she failed to realize was that if people like Zhao Youwei didn’t exist, then women and gers wouldn’t be in danger simply because they were giving birth. The true evil was in those who committed harm, yet they twisted the miracle of childbirth into a sign of inferiority!

Miao Chunlei struck her for a while longer before kicking her into the corner. She had to conserve her strength—she still had to protect Qing Ge’er.

Outside, Shen Zhigao and Zhao Youwei had found something heavy and were repeatedly slamming it against the door. Despite Haitang and Magpie piling up obstacles, the doorframe was beginning to come loose.

They were about to break in.

Miao Chunlei steeled herself and rushed into the birthing room.

Shen Qing was still conscious, but he was drenched in sweat, his hair sticking to his face. Two midwives were gently pushing on his belly, one was working below, and another was instructing him on how to breathe. When they saw Miao Chunlei enter, they looked guilty—blaming themselves for not noticing Matchmaker Wei’s treachery sooner.

“The fetus is a little off-position now… Fixing it takes skill. But she deliberately pushed it into complete disarray… The doctor has already used acupuncture, but it’s not working. He’s gone to prepare medicine.”

Miao Chunlei’s tears fell uncontrollably. Seeing Shen Qing suffer was like having her heart ripped apart. But she gritted her teeth, wiped her face, and ordered, “All of you, step outside for a moment. I’ll call you back in soon… It won’t take long.”

They hesitated but obeyed.

Once the room was empty, Shen Qing took out a bowl of spiritual spring water from his space and gulped it down.

After drinking the spiritual spring water, Shen Qing immediately felt a bit of strength return. He even managed to joke with Miao Chunlei, “Mother, you came at the right time. With them all here, I couldn’t find a chance to replenish myself.”

Miao Chunlei forced out a smile that looked worse than crying. Right now, all she could do was put her faith in the effects of the spiritual spring water. “Then hurry and drink more.”

Shen Qing nodded, took out another bowl, soaked some ginseng slices in it, and placed one under his tongue. Fortunately, he had prepared everything. As long as he could hold on, he would eventually be able to give birth…

Seeing that he was improving, Miao Chunlei quickly relayed everything she had forced out of Matchmaker Wei about Zhao Youwei’s plan. Then she asked, “What did you use to kill those wild boars and wolves before? Give me some.”

Although Miao Chunlei had never held a gun before, there was no room for hesitation now. Shen Qing rummaged through his space and pulled out two easy-to-use handguns with low recoil. He quickly taught Miao Chunlei how to use them and then took out several long knives and swords. “If possible, avoid using the guns. Equip Haitang and the others with the blades. Ou Ge’er told me earlier that Lian Shi has already gone to Shiqu Village to get help. We just need to hold on and buy time…”

Hearing that Lian Shi had gone for reinforcements, Miao Chunlei felt a little relief. She tucked the two guns into her clothes and called the midwives back inside before leaving the birthing room with an armful of swords and knives.

Shen Qing was once again surrounded by the midwives. He touched his belly. Underneath his skin, the child seemed to be moving, struggling with all its might to be born. This was his child with Song Kaiji—the child of him and the man he loved…

His focus was entirely on his belly and failed to notice the space pendant on his chest heating up slightly. The spiritual spring inside his space was shrinking, but invisible white light seeped into his body.

The long swords and knives, each about 1.2 to 1.3 meters long, were forged from high-quality steel yet weren’t too heavy.

When Shen Zhigao and his group finally broke through the main gate, what they saw was Miao Chunlei standing in the courtyard with Miao Hexiang, Haitang, and Magpie—all of them armed.

Before anyone could speak, two dogs suddenly lunged out of nowhere, charging straight at the ones leading the attack!

Zhao Youwei dodged behind Wang Liuzi in an instant, and the two dogs clamped their jaws onto Wang Liuzi and Shen Zhigao’s legs.

The two men immediately let out blood-curdling screams.

These two dogs were the offspring of the most formidable hunting hound from Li Yanzi’s maternal village. Their bite force was terrifying, and the sickening crack of breaking bones echoed through the courtyard.

After delivering their bites, the dogs didn’t linger. They released their grip and trotted back to stand in front of Miao Chunlei, growling low in their throats like a warning.

Their attack had crippled two men before the fight even started, and the once-aggressive mob instantly halted, stepping back in unison, fearing they might be the next to be targeted by the dogs.

Shen Zhigao writhed on the ground, clutching his mangled leg, howling in pain. He cursed at Miao Chunlei, “You wretched woman! And that bastard Shen Qing—I’m his father, and he’s committing blatant disobedience by setting dogs on me!”

“What does Qing Ge’er have to do with this?” Miao Chunlei sneered. Seeing Shen Zhigao’s misery filled her with unparalleled satisfaction.

He had beaten her so many times in the past—now, at last, she was the one holding the knife while he was at her mercy.

“This is my home. We are divorced. The child is mine. We have nothing to do with each other—except for the fact that we’re enemies. I was the one who set the dogs on you.”

Miao Chunlei’s eyes darkened, and she suddenly charged forward, swinging her sword. “And now, I’m the one cutting you down!”

The blade slashed down mercilessly, stabbing straight into Shen Zhigao’s uninjured leg.

Blood splattered, staining Miao Chunlei’s face.

Even Miao Hexiang, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned. Was this really the childhood friend she had grown up with?

But she quickly snapped out of it and followed suit. Copying Miao Chunlei’s example, she swung her blade and slashed Wang Liuzi’s good leg.

Screams filled the air as the two men howled in agony.

Seeing their comrades brutally maimed in an instant, the morale of Zhao Youwei’s followers plummeted.

Zhao Youwei’s face darkened with venomous rage. He never expected to suffer losses so quickly at the hands of two women he had always looked down on. And the fact that they had specifically targeted legs made the humiliation even worse.

He raised his voice, roaring, “That ger Shen Qing—who knows what kind of depraved things he’s been up to outside?! Getting pregnant without a proper marriage—utterly shameless! He’s disgraced Lantang Village! According to village rules, he must be drowned! And all of you who protect him—you’ll be punished the same! You’ll all die with him!”

He thought this would shake Miao Hexiang and Lian Ou, make them hesitate, or even retreat.

But they didn’t react at all.

They acted as if they hadn’t even heard him.

Zhao Youwei’s expression twisted in frustration. He turned to his men. “Seize these stubborn women and gers and drown them all! Whoever gets inside first—whatever valuables you grab from the house are yours!”

The people behind him had long been resentful of Shen Qing, and now, with the lure of loot, their eyes lit up.

Shen Qing’s family was wealthy.

Several of them shifted excitedly, eager to move—but their excitement was quickly dampened by the sight of Wang Liuzi and Shen Zhigao wailing on the ground, as well as the two murderous-looking dogs standing guard.

They exchanged glances but no one dared to step forward first.

Just then, a female voice rang out, “You have no right to enforce village rules! Who the hell do you think you are?!”

It was Wu Guixiang, arriving with a large group of people—Zhao Youdang trailing behind her.

Most of them were women and gers, primarily those working in the workshop, along with families who had recently separated.

They had relied on Shen Qing’s workshop for their independence. If Shen Qing died and the workshop fell into the hands of Shen Zhigao or Zhao Youwei, there was no way they would be kept on.

At first, it had been Wang Liuzi’s aunt who had taken a stand, then the Chen family from the east side of the village, and then Yanzi’s aunt…

They weren’t just here for Shen Qing—they were here for their own survival.

But compared to Zhao Youwei’s group, who consisted of able-bodied men and older village patriarchs, Wu Guixiang’s group was mostly women and gers, with only a few male relatives.

As soon as their gazes met, some of the women instinctively lowered their heads, as if feeling like traitors for standing against the men.

Zhao Youwei was displeased. He had planned to catch Shen Qing off guard, storm his home, and seize him. As a backup, he had even ensured Matchmaker Wei would act. Even if Shen Qing was capable of fighting wild boars and wolves, there was no way he could resist this. Once he had Shen Qing in his grasp, Wu Guixiang would have no choice but to yield.

With Shen Qing drowned and Shen Zhigao inheriting the workshop, Wu Guixiang’s support system would crumble, and he would secure his position as village chief.

But clearly, someone had leaked the information!

The time wasted breaking down the door had allowed Wu Guixiang to gather people. And now, on top of that, Miao Chunlei had set dogs on them and inflicted injuries before the fight had even begun.

Now, facing Wu Guixiang’s group, Zhao Youwei sneered.

His brother—his cowardly, weak-willed brother—was still hiding behind women even now.

Even at this moment, he couldn’t step forward and take a stand.

Back then, their father had been blind to pass the village chief position to this pathetic excuse for a man.

“You say it’s not up to me? And is it up to you, a mere woman?” Zhao Youwei scoffed. “The village chief position was passed down by my father. My brother is unfit, and the villagers support me—I’m the rightful leader. This is a family matter—you have no right to interfere!”

He limped forward a few steps, his crippled leg making his movements awkward. “I still haven’t settled my score with you. If it weren’t for your brothers, I wouldn’t have been injured, and the village chief seat wouldn’t have gone to him!”

Luckily, as she passed through Miaoqian Village, Lian Rong ran into a familiar face.

A bald monk, dressed in gray robes, was leading a mule cart. Seeing her running alone, panting like a dying dog, he curiously asked, “Where are you off to in such a rush?” He glanced behind her and added, “Why are you alone? Where’s your second brother?”

Lian Rong looked up—it was the monk who had saved Lian Ou.

She and Lian Ou often set up stalls in Miaoqian Village’s market and had to pay this monk for a spot. Over time, they became familiar with him, and since he had once saved Lian Ou, there was an unusual sense of gratitude between them.

Without hesitation, she grabbed onto the mule cart. “Take me to the county! To the county office! Please, my ge is about to be harmed—I need to find help!”

Hearing this, the monk didn’t ask any more questions. He simply unhitched the cart from the mule, then lifted Lian Rong onto its back and rode toward the county. His cart was nothing more than a flat wooden plank used for carrying goods—there wasn’t even a carriage box. But this was his territory in Miaoqian Village, so he easily called some people over to watch his belongings before leaving.

As they rode, the monk asked, “Your… which ge is in danger? Don’t tell me it’s…”

Lian Rong hesitated, then realized he probably thought Lian Ou was in trouble again. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and shook her head. “Not my real brother. It’s my cousin.”

The monk gave a quiet “Mm” in response.

Riding a mule was far faster than running on foot.

Soon, they arrived at the Anping County Office. Lian Rong had no idea where Lin Ning lived, so she steeled herself and ran straight for the front gates of the yamen.

“Hey! You brat—do you think you can just run into the yamen like this?” The guard at the entrance grumbled, using his wooden staff to push Lian Rong back.

Lian Rong clung to the staff, pleading, “Let me in! I need to see Ning Ge’er, the magistrate’s son! Or at least Miao Yu or Tieshan! I know the magistrate’s family lives inside!”

Had she only asked for the magistrate or his son, the guard wouldn’t have taken her seriously. But the fact that she specifically mentioned Miao Yu and Tieshan made the two guards hesitate. After a moment of thought, one of them said, “Miao Yu and Tieshan went out on an inspection with the magistrate. If you want to see the magistrate’s son, you can’t enter through the front. Go out, take two right turns, and head to the back of the yamen.”

He gave her a once-over and added, “But whether the magistrate’s son will see you is another matter.”

“He definitely will!” Lian Rong threw out those words and ran off.

Her luck wasn’t bad. After just one right turn, she spotted Lin Ning, Lin Zao, the Xie siblings, and a few of Shen Qing’s maids and young attendants, all walking together and chatting cheerfully.

Lian Rong had held back her tears all the way here, but now, upon seeing Lin Ning, she suddenly burst into loud sobs and threw herself forward.

“Ning Ge’er! Please save Qing Ge! The people in our village want to drown him in the pond!”

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

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.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

The elderly woman, face full of fury, glared hard at Qing Yan.

Her eyes were small—so small that even when glaring, they appeared as narrow slits with no whites visible.
Anyone on the receiving end of that kind of stare would be shaken.

Qing Yan instinctively tried to sit up straight, but Duan Wucuo’s hand pressed against her waist wouldn’t let her move.

Unfortunately, the chess table was blocking the view. From the other side, it looked entirely like she had flung herself into his arms, clinging to him and refusing to leave.

He was doing it on purpose—deliberately putting on a show for the old woman across from them.

Thinking this, Qing Yan reassessed the woman as she approached.

She was dressed in rich robes adorned with soaring phoenixes, her hair heavy with golden pins and jade ornaments—commanding in every sense.
Behind her followed seven or eight dignified maidservants.

That sort of presence… could she be the Empress Dowager?

Duan Wucuo removed his hand at some point. Qing Yan gave a small cough, straightened up a bit, and rubbed her sore chin.

The woman strode up aggressively and called out in a low voice, “Ah Jiu.”

Duan Wucuo gave a lazy “Mm,” as he placed a white piece on the board—calmly finishing the endgame alone.

The old woman’s eyes turned to Qing Yan, scanning her from head to toe.

Her gaze reminded Qing Yan of broken ceramic shards scraping repeatedly at a potato’s skin.

“This one here must be the foreign Princess Huachao?”

The woman’s tone was lofty.

“Wishing Your Majesty peace,” Qing Yan said with a respectful curtsy.

There was a sudden silence in the air—like everyone had held their breath.

All the kneeling maids buried their heads even lower.

The woman’s lips twitched, her expression growing even darker.

She was only forty-one!

Her gaze shifted from disdain to outright disgust.

Beside her, Duan Wucuo let out a quiet chuckle.

Qing Yan blinked in confusion and subtly glanced at Wen Xi for help.

Wen Xi gently shook her head.

Had she guessed wrong?

But in all of the capital, who else would dare scold Prince Zhan and call him “Ah Jiu” with such ease?

Su Ruche stepped forward, suppressing her glee, and leaned close to Qing Yan to whisper, “She’s our eldest princess—Prince Zhan’s older sister.”

Ah…

Qing Yan’s eyes swept over the woman’s graying temples and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes.

Suddenly, it was very awkward.

No woman likes to be reminded of aging.

Qing Yan gave a light cough and offered sincerely, “Eldest Princess, you have such grace and poise.”

The princess snorted coldly.

“I’ve heard Princess Huachao has been frequenting Prince Kang’s residence lately—drawing no small amount of gossip from the capital.
Is this how Tao Kingdom raises its royal women?
If it weren’t for the diplomatic entourage, I’d have thought you were some illegitimate daughter from a rural backwater, born to a lowly concubine—no manners, no shame!”

Now that was rude.

Princess Consort Kang had just rushed over upon hearing the commotion and happened to catch that last line. She bit her lip, worry written on her face.

But the Eldest Princess didn’t seem to think she had gone too far. She pressed on:

“Whatever shameless behavior you got away with in your own country, you’d best drop it here in Yi Kingdom.
At the very least, act like a proper young lady if you wish to become a daughter-in-law of the Duan family!”

Su Ruche gently took the princess’s arm and coaxed her,
“Please, Eldest Princess, calm down… calm down…”

She stole a glance at Duan Wucuo, trying to hide the longing in her eyes.

Just one look. Even one glance would be enough.

But Duan Wucuo seemed entirely detached from the situation—like none of it had anything to do with him.

Su Ruche’s heart sank, but that disappointment quickly turned into subtle delight.

So what if he didn’t look at her? He wasn’t intervening either—not even to defend Princess Huachao.
Didn’t that mean he didn’t care about her either?

That was good news.

She lowered her eyes to hide the pleasure flickering in them.

The Eldest Princess took a deep breath and lowered her voice just a touch, though her tone remained cutting.

“Flirtatious, affected—hardly capable of preserving her own chastity…”

It had been a long time since Qing Yan had been scolded like this.

But after a few sentences, it all came rushing back—like muscle memory.

What maid hadn’t been raised on daily lashings of scolding from sharp-tongued matrons?

For a moment, the Eldest Princess’s face blurred with the faces of the women who used to berate her as a child.

Qing Yan didn’t get angry. Instead, she looked up at the princess with wide, innocent eyes.

The woman ranted on, white breath puffing out with every sentence.

At last, when she paused, Qing Yan curved her eyes and flashed two charming dimples.

She said sweetly, “Eldest Princess, why don’t you take a seat while you speak? You seem a bit tired.”

“You—!”

The princess’s anger flared even hotter.

There’s nothing more infuriating than punching into cotton—no resistance, no satisfaction.

Duan Wucuo’s mouth twitched ever so slightly.

Just as the princess took two more furious steps forward, he said,

“Royal Sister, your maid seems to be in a rush.”

The Eldest Princess turned—and indeed saw a maid hurrying over.

“What is it?”

The maid panted as she replied,
“Good news—wonderful news! The Empress has given birth!”

She was delivering joyful tidings, but her expression didn’t quite match.

Realizing it must be premature labor, Princess Consort Kang quickly stepped forward.

“Are mother and child safe?”

The maid replied awkwardly, in a low voice:
“Yes… but… Her Majesty gave birth to a princess…”

The Eldest Princess and Princess Consort Kang both froze.

Everyone had been so certain this baby was a boy—the future Crown Prince.

How had it turned out to be a girl?

The Empress had indeed gone into early labor. Before her due date, she’d been distressed and in constant pain. The imperial physicians had tried their best to preserve the pregnancy, but in the end, she delivered prematurely.

There were many consorts in the palace. Though the Empress was known to be jealous, it wasn’t as if she would go into early labor just because the Emperor favored another woman. But the one who had climbed into the Emperor’s bed was her own younger sister—and worse, she had caught them in the act with her own eyes. That… was an entirely different matter.

Upon hearing that the Empress had gone into labor, the Eldest Princess temporarily set aside her intention to speak with Duan Wucuo and rushed to the palace.

Before leaving, she shot Qing Yan a disgusted, venomous glare.

Princess Consort Kang also gave a few brief instructions before hurrying after the Eldest Princess to visit the Empress.

The Qiangli Garden quieted instantly.

Qing Yan slowly sat down, head lowered, picking at the sachet in her hand.

After a long while, Duan Wucuo turned his head to look at her—only to find the girl’s eyes red, as if she were about to cry.

Qing Yan was working hard to stir up the emotion, but she just couldn’t cry.

She tried to recall the times she’d been caned or fed spoiled food—but at most, it made her eyes a little misty. No tears would come.

Alright, this would have to do.

She sniffled, then slowly looked up at Duan Wucuo.

Her eyes were filled with aggrieved sorrow, a pitiful look on her delicate face.

Though she hadn’t shed a single tear, to others it looked as if she were quietly suppressing her sadness, holding it in with maturity beyond her years.

Especially when her lips moved just slightly—those faint dimples at the corners made it look as though her tears were right on the edge of falling. It was heart-wrenching to behold.

“Your Highness,” she said softly, “no matter what others may think of me or how much they may despise me… so long as Your Highness knows my heart, that’s enough.”

She held the sachet out to him, like a young girl shyly presenting her affections. In her clear, shining eyes was the reflection of the man she admired.

Duan Wucuo’s gaze dropped to the poorly stitched sachet.

He asked, “The Princess embroidered this herself?”

“Yes,” she replied.
“Every stitch and every thread holds Yan’er’s feelings for Your Highness.
This is… this is a pair of lovebirds—joined wings.
They represent my heart…”

“Lovebirds?” he repeated.

“Yes. Joined-winged lovebirds.
The one on the left is Your Highness, and the one on the right…” Qing Yan turned her face coyly, smiling bashfully—her performance of innocence and coquetry was masterful.

If she hadn’t explained it, no one would’ve guessed the design was meant to be lovebirds. It looked more like two tangled tufts of wild grass.

To appear “unvirtuous,” Qing Yan had purposely made the embroidery ugly.

In truth, she was quite skilled—she’d once earned pocket money selling embroidered handkerchiefs.

Duan Wucuo didn’t take it right away. Instead, he asked, “This incense has a rather unique scent.”

Qing Yan’s smile grew even more sincere. Her eyes sparkled.
“Your Highness has entered the monastic life and follows the precepts daily—you can’t taste wine or meat.
Wu’er often hears people say wine is the finest of earthly pleasures. I worried Your Highness might crave it yet couldn’t break your vows…
So I spent a great deal of money finding this special wine-scented incense.
If Your Highness wears it each day, perhaps it’ll ease your longing.”

She looked at him with earnest, radiant joy—the glow of a girl in love.

But inside, she was shouting:

Come on! Hurry up and scold me! Say the stitching is hideous! Get mad at the wine scent!
Slap the table and storm off! Throw the sachet in my face! Come on! Show that fearsome demon-king temper of yours!

But Duan Wucuo simply set down the chess piece in his hand—and, under her hopeful gaze, accepted the sachet.

His pale fingertips touched the cloth, and he slowly rolled the rough embroidery thread between his fingers. Then he brought it to his nose and inhaled deeply.

His eyes narrowed, and an entranced smile tugged faintly at his lips.

Wearing plain monk’s robes and an air of abstinence, his infatuated expression gained a quiet, reverent beauty.

So pure… it was almost sacred.

He sat right there, yet seemed shrouded in mist—so close, yet impossibly far.

A nearby maid was momentarily dazed before hurriedly lowering her head, blushing.

Even Qing Yan was briefly stunned.

Her hand, still outstretched from offering the sachet, hung frozen in midair.

“Princess, you are most thoughtful.
This gift… is wonderful,” Duan Wucuo said, opening his eyes and tucking the sachet into his robe—an expression of genuine appreciation on his face.

Then he turned, grasped her wrist, and lifted her delicate fingers to his nose for a deep breath.

His breath brushed her skin. Qing Yan shivered.

The depth of his gaze unnerved her. That tingling sensation from his breath began at her fingertips and spread throughout her body.

Still holding her fingers, Duan Wucuo’s eyes were calm and bottomless as he slowly said,

“Since I was young, I’ve been forbidden from drinking wine.
Even a drop will make my skin flush and itch, sometimes even break out.
But… I’ve always been fond of the smell.
The scent alone makes me drunk.
This gift, Princess, suits me perfectly.”

“…Ah.” Qing Yan’s mouth opened slightly.

So when the Consort had said “Prince Zhan doesn’t like wine,” she really just meant he was allergic…

Duan Wucuo didn’t let go. His grip on her fingers tightened slightly.

He said,
“You’ve held this sachet so long that your fingertips now carry the same alluring wine scent.”

He tilted his head slightly, her fingertips almost touching his lips.

Amid the wild pounding of her heart, Qing Yan abruptly pulled her hand back and hid both hands behind her back.

She stared at him, stiff-backed, chest rising and falling.

She had a sudden illusion—if she hadn’t pulled away, Duan Wucuo might have bitten her fingers.
Bitten them to the bone. Swallowed them whole.

He looked at the now-empty space between his fingers, then turned to her with a cryptic smile.

He sighed,
“There’s wine scent on your body too, Princess.
But… it’s too faint.
If you were to bathe in wine at night, I imagine the taste would be much richer, much more delicious.”

A terrifying image flashed in Qing Yan’s mind:
Prince Zhan smiling as he submerged her in a vat of wine—letting her soak and ferment—then pulling her out and biting into her with that intoxicated look, devouring her whole… not even the bones left behind.

Snapping back to reality, she met Duan Wucuo’s intense gaze.

The way he looked at her—Qing Yan knew that look.
It was the same look she had when she saw braised pork after going hungry for three days.

She shuddered, scalp tingling.

Panicked, she jumped up and blurted,
“I—I’m going back to soak in wine, Your Highness wait—”

She bit her tongue mid-sentence, realizing what she had just said.

Her cheeks were already flushed crimson. She didn’t dare look him in the eye again and fled in a fluster.

Prince Kang, being pushed forward by attendants, could only shake his head helplessly.

“Ah Jiu, why must you scare her like that?”

Duan Wucuo gave a casual chuckle.

He leaned back, long legs crossed on the chess table, lazily swinging.

°❀.ೃ࿔°❀.ೃ࿔

Duan Wucuo tugged lightly on both ends of the measuring tape, and Qing Yan’s toes instinctively shifted forward a little—bringing the two of them just slightly closer.

The soft tape rested across her chest, both ends overlapping, pinched in Duan Wucuo’s fingers. As he gently drew the tape taut over her clothes, his knuckles came to rest against her chest.

His eyes lowered, focused calmly and attentively on the measuring tape.

Qing Yan stood frozen, a flush rising quietly on her cheeks.
She stared at him, her heart pounding, afraid his knuckles might hear the frantic rhythm of her pulse.

Then Duan Wucuo suddenly looked up.

Their eyes met.
Qing Yan felt like a thief caught red-handed—nowhere to hide.

He read out the measurement.
The seamstress, surprised, cast a discreet glance at Qing Yan’s figure and quickly jotted it down.

Duan Wucuo’s voice seemed to reach her ears half a beat late.
She blinked and awkwardly turned her gaze away.

“Next, the waist.”

As he loosened his grip on the tape, her tense body eased slightly.
Only then did Qing Yan quietly exhale and find her breath again.

The tape slid down her back, brushing past her shoulder blades like a fleeting, ghostly touch.

Duan Wucuo bent down and wrapped the tape around her slender waist.
He reported the number.

“And now, hips.”

It was as if her soul had just returned to her body—Qing Yan hurriedly stepped back in alarm, as if the tape in his hand was a deadly snare.

Desperate to escape, she blurted,
“I have plenty of silks and fine dresses! There’s no need to make new ones!”

“Oh?”

Duan Wucuo’s tone was lazy, with a long, drawn-out ending.

His gaze slowly drifted downward—not intrusive or indecent,
but with the detached cleanliness of a man still dressed in monk’s robes.

He said offhandedly,
“Perhaps… being away from home for so long.”

Qing Yan was startled.
Cold sweat broke out along her spine.

Was he saying her clothes didn’t fit?

Had he noticed something?

No, impossible!
Although all the clothes she brought for this political marriage had been tailored to the Huachao Princess’s measurements,
her own figure wasn’t that different—barely noticeable.

Could he really detect such subtle differences?

Her heart pounded, but on the surface, she maintained a proud and haughty air.
She gave a dismissive snort and snapped,
“This princess never imagined the mighty Yi Kingdom would serve such awful food!”

A flicker of amusement passed through Duan Wucuo’s otherwise serene gaze.
Sweeping his eyes over her shapely figure, he said with veiled meaning,
“It seems the only dish the princess finds palatable is papaya.”

“Papaya?
I haven’t had any—is it good?”

Qing Yan looked at him in confusion.

He didn’t answer.
Instead, he crouched before her, monk’s robes sweeping the floor, and resumed measuring her hips.

Qing Yan wanted to run—but she forced herself to stay put.

She reminded herself:
She was playing the role of a spoiled princess hopelessly infatuated with Prince Zhan.
She mustn’t back away—she should act pleased.

But it wasn’t real.

Inside her sleeves, her delicate hands curled into fists, nails digging hard into her palms.

Beneath the folds of her skirt, her toes clenched tightly in their embroidered shoes, gripping the ground as if to nail herself in place.

She couldn’t falter. She couldn’t run.

She steeled herself, standing rigid as Duan Wucuo continued taking her measurements.

Finally, he stood up and gathered the measuring tape.

Qing Yan felt an enormous weight lift from her chest, like a prisoner released at last.

“Since we’re done, this princess will now return to have tea with the Princess Consort!”

As she brushed past him, he called out.
His voice reached her ears and made their reddened tips tingle faintly.

“Princess.”

He stepped back, leaning lazily against the long table behind him.

Qing Yan summoned her courage and turned around.

He gave a soft chuckle, straightened up, and once more spread his arms.
The tape hung from his slender fingers, its end swaying gently.

He asked,
“Did the princess forget something?”

Qing Yan blinked—then realized:
She had originally insisted on taking his measurements.

Mimicking his tone, she drawled out a long “Oh—” and tugged the tape from his fingers, forcing herself to finish measuring him.

When she finally finished, she tiptoed and looped the tape around his neck, letting it drape over his chest.

Then, without a word, she turned and briskly walked out.

The maids and seamstresses exchanged knowing glances—then quickly lowered their eyes and resumed their tasks.

Qing Yan walked lightly until she reached an empty corridor, where her steps slowed.

Wen Xi hurried to her side and subtly steadied her.

Qing Yan tilted her head, grumbling wearily like a sulky child begging for candy.

Wen Xi, sighing, didn’t scold her poor performance.
Instead, she gently patted Qing Yan’s hand and soothed her, “You did well. Don’t be afraid.”

Qing Yan immediately broke into a smile, eyes curving.
Just as she was about to speak—
a loud crack of thunder rumbled across the sky.

Soon after, the deep rumble of a storm followed.

“A heavy rain is coming,” said Wen Xi.

“Perfect!”

If it rained, she’d have a legitimate reason to stay overnight.
No need to invent an excuse tomorrow.
Her clingy, “hopelessly-in-love” act would look all the more convincing.

Whenever Qing Yan visited, Princess Consort Kang always hosted her at Xianglan Pavilion.

Qing Yan and Wen Xi rushed toward it and ran into a maid sent by the Princess Consort carrying umbrellas.

The maid had just made it back when a torrential downpour crashed down.

Princess Consort Kang set Zhaowei down and hurried to the door, kindly saying,
“Good, you didn’t get caught in the rain.”

Qing Yan’s eyes spun with calculation. She sighed in mock disappointment,
“Pity… Who knows how long this rain will last?
I’ll surely be soaked when I return to the palace.
So troublesome!”

As expected, the Princess Consort said, “In this weather, you shouldn’t go back. Though our residence is small, we’ve no shortage of guest rooms to host you comfortably.”

“Oh—but how could I impose!”

Qing Yan widened her apricot eyes in feigned protest.

“If you insist on returning in the rain, you’re telling me you don’t wish to be friends,” the Princess Consort said gently.

A maid in the corner closing the window cast a look of disdain—just in time for Qing Yan to catch it. But she wasn’t offended. On the contrary, she was delighted, for it played perfectly into her hands. Her coquettish smile grew even sweeter.

Hooking her arm around Princess Consort Kang’s, she said softly and cheerfully, “Your Highness is so kind! I really like you!”

Qing Yan had dinner with the Princess Consort and young heir, then retired to the guest room.

As soon as the door shut, she rushed to the window and opened a square porcelain box.

Immediately, a rich aroma of wine spilled out.

Inside was nü’er hong—a strong rice wine—and soaked in it was a sachet with embarrassingly poor stitching.

She fished it out and wrung it dry with all her strength.

“It must be completely dry by tomorrow morning.”

Qing Yan placed it beside the lamp, took off the shade, and let the flame dry it directly.

Wen Xi came over and sat opposite her. She studied Qing Yan’s face for a moment before speaking. “Qing Yan, do you feel wronged… or ashamed?”

“Hm?”

Qing Yan was busy turning over the sachet and barely heard her.

Wen Xi grabbed her hand, looked her in the eye, and said seriously,
“In this life, you’ll only ever be the princess’s shadow. No matter whom you marry, your only purpose will be to make him hate you—so that you can shrink into a corner and go unnoticed. There will be no tender love, no matching gazes across a shared table. Just cold lamps and bitter tea for a lonely lifetime.”

“So long as I’ve got breath and food, that’s enough.
Who cares about romance?
A man’s heart is nothing but a wolf’s heart—worse than a dog’s liver! All men are heartless liars and bastards. Who needs ’em anyway?”

Qing Yan’s tone was light and carefree. She suddenly blinked and asked,
“Sister Wen Xi, what’s so special about the papayas in Yi Kingdom’s capital?
Can you make me papaya soup tomorrow?”

Wen Xi looked at Qing Yan’s clear, limpid eyes that shimmered like they were steeped in lychee nectar. She lost her breath for a second, then flicked Qing Yan’s hand away, done trying to talk sense into her.

She must have lost her mind to worry Qing Yan might be upset.

They’d known each other half a year, and she’d never seen Qing Yan not smiling—always so radiant, as if sorrow never touched her.

“So young, yet acts like she’s nursing a heartbreak,” Wen Xi muttered.

Qing Yan didn’t respond.
Her gaze was innocent, her smile simple and unguarded—like a naive child.

Her heart was soft: repay kindness tenfold.
But also hard: no love, no pain. All men were bastards.

—

The next morning, Qing Yan woke up and ran barefoot to check the sachet.

It had dried completely, but the wine scent still clung.

“Prince Zhan doesn’t like women who are too forward.”
“Prince Zhan doesn’t like alcohol.”
“Prince Zhan doesn’t like cats.”

—Shufei’s words, Qing Yan remembered them all.

After washing up, she summoned the courtyard maid and asked where Duan Wucuo was.

The maid answered politely, but after turning away, couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

Prince Kang loved chess. While Duan Wucuo was staying at the residence, he always got dragged to the Qiangli Garden each morning to play.

Qing Yan packed the sachet and headed for the garden with Wen Xi.

Along the way, she overheard some maids chatting while sweeping the paths.

“That Princess Huachao really has no shame. The marriage isn’t even settled yet, and she’s already clinging to Prince Zhan.”

“Exactly! Yesterday, she even had the nerve to say, ‘This princess will personally take your measurements—no one else may touch you!’”
One maid put her hands on her hips and mimicked Qing Yan’s voice.

“You weren’t there, but she was absolutely shameless!”

Their laughter rang out.

“She’s blinded by his looks, not knowing how cold he is.
Tch, let her make a fool of herself.
You think Prince Zhan will put up with her? This is just giving face to Tao Kingdom.
Even if they do get married, once the delegation leaves, she’ll be tossed aside—left miserable and unwanted…”

Qing Yan’s lips curled high. Her joy was impossible to hide.

She gripped the sachet in her hand, so happy she nearly wanted to hum a tune.

She didn’t avoid the maids—just walked right past them, bold and carefree.

The maids all dropped to their knees in fear, cold sweat breaking out.

—

Early spring still carried a chill, but Duan Wucuo seemed immune to it. Even in winter, he only wore thin monk’s robes.

He was sitting on a bench in Qiangli Garden, idly twirling a smooth chess piece.

A few maids stood nearby, ready to attend him.

He had been playing chess with Prince Kang, but when a servant came to report the young heir was crying, he had gone to check.

Qing Yan arrived on light feet, sat across from him, and cupped her face in her hands, eyes bright with laughter.

She said,
“What a coincidence!”

Duan Wucuo’s fingers paused, and he lazily lifted his eyes to glance at her.

Qing Yan gave an awkward smile and admitted sheepishly,
“Fine. It’s not a coincidence. I came here just to see you.”

She pulled out the sachet and held it out to him with both hands.

Looking at him with eyes full of stars, she said:
“I made this myself—for you, Jiu Lang!”

(T/N: Jiu = Ninth. Lang is a respectful or affectionate term to call a young man).

The scent of wine lingered faintly in the air.

Duan Wucuo’s lips pressed together, but a faint and meaningful smile curved at the corners of his eyes.

In his dark gaze was a depth she couldn’t fathom.

That made Qing Yan nervous.
She couldn’t figure him out.

So she moved, circling the table, her goose-yellow skirt fluttering like layered petals in the sun.

She sat beside him—very close—and leaned in slowly.

Her eyes locked on him without blinking, voice sweet and soft:
“Jiu Lang, do you like it?”

Too close.

Should she move back?

As she hesitated, Duan Wucuo’s hand suddenly pressed lightly on her waist. With just a bit of force, her body tilted toward him, and her chin knocked softly against his chest.

“Indecent!”

Qing Yan’s shoulders trembled.
She turned to see an older woman, face flushed with fury.

Su Ruche stood behind her, attendants all kneeling on the ground.

°❀.ೃ࿔°❀.ೃ࿔

Qing Yan wanted to speak, but her mouth was stuffed with lotus syrup pastry.
Her hands were busy holding the food box and couldn’t spare a moment.
So she subtly curled the corners of her lips, forming a small arc, and with the tip of her tongue, she gradually pushed the pastry inward until she’d managed to swallow the whole thing.

Her cheeks puffed out, quivering softly with each chew, like tender little snowballs.
The lotus pastry was too delicious for her to spit out—so she let her pearly teeth gently grind it down, savoring the entire piece bite by bite.

Bit by bit, her full cheeks deflated. Then she raised her lips into a smile, revealing deep little dimples.

Duan Wucuo silently watched her finish the pastry—
well, not the whole thing, since he had already taken a bite.

“It’s good,” said Qing Yan.
She didn’t believe Duan Wucuo at all—how could he call something this delicious terrible?

The outside was flaky and crisp, drizzled with sweet syrup.
The inside was soft and melted with a lick of the tongue, releasing the fresh fragrance of lotus flowers in June.

Without making a fuss, Qing Yan ran her tongue over her teeth that had just chewed the pastry, collecting the lingering lotus scent that had softened her tongue and dulled her teeth.

Duan Wuyu chuckled. “This must be Princess Huachao?
It’s one thing to bring just any pastry, but for the princess to personally make lotus syrup pastry just to bring to Ah Jiu…”

He turned to Princess Consort Kang, who had just walked over. “Wanwan, do we still have any of the lotus pastry Ah Jiu brought?”

Princess Consort Kang gently adjusted the thin blanket draped over Duan Wuyu’s legs before replying, “If Zhao Wei didn’t sneak any last night, there should still be some left.”

The couple shared a knowing smile.

Then Princess Consort Kang turned to Qing Yan with a gentle smile.
“If there’s any left, Princess, you must try the other version later.”

Qing Yan nodded with a smile—
but her thoughts weren’t on the pastries.

She snuck a sidelong glance at Duan Wucuo, hoping to catch a hint of disgust on his face.
But…

He was too tall. No matter how she tilted her eyes, all she could see was his Adam’s apple.

Qing Yan quickly looked away.

Consort Shu brought over Cheng Mujin and Tao Ningxin, who both offered their courtesies.
Duan Wuyu asked his wife to continue hosting while he and Duan Wucuo left the residence.

Qing Yan and the others followed Princess Consort Kang into her plum garden.
She hadn’t lied—she really had cultivated her plum trees with care.
Though fewer in number than the royal garden’s, each one had been tended with great dedication.

Qing Yan’s beauty needed no mention, and both Cheng Mujin and Tao Ningxin were also widely admired in the capital.
As for Consort Shu and Princess Consort Kang, their charm was of a more mature, refined allure.

The five women sitting among the plum blossoms looked like a living portrait of unmatched beauty.
Even the blossoms paled in comparison, reduced to mere background.

Tao Ningxin couldn’t help but ask,
“Princess, you know Prince Zhan dislikes overly forward women. Why did you…”

Cheng Mujin gave her a sidelong glance before returning calmly to her tea, sipping quietly.

Qing Yan’s apricot-shaped eyes widened in mock surprise.
“Forward? How was I being forward? That was just proper courtesy.
If anything, Prince Zhan should have returned the favor!”

Tao Ningxin was stunned. “Then what do you think counts as being forward?”

“I didn’t force him to drink wine, or…”
Qing Yan pulled her collar slightly to reveal her snowy collarbone, fluttered her lashes flirtatiously,
“…or throw myself into his arms, seduce him with beauty.
So how is that too forward?”

She sounded completely justified.

Tao Ningxin’s gaze stuck on her exposed, slender collarbone, momentarily speechless.
Even Cheng Mujin lowered her teacup, looking at Qing Yan with a complicated expression.

Consort Shu pursed her lips, her eyes showing concern—Qing Yan’s personality might just drive Duan Wucuo away.
But she didn’t know how to persuade her, so she simply murmured,
“Prince Zhan doesn’t drink.”

Qing Yan’s eyes spun—clearly brewing up another bad idea…

Cheng Mujin and Tao Ningxin stayed another hour before politely taking their leave.

“I’ll walk you out,” Qing Yan said with a bright smile.
…clearly, she had no intention of leaving.

No one wanted to chase her away either.
So Princess Consort Kang invited her to stay for dinner.

“Lovely!
You’re so kind, Princess Consort. I felt so close to you the moment we met—like family!”

Qing Yan played the naïve girl perfectly.

Princess Consort Kang smiled gently.
“Well, we will be family someday.”

However, Duan Wucuo didn’t appear for dinner, and neither did she get to try the alternate lotus pastry recipe.
Qing Yan was left disappointed.

—

The next day, she returned again to Prince Kang’s residence.

“Princess Consort, I think I left my hairpin here yesterday—maybe in the plum garden…”

Princess Consort Kang clearly remembered that Qing Yan had worn a dangling hair ornament, not a pin.
Still, she said nothing and led the servants to search high and low—even nearly digging up the earth—but the hairpin was nowhere to be found.

Qing Yan sat at the stone table, chin in her hands, looking pitiful.
“Sorry to trouble you, Princess Consort…”

Princess Consort Kang only shook her head with a kind smile and invited her to stay for lunch.

As Qing Yan was leaving in the afternoon, the princess consort softly said,
“Life in the residence is often dull. But you, Princess—you have a lovely temperament and a pleasant presence. It brightens the mood.
If you’re ever free, I hope you’ll come by often to keep me company.”

Standing by the carriage, Qing Yan turned back to look at her.
Her eyes curved gently like the moon’s reflection, dimples deep and sweet.

“I like you too, big sister. I’ll come again tomorrow!”

—

The next day, fierce winds howled and dark clouds loomed.
It looked like the sky was holding in a downpour, ready to crash down at any moment.

Duan Wucuo and Duan Wuyu played chess beneath the window.
Duan Wuyu’s son, Duan Zhaowei, sat on a soft stool nearby, playing with dice bones.

Duan Wuyu remarked,
“A man’s body was found last night on Puan Street.
His head was severed, the cut unnaturally smooth.
Limbs intact, but all joints were smashed.
His organs were missing—but they did find traces of internal tissue inside his mouth.”

“Your move, Fifth Brother,” said Duan Wucuo.

Duan Wuyu placed a piece on the board and continued,
“That method seems like your handiwork. Be honest—was it you?”

Duan Wucuo picked up the black piece he’d just eaten and lazily intoned,
“Amitabha… This humble monk has renounced the world and holds compassion above all.
It is my duty to ferry the living through the mortal world, and to deliver the dead beyond the veil.”

Duan Wuyu paused, then broke into laughter.

Princess Consort Kang entered with a frown, scooping up Zhaowei.
“Zhaowei is still here—don’t talk about such things.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop,” Duan Wuyu said indulgently, looking fondly at his wife and child.

Princess Consort Kang smoothed Zhaowei’s hair, ignored her husband, and turned to Duan Wucuo.
“Spring’s almost here. I’ve invited the seamstresses from Langxiao Pavilion.
Come get your measurements taken for some new clothes.”

“Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

Duan Wuyu added, “Yes, yes—we should get you some new clothes.
You shouldn’t keep wearing that rough monk’s robe every day.”

Princess Consort Kang still ignored him.

Helpless, Duan Wuyu grinned and coaxed, “Wanwan, come sit with me.
I can only beat Ah Jiu if you’re by my side.”

She shot him a glare and replied,
“When have you ever beaten your Ninth Brother?
Even sitting next to a living Buddha wouldn’t help you.
Besides, I need to go accompany Princess Huachao.”

“That foreign princess again?”

Duan Wuyu glanced at Duan Wucuo, then turned to look at the gloomy sky.

Duan Wucuo’s face revealed nothing—no one could read how he felt about Qing Yan.

After Princess Consort Kang left, the brothers resumed their game.
A few more moves in, Duan Wuyu suddenly recalled Duan Wucuo’s line:
“To ferry the living, to deliver the dead.”

Did Buddhists even talk like that?

He’d never heard any bald monks chant such words.

He said,
“If you did it, then fine.
But if it wasn’t you, be careful—someone might be setting you up.
This capital isn’t as peaceful as it seems.”

Duan Wucuo’s lips curled into a faint smile.
“The capital is far from peaceful, true.
But peace does not exist anywhere the living roam.”

He placed a white piece on the board and said lightly,
“Time to get measured.”

Then he rose and strolled off.

“Hey, the game—” Duan Wuyu looked down at the board and realized he had lost.

He’d once been obsessed with chess in his youth, aspiring to be a grandmaster.
After feeling invincible for a time, he’d roped Duan Wucuo into a game only to suffer a devastating loss.

Unwilling to accept it, he challenged the other royal brothers.
Among the nine of them, he lost seven games.

The only match he won was against the now-Emperor, back when he was still the Crown Prince, and that victory had infuriated His Majesty so much he refused to eat for two days, pounding his chest and scolding Duan Wuyu for lacking tact.

—

Before Duan Wucuo even stepped inside the warm chamber, he heard Qing Yan’s chirping voice.

The corners of his mouth lifted as he pushed open the door.

Qing Yan was pulling on the two seamstresses, learning how to take measurements.
When she heard the door open, she turned, gave Duan Wucuo a sweet smile, and waved the soft measuring tape in her hand.

Lifting her little chin, she spoke with a touch of spoiled arrogance:
“I’ll be taking your measurements personally.
No one else is allowed to touch you. Hmph—”

That last note was the softest little pout.

The seamstresses and maids in the room all lowered their heads.

Marry a virtuous wife—jealousy ranked among the seven grounds for divorce.
No man wanted a jealous woman as a wife.

Qing Yan braced herself, waiting for Duan Wucuo to get angry.

But…

He smiled faintly, casually let out an “Oh?” and raised his arm, smiling at her with his eyes.

Qing Yan froze.

Wait—this… this wasn’t going how she’d planned.

Hiding her disappointment, she stepped behind him, tiptoeing to measure his shoulder width.
The tape slowly stretched across his shoulders, then came around to the front.
She motioned for him to raise his arms so she could measure arm length.

The tape wrinkled, and she pressed it flat with her fingertip—sliding gently over his arm through the monk’s robe.

Her fingers came to rest at his wrist. Thump thump—she could almost mistake his pulse for her own nervous heartbeat.

Next came the waist.

Lowering her eyes, she deliberately tugged her collar slightly to the side in front of him, revealing a patch of snowy skin at her collarbone.

Then she crouched, waist tucked, hips slightly raised.

She wrapped the soft tape around the back of his waist.
As she raised her hand, a slender, porcelain wrist brushed against his side.

One of the seamstresses peeked at the scene and quickly turned red, bowing her head and daring not to look again.

Qing Yan slowly looked up at Duan Wucuo. Her long lashes trembled gently, eyes shimmering with softness.

“All done?” he asked, gazing down at her.

She held the measuring tape and gazed up at him dreamily.
In a deliberately coy tone, she whispered,
“The moment I saw you, my heart fluttered… I lost my mind and forgot what else I had to measure…”

“Hmm.”

Duan Wucuo narrowed his eyes slightly, then a warm smile touched their corners.

“No matter,” he said.
“This humble monk shall teach the princess.”

He took her slender forearm and gently pulled her to her feet.

Qing Yan stumbled slightly, nearly falling against his chest.

She hurriedly raised a hand, her fingertips pressing against his firm chest.

The measuring tape hadn’t even fallen when Duan Wucuo picked it up.

He pinched the tape between his fingers, his gaze fixed on Qing Yan.

“In return,” he said,
“this humble monk shall personally take the princess’s measurements as well.”

He turned her slender body around, the tape resting on her shoulders.

“Shoulder width,” he recited, giving the number. One of the seamstresses noted it down.

Then he turned her back around and slowly passed the tape under her arm.

Qing Yan tensed, feeling the tape inching upward along her back, the sensation tingling through her even beneath the fabric.

“And now—bust circumference.”

°❀.ೃ࿔°❀.ೃ࿔

Shen Qing had learned everything about navigating the world on his own, through trial and error. No one had systematically taught him. Yet, in both modern and ancient times, the resources a family provides, the knowledge it passes down, and the subtle influence of upbringing are all crucial.

Take the village below as an example. Theoretically, the position of village chief should be open to the most capable, as recognized by the local government. But in reality, barring any unexpected circumstances, the role was simply inherited from father to son.

Zhao Youdang wasn’t particularly capable, so why did he still become village chief? Because while he himself was lacking in ability, his father, the previous village chief, had personally taught him how to mediate village disputes, how to establish authority so the villagers would respect him, how to balance conflicts fairly so that no one could complain, how to handle the annual visits from tax collectors and conscription officers… He had even ensured that Zhao Youdang married a wife whose temperament complemented his, someone who could assist him in his duties.

These were things that even if others were naturally more talented than Zhao Youdang, their farmer fathers wouldn’t have been able to teach them. And if an outsider had gone to ask Zhao Youdang’s father for guidance, he likely wouldn’t have shared these lessons.

So, in the end, Zhao Youdang remained the best-prepared candidate, and the village chief position continued to be passed down through generations.

Neither Shen Zhigao nor Miao Shi had ever taught Shen Qing anything. He had relied on what he figured out himself and what he picked up from novels. In the village and in the marketplace, this knowledge had been enough. But as Magistrate Lin pointed out, it would only take him so far—going higher would be difficult. Even Chen Jiaxi, after seeing Shen Qing’s memories, had commented that some of his methods were too naïve.

Now that Magistrate Lin was offering to teach him, it truly felt like a lifeline, a much-needed gift in a time of need. Shen Qing was deeply grateful.

Taking advantage of the fact that his belly hadn’t grown too large yet, he visited the Lin residence with Lin Ning a few times. This time, he didn’t dare bring expensive gifts. Instead, he carefully selected small but interesting and affordable presents. Once, he even brought a few particularly sweet melons and a handful of mulberries, which the magistrate’s fulang thoroughly enjoyed.

Magistrate Lin didn’t formally lecture him as Shen Qing had expected. Instead, he simply invited him to stay for meals and casual conversations, asking about Shen Qing’s future plans. Most of the time, it was Shen Qing who spoke while Magistrate Lin listened. When he heard something that wasn’t well thought out, he would interrupt and offer guidance.

As someone older and with years of experience as an official, he quickly identified the vague, uneasy doubts Shen Qing had about certain things—doubts that Shen Qing himself hadn’t been able to articulate. With just a few words, the magistrate would clear up his confusion, leaving him with newfound clarity.

After several visits, Magistrate Lin also developed a deep fondness for Shen Qing.

“A ger with such a background, who didn’t even recognize a single character before, managed to reach where he is today. And the key is that as soon as he started making a little progress, he knew to learn how to read! He even plans to open a school in the village—truly remarkable,” Magistrate Lin later remarked to his family. He tapped Lin Ning’s forehead with a book, sighing, “If only you had half of Qing Ge’er’s ambition—sigh.”

But ambition alone wasn’t the issue. If Qing Ge’er had been born a man, even if he started studying now, Magistrate Lin wouldn’t think it was too late! Studying for ten years or so would only make him thirty—there were plenty of scholars who hadn’t passed the provincial exams by thirty. But given Qing Ge’er’s intelligence, passing should be a sure thing!

Still, he sighed again. “If you had just half of Qing Ge’er’s cleverness and drive, your mother and I wouldn’t have to worry so much about your future.”

He and his fulang had no sons, only Lin Ning. Normally, at their age, and with his spouse being a ger, the chances of having more children were slim. Magistrate Lin loved Lin Ning dearly, but he also worried—once he and his fulang were gone, Lin Ning would have no support and might struggle.

Whether they adopted a son from their clan or arranged for Lin Ning to marry a live-in husband, it was ultimately a gamble on someone else’s goodwill. If Lin Ning had even half of Qing Ge’er’s abilities, then even if they were no longer around, no one would be able to take advantage of him.

Lin Ning rubbed his forehead where he had been tapped but didn’t get angry at all. He didn’t feel like Shen Qing was an outsider—he just grinned foolishly. “Qing Ge’er is my best friend. If he’s doing well, then I’m doing well too!”

Magistrate Lin thought about it and found that this made sense. As long as Lin Ning and Qing Ge’er remained close friends, if anything happened in the future, Qing Ge’er’s character wouldn’t allow him to stand idly by.

From then on, he became even more invested in guiding Shen Qing.

Another month passed, and just as the old doctor had predicted, Shen Qing’s belly, which had been unnoticeable before, began to grow rapidly. His waist thickened, and walking became less agile than before. Now that the weather was getting warmer, he couldn’t rely on heavy clothing to cover himself anymore, and his belly was more noticeable.

He didn’t dare visit the Lin family again.

After all… he was unmarried and pregnant. In this era, such a thing was unacceptable. He didn’t care about what others thought, but Magistrate Lin was a scholar, someone who likely held stricter moral values.

Shen Qing worried that just as Magistrate Lin had started seeing him in a better light, he would now view him as an immoral ger. So he made an excuse about needing to travel for business and said he’d visit in a few months.

This made Shen Qing feel frustrated. It was only a temporary delay. This lie, or rather, this concealment, was just like hiding his identity as a ger—no matter how many lies he told, one day the truth would come out.

He could only hope that by the time it did, his relationship with the Lin family would be strong enough that Magistrate Lin wouldn’t completely reject him.

Since Shen Qing often spoke about traveling for business, the Lin family wasn’t suspicious. But Lin Ning was particularly reluctant to see him leave.

“Why are you going for so long this time? Where are you going?” he asked. In the past, Shen Qing’s business trips lasted at most one or two months. This time, he said it might take four or five months, or even half a year.

Shen Qing had no choice but to continue lying. “I want to visit some faraway places I’ve never been to before. I don’t know what the situation there is like yet, so if things go well, I might not be gone for that long.”

He took a few small pouches from his robe and handed them to Lin Ning. Inside were hair ornaments and waist accessories made by Ou Ge’er—simple but delicate, perfect for gers and fulangs to wear. They weren’t worth much, but they were charming and finely crafted.

“These are for you, your mother, Zao Ge’er, and one for your little uncle.”

“I haven’t seen my little uncle around much lately,” Shen Qing remarked. Still, whenever he brought gifts, he always included one for Lin Xiangcao.

Shen Qing had wanted to formally visit Lin Xiangcao. Even though Lin Xiangcao didn’t know anything about him, to Shen Qing, he was different. Just seeing him sit there, doing nothing at all, stirred up a strange emotion in his heart.

But despite visiting the Lin residence frequently over the past month, he had hardly seen Lin Xiangcao. Lin Xiangcao always stayed in his room with his son, even skipping family meals. It would have been odd for Shen Qing to request to see him specifically.

Lin Ning’s expression stiffened slightly. He lowered his head, thinking about the first time Shen Qing had met Lin Xiangcao. After a long moment of internal struggle, he finally asked in a hushed voice, “Qing Ge’er… do you… do you like gers?”

Shen Qing: ?

Shen Qing: ?????

His eyes widened in horror.

What kind of nonsense are you spouting?!

But the more Lin Ning thought about it, the more convinced he became. Qing Ge’er had the looks and demeanor of a man. Many people privately said that he was a man born in the wrong body. If that were the case, then wouldn’t it be natural for him to like gers?

Lin Ning took a deep breath, steeling himself, and blurted out his suspicion. “Qing Ge’er… do you like my little uncle?”

Shen Qing was utterly mortified. “I don’t! I never have! Don’t say such nonsense!”

“Then why did you look like that the first time you saw my little uncle? And you said he could eat at the starch sausage stall for free—why do you treat him so specially?” Lin Ning sounded slightly jealous. “…You never told me I could eat for free.”

Even if Shen Qing liked gers, Lin Ning wouldn’t judge him. He spent his days running around the city, avoiding scholarly pursuits but eagerly listening to storytellers. Some of them loved adding risqué stories to their tales. He had heard plenty of stories about men loving men, gers loving gers, women loving women… all kinds of passionate and entangled romances.

If Qing Ge’er liked gers, Lin Ning wouldn’t think any less of him.

“You can eat for free! From now on, you and Zao Ge’er can eat whatever you want, no charge!” Shen Qing said, utterly impressed by Lin Ning’s wild imagination. “I was just… I was just reminded of something when I saw your little uncle. That’s all.”

“A story? What story?”

There was no reason to hide it. So Shen Qing recounted what had happened in the past—how Shen Zhigao had an affair with Widow Li, how he had wanted to divorce Miao Shi, and how, in his most desperate moment, Shen Qing had overheard scholars discussing the county magistrate’s younger brother at the city gate. That conversation had inspired him to leave the Shen family.

Lin Ning listened with teary eyes. He had known Qing Ge’er had suffered, but not to this extent.

“I think the heavens were watching over me that day. They made sure your little uncle returned just as I was passing by, so I could see him,” Shen Qing said. The memory of Lin Xiangcao’s grand wedding procession, with cart after cart of dowry being carried into the city, was still fresh in his mind. “Your little uncle was like a sign from the heavens, showing me the way out and saving me.”

Lin Ning: ……………………

He looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Shen Qing noticed his awkward expression. “What is it?”

Had he been too sentimental? Had it made Lin Ning uncomfortable?

Lin Ning looked at him, then at him again, and finally couldn’t bear to keep quiet. He mumbled, “…That’s not really what happened.”

He hesitated, then admitted, “My father spread those rumors on purpose to save face.”

Shen Qing: “…………”

He was completely dumbfounded.

Lin Ning was still holding the pouches that Shen Qing had given him. “So… are you still going to give one to my little uncle?”

It took Shen Qing a long moment to regain his composure. He smiled at first—just a small smile—but soon, he found it so absurd, yet also so liberating, that he burst into laughter. He laughed so hard he couldn’t stand upright, to the point that tears streamed down his face. Lin Ning was startled. “Qing Ge’er, what’s wrong with you?!”

“It’s nothing, it’s actually great,” Shen Qing said, wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes. He felt an unexpected sense of relief.

He thought back to that day—it was still clear in his memory. Maybe the heavens had indeed been watching over him, but they hadn’t sent Lin Xiangcao to save him.

The person who had saved him had always been himself.

His strength hadn’t come from the magistrate’s younger brother—it had come from himself, from the image of a person he had imagined, a person he had become on his own.

Everything he had today—he deserved it.

“Of course, I’ll still give them. Why wouldn’t I? Every ger in your family gets one,” Shen Qing said. Looking at the pouches again, they seemed rather ordinary now. Lin Xiangcao was no longer special to him, but there was no need to avoid him either.

Lin Ning watched as Shen Qing calmed down after his fit of laughter and secretly let out a breath of relief. That moment had been terrifying—Qing Ge’er had looked a bit unhinged.

But what Shen Qing said next shocked Lin Ning even more.

Since Lin Ning had been so honest with him, Shen Qing lightly touched his belly and said, “Actually… I lied to you before. And I lied to your father too.”

Lin Ning: “?”

“I’m not going on a business trip. I’m… pregnant.”

Now it was Lin Ning’s turn to be utterly dumbfounded: “??????”

Shen Qing suddenly felt lighthearted and playfully winked at him. “I don’t like gers—I have a man. I was originally planning to hide in the village for a few months and surprise all of you by suddenly showing up with a baby.”

Lin Ning screeched like an outraged prairie dog. “WHO?! WHO?!” Who had stolen Qing Ge’er’s heart behind his back?!

Shen Qing smiled faintly. “He’s… very far away.”

“He’s a good man. We’ve been together for a long time, but… he can’t come to Anping County.” Shen Qing looked at Lin Ning, a little apologetic. “I didn’t mean to deceive you all—I just… never officially married him here. I was worried you’d think I was being reckless.” He hesitated before adding in a small voice, “Don’t tell your father yet—I haven’t figured out how to explain it to him.”

Lin Ning managed to calm down slightly, but his expression was still complicated. “Far away”… He thought back to what Shen Qing had once told him—that there were nations beyond their neighboring countries. Could it be that Qing Ge’er had fallen for a golden-haired, blue-eyed foreigner? And that man couldn’t leave his homeland, so he refused to come to Anping County?

What kind of man could possibly enchant their Qing Ge’er…? Lin Ning asked, his tone a little sour, “Did you marry him in his homeland? He’s not… abandoning you, is he?”

“Huh?” Shen Qing was taken aback. Technically, they hadn’t. But in the post-apocalyptic world, if they wanted a ceremony, they could have one at any time. So he quickly replied, “Uh… yeah, we’re married.”

Lin Ning finally relaxed. “Then it’s fine. You just married a foreigner in a distant land—why would my father care about that?”

Though Magistrate Lin might not be thrilled about Qing Ge’er marrying a foreigner, since the man wouldn’t be coming here, it wouldn’t matter.

In this era, it was common for traveling merchants to establish homes in the places where they did business, even taking multiple wives or husbands in different locations. It wasn’t necessary for couples to live together year-round—some only saw each other once a year, if that. Lin Ning figured Qing Ge’er’s situation wasn’t all that different.

Maybe Qing Ge’er just wanted to surprise everyone by secretly having a baby?

Mischievous!

“No wonder you’ve gained weight recently,” Lin Ning muttered, rubbing his own face. “…I thought you were just like me, eating too much fried chicken.”

The Shiqu Village fried chicken business had officially launched, causing another craze in Anping County. Even though the weather was getting hot and greasy food could cause heat-related ailments, Lin Ning couldn’t stop himself. He had gained ten pounds, and his face was noticeably rounder.

But Shen Qing wasn’t gaining weight—he was retaining water. His belly might have been slow to grow, but he was experiencing every other pregnancy symptom in full force. In the mornings, his eyes were so puffy he could barely open them, and his legs retained imprints whenever he pressed on them.

He was astonished that something he had worried about for so long was, to Lin Ning, not even a big deal. It was… so easily resolved.

Shen Qing scratched his head. “But I still won’t be coming to town often. I’ll be staying in the village most of the time to focus on my pregnancy.”

He and Song Kaiji had discussed it. His belly would only get bigger, and not only would it be difficult to explain in the post-apocalyptic world, but the mountain path from Lantang Village to the cave took an hour to traverse. If his pregnancy advanced further, it would be dangerous to make the journey. They decided to stop meeting for now and wait until after the baby was born.

Though it was possible that Song Kaiji would never get to see or hold his own child, neither of them hesitated in choosing to have the baby in the ancient world. The safety of the post-apocalyptic world was one issue, but how could they explain a man giving birth there? Who would deliver the baby? Even though Feng Hao was dead, the fact that he had suspected Shen Qing had been noted by the military. If word got out, there was no telling what kind of trouble it would bring.

Thankfully, they still had their phones. They could record videos.

The last time they met, Song Kaiji had handed Shen Qing several phones and a bag full of fully charged power banks. “When the baby is born, you have to record videos every day. I heard that babies change every single day—blink a few times, and you’ll miss something.”

He pressed another phone into Shen Qing’s palm. “If you miss me, watch this. One video a day. No more than that.”

It was a collection of pre-recorded messages—his love diary for the next four or five months.

Shen Qing hugged him tightly. Maybe it was really just the pregnancy hormones, but he felt far more fragile than usual—easily moved, easily brought to tears. He wished the heavens would be kind and let their child cross the cave like he had, so they could be reunited as a family.

Song Kaiji pressed soft kisses to his face. Over the next few months, he had his own plans—besides training his abilities even harder, he was seriously considering Qu Weiwei’s suggestion: Should they move to a different base? Or even establish their own near the Red City Base?

With Shen Qing gone for a while, he needed to grow stronger—faster. He was going to be a father. If their child ever had a chance to cross over, he had to be strong enough to be their pillar of support.

So, while Shen Qing spent his pregnancy hiding in the village, he relied on the phone videos to soothe his longing. At first, Song Kaiji was awkward and stiff on camera, but over time, he grew more natural, as if he were truly there with Shen Qing or chatting over a video call.

Lin Ning visited a few times, coming to the countryside to play. Since Shen Qing was too lazy to move, he let Lian Rong and Ou Ge’er take him up the mountain to pick fruit.

With the county magistrate’s ger son personally overseeing the expedition—plus a team of guards for protection—the village boys no longer dared to hoard the fruit trees. Under Lin Ning’s command, the guards helped Lian Rong and Ou Ge’er gather a bounty of sweet and tart wild fruits, all of which ended up in Shen Qing’s stomach.

The Jie siblings lived diagonally across from the back office, making it convenient to visit and play together. “But I still like Qing Ge’er the most. I always feel like Jie Miyun wants to teach me how to read,” Lin Ning grumbled.

His own father tried to teach him, and he hadn’t wanted to learn!

Still a child at heart, Ning Ge’er complained to Shen Qing for a while before running outside to play with Lian Rong, teasing the two dogs that were growing into full-sized adults. One was pure yellow and called Da Huang, while the other had a yellow base coat with a thin layer of black fur on its back and was named Er Hei.

The two dogs were incredibly smart and were most attached to Miao Shi. They were also quite friendly toward Shen Qing, but whenever strangers came to the house, Miao Shi had to personally introduce them to the dogs before they would let them near. Apart from Miao Shi, they rarely wagged their tails at anyone.

Once Lin Ning had run off to play, Jin Yaren and the Jie siblings finally approached Shen Qing to report on their recent work. Jin Yaren, cheerful as always, paid no attention to Shen Qing’s belly and simply gave a straightforward update on the matters Shen Qing had entrusted to him.

A while back, the county registrar had sent word that Magistrate Lin disapproved of Shen Qing associating too much with Jin Yaren, thinking his street-smart ways might be a bad influence. Jin Yaren had been troubled over this for quite some time, fearing he would lose a major patron. But surprisingly, Shen Qing still treated him the same as before. In fact, he even shared some of the lessons he learned from Magistrate Lin, allowing them to grow and strengthen their business together.

Shen Qing was genuine with him, and Jin Yaren wasn’t ungrateful. He didn’t care about what was going on with Shen Qing’s belly—even if Shen Qing decided to keep a hundred and eight lovers, that was none of his business. His only concern was sticking with Shen Qing to make money!

“The estate on the mountain has been completed. I’ve already had people fumigate it with fruitwood, Sichuan pepper, and mugwort to dry it out and keep insects away. The road to Lantang Village is also finished—you can now fit two carriages side by side. As for the road to the county, half of it is still under construction, specifically the section closer to the county. A few days ago, Magistrate Lin sent word that since this road benefits the people, it shouldn’t be entirely funded by you alone. The county office has some funds allocated for such projects, so they’ll cover half the remaining costs while we cover the other half. That way, it’ll be considered a joint effort.”

Jin Yaren glanced at Shen Qing’s belly, this time speaking more as a friend than a business partner. “Since the estate is ready, why don’t you move up there? Before I came here, Ruyi and Mudan even asked me to send their regards. Looking at you now, it seems like you’ll be giving birth in another month or two. You should at least have a few servants around to take care of you.”

He took another look at the small house and couldn’t help but sigh. Who would have thought that someone as wealthy as Shen Qing would be living in such a modest place?

The Jie siblings also agreed. “Exactly! Back in our household, as soon as concubines became pregnant, two extra maids were assigned to take care of them. Newborns are a hassle—they cry for food at all hours, keeping the parents from getting any rest. You should prepare a wet nurse and a few caretakers ahead of time. Once the baby is born, they can take care of them in another room so you can get proper rest.”

Right now, Shen Qing was living in a small courtyard at the foot of the mountain with only three main rooms—there wouldn’t even be enough space for servants!

However, Shen Qing didn’t want to move. Pregnant people tended to overthink things, and without his man by his side, he felt safer in a familiar place. But he did agree with their suggestion about hiring some help. “Then let Ruyi pick out two good ones for me—one maid and one ger. That should be enough. Once I’ve given birth, I’ll move up to the mountain estate. This courtyard can be used as a school,” Shen Qing said, glancing at the Jie siblings. “I’ll be counting on you to teach the village children how to read.”

As for a wet nurse, Shen Qing had no plans to hire one. Miao Shi had already bought ten pregnant goats, and by the time Shen Qing’s baby was born, there would be plenty of fresh goat’s milk to feed them.

The Jie siblings had changed a lot since first being sent to Shen Qing. After learning that he was a ger, they quickly adjusted their mindset, fully dedicating themselves to their roles as teachers. They no longer had any other thoughts or anxieties and readily agreed to help with the school. They also updated him on training the household servants. “So far, only two of them really can’t grasp it no matter what. We were thinking of just letting it go—maybe they have strengths in other areas.”

Shen Qing thought for a moment before suggesting, “If you see Miao Yu around town, ask him to recommend someone skilled in martial arts. Everyone in the household—whether boys, gers, or girls—should learn some self-defense. It’ll help them stay fit and protect themselves.”

“I want to learn too!” Lian Rong suddenly ran in from outside. “Qing Ge, let me learn! I want to get strong enough to protect my brother and beat that bastard from the Wang family to death!”

She then turned to Lian Ou with bright eyes. “Brother, you should learn too!”

“Lian Ou can go,” Shen Qing agreed. “I’ve been thinking of sending him to work at Cuihua shop in the county.”

Even though Lian Ou was the victim and the second branch of the Lian family had gained the upper hand during the split, gossip in the village still lingered. Shen Qing noticed that Lian Ou often seemed downcast, so he thought a change of scenery might be good for him. “You can stay in the courtyard behind the shop. Tieshan and Miao Yu live there too, along with all my maids—it’s perfectly safe.”

Lian Rong looked eager, but Lian Ou hesitated, clutching the hem of his clothes. After a long pause, he whispered, “I… I’d rather not go. I’m fine here, weaving and selling things at Miaoqian Village.”

Since he had made up his mind, Shen Qing didn’t press him. However, he did give Lian Ou a long, considering look. Lian Rong, on the other hand, was deeply disappointed and kept pestering him for a reason, but Lian Ou remained silent.

Two days later, Tieshan personally delivered a maid and a ger to help take care of Shen Qing and handle household chores. The maid slept in Miao Shi’s room, while the ger had a wooden bed set up in Shen Qing’s room so he could help with anything during the night, whether it was fetching water or assisting when Shen Qing needed to get up.

Meanwhile, people in the village were beginning to notice that something was off about Shen Qing’s figure. It was hard to believe, but his belly was getting bigger by the day.

By the time he reached his eighth month, even a blind man could see what was going on!

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

The man who had been prodded let out a snort through his nose, as if he had no interest in talking to them. He picked up his cane and hobbled away, seeking a quieter, emptier spot to bask in the sun.

The old man who had poked him looked a little embarrassed. Someone nearby tried to console him, “His temper has gotten stranger in recent years.”

“Well, can you blame him? Anyone in his shoes would feel bitter.” Another person, watching the limping figure from a distance, lowered his voice and said, “If he hadn’t broken his leg, who knows who would be village chief now? Would it really have been that pushover Zhao Youdang, letting his wife sit on his neck and call the shots?”

A chorus of agreement followed, and soon, the group began reminiscing about how capable and decisive that man had been in his youth—how much better he was compared to Zhao Youdang. The more they talked, the more it seemed like the truth. Yet, had he actually become village chief instead of Zhao Youdang, they might have been complaining that he was too harsh, too narrow-minded, too indifferent to the village’s needs. Then, they’d be saying that Zhao Youdang was the more considerate and well-rounded leader.

But right now, as they wrapped up their idle chatter and returned to their chaotic households, their frustrations toward Zhao Youdang and Wu Guixiang only deepened. They couldn’t help but imagine an alternate reality where someone else had become village chief instead.

That evening, after the visiting neighbors had left, Miao Shi pulled Shen Qing aside.

She scanned him up and down a few times, hesitated as if unsure how to broach the subject, then finally blurted out, “Qing Ge’er, you and that Xiao Song… have you… have you consummated your relationship?”

Shen Qing immediately understood what Miao Shi meant.

He had been putting off telling Miao Shi about this, not because he was worried about her reaction, but simply because he didn’t know how to bring it up.

It wasn’t that he thought she would disapprove—rather, he felt embarrassed. He and Song Kaizhi weren’t married. In the village, once a couple was married, it was only natural that they would have children. No one really dwelled on how that happened—it was a topic that was quietly skipped over. But because he and Song Kaizhi hadn’t officially wed, it was suddenly something he had to explicitly acknowledge, to discuss in front of his mother…

Strangely enough, when Qu Weiwei and the others teased him about disappearing for too long with Song Kaizhi, Shen Qing never minded. But if it were Miao Shi, Zhang Sujuan, or even Mother Tang making such remarks, he would feel incredibly awkward.

But now that Miao Shi had brought it up, Shen Qing had no choice but to push through his embarrassment.

He hesitated for a moment before mumbling, “Yes, we have….” Then, he touched his belly and added, “It’s already been five months.”

Miao Shi was so startled that she smacked his arm lightly twice. “What? Five months?!”

Her strikes were gentle, but her tone carried disbelief. “You little rascal, this is huge news! And you waited five months to tell me?”

Yet, her reaction reassured Shen Qing. She wasn’t upset at all—on the contrary, she was genuinely happy.

Miao Shi had spoken to Song Kaiji a few times through video calls. She knew that he was a rare find, not just in Lantang Village but in all of Anping County. Given how deeply Shen Qing and Song Kaiji loved each other—especially after Shen Qing had fallen ill for his sake—she had never once considered persuading her son to find someone else just because Song Kaiji couldn’t come to marry him in person.

Since Song Kaiji couldn’t be here, they obviously couldn’t have a wedding. But what, were they supposed to stay celibate for life? Even though Shen Qing had never mentioned it, Miao Shi had long been mentally prepared for this.

Now that it was confirmed, she immediately began fussing over him, listing all the things he needed to be careful about during pregnancy. Then, she went to her room and retrieved a well-kept booklet from the bottom of her trunk.

She turned back to look at Shen Qing’s belly, hesitated for a moment, then sighed and handed him the booklet.

Still slightly flustered, she scolded him with mock annoyance, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? What’s there to be embarrassed about? The night before a wedding, a mother is supposed to sit her child down and explain all of this anyway.”

In some harmonious families, it wasn’t just the mother who would have this talk—sometimes aunts and sisters-in-law would join in. They would discuss not just bedroom matters but also how to maintain a good relationship with one’s husband after marriage. Otherwise, some newlyweds would be so clueless that they wouldn’t even know what to do.

Miao Shi was naturally fond of children. She adored Lian Rong, so how could she not dote on her own grandchild even more? Now, she couldn’t take her eyes off Shen Qing’s barely noticeable bump.

“This is five months already? How is it still so small?” she muttered, puzzled. “When I was five months along, I looked like I had a pot strapped to my waist.”

Then, after some thought, she said, “But small is good. For a ger, a smaller belly makes labor easier. Hopefully, it’s a boy—that way, our family will be truly established.”

She said it instinctively, but the moment the words left her mouth, Shen Qing’s smile faded slightly, his expression turning somewhat confused. “Why does it have to be a boy?”

Miao Shi was momentarily taken aback. Her lips moved, but she quickly corrected herself, “That was a slip of the tongue. Our family is already secure, whether it’s a boy or not. A ger like you would be just as wonderful.”

After all, she was a woman entirely shaped by the world she grew up in.

Her entire life had reinforced the belief that a family needed a male heir. In some cases, even a young boy wasn’t enough—it had to be an adult man.

Without an adult male in the household, women, gers, and even young boys were seen as easy prey—like unclaimed meat, just waiting for someone to take a bite.

There were cases in nearby villages where, after the man of the house passed away, greedy relatives swooped in, selling off the widow and children as if they were property.

The world had taught her this truth over and over again.

Even though Qing Ge’er was an exception, Miao Shi’s subconscious still longed for “greater security.” Besides—she sighed—“It’s not that I look down on gers and girls. It’s just that life is much harder for them. I only hope that our family’s children can have an easier time. If you had been born a boy, you wouldn’t have had to suffer so much in the past. Maybe you’d even have achieved greater things by now.”

When Qing Ge’er’s identity as a ger was exposed by Miao Qiuduo in the county, and later when Tieshan came back and told her what had happened, Miao Shi had been terrified just hearing about it. If Qing Ge’er had been a boy…

She didn’t understand anything about gender equality. “I’m just a selfish mother,” she admitted.

But Shen Qing shook his head. “If I had been a boy, you and I wouldn’t have been kicked out of the Shen family. I wouldn’t have had to risk my life chopping wood in the mountains, and I never would have ended up in that cave. If I had been a boy, even if Shen Zhiwei didn’t kill me, I’d be the eldest grandson of the Shen family, and all their land would be mine. I’d still be in the old Shen family fields, grinning like a fool over a few acres of land.”

Miao Shi was left speechless.

Shen Qing glanced at her, and his thoughts became even clearer. Perhaps only those without real power placed their hopes in the structure of society. He didn’t resent his mother for this—he understood that she was shaped by her time. But back when they lived with the Shen family, it had been him protecting Miao Shi more often than the other way around.

Miao Shi couldn’t provide her child with any real security, so all she could do was cling to the natural advantages that came with certain genders. Maybe she still thought this way because she was still living under Shen Qing’s protection, still without the ability to defy these limitations.

But would a ger or daughter born into an emperor’s family, or a prime minister’s or a duke’s household, really be worse off than a farm boy?

Shen Qing rested his hand on his slightly rounded belly. “No matter the gender of my child, I will make sure they live a life of ease, comfort, and happiness.”

At first, Miao Shi only listened in stunned silence. But this time, the words didn’t just pass through her ears like any other conversation. They were like rolling thunder, growing louder and louder, shaking her thoughts until her mind ached.

The next morning, as Shen Qing was about to head to Anping County for a checkup, he opened his door to find Miao Shi sitting outside. She looked like she hadn’t slept all night.

“Qing Ge’er,” she said, gripping his hand, “you were right. I was wrong.”

She couldn’t quite put into words exactly what she had been wrong about, or why Qing Ge’er was right. But deep inside, she knew, truly knew, that she had been mistaken for a long time. “No matter if a child born into our family is a ger, a girl, or a boy, they are all precious. They don’t need to bear the weight of holding up this family—our family should stand strong on its own.”

Shen Qing looked at her reddened eyes and the dark circles beneath them.

There had been times in the past when, after learning the truth about Shen Zhang’s death, he had been haunted by countless “what ifs” about Miao Shi. Those thoughts had tormented him. But at this moment, even though they were separate matters, some of that darkness faded away, carried off by the sincerity of her apology.

From that day forward, Miao Shi’s world no longer revolved around idle chats with the village women about fragrant powders and pretty fabrics from the marketplace. She no longer spent her days solely in the kitchen, content with her cooking skills, nor did she simply visit her family as a pampered guest.

Without any prompting from Shen Qing, she stepped out of her comfort zone, going to the workshop to learn from Wu Guixiang and Miao Hexiang—learning how to manage people, how to handle affairs.

Wu Guixiang was surprised at first but quickly showed her support. “I was going to bring this up before. This workshop was entrusted to your family by a nobleman. If Qing Ge’er is too busy, even if I’m the one overseeing things, you should still be involved. But since Qing Ge’er is capable enough to let his own mother live a life of leisure, who am I to insist she work? That would make me seem like I can’t stand seeing you live comfortably.”

Now that Miao Shi had taken the initiative, Wu Guixiang was fully on board. “Honestly, we have too few women and gers in this village who have real influence. If you have the position for it, why not step up? The more, the better!”

Miao Shi felt a bit embarrassed. It wasn’t until she joined the workshop that she realized how capable women like Wu Guixiang, Miao Hexiang, and even the regular workers were. They could juggle a dozen tasks at once—she could hardly keep up. “I was ignorant before and wasted so much time. Please teach me and guide me from now on.”

“Of course. Stick with me for now,” Miao Hexiang chimed in. “Guixiang’s too advanced—you won’t be able to keep up with her just yet. Once you’ve got the basics down, she can take you to conquer the world!”

“Conquer the world, huh?” Wu Guixiang laughed, then let out a sarcastic huff. “I must have been too soft. Lately, more and more people in the village resent me—some probably want to strangle me. Conquer the world? I can’t even conquer my own village!”

Thanks to Qing Ge’er’s influence, her power in the village was growing. At home, her word carried more weight than ever. In the past, she and Zhao Youdang would discuss major decisions together. But after several instances where her judgment proved better than his, she had started making executive decisions on her own. More and more village matters were handled with Zhao Youdang as a mere figurehead.

And this, of course, left many of the men in the village fuming.

“A woman deciding men’s affairs? It’s disgraceful!”

The resentment was strongest among those who had been on the losing end of her rulings. The Lian family’s separation was just another spark added to the fire—the village was on the verge of an explosion.

“Recently, a bunch of people have been running to my brother-in-law, trying to push him to make a move,” Wu Guixiang said grimly. Zhao Youdang’s younger brother, Zhao Youwei, was now the target of these whispers. “They keep saying that back when our father-in-law was alive, he intended to pass the village chief position to him instead.”

“That’s nonsense,” Miao Hexiang scoffed. While she had suffered under the long-standing tradition of favoring the eldest son, in this system, Zhao Youdang was the rightful heir. If the position had really gone to Zhao Youwei, the village would have been in even greater uproar.

Wu Guixiang let out another huff. “Who knows what my father-in-law was thinking back then? But later, Zhao Youwei went up the mountain to forage for mushrooms and ended up rolling down a hill and breaking his leg. Even if my father-in-law had considered it, he abandoned the idea after that.”

No village wanted a cripple as their chief. Even beyond that, someone who was physically weak or seen as sickly wouldn’t be chosen to lead—it wasn’t good for stability.

What she didn’t say was that on the very day Zhao Youwei fell, her own brothers had also visited Lantang Village and gone up the mountain. Ever since, Zhao Youwei had harbored the suspicion that she had orchestrated his injury to secure her husband’s position as village chief.

After their father-in-law’s death, the two families had cut ties completely.

There was no evidence—just sheer distrust. That was why Zhao Youwei had thrown those passive-aggressive jabs at Zhao Youdang when the latter suggested breaking Wang Shi’s nephew’s leg.

He still held a grudge.

Wu Guixiang waved a hand dismissively. “Forget it, I don’t want to talk about it. Let them scheme all they want. Even if Zhao Youwei weren’t crippled, with the workshop here and Qing Ge’er backing me, do they really think they can change village chiefs?”

Miao Shi chuckled. “Don’t worry, Qing Ge’er will always back you up!”

Meanwhile, Shen Qing had a routine check-up with the doctor.

“Everything looks good—both you and the baby are doing fine,” the old physician said, clearly impressed. “In fact, your condition keeps improving. The first time you came, your body was still quite weak.”

Shen Qing let out a sigh of relief. With all the supplements and spirit spring water he had been consuming, it had to be working. But he still had one concern.

“Doctor, why isn’t my belly growing much?”

“Everyone’s different. Some people grow later—just wait another two months, and your belly will grow rapidly,” the old doctor said. “Besides, with your build, staying small is a good thing. A smaller baby means less suffering for you.”

Shen Qing smiled. Of course, he was afraid of the pain, but he was also worried that the baby wouldn’t get enough nourishment and would be weak. But since the doctor said everything was fine, he felt relieved. He then carefully inquired about the most reputable midwives in town before finally leaving.

As soon as he stepped out of the medicine hall, he heard someone calling his name from afar. Turning around, he saw a carriage stopping behind him. In a town like this, few people could afford to ride in a carriage. As expected, Lin Ning stepped out, grabbing his hand excitedly. “I haven’t seen you in ages!”

Qing Ge’er had been away on business for two months, and Lin Ning had missed him terribly. He turned back and called toward the carriage, “mother, you go home first. I’m going out with Qing Ge’er for a bit.”

From inside the carriage, the county magistrate gave a few low instructions before the carriage swiftly departed.

Lin Ning, full of energy, tugged Shen Qing forward. Shen Qing was startled and quickly pulled back. “Slow down, slow down!”

“What’s wrong?” Lin Ning was puzzled. The day they first met, Shen Qing had pulled him and Lin Zao’er along, dashing through several streets. Now he was the one telling him to slow down?

But then Lin Ning realized—Shen Qing had just come out of the medicine hall. His expression changed, instantly worried. “Are you sick?”

Shen Qing hesitated. Lin Ning was probably his only real friend in this world, and he felt he shouldn’t hide this from him—not that he even could. In a few months, Lin Ning would find out anyway. In fact, soon, the entire Lantang Village and Shiqu Village would know. It’s not like he could hide the baby after it was born.

But Lin Ning was still an unmarried ger, and Shen Qing felt oddly guilty, as if revealing the truth would be corrupting a child. After some thought, he chose to evade the question. “It’s nothing serious. I just overworked myself before, and my body needs some nourishment.”

Right now, his strategy was simple: delay. One moment at a time.

However, Lin Ning was completely heartbroken by his words.

They found a teahouse, ordered a few pastries and dried fruits, and sat behind a screen to chat.

“The archway is finished,” Lin Ning said eagerly. “I asked Gold-Tooth, and he said your house will be completed next month. The road will take a little longer to finish. Once it’s done, take me to visit, okay? Oh, and my father mentioned wanting to invite you over to our home sometime.”

Shen Qing was taken aback but quickly smiled. “When I have some free time, I will definitely pay a visit.”

However, he thought this was merely a polite gesture. He knew the county magistrate had never really liked him. The man had rewarded him with the archway and promoted his friends, but that was simply because he was a fair official. Shen Qing’s achievements deserved recognition.

But Lin Ning grew anxious. “It’s not just politeness—it’s real! Really, really!”

A little embarrassed, he added, “My father used to have some opinions about you, and I’m sure you noticed. But he’s changed his mind now.”

With Miao Yu and Tieshan working under the magistrate, they had inevitably talked about Shen Qing. From their accounts, the magistrate learned about a version of Shen Qing completely different from the one he had assumed.

Even Lin Ning, as his close friend, had never truly grasped how difficult Shen Qing’s past had been. When Shen Qing occasionally mentioned bits of his past, he had already transformed into the elegant and accomplished Shen Gongzi. It was hard to imagine the struggles he had endured.

But Tieshan and Miao Yu, in their plain and simple words, painted a vivid picture of how much hardship a ger had gone through just to survive.

“My father never looked down on you or gers,” Lin Ning explained. “My mother, my little uncle, and I—we’re all gers, and my father adores us.”

“It’s just that he used to think you were too slick from doing business, always giving gifts, and he worried you were trying to trick me. But after hearing what they said, he realized you hadn’t been doing business for long at all. The reason you acted that way was simply because no one had ever taught you otherwise.”

Shen Qing was like a resilient wildflower, growing in barren soil without guidance, figuring out how to survive entirely on his own. How could someone who barely had the means to keep living be blamed for being too shrewd?

But upon hearing this, the county magistrate had felt a twinge of sympathy for Shen Qing.

Perhaps it was because his own child was also a ger who had suddenly entered a foreign world. Shen Qing’s rapid growth was something the magistrate admired. He secretly hoped Lin Ning would become just as independent. With that personal connection, seeing the struggles Shen Qing had endured left the magistrate feeling deeply uneasy.

“My father said Gold-Tooth isn’t wrong in what he does,” Lin Ning continued. Since befriending Shen Qing, Lin Ning had interacted with Gold-Tooth more often. To them, Gold-Tooth was like an older figure with much more worldly experience, and he treated them with genuine sincerity. Since he knew neither Shen Qing nor Lin Ning would ever compete with him in business, he was willing to share insights whenever they asked.

“But he’s just a middleman in a small county. His way of doing things is based on street smarts—useful for small trades, sure, but if you learn too much from him, you’ll never break out of that world. You won’t be able to climb higher.”

Lin Ning looked at Shen Qing earnestly. “My father said you’re my good friend, and you’ve helped me. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll do something for all of Anping County. There are things your family never had the chance to teach you—if you come to him, he’ll be happy to teach you.”

Shen Qing didn’t know why, but maybe it was the pregnancy hormones—Song Kaiji had called it something like “pregnancy hormones”—but hearing those words made his throat tighten, and his eyes stung.

Even his voice was slightly hoarse as he replied, “…Alright. Thank you, Uncle Lin.”

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

The village custom dictated that as long as the parents were alive, the family could not be split, primarily to ensure the well-being of the elders. When the elderly could no longer work, it was the responsibility of their children and grandchildren to take care of them. Minor conflicts among the younger generations were insignificant—what truly mattered was that the elders lived comfortably. This was the essence of filial piety in this era.

But before the old couple could even voice their stance, the eldest and second branches were already clamoring for separation!

“You all think I’m dead, don’t you? You’re actually trying to split up the family right under my nose?!” Old Man Lian rarely spoke directly to his daughters-in-law. He considered himself a dignified man—household matters were for women to handle. It was improper for a father-in-law to have too many direct conversations with his sons’ wives.

But this time, he couldn’t hold back any longer. Pointing at Wang Shi, he started scolding her. “How did we end up with a troublemaker like you in this family? Have you ever gone hungry? Have you ever lacked anything? The second branch has been earning money and hasn’t been stingy with the eldest branch either. In the spring, they even bought new clothes for Lian Bao, but not for Rong Jie’er! What more do you want? And now, you’ve caused all this mess!”

Wang Shi sobbed into her hands, humiliated by being reprimanded so publicly. She tried to defend herself in a small voice, “I wasn’t the one asking for a split—it’s the second branch that insists on it. She was the one who said she wouldn’t take anything. Why is Father blaming me…”

Old Man Lian was so furious that he felt like his head was about to burst. If she hadn’t sent her nephew to ambush Lian Ou, would his second daughter-in-law be making such a scene? And thinking about it, he got even angrier—Lian Ou was his grandson, part of the Lian family. For Wang Shi, bringing in an outsider—her own nephew—to bully Lian Ou might have just been a way to make trouble for the second branch, but to Old Man Lian, it was blatant disrespect toward him as the head of the household!

He looked around. His second daughter-in-law stood defiantly with her family, her back straight, and both Miao Shi and the village chief’s wife were on her side. His second son stood behind them with his head lowered, lost in thought. Lian Ou wasn’t present, but Lian Shi and his wife, along with Lian Rong, were standing off to the side, their eyes filled with resentment toward Wang Shi.

He sighed deeply, realizing that this family was truly about to fall apart.

He didn’t care whether Wang Shi’s nephew lived or died. That brat had bullied his grandson—he wouldn’t mind teaching him a lesson himself! Miao Hexiang’s threat against Wang Shi meant nothing to him. But even if he exerted his authority as the patriarch and forcibly kept the family together, with both branches seething with resentment, it might end up just like the tragedy in the Shen family.

At the end of the day, the fact that his two sons had reached this point of conflict was a reflection of his and his wife’s incompetence as parents—they simply couldn’t keep the family together.

No matter how unwilling he was, he had to consider his own future. Old Man Lian glanced between Wang Shi and Miao Hexiang. Who would provide a more comfortable life for him in his old age? Did he even need to think about it?

After mulling it over, he turned to his eldest son and asked directly, “Eldest son, do you share your wife’s opinion? Do you want your younger brother to leave empty-handed?”

Lian Laoda was stunned. He hadn’t expected his father to ask him directly. He lowered his head, hesitating for a long time without saying a word.

Seeing this, Old Man Lian didn’t push further and instead turned to his second son. “Second, what do you think?”

Lian Lao’er wiped his face and said, “Father, Ou Ge’er is my own child—your grandson. If it weren’t for the monk from Miaoqian Village passing by, what would’ve happened to Ou Ge’er? Would he even be alive? Small squabbles within the family are one thing, but how could one of our own be so cruel to another? She never considered us family at all!”

This was a clear stance—he was determined to separate. He refused to live under the same roof as Wang Shi any longer.

Old Man Lian nodded, sighing deeply. “Then we’ll split.”

Old Lady Lian panicked. “Old man, we can’t separate the family!” If they did, they’d be the first living elders in Lantang Village to experience a family split. Aside from the shame, their future would become unpredictable.

What was the difference between having multiple children support them versus living with only one son? As long as they maintained control over the family’s wealth under the guise of filial piety, all the children would compete to please them and obey their every command. Their authority as parents would be at its peak.

But living with just one son was a different story. Without the rivalry among siblings, without checks and balances, if the chosen son was young and capable, and his wife had strong backing and earned her own money—who would truly hold the power in the household?

She prided herself on not being a harsh mother-in-law, but she had endured half a lifetime as a daughter-in-law before becoming the matriarch. She couldn’t spend her first half of life obeying her mother-in-law, only to spend the second half being ordered around by her daughter-in-law. Would she never get to be in charge?

Life wouldn’t necessarily be hard, but it would be stifling!

But Old Man Lian simply waved her off.

He glanced at Miao Hexiang, whose face was filled with joy, and at Wang Shi, who secretly sighed in relief. Then he raised his voice, “But this family bears the Lian surname, and as long as I’m still breathing, it’s not up to two daughters-in-law to decide what happens here!”

With that, he turned to Miao Hexiang, his tone sharp. “Today, you brought your brothers to block my family’s door. I’ll chalk it up to a mother protecting her child, and I won’t hold it against you. But after the separation, if you use your strong maternal family or powerful clan ties to throw your weight around in this household, then we’ll settle it now with a divorce!”

Miao Hexiang was caught off guard and instinctively replied, “Father, I never intended that!” She only had a problem with Wang Shi—she had no issues with her in-laws.

Old Man Lian nodded at her response. “Blocking the doorway—what kind of spectacle is that? Everyone, come inside. Family separations don’t happen in an instant.” Then, his gaze fell on Zhao Youdang, who had been silent by Wu Guixiang’s side the entire time. “Village chief, bear witness for our family.”

Once they moved into the main hall, Miao Hexiang finally realized why her father-in-law had said what he did. She had thought that just getting the chance to split the family was a great victory, and she was willing to pay the price for it. Money? They had jobs, they had skills—how hard could it be to earn? Suffering for a moment now would mean living comfortably for a lifetime!

But Old Man Lian’s next words left her pleasantly surprised.

“This whole mess was caused by the eldest daughter-in-law. Ou Ge’er suffered great distress, and his reputation has been damaged. The child has been terribly wronged. As punishment, the eldest branch will receive a smaller share in the separation.”

Lian Laoda let out a quiet grunt in acknowledgment, while Wang Shi was completely dumbfounded. “Wait, weren’t they supposed to leave empty-handed? How—”

Lian Laoda finally couldn’t take it anymore and tugged at her. This foolish woman! How many times had Father made it clear? A daughter-in-law had no say over his decisions! Empty-handed or not, everything in this household—including them, the children and grandchildren—belonged to their father. Didn’t she see how the Shen family could just sell off Shen Xiaojian without a second thought? Their father had the right to distribute his wealth however he pleased. He could even sell off his own children if he wanted to. At worst, people would gossip, and marriage prospects might become more difficult.

If she didn’t shut up now, they’d be paying an even heavier price!

The second branch was also momentarily stunned.

But Wu Guixiang quickly understood and chuckled. “The old man is fair and reasonable.”

Miao Hexiang had initially insisted on leaving empty-handed because she thought the chance of separation was slim and wanted to offer a hefty price to make it happen. But once Old Man Lian himself agreed, why should the second branch still pay the price?

She nudged Miao Hexiang, giving her best friend a hint. “You better not be so impulsive in the future. Once you’re living separately, without anyone in your way, you’d best be respectful and filial to your in-laws.”

Miao Hexiang blinked in confusion. “Huh? Huh??”

Old Man Lian shot a glance at Wu Guixiang but didn’t say anything. He disliked it when women interjected in serious matters, even if she was the village chief’s wife. She should stick to handling the trivial affairs among women and gers. Seeing her act as if she were the real village chief made him uncomfortable. But, to her credit, she was clever—she had already figured out his intent before even the Lian family did.

After calculating the family’s assets in his head, he declared, “The house goes to the eldest branch, but the second branch will continue living here until their new house is completed—no later than the Mid-Autumn Festival. The farmland will be divided into three shares: one for each branch and one for us, the elders. The farming tools and equipment will also be split equally. The chickens will stay with us, the pigs will be raised by the eldest branch—once slaughtered at year’s end, we’ll split the meat evenly.”

“As for the household’s silver…” He turned to Old Lady Lian.

She whispered a number in his ear.

Even Old Man Lian was startled—it was more than he had expected. But after some thought, he realized it was largely thanks to the second branch’s earnings. So he decided, “Since most of this money was earned by the second branch, they will receive half. The remaining half will be divided evenly between us and the eldest branch.”

Wang Shi’s eyes turned red with resentment.

What Old Man Lian allocated was enough for the eldest branch to live comfortably, but Wang Shi had been counting on the second branch leaving empty-handed! How could she be satisfied now? If not for her husband forcefully restraining her, she would have protested. She consoled herself—no matter how much money the second branch earned in the future, they still had to be filial to their parents. If they didn’t offer generous gifts, she could spread rumors about them being stingy. Eventually, those assets would come back to her side…

But then, she heard Old Man Lian’s next words.

“We, the elders, will live with the second branch. When we pass, our land and silver will belong to them. The eldest branch must provide 500 jin of grain each year, in any form. If we fall ill, the eldest son must visit every ten days—not to give us money, just to pour us a bowl of water. That alone will fulfill his filial duty.”

Lian Laoda knelt down, his voice trembling with tears. “Father…”

Old Lady Lian was equally shocked. “Old man, how can we not live with the eldest branch?”

Old Man Lian scoffed. “You want to live with her? How many peaceful days do you think you’d have?”

At this point, Miao Hexiang finally understood what was going on and saw through her father-in-law’s little schemes. But she didn’t mind. Her in-laws weren’t difficult people, and this was just Old Man Lian’s way of maintaining some dignity as the family head. In reality, just by agreeing to the separation, he and Old Lady Lian were already setting themselves up for ridicule among their peers.

Now that her father-in-law had granted the family split, Miao Hexiang was quite satisfied. She immediately promised, “Father, Mother, please don’t worry. However we treated you both before the split, we will continue to treat you the same way after. No one will overstep you two. My husband and I will work twice as hard to ensure you both live in the utmost comfort.”

Since she had received kindness, she had to repay it in kind. No matter what she truly thought, Old Man Lian had backed her up and lost face in the village. She had to find a way to make it up to him and restore his standing. Miao Hexiang vowed, “I will make sure you two become the most well-cared-for elders in all of Lantang Village!”

Old Man Lian felt much better after hearing that. The faint sense of losing authority was largely soothed by her words. He glanced at the children standing behind Miao Hexiang, noticing that Ou Ge’er was absent. Then he said, “And what about that bastard who harassed Ou Ge’er?”

Wang Shi had been drowning in resentment, ready to throw a tantrum, cry, and scream about the unfairness of it all. The land, the silver—practically everything of value had gone to the second branch, while all she got was this old, rundown house they had lived in for twenty years. How could the elders be so biased?! On top of that, they weren’t even living with the eldest son! She was the one who had given the Lian family a true heir, while Lian Shi from the second branch had only birthed a ger, and who knew what Zhao Yu was carrying! Weren’t they afraid of the family line dying out?

But Old Man Lian’s next words sent a wave of fear crashing over her. Wait, wasn’t the family split supposed to settle everything? Why—why were they still going after her nephew?!

Old Man Lian turned to Zhao Youdang and said, “An outsider from another village harassed a ger from our Lantang Village. Village Chief, I trust you to handle this matter properly.”

Hearing this, Zhao Youdang also grew furious. In this era, women and gers relied on men for survival, and men were highly protective and possessive of them. To Old Man Lian, Wang Shi’s nephew harassing Ou Ge’er was akin to someone trying to steal his family’s “property.” Likewise, to Zhao Youdang, as the village chief, it was as if someone had attempted to take what belonged to Lantang Village.

And this wasn’t his first time dealing with such matters!

Zhao Youdang immediately declared, “I’ll go see their village chief tomorrow! If he doesn’t give us a proper explanation, I’ll take my men and personally break that bastard’s leg!”

This was the first time that day he had decisively made a call, and his words carried an imposing air.

But among the onlookers, someone let out a contemptuous snort. “Oh, now you remember you’re the village chief? Spent all this time letting a woman ride on your neck, and you finally said something a man should say.”

Zhao Youdang stiffened in embarrassment, his straightened back slumping slightly.

The speaker bore a strong resemblance to him, about six or seven years younger, and leaning on a crutch. When Zhao Youdang and Wu Guixiang turned to look at him, he gave another loud huff before limping away through the crowd.

Zhao Youdang’s lips moved slightly, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.

Meanwhile, Wang Shi was completely panicked. “Father! You can’t be so heartless! You’ve already favored the second branch in the division, and now you’re going after my nephew? He’s family too!”

“Family?” Old Man Lian sneered. “What’s his surname? Wang! And what’s Ou Ge’er’s surname? Lian! If I don’t stand up for my own grandson, should I stand up for your mother’s side of the family?”

He was so infuriated he even laughed. “Or better yet, let’s not even bother splitting the family—Eldest son, divorce your wife! Our family doesn’t need such ‘relatives’!”

In the end, Wang Shi wasn’t divorced. No matter what, she had given birth to multiple children and was already a grandmother. At her age, if she were cast out, she would have no way to survive. Moreover, did Old Man Lian really not know that she had always tried to undermine the second branch to benefit her own?

Lian Laoda managed to save her, but not without loudly scolding her before dragging her back to their room and locking her inside.

No matter how much she wailed and cried, it was useless. The separation had already been decided by Old Man Lian, and no one could change it.

Zhao Youdang personally drafted the division contract and filed it with the village’s official records, finalizing the matter.

Miao Hexiang immediately kept Wu Guixiang back to discuss available plots of land in the village for building a new home. Wu Guixiang suggested a few locations, but instead of making the decision herself, Miao Hexiang presented the choices to Old Man Lian and Old Lady Lian. The elderly couple, initially feeling a bit melancholic about the split, soon found themselves quite pleased with the attention.

“In the end, we picked the plot closest to the workshop. My father-in-law chose it himself.”

Later that night, as the group gathered at Miao Shi’s house, Miao Hexiang was practically glowing. “Father-in-law knows who he’ll live best with. He’s used to being the head of the household and doesn’t want to let go of that authority. He’s afraid we won’t listen to him. But he’s still our elder, and I understand that. So I just go along with him, and everything goes smoothly. My in-laws aren’t unreasonable people, and these past few days have been quite comfortable.”

Miao Hexiang was, after all, a woman of her era. Though she had been influenced slightly by Shen Qing, she was still bound by the norms of her time. Now that the family had split, she had more money, more land, and no longer had to live under the same roof as Wang Shi—she was beyond satisfied!

As for her in-laws wanting control over household affairs, wasn’t that only natural? Now that it was just their branch, they wouldn’t have to favor anyone else. If the elders wanted to be in charge, so be it. To Miao Hexiang, that was only right.

Wu Guixiang added, “My husband went to Wang Shi’s home village, and their village chief was terrified! He had been hoping Qing Ge’er would open a workshop in their village, but now, with this incident… They had no choice but to punish her nephew. They held him down and gave him eighty strokes with a rod. I heard her brother and sister-in-law were devastated, blaming her for leading their child astray. They’re even demanding compensation from her!”

Miao Hexiang scoffed. “No wonder I heard a commotion earlier in the day.”

On the day of the split, she had her brothers build a wall to separate the two branches and added a small gate on the second branch’s side. Lately, they had been using a different entrance.

“But still, Ou Ge’er was the one who suffered the most,” Miao Shi sighed.

In the countryside, even if a ger was the victim—even if Wang Shi’s nephew hadn’t actually succeeded in harming Ou Ge’er—it was always the ger or the girl whose reputation was tarnished. This was why Wang Shi dared to scheme like this. If it had worked, Ou Ge’er’s marriage prospects would have plummeted. The best-case scenario would have been to swallow his anger and marry Wang Shi’s nephew, who, while not completely undesirable, certainly wasn’t a great match.

But Miao Hexiang wasn’t one to back down, and she had ruined Wang Shi’s plan entirely.

Even so, Miao Hexiang let out a sigh. “Good thing our family is in a better position now. Back then, Ou Ge’er was crying, saying he’d rather never marry than endure this humiliation. If this had happened in the past, what choice would we have had? But now… if he doesn’t want to marry, then he doesn’t have to.” She could never bring herself to force her child into a marriage just to secure an escape route. After all, what kind of decent man would stoop to taking a ger whose reputation had been damaged?

Shen Qing, sitting beside them, casually popped a sour green apricot into his mouth. “Ou Ge’er should come work at my shop in the county. Maybe he’ll find a husband there. Once a ger establishes himself, who cares about some petty village gossip?”

Miao Hexiang looked at Shen Qing with gratitude before immediately cringing at the sight of what he was eating. “Rong Jie’er picked those wild apricots just for you. And you really let her spoil you like this? Just watching you eat them makes my teeth ache!”

Shen Qing blinked, then smiled without saying a word. The apricots had originally been picked by Lian Rong for Zhao Yu, but Zhao Yu hadn’t been particularly fond of them. On the other hand, Shen Qing had been craving their tartness and ended up keeping the whole batch.

Before long, Lian Rong came rushing in like a gust of wind, carrying a small woven basket on her back, now completely filled with green apricots. “Qing Ge, you love them, right? I picked all of these just for you!”

Miao Hexiang glanced at the overflowing basket and was immediately exasperated. “Why’d you pick so many? Just wait a little longer! Once they ripen and turn yellow, they’ll be sweet! Then you can pick them for your Qing Ge!”

“Qing Ge just loves eating sour things! Besides, by the time they ripen, the village boys will have picked them all. They hog the trees and won’t let us near them—it’s so annoying. I wouldn’t be able to snatch any from them by then.”

“It’s fine, I love eating these. Since Lian Rong put in the effort, I’ll take them all.” Shen Qing accepted the small basket. With his spatial ability, he didn’t have to worry about them going bad—he could store them and eat them slowly. Lately, he had been obsessed with sour food.

Miao Hexiang muttered something about how indulgent he was but didn’t dwell on it. However, Miao Shi cast several suspicious glances at Shen Qing.

---

The Lian family’s separation stirred up quite a commotion in the village. Every family had their own difficult affairs—brothers turning against each other, sister-in-laws not getting along, elders playing favorites… Who didn’t have these issues? Before, everyone just endured it because that was how things were. But suddenly, one family had broken free from the cycle, and it made others start thinking—maybe they could do the same.

As a result, many households in the village started having their own disputes. Most of the ones causing an uproar were women like Second Aunt Lian, who worked in the workshop and earned their own money. Providing for their parents was one thing, but they no longer wanted to support siblings and in-laws they didn’t get along with.

Ironically, some of the same elders who had mocked Old Man Lian and his wife for their “foolishness” soon found their own families in the same turmoil. Unlike Old Man Lian, though, many were unwilling to see the situation clearly. They felt their authority as parents was being challenged and flew into a rage.

For a time, the village was in chaos—chickens flying, dogs jumping, not a moment of peace.

Amidst all this, dissatisfaction toward Zhao Youdang began to surface.

“He’s supposed to be the village chief, but he never speaks up. His wife tells him what to do, and he does it. His wife and Miao Hexiang are close, so of course she took her side and helped push for the separation. If it weren’t for the Lian family setting this precedent, my family wouldn’t have dared to act up, no matter how restless they were!”

“Exactly! He never had much authority before, and now he’s completely letting his wife run the show! Not even a shred of manly dignity!”

“Ugh, we never should have elected him as village chief. If only…” The speaker glanced toward the man reclining under a tree, eyes closed as he enjoyed the shade. The words hovered at the tip of his tongue before he swallowed them back down. “Are we really letting a woman call all the shots in our village now?”

“It’s not just a woman… Even a ger is making decisions now!”

Back when Shen Qing first opened the workshop, bringing work and income to the villagers, everyone had been thrilled. Now, while many had benefited, there were also those who gained little and were now dealing with new family conflicts. Naturally, these people started grumbling.

However, no one dared to openly criticize Shen Qing anymore. Instead, they muttered their complaints behind Wu Guixiang’s back.

Seeing that the man under the tree still hadn’t opened his eyes, an old man nearby finally lost patience. He jabbed at him with his cane and asked, “You really have nothing to say about all this?”

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